Abstract: In a two-way radio frequency (RF) communications system having at least one repeater, a plurality of channels, and a plurality of subscriber units, a repeater hosts a first channel that is currently serving as a rest channel. The channel that is currently serving as the rest channel is monitored by subscriber units that are idle in the system. When the repeater determines to select a second channel to serve as the rest channel, it determines whether there is at least one eligible channel to serve as the rest channel. If there is at least one eligible channel in the system, the repeater may select the second channel to serve as the rest channel from one of the eligible channels.

Abstract: A flexible and optionally highly elastic waveguide capable of propagating and emitting light is disclosed. The flexible waveguide comprises a flexible material having a surface and an end, wherein a first portion of the light is emitted through at least a portion of the surface of the flexible waveguide, and a second portion of the light is emitted through the end. The flexible waveguide can be used, for example as an area illuminator for many applications. Additionally disclosed is a clothing device for providing illumination. The clothing device comprises clothing (or even optionally a sheet) and a light source for providing light. In one embodiment the clothing device comprises the flexible waveguide.

Abstract: A CIS test probe card with an optic assembly is disclosed. At least one embodiment relates to the optic assembly being located close to the CIS test probe card to collimate a light before it is projected through the CIS test probe card to the wafer. At least one embodiment relates to a change in the geometric configuration of the hole(s) and the probe(s) in the CIS test probe card. Small holes corresponding to the CIS chips in a one-on-one fashion can be implemented, such that each small hole is located over a corresponding CIS chip.

Abstract: Techniques for transferring a communication connection for a client device from a source network device to a target network device include receiving first and second sequence numbers and applying a first processing technique to data segments associated with sequence numbers that succeed the first and the second sequence numbers.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to process control systems and devices and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and a method of implementing redundant controller synchronization for bump-less failover during normal and mismatch conditions at the redundant controllers. The redundant controllers are configured to transmit state information of the process control areas of the primary controller to the backup controller that is necessary for synchronizing the redundant controllers but is not typically transmitted to other devices during the performance of process control functions. Synchronization messages are transmitted from the primary controller to the backup controller each time one of the control areas executes to perform process control functions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for plasma etching are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for etching a plurality of features on a wafer comprises a chamber, a feature plate disposed in the chamber for holding the wafer, a gas channel configured to receive a plasma source gas, an anode disposed above the feature plate, a cathode disposed below the feature plate, a radio frequency power source configured to provide a radio frequency voltage between the anode and the cathode so as to generate plasma ions from the plasma source gas, a pump configured to remove gases and etch particulates from the chamber, and a clamp configured to clamp the wafer against the feature plate. The clamp includes at least one measurement hole for passing a portion of the plasma ions to measure a DC bias of the feature plate.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses for pairing more than one slave device with a master device through an exchange of low frequency messages between the slave devices and the master device are disclosed. A first secure data connection is established between a first slave device and the master device typically upon successfully completing a low frequency exchange of pairing credentials associated with establishment of the first secure data connection. The first slave device maintains an active, low frequency transceiver for receiving low frequency transaction requests from other slave devices. Upon receipt of a low frequency transaction request from a second slave device, the first slave device forwards low frequency transmissions between the second slave device and the master device to facilitate in exchanging pairing credentials associated with establishment of a second secure data connection.

Abstract: A radio receiver (100) includes a symbol recovery unit (108) the produces a raw symbol stream (112) and a recovered symbol stream (116). The recovered symbol stream is produced by applying symbol recovery parameters to the raw symbols. The symbol recovery parameters are updated (218) when the symbol recovery parameters used by the symbol recovery unit lack a requisite level of validity and there is a sufficient indication, based on successive instance of sync information using instance-specific recovery parameters, updated recovery parameters are valid.

Abstract: A system of screening servers, screener client computers, and screening kiosks distribute an applicant screening process among multiple sites and multiple participants. To facilitate and secure communications of screening results and applicant actions, a personal identification code is provided that identifies individual sets of screening results. In this manner, the applicant is authenticated and can then enter appropriate applicant profile data into a secure screening account, such as via a screening kiosk. Screening results may be generated for the applicant in association with a unique personal identification code. This code can then be communicated to the screener, who can access the screening results along with a recommendation, if desired, by sending the code to a screening server.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveying portion, a conveying member, a toner loosening member and a swinging member. The toner conveying portion has a vertical conveying portion for vertically conveying toner, and a horizontal conveying portion for horizontally conveying the toner. The conveying member is disposed in the horizontal conveying portion, and has a shaft member and a projecting portion formed around the shaft member. The toner loosening member is disposed in the vertical conveying portion to be swingable up and down. The swinging member is contactable with the conveying member and the toner loosening member. The swinging member swings up and down by a change in a contact portion with respect to the conveying member between the shaft member and the projecting portion, as the conveying member rotates. The toner loosening member swings up and down as the swinging member swings.

Abstract: An RFID-based book return apparatus has dual touch screen and operation interface that conforms to a standard for barrier-free design. It has the following features: automatically detecting RFID tags attached on the identification cards of borrowers and attached to books to be returned, and enabling a panel covering a book-return gate to open; adopting a high-density optical sensor array to prevent the borrower's hand from being clamped accidentally by the cover panel of the book-return gate; enabling an access panel of the book return apparatus to open/close automatically according to the RFID tag detection book return apparatus, facilitating the maintenance and repair of the book return apparatus; preventing any components, papers and books in the book return apparatus from wet damage due to rainfall or moisture by installing a waterproof device on the RFID-based book return apparatus.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive first wireless voice communications from a first end point in a first format. The processor is configured to reformat the first wireless voice communications from the first format to a second format. The second format is an operating format of a second end point. The transceiver transmits the reformatted first wireless voice communications to the second end point.

Abstract: A technique for self-testing of services in an access point of a communication network includes providing a table that has a mapping between a service test, packets to be sent for testing, and packets that should be received in response to the testing, emulating and marking the test packets to be sent, placing the marked test packets in an Rx queue, processing the test packets normally by the access point to provide response packets and marking these response packets, delivering the marked response packets to a Rx queue, retrieving the marked response packets from the Rx queue, and comparing the service test response packets to the list of packets that should have been received in the response to the testing in order to validate that service on the access point.

Abstract: A method is described to compensate for deviation error in a H-CPM sync or data burst received by a MLSE receiver in a communication device. The deviation error is estimated and matched filter coefficients are adjusted using the estimated deviation error. Metrics are determined for the current state using the adjusted matched filter coefficients. The state having the minimum metric is determined to be the most likely current state. The most likely previous state is similarly determined. The burst is reconstructed backward from the last state to the initial state. The metric is the squared magnitude of the difference between the channel estimate multiplied by the matched filter coefficient associated with one of the possible states and the current state. Timing and frequency errors are compensated for before estimation and correction of the deviation error. Pilot or sync symbols are used in estimating the deviation error.

Abstract: A communication system (100) comprises a core network (109) for routing data to and from radio networks. A first radio network supports a first air interface standard (e.g. UMTS) and comprises a first controller, such as an RNC (107), which can receive a handover preference message from the core network (109) and which can determine a handover in response to the handover preference message. The second radio network supporting a second air interface standard (e.g. GSM) and comprises a second controller, such as a BSC 111, which can receive the handover preference message from the core network (109) and which can determine a handover in response to the handover preference message. An interlayer handover controller sets a handover preference indication such that the first controller biases handover decisions towards a remote station being supported by the first radio network and the second controller biases handover decisions towards the remote station being supported by the second radio network.

Abstract: A cleaning device for a photosensitive drum includes a cleaning roller, a cleaning blade, and a layer control member. The layer control member may include an upstream scraper having a surface that surface contacts the cleaning roller in a substantially same direction as a rotation direction of the cleaning roller. In addition, the layer control member may include a downstream scraper having an edge that contacts the cleaning roller. The downstream scraper may be positioned downstream of the contact position between the cleaning roller and the upstream scraper in the rotation direction of the cleaning roller. In some embodiments, the downstream scraper edge may line contact the cleaning roller in a direction opposing the rotation direction of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides an effective, all-natural, non-toxic, non-hormonal composition consisting of vitamin D3, vitamin E, selenium, green tea extract, saw palmetto berry extract, isoflavanoids, and lycopene for prostate health. The invention provides compositions and methods to prevent, alleviate, and/or treat symptoms associated with prostate conditions and diseases. The prostate health composition may be used to supplement medical treatment such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

Abstract: An image scanner of the present invention includes a document feeder, a first scanning section, a start reception section, and a single mode execution section. The document feeder is configured to feed a sheet of document. The first scanning section is configured to scan an image on the document during movement of the document. The start reception section is configured to receive an instruction to start scanning the image on the document from a user. The single mode execution section is configured to execute a single mode to cause the document feeder and the first scanning section to perform scanning of an image on the document every time the start reception section receives the start instruction.

Abstract: A tape drive assembly for data storage on a magnetic tape includes a tape head, a cartridge receiver and a controller. The cartridge receiver selectively receives a cartridge having a test tape formatted at a predetermined location with data errors with predetermined type, size and distribution representative of data errors in tape drives. The test tape is able to measure the quality of heads in suspect tape drives by comparing the ratio of the error count successfully recovered by the suspect head to that recovered by the reference drive while reading the same error distributions.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product, the method includes: locating within a media stream video of interest that starts at a random access point and ends at a packet associated with timing information that corresponds to a decoding time stamp of the random access point; modifying the video of interest to provide modified video of interest; wherein the modifying comprises modifying timing information associated with a beginning of the random access point to reflect a difference between the decoding time stamp and a transmission duration of the modified video of interest to a user; receiving a request, from the user, to perform a channel change and start receiving a channel that comprises the modified video of interest; and transmitting to the user the modified video of interest.