US08752620B2

An assembly capable of being disposed in a subterranean bore for obtaining a fluid sample is described. The assembly can include an apparatus having a sample chamber and a housing encasing the sample chamber and providing a pressure source. The pressure source can be disposed of in an annulus defined by the sample chamber and the housing. The assembly can be attached to a slick line or wire line and conveyed into a wellbore.
US08752618B2

The invention relates to apparatus (10) for handling bulky articles (such as a PLET or ILT (12)) on a deck (14) of a vessel at sea. The apparatus (10) includes a cradle (16) which supports the bulky article (12′), first translational movement means (32 42, 46) provided between the deck (14) and the cradle (16) and second translational movement means (20, 31, 35, 37) moveable along the deck (14). The first translational movement means allows the bulky article (12) to be moved from a storage area and transferred to the second translational movement means, and the second translational movement means allows the bulky article (12) on its cradle (16) to be moved toward an operational location (F). An actuator (26) is also provided between the deck (14) and the cradle (16), in order to adjust the orientation of the bulky article (12) relative to the deck (14), when in the operational position. A method of handling bulky articles on a deck of a vessel at sea is also provided.
US08752606B2

A retractable awning having a roller, a flexible canopy having one end secured to the roller and rollable onto the roller, and a motor operable to rotate the roller to roll the flexible canopy onto or off the roller. Top and bottom mounting arms extend from a support arm for the roller, with the bottom arm being articulated, and with an extensible strut pivotally connected to and extending between each top and bottom mounting arm.
US08752599B2

A pneumatic radial tire includes a pair of annular bead portions 2A, 2B, a tread portion 3 having a tread surface portion, a pair of sidewall portions 4A, 4B each connecting one of both end portions of tread portion 3 in tire-width directions and an outward end in the tire-radial direction of the corresponding one of the bead portions 2A, 2B, and a carcass layer 5 extending continuously across and through the bead portions 2A, 2B, the sidewall portions 3, and the tread portion 4A, 4B, the carcass layer 5 being configured to form a framework of the tire. Main grooves are formed respectively in a tire's equatorial portion including a center line in the tire-width directions of the tread portion and in a portion located closer to a vehicle-fitted inner side than the tire's equatorial portion is, each main groove extending continuously in a tire-circumferential direction of the tread portion, a land-portion block row in which a plurality of blocks are consecutively arranged in the tire-circumferential direction is formed in a portion of the tread portion located closer to a vehicle-fitted outer side than the tire's equatorial portion of the tire is, and in a section taken in the tire-width directions, a surface curvature radius of a case line of the carcass layer on the vehicle-fitted outer side is larger than a surface curvature radius of a case line of the carcass layer on the vehicle-fitted inner side while the tire is inflated with air.
US08752598B2

Liquid drug transfer assemblies for use with a drug vial having a drug vial opening stopped by a drug vial stopper. The liquid drug transfer assemblies include a drug vial stopper puncturing member for puncturing a drug vial stopper. The liquid drug transfer assemblies also include a drug vial adapter having a drug vial adapter skirt, an upright drug vial adapter port and a drug vial adapter sleeve downward depending opposite the upright drug vial adapter port and in flow communication therewith. The drug vial adapter is slidingly disposed on the drug vial stopper puncturing member such that on mounting the liquid drug transfer assembly on the drug vial, the drug vial stopper puncturing member punctures the drug vial stopper to form a throughgoing puncture bore and the drug vial adapter sleeve lines the puncture bore.
US08752585B2

A pressure control valve includes a housing comprising a reference pressure connection, a reference pressure chamber, a preliminary pressure connection, a preliminary pressure chamber, a control pressure connection and a control pressure chamber which are configured to cooperate with a control member moveable in an axial direction within the housing so as to adjust a desired control pressure between a preliminary pressure at the preliminary pressure connection and a reference pressure at the reference pressure connection. A driving device is configured to act on the control member. At least one first sealing device is configured to seal the reference pressure chamber against the control member. At least one second sealing device comprising a second sealing element is configured to seal the preliminary pressure chamber against the reference pressure chamber. At least one third sealing device is configured to seal the control pressure chamber against the preliminary pressure chamber.
US08752584B2

A rocker valve mechanism (125) is provided according to the invention. The rocker valve mechanism (125) includes a port portion (110) including a plurality of ports (113-115), a first plunger (130), and a second plunger (131) acting in opposition and moving substantially in parallel with the first plunger (130). The rocker valve mechanism (125) is biased toward a first position blocking a third port (115) and configured to be actuated to a second position blocking a first port (113).
US08752580B2

A vacuum chamber for processing a substrate includes: a chamber body; and a chamber lid combined with the chamber body, wherein the chamber lid comprises: a frame having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of plates combined with the plurality of openings.
US08752576B2

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for mechanically reducing internal pressure of a column in a refinery or petrochemical process, which uses a safety relay valve for operating an emergency shutdown valve able to mechanically block the supply of a heat source in the process, thus reducing the mounting cost, simplifying the process and ensuring high reliability thanks to the use of mechanical signals.
US08752565B2

A partition includes a plurality of panels and an elongate panel joiner. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel that are adjacent about one another. The elongate panel joiner joins the first panel and the second panel. The panel joiner includes two end members and a corrugated portion there between. The end members are configured along opposite ends of the panel joiner. One of the two end members is configured to connect to the first panel and the other of the two end member is configured to connect to the second panel. The corrugated portion is configured such that the panel joiner can move in an accordion-like manner.
US08752554B2

A mouth guard that may be used to treat temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is configured to eliminate pressure on an individual's back teeth. Such a mouth guard may also be configured to prevent a subject's lower jaw from moving in a posterior direction, or from “distalization.” Methods for treating TMD include spacing the top teeth at the back of a subject's mouth from the bottom teeth at the back of the subject's mouth without applying pressure to either the top teeth or the bottom teeth.
US08752553B2

Apparatus for use in surgery comprises a sleeve (1) having an entry opening (4) at an outer end and an exit opening (5) at an inner end to access a patient's body. Exit sealing means (10) are provided for sealing the exit opening (5) to a body. Entry sealing means (20) are provided for sealing the outer entry against an arm passing therethrough to create a controlled environment within the sleeve. A valve (101) comprises an outer ring (105,106) and a sealing sleeve (107) of flexible material mounted to the ring (105,106) and extending into the opening defined by the ring to terminate in a substantially centrally disposed inlet opening (108).
US08752548B2

A patient ventilation system has a flow regulating and gas mixing arrangement connected to an inspiratory channel of the system from which a gas mixture containing oxygen and at least a second gas is delivered to the system's proximal tubing. The proximal tubing further is connected to an expiratory channel and is connectable to a patient. The system further has at least two gas inlets connected to the flow regulating and mixing arrangement, and a gas identification unit in which the at least second gas supplied to the system via one of the gas inlets can be identified. By actively measuring a value that is dependent on the characteristics of the delivered gas, and by correcting the calibration of the flow regulating and gas mixing arrangement and/or the flow meter(s) based on this value, both safety and flow regulation in the system are enhanced.
US08752546B2

A method for mobilizing an occlusion from a breathing tube is presented. The method includes automatically mobilizing the occlusion from the breathing tube by regulating an inspiratory flow, an expiratory flow, or a combination thereof, where the breathing tube is configured to operationally couple a patient to a ventilation system, and where the ventilation system is configured to provide artificial respiration to the patient.
US08752532B2

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine and a control device for the internal combustion engine and has an object to provide an internal combustion engine and a control device therefore that can suppress occurrence of knocking if an EGR rate is increased. An EGR gas can be made to flow separately through one path via one EGR passage and an other path via another EGR passage. The EGR gas flow through the other path can be cooled by an intercooler. Since the intercooler usually has a capacity larger than that of an EGR cooler, its cooling capability is high, and the EGR gas can be made to flow into a surge tank in a state where heat of the EGR gas has been sufficiently emitted.
US08752530B2

A system for a vehicle is provided herein. The system includes a fuel vapor canister comprising a shell, a compression plate within the shell and an end cap. The end cap includes a double sided spring interface and a double sided shell sealing surface having double sided identical grooves, only one of which is sealed to the shell. The system further includes a spring coupled to the compression plate and only one spring interface.
US08752524B2

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for injecting a fuel using Lorentz forces. In one aspect, a method to inject a fuel includes distributing a fuel between electrodes configured at a port of a chamber, generating an ion current of ionized fuel particles by applying an electric field between the electrodes to ionize at least some of the fuel, and producing a Lorentz force to accelerate the ionized fuel particles into the chamber. In some implementations of the method, the accelerated ionized fuel particles into the chamber initiate a combustion process with oxidant compounds present in the chamber. In some implementations, the method further comprises applying an electric potential on an antenna electrode interfaced at the port to induce a corona discharge into the chamber, in which the corona discharge ignites the ionized fuel particles within the chamber.
US08752521B2

A piston for an internal combustion engine may include a piston head and a piston shaft. The piston shaft may have two shaft walls, one arranged on a pressure side and the other arranged on a counter-pressure side. Two box walls may have pin bosses and connect the shaft walls. Each of the box walls may have a first partial wall section and a second partial wall section. The first partial wall section may extend between the pin boss and the shaft wall arranged on the pressure side. The second partial wall section may extend between the pin boss and the shaft wall arranged on the counter-pressure side. A first longitudinal center line of the first partial wall section is may be convergent to a second longitudinal center line of the second partial wall section, wherein the first and second longitudinal center lines—intersect each other outside the piston.
US08752515B2

A variable valve timing control apparatus has a drive rotary member, a driven rotary member fixed to a camshaft, an electric motor relatively rotating a motor drive shaft with respect to the drive rotary member, a speed reduction mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor drive shaft to the driven rotary member a housing connected integrally with the drive rotary member and housing therein the electric motor, a cover member fixed to an engine so as to cover at least a front end part of the housing, a power feed mechanism having a slip ring and a power-feed brush that touches the slip ring and feeding power to the electric motor, and a ring-shaped member. The ring-shaped member is fixed to either one side of the cover member and the motor drive shaft, and makes sliding contact with the other side of the cover member and the motor drive shaft.
US08752511B2

A miniature sludge lance for a steam generator in a pressurized water nuclear reactor is provided. The sludge lance is structured to enter the steam generator via an inspection opening and has a body sufficiently thin to fit between adjacent tubes. The sludge lance rail has at least two types of nozzle assemblies that may be attached thereto. One nozzle assembly rotates and another nozzle assembly translates in a vertical direction. A drive assembly, a mounting assembly, an oscillation assembly, and flow straighteners are also provided.
US08752504B2

In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets. Each inlet is adapted to receive a flow of milk from a dairy livestock, and each outlet is adapted to receive a flow of milk from a corresponding one or more inlets. The plurality of outlets include one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drain outlets. Each milk collector outlet is adapted to direct the flow of milk received from the corresponding one or more inlets to a milk collector. Each drain outlet is adapted to direct the flow of milk received from the corresponding one or more inlets to a discard area. The apparatus further includes one or more valves each associated with one of the plurality of inlets. The one or more valves are adapted to direct the flow of milk received at the associated inlet to either a corresponding one of the one or more milk collector outlets or a corresponding one of the one or more drain outlets.
US08752501B2

A fluid dispensing system may include a first die portion having a first face defining a first edge and a second die portion spaced from the first die portion and having a second face facing the first face and defining a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge define a fluid outlet opening. The fluid dispensing system may also include a fluid inlet for introducing fluid to a region between the first face and the second face, and a cavity in flow communication with the fluid inlet, wherein the cavity opens to the region between the first face and the second face. The fluid dispensing system may further include a shim disposed between the first die portion and the second die portion to maintain the spaced positioning of the first and second die portions, wherein the shim defines a plurality of channels bounded by the first and second faces and extending from the cavity in a direction toward the fluid outlet.
US08752492B1

A twin-hull paddle board for use while standing or sitting down, the twin-hull paddle board consists of two elongated hulls, a flat platform portion having two side edges, a front edge and a back edge, the platform portion connected across the top of the two hulls intermediate between the front ends and the back ends of each hull, the flat platform portion and the tops of the hulls forming an upper deck portion, the upper deck portion comprising two recessed foot wells placed adjacent to the side edges of the flat platform portion, the recessed foot wells contoured to prevent accumulation or puddling of water during use, and a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the leg portion of the removable seat to the upper deck portion of the paddle board.
US08752482B2

The present invention relates to a hand tool for squeezing, chopping and pureeing food. The hand tool allows a user to chop, drain and/or puree food with one tool and can be used in conjunction with an ordinary bowl or colander. The hand tool of the present invention has a head portion having a convex pressing surface and a handle portion, allowing a user to grips the end of the handle and apply force directly over the pressing surface to squeeze food and/or expel moisture. A scraping edge allows the user to scrape food against the holes in a strainer or colander or to scrape particles from the sides of a bowl. A blade is attached to the head portion of the tool and can be used to chop and puree food.
US08752463B2

A device for cutting printed products arranged successively spaced apart and transverse to a conveying direction. The device includes a conveyor to convey the print products in the conveying direction. The printed products rest on a flat side on the conveyor and convey with a bound edge forward. The device also includes a cutting tool synchronized with a timing of the conveyor so that the cutting tool cuts a top and/or bottom edge of the printed products. The device also including a cutter upstream of the cutting tool in the conveying direction so that the cutter is synchronized with the cutting tool and operative to make a cut to the bound edge.
US08752462B2

A table saw includes a table top having an opening configured to receive a saw blade, and a motor positioned under the table top and configured to rotate the saw blade about an axis of rotation. The saw blade includes a midline that extends through the saw blade at the axis of rotation and is perpendicular with respect to the table top when the saw blade is perpendicular with respect to the table. A blade case is positioned under the table top that includes a blade chamber defined by a first wall on one side of the blade, a second wall on an opposite side of the blade, and a third wall along an outer perimeter of the blade chamber. At least one dust deflector positioned within the blade chamber between the axis of rotation and the third wall of the blade chamber that extends through the midline.
US08752451B2

A cam mechanism for converting rotary motion into a constant velocity reciprocating motion includes a driven shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation. First and second cam members mounted to the driven shaft for conjoined rotation therewith. A first pair of followers is in contact with the first cam member on opposite sides thereof, and a second pair of followers is in contact with the second cam member on opposite sides thereof. The first pair of followers and the second pair of followers mounted to a follower frame for conjoint motion therewith. The first cam member and the second cam member each have a non-cardioid shape cam profile that results in a constant velocity reciprocation motion of the follower frame upon rotation of the driven shaft about the axis of rotation.
US08752446B2

A ball screw apparatus is provided which is less likely to increase dynamic friction torque even when a nut is contracted by cooling, and in which cooling effect is made as high as possible and which does not invite excessive machining efficiency droop and increase in pressure loss. The ball screw apparatus includes a screw shaft, a nut screwed with the screw shaft via a plurality of balls, and a cooling section cooling the nut. The plurality of balls to which preload is applied in a two-point contact state, with a preload direction as a tensile direction, are disposed between a screw groove of the screw shaft and a screw groove of the nut. Or, a ratio of the axial length L of the through hole axially formed in the nut and the diameter D of the through hole axially formed in the nut is given by an equation “10≦L/D≦60”.
US08752442B2

A multi-clutch power shift transmission for a motor vehicle with at least one prime mover is provided, where a shaft brake unit is arranged to reduce the rotational speed of one of two input shafts, and a central synchronizing unit is arranged to make a first of the input shafts rotate faster or slower than a second of the input shafts. The shaft brake unit and the central synchronizing unit are arranged to be simultaneously activated in order to reduce rotating speeds prior to the engagement of tooth clutches when the output shaft is not rotating. The input shaft brake unit is arranged to be used when performing a multi-step power shift.
US08752437B2

An apparatus for determining an integral strength of a magnet, including a magnetically attractive specimen, a force-sensing device for receiving the specimen and determining a magnitude of a first force applied by the specimen against the force-sensing device in the presence of the magnet and a magnitude of a second force applied by the specimen against the force-sensing device in the absence of the magnet, and a platform for receiving the magnet and for positioning the magnet at a desired distance above the specimen.
US08752429B2

A MEMS gyroscope includes: a microstructure having a fixed structure, a driving mass, movable with respect to the fixed structure according to a driving axis, and a sensing mass, mechanically coupled to the driving mass so as to be drawn in motion according to the driving axis and movable with respect to the driving mass according to a sensing axis, in response to rotations of the microstructure; and a driving device, for keeping the driving mass in oscillation with a driving frequency. The driving device includes a discrete-time sensing interface, for detecting a position of the driving mass with respect to the driving axis and a control stage for controlling the driving frequency on the basis of the position of the driving mass.
US08752427B2

A functional capacity evaluator has a strain block and a strain gauge attached to the strain block. A first pair of grips is attachable to the strain block such that when a user squeezes them together using a grip motion, the strain block and strain gauge are flexed for measuring the user's grip strength. A second pair of grips is attachable to the strain block such that when the user squeezes them together using a pinch motion, the strain block and strain gauge are flexed for measuring pinch strength. A deadlift bar is attachable to the strain block such that when the strain block is supported in a first direction and the user pulls on the bar in an opposing direction, the strain block and strain gauge are flexed for measuring deadlift strength.
US08752413B2

A test pressurization device (100) for hose (1) includes a first pair of press/driving rolls (10, 12) between which the hose can be inserted, and a second pair of press/driving rolls (20, 22) between which the hose can be inserted. The first pair of press/driving rolls (10, 12) is arranged on a distance from the second pair of press/driving rolls (20, 22). Further each pair of press/driving rolls is arranged for pressing the hose together between the rolls in conjunction with pressurization with a medium such as water so that a limited part of the hose, which is located between the first and the second pair of press/driving rolls, can be held pressurized and control of the hoses or its couplings tightness is admitted. Furthermore, while sections of the hose are held pressurized between the pairs of press/driving rolls, the same pairs of press/driving rolls are feeding the hose forward, thus checking the hoses tightness in a continuously moving section approach. In this way a very space efficient solution is achieved, as only a limited part of the hose needs to be held pressurized at a time.
US08752406B2

Security devices according to the present invention may be configured to secure merchandise supported by a display card. The security device may include a housing defining an aperture configured to receive a secured portion of the article, an engagement member disposed generally proximate the aperture, and a sliding member configured to move the engagement member from the release position to a capture position. The secured portion may be removed from the aperture while the engagement member is in the release position and the secured portion may be inhibited from removal while the engagement member is in the capture position. The engagement member may define an engagement aperture where the secured portion of the article that is received through the aperture of the housing is also received through the engagement aperture of the engagement member.
US08752398B2

The invention relates to a refrigerating device (10), in particular for an aircraft, having a refrigerant circuit, in which a refrigerant container (12), an expansion valve (14), an evaporator (16), a compressor (20) and a condenser (22) are disposed. To save energy during operation and to increase the reliability and availability of the refrigerating device (10), in the refrigerant circuit there is a compressor bypass line (26), in which a bypass valve (18) is disposed, and a refrigerant pump (30) that is disposed downstream of the condenser (22) and upstream of the evaporator (16). It is possible to dispense with the refrigerant pump (30) if the condenser (22) is disposed at a higher level than the evaporator (16) in the refrigerant circuit.
US08752394B2

A method for determining the speed of at least one rotating fan, such as a propeller, through sensing pressure waves generated by the blades of the fan. An apparatus operable to execute the method is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a fan having a hub portion and a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the hub portion. The apparatus also includes an engine operable to rotate the fan about an axis of rotation. The apparatus also includes a sensor spaced from the fan along the axis of rotation. The sensor is positioned to sense at least one physical condition that is external of the engine and is changed by rotation of the plurality of blades. The sensor is operable to emit a signal corresponding to at least one physical condition. The apparatus also includes a processor operably engaged with the engine and the sensor. The processor is operable to receive the signal from the sensor and change the operation of the engine in response to the signal to change a speed of the fan.
US08752393B2

One embodiment according to the present invention is a unique system for gas turbine engine control. Other embodiments include unique apparatuses, systems, devices, and methods relating to gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present invention shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
US08752386B2

A fuel injector for use in a gas turbine engine combustor assembly. The fuel injector includes a main body and a fuel supply structure. The main body has an inlet end and an outlet end and defines a longitudinal axis extending between the outlet and inlet ends. The main body comprises a plurality of air/fuel passages extending therethrough, each air/fuel passage including an inlet that receives air from a source of air and an outlet. The fuel supply structure communicates with and supplies fuel to the air/fuel passages for providing an air/fuel mixture within each air/fuel passage. The air/fuel mixtures exit the main body through respective air/fuel passage outlets.
US08752380B2

A solar-thermal concentrator for a expeditionary power generator system including a portable power plant that utilizes a hybridized solar/fuel Stirling engine to supply electric power in an expeditionary setting. The concentrator includes a collapsible dish assembly that is pivotably and tiltably mounted on a portable base assembly, where the dish assembly includes a lightweight frame including a central mounting structure and multiple truss-like radial arms that are rigidly connected to and extend radially from the central mounting structure, and a reflector panel assembly including multiple flat, fan-shaped reflector panels that are secured to the frame and disposed in a semi-circular pattern. Each reflector panel includes multiple reflectors that collectively form a substantially flat Fresnelized reflective surface that redirects incident sunlight into a focal region. The power plant is maintained in the focal region by a support structure that extends perpendicular to the flat reflective surface.
US08752370B2

An exhaust aftertreatment system including a housing with two or more inlets configured to receive separate entering exhaust streams from an engine. The system may include two or more first exhaust treatment devices, each configured to receive one of the separate entering exhaust streams in a first direction. The system may further include two or more redirecting flow passages configured to combine the separate exhaust streams into a merged exhaust stream that flows in a second direction about 180 degrees from the first direction and an intermediate flow region configured to divide the merged exhaust stream into two or more separate exiting exhaust streams. The system also may also includes two or more second exhaust treatment devices, each configured to receive one of the separate exiting exhaust streams in a third direction about 90 degrees from the second direction.
US08752368B2

A diagnostic method is provided for a particle filter arranged in exhaust-gas flow of an internal combustion engine. A particle concentration is detected by a particle sensor positioned downstream of the particle filter. The combustion-relevant engine parameters are briefly changed by an engine controller in such a way that an untreated emissions concentration from the engine is significantly increased. A filter fault message is output if the detected associated measurement values of the particle concentration exceed a detection threshold value of the particle sensor, which is in particular considerably greater than a predefined, preferably volume-related particle limit value.
US08752366B2

A method for abating carbon monoxide in an exhaust stream may include injecting an amount of air into the exhaust stream to produce an air/exhaust mixture; measuring an air/fuel ratio of the air/exhaust mixture; reacting carbon monoxide in the air/exhaust mixture with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to produce carbon dioxide to abate carbon monoxide in the air/exhaust mixture; measuring a temperature of the catalyst; and adjusting the amount of air injected into the exhaust stream based on the air/fuel ratio or the temperature of the catalyst.
US08752362B2

Optical flame holding and flashback detection systems and methods are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a combustor including a combustor housing defining a combustion chamber having combustion zones, flame detectors disposed on the combustor housing and in optical communication with the combustion chamber, wherein each of the flame detectors is configured to detect an optical property related to one or more of the combustion zones.
US08752361B2

Hybrid rope (1) having a core containing synthetic yarns (5), surrounded by an outer containing steel wire strands (5), the rope being terminated at least at one of its ends by a socket (2) having a conically shaped space (3), which has a conical angle α of between 2 and 8° and a length of between 5D and 20D, D being the smallest diameter of the conically shaped space, the core containing synthetic yarns and the steel wires having been untwisted at said at least one of the ends, the open space (6) around the untwisted wires and fibers in the hollow conical body of the socket being filled with a resin.
US08752359B2

A crop harvesting header with a cutter bar and a draper assembly has a draper driven by a drive roller at one end and an idler roller at the other end. The draper is carried on a plurality of support rollers parallel to the first and second rollers for supporting the upper run of the draper at spaced positions therealong. The draper includes a front edge of the upper run of the draper arranged at a position adjacent to but spaced from the cutter bar and there is provided an integral extruded sealing member extending along the cutter bar defining a first stiffer portion attached to the cutter bar and a second flexible blade portion which extends rearwardly from the first portion at the cutter bar to lie over and in contact with a bead along a front edge portion of the draper.
US08752349B2

Provided is a concrete form system that may include a first panel, a first connection assembly, a first retaining member, and a lath. The first panel may include a first plurality of apertures. The first connection assembly may include a first bearing structure on a first side of the first panel and a first plurality of cross members penetrating the first plurality of apertures. The first plurality of cross members may include a first plurality of retaining portions exposed on a second side of the first panel. The first retaining member may extend through the first plurality of retaining portions and the lath may be between the first retaining member and the first bearing structure.
US08752347B2

A reinforcement element for absorbing forces of the concrete slabs to be supported in the area of support elements is formed from a longitudinally stable, flexible length element, its first end area being guided through a first flexural reinforcement layer of the concrete slab. The first area adjoining the first end area extends towards a second flexural reinforcement layer of the concrete slab at an acute angle α. The second area adjoining the first area is guided through the second flexural reinforcement layer and extends in the area of the support element along the surface of the second flexural reinforcement layer facing away from the support element. The second end area of the reinforcement element is guided through the second flexural reinforcement layer toward the first flexural reinforcement layer. This reinforcement element can be inserted into the concrete slab in many different ways according to the type of load.
US08752345B1

An apparatus and method for framing windows and doors. The apparatus includes buck blocks each having a block buck strip on one side, first furring strip, first finishing sheet, second finishing sheet, and optional second furring strip and buck lentil having a lentil buck strip extending along its bottom. The method includes the steps of laying buck blocks up opposing sides of an opening with their block buck strips facing into the opening, installing a window or door frame in the opening, installing a first furring strip, installing the first and second finishing sheets, and trimming the second finishing sheet flush with the first finishing sheet. The second finishing sheet proximal edge is wedged securely between the buck strip ramp and the frame outer side by virtue of a preferred embodiment buck strip ramp angle of 34 degrees±15 degrees.
US08752341B2

A conventional grounded steel tower, or other structure, supports multiple wires (e.g., 6) carrying multi-phase high voltage electricity (e.g., >100 kV). Each wire is supported by a ceramic insulator connected to a horizontal arm of the structure, where an angled strut helps support the arm. There are usually three tiers of wires. The closest distance between a wire and ground is typically between the wire and an angled strut below the wire, where the angled strut helps support a lower-tier wire. A guard formed of a dielectric is affixed to and covers the lower portion of the steel strut as well as any steel that outward extends beyond the strut. The guard prevents flashover between a wire and the underlying grounded strut if a large bird perches on the guard, since the bird will not be grounded by the strut.
US08752338B2

An adjustable mounting system for mounting solar panels on roofs is disclosed. The system allows a user to mount the solar panels either with or without rails. The mounting assemblies are adjustable to allow the user to mount a base plate in a chosen location (either on a roof joist or other structural member or not) and to adjust the mounting location for the panel in as many as three axis of adjustment from the location of the base plate. A system for mounting and grounding the panels at the same time is also disclosed.
US08752335B2

Example doors having a seal attached to an edge member of a door panel are disclosed herein. An example seal includes a flexible sheet of material with its longitudinal edges turned inward toward a more central portion of the sheet such that the sheet is turned partially or somewhat inside-out to provide a bulging seal geometry that is favorable for sealing in multiple directions. The seal, for example, is suitable for sealing in a head-on direction engaging an abutting surface, such as a doorjamb. The seal can also seal in sliding engagement with an adjacent surface parallel to the door panel. In some examples, the sheet defines a hollow chamber in which the longitudinal edges of the sheet reinforce or brace an exterior curved portion of the seal. In some examples, the sheet of material is a unitary seamless piece with an attached touch-and-hold fastener that makes the seal readily replaceable.
US08752333B1

A door operable to swing in either a left handed manner or a right handed manner. The door includes a body having an upper panel and a lower panel. Peripherally mounted to the body is a frame wherein the frame includes a left longitudinal member and a right longitudinal member that are substantially hollow. A control bar is mounted proximate the midpoint of the body. Four pins are movably mounted to each of the four corners of the body. A first push member and a second push member are movably mounted on the control bar and are operable to control the four pins so as to allow the door to be swung in a left handed manner or a right handed manner.
US08752322B2

A handgun curved to correspond more closely with the contours of a person's body, achieving a comfortable fit when the handgun is worn for any appreciable amount of time on the person's body. The handgun housing is inclusive of a top portion, an intermediate portion, and a grip portion, which may be separately connected or integrally formed parts sharing a radius of curvature to form asymmetric left and right sides, particularly a concave side and a convex side. This asymmetry extends beyond the grip portion and includes at least a portion of the trigger guard and a portion of the magazine securing clip.
US08752320B2

A firearm with keyhole-shaped rail mounting points has a forend element having an exterior surface and interior surface. The forend element defines a plurality of rail mounting apertures extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface. Each of the apertures has a first portion with a first diameter to closely receive a fastener head of a first diameter. Each of the apertures has a second portion with a second width less than the first diameter size to receive a shank portion of a fastener. There may be a recess on the interior surface size to receive the fastener head, the recess positioned at the second portion.
US08752318B2

A magazine for storing and dispensing cartridges to a firearm. In one embodiment, the magazine includes a tubular body, a compression spring, and a two-piece follower including a first follower moveable within the magazine and a second follower disposed below the first follower. The second follower may be movable independently of the first follower and is engaged by the compression spring which applies a biasing force towards an open top end of the magazine. The second follower includes a base plate having an upward extending flange configured and dimensioned for slidable insertion through a slot formed in the first follower. The second follower is operable to project the flange through the slot to contact and assist with ejecting the last spent cartridge case in the magazine. In one embodiment, the firearm may be a pistol.
US08752316B1

An apparatus for identifying a particular baby stroller in a crowd of parked strollers. The apparatus has at least one distinctive ornament for providing immediate recognition coupled to a band for attaching to a handle of a particular stroller in a visible position. The ornament has shiny trim for reflecting light, improving visibility. The ornament selectively couples to the band, allowing a first ornament to be exchanged with another ornament to selectively coordinate with a user's clothing. A plurality of apparatuses can be attached to the stroller to further ease immediate recognition of the particular stroller.
US08752309B2

In one embodiment, a storage device encloses the laces of footwear. The storage device comprises a lower member, an upper member, and a joint that permits articulated motion between the lower member and the upper member in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the storage device. The upper member comprises an enclosure with an inner cavity that receives the laces therein. In one example, the outer member comprises a pair of closure members that articulate in a second direction toward the longitudinal axis.
US08752307B2

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of an upper and a segmented sole structure. The sole structure may include an insole portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements disposed within an outsole unit. The insole is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of flexible regions.
US08752303B2

A sighting system, having front and rear sights, for a shooting device, such as an archery bow, cross bow or a firearm. The front sight includes at least one sighting element. The rear sight includes a rear sight frame that has a lens located therein. At least one sighting aperture is defined on the lens such that the aperture may be aligned with the sighting element of the front sight during aiming of the shooting device.
US08752299B2

A blade guide assembly for receiving the head assembly of a power operated rotary knife. The blade guide assembly includes: a blade guide and a cover secured to the blade guide to secure the head assembly within the blade guide. The blade guide includes a top wall, a bottom wall and an outer wall, an arcuate blade-receiving groove spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall, extending axially from the top wall and defining peripherally spaced apart ends, a head member-receiving channel extending radially inwardly from the outer wall and intersecting the arcuate groove, and a notched region intersecting the peripherally spaced apart ends of the arcuate blade-receiving groove. The cover includes a base secured to the top wall of the blade guide and overlying at least a portion of the arcuate blade-receiving groove and an outer extension defining an opening axially aligned with the notched region of the blade guide.
US08752295B2

A method includes acquiring a first structural component conforming to a design, producing a first vehicle including the first structural component, and transferring possession of the first vehicle with the first structural component having a first set of mechanical properties. The method further includes acquiring a second structural component conforming to the design, subjecting the second structural component to a heat treatment process so that the second structural component is characterized by a second set of mechanical properties different from the first set of mechanical properties, producing a second vehicle including the second structural component, and transferring possession of the second vehicle with the second structural component having the second set of mechanical properties.
US08752293B2

A large scale composite structure is fabricated by forming a plurality of composite laminate modules and joining the modules together along their edges using scarf joints.
US08752287B2

A method of sealing at least one gas leak in an engine including the steps of locating at least one gas leak applying, an alkyl polyether composition and a crosslinking composition to at least one surface of the engine within three inches of the located gas leak and allowing a polyether dental impression material to form by reacting to seal the located gas leak.
US08752285B2

A textile-type electronic component package includes a textile base; a textile-type electronic component and a plurality of conductive patterns having end contact points formed on the top surface of the textile base; a thermoplastic adhesive formed on the bottom surface of the textile base; a plurality of mounting pads formed on the thermoplastic adhesive and facing the conductive patterns, respectively; and a plurality of via-hole-type coupling parts penetrating end contact points of the conductive patterns, the textile base, and the thermoplastic adhesive, and electrically coupling the mounting pads and the conductive patterns, wherein the via-hole-type coupling parts includes a bunch of via-holes filled with a conductive polymer.
US08752275B2

The method is capable of forming stator coils in dead spaces, into which a nozzle of a wire coiling machine is inserted, and improving space factor of the coils. The method comprises the steps of: regular-winding a magnet wire in vacant longitudinal outer parts of slots alternately, without getting into spaces for inserting the nozzle of the wire coiling machine; regular-winding the magnet wire in the rest vacant longitudinal outer parts of the slots and the spaces for inserting the nozzle; regular-winding the magnet wire in vacant longitudinal inner parts of the slots alternately, without getting into spaces for inserting the nozzle; and regular-winding the magnet wire in the rest vacant longitudinal inner parts of the slots and the spaces for inserting the nozzle.
US08752257B2

An arrangement is provided for securing a lining material of a wall inner surface of a load-bearing construction, such as a container, apparatus, duct, housing, or column, which is acted upon by a gaseous or liquid medium. Multiple securing points are provided, and are arranged in a distributed manner and connected to the wall inner surface in order to secure the lining material. In order to reliably secure a lining material to a wall inner surface subject to great tractive forces, the fastening elements have at least one holding element which connects the wall inner surfaces to the lining material, and which can be fixed by a pressure element in a force- and/or form-fit manner.
US08752254B2

A snap hook is provided. A body of the snap hook includes a generally hooked shaped mid portion positioned between a nose portion and a connection portion. The body further has an opening to an inner edge that is positioned between the nose end and the connection portion. A gate has a first end pivotally coupled proximate the connection portion of the body and a second end configured and arranged to engage the nose portion of the body to selectively close an opening in the body. A locking member has a first end that is selectively received in a slot in the nose portion of the body. A trigger has an end that engages a second end of the locking member to disengage the first end of the locking member from the slot of the nose portion of the body.
US08752252B2

A clasp in which magnetic leakage is reduced includes a pair of pieces which are to be engaged with each other. Both pieces, when being engaged, both may rotate about an axis common to both pieces. Both pieces are provided with a pair of permanent magnets held in both pieces. Both permanent magnets have front and rear surfaces in which multiple poles are magnetized, and when both pieces are engaged, the front surfaces of both permanent magnets face each other.
US08752246B2

An electronic apparatus excellent in workability in mounting a lid to an apparatus housing. The electronic apparatus comprises a housing having a pair of bearing portions, and a battery lid unit having a pair of shafts for being rotatably fitted in the bearing portions, respectively. A movable shaft of the shafts is axially retractable, and the battery lid unit is openable and closable with respect to the housing about the shafts. An urging spring has a contact portion for contact with the housing, and urges the battery lid unit in an opening direction with respect to the housing. The contact portion is moved according to retraction of the movable shaft such that an urging range through which the urging member urges the lid in the opening direction becomes smaller than a range of the pivotal motion of the lid with respect to the housing.
US08752245B2

A finger-safe door-hinge combination looks and feels like a conventional residential door. Finger protection is achieved through the use of soft, deformable materials on the hinge-side edge in combination with specialized hinges. The deformable materials are shaped to give the appearance of a traditional door yet provide clamping injury protection by yielding to fingers. The specialized hinges provide structural support across the deformable materials in a finger-safe manner such that hinge leaves do not cause clamping injury.
US08752230B2

This disclosure may disclose, inter alia, devices, systems, and methods for cleaning or removing contamination from a lens, or for increasing visibility of a lens during surgery. For example, a device with a handle actuated element is disclosed. The device includes a shaft that includes a rod, an element coupled to a distal tip of the rod, and a handle coupled to a proximal end of the rod. Actuation of the handle into a first position may cause the handle to be configured in a substantially hexagonal shape and may cause deployment of the element from the shaft. Actuation of the handle into a second position may cause the handle to be configured in a substantially rectangular shape and may cause retraction of the element into the shaft. The device may be introduced into an abdomen, and an element on the device can be deployed during surgery.
US08752227B2

A hand held dusting apparatus for use with a motor provided with a rotating axle, such as a variable speed drill, includes an elongated extension member attachable at one end to the rotating axle and a dusting member having a body section attachable to the opposite end of the elongated extension member and a dusting section constructed having multiple strands of synthetic fiber materials extending from the body section. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus further includes a tubular hand guide member fitted about the extension member and constructed to slide along the extension member. In another preferred embodiment the body of dusting section has a mid-section that can be pivoted to allow the dusting elements to rotate about an axis set at an angle to the axis of the extension member.
US08752225B2

A method and apparatus for adjusting the live and dead load balance between the arches of an arch bridge and the truss girder that supports the bridge deck. The method is achieved by providing hanger rods disposed between the arches and the top chords of the truss girder whose compression may be adjusted. In which the arch truss counter act the compression in the top chord of the truss. This interaction adds to the strength and safety of both elements of the structure. With this interaction there are no critical members which can cause catastrophic failure of the bridge by failing. By combining two of these bridges side by side, and then connected with the lateral members, both at top and bottom chord of trusses, it is possible to carry vehicular, train, and pedestrian lanes separated and accommodated with safety; all without a critical member.
US08752224B2

A composite pry bar and striking tool having an elongated solid body core surrounded by a molded polymer sleeve. The ends of the tool may include varying combinations of working tips including a pointed tool, a curved chisel, a tapping cap, and/or a molded polymer cap. The working tips are preferably adhesively bonded to the ends of the tool. The molded polymer sleeve includes first and second molded grips and may be segmented to allow for shorter or longer body lengths. The solid body core is formed by a pultrusion fiber resin curing process.
US08752223B2

A multi-function tool having a handle portion and a plurality of structures operable therewith for the performance of a plurality of functions. The multi-function tool allows fast and convenient transition between any of the plurality of functions in order to enable completion of jobs or tasks requiring such functions without acquisition, storage, and/or maintenance of a plurality of specialized tools.
US08752216B2

A compression garment, for example a pair of compression shorts (10, 210, 310), has a trunk section (20), a left leg section (30) and a right leg section (40) constructed from a resilient material. The trunk section (20) is reinforced such that a wearer's pelvic region is subjected to a first compressive force acting diagonally across a front portion of the trunk section from left to right and a second compressive force acting diagonally from right to left. The range of motion at the wearer's hips is preferably not restricted by the reinforcement.
US08756703B2

A method for protecting a user's privacy, wherein the user operates a communication device capable of processing context and wherein the user provides context information—real context—related to one or more reference context variables to a third party, is characterized in the steps of faking at least one of the one or more reference context variables, on the basis of the faked reference context variable, gathering real context information—decoy context—related to reference context variables other than the faked reference context variable, publishing the thus generated decoy context instead of the user's real context. In addition, a corresponding communication device is disclosed.
US08756699B1

A number of unique identifiers is determined by, at a device, receiving a request to determine the number of unique identifiers, outputting a response to the request, and receiving data representing the number of the unique identifiers based on the response to the request. The data representing the number of the unique identifiers is free of information indicative of an identity of a source of the unique identifiers.
US08756698B2

A vulnerability risk management (VRM) module receives an indication of a VRM service to be provided from the end user. The VRM module extracts from the indication either external IP addresses or the web application URL and a list of assets of the enterprise computer system to be tested. The VRM module discovers the assets of the enterprise computer system. The VRM module receives a request for a vulnerability scan using a predefined scan configuration based on preferences of the end user and a specified date and time to conduct the scan. The VRM module reports and stores a preliminary list of potential vulnerabilities in the VRM vulnerability database. The preliminary list is fed to an expert system, which applies specific rule sets using an inference engine and a knowledge base to refine results stored in the VRM vulnerability database by removing extraneous information and false positives.
US08756691B2

A security module on a client monitors file download activities at the client and reports hosting website data to a security server. A download analysis module at the security server receives a hosting website data report from the client, where the hosting website data report describes a domain name and an IP address of a website hosting a file the client is attempting to download. The download analysis module analyzes the domain name and IP address of the website to generate file download control data indicating whether to allow downloading of the file to the client. The download analysis module reports the file download control data to the security module of the client. The security module uses the file download control data to selectively block downloading of the file.
US08756689B2

In an input/output virtualization-enabled computing environment, a device, method, and system for securely handling virtual function driver communications with a physical function driver of a computing device includes maintaining communication profiles for virtual function drivers and applying the communication profiles to communications from the virtual function drivers to the physical function driver, to determine whether the communications present a security and/or performance condition. The device, method and system may disable a virtual function driver if a security and/or performance condition is detected.
US08756688B1

Aspects of the disclosure provide for detection of spam attacks. In order to filter spam listings among business listings associated with a particular geographical region, a method and system operate to analyze the frequency of particular characteristics of the business listings, such as words within a listing title, phone numbers, or websites, to identify a normal frequency of each characteristic. Business listings may be periodically analyzed to identify anomalous increases in the frequency of particular characteristics. Characteristics that exhibit these anomalies may be identified as suspicious characteristics, and listings that contain suspicious characteristics may be identified as possible spam listings.
US08756675B2

Methods and systems a provided for security in a wireless utility network. The methods and systems use different levels of trust to securely enroll new nodes into a network through other nodes acting as proxies. A node's security state with respect to another node in the network is categorized into one of several trust levels. A node responds to certain requests, actions or messages depending based on its trust level with the other entity. Initially, a node is not trusted. A first trust level is established based on a digital certificate that is stored in a node when the node is manufactured. A second trust level is established based on a second digital certificate obtained from a certifying authority while a node is in the first trust level. A node with a verified second certificate can be fully enrolled in the network and participate as a network node with minimal or no constraints.
US08756664B2

A method and system for managing user authentication. First authentication data associated with a user is received from a first authentication mechanism. The first authentication data is generated in response to the first authentication mechanism successfully authenticating the user. In response to receipt of the first authentication data, a first identifier associated with the user is registered. The first authentication data is associated with the first identifier. In response to associating the first authentication data with the first identifier, second authentication data associated with the user is received from a second authentication mechanism. The second authentication data is generated in response to the second authentication mechanism successfully authenticating the user. The second authentication data is associated with the first authentication data and the first identifier.
US08756663B1

An apparatus is described for managing mobile network services. The apparatus includes a service authorization and utilization control function (SAUCF) element configured to authorize a mobile network service request by acting as a service manager configured to centrally coordinate service authorizations for multiple network services associated with an individual subscriber account by evaluating a service policy defining user access spanning the multiple network services. The service policy includes (a) communication authorization controls affecting permission for a user associated with the subscriber account to access a mobile network service in accordance with one or more criteria applicable to a bundled service category; and (b) charging controls for determining whether a subscriber account includes sufficient credits to use the mobile network service. A real time utilization interface is configured to transmit messages between the SAUCF element and a subscriber service utilization account.
US08756657B2

A system and method, according to one or more embodiments, includes a server computing device configured to communicate with a network-based device via a network; a visitor identification, in which the system generates the visitor identification and the visitor identification corresponds to a piece of information that is unique to the network-based device; a mapping for which the system adds the generated visitor identification to the mapping so that the visitor identification uniquely identifies the network-based device from all other network-based devices in communication with the server computing device; and a database in which the system tracks the visitor identification among a plurality of visitor identifications in the database.
US08756653B2

The Present Invention discloses a method and apparatus for maintaining policy compliance on a computer network. A system in accordance with the principles of the Present Invention performs the steps of electronically monitoring network user compliance with a network security policy stored in a database, electronically evaluating network security policy compliance based on network user compliance and electronically undertaking a network policy compliance action in response to network security policy non-compliance. The network policy compliance actions may include automatically implementing a different network security policy selected from network security policies stored in the database, generating policy effectiveness reports and providing a retraining module to network users.
US08756635B2

A method and apparatus for a first video display coupled with a receiving system to display a video broadcast, and a computing device having a second display displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) corresponding to the video broadcast, wherein the EPG and the video broadcast are displayed concurrently.
US08756634B2

A user interface for interactive television services is represented as a visual overlay that provides a viewer with knowledge of a library of available content relating to a currently tuned to television channel and navigation options for selecting desired portions of the available content from the library, the available content being designated according to business rules specified by a provider of the interactive television services. The visual overlay may be displayed over full-screen or embedded television programming, which may be broadcast television programming or on-demand television programming.
US08756631B2

A method and apparatus for display of a digital video signal includes a demodulator capable of receiving a major channel of the digital video signal. The major channel of the digital video signal includes one or more minor channels, wherein the minor channels are specific and separate channels of broadcast information. The method and apparatus for display of a digital video signal further includes decoders coupled to the demodulator, wherein the decoders receive the minor channels disposed within the major channel. The decoders thereupon generate minor channel video signals, wherein the minor channel video signal includes the video information for each associated channel. The method and apparatus further includes receiving the incoming video signals and format the video signals for simultaneous display of active video from multiple channels. A display configurator provides the minor channel video signals to an output display, to actively display the minor channels.
US08756614B2

A first feature (e.g., chart or table) includes a reference to a dynamic pointer. Independently, the pointer is defined to point to a second feature (e.g., a query). The first feature is automatically updated to reflect a current value of the second feature. The reference to the pointer and pointer definition are recorded in a central registry, and changes to the pointer or second feature automatically cause the first feature to be updated to reflect the change. A mapping between features can be generated using the registry and can identify interrelationships to a developer. Further, changes in the registry can be tracked, such that a developer can view changes pertaining to a particular time period and/or feature of interest (e.g., corresponding to an operation problem).
US08756612B2

Send-side matching of data communications messages in a distributed computing system comprising a plurality of compute nodes, including: issuing by a receiving node to source nodes a receive message that specifies receipt of a single message to be sent from any source node, the receive message including message matching information, a specification of a hardware-level mutual exclusion device, and an identification of a receive buffer; matching by two or more of the source nodes the receive message with pending send messages in the two or more source nodes; operating by one of the source nodes having a matching send message the mutual exclusion device, excluding messages from other source nodes with matching send messages and identifying to the receiving node the source node operating the mutual exclusion device; and sending to the receiving node from the source node operating the mutual exclusion device a matched pending message.
US08756611B2

Application context changes associated with instantiated applications are monitored at a context tracking device. In response to each application context change, relationship context dependency properties between the instantiated applications and application resources associated with the instantiated applications are evaluated. At least one relationship context dependency property that is used by at least one of the instantiated applications is determined to have changed as a result of an application context change. The at least one relationship context dependency property is updated during runtime based upon the application context change.
US08756610B2

A computer program product, a system and method for scaling are provided. The method of scaling may include determining a predicted workload of a multi-tier application for a defined time period. A change in application capacity for the predicted workload may be determined. A scaling strategy may be dynamically selected for the change in application capacity. The scaling strategy may include vertical scaling and horizontal scaling.
US08756608B2

A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product for allocating resources of one or more shared devices to one or more partitions of a virtualization environment within a data processing system. At least one user defined resource assignment is received for one or more devices associated with the data processing system. One or more registers, associated with the one or more partitions are dynamically set to execute the at least one resource assignment, whereby the at least one resource assignment enables a user defined quantitative measure (number and/or percentage) of devices to operate when the one or more transactions are executed via the partition. The system enables the one or more devices to execute one or more transactions at a bandwidth/capacity that is less than or equal to the user defined resource assignment and minimizes performance interference among partitions.
US08756601B2

A system and method for memory coherency acceleration via virtual machine migration comprises a plurality of processors. A first processor of the plurality of processors is configured to implement at least one virtual machine. A monitor is configured to monitor a number of memory requests between the first processor and at least a second processor of the plurality of processors. A virtual machine manager is configured to migrate at least a portion of the virtual machine from the first processor to the second processor based on the number of memory requests exceeding a threshold.
US08756600B2

A judging apparatus including an obtaining unit to obtain a first value which indicates a capacity of a resource assigned to a virtual machine of a plurality of virtual machines deployed in a first computer, a first rate which indicates a rate of a resource used by the plurality of virtual machines in the first computer, a second value which indicates a capacity of a resource, assigned to processing of an application, in a second computer, and a second rate which indicates a rate of a resource used by the processing of the application, and a judging unit to judge whether or not a sum of the first rate and the second rate that is corrected based on a ratio between the first value and the second value is over a certain value corresponding to the amount of the resource of the first computer.
US08756597B2

Methods and apparatus involve extending functionality of legacy services. A legacy application has functionality designed for use on an original computing device. In a modern environment, virtual machines (VMs) operate as independent guests on processors and memory by way of scheduling control from a virtualization layer (e.g., hypervisor). At least one VM is provisioned to modify standard entry points of the original legacy application for new accessing of various system functions of the hardware platform. Representative functions include network access, processors, and storage. Policy decision points variously located are further employed to ensure compliance with computing policies. Multiple platforms and computing clouds are contemplated as are VMs in support roles and dedicated software appliances. In this manner, continued use of legacy services in modern situations allows participation in more capable environments and application capabilities heretofore unimagined. Other embodiments contemplate computing systems and computer program products, to name a few.
US08756595B2

Method, system, and programs for deploying a distributed application stack on a cluster. A request is first received to deploy the distributed application stack including a plurality of software artifacts on the cluster including a plurality of nodes. Configuration information is then retrieved from a configuration repository based on the received request. The configuration information includes a version of each software artifact of the distributed application stack and a type of each node of the cluster. An instruction is created for each node based on the retrieved configuration information. The instruction is to be used to direct each node to deploy at least one of the plurality of software artifacts from a software package repository onto the node itself. The created instruction is then transmitted to each node.
US08756591B2

Object code is generated from an internal representation that includes a plurality of source operands. The generating includes performing for each source operand in the internal representation determining whether a last use has occurred for the source operand. The determining includes accessing a data flow graph to determine whether all uses of a live range have been emitted. If it is determined that a last use has occurred for the source operand, an architected resource associated with the source operand is marked for last-use indication. A last-use indication is then generated for the architected resource. Instructions and the last-use indications are emitted into the object code.
US08756588B2

Methods and systems are provided for managing exceptions in a multi-tenant system providing instances of a virtual application over a network to multiple tenants. One exemplary method involves obtaining, from an instance of the virtual application, context information associated with an anomalous condition identified by the virtual application and automatically creating an exception record maintaining an association between the anomalous condition and the context information.
US08756587B2

Static analysis of a computer software application can be performed by applying a first level of abstraction to model a plurality of run-time objects, thereby producing a set of object abstractions. Static data-flow analysis of the computer software application can be performed using the set of object abstractions, thereby producing a first data-flow propagation graph. A data-flow bottleneck can be identified within the data-flow propagation graph. A second level of abstraction can be applied to model any of the run-time objects having in the set of object abstractions a corresponding object abstraction that is traceable to the data-flow bottleneck. The applying the second level of abstraction can decompose the corresponding object abstraction into a set of object abstractions, thereby modifying the set of object abstractions. Static data-flow analysis of the computer software application can be performed using the modified set of object abstractions.
US08756583B2

A non-stop debugging environment includes a debugger configured to debug a multi-threaded debuggee. In the non-stop debugging environment, encountering an event by one of the threads stops execution of only the one thread without concurrently stopping execution of the other threads. Thread-specific events may managed in the non-stop debug environment by identifying, by the debugger for a thread of execution of the debuggee not currently executing, a thread-specific event associated with the thread; removing, by the debugger, the thread-specific event for all threads of the debuggee; and upon the thread resuming execution, replacing, by the debugger, the thread-specific event.
US08756580B2

Dynamic determination of affinity between fields of structure may be determined based on accesses to the same instance. The affinity may be utilized in determining a data layout of a structure so as to optimize performance of a target program. The affinity determination may be an estimation based upon a trace of an execution of the target program. Access relation between proximate accesses to fields of the same instance may be utilized to estimate an optimized data layout of the structure.
US08756576B2

A method, system and program product for providing execution feedback of peer submitted code snippets executed for correction of semantic errors in code. A first developer executing a code snippet to correct a semantic error in the use of a third-party library within a first IDE results in the transmission of an execution result to a collaboration datastore. If the code snippet execution completed with no errors, a result indicating a success is automatically transmitted by the IDE. Further, if the code snippet execution resulted in an error due to error within the code snippet, a result indicating code snippet failure along with error details is automatically transmitted. When a second developer is working on code within a second IDE that contains semantic errors, code snippets to correct the semantic error are presented to the second developer, ranked based on previous execution feedback provided by peer developers.
US08756563B2

Embodiments of the invention provide for methods, systems and computer program products for an integrated service framework with a suite of products that provide a development environment and common framework for programming within an operating system. The integrated service framework provides a service controller that allows a programmer or an administrator to control, monitor, query, troubleshoot, and resolve any issues that occur with the services. The service controller provides service interfaces that are completely configurable without the need for programing code to display the individual service interfaces. The service controller provides the service interfaces using the text from a configuration file populated by a user. The user can utilize the service interfaces provided by the service controller to send commands to services to start, stop, pause, and resume the services, monitor information about the services, and query the services to determine if the services are working properly.
US08756554B2

A method comprises tracing a first and second terminal of a junction through a circuit layout to associated power supplies to determine their respective defined bias values. The method further comprises comparing the defined bias values of each terminal in order to determine, based on the comparison, whether the junction is forward biased.
US08756546B2

A computer-implemented method provides an elastic modulus map of a chip carrier of a flip chip package. Design data including dielectric and conductive design elements of each of vertically aligned sub-areas of each of the layers of the chip carrier are modeled as springs to provide the elastic modulus map. Determining the elastic modulus of the sub-areas of the chip carrier identifies probable mechanical failure sites during chip-join and cools down of the flip chip package. Modifying a footprint of solder bumps to the chip carrier reduces stresses applied to the identified probable mechanical failure sites. Modifying the chip carrier design to reduce a stiffness of sub-areas associated with identified probable mechanical failure sites also reduces stresses from chip-join and cool-down.
US08756543B2

A method, system, and computer program product for verification of a state transition machine (STM) are provided in the illustrative embodiments. The STM representing the operation of a circuit configured to perform a computation is received. A segment of the STM is selected from a set of segments of the STM. A set of properties of the segment is determined. The set of properties is translated into a hardware description to form a translation. The segment is verified by verifying whether all relationships between a pre-condition and a post condition in the translation hold true for any set of inputs and any initial state of a hardware design under test. A verification result for the segment is generated. Verification results for each segment in the set of segments are combined to generate a verification result for the STM.
US08756542B2

In an LSI designing support device and method, in which in an LSI circuit is designed including a logic gate and an FET, a possibility that a steady-state flow-through current from a power source to a ground is generated is determined. In an inputted netlist including a logic gate and an FET, extraction is made of a flow-through condition function which expresses, in terms of a Boolean expression, on/off of an FET arranged in a path from a power source to a ground or a path from the output of a logic gate to the power source or to the ground. A flow-through condition determining Boolean expression of a logic circuit which supplies an input to the flow-through condition function is extracted. The Boolean expression is degenerated with logic equivalence maintained, and the existence or nonexistence of a possibility of satisfying a flow-through condition is determined.
US08756541B2

Systems and methods for relative ordering circuit synthesis are provided herein. One aspect provides for generating at least one circuit design via at least one processor accessible by a computing device; wherein generating at least one circuit design comprises: generating at least one relative order structure based on at least one circuit design layout, the at least one relative order structure comprising at least one placement constraint associated with at least one circuit element; placing the at least one circuit element associated with the at least one placement constraint within a circuit design according to the at least one placement constraint; and placing circuit elements not associated with the at least one placement constraint within the circuit design. Other embodiments and aspects are also described herein.
US08756535B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to execute a plurality of screen saver program instances to display a plurality of separately visible screen saver images using a single display device at substantially the same time. In some embodiments, some or all of the screen saver images are displayed in a plurality of non-overlapping display compartments. The images may be selectively assigned a dominant color, or color scheme. The compartments may have boundaries that can be selectively revised. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08756533B2

A computing device is described that receives an indication of a first gesture received at an input device. Responsive to receiving the indication of the first gesture, the computing device outputs, for display, a first information panel having a size. The computing device receives an indication of a second gesture received at the input device. The second gesture has a gesture length. Responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture, the computing device outputs, for display, an updated graphical user interface that includes the first information panel and a second information panel. The second information panel has a panel length that corresponds to the gesture length of the second gesture.
US08756530B2

Generation and synchronization of offline three-dimensional (3D) virtual world content that include hosting 3D virtual world content, providing access to a portion of the 3D virtual world content, allowing storing offline of a copy of the accessed portion of the 3D virtual world content, and receiving changes made in the stored offline copy of the accessed portion of the 3D virtual world content and synchronizing the received changes with the hosted 3D virtual world content. The accessed portion of the 3D virtual world content may be recreated offline using a rendering engine on a processing device offline from the hosted 3D virtual world.
US08756514B2

A system and method for dynamically scheduling a meeting time in association with an instant messaging client. The system includes a chat server, a grid scheduling server, a local instant messaging client, a remote instant messaging client, and a grid scheduling client. The instant messaging client facilitates a chat session in conjunction with the chat server. The grid scheduling server generates a representation of scheduling information from a scheduling matrix including a list of times arranged transversely to a list of participants to the meeting. The grid scheduling client in conjunction with the grid scheduling server hosts a grid scheduling session in real-time on the local and remote instant messaging clients and schedules the meeting time according to real-time input from participants on the local and remote instant messaging clients.
US08756508B2

There is provided a gesture recognition apparatus including a recognition unit for recognizing a gesture based on a set of gesture information input in a given input period, a prediction unit for predicting the gesture from halfway input gesture information among the set of gesture information, and a notification unit for notifying a user of prediction information about the result of predicting the gesture. A user can confirm what kind of gesture is recognized by continuing to input gesture information through a notification of the prediction information.
US08756507B2

A mobile media device user interface is described. In one or more implementations, output of a plurality of audio content is monitored by a mobile media device. Each of the audio content was received via a respective one of a plurality of broadcast channels by the mobile media device. A user interface is displayed on a display device of the mobile media device, the user interface describing each of the plurality of audio content and the respective broadcast channel from which the audio content was received.
US08756500B2

Dynamic filtering of content in a content feed may be provided. A user interface may be displayed on a computer for presenting different views of content. The user interface may include a title bar for switching between the different views and for displaying notifications. The different views may include content generated by users of the content feed. Content in the different views may be filtered based on a type and a priority of the content during the presentation of each of the views in the user interface.
US08756492B2

The present invention discloses a method for processing document data, wherein the document data comprises at least one page in order and the page comprising at least one layer in order, the method comprises: managing and controlling the at least one layer respectively. The technical scheme of the present invention enables process a document on layers in the docbase management system and provides more flexible document processing.
US08756468B2

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatus, methods, and computer-accessible medium for a toggle-masking procedure configured to mask, e.g., most or all the unknown x's and minimizing the over-masked known bits for clustered distribution of unknown bits. According to certain exemplary embodiments, it is possible to obtain previous masking information regarding the scan chain(s) associated with a previous cycle, and mask the scan chain(s) for a present cycle based on the previous masking information.
US08756463B2

A method and an apparatus for data management through timer compensation in a wireless communication system are provided. In the method, when a data loss occurs at a first point, whether a data loss has occurred previously and so whether a timer is being driven are determined. Whether the driven timer stops or expires at a second point is determined. When the timer stops or expires at the second point, a timer value is compensated for with consideration of a time difference between the first point and the second point. A timer for the data loss of the first point is restarted based on the compensated timer value. Therefore, a delay of a retransmission request time for lost data in an RLC (Radio Link Control) layer may be minimized.
US08756459B2

Systems and methods for detecting faults in a system. The method comprising maintaining diagnostic history for one or more system components; receiving system information about operational state and relational interaction among system components; determining if one or more system components are to be examined, in response to performing an analysis of the diagnostic history, wherein the analysis is performed to determine if the diagnostic history includes any information that may indicate that certain system components or combinations of components are suspected of causing a problem detected in the system, wherein the diagnostic history is maintained based on an at least one examination performed on said one or more components when said one or more components were installed in a system other than the system in which the problem is detected.
US08756455B2

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronized active-passive application failover. A data connection to a single data source can be used as a synchronizations point. Interoperating instance side and data source side algorithms coordinate to transition a passive instance to an active instance within a specified period of time when a prior active instance fails. An active-passive controller can operate as an active-active module within an active-active environment to provide active-passive failover to active-passive modules. Application virtual names can be mapped to application instance electronic addresses to assist external modules in establishing application connections to active-passive applications.
US08756450B2

A memory module may have a redrive circuit having a plurality of redrive paths, a memory device, and a deskew circuit. The deskew circuit may be separate from the plurality of redrive paths. The deskew circuit may be coupled between the plurality of redrive paths and the memory device to selectively deskew data received in the redrive circuit.
US08756443B2

An electric power control device includes: a power consumption monitoring section for monitoring electric power consumed by an electronic device; a moving average calculation section for calculating a moving average of the power consumption of the electronic device, based on the power consumption monitored by the power consumption monitoring section; a state-of-load determination section for determining state of the operational load on the electronic device, based on the moving average calculated by the moving average calculation section; and a control section configured to control the electronic device to operate either in a restriction mode in which an upper limit corresponding to state of load determined by the state-of-load determination section is imposed, or in a restriction release mode in which the upper limit is not imposed.
US08756440B2

A computer system comprising a motherboard and a power supply having an associated power management bus controller with memory storing the power capacity of the associated power supply. A power circuit provides power from the power supply to the motherboard, wherein the motherboard has a processor and a baseboard management controller. The system further comprises a power management bus providing communication between the baseboard management controller and the power management bus controller associated with the selected power supply, wherein the power management bus controller provides the stored power capacity to the baseboard management controller. This allows the baseboard management controller to limit operation of the processor to control the amount of power consumed from exceeding the power capacity of the selected power supply. The power capacity of the power supply may be sent to the baseboard management controller in response to booting the motherboard.
US08756436B2

Storage apparatus (20) includes a memory (30) and an encryption processor (28), which is configured to receive and encrypt data transmitted from one or more computers (24) for storage in the memory. A one-way link (32) couples the encryption processor to the memory so as to enable the encryption processor to write the encrypted data to the memory but not to read from the memory.
US08756430B2

A method for securing communications in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) system including an on-board computer of a broadcasting vehicle predicting a value for a vehicle parameter, generating a heavyweight signature corresponding to the predicted value, and obtaining an actual value for the vehicle parameter. The method also includes the computer comparing the predicted value to the actual value to determine if the predicted value bears a first relationship to the actual value. If the computer determines that the predicted value bears the relationship to the actual value, the on-board computer generates a lightweight authenticating signature to correspond to the predicted value and broadcasts a data message having the predicted value with the corresponding heavyweight authenticating signature and the corresponding lightweight authenticating signature.
US08756428B2

A computerized authentication method of an electronic document, in particular a file designed to be on-board an aircraft. The method includes generating a digital signature of the electronic document using a private key corresponding to a public key certified by a certifying authority, and sending via the Internet a time stamp request of the electronic document to a time stamping authority and receiving in response thereto a time-stamp signed by the certifying authority. The method includes sending via the Internet a request to an Online Certificate Statute Protocol (OCSP) server and receiving in response thereto a statute of the certificate of the public key, and adding to the electronic document of the digital signature, the time-stamp and the statute of the certificate to create an authenticated electronic document.
US08756426B2

A method, system and non-transitory computer-readable medium product are provided for functionality watermarking and management. In the context of a method, a method is provided that includes identifying a request to perform at least one function of a user device and identifying at least one watermark template. The method further includes applying the at least one watermark template to at least one function of the user device and authorizing the request to perform the at least one function of the user device.
US08756416B2

A method and system for checking a revocation status of a biometric reference template previously generated for an individual. A hash value of the biometric reference template is computed. A reference template revocation object for the biometric reference template is created, which includes inserting into the reference template revocation object: (i) a location for checking the revocation status of the biometric reference template and (ii) a unique biometric reference template identifier that uniquely identifies the biometric reference template. The revocation status of the biometric reference template is ascertained through use of the reference template revocation object. The ascertained revocation status of the biometric reference template is returned to a relying party that had requested the status of the biometric reference template.
US08756415B2

A memory device includes: a storage section configured to store public key information of a certificate authority for verifying a certificate and revocation information for revoking illegal devices and to include a secret area for storing data of which the confidentiality is to be guaranteed; and a control section configured to have a function of communicating with an external device and to control access to the secret area of the storage section at least in accordance with the revocation information.
US08756409B2

The invention provides a system for retrieving at boot time user data stored on a computer. The computer comprises a processor coupled through a system bus to I/O devices and to a system memory, the computer further having a basic input output system (BIOS) unit operatively coupled to the system bus for loading a computer operating system during a computer boot procedure, wherein the system memory being accessible to the computer operating system via the system bus. The system comprises a boot adapter for connecting the system bus to a boot bus, a boot memory coupled to the boot bus wherein the boot memory comprises storage locations for storing the predefined user data, and program code means coupled to the BIOS unit. The program code means are operative for loading a boot operating system during the computer boot procedure, the boot operating system having instructions for accessing the boot memory during the computer boot procedure.
US08756398B2

A method of partitioning a page of an electronic memory includes creating a first sub-page by interleaving a first user data section of the page with another section of a spare area of the page excluding a specified address in a section of the spare area that stores a bad block marker. The method also includes creating the sub-pages by interleaving the user data sections with sections of the spare area excluding the specified address until a last sub-page is to be created. Further, the method includes creating the last sub-page by interleaving a last user data section with the section of the spare area that includes the specified address in an interleaving sequence that retains the bad-block marker at the specified address.
US08756390B2

Methods, apparatuses, and media to protect sensitive information in data storage devices are disclosed. Embodiments comprise a method of transmitting and receiving unique identification information of components of a computer system, comparing the information with previously saved information in the storage device, and not allowing access to the data if the information is substantially different. In some embodiments, the storage device may simply prevent access to the information. In other embodiments, the storage device may erase the information after detecting a change in the computer system. In other embodiments, the storage device may provide various options for effectively resetting the unique identification stored in the data storage device so that the device may be used in an altered system.
US08756386B2

A backup apparatus and method which stores backup data into a backup data storage area includes detecting whether to increase a capacity of the backup data storage area, assigning a storage area, within an addition-source area set as a storage area permitted to be additionally assigned as the backup data storage area, when a storage area the capacity of which is to be increased is detected, detecting whether to increase the capacity of the addition-source area, and setting the addition-source area in a free storage area as the backup data storage area when detecting that the capacity of the addition-source area is to be increased.
US08756377B2

An apparatus for storing data that is being processed is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a cache associated with a processor and for storing a local copy of data items stored in a memory for use by the processor, monitoring circuitry associated with the cache for monitoring write transaction requests to the memory initiated by a further device, the further device being configured not to store data in the cache. The monitoring circuitry is responsive to detecting a write transaction request to write a data item, a local copy of which is stored in the cache, to block a write acknowledge signal transmitted from the memory to the further device indicating the write has completed and to invalidate the stored local copy in the cache and on completion of the invalidation to send the write acknowledge signal to the further device.
US08756376B2

A method of operating a memory system is provided. The method includes a controller that regulates read and write access to one or more FLASH memory devices that are employed for random access memory applications. A buffer component operates in conjunction with the controller to regulate read and write access to the one or more FLASH devices. Wear leveling components along with read and write processing components are provided to facilitate efficient operations of the FLASH memory devices.
US08756373B2

Methods and systems for load balancing read/write requests of a virtualized storage system. In one embodiment, a storage system includes a plurality of physical storage devices and a storage module operable within a communication network to present the plurality of physical storage devices as a virtual storage device to a plurality of network computing elements that are coupled to the communication network. The virtual storage device comprises a plurality of virtual storage volumes, wherein each virtual storage volume is communicatively coupled to the physical storage devices via the storage module. The storage module comprises maps that are used to route read/write requests from the network computing elements to the virtual storage volumes. Each map links read/write requests from at least one network computing element to a respective virtual storage volume within the virtual storage device.
US08756363B2

Systems and methods for efficient memory corruption detection in a processor. A processor detects a first data structure is to be allocated in a physical memory. The physical memory may be a DRAM with a spare bank of memory reserved for a hardware failover mechanism. Either the processor or an operating system (OS) determines a first version number corresponding to the first data structure. During initialization of the first data structure, the first version number may be stored in a first location in the spare bank. The processor receives from the OS a pointer holding the first version number. When the processor executes memory access operations targeting the first data structure, the processor compares the first version number with a third version number stored in a location in the physical memory indicated by the memory access address. The processor may set a trap in response to determining a mismatch.
US08756355B2

Methods and structure are provided for managing a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) domain via Universal Serial Bus (USB) communications. The system comprises a SAS expander. The SAS expander comprises a plurality of physical links, a USB interface, and a control unit. The control unit is operable to receive USB packets via the USB interface, to determine SAS management information based upon the received USB packets, and to alter a configuration of the SAS domain based upon the SAS management information determined from the USB packets.
US08756343B2

When receiving a predetermined command regarding an assigned key to a node apparatus, a history element is registered, which includes a first Logical Clock Value (LCV) at a first time the predetermined command was received, and a data value at a second time represented by the first LCV. When receiving a reference request to reference a data value at a third time represented by a specific LCV, a first marker is registered, which includes, as the specific LCV, a second LCV at a time when the reference request was received or a third LCV designated by the reference request, and further includes information concerning the reference request. When a fixed LCV in a system becomes not less than the specific LCV, a data value corresponding to the assigned key at the third time is identified from the history elements including first LCVs that are not greater than the specific LCV.
US08756335B2

Techniques are disclosed for processing data streams containing data tuples, where some of the data tuples are load shed. Load shedding refers to a process of selectively discarding some data tuples, e.g., when the amount of received data becomes too overwhelming to manage. When operations are invoked that depend on the values (or count) of the load shed tuples, the value (or counts) of the load shed tuples may be used to perform such operations. For example, an aggregation operation may return the sum, average, mean and/or variance associated with a plurality of tuples processed by a node of the stream application.
US08756324B2

Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for automatic cloud template approval. Automatic cloud template approval can include mapping a request to a chargeback package of a user, the request being for cloud service including a plurality of cloud service components. The automatic cloud template approval can include determining if the request is within the chargeback package of the user based on each of the plurality of cloud service components and, in response to the request being within the chargeback package of the user, automatically approving a cloud template to allocate the cloud service requested by the user. After approval resources will be allocated based on the availability, else resource analysis will be done and allocation will be done appropriately.
US08756322B1

Disclosed are various embodiments related to the fulfillment of requests for computing capacity. In one embodiment, a request queue includes requests from customers for computing resources to be allocated. Individual ones of the computing resources are allocated to individual ones of the customers based at least in part on requested availability times, device parameters, and at least one allocation rule. Another request for allocating a computing resource for a first customer is added to the request queue. At least one computing resource from a second customer is reallocated to the first customer in response to the other request.
US08756321B2

A method, system and graphical user interface for service level selection, for use in connection with a data network that supports multiple service levels. A server monitors usage of a network to identify a communication session and a service level associated with the communication session. The server may also monitor a global usage of the data network. The server determines at least one alternative service level for the communication session and causes conveyance of an offer of a choice of the at least one alternative service level. A graphical user interface causes information regarding the offer to be displayed and allows a user to identify a selected one of the at least one alternative service level. In response to user input identifying the selected service level, the server causes a change in the service level for the communication session.
US08756319B2

A system and method is presented for verifying the ability to use stored authentication information when accessing a remote media service. A media device, such as a television, is described that stores authentication information for a remote media service. Such authentication information may include a user name and a password. Because media devices may be re-sold, returned for re-sale, or refurbished, it is necessary to automatically disable the authentication information to prevent a second owner from accessing the services and accounts belonging to a first owner. The ability to use authentication information is disabled upon a long delay in accessing the service, a complete power down cycle, a change in IP address, or a change in network interfaces used to access the network.
US08756313B2

A method is disclosed for notifying a user of network resource updates for a terminal with a browser. The method includes identifying a plurality of network resources from multiple sources to be dynamically monitored and dynamically monitoring the identified network resources based on a trigger mechanism. The method also includes determining whether there are updates in the monitored network resources and, when it is determined that there are updates in the monitored network resources, notifying the user according to a preset update notification means and the multiple sources of updated network resources.
US08756311B2

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for facilitating communication between remote services and applications installed on a device are described. In accordance with embodiments, each of a plurality of remote services generates an application-specific message intended for processing by a corresponding application installed on a device and transmits the application-specific message to a device management system (DMS) server, where it is queued. A DMS client installed on the device sends heartbeat messages to the DMS server indicating that the device is available to receive messages. In response to receiving the heartbeat messages, the DMS server transmits the application-specific messages to the DMS client. The DMS client then publishes each application-specific message to the particular application that the application-specific message was intended for.
US08756306B1

A device receives multiple identifiers associated with a customer of a network, receives multiple products associated with the customer and provided by the network, groups the multiple identifiers into a single customer identifier, and associates the single customer identifier with the multiple products.
US08756294B2

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.
US08756292B2

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for optimizing portal navigation node caching. A computer-implemented method includes starting a learning process to analyze at least one navigation request to at least one navigation node, wherein the navigation request requests at least one property of the at least one navigation node, examining properties of the at least one navigation node, recording to a property list at least one requested navigation node property of the at least one navigation node, calculating, using at least one computer, a variance between the at least one navigation node property recorded to the property list, and determining whether the calculated variance is above a threshold.
US08756288B2

Message routing in a publish/subscribe system where messages are routed from one or more publishers to one or more subscribers according to respective defined paths through a topic tree. A pseudo-topic tree path comprised of a partial path definition and a selection function is specified by a subscriber or publisher. When executed, the selection function searches the topic tree to identify one or more path definition segments, which segments replace the selection function in the pseudo-topic tree path to generate one or more complete path definitions that are then usable for routing messages.
US08756284B2

Sending communications to incorrect recipients is minimized. Recipients that have ambiguous names or other designations are marked as ambiguous. Then, in response to including one of those names or designations in a communication, the originator of the communication is automatically warned of the ambiguity. This enables the originator to re-confirm that the communication is being sent to the intended recipient.
US08756278B2

A social networking system manages the accessibility of content items provided by users and directed to various audiences in the social networking system. An author provides the social networking system with a content item, a content item tag indicating an association between the content item and a tagged user, and a definition of a first audience who may view the content item. The social networking system then allows the tagged user to provide a definition of a second audience who may view the content item, where the second audience may contains users who are not in the first audience defined by the original author. The social networking system then determines whether a viewing user may view the posted content item (and tag) based on whether the viewing user is in at least one of the first audience and the second audience.
US08756270B2

A mechanism is provided in a collective acceleration unit for performing a collective operation to distribute or collect data among a plurality of participant nodes. The mechanism receives an input collective packet for a collective operation from a neighbor node within a collective tree. The input collective packet comprises a tree identifier and an input data field and wherein the collective tree comprises a plurality of sub trees. The mechanism maps the tree identifier to an index within the collective acceleration unit. The index identifies a portion of resources within the collective acceleration unit and is associated with a set of neighbor nodes in a given sub tree within the collective tree. For each neighbor node the collective acceleration unit stores destination information. The collective acceleration unit performs an operation on the input data field using the portion of resources to effect the collective operation.
US08756267B1

According to some embodiments, a device is configured to perform a dual multiply-accumulate operation. In one embodiment, the device includes a functional unit configured to calculate, in parallel, a first multiplication product of a first coefficient and a first sample; and a second multiplication product of the first coefficient and a second sample. The first sample is an (n)th sample and the second sample is an (n+2)th sample in a plurality of sequential samples. The functional unit outputs and stores the first multiplication product and the second multiplication product in different storage locations in at least one storage device.
US08756266B2

An apparatus for processing a plurality of real-valued subband signals using a first real-valued subband signal and a second real-valued subband signal to provide at least a complex-valued subband signal comprises a multiband filter for providing an intermediate real-valued subband signal and a calculator for providing the complex-valued subband signal by combining a real-valued subband signal from the plurality of real-valued subband signals and the intermediate subband signal.
US08756264B2

A method of generating pseudo-random numbers on a parallel processing system comprises generating a plurality of sub-streams of pseudo-random numbers, wherein the sub-streams are generated in parallel by one or more co-processors, and providing the plurality of sub-streams to respective processing elements, wherein the respective processing elements employ the plurality of sub-streams to execute an application.
US08756252B2

According to some embodiments, categories and an associated category graph may be determined for a parsing framework. Moreover, a type for the parsing framework may be defined, wherein at least one category is automatically created and inserted into the category graph for an implementation element of the defined type. Namespaces may be automatically defined for the categories based at least in part on inheritance relationships associated with the categories in the category graph.
US08756245B2

Systems and methods for answering user questions using databases annotated with answerable questions are disclosed. The database includes database items organized into columns. Each of the columns may have a question annotated thereto. The question is a parameterized question that is answerable by the database items in the column. A question answering algorithm is used to search the database for an annotated question corresponding to a question that needs to be answered.
US08756241B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for determining rewrite source-rewrite target similarity scores. In one aspect the method includes receiving a rewrite source-rewrite target pair; identifying first queries that include the rewrite source and second queries that include the rewrite target; identifying a first web document referenced by a first search result responsive to the first query; identifying third queries for which the first web document was referenced by a third search result responsive to the third query; identifying a second web document that was referenced by a second search result responsive to the second query; identifying one or more fourth queries for which the second web document was referenced by a fourth search result responsive to the fourth query; and determining a similarity score for the rewrite source-rewrite target pair based on a measure of matching terms between third query terms and fourth query terms.
US08756240B2

System, methods, and apparatus for attribute-based rating of authors and content. In some methods, first content authored by a first author having an attribute that is common to other authors is received. A second author having the attribute is identified as well as content authored by the second author. A user feedback base rating that is assigned to the second author is identified. An initial rating for the first content is generated based on the user feedback based rating that is assigned to the second author, and the initial rating is assigned to the first content.
US08756238B2

A system for index searching comprises a first index, a second index, a processor, and a memory. The processor is configured to determine, using a Bloom filter for the second index of fingerprints, whether the Bloom filter indicates that an entry corresponding to a segment has been previously stored in the second index. The processor is further configured to, in the event that the Bloom filter indicates that an entry corresponding to the segment has been previously stored in the second index, retrieve a second index entry associated with the segment that has been previously stored. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US08756234B1

A system and process for automated text analysis which can be used to identify phrases in reports such as medical reports includes identifying a phrase contained within a text, extracting the phrase from the text, determining a value of the phrase and, in response to the phrase having at least a threshold value, reducing the phrase to a root meaning. In one embodiment, the value of the phrase is assigned via lexicon-based hierarchical decision trees.
US08756231B2

The invention provides a method and system for hierarchical search retrieval. The method includes performing a text search on a hierarchy data structure of information. Forming a limited size hierarchy data structure using the search results. Assigning a location number for each search result in the hierarchy data structure. Sorting the hierarchy data structure. Clustering the sorted hierarchy data structure by categorizing the search results in the hierarchy data structure into groups that are related based on proximity. Limiting a hierarchical depth for each group in the clustered hierarchy data structure based on a configurable depth value to reduce hierarchical results for presentation. Providing the clustered hierarchical data structure as a list of search results as output.
US08756228B2

A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for generating contextualized feeds. The method of generating contextualized feeds comprises receiving context data from a user. The method further comprises generating contextualized feeds based on the context data, as the context data is received. The method, in one embodiment, includes receiving a selection of one or more of the contextualized feeds from user, the selected feeds to be displayed with content entered by the user.
US08756224B2

Methods, systems, and media for content ranking using real-time data are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method, implemented on a processor, for ranking content is provided. The method can include, among other things: receiving real-time information from a plurality of sources; supplementing the received real-time information with historical information and user influence information; analyzing the supplemented real-time information from the plurality of sources to determine real-time trend information; receiving a plurality of content snippets from a content provider; detecting similarities between each of the plurality of content snippets and the determined real-time trend information; ranking the plurality of content snippets based on the detected similarities; and displaying the ranked plurality of content snippets.
US08756218B1

The technology described relates to performing query classification by using search engine results. In one aspect, a method includes identifying, from search results responsive to first search queries, first collections of features associated with classifications for the first search queries; in response to receiving a second search query, generating from search results responsive to the second search query a second collection of features associated with the second search query; and comparing the first collections of features to the second collection of features to determine a particular classification for the second search query.
US08756213B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for crawling a website based on a scheme of the website. In use, a difference between a first content and second content of a website is identified. Additionally, a scheme of the website is identified based on the difference. Furthermore, the website is crawled based on the scheme.
US08756212B2

Disclosed is a method and device for finding documents, such as Web pages, for presentation to a user, automatically or in response to a user expression of interest, which documents are part of a Web site being accessed by the user, and which documents relate to a document, such as a Web page, being accessed in the Web site. The method takes advantage of information retrieval techniques. The method generates the search query to use to find documents by reference to the text of the document in the Web site being accessed by the user. The method further uses a weighting function to weigh the terms used in the search query.
US08756211B2

One exemplary embodiment involves displaying, by a device comprising a processor, indications of which events or properties of a component are exposed for analytics, wherein the component comprises a template for instances of the component for use in electronic content. The exemplary embodiment further involves determining, by the device, a mapping based on selection of events or properties of the component to map to corresponding data elements to be tracked by an analytics service. The exemplary embodiment further involves providing, by the device, electronic content comprising at least one instance of the component, the electronic content configured to send information about the data elements to the analytics service based on the mapping during use of the electronic content.
US08756210B1

Search results are generated using aggregated context data from two or more contexts. When two or more programmable search engines relate to a similar topic, context data associated with the programmable search engines are aggregated. The context is then applied to a query in order to present, in an integrated manner, relevant search results that make use of context intelligence from more than one programmable search engine.
US08756196B2

The invention meeting the need identified above is the “Enhanced Database Propagation Program” or (EDPP). EDPP uses a cyclic member table that identifies a first source table in a cyclic relationship with a second source table. The first source table, identified in the cyclic member table, propagates first. EDPP replaces all foreign keys with “NULL” in the first target table. After the second source table in the subscription set has propagated to a second target table, EDPP updates first target table with the foreign keys from the first source table.
US08756189B2

A computer receives a plurality of input events, each input event comprising one or more factors. The computer processes each input event based on event processing rules that cause the computer to evaluate the one or more factors and assign each input event a Boolean output value. The computer generates an output event containing the one or more factors and the Boolean output value. The computer generates additional event processing rules based on output events for which the event processing rules caused the output events to have a false-negative or false-positive Boolean output value. The additional rules are then included in the event processing rules.
US08756185B2

A method, system and computer program product for developing a semantic network are disclosed. The system includes a server and a client computer, and the method involves: creating a semantic network containing at least one root concept; performing a set of instructions associated with the semantic network, the set of instructions comprising: transmitting information about the semantic network from the client computer to a server; providing information about at least one resource to the server, the at least one resource containing concepts and relations associated with the at least one root concept; receiving information about a modified semantic network from the server; presenting the information about the modified semantic network to a user; receiving a response from the user; based on the response, further modifying the semantic network. The system interactively modifies semantic networks in response to user feedback, and produces personal semantic networks and document use histories.
US08756175B1

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to model fitting. A target model having a large number of inputs is fit using a performance model having relatively few inputs. The performance model is learned during the fitting process. Optimal optimization parameters including a sample size, a damping factor, and an iteration count are selected for an optimization round. A random subset of data is sampled based on the selected sample size. The optimization round is conducted using the iteration count and the sampled data to produce optimized parameters. The performance model is updated based on the performance of the optimization round. The parameters of the target model are then updated based on the damping factor and the parameters computed by the optimization round. The aforementioned steps are performed in a loop in order to obtain optimized parameters and fit of the data to the target model.
US08756174B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for training a Support Vector Machine (SVM) on a subset of features (d′) of a feature set having (d) features of a plurality of training instances to obtain a weight per instance, approximating a quality for the d features of the feature set using the weight per instance, ranking the d features of the feature set based on the approximated quality, and selecting a subset (q) of the features of the feature set based on the ranked approximated quality. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08756170B2

The present invention discloses a regex matching method and system, and relates to the field of computer technologies. The method includes: sorting multiple regexes into several regex groups, where all regexes in one regex group include a common string, which is known as a generic string; compiling each regex group into a DFA, and setting up a correlation between the generic string of each regex group and the DFA; matching to-be-matched data streams with the generic string respectively, and using the matched generic string as a matched string; obtaining a DFA corresponding to the matched string; and performing regex matching for the to-be-matched data streams according to the DFA, and outputting a matching result. The embodiments of the present invention shorten the data loading process, decrease the time consumed by data loading, and improve the matching performance.
US08756169B2

Technology is described that includes a method of feature specification via semantic queries. The method can include the operation of obtaining a data set having an identifier for each data row and a plurality of data features for each data row. A semantic query can be received that can be applied to the dataset that is usable by a machine learning tool. A entity feature map can be supplied that has entities and associated features for use by the machine learning tool. Further, a query structure can be analyzed using the entity feature map to identify input from the dataset for the machine learning tool.
US08756168B1

An endorsement application can allow a user to endorse a product on a social network website when the product is purchased at a physical merchant point of sale terminal. Users of social network websites have been given the opportunity to endorse products that they have located or purchased online, but purchasers of products in person have not had that opportunity. The endorsement application can operate on a user's mobile device and can recognize a product purchased through near field or other communication using the mobile device. The application can isolate the product identification and product marketing data supplied by the point of sale terminal or other source and offer the user the opportunity to endorse the product on a social network website. If the user endorses the product, the application sends the endorsement to the user's account on the social network website for display to the user's community.
US08756167B2

A transmodal and logistics method, comprising generating at least one transportation route for shipping a shipment using one or more different transportation modes and at least two transportation providers, and calculating a cost rate associated with the at least one transportation route.
US08756165B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating packing and vehicle loading for order fulfillment. A number of totes associated with each one of a plurality of orders fulfilled in a fulfillment center are tracked in a computing resource. Each of the orders specifies at least one item. A plurality of compartment assignments in a delivery vehicle are generated for the totes associated with each of the orders, the delivery vehicle having a plurality of storage compartments.
US08756163B2

Systems and methods of selecting a relevant user for introduction to a user in an online environment are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of receiving a request to identify the relevant user to be introduced to the participating user in the social network, identifying a set of social history records that occurred among the multiple users in the social network, selecting, from the multiple users, the relevant user to be introduced to the participating user using the set of social history records. The relevant user that is selected is not a social connection of the participating user in the social network. One embodiment includes, determining whether the participating user is interested in meeting the relevant user in the social network based on an indication made by the participating user via interaction with the user device.
US08756162B2

The invention relates to a method for carrying out an electronic transaction according to the following steps: Data exchange between a first network subscriber node (1) and a second network subscriber node (2) is carried out by a first terminal (1a) of the first network subscriber node (1) via a first communication network in order to determine transaction data of the transaction; an identification number of a second end device (1b) of the first network subscriber node (1) is inputted into a second communication network, which is different from the first, by means of a first network subscriber node (1) in the first terminal (1a) of the first network subscriber node (1); the identification number and the transaction data from first network subscriber nodes (1) are transmitted (S1, S2; S1′) to a third network subscriber node (3) by means of a third communication network; the validity of the identification number is verified (S3) by the third network subscriber nodes (3) and an associated service provider node (4c) identifies a plurality of service provider nodes (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) registered by the third network subscriber nodes (3); the verified identification number and the transaction data of the third network subscriber nodes (3) are transmitted to the associated service provider nodes (4c) via a fourth communication network; credit determined by the transmitted transaction data is reserved by associated service provider nodes (4c) for the second network subscriber nodes (2) and the reserved credit is confirmed by the associated service provider node (4c) to the third network subscriber nodes (3) via the fourth communication network; a transaction number is produced and is transmitted from the third network subscriber nodes (3) to the second terminal (1b) of the first network subscriber node (1) via the second communication network; the transmitted transaction number is inputted into the first terminal (1a) of the first network subscriber node (1) and the input transaction number is transmitted (S7′, S8; S7) to the third network subscriber nodes (3) via the third communication network; the transmitted transaction number is verified by the third network subscriber nodes (3) by comparing the previously produced transaction number with the third network subscriber nodes; and the credit reserved by the associated service provider nodes (4c) is confirmed by the third network subscriber nodes (3) via the third communication network to the second network subscriber nodes (2).
US08756158B2

A cash recycler that is configured to allow deposited money to be dispensed (recycled) in a withdrawal transaction. In one embodiment, multiple currency recyclers could be used at multiple stores of a retail establishment and collectively work from one pending balance. Embodiments are also contemplated in which multiple accounts at one recycler location. In some cases, the currency recycler provides provisional credit for deposits of coinage and checks. In some cases, transactions made on the currency recycler could be settled to any financial institution.
US08756156B1

Methods, systems and computer program products of an online management portal which manages business and social activities among merchants and users in an online environment. During a user's visit of a merchant's establishment, the online management portal enables participants to check the user into the merchant's establishment, open a tab on the merchant, request for a check for the tab, and pay the tab with mobile electronic devices. In general, the online management portal also allows users to engage in online chatting, posting, sending and receiving orders of merchant products, and other social activities with their mobile electronic devices.
US08756154B2

A novel price paid database, method, system, and computer program product in which checkout items are scanned at a plurality of stores, and a checkout computer identifies the purchased items. The checkout computer determines a price paid for each purchased item. A central computer records in a price-paid database an item identification and price-paid for each purchased items. The central computer publishes the price-paid database. The checkout computer recurrently updates the price-paid database in the central computer with the price paid for each purchased item, the customer identification (if available), the store identification, and a list price for each purchased item.
US08756151B1

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that facilitates collateralized transactions including allocating, at a transaction computing apparatus, units of reputation to one or more reputation lenders based on one or more personal attributes of the one or more reputation lenders, obtaining, at the transaction computing apparatus, a transaction request including one or more transaction parameters, associating, with the transaction computing apparatus, collateral with the transaction request wherein the collateral at least includes units of reputation provided by at least one reputation lender, and distributing, with the transaction computing apparatus, units of reputation based on the outcome of the transaction.
US08756147B1

A computer-implemented method that includes receiving on a computer system, a price of a debt issuance; where the price of the debt issuance includes a cost for purchase of an embedded call option; calculating on a computer system, an actual cost of the purchase of the embedded call option; comparing on a computer system, the cost calculation of the call option to a rule based system of an alternative option type and a corresponding cost of the alternative option type; and determining on a computer system, based on the comparing step, the type of option to be embedded with the debt issuance.
US08756140B1

Computer-based systems and methods are disclosed that generally relate to risk modeling for investment portfolios, such as equity investment portfolios. For example, a factor covariance matrix for a particular investment portfolio can be adjusted for known biases, including non-stationarity bias and optimization bias. In addition, new techniques for computing specific volatilities and relative specific volatilities for assets in a particular investment portfolio are disclosed.
US08756136B2

The present invention relates to synthetic funds for purchase by investors. A structured note is structured to provide customized equity returns/exposure. Terms of each structured note may be specified by the purchaser and the structured notes may be unsecured liabilities of the obligor, e.g., there are no underlying assets upon which the structure note is based. Thus, there will be no limits on the use of structured note proceeds and management of assets and liabilities will be left entirely to the obligor's discretion. Structured note payment obligations may be related to the performance of an objective valuation, but structured note holders will depend on the good credit of the obligor for payment.
US08756129B1

A method, a system and a computer-readable medium for responding to a text message request are enclosed. A method, a system and a computer-readable medium for providing financial information to a customer via a text message are enclosed. A method, a system and a computer-readable medium for providing access to financial information via a text message are enclosed. A method, a system and a computer-readable medium for providing a text message to a customer are enclosed.
US08756126B2

A billing device and processing method is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes i) collecting a billing log according to performing a biz template at the business logic processing unit, ii) verifying validity of the collected billing log, iii) performing a standardizing process on the verified billing log, iv) generating billing data by applying a predetermined billing policy according to the standardized billing log, v) generating a billing file (MDR) to transmit to a billing legacy system of a mobile communication system using the generated billing data and vi) transmitting the generated billing file (MDR) to the billing legacy system.
US08756121B2

In one embodiment, a web page presented to a user includes a header section that substantially spans the top of the web page and provides a menu of selectable options as well as a search input box. A product display region may be presented below the header and display images and information about a selected product. A product carousel may be presented below the product display region and show information about other products in a horizontally scrollable list. Two columns of various types of product review information provided by sources such as professional reviewers, existing owners, and the user's friends may be displayed below the product carousel. A sortable and filterable grid of products may be displayed below the review information such that the user's attention is drawn to the variety of products available for purchase.
US08756113B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining shipping services information over a network by a telephone call center receiving orders for merchandise. Instructions are received at the telephone call center, which permits the telephone call center to access the shipping information for shipment of the merchandise. The telephone call center sends the request over the network to the server for the shipping services information. Thereafter, the server sends the requested shipping services information to the telephone call center. The shipping service information may be in the format of a label, which may be attached to a package for shipment of the merchandise.
US08756112B1

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an effective, user-friendly approach to help a buyer of a car, truck, boat, or other vehicle to get a firm quote from a dealer on a vehicle that the buyer wants, and is financially qualified for, without the hassle and time expense involved in traditional vehicle sales. Embodiments of the present disclosure also help link dealers with buyers who are pre-qualified and motivated to purchase a vehicle, thus helping to eliminate the wasted time, money, and opportunity costs dealers often devote to customers who are not interested in purchasing, and/or who do not financially qualify to purchase, a vehicle.
US08756111B2

Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for funding the purchase of one or more gifts. In one embodiment, a method for purchasing gifts may include providing a computing device configured to access one or more retailer websites. Each retailer website may list one or more gifts available for purchase. The method may include selecting a plurality of gifts available for purchase. The method may include ranking the selected plurality of gifts to indicate a funding order. The method may include receiving one or more monetary contributions to fund the purchase of one or more of the selected plurality of gifts. The method may include allocating the one or more monetary contributions according to the rank of the selected plurality of gifts prior to purchase of one or more of the gifts. The method may include deselecting at least one of the selected gifts.
US08756098B1

Computer-based systems and method are disclosed for grading active money managers. The grading system attempts to identify active money managers with the ability to outperform relevant benchmark indexes and peer active money managers. This may be accomplished by using a point system for calendar years (or other time periods) that awards points based on the degree of difficulty for active money managers to outperform their relevant benchmark index during the calendar year for their investing style. The yearly point total are used to determine a baseline point total, and the money managers are award fractions of the baseline point total based on, for example, (i) how close the money manager's investments match constituents of the money manager's benchmark, and (ii) how close the money manager's return is to the benchmark for the money manager.
US08756096B2

The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods that can be utilized to evaluate and/or direct an interaction with a consumer database and/or evaluate a consumer database, where the consumer database contains information about consumers and particular products and/or services held or used by the consumers. The interactions may be, for example, determining a strategy for sales, marketing, cross-selling, and/or retaining one or more of the consumers. The evaluations may include, for example, hierarchically ranking the consumers and/or determining a clustering of the consumers.
US08756095B2

A system and methods which enable modeling of end consumer interests based on online activity and producing e-commerce reports is described. The method includes scoring and classifying interests and preferences of consumers in relation to various items being offered as function of time and utilizing such scores to predict purchasing activity and revenue yield for n-dimensional combinations of interest for generation of consumer lists for target marketing and merchandising. The method also includes converse modeling of the performance and behavioral profile of items offered as a function of consumer activity. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08756094B2

Implementation of change requests involves risk for computer systems. Methods of mitigating such risk, and apparatus to perform the methods, include comparing levels of risk of risk factors of a change request to corresponding risk factors of one or more prior change requests, and suggesting alternative factor values to lower an expected level of risk.
US08756087B1

A method and apparatus for estimating a monetary cost associated with an incident of a violation of a data loss prevention (DLP) policy. A DLP system may estimate the monetary cost using a data loss cost estimator. The data loss cost estimator estimates the monetary cost for one or more incidents of DLP policy violations, and reports the monetary costs associated with the one or more incidents.
US08756085B1

A damage assessment module operating on a computer system automatically evaluates a property, estimating damage to the property by analyzing a point cloud of a property. The damage assessment module identifies individual point clusters or segments from the point cloud and detects potentially damaged areas of the property surface by identifying outlier points in the point clusters. The damage assessment module may be used to determine the financial cost of the damage and/or determine whether the property should be replaced or repaired. In addition to eliminating the need for an estimator to visit the property in person, the damage assessment module improves the consistency and accuracy associated with estimating damage to a property.
US08756084B2

A computerized method and system for administering an unannuitized annuity plan having a guaranteed minimum withdrawal payment feature associated with a systematic withdrawal program includes the steps of and system for storing data, determining an amount of a maximum guaranteed withdrawal payment for a prescribed period (e.g., one year), periodically determining the account value, monitoring for an unscheduled withdrawal made under the plan and adjusting the amount of the maximum guaranteed withdrawal payment in response to the unscheduled withdrawal. Guaranteed withdrawal payments are periodically made to the account owner so long as withdrawals do not exceed the maximum guaranteed amount for the period, or the account value is greater than the payment.
US08756081B2

In a monitor device, an input unit inputs patient identification information, an information acquiring unit acquires state information on a state of a patient, and a transmission unit transmits the patient identification information and the state information to a management apparatus. In the management apparatus, biological information acquiring unit acquires the patient identification information, the state information, and identification information on the monitor device. A determination unit determines, when the acquired patient identification information and that stored in a storage device match each other, whether the acquired device identification information and the device identification information mapped to the location information stored in the storage device are the same as each other. When they are the same as each other, a storage management unit stores the acquired state information by associating it with the patient identification information stored in the storage device.
US08756078B2

A system and method for collecting, communicating, displaying, and/or analyzing data from multiple medical devices is disclosed. The system includes a local data collection module and a number of medical device adapters. The medical device adapters are coupled to respective medical devices via hardwired connections to receive data from the respective medical devices. The medical device adapters wirelessly transmit the data to the local data collection module. The local data collection module communicates the data received from the medical device adapters to an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system for automatic entry of at least some of the data in the electronic medical record of a patient associated with the medical devices.
US08756071B2

Methods and apparatus for identifying and analyzing clusters of medical billing claims in a queue to identify a shared root cause issue for the medical billing claims in the cluster. Exemplary methods and apparatus involve grouping each of the plurality of medical billing claims into clusters based on predetermined cluster patterns that include at least one attribute, validating the clusters using predetermined criteria to determine if the clusters should be analyzed, discarded, and/or marked for further analysis, collecting information about each of the medical billing claims in clusters, and determining a root cause issue for the medical billing claims in the clusters based on the collected information.
US08756067B2

The present invention provides a computationally efficient technique for compression encoding of an audio signal, and further provides a technique to enhance the sound quality of the encoded audio signal. This is accomplished by including more accurate attack detection and a computationally efficient quantization technique. The improved audio coder converts the input audio signal to a digital audio signal. The audio coder then divides the digital audio signal into larger frames having a long-block frame length and partitions each of the frames into multiple short-blocks. The audio coder then computes short-block audio signal characteristics for each of the partitioned short-blocks based on changes in the input audio signal. The audio coder further compares the computed short-block characteristics to a set of threshold values to detect presence of an attack in each of the short-blocks and changes the long-block frame length of one or more short-blocks upon detecting the attack in the respective one or more short-blocks.
US08756066B2

An audio decoding method and apparatus and an audio encoding method and apparatus which can efficiently process object-based audio signals are provided. The audio decoding method includes receiving a downmix signal and object-based side information, the downmix signal comprising at least two downmix channel signals; extracting gain information from the object-based side information and generating modification information for modifying the downmix channel signals on a channel-by-channel basis based on the gain information; and modifying the downmix channel signals by applying the modification information to the downmix channel signals.
US08756065B2

A method of correlating received communication data with operational communication characteristics is provided. The method includes receiving audible input from a source in a communication over a communications network, recording the received audible input, and transcribing the recorded audible input into a transcript. The method further includes outputting the transcript, specifying features of the transcript to be analyzed, specifying and recording operational communication characteristics particular to the communication, analyzing the transcript for the specified features to identify patterns associated with the audible input, computing statistical correlations of the identified patterns with the operational communication characteristics, and outputting results of the computed statistical correlations on a user interface.
US08756063B2

A handheld voice activated spelling device includes a housing and a cover secured to the housing. A power source and microphone are mounted within the housing and control switches are operable from the front surface of the housing. A first memory has a plurality of words stored therein. A second memory has a plurality of word definitions stored therein, each associated with a respective word. A speech recognition apparatus is coupled to the microphone and to the first memory and responsive to the electronic signals generated by the microphone for selecting at least one word from the first memory representative of the specific word spoken by the user. A display is provided for displaying the plurality of words and the plurality of word definitions when the user operates a selected control switch. A related word classification can be also selected from a third memory and displayed on the display.
US08756060B2

Aspects of customizing digital signage are addressed. For example, an audio feed may be analyzed for keywords occurring in potential customers' speech. These keywords are then employed to customize display screens of a digital display.
US08756058B2

A speech recognition system in which, even when the user makes an utterance including a word that satisfies a predetermined condition such as an unknown word, such a fact can be presented to the user, and the user can confirm the fact easily, is provided. The speech recognition system includes a word speech recognition section that converts input speech to a recognition result word sequence by using a predetermined word dictionary for recognition, a syllable recognition section that converts input speech to a recognition result syllable sequence, a segment determination section that determines a segment that corresponds to a predetermined condition which is a ground for estimating that a word in the converted recognition result word sequence is an unknown word, and an output section that obtains a partial syllable sequence from the recognition result syllable sequence corresponding to the determined segment, and outputs one or more word entries, which are in the vicinity of a position at which the partial syllable sequence is arranged in the word dictionary for recognition in which words are arranged in the order defined for word entries, together with the recognition result word sequence.
US08756055B2

One aspect of the invention provides a method for enhancing speech output by an electro-acoustical transducer in a noisy listening environment. In some embodiments, this method includes: filtering an input audio signal x(t) using a filter H(z) to produce a filtered audio signal x(t) formula (I), wherein x(t) formula (I)—H(z)x(t); providing to an electro-acoustical transducer a signal corresponding to the filtered audio signal x(t) formula (I) to produce a sound wave corresponding to the filtered audio signal; and prior to filtering the audio signal using the filter, configuring the filter such that, with respect to one or more frequencies, the filtered audio signal has a higher signal level than the input audio signal, and such that the overall signal level of the filtered audio signal (slƒ) is substantially related to the overall signal level of the input signal (slr) such that si/=sl/×c.
US08756047B2

ANN Loadflow Computation Method (LCM) is invented involving input vector composed of net nodal injected real power (P), reactive power (Q), and diagonal elements of conductance and susceptance matrices multiplied by squared initial guess node voltage magnitude (V) or sum of its squared real and imaginary components. Training, and testing and validating input data sets/vectors are generated by applying uniform and non-uniform scaling factors applied to base case loads P and Q at PQ-nodes, and resistance and reactance of network branches. These scale factors are increased until Loadflow Solution by a conventional LCM diverges due to V or angle (θ) instability. V and θ values in the solution just before divergence are respective stability limits, and corresponding values in Loadflow Solution provide direct measure of respective stability margins. Suresh's diakoptics based feature selection technique is presented for calculating one node variable with one neuron in each of ANNs output layers.
US08756044B2

Exemplary embodiments allow executable graphical models, such as block diagram models, to be graphically partitioned for execution on concurrent computing resources. Embodiments allow model components to be grouped into subtasks that are affiliated with tasks associated with concurrent computing resources. Tasks and sub graphs can be mapped to concurrent computing resources according to characteristics, such as sample time, solver type, etc. Embodiments further allow mappings to be visually indicated to a user via various display techniques including color, text, icons, shading, grouping of identifiers, etc. Concurrently executing portions of a model allows model results to be obtained faster than can be obtained when models are executed on a single computing resource, such as a single processor.
US08756043B2

A blood glucose meter and computer-implemented method for improving glucose management through modeling of circadian profiles is provided. For each daily meal period, two sets of pre- and post-meal period data are collected into a circadian profile and stored on a glucose meter, including a level of blood glucose of a diabetic patient and a dosage of diabetes medication. A model of predicted blood glucose for the patient is created from the blood glucose levels in each record as expected blood glucose values and predicted errors and visualized in a log-normal distribution. Target ranges for blood glucose at each meal period are determined and superimposed over the expected blood glucose values. Pharmacodynamics of the medication are obtained. An incremental change in dosing of the medication is propagated over a model day and the expected blood glucose values and their predicted errors are adjusted in response to the incremental dosing change.
US08756037B2

A computational optimization process uses the variable stiffness performance of composite laminates attributed to steered fiber to guide the design of stream functions describing the fibers to build it. This design process combines a finite element-based analysis tool, failure criteria and geometry optimization to determine steered angles associated with stream functions by an optimization program to meet target performance requirements, e.g., load condition(s), and failure criteria for quasi-static or dynamic events. The fiber angle distribution and thickness buildup are computed based on the stream function. The simulated structure is analyzed using finite element analysis. The disclosed process allows the designer to impose manufacturing constraints such as fiber steering radius.
US08756029B2

An intelligent electronic device, and in particular, an electrical power meter, includes an internal calibration system capable of calibrating its measurement mechanisms for the integral nonlinearities introduced by the components which make up those mechanisms, in particular, the analog-to-digital converter. The analog-to-digital converter is coupled with at least one sensor which is operable to sense electrical energy in one or more conductors and output a corresponding electrical signal indicative thereof, the analog-to-digital converter being operative to convert the electrical signal output by the sensor to at least one corresponding digital signal. Integral non-linearity describes the deviation between the ideal output of an analog-to-digital converter and the actual output (after offset and gain errors have been removed). The intelligent electronic device, using internal INL calibration calibrates for such INL substantially across its entire measurement range and significantly improves the measurement accuracy thereby.
US08756026B2

A process for monitoring a machine including moving pieces, a lubrication system and an electromagnetic sensor fitted with a magnet and two electrodes is disclosed. The sensor is capable of collecting particles present in the lubrication system between the electrodes. The monitoring process includes a step for obtaining measurements of resistance between the electrodes of the sensor, taken during an operating period of the machine; a step for determining from said measurements a first autoregressive mathematical model characterizing the resistance; a step for comparison between the first model and a predetermined reference model; and a step for working out an opinion on maintenance of the machine as a function of the comparison result.
US08756018B2

A method for determining movement of a fluid contact in a subsurface reservoir includes measuring azimuthally sensitive resistivity at a first time from within a wellbore penetrating the subsurface reservoir. A first position of the fluid contact with respect to the wellbore is determined using the azimuthally sensitive resistivity measurements. After a selected time, the measuring azimuthally sensitive resistivity from within a wellbore penetrating the subsurface reservoir is repeated. Movement of the fluid contact from the first position is determined using the repeated azimuthally sensitive resistivity measurements.
US08756015B2

A method for increasing sensitivity in a measurement of at least one of magnitude and direction of resistivity in a subsurface material, the method including: performing a first set of measurements of resistivity of the subsurface material using a first logging instrument; constructing a model of a background signal using the first set of measurements; calculating a predicted response of a second logging instrument to the model of the background signal; performing a second set of measurements of at least one of magnitude and direction of resistivity of the subsurface material using the second logging instrument; deriving a second logging instrument response from the second set of measurements; and subtracting the predicted response from the second logging instrument response to produce a corrected response that has greater sensitivity than the second logging instrument response.
US08756013B2

Systems and computer program products provide personalized route generation with computer readable program code, when read by a processor, configured for storing in a memory an image viewing pattern and determining a first object viewing interest from the image viewing pattern. The image viewing pattern may be based at least in part on an image viewing history. The first object viewing interest may be depicted in at least one image in the image viewing history. The code is also configured for receiving a request for directions to a destination in a geographic region, identifying a first area in an electronic map of the geographic region and generating a first route to the destination. The first area may include the first object viewing interest. The first route may feature the first area.
US08756010B2

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for identification of points of interest within a predefined area. Location estimates for substantially stationary mobile devices may be utilized to determine locations of one or more points of interest. Location estimates for mobile devices in motion may be utilized to determine locations of one or more corridors.
US08756001B2

A navigation module and method for providing an INS/GNSS navigation solution for a moving platform is provided, comprising a receiver for receiving absolute navigational information from an external source (e.g., such as a satellite), means for obtaining speed or velocity information and an assembly of self-contained sensors capable of obtaining readings (e.g., such as relative or non-reference based navigational information) about the moving platform, and further comprising at least one processor, coupled to receive the output information from the receiver, sensor assembly and means for obtaining speed or velocity information, and operative to integrate the output information to produce a navigation solution. The at least one processor may operate to provide a navigation solution by using the speed or velocity information to decouple the actual motion of the platform from the readings of the sensor assembly.
US08755999B2

A cam actuated hydraulic brake system and an in plane tensioner pulley belt drive system may be used on autonomous vehicles, such as dynamic motion elements for the evaluation of various crash avoidance technologies. The brake system utilizes a cam driven by a servo to push the piston push rod of a hydraulic master brake cylinder, thus distributing pressurized brake fluid throughout the brake system. The pulley drive system uses an articulating arm for the driven pulley, and that arm may also have connected to it one or two tension pulleys, each of which is in contact with the belt. Because the drive pulley and the tensioner pulleys pivot about the same pivot axis, the needed belt length remains nearly constant across the entire range of the articulating arm.
US08755995B2

The device (1) comprises a first system (3) which comprises means (14) for calculating the vector difference between a position generated by this first system (3) and a realignment position received from a second system (4), for one and the same date-stamping, and means (16) for adding this difference to any new position of the aircraft, generated by said first system (3), so as to obtain each time a realigned position.
US08755994B2

A vehicle display may convey vehicle trip information and vehicle range information graphically to assist drivers in qualitatively visualizing and determining whether they can successfully make it to their destination before an on-board energy source is depleted. A trip gauge may include indicators corresponding to the relative locations of the vehicle, the destination, and a projected zero charge location associated with the vehicle's range or distance to empty value. The positions of the indicators relative to one another may indicate whether the excess energy is available for the vehicle to reach the destination or whether the energy available is insufficient. A battery gauge may also convey information associated with the vehicle range. Portions of the trip gauge and the battery gauge, as well as one or more of the associated indicators, may assigned various color values for display based upon energy consumption, vehicle range, and target distance information.
US08755993B2

A method and system for determining energy efficient routes is described. Map data represents road segments. Energy consumption data is obtained while a vehicle travels on a first road segment. Energy consumption data associated with the first road segment can be used to predict the expected energy consumption when traveling on a second road segment that has similar physical attributes to those of the first road segment. The predicted energy consumption data may be used to determine whether the second road segment is part of a most energy efficient route.
US08755984B2

A vehicle comprises a trailer angle detection apparatus and a trailer backup control system. The trailer angle detection apparatus is configured for outputting hitch angle information generated as a function of an angle between the vehicle and a trailer towably attached thereto. The trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus. The jackknife enabling condition detector is coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus for receiving the hitch angle information therefrom and for determining if a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle. The jackknife counter-measures controller implements a vehicle speed reducing action in response to the jackknife enabling condition detector determining that the jackknife enabling condition has been attained at the particular point in time during backing of the trailer.
US08755979B2

A safety control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes a speed range detector, an oil temperature detector, a vehicle speed detector, a speed-range shifting device, a shift inhibiting device, and a maximum-speed limiting device. The shift inhibiting device is configured to inhibit an automatic downshift and a manual downshift by a driver if the speed-range shifting device performs a forcible upshift. The maximum-speed limiting device is configured to limit a maximum vehicle speed to a third vehicle speed if an oil temperature reaches a second oil temperature which is higher than a first oil temperature and if a vehicle speed is not lower than a second vehicle speed which is higher than a first vehicle speed.
US08755977B2

Provided is a method and a system for preemptively determining a load weight for mining excavation equipment. Specifically, provided is a method in which an excavation surface is scanned to generate an excavation surface profile, an excavation plan is selected for the excavation surface profile, the excavation plan for the excavation surface profile is executed on the excavation surface utilizing a pre-emptive load weighing algorithm based on a plurality of drive signals of the mining excavation equipment, and a volume of a material to be excavated by the mining excavation equipment is determined based at least on the plurality of drive signals, the plurality of derivatives of drive signals, and the excavation surface profile.
US08755958B1

An underwater vehicle uses an undulatory fin propulsion system and a control apparatus to receive sensor data and control the operation of the vehicle in real time over a wide range of forward velocities. In an embodiment, a model of propulsive efficiency is used to achieve high values of propulsive efficiency, giving a lowered energy drain on the battery. Externally monitored information, such as that on flow velocity, is conveyed to the control apparatus residing in the vehicle's control unit, which in turn signals the propulsion system to adopt kinematics, such as fin frequency and amplitude, associated with optimal propulsion efficiency. In an embodiment, the model of propulsive efficiency is generated from a multilayer perception neural network model using data from aquatic species, such as undulatory fin propulsion in the knifefish (Xenomystus nigri), and a sensitivity analysis is used to lower the number of required inputs. Power savings could protract vehicle operational life and/or provide more power to other functions, such as communications.
US08755954B1

A system and methods for generating alerts in a terrain awareness and warning system (“TAWS”) in an aircraft, using data acquired from a forward-looking radar The system comprises a forward-looking imaging device, an airport database, a navigation system, a forward-looking terrain alert (“FLTA”) processor, and a crew alerting system. The FLTA processor determines a measured clearance altitude of a highest cell within an area and compares it with a required minimum clearance altitude; if the measured altitude is equal or less than the required altitude, the crew is alerted. Alternatively, a terrain database may be used. with the FLTA processor for determining if the aircraft descends below the minimum operating altitude or is predicted to do so and then generating an alert. A method is disclosed for generating TAWS alerts using elevation angle measured by the forward-looking radar and terrain data retrieved from a terrain database.
US08755950B2

A termination system that transmits on a cyclic basis, from a control station to an unmanned vehicle, pairs of mutually dependent code and counter values whose dependency is determined by a termination algorithm. The vehicle has knowledge of the algorithm and can hence validate a received code/counter pair using the same algorithm. If the received code/counter pair is invalid, the vehicle can decide to self-terminate. The control station includes a termination actuator that allows the vehicle to be remotely terminated by invalidating, when actuated by an operator, the code/counter pairs that are transmitted to the vehicle.
US08755946B2

A group of sensors use power line communication (PLC) technology to collect power usage information and enable power management and control, as well as provide local area networking. The sensors include an intelligent master sensor and one or more slave devices, such as a communication and power management sensor and a power control switch sensor. The master collects and compiles power usage data from the slaves and communicates this data via the web or other communication means to the outside world. The master also receives and distributes instructions for controlling power usage via associated switches in the home or office. These sensors provide integrated sensing and control of home power usage and power management and establish a LAN that has communication capability and that supports streaming media delivery.
US08755942B2

An HVAC controller and a method of controlling an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) a processor couplable to at least one indoor air quality sensor to receive values therefrom representing at least three levels of indoor air quality and (2) memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a software program capable of causing the processor to control an HVAC system based on magnitudes of the values.
US08755939B2

The present invention provides novel techniques for optimizing throughput and yield using model predictive control techniques. In particular, the present techniques are presented in the context of biofuel production, wherein the trade off between yields of biofuel production and overall system throughput may be optimized. However, the present techniques may also be applied to any other suitable applications where a batch process of the system may affect a change in a property of the produced product, such as liquor processing.
US08755937B2

The present invention relate to a policy-based robot managing apparatus and method for managing a plurality of robots, which generate a wide area policy for controlling cooperation between the plurality of robots connected by a network, compare the generated wide area policy with an existing wide area policy to check whether a conflict between the wide area policies occurs, convert the generated wide area policy into local policies applicable to the plurality of robots, and transmit the local policies to the corresponding robots, respectively. According to the embodiments of the present invention, since a policy-based management technique is introduced, it is possible to more efficiently control different kinds of robots having various forms through a wide area policy having a pseudo-code form even though a manager does not know previously set information of the individual network robots.
US08755933B2

Systems and methods for dispensing soft goods are provided. A described method includes receiving a soft good supply at a loading zone of a soft good dispensing device, receiving an indication of a desired quantity of the soft good at a processing circuit of the soft good dispensing device, using a dispensing mechanism of the soft good dispensing device to automatically dispense the desired quantity of the soft good from the soft good supply based on a control signal received from the processing circuit, and providing a dispensed quantity of the soft good to a dispensing zone of the soft good dispensing device for user access.
US08755920B2

The present invention relates to an audio recording electronic book apparatus featuring a recording function to take an audio note, comprising a display module for displaying the contents of an electronic book; a memory unit for storing at least one electronic book file; a micro process unit for reading an electronic book file and displaying it on the display module; a recording/broadcasting module for inputting an audio note after startup and storing in the memory unit as an audio data file; and a correspondence table for recording the linkage relationship related to the audio data file and the electronic book file.
US08755917B2

To obtain a safety control device capable of shortening a response time without using a high-speed CPU, command judging units judge whether an output command that has been input is an ON command or an OFF command; comparing units transmit a judgment result of their command judging units to each other and compare the judgment results of the command judging units with each other. Output units output an output signal to turn off a switch if the judgment result of the command judging units is the OFF command or if the comparison result of the comparing units indicates disagreement.
US08755909B2

A medical electrical lead having an elongated lead body and a fixation helix extending along a generally helical axis, mounted around the outer circumference of the lead body. The fixation helix has a free end spaced from and extending from the lead body for less than the circumference of the lead body. The lead body includes an additional component which provides a rotation stop extending from the outer circumference of the lead body and provides stop surface generally perpendicular to the axis of the helix.
US08755902B2

A method and device to enable a medical or surgical procedure using electro-cautery on a patient with an implantable device in a cautery-safe mode of operation. In one embodiment, the invention provides an electronic implantable device programmer having a computer processor, and a display screen configured to display information based on signals from the computer processor. The programmer also includes an input device, and a wireless transmitter controlled by the computer processor. The programmer display and input give the operator the option of programming an implanted electronic device in a cautery-safe mode. With this input, from the operator, instructions are provided in the programmer to transmit a signal from the wireless transmission device to the implanted electronic device to program the electronic device to be in a dedicated bipolar mode where electrical noise produced when operating an electro-cautery device during and medical/surgical procedure does not interfere with operation of the electronic device.
US08755896B2

Nerves that carry taste sensations to the brain are stimulated in order to diminish (or, depending on the application, augment) the pleasure ordinarily associated with consumption behavior to be modified.
US08755895B2

An exemplary signal processing unit includes 1) a microphone configured to detect one or more acoustic signals, 2) processing circuitry configured to process the one or more acoustic signals, and 3) a port configured to receive one or more electrodes that are configured to be placed on an outer surface of the head of a patient and to detect one or more central auditory potentials. The processing circuitry may be further configured to process the detected central auditory potentials.
US08755893B2

A method is provided, including identifying a subject as suffering from pain in a first limb of the subject. In response to the identifying, treatment of the pain in the first limb is facilitated by implanting electrodes in a limb of the subject that is contralateral to the first limb. Other embodiments are also described.
US08755891B2

Methods and devices for treating anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock, bronchial constriction, and/or asthma include providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve of a patient suffering from anaphylaxis to block and/or modulate nerve signals that would regulate the function of, for example, myocardial tissue, vasodilation/constriction and/or pulmonary tissue.
US08755887B2

One aspect relates to an electrical bushing for an implantable medical device, having an annulus-like holding element for holding the electrical bushing in the implantable medical device, whereby the holding element includes a through-opening, at least one elongated conduction element extends through the through-opening, and an insulation element for forming a hermetic seal between the holding element and the conduction element is arranged in the through-opening. One aspect provides for the at least one conduction element to include a cermet.
US08755876B2

Methods and systems for automatic detection of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) are disclosed. The methods and systems use time-varying coherence functions (TVCF) to detect AF. The TVCF is estimated by the multiplication of two time-varying transfer functions (TVTFs).
US08755871B2

Arrhythmia may impact the determination of physiological information from a physiological signal. A patient monitoring system may detect the presence of arrhythmia based on changes in the physiological signal. Derived value data sets may be extracted from the physiological signal and calculations performed to generate arrhythmia features. The arrhythmia features may be used to generate an arrhythmia indicator that may indicate the presence of arrhythmia in the physiological signal.
US08755870B2

One embodiment enables detection of MI/I and emerging infarction in an implantable system. A plurality of devices may be used to gather and interpret data from within the heart, from the heart surface, and/or from the thoracic cavity. The apparatus may further alert the patient and/or communicate the condition to an external device or medical caregiver. Additionally, the implanted apparatus may initiate therapy of MI/I and emerging infarction.
US08755863B2

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnet having two poles and a wall connecting the poles; the poles delimiting a patient-imaging space; and a table which is slidably connected to one of the two poles between the two poles and which table extends substantially parallel to the two poles; a drive for displacing the table relative to the magnet; a lock for locking the table in a selected position relative to the magnet; a drive for rotating the magnet about the axis; the table connected to the magnet such that the table rotates with the magnet when the magnet rotates about the axis; the magnet and the table being rotatable from a position in which the poles and the table are horizontal to a position in which the table and the poles are vertical.
US08755859B2

The invention relates to a medical electrode (1) comprising an electrode head (2) and an electric feed line (3) to the electrode head (2), said teed line (3) having an electrically conductive shielding layer (4), a dielectric element (5), and an electric conductor (6). The feed line (3) has an elongate substrate element (7) onto which the electrically conductive shielding layer (4) is at least partly printed. The at least partly printed shielding layer (4) entirely surrounds the dielectric element (5) and the electric conductor (6) transversely to the longitudinal axis (L) of the feed line (3). The shielding layer comprises an upper (4a) and a lower (4b) shielding ply.
US08755854B2

One or more physiological conditions of a patient can be observed by obtaining a photoplethysmograph (“PPG”) signal from the patient and by only lightly filtering that signal. The light filtering of the PPG may be such as to only remove (for example) high frequency noise from that signal, while leaving in the signal most or all frequency components that are due to physiological events in the patient. In this way, such physiological events can be observed via a visual display of the lightly filtered PPG signal and/or via other signal processing of the lightly filtered PPG signal to automatically extract certain physiological parameters or characteristics from that signal.
US08755851B2

A back cover for mobile terminals which protects the rear surface of a mobile terminal having a battery in the rear surface. The back cover includes: a cover body mounted to the rear surface of the mobile terminal; hooks formed on the edge of the cover body and locked to the rear surface of the mobile terminal; a terminal unit provided on a first surface of the cover body at a location corresponding to terminals of the mobile terminal; a pattern electrode unit provided on a second surface of the cover body and electrically connected to the terminal unit, the pattern electrode unit having an electrode that electrically connects the terminals of the mobile terminal to an outside charger; and a magnet placed in the cover body and magnetically connected to the outside charger.
US08755847B2

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable device housing, wireless communications circuitry carried by the portable device housing, and a self-contained rechargeable battery pack carried by the portable housing for powering the wireless communications circuitry. The self-contained rechargeable battery pack may include a battery casing, at least one internal battery cell carried within the battery casing, internal battery circuitry carried within the battery casing, and at least one internal filter element carried within the battery casing and coupled to the internal battery circuitry.
US08755840B2

A data execution control method and system for a mobile phone are provided. The execution method and system control the execution of user data stored in the mobile phone on the basis of access/execution authentication levels assigned to multiple Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs). The data execution control method includes receiving a key input requesting execution of a user data, reading subscriber information from the SIM, determining whether an execution password corresponding to the subscriber information among previously registered execution passwords and executing the user data if an execution password corresponding to the subscriber information.
US08755833B2

A MIMO wireless communications device supports a dual polarized mode of antenna operation and a single polarized mode of antenna operation. Antenna mode selection is performed as a function of signal to noise ration information and/or rank information corresponding to a communications channel matrix. One of a communications device's processing chains is switched between first and second polarization orientation antennas, e.g., vertical and horizontally polarized antennas, as a function of the antenna mode selection. In various embodiments, the dual polarized mode is advantageously used for high SNR users, while in the low SNR regime, where the capacity is limited by received power, the single polarized antenna configuration, sometimes referred to as the spatial MIMO configuration, is used.
US08755831B2

In an embodiment, an access network (AN) receives a request to allocate a given data channel (e.g., a traffic channel (TCH), Quality-of-Service, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, etc.) to a given wireless communication device (e.g., a call originator, a call target, etc.). The AN determines whether the given data channel is available for allocation to the wireless communication device. If the AN determines the given data channel not to be available for allocation to the wireless communication device, the AN determines a priority score to be associated with the received request. The AN initiates one of a plurality of data channel acquisition procedures (e.g., a preemption procedure, a queuing procedure, etc.) if the determined priority score is above at least one priority score threshold, each of the plurality of data channel acquisition procedures configured to obtain the given data channel in order to service the received request.
US08755826B2

Information relevant to internet security is received at a data center server. Such information, for example, a network intrusion alert or details on a recent outbreak of an network virus, may be examined to determine the nature and scope of the security-related information. A security alert is promptly generated in response to the information, using previously stored multimedia content divided into categories of security alerts and/or multimedia content generated at the data center shortly after receiving the security information. The security alert is then disseminated to a plurality of mobile device users. The alerts may be disseminated only to the users associated with a certain security event category, or may be sent to different groups of users depending on other relevant criteria.
US08755824B1

A geofence management system obtains location data for points of interest. The geofence management system determines, at the option of the user, the location of a user mobile computing device relative to specific points of interest and alerts the user when the user nears the points of interest. The geofence management system, however, determines relationships among the identified points of interest, and associates or “clusters” the points of interest together based on the determined relationships. Rather than establishing separate geofences for multiple points of interest, and then alerting the user each time the user's mobile device enters each geofence boundary, the geofence management system establishes a single geofence boundary for the associated points of interest. When the user's mobile device enters the clustered geofence boundary, the geofence management system notifies the user device to alert the user of the entrance event. The user then receives the clustered, geofence-based alert.
US08755817B2

There is provided a wireless communication device including a determination unit that determines a location region of the wireless communication device, a communication unit that wirelessly communicates with another wireless communication device, and a setting unit that sets a frequency in accordance with the location region of the wireless communication device determined by the determination unit to the communication unit. The determination unit determines a location region of the wireless communication device based on a plurality of pieces of location region information of the wireless communication device acquired by a plurality of different methods.
US08755801B2

The present invention discloses a method for information transmission, the method including: in a process of a terminal initial accessing and/or the terminal handing over, an upper level access node belonging to a hierarchical architecture access network notifying a final access node belonging to the same hierarchical architecture access network of information of a mobility management entity (MME) to which the terminal accesses. The present invention also discloses an access node. The present invention makes the final access node acquire the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses so that the final access node can perform X2 handover via the acquired information of the MME.
US08755800B2

A handover method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of receiving the result of a cell measurement for a neighbor cell from a terminal, judging whether the neighbor cell is a near neighbor cell in accordance with the result of the cell measurement, calculating the ratio of the near neighbor cell to the total neighbor cells, and transmitting a command for a handover to a target cell to the terminal if the ratio exceeds the handover threshold value. The handover method of the present invention reduces interference between cells, and efficiently uses radio resources.
US08755791B2

A method and user equipment for providing channel quality indicator feedback, the method receiving, at the user equipment, a power offset value; measuring, at the user equipment, a channel quality indicator over a reference symbol resource element; and scaling, at the user equipment, the channel quality indicator using the power offset value during an almost blank subframe. Also, a method and network element for coordination between network nodes in a heterogeneous network, the method receiving, at a first network node, load information from at least one other network node; configuring an almost blank subframe (ABS) pattern and a power offset value based on the received load information; providing the power offset value to at least one other network node; and signalling at least one of the power offset value and an ABS threshold value to at least one user equipment.
US08755783B2

An automatic mobile communicator depot system including a mobile communicator acceptor for accepting mobile communicators and providing mobile communicator acceptance inputs, a mobile communicator dispenser for dispensing substitute mobile communicators in response to substitute mobile communicator dispensing instructions, a customer interface receiving customer inputs identifying a specific mobile communicator with a specific customer, and a depot controller responsive at least to the customer inputs and the acceptance inputs and including dispenser control functionality for providing dispensing instructions to the mobile communicator dispenser to dispense a specific substitute mobile communicator to a specific customer and automatic telephone number transfer functionality for transferring a telephone number from a mobile communicator received by the mobile communicator acceptor from a given customer to the substitute mobile communicator dispensed by the mobile communicator dispenser to the customer.
US08755780B2

An apparatus, and an associated method, reconnects a communication party, such as a wireless device, into a call connection responsive to detection of a call connection drop of an ongoing communication session. A detector detects a call connection drop of an ongoing communication session. And, responsive to the detection, the connection is automatically reinitiated.
US08755763B2

A network-enabled audio device that provides a display device that allows the user to select playlists of music much like a jukebox is disclosed. The user can compose playlists from disk files, CD's, Internet streaming audio broadcasts, online music sites, and other audio sources. The user can also select a desired Web broadcast from a list of available Web broadcasts. In addition, the user can play standard audio CD's and MP3 encoded CD's and have access to local AM/FM stations. Further, the software, the user controls, and the display in the network-enabled audio device are operably configured and connected such that the user can listen to playlists that include CD's and other audio sources just as the user would choose a playlist in a jukebox.
US08755762B2

A radio frequency (RF) receiver includes an amplifier stage, a blocking module, and a down conversion module. The amplifier stage amplifies an inbound RF signal (includes a desired component and a blocking component) to produce an amplified inbound RF signal. The blocking module generates an oscillation corresponding to a frequency of the blocking component and filters the amplified inbound RF signal based on the oscillation to substantially attenuate the blocking component and to pass, substantially unattenuated, the desired component. The down conversion module converts the desired RF signal component into a baseband or near baseband inbound signal.
US08755756B1

Various methods and corresponding active interference cancellation units are described. These methods and units can perform active interference cancellation in a system including multiple radios. Notably, signals from a first radio can be received as interference at a second radio. The described methods and units can provide interference conditioning, which manipulates an interference reference of the interference at the first radio to approximate an interference observed at the second radio. After tuning of the interference conditioning, the interference can be removed.
US08755755B2

Reliability of beam selection by pre-coding is improved. A user terminal 52 selects an optimum beam (beam number ‘b’) in the next frame (t+1) based on the channel estimation value of a received pilot signal and transmits a difference value D (=b−a) between a beam number ‘a’ at the current transmission notified by a radio base station 51 and the selected beam number ‘b’ selected to be transmitted at the next transmission to the radio base station 51 as a feedback signal. The radio base station 51 previously stores the beam number ‘a’ notified at the previous transmission and combines the beam number based on the difference value D received as the received feedback signal and the previously notified beam number ‘a’ to restore the beam number ‘b’ desired by the user terminal 52. Pre-coding processing adapted to the beam number ‘b’ is performed and transmission to the user terminal 52 is executed in a state in which a beam of the appropriate beam number ‘b’ is formed.
US08755754B2

A method for classifying a signal is disclosed. The method can be used by a station or stations within a network to classify the signal as non-cooperative (NC) or a target signal. The method performs classification over channels within a frequency spectrum. The percentage of power above a first threshold is computed for a channel. Based on the percentage, a signal is classified as a narrowband signal. If the percentage indicates the absence of a narrowband signal, then a lower second threshold is applied to confirm the absence according to the percentage of power above the second threshold. The signal is classified as a narrowband signal or pre-classified as a wideband signal based on the percentage. Pre-classified wideband signals are classified as a wideband NC signal or target signal using spectrum masks.
US08755750B2

A signal canceller includes a dual-drive electro-optic modulator having separate first and second electrical inputs. The first electrical input is coupled to a first portion of a first signal and the second electrical input is coupled to a second signal and to a second portion of the first signal. A laser generates an optical beam that propagates from the optical input to an optical output of the electro-optic modulator. The dual-drive electro-optic modulator modulates the optical beam with the first and second portions of the first signal and with the second signal. The modulation cancels at least some the first signal and generates a modulation signal with reduced first signal modulation component.
US08755744B2

A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the housing, a processor carried by the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver, and an NFC IC carried by the housing and coupled to the processor. The mobile wireless communications device may also include an NFC antenna carried by the housing, and a coupling circuit between the NFC IC and the NFC antenna. The coupling circuit may include a capacitive network including capacitors coupled in series with each other and in parallel with the NFC antenna, a transmit branch coupled between the NFC IC and a first node between a first pair of capacitors, and a receive branch coupled between the NFC IC and the first node between the first pair of capacitors.
US08755741B2

A satellite receive unit for receiving a plurality of satellite signals from a plurality of satellites, the satellite receive unit including: a plurality of low noise blocks each for receiving one or more of the satellite signals and providing a received signal, at least one of the low noise blocks receiving a plurality of the satellite signals; and a satellite signal processing unit including a plurality of branches each arranged to receive a corresponding one of the received signals from the plurality of low noise blocks, each branch having a multiplier arranged to weight the received signal by multiplying by a corresponding coefficient; and an adder arranged to add the weighted signals of each branch to generate an output satellite signal.
US08755737B1

A method/apparatus/system for educational intervention based on a response metric is disclosed. The notice is generated in response to the collection of user and question data, the sending of questions, the receipt of answers, the evaluation of the correctness of the answers, the generation of a response metric, the comparison of the response metric to a threshold, and the generation of the report or notice. The response metric can be reflect the scatter, randomness, and/or slope of student provided answer data, and can be a fractal dimension.
US08755734B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet feed unit that feeds a sheet to an image forming unit forming a toner image on the sheet; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed in the image forming unit to the sheet; and a control unit that controls the sheet feed unit, when starting duplex image formation for forming both sides of the sheet after an one-side image formation, the control unit retards a timing to cause the sheet feed unit to start the sheet feed operation as the number of sheet with an image formed on one side thereof in the one-side image formation is greater.
US08755723B2

An image forming apparatus that includes a carrier that carries a toner image, a transfer member electrically-grounded and located on outer surface of the carrier, a facing transfer member that faces an inner surface of the carrier, and a charge eliminator located downstream from the transfer member in a direction of recording medium movement and that eliminates electric charge from the recording medium. The facing transfer member has a transfer bias applied thereto that is an alternating voltage including a superimposed voltage of a direct current that has a same polarity as a toner image. The charge eliminator has one of a first alternating current voltage and a second alternating current voltage.
US08755718B2

An image forming apparatus includes an LED unit capable of being in an exposing position or a retracted position, and a cartridge capable of being inserted into or pulled out with the LED unit in the retracted position.
US08755715B2

An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a housing having a cover swingable around a rotational shaft, and first and second LED heads attached to the cover, a position of the first LED head relative to a first axis line around which a first photoconductive body is rotatable being more shifted toward the rotational shaft in a first direction than a position of the second LED head relative to a second axis line around which a second photoconductive body is rotatable, the first direction being a direction along which the first and second photoconductive bodies are arranged, the first and second axis lines being parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08755713B2

A remanufacturing method of a developing device that includes a developer accommodating portion partitioned by a partitioning portion, a first opening provided in the partitioning portion and a seal member welded on the partitioning portion, surrounding the first opening, wherein the first opening is opened by removing the seal member to supply a developer to the outside. The method includes hermetically sealing, before or after re-filling the developer in the developer accommodating portion for reuse, the first opening by bonding, on the partitioning portion, a plate-like member, which is provided with a second opening corresponding to the first opening, and on which a reseal member for sealing the second opening is detachably bonded, at a region outside of a welding trace, a region inside of the trace, or a region ranging from an inside to an outside of the trace, so as to cover the welding trace.
US08755701B2

An image scanner includes: a light source that irradiates, with light, a recording medium on which an image is formed; a light receiving portion that receives light reflected by the recording medium; a generating portion that generates a light amount value from the light received by the light receiving portion; a measuring portion in which plural reflecting surfaces are disposed, the reflecting surfaces respectively having predetermined colors different from each other; and a processing portion that derives a correlation formula from a light amount value generated at predetermined reference time and from a light amount value generated when the reflecting surfaces in the measuring portion are irradiated with the light from the light source, the correlation formula expressing a time-varying change in the light source.
US08755696B2

A control apparatus for controlling an optical receiver having delay paths comprises an optical variable attenuator configured to generate a variable signal and provide the variable signal to the optical receiver; a fine control voltage controller configured to generate a variable fine control voltage and input the variable fine control voltage to one path of the delay paths of the optical receiver; a photo-diode voltage monitor configured to detect a first voltage value and a second voltage value; a bit error rate (BER) checker configured to estimate a bit error rate (BER) according to a signal output from the optical receiver; and a controller configured to set a value of the variable signal and a value of the variable fine control voltage and to estimate the fine control voltage that makes the bit error rate a minimum according to the first voltage value and the second voltage value.
US08755684B2

An adapter includes: a first mount section that is detachably attached to a camera body; a second mount section that is provided separately from the first mount section and is detachably attached to an interchangeable lens; and a power supply section that generates supply voltages of a third power supply system and a fourth power supply system, which are to be fed to the interchangeable lens mounted on the second mount section, from a second power supply system between a first power supply system of the camera body, which is mounted on the first mount section, and the second power supply system which is different from the first power supply system.
US08755680B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an edge ring for supporting a substrate with increased temperature uniformity. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide an edge ring having one or more fins formed on an energy receiving surface of the edge ring. The fins may have at least one sloped side relative to a main body of the edge ring.
US08755675B2

An electronic circuit (300) includes a signal processing circuit (310) including first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3) coupled in cascade, a memory circuit (320) coupled to and adjustable between the first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3), the memory circuit (320) having memory spaces, the memory circuit (320) configurable to establish a trade-off of the memory spaces between the first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3), and a configuring circuit (330) operable to configure the trade-off of the memory spaces of the memory circuit (320).
US08755670B2

A multimedia system is disclosed, having a multimedia playback device and a multimedia information display device. The multimedia playback device is used to provide the multimedia content received from a multimedia transmission device. The multimedia information display device has a display device, a wireless communication device, and a signal processing device for cooperating with the multimedia playback device. The wireless communication device of the multimedia information display device receives the multimedia information. The signal processing device configures the display device to display the multimedia information pertinent to the multimedia content played on the multimedia playback device.
US08755669B2

A system for switching from a first (14) to a second (16) audio/video sequence, the second sequence (16) including a splice point time stamp (12), the system including a disk (18) to store the first sequence (14), a receiver to receive the second sequence as live audio/video, a demultiplexer arrangement (24) to demultiplex at least some of the first sequence (14) from the disk (18) and the second sequence (16) from the receiver, demultiplex the first sequence fast enough so that the demultiplexing of the second sequence (16) can commence a number of frames prior to the splice point time stamp (12), a buffer (28,30) to receive for storage from the demultiplexer arrangement (24), the demultiplexed audio/video of the first sequence (14) and at least part of the second sequence (16), and a decoder (34,36) to decode the demultiplexed audio/video stored in the buffer (28,30) including decoding the first sequence (14) and then the second sequence (16) from the splice point time stamp (12). Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08755659B2

An optical transmission system includes an optical transmitting unit that outputs at least one optical signal having a wavelength included in an operation wavelength band and a holey fiber that is connected to the optical transmitting unit. The holey fiber includes a core and a cladding formed around the core. The cladding includes a plurality of holes formed around the core in a triangular lattice shape. The holey fiber transmits the optical signal in a single mode. A bending loss of the holey fiber is equal to or less than 5 dB/m at a wavelength within the operation wavelength band when the holey fiber is wound at a diameter of 20 millimeters.
US08755625B2

In general, in one embodiment, low-light noise is removed from an image by separately filtering luma and chroma components of the image, by adaptively filtering the image based at least in part on a Gaussian distribution of the image, and/or by dividing the image into separate regions and filtering each region separately.
US08755624B2

Disclosed is an image registration device which includes an image input unit which receives an image; an image information generating unit which generates a homography matrix from the input image; and a warping unit which registers an image based on the homography matrix. The registration information generating unit comprises a distance information generator which generates distance information on subjects of the input image; a distance information modeler which approximates the generated distance information; an overlap information generator which generates overlap information from the approximated distance information; a matching pair determiner which determines a matching pair from the overlap information; and a homography matrix generator which generates a homography matrix from the matching pair.
US08755622B2

An image processing apparatus for tone conversion of a color image having s bit (s is an integer which is equal to or larger than 3) to a color image having d bit (d is an integer which is equal to or smaller than (s−2)) comprises: a conversion table generation unit configured to generate a conversion table, which varies in dependence on a tone value of the s bit, and has dispersion of which level varies in accordance with chroma and luminance of the color image; and a tone conversion unit configured to convert, before image compression or image file storage is performed and after color space conversion is performed, the color image having s bit to the color image having d bit using the conversion table.
US08755619B2

An encoding method includes selecting a run detection method in accordance with characteristics of image data, generating a run value by detecting a run that is repeated in the image data in accordance with the selected run detection method, generating run count bits by counting the number of repetitions of the detected run, and performing a run-length encoding using the detected run values and the run count bits. The run detection method includes a coefficient run detection method that detects a run based on pixel values, a pattern run detection method that detects the run based on whether the pixel blocks have a specified pattern, a difference run detection method that detects the run based on a difference value between two successive pixel values, and a residual run detection method that detects the run based on an error value that is a difference value between an actual pixel value and a predicted value.
US08755617B2

An image encoding device includes: a first encoding unit for encoding image data using a fixed-quantizing parameter to calculate a generated code amount; a second encoding unit for encoding the image data using multiple different quantizing parameters for each of the quantizing parameters as the image data of an intra picture to calculate a generated code amount; a code amount control unit for determining a quantizing parameter by predicting a quantizing parameter for realizing a target generated code amount, and a generated code amount when employing this quantizing parameter based on the generated code amount calculated at the first encoding unit, and correcting this predicted generated code amount according to the generated code amount calculated at the second encoding unit so as to realize the target generated code amount; and a third encoding unit for encoding the image data using the quantizing parameter determined at the code amount control unit.
US08755616B2

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method of using pattern vectors for image coding and decoding. The method comprises converting a block of image data into a set of transform coefficients, quantizing the transform coefficients such that a number of the coefficients become zero, constructing a single entity or bit vector indicating which coefficients are non-zero, coding the single entity or bit vector as an integer using an adaptive, semi-adaptive or non-adaptive arithmetic coder, coding the values of the coefficients in any fixed order, using an adaptive, semi-adaptive or non-adaptive arithmetic coder, or some other coder, and coding all coefficients except the zero coefficients. The system and method of decoding data relate to the corresponding hardware and process steps performed by the decoder when decoding a bitstream coded as described herein.
US08755615B2

The invention relates to a scalable video (de)coding method for wireless transmission of high definition television signals. Scalable means that the bitstream contains successively smaller quality refinements and that the bitstream can be truncated. The video images are divided in slices, and each slice is divided in blocks of 8×8 pixels. For each block, an optimal encoding method is chosen. Depending on whether the block is found to contain natural or synthetic image content, transform coding (DCT) or graphic coding is applied. Because the different encoding modes have different properties as regards picture quality, the bitstream format has to enable the encoder to very flexibly choose which bits to send first. The bitstream format in accordance with the invention consists of a multitude of scans (31-34) through the coded data of a series of individual blocks, e.g. a slice. In each scan, the encoder decides whether it will include data for natural blocks (BS1,BS2), for synthetic blocks (BS0,BS1), or both. For the DCT blocks, it can further choose between DC coefficient bits (22) and AC coefficient bits (23). For example, the encoder can choose to first send a few scans of DCT DC bits, then send a few scans of graphics bits and then send some DCT AC bits. The decisions that the encoder makes are signaled to the decoder in the form of flags that precede each block part (e.g. encoded bit plane) and/or plurality of blocks (e.g. a slice).
US08755613B2

A method for accurately measuring flicker, by first determining an original value based on a difference between pixel values in corresponding locations in a first picture and a second picture. Next, a reconstructed value is determined, based on a difference between pixel values in corresponding locations in a reconstruction from an encoding of the first picture and a reconstruction from an encoding of the second picture. Then, a determination is made to include a comparison value, which is determined on a difference between the reconstructed value and the original value, in a measurement of flicker between the first picture and the second picture.
US08755612B2

A method includes automatically identifying a screen control in a user interface. Optical character recognition is applied to read a text that is displayed on an image of the screen control. The displayed text is automatically compared to a character string that is designated for the screen control. If part of the character string is not included in the displayed text, the displayed text is identified as truncated text.
US08755610B2

Techniques for automatically identifying famous people and/or iconic images are provided. Object descriptors (or “faceprints”) of the famous people and iconic images are generated and “shipped” with a digital image management application used by an end-user. The digital image management application analyzes a digital image (generated, for example, by a digital camera operated by the end-user) to detect an object, such as a face, and generates a faceprint. The digital image management application compares the faceprint to the faceprints of the famous people and/or iconic images. If a match is found, then data that identifies the corresponding person or object is displayed to the end-user.
US08755605B2

A method and an apparatus for processing an image generates, using a linear embedding operator, a second set of feature points from a first set of feature points of the image, so that a pair-wise nearest neighbor (NN) topological relationship among the first set of feature points is preserved in the second set of feature points. The linear embedding operator is determined by an affinity model comprising a first affinity parameter, a second affinity parameter, and an affinity matrix, wherein a sparsity of the affinity matrix is controlled by the first affinity parameter and the second affinity parameter.
US08755587B2

A method for providing a 3D image data record of a physiological object with a metal object therein is proposed. To enable an image of the metal object in the physiological object, for instance a biopsy needle in a human patient to be recorded as a 3D image in this patient, two 2D x-ray images of the patient are obtained with the needle with the aid of a biplane x-ray system, and back projection allows a 3D image data record to be generated, which is then subject to a filtering with a gray-scale value window. After filtering, information relating to the position and shape of the metal object in space is obtained. The thus obtained first 3D image data record can be combined with another 3D image data record, in particular with a 3D image data record of the patient without the metal object obtained with the same biplane x-ray system.
US08755586B2

An image reconstruction method comprises reconstructing an image using an iterative reconstruction method and computing a projection used in the reconstructing by summing ray increments between neighboring planes (P0, P1, P2, . . . ) parallel with a detector face (42) with stationary incremental blurring associated with each ray increment computed based on a distance between the neighboring parallel planes. A non-stationary blurring kernel may also be convolved at a plane closest to the detector face to generate a projection incorporating shift-variant blurring.
US08755581B2

A device for processing of data including images of a portion of a body includes processing means capable of processing first data representative of elementary portions of an image obtained by magnetic resonance in a region of the body and second data representative of elementary portions of images obtained by ultrasounds in a portion of that region, by performing: i) generating first and second maps of the probability that the elementary portions belong to structures of interest of the portion of the region based at least on the intensities associated thereto and respectively defined by the first and second data; ii) estimating a conversion for shifting from one of the first and second maps to the other while maximizing for each of their elementary portion the joined probability that it belongs to a same structure of interest; and iii) resetting the structures of interest of one of the first and second maps relative to those of the other by the conversion.
US08755577B2

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for assessing data from digital images of psoriasis lesion for said psoriasis lesion scaliness by utilizing a developed computer vision system to obtain Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) parameters in particular.
US08755572B1

Digital maps of roads are labeled with features based on information from images of road signs. A segment of a road network with an unlabeled feature is identified, and a street view image of the road segment taken from a known location is generated. An image of a road sign is captured from within the generated street view image and presented in association with the road segment to a user. A label for the unlabeled feature of the road segment is received and stored.
US08755571B2

An image method for classifying insects includes the following steps: obtaining detecting images of the insects in a detecting area; obtaining a first foreground image related to the insects by background subtraction; extracting the saturation from the first foreground image and eliminating the non-characteristic objects therein to obtain a second foreground image; extracting the characteristics related to the insects from the second foreground image according to a threshold; and, determining the classifications or the sexes of the insects according to the characteristics. Accordingly, the image method for classifying insects can be used for automatically classifying the insects so as to save the manpower and time.
US08755563B2

Target detecting method and apparatus are disclosed. In the target detecting method, edges in a first direction in an input image may be detected to obtain an edge image comprising a plurality of edges in the first direction; and one or more candidate targets may be generated according to the plurality of edges in the first direction, a region between any two of the plurality of edges in the first direction in the input image corresponding to one of the candidate targets.
US08755553B2

An apparatus comprises: a transducer configured to generate sound; and a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity being connected to the transducer; wherein the first cavity comprises a first sound outlet at a first surface of the housing; and the second cavity comprises a second sound outlet at the first surface of the housing and a third sound outlet at a second surface of the housing wherein the first and second cavities and the first and second sound outlets are configured to limit a sound pressure level of the generated sound at the first and second outlets at one or more frequencies.
US08755544B2

The present disclosure provides an earphone power amplifier, including a ground contact connected to a ground wire of an earphone, a left sound channel power amplifying circuit connected to a left sound channel of the earphone, and a right sound channel power amplifying circuit connected to a right sound channel of the earphone. The left sound channel power amplifying circuit includes a first operational amplifier and a first positive feedback exported from an input end of the first ferrite bead to an in-phase input end of the first operational amplifier, the right sound channel power amplifying circuit includes a second operational amplifier and a second positive feedback exported from the input end of the first ferrite bead to an in-phase input end of the second operational amplifier.
US08755541B2

A microelectromechanical microphone and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The microphone has a moveable diaphragm and a fixed backplate that create a variable capacitance. A fixed anchor electrically coupled to the diaphragm has an electrode that measures the variable capacitance, but also measures an unwanted, additive, parasitic capacitance. Various embodiments include a reference electrode, manufactured in the same deposition layer as the diaphragm or anchor, that measures only the parasitic capacitance. A circuit is provided either on-chip or off-chip that subtracts the capacitance measured at the reference electrode from that measured at the anchor, thereby producing only the desired variable capacitance as output. Because the reference electrode is deposited at the same time as the diaphragm or anchor, only minimal changes are required to existing manufacturing techniques.
US08755528B2

A method and system for establishing a secure connection between stations are disclosed. The method includes that: 1) a switch device receives an inter-station key request packet sent by a first user terminal; 2) the switch device generates an inter-station key, constructs an inter-station key announcement packet and sends it to a second user terminal; 3) the switch device receives an inter-station key announcement response packet sent by the second user terminal; 4) the switch device constructs an inter-station key announcement response packet and sends it to the first user terminal; 5) the switch device receives an inter-station key announcement response packet sent by the first user terminal. The switch device establishes an inter-station key for the two stations which are connected to the switch device directly, by which the embodiments of the present invention ensure the confidentiality and integrality of user data between the stations.
US08755522B2

Approaches for combining different information to be transmitted into different slices of a data packet and/or encrypting the slices using different cryptographic schemes for secure transmission of the information are disclosed. In some implementations, first information and second information may be received. A first data slice representing a portion of the first information may be generated based on a first cryptographic scheme. A second data slice representing a portion of the second information may be generated based on a second cryptographic scheme different than the first cryptographic scheme. A first header may be generated such that the first header may specify the first cryptographic scheme for the first data slice and the second cryptographic scheme for the second data slice. A first data packet may be generated such that the first data packet may include the first header, the first data slice, and the second data slice.
US08755515B1

A system and method for processing a plurality of channels, for example audio channels, in parallel is provided. For example, a plurality of telephony channels are processed in order to detect and respond to call progress tones. The channels may be processed according to a common transform algorithm. Advantageously, a massively parallel architecture is employed, in which operations on many channels are synchronized, to achieve a high efficiency parallel processing environment. The parallel processor may be situated on a data bus, separate from a main general purpose processor, or integrated with the processor in a common board or integrated device. All, or a portion of a speech processing algorithm may also be performed in a massively parallel manner.
US08755512B2

The invention disclosed is a new system and method for providing the mutual sharing of resources devoted to customer service. The system utilizes a telecommunications switching apparatus to rout incoming customer contacts to one or more pools of customer service agents. The system provides for a universal customer service interface that allows customer service agents to assist customers of other related companies. The automated system for sharing customer service resources includes a mutual assistance routing system in communication with requesting users of customer service agents, responding providers of customer service agents, databases containing customer information, thereby allowing customers who contact the requesting user to be served by shared agents.
US08755511B2

An online and offline communication processing and tracking using data processing and data/voice networks is described. A phone address from a phone address number pool is automatically assigned to a first entity. A call quality rating is determined and recorded. A call from a caller directed to the phone address is received at a call bridging system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. Based at least in part on the call quality associated with the caller call, the caller call is assigned to a first location in a call queue. An outbound call is generated from the call bridging system and the inbound and the outbound calls are bridged. One or more parameters of the bridged call are compared to the call quality rating. An indication is recorded regarding the successful bridging of the calls in association with an entity identifier.
US08755509B2

A teleconferencing system based on application software run on a primary server that establishes a teleconference involving a plurality of callers and at least one facilitator. The teleconferencing system enables transferring callers from the primary server to connected secondary servers, each of which is connected to the primary server, thereby enabling the size of the teleconference to scale either upon initiation of or during the teleconference. Callers may be transferred to secondary servers, and secondary servers may be added or removed from the teleconferencing system during a teleconference. The inventive teleconferencing system enables an almost unlimited number of callers to participate in a teleconference.
US08755507B2

Providing multilevel teleconference call participants that may include receiving a request from a person to join a teleconference call, identifying a defined level of the person, and providing a notification regarding a status of persons having certain defined levels that one of have joined the teleconference call and have not joined the teleconference call. Further, a processing device may include a network interface, at least one second interface configured to establish a connection between at least two telephones, and a processor configured to receive a request from a person to join a conference call, identify a defined level of the person, and provide a notification regarding a status of persons having certain defined levels that have joined the teleconference call or have not joined the teleconference call.
US08755502B1

A call contention manager mediates between call contentions that occur when two callers attempt to place a telephone call to one another at approximately the same time. The call contention manager may be implemented in or separate from a mobile switching center. The manager detects a call contention between two calls, and it determines whether the call contention is taking place in a window of time that follows shortly after at least one of the callers was involuntarily dropped from a call. If a call contention occurs within such a call drop window, it is resolved according to a post-drop protocol that enables a connection between the callers. If, however, the call contention occurs outside any call drop window, it is resolved without establishing a connection between the callers, for example by sending one or more of the contending calls to voicemail.
US08755499B2

Methods, computer program products, and systems for managing VoIP network elements are provided. Methods include receiving call details records (CDRs) from a plurality of network elements. The received CDRs including disconnect cause codes and telephone call correlation identifiers. The received CDRs are correlated to telephone calls based on the telephone call correlation identifiers. Two CDR records are associated with the same telephone call when their telephone call correlation identifiers are the same. A master correlated CDR is created for each telephone call. The creating includes assigning a correlated disconnect cause code and classifying the telephone call. The assigning and classifying are responsive to the received CDRs associated with the telephone call. The master correlated CDR includes the correlated disconnect cause code and the telephone call classification. A threshold crossing alert (TCA) is generated in response to a threshold for the correlated disconnect cause code being reached.
US08755496B2

The present invention enables users of a network service to register with the network as valued shoppers, thereby allowing them to receive specialized treatment when calling registered retailers. The present invention enables retailers to register with the network, thereby allowing them to set preferred service logic for handling valued customer calls by the network.
US08755491B2

A method for generating a fast rise-time X-ray pulse includes the steps of providing an n-phase x-ray generator, the x-ray generator including an n-phase transformer having at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding per phase, and providing n sections of rectifiers, each rectifier having at least a fast pulse rise-time mode and a n-phase ripple flat-top mode. According to the method, at least a first capacitor is charged in each of the n sections of rectifiers at a ripple of less than n-phases to create a fast leading edge of the fast rise-time pulse, and at least a second capacitor is charged in each of the n sections or rectifiers at an n-phase ripple to create a substantially flat-top of the fast rise-time pulse.
US08755489B2

A method of adjusting an irradiation treatment plan, the plan constituted of: obtaining a plurality of reference scans of a target tissue over a breathing cycle; obtaining a pre-treatment scan of the target tissue; identifying the reference scan whose phase is consonant with the obtained pre-treatment scan; computing at least one motion vector field between the identified reference scan and another of the plurality of reference scans different from the identified reference scan; applying the at least one computed motion vector field to one of the obtained pre-treatment scan and the another of the plurality of reference scans so as to obtain at least one synthetic scan whose phase is consonant with the other of the obtained pre-treatment scan and the another of the plurality of reference scans; and adjusting one of an irradiation dose, irradiation angle and irradiation positioning responsive to the at least one synthetic scan.
US08755488B2

A system comprises a radiation source (110), including a anode (112) and a cathode (114), a high voltage generator (202) that generates a source voltage that is applied across the anode (112) and cathode (114), wherein the source voltage accelerates electrons from the cathode (114) towards the anode (112), and a modulation wave generator (204) that generates a modulation voltage wave having a non-zero amplitude, which is combined with and modulates the source voltage between at least two different voltages.
US08755480B1

Circuits and techniques for operating an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. A disclosed circuit includes a divider circuit that is operable to receive a first signal at a first speed and output a second signal at a second speed based on the first signal. A recovery circuit is coupled to the divider circuit. The recovery circuit is operable to determine the frequency of the second signal and is further operable to generate a first ready signal and a recovered clock signal based on the second signal. A phase aligner circuit, operable to align a phase of the second signal with a phase of the recovered clocks signal based on the first ready signal, is coupled to the recovery circuit.
US08755465B2

Methods for processing a signal received at a receiver in a wireless communication system in a time slot are presented. Some example methods include obtaining an estimated transmit signal for a transmit antenna of the wireless communication system. The estimated transmit signal may be illustrated on a constellation diagram in accordance with a modulation scheme of the wireless communication system. Example methods further include calculating a distance between the estimated transmit signal and a corresponding constellation point on the constellation diagram. The corresponding constellation point is the closest constellation point for the estimated transmit signal among all constellation points in accordance with the modulation scheme of the wireless communication system. Example methods further include determining whether the transmit antenna is likely to transmit the signal received at the receiver based on the distance.
US08755459B2

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises receiving a input signal comprising an interfering signal component and a desired signal component at a wireless device; estimating a frequency error of the interfering signal component; and frequency-shifting the input signal based at least in part on the estimated frequency error. The method also comprises estimating a frequency response based on the frequency-shifted input signal and a reconstructed first cancellation signal; obtaining a second cancellation signal by applying the estimated frequency response to the first cancellation signal; subtracting the second cancellation signal from the input signal; and decoding the desired signal component from the input signal after the second cancellation signal is subtracted from the input signal.
US08755458B2

A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity.
US08755455B2

Adjusting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) or more generally, Layer One parameters, for a data packet based on packet information and priority is disclosed. The packet information can typically be extracted from the packet's header. Considering packet-specific information enables cross-layer optimization that can include consideration of packet error rate (PER) constraints, delay constraints, relative importance of packets within a data stream, beamforming (e.g., off or on, implicit or explicit—longer distances are more likely to merit implicit beamforming) constraints, and aggregation as a function of MCS or channel condition (more aggregation is generally desirable for higher MCS or better channels), to name several examples. It is also possible to differentiate drop probability based on the importance of frames like anchor frames, etc.
US08755454B2

An energy converter based transmitter, a method, a multi-element antenna array are provided for a radio frequency (RF) transmission. For example, the energy converter based transmitter can include a control circuit, a multiple input single output (MISO) operator, and an antenna. The control circuit is configured to receive input information and generate amplitude control signals and phase control signals. The MISO operator is configured to receive the amplitude control signals and the phase control signals and to generate an RF output signal. Further, the antenna is configured to receive and transmit the RF output signal.
US08755450B2

To realize quick adaptation to a communication link between a transmitter and a receiver by using two different frequency carriers. A receiver detects a preamble from a transmission bit string. When determining that a total sum of the number of modified bits exceeds a certain threshold in a range of a payload following the preamble (when detecting that a reception state of a communication link has been degraded), the receiver issues, to a transmitter, a request for changing a transmission parameter (four parameters may be used for enhancement/lowering) for the transmission bit string by using a communication link, which is a relatively-low-frequency carrier. On the other hand, the transmitter receives the request for change, and executes the request for changing the transmission parameter for the transmission bit string while maintaining transmission of a payload in the transmission bit string.
US08755448B2

A data receiving device capable of reducing power consumption. A data receiving device according to the present invention has a receiving circuit and a power reduction circuit. The receiving circuit includes a receiver for receiving differential signals, a decode circuit, and a control circuit. The power reduction circuit puts the receiver into an on state in accordance with timing of a data reception start by the receiving circuit, and puts the receiver into an off state in accordance with timing of a data reception end by the receiving circuit. Further, the control circuit puts the power reduction circuit into an off state in accordance with the timing of the data reception start by the receiving circuit, and puts the power reduction circuit into an on state in accordance with the timing of the data reception end by the receiving circuit.
US08755437B2

An apparatus and method for deriving a motion vector predictor are disclosed. In video coding systems, the spatial and temporal redundancy is exploited using spatial and temporal prediction to reduce the information to be transmitted or stored. Motion vector prediction has been used to further conserve the bitrate associated with motion vector coding. In a conventional coding system, a motion vector predictor (MVP) is selected from the spatial MVPs and temporal MVP. The spatial MVP according to a conventional approach is based on motion vectors (MVs) of neighboring blocking pointing to a target reference picture in a given reference list. Embodiments according to the present invention perform the MVP search among an extended search set including MVs pointing to other reference pictures in the given reference list or the other reference list and MVs pointing to the target reference picture in the given reference list or the other reference list. Other aspects of the present invention address the search order of the search set and configuration of neighboring blocks.
US08755435B2

A method and apparatus for improved intra chroma prediction mode coding are disclosed. Intra prediction exploits the spatial correlation within a picture or within a picture region. In practice, a picture is divided into blocks and the intra mode prediction is performed on a block basis. In newer coding systems, multiple intra coding modes such as Vertical mode, Horizontal mode, DC mode and Diagonal mode, have been used to improve the coding efficiency of intra coding. Furthermore, a Luma_mode has also been used in intra prediction of chroma component to further improve the performance in the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard being developed. However, the mode selection information for intra prediction has to be conveyed to the decoder for proper operation. Spatial features in a picture often exist in both luma and chroma components. The intra luma prediction mode and intra chroma prediction mode will have high probability to be the same. Accordingly, an embodiment according to the present invention adaptively assigns variable length codes to a set of mode symbols associated with intra chroma prediction by assigning a shortest code to the Luma_mode. Luma_mode not only can be the best luma mode of the corresponding luma block but also can be selected from several corresponding luma modes. The maximum length of chroma prediction codes is decreased by one bit when Luma_mode is equal to one of frequent modes. The coding efficiency of arithmetic coding of chroma prediction codes is further improved by selecting the context upon neighboring blocks.
US08755430B2

There is provided a system and method for confirming correct encoder processing for a media file. There is provided a method comprising preparing a diagnostic clip, embedding the diagnostic clip in the media file to create a modified media file, encoding the modified media file according to a set of encoder settings to create an encoded media file embedded with an encoded diagnostic clip, displaying the encoded diagnostic clip to a user, and assessing the accuracy of the encoder settings based on a feedback received from the user. In this manner, users may quickly and accurately diagnose encoder settings after encoding the media file. Users may more easily identify which encodes caused which problems and avoid the costly overhead of backtracking in the production process.
US08755423B2

In order to provide a compact optical module permitting highly efficient optical coupling and having components thereof highly densely packaged, a light emitting diode that is included in the optical module and emits light in a vertical direction with respect to a principal surface of a semiconductor substrate is provided with a lens integrated into a light emitting region, and a retaining section integrated to surround the light emitting region. Accordingly, readiness in alignment of the light emitting diode and an optical fiber, which guides light emitted from the light emitting diode, with each other is upgraded. Eventually, the compact optical module permitting highly efficient optical coupling and having components thereof highly densely packaged can be provided.
US08755421B2

High-power, phased-locked, laser arrays as disclosed herein utilize a system of optical elements that may be external to the laser oscillator array. Such an external optical system may achieve mutually coherent operation of all the emitters in a laser array, and coherent combination of the output of all the lasers in the array into a single beam. Such an “external gain harness” system may include: an optical lens/mirror system that mixes the output of all the emitters in the array; a holographic optical element that combines the output of all the lasers in the array, and an output coupler that selects a single path for the combined output and also selects a common operating frequency for all the coupled gain regions.
US08755417B1

A method for producing light energy, where fundamental frequency laser energy is produced at a wavelength of from about 1,160 nanometers to about 1,170 nanometers. Portions of the fundamental frequency laser energy are combined to produce a second harmonic frequency laser energy using non-critical phase-matching in a LBO crystal. A portion of the fundamental frequency laser energy is combined with a portion of the second harmonic frequency laser energy to produce a third harmonic frequency laser energy. A portion of the second harmonic frequency laser energy is combined with the third harmonic frequency laser energy to produce a fifth harmonic frequency laser energy using non-critical phase-matching in a CLBO crystal. A portion of the fundamental frequency laser energy is combined with the fifth harmonic frequency laser energy to produce a sixth harmonic frequency laser energy using a CLBO crystal. The sixth harmonic frequency laser energy has a wavelength that is less than about two hundred nanometers.
US08755416B2

A laser including a semiconductor laser stack group, a beam compositor, a pump beam collimator, a thin-disk laser crystal, a first and a second parabolic reflectors with the same facial contour function, a corrective reflector, an output mirror, and a jet-flow impact cooling system. The thin-disk laser crystal and the output mirror form a laser resonant cavity. The first parabolic reflector, second parabolic reflector, thin-disk laser crystal, and corrective reflector form a multi-pumping focus cavity. The jet-flow impact cooling system is used for cooling the thin-disk laser crystal. The pump light produced by the semiconductor laser stack group is composited by the beam compositor, collimated by the pump light collimator, and enters the multi-pumping focus cavity. Within the multi-pumping focus cavity, the pump light is focused, collimated, and deflected to converge on the thin-disk laser crystal. The laser resonant cavity produces and outputs a laser beam.
US08755412B2

A cross-layer design architecture is provided for logical superposition coded (SPC) modulation for last-hop wireless data, aiming to overcome the effects of multi-user channel diversity in wireless video multicast. The proposed approach generates a logical SPC modulated signal by mapping successively refined information bits onto layered modulation through dynamic energy allocation and phase keying assignment, which mimics the superposition process for multiple modulated signals in convention hardware-based SPC modulation. At the receiver end, the received logical SPC signal is decoded by implementing a software-based approach on common demodulators without going through the signal-interference cancellation (SIC) process that is necessary in the conventional approach. The approach presented provides comparable or even better overall system throughput than by using the conventional hardware and SIC-based SPC modulation under various scenarios of different histograms of user channel conditions and power allocations for base and enhancement layer information.
US08755404B2

A link device facilitating communication between a wireless communication terminal and a resource-constrained device. According to an aspect, the link device receives messages from the wireless communication terminal on a wireless path according to a first protocol, converts the messages into a second protocol, and forwards the converted messages in the second protocols to the resource-constrained device on a wired path connecting the link device to the resource-constrained device. In an embodiment, the first protocol corresponds to HTTP protocol and the second protocol corresponds to a simpler protocol which requires relatively lesser processing and memory resources.
US08755398B2

A signal line sharing protocol and hardware permit control of a remotely located active device configured to provide different load configurations to an antenna. As an example, the communication system may include a master device. The master device may include a general purpose output and a radio frequency port. The communication system may further include a first duplexer and a second duplexer. The first duplexer may include a first port, a second port, and a third port, where the second port is coupled to the radio frequency port and the third port is coupled to the general purpose output of the master device. The second duplexer may include a first port, a second port, and a third port, where the first port of the second duplexer is in communication with the first port of the first duplexer, wherein the second port is coupled to an antenna, and where the third port is in communication with a slave device. The slave device may be coupled to the antenna. In response to commencement of a command from the master device, the slave device may clamp the antenna to ground.
US08755389B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for semi-centralized routing. One of the methods includes receiving one or more routes and determining that a received route identifies a new set of paths different from each routing path group in a maintained set of routing path groups. A new routing path group is created that corresponds to the new set of paths. The new routing path group is assigned an identifier of the routing path group. The new routing path group is converted to a corresponding new flow path group. A flow path group that was converted from the routing path group is replaced on a network device with the converted new flow path group.
US08755388B2

A communications method comprising the steps of receiving a data packet; processing the data packet; and transmitting an ack packet approximately at an end of a first defined time interval if the processing of the data packet is completed within the first defined interval, or transmitting the ack packet approximately at an end of a second defined time interval if the processing of the data packet is not completed within the first defined interval and is completed within the second defined interval. Another communication method comprising the steps of transmitting a data packet; scanning a channel for an ack packet approximately at an end of a first defined time interval from the transmission of the data packet; and scanning the channel for the ack packet approximately at an end of a second defined time interval from the transmission of the data packet if the ack packet was not received within the first defined interval.
US08755384B2

First-stage switches (B1 to B9), second-stage switches (M1 to M9), and third-stage switches (T1 to T9) include a bottom connection path that configure to interchange a connection point of one or more second signal transmitting units and a connection point of another one or more second signal transmitting units, in a Fat Tree configuration between the first-stage switches (B1 to B9) and the second-stage switches (M1 to M9) constituting a one-set Fat Tree with the third-stage switches (T1 to T9).
US08755382B2

An adjunct network device includes several ports, an uplink interface, and an adjunct forwarding engine coupled to the ports and the uplink interface. A first port is configured to receive a packet, which includes a destination address. The adjunct forwarding engine is configured to send the packet to the uplink interface if the destination address is not associated with any of the ports. The packet is sent to one of the ports if the destination address is associated with the one of the ports.
US08755380B2

An imporved method and apparatus for making forwarding decisions in a switching device. The invention reduces the flooding of frames to particular network segments connected to the switch. To insure a device sees a frame addressed to it, if a switch does not know what segment a device address is connected to for a unicast frame, the switch typically floods the frame to all segments in the broadcast domain. This invention allows segments to be identified as having a predefined maximum number of device addresses that will be associated with it. When that number of addresses is already in the forwarding table the switch will not flood unicast frames to that segment since no more devices should be connected to that segment.
US08755374B2

An optical packet switch device includes an optical switch control section and an optical switch section. The optical switch control section includes a synchronization pattern detecting unit which detects a frame synchronization pattern from a parallel data signal and detects a delay bit number showing that the frame synchronization pattern is stored at a position shifted by how many bits from the first bit of the parallel data signal, a header analysis unit which analyzes a header and detects an optical packet length and route information of an optical packet signal, and an output competition determining unit which determines passing/discarding of the optical packet signals competing with each other based on the optical packet length and the route information detected by the header analysis unit and delay bit number information detected by the synchronization pattern detecting unit.
US08755361B2

A method, a system and a signaling gateway for enabling message intercommunication between a GSM network and a CDMA network are provided. The method includes: setting a GSM-CDMA (GC) signaling gateway in a service processor of a CDMA short message service center; during processing a message from the GSM network to the CDMA network, a GSM short message service center sending a mobile terminated request message to the GC signaling gateway, and the GC signaling gateway converting a GSM message into a CDMA message according to the mobile terminated request message and sending the converted CDMA message to a target CDMA subscriber; and, during processing a message from the CDMA network to the GSM network, a CDMA service processor converting a CDMA message into a GSM message and sending the converted GSM message to a target GSM subscriber.
US08755357B2

A method and apparatus manages resources in a wireless communication system by transmitting a multi-carrier switch command message to an access terminal instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a second multi-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrier frequency.
US08755356B1

Disclosed herein are methods and systems according to which an access terminal intelligently accounts for variations in a set of C/I measurements taken by the access terminal during a pre-determined period of time, so as to more accurately select a desirable forward-link data rate. According to the method, the access terminal makes a first determination that a forward packet error rate (FPER) is greater than an FPER threshold, and makes a second determination that a last-requested forward-link data rate is not the lowest data rate among a plurality of requestable forward-link data rates. The access terminal then responsively identifies a carrier-to-interference-(C/I)-key value based at least in part on one or more C/I measurements taken by the access terminal, and then uses that identified C/I-key value to select—and then request service from a serving access node at—a next-requested forward-link data rate that is less than the last-requested forward-link data rate.
US08755352B2

The present invention relates to a solution for handling deferred leg linking in policy and charging rules function in a telecommunications network in relation to handover between two different access technologies. The solution is provided as a nodes, system and a method for handling handover of a user equipment, i.e. UE, (101) in a telecommunications network (100) from one access technology to another access technology, comprising the steps of detecting (203) in a target access gateway, i.e. AGW, (102) that a handover state of the UE is unknown, sending (204) from the target access gateway a gateway control session, i.e. GCS, establishment message to a policy and charging rules function node (105), wherein the message comprise an indication that leg linking of a session is to be deferred until reception of corresponding control signalling from a packet data network gateway (104).
US08755341B2

In a mobile communication method according to the present invention, a mobile station (UE) transmits uplink data to a radio base station by using an uplink radio resource assigned to the mobile station by predetermined scheduling information, in a predetermined cycle. The method includes the steps: (A) notifying, to the mobile station (UE), the predetermined cycle and information on the uplink radio resource; (B) notifying, to the mobile station (UE), the predetermined scheduling information; and (C) transmitting uplink data in the predetermined cycle by using the uplink radio resource assigned by the predetermined scheduling information, the transmission starting at a certain point determined on the basis of the received predetermined scheduling information. In the step (C), the predetermined scheduling information is discarded, when the information on the uplink radio resource and information notified by the predetermined scheduling information are inconsistent with each other.
US08755336B2

When wireless communications are made between a first wireless device and a second wireless device along a route, two wireless devices which exist between the first and second wireless devices each determine the lowest maximum transmission rate (11 Mbps) in the wireless intervals on the route from themselves to the second wireless device to be their own transmission rate txRate (11 Mbps) and two other wireless devices which exist between the first and second wireless devices each determine the lowest maximum transmission rate (54 Mbps) in the wireless intervals on the route from themselves to the second wireless device to be their own transmission rate txRate (54 Mbps).
US08755334B2

The present application relates to mobile communication technical field, and a method for optimizing activation/deactivation Idle State signaling Reduction (ISR) and a network side device are disclosed. The method includes: during a process of updating User Element (UE) area, a first network entity, when receiving a context request message transmitted from a second entity, determines to activate or deactivate ISR, according to a mobile-reachable timer or an implicit detach timer corresponding to said UE, or operation states of the mobile-reachable timer and the implicit detach timer; and the first network entity transmits the determination result to the second network entity, said second network entity determines to instruct the UE to activate or deactivate the ISR according to the received determination result. The application optimizes the existing procedure for the activating/deactivating of the ISR, enables the ISR processing at the network side and the UE side to be consistent in height, and thus avoiding unnecessary signaling expense.
US08755331B2

Determining the physical location of a mobile wireless device. A computer receives 1-hop and 2-hop neighbor information from a mobile wireless device for neighbor devices of the mobile wireless device responding to a discovery request transmitted by the mobile wireless device in an ad hoc wireless communications protocol. The computer determines a physical location of the mobile wireless device based in part on stored fixed physical locations of responding devices; an area in which the mobile wireless device is in range of responding 1-hop neighbors associated with a fixed physical location; and an area in which the mobile wireless device is in range of responding 1-hop neighbors not associated with a fixed physical location, which are in the range of 2-hop neighbors associated with fixed physical locations.
US08755328B2

A relay device according to the present invention includes an uplink signal relaying unit that performs an uplink signal relaying operation that amplifies an uplink signal transmitted through an uplink channel from a mobile station and re-transmits the amplified uplink signal to a base station; a frequency information acquisition unit that acquires frequency information that represents a frequency band that said mobile station uses for the uplink channel periodically or at predetermined timings; an uplink signal detection unit that determines whether or not the average reception power of the uplink signal in the frequency band represented by the frequency information acquired by said frequency information acquisition unit exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a control unit that controls the uplink signal relaying operation performed by said uplink signal relaying unit based on a determined result of said uplink signal detection unit.
US08755314B2

A sleep mode operating method in a wireless communication system is disclosed. In a sleep mode operating method in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention, a user equipment receives a sleep response (MOB_SLP-RSP) message including a sleep cycle and a listening window from a base station. For the listening window, the user equipment receives a last PDU indication indicating whether a PDU (protocol data unit) transmitted from the base station is a last PDU. The user equipment terminates the listening window according to the last PDU indication.
US08755313B2

Systems, methodologies, and devices are described that can facilitate reducing power consumption associated with mobile devices. A mobile device can utilize a sleep mode controller that can facilitate selecting and/or switching to a desired sleep mode based in part on predefined sleep mode criteria. The sleep modes can include a non-sleep mode, light sleep mode, and/or deep sleep mode. The mobile device can employ an analyzer to evaluate information related to explicit signals, implicit signals, and/or the current sleep mode to determine whether a condition is met based in part on the predefined sleep mode criteria such that a transition to a different sleep mode is to be performed. If such a condition is met, the sleep mode controller can facilitate transitioning from the current sleep mode to a different sleep mode to facilitate reducing power consumption by the mobile device.
US08755308B2

In response to a network topology change, a clock root node calculates a new clock path for each affected node by building a clock source topology tree, and identifying from that tree a path to the network node from a clock source of higher or equal stratum relative to that network node. The root node then sends a network message to each node indicating the new path that the node should use. Each node receives the message and compares the new path with the existing path. If the paths are different then the node acquires the new path just received in the message. If the paths are the same then the node does nothing and discards the message.
US08755301B2

The present invention provides a system and method of modifying policy settings in a network having a plurality of subscriber devices. An embodiment includes a plurality of base stations, each capable of wirelessly transmitting across a geographic region. A cell-phone, capable of roaming between regions is operable to establish a wireless link with the base stations. The network contains a communication policy determining from which other communication devices a subscriber device can receive voice calls. A copy of this policy is stored on each subscriber device as a database and periodically updated as the devices make contact with the base stations or other subscriber devices. When receiving a voice call, the device first determines who the originator of the call is and then determines whether it is allowed to receive the call from that originator according to its policy database. The policy database can be updated either by subscriber devices or by base stations.
US08755295B2

A mobile communication device with a wireless module and a controller module is provided. The wireless module performs wireless transmissions and receptions to and from a service network. The controller module, configured to be in a connected mode, receives a measurement logging configuration message from the service network via the wireless module, and starts a periodic logging timer in response to the measurement logging configuration message. Also, the controller module keeps the periodic logging timer running when leaving the connected mode.
US08755293B2

A time machine arrangement for performing health check on a network environment is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports that that is configured for receiving and outputting network data traffic. The arrangement also includes a monitoring port for receiving at least a portion of the data traffic flowing through the network. The arrangement further includes a set of processors configured at least for managing and analyzing the data traffic. The set of processors includes a scheduler component for directing the data traffic, a filtering component for applying a set of filters on the set data traffic, an encryption component for encrypting the data traffic, and a trigger component for defining a set of conditions for storing the data traffic. The arrangement yet also includes a storage memory component for storing a copy of at least the portion of the data traffic flowing through the network environment.
US08755290B2

A method and apparatus for providing a wireless service recommendation are disclosed. For example, the method collects wireless access performance data, and analyzes the wireless access performance data for generating a ranking of a plurality of wireless access services that are available for a physical location. The method then provides the ranking of the plurality of wireless access services that are available for the physical location via an on-line social network website that is accessible to a mobile device that is proximate to the physical location.
US08755287B2

An initial address allocating unit 11 allocates a predetermined address to each of the nodes 21 connected to respective first stage switches 22. A connecting state acquiring unit 12 acquires a connecting state from each of the first stage switches 22, each of second stage switches 23 and each of third stage switches 24. An erroneous connection detecting unit 13 compares the connecting state acquired by the connecting state acquiring unit 12 with a prestored predetermined connecting state, thereby detecting an erroneous connection. An address changing unit 14 changes an address of the node 21 allocated by the initial address allocating unit 11 to satisfy a first predetermined condition based on the connecting state, when the erroneous connection is detected by the erroneous connection detecting unit 13.
US08755285B2

The present invention discloses a method for diagnosing a physical downlink failure so as to solve the problem in the existing technology of being unable to report information accurately when the physical downlink failure occurs thereby influencing the diagnosis of the physical downlink failure. The method comprises: when a remote device detects the physical downlink failure, determining a code corresponding to information required to be reported based on a stored corresponding relationship between the information and the code; the remote device generating a control signal from the determined code based on an appointed frequency clock; and the remote device reporting a signal corresponding to the control signal to a near-end device through a physical uplink such that the near-end device diagnoses the physical downlink failure according to the reported signal.
US08755282B2

Path characterization information is provided to a data sender relating to a network characteristic such as congestion experienced by data units traversing a path across a data network from the data sender towards one of a plurality of data receivers. The data units have associated therewith information indicative of the network characteristic. The path is traversed by the data units having at least a first path portion between the data sender and a proxy node along which data units may traverse conveying a measure indicative of the network characteristic that is representable by any of a first set of codepoints. The data receivers are operable to provide data acknowledgement units in respect of data units they receive via a second path portion in which information indicative of the network characteristic may only be representable using codepoints of a second set of codepoints having less codepoints than the first set.
US08755280B2

An improved method is described for providing Differentiated Services (Diffserv) traffic to a node in a network that implements a security method that discards duplicate packets received at the node. The method includes the step of identifying at least two service levels to be provided to received traffic and assigning different size look-back window counts to each of the service levels. The look-back window count indicates a number of packets that have been previously received at the node that should be compared against a received packet to determine whether a duplicate packet has been received. In one embodiment, a service level that has higher priority is assigned a lower look-back window count and thus examines fewer previously received packets than a service level having a lower priority. Such an arrangement reduces the possibility that traffic having higher priority is dropped as a security measure.
US08755278B2

Methods of data traffic shaping, an apparatus and a wireless device are provided. A method of data traffic shaping comprises receiving data packets, the data packets to be forwarded; storing at least one of the data packets in a buffer memory if the buffer memory has an available space for accommodating the at least one of the data packets; and discarding at least one other of the data packets if the buffer memory does not have an available space for accommodating the at least one other of the data packets. An apparatus is configured to carry out the method. A wireless device may include the apparatus.
US08755271B2

Methods and apparatus for dynamic bandwidth allocation are disclosed. An example method includes determining, by a network device, at least one of a congestion state of a packet memory buffer of the network device and a congestion state of an external packet memory that is operationally coupled with the network device. The example method further includes dynamically adjusting, by the network device, respective bandwidth allocations for read and write operations between the network device and the external packet memory, the dynamic adjusting being based on the determined congestion state of the packet memory buffer and/or the determined congestion state of the external packet memory.
US08755268B2

A node communicates with a first network through a link aggregation of at least one primary port and at least one backup port. The link aggregation is for rerouting a communication with the first network to occur through the backup port in response to a malfunction in the communication through the primary port. In response to a malfunction in the communication through the backup port, the node communicates with a second network.
US08755265B2

A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for receiving power over Ethernet in a redundant transceiver are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A determination is made in a redundant transceiver if electrical power is available over Ethernet. If power over Ethernet is available, power is received over Ethernet in the redundant transceiver, otherwise the redundant transceiver receives power from an attached power supply. For receiving power over Ethernet, the redundant transceiver remains in communication with the source of power over Ethernet using a wired section of the Ethernet, and the redundant transceiver receives electrical power to operate using the wired section of the Ethernet. The redundant transceiver receives power over Ethernet using a wire that is simultaneously carrying a data signal. When data signal and power are provided on a common wire, the redundant transceiver separates the electrical power from the data signal, uses the electrical power for operating the redundant transceiver, and uses the data signal for performing a function of the redundant transceiver.
US08755254B2

An apparatus and associated method for a head gimbal assembly for data transduction in a data storage device with a heat assist laser. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a slider supporting at least a transducing element on an air bearing surface (ABS) and a laser assembly directly attached to a top side of the slider opposite the ABS. The laser assembly is positioned on the top side with no portion of the laser assembly extending past a longitudinal centerline of the slider.
US08755248B2

An acoustic logging while drilling tool includes a single unipole acoustic transmitter longitudinally and azimuthally spaced apart from a single linear array of unipole acoustic receivers. In certain preferred embodiments, the linear array of unipole receivers is azimuthally spaced apart from the unipole transmitter by about either 90 or 180 degrees. A bipole logging while drilling tool includes two unipole acoustic transmitters and two linear arrays of unipole acoustic receivers.
US08755235B2

According to one embodiment, a voltage generation circuit includes a first boost circuit, a voltage division circuit, a first detection circuit, a capacitor and a first switch. The first boost circuit outputs a first voltage. The voltage division circuit divides the first voltage. The first detection circuit is configured to detect a first monitor voltage supplied to the first input terminal, based on a reference voltage which is supplied to a second input terminal of the first detection circuit, and to control an operation of the first boost circuit. The capacitor is connected between an output terminal of the first boost circuit and the first input terminal of the first detection circuit. The first switch cuts off a connection between the capacitor and the first detection circuit, based on an output signal of the first detection circuit, until the first voltage is output from the first boost circuit.
US08755230B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array, a storage unit, a selection unit, a startup processing unit, and an operation control unit. The memory cell array includes memory cells. The storage unit stores a plurality of operating parameters. The selection unit accesses the storage unit and selects a first operating parameter for operating the memory cells from among the plurality of operating parameters stored in the storage unit, based on a first instruction input. The startup processing unit performs a power startup and reads out the first operating parameter from the storage unit and sets the first operating parameter so as to be ready for use, based on a second instruction input. The operation control unit uses the first operating parameter set by the startup processing unit in order to operate the memory cells.
US08755220B2

In one embodiment, the invention is a hybrid superconducting-magnetic memory cell and array. One embodiment of a memory cell includes a magnetoresistive element and at least one superconducting element wired in parallel with the magnetoresistive element. In a further embodiment, memory cells of the disclosed configuration are arranged to form a memory array.
US08755219B2

In a loadless 4T-SRAM constituted using vertical-type transistor SGTs, a small SRAM cell area is realized. In a static memory cell constituted using four MOS transistors, the MOS transistors are SGTs formed on a bulk substrate in which the drains, gates, and sources are arranged in the vertical direction. The gates of access transistors are shared, as a word line, among a plurality of cells adjacent to one another in the horizontal direction. One contact for the word line is formed for each group of cells, thereby realizing a CMOS-type loadless 4T-SRAM with a very small memory cell area.
US08755217B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell connected to a read bit line and a pair of write bit lines, and a data amplifier connected to the read bit line. A precharge potential resetting circuit uses a function of generating precharge potentials to the pair of write bit lines based on data of the memory cell amplified by the data amplifier to set the precharge potentials of the non-selected pair of write bit lines to have a potential relationship corresponding to the data stored by the memory cell. As a result, data destruction of the non-selected memory cell during write operation is reduced or prevented, and the speed of operation is increased and the area is reduced.
US08755212B2

The present invention relates to non-volatile memory chips having graphene drums. In some embodiments, the non-volatile memory chips have one or more layers that each includes a plurality of graphene-drum memory chip cells.
US08755210B2

A method for controlling a frequency converter unit, the frequency converter unit containing an input connection for supplying electric power at an input frequency to the frequency converter unit, and an output connection for supplying electric power at an output frequency from the frequency converter unit, the method comprising a control step, in which the frequency converter unit is controlled by means of control signals. In the control step the control signals are supplied through an inductive connection to at least one wire connected to the input connection or the output connection of the frequency converter unit for transmitting electric power, the control signals being supplied to the frequency converter unit over the at least one wire.
US08755207B2

A 24-pulse and 18-pulse composite AC-to-DC converter is a converter using two or more conversion methods in parallel. The converter may include a main rectifier receiving at least a portion of an input AC signal, an autotransformer having an output voltage with lower amplitude than the input AC signal, and a plurality of auxiliary bridge rectifiers, each receiving the output from each leg of the autotransformer. In one embodiment of the invention, the main rectifier may receive a substantial portion of the load current, allowing each of the auxiliary bridge rectifiers to be generally smaller than the main rectifier.
US08755206B2

A converter valve unit including a plurality of parallel connected semiconducting elements, a free-wheeling diode and a control unit.
US08755195B2

In described embodiments, a printed circuit board assembly capable of discharging electro-static discharge (ESD) surges includes an isolation trench track provided in the printed circuit board in close proximity to the peripheral edges between the peripheral edges and the mounting area, and a discharge path formed of conductive material to ground provided between the isolation trench track and the peripheral edges. The discharge path includes the board mounting screws and connects to a power connector ground of the printed circuit board.
US08755188B2

An electronic device includes a first and second integrated chip switch, each having a back (drain) surface and an opposite front (source) surface. An insulating package embeds the switches along with first, second and third heat sinks. The front surface of the first switch and back surface of the second switch are mounted to the first heat sink to couple first switch source to the second switch drain through the first heat sink in a half-bridge configuration. The first switch back surface is mounted to the second heat sink and the second switch front surface is mounted to the third heat sink. The package includes first, second and third openings which expose, respectively, the first, second and third heat sinks. The first heat sink opening is provided on one surface of the package, while the second and third heat sink openings are provided on an opposite surface of the package.
US08755181B2

According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes: a first housing; a second housing; and a connector. The first housing includes a first face and a first periphery portion provided along a periphery of the first face. The second housing includes a second face and a second periphery portion provided along a periphery of the second face and positioned near the first periphery portion. The connector includes a first portion connected to the first housing and a second portion connected to the second housing. The connector rotatably connects the first housing and the second housing with each other. The connector permits a change in a distance between the first portion and the second portion to prevent a change in a distance between the first periphery portion and the second periphery portion when the first housing and the second housing are rotated with respect to each other.
US08755179B2

A thermal interposer for a heat-generating electronic component located on an adapter card of a computer includes a thermally conducting planar body. The thermally conducting planar body may be configured to be coupled to the adapter card such that a first surface of the planar body is in thermal contact with a surface of the electronic component. The thermal interposer may also include a cold plate assembly removably coupled to a second surface of the planar body opposite the first surface. The cold plate assembly may include an inlet adapted to receive a cooling liquid into the cold plate assembly and an outlet adapted to discharge the cooling liquid from the cold plate assembly.
US08755174B2

A media appliance and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a housing is adapted to be mounted within a wall. A panel forms a front portion of the housing and the panel includes vents and the panel may be mounted substantially flush with the wall. A media player, which includes a set-top box, is disposed within the housing. A pair of ports, disposed within openings defined by the housing, are configured to receive respective optio-electric connectors. Each port includes optio-electrically conductive elements. The pair of ports are coupled to the media player and one port is configured for providing a connection to a television and the other port is configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television.
US08755170B2

A metal electrolytic capacitor capable of quickly absorbing and immobilizing a belching vapor of a driving electrolyte and widely reducing leakage when an explosion-proof valve operates. An aluminum electrolytic capacitor body is configured by housing a capacitor element in a cylindrical aluminum case, a pair of leads extend from the capacitor body, an explosion-proof valve. is formed on a top panel portion of the metal case, a cylindrical cap as a casing is attached from above to the capacitor body, a plurality of small openings are formed on a top panel portion (bottom portion) of the cap, and an absorbent or a mixture of an absorbent and a water molecular compound wrapped in a permeable fiber material, such as unwoven fabric and filter paper, is placed in a space between the cap and the top panel portion of the capacitor body.
US08755151B2

In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates. An actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface controls the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08755136B1

In various embodiments, systems and methods to detect signal irregularity caused by defects in the read/write head element are disclosed. In some embodiments, an exemplary system comprises a memory and a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory and is configured to implement a filter module and a detector module. The filter module is configured to generate a test waveform based on data read from a medium by a storage device head to be tested. The detector module is configured to generate a signal quality value based on a property of at least a portion of the test waveform, compare the signal quality value to an event threshold, and generate an event indicator based on the comparison, the event indicator indicating possible instability of the storage device head.
US08755133B2

Adjustable mounts for optical elements or the like that may include absolute position information feedback. For some embodiments, position data may be generated independent of displacement measurement. Position data feedback may be provided to driver embodiments, such as piezoelectric inertia drivers, by a controller and used to achieve a desired position setting for an adjustable mount.
US08755127B2

An optical apparatus includes a controller configured to control driving of a focus lens in manual focusing. A moving speed of the focus lens is expressed by a function of an operating speed of the operating unit, and the controller generates a control signal for the driver in accordance with the function. When the operating speed of the operating unit is equal to or lower than a threshold, the function is such a linear function that the moving speed of the focus lens linearly increases as the operating speed of the operating unit increases. When the operating speed of the operating unit is higher than the threshold, a differential value of the function increases as the operating speed of the operating unit increases. The function is continuous and smooth at the threshold.
US08755124B2

The disclosure provides an adjustable optical lens comprising a membrane, a support for the membrane, a fluid between the membrane and the support, an actuator for deforming the membrane, and a rigid ring connected to the membrane for moving with the membrane for ensuring that a section of the membrane surrounded by the rigid ring has a defined circumference.
US08755110B2

An optical traveling-wave resonator that includes a magneto-optically active member through which an optical beam propagates on a non-planar optical propagation path circuit. The resonator further includes at least one mirror in the optical propagation path circuit and a magnetic field generator for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optically active member such that resonant optical frequencies of normal modes corresponding to traveling waves in opposite directions are substantially different.
US08755104B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrowetting display panel and the manufacturing method thereof The electrowetting display panel comprises: a first glass substrate; a second glass substrate provided opposite to the first glass substrate; a cavity provided between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate; a colored conductive liquid filled into the cavity; and a reflecting conductive element provided on the surface of the first glass substrate facing away from the second glass substrate, and corresponding to the cavity, wherein the reflecting conductive element is used for controlling the light transmissivity of the colored conductive liquid within the cavity according to the voltage applied to the reflecting conductive element and reflecting the light passing through the colored conductive liquid toward the second glass substrate.
US08755099B2

Upon receiving information that indicates the type of printing medium from an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus determines whether a parameter corresponding to the type of printing medium indicated by the information is stored. When it is determined that the parameter is stored, the printing apparatus transmits the parameter to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus performs color correction for image data using the parameter received from the printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus transmits the color-corrected image data to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus prints an image based on the color-corrected image data.
US08755088B2

Method, apparatus and program product generates a threshold array that contains at least one halftone cell having overlapping or dissimilar dots.
US08755087B2

A print apparatus includes an edge detector using attribute information, a screen processor which binarizes each pixel included in image data with a screen processing, a pulse width converter which converts each pixel included in the image data to pulse width data in accordance with an input gradation value, and an output unit which outputs pulse width data from either of the screen processor or the pulse width converter for each pixel. The output unit outputs the pulse width data from the pulse width converter for an edge pixel and outputs the pulse width data from the screen processor for a non-edge pixel.
US08755083B2

An image checking device checks a printed image printed out on a printing medium. The image checking device includes a data acquiring unit that acquires checking-image data, original reference image data input to an image forming device, and, from an attribute-information storage unit of the image forming device, attribute information about a printing medium; a correction-parameter storage unit that stores therein a correction parameter corresponding to the attribute information; an image generating unit that reads, from the correction-parameter storage unit, a correction parameter corresponding to the attribute information, corrects the original reference image data by using the correction parameter, and generates corrected reference image data; and an image checking unit that compares the checking-image data with the corrected reference image data by using a pre-set value to determine the degree of matching between the checking-image data and the corrected reference image data, thereby performing image checking on the printed image.
US08755082B2

An image forming apparatus including a plurality of photoreceptors; a plurality of developing devices for forming toner patterns on the plurality of photoreceptors; an intermediate transfer medium for receiving the toner patterns transferred from the plurality of photoreceptors; a controller for controlling the plurality of developing devices to form first toner patterns that are lines extending in a main-scanning direction and second toner patterns that are lines slanting from the main-scanning direction on the plurality of photoreceptors such that the first toner pattern and the second toner pattern transferred from the same photoreceptor will be arranged on the intermediate transfer medium at an interval in a sub-scanning direction of a circumferential length of the photoreceptor from which the first toner pattern and the second tone pattern are transferred; and a sensor for detecting the toner patterns transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium.
US08755067B2

A method of processing a printing operation in an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of printing jobs are processed in a single printing job includes generating connection information to unify a plurality of printing jobs, changing the plurality of printing jobs to a single printing job using the connection information, and printing data corresponding to the single printing job.
US08755066B2

At an extended function server side, user information is received, and a user authentication process is executed. When the authenticity is established, an extended function table is read out, and an extended function list is generated in correspondence with users, based on the extended function table. Then, determination is made as to whether there is an extended function list set in correspondence with a user. When there is an extended function list set in correspondence with a user, the extended function list is transmitted. At the MFP side, the extended function list transmitted from the extended function server is received. Then, the received extended function list is registered.
US08755060B2

A print control apparatus includes rendering units performing rendering in response to a print instruction described in a page description language; a print instruction storage unit storing the print instruction for printing pages; a distribution unit sequentially distributing process requests, each specifying which page is to be rendered, and reference information for accessing the print instruction, to the rendering units; and a process request storage unit storing process requests. The rendering units each execute rendering by accessing the print instruction based on the reference information, and extracting a part of the print instruction of a specified page to image data. The distribution unit distributes a process request when there is a rendering unit to which the process request is distributable in ascending order, and, when there is no such rendering unit, stores the process request, and selects and distributes a smallest-page-number process request to one rendering unit.
US08755056B2

A multi-media print includes a decoding module, a configuration memory, and a parameter determination module. The decoding module decodes print job parameters and print job data, and outputs decoded print job parameters including decoded print job media selection parameters and the decoded print job data. The configuration memory stores default configuration parameters. The parameter determination module receives the decoded print job parameters including the decoded print job media selection parameters and the decoded print job data and also receives the default configuration parameters including the default media selection parameters from the configuration memory. The parameter determination module determines the final print job media selection parameters for the print job, utilizing the decoded print job media selection parameters and the default media selection parameters. The default media selection parameters are utilized when the print job parameters and print job data are not sufficient to select the media.
US08755055B2

The present invention is to generate a pulsed laser beam having a width greater than the gap between a rotating tool and a workpiece opposed thereto, and then irradiate the gap with the generated laser beam while the optical axis thereof is tilted relative to a workpiece plane. The pulsed laser beam has one lased-pulse period per one revolution or an integer number of revolutions of the rotating tool and is directed in the same angle range relative to the rotating tool within the ON durations of the lased pulse. The light which has irradiated the gap and has not been interrupted but diffracted by the gap is detected on a light-receiving sensor to measure the length of the gap.
US08755048B2

A movable body spectrum measuring apparatus including a dictionary data storing unit for storing spectrum data containing wavelength information and light intensity information of an object being measured, and a limitation information storing unit for storing limitation information to regulate the wavelength information into partial wavelength information. The movable body spectrum measuring apparatus further including a discrimination level setting unit for setting selectively the limitation information corresponding to the discrimination level required of the object being measured, a restricting unit for restricting the spectrum data regarding the observation light to the spectrum data composed exclusively of the wavelength information limited by the limitation information, and a discrimination unit for discriminating the object being measured based on the comparison between the restricted spectrum data and the spectrum data regarding the dictionary data storing unit.
US08755043B2

A method of inspecting a substrate is disclosed. The method of inspecting a substrate, comprises: obtaining phase data per projecting part with regard to a substrate, by projecting pattern beam onto the substrate having a target object formed thereon through a plurality of projecting parts in sequence; obtaining height data per projecting part with regard to the substrate by using the phase data per the projecting part; compensating tilt of the height data by using the height data per projecting part; modifying the tilt-compensated height data per projecting part; and obtaining integrated height data by using the modified height data.
US08755039B2

Exemplary lighting devices have sensors, intelligence in the form of programmed processors and communication capabilities. Such a device is configured to monitor one or more conditions external to a lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting device. One or more such devices can work in a networked system, to support a variety of applications separate and in addition to the lighting related functions of the device(s).
US08755028B2

A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow.
US08755019B2

A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes: forming a gate line including a gate electrode on a first substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate line; sequentially forming a semiconductor layer, an amorphous silicon layer, and a data metal layer on the entire surface of the gate insulating layer; aligning the edges of the semiconductor layer and the data metal layer; forming a transparent conductive layer on the gate insulating layer and the data metal layer; forming a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode by patterning the transparent conductive layer; and forming a data line including a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an ohmic contact layer by etching the data metal layer and the amorphous silicon layer, using the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode as a mask, and exposing the semiconductor between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08755011B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes first to N-th 1st retardation plates arranged on the first transparent substrate, and the second substrate includes first to N-th 2nd retardation plates arranged on the second transparent substrate. Assuming that a retardation plate among the first to N-th 1st retardation plates has an optical axis arranged at a first angle relative to a reference direction and a retardation plate among the first to N-th 2nd retardation plates, corresponding to the retardation plate among the first to N-th 1st retardation plates, has an optical axis arranged at a second angle relative to the reference direction, the first and second angles are different from each other by about 90 degrees.
US08755009B2

A liquid crystal display device, including a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer sealed between the pair of substrates, color filters of different colors formed on one of the substrates, and a polymer layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules and formed between the pair of substrates. The pre-tilt angles of the liquid crystal molecules are different among respective pixels where the color filters of different colors are formed.
US08755000B2

A display panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate comprises a display region and a peripheral circuit region adjacent to the display region, and the first substrate includes a pixel array, a plurality of test shorting bars, and a plurality of wires. The pixel array is disposed in the display region. The test shorting bars are disposed in the peripheral circuit region. The wires are disposed in the peripheral circuit region and electrically connected with the pixel array. Moreover, at least one wire and one of the test shorting bars respectively share a part for connecting with each other and forming a common trace. Additionally, the second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08754999B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) and a method for repairing a defective pixel in the LCD is provided, where a width of a sustain electrode line is reduced or no sustain electrode line is provided for the purpose of ensuring an increased aperture ratio. The LCD includes a gate line, extending in a first direction, and a data wiring being insulated from the gate line. The data wiring includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a data line extending in a second direction. A pixel electrode is connected to the drain electrode via a contact hole, and a sustain electrode line is formed in a substantially the same plane as the gate line and has a sustain electrode overlapped by the contact hole.
US08754996B2

Embodiments relate to a liquid crystal display panel and a manufacturing method thereof. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; a gate line extended in a first direction on the first substrate; a data line on the first substrate and extended in a second direction, crossing the first direction; and a common voltage line on the same layer as the gate line. The common voltage line includes: a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines extended in the first direction and separately disposed with a cutting unit therebetween; a first connector for connecting the first lines; and a second connector for connecting the second lines.
US08754982B2

An image pickup unit according to the present invention includes: a lens frame that internally holds an image pickup optical system; and a backside illuminated image pickup device which has a light-receiving section that receives light entering the lens frame via the image pickup optical system and which is held inside the lens frame, wherein a claw portion of the lens frame abuts an opposing surface that opposes a light-entering surface of the image pickup device so as to define a position of the image pickup optical system in an optical axis direction L with respect to the light-receiving section using the opposing surface as a reference.
US08754980B2

Camera arrangements that can include electromagnetic protection, such as from EMP/IEMI events, is disclosed. One example camera arrangement includes a camera including a viewfinder having a lens, and an electromagnetically shielded enclosure defining an interior volume containing the camera and configured to include at least one opening aligned with the lens. The camera arrangement includes an electromagnetically dampening barrier disposed across the at least one opening, the barrier configured to shield the interior volume of the enclosure from electromagnetic signals while exposing an optical path between the lens and objects external to the enclosure.
US08754977B2

Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating frames and changing lens positions based on the analysis of the frames. In one example, a controller coupled to a first camera and a second camera is to change a lens position of the first camera for a second frame based on the identification of a focal target in a frame generated by the second camera.
US08754976B2

In an image sensor having a plurality of pixels which photoelectrically convert a subject image, a plurality of pairs of focus detection pixels including first focus detection pixels (SHA) and second focus detection pixels (SHB) are arranged while being distributed. The layouts of the first focus detection pixel (SHA) and the second focus detection pixel (SHB) are switched in pairs of focus detection pixels adjacent in the focus detection direction. Focus detection is performed using image waveforms obtained from the first focus detection pixel (SHA) and the second focus detection pixel (SHB) whose layouts are switched. This reduces focus detection errors generated when the pixels included in the pairs of focus detection pixels receive light fluxes from different portions of the subject.
US08754968B2

A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a light receiving surface sectioned for red, green, blue, and white pixels arranged in a matrix with photodiodes formed thereon; color filters formed on the semiconductor substrate in light incident paths to the photodiodes of the respective formation regions of the red, green, and blue pixels and respectively transmitting lights in red, green, and blue wavelength regions; and photochromic films formed on the semiconductor substrate in the light incident path to the photodiodes in the formation regions of at least some of the white pixels, and containing a photochromic material having light transmittance varying in response to incident light intensity in a predetermined wavelength region, wherein a half period of the light transmittance of the photochromic films is shorter than one frame as a period in which pixel signals obtained in the pixels are read out with respect to all pixels.
US08754963B2

Processing images of a scene taken with different focus includes, for each of at least some of the images, determining at least one portion of the image having a predetermined characteristic. A representation of the scene is generated that includes an array of elements, where each of at least some of the elements corresponds to a determined portion of at least one of the images. An element of the array is based on a correspondence between a distance associated with a determined portion of at least one image and a focused distance associated with at least one image. The generated representation is stored or provided as output.
US08754952B2

A digital camera captures an image of a photographic subject and creates image data, and records this image data upon a recording medium. The digital camera includes: an image processing device that, according to operation by a user, performs any of a plurality of types of image processing upon the image data that has been recorded; and a control device that, for performing the image processing, (a) if image data is first selected, permits selection of a type of image processing that is to be performed upon the selected image data; and (b) if a type of image processing is first selected, permits selection of image data upon which that selected type of image processing is to be performed.
US08754947B2

Various systems and methods for comparing media signals are disclosed. In some embodiments, media signals are compared by identifying characteristic features in the respective signals and then analyzing the characteristic features to determine if the signals contain corresponding content. In other embodiments, the characteristic features are analyzed to determine the extent to which the signals are synchronized in time.
US08754939B2

A demodulation structure for a n-tap pixel, mainly for 3D time-of-flight (TOF) applications uses a 2-stage switch structure for demodulating a modulated electromagnetic wave. An almost arbitrary number of storage sites per pixel can be implemented enabling an almost arbitrary number of samplings captured during one exposure. It also provides the option to demodulate and integrate different phasing samples according to the different modulation frequencies within the same exposure.
US08754934B2

A dual-camera face recognition device and method are disclosed. The device includes: a first camera, for capturing a face image; a second camera, arranged at a different position from the first camera, for capturing a face image; a face recognition processing unit, for receiving and recognizing the face image captured by the first camera and obtaining a first candidate set, and for receiving and recognizing the face image captured by the second camera and obtaining a second candidate set. The face recognition processing unit is also adapted to select from the first candidate set and the second candidate set a candidate object whose similarity complies with a predetermined rule as a recognition result.
US08754928B2

An electronic apparatus with photographing function is disclosed. The electronic apparatus comprises a central processing unit, a first lens module, and a second lens module. The first lens module and the second lens module are electronically connected to the central processing unit. The first lens module may obtain a first image of a target, and the second lens module may obtain a second image of the target. There is a viewing angle difference between the first image and the second image. The central processing unit may be activated for processing the first image and the second image to form a 3D image by adjusting the second lens module to an acting position.
US08754912B2

Disclosed herein is a driving method and display apparatus, the display apparatus including light emitting units, scan lines, data lines, a driving circuit provided for each of the light emitting units to serve as a circuit having a signal writing transistor, a device driving transistor, a capacitor and a first switch circuit, and a light emitting device.
US08754911B2

A method of controlling a touch panel display device, and a touch panel display device using the same, facilitate a user selection (touching) of a specific icon to improve the reliability of registering a touch event for the specific icon, thereby enabling smaller icons to be used with greater accuracy. The touch panel display device includes a touch panel exhibiting a plurality of coordinates corresponding to a screen area of the touch panel display device, the screen area including a zoom icon area; a touch panel controller for recognizing coordinates of a touch event, for storing the recognized coordinates in an internally provided memory, and for outputting a coordinates signal corresponding to the touch event by converting a value generated by the touch event into a corresponding coordinates value; a microprocessor for determining whether the coordinates value output from the touch panel controller corresponds to the zoom icon area of the screen area; a touch driver for outputting a zoom function signal corresponding to the coordinates value output from the touch panel controller; and a display for displaying a magnified icon area corresponding to the zoom icon area, if the microprocessor determines that the coordinates value output from the touch panel controller corresponds to the zoom icon area of the screen area. A method of controlling the above touch panel display device includes steps of displaying a zoom icon area on at least part of a screen made up of a plurality of coordinates; recognizing coordinates of a touch event, to determine whether the touch event corresponds to the displayed zoom icon area; and displaying, if it is determined that the touch event corresponds to the displayed zoom icon area, a magnified icon area corresponding to the zoom icon area.
US08754905B2

Software on a server receives a render request from a queue database. The software determines the render process requirements for the render request. The software queries a user profile database for render data based on the render process requirements. The software transmits a request to provide render data to a client device, if render data is not available in the user profile database. The software receives a response from the client device, including the requested render data. The software generates the rendered image, using the rendered data. The software creates a publishing element from the rendered data and a publishing template. And the software publishes the publishing element to the a newsfeed using an application programming interface (API).
US08754900B2

Methods, systems and apparatuses for selecting graphics data of a server system for transmission are disclosed. One method includes reading data from graphics memory of the server system. The data read from the graphics memory is placed in a transmit buffer if the data is being read for the first time, and was not written by a processor of the server system. One system includes a server system including graphics memory, a frame buffer and a processor. The server system is operable to read data from the graphics memory. The server system is operable to place the data in a transmit buffer if the data is being read for the first time, and was not written by the processor during rendering.
US08754892B2

A method, system, and computer program product graphically display attributes associated with virtual images. A set of attributes associated with each virtual image in a plurality of virtual images is analyzed. At least one graph including a plurality of nodes is generated. Each node in the plurality of nodes represents one virtual image in the plurality of virtual images. Each node is graphically displayed with at least one visual indicator. The at least one visual indicator represents at least one attribute in the set of attributes associated with the virtual image represented by the node.
US08754887B2

Methods and systems for determining three-dimensional (3D) object data models of an object based on movement of the object. A processor may receive first scan data and second scan data of an object within in a space. The first scan data may comprise a first position of the object in the space and a first mesh image defining a first view of a shape of the object at the first position. The second scan data may comprise movement information defining a movement of the object from the first position to a second position within the space and a second mesh image defining a second view of the shape of the object at the second position. The first scan data and the second scan data may be aligned to generate a 3D object data model based on the first mesh image, the movement information, and the second mesh image.
US08754880B2

Provided is a method of driving a pixel circuit including a light emitting element and a driving transistor which are connected in series to each other, and a storage capacitor disposed between a path between the light emitting element and the driving transistor and a gate of the driving transistor, the method including the steps of: supplying a driving signal to a gate of the driving transistor; and changing the potential of the driving signal over time so that the time rate of change of the potential of the driving signal at the point in time when the supply of the driving signal stops becomes the time rate of change corresponding to a specified gradation of the pixel circuit.
US08754877B2

A liquid crystal panel unit, a display device, and a method of manufacturing the same, in which the display device includes: a display panel that includes a display region; a gate driver that applies a gate signal to the display region; a data driver that applies a data signal to the display region; a vertical synchronization signal line that transfers a vertical synchronization start signal to the gate driver; a data signal line that transfers the data signal to the data driver; and an isolation pattern that is arranged between the vertical synchronization signal line and the data signal line. The isolation pattern intercepts an electromagnetic field that is generated and prevents image degradation.
US08754870B2

A touch screen panel that prevents sensing patterns from being viewable at a border of a touch active region. The touch screen panel includes: a transparent substrate; first sensing cells and second sensing cells alternately distributed in a touch active region on the transparent substrate; first connection patterns connecting the first sensing cells in a first direction; second connection patterns connecting the second sensing patterns in a second direction crossing the first direction; and dummy patterns extending outside the touch active region and connected with the first sensing cells and the second sensing cells at a border of the touch active region.
US08754868B2

The present invention provides a mutual capacitive multi-touch screen. The conductive strip pattern allows that, when a touch range of each external conductive object on the mutual capacitive multi-touch screen is larger than a predetermined condition, capacitive coupling between each external conductive object and first conductive strip is greater than capacitive coupling between each external conductive object and second conductive strip, such that the proportion of a driving signal flowing out of the first conductive strip via at least one first external conductive object in the external conductive objects and into the second conductive strip via at least one second external conductive object in the external conductive objects decreases as the number of second external conductive objects increases.
US08754866B2

A multi-touch system is provided. The multi-touch system includes a multi-touch detection area generated by a mobile device and a first communication device, the mobile device and first or second communication device being movable relative to each other. The mobile device is operable to determine a first set of coordinates for a first detectable object within the multi-touch detection area as a function of: a distance between the mobile device and the first communication device, a distance between the mobile device and first detectable object, and a distance between the first communication device and first detectable object.
US08754862B2

A method for classification recognition of gestures and gesture primitives in a touch-based user interface. In an implementation the method comprises receiving tactile image data responsive to data generated from user touch of a user touch interface comprising a sensor array. The tactile image data is processed to create a plurality of numerical values responsive to data generated from the user touch interface. These numerical values are applied to a principle component analysis operation to produce a reduced-dimensionality data vector which is applied to a classifier having a plurality of classifier outputs interpretable as probabilities. The classifier outputs provide likelihoods that an execution gesture is from a collection of pre-defined gestures, and a decision test is used to produce a decision output indicating a gesture outcome useful in user interface applications. The arrangement can recognize single finger “6D” actions of roll, pitch, yaw, left-right, forward-back, and variations in applied pressure.
US08754855B2

Embodiments described herein are directed to simultaneously presenting a virtual touchpad and a graphical user interface of an operating system on the same display. A user can interact with the OS using the virtual touchpad, and user touches are read by a touch-screen portion of the display assigned to the touchpad. Touch input software converts touch packets from user touches into data packets relevant to the screen and display resolution of either the display or a portion of the display presenting the OS. Gesture-recognition software applies rules to the converted packets to determine which actions the user meant by the touches. And an application controlling a mouse cursor manipulates the mouse cursor according to the mouse actions.
US08754853B2

An ergonomic control instrument for an operator's hand is provided to be disposable on a platform and communicate with a processor. The instrument includes a base for mounting to the platform, a pistol-grip handle disposed on the base to tilt from perpendicular to the platform, a head unit disposed on the handle, a deck within the head unit connecting to the handle, and a plurality of input devices disposed on at least one of the head unit and the handle, each device of the plurality for receiving a command from the operator's hand. Also, an ergonomic control station for an operator is provided, with the station including a platform in front of the operator, a first hand-held instrument mountable to the platform, a second hand-held instrument mountable to the platform, and a processor having a plurality of connections to the first and second pluralities of input devices.
US08754845B1

Methods of manufacturing electrophoretic display devices are disclosed. The display including a back substrate and including a substantially hollow container that includes a transparent substrate forming a cavity therebetween. The transparent substrate including one or more cathode electrodes forming a plurality of electronically and selectively addressable pixels; one or more side walls extending from the transparent substrate, the side walls defining corresponding pixels, and a suspension fluid including a plurality of pigment particles in fluid communication with each of the cells by a gap formed between the side walls.
US08754844B2

Provided is a display device using electrowetting including a reservoir layer in which a reservoir for storing oil and transparent water-soluble liquid is formed. A first electrode and a second electrode may be formed on an upper surface of the reservoir layer and on an inner wall of the reservoir, respectively.
US08754843B2

An electrophoretic device includes: an electrophoretic layer including a plurality of first particles having a relatively high mobility and charged with negative electricity and a plurality of second particles having a relatively low mobility and charged with positive electricity; a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other via the electrophoretic layer; and a control unit applying a first voltage between the first and the second electrodes to control such that the first electrode is at a higher potential than the second electrode and applying a pulse-form second voltage between the first and the second electrodes intermittently a plurality of number of times to control such that the first electrode is at a lower potential than the second electrode, each second voltage applied by the control unit the plurality of number of times having an approximately same pulse width and an approximately same voltage value, as well as the number of times of application of the second voltage being determined based on a desired gradation.
US08754840B2

An image display apparatus includes: a light source; a spatial light modulation element modulating light from the light source based on a video signal; light quantity adjustment section adjusting the light quantity of light from the light source based on luminance information in the video signal; image correction section correcting luminance level of the video signal in accordance with light quantity adjustment by the light quantity adjustment section, and supplying a corrected video signal to the spatial light modulation element; and re-adjustment section performing re-adjustment such that a light quantity adjustment target is re-adjusted to a lower value, in a case that a final display luminance level, representing a luminance of the light modulated by the spatial modulation element, is lower than a predetermined first luminance level, where the light quantity adjustment target represents a adjustment target value in the light quantity, employed by the light quantity adjustment section.
US08754838B2

A discharge circuit of a device including a drive circuit operating by an inputted negative voltage includes: a discharge unit connected between a first input terminal receiving the negative voltage and a second input terminal receiving a ground voltage, and configured to discharge the negative voltage to the ground voltage of the second input terminal in response to a control signal; and a control unit connected between the first input terminal and a third input terminal receiving an operation voltage corresponding to a normal operation mode and an abnormal operation mode of the drive circuit, and configured to generate the control signal in response to an operation signal for determining an operation state and a non-operation state in the normal operation mode of the drive circuit.
US08754834B2

A display device is provided, in which an emission period may be adjusted into multiple types with reduction in cost being achieved. The display device includes: a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a plurality of individual-color sub-pixels, each sub-pixel including an individual-color light emitting element and an emission control transistor; and emission control lines connected to the pixels. The individual-color sub-pixel includes one of a first individual-color sub-pixel including an emission control transistor of a first conductive type, and a second individual-color sub-pixel including an emission control transistor of a second conductive type different from the first conductive type. One emission control line is connected in common with at least one of each of the first and second individual-color sub-pixels.
US08754827B2

Method, terminal, network and computer program product for processing updates of an image for transmission from a first terminal to a second terminal for use in screen sharing between the first terminal and the second terminal wherein updates to the image displayed on a first display at the first terminal are also displayed on a second display at the second terminal. The image is divided into an array of contiguous sub-tiles, each sub-tile comprising more than one picture element of the image. It is determined that a plurality of sub-tiles of the image have changed at the first terminal and at least one of said changed sub-tiles and at least one contiguous sub-tile are selected to form a tile. The tile is encoded for transmission to the second terminal, said encoding determining sub-tile data identifying which sub-tiles are included in the tile such that the image can be updated at the second terminal in accordance with the changes to said changed sub-tiles, wherein the configuration of the tile is flexible such that the number of contiguous sub-tiles encoded in the tile can be varied.
US08754815B2

A portable terminal includes a terminal body, a first antenna provided on a circuit board having a first ground that is used by the first antenna, and an antenna assembly integrated into the terminal body. The antenna assembly of the portable terminal includes at least one diversity antenna fed to the circuit board and formed on the circuit board having a ground that is independent from the first ground. The at least one diversity antenna is formed into an angled configuration with respect to the circuit board.
US08754809B2

Updates to an AFC loop can be performed to provide high-sensitivity tracking. A 20 ms update interval and PDI=10 ms is used for every other update. A setting is used for each update between the 20 ms updates. Notably, the setting uses PDI=5 ms. The setting can include first, second, and third cross-dot pairs associated with a first bit, a second bit, and a cross-bit boundary between the first and second bits, respectively. A sum of these pairs can be scaled down when the signal strength is below a predetermined threshold. In another embodiment, the setting can include a first cross-dot pair associated with a first bit and a second cross-dot pair associated with a second bit. A sum of these pairs can also be scaled down when signal strength is below a predetermined threshold.
US08754807B2

Apparatus having corresponding methods and tangible computer-readable media comprise: a measurement module adapted to generate measurements of a wireless television signal received by the apparatus and measurements of a wireless satellite positioning signal received by the apparatus; a location module adapted to determine a location of the apparatus based on the measurements of the wireless television signal and the measurements of the wireless satellite positioning signal; and a time module adapted to provide a clock control signal for the apparatus based on at least one of the measurements of the wireless television signal, and the measurements of the wireless satellite positioning signal.
US08754804B1

The present invention is a stackable telemetry circuit board for use in telemetry systems for satellites and other purposes. The present invention incorporates previously-qualified interchangeable circuit boards, or “decks,” that perform functions such as power, signal receiving and transmission, and processing. Each deck is adapted to serve a range of telemetry applications. This provides flexibility in the construction of the stackable telemetry circuit board and significantly reduces the cost and time necessary to develop a telemetry system.
US08754803B2

A method and apparatus is devised for detecting command wires utilized to detonate an improvised explosive device or other objects of interest in which frequency-scanned RF in the HF region of the electromagnetic spectrum is projected out across a given area and returns are detected and converted into image data in which phase, amplitude, range and frequency associated with the incoming data is correlated with frequency-dependent range templates to determine the existence of, the range of and the direction of command wires or other objects of interest.
US08754801B1

A filter which highly attenuates CW signals within specified frequency bands while allowing baseband pulses to pass therethrough with relatively low attenuation is provided. The filter comprises a main transmission line and stub transmission lines that are coupled in parallel relationship with the main transmission line. Each of the stub transmission lines is terminated with a short circuit or other appropriate impedance and is of such a length that a pulse coupled thereto from the main transmission line and reflected from the terminating impedance will arrive at the coupling plane with the main transmission line after the pulse propagating on the main transmission line has completely passed the coupling plane, thus eliminating the possibility of cancellation of any portion of the propagating pulse. The length, spacing and terminating impedance of each of the stub transmission lines is selected to provide stop bands for CW signals so that a pulse is coupled to the output terminals of the filter that is substantially free of CW interfering signals that may exist at the input terminals thereof.
US08754800B2

Logic such as hardware and/or code for high-speed analog-to-digital conversion of a signal. Logic may receive an analog signal as an input to a sampling receiver. The sampling receiver may implement a successive approximation register (SAR), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to produce the digital output. Logic may re-task a comparator of the SAR ADC during a sampling mode to generate a digital comparator output that represents a comparison of a voltage of the charge on a capacitance of the DAC against a threshold reference voltage. The digital comparator output may be applied to the input of automatic gain control (AGC) logic. The AGC logic may receive the digital comparator signal which is representative of one sample of a multiple sample, sample cycle, allowing the AGC logic to generate a gain control signal that is responsive to both total composite average and peak amplitudes.
US08754797B2

An apparatus is provided. A comparison circuit is configured to receive an analog signal. A reference circuit is coupled to the comparison circuit and is configured to provide a plurality of reference signals to the comparison circuit. A conversion circuit is coupled to the comparison circuit and is configured to detect a change in the output of the comparison circuit. A time-to-digital converter (TDC) is coupled to the comparison circuit. A timer is coupled to the comparison circuit. A rate control circuit is coupled to the conversion circuit. An output circuit is coupled to the rate control circuit and the TDC, where the output circuit is configured to output at least one of a synchronous digital representation of the analog signal and an asynchronous digital representation of the analog signal.
US08754791B1

There is provided an entropy modifier which is operable to encode, alternatively decode, a stream of input data bits having a first entropy for generating corresponding entropy-modified output data having a second entropy, wherein the entropy modifier is operable to process the stream of input data bits to handle groups of mutually similar bits and the value of the first bit, and one or more maximum run lengths of the groups of mutually similar bits. Optionally, the entropy modifier is operable to control one or more maximum run lengths of the groups of mutually similar bits by using at least one escape code.
US08754790B2

An input device with ghost key suppression includes a switch module, a comparator, an exchange unit, a bias voltage resistor, and a processing module. The switch module includes a plurality of strobe lines, a plurality of sense lines, and a plurality of switch units. Each of the switch units has a switch and a resistor connected in series between a corresponding one of the strobe lines and a corresponding one of the sense lines. The comparator is configured for comparing a signal received at an input end thereof with a reference signal for generating the comparison signal. The exchange unit is electrically connected to the sense lines and the comparator, and is operable in response to a control input for making and breaking electrical connection between each of the sense lines and the input end of the comparator. The processing module controls operation of the switch module and the exchange unit based on the comparison signal.
US08754781B2

A control method for a road toll system using vehicle-based on-board units, recording vehicles, control vehicles, cellular mobile communication networks, and switching servers, comprising: registering a recording vehicle identifier and a mobile communication network cell identifier in the switching server; selecting a cell identifier in a control vehicle and transmitting the same with a control vehicle identifier to the switching server; associating the control vehicle identifier with the recording vehicle identifier for which a cell identifier that is identical to the selected cell identifier is registered; detecting a traffic or toll violation by means of the recording vehicle and transmitting a violation data record to the switching server, determining the assigned control vehicle identifier; transmitting the violation data record to the control vehicle identified by the determined identifier; and processing the violation data record in the control vehicle.
US08754776B2

A system is disclosed for detecting and calculating the level of ambient and/or environmental noise, such as electromagnetic interference generated by electric power lines, ambient lights, light dimmers, television or computer displays, power supplies or transformers, and medical equipment. In some embodiments, the system performs frequency analysis on the interference signal detected by light photodetectors and determines the power of the interference signal concentrated in the analyzed frequency bands. The worst-case interference level can be determined by selecting the maximum from the computed power values. In some embodiments, the determined interference signal power can be compared with the noise tolerance of a patient monitoring system configured to reliably and non-invasively detect physiological parameters of a user. The results of the comparison can be presented to the user audio-visually. In some embodiments, the system can be used to perform spot check measurements of electromagnetic interference.
US08754774B2

An assembly includes a mount (10) and a sensor (30), in particular a rain/light sensor for a motor vehicle, the mount (10) including at least two abutments (12) for a clamping bracket (50), wherein at least one clamping bracket (50) is hinge-fitted to the sensor (30) at two bearing points, the clamping bracket (50) being adapted to swivel between a mounting position and a clamping position, in which it urges the sensor (30) against the mount (10) with a pretensioning force.
US08754768B2

A system for managing hazards in a construction site is presented. One aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a hazard management system comprising a hazard context database, a sensor interface, and a hazard analysis engine. The sensor interface is configured to acquire a site data feed that is representative of a construction site. The hazard analysis engine is configured to (i) instantiate a hazard object by comparing the site data feed to hazard criteria of the plurality of hazard contexts, (ii) update the hazard object based on the site data feed, (iii) generate hazard notification criteria related to the hazard object, (iv) obtain worker attributes from the site data, and (v) transmit a hazard notification to an output device when the worker attributes cause satisfaction of the hazard notification criteria.
US08754764B2

A mechanism for determining whether a malfunctioning pressure sensor has returned to a normal or acceptable operating range. The mechanism includes controllers and methods that perform a “good check” on the sensor to determine whether the sensor has returned to normal or acceptable operation after a malfunction has been detected. When a previously-malfunctioning sensor passes the “good check,” warning lights (or tell-tale) indicators are shut off and systems that relied upon information from the malfunctioning sensor return to normal operation.
US08754758B1

A system is provided that automatically generates one or more haptic effects from source data, such as audio source data. The system fits the one or more haptic effects to the source data by analyzing the source data and identifying one or more haptic effects that are the most similar to the source data. The system matches the identified one or more haptic effects with the source data. The system subsequently outputs the identified one or more haptic effects.
US08754755B2

Presenting comparative timing data to the audience of a sports or other competition multiple within an event, where timing or scoring data is stored during each heat, compared between heats, and displayed. Timing data includes lap times, split times, or other timing information. Timing data from each heat can also be compared with historical timing records such as Olympic, NCAA, or other records. A computing device coupled to timing equipment, storage, and a display operate to gather and store timing data from each heat, compare the timing data to generate comparative timing data, and present the comparative timing data to attendees. A software application running on the computing device allows a user to select particular timing data to compare with the current event timing data. Video and biographical information about a given competitor in the event can also be presented to the user.
US08754749B2

An apparatus for use in an RFID data collection system includes an antenna portion for wirelessly exchanging signals and a memory portion for storing RFID data. A signal processing portion is coupled among the antenna portion and the memory portion. The signal processing portion is configured to receive RFID data and to at least encode or decode the received RFID data via at least one spreading code, such as a mutually orthogonal code. Other configurations are also disclosed.
US08754747B2

Provided are an authentication device, an authentication system, and an authentication method, which are capable of increasing an authentication rate while suppressing an increase in a processing load. To solve this problem, the authentication device acquires a periodic temporal variation of an authentication rate, using history information stored in an authentication history storage unit storing a previous authentication result as history information, predicting whether or not a future authentication rate is lower than a previous value, based on the temporal variation of the authentication rate, and updates registration data regarding biometric information which has been registered, using input data regarding biometric information input from a user, when it is predicted that a future authentication rate will be lower than a predetermined value.
US08754742B2

A multilayer ceramic substrate includes a ceramic laminated body including a plurality of ceramic layers stacked on each other, a resistor, and a resistor connecting conductor with a portion overlapping the resistor and an overcoat layer that covers the resistor located on a principal surface of the ceramic laminated body. An overcoat layer is made relatively thick during firing, thereby making cracks less likely to be caused, and after the firing step, the thickness of the overcoat layer is reduced by physically scraping down the surface of the overcoat layer, thereby reducing the trimming time. In the overcoat layer, a region that covers a portion in which a resistor overlaps a resistor connecting conductor is thicker than a region that covers the other portion.
US08754734B2

A low cost, low profile, small size and high performance electronic device for use in, e.g., electronic circuits where a transformer or inductor is required. In one exemplary embodiment, the device includes a self-leaded header made from a unitary construction. The header includes a vertically oriented winding post that obviates the need for e.g. a binocular aperture type configuration. Methods for manufacturing the device are also disclosed.
US08754720B2

An apparatus and method for controlling a device using pulse signals. In the apparatus and method, a two-stage control is used to generate pulse signals, which can be a PWM signal, a pulse signal including a PWM signal with a sleeping time, or a PDM signal. The two-stage control includes a second stage control, which generates pulse signals according to parameter values generated periodically by a first stage according to a target value and feedback sensing values. The two-stage control can be used in decreasing perturbation in a closed-loop control and accurate open-loop control.
US08754715B2

A semiconductor device includes a first oscillator that generates a first clock signal, a second oscillator that generates a second clock signal in response to the first clock signal, a third oscillator that generates a third clock signal, a counter that counts a signal corresponding to the first clock signal or a signal corresponding to the second clock signal during a predetermined period that is set based on the third clock signal to generate an overflow signal indicating that a count value of the signal corresponding to the first clock signal or the signal corresponding to the second clock signal exceeds a predetermined value, and an abnormality notice unit that receives the overflow signal to generate an abnormal signal indicating that an abnormal oscillation occurs in at least one of the first to third clock signals.
US08754711B2

A system for a feedback transimpedance amplifier with sub-40 khz low-frequency cutoff is disclosed and may include amplifying electrical signals received via coupling capacitors utilizing a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) having feedback paths comprising source followers and feedback resistors. Gate terminals of the source followers may be coupled to output terminals of the TIA. The feedback paths may be coupled prior to the coupling capacitors at inputs of the TIA. Voltages may be level shifted prior to the coupling capacitors to ensure stable bias conditions for the TIA. The TIA may be integrated in a CMOS photonics chip and the source followers may comprise CMOS transistors. The TIA may receive current-mode logic or voltage signals. The electrical signals may be received from a photodetector, which may comprise a silicon germanium photodiode differentially coupled to the TIA. Optical signals for the photodetector in the CMOS photonics chip may be received via optical fibers.
US08754708B2

The present invention relates to an operational amplifier comprising an input-stage circuit, a floating current mirror circuit, and an output-stage circuit. The input-stage circuit receives an input signal and produces a control signal. The floating current mirror circuit is coupled to the input-stage circuit, and produces a mirror current according to the control signal. The output-stage circuit is coupled to the floating current mirror circuit, and produces a driving signal according to the mirror current. When the operational amplifier is operating in the static mode, the output-stage circuit further produces a static current according to the mirror current. Thereby, by using the floating current mirror circuit, the purpose of low power consumption can be achieved while driving to the high-voltage mode or to the low-voltage mode.
US08754707B2

Techniques for controlling boost converter operation in an envelope tracking (ET) system. In an aspect, an enable generation block is provided to generate an enable signal for a boost converter, wherein the enable signal is turned on in response to detecting that a sum of a first headroom voltage and an enable peak of a tracking supply voltage is greater than an amplifier supply voltage of the ET system. The enable signal may be turned on for a predetermined enable on duration. In another aspect, a target generation block is provided to generate a target voltage for the boost converter, wherein the target voltage comprises the sum of a second headroom voltage and a target peak of the tracking supply voltage.
US08754703B2

TASK: to provide an internal voltage trimming circuit having a simple configuration and operated by a consumption current smaller than that using a comparator. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: An internal voltage trimming circuit comprises a trimming controller using a change in a counting value of a clock according to a current flowing through a transistor of a power supply current source for a clock generator to trim an internal voltage generated by an internal voltage generator. The trimming controller counts a first counting value of the clock when a predetermined reference voltage is applied to a control terminal of the transistor and a second counting value of the clock when the internal voltage is applied to the control terminal of the transistor and controls the internal voltage generated by the internal voltage generator to substantially coincide the second counting value with the first counting value.
US08754700B1

A mixer comprising a Gilbert cell configured to receive a baseband signal and a local oscillator signal, wherein the Gilbert cell comprises a baseband transistor and a local oscillator transistor, and a biasing circuit configured to generate a bias voltage that is inversely related to temperature and coupled to the local oscillator transistor.
US08754690B2

An improved programmable duty cycle generator and method of operation. In one aspect, the generated output signal duty cycle is not measured, but rather is generated based on a predetermined value. Saw tooth generator/Integrator schemes are used to create the saw type waveforms of the incoming frequency which in conjunction with DAC is used to create the desired duty cycle. The improved programmable duty cycle signal generator for placement in key pinch points of a critical path where precise duty cycle definition is needed.
US08754689B2

A slew rate regulation circuit varies a slew rate of a waveform of a voltage outputted to a DC motor through a N-channel MOSFET. The slew rate regulation circuit lowers a peak level by dispersing frequency components of switching noise, which develops in a frequency range higher than a frequency range determined by a carrier frequency.
US08754686B2

A clock generation circuit includes a delay line, which delays an input clock and generates a delayed clock, a delay modeling unit, which delays the delayed clock by a modeled delay value and generates a feedback clock, a phase detection unit, which compares phases of the input clock and the feedback clock and generates a phase detection signal, a filter unit, which receives the phase detection signal and generates phase information, generates an update signal when a difference between the numbers of phase detection signals with a first and a second level generated is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and generates the update signal after a lapse of a predetermined time when the difference is less than the threshold value, and a delay line control unit, which sets a delay value of the delay line in response to the update signal and the phase information.
US08754678B1

Apparatus and methods for quadrature clock signal generation are provided. In certain implementations, an apparatus includes an invertible sine shaping filter configured to receive an in-phase clock signal, a quadrature-phase clock signal, and an inversion control signal. The invertible sine-shaping filter is further configured to filter the in-phase and quadrature-phase clock signals to generate sinusoidal in-phase and quadrature-phase clock signals. The invertible sine-shaping filter is further configured to selectively invert one or both of the in-phase and quadrature-phase clock signals based on an inversion control signal. The apparatus further includes a phase interpolator configured to generate an interpolated clock signal based on a weighted sum of the selectively inverted sinusoidal in-phase clock signal and the quadrature-phase sinusoidal clock signal. The in-phase clock signal and the quadrature-phase clock signal have a quadrature-phase relationship.
US08754675B2

In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit for driving a switch includes a driver circuit. The driver circuit includes a first output configured to be coupled to a gate of the JFET, a second output configured to be coupled to a gate of the MOSFET, a first power supply node, and a bias input configured to be coupled to the common node. The switch to be driven includes a JFET coupled to a MOSFET at a common node.
US08754649B2

A disclosed electromagnetic survey system includes one or more streamer(s) having multiple electromagnetic sensors and motion sensing units. Each motion sensing unit has one or more accelerometer(s) to measure motion perpendicular to an axis of the streamer, and a rotation sensor to measure rotation about the axis. The measurements of the accelerometer are adjusted based on measurements from the rotation sensor. The survey system also includes one or more processor(s) that determine, for each electromagnetic sensor, a motion signal based on the adjusted measurements. A described electromagnetic survey method includes processing acceleration and rotational motion measurements to obtain an orientation of motion sensing units as a function of time. The measured acceleration is manipulated based on the orientation to obtain one or more velocity signal(s) for each motion sensing unit. Interpolation is performed on the velocity signals to determine at least one velocity signal for each electromagnetic sensor.
US08754648B2

A transmitter transmits a locating signal from a boring tool by operating at a frequency that is selected as one of at least two operating frequencies for use in locating the boring tool. A receiver, forming part of the locator, cooperates with the locator to cause the locator to respond dynamically to a change of the selected one of the operating frequencies such that the locator tracks the selected operating frequency.
US08754641B1

The invention provides a hoof angle measuring device for use on horses. A base is configured to be held against the bottom of a horse hoof and a pivoting arm can then be aligned with the forward edge of the hoof to define the hoof angle. Without physical or electrical contact with the base or arm, an enclosed sensor detects relative angular position between the base and arm. Supporting circuitry also provided in an enclosure accepts signal voltage from the sensor and provides a protected digital display of the measured angle magnitude for the user.
US08754640B2

A magnetic field sensor can provide an output signal indicative of a passing condition or a failing condition of the magnetic field sensor. The output signal has one of a variety of output signal formats.
US08754639B2

A method of testing a transformer prior to installation in a high-pressure environment wherein the transformer comprises a transformer core comprising a stack of a plurality laminations, is provided. The method comprises applying a mechanical compression force to the stack, the force being at least equivalent to the ambient pressure of the high-pressure environment; and testing the electrical efficiency of the transformer.
US08754631B2

An amplitude expected value data generator generates amplitude expected value data that represents, in increments of sampling points, which of multiple amplitude segments the amplitude of a modulated signal waveform that corresponds to the expected value of data to be output from a device under test belongs to. A demodulator performs sampling of the signal waveform to be tested received from the device under test, and generates judgment data that represents, in increments of sampling points, which of the multiple amplitude segments the amplitude of the signal waveform belongs to. A judgment unit makes a comparison between the amplitude expected value data and the judgment data in increments of sampling points.
US08754630B2

An arrangement for measuring an internal clock within an electricity meter includes an optical communication circuit within the meter, an optical detector external to the meter, and a frequency counter. The optical communication circuit within the electricity meter is operably coupled to receive a pulse output of the meter's internal clock, and is further configured to generate a corresponding optical pulse representative of the pulse output. The optical detector is configured to detect the pulse output via an optical port of the electricity meter. The frequency counter is operably coupled to receive from the optical detector a signal that is representative of the detected pulse output.
US08754629B2

An audio tone probe is used by a technician to identify a conductor carrying an applied tracing tone signal. A probe tip is positioned proximate a conductor. A mains warning circuit and a tracing circuit are provided in communication with the probe tip and a speaker is provided in communication with the mains warning and tracing circuits. Signals detected by the probe tip are provided to the mains warning circuit and the tracing circuit. The mains warning circuit determines whether a mains signal is present in the detected signal and activates a warning generator if a mains signal is present. The tracing circuit filters mains signals from the detected signals. A tracing circuit output provides a tone generating signal to the speaker for use in identifying the presence of the applied tracing tone. The probe incudes a test tone generator to verify that the probe is operational.
US08754628B2

According to one embodiment, a voltage regulator includes an output transistor, a voltage detector, a controller, and a discharge circuit. The output transistor is connected between a power supply terminal and an output terminal. The voltage detector is connected between the output terminal and a ground terminal. The voltage detector is configured to divide an output voltage between the output terminal and the ground terminal according to an inputted voltage switching signal and generates a first voltage on the ground terminal side and a second voltage having a polarity the same as a polarity of the first voltage and having an absolute value lower than or equal to an absolute value of the first voltage. The controller is configured to detect a difference between the first voltage and a reference voltage and control the output transistor.
US08754588B2

An illumination apparatus including: a power supply circuit which outputs a DC power obtained by rectifying an AC voltage and stepping up the rectified voltage; a light source unit having semiconductor light emitting elements turned on by the DC power; and a housing formed of a conductive material that is grounded through a ground path and on which the power supply circuit and the light source unit are mounted. When one of power feed lines is cut off, the light emitting elements are supplied with an AC power from an AC power source through the ground path and a stray capacitance formed between the light source unit and the housing, and a forward voltage of the light emitting elements has a light emission level hardly recognizable.
US08754584B2

The present invention relates to a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) dimming circuit and method for regulating the luminance of a light-emitting diode (LED) load. In one embodiment, an SCR dimming circuit can include: an SCR rectifying circuit having an SCR element that receives an AC power supply, and generates a lack-phase AC voltage; a rectifier bridge that converts the lack-phase AC voltage to a lack-phase DC voltage, where the lack-phase DC voltage is filtered through a filter capacitor to generate a smooth DC voltage; a conduction phase angle signal generator that receives the lack-phase DC voltage and generates a controlling signal indicating a conduction phase angle range of the SCR element; and a dimming signal generator that compares the controlling signal and a slope reference signal to output a dimming signal to control the luminance of the LED load.
US08754583B2

An electronic ballast has a rectifying circuit for rectifying an input voltage controlled by a phase dimmer. The electronic ballast has an averaging circuit for averaging current received from the rectifying circuit to produce a reference voltage. The electronic ballast has a control integrated circuit for providing an output current to a compact fluorescent lamp by performing a linear to logarithmic conversion of the reference current, according to a predefined conversion function.
US08754582B2

A detector circuit for actuating at least one fluorescent lamp may be configured such that the actuation of at least one fluorescent lamp occurs as a function of a first signal at a first input and as a function of a second signal at a second input if the first signal and the second signal are each greater than a first prescribed voltage and less than a second prescribed voltage during a start-up phase.
US08754575B2

A fitting structure for fitting a piezoelectric element to an actuator base that includes an opening that formed in the actuator base and accommodates the piezoelectric element, a receiver that inwardly protrudes from an inner circumferential edge of the opening and receives the piezoelectric element, a hole defined by an inner end of the receiver and communicates with the opening, a protrusion that protrudes from the inner end of the receiver onto the hole and faces the piezoelectric element through the hole, an adhesive part filled in a space defined by the piezoelectric element, the inner circumferential edge, and the receiver and is solidified in the space to adhere the piezoelectric element to the inner circumferential edge and the receiver, and a stopper formed on one of the receiver and protrusion and stops a capillary phenomenon of the adhesive between the piezoelectric element and the receiver and protrusion.
US08754572B2

An actuator includes a sheet having dielectric elastomer layers and conductive rubber layers provided on the front and back faces of each dielectric elastomer layer. The sheet is wrapped and rolled about a coil spring. The actuator expands the rolled sheet along an expansion direction of the coil spring by applying a voltage to the conductive rubber layers on the front and back faces of the dielectric elastomer layer, and contracts the rolled sheet along a contraction direction of the coil spring by stopping the application of the voltage. The actuator further includes a fiber layer located between the coil spring and the rolled sheet wrapped about the coil spring.
US08754569B2

A thermo-magnetic power generation system includes a thermo-magnetic power generation device, a first circulating device, and a second circulating device. The first circulating device and the second circulating device are connected to the thermo-magnetic power generation device. The liquid is heated by the first circulating device and cooled by the second circulating device. The heated liquid and the cooled liquid transmitted to the thermo-magnetic element are recycled by the first circulating device and the second circulating device.
US08754563B2

A recording disk is to be mounted on a hub. A base rotatably supports the hub through a bearing. A stator core is fixed to the base and includes an annular portion and a salient pole extending radially therefrom. A magnet faces the salient pole radially and is rotated with the hub. The magnet has a plurality of magnetic poles in the circumferential direction such that each of the plurality of magnetic poles faces the salient pole. The salient pole includes a rod-shaped body around which a wire is wound and a tooth portion that is provided radially outside the rod-shaped body and extends circumferentially. The circumferential end located at the end in the circumferential direction of the tooth portion is located radially inside a circumscribed circle passing through the tip located at the radially outermost end of the tooth portion.
US08754561B2

A rotor with poles in the form of claws, of a rotary electrical machine. This rotor comprises a plurality of interpolar magnetic assemblies. On a radial cross-sectional plane, a first total magnet surface of a section of the magnetic assembly is smaller than a second surface defined by the product of the radial height of a face (h) of the magnetic assembly (40) which faces towards the polar claw (44a), and the circumferential distance between the polar claws (44a, 44b) in the interpolar gap. The magnet has at least one recess which extends in an axial direction.
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