525results about How to "More cost-effective" patented technology

An integrated circuit for data encryption / decryption and secure key management is disclosed. The integrated circuit may be used in conjunction with other integrated circuits, processors, and software to construct a wide variety of secure data processing, storage, and communication systems. A preferred embodiment of the integrated circuit includes a symmetric block cipher that may be scaled to strike a favorable balance among processing throughput and power consumption. The modular architecture also supports multiple encryption modes and key management functions such as one-way cryptographic hash and random number generator functions that leverage the scalable symmetric block cipher. The integrated circuit may also include a key management processor that can be programmed to support a wide variety of asymmetric key cryptography functions for secure key exchange with remote key storage devices and enterprise key management servers. Internal data and key buffers enable the device to re-key encrypted data without exposing data. The key management functions allow the device to function as a cryptographic domain bridge in a federated security architecture.

A method for accurately positioning a patient for radiotherapy and / or radiosurgery, comprising the following steps: the patient is pre-positioned as accurately as possible with respect to a linear accelerator; at least two x-ray images of the patient and / or one of the parts of his body in the vicinity of the radiation target point are produced from different respective recording angles on a single image recorder; the x-ray image is spatially localized; at least one reconstructed image, corresponding to each x-ray image and deriving from a three-dimensional patient scan data set, is produced, the reconstructed images containing the desired image contents of the x-ray images when the patient is correctly positioned; and the real x-ray images are superimposed, and the positioning error is determined electronically and / or with computer guidance by way of particular landmarks and / or the intensity gradient or the contours in the two images; and the position of the patient is corrected by way of the determined positioning error.

A household energy management system uses measurements of the household electricity supply 4 to identify and to determine the energy consumption of individual household appliances. From these measurements, models can be built of the behaviour of the occupants of the house, the thermal properties of the house and the efficiency of the appliances. Using the models, the household appliances—in particular heating and cooling appliances—can be controlled to optimize energy efficiency; and maintenance programmes for the appliances and for the house itself can be recommended to the householder or arranged with a service company.

An aerosol transfer device (10) for medical aerosol generators comprises a body (12), fluidically coupled to a nebulizer (14) and to a patient interface (16). An ambient air intake (20) is formed into a lower body (12C). The body is shaped and configured to optimize mixing of ambient air from the ambient air intake and the aerosol generated by the nebulizer, resulting in the formation of an aerosol plume having optimum characteristics for delivery of the aerosol to the patient's pulmonary system, such as the central or deep lung regions. The shape and dimensions of the body are further designed to minimize aerosol deposition, thus improving delivery efficiency.

A graphical password authentication arrangement and method display a grid on a display upon a user's request to access a restricted resource. The graphical password authentication arrangement requires the user to enter his or her access password by selecting one or more intersections on the grid on the display with an input device. A processing means determines whether to grant the user to access the restricted resource by comparing the access password entered with a corresponding file password for the user, which is stored in a storage means.

Fabrication methods and processes are described, the methods and processes occurring at a low-temperature and involving passivation. The methods and processes easily incorporate annealing, deposition, patterning, lithography, etching, oxidation, epitaxy and chemical mechanical polishing for forming suitable devices, such as diodes and MOSFETs. Such fabrication is a suitable and more cost-effective alternative to a process of diffusion or doping, typical for forming p-n junctions. The process flow does not require temperatures above 700 degrees Centigrade. Formation of p-n junctions in discrete silicon diodes and MOSFETs are also provided, fabricated at low temperatures in the absence of diffusion or doping.

The present invention is directed generally to systems, devices and methods for direct delivery of agents, e.g., pharmaceutical agents, to target spinal and neuronal anatomies, e.g., the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), for the treatment of various disorders, particularly pain and pain related disorders, such as chronic itch, sensory disorders, multiple sclerosis, post-herpetic neuralgia and the like. The system, devices and methods of the invention encompass the agents to be delivered to the target anatomy alone or in combination with electrical stimulation. The delivery device and systems and methods as disclosed herein place the distal end of the delivery element, which comprises at least one agent delivery structure, and optionally at least one electrode, in close proximity, or in contact with or next to the target spinal anatomy, e.g., DRG. A variety of agents can be delivered using the device, including sodium channel blockers, biologics, neuroinflammatory modulators, toxins etc., to selectively neuromodulate the neurons. Agent delivery and / or electrical stimulation can be automated and / or can be controlled automatically or by a pre-determined program, or by a patient control pump (PCA).

A reflective resin sheet is bonded to one face of a supporting substrate transmitting a radiation ray and a resin sheet of the same material as that of the reflective resin sheet to the other face of the supporting substrate. A phosphor layer converting a radiation ray into visible light is formed additionally on the reflective resin sheet formed on one face of the supporting substrate. The phosphor layer is enclosed with an additional moisture-proof layer and the reflective resin sheet. It is possible to obtain a scintillator panel higher in sensitivity characteristics, stabilized in quality and more cost-effective by placing the reflective resin sheet between the supporting substrate and the phosphor layer.

The present invention relates to catalysts for the production of hydrogen using the water gas shift reaction and the carbon dioxide reforming of hydrocarbon-containing fuels. The catalysts nickel and / or copper on a ceria / zirconia support, where the support is prepared using a surfactant templating method. The invention also includes processes for producing hydrogen, reactors and hydrogen production systems utilizing these catalysts.

A method and system of electronic couponing and marketing where a third-party intermediary distributes coupons to consumers through a website and the retailer's existing preferred accounts. The method comprises identifying a user, linking the user to an identifier distributed by a seller, enabling the user to search a database and select coupons, associating the selected coupons with the user, allowing the user to purchase items and redeem the selected coupons, tracking information regarding the searching, selecting and redeeming, and utilizing the information to generate a marketing strategy for vendors directed to users. The system uses a computer with means for connecting to the Internet, a user identification input and a user verification protocol, a storage medium containing demographic and geographic information about the consumer, electronic coupons, and searching, selection and redemption histories of the consumer.

The combination of filters and switches is used to solve the non-linearity problems in GSM / W-CDMA transceiver front-end wherein one common antenna is used for both the GSM mode and the W-CDMA mode. In particular, separate Rx / Tx paths and switches in the Rx paths are used to provide cross-band isolation between bands. All of the switches in the transceiver are disposed after the filters in that no switches are disposed between the filters and the antenna. Furthermore, bandpass filters are matched to one common node even if they are only disconnected at the output as long as the impedance at the output can be controlled.

A household energy management system uses measurements of the household electricity supply to identify and to determine the energy consumption of individual household appliances. From these measurements, models can be built of the behaviour of the occupants of the house, the thermal properties of the house and the efficiency of the appliances. Using the models, the household appliances—in particular heating and cooling appliances—can be controlled to optimize energy efficiency; and maintenance programmes for the appliances and for the house itself can be recommended to the householder or arranged with a service company.

Embodiments of nanoelectronic sensors are described, including sensors for detecting analytes such as anesthesia gases, CO2 and the like in human breath. An integrated monitor system and disposable sensor unit is described which permits a number of different anesthetic agents to be identified and monitored, as well as concurrent monitoring of other breath species, such as CO2. The sensor unit may be configured to be compact, light weight, and inexpensive. Wireless embodiments provide such enhancements as remote monitoring. A simulator system for modeling the contents and conditions of human inhalation and exhalation with a selected mixture of a treatment agent is also described, particularly suited to the testing of sensors to be used in airway sampling.

A method for diagnosing a right ventricular dysfunction of a subject. The method includes measuring a right intraventricular pressure waveform in the subject over at least one cardiac cycle, extracting a ventricular parameter indicative of a right ventricular function from the measured right intraventricular pressure waveform, and establishing a diagnosis at least in part on a basis of the ventricular parameter.

Improvements in respect of performing cataract surgery, and the result thereof, by application of a laser system. A device for cataract surgery, includes a surgical microscope or stereo microscope and a laser source. A module, consisting of a laser-coupling / deflecting unit, a laser-scan unit, and a focusing unit, can be attached to the surgical microscope or stereo microscope, in which at least one of these units can selectively be introduced between the surgical microscope and eye, and in which the focusing unit can scan a depth-of-focus range of greater than 1 mm.

Disclosed is a sales system for lots of items that includes business rule definition logic. The sales system also includes offering creation logic that is operative to dynamically create different offerings for items in the lots. The offering creation logic optimizes return based on one or more of the business rules by using different offering parameter values for the different offerings.

The invention relates to a device (13) for constructing a laminar body (5) from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing material, in particular particulate material, an a build platform (6) within a working area (11). The layers are solidified in locally predetermined regions by the action of binders and are joined together so that at least one moulded body (4) is formed by the solidified and joined regions of the layers. The device comprises a discharging device (1) movable back and forth over the working area (11) in at least one discharge direction and having at least one discharge opening (14) from which the free-flowing material can be discharged in individual superimposed layers during the movement of the discharging device (1) and the build platform (6) are adjustable vertically relative to each other in accordance with the specific progress with which the laminar body (5) is being constructed, in such a manner that a surface of the at least one body (8, 8a) facing the discharge opening (14) is aligned flush with a laminar body (5) topmost layer that is yet to be produced or has already been produced, in order to dose the discharge opening (14) of the discharging device (1) and prevent the discharging device from discharging free-flowing material or in order to discharge free-flowing material not used for laminar construction into a collecting container (7) when the discharge opening (14) is located above the body (8, 8a).

An accelerometer analyzing biomechanical parameters of the stride of a runner, including: fastening a device on the torso of the runner that is electrically self-sufficient and includes a triaxial accelerometer, chronograph, digital processor and display; measuring a sequence of acceleration data in at least the vertical direction using the accelerometer, while the runner runs a certain distance along a running course; during or at the end of the course, having the processor calculate the biomechanical parameters of the stride, including the lowering of the center of gravity and / or the elevation of the center of gravity and / or the sum of the lowering and of the elevation of the center of gravity and / or the vertical mechanical work of the center of gravity of the runner, on the basis of the acceleration data, of the distance and of a period of time measured by the chronograph; and displaying the parameters on the display.

A method of fabricating wafer level chip scale packages may involve forming a hole to penetrate through a chip pad of an IC chip. A base metal layer may be formed on a first face of a wafer to cover inner surfaces of the hole. An electrode metal layer may fill the hole and rise over the chip pad. A second face of the wafer may be grinded such that the electrode metal layer in the hole may be exposed through the second face. By electroplating, a plated bump may be formed on the electrode metal layer exposed through the second face. The base metal layer may be selectively removed to isolate adjacent electrode metal layers. The wafer may be sawed along scribe lanes to separate individual packages from the wafer.

Embodiments of nanoelectronic sensors are described, including sensors for detecting analytes such as anesthesia gases, CO2 and the like in human breath. An integrated monitor system and disposable sensor unit is described which permits a number of different anesthetic agents to be identified and monitored, as well as concurrent monitoring of other breath species, such as CO2. The sensor unit may be configured to be compact, light weight, and inexpensive. Wireless embodiments provide such enhancements as remote monitoring. A simulator system for modeling the contents and conditions of human inhalation and exhalation with a selected mixture of a treatment agent is also described, particularly suited to the testing of sensors to be used in airway sampling.

A system and method for harvesting the kinetic energy of a fluid flow for power generation with a vertically oriented, aerodynamic wing structure comprising one or more airfoil elements pivotably attached to a mast. When activated by the moving fluid stream, the wing structure oscillates back and forth, generating lift first in one direction then in the opposite direction. This oscillating movement is converted to unidirectional rotational movement in order to provide motive power to an electricity generator. Unlike other oscillating devices, this device is designed to harvest the maximum aerodynamic lift forces available for a given oscillation cycle. Because the system is not subjected to the same intense forces and stresses as turbine systems, it can be constructed less expensively, reducing the cost of electricity generation. The system can be grouped in more compact clusters, be less evident in the landscape, and present reduced risk to avian species.

Systems and methods for analog to digital conversion that may be implemented using a digital to analog converter (DAC) to provide negative feedback to at least Partially cancel one or more signals (e.g., one or more interfering signals present with one or more desired signals, one or more strong desired signals etc.) at the analog input of an analog to digital converter (ADC), and that may be used to extend the effective dynamic range of an ADC. The effective dynamic range of an ADC may be extended by detecting and isolating signals and using digital adaptive digital filtering along with a digital to analog converter (DAC) to provide negative feedback to cancel the signal / s at the input of the ADC.

The invention relates to a device (13) for constructing a laminar body (5) from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing material, in particular particulate material, an a build platform (6) within a working area (11). The layers are solidified in locally predetermined regions by the action of binders and are joined together so that at least one molded body (4) is formed by the solidified and joined regions of the layers. The device comprises a discharging device (1) movable back and forth over the working area (11) in at least one discharge direction and having at least one discharge opening (14) from which the free-flowing material can be discharged in individual superimposed layers during the movement of the discharging device (1). According to the invention at least one body (8, 8a) defining the working area (11) in at least one discharge direction of the discharging device (1) and the build platform (6) are adjustable vertically relative to each other in accordance with the specific progress with which the laminar body (5) is being constructed, in such a manner that a surface of the at least one body (8, 8a) facing the discharge opening (14) is aligned flush with a laminar body (5) topmost layer that is yet to be produced or has already been produced, in order to dose the discharge opening (14) of the discharging device (1) and prevent the discharging device from discharging free-flowing material or in order to discharge free-flowing material not used for laminar construction into a collecting container (7) when the discharge opening (14) is located above the body (8, 8a).

Modular components form a robotic assembly. the mod-components include modules and tools, each have a set of functions and capabilities, are rapidly configured-reconfigured to function cooperatively, creating a configurable robotic assemblage. Each mod-component incorporates a standardized connector mating with any other standardized connector in an interchangeable manner providing mechanical stability, power, and signals therebetween. Each mod-component incorporates a processor, data storage for mod-component identity, status, and programmable functionality, and for responding to commands. Storage is reprogrammed while the robot is operational, altering both commands and responses. After interconnection, inter-module power and communication are established and each modular component identifies itself and its functionality, thereby providing “plug and play” configuration.