US08539997B2
A filling head 10 is described for filling in a liquid into a filler neck of a tank 14. To ensure highly reliable operation, a rotary connecting element 26 is provided to form a mechanical connection by rotating in relation to the filler neck of the tank 14. A rotatable operating part 30 serves to rotate the rotary connecting element 26. The operating part 30 is coupled to the rotary connecting element 26 by means of a torque-limiting coupling device 32 that, given a threshold torque, is triggered at least in one direction of rotation and decouples the rotatable operating part 30 from the rotary connecting element 26. A sensor is provided to detect the triggering of the torque-limiting coupling device 32 and to send a release signal for the established connection.
US08539995B2
Coupling locks, attachment modules, and docking devices allow for re-filling, filling and/or emptying of containers in a manner that is insulated against the environment. An attachment module includes a coupling lock and a locking clamp, where the coupling lock includes a pipe nozzle and a closing flap. A first clamping element is located on an outer side of the pipe nozzle to engage with a second clamping element by means of the locking clamp to create a temporary connection. A docking device includes the first coupling lock or the attachment module, and a second coupling lock, complementary to the first coupling lock. When the closing flaps of the first and second coupling locks are brought into contact with each other, they can be pivoted from a closed position, where they lock the transfer channel formed by the pipe nozzles, around a shared axis into an open position.
US08539989B2
A method for the preparation of pharmaceutical products according to which a diluent is fed into a container containing a lyophilized or powdered pharmaceutical through a needle, which is then extracted from the container, inserted in its protective cap, and rinsed by feeding the diluent through the needle and into the protective cap itself.
US08539988B2
The device for the transfer of a medium comprises a magazine having two main faces (17) of which one is adapted to cooperate with a container and a lateral face (18) extending between said main faces (17) as well as at least one sliding valve (3) housed in a cavity of said magazine (2) and in which there is formed a transfer duct (59) for said medium which issues on said face (17) adapted to cooperate with said container, said valve (3) having a closed position in which it sealingly isolates said duct (59) from said container and an open position in which said duct (59) is placed in communication with said container; said valve (3) comprising a valve member (40), an isolation sleeve (41) surrounding at least partially said valve member (40) as well as spring means (58) adapted to be compressed by said valve member (40) when said valve (3) is in its open position.
US08539976B1
A back pressure valve for providing a double barrier to flow for use with a tubing hanger within a well bore, wherein the back pressure valve can have a first body piece threadably engaged and sealed with a second body piece. A first piston can engage a first surface for sealing bottom pressure to provide a first barrier to flow. A second piston can engage a second surface for redundantly sealing bottom pressure to provide a second barrier to flow. The back pressure valve can have one-way and two-way back pressure valve assemblies. The two-way back pressure valve assembly can include a bidirectional piston having a double sealing face for engaging sealing surfaces and sealing bottom pressure from the well bore while allowing testing without stopping a flow of fluid.
US08539971B2
An air passageway switchable pump head includes a housing defining a first air outlet passageway, an air intake passageway and a second air outlet passageway, a connection member mounted in the housing for connection to a valve, a switch valve consisting of a valve seat, a valve body and a spring member, and an operating member mounted at one end of the housing and operable to move the switch valve between a first position where a first air passageway of the switch valve is closed, allowing air communication between a second air passageway of the switch valve and the second air outlet passageway, and a second position where the valve body is moved toward the valve seat and closed on the valve seat to block the second air passageway of the switch valve and the first air passageway of the switch valve is opened.
US08539970B2
The present disclosure comprises a platform and a manifold, the latter being intended to be connected to a fluid tank. The manifold comprises a length of rigid tube defining a pipe of approximately horizontal axis and a length of connecting tube for connection to a transfer line connected to the length of rigid tube. The length of connecting tube is permanently attached to the length of rigid tube and is hinged to the length of rigid tube to allow movement relative to the length of rigid tube between: —a retracted rest position in which the length of connecting tube extends entirely inside the inner edge; and —a first or filling position, in which the free end of the length of connecting tube projects out from the outer edge of the support platform.
US08539963B2
The present invention generally relates to a cosmetic applicator and in particular, relate to a cosmetic applicator comprising of at least two molded applicator parts that are interlinked such that a non-zero angle is formed at an interface of the at least two molded applicator parts with respect to a centerline of the applicator. The cosmetic applicator of present invention imitates the twirl of the wrist during application and thereby provides a better application. The cosmetic applicator of the present invention may be used for cosmetic and care applications such as mascara application, hair coloring, lip application, etc.
US08539947B2
An inhaler for inhaling powdered medicaments from capsules, having: a lower part which is cup-shaped, a plate latched to the lower part to close off the lower part, a capsule holder arranged on the underside of the plate, a mouthpiece that can be latched to the top of plate, and an actuating member for interacting with at least one pin for piercing a capsule in the capsule holder, where the actuating member includes a larger outer actuating member and a smaller inner actuating member, the outer actuating member forms a user-operated push-button, the inner actuating member contacts and holds the pin below a suspension element of the outer actuating member from the plate, and the point of application of force by the user onto push-button is lower than the inner actuating member.
US08539944B2
A method of delivering a nebulized fluid for inhalation, including providing an aerosol generator, providing a container containing a fluid to be nebulized, providing a reservoir in fluid communication with the container and with the aerosol generator, providing a moveable member positioned to act upon the container in a manner to elect fluid therefrom, providing a linkage mechanism operable through a range of operating positions that is coupled to the moveable member to selectively control a distance of movement of the moveable member, selecting the distance of movement of the moveable member, moving the moveable member to eject fluid from the container into the reservoir, and operating the aerosol generator to elect fluid from the reservoir as a nebulized fluid for inhalation.
US08539942B2
The stove has a fuel reservoir formed by a cylindrical canister. A stop valve is mounted at a top of the canister for regulating supply of fuel gas from the canister through a fuel passage to a burner head mounted on top of the stop valve. The fuel passage has an inlet in the canister and an outlet at the burner head and extends through the stop valve which is mounted in the fuel passage. The stop valve is a rotary valve controlled by a hand wheel which can be rotated by a user to move the stop valve between open and closed positions. An emergency shut-off valve is mounted at the inlet to the fuel passage and is operable when the stove is knocked over.
US08539935B2
A fuel injection device includes a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel, which is distributed from a pressure-accumulation vessel. A pressure sensor is located in a fuel passage, which extends from the pressure-accumulation vessel to a nozzle hole. The pressure sensor is located closer to the nozzle hole than the pressure-accumulation vessel. A storage unit stores individual difference information obtained by an examination. The individual difference information indicates an injection characteristic of the fuel injection valve and indicates at least one of an injection response time delay between an injection start point and a time point, at which a fluctuation is caused by the start of fuel injection in detected pressure of the pressure sensor, and a parameter for calculating the injection response time delay.
US08539925B2
A two-cycle engine starting device comprises a support structure having a tool securement attached to a base, e.g., a tripod. The tool securement has a holding plate and at least one locking arrangement that temporarily holds a tool to the support structure. A cylinder is secured to the support structure, having a cylinder rod that extends and retracts in a linear motion. An actuation control operates the cylinder. As such, a two-cycle engine is started by positioning the tool on the tool securement so as to be temporarily held by at least one locking arrangement, slipping the starter rope handle into a handle holding mount at the distal end of the cylinder rod, and by operating the actuation control, thus causing the cylinder to extend the handle holding mount in a linear motion that pulls the starter rope with sufficient force to apply a starting force to start the tool.
US08539924B2
In one embodiment, a telescopic intake runner system is provided that includes a first tubular section; a second tubular section coaxially located within the first tubular section and movable relative to the first tubular section along the axis thereof; at least one motor coupled to at least one of the first and the second tubular section; at least one sensor; and a controller coupled to the sensor and to the at least one motor. The controller is operable in this instance to receive an input signal from the at least one sensor and to communicate a control signal to the at least one motor to increase or decrease an overall length of the first and second tubular sections based on the signal from the at least one sensor. The telescopic instance runner system is installed upstream from a throttle body of an engine.
US08539913B2
A wearable sound system includes an article wearable by an animal and having compartment sections, strap end portions extending from respective ones of two of the compartment sections, and a fastener that removably connects the strap end portions to one another when the article is worn by the animal. A programmable source of audible signals is located within one of the compartment sections, and two speakers are located within respective ones of the two compartment sections of the article from which the pair of strap end portions extend. Each speaker is disposed between the fastener and the programmable source and in an area disposed proximate to an ear of the animal when the article is worn by the animal so as to project a sound content of the audible signals towards an immediate vicinity of the ear of the animal in a region located forward or around the ear.
US08539904B2
A rod bed assembly (1, 11, 111) has a holder (2) made of a composite material according to a continuous primary molding method, a rod bed (3) made of a polymer according to a continuous primary molding method, and a doctor rod (4) rotatably supported in a bearing recess (34) on the front side of the rod bed. The holder (2) is formed such that the rod bed (3) and the doctor rod (4) are insertable into and removable from a socket provided in the holder in the radial direction of the doctor rod (4). The rod bed (3) has closed cavities for saving material.
US08539901B2
A casting platform apparatus for a fishing boat includes a frame which can be attached to the bow of a boat. The frame has a floor to allow a fisherman to be supported thereon and includes both a handrail and a body support rail along with a fishing line collection net therebetween and a gate for entering onto and off the casting platform.
US08539891B2
An initial coal is cleaned to reduce ash content by ≧20% and yield refined coal that optimizes combustion air flow through a coal burner. This permits conveyance of pulverized refined coal in suspended condition through feeder pipes of the coal burner using reduced air flow compared to the quantity of air required to convey pulverized initial coal in suspended condition through the feeder pipes. This reduces oxygen in the primary combustion zone, lowering conversion of fuel nitrogen into NOx and instead converting it into N2 using the refined coal product. Reduced primary combustion air also reduces core flame temperature, reducing thermal NOx formation using the refined coal product. Increasing secondary and/or tertiary combustion air compensates for reduced primary combustion air and result in overall decrease in NOx formation (e.g., thermal NOx formation is reduced when combustion completed in cooler secondary and/or tertiary combustion zones).
US08539888B2
A transforming project table, white erase board, and office partition all-in-one powered by a drive system is disclosed herein.
US08539880B2
A proofing tool including an anilox roll and a transfer roll that are shiftable relative to each other between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The invention further includes a positive rotational linkage between the transfer roll and a drive roll whereby a pitch velocity of the transfer roll and a pitch velocity of the transfer roll are substantially matched.
US08539878B2
A square baler comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the baler in dependence on the first, second and third signals representing the mass of a bale, the force of the piston of the baler, the energization of the actuator respectively and an input target value for the mass of the bale wherein the first signal is fed back in a first control loop and compared with the target weight to generate a target force, the second signal is fed in a second control loop and compared with the target force to generate a target energization, the third signal is fed in a third control loop and compared with the target energization to control the energization of the actuator.
US08539872B2
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of mounting ammunition holders for side loading machine guns that downwardly eject spent cartridges. The holders include adjustable hinges attached to plates that moves the center of gravity of the ammunition holder to move underneath the gun until the holder is balanced relative to the gun. The plate deflects the spent cartridges from being directly ejected downward from the machine gun to deflect the spent cartridges to one side away from both the gun and the gun operator. The containers can be ammunition belt boxes or pouch bags. Frames can allow for bags to form a deflection surface to deflect spent cartridges away from the gun.
US08539864B1
A dual-handled ratcheting socket wrench having a drive head and a pair of handles pivotably attached at opposite ends of the drive head, and a manually-withdrawable, quick-release pin extending through each handle and the drive head to form a hinge. The quick-release pin can be withdrawn manually from the aligned holes without the use of a hand tool. The dual-handled ratcheting socket wrench can have a locking mechanism for independently securing the handles at a variable pivot position relative to the drive head. The dual-handled socket wrench allows a mechanic to apply substantially equal, co-rotational force to each handle.
US08539859B2
An integrated drop style handlebar including a left and right palm support. Each palm support is attached to the forward portion of the handlebar frame adjacent to a hood. Each palm support extends laterally outward away from the handlebar's middle portion. An upward facing surface on each palm support is positioned to support a distal lateral portion (the portion of the palm distal to the thumb and proximal to the fifth metacarpal bone) of a rider's palm while the web of the hand is placed on a hood. Each palm support preferably also provides a large enough surface to support substantially all of a rider's palm when the web is not placed on a hood.
US08539858B2
An accelerator pedal rotates a pedal rotor when depressed. Rotors located on both sides of the pedal rotor are relatively rotatable to the pedal rotor. Second helical teeth of the rotors project toward the pedal rotor and engage with first helical teeth of the pedal rotor to bias the rotors when the pedal rotor rotates in the accelerator opening direction. The pedal rotor is rotatable to an accelerator full-close position without interfering with the first helical teeth when the pedal rotor rotates in an accelerator closing direction. A first biasing unit biases the rotors in the accelerator closing direction. A second biasing unit biases the accelerator pedal or the pedal rotor in the accelerator closing direction.
US08539852B2
A gearshift lever for switching a gear range of a vehicle transmission includes a lever body, which accommodates a detent rod, and an operation unit, which is arranged on the lever body. The operation unit is pushed to disengage the detent rod from a detent receptacle formed in a base plate and cancel pivoting restriction of the lever body. The operation unit includes an inclined surface on which the detent rod slides. The inclined surface moves the detent rod in a direction in which the detent rod disengages from the detent receptacle when the operation unit is pushed. The operation unit also includes a coil spring, which biases the operation unit in a direction that is the same as a direction in which the operation unit is pushed to hold the detent rod in contact with the inclined surface, and a mount, which positions the coil spring.
US08539851B2
A modular shift device for an automatic transmission having a first module adapted for pushbutton operation of the transmission's safety lockout, and a second module that when coupled to the first module, modifies operation of the transmission's safety lockout to that of shift shaft tilting and eliminates the pushbutton.
US08539850B2
A manual valve is formed with a drain input port that closes if a shift is made to the D position, and opens for draining if a shift is made to the N position. A switching valve communicates an output port of a pressure regulating valve portion and an oil passage of a clutch and closes a drain port during engine operation when a line pressure is applied, and cuts off communication between the output port of the pressure regulating valve portion and the oil passage of the clutch and communicates the oil passage with the drain port during an engine automatic stop when the line pressure is not applied. The drain input port and the drain port are connected by a drain oil passage.
US08539833B2
A physical amount detecting device includes: one pair of driving vibration arms are bending-vibrated in a direction of a X-axis, one pair of first detection vibration arms and one pair of second detection vibration arms are vibrated in a direction of a Y axis, depending on a Coriolis force that is generated in accordance with rotational angular velocity of X-axis rotation, the one pair of the first detection vibration arms are bending-vibrated with a first phase in a direction of a Z axis in addition to vibration in the direction of the Y axis, and the one pair of the second detection vibration arms are bending-vibrated with a second phase, which is a phase opposite to the first phase, in the direction of the Z axis in addition to vibration in the direction of the Y axis.
US08539828B2
A fluid level probe for use in a tank containing a first fluid, including a probe shaft, a first float with a first magnet that is slidably disposed for movement along the probe shaft and adapted to float at the top surface of the first fluid, a second float with a first magnet that is slidably disposed for movement along the probe shaft beneath the first float and adapted to float within the first fluid, and electronics adapted to determine a first distance between the first magnet of the first float and the first magnet of the second float which is used to determine a first density of the first fluid.
US08539822B2
An apparatus and method for measuring augmented osmotic pressure in a reference cavity is provided, in which the device comprise a substrate frame (4) attached to a support structure (1) in which a plurality of transducer devices (2) are buried. An array of osmotic membranes (3) is integrated by the support structure and which acts to facilitate a trans-membrane pressure gradient as a function of the osmotic pressure change in a sealed cavity (7). The sealed cavity is formed by rigid substrate materials (5,6) in which the membranes, support structure and transducer devices only will be subject to induced stress in response to augmented osmotic pressure and thereby generate a pressure induced signal change observed from the transducer devices. The transducer devices may be arranged as piezoresistive elements, as micromechanical switches, as variable capacitive elements or as an optical light source and detector. The device can be used to monitor changes in osmotic pressure in response to a concentration change of a specified dissolved solute particle.
US08539821B2
Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
US08539817B2
A particulate matter detection device includes a plate-like element base material including, on one surface thereof, a formed recess portion to collect a particulate matter; a pair of measurement electrodes arranged on the bottom surface side of the recess portion of the element base material; and a high-voltage dust collection electrode embedded in a wall which forms the recess portion of the element base material on the one surface side of the element base material from a position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. An electric field is generated from the high-voltage dust collection electrode to the pair of measurement electrodes, to collect, on the bottom surface side of the recess portion, the particulate matter flowing along the element base material, and a change of electric characteristics between the pair of measurement electrodes is measured to detect the particulate matter collected on the recess portion.
US08539799B2
A combination lock includes a locking mechanism, a code identifying member, and a plurality of user rotatable dials, with a recess disposed on an outer periphery of each dial. The locking mechanism includes a plurality of dial engaging members configured to hold the locking mechanism in a locking position. When each of the dials is rotated to an unlocking orientation, the recesses align with the dial engaging members, allowing the locking mechanism to move from the locking position to an unlocking position. When the code identifying member is moved to a code identifying condition, the dial engaging members are in biased engagement with the dials, such that rotation of any one of the dials to the unlocking orientation causes the corresponding dial engaging member to engage the corresponding recess to provide a perceptible indication that the dial is in the unlocking orientation.
US08539797B2
A titania and sulfur co-doped quartz glass member is provided. Due to co-doping of titania and sulfur, the quartz glass member undergoes zero expansion at a certain temperature and low thermal expansion over a wide temperature range, and is thus suited for use in a commercial EUV lithography tool. A manufacturing method and an optical member for EUV lithography are also provided.
US08539796B2
An optical connector assembling method capable of preventing workability from worsening is provided. First, when assembling the optical connector, an optical cord (2) is passed through a rear housing (8), an outer jacket holding member (9), a securing member (10), and a boot (11), and an outer jacket (4) is removed from a leading end portion of the optical cord (2), so as to expose a coated optical fiber (3) and a tension-resistant fiber (5). A handled dust cap (16A) is mounted to a ferrule member (6) holding a built-in fiber. Then, a fusion splicer fusion-splices the built-in fiber and the coated optical fiber (3) to each other. Thereafter, while the ferrule member (6) keeps the handled dust cap (16A) mounted thereto, a plug housing (7) is assembled to the rear housing (8). Then, the outer jacket holding member (9) and securing member (10) secure the outer jacket (4) and tension-resistant fiber (5) to the rear housing (8), and the boot (11) is mounted to the securing member (10). Finally, a handle (16a) is cut off from the handled dust cap (16A).
US08539795B2
Methods for cutting a fragile material are provided. The methods comprise the step of heating the fragile material along a separation path to separate the fragile material into a first portion and a second portion. At least the first portion includes a first thermal affected zone extending along the separation path. The methods further include the steps of spontaneously splitting at least part of the first thermal affected zone from the remainder of the first portion along a first split path extending a first distance from the separation path. The spontaneous splitting occurs as a consequence of the step of heating the fragile material.
US08539794B2
Strengthened glass substrate sheets and methods of fabricating glass panels from glass substrate sheets are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming at least one series of holes through a thickness of the glass substrate sheet, wherein the at least one series of holes defines a perimeter of the glass panel to be separated from the glass substrate sheet. The method further includes strengthening the glass substrate sheet by a strengthening process, and separating the glass panel from the glass substrate sheet along the at least one series of holes. At least a portion of one or more edges of the glass panel has an associated edge compressive layer. In another embodiment, a strengthened glass substrate sheet includes at least one series of holes that defines a perimeter of one or more glass panels to be separated from the strengthened glass substrate sheet.
US08539793B2
A method of molding a synthetic silica glass molded body by accommodating a synthetic silica glass block in a mold provided with a pressing portion, and by pressing the block while heating, the method including: washing the synthetic silica glass block so that a concentration of copper which is present on the surface of the synthetic silica glass block is 2 ng/cm2 or less; heating high purity carbon powders with a content of copper and aluminium; heating the mold at a temperature condition of 1700° C. to 1900° C.; applying the powders before accommodating the block in the mold; and molding the block in a predetermined form by pressing the block while heating within a hold temperature range of 1500° C. to 1700° C., after accommodating the washed block in the mold.
US08539790B1
A secure climate-control system for improved storage of substances transported by emergency response vehicles that require controlled-temperature storage, particularly drugs, blood, and physiological samples. It includes a lockable, temperature controlled cabinet permanently connected to the emergency response vehicle. The lockable storage compartment may contain lockable containers, providing double-lock security.Business methods comprising designing, manufacturing, installing, and using custom secure climate-control systems are also disclosed.
US08539789B2
A heating and cooling system includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. A heat exchanger, which may be an outdoor heat exchanger, is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, to selectively extract heat from or to add heat to the refrigerant, and to transfer the refrigerant to the evaporator. First control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the condenser to the heat exchanger in a first mode of operation. Second control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the evaporator in a second mode of operation. The system may be operated in a variety of modes by appropriate control of the valving and other system components.
US08539782B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the power of a sorption refrigeration system, comprising an adsorber unit, a condenser (C), and an evaporator (E) through which a cooling carrier fluid (KT) flows, with alternating application of the adsorber unit by a valve unit (HV_IN, HV_OUT) operated via a controller, having a circuit process of at least one sorption phase and at least one heat recovery phase, wherein a measurement of a current cooling carrier outlet temperature (Takt) is carried out in the return of the evaporator, a calculation of an averaged cooling carrier outlet temperature (Tgem) is carried out during the first and second sorption phases with a comparison to the current cooling carrier outlet temperature (Takt), and a control signal is trigger upon completion of the sorption phase as a function of the difference between the averaged cooling carrier outlet temperature (Tgem) and the current cooling carrier outlet temperature (Tgem). The invention provides a corresponding device.
US08539778B2
An air filter, which is intended for installation in an air conditioning system of a vehicle and which exhibits a moisture sensor, is disposed on or at the air filter. The moisture sensor is a component of an electric circuit section, which is arranged on or at the air filter. The moisture sensor is a capacitive sensor, whose capacitance depends on the moisture loading of the air, flowing around the sensor. At least one electric property of the electric circuit section represents the moisture loading on the air filter and the type of air filter.
US08539773B2
A fuel/air mixing tube for use in a fuel/air mixing tube bundle is provided. The fuel/air mixing tube includes an outer tube wall extending axially along a tube axis between an inlet end and an exit end, the outer tube wall having a thickness extending between an inner tube surface having a inner diameter and an outer tube surface having an outer tube diameter. The tube further includes at least one fuel injection hole having a fuel injection hole diameter extending through the outer tube wall, the fuel injection hole having an injection angle relative to the tube axis. The invention provides good fuel air mixing with low combustion generated NOx and low flow pressure loss translating to a high gas turbine efficiency, that is durable, and resistant to flame holding and flash back.
US08539771B2
A thermodynamic engine is configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to a nonheat form of energy. Heat is directed through a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the thermodynamic engine. A second side of the thermodynamic engine is coupled to an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with an environmental cooling device. The thermodynamic engine is operated to dispense heat from the second side of the thermodynamic engine through the environmental cooling loop into the environmental cooling device. Operation of the thermodynamic engine thereby generates the nonheat form of energy from the temperature difference established between the first side and the second side of the thermodynamic engine.
US08539756B2
Provided is an exhaust purification device for an internal combustion engine, wherein the operation of an internal combustion engine can be prevented from being maintained when a particulate filter is melted. An exhaust purification device is comprised of a particulate filter; a downstream-side temperature sensor which detects a downstream-side exhaust temperature; a filter temperature sensor which detects a filter temperature; an exhaust differential pressure detection device which calculates an exhaust differential pressure between an upstream-side exhaust pressure and a downstream-side exhaust pressure at predetermined time intervals; a notification device; and an ECU which controls the internal combustion engine based on a differential pressure variation first and second exhaust differential pressures or the downstream-side exhaust temperature.
US08539737B2
A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle comprises a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating internal angles and external angles. Each internal angle ranges from about 100° to about 110° and each external angle ranges from about 105° to about 130°.
US08539736B1
A do-it-yourself kit assembly and installation method for mounting a tile assembly to a predetermined support surface, such as a kitchen backsplash. The kit assembly includes the tile assembly comprised of one or more tile sheets as well as all of the installation materials and installation tools required to accomplish the do-it-yourself installation in a timely manner. Each tile sheet includes a plurality of fixed tile pieces, which may comprise glass mosaic tiles, and a self-adherent adhesive layer, which facilitates the mounting of the tile sheets to virtually any kind of surface. A ready-to-use grout supply makes it easy to apply the optimal quantity of grout onto the mounted tile sheet(s), wherein the installation materials and tools are cooperatively provided to facilitate the installation method.
US08539734B2
A roof truss compatible for solar energy panels, and a method for installing the roof trusses, incorporates a non-structural top chord that may have a removable portion removed and replaced by a solar assembly. The truss is structurally designed to support the solar assembly without the presence of the non-structural top chord. A desired length of the non-structural top chord may be omitted or removed during manufacture of the truss, or may be removed at a future time for installation of solar panel assemblies. A solar assembly for inserting into the solar roof truss may include a panel enclosure which has a channel for holding a solar panel, where the panel is installed approximately flush with the roof line. The panel enclosure may have an air space underneath the solar panel, to allow for cooling air flow and water drainage.
US08539728B2
This invention provides a flooring apparatus comprising: (a) a flooring plate; (b) a plurality of columns extending from an underside of the flooring plate, wherein at least some of the columns deform when the flooring plate is subjected to a pressure equal to or greater than a critical buckling pressure; and (c) a matrix material in at least partial contact with the columns. The present disclosure includes many variations of such apparatus, such as various column designs, material selection criteria, and end-use considerations. This invention also provides a flooring system for mitigating injuries associated with falls, the system comprising a plurality of flooring apparatus each provided in accordance the present disclosure. The flooring system can include one or more types of modular tiles, or any other configuration (such as mats).
US08539726B2
An expansion joint system of a concrete slab arrangement, comprising an expansion joint reinforcement to be arranged between a first and a second concrete slab, the expansion joint reinforcement comprising at least one lo-cal or continuous dowel which is arranged to transfer loads perpendicular to the slab plane. The expansion joint reinforcement comprises an additional reinforcement comprising at least one clenching pin and to be arranged in the vicinity of the dowel in concrete, the additional reinforcement being arranged to adhere to the concrete above and below the dowel by means of a widening forming the clench point.
US08539721B2
The invention concerns the field of a lightweight building structure produced by using a mortar containing foamed polystyrene and cement and a method for the production thereof. It includes at least one layer of prefabricated foam concrete panel affixed to a reinforcing frame structure wherein interspaces between elements of the reinforcing frame structure are at least partially filled with a mortar providing a first surface contacting the foam concrete panel. The mortar includes granules of 0.5-10 mm size produced by grinding a pressed foamed concrete that has been allowed to mature, 50-200 kg of unbound, anhydrous cement, and 150-300 liters of water added before application per one cubic meter of ground material, respectively.
US08539711B2
A fishing lure retrieving device is disclosed. Versions of the invention utilize a body with a cavity and handle, a sleeve movably connected to the body, a cutter and closing line. Optional telescoping handle(s), magnet(s), closing fastener(s), sleeve end cap(s) and/or body end cap(s) may also be used with versions of the invention.
US08539710B2
The Retractable Hook Set consist of a trigger attached to a string or ribbon that retracts back into the hook set shell or pole holder for tangle free storage. The string or ribbon is adjustable by the use of a spring loaded spool and button which allows it to adapt to most pole lengths. This also allows the tension of the pole to be set, which changes the power at which the hook is set. The hook sets molded shell is designed to have a clamp attached. The clamp allows the hook to be attached to the pole or most pole holders. The trigger holds and releases the tension of the pole which hooks the fish. The hook set is adaptable to all fishing.
US08539709B2
A gun rest for releasably attaching to the lower leg of a hunter. The rest is comprised of a lower leg support having upper and lower ends and formed to fit along the side of a leg. The leg support defines an inner leg contact surface and an outer surface. Attached to the outer surface is a telescoping member adjustable for height with an upper end that is attached to a gun support rest or bracket. The lower leg support is releasably attached to the lower leg of a hunter between the knee and the ankle, preferably by releasable straps. It may therefore be carried as the hunter moves about the fields, and when the hunter sits, for example on a deer stand, the rest may be telescoped up for use to create a steady aim.
US08539700B2
An iron including a storage means to removably stow a funnel.
US08539699B2
A modular system for connecting attachments to the extension arm of a construction machine, wherein each module has a standardized coupling arrangement. As a result, each module is compatible with another module to provide great versatility in configuring the machine. Additionally, the system includes a variety of different modules.
US08539681B2
A manually guided implement having an engine housing and a handle housing that are interconnected by anti-vibration elements. The handle housing is provided with a longitudinal support having, relative to a conventional operating position of the implement, a front end face that is disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal support. A securement end of a front tubular handle rests against and is secured to the front end face of the longitudinal support.
US08539679B2
A pizza cutter that includes a handle, a cutting member support, and first and second disk members. The handle is configured for grasping by a user. The cutting member support extends from the handle. The first disk member is supported on the cutting member support. The second disk member is supported on the cutting member support. The first and second disk members may be arranged non-parallel relative to each other.
US08539678B2
A device for a motor driven tool such as a pole hedge trimmer, a pole saw or the like. The tool includes a drive unit that via a shaft tube is connected to a cutting unit. The cutting unit is turnably secured at the shaft tube by the device which is a turnable connection, wherein the cutting unit is movable between a range of at least two working positions and a transport position. The cutting unit is provided with one or several movable cutting elements and the tool is provided with locking structure for locking the movement of the cutting elements when the cutting unit is in the transport position.
US08539659B2
A method of repairing an article includes removing an undesirable section of the article, attaching a repair section to the article at a location from which the undesirable section has been removed, and mechanically working the repair section to achieve a reduction in a cross-sectional area of the repair section.
US08539657B2
A press for securing a captive screw assembly within a hole in a panel cover. The press is supported from the panel cover as it is operated and includes a tool for extracting the captive screw assembly from the panel cover hole when the captive screw assembly is no longer functional. The extraction tool engages a bottom end of the captive screw and severs the flare on the ferrule of the captive screw assembly that anchors the assembly to the hole in the panel cover. A captive screw assembly is also described that has a knurled end that anchors the captive screw assembly to a hole in the panel cover.
US08539654B2
Coffin (2), which in its shape, function and its choice of material has a kind environment, but still is stabile, and with a lit (1), which in its design has means (7) for by an earth filling (6) to be able to be discharge (5) in to the coffin (2) and down against the body (4) there has to be buried, as the lid (1) in its edges (3) has a folding arrangement (7).
US08539650B2
A slide fastener where each fastener element includes an upper half element portion disposed at a first surface side of a fastener tape and a lower half element portion disposed at a second surface side of the fastener tape. The upper half element portion includes a first tape-sandwiching portion and a first head portion of a tapered form that extends from the first tape-sandwiching portion. The upper half element portion has a tapered portion that gradually decreases in a dimension between front and rear side surfaces, in the tape length direction, of at least the first tape-sandwiching portion as it goes upward. Each fastener element can be lightweight, and the fastener element can look like a metal fastener element.
US08539647B2
A limited durability fastening for a garment. The garment is provided with fastening members which engage to close the fastening and the fastening members are provided with means for controlling the degradation of the closure strength of the fastening as it is opened and closed and thus the number of permissible closures of the fastening having a pre-determined closure strength. The garment is particularly useful when fitted to a foot where short life is desirable at low cost or to a garment where re-use is to be discouraged for either clinical or commercial reasons.
US08539638B2
A filter includes a filter medium, a filter inlet side, a filter outlet side and an indicator device. The indicator device is configured to be acted upon by air flow through the filter and is disposed adjacent to the filter medium and extends from the filter inlet side to the filter outlet side. The indicator device includes an air path starting from the filter inlet side, a viewing window covering the air path on the filter outlet side, and a flow-through usage indicator configured to receive filtered material and disposed in the air path and visible beneath the viewing window on the filter outlet side.
US08539635B2
A portable vacuum wand for use with a surface maintenance machine, for collection of debris remote from the machine. The vacuum wand is detachable from a rear squeegee assembly of the surface maintenance machine, and includes a handle and a wand head. A vacuum conduit of the vacuum wand is adapted to be coupled to the rear squeegee assembly when not in use so as to provide vacuum to the rear squeegee assembly. A method of cleaning a floor surface with a surface maintenance machine and a portable vacuum wand is also provided.
US08539632B2
A toothbrush with a cleaning zone with bristles, and with a deformable element by which the cleaning zone can be adapted to the shape of the tooth surface by the cleaning force, where the deformable element comprises flexible wings tapering in a wedge shape toward the cleaning zone and with guide elements between them, at least one of the wings and/or guide element is made of a compressible elastic material.
US08539624B2
A climate controlled seat assembly includes a seat cushion that has an outer surface with a first side for supporting an occupant in a seated position and a second side, which generally faces in an opposite direction than the first side. An air passage extends from the first side to the second side of the seat cushion. A support member has a first side that is configured to provide support to the seat cushion and a second side. the first side and the second side of the support member generally face in opposite directions. A distribution passage is in communication with the air passage and is formed at least in part by a recess formed at least in part in one of the first side of the support member and the second side of the seat cushion.
US08539619B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to systems and/or methods that help clean persons having reduced mobility. The systems and/or methods of certain example embodiments help clean persons in areas that are difficult and sometimes even impossible to clean, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection, disease, development of antibiotic resistant diseases, etc. At least one showerhead is provided in such systems/methods. A chair, table, bench, or the like, has a seat and a back support. At least one bladder is connected to the seat and/or the back support of the chair, or on the table, bench, etc., with each said bladder having at least one opening. A hose connects a supply of cleansing fluid to the at least one bladder such that, in operation, the cleansing fluid is forced out of the at least one opening of each said bladder towards the person.
US08539617B2
The invention provides a mechanism to lift a toilet seat. A depressable foot pedal connects to a rod which rod is connected to the lid of the toilet seat. When the pedal is depressed, the rod lifts and thus lifts the lid of the toilet seat. A second depressable foot pedal connects to a second rod which is connected to the toilet seat. When the second pedal is depressed the rod lifts and thus lifts the toilet seat.
US08544110B2
Database management and security is implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment, data sets containing sensitive data elements are analyzed using aliases representing sensitive data elements. In another embodiment, the sensitive data elements are stored in an encrypted form for use from a secure access, while the alias is available for standard access.
US08544107B2
An information processing system includes an external system having an external server managing public information, and an internal system having an internal server managing secure information and a terminal outputting information. The external server sends an information generating module to the terminal at an acquisition request source, and the terminal executes the received information generating module, in order to generate information to be provided, using the public information acquired from the external server and the secure information acquired from the internal sever.
US08544103B2
Systems and methods for controlling accuracy of transmitted information are described. A package is assembled based on a numerical value, such as a measurement, and one or more policies associated with the sender. When the package is received by a receiver, it is unpacked to yield a second value representing the numerical value and having a reduced accuracy with respect to the first value. The accuracy reduction depends on policies associated with the receiver and/or the sender. Examples of numerical values in different applications include geo-location data, medical data, and financial data.
US08544093B2
A malicious-module identification device identifies and deactivates a malicious module operating in an information processing device connected thereto via a network. The malicious-module identification device is provided with a reception unit for receiving results of tampering detection from a plurality of modules for detecting tampering, and a determination unit for assuming that a module among the plurality of modules is a normal module, determining, based on the assumption, whether a contradiction occurs in the received results of tampering detection and identifying the module assumed to be a normal module as a malicious module when determining that a contradiction occurs. A deactivation unit outputs an instruction to deactivate the module identified as the malicious module.
US08544084B2
Systems and methods for secure control of a wireless mobile communication device are disclosed. Each of a plurality of domains includes at least one wireless mobile communication device asset. When a request to perform an operation affecting at least one of the assets is received, it is determined whether the request is permitted by the domain that includes the at least one affected asset, by determining whether the entity with which the request originated has a trust relationship with the domain, for example. The operation is completed where it is permitted by the domain. Wireless mobile communication device assets include software applications, persistent data, communication pipes, and configuration data, properties or user or subscriber profiles.
US08544081B2
The present invention provides a star-connected network (C1-C4, P1-P8) having a number of peripheral nodes (P1-P8) and a central control arrangement (C1-C4). Each peripheral node has means for restricting communications across the network to the central control arrangement using a respective encrypted connection unless the peripheral node has received explicit authorisation from the control arrangement to set up a direct connection with another peripheral node. The central control arrangement comprises: means for establishing an encrypted connection with each peripheral node; means for exchanging control packets with two or more peripheral nodes using two or more respective encrypted connections in order to set up an authorised connection between two peripheral nodes; a database storing security policy information specifying what connections between peripheral nodes are allowable; and authorisation means for authorising connections which are allowable according to the stored security policy information using the control packet exchanging means.
US08544068B2
A method to manage access to end user-protected resources hosted in a shared pool of configurable computing resources, such as a cloud computing environment, begins by registering a particular application or service into the environment. The application or service is one that is being permitted to access resources on behalf of end users via a delegated authorization protocol, such as OAuth. For at least one end user associated with the organization, a permission is set, preferably by an organization entity, such as an organization administrator. The permission determines whether the application or service is permitted to access one or more resources associated with the end user. Then, in response to a request by the third party application to access a resource, where the request is received via the delegated authorization protocol, the permission is then used to determine whether the third party application is permitted to access the resource.
US08544059B2
A system and method for determining effective policy profiles, is presented herein. The system includes one or more client devices configured to initiate a request for at least one effective policy profile, a server mechanism communicatively coupled to the one or more client devices and configured to receive the request for the at least one effective policy profile and determine the at least effective policy profiles for each of the requesting one or more client devices, and a policy data storage component communicatively coupled to the server mechanism and configured to store a plurality of policy profiles. The plurality of plurality of policy profiles includes an association between each of the one or more client devices and one or more of the plurality of policy profiles.
US08544056B2
An image control apparatus is configured to input a plurality of image data associated with a plurality of image sources and to display a plurality of images on a same screen based on the plurality of image data. The image control apparatus includes an image quality determining unit configured to determine respective image qualities of the plurality of images based on a combination of image information associated with attributes of the plurality of image sources, and an image processing unit configured to process the plurality of image data to cause the plurality of images to have the respective image qualities determined by the image quality determining unit.
US08544053B2
A system and method for downloading a code image at a set-top gateway host that includes an embedded set-top box and an embedded cable modem. The embedded set-top box and the embedded cable modem interact so that each leverages the resources of the other, thereby minimizing the functionality that must be built into each.
US08544040B2
A system for displaying information may include memory, one or more processors, and one or more modules stored in memory. The one or more modules are configured for execution by the one or more processors and may include instructions for: presenting a subset of a collection of data on a first grid having a first axis corresponding to units of time and a second axis, the collection of data comprising data representing time-bounded events; presenting a second grid having, first and second axes corresponding to the first and second axes of the first grid, the second grid corresponding to a larger portion of the collection of data than the subset presented on the first grid; and presenting a user moveable window for selecting a portion of the second grid, and selecting the subset presented on the first grid in accordance with a current position of the window.
US08544036B2
A method for scheduling broadcast commercials includes receiving a plurality of scheduling criteria, and automatically scheduling a plurality of commercials based on the received criteria.
US08544025B2
A method, system and computer program product for transferring data between two applications over a local network connection. The invention establishes a socket connection between the applications and transfers data through the socket connection using a pseudo socket layer interface when the two endpoints of the socket connection are on the same host. Socket application program interface comprises socket buffers for sending and receiving data. A connecting application identifies and establishes a connection with a listening socket, and places data directly in the socket receive buffer of the receiving socket. If the other end of the socket connection is on a remote host, then data is transferred using underlying network facilities.
US08544024B2
A multi-processor system comprises a sending processor adapted to send a data message, a receiving processor adapted to receive the date message, and a memory unit associated with the receiving processor. The multi-processor system has a size-index table associated with the sending processor, and the sending processor is adapted to map a size of a payload portion of the data message to an index of the size-index table, and to send the data message containing the size, the index and the payload portion to the receiving processor. The multi-processor system also has mapping circuitry associated with the receiving processor. The mapping circuitry is adapted to the map the index contained in the data message received from the sending processor to a pointer, wherein the pointer is associated with a buffer of the memory unit. The receiving processor is adapted to write the payload portion of the received data message to the buffer as indicated by the pointer. A receiving processor adapted to be comprised in a multi-processor system, an electronic apparatus comprising a multi-processor system and/or a receiving processor are also described as well as a method of receiving a data message at a processor.
US08544019B2
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a request to generate a thread and supplying a request to a queue in response at least to the received request. The method may further include fetching a plurality of instructions in response at least in part to the request supplied to the queue and executing at least one of the plurality of instructions. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a storage medium having stored therein instructions that when executed by a machine result in the method. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes circuitry to receive a request to generate a thread and to queue a request to generate a thread in response at least to the received request. In some embodiments, a system includes circuitry to receive a request to generate a thread and to queue a request to generate a thread in response at least to the received request, and a memory unit to store at least one instruction for the thread.
US08544007B2
A web page behavior enhancement (WPBE) control element is provided on a rendered web page enabling a user to perform actions on at least a portion of the web page content such as customizing, editing, analyzing, forwarding, and/or annotating the content. The processed content may be presented on the original web page, on a locally stored version of the web page, or archived for subsequent use, where any changes to the original web page content may be tracked and the user notified about the changes. The WPBE control element(s) may be embedded into the web page at the source web application or at the local browser based on factors like web application capabilities, browser capabilities, user preferences, usage pattern, and comparable ones.
US08544005B2
An improved solution for managing processes. In particular, resources are allocated to processes based on a determination of the available resources and an anticipated benefit for each process. The anticipated benefit can be derived from a current status of the process (e.g., lagging or accelerated) and/or benefit knowledge learned from past executions of the process using diverse resource sets. One or more additional attributes, such as resource dependency between processes, can also be considered before allocating resources.
US08543994B2
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for developing components, such as Java server components, without restarting the application server hosting those components. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include providing a component comprising an implementation class and an interface class. At the application server, access to the implementation class may be inhibited to enable the application to execute the component without restarting the application. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US08543977B2
A software system includes a database containing data related to at least one software application and a general-purpose Java-based interpreter on a computer. The interpreter is coupled to the database and is operative to interpret the data, thus enabling a user of the computer to perform functions of the at least one application.
US08543975B2
Traditional programming environments that support event-driven programming typically expose a model where the developer chooses an event to handle on a given object, and then writes the code for that event handler. In contrast, as described herein, the traditional flow of program development is reversed. A (configurable) event-handler (“behavior”) is selected. Upon selection of one of the behaviors, the event triggering the behavior is selected. This is a “what-then-when” approach rather than the traditional “when-then-what” approach for event-driven programming.
US08543960B1
A method of optimizing power and timing for an integrated circuit (IC) chip, which uses an IC technology that exhibits temperature inversion, by modifying a voltage supplied to the IC chip, while meeting power consumption and timing delay performances across lower and higher temperature ranges. A high voltage is selected that meets a closed timing analysis across a full temperature range to meet a timing performance and a low voltage is selected to meet the timing performance and the power performance across a lower temperature range to a temperature cut point in the higher temperature range. The IC chip is turned on at the high voltage and the high voltage is lowered to the low voltage when the temperature cut point is exceeded to meet the power performance while maintaining the timing performance.
US08543957B2
An optical network design apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores a connection limit corresponding to the number of connections between ports. The processor provisionally designs a traffic path across an optical network independently of a connection limit of an asymmetric optical hub, calculates a penalty allowance with respect to the penalty limit of the traffic path, calculates an additional penalty caused on a detour path derived by replacing a port with a replacement port in the asymmetric optical hub, and if an asymmetric optical hub is included in the detour path, generates asymmetric optical hub information about the included asymmetric optical hub, generates, based on the connection limit, penalty allowance, additional penalty, and asymmetric optical hub information, a constraint condition for adopting the traffic path satisfying the connection limit and penalty limit, and calculates the traffic path by mathematical programming under the constraint condition.
US08543952B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing thermal analysis of an integrated circuit (“IC”) design layout. The IC design layout includes several wiring layers in some embodiments. The IC design layout includes a substrate that has at least one through-silicon via (“TSV”). The method divides the IC design layout into a set of elements. The method identifies a temperature distribution for the IC design layout by using the set of elements. In some embodiments, at least one element includes a metal component and a non-metal component. The non-metal component is silicon in some embodiments, and a dielectric in other embodiments.
US08543951B2
A method of designing a model of an integrated circuit block, an electronic design automation tool and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) generating an input and output timing budget for the block based on design constraints of the block and a netlist of the block, (2) updating the input and output timing budget with clock customization data based on designer knowledge of the integrated circuit and (3) providing the model for the block based on the update of the input and output timing budget, wherein the model represents clock information of the block separately from data path information of the block.
US08543944B2
An edge routing system is described herein that uses a spatial decomposition to achieve faster routing, and more quickly generates a sparse visibility graph using a cone spanner. The system provides two approaches that can be used separately or in combination to achieve faster—and hence more scalable and more interactive—edge routing using approximate shortest paths. The first approach uses a spatial decomposition of the nodes in a graph, moving them slightly to obtain strictly disjoint convex hulls around groups of nodes, and then computing visibility graphs over these composite hulls rather than individual nodes. The second approach generates a sparse visibility-graph spanner to accelerate the process of producing the visibility graph. The system allows high quality obstacle avoiding edge routing for large diagrams in interactive diagramming applications where very fast refreshes of routing are used with many nodes moving at the same time.
US08543939B2
A computer-readable storage media for storing computer-executable instructions executable by processing logic causes the processing logic to receive data in a first format for conversion to a second format different than the first format, wherein the data includes information having a first type and information having a second type and display the data in the first format via a graphical interface. One or more translation rules are received relating to processing the information having the first type or the information having the second type. The one or more translation rules are pre-applied to the data in the first format. Effects of the pre-applied rules on the displayed data are displayed via the graphical interface. The data in the first format is converted to the data in the second format based on the one or more translation rules.
US08543934B1
A method includes, displaying a content selection icon on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting touch input at a touch location on the display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon, and, modifying the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion.
US08543932B2
Generation and testing of graphical user interface for matter management workflow with collaboration
A method including obtaining metadata specifying screens based on a business logic of the matter management workflow, generating, based on the metadata, the screens each including screen objects, where the matter management workflow includes a sequence of the screen objects specified by the metadata based on the business logic, receiving a matter management user input via the screen objects to navigate the matter management workflow, receiving a screen tester user input specifying a test instruction including a first specification based on the screen objects, generating, using the first specification and without further user intervention, a test sequence including a second specification based on the metadata, applying the test sequence to the screen objects to generate a first result depicting an evaluation of navigating the matter management workflow according to the business logic, and generating an alert in response to the first result indicating a violation to the business logic.
US08543931B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided including a method for displaying a user interface element in a display environment. The method includes receiving a selection of a user interface element to be displayed in a display environment, and selectively displaying the user interface element in a preview environment prior to installing the user interface element and prior to displaying the interface element in the display environment. Preview includes instantiating the user interface element in a preview environment including displaying the user interface element in a presentation window along with a preview designator and supporting interaction of the user interface element with a user; and selectively installing the user interface element in the display environment.
US08543926B2
An approach is described for managing item access in a collaborative workspace. A user interacts with the collaborative workspace through a workspace user interface presentation. The approach entails presenting an item user interface presentation to the user without losing a context associated with the workspace user interface presentation. The user can enter searching and filtering selections into the item user interface presentation to narrow an initial set of items provided by that presentation. Upon locating a desired item, the user can add it to the collaborative workspace using a drag-and-drop operation or other technique.
US08543921B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide novel methods for editing the value of an attribute of a media item (e.g., a media content or a media operation) for a media editing application. Such attributes of a media item can include scale, rotation, opacity, pan, volume, etc. In some embodiments, a media editing application represents the changing value of such an attribute over a duration (e.g., a duration of time, a duration of frequencies, etc.) as a key-indexed geometry. A user of the media editing application can manipulate these geometries to change the attribute value over a duration. Such geometries may include graphs and shapes. For such applications, some embodiments provide novel compressed geometric representations (i.e., collapsed views) of one or more uncompressed key-indexed geometries (e.g., graphs or shapes). Additionally, other embodiments provide a novel method for editing the value of one or more attribute directly in a preview display area used to view the composite presentation created in the media editing application.
US08543918B2
Systems and methods for presenting audio data involve obtaining audio data that includes audio clips, and presenting the audio data for a first audio clip in a user interface having an audio play element configured to play audio from the audio data, a clip selection element configured to receive selections of the audio clips, and a timeline element configured to present both chronological and durational information for the first audio clip or the audio segment on a defined time scale. Techniques involve adjusting the defined time scale in the timeline element based on durational information of a selected second audio clip, and presenting the adjusted defined time scale corresponding to the durational information of the second audio clip in the timeline element. Animation is used in the timeline element for presenting the adjusted defined time scale corresponding to the durational information of the second audio clip in the timeline element.
US08543916B2
The system and method described herein for recording collaborative information technology processes in an intelligent workload management system may include a computing environment having a model-driven, service-oriented architecture for creating collaborative threads to manage workloads. In particular, the management threads may include one or more data structures that converge information describing interaction between managed entities and content that may relate to such interaction in time-ordered series of events. The time-ordered event stream may then be replayed in a real-time stream to remediate, roll back, or otherwise analyze the collaborative information technology processes.
US08543913B2
The disclosure is directed to a method and system for accessing textual widgets. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: entering a string expression into a document; invoking a spell-checker to check a spelling of the string expression; marking the string expression as misspelled; identifying a textual widget based on the misspelling of the string expression; evaluating the misspelled string expression using the identified textual widget, the identified textual widget returning at least one result of the evaluation; displaying the at least one result of the evaluation; selecting a result of the evaluation; and replacing the string expression in the document with the selected result of the evaluation.
US08543901B1
The systems and methods described herein are useful for maintaining the integrity of documents, such as web pages, which contain hyperlinks to other documents, such as other web pages. A value representative of the content or a portion thereof of the document referenced by the hyperlink may be included in the hyperlink, such that changes in the content of the document are reflected as changes in the value representative thereof. Subsequent retrievals of the referenced document may then be analyzed to verify that the contents of the document have not been altered since the hyperlink was created.
US08543896B2
An iterative decoder for decoding a code block comprises a computation unit configured to perform forward and backward recursions over a code block or a code sub-block in each decoding iteration. A first forward/backward decoding scheme is used in a first iteration and a second forward/backward decoding scheme is used in a second iteration. The first and second decoding schemes are different in view of forward and backward processing.
US08543893B2
In one embodiment, a receiver for a frame of media packets employing the real-time transmission protocol (RTP) and forward error correction (FEC) is disclosed. The receiver comprises a packet buffer and an FEC decoder. After a packet is received by the packet buffer, the FEC decoder reads the packet and, as part of FEC processing, performs an XOR operation on the packet, without waiting for the entire frame (or, indeed, for any subsequent packet of the frame) to be received. The XOR operation results are accumulated until sufficient packets are received to reconstruct a missing packet in the frame. Because the XOR operations are performed immediately after a packet is received, without any delay from waiting for subsequent packets, the receiver has a very low latency, and the packet buffer may be relatively small.
US08543892B2
Memory devices and/or methods of storing memory data bits are provided. A memory device includes a multi-level cell (MLC) array including a plurality of MLCs, an error correction unit configured to encode data to be recorded in an MLC, where the encoded data is converted to convert the encoded data into a codeword, an error pattern analysis unit configured to analyze a first data pattern included in the codeword corresponding to an error pattern included in the codeword and a data conversion unit configured to convert the analyzed first data pattern into a second data pattern. According to the above memory devices and/or methods, it is possible to efficiently reduce a data error that occurs when the data is stored for a relatively long period of time, thereby improving reliability.
US08543887B2
The present invention relates to coding method and coding device that allow Rate-Compatible LDPC (low-density parity-check) codes to have favorable BER performance both with a low code rate and with a high code rate. In coding of LDPC codes that have plural code rates and whose all parity check matrices are composed of plural cyclic matrices, a coder 121 performs the coding in such a way that 1
US08543886B1
A coding system for digital data. The coding system includes a constrained encoder module configured to generate encoded data based on a first constrained code; a bit insertion module configured to insert at least one bit location in the encoded data; and an inner encoding module configured to (i) generate inner-code parity bits based on the encoded data, and (ii) program the inner-code parity bits into the at least one bit location.
US08543872B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of detecting potential performance degradation caused by neighboring identical scrambling codes. The method includes detecting an existence of identical scrambling codes in received signals from different cell at the user equipment, and selectively eliminating one or more signals from consideration in processing of received signals based upon the detection. The invention also includes a receiver configured to detect potential performance degradation caused by neighboring identical scrambling codes. The receiver includes a detection component configured to detect an existence of identical scrambling codes in received signals from different base stations at the user equipment, and an elimination component configured to selectively eliminate one or more signals from consideration in processing of received signals based upon the detection by the detection component.
US08543868B2
A client device in a distributed system may include a timer for timing a request time duration substantially including a period of time that the client device is waiting for results to be received via a network from a server in response to a request sent by the client device. A network interface may receive a value of a service time duration from the server. The service time duration may correspond to time that the server spent servicing the request. A processor may subtract the service time duration from the request time duration to thereby calculate a difference time duration, and automatically control the network interface to issue one or more alert messages to a network operation center (NOC) via the network when the difference time duration is greater than a difference time threshold. The difference time threshold may be determined according to a type of the request.
US08543856B2
A semiconductor device having a low power mode includes a buffer circuit associated with an interface pad, a power management controller (PMC), and a wakeup unit for waking up a part of the device from the low power mode. The buffer circuit is disabled in the low power mode by asserting a power on reset (POR) signal associated with the PMC. A wakeup signal is generated and provided to the wakeup unit from an analog power supply associated with the buffer circuit.
US08543855B2
Multifunction document processing systems and operating methods are presented for energy efficient transitions from low power mode to a partially functional mode in which only certain document processing components are initialized and powered in order to support document processing tasks selected by a user.
US08543841B2
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for executing applications. The method includes accessing a secure storage element via a host device including a computer processor; executing, by the computer processor, a hosted execution runtime environment (HERE) on the host device; identifying a persistent memory image of the HERE within the secure storage element; executing, by the computer processor, an application using the HERE; and applying, based on executing the application, a first set of changes to the persistent memory image.
US08543838B1
Cryptographic apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: a mailbox memory module to store cryptographic commands received from a client over a client bus, wherein the client is external to the cryptographic apparatus; and a secure processor to obtain the cryptographic commands from the mailbox memory module over a first secure internal bus, execute the cryptographic commands, and store a status of execution of the cryptographic commands in the mailbox memory module over the first secure internal bus, wherein the client obtains the status of the cryptographic commands from the mailbox memory module over the client bus.
US08543834B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus for voice authentication and command. In an aspect, a method comprises: receiving, by a data processing apparatus that is operating in a locked mode, audio data that encodes an utterance of a user, wherein the locked mode prevents the data processing apparatus from performing at least one action; providing, while the data processing apparatus is operating in the locked mode, the audio data to a voice biometric engine and a voice action engine; receiving, while the data processing apparatus is operating in the locked mode, an indication from the voice biometric engine that the user has been biometrically authenticated; and in response to receiving the indication, triggering the voice action engine to process a voice action that is associated with the utterance.
US08543830B1
A method and apparatus for reconnecting a security token without restarting an application that supports use of the security token. In some embodiments, the method establishes at least one session for an application with a security token that is used to authenticate application data associated with the application, creates dynamic session data including cryptographic information associated with the security token, detects an occurrence of the security token being disconnected and, upon detecting the occurrence, terminates all established sessions and deleting the cryptographic information from the dynamic session data.
US08543820B2
The tag generation apparatus of the present invention includes a hash unit (12) that applies a hash function to a message to generate a hash value, a random number encryption unit (14) that applies an encryption function having a first key to a random number that is independent of the message to generate a first intermediate variable, a masked encryption unit (15) that applies the encryption function having a second key to the sum of the random number and the hash value to generate a second intermediate variable, and a tag generation unit (16) that generates as the tag a value contained in bits of a predetermined number of bits that is less than or equal to the number of bits of the random number and that are extracted from the exclusive OR of the first intermediate variable and the second intermediate variable.
US08543818B2
A gateway, program and method for use in a packet-based communication system. The gateway comprises: a connection to a public packet-based network comprising a public-network server and a plurality of public-network user terminals; a connection to a private packet-based network comprising a private-network server and a plurality of private-network user terminals each installed with a public-network communication client; a processing device arranged to receive a login request from a public-network client of a private-network user terminal, and in response to initiate both a private-network authentication procedure involving the private-network server and a public-network authentication procedure involving the public-network server, so as subject to both authentication procedures to enable establishment of a communication channel between one of the public-network user terminals and the public-network client of the private-network user terminal; wherein the processing device is further configured to apply a control policy to communications occurring over said channel.
US08543815B2
A method for authenticating a first party with a second party, the first and second parties having means for communicating with each other, the first party having secret information and supporting a plurality of authentication modes for authenticating the first party with another party, using said secret information, the authentication modes of said plurality being arranged for protecting the first party's privacy with respective degrees. A degree with which the first party's privacy must be protected when authenticating the first party with the second party is negotiated between the first party and the second party. If the negotiation is successful, the first party is authenticated with the second party according to the authentication mode of said plurality having the negotiated degree of protection of the first party's privacy.
US08543808B2
A networked computer system in which a trusted intermediary device is allowed access to packets transmitted through a secured connection. An endpoint to a secured connection identifies a trusted intermediary device, such as by certificate provided by the intermediary device or by using identification information provided by a trusted server. The endpoint shares with the trusted intermediary device connection information that enables the intermediary device to access packets transmitted through the secured connection. Using the connection information, the intermediary device may modify authenticated packets, such as to perform network address translation, without disrupting the underlying secured connection. Similarly, the intermediary device may use the security information to read encrypted information and perform functions such as network traffic monitoring or filtering of unwanted network traffic.
US08543806B2
Systems, methods and apparatus for protecting sensitive data in a file that has been replaced with pointer(s) for each sensitive data. The sensitive data items are protected by restricting subsequent access to and use of the sensitive data items via the pointers by: receiving a first request for data stored in a file on the data storage, determining whether the requested data includes at least one of the pointers, providing the requested data whenever the requested data does not include any of the pointers, and performing the following steps whenever the requested data includes at least one of the pointers: sending a second request containing the pointer(s) included in the requested data to the server that authenticates the second request, denying the first request whenever the authentication fails, and receiving and providing the extracted data item(s) corresponding to the pointer(s) included in the requested data whenever the authentication succeeds.
US08543800B2
Exemplary methods, system, and computer program product embodiments for managing services within a data storage subsystem using a processor in communication with a memory device during a startup sequence are provided. At least one service facilitated by a provider is provided. At least one requirement is linked to the at least one service. The at least one service and the at least one requirement are incorporated into a specification file. A directed acyclic graph, interrelating the at least one service and an additional service based on the at least one requirement, is constructed. The directed acyclic graph is traversed using an initialization process to generate a determination which of an available plurality of services to provide. The determination further includes an analysis of the which of the available plurality of services to provide in view of at least one hardware resource in the data storage subsystem.
US08543798B2
A system may include a printed circuit board, a first component located on the printed circuit board, the first component having a first unique identifier and a processor located on the printed circuit board, the processor including a one time programming section. The processor may acquire the first unique identifier from the first component and store the first unique identifier in the one time programming section during the first time initialization. Upon subsequent initializations, the processor may acquire the first unique identifier from the first component and compare the first unique identifier to the stored first unique identifier. The processor may allow the subsequent initializations to proceed if the first unique identifier matches the stored first unique. The processor may disallow the subsequent initializations from proceeding if the first unique identifier does not match the stored first unique identifier.
US08543797B1
A method and system of operating an actual or virtual desktop or server and managing such desktops and servers involves a cache appliance serving desktop, operating system, and application objects to a managed machine. The objects are composited together to present a normal file structure to the user, with all user configuration and data stored in the desktop object. Management requirements are minimized to maintain operating system and application objects, while users maintain distinct and customizable desktops.
US08543795B2
The present invention concerns a new category of integrated circuitry and a new methodology for adaptive or reconfigurable computing. The preferred IC embodiment includes a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements coupled to an interconnection network. The plurality of heterogeneous computational elements include corresponding computational elements having fixed and differing architectures, such as fixed architectures for different functions such as memory, addition, multiplication, complex multiplication, subtraction, configuration, reconfiguration, control, input, output, and field programmability. In response to configuration information, the interconnection network is operative in real-time to configure and reconfigure the plurality of heterogeneous computational elements for a plurality of different functional modes, including linear algorithmic operations, non-linear algorithmic operations, finite state machine operations, memory operations, and bit-level manipulations. The various fixed architectures are selected to comparatively minimize power consumption and increase performance of the adaptive computing integrated circuit, particularly suitable for mobile, hand-held or other battery-powered computing applications.
US08543793B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes switching between a first address space and a second address space, determining if the second address space exists in a list of address spaces; and maintaining entries of the first address space in a translation buffer after the switching. In such manner, overhead associated with such a context switch may be reduced.
US08543791B2
An apparatus for reducing a page fault rate in a virtual memory system includes a page table stored in a main storage unit which stores a reference address so as to read page information from the main storage unit; a buffer unit which stores a portion of the page table; and a processor which reads data from the main storage unit or which stores data in the main storage unit. When changing information for referring to a first page that exists in the page table, the processor performs a task invalidating information related to the first page in the buffer unit. A method of reducing the page fault rate includes resetting reference information stored in the page table; detecting whether the reference information exists in a buffer unit; and invalidating the reference information when the reference information exists in the buffer unit.
US08543784B1
Various techniques for coordinating the resource allocation and management capabilities of a backup application with the power saving features provided by a storage array are disclosed. One method involves accessing power management information associated with a logical storage unit (LSU) and image property information that indicates a future pattern of access to a backup image. The method also involves selecting the LSU, based upon both the power management information and the image property information, and then causing the backup image to be written to the LSU. Another method, performed by a backup module, involves receiving power management information associated with a storage array, selecting a logical storage unit (LSU) implemented on the storage array, based upon the power management information, and performing a backup storage management operation on the LSU, in response to selecting the LSU.
US08543780B2
A computer-readable, non-transitory medium storing a program for measuring a performance in a system including a storage unit and a plurality of control units for controlling an access to the storage unit, the program causing a computer to execute a procedure, the procedure includes estimating a specification area in address information including an address area in which an address of an access target of the storage unit is set and the specification area in which specification information for specifying a control unit for controlling an access to the access target is set, and verifying a reliability of the system by accessing the storage unit on the basis of a specification information in the specification area.
US08543774B2
A programmable logic apparatus includes a shared memory having a first port, a second port and a third port; a first vital processor interfaced to the first port of the shared memory; and a non-vital communications processor separated from the first vital processor in the programmable logic apparatus and interfaced to the second port of the shared memory. The third port of the shared memory is an external port structured to interface an external second vital processor.
US08543770B2
A mechanism is provided for assigning memory to on-chip cache coherence domains. The mechanism assigns caches within a processing unit to coherence domains. The mechanism then assigns chunks of memory to the coherence domains. The mechanism monitors applications running on cores within the processing unit to identify needs of the applications. The mechanism may then reassign memory chunks to the cache coherence domains based on the needs of the applications running in the coherence domains. When a memory controller receives the cache miss, the memory controller may look up the address in a lookup table that maps memory chunks to cache coherence domains. Snoop requests are sent to caches within the coherence domain. If a cache line is found in a cache within the coherence domain, the cache line is returned to the originating cache by the cache containing the cache line either directly or through the memory controller. If a cache line is not found within the coherence domain, the memory controller accesses the memory to retrieve the cache line.
US08543768B2
An integrated memory system with a spiral cache responds to requests for values at a first external interface coupled to a particular storage location in the cache in a time period determined by the proximity of the requested values to the particular storage location. The cache supports multiple outstanding in-flight requests directed to the same address using an issue table that tracks multiple outstanding requests and control logic that applies the multiple requests to the same address in the order received by the cache memory. The cache also includes a backing store request table that tracks push-back write operations issued from the cache memory when the cache memory is full and a new value is provided from the external interface, and the control logic to prevent multiple copies of the same value from being loaded into the cache or a copy being loaded before a pending push-back has been completed.
US08543764B2
A detachable storage device can comprise a memory, circuitry, and a user interface. The memory may comprise a storage partition. The circuitry may be configured to authorize access to the storage partition to a digital device when the detachable storage device is coupled to the digital device based, at least in part, on a user code. The user interface may be configured to receive the user code while the detachable storage device is within a detached state and provide the user code to the circuitry to allow access to the storage partition.
US08543760B2
Various embodiments are provided for saving a plurality of log data in a hierarchical storage management system using a disk system as a primary cache with a tape library as a secondary cache. The user data is stored in the primary cache and written into the secondary cache at a subsequent period of time. The plurality of blank tapes in the secondary cache is prepared for storing the user data and the plurality of log data based on priorities. At least one of the plurality of blank tapes is selected for copying the plurality of log data and the user data from the primary cache to the secondary cache based on priorities. The plurality of log data is stored in the primary cache. The selection of at least one of the plurality of blank tapes completely filled with the plurality of log data is delayed for writing additional amounts of the user data.
US08543755B2
An embedded controller includes a microcontroller core, a first bus interface that does not support bus arbitration, a second bus interface and memory control circuitry. The first bus interface is configured to receive and transmit memory transactions from and to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) chipset. The second bus interface is configured to communicate with a memory and to transfer the memory transactions of the CPU chipset to and from the memory. The memory control circuitry is configured to evaluate a starvation condition that identifies an inability of the microcontroller core to access the memory via the second bus interface due to the memory transactions transferred between the CPU chipset and the memory via the first and second bus interfaces, and to invoke a predefined corrective action when the starvation condition is met.
US08543753B2
A multi-use physical (PHY) architecture that includes a PHY connection that includes one or more bit lines and that is communicatively coupled to a first processor. The PHY connection is configurable to carry signals between the first processor and a second processor, or between the first processor and a memory. The one or more bit lines are configured to carry signals bi-directionally at a first voltage when the PHY connection is configured to carry signals between the first processor and the memory. The one or more bit lines are configured to carry signals uni-directionally at a second voltage when the PHY connection is configured to carry signals between the first processor and the second processor. The second voltage is different than the first voltage.
US08543745B2
An accessory for use with a portable computing device is provided. The accessory includes a keypad and a pedestal to house the control circuitry and provide mechanical stability for the accessory. The accessory includes a metal mass that performs dual functions of providing the mass for stability as well as acting as a ground connection for the keypad and other control circuitry. The accessory includes a connector for interfacing with a portable computing device and an additional connector for interfacing with an additional accessory.
US08543735B2
There is provided a semiconductor device having a reduced number of external terminals allocated for address input to receive access from outside, while realizing a high-speed response to an access from outside. The semiconductor device employs, in order to allow other external devices to directly access resources it possesses in its own address space, in an external interface circuit, external terminals which input a part of the address signal required for access from outside, a supplementary register which supplements the upper portion of address information that has been input from the external terminals, a mode register accessible from outside, and an address control circuit which generates an address signal to access the address space in a form based on information input from the external terminals, required supplementary information, and mode information of the mode register.
US08543732B2
The current disclosure describes an edge application (user agent) that supports name multiplexing and allows users the convenience of the ‘name*number.com’ format while allowing registration of the real domain name as exemplified by ‘ml-name-number.com’ which parallels the approach standardized for Internationalized Domain Names. Multiplexed domain names allow a virtually unlimited number of domain names under any Internet top level domain. The current improvement requires no new central associated directories, multi-tiered or sub-directories. It does not require modification of the DNS to allow additional characters such as the asterisk. It uses the DNS exactly as it is configured today.
US08543731B2
The present invention sets forth a method for content responding, a method for content requesting, a content responder and a content requester. A content responder receives a first request from a content requester via a network. Then, the content responder generates a first content based on the first request. Then the content responder receives a second request from the content requester via the network. Then, the content responder generates a second content based on the second request. Next, the content responder compares the second content with the first content. After that, the content responder transmits a second response with regard to the second request to the content requester via the network. The second response is generated based on the result of comparison. According to the invention, if there is a very small difference between the first content and the second content, network bandwidth can be saved, the transmitting time of content will be reduced, and thus the waiting time of the user to view content will be reduced. The present invention is particular beneficial to the existing industries (for example, the banking industry) that adopt narrow band network widely.
US08543727B2
A device for routing a unit of data in a network, the device comprising a processing means that is operable to: determine an identity of a first path in the network that was used to transfer the unit of data; identify a second path in the network based on the identity of the first path; and forward the unit of data over the second path to thereby route the unit of data in the network.
US08543723B2
A client TV in a home entertainment network receives and buffers an audio/video stream from a server, before playing the stream. In the case of buffer underflow, the client TV requests the server to raise the transmission rate. If this causes an ensuing buffer overflow, the client TV requests the server to reset the transmission rate or stop transmitting altogether for a short time.
US08543720B2
The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.
US08543719B2
Disclosed is a system and method for managing XDM (XML Document Management) service information to improve management efficiency for OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) service information. The apparatus includes a controller for creating a shared User Resource Identifier (URI), and using a value created by the controller as a static value to be used as a newly-created reference handle for shared service information referred to by service information. The newly-created value is set as an unchanged value (i.e., it remains static until a corresponding element vanishes), thereby preventing signaling overhead, compatibility degradation, and resource waste due to modification of the shared service information.
US08543718B2
A technique efficiently and dynamically maintains bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) on a bundle of links in a computer network. According to the novel technique, one or more “standby” BFD sessions may be established on one or more corresponding line cards (LCs), the LCs having one or more links of the bundle (bundle links). Once established, one of the standby BFD sessions may be selected as an “active” BFD session based on activity of one of the bundle links of the corresponding LC. Also, BFD messages may be transmitted from one of the bundle links of the active BFD session, e.g., the link receiving BFD messages. In response to inactivity of the transmitting link (e.g., failure, removal, etc.), the active BFD session may switch to another available active bundle link, and if no other active bundle links are available to the active BFD session, one of the standby BFD sessions is selected as the new active BFD session. In the event no other standby BFD sessions exist, the link bundle is determined to have failed.
US08543712B2
A method and system for restricting remote access by users of directory access protocol client systems without using an directory access protocol “netgroup” option by defining a “remote_allowed” attribute for a entire user group, which, if enabled, allows granting of all remote access requests to all clients, but which, if disabled, allows granting of remote access requests to client systems specifically listed in a “hosts” attribute. In this manner, directory administrators may configure remote access rights for groups of users without having to perform cumbersome and tedious “netgroup”. Subsequent to granting access, the authentication, such as a log in, may be performed on the user. The invention is particularly useful for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) systems, where the “hosts” attribute can list client systems by Internet Protocol address, by hostname, or a by combination of address and hostname.
US08543708B2
A system and method to establish and maintain a connection between devices, which in one example embodiment of a method, may comprise receiving a request to establish a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device. A determination is made as to whether the second communication device is reachable via a data network. Based on the determination that the second communication device is reachable over the data network, a connection between the first communication device and the second communication device is established via the data network. Based on the determination that the second communication device is not reachable over the data network, a connection between the first communication device and the second communication device is established via a telecommunications network. Additional systems and methods are described.
US08543705B2
A method and arrangement in a multimedia gateway connected to a multimedia service network, for providing access to multimedia services for communication devices connected to a private network. The multimedia gateway may include a device database, a communication unit and a logic unit. A service identity is associated with the multimedia gateway and is valid in the multimedia service network. When a session request is received, a session is established on behalf of at least one device in the private network using said service identity and capabilities of said at least one device. Thereby, no individual service identity is necessary for the selected device(s). If the session request is a session invitation of an incoming request, said at least one device is selected based on capability requirements for the session.
US08543695B2
A system, apparatus, computer readable medium and method are disclosed for identifying underlying services of transactions in a service-oriented architecture (“SOA”)-based computer network. In one embodiment, a computer readable medium includes executable instructions to characterize messages communicating among services to form characterizations of the messages. Also included are executable instructions to determine dependencies using the characterizations of messages within a subset of the services. These dependencies can be represented as dependency links interconnecting the subset of the services that effectuate a transaction of interest. By identifying the dependency links, the underlying services in SOA-based networked computer system can advantageously be determined for managing the behavior of the subset of the services and other distributed services of the SOA-based networked computer system.
US08543692B2
The disclosed DNS server apparatus monitors whether each service providing server apparatus is active or inactive and collects load information. When the monitored apparatus is active but congested or is unable to offer services, a virtual IP address assigned to a Sorry server apparatus is sent back as a response. When service providing server apparatuses in active state are congested or unable to provide services, the DNS server apparatus sends a server activation instruction and an IP addresses for services to the service providing server apparatuses on standby to activate them. Each service providing server apparatus on standby activates server software in response to the server activation instruction and assigns the received IP address to a network interface as a virtual IP address, thus activating the interface.
US08543691B1
A method involves receiving a requested response from a remote computer system, comparing the requested response to a plurality of stored responses from computer systems representing a plurality of different operating systems, hardware platforms, and software platforms, and loading one or more operating system-specific, hardware platform-specific, and software platform-specific command modules onto the remote computer system based upon the comparison. The command modules may be configured to provide the remote computer system access to operating system-specific, hardware platform-specific, and software platform-specific diagnostics tools, as well as specific configuration management tools. The specific diagnostics tools may be configured to ascertain targeted information about the remote computer system including health status of the remote computer system hardware, such as memory, processor, and hard drive, and installed software, such as the health status of running software, installed patches, and installed applications.
US08543685B1
A data communications system includes a controller device and multiple client devices communicating with the controller device through a shared data communications link. The controller device is configured to determine data usage for each of the client devices and then compare the determined data usage for the client devices with a first usage threshold and with a second usage threshold. Based on the threshold comparisons, the usage-based multiplier values are either increased or decreased by a set amount.
US08543683B2
Computer-executable instructions comprising some or all of a program can be delivered to a client for execution on a real-time basis such that the client receives anew the computer-executable instructions for each new execution of the program. Such an environment enables instrumentation instructions to be inserted into the computer-executable instructions after a request and prior to the delivery of the computer-executable instructions. The inserted instrumentation instructions can be spread across multiple deliveries of the same computer-executable instructions, and they can be modified to account for information received from previously inserted instrumentation instructions. The instrumentation instructions can be inserted as part of the server process, the client process, or as part of a proxy server that can be used at the discretion of the program developer.
US08543677B2
A communication control device capable of performing data communication with an information processing device connected through a network, for performing data communication corresponding to a command from an application part which requests data communication with the information processing device, comprises: a communication control part for outputting response information obtained through the data communication corresponding to the command from the application part; and a virtually response part and for generating virtual response information, containing information as to the information processing device, responding to the command from the application part. The communication control part manages registration information including at least one command for requesting virtual data communication performed hypothetically with the virtually response part registered. The communication control part obtains the virtual response information from the virtually response part and outputs to the application part when the command received from the application part is registered in the registration information.
US08543659B2
An apparatus and method for reporting battery information including receiving configuration information including a reporting mode from a network entity; collecting the battery information of a user equipment (UE); preparing the battery information in the reporting mode; and sending the battery information in the reporting mode over a communications transport mechanism to the network entity. In one aspect, the apparatus and method receive battery information including selecting and configuring a reporting mode; sending configuration information over a communications transport mechanism to a user equipment (UE); and receiving the battery information from the UE, wherein the UE uses the configuration information and the reporting mode.
US08543633B2
A modified Gram-Schmidt QR decomposition core implemented in a single field programmable gate array (FPGA) comprises a converter configured to convert a complex fixed point input to a complex floating point input, dual port memory to hold complex entries of an input matrix, normalizer programmable logic module (PLM) to compute a normalization of a column vector. A second PLM performs complex, floating point multiplication on two input matrix columns. A scheduler diverts control of the QRD processing to the normalizer PLM or the second PLM. A top level state machine communicates with scheduler and monitors processing in normalizer PLM and second PLM and communicates the completion of operations to scheduler. A complex divider computes final column for output matrix Q using floating point arithmetic. Multiplexer outputs computed values as elements of output matrix Q or R. Complex floating point operations are performed in a parallel pipelined implementation reducing latencies.
US08543631B2
A floating point total order comparator circuit for comparing a first floating point operand and a second floating point operand includes a first analysis circuit for determining a format of the first floating point operand based upon floating point status information encoded within the first floating point operand, a second analysis circuit for determining a format of the second floating point operand based upon floating point status information encoded within the second floating point operand, and a result generator circuit coupled to the analysis circuits for producing a result indicating a total order comparative relationship between the first floating point operand and the second floating point operand based on the format of the first floating point operand and the format of the second floating point operand. The result can condition the outcome of a floating point instruction. The floating point total order comparator circuit may recognize several predetermined operand formats, such as not-a-number (NaN), infinity, normalized, denormalized, invalid operation, overflow, underflow, division by zero, positive zero, negative zero, exact, and inexact.
US08543626B2
A method and apparatus for QR-factorizing matrix on a multiprocessor system, wherein the multiprocessor system comprises at least one core processor and a plurality of accelerators, comprises the steps of: iteratively factorizing each panel in the matrix until the whole matrix is factorized; wherein in each iteration, the method comprises: partitioning an unprocessed matrix part in the matrix into a plurality of blocks according to a predetermined block size; partitioning a current processed panel in the unprocessed matrix part into at least two sub panels, wherein the current processed panel is composed of a plurality of blocks; and performing QR factorization one by one on the at least two sub panels with the plurality of accelerators, and updating the data of the sub panel(s) on which no QR factorization has been performed among the at least two sub panels by using the factorization result.
US08543614B2
A storage of nodes of hierarchically structured data uses logical node identifiers to reference the nodes stored within and across record data structures. A node identifier index is used to map each logical node identifier to a record identifier for the record that contains the node. When a sub-tree is stored in a separate record, a proxy node is used to represent the sub-tree in the parent record. The mapping in the node identifier index reflects the storage of the sub-tree nodes in the separate record. Since the references between the records are through logical node identifiers, there is no limitation to the moving of records across pages, as long as the indices are updated or rebuilt to maintain synchronization with the resulting data pages. This approach is highly scalable and has a much smaller storage consumption than approaches that use explicit references between nodes.
US08543613B2
Additional information is provided in a checkpoint image such that direct pointers can be included in the checkpoint image. Thus, an in-memory database management system can be restored from the checkpoint image in the event of a failure without causing any significant performance drawbacks to the database management system.
US08543611B1
In an embodiment, a network may represent a physical system. The network may have an element that represents an entity of the physical system. A value of a state associated with the network may be identified (e.g., generated) using various techniques. The state may be a low-level state associated with the network. The techniques may include, but are not limited to, for example, generating the value based on a scaffold defined for the network, generating the value based on a target value for the state, and/or generating the value based on applying an operation to various values of the state. The identified value may be associated with an identifier. The identifier may distinguish the value, for example, from other values of other states in the network and/or other values of states in other networks.
US08543605B2
Rights clearances management for assets, such as media assets. A rights brokerage service enables potential licensees to clears rights to use assets within designated projects, such as advertising campaign projects. The potential licensee uses an interface to select or identify an asset without necessarily accessing the asset itself. The rights holders and the rights held by each rights holder are identified based on the asset identity. A request is automatically issued to the rights holders to approve use of the asset for the project. The potential licensee may use an interface to track progress of approvals from the rights holders. Unenforceable rights are detected and approval is automatically obtained. If all enforceable rights are cleared, the asset may be committed for approval by a project manager or other authority. When approved, a license to use the asset is automatically created between the potential licensee and each of the rights holders.
US08543588B2
Embodiments are provided for associating a virtual column with a target physical table. The data for the virtual column originates from a source physical table where the data physically resides. In this way, users can access the data in a manner consistent with the users' logical perspective of the data.
US08543584B2
A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items.
US08543575B2
A system and method to navigate through a media item catalog and generate recommendations using behavioral metrics such as correlation metrics (FIGS. 1,2) from a knowledge base (400) of mediasets (FIG. 4, 1-7). One implementation uses a knowledge base comprising a collection of mediasets such as groupings of selected video items. Various metrics (Metric 1-Metric m) among media items (m1 . . . ) are considered by analyzing how the media items are grouped to form the sets in the knowledge base (400). Such metrics preferably are stored in a matrix (100) that allows the system to dynamically build appropriate navigation lists (FIG. 3) from media items that a user selects (FIG. 5).
US08543572B2
Systems and methods for analyzing boilerplate are described. In one described system, an indexer identifies a common element in a plurality of related articles. The indexer then classifies the common element as boilerplate. For example, the indexer may identify a copyright notice appearing in a plurality of related articles. The copyright notice in these articles is considered boilerplate.
US08543570B1
A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the user interface of a search engine in order to effectively communicate the improved relevancy achieved through real-time implicit re-ranking of search results is described. Real-time implicit re-ranking occurs without delay after every user action as the search is being conducted, so finding methods of immediately altering the search page without disrupting the user experience is important. Graphical icons next to search results are employed to enable generating and removing re-ranked results, referred to as “recommended” search results. Clusters based on the real-time user model are also displayed to facilitate query reformulations. Sponsored links are selected using the real-time user model along with a combination of RPC and CTR information and are displayed in a manner similar to the organic results, or used to replace the initial sponsored links altogether.
US08543565B2
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for answers to natural language questions. The method embodiment comprises training a lexical association model between a question and a first set of one or more possible answers, training a semantic association model between a question and a second set of one or more possible answers, receiving a user question containing at least one query word, parsing the user question syntactically and semantically, formulating a query from the parsed user question containing at least one query word, expanding the query based on the lexical association model and the semantic association model, weighting the at least one query word according to its importance when answering the user question, and returning an answer based on the weighted at least one query word, the lexical association model, and the semantic association model. Other features include using question-answer pairs mined to train the models and returning a plurality of answers in an order based on the lexical association model and the semantic association model.
US08543558B2
A data stream management system (DSMS) is designed to support a new user-defined function, by creating and using at least two structures as follows. A first structure (“metadata entry”) is created in response to a command for creation of the new function, and maps a single instance of a class to the function's name. A second structure is created with creation of an operator on receipt of each new continuous query that uses the new function. The second structure (“operator specific data structure”) contains a path to the newly-created instance, which path is obtained by looking up the first structure. Additional second structures are created on receipt of additional continuous queries which use the new function, but all second structures contain the same path. All continuous queries use the same instance. Repeated use of a single instance to compile and execute multiple queries eliminates repeated instantiation of the same function.
US08543554B1
Roughly described, a database accelerator is installed in a network having client systems which makes database queries to a particular IP address and port, and database servers which accept queries received at an IP address and port. The accelerator includes a cache, and is arranged to receive, through a network port, a database query made by a client system and directed to the particular IP address and port, return response data from the cache if available there, and if not, then forward the query through a network port to the database servers. Upon receipt of response data from the servers, the accelerator can retain it in its cache in addition to forwarding it back to the client. By installing the accelerator transparently in the network, no changes are required to either the client or server software in order to add query caching functionality to an existing client/server database arrangement.
US08543549B2
Techniques for normalizing a database as part of a database restore. Embodiments may receive a database restore request indicating a previous state to restore a database to. Responsive to the request, embodiments may restore the database to the previous state using backup data associated with the previous state, and normalize the restored database using historical database usage data based on one or more previous database operations.
US08543548B2
The storage system eliminates inconsistency between a stub, and a file data storage location indicated by the stub. In a storage system that executes HSM using stubs, information relating to a higher tier, which is a data migration source, is recorded during data migration. The stub in the higher tier is correctly restored using the higher-tier information thus recorded. The stub is restored, and inconsistency between information in the HSM layers is resolved.
US08543544B2
Methods, program products, and systems for checkpoint based progressive backup are described. When a system receives a request to update a page of a storage device storing database files of a database, the system can update the page and replicate the updated page in a shadow page in a backup queue. The backup queue can store multiple shadow pages, where each updated page can correspond to at most a specified number of shadow pages in the queue. Each shadow page can be associated with a timestamp of a latest update. At pre-specified temporal checkpoints, the system can write the shadow pages in the queue to a backup file in the order of the timestamps. Upon receiving a restoration request, the system can restore the database to a state as of the time of the checkpoint using the backup file.
US08543538B2
Systems and methods for redistributing data in a relational database are disclosed. In one embodiment, the database includes a plurality of rows of data distributed across a plurality of slices of a table in the database. The database system is configured to distribute the rows of data across the slices according to a first function based on one or more columns of the database. The database system monitors at least one database statistic indicative of variation in a distribution of the rows of data across the slices and detects a redistribution condition based on the at least one monitored database statistic. The database system is further configured to respond to the detected redistribution condition by redistributing the rows of data across the slices according to a second function based on a different number of columns than the first function.
US08543529B2
In some embodiments, there is provided a technique for detecting a consumer's skipping habits at a given time and determining the consumer's current preferences based at least in part on those skipping habits. Skipping habits are determined by detecting which content is skipped (or not skipped) during presentation of content. Skipping habits, indicating trends in the consumer's consuming or skipping of content, that are detected during presentation of content may be used to determine a consumer's current preferences. Selection of content for presentation may be based on current preferences of the consumer. In this way, a consumer's interactions with the content, including the consumer's skipping habits, can be used to alter a selection of content to be presented to the consumer.
US08543526B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided to provide noise reduction for an input signal using a neural network. A feed-forward set of neuron groups is provided to enhance neuron activity within a particular frequency band based on prior reception of activity within that frequency band, and also to attenuate surrounding frequency bands. A surround-inhibition set of neuron groups further attenuates activity surrounding the stimulated frequency band.
US08543524B1
Methods of benchmarking the problem solution space of a trial scenario for a combinatorial solver, as well as the characteristic performance of a combinatorial solver operating upon the trial scenario. Given a set of predetermined trial scenario data, the generalized method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a random sequence; (b) reordering the predetermined trial scenario data into a randomized input form according to the random sequence; (c) inputting the randomized input form into a combinatorial solver; (d) solving the randomized input form with the combinatorial solver to produce a solution; (e) evaluating the solution to measure the value of a criterion of solution quality; and (f) recording the measured value of the criterion of solution quality in a data storage structure. The steps are repeated for a predetermined number of trials, whereupon the statistical distribution of the measured values is analyzed in order to determine at least one parameter of a statistical distribution function. The resulting parameters can be used to evaluate performance, to compare performance, and to estimate the computational effort to be invested in obtaining solutions exceeding a measurable criterion of quality.
US08543517B2
A computerized decision tree training system may include a distributed control processing unit configured to receive input of training data for training a decision tree. The system may further include a plurality of data batch processing units, each data batch processing unit being configured to evaluate each of a plurality of split functions of a decision tree for respective data batch of the training data, to thereby compute a partial histogram for each split function, for each datum in the data batch. The system may further include a plurality of node batch processing units configured to aggregate the associated partial histograms for each split function to form an aggregated histogram for each split function for each of a subset of frontier tree nodes and to determine a selected split function for each frontier tree node by computing the split function that produces highest information gain for the frontier tree node.
US08543501B2
Embodiments of the invention may provide systems and methods for capturing and processing payment coupon information. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image representing a payment coupon from a payer and determining an identity of a biller associated with the payment coupon from the image. It may then be determined that no payment coupon metadata for obtaining one or more fields from the payment coupon is stored in association with the biller. The method may then include requesting a respective set of one or more field indicators representing at least an approximate size or an approximate location for one or more fields within the image. Upon receipt, the field indicators for the fields within the image are stored as the payment coupon metadata in association with the biller.
US08543497B1
A transaction and payment and processing system securely conducts transactions over the public telephone network. The transactions may be between and among entities of any type such as individuals, merchants, utilities, banks, etc. Nothing more than access to a telephone is required after initial registration of a user.
US08543496B2
A method of operating a mobile phone as a financial transaction instrument is provided. Security features, which can disable the mobile phone so as to prevent account information from being transmitted, incorporate transaction limits and the use of a personal identification number.
US08543495B1
Existing e-commerce is carried out largely using credit card charges, which are expensive in terms of transaction charges and not particularly secure. The present invention provides an online funds transfer system which avoids transmitting sensitive information over the Internet, and utilizes the security and simplicity of the ACH system, and the benefits of pre-approved payment and debit systems. It does this by using the bank Automated Clearing House system through Pre-approved Debits and payment distributions.
US08543494B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for modifying the terms of a loan and for providing for a shared appreciation loan program. For example, in one embodiment the amount owed on an existing HELOC is split into two portions. A qualifying borrower can defer the obligation to pay interest and payments on a portion of the HELOC in exchange for sharing up to 50% of the future appreciation in the real property that serves as the underlying security for the HELOC. This mortgage plan can provide an incentive for the borrower to remain in the home since the borrower may be able to share in the appreciation of the home even if the home never appreciates beyond the full amount owed on the home, while at the same time preserving the borrower's financial commitment rating and reducing the borrower's monthly payment.
US08543490B2
A method and system for an electronic commodities trading marketplace along with ancillary tools provide an electronic trading center for world market commodity importers, exporters, and the intermediaries and processors between them. This trading center is offered through its website centered around a 24-hour exchange that provides trading markets for commodities such as coffee, sugar, cocoa and cotton. The scalable system provides aggregated third party services linked to both front and back office operations. These services can include items such as live futures quotes and real-time news, futures brokerage, banking and finance links and resources, and a suite of applications tailored to members' specific risk-management and end-to-end contract execution needs. The system also provides access to shipping related services such as freight brokerage, direct booking for liner transport, load and discharge supervision and laboratory testing.
US08543487B2
The invention provides a system and method for creating and facilitating the exchange of wagering-based transferable financial instruments. The instruments may be used to embody multiple various positions based upon the ultimate outcomes of uncertain future contingent events, including but not limited to outcomes of games of skill and chance. The invention further provides systems and platforms for monitoring, displaying information, and facilitating trading as to such instruments among multiple investment market participants, and a hosting or house participant, for time-variable buying and selling of such instruments.
US08543482B2
Information regarding the current state in the market is used to prevent orders from crossing. In an example provided herein, when an order is entered into a market, information regarding current positions in the market is taken into account to determine whether the order will cross with other orders. If the orders would cross, appropriate action is taken to prevent the crossing of orders in a way suitable for the person or persons trading. The teachings described herein may be used for any reason to prevent orders from crossing. Moreover, they may be used in other areas of trading to assist the trader in obeying any other rule or regulation that might involve analyzing current positions in the market before taking action.
US08543476B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a method provides a cash ledger. The cash ledger may contain at least one line item and a clearing account. The method may post a payment, which contains at least one line item, to a bank account and clear a business partner account by posting the payment against the business partner account.
US08543463B2
A method and associated system is provided for providing an interactive checklist and collaborative shopping session. The method includes displaying desired items on an interactive checklist. A primary user may designate which users can view specific items and should purchase specific items. The method also includes the option for the primary user to send an email to a secondary user with information, extracted from a checklist or registry, with a wish list of items that the recipient can buy with a click to a shopping cart. The primary user may also initiate a real-time or static collaborative shopping session where multiple users can suggest, comment on and purchase items. The primary user may “return” a gift item before the item is shipped and receive credit or cash.
US08543461B2
The methods and systems described herein provide for processing payments at a retail location whose infrastructure has been significantly removed from PCI scope. A request for processing payments may be sent from a point of sale lane to a back office server in communication with a credit card terminal. A user may use the credit card terminal to enter in secure payment information which is securely transmitted to a remote authorization service for authorization. Through this method, the credit card terminal and sensitive payment information may be securely isolated from the remaining infrastructure at the retail location.
US08543457B2
A method of collecting data from pages viewed by a user of at least one web site, comprises receiving from at least one activity message reporter a plurality of access reports wherein an access report includes content from at least one web page of the at least one web site. Thereafter the method accumulates the received access reports, and formats content from the received access reports in accordance with a document template.
US08543452B2
A method includes identifying a media file for distribution and identifying a plurality of commercial messages as possible content that can be associated with the media file when it is distributed. Votes from a plurality of customers can be received, with each vote reflecting a customer's preference for at least one of the plurality of commercial messages. The votes can be calculated and at least one preferred commercial message can be designated based on the calculation. At least one preferred commercial message can be associated with the media file to create a combined media file and the combined media file can be distributed and/or made available for distribution.
US08543450B2
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services or events including plural electronic options with associated option fees for the goods or services or events. The plural electronic options include electronic option terms established by one or more suppliers who can supply the goods or services or events. The purchase of the electronic option is accepted according to electronic option terms established by the desired supplier. The option terms may vary greatly among the individual suppliers and no two suppliers may use the same option terms. The electronic option includes a personalized electronic coupon dynamically created by a server network device.
US08543446B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to predict new product performance metrics. An example disclosed method includes selecting a product hierarchy tree based on a distribution measure for a new product, identifying a segment location of the product hierarchy tree for the new product, retrieving a relationship matrix associated with the segment location of the product hierarchy tree, the relationship matrix comprising available product performance coefficients and attribute information, identifying a spatial location for the new product in the relationship matrix based on the attribute information, calculating, using a programmed processor, an impact parameter based on the spatial location within the relationship matrix, and calculating the performance metric for the new product based on the impact parameter and a channel sales value.
US08543441B2
A map is associated with a calendar entry. An electronic calendar includes at least one calendar entry. The calendar entry includes at least one calendar entry location for indicating a geographic location of where the calendar entry is scheduled to occur. At least one option associated with the calendar entry is provided. In response to receiving a user selection of the option, a map associated with the calendar entry location is provided.
US08543439B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf. According to embodiments, a method for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf is provided. According to the method, an indication of the given turf is received. Optimal turfs from where to reallocate technicians to the given turf are determined from a plurality of turfs. Visual cues for identifying at least a portion of the optimal turfs are generated.
US08543437B2
Contact lead quality is determined and presented to guide selection of contact leads for a predetermined activity, such as sales of a product, service or solution. A lead generation engine interfaces with a lead qualification module, an enterprise historical database and a lead confirmation tool to selectively analyze the lead information and qualification information to develop an ordered contact list for multiple contact leads, the ordered list ranking contact lead quality in multiple quality categories. A contact lead qualification graphical user interface presents multiple lead quality category ratings and values for a contact lead with each lead quality category indicative of a contact lead characteristic. These leads are then deemed relevant to sales and can be input in an organization's customer relationship management tool.
US08543429B1
A method of providing insurance (including professional malpractice liability insurance) to consumers against unfavorable outcomes resulting from services, methods of rating risks associated with services, and a method of reducing the risk of unfavorable outcomes. In the first preferred embodiment, a policy limit is chosen by a patient (or other consumer), a premium based on the policy limit is paid by the patient, and if malpractice is committed by a health care provider (or other professional), the consumer is compensated up to the amount of the policy limit. The consumer signs an agreement that the liability of the service provider for malpractice will not exceed the policy limit. Risk factors are evaluated for the consumer, the doctor, hospital or other service provider, and the procedures that are to be performed, and are used to determine the amount of the premium, taking into account the policy limit chosen by the consumer.
US08543428B1
A computerized system and method for estimating levels of obesity in an insured population using claims data. The model uses health risk assessment data comprising age, height, and weight information as well as information about health conditions and health behaviors for a member population. Claims data is used to train a two-stage model on the member population. The first stage comprises a support vector machine, a rule-based module, and a generalized linear model that estimates the probability of obesity. The second stage comprises a regression neural network that operates on the output of the first stage and a subset of the input feature vector. Cost and utilizations in these areas, along with overall health measures as well as demographics and social factors, are inputs to a set of pattern recognition engines that perform regression. The output is the estimated body mass index of the member.
US08543425B1
Disclosed are systems and methods to provide life insurance. The systems and methods provide techniques to provide an accurate quote to a customer over a website and then allow the customer to complete an application on the website and have that application submitted, while satisfying appropriate state regulations, without the customer having to do anything more.
US08543422B2
Method, system, and computer program product for personalized medical content recommendation are provided. The method may comprise having a patient medical profile; having a concept or relationship relating to the patient medical profile; obtaining medical content relevant to the concept or relationship; determining a score of the concept or relationship to the patient medical profile; enhancing the score with a context score based on the values of attributes of the concept or relationship in the patient medical profile; enhancing the score with an additional knowledge score based on knowledge of the concept or relationship additional to the medical content; recommending medical content with respect to a patient medical profile based on the enhanced scores. The method may also include providing an explanation of a medical content recommendation based on a matching concept or relationship.
US08543418B1
Some embodiments described herein provide for a number of portable infusion pumps to be distributed to a pump user via a pharmacy system or like.
US08543416B2
A method and apparatus provides for configuring the backlight brightness level. The backlight brightness level can be configured at the drug library and/or at the medical device, thereby improving the flexibility a user has in changing backlight parameters. A method and apparatus for managing a power saving mode allows the user to configure the power saving program at the drug library and/or at the medical device.
US08543415B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for mobile access to clinical information. Certain embodiments provide a mobile medical computing device system. The system includes a mobile medical computing device providing for display of, interaction with, and manipulation of medical images and patient data, the mobile medical computing device in communication with a clinical information system to exchange clinical content related to the medical images and patient data.
US08543413B2
Electronic to-do lists are provided in a computerized healthcare environment for managing and documenting events during clinical care processes. A to-do list includes events that may need to be completed and, in some cases, documented during a clinical care process. The to-do list may be generated in response to a selection of a to-do macro including data associated with a number of clinical events that need to be completed during the clinical care process. As events are completed by clinicians during the process, the to-do list may be used to document the completion of the event. As such, clinicians may readily identify events that have been performed, as well as events that have yet to be performed. In some cases, a clinical event in a to-do list may include associated details, which may be used to populate information in an electronic record when the clinical event is indicated as completed.
US08543409B2
A method to align and effectively apply business practices or culture within the business units in one or more business entities is provided. In the first phase, a practices charter defining future state business practices is developed. A practices charter is developed from an initial set of differing alternatives statements regarding future business practices, in view of a right-versus-right spectrum. A practices charter is an output of the reconciliation of differing alternatives statements in right-versus-right spectrums. In a second phase, a practices charter is applied to hypothetical issues to develop realistic outcome narratives describing hypothetical situations and dilemmas. In a third phase, discrepancies between outcome narratives and a current state of business practice are identified, and a prioritized action program is developed to address identified discrepancies. Finally, progress is evaluated by utilizing outcome narratives to identify achievements and to target areas needing further improvement and additional actions.
US08543408B2
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, comprising: via an antecedents user interface, receiving a plurality of customer antecedents, each of the customer antecedents corresponding to one of a plurality of variables associated with one or more rules from a set of rules defining a plurality of service offerings; generating a prioritized list of the plurality of service offerings based upon application of the set of rules to the received customer antecedents; and causing the prioritized list to be rendered to a user.
US08543401B2
A method and apparatus for continuously improving the performance of semantic classifiers in the scope of spoken dialog systems are disclosed. Rule-based or statistical classifiers are replaced with better performing rule-based or statistical classifiers and/or certain parameters of existing classifiers are modified. The replacement classifiers or new parameters are trained and tested on a collection of transcriptions and annotations of utterances which are generated manually or in a partially automated fashion. Automated quality assurance leads to more accurate training and testing data, higher classification performance, and feedback into the design of the spoken dialog system by suggesting changes to improve system behavior.
US08543394B2
A mobile terminal including a voice receiving unit configured to receive input voice, a controller configured to convert the received input voice to text, a display configured to display the converted text, and an input unit configured to select a word included in the displayed converted text. Further, the controller is further configured to control the display to display a plurality of possible candidate words corresponding to the selected word in an arrangement in which a corresponding displayed candidate word is displayed with a proximity from the selected word that is based on how similar the corresponding candidate word is to the selected word.
US08543392B2
Disclosed is an encoding device which can accurately specify a band having a large error among all the bands by using a small calculation amount. A first position identifier uses a first layer error conversion coefficient indicating an error of a decoding signal for an input signal so as to search for a band having a large error in a relatively wide bandwidth in all the bands of the input signal and generates first position information indicating the identified band. A second position identifier searches for a target frequency band having a large error in a relatively narrow bandwidth in the band identified by the first position identifier and generates second position information indicating the identified target frequency band. An encoder encodes a first layer decoding error conversion coefficient contained in the target frequency band.
US08543385B2
The present proposes new methods and an apparatus for enhancement of source coding systems utilizing high frequency reconstruction (HFR). It addresses the problem of insufficient noise contents in a reconstructed highband, by Adaptive Noise-floor Addition. It also introduces new methods for enhanced performance by means of limiting unwanted noise, interpolation and smoothing of envelope adjustment amplification factors. The present invention is applicable to both speech coding and natural audio coding systems.
US08543382B2
The present invention provides a method and system for diacritizing a text. The method includes analyzing the text to determine whether the text require one or more diacritical marks of a set of diacritical marks. The text includes a plurality of characters associated with an Arabic language. Thereafter, the text is processed for identifying diacritical marks for each character of the plurality of characters. Subsequently, the diacritical marks of the set of diacritical marks are applied on each character of the plurality of characters based on a context associated with the text to obtain a diacritized Arabic text.
US08543381B2
This invention is a method for “text morphing,” wherein text morphing involves integrating or blending together substantive content from two or more bodies of text into a single body of text based on locations of linguistic commonality among the two or more bodies of text. This method entails: identifying pairs of “Synonym-Different-Synonym” (SDS) text segments between an import body of text and an export body of text; and, for each selected pair of SDS text segments, substituting some or all of the SDS text segment from the export body of text for some or all of the SDS text segment in the import body of text. In some respects, this method is analogous to splicing and substituting gene segments with compatible starting and ending sequences, but different middle sequences. Text morphing as disclosed herein can be useful for creative ideation, product development, integrative search engines, and entertainment purposes.
US08543373B2
A system for assisting a user who is learning a language to prioritize words to be learned in order of usage frequency is disclosed. A frequency determination program running on a computer determines the frequency of usage of each word at a list of locations provided by the user. Different algorithms to identify what constitutes a word are employed depending upon the language of the source data. The total number of words at each location and their usage frequency found during the user session, along with a total number of words and their usage frequency for all user sessions performed regardless of location, are calculated and made available to the user. The user can view usage frequencies for words from a single location, a group of locations, or all user sessions performed.
US08543369B2
The invention relates to a computer-assisted method and data processing system for simulating an embedded system, wherein a plurality of hardware components, respectively provided with a software, are connected via a data exchange network for data exchange, wherein in a simulation program every component is simulated as a processing unit managing an amount of processes, wherein with the simulation program, a start time is dynamically assigned to every processing unit, wherein the processing units are successively sorted dynamically according to their start times, wherein the processing unit with the next start time is respectively selected via a scheduler, wherein, due to the selection of a processing unit, the respective active process is simulated by execution of a program code derived from a corresponding basic block graph and as a result of the simulation, the time required for the execution and/or information about the effected function is/are determined.
US08543364B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for optimizing hydrocarbon recovery from subsurface formations, including subsurface formations having bottom water or edgewater. A system and method can be configured to receive data indicative of by-pass oil areas in the subsurface formation from reservoir simulation, identify flow barriers in the subsurface formation based on the by-pass oil areas identified by the reservoir simulation, and predict the lateral extension of the identified flow barriers in the subsurface formation. Infill horizontal wells can be placed at areas of the subsurface formation relative to the flow barriers such that production from a horizontal well in the subsurface formation optimizes hydrocarbon recovery.
US08543361B2
A method and a non-transitory computer readable medium thereof for thermal analysis modeling are provided. The method includes establishing an electrothermal network π model on the basis of electronic modules of an electronic system to define a heat source, propagation paths and a common base of the electronic system. Observation points in the electronic system are defined, in which each observation point is located at an isothermal surface enclosing a volume surrounding a reference point, and where the reference point is the heat source or one observation point. A heat conduction temperature difference and a heat convection temperature difference are calculated according to a power density function, a thermal conductivity coefficient and a distance vector between the reference point and each observation point. A temperature distribution is established according to the heat conduction and the heat convection temperature difference and a defined temperature of the common base.
US08543355B2
A substrate processing apparatus checking method that can simply and reliably check the transient response characteristics of a substrate processing apparatus. An analyzing apparatus reads and analyzes process data comprised of time-series data on a plurality of parameters relating to a process comprised of a plurality of steps carried out on a substrate by the substrate processing apparatus. The analyzing apparatus extracts data that satisfies predetermined extracting conditions from the process data, and analyzes the extracted data based on predetermined analyzing conditions.
US08543354B2
Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, etc. for glucose sensor signal stability analysis. In certain example embodiments, a series of samples of at least one sensor signal that is responsive to a blood glucose level of a patient may be obtained. Based at least partly on the series of samples, at least one metric may be determined to assess an underlying trend of a change in responsiveness of the at least one sensor signal to the blood glucose level of the patient over time. A reliability of the at least one sensor signal to respond to the blood glucose level of the patient may be assessed based at least partly on the at least one metric assessing an underlying trend. Other example embodiments are disclosed herein.
US08543346B2
One embodiment provides a system that analyzes a target electromagnetic signal radiating from a monitored system. During operation, the system monitors the target electromagnetic signal using a near-isotropic antenna that includes a set of receiving surfaces arranged in a regular polyhedron. Next, the system obtains a set of received target electromagnetic signals from the receiving surfaces. Finally, the system assesses the integrity of the monitored system by separately analyzing each of the received target electromagnetic signals.
US08543337B2
A system for modeling, simulating and analyzing chemical and biochemical reactions includes a modeling environment for constructing a model of a chemical or biochemical system comprising a plurality of chemical reactions. The system also includes a simulation engine accepting as input said constructed model of the chemical or biochemical system and generating as output an expected result. The modeling environment includes a block diagram explorer for displaying a block diagram in a graphical user interface describing the system as a hierarchical network of interconnected blocks. Each block represents a species participating one of the chemical reactions or one of said chemical reactions in the system. The block diagram explorer allows for a user to manipulate and modify the graphical parameters of the block diagram representation to provide insight into the functionality and operation of the system being modeled.
US08543332B2
A method of providing augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation can include detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display of the GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by the GPS enabled mobile device. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08543331B2
An electronic map device apparatus, and an associated method, creates a route between a route source and a route destination for display at the electronic map device. Locations, area, and features that a user does not desire to encounter during travel along the route are identified and form exclusion information. The exclusion information is entered by way of a user interface. The exclusion information is utilized in the formation of the selected route. A mapping that identifies the selected route is displayed at a display device of the user interface.
US08543328B2
A method and system for calculating an energy efficient route is disclosed. A route calculation application calculates one or more routes from an origin to a destination. For each of the routes, the route calculation application uses segment cost data associated with each segment in the route. The segment cost is calculated by adjusting an energy consumption value by subtracting a bias term for each segment with known slope data. The bias term causes segment costs associated with segments having a slope that can be traveled with typical efficiency, a zero slope, and an unknown slope to be substantially the same. The bias term also causes the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that can be traveled efficiently to be less than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope, and the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that causes inefficient travel to be greater than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope.
US08543325B2
A method for collision monitoring for a motor vehicle, a predefined surrounding area being monitored. The method includes the steps of providing information on the position and direction of motion of at least one object located in the surrounding area, providing vehicle information which indicates at least one position of a vehicle component and/or a driver's intended driving direction, designating an object if it is ascertained based on the vehicle information that the object does not pose any collision risk for the motor vehicle, and signalizing a collision risk if it is recognized based on the information on position and direction of motion that a not-designated object is approaching the motor vehicle.
US08543323B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for generating a street map that includes a position identifier that identifies a location on the street map. The method and system may also generate and display a plurality of images representative of the location of the position identifier. A user may interact with a position identifier or one of several scroll icons to view images of other locations on the street map and/or to obtain driving directions between two locations.
US08543322B1
A system and method for the determination for automated initiation of onboard aircraft weight and balance measurement systems. The system is used in monitoring, measuring, computing and displaying the weight and balance of aircraft utilizing telescopic landing gear struts. Pressure sensors, axle deflection sensors, and/or linkage rotation sensors are mounted in relation to each of the landing gear struts to monitor, measure and record strut and aircraft movement and rates of said movement experienced by landing gear struts, as the aircraft proceeds through typical ground and flight operations. Also, acceleration sensors and GPS can be used to monitor aircraft movements and positions during ground and flight operations. The system and method identify the position of the aircraft as related to airport ground operations to determine the optimum time to initiate an aircraft weight and balance measurement.
US08543318B2
An engine system includes a stop-start module that generates a shut down signal to shut down an engine. A friction module that generates a friction signal based on the engine shut down signal. The friction signal indicates an estimate of a sum of friction forces between components of the engine. A position module estimates a position of the engine and generates a position signal. An energy module estimates kinetic energy of the engine based on the friction signal and the position signal. A cylinder deactivation module stops the engine based on the kinetic energy in at least one of (i) a predetermined position and (ii) a predetermined range.
US08543313B2
In a method for determining a vibration-optimised adjustment of an injection device of an internal combustion engine, for each cycle of the internal combustion engine, a plurality of individual injections per cylinder is carried out by the injection device, each of which is defined by a relative injection moment and an individual injection quantity. A temporal course of a resulting pressure influenced by pressure waves is determined in a fuel guiding part, and the above-mentioned adjustment is determined by variation of the injection moment of at least one individual injection and/or the individual quantity, such that the adjustment is characterized by a temporal variation of the resulting pressure, which is reduced by an at least partially destructive interference between the cited pressure waves. A corresponding device can determine a vibration-optimised adjustment of an injection device, and an internal combustion engine may have such a device.
US08543312B2
A system for controlling a continuous variable valve lift actuator of a diesel engine and a method thereof stabilize exhaust gas and improve performance by variably controlling lift and timing of intake and exhaust valves based on combustion state and driving purpose. The method may include, recognizing a driving purpose and combustion state by detecting driving conditions, temperature of exhaust gas at predetermined locations on an exhaust pipe, and NOx concentration contained in the exhaust gas, determining target position and timing of intake and exhaust valves by applying the driving purpose and the combustion state to a predetermined map table, controlling position and timing of the intake and exhaust valves by actuating a CVVA, detecting combustion pressure in a combustion chamber, and modifying fuel injection amount according to the combustion pressure.
US08543311B2
A method for controlling a drive train with at least one drive unit, in particular for a vehicle is disclosed. A setpoint value for a torque of the at least one drive unit can be predefined. The actual value of this torque is detected and a first signal is generated which ensures reliable operation of the drive train if the deviation of the actual value from the setpoint value is greater than a predefinable absolute value of the deviation value and/or the deviation of the actual value from the setpoint value lasts for longer than a predefinable absolute value of the deviation time period.
US08543302B2
A gear shift control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes: a gear-shift-state-determining unit for determining the presence or absence of a gear-shift-determination of the automatic transmission; a gear-shift-time-estimating unit, when there is the gear-shift-determination, for estimating gear-shift-completion-time since the present gear is shifted to another gear and, after that, further shifted to the present gear; a fuel-consumption-estimating unit for estimating a first fuel consumption in the case where the vehicle drives for the gear-shift-completion-time in the present gear and a second fuel consumption in the case where the present gear is shifted to another gear and, after that, further shifted to the present gear; and a fuel-consumption-determining unit for determining validity of the gear shift on the basis of fuel consumptions. A gear-shift-control unit changes the determination of shifting to another gear at the time of the gear-shift-determination in accordance with a determination result of the fuel-consumption-determining unit.
US08543294B2
To provide a coaxial two-wheeled vehicle capable of performing a turning movement with stability and its control method. A coaxial two-wheeled vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes drive means to drive two coaxially-arranged wheels, turning reference-input input means to input a turning reference input, and control means to control the drive means according to a turning gain based on a turning reference-input input by the turning reference-input input means to thereby perform a turning movement. The control means preferably brings the turning gain to substantially zero when the coaxial two-wheeled vehicle is in a backward traveling state with a backward speed greater than or equal to a first speed, and sets the turning gain to a value greater than zero when a vehicle speed is substantially zero.
US08543292B2
Disclosed herein is a lane maintenance control method to control a vehicle to travel while accurately remaining in a given lane. The lane maintenance control method performs brake steering control in which, when a vehicle departs from a lane, a brake torque is applied to wheels of the vehicle close to the lane to generate an appropriate moment for lane maintenance, which allows the vehicle to finally move in an opposite direction of a direction in which the vehicle departs from the lane, resulting in accurate lane maintenance.
US08543273B2
A controller unit facilitates determining that a fast approaching forward vehicle has breached a fast approach threshold and may initiate brake regeneration to slow a commercial hybrid host vehicle in which the controller is employed. The controller determines whether there is capacity in the state of charge (SOC) of a high voltage battery to permit brake regeneration, and/or determines whether there is capacity in on board air tanks to permit a compressor motor to compress air, thereby drawing charge from the battery to create brake regeneration capacity. When battery SOC is below a predetermined threshold and a fast approaching vehicle breaches a fast approach threshold, the controller sends a brake regeneration command to a traction motor to act as a generator to supply charge to the battery, which in turn slows the vehicle.
US08543272B2
A vehicle and a method to control a vehicle includes selecting a trip route for the vehicle using a user interface, generating a charge reference profile of a battery coupled to an electric motor based on the trip, and commanding propulsion devices in the vehicle based on a location of the vehicle with respect to the trip route such that a state of charge (SOC) of the battery tracks the reference profile.
US08543269B1
A digital mapping display and related system for fishing, and other applications are provided.
US08543263B2
A distributed avionics system arranged in an aerial vehicle for controlling at least one avionics function. A plurality of avionics processing subsystems are interconnected in a network. Each avionics processing subsystem includes a processor arranged to process at least one task so as to provide a set of data messages including at least one unit of data related to controlling the at least one avionics function on basis of provided input data, related to conditions of the at least one avionics function. A memory module is in operative connection with the processor and is arranged to store instructions for the processor to process the at least one task. At least one of the avionics processing subsystems is arranged to transmit at least one synchronization cycle start signal onto the network.
US08543262B1
The mechanical output power of a turbine engine can be electrically boosted by using a power control system which may include a power source, an electric machine, a prime mover coupled to the electric machine, and a power control module coupled to the power source and the electric machine. The power control module may be configured to operate the electric machine between a motoring mode driving a mechanical load and a generator mode supplying power to an electrical load at speeds normally associated with generating modes only.
US08543247B2
A power profile management method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor input data associated with a user of power consumption devices at a specified location. The computer processor retrieves power consumption data comprising power consumption levels for the power consumption devices. The computer processor generates and transmits a mobile usage portfolio associated said user and the power consumption devices. The computer processor generates a load usage prediction report associated with the user and the power consumption devices. The load usage prediction report is generated based on the mobile usage portfolio and said power consumption data. The computer processor transmits the load usage prediction report to a power provider utility for analysis.
US08543245B2
Systems and methods for specifying one or more operational parameters for a pumping system are disclosed. A first suction pressure loss profile for a first pump in a pumping system is determined. A second suction pressure loss profile for a second pump in the pumping system is determined. The first suction pressure loss profile is compared with the second suction pressure loss profile. One or more operational parameters are specified based, at least in part, on the comparison.
US08543244B2
A single controller interface (Smart-Stat) integrates the control of heating or cooling in buildings by simultaneously controlling Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in concert with separate fresh air ventilation (FAV) systems. The Smart-Stat reduces costs and the carbon footprint of typical HVAC systems by optimizing the use of FAV. User-programmable set-points are incorporated with time-of-day and day-of-week as well as data from multiple sensors, thermostats and weather information. Mathematical algorithms are used to determine control signals to the HVAC or FAV systems. The Smart-Stat integrates the two separate systems into a single system that is able to direct the call for cooling or heating to the HVAC or FAV systems, depending on appropriate outside weather conditions. Any building can replace its existing HVAC system controller with the Smart-Stat controller and incorporate a FAV system to create a single integrated HVAC and FAV system.
US08543237B2
An apparatus and a method are presented for finding positional relationships and geometrical changes of at least one rotating part attached to or forming part of a machine when the part is in a rotating mode. In the apparatus and method, geometrical changes of the part caused by its state of production and use, determine any locations on the rotating part which exhibit contaminants, and subsequently remove or compensate effects of such contaminants present on the rotating part.
US08543235B2
A method of controlling a transfer robot is provided, in which method the communication time of the transfer robot can be reduced and the transfer time of a substrate can be shortened. A series of actions of the transfer robot when a substrate that is present in a processing chamber is transferred to a predetermined position in a processing chamber, are performed by a single command. The series of actions may include a swap action in which, after having taken out by a robot hand the substrate that is present in the processing chamber, a substrate that is different from the substrate is handed over by a robot hand to a predetermined position on the processing chamber.
US08543234B2
A method and interactive computer system for dental implant treatment planning, surgical guide design and manufacturing. In the heart of the method is a fully associative workflow integrating image processing, treatment planning, surgical kit configuration and surgical guide CAD/CAM in one single computer system. In this workflow, any changes of image processing parameters and implant information in the earlier stage are automatically propagated to the downstream. This characteristic is referred as associativity. The software aspect of the system is built upon this concept and its corresponding data model. This invention also includes an image processing and geometric modeling approach that is characterized as design for manufacturability and applicability. The integration of treatment planning and surgical guide CAD is further on integrated with manufacturing equipment to constitute a complete CAD/CAM solution, which is also fully associative.
US08543232B2
The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for improvement of High Frequency Reconstruction (HFR) techniques using frequency translation or folding or a combination thereof. The proposed invention is applicable to audio source coding systems. This is accomplished by means of frequency translation in the frequency domain with spectral envelope adjustment in the same domain. The proposed invention offers a low-complexity HFR method useful in speech and natural audio coding applications.
US08543229B2
When a plurality of items of data are sequentially read and reproduced from a data storing means which stores the data, data suited to a user's mood at the moment or a situation is selected to be reproduced without needing any complex operation. A data reproducing apparatus for sequentially reading and reproducing a plurality of items of data from a data storing unit (104) which stores the data includes: a reproduction history storing unit (202) that stores reproduction history including identification information of data at least a part of which has been reproduced; an identification information reading unit (204) that reads the identification information of some or all of the data from the reproduction history storing unit (202); a reproduction characteristic information generating unit (208) that generates, based on the characteristic information of data identified by the read identification information, reproduction characteristic information regarding a predetermined situation; and a reproducing order setting unit (212) that sets a data reproducing order based on the reproduction characteristic information and characteristic information of a part or all of the data stored in the data storing unit (104).
US08543220B2
A medical electrical lead and a method of forming a medical electrical lead having at least one glass coating between a first and second component. The glass coating forms a portion of a strong, hydrothermally stable joint between components or provides insulation, or tailors an impedance and/or capacitance of an electrode. The glass coating is bonded to at least one of the first component or second component along the length of the joint.
US08543219B2
The invention relates to a device for controlled modulation of physiological and pathological neuronal rhythmic activity in the brain by means of sensory stimulation, which is capable of diagnostically ascertaining functional disorders in the brain and of alleviating or eliminating the symptoms of a functional disruption. According to the invention, the device comprises a control unit (4), a stimulator (1) and at least one means for detecting brain activity, said means being connected to the control unit (1).
US08543217B2
The disclosure describes a method and system that generates stimulation parameters by selecting one or more stimulation parameters according to a stimulation field defined by a user. The system includes a memory that stores a plurality of stimulation templates for multiple electrode configurations of an electrical lead. A processor selects one or more volumetric stimulation templates that best match, e.g., fill, the three-dimensional stimulation field defined by the clinician. Each stimulation template is associated with a set of stimulation parameters that can be used to deliver stimulation therapy to a patient.
US08543216B2
A system and method are provided for both recharging and communicating with a stimulator having a rechargeable battery, which stimulator is implanted deeply in the body, in particular where the stimulator is a microstimulator, the system includes a base station and an external device, for instance a chair pad. The chair pad may contain an antenna/charging coil and a booster coil. The antenna/charging coil can be used for charging the rechargeable battery and also for communicating with the stimulator using frequency shift keying and on-off keying. The booster coil can be used to recharge a battery depleted to zero volts. The base station connected to the chair pad may be used to power the antenna/charging coil and the booster coil.
US08543211B2
The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for treating nerve disorders in the brain. An electrode is introduced into a patient's sinus cavity and an electrical impulse is applied to the electrode to modulate one or more target nerves in the brain to treat the disorder. In preferred embodiments, the electrode is positioned within a sinus cavity adjacent to or near the frontal cortex of the brain and the electrical signal is sufficient to modulate, stimulate and/or inhibit nerves within the frontal cortex. The electrode may be movable between a collapsed or compact configuration for introduction into the sinus cavity and an expanded configuration for contacting tissue within the sinus cavity to deliver the electrical impulse through the tissue to the target nerves in the brain.
US08543209B2
A secondary header for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) incorporates a secondary header plug configured for mating insertion into an AIMD ISO DF4 or IS4 connector cavity, a secondary header ISO DF4 or IS4 connector cavity, and at least one replacement lead connector cavity. The secondary header plug has four electrical contacts which correspond to four electrical contacts of the AIMD connector cavity. The secondary header connector cavity has less than four electrical contacts conductively coupled to the secondary header plug electrical contacts. The replacement lead connector cavity has at least one electrical contact conductively coupled to at least one electrical contact of the secondary header plug. An intermediate conformal section between the secondary header plug and a housing for the secondary header connector cavity places the secondary header connector cavity housing adjacent to an exterior surface of the AIMD.
US08543201B2
A method of joining a connection member to a capacitor foil using a staking tool having a tip of less than 0.030″ (0.762 mm) in diameter. Another embodiment couples multiple connection members of a capacitor together by edge-connecting each connection member to its substantially flush neighboring connection members. In one aspect, a capacitor includes a multi-anode stack connected at a first weld by a weld joint less than 0.060″ (1.524 mm) in diameter and a tab attached to one of the anodes of the multi-anode stack at a second weld. In one aspect, an exemplary method joining one or more foils using a staking tool having a tip of less than approximately 0.060″ (1.524 mm) in diameter. In another aspect, a capacitor including a capacitor case having an electrolyte therein and a high formation voltage anode foil having a porous structure and located within the capacitor case.
US08543199B2
Systems and methods of monitoring a subject's neurological condition are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of analyzing a physiological signal (such as an EEG) from a subject to determine if the subject is in a contra-ictal condition; and if the subject is in a contra-ictal condition, providing an indication (e.g., to the subject and/or to a caregiver) that the subject is in the contra-ictal condition. The systems and methods may utilize a minimally invasive, leadless device to monitor the subject's condition. In some embodiments, if the subject is in a pro-ictal condition, the method includes the step of providing an indication (such as a red light) that the subject is in the pro-ictal condition.
US08543198B2
A medical device and associated method for discriminating cardiac events includes determining whether a first match score is within a first match zone having a first correlation with a non-treatable cardiac event, a second match zone having a second correlation with the non-treatable cardiac event less than the first correlation with the non-treatable event, a third match zone having a first correlation with a treatable cardiac event, and a fourth match zone having a second correlation with the treatable cardiac event greater than the first correlation with the treatable cardiac event. A determination is made as to whether a second match score and a third match score are within the first match zone, the second match zone, the third match zone and the fourth match zone to generate a first adjusting factor, and cardiac event evidence is accumulated in response to the first adjusting factor for discriminating cardiac events.
US08543197B2
A portable electronic device monitors the pulse or electrocardiogram of a person by integrated, attachable or wireless sensors. The portable device evaluates this data in real-time to assess heart rate variability coherence, and provide feedback through a variety of sounds and an array of LEDs. The feedback may be in the form of a breathing indicator or pacer usable as a respiratory cycle training system to indicate to the subject when the next breath should be taken. Such feedback may be correlated to the level of coherency the subject achieves. A coherence indicator may be used to provide the subject with real-time information relating to the level of coherence achieved.
US08543192B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for aligning first and second light signals on an optical path directed to a target, where the first light signal provides a visualization of the target, and a portion of the second light signal reflects from at least one subsurface of the target. The method also includes aligning a first focal point of the first light signal and a second focal point of the second light signal, where the first focal point is at least in a first proximate location of the second focal point, and adjusting a first position of the first and second focal points to be in at least a second proximate location of the target without adjusting the at least first proximate location of the first focal point relative to the second focal point. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08543183B2
Method and apparatus for providing multiple data receiver units in a data monitoring and management system such as analyte monitoring system where a first data receiver includes all of the functionalities for the data monitoring and management system receiver unit, and a second data receiver unit is configured with limited functions to provide application specific convenience to the user or patient is disclosed.
US08543180B2
The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for total hemoglobin measurement. A modulated optical signal based on a digital code sequence is transmitted to human tissue. A temporal transfer characteristic is derived from the modulated optical signal. Total hemoglobin is determined based on the temporal transfer characteristic.
US08543178B2
An induction heating apparatus that can operate at current frequencies of greater than 60 Hz and at least 1 kW. The induction heating apparatus includes a high frequency power supply, a superconductive induction coil, and a fluid cooling system. A fluid cooling system is designed to cause a cooling fluid to flow at least partially about and/or through the superconductive induction coil.
US08543169B1
Systems and methods are described herein for selectively displaying mobile caller identification (MCID) information for an incoming mobile telephone call on one or more display devices based on a location of the destination mobile device. A location of the destination mobile device can be compared to a display condition for one or more display devices. If the display condition is met for the given device, MCID information for the incoming call is provided to and displayed on the display device. The display condition can be based on the proximity of the mobile destination device and the display device.
US08543167B2
The present invention relates to a display arrangement comprising a display means and receiving and/or transmitting means adapted to be arranged in association with said display means. An optically transparent and electrically conductive layer structure is adapted to be provided on the display means. Said optically transparent and electrically conductive layer structure is arranged or structured to form a plurality of receiving and/or transmitting elements constituting said receiving and/or transmitting means. Feeding and/or controlling means are provided to individually or groupwise feed and/or control said receiving and/or transmitting elements.
US08543164B2
The present invention discloses a sleep method, including: when determining select a sleep mode of a mobile terminal device, recording, by the mobile terminal device, service state information related to data connection; according to the recorded service state information related to the data connection, turning off a service that is related to the data connection and is in a turn-on state; and controlling a processor to enter a sleep mode, thereby saving the power consumption of the mobile terminal device more than that in the prior art.
US08543160B2
A system for antenna extension and a method adapted for antenna extension operation under a specific communication protocol are provided. The antenna extension system combines a handheld communication device with a base device, and determines if the total antenna number of the handheld communication device and the base device matches the standard antenna number of the specific communication protocol. If the total antenna number of the handheld communication device and the base device matches the standard antenna number of the specific communication protocol, the antenna extension system enables the antenna extension operation.
US08543159B2
Disclosed herein is a mobile phone. In short, a mobile terminal of the present invention includes an actuator placed inside the camera module to shift a lens of the camera module toward an upper side of an optical axis direction when a forward current is applied and shift the lens toward a lower side of an optical axis direction when a reverse current is applied, a vibration control part placed outside of the camera module to output a first control signal and a second control signal when a signal from outside is input telling of operating in a vibration mode, a vibration motor part connected to the vibration control part to vibrate the mobile phone by driving a motor when the first control signal is input, and an actuator drive part connected to the vibration control part to apply the reverse current to the actuator when the second control signal is input.
US08543158B2
A technique for selectively providing network access to various components is described. A modem device for realizing this technique comprises a first platform module adapted to support network access via a Radio Access Technology (RAT). The first platform module comprises a first data interface. The apparatus further comprises a second data interface adapted to be coupled to a second platform and a third data interface adapted to be coupled to an external device. A switching mechanism selectively couples the first data interface to the second data interface to provide network access, via the second platform module, to an application residing on the apparatus. The switching mechanism may further couple the first data interface to the third data interface to provide network access to the external device.
US08543155B2
A first roadside equipment operates as a transmitting/receiving mode in a control channel interval of an Nth synchronization interval so as to support a handover. In this instance, a second roadside equipment neighboring to the first roadside equipment operates as a receiving mode in the control channel interval of the Nth synchronization interval. The first roadside equipment operates as the receiving mode in a control channel interval of an (N+1)th synchronization interval. In this instance, the second roadside equipment operates as the transmitting/receiving mode in the control channel interval of the (N+1)th synchronization interval.
US08543139B2
Systems and methods for a distributed network are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes automatically transmitting a page message for a mobile station to access points in a paging group associated with a first access point, the page message having been received at the first access point, the first access point being associated with the most recent location update of the mobile station, and establishing a security agreement between the first access point and the other access points prior to receiving the page message.
US08543137B2
The present invention relates to a method for providing location based services for a client in an infrastructure network. The network comprises at least one Home Subscriber Server, HSS, at least one Mobility Management Entity, MME, and at least one Gateway Mobile Location Centre, GMLC, for the client. The GMLC sending an UE location service response to the client based on a UE location service request received from the client. The network performs the steps of: (A) the GMLC continuously receives and stores event reports streamed from the MME(s), the reports comprising information about the MME identity and identities for UE(s) served by said MME; (B) the GMLC determines the identity of a serving MME for the UE in the UE location service request on the basis of the information in the event reports.
US08543133B2
Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system is described. In one example, satellite measurement data is obtained from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device. Position of the mobile device is computed using the satellite measurement data. The position is sent to a cellular device via a wireless ad hoc network. In one example, the wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link. In one example, the mobile device is configured to receive assistance data from a position server through the wireless ad hoc network. For example, the mobile device may comprise a housing configured to plug into a cigarette lighter connector of an automobile and the cellular device may comprise a cellular telephone without location-determination capabilities (i.e., the cellular telephone does not include an integrated GPS receiver).
US08543130B2
Intelligently caching global positioning system (GPS) location information from GPS satellites based on cellular radio signal strength received at a portable device. The GPS satellites broadcasts signals to the portable device and the cellular radio signal strength is at a first level indicative of a low GPS reception strength. A second level, at the portable device, of the cellular radio signal strength is detected, and the second level is indicative of an increase in GPS reception strength. GPS location information is speculatively read from the GPS satellites associated with the portable device in response to the detected second level and the increase of the GPS reception strength. The GPS location information is cached on the portable device such that the GPS location information is available to the portable device when the first level of the cellular radio signal strength is less than the second level.
US08543129B2
A method of managing communication in a cellular telecommunication network capable of using multiple carrier frequencies includes determining a downlink quality measurement of a primary carrier frequency and determining a downlink quality measurement of at least one secondary carrier frequency. The method also includes generating a combined quality measure based on the downlink quality measurement of the primary carrier frequency and the downlink quality measurement of the at least one secondary carrier frequency. Additionally, the method includes determining whether the combined quality measure fulfills a predetermined condition and, in response to determining that the combined quality measure fulfills the predetermined condition, triggering an event.
US08543128B2
A method of handling positioning measurement for a relay in a wireless communications system is disclosed. The method comprises communicating with a mobile device and a base station to serve the mobile device for conveying signaling between the mobile device and the base station, and transmitting a first reference signal associated with a positioning measurement to the mobile device.
US08543127B2
A wireless communication system includes a plurality of mobile stations and a base station which periodically receives a predetermined kind of information from one or more registered mobile stations registered in the base station among the plurality of mobile stations via a radio channel shared among the registered mobile stations. The base station determines a transmission interval of the information for the registered mobile stations in accordance with the number of the registered mobile stations, allocates transmission timings of the information for the registered mobile stations to be different among the registered mobile stations in the transmission interval, and notifies the registered mobile station of the transmission interval and the transmission timing. Each one of the registered mobile stations periodically sends out the information to the radio channel in accordance with the transmission interval and the transmission timing.
US08543123B2
A method and apparatus for controlling inter-cell interference in an evolved Node-B for a cellular communication system with a frequency reuse factor of 1 are provided. The apparatus includes a bitmap generator for receiving scheduling information from evolved Node-Bs of a plurality of neighbor cells, and for generating scheduling information including its cell's bitmap information for the resource allocation using the received neighbor cells' scheduling information, and a scheduler for scheduling the resource allocation for UEs in its cell based on the scheduling information provided from the bitmap generator and power allocation information of the UEs in its cell.
US08543117B2
A prioritized measurement list is stored in a memory, and each entry in the prioritized measurement list defines a unique combination of frequency layer and radio access technology for a serving cell and for neighbor cells. Based on at least signal strength of the serving cell, there is selected, from a neighbor list according to the prioritized measurement list, a set of entries for measuring according to a selection rule. The selection rule provides: for the case in which the signal strength of the serving cell is relatively high, the selected set is a first set and represents higher priority ones of the prioritized measurement list; and for the case in which the signal strength of the serving cell is relatively low, the selected set is a second set and represents lower priority ones of the prioritized measurement list.
US08543113B2
A method and a system for controlling cell reselection on a computing device are disclosed. The method comprises detecting the mobile device operating under a potential over-shuttling reselection condition, and making a determination as to whether the mobile computing device operation is operating under the over-shuttling reselection condition based on pre-determined criteria.
US08543106B2
Provided is a satellite communication system for obtaining a diversity gain by transmitting a signal applied with STBC. When a signal transmission band of a link between a satellite and a terminal differs from that of a link between a satellite and a repeater, the satellite communication system includes: a satellite for transmitting a first signal encoded to STBC using a band of a link formed between the satellite to a terminal and transmitting a second signal encoded to STBC using a band of a link formed between the satellite to a repeater; and at least one of frequency transforming repeaters for receiving the second signal through the band of the link formed between the satellite to the repeater, transforming the received second signal to a signal with other frequency band, and transmitting the transformed second signal using a band of a link formed to a terminal.
US08543096B2
The present invention relates to a method for utilizing a mobile station for the transmission of authorization information requiring verification in a telecommunication network comprising the mobile station. In the method, the information to be verified is transmitted to the mobile station, the authorization information transmitted is presented on the display of the mobile station, the authorization information presented is read from the display of the mobile station, and the authenticity of the authorization information thus read is verified. According to the invention, the authorization information is sent in a form comprising information to be presented in a graphic form, and the authorization information is presented on the display of the mobile station using a user-independent function of the mobile station in question for the presentation of graphic information.
US08543091B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for secure Short Message Service (SMS) communications. According to an embodiment, a method of providing secure Short Message Service (SMS) communications comprises requesting that SMS data to be sent from a client device to a remote location be encrypted. The method also comprises encrypting the SMS data by processing the SMS data with a Message Authentication Code (MAC) and a timestamp and/or counter along with second factor authentication information. The method further comprises sending the encrypted SMS data to the remote location by a secure SMS application via a regular SMS channel of the client device.
US08543082B2
Method and system for transmitting the notification message in earthquake and tsunami warning system
The present invention discloses a method and system for transmitting an ETWS primary notification message. After paging a terminal through a paging message containing ETWS message indication information, a base station schedules the ETWS primary notification message as user data in a sub-frame subsequent to a sub-frame with the paging message and generates control information containing an ETWS ID and resource information on a DL-SCH assigned for the primary notification message of the ETWS; the base station sends the control information over a PDCCH and sends the primary notification message of the ETWS over the DL-SCH based on the control information; and after receiving the paging message, the terminal detects and analyzes the control information containing the ETWS ID by monitoring the PDCCH to obtain the resource information thereof, and receives the ETWS primary notification message on corresponding resources of the DL-SCH based on the resource information.
US08543081B2
A wireless communications device displays an emergency information screen presenting emergency contact information for one or more emergency contacts. This emergency contact information is automatically integrated from the address book by identifying contacts in the address book that have been designated by the owner of the device as emergency contacts. The device can automatically update the emergency contact information by periodically polling the address book to ascertain whether any changes have been made to the contact information.
US08543067B2
An exemplary embodiment of communication device includes a signal communication module, a first switch module, a processor, a second switch module, and a power amplifying module. The signal communication module, the first switch module, the processor, the second switch module, and the power amplifying module are electrically connected in series. The signal transceiver receives and sends a wireless communication signal. The first switch module and the second switch module are used for switching on corresponding receiving and sending paths of the wireless communication signal under the control of the processor. The power amplifying module is configured for amplifying and adjusting signal strength of the broadcast signal from the second switch module controlled by the processor.
US08543062B2
Embodiments relate generally to a radio communication device, to a receiver controller of a radio communication device, and to a method for searching for a radio cell. In an embodiment, a method for searching for a radio cell is provided. The method may include scanning at least one frequency band of a first radio access technology, scanning at least one frequency band of a second radio access technology, wherein the at least one frequency band of the second radio access technology at least partially overlaps with the at least one frequency band of the first radio access technology, wherein at least one frequency sub-band of the first radio access technology is not scanned in the at least one frequency band of the second radio access technology.
US08543055B1
A passive frequency translator with positive conversion voltage gain including at least one input node for receiving an input signal, at least one output node for providing an output signal, and a network which includes capacitors and switches operatively coupled the capacitors and the one or more input and output nodes. The switches are controlled by corresponding clock signals to capture charge of the input signal onto the capacitors and to develop the output signal by performing frequency translation of the input signal by a mixing frequency. The output signal has a net voltage gain relative to the input signal in which energy of the output signal is predominantly derived from energy of the input signal. Furthermore, each of at least three capacitors are configured to capture charge from the input signal and to add constructively to deliver charge to at least one other capacitor coupled to the output node.
US08543051B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part; a paper dust collecting roller that collects paper dust from a sheet; a conveying roller that is opposed to the paper dust collecting roller and conveys the sheet; a paper dust removing member that contacts the paper dust collecting roller for removing the paper dust therefrom; a supporting member that extends in a width direction of the sheet; a swing shaft for swinging the supporting member; and a pressing member that presses the supporting member for contacting the paper dust removing member with the paper dust collecting roller. The supporting member includes: a guiding surface that contacts the sheet conveyed along the conveying path for guiding the sheet toward the image forming part along the conveying path; and a paper dust receiving part which receives the paper dust removed by the paper dust removing member.
US08543050B2
A bearing member includes a bearing part that rotationally supports a rotational body, a load application part formed in the bearing part, wherein the load application part contacts the rotational body and applies a load to the rotational body in a radial direction of the rotational body, and a holding groove formed in the bearing part in a rotation axis direction of the rotational body, wherein the holding groove has an opening at one end, wherein the holding groove is adapted to hold a lubricant that is to be supplied to a sliding contact area between the rotational body and the load application part.
US08543049B2
A cleaning apparatus is provided with a cleaning roller that is positioned so as to be in contact with a photosensitive drum, and with a toner layer thickness regulating member that regulates the thickness of a toner layer adhering to the surface of this cleaning roller. The toner layer thickness regulating member is formed by a toner layer thickness regulating roller that rotates in contact with the cleaning roller.
US08543047B2
An image forming system includes a color image forming apparatus including: a color image forming portion for forming a color toner image on a surface of a recording material; a first fixing device including a first fixing portion; a second fixing device including a second fixing portion; image forming and a third fixing device for fixing a transparent toner image at a third fixing portion; and a controller for controlling a switching mechanism so that the conveyance direction of the recording material is switched to the bypass direction of the second fixing portion, or to the direction toward the second fixing portion based on whether or not the color image forming portion is subjectd to formation of the transparent toner image by the transparent image forming apparatus.
US08543041B2
The specification discloses a developing device comprises a first developer bearing member configured to bear a developer including a toner and a carrier, and to convey the developer to a first developing region facing an image bearing member, so as to develop an electrostatic latent image formed onto the image bearing member and a second developer bearing member configured to bear a developer transferred from the first developer bearing member, and to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, by conveying a developer to a second developing region facing the image bearing member and a cover unit configured to shield a route toward the image bearing member from a mutual gap position between the first developer bearing member and the second developer bearing member.
US08543039B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion for forming a developer image, said first image forming portion including a first image supporting member for forming a static latent image and a first developing member for attaching developer to the static latent image; a second image forming portion for forming a developer image, said second image forming portion including a second image supporting member for forming a static latent image and a second developing member for attaching developer to the static latent image; a transfer portion for transferring the developer image to a printing medium; and a fixing unit for fixing the developer image to the printing medium. The second developing member has a surface roughness greater than that of the first developing member. The fixing unit is disposed at a position closer to the first image forming portion relative to the second image forming portion.
US08543036B2
An image forming apparatus capable of reducing deterioration of image quality caused by instantaneous fluctuation of driving speed of an image bearing member and intermediate transfer member, the apparatus including: an image bearing member; a primary transfer section to transfer toner image from the image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer section, including a secondary transfer member to secondarily transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium, capable of bringing the secondary transfer member into contact with the intermediate transfer member under pressure and then releasing the contact; a motor to drive the secondary transfer member, and a driving section configured to drive the secondary transfer section so as to bring the secondary transfer member into contact with the intermediate transfer member with pressure and then to release the contact, wherein the motor is not provided inside the secondary transfer section.
US08543026B2
A method of charging printing costs using a printing charging system that is connected to an image forming apparatus, the method including: setting printing costs for each of a plurality of people; generating print data for each person, of the plurality of people, based on the set printing costs; and transmitting the generated print data to the image forming apparatus.
US08543018B2
A detecting unit detects a usage state of a charge storage unit for each predetermined time period. A setting unit determines whether the usage state of the charge storage unit satisfies a predetermined condition for each time period, and when it is determined that the usage state satisfies the predetermined condition, sets a corresponding time period as a charge-use permitted time. A control unit determines whether a current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, and when it is determined that the current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, allows a discharging unit to discharge the charge storage unit.
US08543017B2
A load abnormality detection apparatus detects a load abnormality in at least one of a first rotational member and a second rotational member. An element acquisition part acquires a first control element and a second control element. A first comparison part compares the first control element with a first threshold value and also compares the first control element with a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. A second comparison part compares the second control element with a third threshold value and also compares the second control element with a fourth threshold value larger than the third threshold value. An abnormality detection part detects a load abnormality in a load applied to at least one of the first and second rotational members based on results of comparison by the first comparison part and the second comparison part and identifies a cause of the detected load abnormality.
US08543016B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image information input section into which image information is input, and image holding members by which toner images of two or more colors including black and clear colors are held, respectively. The image forming apparatus further includes a transfer-receiving material to which toner of all colors are transferred from their respective image holding members, an image-area pinpointing section wherein an area of clear toner image to be superposed on a linear image region to be formed with toner of the black color is pinpointed in the image information input into the image information input section, and an image processing section wherein is performed replacement processing that at least part of black image on the pinpointed image area is formed with a hybrid of two or more kinds of colored toner instead of black toner.
US08543015B2
A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives toner cartridge replacement information indicating a toner cartridge loaded on an image forming apparatus which the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus can access via a communication circuit, has been replaced with a new one; an information obtainer which obtains remaining toner information of the toner cartridge removed from the image forming apparatus, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received by the receiver; a time determiner which, if the remaining toner information obtained by the information obtainer indicates a value smaller than a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge should be outputted when the toner cartridge replacement information is received, or if the remaining toner information indicates a value larger than or equal to a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge should be outputted at a different time; and a transmitter which outputs a delivery instruction according to the determination made by the time determiner.
US08543013B2
Technology for detecting an optical data signal carried in a combined optical signal that comprises a carrier optical signal modulated by the optical data signal and also comprises ASE noise. The proposed optical data detector/receiver is provided with an SHG device adapted to generate a second harmonic optical signal of the carrier optical signal modulated by the data signal. In the signal, generated by the SHG, the ASE noise will be essentially reduced.
US08543007B2
Described is a method and system for reducing system penalty from polarization mode dispersion. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals at a receiving end of a transmission line, each signal being received on one of a plurality of channels of the transmission line and measuring a signal degradation of at least one of the channels of the transmission line. An amount of adjustment of a polarization controller is determined based on the signal degradation, the amount of adjustment being selected to reduce the polarization mode dispersion. The amount of adjustment is then transmitted to the polarization controller.
US08543004B2
In one aspect, the present invention embraces a wavelength locking method for causing a narrow-band wavelength spectrum of an optical transmit signal of an optical transceiver device to track a narrow-band wavelength spectrum of an optical receive signal received by the optical transceiver device Further, the present invention embraces a wavelength lockable optical transceiver device, especially for a passive optical transmission network, using this wavelength locking method.
US08542992B2
A system for mitigating the effects of polarization hole burning in an optical communication system. The system includes an optical input signal comprising one or more traffic channels, a measurement module configured to check for the existence of ghost channels around the traffic channels, and a ghost channel generation module configured to generate a ghost channel around the traffic channels from amplified spontaneous emission noise of the optical input signal.
US08542990B2
Background blurring is provided when capturing an image using an image capture device. Input is received for initiating an image capture process for capturing an image at an image capture device, the image including at least a subject and a background. The image capture device is automatically focused closer than the subject for capturing the image with the background blurred responsive to receiving the input for initiating the image capture process.
US08542987B2
A heater includes a base formed with a receiving space for receiving a fuel material that is to be combusted, and a heating unit. The heating unit includes: a flow guide component disposed on the top side of the base and having a through hole axially aligned and in communication with the opening, and at least one air passage communicated with the through hole and permitting air externally of the flow guide component to flow therethrough into the receiving space via the through hole and the opening; and a heat-radiating pipe disposed to extend upwardly from the flow guide component and disposed to surround the through hole and permitting flow of flue gas resulting from combustion of the fuel material in the receiving space therethrough.
US08542981B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for adding voice annotations to CCTV video to aid in incident reporting and investigation. Reviewers and investigators are provided with the ability to record their impressions of an incident by encoding overlapped audio tracks on to a video clip. These overlapped tracks could be multiple in number, enabled or disabled by the listener or subsequent reviewer, without tampering with the content of the originally recorded video or audio. Each audio track represents a voice annotation, and may be assigned to a hierarchical level. The reviewer is provided with the ability to review the video clip along with existing voice annotations while recording the new voice annotation. The resultant overlapped clip file could be made proprietary or stored using a common-codec (like MPEG, MJPEG, AVI, etc) and may be stored on a computer-readable medium.
US08542972B2
A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer modules mounted within the chassis. Each module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the modules through an opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. A method of mounting an optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.
US08542967B2
A multi-mode optical waveguide fiber including a central core region having an outer radius surrounded by an inner cladding region having an outer radius, the inner cladding region having a lower index of refraction than the central core region, wherein both the central core and inner cladding regions are doped with fluorine, wherein the refractive index profile of the central core region is of the gradient index type and the central core region in the range of rε[0-ra] comprises germanium at a maximum concentration within the range of 0.5 percent by weight to 4.0 percent by weight taken at a given radius, wherein said fiber has an Overfilled Modal Bandwidth >500 MHz·km at a wavelength of 850 nm and 1300 nm, according to IEC 60793-2-10.
US08542960B2
A ring resonator has a first optical waveguide arranged in a loop, a second optical waveguide tangentially optically coupled to the first optical waveguide, and a translatable body configured to selectively move into an evanescent field region of said first optical waveguide.
US08542959B2
An optical device that emits white light by mixing three or four light each having a specific color is disclosed. The optical device includes the alignment substrate having a first type of grooves each setting an optical fiber therein and a second type of a groove setting all fibers collectively. Between two type of grooves, all fibers are free from grooves to facilitate the assemble of the fibers.
US08542958B2
According to this disclosure, embodiments of the present invention include photonic integrated circuits having active and passive geometric regions geometrically arranged to provide for more compact integrated photonic integrated circuits which, in turn, leads to higher chip yields and lower fabrication costs.
US08542956B2
An acoustic sensor includes a diaphragm having a reflective element. The sensor has an optical fiber positioned relative to the reflective element such that light emitted from the optical fiber is reflected by the reflective element. A first end of the optical fiber and the reflective element form an optical cavity therebetween. The acoustic sensor further includes a structural element mechanically coupled to the diaphragm and the optical fiber. The structural element includes a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially similar to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the optical fiber. For example, the material can be silica.
US08542949B1
An apparatus and method for validation of images and their associated Tag Image File Format (TIFF) tags in an image cash letter. One or more image cash letters (ICLs) are received. Each image cash letter is validated that it satisfies defined image and TIFF validation rules. Image cash letters are identified that have non-conforming images that do not pass the image and TIFF validation rules. Errors associated with the non-conforming images are automatically sent to an originator of the identified image cash letter that has the non-conforming images. Various reports may be generated identifying errors in the non-conforming images and associated originators of the errors.
US08542945B1
A method for correcting mis-focus of an image created from coherent imaging using centered fractional Fourier transforms or mathematical equivalents is described. A received image is presented to a numerical processor, and a first numerical value for a variable α is selected and used in an iterative algorithm, numerical procedure, system architecture, etc. A centered discrete fractional Fourier transform of power α and a phase restore operator associated with a centered discrete fractional Fourier transform of power α are applied to the image file to produce a modified image. A change in mis-focused is determined and used in adjusting α for a next iteration. If values for α between 0 and real number β do not result in a desired outcome, α is adjusted as a complex value β+iχ where χ is a real number.
US08542937B2
An image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes a characteristics acquisition unit that acquires characteristics of a picture image; a format selection unit that selects the format of image data depending on the processing time for restoring the picture image based on the characteristics; and a format conversion unit that converts the format of the image data into that selected by the format selection unit.
US08542936B2
A picture encoding device may include a unit for selecting a division method of a target region, and a unit for dividing the target region into small regions using the division method, generating a prediction signal in the small region, generating a residual signal between the prediction signal and the original signal of the small region, generating quantized transform coefficients by performing frequency transform and quantization of the residual signal, selecting a map for mapping the quantized transform coefficients of the small region onto leaves of a tree structure that is common to a plurality of division methods in accordance with attribute information of the small region, mapping the quantized transform coefficients of the small region onto the leaves of the tree structure based on the map, and updating the states of the nodes and leaves of the tree structure according to the coefficient values of the respective leaves.
US08542931B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a ruled line extracting unit that counts the number of pixels within an image, compares the counted number of pixels with a threshold value, and extracts a ruled line based on a result of the comparison; and an identifying unit that identifies a noise component in the ruled line extracted by the ruled line extracting unit based on thickness of the ruled line extracted by the ruled line extracting unit and the threshold value.
US08542929B2
Provided is an image processing method and apparatus for improving image quality and enhancing a three-dimensional effect. By extracting an interest feature index from an input image based on a depth sensation estimation cue existing in the image, calculating an interest feature index integration map based on the interest feature index and importance of interest of the depth sensation estimation cue, and performing discrimination processing of the image based on the interest feature index integration map, three-dimensional effect and true sensation enhancement processing can be performed based on the probability of the existence of a depth sensation estimation cue, without segmentation of an object of interest, correct depth information, or an object model.
US08542928B2
An information processing apparatus includes an image input unit which inputs image data containing a face, a face position detection unit which detects, from the image data, the position of a specific part of the face, and a facial expression recognition unit which detects a feature point of the face from the image data on the basis of the detected position of the specific part and determines facial expression of the face on the basis of the detected feature point. The feature point is detected at a detection accuracy higher than detection of the position of the specific part. Detection of the position of the specific part is robust to a variation in the detection target.
US08542926B2
Script-agnostic text reflow technique embodiments are presented that generally reflow text found in an image of a document in a manner that functions across multiple scripts, multiple fonts of a script and multiple languages using the same script. This generally involves segmenting regions of text in a document image into individual words and doing this without relying on any script-specific characteristics or requiring any form of character recognition. While segmenting text, the possible presence of accents, diacritics and punctuation marks is considered.
US08542925B2
Disclosed is a processor-implemented method for processing image data using an image processing apparatus. The processor is configured to receive a PDL file of image data and raster image process (RIP) the PDL file to determine pixels representing text. The ripped file is then segmented to determine at least any pixels representing text that were not initially indicated or identified by the ripped file. The results are combined to determine locations for marking onto a substrate by the output device using substantially colorless marking material over text pixels (to coat marked text pixels). In some instances, locations for covering text pixels with substantially colorless marking material can be tagged during segmenting image data, using a tag plane.
US08542923B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, feature receiving user input defining a sample of pixels from an image, the image being defined by a raster of pixels. While receiving the user input, the following actions are performed one or more times: pixels are coherently classified in the raster of pixels as being foreground or background based on the sample of pixels; and a rendering of the image is updated on a display to depict classified foreground pixels and background pixels as the sample is being defined.
US08542919B2
There is provided an image sensor according to an aspect of the present invention that includes: a reference image luminance extractor partitioning a reference image into a plurality of reference image blocks and extracting luminance values of edge pixels at the edges of each of the plurality of reference image blocks to calculate a luminance weight value for each of the edge pixels; a luminance weight value calculator calculating a luminance weight value of each pixel of the corresponding reference image block on the basis of luminance weight values of edge pixels of the corresponding reference image block with respect to each of the plurality of reference image blocks; and a luminance corrector correcting the luminance of an input image by multiplying the luminance weight value for each pixel calculated by the luminance weight value calculator with respect to a luminance value of each pixel of the input image.
US08542907B2
A computer-implemented method is provided to interactively capture and utilize a three-dimensional object as a controlling device for a computer system. One operation of the method is capturing depth data of the three-dimensional object. In another operation, the depth data of the three-dimensional object undergoes processing to create geometric defining parameters for the three-dimensional object. The method can also include defining correlations between particular actions performed with the three-dimensional object and particular actions to be performed by the computer system. The method also includes an operation to save the geometric defining parameters of the three-dimensional object to a recognized object database. In another operation, the correlations between particular actions performed with the three-dimensional object and particular actions to be performed by the computer system in response to recognizing the particular actions are also saved to the recognized object database.
US08542906B1
A method is provided to implement augmented reality using markers. An image is captured of an environment. An image of a marker is detected in the image of the environment. A virtual image is displayed overlaid on the image of the environment at an offset from the marker, wherein the virtual image is based on the marker.
US08542900B2
Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. The image frames are enhanced with respect to a first given feature of the image frames, by (a) image tracking the image frames with respect to the first given feature, (b) identifying a second given feature in each of the image frames, and (c) in response to the identifying, reducing visibility of the second given feature in the image frames. The image frames that (a) have been image tracked with respect to the first given feature, and (b) have had reduced therein the visibility of the second given feature, are displayed as a stream of image frames. Other embodiments are also described.
US08542897B2
Methods, storage mediums, and systems for image data processing are provided. Embodiments for the methods, storage mediums, and systems include configurations to perform one or more of the following steps: background signal measurement, particle identification using classification dye emission and cluster rejection, inter-image alignment, inter-image particle correlation, fluorescence integration of reporter emission, and image plane normalization.
US08542896B2
There is provided a medical image processing device and a medical image processing method that can extract and display lesion candidate regions having different sizes and similarity forms at a time through a series of processing. Therefore, with respect to a first medical image, a first evaluation for the curved surface form of the first medical image is made to extract first lesion candidate regions. With respect to each of the first lesion candidate regions extracted by a first extracting unit, a second evaluation for the curved surface form thereof is made to extract a second lesion candidate region. The second lesion candidate region extracted by a second extracting unit is superimposed and displayed on a second medical image.
US08542894B2
A method is disclosed for post-processing measured values of a tissue region including at least part of a heart, which measured values were registered by way of an imaging system. In at least one embodiment, the method includes at least: generating an at least three-dimensional data record from the measured values; analyzing the at least three-dimensional data record and generating parameter maps in respect of at least two of the following parameters: thickness and/or change in thickness of a myocardial wall, movement of the myocardial wall, local blood-supply values for defined spatial regions of the heart; automatically generating a results parameter map on the basis of the generated parameter maps according to fixed rules; and outputting the results parameter map. Moreover, at least one embodiment of the invention relates to a correspondingly designed device.
US08542872B2
A method of autonomously monitoring a remote site, including the steps of locating a primary detector at a site to be monitored; creating one or more geospatial maps of the site using an overhead image of the site; calibrating the primary detector to the geospatial map using a detector-specific model; detecting an object in motion at the site; tracking the moving object on the geospatial map; and alerting a user to the presence of motion at the site. In addition thermal image data from a infrared cameras, rather than optical/visual image data, is used to create detector-specific models and geospatial maps in substantially the same way that optical cameras and optical image data would be used.
US08542867B2
An image processing apparatus and method determine whether an error detecting rate of original information extracted from a code image in a read image obtained by reading a sheet on which the code image is formed, is not smaller than a predetermined value. When it is not smaller than a predetermined value, a code image is reproduced from the extracted original information and the code image in the read image is replaced therewith. One example of the code image is a barcode.
US08542865B2
An electromechanical transducer 180, motor structure 200 and voice coil winding support structure or bobbin 210 are configured to protect and transport heat away from a voice coil 220 which is would solely within the interior of bobbin 210 and configured for reciprocating movement in close proximity to an extended cooling pole piece 204. A compact, economical and efficient adaptation of a pancake style motor includes generous volume for a powerful magnet 208, while providing an extended, linear range of excursion and continuous cooling for the generously overhung voice coil 220.
US08542863B2
A loudspeaker magnetic motor utilizes a voice coil with two or more wire coils that are connected in parallel and that are layered on top of one another. The motor utilizes, as a magnetic field source, a permanent magnet and, more particularly, a permanent magnet that includes a rare earth metal such as a neodymium boron iron magnet.
US08542854B2
Various embodiments use combinations of different methods for creating virtual surround. Some of the methods used in various embodiments include: dipole beamforming, multi-stage arrays, transducer directionality, and enclosure shading. In general, each of these methods may operate over a specific frequency band in various embodiments. The use of multiple methods to create virtual sound can increase the virtual sound effect and better maintain sound quality compared to the use of a single method for creating virtual surround. Each method used to create virtual surround can be optimized for a specific system configuration based on factors such as the physical set-up of the transducers, the size and shape of the enclosure, and the input signal configuration. Various embodiments allow for an intensity difference to be created for a listener across a wide range of frequencies in order to produce constant directionality.
US08542850B2
A miniature microphone assembly comprises a capacitive-microphone transducer, a microphone carrier, and an integrated circuit die. The capacitive-microphone transducer includes a microphone-electrical contact or terminal. The microphone carrier comprises a carrier electrical contact or terminal formed on a first surface of the microphone carrier. An integrated circuit die includes a die electrical terminal operatively coupled to signal amplification or signal conditioning circuitry of the integrated circuit die. The first surface of the microphone carrier comprises a hydrophobic layer or coating. The side surfaces of the integrated circuit die and/or the capacitive-microphone transducer may also include the hydrophobic layer or coating.
US08542845B2
Disclosed is a wireless stereo headset. The wireless stereo headset includes a first headset including a speaker unit and a Bluetooth® enabled module, for converting sound signals received from a device, transmitting the sound signals into sounds and outputting the sounds, and a second headset including a speaker unit and a Bluetooth® enabled module, for selectively receiving a portion of the sound signals which are converted into sounds and outputting the sounds, thereby accomplishing mono sound by using the first headset according to a user's request or achieving stereo sound by using the first and second headsets. The wireless stereo headset can perform voice communication by using only the first headset, while accomplishing stereo sounds by using both the first and second headsets, thereby using the wireless stereo headset to enjoy an improved sound quality.
US08542844B2
A sound modification system and a method of managing sound in a vehicle. The system includes an active noise reduction (ANR) controller, an engine sound enhancement (ESE) controller and a sound modification controller. When the vehicle is in a steady state driving condition, the sound modification controller activates the ANR controller and deactivates the ESE controller. In contrast, when the vehicle is in a non-steady state driving condition, the sound modification controller activates the ESE controller and deactivates the ANR controller. Preferably, when the vehicle switches between the steady state and non-steady state driving conditions, the sound modification controller activates and deactivates the ANR and ESE controllers at a rate that is not noticeable to a human. In summary, the system utilizes the ANR and ESE controllers to achieve an optimal passenger cabin experience for the driver during any driving condition.
US08542843B2
The invention relates to a noise canceling audio transmitting/receiving device; a stereo headset with an integrated array of microphones utilizing an adaptive beam forming algorithm. The invention also relates to a method of using an adaptive beam forming algorithm that may be incorporated into a stereo headset. The sensor array used herein has adaptive filtering capabilities.
US08542842B2
Bluetooth-enabled programmable digital hearing aids can be adjusted remotely and in real time. The hearing aid patient at home or a location convenient to the patient logs on to a hearing clinic web site to connect with a clinician, e.g. audiologist or hearing aid technician, at a central clinic location. The patient computer is provided with software for this and the patient is provided with a wireless hearing aid adjustment device. The clinician downloads the patient's hearing aid program and other data, and then makes adjustments and reprograms the hearing aids in real time.
US08542839B2
An audio processing apparatus and method for a mobile device are provided. The audio processing apparatus and method may appropriately determine sound source localizations corresponding to a voice signal and an audio signal, and thereby may simultaneously provide a voice call service and a multimedia service. Also, the audio processing apparatus and method may guarantee quality of the voice call service even when simultaneously providing the voice call service and the multimedia service.
US08542834B1
A device, system, and method are provided for simply and securely pairing a wireless peripheral device with a host device or system. The device, claim, and method and other peripheral devices provide for improved simplification and security of the pairing process involved with establishing a secure wireless connection between a peripheral device and a host. Simplification is improved because actions required by the user to complete the pairing process are minimized, and security is improved because of a greatly increased ability on the part of the user to ensure that pairing process is conducted in a secure environment. The pairing may be applicable to any number of host devices and peripheral devices. The host device may be a desktop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, or similar device, and the peripheral device may be a keyboard, mouse, game controller, or personal digital assistant (PDA).
US08542829B2
A method of transmitting data by which cipher-transmission of digital information data for which forbidden codes including timing identification codes are predetermined can be carried out with enciphered digital information data without containing undesirable forbidden code, in which digital information data contained in word sequence data which contain also time reference code data composed of the timing identification codes are subjected to enciphering process without producing the forbidden code to produce the enciphered digital information data which do not contain any forbidden code and then enciphered word sequence data are constituted with the enciphered digital information data and the time reference code data to be transmitted.
US08542827B2
An apparatus and method for generating a shared secret between at least two wireless portable electronic devices. A shared secret is generated by holding together the at least two devices and shaking them. An acceleration of the at least two devices is measured at least during a time window beginning at a time corresponding to when a magnitude of the acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold. The acceleration is sampled, resulting in a plurality of vectors, such that a first vector is an initial sample of the acceleration during the time window. In some embodiments, the acceleration is measured in three dimensions. Dot products are calculated between the first vector and each of a plurality of subsequent vectors, resulting in an array of scalars. At least a portion of this array is used to generate the shared secret between the at least two devices.
US08542826B2
A method of masking a cryptographic operation using a secret value, comprising the steps of dividing the secret value into a plurality of parts; combining with each part a random value to derive a new part such that the new parts when combined are equivalent to the original secret value; and utilizing each of the individual parts in the operation.
US08542819B2
A method and an apparatus for upgrading an existing service outlet (e.g. LAN, telephone, power or CATV outlet) in a house by adding functionality thereto. The functionality is added by an add-on module, connected electrically and secured mechanically to the existing outlet. Several attachment devices are exampled, including surface attachment, side clamping, snap locking, strap securing and fastening screws. The add-on module may include a service connector for retaining the basic existing outlet function. The module may be attached in a permanent way or by using a detachable solution.
US08542814B1
Systems and methods for configuring and using speed dialing are described. A first user interface is displayed to a user, the first user interface providing a name field configured to display and/or receive a contact name and a phone address field configured to display and/or receive a phone address associated with the contact name. A speed dial field configured to receive and/or display a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address is provided. When the user later enters speed dial identifier via a telephone, the phone address is called.
US08542808B2
A method and computing device for encoding an image according to a preset encoding parameter for the image. The encoding producing an encoded image having a file size. If it is determined that the file size exceeds a maximum file size and the encoding parameter does not meet a threshold, the encoding parameter is modified. The encoding, determining and modifying are repeated until the file size does not exceed a maximum file size or the encoding parameter meets the threshold.
US08542806B2
A telecommunications system including, a plurality of repeater nodes, each repeater node having a transceiver unit operable to transmit and receive data to or from one or more other of the repeater nodes or a control node or a mobile device within a predetermined range. The control node operable to transmit data to and receive data from the mobile device via the repeater nodes using a time frame divided into a plurality of time slots. The time slots of the time frame are allocated to the repeater nodes to the effect that each repeater node transmits to another repeater node in one of the upstream or the downstream directions in a time slot which is a minimal time from the time slot in which the other repeater node transmits in the upstream or downstream direction.
US08542788B2
A blind scan system in a DVB-S system includes a spectrum parameter extractor to fetch and calculate a coarse carrier frequency offset and coarse symbol rate of a signal; a digital mixer to depend on the coarse frequency offset to shift the center of a spectrum of the signal to a position where a DC part of a working spectrum of a digital matched filter locates, so as to produce an offset signal; and an interpolator to perform a down-sampling on the offset signal according to the coarse symbol rate in order to improve the in-band signal-to-noise ratio of the digital matched filter and mitigate impacts due to adjacent channel interferences. Thus, the fine carrier frequency offset and fine symbol rate estimation can be performed accurately.
US08542785B2
A communication apparatus that can suppress an increase in circuit size and reduce influence of interference, includes reception array antenna elements, a reception digital beam forming (DBF) network that generates a reception beam signal for forming M reception beams using a reception signal, and reception filter banks (FBs) that generate frequency split reception beam signals obtained by frequency-splitting the reception beam signal. The communication apparatus includes an interference-source detecting unit that stores, for each reception beam, an interference candidate beam area estimated based on an initial reception beam characteristic, calculates, based on the frequency split reception beam signals, a reception spectrum, and calculates, based on the reception spectrum and a reception spectrum of a reception beam to the interference candidate beam area, an interference source area. The reception DFB network generates a reception beam signal to perform null formation in the direction of the interference source area.
US08542781B2
In one of its aspects the technology disclosed herein concerns a method of operating a receiver. The method comprises performing symbol detection by (1) receiving a frequency-domain signal that comprises contribution from time-domain symbols transmitted from one or more transmit antennas; (2) generating a transformation matrix and a triangular matrix based on a frequency domain channel response; (3) using the transformation matrix to transform the received frequency-domain signal to obtain a transformed frequency-domain signal; and (4) performing symbol detection by performing plural stages of detection, each stage of detection using elements of the transformed frequency-domain received signal associated with the detection stage.
US08542777B2
An amplitude modulation (AM) demodulating circuit applied to a radio frequency identification (RFID) system attenuates carrier signals by a notch filter to increase a signal-to-carrier ratio and to reduce complexity and cost of circuit design. The AM demodulating circuit includes an envelope detector, a notch filter, a low-pass filter, and a comparing circuit. The envelope detector performs envelope detection on an AM signal modulated by a carrier frequency to generate an envelope signal. The notch filter filters the envelope signal to generate a first filtered signal, and a zero point of the notch filter corresponds to the carrier frequency of the AM signal. The low-pass filter filters the first filtered signal to generate a second filtered signal, and the carrier frequency of the AM signal corresponds to a stop band of the low-pass filter. The comparing circuit converts the second filtered signal to a digital signal according to a level value.
US08542756B2
A communication method of transmitting plural packets from a first communication device to a second communication device includes associating identification information items with combinations of reception results of the plural packets in the second communication device, specifying one of the identification information items based on the reception results of the plural packets in initial reception, and transmitting the one item to the first communication device; determining an encoding method and encoding the plural packets based on the determined encoding method, and retransmitting the encoded packets to the second communication device; and decoding the encoded packets based on successfully received packets and reproducing incorrectly received packets in the initial reception.
US08542752B2
Techniques for sending signaling information using hierarchical coding are described. With hierarchical coding, individual messages for users are encoded using multiple interconnected encoders such that (1) the message for each user is sent at a data rate suitable for that user and (2) a single multicast message is generated for the messages for all users. A base station determines data rates supported by the users and the code rates to achieve these data rates. Each data rate is determined by one or more code rates. Signaling information for the users is mapped to data blocks to be sent at different data rates. Each data block is then encoded in accordance with the code rate(s) associated with the data rate for that data block. A final coded block is generated for all users and transmitted. Each user performs the complementary decoding to recover the message sent to that user.
US08542748B2
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for parallel video encoding and decoding.
US08542747B2
A frame rate converter sequentially buffers video frames in a sequence of video frames in a buffer and interpolates at least two of the plurality of video frames in the buffer based on at least one interpolation parameter, to form interpolated output frames. Conveniently, the interpolation parameter is adjusted with each newly buffered frame in dependence on the current value of the cadence of the frame sequence. In this way, delays associated with cadence detection may be reduced.
US08542738B2
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation.
US08542737B2
A method for compressing an image having rows and columns, comprising providing an image, sub-sampling the image into a plurality of sub-image by selecting subsets of non-overlapping pixels in neighboring rows and columns in the image and encoding the sub-images in a video sequence.
US08542736B2
There are provided methods and apparatus for video coding using prediction data refinement. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding an image region of a picture. The encoder has a prediction refinement filter for refining at least one of an intra prediction and an inter prediction for the image region. The prediction refinement filter refines the inter prediction for the image region using at least one of previously decoded data and previously encoded data, the previously decoded data and the previously encoded data corresponding to pixel values in neighboring regions with respect to the image region.
US08542733B2
An encoder and corresponding method are disclosed for performing video rate control to meet network traffic model restrictions, including pre-encoding the sequence of pictures for each of a plurality of quantization parameter values, selecting for each picture of the sequence one of the plurality of quantization parameter values responsive to the quantization parameter values and bitrate operating points of the neighboring pictures in the sliding time window, and encoding each picture of the sequence using the quantization parameter value selected for that picture.
US08542732B1
An apparatus comprising a graphics processing unit, a processor and a memory. The memory stores computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions use (i) the graphics processing unit to perform prediction, decimation, transformation and quantization, and inverse-quantization and inverse-transformation and (ii) the processor to perform entropy encoding and rate control.
US08542731B2
An encoder, a decoder, and corresponding methods are provided for encoding and decoding video signal data for an image block. The encoder includes a quantizer for receiving transform coefficients for the image block, and for adaptively performing dead-zone quantization based on coefficient positions and coefficient distributions of the transform coefficients.
US08542721B2
A modem for use with a computer having a demodulator and a decoder, the modem comprises a hardware interface; a demodulator front-end having a first input and a first output, the first output of the demodulator front-end being configured to interface with the demodulator of the computer and to provide a demodulated front-end signal to the demodulator over the hardware interface; and a forward error correction (FEC) unit having a second input and a second output, the second input of the FEC unit being configured to interface with the demodulator of the computer and to receive a demodulated signal from the demodulator over the hardware interface, the demodulated signal being a demodulation of the demodulated front-end signal, and the second output of the FEC unit being configured to interface with the decoder of the computer and to provide an FEC signal to the decoder over the hardware interface.
US08542704B2
There is provided a packet joining method, program, and apparatus with an increased wireless utilization efficiency and a reduced packet delay. The packet joining method includes a step of performing Neighbor Discovery within a range reachable in one hop to detect neighboring audio terminals which are connectable over short-range radio and acquiring call information including audio session information such as whether the detected audio terminals are busy with respective calls and packetization period information and wireless transmission rate information, a step of selecting one as a joining destination from the list of detected connectable audio terminals on the basis of the call information by the criteria that occupancy time of wireless transmission becomes short and that a packet delay at the time of joining becomes small, a step of requesting packet joining of the selected audio terminal as the joining destination, and a step in which an audio terminal as a joining source starts a voice call upon receipt of a positive response from the audio terminal as the joining destination in response to the request for joining.
US08542703B1
A first wireless device comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit, in accordance with a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation, a packet to a second wireless device, wherein the packet includes a header portion and a data portion. A maximum time interval for the second station to respond to the packet is as follows: (i) in response to the packet being transmitted to the second device in accordance with the first mode of operation, the second device is to respond to the packet within a predetermined time period, and (ii) in response to the packet being transmitted to the second device in accordance with the second mode of operation, the second device is to respond to the packet in a time greater than the predetermined time period.
US08542702B1
A system for receiving and sending a data transmission includes a network where a user may view and manipulate a data transmission. A marking mechanism allows a user to denote first and second marks of the data transmission that frame a portion of the data transmission. A transmitter is configured to send the first and second marks to a remote device for consumption of the portion of the data transmission.
US08542699B2
In a method for content synchronization in a wireless network, a first data packet communicated in a multicast or broadcast service is received over a first communication channel. A primary counter value is added to the first data packet. The primary counter value is indicative of a total size of data packets sent over a second communication channel to a base station within a period of time. A secondary counter value is added to the first data packet if the first data packet has a timestamp later than a scheduling time associated with a scheduling interval for transmitting data packets. An updated first data packet is sent over the second communication channel to the base station, the updated first data packet having the first data packet received including the primary counter and the secondary counter.
US08542691B2
A method includes a local switch receiving a first set of upstream packets and a first set of local packets, each assigned a first class of service. The local switch inserts, according to a first insertion rate, a local packet between subsets of the first set of upstream packets to obtain an ordered set of first class packets. The local switch also receives a second set of upstream packets and a second set of local packets, each assigned a second class. The local switch inserts, according to a second insertion rate, a local packet between subsets of the second set of upstream packets to obtain an ordered set of second class packets. The method includes for each timeslot, selecting a class, and forwarding a packet from the selected class of service to a downstream switch. The switches are interconnected in a daisy chain topology on a single chip.
US08542685B2
Methods for prioritizing load management messages on IP-based networks utilizing an Active Load Directory and IP capable two-way gateway. The messages being received from, or sent to, the ISP through the gateway contain a blend of regulated and unregulated data. The regulated data is high-priority utility load management data such as, equipment status and load control instructions. The unregulated data consists of Internet messages such as email and web site data. These methods process all regulatory data before unregulated data within strict time limits, providing the greatest possible load management control and energy savings. The methods emulate dedicated network processor memory in a manner that permits the rules for prioritizing, scheduling, and routing to remain the same across both hardware and software implementations.
US08542684B2
An Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) packet processing method, a communication system and a device are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an ARP packet, and judging the type of the ARP packet; when the ARP packet is an ARP request, responding to the ARP request if an entry corresponding to the ARP request is found in a local ARP table; and when the ARP packet is an ARP response, reporting the ARP response if an entry corresponding to the ARP response is found in the local ARP table and a reporting parameter in the entry indicates permission of reporting; or discarding the ARP response if no entry corresponding to the ARP response is found in the ARP table.
US08542680B2
A system and a process for a session layer protocol allows a large number of client machines to receive a reliable data stream over inherently unreliable multicast connections in a highly efficient and scalable manner. More specifically, streaming of high-quality video, audio, stock and news tickers, or any other application specific data that requires a reliable data stream is described. The streaming allows for the source to instruct individuals to drop their connection to the stream to prevent noisy individuals from disrupting the operating efficiency of the stream.
US08542674B2
An architecture and method is provided for call routing using both IMS and non-IMS frameworks. The method includes receiving presence information of a third party from a non-IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network device. The method further includes routing the third party to at least one callee designated device based on configurable preferences provided by the callee and correlated to presence information using an IMS compliant component. The method additionally includes providing a charging record for the routing on an IMS complaint charging platform.
US08542671B2
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for providing enhanced features to a Internet streaming system. In one embodiment, a method of providing customized enhanced features to a streaming communication system such as provided via, for example, a SIP system can comprise identifying one or more parties to an exchange. A type of communication represented by the exchange over the streaming system can be identified. One or more policies applicable to the exchange can be determined and the policies can be enforced to provide the one or more enhanced features. The one or more enhanced features can include for example, services for authenticating, authorizing, and/or anonymizing one or more of the parties to the exchange, services for logging information related to the exchange, services for billing one or more parties to the exchange, and/or any number of other services.
US08542660B2
A message distribution center (MDC) and Intelligent Delivery Agent are implemented in a wireless Internet gateway interposed between content providers and a wireless carrier to subjectively examine and direct messages via simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) based on desired rules (non-peak hours, paying subscribers only, etc.) using standard SMTP Gateway and other well-known protocols. The MDC includes an individual queue for each subscriber, and the provider is informed through conventional SMTP protocol messages that the short message has been accepted. If the carrier has specifically disallowed service for a particular mobile identification number (MIN) (in the case of churning), then the content provider is informed through an SMTP interchange that the recipient is invalid.
US08542654B1
A base station transmits control message(s) to a wireless device configuring secondary cell(s). Each of the secondary cells is assigned to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups comprising a primary cell group and at least one secondary cell group. The control message(s) comprise dedicated parameters. If dedicated parameters comprise a cell group index for the secondary cell, the wireless device assigns the secondary cell to one of the at least one secondary cell group identified by the cell group index. Otherwise, the wireless device assigns the secondary cell to the primary cell group.
US08542642B2
An apparatus for data traffic scheduling comprises a scheduler assigning at least one priority parameter value prioritizing usage of a communication resource comprising a plurality of logical channels, to each of a plurality of users of the communication resource, a channel analyzer providing at least one channel condition indicator for each logical channel, and a filter providing a scheduling parameter value for each logical channel to the scheduler determining the priority parameter value, the scheduling parameter value being a weighted average of a plurality of values of the at least one channel condition indicator.
US08542637B2
Embodiments analyze crowd-sourced data to identify a moved or moving beacon. The crowd-sourced data for the beacon is grouped into a plurality of clusters based on spatial distance. Timestamps associated with the crowd-sourced data in the clusters are compared to select one of the clusters. The crowd-sourced data associated with the selected cluster is used to determine position information for the beacon.
US08542630B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communications networks, and more specifically to method and apparatus relating to wireless backhaul for cellular wireless systems. Increasing data capacity of cellular wireless systems places increasing demands on the capacity of the two way connection, known as backhaul, between a cellular base station and a telecommunications network such as the PSTN backhaul, since this is the connection that has to convey the wireless-originating traffic to its destination, often in an entirely different network. Known backhaul links include leased lines, microwave links, optical fibre links or radio resources for relaying backhaul traffic between base stations. The fixed line solutions are expensive to implement and maintain, while the radio solutions suffer from interference from transmissions between base stations with transmissions from user equipment to base stations which are not communicating with other base stations. In embodiments of the invention, the relaying of access data between base stations utilises radio resources other than radio resources used by transmissions from user equipment within an area of contiguous wireless coverage. The benefit of this approach is that it provides a means of avoiding interference between inter-base station transmissions and user equipment to base station transmissions.
US08542624B2
A method of transmitting a signal according to the present invention includes: receiving a signal that is encoded with a predetermined code rate and that is modulated by a first modulation method from a base station; creating a signal that is obtained by demodulating the signal that is modulated by the first modulation method using a method corresponding to the first modulation method; creating a signal that is obtained by modulating the demodulated signal using a second modulation method while maintaining the predetermined code rate; and transmitting the signal that is modulated by the second modulation to a mobile station.Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of the relay station and simplify the system of the relay station. Further, during the modulation and demodulation, the symbol offset is changed to create various modulated and demodulated signals.
US08542614B2
The present disclosure is a full-duplex wireless voice broadcasting apparatus. The apparatus is capable of channel-changing. Full-duplex (two-way) voice communication is achieved by using at least one receiving device and an emitting device. The receiving device has good mobility to be used as an emergent caller to the emitting device. The present disclosure has advantages in interference resistance, energy saving, short-distance emergent calling, and calling for help.
US08542608B2
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement in a communication network node (15) of achieving an optimal initial shaping rate for a new packet flow on a transport network between said communication network node (15) and a second communication network node (10) in a communication network system. The shaping rates of ongoing packet flows on said transport network are determined. And, based on said determined shaping rates of ongoing packet flows, an initial shaping rate for said new packet flow is selected so as to obtain a maximized fairness among all shaping rates.
US08542603B2
A data communication system is disclosed, comprising a network provided with a control server for managing network resources, and a delivery server for delivering multimedia content to one or more UE (user equipment) devices, wherein the control server is arranged to pass a network session ID, of a network session between the delivery server and the UE device, to the delivery server, and the delivery server is arranged to keep track of the network session independently of the control server, such that once the network session ID of the network session has been passed to the delivery server, the control server keeps no reference to the network session and takes no part therein.
US08542596B2
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) determines (1) whether the WTRU is transmitting as much scheduled data as allowed by a current Serving_Grant, (2) whether the WTRU has enough power to transmit at higher data rate, and (3) based on a same power offset as a currently selected E-DCH transport format combination (E-TFC), whether total E-DCH buffer status (TEBS) would require more than predetermined period to be transmitted with the current Serving_Grant.times.a ratio of active processes to a total number of processes. If criteria (1)-(3) are met, the WTRU sets the happy bit to “unhappy.” If MAC-i/is is configured, the WTRU evaluates criteria (2) by identifying an E-TFC that has a transport block size at least x bits larger than a transport block size of the currently selected E-TFC, and determining whether the identified E-TFC is supported based on a same power offset as the currently selected E-TFC.
US08542595B2
Methods and systems for providing IP services in an integrated fashion are provided. According to one embodiment, a load associated with multiple virtual routing processing resources of an IP service generator of a virtual router (VR) based switch is monitored. Packets are load balanced among the virtual routing processing resources. A packet flow cache is maintained with packet flow entries containing information indicative of packet processing actions for established packet flows. Deep packet classification is performed to determine whether a packet is associated with an established packet flow. If so, the packet is directed to one of multiple virtual services processing resources representing application-tailored engines configured to provide network-based IP services including one or more of virtual private network (VPN) processing, firewall processing, Uniform Resource Locator (URL) filtering and anti-virus processing. If the packet is allowed, it is returned to the source virtual routing processing resource for forwarding.
US08542592B2
Techniques for classifying and managing network flows associated with a network service using application classification information and active signaling relay are described. A network device, for example, includes a signaling interceptor and a network flow interface. The signaling interceptor monitors a communication between a customer device and an application server, and identifies a network flow associated with a network service provided to the customer device by the application server. The network flow interface applies a policy to the identified network flow. An active signaling relay module communicates with the application server using data injected within the signaling communications, and utilizes the injected data to further control the network flows and the delivery of the network service.
US08542590B2
A method may include receiving, from a user device, a request to access a long term evolution (LTE) network; sending, to one or more servers of a group of servers, a query to obtain information associated with a respective traffic condition and processing capacity; identifying a particular server via which to establish a communication session with the user device based on a determination that the particular server has a reserve processing capacity that is greater than a respective reserve processing capacity associated with other ones of the servers, where the reserve processing capacity is based on a traffic condition and processing capacity associated with the particular server; and sending, to the particular server, an instruction to establish the communication session, where sending the instruction enables the particular server to establish the communication session via which the user device is to access the network.
US08542584B2
The present invention relates to a partitioning entity and a method for partitioning capacity in a communication network to avoid starvation of certain data traffic and to support services with different characteristics. The method of partitioning capacity comprises assigning communication links to a group associated with a time-varying group capacity to form a group of communication links. The group comprises a first sub-group and at least a second sub-group of communication links. Further, the method comprises allocating a non-zero fraction of the time-varying group capacity to the first sub-group of communication links of the group.
US08542577B2
A digital television (DTV) transmitter and a method of processing data in the DTV transmitter/receiver are disclosed. In the DTV transmitter, a pre-processor pre-processes the enhanced data by coding the enhanced data for forward error correction (FEC) and expanding the FEC-coded data. A packet formatter generates one or more groups of enhanced data packets, each enhanced data packet including the pre-processed enhanced data and known data, wherein the data formatter adds burst time information into each group of enhanced data packets. And, a packet multiplexer generates at least one burst of enhanced data by multiplexing the one or more groups of enhanced data packets with at least one main data packet including the main data, each burst of enhanced data including at least one group of enhanced data packets.
US08542574B2
A method includes performing one or more tests at a network component. The network component is capable of transmitting frames of information in a network. The network component is also capable of enabling and disabling the transmitting of frames. The method also includes detecting a failure of at least one of the one or more tests. In addition, the method includes at least one of not enabling the transmitting of frames by the network component and disabling the transmitting of frames by the network component in response to the detected failure. As an example, the one or more tests may be performed in response to the network component powering on. The network component may be initially disabled from transmitting the frames, and the transmitting of frames is not enabled in response to the detected failure.
US08542570B2
Apparatus and method for transceiving signals using frame structure in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transceiving signals using a predetermined frame structure in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit for transceiving a signal through a frame according to the predetermined frame structure. The frame includes 5 subframes, the 5 subframe comprise type-1 subframes including 6 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access (OFDMA) symbols and type-2 subframes including 7 OFDMA symbols, and a Cyclic Prefix (CP) length of the frame corresponds to ⅛ of an effective symbol length.
US08542556B2
A vibration sensor system for contacting the surface of a solid medium for detecting horizontally polarized shear waves and compressional waves. At least two contact points interface between a vibration sensor array and the solid medium to provide uninterrupted contact with the medium during detection of dynamic motions in the medium. A single vibration sensor is mounted on at least two adjacent contact points to convert detected dynamic motions to corresponding electrical signals. The single vibration sensor mounted on the two adjacent contact points forms a sub-array. The vibration sensor system has at least two sub-arrays. A conditioning and combining member treats sensor electrical signals from at least two sub-arrays to form a composite output signal for the system.
US08542551B2
A circuit comprises a first voltage source, a second voltage source, a first switch, firsts transistors, and a control circuitry. The first switch is configured to selectively couple the first voltage source or the second voltage source to a first signal line. The first transistors are in an IO circuitry and have first bulks configured to receive the first signal line. The control circuitry is configured to receive a clock and a command signal on a command signal line, and generate a first control signal on a first control signal line to control the first switch based on the clock and the command signal.
US08542547B2
A semiconductor device comprises a first sense amplifier, first to third transmission lines, and first to third switches. The first and second transmission lines are connected to the first sense amplifier. The first and third switches control connections of the first to third transmission lines, and the second switch controls a connection between a fixed potential and third transmission line. When the second transmission line is not accessed, the first and third switches are brought into a non-conductive state and the second switch is brought into a conductive state, and the fixed potential is supplied to the third transmission line, thereby suppressing influence of the coupling noise between the transmission lines.
US08542545B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method of repairing soft failures in memory cells of an SRAM array. The SRAM array is tested to determine the location and type of soft failures in the memory cells. An assist circuit is activated that changes a voltage in a group of memory cells with the same type of soft failure. The change in voltage created by the assist circuit repairs the soft failures in the group. The group may be a word line or a bit line. The type of soft failures includes a failure during a read of a memory cell and a failure during the write of a memory cell.
US08542540B2
Embodiments of tunneling barriers and methods for same can embed modules exhibiting a monodispersion characteristic into a dielectric layer (e.g., between first and second layers forming a dielectric layer). In one embodiment, by embedding C60 molecules inbetween first and second insulating layers forming a dielectric layer, a field sensitive tunneling barrier can be implemented. In one embodiment, the tunneling barrier can be between a floating gate and a channel in a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, a tunneling film can be used in nonvolatile memory applications where C60 provides accessible energy levels to prompt resonant tunneling through the dielectric layer upon voltage application.
US08542539B2
A method of charging a floating gate in a nonvolatile memory cell comprises bringing a substrate channel within the memory cell to a first voltage, bringing a control gate to a programming voltage, and floating the substrate channel voltage while the control gate is at the programming voltage. Memory devices include state machines or controllers operable to perform the described method, and operation of such a state machine, memory device, and information handling system are described.
US08542534B2
Methods for programming select gates, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method for programming, a program inhibit voltage is transferred from a source line to unselected bit lines. Bit line-to-bit line capacitance, between the unselected bit lines and selected bit lines to be program inhibited, boosts the bit line voltage of the selected, inhibited bit lines to a target inhibit voltage. In one embodiment, the voltage on the selected, inhibited bit line can be increased in a plurality of inhibit steps whereby either one, two, or all of the steps can be used during the programming of unprogrammed select gates.
US08542529B2
A non-volatile memory device 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 read, and program/verify operations. A read or program verify operation includes one or more sensing cycles relative to one or more demarcation threshold voltages to determine a memory state. In one aspect, selective memory cells among the group being sensed in parallel have their conduction currents turned off when they are determined to be in a state not relevant to the current sensing cycle. In another aspect, a power-consuming period is minimized by preemptively starting any operations that would prolong the period. In a program/verify operation cells not to be programmed have their bit lines charged up in the program phase. Power is saved when a set of these bit lines avoids re-charging at every passing of a program phase.
US08542517B2
An antifuse can include an insulated gate field effect transistor (“IGFET”) having an active semiconductor region including a body and first regions, i.e., at least one source region and at least one drain region separated from one another by the body. A gate may overlie the body and a body contact is electrically connected with the body. The first regions have opposite conductivity (i.e., n-type or p-type) from the body. The IGFET can be configured such that a programming current through at least one of the first regions and the body contact causes heating sufficient to drive dopant diffusion from the at least one first region into the body and cause an edge of the at least one first region to move closer to an adjacent edge of at least one other of the first regions. In such way, the programming current can permanently reduce electrical resistance by one or more orders of magnitude between the at least one first region and the at least one other first region.
US08542509B2
A method of multi-path power factor correction includes providing a plurality of energy transfer paths from a voltage-varying input to an output; delivering a first fraction of available input energy to one or more energy storage networks at the input of at least one of the plurality of energy transfer paths; delivering a second fraction of available input energy to the output; and adjusting the first fraction and second fraction for facilitating outputting a substantially constant output and for controlling the energy drawn from the input.
US08542508B2
A saturation prevention circuit includes a first controlled current source, a second controlled current source, an integrating capacitor, and a comparator. The first controlled current source generates a first current that is proportional to an input voltage that is to be applied to a winding of a transformer. The second controlled current source generates a second current that is proportional to a reset voltage that is to be applied to the winding. The capacitor is charged with the first current while the input voltage is applied to the winding of the transformer and discharged with the second current while the reset voltage is applied to the winding. The comparator compares a voltage on the integrating capacitor with a first threshold and generates a first signal to immediately turn off the switch when the voltage on the integrating capacitor reaches the first threshold to limit a magnetic flux in the transformer.
US08542506B2
A power isolation system and method is disclosed. The system includes a transformer suitable for use in the power isolation system, and a semiconductor device electrically connected to the transformer to provide a reduction of the inrush current associated with powering the transformer, wherein the semiconductor device is activated upon power up based upon the previous shutdown state of the power isolation system to provide a soft start to the transformer, and after activation of the transformer, the semiconductor device is shorted in the system.
US08542503B2
Systems and methods described herein provide for high speed power factor correction which can overcome or substantially alleviate the problems associated with changes in the operating conditions of a load or other transient events. The present technology senses the present state conditions of a signal to quickly and accurately determine the presence of an overtone component within the signal. The expected value of the overtone component is then determined based on the sensed state of the signal. Power factor correction is then performed to suppress the overtone utilizing a control signal formed based on the expected value of the overtone. By performing power factor correction based on the expected value, the present technology can provide high speed power factor correction which is not limited by the delay introduced by an adaptive feedback loop.
US08542497B2
A display device in the present invention includes a display panel which is provided with a display screen, a T-substrate which is arranged in a predetermined range narrower than the display panel at the back side of the display panel, first flexible printed circuit substrates which extend downward from the upper end of the display panel and are connected to the T-substrate, and second flexible printed circuit substrates which extend upward from the lower end of the display panel and are connected to the T-substrate in order to achieve more reduction in thickness when the display panel and the circuit substrate are arranged together.
US08542495B1
A security enclosure for touchscreen-type electronic media display tablets such as the Apple® Ipad® tablet. The enclosure has a rear panel that can be mounted to a display or work surface, and a front panel that can be assembled to rotate open and closed on the rear panel with a novel panel-connecting structure that requires no tools or fasteners and that is tamper-resistant. The panel-connecting structure includes a U-shaped channel with radiused connecting tabs bent from an inside edge of the front panel, and a vertical wall with radiused tab-receiving slots bent from a mating interior edge of the rear panel.
US08542494B2
A circuit board includes layers, a pair of vias filled with a conductive material and extending through the layers, first and second pairs of conductive signal paths, and holes extending at least partially through the layers and located between the pair of vias. The first pair of conductive paths is connected to the pair of vias within a first layer; the second pair of conductive paths is connected to the pair of vias within a second layer. The pair of vias has a pair of via stubs defined between the second layer and a bottom layer. A differential signal is to be transmitted between the first and second pairs of conductive signal paths via the pair of vias. The holes have a lower dielectric constant than the layers to increase a resonant frequency of the pair of via stubs beyond the frequency of the differential signal.
US08542492B2
Scalable up and down nesting integrated electronic enclosures with form factors including asteroids and/or dumbbells and/or approximated tessellation(s)/tiling(s) or combinations thereof with thermal management, wiring, sliding fit, manual and/or automated full range vertical to horizontal positioning, access and structural systems for individual modules and intra- and inter-planar stacks, columns, rows, arrays and associated infrastructures.
US08542489B2
An apparatus comprising a rack having a row of shelves, each shelf supporting an electronics circuit board, each one of the circuit boards being manually removable from the shelve supporting the one of the circuit boards and having a local heat source thereon. The apparatus also comprises a cooler attached to the rack and being able to circulate a cooling fluid around a channel forming a closed loop. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of heat conduits, each heat conduit being located over a corresponding one of the circuit boards and forming a path to transport heat from the local heat source of the corresponding one of the circuit boards to the cooler. Each heat conduit is configured to be manually detachable from the cooler or the circuit board, without breaking a circulation pathway of the fluid through the cooler.
US08542486B2
An electronic apparatus with improved heat dissipation comprises a first body with a first shell and a second shell, a second body, a coupling device and a linkage device. The first shell is pivotally connected to the second shell to form an accommodation space. The first shell can pivot relative to the second shell to enlarge the accommodation space and form an opening between the first shell and the second shell. The coupling device couples the second body and the second shell to pivot the second body relative to the second shell to expose or hide the first shell. The linkage device drives the first shell to pivot relative to the second shell. When the second body pivots relative to the second shell toward a first direction, the linkage device drives the first shell to pivot relative to the second shell toward a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US08542485B2
This housing comprises rackable electronic equipment modules (2) housed in a bay. A module (2) has both internal (12, 13) and external (45) thermal radiators cooled by natural and forced ventilation. The internal thermal radiators (12, 13) are placed in thermal contact with the hot spots of the electronic equipment placed in the module (2) via hear collectors (40, 41) connected by heat pipe (42, 43) to the external thermal radiators (45) arranged outside on the edge (44) of the module (2). The internal thermal radiators (12, 13) are sized to be sufficient to cool the electric equipment when the forced ventilation is functioning normally. The external thermal radiators (45) are sized to complement the cooling provided by the internal radiators (12, 13) should the forced ventilation be lost.
US08542476B2
The present invention relates to a multilayer ceramic capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same. The multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body having a first side and a second side opposed to each other and having a third side and a fourth side connecting the first side to the second side; a plurality of inner electrodes formed within the ceramic body and having respective one ends exposed to the third side and the fourth side; and outer electrodes formed on the third side and the fourth side and electrically connected to the inner electrodes. A shortest distance from distal edges of an outermost inner electrode among the plurality of inner electrodes to the first side or the second side is smaller than a shortest distance from distal edges of a central inner electrode to the first side or the second side.
US08542474B2
An electrostatic chuck has a structure in which a heater is sandwiched between a base member and an electrostatic chuck substrate, the heater being bonded to the base member with an adhesive layer interposing therebetween. The adhesive layer interposing between the heater and the base member has a structure in which a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer are stacked, the first adhesive layer being formed by curing an adhesive having high thermal conductivity, the second adhesive layer being formed as gel by curing an adhesive having lower viscosity than the adhesive of the first adhesive layer. Preferably, the first and second adhesive layers are both made of a silicone-based resin.
US08542472B2
An electronic device may include a connector port that accommodates reversible connector plugs. The connector port may include protection circuitry that protects other components in the electronic device from undesired power supply voltages. The protection circuitry may form a first branch and a second branch opposite to the first branch. The protection circuitry may receive control signals from power polarity detection circuitry. The power polarity detection circuitry may detect the presence of power supply voltages at the first branch and the second branch. In response to detecting the presence of a power supply voltage at a given branch, the power polarity detection circuitry may disable a power supply signal path through the opposite branch and enable a power supply signal path through the given branch.
US08542471B2
A power supply device for plasma processing, wherein electric arcs may occur, comprises a power supply circuit for generating a voltage across output terminals, and a first switch connected between the power supply circuit and one of the output terminals. According to a first aspect the power supply device comprises a recovery energy circuit connected to the output terminals and to the power supply circuit. According to a second aspect the power supply device comprises an inductance circuit including an inductor and a second switch connected parallel to the inductor. According to a third aspect the power supply device comprises a controller for causing the power supply circuit and the first switch to be switched on and off. The controller is configured to determine a quenching time interval by means of a self-adaptive process. The quenching time interval defines the time interval during which, in an event of an arc, no voltage is generated across the output terminals.
US08542469B2
A protected electrical power system may comprise a feeder between a power source and an electrical load. A first current transformer may be positioned on the feeder in a first location. The first current transformer may have a shunt resistor electrically connected across its winding. A second current transformer may be positioned at a second location on the feeder. A control unit may be interposed between the first and second current transformers and may be interconnected with the first and second current transformers on current-monitoring loops independent from the feeder. The control unit may be responsive to a predetermined differential in feeder (DF) current between the first and second current transformers to disconnect the power source from the electrical load. The control unit may have a compensation network for reducing DF error resulting from presence of the shunt resistor in the first current transformer.
US08542459B2
A motor includes a seal cap and a tubular portion. The seal cap includes a first seal cap lower surface which is an annular surface facing axially downward, and a second seal cap lower surface which is an annular surface facing axially downward and arranged radially outward of the first seal cap lower surface. The tubular portion includes a first tubular portion upper surface which is an annular surface arranged axially opposite to the first seal cap lower surface, and a second tubular portion upper surface which is an annular surface arranged radially outward of the first tubular portion upper surface and in contact with the second seal cap lower surface. The first tubular portion upper surface includes an oil-repellent film region covered with an oil-repellent film. A substantially annular radially extending gap is defined between the first tubular portion upper surface and the first seal cap lower surface.
US08542457B2
A thin film magnetic recording head is fabricated by forming a substrate from opposing ferrite blocks which have a ceramic member bonded between them. This structure is then diced to form a plurality of columns, wherein each column has a ferrite/ceramic combination. Each column represents a single channel in the completed head. A block of ceramic is then cut to match the columned structure and the two are bonded together. The bonded structure is then cut or ground until a head is formed, having ceramic disposed between each channel. A ferrite back-gap is then added to each channel, minimizing the reluctance of the flux path. The thin film is patterned on the head to optimize various channel configurations.
US08542438B2
A laser scanning microscope includes a stage that moves a sample placed thereon, a laser light source that emits laser light, a line-focus optical system that focuses the laser light into a line shape, a DMD including a plurality of movable micromirrors that are arrayed in the lengthwise direction of the line shape and that reflect the line-focused laser light, an irradiation optical system that irradiates the sample with the laser light reflected by the DMD, and a photodetector in which a plurality of channels for detecting light from the sample are arrayed in one column, wherein the DMD is driven so that a plurality of micromirrors simultaneously reflect the laser light and so that micromirrors that reflect the laser light are sequentially switched, wherein the stage moves the sample in a direction crossing the array direction of a plurality of light spots formed on the sample.
US08542424B2
A heat resistant black coating film which is capable of making the surface of optical members to be low reflection property and black property, a black light shading plate having a resin film using the same as a base substrate, and a diaphragm, a diaphragm device for light intensity adjustment and a shutter using the same, and heat resistant light shading tape. They are provided by a black coating film (A), where a titanium oxide film containing titanium and oxygen as main components, and having an oxygen content of from 0.7 to 1.4, as atomicity ratio O/Ti, is formed on an opaque or translucent substrate, characterized in that the titanium oxide film takes a constitution of fine columnar crystals assembled, where the longitudinal direction of the crystal extends in a film thickness direction, has protrusions at the film surface, and has a film thickness of equal to or thicker than 50 nm; and a black light shading plate, wherein the metallic light shading film (B), having a film thickness of equal to or thicker than 40 nm, is formed onto at least one surface of the substrate, and still more the black coating film (A) is laminated and formed on the surface of the metallic light shading film (B), or the like.
US08542420B2
Certain embodiments provide an image reading apparatus including: a monochrome CCD sensor including a first photo-diode array; plural color CCD sensors each including a second photodiode array; an AD converter configured to apply analog-to-digital conversion to each of analog outputs from the second photodiode array and the first photodiode array; a delay processing unit configured to delay at least one of color image data of plural colors from the AD converter and interpolate, with delayed any one or more of the color image data, a blank of image data that is to be read on a line in a sub-scanning direction; and an inter-line correction unit configured to correct, by the intervals and a set reduction magnification, a positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction between the monochrome image data and the color image data, respective timings of which are aligned on the line by the delay processing unit.
US08542412B2
A flatbed scanner includes a housing, a transparent platen atop the housing for receiving an object to be scanned, and a carriage operable to travel along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The carriage includes a light source for illuminating the object and a rectangular photodetector array for simultaneously detecting light intensity of multiple scan lines.
US08542409B2
A printing apparatus is provided with a halftone unit performing a halftone process in which a possibility of dot formation is determined for each pixel based on a dot occurrence rate of the pixel constituting image data, and a printing unit forming dots on a recording medium based on the possibility of dot formation. The halftone unit predicts the occurrence of dot overlap in which a plurality of dots overlaps on the printing medium and performs the halftone process based on an evaluation index according to the dot overlap.
US08542394B2
An image processing apparatus includes a job execution unit configured to execute at least one of an input job accompanied by inputting of image data and an output job unaccompanied by inputting of image data, an image data storage unit configured to store image data in a predetermined memory, a reference information storage unit configured to store reference information to the image data stored in the memory in the same memory, and a control unit configured to control the image data storage unit to newly store image data in the memory when the job executed by the job execution unit is an input job, and the reference information storage unit to store the reference information to the image data stored in the memory without newly storing image data in the memory when the job executed by the job execution unit is an output job.
US08542391B2
Upon designating bookbinding print, preview images are displayed in a layout after bookbinding. When “store” of intermediate data is designated in a print process, a spooler (302) stores intermediate data and an output job setup file in a spool file (303). When the stored job is selected, a previewer (306) displays a list of jobs, and displays a print preview image. In this case, upon setting bookbinding print, pages are displayed in a spread state, and order after bookbinding. Also, the open direction (right or left open), and the bookbinding unit are also expressed on preview images.
US08542386B2
An electronics device, which is connected to a host apparatus via a wireless communication, includes a communication section configured to perform a wireless communication, and a communication control section configured to, if a start-up timing of the electronics device is earlier than any start-up timing of at least one electronics device other than the electronics device, perform control, as a master device, so as to cause the communication section to perform relaying of a wireless communication between the host apparatus and the at least one electronics device other than the electronics device, and if a start-up timing of the electronics device is later than any start-up timing of the at least one electronics device other than the electronics device, perform control, as a sub device, so as to cause the communication section to perform a wireless communication with the host apparatus via the master device.
US08542381B2
A print controller and associated methods of purging a print data path are disclosed. A print controller comprises a job storage system that receives and stores print jobs, and a print data path, which includes components operable to process print jobs, from the job storage system to print engines. The control system receives registrations from the components for flush job messages, flush path messages, or both. The control system receives a request to purge the print data path, and identifies print jobs being processed in the print data path. The control system transmits flush job messages to the components registering for the flush job messages for each print job instructing the components to purge data for the print jobs. The control system also transmits a flush path message to the components registering for the flush path messages instructing the components to purge data for the print jobs being handled.
US08542378B2
A method and apparatus for automated determination of expiration of an image production device that is currently in use by a customer is disclosed. The method may include retrieving values related to a currently used image production device, determining an existing life value based on the retrieved values, retrieving values related to a replacement image production device, determining a replacement value based on the retrieved values comparing the determined existing life value to the determined replacement value, determining whether the currently used image production device should be replaced based on the comparison, and sending a notification that the currently used image production device should be replaced if it is determined that the currently used image production device should be replaced.
US08542375B2
A host apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a diagnosis method for the image forming apparatus, the diagnosis method including: storing a printing image generated from print data according to a printing command; and generating a diagnosis image for the printing image based on the stored printing image and a defect image corresponding to a predetermined defect of the image forming apparatus.
US08542370B2
An image forming apparatus including a receiving unit configured to receive an application information item that corresponds to an application or a job that is executed by the application, and to record the application information item in a storing unit, wherein the application information item includes a function identification item used for identifying a function for which an execution request is given to the image forming apparatus from the application included in an information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network; a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a list including the application information item that corresponds to the application or the job, based on the application information item recorded in the storing unit; and a function control unit configured to execute a process corresponding to the function identification item included the application information item that is selected from the list.
US08542368B2
A position measuring apparatus receives at least one precise position information set from at least one visible-light wireless communication device including a transmission light source, and upon receipt of the at least one precise position information ser, acquires a virtual distance based on the positions of transmission light sources imaged on an image sensor. Next, the position is measured according to the precise position information and the actual distance, virtual distance, and image sensor inclination based on this information.
US08542363B2
Self-aligning light source and detector assembly having a sensor support mounted in a predetermined, fixed position, a light source holder mounted in a predetermined, fixed position relative to the sensor support, a sensor mounted in a fixed position on the sensor support, and a lamp assembly removably mounted to the light source holder in a predetermined position defined by mating surfaces which engage each other and seat the lamp assembly in the predetermined position whenever the lamp assembly is installed in the holder.
US08542360B2
The invention relates to a method (100) for producing color elements of a shade guide. To this end, color values of known color elements (15) of shade guides (10) with similar lightness values, hues and chromata are initially ascertained. In another method step, the color values of each new color element are determined while increasing a color distance (16) between the lightness values, hues and chromata of the previously ascertained color values.
US08542352B1
A method of rating eyewear includes providing eyewear to be rated, measuring a physical property of the eyewear selected from a group that includes ultraviolet radiation absorption, blue light radiation absorption, infrared radiation absorption, and light blocking capability, transforming the physical property into a rating value, and informing a prospective consumer of the rating value.
US08542345B2
A measurement apparatus comprises a mirror configured to reflect test light which passes through an optical system, an interferometer unit which includes an image sensor and is configured to form an interference fringe on an image sensing plane of the image sensor by reference light and the test light reflected by the mirror, and a controller configured to control the interferometer unit, and to compute a numerical aperture of the optical system based on the interference fringe captured by the image sensor, wherein the controller is configured to compute a numerical aperture NA of the optical system by multiplying a quotient ΔNA/ΔR, describing a change ΔNA in numerical aperture NA of the optical system with respect to a change ΔR in pupil radius R of the optical system in the image sensing plane, by the pupil radius R of the optical system in the image sensing plane.
US08542343B2
Liquid is supplied to a space between the projection system and the substrate by an inlet. In an embodiment, an overflow region removes liquid above a given level. The overflow region may be arranged above the inlet and thus the liquid may be constantly refreshed and the pressure in the liquid may remain substantially constant.
US08542342B2
A lithographic method of manufacturing a miniaturized device using a projection exposure system involves illuminating the object plane of an imaging optics of the projection exposure system with measuring light; detecting, for each of a plurality of locations on an image plane of the imaging optics, an angular distribution of an intensity of the measuring light traversing the image plane at the respective location; adjusting a telecentricity of the projection exposure system based on a selected patterning structure to be imaged and on the plurality of the detected angular distributions; disposing the selected pattern structure to be imaged in a region of the object plane of the imaging optics; disposing a substrate carrying a resist in a region of the image plane of the imaging optics and exposing the resist with imaging light using the projection exposure system with the adjusted telecentricity; and developing the exposed resist and processing the substrate with the developed resist.
US08542339B2
Techniques are provided for unifying steps of sealing material so that the yield and the reliability of a liquid-crystal display device become high. A starting film of scanning lines is patterned so that prismatic dummy wirings 301 for the first layer which are not electrically connected are formed in regions R1 and R2, and wirings 302 extending from the pixel section are formed in a region R3, and wirings 303 having connection end portions 303a are formed in a region R4. After an interlayer insulation film is formed, the starting film of the signal lines is patterned so that the dummy wirings 304 for the second layer are formed to embed the gaps between the wirings 301 to 303, and also the wirings 305 and the wirings 303 which extend from the pixel portion are connected to each other. This permits unification of the cross-sectional structure of the sealing material formation region.
US08542331B2
A display device is provided that improves product yield thereof. The display device according to the present invention includes: an insulation substrate; a plurality of gate pad metal layers disposed in a first direction on the substrate; a plurality of data pad metal layers disposed in a second direction on the substrate; a gate fanout unit connecting the gate pad metal layers and gate lines of a display area; a data fanout unit connecting the data pad metal layers and data lines of the display area; and a first insulating layer pattern on the gate pad metal layers, the data pad metal layers, the gate fanout unit, and the data fanout unit, wherein the first insulating layer pattern is partially removed on at least a portion of a region between two neighboring gate pad metal layers, or two neighboring data pad metal layers, thereby forming a first opening.
US08542329B2
In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a pixel electrode and a second substrate having a counter electrode. The pixel electrode includes a first pixel electrode portion in a belt-like shape extending in a first direction and a second pixel electrode portion connected with one end of the first pixel electrode portion and extending in a second direction orthogonally crossing the first direction. The counter electrode includes a first counter electrode portion in a belt-like shape extending in the first direction to form a lateral electric field between the first counter electrode portion and the first pixel electrode portion. A liquid crystal layer is held between the first substrate and the second substrate. The lateral electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer.
US08542324B2
Colors of images and videos are modified to make differences in the colors more perceptible to colorblind users. An exemplary recoloring process utilizes a color space transformation, a local color rotation and a global color rotation to transform colors of visual objects from colors which may not be distinguishable by the colorblind user to colors which may be distinguishable by the colorblind user.
US08542318B2
An image capture apparatus includes a connector, a first terminal resistor having a first resistance value, a second terminal resistor having a second resistance value which is smaller than the first resistance value, and a connection unit. The connection unit is configured (a) to disconnect the second terminal resistor from the connector if a time code signal is input to the connector, and (b) to connect the second terminal resistor to the connector if an external synchronization signal is input to the connector.
US08542311B2
Image sensors may contain arrays of image sensor pixels, each of which includes a microlens and a photosensitive element. A multisection light guide that is made up of multiple light guide layers may be interposed between the microlens and the photosensitive element. The light guide layers may have alternating indicies of refraction to form a spectral filter. The lateral dimensions of the light guide layers may also be configured so that the light guide layers perform spectral filtering. Light guide shapes and sizes may be altered as a function of the lateral position of each image sensor pixel within the image sensor array. The uppermost light guide may be aligned with the microlens and the lowermost light guide may be aligned with the photosensitive element. The lateral positions of each light guide may be laterally shifted with respect to the next to form a staggered stack of light guides.
US08542305B2
A control unit controls brightness of a liquid crystal display unit such that the brightness becomes darker as a distance between an electronic view finder and an operator measured by a distance measuring sensor becomes shorter. With this structure, even if the operator takes his or her eye off from the electronic view finder, the liquid crystal display unit is not switched from an OFF state to an ON state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the brightness of the liquid crystal display unit from becoming burdensome to an operator when the eye of the operator approaches the electronic view finder.
US08542303B2
A digital camera includes: an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts light to output a color image; a selecting unit that selects any one identifier from identifiers which are colored in different colors from each other; and a black/white image producing unit that produces a black/white image by weighting gradation values of respective colors for each of pixels of the output color image and adding the weighted gradation values to each other. When the light entered to the imaging unit is entered to a color filter having a color equal to a color of the selected identifier, a correlation between a light amount of light having a wavelength which penetrates the color filer and a light amount of the entered light becomes stronger than a correlation between a light amount of light having a wavelength which is absorbed by the color filter and the light amount of the entered light.
US08542302B2
Provided are a digital photographing apparatus capable of accurate and quick auto-focusing, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the method. The digital photographing apparatus includes: a lens unit including a focus lens; an imaging device generating data from light incident on the imaging device through the lens unit; a condition determining unit determining a photographing condition from the data generated by the imaging device; and an auto-focusing value detecting unit detecting an auto-focusing value from the data generated by the imaging device and comprising a first gamma correction unit, wherein the first gamma correction unit varies the degree of gamma correction according to the photographing condition determined by the condition determining unit, and the auto-focusing value detecting unit detects an auto-focusing value.
US08542301B2
An electronic image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of lens units, an image forming optical system, and an image pickup element. The image forming optical system includes at least a lens unit nearest to object side which is disposed nearest to an object side, an aperture stop which is disposed on an image side than the lens unit nearest to object side, and an image-side lens unit which is disposed on the image side than the aperture stop. The lens unit nearest to object side includes a lens having a mark formed on an effective area of a lens surface thereof. At least any one of the lens in the image forming optical system is held such that, a shifting or a tilting of the lens can be adjusted. The electronic image pickup apparatus further includes a correction parameter storage section which stores correction parameters for correcting an unevenness of brightness due to the mark, and a signal processing section which corrects the unevenness of brightness due to the mark of which, an image has been picked up by the image pickup element, based on the correction parameter stored in the correction parameter storage section.
US08542288B2
A camera system (100) comprises a plurality of imaging units (190), wherein each imaging unit (190) includes a lens unit (120) and an aperture unit (110), and wherein the apertures (115) of the aperture units (110) have different size during an exposure period. A plurality of images of the same scene are captured at different aperture sizes during an exposure period, wherein the images are shifted versions of the scene and feature different depth-of-field and exposure value ranges. A processing unit (200) applies a high-dynamic resolution and/or a super-resolution method on the basis of the obtained images.
US08542285B2
Images are offloaded from a portable camera automatically to a network server at the time the images are taken, transparently to a user of the camera. The server executes processing functions on the images and returns the output of the processing over the network to the camera and/or other user-defined destination device to thereby relieve the camera processor of potentially complex processing chores.
US08542273B2
An ophthalmic device and an arrangement for generating images with expanded dynamic range and a corresponding method for generating images with expanded dynamic range have at least one beamsplitter, in particular with an asymmetric splitting ratio, and at least two image sensors, wherein the image sensors are reflected into a common imaging beam path by the at least one beamsplitter.
US08542268B2
A stereo-imaging system estimates depth based on two images; a multiview-imaging system estimates depth based on two or more images. A passive multiview-imaging system based on a sensor array is designed by considering different candidate partitions of the sensor array into imaging subsystems, especially three or more imaging subsystems.
US08542262B2
A light emitting element array includes a plurality of light emitting elements each having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The light emitting elements are arranged next to each other to form a group. The first terminal receives a drive signal, the second terminal is connected to ground, and the third terminal has a threshold voltage or a threshold current controllable from outside so that the light emitting elements are driven in a time division way.
US08542260B2
There is provided a device detecting curling of a sheet, the device including a first guide member carrying the sheet; a second guide member including a carriage path that is broader than the carriage path of the first guide member and accepting the curling of the sheet; and sensors with detection ranges into which a portion of the curling of the sheet enters, in the carriage path of the second guide member.
US08542254B2
A graph arbitrarily input by the user is displayed on a dot-matrix display screen. When an instruction to determine any one of the characteristic points, such as intersections, local maxima, or local minima, is given, an characteristic point to be determined is calculated and the result is pointed by pointer P and, at the same time, the coordinates (X, Y) of the characteristic point are displayed. Depending on whether there is one other graph which overlaps or makes contact with the characteristic point of the graph and displayed dots of the graph near the characteristic point, it is determined whether a locus of the graph near the characteristic point is displayed unclearly. If the condition for unclear display has been satisfied, the graph including the characteristic point is enlarged repeatedly at the enlargement factor set by the user until the condition for unclear display is not fulfilled.
US08542243B2
Embodiments provide texture compression with high compression ratios and low decompression times. Some embodiments partition a texture map into texel blocks. The number of blocks is reduced until a compression threshold is reached, and the resulting blocks are stored as a codebook. An index array is generated by associating each texel block with an index and associating each index with the block in the codebook identified as a closest match to the associated texel block. The codebook may then be compressed according to a technique compatible with a GPU. In certain embodiments, to render a scene, a CPU “inflates” the texture map by copying the appropriate codebook block to each indexed block location of the texture map, as defined by the index array. Because the codebook blocks are already compressed in a format compatible with the GPU, the inflated texture map is also compatible with the GPU without further processing.
US08542241B2
A method of playing an original 3D content on a 3D enabled monitor, where the 3D enabled monitor does not support the original 3D format type of the original 3D content. The method includes the steps of automatically reading a portion the original 3D content to obtain an identity of the original 3D format type, this portion may or may not be a tag, and reading this portion may include playing multiple frames of the 3D content. The preferred method further includes automatically detecting a monitor and its 3D display format type. If no match is found between the original 3D format type and the display format type, then the method deconstruct the original image content and reconstruct the image content into a 3D format type supported by the 3D display format type.
US08542220B2
An electromagnetic stylus includes a body, a core and an induction coil. The body includes a first shell and a second shell telescopically sleeved on the first shell. The core is received in and has a nib end extending out of the first shell. The induction coil is sleeved on one end of the core and is received in the first shell. The first shell is made of material without electromagnetic wave shielding capability. The second shell is made of material with electromagnetic wave shielding capability. The second shell is configured to slide along the first shell between two positions, to shield or not to shield part of the induction coil.
US08542218B2
An electronic switch apparatus for a vehicle, may include a projector module implementing a plurality of switch images, a sensor module detecting locations of respective switch image by recognizing the switch images implemented by the projector module as two-dimensional images, an infrared module emitting infrared rays to areas of the switch images displayed by the projector module, and a control module for, when a specific area of the switch images may be touched, detecting coordinates of the specific area by measuring light reflected from emitted infrared rays of the infrared module, and executing an operation of a switch corresponding to the coordinates.
US08542213B2
In a touched position detection method for a touch panel for detecting a touched position, based on measured values by a plurality of sensors, presence of a touch is determined when a measured value by a sensor exceeds a touch threshold. As a touch threshold, a value which cannot be attained due to a mere noise but can due to presence of a touch is set. With respect to sensors located in the vicinity of a sensor showing a high measured value, a higher weighted value is applied to modify a measured value in a touched position calculation process than that to be applied to other sensors.
US08542211B2
A touch sensor panel can be constructed on a single surface of a substrate. The panel can be formed as a plurality of distributed RC lines arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each distributed RC line can include alternating connected transistors and metal pads formed on a single surface of the substrate. During operation, the rows and columns are enabled at different times, and the pulse travel times for each row and column in both directions are measured. Equalized travel times are then computed as the sum of the pulse travel times in both directions, and indicate which rows and columns have a finger touching it. The un-equalized pulse travel time data can then be used to determine the relative positions of the fingers within the rows and columns and un-ambiguously determine the positions of all the finger contacts.
US08542210B2
Techniques for identifying and discriminating between different input patterns to a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. By way of example, large objects hovering a short distance from the touch-surface (e.g., a cheek, thigh or chest) may be identified and distinguished from physical contacts to the surface. In addition, rough contacts due to, for example, ears and earlobes, may be similarly identified and distinguished from contacts due to fingers, thumbs, palms and finger clasps.
US08542209B2
High Dimensional Touchpad (HDTP) or other user interface technology implemented in touch screens used on computers, smartphones, or other mobile devices provides advanced touch control of a variety of interactive map applications using one or more of a user's finger position or movement in one or more of the roll angle, pitch angle, yaw angle, and downward pressure directions. Implementations also can be responsive to a user's finger position or movement in the left-right and forward-backward directions. Implementations can also use HDTP or other user interface technology implemented on the back of a mouse. Also, the interactive map imaging application may use a connection over the internet or other network.
US08542207B1
Methods and systems for receiving an erasure gesture input and accordingly deleting content in a viewable area of a multi-touch input display device are disclosed. A touch gesture can be detected on a touch screen. One or more direction changes associated with the touch gesture can be detected and the angle of each of the direction changes can be determined to meet a predetermined threshold. The touch gesture can be detected as no longer touching the touch screen and a polygon can be generated based on each of the direction changes associated with the touch gesture.
US08542198B2
An apparatus comprises a processor, a scanner operatively connected to the processor, and a touch screen graphic user interface operatively connected to the processor. The scanner is positioned to scan a predetermined scan area and the touch screen has a screen area that has dimensions corresponding to the scan area. The touch screen is positioned adjacent the scan area such that the scan area is aligned with the screen area.
US08542194B2
A keypad assembly (100) provides improved backlighting in a slim-line from factor with a minimal number of LEDs (130). The keypad assembly (100) utilizes side-firing LEDs (130) mounted to a keypad flex (112) which protrude through subsequent thin layers of substrates. A light-guide film (104) disposed over the layers includes corresponding cut-outs through which the side-firing LEDS partially protrude. The light-guide film includes light dispersion areas (114) formed thereon. A cover (102) seals the side-firing LEDs (130) protruding through the light-guide film (104). An interconnect flex (132) couples to the keypad flex (112) to provide flexible coupling of the keypad assembly to an electronic device. The light-guide film (104) provides both light dispersion and sealing to the keypad assembly (100).
US08542191B2
A film layer for a mobile station that allows the appearance of the mobile station to be easily changed. The layer is thin enough to allow it to be positioned between the plungers on a plunger mat and the keys on a key mat of the mobile station. Flexibility of the film layer allows a key press to be transmitted through the film insert to one of the plungers, which in turn compresses a contact on a printed wiring board. Flexibility may be due to perforations around the keys of the key mat. Preferably, the film layer includes some visually detectable characteristic, such as a color, that is visible through openings or translucent portions of the key mat. The film layer may be constructed of various materials, such as paper, elastomer, polymer or electric luminescent materials which can be interchangeably inserted into the mobile station to change its appearance.
US08542189B2
A CE device for, e.g., displaying the time can incorporate an accelerometer to provide various features and enhancements. For example, tapping of the housing as sensed by the accelerometer may be used for controlling various application modes of the device.
US08542181B2
A flat panel display device, LCD controller and associated method is provided. The flat panel display device includes a display panel, a lamp for providing a backlight source for the display panel, a power transformation module for providing a power source for the lamp, a non-volatile storage unit for storing program code, and a display controller. The display controller includes an image processing module for processing image data and outputting processed results to the display panel, and a digital pulse width modulation module for adjusting on and off time of the power transformation module according to a synchronization signal.
US08542179B2
A gate signal line driving circuit and a display device includes first and second low voltage application switching elements that supply a low voltage to gate signal lines, a holding capacitor that is connected to a reset target node and supplies an ON signal towards the first and second low voltage application switching elements in a signal low period, first and third control switching elements the one ends of which are connected to the switch input of the first or second low voltage application switching element, and second and fourth control switching elements which each are provided between the switch input of the first or second low voltage application switching element and one end of the holding capacitor. In a startup period, a high voltage is supplied to the holding capacitor through the first to fourth control switching elements.
US08542175B2
A source driver of a display panel includes a channel state signal generator, first switches, and second switches. The channel state signal generator generates first and second channel state signals that are each activated for a respective time period depending on adjustable state length data. The first switches are opened for uncoupling channel output signals from source lines of the display panel when the first channel state signal is activated. The second switches are closed for coupling together the source lines of the display panel for charge sharing when the second channel state signal is activated.
US08542171B2
A driving method applied to a liquid crystal display. First, a first pixel voltage is outputted to a first pixel in a first row of pixels to change a transmittance of the first pixel. Next, a second pixel voltage is outputted to a second pixel in a second row of pixels to change a transmittance of the second pixel. Then, a backlight module is turned on. Next, at a first predetermined time point after the first pixel voltage is outputted, a pixel electrode voltage of the first pixel is adjusted. Finally, at a second predetermined time point after the second pixel voltage is outputted, a pixel electrode voltage of the second pixel is adjusted. The second predetermined time point follows the first predetermined time point.
US08542169B2
A DC/DC converter of a liquid crystal display includes a charge pump having a thin film transistor, a capacitor and a diode. The thin film transistor is formed on an insulating substrate. A first main electrode of the thin film transistor is connected to an output terminal and a control electrode of the thin film transistor receives a control signal. The thin film transistor includes a non-monocrystal semiconductor. The capacitor has a first electrode connected to a second main electrode of the thin film transistor and a second electrode receiving a variable voltage. The diode is electrically connected between the second main electrode of the thin film transistor, the first electrode of the capacitor, and a power terminal in series. The diode includes a mono-crystal semiconductor.
US08542162B2
Provided are a shift register unit, a gate drive circuit, and a display apparatus. The shift register unit comprises: input module for inputting first clock signal, second clock signal, frame start signal, high voltage signal, and low voltage signal, first clock signal is identical with phase-inverted signal of second clock signal within one frame; a processing module comprising multiple TFTs, for generating gate drive signal according to the first clock signal, the second clock signal, and the frame start signal, and configuring positive feedback of voltage changes between first node and second node formed by the TFTs to cut off transient DC path formed by high voltage signal input terminal, low voltage signal input terminal, and at least one TFT in time; output module for sending the gate drive signal. The present disclosure decreases the transient current, and reduces the power consumption of the shift register unit.
US08542158B2
A multi-band antenna system for MIMO applications is adapted to provide high isolation between antennas across a wide range of frequencies. Multiple Isolated Magnetic Dipole (IMD) antennas are co-located and connected with a feed network that can include switches that adjust phase length for transmission lines connecting the antennas. Filtering is integrated into the feed network to improve rejection of unwanted frequencies. Filtering can also be implemented on the antenna structure. Either one or multi-port antennas can be used.
US08542147B2
Various techniques are provided for obtaining a precise absolute time using a satellite system. In one example, a method of transferring precise absolute time from a satellite to a device includes receiving data from a messaging channel, wherein the data has a frame structure. The method also includes using the data to identify the satellite and a position of the satellite, correcting for signal time of flight using the satellite identity and the position, and using the data as a time reference to align a receiver clock to the frame structure. The method also includes, with the receiver clock aligned to the frame structure, receiving a precision time signal from the satellite, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code. The method also includes determining a timing phase of the code and using the timing phase to determine a precise absolute time.
US08542146B2
Described is a generalized approach for integer parameter estimation, especially in the context of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The problem solved is the case where a definitively correct integer solution cannot be identified for all ambiguity parameters in a reliable way. The proposed solution is to apply a linear transformation to the ambiguities (multiply with a matrix) such that the images of the first and the second candidate (or more) are identical. That way, from the first and second (and possibly more) candidates of the integer least-squares solution, a subset of ambiguity combinations is derived that can be fixed. Thus, it is no longer necessary to choose between the solutions as they coincide for the new ambiguities. The advantage of this approach is maximizing all information still available when finally deriving additional parameters such as position, clock error, atmospheric errors and/or time correlated noise. This technique is applicable to real-time and post-processing applications, as well as to pure GNSS applications, GNSS integrated with other sensors (e.g. INS) and other applications that have to resolve multiple integer ambiguities. This may also apply to optical distance-measurement. GNSS applications include kinematic and static positioning with single base stations as well as with multiple base stations or reference station networks. They also comprise the integer parameter estimation methods used within the reference station network computations.
US08542145B2
The present invention relates to a system for locating non-cooperating objects by means of a random or pseudo-random noisy type waveform generator, an amplifier, of said waveforms and an antenna which radiates them towards the object, which object generates an electromagnetic echo which is detected by a passive subsystem of antennas and receivers. The time delay and Doppler shift values are determined in the latter subsystem and in turn forwarded from encoding and modulating blocks to a central processor which estimates the position and the speed of the object. The passive subsystem receives, through a transmission channel or storage element, the reference signal which represents the transmitted noisy type waveform and uses it for calculating the bi-dimensional cross correlation (ambiguity function), which permits to estimate the time delay and the Doppler shift.
US08542131B2
A musical key fob vehicle locator is disclosed that provides the ability to locate one's vehicle audibly. The musical key fob vehicle locator provides a radiofrequency linked controller to a vehicle and contains a digital audio file system to play music, a song, a riff or other recorded music composed and performed by musicians using actual musical instruments to facilitate the recording. This approach provides a pleasant, personalized, and uniquely recognizable audio locator that reflects the taste, personality, and likes of the vehicle owner.
US08542127B1
A device and method for discovering, identification and monitoring of mechanical flaws in metallic structures is disclosed, based on magneto-graphic/magnetic tomography technique to identify stress-related defects. The technique is specifically optimized for extended, not-accessible underground and underwater metallic structures quality control, emergency alarms as well as timeline planning for structural repairs and maintenance work. Examples of the technique implementation include pipes for oil and gas industry, detection of flaws in rolled products in metallurgical industry, welding quality of heavy duty equipment such as ships, reservoirs, etc. It is especially important for loaded constructions, such as pressured pipes, infrastructure maintenance, nuclear power plant monitoring, bridges, corrosion prevention and environment protection.
US08542109B2
An intrusion detection system that provides foliage penetration is disclosed employing an array of field disturbance transceivers operating at UHF frequencies. The array of transceivers generate a multiplicity of electromagnetic wave fields between nearby units and detect the presence of intruders by detecting disturbances in these fields. The emitted UHF signals used to generate the electromagnetic wave fields are also used to provide the communication link between transceivers in the array and to a control station. The control station facilitates the operation of the array from a remote monitoring site. A unique method of array deployment provides multiple opportunities to detect an intruder and secondarily provides redundant communication links in case of a sensor failure. Automatic means of setting detection thresholds based on environmental conditions assures a high probability of detection along with a low false alarm rate.
US08542092B2
A vehicle ignition system includes a fob for transmitting an identification code. The fob includes a low frequency transceiver circuit and low frequency antenna. An ignition module is provided including, a housing, switch contacts and a push button slidably mounted in the housing and arranged so that pushing of said button closes said switch contacts. A LF coil is provided and is axially stationary within the housing and is located inside of the push button. An ignition module circuit provides power to the fob and establishes low frequency communications with the fob via the LF coil. An immobilizer circuit is operatively coupled to the ignition module for permitting or preventing actuation of the ignition system in response to the low frequency communications with the fob and the ignition module.
US08542090B2
The system includes, inside the tool, an electronic module for locking/unlocking the tool, in order to block or authorize its use and, inside a control station, a control module for the tool's locking/unlocking module designed to switch it from the locked state (i1) to the unlocked state (I0). The system applies well to tools for sealing, nailing and other similar applications.
US08542088B2
A method for monitoring devices which are activated by electrical pulses, characterized in that first pulses which are transmitted to the device are counted, in that second pulses which are received by the device are counted, and in that the numbers of first and second pulses are compared with one another.
US08542075B2
Structure and method for reducing EM radiation, and electric object and manufacturing method thereof
A method for reducing EM radiation comprises at least one first resonance line disposed on one of electric surfaces, which is disposed at a side of a transmission line structure on one of the electric surface. The resonance line crosses over a slot of another electric surface. The slot is etched on a corresponding electric surface. In addition, the transmission line structure crosses over the slot of the electric surface. Then, the first resonance line connects the electric surface having the slot with another electric surface. It can adjust at least one of a length, a width and a shape of the first resonance line, to make an input impedance seen from a crossed point between the transmission line structure and the slot approximately 0.
US08542065B2
A trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an optical receiver is disclosed, where the TIA stabilizes the cross point in the output thereof independent of the variation of the power supply. The TIA of the invention includes an amplifier section, a source follower, and a bias generator. A transistor in the source follower to define the current flowing in the source follower and another transistor in the bias generator constitute a current-mirror circuit. The operating point of the other transistor in the bias generator depends on the variation of the power supply. The output level of the amplifier section follows the variation of the power supply.
US08542064B2
Methods and apparatus to control power in a printer are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first field effect transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, the second terminal coupled with a first voltage input. The example apparatus further includes a second field effect transistor having a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, and a sixth terminal, the fourth terminal coupled with the first terminal of the first field effect transistor, the fifth terminal coupled with a second voltage input. The example apparatus further includes a first comparator having a first input coupled to the first input voltage, having a second input coupled to the second input voltage, and having an output coupled with the third terminal.
US08542055B2
A circuit for selectively providing a signal from a source to a sink is provided. The circuit includes a field effect transistor having a conducting state and a non-conducting state, the field effect transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain. The circuit also includes a first comparator configured to provide a first output based on a difference between a source voltage at the source of the field effect transistor and a first reference voltage. Finally, the circuit includes a switching amplifier configured to apply a first gate voltage to the gate of the field effect transistor as a function of the first output of the first comparator.
US08542052B2
An electrical circuit for emulating a capacitance, comprises a physical capacitor which is charged by charge flow from the input of the electrical circuit. An amplifier amplifies the voltage at the input of the electrical circuit such that the physical capacitor is charged with a larger change in voltage than the change in voltage at the input. This implements an effective multiplication of capacitance. A reset system resets the physical capacitor without drawing charge from the input of the electrical circuit. This extends the voltages which can be provided to the input.
US08542045B2
The duty correcting circuit includes a duty cycle corrector, a duty detector and a duty correction code generator. The duty cycle corrector corrects a duty cycle of an input clock signal to generate an output clock signal. The duty detector adjusts a delay time of the output clock signal to generate a sampling clock signal, samples the output clock signal in response to the sampling clock signal to generate sample data, and detects a duty of the output clock signal based on logic states of the sample data. Therefore, the duty correcting circuit precisely detects and corrects a duty of the output clock signal.
US08542032B1
Integrated circuits such as programmable integrated circuits may include programmable logic regions that can be configured to perform custom user functions. The programmable logic regions may produce output signals. The integrated circuit may include interconnects that route selected output signals throughout the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include output selection circuitry having output selection and interconnect selection stages. The output selection circuitry may be configured to select which of the output signals produced by the programmable logic regions are provided to the interconnects for routing. The interconnect selection stage may be formed using multiplexing circuits or tristate drivers. Logic design system computing equipment may be used to generate configuration data that can be used to program the output selection circuitry to reduce crosstalk by routing signals away from critical interconnects or by double-driving critical interconnects.
US08542023B2
Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. Each sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor that is coated with a sensing material. In order to collect data, an impedance spectrum is acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, such as the resonant frequency range of the LCR circuit. A multivariate signature may be calculated from the acquired spectrum to discern the presence of certain fluids and/or fluid mixtures. The presence of fluids is detected by measuring the changes in dielectric, dimensional, resistance, charge transfer, and other changes in the properties of the materials employed by observing the changes in the resonant electronic properties of the circuit. By using a mathematical procedure, such as principal components analysis (PCA) and others, multiple fluids and mixtures can be detected in the presence of one another, even in a high humidity environment or an environment wherein one or more fluids has a substantially higher concentration (e.g. 10×, 1,000,000×) compared to other components in the mixture.
US08542021B2
A fault detection system is provided for a power distribution system having at least first and second line conductors carrying AC currents that are out of phase with each other from a source to a load, and a common neutral conductor. The system includes an arcing fault current sensor comprising a coil wound on a hollow core and coupled to both of the line conductors in a manner that the electrical currents in the line conductors flow in opposite directions inside the hollow core, thus inducing in the coil an output signal that is a function of the difference of the electrical currents in the line conductors. A neutral current sensor produces an output signal representing the magnitude and phase direction of current in the neutral conductor. An arcing fault detection circuit includes a processor programmed to (1) respond to a change in the first output signal to analyze the second output signal to determine whether the change in the first output signal is attributable at least in part to current in a line-to-line circuit, (2) if the answer is affirmative, determine a scaling factor to be used to adjust the value of the first output signal, and (3) analyze the adjusted first output signal to determine whether an arcing fault has occurred and produce a trip signal in response to the detection of an arcing fault.
US08542010B2
A magnetic field sensor includes a diagnostic circuit that allows a self-test of most of or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including a self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a diagnostic magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive.
US08542008B2
A displacement sensor includes a primary coil (2), secondary coils (4a, 4b), and a movable magnetic core (6) movable with displacement of an object to be measured to cause voltages generated in the secondary coils (4a, 4b) to vary. The secondary coils (4a, 4b) are differentially interconnected. A polyphase signal generating unit (10) generates two-phase component signals having different phases, from a differentially combined output voltage of the secondary coils (4a, 4b). Full-wave rectifying units (16, 18) rectify the polyphase component signals, the rectified polyphase component signals are combined in a combiner (22), and the combiner output is applied to a low-pass filter (24).
US08542007B2
In an inductive position sensor for determining the position, particularly the rotation angle, of a movable element, at least two subsystems are provided, which each have second transmitting units with an actuating unit, an oscillating circuit on the movable element, and a receiving unit with an evaluating unit. According to the invention, it is provided that the operation of the individual subsystems is carried out alternately. Thus, if one subsystem is operating, all other subsystems are deactivated. In this way, all subsystems are individually operated in a consecutive manner. The synchronization required to do so is provided by a non-galvanic coupling of the subsystems, and in particular by an inductive coupling by way of preferably existing inductances of the subsystems.
US08542005B2
An apparatus includes a first oscilloscope having multiple channels, and a second oscilloscope having multiple channels. The first oscilloscope is configured to operate as a master or as a slave. The first oscilloscope operates as the master by using a first trigger signal and a first clock signal that are native to the first oscilloscope, and the first oscilloscope operates as the slave by using a second trigger signal and a second clock signal that are native to the second oscilloscope. The second oscilloscope is configured to operate as the master or as the slave. The second oscilloscope operates as the master by using the second trigger signal and the second clock signal, and the second oscilloscope operates as the slave by using the first trigger signal and the first clock signal.
US08542002B2
A system and method for performing power spectral density (PSD) and power level measurements for measuring PSD required by 10GBaseT applications, using a single test and measurement instrument, such as a real time oscilloscope is described. That is, an oscilloscope includes processing circuitry which receives an input signal and converts it to raw data, it then transforms the raw data into specific analyzed displayable data by algorithmically deriving PSD from spectral data and plotting the PSD data along with limit values on a display screen of the oscilloscope.
US08541995B2
A multiphase power regulator includes a multiphase pulse width modulator, an output stage and an active transient response circuit. The output stage includes a high side transistor, a low side transistor and an inductor. The output stage is configured to supply power to a load responsive to signals generated by the multiphase pulse width modulator. The active transient response circuit is coupled between the output stage and the multiphase pulse width modulator and configured to detect the voltage level at the output stage and provide a signal to the multiphase pulse width modulator that is a function of the amplitude of the deviation of the detected voltage level from a target voltage.
US08541994B2
A switched-mode power supply (SMPS) uses an equivalent inductor of bonding wire(s) and lead frame(s) to replace a traditional external inductor. A current-controlled pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator and a current-controlled pulse frequency modulation (PFM) modulator are optionally employed for high frequency switching, so as to mate a low inductance value of the bonding wire(s) and lead frame(s) and achieve reduced cost, low power consumption and low complexity.
US08541988B2
A rectifying unit rectifies an alternating current voltage induced across each of at least two-phase stator windings. A turn-on unit monitors an output voltage of the rectifying unit, and turns on a switching element as a low-side rectifying element for at least one of the at least two-phase stator windings when the output voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage due to load dump. After the output voltage, which exceeded the first threshold voltage once, falls below a second threshold voltage, a turnoff unit waits for turnoff of the switching element until a turnoff time suited for preventing occurrence of a surge across the at least one of the at least two-phase stator windings appears. The second threshold voltage is set to be lower than the first threshold voltage. The turnoff unit turns off, at the appearance of the turnoff time, the switching element.
