29th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 22 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090182361 | Obstruction Removal System - An obstruction removal system for percutaneous removal of clots or obstructions within the vascular system is disclosed. The obstruction removal system includes a multi-lumen catheter with a plurality of circulating capture devices occurring along a drive belt. The plurality of capture devices may be basket-like devices attached to the drive belt, or may be formed by integral coiled or protuberant sections of the drive belt. The circulating capture or interference devices affect removal of the clot or obstruction bit-by-bit through a series of passes. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182362 | Obstruction Removal System - An obstruction removal system for percutaneous removal of clots or obstructions within the vascular system is disclosed. The obstruction removal system includes a multi-lumen catheter with a plurality of circulating capture devices attached to or integral with a drive belt. The circulating capture or interference devices affect removal of the clot or obstruction bit-by-bit through a series of passes. The obstruction removal system may include one or more drive mechanisms, such as a pulley system and/or a vacuum source and/or a pressurization source, on its proximal end for driving the drive belt and capture devices through the catheter in a circulating manner. The obstruction removal system may also include one or more cleaning mechanisms, such as a vacuum chamber and/or a fluid rinse chamber, for removing the captured clot pieces from the capture devices. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182373 | Sutureless Methods for Laceration Closure - Tissue lacerations are closed using a vacuum cup applied to the tissue surface having a tissue-abutting, optically transparent mesh surface that under vacuum conforms with the tissue surface, apposing edges of the wound, and is optionally loaded with a bandage comprising a chitosan film and a collagen backing. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182374 | Surgical staple - A surgical staple for approximating tissue margins. The staple comprises a male portion which includes a first body, a first attachment portion, a male arm and a projection and a female portion separate from the male portion which includes a second attachment portion and a second body arranged to form an opening therein. The projection and the opening are configured to engage with each other and close a wound opening. The staple can be engaged to hold the tissue at varying tensions. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182375 | SUTURE FOR WOUND CLOSURE, TISSUE APPROXIMATION, TISSUE SUPPORT, SUSPENSION AND/OR FIXATION - A suture assembly includes an elongated flexible body which may be either a single filament for a multiple strand braided or woven body, supporting a plurality of shaped tissue-engaging elements in a generally spaced arrangement thereon. A curved body having a sharp point is joined to one end of the flexible body while a straight pointed body is joined to the remaining end of the flexible body. In alternate embodiments, the tissue-engaging elements define a variety of cross-section shapes. In a further alternate embodiment, the tissue-engaging elements are divided into first and second oppositely facing sets to provide a bidirectional suture. In a still further alternate embodiment, the elongated flexible body supports an elongated tissue-bonding sleeve. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182376 | Spine Stabilization System and Integrated Rod - Spine stabilization systems and integrated rods are disclosed. One spine stabilization system disclosed has at least four bone anchors and a stabilization member attached to the bone anchors. The stabilization member has first and second elongate portions interconnected by a connector portion. The first and second elongate members extend longitudinally and generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis and connector portion extends transverse to the central longitudinal axis from a first lateral end to a second lateral end. The connector portion is integrally connected to the first and second elongate portions such that there is no relative movement between the lateral ends and the respective elongate portion to which each end is attached. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182377 | IMPLANT DEVICE USED IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE FACET JOINT HEMI-ARTHROPLASTY - A metallic inverted L-shaped implant is used to resurface the superior facet of the inferior vertebrae limited to the facet joints located on the spine, Occiput-C1 through L5-S1. The metallic implant is highly polished on its exterior and textured on its interior surface. It is mechanically crimped in place without the use of cement or pedicle screws. Permanent fixation occurs when bone in-grows onto a rough, porous surface on the inside of the implant. The implant employed in a hemi-arthroplasty method resurfaces half of the facet joint to provide for smooth, pain free joint articulation in deteriorated or diseased spinal facet joints without the need for major surgery or rehabilitation at considerably less risk to the patient. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182378 | FLEXIBLE ROD FOR FIXING VERTEBRAE - A flexible rod for fixing vertebrae is connected to a vertebral fixing device in order to maintain a damaged or deformed vertebra in an original stable state and impart flexibility. The flexible rod comprises a plurality of support bars, each of which has an insertion recess that has internal threads on an open side thereof; a plurality of rings, which is disposed between the support bars and has internal threads; a spring, which has a spiral structure so as to be able to be coupled into the support bars in engagement with the threads of the support bars; and an elastic bar, which is inserted into the support bars through the center of the spring. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182379 | FLEXIBLE TIE FASTENING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an instrument for tensioning a flexible tie ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182380 | SPRING-LOADED DYNAMIC PEDICLE SCREW ASSEMBLY - An assembly that includes a fixator component, a clamping mechanism, a screw head, a load sharing mechanism, and a blocker. The fixator component further includes a bulbous end, a neck portion, and a threaded end. The clamping mechanism is positioned around the neck portion of the fixator component. The load sharing mechanism is positioned in between the screw head and the bone fixator component. The screw head further includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms, a socket and a slot. The socket is positioned between the pair of arms and the slot is positioned above the socket. The socket is dimensioned and configured to house the bulbous end of the fixator component. The load sharing mechanism provides tensile resistance to the screw head and the blocker is adapted to engage the screw head. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182381 | Spinal Osteosynthesis Device and Preparation Method - A spinal internal implantation device for osteosynthesis has one or more bars for supporting for moving the spine and at least one implant for connecting the bars and vertebrae. The implant includes a blown anchor attached to a body of the implant and a fixation arrangement for the bars. The fixation arrangement includes a clamp for clamping the bar against internal walls of a channel formed in the body of the implant. At least part of the length of the bars includes a transversal bearing structure that is a cross-section of the bars having at least one flat part of a part having a lower forepost convexity than the rest of the cross section. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182382 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR PERCUTANEOUS PLACEMENT OF SPINAL STABLIZATION ELEMENTS - Systems and methods for positioning a connecting element adjacent the spinal column in minimally invasive procedures include instruments that guide the connecting element from a location remote from one or more anchors to a location proximate to the one or more anchors. The instruments include extensions mountable to anchors, and inserter instruments mountable to the connecting element for positioning the connecting element adjacent the anchors in a minimally invasive procedure. The inserter instruments need not be mounted to the anchors or to the anchor extensions, and are operable independently thereof to position the connecting element into the patient along a minimally invasive insertion path from a location remote from the anchor extensions. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182383 | Bone fixation plate with anchor retaining member - Bone (e.g., spinal) fixation assemblies are provided that resist back out of associated bone anchors (e.g., screws). The bone fixation plate may house a bone anchor retaining member that permits partial passage of the bone anchor and subsequently resists back out of the bone anchor from the member and the bone fixation plate. In some embodiments, the bone fixation plate may include an attachable cover member that prevents the bone anchor retaining member from ejecting from the plate. In other embodiments, ejection of the anchor retaining member from the bone fixation plate may be prevented by walls integral to the plate. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182384 | MATERIAL COMBINATIONS FOR MEDICAL DEVICE IMPLANTS - The present application is directed to embodiments of a pedicle screw assembly to position an elongated member within a patient. The assembly may include a receiver with a channel sized to receive the elongated member and a chamber. The assembly may also include an anchor with a head sized to fit within the chamber. The assembly may include a compression member sized to fit within the chamber and include a first side that contacts against the head and a second side that contacts against the receiver. At least one of the receiver, anchor, and compression member may be constructed of a first material, and at least one of the receiver, anchor, and compression member may be constructed of a second material. The first and second materials may include different moduli of elasticity to prevent deformation of the assembly. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182385 | PEDICLE SCREW - A screw, comprising a head, and a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a first threaded shaft portion; a second threaded shaft portion disposed contiguous to said head; and a middle shaft portion disposed between said first threaded shaft portion and said second threaded shaft, wherein said middle shaft portion is an irregular form. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182386 | SPINAL TISSUE DISTRACTION DEVICES - Spinal tissue distraction devices that include a member which has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion between tissue layers and a deployed configuration in which the member, by change of configuration, forms a support structure for separating and supporting layers of spinal tissue. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182387 | Energy-enhanced health-promoting glove structure - An energy-enhanced health-promoting glove structure is disclosed, wherein a glove body is provided with an energy-generating material that is distributed on at least one surface of the glove body at different densities and over different extents in accordance with a distribution density of acupuncture points on a human hand and requirements in selecting the acupuncture points on the hand, so that stimulating and regulating effects of various strengths can be produced at different meridians and acupuncture points of the hand. In addition, the glove body remains perfectly soft in areas that need not produce such effects and therefore provides a more comfortable wearing experience. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182388 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system is described, including a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating a data signal describing the measurement, and a processor configured to analyze the data signal and identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient. The implantable medical device further includes a first non-rechargeable battery configured to power at least the sensor and the processor. In addition, a first communications unit is configured to be powered by the first non-rechargeable battery and includes a wireless transmitter capable of establishing a first communications link with a host computer using an external local receiver, when said first wireless transmitter is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local receiver, to deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer. The implantable medical device also includes a second rechargeable battery and a second communications unit powered by the second rechargeable battery. The second communications unit is capable of establishing a second communications link with said host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a cell phone network, to deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182389 | MRI DETECTOR FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device with an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core is described. The device incorporates a core saturation detector for detecting saturation in the inductor core indicating the presence of a magnetic field such as produced by an MRI scan. The device is configured to alter its behavior when core saturation is detected such as by entering an MRI mode that may include cessation of therapy, fixed-rate bradycardia pacing, and/or disablement of tachyarrhythmia therapy. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182390 | DELIVERY OF CRT THERAPY DURING AT/AF TERMINATION - In some embodiments, a method for operating a cardiac rhythm management device may include one or more of the following steps: (a) sensing atrial depolarizations through an implanted atrial electrode, (b) administering a sequential CRT pacing therapy in a sequential CRT pacing mode to a left and right ventricle of a heart of a patient via implanted ventricular electrodes in a sequential bi-ventricular fashion, (c) switching from the sequential CRT pacing mode to a simultaneous CRT pacing mode, (d) administering a simultaneous CRT pacing therapy in the simultaneous CRT pacing mode to the left and right ventricle in a simultaneous bi-ventricular fashion, (e) analyzing the sensed atrial depolarizations to detect the presence of an atrial arrhythmia, (f) analyzing the sensed atrial depolarizations while in the sequential CRT pacing mode to detect the presence of atrial arrhythmia, and (g) sensing ventricular depolarizations of the left and the right ventricle. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182391 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR APPLYING NEURAL STIMULATION TO A PATIENT - Systems and methods for neural stimulation may include a stimulus unit; a first electrode assembly having a first set of contacts; and a second set of contacts. The stimulus unit can be an implantable pulse generator including a first terminal that can be biased at a first signal polarity and a second terminal that can be biased at a second signal polarity. The first electrode assembly includes a support member configured to be placed at the stimulation site, the first set of contacts carried by the support member, and a first lead configured to be attached to the first terminal of the implantable pulse generator for biasing the surface contacts at the first polarity. The second set of contacts is detached from the surface electrode assembly. The second set of contacts can be one or more conductive elements fixed to or forming portions of the implantable pulse generator, or a separate electrode array. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182392 | Thermoelectric power supply - A thermoelectric power source for generating power for use by at least one load device is disclosed. The thermoelectric power source comprises: an implantable thermoelectric unit comprising at least one thermoelectric device configured to be electrically coupled to said at least one load device; and at least one impedance matching device constructed and arranged to match an output impedance of said thermoelectric device with an input impedance of said load device. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182403 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLANTING ELECTRONIC IMPLANTS WITHIN THE BODY - An apparatus includes an implant delivery device configured to deliver an implant into a body. The implant delivery device includes a target member, an insertion member and an electronic circuit system. The target member has a distal end portion configured to be disposed within the body adjacent a target location. The insertion member is movably coupled to the target member. A distal end portion of the insertion member is configured to be disposed within the body and selectively coupled to the implant. The electronic circuit system is configured to produce an electronic signal in proportion to a distance between the distal end portion of the target member and the distal end portion of the insertion member when the target member and the insertion member are disposed within the body. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182404 | BIODEGRADABLE SELF-EXPANDING DRUG-ELUTING PROSTHESIS - Disclosed herein is a biodegradable prosthesis that includes a first end, a second end, and an elongate tubular body with a lumen therethrough. The prosthesis has a first outer layer with a drug delivery element that may include polyphosphoester microspheres. The prosthesis also can have a second layer comprising a set of flexible interbraided bioabsorbable filaments. Also, the prosthesis can have a third inner layer comprising a porous thermoplastic material. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182405 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEPLOYING AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE WITHIN THE BODY - The present invention provides systems and methods for deploying implantable devices within the body. The delivery and deployment systems include at least one catheter or an assembly of catheters for selectively positioning the lumens of the implant to within target vessels. Various deployment and attachment mechanisms are provided for selectively deploying the implants. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182406 | BIFURCATED STENT DELIVERY SYSTEM - The present invention is drawn to a system and/or device for deploying a stent at a bifurcation. In one embodiment, the system and/or device for deploying a stent at a bifurcation may include a dual balloon catheter may include an elongate catheter body. Some dual balloon catheters may have a first proximal balloon and a second balloon bonded to at least a portion of the elongate catheter body. In some cases, a guide wire port may be positioned between the first and second balloons. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182407 | LUER OR CLAMP-TYPE SUTURE RELEASE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LOADING AND DELIVERING A STENT - An assembly for delivering a self-expanding stent within a body lumen is includes a self-expanding stent, a delivery catheter for delivering the stent, a transfer member removeably engagable with a distal end of the delivery catheter, and an elongate filament for manipulating the stent through the passage of the transfer member. The delivery catheter includes an elongate flexible shaft having a stent holder at its distal end for restraining axial movement of the stent when the stent is disposed within a hollow cylindrical passage of an elongate tube moveably disposed over a portion of the shaft, and a handle secured to the proximal end of the flexible shaft. The elongate filament is releasably secured to the stent, and the ends of the filament are accessible at the handle to permit movement of the stent within the device by manipulation of the filament. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182408 | Selective Coating of a Balloon Catheter with Lubricious Material for Stent Deployment - A predetermined arrangement of differentially lubricious areas on a balloon catheter for controlling against unexpected movement of a stent carried thereon when in situ in the body. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182409 | STENT WITH SELF-DEPLOYABLE PORTION HAVING WINGS OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS - The present invention provides methods and devices for placement of a stent in a bifurcation or ostial lesion. The stent comprises a main body and a flaring portion. The main body is designed to expand and support a main vessel of the bifurcation and defines a main body axis. The flaring portion is disposed on a side of the main body and is adapted to flare radially and offset the main body axis in response to expansion of the main body. The flaring portion comprises at least one distal wing and at least one proximal wing. Each wing is aligned along the main body axis. The at least one proximal wing is longer than the at least one distal wing, providing greater coverage of the proximal side of the side vessel than on the distal surface of the side vessel. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182410 | EXCHANGEABLE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR EXPANDABLE PROSTHETIC DEVICES - Exchangeable delivery systems, methods of making delivery systems, and methods of delivering a self-expandable prosthetic device are provided. Delivery systems according to embodiments of the invention include an elongate tubular member defining a passageway with a distal end defining an exchange port, and a distal tip member disposed at least partially within the distal end of the passageway. A pusher is disposed in the passageway to effect axial movement of the distal tip member. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182411 | PLEATED DEPLOYMENT SHEATH - A deployment sheath for medical devices is provided that includes one or more pleats in its pre-deployment state that are allowed to open during deployment so as to facilitate easier device deployment and sheath removal. Preferably, the sheath is removed by everting it over itself during the delivery process. By orienting the pleats along the length of the sheath, preferably helically around the sheath, the sheath undergoes a predictable enlargement during deployment so as to relieve friction of the everted sheath sliding along itself during deployment. This allows the sheath to be removed with less tension than previous everting sheath constructions and assures more accurate device placement in a patient. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182412 | EXPANDABLE STENT DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH OUTER SHEATH - According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an improved hot balloon catheter delivery system for shape memory tubular stents is disclosed. An outer sheath is provided on the delivery system that facilitates stent placement on a balloon during delivery through an endoscope. In one embodiment, the stent may be positioned between radiopaque markers/electrodes and the balloon may be heated. The stent may be prevented from moving proximally relative to the catheter as the delivery system is tracked through the patient's anatomical passageways. The outer sheath may be positioned to ride over the proximal cone of the hot balloon catheter and abut the proximal end of the stent to facilitate proper alignment of the balloon for deployment. Upon deployment of the stent in an appropriate position, the sheath may be pulled away from the stent to expose the proximal cone of the balloon and thereby allow balloon and stent expansion. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182423 | CRYSTALLINE LENS CAPSULAR SUPPORT DEVICE FOR USE IN A SURGICAL PROCEDURE ON A HUMAN EYE - Presented is a device for use in a surgical procedure on an eye. The device includes a thin layer of membrane made with biocompatible materials, and shaped with curved posterior portion, curved anterior portion, like the shape of a human crystalline lens capsule bag. The front portion has a circled opening. A number of closed haptics could attach to the equator portion of the device. This device is to support the lens capsule after cataract surgery, or any other typed of eye surgery. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182424 | Bioerodible self-deployable intragastric implants - Described herein are bioerodible, biodegradable, or digestible self-deploying intragastric implants that may be swallowed. Once swallowed, the implants undergo self-expansion in the stomach and apply a suitable pressure against the stomach wall to provide a feeling of satiety to the individual. The implants then dissolve or are disassembled perhaps using gastric liquids and pass out of the stomach. Methods of using the devices, perhaps for an individual participating in a dietary control regimen, are described. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182425 | Sheet or Tubular Structure Consisting of Elastic Biocompatible Material and its Use - The present invention relates to a sheet or tubular structure consisting of biocompatible material, which is elastic and comprises at least one biologically active substance in at least one region and to a sheet or tubular structure, which comprises at least one biologically active substance release-modifying agent in at least one region as well as an implant covered at least partially by the sheet or tubular structure of the invention. The present invention further provides a method and an apparatus for producing, and preferably customizing and/or optimizing, the sheet or tubular structure of the invention. The sheet or tubular structure of the invention can be customized/optimized before implantation in the operating room. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182426 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH ANTENNA - An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system is described including a sensor, a processor, and a first communications unit. The first communications unit can deliver notification of significant events to a host computer using a short-range telemetry first communications link. A second communications unit can deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer over a second communications link, which is over a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a cell phone network. The device includes an antenna that is operatively connected to both the first and second communications units. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182427 | VERTEBROPLASTY IMPLANT WITH ENHANCED INTERFACIAL SHEAR STRENGTH - Methods and devices for augmenting bone, such as in performing vertebroplasty are disclosed. A bone implant with enhanced interfacial shear strength can include a container, such as a mesh bag, with a sidewall and an interior chamber portion. The sidewall can include an open-celled matrix and can be filled with a first media to promote bone ingrowth and enhanced interfacial shear strength. The interior chamber can be filled with a second media to prevent crack propagation. Delivery catheters with releasable coupling features to the implant are also disclosed. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182428 | FLANGED INTERBODY DEVICE - An interbody implant including a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion positioned opposite to the first lateral portion, a top wall having a plurality of holes, a bottom wall positioned opposite to the top wall, and teeth positioned on the top wall and the bottom wall. The top wall and the bottom wall are attached to the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion. The first lateral portion further includes at least one flange surface and the second lateral portion further includes an opening. The at least one flange surface may be configured to couple to a peripheral wall of the vertebral body and may be adapted to provide at least one of a torsional property, an axial property, and a shear property to the implant. The teeth may be adapted to provide a mechanical interlock between the implant and vertebral endplates of the vertebral body. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182429 | Total joint Replacement - An artificial vertebral joint for interposition between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra comprises a pair of bilateral joint subcomponents. Each joint subcomponent includes a superior component including a superior vertebra engaging surface and an inferior component including an inferior vertebra engaging surface. Each joint subcomponent further includes a spacer extending between the superior component and the inferior component. The spacer includes a first modulus of elasticity and a second modulus of elasticity. The first modulus transitions to the second modulus with a gradient change. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182430 | DYNAMIC INTERBODY - An intervertebral implant includes a body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a transverse fastener hole. The body includes a dynamic fixation mechanism for seating a fastener in the fastener hole and translating the fastener relative to the implant to accommodate subsidence of the implant. In one embodiment, an implant includes a transverse slot with an elongated seat for translating a seated fastener relative to the implant. In another embodiment, an implant includes a displaceable sliding member for translating a fastener relative to the implant. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182431 | Spinal Interbody Fusion Cages Providing Variable Anterior/Posterior Profiles - A spinal interbody fusion cage has a body whose anterior/posterior profile may be varied through angular positioning of one or more articulating segments of the body without changing the superior/inferior height of the body. The present spinal interbody fusion cage has N segments or sections wherein at least one segment is articulated relative to another segment via a connection point, pivot or pivot structure such that the anterior/posterior profile is variable through angular positioning of one or more of the segments. The pivot structure may be configured so as to allow unidirectional movement between the connecting segments thereby allowing articulation in one plane or to allow omni-directional movement between the connecting segments thereby allowing articulation in multiple planes. The various forms of the present interbody fusion cage include superior and inferior sides or bone abutment surfaces that have serrations, teeth or similar functioning structures (teeth). The teeth extend between the anterior end and the posterior end. The teeth may take different shapes but are configured to allow insertion of the spinal interbody fusion cage in an anterior-first manner while preventing and/or inhibiting the spinal interbody fusion cage from backing out posteriorly. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182432 | Artificial disc implant - An artificial disc implant includes an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer therebetween. The spacer preferably has properties similar to that of a natural spinal disc, while the upper and lower shells form a rigid interface between the implant and the adjacent vertebral bodies. The upper and lower shells can be configured to prevent expulsion of the spacer from the disc space. The implant upper and lower shells may further be configured into partially cylindrical shapes for ease of insertion through an insertion tube as presently known for interbody fusion devices. The devices may further be configured for insertion through a double-barreled insertion tube. Methods and instruments for inserting an artificial disc implant are also provided. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182453 | Robot for participating in a joint performance with a human partner - For a joint performance of a dialogue between a human partner and a robot, the robot analyzes phrase and action of the partner to detect a recognized behavior of the partner and analyzes a state of audience listening to utterances from the partner and the robot to detect a recognized state of the audience. A scenario describing the dialogue is stored in entries of a memory. The memory is successively referenced entry by entry and a check is made for a match between an utterance by the partner or the robot to a reaction from the audience. Responsive to a currently detected audience state, a corresponding robot behavior is determined. Preferably, possible partner's behaviors and expected audience states are mapped in a database to specified robot behaviors. The database is searched for a specified robot behavior corresponding to a currently sensed partner behavior or a currently sensed audience state. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182454 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELF-CALIBRATION OF A SUBSTRATE HANDLING ROBOT - A substrate-handling robot which serves a processing tool such as a plating tool may be automatically controlled by a controller to perform a self-calibration procedure. As part of the procedure, an end effector of the robot is moved to interact with sensors provided on a calibration fixture that is positioned in a substrate placement location for which the calibration procedure is performed. The calibration fixture may have an opening formed therein to allow movement of the robot end effector within the calibration fixture. Sensor light beams generated by the sensors may interact with the end effector during the automatic calibration process so as to determine calibration data for the substrate placement location. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182455 | SYSTEM FOR INSTANTLY AND REMOTELY MANAGING ASSETS OF AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT - A system for instantly and remotely managing assets of air conditioning equipment is provided, which is applied to remote air conditioning equipment for processing instant network asset monitoring and asset management of the air conditioning equipment via network system. The system is characterized by providing instant control and management over operational state of the controlled air conditioning equipment, thus achieving objective of instant and remote control over air conditioning equipment asset, and further achieving objective of decreasing operational cost. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182456 | PROGRAMMING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING AN AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT - A programming control system for adjusting an air conditioning equipment is provided, which include an air conditioning control unit for being activated according to a preset time period, the air conditioning control unit to execute adjustment of the air conditioning equipment based on corresponding preset control parameters; accordingly, the programming control system for adjusting an air conditioning equipment is capable of adjusting the air conditioning equipments to a preferable usage state, thereby achieving objective of providing a conformable temperature as well as saving energy consumption. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182457 | PROTECTION GAS CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NON-SEALED PROCESS CHAMBER - The present invention relates to a protection gas control method and a protection gas control apparatus for a non-sealed process chamber. The protection gas control method comprising steps of: activating a protection gas control apparatus while coupling a protection gas to a plurality of throttle valves; defining an opening time for each of the throttle valves; setting up a first target value and a second target value related to the oxygen concentration in a chamber; heating up the chamber; determining whether a processing apparatus is in operation; determining whether an inlet/outlet for the chamber is opened; opening all the throttle valves for a pre-determined period of time; closing at least one of the throttle valves if the oxygen concentration in the chamber is smaller than or equal to the first target value; closing at least one of the throttle valves; determining whether the oxygen concentration in the chamber is smaller than or equal to the second target value; closing at least one of the throttle valves; keeping the number of throttle valves that are opened; and stopping supplying the protection gas when the temperature of the chamber is lower than a pre-determined temperature. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182458 | Method for Deactivating at least one Control Part of a Converter Device - The invention relates to a method for deactivating at least one control part ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182459 | Temperature controlling device of heating element and method thereof - A kind of temperature controlling device of heating element and method thereof detect the actual temperature of heating body of the heating element, and calculate the descending gradient and frequency of temperature based on the detected actual temperature. The norm signal is formed based on the actual temperature, descending gradient and frequency of the temperature to control the switch power as to achieve the split second control for the electric power of the heating element. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182460 | System and method for adjusting machine parameters - A system for adjusting machine parameters based on a skill level of an operator comprises a personal area network (PAN)-compatible electronic control module (ECM) located on a machine. The system also includes a PAN-compatible communication device associated with an operator of the machine. The PAN-compatible communication device is configured to receive information indicative of the skill level of the operator. The PAN-compatible communication device is also configured to establish a wireless communication link with the PAN-compatible ECM and transmit the information indicative of the skill level of the operator to the PAN-compatible ECM. The PAN-compatible ECM is configured to adjust an operational aspect of the machine based on the information indicative of the skill level of the operator of the machine. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182461 | Electric Wiring System of a Motor Vehicle with an Authentication Apparatus - An electric wiring system of a motor vehicle with several control devices that communicate with each other via a data bus, and with an immobilizer is provided. In order to create an electric wiring system of a motor vehicle that includes an immobilizer with high reliability the immobilizer includes at least a first and a second control device from the plurality of control devices and an authentication apparatus, in particular an authentication control device. The authentication information of the plurality of control devices is supplied via the data bus to the authentication apparatus. The authentication cancels the immobilizer of the vehicle when the authentication information transmitted from the first and the second control device corresponds to the authentication information expected for the particular control devices. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182462 | Method and system to accelerate aircraft wheels before touch-down - This invention improves the previous art to accelerate an aircraft's wheels before landing to avoid skidding in that it shows how to (1) provide adequate power by using the compressed air and gases of the jet engine, (2) rely on existing information from onboard systems to precisely control wheel spin and (3) integrate the propulsion device into the wheel structure. The invention minimizes the additional weight necessary to rotate the wheels of a landing aircraft, limits the aerodynamic impact and allows the use of existing tires without modifications. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182463 | HYBRID VEHICLE POWERTRAIN CONTROL METHOD - A method for controlling a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, a battery that is rechargeable using at least one of the engine and the motor/generator, and a powertrain control module (PCM) includes determining a current location of the vehicle as a starting point of a preferred route, recording a user-selected ending point of the preferred route, and processing route information using the PCM to thereby determine an optimally fuel efficient route for reaching the ending point. The method includes automatically executing the powertrain control strategy over the optimally fuel efficient route by substantially depleting a charge level of the battery as the vehicle travels over the optimally fuel efficient route such that the charge level of the battery is depleted when the vehicle reaches the ending point. When the ending point is not recorded, the PCM can default to a charge-sustaining mode. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182464 | Method and apparatus for planning path of mobile robot - The apparatus includes a coarse map creating unit creating a coarse map which includes path information of the mobile robot; and a virtual door extracting unit extracting virtual doors which divide the coarse map into a plurality of sub regions, where the mobile robot sequentially cleans the sub regions one by one. The method includes creating a coarse map which includes path information of the mobile robot; extracting virtual doors which divide the coarse map into a plurality of sub regions; and sequentially cleaning the sub regions one by one. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182465 | DAMAGE DETECTION SYSTEM - A damage detection system for a vehicle, a machine, and/or another type of structure may comprise a processor, and a plurality of connected transmitters communicatively connected to the processor. The plurality of connected transmitters may be adapted to be attached directly to a vehicle, a machine, and/or another type of structure. The plurality of connected transmitters may each be independently configured to only send a coded damage signal to the processor when at least one neighboring transmitter is damaged, and not to send a damage signal to the processor if no neighboring transmitter is damaged. The processor may be programmed to identify a vehicle location of any transmitter which sends a damage signal indicating that at least one neighboring transmitter is damaged. The damage detection system may analyze the damaged area and report potentially affected sub-systems to users of a vehicle, machine, or other structure equipped with the damage detection system. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182466 | VEHICLE POWERTRAIN, CONTROLLER THEREOF, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE POWERTRAIN - When a hybrid ECU determines that a malfunction in which a moment-adding flywheel cannot be connected to an engine occurs, an engine ECU controls a rotational speed of the engine to a value higher than that in a normal operation. Further, when the hybrid ECU determines that a malfunction in which the moment-adding flywheel cannot be disconnected from the engine occurs, a control is executed so that a ratio of a torque of a first motor to a torque of the engine is higher than that in the normal operation. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182467 | Indicating a Low Volume of Fluid in a Transmission Sump - A method for sensing a volume of fluid located in an oil sump of a motor vehicle transmission includes repetitively determining a rate of change of a temperature of the oil, repetitively determining an acceleration of the vehicle, counting the number of occurrences in which said acceleration is greater than a reference acceleration and said rate of change of the temperature is greater than a reference rate of change of temperature, and producing an indication that the volume of fluid is low, if said number is greater than a reference number. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182468 | Understeer/Oversteer Correction for All Wheel Drive Vehicle - A method for correcting an understeer/oversteer condition of an all wheel drive vehicle ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182469 | Adjustable Mirror System - A mirror system facilitates the viewing of an area of a roadway rearwardly and to the side of a vehicle, for example, prior to changing lanes or direction in a roadway. To do so, in response to a user command, the mirror moves from a first position providing the driver with a first view of the roadway adjacent to the vehicle to a second position providing the driver with a second, different view of the roadway adjacent to the vehicle. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182470 | LAWN MOWER WITH WEIGHT TRANSFER MECHANISM - A lawn mower or other vehicle having a weight transfer mechanism to selectively transfer weight of a front-mounted mower or other attachment from the attachment to the drive wheels of the vehicle to improve traction in the drive wheels. The weight transfer mechanism may include a generally horizontal linear actuator applying a generally horizontal force to a weight transfer linkage. The weight transfer linkage may include a pivotable member mounted to the front of the vehicle, the pivotable member pivoting under the influence of the horizontal force to bear more or less of the attachment weight. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182471 | LAWN MOWER WITH WEIGHT TRANSFER CONTROL SYSTEM - A lawn mower or other vehicle having a pitch sensor for sensing a pitch condition of the lawn mower with respect to a horizontal level plane and generating a pitch signal corresponding to the pitch condition. The vehicle includes drive wheels, and has a front-mounted mower or other attachment at least partially supported by attachment wheels. The vehicle also includes a weight transfer assembly, and a controller that receives the pitch signal from the pitch sensor and automatically actuates the weight transfer assembly to adjust the portion of the attachment weight borne by the drive wheels and attachment wheels. Operation of the pitch sensor and controller may be overridden by an operator through a weight transfer switch or dial in the operator zone of the vehicle. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182472 | REAL-TIME, BI-DIRECTIONAL DATA MANAGEMENT - An example method for real-time bi-directional data management includes receiving a requested data list from a field application, receiving an available data list from a data source, and subscribing to available data by mapping the available data list to the requested data list, the available data having a first data format and a first protocol and including a first context identifier for identifying a portion of data. The method further includes modifying the available data have a second data format and a second protocol, the modified data including the first context identifier, and performing a field operation based on the modified data to generate processed data, the processed data including the first context identifier. The method further includes modifying the processed data to generate second modified data having the first data format and the first protocol, the second modified data being stored in the data source. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182483 | Method and device for controlling a self-igniting internal combustion engine - A method for controlling a self-igniting internal combustion engine includes: specifying a target combustion position; determining at least one actual combustion position of at least one cycle of the internal combustion engine; specifying a computing model for calculating a following combustion position as a function of the at least one actual combustion position; calculating the following combustion position using the computing model; comparing the calculated following combustion position with the specified target combustion position; and determining at least one operating quantity for operating the internal combustion engine for at least one cycle as a function of the comparison of the calculated following combustion position with the specified target combustion position. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182484 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND CONTROL UNIT - A method for operating an internal combustion engine, especially an internal combustion engine that is operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition, in which, at an abrupt change in load and/or at a changeover between an operating mode with auto-ignition and an operating mode without auto-ignition, a parameter of the combustion process correlating with the combustion noise is adapted stepwise over a plurality of combustion cycles from a first parameter value before the abrupt change in load or the changeover to a second parameter value after the abrupt change in load or the changeover, by influencing a combustion position of the combustion process. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182485 | METHOD FOR REGULATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND CONTROL UNIT - A method for regulating an internal combustion engine that is operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition and a combustion process of which is influenced by a manipulated variable, the method includes the steps of determining a desired value of a combustion position feature of the combustion process; determining the manipulated variable by predictive closed-loop control based on a modeling of the combustion position feature as a function of the manipulated variable in the combustion process; and determining, as the manipulated variable, a value at which the difference between the desired value of the combustion position feature and a model-based predicted combustion position feature is minimized. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182486 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A method and a device are provided for operating an internal combustion engine, which make possible an improved characteristics curve correction of an actuator in an air supply of the internal combustion engine. In the process, an air mass flow supplied to the internal combustion engine is influenced via the actuator in an air supply. For the setting of an actuating position of the actuator having a specified, e.g., minimum, air mass flow, starting from a specified actuating position, the actuator is moved by an offset value of the actuating position. The offset value of the actuating position is corrected as a function of an offset value for the air mass flow. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182487 | METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A LOOKUP TABLE AND A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN INJECTOR OF A CYLINDER IN A COMBUSTION ENGINE - A method for adjusting a lookup table that includes preset on-time values for an injector of an engine linked to fuel injection quantity values (δ). The following steps are executed in a situation when the output shaft of the engine is disconnected from the output shaft of the gearbox. A torque loss value (T | 2009-07-16 |
20090182488 | Temperature Sensor Diagnostics - A system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle includes an emission control device in an exhaust stream of the engine; an exhaust gas oxygen sensor coupled upstream of the emission control device; a temperature sensor coupled adjacent the emission control device; and a controller coupled to the exhaust gas oxygen sensor and the temperature sensor, the controller identifying degradation of the temperature sensor responsive to the exhaust gas oxygen sensor during lean operation, where the controller operates the exhaust gas oxygen sensor in a temperature sensing mode to identify the degradation of the temperature sensor. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182489 | INTAKE AIR TEMPERATURE (IAT) RATIONALITY DIAGNOSTIC WITH AN ENGINE BLOCK HEATER - A first method is suitable for vehicles having an ambient temperature sensor and employs an estimation model configured to estimate a minimum start-up engine coolant temperature (SUECT) if the engine block heater was operated during the previous soak period. A measured SUECT is then compared to estimated minimum SUECT from the model, and if it is higher, then the diagnostic logic concludes that the engine block heater was operated during the soak period, and disables the reporting its test results. A second method is suitable for vehicles without an ambient (soak) temperature sensor employs an alternative approach. Predetermined data based on actual vehicle testing over a wide range of conditions is stored in a data structure. The data describe respective minimum and maximum start-up IAT thresholds versus SUECT. The thresholds are spaced apart to define a start-up IAT window in between. In other words, the window is bounded by minimum and maximum start-up IAT thresholds. For any measured SUECT, a particular window will be set. If the measured start-up IAT falls within the window, then the engine block heater was operated during the soak period. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182490 | Exhaust gas oxygen sensor monitoring - An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust system, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system and a sensor malfunction monitor. The sensor malfunction monitor measures a rate of change of a signal from the sensor on detecting a turning point of the signal and detects a malfunction when a rate of change of the signal exceeds a threshold. Alternatively, the sensor malfunction monitor measures a response time interval starting from a point in time at which a diagnostic function begins to force an air-fuel ratio to change (e.g., from lean-to-rich or rich-to-lean) and ends at a point in time when a turning point of the signal is detected. The sensor malfunction monitor detects a malfunction when the delay time of the response time interval, or average delay time from a plurality of measured response time intervals, exceeds a time threshold. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182491 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FILTERING A DISTURBED CYLINDER PRESSURE SIGNAL FROM A CYLINDER IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - For at least one disturbance variable of the cylinder pressure signal, which disturbance variable occurs only during specific limited time spans as the pressure profile of an operating cycle, a filter tuned to the type of disturbance variable is fixed and is assigned to the corresponding disturbance variable time window or windows ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182492 | Adaptive Navigation System for Estimating Travel Times - An estimated travel time for a route generated by a navigation system can be modified using a route-specific, custom travel factor computed from data collected by the navigation system while the user is traveling the route. In one aspect, the data can be stored in a local or remote database accessible by the navigation system. The data can be used to classify routes so that custom travel factors computed for a route in a given class can be used to estimate travel times for other routes in the same class. In another aspect, the classified custom travel factors can be shared with other users. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182493 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH APPARATUS FOR DETECTING ACCURACY FAILURES - A navigation system for a vehicle having a receiver operable to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of transmitters includes a processor and a memory device. The memory device has stored thereon machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to determine a set of error estimates corresponding to delta pseudo-range measurements derived from the plurality of signals, determine an error covariance matrix for a main navigation solution, and, using a solution separation technique, determine at least one protection level value based on the error covariance matrix. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182494 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH APPARATUS FOR DETECTING ACCURACY FAILURES - A navigation system for a vehicle having a receiver operable to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of transmitters includes a processor and a memory device. The memory device has stored thereon machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to determine a set of pseudo-range measurements derived from the plurality of signals, employing at least one Kalman filter process, determine from the measurements an error covariance matrix for a main navigation solution, and using a solution separation technique, determine at least one protection level value based on the error covariance matrix. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182495 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH APPARATUS FOR DETECTING ACCURACY FAILURES - A navigation system for a vehicle having a receiver operable to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of transmitters includes a processor and a memory device. The memory device has stored thereon machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to determine a set of error estimates corresponding to delta pseudo-range measurements derived from the plurality of signals, determine an error covariance matrix for a main navigation solution, and, using a parity space technique, determine at least one protection level value based on the error covariance matrix. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182496 | Map information delivery server, map information delivery system and method for delivering map information - A map information delivery server includes: a memory that receives a travel record of a vehicle transmitted from an in-vehicle communication device of the vehicle, and stores the travel record; an update unit that obtains a new map data from an external information media; an extraction unit that specifies an updated portion of the new map data; and a transmitter that transmits a road data to the in-vehicle communication device of the vehicle. The road data is a part of the updated portion of the new map data, and relates to the travel record of the vehicle. Thus, the server delivers the updated map data without driving on the same road if the vehicle has driven on the road in the past. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182497 | Navigation system, in-vehicle navigation apparatus and center apparatus - In a communication type navigation system, a center apparatus receives a present position and destination from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus and thereby calculates a route by searching map data, which is constantly updated. The in-vehicle navigation apparatus receives the calculated route with course information from the center apparatus. When approaching a passing point included in the route, the navigation apparatus displays the course information in the travel direction in superimposition on a forward image around the passing point. The route guide can be thus appropriately performed to follow an actual road state. The above configuration of the system helps prevent problems in costs and workloads resulting from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus holding map data therein. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182498 | Systems and Methods to Provide Navigational Assistance Using an Online Social Network - Systems and methods to provide navigation assistance and user content sharing via an online social network. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a data processing system, includes: receiving user data content tagged with navigational information, from a plurality of users of an online social network; receiving a request from a first user of the online social network to navigate between a starting location and an ending location; and in response to the request, calculating a navigation route between the starting location and an ending location using the user data content tagged with the navigational information. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182499 | Method and apparatus for augmented reality shopping assistant - An augmented reality shopping system in one embodiment includes a store communication network, a memory including program instructions for receiving a product location request, associating the received request with product information stored in a product database, determining the location of the product within the store, receiving shopper location information, determining a route between the determined location of the product and the shopper location based upon the shopper location information, generating route rendering data based upon the determined route, and transmitting the route rendering data through the store communication network. The system further includes a processor operably connected to the store communication network and to the memory for executing the program instructions and a mobile display device operably connected to the processor through the store communication network for rendering an overlay image using the transmitted route rendering data. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182500 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY DOWNLOADING AND DISPLAYING MAP DATA - Dynamically downloading map data to a wireless communications device is achieved by determining a map data density for an area of interest and then dynamically downloading and optionally also dynamically displaying the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density. For areas of interest with low map data density, this technology has the effect of downloading more map data so that the map is displayed with more detail than would conventionally be obtained. Conversely, for areas of interest with excessively high map data density, dynamic downloading and display can reduce the onscreen map density for a less crowded map. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182501 | USING A SHAPE-CHANGING DISPLAY AS AN ADAPTIVE LENS FOR SELECTIVELY MAGNIFYING INFORMATION DISPLAYED ONSCREEN - A method of displaying information on a display of a handheld electronic device includes steps of determining a target area onscreen to be visually magnified and causing a shape-changing zone of the display to change shape in the target area to visually magnify information displayed in the target area. The array of shape-changing zones on the touch-sensitive display can be independently actuated to form a magnifying lens over any onscreen object of interest. For example, this lens can be used to magnify a selected portion of a map, a portion of text or a specific point of interest. The lens can be used to magnify a route displayed on a map, or simply to zoom in on the current location of the device as displayed onscreen. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182502 | REFINING A POSITION ESTIMATE OF A LOW EARTH ORBITING SATELLITE - In a method for refining a position estimate of a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite a first position estimate of a LEO satellite is obtained with a GNSS receiver on-board the LEO satellite. The first position estimate is communicated to a Virtual Reference Station (VRS) processor. VRS corrections are received at the LEO satellite, the VRS corrections having been calculated for the first position estimate by the VRS processor. The VRS corrections are processed on-board the LEO satellite such that a VRS corrected LEO satellite position estimate of the LEO satellite is generated for the first position estimate. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182523 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONNECTION TEST ON PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD - A connection test apparatus includes a controlling section, controlling each connection test device to switch the operation mode between the first and the second modes such that a first connection test device among the connection test devices is in the first mode and the remaining connection devices are in the second mode, and controlling a signal generating circuit to output the connection test signal; and a judging section judging, on the basis of the response signal that the first connection test device outputs in response to the connection test signal, a state of connection of a first connector connected to the first connection test device and a first net including the first connector among the nets. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182524 | System and method of event detection - A system and method of event detection is disclosed. The technology involves prequalifying an input signal received from an environmental monitoring device for a specific frequency band. The input signal is compared to a database of reference signals each having an associated event frequency range, and conditioned to generate a conditioned signal with a refined frequency spectrum when the comparison results in a match. The conditioned signal is then utilized to identify at least one event attribute corresponding to an event associated with the input signal, and the identified event attribute is outputted. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182525 | EXPLOSIVE DEVICE COUNTERMEASURES - A method and system for mitigating the effectiveness of IEDs are disclosed. The method can include detecting IEDs by sensing the presence of a non-linear electronic component of an IED. The presence of a non-linear electronic component of the IED can be detected by illuminating the device with a high power microwave signal containing a plurality of radio frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and receiving sum and/or difference frequency components that are produced by interaction of the illuminating signals with a non-linear IED component and subsequently re-radiated. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182526 | GUIDING IR TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE WITH PROBE COVER - The invention relates to an Infrared (IR) thermometer including an IR detector configured to provide an IR emission data representative of a temperature of an area of tissue. The IR thermometer also includes one or more secondary sensors configured to provide an IR thermometer positioning data. At least one microcomputer is configured to receive the IR thermometer positioning data from one or more secondary sensors. The at least one microcomputer is configured to run an algorithm to convert the IR thermometer positioning data to an IR thermometer positioning indication, wherein the IR thermometer positioning indication suggests a direction to move the IR thermometer for a substantially optimal IR detector view of the area of tissue. The invention also relates to a guiding means including a positioning sensor and a display of IR thermometer positioning information, and a method for positioning an IR thermometer. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182527 | GENERAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An information management system is intended for management of digitally represented information which is associated with absolute positions on an imaginary surface ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182528 | ANALYZING SURFACE STRUCTURE USING SCANNING INTERFEROMETRY - A method includes comparing a scanning interferometry signal obtained for a location of a test object to each of multiple model signals corresponding to different model parameters for modeling the test object, wherein for each model signal the comparing comprises calculating a correlation function between the scanning interferometry signal and the model signal to identify a surface-height offset between the scanning interferometry signal and the model signal and, based on the identified surface-height offset, calculating a height-offset compensated merit value indicative of a similarity between the scanning interferometry signal and the model signal for a common surface height. The method further includes, based on the respective merit values for the different model signals, determining a test object parameter at the location of the test object. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182529 | DETERMINING SIGNAL QUALITY OF OPTICAL METROLOGY TOOL - A method, system and computer program product for determining a signal quality of an optical metrology tool are disclosed. A method comprises: collecting a data pool regarding measurements of a target made by the optical metrology tool, the data pool including a wavelength of incident light used in a measurement; and statistically analyzing the data pool to obtain a wavelength specific signal quality of the optical metrology tool. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182530 | NOISE SEPARATING APPARATUS, NOISE SEPARATING METHOD, PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTION SEPARATING APPARATUS, PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTION SEPARATING METHOD, TESTING APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - There is provided a noise separating apparatus that separates a probability density function of a predetermined noise component from a probability density function of a signal under test. The noise separating apparatus includes a domain transforming section that is supplied with the probability density function of the signal under test and transforms the probability density function into a spectrum in a predetermined variable axis, and a standard deviation computing section that computes standard deviation of a random component of noise contained in the signal under test based on a magnitude of a predetermined variable component in a main lobe of the spectrum. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182531 | LOGGING MECHANISM FOR AN INTELLIGENT TRANSMITTER MODULE - An optoelectronic device having an intelligent transmitter module (“ITM”) includes a mechanism for logging operational information regarding the ITM. The optoelectronic device includes a microcontroller and a persistent memory. The microcontroller is configured to identify the operational information, and write log information representing the operational information to the persistent memory. The operational information may include statistical data about operation, or may include measured parameters. Log entries may be made periodically and/or in response to events. The log may then be evaluated to determine the conditions under which the ITM has historically operated. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182532 | MONITORING UNIT FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES - The invention relates to a monitoring unit for photovoltaic modules, wherein the modules are designed for a direct conversion of radiation energy, such as e.g. solar energy, into electric energy, and the system is designed function monitored, wherein each photovoltaic module ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182533 | REMOTE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE - Diagnostic events can be collected on electronic devices at geographically distributed service centers and transmitted to a remote (e.g., network-based) diagnostic service. The diagnostic service can aggregate and analyze the diagnostic events to determine, for example, one or more possible causes of the diagnostic events, and can provide information or guidance to users and/or service personnel for characterizing, resolving or explaining the diagnostic events. In one aspect, log files of diagnostic events captured on devices are sent to the diagnostic service. For each log file, the diagnostic service can compute frequencies of recorded diagnostic events. The computed frequencies can be compared against accepted and/or expected values generated from reference data. The diagnostic service can respond to users and/or service personnel with information or guidance for resolving, characterizing or explaining the diagnostic event based on a result of the comparisons. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182534 | ACCURATE MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS - Described is a technology that improves the quality of data collected during computer system monitoring for subsequent analysis via dynamic adjustment, prediction, and/or elapsed collection time considerations. An interval is computed from an actual iteration start time and a desired interval; a subsequent data collection iteration occurs after a sleep time based on the computed interval. The sleep time may be based on an elapsed data collection time that accounts for delays in collecting the data, and/or based on a prediction obtained from historical data such as past iteration start times. When recorded, the elapsed data collection times may be used as a measure of error and/or for estimating an actual read time for a given iteration's counter read, as well as to estimate a number of processor time slices taken to collect the data, which may be used in the time estimate and/or in the measure of error. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182535 | ACCESSORY VALIDATION SYSTEM - Circuits, methods, and apparatus for testing media player accessories. One example includes an accessory validation system including hardware, firmware, and software. This example provides two test modes, referred to a sniff mode and an emulation mode. In the sniff mode, a test box may be inserted between an accessory and a media player. Traffic between the accessory and media player may be monitored and the presence of errors may be determined. In the emulation mode, the accessory validation system hardware emulates a media player. The emulator provides various types of responses to the accessory that would otherwise occur infrequently with an actual media player. The tests to be completed in these modes are compiled based on the category of functions that an accessory maker wishes to claim for the accessory. These category claims are then converted into a number of rules. From these rules, specific tests are generated. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182536 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING PROBABILITIES OF EVENTS - A dual adaptive importance-sampling system and method is provided that can estimate the probability of events by combining dual complementary importance-sampling simulations. The present invention exploits the ability to determine an optimal biased pdf using an iterative procedure that requires relatively little a priori knowledge of how to bias. Hence, the present invention is particularly suited for evaluating the BERs and/or WERs of coded communication and storage systems, and is generally applicable to arbitrarily chosen codes. When applied to coded communication and storage systems, the present invention provides a versatile technique for the fast and accurate estimation of BERs and WERs of FEC codes down to values of 10 | 2009-07-16 |
20090182537 | Simulation system for a construction crane and the simulation method thereof - A simulation method and a simulation system for a construction crane are disclosed. The simulation system includes an input device, a processing device, and a display device. The input device is used for inputting an instruction. Furthermore, the processing device includes a computation unit, a collision detection unit, a storage unit, and a graphic unit. The computation unit is used for computing the position and the direction of each part of the construction crane and the suspension parts. The collision detection model is used for detecting whether each part of the construction crane and the suspension parts will be in collision. Besides, the data obtained from the simulation method performed in the simulation system is saved in the storage unit. The graphic unit displays the 3D dynamics images of the construction crane and the suspension parts on the display device, corresponding to the data obtained from the computation unit. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182538 | MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMUM DESIGN SUPPORT DEVICE USING MATHEMATICAL PROCESS TECHNIQUE, ITS METHOD AND PROGRAM | 2009-07-16 |
20090182539 | MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMAL DESIGN SUPPORT DEVICE, METHOD AND PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - An objective function can be mathematically approximated using a prescribed number of sample sets of design parameters and sets of a plurality of objective functions computed corresponding to them. A logical expression indicating a relation between or among arbitrary two or three objective functions of the plurality of mathematically approximated objective functions is computed as an inter-objective-function logical expression and a region that the arbitrary objective function values can take is displayed as a feasible region in an objective space corresponding to the arbitrary objective functions. Furthermore, a point or area in a design space corresponding to arbitrary design parameters corresponding to a point or area specified by a user in the displayed feasible region is displayed. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182540 | INPUT DECK MIGRATOR FOR SIMULATORS - An example method for performing an operation includes obtaining an input deck of a first simulator, the input deck being prepared based on field data for performing a simulation of the operation using the first simulator. The method further includes migrating the input deck from the first simulator to generate input for a second simulator, the second simulator being configured to simulate the operation based on the input to generate a simulation result. The method further includes storing the simulation result in a repository. | 2009-07-16 |