r Penoxsulam as a turfgrass, vineyard and orchard floor herbicide By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Penoxsulam, 2-(2,2-difluoroethoxy)-N-(5,8-dimethoxy[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-yl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonamide, is useful in controlling broadleaf weeds and sedges in turfgrass and in vine and orchard floors. Full Article
r Pyridazinone compound and herbicide and noxious arthropod controlling agent comprising it By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a pyridazinone compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, a C1-6 alkyl group, and the like, R2 represents halogen, a cyano group, a nitro group, a C1-6 alkoxy group, and the like, G represents hydrogen, and the like, Z represents halogen, a cyano group, a nitro group, a C1-6 alkyl group, and the like, and n represents an integer of 1-5 useful as an active ingredient in a herbicide and a noxious arthropod controlling agent. Full Article
r Meso-sized capsules useful for the delivery of agricultural chemicals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein are mesocapsules that include agriculturally active ingredients. These mesocapsules are comprised of a polyurea shell and include hydrophilic groups on their surfaces and have a volume-average diameter of about 500 nm or less and some of them have a volume-average diameter on the order of about 300 nm or less. These mesocapsules are suited for delivering active ingredients that are not very soluble in water. Methods for making these mesocapsules include interfacial polycondensation reactions carried out in the presence of surfactants and other methods in which all or most of the surfactant is replaced by adding amino acids to the aqueous phase of the interfacial reaction mixture before forming the final emulsion. Full Article
r Bioactive acid agrichemical compositions and use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Bioactive agrichemical concentrates and compositions having improved bioactivity comprising combinations of acid solutions and conventional bioactive agrichemical actives or formulations. Full Article
r Method for controlling noxious organisms By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To provide a method which exerts excellent controlling effects on noxious organisms in a field of soybean, corn or cotton. A method for controlling noxious organisms in a field of soybean, corn or cotton, wherein at least one PPO inhibitor compound selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen-sodium, and a compound represented by formula (I): is applied to the field before, at or after sowing a soybean, corn or cotton seed treated with fludioxonil. Full Article
r Use of ribose to enhance plant growth By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to methods and compositions for supplementing the soil/diet of plants in order to enhance plant growth, yield, hardening, as well as the recovery of plants which undergo transplantation. The present invention provides ribose and other pentose sugars and their derivatives, alone or in combination with other carbohydrates, electrolytes, minerals, enzymes, micronutrients, macronutrients, or other ingredients to enhance plant growth, yield, hardening, and aid in the recovery during and following transplantation. Full Article
r Method for post-emergence crabgrass control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a method for post-emergence selective crabgrass control by applying a composition comprising a first herbicide and a second herbicide in which the first herbicide is 2,4-dinitro-N3,N3-dipropyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzenediamine and the second herbicide is N-[2,4-dichloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]phenyl]methanesulfonamide to a locus where one to two leaf growth stage crabgrass is present. Full Article
r Method for controlling pests By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To provide a method which shows excellent effects in controlling pests in a field of soybean, corn or cotton. A method for controlling weeds in a field of soybean, corn or cotton, wherein the field of soybean, corn or cotton is treated with at least one PPO-inhibiting compound selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen-sodium, and the compound of the formula (I): before, at or after seeding with a seed of soybean, corn or cotton treated with one or more insecticidal compounds selected from the group consisting of fipronil, ethiprole, flupyradifurone, sulfoxaflor, beta-cyfluthrin, tefluthrin, and chlorpyrifos. Full Article
r Method for controlling pests By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To provide a method which shows excellent effects in controlling pests in a field of soybean, corn or cotton. A method for controlling weeds in a field of soybean, corn or cotton, wherein the field of soybean, corn or cotton is treated with at least one PPO-inhibiting compound selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen-sodium, and the compound of the formula (I): before, at or after seeding with a seed of soybean, corn or cotton treated with one or more fungicidal compounds selected from the group consisting of tolclophos-methyl, thiram, captan, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, and (RS)-2-methoxy-N-methyl-2-[alpha-(2,5-xylyloxy)-o-tolyl]ace tamide. Full Article
r Method for controlling noxious organisms By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To provide a method which exerts excellent controlling effects on noxious organisms in a field of soybean, corn or cotton. A method for controlling noxious organisms in a field of soybean, corn or cotton, wherein at least one PPO inhibitor compound selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen-sodium, and a compound represented by formula (I): is applied to the field before, at or after sowing a soybean, corn or cotton seed treated with ethaboxam. Full Article
r Phenylamidines having a high fungicidal activity and use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT New phenylamidines are described, having general formula (I): and their use for the control of phytopathogenic fungi. Full Article
r Safening composition of 6-(trisubstituded phenyl)-4-amino-2-pyridinecarboxylate herbicides and cloquintocet-mexyl for cereal crops By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Herbicidal injury caused by 6-trisubstituted phenyl)-4-amino-2-pyridinecarboxylates in wheat and barley is reduced with the use of low rates of cloquintocet. Full Article
r Herbicidal compositions comprising aminopyralid and propanil By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided herein are herbicidal compositions containing (a) aminopyralid or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) propanil. The compositions provide synergistic weed control of undesirable vegetation, e.g., in rice, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, corn or maize, oilseed rape/canola, vegetables, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, industrial vegetation management or rights-of-way. Full Article
r Synergistic combination to improve grape color and to alter sensory characteristics of wine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention describes the use of S-abscisic acid (S-ABA) and ethylene producing-agents such as ethephon to synergistically improve red color in grapes and to alter the sensory characteristics of wine. Full Article
r 3-heterocyclyl-substituted benzoyl derivatives By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT Benzoyl derivatives of the formula I where the variables have the following meanings: R1, R2 are hydrogen, nitro, halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl or C1-C6-haloalkylsulfonyl;R3 is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl;R4, R5 are hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, dialkylamino, phenyl or carbonyl, it being possible for the 6 last-mentioned radicals to be substituted;X is O, S, NR9, CO or CR10R11;Y is O, S, NR12, CO or CR13R14;R15 is pyrazole which is unsubstituted or substituted, linked in the 4-position and has attached to it in the 5-position a hydroxyl or sulfonyloxy radical; and the agriculturally useful salts thereof; processes and intermediates for the preparation of the 3-heterocyclyl-substituted benzoyl derivatives; compositions comprising them; and the use of these derivatives or compositions comprising them for controlling undesirable plants. Full Article
r Fungicidal compositions for turf treatment and improvement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising: a fungicide that inhibits mitochondrial respiration at the QoI site (QoI inhibitor), a contact fungicide, a demethylation inhibitor, and pigments, which are highly suitable for controlling unwanted phytopathogenic fungi. Moreover, the fungicidal compositions are able to control mold and fungus infection in grasses and in particular turf grasses. Full Article
r Synergistic pesticidal compositions and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pesticidal composition comprises a synergistically effective amount of a flonicamid-based selective homopteran feeding blocker compound and a pesticide selected from N-(3-chloro-1-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-((3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)thio)propanamide (I), N-(3-chloro-1-(pyridine-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-((3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) sulfinyl)propanamide (II), or any agriculturally acceptable salt thereof. A method of controlling pests comprises applying the pesticidal composition near a population of pests. A method of protecting a plant from infestation and attack by pests comprises contacting the plant with the synergistic pesticidal composition. Full Article
r Exposure correction for scanners By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for exposure correction in scanners are disclosed. In the method, exposure is corrected for pixels received in an image sensor array. Exposure time is tracked for the incoming pixel data and a calibration factor is determined for correcting the gain, and the calibration factor is adjusted based on the tracked exposure time. In the apparatus, a scanner includes an illumination source and a sensor for receiving pixel data. Using values stored in a memory, circuitry is provided for determining a calibration factor, for tracking exposure time for the pixel data and for adjusting the pixel data based on the calibration factor and exposure time. Full Article
r Maximum depth of investigation of measurements in a formation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to a method to determine a volume of clearance surrounding a wellbore. A logging tool is provided. The logging tool may be disposed on a wireline, a drill string, or a wired drill pipe. A formation property is obtained using the logging tool. The formation property may include a voltage, a bulk resistivity, a horizontal resistivity, a vertical resistivity, a porosity, a permeability, a fluid saturation, an NMR relaxation time, a borehole size, a borehole shape, a borehole fluid composition, an MWD parameter, or an LWD parameter. The maximum depth of investigation into the subsurface formation is determined using a model response and a noise level, and the volume of clearance is determined using the determined maximum depth of investigation. The maximum depth of investigation and volume of clearance may be determined even though no boundary layers are detected. Full Article
r Methods, systems, and computer readable media for monitored application of mechanical force to samples using acoustic energy and mechanical parameter value extraction using mechanical response models By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods, systems, and computer readable media for monitored application of mechanical force to samples using acoustic energy and mechanical parameter value extraction using mechanical response models can be used for determining mechanical property parameters of a sample. An exemplary method includes applying acoustic energy to a sample to apply a mechanical force to the sample, measuring a response by the sample during the application of the acoustic energy, measuring a recovery response of the sample following cessation of the application of the acoustic energy, and determining a value for at least one additional mechanical property parameter of the sample based on the response measured during application of the acoustic energy and the recovery response measured following cessation of the application of acoustic energy. Full Article
r Morphable logic gates using logical stochastic resonance in an engineered gene network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for providing a biological logic gate comprising the following steps: subjecting a bistable autoregulatory gene network (GRN) to a noisy background; identifying adjustable parameters of the GRN; using logical stochastic resonance to determine values of the GRN parameters which result in the GRN performing different logic gate functions; and setting the parameter values of the GRN such that the GRN performs a first logic gate function. Full Article
r Molecular flux rates through critical pathways measured by stable isotope labeling in vivo, as biomarkers of drug action and disease activity By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The methods described herein enable the evaluation of compounds on subjects to assess their therapeutic efficacy or toxic effects. The target of analysis is the underlying biochemical process or processes (i.e., metabolic process) thought to be involved in disease pathogenesis. Molecular flux rates within the one or more biochemical processes serve as biomarkers and are quantitated and compared with the molecular flux rates (i.e., biomarker) from control subjects (i.e., subjects not exposed to the compounds). Any change in the biomarker in the subject relative to the biomarker in the control subject provides information to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of an administered drug or a toxic effect and to develop the compound further if desired. In one aspect of the invention, stable isotope-labeled substrate molecules are administered to a subject and the label is incorporated into targeted molecules in a manner that reveals molecular flux rates through metabolic pathways of interest. Full Article
r Systems and methods for analyzing building operations sensor data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods are disclosed for analyzing building sensor information and decomposing the information therein to a more manageable and more useful form. Certain embodiments integrate energy-based and spectral-based analysis methods with parameter sampling and uncertainty/sensitivity analysis to achieve a more comprehensive perspective of building behavior. The results of this analysis may be presented to a user via a plurality of visualizations and/or used to automatically adjust certain building operations. In certain embodiments, advanced spectral techniques, including Koopman-based operations, are employed to discern features from the collected building sensor data. Full Article
r Method of generating a mass spectrum having improved resolving power By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is disclosed for generating a mass spectrum, e.g. for Fourier transform mass spectrometry, having improved resolving power. The method includes steps of acquiring a plurality of mass spectra from a mass spectrometer using image current detection determining the centroids of at least some of the peaks which have a sufficient signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio so that the variation of the centroid of each such peak from the plurality of mass spectra is significantly lower than the full-width at half-maximum, dM, of the peak in the m/z domain; and generating a histogram of the centroids determined from the plurality of acquired mass spectra thereby forming a composite mass spectrum. The resultant composite mass spectrum comprises peaks having full-width at half-maximum, dMC, significantly narrower than the peak width, dM, of the corresponding peaks in the plurality of acquired mass spectra. Full Article
r 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
r Meter electronics and fluid quantification method for a fluid being transferred By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Meter electronics (20) for quantifying a fluid being transferred is provided. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) configured to communicate with a flowmeter assembly of a vibratory flowmeter and receive a vibrational response and a processing system (203) coupled to the interface (201). The processing system (203) is configured to measure a volume flow and a density for a predetermined time portion of the fluid transfer, determine if the fluid transfer is non-aerated during the predetermined time portion, if the predetermined time portion is non-aerated then add a volume-density product to an accumulated volume-density product and add the volume flow to an accumulated volume flow, and determine a non-aerated volume-weighted density for the fluid transfer by dividing the accumulated volume-density product by the accumulated volume flow. Full Article
r Subject information acquisition apparatus and subject information acquisition method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A subject information acquisition apparatus includes a first holding member that holds a subject, a probe that receives an elastic wave from the subject through the first holding member, a first holding member deformation amount measuring unit that measures an amount of deformation of the first holding member, and a processing unit that creates an area for generating subject information by using the amount of deformation of the first holding member and position information of the first holding member deformation amount measuring unit and generates an information value of subject information corresponding to the area for generating subject information by using a signal outputted by the probe. Full Article
r Method and system for signal generation via a temperature sensing crystal integrated circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are various embodiments involving correction of signals generated by a crystal oscillator. An age of an integrated circuit or a time of use of the integrated circuit may be determined. A signal generated from a crystal of the integrated circuit may be modified based at least in part on the determined age of the integrated circuit or the determined time of use of the integrated circuit. Full Article
r Monitoring method and monitoring device for an electrostatic coating plant By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electrostatic coating plant coats components with a coating agent that is electrically charged by high voltage device. A first operating variable of a high voltage device may be determined and compared to a limit value. A safety measure may be initiated if the comparison between the first operating variable and the limit value indicates a disturbance in the electrostatic coating plant. The limit value may be flexibly adjusted depending on the operation mode. Full Article
r Systems and methods for providing component characteristics By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a signal indicative of one or more types of individual measurable device characteristic/s that are unique to a given electronic device by providing a signal indicative of the measurable and unique device characteristic/s in a passive manner from the electronic device. The signal indicative of one or more types of individual measurable device characteristic/s may be so provided without requiring operational power to be applied to any active electronic circuitry of the device, and without requiring any power to be generated by the device. Full Article
r Electronic device and method for calculating efficiency of simulative power supply system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for calculating efficiency of a power supply system includes: displaying a parameter selection interface on the display unit for selecting power supply parameters and transmission line parameters. Obtaining power supply parameters and transmission line parameters selected by the user via the parameter selection interface when determining the user has finished the selection. Determining a efficiency of a selected power supply of the power supply parameters according to the relationship table, and calculating a sum efficiency according to the obtained power supply parameters and the transmission line parameters and the efficiency of the selected power supply. And calculating a total efficiency of the power supply system according to each sum efficiency when determining that all of the power supplies of the power supply system have been selected. Full Article
r Estimating virtual machine energy consumption By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for estimating virtual machine energy consumption, and in particular, a method and apparatus for estimating virtual machine energy consumption in a computer system. The method includes: obtaining system energy consumption of the system hardware resources; obtaining event information of a plurality of functional units into which the system hardware resources are divided, and mapping the event information to the respective virtual machines; and calculating energy consumption of the virtual machines according to a plurality of energy consumption coefficients corresponding to the plurality of functional units and according to the event information mapped to the functional units of the respective virtual machines. Full Article
r 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
r Estimating loss rates of links in smart grids By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for estimating loss rates of links in a smart grid includes identifying end-to-end passage rates from a source to each of multiple receiver and/or load meters in a smart grid, and estimating a loss in at least one link of the grid by identifying the sparsest solution of link loss rates that matches the end-to-end passage rates. Also, a system includes a memory, a processor coupled thereto, and software modules executing on the processor, including a monitoring module for monitoring power flow of receiver and/or load meters in a smart grid, a measurement collector module for collecting measurements to compute end-to-end passage rates from a source to each receiver and/or load meter, and a processing module for estimating a loss in a link of the grid by identifying the sparsest solution of link loss rates matching the end-to-end passage rates. Full Article
r Electronic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT When discharge power calculated based on a current value detected by a current detector is smaller than expected maximum power, which is the maximum power expected in an actual operation, a discharge efficiency at the expected maximum power is set as a discharge efficiency used for remaining capacity calculation. This ensures that a remaining capacity based on power required for a photographing operation can be detected. Full Article
r Battery degradation determination device, battery degradation determination method and battery degradation determination system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A battery degradation determination device includes a fitting module configured to fit AC impedance measurement data into an equivalent circuit model including at least one circuit block in which a resistance and a constant phase element are connected in parallel, and to obtain circuit constants in the equivalent circuit model, a P-value saving module configured to save P values being index of the constant phase element obtained by fitting AC impedance measurement data of a reference battery to the equivalent circuit model, and a degradation determination module configured to perform degradation determination for a battery as a determination target based on circuit constants obtained by fitting AC impedance measurement data of the battery as a determination target to the equivalent circuit model with the use of the P values as fixed values, with reference to correlations between degrees of battery degradation and the circuit constants in the equivalent circuit model. Full Article
r Posture information calculation device, posture information calculation system, posture information calculation method, and information storage medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sensor information acquisition section acquires angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) around three axes acquired by three angular velocity sensors, and acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ) in three axial directions acquired by three acceleration sensors. A posture information calculation section calculates a posture angle and position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space based on the angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) and the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ). The posture information calculation section calculates a fixed coordinate system velocity vector based on an inertial coordinate system acceleration vector (A) obtained from the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ), and calculates position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space corresponding to the fixed coordinate system velocity vector. Full Article
r Operating method of sensor node, operating method of data sink in sensor network, and sensor network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is an operating method of a sensor node. The operating method of a sensor node includes receiving a sensing request, adjusting a sensing condition on the basis of the received sensing request, and sensing according to the adjusted sensing condition. Full Article
r Voltage-driven intelligent characterization bench for semiconductor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for testing a plurality of transistors on a wafer having a storage device or personal computer connected via a bus to a plurality of drivers. Each of the voltage drivers having a microcontroller adapted to receive test parameters and provide test data from a plurality of voltage drivers. By utilizing a bus structure, the personal computer can look on one bus for flags indicating test data is available from a driver and receive the data. In addition a bus may be used to provide test parameters to the drivers. In this manner, multiple drivers may be run at the same time incorporating multiple tests. When data is available it is transferred to the personal computer, for providing test parameters to a plurality of drivers, and connected via a second bus for receiving test results from the plurality of drivers. Full Article
r Reducing power consumption during manufacturing test of an integrated circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Aspects of the invention provide for reducing power consumption during manufacturing testing of an IC. In one embodiment, aspects of the invention include a method for reducing power consumption during a manufacturing test of an integrated circuit (IC), the method including: providing a plurality of domains, each domain associated with a clock phase; grouping, based on each domain, a first plurality of scan chains into a first test group; grouping, based on each domain, a second plurality of scan chains into a second test group, wherein the grouping of the first test group and of the second test group includes determining which domains can be tested simultaneously; and performing the manufacturing test of the IC. Full Article
r Method for determining coordinates By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for determining the coordinates of a point on the surface of an object is provided. A source system, such as an OBIRCH system, is used to analyze and detect faults in an integrated circuit on a semiconductor die. The die includes three reference points and the detected fault(s) are defined with reference to the reference points. When the die is transferred to a FIB or other system for fault analysis, a processor determines the coordinates of the fault(s) for the FIB system using the three reference points. Full Article
r Absolute position measurement apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An absolute position measurement apparatus measures an absolute position of an object to be measured using a first light source and a second light source which has coherency lower than that of the first light source. The absolute position measurement apparatus includes a measurement part which measures a point where phases of interference signals from the first and the second light sources coincide with each other or a point where an intensity of the interference signal from the second light source is maximized, an origin defining part which defines the point measured by the measurement part as an origin position, a phase storing part which stores the phase of the interference signal from the first light source at the origin position, an origin redefining part which redefines the origin position, and a position calculating part which calculates the absolute position of the object to be measured. Full Article
r System and method for identifying underutilized storage capacity By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Described herein is a system and method for detecting underutilized capacity within a storage system environment. The technique comprises collecting performance data of various storage objects within a storage system environment for various performance measures at designated time intervals. The collected performance data may be formatted and stored to a database. One or more parameters may be received specifying at least one performance measure, at least one threshold value, and/or at least one time period. The performance data for target storage objects may be analyzed according to the received parameters to determine any underutilized storage objects. A report may be generated according to the parameters listing the storage objects and address locations of any underutilized storage objects. The report may comprise various information corresponding to the underutilized storage object, such as the business units, tiers, data centers, and levels of service they are associated with. Full Article
r Promotion of performance parameters in distributed data processing environment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of performance monitoring in a data processing environment is provided. The data processing environment includes multiple systems, each of which has resources. Each resource relates to a resource type, wherein at least one performance parameter is defined for each resource type. The method includes determining a value of the at least one performance parameter for at least one resource, aggregating performance parameter values and related resources of a resource type, creating for at least a part of the resources a next predefined aggregation level which includes all resources relating to the resource type and associating all performance parameter values to this aggregation level, and repeating the creating for at least a part of the resources a next predefined aggregation level until a predefined target aggregation level of the data processing environment has been reached. Full Article
r Automatic testing and remediation based on confidence indicators By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An asset health monitoring system (AHMS) can assign a confidence indicator to some or all the services of a computing service provider. In response to drops in the confidence indicators, the AHMS can automatically initiate testing of services and/or computing assets associated with the services in order to raise confidence that a particular service and its computing assets will perform correctly. Further, the AHMS can automatically initiate remediation procedures for the particular service and/or specific computing assets that fail the confidence testing. By automatically triggering testing and/or remediation procedures, the AHMS can increase reliability of the computing service provider by preemptively identifying problems. Full Article
r Method and apparatus for adaptive display calibration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A calibration system may be provided for calibrating displays in electronic devices during manufacturing. The calibration system may include calibration computing equipment and a test chamber having a light sensor. The calibration computing equipment may be configured to operate the light sensor and the display to gather display performance data. The calibration computing equipment may extract display performance statistics from the display performance data and adaptively select and perform display calibration sequences using the display performance statistics. The calibration computing equipment may be configured to determine whether or not to perform display calibration and whether or not to gather additional display performance data based on display performance statistics extracted during a preceding display calibration sequence. The calibration computing equipment may be configured to iteratively and adaptively perform display calibration sequences until a display is successfully calibrated. Full Article
r Digital flowmeter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver. Full Article
r Digital flowmeter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver. Full Article
r Automated emergency power supply test using engine exhaust temperature By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. Full Article
r Detecting road weather conditions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting road weather conditions. Vehicle sensors including a laser, precipitation sensors, and/or camera may be used to detect information such as the brightness of the road, variations in the brightness of the road, brightness of the world, current precipitation, as well as the detected height of the road. Information received from other sources such as networked based weather information (forecasts, radar, precipitation reports, etc.) may also be considered. The combination of the received and detected information may be used to estimate the probability of precipitation such as water, snow or ice in the roadway. This information may then be used to maneuver an autonomous vehicle (for steering, accelerating, or braking) or identify dangerous situations. Full Article