Combination charger and motive power device
Granted: September 16, 2014
Patent Number:
8836289
A combined battery charger and motor driver circuit assembly includes a rechargeable battery, a traction motor configured to accept a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) drive, a PNP transistor array, a charging source of chopped and rectified DC, and a control circuit configured to apply a discrete PWM drive signal to the gate of each transistor in the PNP transistor array.
Systems and methods for increasing data volume sparseness
Granted: September 2, 2014
Patent Number:
8825936
Disclosed is a method of operating a data storage system. The method comprises generating first metadata describing storage of a volume of data in a first storage volume, storing the volume of data within a second storage volume, generating second metadata describing storage of the volume of data in the second storage volume, and processing the first metadata and the second metadata to increase sparseness of the volume of data stored in the second storage volume.
Method for mover transition in an automated media library
Granted: September 2, 2014
Patent Number:
8825195
A method for mover transition in an open systems based media library (14) for use with a host (10) that relays command requests comprises the steps of retaining a storage medium (20); selectively moving the storage medium (20) within the media library (14) with a first media mover (26); and when the first media mover (26) has a status of unavailable due to mover transition, indicating to the host (10) with a control system (40) that the first media mover (26) is not ready to perform a…
System and method for automating and verifying product value, usage, and suitability for use or sale
Granted: September 2, 2014
Patent Number:
8823500
A computer-based system for monitoring product usage, value, and suitability for use or sale. The system can include one or more processors configured to process and manage data. Additionally, the system can also include product packaging comprising a machine-readable medium. Notably, the machine-readable medium can comprise product information among other types of information. The one or more processors can be configured for receiving the product information of the machine-readable…
Method of fabricating heterojunction photodiodes with CMOS
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8816443
An epitaxial device module monolithically integrated with a CMOS structure in a bulk or thick-film SOI substrate, comprising an active area on which epitaxial layers are formed by selective or non-selective epitaxial growth and a separate active area in which the CMOS structure is formed. A hard mask for epitaxy having an opening therein provides self-alignment for optional ion implants into the substrate. The ion-implanted region overlaps the active region underneath the epitaxial…
Gate valve
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8813771
A gate valve for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid having a dynamically-energized seal between a seat ring and a valve body. The dynamically-energized seal may be located in an annular groove defined in a flange sealing face of the seat ring to seal against an annular shoulder sealing face of the valve body. A plurality of fasteners may bring the flange sealing face of the seat ring to a mechanical stop against the shoulder sealing face of the valve body and dynamically energize…
Method of forming a solid state cathode for high energy density secondary batteries
Granted: August 19, 2014
Patent Number:
8808405
A method for making a solid state cathode comprises the following steps: forming an alkali-free first solution comprising at least one transition metal and at least two ligands; spraying this solution onto a substrate that is heated to about 100 to 400° C. to form a first solid film containing the transition metal(s) on the substrate; forming a second solution comprising at least one alkali metal, at least one transition metal, and at least two ligands; spraying the second solution onto…
Methods for controlling an electric device using a control apparatus
Granted: July 22, 2014
Patent Number:
8788966
An electrical switch apparatus including a movement sensitive form is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a motion sensor and a processing unit, where motion on, near or about the motion sensor is translated into output commands adapted for list scrolling, where the list can be arranged in a hierarchy such as menus or for changing a value of an attribute of a electrical device under the control of the switch.
Method for monitoring fouling in a cooling tower
Granted: July 22, 2014
Patent Number:
8785877
Fouling in the fill portion of a cooling tower is monitored by transmitting radiation through a cooling tower, detecting the amount of radiation that has penetrated the cooling tower, and calculating the density of the fill portion of the cooling tower based on the detected radiation. A higher than expected density indicates the presence of fouling on the fill portion of the cooling tower. A rate of fouling may be established by monitoring the density of the fill portion of the cooling…
Adaptive disturbance compensation with multi-rate synchronized sampling
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8773800
An apparatus and method for providing adaptive disturbance compensation with multi-rate synchronized sampling is disclosed herein. The dynamic disturbance occurring in a media drive during read/write operations is attenuated using the adaptive disturbance compensation scheme. A plurality of compensation filters are used, each of the compensation filters configured to attenuate a disturbance caused by a particular source within the media drive. Each of the compensation filters is computed…
Plasma powder sterilization apparatus and methods
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8771595
Systems and methods for plasma sterilization are described. The sterilization method includes placing a substance to be sterilized in a rotating chamber (e.g., drum) and exposing the substance to a radio frequency (RF) plasma. The mixing of the substance and plasma is further promoted by generating a magnetic field that produces a force on the substance in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the chamber. In other aspects, the chamber may have a gas permeable wall. In…
System and method for facilitating group coherence
Granted: July 1, 2014
Patent Number:
8764673
Group coherence is facilitated in a group environment, such as a gaming, competitive, cooperative or collaborative environment. In one embodiment, a graphical representation of a scenario may be presented to a plurality of individuals. A physiological measure for each of the plurality of individuals may be sampled and used to track the individuals' heart rhythm patterns. A current group coherence level for the plurality of individuals may then be determined, where the group coherence…
System and method for personalized fast navigation
Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number:
8762884
A system for personalized navigation of computer screens. The system can comprise one or more electronic data processors. The system can also include a module configured to execute on the more or more electronic data processors, where the module can be configured to display a plurality of icons retained in a file associated with a particular user on a computer screen. The icons can comprise one or more assigned icons from an assigned icons list and candidate icons from a candidate icons…
Adaptive correction of symmetrical and asymmetrical saturation in magnetic recording devices
Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number:
8760789
In one embodiment, a read channel comprises: a preprocessor for receiving a first signal and producing a second signal from the first signal using current values of a positive coefficient, a zero coefficient, and a negative coefficient; an interpolator for producing a third signal based on the second signal; and a slicer for producing a fourth signal from the third signal by estimating a level for the third signal. The fourth signal is at one of three levels consisting of a positive…
Laser and optical amplifier
Granted: June 17, 2014
Patent Number:
8755415
An optical fiber laser or amplifier comprising an optical fiber and a pump radiation source configured to generate pump radiation which is received through an input end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber may include a doped core which is configured to guide the pump radiation and to generate or amplify and guide signal radiation when pump radiation passes through it. The optical fiber laser or amplifier may include a first reflector configured to reflect pump radiation and further…
Coherent spin field effect transistor
Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number:
8748957
A coherent spin field effect transistor is provided by depositing a ferromagnetic base like cobalt on a substrate. A magnetic oxide layer is formed on the cobalt by annealing at temperatures on the order of 1000° K to provide a few monolayer thick layer. Where the gate is cobalt, the resulting magnetic oxide is Co3O4(111). Other magnetic materials and oxides may be employed. A few ML field of graphene is deposited on the cobalt (III) oxide by molecular beam epitaxy, and a source and…
Halogenated compounds for photodynamic therapy
Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number:
8748446
Halo-organic heterocyclic compounds are described, which have the formulas Ring A is an aromatic ring bound to at least two halogen atoms, at least one of which is iodine or bromine. Also described are polymethine dyes based on these heterocyclic compounds, and dendrimeric compounds and conjugates of such polymethine dyes. The polymethine dyes are characterized by enhanced properties, e.g., brightness, photostability, sensitivity and/or selective affinity that make them useful to…
Reduction of degradation of magnetic tape apparatus
Granted: May 27, 2014
Patent Number:
8737007
Methods and apparatus are provided related to magnetic recording tape. Respective voltage sources are coupled to respective magnetic head components of a tape recording apparatus. Circuitry controls each voltage source independently in accordance with identity information for a magnetic tape, relative humidity within the tape recording apparatus, or other factors. Chemical migration from the tape, and/or plating or erosion of elements of the tape recording apparatus are substantially…
Snapshot creation from block lists
Granted: May 27, 2014
Patent Number:
8738883
A method of operating a data management system includes establishing a base state for a data storage volume, generating a list of blocks associated with the data storage volume that have changed, and creating a snapshot from the list of blocks.
Probability of accidental garment match
Granted: May 27, 2014
Patent Number:
8737741
A digital image of a first garment having one or more first garment portions is received. A user has identified the first garment portions as matching one or more corresponding second garment portions of a second garment. The probability of accidental match of the first garment within the digital image in relation to the second garment is determined, by using a statistical model based on one or more parameters and based on analysis of the first garment portions. The probability of…
