Abstract: An adjustable polyaxial tissue retractor includes a retraction bar including a plurality of etched teeth, a retraction blade coupled to the retraction bar, a connector including a quick release component cavity and an outwardly protruding and expandable round bulbous body, a quick release component engaged with at least one tooth of the retraction bar via a retraction bar cavity, where the quick release component is configured to loosely mate with the quick release component cavity, a saddle pin engaged within the connector via a first channel bored through the connector and contacting the bulbous body causing the bulbous body to outwardly expand, and a base including a plurality of embedded sockets and directly connected to the bulbous body, where the base receives the connector.

Abstract: A method of TMCC information acquisition in an ISDB-T/TSB receiver comprises detecting coarse frequency offset in the receiver to identify bins that have TMCC information; and acquiring TMCC and symbol number information from the identified bins. The detecting process may be conducted using different methods and the acquiring process may be conducted using different methods. The TMCC information acquisition method saves memory space and provides enhanced performance by using coarse frequency offset to identify the bins that have TMCC information and obtaining the TMCC and symbol number information from the identified bins.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for identifying make and model, and other features of a communication device using the MAC ID, profile name and services offered on the communication device. Also, disclosed herein is a method of building a database where a range of MAC IDs is mapped to a particular make and model, and other features of communication devices. On obtaining the MAC ID of a communication device, the make and model, and other features of the device can be identified. Such information may be used to tailor content according to the capabilities of a communication device.

Abstract: A system to enclose communication wiring of electronic devices includes a box; a power cover plate; a cover frame; a cover plate; and a low voltage connector plate attached to the power cover plate, wherein the power cover plate, the cover frame, and the cover plate attach to the box, wherein the low voltage connector plate and the power cover plate are substantially aligned in a line, wherein the cover frame and the cover plate are substantially aligned, and wherein the box simultaneously houses telephone electrical connection components, power electrical connection components, and data electrical connection components. The cover plate may be substantially flush with a wall upon installation. The box may comprise an enclosed section connectively hinged to the box. The system is preferably made of metal, plastic, or combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless mesh network comprises generating a pseudorandom sequence element in a transmitting device and a receiving device of the network using information shared by the transmitting and receiving devices. The pseudorandom sequence element is then used to calculate a communication channel/timeslot assignment for communication between the transmitting wireless device and the receiving wireless device.

Abstract: A radio frequency wide band amplifier having a noise that does not exceed a threshold value, and a linearity better than a threshold value. The radio frequency wide band amplifier architecture includes a first stage amplifier and a second stage amplifier. The second stage amplifier includes an input source resistor (Rin) that receives an input voltage signal, a feedback resistor (Rfb) directly connected to the input source resistor, a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor directly connected to the input source resistor. The PMOS transistor receives an output from the input source resistor. A n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor directly connected to the input source resistor. The NMOS transistor receives an output from the input source resistor. A lumped output resistor (Rout) that receives an output from the feedback resistor, the PMOS transistor, and the NMOS transistor. A terminal of the lumped output impedance is connected to ground.

Abstract: Address generation for interleaving in a wireless communication system includes at least one input generation module to generate at least one input signal. A first address generator module and a second address generator module generate a first output address for interleaving and a second output address for interleaving. A selector module selects an address for interleaving from the first and the second output address based on predetermined criteria. At least one input translation module is receives an input signal and translate the received input signal to generate a nominal input signal based on a value of the received input signal. An address generation module generates an address for interleaving based on the nominal input signal.

Abstract: A method and assembly for tightening a locking element in an orthopedic implant comprises a ratcheting mechanism that includes a shaft portion and a sleeve portion operatively connected over the shaft portion. The assembly further includes a first handle or wrench operatively connected to the shaft portion and a second handle or wrench operatively connected to the sleeve portion. The method comprises aligning the ratcheting mechanism over the orthopedic implant; operatively connecting the first wrench to the shaft portion; operatively connecting the second wrench to the sleeve portion; rotating the second wrench counter-clockwise to establish a position for leverage; holding the first wrench in a firm position; and rotating the second wrench clockwise while the first wrench is held in the firm position.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the throughput of a RS decoder in MediaFLO™ receivers. A MAC de-interleaver RAM architecture allowing operation of parallel RS decoders comprises of four equal portioned memory banks, a codeword buffer for data correction, and a higher bit width RAM. The method of increasing throughput of RS decoder by minimizing RAM access and clock frequency includes increasing the bit width of the de-interleaver RAM, using parallel RS decoder cores for decoding received data, partitioning a 4-bank RAM and ECB allocation scheme, and correcting the data using intermediate buffers. The architecture enables on-chip implementation of the MAC de-interleaver RAM and RS decoders with reduced power consumption and provide higher RS decoder throughput.

Abstract: A total facet arthroplasty system and method of assembling a longitudinal member therein comprises a first pedicle screw assembly configured in a monoaxial position, wherein the first pedicle screw assembly comprises a first opening; a second pedicle screw assembly configured in a polyaxial position, wherein the second pedicle screw assembly comprises a second opening; and a longitudinal member attaching the first pedicle screw assembly to the second pedicle screw assembly such that the longitudinal member is mounted through the first and second openings, wherein the first opening is positioned in an orientation other than parallel with respect to the second opening. The longitudinal member comprises an angled orientation other than 180° or a whole factor thereof.

Abstract: A mechanism for fixing a spinal support to vertebrae includes a support member and a pedicle screw component. The support member comprises an elongated end comprising a longitudinal axis. A hook connects to the elongated end and receives the vertebrae. The hook is angled in three different planes with respect to the longitudinal axis. A connector section connects the elongated end to the hook and is angled with respect to the elongated end and comprises a thickness less than a thickness of the elongated end. The pedicle screw component comprises a fixation component anchored in the vertebrae. The fixation component comprises a socket; a screw head comprising a bulbous end that fits into the socket; and a channel that receives the elongated end. A pin causes outward expansion of the bulbous end; and a blocking mechanism is attached to the screw head and adjacent to the elongated end.

Abstract: A technique for iterative decoding between turbo and Reed Solomon (RS) decoders for improving bit error rate (BER) and packet error rate (PER) in a receiver in a wireless communication system comprises receiving data samples comprising turbo encoded packets and RS code words at the receiver; decoding turbo encoded packets of the received data samples using a turbo decoder; decoding RS code words of the received data samples using a RS decoder; feeding the RS decoded data to turbo decoder to perform a plurality of iterations; and correcting data errors present in the received data samples.

Abstract: Estimating a current location of a receiver in a MediaFLO™ (Forward Link Only) mobile multimedia multicast system comprises receiving digital signals comprising a MediaFLO™ superframe comprising orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols; performing slot 3 processing of each medium access control (MAC) time unit of a data channel to identify a transmitter identity (TxID) of each transmitter; identifying corresponding geographical coordinates of each TxID; regenerating the digital signals for each of the transmitters using a local-area differentiator (LID) and a wide-area differentiator (WID) of the transmitters; dividing the digital signals by the corresponding regenerated transmitted signal to obtain channel estimates between the receiver and the corresponding transmitters; detecting a first peak in the channel estimates to determine a distance between the receiver and the corresponding transmitters; calculating a time difference of arrival of the digital signals; and estimating a current loca

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reducing a channel switching delay in TDM mobile television systems, and comprises receiving a data burst associated with channels for reception on a RF channel bandwidth received on a mobile television receiver, wherein the data burst comprises a plurality of RTP packets and a RTCP packet; buffering the data burst upon reception of a first RTP packet; synchronizing the buffered data burst to allow for reception of playable A/V data; and adjusting the synchronized buffered data burst upon reception of the RTCP packet. The method may further comprise performing the synchronizing upon reception of the RTCP packet. The method may further comprise inserting a null packet in the data burst prior to performing the buffering. The first RTP packet is preferably received prior to reception of the RTCP packet.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including a protecting element with a p-n junction which can be formed in the same process as that of a p-channel junction FET while the junction FET is formed in simple manufacturing process is provided. In the method of manufacturing semiconductor device composed of compound semiconductor having a p-channel FET and protective element, an n-type channel layer 2, n+-type contact layer 3, n-type semiconductor layer 5, p-type channel layer 7, p+-type contact layer 8 are laminated on a substrate 1 to form a semiconductor laminate portion 10. A portion of the semiconductor laminate portion 10 is removed by etching to expose the n+-type contact layer 3 and gate electrode 13 of a junction p-channel FET 22 is formed on the surface of the exposed n+-type contact layer 3. A protective element 23 is formed by a portion of the semiconductor 10.

Abstract: Identifying a trigger point of at least one OFDM decoder includes correlating a first time-domain sample of the at least one OFDM symbol with a second time-domain sample of the at least one OFDM symbol, processing the first time-domain sample and the second time-domain sample in the first moving average filter to determine a channel impulse response, comparing at least one correlation value of a first biggest path in the channel impulse response and a second biggest path in the channel impulse response, and determining a channel length of the channel impulse response based on a time duration of the channel impulse response. The OFDM decoder includes a first moving average filter and a second moving average filter.

Abstract: An interbody fusion implant with deployable bone anchors includes a support member, a monolithic body that accommodates the support member, and a longitudinal hole along a vertical length of the support member. The support member includes a first end and a second end. The second end includes two flanges. The flanges are configured to dig into an endplate of a vertebral body. The flanges of the support member provide a location fixation on an implantation of the interbody fusion implant into the vertebral body. The support member may also include at least one of a clip shaped support member and an I-shaped support member. The I-shaped support member may allow a rigidity and a support in flexion-extension through a living-hinge positioned in a middle of the I-shaped support member. The longitudinal hole sustains loads imported on the interbody fusion implant and allows the interbody fusion implant to flex freely.

Abstract: A method of estimating a coarse frequency offset in a receiver includes providing at least one candidate frequency offset in Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols having transmission and multiplexing configuration control (TMCC) bins and auxiliary channel (AC) bins, modulating the TMCC bins and AC bins using differential binary phase shift keying (DBPSK) modulation, estimating a phase difference between a first symbol and a second symbol for the candidate frequency offset of the TMCC and AC bins to obtain a resulting phase difference, correcting the resulting phase difference based on a difference between the candidate frequency offset and a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) center bin to obtain a corrected phase difference, mapping the corrected phase difference to numeric numbers, and adding the numeric numbers for the candidate frequency offset to obtain a summation result. The numeric numbers correspond to at least one of +1 or ?1.

Abstract: A modified classical Viterbi decoder which can take extrinsic information and output hard decisions. A modified Viterbi decoder is provided comprising a branch metric unit, the unit having a calculator; and a processor adapted to compute a revised branch metric by combining the initial branch metric and an additional weight parameter. The modified classical Viterbi decoder computes a branch metric by summing an initial branch metric and the additional weight parameter.

Abstract: Transmitting data in a digital video broadcasting for handheld (DVB-H) receiver comprises a transport stream (TS) demultiplexer adapted to extract internet protocol (IP) datagrams from TS data packets; a packet identifier (PID) filter adapted to extract the TS data packets based on the PIDs of the TS data packets; a Multi Protocol Encapsulation-Forward Error Correction (MPE-FEC) random access memory (RAM) unit operatively connected to the TS demultiplexer; a Reed-Solomon decoder operatively connected to the MPE-FEC RAM unit; an IP to TS encapsulator operatively connected to the MPE-FEC RAM unit; a TS multiplexer operatively connected to each of the PID filter and the IP to TS encapsulator, wherein the TS multiplexer is adapted to combine both DVB-Terrestrial (DVB-T) and DVB-H TS data packets into a single combined TS data packet; and a host interface operatively connected to the TS multiplexer.