US08627996B2

A system and method for terminating a wire having an aluminum conductor includes a terminal having a conductor receiving area adapted to receive the aluminum conductor, and a welding buffer sized and shaped to fit within the conductor receiving area of the terminal with the aluminum conductor disposed between the welding buffer and the terminal. The terminal, the welding buffer and the aluminum conductor are ultrasonically welded together to form an integrated unit, such that the welding buffer forms a part of a finished terminated wire assembly.
US08627989B2

A vehicle article carrier adapted to carry articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. A pair of support rails are used, each formed from a non-metallic material, and each further including a bottom wall having at least one cutout potion at an intermediate point along its length. At least one cross bar may be supported from the support rails. At least one bracket may be associated with each support rail. The bracket is dimensioned to fit within the cutout portion in its support rail. The cross bar may be secured directly to the brackets such that ends of the cross bar are fully supported only by the brackets and the outer body surface of the vehicle. Thus, the support rails experience substantially no load from the brackets and the cross bar attached to the brackets.
US08627980B2

Systems and methods for collection and storage of potable water, in particular, disposable-food-grade liners and bladders for sanitary storage of water in a bathtub, and emergency preparedness kits comprising a disposable food grade bladder liner for collection and storage of water in a bathtub.
US08627973B2

The present invention relates to a container comprising foldable sidewalls which has a hinge connection which almost entirely prevents the base from slumping relative to the sidewall even under load, The container may be produced in a particularly simple and inexpensive manner, since due to the specific hinge connection, the base may be produced, in an injection-molding process, without any slide in the tool, and since a simple tool arrangement is thus enabled.
US08627972B2

A sterile container having a lower container part and an upper container part for closing the lower container part is provided. The lower and upper container parts define, in a closed position, a container interior. A sealing device is provided for gastight sealing of the sterile container in the closed position. The sealing device comprises a circumferential sealing element bearing against both the lower and upper container parts in the closed position. The sealing element comprises an upper container part sealing section with an upper container part sealing surface region bearing against the upper container part, and a lower container part sealing section with a lower container part sealing surface region bearing against the lower container part. The sealing device further comprises a pretensioning device for exerting a pretensioning force on at least the lower container part sealing section or on the upper container part sealing section.
US08627969B2

The invention relates to a stopper capsule, having an axial direction, including a shell, with a head, a skirt, and a joint, where a) the joint is a form joint, b) the form joint has b1) a resilient layer, a set of adjacent layers, b2.1) a barrier layer, b2.2) a malleable support layer with the function of providing the set of adjacent layers a global malleable property such that the joint can be shaped without creation of folds, b2.3) an outer layer having an outer surface which can be compressed by the axial compression resulting from stoppering such as to match the form of the mouth of the neck. The invention further relates to a method of production of the capsule and a method of stoppering.
US08627968B2

A screw cap (10) for containers for liquids, comprising a first capsule (11), which is internally provided with a thread (12) and is to be screwed onto a corresponding complementary thread (13) of a neck of a bottle (14), and a second capsule (15), which surrounds said first capsule (11) and is designed to rise axially away from the first capsule (11) upon first unscrewing, by means of spacing means that act at the first rotation of the second capsule (15) with respect to the first capsule (11), means being provided for the irreversible locking of said second capsule (15) in the raised configuration relative to said first capsule (11).
US08627956B2

A screwstrip is disclosed including angled slots which allow a driver of an automated screwdriver to advance the screwstrip. The slots include a leading edge, which may be perpendicular to the line of travel of the screwstrip, and a trailing edge provided at an oblique angle with respect to the line of travel of the screwstrip. A slot including an angled sidewall is more forgiving and prevents misalignment of the driver with the slots.
US08627950B2

A fabric jewelry organizer including a fabric surface having a fabric flap on each edge. A plurality of horizontal pockets on the flaps; a plurality of horizontal support bars mounted in the pockets. A closure at a top edge of each flap and a hanger held in the organizer by the closures such that the hanger can be used to support the organizer.
US08627949B2

A transmission mechanism includes a feeder, a belt furling module, a tension maintaining module, and a carrier belt. The tension maintaining module and the belt furling module are positioned on the feeder, and the carrier belt runs along the feeder, the tension maintaining module, and the belt furling module in that order. The tension maintaining module includes a base, a pivot shaft slidably positioned on the base, and an elastic member sleeved on the pivot shaft. When the carrier belt relaxes, the elastic member releases its compression force to drive the pivot shaft to move away relative to the base, thereby maintaining the tension force of the carrier belt. The disclosure also provides a surface mount device using the transmission mechanism, which reduces the likelihood of the carrier belt breaking or jamming, thereby promoting improved precision and yield rate of the surface mounted equipment.
US08627946B2

The invention relates to a device for detecting items with a transport device having two belt conveyors arranged one behind the other for transporting items in a transport direction, wherein a slot is configured between the belt conveyors perpendicular to the transport direction, and with a scanning unit for the contactless optical scanning through the slot of a contact surface of the items being transported on the transport device, where the slot is covered at least partially by a protective rail and is arranged spaced apart from the belt conveyors.
US08627933B2

A shock absorber includes a two stage valve assembly that has two valve discs. The second valve disc defines the first stage at lower valve pressures and the first valve disc defines the second stage at higher valve pressures. The two valve discs can be defined by a single piece component or they can be separate components. The second valve disc can permit fluid flow by deflection of the second valve disc or by movement of the entire second valve disc. The two stage valve assembly can be incorporated into the piston assembly of the shock absorber and/or the two stage valve assembly can be incorporated into a base valve assembly.
US08627925B2

The present invention generally relates to work platforms, and, more particularly, to a work platform for use with a lift truck to elevate personnel safely and conveniently.
US08627921B2

An exhaust muffler comprising an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet via an expansion chamber (16), the expansion chamber (16) comprising an inner core (22) extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the muffler is provided with at least one accelerator (24a) tube between the inlet and the expansion chamber. The disclosure extends to a catalytic converter of a similar construction.
US08627911B2

A roller shutter device is mounted in front of a radiator of a motor vehicle for regulating air flow entering into the engine compartment and traversing the radiator. The shutter is wound on a transverse roller which is received in an additional space defined in front of the radiator by a reinforcement crosspiece of the body having a substantially C-shaped outwardly projecting cross-section, which divides the front opening of the body into at least one lower opening and into at least one upper opening. The roller shutter is provided in one of said upper and lower openings; while an auxiliary shutter device which can be of the tilting louver type or even of the roller shutter type is associated to the other opening.
US08627902B2

A method for estimating a depth from which cuttings have been recovered from a well may include varying a parameter of one or more marking agents added into a drilling fluid circulated into the well and recovering the cuttings from the well. The depth may be estimated by estimating a value associated with the marking agent that marks the cuttings. A system for estimating a depth from which cuttings have been recovered from a well includes at least one marking agent configured to mark the cuttings and a marking agent dispensing device configured to add the at least one marking agent into a drilling fluid circulated into the well. The marking agent dispensing device may be further configured to vary a parameter of the at least one marking agent.
US08627900B2

An electric power tool (1) includes a brushless direct-current motor (3) and a drive circuit that supplies drive power to the motor, the power tool rotates or drives a tool, whereby the drive circuit includes plural switching elements (21), and is arranged on a board (9) provided in a grip portion of a housing or below the grip portion; and an electric fan (22) is provided in the vicinity of the switching element for cooling the switching element.
US08627899B2

A handle portion for a hand-held motor-driven tool and a hand-held motor-driven tool including a base portion (20), a rear handle (30) arranged to the rear part (20a) of the base portion (20) and a front handle (40) having a first end (40a) attached to the base portion (20) and a second end (40b) attached to the base portion (20). At least a part of the front handle (40) is arranged as a loop starting from a first lateral face (20c) extending in a direction away from a lower face (20e) of the base portion (20) and further in a direction towards a second lateral face (20d). A first attachment means (12) for attaching the first end (40a) and a second attachment (13) means for attaching the second end are mountable at the same face of the first lateral face (20c), second lateral face (20d) or lower face (20e) of the base portion.
US08627893B2

A disk member selectively blocks flow across a fluid conduit formed in a body. The disk member may include a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a ring member disposed on the shaft, a sealing member disposed on the shaft, and a pressure applying surface in contact with the sealing member. The pressure applying surface may be non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
US08627881B2

A heat exchanger includes a first header, a second header and heat exchange tubes that extend between the first header and the second header. A fin is located between two adjacent heat exchange tubes, and the fin includes fin plates each having louvers. Each of the louvers includes a first louver section, a second louver section and a third louver section between the first louver section and the second louver section. The third louver section includes a drain portion that extends downwardly relative to the first louver section and the second louver section.
US08627879B2

A capillary assisted loop thermosiphon apparatus (100) has at least one evaporator (102) connected by a vapor line (104) to a condenser (106); a liquid line (108) connects the condenser (106) and the evaporator (102), the evaporator (102) is in the direction of gravity from the condenser (106) for the condenser (106) to supply liquid under gravity induced pressure to the evaporator (102), and the evaporator (102) has a vertical capillary wick (102a) in which liquid wicks in the direction of gravity.
US08627876B2

A mold core package for forming a molding tool includes a plurality of stacked particulate layers having a binding agent. The plurality of stacked particulate layers form sacrificial walls defining a mold cavity. A sacrificial displacement line and a sacrificial displacement body extend from the mold core package and are adapted to displace a molten material applied to the mold core package.
US08627873B2

In a spring-loaded curtain mount, the mount includes a pole interface at a proximal end, a compressive mechanism, and a head at a distal end. The pole interface is adapted to receive the end of a standard length adjustable pole or a painter's pole. The compression mechanism is disposed between the proximal end of the mount and the head. The mount includes a coupling device adapted to receive a portion of a curtain. During installation, the curtain mount is coupled to the end of an extension pole and the length of the pole is adjusted such that the combined length of the pole and mount is slightly longer than the distance between the floor and ceiling. At ground level, a portion of the curtain is attached to the head of the curtain mount. The curtain and mount are raised to the ceiling and the mount and pole are compressed between the floor and the ceiling. This compressive force operates to urge the head toward the ceiling, securing the mount in place.
US08627871B2

The present disclosure pertains to a sliding overhead door operator system for an overhead door not employing a counterbalance mechanism. The operator system comprises an overhead door including first and second side edges, the door includes a plurality of hingedly connected longitudinally extending panels. Additionally, a first rodless cylinder is located adjacent the first side edge of the door and a second rodless cylinder is located adjacent the second side edge of the door. Each of the first and second cylinders includes a carriage. First and second bracket assemblies are provided such that each assembly includes a first portion secured to a respective carriage of one of the first and second rodless cylinders and a second portion secured to one of the plurality of panels. A controller is adapted to actuate the first and second rodless cylinders to move the door up and down.
US08627867B2

The system contains a lamination press. The first cavity is formed in a chassis. A film assembly is fitted within the chassis. A buffer mounts over the film assembly and within the chassis. A tool set is shaped to fit within the first cavity. The tool set and chassis are positioned within the lamination press to confer heat and pressure from the lamination press to the film assembly and chassis.
US08627863B2

A pneumatic tire (10) provided in a rib-like land section (110) thereof with: an air chamber (130A) in which recessed portions (131) are repeated in the circumferential direction of the tire at predetermined pitches; and constriction groove (121) which communicate with the recessed portions (131). A height (H) changes in the circumferential direction of the tire. A bottom surface (132) has substantially the same height as the ground contact surface at a position which is the highest point of the bottom surface (132) which is maximally raised toward the ground contact surface. The volume of the space formed between each constriction groove section (121) and the road surface is less than the volume of the space formed between each recessed portion (131) and the road surface. One end (121a) of each constriction groove section (121) communicates with the corresponding recessed portion (131), and the other end (121b) of the constriction groove section (121) communicates with a circumferential groove (11). The configuration causes the depth of the air chamber section (130A) from the ground contact surface to change in the circumferential direction of the tire, and as a result, even if a stone or the like is caught by the air chamber section (130A), the stone or the like tends to easily come out of the air chamber section (130A) by being moved in the circumferential direction of the tire as the pneumatic tire (10) rolls.
US08627861B2

A dispenser for holding multiple doses of fluids or other substances, and for dispensing the substances, has a vial, a flexible bladder received within the vial, and a variable volume storage chamber formed between the bladder and vial. A filling valve is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber and defines (1) a normally closed, fluid-tight position hermetically sealing the storage chamber from the ambient atmosphere, and (2) an open position allowing the passage of fluid through the valve both to evacuate the storage chamber and to introduce fluid through the valve to fill the storage chamber. A pump is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for pumping fluids out of the storage chamber. A dispensing valve is coupled in fluid communication with the pump and defines (1) a normally closed, fluid-tight position preventing the passage of fluid out of the dispenser, and (2) an open position for dispensing pumped fluid therethrough. The sealed, empty dispenser is sterilized, such as by applying gamma radiation thereto. Then, the sterilized, sealed, empty dispenser is filled with fluid by engaging the filling valve with an evacuating/dispensing member to evacuate the storage chamber, and by introducing fluid from the filling member through the open filling valve and into the storage chamber. The filling member is withdrawn from the valve, and a spring moves the valve to a closed position to hermetically seal the fluid within the dispenser.
US08627856B2

A method and apparatus for filling insulating glass units with one or more insulating gases (e.g., Argon and Krypton gas). The insulating gases are supplied to gas filling tubes that are inserted into one or more interpane spaces of the insulating glass units. Each interpane space may be filled with more than one insulating gas. A control unit controls the injection of the insulating gases in accordance with gas filling data received by the control unit.
US08627853B1

An insulated double-walled pipe including an inner pipe, an outer pipe surrounding the inner pipe to provide a substantially uniform annular gap between the inner and outer pipes, and optionally an annular flange connected to at least one end of the inner and outer pipe, wherein the annular gap is substantially filled with an insulating paste comprising a fiber component, an inorganic binder component, and optionally a vermiculite component, a filler component, and an organic binder component. A method for preparing the insulated double-walled pipe includes providing a double-walled pipe having an annular space between the walls; introducing an insulating paste material into the annular space; freezing the insulating paste material in the pipe; bending the pipe; and thawing and gelling the paste material.
US08627850B1

An electronic shower system comprises in major part a console and plumbing assembly and effective for reducing water use and cost by enabling the storage and use of preset shower settings, the shower console configured to adjust the flow of hot and cold water from hot and cold water lines fluidly attached to a shower faucet via the use of motors and water valves and where the console can further comprise such additional features as a radio unit.
US08627837B2

In a thin plate member washing apparatus, when a rotary arm member supporting a mesh member holding portion is rotated using a rotary handle, tap water flows over the surface of a mesh member, and medicinal fluid residue deposited on the mesh member is removed.
US08627831B2

A cosmetic applicator assembly is shown. The cosmetic applicator assembly includes an applicator head comprising an applicator front portion having at least a first surface, a second surface, and a multiplicity of apertures extending between the first surface and the second surface, at least one applicator component protruding from the at one least aperture and attachable to the applicator front portion, and an applicator back portion fixed to the applicator front portion so as to cover the second surface of the applicator front portion.
US08627826B2

Some embodiments of a tobacco article may include tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco article may provide tobacco, tobacco constituents, or both tobacco and tobacco constituents to the consumer's mouth in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to provide tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. In some circumstances, the tobacco may be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
US08627822B2

The invention comprises a semi-vertical patient positioning, alignment, and/or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Patient positioning constraints are used to maintain the patient in a treatment position, including one or more of: a seat support, a back support, a head support, an arm support, a knee support, and a foot support. One or more of the positioning constraints are movable and/or under computer control for rapid positioning and/or immobilization of the patient. The system optionally uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and/or in system verification and validation.
US08627819B2

A portable ventilator uses a Roots-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the Roots blower housing and multiple baffling chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.
US08627817B2

An anesthesia device and a process are provided with which a breathing gas, which is present in a breathing circuit and which is especially enriched with an anesthetic, can be removed rapidly and in a cost-effective manner. The breathing circuit comprises an inspiratory breathing gas duct and an expiratory breathing gas duct, for receiving an expired breathing gas, a Y-piece, which is designed as a Y-piece that can be closed, for connecting the inspiratory and expiratory breathing gas ducts with a patient. At least one breathing gas supply system introduces breathing gas into the breathing circuit. A breathing gas outlet duct is provided with a breathing gas outlet valve. A breathing gas reservoir intermediately stores breathing gas. A PEEP valve is arranged upstream of the breathing gas reservoir in the direction of flow of the breathing gas. A breathing gas delivery is arranged downstream of the breathing gas reservoir in the direction of flow of the breathing gas. An air inlet introduces ambient air into the breathing circuit. The air inlet is arranged between the PEEP valve and the breathing gas delivery. A control is provided at least for controlling the ambient air entering through the air inlet, the breathing gas delivery, the PEEP valve and the breathing gas outlet valve for removing breathing gases from the breathing circuit.
US08627811B1

A crossbow includes a riser having projecting limbs with first and second pulleys mounted on the limbs for rotation around respective axes. A barrel extends from the riser, and a bowstring cable extends between the pulleys outside of the barrel for engaging and propelling a projectile. A pair of pulley rotation power cables extend between the pulleys through slots in the barrel, and a spacer is disposed adjacent to the riser and disposed in the barrel for engagement by the pulley rotation power cables at the end of the power stroke to dampen vibration from the riser and cables to absorb vibration that otherwise might be transmitted to the barrel.
US08627807B2

An arrangement for recirculation of exhaust gases of a combustion engine (2) in a vehicle (1), including an exhaust line (4) to lead exhaust gases out from the combustion engine (2), and a return line (5) for recirculating part of the exhaust gases in the exhaust line (4) to the combustion engine (2). A high-temperature cooling system (11) containing a circulating coolant in the form of a liquid medium which, at an intended operating pressure in the high-temperature cooling system (11), has a boiling point of at least 150° C. An EGR cooler (10) subjects the recirculating exhaust gases in the return line (5) to a first step of cooling by the circulating high-temperature coolant. A radiator element (13) cools the high-temperature coolant by air. There is a second cooler cooled by engine coolant which cools gases in the return line. There is an optional third low-temperature cooling system and a further cooler in the third system cooling gases in the return line.
US08627806B2

The invention concerns an assembly of a valve body (A) and a seal (11). The valve body (A) includes a gas flow passage (4) and a valve shutter (6) mobile between an open position and a closed position obstructing the movement of the gases in the passage (4). The passage (4) being intended to be connected to a pipe (B) to enable gas to flow between them, the seal (11) being intended to be mounted between the passage (4) and the pipe (B) to provide a gas seal between them. The assembly is characterized in that the seal (11) forms a seat for the valve shutter (6) in the closed position. The seal provides, on the one hand, a seal between the passage and the pipe whether the valve shutter is in the open or the closed position and, on the other hand, a seal for the valve shutter in the closed position.
US08627798B2

A direct fuel-injection engine includes a piston, a cavity recessed in a central part of a top face of the piston, and a fuel injector. At a main injection collision point of a fuel-injection axis when main injection is performed while the piston is near top dead center, a main injection collision angle formed between its tangent and the fuel-injection axis is set at an obtuse angle. Fuel colliding with the main injection collision point is deflected towards a cavity open end side. At a secondary injection collision point of the fuel-injection axis when performing secondary injection with the piston is further from top dead center, a secondary injection collision angle formed between its tangent and the fuel-injection axis is set at one of a right angle and an acute angle. Fuel colliding with the secondary injection collision point is deflected primarily in the circumferential direction of the cavity.
US08627797B2

The present embodiments provide a control system and method that is able to automatically start and/or stop a portable engine-driven power source. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes an engine-driven power source having an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, a sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a demand for air pressure from the compressor and a second signal indicative of no demand for air pressure from the compressor. The engine-driven power source also includes a controller configured to stop the engine in response to the second signal.
US08627795B2

A camshaft arrangement (1) for changing the relative angle position of at least one cam of a camshaft (2) relative to a second cam of the camshaft (2), wherein the arrangement includes an angular adjustment device (3) having a stator (4) and a rotor (5) which is arranged such that it can be rotated relative thereto. The rotor (5) is connected to a shaft (6) in a rotationally fixed manner, the stator (4) is connected to a hollow shaft (7) in a rotationally fixed manner, and the shaft (6) and the hollow shaft (7) are arranged concentrically to one another. The at least one first cam is connected to the shaft (6) in a rotationally fixed manner and the at least one second cam is connected to the hollow shaft (7) in a rotationally fixed manner. In order to establish a fixed connection between stator and hollow shaft, which requires little space, the rotationally fixed connection between stator (4) and hollow shaft (7) is established via a cover element (8) that is rigidly connected to the stator (4), wherein the cover element (8) includes a borehole (9) for receiving a cylindrical section (10) of the hollow shaft (7) and a force-fitting and/or form-fitting connection between cover element (8) and hollow shaft (7) is formed.
US08627786B2

A pet feeding apparatus includes a container and a base assembly, wherein the base assembly includes a sensor assembly operatively coupled to a portion keypad circuit board and operation keypad circuit board. The base assembly displays an indication of the amount of food carried by the container, and the base assembly provides an indication of the feeding time.
US08627783B2

A combined pressure control/plasma confinement assembly configured for confining a plasma and for at least partially regulating pressure in a plasma processing chamber during plasma processing of a substrate is provided. The assembly includes a movable plasma confinement structure having therein a plurality of perforations and configured to surround the plasma when deployed. The assembly also includes a movable pressure control structure disposed outside of the movable plasma confinement structure such that the movable plasma confinement structure is disposed between the plasma and the movable pressure control structure during the plasma processing, the movable pressure control structure being deployable and retractable along with the movable plasma confinement structure to facilitate handling of the substrate, the movable pressure control structure being independently movable relative to the movable plasma confinement structure to regulate the pressure by blocking at least a portion of the plurality of perforations.
US08627775B1

A burner apparatus (10) for a process heating system (400) includes a combustion air damper (48) to control the volume of air in the combustion chamber (98). Top (15), bottom (17), and sidewalls (14) of the chamber are of steel without refractory material lining while a fuel door (178) is steel with refractory material lining (186). A flue gas damper (34) selectively allows or disallows flue gas out of the chamber. A cooling jacket (18) of a steel sheeting surrounds and is narrowly spaced from the combustion chamber top, bottom, and sidewalls. The cooling jacket conducts air, transfers heat from the combustion chamber top, bottom, and sidewalls to thereby prevent overheating, and generates heated air. A turbulation device (38) combines flue gas and heated air into a turbulent air-gas mixture, completes combustion, and outputs a heated gas stream.
US08627774B2

A ground lock is formed of a main shaft having a first latching structure near its upper end and a ground fastener at its lower end. A mating member provides a cooperative latching structure and slides on the main shaft between raised and lowered positions. In one of the raised or lowered positions, the two latching structures are latchable, allowing the mating member to drive the main shaft to engage or disengage the ground fastener. In the other of the raised or lowered positions, the second latching structure is non-latchable with the first latching structure such that the main shaft is disabled from driving the ground fastener.
US08627766B2

The square baler comprises a pick-up a pre-compression chamber, a baling chamber, a loading mechanism for transferring each slice of crop from the pre-compression chamber into the baling chamber and a plunger. The baler further can include at least one non-contact sensor that is provided in at least one of the walls of the pre-compression chamber and/or of the input zone of the baling chamber to produce an output signal indicative of the density of the crop.
US08627762B2

A system and method for frying one or more food items. The system comprises a frying tank (2) having an open state in which the one or more food items may be introduced into the tank (2) and a closed state in which the interior chamber is hermetically sealed. A cooking oil delivery system (6) delivers cooking oil to the tank (2) so as to completely fill the tank with cooking oil. The method of the invention comprises Inserting one or more food items into the frying tank (2) and delivering cooking oil to the tank so as to completely fill the tank, and then frying the food items
US08627760B2

A beverage production machine that includes a functional block including a beverage extraction module and a beverage delivery outlet, and a support base on which the functional block is arranged and which is designed to supply the functional block electrically, wherein at least the beverage delivery outlet is mounted free in rotation around a vertical axis relative to the support base.
US08627753B2

A tool includes first and second tool parts that move toward one another, at least one processing device provided on the first tool part, and at least two counter devices provided on the second tool part. The processing device and the counter devices are rotatable relative to one another about at least one positioning axis, and the counter devices are aligned relative to one another along a direction of relative rotational movement of the processing device and the counter devices. The processing device and a first counter device are allocated to one another by at least a first defined processing parameter, and the processing device and a second counter device are allocated to one another by at least a second defined processing parameter. The first processing parameter is different than the second processing parameter.
US08627751B2

A device for loosening and untying knots including a body having a first section and a second section having a plurality of channels, a pusher rod positioned slidably within the first section of the body, a shaft positioned slidably within the first and second sections of the body and being engaged with the rod, and a plurality of prongs, each including a base, a nose and a rail. The rails slidably fit into the channels of the body, and a head of the shaft is engaged with the bases of the prongs. The prongs move between a retracted position, in which the noses are juxtaposed with one another and inserted within a knot, and an expanded position, in which the noses are spaced apart from one another when the shaft is moved within the body, the noses loosen and untie the knot when the prongs are expanded.
US08627749B2

An automatic fastener driving tool, or an attachment, has a narrow front-end profile so that it is capable of driving screws that are in hard-to-reach positions, such as corners or channel members. The slide body subassembly has an extending mechanism, so that the fastener drive elements extend farther away from the main body structure of the tool/attachment, while still providing a stable and rugged overall tool structure to drive larger screws. The “lick-out” dimension is increased without also increasing the length and width of the feed tube.
US08627747B2

A treatment device for improving the cutting properties of the blade of a non-electric shaving razor. The device has a treatment surface for interacting with the cutting edge of the razor blade, as the blade is put into sliding contact with the treatment surface. The treatment surface has a plurality of resilient honing projections that are compressed as the blade is moved in sliding contact with the surface.
US08627744B2

A crankshaft for an internal combustion engine comprises at least five main journals aligned on a crankshaft axis of rotation and at least eight crankpins, each of the crankpins being disposed about a respective crankpin axis and positioned between the main journals. Each of the respective crankpin axes is oriented parallel to, and spaced radially from, the crankshaft axis of rotation. Each of the crankpins is joined to a pair of crank arms for force transmission between each of the crankpins and the respective crank arms. Each crank arm is joined to a respective main journal for transmitting torque between the crank arm and the main journal. At least four of the crankpins are spaced radially a first semi-stroke distance from the crankshaft axis of rotation, and at least four remaining crankpins are spaced radially a second semi-stroke distance from the crankshaft axis of rotation.
US08627742B2

A steering column assembly includes a first jacket defining a first bore and a second jacket defining a second bore aligned with the first bore prior to collapse of the first jacket and the second jacket. A jacket connector extends through the bores to interconnect the first jacket and the second jacket. The jacket connector includes a pre-determined shear resistance, above which the jacket connector is sheared to permit telescopic movement between the first jacket and the second jacket. Accordingly, in response to an axial load greater than the pre-determined shear resistance of the jacket connector being applied to one of the first jacket and the second jacket, the jacket connector shears, permitting the telescopic movement. The jacket connector includes a pin defining a pin bore. The pin bore defines a cross sectional area, with the pre-determined shear resistance depending upon the cross sectional area of the pin bore.
US08627740B2

An industrial robot adapted for a harsh environment involving exposure to salt water. A robot arm includes a plurality of arm parts movable relative each other about a plurality of joints. Electrical motors move the arm parts. A salt water proof coating on at least a portion of an exterior of the robot arm parts.
US08627734B2

A prestressing unit which has a first ramp disk and a second ramp disk. Ramp contours are formed in one side of an annular face of the ramp disks. In the prestressing unit, the rolling bodies ascend and/or descend on the ramp contours as a result of rotational pivoting of one of the ramp disks in relation to the other ramp disk about an axis. The ramp contours are each formed as a single-part running face for the rolling bodies. The running face is inclined with respect to the axis.
US08627732B2

The invention relates to a device that can reliably characterize a size distribution of electrically-charged airborne particles in an air flow under both stationary conditions and transient conditions. The device comprises a particle charging unit, a first particle precipitation unit located downstream of the particle charging unit, a second particle precipitation unit located downstream of the first particle precipitation unit, and a data evaluation unit. The first particle precipitation unit is arranged to partially reduce the concentration of electrically-charged airborne particles having a size larger than a first particle size limit, and to generate a first output signal corresponding to the precipitation of electrically-charged airborne particles inside the first particle precipitation unit. The second particle precipitation unit is arranged to precipitate substantially all entering electrically-charged airborne particles, and to generate a second output signal corresponding to the precipitation of electrically-charged airborne particles inside the second particle precipitation unit. The data evaluation unit is arranged to calculate, based on the output signals of the particle precipitation units, a particle number concentration and an average diameter of airborne particles larger than the lower particle size limit. The device enables the simultaneous generation and recording of output signals, and consequently an immediate determination of the particle number concentration and the average particle diameter at any instant.
US08627731B2

An automated cascade impactor is disclosed and comprises a vertical array of a plurality of impactor stages, and a vertical array of isolation stages, wherein the vertical array of the isolation stages comprises pairs of isolation stages between which impactor plates, removed from respective ones of the impactor stages are effectively sandwiched between each pair of isolation stages. Still further, each compactor stage is likewise sandwiched between and upper and a lower pair of the isolation stages.
US08627728B2

System for determining the flow rate of a fluid and for controlling flow rates. The system provides high resolution with infinite turndown, providing a flow meter which may be used in low flow situations and with fluid additives. The flow rate of an additive fluid is determined in real time with high resolution by providing a novel reciprocating positive-displacement flow meter using magnetically coupled components and a transducer to identify the flow rate of the fluid. A system and method may be incorporated into a flow control system for monitoring the flow rate of a fluid which may be included with an additive delivery system for use with the flowing supply of an additive to be introduced into a flow of untreated fluid in relatively minute quantities.
US08627722B2

Disclosed is a welding inspection method which does not require the inspector to be highly skilled, does not require waiting for the spot welded part to cool off, and with which the probe is not consumed or damaged. A probe temporarily mounted close to the welded part on the surface of a metal plate emits ultrasonic waves from an oblique direction with respect to the boundary surfaces between a plurality of metal plates. At this time, the probe is temporarily mounted at the position where the incident ultrasonic waves pass through the welded part at the boundary between the plurality of metal plates in an oblique direction with respect to the boundary surface. Also, a display processing means displays the intensity of the refrected ultrasonic waves. Alternatively, the display processing means displays the details of the detection result estimated based on the intensity of the reflected ultrasonic waves.
US08627717B2

A thermal flow sensor includes a heater temperature controller that realizes stable startup characteristics and prevents degradation of a sensor element and can also accommodate a smaller heater. The sensor also includes a semiconductor substrate; a cavity portion provided in the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric film provided on the semiconductor substrate; a thin layer area formed as a result of the dielectric film covering the cavity portion; a heating resistor provided in the thin layer area on the dielectric film; a first temperature-sensitive resistor provided in the thin layer area on the dielectric film; a heating controller; a second temperature-sensitive resistor provided near the heating resistor; and a flow rate detector that detects a flow rate of a fluid on the basis of temperature of the second temperature-sensitive resistor. The heating controller controls the temperature of the heating resistor on the basis of first and second reference temperatures.
US08627708B2

A fatigue testing system provides simultaneous cycle testing for a plurality of prosthetic devices under simulated physiological loading conditions. A plurality of sample holders containing test samples of prosthetic devices is positioned between a distribution chamber and a return fluid chamber to form an integrated test chamber. A reciprocating linear drive motor operates a rolling bellows diaphragm to cyclically pressurize fluid within the test chamber and drive the pressurized fluid through the prosthetic devices being tested. The test chamber defines a return flow conduit in fluid communication with each of the sample holders, the return fluid chamber, and the distribution chamber. Compliance chambers and throttle valves associated with each of the sample holders regulate the pressure gradient and back pressure across the prosthetic devices being tested.
US08627706B2

A gas-measuring probe for determining a physical characteristic of a measuring gas, in particular the concentration of a gas component or the temperature or pressure of the measuring gas, which includes a sensor element accommodated in a housing, at least one connection cable for the sensor element having an electrical conductor, which is enclosed by an insulation sheath and contacts the sensor element, and a cable channel sealing the housing end, which has at least one axial cable feedthrough through which the connection cable is guided out of the housing. To achieve long-lasting sealing at the cable-exit end of the housing even at higher temperatures, the insulation sheath of the connection cable is at least regionally welded to the cable wall of the cable feedthrough. To this end, a tube made of a material that fuses with the insulation sheath and the cable channel when heated is slipped over the cable section of the connection cable lying inside the cable channel.
US08627705B2

A turret for an article processing machine assembly includes a turret main body, a sliding ram assembly, and an air manifold device. The air manifold device is connectable to the turret main body and provides pressurized air through a pressurized air pathway system. The pressurized air pathway system includes a turret air passage extending from the air manifold through the turret body to the sliding ram assembly, and a ram air passage that supplies the pressurized air to an article in the machine assembly. A valve mechanism is positioned between one end of the turret body air passage and a first end of the ram air passage. The valve mechanism includes a slidable disc that seals the connection between the turret body air passage and the ram air passage.
US08627703B2

In order to allow a more targeted intervention in a drawing procedure, in particular on a linear drawing device, the invention proposes a linear drawing machine for the linear drawing of a workpiece through a drawing ring, a drawing unit, in which one or more drawing tools grasp the workpiece and draw it linearly in the drawing direction, being situated behind the drawing ring, the linear drawing device being distinguished in particular by a drawing ring which is situated fixed in relation to the drawing direction during the drawing procedure, preferably perpendicularly, and by a workpiece guide situated in front of the drawing ring in the drawing direction, which is displaceable perpendicular to the drawing direction.
US08627701B1

A device for bending sheet material comprises a receiving plate and a forming plate defining or connectable to one another so as to define therebetween a receiving slot of fixed dimensions. A bending plate is pivotally connected to the receiving plate. The bending plate has an upper surface substantially in a common plane with an upper surface of the receiving plate. The forming plate comprises a first side surface extending along an open end of the receiving slot and forming a first acute angle with a first major surface of the forming plate. The bending plate has a range of pivotal motion of greater than 90°.
US08627693B1

A lock assembly for a container having an opening defined by a door jamb, a cargo door adapted to close the opening, a rod linearly moveable to engage the door jamb, and a latch mountable to the rod. The assembly includes a casing having an inclined opening and mounted to the cargo door parallel the rod. The casing includes a protrusion changeable between an extended and a retracted position. A latch receiving means has an inclined opening adapted to align with the inclined opening of the casing for accepting the latch therein. The latch receiving means is responsive to movement of the latch within the casing between a locked and an unlocked condition and engages the locking means when the latch receiving means is in the locked condition. The rod is moved by the latch to engage and disengage the door jamb.
US08627675B2

Described in this application is an improved cartridge, such as a water filter, and housing for the filter. The filter is preferably of the push-in type and the filter housing includes an assembly to automatically set the water filter in position as a cover over the filter is closed. According to one embodiment, the assembly consists of a cover and lever linkage which engage complimentary protrusions on the water filter.
US08627672B2

In a wall-hung air conditioner 1 provided with a vertical blade 85 for wind-direction change, a flap 60, and a fan guard 70 at an outlet 13 of a housing containing a heat exchanger 2 and a blower, the fan guard 70 is provided with a plurality of wires 71 extending in the longitudinal direction of the outlet 13 and a pair of supporting bodies 72 and 73 bundling the both ends of the wires 71, and the fan guard 70 is installed with the plurality of wires 71 extended into a space between the vertical blade 85 and the flap 60 and the pair of the supporting bodies 72 and 73 are fixed and mounted onto the outlet 13 through one-touch operation.
US08627671B2

A self-contained heat transfer system conveys heat from a first heat reservoir at a relatively low temperature to a second heat reservoir at relatively high temperature, the heat transfer system defining a closed loop that contains a working fluid. The self-contained heat transfer system includes a hermetically-sealed housing that defines an enclosure; a first heat transfer device having an exposed surface configured to be in thermal communication with the first heat reservoir; a second heat transfer device having an exposed surface configured to be in thermal communication with the second heat reservoir; and an electrochemical compressor within the enclosure and between the first and second heat transfer devices, wherein the electrochemical compressor includes one or more electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell including a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode.
US08627662B2

A system for recovering heat from recirculating exhaust gases is provided. The system includes a first exhaust manifold in fluid communication with multiple combustion chambers of an engine. The system also includes a turbocharger having a turbine stage and a compressor stage, wherein the turbine stage comprises an inlet port in fluid communication with the first exhaust manifold and the compressor stage includes an inlet port for air intake and an outlet port for compressed air. The system includes an exhaust gas recirculation cooler having a first flow path and a second flow path, wherein the first flow path is configured to receive a portion of exhaust gas from the first exhaust manifold flowing through an exhaust gas recirculation loop. The second flow path includes an inlet for receiving a compressed air for drawing heat from the exhaust gas flowing through the first flow path.
US08627657B2

A hydrostatic transmission apparatus having a main pump, two main ducts that are respectively a feed main duct and a discharge main duct for first and second hydraulic motors serving to drive two drive members of a vehicle that are situated one after the other. At least the first hydraulic motor is a dual motor made up of two elementary motors, a first one of which is connected via a series link to the second hydraulic motor. A link selector can take up a first position in which a series loop including said series link coexists with a direct loop for directly linking at least the second elementary motor to the two respective orifices of the main pump, and a second position in which at least one of said direct and series loops is bypassed by a bypass link having a constriction valve.
US08627650B2

An exhaust gas purification device has: a bypass passage (20) disposed in an exhaust passage (15) of an internal combustion engine (10); an adsorbent (21) which is disposed in the bypass passage (20), and adsorbs unburned components in exhaust gas at a low temperature and desorbs the adsorbed unburned components at a high temperature; and an exhaust gas purification catalyst (22) which is disposed in the exhaust passage (15) at a downstream side of a portion where the bypass passage (20) merges, and purifies unburned components in exhaust gas; and a desorption amount adjustment (19) unit that adjusts the desorption amount of unburned components adsorbed by the adsorbent (21) based on an integrated fuel cut air amount (fgs), which is an integrated value of air amount taken into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (10) during execution of fuel cut.
US08627649B2

The invention relates to a device and a method for metering liquid pollutant-reducing media into an exhaust gas duct of an exhaust gas line of an internal combustion engine, with at least one metering means which is located in or on the exhaust gas duct and downstream to which, viewed in the flow direction of the exhaust gas upstream from a catalytic converter arrangement, a baffle body is connected such that the liquid which has been metered by means of the metering means strikes a baffle body for its distribution. According to the invention the baffle body is formed by a static mixer which has a plurality of preferably single-blade guide vane plates which project away from the mixer plane at a given angle and which are aligned such that the metered liquid, especially liquid droplets, strikes the plane of the guide vane plates essentially perpendicularly.
US08627648B2

An engine control system for an engine equipped with a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas includes: a catalyst temperature acquisition section that acquires the temperature of the catalyst; and a control section that controls an engine such that a rate of increase in engine output speed is changed in accordance with the temperature of the catalyst.
US08627643B2

A system includes a radiation detector array configured to direct a field of view toward multiple conduits within a fluid flow path from a turbine into a heat exchanger. The radiation detector array is configured to output a signal indicative of a multi-dimensional temperature profile of the fluid flow path based on thermal radiation emitted by the conduits. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the radiation detector array. The controller is configured to determine a temperature variation across the fluid flow path based on the signal, and to compare the temperature variation to a threshold value.
US08627640B2

In an intermittent rotating machine for filling capsules with pharmaceutical products, each capsule is opened in a respective pocket of a conveying wheel, is filled with a pharmaceutical product, is closed and is finally released from the pocket itself; a supporting block fitted above the conveying wheel defining an upper stopping device for stopping the capsules during the closing thereof, and further defining an upper diverting device for moving the capsules outside the conveying wheel, and supporting a sucking pneumatic device for cleaning the pockets.
US08627638B2

A media wrapper for use in a printing device includes a first end, a second end, and a perforation disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the perforation is configured to split the media wrapper separating the first and second ends.
US08627635B1

A grid panel includes a generally elongated, rectangular main panel section having a plurality of main panel section corners: a pair of generally elongated, rectangular end panel sections extending from the main panel section beyond the main panel section corners, each of the end panel sections having a plurality of end panel section corners; a plurality of grid notches between the main panel section corners and the end panel section corners, respectively; and a plurality of grid openings in the main panel section and each of the end panel sections.
US08627634B2

The present invention relates to a casement (1) for a glass window or a glass door, a frame and a window system containing a casement and a frame. The casement comprises an insulation material layer arrangement which is located between two wooden profile-members (3, 4). The insulation material layer arrangement has at least a first insulation layer (5) which is constructed for a high level of strength, and at least a second insulation layer (6) which is constructed for a high level of thermal insulation. Between the two wooden profile-members (3, 4), a lateral insulation layer (8) which is constructed for a high level of thermal insulation is arranged substantially perpendicularly relative to the extension direction of the insulation material layer arrangement.
US08627619B2

A rigging deck module including: a deck body including a flexible deck material bounded by a web-reinforced tensile edge, suspension means spaced about the edge whereby the deck body is tensionable to form a substantially flat deck surface, and a lattice of tensile web members secured to the flexible deck material and the web-reinforced tensile edge; tensile rigging strops adapted to be mounted in tension to a structure in maintained spaced relation to each other, and each having securing points formed thereon; and tensionable connection means located at each suspension means for securing and tensioning the deck body to the respective securing points.
US08627608B2

Removable stand and method for constructing a removable stand. The method comprises constructing a support structure of posts and trusses that are positionable between the posts, and positioning a floor element on the support structure. Herein the floor element comprises a plurality of floor levels positioned behind each other and positioned at a distance in height and/or is the floor element, before it is positioned on the support structure, provided with at least one seat and/or bench and/or is floor element provided with connection means for connecting at least one seat and/or bench thereto.
US08627599B2

A planting pot system is provided. In the system, a multi-compartment tray that contains compartments that have either no vertical planes of symmetry or only one vertical plane of symmetry causes pots that have either one vertical plane of symmetry or no vertical planes of symmetry to be limited or precluded from being rotated and consistently urged into a place in only one orientation. Through this system efficient and effective orienting of and displaying of the contents of the pots may be achieved.
US08627598B1

An apparatus for growing and harvesting a tangled mass composed of sprouted seed grain includes a plurality of overlying immobile, substantially planar surfaces having a length. Each surface is configured to receive a layer of seed grain that is permitted to grow for a predetermined period of time on each surface, the layer of seed grain becoming a continuous tangled mass of sprouted seed grain. An extraction device removes the mass from each surface. A cleaning device removes debris from each surface prior to each surface receiving a subsequent layer of seed grain.
US08627595B2

A cage-type animal trap with two opposed animal access openings that can operate in a one-door-opening configuration or a two-door-opening configuration. The trap has a set mechanism for holding one or both doors open to allow access through the corresponding trap access openings. The set mechanism includes a set lever that is movable from a set position to a tripped position and that is coupled to the doors of the trap by an actuating member. Upon actuation, the set lever moves from the set to the tripped position to allow movement of the actuating member which enables one of the doors to move from an opened position to a closed position when the trap is operating in a one-door-opening configuration, and both of the doors to move from the opened position to the closed position when the trap is operating in the two-door-opening configuration.
US08627585B2

A jacket structure for mounting to a display structure, the jacket structure comprising one or more panels having an inner side and an outer side with regards to the display structure, one or more members corresponding to columns of the display structure, one or more elements corresponding to a tray base of the display structure, the elements corresponding to a tray base of the display structure intersecting with the members corresponding to columns of the display structure, the intersection of the members corresponding to the column of the display structure and the elements corresponding to the tray base of the display structure forming a window through which a consumer can reach out to grab the product within the display structure, a horizontal flap in an upper side of the element corresponding to a tray base and a horizontal flap in a lower side of the element corresponding to a tray base, wherein the flaps are configured to form a locked tab structure when the jacket structure is in a mounted position, and vertical flaps formed from the parts corresponding to the column of the display structure towards the window, wherein the vertical flaps are configured to form a locked tab structure when the jacket structure in a mounted position.
US08627571B2

A compact wall-mounted knife holder is formed from a stack of several plates separated by rows of narrow strips of material serving as spacers. The spaces between successive strips form channels for the knife blades. The rows of channels in adjacent pairs of plates crisscross in a lattice pattern but do not interfere with each other since the plates are stacked and each row occupies its own plane. At the same time, knives in all the rows utilize the same space on a wall surface, which makes the knife holder compact. The holder is attached to a wall so that the channels from both sides are at an angle that ensures that the force of gravity holds the knives in the channels. The front plate of the holder can be made from a decorative material and adorned with beatifying design.
US08627568B2

A method of manufacturing a filtering screen includes: attaching handle members (3) to edges of at least one wire cloth (1); providing a jig comprising tensioning means (23); placing the at least one wire cloth (1) in the jig and engaging the handle members (3) with handle member engagement portions (15) of the tensioning means (23). The tensioning means (23) are operated to drive the handle members (3) outwardly to tension the wire cloth (1) in orthogonal directions. The method also includes pressing the tensioned wire cloth (1) against a screen frame (6); bonding the wire cloth (1) to the screen frame (6); and trimming the wire cloth.
US08627559B2

A method for manufacturing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System pressure sensor, including forming a gauge wafer including a diaphragm and a pedestal region. The method includes forming an electrical insulation layer disposed on a second surface of the diaphragm region and forming a plurality of sensing elements patterned on the electrical insulation layer disposed on the second surface in the diaphragm region, forming a cap wafer with a central recess in an inner surface and a plurality of through-wafer embedded vias made of an electrically conductive material in the cap wafer, creating a sealed cavity by coupling the inner recessed surface of the cap wafer to the gauge wafer, such that electrical connections from the sensing elements come out to an outer surface of the cap wafer through the vias, and attaching a spacer wafer with a central aperture to the pedestal region with the central aperture aligned to the diaphragm region.
US08627557B2

A pin puller includes a coupler to connect a pull rod to an end of a pin. A follower attaches to a tail end of the pin. The coupler may comprise a pair of mating shells having features to engage the pin and pull rod. An actuator is configured to apply tension to the pull rod. The pin puller may be used to remove and install pins and associated bushings in truck suspensions and other applications.
US08627551B2

A segment positioning belt having a flexible belt body having a positioning end and an extension. A plurality of segment positioning portions are positioned in spaced relation to each other along the extension. A metal core is integrally formed into the belt body. The metal core extends within the positioning end and the extension of the belt body. The belt body has an elongated strip shape. The belt body is formed of a rubber or polymeric material.
US08627550B1

A handle set is used for detachable connection to a grill. The handle set includes a handle and a holding element. The handle includes an arched connecting element, two levers extending from the arched connecting element, and two hooks each extending from a respective one of the levers. The hooks are engaged with a crossbar of the grill in a releasable manner while the levers are in contact with another crossbar of the grill in a releasable manner. The holding element includes a rectilinear connecting element secured to the levers and two hooks extending from the rectilinear connecting element. The hooks can be engaged with another crossbar of the grill in a releasable manner.
US08627549B2

Methods of improving a handle grip are disclosed that provide a simple, economical, way to improve a grip on a handle. An improved grip can be placed on a handle by first providing a grip for placement on the handle. The grip can include an outer grip formed of an elastic material in a radially extended state, the outer grip configured to provide a secure and comfortable hold on the handle for a user, and an inner tube holding the elastic material in the extended state. The inner tube can be removable to allow the outer grip to constrict radially. The grip can then be placed over the handle, and the inner tube removed, allowing the outer grip to constrict radially to conform in fixed attachment to the handle.
US08627544B2

A system and method are disclosed for a suction nozzle for attachment to a vacuum source, such as a suction line, to collect debris such as airborne particles. The suction nozzle includes a tubular-shaped funnel with a large mouth at one end, to receive and channel airborne debris to the vacuum source. The suction nozzle also includes a connector at an opposite end of the funnel, for connecting the suction nozzle to a vacuum source. The mouth of the funnel may further include an inwardly-extending rim portion, which is shaped to accommodate objects that may be adjacent to the funnel and its mouth. The mouth includes a lip extending inwardly from the rim of the mouth for helping deflect debris inwardly into the funnel. In one embodiment, the rim portion of the funnel mouth may further include a scraper portion which extends inwardly from the rim, toward the interior of the funnel mouth. This scraper portion is useful for helping to remove debris from instruments or other.
US08627541B2

A mop press having a front wall and a pair of sidewalls is provided. The sidewalls each have a top cam track, a bottom cam track, and a bucket slot. The bucket slot defines a shoulder, where the bottom cam track is positioned below the shoulder. In some embodiments, the mop press includes a moveable press-plate and a handle mechanism. The handle mechanism includes a left and right couplings each configured to removably receive a pressing arm therein. In other embodiments, the mop press includes a locking mechanism having a locking arm rotatably supported by the sidewalls for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position. The locking position is above the unlocking position.
US08627540B2

A wiper device having an improved function of separating a wiper blade. The wiper device includes: a wiper blade including: a wiper rib for cleaning a glass of a vehicle; a lever member supporting the wiper rib; and a rotary shaft disposed across opposite side walls of a penetration hole formed in a center portion of the lever member, and including a rotary shaft that has a non-circular cross section; a retainer including a receiving recess including an opening corresponding to the non-circular cross section so as to detachably receive the rotary shaft; and an index unit indicating a position where the wiper blade is coupled to or separated from the retainer while the wiper blade is rotated with respect to the retainer within a predetermined angle range.
US08627532B2

A swimming pool cleaning device is disclosed herein. The device includes a vehicle having a body shell and an interior and at least one intake port located on the body shell. The vehicle includes at least one water outlet port also located on the outer shell. The vehicle includes a drive mechanism which in different embodiments includes pairs of wheels and/or rollers or a combination of wheels and rollers In one embodiment the wheels or rollers can be power driven, while in another embodiment they would be free rotating, and can easily climb over obstacles on a swimming pool floor. In one embodiment, the intake ports are located in close proximity to the drive mechanism. In another embodiment, the vehicle has a concaved bottom. The concaved bottom points towards the interior. In this embodiment the intakes can be located slightly farther away from ends of the vehicle as a result of the curvature of the bottom.
US08627530B2

The present invention relates to a method for constructing a cable-stayed bridge with a tensionless stay cable, including the steps for: constructing a main tower 100, continuously installing a suspension cable 200 over a main span and a side span, installing a plurality of hangers 210 on the suspension cable 200, arranging an anchorage cable 220 in a longitudinal direction by connecting the anchorage cable 220 to a lower end of the hanger 210, installing a stay cable 110 in sequence, constructing a girder by connecting a segment 300 constituting the girder to each of the stay cables 110 in sequence, and connecting the segments 300 one another in a longitudinal direction, and removing the suspension cable 200, the hanger, and the anchorage cable 220.
US08627522B2

A support device for persons, such as a bed, treatment or operating table, chair, comprises: —a frame; —a first and a second movable member, which movable members can be adjusted independently of one another and which are designed to support the person or one or more parts of the person in various positions, and —a hydraulic system for adjusting the movable members, the hydraulic system comprising: —a reservoir for hydraulic liquid; —a first and a second hydraulic actuator associated with the first and second movable member, respectively, which hydraulic actuators can each be moved in two directions; —a hydraulic pump; —a pump activating member which is operatively connected to the pump in order for an operator to activate the pump; —a valve assembly which is provided in the hydraulic circuit between the pump and the respective actuators, and —a valve assembly operating member which can be mechanically operated by an operator and is mechanically connected to the valve assembly for selecting and providing a connection between one of the actuators and the pump in order to be able to selectively move a movable member by supplying pressurized hydraulic liquid to the associated actuator upon activation of the pump.
US08627519B2

A main drain outlet and a water sanitation system for a swimming pool, wading pool, spa, or hot tub are provided. A main drain outlet comprises a cylindrical or toroidal sump, an inlet tangentially extending from the cylindrical or toroidal sump having an orifice with a length extending a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical or toroidal sump and a width substantially less than its length. The sump may have a curved inner surface throughout the length of the orifice. The main drain outlet may be of unitary assembly and may have more than one sump and inlet. The main drain outlet may comprise a testing strip. The pool water sanitation system may comprise skimmer flow equalizer lines in flow communication with a main drain outlet.
US08627516B2

A removable band for a conventional sun visor is disclosed. The removable band allows a visor-wearer to customize their visor without having to permanently alter their visor. A non-damaging adhesive may be used to affix the removable band to the visor and may be reused multiple times. The removable band may have decorative elements such as colors, patterns, themes, logos, lettering, attachments, rhinestones or other attractive decorations.
US08627513B2

A fabric prayer breastplate includes a body exhibiting a substantially planar rectangular shape and with a plurality of individual representations of the twelve stones on Aaron's breastplate depicted on a surface of said body and which are representative of religious symbology, such as the twelve tribes of Israel in biblical Old Testament teachings. The individual representations include at least one of item supporting pockets, individually stitched panels or a single graphical depiction.
US08631509B2

In a content transmitting method in a content transmitting apparatus, wherein the content transmitting apparatus adds copy control information for indicating to execute a recoding control with either one of “copy can be made only one (1) generation” or “number of times of copying is limited”, on number-limited copy target content, when distributing the number-limited copy target content, which can be copied within a region of limited number of pieces.
US08631508B2

Embodiments are described herein for managing licenses of media files on playback devices in a media system. In some embodiments, each media file is purchased based on a number of licenses, each license granting permission to store the media file on a single playback device. Each media file may have an associated number of one or more licenses that specifies the maximum number of playback devices on which the media file may be stored at the same time (concurrently). The media system may comprise a home central licensing (HCL) device, a primary storage device, and playback devices coupled via a network. The primary storage device may be used to initially store newly purchased media files. The HCL device may allow or prohibit distribution of the media files on the primary storage device to playback devices by using a license manager data structure storing licensing information for each media file.
US08631505B1

A system includes one or more processors and computer-readable storage media storing instructions executable by a processor to storing a digital good in a cloud data store that is accessible by a user devices associated with a first user and a second user through their respective accounts. When a request to transfer the access rights to the digital good from the account of the first user to the account of a second user, the transfer of the access rights to the digital good is authorized based on satisfaction of one or more business rules and the access rights are transferred from the account of the first user to the account of the second user while said digital good remains in said cloud data store. The access rights are deleted from the account of the first user.
US08631503B2

This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for detecting an initiation of a transaction and generating a string of characters based on the detection. A first portion of the string of characters may be presented in such a way as to be distinguished from a second portion of the string of characters. In various example embodiments, the transaction is validated based on an identification of the first portion of the string of characters.
US08631500B2

The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for generating data and data sets that are resistant to minimality attacks. Data sets having a number of tuples are received, and the tuples are ordered according to an aspect of the tuples. The tuples can be split into groups of tuples, and each of the groups may be analyzed to determine if the group complies with a privacy requirement. Groups that satisfy the privacy requirement may be output as new data sets that are resistant to minimality attacks.
US08631498B1

Techniques for identifying potential malware domain names are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for identifying potential malware domain names. The system may comprise one or more processors communicatively coupled to a network. The one or more processors may be configured to receive a request for network data, where the request for network data may comprise a domain name. The one or more processors may also be configured to apply a lexical and linguistic analysis to the domain name. The one or more processors may also be configured to identify whether the domain name is a potential malware domain name based on the lexical and linguistic analysis.
US08631496B2

A method and system of identifying an attacker device attempting an intrusion into a network. At least one managed device of the network detects an incoming TCP/IP connection by the attacker device to the network. It is determined that the incoming TCP/IP connection is a Net BIOS connection that has created an invalid logon by the attacker device, linking the invalid logon with the NetBIOS TCP/IP connection, retrieving event log information from a security event log of the network, and determining (i) that a userid of the invalid logon is a local userid defined on a local device, (ii) that the userid of the invalid logon is a userid in a list of userids used by viruses, or (iii) that the userid of the invalid logon is neither the local userid nor is in the list of userids. The retrieved event log information is stored in a central violation database.
US08631495B2

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting unsolicited and threatening communications and communicating threat information related thereto. Threat information is received from one or more sources; such sources can include external security databases and threat information data from one or more application and/or network layer security systems. The received threat information is reduced into a canonical form. Features are extracted from the reduced threat information; these features in conjunction with configuration data such as goals are used to produce rules, in some embodiments, these rules are tested against one or more sets of test data and compared against the same or different goals; if one or more tests fail, the rules are refined until the tests succeed within ah acceptable margin of error. The hues are then propagated to one or more application layer security systems.
US08631494B2

The present invention relates to a method and device for scanning of data for signatures prior to storage. First data are received at a storage device for storage therein. Upon receipt the first data are stored in a temporary storage medium for storing other than guaranteed previously scanned data. Using a processor of the storage device, the first data are compared with at least a predetermined signature and a comparison result is determined in dependence thereupon. In dependence upon the comparison result the first data are provided to the scanned data memory when the comparison result is indicative of other than a match or the first data are other than provided to the scanned data memory when the comparison result is indicative of a match. The method and the device according to the invention substantially reduce the risk that a file infected with a computer virus is transferred from one computer to another via a portable storage medium. In another aspect of the invention, the method and the device according to the invention prevents storage of sensitive data by unauthorized persons.
US08631488B2

Systems and methods for providing security services during a power management mode are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises detecting a wake event, providing a wake signal in response to the wake event to wake a mobile device from a power management mode, and managing security services of the mobile device. Managing security services may comprise scanning a hard drive of the mobile devices for viruses and/or other malware. Managing security services may also comprise updating security applications or scanning the mobile device for unauthorized data.
US08631482B2

A resource manager of an operating system of a data processing system receives a first request from a first program for a ticket for accessing at least one of resources of the data processing system. In response to the first request, the resource manager determines whether the first program is entitled to access the resource. The ticket for accessing the resource is issued to the first program if the first program is entitled to access the resource. The ticket can be used by a second program to obtain rights to access the resource by acquiring the ticket from the first program, where the second program would not otherwise be entitled to access the resource based on a security profile associated with the second program.
US08631478B2

Managing a lifecycle of a shared privileged account via a proxy service which comprises an Identity Management (IdM) system that defines and manages identity services, which in turn manage privileged accounts used to access managed targets. Each of the identity services is mapped to a privilege group of the proxy service and an ID pool manager is implemented to manage sharing of the privileged accounts. A request is generated to access a managed target with a privileged account. A shared privileges module generates a shared ID authorization account and associates it with the requestor. The shared ID authorization account is populated with sign out information for a shared privileged account, which the requestor uses to access the corresponding managed target. When use of the shared privileged account is ended, the shared privileges module disassociates the requestor with the shared privileged account by deleting the shared ID authorization account.
US08631476B2

A method of determining whether to authorize a user of a computer system to perform an action in the computer system is described. Besides the explicit authorization grants, a new, more secure semantics is defined where only unassigned users or actions are granted generically. For example, if an access control list for an action is not empty, a user may be authorized to perform the action only if the user is a member of the access control list for the action. If the access control list for the action is empty, the user may be authorized to perform the action only if the user is not a member of any access control list of a group of access control lists.
US08631473B2

The SOCIAL CONTENT MONITORING PLATFORM APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS (“Social-Watch”) transforms social media contents via Social-Watch components, into ad effects data. A system is disclosed, comprising: a memory; a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions for: identifying a request to access user social media content; obtaining user authorization credentials to access user social media content; sending an access request with the obtained user authorization credentials to a social media platform; receiving social media content data from the social media platform; determining a type of the received media content data; tagging the received media content data based on the type according to a progressive taxonomy mechanism; receive a social media analytics request for an item; querying the tagged media content data based on key terms related to the item; and determining impression heuristics for the item based on query results.
US08631469B2

Presence applications running on different devices are used to access and command devices through a communications server. A communication channel is established between at least two instances of a presence application that are running on different devices. A device that is associated with an instance of a presence application is remotely commanded by a received message from the communications server from another instance of the presence application on a different device.
US08631459B2

A user provisioning system is extended to enable account reconciliation to occur in conjunction with a provisioning request. In response to a user provisioning request, a determination is made whether the user provisioning request is to be extended by including a reconciliation request. If so, the reconciliation request is piggy-backed on top of the provisioning request. This approach enables the reconciliation operation to be scoped to just the particular user account that is the subject to the provisioning operation, and it enables reconciliation to be carried out much more frequently as compared to the periodic, batch-oriented approach of prior techniques.
US08631454B2

A method of distributing video program material, includes receiving a first multi-program transport stream (MPTS) containing multiple video services and distribution constraint data specifying at least one of the video services, and creating a second transport stream that contains at least the specified video service and complies with at least one constraint specified in the distribution constraint.
US08631453B2

In certain implementations, a method of displaying a branched chain of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) video content involves providing a first stream of video content, the first stream of video content having a plurality of video features that appear during a plurality of associated time intervals in the first stream of video content; providing a collection of affiliate video streams related to the plurality of time intervals; providing a set of metadata that associates the time intervals with one of the plurality of affiliate video streams; playing the first stream of video content on an IPTV compatible player device to sequentially reveal the plurality of features of the first stream in their respective time relationships in the first stream via a display driven by the IPTV compatible player device; at the IPTV compatible player device, receiving a selection signal during the associated time interval that selects the video feature being displayed; upon receipt of the selection signal, the IPTV compatible player device accessing the metadata to identify a particular one of the collection of affiliate data streams that is associated with the time interval of the selected video feature; and the IPTV compatible player device ceasing to play the first stream of video content and beginning playing the associated one of the collection of affiliate data streams that is associated with the time interval of the selected feature; whereby, the viewer directly navigates from one stream of video content to an affiliate video. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08631448B2

The user can respond to a media segment wherein the media segment may be associated with a schedulable event. Software on the device can then schedule the event into an electronic calendar system, and/or may use data associated with the media segment. At the appropriate time, the electronic calendar system may notify the user of the scheduled broadcast and/or event.
US08631445B2

A digital television (DTV) signal for use in a DTV receiver includes an extended text table (ETT) which includes a header and a message body. The header includes a table identification extension field which serves to establish uniqueness of the ETT, and the message includes an extended text message (ETM). If the ETT is an event ETT, the table ID extension field includes an event identification which specifies an identification number of an event associated with the ETT. On the other hand, if the ETT is a channel ETT, the table identification extension field includes a source identification which specifies a programming source of a virtual channel associated with the ETT. A section-filtering unit included in the DTV receiver is able to use table identification extension fields of a plurality of ETTs for section-filtering a pertinent event or channel ETT from the ETTs.
US08631440B2

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a search request related to media programming and generating a search. The result has a list of one or more collections of episodes responsive to the search request, and a schedule grid displaying a plurality of episodes on a plurality of different channels for a time period, including at least one program responsive to the search request.
US08631435B2

A method for providing program image information in a digital broadcasting receiving device. The method includes receiving image broadcasting information segments containing pre-edited program image information about a plurality of channels to be displayed by displaying in a plurality of areas of a display screen and displaying the received image broadcasting information segments. The method allows display of program image information about a plurality of channels on a single screen, thus enabling a user to easily monitor a program being played back on each channel.
US08631432B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a processor that causes a STB to present an avatar. The processor can receive from the STB a response of the user, detect from the response a change in an emotional state of the user, adapt a search for media content according to the change in the emotional state of the user, and adapt a portion of the characteristics of the avatar relating to emotional feedback according to the change in the emotional state of the user. The processor can cause the STB to present the adapted avatar presenting content from a media content source identified from the adapted search for media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08631429B2

The invention provides a program managing method for use in a digital television for managing programs by rating region tables (RRTs). The method includes receiving a channel switch signal; switching to a channel according to the channel switch signal; searching whether a local rating region table (RRT) of the channel is stored in the digital television; and playing programs according to the contents of the local rating region table when the local rating region table is stored in the digital television, else creating the local rating region table in the digital television and playing programs according to the contents of the local rating region table.
US08631423B1

Various embodiments of a system and method for enabling a first virtualization environment to use a virtual disk image file created by a second virtualization environment without requiring the virtual disk image file to first be converted are described. The virtual disk image file may remain in its original format, and an I/O conversion filter driver may receive I/O requests from the first virtualization environment in real time and dynamically translate them into modified I/O calls based on the original format of the virtual disk image file.
US08631421B2

To provide an apparatus that transmits information, which includes a storage unit that stores notification rule information in which transmission destination information is associated with notification type information, a reception processor that receives predetermined information from a detector that detects a mobile information storage medium attached to an object, a notification information generating unit that obtains information specified by the notification type information in the notification rule information based on the predetermined information, to generate notification information from obtained information, and a notification unit that transmits the notification information to a transmission destination specified by the transmission destination information associated with the notification type information that is used when the notification information is generated.
US08631418B2

A system and method for messaging in which, when a connection to a queue manager (220) is established, the queue manager allocates a Connection Identifier from the same name space (300) as Message Identifiers and returns this information (400) to the user. The user can then use this Connection Identifier as a Correlation Identifier, safe in the knowledge that it will not clash with any system generated Message Identifier or Correlation Identifier. A secondary benefit to this allocation scheme is that if a shared reply queue suffers from a build-up of messages then the Correlation Identifier in those messages can be used to identify the application expected to receive those messages.
US08631417B1

A computer-implemented method of enabling communication between a first client and a second client mutually participating in a communication session, in which the second client, but not the first client, has an application for rendering multi-dimensional virtual environments, is claimed. The method includes transmitting to the second client information representing a plurality of objects in a multi-dimensional virtual environment, wherein the multi-dimensional virtual environment is rendered at the second client, and transmitting to the first client an image for display by a first client application in a web page, the image including a representation of the multi-dimensional virtual environment rendered at the second client. The second client has an application, distinct from the first client application, for rendering multi-dimensional virtual environments.
US08631416B2

A system, method, and computer-readable medium, is described that enables a parallelizing scheduler to analyze database instructions, determine data dependencies among instructions, and provide a multi-threaded approach to running instructions in parallel while preserving data dependencies.
US08631415B1

Embodiments provide various techniques for dynamic adjustment of a number of threads for execution in any domain based on domain utilizations. In a multiprocessor system, the utilization for each domain is monitored. If a utilization of any of these domains changes, then the number of threads for each of the domains determined for execution may also be adjusted to adapt to the change.
US08631411B1

A method for controlling a data center, comprising a plurality of server systems, each associated with a cooling system and a thermal constraint, comprising: a concurrent physical condition of a first server system; predicting a future physical condition based on a set of future states of the first server system; dynamically controlling the cooling system in response to at least the input and the predicted future physical condition, to selectively cool the first server system sufficient to meet the predetermined thermal constraint; and controlling an allocation of tasks between the plurality of server systems to selectively load the first server system within the predetermined thermal constraint and selectively idle a second server system, wherein the idle second server system can be recruited to accept tasks when allocated to it, and wherein the cooling system associated with the idle second server system is selectively operated in a low power consumption state.
US08631409B2

A symmetric multiprocessing system includes multiple processing units and corresponding instances of an adaptive partition processing scheduler. Each instance of the adaptive partition processing scheduler selectively allocates the respective processing unit to run process threads of one or more adaptive partitions based on a comparison between merit function values of the one or more adaptive partitions. The merit function for a particular partition of the one or more adaptive partitions may be based on whether the adaptive partition has available budget on the respective processing unit. The merit function for a particular partition associated with an instance of the adaptive partition scheduler also, or in the alternative, may be based on whether the adaptive partition has available global budget on the symmetric multiprocessing system.
US08631386B2

A system and method for developing web services that includes three frameworks: a Design Time Framework, an Object-Service Framework, and a Run Time Framework. In the Design Time Framework, the system and method includes receiving a schema in a descriptive markup language from a user and generating source code artifacts in an object oriented programming language based on the schema. In the Object-Service Framework, the system and method includes relating the generated source code artifacts to a set of pre-built runtime services. Finally, in a Run Time Framework, the system and method includes providing the set of runtime services, wherein the runtime services interact with the generated source code artifacts through the relationship defined by the Object-Service Framework.
US08631385B2

A code generation system is optimized by integrating input data. An input code to the code generation system has a program code and an annotation. The program code is a program text to be automated by the code generation system. The annotation has code generating instructions to process the program code. An input code parser generates a template that parameterizes texts of the program code for automatically generating an output code. The input code parser produces a model to instantiate parameterized program code for each parameter. The template is used as inputs to a template engine of the code generation system and produces a code generator. An output code is created by applying the model to the code generator.
US08631381B2

The subject application relates to a method and system for power delivery network analysis. The present disclosure is directed towards a computer-implemented method for analyzing a power delivery network (PDN) associated with an electronic circuit design. Embodiments may include extracting, using at least one processor, an electromagnetic (EM) model for each of one or more discontinuity structures associated with the circuit design and generating a three dimensional adaptive mesh model that is based upon, at least in part, the extracted EM model. Numerous other features are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US08631379B2

Various embodiments of the invention provide techniques to ensure a layout for an integrated circuit is split-able. In a method embodiment, a layout is generated in a customer site having a layout library as inputs wherein the library provides exemplary layouts that have been verified to be spit-able and that can be used and layouts that can cause conflicts to avoid. A real-time odd cycle checker is also provided in which the checker identifies in real time conflict areas and odd cycles as they arise during layout generation. To reduce memory usage layouts of various devices may be separated so that each individual layout or a small number of layouts, rather than a large layout for the whole application circuit, can be checked against conflicts. Once the layout is ready at the customer site, it is sent to the foundry site to be decomposed into two masks and taped-out. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08631377B2

A system and method for designing integrated circuits is disclosed. An embodiment comprises placing a standard cell with a first cell height into a cell row with a different height. The standard cell may have a height smaller than the cell row or else may have a height that is larger than the cell row. Vertical fillers and horizontal fillers are utilized to extend and connect the standard cell to adjacent cells without having to redesign the entire cell row.
US08631365B2

The memory building blocks can be used in conjunction with ASIC automatic design tools to generate a memory macro (e.g., a memory array) using a known ASIC design flow including, for example, register transfer level (RTL), synthesis, automatic place and route (APR) and timing analysis.
US08631360B2

A method for performing OPC and evaluating OPC solutions is disclosed. An exemplary method includes receiving a design database corresponding to an IC circuit mask. A first lithography simulation and evaluation is performed on the design database utilizing a first set of performance indexes. A modification is made to the design database based on a result of performing the first lithography simulation and evaluation. A second lithography simulation and evaluation is performed on the design database utilizing a second set of performance indexes to verify the modification. If necessary, the design database is modified again based on a result of the second lithography simulation and evaluation. The modified design database is provided to a mask manufacturer for manufacturing the mask corresponding to the modified design database.
US08631356B2

Methods and systems for presenting advertisements based on user interactivity with a web page are provided. According to embodiments of the invention, a web page is rendered on a client device. Gesture interactivity with the web page is monitored on the client device. A trigger is executed which defines an interactive event. When the interactive event occurs, as determined based on the monitored gesture interactivity with the web page, secondary content, such as an advertisement, is downloaded and displayed on the client device.
US08631353B2

Method and apparatus for previewing new events in a computing device having a plurality of applications for managing respective events are described. Individual applications are each represented by an application icon on a screen of a graphical user interface for the device. In response to a new event of a one of the applications, the application's icon is visually modified to notify of the new event. A visual modification may be determined in response to the new event, for example, to preview a content of the event. The visual modification may include a count of all new events that remain to be disposed. On a selection of the visually modified icon, additional previewing may be provided. Activation of the application having a visually modified application icon may be configured to automatically initiate the application at the new event.
US08631352B2

Methods, computer systems, and computer readable media for a provider care card graphical user interface are provided. The provider care card comprises a requirements display area configured to display at least one or more clinical measures relating to at least one patient, a measurements display area configured to display one or more measurements completed for one or more clinical measures relating to at least one patient, a first plurality of microdisplays configured to display a first visual indicator for each of the clinical measures that has been met, and a second plurality of microdisplays configured to display a second visual indicator for each of the clinical measures that has not been met.
US08631343B1

Referenced items (e.g., search results, ads, etc.) on a document may be designated automatically. Alternatively, or in addition, a user can designate more than one reference without needing to repeat a designation input. The designated item references may be rendered persistently (e.g., constantly displayed), perhaps as separate tabs. A user could then select a persistent item reference, and the referenced item would be rendered to the user.
US08631340B2

Techniques to facilitate finding a tab or tabs in a user interface window are described. Various embodiments present tabs, individual tabs being associated with an opened document such as a web page or an activity, in a user interface window and automatically group at least some of the tabs together in a visually distinctive way. In at least some embodiments, this grouping is performed in response to a user interacting with the tabs in a particular way. For instance, a user may cause a tab to be created or moved within the user interface window such that the tab is grouped with a tab group or ungrouped from a tab group. Furthermore, one or more embodiments provide for certain tab-related actions, such as selecting an active tab and changing a display of a title of a tab, which can be performed in a manner based at least in part on this grouping.
US08631333B2

A system for online collaboration includes an application for online collaboration, the application including an application feature set, a control module programmed to receive a request from a user to access a tenancy associated with the application on the system, the tenancy including a site provisioned for a tenant, the request including a tenancy identifier identifying the tenancy and a user identifier identifying the user, the control module using the tenancy identifier to identify a tenancy feature set associated with the tenancy, and the control module using the user identifier to identify a user feature set associated with the user, and a web-page render module programmed to generate a collaboration web site including a site feature set including the tenancy feature set and the user feature set, the web site being sent to the user for rendering on the user's computing device.
US08631329B2

A method is provided for the restitution of multimedia data transmitted by a gateway to a communications terminal via a first transmission channel. The method includes the following steps: interrogating the terminal via the gateway about its capabilities of restituting the multimedia data; transmitting, to the gateway via the terminal, a list of commands that it is capable of executing; transmitting, via the gateway, multimedia data with the aid of at least one series of commands that is part of the list of commands that can be executed by the terminal, and restituting, in this terminal, the multimedia data with the aid of the received command.
US08631322B2

There is provided an apparatus and a method for generating an album while adequately allocating images per page in accordance to image capturing-times. The album creating apparatus has an image storing section for storing images correlating with image capturing-times of the images, a distribution-of-image-capturing-time calculating section for calculating a distribution of image capturing-times of the plurality of images stored in the image storing section based on the image capturing-times of the plurality of images stored in the image storing section, an image sorting section for sorting the plurality of images stored in the image storing section per page in the album based on the distribution of image capturing-times calculated by the distribution-of-image-capturing-time calculating section and a layout determining section for laying out the images sorted by the image sorting section per page to each page of the album.
US08631311B1

A method for recovering data is disclosed. A sensed analog signal is converted into digital samples using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The digital samples are processed into processed digital samples using a first filter. The processed digital samples are decoded into decoded data. Whether the decoded data is acceptable is then determined. The processed digital samples are fed back to the first filter using a reprocessing circuit such that the processed digital samples are reprocessed into reprocessed digital samples in the event that the decoded data is unacceptable. A set of reprocessing coefficients is provided for the first filter to reprocess the processed digital samples.
US08631309B2

In an aspect, in general, a forward error correction algorithm (FEC) utilizes an FEC block structure in a manner that extends the effective error correction such that it can approach an “infinite” length to obtain benefits typical of very large FEC block size without the commensurate computation cost.
US08631307B2

A method and a system of multidimensional encoding and/or decoding to be processed by a computer or a digital hardware system. The method utilizes an error correcting code which is chosen from the group comprising RS, BCH, BCH algebraic, RM (Reed-Muller), among others. The method is carried out by the steps of attribution of a dimension for each bit in the symbols set of a message, with symbols with at least two bits, so the error correcting code will be performed over the dimensions and not over the symbols; grouping of the dimensions in the same position of the origin symbols in a new symbol, so the symbols will be treated as symbols in both stages of the code, in that the error correcting code is performed in every dimension; and processing of each dimension in parallel or in an independent manner, using an error correcting code.
US08631305B2

A system is configured to receive a word that includes a group of samples; randomly select a subset of the samples; identify first samples, from the subset, with a lowest level of reliability; select another subset of the samples; identify second samples, from the other subset, with a lowest level of reliability; and create a merged subset based on selected first samples and selected second samples. The system is also configured to select a further subset of the samples; identify third samples, from the further subset, with a lowest level of reliability; identify fourth samples, from the merged subset, associated with a lowest level of reliability; create another merged subset based on a greater probability that fourth samples than third samples are included in the other merged subset; and generate another word based a sample from the other merged subset; and process the word using the other word.
US08631299B2

An error correction method and device and a communication system using them, including an LDPC code generation method capable of adjusting an encoding rate of an LDPC code in a variable manner while leaving the length of the code constant by use of an efficient encoding method or mechanism supporting a variable encoding rate, so that the encoding rate of the LDPC code can be adjusted without changing the code length. An error correction method includes a row dividing to divide each of a part or all of rows into two or more rows based on one parity check matrix, and a code construction to construct a plurality of LDPC codes with arbitrary code rates, respectively.
US08631297B2

A method for mapping a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (PHICH) is described. The method for mapping a PHICH includes determining an index of a resource element group transmitting a repetitive pattern of the PHICH, according to a ratio of the number of available resource element groups in a symbol in which the PHICH is transmitted and the number of available resource element groups in a first or second OFDM symbol, and mapping the PHICH to the symbol according to the determined index. In transmitting the PHICH, since efficient mapping is performed considering available resource elements varying with OFDM symbols, repetition of the PHICH does not generate interference between neighbor cell IDs and performance is improved.
US08631288B2

Methods, devices, and systems for data sensing in a memory system can include performing a number of successive sense operations on a number of memory cells using a number of different sensing voltages, determining a quantity of the number memory cells that change states between consecutive sense operations of the number of successive sense operations, and determining, based at least partially on the determined quantity of the number of memory cells that change states between consecutive sense operations, whether to output hard data corresponding to one of the number of successive sense operations.
US08631287B2

Disclosed is a gaming machine capable of data restoration.
US08631284B2

A method is provided for asynchronous notifications from a device to a host in systems without requiring hardware provision for asynchronous operations. In an embodiment of the invention, a system supports command queuing and a command is sent from a host to a device. The device receives the command and an associated tag, and accepts the command as valid. After accepting the command, the device begins monitoring for asynchronous events. If an asynchronous event is detected, the device provides notification of the event by sending a response and the associated tag to the host. In another embodiment of the invention, a method of asynchronous notification enables use of invalid tags. In a further embodiment of the invention, asynchronous notifications may be enabled by a host and operate without additional host commands.
US08631279B2

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for propagating unhandled exceptions in distributed execution environments, such as clusters. A job (e.g., a query) can include a series of computation steps that are executed on multiple compute nodes each processing parts of a distributed data set. Unhandled exceptions can be caught while computations are running on data partitions of different compute nodes. Unhandled exception objects can be stored in a serialized format in a compute node's local storage (or an alternate central location) along with auxiliary details such as the data partition being processed at the time. Stored serialized exception objects for a job can be harvested and aggregated in a single container object. The single container object can be passed back to the client.
US08631275B2

A controller arrangement of an electrical power transfer system (1) of a wind turbine is described. The wind turbine has an electrical generator and is connected to an electrical power grid, wherein the power transfer system (1) is arranged to transfer electrical power from the generator to the grid. The power transfer system (1) has at least two electrical elements (2-6), e.g. converters, and at least two controllers (15-17) each arranged to control at least one element (2-6).
US08631271B2

Providing heterogeneous recovery in a redundant memory system that includes a memory controller, a plurality of memory channels in communication with the memory controller, an error detection code mechanism configured for detecting a failing memory channel, and an error recovery mechanism. The error recovery mechanism is configured for receiving notification of the failing memory channel, for performing a recovery operation on the failing memory channel while other memory channels are performing normal system operations, for bringing the recovered channel back into operational mode with the other memory channels for store operations, for continuing to mark the recovered channel to guard against stale data, for removing any stale data after the recovery operation is complete, and for removing the mark on the recovered channel to allow the normal system operations with all of the memory channels, the removing in response to the removing any stale data being complete.
US08631265B2

The disclosed embodiments provide a synchronization circuit that supports multiple parallel reads and writes. This synchronization circuit includes multiple coupled data storage locations that synchronize data and control signals between two time domains and control logic that facilitates simultaneously accessing a variable number of such data storage locations in the same clock cycle. During operation, the synchronization circuit receives a request to simultaneously access (e.g., read and/or write) two or more synchronized data storage locations. In response to the request, the control logic in the synchronization circuit determines whether the present state of the synchronization circuit can accommodate the request, and if so, simultaneously accesses two or more synchronized data storage locations.
US08631264B2

The present invention provides a computer system, comprising: a plurality of power suppliers; and a plurality of mainboards, each of which is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the plurality of power suppliers. Each mainboard comprises a switch module for generating a switch-on signal; a control module for receiving the switch-on signal and generating a power enable signal according to the switch-on signal; and a cascade module, electrically connected to the power supplier relative to the mainboard and the control module, for receiving the power enable signal, wherein the cascade module of the respective mainboard electrically connects to each other, and, when the control module of any mainboard sends out the power enable signal, it will be transferred to the other mainboards via the mainboard's cascade module, so that the plurality of power suppliers can provide power to the corresponding mainboard to implement the mainboard's booting synchronously.
US08631261B2

Embodiments of an invention related to context state management based on processor features are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes instruction logic and state management logic. The instruction logic is to receive a state management instruction having a parameter to identify a subset of the features supported by the processor. The state management logic is to perform a state management operation specified by the state management instruction.
US08631258B2

An apparatus and method for controlling power of a fixing unit is provided. The apparatus includes a power supply unit supplying DC power to the fixing unit, and a power controller controlling the power supply unit to gradually increase a DC power supply time until a pre-set time is reached. Accordingly, a flicker characteristic can be reduced by gradually increasing a supply time of DC power to the fixing unit.
US08631253B2

A mechanism for a manager and host-based integrated power saving policy in virtualization systems is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving configuration and power information of a host machine from a management agent on the host machine, performing a macro-level power saving scheduling algorithm that takes into consideration the received configuration and power information of the host machine, and requesting that the host machine alter a number of active running CPU cores as part of the macro-level power saving scheduling algorithm.
US08631240B2

An improved compression scheme for compressing an ECDSA signature is provided. The scheme substitutes the integer s in a signature (r, s) by a smaller value c. The value c is derived from s and another value d, d being small enough such that c is smaller than s. The compressed signature (r, c) is verified by computing a value using r and e, e being a hash of a message m, and using this value with a value R recovered from r to derive the value d. The value s can then be recovered and the full signature then recovered and verified.
US08631237B2

Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to a simplified login for mobile devices. In aspects, on a first logon, a mobile device asks a user to enter credentials and a PIN. The credentials and PIN are sent to a server which validates user credentials. If the user credentials are valid, the server encrypts data that includes at least the user credentials and the PIN and sends the encrypted data to the mobile device. In subsequent logons, the user may logon using only the PIN. During login, the mobile device sends the PIN in conjunction with the encrypted data. The server can then decrypt the data and compare the received PIN with the decrypted PIN. If the PINs are equal, the server may grant access to a resource according to the credentials.
US08631231B2

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method including receiving an alias identifier associated with an account associated with a presenter, determining an associated trusted party using the alias identifier, sending a verification request message to the trusted party after determining the associated trusted party, and receiving a verification response message.
US08631206B1

Set-associative caches having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise: a data cache to provide a plurality of cache lines based on a set index of a virtual address, wherein each of the cache lines corresponds to one of a plurality of ways of the set-associative cache; a translation lookaside buffer to provide one of a plurality of way selections based on the set index of the virtual address and a virtual tag of the virtual address, wherein each of the way selections corresponds to one of the ways of the set-associative cache; and a way multiplexer to select one of the cache lines provided by the data cache based on the one of the plurality of way selections.
US08631201B2

A storage control program causes a computer to execute a RAID level acquisition unit, a mapping unit, and a mapping information storage unit therein. The RAID level acquisition unit acquires RAID levels, supportable by a storage device including a plurality of storage mediums, from the storage device. The mapping unit maps the function types of a storage virtualization function in a host device accessing the storage device on the respective RAID levels acquired by the RAID level acquisition unit. The mapping information storage unit stores the correspondence relationship between the RAID levels and the function types mapped by the mapping unit as mapping information.
US08631194B2

An electronic device includes a memory control circuit that controls a DRAM, and the memory control circuit performs: a first distributed refresh process for issuing refresh commands to the DRAM at a predetermined interval so that storage elements of which the DRAM is configured are refreshed at least once in a predetermined period Ts; a concentrated refresh process for issuing, triggered by a predetermined request to the DRAM, a predetermined number of times Nc of the refresh commands in a burst at an interval that is shorter than the predetermined interval; and a second distributed refresh process for, when the predetermined number of times Nc of refresh commands have been issued, calculating a refresh interval Tr for refreshing remaining storage elements that have not yet been refreshed in the predetermined period Ts and issues refresh commands at the calculated refresh interval Tr.
US08631190B2

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for prefetching data tracks and parity data to use for destaging updated tracks. A write request is received including at least one updated track to the group of tracks. The at least one updated track is stored in a first cache device. A prefetch request is sent to the at least one sequential access storage device to prefetch tracks in the group of tracks to a second cache device. A read request is generated to read the prefetch tracks following the sending of the prefetch request. The read prefetch tracks returned to the read request from the second cache device are stored in the first cache device. New parity data is calculated from the at least one updated track and the read prefetch tracks.
US08631184B2

Transactions of the request/response type between a first circuit module and a second circuit module operating with incompatible protocols or interfaces envisage organizing a queue of memory locations for storing transaction information items and transaction identifiers associated to said transactions and implementing the transactions via operations of reading/writing of the locations in the queue, mapping on the transaction identifiers information for management of the queue.
US08631183B2

An integrated circuit system includes: a first integrated circuit that is connected with a first data bus having first bus width and requires first time to perform data transmission and reception once; a second integrated circuit that is connected with a second data bus having second bus width larger than the first bus width in bit width and requires second time longer than the first time to perform data transmission and reception once; and a relay circuit that is connected with the first data bus and the second data bus and transmits and receives data to and from the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit respectively via the buses.
US08631178B2

In the field of system bus technology, a system bus monitoring method, a system bus monitor, and a System On Chip (SOC) are provided, so as to more accurately monitor an average transmission efficiency of a system bus. The system bus monitoring method includes: accepting a pre-configured monitoring time; monitoring a system bus in real time during the monitoring time to determine an effective transmission time of the system bus; and determining a ratio of the effective transmission time to the monitoring time as an average transmission efficiency of the system bus. The present invention is applicable in monitoring of the performance of the system bus.
US08631174B2

Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating communications between an external controller and Fieldbus devices are described. A primary linking device in communication with the controller and one or more Fieldbus devices may be configured to direct the communication of a timing message to the controller and determine whether a response to the timing message has been received from the controller. Based upon the determination, the primary linking device may direct a switching of communications control to a secondary linking device.
US08631169B2

Restoring retired transaction identifiers (TID) associated with Direct Memory Access (DMA) commands without waiting for all DMA traffic to terminate is disclosed. A scoreboard is used to track retired TIDs and selectively restore retired TIDs on the fly. DMA engines fetch a TID, and use it to tag every DMA request. If the request is completed, the TID can be recycled to be used to tag a subsequent request. However, if a request is not completed, the TID is retired. Retired TIDs can be restored without having to wait for DMA traffic to end. Any retired TID value may be mapped to a bit location inside a scoreboard. All processors in the system may have access to read and clear the scoreboard. Clearing the TID scoreboard may trigger a DMA engine to restore the TID mapped to that location, and the TID may be used again.
US08631168B2

A television includes at least two ports (e.g. HDMI ports). The television polls the ports before presenting a user interface that displays some or all of the ports and before toggling between any two of the ports. The polling ascertains whether a device is connected to each of the ports and whether the device is powered. The television modifies the display and/or toggling based on the current state of each port. For example, in toggling, ports that are not connected and ports that are connected to inactive devices are skipped. In another example, when displaying a list of ports, only those ports that are connected to devices appear in the list.
US08631166B2

A storage device includes a storage media storing an information structure for establishing a bidirectional communication layer and a controller configured to send the information structure to an external device according to an information structure read/write command. A layer for a bidirectional communication between the storage device and the external device is formed according to the information structure.
US08631165B2

Methods and systems are disclosed to enable a smart card having relatively low data rate and low computational power to control a high data rate communications channel without degradation of performance. The smart card and an associated monitor/interface, which can be implemented in a network access device, are interposed between transmitting and receiving nodes in a network, and configured to intervene when conditions of rules stored in the smart card are met. For example, the smart card can intervene when a packet header indicates sufficient change in information, such as the exceeding of a predefined threshold or a requirement for user authorization/authentication. In one mode of regulating packet flow, the smart card selectively enables or disables packet transmission, reception, or both, according to the rules stored therein.
US08631159B2

A method for migrating information, and a migrator for migrating information, are disclosed. The method may include extracting organizational information from at least two service providers, accessing a first at least one of the at least two service providers upon selection of a migration selection interface by the user, receiving of a first plurality of information related to the user from one of the service providers, accessing a second at least one of the at least two service providers, and writing the first plurality of information to the second at least one of the at least two service providers. The migrator includes an importer in communicative connection with at least one migrate-from service provider, a normalizer that receives a first plurality of information from the importer and converts the first plurality to a standard format, a denormalizer that receives the standard format from the normalizer and converts the standard format to a second plurality of information, and an exporter communicatively connected to a migrate-to service provider, which exporter receives the second plurality of information from the denormalizer and sends the second plurality to the migrate-to service provider.
US08631152B2

A system transmits a data packet from a transmitting apparatus to a receiving apparatus. The receiving apparatus includes a receive buffer, and a size specifying information transmitting unit that transmits size specifying information to the transmitting apparatus. The transmitting apparatus includes a transmit buffer, a credit storage unit that stores, as a credit, a value corresponding to a total size of all data packets stored in the receive buffer, a credit adding unit that adds a credit to the stored credit on transmitting a data packet, a credit subtracting unit that specifies a size of a read-out data packet on receiving the size specifying information, subtracts a credit corresponding to the specified size from a stored credit, and a transmission controlling unit that controls data packet transmission based on a credit stored in the credit storage unit.
US08631141B2

The device records the data of several steps of a protocol hierarchy within a communications system. For this purpose, the data are received by a receiver and buffered by a buffer. The data consist of payload data and control information. The control information is assigned to the individual protocol-hierarchy planes. In this context, the control information of all protocol-hierarchy planes is received and buffered. Furthermore, a maximum of one copy of the payload data is buffered.
US08631140B2

A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multipacket messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU. A preferred embodiment includes a trio of pipelined processors with separate processors devoted to transmit, receive and management processing, with full duplex communication for four fast Ethernet nodes.
US08631139B2

A system and method for automatically and dynamically initiating and establishing secure connections between a Server and a Client using a session control server (SCS). Both the Server and the Client are connected to an untrusted network (such as the Internet) through a Network Address Translator or Translation (NAT) router or a firewall. The SCS, independently trusted by both the Server and the Client, brokers the required connection parameters to establish a secure connection between the Server and the Client. The system and method does not require any user configuration on the Client and eliminates the need for the Server to accept explicit connection requests or packets from the Client, thereby allowing the Server firewall to always remain closed to all inbound traffic.
US08631135B2

A method connects one of several customer premises equipment (CPE) via an ATM network to one of several service providers (SP). Each CPE is connected to the ATM network via a corresponding network termination point (NT). There is an access server function (ASF), having a permanent virtual connection (PVC) to each NT and a connection to each SP. A tunneling protocol is established on the permanent virtual connection between each NT and the ASF. The tunneling protocol is able to support an integrated signaling protocol. The CPE or its user select selects an appropriate SP by using the integrated signaling protocol. Routing from the CPE to the selected SP is performed by the ASF. The ASF connects the CPE to the selected SP using the integrated signaling protocol.
US08631120B2

An apparatus, method and computer program product for efficiently pooling network client-server connections. The apparatus is implemented within an interface unit connecting a plurality of servers to the Internet, which is in turn connected to a plurality of clients. The method includes the steps of opening a connection between a first client and the interface unit; determining whether a connection between the interface unit and a server is finished being utilized by the first client; opening a connection between a second client and the interface unit; if no free connection is open between the interface unit and the server, then allowing the second client to access information on the server via the same connection utilized by the first client without waiting for the first client to initiate closing the connection; and delinking the connections between the first and second clients and the interface unit while keeping open the connection between the interface unit and the server.
US08631112B2

A management system includes: plural management apparatuses each of which includes a first transmitting unit that, when processing devices connected to a communication unit are searched with reference to a first management table in which information of a processing device managed by the management apparatus is registered and a processing device which is not managed by the management apparatus is detected, transmits detection information of the processing device to the communication unit, and a first registration unit, when a processing device management request corresponding to the detection information of the processing device is received from the communication unit, registers information of the processing device related to the processing device management request in the first management table; and an information management server including a change unit that changes information of the management apparatus and a second transmitting unit that transmits the processing device management request to the communication unit.
US08631110B2

A computer system to efficiently process packets received over a network operating in accordance with a layered protocol. The system includes logic that provides combined processing to determine whether a received packet complies with multiple requirements of the layered protocol. Combined processing determines compliance with requirements at more than one of the protocol layers of the layered protocol. If the combined processing does not verify compliance with all of the requirements of a protocol layer, those requirements may be verified in a layered fashion following the combined processing. In this way, greater efficiencies may be achieved through the combined processing of requirements from multiple protocol layers, but advantages of implementing a layered protocol in a modular fashion may still be retained.
US08631095B2

Techniques are described herein for coordinating multiple asynchronous postbacks. Each postback specifies a requestor that initiates the postback. A requestor is a request to update a corresponding region of a Web page. Each time a server receives a postback from a client, the server provides a response to the client that includes an update regarding a region of the Web page that corresponds to a requestor that initiates the postback. The response further includes a requestor for each region of the Web page that is to be updated once the response is processed by the client. Upon receipt of each response from the server, the client provides a postback to the server. The client and server may continue to communicate in this manner until all regions of the Web page that are to be updated have been updated.
US08631090B2

A method for delivering data to a mobile device can begin with determination of the need to transmit data to a client application installed upon a mobile device by a provider in response to the occurrence of a predefined event. A session initiation protocol (SIP) message encapsulating the data can then be addressed to the mobile device using a static, unique identifier of the mobile device. The static, unique identifier can be acquired during registration of the mobile device for the service and can be electronically coupled with a hardware component of the mobile device. The SIP message can be conveyed to the Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) of an IP-based mobile communications network via a dedicated communications mechanism where it can be routed based on the static, unique identifier.
US08631083B2

The present invention is directed to a method and system for composing a package of application files to be sent as e-mail attachments in e-mail communications. A plurality of data structures are created, wherein each data structure groups together a plurality of different user application files designated as attachments to an e-mail communication. Application files designated from within user applications are associated with selected data structures, such that each designated application file is associated with a selected data structure. During composition of an e-mail communication having attachments, a list of the data structures containing application files are provided.
US08631077B2

A Duplicate Content Storage and Access Program (DCSAP) identifies duplicate content, stores the duplicate content in one location, and provides a doclink to the stored duplicate content so that the doclink may be automatically replaced with the duplicate content. DCSAP examines email to determine whether the email contains a section identifier. A section identifier is a data element assigned by an algorithm in such a manner that no two section identifiers can be the same. If the email does not contain a section identifier, DCSAP embeds a section identifier into the email and forwards the email. If the email contains a section identifier, DCSAP extracts the section. DCSAP stores the extracted section in a repository and creates a doclink to the stored section. DCSAP then embeds a section identifier in the remainder of the email, and forwards the remainder and the doclink to the recipient. The doclink may be activated by the recipient, or it may be activated automatically. When activated the doclink resolves into the text of the corresponding section in the repository. Additional features such as security permissions, sorting preferences, and display effects may be added to the doclink.
US08631075B2

A method for managing interrupts in an instant messaging application may include receiving an interrupt request from an interrupting contact during an instant messaging conversation between at least two contacts. The method may also include interrupting the instant messaging conversation in response to a predetermined one of the interrupting contact having a selected interrupt priority ranking relative to an interrupt priority ranking of each of the at least two contacts or an interrupting conversation having a higher interrupt priority ranking compared to an interrupt priority ranking of the instant messaging conversation.
US08631073B2

A method of recording an audio visual asset using a predetermined script is disclosed. The audio visual asset may be partitioned into multiple audio visual segments and the audio visual segments may be edited by the application of a naming paradigm and/or a data tagging system. The audio visual segments may then be overlaid with audio visual variables. The audio visual segments may be compiled by uploading the audio visual segments into a multimedia synthesis compiler such that a variable final message compilation may be generated. A user may be messaged by selecting a message type from the variable final message compilation generated from the audio visual segments.
US08631071B2

A method of recognizing and supporting multiple versions of a canonical message model in a service oriented architecture industry model repository comprising determining differences between at least one first version of a message model and at least one other version of the message model; mapping the differences between the different versions of the message models to the SOA IMR; and providing the mapping of the differences between the message models to a message access service, mapping of differences between the message models are applied and updated to the later of the message models to support the versions of the canonical message models seamlessly.
US08631062B2

The present invention provides a new management system and a new method for managing distributed resources (61-66), comprising a workflow engine (88) that can execute management workflows in order to actively control the distributed resources (61-66).The new management system is characterized in that autonomic Correlation Services (74-76) are introduced that manage different functional parts of the managed system in cooperation with workflow engine (88), whereby each Correlation Service (74-76) employs a Correlation Engine (174,175) and a set of rules (184,185,186) that describe how underlying resources (61-66) shall be managed, whereby a controller (44) communicates with the Correlation Services (74-76).
US08631059B2

Briefly, embodiments of methods or structures for reconstruction of uniform digital signal sample values from nonuniform digital signal sample values are disclosed.
US08631040B2

Systems and methods are provided for segmenting time-series data stored in data segments containing one or more data records. A combined segment error measure is determined based on a proposed combination of two candidate segments. An error cost to merge the two candidate segments is determined based on a difference between the combined segment error measure and a segment error measure of one of the segments. The two candidate segments are combined when the error cost to merge meets a merge threshold to generate a combined segment.
US08631039B2

A data normalization system is described herein that represents multiple data types that are common within database systems in a normalized form that can be processed uniformly to achieve faster processing of data on superscalar CPU architectures. The data normalization system includes changes to internal data representations of a database system as well as functional processing changes that leverage normalized internal data representations for a high density of independently executable CPU instructions. Because most data in a database is small, a majority of data can be represented by the normalized format. Thus, the data normalization system allows for fast superscalar processing in a database system in a variety of common cases, while maintaining compatibility with existing data sets.
US08631032B2

Mechanisms to persist object relations are provided. A project is defined as a series of interrelated objects having dependencies and relationships with one another. The dependencies and relationships are maintained via a storage organization for files that define the objects within a project storage environment for the project. Thus, the dependencies and relationships are not maintained via hardcoded instructions or references that are included within the files.
US08631031B1

An associative array stores data in a matrix form responsive to linear algebra operations. A set of associative arrays employed for representing data are each composable, such that operations performed on them generate a result that is also an associative array responsive to linear algebra operations. An algebraic engine implements standard linear algebra computations for performing database operations. In contrast to conventional relational models, the associative arrays are not bound by a rigid schema and transaction atomicity, which tend to impose transactional overhead. The associative arrays store only non-null entries as tuples. The tuples, are responsive to linear algebra operations, which employ simpler coding constructs than conventional relational SQL or other access mechanisms. The associative arrays and algebraic engine enjoy relaxed consistency, which recognizes that many queries seek information that is malleable over time, and need not rely on global consistency or transaction atomicity in order to retrieve useful results.
US08631025B2

The invention relates to a system (100) for identifying a certain data-object of a set of data-objects, wherein each data-object of the set of data-objects is described by a plurality of discriminating characteristics, the system comprising: a composition unit (110) for composing a query for identifying the certain data-object; an identification unit (120) for identifying a candidate data-object of the set of data-objects, based on the query; a presentation unit (130) for presenting a description of the candidate data-object to a user; a feedback unit (140) for receiving user feedback on a discriminating characteristic of the plurality of discriminating characteristics, the discriminating characteristic describing the candidate data-object; and an update unit (150) for updating the query for identifying the certain data-object, based on the user feedback on the discriminating characteristic describing the candidate data-object. Thus, the user may evaluate a discriminating characteristic of the candidate data-object, based on information obtained from the presentation unit, and provide user feedback comprising a reason specifying why the retrieved data is relevant and/or not relevant to the query.
US08631024B2

A High-Performance, Scalable, Adaptive and Multi-dimensional Event Repository is described and utilized in a method for publishing an event in a database. The present method includes transparently intercepting a request to a database to publish an event. A messaging system operable with the database intercepts the request. The present method further includes examining an event repository for a template of the event. The event repository is operable with the database and the messaging system. The present method additionally includes retrieving the event template from the event repository. The present method also includes marshalling the event template to create the event. The present method also includes publishing the event in an event queue.
US08631022B2

A repository receives metadata from databases associated with different service providers. The repository converts the received metadata to a common format, such as MPEG7, and stores the converted metadata in a central database. The repository can also receive a query from a client device. The repository retrieves metadata associated with the query from the central database and provides it to the requesting client device. The repository can also convert the provided metadata to an appropriate format for the requesting device. Because the metadata is stored at a common location in a common format, content from different providers can be efficiently identified.
US08631016B2

An exemplary process includes storing telephone numbers in a telephone number database, identifying which telephone numbers in the telephone number database have digits that occur in an alphabetic pattern as defined by a reference list, and designating the telephone numbers with digits occurring in the alphabetic pattern as patterned telephone numbers. An exemplary process of identifying alphabetic patterns includes assigning at least one letter in an alphabet to a first digit, assigning at least one other letter in an alphabet to a second digit, accessing a telephone number database storing telephone numbers having a plurality of digits, identifying a letter combination created by at least two digits of at least one of the telephone numbers in the telephone number database, and determining whether the letter combination forms an alphabetic pattern as defined by a reference list.
US08631006B1

Snippets of text provided are generated based in part on a user's profile. An item, such as a document, is examined to identify terms related to the user's profile. A term profile for an identified term is compared to a user's profile. The more closely related the identified term is to the user's profile, the higher a similarity score will be. Alternatively, terms found in a document may have a user profile score which may be obtained by looking the term up in the user's profile. Terms having high profile similarity scores or high user profile scores are used in identifying snippets which may be relevant to a user. The high scoring terms may be added to search terms and provided to a snippet generator.
US08630995B2

Computer-implemented methods and systems for acquiring and processing veterinary-related information, such as non-human animal diseases, associated medical signs, differentials, and treatment-related information, are provided. The disclosed methods and systems facilitate performing computer-based differential diagnosis by veterinary medicine practitioners. An example method may comprise: importing veterinary-related text information, wherein the veterinary-related text information is related to one or more non-human animal diseases; parsing the veterinary-related text information into one or more terms; determining relations between the one or more terms; classifying the one or more terms such that each term relates to one of: a non-human animal species, an animal disease, a medical sign and a treatment; and generating a database table associated with the imported veterinary-related text information, the database table comprising the one or more classified terms and the relations therebetween.
US08630988B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for high-speed database searching with concurrent updating, without the use of database locks or access controls, for large database systems. Specifically, a plurality of search queries may be received over a network, the database may be searched, and a plurality of search replies may be sent over the network. While searching the database, new information received over the network may be incorporated into the database by creating a new element based on the new information and writing a pointer to the new element to the database using a single uninterruptible operation.
US08630979B2

An apparatus and a method operating on data at a server node of a data grid system with distributed cache. Data is copied to a network cloud of storage services remotely coupled to a server node with an asynchronous input output interface. The asynchronous input output interface is configured to asynchronously communicate with the network cloud of storage services. Confirmation that the data has been copied on the network cloud of storage services is received at the server node.
US08630969B2

Systems and methods presented herein may involve locally executing rules (e.g., business rules) that are designed in a remote computing cloud. Systems and methods may include receiving a file representing modified rules from the remote computing cloud and compiling the file locally for integration into a local system. By separating the design and execution phases of the rules, new versions of the rule design application(s) may be utilized in the remote cloud to design local rules without upgrading or otherwise changing the applications that implement the rules on the local system.
US08630968B2

Mechanisms are provided herein which are directed toward monitoring a user's interaction with a website when the user is utilizing an enterprise device to conduct the interaction. The monitoring of the interaction can lead to the generation of one or more automated responses to control the interaction in accordance with enterprise policy or rules. The types of interactions which can be controlled include interactions where the user is attempting to post data on the website.
US08630967B2

In a method for determining operational settings for a plurality of fluid moving devices, one or more motifs in utilization data of the plurality of fluid moving devices collected over a time series is identified as a multivariate time series of data, sustainability metric levels for each of the one or more identified motifs are calculated, and a determination as to which of the one or more identified motifs have favorable sustainability metric levels is made.
US08630963B2

Methods, systems and computer program products to allow a user to identify himself to a content provider, without having to explicitly perform a log in process or other identification and authentication process. By manipulating a user device such as a remote control, a profile of the user may be constructed, where the profile includes a representation of how the individual user typically manipulates the device. The profile includes a feature vector that is a function of the number of times that individual buttons are pressed. The construction of the feature vector may be viewed as a training or learning phase. Once the profile and feature vector are constructed, the user's interaction with the device in a subsequent session may be captured and compared with the profile. This may allow identification of the user, in turn allowing content to be tailored in a manner specific to this user.
US08630962B2

Provided are a method which permits complete training data and data with added errors, and enables the early and accurate discovery of errors in facilities such as a plant, and a system thereof. To achieve the objectives, (1) the behavior of temporal data is observed over time, and the trace is divided into clusters; (2) the divided cluster groups are modeled in sub spaces, and the discrepancy values are calculated as errors candidates; (3) the training data are used (compare, reference, etc.) for reference to determine the state transitions caused by the changes over time, the environmental changes, the maintenance (parts replacement), and the operation states; and (4) the modeling is a sub space method such as regression analysis or projection distance method of every N data removing N data items, (N=0, 1, 2, . . . ) (for example, when N=1, one error data item is considered to have been added, this data is removed, then the modeling is performed), or a local sub space method. Linear fitting in regression analysis is equivalent to the lowest order regression analysis.
US08630956B2

Some embodiments of the invention provide a server apparatus, comprising: a control block comprising at least one processor; at least one data reception unit operable to receive a request to share a picture; at least one storage facility, storing programmed instructions for execution by the control block, the programmed instructions defining an image analysis engine operable to determine that the picture comprises an image of a person; and at least one data transmission unit operable to issue a request to the person, or someone associated with the person, to consent to sharing the image. Other embodiments provide a method, performed by at least one computer. The method comprises: (A) receiving a request to share a picture; (B) determining that the picture comprises an image of a person; and (C) requesting that the person, or someone associated with the person, consent to sharing the image.
US08630955B2

Disclosed herein is a financial card system. The system includes a communications device on which a non-contact integrated circuit chip is installed; and an authentication terminal having a reader/writer allowing reading/writing information on the communications device and capable of transmission and reception of information with the communications device through the reader/writer. The communications device has a storage block, a common area information transmission block, and an individual area information transmission block. The reader/writer of the authentication terminal has a storage block, a common area information reception block, and an individual area information reception block.
US08630953B1

Methods and systems for labeling payment transactions with a transaction lifecycle label using a lifecycle labeling computer system are provided. The system stores authorization, clearing and fraud data associated with a plurality of payment transactions within a database. The system further generates a first table of matching transaction identifiers for a first group of transactions included within the plurality of transactions by matching authorization data to clearing data for the first group of payment transactions The system then generates a second table of matching transaction identifiers for a second group of transactions included within the plurality of transactions by matching clearing data to fraud data for the second group of payment transactions The system also generates a third table of matching transaction identifiers by comparing the first table of transaction identifiers to the second table of transaction identifiers using the lifecycle labeling computer system.
US08630950B2

A system and method for depositing and processing checks using an ATM is provided. The method includes capturing the image data of the check with a reading unit, transmitting the image data to a web service based on an open API (Application Programming Interface) without resorting to standard protocols of ATMs. The method also includes processing the image data with the web service so that the text data on the check is recognized. When calling the API, version information is transmitted to ensure that the web service is a correct web service. When a version indicated by the version information is not supported, an error is reported to the ATM and transmission is reattempted for a predetermined number of times. The method also includes booking the recognized data on the basis of account information determined from a credit card by a magnetic card reader.
US08630940B1

A method of using at least one computer system to execute a financial transaction includes: obtaining, by a computer system, individual economic subcomponents score(s) related to a financial benchmark or genus of equity positions; obtaining, typically by a computer system, an overall zero-baseline score by summation of each of the individual economic scoring subcomponents; determining (typically using a computer system), based upon the overall zero-baseline score, whether or not to purchase or sell a financial stake in a financial position chosen from the group consisting of: an equity; a set of equity stocks; a money market; one or more mutual funds; one or more bond funds; and one or more securities or any combination thereof; and purchasing securities having an equity component when the overall zero-baseline score is positive or selling securities having an equity component when the overall zero-baseline score is negative.
US08630936B2

A method of managing trading is provided. In a market for a particular type of instrument, buy orders and sell orders are received from a plurality of traders. Each buy order has an associated bid price and each sell order has an associated offer price. A determination is made of whether the particular trading order is an outlying trading order by determining whether the particular trading order differs from at least one comparison price by more than a threshold value. If it is determined that the particular trading order is an outlying trading order, a restrictive action is taken regarding the outlying trading order. For example, if a trader subsequently submits another trading order that would trade with the outlying trading order, an alert message may be sent to the trader and the subsequent trading order may be prevented from trading with the outlying trading order at least temporarily.
US08630934B2

A monitoring system for monitoring trade at an electronic exchange comprises memories related to a specific time interval. A trade occurring during that time interval or a parameter value related to the trade is recorded to a memory related to the time interval. At a point in time, a recent trade parameter is determined based on the accumulated trade parameter values in the memories. Based on the recent trade parameter and some rules and operators, one or more monitoring actions is executed.
US08630925B2

A method and corresponding apparatus for controlling service traffic in a communication network including an online charging system performing the steps of receiving a request for service traffic control, the request including at least data identifying a first communication network account; determining, based on the received data and a predefined set of rules, a first network traffic policy profile associated with the first account; transmitting to a Policy and Charging Rules Function PCRF a first policy control command including an identifier identifying the first network traffic policy profile stored in an network traffic policy profile entity, to be applied in controlling the service.
US08630923B2

A retail front-end experience for the user with a multi-seller back-end. A product is displayed on a webpage, and if the user views it, the software automatically selects at least one best supplier for each item and condition (new, used, etc.) for that user, and then displays the one specific price from only those vendors. The price includes the shipping costs from that vendor's location to the user's location. Thus, the back end is hidden from the user—the user is not forced to choose from a list of vendors. The software selects the best vendor based on a variety of criteria, such as item selection (condition, price and version), the geographic closeness of the vendor (reduced shipping costs and/or reduced shipping speed), the reliability rating of the vendor (responsiveness, product description accuracy, etc.).
US08630922B2

An escrow accommodation system is provided, including a first escrow client subsystem disposed in a first location, said first escrow client subsystem including first software and a first communication device comprising a first camera configured to be operated with the first software to facilitate an online videoconference meeting regarding an escrow, and a second escrow client subsystem disposed in a second location, said second escrow client subsystem including second software and a second communication device comprising a second camera configured to facilitate the online videoconference meeting regarding the escrow. The first escrow client subsystem is configured to display a list of available escrow companies for performing escrow services and fees associated with available escrow companies, and the first escrow client subsystem is configured to facilitate an escrow opening meeting online between a customer and an escrow company selected from the list.
US08630921B2

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for leveraging a social network to search for local inventory includes communicating with a first mobile communication device over a network, the first mobile communication device associated with a user, and communicating with a second mobile communication device over the network, the second mobile communication device associated with a social network contact. The method further includes obtaining a geo-location of the second mobile communication device, processing a search request from the first mobile communication device, obtaining a radius of coverage for a merchant, determining whether the geo-location of the second mobile communication device is within the radius of coverage of the merchant, and providing a listing to the first mobile communication device of one or more items for sale by the merchant when the second mobile communication device is within the radius of coverage of the merchant.
US08630915B1

This document relates to classification of items included in a data feed. For example, a feed of items is generated for provision to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. Item classification information corresponding to an item sold through the electronic commerce network site is identified based upon the taxonomy information of the referral network site and included in the generated feed of items.
US08630907B2

Systems and methods are provided for secure transactions according to one or more embodiments. According to an embodiment, a method for providing secure transactions comprises initiating a transaction via a point of sale device having a one time password generator. The method also comprises generating at least one password by the point of sale device. The method further comprises associating the at least one password with account information. The method further comprises transmitting the password associated with the account information to a remote location. If the transmitted password matches predetermined associated information at the remote location, the method further comprises confirming the transaction.
US08630903B2

Distracting clutter in ads may be reduced, while at the same time permitting various different ways for advertisement audience members to interact with and use ads. This may be done by (a) accepting telephone number information associated with an advertisement, (b) accepting a URL segment, (c) generating a new URL including the URL segment and the telephone number information, and (d) associating the new URL with the advertisement. The new URL might define a location of a document including marketing information, or a location of a document for facilitating on-line commerce. The telephone number information might be a telephone number or extension for a device or facility supporting telephone purchase orders. The ad, including the new URL, may be printed on an offline property.
US08630902B2

A campaign is received, at a micro-segmentation system, from an offer provider. The micro-segmentation system is a third-party system. The campaign indicates a set of target attributes and one or more offers corresponding to the set of target attributes. A set of user attributes pertaining to each of the plurality of users is received at the micro-segmentation system. The set of attributes is defined by an attribute knowledge structure. Permission is received at the micro-segmentation system from each of the plurality of users to receive an offer from the micro-segmentation system. Data associated with the micro-segment classification is provided from the micro-segmentation system without user information to the offer provider.
US08630901B2

A wireless communication device is configured to be able to communicate via both a first access point and a second access point for using the first access point to obtain validation credentials in order to permit use of the second access point to access a network. The wireless communication device comprises a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions. The instructions are operable to: initiate communication with the second access point in order to access a network; obtain an access point identifier from the second access point, the access point identifier for identifying the second access point; transmit the access point identifier to a validation server via the first access point; receive validation credentials from the validation server via the first access point; the validation credentials including at identifier of a third party, the third party sponsoring access to the second access point; use the validation credentials to validate the wireless communication device with the second access point to obtain access to the network; and present advertising information on the wireless communication device, the advertising information pertaining to the third party.
US08630900B2

A method for playing a sequence of advertisements as a waiting message of at least one private automatic branch exchange (“PABX”) is disclosed. A template sequence message may be created at the advertisement management server. The template sequence message may comprise a plurality of successive slots, each slot being able to receive an advertisement. The template sequence message and the advertisements may be sent to the PABX. For each incoming call received by the PABX and placed on hold by the PABX, the advertisements may be organized in a random order so as to allocate to each advertisement a rank, the successive advertisements may be inserted respectively in the successive slots of the template sequence message according to rank, and the completed template sequence message in which the advertisements have been inserted may be played by an audio player software of the PABX while the incoming call is on hold.
US08630898B1

A system and method for creating a stored value account based on a purchase transaction are provided. An indicia of an identifier to be distributed to a customer at a point of sale as a result of a purchase is passed. A request to activate a stored value account associated with the identifier is received from the customer, wherein the request comprises the identifier. The stored value account is activated by a computer processor. The stored value account comprises information about a rebate value that is associated with the purchase and usable by the customer.
US08630896B2

Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit.
US08630893B2

Some embodiments provide a credibility management system that aggregates user posts from several social media sites contemporaneously with the posts being published to those sites. The system parses each of the aggregated posts to identify an entity that is targeted in each of the posts and presents the posts to the targeted entities in a real-time manner. The credibility management system computes a score to determine the impact that a user post would have on the credibility of a targeted entity. By presenting the computed scores and aggregated posts to the targeted entities, the credibility management system notifies the targeted entities about what is being said about them across social media, identifies the impact of those posts, and provides a platform whereby the targeted entities can reply in order to mitigate or improve the impact that the posts would have on credibility.
US08630878B1

An insurance claim analysis system may generate information indicative of a possible outcome of an active insurance claim. A historic insurance claim information database may hold historic information about historic insurance claims. A database query module may query the historic insurance claim information database for historic insurance claims that match search criteria indicative of one or more aspects of the active insurance claim. A data aggregation module may calculate an aggregate of an aspect of the historic information about the historic insurance claims that match the search criteria or a subset thereof. A report generation module may generate a report that includes the calculated aggregate of the aspect of the historic information.
US08630876B1

A computerized system and method for generating CMS-compliant health services delivery (HSD) tables. A database stores health care service provider data. A remote computer user interacts with a server that provides access to the health care service provider data. A user can view health care service provider data that meets selected search parameters. The data is displayed in an interactive worksheet. The user may further cause amendments to be made to the data stored in the database. The user may issue a request to generate an HSD table in “final file format” which conforms to CMS requirements. The server checks for errors in the file and notifies the user of errors that are identified. The server optionally checks for adequacy of the network associated with a plurality of health care service providers. The user may approve the final files for filing with CMS.
US08630873B1

While a pharmacist may know of other medications approved by the FDA for the same medical condition, the pharmacist typically does not know what the therapeutically equivalent dose of those products is when compared to the originally prescribed item. In addition to this lack of equivalent dosage information, the pharmacist also is unable to determine if any of those other FDA approved items will save the consumer any money. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can provide pharmacists and/or consumers with equivalent dosage information as well as pricing information for the equivalent dosage. Accordingly, based at least in part on this information, consumers may have an incentive to and may decide to purchase to another prescription drug, thereby shifting market share to a preferred prescription drug or pharmaceutical manufacturer or provider.
US08630872B2

An application offers personalized content, such as health care plans, health actions, and interactive games, to a user. Based on such health data provided by a user, the health management application may provide content, such as health information or health care plans, that is tailored to the current health status or condition of the user. In some instances, a user may request to participate in a particular health action or task. The health management application may recommend personalized tasks or actions for the user to complete to promote and improve health. Following partial or successful completion of a chosen health action, a user may earn points or rewards that may be redeemable for various prizes. A user may also earn points by completing an educational or informational task such as quizzes, questionnaires, or surveys. Points may also be earned by participating in or playing a game.
US08630864B2

A method of bitrate switching on decoding an audio signal coded by a audio coding system, said decoding comprising a post-processing step depending on the bitrate. On switching from an initial bitrate to a final bitrate, said method includes a transition step of continuous change from a signal at the initial bitrate to a signal at the final bitrate, one or both of said signals being post-processed. Application to transmission of VoIP speech and/or audio signals in data packet networks.
US08630859B2

A method of developing a dialog manager for a spoken dialog service is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a top level flow controller based on application type, selecting available reusable subdialogs for each application part, developing a subdialog for each application part not having an available subdialog and testing and deploying the spoken dialog service using the selected top level flow controller, selected reusable subdialogs and developed subdialogs. The method enables a developer to create a dialog manager that has individual reusable dialog modules that operate independent of the dialog model of the other modules. Application dependencies and context shifts are defined independent of the subdialogs to enable them to be reusable. The spoken dialog server manages context shifts in the spoken dialog by transitioning between dialog modules and subdialog modules.
US08630852B2

An image processing apparatus includes a speech input portion that receives an input of speech from a user, a dictionary storage portion that stores a dictionary configured by phrase information pieces for recognizing the speech, a compound phrase generation portion that generates a plurality of compound phrases formed by all combinations of a plurality of predetermined phrases in different orders, a compound phrase registration portion that registers the plurality of compound phrases that have been generated in the dictionary as the phrase information pieces, a speech recognition portion that, in a case where speech including a speech phrase formed by the plurality of predetermined phrases said in an arbitrary order has been input, performs speech recognition on the speech by searching the dictionary for a compound phrase that matches the speech phrase.
US08630850B2

In one embodiment, a signal processing method is disclosed. The method can perform filter processing of convoluting a tap coefficient in a first signal sequence to generate a second signal sequence. The method can subtract the second signal sequence from a third signal sequence to generate a fourth signal sequence. The third signal sequence includes an echo signal of the first signal sequence. The method can correct the tap coefficient in accordance with an amount of correction determined using a function. The function includes at least one of a first region and a second region, and has values limited. The first region is included in a negative value region of the fourth signal sequence. The second region is included in a positive value region of the fourth signal sequence.
US08630846B2

The invention enables creation of grammar networks that can regulate, control, and define the content and scope of human-machine interaction in natural language voice user interfaces (NLVUI). The invention enables phrase-based modeling of generic structures of verbal interaction to be used for the purpose of automating part of the design of such grammar networks. Most particularly, the invention enables such grammar networks to be used in providing a voice-controlled user interface to human readable text data that is also machine-readable (such as a Web page, a word processing document, a PDF document, or a spreadsheet).
US08630845B2

A method and system for generating snippet for review on the Internet. The method includes the steps of: receiving a review and a set of feedbacks corresponding to the review, where the review includes a plurality of evaluating sentences that evaluates product features of a product; calculating support degrees of each of the plurality of evaluating sentences by using the set of feedbacks; extracting, by relying on calculated support degrees of each of the evaluating sentences, at least one of the evaluating sentences from the plurality of evaluating sentences; and designating extracted evaluating sentence as a snippet of the review; where at least one of the steps is carried out by using a computer device.
US08630844B1

The subject invention provides a method for using available data and information to automatically create narrative stories that describes domain events, circumstances and/or entities in a comprehensible and compelling and audience customized, manner. Computer executable instructions provide for generating a narrative story using standard and uniform structures and data for receiving domain related data and a story specification, parsing the story specification to provide constituent components, transforming the constituent components into executable code, instantiating content blocks having at least one feature for the domain according to the story specification and rendering the narrative story using the constituent components specified by the content blocks.
US08630843B2

A method and system for generating snippet for review on the Internet. The method includes the steps of: receiving a review and a set of feedbacks corresponding to the review, where the review includes a plurality of evaluating sentences that evaluates product features of a product; calculating support degrees of each of the plurality of evaluating sentences by using the set of feedbacks; extracting, by relying on calculated support degrees of each of the evaluating sentences, at least one of the evaluating sentences from the plurality of evaluating sentences; and designating extracted evaluating sentence as a snippet of the review; where at least one of the steps is carried out by using a computer device.
US08630836B2

An approach is presented for predicting performance and capacity of an information technology (IT) system. Sets of component-level and middleware-based performance statistics are retrieved. The sets of component-level performance statistics measure individual performances of reusable software modules in test runs of the software modules. The middleware-based performance statistics represent a contribution of customized middleware to the performance of the IT system in a test run of the customized middleware. Based on the sets of component-level and middleware-based performance statistics and before the IT system is built, a prediction of computing resource requirements and characteristics of the performance of the IT system is generated. Generating the prediction results in a recommendation of computing resources required to build the IT system without over-specifying the computing resources.
US08630826B2

A method controls probe measurement using an electronic device. The method receives user-defined identification data of a probe if a preset configuration file is not stored in a storage device of the electronic device, and fits a three dimensional (3D) model of the probe according to the user-defined identification data of the probe. The method further updates the user-defined identification data of the probe if the fitted 3D model does not match the probe, or stores the user-defined identification data of the probe in a user-defined configuration file if the fitted 3D model matches the probe, and controls the probe to execute measurement according to the user-defined configuration file.
US08630824B1

An executable circuit design is used to generate waveforms, from which behaviors of the circuit are captured. The behaviors and various combinations thereof can then be saved in a database, along with descriptions and other metadata about them, thereby generating a behavioral index of the circuit design code. Behavioral indexing of circuit designs allows a user to maintain an indexed behavior database, track changes in behaviors as the circuit design's executable description evolves, and figure out how the executable description can be reused in different projects. When applied to digital design development, it facilities the current design and verification effort, as well as design reuse down the line.
US08630823B2

A feature parameter candidate generation apparatus has a storage unit that stores the values of feature parameters extracted from each of samples, an index value calculation unit that calculates an index value, which is obtained by normalizing the number of the kinds of the values of feature parameters by the number of the samples, for each of the feature parameters, an evaluation object selection unit that selects combinations of feature parameters which are objects to be evaluated, an evaluation unit that evaluates whether the uniformity of a frequency distribution of index values of the individual feature parameters for combinations of feature parameters selected as the objects to be evaluated satisfies a predetermined criterion, and a candidate determination unit that determines, as feature parameter candidates to be given to the model generation device, a combination of feature parameters that is evaluated to satisfy the predetermined criterion.
US08630821B2

System and method for testing a high speed data path without generating a high speed bit clock, includes selecting a first high speed data path from a plurality of data paths for testing. Coherent clock data patterns are driven on one or more of remaining data paths of the plurality of data paths, wherein the coherent clock data patterns are in coherence with a low speed base clock. The first high speed data path is sampled by the coherent clock data patterns to generate a sampled first high speed data path, which is then tested at a speed of the low speed base clock.
US08630816B2

High resolution distributed temperature sensors using fiber optic distributed temperature sensing systems deployed on various carriers to significantly improve spatial resolution and provide high resolution temperature profile and detection of fluid or fluid interface levels.
US08630813B2

The present disclosure relates to a method for automatically assessing structural characteristics of a supporting pole sunk in the ground, including the operational steps of detecting data regarding a pole being assessed, striking at least one blow against said pole, detecting pole oscillations generated by said struck blow(s), analyzing detected oscillations in order to determine at least one significant parameter of the oscillation trend, and comparing said significant parameter(s) with pre-established threshold values in order to obtain a conformity or non-conformity index related to pole characteristics.
US08630810B2

Provided are methods of simulating tissue healing. The methods comprise using a mechanistic computer model of the interrelated effects of inflammation, tissue damage or dysfunction and tissue healing to predict an outcome of healing of damaged tissue in vivo, thereby predicting the outcome of healing of damaged tissue in vivo. Implementations of these methods on a computing device also are provided. Non-limiting examples of diseases and/or conditions that are amenable to simulation according to the methods described herein include: a diabetes, diabetic foot ulcers, necrotizing enterocolitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, restenosis (post-angioplasty or stent implantation), incisional wounding, excisional wounding, surgery, accidental trauma, pressure ulcer, stasis ulcer, tendon rupture, vocal fold phonotrauma, otitis media and pancreatitis.
US08630809B2

A method is provided for improving a nucleic acid-based molecular computing system comprised of (i) a nucleic acid structure, (ii) at least one polynucleotide displacement molecule that can bind with the nucleic acid structure under hybridizing conditions, and (iii) a clashing polynucleotide molecule that competes with the polynucleotide displacement molecule for binding the nucleic acid structure under the hybridizing conditions The method entails incorporation of chemical modification that inhibits the binding of the clashing molecule and the nucleic acid structure or facilitates the binding of the displacement molecule and the nucleic structure.
US08630800B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a travel query, where the travel query comprises a starting location, a destination location, and a specified transit time; and using the starting location, destination location, and the specified transit time to provide a travel route for traveling from the starting location to the destination location within the specified transit time, wherein the travel route includes one or more points of interest.
US08630793B2

A vehicle controller is provided capable of expanding an application range of departure prevention control while suppressing erroneous control. The vehicle controller includes: a vehicle-mounted camera 600 that captures an image in front of a vehicle; and an ECU 610 that decides one vehicle control method from a plurality of vehicle control methods and controls an actuator with the decided vehicle control method. The vehicle-mounted camera includes an area-specific confidence calculation section 400 that divides the image captured into a plurality of areas on a basis of an acquired image by the capturing and a recognized lane, calculates confidence for each divided area and outputs area-specific confidence information, and the ECU decides a vehicle control method in accordance with the area-specific confidence information.
US08630780B2

A method for controlling a brake system including receiving a braking signal for setting a braking action by the brake system, ascertaining a minimum rate of pressure increase in the brake system in order to effect the braking action within a predefined response time, and setting a pumping capacity of a pump of the brake system so that the pressure in the brake system increases in accordance with the minimum rate.
US08630779B2

An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system for a vehicle is disclosed. An electronic control unit (ECU) is programmed to reduce vehicle lateral skidding by reducing differences between an intended vehicle direction and/or yaw rate and an actual vehicle direction and/or yaw rate by applying modifications to operation of the vehicle brakes and/or throttle. The ESC system receives inputs from wheel speed sensors, a steering wheel position sensor, a yaw rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor. The ESC system also receives input that indicates at least a property of the road upon which the vehicle is located, wherein the road upon which the vehicle is located is determined from a positioning system that uses a map database and the property is determined from the map database. The ESC system incorporates the road property information in determining when and/or how to modify operation of the vehicle to reduce vehicle skidding.
US08630772B2

An occupant protection system for vehicle, includes an own-vehicle information acquisition unit acquiring an own-vehicle information including a route information on a course of an own vehicle to a destination, an other-vehicle information acquisition unit acquiring other-vehicle information that is received through vehicle-to-vehicle communication and that includes position information of another vehicle, a crash condition calculation unit calculating a crash condition between the own vehicle and said another vehicle on the basis of the own-vehicle information and other-vehicle information, and an operation preparation unit preparing a system which corresponds to a crash damage decreasing system decreasing a level of a crash damage of an occupant of the own vehicle, and which is adapted to decrease the level of the crash damage that corresponds to the crash condition calculated by the crash condition calculation unit to operate.
US08630770B2

A vehicle capable of easily translating in an arbitrary direction. A vehicle comprising: wheels composed of two front wheels and two rear wheels; four steering actuators connected to the wheels, respectively, and steering the wheels; four drive actuators connected to the wheels, respectively, and driving the wheels; a joystick (64) tiltable in an arbitrary direction to perform operation and instructing the operation of the steering actuators; an accelerator pedal (63) for instructing the operation of the drive actuators; and a controller (100) which, when the joystick (64) is tilted, steers the wheels in the direction in which the joystick (64) is tilted, and when the accelerator pedal (63) is operated, drives the wheels on the basis of the amount of the operation of the accelerator pedal (63).
US08630769B2

A method is provided for situationally adjusting a vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to acquiring data of at least a partial area of an environment of the vehicle with at least one sensor with the vehicle. In addition, the approach of at least one object toward the vehicle is detected using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Furthermore, dimensions of the at least one object are determined using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Moreover, at least a partial area of an interior of the vehicle is adjusted to the dimensions of the at least one object.
US08630756B2

An onboard monitor that ensures the accuracy of data representing the calculated position of an airplane during final approach to a runway. This airplane position assurance monitor is a software function that uses dissimilar sources of airplane position and runway data to ensure the accuracy of the respective data from those dissimilar sources. ILS data and GPS or GPS/Baro data are the dissimilar sources of airplane position data used by this function. This function will calculate the airplane's angular deviations from the runway centerline and from the glide slope with onboard equipment and then compares those angular deviations to the ILS angular deviation information.
US08630755B2

The invention provides an automatic taking-off and landing system, comprising a flying object and a taking-off and landing target, wherein the flying object has an image pickup device 21 for taking images found in downward direction, navigation means 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11, and a control unit for processing images acquired by the image pickup device and for controlling the navigation means, and wherein the control unit calculates a positional relation between the taking-off and landing target and the flying object based on the image of the taking-off and landing target as acquired by the image pickup device and controls taking-off and landing operations of the flying object based on a result of the calculation.
US08630745B2

According to one embodiment, an energy consumption management system includes: a movement information creating device; a power consumption amount measuring device; an accumulating device; and a display device. The movement information creating device creates movement information regarding a person in a management target area. The power consumption amount measuring device measures a power consumption amount of an instrument in the management target area. The accumulating device creates management information in which the movement information and a power consumption amount measurement value measured are associated with each other. The display device displays the management information.
US08630739B2

In a method of evaluating an infrastructure having a plurality of components based upon exergy loss values, exergy loss values of the components are aggregated. In addition, at least one of the components in the infrastructure is controlled based upon the aggregated exergy loss values.
US08630738B2

A reformer having improved performance and stability and a reformer control method, the reformer including a reforming reaction unit, a first sensor, a heat source unit, a second sensor, and a flow control unit. The reforming reaction unit converts a first fuel into a reformate. The first sensor senses a first temperature of the reformate generated from the reforming reaction unit. The heat source unit heats the reforming reaction unit with a combustion heat of a second fuel. The second sensor senses a second temperature at a fuel inlet of the heat source unit. The flow control unit controls a temperature of the reformate by regulating a flow of an oxidizer supplied to the heat source unit based on the first temperature, and controls a temperature of the heat source unit by regulating a flow of the second fuel supplied to the heat source unit based on the second temperature.
US08630719B2

This disclosure describes implantable medical leads that include a lead body and an electrode. A width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about the perimeter of the lead. The uneven width of the electrode may bias a stimulation field in a particular direction, e.g., a radial or transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the lead. Electrodes with an uneven width may be useful for controlling the direction of propagation of the stimulation field in order to, for example, avoid phrenic nerve stimulation during LV pacing or neck muscle stimulation during vagal neurostimulation.
US08630716B2

A method embodiment comprises generating a neural stimulation signal for a neural stimulation therapy. The signal is generated during a duty cycle of a stimulation period to provide the neural stimulation therapy with an intensity at a therapy level for a portion of the duty cycle. In various embodiments, a ramp up protocol is implemented to begin the duty cycle, a ramp down protocol is implemented to end the duty cycle, or both the ramp up protocol and the ramp down protocol are implemented. The ramp up protocol includes ramping up the intensity from a non-zero first subthreshold level for the neural stimulation therapy at the beginning of the duty cycle to the therapy level. The ramp down protocol includes ramping down the intensity from the therapy intensity level to a non-zero second subthreshold level for the neural stimulation therapy at the end of the duty cycle.
US08630712B2

An automated respiration stimulation apparatus comprising a detector configured to measure a respiratory cycle of a user and a stimulator configured to automatically apply a stimulation to the user's acoustic nerve to interrupt a disturbance in the respiratory cycle of the user in response to the detection of the disturbance as indicated by the respiratory cycle measurements of the detector.
US08630710B2

An implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy includes a first implantable housing containing a battery. There is also a second implantable housing separate from the first implantable housing and containing at least one of: electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy, a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode. The electronic circuit, the storage capacitor or the electrode structure are electrically connected to the battery. Alternatively, there is an implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy having an implantable structure containing the following electrically connected components: a battery, electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy, a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode. A method of providing electrical cardiac therapy is also provided.
US08630705B2

An implantable stimulator includes a tube assembly that is configured to house a number of components that are configured to apply at least one stimulus to at least one stimulation site within a patient. The tube assembly has a shape that allows the stimulator to be implanted within said patient in a pre-determined orientation. Exemplary methods of stimulating a stimulation site within a patient include applying an electrical stimulation current to a stimulation site via one or more electrodes extending along one or more sides of a stimulator. The stimulator has a shape allowing the stimulator to be implanted within the patient in a pre-determined orientation.
US08630698B2

A fluorescence endoscopy video system includes a multi-mode light source that produces light for white light and fluorescence imaging modes. A filter is positioned at the distal end of an imaging endoscope so that the endoscope can produce fluorescence and white light images of a tissue sample.
US08630697B2

The present invention provides for the detection and display of polarization scrambling tissue without resolving the polarization state of the backscattered imaging beam. In one embodiment, we illuminate the tissue using two different polarizations. A first polarization determines a first image of high intensity while the second polarization determines a second image of low intensity. Comparison and combination of the first and second images determines tissue which scrambles the polarization in neighboring detection cells.
US08630695B2

The invention is aimed at improving valve pinpointing and reading devices by proposing to activate a magnetic detection source allowing measurements regularly-distributed in a circle around an axis at predetermined measurement positions. An exemplary locator comprises a casing (26) provided with a mechanism for detecting and analyzing the magnetic field of the magnetic dipole of the valve. It comprises:—a magnetic detection source (36) able to detect and measure the magnetic field of the magnetic center of the valve at predetermined measurement positions distributed in a circle around an axis (X-X′), linked to—a microprocessor (32) for analyzing the measurements and for generating detection signals.
US08630690B2

A method of compensating for thermal contraction of superconducting and cryo-resistive cables. The method includes the steps of determining a compensation length for a cable such that when the cable is subjected to an operating temperature, the cable is in or near a stress-free state, and installing the cable into a pipe such that portions of the cable extend outwardly past ends of the pipe. The method further includes the steps of marking each end of the cable such that the determined compensation length is visibly shown, forcing the cable into the pipe at an ambient installation temperature such that a cable pattern is formed therein, and maintaining the cable in the pipe to prevent the cable from being pushed out of the pipe.
US08630684B2

Implementations described herein relate to accessories for mobile phones. In one implementation, an accessory may include, a display to present information received from a mobile phone to a user of the accessory. The accessory may connect with the mobile phone to form a link to the mobile phone. The accessory may include a clothing attachment component to attach the accessory to the user or to clothing of the user.
US08630671B2

An apparatus and methods are disclosed for enabling a telecommunications terminal to notify its user of the arrival of a message via an acoustic or visual signal whose properties are based on attributes of the message. A network infrastructure element (e.g., a switch, a private branch exchange [PBX], a server, etc.) receives a message directed to a terminal and sets the values of ringtone properties (e.g., tempo, volume, pitch, rhythm, etc.) based on attributes of an incoming message (e.g., the sender, a priority, a subject, the location from which the message was sent, etc.). In a first illustrative embodiment the network infrastructure element sends the message and the instantiated ringtone to the terminal, while in a second illustrative embodiment the network infrastructure element sends the message and the property values to the terminal, and the terminal plays a locally-stored ringtone in accordance with the property values.
US08630660B2

A wireless telecommunications system can receive position information associated with a wireless mobile device of a user and a medical access point name from the wireless mobile device, can determine a gateway based on the position information and the access point name, can receive medical information associated with the user from the wireless mobile device via the gateway, and can provide, based on the medical information and the position information, the medical information to a computer system of a medical facility. The medical information can include drug allergies, food allergies, health issues, physician contact information, emergency contact information, and/or a preferred medical facility, among others. The medical information can be useful in providing medical aid to the user of the wireless mobile device if the user is not able to communicate via verbal means, via written means, and/or via sign means.
US08630657B2

Systems for and methods of determining likelihood of reference point identity duplication in a positioning system are disclosed. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that a designated identifier is shared by wireless devices includes determining reference points associated with any wireless device having a designated identifier. The reference points are a geographic position at which signals from any of the wireless devices were detected and/or wireless devices from which signals were also detected within a selected period of time during which the signals from any of the wireless devices having the designated identifier were detected. The method also includes determining statistical information about a temporal distribution of detection of signals of reference points, a spatial distribution of the reference points, and/or a cardinality of the reference points and determining a measure of likelihood that the designated identifier is shared by wireless devices is based on the statistical information.
US08630652B2

In one embodiment, mobile device traffic information and signal strength information associated with a geographical region are obtained. A plurality of candidate locations are determined based on the traffic information and the signal strength information, capacity values for each of the candidate locations are determined, and a candidate location is selected, from among the plurality of candidate locations, as a placement locations based on the capacity values.
US08630651B2

A call placed by a mobile device may be routed to landline destinations using cost-sensitive routing techniques. The call may be routed based on whether it is an intra-MTA (major trade area) or inter-MTA call. In one implementation, a device may receive message initiating a call and determine the MTA of the calling party based on a cell/sector identifier in the message. The device may further determine the MTA of the called party based on the called telephone number. The device may route the call based on whether the MTA of the calling party matches the MTA of the called party.
US08630648B2

A base station, computer readable medium and method for determining whether a neighbor cell is a neighbor of a serving cell, where the serving cell and the neighbor cell belong to a same communication network that includes a user terminal served by the serving cell. The method includes receiving at a base station of the serving cell, via the user terminal, a first identity of the neighbor cell, a second identity of the neighbor cell, and a random number generated by a base station of the neighbor cell; sending, from the base station of the serving cell, a request to the base station of the neighbor cell, for establishing a neighbor relation, wherein the request includes the received random number; and obtaining at the base station of the serving cell a response from the base station of the neighbor cell in response to the request, the response indicating acceptance or denial of the neighbor relation.
US08630644B2

The invention makes use of the Short Message Service (SMS) or Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) capabilities present in today's cellular networks as a means of providing call control and presence signalling and, in particular, for providing the means of effecting hand-off at least from/to the cellular domain to/from the WiFi domain. SMS and USSD were originally designed as engineering channels, but SMS has become highly popular as a service in its own right. SMS and USSD are built into all existing cellular (GSM, CDMA etc.) network and predate the current GPRS overlay. In particular, SMS and USSD can be used while a call may be active in the cellular domain, and a handset may send and receive such messages, with an additional facility which may be used by the invention of receiving acknowledgements of successful receipt of an outgoing SMS by the messaged party—effectively a confirmation from the network. The present invention proposes to use SMS or USSD as a means of an adjunct call control and presence signalling in the cellular domain between a handset and the SIP domain.
US08630637B2

A mobile device roaming architecture for use with a mobile device, such as a cellular phone, roaming a WiFi network. In instances where the mobile device attempts to roam to a different wireless access point managed by a controller using a different authentication key, the roam process can be excessively long such that the voice signal is disrupted or fails entirely. A detection component detects the roaming attempt, and a connection component switches the call back to the original access point controller before the call has a chance to drop. In this way, a connection is maintained to the network. A mitigation component performs an operation to maintain a connection to the call as the mobile device moves out of range of the original access point.
US08630632B2

The disclosure addresses technology for identifying a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN) of a mobile communication device in an extended enterprise voice network comprising the mobile device, an enterprise server, a private branch exchange (PBX), and a service management platform (SMP). The need to determine an MSISDN is detected. At least one of disable calling line identification restriction at the mobile communication device, and enable calling line identification restriction override at the SMP is implemented. The SMP is contacted from the mobile communication device. The incoming contact is identified at the SMP. The MSISDN is transmitted to the mobile device from the SMP. The transmitted MSISDN is written to the SIM card.
US08630626B2

A method for creating and managing a distribution list can include creating a distribution list at a voicemail system. The distribution list can include at least one recipient and at least one language preference for one or more of the at least one recipients. The method can further include selecting the created distribution list and recording an audio message to be sent to the at least one recipient. Translating the audio message into the at least one language preference for one or more of the at least one recipients thereby creating at least one translated audio message and sending the at least one translated audio message to the at least one recipient.
US08630624B2

Methods and apparatuses that generate a subtopic identifier identifying a client application within a client device are described. The client application may be associated with a server application hosted in one or more application servers. Notification services may be registered with the application servers from the client application to forward identifiers associated with the client application to the server application to enable the server application to push notification messages to the client device selectively for the client application. When receiving a notification message from the application server, the notification message may be examined to forward the notification message directly to the client application without invoking other applications in the client device if the notification message carries a subtopic identifier of the client application.
US08630613B2

The present application relates to a computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for telecommunications rating. The computer-implemented method for telecommunications rating may comprise: receiving an event from a source system for a service, wherein the event is generated by a user; transforming the event into a normalized event by determining event characteristics comprising determining a guiding point identifier to identify a guiding point associated with the user; by using the guiding point identifier, retrieving from the guiding point a list of products operable to guide the normalized event; rating the normalized event by calculating and aggregating costs according to the list of products; and posting the costs by updating at least one balance associated with the user, the guiding point, and/or the service.
US08630608B2

Mobile stations, methods, functionality, and articles of manufactures enable mobile stations to automatically respond to a messaging service message. An application is stored and executed on a mobile station. The application provides functionality to determine response message content for use by the application, receive a mobile messaging service message, and respond automatically, without interaction by the end-user of the mobile station, send a response to the received mobile messaging service message containing the message content for the sender of the received mobile messaging service message. The automatic response application may be user activated or automatically activated under various circumstances including at a specific time, on a regularly scheduled basis, upon detection of movement faster than a predetermined speed, or upon detection of the station being in a mobile vehicle.
US08630605B2

Synchronization for achieving low power battery operation of a vehicle locating unit in a stolen vehicle recovery system whose radio receiver receives periodic transmissions, includes receiving periodic transmissions; turning on a radio receiver for a limited time to detect an expected message; if an expected message is not found, turning off the receiver and turning it on again after a time asynchronous with the transmission period; and after finding an expected message, waiting for the period of the transmissions less the length of an expected message and then looking for a synchronization symbol in the expected message and synchronizing subsequent actuation of the receiver using that synchronization symbol.
US08630601B2

An active channelized antenna system includes an antenna array operable over a multi-octave frequency band to provide one or more antenna output signals. An electronics module includes multiplexer circuitry responsive to the one or more antenna output signals configured to divide an input signal spectrum into a plurality of frequency band components each of less than an octave bandwidth. The electronics module includes a plurality of amplifiers each of less than an octave bandwidth to provide an amplified component signal for a respective frequency band. Combiner circuitry included with the electronics module is configured to combine the amplified frequency band components into a composite signal. A transmission medium such as a coaxial cable, fiber optic line or free space, is configured to transmit the composite signal to a remotely located receiver system. The antenna system may be employed as a repeater system.
US08630599B2

Discovery of safety and non-safety capable single-radio devices in vehicular wireless environments is made possible through the use a two-bit indicator. A first indicator is associated with a type C device. A second indicator is associated with a non-type C device within one hop of a type C device. A third indicator is associated with a non-type C device within two hops of a type C device. A fourth indicator is associated with a non-type C device within three hops or more (out of range) of a type C device. Discovery of safety and non-safety capable single-radio vehicular devices within a protection range in multiple-channel based wireless vehicular environments is thus made possible.
US08630596B2

A system may include a modifiable mobile device having at least two antennas coupled to fractional amplifiers, with returned power detectors. A beamformer unit provides adaptive beam shaping pattern, and a baseband processor provides beam pattern requirements, wherein the beamformer unit modifies the beam pattern requirements with return loss sampling information to shape the adaptive beam pattern so that a transmitted beam pattern minimizes transmitted power reflected back to the mobile device. A method may include regularly measuring a return power level, if output power is greater than a specific absorption rate level, comparing the return power level to a first threshold, else implementing mobile transmit diversity (MTD), and repeating. If the return power level is greater than the first threshold, implementing a MTD combined with reflection-based beamforming that modifies beam pattern requirements of the mobile device with return loss sampling information to create an adaptive beam pattern.
US08630584B2

A radio frequency (RF) device includes an RF transceiver, an RF antenna, and a magnetic signal detector. The RF is selected to be in the very high frequency (VHF), ultrahigh frequency (UHF), or super high frequency (SHF) bands such that the shielding effect is reduced and the RF device can be configured as a SIM card disposed inside a cellular phone with an increased RF communication range. The magnetic signal detector is used to sense a magnetic field signal from an RF reader, which includes an RF transceiver, an RF antenna, and a magnetic signal transmitter. The longer communication range afforded by the VHF, UHF, or SHF bands is reduced by the sensing of the magnetic field, thereby providing a communication range control, while the RF device and the RF reader exchange information through the RF channel with improved security as a result of the range control.
US08630579B2

A wireless communication apparatus, method, and system selectively utilize advantages of both centralized control and distributed control while suppressing cell searching time. FIG. 4(a) represents an example in which a P-BCH (Primary Broadcast Channel) and an S-SCH (Secondary Synchronization Channel) for centralized control and a P-BCH and an S-SCH for distributed control are frequency-divided, and the P-BCH and the S-SCH for the distributed control are transmitted to a distributed control resource. FIG. 4(b) represents an example in which a P-BCH and an S-SCH for the centralized control and a P-BCH and an S-SCH for the distributed control are time-divided, and the P-BCH and the S-SCH for the distributed control are transmitted to a centralized control resource. Since a relay station transmits the P-SCH (Primary Synchronization Channel) as a centralized control resource, a mobile station can specify sub-frame timing by using only the centralized control resource.
US08630577B2

An computer item banking system for standards-based assessments has test items used in standards-based assessments wherein a plurality of item specifications are developed using a specification building feature to create new, edit, move, and delete specifications and to assign specifications to one or more standards; a plurality of test items are constructed and edited using a test building feature to specify the type of item being constructed, points available for the item, and the type of bank to which the item is assigned; bank types include agency-wide assessments including benchmark tests and end-of-course examinations, and formative assessments such as classroom quizzes. The system includes means for certification of test items and preventing use of uncertified test items to be used in agency-wide assessments under construction.
US08630566B2

An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units respectively including developer inlets, the developing units are arranged side by side in a first direction, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers to be supplied to the plurality of developing units and respectively including developer outlets, the developer units are arranged side by side in the first direction to face the plurality of developing units, and a plurality of developer supplying paths respectively to connect the developer inlets to the developer outlets, wherein the plurality of developer containers include first and second developer containers, and a position of the developer outlet of the second developer container is different from position of the developer outlet of the first developer container.
US08630564B2

A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer, and a process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
US08630560B2

A printing apparatus includes an image forming section which forms a toner image of the image to be printed on a recording medium; a transport belt which transports the toner image formed by the image forming section; a light-emitting section which emits a light to the transport belt; a first light-receiving section which is disposed at a position through which a regular reflection light, of the light emitted from the light-emitting section, reflected from the transport belt passes; a second light-receiving section which is disposed at a position different from the position of the first light-receiving section; a transmissive member which is disposed at a position through which the light emitted from the light-emitting section and a reflection light, of the light, reflected from the transport belt pass and which transmits the light and the reflection light.
US08630558B2

An electrophotographic apparatus has an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer of an amorphous silicon carbide. The ratio of the atom density (C) of carbon atoms to the sum of the atom density (Si) of silicon atoms and the atom density (C) of carbon atoms, C/(Si+C), in the surface layer is set larger from one end portion toward the other end portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the direction of rotational axis thereof, and is from 0.61 or more to 0.75 or less in the entire region of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the direction of rotational axis thereof. The electrophotographic apparatus has an air current generator which draws out air from the side of the one end portion toward the side of the other end portion.
US08630556B2

A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing roller to rotate in a predetermined direction of rotation, a pressing roller to rotate and contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing roller to form a nip between the pressing roller and the fixing roller through which the recording medium bearing the toner image passes to fix the toner image by heat and pressure, a pressing lever to hold both lateral end portions of the pressing roller, and a cam disposed on a camshaft, to rotate the pressing lever to change the position of the pressing roller. Rotation of the cam in a first, pressing direction enables the pressing roller to pressingly contact the fixing roller. Rotation of the cam in a second direction opposite the pressing direction enables the pressing roller to separate from the fixing roller.
US08630553B2

The present invention provides a detection unit that detects, regarding a toner supply device loaded into an installation space of an apparatus main body, a type of the toner supply device or detects improper loading of the toner supply device and a notification unit that notifies loading of the toner supply device of a wrong type or improper loading of the toner supply device based on a result of detection by the detection unit.
US08630550B2

Disclosed is an optical amplifier which includes an upward optical amplifier configured to amplify an input upward optical signal of an input optical signal; and a control circuit configured to control an operation of the upward optical amplifier according to whether an upward stream is detected from the input upward optical signal.
US08630528B2

A method, system and program product are described for specifying a selection of content segments stored in different formats. The invention involves receiving specification of a plurality of portions of first content stored in a first format, the specification identifying beginning and ending frames for each portion, and building a list comprising a starting mark and ending mark for each selected portion of first content, the list for use in accessing corresponding portions of the same content stored as second content in a second format.
US08630527B2

The present invention is directed to an image editing apparatus that automatically selects an appropriate frame rate that improves image quality of a new moving image generated by combining a plurality of moving images having different frame rates to prevent a user from working much on the selection, when the user newly creates a moving image. The image editing apparatus of the present invention classifies a plurality of moving images to be combined into groups based on a frame rate, compares an amount of moving images included in each of the groups, and selects the group having the largest amount of moving images belonging thereto. Further, the image editing apparatus compares the amounts of the moving images for respective frame rates included in the selected group to select the frame rate which the largest amount of the moving images has. The image editing apparatus converts moving image to be combined into the selected frame rate and then combines the plurality of converted moving images.
US08630515B2

An apparatus for estimating a shape, the apparatus including: an optical fiber configured to conform to the shape and having a first core offset from a centerline of the optical fiber, the first core having an optical characteristic configured to change due to a change in shape of the optical fiber wherein a change in the optical characteristic is used to estimate the shape. A method for estimating a shape is also disclosed.
US08630514B2

An apparatus and method for use in distributed temperature sensing (DTS) systems to reduce coherent Rayleigh scattering in fiber optic cables by using photonic crystal fibers.
US08630513B2

An embodiment provides for enabling retrieval of a collection of captured images that form at least a portion of a library of images. For each image in the collection, a captured image may be analyzed to recognize information from image data contained in the captured image, and an index may be generated, where the index data is based on the recognized information. Using the index, functionality such as search and retrieval is enabled. Various recognition techniques, including those that use the face, clothing, apparel, and combinations of characteristics may be utilized. Recognition may be performed on, among other things, persons and text carried on objects.
US08630509B2

An image represented by multiple nodes can be processed by determining whether labels can be propagated to a node from another node of the image. Conceptually, an image can be presented as a “structured grid” of multiple nodes (e.g., a structured grid of pixels of an image). In a “structured grid,” two or more nodes of the same level (e.g., nodes in the same gray level) can determine in parallel whether to propagate a label from one or more of its neighboring nodes that are labeled and propagate one or more labels accordingly. An image can be processed by iteratively repeating this process for nodes of successive levels. It will be appreciated that the disclosed techniques allow parallelism without requiring partitioning of an image or having to merge partitioned images. The disclosed techniques are especially suited for watershed algorithms.
US08630507B2

Image data processing is facilitated. According to an example embodiment, image data is processed using photometric similarity and, where appropriate, a classification of sample pixels for the image data. In some applications, a trained bilateral filter function is used with a filter coefficient selected for a particular classification of image data to filter artifacts in the image data.
US08630503B2

The image processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including an obtaining unit configured to obtain image data and a detection result of a main subject in the image data; a detecting unit configured to apply main subject detecting processing to the image data obtained by the obtaining unit; a coincidence determining unit configured to determine whether a detection result of the main subject obtained by the obtaining unit and a detection result of the main subject detected by the detecting unit coincide with each other; and a correction amount determining unit configured to determine an amount of correction to be applied to the image data in accordance with a determination result obtained by the coincidence determining unit. Image correction processing is performed in a determined correction processing manner.
US08630494B1

Systems, methods, and computer readable medium are described for performing an action based on determining that the contents of a first image collection and a second image collection are similar. In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to comparing digests representing the two image collections to determine proximity. The digest may be obtained and the comparison made at either a collection sharing device or at a proxy server. The actions performed based on a proximity determination may comprise notifying a user of a first collection sharing device of the availability of other collection sharing devices, or the retrieval of one or more images from the other image collections. In another aspect of the present disclosure, proximity may be measured by comparing subject faces comparing in a first image collection to the faces present in a second image collection.
US08630493B2

Embodiments described herein facilitate or enhance the implementation of image recognition processes which can perform recognition on images to identify objects and/or faces by class or by people.
US08630491B2

A method of operating an image reader includes the steps of: searching a digital image for nominally straight edges; characterizing the nominally straight edges in terms of length and/or direction; determining a predominant orientation of the nominally straight edges; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to the center of the image; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to other remaining edge positions; and, transmuting a rectangle bounding those edges into a rectified image; wherein a rectified image is an image that is cropped or rotated.
US08630489B2

A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a first image and a symmetry signature generator component that generates a first global symmetry signature for the image, wherein the global symmetry signature is representative of symmetry existent in the first image. The system also includes a comparer component that compares the first global symmetry signature with a second global symmetry signature that corresponds to a second image, wherein the second global symmetry signature is representative of symmetry existent in the second image. The system additionally includes an output component that outputs an indication of similarity between the first image and the second image based at least in part upon the comparison undertaken by the comparer component.
US08630485B2

A method of combining an image with an imaging-related product, comprising: providing an image; forming an image-color histogram of spatially-coherent color clusters within the image, the image-color histogram indicating the frequency of occurrence of spatially-coherent related colors in the image; selecting one or more of the image colors having a frequency of occurrence in the image high enough to be visible to an image observer; selecting an imaging-related product having one or more of the selected high-frequency colors within the imaging-related product or having a color complementary to one or more of the selected high-frequency colors within the imaging-related product; and combining the image and the imaging-related product.
US08630483B2

Complex-object detection using a cascade of classifiers for identifying complex-objects parts in an image in which successive classifiers process pixel patches on condition that respective discriminatory features sets of previous classifiers have been identified and selecting additional pixel patches from a query image by applying known positional relationships between an identified complex-object part and another part to be identified.
US08630477B2

A method outputs measurement data automatically using an electronic device. The method obtains measurement data of feature elements from a two dimensional (2D) image of a measured object, determines a type of measurement applied to each feature element, obtains feature elements from planes of a three dimensional (3D) image of the measured object, and maps each of the obtained feature elements in the 3D image to the 2D image. The method further obtains sequential marked numbers from the 2D image, determines a feature element which is nearest to any marked number from the mapped feature elements, determines an output axis for each of the determined feature elements, and outputs measured results and measurement codes of the determined feature elements by reference to the measurement data, the type of measurement and the output axis of each determined feature element.
US08630476B2

A system, and methods of operation thereof, is presented that permits determination of a defect in an inspection subject by means of processing an image of said inspection subject, which system avoids exhaustion of bandwidth in a communication line connected to the image processing unit. The system includes a unit to receive an image, a transmission queue and a buffer to store the image, an image processing unit to determine whether the image includes a defect image, a unit that generates defect information when the presence of a defect image is determined, an image extraction unit that extracts the defect image based on the defect information, and a storage unit for storing such defect image.
US08630475B2

A banknote handling machine for handling banknotes including a windowed banknote that has a window capable of transmitting light formed at a predetermined position comprising: a transport path configured to transport a banknote; a window identification unit configured to judge whether the banknote being transported on the transport path is a windowed banknote; a transport path sensor, which is arranged in the transport path, configured to detect the banknote passing thereon; and a banknote presence/absence detection unit configured to judge a presence or an absence of the banknote associated with a detection signal from the transport path sensor. The banknote presence/absence detection unit performs a detection based on a detection result of the window identification unit.
US08630456B2

To carry out satisfactory object recognition in a short time. An object recognition method in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention is an object recognition method for recognizing a target object by using a preliminarily-created object model. The object recognition method generates a range image of an observed scene, detects interest points from the range image, extracts first features, the first features being features of an area containing the interest points, carries out a matching process between the first features and second features, the second features being features of an area in the range image of the object model, calculates a transformation matrix based on a result of the matching process, the transformation matrix being for projecting the second features on a coordinate system of the observed scene, and recognizes the target object with respect to the object model based on the transformation matrix.
US08630446B2

A three-dimensional (3D) location of a reflection point of a ray between a point in a scene (PS) and a center of projection (COP) of a camera of a catadioptric system is determined. The catadioptric system is non-central and includes the camera and a reflector, wherein a surface of the reflector is a quadric surface rotationally symmetric around an axis of symmetry. The 3D location of the reflection point is determined based on a law of reflection, an equation of the reflector, and an equation describing a reflection plane defined by the COP, the PS, and a point of intersection of a normal to the reflector at the reflection point with the axis of symmetry.
US08630437B2

Adaptive notch filters can be used to estimate offending frequencies caused by feedback within a hearing aid system. The offending frequencies can be suppressed by filtering. Offending frequencies can be identified based on variability of the adaptive notch filter parameters.
US08630434B2

A hearing device having a circuitry unit which is adapted for processing sound signals and converting the processed sound signals into corresponding electrical signals. An output module is provided for receiving the electric signals after processing by the circuitry unit. The output module defines an outer surface. At least one venting channel is arranged adjacent to the outer surface of the output module of the hearing device. The hearing device may also have a mold, which is adapted to receive the output module in a through going opening. The at least one venting channel is arranged at the interface between the mold and the output module and advantageously provides a pressure balance in the user's ear canal to minimize occlusion. An ITE-part of a hearing device is furthermore provided.
US08630420B2

A method for generating a network address in a communication network includes at least one user equipment and a network equipment. The method includes: a) providing a same shared secret key both at the at least one user equipment and at the network equipment; and b) generating at least a portion of the network address at the at least one user equipment and at the network equipment based upon at least the shared secret key.
US08630411B2

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for authenticating devices and securing data. In embodiments, a session key for securing data between two devices can be derived as a byproduct of a challenge-response protocol for authenticating one or both of the devices.
US08630409B2

A two-party approximation protocol is transformed into a private approximation protocol. A first input xε{0, 1, . . . , M}n and a second input yε{0, 1, . . . , M}n of a two party approximation protocol approximating a function of a form ƒ(x, y)=Σj=1ng(xj, yj) is received. Variable B is set as a public upper bound on ƒ(x, y). Variable l is set l=O*(1). The following is performed until ∑ j = 1 l ⁢ z j ≥ l t or B<1, where t is an arbitrary number: (1) a private importance sampling protocol with the first input x, the second input y, and a third input 1k, is executed independently for jε[l], where k is a security parameter, an output of the private importance sampling protocol is shares of Ijε[n]∪{⊥}; (2) l coin tosses z1, . . . , zl are independently generated where zj=1 iff Ij≠⊥; and (3) B is divided by 2 if ∑ j = 1 l ⁢ z j ≥ l t or B<1 is not satisfied. When ∑ j = 1 l ⁢ z j ≥ l 8 or B<1 a private (ε, δ)-approximation Ψ protocol for ƒ(x, y)=Σj=1ng(xj, yj) is outputted where Ψ = 2 ⁢ B l ⁢ ∑ j = 1 l ⁢ z j , ε is an arbitrary number, and δ=exp(−k).
US08630408B2

A cover for covering a folder type terminal including a first frame, a second frame, and a hinge for rotatably connecting the first frame and the second frame, the folder type terminal cover device includes: a first outer cover for covering the first frame; a second outer cover for covering the second frame; and a hinge cover for covering the hinge and in which a separation distance from the hinge increases when the folder type terminal is unfolded from a folded state. Thereby, an appearance and grip impression of the folder type terminal can be improved, and when the folder type terminal is put on a table in an unfolded state, the folder type terminal can maintain a predetermined angle from a table plane without a separate device.
US08630407B2

A foldable portable electronic device is disclosed including an upper housing, a bottom housing rotatable relative to the upper housing, a hinge, and a sleeve. The upper housing includes a barrel, a latching groove, and a receiving space. The hinge is secured in the receiving space and rotatably engages with the bottom housing. The sleeve is slidably received in the receiving space and can be secured in the receiving space and rotatably engaged with the bottom housing.
US08630400B2

When a telephone call line from an outgoing telephone terminal to the specific telephone terminal of a specific terminal user is not opened, the telephone relay apparatus acquires periphery requirement data from user scheduled data about the specific terminal user having a scheduled date matching the present date, and selects a peripheral telephone terminal. Opening of a telephone call line from the outgoing telephone terminal to the selected peripheral telephone terminal is tried, and the outgoing telephone terminal not connected to the specific telephone terminal is connected to the peripheral telephone terminal. Thus, it is possible to increase the possibility that the telephone outgoing user and the specific terminal user can talk to each other between the peripheral telephone terminal and the outgoing telephone terminal.
US08630392B2

The present application relates to software on phones for displaying local times of distant parties as to allow users of the software to shape their behavior based on the social and business expectations related to those local times. Local times are retrieved by communicating with a directory number information service. The directory number information service can receive a user identifier from a phone application identifying a remote party. The service can retrieve a location of the remote party identified by the user identifier. The service can determine a local time of the remote party based on the remote party's location and provide the local time to the phone application for display. Social statuses can also be provided. The phone can create a call log for incoming calls made by remote parties. The calculated local time can be used for updating software on the phones.
US08630391B2

A voice authentication system using a removable voice ID card comprises: at server side, a voiceprint database for storing the voiceprints of all authorized users; a voiceprint updating means for updating the voiceprints in said voiceprint database; and a voiceprint digest generator for generating a voiceprint digest according to a request from a client; at client side, a voice ID card for storing the voiceprint of an authorized user; a validation means for validating the voiceprint in the voice ID card on the basis of the voiceprint digest from the server; an audio device for performing voice interaction with a user; and a voice authentication means for determining whether the voiceprint from said voice ID card is of the same speaker as the voice from said audio device.
US08630387B2

In order to optimize the recording time, provision is made of a method for recording an X-ray image using an X-ray system with an X-ray detector, an X-ray source, a system control, and a computational unit, wherein information relating to the relative direct radiation component in a reference X-ray image and information relating to the utilized recording geometry and/or the utilized primary X-ray dose and/or the utilized filtering is used to determine a relaxation time, during which a ghosting effect of the X-ray detector resulting from a preceding X-ray image decays at least in part, which relaxation time is adapted to the X-ray image to be recorded, and the determined relaxation time is utilized to actuate the recording of the X-ray image.
US08630385B2

The present invention relates to a longitudinally divided emergency core cooling (ECC) duct in order to efficiently inject safety water to core of a pressurized light-water nuclear reactor. The ECC duct includes side supports for preventing the flow-induced vibration in the annular downcomer, and has structural stability while thermally expanding and contracting. A longitudinally divided ECC duct for emergency core cooling water injection of a nuclear reactor is provided on the periphery of a core barrel of a nuclear reactor, includes an emergency core cooling water inlet facing a direct vessel injection nozzle, and extends in a longitudinal direction of the core barrel. The longitudinally divided ECC duct is divided into a plurality of longitudinally-divided ducts in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinally divided ECC duct.
US08630384B2

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for storing or transporting spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, a container for storing spent nuclear fuel comprises a plurality of elongated tubes that receives spent nuclear fuel rods. Each tube has four sidewalls and four corners defining a rectangular cross section. The plurality of tubes is arranged in an alternating pattern. An attachment means attaches together the plurality of tubes at the corners so that two adjacent sidewalls of adjacent tubes are substantially aligned.
US08630378B2

Techniques for performing interference cancellation in a wireless (e.g., CDMA) communication system are described. In one aspect, per-bin power estimates for multiple orthogonal bins are derived by estimating at least two components of these power estimates. The components may include, e.g., channel gain, noise and interference, and bin gain. Interference cancellation is performed based on the per-bin power estimates. In another aspect, interference cancellation is performed in multiple stages with fast tracking. A total power estimate and per-bin power estimates are derived for a first stage. A total power estimate is derived for a second stage. Per-bin power estimates are also derived for the second stage based on the total power estimates for the first and second stages and the per-bin power estimates for the first stage. Interference cancellation is performed for each stage based on the per-bin power estimates for that stage.
US08630374B2

A packet detection and coarse symbol timing recovery system for preamble signal modulated with rotated differential M-ary phase shift key (PSK) modulation includes a differential detection unit, to provide a symbol signal responsive to a received signal. A preamble sequence correlator performs a preamble sequence correlation on the symbol signal to produce a correlator signal. A metric calculation unit performs a metric calculation on the correlator signal to produce a metric. A packet detection unit determines that a packet is detected and produces a sample index. A coarse symbol timing unit finds a peak of the calculated metric signal outputs a sample index for the peak as coarse symbol timing information. The sample indexes are used in processing a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) header and physical layer service data unit (PSDU) block.
US08630365B2

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a transceiver. The transceiver includes a transmitter having a first transmission path configured to transmit a digital baseband signal over a wireline medium. In addition, the transmitter has a second transmission path configured to transmit a radio frequency signal over a wireless medium. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08630364B2

Various example embodiments are disclosed herein. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus may include a multiple modulation index continuous phase encoder (CPE) configured to perform continuous phase encoding on one or more received symbols and to output CPE encoded symbols, the CPE being configured to a known initial state prior to receiving a data block of one or more symbols, and a termination symbol (TS) generator coupled to the CPE, the TS generator configured to generate one or more termination symbols to be appended to the received data block, wherein an ending state of the CPE after receiving the one or more termination symbols is the same as the known initial state of the CPE.
US08630360B2

A method of transmitting a reference signal in a wireless communication system includes generating a frequency-domain reference signal by performing discrete Fourier transform (DFT) on a time-domain reference signal, generating a transmit signal by performing inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) on the frequency-domain reference signal and transmitting the transmit signal.
US08630359B2

A pilot signal is transmitted with a predetermined frequency band and a data signal is transmitted with a partial band of the frequency band, and the pilot signal and the data signal to be transmitted with at least the partial band, are controlled its waveform to have the same waveforms in a frequency domain. Thus, in the case of controlling waveforms of the pilot signal and the data signal which have different occupied bands, it is possible to, in a portion of the occupied band for the data signal, avoid the mapping of a low-quality pilot signal or the like, enhance the data signal demodulation capability and improve the data signal reception characteristic while suppressing PAPR.
US08630358B2

A system-on-chip integrated circuit 2 includes a packet transmitter 28 for generating data packets to be sent via a communication circuit 34 to a packet receiver 30 containing a buffer circuit 32. A transmitter counter 36 stores a transmitter count value counting data packets sent. A receiver counter 38 stores a receiver count value tracking data packets emptied from the buffer circuit 32. A comparison circuitry 40 is used to compare the transmitter count value and the receiver count value to determine whether or not there is storage space available within the buffer circuit 30 to receive transmission of further data packets. The packet transmitter 28 operates in a transmitter clock domain that is asynchronous from a receiver clock domain in which the packet receiver operates. One of the count values is passed across this asynchronous clock boundary in order that the comparison may be performed and flow control exercised.
US08630354B2

Apparatus, systems and methods for hardware accelerated compressed video bitstream escape code handling are disclosed including an apparatus comprising a bitstream parser (BSP) to parse a bitstream of compressed video data. The BSP includes circuitry to extract uncompressed run and level data from the bitstream when the BSP detects an escape code in the bitstream. Other implementations are disclosed.
US08630347B2

According to one embodiment, a video decoding apparatus decoding a video stream selectively generates one of an intra prediction image and an inter prediction image based on an encoding mode of a decoding object from the video stream and decoded images thereof, generates a residual decoded image based on a quantization parameter of a decoding object from the video stream, generates a decoded image by adding one of an intra prediction image and an inter prediction image selectively generated, and the residual decoded image, applies deblocking filter process for reducing a block distortion onto the decoded image, extracts information on an encoding mode from the video image stream to determine whether or not inter prediction processes for generating the inter prediction image should be simplified, and simplifies the inter prediction process step-by-step on the basis of the result of the determination.
US08630345B2

Provided is are method and apparatus for video interprediction encoding/decoding. The method of video interprediction encoding/decoding includes extracting intraprediction-encoded/decoded blocks included in previously encoded/decoded pictures and predicting a current block from the extracted blocks. Thus, video encoding/decoding can be performed using both an intra (I) picture and correlation with adjacent pictures, thereby increasing the speed of video encoding/decoding.
US08630343B2

A method of coding digital images, wherein the method comprises a step of video coding of a plurality of successive images, the plurality of successive images corresponding to a plurality of versions of one and the same initial image at spatial resolutions different from that of the initial image.
US08630332B2

A signal processor for GPS or other GNSS radiolocalization systems, includes a RAM pre-correlation buffer which is filled in sync with the code NCO, thus all sample alignment in the buffer is fixed The device further includes an amplitude compressor to limit the size of the buffer memory and is optimized to provide data to the following DFT unit in small bursts that can be processed in real time without the need for intermediate buffers. Thanks to these features the processor limits the amount of fast intermediate memories, is simpler and has lowerpower consumption.
US08630331B2

A method for acquiring a direct sequence spread spectrum signal, which is transmitted on a carrier frequency and is modulated with a code signal of length equal to Nc chips, for determining a code delay of the spread spectrum signal and a Doppler shift with respect to the carrier frequency, the determination being performed on a discrete two-dimensional space of M possible code delays and F possible frequency shifts, includes: receiving and sampling the spread spectrum signal to obtain a sampled spread spectrum signal; performing a despreading operation of the sampled spread spectrum signal with a local replica signal of the code signal, by performing the despreading for a plurality of possible code delays between the sampled signal and the replica signal; and performing a parallel frequency search on the result of the despreading step, by performing a step of computing a Fourier transform on the result. The Fourier transform is a fractional Fourier transform.
US08630323B2

Apparatus and method for control of lasers (which use an array of optical gain fibers) in order to improve spectrally beam-combined (SBC) laser beam quality along the plane of the SBC fiber array via spectral-to-spatial mapping of a portion of the spectrally beam-combined laser beams, detection of optical power in each of the spatially dispersed beams and feedback control of the lasers for wavelength-drift correction. The apparatus includes a diffractive element; a source of a plurality of substantially monochromatic light beams directed from different angles to a single location on the diffractive element, wherein the diffractive element spectrally combines the plurality of light beams into a single beam. A controller adjusts characteristics of the light beams if one of the light beams has become misadjusted. In some embodiments, the controller adjusts the wavelength tuning of the respective fiber laser.
US08630314B2

Apparatus includes at least two devices that communicate with each other, wherein a first one of the at least two devices having an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface, the interface including one or more components configured for communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with a second one of the at least two devices. The second one of the at least two devices having an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface, the interface including one or more components configured for communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with the first one of the at least two devices. Wherein one of the at least two devices includes a master clock and the other one of the at least two devices includes a slave clock, wherein the master clock communicates a time to the slave clock and the slave clock is responsive to the communicated time from the master clock to adjust a time of the slave clock if necessary to substantially correspond to the time of the master clock, thereby time synchronizing the at least two devices together.
US08630313B2

Ameliorate deterioration in quality of communication caused by intercell interference with respect to a multicarrier communications protocol, such as OFDM. A method of positioning an error correction-coded signal is changed with a data symbol that is transmitted simultaneously with a pilot signal and a data symbol that is not simultaneous with the pilot symbol. Else, a modulation protocol is changed with a data symbol that is transmitted simultaneously with a pilot signal and a data symbol that is not simultaneous with the pilot symbol. It would further be permissible to lower either a signal amplitude or a power level of a data symbol that is transmitted simultaneously with a pilot signal.
US08630311B2

A system and method for reporting quantized feedback information for adaptive codebooks include generating channel state information, encoding all or part of the channel state information to produce a feedback payload and transmitting the feedback payload to a base station from a mobile station. The channel state information comprises a rank indicator, a first matrix indicator, a wideband channel quality indicator, a second matrix indicator and at least one narrowband channel quality indicator. When the rank indicator is greater than 1, the first matrix indicator is reported in a second report. On the other hand, when the rank indicator is equal to 1, the content of the first matrix indicator is split between a second report and a third report.
US08630309B2

Provided are a frame generation apparatus and method that may protect variable length header information in a wideband high frequency wireless system. The frame generation apparatus may report variable length header information of a frame, and thereby the variable length header information may be verified in a receiving device. Also, the frame generation apparatus may convert a variable length header into a fixed length header by adding padding information to the variable length header of a frame, thereby protecting variable length header information.
US08630308B2

Methods and apparatuses for detecting deviations from legitimate operation on a wireless network. The method includes detecting a sequence of observable events related to operation of an entity in the wireless network, and determining from the detected sequence of observable events for a particular entity in the wireless network what number of idle slots occurred between two consecutive observable events to provide a first output. The method further includes obtaining a second output corresponding to the number of idle slots between two consecutive observable events for legitimate operation of any entity in the wireless network using the network transmission protocol, and comparing a function of the first output with a function of the second output to determine whether or not the particular entity is deviating from legitimate operation of the network transmission protocol.
US08630305B2

A data interface for transferring digital data between a host and a client over a communication path using packet structures linked together to form a communication protocol for communicating a pre-selected set of digital control and presentation data. The signal protocol is used by link controllers configured to generate, transmit, and receive packets forming the communications protocol, and to form digital data into one or more types of data packets, with at least one residing in the host device and being coupled to the client through the communications path. The interface provides a cost-effective, low power, bi-directional, high-speed data transfer mechanism over a short-range “serial” type data link, which lends itself to implementation with miniature connectors and thin flexible cables which are especially useful in connecting display elements such as wearable micro-displays to portable computers and wireless communication devices.
US08630300B2

A system and method for deploying communication services is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a cross-connect system having an Ethernet switch coupled to a central office and coupled to a plurality of buildings by way of a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) ports, and a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) transceiver coupled to a high speed port of the Ethernet switch. The WiMAX transceiver can be used to augment a limited capacity of at least one of the plurality of DSL ports by distributing a portion of services carried by the at least one DSL port to the WiMAX transceiver. Accordingly, the cross-connect system can supply dual-mode communications. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08630299B1

A customer premises border element is disclosed that functions as an interface between devices, such as SIP devices located on a customer's premises, and a border element located in the service provider's network. Such customer premises border elements are advantageous in that they are relatively inexpensive since they only have to support devices located on the customer's premises. At the same time, by performing a number of functions, such as media transcoding and a portion of call processing, it reduces the processing requirements of network border elements.
US08630298B2

A system and method for locating Open System Interconnection (OSI) Layer 3 or higher devices at strategic locations throughout the network. The Layer 3 devices may have additional capabilities, such as wireless connections or other functionality that may benefit both the consumer and network provider. Layer 2 traffic is confined to smaller areas, allowing the main backbone of the network to handle more useful data traffic and less overhead traffic.
US08630287B2

An embodiment of a network device includes a plurality of switch cores and a plurality of ports for receiving and transmitting data frames on a network disposed on a single integrated circuit, where switch core is coupled to a subset of the plurality of ports. The network device includes a deactivator configured to selectively deactivate at least a portion of one or more switch cores among the plurality of switch cores on the single integrated circuit, and the network device is configured to forward data frames among the plurality of ports based on a configuration of active portions of the plurality of switch cores. The deactivated portions may include ingress processing pipelines, egress processing pipelines, and/or entire switch cores. The portions of the switch cores to be deactivated may be dynamically be determined based on connectors of the integrated circuit.
US08630283B1

A system is provided comprising an application server and a media proxy. The application server comprises a first processor, a first memory, and a first application stored in the first memory that, when executed by the first processor, transmits a first digital media stream for mixing with a first voice over internet protocol (VoIP) stream. The media proxy is stored in a second memory and, when executed by a second processor, receives the first voice over internet protocol stream, mixes the first digital media stream with the first voice over internet protocol stream to produce a second voice over internet protocol stream, transmits the second voice over internet protocol stream, receives a third voice over internet protocol stream, produces a fourth internet protocol stream based on the third internet protocol stream, and transmits the fourth internet protocol stream.
US08630267B1

Coordinated transmission of sounding messages between base stations and feeder stations in a wireless backhaul network is provided to facilitate accurate observations by each base station of signals from its serving feeder station and from other feeder stations in order to generate interference nulling beamforming weights for transmission to and/or reception from its serving feeder station. Likewise, these techniques facilitate accurate observations by each feeder station of signals from the base station(s) it serves and from other base stations in order to generate interfering nulling beamforming weights for transmission to and/or reception from the base station(s) it serves.
US08630265B2

A method and apparatus for reconfiguring a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are directed to receiving an active set update message indicating that a mode of operation allowing a certain modulation scheme is enabled or disabled and performing at least one of: performing a MAC reset procedure, updating a set of reference enhanced transport format combination indicators (E-TFCIs) and associated power offsets, determining actions related to E-DPCCH boosting, modifying information related to an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH), and modifying an index that indicates an E-DCH transport block size table. The update message includes at least one modified information element (IE).
US08630259B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate configuring a flush timer within a wireless environment in order to provide robust communications in regards to handover or re-establishment. The flush timer can be triggered upon successful completion of reconfiguration re-establishment. Moreover, the flush timer can be triggered upon successful completion of handover. In the case of handover and re-establishment, a separate indication of handover to packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) from the start of PDCP flush timer can be utilized.
US08630258B2

System(s) and method(s) are provided for automatic radio paging parameter planning. For location area update (LAC), reuse plan is based at least in part on actual subscriber mobility in a set of deployed femto access points (APs). Mobility data is incorporate in LAC planning through a visitation matrix spanned by the set of deployed femto APs. Visitation matrix elements are counts of failed attachment attempts, or unwelcomed visits, from a subscriber station authorized to attach to a first femto AP into a second femto AP in which the subscriber station is not authorized to attach. Automatic LAC planning is achieved iteratively through a search algorithm that minimizes a cost function related to unwelcome visits, and through a planning principle that assigns disparate LACs to pairs of femto APs with high reciprocal unwelcome visits and same LACs to pairs of femto APs with low reciprocal unwelcome visits.
US08630255B1

A wireless device for wireless communication in a wireless area network. The wireless device includes a main radio channel for exchanging data with an access point in the wireless area network, as well as an auxiliary radio channel for scanning for availability of other access points in the wireless area network.
US08630248B2

A method and apparatus for performing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) in a multiple carrier system are provided. A user equipment performs an HARQ process in a source component carrier. When the user equipment receives a management message regarding a transfer from the source component carrier to a target component carrier, the user equipment subsequently performs the HARQ process in the target component carrier.
US08630242B2

A resource allocation method and a method for transmitting resource allocation information in a mobile communication system are disclosed. That is, a LVRB (PRB) and a DVRB which are the units of a scheduling resource are defined and a resource allocation method and a method for transmitting resource allocation information using the same are disclosed. In the LVRB, a part bitmap scheduling method using a LVRB set is suggested and a method for constructing resource allocation information using the same is suggested. In the DVRB, a method for defining the DVRB using PRBs in a subframe is suggested and a method for constructing resource allocation information using the same when scheduling is performed using the DVRB constructed by the defined method is suggested. In order to prevent interference and collision from occurring due to the complete matching of the DVRBs in respective cells, a method using different DVRBs in the respective cells is suggested.
US08630236B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile voice over internet protocol communication device, comprising a controller operable to register with a voice over internet protocol call processing system by way of a wireless fidelity access point operating in a cluster of wireless fidelity access points, and re-register with the voice over Internet Protocol call processing system by way of the wireless fidelity access point in response to receiving a re-registration request upon expiration of a timer having a period determined from attributes of the cluster by the mobile voice over Internet Protocol communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08630231B2

A mobile device system and related method are disclosed by which the device is able to communicate wirelessly not only via a Wide Area Network (WAN) link but also via an alternate link such as a Wi-Fi link. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a command from a remote server, via the WAN link, to establish a Wi-Fi link when possible. The method further includes, upon establishing the Wi-Fi link, sending a message for receipt by the server indicating that the Wi-Fi link has been established, and receiving software update information from the server, the information being communicated to the mobile device via the Wi-Fi link. Further, the method includes one or both of (1) sending an acknowledgement for receipt by the server indicating that the information has been received and (2) receiving an instruction from the server that communications via the Wi-Fi link be ended.
US08630220B2

A probe request for an access point scan is transmitted over a specified radio channel according to an order of scanning, a connection candidate AP list including information indicating an access point which transmits a probe response and a received signal strength indication is generated when the probe response is received, the connection candidate AP list is referred to, one access point is selected from access points whose corresponding received signal strength indications exceed a predetermined threshold, connection processing is performed on the one access point being selected on the specified radio channel, and scanning is repeatedly performed by specifying a radio channel which is second in the order until scanning on all radio channels for which the order of scanning is set is completed when no probe response is received or the connection candidate AP list includes no received signal strength indication which exceeds the threshold.
US08630205B2

A method and apparatus discover hidden wireless devices in a wireless network using a directional antenna system, preventing partitioning of the wireless network. A first wireless device located in a first antenna sector is joined in response to an initial first beacon. First beacons are received from the joined first wireless device during corresponding first beacon periods. At least a second antenna sector is scanned during at least one first beacon period to listen for second beacons from a second wireless device in the second antenna sector, while remaining joined with the first wireless device. The first beacons are not received while the second antenna sector is scanned. The second wireless device is joined in response to an initial second beacon. Second beacons are then received from the joined second wireless device during corresponding second beacon periods, and the first beacons are received during the corresponding first beacon periods.
US08630203B2

A data transmission method includes receiving a data packet sent by a sender and recording information about the data packet received, sending the received data packet to a receiver through a protocol layer, looking up recorded information about data packets according to a data packet mapping after the protocol layer receives confirmation information of a data packet sent by the receiver to the sender. The data packet mapping is a relation between a recorded data packet and a data packet received by the protocol layer. The method further includes constructing an acknowledgement destined for the sender according to information about the data packet obtained by the steps of looking up recorded information about received data packets.
US08630199B2

A method of and a network processor unit (10) for processing of packets in a network, the network processor (10) comprising: communication interface (14) configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means (16) for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch (12) configured to switch packets between the communication interface (14) and the processing means (16); and wherein the embedded switch (12) is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means (16) for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means (16), and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.
US08630197B2

A method is provided to determine optimal data rate and packet length in mobile networks. The method directly determines the optimal packet length (L) and data rate (D), which allows fast convergence in the mobile channel. The method automatically identifies and quantifies channel conditions, as well as adjusts parameters according to changes of channel conditions. A variable (Channel condition Index (CCI)) is abstracted from simulations and then used to describe and quantify the impact of three components of channel conditions: signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), multipath environment and velocity. Based on packet completion rate (PCR) status, the channel condition is identified in terms of CCI value. Once CCI is identified, the model of effective throughput G is directly optimized to locate the best packet length (L) and data rate (D).
US08630196B2

A distributed processing system in a vehicle includes many processors communicating through a network. One of the processors controls the image content of a display mounted in view of a vehicle occupant; a second processor is in a portable device connected to the packet networks. An application residing in a memory device connected to the vehicle network is launched from that memory when the portable device is brought into the vehicle. The combination of the display, the image content processor, the application and the portable device allow a user to access the internet and conduct transactions for goods and services.
US08630195B2

Embodiments of a method and apparatus for obtaining sounding measurements between an access point and a wireless station within a wireless local area network are described. Some embodiments relate to Wi-Fi networks and networks operating in accordance with one of the IEEE 802.11 standards. Some embodiments may allow an access point to request that multiple stations compute sounding measurements with minimal time delay between measurements. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08630184B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate encoding feedback or control information into a compact payload. In particular, a rank indicator, a precoding matrix indicator and channel quality indicators are packaged into a control channel payload that fits into a single sub-frame. The payload format is determined based at least in part on an antenna configuration or channel quality indicator granularity. In addition, hybrid automatic repeat requests can be included in the payload.
US08630175B2

A traffic shaper which includes a cell buffer for temporarily storing an ATM cell arrived thereat, a first calculator for calculating an estimated cell sending time according to a VC contracted bandwidth, a second calculator for calculating an estimated cell sending time according to a VP contracted bandwidth, a binary tree VP sorting circuit for determining VP to be sent in top priority, a binary tree VC sorting circuit for determining VC to be sent in top priority, and a sending circuit for sending a cell in which the determined VP and VC are both brought to a transmittable state. The VP estimated sending time is revised according to the VC estimated sending time.
US08630156B2

An optical recording medium includes a recording and reading layer that is previously staked or formed afterward and has no concavo-convex pattern for tracking control, and a servo layer in which a concavo-convex pattern or a groove for tracking control is formed. Information can be recorded in the recording and reading layer while tracking is performed using the servo layer.
US08630155B2

Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit that has fast response time to sudden profile changes in an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit includes a processing path configured to process an electrical signal that is generated in response to reading data on a storage medium, and a feed-forward correction module. The feed-forward correction module is configured to detect a profile variation based the electrical signal in a time window, and correct the electrical signal in the time window based on the detected profile variation.
US08630152B2

A device for implementing thermally assisted magnetic recording, using a TE mode laser diode, and method for using it, are described. This device is shaped internally so as to provide three-dimensional self-focusing of plasmon radiation, thereby improving the coupling efficiency between the optical wave-guide and the plasmon generator as a result of ensuring a large overlap between these two modes.
US08630148B2

Systems, methods, and apparatus to drive reactive loads are disclosed. An example apparatus to drive a reactive load includes a reactive component in circuit with the reactive load, a first switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in a first energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the first energy state to a second energy state, a second switching element in circuit with the reactive load to selectively hold the reactive load in the second energy state and to selectively allow the reactive load to change from the second energy state to the first energy state, and a controller to detect a current in the reactive load, and to control the first and second switching elements to hold the reactive load in the first or the second energy state when the current traverses a threshold.
US08630147B2

A position determining method and a work result management device. A position where work is done inside a space surrounded by surfaces is determined, wherein the position where work is done inside the space is a sidewall, wave receivers that receive an acoustic wave signal are placed at three or more points, which are on the same plane substantially parallel to the sidewall but not collinear with one another and whose position coordinates are known. The signal is transmitted from a wave transmitter that transmits an acoustic wave and is placed at the position on the sidewall where work is done, and the respective arrival times of the signal at the three or more wave receivers that are not collinear with one another are measured to determine the position coordinates of the wave transmitter using the arrival times and the position coordinates of the three or more wave receivers.
US08630146B2

An acoustic source on a logging tool is used to generate acoustic waves in a borehole. Acoustic detectors on the logging tool measure the generated acoustic waves. Electrodes on the logging tool are used to measure the potential resulting from the generated acoustic wave. The output of the hydrophones and the electrodes corresponding to Stoneley wave components of the acoustic wave are processed to provide an estimate of formation permeability, acoustoelectric constant, and a velocity of a propagating second compressional wave in the formation.
US08630143B2

An apparatus comprises a clock generator, first and second memory drivers and a multiple-port memory device having at least first and second ports configured to receive input signals from and supply output signals to respective ones of the first and second memory drivers, the multiple-port memory device further comprising a single-port memory device and control circuitry coupled between the first and second ports and the single port of the single-port memory device. The clock generator generates first and second clock signals having respective first and second clock rates, the clock rate of the second clock signal being an integer multiple of the clock rate of the first clock signal. The first and second memory drivers are configured to operate using the first clock signal at the first clock rate, and the single-port memory device is configured to operate using the second clock signal at the second clock rate.
US08630132B2

A SRAM READ and WRITE assist apparatus comprises a bit line voltage tracking block, a READ assist timer, a READ assist unit, a WRITE assist unit a WRITE control unit. The bit line voltage tracking block detects a voltage on a tracking bit line coupled to a plurality of tracking memory cells. In response to the voltage drop on the tracking bit line, the READ assist timer generates a READ assist pulse. When the READ assist pulse has a logic high state, an activated word line is pulled down to a lower voltage. Such a lower voltage helps to improve the robustness of SRAM memory circuits so as to avoid READ and WRITE failures.
US08630131B1

An integrated circuit may include memory interface circuitry that is used to communicate with off-chip memory. The memory interface circuitry may include data strobe (DQS) enable circuitry that receives DQS signals from the off-chip memory and that outputs a gated version of the DQS signals. The DQS enable circuitry may include an input buffer, a comparator, a latch, a flip-flop, a counter, and a gating circuit. The input buffer may receive an incoming DQS signal. The comparator may be used to determine when the incoming DQS signal starts to toggle. The latch may be used to control when a gating signal is asserted. The flip-flop controls the counter, which limits the duration that the gating signal is asserted. The gating circuit receives the DQS signal from the buffer and the gating signal and passes the DQS signal through to its output only when the gating signal is asserted.
US08630128B2

An integrated circuit includes a serial peripheral interface memory device. In an embodiment, the memory device includes a clock signal, a plurality of pins, and a configuration register. In an embodiment, the configuration register includes a wait cycle count. The method includes transmitting a read address to the memory device using a first input/output pin and a second input/output pin concurrently. In an embodiment, the read address includes at least a first address bit and a second address bit, the first address bit being transmitted using the first input/output pin, and the second address bit being transmitted using the second input/output pin. The method includes accessing the memory device for data associated with the address and waiting a predetermined number clock cycles associated with the wait cycle count. The method includes transferring the data from the memory device using the first input/output pin and the second input/output pin concurrently.
US08630127B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor device having a memory cell which comprises a transistor having a control gate and a storage gate. The storage gate comprises an oxide semiconductor and is able to be a conductor and an insulator depending on the potential of the storage gate and the potential of the control gate. Data is written by setting the potential of the control gate to allow the storage gate to be a conductor, supplying a potential of data to be stored to the storage gate, and setting the potential of the control gate to allow the storage gate to be an insulator. Data is read by supplying a potential for reading to a read signal line connected to one of a source and a drain of the transistor and detecting the change in potential of a bit line connected to the other of the source and the drain.
US08630123B2

A method of operating a nonvolatile memory device comprises reading erase number information which is updated and stored whenever erasure is performed, setting program start voltages and step voltages based on the erase number information, and performing a program operation based on the program start voltages and the step voltages.
US08630122B2

Methods for programming a memory array, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method, the target reliability of the data to be programmed is determined The relative reliability of different groups of memory cells of the memory array is determined. The data is programmed into the group of memory cells of the array having a relative reliability corresponding to the target reliability.
US08630111B2

A memory device can include a random access memory array configured to store data values; a plurality of bi-directional ports, configured to transfer data values into and out of the memory device on rising and falling transitions of at least one access clock signal; and at least one address bus configured to receive at least a portion of address values to random access locations on rising and falling transitions a timing clock signal having the same frequency as the access clock signal.
US08630108B2

An alternative electrical fuse structure, which may be similar to or identical with an insulated gate field effect transistor (“IGFET”) of advanced CMOS technology, can be very area efficient and programmable at relatively low voltages, e.g., programming voltages between 1.5 V and 2.5 V. A method is provided for programming an electrical fuse having the structure of an IGFET to permanently electrically isolate the drain of the IGFET from its source. In this way, the step of programming the IGFET fuse can increase a resistance between the source and the drain of the IGFET from a pre-programming value to a post-programming value by two or more orders of magnitude when any given gate-source voltage value and any given drain-source voltage value within normal operational ranges of the IGFET are applied thereto.
US08630104B2

A switching power supply has a function of improving a power factor, and outputs insulated DC. The switching power supply performs two kinds of controls for switching devices exclusive to each other: controlling of a switching device provided in a direction in which the discharging of a primary-side smoothing capacitor is prohibited at the time of suspension of commercially available AC power and near the zero cross of an input voltage; and causing a switching device provided between the output side of a third winding and the primary-side smoothing capacitor to control a charging current, thereby charging a capacitor in a boosted manner.
US08630099B2

An exemplary electronic device includes a housing, a lever, and a locking device securing the lever on the housing. The housing includes a bottom plate, a top plate and a side plate connecting the bottom plate with the top plate. The locking device includes a nut having a main body extending downwardly into the lever, a screw extending upwardly through the top plate into the nut, and gaskets sandwiched between the top plate and the nut. The lever is disposed on the top plate and sleeved on the nut with a gap defined between a top face of the lever and a bottom face of a head of the nut. A polytetrafluoroethylene paste is provided on an interface between the nut and the screw.
US08630098B2

A circuit board adapted for use in an switching converter for connecting a plurality of switches including a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch. The circuit board has a layout for connecting the switches. The layout is adapted for locating the switches substantially at or symmetrically with respect to the endpoints of a right-angle cross. The right-angle cross is formed from two line segments intersecting with a ninety degree angle. The circuit board may offsets the switches perpendicularly to the line segments at the endpoints of the line segments either in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction.
US08630091B2

Under one aspect, a method of cooling a circuit element includes providing a thermal reservoir having a temperature lower than an operating temperature of the circuit element; and providing a nanotube article in thermal contact with the circuit element and with the reservoir, the nanotube article including a non-woven fabric of nanotubes in contact with other nanotubes to define a plurality of thermal pathways along the article, the nanotube article having a nanotube density and a shape selected such that the nanotube article is capable of transferring heat from the circuit element to the thermal reservoir.
US08630089B2

A resilient coupling mechanism assembly includes a resilient coupling mechanism. The resilient coupling mechanism includes a resilient member. A first member is coupled to the resilient member. A second member is coupled to the first member. The first member comprises a first cavity. A vertical member is disposed within the first cavity. A second member is coupled to the first member. The second member comprises a second cavity configured to receive the vertical member.
US08630086B2

An electronic device includes a first component defining at least one through hole, a hinge defining at least one round hole corresponding to the at least one through hole, and a fixing mechanism for securing the hinge to the first component. The fixing mechanism includes a latching member and at least one fixing member capable of extending through the at least one through hole and the at least one round hole. The latching member defines at least one fixing hole corresponding to the at least one round hole. When the at least one fixing member extends through the at least one round hole and the at least one through hole, the at least one fixing hole receives an end of the at least fixing member to secure the hinge to the first component.
US08630083B2

A multi-layered capacitor includes a capacitor element in which a plurality of dielectric layers are multi-layered, and which comprises a first inner electrode and a second inner electrode that are alternately formed on neighboring dielectric layers of the plurality of dielectric layers, a first external electrode and a second external electrode which are formed on an outside surface of the capacitor element to be electrically connected to the first inner electrode and the second inner electrode, respectively, and a deformation suppressing electrode which is formed on the outside surface of the capacitor element and separated from the first external electrode and the second external electrode to be electrically isolated from the first inner electrode and the second inner electrode.
US08630080B2

An electronic component that is prevented from being inclined with respect to a circuit board during and after mounting includes a laminated body that is preferably configured by stacking a plurality of insulator layers, and includes a lower surface with depressions provided thereon. The lower surface includes a series of outer edges of the insulator layers. Capacitor electrodes are defined by internal conductors incorporated in the laminated body, which respectively have exposed sections that are exposed from between the insulator layers in the depressions on the lower surface. External electrodes, which are preferably formed directly by plating, are provided in the depressions to cover the exposed sections.
US08630073B2

An integrated circuit protected against electrostatic discharges, having output pads coupled to amplification stages, each stage including, between first and second power supply rails, a P-channel MOS power transistor in series with an N-channel MOS power transistor, this integrated circuit further including protection circuitry for simultaneously turning on the two transistors when a positive overvoltage occurs between the first and second power supply rails.
US08630070B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a magnetic head for a three-dimensional magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, the head executing reading from or writing to a recording medium, utilizing a magnetic resonance, the medium including stacked layers formed of magnetic substances having different resonance frequencies, the head comprising a spin torque oscillation unit and auxiliary magnetic poles. The unit is operable to simultaneously oscillate at a plurality of frequencies to cause the magnetic resonance, when reading or writing. The magnetic poles assist the unit, when reading or writing. Further, according to another embodiment, there is provided a recording magnetic head using a high-frequency assist method and comprising a microwave magnetic field applying unit and a recording magnetic pole. The unit executes writing to a recording medium, and is formed of a plurality of spin torque oscillation elements having phases thereof synchronized. The magnetic pole assists the writing.
US08630066B2

In a hard disk drive, for the purpose of solving a problem that a mass of the tip of a VCM actuator increases, a primary resonance frequency lowers and a control band lowers in a case where a balance driving mechanism which damps a vibration during the driving of a microactuator is mounted, a damping unit using a displacement enlargement mechanism by resonance is disposed to obtain a sufficient damping effect with a small mass, thereby setting a resonance frequency of the damping unit to be higher than a frequency of a resonance peak of a damping object. The hard disk drive includes a micromotion actuator for micromotion displacement which drives a head-gimbal assembly, and a micromotion actuator for damping which drives the damping unit so that the micromotion displacement direction of a magnetic head and the displacement direction of a mount portion have opposite phases.
US08630051B2

Embodiments described herein provide for patterned media concentric zones with an alternating series of concentric servo zones and overlap zones. The overlap zones facilitate the writing of servo data between servo zones of different servo frequency. The overlap zones may be dual frequency zones. The dual frequency zones have a first set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering lower frequency servo zone and a second set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering higher frequency servo zone. A bootstrap zone can be included near the inner diameter to assist initial servo writing. Alternatively the overlap zones are bootstrap zones. Such bootstrap zones have both bootstrap patterns and overlap patterns, the overlap patterns have the substantially identical pattern as a bordering servo zone. Bootstrap patterns only require DC magnetization for servo operability.
US08630045B2

A zoom lens includes a positive first-lens-group, which is fixed during zooming, a negative second-lens-group, which is moved during zooming, a positive third-lens-group, which is fixed during zooming, and a positive fourth-lens-group, which is moved during zooming, these lens groups being arranged in this order from the object side. The first-lens-group consists of four lenses of a negative first-group first lens, a positive first-group second lens, a positive first-group third lens, and a positive first-group fourth lens, arranged in this order from the object side. The first-group first lens and the first-group second lens are arranged in such a manner that a space is formed therebetween. Further, the following formula (1) is satisfied: −2.0<(R11r+R11f)/(R11r−R11f)<−0.4  (1), where R11f is a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first-group first lens, and R11r is a radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the first-group first lens.
US08630035B2

Modular set is formed by optical module interconnected with control module of electronic system. Optical module is formed by at least two pairs of laser diodes connected in series and including Peltier cooler and thermistor, which are connected to inputs of polarizing fiber combiners, and depolarized outputs of these polarizing fiber combiners are connected to inputs of a wavelengths combiner. Module of the electronic system is formed by a control microprocessor interconnected with direct current power supply source, with PID regulators of laser diodes temperature, a display indicating temperature of individual laser diodes and current flowing through them, and a control panel. To the microprocessor of the module of the electronic system is connected a gate array and to this gate array are connected generators of current impulses, which do not overlap in time, and their widths, repetition frequencies and amplitudes are adjustable, while the number of generators of current impulses equals to the number of pairs of laser diodes and their outputs are connected via power stages to pairs of laser diodes connected in series, and where to the power stages is connected an analogue/digital converter, which is connected also to the microprocessor.
US08630034B2

A display medium of the present invention includes first and second substrates, a spacing member and a particle dispersion liquid. The first substrate is transparent to light. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate and has plural electrodes placed at an interval. The second substrate has a difference between reflectivity of the electrode portions and reflectivity of plural boundary portions between the electrodes with respect to light incident from the first substrate side. The difference is 12 percentage points or less. The spacing member is placed between the first and second substrates at another interval, is transparent to light, and keeps a gap between the first and second substrates. The particle dispersion liquid is filled between the first and second substrates, and includes particles moving in a direction of an electric field formed between the first and second substrates and a dispersion medium.
US08630033B2

A layered micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic structure comprises at least three alternating electrically conductive layers with insulating layers between the conductive layers. There is also provided a via in a first outer layer, said via comprising an insulated conductive connection made of wafer native material through the layer, an electrically conductive plug extending through the other layers and into said via in the first outer layer in order to provide conductivity through the layers, and an insulating enclosure surrounding said conductive plug in at least one selected layer of said other layers for insulating said plug from the material in said selected layer. It also relates to micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic device comprising a movable member provided above a cavity such that it is movable in at least one direction. The device has a layered structure according to the invention. Methods of making such a layered MEMS structure is also provided.
US08630026B2

There is provided an image processing method which determines the area of a document from an image read on a transparent platen, the image processing method also determines a single object area or a plurality of object areas from the image on the transparent platen, and when the luminance of the area in which the object area is removed from the image on the transparent platen is detected to determine the document area, the image processing method detects whether or not an image of a shadow exists around the periphery of the object area on the image of the transparent platen, and the threshold value used for determining the document area is different depending on whether a shadow is detected.
US08630020B2

In the case that a plurality of users execute output reservations while looking at targets to be output together, the necessity for an operation to sort the output materials by user after output is eliminated. The plurality of users are classified, the plurality of targets to be output selected in a scattered manner by the plurality of classified users are bulked together as selected targets to be output for each user, and those bulked targets to be output are output for each user.
US08630016B2

A system and method are provided for providing information on at least one container for storing a biological sample, including: a holder configured to hold at least one biological sample container and a receiver configured to receive information relating to at least one of the container or the biological sample as well as data relating to at least one instruction for printing the information. The system and method further include a printer configured to print the information in accordance with the at least one instruction. In one embodiment, the printer is configured to print the information directly on the container. In another embodiment, the system and method further include an applicator configured to apply a label on the container and the printer is configured to print the information on the label. In another embodiment, the system and method include a detector configured to detect whether the container contains the biological sample and a processor configured to determine the manner for printing the information. In this embodiment, the determination is based, at least in part, on whether container contains the biological sample.
US08630014B2

An image processing apparatus and an image processing system are supplied capable of restraining an occurrence of failure print. The image processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus comprises an operation detecting section that detects operations of a document processing section; a document size obtaining section that obtains document size information; a medium size obtaining section that obtains medium size information of print mediums set in the image forming apparatus; a comparing and judging section that compares the document size information and the medium size information and judges whether or not they are consistent; an inquiring section that inquires user whether or not document size of the print object document is changed; an inputting section that inputs a change instruction of the document size; and a changing section that changes the document size information into the medium size information on the basis of the change instruction.
US08630012B2

A system includes a circuit board mounted within a printer. A first chip is mounted on the circuit board. A transceiver includes a receiver that: is implemented in the first chip; wirelessly receives a radio frequency signal; and generates a first baseband signal based on the radio frequency signal. A transmitter of the transceiver is implemented in the first chip and wirelessly transmits, based on a second baseband signal, a second radio frequency signal. A second chip is separate from the first chip and is mounted on the circuit board. The second chip includes first and second processing modules and a processor. The first processing module processed the first and second baseband signals and generates a data signal based on the first baseband signal. The processor generates the second baseband signal based on the first baseband signal. The second processing module implements a printing process based the data signal.
US08630004B2

An image forming apparatus comprises: an image data obtainer that obtains image data by a Web browser from a Website via a network; a printer that prints out the obtained image data and other image data; and a billing portion that bills a usage fee if the Web browser is used, meanwhile discounts the usage fee to be billed if the Web browser is used and also the image data obtained by the Web browser is printed out by the printer.
US08630003B2

An image formation apparatus includes an accepting unit, an acquiring unit and a formation unit. The accepting unit accepts an image formation instruction and input of information for specifying image supply destinations. The acquiring unit acquires an image formation condition that is specified in advance for each image supply destination. The formation unit forms images based on the acquired image formation conditions.
US08629998B2

If image stabilization becomes necessary while an MFP is executing a print job received from a user, the MFP performs the image stabilization while emitting an operation sound if the user has not moved away from the MFP. Also, if the user has moved away from the MFP, the MFP stops the print job and logs the user out.
US08629990B2

An image forming apparatus enables meaning, a translation and an explanation of an unknown term or a term for which a translation is unknown in a document to be obtained easily while the meaning, the translation and the explanation of the term are left as a record, so that the record is able to be used afterwards, thereby increasing convenience for the user. An image reading portion reads a document image; a character recognition portion performs character recognition of a term included in the read document image; an information obtaining portion gains access to a website for performing dictionary search so as to obtain, as term information, information of a search result of the dictionary search performed with the recognized term as a keyword; and the image forming portion forms an image with term information including the term information and the document image based on the obtained term information.
US08629987B2

An optical detection device includes: a translucent unit that has elasticity; a light source unit that emits detection light toward the translucent unit; a light sensitive unit that is directed toward the translucent unit and has light sensitivity; and a detection unit that detects a target object based on the intensity of light received by the light sensitive unit.
US08629986B2

The invention relates to an optical filter and a method for its production, and to a device for the examination of the spectral and spatial distribution of an electromagnetic radiation irradiated from an object. The invention is based on the task of providing an optical filter of the above described type that is inexpensive to produce, which can be used to detect a plurality of wavelengths, in which, however, tuning of the DBR mirrors by means of displacement is not necessary. Furthermore, a method for the production of such a filter is provided. According to a first aspect of the present invention this task is solved by a method for the production of an optical filter array having two DBR mirrors, and a cavity present between the same, comprising cavity sections having a plurality of different heights, each forming one Fabry Perot filter element, characterized by the following steps: applying a first DBR mirror onto a substrate, forming of a layer comprised of a cavity material on the DBR mirror, wherein this layer is equipped with a plurality of cavity sections forming the filter elements by means of utilizing a nanoimprint method, and applying the second DBR mirror on the cavity material having a structuring that is defined by the different heights of the cavity sections.
US08629984B2

A system and a method for real-time processing and monitoring, the system including a light source to provide an illumination light and a calibration light are provided. The system includes an optical element to separate the illumination light and the calibration light; an optical element to direct the illumination light to a sample; an optical element to direct the calibration light to a first detector and a second detector; an optical element to collect light backscattered from the sample; an optical element to separate light backscattered from the sample into a first scattered light portion and a second scattered light portion; an optical element to direct the first scattered light portion through at least one multivariate optical element to the first detector; and an optical element to direct the second scattered light portion to the second detector.
US08629982B2

In various embodiments of the invention, a unique construction for Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with at least one luminescent rod and extracting optical elements used to generate a variety of high brightness light sources with different emission spectra. In an embodiment of the invention, forced air cooling is used to cool the luminescent rod. In an embodiment of the invention, totally internal reflected light can be redirected outward and refocused. In another embodiment of the invention, light emitted by the luminescent rod is out-coupled for use in a variety of applications.
US08629977B2

A system for determining the speed and position of objects comprises a beam source, a transmit reflection device, a beam receiver, a receive reflection device, and a controller. The beam source may generate a beam. The transmit reflection device may reflect the beam at the objects and may include a plurality of transmit faces with each transmit face oriented at a different angle and operable to reflect the beam at a different height. The beam receiver may detect the beam. The receive reflection device may include a plurality of receive faces with each receive face oriented at a different angle and operable to focus the beam reflected from objects at different heights onto the beam receiver. The controller may determine the position of the objects over time and calculate the speed of the objects based on a change in the position of the objects.
US08629972B2

A projection objective for microlithography is used for imaging an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane. The projection objective comprises at least six mirrors of which at least one mirror has a freeform reflecting surface. The ratio between an overall length (T) of the projection objective and an object image shift (dOIS) can be smaller than 12. The image plane is the first field plane of the projection objective downstream of the object plane. The projection objective can have a plurality of mirrors, wherein the ratio between an overall length (T) and an object image shift (dOIS) is smaller than 2.
US08629967B2

A LCD and a fabrication process is presented. An upper substrate is coincidently formed with a red, a green and a blue color filters using phase separation. A compound containing a photopolymeric color filter resin and a liquid crystal are coated on an array substrate and then photopolymerized after formation of the array substrate. A seed layer may be provided on the substrate before the compound is applied. Polymerization of the color filter resin permits simultaneous formation of the upper, color filter substrate and liquid crystal layer.
US08629966B2

An LCD panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a displaying medium and a sealing structure, wherein the second substrate is located at the side opposite to the first substrate and the displaying medium is located between the first substrate and the second substrate for displaying an image. The sealing structure is located between the first substrate and the second substrate to seal the displaying medium, wherein the sealing structure includes an inner wall, an outer wall and a sealant. The inner wall disposed surrounding the displaying medium and the outer wall disposed surrounding the inner wall together form a sealant-disposing space therebetween. The outer wall has a plurality of side wall holes and the sealant is disposed in the sealant-disposing space. In this way, the sealing structure is able to enhance the structure strength in a limited layout space and promote the process margin.
US08629962B2

A liquid crystal display panel includes: first and second substrates facing each other. The first substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines and signal lines intersecting each other, an upper electrode having a plurality of slit-shaped openings formed for each sub-pixel, and a lower electrode. The second substrate includes a light-shielding layer formed so as to overlap the scanning line and a signal line in a plan view, and a color filter layer formed in each of the sub-pixels defined by the scanning lines and the signal lines. A single pixel is formed by the plurality of sub-pixels including the color filter layers of different colors, respectively. The length of the slit-shaped opening in a longitudinal direction in the sub-pixel corresponding to at least one color is shorter than the length of the slit-shaped opening in the longitudinal direction in the sub-pixel corresponding to the other colors.
US08629961B2

An alignment structure of a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a plurality of region defining strips disposed at intervals on the substrate, and organic alignment strips disposed between the region defining strips.
US08629953B2

There is provided a metal structure that holds the display unit, as the main structure, and a casing structure that is integrally molded from resin onto the metal structure. The metal structure is resilient against flexural loads, torsional loads, and other deformations from the exterior upon the display unit composed of thin plate glass, because the member that protects the display unit is in a box shape. The display unit itself can be protected from damage even if rigidity is reduced because of a thinner profile. The metal structure is manufactured by thin plate pressing and sufficient strength can be maintained even if the thickness is low. Furthermore, the metal structure is configured as a frame part of the entire casing, the rigidity of the entire device can therefore be maintained by using this structure, and the mounting board and functional components other than the display unit can also be protected.
US08629945B2

A viewing system has a parallax separation device placed in front of a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid display panel can be used to display a composite image that has many display segments, with each segment having two or more elongated image sections of different images. Each image section may occupy one or more columns of color pixels. The parallax separation device has a plurality of parallax separation elements, each aligned with a display segment for separating the different image sections as seen in a viewer's eyes. The parallax separation device has a barrier axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated image sections. The color sub-pixels in each pixel are arranged along a direction parallel to the barrier axis. A tracking device and a processor are used to determine the locations of image sections under the parallax separation elements based on positions of a viewer.
US08629944B2

A transparent conductive structure applied to a touch panel includes a substrate unit, a first coating unit, a transparent conductive unit, and a second coating unit. The substrate unit includes a transparent substrate. The first coating unit includes a first coating layer formed on the top surface of the transparent substrate. The transparent conductive unit includes a transparent conductive layer formed on the top surface of the first coating layer. The transparent conductive layer includes a plurality of conductive circuits arranged to form a predetermined circuit pattern. The second coating unit includes a second coating layer formed on the top surface of the transparent conductive layer. The second coating layer has a touching surface formed on the top side thereof for an external object to touch. The second coating layer is substantially formed by mixing silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, lithium oxide and Teflon.
US08629941B2

A programmable remote controller, used for controlling audio/video devices, includes a main body, a button module, a motion-sensing module, a microprocessor unit, and a memory. The button module includes a function button group related to the control of the audio/video devices and a programming button group related to the setting of the remote controller. The setting method includes steps of: pressing a first button of the programming button group to start the setting method; pressing at least one function button of a function button group which corresponds to at least one function operation of the audio/video devices; controlling the main body of the remote controller to have a first motion status which is sensed by the motion-sensing module; and storing the first motion status and a first control command corresponding to the at least one function operation in the memory.
US08629939B1

Described embodiments provide for detection and selection by the user of a ticker region within a first video broadcast; and copying and overlaying the detected and selected ticker region over a second video broadcast. Motion estimation techniques are employed to identify the ticker region location and associated borders of the ticker region. The streaming video corresponding to the ticker region is buffered. Some embodiments allow for post-processing of the overlayed ticker region to, for example, eliminate artifacts of, match resolution to, and match aspect ratio of the overlayed ticker region to the second video broadcast.
US08629937B1

A device for use in conjunction with a video processing device includes an adaptive filter for processing input pictures into selectively filtered pictures, based on a filter motion data. A deinterlacer selectively interpolates the selectively filtered pictures into selectively deinterlaced pictures, based on deinterlace motion data. A motion detector generates the filter motion data and the deinterlace motion data, based on detecting motion in the input pictures.
US08629936B2

To provide a moving region detection device capable of rapidly and accurately detecting a main moving region from plot data on a computer screen. A moving region detection unit (122) detects, as a moving region, an identical or similar image region which exist in both a previous frame and a current frame and whose position on a screen changes. Specifically, an initial candidate decision unit (301) decides an initial candidate for a moving region. Next, a moving region decision unit (302) decides a moving region for use in motion compensation, from among the initial candidate for the moving region determined by the initial candidate decision unit (301) and another at least one candidate for the moving region obtained by changing the size of the moving region of the initial candidate.
US08629934B2

Information relating to object distances in a plurality of areas in an imaging plane is acquired, and a threshold value for an object luminance at which imaging is performed by flashing an illumination device according to a difference between an object distance in a reference area and the object distances in the plurality of areas.
US08629933B2

A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes an image data generating unit for capturing a subject image to generate image data, a detecting unit for detecting a contrast value of an image represented by the image data generated by the image data generating unit, and a signal generating unit for generating a control signal controlling the driving unit. In an autofocus control, the signal generating unit generates the control signal controlling the driving unit to drive the focus lens at a first speed until a predetermined time elapses after the first detecting unit starts to detect the contrast value of the image and to drive the focus lens at a second speed higher than the first speed after the predetermined time elapses.
US08629925B2

An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit which obtains an image signal; an extraction position information obtaining unit which obtains information about an extraction position, where an image is extracted, from the image signal; a correction target value calculating unit which calculates a correction target value for correcting the image signal in accordance with the position information from an image center based on the extraction position information; an image correcting unit which corrects the image signal based on the correction target value; and an image extracting unit which extracts the image based on the extraction position information.
US08629922B2

An image capturing apparatus comprises an imaging unit which performs an imaging process of an object image; an image storage unit which stores the image data linked with album data; a layout storage unit which stores layout information representing a position where the image data linked with the album data is displayed on a page of the album data; an album display unit which displays an image frame at the position on the page of the album data represented by the layout information; and a designation unit which receives a designation of an arbitrary position on the displayed page, wherein when a region outside the image frame is designated, the album display unit displays the captured image data on a background of the page as a live view, and the image storage unit stores the image data linked as the background of the page of the album data.
US08629913B2

Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to an image signal processing system includes overflow control logic that detects an overflow condition when a destination unit when a sensor input queue and/or front-end processing unit receives back pressure from a downstream destination unit. In one embodiment, pixels of a current frame are dropped when an overflow condition occurs. The number of dropped pixels may be tracked using a counter. Upon recovery of the overflow condition, the remaining pixels of the frame are received and each dropped pixel may be replaced using a replacement pixel value.
US08629911B2

An automatic photographing method is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a dialing message from a telecommunications network; recognizing a phone number from the dialing message, and controlling a camera module to take at least one photo according to the dialing message; and performing image processing to the photo to generate photo data corresponding to the phone number.
US08629908B2

The invention relates to a method for detecting a moving object in a sequence of images captured by a moving camera. The method comprises the step of constructing a multiple number of difference images by subtracting image values in corresponding pixels of multiple pairs of images being based on captured images. Further, the method comprises the step of retrieving a moving object by extracting spatial information of pixels in the multiple number of constructed difference images having relatively large image values. In addition, from a pair of images in the construction step an image is a representation of a high resolution image having a higher spatial resolution than original captured images on which the high resolution image is based.
US08629905B2

A method is disclosed for localizing a surveying instrument having a housing including at least one camera in relation to a mark located at a ground level. The method comprises the steps of capturing a first image of the ground below the housing in a first camera position and orientation, wherein the first camera position is eccentric to a vertical rotational axis of the surveying instrument, identifying an object point corresponding to the mark in the first image, measuring first image coordinates of the object point in the first image. The method further comprises the steps of capturing a second image of the ground below the housing in a second camera position and orientation, identifying in the second image, an object point corresponding to the mark, and measuring second image coordinates of the object point in the second image. The height of a rotation center of the surveying instrument above the mark is then determined based on the first camera position and orientation, the first image coordinates, the second camera position and orientation, the second image coordinates, and camera calibration data. Furthermore, a surveying instrument for performing the method is disclosed.
US08629897B2

An imaging processing device includes: a position information generation section that generates position information which represents a relative positional relationship of captured images when the captured images are aligned on a predetermined plane so as to overlap same subjects, which are included in the different captured images, with each other; a strip image generation section that cuts out an area on each captured image from a predetermined reference position on the captured image to the reference position on another captured image which is aligned on the plane so as to overlap with the captured image and generates a strip image including the area, when the captured images are aligned on the plane on the basis of the position information; and a panoramic image generation section that generates a single panoramic image by aligning and stitching the strip images which are obtained from the captured images.
US08629895B2

A camera can be associated with each conference participant endpoint. The camera, either frame or video-based, can monitor and detect one or more of gestures, facial recognition, emotions, and movements of the conference participant. Based on the detection of one or more of these triggering events, a correlation to an action corresponding the triggering event can be evoked. For example, if a participant raises their hand, e.g., a triggering event, the system can recognize that this is a request to speak. The participant can then be queued in the system based, for example, relative to other participants' requests. When the other participants have finished speaking, and it is the time for the user who raised their hand to speak, the system can optionally queue the user by modifying the endpoint with which they are associated.
US08629894B2

An apparatus and a method for automatically transmitting an emoticon during video communication in a mobile communication terminal are provided. In operation, location information is received during video communication, and data corresponding to the received location information is searched for from a memory. Image data captured by a camera and the searched data are synthesized and transmitted to a counterpart terminal.
US08629890B1

Select areas and specific pixels of a digital video display screen may be updated at video frame rate while other areas or pixels are not updated at video frame rate. Further, select pixels may be updated more than once within the normal update timing of a single video frame. Selective updating may be accomplished by indicating data video processing requirements.
US08629883B2

A method and system for generating a cartoon are provided. The method includes receiving a digital image for processing at a server. The method includes executing a color structure coding procedure to produce a color-reduced interim image. The method includes generating a sketch from the digital image with a Difference of Gaussian procedure. The method includes combining the color-reduced interim image and the sketch into a processed cartoon.
US08629877B2

A method of dynamic load-balancing in a PC-based computing system employing a multiple GPU-based graphics pipeline architecture supporting multiple modes of GPU parallelization. During the execution of the graphics application, the stream of geometrical data and said graphics commands is analyzed, and the mode of parallelization of the GPUs during each frame, is determined using results of the analysis of the stream of geometrical data and graphics commands, and one or more policies for determining the mode of parallelization. The stream of geometrical data and graphic commands is distributed to the GPUs according to the determined mode of parallelization. During the generation of each frame, one or more of GPUs are used to process the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands, or a portion thereof, while operating in the parallelization mode, so as to generate pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of an image of 3D object. The pixel data output is transferred from one or more of the GPUs and composing a frame of pixel data, representative of the image of the 3D object. The frame of pixel data is displayed on a display surface of the PC-based computing system.
US08629876B2

Circuits, methods, and apparatus for registers to store information that may be used by devices in a display system. One example provides control and data registers in a display to store information pertaining to a display system that includes the display. The registers can store attributes of the display, a host device, and a branch device. The information may include an organizationally unique identifier, chip identification, major and minor chip revision information, and firmware major and minor revision information.
US08629860B2

A display device includes: a pixel array unit in which plural pixels are arranged, each including an electro-optic device, a write transistor writing a video signal, a storage capacitor storing the video signal written by the write transistor and a drive transistor driving the electro-optic device based on the video signal stored in the storage capacitor, which have a function of correcting mobility of the drive transistors; and a scanning circuit giving a write scanning signal to gate electrodes of the write transistors while sequentially scanning respective pixels in the pixel array row by row as well as generating the write scanning signal based on respective timings of rising and falling of one pulse-state power source potential.
US08629851B1

Touch sensor methods, devices and systems are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a method comprising monitoring a finger movement along a touch sensing surface based on position data of a finger touching the touch sensing surface, where the position data is obtained by locating a position of a force applied by the finger in a coordinate of the touch sensing surface. In addition, the method comprises generating direction data associated with the finger movement if the finger movement travels for more than a threshold distance. Furthermore, the method comprises determining a finger gesture which corresponds to the finger movement using a lookup table having multiple preconfigured finger gestures based on the direction data.
US08629838B2

A user notification system and a computer input device, such as a mouse. The computer input device includes an illumination member that enables a user to quickly and accurately position the input device during poor lighting conditions and determine whether the computer is ON. The input device includes a housing and an illumination device that is supported by the housing. Illumination from the illumination device is visible when the input device is placed on a support surface. The illumination member is also used to notify the user if one or more of various events have occurred in a computer application being run on the computer. The notification information is presented to the user by changing the state of the illumination member. An example of event for notification includes the receipt of a message in a communications program such as an e-mail message.
US08629832B2

An electrophoretic display device has an electrophoretic display panel that has a plurality of drive electrodes, a common electrode, and a plurality of electrophoretic particles disposed between the drive electrodes and the common electrode. The device also has a drive control unit including components for setting the display color and applying pulses to update the display color to a first color, a second color, or an intermediate color between the first and second colors. The first or second color is displayed by applying a first or second pulse respectively. The first and second pulses are opposite in polarity to maintain DC balance. A method of driving such a device is also provided.
US08629830B2

Embodiments of a system that includes one or more integrated circuits are described. During operation, the system receives a sequence of video images and a brightness setting of a light source which is configured to illuminate a display that is configured to display the video images, where the sequence of video images includes video signals. Then, the system determines an intensity setting of the light source on an image-by-image basis for the sequence of video images, where the intensity of a given video image is based on the brightness setting and brightness information contained in the video signals associated with the given video image. Next, the system synchronizes the intensity setting of the light source with a current video image to be displayed.
US08629828B2

Disclosed herein is a shift register circuit that is formed on an insulating substrate with thin film transistors having channels of the same conductivity type and includes shift stages, each of the shift stages including: a first thin film transistor; a second thin film transistor; a 3(1)-th thin film transistor; a 3(2)-th thin film transistor; a 4(1)-th thin film transistor; a 4(2)-th thin film transistor; a fifth thin film transistor; and a sixth thin film transistor.
US08629825B2

A liquid crystal display device and a method of driving the same are provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a first coupling capacitor and a second coupling capacitor, which are coupled to corresponding data lines among a plurality of data lines and are coupled to a first auxiliary data line and a second auxiliary data line, respectively. Using a plurality of the first and second coupling capacitors, the liquid crystal display device can be driven by a dot inversion driving method with reduced power consumption as a result of using a low data signal voltage.
US08629823B2

There are provided a driving circuit of a semiconductor display device which can obtain an excellent picture without picture blur (display unevenness) and with high fineness/high resolution, and the semiconductor display device. A buffer circuit used in the driving circuit of the semiconductor display device is constituted by a plurality of TFTs each having a small channel width, and a plurality of such buffer circuits are connected in parallel with each other.
US08629812B2

An antenna apparatus and method includes an orthogonal slot antenna which overcomes the limitations associated with RF choke between the adjacent slots through various feed techniques. A cavity backed cross-slot antenna includes a horizontal slot antenna, a vertical slot antenna sharing a center portion with the horizontal slot antenna, a first feed for the horizontal slot antenna, and a second feed for the vertical slot antenna, the first feed and the second feed provided to the shared center portion. Another cavity backed cross-slot antenna includes a horizontal slot antenna, a vertical slot antenna, the horizontal slot antenna and the vertical slot antenna share a center portion therebetween, a first feed feeding both halves of the horizontal slot antenna, and a second feed feeding both halves of the vertical slot antenna.
US08629807B2

Local oscillator circuitry for an antenna array is disclosed. The circuitry includes an array of rotary traveling wave oscillators which are arranged in a pattern over an area and coupled so as to make them coherent. This provides for a set of phase synchronous local oscillators distributed over a large area. The array also includes a plurality of phase shifters each of which is connected to one of the rotary oscillators to provide a phase shifted local oscillator for the array. The phase shifter optionally includes a cycle counter that is configured to count cycles of the rotary oscillator to which it is connected and control circuitry that is then operative to provide a shifted rotary oscillator output based on the count from the cycle counter.
US08629805B2

A method for modelling integrity of a filtered global navigation satellite system, by calculating component navigation system error distributions for a set of fault conditions and a fault free condition, and determining overall navigation error distribution by forming a mixture distribution from these component navigation system error distributions. The mixture distribution may be determined by weighted summation of navigation system error (NSE) distributions with weightings determined according to prior probabilities for the fault conditions. Once the overall NSE mixture distribution is determined in this way, it can be used to derive one or more statistical quantities relevant to the integrity of the navigation system such as the probability of exceeding given alert limits in a desired coordinate geometry.
US08629800B2

A method and apparatus for detecting a vehicle. An apparatus comprises a proximity detection system, a vehicle management system, and a notification system. The proximity detection system is associated with an aircraft and operably connected to a transducer. The proximity detection system is configured to determine a distance of a vehicle from a surface of the aircraft and a velocity of the vehicle relative to the aircraft. The vehicle management system operably connected to the proximity detection system. The vehicle management system is configured to determine a time the vehicle will be a threshold distance from the surface of the aircraft and an threshold amount of time to bring the vehicle to a predetermined velocity. The notification system is associated with the proximity detection system and configured to generate a notification signal in response to a determination that the time is less than the threshold amount of time.
US08629798B2

A method and system for programming a universal remote control (URC) to operate with a remote-controlled device is disclosed. A user may be instructed to operate a control element of an original remote control (ORC) of the remote-controlled device. The ORC may be operated directly with the URC, which may so receive a programming code from the ORC. The programming code may be used by the URC to determine an identity of the remote-controlled device and/or the ORC. Based on the identity, the URC may obtain corresponding programming codes for the remote-controlled device. The URC may be configured to use at least one of the programming codes to remotely control the remote-controlled device.
US08629795B2

A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) includes a micro-mechanical structure that is capable of generating a first electrical signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is coupled with the micro-mechanical structure. The MEMS is free from including any amplifier between the micro-mechanical structure and the ADC.
US08629785B2

A traffic resource allocation method is provided for allocating traffic resources around an intersection formed by a first road and a second road. The method includes dividing the first road into two or more first lanes at a first direction and two or more second lanes at a second direction opposite but parallel to the first direction. The method also includes dividing the second road into two or more third lanes at a third direction and two or more four lanes at a fourth direction opposite but parallel to the third direction. Further, the method includes controlling traffic movements in the intersection by allocating traffic permit to both pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic on the first road and the second road. The method also include, when permitting pedestrian traffic along the first direction and the second direction, permitting through vehicle traffic along the first direction and the second direction, and prohibiting turn traffic at any of the first, second, third, and fourth directions.
US08629774B2

In order to reliably and simply acquire data for a cable receiving unit for a cable portion, the cable receiving unit is associated with an information carrier unit from which information can be read out by electromagnetic field coupling.
US08629769B2

Systems and techniques for command communication between wireless devices are described. In one implementation, a data gathering device (such as a continuous glucose monitor) and a monitoring/control device, which communicate data samples through a frequency hopping protocol, utilize a dedicated command frequency for the transmission of non-data instructions and acknowledgements. A command mode is described where the command frequency is regularly listened to by a device to determine if pairing or other instructions are being sent. In another example, when communications are disrupted or corrupted, the devices revert to using the command frequency in order to reacquire a paired link between the devices. The command frequency is also used for a flight mode, where the data-acquisition device goes into a low-, or no-power transmission mode and remains in the mode, storing sampled data, until instructed to leave the flight mode over the command frequency.
US08629763B2

An RFID transponder is provided which includes an automatic gain control (AGC) stage for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal and for providing an amplified RF signal. The AGC stage has a control signal indicating an increase of the amplitude of the RF signal. A demodulator is coupled to receive the amplified RF signal for demodulating the amplified RF signal. The demodulator provides a data signal. A burst detector is coupled to receive the control signal of the AGC stage and adapted to provide a start signal in response to a change of the control signal. A wake pattern detector is coupled to receive the data signal and the start signal. The wake pattern detector is adapted to detect a predefined wake pattern in the data signal after having received the start signal and to issue a wake signal if the predefined wake pattern is detected for switching the RFID transponder from a first operating mode into a second operating mode having higher power consumption than the first operating mode.
US08629758B2

Systems, methods, and media are provided for transmitting a message received from a paging network on a paging device to wireless or other electronic devices. The paging device establishes a radio connection with the wireless device and transmits the received messages to the wireless device through the established radio connection. In response to receiving a message from the paging device, the wireless device sends an acknowledgment to the paging network that the message was received and displays the message.
US08629755B2

Various apparatus, methods, techniques and systems are disclosed for admitting, tracking, monitoring and processing data about visitors and vehicles that visit an access-controlled environment. A network having one or more greeting stations and a number of linked answering stations collects and manages data concerning visitors and/or vehicles in the access-controlled environment, and can manage or assist individuals in managing granting access to the access-controlled environment, monitoring visitors and vehicles present in the access-controlled environment, limiting movement and access to certain areas in the access-controlled environment and generating records and other data about each visit. Some embodiments of the network are also adaptable for use in providing traveler assistance and consular services for various types of individuals.
US08629743B2

A latching apparatus for an operating mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus includes a first member movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the first member adapted to lock a drive member of the operating mechanism and a force of the drive member applied to the first member, and in the second position the first member is adapted to release the drive member from the locked position. Guiding means guides the movement of the first member. A trip member is movable between a third position and a fourth position, in the third position the trip member adapted to lock the first member, and in the fourth position the trip member is adapted to release the first member. The guiding means are adapted to guide at least a first portion of the first member in a first direction toward a counter roller.
US08629738B2

Provided is a composite resonator wherein two resonance frequencies can be set discretionarily to a certain extent. The composite resonator is provided with a grounding electrode (21) arranged on a lower surface of a laminated body wherein a plurality of dielectric layers (11) are laminated, and a composite resonant electrode (26) arranged on an upper surface or inside of the laminated body. The composite resonant electrode (26) is composed of a base section (27) and a plurality of strip-like protruding sections (28a, 28b). One end of the base section (27) is grounded. One end of each of the protruding sections (28a, 28b) is connected to the other end of the base section (27), and the protruding sections are arranged in parallel. A body wherein the base section (27) and the protruding sections (28a, 28b) are combined functions, as a whole, as a resonator which resonates at a first frequency, and the protruding sections (28a, 28b) function as a resonator which resonates at a second frequency higher than the first frequency.
US08629726B1

Circuitry is disclosed that can be used, for example, in a readout circuit of an active imaging or other sensing application. The circuitry can be configured, for instance, for increasing the gain of a differential amplifier non-inverting leg used to drive the inverting output by means of a current-source load. In some example embodiments, the circuitry is suitable for use in a focal plane array input unit cell and can be implemented, for instance, as a relatively low power amplifier with high gain, bandwidth and output current-sinking capability (in some embodiments; current sourcing in others) sufficient to respond to very fast photo-diode (e.g., standard or e-APD) detector signals. The amplifier circuitry can be used with other transducer arrays and is not intended to be limited to imaging applications.
US08629723B2

A low-noise amplifier (LNA) includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, an output terminal for providing an output signal related to the input signal. The LNA further includes a first transistor having a first source coupled to the input terminal through the first capacitor, a first gate configured to receive a first direct current (DC) bias signal, and a first drain coupled to the output terminal. The LNA also includes a second transistor having a second source coupled to the input terminal through the second capacitor, a second gate configured to receive a second DC bias signal, and a second drain coupled to the output terminal.
US08629721B2

A method for controlling an output amplification stage comprising first and second complementary SOI-type power MOS transistors, in series between first and second power supply rails, the method including the steps of: connecting the bulk of the first transistor to the first rail when the first transistor is maintained in an off state; connecting the bulk of the second transistor to the second rail when the second transistor is maintained in an off state; and connecting the bulk of each of the transistors to the common node of said transistors, during periods when this transistor switches from an off state to an on state.
US08629718B2

Disclosed is a signal splitting apparatus useable in a power amplifier having two or more power amplifiers. The apparatus includes a direct gain component; and a derived gain component connected to the direct gain component. The derived gain component derives the derived gain from the direct gain by imposing a constraint which is valid over the entire dynamic range of the input signal, e.g. the sum of the power of the direct split signal and the derived split signal are constrained to be substantially equal to the power of the input signal. The use of combining additional direct gain and derived gain components, as well as a delay element, are disclosed so as to enable n-component splitting that for adaptation to different applications by the use of suitable coefficients.
US08629710B2

A sensor output IC has a switching element that turns on and off between output terminals based on a detection signal from a sensor, and a temperature-limiting circuit that maintains the switching element in an off state when a temperature at the sensor output IC becomes a predetermined value or more.
US08629707B1

A level shifter includes first, second and third capacitively configured transistors, first and second switching transistors, and an inverting circuit. The first capacitively configured transistor has a first terminal that receives an input signal. Second and third capacitively configured transistor each have first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first capacitively configured transistor. The second capacitively configured transistor is coupled in series with a first switching transistor that is also coupled to a first power supply terminal. The third capacitively configured transistor is coupled in series with a second switching transistor that is also coupled to a second power supply terminal.
US08629706B2

A power switch includes a control circuit, a cross-coupled amplifier, a first switching circuit coupled between a first output terminal and the first controlled ground terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between a second output terminal and the second controlled ground terminal. The control circuit is configured to connect the second controlled ground terminal to a ground during a first period that a voltage level at the first output terminal is switched from the ground to a first voltage level and to set the second controlled ground terminal at an elevated ground level during a second period that the voltage level at the first output terminal remains at the first voltage level.
US08629703B2

To provide a clock frequency divider circuit that generates a clock signal enabling an expected proper communication in communication with a circuit operating by a clock having a different frequency. A clock frequency division circuit according to the present invention generates an output clock signal obtained by dividing a frequency of an input clock signal into N/S by subtracting (S−N) clock pulses from S clock pulses of the input clock signal based on a frequency division ratio defined as N/S. The clock frequency division circuit generates a control signal used to preferentially subtract a clock pulse at a timing other than a communication timing of data communication performed by a target circuit using the output clock signal among S clock pulses of the input clock signal. Further, it generates the output clock signal by subtracting a clock pulse of the input clock signal according to the generated control signal.
US08629701B2

A method and system for compensating for offsets when measuring parameters of a phase-locked loop (PLL). In one embodiment, a proportional path in the PLL is temporarily shut off, a measurement is made of a real time-to-zero crossing in the PLL to measure a defined parameter of the PLL, the proportional path is switched on, and the defined loop parameter is adjusted based on this measurement. In one embodiment, the real time-to-zero crossing is measured after introducing a phase step into the PLL between a reference signal and an output signal of the PLL. In an embodiment, two phase steps, having opposite polarities, are successively introduced into the PLL, and the time-to-crossing measurements resulting from these two phase steps may be averaged, and this average is used to determine a loop parameter.
US08629695B2

The present invention discloses a multi-stage sample and hold (S/H) circuit that includes: a first S/H circuit for sampling a sensing signal of a sensor multiple times and accumulating them into a first sampled signal, and outputting the first sampled signal; and a second S/H circuit for receiving the plurality of first sampled signals and accumulating them into a second sampled signal. As a result, when one or more first sampled signals are saturated due to instantaneous noise, the second sampled signal is not saturated, thereby increasing the noise tolerance of the multi-stage S/H circuit.
US08629693B2

Each of a plurality of inverters includes: a first transistor having one end connected to a first terminal; and a second transistor having one end connected to a second terminal and the other end connected to the other end of the first transistor. The first transistors included in the inverters located at either odd-number orders or even-number orders counted from an input terminal side of an inverter chain circuit become conductive when a pre-charge signal has a first state to pre-charge the other end of the first transistors, and become non-conductive when the pre-charge signal has a second state.
US08629690B2

One embodiment provides a programmable logic device in which a logic switch includes: a first memory having a first terminal connected to a first wire, a second terminal connected to a second wire, and a third terminal connected to a third wire; a second memory having a fourth terminal connected to the first wire, a fifth terminal connected to a fourth wire, and a sixth terminal connected to a fifth wire; and a pass transistor having a gate connected to the first terminal, and a source and a drain respectively connected to a sixth wire and a seventh wire. A source or drain of a first select gate transistor is connected the sixth wire, and a source or drain of a second select gate transistor is connected to the seventh wire.
US08629684B2

The electronic circuit has a capacitive sensor that includes two capacitors mounted in differential, whose common electrode can move relative to each fixed electrode of the two capacitors to alter the capacitive value of each capacitor. The electronic circuit has an interface connected to the capacitive sensor, which includes a charge transfer amplifier unit connected to the common electrode, an integrator unit, and an excitation unit arranged between the output of the first integrator unit and the sensor to polarise each fixed electrode of the sensor capacitors at a determined voltage value. A compensation capacitor is connected to the input of the integrator unit. The electronic circuit interface includes comparison means for comparing the output voltage with a comparison voltage to control disconnection of the compensation capacitor at the integrator unit input, if the deviation between the output voltage and the comparison voltage exceeds a determined voltage threshold.
US08629678B2

An apparatus for providing an image of a resistivity property of an earth formation surrounding a borehole is provided. The apparatus, in one aspect, may include a plurality of measure electrodes that are configured to convey an electrical current into the earth formation. In one aspect, each measure electrode may be substantially surrounded by an associated insulator that extends away from a tool body in a manner that blocks at least a portion of a vertical current flowing in a conductive fluid when the tool is operated to log the borehole. A processor provides an image of the resistivity property of the earth formation using the current in plurality of measure electrodes.
US08629676B2

Disclosed is a position sensor, in particular a rotor position sensor, comprising a base. A track that is provided with a conducting coating is formed within the surface of the base relevant for evaluating signals. Since the track is formed within the base, the desired position-dependent modulation of the eddy current behavior is obtained by design measures, resulting in low manufacturing tolerance and reduced production costs.
US08629673B1

A system for determining an amount of power supplied from a power amplifier may include a power amplification circuit having a characteristic thermal resistance, a first temperature sensor for sensing a first temperature associated with the power amplification circuit when the power amplification circuit is receiving power from the power source, a second temperature sensor for sensing a second temperature associated with an environment occupied by the power amplification circuit, and a processor coupled with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor for determining an amount of power dissipation utilizing (A) a temperature difference determined utilizing the first temperature and the second temperature and (B) the characteristic thermal resistance of the power amplification circuit.
US08629671B1

A device for use with a passive intermodulation (PIM) measuring instrument comprises a load, a connector associated with the load, and a PIM standard adapted to selectively introduce a PIM intervening between the load and the connector. The load is adapted to be electrically connected with the PIM measuring instrument by connecting the connector to a port of the measuring instrument and the PIM standard is capable of selectively introducing the PIM without disconnecting the connector from the port.
US08629670B2

A switching adapter control method for adaptive mobile power systems is composed of reference current generator, current mode error compensator, controllable constant turn-off timer, PWM generator and MOSFET driver. The output of the switching adapter can show constant current and voltage characteristics, that means, as the DC bus voltage is over a preset voltage, the adaptor's output characteristic is converted from a constant current source into a constant voltage source with the preset voltage. For low output capacitance case, the present invention has the ability to smoothly reduce the switching frequency of the switching adaptor and reduce the switching losses and meet Energy Star 2.0 requirements under different load conditions. And the output ripple current and voltage can be in the allowed range.
US08629669B2

The disclosed embodiments of voltage regulators incorporate a current mode control architecture. In one embodiment, a comparator mechanism triggers a transition in a power switch when the error in the regulated output voltage is equal to a proportionally scaled value of current provided at an output filter. The voltage regulator includes a power switch having an input and an output. The power switch is configured to provide a first voltage during a first conduction period and a second voltage during a second conduction period. An output filter is coupled between the power switch output and an output terminal to be coupled to a load. A comparator mechanism has a reference input coupled to a reference voltage, a feedback input coupled to sense a feedback voltage at the output filter, a current sensing input coupled to sense a current sensing voltage corresponding to a current provided to the output filter, and an output in communication with the power switch input. The comparator mechanism is configured to trigger responsive to a difference between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage equaling the current sensing voltage. The triggering causes a transition of the power switch from the second conduction period to the first conduction period.
US08629666B2

A power supply controller produces a compensation value based at least in part on: an estimated or known output capacitance of the power supply, a specified rate of changing a magnitude of the output voltage as specified by the voltage setting information, and/or a load-line resistance of the power supply. The power supply controller utilizes the compensation value to adjust a magnitude of the output voltage during a voltage transition in which the output voltage is changed from an initial output voltage setting to a target output voltage setting at a pre-specified rate.
US08629659B2

A method of controlling a static VAR compensator includes providing a static VAR compensator having a capacitive component and a thyristor for switching the capacitive component into and out of a power distribution network; monitoring an electrical characteristic associated with the capacitive component; and controlling operation of the thyristor at least in part on the basis of the electrical characteristic associated with the capacitive component.
US08629657B2

A management system for a battery cell pack, the management system including a controller determining an adjustable charge profile for the battery cell pack wherein the adjustable charge profile includes an operational parameter identifying a next operation drive range mode from a set of drive range modes for the battery cell pack wherein each the drive range mode includes a state of charge (SOC) window between a charge SOC and a discharge SOC, with the set of drive range modes including a first drive range mode having a first SOC window and including a second drive range mode having a second SOC window less than the first SOC window; and one or more energy transfer stages to produce the charge SOC of the next operation drive range mode in the battery cell pack.
US08629651B2

A wireless charging device includes a charging battery, a transmitter coupled to the charging battery, and a controller coupled to the charging battery and the transmitter. The controller is configured to direct power from the charging battery to the transmitter and wirelessly transmit the power to a receiver. The wireless charging device also includes a housing, wherein the charging battery, the transmitter, and the controller are disposed at least partly within the housing.
US08629631B1

Improving start-up time of a light emitting diode (led) driver at lower input voltage is accomplished with a quick start circuit comprising a constant current source that replaces the traditional trickle charge start-up path for charging of a Vcc capacitor supplying operating voltage to an SMPS controller. Also the constant current source will only be operational during SMPS start-up, then will turn off after the SMPS is capable of producing its own regulated power supply to the Vcc terminal of the SMPS controller, thereby minimizing E2/R power losses in the SMPS.
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