al METHOD FOR PERFORMING EXO-ATMOSPHERIC MISSILE'S INTERCEPTION TRIAL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT An inflatable dummy target comprising a chassis of inflatable ducts wrapped with a sheet. The chassis of inflatable ducts can include one or more ring shaped ducts and one or more elongate ducts. The chassis can include at least two ring shaped ducts interconnected by one or more elongate ducts. The dummy target can include several attached axi-symmetrical sections, each section have a chassis of inflatable ducts. Each section can be conical, frustoconical or cylindrical, thereby achieving a concave or convex dummy target geometry. Full Article
al SOCIAL GAMING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A gaming device includes a base, a runway, and a target. The base includes a baseplate and a ramp. The base plate has an upper surface and a leading end. The ramp includes a ramp leg that supports the ramp in an inclined position. The runway has a free end that extends from the leading end of the base plate in a deployed configuration of the gaming device. The target includes a target plate having a target surface that defines a plurality of holes. The target plate is hingedly attached to the base plate such that the base plate is foldable into the target in a transport configuration of the gaming device. In the transport configuration, the upper surface of the base plate opposes the target surface of the target plate with the ramp disposed between the upper surface and the target surface. Full Article
al Patio/lawn-scaled Cup and Ball Game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A new competitive indoor/outdoor skill game, based on a smaller table-top version. The patio/lawn-sized cup and ball game allows for various modifications and improvements to earlier versions. The game is played on a scale similar to traditional outdoor games, such as horseshoes and washers. Full Article
al ProBound Football Board Game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A football board game for playing a game board version of football between opposing players is provided. The game comprises a game table having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall around the complete perimeter of the game table. First and second legs are secured to the bottom surface of the game table with the legs extendable to support the game table above a surface and retractable to a position against the bottom surface of the game table. A carpeted football field is mounted to the top surface of the game table and configured to represent a standard football field and marked appropriately with yard lines, goal lines, and yardage. Two field goalposts are positionable on opposite ends of the football field. Also included are a set of thirty-two NFL cards, a pair of dice, two team figure helmets, and two yellow time out cards. Full Article
al Multilevel educational alphabet corresponding numbers word game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT An educational word game designed to be played with cards or with card squares with three level and three series. The game is entertaining and competitive and functions for the entire family with its multitude of games. It is a developmental tool, a teaching tool and an ongoing learning process of vocabulary building skills. In the Level I game the three letters selected are used independently of each other in the first position of each word, Level II Game in the second position, and Level III in the third position. The first series focus on single letters for all three game levels, the second series on the double letters, and the third series on triple letters. The alphabet letters and the corresponding numbers guideline have many useful purposes. Full Article
al Three-Dimensional Puzzle or Display Platform By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A three-dimensional platform comprising a tessellated surface of pieces, each piece comprising a top and sides. The pieces comprise a fixed square piece having at least two opposing sides orientated acutely relative to the top to define a fixed square retention surface. The remaining surfaces orientate substantially perpendicular relative to the top. There is a mobile square piece having at least two opposing sides orientated obtusely relative to the top to define a mobile square retention surface. The remaining surfaces are oriented substantially perpendicular relative to the top. A mobile triangular piece having all sides orientated obtusely relative to the top. The fixed square retention surface indexes only with either the mobile square retention surface or the triangular piece surface to effect retention of the pieces to define the three-dimensional platform. Full Article
al BALLISTIC PICTURE FRAME FOR TWO DIMENSIONAL TARGETS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A ballistic picture frame for holding two dimensional paper targets, photographs or print art used for dry-fire training. The ballistic picture frame holds paper targets, photographs, or other two dimensional graphics or prints like conventional picture frames, but also provides a ballistic barrier for enhanced safety during dry-fire training. The ballistic frame includes a back panel constructed of ballistic materials that prevent projectile penetration through the frame in the event of a negligent discharge. Full Article
al Control device and method for intelligent basketball shooting machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The disclosure refers to a control device and method for an intelligent basketball shooting machine, the device includes a control module, a blue-tooth communication module, a display module, a control switch, a power-supplying module, and a first sensor and a second sensor both for counting; the first sensor is used for catching amount of goals in one basket of basketball shooting machine, and the second sensor used for catching amount of goals in another basket of basketball shooting machine; the first sensor, second sensor, blue-tooth communication module, display module, control switch and power-supplying module are respectively connected with control module; the disclosure makes the basketball shooting machine go on single game or online game, besides, the player can play the shooting game with friends by remote way just through an intelligent terminal, which increases interest and convenience. Full Article
al DART GAME APPARATUS HAVING PLURALITY OF CAMERAS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM STORED IN COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a dart game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in order to implement the aforementioned object. The dart game apparatus includes: a dart target having a plurality of score areas; a sensing module configured to sense an electrical signal changed as a dart pin hits the dart target; a controller configured to control an overall operation of the dart game apparatus; and a camera module configured to include a plurality of camera units, wherein the camera module includes a first camera unit configured to photograph a throw line which is a location where a player throws a dart and a whole body of the player, a second camera unit configured to photograph at least a part of a body for identifying the player, a third camera unit configured to photograph the entirety of the dart target, and a fourth camera unit configured to photograph at least a partial area in an area formed between the throw line and the dart game apparatus in order to photograph a blind zone which is not photographed by the first camera unit, the second camera unit, and the third camera unit. Full Article
al Method for playing a football-based bean bag tossing game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Cornhole games have been a mainstay during tailgating events at football games across the United States. However, the traditional cornhole game offers little challenge as the board has but one target opening and scoring is limited. Further, the traditional cornhole game has no real connection to the game of football; it does not present a representation of the field of play and does not apply the rules of football. The purpose of this invention is to create a method of play for a bean bag tossing game that is based on the game of football and incorporates the rules and strategies of the game of football. In an effort to create such a football-based bean bag tossing game, the game should incorporate the concepts of kickoffs, including onside kickoffs, punts, including fake punts, driving down the field by gaining yardage, the ability to kick a field goal or score a touchdown when in scoring position, the loss of yardage through application of penalties, the loss of possession through the application of turnovers, the possibility of scoring a touchdown after an opponent's turnover, the ability to attempt a last-chance Hail Mary touchdown, and the option to try for a 2-point conversion after a touchdown is scored. The game should also provide the player with an opportunity to use strategy when deciding what plays to make. With this football-based bean bag toss game, all of the main elements of the game of football listed above are incorporated and the game plays out similarly to a real game of football. Full Article
al Method for playing a baseball-based bean bag tossing game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Tailgating, or having party prior to a sporting event, most often a football game, is an American pastime. In recent years, tailgating has expanded to other sports, including baseball. For many years, cornhole games have been a mainstay during tailgating events at football games across the United States. However, the traditional cornhole game offers little challenge as the board has but one target opening and scoring is limited. Further, the traditional cornhole game has no real connection to the game of baseball; it does not present a representation of the field of play and does not apply the rules of baseball. The purpose of this invention is to create a method of play for a bean bag tossing game that is based on the game of baseball and incorporates the rules and strategies of the game of baseball. In an effort to create a baseball-based bean bag tossing game, the game must incorporate the imagery of a baseball field, the rules of the game, and the concepts of pitching, including balls, strikes and hits, one-, two- and three-base hits, homeruns, sacrifice bunts and sacrifice flies, outs at first, second and third base, fly outs, infield fly-outs and outfield fly-outs, double plays, steals and extra base hits. Players attempt to get hits to get runners on base, then try to bring the runners home to score.The game should also provide the player with an opportunity to use strategy when deciding what plays to make. With this baseball-based bean bag toss game, all of the main elements of the game of baseball listed above are incorporated and the game plays out similarly to a real game of baseball. Full Article
al METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING A CARD DECK LIBRARY AND MASTER IMAGES FOR A DECK OF CARDS, AND A RELATED CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of automatically generating a calibration file for a card handling device comprises automatically generating a calibration file stored in memory of a main control system for a card handling device. Automatically generating the calibration file comprises identifying at least one parameter associated with a rank area around a rank of at least a portion of the card, identifying at least one parameter associated with a suit area around a suit of the at least a portion of the card, and storing the at least one parameter associated with the rank area and the at least one parameter associated with the suit area in the calibration file. Additionally, a method of automatically generating deck libraries for one or more decks of cards comprises automatically generating a plurality of master images for the cards of the first deck type using the parameters from the calibration file. Full Article
al AUTOMATED CARD SHUFFLING AND DEALING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An automated playing card, shuffling and dealing device in turn shuffles and in turn deals playing cards of two playing card sets, includes two card slot assemblies each disposed with a shuffled card box and a dealt card box. A control unit controls a dealing element to align with the playing card set in the shuffled card box of the card slot assembly at a card drawing position, sequentially draw the cards in the playing card set, and move the uncovered cards to the corresponding dealt card box. Meanwhile, the control unit controls a shuffling machine to align with the playing card set in the dealt card box of the card slot assembly at a card shuffling position. After the dealing process is complete, the control unit exchanges the positions of two card slot assemblies. Accordingly, shuffling and dealing in turn are completed in an uninterrupted and automated manner. Full Article
al METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING A BALLISTIC TARGET By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and system for suspending a target above a surface that provides for supporting a support member above the surface. A hanger is used to suspend a target from the support member. When the target is hanging from the support member, it is induced into an angle so that its top portion is closer to a shooter. When the target is struck by an incoming projectile, it is allowed to pivot downward from its initial position and the target is also restrained from rotating about the axis of suspension. Full Article
al Concentric vertical pipe heat exchanger for drain water heat recovery By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An outer plastic tube has water connections through the wall into an annular space defined by an O-ring spacer-gasket positioned between the wall and the perimeter margin of an inner cylinder rolled from a single-layer of sheet metal. A metal drainpipe with a removable bullet-shape at one end is forced through the cylinder to expand it and to thereby compress the gasket sealing the annular space. Thermal contact conductance is increased by the compressive force of water pressure. Water flow through the heat exchanger is both annular and turbulent to optimize heat transfer. Full Article
al INTERNAL DEGAS FEATURE FOR PLATE-FIN HEAT EXCHANGERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A heat exchange assembly includes an upper cover panel, a lower cover panel, a plurality of stacked plate assemblies, and a plurality of fins interposed between the plurality of plate assemblies. Each of the plurality of plate assemblies forms a flow passage for receiving a coolant. A continuous flow path extends through the heat exchange assembly. The flow path is in fluid communication with the flow passage of each of the plates and configured to convey air from each of the flow passages to an environment separate from the heat exchanger. Full Article
al ELECTRONIC/ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HOUSING WITH STRIPS OF METAL PLATE AND SHAPE MEMORY MATERIAL FORMING A HEAT TRANSFER PATH By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a housing for electronic/electrical that includes an inner panel and an outer panel, a strip of metal plate, and a strip of shape memory material. The inner panel and the outer panel are disposed parallel to each other at regular intervals to define an internal space. The strip of metal plate extends from an inner surface of the outer panel. The strip of shape memory material extends from an inner surface of the inner panel and is attached or detached to/from the metal plate on the outer panel while changing into an original straight shape or a bent shape according to a temperature variation. Here, when the temperature increase beyond a first transition temperature, the shape memory material straightens to form a heat transfer path. At a low temperature environment, the shape memory material bends and is separated from the metal plate to interrupt the heat transfer path. Full Article
al Method and System for Discharging Flexitank Viscous Material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A discharge system that includes a flexitank having product stored therein and a discharge port. The discharge port is selectively fluidly connected to a first or second heat exchanger input port. The first heat exchanger has an outlet port that is in selective communication with either a second heat exchanger input port, or a discharge location. The second heat exchanger has an outlet port in selective fluid communication with discharge location. The first heat exchanger transfers heat to product flowing through the first heat exchanger; and the second heat exchanger removes heat from product flowing through the second heat exchanger. Full Article
al HELICAL TUBE EGR COOLER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A heat exchanger for transferring heat between two fluids consists of a shell surrounding at least two tube bundles attached at both ends to a tube header. Each of the tube bundles is constructed from a plurality of individual tubes that are twisted into identical helixes formed about a common helical axis. Because each individual tube is formed in the shape of a helix, rather than as a straight tube, thermal elongation of the individual tubes results in a considerably reduced axial force on the tube attachments and tube header. Use of multiple tube bundles wound with opposite twist direction improves spacing efficiency between tubes. Full Article
al WALL-MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONER INDOOR UNIT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A wall-mounted air conditioner indoor unit includes a housing having a front housing and a rear housing, main air intake portions formed on the housing, a mixed air outlet formed on a lower portion of the front housing, a non-hot exchange air inlet formed on the rear housing, and an air delivery apparatus disposed inside the housing. The hot exchange air passage has an upper portion with a size greater than that of its lower portion. A volute and a centrifugal fan located inside the volute are disposed inside the housing and above the air delivery apparatus. An air output portion of the volute faces the hot exchange air passage, and includes a surrounding portion extending to the air delivery apparatus and surrounding the hot exchange air passages, and air mixed cavities are formed between the surrounding portion and the hot exchange air passages. Full Article
al FUNCTIONAL COATINGS ENHANCING CONDENSER PERFORMANCE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Coatings for enhancing performance of materials surfaces, methods of producing the coating and coated substrates, and coated condensers are disclosed herein. More particularly, exemplary embodiments provide chemical coating materials useful for coating condenser components. Full Article
al THERMAL MANAGEMENT USING PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Generally discussed herein are devices and methods for thermal management of a component. An apparatus can include a phase change material substantially at a phase transition temperature of the phase change material, a component near, on, or at least partially in the phase change material, and a heat removal device to transfer heat energy away from the phase change material and maintain the phase change material substantially at the phase transition temperature. Full Article
al INSTALLING ASSEMBLY AND HEAT SINK USING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A heat sink includes a cooling module and an installing assembly for fixing the heat sink on a housing. The installing assembly includes a case, a handle rotatablely fixed in the case and a support including a fixing board with blocks and two brackets. The handle is actively connected with the support. The fixing board is fixed on a bottom plate of the case. The handle includes two bulges. The brackets include two slide openings for receiving the bulges. When the heat sink is installed, the handle is rotated to be vertical, the bulges are out of the slide openings, and the blocks are stuck on the housing. When the heat sink is dismantled, the handle is rotated to be horizontal and the bulges are stuck into the slide openings to resist the brackets, thereof the fixing board being uplifted and the blocks being pushed away from the housing. Full Article
al HEAT PUMP SYSTEM WITH ADDITIONAL HEAT SOURCE FOR EVAPORATION OF REFRIGERANT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An air conditioning system of a motor vehicle with a refrigerant circuit for operation in a refrigerator mode and a heat pump mode. The refrigerant circuit includes a primary circuit with a compressor, a heat exchanger for heat transfer between the refrigerant and the surroundings, an expansion element and a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the intake air being conditioned for the passenger compartment to the refrigerant, and a first flow path. The flow path extends from a branching point between the compressor and the heat exchanger to an opening and includes a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the refrigerant to the intake air being conditioned for the passenger compartment. The heat exchanger is situated in a flow direction of intake air of the passenger compartment after the heat exchanger. Full Article
al Integrated heat spreader having electromagnetically-formed features By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Integrated heat spreaders having electromagnetically-formed features, and semiconductor packages incorporating such integrated heat spreaders, are described. In an example, an integrated heat spreader includes a top plate flattened using an electromagnetic forming process. Methods of manufacturing integrated heat spreaders having electromagnetically-formed features are also described. Full Article
al COMPARTMENTALIZED HEAT EXCHANGER IN INDUSTRIAL COMPONENT SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In a cooled component system, a heat exchanger mounted on a surface of the industrial component is housed in an isolated access compartment adjacent to but separated from the primary compartment containing the industrial component. Housing the heat exchanger in a separately accessible compartment permits access to the heat exchanger for cleaning or other purposes without having to shut down the industrial component being cooled. A means for moving a cooling media over the surface a the heat exchanger might also be included to maximize heat exchange. Full Article
al DIGITAL DOWN CONVERTER WITH EQUALIZATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A digital down converter with an equalizer translates an ADC output signal to a low frequency spectral region, followed by decimation. All operations of correction of the processed signal are carried out with a reduced sampling rate compared with sampling rates of the prior art. Equalization is performed only in a frequency pass band of the down converter. The achieved reduction of the required computation resources is sufficient to enable the down converter with equalization to operate in a real time mode. Full Article
al DIFFERENTIAL DATA CREATING APPARATUS, DATA UPDATING APPARATUS, AND DIFFERENTIAL DATA CREATING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention aims to provide a technology capable of enhancing the effect of reducing differential data in size. A bit shift unit shifts either of old data and new data in a forward direction and a backward direction of its bit string by each of 0, 1, 2, . . . , and n bit(s) to generate a plurality of data. A copy bit string extracting unit extracts information on copy bit strings based on the plurality of data and other non-shifted data. An additional bit string extracting unit excludes copy bit strings from the new data to extract information on additional bit strings. A differential data generating unit creates differential data based on the information on copy bit strings and the information on additional bit strings. Full Article
al METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PARALLELIZE DATA DECOMPRESSION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus to parallelize data decompression are disclosed. An example method adjusting a first one of initial starting positions to determine a first adjusted starting position by decoding the bitstream starting at a training position in the bitstream, the decoding including traversing the bitstream from the training position as though first data located at the training position is a valid token; and merging, by executing an instruction with the processor, first decoded data generated by decoding a first segment of the compressed data bitstream starting from the first adjusted starting position with second decoded data generated by decoding a second segment of the compressed data bitstream, the decoding of the second segment starting from a second position in the compressed data bitstream and being performed in parallel with the decoding of the first segment, and the second segment preceding the first segment in the compressed data bitstream. Full Article
al HIGH RESOLUTION TIME-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A circuit includes a time delta detector configured to receive an input clock signal and a reference clock signal and generate a delta pulse signal and a reference pulse signal. A comparison circuit is configured to receive the delta pulse signal and the reference pulse signal. The comparison circuit generates an output indicative of a bit of a time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal. A control circuit is configured to receive the output from the comparison circuit. The control circuit maintains a count of the time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal. Full Article
al DIFFERENTIAL SUMMING NODE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A summing node is provided for summing a first and second differential signals. Each of the first and second differential signals comprise respective direct and inverse signal components. The summing node comprises a first differential transistor pair comprising a first and second input and coupled to a first and second output. The summing node further comprises a second differential transistor pair comprising a third and fourth input and coupled to the first and second output. The first and fourth inputs are respectively coupled to the direct and inverse signal components of the first differential signal and the second and third inputs are respectively coupled to the direct and inverse signal components of the second differential signal. Full Article
al LEVEL SHIFTER AND PARALLEL-TO-SERIAL CONVERTER INCLUDING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A level shifter circuit includes a level shifting unit configured to receive signals that may vary in a first range via a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, respectively and to output signals that may vary in a second range to a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, respectively, where the second range is larger than the first range, a first pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the positive output terminal to a predetermined level when a clock is in a first level, and a second pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the negative output terminal to the predetermined level when the clock is in the first level. Full Article
al METHOD FOR ADAPTIVELY REGULATING CODING MODE AND DIGITAL CORRECTION CIRCUIT THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for adaptively regulating a coding mode and a digital correction circuit thereof are provided. The method is for a successive-approximation-register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC). In the method, whether to regulate a binary weight corresponding to each of digital bits is determined according to the number of completed comparison cycles to provide a first coding sequence. The first coding sequence is directly compensated according to uncompleted comparison cycles to provide a correct digital output code. Full Article
al DYNAMIC LINKING OF CODESETS IN UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A codeset having function-code combinations is provisioned on a controlling device to control functions of an intended target device. Input is provided to the controlling device which designates a function to be controlled on the intended target device. From a plurality of codes that are each associated with the designated function in a database stored in a memory of the controlling device a first code that is determined to be valid for use in controlling the designated function on the intended target device is selected. When the codeset is then provisioned on the controlling device, the provisioned codeset includes as a function-code combination thereof the designated function and the first code. Full Article
al INPUT BUFFER AND ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An input buffer for an ADC is provided. The input buffer includes a receiving circuit and an impedance circuit. The receiving circuit is coupled between a power supply and a sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC, and receives an analog input signal and generating an analog signal. The impedance circuit is coupled to the receiving circuit, and selectively provides a variable impedance. When the sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC is operated in a first phase, the impedance circuit provides a small impedance, and when the sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC is operated in a second phase, the impedance circuit provides a large impedance. Full Article
al MULTI-LEVEL LADDER DAC WITH DUAL-SWITCH INTERCONNECT TO LADDER NODES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A multi-level DAC includes first and second level resistor ladders, and a dual-switch ladder interconnect reduces DNL at tap-point transitions between first-level ladder resistors. For each first level resistor N, the switch-interconnect network includes dual (first/second) switches connectable to a resistor-top node NT, and dual (third/fourth) switches selectively connectable to a resistor-bottom node NB. The first switch is operable to connect NT to a top tap switch operable to select NT as a top tap point, and the fourth interconnect switch is operable to connect NB to a bottom tap switch operable to select NB as a bottom tap point. The first and fourth switches are connected, forming an outer loop that includes top and bottom tap points. The second switch connects to a top second-level resistor RT, and the third switch connects to a bottom second-level resistor RB, forming an inner loop that includes the series-connected second-level resistors. Full Article
al ENHANCED DATA COMPRESSION FOR SPARSE MULTIDIMENSIONAL ORDERED SERIES DATA By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are methods and systems for significantly compressing sparse multidimensional ordered series data comprised of indexed data sets, wherein each data set comprises an index, a first variable and a second variable. The methods and systems are particularly suited for compression of data recorded in double precision floating point format. Full Article
al DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER AND HIGH-VOLTAGE TOLERANCE CIRCUIT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a high-voltage tolerance circuit are provided. The DAC includes a high-voltage tolerance circuit. The high-voltage tolerance circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage, and select the reference voltage or a first power-source voltage to control the node voltage of each branch of an operational amplifier circuit of the high-voltage tolerance circuit according the logical signal level of an input signal. Full Article
al ASYNCHRONOUS SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND RELATED METHODS AND APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An ultrasound device including an asynchronous successive approximation analog-to-digital converter and method are provided. The device includes at least one ultrasonic transducer, a plurality of asynchronous successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADC) coupled to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, at least one asynchronous SAR in the plurality having a sample and hold stage, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a comparator, and control circuitry, wherein a DAC update event following at least one bit conversion is synchronized to a corresponding DAC update event of at least one other ADC in the plurality of ADCs. Full Article
al Method And System For Time Interleaved Analog-To-Digital Converter Timing Mismatch Estimation And Compensation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems for time interleaved analog-to-digital converter timing mismatch calibration and compensation may include receiving an analog signal on a chip, converting the analog signal to a digital signal utilizing a time interleaved analog-to-digital-converter (ADC), and reducing a blocker signal that is generated by timing offsets in the time interleaved ADC by estimating complex coupling coefficients between a desired digital output signal and the blocker signal utilizing a decorrelation algorithm on frequencies within a desired frequency bandwidth. The decorrelation algorithm may comprise a symmetric adaptive decorrelation algorithm. The received analog signal may be generated by a calibration tone generator on the chip. An aliased signal may be summed with an output signal from a multiplier. The complex coupling coefficients may be determined utilizing the decorrelation algorithm on the summed signals. A multiplier may be configured to cancel the blocker signal utilizing the determined complex coupling coefficients. Full Article
al AXIALLY AND CENTRALLY SYMMETRIC CURRENT SOURCE ARRAY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A current source device having a current source array includes a plurality of current source units, a plurality of least significant bits, and a plurality of most significant bits. The current source units are arranged along a plurality rows and columns of a current source array. Each of the least significant bits includes a first amount of current source units is placed at the geometric center of the current source array. Each of the most significant bits includes a second amount of current source units. The second amount is the first amount multiplied by a positive integer. The two adjacent bits in the most significant bits are centrally symmetrical to the geometric center. Full Article
al REDUCING POWER NEEDED TO SEND SIGNALS OVER WIRES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus are described. A method, implemented in a decoder, includes receiving two or more signals from an encoder over two or more respective wires. At least one of the two or more signals includes at least one code that was recoded by the encoder. The decoder receives a recoding table. The recoding table provides a mapping indicating the recoding for each code that was recoded by the encoder in the received two or more signals. The decoder decodes the two or more received signals using the received recoding table. Full Article
al DATA RECOVERY UTILIZING OPTIMIZED CODE TABLE SIGNALING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A computer-implemented method, system, and apparatus for storing binary data is disclosed. A processor receives a digital bit stream and transforms the digital bit stream to an encoded digital bit stream. The encoded digital bit stream comprises a data message encoded by an OCTS-expanded table for storage. The processor stores the encoded digital bit stream on a digital data storage device or system. Full Article
al DIGITAL MEASUREMENT OF DAC TIMING MISMATCH ERROR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT For analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) which utilize a feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for conversion, the final analog output can be affected or distorted by errors of the feedback DAC. A digital measurement technique can be implemented to determine timing mismatch error for the feedback DAC in a continuous-time delta-sigma modulator (CTDSM) or in a continuous-time pipeline modulator. The methodology utilizes cross-correlation of each DAC unit elements (UEs) output to the entire modulator output to measure its timing mismatch error respectively. Specifically, the timing mismatch error is estimated using a ratio based on a peak value and a value for the next tap in the cross-correlation function. The obtained errors can be stored in a look-up table and fully corrected in digital domain or analog domain. Full Article
al DIGITAL MEASUREMENT OF DAC SWITCHING MISMATCH ERROR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT For analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) which utilize a feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for conversion, the final analog output can be affected or distorted by errors of the feedback DAC. A digital measurement technique can be implemented to determine switching mismatch error for the feedback DAC in a continuous-time delta-sigma modulator (CTDSM) or in a continuous-time pipeline modulator. The methodology forces each DAC unit elements (UEs) to switch a certain amount times and then use the modulator itself to measure the errors caused by those switching activities respectively. The obtained errors can be stored in a look-up table and fully corrected in digital domain or analog domain. Full Article
al SIGNAL TRANSFER FUNCTION EQUALIZATION IN MULTI-STAGE DELTA-SIGMA ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Typically, complex systems require a separate and expensive equalizer at the output of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Rather than providing a separate equalizer, the effective Signal Transfer Function (STF) of a Multi-stAge noise SHaping (MASH) ADC can be modified by leveraging available digital filtering hardware necessary for quantization noise cancellation. The modification can involves adding calculations in the software previously provided for computing digital quantization noise cancellation filter coefficients, where the calculations are added to take into account equalization as well. As a result, the signal transfer function can be modified to meet ADC or system-level signal-chain specifications without additional equalization hardware. The method is especially attractive for high-speed applications where magnitude and phase responses are more challenging to meet. Full Article
al ADAPTIVE DIGITAL QUANTIZATION NOISE CANCELLATION FILTERS FOR MASH ADCS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT For continuous-time multi-stage noise shaping analog-to-digital converters (CT MASH ADCs), quantization noise cancellation often requires accurate estimation of transfer functions, e.g., a noise transfer function of the front end modulator and a signal transfer function of the back end modulator. To provide quantization noise cancellation, digital quantization noise cancellation filters adaptively tracks transfer function variations due to integrator gain errors, flash-to-DAC timing errors, as well as the inter-stage gain and timing errors. Tracking the transfer functions is performed through the direct cross-correlation between the injected maximum length linear feedback shift registers (LFSR) sequence and modulator outputs and then corrects these non-ideal effects by accurately modeling the transfer functions with programmable finite impulse response (PFIR) filters. Full Article
al FLASH ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER CALIBRATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a device that can include a reference shuffler and a loop filter. An ADC can achieve better performance with incremental adjustment of a pointer of the reference shuffler, changing coefficients of the loop filter, and storing calibration codes of the ADC in a non-volatile memory. By incrementally adjusting a pointer of the reference shuffler, a calibration can be performed more efficiently than with a random adjustment of the pointer. By temporarily changing the loop filter coefficients, a greater amount of activity can be introduced into the loop filter. This activity can allow the calibration to proceed more efficiently. By storing the calibration codes in a non-volatile memory, a search space for calibration codes can be reduced. Thus, a calibration can occur more quickly, and the calibration itself can be improved. Full Article
al FREQUENCY-DOMAIN ADC FLASH CALIBRATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes comparators that convert an analog input signal to a digital output signal. Offsets of these comparators introduce noise and can hurt the performance of the ADC. Thus, these comparators are calibrated using calibration codes. Conventional calibration methods determine these calibration codes by removing the ADC from an input signal. Otherwise, it is difficult to distinguish the noise from the signal in the calibration measurement. In contrast, an embodiment can determine the calibration codes while the ADC converts the input signal to a digital signal. Such an embodiment can be achieved by a frequency-domain technique. In an embodiment employing a frequency-domain power meter, an input signal can be removed from the power measurement. This removal enables accurate measurement of in-band noise without having the measurement be corrupted by input signal power. Full Article
al LOGARITHMIC ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER DEVICES AND METHODS THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An analog to digital converter includes an error integration circuit configured to receive an input charge from a detector and to integrate a difference between the input charge and one or more feedback charge pulses to create an error voltage. A quantizer is in operable communication with the error integration circuit and is responsive to the created error voltage. An accumulator having a mantissa component and a radix component is in operable communication with the quantizer. A charge feedback device in operable communication with the quantizer and the radix component of the accumulator. The charge feedback device is configured to generate the one or more feedback charge pulses proportional to the radix component of the accumulator and an output of the quantizer. Digital focal plane read out integrated circuits including the analog to digital converter are also disclosed. Full Article