Abstract: An apparatus including a wireless communications device has an internal antenna system located within the wireless communications device. The internal antenna system includes a passive antenna set comprising at least one antenna element having at least one multilevel structure, a feeding point to the at least one antenna element and a ground plane. The feeding point and a point on the ground plane define an input/output port for said passive antenna set. The passive antenna set provides a similar impedance level and radiation pattern at two or more frequency bands such that the passive antenna set is capable of both transmitting and receiving wireless signals on selected channels. The selected channels are selectable from a plurality of channels throughout an entire frequency range within each of said two or more frequency bands.

Abstract: A server for adaptively rendering a multimedia content stream includes a first interface for connecting the server to a multimedia network server to receive an original multimedia content stream. A second interface connects the server to a client for receiving a rendered multimedia content stream. Processing logic determines rendering parameters responsive to connection parameters related to connection bandwidth between the server and the client. Rendering logic renders the multimedia content stream from the original multimedia content stream responsive to the rendering parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a voltage regulator including an high side switching transistor and a low side switching transistor. An high side drive controls operation of the high side switching transistor. A low side driver controls operation of the low side switching transistor. A bootstrap capacitor provides an operating voltage to the high side switching driver. The bootstrap capacitor is charged to a predetermined level responsive to a supply voltage. A low side driver drives the low side switching transistor according to a process that charges the bootstrap capacitor to the predetermined level. The process turns on the low side switching transistor for a first predetermined number of cycles and turns off the low side switching transistor for a second predetermined number of cycles. The process is repeated for a predetermined number of times during startup of the voltage regulator when a prebias load is applied to the voltage regulator.

Abstract: An engine for reducing the temperature at the surface of a body of water during a storm includes at least one floatation member for supporting the engine, an elongate tube mounted on the floatation member configured to receive a stream of air therethrough, the elongate tube having first and second ends, a constricted center section therebetween and means for distributing water into the tube adjacent the constricted center section, a wind turbine having at least one rotor, a differential and a shaft connecting the rotor to the differential, a pump operatively connected to the wind turbine and extending into the body of water to a depth where the temperature of the water is less the water temperature at the surface and wherein water from beneath the surface of the body of water is pumped into the manifold and distributed into the elongate tube to cool the stream of air.

Abstract: A system, method and mobile unit to sense objects and/or text and retrieve related images, text or translations. The system may allow users to instantly access information about an object or text with a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, pager, personal digital assistant (PDA) or lap top computer.

Abstract: An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to traverse a NAT device using a stateless reflector.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for completing a roaming cellular call between a roaming subscriber and another party. The first step is initiating the roaming call between the roaming subscriber and the another party. The roaming subscriber is provided with a prepaid debit account. The roaming subscriber is then connected to a cellular network when a connection between the subscriber and the another party is to be made such that a call has been built over a calling network. The prepaid debit account of the roaming subscriber is then examined to determine the balance thereof, and then the roaming subscriber is informed of financial information regarding the call connection prior to connecting the roaming subscriber to the another party over the already built call.

Abstract: A system and method for automated software testing includes defining a data model of an automated software test for a feature or business process being tested and then identifying an address for a function library at a local or remote location for executing the data model of the automated software test based upon the platform of the application. This identified function library is accessed at the address at the local or remote location so that an execution of a function within the function library may be invoked to obtain results therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for capturing data a first capture device interfacing with a primary data source to capture data therefrom for storage into a primary data set. A second capture device is provided interfacing with a secondary data source to capture data therefrom for storage into a secondary data set. An associating device is then operable to associate the converted data set with the primary data set. A data converter converts the data stored in the second data set to a different and converted form as a converted data set.

Abstract: An embodiment of a hinge assembly includes a seat back support, a seat bottom support, a hinge pivot, and a stop pin. The seat back support has a seat back mounting portion and a seat back hinge portion. The seat back hinge portion includes a stop notch formed at an end of the seat back hinge portion. The seat bottom support has a seat bottom mounting portion and a seat bottom hinge portion. The hinge pivot passes through the seat back hinge portion and the seat bottom hinge portion to hingedly couple the seat back hinge portion to the seat bottom portion. The stop pin has a stop pin shaft and a stop pin head positioned at a first end of the stop pin shaft. A second end of the stop pin shaft is affixed to the seat bottom hinge portion of the seat bottom support proximate to the seat back hinge portion of the seat back support.

Abstract: An analog-style gauge for displaying the value of a parameter measured or sensed by a remote sensor. The gauge comprises an actuator having a selectively rotatable shaft and a pointer fixedly attached to the actuator shaft and capable of being internally illuminated by light directed into the pointer. A light source is disposed to direct light of at least two colors into the pointer. Control circuitry is operably connected to the actuator, the light source and a remote sensor. The control circuitry rotates the actuator shaft within a range of motion in response to signals received from the remote sensor indicative of changes in the value of the sensed parameter. The control circuitry changes the color of light directed into the pointer when the pointer reaches a pre-determined point within the range of motion, whereby the internal illumination of the pointer will change color when the pointer reaches a predetermined point within the range of motion.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a digital communication system where multiple media data sources are time multiplexed into a packetized data stream, each packet having an assigned priority and the packetized data stream transmitted in substantially the order of assigned priority. At both the transmit side, and the receive side, audio packets are given priority processing over video packets, which in turn have priority over text/graphics data packets. Continuous real time audio playback is maintained at the receiver by delaying the playback of received audio in a first in/first out (FIFO) buffer providing a delay at least equal to the predicted average packet delay for the communication system. Optionally, the average system delay is continuously monitored, and the audio playback delay time is adjusted accordingly. Audio playback is slowed or accelerated in order to shrink or grow the difference in time between the sender and receiver.

Abstract: A single-button ignition control and starting system for a vehicle. The system comprises an onboard computer, a start button, a light source, a clutch sensor, engine sensor and an identity sensor. The computer is connected to the ignition system and starter motor. The start button is connected to the computer to indicate whether the start button is depressed. The light source is connected to the computer to selectively illuminate the start button in a first, a second and a third illumination color. The clutch sensor is connected to the computer to indicate whether the clutch pedal is depressed. The engine sensor is connected to the computer to indicate whether the engine is running. The identity sensor adapted to receive identity indicia and is connected to the computer for producing signals indicative of the identity indicia.

Abstract: An integrated circuit controller for controlling the operation of a voltage converter which includes a first comparator for comparing a voltage associated with an input of a boost converter with a threshold voltage and generating a control signal in response thereto. A second comparator compares a second voltage associated with an output of the boost converter with the threshold voltage and generates a second control signal in response thereto. Driver circuitry generates a first switching transistor drive signal and a second switching transistor drive signal. The first switching transistor drive signal is used for driving an upper gate switching transistor of a buck converter. The second switching transistor drive signal may be configured in a first mode of operation to drive a lower gate switching transistor of the buck converter and may be configured in a second mode of operation to drive a switching transistor of the boost converter.

Abstract: An automated gas cap mechanism for opening and closing the fuel tank of a vehicle includes a housing with a filler compartment door mounted on a door support link that is coupled to an axle having first and second ends mounted in slots formed in the housing and configured to rotate and to move longitudinally in the housing. A crank is mounted on the axle and an arm on the crank is pivotally coupled to the door support link. A drive motor is operable to rotate the axle and crank to retract the filler compartment door into the housing and drive the axle in a linear direction to open a gas cap coupled to the axle.

Abstract: A technique includes receiving a radio block from a transmission channel. The radio block includes first data and second data. The technique includes evaluating the first data to obtain a first evaluation result, evaluating the second data to obtain a second evaluation result and determining whether the radio block is a partial block based on the first and second evaluation results.

Abstract: A method and system for managing services for a mobile station by a network service provider includes receiving a first registration request associated with the mobile station at a registration node, registering a first switching node as a first serving node for access by the mobile station to a first network, receiving a second registration request associated with the mobile station at the registration node, and registering a second switching node as a second serving node for access by the mobile station to a second network. The first serving node and the second serving node are concurrently maintained. The method further includes receiving a service request for providing a network service to the mobile station, and routing the service request to either the first switching node or the second switching node in accordance with routing rules associated with the mobile station configured by the network service provider.

Abstract: A vehicle door hinge includes a base, a main link having first and second arms, a first end of the main link being pivotally mounted to the base at a first pivot, a drive link pivotally connected to an end of a control link, the drive link passing through a slot in the main link, a mounting plate having open ended slots opening at a first end of the plate, at least one closed end slot wherein an end of the drive link is pivotally secured in one of the open ended slots, an idle link pivotally secured in a closed end slot of the main link and an open ended slot of the door mounting plate, a kicker link having a first end thereof pivotally secured in the open ended slot of the main link and a second end pivotally secured in a closed end slot of the door mounting plate wherein the kicker link is longer than the idle link.

Abstract: An enhanced redistribution layer is provided that geometrically expands redistribution layer (RDL) pads associated with a ball grid array of a wafer level package (WLP) to provide tensile stress relief during temperature cycle and/or drop testing of the WLP.

Abstract: A radiofrequency transmitting device delivers output signals having a chosen radiofrequency from input data split up into complementary phase data and amplitude data. This device includes a radiofrequency reference oscillator for outputting a reference signal having a fixed radiofrequency reference, and a digital phase modulator for synthesizing the chosen radiofrequency from the fixed radiofrequency reference and for phase modulating the reference signal with the phase data, in order to produce an output signal having the chosen radiofrequency.