Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130317437 | HIP OBTURATOR AND METHOD FOR ATRAUMATIC HIP ACCESS - An obturator provides access to a joint through a capsule surrounding the joint. A distal end of the obturator has a first distal location with a first width dimension and a second distal location with a second width dimension, wherein the second distal location is proximal to the first distal location and the second width dimension greater than the first width dimension. A retractable blade can extend from the obturator to be exposed between the first distal location and the second distal location. | 11-28-2013 |
20130325011 | Methods and Devices for Forming Bone Tunnels - Methods and devices are provided for forming bone tunnels. In general, the methods and devices allow multiple converging tunnels to be formed in bone, such as in an arthroscopic surgical procedure, e.g., a rotator cuff repair surgical procedure. One or more sutures can be advanced through the converging tunnels, and the suture(s) can be coupled to tissue. The suture(s) with the tissue coupled thereto can be tensioned, thereby helping to maximize an amount of the tissue in contact with the bone. In an exemplary embodiment, a guide device is provided that can be configured to allow a first tunnel to be formed in bone and to allow a plurality of additional tunnels to be formed in the bone at predetermined angular positions relative to the first tunnel such that each of the additional tunnels can extend transverse to the first tunnel and intersect the first tunnel. | 12-05-2013 |
20140214042 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR REMOVING ABNORMALITIES FROM BONE - Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for removing abnormalities from bone. In general, the methods and devices can be used to allow excess bone to be scraped from a bone surface. In an exemplary embodiment, a scraper tool is provided that includes an elongate shaft having a plurality of blades movably disposed therein. The blades can be configured to move as a unit between a retracted configuration, in which the blades can be entirely disposed within the elongate shaft, and an advanced configuration, in which at least a portion of the blades can extend distally from the elongate shaft and/or flare away from one another. A distal portion of each of the blades can have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the bone to be scraped. | 07-31-2014 |
20150257771 | Methods and Devices for Removing Abnormalities from Bone - Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for removing abnormalities from bone. In general, the methods and devices can be used to allow excess bone to be scraped from a bone surface. In an exemplary embodiment, a scraper tool is provided that includes an elongate shaft having a plurality of blades movably disposed therein. The blades can be configured to move as a unit between a retracted configuration, in which the blades can be entirely disposed within the elongate shaft, and an advanced configuration, in which at least a portion of the blades can extend distally from the elongate shaft and/or flare away from one another. A distal portion of each of the blades can have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the bone to be scraped. | 09-17-2015 |
20160038162 | Methods and Devices for Forming Bone Tunnels - Methods and devices are provided for forming bone tunnels. In general, the methods and devices allow multiple converging tunnels to be formed in bone, such as in an arthroscopic surgical procedure, e.g., a rotator cuff repair surgical procedure. One or more sutures can be advanced through the converging tunnels, and the suture(s) can be coupled to tissue. The suture(s) with the tissue coupled thereto can be tensioned, thereby helping to maximize an amount of the tissue in contact with the bone. In an exemplary embodiment, a guide device is provided that can be configured to allow a first tunnel to be formed in bone and to allow a plurality of additional tunnels to be formed in the bone at predetermined angular positions relative to the first tunnel such that each of the additional tunnels can extend transverse to the first tunnel and intersect the first tunnel. | 02-11-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100220288 | EXPLICT RAYTRACING FOR GIMBAL-BASED GAZEPOINT TRACKERS - A system for determining a three-dimensional location and orientation of an eye within a camera frame of reference includes a camera, an illuminator, and a processor. The camera captures an image of the eye. The illuminator generates a reflection off of a corneal surface of the eye. The processor computes a first two-dimensional location of a pupil reflection image and a corneal reflection image from the image of the eye. The processor predicts a second two-dimensional location of a pupil reflection image and the corneal reflection image as a function of a set of three-dimensional position and orientation parameters of the eye within the camera frame of reference. The processor iteratively adjusts the set until the first two-dimensional location is substantially the same as the second two-dimensional location. The set is the three-dimensional location and orientation of an eye. | 09-02-2010 |
20100321482 | EYE/HEAD CONTROLS FOR CAMERA POINTING - A setting of a video camera is remotely controlled. Video from a video camera is displayed to a user using a video display. At least one eye of the user is imaged as the user is observing the video display, a change in an image of at least one eye of the user is measured over time, and an eye/head activity variable is calculated from the measured change in the image using an eyetracker. The eye/head activity variable is translated into a camera control setting, and an actuator connected to the video camera is instructed to apply the camera control setting to the video camera using a processor. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322479 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR 3-D TARGET LOCATION - A target is imaged in a three-dimensional real space using two or more video cameras. A three-dimensional image space combined from two video cameras of the two or more video cameras is displayed to a user using a stereoscopic display. A right eye and a left eye of the user are imaged as the user is observing the target in the stereoscopic video display, a right gaze line of the right eye and a left gaze line of the left eye are calculated in the three-dimensional image space, and a gazepoint in the three-dimensional image space is calculated as the intersection of the right gaze line and the left gaze line using a binocular eyetracker. A real target location is determined by translating the gazepoint in the three-dimensional image space to the real target location in the three-dimensional real space from the locations and the positions of the two video cameras using a processor. | 12-23-2010 |
20110262887 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GAZE BASED ATTENTION TRAINING - Gaze based systems and methods are used to monitor the attention of a user. One or more images are displayed to a user on a display. It is determined that an image of the one or more images is being viewed by an eye of the user from one or more measurements received from an eyetracker. One or more modifications to the image are displayed on the display over time so as to maintain the attention of the user. Whether or not the attention of the user is maintained is determined from one or more additional measurements received from the eyetracker after the one or more modifications to the image. In various embodiments, the one or more modifications to the image include moving the image on the display. In various embodiments, the one or more modifications to the image include animating the image on the display. | 10-27-2011 |
20120032817 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AIDING TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND/OR PILOTS - Gaze based systems and methods are used to aid traffic controllers and/or pilots. A gaze line of an eye of the user viewing the display is tracked using an eyetracker. An intersection of the gaze line of the eye with the display is calculated to provide continuous feedback as to where on the display the user is looking A trace of the gaze line of the eye is correlated with elements of a situation. The user's awareness of the situation is inferred by verifying that the user has looked at the elements of the situation. In an embodiment, the user is notified of the situation when it is determined that the user has not looked at the elements of the situation for a predetermined period of time. The notification is automatically removed once it is determined that the user has looked at the elements of the situation. | 02-09-2012 |
20130265231 | Gaze Based Communications for Locked-In Hospital Patients - Effective patient-centered care in a hospital relies heavily on the ability of patients to communicate their physical needs to care givers. If a patient is unable to speak, he has limited means of communicating at a time when he needs it the most. The embodiments presented here, generally referred to as EyeVoice, include unobtrusive eye-operated communication systems for locked-in hospital patients who cannot speak or gesture. EyeVoice provides an alternate means of communication, allowing hospital patients to communicate with their care givers using their eyes in place of their voices. Simply by looking at images and cells displayed on a computer screen placed in front of them, patients are able to: answer questions posed by caregivers; specify locations, types and degrees of pain and discomfort; request specific forms of assistance; ask or answer care related questions, and help direct his own care. | 10-10-2013 |
20140092268 | Eye/Head Controls for Camera Pointing - A setting of a video camera is remotely controlled. Video from a video camera is displayed to a user using a video display. At least one eye of the user is imaged as the user is observing the video display, a change in an image of at least one eye of the user is measured over time, and an eye/head activity variable is calculated from the measured change in the image using an eyetracker. The eye/head activity variable is translated into a camera control setting, and an actuator connected to the video camera is instructed to apply the camera control setting to the video camera using a processor. | 04-03-2014 |
20150238079 | Systems and Methods for Miniaturizing Eyetracking Systems - A miniature eyetracking system is disclosed that includes a camera, a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device, and a processor. The camera images an eye. The MEMS device controls the view-direction of the camera. The processor receives an image of the eye from the camera, determines the location of the eye within the camera image, and controls the MEMS to keep the camera pointed at the eye. In another embodiment, the MEMS device controls an adjustable focus of the camera. The processor determines the focus condition of the eye image, and controls the MEMS device to maintain a desired focus condition of the camera on the eye. In another embodiment, the MEMS device controls an adjustable camera zoom. The processor determines the size of the eye image within the overall camera image, and controls the MEMS to maintain a desired size of the eye image within the overall camera image. | 08-27-2015 |
20150241755 | Asymmetric Aperture for Eyetracking - An asymmetric aperture device for a camera is provided that improves light gathering properties by increasing both the light gathering opening of the aperture and the number of light producing light sources placed on the aperture. An asymmetric aperture design is provided that utilizes a significantly larger portion of the camera lens. The tradeoff between the competing objectives of maximizing camera depth of field and maximizing the production of useful focus-condition information within the camera image is optimized. More illumination is provided without significantly increasing the lateral size of the illuminator pattern. | 08-27-2015 |
20150269729 | Eye Image Stimuli for Eyegaze Calibration Procedures - A system and method are disclosed for using a camera image of a user's eye as a visual stimulus for the calibration point in an eyetracking calibration system. A camera image of a user's eye is generated on a user display using an eyetracker. The camera image of the user's eye is used as a visual stimulus of a calibration point. In an embodiment, the center of the pupil of the camera image of the user's eye represents the coordinates of the calibration point on the user display. In another embodiment, the center of the corneal reflection of the camera image of the user's eye represents the coordinates of the calibration point on the user display. | 09-24-2015 |
20150347842 | Eyetracker Mounts for Use with Handheld Devices - A device for performing eyetracking on a handheld device includes and eyetracking camera and an eyetracking camera boom mount. The eyetracking camera boom mount physically and electrically connects a handheld device and the eyetracking camera. The eyetracking camera boom mount includes an extension boom that positions the eyetracking camera behind the user's hands. The extension boom provides the eyetracking camera with a view of the user's eyes that is unobstructed by the user's hands. The device can further include an operating scene camera for monitoring a person's hand operations on the handheld device. The operating scene camera can be mounted on the same extension boom as the eyetracking camera or on a separate extension boom. | 12-03-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080232487 | Synchronous spectrum sharing by dedicated networks using OFDM/OFDMA signaling - A system and method for synchronous spectrum sharing for a dedicated network in a wireless communication system based on orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signaling is disclosed. The system and method includes detecting a frame of a broadcast waveform and extracting idle spectrum information from a subframe associated with the dedicated subchannel to the secondary user node. The system allows transmitting data from the secondary user node in unused symbol slots identified in the idle spectrum information thereby making efficient use of unused or idle spectrum. Accordingly, secondary users of the wireless communication system can dynamically form ad-hoc mesh network communications in fixed or mobile scenarios. | 09-25-2008 |
20080267101 | Universal Browser - A method, a computer readable medium and a system for universal browsing that comprises, sending a request for a service by a mobile terminal to a service portal, determining a protocol needed to fulfill the request by the service portal, if the protocol needed is resident on the mobile terminal, determining a sensor that can fulfill the request, sending the request by the service portal to the sensor, establishing a connection between the mobile terminal and the sensor, and sending a response to the request to the mobile terminal via the connection. | 10-30-2008 |
20090061766 | Apparatus and method for channel estimation and echo cancellation in a wireless repeater - A system and method for channel estimation and echo cancellation in wireless system repeaters. A repeater with improved echo cancellation comprises an input radio control element having a receiving antenna and an output radio control element having a transmitting antenna; a power amplifier connected between the input radio control element and the output radio control element; and a signal processing unit connected between the input radio control element and the output radio control element. The signal processing unit is configured to estimate the communication channel from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna to produce a channel estimation. The signal processing unit is further configured to perform echo cancellation based on the channel estimation. | 03-05-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140312575 | WING SLOT SEAL - A low cost, lightweight frangible wing slot seal can be applied to a guidance wing slot of a folding fin aerial rocket or missile, providing a barrier against exposure of internal missile components to external contaminants, while allowing unhindered deployment of missile guidance wings simply by bursting through the seals. The simple design is nearly foolproof, and has no impact the likelihood of weapon. failure. The seal is a flexible sheet which is sufficiently thin so as not to exceed the required volume envelope of the missile. The sheet includes a burst seam, which is breached when impacted by the leading edge of a deploying wing. No additional wing deployment force is required, and after deployment the seal has minimal impact on the aerodynamic performance of the wing. | 10-23-2014 |
20150276359 | APPARATUS FOR DEPLOYING STOWED CONTROL SURFACES OF A PROJECTILE - An apparatus for deploying stowed control surfaces of a projectile is disclosed. The apparatus for deploying stowed control surfaces of a projectile includes a first and second hot gas generators, a first and second gas chambers, a piston wedge, a piston and a barrel. Initially, the first hot gas generator discharges a surge of hot gas into the first gas chamber. In response to the surge of hot gas being discharged into the first gas generator, the piston wedge displaces at least one of the control surfaces to break an environmental seal covering the projectile. After a predetermined amount of time has lapsed, the second hot gas generator discharges a surge of hot gas into the second gas chamber. The surge of hot gas displaces the piston and barrel for deploying the control surfaces completely. | 10-01-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140208251 | POWER INJECTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE - Automated injection system disclosed in this application advantageously provides physicians with a simplified interface for selecting fluid sources, such as saline, contrast, or a mixture of both, to inject at high pressures. The injector system may comprise a multi-use subassembly, a single-use subassembly, a fitting to fluidly connect the multi-use and single-use subassemblies, a hand held controller, a user interface, and an injector housing. | 07-24-2014 |
20150209515 | Power Injector Device and Method of Use - Automated injection system disclosed in this application advantageously provides physicians with a simplified interface for selecting fluid sources, such as saline, contrast, or a mixture of both, to inject at high pressures. The injector system may comprise a multi-use subassembly, a single-use subassembly, a fitting to fluidly connect the multi-use and single-use subassemblies, a hand held controller, a user interface, and an injector housing. | 07-30-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110009252 | Method and tool for forming picots - A method and tool for forming decorative picots is provided. The tool comprises a triangular substrate having a base and two sides intersecting at an apex, indicia defining a centerline extending from the apex to the midpoint of the base, and indicia defining one or more guidelines extending from one side of the substrate to the other, parallel to the base. The method comprises placing the substrate on a rectangular strip of fabric having a width twice its height, aligning the substrate on the fabric such that the apex is positioned at the midpoint of the top edge of the fabric and the bottom edge is positioned parallel to the base of the substrate, folding the top edges of the fabric over the substrate to align with the centerline and applying an iron to the folded fabric to crease the fold. | 01-13-2011 |
20120254509 | Extending Cache for an External Storage System into Individual Servers - Mechanisms are provided for extending cache for an external storage system into individual servers. Certain servers may have cards with cache in the form of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and non-volatile storage, such as flash memory or solid-state drives (SSDs), which may be viewed as actual extensions of the external storage system. In this way, the storage system is distributed across the storage area network (SAN) into various servers. Several new semantics are used in communication between the cards and the storage system to keep the read caches coherent. | 10-04-2012 |
20130086301 | Direct Memory Address for Solid-State Drives - A storage device is provided for direct memory access. A controller of the storage device performs a mapping of a window of memory addresses to a logical block addressing (LBA) range of the storage device. Responsive to receiving from a host a write request specifying a write address within the window of memory addresses, the controller initializes a first memory butler in the storage device and associates the first memory buffer with a first address range within the window of memory addresses such that the write address of the request is within the first address range. The controller writes to the first memory buffer based on the write address. Responsive to the buffer being full, the controller persists contents of the first memory buffer to the storage device using logical block addressing based on the mapping. | 04-04-2013 |
20130191594 | Direct Memory Address for Solid-State Drives - A storage device is provided for direct memory access. A controller of the storage device performs a mapping of a window of memory addresses to a logical block addressing (LBA) range of the storage device. Responsive to receiving from a host a write request specifying a write address within the window of memory-addresses, the controller initializes a first memory buffer in the storage device and associates the first memory buffer with a first address range within the window of memory addresses such that the write address of the request is within the first address range. The controller writes to the first memory buffer based on the write address. Responsive to the buffer being full the controller persists contents of the first memory buffer to the storage device using logical block addressing based on the mapping. | 07-25-2013 |
20130205078 | Extending Cache for an External Storage System into Individual Servers - Mechanisms are provided for extending cache for an external storage system into individual servers. Certain servers may have cards with cache in the form of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and non-volatile storage, such as flash memory or solid-state drives (SSDs), which may be viewed as actual extensions of the external storage system. In this way, the storage system is distributed across the storage area network (SAN) into various servers. Several new semantics are used in communication between the cards and the storage system to keep the read caches coherent. | 08-08-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090258090 | COLON CLEANSING SOLUTION - The field of colonic diagnostic and surgical procedures is hampered by the lack of optimal means available to cleanse the colon. A compromise between convenient, distasteful, solid or low volume, hyperosmotic solutions which cause considerable fluid and electrolyte imbalances in patients and large volume, difficult to consume, iso-osmotic solutions has had to be made heretofore. This invention describes a low volume, hyper-osmotic solution consisting of sulfate salts with and with out polyethylene glycol, and further comprising a sweetener and/or flavoring. Unlike prior art, this composition is useful for the cleansing of the bowel and, in lower volumes, as a laxative, without producing clinically significant changes in bodily function. | 10-15-2009 |
20110293747 | COLON CLEANSING SOLUTION - The field of colonic diagnostic and surgical procedures is hampered by the lack of optimal means available to cleanse the colon. A compromise between convenient, distasteful, solid or low volume, hyperosmotic solutions which cause considerable fluid and electrolyte imbalances in patients and large volume, difficult to consume, iso-osmotic solutions has had to be made heretofore. This invention describes a low volume, hyper-osmotic solution consisting of sulfate salts with and with out polyethylene glycol, and further comprising a sweetener and/or flavoring. Unlike prior art, this composition is useful for the cleansing of the bowel and, in lower volumes, as a laxative, without producing clinically significant changes in bodily function. | 12-01-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090173726 | Automatic Weld Arc Monitoring System - A welding system including an arc monitoring, training, and control system is disclosed. The welding system includes a power supply, controller, and associated memory. When a weld is performed, the weld command and weld feedback parameters can be stored in the memory, along with associated alarm limit values. During subsequent welds, the input weld commands and actual feedback values can be compared to the established limits, and a fault signal provided to an operator or supervisor when the value exceeds the established limits. The fault signals can be used for training operators, as well as providing monitoring signals, and can be stored with weld data in a database for later analysis. In addition, collected weld data can be used to determine when to clean, repair, or replace consumables, including, for example, contact tips, wire drive liners, and drive rolls, and to monitor usage of wire and gas. | 07-09-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090108988 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADMINISTERING ACCESS TO AN INTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF AN ENCLOSURE - A system and method for administrating access to an interior compartment of a safe is provided. The safe includes a locking mechanism for locking and unlocking a safe door, and a lock interface including a biometric sensor, a keypad, and a memory. The interior compartment of the safe may be accessed using primary and secondary identification sequences, and primary and secondary unique identifying features. The manager initiates the safe using the pre-established master sequence and administrates the number of secondary users permitted to access the interior compartment of the safe. The pre-established master sequence may also be used to delete all identification sequences and unique identifying features that are stored in the lock interface. A key lock operates as a threshold or secondary lock that controls whether the primary and secondary identification sequences, and primary and secondary unique identifying features, may be used to unlock the locking mechanism. | 04-30-2009 |
20090165682 | SAFE WITH CONTROLLABLE DATA TRANSFER CAPABILITY - A safe including a safe controller coupled to a data transfer port is provided. The safe controller is configured to selectively enable device data to pass through the data transfer port when a valid code is received by the safe controller. A system for controlling data communications with an internal device in a safe is also provided. The system includes an external computing device configured to execute a series of instructions, and a safe. The safe includes a data transfer port coupled to the external computing device and the internal device. The safe also includes a safe controller coupled to the data transfer port, wherein the safe controller is configured to selectively enable communication between the external computing device and the internal device when a valid code is received by the safe controller. | 07-02-2009 |
20110019355 | Fire Resistant Enclosure for a Data Storage Device Having Heat Sink Capabilities and Method for Making the Same - A fire resistant enclosure for a data storage device is provided. The enclosure includes an enclosure base comprising a base cap and a base body. The base body includes a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity. The data storage device is positioned within the cavity. A fire resistant insulation material is positioned within the base cavity to encapsulate the data storage device. The base cap is coupled with the base body to enclose the data storage device within the enclosure base. The insulation material may be in intimate contact with the data storage device, or in contact with a moisture barrier surrounding the data storage device, wherein the insulation material acts as a heat sink for said data storage device to draw heat away from the data storage device to maintain a temperature of the data storage device within an acceptable operating range. | 01-27-2011 |
20120012493 | System for Stacking Archive Boxes Including A Fire-Resistant Drywall Support Shell - A system for stacking fire-resistant archive boxes on top of one another is provided. Each of the archive boxes comprise an outer shell, an inner shell disposed within the outer shell, a drywall support shell, and a lid. The inner shell has an opening defining a storage compartment, and is spaced apart from the outer shell defining a cavity therebetween. The inner shell includes a bottom wall and side walls. The drywall support shell is disposed within the cavity and surrounds a substantial portion of the inner shell. The lid is configured to be disposed over the opening in the inner shell to selectively enclose the storage compartment. The drywall support shell of the upper archive box is substantially aligned with the drywall support shell of the lower archive box whereby the lower archive box is supportive of the upper archive box. | 01-19-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110187340 | EFFECTIVE CURRENT SENSING FOR HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHING REGULATORS - A high voltage switching regulator has significantly reduced current sensing delay between measurement of input current and generation of sensed current values, while maintaining good accuracy of the current through a power transistor using current replication and a current conveyor. High sensing accuracy of the input current ensures good load regulation, and low sensing delay ensures fixed duty cycle over a wide range of output currents and high input to output voltage ratios. A current conveyor is used to transfer high side current values to low side control circuits, e.g., pulse width modulation (PWM) control. The current conveyor is always on, e.g., some current flow is always present, thus minimizing any current measurement delay. This is accomplished by dynamically biasing the current conveyor by draining to ground a current equal to the sensed current. Wherein balancing of the current conveyor is ensured and offset at the input of the current conveyor is minimized. | 08-04-2011 |
20120133347 | EFFICIENCY-OPTIMIZING, CALIBRATED SENSORLESS POWER/ENERGY CONVERSION IN A SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLY - An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, e.g., a mixed signal device, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection. The frequency pole and gain of the complimentary integrated filter can be adjusted on the fly in order to adapt to dynamically changing operating conditions of the SMPS system. | 05-31-2012 |
20120139517 | USER-CONFIGURABLE, EFFICIENCY-OPTIMIZING, CALIBRATED SENSORLESS POWER/ENERGY CONVERSION SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLY WITH A SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE - An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A lossless inductor current sense technique integrates a matched, tunable complimentary filter with the intelligent SMPS controller for accurately measuring current through the power inductor of the SMPS without introducing losses in the power circuit. The complimentary filter is adjusted by the microcontroller to significantly reduce the effects of component tolerances, accurately measuring the power inductor current for precise closed loop control and over current protection. The frequency pole and gain of the complimentary integrated filter can be adjusted on the fly in order to adapt to dynamically changing operating conditions of the SMPS system. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139518 | USER-CONFIGURABLE, EFFICIENCY-OPTIMIZING, POWER/ENERGY CONVERSION SWITCH-MODE POWER SUPPLY WITH A SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE - An intelligent pulse width modulation (PWM) controller adapts a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system's operating parameters to optimize efficiency, remove hot spots and isolate faults by integrating a microcontroller, PWM digital circuits and analog circuits into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the number of external connections, silicon die area and integrated circuit packages. A communications interface is used to communicate with a host system for monitoring operating parameters of the SMPS, e.g., current, voltage, efficiency, operating temperature, diagnostics, etc. In addition, the communications interface may be used to alter the operating parameters (objectives) of the SMPS during operation thereof. | 06-07-2012 |
20130119875 | Method and System to Dynamically Position a Switch Mode Power Supply Output Voltage - A switch mode power supply (SMPS) converter is periodically run backwards by using a synchronous switch instead of the normally used commutating diode. By running the SMPS converter backwards the SMPS output capacitor can be discharged very quickly to provide a fast turn off of (no current through) the LED's, thereby solving the color shift problem. This enables positioning the output voltage of the SMPS up or down by actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor. Having the capability of actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor allows generation of a current source comprising substantially square, e.g., substantially full current when on and substantially no current when off, current pulses that are preferable for driving LED lighting applications. | 05-16-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120169308 | RELATIVE EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENT IN A PULSE WIDTH MODULATION SYSTEM - A pulse width modulation (PWM) power conversion system has improved efficiency over a wide operating input voltage and load range. Being able to measure relative efficiency of an analog PWM system allows enhanced control while maintaining the benefits of analog control. An analog low pass filter produces an average value of the PWM pulse train, then this analog average value is converted into digital values with an analog-to-digital converter and stored so that relative efficiencies of the PWM power conversion system may be compared for various combinations of operating parameters. | 07-05-2012 |
20120169310 | ADAPTIVE INTEGRATED ANALOG CONTROL SYSTEM COMPENSATION - An analog closed-loop, negative feedback system that adapts feedback compensation during operation thereof to improve dynamic performance thereof. Using a pure analog control loop with digital assist provides speed and simplicity of an analog control loop with the flexibility of digital control. Adapting the compensation allows the system to accurately predict and adjust, at all DC operating points, (1) the margin of stability of the converter, against closed loop oscillation, and (2) the frequency-domain and time-domain responses to perturbations in the input voltage and/or the output current. Operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) and digitally controlled digital-to-analog converters (IDACs) are used to dynamically change the operating parameters of the analog closed-loop of the negative feedback system. The negative feedback system may be a switch mode power supply (SMPS). | 07-05-2012 |
20140092646 | Soft Switching Synchronous Quasi Resonant Converter - A switching circuit including a transformer having a primary and a secondary side; a first MOSFET switch coupled with the primary side; a primary current sensing device; a second MOSFET switch coupled with the secondary side; a secondary current sensing device; and a control circuit for driving the first and second MOSFET switches, wherein first and second switch are complementarily driven and wherein switching of the first and second MOSFET switches is controlled by the primary and secondary current sensing devices | 04-03-2014 |
20140253218 | Multi-Gate Field Effect Transistor - An improved field effect transistor (FET) is provided by segmenting the gates of a power FET wherein a controller can “decide” how much of the FET to use, thus increasing efficiency. | 09-11-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080200537 | Antiestrogenic glyceollins suppress human breast and ovarian carcinoma proliferation and tumorigenesis - The flavonoid family of phytochemicals, particularly those derived from soy, has received attention regarding their hormonal activity and their effects on human health and disease. The types and amounts of these compounds in soy and other plants are controlled by both constitutive expression and stress-induced biosynthesis. The health benefits of soy may therefore be dependent upon the amounts of the various hormonally active phytochemicals present. We have identified increased biosynthesis of the isoflavonoid phytoalexin compounds, Glyceollins I, II and III, in soy plants grown under stressed conditions (elicited soy), which exhibit marked anti-estrogenic effects on ER function. Here we demonstrate that specific glyceollins, isolated from elicited soy, displayed anti-estrogenic activity, suppressing basal and estrogen stimulated colony formation of ER-positive estrogen dependent breast cancer cells and inhibiting ER-dependent gene expression of progesterone receptor (PgR) and stromal derived factor-1 (SDF1/CXCL12). Examining the effects of glyceollin on in vivo tumor formation/growth we demonstrate the ability of glyceollins to significantly suppress basal and estrogen-stimulated tumor growth of ER-positive MCF-7 breast and BG-1 ovarian carcinoma cells in ovariectomized female nude mice. We further demonstrate that the effects of glyceollins on suppression of tumor growth correlate with inhibition of estrogen stimulated PgR expression. In contrast to the uterotropic activity of tamoxifen the glyceollins displayed no uterine agonist activity. The Glyceollin (I-III) compounds may represent an important component of the health effects of soy as well as represent novel anti-estrogens useful in the prevention or treatment of breast and ovarian carcinoma. | 08-21-2008 |
20120061586 | Method and detection system for detection of aflatoxin in corn with fluorescence spectra - A system and method for fluorescence spectral imaging of target material to detect the presence of a contaminant (such as aflatoxin in corn) is provided. An ultraviolet light source is coupled a light-excluding compartment. The fluorescence from the UV excited target passes through a filter (liquid crystal tunable, acoustic-optic tunable, a filter wheel, or other wavelength splitting device) and a lens, to a spectral imaging camera. Fluorescence spectral image data from the camera is analyzed by a computer and presented in human-readable form. Aflatoxin detection in contaminated corn kernels is based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift in the spectral range from 451 nm to 500 nm. Aflatoxin contamination level within the target material is quantified based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift and computed corn kernel pixel statistics. | 03-15-2012 |
20130041022 | Glyceollins Suppress Androgen-Responsive Prostate Cancer - The present disclosure demonstrates the molecular effects of glyceollins on human prostate cancer cell LNCaP to further elucidate its potential effects on prostate cancer prevention. The glyceollins inhibited LNCaP cell growth similar to that of the soy isoflavone genistein. The growth inhibitory effects of the glyceollins appeared to be due to an inhibition on G1/S progression and correlated with an up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor A1 and B1 mRNA and protein levels. By contrast, genistein only up-regulates cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor A1. In addition, glyceollin treatments led to down-regulated mRNA levels for androgen responsive genes. In contrast to genistein, this effect of glyceollins on androgen responsive genes appeared to be mediated through modulation of an estrogen- but not androgen-mediated pathway. Hence, the glyceollins exerted multiple effects on LNCaP cells that may be considered cancer preventive and the mechanisms of action appeared to be different from other soy-derived phytochemicals. | 02-14-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090137881 | Linked animal-human health visual analytics - Coordinated animal-human health monitoring can provide an early warning system with fewer false alarms for naturally occurring disease outbreaks, as well as biological, chemical and environmental incidents. This monitoring requires the integration and analysis of multi-field, multi-scale and multi-source data sets. In order to better understand these data sets, models and measurements at different resolutions must be analyzed. To facilitate these investigations, we have created an application to provide a visual analytics framework for analyzing both human emergency room data and veterinary hospital data. Our integrated visual analytic tool links temporally varying geospatial visualization of animal and human patient health information with advanced statistical analysis of these multi-source data. Various statistical analysis techniques have been applied in conjunction with a spatio-temporal viewing window. Such an application provides researchers with the ability to visually search the data for clusters in both a statistical model view and a spatio-temporal view. Our interface provides a factor specification/filtering component to allow exploration of causal factors and spread patterns. In this paper, we will discuss the application of our linked animal-human visual analytics (LAHVA) tool to two specific case studies. The first case study is the effect of seasonal influenza and its correlation with different companion animals (e.g., cats, dogs) syndromes. Here we use data from the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC) and Banfield Pet Hospitals in an attempt to determine if there are correlations between respiratory syndromes representing the onset of seasonal influenza in humans and general respiratory syndromes in cats and dogs. Our second case study examines the effect of the release of industrial wastewater in a community through companion animal surveillance. | 05-28-2009 |
20120035429 | ANIMAL SYMPTOM VISUAL ANALYTICS - A system and method for visually displaying and analyzing public health data for geospatial and/or time variations, including the collection of symptom data coupled with geographic and time data, filtering the symptom data based upon a selected time period and geographic range, and creating a visual result based upon statistical modeling including power transform and/or data normalization. According to at least one embodiment, the system for visually displaying and analyzing includes selecting and performing at least one aberration detection method such as applying CUSUM analysis, quantile measures, and/or bootstrapping analysis, and displaying the result to a user via a visual analytics arrangement. | 02-09-2012 |
20130031041 | Forecasting Hotspots using Predictive Visual Analytics Approach - A method for forecasting hotspots is provided. The method may include the steps of receiving input data at an input of the computational device, generating a temporal prediction based on the input data, generating a geospatial prediction based on the input data, and generating output data based on the time series and geospatial predictions. The output data may be configured to display at least one user interface at an output of the computational device. | 01-31-2013 |