Abstract: A box reducer for trimming or reducing the size of a cardboard box is disclosed. The current invention allows an operator to reduce the size of an existing cardboard box after unnecessary material is removed by a knife or a cutter. The current invention improves prior arts in two ways. First, the invention contains a stabilizer which allows itself to travel in a stable way along the top edge of the flaps of the cardboard box while marking a line to be folded to create the cover of the box. Second, instead of using perforation as prior arts do, this invention uses compression to create the line on the flaps of the cardboard box. Then the operator can fold along the line to create the covering flaps, thus, a reduced box.

Abstract: A cleat cover for protecting and adding traction to a cleat plate of a bicycle shoe is disclosed. The cleat cover comprises a cover body that includes a main opening at a middle portion and an extended opening at a peripheral edge. A bridge area is present at the side of the cover body for conserving grip on the cleat. The opening of the cover body allows a bicycle pedal to lock into a bicycle cleat while allowing the cover body to remain on the cleat. The cover body covers a plurality of screws and parts that attach the cleat plate. The cleat cover allows a bicyclist to leave the cover on the cleat at all times; when riding, at stops, and when walking on various hard surfaces. Thus, it prevents the cleat plate from unnecessary wear when the bicycle shoe contacts the ground. The bicyclist does not have to remember to remove and replace the cover. The cover body can be releasably engaged with the cleat on the bicycle shoe.

Abstract: A cleat cover for protecting and adding traction to a cleat plate of a bicycle shoe is disclosed. The cleat cover comprises a cover body that includes a main opening at a middle portion and an extended opening at a peripheral edge. A bridge area is present at the side of the cover body for conserving grip on the cleat. The opening of the cover body allows a bicycle pedal to lock into a bicycle cleat while allowing the cover body to remain on the cleat. The cover body covers a plurality of screws and parts that attach the cleat plate. The cleat cover allows a bicyclist to leave the cover on the cleat at all times; when riding, at stops, and when walking on various hard surfaces. Thus, it prevents the cleat plate from unnecessary wear when the bicycle shoe contacts the ground. The bicyclist does not have to remember to remove and replace the cover. The cover body can be releasably engaged with the cleat on the bicycle shoe.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an electronic system includes an amplifier having an on-chip charge pump to provide a gate boost voltage to boost a gate voltage of at least one on-chip field effect transistor (FET) of an output stage of an amplifier. In at least one embodiment, the gate boost voltage boosts the gate voltage higher than the supply voltage rail to increase an overdrive voltage of the on-chip FET. In at least one embodiment, the gate boost voltage boosts the DC bias of an input signal and, thus, generation of gate boost voltage by the on-chip charge pump is signal-independent, i.e. independent of the input signal. Increasing the overdrive voltage increases the efficiency of the amplifier by decreasing the difference between the maximum swing of the output voltage and the voltage supply rails of the at least one on-chip FET relative to conventional designs.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling modulation of an alternating waveform on a direct current (DC) voltage signal within a low-noise block (LNB) controller is disclosed. The apparatus includes a DC power supply and a mixing/switching circuit. The DC power supply provides a steady DC voltage to a load, such as an LNB amplifier. The mixing/switching circuit adds a modulating signal to the DC voltage and selectively allows the modulated DC voltage to the load. The mixing/switching circuit includes a common control signal input for managing both of the above-mentioned two functions.

Abstract: A low-noise block (LNB) control device within a set-top box is disclosed. The LNB control device is capable of controlling modulation of an alternating waveform on a direct current (DC) voltage from a DC power supply to an LNB amplifier. The LNB control device includes a power supply control module, an LNB signaling module and a switch. In response to a power supply feedback signal received from the DC power supply, the power supply control module sends a control signal to the DC power supply. In addition, the LNB signalling module provides a switch control signal and a modulating waveform to the switch. Under the control of switch control signal, the switch selectively sends the modulating waveform to a summing circuit that is located external to the LNB control device. Within the summing circuit, the modulating waveform is added to the DC voltage from the DC power supply.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling modulation of an alternating waveform on a direct current (DC) voltage signal within a low-noise block (LNB) controller is disclosed. The apparatus includes a DC power supply and a mixing/switching circuit. The DC power supply provides a steady DC voltage to a load, such as an LNB amplifier. The mixing/switching circuit adds a modulating signal to the DC voltage and selectively allows the modulated DC voltage to the load. The mixing/switching circuit includes a common control signal input for managing both of the above-mentioned two functions.

Abstract: An integrated receiver decoder for receiving digitally modulated signals from a satellite is disclosed. The receiver includes a tuner, a demodulator, a low-noise block (LNB) controller, a voltage controller and a voltage selector implemented within a single monolithic integrated circuit device. The tuner amplifies and filters satellite signals received from a directional receiver antenna. The demodulator, which is coupled to the tuner, demodulates and decodes the received satellite signals. The LNB controller generates and detects a modulated tone to facilitate communications between the receiver and an LNB feed attached to the directional receiver antenna. The voltage selector directs the voltage controller to provide a control signal for controlling an external voltage regulator to generate a variable voltage to the LNB feed attached to the directional receiver antenna.