ntr TIMING-CONTROLLER-CONTROLLED POWER MODES IN TOUCH-ENABLED SOURCE DRIVERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT This disclosure generally provides a processing system that includes a first controller coupled with a second controller via a first communication link. The first controller is configured to transmit display data and configuration data to the second controller via the first communication link. The second controller is configured to drive, using the display data, one or more coupled display electrodes for performing display updating. The second controller is further configured to operate one or more coupled sensor electrodes using the configuration data to acquire capacitive sensing data, and to transmit the capacitive sensing data to the first controller via the first communication link. Full Article
ntr RECEIVER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR RECEIVER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A receiver includes: a frequency-characteristic-changing-circuit to change a frequency characteristic of an input signal in which N-level data value is pulse-amplitude-modulated, to generate a frequency-characteristic-changed-signal; a controller to control the frequency-characteristic-changing-circuit to obtain a desired ratio between a amplitude component of a target data value corresponding to the frequency-characteristic-changed-signal at a first timing and a second amplitude component thereof at a second timing which is later than the first timing; and a decision-feedback-equalization-circuit to which the frequency-characteristic-changed-signal is input, wherein the decision-feedback-equalization-circuit includes: a comparison-circuit to include comparators each to output a comparison result obtained from comparing the target data value and a threshold value, and N−1 selection circuits each to select one of comparison results output from the comparators at the second timing, based on the comparison results, and wherein at least one of the comparators outputs the comparison results to two of the N−1 selection circuits. Full Article
ntr Method and Apparatus for Entropy Coding in Image Compression By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus of image coding including adaptive entropy coding are disclosed. According to this method, input pixels associated with a group of symbols generated from image or video data are received. Maximum bit-depth of the group of symbols is then determined. If the maximum bit-depth of the group of symbols is smaller than a first bit-depth threshold, the group of symbols is encoded or decoded using Golomb-Rice coding. If the maximum bit-depth of the group of symbols is greater than or equal to the first bit-depth threshold, the group of symbols is encoded or decoded using second entropy coding, where the second entropy coding is different from the Golomb-Rice coding. Outputs corresponding to encoded or decoded output associated with the group of symbols are provided. The maximum bit-depth of the group of symbols is signaled at the encoder or recovered at the decoder by parsing the bitstream. Full Article
ntr METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENTROPY ENCODING USING HIERARCHICAL DATA UNIT, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECODING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided are video encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses. The video encoding method includes: encoding a video based on data units having a hierarchical structure; determining a context model used for entropy encoding a syntax element of a data unit based on at least one piece of additional information of the data units; and entropy encoding the syntax element by using the determined context model. Full Article
ntr Fan Motor Controller for Use in an Air Conditioning System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT One aspect provides an air conditioning system that includes a compressor housing, a motor having fan blades rotatably coupled thereto and located within the compressor housing. The motor has a rotation sensor associated with it that is configured to sense a rotation of the fan blades. This embodiment further comprises a controller coupled to the motor and is configured to increase a torque of the motor when the rotation sensor indicates that the fan blades are not rotating after an on command signal is received by the motor. Full Article
ntr METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC VENTILATOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for controlling an electric ventilator includes: setting a first threshold temperature T1D of a microcontroller lower than a maximum threshold temperature T3D of the microcontroller; monitoring a temperature TD of the microcontroller; setting a first threshold temperature T1M of an electronic power device lower than a maximum threshold temperature T3M of the electronic power device; monitoring a temperature TM of the electronic power device; preparing a counter of a predetermined time X; activating the counter if the temperature TD or the temperature TM exceeds respective first threshold temperatures T1D, T1M; reducing a speed V of rotation of an electric motor to a second value V1 lower than a first value V1 if after the predetermined time X, the temperature TD or the temperature TM is higher than the respective first threshold temperatures T1D, T1M. Full Article
ntr AXIAL THRUST CONTROL FOR ROTARY COMPRESSORS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods are used to control operation of a rotary compressor of a refrigeration system to limit or prevent movement of rotors due to axial thrust loading resulting from rapid changes in speed of the rotors of the compressor. The operational profile of the motor is controlled to maintain acceleration torque and deceleration torque within predefined limits. The acceleration torque and deceleration torque are maintained within the predefined limits by controlling the speed of the motor, or by controlling the torque applied by the motor to the rotors during acceleration or deceleration. Full Article
ntr OBSERVER BASED SENSORLESS CONTROL FOR U-SHAPE SINGLE PHASE SYNCHRONOUS PERMANENT MAGNET MOTORS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for controlling a U-shape single phase synchronous permanent magnetic motor having a rotor and a stator and coupled to a single phase alternating current (AC) power source through a switch includes estimating back-electromotive force and the position of the rotor based on a voltage feedback signal, a current feedback signal, and a phase feedback signal indicative of a zero-crossing of the single phase AC power source. Once the speed and position of the rotor are determined, a controller can trigger a switch to supply power to the motor. Full Article
ntr VARIABLE-CAPACITY COMPRESSOR CONTROL VALVE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve that can suppress a decrease in the efficiency by reducing the amount of leakage in the valve without requiring severe accuracy of the components, avoid possible operation failures, and suppress the influence on the sliding resistance as well as the influence on the control characteristics. A main valve element of a valve element or a valve body is provided with a flexible or elastic sealing member. The sealing member is adapted to, when the valve orifice is closed by the main valve element, abut an end portion on the higher pressure side in a gap between sliding surfaces that is formed between the main valve element and a guide hole into which the main valve element is adapted to be slidably fitted and inserted, and thus seal the gap between the sliding surfaces. Full Article
ntr VARIABLE-CAPACITY COMPRESSOR CONTROL VALVE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve where a valve body can be easily machined and the machining time and machining cost can be reduced without a decrease in the valve closing property or a decrease in the slidability of the valve element due to shaft misalignment. The valve body includes a support member having formed therein a valve orifice and a guide hole into which the valve element is adapted to be slidably fitted and inserted; and a body member having formed therein a Ps inlet/outlet port, a Pd introduction port, and a Pc inlet/outlet port. The support member is fixedly inserted into a recess hole provided in the body member. In addition, a chip sealing portion (pocket portion) for sealing chips of the body member and/or the support member is provided between the body member and the support member. Full Article
ntr VARIABLE-CAPACITY COMPRESSOR CONTROL VALVE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve where a decrease in the sealability or the operability due to shaft misalignment can be effectively suppressed without requiring high dimensional accuracy. The dimensions and the shape of each part are designed such that when the sub valve element closes the in-valve release passage, the tapered portion (sub valve element portion) provided at the lower end portion of the sub valve element enters the release through-hole of the in-valve release passage, and the sub valve element is thus aligned with the main valve element by the tapered portion. Full Article
ntr VARIABLE -CAPACITY COMPRESSOR CONTROL VALVE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve where the size of a plunger can be reduced, the machining and assembly process can be simplified, weight reduction can be achieved, and cost reduction can also be achieved, for example. The plunger has a slit through which a valve element is assembled to the plunger by being inserted from a lateral side. The slit serves as a flow path for releasing the pressure Pc in the crank chamber to the suction chamber of the compressor from the Ps inlet/outlet port when the sub valve element has opened the in-valve release passage. Full Article
ntr SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FLUID TRANSPORT SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fluid transport system includes at least one flow control device and a multiphase pump configured to transport fluid. At least one pump sensing device is configured to measure at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump. A controller is programmed with a pump map including a correlation of the at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump with at least one operating characteristic of the fluid. The controller is configured to determine an estimated value of the at least one operating characteristic of the fluid based on the measured value of the at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump and the pump map. At least one regulating device coupled to at least one flow control device is modulated based on the estimated value of the at least one operating characteristic of the fluid. Full Article
ntr METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CALIBRATE ROD PUMP CONTROLLERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus to calibrate rod pump controllers are described. An example method includes obtaining initial values related to a pumping unit, determining parameters based on the initial values, the parameters including at least one of a leaked off load value, a residual friction value, and a buoyant rod weight value, and based on one or more of the initial values and the parameters, calculating one or more dimensions of a rod string, the one or more dimensions to be used to determine a pump card of the pumping unit. Full Article
ntr INTEGRATED SUMP PUMP CONTROLLER WITH STATUS NOTIFICATIONS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sump pump system having a primary pump, a fluid level sensor, and a primary controller electrically connected to the primary pump for activating the pump when the fluid level sensor indicates a predetermine fluid level has been reached, the primary controller having a primary interface for communicating with a secondary pump. In some forms, the system includes a secondary pump having a secondary controller electrically connected to the secondary pump and having a secondary interface, the primary and secondary interfaces allowing the primary and secondary pump controllers to communicate with one another and allowing at least one of the primary and secondary pump controllers to assume control of both the primary and secondary pump. Related methods are further described herein. Full Article
ntr Electrical Control Valve for an Air Conditioning Compressor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A control valve for an air conditioning compressor is disclosed. The control valve comprises a control piston, an electric motor, a sensor, and a control unit. The control piston connects a refrigerant flow between a high-pressure area and a crankcase pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a first position. The control piston further connects the refrigerant flow between the crankcase pressure area and a low-pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a second position. The electric motor moves the control piston between the first position and the second position. The sensor determines the position of the control piston. The control unit is connected to the sensor and the electric motor. The control unit controls the electric motor to move the control piston and control the refrigerant flow based on the position of the control piston determined by the sensor. Full Article
ntr INTEGRATED DISPLACEMENT CONTROLLED PUMP By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A pump system includes a motor, a pump, and a single shaft extending from the motor into the pump, the single shaft being configured to operate simultaneously as both a motor output shaft and a pump input shaft. A first end of the single shaft interacts with the motor, and a second end of the single shaft interacts with the pump, to configure the shaft to operate as the motor output shaft and the pump input shaft. The pump system further may include a mounting accessory configured to support the motor and the pump. The motor may be an electric motor, and the pump may be a hydraulic pump. A drive controller is configured to generate commands for controlling the electric motor, which in turn drives the pump to achieve a desired flow of hydraulic fluid. Full Article
ntr Climate control system having multiple adsorbers and a method of control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A climate control system and a method of control. The climate control system may have first and second adsorbers and a door that controls airflow through the first and second adsorbers. The first adsorber adsorbs moisture from the airflow and the second adsorber desorbs moisture when the door is in a first position. Full Article
ntr System and method for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration from relatively high concentration CO2 mixtures By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of reducing the net carbon dioxide footprint of an industrial process that generates power from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in which ambient air is admixed with up to 50% by volume of an effluent gas from the power generator of the industrial process, in order to substantially increase the CO2 concentration in the air prior to treatment. The treatment comprises adsorbing CO2 from the admixed ambient air utilizing a cooled, porous substrate-supported amine adsorbent, wherein the porous substrate initially contacts the mixed ambient air containing condensed water in its pores, which act as an intrinsic coolant with respect to the exothermic heat generated by the adsorption process. In addition, prior to regenerating the supported adsorbent, air pressure is substantially reduced in the sealed regeneration chamber and the low pressure chamber is placed in fluid connection with a higher pressure regeneration chamber containing steam and carbon dioxide, to preheat the sorbent to be regenerated and to quickly cool the regenerated sorbent prior to use for further CO2 adsorption. Full Article
ntr Dynamic control of desiccant concentrations in a water recovery device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method to recover water from an ambient airstream. Dehumidification of the airstream is also achieved by removal of the water. A device of the system includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant in each tray, the concentration of the liquid desiccant may be dynamically changed based on changes within the system. A foam media absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. Fans and valves are used to control airflow through the device. A charge cycle circulates air through the device to remove water vapor from the airstream. A subsequent extraction cycle removes water collected in the liquid desiccant by a condenser communicating with the chamber. A controller is used to integrate and manage all system functions and input variables to achieve a high efficiency of operational energy use for water collection. Full Article
ntr Waterjet cutting system with standoff distance control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cutting head of a waterjet cutting system is provided having an environment control device and a measurement device. The environment control device is positioned to act on a surface of a workpiece at least during a measurement operation to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece substantially unobstructed by fluid. The measurement device is positioned to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area indicative of a position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece. A control system is further provided and operable to position the cutting head relative to the workpiece at a standoff distance based at least in part on the information indicative of the position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece obtained by the measurement device. A method of operating a waterjet cutting system is also provided. Full Article
ntr Logic control for fast-acting safety system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Woodworking machines with cutting tools and motors to drive the cutting tools are disclosed. The machines may be equipped with a detection system that detects a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, and with a reaction system that performs a specified action upon detection of the dangerous condition. The machines also may be equipped with a control system that tests the operability of at least a portion of the detection system and/or the reaction system. The control system may disable the motor if the tested portion is inoperable. Full Article
ntr Process for the preparation of surface-treated calcium carbonate material and use of same in the control of organic material in an aqueous medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite. Full Article
ntr Process for the preparation of surface-treated calcium carbonate material and use of same in the control of organic material in an aqueous medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite. Full Article
ntr Process for the preparation of surface-treated calcium carbonate material and use of same in the control of organic material in an aqueous medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite. Full Article
ntr BOOTLOADER CONTROL VIA DEVICE IDENTIFIER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for placing a device in a bootloader state. One of the methods includes determining, during a boot process of the apparatus, whether a device of a particular type is connected to the apparatus, in response to determining that a device of the particular type is connected to the apparatus, determining a device identifier for the device, comparing the device identifier for the device with a predetermined identifier that indicates a device to which the apparatus should provide control of the boot process to determine whether the device identifier is the same as the predetermined identifier, and in response to determining that the device identifier is the same as the predetermined identifier, maintaining the apparatus in a bootloader state to provide control of the boot process of the apparatus to the device. Full Article
ntr USER TERMINAL DEVICE, AND MODE CONVERSION METHOD AND SOUND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING VOLUME OF SPEAKER THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A user terminal apparatus is disclosed. The user terminal apparatus includes a touch screen which senses a multi gesture that is performed by using at least two fingers or other input tools, and a controller which provides an individual volume control mode by which a volume of one speaker apparatus is independently controllable with respect to a volume of the remainder of a plurality of speaker apparatuses, and which is convertible into a group volume control mode in order to combine a plurality of speaker apparatuses into a group such that volumes of the plurality of speaker apparatuses can be jointly controlled in response to the multi gesture sensed via the touch screen while the individual volume control mode is provided. Full Article
ntr CONTROLLERS, OUTPUT DEVICES, OR TELEVISIONS SUPPORTING VOICE ACTIVATED COMMANDS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An output device or controller supporting voice activated commands by using a portable electronic device is herein disclosed and enabled. The output device may be a television, a controller connectable to a television, a printer, a sound output device, or a projector. The portable electronic device for wirelessly managing or driving the output device may include a microphone to receive voice activated commands. The output device includes wireless circuitry to establish a direct wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.) with the portable electronic device, and subsequently, the output device, using the established direct wireless connection, is operable to: wirelessly receive first information from the portable electronic device; wirelessly send to the portable electronic device second information in response to receiving the first information; and wirelessly receive from the portable electronic device data related to voice activated commands from a user. Full Article
ntr METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AND CONTROLLING COMPOSITE USER INTERFACE CONTROL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of multimedia technologies and disclose methods for generating and controlling a composite user interface control and an electronic device. The method for generating a composite user interface control includes the following steps: creating at least one composite control, where the composite control includes at least two subcontrols; adding each subcontrol to the composite control; respectively setting a general attribute and a unique attribute of each subcontrol; acquiring a resource of each subcontrol and transmitting the resource to a corresponding subcontrol; and adding an event response mechanism to the composite control. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for generating a composite user interface control may enable a manner for generating a user interface control to be relatively simple, which facilitates control over and modification on all user interface controls or a single user interface control on a user interface. Full Article
ntr USER INTERFACE CONTROL LAYOUT METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of this disclosure relate to the field of multimedia technologies, and disclose a user interface control layout method and an electronic devices. The user interface control layout method includes the following steps: creating a relative layout container, where the relative layout container is used to contain child controls, and the child controls are a relative layout container or a normal control; specifying an attribute of a child control for the relative layout container; generating the child control; and if the child control is a relative layout container, repeating the foregoing steps, until all the child controls in the relative layout container are normal controls. In some embodiments of this disclosure, multiple UI controls of different sizes or types may be generated one by one through layout and arrangement, and the UI controls of different sizes or types may be nested with each other, and thereby UI interfaces based on different rules can be quickly implemented to meet different requirements of various products for UI control arrangement. Full Article
ntr CONTROLLING PROGRAM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that are executable by a computer in an information processing apparatus having a display device is provided. The computer readable instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to determine a format to display at least one setup item, which is required in order to accomplish a predetermined process, in the display device between an icon format, in which the at least one setup item is displayed in a figurative image containing a symbolic figure representing the at least one setup item, and a list format, in which the at least one setup item is displayed in a textual image containing text describing the at least one setup item. The computer readable instructions further cause the computer to control the display device to display the at least one setup item in the determined format. Full Article
ntr SOUND OBJECT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD BASED ON ADDITIONAL IMAGE OBJECT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling a sound object based on an additional image object. A sound object controlling method includes displaying image objects synchronized with a plurality of sound objects, respectively, on a display; and controlling a sound object synchronized with an image object selected by a user from among the image objects displayed on the display. The sound object includes metadata that includes playback location information of the sound object on a specific space, sound level information of the sound object, and display location information of the image object synchronized with the sound object on the display. Full Article
ntr Electronic lock with power failure control circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic lock with power failure control circuit includes a lock mechanism having a latchbolt movable between extended and a retracted positions and an electrically powered lock actuator to lock and unlock the latchbolt. The power failure control circuit includes a microcontroller and the lock is connected to a primary power source and an auxiliary power source, preferably supercapacitors and charger that can be turned on by the microcontroller and off when the charger signals a full charge. A power monitor circuit detects low voltage on the primary power supply and sets a power failure interrupt causing the microcontroller to execute power failure instructions that control the actuator so that the lock is placed into a desired locked or unlocked final state during the power failure. upon detection of the return of good power, the system resets the lock. Full Article
ntr Integrated thermal management system and environmental control system for a gas turbine engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas turbine engine includes a first and second pump driven by a spool. An Air-Oil Cooler downstream of the first pump. An air-air precooler is downstream of the second pump, the air-air precooler downstream of the Air-Oil Cooler. Full Article
ntr Control of balance drift in turbocharger rotating assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing with a bearing bore and a thrust wall. The bearing housing includes a journal bearing disposed within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a shaft supported by the journal bearing for rotation about an axis within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel fixed to the shaft and configured to be rotated about the axis by the engine's post-combustion gasses. The turbocharger additionally includes a compressor wheel fixed to the shaft and configured to pressurize an ambient airflow. Furthermore, the turbocharger includes a thrust bearing assembly pressed onto the shaft and configured to transmit thrust forces developed by the turbine wheel to the thrust wall. Pressing the thrust bearing assembly onto the shaft minimizes radial motion between the thrust bearing assembly and the shaft. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed. Full Article
ntr Pump having stepper motor and overdrive control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control. Full Article
ntr Smartphones app-controlled configuration of footwear soles using sensors in the smartphone and the soles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A smartphone app that causes a smartphone device to actively control a configuration of footwear structural elements located in a footwear sole or removable inner sole insert of a user of the smartphone device, and one or more sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable inner sole insert the user's footwear and a sensor including a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer in the smartphone device; and the footwear structural elements being configured for computer control by the smartphone device when the smartphone app is operating on the smartphone device; and wherein instructions of the smartphone app, when executed, cause the smartphone device to, first, process measurement data received from the footwear and smartphone sensors and, second, use the processed measurement data to alter a configuration of the footwear structural elements based on the output from processing measurement data. Full Article
ntr Athletic footwear with ball control portions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An article of footwear includes a first ball control portion, a second ball control portion and a third ball control portion. Each ball control portion includes a group of gripping members configured to facilitate various types of ball control. Each group of gripping members is arranged so that the ball control portions present a series of approximately continuous edges to a ball, which can help maintain a smooth trajectory for a ball. Full Article
ntr Electronic personal thermal control apparatus and system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic personal thermal control apparatus and method may provide heating and cooling for a user. A power source may provide power to a thermal module that is capable of heating or cooling a heat transfer component to a desired temperature. The heating or cooling may be managed by a controller. The components may be placed in a housing. The apparatus may be placed at any suitable position on a user's body, such as the wrist or ankle(s). The housing of the apparatus may be incorporated or combined with clothing, such as wristband(s), apparel, jackets, footwear, or the like. Full Article
ntr Air conditioner and method for controlling the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An air conditioner and control method thereof is provided which may be controlled to adapt operation to changes in power rates. The method may include receiving electric power related information, determining whether a current power rate included in the received information is higher than a preset reference value, determining occupancy of a space to be air conditioned if the current power rate is higher than the preset reference value, and controlling a flow rate of air supplied to the space based on the determined occupancy. Full Article
ntr Ice making device and control method using electrostatic capacitance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice making device may include an ice tray, a water-supply part for supplying water to the ice tray, an electrostatic capacity sensor having two or more electrodes attached to the ice tray, a water quantity detecting section for detecting a water quantity in the ice tray on a basis of variation of an electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor, and an ice frozen detecting section for detecting water supplied to the ice tray having been frozen on the basis of the variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. A control unit for the ice making device controls the water-supply part, an ice tray drive part and an ice detecting part on the basis of variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. Full Article
ntr Industrial fluid circuits and method of controlling the industrial fluid circuits using variable speed drives on the fluid pumps of the industrial fluid circuits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An industrial fluid circulating system having at least one fluid circulation circuit, includes a plurality of pumps connected in parallel to circulate the fluid through each of the fluid circulation circuit, a separate motor driving each pump, a load detector to sense operating loads on the system and each circuit, and a speed control to vary the speed of each motor to thereby vary the pumping capacity of each pump in response to the detected load on the system, each pump of each respective circuit running simultaneously at a substantially similar speed or a predetermined equal reduced speed of the respective circuit or an almost equal reduced speed or a similar reduced speed. Full Article
ntr Adaptive defrost controller for a refrigeration device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for controlling automatic defrost of a refrigerator device adaptively moves the defrost cycle to a time period of comparatively low compressor activity based on an evaluation of compressor usage over a cyclically recurring time interval. An adaptive defrost controller (ADC) analyzes stored data to develop a profile for compressor activity vs. time. From this profile, high compressor activity times of the time interval are distinguished from low compressor activity times in the time interval and a defrost cycle is scheduled based on the results of the analyzed data. Full Article
ntr Temperature control system with thermoelectric device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Certain disclosed embodiments pertain to controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example, a temperature control system (TCS) can include an air channel configured to deliver airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The TCS can include a one thermal energy source and a heat transfer device connected to the air channel. A first fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the thermal energy source and a thermoelectric device (TED). A second fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the TED and the heat transfer device. A bypass circuit can connect the thermal energy source to the heat transfer device. An actuator can cause coolant to circulate selectively in either the bypass circuit or the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A control device can operate the actuator when it is determined that the thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the airflow. Full Article
ntr Solid state control system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A control system to selectively control the operation of the compressor of a mini-split air conditioning system including at least one remote evaporator operatively coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant therethrough, a sensor to monitor the operation of the evaporator and to generate an operating control signal to turn-off the compressor when a predetermined operating condition is sensed at the evaporator and a condensate drain pan to receive or catch condensate from the evaporator, the control system comprising a condensate sensor disposed to sense condensate in the condensate drain pan at a predetermined level and to generate a condensate level signal fed to a battery powered control device including an isolated solid state relay coupled to the sensor by a control coupling device to generate a condensate level control signal fed to the sensor causing the sensor to generate the operating control signal fed to turn off the compressor when condensate within the condensate drain pan reaches the predetermined level. Full Article
ntr REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A remote control system includes computing boards and a control board. The control board includes a first network physical layer protocol conversion chip, a network signal switch module and a network signal processing module. The control board is electrically connected to the computing boards and communicated with a remote control manager. The first network physical layer protocol conversion chip is electrically connected to the remote control manager. The network signal switch module is electrically connected to the first network physical layer protocol conversion chip and the computing boards. The network signal processing module is electrically connected to the network signal switch module. Full Article
ntr MICROCONTROLLER PROGRAMMABLE SYSTEM ON A CHIP By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a microcontroller device having a microprocessor, programmable memory components, and programmable analog and digital blocks. The programmable analog and digital blocks are configurable based on programming information stored in the memory components. Programmable interconnect logic, also programmable from the memory components, is used to couple the programmable analog and digital blocks as needed. The advanced microcontroller design also includes programmable input/output blocks for coupling selected signals to external pins. The memory components also include user programs that the embedded microprocessor executes. These programs may include instructions for programming the digital and analog blocks “on-the-fly,” e.g., dynamically. In one implementation, there are a plurality of programmable digital blocks and a plurality of programmable analog blocks. Full Article
ntr METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING A PCI DEVICE CONTROLLER FROM MASQUERADE ATTACKS BY MALWARE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A technique allows for protecting a PCI device controller from a PCI BDF masquerade attack from Ring-0 and Ring-3 malware. The technique may use Virtualization technologies to create guest virtual machines that can use a hypervisor to allocate ACPI information from ACPI tables to a secure VM and using extended page tables (EPT) and VT-d policies to protect the MMIO memory range during illegal runtime events. Full Article
ntr Configuration arbiter for multiple controllers sharing a link interface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In a system where multiple controllers share a link interface but are not all (1) compatible with the same configuration of the physical layer or (2) using the same clocking, a configuration arbitration subsystem intercepts, organizes, and re-clocks configuration-access requests from the various controller agents. Priorities are assigned according to stored policies. The configuration arbiter grants configuration access to the top-priority agent, synchronizing the agent's message with the arbiter's clock. Lower-priority agents' messages are stored in command queues until they ascend to top priority. Besides preventing timing conflicts and streamlining the coordination of clocks, the configuration arbiter may provide access to physical-layer registers beyond the controllers' built-in capabilities to further optimize configuration. Full Article
ntr ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electronic apparatus is provided, the electronic apparatus including: an interface comprising interface circuitry configured to be connectable with at least one of a plurality of sensor modules for sensing an object; a programmable circuit configured to be selectively loaded with at least one of a plurality of hardware images corresponding to the plurality of sensor modules, and to process a sensing signal obtained by sensing the object through the sensor module corresponding to the loaded hardware image; and a controller configured to determine at least one hardware image corresponding to the sensor module connected to the interface from among the plurality of hardware images, and to load the at least one determined hardware image to the programmable circuit. Full Article