Abstract: This disclosure relates to a improved thermodynamic cycle with power unit and venturi, a method of producing a useful effect therewith using a greater pressure gradient created locally in a fluid using the venturi, and more particularly, the use of a first portion of the fluid in the thermodynamic cycle as driving force for a venturi, and the placement of the venturi nozzle in an exhaust area of the power unit to create a greater pressure gradient locally and collect a second portion of the fluid in the thermodynamic cycle.

Abstract: A method and wireless mobile device runs different types of applications and groups a set of common application interfaces (APIs) that are associated with an application type to produce an application container (902). The wireless mobile device and method translates calls between at least one of the linked or grouped common APIs of the application container and a shared API that is shared for example among applications of different types (904). If desired the method and device also groups a set of common application interfaces associated with another application type to produce another application container. The applications of different types use APIs from the multiple application containers. In one embodiment, the translating of calls is accomplished by employing a class loading structure using, for example, a class loader that looks at certain path locations to obtain resources.

Abstract: A monitoring device and method are provided to monitor a separate device for malfunctions and to control and restore the malfunctioning monitored device to a normal functioning state. A malfunction state includes the monitored device being powered off or in a standby power state. The monitoring device includes control logic operative to determine a malfunction state of the monitored device and to control a reapplication of power to the monitored device to reboot the monitored device based on the determined malfunction state of the monitored device. The method for monitoring and controlling the monitored device comprises the steps of: determining a malfunction state of the monitored device; and controlling a reapplication of power to the monitored device to reboot the monitored device based on the determined malfunction state of the monitored device.

Abstract: A video decoder (10) with reduced power consumption includes a power management controller (45) that is operative to select one of a plurality of different power consumption states for a video decoder (10), and, in response to the determination, vary power consumption of at least one operational portion of the video decoder (10). In addition, in one example, a method (200) for reducing power consumption for a video decoder (10) includes determining input stream encoding description data (34) to select one of a plurality of different power consumption states for a video decoder (10) and, in response to the determination, varying power consumption of at least one operational portion of the video decoder (10).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for translating messages in a computing system are disclosed. In particular, a disclosed method for converting messages in a computer system includes receiving a command message from a processing unit where the message is defined according to a transport protocol that utilizes command messages using an address to communicate commands to devices in the computer system. The command message is translated to an interface standard by mapping the address into an address field of a packet constructed according to the interface standard. Corresponding apparatus that perform the methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling the memory controller and, in particular, controlling signaling of the memory controller to a memory via memory interface during a static screen condition. An apparatus includes static image detection logic that is configured to detect when image data being displayed by a display controller is static and to communication detection of static image data to the display controller. The apparatus also includes control logic within the display controller responsive to the static image detection logic, where the control logic is configured to detect a level of a line buffer within the display controller and to send a signal to a memory controller directing the memory controller to issue a signal to a memory to enter a self-refresh mode, thereby turning off at least one memory clocking circuit within the memory controller. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image processing circuit, such as a graphics accelerator chip or any other suitable circuit, includes display output control logic that is operative to receive a current frame of information from a frame buffer and is operative to process a current frame, such as by providing gamma correction, image scaling, graphics or video overlaying, or other suitable processing, to produce a processed current display frame and stores the processed current display frame back in the frame buffer. Fixed function or dedicated, display type specific temporal processing logic receives the processed current display frame stored in the frame buffer and also obtains at least one previous processed current display frame from the frame buffer and temporally processes pixels from each of the processed current display frame and the previous processed current display frame to produce a temporally compensated display frame for a specific type of display.

Abstract: The present invention is a unified shader unit used in texture processing in graphics processing device. Unlike the conventional method of using one shader for texture coordinate shading and another for color shading, the present shader performs both operations. The unified shader uses the same precision for both texture coordinate and color shading, thus simplifying the complexity of programming for two separate conventional shaders with different levels of precision. Furthermore, the present invention uses enhanced scheduling logic to perform indirect texture and bump mapping in a single first-in, first-out (FIFO) memory structure and avoids the problems associated with large FIFOs with buffer registers found in conventional shaders. In one embodiment, a plurality of ALU-memory pairs are synchronized to form a plurality of pipelines to execution shading instructions. In another embodiment, a plurality of unified shaders are synchronized and connected together to processing shading operations concurrently.

Abstract: An end face seal having two thin, opposed faces of a composite PDC/tungsten carbide or like material for example of a thickness of from about 2 to 5 mm to about 10 to 15 mm, brazed or adhesively adhered by an epoxy resin to a substrate of tungsten carbide or silicon carbide/nitride formed in a ring shape. Thereafter, the PDC layer is finish lapped to a flatness of about 1 to about 10 helium lightbands, with a rough lapping to 3 or 4 helium lightbands, and a finish lapping of about 1 helium lightband.

Abstract: A system and method providing, via a single output electrode of an integrated circuit having internal circuitry, a status signal having time multiplexed states indicative of a power on reset condition for external circuitry following enablement of operations of portions of the internal circuitry, and further indicative of subsequent operation statuses of the internal circuitry portions.

Abstract: The present disclosure discusses methods and apparatus for controlling the video playback in a video playback system. In particular, a method for controlling video playback includes receiving a flip call to display video data from a flip queue buffer. Processing of the video data is then initiated. Flip acknowledgement information is issued in response to receiving the flip call information and prior to completion of the processing of video data to be displayed from the flip queue buffer. By issuing flip acknowledgement information regardless of whether the processing of the video data has been completed, video flip calls can continue to be issued at a constant rate and other processing can continue without waiting, thus resulting in better and smoother video playback and economizing processing resources. Additionally, a decision whether or not to drop a particular video frame is made based on whether a flip queue buffer from a predetermined number of flip queue buffers is available.

Abstract: A practical bonding technique is provided for solid-phase room-temperature bonding which does not require a profile irregularity of the order of several nanometers, in which a high-vacuum energy wave treatment and continuous high-vacuum bonding are not required. Since an adhering substance layer is thin immediately after a surface activating treatment using an energy wave, a bonding interface is spread by crushing the adhering substance layer to perform bonding, so that a new surface appears on a bonding surface, and objects to be bonded are bonded together. In order to crush the adhering substance layer more easily, a bonding metal of a bonding portion of the object to be bonded needs to have a low hardness. According to the results of various experiments conducted by the present inventors, it was found that the hardness of the bonding portion which is a Vickers hardness of 200 Hv or less is particularly effective for room-temperature bonding.

Abstract: A graphics processor receives a compressed encrypted video stream. The graphics processor decrypts the compressed encrypted video stream and stores a decrypted version (i.e., a decrypted compressed video stream) in a protected portion of an on-chip or off-chip video memory. The graphics processor then permits processors and other bus masters on the graphics processor to access the on-chip video memory, but conditionally limits access to other bus masters that are located off-chip, such as a central processing unit located off-chip and coupled to the graphics processor via a bus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining video graphics processing and audio processing onto the same single chip and/or printed circuit board includes a graphics processing circuit, an audio processing circuit, a local bus, and a bus arbitrator. The local bus couples both the graphics processing circuit and audio processing circuit to the system bus such that each of the circuits may transceive data with the system bus. The bus arbitrator arbitrates access to the local bus between the graphics processing circuit and audio processing circuit. Such arbitration is based on incoming data, which is interpreted and, based on the interpretation, the bus arbitrator routes the incoming data to either the graphics processing circuit or the audio processing circuit. In addition, the bus arbitrator arbitrates outputting data from the graphics processing circuit and the audio processing circuit based on commands received from the CPU.

Abstract: A circuit includes a variable frequency generator circuit and a quantization circuit. The variable frequency generator circuit provides a discontinuous switching frequency signal. The variable frequency generator circuit varies the discontinuous switching frequency signal between a first and second frequency while avoiding at least one frequency band between the first and second frequency. The quantization circuit provides a plurality discrete switching signals each separated by a second frequency band that vary in accordance with the discontinuous switching frequency signal, wherein the avoided frequency band of the discontinuous switching frequency signal is greater than the second frequency band.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in compiling data for a program shader identifies within data representing control flow information an area operator definition instruction statement located outside the data dependent control flow structures. The method identifies within one of the data dependent branches at least one area operator use instruction statement that has the resultant of the area operator definition instruction statement as an operand. After identifying the area operator use instruction statement, the area operator definition instruction statement is placed within the data dependent branch.

Abstract: A tank holding frame for a vehicle body includes front and rear beams connected to the vehicle body, a first beam connected to the vehicle body and the front beam, a second beam connected removably to the vehicle body, and a guard member having at least one end connected removably to a respective one of the first and second beams. A fuel tank is removable from a tank holding space cooperatively defined by the front, rear, first, second beams, the guard member, and the vehicle body when the second beam and the guard member are detached from the tank holding frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for logically organizing data for storage and recovery on a data storage medium using a multi-level format. The present invention also provides systems and methods for protecting data stored on data storage medium so that the data may be recovered without errors.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calculating a wavelength to use for a reference beam in recovering data from a holographic storage medium along with calculating a rotation and a tilt for the storage medium in data recovery. These systems and method include determining intensity levels for a plurality of windows (or subsets of pixels) for a data page as the angle of the reference beam is adjusted. The angles corresponding to the angles where the maximum intensity of light is detected for each window is then used in determining the wavelength, tilt, and rotation in recovering subsequent data pages from the holographic storage medium.