238results about How to "lower cost" patented technology

Exemplary embodiments provide an apparatus, system and method for power conversion to provide power to solid state lighting, and which may be coupled to a first switch, such as a dimmer switch. An exemplary system comprises: a switching power supply; solid state lighting; a first adaptive interface circuit to provide a resistive impedance to the first switch and conduct current from the first switch in a default mode; and a second adaptive interface circuit to create a resonant process. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a switching power supply; and an adaptive interface circuit comprising a resistive impedance coupled in series to a reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a first current path in a default mode, and further comprising a second switch coupled to the reactive impedance to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path, with the adaptive interface circuit further damping oscillation when the first switch turns on.

A service provisioning system and method for providing remote access to digital services over a communications network, comprising a plurality of client devices connected to the communications network for requesting digital services from a plurality of service centers and presenting output from the digital services. The network operation center connected to the communications network authenticates client devices and users, manages sessions, and processes requests for digital services. A connector associated with each service center establishes a session with a client device specified by the network operation center and encapsulates the native protocols of the digital services within a remote interactive protocol. The remote interactive protocol includes information for generating a human-perceptible presentation on the client device, to provide a remote access to the digital services without modifying the hardware and software infrastructure of the service centers.

A method for detecting Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) or Radiological dispersion Devices (RDD), comprising: conveying an object along a predetermined path; imaging a distribution of radioactive sources associated with the object as it passes along said path; determining the presence and location of one or both of an RDD or SNM radioactive source within the object.

The Invention is a multi-faceted web-based interface that includes such functional components as ringback message and other DMC sub-type production, ringback message and other DMC sub-type distribution, ringback subscriber, ringback caller, and other DMC sub-type user data evaluation, ringback and other DMC sub-type message valuation, single point online interface for diverse multi-users and objectives, and multi-adaptive formatting of ringback messages or other DMC sub-type messages for most cellular and land-line phone carriers' platforms. The Invention facilitates the production of a wide variety of ringback or other DMC sub-type audio, video and gaming message content such as: personalized information, advertisement and promotional offerings, and complex multiple segmented messages that utilize stock audio or video online content inventory combined with customized content or user provided content. The Invention's online interface and online production capabilities provide a highly efficient manner in which to create this variety of production output. The Invention also provides an online interface capable of formatting and gathering information from most telephone carriers. This capability allows the Invention to maintain a centralized database for storing ringback subscriber or other DMC sub-type user groups and ringback caller demographic information and in turn, the Invention provides national advertisers the ability to promote their advertisements on ringback subscriber messages across many carriers simultaneously. The Invention's dynamic “Ringback Coordination Center” bidding sector provides real time valuations of the advertising offerings between all parties, coordinating the most advantageous utilization of the ringback messages or other DMC sub-type messages for all parties concerned.

A gastro-electric stimulation system includes an INS for producing an electrical stimulation signal, at least one medical electrical lead, and at least two electrical contacts. The medical electrical lead has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the INS, the distal end being adapted for placement in or near a patient's stomach or appropriate nerve or nerve portion. The electrodes are disposed near the distal end of the medical electrical lead, and are electrically connected through the medical electrical lead to the INS to receive the electrical stimulation signal and convey such signal to the selected electrode implant position. The electrical stimulation signal is provided in an amount and manner adapted to increase the pH of the gastric acid in the patient's stomach and/or to decrease the amount of gastric acid produced thereby.

The invention relates to a process for preparing lithium intercalation compounds by plasma reaction comprising the steps of: forming a feed solution by mixing lithium nitrate or lithium hydroxide or lithium oxide and the required metal nitrate or metal hydroxide or metal oxide and between 10-50% alcohol by weight; mixing the feed solution with O₂ gas wherein the O₂ gas atomizes the feed solution into fine reactant droplets, inserting the atomized feed solution into a plasma reactor to form an intercalation powder; and if desired, heating the resulting powder to from a very pure single phase product.

Embodiments of the invention provide printing incentive methods and systems. In one embodiment, a method of providing advertising content to a customer can be provided. The method can include receiving information associated with a customer. In addition, the method can include receiving information associated with at least one advertiser. Furthermore, the method can include associating at least one keyword with the at least one advertiser. Moreover, the method can include comparing the at least one keyword to a portion of information associated with the customer. Further, the method can include outputting advertising content to the customer based at least in part on the comparison.

A method for preparing synthetic, semi-crystalline, porous inorganic oxide composition containing a reactive organic silane moiety which is on the surface of pore walls. The composition is prepared from a poly(oxyalkylene) based surfactant and a hydrolyzable organic silane. The surfactant is preferably a poly(ethylene) oxide, a poly(propylene) oxide polymer or mixtures thereof. The organic silane is preferably mercaptopropylsilane. The compositions are particularly useful as adsorbents, and catalysts.

Wireless communication is ubiquitous today and deployments are growing rapidly leading to increased interference, increasing conflicts, etc. As a result monitoring the wireless environment is increasingly important for regulators, service providers, Government agencies, enterprises etc. Such monitoring should be flexible in terms of the networks being monitored within the wireless environment but should also provide real-time monitoring to detect unauthorized transmitters, provide dynamic network management, etc. Accordingly, based upon embodiments of the invention, a broadband, real-time signal analyzer (RTSA) circuit that allows for the deployment of RTSA devices in a distributed environment wherein determination of policy breaches, network performance, regulatory compliance, etc. are locally determined and exploited directly in network management or communicated to the central server and network administrators for subsequent action. Beneficially the RTSA exploits a broadband RF front end in conjunction with parallel direct down conversion and FFT techniques.

The present invention is a platform of software which is a single, customizable, complete distributed computing security solution designed to be integrated into an enterprise computing environment. Digital Network Authentication (DNA) is the centerpiece of the system of the present invention. It is a unique means to authenticate the identity of a communicating party and authorize its activity. The whole mechanism can be thought of as a trusted third party providing assurances to both clients and servers that each communicating entity is a discrete, authenticated entity with clearly defined privileges and supporting data. Furthermore, the level of trust to be placed in the authorization of every entity communicating within the system is communicated to every entity within a distributed computing environment.

Systems and methods for upgrading from one or more digital media assets to a set of digital media assets over a network are described. A potential purchaser can be notified of available upgrade opportunities that are available for purchase. The potential purchaser can elect to pursue an upgrade opportunity so as to purchase a set of digital media assets. Upon upgrading to the set of digital media assets, the digital media assets within the set of digital media assets are made available to the purchaser. Typically, on upgrading from one or more of the digital media assets in the set of digital media assets to the entire set of digital media assets, the purchaser pays a lower cost than would be otherwise charged if the purchaser were to purchase the set of digital media assets in a non-upgrade manner.

A peripheral device having a personal disk used for storing device drivers. The peripheral device can be connected to an interface port of an electronic device host. The peripheral device has a housing, an application module for performing a predetermined operation, a storage module for storing a device driver of the application module, and a hub controller electrically connected to the application module and the storage module. When the hub controller is electrically connected to the interface port, the computer host can retrieve the device driver of the application module through the hub controller, and can run the device driver to control the application module to perform the predetermined operation.

A vehicle drive control apparatus includes buffers, as a recording portion, set for each of a plurality of storage items, each of the plurality of storage items having a different sampling cycle, and a controller that samples variable quantities, that indicate a status of a vehicle that changes with a running of the vehicle, at a sampling cycle set for each of the plurality of storage items and records the variable quantities in each of the buffers as storage data.

A photo-sensing device package and the method of packaging such device is provided. The package includes an assembly portion having a substrate formed of a material substantially transparent to light within a predetermined range of wavelengths and a sensing portion having at least one photo-sensing die photo-electronically transducing light within the predetermined range of wavelengths. The assembly portion is formed with at least one metal layer disposed on the substrate about a front surface region thereof, and at least one passivation layer formed to extend over the metal layer. The passivation layer is patterned to define a plurality of first and second access openings respectively about a plurality of first solder wettable pads and at least one second solder wettable pad on the metal layer. Each of the first solder wettable pads is joined by a first solder joint to a solder bump pad formed on the sensing portion, while the second solder wettable pad is joined by a second solder joint to external circuitry.

An energy converter for inducing membrane vibrations when subject to a fluid flow and converting the kinetic energy embedded in the fluid flow into another form of energy, such as electricity. The energy converter includes a supporting structure and multiple generator units. Each generator unit includes at least one flexible membrane, and at least one electrical conductor and at least one magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the at least one electrical conductor, wherein one of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane. Each membrane vibrates when subject to the fluid flow and has at least two ends supported by the supporting structure. The vibration of each membrane creates a relative movement between the conductor and a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator, which induces a current. A power conditioning circuit is provided to condition the current.

In a method for press-hardening a metallic formed structure made of a hardenable steel sheet, the steel sheet is heated above a transition temperature Ac3 and then placed in a cooled press having a forming tool with at least one uncooled contour section for forming a region of reduced hardness. Marginal regions of the steel sheet are clamped with a sheet holder arrangement which has an inner sheet holder and an outer sheet holder. The inner sheet holder is hereby located closer to the forming tool than the outer sheet holder. The sheet holder arrangement is configured to slow down flow of the marginal regions into the forming tool. After closing the press tool, the steel sheet is formed in a first forming phase by holding the marginal region with the outer sheet holder and in a subsequent forming phase by holding the marginal region with the inner sheet holder.

A load balancing method includes a measurement step of measuring reception loads of respective storage ports 301 provided in a storage system 300; an allocation changing step of changing a transmitting rate of a computer port 208 provided in a computer 200, which is allocated for each of the storage ports, on the basis of the reception loads of the respective storage ports 301 measured in the measurement step; and a transmission step of transmitting data to the respective storage ports 301 of the storage system 300 at a transmitting rate in a range not exceeding the transmitting rate for each of the storage ports 301 changed in the allocation changing step.

A powertrain for transmitting power in a vehicle includes a prime mover having a relatively slow transient response, and a storage device for storing energy in a predetermined form. A transmission includes an input driveably connected to the prime mover and an output driveably connected to vehicle drive wheels, producing a range of ratios of a speed of the output to a speed of the input that varies from negative to positive and includes zero. An energy conversion device, driveably connected to the prime mover and drive wheels, converts rotational power transmitted to the energy conversion device from the wheels and the prime mover to a form of energy that can be stored in the storage device, and drives the wheels using energy supplied to the energy conversion device from the storage device. A control device alternately transmits energy from the storage device to the energy conversion device, and transmits energy from the energy conversion device to the storage device.

A specific combination of two different polyolefin clarifying and nucleating agents, namely bis(3,4-dimethyldibenzylidene) sorbitol (3,4-DMDBS) and bis(3,4-dichlorodibenzylidene) sorbitol (3,4-DCDBS). Such a combination surprisingly provides improved clarification comparable to polypropylene articles and formulations, better than DCDBS alone and equivalent or better than DMDBS alone. Such a combination of compounds thus permits the utilization of a new additive for the purpose of modifying polyolefin properties, such as polypropylene clarification and nucleation. The inventive combination may be introduced within any polyolefin composition, again preferably polypropylene, which may then be molded into any shape or form. A method of producing a polyolefin plastic utilizing the inventive combination of compounds is also provided.

A light scanning device, which scans a surface to be scanned in a main scanning direction by a plurality of light beams, includes a light source including a plurality of light emitting parts that are arrayed two-dimensionally to emit the light beams, a separation optical system that separates a portion of the light beams emitted respectively from the plurality of light emitting parts, and a light receiving element that receives the portion of the light beams separated by the separation optical system. The separation optical system is a reduction system.

An automatic steering of an agricultural tractor on a surface of a field to be processed is accomplished by equipping the tractor with a camera for taking a picture of a region of the field, which is in front of the tractor, including the surface that is to be processed, generating a pixel data file from a picture signal of the camera, generating texture information with respect to the texture of the surroundings of the pixels contained in the data file, classifying the pixels of the pixel data file while considering the texture information, in order to generate a binary information as to whether or not a particular pixel is to be associated with the surface that is to be processed, generating a steering signal based on the results of the classification, and repositioning the steering device of the harvesting machine according to the steering signal so that the machine is steered automatically along the surface that is to be processed.

Hot gas filtration fabrics for bag filters can be made using fibers that include high silica fibers and at least one FR fiber. The fabrics can be made using these fibers by needling and/or water jet entanglement. The fabrics may be treated with binders with or without additives to enhance mechanical properties or to impart other characteristics such as gas adsorption. Certain non-woven fabrics made according to the invention have improved high temperatures filtration capabilities and mechanical properties.

Systems and associated methods are disclosed for conducting commissioning processes, including, by way of example, building commissioning, operational efficiency, building forensics, sustainable design and operations consulting, retro-commissioning, ongoing monitoring-based commissioning, building forensic investigations, energy audits, environmental design, and high performing buildings. Additionally, systems and associated methods are provided for such commissioning and the application of sustainable development principles. Furthermore, a computer readable storage medium encoded with programming for implementing methods for such commissioning is provided.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the assessment and treatment of asthma and other inflammatory diseases, particularly those mediated by interleukin-13 (IL-13). The present invention also provides arrays comprising markers for asthma as well as IL-13 responsiveness. The markers of the present invention can be used in methods to diagnose a patient as having asthma or an IL-13-mediated condition, to evaluate the effectiveness of potential therapeutic agents, to identify or evaluate agents capable of modulating marker expression levels, and to select a treatment for a patient suffering from asthma or an IL-13-mediated condition.

A trench MOSFET element with shallow trench contact is disclosed. This shallow trench contact structure has some advantages: blocking the P+ underneath trench contact from lateral diffusion to not touch to channel region when a larger trench contact CD is applied; avoiding the trench gate contact etching through poly and gate oxide when trench gate becomes shallow; making lower cost to refill the trench contact using Al alloys with good metal step coverage as the trench contact is shallower. The disclosed trench MOSFET element further includes an n* region around the bottom of gate trenches to reduce Rds. In some embodiment, the disclosed trench MOSFET provides a terrace gate to further reduce Rg and make self-aligned source contact; In some embodiment, the disclosed trench MOSFET comprises a P* area underneath said P+ region for avalanche energy improvement with lighter dose than said P+ region.

Executing multiple elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) point multiplications in parallel and using batched inversions allows shared computations between independent ECC operations. The point multiplications may be computed over prime integer fields or over binary polynomial fields. The batched inversion may be shared between point additions and point doublings, between point additions, or between point doublings. The batched inversions are applicable to point multiplications using projective or using affine coordinate systems.

A capacitor 3D-cell formed on a silicon substrate is designed for producing low equivalent serial resistance and high capacitor surface-density. It combines a trench capacitor structure, multiple contact pads to at least one of the electrodes and a track which connects the electrode through the multiple contact pads so as to bypass said electrode between trench portions which are located apart from each other.

A method produces a connection interface in a tubular filter element for filtering liquids, including a filter mat (10). The opposite ends (14) of the filter mat are interconnected in a connection position by a planar weld seam (28) provided with an embossed strip in the region of the free ends (14) of the filter mat. A region is provided between the embossed weld seam (30) and the beginning of the transition towards the tubular filter mats, in which a smooth weld seam (32) is applied without embossing in a flat strip along the ends (14) of the filter mat. This arrangement enables the ends of the filter mat to be welded together in a strong and long-lasting manner. The embossed weld seam is simultaneously unloaded of any stress by the smooth weld seam.

A diaper comprising: a front waist portion which has a front waist end with a front waist elastic member, being provided with Velcro floss surface; a rear waist portion which has a rear waist end with a rear waist elastic member being provided with Velcro hook surfaces, wherein the Velcro hook surfaces and the Velcro floss surface are engageable for joining the front waist portion and rear waist portion; and a crotch portion which has a front crotch end and a rear crotch end, wherein the crotch portion joined to the front waist portion and the rear waist portion in a laminated manner, respectively, thus forming accommodating spaces at the joining locations. The crotch portion has thigh opening edges with elastic members forming accommodating spaces. Said accommodating spaces are for preventing the excrement from spilling out of the front, back, left and right sides of the diaper.

A heat dissipation device includes a base including a base plate made of a first heat conductive material and a substrate made of a second heat conductive material having a heat conductivity lower than that of the first heat conductive material. The substrate comprises a frame with a window receiving the base plate therein and an engaging plate spanning over the window. A fin set includes a plurality of fins parallel with and spaced from each other, and is mounted on the base. A heat pipe has an evaporating section sandwiched between the base plate and the engaging plate, and two condensing sections extending through the fin set and thermally connecting therewith. The evaporating section has a substantially V-shaped configuration.