Abstract: A valve body is provided defining housing a moveable valve spool having a first end and a second end. The valve spool forms a gas balance chamber within the valve body. The valve spool has an end for closing an opening in the valve body. A channel running through the valve spool provides communication with the second end of the valve spool and the gas balance chamber. The second end of the spool valve is adapted to have an effective surface area greater than the effective surface area of the gas balance chamber.
Abstract: A solid tunable micro optical device for an micro-optical system is provided. The sold tunable micro optical device includes a first annular piece, a micro-lens with a spherical surface configured on the first annular piece, and a deforming device coupled to the first annular piece for deforming the micro-lens.
Abstract: A folding stroller tray that finds particular use with folding strollers commonly used with small children. The present invention provides a folding stroller tray with a plurality of members which have complementary nested portions that are connected by fasteners that pass the nesting portions to define axis about which the members rotate and join the members to define a desired plane of contact among the assembled members. The present invention includes a method for providing a folding stroller tray.
Abstract: An electronic control system for cycles, for use with a set of sensors, a set of actuators, and a set of control members associated to a cycle. The system having a first processor unit for processing and displaying information; a second processor unit for communication and for interfacing with said set of control members; and a third processor unit for interfacing with said set of sensors and said set of actuators. The first processor unit, the second processor unit, and the third processor unit are connected together via asynchronous bi-directional communication channels.
Abstract: A tie-off assembly for closing the neck of a bulk bag is provided and includes a motor located in a housing which drives a toothed drive wheel. A slot in the housing receives an end of a tie wrap which, upon insertion, is engaged by the toothed drive wheel to pull the tie wrap closed. At least one blade is mounted adjacent the slot, which is moveable from a first position, away from the slot, to a second, cutting position, adjacent the slot. In use, an end of a tie wrap located around the neck is inserted into the slot so that the tie wrap end is engaged by the toothed drive wheel, and operating the motor tightens the tie wrap about the neck of the bulk bag.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 5, 2006
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2009
Assignee:
Flexicon Corporation
Inventors:
David R. Gill, Keith W. Sterner, David A. Dunker, John F. Simonof, Jr.
Abstract: A method and apparatus are directed toward optimizing clear channel assessment (CCA) parameters in a wireless local area network having an access point (AP) and at least one station. An upper bound and a lower bound for an energy detect threshold (EDT) parameter are determined. A value of the EDT parameter is calculated and is bound by the upper bound and the lower bound. The EDT parameter is updated. The method can be performed at each station or at the AP, with the updated CCA parameters being signaled to each station associated with the AP.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 12, 2008
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2009
Assignee:
InterDigital Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Christopher R. Cave, Vincent Roy, Paul Marinier, Angelo A. Cuffaro
Abstract: A printed monopole smart antenna is provided. The smart antenna includes a monopole antenna having a plane for receiving and transmitting a signal, two conductors for directing and/or reflecting the signal to the monopole antenna respectively, and a circuit device electrically connected between the first and second conductors, for selectively switching the first and second conductors to determine an operation mode of the smart antenna. The smart antenna further has at least a groove in the ground for concentrating the current distribution and solving the influence of the antenna gain to the ground size. The sequence of the antenna pattern of the smart antenna is randomly arranged, depending on user's situation. When a plurality of printed monopole smart antennas are disposed on different directions of the WLAN AP/router, the omnidirectional radiation pattern will be obtained and the antenna gain will be increased.
Abstract: An improved receiver and method estimate one or more parameters, such as amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio, of a received signal, such as an M-QAM or q-ASK signal. The amplitude of an M-QAM signal is estimated based upon known or ascertainable phase information regarding a plurality of transmitted symbols. The amplitude of a q-ASK signal is estimated based upon known or ascertainable magnitude information regarding a plurality of transmitted symbols. In another embodiment, the amplitude of an M-QAM or q-ASK signal is estimated based on statistical knowledge of the amplitude of the transmitted symbols. Other embodiments estimate amplitude, noise power, and signal-to-noise ratio of a received signal utilizing second-order and fourth-order moments of received samples, a maximum likelihood searching process, or a Kurtosis estimation process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 2, 2008
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2009
Assignee:
InterDigital Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Bin Li, Gregory S. Sternberg, Philip J. Pietraski
Abstract: A wireless communication method and apparatus for reporting traffic volume measurement (TVM) information used to support enhanced uplink (EU) data transmissions between a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), i.e., a mobile station, and a Node-B. After storing EU data in a buffer, the WTRU sends an initial TVM information request message to the Node-B indicating that the WTRU has EU data available to send to the Node-B. In response, the Node-B schedules one or more allowed EU data transmissions. The WTRU transmits at least a portion of the stored EU data to the Node-B via the allowed EU data transmissions. In one embodiment, the initial TVM information request message is sent by the WTRU only after the quantity of EU data stored in the buffer of the WTRU exceeds an established threshold. Otherwise, all of the stored EU data is transferred to the Node-B without requiring scheduling by the Node-B.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2004
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2009
Assignee:
InterDigital Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Guodong Zhang, Stephen E. Terry, Stephen G. Dick
Abstract: A valve drive (1) of an internal combustion engine which is used to actuate a gas exchange valve (6) is provided. Displacement of the valve takes place when a cam (9) is lifted and when a hydraulic force applying device (12) is lifted. A piston (13) of the force applying device can be displaced from a first end position (A) to a second end position by feeding a hydraulic medium, which can be pressure-adjusted, from a hydraulic medium line (24) into a pressure chamber (21). The pressure chamber (21) can be connected to the hydraulic medium line (24) via a shut-off element (20) which is open towards the pressure chamber (21) and which is arranged in the housing (15) and also by means of at least one passage (26) in the housing (15). The passage (26) is at least partially blocked by an external casing surface (16) of the piston (13) in the first end position (A) thereof.
Abstract: A technique for communicating with a local area network (LAN) via a wireless connection determines whether a first short-range, high-speed, wireless communication path is available and connects to the LAN using a longer range, lower speed wireless communication path if the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path is not available. The low-range, high-speed wireless communication path is a wireless LAN connection such as an IEEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN and the long-range, low-speed wireless communication mode is a cellular CDMA-type connection. Determining whether the first IEEE 802.11 mode is available can be done by detecting a beacon signal, or by transmitting a probe request message and detecting a probe response message in response to the probe request, indicating the presence or availability of the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path. Alternatively, the availability of short-range, high-speed wireless communication path can be detected by simply detecting activity on it.
Abstract: A beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage into a container is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having a dispensing area. A pump or a control valve is in communication with a source of diluent which is to be dispensed into the dispensing area. A cartridge receiving area and a dispensing actuator are located in the housing. A concentrate/extract cartridge is removably insertable into the cartridge receiving area in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge being adapted to hold a beverage concentrate/extract and including a dispensing aperture for dispensing a beverage concentrate/extract into the dispensing area upon placement of the concentrate/extract cartridge in the cartridge receiving area. A controller is located in the housing to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract into the dispensing area. A method of dispensing a selected beverage made from concentrate/extract and a diluent is also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2009
Assignee:
Intelligent Coffee Company, LLC
Inventors:
Jeffrey J. Girard, Mario E. Vassaux, Roy Kenneth, Richard Symington, Erik Kenneth, Shlomo Greenwald, Zipora Greenwald, Nasser Pirshafiey
Abstract: A bicycle rim made of composite material has structural fibers incorporated in a polymeric material. The rim has at least one circumferential reinforcement element based on unidirectional structural fibers extending at a respective intersection of walls of the rim, the direction of the structural fiber being circumferential.
Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for dynamic range power control of a wireless downlink communication signal, such that target signal quality adjustments are held temporarily when it is apparent that transmit power control commands will not produce the desired response at the transmitting station. Comparisons of measured received signals to thresholds are performed to determine whether the transmitting station has either reached the maximum or minimum transmit power, in which case the target signal quality adjustment is controlled accordingly. When normal transmit power is detected, the target signal quality adjustments are allowed to resume as usual.
Abstract: A method for generating a media independent handover (MIH) trigger in a wireless local area network begins by sending a measurement report request message to a measurement entity in the network. The measurement entity takes the measurements and sends a measurement report response message to a medium access control (MAC) function. The MAC function evaluates the measurements and determines whether a handover condition exists, based on the measurements. The MAC function generates a MIH trigger if the handover condition exists.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2006
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2009
Assignee:
InterDigital Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Ulises Olvera-Hernandez, Alan Gerald Carlton, Juan Carlos Zuniga
Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing enhanced uplink scheduling grants are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) detects an absolute grant (AG) and a relative grant (RG). Once the WTRU detects an AG or a RG, a new serving grant (SG) is generated and a hybrid automatic repeat request process may be activated or deactivated depending on whether the received AG is a primary AG or a secondary AG, whether a scheduling mode is a primary AG mode or a secondary AG mode, whether an AG value is set to “INACTIVE” and whether a transmission time interval is 2 ms or 10 ms. A Node-B may send a secondary AG to the WTRU before switching from a primary AG mode to a secondary AG mode and may send the secondary AG only if there is no out-of-date secondary AG exists, which may be detected by implementing a time threshold.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2006
Date of Patent:
November 3, 2009
Assignee:
InterDigital Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Jung-Lin Pan, Stephen E. Terry, Guodong Zhang, Peter Shaomin Wang