Abstract: Semiconductor devices (100) and methods of making the same. Each of the semiconductor devices includes a substrate (102) having a first surface (118) and an opposing second surface. A vertical capacitive element (104) is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The vertical capacitive element comprises a plurality of parallel conductive plates (120b, 120d, 120f, 120h, 120j, 120l, 120n) extending transverse to the first surface of the substrate. Adjacent conductive plates are spaced a distance D from each other. A dielectric material (104) can be disposed in a space separating the adjacent conductive plates. Each of the conductive plates has a height-to-width (h/w) ratio greater than or equal to one.

Abstract: A system and method for inpainting areas in a fingerprint image is provided. The method includes the steps of dividing a fingerprint image into a plurality of image blocks (506) and computing a plurality of block scores for the plurality of image blocks (508). The method also includes generating a blur matrix for the fingerprint image based on the plurality of block scores (510). The method further includes deriving an inpaint region (IR) matrix for the fingerprint image based on a weighting function and the blur matrix, the IR matrix identifying a portion of the plurality of image blocks for inpainting (512, 514).

Abstract: An electronic navigation device for a human user may include a housing to be carried by the human user, and at least one accelerometer carried by the housing and configured to sense acceleration during motion of the human user. The electronic navigation device may also include a controller carried by the housing and coupled to the at least one accelerometer. The controller may be configured to generate a plurality of acceleration sample values as the human user moves over a given distance, and determine an estimated distance traveled by the human user during movement over the given distance by at least multiplying each acceleration sample value by a scaling constant. The controller may also be configured to sum results thereof.

Abstract: A cell phone is mated with the vehicle system and thereafter used to obtain access to the vehicle. A user who has a cell phone automatically can obtain access to the vehicle. An embodiment describes a USB key that provides access to the vehicle, and in an emergency, either a complete or partial version of the key can be downloaded from a server.

Abstract: A monitoring system for connector pins exposed to conductive/corrosive fluids and/or corrosive environments includes a first sensing portion having a pin monitoring section configured to measure a pin current flow of at least one conductor pin, and transfer a first signal. A second sensing portion produces a second signal indicating by a contactless determination the presence of a fastener providing physical connection between an interface member and a component. A decision logic device receives the first and second signals, compares the pin current flow to a predetermined range of values, and isolates electrical power to the conductor pin when the first signal indicates the pin current flow is outside the predetermined range of values. A sensor body created of a non-ferrous material and connected to the component includes a first insert member having the conductor pin and a second insert member defining a sensor sensing proximal presence of the fastener.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for facilitating communication of data. A method includes communicating data including prioritizing a block of data, setting an indicator in a header of the block of data, transmitting the block of data, and retransmitting the block of data. The indicator indicates that reliable delivery of the block of data is desired. The indicator is set based at least in part on a rule. The indicator is set on a per-message basis. The block of data is retransmitted when a predetermined time has elapsed and when an acknowledgement of delivery of the block of data has not been received.

Abstract: A system and method of synchronizing transmissions in a simulcast system by continuously adjusting the signal transmission delay. Timing information that includes a GPS timestamp is continuously generated at a source site, encoded into a timing packet which along with a content signal can be transported over a network link such as T1/E1 or a packet switched network to multiple transmitter sites. Once received at a transmitter site, the timing packet along with the content signal is delayed by an adjustable delay. The GPS timestamp in the received timing packet is compared to a GPS timestamp that is generated at the transmitter site upon arrival of the timing packet. Based on a variance between that comparison and the value of a user-specified target delay, the delay of the received signal is adjusted to synchronize signal transmissions in the simulcast system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for enhancing in situ upgrading of hydrocarbon by implementing an array of radio frequency antennas that can uniformly heat the hydrocarbons within a producer well pipe, so that the optimal temperatures for different hydroprocessing reactions can be achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the desired alphanumeric character of a depressed multi-character key of a reduced-key keypad based upon the previous selection of characters. Rule trees defining the prediction associated with a depressed key based upon the previous selection of characters are dynamically built upon use to readily function with all language styles and vocabularies. Moreover, the rule trees are weighted to increase the probability of predicting the desired character and to be quickly adaptable to different users having different language styles or vocabularies.

Abstract: An accessory system (202, 402, 502) for a portable radio transceiver (200) includes an accessory device (206) which includes a speaker and/or a microphone disposed external of the portable radio transceiver. A cable (204) containing two or more conductors is provided for operatively connecting the accessory device to the portable radio transceiver. At least one antenna (210, 212) for the portable radio transceiver is integrated within the cable. When the accessory system is used with a multi-band portable radio transceiver, two or more antennas can be included in the cable, each optimized for operation on a particular RF frequency band.

Abstract: A method of processing a wafer includes establishing a fine of symmetry defining left and right die areas on a front side of the wafer and left and right die areas on a back side. A first mask is used to form a first interconnection layer on the left and right die areas comprising a first portion on the left die area and second portion different than the first portion on the right die area. A second mask is used to form a second interconnection layer on the left and right die areas comprising a third portion on the left die area and fourth portion different than the third portion on the right die area. The first mask is reused to form a third interconnection layer on the left and right die areas on a back side, and the second mask to form a fourth interconnection layer on the left and right die areas on a back side.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for positioning a directional antenna coupled to a radio towards a satellite. The method includes: receiving an input to the radio from an operator of the radio, where the input indicates a desired time period for positioning the antenna; transmitting, during the desired time period, a plurality of burst data transmissions from the radio over a channel associated with the satellite; receiving a plurality of reply data transmissions from the satellite which correspond to the plurality of burst data transmissions sent by the radio; determining a metric indicative of signal quality for each of the reply data transmissions; and outputting from the radio an indicator for each metric. The operator of the radio can use the indicator output by the radio to better position the antenna towards the satellite.

Abstract: An Internet-based auction of items for sale is hosted in a server computer. Different members who want to participate in the Internet-based auction establish credit information. That credit information is shown to other users in the auction. The credit information for example can be shown as colors or the like.

Abstract: Method and system for registration of a two dimensional image data set and a three-dimensional image comprising point cloud data. The method begins by cropping a three-dimensional volume of point cloud data comprising a three-dimensional image data to remove a portion of the point cloud data comprising a ground surface within a scene, and dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of m sub-volumes. Thereafter, the method continues by edge-enhancing a two-dimensional image data. Then, for each qualifying sub-volume, creating a filtered density image, calculating a two-dimensional correlation surface based on the filtered density image and the two-dimensional image data that has been edge enhanced, finding a peak of the two-dimensional correlation surface, determining a corresponding location of the peak within the two-dimensional image, defining a correspondence point set; and storing the correspondence point set in a point set list.

Abstract: A geospatial data system may include at least one geospatial database containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data and geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data. At least one geospatial data access device may also be included and comprise a display and a processor cooperating therewith for communicating remotely with the at least one geospatial database to retrieve and display a scene on the display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith. The geospatial data access device(s) may further comprise at least one user input device cooperating with the processor for permitting user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on the display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display. The processor may selectively retrieve geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions.

Abstract: A geospatial data system may include at least one geospatial data storage device containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data, and also containing geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data and being retrievable in successive additive lavers of resolution. The system may further include at least one geospatial data access device comprising a display and a processor cooperating therewith for communicating remotely with the at least one geospatial data storage device to retrieve and display a scene on the display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith. The geospatial texture data may advantageously be retrieved and displayed in successive additive layers of resolution.

Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a one-piece cam including: a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis and a having a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis and an outer surface; and a deflecting arm freely extending from the cam body having a free end elastically deflected toward the cam body in an arm deflected condition. A follower has at least one follower surface in direct contact with the cam outer surface at the deflecting arm. An arm non-deflected condition is defined when the outer surface is in direct contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the deflecting arm. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis acts to move the cam body center toward the follower thereby deflecting the deflecting arm to the deflected condition creating a biasing force acting toward the follower.

Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a cam having a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis. The cam body has a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis. At least a portion of the cam is an elastically compressible material. A follower having at least one follower surface is in contact with the compressible material portion of the cam. A cam non-deflected condition is defined when an elastically compressible material portion outer surface is in contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the elastically compressible material portion. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis moves the cam body center toward the follower. The elastically compressible material portion deflects, defining a deflected condition, creating a biasing force acting toward the follower, and releasably frictionally engaging the elastically compressible material portion with the follower.

Abstract: A television or computer detects the presence of the other, and takes an action based on that detecting.

Abstract: A compliant follower cam system includes a cam rotatable about a cam rotational axis continuously aligned with a cam displacement axis. The cam has a body center spaced from the rotational axis. A compliant follower has an elastically deformable first contact wall positioned proximate to a cavity. The first contact wall is directly contacted by the cam body outer surface. A compliant follower non-deflected condition occurs when a first contact wall outer surface directly contacts the cam body outer surface prior to deflection of the first contact wall, with the cam body center out of alignment with the displacement axis. Rotating the cam moves the body center toward the compliant follower into alignment with the displacement axis. The cam thereby deflects the first contact wall into the cavity defining a compliant follower deflected condition and creates a biasing force releasably frictionally engaging the first contact wall and cam.