Abstract: A synchronous buck regulator controller is provided. The regulator controller includes switch control circuitry, an unloading event detection circuit, an inductor current detection circuit, and a synchronous switch control logic circuit. In operation, the regulator controller controls a main switch and a synchronous switch to control the buck regulation. The unloading event detection circuit is arranged to detect an unloading event, and to assert an unloading event signal if such an event is detected. The inductor current detection circuit is arranged to assert an inductor current detection signal if the inductor current is close to zero. The synchronous switch control logic circuit is arranged to block the synchronous switch from turning on if the unloading event signal is asserted and the inductor current detection signal is not asserted.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed towards enabling information filtering using measures of an affinity of a relationship between subscribers of an online portal system. The affinity of a relationship may be determined based, in part, on the tracking of various online behaviors of and between subscribers of the portal system. Any of a variety of behaviors may be tracked, including message communications between subscribers, participation in instant messaging groups, purchases, activities, categories, and so forth. Such behaviors may be employed to determine a level of trust (or affinity) between subscribers of the portal system. This affinity measurement may be used to filter various information, including, but not limited to, product recommendations, ratings, polling queries, advertising, social network communications, personal ads, search results, and the like. Moreover, this affinity measurement may also be employed to perform message spam detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a plant for producing sulfuric acid, in which a starting gas containing sulfur dioxide at least partly reacts with molecular oxygen in at least one contact with at least one contact stage to form sulfur trioxide, and in which the sulfur-trioxide-containing gas produced is introduced into an absorber and converted there to sulfuric acid. To achieve that only small gas volumes must be supplied to the first contact stage, based on the amount of sulfur dioxide used, with at least the same capacity of the plant and by using conventional catalysts, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to supply to the first contact stage a contact gas with a sulfur dioxide content of more than 16 vol-% and with a volumetric ratio of sulfur dioxide to oxygen of more than 2.67:1.

Abstract: An extrusion head for at least one extruder including a first head part having a first joint and a second head having a second joint wherein the first head part and the second head part are pivotable with respect to each other using the respective first joint and second joint. When the extrusion head is in an operative position, the first head part rests against a first sealing face and the second head part rests against a second sealing face. A drive element is connected to the first head part and the second head part using a connecting element. The first head part and the second head part are movable using the drive element from a fixed operative position into an open rest position.

Abstract: A system and computer implementable method for updating content on servers coupled to a network. The method includes updating an origin server with a version of files used to provide content, retrieving data that indicates an action to be performed on one or more cache servers in conjunction with updating the origin server, and performing the action to update entries in the one or more cache servers. Each entry in each cache server is associated with a subset of the content on the origin server and may include an expiration field and/or a time to live field. An example of a subset of content to which a cache entry may be associated is a Web page. Cache servers are not required to poll origin servers to determine whether new content is available. Cache servers may be pre-populated using push or pull techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for providing persistence across multiple requests in a WAN load-balanced environment. More than one load balancing system may be used to provide persistence while load balancing. One method and system disclosed provides persistence by using modulus arithmetic to load balance requests. Another method and system disclosed provides persistence using topology information contained in the request. Another method and system disclosed provides persistence by storing connection information to refer a timely continuation request of a prior request to the same server the prior request was referred to. When more than one load balancing system is used with this method, the load balancing systems periodically exchange the stored connection information so that each load balancing system may provide persistence to repeat requests.

Abstract: A circuit for monitoring a PWM signal and providing an output indicating a condition of the PWM signal. The circuit also uses condition based hysteresis to maintain an output value at a previous state until the condition of the PWM signal has remained unchanged for a given duration. In addition, the circuitry may be used in conjunction with a switching regulator to reduce switching noise during high duty cycle operation.

Abstract: A game that serves to educate a player about the decision making process for determining the cost of a premium for insurance coverage for an entity. The player(s) and/or team(s) select a fictitious name for an insurance company. The company can subsequently bid on providing insurance coverage for an entity. Several rounds of bidding on insurance premiums for providing insurance coverage to an entity can be played before determining a winner of the game. A round consists of a player(s) and/or team(s) bidding on the amount to charge for an insurance premium to insure the entity for a particular period of time, such as one year. The winner of a round is the insurance company (player/team) that provides the lowest bid for the insurance premium for the particular period of time.

Abstract: An input stage for an audio power amplifier is provided. The input stage includes a fully differential amplifier and a supply-independent reference voltage generator. The supply-independent reference voltage generator provides a supply-independent reference voltage that is used as the common mode voltage of the output of the fully differential amplifier.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing automatic sign in to an Instant Messaging (IM) session on mobile device from another computing device, such as a personal computer (PC), over a network. The end-user of the PC may provide an account identifier, password, and the like, and in response, receive a cookie, that may further include the account identifier, encoded string, and the like. The end-user may then request initiation of the IM session using a toolbar selection, a script, applet, form, web page selection, and the like. As part of the request, the cookie may be provided to the server. If the request is authenticated based, in part, on the cookie information, the server uses the account identifier to locate an associated a mobile device identifier. The mobile device identifier is employed to log the end-user automatically into the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method are directed to managing text input. An image of a virtual keyboard is displayed to a user. The user enters text by using the virtual keyboard image and an input device, such as a pointing device. The image is repeatedly altered, such as by position, size, angle, or shape. One technique includes altering the image after each selection of a virtual key is made. One aspect of the invention includes determining sensitive input fields within a page and facilitating the use of the virtual keyboard for those fields. The invention can be used to improve security when the possibility of keyboard sniffers exists.

Abstract: A method and a device for tracking eye movements that ensure a reliable tracking of eye movements with simple operation. To this end, irradiation ensues through the pupil from outside the eye. Light emitted from the pupil is used to determine the position of the eye.

Abstract: A method of mounting an antenna assembly into computer apparatus including forming a mounting bracket on an interior surface of a housing of the computer apparatus, the mounting bracket including at least two upstanding surfaces defining a gap therebetween, and inserting a first portion of the antenna assembly into engagement with the mounting bracket and adhering a second portion of the antenna assembly to the interior surface.

Abstract: Video data of successive image frames are processed in a digital camera or other video image data acquisition device immediately after acquiring the video data, or during post-processing of the video data at some time after acquiring the video data, to reduce the effects of unintended motion (jitter) of the hand-held devices by stabilizing the images. A processing circuit used to calculate an estimate of motion between components of successive image frames as part of a MPEG-4 or other compression algorithm is also used to estimate motion upon which the video data are altered to stabilize the images. The individual images may be pre-stabilized by using the results of stabilizing a prior image in order to reduce the amount of processing necessary to stabilize a current image.

Abstract: A method for determining a short circuit between at least two stator laminates in an electrical machine having a rotor mounted on a shaft and a stator, includes rotating the rotor on the shaft relative to the stator so to pass a magnetic stator flux, varying over time, through the stator, determining, during the rotation, a measurement variable sensitive to a short-circuit current caused by the magnetic stator flux between the at least two stator laminates, and determining the magnetic stator flux. In addition, a theoretical model is provided describing a relationship between the magnetic stator flux and the measurement value or an auxiliary variable derived from the measurement value, and the measurement variable or the auxiliary variable is compared with the theoretical model. A device for carrying out a method for determining a short circuit is also provided.

Abstract: A control system with a simplified control device (10) for direct selection of electronic media operations, and for programmed navigation through the content without using dedicated navigation functions of a media player. The simplified control device (10) includes a limited number of keys, comprising direct-select keys (20-26) and navigation keys (30-36), which transmit programmable number key signals rather than dedicated key signals. Direct-select keys (20-26) are visually associated with icons displayed by the medial player by shape, color, and/or the like. The icons are dynamically associated with portions of content and/or software instructions stored on a medium, such as a DVD. Activating a direct-select key (20-26) cause the media player to access the associated content and/or instructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a user to access media objects, such as images, from a website without requiring the user to enter the website. In one embodiment, a search engine searches for websites that match a submitted search term. A selected URL to one of the resulting websites is submitted to a harvester that accesses a web page of the selected website and identifies a media object of the web page. The harvester determines the characteristic(s) of the media object, such as a dimension, an aspect ratio, a proximity to other media objects, etc. The harvester determines a second media object with substantially the same characteristic(s). The determined media objects, or subportions, are rendered in a client user interface. Relationships are mapped between a selected media object and projects that use the object. Manipulating a rendered portion causes a related operation on the whole media object.

Abstract: A clamp including two mutually opposed substantially L-shaped members pivotably connected to an intermediate holder supporting the side profile sections of the panel frames to be secured, wherein the two L-shaped members are pivotably interconnected via a central shaft extending through the intermediate holder and said L-shaped members are further pivotably connected to said intermediate holder via two further transverse shafts extending through respective mounting apertures in the intermediate holder.

Abstract: An information input and output device for communicating information with an information recording unit of a card, includes a card support unit that includes a card support surface for sliding the card while supporting the card from one surface side, a card end unit that includes a card end surface provided to protrude from the card support surface, and an input and output executing unit that is positioned to face the information recording unit of the card when the card is slid on the card support surface while abutting the card against the card end surface, and that executes at least one of reading of the information from the information recording unit and writing of the information to the information recording unit.

Abstract: A water dispenser including a water inlet adapted to receive water from a water supply, a water filter operative to filter water received from the water supply via the water inlet, a water outlet operative to provide filtered water received from the water filter, a water spill collector and a pivotably mounted drainage-equipped water container support having a first operative orientation underlying the water outlet and defining a downwardly inclined water spill drainage pathway communicating with the water spill collector and a second, non-operative, orientation not underlying the water outlet.