Abstract: A variety of types of molecules are detected and/or analyzed using an integrated micro-circuit arrangement. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a micro-circuit arrangement detects excitable target markers in response to an excitation source. The excitation source emits a first electromagnetic radiation to excite one or more target markers into emitting a second electromagnetic radiation. The excitation source and detector combination can be optimized to detect a specific characteristic of a biological specimen. In this manner, an excitation source can be combined with several optical-detectors or detection channels, where each optical-detector is measuring or sensing the same or different characteristic of the biological specimen.

Abstract: A telephony communications approach implements an autodiscover feature that enables an endpoint device to automatically locate and establish communication with a desirable server in a web of interconnected servers. In one specific example implementation, the endpoint device is an internet-type telephone communicating with a remotely-located server in an internet-based private branch exchange. Various packet-communicating endpoint devices are adapted to communicate with the internet-based private branch exchange by adapting each to automatically broadcast its identity and, in response to receiving an assignment for the appropriated iPBX, establish communication with the internet-based private branch exchange from other packet-based servers. Other aspects of the invention are directed to approaches for distinguishing the desired internet-based private branch exchange from the other packet-based servers and implementations for assigning the appropriate iPBX.

Abstract: A deferred-type payment approach facilitates transaction card management and processing. According to an example embodiment, a user's transaction card purchases are authorized against a purchase limit associated with a consideration-bearing (e.g., interest-bearing) account. The purchases are tracked and, at the end of a billing cycle, provided to the user via a statement or other informative approach. During a payment time period after the end of the billing cycle, the user is afforded an opportunity to review tracked purchases and provide funds to cover the purchases. If the user does not provide funds for the purchases during the payment time period, funds are automatically transferred from the consideration-bearing account to cover the purchases at the end of the payment time period. In this regard, purchases made with the transaction card against the consideration-bearing account are not assessed against the consideration-bearing account until after the billing cycle has ended.

Abstract: Characteristics of a chemical or biological sample are detected using an approach involving light detection. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an assaying arrangement including a light detector is adapted to detect light from a sample, such as a biological material. A signal corresponding to the detected light is used to characterize the sample, for example, by detecting a light-related property thereof. In one implementation, the assaying arrangement includes integrated circuitry having a light detector and a programmable processor, with the light detector generating a signal corresponding to the light and sending the signal to the processor. The processor provides an output corresponding to the signal and indicative of a characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: Approaches to operating a multi-user, multi-carrier communication system involve allocating a target bit rate across user channels and subchannels to adjust the power. The target bit rate is allocated among subchannels of the user channels as a function of system power associated with the subchannel bit rate allocation. The target bit is allocated among user channels of the communication system as a function of system power associated with the user bit rate allocation. The power allocation for each user channel is determined based on the bit rate allocation.

Abstract: Accounting data is classified to facilitate transaction processing and management. According to an example embodiment, data based rules are implemented for classifying transaction-related data into accounting categories. Accounting information is processed as a function of the data based rules and accordingly automatically classified. This processing involves, for example, the identification of particular data based rules to apply to the accounting information, applying the rules and processing the information accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient's heart includes placing a first electrode and a second electrode in a right ventricle of the heart. A reference electrode is placed within the patient and internal or external to the heart. A pacing signal is generated including a first signal component, a second signal component and a reference component with the first and second signal components having opposite polarity and with both of the first and second components having a potential relative to the reference component. The first component is transmitted to the first electrode. The second component is transmitted to the second electrode. The reference electrode is connected to the reference component which may be an electrical ground. The pacing signal and the placement of the electrodes are selected to alter a contraction of a left ventricle of the heart.

Abstract: Negative differential resistance devices are implemented to facilitate current flow under different operating conditions. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an NDR device is arranged for selective passage of current through relatively high tunneling efficiency regions and relatively low tunneling efficiency regions. In some applications, a gate is used to accumulate carriers to facilitate the passage of current that is predominantly one of tunneling current and generation current, respectively, by controlling the passage of current through a relatively high tunneling efficiency region and a relatively low tunneling efficiency region. In some implementations, the NDR device is arranged to mitigate leakage in a storage device using a two-terminal connection.

Abstract: Bypassing loading of memory in accessing large data objects in a relational database. A relational database may include a plurality of first type data items and associated second type data items. In response to an update-type access request, requester memory is bypassed in writing to the relational database a second type data item referenced by a file location specified in the update-type request. In response to retrieve-type request, requester memory is bypassed in reading from the relational database a second type data item referenced in the retrieve-type request and writing the second type data item at a file location specified in the retrieve-type request.

Abstract: Optical signals are passed in an optical medium using an approach that facilitates the mitigation of interference. According to an example embodiment, a filtering-type approach is used with an optical signal conveyed in an optical fiber, such as a multimode fiber (MMF) or a multimode waveguide. Adaptive spatial domain signal processing, responsive to a feedback signal indicative of data conveyed in the multimode waveguide, is used to mitigate interference in optical signals conveyed in the multimode waveguide.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods are disclosed for identifying errors in program code. Respective numbers of observances of at least one correctness rule by different code instances that relate to the at least one correctness rule are counted in the program code. Each code instance has an associated counted number of observances of the correctness rule by the code instance. Also counted are respective numbers of violations of the correctness rule by different code instances that relate to the correctness rule. Each code instance has an associated counted number of violations of the correctness rule by the code instance. A respective likelihood of the validity is determined for each code instance as a function of the counted number of observances and counted number of violations. The likelihood of validity indicates a relative likelihood that a related code instance is required to observe the correctness rule. The violations may be output in order of the likelihood of validity of a violated correctness rule.

Abstract: A communications arrangement that provides multiple levels of security is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of seedable code generators is configured to generate different sets of codes. A plurality of CDMA encoders are respectively coupled to the code generators, and each encodes input data using the set of codes generated by the coupled code generator. A plurality of CDMA decoders are similarly arranged for decoding input data. A node controller provides respective input seeds to the code generators and provides respective sets of codes from the code generators to paired encoders and decoders. An interconnect combines encoded data from the encoders into an output signal and transmits the output signal. An input signal received by the interconnect interface is provided to each decoder.

Abstract: Single-crystalline growth is realized using a liquid-phase crystallization approach involving the inhibition of defects typically associated with liquid-phase crystalline growth of lattice mismatched materials. According to one example embodiment, a semiconductor device structure includes a substantially single-crystal region. A liquid-phase material is crystallized to form the single-crystal region using an approach involving defect inhibition for the promotion of single-crystalline growth. In some instances, this defect inhibition involves the reduction and/or elimination of defects using a relatively small physical opening via which a crystalline growth front propagates. In other instances, this defect inhibition involves causing a change in crystallization front direction relative to a crystallization seed location.

Abstract: A vehicle wash and wax system (10) comprising a liquid coating dispensing station (11) and a waterfall dispensing station (20) to dump a continuous sheet of fluid (25) onto the liquid coating on the surface of the vehicle (30). The waterfall dispensing station (20) has a tank structure (21) with a weir member (32) to form the continuous liquid sheet dump (25). Chemical agents, such as optical brighteners, dyes and a carnauba wax emulsion may be introduced in the waterfall dispensing station (20) for the continuous liquid sheet dump.

Abstract: Transaction management for contract and contract-related approaches is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management computer is programmed to automatically set contract terms for a transaction based on business rules previously established between parties to a transaction. In one implementation, the transaction management node automatically derives a contract term including a pricing-related term for a transaction between a buyer and seller using contract information therefor. In one instance, previously-agreed-upon price approaches, such as fixed pricing, seller-controlled pricing, quantity-related tiered pricing and pricing management schemes are stored and used by the transaction management node to automatically derive the prices. With these approaches, pricing disputes that can occur after a transaction has been processed are reduced and/or eliminated.

Abstract: Amplifier circuits and methods are implemented using a variety of different embodiments. According to one such embodiment, an amplifier circuit is implemented to amplify a first signal to drive an output load. The circuit has a field-effect transistor (FET) with a gate, a source and a drain. A switch arrangement is coupled to the gate, the source and the drain. State control logic provides state information for a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first switch arrangement connects the first signal to the gate and connects the drain and source to reference voltages. In the second state, the switch arrangement disconnects the first signal from the gate, connects the drain to a voltage supply and connects the source to the output load, thereby causing the FET to operate in source-follower mode.

Abstract: Security systems and methods are implemented using a variety of devices and methods. According to one such implementation, a security system uses a controller to communicate with security-monitoring devices and has an integrated image-capture device comprising a circuit board structure having an angle-setting support article, a circuit board with a nonadjustable surface, and data-communicating electrical conductors. A camera is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a first angle relative to the nonadjustable surface. A motion detector is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a second angle relative to the nonadjustable surface of the circuit board. The support article sets the first angle relative to the second angle for capturing both images and motion in a target area. A data-communication circuit communicates data from the camera and the motion detector via the data-communicating electrical conductors and wirelessly communicates the data to the controller.

Abstract: According to one example embodiment, an integrated security arrangement detects unwanted intruders in a facility. The arrangement includes an intrusion sensor to sense an intrusion at a target area of a facility, a second sensor to sense movement, an image-capture device, and a base unit. The image-capture device captures images in response to an intrusion indication from the intrusion sensor and in response to a movement indication from the second sensor. The base unit integrates a direction of view of the second sensor and of the image-capture device, thereby directing the second sensor to sense in the target area in which the images are captured by the image-capture device.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube devices are manipulated in a manner that is useful for a variety of implementations. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, light (632) is used to photodesorb molecules from a carbon nanotube (620).

Abstract: Various approaches for generating input data for simulating a circuit design are disclosed. In one approach, a test generator program is generated from a main program that uses a test generator class library. The test generator class library includes a software driver class corresponding to the hardware driver, and the software driver class includes a storage class corresponding to each memory within the hardware driver, a first set including at least one method for writing function codes to a first object of the storage class, and a second set including at least one method for writing data to a second object of the storage class. Function codes are written to the first object of the storage class in response to a call by the test generator program to a method in the first set.