lit Method for displaying suitability of future waypoint locations By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for illustrating an aircraft flight plan comprising at least one waypoint on a flight display of a flight deck of an aircraft, where the method may include displaying on the flight display of the flight deck some type of display indicia that indicates the suitability of locations for future waypoints. Full Article
lit Method and apparatus for alignment optimization with respect to plurality of layers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of patterning a plurality of layers of a work piece in a series of writing cycles in one or a plurality of write machines, the workpiece being deviced to have a number of N layers and layers of the workpiece having one or a plurality of boundary condition(s) for pattern position, the method comprising the steps of: determining the boundary conditions of layers 1 to N, calculating deviations due to the boundary conditions and calculating a compensation for the deviation of the first transformation added with the assigned part of the deviation due to the boundary conditions. Full Article
lit Physics-based reliability model for large-scale CMOS circuit design By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for simulating physical active semiconductor components using in silico active semiconductor components. To simulate charge degradation effect(s) in a circuit simulation, a simulated defect signal level is produced. More specifically, the simulated defect signal level simulates at least one charge degradation effect in the in silico active semiconductor component as a function of simulation time and a simulated input signal level of a simulated input signal. As such, the charge degradation effect(s) are simulated externally with respect to the in silico active semiconductor component. In this manner, the in silico active semiconductor component does not need to be reprogrammed in order to simulate charge degradation effects. Full Article
lit Method and system for forming patterns with charged particle beam lithography By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a method for fracturing or mask data preparation or mask process correction for charged particle beam lithography, a plurality of shots are determined that will form a pattern on a surface, where shots are determined so as to reduce sensitivity of the resulting pattern to changes in beam blur (βf). In some embodiments, the sensitivity to changes in βf is reduced by varying the charged particle surface dosage for a portion of the pattern. Methods for forming patterns on a surface, and for manufacturing an integrated circuit are also disclosed, in which pattern sensitivity to changes in βf is reduced. Full Article
lit Method and system for critical dimension uniformity using charged particle beam lithography By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for mask data preparation or mask process correction is disclosed in which a set of charged particle beam shots is determined which is capable of forming a pattern on a surface, wherein critical dimension uniformity (CDU) of the pattern is optimized. In some embodiments the CDU is optimized by varying at least two factors. In other embodiments, model-based techniques are used. In yet other embodiments, the surface is a reticle to be used in an optical lithographic process to form a pattern on a wafer, and CDU on the wafer is optimized. Full Article
lit Method and system for forming high accuracy patterns using charged particle beam lithography By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and system for optical proximity correction (OPC) is disclosed in which a set of shaped beam shots is determined which, when used in a shaped beam charged particle beam writer, will form a pattern on a reticle, where some of the shots overlap, where the pattern on the reticle is an OPC-corrected version of an input pattern, and where the sensitivity of the pattern on the reticle to manufacturing variation is reduced. A method for fracturing or mask data preparation is also disclosed. Full Article
lit Integrated circuit design verification through forced clock glitches By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A technique for determining whether an integrated circuit design is susceptible to glitches includes identifying storage elements in an original register-transfer level (RTL) file of the integrated circuit design and identifying clock signals for each of the storage elements in the original RTL file. The technique also includes generating respective assertions for each of the identified clock signals and identifying potential glitchy logic in respective clock paths for each of the identified clock signals. Finally, the technique includes inserting, at the potential glitchy logic, glitches in each of the respective clock paths of the original RTL file to provide a modified RTL file and executing an RTL simulation using the modified RTL file and the respective assertions. Full Article
lit Targeted performance of hypohalite methods thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to extend the benefits of using hypochlorite compounds such as sodium hypochlorite to clean and disinfect articles while reducing or eliminating the side effects of treating an article with a strong oxidant material. The invention relates to a single step process involving mixing of precursor compositions of a suitable hypohalite or hypohalous acid with a solution of a reducing agent. Optionally a buffer may be present in either or both precursor compositions, such that at time of use such active hypohalous acid concentration in the resulting aqueous mixture remains at a sufficient activity level to effect one or more desired benefits against a target substrate for a desired period of time. The oxidant is substantially consumed by reaction with the reducing agent after the time needed for achieving the desired benefit has passed. Full Article
lit Script compliance and quality assurance based on speech recognition and duration of interaction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods are provided for using automatic speech recognition to analyze a voice interaction and verify compliance of an agent reading a script to a client during the voice interaction. In one aspect of the invention, a communications system includes a user interface, a communications network, and a call center having an automatic speech recognition component. In other aspects of the invention, a script compliance method includes the steps of conducting a voice interaction between an agent and a client and evaluating the voice interaction with an automatic speech recognition component adapted to analyze the voice interaction and determine whether the agent has adequately followed the script. In yet still further aspects of the invention, the duration of a given interaction can be analyzed, either apart from or in combination with the script compliance analysis above, to seek to identify instances of agent non-compliance, of fraud, or of quality-analysis issues. Full Article
lit Method and system for facilitating communications for a user transaction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Current human-to-machine interfaces enable users to interact with a company's database and enter into a series of transactions (e.g., purchasing products/services and paying bills). Each transaction may require several operations or stages requiring user input or interaction. Some systems enable a user to enter a voice input parameter providing multiple operations of instruction (e.g., single natural language command). However, users of such a system do not know what types of commands the system is capable of accepting. Embodiments of the present invention facilitate communications for user transactions by determining a user's goal transaction and presenting a visual representation of a voice input parameter for the goal transaction. The use of visual representations notifies the user of the system's capability of accepting single natural language commands and the types of commands the system is capable of accepting, thereby enabling a user to complete a transaction in a shorter period of time. Full Article
lit Facilitating context delivery during communication sessions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT An approach is disclosed that facilitates context delivery during communication sessions. The approach may be implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to: render at least one service to a user device through a communication session; collect information of the communication session; and send the information of the communication session to a service provider when a call is setup between the user device and the service provider. The service provider renders the information of the communication session for viewing by the service provider. Full Article
lit Managing CPU resources for high availability micro-partitions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A partition manager relocates a logical partition from a primary shared processor pool to a secondary shared processor pool in response to a predetermined condition, such as a hardware failure. The relocated logical partition is allocated a smaller quantity of processing units from the secondary pool than it was allocated from the primary pool. A quantity of processing units reserved for a second logical partition is identified in the secondary shared processor pool, and a portion of those reserved processing units are allocated to the relocated logical partition. The reserved processing units may be redistributed among multiple relocated logical partitions. Full Article
lit Resolution programmable dynamic IR-drop sensor with peak IR-drop tracking abilities By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A data processing system on an integrated circuit includes a core that performs switching operations responsive to a system clock that draws current from the power supply network. An IR-drop detector includes a resistor ladder having outputs representative of an IR-drop caused by the core during the switching operations. The system further includes a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the outputs indicative of the IR-drop, a plurality of flip-flops coupled to the amplifiers, and a variable clock generator. The variable clock generator outputs a sampling clock comprising a group consisting of a variable phase or a variable frequency to the plurality of flip-flops. The flip-flops are triggered by the sampling clock so that the IR-drop at a time during a clock cycle of the system clock can be detected, and the peak IR-drop value for can be tracked. Full Article
lit System and method for automatic detection of a plurality of SPO2 time series pattern types By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosed embodiments relate to pulse oximetry. An exemplary pulse oximeter comprises a probe that is adapted to be attached to a body part of a patient to create a signal indicative of an oxygen saturation of blood of the patient, and a processor that is adapted to receive the signal produced by the probe, to calculate an SPO2 value based on the signal, to detect a plurality of pattern types of SPO2 indicative of pathophysiologic events, and to produce an output indicative of a detected one of the plurality of pattern types. Full Article
lit Method and system for facilitating remote medical diagnosis and consultation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for facilitating remote medical diagnosis and consultation of heart disease for a patient, the system comprising: a diagnostic device for performing Electrocardiography on the patient, a network device in communication with the diagnostic device via wired or wireless communication links, a software program pre-installed in the network device, a server located remotely, wherein during operation, the patient activates the diagnostic device which will perform Electrocardiography on the patient, the diagnostic device receives diagnostic data and transmits the diagnostic data to the network device, the software program transmit the diagnostic data to over a network to a server which a physician have access to, and based on the diagnostic data gathered by the server and some additional medical data, the physician can review the patient's health condition and offer an appropriate feedback and diagnosis for the patient. Full Article
lit Apparatus and method for measuring physiological signal quality By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for determining a signal quality of an input signal representing a repetitious phenomena derived from at least one sensor connected to a patient is provided. A detector receives the input signal and determines data representing the repetitious phenomena from the input signal for use in determining at least one patient parameter. A measurement processor is electrically coupled to the detector that determines a first signal quality value by identifying at least one feature of the repetitious phenomena data and compares the at least one feature of a first set of the determined repetitious phenomena data with a second set of the determined repetitious phenomena data to determine a feature variability value and using the feature variability value to determine a stability value representative of the quality of the input signal. Full Article
lit 3D ultrasound system for intuitive displaying to check abnormality of object and method for operating 3D ultrasound system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a method for operating the 3D ultrasound system, which are capable of intuitively displaying the abnormality of an object by determining a grade by comparing measurement data obtained by measuring ultrasound data relating to the object and displaying the measurement data in a different way based on the determined grade. Full Article
lit Apparatus and methods for determining a plurality of local calibration factors for an image By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a first set of extraluminal images of a lumen, using an extraluminal imaging device. At least one of the first set of images is designated as a roadmap image. While an endoluminal device is being moved through the lumen, a second set of extraluminal images is acquired. A plurality of features that are visible within images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images are identified. In response to the identified features in the images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images, a plurality of local calibration factors associated with respective portions of the roadmap image are determined. Other applications are also described. Full Article
lit Silicon-sulfur polymer, solid electrolyte and solid-state lithium-ion battery By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure discloses a silicon-sulfur polymer, a solid electrolyte comprising the silicon-sulfur polymer, and a corresponding solid-state lithium-ion battery. The silicon-sulfur polymer of the present disclosure is a polymer compound comprising both an inorganic backbone-chain structure and an organic side-chain structure, and has the characteristics of both the organic polymer and the inorganic polymer as well as many unique properties. Therefore, the solid electrolyte formed by the silicon-sulfur polymer and the solid-state lithium-ion battery thereof have many good characteristics including a good lithium-ion-conduction capability, better thermal endurance, a wider range of operating temperatures, and better thermostability. Full Article
lit Steroids having increased water solubility and resistance against metabolism, and methods for their production By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT Steroid compounds having increased resistance against metabolism and increased water solubility are disclosed, together with methods for their production. These substances are suitable for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of steroid related or steroid induced CNS disorders and for use in methods of prevention, alleviation or treatment of such disorders. Full Article
lit Dosage form to increase prasterone bioavailability By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A way to formulate prasterone to both increase its oral bioavailability, and decrease the variability of its oral bioavailability. In contrast to the approach taught by the prior art, the instant approach is amenable to scale-up to commercial scale. Further, the resulting product is amenable to analysis using standard, known quantitative analytical techniques; thus, unlike the prior art approach, the instant approach may be used to manufacture a product in conformity with applicable regulatory standards. Full Article
lit Compatibility agents for herbicidal formulations comprising 2,4-(Dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid salts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention generally relates to a method for minimizing the formation of insoluble salts of phenoxy herbicides. The method comprises (1) mixing a compatibility agent, amine salts of phenoxy acid herbicides, and a chemical containing non-amine cations in a aqueous system to form a stable and non-nozzle plugging solution; and (2) application of said stable and non-nozzle plugging solution onto target plants. Full Article
lit Abnormality determination apparatus for angle detection device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The abnormality determination apparatus, which is for determining presence of an abnormality in an angle detection device configured to output an output signal having a value equivalent to a rotational angle of a rotating body, includes a smoothing device configured to receive the output signal of the angle detection device to smooth a dependent variable of a function whose independent variable is the rotational angle equivalent value, and a parameter calculation device for calculating an abnormality determination parameter based on the dependent variable smoothed by the smoothing device. The function is such that an integrated value of the rotational angle equivalent value over a predetermined time section is always positive or negative, and is configured to vary the dependent variable continuously in accordance with continuous variation of the independent variable in at least a part of the predetermined time section. Full Article
lit Methods and systems for managing facility power and cooling By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and corresponding apparatus provide a determination of available power capacity of a phase of a power supply in a data center rack. The method includes metering the power of a power supply and calculating an average peak power draw per phase of the power supply. Using average peak power draw per phase of the power supply and the expected power draw data corresponding to data center equipment coupled to the power supply, the available power capacity can be calculated on a per phase of the power supply. A method and corresponding apparatus for managing data center equipment may use the phase based available power capacity calculations to determine the optimal placement of new data center equipment within a data center configuration. Full Article
lit Dual cure method for ink for increased durability and adhesion to golf balls By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is disclosed for curing ink printed images on golf balls by printing an image onto a golf ball and exposing the printed image to infrared radiation, then exposing the printed image to ultraviolet radiation. Full Article
lit Fabrication of zeolite composite film By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fabrication of a zeolite composite film includes mixing a composition of water, aluminum isopropoxide, TMAOH, and TEOS according to a set ratio, followed by stirring and heating to obtain a mixture; performing a centrifugation on the mixture to obtain an upper layer suspension; preparing a mesoporous particle suspension that includes a plurality of mesoporous particles, and each mesoporous particle includes a plurality of templating agents; vaporizing a mixture suspension formed from both the upper layer suspension and the mesoporous particle suspension to form a plurality of vaporized droplets; depositing the vaporized droplets on a heated substrate while removing the templating agents to form the zeolite composite film with a plurality of macroporous, mesoporous and microporous structures. Full Article
lit Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling ultrasound power output and stability By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Some embodiments provide a method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output. The method can comprise providing ultrasound energy from a ultrasound transducer; determining a power level threshold of the ultrasound energy; monitoring a power level of the ultrasound energy over time of the ultrasound energy; communicating a power level to a controller; adjusting the frequency of the ultrasound energy upon a change in the power level; and maintaining the power level threshold of the ultrasound energy. Full Article
lit Injection molding apparatus having an inner mold with a plurality of inner parts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is an injection molding apparatus. That apparatus includes an axially extending bar shaped support bar and an inner mold that has a plurality of internal parts surrounding the support bar and is axially divided into a plurality of parts in which one or more corresponding parts in the inner parts have an inner circumferential surface width the same or larger than an outer circumferential surface width. The apparatus further includes an outer mold that has a plurality of axially divided external parts surrounding the inner mold and has a space between the inner circumferential surface of the outer mold and the outer circumferential surface of the inner mold. Full Article
lit Template and method of making high aspect ratio template for lithography and use of the template for perforating a substrate at nanoscale By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Template and method of making high aspect ratio template, stamp, and imprinting at nanoscale using nanostructures for the purpose of lithography, and to the use of the template to create perforations on materials and products. Full Article
lit Utilizing a diluent to lower combustion instabilities in a gas turbine engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of influencing combustion dynamics, including measuring a combustion dynamics parameter, and controlling a diluent flow (26) delivered to a fuel flow (32) upstream of a pilot burner fuel outlet (40) in response to the measured combustion dynamics parameter. Full Article
lit Liquid deposition photolithography By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for liquid deposition photolithography are described. In particular, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for using photolithography to control the 2D structure of a thin layer of material (e.g., photopolymer) using various masks, projection optics and materials. In one or more embodiments, this thin layer can be manipulated by micro-fluidic techniques such that it can be formed, patterned and post-processed in a liquid environment, vastly simplifying the creation of multi-layer structures. Multiple layers are rapidly built up to create thick structures of possibly multiple materials that are currently challenging to fabricate by existing methods. Full Article
lit Extreme ultraviolet lithography process and mask By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) process is performed on a target, such as a semiconductor wafer, having a photosensitive layer. The method includes providing a one-dimensional patterned mask along a first direction. The patterned mask includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a multilayer mirror above the first and second regions, an absorption layer above the multilayer mirror in the second region, and a defect in the first region. The method further includes exposing the patterned mask by an illuminator and setting the patterned mask and the target in relative motion along the first direction while exposing the patterned mask. As a result, an accumulated exposure dose received by the target is an optimized exposure dose. Full Article
lit Endpoint detection for photolithography mask repair By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method includes scanning a lithography mask with a repair process, and measuring back-scattered electron signals of back-scattered electrons generated from the scanning. An endpoint is determined from the back-scattered electron signals. A stop point is calculated from the endpoint. The step of scanning is stopped when the calculated stop point is reached. Full Article
lit Quality of service application controller and user equipment application profiler By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various topologies of a quality of service application controller and related techniques to optimize the communications performance an application executing on a device participating in a communications environment are disclosed. The communications environment may include a cellular network, an unlicensed spectrum network, or a combination of the two. The quality of service application controller observes one or more key performance indicators of the communications network, and retrieves a policy from a policy store specific to the application. The quality of service application controller then modifies the execution of the application and/or the configurable aspects of the communications environment to optimize the communications performance of the application. For example, the application's data throughput may be increased, the power draw of the application may be minimized, data requested by the application may be minimized, or the apparent response time of the application's response to a web service may be minimized. Full Article
lit Channel-sounding method using a plurality of antennas, and apparatus for same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Feb 2016 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for transmitting an SRS in a multi-antenna system. The method comprises the steps of: acquiring specific information for discriminating a first antenna group and a second antenna group from among a plurality of antennas, wherein said first antenna group includes one or more antennas which are set to a turned-on state to perform communication with a base station, and said second antenna group includes one or more other antennas which are set to a turned-off state; transmitting an SRS to the base station if a predetermined condition is satisfied, under the condition that the second antenna group is set to the turned-off state; and setting the second antenna group to a turned-off state after the transmission of the SRS. Full Article
lit Utility vehicle with a continuously variable transmission having a system for selectively establishing a fixed maximum transmission ratio By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A continuously variable transmission for a vehicle comprises a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, and a belt entrained around both pulleys in an opposite manner between the fixed and movable sheaves thereof. One pulley carries a selectively deployable stop that may be placed into position to mechanically limit the range of motion between the fixed and movable sheaves. This establishes an actual maximum transmission ratio that is larger than the nominal minimum transmission ratio but smaller than the nominal maximum transmission ratio achievable by the transmission during normal operation thereof. When such a transmission is used on a utility vehicle attached to a substance dispensing applicator operatively driven by the vehicle's engine, the application rate stays substantially constant despite changes in engine speed when the user keeps the transmission upshifted to the actual maximum transmission ratio set by the position of the deployed stop. Full Article
lit Modalities for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the retina By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to methods for improved cell-based therapies for retinal degeneration and for differentiating human embryonic stem cells and human embryo-derived into retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and other retinal progenitor cells. Full Article
lit Form tap having a plurality of lobes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST A form tap for tapping an article may include a longitudinal shank having a mounting end opposite a tip, the shank having a shank length, and a thread portion with a plurality of threads for engaging a surface of the article. The thread portion includes a first region, a second region and a third region. The form tap includes a plurality of lobes extending though the first and second regions from the tip to the second region end, the lobes being spaced circumferentially around the shank and lying on a crest circumference. Each lobe may be disposed between respective first and second convex relief portions and each relief portion may be spaced radially inward from the crest circumference. Each lobe has a lobe width, the lobe width at the second region end being greater than the lobe width at the tip. The third region is free of lobes. Full Article
lit Lubricant base stocks with improved filterability By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided for are lubricant base stocks with improved filterability. The lubricant base stock includes a bright stock and an effective amount of a heavy neutral. The filterability of the base stock as measured by the Membrane Filtration Method is less than or equal to 400 seconds. Also provided for are lubricating oils with improved filterability and methods of improving the filterability of lubricant base stocks. Full Article
lit Machine tool including a plurality of tool spindles and a frame shaped rack By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a machine tool (1), comprising a plurality of fixed tool spindles (3) and such that can optionally be displaced from a retracted idle position to an extended working position and can be positioned at different positions in a frame-like rack (2), and a workpiece carrier (4) with at least one workpiece holder (5), with the workpiece (4) carrier being movable at least in several axes in a translational manner and preferably also in a rotational manner. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that at least one of the tool spindles (3) is associated with a tool magazine (7) plus tool changer (8). Full Article
lit Redundancy and interoperability in multi-channel optoelectronic devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-channel optoelectronic device is configured to establish a redundant status link with a remote device. The optoelectronic device can transmit N transmit optical signals to the remote device over a plurality of transmit channels and receive N receive optical signals from the remote device over a plurality of receive channels. The optoelectronic device includes one or more spare transmit and receive channels. When used with a remote device having spare transmit and receive channels, each device can establish a status link with the other and use the status link to switch out transmit and/or receive channels to identify and permanently switch out the worst transmit and/or receive channels. Alternately, the device can interoperate with a non-status-link enabled remote device by determining that the remote device is not status-link enabled, transitioning to a low transmit power mode, and transmitting and receiving over a plurality of default transmit and receive channels. Full Article
lit Minimizing bandwidth narrowing penalities in a wavelength selective switch optical network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to provisioning wavelength-selective switches and reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers to minimize the bandwidth narrowing effect from the optical filters. Novel architectures and methods are disclosed that can significantly reduce bandwidth-narrowing on channels in a reconfigurable WDM network where a large number of optical filter elements are cascaded. Instead of blocking unused channels as in the prior art, unused channels are selectively provisioned depending on the state of their adjacent channels. Unused adjacent channels of an active channel are provisioned to follow the same path as the active channels. As each channels is deployed, the channel frequency is selected so as to minimize bandwidth narrowing. Full Article
lit Optical module having a plurality of optical sources By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical module that outputs a wavelength multiplexed optical signal is disclosed. The optical module provides at least first to third optical source, a wavelength multiplexer, a polarization rotator, and a polarization multiplexer. The optical sources each outputting first to third optical signals with a wavelength different from others. The wavelength multiplexer multiplexes the first optical signal with the third optical signal. The polarization rotator rotates the polarization vector of one of the multiplexed first and third optical signals and the second signal by substantially 90°. The polarization multiplexer multiplexes the polarization rotated optical signal with the second optical signal. Full Article
lit Projection exposure tool for microlithography and method for microlithographic imaging By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A projection exposure tool for microlithography for imaging mask structures of an image-providing substrate onto a substrate to be structured includes a measuring apparatus configured to determine a relative position of measurement structures disposed on a surface of one of the substrates in relation to one another in at least one lateral direction with respect to the substrate surface and to thereby simultaneously measure a number of measurement structures disposed laterally offset in relation to one another. Full Article
lit Low forward voltage rectifier using capacitive current splitting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A Low Forward Voltage Rectifier (LFVR) circuit includes a bipolar transistor, a parallel diode, and a capacitive current splitting network. The LFVR circuit, when it is performing a rectifying function, conducts the forward current from a first node to a second node provided that the voltage from the first node to the second node is adequately positive. The capacitive current splitting network causes a portion of the forward current to be a base current of the bipolar transistor, thereby biasing the transistor so that the forward current experiences a low forward voltage drop across the transistor. The LFVR circuit sees use in as a rectifier in many different types of switching power converters, including in flyback, Cuk, SEPIC, boost, buck-boost, PFC, half-bridge resonant, and full-bridge resonant converters. Due to the low forward voltage drop across the LFVR, converter efficiency is improved. Full Article
lit Orthopedic device and method for correcting skeletal abnormalities in a new-born baby By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An orthopedic device for correcting abnormalities in the wrist, hand, fingers and thumb of a newborn baby comprises a lightweight glove shaped semi rigid shell constructed and dimensioned to fit a newborn baby within a few hours of birth. A wrist or lower arm and hand engaging portion are rotatably connected and adjustable in one millimeter increments. The adjustments are made with no more than one millimeter correction per 24 hour period. The shell includes a wrist and lower forearm engaging portion, a hand engaging portion and a finger engaging portion and is adjustable for rotationally clockwise or counterclockwise about the longitudinal axis of the lower arm bone. Further adjustments may be made to rotate the fingers upwardly or downwardly, to the left or right and rotationally and/or rotational movement between the hand and lower arm. The invention also contemplates an orthopedic method for correcting skeletal abnormalities of the wrist, hand, fingers and thumb of a newborn baby. Full Article
lit Extendible tourniquet cuff with stabilizer for improved utility and safety By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surgical tourniquet cuff that includes a stabilizer component that facilitates application of an overlapping cuff around the limb of a patient. The stabilizer is fixed to the cuff, and requires no tying or similar user manipulation to secure the overlapping cuff in alignment with the underlying cuff. The stabilizer improves the stability of the inflated cuff to prevent sideways shifting motion of overlapping cuff portions as the cuff is applied to the limb. The stabilizer also provides a handle mechanism to enable the user to snugly apply the overlapping cuff around the patient's limb while the overlapping portions remain properly aligned along their long axes. The stabilizer is designed to also facilitate attaching together two tourniquet cuffs end-to-end, with respective bladders overlapping and in proper alignment so that those attached cuffs can be used as a single, extended surgical cuff applied around a patient's limb. Full Article
lit Bandage for facilitating transdermal respiration and healing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bandage includes a reservoir filled with a perfluorochemical fluid, saturated with oxygen. Oxygen passes through a permeable membrane to the skin or wound to promote healing, and carbon dioxide travels from the skin or wound to the reservoir. Full Article
lit Ocular implants with asymmetric flexibility By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ocular implant having an inlet portion and a Schlemm's canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion being disposed at a proximal end of the implant and sized and configured to be placed within an anterior chamber of a human eye, the Schlemm's canal portion being arranged and configured to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of the eye when the inlet portion is disposed in the anterior chamber. Full Article
lit Intervertebral implant facilitating unilateral placement, instruments and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Implants, tools and methods for performing unilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion are provided. An interbody implant includes a body having a top and bottom surface extending along a length thereof; and first and second side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces on opposite sides of the body. The height of the first side surface is greater than the height of the second side surface. Full Article