Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080258806 | Phase-Locked Loop Based Controller for Adjusting an Adaptive Continuous-Time Filter - A direct conversion radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a controller and an adaptive continuous-time filter. The adaptive continuous-time filter receives a multiple-bit control signal generated by the controller to adjust a characteristic of the continuous-time filter. The controller generates the multiple-bit control signal in response to process variation in the semiconductor material used to implement the controller and the adaptive continuous-time filter. A method for tuning an adaptive continuous-time filter comprises determining a RC time constant, converting the RC time constant to a digital word, comparing a select bit of the digital word to a respective bit of a predetermined reference word to generate a control bit, applying the control bit to an adjustable element to modify the RC time constant, repeating the determining, converting, comparing and applying steps until the control bits generate an output word and providing the output word to the adaptive continuous-time filter. | 10-23-2008 |
20110075777 | Phase-Locked Loop Based Controller for Adjusting an Adaptive Continuous-Time Filter - A direct conversion radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a controller and an adaptive continuous-time filter. The adaptive continuous-time filter receives a multiple-bit control signal generated by the controller to adjust a characteristic of the continuous-time filter. The controller generates the multiple-bit control signal in response to process variation in the semiconductor material used to implement the controller and the adaptive continuous-time filter. A method for tuning an adaptive continuous-time filter comprises determining a RC time constant, converting the RC time constant to a digital word, comparing a select bit of the digital word to a respective bit of a predetermined reference word to generate a control bit, applying the control bit to an adjustable element to modify the RC time constant, repeating the determining, converting, comparing and applying steps until the control bits generate an output word and providing the output word to the adaptive continuous-time filter. | 03-31-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100153885 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTING WITH ADVANCED DISPLAYS PROVIDED BY AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - An interactive television application is used to provide search results to a user. The user is provided with an opportunity to indicate a desire to search for programs. In response, the interactive television application generates search criteria and searches for programs. The search results that are displayed to the user include mosaic listings associated with programs that match the search criteria. In some embodiments, the interactive television application displays the mosaic listings in a manner that accentuates the different levels of relevance of the search results to the search criteria. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153999 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH INTELLIGENT NAVIGATION AND DISPLAY FEATURES - Methods and systems are disclosed that allow a user to efficiently navigate media selections in an interactive media guidance application and easily identify media for viewing. The disclosed methods and systems provide an environment wherein video assets are displayed according to a user preference on a mosaic page with multiple cells. A subset of the assets appropriate for display in a particular cell is determined based on the user preference. Relevance scores of the assets meeting the user preference are computed, and the asset having the greatest relevance for the user is selected and displayed the corresponding cell. The relevance scores can be computed based on the user's historic viewing habits, user interaction with a media guidance application, or on specific user input. | 06-17-2010 |
20100198691 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMERCE IN MEDIA PROGRAM RELATED MERCHANDISE - The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment. | 08-05-2010 |
20110179454 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMERCE IN MEDIA PROGRAM RELATED MERCHANDISE - The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment. | 07-21-2011 |
20130067519 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH INTELLIGENT NAVIGATION AND DISPLAY FEATURES - Methods and systems are disclosed that allow a user to efficiently navigate media selections in an interactive media guidance application and easily identify media for viewing. The disclosed methods and systems provide an environment wherein video assets are displayed according to a user preference on a mosaic page with multiple cells. A subset of the assets appropriate for display in a particular cell is determined based on the user preference. Relevance scores of the assets meeting the user preference are computed, and the asset having the greatest relevance for the user is selected and displayed the corresponding cell. The relevance scores can be computed based on the user's historic viewing habits, user interaction with a media guidance application, or on specific user input. | 03-14-2013 |
20140089094 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMERCE IN MEDIA PROGRAM RELATED MERCHANDISE - The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment. | 03-27-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090112507 | FLUID PROBE - Systems and methods for evaluating the properties of fluids are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a printed wiring board substrate on which a first conductivity sensor and a second conductivity sensor are located, a temperature sensor mounted on the printed wiring board substrate and a casing partially encapsulating the printed wiring board substrate so as to leave at least the first and second conductivity sensors exposed. | 04-30-2009 |
20120216524 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216527 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes a first wire, a second wire, and a matrix joining the first wire and the second wire. The first wire and the second wire are in contact with the pulleys, but the matrix is not in contact with the pulleys. A timing cable is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy. | 08-30-2012 |
20130209079 | CAMERA SYSTEM - A camera system includes a body defining a cavity therein, and a camera attached to the body within the cavity and including a lens. The camera system also includes a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a thermal activation signal, and a wiper configured for wiping debris from the lens. The wiper is attached to the camera and is actuatable by the shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy transitions between the first state and the second state to actuate the wiper so that the wiper contacts and translates across the lens and thereby wipes debris from the lens. | 08-15-2013 |
20140211010 | DEPLOYABLE CAMERA SYSTEMS - A deployable camera system for a vehicle includes a body defining a cavity therein, and a camera including a housing having an exterior surface. The camera is reversibly transitionable between a stowed position in which the camera is recessed into the cavity and the exterior surface is substantially flush with the body, and a deployed position wherein the camera protrudes from the cavity and the exterior surface is not substantially flush with the body. The deployable camera system includes a first shape memory alloy element transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a first thermal activation signal. | 07-31-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120223535 | Door Safety Latch - A door latch assembly for engagement in a mounted position at or adjacent to a side edge of a door which abuts a door frame stop upon a full closure of the door into a surrounding door frame. The device features an angled or biased latch member which employs an end to engage the door stop molding of a door jamb and thereby secure the door in a slightly open position and prevent a full opening of the door. The latch member is engaged to a side edge of the door using frictional engagement or mechanical engagement. The latch member is releasable from either side of the door without placing a user's fingers in between the door and jamb. | 09-06-2012 |
20130074817 | AUTOMATIC SET POINT ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENGINE AIR-FUEL RATIO CONTROL SYSTEM - Systems and methods for continuous automatic adjustment of a control set point of an air-fuel ratio controller of a rich burn engine so as to maintain emissions within a desired range. In an embodiment, a NOx sensor is placed in the exhaust outlet from an exhaust catalyst and the NOx exhaust sensor output is continuously monitored while adjusting the control set point between rich and lean in order to minimize the output from the NOx sensor. Corrections may be continuously made to the set point during operation of the engine to compensate for changes in environmental conditions, engine loads, and other factors. | 03-28-2013 |
20140074380 | GAS SUBSTITUTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BI-FUEL ENGINE - A gas substitution ratio control system varies natural gas flow to a bi-fuel engine based on detected diesel flow to maintain a desired gas substitution ratio (GSR), without any requirement to sense engine load. In other words, GSR is controlled without monitoring engine load level. In one system, an engine is first calibrated to map actual gas and diesel flows to provide the correct GSR for all engine loads. The calibration data is then stored and diesel flow rate is monitored. The current detected diesel flow rate is used to determine the required gas flow rate for correct GSR. Gas flow to the engine is then adjusted to correspond to the required gas flow rate. Other embodiments meter gas to maintain the diesel flow rate at the same minimum level for all loads, or meter gas and diesel fuel flows to match a map of the limiting fuel energy based GSR (gas fuel energy rate/total fuel energy rate) at all loads for each engine model. | 03-13-2014 |
20150061164 | GASEOUS FUEL AND AIR MIXING VENTURI INSERT DEVICE FOR CARBURETOR - A gaseous fuel and air mixing venturi device is adapted for installation in a gaseous fuel carburetor and has a venturi body defining annular inner and outer venturi passageways which each have a throat of reduced cross-sectional area and have inlet ends in communication with an air inlet of the carburetor. A fuel inlet is configured for connection to a fuel port of the carburetor, and communicates with a plurality of fuel supply ports in the body communicating radially with the inner and outer venturi passages to mix with the air flowing in the passageways. | 03-05-2015 |
20150346733 | GASEOUS FUEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR ENGINES - A fuel control device or fuel valve assembly includes a valve for metering flow of gaseous fuel to an engine, a drive device associated with the valve to adjust the effective flow area of the valve, a flow meter with at least one fixed area orifice located upstream of the valve, and one or more sensors to measure predetermined parameters of the fuel flowing through the flow meter. A controller receives input from the flow sensor or sensors and a fuel demand signal from the engine control, calculates current flow rate based on the sensor inputs, and controls the drive device to adjust the valve flow area up or down depending on the difference between the calculated flow rate and current fuel demand signal. | 12-03-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090160927 | Thermal Marking System - One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus. | 06-25-2009 |
20100057386 | REDUNDANT AND FAULT-TOLERANT POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING AN INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A power distribution and communication system includes nodes connected by power lines and communication links. The system receives power from one or more power sources. Each node contains at least one power port, data port and load port. Associated with each power port and load port is a port monitor for measuring current flowing into or out of the port and the voltage difference between the port outlet and ground, which measurements are passed to a processing element. The processing element and monitor analyze measured values to detect fault conditions. Upon fault condition detection, the port is disabled by opening a switch, disconnecting the port from the system voltage. The processing element receives power directly from the power line, thus receiving power from a live power line even if the associated power port is disabled allowing the processing element to enable a disabled node following a failure. | 03-04-2010 |
20100202599 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING A DATA LINK BASED ON A POTS CONNECTION - In a communications system, after parties form a dial up voice telephone connection, the parties respective communications devices automatically create or leverage machine readable features or content of the telephone connection to identify the parties to each other or to a rendezvous server, and thereafter the communications devices and/or the rendezvous server automatically establishes a data link between the parties. | 08-12-2010 |
20100259375 | CUSTOMIZABLE AND RECONFIGURABLE VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT PANEL - The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel. | 10-14-2010 |
20120046166 | THERMAL MARKING SYSTEM - One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus. | 02-23-2012 |
20120162341 | THERMAL MARKING SYSTEM - One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus. | 06-28-2012 |
20120218234 | CUSTOMIZABLE AND RECONFIGURABLE VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT PANEL - The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel. | 08-30-2012 |
20130027496 | THERMAL MARKING SYSTEM - One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus. | 01-31-2013 |
20130070377 | REDUNDANT AND FAULT-TOLERANT POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAVING AN INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A power distribution and communication system includes nodes connected by power lines and communication links. The system receives power from one or more power sources. Each node contains at least one power port, data port and load port. Associated with each power port and load port is a port monitor for measuring current flowing into or out of the port and the voltage difference between the port outlet and ground, which measurements are passed to a processing element. The processing element and monitor analyze measured values to detect fault conditions. Upon fault condition detection, the port is disabled by opening a switch, disconnecting the port from the system voltage. The processing element receives power directly from the power line, thus receiving power from a live power line even if the associated power port is disabled allowing the processing element to enable a disabled node following a failure. | 03-21-2013 |
20130147772 | CUSTOMIZABLE AND RECONFIGURABLE VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT PANEL - The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147892 | THERMAL MARKING SYSTEM - One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus. | 06-13-2013 |
20130154922 | CUSTOMIZABLE AND RECONFIGURABLE VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT PANEL - The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel. | 06-20-2013 |
20130325182 | ROBOTIC ARM MODULE - A robotic arm module includes a chassis having at least one arm pod. At least one arm connected to the chassis is movable between a stowed position within the at least one arm pod and a deployed position extending from the at least one arm pod. Each arm has a gripping mechanism for gripping articles of work. An attachment structure is configured to allow a host robot to grip and manipulate the robotic arm module. An electrical interface is configured to receive electronic signals in response to a user moving remote manipulators. The electronic signals cause the at least one arm to mimic the movement of the user moving the remote manipulators. | 12-05-2013 |
20150370343 | CUSTOMIZABLE AND RECONFIGURABLE VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT PANEL - The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel. | 12-24-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140291050 | FRONT WHEEL ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM - A kinetic energy recovery system (“KERS system”) and motorcycle equipped with the same is disclosed. The KERS system may be mechanical, hydraulic, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, motorcycle includes a rear wheel, an electric motor, a motor shaft, and a front wheel equipped with a wheel hub that includes a sprag clutch. The motor shaft can be fitted with a motor drive sprocket that drives a jackshaft chain that in turn drives a jackshaft input sprocket that is fitted to the jackshaft. Jackshaft input sprocket may be installed in conjunction with a sprag clutch that allows the rear wheel to free wheel during coasting while the front wheel KERS system is engaged. The motor harvests kinetic energy from the front wheel without simultaneously powering the rear wheel while the use of a geared dead zone allows the front and rear wheels to not lock together to improve safety. | 10-02-2014 |
20140339371 | Long Range Electric Aircraft and Method of Operating Same - Electric aircraft, including in-flight rechargeable electric aircraft, and methods of operating electric aircraft, including methods for recharging electric aircraft in-flight, through the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) packs flying independent of and in proximity to the electric aircraft. | 11-20-2014 |
20160031564 | LONG RANGE ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - Electric aircraft, including in-flight rechargeable electric aircraft, and methods of operating electric aircraft, including methods for recharging electric aircraft in-flight, and method of deploying and retrieving secondary aircrafts. | 02-04-2016 |
20160107750 | AIRBORNE DRONE DELIVERY NETWORK AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - An airborne drone delivery network and method of operating same that provides an effective system to deliver items to a set number of delivery locations using drones in which the drone flight path is minimized and wherein the drones may be easily retrieved and reused for delivery of additional items. | 04-21-2016 |