Abstract: Various techniques are provided to detect a state of a communication signal. In one example, a method of detecting a state of a signal includes receiving a differential communication signal comprising a positive portion and a complementary negative portion. The method also includes generating a common mode voltage signal from the positive portion and the negative portion of the communication signal. The method also includes rectifying the positive portion and the negative portion of the communication signal to provide a rectified signal. The method also includes comparing the common mode voltage, signal with the rectified signal. The method also includes generating a high frequency detect signal in response to the comparing. The method also includes determining whether the communication signal is in an idle state or a high frequency state based on the high frequency detect signal.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to detect a state of a communication signal. In one example, a method of detecting a state of a signal includes receiving a differential communication signal comprising a positive portion and a complementary negative portion. The method also includes filtering the positive portion of the communication signal through a first low pass filter to provide a filtered positive portion of the communication signal. The method also includes filtering the negative portion of the communication signal through a second low pass filter to provide a filtered negative portion of the communication signal. The method also includes comparing the filtered positive portion of the communication signal with an internal reference voltage. The method also includes comparing the filtered negative portion of the communication signal with the internal reference voltage.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining if video content provided to a device is still being viewed, without disrupting the presentation of the content. A device is monitored for input from the user, wherein the device is configured to present content to the user. A determination is made whether the user input is within a predetermined time period. A control signal is generated to change the presentation of the content without explicitly notifying the user of the change, wherein the presentation of content will cease if the user input is not within the predetermined period.

Abstract: A method for placing targeted advertisements on parcel packages moving on a conveyor. The method includes electronically scanning, via a processing device, information regarding one or more packages to be delivered to one or more recipients. Promotion data regarding one or more promotions targeted to the one or more recipients is retrieved. An arrival time for the one or more packages to arrive at a print station is determined based on a rate at which the one or more packages are moving on the conveyor. The promotion data is spooled to the print station at a spool time based on the arrival time. The one or more promotion labels associated with the promotion data are applied on the one or more packages at the print station in synchronization with the package movement rate.

Abstract: A method performed by one or more computing devices includes receiving, by a data center and from a user device via a public network connection, a selection of high-definition three-dimensional (HD3D) content and sending, by the data center and to the user device, a link to a content delivery system to provide the selected HD3D content. The method also includes receiving, by the content delivery system and from the user device, a streaming request for the selected HD3D content; reserving, by the content delivery system, bandwidth, for the selected HD3D content, within a managed network; and sending, by the content delivery system and to the user device, a streaming Internet protocol (IP) address for providing the selected HD3D content over the managed network.

Abstract: A method for displaying messages that are placed on packages being shipped to consumers in the form of labels that are targeted to specific consumers based on publicly available data or shopping behavior data. The method includes receiving information regarding one or more packages to be delivered to one or more recipients. The method also includes retrieving promotion data regarding one or more promotions targeted to the one or more recipients. One or more personalized promotion labels are generated from the promotion data. An identifier is assigned to each of the one or more personalized promotion labels corresponding to the one or more recipients, wherein a given identifier identifies a given one of the one or more packages on which to place a given personalized promotion label associated with the given identifier. The one or more personalized promotion labels are transmitted to one or more output devices for placement of the one or more personalized promotion labels on the one or more packages.

Abstract: A charge pump is configured to control current flow at an output node in response to input signals. A plurality of control signals are generated based upon the input signals. The control signals operate to control the timing and duration of current flows within the charge pump and to thereby reduce charge pump power consumption. Based upon the control signals, the conductivity of a first path between a power supply and the output node and a second path between the output node and a ground potential is varied. Optionally, the charge pump is disposed as part of a phase-locked loop (PLL), the input signals are produced by a phase/frequency detector, and current flow at the output node controls an oscillator element.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining if video content provided to a device is still being viewed, without disrupting the presentation of the content. A device is monitored for input from the user, wherein the device is configured to present content to the user. A determination is made whether the user input is within a predetermined time period. A control signal is generated to change the presentation of the content without explicitly notifying the user of the change, wherein the presentation of content will cease if the user input is not within the predetermined period.

Abstract: An air cleaner, which includes a casing having an enclosed air passage with a ventilation pipe for guiding in outdoor air, a windpipe affixed to one side of the casing for circulation of indoor air, a damper pivotally mounted in between the casing and the windpipe for controlling the passage the casing and the windpipe and flowing direction of air between the casing and the windpipe, and an air filter and a negative ion generator mounted in the windpipe for cleaning air passing through the windpipe.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus and method in which separate first and second positioning tables are provided for mounting electronic devices to be wire bonded, and a bonding tool is provided at a bonding position for bonding the electronic devices. First and second loading/unloading positions are provided for loading electronic devices to or unloading electronic devices from the positioning tables. The first and second positioning tables are operative to move independently of each other, such that the first positioning table is movable between the first loading/unloading position and the bonding position and the second positioning table is movable between the second loading/unloading position and the bonding position.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus and method in which separate first and second positioning tables are provided for mounting electronic devices to be wire bonded, and a bonding tool is provided at a bonding position for bonding the electronic devices. First and second loading/unloading positions are provided for loading electronic devices to or unloading electronic devices from the positioning tables. The first and second positioning tables are operative to move independently of each other, such that the first positioning table is movable between the first loading/unloading position and the bonding position and the second positioning table is movable between the second loading/unloading position and the bonding position.

Abstract: An optical channel waveguide having a reflection grating and a related method for its fabrication. The grating is apodized to provide a desired reflection or transmission spectral characteristic, by varying the grating width along the length of the grating in the direction of light propagation. The grating has multiple parallel elements extending across the waveguide channel width, and apodization is effected by appropriate selection of the width of each element relative to the width of the channel, without varying the grating duty cycle or other parameters.

Abstract: A charge pump is configured to control current flow at an output node in response to input signals. A plurality of control signals are generated based upon the input signals. The control signals operate to control the timing and duration of current flows within the charge pump and to thereby reduce charge pump power consumption. Based upon the control signals, the conductivity of a first path between a power supply and the output node and a second path between the output node and a ground potential is varied. Optionally, the charge pump is disposed as part of a phase-locked loop (PLL), the input signals are produced by a phase/frequency detector, and current flow at the output node controls an oscillator element.

Abstract: An air cleaner includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a casing mounted inside the housing and holding a first filter element with wire gauzes and a second filter element with active carbons at different elevations for removing solid matters and germs from currents of air passing from the air inlet toward the air outlet, two electric fans mounted on two ends of the casing for drawing currents of air into the inside of the housing through the air inlet toward the air outlet, a negative ion generator and an ultraviolet lamp mounted inside the housing for sterilizing currents of air passing through the housing.

Abstract: To detect whether a closed-loop's voltage is out of range, a voltage detector includes first and second transistors that deliver first and second currents respectively to first and second high impedance nodes. The voltage detector further includes third and fourth transistors that draw third and fourth currents respectively from the first and second nodes. The first and second currents are scaled replicas of a current flowing through a current source of a voltage-to-current converter that converts the close-loop's voltage to a current and supplies a first voltage to the first and second transistors. The third and fourth currents are scaled replicas of a different current flowing through a current mirror of the voltage-to-current converter and that supplies a second voltage to the third and fourth transistors.

Abstract: A technique for compensating for the effects of thermo-optic distortions in a solid state laser gain medium, and reducing optical path differences in the laser. A diode array coupled to the laser gain medium is selectively modulated to provide pump power, the intensity of which varies across the aperture of the gain medium. The modulated diode array has a spatial power profile that is selected to compensate for thermal distortions arising from various causes. The modulated diode array may be one of several diode arrays providing pump power to the laser gain medium, or may be an auxiliary diode array with the sole purpose of providing compensating power input with a selected profile across the aperture of the gain medium.

Abstract: A deformable membrane mirror and a related method for its use, the mirror including a deformable membrane having a reflective front face and a back face, and further including electrodes located on both sides of the membrane, to provide a desired surface contour without imparting a concave bias to the membrane. The electrodes include a first set of electrodes spaced from the back face of the membrane, and at least one additional electrode spaced from the front face of the membrane.

Abstract: To detect whether a closed-loop's voltage is out of range, a voltage detector includes first and second transistors that deliver first and second currents respectively to first and second high impedance nodes. The voltage detector further includes third and fourth transistors that draw third and fourth currents respectively from the first and second nodes. The first and second currents are scaled replicas of a current flowing through a current source of a voltage-to-current converter that converts the close-loop's voltage to a current and supplies a first voltage to the first and second transistors. The third and fourth currents are scaled replicas of a different current flowing through a current mirror of the voltage-to-current converter and that supplies a second voltage to the third and fourth transistors.

Abstract: A footwear having an outsole coupled to an upper by a preformed closed-loop welt. The welt is a formed ring-shaped structure having no ends or breaks. The welt is sized and shaped to receive the upper-outsole junction. The welt provides an intermediary structure for coupling the outsole to the upper. The welt includes a sidewall that facilitates stitching and gluing an upper portion of the sidewall to the upper.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a footwear construction having an insert of unitary structure and made of a single flexible material for providing increased structural support and strength of the footwear while maintaining flexibility of the footwear. Unlike the prior art insert, the present invention makes use of only a single material is used to manufacture the insert. A preferred material should be pliant or flexible and yet can provide the strength and structural support to the footwear in which the insert is used. Instead of using materials of different softness for the various sections in the insert to facilitate bending of the footwear, openings are added to various locations in the insert to facilitate planar bending movement. Such openings are commonly located in the forefoot section. To increase structural support and strength to the footwear, the insert is fixedly secured to the footwear.