Time Duration Or Rate Patents (Class 702/176)
  • Patent number: 7788680
    Abstract: The invention relates to managing events in a standard computer system comprising a central unit connected to memory units and peripheral devices by a data bus (50) allowing a multimaster configuration, the method comprising the following steps: receiving events, time-stamping and storing the events, assigning at least one appropriate action to each received event, and executing that action in response to the received event, which method is characterized in that the above-mentioned management steps are carried out in real time without access to the central unit via a management unit (70) included in an independent management module (60) connected to the data bus (50) and incorporated into the standard computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: MBDA France
    Inventors: Philippe Vazeille, Jean-Pierre Bourgoin
  • Patent number: 7783451
    Abstract: First and second devices (7, 8) are configured to transmit and receive signals wirelessly and have first and second clocks respectively for determining signal transmission and arrival times. The first device transmits first and second signals (9, 10) and the second device transmits a third signal (11). By introducing a delay into the first signal, a thief may be able to fool the devices into thinking that they are closer than they really are. To help identify if a delay has been introduced into the first signal, the first device calculates a ratio of clock rates for the first and second clocks and determines whether the calculated ratio falls within a predefined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Martin S. Wilcox, Frank Boeh
  • Patent number: 7778787
    Abstract: A time-of-flight PET nuclear imaging device (A) includes radiation detectors (20, 22, 24), electronic circuits (26, 28, 30, 32) for processing output signals from each of detectors (20), a coincidence detector (34), a time-of-flight calculator (38) and image processing circuitry (40). A calibration system (48) includes an energy source (50, 150) which generates an electrical or optical calibration pulse. The electrical calibration pulse is applied at an input to the electronics at an output of the detector and the optical calibration pulse is applied to a preselected point adjacent a face of each optical sensor (20) of the detectors. A calibration processor (52) measures the time differences between the generation of the calibration pulse and the receipt of a trigger signal from the electronic circuitry by the coincidence detector (34) and adjusts adjustable delay circuits (44, 46) to minimize these time differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Klaus Fiedler, Michael Geagan, Gerd Muehllehner, Walter Ruetten, Andreas Thon
  • Publication number: 20100204944
    Abstract: A clock circuit for an integrated circuit having at least one MOS transistor. The clock circuit includes a first circuit for inducing a degradation of the transistor as a function of time and means for measuring a parameter of the transistor that reflects a lowering of the performance of the transistor resulting from the degradation. This also includes a method of generating a counting value of clock circuit by inducing continuous degradation of an MOS transistor. The method could include measuring a parameter of transistor, reflecting a lowering of performance of transistor resulting from said degradation. The method could also include measuring the temperature and calculating the counting value of the clock from the value of said parameter, from the measured temperature and from a law of variation of the parameter as a function of time and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Mickael Denais
  • Patent number: 7774162
    Abstract: A system LSI including a semiconductor chip which receives power from a power supply, and an electronic timer which measures a time from an interruption of power supplying to the semiconductor chip to a resumption of power supplying to the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Atsuhiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7774428
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatic response time measurement of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server operations are provided. The mechanism makes use of an LDAP server plug-in interface and LDAP server plug-in modules to automatically inject response time measurement code before and after each LDAP server operation during real time operation of the LDAP server in a runtime environment. In addition, the mechanism makes use of correlation tokens in the LDAP environment so that LDAP client and server operations may be correlated with one another in an end-to-end transaction. Mechanisms for passing correlation tokens between plug-in modules for the same LDAP server operation and passing correlation tokens between the LDAP client and LDAP server, and among LDAP client calls within a single session, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jean X. Yu
  • Patent number: 7774161
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for performing differential media time calculation and display are provided. A method includes determining a time of media origination, determining a current time, and calculating a differential media time as a difference between the current time and the time of media origination. The method also includes using the differential media time to determine information update data and outputting the information update data for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven Tischer
  • Patent number: 7756659
    Abstract: In an integrated circuit with at least two separate timing circuits, for example both a serializer and a deserializer, a trim value correction factor is developed and applied at the testing of the chip. The correction trim value brings the VCO frequency of the serializer into specifications, but the trim value may also be used to alter the delay between a received clock and data in the deserializer. Since both the serializer and the deserializer were made with the same process, the received clock delay may be corrected by substantially the same correction factor as that applied to the VCO. Illustratively the trim values may be stored on the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Morrill
  • Publication number: 20100145481
    Abstract: An apparatus having at least one sensor for registering at least one chemical and/or physical, process variable, and at least one modularly constructed, measuring transducer circuit, which has at least one sensor unit, which ascertains a measured variable from the process variable registered by the sensor and supplies the sensor with energy as needed, and at least one application specific, signal processing unit for ascertaining a measured value of the measured variable, wherein a conditioned output signal is provided between the sensor unit and the application specific, signal processing unit, wherein the application specific, signal processing unit is exchangeably embodied, and wherein, as a function of a predeterminable accuracy of measurement with which the apparatus ascertains the measured values, a plurality of different types of application specific, signal processing units are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: ENDRESS & HAUSER GMBH $ CO. KG
    Inventor: Michael Philipps
  • Publication number: 20100138187
    Abstract: Time synchronization of two clocks is disclosed herein, such as two stationary clocks. A global time signal from a global time reference or common time source can be used to calculate a common view based clock offset between the two clocks. In parallel, a network based clock offset between the two clocks can be calculated based on messages exchanged over a communication network interconnecting the two clocks, without reverting to the global time reference. Two recent values (e.g., the two most recent values) of the common view clock offset and the network based clock offset can be combined or superposed in a seamless way to produce a final time offset estimate. The combination of independently calculated common view and network based clock offsets can be a weighted average of the two values, involving respective weights based on quality estimates of the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Dacfey DZUNG, Mats Larsson
  • Patent number: 7716227
    Abstract: A method comprises determining an importance value for each series data set among a plurality of series data sets and visually representing each of the series data sets in accordance with the importance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ming C. Hao, Umeshwar Dayal, Daniel Keim, Toblas Schreck
  • Publication number: 20100110436
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the cure of a bone cement material provided in a container includes a memory device in which data is stored relating to the time taken for the cement material of the type in the container to cure according to the temperature of the material. A data processor is used to calculate the time taken for the cement material to cure, based on data relating to the temperature of the cement material and data in the memory device relating to extent of cure. An output device is provided for data from the data processor relating to the extent of cure of the cement material in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew Chandler, Philip Royston
  • Patent number: 7706996
    Abstract: Circuits, methods and apparatus are provided to reduce skew among signals being provided or transmitted by a data interface. Signal path delays are varied such that signals transmitted by a memory interface are calibrated or aligned with each other along a rising and/or falling edge. For example, self-calibration, external circuitry, or design tools can provide skew adjustment of each output channel by determining one or more delays for each output channel path. When aligning multiple edges, the edges of the output signals may be aligned independently, e.g., using edge specific delay elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Yan Chong, Chiakang Sung, Joseph Huang, Michael H. M. Chu
  • Publication number: 20100094581
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hand hygiene compliance management include a hand-held personal liquid dispenser including a pump and pump plunger that dispenses liquid from a reservoir inside the dispenser when depressed. The dispenser includes circuitry that detects and records each depression of the plunger, and a port for connection to an external computer to transfer data such as identifiers for the dispenser and its user, and time and date of dispenser usage. A tracking and reporting system is disclosed that allows for the collection of nationwide data for standards per setting and health care worker and the report of same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Ron Cagle
  • Patent number: 7698097
    Abstract: A method for controlling a pedometer includes the steps of: generating a signal correlated to movements of a user of the pedometer; and detecting steps of the user on the basis of the signal. The method moreover envisages the steps of checking whether sequences of detected steps satisfy pre-determined conditions of regularity; updating a total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are satisfied; and preventing the updating of the total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Fabio Pasolini, Ivo Binda
  • Patent number: 7682464
    Abstract: A system is provided for providing automated washing and verifying compliance of use. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more cleaning stations through various technologies, such as RFID. Individual's use of cleaning stations is monitored to determine compliance with hand-washing requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals' use of the cleaning station(s). Educational and/or entertainment content may be displayed to the user when he or she is using the cleaning station. Additionally, the cleaning station may identify containers having authorized consumables such as soap or disinfectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Resurgent Health & Medical, LLC
    Inventors: James Glenn, Paul R. Barnhill, Timothy Prodanovich
  • Patent number: 7675822
    Abstract: A clock device is held by a moving body, and receives a modulated wave from two electromagnetic fields generated by an antenna formed in a predetermined shape and disposed on a path. The clock device demodulates the modulated wave and acquires unique identification information. The clock device determines a non-detection period after the identification information is acquired. The clock device acquires a reference time corresponding to a middle of the non-detection period, and specifies the acquired reference time as a pass time when the moving body has passed through a point where the antenna is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Nakanobu Moritani
  • Patent number: 7664613
    Abstract: Data harvesting can be carried out relative to performance or reliability information associated with one or more groups of electrical units. Ambient condition detectors associated with a variety of industrial or commercial installations and subject to a variety of different conditions can be returned for performance and reliability testing after predetermined usage intervals. Analysis of test results can be maintained in a database. Customers can be provided multilevel access to the information in the database. Reliability and test results for a class of detectors can be provided to a number of customers that have provided samples for evaluation. Application specific information can be limited to a particular customer or customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Neils R. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7660693
    Abstract: A method for computing activation energy of diffusion for a material in a liquid is provided. At least two identical samples of the material are submerged in the liquid at different temperatures. The time required for each sample to reach a goal weight percentage is measured. A reaction acceleration factor is computed for the two samples from the resulting times and temperatures. Activation energy of diffusion is computed from the reaction acceleration factor and the temperatures. Additional samples can be used to give an error estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas S. Ramotowski
  • Patent number: 7646191
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leading edge blanking parameter of a power management chip includes generating a pulse signal and inputting the pulse signal to the power management chip, wherein the amplitude of the pulse signal will cause a PWM signal of the power management chip to change its duty cycle; detecting the PWM signal to generate a detecting result; when the detecting result indicates that the duty cycle of the PWM signal does not change, adjusting a pulse width of the pulse signal to generate an adjusted pulse signal, inputting the adjusted pulse signal to the power management chip and detecting the PWM signal; and when the detecting result indicates that the duty cycle of the PWM signal changes, determining the leading edge blanking parameter of the power management chip according to the pulse width of the pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chui-Hua Chiu
  • Patent number: 7643964
    Abstract: In a method, system and apparatus for measuring an idle value of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) in an embedded system, the CPU increments a hardware counter in accordance with clock signals. The CPU also increments an idle counter during a predetermined period of time in accordance with the clock signals while an idle task is running. The CPU calculates the idle value as a ratio of total increments of the idle counter to total increments of the hardware counter after the predetermined period of time has expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Vitaly Andrianov
  • Publication number: 20090326862
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for clock duty cycle measurement. A clock signal and a complement of the clock signal are provided to a charge pump during first and second predetermined timing windows. A charge pump is operable to generate first and second output voltages in response to the clock signal and the complement of the clock signal during the first and second timing windows, respectively. In addition a predetermined positive voltage and a ground voltage are applied to the charge pump during predetermined third and fourth timing windows, respectively. The charge pump is operable to generate third and fourth output voltage signals corresponding to the predetermined positive and ground voltages during the third and fourth timing windows, respectively. The first, second, third and fourth voltages are then used to calculate the duty cycle of the clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Jieming Qi, Eskinder Hailu, David William Boerstler, Masaaki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7630857
    Abstract: An environmental information aggregating apparatus for transmitting information on an environmental aspect having a stratum structure to an external apparatus, includes: a storage unit for storing, in correspondence with an aspect identifier for identifying the environmental aspect, measured aspect information including a measured value of the environmental aspect and a measurement time, and transmission conversion information including a coefficient for converting a numerical value of the environmental aspect in accordance with a unit system of the external apparatus and an aspect identifier for identifying the environmental aspect at the external apparatus; and a calculating/processing unit for converting the measured value in the measured aspect information by using the coefficient in the transmission conversion information, generating aspect information including a conversion result value, the aspect identifier of the external apparatus in the transmission conversion information, and transmitting the gene
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Shogano, Setsuo Kawakami, Yoshiaki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7627790
    Abstract: An integrated circuit tester channel includes an integrated circuit (IC) for adding a programmably controlled amount of jitter to a digital test signal to produce a DUT input signal having a precisely controlled jitter pattern. The IC also measures periods between selected edges of the same or different ones of the DUT output signal, the DUT input signal, and a reference clock signal. Additionally, when the DUT input and output signals convey repetitive patterns, the IC can measure the voltage of the DUT input out output signal as selected points within the pattern by comparing it to an adjustable reference voltage. Processing circuits external to the IC program the IC to provide a specified amount of jitter to the test signal, control the measurements carried out by the measurement circuit, and process measurement data to determine the amount of jitter and other characteristics of the DUT output signal, and to calibrate the jitter in the DUT input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Credence Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold M. Frisch, Thomas Arthur Almy
  • Patent number: 7624323
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing an IC device includes a test signal generator for generating a predefined sequence of test signals that are input to the IC device. A timing skew monitor is provided for monitoring the test signals input in the IC device and a signal output from the IC device for a predetermined time period, and creating an array indicating an execution or a nonexecution of signal timing combinations of one of the test signals relative to at least one of the other test signals within the predetermined time period by the IC device. A determination as to whether the desired signal timing combinations of the test signals have been executed by the IC device is made by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sergio Casillas, Jr., Bruce LaVigne
  • Patent number: 7620857
    Abstract: Two delay chains having in each case n series-connected unidirectional delay elements are provided for controllably delaying electrical signals between a circuit input and at least one circuit output. Each delay element is an active circuit with a fixed transit time. The input of the first delay element of the first chain is connected to the circuit input and the output of each delay element of the first delay chain is selectively connectable to the input of the (n?i+1)th delay element of the second delay chain via a respectively associated switch of a first group of switches, wherein i=1 . . . n is the ordinal number of the delay elements of the first delay chain. The output of the last delay element of the second chain is connected as a circuit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Rex Kho
  • Patent number: 7620512
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a time base for a microcontroller and a simple circuit arrangement therefor, which comprises an RC-element having a specific time constant, said element being connected to a connection of the microcontroller. According to said method, the capacitor of the RC element is charged to an initial voltage in a first step, then in a second step, the number of timed impulses is counted until the voltage on the capacitor falls below the initial voltage to a determined percentage of the initial voltage or a voltage threshold value, and then in a third step, the counted number of timed impulses is used as a time base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Franke
  • Publication number: 20090281767
    Abstract: Process duration data are generated that are independent of a reference calendar date, by conversion of a given duration data set, comprised within a process description data set, in a converted duration data set, the given data set being first converted into an intermediary data set that is compliant to a data format specified in the international standard ISO 8601 and includes the following consecutive fields: a first delimiter, a years value, a years value field identifier, a months value, a months value field identifier, a days value, a days value field identifier, a second delimiter, an hours value, an hours value field identifier, a minutes value, a minutes value field identifier, a seconds value, a seconds value field identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Paolo Olmino
  • Patent number: 7617015
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems are disclosed for generating a planned time duration for a manufacturing process operation defined for planning purposes that includes an aggregation of multiple defined execution operations. Electronic information is received that specifies a production demand that requires use of the manufacturing process for fulfillment. A linear approximation is electronically generated of an overall time duration measure for the defined manufacturing process planning operation. The overall time duration measure is a sum of time components comprising at least a calculated measure for a variable time component for the longest of the multiple execution operations for the received production demand, and a fixed time duration measure for one send-ahead quantity for each of the multiple execution operations that is not the longest. The generated overall time duration measure is then returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Jochen Steinbach, Jaakob Kind
  • Patent number: 7617071
    Abstract: A user in locomotion during an outing may support at least one device to automatically measure amounts of time taken by the user to complete one or more distance intervals. The user device may automatically identify occasions on which a user completes respective distance intervals. The user device may display at least one of an average pace of the user, an average speed of the user, and a projected time to complete a current distance interval based on monitored performance, each measured since the most recently completed distance interval. The device may also monitor a distance traveled by the user. The user device may determine a remaining distance to be traveled to complete one of the specified goal distances for the outing and a calculated fraction of the specified goal distance for the outing. Data relating to the calculations may be received by a user device input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Darley, Thomas P. Blackadar
  • Patent number: 7600139
    Abstract: An electronic equipment is provided that includes a battery, function circuitry that carries out one or more functions using power drawn from the battery, and a power assessment circuit that assesses power requirements of the function circuitry in relation to a function specified to be performed from among the one or more functions. The electronic equipment further includes a battery monitor circuit that monitors power available from the battery, and a battery advisor circuit, operatively coupled to the power assessment circuit and the battery monitor circuit. The battery advisor provides a recommendation indicative of whether the power available from the battery is sufficient for the function circuitry to carry out the specified function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: John Eric Ang
  • Publication number: 20090248357
    Abstract: A received waveform memory 22 stores one (1) frame of received waveform data acquired by sampling a signal including a time code with a predetermined sampling period, where each sample is represented by a plurality of bits. Correlation value calculating sections 24-26 compare the received waveform data with one (1) frame of first prediction code data corresponding to a code of a position marker or a marker, where each sample is represented by a plurality of bits, one (1) frame of second prediction code data corresponding to a code “0”, and one (1) frame of third prediction code data corresponding to a code “1” respectively. Correlation value comparing section 27 compares the first, second and third correlation values with one another to specify the prediction code data whose correlation is largest to output the code data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo ABE
  • Patent number: 7593831
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for testing a delay module. An output of a ring oscillator formed with the delay module is transmitted to a counter. The counter generates a plurality of counts, each count associated with a setting of control lines of the delay module. One of the plurality of counts is then compared with a previous one of the plurality of counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Bachhuber, Osman Doertok, Parag Parikh
  • Patent number: 7580811
    Abstract: A system maintains statistics on DICOM interfaces that include for each interfaced Application Entity, the number, timing and types of DICOM failures, number and timing of broken network connections, number and types of transactions and time required to perform each transaction, in the determination of a level of communication performance within individual interface applications. A system monitors performance of a communication interface supporting communication of patient medical data. The system includes an acquisition unit for acquiring performance related data concerning operation of a particular interface supporting communication of patient medical data. A data processor processes the acquired interface performance related data to provide a statistical measure including an interface performance parameter value and compares the performance parameter value with a predetermined threshold value to determine if interface performance is below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation
    Inventor: Alvin Belden
  • Patent number: 7580810
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a measuring point in time (tM), at which a measured value is to be produced by a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device communicates its measured values at certain communication points in time (tK) over a field bus following a query from a central control unit with regard to the measured values of the field device. The communication point in time (tf) is approximated from at least two communication points in time (tK, t?K) and the measuring point in time (tM) is determined on the basis of the approximated communication point in time (tf).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Kilian
  • Patent number: 7571049
    Abstract: A timing device monitors an estimated time of arrival (ETA) for an object in a process of traversing a predetermined range of distance by computing the estimated time of arrival based on a time the object has spent completing at least one interval during the course of traversing the distance. The computation is invoked each time a signal is received by the timing device indicating the completion of an interval. The signal can be sent by a user of the device of by a transmitter placed near an end of the interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Edward A. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7571076
    Abstract: A performance monitor device includes an input unit to input both of address information and event occurrence information, an address mask unit to determine an address area to which each piece of the inputted address information belongs, an execution frequency counter to count a number of times of execution of programs in the address areas, an execution frequency holding unit to hold a counting result of the number of times of execution, an event occurrence information counter to count the event occurrence information corresponding to the address areas having the counting result of the number of times of execution included within a predetermined number of highest ranks, a holding unit to hold a counting results of the event occurrence information, and a storing unit to store the counting result of the event occurrence information corresponding to the address area having the highest number of times of execution in predetermined periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidenori Matsuzaki, Seiji Maeda
  • Patent number: 7565261
    Abstract: A method for indicating stale data whereby a receiving system receives images and sync messages from a sending system and computes a time difference between a current time and a time a last sync message was received from the sending system. If such a time difference meets or exceeds a first threshold, the an alert is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Roland M. Hochmuth
  • Patent number: 7561988
    Abstract: A method is provided for centrally monitoring machines running at remote customer sites and providing customers with adequate support. The method includes collecting machine operating data, including data for each process stage, at the customer sites, and analyzing, at a central location, the collected machine operating data for each machine. Subsequently, a solution based upon the analysis is proposed to the customer for each of the machines, and the solution is then implemented. The method also includes continuously collecting data to check effectiveness of the installed machines and to verify the solution works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Wataru Matsunaga, Kazuyoshi Mihara, Toshio Takagi
  • Publication number: 20090131762
    Abstract: A system provides synchronization between different medical signal (e.g., EKG and ICEG signal) acquisition and processing devices. A system synchronizes multiple different patient medical parameter processing devices, using a master clock generator. The master clock generator is adaptively programmable to provide synchronization clocks having frequencies compatible with multiple different medical devices for acquiring patient medical parameter data and for synchronization of processing of medical parameter data concurrently acquired from a single particular patient. The master clock generator is programmed by dividing a clock signal to provide a desired clock frequency in response to received frequency selection command data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryon Pelzek, Hongxuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7536272
    Abstract: A method for estimating the total mass of a motor vehicle by a recursive least squares algorithm. The method involves a vehicle longitudinal acceleration computing according to a fundamental dynamic equation by analysing errors by an acceleration variation caused by errors including a variation error of the vehicle mass with respect to a predetermined mass, declivity error of a surface on which the vehicle is placed, and model errors. The declivity is delivered by a declivity sensor or by declivity estimation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Gerald Leminoux, Eric Plevin, Richard Pothin
  • Publication number: 20090122296
    Abstract: A time difference measuring device can accurately measure a time difference between two pulse signals generated with a predetermined time difference by measuring the two pulse signals by one measurement. The time difference measuring device measures a time difference between a start signal (M1) and a stop signal (M2). The device has a reference signal generation unit (41) for generating two reference signals (S1, S2) having a ?/2 phase difference. According to corresponding amplitude values (A11, A12) and (A21, A22) of the reference signals (S1, S2) at each generation timing of the start signal (M1) and the stop signal (M2), a phase difference detection unit (42) calculates a phase difference ?? (=?stop??start) between the generation timings of the pulse signals (M1, M2). According to the detected phase difference ?? and the cycle (Ts) of the reference signals (S1; S2), a time difference calculation unit (44) calculates the generation time difference ?t between the pulse signals (m1, M2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Masahiro Ohishi, Fumio Ohtomo
  • Publication number: 20090119062
    Abstract: Time tracking methods and systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for tracking a subject's use of time includes recording, at timed intervals, time tracking data indicative of a work effort being accessed by the subject. The time tracking data, along with link data associating one or more accounts with corresponding work efforts, is analyzed to attribute a portion of the subject's time to an account. A report is generated in which the portion of the subject's time is attributed to the account. The subject may be, for example, a computer system user. The work efforts may each include, for example, a file, a folder, or a Universal Resource Locator. The link data may be created on a computer system using a drag-and-drop function. Computer systems are described including instructions for carrying out time tracking methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: TimeTracking Buddy LLC
    Inventors: Brett M. OWENS, Chihab BAHHADI
  • Publication number: 20090119063
    Abstract: A method, device, and computer program product for analyzing multiple keystrokes in an electronic stenographic recording machine having keys forming stenographic keystrokes when actuated includes sensing a depressed state of a first stenographic key and recording a first depression time, sensing a depressed state of a second stenographic key and recording a second depression time, sensing a depressed state of a third stenographic key and recording a third depression time, sensing a released state of the first key and recording a first release time, sensing a released state of the second key and recording a second release time, sensing a released state of the third key and recording a third release time, sorting the first, second, and third depression times based on a chronological order of occurrence, determining, within the plurality of sorted depression times, a pair of chronologically adjacent depression times with a greatest chronological variation therebetween, determining an elapsed depression-release t
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: ADVANTAGE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David Siebert, Portia Seely
  • Patent number: 7529641
    Abstract: A mixed signal measurement instrument provides for the display of both analog and logic signal waveforms using a “no dead time” architecture. For a logic signal all trigger events are detected, the logic signal is sampled at a high rate to produce a sampled logic signal data, the sampled logic signal data are delayed to provide a pre-trigger delay and then are drawn in real time in response to the detected trigger events. A FIFO is used to delay the sampled logic signal data, with the position of the trigger event on the display being determined coarsely by an effective depth of the FIFO. The sampled logic signal data may also be compressed into compression codes prior to the FIFO. A fast drawing engine receives the sampled logic signal data from the FIFO as either data samples or compression codes, and draws a logic waveform using four rows of the drawing engine memory—one row for each of four logic states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven K. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7523013
    Abstract: A system and methods are given for providing information on the amount of life remaining for a memory having a limited lifespan, such as a flash memory card. For example, it can provide a user with the amount of the memory's expected remaining lifetime in real time units (i.e., hours or days) or as a percentage of estimated initial life. An end of life warning can also be provided. In a particular embodiment, the amount of remaining life (either as a percentage or in real time units) can be based on the average number of erases per block, but augmented by the number of spare blocks or other parameters, so that an end of life warning is given if either the expected amount of remaining life falls below a certain level or the number of spare blocks falls below a safe level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Sergey Anatolievich Gorobets, Kevin M. Conley
  • Publication number: 20090099813
    Abstract: A time differential is estimated between a plurality of signals by determining a filter response of a first electrical signal with a first filter array, determining a filter response of a second electrical signal with a second filter array, and determining, based at least on the filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal, a time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. A first optical signal is converted into the first electrical signal and a second optical signal is converted into the second electrical signal. The filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal are sampled and the time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is determined based at least on the sampled filter response of the first electrical signal and the sampled filter response of the second electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Jerry Samuel Dimsdale, Joseph Newhall West, Andrew Philip Lewis, Thomas Rahjit Singh Gill
  • Patent number: 7516035
    Abstract: A method serves to correct drift phenomena, in particular creep effects, occurring in an electronic balance that has a measuring transducer through which a measuring signal is formed which is representative of a load applied to the force-measuring device. The measuring signal is delivered by way of an analog/digital converter to a signal-processing unit that is supported by at least one processor, said signal-processing unit being capable of compensating drift deviations, for which purpose the signal-processing unit, via the processor, accesses drift parameters that are stored in a memory unit and serve as basis for calculating a time-dependent correction value by which the drift error of the measuring signal (ms) is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Jean-Maurice Tellenbach, Daniel Reber
  • Patent number: 7516042
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for performing load tests based upon user pace. A load test application is provided. Load test settings are received from a user that includes a test mix based upon user pace. A test start interval is calculated using the text mix. A load test is performed based upon the text mix. For example, the tests are executed at a pace that is based upon the test start interval for the particular user profile that the test is contained within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ed Glas, Bill Barnett
  • Patent number: 7499832
    Abstract: A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hopscotch Technology
    Inventors: Brian Baker, Tom L. Gallop