3480results about How to "Overcome problems" patented technology

An electronic HVAC monitoring computer continuously monitors the general condition and efficiency of an HVAC system and notifies a central station computer via modem link or other signal transmission means, when the general condition or efficiency of the HVAC system falls below certain industry standard values by a pre-set amount.

An electronic cigarette has two tubes that resemble a cigarette: an electronic inhaler and an electronic atomizer. The two tubes are connected through one or more electric connectors to form an electronic cigarette. Inside the inhaler is a rechargeable or non-rechargeable power source such as a battery, which supplies electric power to the electronic inhaler and atomizer and ensures that both work together like a cigarette. In addition to the power source, the inhaler also includes other major components: an electric airflow sensor to detect air movement generated by a user's inhaling or puffing act and a Single Chip Micyoco which controls the atomization process. The sensor's role is to collect an airflow signal that triggers the Single Chip Micyoco, which in turn instructs the electronic cigarette to supply electric power to the inhaler and atomizer connected through an electric connector. Inside the electronic atomizer are an electric connector, electric heating wire, liquid container, and atomizer cap with an air-puffing hole. The user inhales through the air-puffing hole at an end of the electronic cigarette to create an air inflow, which triggers the atomization process. The Single Chip Micyoco driven by a software program controls the electronic cigarette in an on/off manner according to the signal detected by the electric sensor on the airflow and completes a cycle of atomization, which converts a solution of a liquid form inside the liquid container to a gas form. This entire process achieves the emulated smoking process of a user, who is satisfied with scent taste that mimics cigarette smoking.

A knee prosthesis, methods of implanting the prosthesis, method of treating arthritis of the knee, and a kit therefore are provided. The prosthesis answers many of the limitations of current knee prosthetic devices by providing a two-component (or alternatively, an optional three-component) device, as either a single structure, or as separate pieces. One of the components is constructed of low friction material, while the second is composed of a weight-dissipating cushioning material; the optional third component is constructed of low friction material. The prosthesis is initially attached to surrounding soft tissue in the knee by biodegradable sutures; it is held permanently in place by fibrous ingrowth into a porous collagen rim in the cushioning component. Major improvements provided by the present invention over currently available prostheses include minimal incisions, minimal or no bone cuts, minimal overall dissection (these improvements lead to shorter hospital stays and rapid rehabilitation and fewer potential for side effects), less prosthetic wear, greater longevity, fewer activity restrictions, able to be used on young, large, active patients, ease of revision, ease of conversion into a total knee arthroplasty if needed.

Systems, apparatus and methods are described that provide abstractions, tools and delivery systems useful in the publication, sharing, viewing, communication, transmission and reception of information on telephone networks. The invention also provides systems, apparatus and methods for conducting transactions on telephone networks. The systems, methods and apparatus can be optimized for use in mobile devices and may be addressed using existing telephone numbers. The abstraction typically maintains a built-in location capability. A plurality of tools are provided including a language for rendering information on telephone devices, and a protocol for enabling communications between telephone devices. In some embodiments, personal and business telephone numbers can be associated with addressable useful information about that telephone number. In many embodiments, the invention enables the calling of a telephone number to initiate voice communication in a manner identical to accessing published information associated with the target telephone number or user.

A method of manufacturing a split-gate flash memory device is disclosed. On a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of parallel conductive lines, a plurality of doped regions are formed by an ion implantation using the conductive lines as mask. Then, the conductive lines are trimmed for thinning the cover area. Afterward, a composite dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and covers the conductive lines. Finally, a plurality of word lines are formed on the composite dielectric layer.

A digitizer for user interaction via an object with an electronically refreshable display screen, the digitizer comprising: a transparent sensing arrangement of detectors located at said electronically refreshable display screen for detecting an electric field of said object, said detectors having outputs, and an arrangement of differential amplifiers associated with said outputs, thereby to apply differential detection between said outputs.

A computer implemented method for providing recommendations for an in-person meeting group, the method comprising: collecting user information, wherein the user information provides information related to topical interests and location information for at least one of a plurality of users; comparing the user information with a topical listing of in-person meeting groups in the same geographical region as the at least one user, wherein the in-person meeting group is formed and maintained through a web-based meeting facility; and providing an in-person meeting group recommendation to the at least one user based on the comparison.

A storage apparatus includes a first storage unit and at least a second storage unit. A method for accessing the storage apparatus generates a plurality of bad block lists regarding the plurality of the storage units, respectively, and according to at least one bad block indicated by a bad block list of the first storage unit, configures at least a good block in each second storage unit corresponding to the at least one bad block of the first storage unit as a replacement block of each second storage unit. Accordingly, the method generates a mapping result of each second storage unit according to a bad block list of the second storage unit and each replacement block, and accesses the storage apparatus according to the bad block list of the first storage unit and each mapping result.

Bone screw assemblies include longitudinal connecting members that provide for dynamic stabilization, some including non-uniform portions that are configured to flex, contract or expand. Composite longitudinal connecting members include longitudinal segments made from different materials having different flexibilities. Polyaxial bone screw assemblies include change-out receivers for cooperating with replacement longitudinal connecting members having a different flexibility. Bone screw shanks for cooperating with one or more open receivers include treatment or coating to provide biologically active interface with bone.

A method of depositing a film on a substrate disposed in a substrate processing chamber. The method includes depositing a first portion of the film by forming a high density plasma from a first gaseous mixture flown into the process chamber. The deposition processes is then stopped and part of the deposited first portion of the film is etched by flowing a halogen etchant into the processing chamber. Next, the surface of the etched film is passivated by flowing a passivation gas into the processing chamber, and then a second portion of the film is deposited over the first portion by forming a high density plasma from a second gaseous mixture flown into the process chamber. In one embodiment the passivation gas consists of an oxygen source with our without an inert gas.

A touch sensitive apparatus and method of operation to improve visual feedback and visual perception of tactile input to an operator. The apparatus includes a touch screen device or display having a touch overlay, a processor and stored program instructions in a memory in which a three-dimensional graphical image, such as a key element, is created in the apparatus and shown on the display as an input device or keypad to the processor. Each key element includes a beveled surface surrounding a flat surface. When a displayed key element is touched by a probe, such as a finger, the screen area about the displayed key element and the finger, visually enlarges or "splats" confirming the selection of the particular key. Concomitantly or simultaneously, the key element detents or depresses within the key pad, changes color and bevel size further verifying the key selection to the operator thereby creating a sense of key movement and visual perception of tactile input to the operator aiding in the operation of the key pad. The simultaneous visual key enlargement, visual detenting and change in key color and bevel size upon key selection in a touch sensitive apparatus improves the feedback to the operator in the selection and confirmation of a key element actuated by the operator.

An inductive power transfer (IPT) pad and system for the charging of electric and hybid electric vehicles. The batter of such a vehicle can be selectively coupled to a high power electrical supply for fast charging or a lower power electrical supply for charging using IPT. The batteries of the vehicles are used in a system to control the load demand in an electricity network through variations of the frequency of power supplied.

The current invention is a method or a computer implemented tool for robust, low CPU, low resolution human tracking which may be implemented a part of a digital video management and surveillance system or on a digital video recorder. The method involves use of intensity, texture and shadow filtering in the YUV color space to reduce the number of false objects detected. The thresholds for background segmentation may be dynamically adjusted to image intensity. The human and object recognition feature operates on an adaptive codebook based learning algorithm.

A high-powered lighting assembly includes an easily sealed continuous thermal barrier and a solid-state actively controlled closed-loop refrigeration system to maximize operational efficiencies and increase unit life. The thermal barrier prevents thermal back-flow from a heat sink plate or a housing to a lighting array while insulating a control module and a thermal sensor with improved sealing geometry. The refrigeration system is optimally positioned to controllably pump heat from the lighting array to the heat sink plate.

A system and method are disclosed for detecting intrusions in a host system on a network. The intrusion detection system comprises an analysis engine configured to use continuations and apply forward- and backward-chaining using rules. Also provided are sensors, which communicate with the analysis engine using a meta-protocol in which the data packet comprises a 4-tuple. A configuration discovery mechanism locates host system files and communicates the locations to the analysis engine. A file processing mechanism matches contents of a deleted file to a directory or filename, and a directory processing mechanism extracts deallocated directory entries from a directory, creating a partial ordering of the entries. A signature checking mechanism computes the signature of a file and compares it to previously computed signatures. A buffer overflow attack detector compares access times of commands and their associated files. The intrusion detection system further includes a mechanism for checking timestamps to identify and analyze forward and backward time steps in a log file.

The present invention is a module testing tool for Web services. In one embodiment, the present invention automates the testing of Web services that use SOAP as a wire protocol and HTTP as a transport protocol. The invention provides an easy interface for exercising Web services and testing their functionality. The invention helps users confirm the responses to SOAP messages with such features as fault detection, textual comparisons, XML validation by DTDs or XML Schemas, and the ability to express and flag complex patterns in XML. The invention lets the users validate responses that require application-specific verification (such as business logic validation) by plugging in their own code. It also provides the capability to perform regression testing of web services. The invention can automatically creates regression test controls from SOAP Client responses, or users can create their own regression tests.

A quality monitoring system is implemented within a communications contact center. All electronic data associated with incoming and outgoing communications is monitored and can selectively be recorded. The recording of the communications data is controlled by a set of recording rules. Environmental data associated with the operation of the contact center is also stored. Periodically, and on demand by contact center personnel and others, the recorded communications data and the stored environmental data are analyzed. The recording rules that are actively controlling the recording of the communications data and the environmental data can be dynamically changed in real time, based on the analysis. The system can also display various results of the analysis on a contact center-wide display, on individual contact center agents' workstation screens, and on supervisors' workstation screens. These displays can be a congratulatory message to an agent who has exceeded predetermined goals, can warn of an excessively long wait queue for a class of incoming communications, and can provide contact center environmental information for assisting with evaluating the quality of service being provided by the contact center.

A multi-sensor system can be attached to a high voltage power line, draw power from the power line inductively, and convert the power to lower voltages and direct currents for operating cameras, sensors, a processor, and communications equipment that provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The multi-sensor system can detect and track targets in detection regions and transmit such detection data and other data from the camera and sensors to a remote operator who can initiate response actions and send control instructions to the multi-sensor system from the remote location.

Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to golf data collecting and recording are described. In one embodiment an apparatus on a golf club includes an integrated reminder and a stroke cancellation system and is semi-automatic in that the recording of the stroke is directly in response to changing the state (e.g. activating) of a switch which indicates that the golfer has pressed a button on the golf club. The pressing of the button indicates that the golfer will or has taken a stroke with the golf club and that the stroke is to be recorded, optionally with the location of the stroke and an identifier of the club (e.g. 9 iron).

The present invention features an intelligent in-store couponing system comprising an operating computer for controlling the functions of the intelligent in-store couponing system; a coupon database capable of storing coupons and coupon data or information; a coupon management module for managing the coupons and their delivery; and at least one coupon delivery system capable of delivering a coupon to a customer in a usable format at the point-of-sale and/or point-of-decision. The in-store couponing system is preferably computer network-based and controlled by personnel at an individual business location or business chain, or by an administrative body controlling one or more of the functions of a business location or chain. The in-store couponing system may further be interfaced or integrated with an in-store media broadcasting and/or customer entrance detection and tracking system to provide ad-driven in-store couponing.

A semiconductor device, comprising a first semiconductor portion having a first end, a second end, and a slit portion, wherein the width of the slit portion is less than the width of at least one of the first end and the second end; a second portion that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, a third portions that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion, wherein the second and third portions are on opposite sides of the slit portion, and at least three terminals selected from a group consisting of a first terminal connected to the first end, a second terminal connected to the second end, a third terminal connected to the second portion, and a fourth terminal connected to the third portion.

A method and system for optimizing performance in a data-over-cable system. The method includes determining parameters for data transmission on an upstream channel of the data-over-cable system, and negotiating use of the parameters. A measurement is made of a signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) on the upstream channel. Associated with the SNR and a target packet-error-ratio (“PER”) are parameters that provide optimal data throughput. The parameters, such as symbol rate, type of modulation, or amount of error correction, are used to construct a message that is sent to the cable modems. The message instructs the cable modems to reconfigure themselves to transmit according to the parameters. The reconfiguration helps ensure optimal performance.