Abstract: Systems and methods of converting alternating current (AC) power into direct current (DC) power at an intermediate DC voltage are disclosed. Briefly described, one system embodiment comprises a separated front end rectifier system that provides intermediate voltage, direct current (DC) power to a plurality of loads, comprising a modular alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) rectifier coupled to an AC power system that converts received AC power to DC power at a rectified DC voltage, a rectified DC voltage bus coupled to the AC/DC rectifier and at least one modular direct current to direct current (DC/DC) conversion unit coupled to the rectified DC voltage bus and to an intermediate DC voltage bus.

Abstract: A system and method for remote direct memory access over a network switch fabric. Some illustrative embodiments may include a system comprising a first system node, a direct memory access (DMA) controller, a second system node, and a network switch fabric coupling together the first and second system nodes (the network switch fabric comprises a rooted hierarchical bus). The DMA controller is configured to perform a DMA transfer of data between the first and second system nodes across the network switch fabric. The data is formatted as one or more remote DMA (RDMA) protocol messages that are routed across the network switch fabric based on a bus end-device identifier corresponding to the second system node.

Abstract: A multi-media photograph album comprises a network of electrical conductors which connect with plural data storage devices storing audio data and/or image data. A user, via a user interface, selectively address the data storage devices. The user selects individual sound bites for immediate playback via a speaker in the photo album, or via transmission over a wireless link, for playback through an external audio device, for example a hi-fi system. Image data are retrieved from the data storage devices and sent via a wireless link to an image data storage device, e.g., a personal computer. The data storage device can be embedded within a photograph, or can be a separate data storage device attached to the album.

Abstract: A mobile computing device has a touch sensitive display screen for displaying an image including a pictorial representation of a location. A user supplies a request to the device for information relating to parts of the location shown in the pictorial representation. A GPS system and compass in the device produce data relating to the current position and current orientation of the device. A controller of the device responds to the data to select the pictorial representation.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device for printing plots includes a printhead, which has a plurality of nozzles, and is capable of performing a variety of servicing functions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide privacy for the consumer identity and protects information concerning advertisements accessed by the consumer while still providing marketing and demographic statistics to the merchant regarding those advertisement accesses. A consumer user interface provides the consumer easy control over what advertisements the consumer is receiving and allows the consumer to easily subscribe and unsubscribe from advertisements from either particular merchants or categories of products and services. A commerce server receives the request for services from the consumer user interface program and provides the requested advertisements from specific merchants or from selected categories.

Abstract: Described is a system with a plurality of subsystems, wherein at least one of the plurality of subsystems comprises one or more monitoring points relevant and representative for certain parameters of the respective subsystem, each one of the one or more monitoring points is connected with a respective diagnosis module for substantially permanently monitoring the respective monitoring point, and an evaluation unit is connected with each respective diagnosis module for receiving information therefrom about each respective monitoring point, and for evaluating the received information in order to draw conclusions about parameters and properties within the system. The system is preferably used in an automated test equipment system.

Abstract: A vacuum holddown has a holddown member with an outer surface for temporarily capturing a flexible sheet material via a vacuum force distributed across the outer surface through discrete vacuum channels. A vacuum force valve mechanism abuts an inner surface of the holddown member in a selectable sliding engagement. The valve mechanism has a pattern of apertures therethrough in predetermined pattern such that discrete valve mechanism positions produce discrete vacuum force patterns at the outer surface of the holddown member.

Abstract: A first embodiment of an adjustment circuit for a laser diode output power compensator includes a feedback circuit for adjusting the laser diode output power compensator so that the output power of the laser diode is substantially constant. The feedback circuit includes a photodiode for measuring the output power of a VCSEL diode. The signal from the photodiode is coupled to a first amplifier. The difference between the signal from the photodiode and a first reference value is amplified and coupled through electronic switches to selectively charge one of multiple capacitors. The multiple capacitors are each coupled to one of a drive current source, a compensation current source, and a voltage controlled resistor, each of which are voltage controlled. A second amplifier is used for amplifying the difference between the signal from the photodiode and a second reference value to charge a capacitor coupled to a voltage controlled bias current source.

Abstract: A detection system for measuring a dry time of a printing composition used by a printing device is disclosed. An embodiment of the detection system includes a source, a sensor, and a controller. The source is configured to transmit a first light signal toward a quantity of printing composition deposited on a print medium. A sensor is configured to detect a second light signal reflected by the printing composition in response to illumination by the first light signal, the second light signal having a magnitude that decreases to a substantially constant value as the printing composition dries over a period of time. The sensor is also configured to convert the second light signal into an electrical signal having a value proportional to the magnitude of the second light signal. The controller is coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the electrical signal from the sensor over the period of time the printing composition dries.

Abstract: A media handling system having an endless belt which carries a media sheet through a print zone achieves improved media advance accuracy by including closed loop feedback control. The position of either a drive shaft which rotates the endless belt or the endless belt itself is monitored to provide feedback to a drive motor. The drive motor is linked to the drive shaft through a gear train. The endless belt is rotated by the drive shaft, either directly, or through rollers mounted to the drive shaft.

Abstract: An embodiment of a temperature monitoring system can be used to determine the temperatures of assemblies in an apparatus. The embodiment of the temperature monitoring system includes a sensor that can measure different types of gaseous molecules. The embodiment of the temperature monitoring system further includes a monitoring device coupled to the sensor to generate parameters based upon the quantities of the different types of gaseous molecules emitted by the assemblies. A controller coupled to the monitoring device determines the temperatures of the assemblies using the parameters generated by the monitoring device. If the controller determines that the temperatures of one or more of the assemblies exceeds a maximum desired operating temperature, the controller reduces the amount of energy dissipated in the assemblies to reduce the temperatures of the assemblies.

Abstract: A telemetry system comprising a transmitter for transmitting signals, preferably electromagnetic signals, and a receiver for receiving the signals from the transmitter. The receiver comprises a receiver contact unit for providing a contact with a transmitter contact unit of the transmitter. The receiver contact unit and the transmitter contact unit are adapted to provide a data communication during a contact phase for assigning a transmission channel to the transmitter and/or to the receiver. The receiver may further include apparatus for monitoring a transmission activity in a pregiven channel range for determining possible channels in use, so that the transmission channel is assigned to the transmitter in accordance with the determined channels in use. The telemetry system according the invention is preferably used to for medical applications, such as pulsoximetry or electrocardiography.

Abstract: A system is provided for ensuring that a digital linear tape cartridge is inserted into a receiving device in the desired orientation with the tape door going into the receiving device last. The receiving device may be a sleeve with a pivoting lockout that rotates about a pin. The pivoting lockout will pivot freely out of the path of the digital linear tape cartridge only when the cartridge is inserted into the receiving device in the correct orientation with the tape door going into the receiving device last. The pivoting lockout will interfere with the digital linear tape cartridge if a user attempts to install the cartridge into the receiving device in any of the possible seven incorrect orientations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an error-correction method and apparatus for transmission of block-based coding standard compliant video data, such as H.263, MPEG or JPEG. A picture is divided into slices wherein each slice of the picture is coded into a group of blocks (GOB) in which each macroblock in the GOB is encoded only with reference to other macroblocks in the same GOB. An erasure slice, which is also a GOB, is then formed wherein the data for each macroblock of the erasure slice is determined by summing a corresponding macroblock in each of the GOBs containing slices of the picture. The GOBs containing slices of the picture are then transmitted, along with the GOB containing the erasure slice, as block-based coding standard compliant data packets. The result is that if any one of the GOBs containing slices of the picture is lost, then the lost GOB can be reconstructed from the remaining GOBs and the erasure slice.

Abstract: A magnetic memory with enhanced half-select margin includes an array of magnetic memory cells each having a data storage layer with an easy axis and an array of conductors each having an angle of orientation with respect to the easy axes that is preselected to enhance half-select margin in the magnetic memory. The angle of orientation is such that the longitudinal write field is enhanced and the perpendicular write field is minimized in a selected memory cell. The magnetic memory cells optionally includes a structured data storage layer including a control layer that minimizes the likelihood of half-select switching in the unselected magnetic memory cells.

Abstract: A molecular wire crossbar memory (MWCM) system is provided. The MWCM comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale devices, each device comprising a junction formed by a pair of crossed wires where one wire crosses another and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises a bi-stable molecular switch. The junction forms either a resistor or a diode or an asymmetric non-linear resistor. The junction has a state that is capable of being altered by application of a first voltage and sensed by application of a second, non-destructive voltage.

Abstract: Resistance of a selected memory cell in a Magnetic Random Access Memory ("MRAM") device is sensed by a read circuit including a direct injection charge amplifier, an integrator capacitor and an analog sense amplifier. The direct injection charge amplifier supplies current to the integrator capacitor while maintaining an equipotential voltage on non-selected memory cells in the MRAM device. As the direct injection charge amplifier applies a fixed voltage to the selected memory cell, the sense amplifier generates an input signal having a transition that is time-delayed according to the voltage on the integrator capacitor; generates a reference signal having a time-fixed transition; and compares a relative occurrence of transitions in the input and reference signals. The relative occurrence indicates whether a logic value of `0` or `1` is stored in the selected memory cell.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for providing pressurized ink to an ink jet printing system. The ink delivery system includes a collapsible ink reservoir containing ink, a pressure volume for applying pressure to the collapsible ink reservoir, a gas inlet into the pressure volume, a one-way valve for allowing gas flow into the pressure volume, a pressure source for providing pressurizing gas to the gas inlet, and a relief valve for limiting the pressure of the pressurizing gas.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for enhanced integration of signals, such as those generated by chromatographs. In one embodiment an approximate baseline used for integration of a signal is improved to reduce error. Alternate embodiments filter drift, noise, or both from a signal prior to integration or simulated distillation. The signals are processed according to a computer program stored in a memory. The methods include steps for subtracting an approximate baseline from the signal, defining a noise band in the resulting difference, and forming a composite baseline by substituting signal data for baseline data wherever the difference does not exceed the threshold, thus leaving the parts of the approximate baseline that correspond to signal peaks unchanged.