Abstract: A configurable computing device comprising a housing, a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller each coupled to the PCB, wherein the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller are in electrical signal communication with each other, a computer-on-module (COM) coupled to the PCB, wherein the COM is in electrical signal communication with the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller, and one or more peripheral modules coupled to the PCB, wherein, the peripheral modules are each in electrical signal communication with the first microcontroller and wherein, the peripheral modules are each in electrical signal communication with the COM via the second microcontroller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses genetically modified tobacco plants, and tobacco products derived from such plants, comprising a decrease in at least one amino acid such that upon heating and/or burning, the tobacco plant or a portion thereof generates reduced levels of a compound derived from the at least one amino acid as compared to an unmodified parent tobacco plant or a portion thereof In an embodiment, the tobacco generates reduced levels of acrylamide and/or acrylonitrile upon heating and/or burning of the tobacco as compared to an unmodified parent tobacco line. These plants are useful for improving tobacco products.

Abstract: An optical measurement device is provided includes a tracker device configured to emit a first beam of light and receive a portion of the first beam of light reflected off of a target. The first beam of light being emitted from a gimbal location, the tracker device further including an absolute distance meter configured to determine the distance to the target. A scanner device is provided that is configured to emit a second beam of light along a pathway without reversing direction and receive a portion of the second beam of light reflected off an object. The second beam of light being emitted from the gimbal location, the scanner further being configured to determine the distance to the object based at least in part on the speed of light.

Abstract: A distributed neighbor discovery module is disclosed where all neighbor discovery operations and functionalities may be distributed to a switch device processor. Each neighbor discovery process on a switch device may run as an individual neighbor discovery router node. There may be no coordination between neighbor discovery processes occurring on different switch devices. All other traffic, including both IPv6 control traffic and data traffic destined to the router may be processed by the central controller processor.

Abstract: A baffle for a weapon silencer includes an annular wall that defines an axial passageway. The annular wall defines a first section located adjacent to a first axial end and in which the diameter of the axial passageway increases from a smallest diameter adjacent to the first axial end to a largest diameter. The annular wall defines a second section having a spiraled vane is formed on an exterior surface of the annular wall. The annular wall defines a third section that is located adjacent to the second axial end, the third section having a plurality of ports that extend radially through the annular wall to allow communication between the axial passageway and an exterior.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method of formation provide a contact area formed at an angled end of at least one linearly extending conductive line. In an embodiment, conductive lines with contact landing pads are formed by patterning lines in a mask material, cutting at least one of the material lines to form an angle relative to the extending direction of the material lines, forming extensions from the angled end faces of the mask material, and patterning an underlying conductor by etching using said material lines and extension as a mask. In another embodiment, at least one conductive line is cut at an angle relative to the extending direction of the conductive line to produce an angled end face, and an electrical contact landing pad is formed in contact with the angled end face.

Abstract: A machine and method of adjusting audio effects of a game played on an electronic gaming machine. The machine and method featuring an electronic audio file format having a plurality of audio files, a plurality of text markers and a plurality of script files, with each audio file having an audio property that can provide a different acoustic effect. During processing and play of the audio file, a text marker associated with a predetermined script file can be identified. The text marker can stop the audio filed being played and play a second audio file with a different audio property different from the prior audio file.

Abstract: The proposed methodology enables finding the most efficient roots in the network to carry multicast traffic, while further providing a theoretical basis for such selection. It guarantees the minimum expected delivery cost for multicast frames in the absence of any knowledge about the source and receivers.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a computer-implemented data processing system and method for storing a data set at a plurality of data centers. The data centers and hosts within the data centers may, for example, be organized according to a multi-tiered ring arrangement. A hashing arrangement may be used to implement the ring arrangement to select the data centers and hosts where the writing and reading of the data sets occurs. Version histories may also be written and read at the hosts and may be used to evaluate causal relationships between the data sets after the reading occurs.

Abstract: In a flash memory two or more pages in a plane are read in rapid succession by maintaining global word line voltages throughout multiple page reads, and by simultaneously transitioning the old selected word line from a discrimination voltage to a read voltage and transitioning the new selected word line from the read voltage to a discrimination voltage.

Abstract: Communications with an automobile are in the form of messages. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. Messages may contain a recall notice to the automobile, map information or advertising information concerning selected entities depending on the current location of the automobile. Messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain location of the automobile or dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that are capable of synchronizing an industrial process. The industrial process may include a plurality of process levels. A visualization group may be displayed, showing the various levels of a process. A transition group may be graphically defined that allows for the linking of the transitions between the various process levels. In certain embodiments, sequential function charts (SFC) may include expanded capabilities that allow for the visual definition, editing, and review of the transition groups. Such SFC embodiments may be capable of process flow synchronization across any levels of the modeled process.

Abstract: An SOI wafer contains a compressively stressed buried insulator structure. In one example, the stressed buried insulator (BOX) may be formed on a host wafer by forming silicon oxide, silicon nitride and silicon oxide layers so that the silicon nitride layer is compressively stressed. Wafer bonding provides the surface silicon layer over the stressed insulator layer. Preferred implementations of the invention form MOS transistors by etching isolation trenches into a preferred SOI substrate having a stressed BOX structure to define transistor active areas on the surface of the SOI substrate. Most preferably the trenches are formed deep enough to penetrate through the stressed BOX structure and some distance into the underlying silicon portion of the substrate. The overlying silicon active regions will have tensile stress induced due to elastic edge relaxation.

Abstract: An erase operation for a 3D stacked memory device assigned storage elements to groups according to an expected erase speed. The storage elements are then erased according to their group to provide a more uniform erase depth and a tighter erase distribution. In one approach, the control gate voltages are set differently for the different groups to slow down the storage elements which are expected to have a faster programming speed. An erase or inhibit status can be set for all groups together. In another approach, the control gate voltages are common for the different groups but an erase or inhibit status is set for each group separately.

Abstract: An industrial social media platform facilitates sharing of design, maintenance, and operational information relating to a planned or installed industrial control system. The industrial social media platform shares information between personnel involved in the design and testing of the control system, including plant engineers, original equipment manufacturers, system integrators, maintenance personnel, and equipment operators. The industrial social media platform creates an industrial social media page for a new control system prior to or during the design phase. Subscribers to the industrial social media page can share relevant information during design and testing of the industrial system, including design specifications, preferred engineering standards, schedules, acceptance test results, etc. After the industrial control system is deployed, the industrial social media page can be re-configured to share data relating to operation and maintenance of the system.

Abstract: Panelized packaging is described in which a plurality of die units are placed on a dielectric film. The dielectric film is then cured to lock the plurality of die unit in place, which are then encapsulated. The cured dielectric film is then patterned utilizing a mask-less pattering technique.

Abstract: An erase process for a 3D stacked memory device controls a drain-side select gate (SGD) and a source-side select gate (SGS) of a NAND string. In one approach, SGD and SGS are driven to provide a predictable drain-to-gate voltage across the select gates while an erase voltage is applied to a bit line or source line. A more consistent gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) at the select gates can be generated to charge up the body of the NAND string. Further, the select gate voltage can be stepped up with the erase voltage to avoid an excessive drain-to-gate voltage across the select gates which causes degradation. The step up in the select gate voltage can begin with the first erase-verify iteration of an erase operation, or at a predetermined or adaptively determined erase-verify iteration, such as based on a number of program-erase cycles.

Abstract: A network apparatus comprising a trunk end point associated with an Ethernet-tree (E-Tree) service in a network domain and configured to forward a frame that comprises a tag according to the tag in the frame, wherein the tag in the frame is a root tag that indicates a root source of the frame or a leaf tag that indicates a leaf source of the frame, and wherein the trunk end point is coupled to a second end point associated with the E-tree service outside the network domain.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for inferring node and link information from traceroute data in order to generate topology information. A system receives traceroute data for a data packet that traverses a path from a source to a destination. The system infers port types for the addresses in the traceroute data and groups subsets of the addresses in the traceroute data into logical nodes based on neighbor relationships demonstrated in backward and forward neighbors sets. The system then generates node and link information based on the inferred and grouped information.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling an external module for enterprise application to be embedded to a mobile phone. The external module is provided with a microcontroller configured with a plurality of serial buses and a device driver together implemented in the battery cover of the mobile phone. A generic driver is implemented to support various serial communication interfaces and data exchanges. Further, the external module communicates with the mobile phone using an operating system (OS) application programming interface (API) on the mobile phone. A data sheet and a software development kit (SDK) are provided for third parties to develop and implement their own accessories to be embedded on this external interface into the mobile phone. Further, specific phone case is equipped to accommodate different module(s)/sub-modules and to retain the combination in a single unit.