Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently implementing a rake receiver which allows for rake receiver elements, e.g., fingers, to be dynamically assigned to antenna elements are described. In at least some embodiments multiple antennas are used. Rake elements are allocated to antennas in a dynamic manner with sets of weights also being assigned dynamically, e.g., based on channel estimates. Rake finger assignment to antenna's is made, in some embodiments, to maximize signal recovery taking into consideration the channel conditions detected by each antenna for the various delays that may be supported. Through the dynamic assignment of rake finger's to antenna's, a single rake finger may be coupled to different antennas at different times allowing for more efficient use as compared to systems where rake fingers are dedicated on a fixed basis to an individual antenna.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals and to set a level of each of the rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, the controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to the monitored parameters, the controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of detecting specific cell surface antigens present in a sample of cells being tested and in particular blood group antigens, which methods do not employ the addition of extrinsic labels to detect said cell surface antigens. Typically detection is carried out using an intrinsic fluorescence capability of the cells being tested.

Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a sensor package having an attachment pad with a radiation source and a radiation detector housed within the sensor package. The source and the detector are held in a fixed relation to the attachment pad, and are mounted by one of a direct or indirect attachment to the attachment pad. A portion of the attachment pad is adapted to form a baffle which forms at least part of an optical isolator. The optical isolator is adapted to substantially prevent the internal propagation of radiation between the source and the detector within the sensor package.

Abstract: An optical navigation device for use with mobile telephones and the like is disclosed, which has a reduced height as compared with current designs. The navigation device comprises a laser such as a VCSEL laser, an exposed user surface and two other surfaces that provide for total internal reflection of the incident laser beam. The surfaces are constructed with shallower than normal angles, preserving the basic functionality of the device while reducing the height.

Abstract: A sensor package includes a radiation source and a radiation detector provided on a substrate. A cover member is mounted on or affixed to the substrate over the source and detector. The cover member includes an opaque housing, a first transparent portion provided over the source, a second transparent portion provided over the detector and a transparent insert within the housing and positioned at one of said transparent portions. An opaque protrusion is provided on the housing separating a region associate with the first transparent portion (and radiation source) from a region associated with the second transparent portion (and detector), the protrusion attached to a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals and to set a level of each of the rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, the controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to the monitored parameters, the controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stabilizer composition for halogen-containing polymers and polymer mixtures, comprising at least one metal salt of isocyanuric acid, isothiocyanuric acid or a derivative thereof, to a process for the preparation thereof, the thus produced stabilizer compositions, polymer compositions comprising the stabilizer compositions, and to methods of using the stabilizer compositions.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes a frame, and a pivoting conveyor coupled to the frame. The pivoting conveyor includes a pivotable conveyor section having a free end shaped for supporting objects and a first conveying surface. The first pivotable conveyor section is pivotally coupled to the frame about a vertical axis for pivoting the free end from side-to-side, and a horizontal axis for pivoting the free end up and down. The pivoting conveyor also includes a second non-pivotable conveyor section having a second conveying surface. Furthermore, the pivoting conveyor includes a fixed transition plate located adjacent to the second conveying surface, and a shuttling transition plate located adjacent to the first conveying surface. The shuttling transition plate is configured to move laterally from side-to-side relative to the first conveying surface as the first pivotable conveyor section pivots about the vertical axis.

Abstract: A solid dispersion of pigment for an aqueous composition includes a pigment and an ethoxylated alcohol. The solid dispersion of pigment is adapted for being directly incorporated into the aqueous composition with reduced shear for coloration. A method of preparing a solid dispersion of pigment for an aqueous composition with reduced shear mixing includes heating the mixture of an ethoxylated alcohol and a pigment, and cooling the mixture to obtain the solid dispersion of pigment.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals and to set a level of each of the rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, the controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to the monitored parameters, the controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus comprising a frame removably connectable to an extendable conveyor and a pivoting conveyor coupled to the frame. The pivoting conveyor includes a slewing conveyor section pivotally coupled to the frame for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, and a tiltable conveyor section having one end pivotally coupled to the slewing conveyor section for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis and an opposing free end shaped for receiving objects being unloaded from the shipping container. Each section includes a conveying surface for conveying the objects from the free end of the tiltable conveyor section, and toward the extendable conveyor. The free end of the tiltable conveyor section can be moved from side-to-side by pivoting the slewing conveyor section about the vertical axis, and can be moved up and down by pivoting the tiltable conveyor section about the horizontal axis independent of the slewing conveyor section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals and to set a level of each of the rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, the controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to the monitored parameters, the controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering symbols from control and data channels corresponding to a plurality of users is described. Samples corresponding to control channel signals from multiple users are processed on a time shared basis with various control channel processing elements being reused multiple times to processes the samples and recover signals, e.g., symbols, corresponding to the plurality of users. While the control channel processing elements are used on a time shared basis, a separate data channel processing chain or module maybe provided for each of the plurality of users. In some embodiments the order of despreading and filtering is reversed for the control and data channel signal processing.

Abstract: A method of calculating the noise power in a received signal containing a pilot channel, the method comprising estimating the power of the received signal, estimating the power of the pilot channel and calculating the noise power as a function of the estimated signal and the pilot channel powers. The noise power thus deduced may be used as a parameter of a function defining a channel quality indicator. The invention extends to corresponding apparatus.

Abstract: A lens mounting assembly includes a lens barrel with a first lens assembly. A lens mount includes an image sensor, and the lens barrel matingly connects with the lens mount in a manner which allows the first lens assembly to be moved along an optical axis to adjust a focus on the image sensor. A second lens assembly is provided for adjusting the focus on the image sensor during use of the lens. An alignment projection is provided on at least one of the first or second lens assemblies, the alignment projection being adapted to mate with a portion of the other of the first or second lens assemblies in order to directly optically align the first and second lens assemblies with the image sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a pre-filter rake architecture with various features designed to, in at least some circumstances, to lessen the data processing burden associated with the architecture. In one embodiment, the pre-filter aspect can be disabled.

Abstract: A handle for a kitchen utensil or the like includes a hand gripping section having a rearward push/pull valley with a varying, substantially elliptical cross-section that forms a floor, a push slope tapering up and forward from the floor, and a pull slope tapering up and back from the floor. The radial cross-sectional area of an end of the pull slope and a radial cross-sectional area of an end of the push slope each are substantially larger than a radial cross-sectional area of the floor. The handle section further includes a ring stop section disposed forward of the push/pull valley with one or more concentric rings extending above a surface of the handle member. The kitchen utensil includes a blade mating section disposed forward of the handle section and configured to receive a blade.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals and to set a level of each of the rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, the controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to the monitored parameters, the controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals and to set a level of each of the rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, the controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to the monitored parameters, the controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.