Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090173260 | SUBSURFACE SOIL INJECTION APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED DELIVERY DEVICE - An apparatus is provided for introducing a discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil which includes a container for holding the material to be introduced into the soil, and tubing in fluid communication with the container at a first end thereof. At least one electrically controlled injector is provided in fluid communication with a second end of said tubing. Also, at least one shank is provided, which includes a base, and an injector mounting member attached to a surface of the base that is adapted for detachably mounting the electrically controlled injector onto the base. In addition, a controller is provided for activating the electrically controlled injector to introduce the material into the soil. Accordingly, enhanced control of the injection of the material into soil is achieved, and maintenance can be performed easily. | 07-09-2009 |
20090262003 | SUBSURFACE SOIL INJECTION APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED DELIVERY DEVICE - An apparatus is provided for introducing a discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil which includes a container for holding the material to be introduced into the soil, and tubing in fluid communication with the container at a first end thereof. At least one electrically controlled injector is provided in fluid communication with a second end of said tubing. Also, at least one shank is provided, which includes a base, and an injector mounting member attached to a surface of the base that is adapted for detachably mounting the electrically controlled injector onto the base. In addition, a controller is provided for activating the electrically controlled injector to introduce the material into the soil. Accordingly, enhanced control of the injection of the material into soil is achieved, and maintenance can be performed easily. | 10-22-2009 |
20100269742 | SUBSURFACE SOIL INJECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method for the subsurface application of fertilizers, biologicals, fumigants, non-fumigant pesticides or other chemicals to soil with reduced application rates. Discrete amounts of the materials are injected into the soil at numerous sites along a path during a pass through the soil. At the injection sites, the materials form diffusion patterns which may touch or overlapping with diffusion patterns of adjacent soil injections. The application of materials to soil in this manner maintains optimum efficacy with the use of the least amount of materials necessary per acre of soil. | 10-28-2010 |
20110172834 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUBSURFACE SOIL INJECTION APPARATUS - An apparatus is provided for introducing a discrete, predetermined amount of material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil which includes a container for holding the material to be introduced into the soil, and tubing in fluid communication with the container at a first end thereof. At least one electrically controlled injector is provided in fluid communication with a second end of said tubing. Also, at least one shank is provided, which includes a base, and an injector mounting member attached to a surface of the base that is adapted for detachably mounting the electrically controlled injector onto the base. In addition, a controller is provided for activating the electrically controlled injector to introduce the material into the soil. Accordingly, enhanced control of the injection of the material into soil is achieved, and maintenance can be performed easily. | 07-14-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130322197 | POWER MANAGEMENT IN AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THROUGH REDUCING ENERGY USAGE OF A BATTERY AND/OR CONTROLLING AN OUTPUT POWER OF AN AMPLIFIER THEREOF - A method includes forming a power control circuit through coupling a gate switch array between a buffer stage at an input of the power control circuit and an amplifier array including N amplifier stages in parallel to each other, with N>1. The method also includes coupling each of the N amplifier stages to a corresponding gate switch of the gate switch array, and controlling an output power of the power control circuit by switching one or more appropriate gate switches of the gate switch array to apply an input signal from the buffer stage to a corresponding one or more amplifier stages coupled to the one or more appropriate gate switches such that a maximum output power is achieved when all of the N amplifier stages are turned on and a minimum output power is achieved when only one amplifier stage is turned on. | 12-05-2013 |
20140266889 | EXTENDING BEAMFORMING CAPABILITY OF A COUPLED VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR (VCO) ARRAY DURING LOCAL OSCILLATOR (LO) SIGNAL GENERATION THROUGH FREQUENCY MULTIPLICATION - A method includes separating phase of Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated by individual Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a coupled VCO array through varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto. The method also includes frequency multiplying an output of each individual VCO of the coupled VCO array to increase a range of phase differences between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs. Further, the method includes mixing the frequency multiplied outputs of the individual VCOs with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266890 | EXTENDING BEAMFORMING CAPABILITY OF A COUPLED VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR (VCO) ARRAY DURING LOCAL OSCILLATOR (LO) SIGNAL GENERATION THROUGH A CIRCULAR CONFIGURATION THEREOF - A method includes separating phase of Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated by individual Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a coupled VCO array through varying voltage levels of voltage control inputs thereto. The method also includes coupling the individual VCOs of the coupled VCO array to one another in a closed, circular configuration to increase phase difference between the phase separated LO signals generated by the individual VCOs compared to a linear configuration of the coupled VCO array. Further, the method includes mixing outputs of the individual VCOs of the circular coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266891 | PHASE SHIFT BASED IMPROVED REFERENCE INPUT FREQUENCY SIGNAL INJECTION INTO A COUPLED VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR (VCO) ARRAY DURING LOCAL OSCILLATOR (LO) SIGNAL GENERATION TO REDUCE A PHASE-STEERING REQUIREMENT DURING BEAMFORMING - A method includes injecting a reference input signal into each Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) of a number of VCOs forming a coupled VCO array to reduce a level of injection energy required therefor. The reference input signal is configured to control operating frequency of the coupled VCO array. The method also includes utilizing a phase shift circuit: between individual VCOs of the coupled VCO array and/or in a path of injection of the reference input signal into one or more VCO(s) of the individual VCOs, and mixing outputs of the number of VCOs with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array. Further, the method includes reducing a phase-steering requirement of the coupled VCO array during the beamforming based on the utilization of the phase shift circuit. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266892 | EXTENDING BEAMFORMING CAPABILITY OF A COUPLED VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR (VCO) ARRAY DURING LOCAL OSCILLATOR (LO) SIGNAL GENERATION THROUGH ACCOMMODATING DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING BETWEEN VCOs THEREOF - A method includes implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a number of VCOs, and mixing Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated through the number of VCOs of the coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array. The method also includes accommodating differential coupling between the VCOs to improve immunity to noise and/or interference during the beamforming compared to the VCOs accommodating single-ended coupling therebetween. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266893 | ADAPTIVE TRANSMIT ARRAY FOR BEAM-STEERING - A method includes receiving a remote transmitter signal at an antenna array including a number of antenna elements, mixing the received signal with in-phase and quadrature-phase Local Oscillator (LO) signals from Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) of a coupled VCO array, and configuring each Phase Locked Loop (PLL) of a number of PLLs to receive an in-phase output of the mixing corresponding to a VCO and a quadrature-phase output of the mixing corresponding to another VCO adjacent to the VCO as inputs thereto. The method also includes feeding back an output of the each PLL to the VCO, driving the in-phase and the quadrature-phase outputs of the mixing from a transmit modulator, and transmitting, in a direction of the remote transmitter, an antenna array signal based on the driving. Further, the method includes sensing a servoed state related to LO phase relationships and holding thereof during the transmission of the signal. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266894 | AUTOMATIC HIGH-RESOLUTION ADAPTIVE BEAM-STEERING - A method includes pointing a receive beam of a retro-directive antenna array attracted to a jammer circuit instead of a remote transmitter away from the jammer circuit toward the remote transmitter by a first angle based on coarse manual means therefor implemented in electronic circuitry associated with the retro-directive antenna array. The electronic circuitry includes a number of mixers, each of which is configured to mix a Local Oscillator (LO) signal generated from a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) with a signal received at an antenna element of the retro-directive antenna array. The method also includes automatically fine pointing the receive beam toward the remote transmitter by a second angle following the coarse pointing thereof by the first angle such that the receive beam exactly points to, and tracks, the remote transmitter. The automatic fine pointing is effected through a secondary automatic servo loop implemented in the electronic circuitry. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273817 | EXTENDING BEAMFORMING CAPABILITY OF A COUPLED VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR (VCO) ARRAY DURING LOCAL OSCILLATOR (LO) SIGNAL GENERATION THROUGH FINE CONTROL OF A TUNABLE FREQUENCY OF A TANK CIRCUIT OF A VCO THEREOF - A method includes implementing a coupled Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) array with a number of VCOs, and arranging a number of switched capacitor elements in a geometric proportion in a tank circuit of each VCO to provide for finesse in control of a tunable frequency of the tank circuit. The method also includes utilizing a voltage control input of a varactor element of the tank circuit solely for achieving phase separation between the each VCO and another VCO of the coupled VCO array based on the provision of finesse in the control of the tunable frequency of the tank circuit, and mixing Local Oscillator (LO) signals generated through the number of VCOs of the coupled VCO array with signals from antenna elements of an antenna array to introduce differential phase shifts in signal paths coupled to the antenna elements during performing beamforming with the antenna array. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110035222 | SELECTING FROM A PLURALITY OF AUDIO CLIPS FOR ANNOUNCING MEDIA - Systems and methods for selecting one of several audio clips associated with a text item for playback are provided. The electronic device can determine which audio clip to play back at any point in time using different approaches, including for example receiving a user selection or randomly selecting audio clips. In some embodiments, the electronic device can intelligently select audio clips based on attributes of the media item, the electronic device operations, or the environment of the electronic device. The attributes can include, for example, metadata values of the media item, the type of ongoing operations of the electronic device, and environmental characteristics that can be measured or detected using sensors of or coupled to the electronic device. Different audio clips can be associated with particular attribute values, such that an audio clip corresponding to the detected or received attribute values are played back. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035223 | AUDIO CLIPS FOR ANNOUNCING REMOTELY ACCESSED MEDIA ITEMS - Systems and methods for retrieving and playing back audio clips for streamed or remotely received media items are provided. An electronic device can provide audio clips identifying media items at any suitable time, including for example to identify media items that are currently played back or available for playback. When the media items played back are not locally stored, the electronic device may not have a corresponding audio clip locally stored. In such cases, the electronic device can identify a streamed media item, and retrieve an audio clip corresponding to text items associated with the media item. For example, the electronic device can retrieve audio clips corresponding to the artist, title and album of the received media item. The electronic device can retrieve audio clips from any suitable source, such as a dedicated audio clip server or other remote source, a remote text-to-speech engine, or a locally stored text-to-speech engine. | 02-10-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140055785 | POLARIMETRIC CALIBRATION OF A REMOTE SENSOR - Described are methods and systems for vicarious polarimetric calibration and performance validation of a remote sensor. The system includes a plurality of reflective mirrors configured and arranged to reflect radiation from a source of radiation onto the remote sensor with accurately known polarimetric properties. Each of the reflective mirrors are located so that the target images do not overlap. The remote sensor is configured to receive the radiation reflected from the plurality of reflective mirrors and store the received radiation as image data (e.g., the image of each mirror appears as a point target). The system includes a processor configured to process the received data to provide direct calibration and performance validation for each polarimetric or spectral channel of the remote sensor. In addition, the calibration method removes all atmospheric effects except for transmittance and provides reference targets that have high polarimetric contrast, full spectrum performance and easy to deploy. | 02-27-2014 |
20140058695 | GEOMETRIC CALIBRATION OF A REMOTE SENSOR - Geometric calibration of an imaging system is performed by recording visible control points in a calibration image whose geometric properties are known and calibration coefficients can be derived utilizing an image processing system for transforming the recorded image into a geometric distortion-free image. Described are methods and systems for vicarious geometric calibration of a remote sensor that include a processor configured to receive image data collected at a remote sensor, the image data including a plurality of image elements each associated with a respective reflective mirror from a plurality of reflective mirrors located at respective know positions, determine, for each of the plurality of reflective mirrors, an image location in the image data and determine one or more figures of merit based on the image locations and the known positions for each of the plurality of reflective mirrors. | 02-27-2014 |
20150062580 | POLARIMETRIC CALIBRATION OF A REMOTE SENSOR - Described are methods and systems for vicarious polarimetric calibration and performance validation of a remote sensor. The system includes a plurality of reflective mirrors configured and arranged to reflect radiation from a source of radiation onto the remote sensor with accurately known polarimetric properties. Each of the reflective mirrors are located so that the target images do not overlap. The remote sensor is configured to receive the radiation reflected from the plurality of reflective mirrors and store the received radiation as image data (e.g., the image of each mirror appears as a point target). The system includes a processor configured to process the received data to provide direct calibration and performance validation for each polarimetric or spectral channel of the remote sensor. In addition, the calibration method removes all atmospheric effects except for transmittance and provides reference targets that have high polarimetric contrast, full spectrum performance and easy to deploy. | 03-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130129233 | System and Method for Classifying the Blur State of Digital Image Pixels - A blur classification module may compute the probability that a given pixel in a digital image was blurred using a given two-dimensional blur kernel, and may store the computed probability in a blur classification probability matrix that stores probability values for all combinations of image pixels and the blur kernels in a set of likely blur kernels. Computing these probabilities may include computing a frequency power spectrum for windows into the digital image and/or for the likely blur kernels. The blur classification module may generate a coherent mapping between pixels of the digital image and respective blur states, or may perform a segmentation of the image into blurry and sharp regions, dependent on values stored in the matrix. Input image data may be pre-processed. Blur classification results may be employed in image editing operations to automatically target image subjects or background regions, or to estimate the depth of image elements. | 05-23-2013 |
20130315478 | Classifying Blur State of Digital Image Pixels - A blur classification module may compute the probability that a given pixel in a digital image was blurred using a given two-dimensional blur kernel, and may store the computed probability in a blur classification probability matrix that stores probability values for all combinations of image pixels and the blur kernels in a set of likely blur kernels. Computing these probabilities may include computing a frequency power spectrum for windows into the digital image and/or for the likely blur kernels. The blur classification module may generate a coherent mapping between pixels of the digital image and respective blur states, and/or may perform a segmentation of the image into blurry and sharp regions, dependent on values stored in the matrix. Input image data may be pre-processed. Blur classification results may be employed in image editing operations to automatically target image subjects or background regions, or to estimate the depth of image elements. | 11-28-2013 |
20150062129 | Fitting a Parametric Curve using Maximum Curvature - Parametric curve fitting using maximum curvature techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a parametric curve is fit to a segment of a plurality of data points that includes a first data point disposed between second and third data points by setting a point of maximum curvature for the segment of the curve at the first data point. A result of the fitting is output by the computing device. | 03-05-2015 |
20150325016 | Blending Techniques for Curve Fitting - Blending techniques for curve fitting are described. In one or more implementations, an indication is received of three or more data points. A blending factor is computed based on a spatial relationship of the three or more data points to each other. A curve is fit to the three or more data points by blending a plurality or curve fitting techniques using the computed blending factor. | 11-12-2015 |