Abstract: A computer includes an extensible firmware interface with a storage device enumeration function that performs storage device enumeration operations in parallel.

Abstract: Interference is cancelled from a baseband signal by synthesizing interference from estimated symbols in interfering subchannels. The estimated symbols are hard-coded, soft weighted, or zeroed, depending on the value of an estimated pre-processed signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) in each subchannel in order to maximize a postprocessed SINR. The estimated pre-processed SINR is obtained from averages of estimated symbol energies and estimated noise variances, or from related statistical procedures.

Abstract: A method (300) and apparatus (200) that mitigates downlink control channel interference is disclosed. The method can include receiving (320) a transmission from a network entity and determining (330) a first timing offset to transmit a downlink subframe based on the transmission received from the network entity. The method can include receiving (340) an uplink transmission from a mobile terminal and determining (350) a second timing offset based on the first timing offset and based on the received uplink transmission. The method can include transmitting (360) a timing advance command to the mobile terminal, the timing advance command including the second timing offset.

Abstract: Processes are provided for using employing lower activity hydrodesulfurization catalysts while achieving a desired product sulfur content. After determining effective reaction conditions for hydrodesulfurization using a reference catalyst system, an upstream portion of the catalyst system can be replaced with a lower activity upstream portion. The process allows tailored product sulfur levels to be achieved using reaction conditions similar to those for the reference catalyst system.

Abstract: An engine control system for a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine includes a fuel injector temperature determination module and a fuel injector control module. The fuel injector temperature determination module determines a temperature of a tip of a fuel injector based on a first temperature model when the HCCI engine is operating in an HCCI combustion mode, and determines the temperature of the tip of the fuel injector based on a second temperature model when the HCCI engine is operating in a spark ignition (SI) combustion mode. The fuel injector control module controls a fuel injector pulse width based on the determined temperature and a predetermined temperature threshold, wherein the fuel injector pulse width increases when the determined temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature threshold.

Abstract: Wireless computer mouse operation may be provided by receiving a user detection signal from a sensor of the wireless computer mouse to determine the presence of a user. In one embodiment, an operation mode of the wireless computer mouse may be determined by a controller based, at least in part, on the user detection signal. Thereafter, the controller can enable at least one of a short range wireless communication module and a FM transceiver of the wireless computer mouse based on the operation mode determined by the controller.

Abstract: A computer implemented technique framework, prototype tool and associated methods that provide a high degree of visibility and control over the in-field execution of software in a minimally intrusive manner wherein developer-defined correctness tests and validation logic are embedded into the sensor node itself, making in-field software testing autonomous without necessitating continuous developer participation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a process and structure for removing a dielectric spacer selective to a surface of a semiconductor substrate with substantially no removal of the semiconductor substrate. The method of the present invention can be integrated into a conventional CMOS processing scheme or into a conventional BiCMOS processing scheme. The method includes forming a field effect transistor on a semiconductor substrate, the FET comprising a dielectric spacer and the gate structure, the dielectric spacer located adjacent a sidewall of the gate structure and over a source/drain region in the semiconductor substrate; depositing a first nitride layer over the FET; and removing the nitride layer and the dielectric spacer selective to the semiconductor substrate with substantially no removal of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide full duplex operation (i.e., simultaneous receiving and transmitting of data over a network) of a network device of a computer system. Receiving and transmitting threads are used for receiving and transmitting data using the network device, the threads requiring access to an associated data structure to use the network device. Conventionally, the data structure is locked to allow access to only one thread at a time to protect against information inconsistencies in the data structure. Some embodiments remove the locking feature of the data structure to provide simultaneous access to the data structure by the receiving and transmitting threads, and thus allow full duplex operation of the network device. Protections against information inconsistencies in the data structure may be provided, including providing separate receiving and transmitting information sections in the data structure and assurances that only one transmitting thread accesses the data structure at any time.

Abstract: A cost effective solution for power factor correction in power devices operating at two widely separated input voltages comprises two unequal power rails. One power rail is optimized for operation at high line voltage only, while the other power rail is designed only for low line voltage. When operating at high line voltage, the second rail is disabled. At low line, both power rails are enabled but by virtue of unequal boost inductors, the high line power rail handles only about 30% of the power while the low line power rail handles the remaining power. Hence, the efficiency at high line voltage is maximized. As the inductance used in the high line power rail is much higher in value, it stays in continuous conduction mode for all load conditions and hence the power factor is significantly improved.

Abstract: A signature system with a mechanism to identify element(s) of a signed document includes a sender having a signature module with a digest generator. The digest generator generates digests for identifying selected elements of the document. The resulting “identifying” digests are then used in generating a signature in which the sender signs the digests rather than the original elements. The receiver can then process the signature and use these digests to distinguish between elements, as needed.

Abstract: A method of operating a switching power converter having at least one power switch controlled by a drive signal having a switching frequency is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an output power of the switching power converter, determining whether the output power has decreased below a threshold level and, in response to the output power decreasing below the threshold level, changing the switching frequency of the drive signal from a first switching frequency to a second switching frequency when an operating condition of the switching power converter is satisfied. Also disclosed are controllers and switching power converters (including PFC converters).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a high voltage field-effect transistor (HVFET) includes a field oxide layer that covers a first well region, the field oxide layer having a first thickness and extending in a second lateral direction from a drain region to near a second well region. A gate oxide covers a channel region and has a second dimension in a first lateral direction. A gate extends in the second lateral direction from the source region to over a portion of the field oxide layer, the gate being insulated from the channel region by the gate oxide, the gate extending in the first lateral dimension over an inactive area of the HVFET beyond the second dimension of the gate oxide, the gate being insulated from the first and second well regions over the inactive area by the field oxide layer.

Abstract: A cost effective solution for construction of high frequency, double ended, isolated, push pull, center tapped power transformers operating in continuous/discontinuous mode with minimized winding proximity losses comprises at least two identical sets of windings with identical coupling coefficients. Each set of windings consists of at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding tightly coupled to each other. Both the sets of windings are loosely coupled to each other with a magnetic field isolating separator.

Abstract: Optical splitter assemblies are provided. An assembly may include a housing, one or more fanout elements, an optical splitter element, an input fiber and a plurality of output fibers. The input fiber extends from an input opening of the housing to the optical splitter element. The input fiber carries an input signal to the optical splitter element and the optical splitter element splits the input signal into a plurality of output signals to be carried by the plurality of output fibers. Each of the output fibers extends from the optical splitter element to beyond a plurality of output openings of the housing. Each of the fanout elements defines one or more channels for supporting the input or output fibers. The assembly may further include tubular members for further support to the fibers. The fibers extend from the openings of the housing to the optical splitter element free of any loops.

Abstract: A technique for improving image quality using dynamic gray scale correction, in one example embodiment, includes dynamically computing non-linear gamma curves using histogram data extracted from a current video frame. A gray scale correction is then dynamically applied to each pixel in the current or next video frame as a function of the computed non-linear gamma curves.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining date and time information correctly across rule changes for time zones is provided. A time maintenance system provides rules for converting dates and times between various time zones and a common time zone. When the time maintenance system receives a date and time in a designated time zone, it converts the date and time to a date and time in the common time zone based on a provided rule. The time maintenance system then stores the converted date and time along with an identification of the rule used to convert the date and time to the common time zone. The time maintenance system may then receive an indication of an overriding rule that overrides an existing rule for converting a date and time between the designated time zone and the current time zone. The time maintenance system then updates the stored date and time when the rule has been overridden in such a way as to indicate that the original date and time is no longer correct and to indicate the new rule.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention include information-aggregation-and-classification components of content-search-service systems which acquire information from information sources, aggregate and normalize the acquired information, and classify the acquired information prior to storing the normalized and classified information for use by language-model-builder components and ontology-builder components of the content-search-service systems. Additional embodiments of the present invention include the ontology-builder components, which builds ontologies from the normalized and classified information for specific dates, date/times, date ranges, or date/time ranges and for specific categories.

Abstract: A flexible diagnostic workstation comprises is equipped to read label information on well strips of loaded well plates and on loaded reagent kit holders, automatically perform the pre-analytical steps of an immuno-assay which consists of a sequence of operations in accordance with scheduled test requirements for each microwell, read the results according to either a standard singleplex ELISA or multiplex test format as indicated by the well strip label, and report the results.

Abstract: A source file representing media such as video, photographs or graphics, is uploaded and stored. During a pre-transcoding process, the source file is converted to a predetermined number of different formats, and the converted files are stored. When the source file is requested, the best file format for the requesting device is determined. If the best file format is one of the pre-transcoded formats, a pre-transcoded file is provided to fulfill the request. If the best file format is not one of the pre-transcoded formats, then the source file is transcoded to generate an on-demand transcoded file in the best file format and the on-demand transcoded file is provided to fulfill the request.