Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for novel error detection and retransmission processes are described. These processes may be implemented on intermediate communication links between two end terminals, wherein the intermediate links are via satellite. Error control mechanisms to detect and retransmit lost or corrupted frames may be implemented at the network layer, or between the network and data link layers. Processes for discovering error control protocol-aware terminals are described. Features of these error control processes may include a configurable delay limit, tailored to traffic type or class.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a battery charger and a method for charging a plurality of batteries. The battery charger includes: a current source for supplying a source current which has a charge current portion and a diverted current portion; bypass sections; voltage clamp sections; sense sections; a feedback section for processing information from the sense sections; and a controller for modifying the source current based on the information from the feedback section. Each bypass section is connected to a battery for diverting the diverted current. Each voltage clamp section is connected to the bypass section for clamping a voltage across the battery when the voltage increases to a predetermined level. Each sense section is connected to the bypass section for determining the diverted current and/or the charge current.

Abstract: A device (10) to coat food products such as potato crisps or chips and biscuits. The device (10) includes a flavor dispenser 21 that delivers granular flavor material to the products (12) being coated. The device (10) further includes a conveyor (11) with conveyor surfaces (15 to 18) that are arranged in cascade so that the food products tumble from one surface to the next so that the granular flavor material is applied to the various surfaces of the food products.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling or disabling clocks to one or more portions of hardware circuitry, for example a display sub-system of a personal computer. A processor generates a command or data to a first circuit configured to perform a function based at least on the command or data. A clock generator selectively supplies clocks to the first circuit and a second circuit configured to perform a second function. A software interface circuit coupled to the processor and the clock generator autonomously determines based at least on the command or data whether the second circuit will perform the second function or be idle in an upcoming period and disables one or more of the clocks to the second circuit if the second circuit will be idle in the upcoming period.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply system includes power converter circuitry configured to convert AC input power to a first DC power and a second DC power to the first DC power, a battery pack configured to provide the second DC power, a power relay mechanism coupled to the power converter circuitry and to the battery pack that selectively moves between an open position and a closed position, the power relay mechanism coupling the battery pack to the power converter circuitry when in the closed position and isolating the battery pack from the power converter circuitry when in the open position, and control circuitry configured to provide a control signal, where the power relay mechanism includes a motor actuator coupled to the control circuitry, the motor actuator being responsive to the control signal to change the power relay mechanism from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: Circuits, apparatus, and methods for avoiding deadlock conditions in a bus fabric. One exemplary embodiment provides an address decoder for determining whether a received posted request is a peer-to-peer request. If it is, the posted request is sent as a non-posted request. A limit on the number of pending non-posted requests is maintained and not exceed, such that deadlock is avoided. Another exemplary embodiment provides an arbiter that tracks a number of pending posted requests. When the number pending posted requests reaches a predetermined or programmable level, a Block Peer-to-Peer signal is sent to the arbiter's clients, again avoiding deadlock.

Abstract: Satellite communication systems and methods are disclosed. The communication system may include a gateway in communication with two satellites. The satellites are configured to receive polarized signals from a first plurality of users and orthogonally polarized signals from a second plurality of users. Each satellite may transmit the polarized signals and the orthogonally polarized signals to the gateway. The first satellite may also receive first feeder signals from the gateway and transmit the first feeder signals to the first plurality of users and the second satellite may also receive second feeder signals from the gateway and transmit the second feeder signals to the second plurality of users.

Abstract: A mapping scheme is disclosed so that data can be communicated between a relational database and a system that represents data in a manner different than the relational database. In one embodiment, the mapping scheme uses a mapping catalog that identifies attributes, columns and tables in the relational database that store data for the attributes, and relations between tables in order to determine how to access the attributes.

Abstract: The present invention provides chimeric adenoviral vectors and methods for using the vectors to elicit an immune response to an antigen of interest.

Abstract: A piezoelectric layer held between a first electrode on a substrate side and a second electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer facing away from the first electrode is formed of a ferroelectric material with a perovskite crystal structure, and the ratio of the surface roughness of the piezoelectric layer to the surface roughness of the first electrode falls within the range of 0.58 to 1.60.

Abstract: In a method of forming micro patterns of a semiconductor device, first etch mask patterns are formed over a semiconductor substrate. An auxiliary film is formed over the semiconductor substrate including a surface of the first etch mask patterns. Second etch mask patterns are formed between the auxiliary films formed on sidewalls of the first etch mask patterns. The first etch mask patterns and the second etch mask patterns are formed using the same material. The auxiliary films between the first and second etch mask patterns are removed. Accordingly, more micro patterns can be formed than allowed by the resolution limit of an exposure apparatus while preventing misalignment.

Abstract: Tools for controlling cameras (and other objects), using an input device. Some such tools may establish a threshold, above which the input from the input device is fed directly to the object being controlled, and below which the input signal is processed to provide smoother operation. This can allow for direct control over a camera (or other object) in large movements but still allow for smooth, controlled movements when slower movement is desired.

Abstract: Methods and systems for organic vapor jet deposition are provided, where an exhaust is disposed between adjacent nozzles. One or more carrier gases may be provided and ejected from a plurality of nozzles. An exhaust may be provided to create a localized vacuum between nozzles. The exhaust may reduce pressure buildup in the nozzles and between the nozzles and the substrate, leading to improved deposition profiles, resolution, and improved nozzle-to-nozzle uniformity. The exhaust may be in fluid communication with an ambient vacuum, or may be directly connected to a vacuum source.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus socket-equipped arrangement (USB-SEA) configured for mating with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug having a plug metal housing and an aperture disposed in the plug metal housing. The arrangement includes a plug-receiving cavity configured to receive the USB plug. The arrangement further includes a spring-loaded mechanism disposed within the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is biased toward an interior region of the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is also configured to slide along the connector metal housing of the USB plug when the USB plug is inserted into the plug-receiving cavity and to movably mate with the aperture disposed in the plug metal housing when the USB plug is in a terminal mating position with the USB socket assembly. The spring-loaded mechanism represents one of a spring-loaded ball and a spring-loaded pin.

Abstract: An improved attribute determination process allows the sharpness of a surface attribute function to be adjusted on a per-object, per-surface, per-texture, per-function, or other appropriate basis. A computer-based animator then can selectively adjust the sharpness or other attribute(s) of portions of a to-be-rendered image without significantly increasing the rendering time. For a selected texture, corresponding sampling regions will be shifted about the respective surface points projected in texture space. A multi-dimensional set of sub-regions can be generated for the shifted sampling region. Bounding boxes can be determined for each sub-region, the boxes occupying less area, such as in texture space, than a single bounding box for the original sampling region. The bounding boxes can be used for local attribute determinations (such as texture lookups) for each sub-region, with the local attributes being processed to determine an attribute for the respective surface point.

Abstract: A projector device employing ballast with a flyback converter is disclosed. For example, one embodiment comprises a lamp driver circuit including a power stage circuit including a flyback converter to output a direct current signal to a bridge circuit, the bridge circuit to reconstruct the direct current signal to an alternating current signal, a control circuit coupled with the power stage circuit and the bridge circuit, the control circuit to receive the direct current signal from the power stage circuit and to provide a frequency control signal to the bridge circuit, and a lamp igniter circuit comprising at least one charge pump and being coupled with the bridge circuit, wherein in response to the frequency control signal being provided to the bridge circuit, the bridge circuit is configured to increase the voltage of the alternating current signal provided to the lamp igniter circuit to power the lamp igniter circuit.

Abstract: A method of optimizing clock-gated circuitry in an integrated circuit (IC) design is provided. A plurality of signals which feed into enable inputs of a plurality of clock gates is determined, where the clock gates gate a plurality of sequential elements in the IC design. Combinational logic which is shared among the plurality of signals is identified. The clock-gated circuitry is transformed into multiple levels of clock-gating circuitry based on the shared combinational logic.

Abstract: A system for restricting mixing of air in a data center includes a plurality of racks, each of the racks having a front face and a back face. The system includes an enclosure for collecting air released from the back faces of the plurality of racks, the enclosure configured to substantially contain the air in an area between the first row and the second row and having a roof panel coupled to the first row of racks and the second row of racks configured to span a distance between the first row of racks and the second row of racks. The enclosure is configured to maintain a first air pressure inside of the enclosure that is substantially equal to a second air pressure outside the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of presenting an image of a receipt to a consumer includes electronically capturing a receipt and storing the receipt at a host computer system. The method further includes receiving a request at the host computer system from a computer of the consumer to display the image of the receipt and transmitting an electronic file comprising the image of the receipt for display at the customer computer.