Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing diffusion-based image extrusion. According to one embodiment, a three dimensional model is created by polygonizing an input image to produce an inflatable image. The input image may be either a 2D image or icon or a 3D image or icon. The set of pixels making up the input image are represented as a plurality of polygons. Then, an initial value is assigned to a z-coordinate of each pixel in the set of pixels. After polygonizing the input image to create the inflatable image, the inflatable image is extruded by applying a biased image-based diffusion process to generate appropriate z-coordinate values for a reference point associated with each polygon of the plurality of polygons. In various embodiments, an end-user may be provided with the ability to interactively change one or more parameters associated with the inflatable image and/or the diffusion process.

Abstract: Various different approaches are provided for conversion of analog signals to digital signals. For example, various partially clocked, multi-step analog to digital converters are discussed. Such analog to digital converters include a clocked fine conversion stage, a clocked coarse conversion stage, and a clock circuit. The fine conversion stage includes a first group of comparators clocked by a first clock and a second group of comparators clocked by a second clock. The first group of comparators is operable to compare an input voltage with a first fine reference voltage range, and the second group of comparators is operable to compare the input voltage with a second fine reference voltage range. The coarse conversion stage includes a group of clocked comparators that are operable to compare the input voltage with a coarse reference voltage range. The clock circuit selectably asserts one of the first clock and the second clock based at least in part on an output of the second conversion stage.

Abstract: An apparatus to separate components of a solid feedstock is described. The apparatus may include a threaded shaft that has a plurality of reaction zone segments along the length of the shaft that are separated from each other by dynamic plug segments. The threads of the shaft have a first thread pitch in the reaction zone segments, and a second thread pitch in the dynamic plug segments. The apparatus may also include a motor to rotate the shaft, and an outlet coupled to a second end of the shaft, where one or more solid components of the solid feedstock exit the apparatus through the outlet. The apparatus may additionally include a feeder to supply the solid feedstock to the threaded shaft, and a pump to provide a rinse fluid to the threaded shaft, where the rinse fluid flows in the opposite direction of the solid feedstock along the shaft.

Abstract: Passive replication methods and systems to facilitate fault tolerance in a network routing system are provided. In one embodiment, a fault associated with a processing engine (PE) of a network routing system is detected by monitoring the health of the network routing system PEs. Responsive to detecting a fault (e.g., a link failure, a failure of a virtual router (VR) or a failure of the PE): VRs that were operating on the PE prior to detection of the fault are identified; configuration information (e.g., a set of command lines in a configuration file) associated with the identified VRs is identified; and the identified VRs are dynamically recreated on a new PE based on the configuration information. For example, a command line interface engine may replay the command line set with a new slot ID and a PE ID of the new PE to recreate the VRs on the new PE.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, circuits and methods that allow for switching between two or more multiphase clocks. As one example, a system for switching between multiphase clocks is disclosed. The system includes a multiphase clock multiplexer. The multiphase clock multiplexer receives a first multiphase clock and a second multiphase clock. The first multiphase clock includes at least a first phase clock and a second phase clock, and the second multiphase clock includes at least a third phase clock and a fourth phase clock.

Abstract: Methods are provided for discovering nodes participating in a ring network. According to one embodiment, a ring controller receives a packet containing an arbitration token. If the arbitration token does not arrive within a preselected network timeout period, then the ring controller generates an arbitration token. If the packet contains an arbitration token, then the ring controller checks to see if it was modified by a higher priority node and if not, sets itself as the master node. For each discovery marker in the packet, the ring controller saves topology information associated with the discovery marker. The ring controller adds to the packet a first discovery marker when the packet does not contain a first discovery maker, wherein the first discovery marker includes topology information associated with the node. Finally, the ring controller sends the packet to a next node in the network.

Abstract: Various different approaches are provided for conversion of analog signals to digital signals. For example, various analog to digital converter circuits capable of converting an input voltage to a digital representation thereof are discussed. Such analog to digital converter circuits include at least a first comparator and a second comparator. An input of the first comparator is electrically coupled to a first storage device, and another input of the first comparator is electrically coupled to the input voltage. An input of the second comparator is electrically coupled to a second storage device, and another input of the second comparator is electrically coupled to the input voltage. The analog to digital converter circuits further include a reference voltage generation circuit that provides the first reference voltage to the first storage device, and subsequently provides the second reference voltage to the second storage device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits that provide for conversion of analog signals to digital signals. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide pipelined analog to digital converters. Such converters include a sub-converter and a residue amplifier. The sub-converter receives an analog input, and provides a digital representation of the analog input including a number of bits. A gain of the residue amplifier is controlled by selectably setting a group of switches. Each of the number of bits output from the sub-converter electrically controls a respective one of the switches.

Abstract: A computerized method for managing interworking protocols applies policies that aid in provisioning a first interface, having a first protocol, a transport network having a second protocol, a virtual circuit within the transport network; and a second interface, having the same protocol as the first.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits that provide for conversion of analog signals to digital signals. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide methods for performing analog to digital conversions that include providing an analog to digital converter with a residue amplifier that is associated with a first capacitance set that includes a first feedback capacitor and first set of input capacitors, and a second capacitance set that includes a second feedback capacitor and second set of input capacitors. The methods further include performing a first sample of an analog input voltage by charging the first set of input capacitors from the analog voltage input during a first period; amplifying the first sample during a second period; performing a second sample of the analog input voltage by charging the second set of input capacitors from the analog voltage input during a third period; and amplifying the second sample during a fourth period.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining redundant master control blade management information in switch. According to one embodiment, a network operating system (NOS) is executed on processor elements of a switch. A distributed messaging layer channel is created among a dynamic set of control blades intercommunicating within the switch. Master control blade management information is maintained on a master control blade. Redundant master control blade management information is maintained on one or more standby control blades by performing bulk updates and flash updates to the redundant master control blade management information and the standby control blades periodically performing a consistency check against the redundant information. The bulk updates are triggered by dynamic events. The flash updates are triggered by individual changes to a global database. If the consistency check fails, then the standby control blade requests a bulk update from the master control blade.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for routing traffic through a virtual router-based network switch. According to one embodiment, a method for routing packets in a router includes establishing a flow data structure, which identifies a packet flow through a virtual router in the router. When a packet is received, a comparison is performed between a subset of at least one packet header associated with the packet and a subset of the flow data structure. If the subset of the packet header matches the subset of the flow data structure, then the packet can be hardware accelerated to a network interface. Otherwise, the packet may be either dropped or forwarded to a general purpose processor for processing.

Abstract: This document describes, among other things, a router providing service-enabled multicast forwarding for a flow-based architecture. Services are enabled using inbound/outbound policies from Access Control Lists (ACLs). In a first mode, per-flow services are not enabled, and flows are aggregated for efficiency. In a second mode, per-flow services are enabled, and control information for an outbound interface (OIF) is shared across all multicast flows that do not have per-flow service enabled. A flow management scheme for these modes allows dynamic multicast membership updates while reducing disruption of active flows. This supports a large multicast OIF list and a high rate of multicast “Joins” and “Leaves”. This provides scalability and performance, such as desired for deploying multicast for broadband subscriber applications.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for providing head location feedback are disclosed herein. For example, one system includes an interface circuit that is operable to receive an information stream retrieved from a magnetic storage medium. The magnetic storage medium includes one or more tracks that each include a plurality of sectors. The sectors include burst information that can be utilized to aid in positioning a read/write head assembly over a magnetic storage medium. The systems further include a multiple sector error detection circuit. The multiple sector error correction circuit is operable to phase align samples of a burst obtained from one sector with samples of a burst obtained from another sector. An amplitude of each of the bursts is determined, and the determined amplitudes are combined. The combined amplitudes correspond to a position error of the read/write head assembly relative to the magnetic storage medium.

Abstract: Human cystathionine ?-synthase variants are disclosed, as well as a method to produce recombinant human cystathionine ?-synthase and variants thereof. More particularly, the role of both the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of human CBS has been studied, and a variety of truncation mutants and modified CBS homologues are described. In addition, a method to express and purify recombinant human cystathionine ?-synthase (CBS) and variants thereof which have only one or two additional amino acid residues at the N-terminus are described.

Abstract: A system and method of managing a switch includes installing a switch having a plurality of processor elements, installing an operating system on each processor element, creating a system virtual router and configuring the processor elements from the system virtual router.

Abstract: A flexible, scalable hardware and software platform that allows a service provider to easily provide internet services, virtual private network services, firewall services, etc., to a plurality of customers. One aspect provides a method and system for delivering security services. This includes connecting a plurality of processors in a ring configuration within a first processing system, establishing a secure connection between the processors in the ring configuration across an internet protocol (IP) connection to a second processing system to form a tunnel, and providing both router services and host services for a customer using the plurality of processors in the ring configuration and using the second processing system.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing feedback in a switching regulator are disclosed. For example, various current feedback circuits are disclosed that include a current feedback node and a sense node. In addition, the current feedback circuits include an operational amplifier with two inputs. One of the inputs is electrically coupled to a power source via a first resistor, and may further be electrically coupled to a ground by closing a first switch or to the sense node by closing a second switch. The other input is electrically coupled to the ground via a second resistor, and may further be electrically coupled to the sense node by closing a third switch or to the power source by closing a fourth switch. The operational amplifier drives the current feedback node.

Abstract: The present invention provides organogermanium compounds and liquid crystal compositions comprising such a compound.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for accessing data via a variable polarity head assembly are disclosed herein. As one example, a method for accessing data is disclosed that includes receiving a data set, and sampling the data set using positive synchronization to create one data set and negative synchronization to create another data set. A respective sync mark is identified in each of the data sets, and the identified sync marks are compared. Based at least in part on the comparison of the sync marks, a polarity of the data set is identified. Based on the determined polarity of the data set, the data set may be delivered in a known polarity.