Patents Examined by Fred Ferris
  • Patent number: 6970811
    Abstract: Via simple electronic circuitry, an analog voltage that tracks the LED light output is produced. This analog voltage is read by an A/D converter to ascertain an approximate relative light output of the LED so that light output compensation can be quickly calculated. A resistor-capacitor circuit is used to approximate the behavior of the LED light output. The output voltage from this circuit is sampled and used along with a sensed ambient temperature to adjust the exposure time of an image capture system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul A. Boerger, Keith Forrest
  • Patent number: 6965852
    Abstract: A driver module is provided that generates test patterns with desired tendencies. The driver module provides these test patterns to controlling code for simulation of a hardware model. The test patterns are generated by creating and connecting subgraphs in a Markov chain. The Markov model describes a plurality of states, each having a probability of going to at least one other state. Markov models may be created to determine whether to drive an interface in the hardware model and to determine the command to drive through the interface. Once the driver module creates and connects the subgraphs of the Markov models, the driver module initiates a random walk through the Markov chains and provides the commands to the controlling code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Adam Stuecheli
  • Patent number: 6959269
    Abstract: A system and method for simulating a flow field are disclosed. A grid having cells is generated. Each cell is associated with a set of variables that describe a flow field. A value for each variable of each cell is calculated from a previous value at each period for a predetermined number of periods. The calculated values for each variable are averaged to yield an averaged value for each variable. A flow field is determined from the averaged values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Tracy J. Welterlen
  • Patent number: 6952664
    Abstract: A system and methods for simulating the performance (e.g., miss rate) of one or more caches. A cache simulator comprises a segmented list of buffers, with each buffer configured to store a data identifier and an identifier of the buffer's segment. Data references, which may be copied from an operational cache, are applied to the list to conduct the simulation. Initial estimates of each cache's miss rate include the number of references that missed all segments of the list plus the hits in all segments not part of the cache. A correction factor is generated from the ratio of actual misses incurred by the operational cache to the estimated misses for a simulated cache of the same size as the operational cache. Final predictions are generated by multiplying the initial estimates by the correction factor. The size of the operational cache may be dynamically adjusted based on the final predictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Oracle International Corp.
    Inventors: Tirthankar Lahiri, Juan R. Loaiza, Arvind Nithrakashyap, William H. Bridge
  • Patent number: 6947881
    Abstract: A shared vehicle system includes a central facility, at least one vehicle distribution port facility and a plurality or fleet of vehicles, each having a vehicle subsystem. In general, the central station and port facility and the vehicle subsystems communicate in a manner to allow a user to enter information at a port facility. That information is then communicated to the central facility, where the information is processed to select a vehicle from the fleet to allocate to the user at the port facility. Selection of a vehicle for allocation to a user may be based on selecting an available or soon to be available vehicle according to various algorithms that take into account the vehicles state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murakami, Shunji Yano, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Matthew James Barth, Michael Donovan Todd
  • Patent number: 6944582
    Abstract: A method of designing a memory device that has substantially reduced bitline voltage offsets is provided. The method includes providing a memory core having a depth that defines a plurality of words, and a word width that is defined by multiple pairs of a global bitline and a global complementary bitline. The method also includes designing a core cell having a bitline and a complementary bitline, and designing a flipped core cell that has a flipped bitline and a flipped complementary bitline. Further, the method includes arranging a core cell followed by a flipped core cell along each of the multiple pairs of the global bitline and the global complementary bitline. Preferably, the bitline of the core cell is coupled with the flipped complementary bitline of the flipped core cell, and the complementary bitline of the core cell is coupled to the flipped bitline of the flipped core cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Artisan Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott T. Becker
  • Patent number: 6937969
    Abstract: Simulation methods and simulators are presented which operate on a computer under software control. Said computer simulation methods and simulators are specially suited for simulating digital circuits and mixed analog digital circuits. The methods enable efficient simulation, meaning resulting in a fast simulation while still obtaining accurate results. With fast simulation is meant that the simulation can be completed in a short simulation time. Accurate means that the signals obtained or determined by simulation are good approximations of the signals that would be measured when the circuit, which representation is under simulation, is actually running in real world. Indeed the simulation methods and the related simulation apparatus or simulator exploits a representation of a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignees: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC), Vrije Unirversiteit Brussel
    Inventors: Gerd Vandersteen, Pierre Wambacq, Yves Rolain, Petr Dobrovolny
  • Patent number: 6937968
    Abstract: A system and method for orbital planning allows iterative calculations of orbital parameters to be accomplished in an automated way with one parameter solution serving as input to the next parameter's calculation. A software program employs a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow a space mission analyst to set up a series of sub-problems of any desired level of complexity. The program then implements the series automatically and sequentially, incorporating the solution to one sub-problem into the input to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Analytical Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Carrico, Frank T. Stoner
  • Patent number: 6931364
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a technique of volume detailing a building structure that allow for the consideration of the positioning of various structural and non-structural components. Initially, a three dimensional building structure volume is created. Next, a three dimensional component is positioned at a desired location in the three dimensional building structure volume. Finally, the three dimensional building structure volume is sectioned at a point of interest to provide a building structure profile that includes a component profiled if the three dimensional component extends through the point of interest. In another embodiment, a plurality of additional component profiles are placed within the building structure profile at the point of interest such that the additional component profiles do not interfere with one another or interfere with the component profile of the three dimensional component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Inventor: G. Douglas Anturna
  • Patent number: 6915251
    Abstract: A memory device design is provided. The memory device includes a memory core having a depth that defines a plurality of words, and a word width that is defined by multiple pairs of a global bitline and a global complementary bitline. The memory device further includes a core cell having a bitline and a complementary bitline, and a flipped core cell that has a flipped bitline and a flipped complementary bitline. The multiple pairs of the global bitline and the global complementary bitline have a plurality of core cells that are defined by alternating ones of the core cell and the flipped core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Artisan Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott T. Becker
  • Patent number: 6907391
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for designing an energy-absorbing impact zone for a vehicle interior, including acquiring test data representative of an occupant, determining a force versus deflection curve for the vehicle impact zone, analyzing the force versus deflection curve, and utilizing the analysis to adjust the stiffness of the energy-absorbing impact zone and to shape the force versus deflection curve so that a constant area under the force versus deflection curve has the minimum deflection possible without exceeding a certain force limit and a certain head impact criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Val A. Bellora, Ryan W. Krauss, Martin Lambrecht, Lambert J. Van Poolen, Paul E. Thoma
  • Patent number: 6895334
    Abstract: Optical properties with high non-linearity such as a modulation transfer function (MTF) are efficiently optimized at high speed compared to conventional methods. An optimal solution of an optical system is obtained in a first optimization unit using a merit function on aberration. Weights or target values of the merit function on aberration is automatically adjusted in a second optimization unit in a manner that an evaluated value of the MTF or the like approaches a desired value. The first optimization unit re-optimizes the optical system using the weights or target values which have been automatically adjusted. Thus, automated is a function equivalent to the operation which has been conducted by a designer such as adjustment to weights or target values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Yabe
  • Patent number: 6895372
    Abstract: A method and system for visualizing circuit operation. In the method device activity is obtained based on one or more of measured or simulated activity. The device activity is expressed in a representation, and the expressed activity is represented in a visual form. One suitable form of activity is the simulated version of the PICA slow motion movie. The invention may apply to other simulated design data vies as well, such as switch level simulation, current density simulation, and power density simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel R. Knebel, Mark A. Lavin, Jamie Moreno, Stanislav Polonsky, Pia N. Sanda, Steven H. Voldman
  • Patent number: 6876960
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for assembling and operating a physical system having a plurality of structural elements and structural interconnections from a remote location. The method includes the step of creating a graphical representation of the physical system at the remote location showing the elements and connections of the system to be assembled. The method further includes the steps of converting the graphical representation into an element list delineating the elements and the interconnections, transferring the element list from the remote location to an element controller and assembling and operating the system by the element controller in accordance with the element list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: David L. Naylor, Stephan C. Werges
  • Patent number: 6873946
    Abstract: A method for presenting a graphic user interface (GUI) facilitating generation of selected ones of a Euler grid and a Navier-Stokes grid from a single set of predetermined parameters includes step for defining the geometry of a vehicle to be tested, defining the environment in which the vehicle is to tested, generating the selected ones of the Euler grid and the Navier-Stokes grid responsive the set of predetermined parameters generated in two defining steps, and post-processing the output of the generating step. Computer readable instructions for permitting a general purpose computer to instantiate a graphic user interface (GUI) generating selected ones of a Euler grid and a Navier-Stokes grid from a single set of predetermined parameters and a storage medium storing the computer readable instructions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David F. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6868371
    Abstract: A spatially-resolved spectrometer is used to measure streaking in molded sample plastic parts produced using a molding tool with various mold inserts which produce certain desired topological surface features upon these sample plastic parts. The measurements from one or more of these sample plastic parts are then provided to a computerized device which appropriately filters the data and calculates overall data shape, average peak and valley shift, and a quality number indicative of data slopes. These calculations are then used to determine an optimum set of ingredients and processing conditions to be used for the full-scale plastic part production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandra Freedman Feldman, Andrew Joseph Poslinski, Harsha Mysore Hatti, Craig Alan Cantello, James Louis Cifarelli, Kena Kimi Yokoyama, Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Shmigol, Hua Wang, James Paul Barren, Arthur Joseph Osborn
  • Patent number: 6862559
    Abstract: A method for computing a diversity measure H(m) for combinatorial structures involves identifying all M possible substructures having m elements from among the n elements of the combinatorial structure. The number of the substructures that are similar to each such substructure is determined, and the frequency of each distinct substructure is calculated using the number of similar substructures and the total number of substructures M. The method uses the frequency of each distinct substructure to compute an entropy corresponding to m. By the same process described above, and entropy corresponding to m+1 is computed. The entropy corresponding to m+1 is subtracted from the entropy corresponding to m to produce the diversity measure H(m). In the preferred embodiment, similar substructures are determined by being identical or isomorphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Tad Hogg
  • Patent number: 6859769
    Abstract: The present invention provides a graphical user interface and software architecture that empowers the user to create new vectors, axes, points, coordinate systems, and other elements, and combinations thereof. The explicit means of creating coordinate systems and primitives are carried out via user input, imported data from files, or any other means of supplying numerical data to computer programs. In addition to geometrical relationships, coordinate system definitions can describe rates of change in the primitives, thus providing additional ways to create vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Analytical Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergei Tanygin
  • Patent number: 6850876
    Abstract: A cell-based binning method (“Data Driven” binning method) allows the inclusion of all molecules, generates a high percentage of occupied cells, and provides adequate division of the molecules in the low-dimensional subspaces (typically all one-dimension (1-D), two-dimension (2-D), and three-dimension (3-D) subspaces). A chemical space coverage criterion (“Uniform Cell Coverage (UCC)” criterion) measures the uniformity of coverage of the molecules selected. A fast exchange design algorithm (“fast exchange UCC” algorithm) that minimizes the number of searches of the candidate points while maximizing the number of exchanges during each pass through the candidate points. This method is many times faster than previous exchange algorithms and generates designs with good coverage properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond L. H. Lam, William J. Welch, Sidney Stanley Young
  • Patent number: 6845351
    Abstract: A simulation device and method to simulate the electric current flowing in electronic devices using the moment method, and to execute accurate simulation processing when the electronic device has an amplifier. An allocating device allocates defining dipoles to the input terminal and output terminal of an amplifier of an electronic device for the purpose of deriving the electric current flowing in the element. A creating device creates a simultaneous equation of the moment method having a form such that the amplifier input impedance is inserted into the input terminal dipole allocated by the allocating device, and the amplifier output impedance, or its inverse, and a dependent energy source responding to the amplification characteristics of the amplifier are inserted into the output terminal dipole allocated by the allocating device. A solving device solves the simultaneous equation of the moment method created by creating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Kishimoto, Shinichi Ohtsu