Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes: a plurality of light receiving portions arranged in a matrix, and a vertical transfer register which is four-phase driven by first, second, third and fourth transfer electrodes of a three-layer structure. The vertical transfer register is provided for each of columns of the light receiving portions. The first and third transfer electrodes of the first layer are alternately arranged in a charge transfer direction, and the adjacent two of the first and third transfer electrodes extend in parallel to each other between the light receiving portions. With this solid-state image pickup device, the accumulated charge capacity of each transfer region composed of the adjacent transfer electrodes for two-phases is equalized and the area of the light receiving portion is increased irrespective of variations in processed dimension between the transfer electrodes.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for integrating microchannel cooling modules within high-density electronic modules (e.g., chip packages, system-on-a-package modules, etc.,) comprising multiple high-performance IC chips. Electronic modules are designed such that high-performance (high power) IC chips are disposed in close proximity to the integrated cooling module (or cooling plate) for effective heat extraction. Moreover, electronic modules which comprise large surface area silicon carriers with multiple chips face mounted thereon are designed such that integrated silicon cooling modules are rigidly bonded to the back surfaces of such chips to increase the structural integrity of the silicon carriers.

Abstract: A first electrophoretic medium comprises an electrically charged particle suspended in a suspending fluid, the particle having a polymeric shell having repeating units derived from at least one monomer the homopolymer of which is incompatible with the suspending fluid. A second, similar electrophoretic medium comprises a suspending fluid, and first and second types of electrically charged particle suspended in the suspending fluid, the two types of particle having differing optical characteristics but both having polymeric shells. The polymeric shells are arranged such that homoaggregation of the two types of particles is thermodynamically favored over heteroaggregation.

Abstract: Provided are a manufacturing method for a magnetic recording medium enabling efficient and reliable manufacturing of a magnetic recording medium with minimal surface roughness and good precision in recording and reading information, and a magnetic recording medium with a high degree of surface recording density and good precision in recording and reading information. The magnetic recording medium is constructed by forming a divided recording layer and the like onto a substantially flat base surface of a dummy, such that the base surface side of the dummy serves as a front surface, and a substrate is also attached, after which the dummy is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method to synchronize group state data in a primary-backup group in connection with the rejoining of a member to the primary-backup group in a clustered computer system. Each member in the group includes a copy of replicated group state data for the primary-backup group. In connection with rejoining the member, it is determined whether the rejoining member is the primary member for the primary-backup group. Then, a selection is made between member and group overwrite operations based upon such determination. The member overwrite operation includes overwriting the copy of the replicated group state data for the rejoining member with data from the copy of the replicated group state data for an existing member in the primary-backup group. The group overwrite operation includes overwriting the copy of the replicated group state data for the existing member in the primary-backup group with data from the copy of the replicated group state data for the rejoining member.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for providing authorization to a customer to access content on a network. A network access provider providing network access to the customer provides verification of the identity of the customer to a content provider. The content provider then determines whether that customer is authorized to access the content and, if so, provides the customer with such access. The invention provides content access based on the identity of the customer, rather than on the identity of a device the customer uses to access the content. In that way, the customer is not restricted to accessing the content through only an authorized device.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an impulse radio distance measuring system comprising an impulse radio transceiver by conducting a pulse through a transmit receive switch to an antenna, receiving return energy which has been discharged across the transmit receive switch, determining a time of arrival of the return energy. The return energy is comprised of two distinct pulses, one of which represents discharge of the transmit switch as the original pulse travels to the antenna, the second represents energy reflected from the antenna and again discharged across the transmit receive switch while the switch is in the transmit position. The timing of the un-reflected energy is determined then the timing of the reflected energy relative to the un-reflected energy is determined through auto-correlation of the time domain scan of the received composite waveforms.

Abstract: A laser beam from a pickup is focused on an information recording medium, such as a DVD-R/RW, to record information. When the power of the laser beam is calibrated, the laser beam emitted from the pickup is received by a light receiving unit such as an FMD. The level of the received laser beam is detected, the power ratio of the laser beam is determined based on the result, and the power of the laser beam is calibrated so that the power ratio matches a predetermined reference power ratio. This method enables information to be recorded with optimum recording characteristic because the reference power ratio shows the power ratio for recording information at the optimum characteristics.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for forming an image on an optical disk according to dot data which defines density of dots of the image, the optical disk apparatus includes: a framing unit which makes a frame data by grouping a plurality of unit data, wherein when the dot data, the dot data are treated as the unit data; a pit forming unit which sequentially forms pits defined by a bit train signal of the frame data; a discrimination unit which determines whether the section in the frame data corresponding to the dot data is a predetermined value; and a gate unit which, in case the discrimination result by the discrimination unit is affirmative, supplies the bit train signal to the pit forming unit and, in case the discrimination result by the discrimination unit is negative, interrupts supply of the bit train signal to the pit forming unit.

Abstract: Communicating with a distributed service in the network computing environment. A method for communicating with a distributed service includes referencing a configuration registry to determine resources and permissions in a potential distributed service entry. A potential distributed service entry identifies a distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry that is authorized to exist by virtue of an entry in the configuration registry for the potential distributed service entry specifying that the distributed service may exist, whether or not the distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry exists. The method further includes using the resource information, attempting to contact the distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry. Permissions of the distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry are verified to match permissions of the potential distributed service entry.

Abstract: An antifuse device (120) that includes a bias element (124) and an programmable antifuse element (128) arranged in series with one another so as to form a voltage divider having an output node (F) located between the bias and antifuse elements. When the antifuse device is in its unprogrammed state, each of the bias element and antifuse element is non-conductive. When the antifuse device is in its programmed state, the bias element remains non-conductive, but the antifuse element is conductive. The difference in the resistance of the antifuse element between its unprogrammed state and programmed state causes the difference in voltages seen at the output node to be on the order of hundreds of mili-volts when a voltage of 1 V is applied across the antifuse device. This voltage difference is so high that it can be readily sensed using a simple sensing circuit (228).

Abstract: Method for transferring service for a mobile station call signal from a first base transceiver station to a second base transceiver station in a wireless mobile telecommunication system, while a call is in progress. The method can include receiving at a base transceiver station an access burst from a mobile station with a call already in progress and requiring service from the base transceiver station. Based on the received access burst, the base transceiver station can electronically steer a beam of an adaptive antenna array of the base transceiver station toward a location of the mobile station.

Abstract: A hardware Secure Processing Unit (SPU) is described that can perform both security functions and other information appliance functions using the same set of hardware resources. Because the additional hardware required to support security functions is a relatively small fraction of the overall device hardware, this type of SPU can be competitive with ordinary non-secure CPUs or microcontrollers that perform the same functions. A set of minimal initialization and management hardware and software is added to, e.g., a standard CPU/microcontroller. The additional hardware and/or software creates an SPU environment and performs the functions needed to virtualize the SPU's hardware resources so that they can be shared between security functions and other functions performed by the same CPU.

Abstract: Techniques relating to spectral color management are described. In one example, a process receives spectral color data associated with a physical color response. In this example the process also processes the spectral color data into device data suitable for a target device while maintaining an ability to replicate the physical color response from the device data.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions which modulate the interaction with nerve growth factor and precursors thereof with neurotrophic receptors. Also disclosed are methods of using the compositions of the invention, including methods of administration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fire hydrant locating system which includes a hydrant locator that facilitates the location of a hydrant by firefighters, particularly in an emergency vehicle such as a fire engine. The hydrant locator as secured to the hydrant cylinder has a low profile. The hydrant locating system includes a transmitter adapted to be located in the emergency vehicle. Upon actuation of a switch in the transmitter in the emergency vehicle a receiver-signal generator in the hydrant locator will be activated to set off strobe lights to alert firefighters of the hydrant location. The receiver-signal generator in the hydrant locator includes a strobe light structure. The transmitter can be set such that when actuated it will activate only those hydrant locators within a preselected range such as approximately 1500 feet.

Abstract: A piezoelectric perimeter security system for differentiating between threatening and non-threatening breaches in a property's perimeter and also for article of property containment and pet containment. The system consists of at least one piezoelectric sensor in electrical communication with a conductor wire. When compressed or stressed, voltage is generated within the sensor that is proportional to the amount of force compressing or stressing the cable. A processing device receives this voltage and converts it to a local activity signal. This signal is then compared with other signals stored in the system's memory in order to identify the type of entity causing the voltage across the cable. If the entity is deemed a security threat then an appropriate countermeasure such as a siren or other alert is actuated. The conductor wire also carries a signal received by a signal receiver that is placed on either a pet or an article of property.

Abstract: Information that is no longer valid due to the passage of time is not provided to a user. When a stock price information server acquires updated stock price information from a securities market network, a message that instructs that a predetermined application be started up and to which a term of validity has been attached is sent to a user terminal over a paging channel via an SMS server. When the user terminal receives the message, it determines whether or not the message is within the term of validity, and if it determines that the message is within the term of validity, starts up the instructed application from among a plurality of applications that are stored. The stock price information server then sends to the user terminal the stock price information that is requested by the started up application.