US07708192B2
A bill depositing/withdrawing apparatus having a cash slot for charging/discharging a bill or bills, comprises: a bill storage section provided inwardly of the cash slot in the apparatus to store a bill or bills, and posture changing means that changes the bill storage section to a money depositing/withdrawing posture, in which a bill or bills are received from and paid to a user through the cash slot, and to a feeding/stacking posture, in which a bill or bills are fed into the apparatus and stacked in the bill storage section, and wherein a bill or bills stored in the bill storage section are caused to project toward a user when the money depositing/withdrawing posture is assumed.
US07708190B2
A payment card transaction notification and authorization system provides a notification message to a payment card holder of an attempted transaction using his/her payment card. The system provides multiple options for the payment card holder to decline authorization of the attempted transaction. The multiple options comprise a first option for the payment card holder to decline authorization of an undesirable but non-fraudulent transaction, and a second option for the payment card holder to decline authorization of a fraudulent transaction.
US07708178B2
A tool (12) has a body (14) having an opening (16) forming a barrel (18) which has a top and a bottom (20 and 22), an opening (30) at the bottom (22), and a pressure input (44) for fluid communication. The barrel (18) receives a piston (24) and a magnet (23) which is contiguous with the pressure input (44). An actuator pin tube (26) is received in the opening (30) at the bottom (22) of the barrel (18), and an actuator pin (38) is engaged in the tube (26). A second opening (28) may be disposed in the top (20). A kit (110) containing the tool (12), hose (94), cartridges (84) and a pump (P). A method for using the tool (12) is also contemplated hereby. Multiple tools (12) may be detonated at the same time by hooking them up to a manifold (95 or 95′).
US07708171B2
The invention is a pressurized gas providing and gas pressure regulating device. The invention is a container with an over pressurized second chamber of pressurized gas that can be released to the exterior of the container when a valve that is integrally connected to a piston that along with a first cylinder forms a first chamber that is filled with a comparably less over pressurized gas that pushes the valve open when the gas pressure outside of the container is too low, thereby permitting the over pressurized second chamber to fluidly connect via the valve and thereby increase the pressure outside the container, such as to a volume of gas located below a piston within a fluid dispenser, the first and second chambers are shaped as cylinders and the first cylinder fits within the second chamber.
US07708165B2
A vent for a liquid dispenser includes a vent flange comprising a flange body. The vent body includes a vent wall on which the membrane is applied. The vent wall extends parallel to the geometric axis of the device so as to have a sufficiently large area available for applying the transpiratory membrane and at the same time to limit the space occupied radially by the flange.
US07708158B2
A calf bottle is characterized by an improved neck design which prevents deposits and microbes from collecting therein. The bottle is in the form of a hollow container having top, side and bottom walls which define a chamber for receiving formula for feeding calves. The top wall includes a neck portion having a central opening and an annular lip surrounding the opening for receiving a removable nipple. The inner wall of the neck portion has a cylindrical configuration of constant diameter.
US07708142B2
A package is proposed, comprising a sleeve (2) of essentially parallelepipedal shape, and an insert ((3) which can be inserted into and withdrawn from the sleeve (2) in a sliding direction (S) through an opening (4) in the sleeve (2), the sleeve (2) comprising four longitudinal walls (2a, 2c) which are essentially parallel to the sliding direction (S). The package is characterized in that the sleeve is provided with a first stop tab (7) which extends from a first (2c) to a second (2a) of the longitudinal walls, the tab being at least partly separated from the first longitudinal wall (2c) and the second longitudinal wall (2a) in that the insert has a first locking edge (9a), the insert being prevented, upon contact of the first locking edge with the first stop tab (7a), from moving out of the sleeve, and in that the first locking edge (9a) can, by elastic deformation of a part of the insert (3) by means of maneuvering by a user, be moved so that its movement past the first stop tab (7a) is made possible.
US07708133B2
An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a driven roller and a idler roller each coupled with a flexible member. A pressure roller is also included and can be forced against the driven roller to tension the flexible member.
US07708128B2
The invention relates to a value document, such as a banknote (1), which includes one or more window zones (2A, 2B) with one for example optically active element each which rotates a polarization plane P0 of polarized light LA, LB, penetrating the window zone by a defined angle. If such value documents are stacked and polarized light penetrates the superimposed window zones, the number of stacked value documents can be determined by way of the overall rotation of the polarization plane PA, PB. The overall nominal value of a stack of banknotes can thus be determined. The window zones can have category-specific rotational characteristics for different categories or nominal values and/or can be disposed in category-specific positions in the valuable document.
US07708118B2
Method for the condition monitoring of the safety switches of the safety circuit of an elevator. Inferences can be made about the condition of a safety switch by measuring and examining the current of the safety circuit of the elevator after the state of the safety circuit has changed. The current signal is filtered, after which the amount of interference caused by contact malfunctions of the switch is determined from it. Based on the amount of interference it is possible to determine in what condition the switch is.
US07708117B2
The platform of a stairlift is moved along a rail in a stairwell. During the movement, the platform is automatically rotated relative to the rail about a vertical shaft, at angles depending on a position of the platform along the rail. The stairway contains, for instance, a virtually straight part and a bend, wherein the platform is rotated, at positions in the bend, at an orientation or orientations which make a smaller angle with a part of the rail going downstairs than an orientation of the platform in the straight part. In a stairwell with a wider part and a narrower part, wherein the stairwell is insufficiently wide to let the platform rotate through, at a position preceding the entering of the narrower part, the platform is rotated at an angle from which the platform can be rotated to a position for getting on and off in the narrower part without obstruction from walls of the stairwell.
US07708115B2
A muffler for an internal combustion engine having a housing with an inlet end with an inlet opening formed for a flow of exhaust gases into the housing and an outlet end with an outlet opening formed for a discharge of exhaust gases from the housing; at least a first chamber, a intermediate and a last chamber sequentially arranged within the housing, the intermediate chamber containing a deflection element; a pipe passing longitudinally through the first chamber so as to open at its downstream end into the intermediate chamber, thereby directing the exhaust gases toward the deflection element; and a perforated pipe extending through the last chamber, the perforated pipe having an upstream opening into the intermediate chamber and configured to channel the exhaust gas to the outlet opening. A sound-attenuating material is deployed in at least one of the first chamber, the intermediate chamber and the last chamber.
US07708114B2
The present invention relates to an improvement muffler that includes an improved inlet configuration having first and second sequential chambers with a perforated central pipe passing longitudinally through a central region of both chambers for directing the exhaust gases into the third chamber in which the deflection element is deployed. Additionally, the partition separating the first and second chamber has a hole that enables some of the gas to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber not through the central pipe.
US07708113B1
A rotatable sound attenuation device is provided comprising a central portion rotatable about a first axis, a radial portion extending outwardly from the central portion and a chamber having a closed first end and a second end opening radially outwardly of the radial portion and defining a second axis therein having a radial component thereto. A piston is disposed within the chamber and is moveable to a location along the second axis in response to a centrifugal force imparted on the piston by rotation of the central portion and the radial portion about the first axis. A biasing member operates to limit movement of the piston along the second axis. A quarter wave chamber is defined by the second, open end of the chamber and the piston and has a sound attenuating length defined by the location of the piston along the second axis of the chamber.
US07708110B2
A hearing protection device and method for a human ear. A plug member caps or enters ear canal, and may be shaped to conform to the external auditory meatus. The device is biased at least in part by a pressure pad to provide some force against the plug member. An optional handle may be provided to assist with temporarily pulling the plug member away from the ear canal or providing adjustment. An optional bow member clips about the pinna. The device may be adapted for use as an ear phone.
US07708099B2
A motorcycle that secures engine cooling efficiency while reducing exposure of a radiator. A reserve tank disposed below the seat and inward of an exhaust pipe in the vehicle width direction exchanges cooling water with the radiator. A first heat blocking cover is disposed between the exhaust pipe and the reserve tank. The first heat blocking cover has an access hole formed therein. A second heat blocking cover covers the access hole of the first heat blocking cover.
US07708098B2
A brake support structure for effectively utilizes a space is disposed so as to be hardly visible in appearance. In addition, the brake support structure protects the pipes. A brake support structure includes a vehicle frame having rear frames extending from main frames with a swing arm having a front end pivotally supported on the rear frames and a rear end for rotatably supporting a rear wheel. Brake pipes are connected to a brake caliper for braking the rear wheel. An upper cross member interconnects the rear frames and is disposed near the swing arm. The brake pipes extend between the upper cross member and the swing arm.
US07708095B2
A control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle having a first engagement element between an engine and a motor-generator and a second engagement element between the motor-generator and a drive wheel. During EV drive mode, the first engagement element disengages and the second engagement element engages to drive the vehicle using the motor-generator. During HEV drive mode, the first and second engagement elements engage to drive the vehicle using both power sources. During a third drive mode, the first engagement element engages and the second engagement element slip-engages to drive the vehicle by both power sources. When a detected temperature of the second engagement element is too high during low-speed driving, the EV drive mode is selected to enhance durability of the second engagement element.
US07708091B2
Steering control apparatuses and methods for a vehicle are provided. A steering control apparatus can include a steering shaft drivingly linked to a pair of front wheels of a vehicle. A movable steering handle can also be provided and disposed about the steering shaft, with the steering handle being capable of selectively turning the pair of front wheels to direct the movement of the vehicle. A first and second brake clutch mechanism for engaging and disengaging first and second drive wheels, respectively, can be provided. First and second brake clutch control levers can selectively control the first and second brake clutch mechanism, respectively, to engage and disengage the first and second drive wheels. The steering handle can include a coupling base. The coupling base can engage the steering shaft to permit decoupling of the steering handle from the steering shaft allowing the steering shaft and the linked pair of front wheels to turn free of the steering handle while the steering handle is still disposed about the steering shaft.
US07708090B2
An elastomeric seal ring is located between each bearing pin and each cone of an earth-boring bit. An excluder ring or band is imbedded within the inner diameter of the seal ring. A portion of the inner diameter of the seal ring as well as the excluder ring are in dynamic sealing contact with the bearing pin. The excluder ring may be harder and more wear resistant than the seal ring. The excluder ring may have lubricating properties. An outer excluder ring may be located on the outer diameter of the seal ring for engaging the cone to resist rotation.
US07708085B2
A power tool includes an optical speed control switch for controlling the variable speed of an electrical motor in the tool. The tool includes a moveable member having a reflective surface and the moveable member traversing a distance between a stop position and a full speed position, a biasing member operatively coupled to the moveable member to bias the moveable member toward the stop position, an optical signal generator for generating an optical signal, the optical signal generator being oriented so that the optical signal is directed toward the reflective surface of the moveable member, and a speed control signal generator for generating a speed control signal that corresponds to a reflection of the generated optical signal reflected by the reflective surface of the moveable member.
US07708083B2
A hand power tool has a percussion mechanism; a drive motor that drives the percussion mechanism; a conversion element for converting a movement of the drive motor into an axial movement; and an operating unit that adjusts a rotary movement of the conversion element within a percussion period depending on at least one optimization criterium.
US07708069B2
A method of mitigating proppant settling in a hydraulic fracture in order to better suspend the proppant as well as ensure a more uniform pack, by mixing a pre-determined volume percent of low density additive, such as glass beads or other suitable material, such as polylactic acid particles, into the fracturing slurry along with the standard high-density proppant, it is anticipated that density gradients can be induced inside the fracture. Upward movement of low density additive due to them having density lower than the carrier fluid will interfere with downward movement of high-density proppant and vice versa. This mutual interference between the two proppants confined in the narrow fracture will significantly hinder the settling/segregation of the high-density proppant. The low density material has a specific gravity of about 0.3, particle size distribution similar to that of standard proppant, and sufficient mechanical strength to survive fracture closure stress.
US07708067B2
An apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one aspect includes a drilling assembly configured for use in drilling the wellbore, a liner disposed outside a portion of the drilling assembly that includes a feature at a selected location of the liner, and a liner orientation sensor for providing signals representative of the displacement or movement of the feature relative to the drilling assembly.
US07708059B2
A subsea rotary gas separator system has a separator located adjacent the discharge of the pump for separating gas from the high pressure liquid stream exiting the pump. Some of the high pressure liquid is recycled back to the inlet of the pump to maintain a liquid-rich inlet stream for the pump.
US07708044B2
A molding apparatus of a wet friction material has a pair of guide posts vertically extending on a molding apparatus main body. The pair of the guide posts passes through fifteen stages (sixteen pieces) of molding dies. A pair of pantograph-type open-close mechanisms is attached to opposite side surfaces of the molding dies. Thus, the molding dies are piled up on each other so as to come near to each other (mold clamping) and move apart from each other (mold opening). With the pantograph-type open-close link mechanism, all the molding dies are opened and closed at the same time. If the molding dies are slid at a speed of 200 mm/sec, it takes only 3.75 seconds (50 mm*15/200 mm=3.75 sec). It takes a double of that time or 7.5 seconds, that is a half of the time of a related art.
US07708039B2
An apparatus for chipping material, particularly wood, includes a plurality of knife carriers are arranged around a mutual axis that form the boundaries of a cutting chamber while forming a comminution path. On the knife carriers, the slicing knives, under inclusion of a cutting angle δ, are detachably attached to the comminution path. The blades of the slicing knives uniformly project into the cutting chamber. To adjust the cutting angle δ so as to adapt it to the prevailing conditions, a control element for determining the cutting angle δ is detachably arranged between the slicing knives and the knife carriers.
US07708038B1
A cutterhead for a peripheral milling machine including a cutterhead body including a generally cylindrical portion and a plurality of circumferential, spaced and offset blade unit mounting cavities extending into the cutterhead body from the periphery of the cylindrical portion for receiving a blade unit. The cutterhead further includes a plurality of blade units each having at least one cutting edge and means for removably securing each of the removable blade units in the corresponding blade unit mounting cavity. The cutting edge of each of the blade units is disposed to align with the cutting edge of each of the other blade units in adjacent mounting cavities to form a substantially helical, stepped blade row when the blade units are secured to the cutterhead body.
US07708037B2
A tree pusher for safely felling a tree. The tree pusher includes (a) a base; (b) a frame mounted on the base; (c) a mechanism for pushing the frame against the tree to fell the tree; and (d) a mechanism for connecting the base of the tree pusher to the tree, so that the base will not move while the tree is being pushed over to fell the tree. The frame includes a detachable pronged head which engages the trunk of the tree, and which disengages itself from the frame of the tree pusher and remains with the trunk of the tree as the tree falls. The frame includes a series of tubes connected end-to-end by locking pins, making it very easy to assemble and disassemble the tree pusher. If a tree has accidentally fallen against a house, a building, or an electrical power line, two tree pushers are positioned on opposite sides of the fallen tree and used to lift the fallen tree.
US07708036B2
An obturating assembly includes a body having an aperture for passage to the pipe of a fuel supply spout of predetermined outer diameter and an obturator that is moveable with respect to the body. In accordance with the invention, the head further includes an access assembly having a shell through which the spout must pass before reaching the obturator, the shell having a plurality of flexible tabs generally forming an assembly of funnel shape of which the minor diameter is less than the outer diameter of the spout and of which the major diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the spout.
US07708029B2
A coupling member is provided that comprises a valve movable between a closed position and an opening position. The valve is provided with a seal ring fixed in an annular groove formed in the valve and urged against a valve seat in the closed position. The groove has a forward annular groove portion and a rear annular groove portion shallower than the forward annular groove portion. The seal ring has forward and rear annular seal portions fitted in the forward and rear annular groove portions, respectively. The rear ring portion has substantially the same diameter as the forward seal portion.
US07708014B2
An inhalation device for transpulmonary administration comprises: a chamber (16) for containing a pharmaceutical composition which is pulverized into fine particles by an air-generated impact for dispersal in air; an air inlet flow path (2) for introducing to the chamber (16) outside air to apply the air-generated impact to the pharmaceutical composition and for injecting the outside air toward the pharmaceutical composition; an inhalation flow path (1) for inhaling the pulverized pharmaceutical composition; a housing (9) for accommodating the chamber (16), the air inlet flow path (2), and the inhalation flow path (1); a mouthpiece (10) provided at one end of the housing (9), the mouthpiece (9) being provided with a mouth-side flow path (11) which communicates with the inhalation flow path (1), and an auxiliary flow path (12).
US07708013B2
An apparatus for delivering water vapor to a gas is formed from a plurality of hollow fiber membranes each defining a passage for the flow of gas from an upstream end of the passage and enclosed by an enclosure. The hollow fiber membranes have a combined surface area in the range of about 90 square centimeters to about 110 square centimeters. The enclosure contains an air inlet positioned to direct air to the upstream end of each of the passages of the hollow fiber membranes and an air outlet positioned to direct air from the downstream end of each of the passages of the hollow fiber membranes. The enclosure preferably has a water inlet positioned to direct water toward the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes and a water outlet positioned to direct water from the enclosure.
US07708010B2
Solar heating systems are provided which utilize an integrated fixture for transferring heat from a solar collector to a lower-temperature loop, e.g. a domestic hot water system or radiant heating system. The fixture provides a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the solar collector to the lower temperature loop. The fixture may also include a casting, in which are formed solar collector supply and return ports, lower temperature supply and return ports, a solar collector pump volute, and a lower temperature pump volute. The systems also include two pumps, and a temperature optimization control that varies the speed of at least one of the pumps depending on the temperature of the liquid in the solar collector.
US07708005B2
An apparatus for splitting masonry material which includes a frame and table vertically moveable in the frame, the table also having an attached lower blade, for supporting masonry material thereon to be split. An upper blade is positioned in the frame over the table in alignment with the lower blade. A hydraulic jack with an extendable ram is also supported in the frame below the table and is actuated by an actuating lever to thereby raise the table and lower blade combination to engage masonry material supported thereon between the upper and lower blades for splitting. A mechanism for quickly raising the table with its attached lower blade and the ram of the hydraulic jack for initial fast engagement of the upper and lower blades with the masonry material to be split is provided upon initial actuation of the actuating lever.
US07708004B2
An archery bow with a rotatable hand grip is disclosed. The archery bow includes a riser, an upper limb, a lower limb, compound cams, and a bowstring supported on the cams. The riser includes a hand grip section manufactured integrally therewith. The hand grip section includes an elongated, rigid shaft having a hand grip rotatably mounted thereto.
US07708002B2
An air pressure gun to shoot a projectile, such as a golf ball, long distances using pressurized air. A flapper makes an airtight seal with an air duct to prevent air from leaking out of an air chamber. When a triggering mechanism releases the flapper, pressurized air from the air chamber can then swing the flapper open, thereby shooting the golf ball out of a barrel.
US07708001B2
A bow having an increased powerstroke allowing for reduced draw weight and increased speed. The bow is provided with a riser and a pair of limbs. A pulley is coupled to one limb and a cam is coupled to the other at a first journal point and second journal point respectively. The powerstroke is increased by locating the bowstring on the pulley and cam between the riser and the journal points.
US07707991B2
An intake control device of an internal combustion engine in which an intake path of each cylinder is partitioned into an upper and a lower path and a tumble control valve and an intake pressure control valve are provided to open/close the upper path and lower path respectively. In a given driving condition, the intake air flow velocity in the lower path is increased by closing the tumble control valve, thereby generating a tumble flow in the combustion chamber. In this process, the intake pressure control valve is opened around start of an intake stroke and closed around its end to make intake pressure downstream of the intake pressure control valve higher than upstream of it to increase the difference between upstream and downstream intake pressures in the intake stroke. This increases the intake air flow velocity in the lower path and intensifies the tumble flow in the combustion chamber.
US07707989B2
In an engine combustion chamber, a first intake port (19) formed from a straight port has a throat portion (43) formed in a linear shape and opening in a tangential direction of the inner periphery of a cylinder (11a), thus generating a first swirl (S1), and a second intake port (20) formed from a helical port has a throat portion (44) formed in a helical shape, thus generating a second swirl (S2) inside the first swirl (S1) in the same direction as that of the first swirl (S1). In this way, even with the first and second intake ports (19, 20) hardly curved overall, it is possible to efficiently generate first and second swirls (S1, S2) that do not interfere with each other, and it becomes possible to reduce the cost of machining the cylinder head, make the cylinder head compact, and simplify the structure of the cylinder head.
US07707977B2
A method for operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes varying the opening or closing of engine valves including intake or exhaust valves, in fluid communication with each of the cylinders of the engine. The method further includes generating a signal indicative of engine valve status in response to monitoring an acceleration parameter of the engine. An engine includes a computer configured to determine a performance status of intake or exhaust valves of the engine responsive to monitoring an engine acceleration parameter such as crankshaft acceleration. The computer is configured via fault detection and cylinder trimming routines to adjust valve performance based on a nominal crankshaft acceleration for the engine.
US07707964B2
An apparatus and method for manufacturing a pharmaceutical dose which dispenses a variable selectable quantity of at least one pharmaceutical onto a pharmaceutical receiving medium. The quantity of the dispensed pharmaceutical(s) are controllably dispensed to customize each pharmaceutical dose to suit the needs of a particular user. The apparatus is coupled by an external telecommunication network to a remote signal source for receiving pharmaceutical quantity and type data for custom manufacturing a pharmaceutical dose. In one aspect, a replaceable cartridge contains a reservoir carrying at least one pharmaceutical component and a fluid drop generator which is mountable in the fluid dispenser. The reservoir may contain a number of separate compartments, each carrying different pharmaceutical component.
US07707961B2
A fully temperature controlled apparatus comprising a thermoplastic stage assembly having solids processing components and a finishing stage assembly having liquid processing components and liquid applicator components or finishing assembly.
US07707958B2
A propulsion system is provided for an underwater vehicle such as a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Two propellers are independently driven by motors, while the orientation of the propellers is simultaneously controlled by a third motor. A means is provided for reprogramming the control electronics that can be disabled when the vehicle is underwater. The control electronics also provides that all signals including video are transmitted to a base station without requiring coaxial cable.
US07707957B1
A supporting arrangement for a vessel for counteracting compressive loads at an operating temperature. The supporting arrangement also provides inertial stiffening of the hull of the vessel as well as acoustic and vibration damping. The supporting arrangement includes a support structure that is made from a shape memory alloy that contacts and presses against the inner walls of the vessel. The supporting arrangement utilizes the shape recovery properties and/or the internal energy properties of the shape memory alloy support structure to provide reinforcing and damping forces.
US07707954B2
A floatable dry dock includes a lifting cradle having two spaced arms pivotally mounted on a buoyant base and, one or more flotation tanks interconnecting the arms. A platform is mounted on the arms and a platform support is operable to ensure that the platform remains horizontal when the arms pivot about their pivotal attachment to the base.
US07707950B2
Security system having a container, which encloses a strongbox area for receiving valuables. A device for carrying the container, a protection system for protecting the valuables located in the strongbox area, and an access opening are provided. At least one protection module is provided in the strongbox area, the protection module being designed for the purpose of neutralizing the valuables located in the strongbox area. The device for carrying is implemented as a separate module, which comprises a handle area, a mechanical interface for the mechanical connection to the container, a security circuit for securing the security system, and a security interface for establishing a communication link between the security circuit and the protection module.
US07707944B2
A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates “on the fly” surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.
US07707943B2
A rail unloading vehicle is self-propelled and able to travel either over-the-road on conventional roadway tires or along railway tracks on railway wheels. Threading mechanisms for unloading the rails are arranged to retract so they provide a narrow profile for transport over the road. The threading mechanisms have thread boxes with jaws that open to accommodate easy reception of rails, and close to apply rollers to the rails for unloading operations. A special rail clamp has a pair of oppositely pivoting dogs to allow rail manipulation in opposite directions without slippage. A special saw allows safe on-site cutting of rails.
US07707936B2
A printing unit of a printing press includes at least two frame parts whose distance from each other can be varied. Each of these frame parts include two laterally spaced frame plates. The two frame plates in each of the frame parts accommodate at least one cylinder or roller which extends between them. The two lateral frame plates in each frame part are spaced from each other in an axial direction of the supported cylinder or roller. Adjacent ones of the frame parts are connectable to each other by abutting of their respective lateral frame plates. At least three locking and/or centering devices are used to align and to lock together the lateral frame plates of adjacent ones of the frame parts.
US07707933B2
A golf ball stamper which securely holds a golf ball while the golf ball is stamped. The golf ball stamper comprises a handle, a stamping element coupled to the handle, and a golf ball receptacle sized to hold a golf ball. When the handle is pushed, the stamping element applies a stamp to the golf ball. The golf ball receptacle stabilizes and holds the golf ball while it is stamped to ensure a legible stamp is applied.
US07707932B1
An improved mechanism for controlling the orientation of a plunger in a bale chamber of a small square baler that positions the lower plunger tail guide further from the working surface of the plunger than the upper plunger tail guide in order to better resist the rocking forces of the plunger in the bale chamber thereby improving the capability of the plunger guides to maintain proper plunger knife clearances and improving the durability of the bearing materials in the plunger guides.
US07707927B2
A beverage machine having a height-adjustment device that includes a movable support plate for adjusting the position of the recipient relative to at least one beverage outlet. The support plate is movable relative to the at least one beverage outlet. The machine also includes a displacement mechanism for displacing the support plate relative to the outlet. The displacement mechanism includes a motorized driver for driving the displacement mechanism, a controller for controlling the actuation of the driver and which is configured to set a predetermined distance between the outlet and the recipient. A drip-collecting device can also be selectively provided to collect liquid falling from the beverage outlet when the recipient is not present.
US07707926B2
A pressure differential-driven engine comprises an outer pressurizable enclosure and an actuator enclosure, disposed within the outer enclosure. An actuator is disposed within the actuator enclosure and a portion of the actuator and the actuator enclosure cooperatively define a pressurizable cavity cyclable between a first, high pressure state, and a second, low pressure state. The actuator and actuator enclosure are collectively restrained by at least one rail to linear, slidable motion within the outer enclosure. The engine is operable to output usable energy as the pressurizable cavity cycles between the first and second pressure states.
US07707925B2
A pumping system comprising a pump (21) for conveying a pumped fluid using an actuating fluid. The pump comprising a rigid outer casing (25) defining an interior space (26), a tube structure (27) accommodated in the interior space (26), the tube structure (27) being flexible and substantially inelastic. The interior of the tube structure (27) defines a pumping chamber (28) for receiving pumped fluid. The tube structure (27) is movable between laterally expanded and collapsed conditions for varying the volume of the pumping chamber (28) thereby to provide discharge and intake strokes. The region of the interior space (26) surrounding the tube structure (27) defines an actuating region for receiving and accommodating actuating fluid. The pumping chamber (28) is adapted to receive pumped fluid to cause the tube structure (27) to move towards the expanded condition and the pumping chamber (28) thereby undergoing an intake stroke. The pumping chamber (28) undergoes a discharge stroke upon collapsing of the tube structure (27) in response to the action of actuating fluid in the actuating region. The pumping system also comprises a delivery means (50) for delivering pumped fluid to the pumping chamber (28) in timed sequence for causing the pumping chamber (28) to undergo an intake stroke, and means (70) for supplying actuating fluid to the actuating region in timed sequence to cause the tube structure (27) to laterally collapse whereby the pumping chamber (28) undergoes a discharge stroke.
US07707924B2
A groove is provided to the rear of an inner wall of a cylinder. A locking ram capable of freely sliding in a radial direction and a cam rod having a profile changing with a transition from the rear to the front from a small diameter part to a large diameter part that are provided relative to a piston. The inner end of the locking ram makes contact with the profile, and the cam rod is urged to the rear by the spring, so that the cam rod can be pushed to the front by a push rod. The piston can therefore be locked with a simple structure, and it is possible to provide a linear actuator where locking can be released with a straightforward operation even when a pressurized oil source fails.
US07707923B2
A smooth-bore barrel semi-automatic shotgun include a frame comprising a breech. A barrel is slidingly mounted on the frame relative to the breech. A slide-bolt assembly, which slides relative to the breech, is adapted to close the barrel. A friction spring opposes the barrel's sliding movement relative to the frame.
US07707920B2
Improved table saws and table saws designed to implement safety systems that detect contact between a person and a dangerous portion of the saw are disclosed. The table saws may include an elevation mechanism, a tilt mechanism, and an adjustment system configured to adjust the parallelism between a tilt axis and a blade. The elevation mechanism may include a vertical slide that includes two shafts, and the adjustment system may include a mechanism to adjust the parallelism of the two shafts.
US07707917B2
A web is fed into a sheet severer prior to its entry into a subsequent processing stage. The sheets, which have been severed from the web are then cut into required product sections in a cross-cutter which is associated with this subsequent processing stage. In order to achieve an accurately registered severing process, using the sheet severer, it is triggered by a signal which represents the phase position of the cross-cutter. The sheet severer is thus phase-correlated in relation to the phase position of the cross-cutter.
US07707909B2
A device drives auxiliary machines by using power extracted from a multi-shaft gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a LP shaft and a HP shaft. The machines may be installed in a gearbox. The device may include a first mechanical transmission between the HP shaft and the gearbox. The device also may include a hydraulic transmission between the LP shaft and the gearbox. Further, the LP shaft connects a low pressure turbine to a low pressure compressor, the HP shaft connects a high pressure turbine to a high pressure compressor, and the low pressure compressor is upstream of the high pressure compressor.
US07707904B2
A shift range switching device is provided to a shift-by-wire system for an automatic transmission device. The shift range switching device includes a range switching unit for switching a shift range of the automatic transmission device between a P range and the other range. The shift range switching device further includes an actuator including an electric motor and a reduction device. The reduction device transmits driving force of the electric motor to the range switching unit for actuating the range switching unit as instructed. The reduction device has a variable reduction ratio. The reduction device transmits the driving force in switching of the shift range from the P range to the other range at a reduction ratio, which is greater than a reduction ratio in switching of the shift range from the other range to the P range.
US07707900B2
A magnetic shield made of magnetic material in the shape of a thin cylinder is externally fitted and fixed on a cylindrical mold member holding magnetic flux collecting rings so that it has extended sections with appropriate length on both sides in the axial direction, and therefore magnetic noise from outside in the radial direction is shielded directly by the outer surface of the magnetic shield, magnetic noise from both sides in the axial direction is shielded by concentrating the magnetic noise on the end faces of the magnetic shield, and the influence on the magnetic flux collecting rings held in the mold member is eliminated.
US07707888B2
A vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of a vibrating object includes a plurality of detecting members. Each of the detecting members includes a vibrating portion disposed to be separated from the vibrating object, a transmitting portion for transmitting the vibration from the vibrating object to the vibrating portion, and a detecting portion disposed on a vibrating face of the vibration portion. The detecting portion outputs an electrical signal corresponding to a resonance of the vibrating portion. At least two of the vibrating portions of the detecting members have resonance frequencies, which are different from each other.
US07707885B2
The invention concerns gyrometric measurement compensated as a function of the instantaneous internal temperature of a mechanical resonator in a gyrometric measurement device comprising a loop controlling the amplitude of the resonator vibration and a gyrometric loop delivering a gyrometric signal (S); the gain control (P) of the loop varies as a monotonous function, preferably increasing and of the first order, of the internal temperature of the resonator in a given range of temperature; during a calibrating step, a correspondence is established and stored between the values of the gyrometric scaling factor (Fe) and the gyrometric bias (S0) and the values of the gain control signal (F), that is F(P) and Q(P) respectively; in operation, the following operations are carried out: P→F(P), P→Q(P), and Ω′est=F(P)·S+Q(P) which is a more precise analog estimate, compensated as a function of the internal temperature of the resonator, of the mechanical rotation of the sensitive axis of the resonator.
US07707884B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for measuring the absorption and displacement of a fluid by a material. The apparatus comprises a container having graduated marks for measuring the volume, and change in volume, of a fluid (such as, but not limited to, a liquid) and a section for holding the material to be evaluated.
US07707875B2
The invention provides a soot collection quantity measuring device for a diesel particulate filter. The soot collection quantity measuring device for a diesel particulate filter includes: an anion charging unit that is provided in an exhaust pipe in front of a diesel particulate filter and has a plurality of conductor flat plates in parallel with one another, and a capacitor that is provided at the back of the anion charging unit and has upper and lower electrode plates connected to a direct-current high-voltage power supply. The soot particulates pass through the anion charging unit which is negatively charged, and the charged soot particulates are collected in the upper electrode plate by an electric field between the upper and lower electrode plate.
US07707874B2
A misfire determination device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, of which an output shaft is connected, through a torsion element, to a downstream shaft downstream of the torsion element, includes: an first portion for detecting an output shaft rotational speed that is the rotational speed of the output shaft; a second portion for detecting a downstream shaft rotational speed that is the rotational speed of the downstream shaft; a third portion that calculates a component caused by an influence of resonance due to torsion of the torsion element on the output shaft rotational speed, based on the acquired output shaft rotational speed and the acquired downstream shaft rotational speed; and a fourth portion for determining the occurrence of the misfire in the internal combustion engine based on a rotational speed that is obtained by subtracting the calculated component from the detected output shaft rotational speed.
US07707868B2
A method for determining the operability of at least one pressure sensor of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which the ambient pressure is first determined by the pressure sensor, and the ambient pressure determined by the pressure sensor is then compared to the ambient pressure determined by a reference pressure sensor not belonging to the internal combustion engine.
US07707866B2
A die separator cylinder for use in separating first and second portions of a metal forming die set comprises a housing including a bore. A piston is adapted to reciprocate in the bore between an extended position and a depressed position. The die separator cylinder further includes gas flow paths leading to and from the bore that define asymmetrical gas flow rates relative to each other so that said when the bore is charged with an inert gas, the inert gas biases the piston to the extended position with a force that varies depending upon a time interval elapsed since the piston moved from the depressed position to the extended position. As such, the cylinder is configured so that during opening and closing of the press for metal-forming operations, the piston moves inward and outward with reduced force, while during periods of inactivity, the piston is biased outward with maximum force sufficient to separate the die halves of the die set to protect the die surfaces and to facilitate stacking of the die set for storage. The die separator cylinder can be configured as a stand-alone self-contained cylinder or can be configured as part of a hosed system or the like.
US07707865B2
A flaw detection apparatus and flaw detection method for automatically detecting the occurrence of a flaw in a mother tube manufactured by rolling a hollow shell using a mandrel mill are provided. A flaw detection apparatus (100) according to the present invention includes a wall thickness gauge (1) which is installed on the exit side of a mandrel mill (M) and which measures the tube wall thickness in each of the reducing directions of a hollow shell (P) in the #1-#5 stands of the mandrel mill, rolling load measuring devices (2) which measure the rolling load in the #1-#5 stands, and a decision unit (3) which determines whether there are flaws in the mother tube based on the measured value of the tube wall thickness in each of the reducing directions of the hollow shell (P) and the measured value of the rolling load in each stand. The decision unit (3) determines that a flaw has occurred in the mother tube when the measured value of the tube wall thickness in any of the reducing direction in the #1-#5 stands locally varies by at least a predetermined amount and the measured value of the rolling load in any of the #1-#5 stands locally varies by at least a predetermined amount.
US07707858B2
A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a detergent box, a housing, and a filter. The detergent box is installed on one side of a main machine and connected to a flowing path of an exhaust duct through which air is exhausted. The housing is detachably installed in the detergent box. The filter is installed in the housing to collect lint while the exhaust air passes through the filter.
US07707855B2
A known method for producing synthetic quartz glass with a predetermined hydroxyl group content comprises the following steps: a porous SiO2 soot body is produced by flame hydrolysis or oxidation of a silicon-containing start compound and by layerwise deposition of SiO2 particles on a rotating support; the soot body is subjected to a dehydration treatment in a reaction gas-containing drying atmosphere at a drying temperature for removing hydroxyl groups; and the SiO2 soot body is vitrified into a body consisting of the synthetic quartz glass. Starting from this, and in order to permit a reproducible and reliable manufacture of synthetic, UV-radiation resistant quartz glass with predetermined hydroxyl group content and low chlorine content, it is suggested according to the invention that the dehydration treatment according to method step (b) comprises a drying phase during which ozone is used as the reaction gas, whereby the ozone content of the drying atmosphere is between 0.5% by vol. and 10% by vol. and the drying temperature is chosen in the range between 1200° C. and 1400° C., and whereby no halogens are supplied to the drying atmosphere.
US07707850B2
A liquid refrigerant drainage mechanism is described for use in a flooded evaporator to mitigate liquid carryover. The drainage mechanism can trap liquid refrigerant droplets, create a liquid column to overcome a pressure difference across the mechanism and drain liquid back to the pool in the evaporator. The drainage mechanism is disposed in a suction baffle, and has a mesh pad and a tapered pipe secured to the bottom of the baffle. The pipe has a drainage aperture at one end to allow the accumulated liquid refrigerant to return to the refrigerant pool below. The mesh pad helps to separate liquid droplets that coalesce and fall into the tapered pipe. By using this liquid drainage mechanism in conjunction with a suction baffle, liquid carryover can be reduced and chiller performance improved.
US07707836B1
A combustor for a gas turbine is provided having a nozzle assembly located at one end and a combustion chamber defining a second end of the combustor. A venturi is positioned within the combustor, between the nozzle and the combustion chamber. The venturi defines an internal passageway therein having a first side facing the nozzle and a second side facing the combustion chamber. Compressed air is directed into an inlet in fluid communication with the first and second sides of the internal passageway. The internal passageway directs the compressed air from the inlet in opposite directions within the first and second sides of the internal passageway for cooling the venturi.
US07707835B2
A combustor has a flow sleeve and a flow liner defining a generally axial flow direction of compressor discharge air toward combustor burners. A casing is secured to the forward end of the flow sleeve defining an annular plenum along the interior of the flow sleeve. Openings through the flow sleeve supply compressor discharge air into the plenum where the air changes direction for flow through apertures into and generally coaxially with the free air stream. The axial injection minimizes or eliminates energy losses due to cross flow injection within the axial air stream while continuing to cool the liner.
US07707832B2
A device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a combustion chamber of a turbomachine is disclosed. The injection device has symmetry of revolution about an axis and includes radial swirl inducers of outside diameter D2, a bowl spaced axially from the radial swirl inducers, and a support ring for supporting the injection device, which is arranged around the bowl. The bowl has a cylindrical wall extended by a flared wall, the flared wall being provided with air intake holes. The support ring includes a first cylindrical portion of outside diameter D3, connected to a second cylindrical portion of outside diameter D4 spaced axially from the first cylindrical portion, the first cylindrical portion being connected to the cylindrical wall of the bowl by a plurality of support tabs.
US07707831B2
A method for controlling boost pressure in an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes a boost pressure control device, which is used to control the boost pressure in an internal combustion engine. The boost pressure control device includes a bypass unit, preferably in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine. The bypass unit includes an actuating device which enables the bypass unit when a predetermined actuating device setpoint value is reached. An adapted value is established as the correction value (pwgad) as a function of preset and/or detected internal combustion engine parameters (rlsol, nmot). The adapted value is used to adapt the setpoint value for the actuating device, which is specified as a function of the operating point, for a predetermined control deviation between a boost pressure actual value and a boost pressure setpoint value.
US07707827B2
An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for a diesel engine has a filter provided in an exhaust pipe of the engine for trapping diesel particulates contained in exhaust gas. The filter is re-generated when an accumulated amount of the diesel particulates exceeds a predetermined value. An electronic control unit estimates the accumulated amount of the diesel particulates from a pressure loss at the filter, based on an accumulation characteristic in which the pressure loss is related to the accumulated amount of the diesel particulates, and corrects the accumulation characteristic depending on flow velocity of the exhaust gas.
US07707825B2
A high-pressure metering pump for providing reductant in a single fluid engine exhaust dosing system having a solenoid for actuating a piston slidably received within an inner bore of a valve housing of the pump, the inner bore having a pressure chamber with an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve; and wherein movement of the piston causes high pressure reductant to be received at an atomizer of the system, the atomizer being disposed in a location to cause a maximum reduction of undesirable pollutant in the combustion gases of an engine.
US07707823B2
An exhaust purification device is provided to selectively perform a combustion purge control and an exhaust addition purge control in response to an operation state of the internal combustion engine. The combustion purge control process is performed in the case where a NOx occlusion amount of a NOx catalyst is larger than or equal to a first threshold value, and the exhaust addition purge control process is performed in the case where the NOx occlusion amount of the NOx catalyst is larger than or equal to a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value.
US07707822B2
An air-fuel ratio of each cylinder is estimated on the basis of a detection value of an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in an exhaust confluent portion. An air-fuel ratio correction quantity is computed on the basis of the estimated air-fuel ratio of each cylinder. The air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture to be supplied to each cylinder is corrected on the basis of the cylinder air-fuel ratio correction quantity to reduce a variation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders. When a state in which the cylinder air-fuel ratio correction quantity or its learning value of any cylinder is outside a specified range continues for a while during a period in which this cylinder air-fuel ratio control is performed, a combustion is stopped for the cylinder outside the specified range and the cylinder air-fuel ratio control is continuously performed only for other normal cylinders.
US07707821B1
A controlling method for adjusting concentrations of, for example, individual cylinder's exhaust gas constituents to provide engine functions such as catalytic converter diagnosis, increased overall catalytic converter efficiency and rapid catalyst heating, before and/or after initiating closed loop fuel injection control, using a selected temperature sensor location within a low thermal mass catalytic converter design.
US07707819B2
Hollow RX-08HD cylindrical charges were loaded with boron and PTFE, in the form of low-bulk density powders or powders dispersed in a rigid foam matrix. Each charge was initiated by a Comp B booster at one end, producing a detonation wave propagating down the length of the cylinder, crushing the foam or bulk powder and collapsing the void spaces. The PdV work done in crushing the material heated it to high temperatures, expelling it in a high velocity fluid jet. In the case of boron particles supported in foam, framing camera photos, temperature measurements, and aluminum witness plates suggest that the boron was completely vaporized by the crush wave and that the boron vapor turbulently mixed with and burned in the surrounding air. In the case of PTFE powder, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of residues recovered from fragments of a granite target slab suggest that heating was sufficient to dissociate the PTFE to carbon vapor and molecular fluorine which reacted with the quartz and aluminum silicates in the granite to form aluminum oxide and mineral fluoride compounds.
US07707817B2
A fuel processor (10) comprises a supply of natural gas (12) and a compressor (14), which compresses the natural gas and supplies the natural gas to a partial oxidation reactor (16). A supply of oxygen (20) supplies the oxygen to the partial oxidation reactor (16). The partial oxidation reactor (16) partially reacts the natural gas and the oxygen to form a mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The partial oxidation reactor (16) supplies the mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to a turbine (20). The turbine (20) is arranged to drive the compressor (14). The turbine (20) expands and cools the mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide and supplies the mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to a fuel cell stack (22) requiring hydrogen and/or carbon dioxide.
US07707803B2
A method for producing a biodegradable bag and for packing a food, such as a snack food, which is required to have an oxygen barrier property and a water vapor barrier property. The biodegradable bag can be produced at a high speed by a bag making and packaging machine, which can be degraded by naturally occurring microorganisms in soil or water finally to a non-hazardous degradation product, which can be biorecycled, and which is not accumulated in nature. The biodegradable bag for packing a food comprises a laminated film obtainable by laminating in the following order: a sealant layer comprising a biodegradable polymer; a barrier layer having an oxygen barrier property and a water vapor barrier property; and a barrier layer-supporting substrate layer comprising a biodegradable polymer, the laminated film being heat-sealed in order for the sealant layer to be inside.
US07707795B2
An upright space-dividing wall panel having an inner rigid frame. The frame is of an open ring-shaped construction utilizing detachable corner gusset structures for rigidly joining the transverse frame rails together, thereby providing the frame with a high degree of flexibility with respect to assembly thereof.
US07707782B2
An assembly and method for facilitating the attachment of a metal alloy hood to the concrete shell of a spray absorber tower, and compensating for relative radial thermal expansion of the hood and the shell during start up, shut down, and operation of the spray absorber tower, while also providing accurate and effective distribution of shear forces circumferentially along a horizontal plane from the metal alloy hood to anchor rods partially embedded in the concrete shell of the spray absorber tower.
US07707781B2
A gutter cap forming tool is provided for use in a method of forming a gutter cap from a sheet stock blank. A roll forming operation is performed to form a reversely-turned arcuate bend in the gutter cap. The gutter cap assembly includes a gutter cap and a bracket that secures the gutter cap to a building and a gutter.
US07707780B2
A system for assembling a load-bearing support structure, and structure assembled with such a system. The system includes at least one supporting member, at least one connecting member, and at least one complementary member. Each supporting member includes an upper surface being provided with at least one section having at least one bulge protruding from the upper surface. Each connecting member is used for connecting a supporting member to at least one other member of the system. Each complementary member, typically a floor panel, is used for affixing onto a corresponding supporting member, and has at least one orifice being positioned, shaped and sized for inserting into a corresponding bulge of the corresponding supporting member so as form the load-bearing support structure. The system further includes at least one securing member cooperable between a given complementary member and a given supporting member for securing the complementary member onto the supporting member.
US07707779B2
A frame assembly for a window including a sash that slides vertically within a master frame. The master frame is substantially of unitary, one-piece construction that can advantageously be manufactured by an injection moulding process. The sash frame can also be of unitary, one-piece construction, and can also be manufactured by injection moulding. The master frame can be provided with liner support structures along the jambs to receive jamb liners in snap-fit. The liner support structures can advantageously be integrally moulded with the master frame.
US07707777B2
A doorframe structure comprises an upper guide formed of metal plate so as to have an enclosed space extending in a longitudinal direction of the upper guide, the upper guide having a constant cross section, a weather strip channel extending in a longitudinal direction of the upper guide and fixed to the upper guide, a window glass guide, made of metal plate, arranged so as to be inclined relative to the upper guide and fixed to the upper guide at one end thereof in order to guide a window glass so as to move, and a pillar outer panel, made of metal plate, for covering, on an exterior side of a vehicle, a vehicle exterior-end surface of the upper guide, a vehicle exterior-end surface of the window glass guide and an opening formed between the upper guide and the window glass guide.
US07707757B2
By providing a unique housing member within which a plurality of separate display and holding members are operatively interconnected for sequential display relative to each other in a unique, cooperative, continuous, extending manner, a unique, hands-on, visually exciting and interest generating multi-panel display and holding system is realized. In the preferred construction of the present invention, a plurality of separate and independent display and/or holding members are cooperatively interconnected to each other for sequential movement relative to each other. Furthermore, each of the display/holding members are also constructed for being automatically positioned in a precisely desired continuous array in response to the receipt of pulling or movement force applied to one of the display/holding members or to a designated lead element.
US07707749B2
A modular snow travel system for common footwear includes a first traction component which may be an overboot. The first traction component includes at least one traction cleat having latch, such as an exposed hook portion, for engagement with a snowdeck. The engagement is effected by a releasable locking mechanism on the snowdeck. The releasable locking mechanism includes a transversely movable slider and a longitudinally movable slider having contacting cam faces. The lateral position of the transverse slider determines the longitudinal position of the longitudinal slider so that the longitudinal slider could be moved longitudinally to and from a position where a catch on the longitudinal slider is engaged in the hook portion or is disengaged from the latch of the traction cleat.
US07707740B2
A height scale includes a base, a column assembly mounted on the base and a height rod assembly movably mounted along and within the column assembly, the height rod assembly including a lever assembly with a lever, a lever bracket and a rod cap having self-locking release tabs on opposite sides thereof.
US07707735B2
An embodiment of a hole angularity gage includes a gage body and a contact disc positioned within the gage body. The contact disc includes a central opening defined by an inner edge. The gage also includes a center pin that extends through the central opening, and a hole probe adapted to rotate the center pin from a primary gage axis toward the contact disc's inner edge. The gage also includes an indicator adapted to activate when the center pin makes contact with the contact disc. Another embodiment of a hole angularity gage includes a hole probe and a circuit. The circuit includes an indicator and a switch, which is adapted to close when the hole probe is rotated by an angle greater than a gage setting angle. The indicator is adapted to activate when the switch is closed. Other embodiments include methods for using and manufacturing hole angularity gages.
US07707734B2
A chalk line marking device includes a chalk line that is held in a storing, dispensing and retracting device. The device comprises a housing and an element for gripping the chalk line when it is extended from the dispensing device and lifting it from the workpiece surface at a point remote from the device. A spring mechanism causes the gripping element to suddenly snap back to its original position, when released, thereby causing the chalk line to leave a linear chalk mark on the workpiece surface. The device may also comprise a gripping element arranged within the housing that includes a plunger responsive to movement of the housing, for lifting and suddenly releasing the gripping element. A worker can extend the chalk line with one hand while holding the dispensing device in the other hand. The hand holding the dispensing device can actuate the gripping element with the thumb, for example, of that same hand while the other hand holds the extended end of the chalk line in position, thereby not requiring a third hand to snap the chalk line.
US07707729B2
A reciprocating tool comprising a drive shaft and a motor, a plunger for reciprocating motion, the plunger being driven by a wobble plate and pivotally supported in a front bushing and in a manner not prohibiting the plunger to rotate about a longitudinal axis of rotation, the plunger has a rear spherical end, a movable counterweight and a drive arm for moving the counterweight, the counterweight having an opening for receiving the plunger, the opening has side walls that support the rear spherical end of the plunger as it moves relative to the counterweight, a first wobble plate assembly connected to the drive shaft and having a first wobble plate interface engaging and reciprocating the plunger in the front bushing and the counterweight; and a second wobble plate assembly operatively connected to the drive shaft and having a second wobble plate interface engaging the drive arm of the counterweight.
US07707728B2
An engagement system for removably connecting gardening tools and similar type devices to a power unit comprising a drive motor, the system comprising a base element suitable for being fixed to a crankcase housing the drive motor, a fastening element of a tool that can be actuated by a shaft of the drive motor, suitable for coupling with the base element, a button mounted on the base element and suitable for cooperating with a corresponding opening formed on the fastening element to removably lock the elements in an engagement position, the base element being equipped with at least one electrical safety switch actuated elastically by a rod between a first position in which the electrical safety switch is closed and prevents the operation of the drive motor, and a second position in which the electrical safety switch is open and allows the operation of the drive motor, the second position only being obtainable when the fastening element is engaged with the base element.
US07707724B2
To avoid a difficulty of inserting a spline shaft into a spline hole, respective holding members 29 constituting a holding device 28 for holding a hub 3 are displaced in a radial inward direction of a small diameter stepped portion 15. The inner peripheral surface of the inside end of an original hole 25 is elastically deformed radially inward the same as or slightly greater than the elastic deformation caused by externally securing tightly an inner ring to the small diameter stepped portion 15. In this condition, a female spline portion for constituting a spline hole is formed in the original hole 25.
US07707722B1
A novel technique for setting a multiplicity of precious stones such as diamonds into a unique setting to enhance the beauty and presentation of the multiplicity of set stones, with the technique including setting a center stone into a socket and having it held by a multiplicity of prongs, an outer series of small stones wherein each outer stone is respectively placed in a socket and is held in most designs by a pair of the same prongs which hold the center stone and is also held by a lower groove in the interior facing surface of the outer wall, and an intermediate series of stones which are placed in a respective socket and are held by a pair of the prongs which also retain the center stone and in most designs all of the smaller stones and are also retained by a groove in the interior facing surface of the outer wall, the intermediate series of stones also serving to retain the small series of stones.
US07707715B2
Disclosed is a method of fabricating a multilayer printed circuit board, which enables the formation of a micro circuit able to be realized through a semi-additive process using the CTE and rigidity of a metal carrier on a thin substrate which is difficult to convey.
US07707712B2
Provided is an apparatus for assembling a camera module comprising a support frame that is formed in a rectangular shape and has a jig horizontally connected to an upper end thereof; a plurality of stages that are vertically stacked and installed in the support frame and adjust a printed circuit board (PCB) in three-axis directions; a board holder that is formed to extend from one end of the uppermost stage and has the PCB mounted on the extending end thereof; and a jig assembly that is disposed on an opening of the jig and has a barrel-integrated housing mounted on the central portion thereof.
US07707701B2
A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element includes the steps of forming a first electrode above a substrate, forming above the first electrode a piezoelectric layer composed of a piezoelectric material having a perovskite structure, and forming a second electrode above the piezoelectric layer, wherein the step of forming the first electrode includes forming a lanthanum nickelate layer that is oriented to a cubic (100) by a sputter method, and a ratio of nickel to lanthanum (Ni/La) in a target used for the sputter method is greater than 1 but smaller than 1.5.
US07707697B2
Disclosed is an improved splicing nut of the type having a threaded nut portion and a core that is capable of being threaded into the nut portion, the nut portion and the core cooperating to receive and firmly retain a line therein. In the first embodiment of the invention, a visualization port is included in the core for providing visual access to at least a portion of the area between the nut portion and the core so that a user may quickly ascertain by looking through the visualization port whether or not a line is fully engaged with the splicing nut. Additional provision is made to cause the line to be compressed when the core is threaded into the nut portion and tightened. As a result, line slippage within the splicing nut is prevented. The invention further includes a fastening portion of the core that is exposed when the nut portion is firmly tightened onto the core. Either a pin hole or a shackle fastening means is included in the fastening portion for allowing additional hardware to be installed thereon with requiring the line to be removed from the splicing nut.
US07707686B2
A truckle assembly has a housing, a rotating unit movably mounted on the housing, a limiting unit and a wheel assembly. The housing includes a body and a sleeve. A slope portion is formed inside the body and neighboring the sleeve. The rotating unit includes a central shaft, and a gear ring mounted on the central shaft for corresponding to a first side of the slope portion. The limiting unit includes a pedal, an interferential portion linking an end of the pedal, and an arresting portion linking an end of the interferential portion. The pedal has a first portion extending into the housing, and a second portion extending out of the housing. The interferential portion corresponds to a second side of the slope portion. The wheel assembly includes at least a wheel assembled on sides of the housing, and a shaft pole extending through the wheels and the pedal.
US07707665B1
A shower water conservation apparatus (10) that conserves the shower water by storing the initially cooled water that is produced by a hot water source (124). The initially cooled water is routed by a series of pipes and timed valves into a water reservoir assembly (19), such as a bellows (20), where the water is stored for later use. The cooled water from the bellows (20) is timely released and mixed with flow of cold water from a cold water source (126). The mixed cold water is further mixed with the now hot water from the hot water source (124) before the mixed hot and cold water is manually regulated and applied through a shower head (122).
US07707658B2
The present invention relates to various types of garments to be worn by outdoors people such as hunters and fishermen. The garments include stretch fabric portions in strategic locations to provide mobility as well as comfort and thereby allow the wearer to engage in a wide range of activities. The garments having such stretch fabric portions include pants-type garments, bib overall type garments, and coat-type garments and coverall-type garments.
US07707657B2
The present invention provides a top knot cap (headgear provided with a ponytail) comprising the upper top knot portion (22) formed by extending the top knot portion (20) connected to the crown (10) and the said upper top knot portion (22) may be bundled with the binding cord (31) to form a ponytail or unfurled to cover the neck. The top knot cap may be provided with the meeting and parting portion (23) that splits apart when the said top knot portion (20) is unfurled. The inventive top knot cap may protect the head part of a user and further express various designs full of ornamental effects.
US07707654B1
A massage glove for use in administering a massage is provided. The massage glove includes a glove body that is configured for being worn on the hand of a user. At least one pad is carried by the glove body. The pad defines a bead pocket into which a plurality of beads are located. The pad defines a resilient pocket into which a resilient member is located. The beads are configured to be located intermediate the resilient member and the skin of the user proximate to the pad when the glove body is worn on the hand of the user.
US07707651B2
A two panel convertible maternity coat that can be used by a woman before, after, and during pregnancy, a pregnancy panel, and a baby panel. Pregnancy is accommodated through the addition of the pregnancy panel between the front sides of the coat. The pregnancy panel is wider at the bottom and tapered toward the top. The two panel convertible maternity coat also can be used as a garment for covering both baby and mother, father, or other wearer though the addition of the baby panel between the front sides of the coat. The baby panel is shaped wider at the top and tapers down to a lower portion. Means are provided for readily fastening each panel separately to the coat so as to provide for ease in transitioning between the uses of the coat.
US07707649B2
A knee pad for cushioning a human knee. The knee pad includes a cushion section having varied consistencies. The knee pad is held on the knee by two fastening straps. Each fastening strap is attached to the cushion section with buckles or similar fastening devices. A lower fastening strap has at least two closure devices, a first being a hook and eye fastening system and a second being a buckle fastening system.
US07712142B1
In some embodiments, techniques for document integrity may include detecting an initiator associated with a key, detecting the end of a document, determining that no terminator matching the key has been detected, and rejecting all or part of the document.In some embodiments, techniques for document integrity may include generating a key and associating the key with an initiator insertion point and a terminator insertion point.
US07712137B2
A server security schema that can incorporate server security-related expertise into an information model is provided. The novel server security schema component can be applied to an application server, a web server and/or a database server to converge knowledge into securing the server by identifying categories, vulnerabilities, threats, attacks and countermeasures. The novel schema can create a common framework that converges knowledge with respect to any server type. More particularly, the novel server security schema can address server categories including a share, a service, an account, an audit and log, a file and directory, a registry, a protocol, a port, and a patch and update category.
US07712130B2
A multiconfigurable device masking shunt for a network device, preferably, on a secure network having a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the shunt cloaks the network device by rendering the network device invisible to upstream and downstream relay devices. During cloaking, the network device's media access control address is substituted with the upstream or downstream relay devices media access control address. In a second mode, the shunt passes inbound and outbound traffic through one of two alternate paths to the secure network from an unsecure network and can monitor such traffic.
US07712128B2
A system, method, signal, and computer program product for providing secure wireless access to private databases and applications without requiring a separate wireless client-server internetworking security protocol infrastructure. The wireless device (201) communicates with the wireless access service provider (205) via hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) messages, and the wireless access service provider (205) and the secure network (204) perform a RADIUS authentification for the wireless device (201).
US07712122B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method of transmitting and switching multimedia data over an Ethernet network. The method includes allocating a portion of an Ethernet bandwidth for channel allocation, receiving a multimedia signal, assigning a channel allocation priority to the multimedia signal, transmitting data including the channel allocation priority in the allocated portion of the Ethernet bandwidth, performing video predictive coding on the multimedia signal to create a video predictive coded multimedia signal, and transmitting the video predictive coded multimedia signal over the network in real time. The multimedia signal comprises a composite video signal.
US07712121B2
The application describes a method and system for controlling a processing of video data such that the video data may be transmitted over a connection in a communication network, where the connection employs a plurality of protocol layers. The processing of video data for transmission is performed at a first layer. A value or values of one or more transmission condition parameters indicative of transmission conditions in the network are acquired, where these transmission condition parameters are specific for a second layer provided lower than the first layer. Then one or more values of one or more video control parameters usable at the first layer are derived from the value of the least one transmission condition parameter and the processing of video data is performed in accordance with the derived one or more values.
US07712120B2
A satellite transponder switch (STS) maintains a table that maps set-top boxes (STBs) to carrier frequencies. The STS receives a first request from a first STB for a first transponder band and a second request from a second STB for a second transponder band. The STS accesses a first satellite feed and polarity based on the first request, and a second satellite feed and polarity based on the second request. The STS band-pass filters the first and second transponder bands from the first and second satellite feed and polarity, respectively. The STS frequency shifts the first transponder band to a first carrier frequency assigned to the first STB and the second transponder band to a second carrier frequency assigned to the second STB. The STS outputs a signal that comprises the frequency-shifted first and second transponder bands to the first STB and the second STB.
US07712118B1
A broadcast program retrieval apparatus includes a data server having a database for storing broadcast program information. The data server has a function for searching the broadcast program information stored in the database. A user server stores the same information as the broadcast program information stored in the data server. The user server has a function for selecting a desired broadcast program from the stored broadcast program information. The user server searches the broadcast program information stored in the data server using a content keyword, such as the cast or the like. The desired broadcast program is selected from among broadcast programs based on program retrieval identification codes (event IDs) retrieved and extracted by the content keyword.
US07712111B2
System, device, method, and computer program and computer program products for providing communicating between devices having similar or dissimilar characteristics and facilitating seamless interoperability between them. Computer program software and methods of and systems and devices for sharing of content, applications, resources and control across similar and dissimilar permanently or intermittently connected electronic devices. Devices, systems, appliances, and the like communicating and/or interoperating within the framework provided. A linear tasking method, model, and system provides alternative to conventional pre-emptive and cooperative threading models used on devices so that multiple operations can be specified and run as if their actions were being executed simultaneously. LinearTasking ensures simple, reliable, flexible and extensibe way for processing units to coordinate their activities in very deterministic and easily tested manner.
US07712105B2
A microprocessor that includes a random number generator (RNG) that saves and restores its own state on a task switch without operating system (OS) support. The RNG includes a control and status register (CSR) for storing control values that affect the generation of random numbers. The CSR is not saved and restored by the OS. The RNG shadows the CSR with an SSE register that is saved and restored by the OS. A new instruction loads the CSR, and also loads the shadowed SSE register. Whenever the SSE register is restored from memory, the RNG sets a flag indicating that a possible task switch occurred. Whenever the processor executes a new instruction that stores the random data to memory, it checks the flag and copies the control values from the SSE register to the CSR if the flag is true, discards previously generated bytes, and restarts random number generation.
US07712103B2
In a dynamic queue load balancing method using a plurality of computers, the load level of each computer is obtained. A queue management table including information on a queue length and the number of queued requests in each queue and a queue adjustment table including information on a queue length at each load level are referred to. The queue length in the queue management table is changed to the queue length in the queue adjustment table corresponding to the obtained load level by a storage device. A queue usage rate of queue is calculated from the queue length and the number of queued requests in the queue management table. Information on the calculated queue usage rate of queue is exchanged among the computers through a communication device. According to the exchanged information on the queue usage rate, selective assignment of a processing request among queues of the computers is performed.
US07712102B2
In one representative embodiment, a system for operating load balancers for multiple instance applications comprises a plurality of cluster nodes for executing applications, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of cluster nodes executes multiple applications and includes respective resource allocation modules for assigning resources between the multiple applications in response to performance data associated with the multiple applications, a plurality of load balancers for distributing application transactions between the plurality of cluster nodes, and a configuration process that analyzes performance data associated with the multiple applications and dynamically configures the plurality of load balancers in response to the analysis.
US07712099B2
A system and method is disclosed for synchronizing certain periodic activities and/or processes in a computer system or device. The synchronization allows more efficient use of the computer system's or device's processing capabilities, and may result in conservation of electrical power. In one example embodiment, a periodic scheduler is implemented to periodically verify the continued existence of critical processes operating in the computer system or device. Corrective, or other appropriate, action may be taken in the event of a failure of a critical process. A schedule list, which may be a linked list, may be used to track the periodic processes that are to occur. Upon registration of a critical process, the schedule list may be modified to synchronize the new periodic process with the existing schedule list.
US07712089B2
A method to revalidate a compiler intended for compilation of a user-written program for safety control in an industrial control system after it has been used. A test program is compiled a first time which test program is defined in a control language. The compiler is validated by verifying that the test program executes correctly. A first software is generated derived from the compiled test program intended for later comparison purposes. The test program is compiled a second time after the compilation of a user-written program. A second software is generated intended for a comparison based on the second compilation of the test program. The first software is compared with the second software, wherein the compiler is revalidated for any errors introduced between the first and the second compilation. Provided that the revalidation indicates no errors in the compiler, the user-written program is enabled to execute in a device with safety features for control of real world entities.
US07712087B2
A distributed code development environment includes baseline code that is logically divided into a plurality of labels, each including a plurality of transactions authored by respective developers. A computer-implemented method for identifying intermittent errors in the baseline and determining whether errors generated by a test of transactions are intermittent or consistent may include steps of providing the baseline code and providing the plurality of transactions, each of the plurality of transactions including code authored by a developer. A selected test may be carried out on a selected one of the plurality of transactions, the selected test generating an error that represents an unsuccessful completion of the selected test. The generated error may then be compared against errors generated by the selected test on other transactions or labels. The generated error may be identified as intermittent with respect to the transaction and spurious in the baseline if a selected number of errors generated by the selected test on the other transactions or labels are identical or similar to the generated error, according to a selected metric.
US07712067B1
A method for connecting a first and second component in a logic device is disclosed. A path is generated between the first and second components with an appropriate amount of delay to satisfy short-path timing constraints that define a minimum delay on the path. A first interconnect line from a plurality of interconnect lines and a second interconnect line to connect with the first interconnect line sub-optimally from a delay minimization perspective are selected in order to satisfy the short-path timing constraints.
US07712060B1
A method and system for handling assertion libraries in verification of a design are disclosed. The method and system include structuring and implementing at least one verification component in at least one of the assertion libraries with at least one standard assertion language supported by at least one verification tool, creating an assertion library element for a specific requirement for verification of the design without dependence on the at least one verification tool for the assertion library element, and resolving assertion status. With the disclosed method and system, visualization of assertion status at various levels of design hierarchy and at verification component level may be achieved, and implementing verification techniques may include optimization techniques during and/or after verification.
US07712059B1
A method of electronic circuit design includes performing property verification for partitions of a design of an electronic circuit, selecting an outcome for each partition from a plurality of outcome categories, and computing coverage information for each element of the design based on the outcome.
US07712050B2
A design tool hierarchically presents information about a design with nested blocks. For example, the design tool presents scheduling information for the design in a hierarchical Gantt chart. The scheduling information includes hierarchical design schedule blocks which accurately depict the timing and scheduling of the nested blocks of the design. Each of the hierarchical design schedule blocks includes control steps numbered relative to the block. The scheduling information also includes a hierarchical list of scheduled operations for the design. The hierarchical list emphasizes which operations are associated with which nested blocks. The scheduling information further includes pseudo-operation icons that are easily differentiated from real operation icons in the hierarchical Gantt chart.
US07712038B2
A device and a method for finding information elements (1) in one or more objects (7), the information elements (1) being storable in a storage device and the objects (7) being displayable on a display device via a graphical user interface (18). The present invention has the feature that the information elements (1) are arranged in a coordinate system of a graphically displayed object (7) so that each information element (1) has associated therewith at least one coordinate point in the graphically displayed object (7), that, for finding the desired information element (10) using the graphical user interface (18), at least one selection window (6) is present which is variable in size and shape and which allows selection of an arbitrarily-sized subset of coordinate points and associated information elements (1) of the object (7), and that the selected information elements (9, 10) are displayable on the graphical user interface (18) of the display device.
US07712032B2
A range manager system has a range definition controller, a range label handler, and a range definition indicator controller. The range definition controller controls setting of one or more boundary values defining one or more ranges. The range label handler handles labels of the ranges. The range definition indicator controller controls presentation of a range definition indicator representing definition of the ranges. The range definition indicator controller presents the ranges in vertical arrangement so as to provide an intuitive representation of the definition of the ranges.
US07712030B1
A user may select an error message presented in a graphic user interface and bring up a word processor by which text describing the error and its solution may be entered. This is saved, and the next time the error is encountered, the saved annotation is available for presentation to and further editing by the user. In this manner, the developer may continually improve the quality and usefulness of the error messages.
US07712029B2
The present invention is directed to a method of removing a user's personal information from a document via activation of a “privacy option.” The privacy option, when activated, removes personal information from a document and, in some case, replaces the user information with generic information. The present invention is also directed to a computing system with an application module, which contains a privacy option for removing one or more pieces of personal information from a document created by a software application usable on the computing system. The present invention is further directed to a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of modifying one or more pieces of personal information associated with a document via a privacy option.
US07712028B2
A summary of a captured document image is produced on the basis of detected handwritten annotations made to a document prior to image capture. The scanned (or otherwise captured) image is processed to detect annotations made to the document prior to scanning. The detected annotations can be used to identify features, or text, for use to summarize that document. Additionally, or alternatively, the detected annotations in one document can be used to identify features, or text, for use to summarize a different document. The summary may be displayed in expandable detail levels.
US07712021B2
A system, method and medium for utilizing a parameter hierarchy having state information to generate a uniform resource locator (URL). In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes the steps of creating a component hierarchy that includes at least one component object associated with a web page, and creating a parameter hierarchy that includes at least one parameter object that includes state information respectively associated with at least one of said component objects. Finally, the parameter hierarchy is utilized to generate a URL that can render the component hierarchy.
US07712008B2
Various systems and methods for error reduction in a digital information system are disclosed herein. As one example, a digital storage system is provided that includes a soft output Viterbi algorithm channel detector operable to receive an encoded data set, and to provide a hard and a soft output representing the encoded data set. The hard and the soft output from the soft output Viterbi algorithm channel detector are provided to a single parity row decoder that provides another hard output that is an error reduced representation of the encoded data set. The encoded data set is additionally provided from the buffer to another channel detector via a delay element. The hard output from the single parity row decoder and the time shifted encoded data set are provided to coincident with each other to another channel detector.
US07711995B1
Digital preservation is realized in this invention by providing a method and system for long term error-free storage, having means for requested files to be retrieved error-free from the storage, and having means for interpretation of the retrieved files, for all the time span that the storage continues on. User-requested files, when retrieved from the long term error-free digital storage, are retrieved without possibility of corruption of the files of the storage. The storage of the files is continued on in time, by being forward copied, error-free, from one-era storage media to next-era storage media. Planning for the timing of forward copy from the one-era media is accomplished by methods for contemporaneous determination of the actual lifetime of the one-era media, through monitoring scans of the written-to media.
US07711994B2
An apparatus, system and method of integrating performance monitor data with thermal event information are provided. A thermal event, in this case, is when the temperature of a chip within which is embedded a processor exceeds a user-configurable value while the processor is processing instructions and/or using storage devices that are being monitored. In any event, when the thermal event occurs, the temperature of the chip along with the performance monitor data is stored for future uses, which include performance and diagnostic analyses.
US07711989B2
A RAID system includes a non-volatile memory storing a first program and first and second copies of a second program, and a processor executing the first program. The first program detects the first copy of the second program is failed and repairs the failed first copy in the non-volatile memory using the second copy. The failures may be detected at boot time or during normal operation of the controller. In one embodiment, the failure is detected via a CRC check. In one embodiment, the controller repairs the failed copy by copying the good copy to the location of the failed copy. In one embodiment, the system includes multiple controllers, each having its own processor and non-volatile memory and program that detects and repairs failed program copies. The programs include a loader, an application, FPGA code, CPLD code, and a program for execution by a power supply microcontroller.
US07711988B2
Methods and systems for memory monitoring. A triggering access is detected at one or more monitored memory regions. When a triggering access is detected, a function is accessed for determining a monitoring function, and a monitoring function associated with a particular triggered memory location address is automatically determined.
US07711987B2
A problem determination system and method reduces the time and effort required by system administrators to trouble shot transaction processing difficulties in a large distributed I/T environment by monitoring system component performance and computing operational performance threshold limits based on dependency graphs for the system. Using this data, a prioritized list of suspect components for the I/T system is generated.
US07711985B2
A method for executing a computer program on computing hardware, e.g., on a microprocessor, is provided, the computer program including multiple program objects and errors being detected in this method while the computer program is running on the computing hardware. When an error is detected, at least one program object, which has already been sent for execution, is transferred into a defined state and is restarted from there, and subsequent additional program objects are shifted.
US07711980B1
The present invention provides for indicating devices that are impacted by the failures of another device. Then when allocating workloads to devices, non-impacted devices are given priority over impacted devices as allocation targets for workloads.
US07711963B2
A cryptographic device may include a cryptographic module and a communications module coupled thereto. The cryptographic module may include a user network interface and a cryptographic processor coupled thereto. The communications module may include a network communications interface coupled to the cryptographic processor. The cryptographic processor may communicate with the user network interface using a predetermined protocol, and the cryptographic processor may also communicate with the network communications interface using the predetermined protocol.
US07711943B2
Disclosed is a method for saving electricity consumed by a computer. The method includes the steps of defining a plurality of items of service so that a user can select one of the items of service, identifying at least one device, driver and application corresponding to the selected item of service and providing a simplified process for actuating the device, driver and application corresponding to the selected item of service.
US07711942B2
A computer security system comprises a basic input/output system (BIOS) adapted to store a user key generated by a trusted platform module (TPM) for a user. The BIOS is also adapted to receive TPM authentication data from the user for initiating a boot process and interface with the TPM to request validation of the TPM authentication data by the TPM for initiating the boot process using the user key.
US07711940B2
A method and apparatus for compensating for a delay in the propagation of a plurality of signals via different signal paths, i.e., a skew compensation method, are provided. The apparatus includes a processing circuit which performs a data processing operation on input data, and a reset adjustment circuit which maintains a reset state of the processing circuit for a time period when a reset signal that initializes the processing circuit is received.
US07711936B2
An approach for improving efficiency of speculative execution of instructions is disclosed. In one embodiment, a branch predictor entry associated with a particular branch instruction is accessed when the particular branch instruction is to be speculatively executed. The branch predictor entry may take on different values indicating whether a first possible path or a second possible path should be executed. Based upon a current value of the branch predictor entry, a predicted path for the particular branch instruction may be determined. Instructions along the predicted path may be executed, before the particular branch instruction is resolved. Once the particular branch instruction is resolved, a cost associated with executing the one or more instructions may be determined. Accordingly, the branch predictor entry may be updated by an amount that is commensurate with the cost.
US07711934B2
A processor core and method for managing branch misprediction in an out-of-order processor pipeline. In one embodiment, the pipeline of the processor core includes a front-end instruction fetch portion, a back-end instruction execution portion, and pipeline control logic. Operation of the instruction fetch portion is decoupled from operation of the instruction execution portion. Following detection of a control transfer misprediction, operation of the instruction fetch portion is halted and instructions residing in the instruction fetch portion are invalidated. When the instruction associated with the misprediction reaches a selected pipeline stage, instructions residing in the instruction execution portion of the pipeline are invalidated and the flow of instructions from the instruction fetch portion to the instruction execution portion of the processor pipeline is restarted. A mispredict instruction identification checker and instruction identification tags are used to determine if a control transfer instruction is permitted to redirect instruction fetching.
US07711922B2
A system and method for a communication terminal to manage memory and maintain a current application version for multiple applications are provided. The system and method provide for managing memory in a communication terminal coupled to a server device enabling the communication terminal to provide memory capacity for storing in a memory and executing on the communication terminal a plurality of applications downloaded from the server device. Prior to downloading an application, the communication terminal determines an amount of memory capacity required by an application client to be downloaded from the server device. The communication terminal then attempts to allocate the memory capacity. If memory cannot be allocated from the system heap, the communication terminal purges data contained in the memory according to a dynamic list of priorities to create memory capacity in the memory for the application client. Once sufficient memory capacity has been created, it is allocated to the application client, and the application client is downloaded to the communication terminal.
US07711912B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for creating and recovering backup copies of computer data in an enterprise. An example method is disclosed for recovering computer data from a plurality sequential access devices. The method includes identifying a plurality of objects to be recovered, identifying a backup corresponding to each identified object to be recovered, and identifying a volume or multi-volume set corresponding to each backup, each backup being stored on the corresponding volume or set of volumes. The method also includes determining a number of sequential access media devices available for use. In accordance with the example method, the plurality of objects may be sorted according to the size of the volume or set of volumes corresponding to each of the identified objects. The method further includes recovering the objects in the order in which they were sorted. Recovering the objects includes directing the sequential access devices to concurrently recover the identified objects in the order in which sorted. Other methods, apparatus, systems and computer readable media are disclosed for backup and recovery of computer data.
US07711909B1
It has been discovered that globally indicating read-write conflicts and semi-transparent read sharing in a transactional memory space allows for a more expedient validation. Without being aware of particular transactions, a writing transaction can determine that a read-write conflict will occur with some transaction that has read one or more memory locations to be modified by the writing transaction. With semi-transparent reading, reading transactions can validate quickly. If a read-write conflict has not occurred since a reading transaction began (or since the last validation), then the previous reads are valid. Otherwise, the reading transaction investigates each memory location or ownership record to determine if a read-write conflict affected the investigating transaction.
US07711908B2
A virtual storage system is equipped with a plurality of storage systems and a virtualization device for virtualizing the plurality of storage systems logically into a single storage resource provided to a host computer. When one of the storage systems receives a command from the host computer, in the event that the storage system itself is not in possession of a function corresponding to the command, the storage system retrieves a storage system in possession of a function corresponding to the command and transfers this command to the storage system in possession of the function corresponding to the command.
US07711905B2
A system for managing data in a plurality of storage locations. In response to a least recently used algorithm wanting to move data from a cache to a storage location, an aging table is searched for an associated entry for the data. In response to finding the associated entry for the data in the aging table, an indicator is enabled on the data. In response to determining that the indicator is enabled on the data, the data is kept in the cache despite the least recently used algorithm wanting to move the data to the storage location.
US07711902B2
A memory system is provided comprising a memory controller, a level 1 (L1) cache including L1 tag memory and L1 data memory, a level 2 (L2) cache coupled to the L1 cache, the L2 cache including L2 tag memory having a plurality of L2 tag entries and a L2 data memory having a plurality of L2 data entries. The L2 tag entries are more than the L2 data entries. In response to receiving a tag and an associated data, if L2 tag entries having corresponding L2 data entries are unavailable and if a first tag in a first L2 tag entry with an associated first data in a first L2 data entry has a more recent or duplicate value of the first data in the L1 data memory, the memory controller moves the first tag to a second L2 tag entry that does not have a corresponding L2 data entry, vacates the first L2 tag entry and the first L2 data entry and stores the received tag in the first L2 tag entry and the received data in the first L2 data entry.
US07711900B2
A method, system and program product for equitable sharing of a CAM (Content Addressable Memory) table among multiple users of a switch. The method includes reserving buffers in the table to be shared, the remaining buffers being allocated to each user. The method further includes establishing whether or not an address contained in a packet from a user is listed in a buffer in the table, if the address is listed, updating a time-to-live value for the buffer for forwarding the packet and, if the address is not listed, determining whether or not the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and whether or not the reserved buffers have been exhausted, such that, if the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and the reserved buffers have been exhausted, the address is not added to the table and the user is precluded from using any additional buffers in the network switch.
US07711898B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for implementing functions of a register translation table of a computer processor, with reduced area requirements as compared to known arrangements. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a register alias table cache to map a logical register to a physical register. The register alias table cache may have a capacity corresponding to a subset of architectural logical registers. The apparatus may further comprise store logic coupled to the cache to perform operations to save an existing content of the physical register if a cache entry corresponding to the logical register is evicted from the cache. The apparatus may also comprise load logic coupled to the cache to perform operations to load a content to the physical register and to form a new entry in the cache if a needed mapping is not present in the cache.
US07711897B1
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for improving storage in a disk array are provided. According to aspects of the invention, a redundant disk array is combined with a mechanism for thin provisioning of the array. Thin provisioning refers to a process of allocating physical capacity to logical volumes on an as-needed basis. Data structures containing a mapping between the logical location of stored data and its actual location on a physical device are maintained. Through the use of the thin provisioning mechanism, physical storage space can be allocated sequentially, regardless of the order of logical writes. In this manner, the data stored on the array grows in a linear manner. The data structures maintained by the thin provisioning mechanism can be used to identify the portions of a device or an array that have been previously written. This information allows redundant arrays, such as RAID arrays, to perform initialization, rebuild, and data migration operations only on portions that been written, and not on areas that have not been utilized by a higher layer.
US07711896B2
A first storage system is connected to a second storage system, and an external device within the first storage system is provided to a host as a device of the second storage system. The second storage system includes a cache control section having cache adaptors, each controlling a disk and a cache, a protocol conversion section including protocol adaptors that switch requests from the host to appropriate ones of the cache adaptors, a management adaptor, and an internal network that mutually connects the cache adaptors, the protocol adaptors and the management adaptor. The first storage system being connected to any of the protocol adaptors is connected to the second storage system. The second storage system executes a processing for the external device by the cache control section, or connects to the first storage system through the protocol conversion section without the cache control section executing processing for the external device.
US07711893B1
A content addressable memory (CAM) device, method, and method of generating entries for range matching are disclosed. A CAM device (800) according to one embodiment can include a pre-encoder (806) that encodes range bit values W into additional bits E. Additional bits E can indicate compression of range rules according to particular bit pairs. A CAM array (802) can include entries that store compressed range code values (RANGE) with corresponding additional bit values (ENC). Alternate embodiments can include pre-encoders that encode portions of range values (K1 to Ki) in a “one-hot” fashion. Corresponding CAM entries can include encoded value having sections that each represent increasingly finer divisions of a range space.
US07711888B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting a first device on a first bus issuing a read request for an amount of data to a second device on a second bus. The systems and methods further include detecting a bridge requesting a first portion of the data from the second device on behalf of the first device in response to the bridge receiving the read request, where the bridge couples the first bus to the second bus. In addition, the systems and methods include triggering the bridge to request an additional portion of the data on behalf of the first device.
US07711882B2
A data processing apparatus comprises a processing unit which is responsive to a plurality of interrupt signals to carry out a corresponding interrupt routine. On receipt of an interrupt signal, the processing unit stores data values from a plurality of registers onto a data stack and carries out the corresponding interrupt routine. Thereafter the processor returns the data values from the data stack to the registers and carries on the processing it was performing when the interrupt was received. If a higher priority interrupt is received whilst the processor is transferring register values to or from the data stack, that transferral is abandoned and the processing unit immediately begins transferring data values from the registers to the data stack in response to the higher priority interrupt.
US07711881B2
A method for restoring system configuration information of a network attached storage includes the steps of: setting system configuration information of an network attached storage as a backup file; registering an interrupt handler; pressing down an input key (16) to turn off a power switch (K1) and generate an interrupt signal; invoking the interrupt handler to process the interrupt signal and returning interrupt GPIO information; determining whether an operating system receives the interrupt GPIO information from the interrupt handler; sending a periodical voltage to a second pin (P2) for blinking a LED (L1) if the operating system receives the interrupt GPIO information from the interrupt handler; invoking the backup file to restore the system configuration information of the network attached storage; and sending a high voltage command to the second pin for powering off the LED, which indicates that the system configuration information has been restored.
US07711880B2
In a CAN system, an arrangement is incorporated for making possible more efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection between, from and/or to modules incorporated in the system and/or reduction of accuracy requirements for clock functions utilized in the system. The system operates with communication on the bus connection that is in accordance with rules set up in the system and constitutes a combination of event-driven and time-controlled communication functions. The said functions are, together with a rule change in the time-controlled communication function, arranged to achieve the said making more efficient and/or reduction. The rule change is arranged to bring about deliberate collisions between messages appearing on the bus connection. In this way, the bandwidth utilization, the clock function and the system's general construction and function can be simplified according to the requirements imposed.
US07711875B2
A converter apparatus and method are provided that transforms an external low speed industry standard interface into an on-chip high speed serial link (HSSL). The converter of the present invention is preferably placed in close vicinity of the external interface. The HSSL operates at the system clock speed and, as a result, the HSSL interface signals can be readily treated like any other timed signal facilitating the physical design process. Because synchronization is performed once in the converter near the external interface and the signals along the HSSL of the present invention may be treated like any other timed signal, the need for interface units in each processing element of the chip to perform synchronization is eliminated. Thus, the complexity and silicon area used by the present invention is reduced. The converter enables the maximum speed for the serial interface, which is crucial in power-on-reset, manufacturing testing, and chip debugging.
US07711874B1
A polling system polls a USB keyboard connected to a USB port of a computing system. A detect module in identifies the keyboard as a low speed USB device. A polling module polls the keyboard with the scheduled interrupt transactions. A key press polling response module detects a key press, stores corresponding key scan data in a key data buffer, and returns the key scan data in response to a scheduled interrupt transaction from the polling module. A key repeat polling response module starts akey repeat polling mode when the key scan data is returned from the key press polling response module, detects whether the key data buffer is empty when a scheduled interrupt transaction is received, and returns the key scan data again if the key scan data buffer is not empty. A stop module stops the key repeat polling mode if the key scan data buffer is empty.
US07711868B2
An auxiliary computing device wakes an associated main computer system to obtain data as needed, on-demand and/or in anticipation of demand. The wakeup operation is ordinarily temporary to fetch data, whereby only a small amount of power is consumed by the main computer system. In one implementation, a control channel between the auxiliary device and the main computer system is used to signal a wakeup. A main data channel is used to obtain the data, whereby the auxiliary device has access to a larger amount of data than it can cache. Moreover, the components of the main computer system may be leveraged, such as to use the main computer system's digital rights management mechanisms. Additional data may be intelligently requested by the auxiliary device while the main computer system is powered up, e.g., to buffer media, and/or request a synchronization of calendar data, email data, and so forth.
US07711837B2
A system that facilitates implementation of business rules for multimedia content on a portable device comprises a receiver component that receives a request for support of extensions to a protocol that enable transfer of customized business rules associated with multimedia content from a host device to a portable device, the portable device is a closed system. A servicing component provides the requested support to an entity that initiated the request.
US07711829B2
A method and system for preventing a timeout from reaching a network host when bringing up a down link that is slow to waken. The method generally comprises receiving a request to access an information. If a link along a path to a remote computer containing the information is down, the link is established while concurrently returning a plurality of imposter responses, such as domain names, until the network link is established. Software implementing this method may be stored and executed in any network host. This method is particularly advantageous when waiting for a dial-up telephone connection to a network to be established.
US07711825B2
A simplified fault tolerant algorithm is presented for operating a distributed computing system in a fault tolerant manner. A system comprising three computing devices need only have two devices agree to perform any proposed function. Thus, when soliciting a vote for a proposed function, a leader device can also send its vote for the proposed function. This allows any recipient device to complete the quorum with its own vote. Consequently, any recipient device can, without any further messages, determine whether to execute the proposed function. Furthermore, if the device executes the proposed function, it can transmit the results directly to the client that requested the function, saving a message delay. If the quorum of devices used to select and execute proposed functions is itself selected by a quorum, then one of the devices of the system can be an inexpensive device having limited computational ability or storage capacity.
US07711824B2
An access system (ACC1) for relating service providers (SP1-SPn) to users (U11-Um1) includes an edge access server (EAS) connecting the service providers and penults (P1-Pk) connecting the users. User devices (UD11-UD14) are connected via VLAN:s to a user ports (UP11) on the penult. The edge access server has service agents (SA1-SAn), an administrator (AD1) and a broadcast handler (BH1), which forms a handling system together with handlers (H1-Hk) in the penults. A user (U11) decision including VLAN, service (SP1) and user port (UP11) is sent to the administrator (AD1), which dynamically allocates to the relevant service agent (SA1) a MAC address, defining a relation (R11). A user device (UD11) broadcasts a DHCP request unicasted together with user port (UP11) to the braoadcast handler (BH1). The user device (UD11) gets its IP address and IP address to the service agent (SA1). The device (UD11) broadcasts an ARP request which is unicasted by the penult (P1), to get the MAC address to the service agent (SA1). The relations (R11, R21) are secure and can easily be controled.
US07711820B2
Methods and apparatus provide formation and management of intelligent application clusters in a storage area network. Disk arbitration mechanisms ensure that a cluster is owned by a single member. In the event of a network partition, each cluster member involved arbitrates to gain ownership of a cluster. High availability mechanisms allow monitoring of system resources and effective failover capabilities.
US07711811B1
A method for creating an updateable report representing the alarm status of a network. The method can comprise tracking the lifecycle state of at least a portion of the elements within the network, categorizing at least a portion of the alarms generated in the network based on the lifecycle state of the elements generating the alarms, and removing selected alarms from an updateable report based on the lifecycle state of the elements generating the alarms. Alternatively, all alarms generated by network elements having a tracked lifecycle state can be categorized based on the lifecycle state of the elements generating the alarms. The alarms removed from the updateable report can include alarms generated by elements with a non-operational lifecycle state, alarms generated by elements with a maintenance lifecycle state, or alarms generated by elements with either the non-operational or the maintenance lifecycle state.
US07711810B2
The present invention provides distributed communication services based on a presence technology platform. Presence messaging and communication techniques allow a variety of communication agents to cooperate with one another to provide distributed services. Essentially, the messaging between the agents is used to facilitate media sessions and update participating devices of state changes bearing on providing the services. In one embodiment, each of the participating devices is associated with a logic entity, referred to as a presentity, which subscribes to notification services for the other participating devices. When a state change occurs on any one of the participating devices, the corresponding presentity notifies the other devices of the state change. As such, each participating device knows the status of the other participating devices via the presentities and can systematically determine when and how to provide services based on its current state and the current state of the other participating devices.
US07711809B2
In a wireless local area network a probe request frame is transmitted over the wireless local area network by a station. The probe request frame is received at a detector in the wireless local area network. The received probe request frame is analyzed to determine if the station that transmitted the probe request frame is an unauthorized station.
US07711797B1
A data prefetching technique optimizes the batch size of prefetch requests. The optimized batch size may be determined based on a prefetch transfer time of a previous prefetch operation, where the prefetch transfer time is measured as an elapsed time interval from when data from the previous prefetch operation is first received to when the data from the previous prefetch operation is finished being received.
US07711787B2
An on-chip network interfacing apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of on-chip network ports; a switch receiving data from a first on-chip network port of the on-chip network ports and transmitting the received data to a second on-chip network port of the on-chip network ports; and an interface unit interfacing an advanced microcontroller bus architecture (AMBA) signal received from an module, which is designed according to an AMBA on-chip bus protocol, and outputting the interfacing result to the first on-chip network port; and interfacing the on-chip network signal received from the first on-chip network port, and outputting the interfacing result to the module. Accordingly, it is possible to establish communications at increased speeds by interfacing a signal according to the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus protocol with a signal according to the on-chip network protocol.
US07711783B1
A generic event notification service for a resource-constrained device is provided. One method includes receiving an event having a unique event identifier, and determining whether an event-producing application is authorized to fire the event. Upon a determination of authorization to fire the event, a determination is made whether any event-consuming applications are authorized by the event-producing application to receive the event. Upon a determination of authorization to receive the event, the event is forwarded to each authorized event-consuming application. In this manner, secure, flexible, generic, and uniform application interaction is facilitated.
US07711777B2
A method and system for managing a remote control session (RCS) during which control of input mechanisms of authorized users for manipulating a shared computer screen is time-sliced among the authorized users. No more than one authorized user has control of the input mechanisms at each time during the RCS. Each authorized user is able to view the shared portion of the computer screen throughout the RCS and has been assigned a priority, a control time slice (CTS), and an inactivity threshold. Sole control of the input mechanisms is provided to a first authorized user who requested control of the input mechanisms. Sole control of the input mechanisms is transferred from the first authorized user to a second authorized user who requested control of the input mechanisms. The first and second authorized user are each scheduled to have sole control of the input mechanisms for a specified time duration.
US07711765B2
A method and corresponding circuit for determining a final result for a desired series of multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations are based on counting the occurrence of products in the desired series of MAC operations, multiplying the counts by their corresponding products to obtain partial sums, and adding the partial sums to obtain the final result. MAC processing as taught herein can be applied to a wide range of applications, such as received signal processing in wireless communication for computationally efficient (and high-rate) generation of interference correlation estimates and/or equalization filter values for a received communication signal.
US07711762B2
For eigenvalue decomposition, a first set of at least one variable is derived based on a first matrix being decomposed and using Coordinate Rotational Digital Computer (CORDIC) computation. A second set of at least one variable is derived based on the first matrix and using a look-up table. A second matrix of eigenvectors of the first matrix is then derived based on the first and second variable sets. To derive the first variable set, CORDIC computation is performed on an element of the first matrix to determine the magnitude and phase of this element, and CORDIC computation is performed on the phase to determine the sine and cosine of this element. To derive the second variable set, intermediate quantities are derived based on the first matrix and used to access the look-up table.
US07711744B1
Methods are provided for identifying user-directory records that match input strings entered into a packet-based telephone. Each input string comprises symbols associated with character sets, and each record comprises multiple attributes. A record matches a set of input strings when, independent of the order of the input strings, there is a one-to-one correspondence matching the input strings with an equal number of attributes of the record. An input string matches an attribute when, on a character-by-character, symbol-by-symbol basis, the characters of at least a portion of the attribute are elements of the character sets associated with the symbols of the input string. Subsets of matching records are dynamically sent to the packet-based telephone for display.
US07711739B2
The subject invention relates to systems and methods that augment node-based programming languages to facilitate efficient data manipulation of hierarchical data structures. In one aspect, a query or general purpose language system is provided. The system includes a query component to interact with hierarchical node-based data collections and a language extension component to augment the query component to facilitate interactions with the node-based data collections. The language extension component supplies various functions to filter the data collections at a granular level, re-shape the data collections, sort the data collections, or extend the data collections with computed nodes.
US07711734B2
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for analyzing transactional data. A similarity analysis program may be used that receives time-series data relating to transactions of an organization and performs a similarity analysis of the time-series data to generate a similarity matrix. A data reduction program may be used that receives the time-series data and performs one or more dimension reduction operations on the time-series data to generate reduced time-series data. A distance analysis program may be used that performs a distance analysis using the similarity matrix and the reduced time-series data to generate a distance matrix. A data analysis program may be used that performs a data analysis operation, such as a data mining operation, using the distance matrix to generate a data mining analysis of the transactional data.
US07711723B2
A method, system and article of manufacture for processing requests in web applications and, more particularly, for processing requests between two different applications. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of processing a copy request in a distributed environment including at least a first and a second application. The method comprises receiving, from the first application, a copy request for a copy of a selected object. A fully defined instance of the selected object resides in the second application and only a representation of the fully defined instance resides in the first application. The method further comprises generating, by the second application, an object descriptor representing the fully defined instance. At least a portion of the fully defined instance is excluded in the object descriptor. The object descriptor is transmitted from the second to the first application. Thereby, access by the first application to the fully defined instance is prevented.
US07711718B2
A metabox container box which is capable of storing multiple meta boxes for use. The metabox container box can also include a box which indicates the relationship between each of the meta boxes stored in the metabox container box. Various embodiments of the present invention are also backward-compatible with earlier versions of the ISO base media file format.
US07711713B2
A system for limiting the amount of time for a database server to perform a crash recovery process. A maximum recovery time for the database server to perform the crash recovery process is specified. An estimated recovery time for the crash recovery process that is less than the maximum recovery time is calculated, based on at least one of a deterministic analysis of cost accumulation during prior instances of the crash recovery process or an empirical analysis of cost accumulation during regular transaction processing in the database server. The crash recovery process is then conformed to the estimated recovery time.
US07711706B2
Systems and methods are provided for reorganizing static file system (SFS) images for efficient differencing, updating and to reduce the update time. The systems and methods are for updating compressed read-only memory file system (CRAMFS) format images as an example. The reorganizing receives an image that includes one or more SFS components such as CRAMFS components and determines any changed sections within the SFS images. Reorganized CRAMFS components are generated using information of the CRAMFS components by moving any of the changed sections from a first position to a second position in the component. The second position can follow all unchanged data sections of the image. A modified image is generated that includes the reorganized CRAMFS component. The modified image is used in SFS differencing and updating.
US07711702B2
Systems and/or methods for storing and/or retrieving assets in connection with an extremely large scale computer storage system are provided. An asset catalog may comprise a plurality of asset catalog entries stored according to at least one schema and corresponding to a plurality of assets. A storage architecture may be capable of storing the plurality of assets, with the storage architecture comprising a storage locator and a federator. An item identification scheme may be capable of providing identifiers to reference, locate, and/or access said assets and/or said asset catalog entries stored in the asset catalog in the storage architecture. The computer storage system may be scalable essentially without limitation while maintaining asset storage and retrieval flexibility and substantially obsolescence-proof survivability of assets.
US07711700B2
Systems and methods for data classification to facilitate and improve data management within an enterprise are described. The disclosed systems and methods evaluate and define data management operations based on data characteristics rather than data location, among other things. Also provided are methods for generating a data structure of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. This data structure may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than scanning the data files themselves.
US07711697B2
A communication system for producing electronic business information reports comprising: a communication network, a website module, a product fabrication module, a computer system for communicating with and controlling the operation of the group of modules via the network, means for accessing the computer system thereby to enable communication and control of the modules by a user, and means for providing just-in-time business information reports wherein a request therefor is transmitted through the website to the product fabrication module.
US07711692B2
Under the present invention, when a SQL statement having a full select portion that references a view containing a join operation (e.g., a LOJ operation) is received, the reference to the view will be moved out of the full select portion. Once moved, the view and its join operation will be resolved separately from the SQL statement. The results of this resolution will be placed in a temporary table. A reference to the temporary table is then inserted in the full select portion, and the SQL statement is thereafter performed.
US07711687B2
A Building Database Manipulator to build databases for a variety of physical environments including definitions of buildings, terrain and other site parameters, by scanning in or rapidly editing data. Raster scans may be entered or object files in various formats may be used as input. Detailed information is stored in the drawing database about the object's location, radio frequency attenuation, color, and other physical information such as electrical characteristics and intersections of the object with the ground, floors, ceilings, and other objects when objects are formatted in a drawing. The formatting process is strictly two-dimensional in nature, but the resulting drawing is a true three-dimensional environment. The user sees the three-dimensional building structure by altering the views. The resulting database may be used in a variety of modeling applications, but is especially useful for engineering, planning and management tools for in-building or microcell wireless systems. Grouping objects in layers allows for simultaneous conversion of all objects in one layer to have certain predetermined attributes (e.g., converting objects to be made from glass versus cement; converting objects within a layer to have a uniform, smaller or larger, height or width dimension).
US07711679B2
An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are identified that predict the presence of other phrases in documents. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases. Related phrases and phrase extensions are also identified. Phrases in a query are identified and used to retrieve and rank documents. Phrases are also used to cluster documents in the search results, create document descriptions, and eliminate duplicate documents from the search results, and from the index.
US07711678B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for applying ordering to transactions in a software transactional memory system. A software transactional memory system is provided with a feature to allow a pre-determined commit order to be specified for a plurality of transactions. The pre-determined commit order is used at runtime to aid in determining an order in which to commit the transactions in the software transactional memory system. A contention management process is invoked when a conflict occurs between a first transaction and a second transaction. The pre-determined commit order is used in the contention management process to aid in determining whether the first transaction or the second transaction should win the conflict and be allowed to proceed.
US07711676B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products for tracking usage of business data elements include receiving an electronic document that includes instances of business data elements and identifying an instance of a particular business data element in the electronic document. A counter associated with the particular business data element is incremented based on the identified instance. The electronic document has a format defined by a business communication schema, and the business communication schema includes a set of predefined business data elements for use in transacting electronic business.
US07711673B1
The invention relates, in an embodiment, to a computer-implemented method for automatic charset detection, which includes detecting an encoding scheme of a target document. The method includes training, using a plurality of text document samples, to obtain a set of machine learning models. Training includes using SIM (Similarity Algorithm) to generate the set of machine learning models from feature vectors obtained from the plurality of text document samples. The method also includes applying the set of machine learning models against a set of target document feature vectors converted from the target document to detect the encoding scheme.
US07711662B2
A system and method are provided for the training and testing of prediction algorithms. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention the method generates optimum training, testing and/or validation data sets from a common general database by applying a genetic algorithm to populations of testing and training subsets used in connection with a given prediction algorithm. In exemplary embodiments the prediction algorithm operated upon is an artificial neural network. As well, in preferred exemplary embodiments, the most predictive independent variables of the records of the common database are automatically selected in a pre-processing phase. Such preprocessing phase applies a genetic algorithm to populations of prediction algorithms which vary as to number and content of input variables, where the prediction algorithms representing the selections of input variables which have the best testing performances and the minimum input variables are promoted for the processing of the new generations according to a defined selection algorithm.
US07711656B2
A system and method for data service management of electronic files. A user selects the file or files to be stored on a remote storage device. The user is also able to selectively scan to archive, or storage, a document or other data. The user then selects the appropriate payment option. The user is presented with the total cost of the service, and upon acceptance, the selected service is performed. The details of the transaction are archived and the user is billed for the service. The fees charged are based on the number of pages of the document, file, or other data stored. The fees are charged at the commencement of the services, rather than each day. The fees are also based on the location form which the services are accessed based on selected criteria of such location. Renewal of the storage duration includes fees are those fees charged when the document, file, or other data was first stored.
US07711655B2
An electric power trading support system includes a demand prediction unit, a demand prediction error evaluation unit, a demand predicted value upward adjustment ratio (quantity) setting unit, a private power generation/power purchase ratio (quantities) setting unit, an optimization unit for evaluating optimum values of the demand predicted value upward adjustment ratio (quantity) and the self power generation/power purchase ratio (quantities) based on costs, and a display unit for displaying the optimum values evaluated by the optimization unit, maximizing profit to an electric power retailer by minimizing the cost for power generation and power purchase when the electric power retailer sells electric power by use of a private power generator and backup electric power purchased from an electric power company.
US07711652B2
A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.
US07711649B2
A method is disclosed for use with at least one initial document describing a technical concept suitable for licensing, the method comprising: retrieving a set of intellectual property documents from a data warehouse; partitioning the set of intellectual property documents into a plurality of document categories; classifying the set of intellectual property documents by an industry parameter; constructing a contingency table that includes a listing of industry classifications for each of the document categories, and identifying documents within a particular one of the document categories that have different industry classifications so as to identify at least one potential new licensee industry of the technical concept described in the initial document.
US07711647B2
The present invention is implemented within a distributed network operating environment (such as a CDN) in which content providers offload given content for delivery from servers (e.g., CDN edge servers) managed by a service provider (such as a CDN operator). It is assumed that the given content is secured using a digital rights management (DRM) scheme. According to the invention, a distributed set of license server processes are provided to manage the issuance of content licenses. Each of the license server processes is operative to generate licenses by which a given end user client obtains given rights for given content, typically the content served from the machine. A distributed set of license server processes operates in a de-centralized manner and without access to third party business logic (e.g., a payment mechanism) or authentication information associated with end users requesting the given content.
US07711639B2
A method for pre-funding is disclosed. The method includes sending a plurality of pre-fund authorization requests to a buyer financial institution, and then receiving a plurality of responses to the pre-fund authorization requests from the buyer financial institution, where each response either accepts or declines a pre-fund authorization request. A funds transfer request is sent to the buyer financial institution, where the funds transfer request corresponds to a total value of the accepted pre-fund authorization requests. Notification that funds have transferred from the buyer financial institution in response to the funds transfer request is received. Then, the sending of the funds to a supplier financial institution is authorized.
US07711637B2
A risk management method and system for facilitating analysis and quantification of risk associated with politically exposed persons is disclosed. A computerized political risk management system maintains a database relating individuals to politically sensitive positions and world events. A rating system is used to assess risk based upon criteria such as a position held, historical data and/or interpretation of world events. The system can generate a risk quotient or other rating based upon a weighted algorithm applied to the criteria. The risk quotient is indicative of risk associated with an account. Actions commensurate with a risk quotient can be presented to an institution to help the institution properly manage risk associated with a politically exposed person. A log or other stored history can be created such that utilization of the system can mitigate adverse effects relating to a problematic account. Mitigation can be accomplished by demonstrating to regulatory bodies, shareholders, news media and other interested parties that corporate governance is being addressed through tangible risk management processes.
US07711635B2
A system and method is provided that provides tools to consumers to help consumers understand their credit scores and how to take action to improve their credit scores. A system and method for each of and for a combination of a score estimating tool, a best action simulation tool, an easy error correction tool, and a score improvement tool are provided.
US07711634B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for securitizing natural catastrophe risk. One or more risk classes representing natural catastrophe risks is are established, and a first collection of risk instruments of a first risk class of the one or more risk classes is issued. Each risk class is recurringly issuable as risk instruments providing a return on an investment. The amount of the return for a risk instrument is contingent upon the occurrence of a realization event for the corresponding represented natural catastrophe risk. Collections of risk instruments issued from recurringly issuable risk classes are also described.
US07711633B2
In various embodiments, test trading orders are generated, transmitted and ranked.
US07711629B2
Network-based, computer-implemented techniques and arrangements for fulfilling multi-modal freight shipment involving at least two transportation modes between a first location and a second location are disclosed. In one implementation, there is included receiving a derivative purchase request for capacity between the first location and the second location, the derivative purchase request having contract requirements that specify at least a shipment volume and a performance time. There is further included ascertaining from a database of available derivative contracts a plurality of potentially suitable derivative contracts that satisfy the contract requirements. There is also included selecting a subset of the plurality of potentially suitable derivative contracts to satisfy the derivative purchase request, the subset including at least a first derivative contract for a first mode of the two transportation modes and a second derivative contract for a second mode of the two transportation modes.
US07711628B2
A method for providing a wager in a financial market environment is provided that includes presenting an opportunity to make a wager that is based on a moving market line associated with a financial market. An end user is given an opportunity to bet on whether a financial market value will be above or below the moving market line at a designated time. The wager may be accepted from the end user. The wager may be monitored in order to determine whether the financial market value was above or below the moving market line at the designated time.
US07711617B2
A system and method for providing optimization of a financial portfolio using a parametric leptokurtic distribution is presented. One or more risk factors associated with a plurality of financial assets maintained in a portfolio and applicable over at least one time horizon are provided. A subordinated parametric distribution model having leptokurtic behaviors is specified for the risk factors with a measurement of risk expressed as a function of expected tail loss for a significance level or quantile. The subordinated distribution model is applied at each such time horizon to determine a distribution of the risk factors for the financial assets. Portfolio weights providing a substantially maximum risk adjusted return for the portfolio are determined.
US07711614B2
There is provided a contents distribution method in which burdens imposed on a distribution service provider and a contents user are lightened so that the contents user can use contents as many as possible at low cost. A system comprises terminal apparatuses 1, a portal server 3, a contents DB 4, a contents distribution server 5, a cabinet management server 6, and an accounting server 7. The cabinet management server 6 manages the contents usable limit and contents storage status of each of the terminal apparatuses 1. The portal server 3 and the cabinet management server 6 cooperate with each other to generate the contents usable limit for each terminal apparatus 1 and instruct the contents distribution server 5 to distribute contents in accordance with a contents distribution request given from the terminal apparatus 1. To distribute the contents, the remaining capacity of the contents usable limit in the terminal apparatus 1 is obtained based on information concerned with available contents and deleted contents in the terminal apparatus 1 so that an instruction is given to distribute the contents within the remaining capacity.
US07711611B2
An electronic item list system and method, such as a wish or gift list, for an electronic shopping mall/online shopping portal, or an item list system provided as a software service. The system and method provides a user with the ability to create a list of items that the user would like others to purchase for the user as a gift or as a list of items that the user would like to retain for a later purchase. A user interface is provided that allows the user to select items electronically to add to a user specific gift list. The items are not limited to specific products, but can include general product categories and/or products from a specific merchant or manufacturer. The user interface communicates through an interface component that extracts data from a number of databases. For example, the databases can include a merchant database, an offers database, a manufacturers database and a products database. The interface will extract data from one or all of the databases based on the amount of information in a gift list request and provide the best results. As records are removed from the databases, the interface allows for graceful degradation of the display, such that something is always displayed to the user.
US07711610B2
The present invention relates to a personal color ordering system and a personal color ordering method for custom-making a commodity of a color that a customer designates via a communication network, and is a cosmetic manufacturing system manufacturing a cosmetic according to information transmitted from a terminal via the Internet to a server; by providing a color database relating color data used for manufacturing the cosmetic and color specifying information for specifying the color desired by the customer, retrieving the color data desired by the customer by referring to the color database according to the color specifying information input from the terminal, transmitting this retrieved color data to a commodity manufacturing apparatus, and manufacturing the cosmetic desired by the customer, the commodity of the color desired by the purchaser (the customer) is custom-made easily in a short time.
US07711607B2
Methods and systems for deploying business applications are provided. A method for deploying a business application includes receiving inputted configuration information for the business application from a user of the business application. Additional configuration information is retrieved for the business application based on the inputted configuration information. The business application is configured based on the inputted and additional configuration information.
US07711604B1
A system is provided in which a sale price is determined based on a product description, and the sale price is transmitted to a customer. The customer is not guaranteed what specific product will be sold to the customer before an agreement to purchase a product for the sale price is received from the customer. After receiving the agreement, a retailer selects a product conforming to the product description, and identifies the product to the customer. The retailer is able to evaluate a customer's individual demand based on the received description and to determine a sale price accordingly, thereby reducing losses associated with conventional single-price systems. Although this may result in different sale prices for an identical product, the system is perceived as fair because a higher-paying customer likely agreed to a different product description than a lower-paying customer, and neither would have agreed to the other's product description and sale price. The system also allows a retailer to mask product discounts by selecting undesirable redemption conditions under which to sell the product, such as pickup at a faraway location, even if the product is available at a closer location. As a result, the customer believes that the discount is attributable to the undesirable redemption conditions, rather than to the product quality or to decreased demand. Accordingly, price and brand dilution are minimized.
US07711600B1
A self-service shopper ordering guide system and method for use by retailers to customize product ordering promotions. An ordering guide database is synchronized with the retailer's product and inventory databases so that current product data is available to the system. The self-service ordering guide system comprises tools for developing and deploying screens to self-service terminals located throughout a store. A screen flow editor prompts a user to define screens for an order flow and to specify products from the ordering guide database to include on screens. The user's selections populate screen templates that comprise an order flow. Photographs and files for use in the screens and subscreens allow a retailer to create a customized look. A shopper using an in-store terminal is prompted to make selections from the screens to create an in-store order. The ordering guide system is further integrated with the retailer's fulfillment system for processing online orders.
US07711594B2
System, method and program product for determining a price “P” to bill a customer for a resource. An amount “U” of the resource provided to the customer during the billing period is determined. An amount “Ci” of the resource committed to the customer during the billing period is identified. The price P=F(Ci)+G(U−Ci) is determined, where “F” and “G” are price functions for the resource. The price “P” is billed to the customer for the billing period. A determination is made as to the number of requests for the resource which were made by the customer during the billing period in excess of “Ci” which were denied. If the number of denied requests exceeds a predetermined threshold, the amount “Ci” for determining the price “P” is increased during a subsequent billing period. The price “P” is billed to the customer for the subsequent billing period based on the increased amount “Ci” and the value “U” during the subsequent billing period, and the functions “F” and “G”.
US07711588B2
In a planning model, a decision variable optimization process (200) generates a planning function (122) describing the planning model, the planning function (122) depending upon a set of decision variables (125). The planning function (122) is separated into independent planning functions, SPi, each of which depend upon different decision variables (125). Each of the independent planning functions, SPi, is independently optimized to obtain decisions for the different decision variables (125), and an outcome is presented that indicates the decisions. The planning function (122) further includes an embedded constraint function that introduces an embedded constraint to weaken the coupling between decision variables (125) in the planning model, thereby reducing an N-dimensional optimization problem into a lower order optimization problem.
US07711585B2
A method for determining a death benefit with respect to a charitable gift annuity contract, the method determining the death benefit funded on an after-tax basis of the charitable gift annuity. The method comprises determining if a wealth replacement rider has been selected; and if the wealth replacement rider has been selected, calculating the amount of the death benefit to be funded on the after-tax basis. The method further comprises calculating the new charitable gift annuity payout.
US07711584B2
A method and computerized system is disclosed for managing the underwriting, quoting and binding an insurance policy with regard to the technology used to militate against the financial consequences of property losses. The invention utilizes a classifier for categorizing and weighing risk, composed of data representing in an identified building, a first unmitigated insurance risk and a second insurance risk, based upon the use of certain technology. A plurality of such weights are summed such that the weights generate a minimized risk for a building structure under consideration. combinations of technologies, employed in existing building structures to a classification, which then permits an underwriter to establish a premium. In another aspect of the invention data structures representing the quantification of risk reduction attendant a given technology or product are chained into a plurality of decision trees that process a construction phase and a pruning phase.
US07711575B2
Methods, systems, and products provide communications services. A request for communications service is received that originates from a client communications device associated with a user. The request for communications service communicates to a service provider of a communications network. The service provider then permits the user to negotiate with other service providers of other communications networks to fulfill the request for communications service.
US07711567B2
Telecommunication systems including a terminal, a switch and on Internet/Intranet having a memory for storing information blocks at locations defined by addresses, can be made more user-friendly by introducing a detector for detecting speech-recognition/non-speech recognition related parts in control signals originating from the terminal and defining the addresses or n response signals sent from memory to terminal and including said information blocks. A processor is coupled to the detector for routing, in dependence on the detection, routing (parts of) the signals to a server for either conversion of (parts of) the signals or for information purposes.
US07711563B2
A method and system are provided for synthesizing a corrupted frame output from a decoder including one or more predictive filters. The corrupted frame is representative of one segment of a decoded signal output from the decoder. The method comprises extrapolating a replacement frame based upon another segment of the decoded signal and substituting the replacement frame for the corrupted frame. Finally, the internal states of the filters are updated based upon the substituting.
US07711559B2
A speech recognition apparatus that requires a reduced amount of computation for likelihood calculation is provided. A language lookahead score for a node of interest is generated based on the language scores for each recognition word shared by the node of interest. To this is added the node's acoustic score, which is calculated based on the likelihood of the connected hypotheses expressed by a path from the root node to the parent node of the node of interest. From this added result, the language lookahead score resulting when the parent node is the node of interest is deleted, and the language lookahead score is updated by adding the language lookahead score of the node of interest. The updating of the language lookahead score is terminated at a specific position in the tree structure.
US07711558B2
An apparatus and method for detecting a voice activity period. The apparatus for detecting a voice activity period includes a domain conversion module that converts an input signal into a frequency domain signal in the unit of a frame obtained by dividing the input signal at predetermined intervals, a subtracted-spectrum-generation module that generates a spectral subtraction signal which is obtained by subtracting a predetermined noise spectrum from the converted frequency domain signal, a modeling module that applies the spectral subtraction signal to a predetermined probability distribution model, and a speech-detection module that determines whether a speech signal is present in a current frame through a probability distribution calculated by the modeling module.
US07711556B1
Methods and systems for filtering synthesized or reconstructed speech are implemented. A filter based on a set of linear predictive coding (LPC) coefficients is constructed by transforming the LPC coefficients to the pseudo-cepstrum, a domain existing between LPC domain and the line spectral frequency (LSF) domain. The resulting filter can emphasize spectral frequencies associated with various formants, or spectral peaks, of an inverse transfer function relating to the LPC coefficients, and can de-emphasize spectral frequencies associated with various spectral minima, or spectral valleys, of the inverse transfer function relating to the LPC coefficients.
US07711553B2
A method and apparatus performing blind source separation using frequency-domain normalized multichannel blind deconvolution. Multichannel mixed signals are frames of N samples including r consecutive blocks of M samples. The frames are separated using separating filters in frequency domain in an overlap-save manner by discrete Fourier transform (DFT). The separated signals are then converted back into time domain using inverse DFT applied to a nonlinear function. Cross-power spectra between separated signals and nonlinear-transformed signals are computed and normalized by power spectra of both separated signals and nonlinear-transformed signals to have flat spectra. Time domain constraint is then applied to preserve first L cross-correlations. These alias-free normalized cross-power spectra are further constrained by nonholonomic constraints. Then, natural gradient is computed by convolving alias-free normalized cross-power spectra with separating filters. After the separating filters length is constrained to L, the separating filters are updated using the natural gradient and normalized to have unit norm. Terminating conditions are checked to determine if separating filters converged.
US07711541B2
At a first step, initial groups are assigned to buttons of an input portion and they are displayed on the display. One initial group is specified in response to the pressed button. At a second step, complex initials and predetermined syllables are assigned to the buttons and they are displayed on the display. One complex initial or one predetermined syllable is specified in response to the pressed button. At a third step, finals are assigned to the buttons and they are displayed on the display. One final is specified in response to the pressed button and a syllable is determined by connecting the specified final with the initial in the specified complex initial. The predetermined syllable specified at the second step or the syllable determined at the third step is determined as an input syllable.
US07711533B2
A distributed network of interactive agents is provided wherein remote agents interact with a central computer and with one another through an object based parallel modeling language and/or an aggregate modeling language using an open client-server architecture, which enables many users to control the behavior of individual objects or agents and to view the aggregated results on a central computer. This network of agents is integrated with a powerful suite of modeling, analysis and display tools that together give agents the capacity to “fly” the system in intuitive mode, to reflect on the emergent result of their simulation and, also, to encode their strategies as rules which the system can then run independently.
US07711529B2
A technique for determining the number of constraints on, or topological dimension of, a set of input data produced by a nonlinear system, such as a pathological vocal or econometric system. The technique characterizes the tangent space about a predetermined base point by identifying a maximal set of non-redundant nonlinear fits to the data. It needs only a few data points and only assumes that the functional form of the true constraints is smooth. Each fit is equivalent to a set of contours, with the data lying along the zero-value contour. For each fit, the gradient at the base point in the uphill direction identifies the constraint direction. The number of linearly independent constraint directions provides the number of constraints near the base point. The remaining unconstrained directions define the tangent space, which has a dimensionality equal to the number of linearly independent unconstrained directions.
US07711518B2
Methods for providing operational status information associated with a distributed application environment can include monitoring performance of actions occurring on separate components in a distributed application environment in response to a requested operation to determine operational status information of the distributed application environment based on reports provided by the separate components. Related systems and computer program product are also disclosed.
US07711512B2
According to an example embodiment, a semiconductor device test system includes a semiconductor device and a test apparatus. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of function blocks for performing predetermined functions at different operating speeds and a plurality of ports, each corresponding to a respective function block. The test apparatus is adapted to generate a plurality of signals with different frequencies corresponding to each of the operating speeds of the function blocks, to output a plurality of input test data to the ports in response to the signals, and to receive a plurality of output test data from the ports to determine if the semiconductor device is normal.
US07711511B2
A railroad signal system interlocking is automatically tested. A control point interface corresponding to a predetermined function of the interlocking has an isolated section and a control section. The isolated section is connected with the interlocking and has a normal, inactivated state during operation of the interlocking, and an activated state for testing the interlocking by detecting an electrical characteristic representing the status of the predetermined function executed by the interlocking. The control section drives the isolated section to its activated state and receiving an output from the isolated section in response to the detected electrical characteristic, and delivers a status report.
US07711507B2
A method and system determines a relative position of a first object in relation to a second object. A computer program and computer-readable storage medium is usable to determine a spatial position and orientation of measurement devices in environments of arbitrary complexity. A relative position of the objects and real coordinates of the location and orientation of the objects is determinable from computer simulation and virtual coordinates of a location and orientation of the first and second objects.
US07711506B2
A method of calibrating a sensor system comprising a disposable sensor and a computer device, both the sensor and the computer device having circuitry for facilitating the transmission of data between them via a wireless communication link. The method comprises storing a final value of a monitored parameter obtained using a first disposable sensor, or some other value derivable from said final value, in a memory of the computer device, and calibrating the system for a new disposable sensor using said final value or said other value.
US07711505B2
An orientation calculation apparatus obtains data from an input device comprising at least a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an image pickup means, so as to calculate an orientation of the input device. Firstly, the orientation calculation apparatus calculates an orientation of the input device in accordance with an angular rate detected by the gyro sensor. Secondly, the orientation is corrected in accordance with acceleration data detected by the acceleration sensor. Further, the orientation is corrected in accordance with an image of a predetermined subject to be taken by the image pickup means.
US07711498B2
A glow plug degradation determination device energizes a glow plug immediately after an operation of an internal combustion engine is stopped. When a preset energization time elapses, the device senses a sensing value corresponding to resistance of the glow plug. The device determines degradation of the glow plug based on the sensing value. When the device determines that the glow plug is degraded, the device stores a result of the determination and reports the degradation of the glow plug before a next start. The device provisionally determines the degradation of the glow plug based on the sensing value during the operation of the internal combustion engine. After the device provisionally determines the degradation to be present, the device determines the degradation of the glow plug immediately after the operation of the internal combustion engine is stopped.
US07711497B2
The present invention relates to a method of identifying calcium binding sites in gamma-crystallin useful in calcium-based homeostasis for the management of Cataract, said method comprising steps of isolating gamma-crystallin from eye lens, studying binding of calcium to the isolated protein by both direct and indirect methods, identifying Greek key Motif as calcium-binding sites of the protein gamma crystallin with the said protein binding 4-mol eq of calcium having dissociation constant of 90 micromole.
US07711492B2
Gene expression data provides a basis for more accurate identification and diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders. In addition, gene expression data can be used to develop more accurate predictors of survival. The present invention discloses methods for identifying, diagnosing, and predicting survival in a lymphoma or lymphoproliferative disorder on the basis of gene expression patterns. The invention discloses a novel microarray, the Lymph Dx microarray, for obtaining gene expression data from a lymphoma sample. The invention also discloses a variety of methods for utilizing lymphoma gene expression data to determine the identity of a particular lymphoma and to predict survival in a subject diagnosed with a particular lymphoma. This information will be useful in developing the therapeutic approach to be used with a particular subject.
US07711491B2
A computational method and computer-based system of modeling DNA synthesis for the design and interpretation of PCR amplification, parallel DNA synthesis, and microarray chip analysis. The method and system include modules that address the bioinformatics, kinetics, and thermodynamics of DNA amplification and synthesis. Specifically, the steps of DNA selection, as well as the kinetics and thermodynamics of DNA hybridization and extensions, are addressed, which enable the optimization of the processing and the prediction of the products as a function of DNA sequence, mixing protocol, time, temperature and concentration of species.
US07711471B2
A fuel injection control method for controlling fuel injection to a plurality of cylinders of an engine is disclosed. The method involves the use of a fuel injection control device that includes a key switch, an engine rotation sensor, and a controller, wherein the key switch initiates an engine stopping operation, engine rotation sensor recognizes fuel injection to a specific cylinder, and then the controller stops fuel injection. A phase difference is provided between fuel injection of the specific engine and that of another engine so as to control fuel injection.
US07711467B2
In a side door collision detecting system for a vehicle, an internal pressure sensor detects a door internal pressure of a side door of the vehicle. The internal pressure sensor outputs an internal pressure signal based on the door internal pressure, and the internal pressure sensor is installed in an interior space of the side door. A physical value sensor detects a physical value and outputs a physical value signal based on the physical value. The physical value sensor is installed in the interior space of the side door. A collision determining circuit determines whether the side collision occurs based on the internal pressure signal and the physical value signal.
US07711466B2
A control unit 3 estimates a driving target point Pt based on obstacle information which is recognized by a stereoscopic camera 4 and an environment recognition unit 5, and estimates a position of an obstacle based on a current relative position between a vehicle and the obstacle and information of a traveling of the vehicle. Then, the control unit 3 sets the driving target point Pt to a position by adding a driving target point traveling distance ifx0 over which the vehicle 1 travels in a lateral direction based on a steering torque f0 and a preset safety spacing Sx. The control unit 3 controls the steering of the vehicle 1 so as to be directed toward the driving target point.
US07711460B2
An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction vehicle may also include an electrical power storage device which can be selectively discharged to allow the vehicle to be serviced.
US07711455B1
A low-cost, easily retrofit Propulsion Controlled Aircraft (PCA) system for use on a wide range of commercial and military aircraft consists of an propulsion controlled aircraft computer that reads in aircraft data including aircraft state, pilot commands and other related data, calculates aircraft throttle position for a given maneuver commanded by the pilot, and then displays both current and calculated throttle position on a cockpit display to show the pilot where to move throttles to achieve the commanded maneuver, or is automatically sent digitally to command the engines directly.
US07711453B2
A positioning control system has a disturbance observer for estimating a disturbance from a displaced distance of a cylinder of a controlled object, and feeding back an estimated disturbance. The positioning control system also includes a saturation element and a low-pass element disposed in a feedback loop including the disturbance observer, and a saturated value changer for changing a saturated value of the saturation element based on a deviation. The saturation element is disposed in a forward path of a positive-feedback minor loop, whereas the low-pass element is disposed in a feedback path of the positive-feedback minor loop.
US07711445B2
In a first aspect, a method of managing work in progress within a small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility is provided. The first method includes providing a small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility having (1) a plurality of processing tools; and (2) a high speed transport system adapted to transport small lot size substrate carriers among the processing tools. The method further includes maintaining a predetermined work in progress level within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility by (1) increasing an average cycle time of low priority substrates within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility; and (2) decreasing an average cycle time of high priority substrates within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility so as to approximately maintain the predetermined work in progress level within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07711443B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for wirelessly recording multi-track audio files without the data corruption or loss of data that typically occurs with wireless data transmission. In some aspects of the present invention, each performer is equipped with a local audio device capable of locally recording the respective performer's audio while also transmitting it to a master recorder. The locally recorded audio may then be used to repair or replace any audio lost or corrupted during transmission to the master recorder. Such repair or replacement may be performed electronically or via playback of the locally recorded audio. In other aspects of the present invention, a master recorder is not required since all locally recorded audio may be combined or otherwise processed post-recording. A multi-memory unit is provided in another aspect of the present invention to facilitate manipulation and processing of audio files.
US07711426B2
A method and an apparatus for determining a time period remaining in a useful life of an energy storage device in an implantable medical device. The method may include measuring a voltage of the energy storage device to produce a measured voltage, and comparing the measured voltage to a transition voltage. While the measured voltage is greater than or equal to the transition voltage, the time period remaining in the energy storage device's useful life is approximated based upon a function of charge depleted. While the measured voltage is less than the transition voltage, the time period remaining in the energy storage device's useful life is approximated based upon a higher order polynomial function of the measured voltage. The transition voltage corresponds to a predetermined point on a energy storage device voltage depletion curve representing the voltage across the energy storage device over time.
US07711419B2
A method, system, and an apparatus for providing a therapy neurostimulation signal. The apparatus includes a sealed housing being of a total volume of less than about 14.5 cc and a power supply contained within the sealed housing. The power supply includes a charge capacity of at least about 100 milliAmpHours. The apparatus also includes a controller to control an operation of the power supply and to provide an electrical neurostimulation signal for stimulating a portion of a neural tissue. The apparatus also provides for implementing an interrupt-driven architecture into an implantable medical device.
US07711415B1
Provided herein are implantable devices, and methods for use therewith, that independently monitor levels of parasympathetic and sympathetic tone of a patient. In accordance with an embodiment, a cardiac electrogram (EGM) signal is sensed using implanted electrodes, cardiac intervals are measured within a portion of the sensed EGM signal, and levels of parasympathetic tone and sympathetic tone are independently assessed based on the measured cardiac intervals. This abstract is not intended to describe all of the various embodiments of the present invention.
US07711411B2
A method of in-vivo fat measurement of humans or animals by scanning the ear of the subject using a fibre optic probe delivering a light beam of Near infrared wavelengths provided by a NIR source. Passing the beam through an interferometer to encode data from the whole spectral range simultaneously. Detecting reflected light by a detector and applying Fourier Transform techniques to determine the intensity of the light in at least one narrow wave band selected for its correspondence to a form of fat. Recording the NIR response and determining the fat content of the body by either comparison to known reference samples or by use of an empirical formula.
US07711404B2
A system and method for lung cancer screening is provided. The system includes a database including structured patient information for a patient population and a domain knowledge base including information about lung cancer; an individual patient record; and a processor for analyzing the patient record with data from the database to determine if a patient has indications of lung cancer. The method includes the steps of inputting patient-specific data into a patient record; performing at least one lung cancer screening procedure on a patient, wherein at least one result from the at least one procedure is inputted into the patient record in a structured format; and analyzing the patient record with a domain knowledge base to determine if the patient has indications of lung cancer.
US07711393B1
A cellular communications network architecture is disclosed. The architecture includes a mobile switching office, a first base transceiver station in communication with the mobile switching office via a first communications link, and a second base transceiver station in communication with the mobile switching office via a second communications link. A first optical switch is in communication with the first base transceiver station via a third communications link and a second optical switch is in communication with the second base transceiver station via a fourth communications link. A fiber optic communications link couples the first optical switch with the second optical switch. The first optical switch is physically located separate from the first base transceiver station and the second optical switch is physically located separate from the second base transceiver station.
US07711385B2
The present invention relates to cellular mobile radio systems, and more especially it relates to Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA, cellular mobile radio systems, particularly to transmission power control in such systems. A method and apparatus for transmission of compensated TPC commands when a substantial loop delay is experienced for one or more user equipment entities is disclosed.
US07711383B2
A method and system for assigning priority to a talk group of a plurality of talk groups in a communication network (100) is provided. The method includes detecting (304) activity on a first talk group (108) via a Vehicular Repeater (VR) (106). The first talk group is associated with a lower priority than that of a second talk group (110). The method also comprises assigning (306) a higher priority to the first talk group and the lower priority to the second talk group, based on the step of detecting. Further, the method comprises dynamically re-assigning (308) the higher priority and the lower priority amongst the plurality of talk groups, based on detecting activity.
US07711377B2
Methods and apparatus for efficient two-stage paging wireless communications systems are described. Wireless terminals are assigned to paging groups. A few first paging message information bits are modulated (using non-coherent modulation) into a first paging signal and communicated from a base station to wireless terminals. WTs wake-up, receive the first paging signal and quickly ascertain whether its paging group should expect a second paging signal, if so, the WT is operated to receive the second paging signal; otherwise, the WT goes back to sleep conserving power. The base station modulates (using coherent modulation) a number of second message information bits into a second paging signal and transmits the signal to WTs. From the information in first and second paging signals, a WT can determine that it is the paged WT and process the paging instructions. The intended paged WT can transmit an acknowledgement signal on a dedicated uplink resource.
US07711375B2
Method and system of determining a location of a wireless transmitting device, such as a cellular phone, a wireless PDA or a radio tag, and guiding the searching personnel to physically reach the wireless transmitting device are disclosed that employ a “Movable Detection Station” and a “Guiding and Reference Device”, and optionally a “searching robot”. The movable detection station is carried on board of a moving platform, such as a police car, an ambulance or a fire truck, or carried by searching personnel. The guiding and reference device is a handheld device including a display device that displays position and guiding information to a user, and a reference wireless transmitter that works with a movable detection station. A searching robot is a robot with a reference transmitter installed on it.
US07711370B2
A mobile handset transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal. The mobile handset determines when it is in close proximity to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capable device. If the mobile handset is in close proximity to a VoIP capable device, then the RF signal to the base station is disabled and a communications link is established with the VoIP capable device such that a call can be made by the mobile handset and routed as VoIP packets through the VoIP capable device.
US07711367B2
A method is provided for controlling a wireless communications system. The method comprises communicating data to a first base station, and selecting a switchover time for ceasing communications with the first base station and beginning communications with a second base station. The switchover time is based on channel conditions associated with the communications to the first and second base stations, such as SIR.
US07711358B2
A method for managing user nametags for a vehicle communications system includes receiving a nametag transfer request at a call center from a source, determining a target vehicle based on the request, generating a nametag data file including a text data file, a phoneme set, and an audio data file for each nametag, and transmitting the nametag data file to the target vehicle.
US07711356B2
A method and a system for automated call diversion of calls intended for a mobile radio device to a second network connection. A detection module of a customer premises equipment detects the mobile radio device as soon as it is located in the sphere of influence of an interface between the mobile radio device and the customer premises equipment, whereby identification data of the mobile radio device are transmitted via the interface. Based on the identification data of the mobile radio device, call diversion of calls intended for the mobile radio device to the second network device is activated as long as the mobile radio device is located in the sphere of influence of the interface between the mobile radio device and the customer premises equipment.
US07711355B1
In the current state of the art there are a number of operable devices 11, 12, 13 known that have an operating panel 14 through which a user of the device 11, 12, 13 can produce and/or change-existing operating states, Because of the fact that manual operation is often very complex and can also result in the distraction of the user in situations that require the full the attention of a user to be directed elsewhere, the invention increases the ease of operation and simultaneously reduces the amount of attention required to be paid to the devices 11, 12, 13. The invention uses a decision unit 15 that blocks or releases certain operating states of the operable device 11, 12, 13 based on the data received. The invention can be implemented, for example, so that a mobile telephone 11 installed in a vehicle 10 does not “transfer” any telephone calls or suppresses the making of telephone calls from within the vehicle 10 when the vehicle 10 is moving faster than a certain speed.
US07711346B2
Frequency translation, such as frequency up conversion of a video baseband or intermediate frequency to a desired frequency division broadcast channel, is provided utilizing a single sideband or image reject mixer and filtering having relaxed selectivity requirements. According to a preferred embodiment, a first single sideband mixer accepts an input signal at an intermediate frequency and up converts this signal to a high intermediate frequency. The image rejection provided by the single sideband mixer in combination with simple filtering provide sufficient signal quality to achieve desired levels of desired signal isolation, such as on the order of 40 dB. Preferably, a second single sideband mixer accepts the high intermediate frequency signal and down converts this signal to a desired transmission or broadcast frequency. The image rejection provided by the single sideband mixers in combination with simple filtering provide sufficient desired signal isolation, such as on the order of 40 dB, thereby relax the linearity requirements of amplifiers utilized in the frequency translation system. A preferred embodiment of the present invention disposes all or substantially all the frequency translation circuit elements on a single substrate.
US07711345B2
A received circuit receives a plurality signals generated by modulating carrier waves having the substantial same frequency according to digital signals having different bitrates output from a plurality of systems. The receiving circuit includes a front-end portion that tunes and outputs the signals received by an antenna; an analog-to-digital converting portion that converts the signals output from the front-end portion to digital signals; a signal processing portion that processes and demodulates the digital signals; and a plurality of digital filter portions each of which extracts a digital signal output from a corresponding system among the plurality of systems, from the demodulated signals output from the signal processing portion, based on a bitrate of the digital signal output from the corresponding system.
US07711336B2
Single sideband (SSB) mixers and methods of extracting a SSB signal, which are capable of outputting a single frequency using a plurality of mixers and a local oscillating frequency without having to implement phase-shifting. In one embodiment, a single sideband (SSB) mixer comprises a first mixer and a second mixer, wherein the first and second mixers multiply an input IF (intermediate frequency) signal by a local IF signal having the same frequency of the input IF signal; a band-pass filter which passes upper sideband signal output from the first mixer; a third mixer which multiplies the upper sideband signals output from the band-pass filter by a LO (local oscillating) signal; a fourth mixer which multiplies the signals output from the second mixer by the LO signal; and a subtraction device that subtracts output signals of the third mixer from output signals of the fourth mixer. Accordingly, a quadrature local oscillator which displaces a phase of a local oscillating signal by 90° at a high frequency is not required. Also, since the SSB mixer applies the same local oscillating frequency signal to each mixer, the rejection characteristics against undesired signals can be achieved to a level of about 70 dB, experimentally.
US07711333B2
A measurement signal from a detector may have a complementary polarity. For example, an RF power detector may generate an output signal that decreases in magnitude in response to an increasing input signal. In one embodiment, the RF power detector may include a series of transconductance detector cells arranged to progressively turn off as the input signal becomes progressively larger.
US07711327B2
A differential radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a fully differential direct conversion receive chain, a subharmonic mixer in the receive chain, the subharmonic mixer configured to receive a differential radio frequency (RF) input signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal that is phase-shifted by a nominal 45 degrees, and a synthesizer having a voltage controlled oscillator and having at least one frequency divider to generate desired receive LO signals.
US07711324B2
A data processing system operable in a powered-up mode to accept user input from a first set of user input devices and in a powered-down mode to accept user input from only a second set of user input devices, the data processing system being configured when not in the powered-down mode to detect a user input from one of the second set of user input devices, and in response to such detection to initiate a connection procedure to enable communication in the powered-up mode between the data processing system and a remote user input devices.
US07711319B2
A system (100) and method (200) for providing a multiple channel site for supporting talk group activity is provided. The method includes determining (202) an arrival time (141) of a plurality of Vehicular Repeater System (VRS) (101-103) to a vicinity (140), identifying (204) talk group activity among the plurality of PSUs (171-176) in the vicinity, and assigning VRSs to talk groups in order of arrival time and talk group activity. A master VRS maintains and updates (322) a list of recently active talk groups (TG), orders (324) the list by frequency of use of a talk group, forwards the list to slave VRSs and PSUs, and allocates (326) single channels in view of the list to the slave VRSs. PSUs in the vicinity can read the assignment list and update their communication channel based on a selected talk group in the list.
US07711314B2
A broadcasting signal receiving apparatus and control method thereof allow a user of the broadcasting signal receiving apparatus to receive both an analog broadcasting signal and a digital broadcasting signal, and to select a desired channel. A broadcasting signal receiving apparatus includes a signal receiving unit which receives an analog broadcasting signal and a digital broadcasting signal; a memory; and a controller which produces a combined channel list based on logical channel numbers of the analog broadcasting signal and the digital broadcasting signal and stores the combined channel list in the memory.
US07711312B2
Methods and systems for detecting off-topic essays are described that do not require training using human-scored essays. The methods can detect different types of off-topic essays, such as unexpected topic essays and bad faith essays. Unexpected topic essays are essays that address an incorrect topic. Bad faith essays address no topic. The methods can use content vector analysis to determine the similarity between the essay and one or more prompts. If the essay prompt with which an essay is associated is among the most similar to the essay, the essay is on-topic. Otherwise, the essay is considered to be an unexpected topic essay. Similarly, if the essay is sufficiently dissimilar to all essay prompts, the essay is considered to be a bad faith essay.
US07711311B2
An image forming apparatus has a main body with a casing and performs an image forming operation. A sheet receiving surface constitutes part of the casing and can receive a sheet discharged after an image forming process is performed. A window is provided on the sheet receiving surface for enabling part of the interior of the main body to be seen. An auxiliary tray is attached to the sheet receiving surface and is displaceable between an unfolded position to auxiliary support a discharged sheet and an accommodated position to be accommodated in the sheet receiving surface. The window is at a bottom of a recess formed by recessing a part of the sheet receiving surface. The auxiliary tray is accommodated in the recess when at the accommodated position and includes a transparent portion for ensuring visibility of the window.
US07711308B2
A blade of a cleaning device includes two surfaces: an upstream side surface and a downstream side surface. The two surfaces adjoin each other with respect to a contact edge of the blade. The upstream side surface has a longer dimension in the direction orthogonal to the contact edge than that of the downstream side surface. A horizontal portion of a blade holder that restricts a warp in the blade is bonded on an opposed surface to the upstream side surface of the blade. The blade is held via the horizontal portion with a vertical portion of the blade holder supported by the main body of the cleaning device in a downstream of a normal line to a contact point on a photoconductor surface in contact with the contact edge, in the photoconductor-surface moving direction.
US07711305B2
A fixing device including: a fixing roller; an endless fixing belt which rotates with the fixing roller; a pressure member; a sliding sheet placed between the fixing belt and the pressure member; and a lubricating agent supplying section, a toner image being fixed onto a recording media at a nip portion formed between the fixing roller and the fixing belt, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt and a surface of the sliding sheet are formed of polytetrafluoroethylene, wherein the following relation is satisfied: H1≦H2, where H1 is a surface hardness of the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt and H2 is a surface hardness of the sliding sheet facing to the fixing belt.
US07711304B2
A fixing device may include a fixing roller, an endless fixing belt, a pressing member forming a first nip portion between the fixing roller and the fixing belt, and a separating member forming a second nip portion between the fixing roller and the fixing belt. The first nip portion and the second nip portion may satisfy the formulas P1×μ1>P2×μ2, and μ1>μ2, wherein P1 represents a total load to the fixing roller applied by the pressing member at the first nip portion, P2 represents a total load to the fixing roller applied by the separating member at the second nip portion, μ1 represents a frictional coefficient between the fixing belt and the sliding surface of the pressing member, and μ2 represents a frictional coefficient between the fixing belt and the sliding surface of the separating member.
US07711303B2
A variable tension type belt fusing unit includes a main roller, a pair of belt driving rollers which is disposed near the outer circumferential surface of the main roller and is pressurized towards the main roller, and a fusing belt having a nip portion and a non-tension portion. At least one of the pair of belt driving rollers is independently and temporarily driven to apply or release a tension to the nip portion. In a driving method of the variable tension type belt fusing unit, the tension is applied to the nip portion of the fusing belt when the variable tension type belt fusing unit is prepared for an operation, the fusing belt travels while maintaining the tension during the operation of the variable tension type belt fusing unit, and the tension is released when the operation is completed.
US07711300B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for bearing a visible image thereon, an endless transfer-fixing belt stretchedly disposed between a plurality of spanning members, a pressure member for pressing the transfer-fixing belt to the image carrier while contacting a backside of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip, and a heater for heating the visible image. The visible image on the image carrier is transferred onto the front surface of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip and is transported to the transfer-fixing nip while heated by the heater, where the visible image is transferred and fixed on a recording member. The transfer-fixing belt is stretchedly arranged such that the transfer-fixing belt travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to a pressure direction of the pressure member in the proximity of the transfer nip.
US07711292B2
A toner cartridge includes a container main body includes a toner outlet, a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the toner outlet, a lever for operating the shutter mechanism, a lever locking mechanism, a lock releasing mechanism, and a prevention mechanism. The lever locking mechanism locks the lever so as to be inoperative while the toner outlet is closed. The lock releasing mechanism unlocks the lever locked by the lever locking mechanism in conjunction with installment of the container main body into the image forming device. The prevention mechanism prevents the container main body from being taken out of the image forming device while the container main body is installed in the image forming device, and the lever operates to open the toner outlet.
US07711282B2
An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members protrudes towards the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member protrudes towards the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.
US07711281B2
A technique for reducing downtime that accompanies the execution independently of adjustment processing for maintaining image quality and the execution of finishing processing relating to a printing medium. In order to apply the finishing processing to the printing medium in a finishing processing unit, an image forming apparatus to which this technique is applied sets a time between sheets that extends from end of image formation regarding a first sheet of the printing medium to start of image formation regarding a second sheet of the printing medium transported following the first sheet of the printing medium in the image forming unit, and executes adjustment processing, which is for maintaining image quality in the image forming unit, within the set time between sheets.
US07711269B2
The infrared LED of an IrDA module transmits IR energy with a peak wavelength (for example, 875 nm) appropriate for IrDA communication. This peak wavelength is lower than is the wavelength (for example, 940 nm) used in ordinary IR remote controls (RC). The IrDA LED does, however, transmit some energy at the wavelength of the peak sensitivity of an RC receiver. When making an IrDA transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with a lower amount of current. When making an RC transmission, the IrDA LED is driven with an increased amount of current such that higher wavelength emissions received by the RC receiver are of adequate power to realize RC communication. A passive circuit is disclosed for automatically increasing IrDA LED current during RC transmissions. The circuit involves an inductor that shunts current around a current-limiting resistor used to limit LED drive current.
US07711268B2
A station-side communication device connected to subscriber-side communication devices via an optical combining device; sending, to the subscriber-side communication devices, a distance measurement request signal; computing transmission delay times of optical signals from the individual subscriber-side communication devices by receiving distance measurement signals, and including: a threshold control part identifying the level of distance measurement signals; a signal detection part detecting breaks in the distance measurement signals from the threshold control part; a transmission granting part determining the timing at which transmission of optical signals is granted, and a reset timing generation part that, there is notification of detection of a break in the distance measurement signal from the signal detection part while it is being notified that distance measurement is carried out to and from the subscriber-side communication devices from the transmission granting part, sends a reset signal indicating that the voltage level is reset to the threshold control part.
US07711266B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing PMD tests on a fiber span that is in service. For a fiber span transporting data signals in data channels of a data bandwidth, the following methods may be used for PMD tests. For a first method, a light system transmits test signals over test channels outside of the data bandwidth onto the fiber span. The test channels may have wavelengths longer or shorter than the data channels. The PMD measurement system receives the test signals and measures PMD on the fiber span. For a second method, a light system transmits test signals over available channels in the data bandwidth onto the fiber span. The data bandwidth may not be fully utilized for transporting data, so there are data channels available for PMD testing. The PMD measurement system receives the test signals and measures PMD on the fiber span.
US07711258B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit which captures image data of an object, a zoom image data generating unit which generates items of zoom image data having different zoom magnifications, a display control unit which displays through images on a display unit based on the items of the generated zoom image data, a selection unit which selects one of the zoom magnifications by selecting one of the through images displayed on the display unit, and a recording control unit which records image data corresponding to the selected zoom magnification in a storing medium.
US07711252B2
An image processing system which performs photography of the teeth of a patient while causing a plurality of illumination light LEDs of different wavelengths to emit light by means of a photography device when producing a crown repair or denture of the patient, whereby image data are acquired. The image data are transmitted to a dental filing system constituting a processing device where color reproduction data are determined through computation. In addition, color reproduction data are transmitted to the dental technician's office via a public switched network. A repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient's teeth is retrieved, so that a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient's teeth can be produced.
US07711250B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for constructing and broadcasting a multi-screen broadcasting program by using a transport stream in a digital broadcasting, and for decoding the constructed transport stream to restore image and voice signals. The method includes the steps of analyzing a program access table (PAT) of broadcasting data to determine whether there are at least two image packets, performing signal decoding when the input broadcasting data is a single screen program having one image packet, performing a multi-decoding when the input broadcasting data is a multi-screen program having at least two image packets.
US07711241B2
A short film generation/reproduction apparatus for generating video of a short film using at least one still picture and reproducing such video is comprised of: a picture feature extraction unit 1107 for extracting picture features from an input picture; a picture-to-style feature conversion unit 1115 for converting the picture features into style features; a picture-to-musical feature conversion unit 1118 for converting the picture features into musical features; a style determination unit 1116 for determining a style based on the style features; a music determination unit 1119 for determining a piece of music based on the musical features; and a scenario generation unit 1117 for generating a scenario by using the still picture, music and style.
US07711238B2
An optical fiber that includes a core containing a first concentration of germanium, an inner cladding arranged on the core, the inner cladding containing a second concentration of germanium and having a first diffusion coefficient, and an outer cladding arranged on the inner cladding, the outer cladding having a second diffusion coefficient, where the first diffusion coefficient is larger than the second diffusion coefficient, and where the first concentration of germanium is about 200% or more of the second concentration of germanium. An optical fiber constructed in this manner can be spliced with an optical fiber having a different MFD, such as a single-mode optical fiber or an erbium-doped optical fiber, with low splice loss and a sufficient splicing strength.
US07711235B2
In one embodiment a fiber tray include an arrangement of retaining slots configured to receive retaining clips in a variety of different orientations and sizes. Retaining clips may have standardized sizes to correspond with the arrangement of retaining slots and to secure a variety of components to the fiber tray in different locations and orientations. Fiber management means may be provided to guide fiber optic cable from the components in a variety of orientations and locations. The fiber tray may be configured to move between a stowed position within a node housing in which the mounting surface of the tray faces downward and an access position in which the tray faces upward. The tray may be transparent to allow a technician to view the fiber arrangement without moving the tray from the stowed position.
US07711233B2
An enclosure assembly for protecting and housing fiber optic cable within fiber optic equipment. The enclosure assembly includes a housing having an open end for detachably receiving a tray. The tray is configured to retain a portion of the length of the fiber optic cable in a coiled manner.
US07711232B2
A method and apparatus for treating a mating portion of a fiber optic connector for reducing an insertion force for the mating portion includes providing a mating portion of a fiber optic connector and treating the mating portion of the fiber optic connector by applying a cleaning and/or lubricating solution thereto to reduce the insertion force of the mating portion.
US07711229B2
In the optical integrated devices with ridge waveguide structure based on the conventional technology, there occur such troubles as generation of a recess in a BJ section to easily cause a crystal defect due to the mass transport phenomenon of InP when a butt joint (BJ) is grown, lowering of reliability of the devices, and lowering in a yield in fabrication of devices. In the present invention, a protection layer made of InGaAsP is provided on the BJ section. The layer has high etching selectivity for the InP cladding layer and remains on the BJ section even after mesa etching.
US07711228B2
The present invention intends to provide a two-dimensional photonic crystal having a wide photonic band gap (PBG). In a slab-shaped body 31, a number of holes 32, whose sectional shape on a plane parallel to the slab surface is an equilateral triangle, are periodically arranged in a triangular lattice pattern. The upper and lower sides of the holes 32 are covered with the material of the body 31. The aforementioned sectional shape is uneven along the direction perpendicular to the slab surface. This construction expands the PBG for TM-polarized light and thereby increases its energy region overlapping with the PBG for TE-polarized light. This overlapping section is the complete PBG. If a ray of light whose wavelength corresponds to an energy level within the complete PBG, neither the TE-polarized nor TM-polarized component of the light can be propagated through the photonic crystal. Therefore, even if a waveguide and/or a resonator is provided in the photonic crystal, the light having the aforementioned wavelength will never leak from the waveguide or resonator into the photonic crystal.
US07711218B2
The optical reception apparatus of the invention branches into two an RZ-DQPSK optical signal input from an optical transmission path via an optical amplifier, respectively sends this to delay interferometers and photoelectric converters on a pair of arms, separately detects a number of generated errors for the signals propagating through the arms in an error-number detection circuit, obtains a difference in the respective number of generated errors in an error-number detector, and controls phase shift in the delay interferometers so that the difference is within a preset tolerance. By so doing, it is possible to realize excellent reception performance by suppressing the occurrence of the burst error.
US07711216B2
Methods and devices for polarizing light in a proton exchange polarizer where cross-coupling of unwanted modes of light is reduced with an integrated spatial filter. An optically transmissive substrate such as a substrate created from LiNbO3 or LiTaO3 has side surfaces, which reflect unguided TM mode light. The light originates from an input fiber. The input fiber is connected to the substrate at one end and an output fiber is connected to receive guided TE mode light at the opposite end. The spatial filter is positioned at the primary reflection position of the light with respect to the sides of the polarizer. To improve extinction further, the spatial filter can also be located at secondary reflection points in another alternate embodiment.
US07711204B2
A method of image restoration in an image processing system is provided. An observed image of an original image, wherein the observed image comprises multiple samples, is received. For a selected sample from the multiple samples, a subset of the multiple samples is selected, wherein said subset includes the selected sample. Image restoration to restore an original image sample from the selected sample is performed as a function of said subset of multiple samples, and not the entire observed image. A novel image restoration method which requires shorter length FFT calculation in the image restoration process is utilized, wherein the resulting restored image maintains the same quality as the result from conventional approaches.
US07711192B1
A system, method and computer program product for identifying spam in an image using grey scale representation of an image, including identifying a plurality of contours in the image, the contours corresponding to probable symbols (letters, numbers, punctuation signs, etc.); ignoring contours that are too small or too large given the specified limits; identifying text lines in the image, based on the remaining contours; parsing the text lines into words; ignoring words that are too short or too long, from the identified text lines; ignoring text lines that are too short; verifying that the image contains text by comparing a number of pixels of a symbol color within remaining contours to a total number of pixels of the symbol color in the image; and if the image contains a text, rendering a spam/no spam verdict based on comparing a signature of the remaining text against a SPAM template.
US07711188B2
The present application relates to a method of processing data corresponding to an image (42; 52; 68; 70; 78, 80; 98). The method includes the step of generating an identifier (56, 58, 60, 62; 74, 76; 83, 84; 91, 92, 93) for identifying a region of the image (42; 52; 68; 70; 78, 80; 98) to which a block of said data relates; and then storing the identifier (56, 58, 60, 62; 74, 76; 83, 84; 91, 92, 93). The application further relates to apparatus for processing data corresponding to an image (42; 52; 68; 70; 78, 80; 98).
US07711184B2
An image display method by which a presence of a variation in a color signal in video, a variation in brightness data in video, a bit rate of video reproduction, an audio signal, a variation in a bit rate of video reproduction, or caption data is checked, whereby it is possible to display a significant image whose contents can be grasped by a user by skipping over a monochrome image such as a black or white image whose contents cannot be grasped by the user, even if a moving image starts from such a monochrome image.
US07711179B2
Embodiments of the invention may include a scanning device to scan three dimensional objects. The scanning device may generate a three dimensional model. The scanning device may also generate a texture map for the three dimensional model. Techniques utilized to generate the model or texture map may include tracking scanner position, generating depth maps of the object and generation composite image of the surface of the object.
US07711174B2
The invention generally provides methods and systems for determining characteristics of cellular structures. The methods include non-invasive, non-perturbing, automatable, and quantitative methods and may be applied to the examination of cells such as stem cells, embryos, and egg cells.
US07711157B2
A process for object identification comprising extracting object shape features and object color features from digital images of an initial object and storing the extracted object shape features and object color features in a database where said extracted object shape features and object color features are associated with a unique identifier associated with said object and repeating the first step for a plurality of different objects. Then extracting object shape features and object color features from a digital image of an object whose identity is being sought and correlating the extracted object shape features and object color features of the object whose identity is being sought with the extracted object shape features and object color features previously stored in the database. If a first correlation of the extracted object shape features is better than a first threshold value for a given object associated with an identifier in the database and if a second correlation of the extracted object color features is better than a second threshold value for the given object, then making a determination that the object whose identity is being sought is said given object.
US07711153B2
A method for matching biometric data is disclosed. A biometric information source is sensed to provide an image thereof. The image is then analyzed to extract features therefrom. A feature is selected as a first feature and a plurality of polygons are generated with a location of the first feature as a vertex of each. The polygons are then used to search a lookup table in order to determine an orientation and translation of the image relative to stored reference data.
US07711122B2
A key management system includes secured data stored on a first system secured by a control key stored securely on a key server. The secured data is secured against attacks such as unauthorized use, modification or access, where authorization to access the secured data is determined by knowledge of an access private key of an access key pair. When an authorized user is to access the secured data, the first system generates a request to the key server, signed with the access private key, wherein the request is for a decryption control key and the request includes a one-time public key of a key pair generated by the first system for the request. The first system can decrypt the decryption control key from the response, using a one-time private key. The first system can then decrypt the secured data with the decryption control key remaining secured in transport.
US07711113B2
An ID-based encryption and signature technique, according to which more efficient and higher speed processing is possible. In generation of public parameters, an element P of a group G1 of order q is selected, and then, g=e(P, P) calculated in advance is added to the public parameters. At the time of encryption and verification, a public key ID is associated with an element PID of the group G1, using uεZq* and two elements P1 and P2 (included in the public parameters) of G1 and calculating PID=P1+uP2. The above-mentioned elements P1 and P2 are determined by P1=s1P and P2=s2P using random numbers s1, s2εZq* as a part of a master key, and a private key of a user is determined by dID=(s1+us2)−1P.
US07711110B2
An adaptable or universal communication interface module is linked to a main speakerphone module having audio pickup and playback capabilities, resides between the telephone and the communications line and allows users to utilize a non-manufacturer-specific speakerphone, i.e., that that can be used with any telephone communication system. When the user wishes to conduct a “hands free” conversation, the interface module will capture the audio signals and send them to the main speakerphone module to be played on loudspeakers. The interface module will also take the processed audio signal from the main speakerphone module and plant it in the communication link in place of the audio signals coming out of the telephone.
US07711109B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for transmitting a data-bearing signal and a non-data-bearing signal. One embodiment comprises communicatively coupling a data-bearing signal during a first time period and communicatively coupling a non-data-bearing signal during a second time period. The data-bearing signal has a first PSD. The non-data-bearing signal has a second PSD substantially the same as the first over a range of frequencies. The non-data-bearing signal has characteristics facilitating echo cancellation. Another embodiment comprises a line interface and a transmitter coupled to the line interface, comprising a data encoder and a periodic signal generator. The encoder is configured to produce a data-bearing signal with a first PSD. The periodic signal generator is configured to produce a non-data-bearing signal with a second PSD. The second PSD is substantially the same as the first PSD over a first range of frequencies. The non-data-bearing signal has characteristics facilitating echo cancellation.
US07711098B1
A call is forwarded by connecting the call between an originating location and a forwarding location without connecting the call through a terminating location. The originating location is associated with a calling party. The terminating location is associated with a dialed number. The terminating location and the forwarding location is associated with the called party. A bill for the call is apportioned between the calling party and the called party. The bill portion for the calling party is a function of the originating location and the terminating location. The bill portion for the called party is a function of the terminating location and the forwarding location.
US07711092B2
An X-ray lens assembly, a device including the X-ray lens assembly and a method of manufacturing the X-ray lens assembly are described. The X-ray assembly comprises a tube member (50) including an inlet opening (90) for X-rays and an outlet opening (94) for X-rays. Additionally, the assembly comprises a capillary X-ray lens (28) mounted inside the tube member (50). The X-ray lens (28) may be mounted inside the tube member (50) by a stabilizing agent and/or by one or more separate mounting structures (96A, 96B).
US07711087B2
A system for determining a position of an object includes an imaging system having a x-ray source and an imager, and a processor configured to obtain a tomosynthesis image of an object using the imaging system, and determine a position of the object using the tomosynthesis image. A method of determining a position of an object includes obtaining a tomosynthesis image of an object, and determining a coordinate of the object relative to a radiation machine using the tomosynthesis image. A device for determining a position of an object includes a processor for determining a coordinate of the object relative to a radiation machine using a tomosynthesis image. A method of determining a position of an object includes obtaining an image of an object, obtaining a reference image of the object, comparing the reference image with the image, and determining a coordinate of the object based at least in part on a result of the comparing, wherein the reference image has a plane that is parallel with a plane of the image.
US07711086B2
Systems for improving a spatial resolution of an image are described. One of the systems includes an X-ray source configured to generate X-rays, a transmission detector configured to detect the X-rays to output a plurality of electrical signals, and a plate configured to improve the spatial resolution upon receiving the X-rays. The plate is configured to output a fan-beam upon receiving the X-rays.
US07711079B2
A lower and upper end plugs of an annular fuel rod, into and out of which cooling water flows, comprises: a lower end plug including a filter for debris which has a plurality of pins intersecting each other at the proper position of an inner channel main inlet, through-holes into which the pins of the debris filter are fitted, and at least one inner channel auxiliary inlet through which the cooling water flows into a lower inner channel thereof when the inner channel main inlet is blocked by debris, and which has a through-hole shape; and an upper end plug including at least one upper handling groove and hole, into which a fuel rod handling tool is coupled, at a proper position of an inner circumference of the inner channel main outlet in a circumferential direction.
US07711069B2
Distortion-compensation amplification apparatus that can obtain an appropriate error vector magnitude without increasing power consumption and can suppress the distortion of a transmission signal appropriately. A distortion compensation section applies distortion compensation to the transmission signal. An amplification section amplifies the transmission signal to which distortion compensation has been applied by the distortion compensation section. A frequency component calculation section calculates the power of frequency components of the transmission signal amplified by the amplification section. A peak suppression section suppresses the peak value of the transmission signal input to the distortion compensation section in accordance with the power of the frequency components calculated by the frequency component calculation section.
US07711065B2
A circuit for canceling a direct current (DC) offset in a communication system includes a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter assembly (30), a summing circuit (40), an inphase-to-quadrature (I/Q) modulator (50), a detecting module (70), and a microcontroller (80). The D/A converter assembly converts digital DC offset regulation signals to analog DC offset regulation signals. The summing circuit sums up the DC offset regulation signals and corresponding vectors of a received base band signal. The I/Q modulator converts the summed base band signal to a radio frequency (RF) signal. The detecting module detects an energy variation due to DC offset contained in the radio frequency (RF) signal. The microcontroller regulates the DC offset regulation signals output from the D/A converter assembly to minimize the energy variation detected by the detecting module. In the invention, the circuit saves energy and enhances qualities of communication signals.
US07711059B2
A MCM (multi-carrier modulation) receiver that utilizes a plurality sub-carriers (e.g., tones) to transmit information in a frame-by-frame manner. Identify a first subset of sub-carriers that have negligible ISI (inter-symbol interference) and ICI (inter-carrier interference), and a second subset of sub-carriers that ISI/ICI cancellation is needed to improve the performance. For sub-carriers in the first subset, conventional equalization is performed to obtained soft decisions. For those sub-carriers in the second subset, perform ISI cancellation then ICI cancellation along with equalization. For sub-carriers in the second subset, identify a series of third subsets (one for each of the sub-carriers in the second subset) that cause interference to the sub-carriers in the second set. For sub-carriers in the third subset, identify a series of fourth subsets from a previous frame that cause interference to the sub-carriers in the third set. For each element in the third subset, perform ISI cancellation to eliminate the interference from the elements in the fourth subset from the previous frame to obtain a plurality of intermediate decisions. For each element in the second subset, perform a combined equalization and ICI cancellation using said intermediate decisions. The selection of the first subset, the second subset, the third subset, and the fourth subset are based on examining the frequency response of the communication channel.
US07711058B2
The invention relates to a method of determining the time shift and/or the power of a received signal incorporating a reference sequence (3) and transmitted by multicarrier modulation on a set (M) of carriers spaced from each other by a distance nΔf where n is a natural integer and Δf is a constant. An inverse Fourier transform is applied to the phase variations between components of the signal carried by carriers separated by kΔf for consecutive values of k in order to obtain the impulse response (RI) of the signal and the time shift τ0 and/or the power of the received signal is/are determined from the impulse response by observation of the highest level amplitude peak.
US07711051B2
A plurality of bit streams are seamlessly spliced. Separate decoders decode each bit stream. A controller selects the decoded pictures according to a re-encoding range in the vicinity of a splicing point of the bit streams. Pictures presenting a reordering of the streams are excluded in the selection of the decoded pictures. An encoder re-encodes the pictures within the re-encoding range. When it is determined that crossover motion compensation exists between pictures of different streams, the controller changes the motion prediction direction of the problematic picture. The controller changes a motion prediction picture type of a picture which is improperly motion predicted with reference to another stream. A quantization characteristic or motion vectors for the new picture type are generated by the controller. The controller effects the encoding in accordance with a target amount of bits to prevent a breakdown of a buffer and a discontinuation of an amount of data occupancy thereof. A multiplexer multiplexes the original streams with the re-encoded stream to produce a seamless bit stream.
US07711041B2
In a method of estimating a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), a first average channel power per slot of a first channel that is under a fading environment is estimated. A second average channel power per slot of a second channel that is under a fading environment substantially the same as the first channel is estimated, wherein the first and second channels are multiplexed. A second signal power attenuation ratio of the second channel is calculated using the second average power per slot of the second channel. A third average power per slot of the first channel is calculated using the first average power per slot of the first channel and a reciprocal of the second signal power attenuation ratio of the second channel.
US07711036B2
In a synchronous acquisition method of a spread spectrum code, a digital code sequence is generated based on a received radio communication signal. The digital code sequence defines a spread spectrum code which includes a preamble symbol. A plurality of correlation signals are generated based on the spread spectrum code of the digital code sequence. A detection signal is generated in accordance with the correlation signal which corresponds to the preamble symbol. A timing control signal is generated in accordance with the detection signal. A demodulation signal is generated based on the correlation signals and in accordance with the timing control signal. A correction signal is generated based on the demodulation signal. A corrected timing control signal is generated based on the timing control signal and the correction signal, such that the demodulation signal corresponds to the preamble symbol.
US07711033B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating SIR estimates early in a time interval that include the benefits of interference suppression without requiring the computation of specific interference suppression elements. In particular, the present invention generates an SIR estimate for a RAKE receiver during a current time interval based on channel estimates generated based on the received signal(s). By applying an offset derived during a previous time interval to the RAKE SIR estimate, the present invention generates a second SIR estimate for a G-RAKE receiver.
US07711021B2
The present invention provides a laser diode driving circuit able to reduce the degradation of the optical output from the laser diode even when the characteristic of the laser diode widely scatters. The circuit provides a filter circuit connected in parallel to the laser diode that compensates the frequency dependence of the laser diode. In the invention, the frequency characteristic of this filter circuit may be varied depending on the scattering in the frequency response of the laser diode, or on the temperature characteristic of the diode.
US07711019B2
A gain element and a variable wavelength reflector form a resonator. A wavelength selective element selects a resonance wavelength in the resonator. A beam splitter is provided for monitoring an incident light from the gain element and a reflected light from the variable wavelength reflector. A phase adjustment element is arranged in the resonator. A wavelength-lock control unit locks the resonance wavelength to a desired resonance wavelength by adjusting the phase of the resonance wavelength based on the monitored incident light and by adjusting the variable wavelength reflector based on a ratio between the incident light and the reflected light.
US07711016B2
Systems and methods for stripping an optical mode from a semiconductor laser. A waveguide layer with multiple layers is included in the semiconductor laser and is typically arranged beneath the active region. The waveguide layer is configured to match the phase of the second order mode. The waveguide layer does not substantially match the primary optical mode of the laser. By matching the phase of the second order mode, the confinement of the second order mode is reduced and the second order mode strongly couples with the waveguide layer. The optical confinement of the primary mode is not substantially reduced. The side-mode suppression ratio is thereby improved by stripping the second order mode from the active region.
US07711010B2
A phase-locked loop for maintaining system synchronization of a receiver with a transmitter through packet dropout. A clock signal is generated by an oscillator and the interval between the neighboring pieces of incoming system timing information is determined by a first packet counter. A second packet counter determines the interval between neighboring timing signals generated by the first packet counter. Two count values of the system timing information are retained by a delay buffer. In accordance with a value of comparison which is obtained by a difference circuit from the difference between the two count values and is larger or smaller than an error expected on system synchronization, the counter value is corrected by an overflow corrector. A cumulative offset of the clock position is corrected by a phase difference detector. The corrected offset is integrated by an integrator only at a timing of the system timing information incoming.
US07710999B2
A calendar tool displays policies that are scheduled to function in managed networks. The tool allows the network administrator to select and view individual scheduled policies, many individual scheduled policies or scheduled policy suites. The calendar identifies the different scheduled policies as rectilinear colored blocks of time on a calendar. These blocks will open their properties forms when double selected. Overlaps of scheduled policies and gaps between scheduled policies can be identified visually on the calendar because they are displayed in two distinct blocks of color which are different from any other colored block displayed. The administrator/user can see all policies that contribute to an overlap by simply selecting on the particular overlap. The user can see calendar information either in a weekly or daily format.
US07710987B2
An apparatus and method for efficient transitions between operating states in a communication network, includes a preliminary step of having a mobile station in a Dormant or Idle state. A next step includes requiring a data transfer, either to or from the mobile station. A next step includes transitioning the mobile station from the Dormant or Idle to an Active state. A next step includes transferring a bearer path context for the data from a Paging Control Function (PCF) to an RF Bearer Function. This can include creating a tunnel using an Inter-PCF handoff procedure. The result is a direct connection between an RF Bearer Function and an IP Router, without the PCF being in the data path.
US07710986B2
A multicast architecture and method of operation for multi-hop wireless mesh networks is provided. The multicast architecture is above the network infrastructure to identify a group of clients. These clients share the same application and communicate to each other by using a common multicast address.
US07710982B2
The present invention prevents a receiving buffer from becoming empty by: storing received packets in the receiving buffer; detecting the largest arrival delay jitter of the packets and the buffer level of the receiving buffer by a state detecting part; obtaining an optimum buffer level for the largest delay jitter using a predetermined table by a control part; determining, based on the detected buffer level and the optimum buffer level, the level of urgency about the need to adjust the buffer level; expanding or reducing the waveform of a decoded audio data stream of the current frame decoded from a packet read out of the receiving buffer by a consumption adjusting part to adjust the consumption of reproduction frames on the basis of the urgency level, the detected buffer level, and the optimum buffer level.
US07710976B2
Methods, systems and computer program products for packet prioritization based on delivery time expectation. Exemplary embodiments include receiving a packet for routing, estimating a TimeToDestination for the packet, the estimating performed by a Internet Control Message Protocol, reading a TimeToDeliver field from each the Internet Protocol Header of the packet to extract data on when the packet needs to be at the destination, determining a MaxQueueDelay for the packet, the MaxQueueDelay calculated by subtracting the TimeToDeliver from the TimeToDestination, passing a lower priority packet if the lower priority packet has a lower MaxQueueDelay, and decrementing the TimeToDeliver by an amount of time the network router has had the packet in the queue before passing the packet to a next router, thereby communicating to the next router how much time is left before the packet must be delivered.
US07710972B2
A table descriptor is associated with a table and referenced to provide access to the table. The table descriptor includes a first portion identifying information about the table and a second portion identifying one or more locations of the table in memory.
US07710968B2
A first logic offloads some network protocol unit formation tasks to a second logic. The first logic may request that data be transmitted using a Direct Data Placement (DDP) compatible network protocol unit. The first logic may provide the data as well as other information relevant to forming the DDP compatible network protocol unit. The second logic may form portions of the DDP compatible network protocol unit using the data and the provided information.
US07710967B2
A management scheme compares a source address included in a received solicitation with an address for a registered endpoint. A communication including a management prefix is communicated to the endpoint when the source address matches the registered address.
US07710943B2
The present invention relates to a method for shortening the time to synchronize video/audio data in a mobile communication terminal. The method comprises receiving video/audio data in the mobile communication terminal through a set session, determining whether a current sampling rate of the received video/audio data is consistent with a previous sampling rate of the received video/audio data, calculating a standard time according to the determination, and synchronizing the video/audio data based on the calculated standard time. The standard time is calculated using a preset ratio if the current sampling rate is consistent with the previous sampling rate. However, the standard time is calculated using a variation value of a real time protocol (RTP) time stamp and a variation value of a network time protocol (NTP) time stamp if the current sampling rate is not consistent with the previous sampling rate.
US07710937B2
A communication system has a personal computer (PC) which obtains a communication function by acquiring a modem driver, and a portable communication terminal which can communicate with the PC. The portable communication terminal includes a USB interface section to be connected to the PC, a RAM storing an address of a server that stores the modem driver, and a control section which downloads the modem driver from the server through a wireless communication section, and transmits the downloaded modem driver to the PC through the USB interface section.
US07710935B2
A communication network having at least one access point supports wireless communication among a plurality of wireless roaming devices via a first and a second wireless channel. The access point comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first and second transceivers operate on the first and second wireless channels, respectively. Each of the plurality of wireless roaming devices are capable of communicating on the first and second wireless channel. In one embodiment, the first wireless channel is used to exchange data, while the second channel is used to manage such exchanges as well as access to the first channel. In an alternate embodiment, both channels are used to support communication flow, however the first channel supports a protocol that is more deterministic than that of the second channel. Allocation of ones of the plurality of wireless roaming devices from one channel to the next may occur per direction from the access point. It may also result from decisions made by each of the wireless roaming devices made independent of the access point. For example, a decision may be made based on the data type being transferred or based on the current channel load. Such factors may also be used by the access point for allocation determinations. In addition, allocation may be based on the type of roaming device involved, such as allocating peripherals to a slower channel.
US07710933B1
A method for classifying radio interfaces in a wireless network. The method includes transferring an unknown MAC address associated with a radio interface of a communication device through a wireless medium and detecting the unknown MAC address on the wireless medium using a first sniffer device. The method also includes transferring information through an access point coupled to a wired medium utilizing the radio interface of the wireless communication device. The information includes the unknown MAC address. The method further includes detecting the unknown MAC address on the wired medium using a second sniffer device and classifying the radio interface as an authorized radio interface based upon detecting the unknown MAC address on the wireless medium and detecting the unknown MAC address on the wired medium.
US07710929B2
A multi-mode access point (AP) and a method of controlling access between that AP and one or more clients is disclosed. In a first time period, the AP commands the client(s) not to send data on a first channel, using, for example, the 802.11a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Standard. The AP is enabled, in that first time period, to receive data on a second channel using say, the 802.11b WLAN standard. At the end of the first time period, the AP switches so that the first channel is commanded to be silent while data can instead be sent via the second channel. Data queuing for a given channel can take place at the or each client when that channel is commanded to be silent, for subsequent transmission when that channel is enabled again.
US07710919B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for spectrum-sensing cognitive radios that are operative to detect and utilize available RF spectrum resources. The spectrum-sensing cognitive radios include at least one antenna and a frequency-agile radio front-end module in communication with the at least one antenna and configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals via the at least one antenna. In addition, a spectrum-sensing module, which may include one or both of coarse-sensing and fine-sensing modules, may be in communication with the at least one antenna and be configured to generate RF spectrum usage information. A medium access control (MAC) module is operative to receive the RF spectrum usage information from the spectrum-sensing module. Based upon the received RF spectrum usage information, the MAC module is operative to direct a frequency of operation of the radio front-end module based at least in part on the received spectrum usage information.
US07710913B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for extending the coverage area and communication capacity of a spread-spectrum based wireless network through the use of intelligent repeaters. The system comprises a wireless communication network augmented with low cost channel selective repeaters that is capable of repeating only desired signals, thereby suppressing undesirable interference and increasing network capacity. The repeaters can be integrated into an existing wireless network with minimal impact to the existing network layer topology or control structure.
US07710912B1
A system and method for tracking and managing applications and content between a wireless device and a service. For example, in one embodiment, an “uninstalled” field is used within records on a client device and identifying, whether each application on the client is installed or whether the application has been uninstalled. A corresponding set of records are provided on the data service for each individual client device, including the “uninstalled” field. When an application is uninstalled on any client device, the corresponding record for that client device is updated on the service so that the service and the wireless device remain in synch.
US07710902B2
In one embodiment, egress provider edge devices (PEs) send advertisements to ingress PEs for address prefixes of a first multi-homed customer network that desires path diversity through a service provider network to a second customer network. A first ingress PE receives the advertisements, and determines whether a second ingress PE is multi-homed with the first ingress PE to the second customer network. If so, the first ingress PE computes a plurality of diverse paths within the service provider network from the first and second multi-homed ingress PEs to a corresponding egress PE. If a plurality of diverse paths exists, the first ingress PE employs one of those paths to establish a first tunnel from itself to a first egress PE, and the second ingress PE employs another of the paths to establish a second tunnel from itself to a second egress PE that is diverse from the first tunnel.
US07710900B2
Method and system for providing a dynamic network configuration and management based on defining and applying high level administrative intents including retrieving one or more attributes associated with one or more logical groups in a network, determining one or more network policies based on the one or more retrieved attributes, associating the one or more logical groups to a respective network group identifier, and generating a network group list associated with the one or more network group identifiers, is disclosed.
US07710899B1
A technique is provided for graceful restart of a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) router that uses a local store on the restarting router that stores prefixes on all routes or the “group best path” information on all BGP peers having a common Autonomous System (AS) number. This local store is used to run best path computations on the restarting router, rather than first awaiting receipt of route information from peers to speed the restart process. Updates are then transmitted to peers using the best path data and an end-of-Routing Information Base (RIB) message it transmitted by the restarting router to indicate that all information has now been sent by the restarting router. Thereafter the restarting router processes incoming updates from peers as received (or these peers routes are timed-out), remaining stale paths are deleted and any changed best paths, based upon the newly received updates, are then transmitted to peers.
US07710895B2
There is provided a method of managing power utilization for use by a first communication system having a first communication mode and a second communication mode, for communication over a PHY connection through a cable connecting the two systems. The method comprises establishing the PHY connection with the second communication system, detecting interoperability of the two systems in the first communication mode, determining a length of the cable connecting the first communication system to the second communication system, selecting a mode based on the length of the cable, if the detecting detects interoperability of the first communication system and the second communication system in the first communication mode, selecting the second communication mode as the mode, if the detecting does not detect interoperability of the first communication system and the second communication system in the first communication mode, communicating data using the PHY connection through the cable in the mode.
US07710893B2
A method of transmitting channel quality information (CQI) to an access network (AN) in a system having at least one carrier is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes receiving at least one packet from the AN, each of which includes an indicator, wherein the indicator provides buffer level information and ceasing transmission of the CQI of at least one non-anchor carrier to the AN if the buffer level information indicates that there is no more packet to be transmitted to an access terminal (AT).
US07710892B2
Embodiments disclose a method and computer program products for automatically generating a list of search criteria to be used by the computing system when searching captured data frames for one or more resulting data frames having a specific protocol field. The method includes an act of accessing a specific protocol field from one of the captured data frames and an act of accessing protocol definitions. The captured data frame is then interpreted using the protocol definitions to generate a list of additional protocol field and value pairs to use for searching the captured data frames. Finally, the specific protocol field and the list of additional protocol field and value pairs are used to automatically identify the one or more resulting data frames having the specific protocol field.
US07710885B2
A routing monitor is disclosed comprising at least one communication tap, wherein each of the at least one communication taps is positioned in a line of communication between two routers and a protocol emulator for reassembling routing protocol messages captured by the at least one communication tap and opening a routing protocol connection with a network device using the reassembled routing protocol messages in response to a request for connection received from the network device.
US07710883B2
A path setting method enabling utilization of request information from a user in a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication between one communication apparatus and another communication apparatus for which a path is set by repeating through another communication apparatus. This method has a step of judging a possibility of reaching the destination communication apparatus in the higher layer, judged in the communication apparatus existing in the middle of the path, a step of transmitting a lower layer path setting request message obtained by further adding route designating information and bandwidth information in a higher layer path setting request message when it is judged there is no possibility of reaching the apparatus, and a step of notifying the transmitted lower layer path setting request message to each communication apparatus on the route reaching the destination communication apparatus.
US07710875B2
The invention refers to a method for improved congestion control in a wireless mobile system where a high speed packet data access (HSDPA) between a node and a number of mobile stations (MS) have been established by dedicating a high speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH) to all mobile stations (MS) and one associated dedicated channel (A-DPCH) per each mobile station (MS). The method comprises the steps of; CON-in case of congestion, detecting the amount of download data still to be downloaded by each of the mobile stations (MS) and, -based on the amount of download data still to be downloaded, releasing the associated dedicated channel (A-DPCH) for one or more first mobile stations (MS) having an amount of data above a predetermined threshold level.
US07710872B2
A technique enables Traffic Engineering (TE) on paths between customer edge devices (CEs) across a provider network (“CE-CE paths”) in a computer network. According to the novel technique, TE is configured on a link from a sending provider edge device (PE) to a first CE (“PE-CE link”), e.g., a CE of one or more virtual private networks (VPNs). The sending PE conveys TE information of the PE-CE link to one or more receiving PEs in the provider network. Upon receiving the TE information, each receiving PE expands a TE database (TED) for information regarding the provider network (i.e., a “core TED”) to include TE-configured PE-CE links, e.g., by updating one or more corresponding VPN TEDs (VTEDs) for each VPN maintained by the receiving PE. Once the receiving PEs have the TE information for configured PE-CE links from the provider network, one or more TE techniques may be applied to paths from a second CE of the receiving PE to the first CE (a CE-CE path) to thereby facilitate, e.g., establishment of TE-LSPs along CE-CE paths.
US07710871B2
An apparatus and method for dynamic assignment of classes of traffic to a priority queue. Bandwidth consumption by one or more types of packet traffic received in the packet forwarding device is monitored to determine whether the bandwidth consumption exceeds a threshold. If the bandwidth consumption exceeds the threshold, assignment of at least one type of packet traffic of the one or more types of packet traffic is changed from a queue having a first priority to a queue having a second priority.
US07710868B2
A method, program and an information processing apparatus to control a communication device having a plurality of communication modes which are different from each other in power consumption and communication rate, the program enabling the information processing apparatus to work as a communication throughput measuring section for measuring a communication throughput with which the communication device communicated in a predetermined reference period in the past, and a communication mode setting section for setting the communication mode of the communication device to a communication mode with lower power consumption and lower communication rate as compared with that of a communication mode set in a case where the communication throughput is higher, if the measured communication throughput is lower.
US07710867B1
A system and method is directed to routing a packet over a network to a probe. The system includes a replicator and a distributor. The replicator receives a packet from a client and replicates the packet. The distributor is either out-of-band or in-band to a flow of traffic between the client and a server. In the out-of-band configuration, the distributor forwards the replicate packet to at least one probe in a plurality of probes. The distributor receives a response to the replicate packet and transforms a source MAC address in the response to a MAC address of the distributor. The distributor forwards the transformed packet. The replicator forwards the original packet. In the in-band configuration, the distributor selects and forwards the original packet to a server using a first forwarding mechanism, and selects and forwards the replicate packet to a probe using a second forwarding mechanism.
US07710865B2
The present invention provides an active/standby data center that avoids the delay associated with a cached DNS entry to switch from the active data center to the standby data center. When the active data center becomes unavailable, the standby data center advertises the same address as the primary data center so the change over occurs quickly. When the IP address of the primary data center is no longer visible to the standby data center, the standby data center begins to advertise.
US07710861B2
A network system for recovering from a link failure in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service comprises: a first media gateway having a current link setting and transmitting a corresponding packet upwardly for the VoIP service; a second media gateway which is link-connected to the same remote terminal as the first media gateway for the VoIP service; a media gateway controller for allocating the second media gateway for link resetting, and for transmitting allocation information when receiving failure information of a link set through the first media gateway; and a router for determining whether a packet transmitted from the first media gateway is received within a set time to determine whether there is a failure of the set link, for transmitting the link failure information to the media gateway controller, and for resetting the link to the second media gateway according to the allocation information transmitted from the media gateway controller when there is a link failure. A method for recovering from a link failure in a VoIP serviced comprises steps corresponding to the aforementioned functions.
US07710848B2
The present invention provides an optical pickup apparatus including: a first light source; a second light source; and a light-converging optical system including a coupling lens and an objective lens. The coupling lens includes a first diffractive structure. The optical pickup apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition according to the chromatic aberration, focal length, and dispersion of the material.
US07710841B2
A method of recording a temporary defect list on a write-once recording medium, a method of reproducing the temporary defect list, an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing the temporary defect list, and the write-once recording medium. The method of recording a temporary defect list for defect management on a write-once recording medium includes recording the temporary defect list, which is created while data is recorded on the write-once recording medium, in at least one cluster of the write-once recording medium, and verifying if a defect is generated in the at least one cluster. Then, the method includes re-recording data originally recorded in a defective cluster in another cluster, and recording pointer information, which indicates a location of the at least one cluster where the temporary defect list is recorded, on the write-once recording medium.
US07710831B2
A single day alarm clock radio includes a plurality of music setting buttons for setting different types of music; and having alarm buttons for setting an alarm for a radio mode, a buzzer mode, or an alarm off mode. A preset locking switch is provided for locking or unlocking the clock radio to allow the time to be preset, or the alarm time to be preset, or the radio station to be preset, or the type of music to be preset. Also provided is software for automatically cancelling a preset alarm time once it has sounded to change the alarm setting to the “off” mode so that a new hotel guest is not subject to the preset alarm time of the previous hotel guest.
US07710828B2
Systems and methods for locating the shooter of supersonic projectiles are described. The system uses at least five, preferably seven, spaced acoustic sensors. Sensor signals are detected for shockwaves and muzzle blast, wherein muzzle blast detection can be either incomplete coming from less than 4 sensor channels, or inconclusive due to lack of signal strength. Shooter range can be determined by an iterative computation and/or a genetic algorithm by minimizing a cost function that includes timing information from both shockwave and muzzle signal channels. Disambiguation is significantly improved over shockwave-only measurements.
US07710827B1
Methods and systems are provided herein for signal source tracking. A signal emitted over time from a moving source is a collection of small sub-signals that were emitted by the source at different positions along its path. If the source is traveling at a slower speed than the signal, the sub-signals will arrive at a given sensor in the same order that they were released. By identifying the locations and times of the releases of several of these sub-signals, the path and velocity of the moving source can be estimated.
US07710820B2
A seabed seismic source apparatus includes a control module adapted for deployment at a seabed. The control module has a receiver for receiving a remote signal and a firing controller for generating a firing signal in response to the remote signal. The seabed seismic source apparatus further includes at least one seismoacoustic source module adapted for deployment at the seabed with the control module. The seismoacoustic source module has a seismoacoustic source for generating a seismic signal and a firing device for firing the seismoacoustic source to generate the seismic signal. The seabed seismic source apparatus further includes a transmission link between the firing controller and the firing device, wherein the firing device fires the seismoacoustic source upon receiving the firing signal generated by the firing controller.
US07710818B2
Provided are a semiconductor memory device having a source synchronous interface capable of reducing jitter while minimizing overhead and a clocking method thereof. The semiconductor memory device comprises a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit receiving a first external clock signal for a command and address signal and generating a first internal clock signal, a first delay locked loop (DLL) circuit receiving a second external clock signal for predetermined bits of data and the first internal clock signal and generating a second internal clock signal locked to the second external clock signal, and a second DLL circuit receiving a third external clock signal for the remaining bits of the data and the first internal clock signal and generating a third internal clock signal locked to the third external clock signal.
US07710816B2
A memory access circuit is provided. The memory access circuit includes a latch circuit, a feedback reset circuit, and a gate latch circuit. The latch circuit receives a high level input signal and outputs a first signal. The feedback reset circuit generates a second signal and a reset signal according to the first signal. The gate latch circuit generates a pre-charge signal and an enable signal according to the first signal and the second signal. The memory is accessed according to the pre-charging signal and the enable signal.
US07710813B1
An electronic fuse memory array has an array core with a plurality of selectable unit cells. A unit cell has a fuse and a cell transistor (M12). A programming current path goes through the fuse and the cell transistor to a word line ground and a read current path also goes through the fuse and the cell transistor to the word line ground.
US07710808B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a first block and a second block adjacent to each other in a column direction, each block including first and second memory cell arrays each including a plurality of local bit lines and a local sense amplifier shared by the first and second memory cell arrays, a plurality of global bit lines shared by the first block and the second block, a global sense amplifier configured to sense data transferred to the global bit lines, first and second replica cell groups provided in the first and second blocks, first and second replica bit lines connected to the first and second replica cell groups, an activation circuit connected to each replica bit line, and configured to activate the local sense amplifier, an edge cell group surrounding the first block and the second block, and a contact region surrounding the edge cell group.
US07710801B2
An integrated circuit has a plurality of clock domains and a plurality of memory cells being configurable as operational memory cells or as scan test memory cells for testing the integrated circuit. A pulse generator of the integrated circuit generates pulses for triggering the memory cells when being configured as scan test memory cells, the pulse generator comprising a plurality of pulse outputs. The pulses are provided to the memory cells by multiplexer circuits selecting one of the pulses of the pulse generator and an operational clock.
US07710797B2
A semiconductor memory device stably performs a write operation with reduced current consumption. The semiconductor memory device includes a global data, a control unit, a termination resistor unit, and a storage unit. The global data line transmits data. The control unit generates a global control signal during a read operation or a write operation. The termination resistance unit supplies termination resistance to the global data line in response to the global control signal. The storage unit stores the data transmitted to the global data line while the termination resistance unit is inactivated. A method for driving the semiconductor memory device includes detecting a read operation or a write operation and supplying termination resistance when the read or write operation is detected.
US07710788B2
A flash memory device includes a flash fuse cell array, a trim code processing unit, a flash memory array, and a regulator. The fuse cell array, which includes multiple nonvolatile fuse cells, is configured to store a first trim code. The trim code processor is configured to generate a second trim code based on the first trim code provided by the fuse cell array and a voltage control code. The flash memory array includes multiple flash memory cells. The regulator is configured to generate a high voltage in response to the second trim code and to provide the high voltage to the flash memory array. The high voltage varies according to erase, program and read operations of the flash memory cells.
US07710780B2
A semiconductor non-volatile memory, wherein a memory cell can be read accurately without having to discharge bit lines before the read operation. When reading a memory cell, the first bit line connected to the drain thereof is connected to the voltage source to receive a predetermined voltage, and the second bit line connected to the source thereof is connected to the sense amplifier. In this process, the third bit line in the vicinity of the second bit line is connected to the ground power supply. Thus, since the third bit line in the vicinity of the second bit line being sensed is forcibly set to the ground level, no charge flows in therefrom, thus preventing a current flowing into the second bit line.
US07710777B1
Semi-volatile NAND flash memory systems, apparatuses, and methods for use are described herein. According to various embodiments, a semi-volatile NAND flash memory may be partitioned into various retention regions. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07710774B2
A NAND type multi-bit charge storage memory array comprises a first and a second memory strings each of which includes one or more charge storage memory cells and two select transistors. The charge storage memory cells are connected in series to form a memory cell string. The two select transistors are connected in series to both ends of the memory cell string, respectively. The NAND type multi-bit charge storage memory array further comprises a shared bit line and a first and a second bit lines. The shared bit line is connected with the first ends of the first and the second memory strings. The first and the second bit lines are connected to the second ends of the first and the second memory strings, respectively. The first select transistor and the second select transistor of each memory string are controlled by a first and a second select transistor control lines, respectively.
US07710770B2
A serial magnetic mass storage device and associated data storage method of the kind in which data is encoded in single magnetic domains in nanowires. In the invention, the nanowires are provided with a large number of notches along their length to form domain wall pinning sites. Moreover, the notches are addressed in groups (A, B, C) by heating electrodes. By alternately heating the notches hosting head-to-head and tail-to-tail domain walls in synchrony with alignment and anti-alignment of an operating field (H) along the nanowire the magnetic domains are moved along the nanowire by alternate movement of the head-to-head and tail-to-tail domain walls in caterpillar or worm-like motion in which the domains are incrementally lengthened and shortened by one inter-notch distance as they move along the nanowires under the joint coordinated action of the heating and alternating operating field. From an interconnect and fabrication standpoint, the scheme can be scaled almost without restriction out of the plane of the substrate to provide hundreds or thousands of stacked layers of nanowires, thus allowing very dense three-dimensional networks of stored information to be realised.
US07710758B2
Disclosed is a multichip system and method of transferring data between memory chips in direct. The multichip system includes first and second memory chips, and a host system to control operations of the first and second memory chips. The first memory chip controls the second memory chip to transfer data to the second memory chip in response to local transfer information provided from the host system. The first memory chip controls the host system not to access the first and second memory chips while conducting a local transfer operation. According to the invention, since the data is able to be directly transferred between the memory chips without the host system, it enhances the efficiency of the multichip system and improves a data transfer speed.
US07710756B2
A semiconductor device includes a magnetic wire having a plurality of magnetic domains, wherein the magnetic wire comprises a magnetic domain wall that is moved by either a pulse field or a pulse current. The magnetic wire of the semiconductor device does not require an additional notch since the magnetic wire includes a magnetic domain wall, the moving distance of which is controlled by a pulse field or a pulse current.
US07710752B2
An electrical DC-to-AC power conversion apparatus is disclosed that is primarily intended for use with solar photovoltaic sources in electric utility grid-interactive applications. The invention improves the conversion efficiency and lowers the cost of DC-to-AC inverters. The enabling technology is a novel inverter circuit topology, where the bulk of the throughput power, from DC source to AC utility, is processed only once. The inverter does not require an isolation transformer and can be connected directly to a 480/277 Vac utility grid. The invention also allows the power converter to start into photovoltaic array having higher open circuit voltages. The invention also uses active ripple current cancellation to substantially reduce the cost, size and weight of the main filter inductors.
US07710751B2
A plurality of pickup coils 2A and 2B are provided, resonance capacitors 3A and 3B forming resonance circuits 4A and 4B resonating at the frequency of an inductive path 1 are respectively connected in series with the pickup coils 2A and 2B, and the resonance circuits 4A and 4B are connected in series. Further, the resonance circuits 4A and 4B are respectively provided with rectifier circuits 6A and 6B for rectifying voltages generated by the resonance circuits 4A and 4B. The rectifier circuits 6A and 6B are connected in parallel and feed power to a load 10. Moreover, a switch 5 is provided to switch a connected state and an open state between the resonance circuits 4A and 4B, and a voltage controller 11 is provided to control an output voltage applied to the load 10, by controlling the switch 5.
US07710750B2
The inverter according to the invention includes a control microcomputer including a protector circuit that stops the inverter when an anomaly is caused, a counter that counts the driving clock signals of the microcomputer from the instance at which the protector circuit starts working, and a conversion circuit that converts the clock signals counted by the counter to a numerical time expression in the time units and outputs the converted numerical time expression. The inverter according to the invention, manufacturable with low manufacturing costs and easy to operate, facilitates informing the installation manager of the period of time from the instance at which the inverter stopped due to an anomaly and such a cause, without impairing the time measurement precision.
US07710746B2
A switching mode power supply includes: a power supply unit that comprises a switch that is coupled to a primary coil at a primary side of a transformer for converting an input DC voltage, and that supplies power to a secondary coil and a tertiary coil at a secondary side of the transformer according to an operation of the switch; a switching controller that receives a feedback voltage corresponding to a first voltage generated in the secondary coil at the secondary side of the transformer, and receives a detection signal corresponding to a current flowing to the switch to control an on/off operation of the switch; and a feedback signal generator that receives the first voltage and the switching control signal, samples the first voltage by using first pulse strings, and generates the feedback voltage according to a level of the first voltage sampled by a first pulse in the first pulse strings, wherein a toggling time of the first pulse strings is changed in a first period for sampling the first voltage, and a time for sampling the first voltage is changed.
US07710741B1
One embodiment of a reconfigurable graphics processing system includes a first MXM edge connector and a second MXM edge connector affixed to an interposer board and a first MXM board and a second MXM board coupled to the interposer board via the first and second MXM edge connectors, respectively. Each MXM board includes a GPU and other elements necessary to process graphics data. The system couples to the motherboard of a computing device through an interface connector on the interposer board. One advantage of such a system is that it may be configured to deliver more performance than a standard desktop graphics board, while occupying substantially the same volume, through the use of multiple, small form factor MXM boards.
US07710740B2
An assembly structure of flexible board and rigid board includes a rigid board, a sub-board and a flexible board. The rigid board defines a locking gap having two side surfaces projecting toward each other to form two resisting portions. The sub-board has a standing portion inserted in the locking gap. Bilateral sides of the standing portion extend outward to form two preventing arms against a bottom surface of the rigid board. The flexible board has a base portion inserted in the locking gap of the rigid board. The base portion has a front surface and a back surface located to a front surface of the sub-board. The front surface of the base portion is against the resisting portions.
US07710739B2
If misalignment in a line width direction of an electrode (pad) of a connection terminal is caused in attachment of a substrate and an FPC, a connection area of the FPC terminal and the connection terminal becomes smaller and contact resistance is increased. In particular, an increase in contact resistance of the connection terminal to which a power supply potential serving as a power source is inputted is a cause of defective display. In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to decrease the resistance of a power supply line, to suppress a voltage drop in the power supply line, and to prevent defective display. A connection terminal portion includes a plurality of connection terminals. The plurality of connection terminals is provided with a plurality of connection pads which is part of the connection terminal. The plurality of connection pads includes a first connection pad and a second connection pad having a line width different from that of the first connection pad. Pitches between the plurality of connection pads are equal to each other.
US07710737B2
This invention is directed to a support plate for reinforcing a portion of a circuit board. The support plate may be coupled to a portion of the circuit board that is subject to forces (e.g., portions of the circuit board having switches) to prevent flexing of the board. The support plate may be coupled to the circuit board. This invention is also directed to a switch constructed from a button, a label plate, and a backer plate. The label plate and the backer plate may include apertures operative to receive a protrusion extending from the button, where the protrusion is welded to the backer plate. Labels may be printed or attached to the bottom surface of the label plate to protect the labels. In some embodiments, the protrusion may be welded to the backer plate. The protrusion may be operative to engage an electrical switch of an electronic device in which the switch is placed.
US07710735B2
A multichip integrated circuit package system is provided attaching a first integrated circuit die on a substrate top surface, mounting a second integrated circuit die over the first integrated circuit die, connecting an external interconnect on a substrate bottom surface, and forming a first encapsulation having a recess to expose a portion of the substrate bottom surface and the external interconnect.
US07710732B2
A manufacturing method and an electronic module manufactured according to the method including an assembly with two insulating sheets and an electronic element. A first insulating sheet constituting one of the faces of the module including at least one window in which the electronic element is housed, one face of said element levelling the surface of said first sheet and appearing on the exterior face of the module. The second insulating sheet constitutes the other face of the module. The module includes an adhesive film which extends over a region covering at least the outline of the window of the element and is situated in a region situated between the first sheet and the second sheet. The module can also include at least one electronic circuit placed between the two insulating sheets and connected to the element on the conductive connection areas located on the interior face of the element.
US07710731B2
A chassis partition framework is provided for configuring a personal cluster computer that has a head-node mainboard, a first compute-node mainboard, a second compute-node mainboard, a third compute-node mainboard and a fourth compute-node mainboard. The chassis partition framework mainly includes a top chamber, a left chamber and a right chamber. The top chamber is for configuring the head-node mainboard horizontally. The left and right chambers located under the top chamber are for vertically configuring the first and second compute-node mainboards and the third and fourth compute-node mainboards respectively in face-to-face alignment, with the second and third compute-node mainboards standing in back-to-back alignment. Therefore, the mechanical problems of the conventional blade-type personal cluster computer about heat-dissipation, noise-reduction, expansibility and space-arrangement may be improved through the chassis partition framework.
US07710730B2
A fixing heat dissipating unit that is disposed in an electronic device is connected to a substrate and a heat source. The fixing heat dissipating unit includes a fixing element and a heat conducting element. The fixing element is connected to the substrate to hold the substrate in the electronic device. The heat conducting element is respectively connected to the heat source and the fixing element. The heat source is a part of the electronic device and the fixing element is integrated with the heat conducting element as a single component. An electronic device having the fixing heat dissipating unit is also disclosed.
US07710716B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes: a case having an upper wall and a lower wall; a connector housed in the case; a duct portion having a first opening that opens in the upper wall, the duct portion protruding from a peripheral edge of the first opening and more than a lower end of the connector toward the lower wall, the duct portion having a second opening that opens in the case at a protruding end; and a cable passed through the duct portion and electrically connected to the connector.
US07710713B2
An anode/separator assembly for a capacitor is described. The capacitor includes a pellet of anode active material having opposed first and second major faces extending to a surrounding side wall and a separator enveloping the pellet. The separator is formed of a first sheet of separator material including a first central region contiguous with the first major face wall of the anode pellet and a first perimeter region folded in contact with the surrounding side wall of the anode pellet, and a second sheet of separator material including a second central region contiguous with the second major face wall of the anode pellet and a second perimeter region overlapping a portion of the first perimeter region of the first separator sheet. The first and second sheets of separator material are then sealed to each other at a seam formed at the overlap between them using the anode pellet surrounding sidewall as a backing surface for a heat sealing device.
US07710708B2
A two-axis geomagnetic sensor is disclosed. The two-axis geomagnetic sensor includes a first geomagnetic sensor part including a first wafer and a first geomagnetic sensor on a surface of the first wafer; and a second geomagnetic sensor part including a second wafer and a second geomagnetic sensor on a surface of the second wafer. The first and second geomagnetic sensor parts are bonded to each other, in which the first and second geomagnetic sensors positioned in an orthogonal relation to each other. Accordingly, an occupancy area of the geomagnetic sensor can be reduced. Further, the geomagnetic sensor on each axe can have the same magnetic material properties, and alignment deviation cannot be generated.
US07710702B2
A primary side control module for a switching power supply and a method for protecting a MOSFET that is controlled by a controller chip of the type that includes a timing network and switching drive output pins. The module includes the controller chip and the MOSFET. The controller chip provides a gating signal at the switching drive output pin to the MOSFET that may regulate the passage of current through the primary winding of a transformer of a switching power supply.A circuit branch provides communication between the throughput of the MOSFET and the timing network pin of the controller chip. A capacitor is provided within the circuit branch to differentiate the throughput and provide a signal characterized by downgoing spikes that result in protection of the MOSFET from burnout due to abnormalities associated with the internal operation of the controller chip.
US07710695B2
An integrated circuit and a protection circuit capable of protecting electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage. The integrated circuit comprises a first pad, a ground pad, a second pad, a device circuitry, a discharging unit, and a discharging controller. The discharging unit comprises first and second transistors in series. The discharging controller comprises an ESD connection unit, and a voltage clamping unit. The ESD connection unit, coupled to the first pad and the discharging unit, receives an ESD pulse to establish a first control voltage to turn on the first transistor in the ESD event. The voltage clamping unit, coupled to the ESD connection unit and the first, second and ground pads, clamps the ESD pulse to establish a second control voltage to turn on the second transistor in the ESD event, and receives an operation voltage at the first pad to turn off the second transistor in normal operation.
US07710683B2
A hard disk drive system that includes one or more rotating data storage platters, a drive controller and multiple actuator assemblies and corresponding respective read/write heads. The actuator assemblies are separately moveable for performing separate data seeks. The controller is configured to interleave the seek and read/write operations of the multiple actuator assemblies and read/write heads with one another.
US07710680B2
When a disk device corresponding to a logical volume is started, a disk system determines and starts a disk device and a fan to be started, while comprehensively considering heat quantity generated by the disk device to be started, the cooling capacity of the fan, and the electric power consumption of the fan or the electric power consumption of the disk device.
US07710673B2
A phase locking apparatus is disclosed which, includes a phase error information detecting device to detect phase error information indicating the phase error. The device has a phase position determining device to determine, based on run length limited information, whether or not phase positions of a first and second value from among sampling values constituting synchronous data are under a reverse phase condition in effect when only one of the first and the second values is in excess of a predetermined threshold, and a phase error information calculating device to calculate the phase error information in each of two cases determined, one with the reverse phase condition found to be in effect and the other without effect.
US07710669B2
A multi-colored illumination system including a beam combiner. The beam combiner includes two triangular prisms and a filter for transmitting a first light and reflecting a second light, each light having a different wavelength. The beam combiner combines the transmitted first light and the reflected light to provide a combined beam. The six surfaces of each of the triangular prism of the beam combiner are polished, thereby combining the lights without increasing etendue of the multi-colored illumination system.
US07710667B2
An imaging module and method of fabrication. The method comprises forming a first lens wafer with a plurality of outer negative lenses and forming a second lens wafer with a plurality of inner negative lenses The method further comprises bonding the first lens wafer and second lens wafer to create a bonded stack; forming a plurality of inner positive lenses on the second lens wafer and bonding a spacer wafer to the second lens wafer; and forming a plurality of outer positive lenses on the first lens wafer.
US07710665B2
There is provided a high-definition imaging optical system including: an aperture stop; a first lens disposed at an image side of the aperture stop, the first lens having a positive refractive power and having a convex object-side surface; a second lens disposed at an image side surface of the first lens; a third lens disposed at an image side surface of the second lens; a fourth lens having a convex image-side surface and having a positive refractive power; and a fifth lens having a concave image-side surface and having a negative refractive power, wherein a combined refractive power of the second and third lenses is negative. The optical system is high-performing and compact and can be further improved in resolution. Also, the optical system can correct chromatic aberration and improve color fringing in the case of indoor or outdoor photographing.
US07710655B2
A display system includes an angle-mapped display engine operable to launch angle-mapped image-bearing rays through an image-guiding substrate for display.
US07710652B2
The present invention relates to a grating image having one or more grating fields, each of which includes an electromagnetic radiation-influencing grating pattern comprising a plurality of grating lines, the grating lines being characterized by the parameters orientation, curvature, spacing and profile. According to the present invention, in the grating image, a grating field (30) that is separately perceptible with the naked eye includes an electromagnetic radiation-influencing grating pattern having grating lines (32) for which at least one of the characteristic parameters orientation, curvature, spacing and profile varies (34) across the surface of the grating field.
US07710650B2
A diffractive optical element includes a plurality of layered diffraction gratings which includes two diffraction gratings made of materials having different dispersive powers. The plurality of diffraction gratings includes a first diffraction grating having a plurality of grating portions provided on a first base surface, and a second diffraction grating having a plurality of grating portions which are provided on a second base surface. In the second diffraction grating, a height of the grating portion of the central circular zone from the second base surface is greater than a height of the grating portion of the peripheral circular zone from the second base surface.
US07710649B2
An optical polarizer includes a supporting member and a polarizing film supported by the supporting member. The polarizing film includes at least one layer of a carbon nanotube film, and the carbon nanotubes in a given carbon nanotube film are aligned in the same direction therein. A method for fabricating the optical polarizer includes the steps of: (a) providing a supporting member; (b) providing at least one layer of a carbon nanotube film, the carbon nanotubes in a given carbon nanotube film aligned along the same direction; and (c) adhering a given carbon nanotube film to the supporting member to form the optical polarizer.
US07710648B2
A high resolution autostereoscopic display includes: a backlight; a display panel forming an image using the backlight light; a viewing zone separator separating viewing zones of right and left eye images of the display panel; a polarizer polarizing the light from the display panel into first polarized light; a polarization switch converting the first polarized light into second polarized light that is polarized in a different direction; and a birefringent plate including a refractive index that varies consistent with the polarization of incident light. Images corresponding to odd and even numbered column fields are formed with the first and second polarized light, time-sequentially. The birefringent plate shifts the second polarized light with respect to the first. A three-dimensional image with the full resolution of the display panel is formed by images corresponding to an odd-numbered and even-numbered column field with the first and shifted second polarized light, respectively.
US07710646B2
A home cinema theater projection screen structure and method of making same are provided wherein a sheet of projection screen material of selected size is formed to a configuration having concave top and/or bottom edges, the projection screen material then being attached under tension to a mounting structure that defines an inwardly curved projection surface in the mounted condition whereby bulging of the projection surface of the screen is substantially eliminated. Movable side masking panels are included the structure in order to define a selected aspect ratio for the projection surface.
US07710643B2
An image projection system that communicates an image into the air includes screen material particles, a screen generation device, a delivery device and a light projecting system. The screen generation device disperses the screen material particles from the screen generation device at a targeted screen location, thereby forming a projection screen. The delivery device launches the screen generation device from a launch location to the targeted screen location in the air. The light projecting device projects light from a projection location onto the screen to form the image on the screen so as to be visible from an observation location of a viewer.
US07710641B2
A tube for a microscope includes an adaptation interface, a rotatable operator interface, a beam deflecting device, and a rotatable beam deflecting unit. The beam deflecting device includes a beam-splitting device. A rotation of the operator interface is constrainedly coupled to a rotation of the beam deflecting unit. The beam deflecting device deflects, in the direction of the beam deflecting unit, a light beam coming from the adaptation interface.
US07710639B2
A system and method is provided for uniform illumination of a target area. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of mutually incoherent light sources configured to generate respective light beams with different wavelengths, and transmitting optics configured to transmit the light beams with different wavelengths in a non-overlapping wavelength light beam pattern over the target area, such that there are no overlap regions of the target area illuminated by a light beam from the same light source.
US07710633B2
A deformable mirror changes configuration in response to a change of the configuration of a shape memory material. In some examples, the deformable mirror is formed of the shape memory material. In other examples, the deformable mirror changes configuration under the control of actuators comprising shape memory materials.
US07710629B2
A package structure and method of packaging an interferometric modulator with a reinforcing substance to help support the integrity of the package. In some embodiments the reinforcing substance is a desiccant integrated into the backplate or the transparent substrate.
US07710628B2
In each light modulator element of a special light modulator with diffraction grating structure where moving ribbons and fixed ribbons are alternately arranged, the maximum light-amount (I1) when an output light-amount first becomes maximum from when the moving ribbons start to sag and the maximum light amount-voltage becoming an displacement amount (P1) at the maximum light-amount, are obtained and the minimum of a plurality of maximum light-amounts is set as a target ON light-amount (It). Since a voltage (corresponding to a displacement amount (Pt1)) between the maximum light amount-voltage and the minimum light amount-voltage at a displacement amount (P2) is obtained as a target ON-voltage for the target ON light-amount (It), it is thereby possible to prevent moving distance of the moving ribbons among ON/OFF from largely differing among the light modulator elements and achieve an appropriate image recording.
US07710617B2
An image reading apparatus includes: three line sensors mutually spaced in a sub scanning direction; a platen arranged between the original and the three line sensors; a mover moving the platen at a rate relative to the three line sensors, the rate being different from that of the original relative to the three line sensors; a first lightness difference detector extracting a first feature pixel of a first level from each of three data output from the three line sensors; a second lightness difference detector extracting a second feature pixel of a second level; and NOR and AND devices comparing the three data corresponding to a single location on the original to detect the first feature pixel extracted from one of the three data, as a noise pixel if the second feature pixel is not extracted from the other data.
US07710615B2
In a multi-stage scanning method for increasing a scanning speed and enhancing an image quality, an optical module is firstly moved from a start position to a forward-internal position in a forward direction, and then enabled to scan a first portion of a document to obtain a first image until the module reaches a forward-boundary position. Then, the module is moved from the forward-boundary position to an end position in the forward direction. Next, the module is moved from the end position to a reverse-internal position in a reverse direction, and then enabled to scan a second portion of the document to obtain a second image until the module reaches a reverse-boundary position. Then, the module is moved from the reverse-boundary position to the start position, in the reverse direction, and then stopped. Finally, the first and second images are stitched into a complete image.
US07710598B2
Disclosed is a polychromatic barcode or portable data file symbology, image, system, method, and apparatus enabling virtually unlimited information density. In a preferred embodiment, ASCII characters are assigned to unique identifiers, which identifiers are in turn assigned to unique colors. Color blots are sequentially arranged in a symbol so as to match the sequence of corresponding identifiers to be encoded, and then the symbol is applied to a surface. To decode, the symbol is scanned, colors translated into identifiers, and identifiers translated into content. Also disclosed are blots dedicated to calibration. Information density is further enhanced through an external reference function achieved through commands included in the barcode itself, by which function infinitely high information density is achieved. Licensing information is available through www.inventerprise.com.
US07710596B2
To enable for a user to easy recognize plural counter information notifications even when plural image input and output processes performed by using plural input and output paths are administrated by plural kinds of counter information, any of counters that a remaining number is necessary for a setting mode is selected by an administration apparatus from among plural counters (independently administrating plural kinds of number-of-image information representing the number of scanner-read images, the number of own-apparatus-output images, the number of externally received output images, and the like) administrated in regard to each ID, the selected counter is displayed on an operation unit, and it is controlled by a CPU to notify the user of impossibility of process continuation with alert when the counter reaches an upper limit value.
US07710593B2
A network device is provided with a storage and adapted to be connected to a network. A document acquirer is operable to acquire a structured document in which a rule of processing executed by the network device is described by at least one first element defining at least one condition and at least one second element defining at least one content of the processing. A document analyzer is operable to analyze the structured document to obtain an analysis result and to store the analysis result in the storage. An operation controller is operable to control an operation of the network device in accordance with the analysis result stored in the storage.
US07710592B2
A storage medium is readable by a computer. The storage medium stores a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function for managing a job log. The function includes: creating a job log after execution of a job; generating a log image from an image handled by the job; and storing the log image in association with the job log.
US07710587B2
A method and system for configuring a new device are disclosed. The method includes using a host system to create a configuration file including data useable to configure the new device. A portable storage device is interfaced to the host and the configuration file is transferred to the storage device. The storage device is then interfaced to the new device and the configuration file is transferred to the new device. The configuration file is optionally used to configure the new device for communication over a network. A method for configuring the new device using a direct connection between the new device and a system bus of the host is also disclosed.
US07710585B2
When multiple-size double-side printing in an APS mode has been selected, a system CPU first reads an original which corresponds to a second side of a paper sheet, prints data of the original on the second side of the paper sheet having the same size as the original, and stacks the paper sheet on an automatic double-side unit. Subsequently, the system CPU reads an original which corresponds to a first side of the paper sheet and prints data of the original on the first side of the paper sheet stacked on the automatic double-side unit, thus completing the double-side printing. However, where the size of an original corresponding to a second side differs from the size of an original corresponding to a first side, single-side printing is effected. The original corresponding to the first side is read and data thereof is printed on a paper sheet having the same size as the original and the sheet is discharged (single-side printing). Then, the original corresponding to the first side is read and data thereof is printed on a paper sheet having the same size as the original and the sheet is discharged (single-side printing).
US07710580B2
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method including providing scanning interferometry data for a test object using phase shifting interferometry, the data including intensity values for each of multiple scan positions for different spatial locations of the test object, the intensity values for each spatial location defining an interference signal for the spatial location, the intensity values for a common scan position defining a data set for that scan position. The method also includes temporally transforming at least some of the interference signals into a first frequency domain signal, determining an estimated phase profile of the test object based on the first frequency domain signal, determining phase shifts at multiple scan positions based on the estimated phase profile, and determining a more accurate phase profile of the test object based on the estimated phase profile and the phase shifts.
US07710578B2
A position measuring arrangement for detecting a relative position is disclosed. The position measuring arrangement includes a reflection scale graduation and a scanning unit having a plurality of optical elements. The plurality of optical elements includes a combining grating, a retro-reflector element, a scanning grating and detector elements. The optical elements are arranged so that light beams and/or partial light beams of a scanning beam path act on the reflection scale graduation at least twice; a directional reversal of the incident partial light beams impinging on the reflection scale graduation perpendicularly with respect to the measuring direction takes place by the retro-reflector element; and a pair of partial light beams impinges in a non-parallel manner on the combining grating, and the combining grating brings the partial light beams impinging on the combining grating to interference, so that phase-shifted signals are detected by the plurality of detector elements.
US07710577B2
The present invention achieves multiplexing spectrum interference optical coherence tomography capable of full-range OCT measurement that causes no delays in measurement time due to high-order scans and is also free from complex conjugated images. This multiplexing spectrum interference optical coherence tomography comprises: a first beam splitter 3 positioned in an optical path 2 from a light source 1 and used to separate an object light 4 and a reference light 5; a galvano mirror 6 positioned in the optical path of the object light 4 and used to scan the object light onto a measured object 8; a second beam splitter 10 positioned in the optical path of the reference light 5; a first reference mirror 12 positioned in the optical path of a first reference light 11 separated by the second beam splitter 10; a second reference mirror 15 positioned in the optical path of a second reference light 13 separated by the second beam splitter 10; and a chopper 16 that passes the first reference light 11 and second reference light 13 alternately.
US07710566B2
Photoacoustic instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. Certain disclosed photoacoustic instruments include a resonator cavity, an acoustic detector, a laser, an optical power detector, and a scattering detector. Further disclosed photoacoustic instruments include a resonator cavity, an acoustic detector, an optical power detector, a plurality of laser beams, each laser beam having a different wavelength, and, optionally, a scattering detector.
US07710564B1
In one embodiment, a surface inspection system comprises a radiation directing assembly to target radiation onto a surface of an object, the radiation directing assembly comprising a radiation source that emits a broadband radiation beam, a polarization control assembly comprising at least one of a linear polarizer and an apochromatic retarder, an aperture control mechanism, and a beam splitter, a radiation collection assembly to collect radiation reflected from the surface of the object, the radiation collection assembly comprising, a polarization control assembly comprising at least one of a linear polarizer and an apochromatic retarder, an aperture control mechanism, and at least one radiation sensing device.
US07710560B2
In a color imaging system, multiple rendering devices are provided at different nodes along a network. Each rendering device has a color measurement instrument for calibrating the color presented by the rendering device. A rendering device may be a printer in which the measuring of color samples on a sheet rendered by the printer is provided by a sensor coupled to a transport mechanism which moves the sensor and sheet relative to each other, where the sensor provides light from the samples to a spectrograph. A rendering device may also be a display buying a member supporting a color measuring instrument for receiving light from an area of the screen. The color measuring instruments provide for non-contact measurements of color samples rendered on a display or a sheet, and are self calibrating by the use of calibration references.
US07710551B2
A band moiré image layout model enables predicting the band moiré image layer layout produced when superposing a base band grating and revealing line grating of given rectilinear or curvilinear layouts. Thanks to the band moiré image layout model, one can choose the layout of two layers selected from the set of base band grating, revealing line grating and band moiré image and obtain the layout of the third layer by computation, i.e. automatically. A composed layer made of a base band grating and of a revealing line grating separated by a small gap yields thanks to the parallax effect, when tilting the composed layer, dynamically moving moiré shapes. The presented methods can be used for protecting various categories of documents (banknotes, identity documents, checks, diploma, travel documents, tickets) and valuable products (optical disks, medical drugs, products with affixed labels, watches).
US07710534B2
Disclosed is a system for fabricating a liquid crystal display using liquid crystal dropping and a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display using the same. The present invention includes a liquid crystal forming line dropping liquid crystals on the first substrate, a sealant forming line forming the sealant on the second substrate, and a bonding and hardening line bonding the two substrates to each other and hardening the sealant, printing a sealant, bonding the substrates each other, and hardening the sealant and an inspection process line of cutting the bonded substrates into panel units and grinding and inspecting the unit panels. And, the GAP process line includes And, the present invention includes the processes of dropping LC on a first substrate using a dispenser, forming a main UV hardening sealant on a second substrate, bonding the first and second substrates to each other in a vacuum state, UV-hardening the main UV hardening sealant, cutting the bonded substrates into cell units, grinding the cut substrates, and inspecting the grinded substrates finally.
US07710533B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is fixed to a supporting stage by vacuum holding in a way that an end portion of a predetermined one of edges of the pair of substrates protrudes from the supporting stage. Next, scribe lines are formed respectively in positions on upper and lower surfaces of the end portion of the pair of substrates, and the end portion protruding from the supporting stage. Thereafter, a load is applied to a predetermined position by using a break pin. The load is applied to the predetermined position at a side of the scribe lines toward the outside closer to starting points of the respective scribe lines. Accordingly, the LCD panel is cut.
US07710532B2
A reflective liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a display region and a first non-display region, the first non-display region being disposed at a boundary of the display region. A second substrate faces and is spaced apart from the first substrate, the second substrate including a second non-display region corresponding to a portion larger than the first substrate. A light absorption layer is on an inner surface of the first substrate. A cholesteric liquid crystal color filter (CCF) layer is at the display region and the first non-display region is on the light absorption layer. A common electrode is on the CCF layer. An array element is on an inner surface of the second substrate. A light shielding pattern is on the array element, the light shielding pattern corresponding to the CCF layer at the first non-display region. A retardation plate and a polarizing plate are sequentially formed on the outer surface of the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the common electrode and the array element.
US07710529B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel capable of reducing or eliminating metal erosion in an area in which a conductive dot is formed. In some embodiments, a display panel comprises a common electrode formed on an upper substrate, a first electrode formed on a lower substrate opposing the upper substrate and configured to receive a common voltage, a conductive dot formed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate and positioned to supply the common electrode with the common voltage, an insulating layer having a contact hole exposing the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the insulating layer to connect the conductive dot and the first electrode, wherein a cross sectional area of the conductive dot between the upper substrate and the lower substrate is greater than a cross sectional area of an opening of the contact hole.
US07710523B2
A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is constituted of a TFT substrate and an opposing substrate which are arranged so as to be opposite to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In addition, in the liquid crystal layer, formed is a polymer into which a polymer component added to liquid crystal is polymerized, and which determines directions in which liquid crystal molecules tilt when voltage is applied. In the TFT substrate, formed are a sub picture element electrode directly connected to a TFT and a sub picture element electrode connected to the TFT through capacitive coupling. In each of these sub picture element electrodes, formed are slits extending in directions respectively at angles of 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees and 315 degrees to the X axis.
US07710519B2
An electro-optic device includes a frame, an optical member including a light guide plate accommodated within the flame, an illuminator, and a display panel disposed over the optical member. The display panel includes a substrate that has a light-shielding black mask extending in the shape of a picture frame along edges of the substrate. The black mask partially has at least one light-shielding extended segment extended toward at least one of the edges of the substrate.
US07710518B2
A system for displaying images is disclosed. A display device comprises a first substrate comprising a plurality of pixels, each comprising RGB transparent sub-pixel regions. A second substrate comprises RGB regions opposite the first substrate, wherein the transparent sub-pixel regions respectively correspond to the three major color regions. A light blocking layer is disposed in one of the transparent sub-pixel regions of the first substrate. A photo spacer corresponding to the light blocking layer is formed, supporting the opposite first and second substrates.
US07710515B2
In order to solve the problem that sufficient center brightness is not always obtained in a conventional liquid crystal TV and a liquid crystal monitor, a backlight module of the invention includes a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CFL) and a diffusing reflector below, the distance between the respective CFLs is arranged so that a central portion is narrow and an end portion is wide, and the backlight module includes a triangular sectional projection structure on at the diffusing reflector only between the CFLs between which the distance is the widest, in the end portion. According to the invention, enhancement of the center brightness without increasing consumption power, reduction in the number of CFLs, and cost reduction accompanying it are achieved.
US07710509B2
A front cover (1) is engaged with a plate-like slide mounting bracket (3b), a liquid crystal panel (2) is fixed to the front cover (1) by a panel contact portion (31) of the slide mounting bracket (3b), and a back cover (5) is fixed to the front cover (1) through the plate-like slide mounting bracket (3b) by screwing a screw into a tapped hole (33). As a result, it is possible to narrow a width (b) which is obtained by subtracting a width of an overlap portion of the liquid crystal display panel (2) from a width (B) of a frame portion of the front cover (1) because no fixing boss for mounting the back cover (5) is required for the front cover (1). Consequently, the frame of the front cover (1) can be narrowed.
US07710505B2
The invention provides a method for improving the functionality of the jump button associated with television, cable/satellite receiver, or any other multi-channel device controlling remote control. The apparatus provides a jump button with the ability to access a wide variety of channels in an intelligent manner. At present, the jump button has the functionality such that the jump to location associated with selecting the jump button is the previously viewed channel, regardless of how the current channel being viewed is selected. The invention disclosed herein is a method of performing jumps on a device like a remote control in a more useful manner.
US07710493B2
An image-pickup apparatus includes a first detector configured to generate first information corresponding to a contrast state of a picked-up image, a second detector configured to detect second information that is used for focus control and different from the first information, a controller configured to provide the focus control, and a first operating member operable by a user, wherein the controller provides the focus control that uses the first information but does not use the second information when the first operating member is not operated, and provides the focus control that uses at least the second information when the operating member is operated.
US07710487B2
An electronic camera includes a shutter button. When the shutter button is half-depressed, a photographing condition such as an exposure time period and an aperture amount is adjusted by a main CPU, and characters indicative of the adjusted photographing condition are displayed on an LCD. When the shutter button is full-depressed, an image signal of an object is recorded in a recording medium. It is noted that a time difference between a timing of half-depressing the shutter button and a timing of full-depressing the shutter button is lower than a threshold value, a flag is set to “1”, and a display of the characters is prohibited. Prohibiting the characters from being displayed makes it possible to promptly execute a photographing of the object in response to the full-depression of the shutter button.
US07710486B2
An image sensing apparatus, an image sensing unit, an authentication data generating unit, a storing unit and a display unit. The image sensing unit generates image data. The authentication data generating unit generates authentication data used to authenticate whether the image data is altered. The storing unit stores an image file including the image data and the authentication data in a removable memory. The display unit displays both reduced image data obtained from the image file and a predetermined information, if the image file has the authentication data, wherein the predetermined information indicates that the image file has the authentication data.
US07710478B2
A solid-state imaging device comprises, on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of sensor sections for storing a signal charge commensurate with a quantity of reception light, a charge transfer section for transferring and outputting the signal charge of the sensor sections, and an output section for converting the signal charge transferred by the charge transfer section into an imaging signal for output. A current controller is provided to cut off or reduce a current flowing to the output section in a signal storage period of the sensor section. This cuts off or reduces the current flowing to the output section in a signal storage period of the sensor section, and hence suppresses the amount of the current flowing to the output section in the signal storage period. Thus, wasteful consumption power is greatly reduced.
US07710476B2
A color filter array includes a plurality of filters, each having one of a plurality of types of spectral sensitivity and being disposed at the location of a corresponding one of a plurality of pixels. The filters of a predetermined type selected from among the plurality of types are arranged at the locations of the pixels in a checkered pattern, and the filters of some or all of the other types are randomly arranged at the pixel locations at which the filters of the predetermined type are not present.
US07710458B2
When a hand shake reducing mode has been set for shooting a subject, an exposure is controlled in accordance with a program diagram (solid line) B for the shake reducing mode, which is different from a program diagram (broken line) A for a normal mode. In a state where a shutter speed is set to less than “ 1/80”, two-pixel addition and/or four-pixel addition is executed on an imaging signal to amplify subject luminance, raising ISO sensitivity. A shutter speed set to fall in a high speed range reduces deterioration in image quality due to hand shake and/or subject movement during a shooting operation.
US07710453B2
A real time apparatus for testing a DTV antenna transmitting system, wherein the DTV antenna transmitting system transmits an original signal from a DTV transmitter to a DTV transmitting antenna, is disclosed that includes a probe, wherein the probe is connected in series with the DTV antenna transmitting system, and senses signals traversing the DTV antenna transmitting system. An error detector of the testing apparatus compares the received signal to the original signal to identify the magnitude and location of errors.
US07710439B2
To better realize the great potential of amateur digital photography, the present invention introduces an integrated system for the acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication of digital images by amateur digital photography enthusiasts. The system of the present invention first acquires images from a number of different image sources. Images acquired in the same image importing session are marked as coming from the same conceptual film roll. Next, a user is empowered to organize and manipulate the acquired images. The images may be organized by tagging the images with informative keywords and grouping images together into conceptual photo albums. Furthermore, the images may be manipulated by rotating, cropping, and removing red-eye. Finally, the system of the present invention provides simple intuitive image publish systems. A selected group of images may be published in a photobook, published onto the World Wide Web, or published as individual image prints with minimal computer knowledge on the part of the user.
US07710438B2
A plurality of images with additional information are designed to be displayed on one screen or a recording paper efficiently so as to enhance ease of visual confirmation and facilitate recording paper handling. Image data including a captured image section and an additional information section is inputted from an endoscope device, and this image data is saved in an image memory. There is generated synthetic image data displaying respectively each of the plurality of the image data saved in the image memory on a plurality of designated regions A to D allocated within one screen. At this instant, the image data including the captured image section and the additional information section is arranged to be displayed on a first designated region within one screen, while the captured image section of the image data to be displayed on the first designated region is enlarged and displayed on a second designated region.
US07710437B2
A method for interpolating pixel colors in a digital system is provided. The method comprises obtaining at least two pixels of a first color having a first level of similarity, wherein the at least two pixels are positioned adjacent a first pixel to be restored; calculating average values of the two pixels for the first color; restoring the value of the at least two pixels for the first color; and restoring a value associated with a second color for the at least two pixels by an interpolation method using a gradient of a brightness.
US07710434B2
Image processing in mobile devices is optimized by combining at least two of the color conversion, rotation, and scaling operations. Received images, such as still images or frames of video stream, are subjected to a combined transformation after decoding, where each pixel is color converted (e.g. from YUV to RGB), rotated, and scaled as needed. By combining two or three of the processes into one, read/write operations consuming significant processing and memory resources are reduced enabling processing of higher resolution images and/or power and processing resource savings.
US07710427B1
Embodiments of the present invention include an arithmetic logic unit for use in a graphics pipeline. The arithmetic logic unit comprising a plurality of scalar arithmetic logic subunits wherein each subunit performs a resultant arithmetic logic operation in the form of [a*b “op” c*d] on a set of input operands a, b, c and d. The arithmetic logic unit also for produces a result based thereon wherein “op” represents a programmable operation and wherein further the resultant arithmetic logic operation is software programmable to implement a plurality of different graphics functions.
US07710426B1
Buffers may be shared between components in a system. The components may be loosely coupled, allowing the components to be assembled into various different configurations, and yet buffers may still be shared. A buffer requirements negotiator of the system analyzes the buffer requirements of each of the components and determines, if possible, a set of requirements that satisfies all of the components. Accordingly, savings may be achieved in buffer memory, as well as in copying and converting between unshared buffers. Further, the individual components may operate as efficiently as possible because the buffer requirements of the components in the system are all met. One implementation accesses a first component's buffer requirements and a second component's buffer requirements, determines a reconciled set of buffer requirements that satisfies the buffer requirements of both components, and provides the reconciled set of buffer requirements to one or more components.
US07710414B2
Disclosed is a common voltage regulating circuit of a liquid crystal display device which can be adjusted by software, comprising: a pulse signal generating means for outputting a pulse width modulation signal in response to up/down signal for adjusting a common voltage; a smoothing means for smoothing a pulse width modulation signal to a direct current level provided from the pulse signal generating means; and an amplifying means for amplifying the signal smoothed by the smoothing means to a predetermined level and then outputting a common voltage signal. Accordingly, since a common voltage can be adjusted by software by means of a surplus pulse width modulation signal generated in an integrated board without installing a separate hardware, the common voltage can be easily adjusted. Further, since a variable resistor has not been used, not only manufacturing cost but also possibility of breakage can be reduced.
US07710410B2
An electro-optical device includes an entire screen display mode in which an entire screen is displayed and a partial display mode in which a part of an entire screen is set to a display region and the remaining part is set to a non-display region. A scanning line driving circuit supplies a first voltage to the scanning lines of the display region for a predetermined period in the entire screen display mode, and supplies a second voltage to the scanning lines of the display region for a period longer than the predetermined period in the partial display mode.
US07710406B2
A touch panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a wiring substrate provided with a plurality of wiring patterns formed thereon, and an anisotropic conductive adhesive layer. The first substrate has a first conductive layer and first electrodes extending from two opposite sides of the first conductive layer. The second substrate has a second conductive layer confronting the first surface with a space, and second electrodes extending from two opposite sides of the second conductive layer. The anisotropic conductive adhesive layer connects a terminal portion of the wiring patterns to at least one of the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The wiring substrate has a slit or an aperture between the wiring patterns at one end thereof. The touch panel of this structure is easy to produce, and provides reliable operation and electrical connection and separation.
US07710400B2
A touch panel having a film/glass structure includes an upper electrode member including a transparent insulation film having upwardly-inclined end surfaces at each entire peripheral side. A touch panel having a film/film structure includes an upper electrode member including a transparent insulation film and a lower electrode member including a transparent insulation film, wherein the transparent insulation film and the transparent insulation film have upwardly-inclined end surfaces at each entire peripheral side.
US07710397B2
A mouse having improved input methods and mechanisms is disclosed. The mouse is configured with touch sensing areas capable of generating input signals. The touch sensing areas may for example be used to differentiate between left and right clicks in a single button mouse. The mouse may further be configured with force sensing areas capable of generating input signals. The force sensing areas may for example be positioned on the sides of the mouse so that squeezing the mouse generates input signals. The mouse may further be configured with a jog ball capable of generating input signals. The mouse may additionally be configured with a speaker for providing audio feedback when the various input devices are activated by a user.
US07710395B2
A magnetic tracker system for use on an operator's head makes “mouse”/cursor movements on a screen similar to that of the classic computer “mouse”/track ball/touchpad/joystick. Only head movements are used as opposed to lifting a hand from the keyboard for making such moves. The new “mouse” avoids interrupting the hands from their position on the keyboard and has no moving mechanical parts that become clogged and that need a special surface (mouse pad) or special surface measurements (optical mouse).
US07710389B2
A display device includes at least one cell containing a fluid having colored particles dispersed in the fluid and at least one dot field applicator associated with the cell. The dot field applicator may be a dot electrode.
US07710388B2
A display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. At least one of the pixels includes two sub-pixel groups. Each of the sub-pixel groups includes sub-pixels of three or more colors. Sub-pixels of the same color in each pixel are driven by the same signal.
US07710384B2
A drive circuit of a display device, which comprise only single conductive TFTs and in which amplitude of an output signal is normal, is provided.A pulse is inputted to TFTs 101 and 104 so that the TFTs would turn ON and then potential of a node á rises. When the potential of the node á reaches (VDD−VthN), the node á became in a floating state. Accordingly, a TFT 105 then turns ON, and potential of an output node rises as a clock signal reaches the level H. On the other hand, potential of a gate electrode of the TFT 105 further rises due to an operation of capacitance 107 as the potential of the output node rises, so that the potential of the output node would be higher than (VDD+VthN). Thus, the potential of the output node rises to VDD without voltage drop caused by a threshold of the TFT 105. An output at the subsequent stage is then inputted to TFTs 102 and 103 to turn the TFTs 102 and 103 ON, while the potential of the node á drops down to turn the TFT 105 OFF. A TFT 106 turns ON at the same time so that the potential of the output node would reach the level L.
US07710382B2
A driving circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an input terminal, unit circuits connected to the input terminal, and output terminals electrically connected to the input terminals. Each of the unit circuits is enabled in response to a control signal inputted via the input terminal.
US07710367B2
An organic light emitting display including a scan driver for supplying scan signals to odd scan lines in an ith frame and for supplying scan signals to even scan lines in an (i+1)th frame, a data driver for supplying data signals corresponding to the scan signals, and an image display unit including a plurality of pixels coupled with the scan lines and the data lines. Pixels coupled with the odd scan lines do not emit light when the scan signals are supplied to the odd scan lines, and pixels coupled with the even scan lines do not emit light when the scan signals are supplied to the even scan lines.
US07710357B2
A method for driving a plasma display panel that can generate stable and reliable discharge without making the circuit configuration of the driver complicated. According to this drive method, a plasma display panel where a pixel cell is formed at each intersection of a plurality of column electrodes and a plurality of row electrode pairs is driven such that, in a sustain process of at least one subfield out of subfields in one field display period, an auxiliary discharge is generated along with the sustain discharge in the pixel cell by applying an auxiliary pulse to the column electrode only while a first sustain pulse is being applied.
US07710354B2
Provided are a plasma display apparatus and a driving method thereof. The apparatus comprises a plasma display panel comprising a plurality of scan electrodes, and a scan driver. The scan driver drives the plurality of scan electrodes, divides the plurality of scan electrodes into a plurality of scan electrode groups, and distinguishes a level of reset pulse supplied to at least one of the plurality of scan electrode groups from a level of reset pulse supplied to the others of the plurality of scan electrode groups.
US07710346B2
An antenna system includes a heptagonal antenna array having one center antenna element and seven circumferentially surrounding antenna elements offering improved near and far sidelobe rejection, which is well suited for mechanically-gimbaled and time delayed electrical steering antenna applications.
US07710345B2
Devices and methods are provided to enhance magnetic field communication. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for transmitting and receiving signals using an antenna element electrically connected to a driver and an amplifier. According to various embodiments of the method, a first signal is transmitted from the antenna element and a second signal that was induced in the antenna element is received. Transmitting the first signal includes driving the first signal through the antenna element using the driver, and monitoring the first signal through an input impedance of the amplifier. Receiving the second signal includes reducing the input impedance of the amplifier, and receiving the second signal at the amplifier through the reduced input impedance. Various embodiments shield the antenna element from electric and electromagnetic fields. Other aspects are provided herein.
US07710342B2
A dual-port corporate-feed broadband antenna uses two pairs of crossed dipoles in each bay, fed by a single hybrid coupler in each bay, to support hybrid-mode IBOC® VHF-band broadcasting. Each 3 dB quarter-wave coupler receives a share of an analog FM broadcast signal on a first input and a digital OFDM broadcast signal, 20 dB down, on a second input. The respective coupler output ports drive coaxial lines to tees feeding respective quarter-wave-separated crossed dipoles. The dipoles in each bay are arranged in a square to one side of their coupler, making side mounting practical. The resultant omnidirectional analog and digital radiation patterns have the same circular polarization and opposite phase rotation. Bay spacing for vertical null is a function ((n−1)/n) of the number of bays in the antenna.
US07710320B2
A method for producing a first time base for a first ultra wideband radio obtains a time reference signal and phase locks a clock signal to the time reference signal The clock signal is counted down using a counter to produce the first time base. The counter is a binary counter that has a modulo count equal to a modulo repeat length of a code corresponding to a ultra wideband signal.
US07710318B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for reducing the ‘cold start’ TTFF of navigation receivers. The systems and methods receive geographical information from a user, such as the nearest city, state or country, and use this geographical information to approximate the position of the receiver. The systems and methods then make use of the approximate position to reduce the ‘cold start’ TTFF. In an embodiment, the approximate position of the receiver is determined from a co-ordinate database in the receiver based on the geographical information provided by the user. In another embodiment, a user provides geographical information to the receiver through a displayed map with several stages of zooming capability.
US07710316B1
Disclosed is a method for determining coordinates of a mobile rover. The method includes determining a vector of one-shot code coordinates of the mobile rover. The method also includes determining a vector of phase increments by determining full phase differences for each navigation satellite in a plurality of navigation satellites in view at a discrete time interval (called a time epoch) and at a previous time epoch in a plurality of time epochs. A vector of radial range increments is determined from the full phase differences. A vector of rover phase coordinate increments is also determined using the vector of radial range increments. The vector of one-shot code coordinates and the vector of rover phase coordinate increments are then filtered to determine, at each time epoch, smoothed code coordinates of the mobile rover. Measured phase increments are cleared up from abnormal measurements.
US07710304B2
In an A/D converter including a switched capacitor integration circuit, to suppress an effect of a noise generated in the switched capacitor circuit while suppressing increase in a forming area of the circuit. A first-stage integrator of a differential input type A/D converter includes first and second switched capacitor circuits, and includes a noise cancel circuit for generating a noise cancel signal to cancel a kickback noise generated due to switching operation thereof.
US07710301B2
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a digital/analog converter includes: a decoder that converts a (n−1)-phase input digital signal to a n-phase output digital signal; and a signal generating unit that generates analog signals according to the n-phase output digital signal.
US07710299B2
There is provided a demodulator system comprising a first input to receive a first analog signal at a first rate; a second input to receive a second analog signal at the first rate; a MUX coupled to the first input and the second input to receive the first analog signal and the second analog signal, and to multiplex the first analog signal and the second analog signal to generate a multiplexed analog output; an ADC to receive the multiplexed analog output and generate a multiplexed digital output, the ADC operating at a second rate, the second rate substantially equal to the first rate multiplied by a total number of input analog signals; a DEMUX to receive the multiplexed digital output and generate a first digital output having a first bitstream and a second digital output having a second bitstream corresponding to the first analog signal and the second analog signal.
US07710295B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for inverter based return-to-zero (RZ)+non-RZ (NRZ) signaling. The interface circuit contains multiple ganged drivers (some or all of them are turned on at one point of time) and edge detection circuitry (to configure/modulate edges of the input data signal). These two circuits together generate weighted return-to-zero (RZ)+non-RZ (NRZ) signal.
US07710294B2
Methods and apparatus for determining the existence of an external clock over a digital input port on a computer. In one embodiment, the external clock is validated, and a lock is performed when the clock is valid. Whenever a loss of the lock is detected, and, if a re-lock is likely, the apparatus is muted so that audio artifacts that would otherwise be heard are minimized. The methods and apparatus also provide automatic re-locking to the external clock when a sampling rate change is detected.
US07710293B2
A method for accessing contact information in an electronic device, such as a mobile phone, including a display and a plurality of keys, where each key represents one or more characters, comprising the steps of detecting a first input on a key, and presenting a contact stored as a speed dial choice for the key of the first input. When a second input on a key is detected, all contacts stored in a database of the device are searched, and any contact data including the combination of a character represented by the first input key and a character of the second input key are then presented to the user.
US07710285B2
A battery device includes a battery cell, a case housing the battery cell, an antenna, a battery-side communication unit performing wireless communication with an electronic-apparatus side communication unit provided at an electronic apparatus on which the battery device is removably mounted through the antenna, a memory unit storing battery data which is data concerning the battery device and a control unit performing control of the battery-side communication unit, both reading/writing of the battery data with respect to the memory unit or only reading thereof.
US07710278B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing gunshot information. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method for processing gunshot information via identification of characteristics of detected gunfire. Moreover, the method may include detecting a particular gunshot event, deriving envelope information for the particular gunshot event, accessing one or more known envelopes associated with known gunshot events, and associating the particular gunshot event with a known weapon or known weapon types as a function of a comparison of the envelope information of the particular gunshot event with known envelope information associated with one or more known weapons. Other exemplary implementations may include comparing attack, sustain, and delay characteristics of the particular gunshot event with known attack, sustain, and decay characteristics associated with the known weapon.
US07710277B2
An alarm system is disclosed for detecting and signaling that a human or an animal is in an enclosed space such as a motor vehicle which includes a monitoring device for monitoring temperature in an enclosed space. The monitoring device may specify a minimum and/or maximum temperature, or a range of temperatures in the enclosed space. A detection device detects the presence of a human or animal in the enclosed space when an unacceptable temperature is reached. In the system disclosed, the human or animal is unable to exit the enclosed space, and a signaling device is used to communicate a signal to a receiver outside the enclosed space indicating the presence of the human or the animal in the enclosed space.
US07710274B2
An antenna and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag using the same are disclosed. The antenna includes: a radiating unit having a helical structure; and a feeding unit having a loop structure on which a terminal connected to an element connected to the antenna is formed, wherein the feeding unit is electromagnetically induced and coupled with the radiating unit to be apart from each other.
US07710261B2
A presentation device includes a searching device that searches for elements of an airport that are displayed on a display field of a screen. A verification device verifies, for each of the elements, whether the element forms part of a first group for which a main anchoring point is located inside a label zone or a second group for which the main anchoring point is located outside the label zone. A determining device determines, for the elements of the second group, a secondary anchoring point located at an intersection between an axis of the element and the label zone. For each element, a label for the element is presented on a screen. The labels associated with the first group are located at the main point and those associated with the second group are located at a secondary anchoring zone.
US07710260B2
Emergent information is created and utilized by an array of sensors. Each sensor is programmed with a trigger rule, which describes a local condition that must be met for the sensor to trigger an event signal, and a relationship rule, which describes a hierarchy of communication control among sensors in the array of sensors. When a predetermined weighted percentage of the sensors trigger event signals, emergent information that describes conditions at the array location is generated. An effectuator then takes appropriate steps to address the condition described by the emergent information.
US07710247B2
An existence probability of an image object based on an image taken by a stereo camera 2 is calculated by an image object existence probability calculating portion 11, an existence probability of a millimeter wave object based on an output of a millimeter wave radar 3 is calculated by a millimeter wave object existence probability calculating portion 12, and an existence probability of a laser object based on an output of a laser radar 4 is calculated by a laser object existence probability calculating portion 13. Further, the respective existence probabilities of the image object, the millimeter wave object, the laser object are corrected based on recognizing rates of the respective recognizing sensors by an existence probability correcting portion 14, the existence probabilities after correction is fused as a fusion existence probability by a fusion existence probability calculating portion 15, thereby, a control of avoiding contact with a hazard or alarming or the like is made to be able to execute by a firm and optimum timing.
US07710240B2
A capacitor applied to a voltage multiplier and a modulator/demodulator of a RFID device is formed as a nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor formed by the same process of a memory cell capacitor. The nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor has a high dielectric constant to reduce the area of the capacitor.
US07710236B2
A fuse system has both a non-serviceable fuse and a fuse terminal system for selectively installing a serviceable fuse. When installed, the serviceable fuse provides a current flow path parallel to the non-serviceable fuse.
US07710231B2
An ignition coil includes a coil body, a plug connection portion protruding from the coil body, and a connector for electrically connecting the ignition coil to an outside. In the coil body, a primary coil is arranged on an inner peripheral side of a secondary coil, and a center core is arranged on an inner peripheral side of the primary coil. The secondary coil includes a secondary electric wire having thereon an insulating film, wound around an outer periphery of a resinous secondary spool. Furthermore, the connector is formed integrally with an end of the secondary spool in an axial direction.
US07710227B2
An electromagnetic energy transducer comprising a permanent magnet (1), a soft-magnetic element (9), an electrical coil (6) and stop points (8a-8d). The electrical coil surrounds a part of the magnetic circuit, wherein the permanent magnet (1) and the soft-magnetic element (9) are arranged to form a magnetic circuit with a first flux direction. At least one of the soft-magnetic element (9) and the permanent magnet (1) is mounted for rotary movement about an axis (4) with respect to the other. End points of the rotary movement are formed by the stop points (8a-8d).
US07710223B2
A relay includes a movable iron piece, a plate spring fixed to the one surface of the movable iron piece, a shaft hole formed by the one surface of the movable iron piece and the plate spring, and a supporting shaft inserted through the shaft hole. The movable iron piece is rotated round the supporting shaft based on excitation and nonexcitation of a magnetic unit. Both end portions of the plate spring alternately drive a contact point unit. The shaft hole is formed by a flat portion of the one surface of the movable iron piece and a bearing portion formed by subjecting the plate spring to bending work. The movable iron piece is supported so as to be rotatable.
US07710215B2
A semiconductor configuration having an integrated coupler is provided. The semiconductor configuration includes a coupler which is integrated in the substrate and which includes a first port and a second port. The coupler defines, in a plan view onto the substrate, an inner region of the substrate surrounded at least in sections by the coupler, and an outer region of the substrate arranged outside to the coupler. The coupler is at least a magnetic coupler, a capacitive coupler, or a combination of both. At least a circuit element is integrated in the inner region of the substrate and includes a port which is electrically connected to the second port of the coupler.
US07710212B2
A crystal oscillator with variable gain and variable output impedance inverter system includes an inverter, a variable impedance feedback circuit, connected between the output and input of the inverter, a crystal oscillator system, having a crystal with first and second electrodes connected across the input and output of the inverter; a serial variable impedance circuit connected between the inverter output and an electrode of the crystal and a control circuit for temporarily, during start up mode, increasing the impedance of the feedback circuit and decreasing the impedance of the serial circuit relative to the stationary mode impedances and then returning the feedback impedance to the lower impedance level and the serial circuit to the higher impedance level that promotes high frequency stability of the oscillator in the normal, stationary mode, of operation.
US07710210B2
An apparatus is provided that includes an injection locked oscillator and a transmitting device. The injection locked oscillator to receive a first clock signal and to provide a second clock signal by skewing the first clock signal. The transmitting device to receive an input signal and to receive the second clock signal as a clocking signal, the transmitting device to transmit an output signal based on the received clocking signal.
US07710203B2
Circuitry for providing improved pulse-type enhancement of the voltage supplied to a power amplifier (101) that is fed by a power supply that is connected to the power amplifier (101) at a feeding point through a main supply path that is connected via an inductor (L1). A second feeding point is used for enhancement by a capacitor that is discharged. A transformer L2, L3, M) is formed by mutually coupling an additional inductor (L3), through which an additional supply path is connected. Enhancement power is provided partially through the transformer L2, L3, M) and the remaining part thorough the capacitor (C1). This way, the total level of possible enhancement is increased, while minimizing distortion of the envelope of the amplified RF signal.
US07710195B2
A two stage voltage boost circuit, IC and design structure are disclosed for boosting a supply voltage using gate control circuitry to reduce gate oxide stress, thus allowing lower voltage level FETs to be used. The voltage boost circuit may include a first stage for boosting the supply voltage to a first boosted voltage and a second stage for boosting the first boosted voltage to a second boosted voltage. Each stage may include a passgate and a gate control circuit for generating an on-state gate voltage level for the respective passgate adjusted to reduce gate oxide voltage stress on the passgate. The circuit may also include a precharge circuit for coupling a voltage on a high node of the second stage to a gate node of a precharge transistor thereof for disabling the precharge transistor and preventing leakage back to a power supply voltage.
US07710191B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device 100A includes: an integrated circuit body 106A having a plurality of MOSFETs on a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of elements 102A to be measured placed on the same substrate as the plurality of MOSFETs; a monitor circuit 105A for selecting an element to be measured whose measured parameter value is in a predetermined rank among the plurality of elements 102A to be measured as an element 101A to be measured for monitoring; and an operation parameter adjustment circuit 107 for adjusting an operation parameter 108 supplied to the integrated circuit body 106A based on the measured parameter 104A of the element to be measured for monitoring.
US07710186B2
An averaging circuit apparatus comprises a rectifier having an input for receiving a high-speed error signal having, for example, a data rate of 10 Gbps. An integrator is coupled to the rectifier and has an error output for providing an averaged representation of the error signal. The averaged representation of the error signal is supplied to a Digital Signal Processor in a channel equalizer loop for equalizing a fiber-optic channel. The Digital Signal Processor executes an algorithm that sets tap coefficients of an analogue filter in response to the averaged representation of the error signal.
US07710183B2
A level shifting circuit has a pair of assist circuits. The level shifting circuit includes an input point, an output point, a pair of cross-coupled PMOS transistors coupled to the output point, and a pair of NMOS transistors coupled between the input and output points. Each assist circuit includes a pair of PMOS transistors, one responsive to an input applied to the input point, the other responsive to the drain voltage of one of the NMOS transistors. The assist circuits temporarily weaken the cross-coupled PMOS transistors when an input changes from low to high, or from high to low. The assist circuits also transiently boost the output.
US07710175B2
A pulse width modulation circuit includes a first electric-charge accumulator; a second electric-charge accumulator; a first current generator which generates a first current corresponding to the amplitude of an input AC voltage; a second current generator which generates a second current with a constant value; a first current supply controller which supplies the first current to the first electric-charge accumulator; a second current supply controller which supplies the second current to the first electric-charge accumulator; a third current supply controller which supplies the first current to the second electric-charge accumulator; a fourth current supply controller which supplies the second current to the second electric-charge accumulator; and a current limiter which limits the first current to a third current with a predetermined current value, if the amplitude of the AC voltage in the negative side exceeds a predetermined level.
US07710171B2
A delay locked loop circuit for compensating for a phase skew of a memory device includes a first delay locking unit configured to delay an external clock of the memory device by a first amount of delay to output a first internal clock, a second locking unit configured to delay the external clock by a second amount of delay to output a second internal clock, the second amount of delay being greater than the first amount of delay, and a selecting unit configured to select one of the first internal clock and the second internal clock as an internal clock of the memory device.
US07710160B2
Stacked inverter delay chains. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a series stack of two p-type devices is coupled to a series stack of three n-type devices, forming a stacked inverter comprising desirable delay, die area and power characteristics. Two stacked inverters are coupled together to form a stacked inverter delay chain that is more efficient in terms of die area, active and passive power consumption than conventional delay chains comprising conventional inverters.
US07710156B1
A circuit Θ is coupled to an individual node Nin, in a circuit for which repeated logical values of that individual node can be identified as having a set of flip-flops Fj dependent thereon, with the effect that if the individual node Nin remains unchanged for one or more clock cycles, the set of dependent flip-flops Fj can be disabled for the second and succeeding clock cycles. The circuit Θ conditionally generates a clock-enabling signal Nout in response thereto. One such circuit Θ conditionally includes a logical controller, whose output is coupled using a fan-out node to both an input to a state machine and a fan-in logic circuit (such as an AND gate). The flip-flop is clocked normally; its output is coupled to that same fan-in logic circuit, whose output Nout is coupled to the set of dependent flip-flops Fj.
US07710148B2
A switching circuit can include a logic circuit having a logic circuit input and a logic circuit output and at least three input transistors coupled to provide three separate paths between three input/output (I/O) nodes and the logic circuit input. The switching circuit can further include at least three output transistors coupled to provide three separate paths between the three I/O nodes and the logic circuit output. Methods of fabricating such switch circuits and devices and/or systems including such switching circuits are also disclosed.