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CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Patent applications
Patent application numberTitlePublished
20120130255MEDICAL DEVICE FOR DIAGNOSING PRESSURE ULCERS - Medical device or instrument for diagnosing pressure ulcers using optical reflectance spectroscopy. The device may comprise a tip and a controller. The tip is pressed against the skin of the patient and collects the optical reflectance data. The controller processes the data to determine whether there exists a pressure ulcer and, if there is one, its depth. The tip may also include a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure at which the tip is applied to the patient's skin.05-24-2012
20120118096MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A REINFORCING MEMBER - A steerable multi-linked device may include a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first multi-linked mechanism and the second multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links and a reinforcing member. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link, and the reinforcing member may extend from a first end of a third one of the intermediate links toward a second end of the third one of the intermediate links.05-17-2012
20120112325Integrated Circuit Device, System, and Method of Fabrication - A semiconductor device (05-10-2012
20120084580Power Budget Allocation in Multi-Processor Systems - Systems, apparatuses, methods, and software that implement power budget allocation optimization algorithms in multi-processor systems, such as server farms. The algorithms are derived from a queuing theoretic model that minimizes the mean response time of the system to the jobs in the workload while accounting for a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, the type of power (frequency) scaling mechanism(s) available within the processors in the system, the power-to-frequency relationship(s) of the processors for the scaling mechanism(s) available, whether or not the system is an open or closed loop system, the arrival rate of jobs incoming into the system, the number of jobs within the system, and the type of workload being processed.04-05-2012
20120077899PREPARATION OF FUNCTIONAL STAR MACROMOLECULES - A process for constructing multi-arm star macromolecules with uniform properties, high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution using free radical polymerization is described.03-29-2012
20120067725Apparatuses and Methods for Control and Self-Assembly of Particles into Adaptable Monolayers - Apparatuses and methods for the control and self-assembly of particles into adaptable monolayers and changing the relative position of a plurality of particles at an interface between two fluids, including applying an electric field perpendicular to the interface; moving the particles vertically in the interface in response to applying the electric field; moving the particles laterally within the interface in response to the electric field and capillary forces; maintaining the particles at the interface when moving the particles vertically; and maintaining the particles at the interface when moving the particles laterally.03-22-2012
20120058494Quenched Dendrimeric Dyes for Florescence Detection - The present invention presents designs for high extinction quenched “dyedrons” that can be activated by conversion of a single acceptor/quencher in the molecular assembly to a fluorescent state. The quencher is activated by noncovalent binding to a unique complementary expressible fluorogen activating peptide (FAP). In this way, the quencher serves as the homogeneous switch, receiving energy efficiently from each of the donor molecules of the dendronic antenna, and releasing it as fluorescence only when activated by binding. The sum of the extinction of the multiple dyes on the antenna will provide dramatic enhancements in the effective brightness of the probe in standard imaging systems. This approach provides a set of probes with exceptional brightness, specifically targeted to an expressed tag that activates the fluorescence of the dyedron.03-08-2012
20120023393INTENT-BASED INFORMATION PROCESSING AND UPDATES - In various embodiments, a method for processing a user request is provided. The method may include receiving input data from a user including at least natural language associated with a user request; analyzing the user input data with an intermediary agent; selecting at least one form based on analyzing the user input data; and, executing at least one update based on at least one form.01-26-2012
20120021450METHODS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - In certain aspects the present invention provides methods and compositions related to contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. In certain variations, contrast agents provided herein are generated in situ via genetic instructions and become potent upon sequestering available metal atoms. Exemplary contrast agents include metal-binding proteins.01-26-2012
20120016216REAL-TIME MICRODIALYSIS SYSTEM - Microdialysis systems and methods that enable self-diagnostic functions for microdialysis, including continuous monitoring of diffusion, convection, and osmosis, as well as providing intelligent flow rate control, to mitigate variability in analyte recovery. The microdialysis system measures real-time tracer concentration levels in the dialysate and/or real01-19-2012
20120003193Methods and Apparatus for Manufacturing Plasma Based Plastics and Bioplastics Produced Therefrom - Blood-derived plastic articles prepared from compositions including blood and, in some embodiments, at least one crosslinking agent and/or at least one biological response modifier, that can be useful for biological applications such as wound repair and tissue grafts; methods of making and using the same; methods for assessing the concentration of a biological response modifier in an article; and systems for preparing blood-derived plastic articles are provided.01-05-2012
20120000579Method of Making Ultra-High Strength Stainless Steels - An ultra-high strength stainless steel alloy with enhanced toughness includes in % by weight: 0 to 0.06% carbon (C); 12.0 to 18% chromium (Cr); 16.5 to 31.0% cobalt (Co); 0 to 8% molybdenum (Mo); 0.5 to 5.0% nickel (Ni); 0 to 0.5% titanium (Ti); 0 to 1.0% niobium (Nb); 0 to 0.5% vanadium (V); 0 to 16% tungsten (W); balance iron (Fe) and incidental deoxidizers and impurities. The heat treating method includes the steps of austenitizing at least once followed by quenching, tempering and sub-zero cooling to obtain no more than about 6-8% retained austenite in the finished alloy.01-05-2012
20110316054Method, Apparatus, and System for Micromechanical Gas Chemical Sensing Capacitor - A method for fabrication of capacitive environment sensors is provided in which the sensor elements are integrated in a CMOS structure with electronics through the use of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication methods. Also provided are environment sensors fabricated, for example, by the method, and a measurement system using the environment sensors fabricated by the method. The described method includes etching away one of the metal layers in a CMOS chip to create a cavity. This cavity is then filled with an environment-sensitive dielectric material to form a sensing capacitor between plates formed by the metal adhesion layers or an array of contacts from other metal layers of the CMOS structure. This approach provides improved sensing capabilities in a system that is easily manufactured.12-29-2011
20110313243MULTI-LINKED ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE WITH SPHERICAL DISTAL ASSEMBLY - A device for performing a procedure may include an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an adapted link having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end may include a first mating surface, where the proximal end may be configured to attach to the distal end of the elongate tube. The device may also include a rotating link having a second mating surface configured to rotatably interface with the adapted link first mating surface.12-22-2011
20110311846Sodium Ion Based Aqueous Electrolyte Electrochemical Secondary Energy Storage Device - A secondary hybrid aqueous energy storage device includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations, a separator, and a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, wherein an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device.12-22-2011
20110307688SYNTHESIS SYSTEM FOR PIPELINED DIGITAL CIRCUITS - Computer-implemented methods and systems for synthesizing a hardware description for a pipelined datapath for a digital circuit. A transactional datapath specification framework and a transactional design automation system automatically synthesize pipeline implementations. The transactional datapath specification framework captures an abstract datapath, whose execution semantics is interpreted as a sequence of “transactions” where each transaction reads the state values left by the preceding transaction and computes a new set of state values to be seen by the next transaction. The transactional datapath specification framework exposes sufficient information about state accesses that can occur in a datapath, which is necessary for performing precise data hazards analysis, and eventually pipeline synthesis.12-15-2011
20110280784Methods for Casting By a Float Process and Associated Apparatuses - A method for producing a solid layer material (11-17-2011
20110280515COUPLED PLASMONIC WAVEGUIDES AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUSES AND METHODS - An apparatus and corresponding method in which the apparatus includes a dielectric waveguide and a metallic waveguide. The dielectric waveguide has an effective mode index and a longitudinal dimension. The metallic waveguide has a longitudinal dimension and supports a surface plasmonic mode of propagation for a wavelength lambda. The metallic waveguide and the dielectric waveguide are adjacent to each other and overlap each other by a length along the longitudinal dimensions of both the dielectric waveguide and the metallic waveguide, wherein the length is greater than the wavelength lambda in the metallic waveguide. The metallic waveguide is coupled to the dielectric waveguide where the metallic waveguide and the dielectric waveguide overlap each other.11-17-2011
20110280325SPECTRAL-TEMPORAL AVERAGING FOR IEEE 802.11p DYNAMIC CHANNEL EQUALIZATION - A system and method for providing dynamic channel equalization in V2V and V2I communications systems. The method includes separating the channel bandwidth of a message into a plurality of subcarriers having different subcarrier frequencies, where the subcarriers include data subcarriers and pilot subcarriers. The method demodulates the message in the receiver to extract symbols from the message and determines channel estimation frequency responses using a least-squares estimation process and the extracted symbols for the pilot subcarriers. The channel estimation frequency responses of either the pilot subcarriers, the pilot subcarriers and some data subcarriers, or the pilot subcarriers and all data subcarriers are used to generate updated channel estimation frequency responses, and a new channel estimation frequency response is generated for each extracted signal using a previous channel estimation frequency response and the updated channel estimation frequency response. The extracted symbols are equalized using the new channel estimation frequency response.11-17-2011
20110257525SENSOR GUIDED CATHETER NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A method and a system for producing images of a subject, such as the heart of a human being. The method may comprise acquiring ultrasound images of the subject with a catheter comprising a position sensor. The method may also comprise capturing a plurality of 4D surface registration points in the acquired ultrasound images corresponding to points on the subject. The method may also comprise registering, in space and time, a high-resolution 4D model of the subject with the plurality of 4D surface registration points. The method may also comprise displaying high resolution, real-time images of the subject during a medical procedure based on the registration of the high resolution 4D model to the 4D surface registration points. Embodiments of the present invention are especially useful in left atrium ablation procedures.10-20-2011
20110253865APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A DEVICE - An apparatus for positioning a device. The apparatus includes a coupling member, a first arm, a second arm, and a sloped support member. The coupling member defines a first opening and a second opening. The first arm passes through the first opening, and the coupling member is movably connected to the first arm. The second arm passes through the second opening. The sloped support member is releasably connected to the second arm. The apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom.10-20-2011
20110218306ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION PROCESS - Embodiments of the polymerization process of the present invention are directed to polymerizing free radically polymerizable monomers in the presence of a polymerization medium initially comprising at least one transition metal catalyst and an atom transfer radical polymerization initiator. The polymerization medium may additionally comprise a reducing agent. The reducing agent may be added initially or during the polymerization process in a continuous or intermittent manner. The polymerization process may further comprises reacting the reducing agent with at least one of the transition metal catalyst in an oxidized state and a compound comprising a radically transferable atom or group to form a compound that does not participate significantly in control of the polymerization process. Embodiments of the present invention comprise reacting a reducing agent with at least one of catalyst in an oxidized state and a compound comprising a radically transferable atom or group to initiate and/or maintain catalytic activity throughout the polymerization process.09-08-2011
20110159519OPTICAL BIOSENSORS - Provided are biosensors, compositions comprising biosensors, and methods of using biosensors in living cells and organisms. The biosensors are able to be selectively targeted to certain regions or structures within a cell. The biosensors may provide a signal when the biosensor is targeted and/or in response to a property of the cell or organism such as membrane potential, ion concentration or enzyme activity.06-30-2011
20110152613ARTICULATED DEVICE WITH VISUALIZATION SYSTEM - An articulated device may include a first steerable multi-linked mechanism and a second steerable multi-linked mechanism. The second steerable multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links and a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link The articulated device may include a camera located within at least a portion of the second link and a protective shield connected to a distal end of the second link The protective shield may surround at least a portion of the camera.06-23-2011
20110066262Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods for Apparatus Operation and Remote Sensing - A method and system for controlling an apparatus including receiving data indicative of an actual state of the apparatus, defining a first viewpoint relative to at least one of the environment and the apparatus, determining a first predicted state of the apparatus at time T, determining a first predicted state of the environment at time T, producing a first virtualized view from the first viewpoint, sending a first control signal to the apparatus after producing the first virtualized view, defining a second viewpoint relative to at least one of the apparatus and the environment, determining a second predicted state of the apparatus at time T+delta T, determining a second predicted state of the environment at time T+delta T, producing the second virtualized view from the second viewpoint, sending a second control signal to the apparatus after producing the second virtualized view, and changing the actual state of the apparatus based on the first control signal.03-17-2011
20110064674LUMINESCENT MULTIMODAL NANOPARTICLE PROBE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - A method of manufacture of a luminescent nanoparticle probe system includes forming a bismuth sulfide core; and coating the bismuth sulfide core with a shell.03-17-2011
20110060107PREPARATION OF FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS - The process of the present invention is directed toward conducting highly selective, high yield post polymerization reactions on polymers to prepare functionalized polymers. An embodiment of the present invention comprises conducting click chemistry reactions on polymers. Preferably, the polymers were prepared by controlled polymerization processes. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention comprise processes for the preparation of polymers comprising conducting a click chemistry reaction on a functional group attached to a polymer, wherein the polymer has a molecular weight distribution of less than 2.0. The functional polymers may be prepared by converting an attached functional unit on the polymer thereby providing site specific functional materials, site specific functional materials comprising additional functionality, or chain extended functional materials.03-10-2011
20110056320STEERABLE MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A MODULAR LINK ASSEMBLY - A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base.03-10-2011
20110052945Sodium Based Aqueous Electrolyte Electrochemical Secondary Energy Storage Device - A secondary hybrid aqueous energy storage device includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations, a separator, and a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, wherein an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device.03-03-2011
20110029287Self-Diagnosing Transducers and Systems and Methods Therefor - A transducer system that includes a piezoelectric transducer and a self-diagnosis system electrically connected to the transducer. In one embodiment, the self-diagnosis system is configured to detect when a debonding defect has occurred in the bond between the transducer and a host structure and to detect when a crack has occurred in the transducer itself. The self-diagnosis system implements debonding-detection and crack-detection schemes that can distinguish between debonding and cracking, as well as distinguish these problems from changes arising from temperature variation.02-03-2011
20110022868Systems and Methods for Managing Power Consumption and Performance of a Processor - Processor-management techniques that purposely alternate a processor between an operating state and a non-operating state while the processor is executing the workload. The techniques leverage the “ultra-low-power” non-operating states of many processors to provide predictable power and/or frequency control of the processor. These techniques can provide better performance than known clock-throttling and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling schemes for controlling processors.01-27-2011
20110022552Systems and Methods for Implementing a Machine-Learning Agent to Retrieve Information in Response to a Message - Mixed-initiative message-augmenting agent systems and methods that provide users with tools that allow them to respond to messages, such as email messages, containing requests for information or otherwise requiring responses that require information that needs to be retrieved from one or more data sources. The systems and methods allow users to train machine-learning agents how to retrieve and present information in responses to like messages so that the machine-learning agents can eventually automatedly generate responses with minimal involvement by the users. Embodiments of the systems and methods allow users to build message-augmenting forms containing the desired information for responding to messages and to demonstrate to the machine-learning agents where to retrieve pertinent information for populating the forms. Embodiments of the systems and methods allow users to modify and repair automatically generated forms to continually improve the knowledge of the machine-learning agents.01-27-2011
20110017312Fluid-Pressure Regulator and Related Methods and Systems - A fluid-pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of a fluid. The regulator includes a variable-resistance fluid element and a variable-volume fluid element located downstream of the variable-resistance element. Pressure in the fluid at the outlet of the regulator is controlled by substantially simultaneously changing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and the volume of the variable-volume element. In one example, a decrease in pressure is effected at the outlet by simultaneously increasing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and increasing the volume of the variable-volume element. Some embodiments of the regulator are particularly useful to effect long-term and high-speed pressure changes in high-resistance fluidic channel networks.01-27-2011
20110011733BUFFER LAYERS FOR L10 THIN FILM PERPENDICULAR MEDIA - A process of fabricating a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. In one embodiment, the process may comprise forming a metallic buffer layer with a (002) texture on an underlayer using a deposition process performed at a temperature below 30° C. The underlayer may have a crystalline (001) texture. The process may further comprise forming a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on top of the metallic buffer layer using a deposition process performed at a temperature above 350° C. The magnetic recording layer may comprise a magnetic material with a L101-20-2011
20100309115DRAWING ASSIST DEVICE, DRAWING ASSIST PROGRAM, AND DRAWING ASSIST METHOD - Provided is a drawing assist device and the like which assists a drawing operation while improving efficiency thereof. According to the drawing assist device of the present invention, whether or not a first factor of an element defined according to a positional trajectory of a pointer moved by an agent is adequate in design for a subject represented by the element is determined. The agent is notified if the determination result thereof is negative. According thereto, the agent can progress the drawing operation while confirming whether or not the subject drawn personally is adequate in design.12-09-2010
20100299101Method, Apparatus, And System For Computer-Aided Tracking, Navigation And Motion Teaching - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for computer-aided tracking, navigation, and motion tracking. In one embodiment, a system for determining a spatial position, including a tracking device and a processor. The tracking devices has a working end, a reference end, a plurality of links connecting the working end to the reference end, wherein each link has at least one degree of freedom relative to an adjacent link, and a plurality of sensors measuring the orientation of the links in a plurality of degrees of freedom, wherein X is a minimum number of degrees of freedom about which information is required to define the spatial position. The processor receives information from the sensors and determine the spatial position of the working end of the tracking device relative to the reference end of the tracking device based on information from the sensors measuring Y degrees of freedom, wherein Y is greater than X.11-25-2010
20100294071STEERABLE MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A MODULAR LINK ASSEMBLY - A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base.11-25-2010
20100267008CHIRAL INDOLE INTERMEDIATES AND THEIR FLUORESCENT CYANINE DYES CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL GROUPS - This invention relates to the functionalized cyanine dyes and more particularly, to the synthesis of chiral 3-substituted 2,3′-dimethyl-3H-indole and its derivatives as intermediates for preparation of cyanine dyes, to methods of preparing these dyes and the dyes so prepared.10-21-2010
20100249271HYBRID PARTICE COMPOSITE STRUCTURES WITH REDUCED SCATTERING - A core-shell composite particle for incorporation into a composite wherein the composite has improved transparency is disclosed. The core-shell composite particle includes a core material having a first refractive index and a shell material having a second refractive index where the core-shell particle has an effective refractive index determined by the first refractive index and the second refractive index. The effective refractive index is substantially equal to the refractive index of the envisioned embedding medium. Methods of forming the core-shell particles are also disclosed.09-30-2010
20100213059TRANSIENTLY BONDING DRAG-TAGS FOR SEPARATION MODALITIES - The invention relates transiently attaching drag-tags to molecules during electrophoresis. The invention includes running buffers having drag-tags that transiently attach to lipophilic moieties attached to the molecules. The lipophilic moieties can be covalently or ionically bonded to the molecules. One particular aspect of the invention is a nucleoside analog or a nucleic acid analog comprising a lipophilic moiety. The invention is also directed to methods of separating molecules that comprise a lipophilic moiety. The methods generally comprise transiently attaching a drag-tag to the lipophilic moiety during a separation modality. These methods can be used to separate the molecules by size or weight, to measure a hydrodynamic radius of a drag-tag, or to separate a plurality of drag-tag by their hydrodynamic radius.08-26-2010
20100143286Preparation of functional gel particles with a dual crosslink network - Functional gel particle formed from a crosslinked polymeric network including a fraction of stable crosslinks and a second fraction of cleavable crosslinks are disclosed. Functional compounds may be chemically or physically encapsulated within and/or released from the gel particle by selective cleavage of the cleavable crosslinks. The functional compounds may be delivered and released to a pre-selected target site. Peripheral or other accessible functionality on the surface of the gel particle allows attachment of a surface reactive agent, thereby modifying one or more surface properties of the gel particle. Processes of preparing the gel particles and processes of delivering the functional compounds to a target site are also disclosed.06-10-2010
20100136281DRY ADHESIVES AND METHODS FOR MAKING DRY ADHESIVES - A dry adhesive and a method of forming a dry adhesive. The method includes forming an opening through an etch layer and to a barrier layer, expanding the opening in the etch layer at the barrier layer, filling the opening with a material, removing the barrier layer from the material in the opening, and removing the etch layer from the material in the opening.06-03-2010
20100121577THREE-DIMENSIONAL LIDAR-BASED CLEAR PATH DETECTION - A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle includes generating a datastream corresponding to a three-dimensional scan of a target area surrounding the vehicle from a vehicle LIDAR system, estimating a ground plane for a present vehicle location using the datastream corresponding to the three-dimensional scan of the target area surrounding the vehicle, and comparing the datastream corresponding to the three-dimensional scan of the target area surrounding the vehicle with the estimated ground plane to detect a clear path of vehicle travel.05-13-2010
20100116963DRAWING SUPPORT DEVICE, DRAWING SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND DRAWING SUPPORT METHOD - The present invention provides a device capable of supporting drawing work while improving the continuity of the drawing work. According to a drawing support device 05-13-2010
20100106603SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PREDICTING NAVIGATIONAL DECISION-MAKING BEHAVIOR - A system method and device for predicting navigational decision-making behavior is provided. The location of a device is used to generate the current location of the device, and a history of past locations of the device. A behavior predicting application predicts the route a drive is going to travel based on driver preferences, such as left-hand turns, avoidance of bridges, etc., as well as the preferred destinations and/or routes traveled in the past. The preferences of a particular driver can be learned by the system to be implemented in the behavior predicting application, or manually input by the driver. The system can employ GPS or other positioning technology to determine the location of the device. The device can be a standard GPS-enabled in-car device, or other portable device such as a cell phone or PDA.04-29-2010
20100104137CLEAR PATH DETECTION USING PATCH APPROACH - A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing an image generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the image, and generating a plurality of patches onto the image, wherein the patches are collectively arranged to substantially include the clear path of travel. Feature extraction is utilized to analyze the patches and includes convolving each of the patches with a feature detection filter generating a feature-based filter response, extracting features based upon the feature-based filter response, and determining each of the patches to represent the clear path of travel or to not represent the clear path of travel based upon the extracted features. The clear path of travel is determined based upon the plurality of patches, and is utilized to navigate the vehicle.04-29-2010
20100097458CLEAR PATH DETECTION USING AN EXAMPLE-BASED APPROACH - A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle using a current image generated by a camera includes defining an exemplary clear path for each of a plurality of sample images, identifying features within each of the plurality of sample images, monitoring the current image generated by the camera, identifying features within the current image, matching the current image to at least one of the sample images based upon the identified features within the current image and the identified features within the plurality of sample images, determining a clear path of travel based upon the matching and the exemplary clear path for each of the matched sample images, and utilizing the clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle.04-22-2010
20100097455CLEAR PATH DETECTION USING A VANISHING POINT - A method for estimating a vanishing point in a roadway using a current image generated by a camera on a vehicle includes defining an exemplary vanishing point for each of a plurality of sample images, identifying features within each of the plurality of sample images, monitoring the current image generated by the camera, identifying features within the current image, matching the current image to at least one of the sample images based upon the identified features within the current image and the identified features within the plurality of sample images, determining a vanishing point based upon the matching and the exemplary vanishing points for each of the matched sample images, and utilizing the vanishing point to navigate the vehicle.04-22-2010
20100037127APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS TO AUTOMATE A PROCEDURAL TASK - Methods, apparatuses, and systems to automate a procedural task. In one embodiment, computer-readable memory including computer readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising: identifying a set of data, wherein the data includes a plurality of items; prompting the user to process at least one item of the data in a predetermined manner, wherein the user interacts with a predetermined form system to process the data; monitoring input of the user, wherein the input of the user causes the at least one item of the data to be processed in the predetermined manner; producing computer-generated, computer-readable instructions in response to monitoring the input of the user, wherein the computer-generated, computer-readable instructions cause the processor to process data in the predetermined manner; and executing the computer-generated, computer-readable instructions, wherein the computer-generated, computer-readable instructions operate on at least one item of the data.02-11-2010
20100031330METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND FOR ANNOTATING MEDIA FILES - Methods and apparatuses for controlling access to computer systems and for annotating media files. One embodiment includes a method including generating a challenge to a user, wherein the challenge includes a verify part and a read part. The methods also includes prompting the user to solve both the verify part of the challenge and the read part of the challenge; receiving input from the user; determining if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge; and identifying the input from the user relative to the read part of the challenge as an answer to the read part of the challenge, if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge.02-04-2010
20100021647DRY ADHESIVES AND METHODS FOR MAKING DRY ADHESIVES - Dry adhesives and methods for forming dry adhesives. A method of forming a dry adhesive structure on a substrate, comprises: forming a template backing layer of energy sensitive material on the substrate; forming a template layer of energy sensitive material on the template backing layer; exposing the template layer to a predetermined pattern of energy; removing a portion of the template layer related to the predetermined pattern of energy, and leaving a template structure formed from energy sensitive material and connected to the substrate via the template backing layer.01-28-2010
20100021052System and method for generating a terrain model for autonomous navigation in vegetation - The disclosed terrain model is a generative, probabilistic approach to modeling terrain that exploits the 3D spatial structure inherent in outdoor domains and an array of noisy but abundant sensor data to simultaneously estimate ground height, vegetation height and classify obstacles and other areas of interest, even in dense non-penetrable vegetation. Joint inference of ground height, class height and class identity over the whole model results in more accurate estimation of each quantity. Vertical spatial constraints are imposed on voxels within a column via a hidden semi-Markov model. Horizontal spatial constraints are enforced on neighboring columns of voxels via two interacting Markov random fields and a latent variable. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.01-28-2010
20100014713Road-lane marker detection - A method is provided for detecting road lane markers using a light-based sensing device. Reflectivity data is captured using the light-based sensing device. A light intensity signal is generated based on the captured reflectivity data. The light intensity signal is convolved with a differential filter for generating a filter response that identifies a candidate lane marker region and ground segment regions juxtaposed on each side of the candidate lane marker region. A weighted standard deviation of the data points within the identified candidate lane marker region and weighted standard deviation of the data points within the ground segment regions are calculated. An objective value is determined as a function of the respective weighted standard deviations. The objective value is compared to a respective threshold for determining whether the identified candidate lane marker region is a lane marker.01-21-2010
20100013615Obstacle detection having enhanced classification - A method and system for sensing an obstacle comprises transmitting an electromagnetic signal from a mobile machine to an object. A reflected electromagnetic signal is received from the object to determine a distance between the object and the mobile machine. An image patch is extracted from a region associated with the object. Each image patch comprises coordinates (e.g., three dimensional coordinates) associated with corresponding image data (e.g., pixels). If an object is present, image data may include at least one of object density data and object color data. Object density data is determined based on a statistical measure of variation associated with the image patch. Object color data based on the color of the object detected with brightness normalization. An object is classified or identified based on the determined object density and determined object color data.01-21-2010
20090321830INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF FABRICATION - A semiconductor device, comprising a first semiconductor portion having a first end, a second end, and a slit portion, wherein the width of the slit portion is less than the width of at least one of the first end and the second end; a second portion that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, a third portions that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, wherein the second and third portions are on opposite sides of the slit portion, and at least three terminals selected from a group consisting of a first terminal connected to the first end, a second terminal connected to the second end, a third terminal connected to the second portion, and a fourth terminal connected to the third portion.12-31-2009
20090301198Methods, Apparatuses, and Systems for Damage Detection - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for damage detection and for other detection of the state of a structure or material. Such damage detection and detection of the state of a structure may be performed and operated without the use of baseline data. The present invention may operate using time reversal acoustics or polarization characteristics of piezoelectric devices. The present invention may include a piezoelectric device including two or more piezoelectric transducers.12-10-2009
20090287352ROBOTIC SYSTEM INCLUDING FOLDABLE ROBOTIC ARM - A system includes an end effector, a robotic wrist for orienting the end effector; and a robotic arm for positioning the end effector. The robotic arm is foldable into a stack. The robotic wrist is mounted to a last link of the robotic arm.11-19-2009
20090283949FINE POSITIONER MODULE - A fine positioner module is used to perform fine positioning of a device that is pressing against a work surface. In some embodiments, the fine positioner module includes a contact member for making contact with a work surface, a position adjustor for using the contact member to move the device along the work surface, and an actuator for relieving pressure of the device against the work surface while the contact member is used to move the device along the work surface.11-19-2009
20090281279Rigidized trimethine cyanine dyes - Disclosed are analogues of trimethine cyanine dyes, which are useful for importing fluorescent properties to target materials by covalent and non-covalent association.11-12-2009
20090248387Method and apparatus for sampling and predicting rare events in complex electronic devices, circuits and systems - The invention provides methods for enhancing circuit reliability under statistical process variation. For highly replicated circuits such as SRAMs and flip flops, a rare statistical event for one circuit may induce a not-so-rare system failure. To combat this, the invention discloses the method called “Statistical Blockade,” a Monte Carlo-type technique that allows the efficient filtering—blocking—of unwanted samples insufficiently rare in the tail distributions of interest, with speedups of 10-100×. Additionally, the core Statistical Blockade technique is further extended in a “recursive” or “bootstrap” formulation to create even greater efficiencies under a much wider variety of circuit performance metrics, in particular two-sided metrics such a Data Retention Voltage (DRV) which prior Monte Carlo techniques could not handle.10-01-2009
20090248370Method and Apparatus for Applying "Quasi-Monte Carlo" Methods to Complex Electronic Devices Circuits and Systems - The invention discloses a “Quasi-Monte Carlo” method originally intended for computational finance applications and applies said method to statistical circuit analysis. In doing so, it provides a means to efficiently and effectively detect and/or predict relatively rare failures or events to a wide range of industrial circuits and systems. The approach to the invention involves the representation of circuit metrics as a large multi-dimensional integral. This invention estimates such statistical circuit metric integrals by sampling the statistical variable space using a so-called “low-discrepancy sequence.” This is similar to the Monte Carlo method, the main difference being the method of sampling the variable space. Compared with standard Monte Carlo simulation, this technique, “Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods,” gives similarly reliable estimates of the result, but requiring many fewer samples of the circuit or system being evaluated. In practice, speedups of 2× to 50× across a range of practical examples are observed.10-01-2009
20090237987Crossbar diode-switched magnetoresistive random access memory system - A magnetic memory or MRAM memory system comprising an M×N crossbar array of MRAM cells. Each memory cell stores binary data bits with switchable magnetoresistive tunnel junctions (MJT) where the electrical conductance changes as the magnetic moment of one electrode (the storage layer) in the MJT switches direction. The switching of the magnetic moment is assisted by a phase transition interlayer that transitions from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic at a well defined, above ambient temperature.09-24-2009
20090214092METHOD OF ASSESSING A BODY PART - A method of assessing a body part includes obtaining two or more types of data through a combination of two or more of the following four imaging modalities: (1) obtaining surface topography data of the body part, (2) obtaining thermographic data of the body part, (3) obtaining range of motion data for the body part, and (4) obtaining spectral data of light reflected from the body part. The two or more types of data are integrated to allow them to be interacted with simultaneously, and the body part is assessed based on the integrated data.08-27-2009
20090174614ANTENNA WITH MULTIPLE CO-LOCATED ELEMENTS WITH LOW MUTUAL COUPLING FOR MULTI-CHANNEL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - An antenna that has a number of co-located elements, with no (or very small) coupling between the various elements. The antenna may comprise one or more electric dipole elements, such as an electric tripole, co-located with one or more magnetic dipole elements, such as a magnetic tripole. The antenna has the property that although all of the electric and magnetic dipole elements are co-located, there is substantially no coupling between the elements. Some of the antenna elements may operate as transmitters and the others may act as receivers. The antenna elements may be tuned to different frequencies. The antenna may comprise less than six antenna elements. Also disclosed are example devices and systems that may utilize the antenna structure, such as a handheld wireless communication device and an access point of a HVAC wireless communication system.07-09-2009
20090171024PREPARATION OF BLOCK COPOLYMERS - The present invention is directed towards a polymerization process for the preparation of block copolymers. In an embodiment, the polymerization process may comprise low levels of catalyst in an oxidized state that react with a reducing agent to form an active catalyst. Embodiments of the process surprisingly use low levels of catalysts and allow formation of the all blocks with the same catalyst. The catalyst may be deactivated and reactivated to form each block. In one embodiment of the invention, the catalyst is oxidized to the deactivator state when the desired degree of polymerization of a polymer segment or block is reached. The first monomer may be removed prior to addition of the second monomer. The catalyst may then be reactivated for preparation of a second block. A further embodiment may include addition of second radically polymerizable monomer to provide efficient initiation of the macroinitiator to transition from polymerization of the first block or segment to polymerization of a second block or blocks.07-02-2009
20090140881Vehicle-use visual field assistance system in which information dispatch apparatus transmits images of blind spots to vehicles - A camera of a ground-based information dispatch apparatus captures a blind-spot image, showing a region that is a blind spot with respect to a vehicle driver. A vehicle-mounted camera captures a forward-view image corresponding to the viewpoint of the driver, and the forward-view image is transmitted to the information dispatch apparatus together with vehicle position and direction information and camera parameters. Based on the received information, the blind-spot image is converted to a corresponding image having the viewpoint of the vehicle driver, and the forward-view image and viewpoint-converted blind-spot image are combined to form a synthesized image, which is transmitted to the vehicle.06-04-2009
20090132064Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods Utilizing Adaptive Control - A method for controlling a process, wherein the process has an input and an output, and including controlling the input to the process; predicting the output of the process based on a first set of operating parameters; predicting the output of the process based on a second set of operating parameters; updating the first set of operating parameters when a result from predicting the output from the first set of parameters differs from the output of the process by more than a predetermined amount, wherein the predetermined amount is a function the output predicted by the second set of parameters. The invention also includes apparatuses and systems.05-21-2009
20090094578SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DESIGNING ARCHITECTURE FOR SPECIFIED PERMUTATION AND DATAPATH CIRCUITS FOR PERMUTATION - Computer-implemented systems and methods that provide an efficient technique for performing a large class of permutations on data vectors of length 204-09-2009
20090081068Ultra-High Strength Stainless Steels - An ultra-high strength stainless steel alloy with enhanced toughness includes in % by weight: 0 to 0.06% carbon (C); 12.0 to 18% chromium (Cr); 16.5 to 31.0% cobalt (Co); 0 to 8% molybdenum (Mo); 0.5 to 5.0% nickel (Ni); 0 to 0.5% titanium (Ti); 0 to 1.0% niobium (Nb); 0 to 0.5% vanadium (V); 0 to 16% tungsten (W); balance iron (Fe) and incidental deoxidizers and impurities. The heat treating method includes the steps of austenitizing at least once followed by quenching, tempering and sub-zero cooling to obtain no more than about 6-8% retained austenite in the finished alloy.03-26-2009
20090074673Compositions and methods for producing cellular labels for nuclear magnetic resonance techniques - The disclosure provides, in part, compositions and methods for producing cellular labels for tracking cells by MRI. The disclosure provides, in part, methods for labeling, detecting and quantifying cell numbers in vivo.03-19-2009
20080292554Cellular Labeling for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Techniques - The disclosure provides, in part, fluorocarbon imaging reagents and formulations for the ex vivo labeling of cells. Labeled cells may be detected in vivo or ex vivo by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The disclosure additionally provides methods for using the imaging reagents in a variety of clinical procedures.11-27-2008
20080286329Methods and Apparatus for Manufacturing Plasma Based Plastics and Bioplastics Produced Therefrom - Blood-derived plastic articles prepared from compositions including blood and, in some embodiments, at least one crosslinking agent and/or at least one biological response modifier, that can be useful for biological applications such as wound repair and tissue grafts; methods of making and using the same; methods for assessing the concentration of a biological response modifier in an article; and systems for preparing blood-derived plastic articles are provided.11-20-2008
20080245173SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF A MULTI-LINKED DEVICE - A system for controlling the movement of a steerable multi-linked device may include a steerable multi-linked device a feeder mechanism releaseably connected to the steerable multi-linked device and a controller device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, and a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The controller device may be configured to control movement of the multi-linked device via the feeder mechanism.10-09-2008
20080217498MULTI-LINKED DEVICE HAVING A REINFORCING MEMBER - A steerable multi-linked device may include a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first multi-linked mechanism and the second multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links and a reinforcing member. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link, and the reinforcing member may extend from a first end of a third one of the intermediate links toward a second end of the third one of the intermediate links.09-11-2008
20080205980SYSTEM FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING A DISPOSABLE DEVICE TO A DURABLE DEVICE - A system for releasably attaching a steerable disposable multi-linked device to a durable device may include a disposable portion and a durable portion. The disposable portion may include a connecting member connected to the disposable portion and the durable portion and a steerable multi-linked device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links, and a cable which passes through the first link and intermediate links and extends beyond a first end of the first link. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The durable portion may include an axial member which defines an opening therethrough and a feeder mechanism.08-28-2008

Patent applications by CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY