Author: claimsbot

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a processor of a multimedia receiver, a request to transfer content data, wherein the request is associated with a peripheral device coupled to a peripheral device interface of the multimedia receiver;
sending a notification to a display device coupled to the multimedia receiver from the processor in response to the request and a determination by the processor that the peripheral device is not authorized to transfer content data, wherein the notification includes an option that enables an authorization to transfer the content data to be obtained;
sending a signal from the processor to a multimedia distribution system via a network to receive the authorization to transfer the content data in response to receipt of selection of the option at the multimedia receiver;
receiving the authorization from the multimedia distribution system at the multimedia receiver, wherein the authorization identifies a second peripheral device that is authorized to transfer content data via the peripheral device interface, wherein the peripheral device interface is provided with access to a selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver that is associated with the second peripheral device in response to receiving the authorization at the multimedia receiver, wherein the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver is encrypted and stored at the multimedia receiver, and wherein the authorization includes an encryption key that allows decryption of the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver; and
in response to receiving the authorization at the multimedia receiver, providing the peripheral device interface with access to the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver associated with the second peripheral device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device interface includes a universal serial bus interface.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization is received via a private access network of an internet protocol television system.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver from the multimedia distribution system via the private access network of the internet protocol television system.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia receiver is a set-top box device.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver is associated with a particular type of peripheral device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver is associated with a plurality of peripheral devices.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver is associated with a single peripheral device.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the single peripheral device is identified by a media access control address.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to transfer the content data is received from a remote control device via a remote control interface, via a voice interface, or a combination thereof.
11. A system, comprising:
a peripheral device interface;
a network interface; and
a processor to execute instructions to perform operations including:
determining, when a peripheral device is coupled to the peripheral interface, whether the peripheral device is authorized to transfer content data in response to a received request to transfer the content data;
sending a notification to a display device coupled to the system in response to the received request and a determination that the peripheral device is not authorized to transfer the content data, wherein the notification includes an option that enables an authorization to transfer the content data to be obtained;
sending a signal from the processor to a multimedia distribution system via the network interface to obtain the authorization in response to receipt of selection of the option;
receiving the authorization from the multimedia distribution system via a private access network of an internet protocol television system, wherein the authorization identifies a second peripheral device that is authorized to transfer content data via the peripheral device interface;
receiving a selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver associated with the second device from the multimedia distribution system via the private access network of the internet protocol television system, wherein the peripheral device interface is provided with access to the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver in response to receipt of the authorization; and
providing the peripheral device interface with access to the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver associated with the second peripheral device when authorization is received in response to the signal.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the authorization further indicates that the second peripheral device is authorized to perform a particular type of data transfer via the peripheral device interface, and wherein the processor enables the particular type of data transfer via the peripheral device interface in response to receiving the authorization.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a digital video recorder, wherein the particular type of data transfer includes data transfer between the second peripheral device and the digital video recorder.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the particular type of data transfer includes data transfer via the network interface.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the second peripheral device includes a gaming device and wherein the processor enables a gaming application to be transferred to the gaming device via the peripheral device interface in response to receiving the authorization.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the gaming application is transferred to the gaming device via the second peripheral device.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the authorization further identifies a data transfer limit that specifies an amount of data that the second peripheral device is authorized to transfer via the peripheral device interface.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data transfer limit includes a one-time limit, a daily limit, a monthly limit, or a combination thereof.
19. A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining whether a peripheral device coupled by a peripheral device interface to the processor is authorized to transfer content data in response to a received request to transfer the content data;
sending a notification to a display device in response to the received request and a determination that the peripheral device is not authorized to transfer the content data, wherein the notification includes an option that enables an authorization to transfer the content data to be obtained;
sending a signal to obtain the authorization in response to receipt of selection of the option;
receiving the authorization, wherein the authorization identifies a second peripheral device that is authorized to transfer content data via the peripheral device interface, wherein the peripheral device interface is provided with access to a selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver that is associated with the second peripheral device in response to receiving the authorization, wherein the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver is encrypted and stored to a memory accessible to the processor, and wherein the authorization includes an encryption key that allows decryption of the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver;
in response to receiving the authorization, providing the peripheral device interface with access to the selectively inaccessible peripheral device driver that is associated with the second peripheral device;
receiving a request to transfer the content data between a particular peripheral device and the processor via the peripheral device interface;
determining, based on the authorization, whether the particular peripheral device is authorized to transfer the content data via the peripheral device interface; and
transferring the content data via the peripheral device interface when the particular peripheral device is authorized to transfer the content data via the peripheral device interface.
20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the content data includes audio content, video content, electronic book content, voice over internet protocol content, or a combination thereof.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A 2-bit mask ROM device, comprising:
a substrate;
a gate structure disposed on the substrate;
a coding region, located in the substrate beside a side of the gate structure, wherein presence or absence of dopants in the coding region determines \u201c1\u201d state or \u201c0\u201d state respectively;
at least one spacer disposed on a sidewall of the gate structure;
a buried drain region located in the substrate beside a side of the spacer, wherein the buried drain region and the coding region further comprises a buffer region in between, wherein dopant type of the buffer region and dopant type of the coding region are the same, and the buffer region has a dopant concentration lower than that of the coding region;
an insulation structure, positioned on the substrate above the buried drain region; and
a word line, disposed on a surface of the gate structure.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the spacer is about 400 angstroms to about 600 angstroms thick.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a packet doped region located in the buffer region.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the pocket doped region includes boron ions implanted at a dopant concentration of about 4\xd71012cm2.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the coding region includes boron ions implanted at a dopant concentration of about 1.5\xd71013cm2.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the buried drain region includes arsenic ions implanted at a dopant concentration of about 1.5\xd71015cm2.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein a material of the spacer and the insulation structure is same.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein a material of the spacer and the insulation structure is different.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the gate structure includes a polysilicon layer and a gate oxide layer under the polysilicon layer.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the word line includes a polysilicon layer and a metal suicide on the polysilicon layer.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the buffer region is disposed underneath the spacer.

1. A method comprising:
providing a capacitor having a cutout switch to selectively remove the capacitor from electrical connection to a circuitry of a power inverter;
measuring a ripple voltage on the capacitor;
measuring a ripple current through the capacitor;
determining a representative signal from the ripple voltage and current measurements;
determining whether the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
sending an output to a controller if the signal exceeds the predetermined threshold.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the ripple current and ripple voltage measurements are provided as inputs to a digital to analog converter and wherein the converter produces and sends the representative signal to a microprocessor to generate the output to the controller.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the measuring of ripple current is performed by a rectifier and amplifier module to produce a direct current representative signal.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the measuring of ripple voltage is performed by a voltage divider module.
5. The method according to claim 2 further comprising sensing a temperature of the capacitor and sending a temperature signal to the digital to analog converter.
6. The method according to claim 2 further comprising recommending to a master module replacing the capacitor when the controller receives an output from the microprocessor.
7. A power inverter comprising:
a box housing an electrical circuit therein including a dc to ac converter;
at least one electrolytic capacitor mounted to an exterior of the box, the capacitor being connected with the electrical circuit within the box, the capacitor including a cutout switch for selectively removing the capacitor from electrical connection to the circuitry within the box; and
a capacitor health monitoring circuit operably connected to the capacitor to measure a ripple voltage on the capacitor, and
measure a ripple current through the capacitor.
8. The inverter according to claim 7 wherein the monitoring circuit includes a microprocessor programmed to perform operations of:
determining a representative signal from the ripple voltage and current measurements;
determining whether the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
sending an output to a controller if the signal exceeds the predetermined threshold.
9. The inverter according to claim 7 wherein the ripple current and ripple voltage are analyzed in a microprocessor programmed to compare a signal representative of the ripple current and ripple voltage to a predetermined threshold.
10. The inverter according to claim 9 wherein the monitoring circuit issues an output signal when the ripple current and ripple voltage exceed the predetermined threshold.
11. The inverter according to claim 7 wherein the health monitoring circuit has a current sensor in series with the capacitor.
12. The inverter according to claim 7 wherein the health monitoring circuit is connected in parallel with the capacitor.
13. The inverter according to claim 7 wherein the health monitoring circuit includes a temperature sensor operable to sense ambient temperature around the capacitor.
14. A health monitoring system, the system comprising:
a capacitor having a cutout switch to selectively remove the capacitor from electrical connection to a circuitry of a power inverter;
a ripple voltage detector connected across the capacitor;
a ripple current detector connected in series with the capacitor;
a measuring module connected to the voltage and current detectors operable to produce a signal representative of the ripple voltage and current and send an output to a controller if the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.
15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the measuring module includes an analog-to-digital converter connected to a microprocessor which generates the output to the controller.
16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the ripple voltage detector is a voltage divider module.
17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the ripple current detector is a rectifier and amplifier module.
18. The system according to claim 17 wherein outputs of the voltage divider module and rectifier and amplifier module are fed to an analog-to-digital converter.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An electric vehicle comprising:
a synchronous electric motor that outputs torque to a first driving wheel;
an induction electric motor that outputs torque to a second driving wheel;
a first inverter that converts first direct current power to alternating current power for driving the synchronous electric motor;
a second inverter that converts second direct current power to alternating current power for driving the induction electric motor;
a vehicle speed sensor that detects a vehicle speed; and
a control portion that controls the torque output from the synchronous electric motor and the torque output from the induction electric motor,
wherein the control portion includes an output torque changing portion that makes the torque output from the synchronous electric motor smaller than the torque output from the induction electric motor when torque is output to the first driving wheel or the second driving wheel and the vehicle speed is close to zero, and that makes the torque output from the synchronous electric motor larger than the torque output from the induction electric motor when torque is output to the first driving wheel or the second driving wheel and the vehicle is moving at or greater than a predetermined speed in a direction opposite a direction in which the vehicle is being operated to move, by the torque output to the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel.
2. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined speed is a speed at which a rotation speed of a rotating magnetic field generated in a stator of the induction electric motor is close to zero; and the output torque changing portion of the control portion increases the torque output from the synchronous electric motor and decreases the torque output from the induction electric motor, according to a change in the vehicle speed from close to zero toward the predetermined speed.
3. The electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the output torque changing portion of the control portion changes a ratio of the torque output from the synchronous electric motor to the torque output from the induction electric motor according to a ratio of a first voltage of the first direct current power to a second voltage of the second direct current power.
4. The electric vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the first inverter includes a first switching element; the second inverter includes a second switching element; and the output torque changing portion of the control portion changes a ratio of the torque output from the synchronous electric motor to the torque output from the induction electric motor according to a temperature of the first switching element and a temperature of the second switching element.
5. The electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the output torque changing portion of the control portion sets a target output torque for the synchronous electric motor and a target output torque for the induction electric motor based on a map in which a ratio of the torque output from the synchronous electric motor to the torque output from the induction electric motor with respect to the vehicle speed has been set beforehand, and then corrects the torque output from the synchronous electric motor and the torque output from the induction electric motor according to i) the ratio of the first voltage of the first direct current power to the second voltage of the second direct current power, or ii) the temperature of the first switching element and the temperature of the second switching element; and the output torque changing portion of the control portion resets the corrected target output torque for the synchronous electric motor and the corrected target output torque for the induction electric motor.
6. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein movement in the direction in which the vehicle is being operated to move is associated with a negative velocity; movement in the direction opposite the direction in which the vehicle is being operated to move is associated with a positive velocity; and the predetermined speed is a positive value.
7. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the direction in which the vehicle is being operated to move is an uphill.
8. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first driving wheel is a front wheel of the vehicle; and the second driving wheel is a rear wheel of the vehicle.