171results about How to "Excellent ease of use" patented technology

A variety of tools and techniques are disclosed for managing, viewing, publishing, searching, clustering, and otherwise manipulating data streams. Data streams such as RSS data feeds may be searched, aggregated, and filtered into a processed feed. The processed feed, along with rules used to process the feed may be shared in a number of ways. A data feed management system may provide an integrated user interface through which a user may manage feeds, including searching for new feeds, managing and filtering current feeds, modifying a user profile, and sharing feeds and feed configuration data with other users. A server may provide a complementary search engine to locate new feeds and to store and / or index items or posts in known feeds. Together, these technologies may provide a richly-functioned feed management system and greater ease of use for individuals in managing large numbers of feeds and large amounts of data in feeds. Additional functional layers may provide for authentication, security, and privacy, metadata creation and management, and social networking features. Using the management tools and additional functionality, a syndicated data stream system may provide a platform for a wide array of useful consumer and business applications.

An apparatus and a method for surgical suturing with thread management. An apparatus for tissue suturing comprising a cartridge having a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis; a pusher assembly comprising a cartridge holder having a needle rotation drive capable of releasably engaging the cartridge and rotating the suturing needle about the axis; and an actuator capable of releasably engaging the needle rotation drive to rotate the needle rotation drive. A method for suturing tissue comprising placing a suturing device having a cartridge containing a suturing needle to span separated tissue segments; activating an actuator to cause rotational movement of the suturing needle through the separated tissue segments; and deactivating the actuator to stop an advancing movement of the suturing needle to cause a suturing material to be pulled through the separated tissue segments forming a stitch.

A MESFET based boost converter includes an N-channel MESFET connected to a node Vx. An inductor connects the node Vx to a battery or other power source. The node Vx is also connected to an output node via a Schottky diode or a second MESFET or both. A control circuit drives the MESFET (and the second MESFET) so that the inductor is alternately connected to ground and to the output node. The maximum voltage impressed across the low side MESFET is optionally clamped by a Zener diode. In some implementations, the MESFET is connected in series with a MOSFET. The MOSFET is switched off during sleep or standby modes to minimize leakage current through the MESFET. The MOSFET is therefore switched at a low frequency compared to the MESFET and does not contribute significantly to switching losses in the converter. In other implementations, more than one MESFET is connected in series with a MOSFET, the MOSFETs being switched off during periods of inactivity to suppress leakage currents.

A display input device is comprised of a touch panel 1 for carrying out a display of an image and an input of an image, a proximity sensor 12 for detecting a movement of an object to be detected which is positioned opposite to the touch panel 1 in a non-contact manner, and a control unit 3 for, when the proximity sensor 12 detects an approach of the object to be detected to within a predetermined distance from the touch panel 1, processing an image around a display area having a fixed range on the touch panel 1 in a vicinity of the object to be detected, and displaying the image in distinction from an image in the display area having the fixed range.

A portable medical diagnostic instrument includes an instrument head and a handle portion having an open-ended receiving cavity. A compact illuminator defined by a housing retaining a miniature light source and a power supply is releasably fitted within the open-ended receiving cavity of the handle portion wherein the light source of the illuminator is optically coupled with the instrument on assembly therewith. The handle portion can be integral with the instrument or releasably attached. The handle portion according to at least one version is made from a plastic or other suitable material, permitting disposability and / or single patient use. In one version, the handle portion is flexibly deformable, at least partially, to facilitate release of the portable illuminator.

A process for facilitating payment card transactions from an underlying virtual account that exists as a data entity within a trust account, wherein cardholders are able to purchase goods and services from a merchant. The cardholder may execute a transaction at any venue which presently accepts a debit card for payment. The funds of the trust account need not be linked to a checking account or credit account, wherein the liability of the cardholder, card issuer, and merchant can be reduced. Preferably, the virtual account is initially established when the card is issued and activated, and can be depleted through one or more transactions for which the card is used as the means of payment, or monetary transfer, and may be recharged from time-to-time by depositing additional funds into the virtual cardholder account or crediting the balance of the virtual account as the result of a merchant refund, adjustment, or transfer from another cardholder.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing resistance to movement of a wearer. The system includes a plurality of wearable actuators, a plurality of wearable sensors, and a processor. Each of the wearable sensors measures an indication of an orientation of a corresponding one of the wearable actuators with respect to a vertical direction. Each of the sensors also measures an indication of a motion experienced by the corresponding one of the wearable actuators. The processor receives data from each sensor indicating the orientation and the motion of the sensor. The processor determines an amount of resistance to apply using each of the actuators based on the vertical direction and sends instructions to the actuators. The instructions cause the actuators to apply a resistance to the wearer.

A MESFET based buck converter includes an N-channel MESFET between a battery or other power source and a node Vx. The node Vx is connected to an output node via an inductor and to ground via a Schottky diode or a second MESFET or both. A control circuit drives the MESFET (and the second MESFET) so that the inductor is alternately connected to the battery and to ground. The maximum voltage impressed across the high side MESFET is optionally clamped by a Zener diode. In some implementations, the MESFET is connected in series with a MOSFET. The MOSFET is switched off during sleep or standby modes to minimize leakage current through the MESFET. The MOSFET is therefore switched at a low frequency compared to the MESFET and does not contribute significantly to switching losses in the converter. In other implementations, more than one MESFET is connected in series with a MOSFET the MOSFETs being switched off during periods of inactivity to suppress leakage currents.

A portable medical diagnostic instrument includes an instrument head and a handle portion having an open-ended receiving cavity. A compact illuminator defined by a housing retaining a miniature light source and a power supply is releasably fitted within the open-ended receiving cavity of the handle portion wherein the light source of the illuminator is optically coupled with the instrument on assembly therewith. The handle portion can be integral with the instrument or releasably attached. The handle portion according to at least one version is made from a plastic or other suitable material, permitting disposability and / or single patient use. In one version, the handle portion is flexibly deformable, at least partially, to facilitate release of the portable illuminator.

A display input device is comprised of a touch panel 1 for carrying out a display of information and an input of information, a vibration detection sensor (proximity sensors 12 or an acceleration sensor 23) for detecting a vibration of an object to be detected which is positioned opposite to the touch panel 1, and a control unit 3 for, when it is determined that a relative vibration between the touch panel and the object to be detected, which is detected by the vibration detection sensor, has an amount equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, carrying out a process of enlarging an image in a display area having a fixed range, which is displayed on the touch panel 1, to display the enlarged image.

Voice operation device includes: voice recognition dictionary for storing plurality of groups of synonyms provided for plurality of functions of devices to be operated and each includes at least one word; voice recognition unit that checks voice data from voice taking unit against words stored in voice recognition dictionary to recognize word corresponding to voice; device control unit that controls devices to be operated based on word recognized by voice recognition unit; recognition history storage unit that sequentially stores words recognized by voice recognition unit; and dictionary update unit that updates voice recognition dictionary in such way that words which are determined to have been recognized at low frequencies in the past, based on recognition history stored in recognition history storage unit, are deleted except at least one of word which is left in each group of plurality of groups of synonyms in order to be checked.

Problems, such as unevenness of exposure, caused by the difference in speed between a first curtain and a second curtain and a positional shift between the curtains (the occurrence of an edge darkening phenomenon) can be prevented. In addition, power consumption is reduced. When the shutter speed is set to be low by exposure control means, the exposure start operation is performed using an electronic focal plane shutter function of an image sensor (an electronic focal plane shutter is used for the first curtain), and an exposure end operation is performed by a mechanical focal plane shutter. In contrast, when the shutter speed is set to be high by the exposure control means, the exposure start operation and the exposure end operation are performed using the mechanical focal plane shutter (the mechanical focal plane shutter is used for the first curtain).

A wireless network device (4), such as a wireless media centre, has orthogonally polarised antennas (6a, 6b) arranged to provide transmit and / or receive polarisation diversity. The antennas may be arranged so that their nulls do not coincide, to produce a combined antenna pattern with a low variation of gain with direction. The antennas may be collocated, but arranged orthogonally. Preferably, the combined antenna pattern is substantially omnidirectional in elevation as well as azimuth. This arrangement provides uniform coverage in a 3D environment. The transmitter may transmit data using polarisation-time block codes. A wireless receiver (10, 18) for use in the wireless network may have either one antenna or two orthogonally polarised antennas. The receiver (10, 18) applies maximal ratio combining to the received signals. The signals may be OFDM signals and the receiver applies maximal ratio combining independently to each frequency channel. The antennas may be flat linear or annular slot antennas, which provide strongly polarised beams and can be integrated within the housing of the devices.

The invention is a thermal imaging camera lens that has an LCD display mounted on the opposing side of the camera, which is integrated into a fire mask visor. The fire mask visor is used in conjunction with an oxygen mask. The thermal imaging lens is directed along the same line of sight as the user's, which provides for greater ease of use in hazardous situations. However, the thermal imaging lens can be rotated to a desired angle and line of sight of the end user. A sealant can be applied to the perimeter of the thermal imaging system housing and the visor to prevent the introduction of smoke and / or hazardous gases from entering the interior side of the visor.

Methods, apparatuses, non-transitory computer program products, systems, and mobile terminal devices are disclosed for performing wireless financial transactions which separate an account identification and transaction authorization from a single charge card into two separate elements, which include at least an encrypted account identifier and a transaction-adaptive, context sensitive, dynamically content-rich, transaction authorization.

A method and system to add functionality to digital video recorders (DVRs). In its various embodiments the present system has multiple functions: Increase response to TV commercials and product placements; selection of the power-on station thus benefiting a network or networks and / or a major marketer, Utilizing the infrastructure of the DVR and DVR hand-held remote to facilitate user response to commercials and product placements on DVD's other non-broadcast electronically transferred content, including but not limited to downloaded shows and movies, print ads, catalogs and other indicators of available products, enhancing interaction with vendor / advertisers. The present invention works with digital video recorders and other devices that process and pass real-time television broadcasts, delayed replays of broadcasts, recorded broadcasts, non-broadcast electronically transferred content and DVD's to television monitors.

A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder / players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder / players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.

The invention discloses a navigation realization method of the voice destination of a vehicle GPS and can realize an automatic navigation aim of a navigation system during driving the vehicle only through sending out a voice command by means of adding an exchanging system of names of places and a voice identification module to an original navigation system. The invention emancipates hands of drivers and greatly facilitates the operation of the drivers.

An image reader has an original tray for feeding an original from a bundle of originals, a first transport passage for transporting the original fed by the original tray, a scanner for reading an image on one side of the original from one side of the transported original, and a CIS for reading an image on the other side of the original from the opposed side to the one side of the transport passage. To read both sides of an original, the image reader is provided with a mode of reading both sides simultaneously using the scanner and the CIS and a mode of reading both sides of the original only by the scanner with the original reversed using a third transport passage, a fourth transport passage, and a fifth transport passage without using the CIS.

A computerized system is provided for modeling a business process, the computerized system comprising a web server and a database server. The web server implements a user interface to the system. The database server is in operable communication with the web server and comprises a data architecture representing the business process. The data architecture comprises an entity model representing an entity responsible for implementing at least a portion of the business process, a transaction model comprising at least one step defining a business process, a list model representing at least one step in the transaction, the list model comprising a list of at least one entity associated with the transaction; and a task model associated with the list, the task model defining at least one task associated with the at least one step in the transaction.