US07716197B2
The present invention extends a servlet filter chain model to include the ability to dynamically define helper functions. These dynamic helper functions modify the state of an XCAP or SIP request or response as it transitions through the filter chain. The dynamic helper functions are defined via descriptor files that are based on the document type. Each filter in the filter chain has the ability to reference and invoke the helper functions to modify the state of the request and/or response.
US07716189B1
An apparatus or method for preserving the relationships or dependencies between content of files in a file system or between content of files in separate file systems. The preservation of relationships or dependencies may require the preservation of the files and their content as well. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a first instruction that, when implemented, performs an operation involving a first file in a file system, wherein the first file is related to the second file. In response to receiving the first instruction, a second instruction is selected that, when implemented, performs a second operation involving the first file or a second file, wherein the second instruction is implemented before or after implementing the first instruction.
US07716187B2
An improved system and method for transparent storage reorganization is provided. A reorganization server may be used to consolidate storage from many servers to fewer servers or to distribute storage from a few servers to many servers. To do so, a legacy server name may be aliased to the network address of a reorganization server. The contents and permissions of each legacy share may then be copied to a unique share name on another server. A root may next be created on the reorganization server using the legacy server name, and a link that points to the legacy share copied on the other server may be created on that root. Any client may then request access to the relocated legacy share using the legacy share name.
US07716185B2
Systems and methods for backing up and/or restoring data. When a backup operation is initiated, systems and methods are provided for creating a single snapshot of the backup items, including backup groupings. The single snapshot is used by a backup/recovery application to perform a save process on each backup grouping. By using the same snapshot, the backup is performed based on the same point in time so that the backed up data across the client system is consistent and synchronized. When a recovery operation is initiated, recovery items (e.g., backup groupings, writers and writer components) are selected from backup groupings of the client.
US07716178B2
Data processing systems and methods are provided that include a relational database and an application program that performs a data processing step on data belonging to a pre-defined entity stored in the relational database. The relational database and the application program may be linked by an interface that provides an intermediate layer for extracting a self-contained temporary table out of the relational database that contains the data belonging to a user selected entity. The disclosed systems and methods may be used for various data processing purposes, including monitoring database replication.
US07716173B2
A method and system for producing graphics. A hierarchical structure of a database is determined. A visual table, comprising a plurality of panes, is constructed by providing a specification that is in a language based on the hierarchical structure of the database. In some cases, this language can include fields that are in the database schema. The database is queried to retrieve a set of tuples in accordance with the specification. A subset of the set of tuples is associated with a pane in the plurality of panes.
US07716169B2
Provided is a system for and method of extracting and clustering information. The system includes a clustering criterion designing unit that reconstructs a plurality of clustering criteria for each layer or applies weights to the plurality of clustering criteria in order to design a new clustering criterion, an input data processing unit that extracts characteristics from input data according to the new clustering criterion, and a clustering unit that performs clustering on the extracted characteristics.
US07716168B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products modify a table definition of a database table within a database application. A method involves providing a user interface for creating a new field in the database table, receiving data that creates the new field while displaying the database table, and modifying schema of the database table to include the new field and the data. The method also involves interpreting a data type of the data as the data is received. A data type interpreted for a column in the database table that contains the new field is the data type of the data received in the new field. Still further, the method involves handling objects dependent on the database table in a manner unbeknownst to a user of the database table. Thus, the schema is modified while the objects dependent on the database table remain visible or open to the user.
US07716164B2
Providing layout information includes assigning at least a first context value to layout information for a data element. The layout information is configured for use in displaying an instance of the data element in a graphical user interface. The method includes storing the layout information and the first context value in a schema definition for the data element. Providing display of data using layout information includes receiving a context definition. A data element is identified using the received context definition. A schema definition for the data element includes layout information with at least a first context value assigned thereto. The method further includes providing, using the layout information, an instance of the identified data element for display in a graphical user interface.
US07716163B2
An XML (eXtensible Markup Language) schema to define a list of terms to be recognized as semantic categories is disclosed. Using an instance of the XML schema, a user may easily define terms to be recognized as semantic categories without having to compile a complete recognizer plug-in. The XML schema may be written using any editing tool or XML schema editing tool to create an instance of the schema. An instance of the semantic category list schema is also referred to as a semantic category list file. Typically, the user completes all of the properties of the XML schema and specifies the list of terms to recognize directly in the XML schema. In addition to specifying terms directly in the XML schema, the user may use a binary representation of the list of terms because of size constraints. The user may also define actions in the semantic category list file.
US07716154B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a decision trees using linear discriminant analysis and implementing such a decision tree in the classification (also referred to as categorization) of data. The data is preferably in the form of multidimensional objects, e.g., data records including feature variables and class variables in a decision tree generation mode, and data records including only feature variables in a decision tree traversal mode. Such an inventive approach, for example, creates more effective supervised classification systems. In general, the present invention comprises splitting a decision tree, recursively, such that the greatest amount of separation among the class values of the training data is achieved. This is accomplished by finding effective combinations of variables in order to recursively split the training data and create the decision tree. The decision tree is then used to classify input testing data.
US07716151B2
The present technique is an apparatus and method evaluating software performance. The method identifies performance scenarios using a knowledge base and selects the performance scenarios from a context module using operational laws. The system analyzes performance criticality of an application workload. Furthermore, the system comprises a context module that ranks the performance criterions depending on the input and the knowledge base stores and retrieves the performance criterions using the operational laws. The knowledge base comprises the criterions and their relevant ranks based of the application context. The present technique automates classification of performance criterions into benefit and cost categories with the usage of the operational laws.
US07716146B2
Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to observe one or more network elements associated with a network, receive an indication of an event relating to one or more network element configurations associated with the network, observe a potential outcome associated with the network, store the potential outcome such that the potential outcome is associated with the event, determine a probable outcome based on the potential outcome and store the probable outcome such that the probable outcome is associated with the event.
US07716137B2
System and method for automatically tracking and enabling the operation of a product. An order is received and information regarding the order, customer, and product is stored. A key is given to the customer to be used in registration. During registration, the key is provided and a candidate fingerprint obtained. If the candidate fingerprint matches the fingerprint of the ordered product, data is automatically sent to the product that enables the product to operate. In addition over time, status regarding the product is received and updates are sent to the product as needed or requested.
US07716133B1
A method of upgrading a self-service terminal (SST), such as an ATM. An SST is first identified which has (1) a screen for displaying withdrawal options usable by a customer and (2) a touch input mechanism for receiving user commands. Then the SST is modified so that it can receive user commands from a wireless telephone. The modifications may include retro-fitting the SST with a transceiver adapted to receive signals directly from a wireless telephone. Alternately, or additionally, the modifying step may include retrofitting the SST and/or a network system host with a program for enabling the SST to receive a transaction from a remote source.
US07716132B1
A system, method, and a computer program product that enrolls a user with a bill payment service without requiring a user to provide account information.
US07716124B2
A system and method of assisting a client transfer financial services using a first account to a second account collects relevant information and authorization from the client. The system and method maintains a database of counterparties providing services to clients of financial institutions and uses the information provided by the client and information in the database of counterparties to schedule and effect the transfer of the services. The system and method creates the necessary transfer information for each service to be transferred and dispatches the completed transfer information to each counterparty with a desired date for the transfer to be effected, the desired dates being selected in accordance with a cashflow analysis performed by the system and method of both the account at the previous financial institution and the account at the new financial institution.
US07716105B1
What is provided is a system and method for providing a benefit package. In order to provide the benefit package, a professional utilizes a subscriber application which is configured for the professional's given set of services. The professional establishes an arrangement with a large entity. The professional then establishes a provider account on behalf of the large entity. Through this provider account, the benefit package is generated for the employees and individuals associated with the large entity. The employees benefit from the employment relationship by taking advantage of the benefit package negotiated by the employer on their behalf.
US07716101B2
In a multi-unit combinatorial auction, reverse auction, or exchange, a number of bids can be received, with each bid including one or more items and for each item a desired quantity thereof. Each bid also includes a price. A number of unique combinations of bids can be formed from the received bids, and the one combination of bids which represents the best value in terms of an auction setting, a reverse auction setting and/or an exchange setting can be determined. Thereafter, the bids forming this combination can be declared the winning bids of the auction, reverse auction or exchange.
US07716100B2
Hardware accelerated analytical computing apparatus, method and system includes one or more analytical processing units. Each processing unit is formed of a respective field programmable gate array (FPGA) and performs a respective analytical operation. An application interface enables use of respective desired ones of the analytical processing units by one or more computer application programs. Different computer application programs utilize different ones of the analytical processing units. Each computer application program performs a respective analytical computation. Alternatively, an application program may be programmed into one of the FPGA's.
US07716099B1
System and method for providing customer support via Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for particular aspects of tax programs and other computer-implemented processes. Different areas of tax preparation may be identified as different modules in the tax program. After selecting a module, a user of the tax program may select a particular document or particular field on a document that the user may need assistance with. A user interface may provide one or more mechanisms whereby the user may access VoIP support targeted at the particular aspect (e.g., module, document, or field). By enabling users to select particular aspects of the tax program and to invoke VoIP support for aspects at which support is needed, embodiments may enable users to sort themselves into queues targeted at the particular aspects for which support is needed before contacting the vendor's support system.
US07716087B1
A method for using an internet accessible computer system to conduct business to business operations among a plurality of buyer companies and a plurality of seller companies. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of registering each of the plurality of seller companies with an internet accessible computer system, wherein each of the plurality of seller companies sells goods to a corresponding one of the plurality of buyer companies, and the corresponding one buyer company makes payment for the goods sold by that seller company; and registering each of the plurality of buyer companies with the internet accessible computer system, wherein the registration of each of the plurality of buyer companies depends on the registration of its corresponding seller company.
US07716081B1
A tipping device for dispensing a tip from a patron to a performer, such as in an adult dance venue, generally comprises a transaction apparatus including a money receiver at a first location for receiving money for the tip from the patron and a tip dispenser at a second location for dispensing the tip into the air so as to create an entertaining effect. The tip dispenser may be suspended by a winch above the performer. Preferably, the tip is dispensed out of reach of the patron at the first location and such that a patron at the first location may see the performer while the tip is being dispensed. The tipping device may include a spotlight or flashing lights for highlighting the patron during dispensing of the tip.
US07716070B2
A method of determining a triage disposition for a person includes providing a plurality of triage categories that includes questions grouped into a plurality of tiers ranked according to urgency. Each of the plurality of tiers corresponds to one of a set of triage dispositions. At least a first relevant triage category and a second relevant triage category can be selected from the plurality of triage categories based on information about a medical condition of the person and then accessed. The person can be triaged by (a) identifying from all of the selected relevant triage categories a highest urgency tier that has at least one unasked question; (b) asking the person one of the at least one unasked question of the highest urgency tier; and (c) repeating (a) and (b) for all of the selected triage categories until the triage disposition is determined.
US07716062B2
Dental appliances and systems and methods for distributing dental appliances are provided. The dental appliances may be worn within a mouth of a patient to treat a dental condition. The dental appliances may be distributed to the patient through various venues. The venues range from those in which the patient has direct contact with a care provider to those in which the patient is able to independently determine an appropriate dental appliance to treat the dental condition. As a result, the amount of interaction between the patient and a care provider is significantly reduced, as well as an overall cost of treatment. The time necessary for appointments, if any, is also reduced and/or eliminated.
US07716058B2
Large vocabulary speech recognition can automatically turn recognition off in one or more ways. A user command can turn on recognition that is automatically turned off after the next end of utterance. A plurality of buttons can each be associated with a different speech mode and the touch of a given button can turn on, and then automatically turn off, the given button's associated speech recognition mode. These selectable modes can include large vocabulary and alphabetic entry modes, or continuous and discrete modes. A first user input can start recognition that allows a sequence of vocabulary words to be recognized and a second user input can start recognition that turns off after one word has been recognized. A first user input can start recognition that allows a sequence of utterances to be recognized and a second user input can start recognition that allows only a single utterance to be recognized.
US07716039B1
A system and method are disclosed for processing received data associated with a grammar. The method comprises receiving input data having a characteristic that the input data cannot be assigned an interpretation by a grammar, translating the input data into translated input data and submitting the translated input data into the grammar. The transducer coerces the set of strings encoded in a lattice resulting from recognition (such as speech recognition) to the closest strings in the grammar that can be assigned an interpretation.
US07716038B2
The disclosed system translates into different languages HTML documents available through the World Wide Web. HTML documents are translated by machine translation software bundled in a browser. Alternatively, documents are retrieved as needed, translated, and stored on a Web server so user requests are serviced with a document that has been translated from a different language. The disclosed invention expands usage of the Internet for non-English speakers.
US07716033B2
A web load test program to display information about responses acquired by applying access load on a web server device as a test target is provided. The program generates a plurality of virtual web clients each of which transmits a request message to the web server device and receives a response message from the web server device in order according to a given scenario. The program stores a log information record containing an ID of the virtual web client that receives a response message and order information that shows an order of the request in the scenario corresponding to the response message into storage whenever the virtual web client receives a response message from the web server device. The program sorts the log information records that are linked with the respective response messages according to a predetermined sort condition and displays the sorted log information records onto a display.
US07716024B2
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide a system for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images. With the advances recently made computational systems, these computer based image systems may be used to permit end users to replace paper and physical models with electronic images. A mechanism to capture image representations of physical objects accurately and with sufficient resolution is provided in a form that is both inexpensive to operate while providing rapid turn-around for users. Second, a mechanism to visually display interaction between parts of an object is also provided. These features are expressly addressed for impressions of human teeth that are scanned to allow electronic images of the models of a patient's teeth to be represented and manipulated.
US07716018B2
The invention relates to a method and a computer program for determining operating parameters such as, in particular, the rotational speed, the rotational direction, the radial force, the axial force or of structural sound events of a rotating roller bearing to which a sensor arrangement is fixed which, on rotation of the roller bearing delivers a sinusoidal signal, depending on its rotational position, which is sampled at sampling points k, k+1, k+2, . . . To determine the rotational speed, the rotational direction, the radial force and/or the axial force, a mean value is determined by means of estimation and the operating parameters are determined on the basis of a corrected signal which does not obtain an offset by subtraction of the estimated mean value from the sensor signal. To determine structural sound events, the sensor signals are filtered in a high-pass filter and structural sound occurring is determined by estimating a statistical moment of at least the second order. The invention also relates to a roller bearing which is provided with an evaluating device for carrying out the method.
US07716017B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention log information by reading a configuration file to determine a destination for sending logging information. The logging information is sent to the destination. Additional logging information is generated. It is determined whether the configuration file has been updated to indicate a new destination instead of the destination. When the configuration file has not been updated to indicate the new destination, the additional logging information is sent to the destination. When the configuration file has been updated to indicate the new destination, the additional logging information is sent to the new destination.
US07716016B2
Improved management feedback-based controller techniques are disclosed for use in accordance with a computing system. For example, a method for managing a computing system includes the following steps. At least one measured performance metric is obtained from the computing system being managed. At least one control input value is generated based on parameters including a control error and a control deadzone such that uncertainty associated with the computing system is accounted for in accordance with the parameters. The control error is determined from a computation comprising the at least one measured performance metric and at least one performance metric goal. The control deadzone is defined such that the control input value is not generated when the control error is within the control deadzone. The control input value is sent to the computing system to effectuate achievement of the at least one performance metric goal associated with the computing system.
US07716013B2
Systems and methods of managing the performance of host products such as outdoor gear provide for detecting a connection between drive and performance modules. The performance module has an associated output type and is installed in a host product. A drive profile is selected from a plurality of drive profiles based on the output type and performance characteristic of the host product and is modified by controlling the performance module based on the selected drive profile. Other embodiments include systems and methods of managing trips provide for a performance unit that generates profile data for a performance module based on pre-trip data. The profile data instructs a drive module to modify a performance characteristic of a host product in which the performance module is installed. A trip management unit collects sensor data from a sensor based on the pre-trip data and generates post-trip data based on the sensor data.
US07716007B2
Design structures, method and systems of powering on an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a region in the IC including functional logic, a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in the region when the IC is powered up and a heating element therefor; a processing unit including: a comparator for comparing the temperature against a predetermined temperature value, a controller, which in the case that the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value, delays functional operation of the IC and controls heating of the region of the IC, and a monitor for monitoring the temperature in the region; and wherein the controller, in the case that the temperature rises above the predetermined temperature value, ceases the heating and initiates functional operation of the IC.
US07716000B2
A sensor apparatus is disclosed. A sense circuit is provided to convert inputted physical quantity to electrical signal. An amplifier amplifies an analog signal outputted from the sense circuit. An A/D converter converts the output signal of the amplifier to digital data. A sensing interval setup unit sets a sensing interval for the sense circuit. A power supply unit supplies electric power to the sense circuit, the amplifier and the A/D converter. The amplifier and the A/D converter constitute an analog signal processing unit. A power supply control unit is provided to control the power supply unit. A storage unit stores the digital data outputted from the A/D converter every sensing interval of the sensing interval. A data value change judgment unit changes the setup of the sensing interval by the sensing interval setup unit. The data value change judgment unit also changes the control mode of the power supply control unit in response to judgment of value change between a plural number of digital data which are designated from the digital data being stored in the storage unit.
US07715999B2
A surface texture measuring instrument includes: a movement-estimating unit for estimating a movement condition of a drive mechanism based on a scanning vector command issued by a scanning vector commander to calculate an estimated operation state quantity; and a correction-calculating unit for correcting a detection value of a drive sensor in accordance with the estimated operation state quantity calculated by the movement-estimating unit. The movement-estimating unit includes: a nominal-model setting unit in which a nominal model representing signal transfer function of the scanning vector command from the issuance of the scanning vector command to a reflection on a movement position of the scanning probe is stored. The correction-calculating unit includes a correction-amount calculating unit that calculates a correction amount for correcting a measurement error generated on account of deformation during the drive of the drive mechanism based on the estimated operation state quantity; and a measurement data synthesizing unit that synthesizes the detection value of the drive sensor and a detection sensor and the correction amount calculated by the correction-amount calculating unit to acquire a measurement data.
US07715995B2
An design structure for measuring power consumed during operation of an integrated circuit. The design structure including: a data processing circuit having an input and an output, the data processing circuit configured to generate an output data signal on based on an input data signal; a power measurement circuit configured to measure an amount of electrical power consumed by the processing circuit in generating the output signal from the input signal, the power measurement circuit connected between the processing circuit and a power supply for the processing circuit; and a memory element configured to store a tag containing a value representing the amount of electrical power consumed by the processing circuit in generating the output data signal from the input data signal and either (a) the input data of the input data signal or (b) a pointer to the input data of the input data signal.
US07715990B2
Individual probes on micro-arrays are re-scaled and corrected with a set of probe dependent coefficients derived from genomic-DNA hybridization signals. A dynamic range for gDNA binding is determined by measuring a concentration signal curve. Signals for each probe are measured during multiple hybridizations within a linear range. Concentration insensitive probes are then found for two sets of experiments. Probes are discarded based on a threshold compared to their standard deviation divided by their average in each set. The correction coefficients are used to calculate a corrected intensity for each probe. Probes having high uncertainty (0.5 in one embodiment) are discarded. A weighting factor for each probe is determined along with an uncertainty factor. Finally, a call for each gene is made, such as absent, marginal or present.
US07715988B2
A technique includes obtaining particle motion data and pressure data that are acquired by seismic sensors while in tow. The sensors are part of a plurality of streamers, and the pressure and particle motion data contain surface ghosts. The technique includes processing the particle motion data and the pressure data to generate a data set that is indicative of a pressure wavefield at positions between the streamers and is substantially free of the surface ghosts.
US07715985B2
Described is a finite-difference methodology for efficiently computing the response from a model subject to changes within sub-volumes with the sub-volume enclosed with an extrapolation surface within an injection boundary using Green's functions to update the injection boundary and transmitting an updated wavefield from the injection boundary back into the altered sub-volume to include higher order reflections from outside of the altered sub-space.
US07715973B2
In a method and a device for controlling an internal combustion engine (1) an optimized power yield of the internal combustion engine is made possible. In this case the internal combustion engine (1) is operated, depending on a criterion, either in a normal mode in which the maximum torque produced of the internal combustion engine (1) is restricted to a normal limit value or is operated in a power mode in which the maximum torque produced is restricted to a power limit value which is greater than the normal limit value. At least one operating variable of the internal combustion engine (1) is detected which is representative of its combustion power and the operation of the internal combustion engine (1) in the power mode is undertaken depending this at least one operating variable.
US07715965B2
A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a controller (26) that determines whether or not a potential load change has occurred in a load change detector (59). A load change detector (59) may be coupled to various sensors to determine whether or not a change in load has occurred. If a change in load has occurred an adaptively determined roll condition parameter such as a roll acceleration coefficient, a roll rate parameter or a roll gradient may be reset. If a potential load change has not occurred, then a newly determined value for an adaptive roll condition may be included in a revised adaptive roll condition average. A safety device (44) may be controlled in response to the revised adaptive roll condition.
US07715962B2
A vehicle comprises a chassis, a mechanical system, and a control system configured to control the mechanical assembly. The mechanical system is mounted on the chassis and configured to be moved through a range of positions responsive to operator inputs from a human operator. The control system processing logic configured to generate output signals for the output devices based on input signals from the directional controller to thereby control movement of the boom assembly in accordance with the operator inputs. The communication system is configured to communicate signals, including the input signals and the output signals, between the directional controller, the processing logic, and the output devices, the communication system at least partially comprising a radio-frequency transmission medium.
US07715952B2
In the present invention, a thermal plate is divided into a plurality of thermal plate regions, and a temperature is settable for each of the thermal plate regions. A temperature correction value for adjusting the temperature within the thermal plate is settable for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate. The line widths within the wafer for which the photolithography process has been finished are first measured, and Zernike coefficients of a Zernike polynomial indicating a plurality of in-plane tendency components are calculated from the measured values of the line widths within the wafer. Then, the temperature correction values for the regions of the thermal plate to bring the calculated Zernike coefficients close to 0 are calculated using a calculation model indicating a correlation between change amounts of the Zernike coefficients and the temperature correction values. The temperature of each of the regions of the thermal plate is set based on each of the calculated temperature correction values.
US07715947B2
A system for lapping gear sets with a ring gear and a pinion gear. The system includes a lapping machine tool and a robot. The lapping machine tool has a first spindle and a second spindle. The second spindle is rotatable about an axis that is generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the first spindle. The lapping machine tool has a loading zone for loading the first and second spindles. The robot has an end effector with a first end that is configured to hold one of the gear sets. The robot is configured to position the first end of the end effector into the loading zone and to load the first gear set to the lapping machine tool without removing the end effector from the loading zone such that the ring gear is loaded onto the first spindle and the pinion gear is loaded onto the second spindle.
US07715941B1
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for scheduling a plurality of processing tools. The method comprises providing a first processing tool and a plurality of second processing tools, selecting one of the plurality of second processing tools, and determining a target output parameter of a combination of processing tools comprising said first processing tool and said selected one of the plurality of second processing tools. The method also includes determining at least one input parameter of a process model for controlling the first processing tool based upon the target output parameter of the combination of processing tools.
US07715939B2
An embroidery sewing machine with a printing function includes a sewing machine body having a bed, a foot, an arm, and capable of sewing a workpiece cloth by a sewing unit; a cloth holding frame holding the workpiece cloth; a frame drive unit moving the cloth holding frame independently in two mutually perpendicular directions in a horizontal plane; an ink-jet printer having a print head printing the workpiece cloth. The print head of the printer includes nozzle arrays with each nozzle array having a plurality of ink-jet nozzles aligned parallel in the first direction, and the printer prints the workpiece cloth while moving the cloth holding frame in the second direction.
US07715933B2
A recording medium, a method and an apparatus for managing text data and main data are provided. The method includes recording text data in a text data file separate from a file containing main data associated with the text data, recording navigation information that links the main data and the text data, and recording, in the text data file, attribute information associated with the text data.
US07715924B2
A device and method for stimulating neural tissue in a patient comprising: providing a lead having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween wherein the lead having at least one electrode provided thereon for delivering electrical stimulation; implanting the lead adjacent the neural tissue; applying electrical signals to the at least one electrode to provide electrical stimulation to the neural tissue; closing all incisions made to implant the lead so that the lead is completely implanted in the patient; and adjusting, at any time after the step of closing all the incisions, the position of the lead so that it moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lead.
US07715923B2
High reliability electrical connections between a helical strand and flat electrodes, such us strip electrodes found in implantable neurostimulator system, are described. The connection consists of a crimp joint in which an inside diameter mandrel is used to provided the coil with sufficient radial rigidity to ensure structural integrity of the crimp. The mandrel is made of a relatively soft biocompatible material that deforms rather than damages the fine wires of the helical strand during crimping. The crimping is accomplished by radial deformation of an annular or semi-annular crimping member that receives the helical strand/mandrel assembly.
US07715921B2
As compared to conventional electrodes, the electrode configurations disclosed herein minimize irritation and damage to the skin when they are placed in contact with a patient's body over extended of time. The electrodes are formed from a conductive substrate coated with a thin dielectric material, and a plurality of open spaces pass through the electrodes. Those open spaces are distributed and sized to permit moisture on the surface of the patient's body to escape when the electrode is placed in contact with the patient's body. One intended use for the electrodes is for treating tumors by applying an AC electric field with specific frequency and field strength characteristics over an extended period of time.
US07715920B2
The disclosure describes an implantable stimulation system that guides programming with a therapeutic tree. All possible stimulation parameters are arranged on the therapeutic tree, with each level of the therapeutic tree containing a different stimulation parameter type. Each level includes nodes that are connected to nodes of adjacent levels. A user, such as a clinician or a patient, creates a program path by moving through nodes of lower levels. The stimulation parameter types are arranged so that coarse adjustments occur at higher levels of the tree and fine adjustments occur at lower levels of the tree. The nodes of the program path define the stimulation parameters of the delivered stimulation therapy. In addition, a sensor may detect a physiological function to allow the system to automatically identify therapy efficacy and create the most efficacious program path for the patient.
US07715918B2
A device and corresponding method for converting the contractile work of skeletal muscles into transportable energy. The device may comprise a converter having a mobile end adapted to be connected to a skeletal muscle, a relatively stationary end opposite the mobile end; one or more energy processing units operatively connected to the mobile and stationary ends of the converter, with each energy processing unit adapted to convert tensile forces generated by contraction of the skeletal muscle into transportable energy; and one or more energy conduits such as electrical wires associated with the relatively stationary end of the converter for delivering the transportable energy to power-consuming devices implanted in a body. The device may further comprise a relatively stationary end that is operatively connected to a body structure that is stationary relative to the skeletal muscle.
US07715915B1
Implantable systems, and method for use therewith, are provided that take advantage of various neuromodulation and neurosensing techniques for either preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) or terminating AF. Specific embodiments, as will be described below, are for use with an implantable device that include one or more atrial electrode for sensing atrial fibrillation (AF) and/or delivering AATP and one or more electrode for monitoring and/or stimulating atrial vagal fat pads.
US07715910B2
A computing device-controlled system is described for the generation of amplitude-modulated pulse-width modulation (AMPWM) signals for use in treating neurological dysfunction via cranial neurostimulation, where the AMPWM signal is specifically designed to minimize the electrical impedance of the tissues of the head. A low-frequency carrier signal is determined for the AMPWM signal by measuring EEG activity at a reference site or sites, generally corresponding with the location of suspected brain dysfunction. Carrier signal frequency is variably related to critical frequency components of the EEG power spectral density, determined from statistical analysis of amplitudes and variability, and dynamically changed as a function of time to prevent entrainment. The AMPWM signal is presented to a subject via a plurality of neurostimulation delivery modes for therapeutic use.
US07715907B2
A method and system for atrial fibrillation analysis, characterization, and mapping is disclosed. A finite element model (FEM) representing a physical structure of a heart is generated. Electrogram data can be sensed at various locations in the heart using an electrophysiology catheter, and the electrogram data is mapped to the elements of the FEM. Function parameters, which measure some characteristics of AF arrhythmia, are then simultaneously calculated for all of the elements of the FEM based on the electrogram data mapped to the elements of the FEM. An artificial neural network (ANN) can be used to calculate the function parameters.
US07715906B2
An implantable medical device and associated method monitor a physiological signal for sensing physiological events and detecting a physiological condition in response to the sensed physiological events. The device senses a first event from the physiological signal, senses a noise signal in the physiological signal and senses a next event from the physiological signal wherein the first event and the next event define a signal interval. The signal interval is declared as a noisy interval in response to the sensed noise signal.
US07715905B2
An arrangement includes a mobile device executing a process to detect an episode in electrical signals representative of a beating heart. The mobile device determines that the detected episode is a notable finding and sends data corresponding to the notable finding to a second system. The second system analyzes the data corresponding to the notable finding using one or more additional computing resources.
US07715903B2
A guide wire (1) to assist percutaneous endovascular deployment which has zones of varying stiffness. An elongate central zone (3) of high stiffness, a proximal zone (4) of transition from high stiffness to semi-stiffness and a distal zone (5) of transition from high stiffness to being relatively flexible. The distal zone (5) has three zones, a semi stiff zone (11) adjacent the central zone, a transition zone (13) being of flexibility of from semi-stiff extending to flexible and a tip zone (15) being of high flexibility. The distal tip has a small J curve (16) to ensure that it is atraumatic in vessels and to prevent damage to the aortic heart valve. The distal zone (5) can also have a large curve to assist with anchoring the guide wire into the aortic arch.
US07715900B2
A contrast enhancement (CE) agent is infused into blood flowing through a site that is to be imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two double inversion procedures are carried out, forming a quadruple inversion recovery (QIR) pulse sequence. Each double inversion procedure comprises a non-selective and slice-selective inversion RF pulse. The first double inversion procedure is followed by a first predefined inversion delay period, TI1, and the second procedure by a second predefined inversion delay period, TI2. A black-blood image can thus be produced in which blood appears consistently black and tissues surrounding the blood, such as a vessel wall, heart, atherosclerotic plaque, or thrombus, are clearly visible. Unlike the prior art black-blood imaging technique, the QIR method does not require a precise knowledge of the T1 of the blood carrying the CE agent in order to suppress the signal and artifacts caused by the blood flowing through the site.
US07715896B2
A medical system is a medical device, such as a catheter, that includes an inner core and an imager that is extendable from within an elongated tubular member and configured to penetrate a body tissue within a living body. The elongated tubular member has a distal end and is configured to slideably receive the inner core. The distal end is further configured to allow the inner core to advance outside the elongated member. The inner core has a distal end and is configured to rotate radially around a longitudinal axis of the elongated member. The device can further include an imager located at the distal end of the inner core, and the imager can be configured to image a body tissue and output an image signal to an imaging system communicatively coupled with the imager. The imaging system is configured to generate an image of the body tissue from the image signal of the imager when the imager is rotated and placed into contact with the body tissue such that the imager penetrates the body tissue.
US07715888B2
A decorative wireless earphone is a single piece integrated with a necklace, a microphone, a main unit and an earpiece. The main unit has a shape of pendant and the earplug is hidden behind the ornamental part. The lead wire is received in the necklace. The distance between the microphone and the earpiece is almost equal to the distance between the mouth and the ear of human. Due to the wireless earphone being designed as an ornament, it could be worn on the neck naturally and reasonably with less chance of being lost, convenience and easy-storage. Hence, the decorative wireless earphone of the present invention has enhanced the value thereof additionally and has promoted competition thereof in the market.
US07715882B2
A mobile terminal apparatus requests a character be displayed which is assigned to a first key upon being pushed, and if operated continuously for a time span that exceeds a predetermined time, requests a next character be displayed which is assigned to the first key instead of the character assigned to the first key and currently being displayed, if the time span exceeds the predetermined time and the character assigned to the first key and currently being displayed is a special character that has another variation, changes the character to a character of the another variation, and, when the time span exceeds the predetermined time and the character assigned to the first key and currently being displayed is not a special character, requests a new character be displayed right next to the character which is currently being displayed.
US07715865B2
A radio terminal switches between a compressed transmission mode and a normal transmission mode based on the current transmit power level of the radio terminal. The radio terminal periodically compares its current transmit power level to a power threshold. The radio terminal transmits in the compressed transmission mode when the current transmit power level is below the threshold, and transmits in the normal transmission mode when the current transmission power level is greater than the threshold. The radio terminal may also operate in a compressed receiving mode.
US07715864B2
An arrangement, method, and access point (AP) in a wireless telecommunication network for providing a user terminal (UT) with access to the network utilizing a contention-based, multi-access uplink channel. The AP includes Nrx receive antennas, where Nrx>1, for receiving simultaneous uplink transmissions from a number of UTs, wherein the number of UTs transmitting on a given slot is less than or equal to Nrx. The AP sends power-control commands to the UTs to control the transmit power of each of the UTs to provide received signals of equal average power at the AP. The AP also instructs each UT to select its transmission data rate based on a noise level at the AP, so as to achieve a desired level of reliability. An MMSE receiver without successive interference cancellation receives the packets transmitted from the UTs and separately demodulates and decodes the packets received from each user terminal.
US07715862B2
The invention relates to channel coding in the air interface in telecommunication systems, and specifically to methods used in selecting coding methods. The network utilizes information reported by a power control channel quality reporting procedure, such as reporting procedures used for Enhanced Power Control or Fast Power Control, for controlling the TFC selection.
US07715844B2
The present invention provides a method for determining a spatial channel model. The method may include generating a three-dimensional scattering cloud model based on a scattering environment proximate a mobile unit and a configuration of a plurality of antennas.
US07715842B2
The present invention relates to supporting a handover of a mobile terminal. Preferably, the present invention performs a scan of a neighboring network different from a current network of the mobile terminal to determine the presence of an accessible link of the neighboring network for performing a handover, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a heterogeneous network handover module that is configured to provide convergence of information from at least one network interface module associated with one of a homogeneous and heterogeneous network into a unified presentation. An information message is then received from the neighboring network, wherein the information message comprises an information element associated with whether the neighboring network is capable of communicating with the heterogeneous network handover module of the mobile terminal.
US07715840B2
A vehicular wireless apparatus continues a standby state even after an ACC switch of the vehicle is turned off. In the vehicular wireless apparatus, when it is determined that the ACC switch is turned from on to off, paging area information stored in a RAM (volatile memory) is stored in an EEPROM (nonvolatile memory). When the ACC switch is then turned from off to on, a power-on-reset is done for the whole of the vehicular wireless apparatus and paging area information stored in the RAM is reset. The paging area information stored in the EEPROM is then read. Whether a location registration should be newly done is determined based on the read paging area information.
US07715833B2
A mobile telephony device, comprising: a storage device (1) (for example a SIM/USIM card) comprising means for storing at least one application (3A, 4A); at least one data array manager module (5) for managing data arrays of at least one application stored in the storage device, comprising means for receiving, by means of a remote access (OTA) message, at least one instruction for operating on at least one piece of data contained in an array of a specified application, means for accessing said array according to said instruction, and means for performing at least one operation on said at least one piece of data in said array, according to said instruction. The invention also refers to a method for managing data in arrays of applications stored in a card of a mobile telephony subscriber equipment.
US07715816B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing wireless network communications. The disclosed systems and methods may include receiving first data from a wire line network at a transceiver placed at a location on the wire line network. The location may comprise a place where the wire line network is present, where electrical power for the transceiver is present, and where a service provider of the wireless network communications has a legal right to locate the transceiver. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include transmitting the first data wirelessly from the transceiver to a wireless device and receiving second data at the transceiver wirelessly from the wireless device.
US07715813B2
A receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes: a tunable low noise amplifier (LNA), the tunable LNA comprising: a plurality of LNAs for receiving and amplifying a plurality of frequency bands respectively; a plurality of first switches respectively coupled to the plurality of LNAs; a plurality of LC loads, respectively coupled to the plurality of first switches; a plurality of buffers, respectively coupled to the plurality of first switches; and a plurality of second switches, respectively coupled to the plurality of LC loads and an LO signal; a power detecting circuit for determining a signal power level corresponding to the LO signal; a first switch unit; and a controller, for isolating the output of the plurality of LNAs, selectively decoupling at least one of the LC loads according to the signal power level of the LO signal, and routing the LO signal to the second switches during calibration mode.
US07715806B2
Methods and systems for diversity processing including using dedicated pilot method for closed loop may include combining a plurality of received WCDMA/HSDPA multipath signals for each diversity transmit antenna to at least one processed diversity signal. The received WCDMA/HSDPA multipath signals may originate from diversity transmit antennas at a base station that may be transmitting information via a closed loop or open loop diversity transmission mode. The closed loop diversity transmission mode may be closed loop 1 or closed loop 2. Estimations may be made of the closed loop transmit weights used by the base station for transmission of the symbols. Closed loop symbols transmitted by the diversity transmit antennas may then be estimated based on received diversity signals and at least one dedicated pilot channel. Open loop symbols may be estimated using information from at least one common pilot channel.
US07715789B2
Method affecting the interior of human flesh, providing modulated power signal to at least one solenoid to create a modulated solenoid action delivered through a mechanical interface to the human flesh to create a modulated audio effect into the interior. Providing the modulated power signal may include receiving an audio signal to create the modulated power signal, which may include fetching a down-converted audio signal and the audio signal from a memory device and/or frequency-down-converting the audio signal to create the down-converted audio signal. Receiving the audio signal may further include solenoid amplifying the down-converted signal to create the modulated power signal. The modulated audio effect into the interior of the human flesh, the modulated power signal and the down-converted audio signal are products of this method. Apparatus implementing the solenoid amplifying, receiving the audio signal, frequency-down-converting the audio signal in a variety of configurations.
US07715787B2
A method of transmitting subpackets in a mobile communication system using at least one frequency carrier is disclosed. More specifically, the method comprises receiving a first broadcast subpacket from a base station (BS) at a first time slot on a first frequency carrier, and receiving at least one subsequent broadcast subpacket from the BS via at least one relay station (RS) at a second time slot on a second frequency carrier, wherein information of the first broadcast subpacket and the subsequent broadcast subpacket are the same.
US07715783B2
A vehicle information system for passenger vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The vehicle information system includes a universal antenna system and a universal receiver system for receiving viewing content provided by diverse content sources during travel, including international travel. The universal antenna and receiver system provide selected viewing content for distribution throughout the vehicle information system and presentation via one or more passenger interfaces. As the vehicle approaches the coverage region of a selected content source, the vehicle information system automatically reconfigures the universal antenna and receiver system to receive viewing content from the content source without requiring manual adjustment to, or replacement of, the universal antenna system and/or the universal receiver system. Passengers traveling aboard the vehicle thereby can continuously enjoy the viewing content during travel with limited interruption in service and without unwanted travel delays.
US07715781B2
A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for receiving data from a satellite radio network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a datagram broadcast via a satellite radio network is received utilizing a receiver. The datagram includes broadcast identifier information that identifies a segment of receivers in the satellite radio network to which the datagram is directed. Utilizing the broadcast identifier information, a determination is made as to whether the recipient receiver is a member of the identified segment of receivers to which the datagram is directed. If the recipient receiver is determined to be a member of the identified segment of receivers to which the datagram is directed, then the datagram is processed.
US07715778B2
A cleaning blade, for use in an image-forming apparatus, for removing toner which remains on a surface of a photoreceptor drum thereof, with the cleaning blade in contact with the photoreceptor drum. The cleaning blade is formed from a sheet composed of a thermosetting elastomer composition. The roughness degree of a ridgeline formed longitudinally on a cleaning blade edge which contacts the photoreceptor is set to not more than 10 μm. The straightness degree of the ridgeline is set to not more than 100 μm. In a test of supplying 150,000 sheets of paper conducted by mounting the cleaning blade on the image-forming apparatus, a change rate ΔRe of an average roughness degree value Re of the ridgeline formed longitudinally on the edge is set to not more than +0.7, and a sectional length Ws45 of a wear surface of the edge, inclined at 45 degrees, which contacts the photoreceptor is set to not more than 50 μm.
US07715774B2
A fixing device includes a fixing section, a sheet-width detector, a heating-width changing mechanism, a mixed feeding detector, and a controller. The fixing section includes at least a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording medium upon application of heat thereto. The sheet-width detector detects a width of the recording medium and outputs a sheet-width signal. The heat-width changing mechanism changes a heating width of the fixing member. The mixed feeding detector detects whether or not mixed feeding of a plurality of sheets of the recording medium having different widths is performed during a successive sheet feeding, and outputs a mixed feeding signal. The controller controls the heating-width changing mechanism to control the heating width based on the sheet-width signal and the mixed feeding signal.
US07715768B2
A color image forming device comprises a plurality of first image support mediums, a scanning exposure unit, a second image support medium, a second-image-support-medium transport unit, a transfer unit, a correction-pattern-image forming unit, a pattern measurement unit, and a control unit. The correction-pattern-image forming unit is configured to reduce the total time for forming a sequence of correction pattern images of color components.
US07715763B2
A development device includes a developer carrying member, developer collection conveyance path, and developer supply conveyance path. The developer carrying member carries a developer to develop an image on a latent image carrier. The developer collection conveyance path disposed obliquely above the developer carrying member conveys the developer in a first direction. The developer supply conveyance path disposed below the developer collection conveyance path conveys the developer in a second direction. The developer collection conveyance path and developer supply conveyance path have first and second openings and third and fourth openings respectively within a development region. The developer located downstream of the developer collection conveyance path is transferred to upstream of the developer supply conveyance path through the first and third openings. The developer located downstream of the developer supply conveyance path is transferred to upstream of the developer collection conveyance path through the fourth and second openings.
US07715761B2
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of toner-image forming units. Each toner-image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum and a charging unit that is arranged to abut against or remain detached from the photosensitive drum, and that electrically charges the photosensitive drum. Each of the toner-image forming units forms an image of a different color. At least one of the charging units functions as a corona charging unit and at least another one of the charging units functions as a non-contact charging unit.
US07715759B2
The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.
US07715754B2
An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a cartridge, a casing, a cartridge holding unit and a first guide unit. The looped belt has a first surface outside of the loop, and is stretched to form a substantially straight portion on the loop that extends in a first direction. The casing has a base surface. The cartridge holding unit holds the cartridge at a first predetermined position in the casing. Each circumferential surface of the plurality of photosensitive drums contacts the straight portion of the first surface when the cartridge is held by the cartridge holding unit at the first predetermined position. The first guide unit guides the cartridge into the first predetermined position, and allows the plurality of photosensitive drums to move apart from the straight portion of the first surface when the cartridge is detached from the first predetermined position.
US07715746B2
A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.
US07715744B2
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum to which an electrostatic image is formed and a developing sleeve carrying a developer including toner carrier. An alternating voltage is applied to the sleeve to form an alternating electric field between the sleeve and the drum to develop the electrostatic image with the developer. A relation |K1|<|K2| is satisfied, where K1: a slope at an electric field intensity Ed=|(Vp2−VL)/D|, K2: a slope at an electric field intensity Eb=|(Vp1−VL)/D|, VL: a potential [V] of the electrostatic image at which a maximum density is obtained, Vp1: a peak potential [V] that provides a potential difference to move the toner toward the drum, Vp2: a peak potential [V] that provides a potential difference to move the toner toward the sleeve, and D: a closest distance [m] between the drum and the sleeve.
US07715741B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part for forming a toner image on an image bearing body based on an image signal, and a density detection part for detecting a density of the toner image on the image bearing body, such that it is determined whether a normal image formed by the image forming part has a density detection area which should be detected, and if it is determined that the density detection area is present, image forming conditions are controlled based on a detection result of the density detection area.
US07715740B2
A record medium determining device 1, which determines a kind of a record medium 16 by irradiating a laser light 17 to a surface of the record medium 16, detecting a received light position and a received light intensity of a reflected light 18 by a line sensor 14, and comparing a distribution state of the received light position and the received light intensity with a previously determined distribution state, is disposed on the upstream side of a record medium conveyance path 653 with respect to a fixing unit.
US07715736B2
An image forming apparatus determines process items needed as exchanged components and an order of executing the process items needed for a plurality of kinds of exchanged components based on priority order information of the process items and causes a display unit to control a display for ordering to execute process items needed for the components according to the determined order of execution.
US07715727B2
A system and method for encoding an analog input signal for optical transmission, including driving a voltage controlled oscillator with an analog input signal to produce a frequency modulated electrical signal having a frequency proportional to the amplitude of the input signal, and applying the frequency modulated electrical signal to a multiple quantum well modulating retroreflector. The retroreflector receives optical energy from a laser source and modulates the optical energy with the frequency modulated signal to produce an output optical signal.
US07715725B2
A lock detection apparatus detecting lock of an optical phase-locked loop apparatus including a first phase detector comparing phases of an input light signal and a beat light signal to output a first phase comparison signal, a loop filter forming the first phase comparison signal, and an optical voltage controlled oscillator outputting the beat light signal based on the formed first phase comparison signal. The lock detection apparatus includes: a phase shifter shifting the phase of the beat light signal; and a second phase detector comparing the phases of the input light signal and the phase-shifted beat light signal to output a second phase comparison signal, wherein the phase shifter shifts a quantity of the phase so that the phase comparison signal may not be 0 when the phases of the two light signals compared by the second phase detector synchronize with each other to the beat light signal.
US07715722B1
A scalable, flexible, automated radio frequency distribution system (FORFDS) employs fiber optics to eliminate the need for metallic/coaxial type interconnections between onboard and fixed-site radios and antennas. Key elements of the FORFDS may include, for example, 1) electrical to optical conversion (and vice versa) of RF signals, 2) optical switching, 3) automated control and monitoring, including Ethernet interfaces, and 4) high density packaging. The system is compatible with JTRS (2 MHz to 2000 MHz), is scalable and cost effective (no longer in the laboratory or concept high cost ranges), compared with known technologies.
US07715715B2
A communication network comprising first and second communication paths, and nodes coupled therethrough. Each node comprises first and second switches, each having a first terminal coupled to an end of a first communication path, and a second terminal coupled to an end of a second communication path. Third terminals of the first and second switches are coupled together through at least one third communication path. A Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed device of the node is coupled to an external communication node and a fourth terminal of each switch. A node controller responds to an applied input by controlling at least one switch to cause selective coupling of at least one of (a) first and second nodes together via at least one of the paths, and (b) the external communication node and at least one of the first and second nodes via at least one of the paths.
US07715706B2
An imaging apparatus may include an infrared cutoff filter capable of being inserted into and extracted from an incident light path to an image sensing device, and may further include a first detecting unit configured to, when the infrared cutoff filter is off the incident light path to the image sensing device, detect whether the difference between current illuminance of a subject acquired from an image signal of the subject sensed by the image sensing device and a reference value of the illuminance of the subject determined after the infrared cutoff filter was extracted is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, and a filter control unit configured to, when the first detecting unit detects that the difference between the current illuminance and the reference value is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, insert the infrared cutoff filter into the incident light path.
US07715702B2
A lens adapter is disclosed. The lens adapter includes: an adapter ring having a flexible fitting portion and an installation portion in which an optical component is mounted, the fitting portions being fitted over a fitting engagement portion of a lens ring mounted around a lens portion facing a front surface of an imaging apparatus; and a lock ring fitted over an outer surface of the adapter ring, the lock ring being manipulated so as to be moved between a locked position where the lock ring is opposite to the fitting portions fitted over the fitting engagement portion and flexure of the fitting portions is prevented and an unlocked position where the lock ring is retracted from the locked position.
US07715701B2
A system whose most common use is that of inspecting conduits such as sewers, drainage pipes, water, gas and oil conduits. The system comprises the following individual components: a rotary contact assembly, a control unit, a push rod assembly, and a video camera assembly mounted on a carrier. It also includes a video display unit which may be on the carrier or separately provided. Each of these components may be easily disconnected and reconnected so that any failed component can be determined and replaced in the field, yet maintaining the system's integrity against damage from the type of effluent in which it is required to operate. There are novel splices for damaged wires and/or push rods. Such splices are for damage repairs and changes in length of push rod assemblies which can done in the field instead of having to return the entire system to have any repairs made.
US07715695B2
A storage media management apparatus includes a dividing unit 63e that divides a content into a plurality of content parts, a management information generating unit 63c that generates a plurality of pieces of content management information in correspondence to the plurality of content parts, each piece of content management information including (a) reconstruction information for reconstructing the content by concatenating a corresponding content part with the other content parts, and (b) individual information for making the corresponding content part individually usable, a content recording 63d unit 63d that records each content part together with a corresponding piece of content management information onto a different one of the storage media, and a table editing unit 61 that judges whether the content is to be concatenated and made usable, or the content parts are to be individually made usable.
US07715692B2
A technique is provided for reproducing information from a recording medium, on which there are recorded a plurality of picture information sets; presentation time values, each associated with a corresponding one of the picture information sets; picture information record marks, each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the presentation time values; clip information specifying what position on the recording medium is associated with each of the presentation time values; and reproducing order specifying information which specifies in what order the picture information sets are to be reproduced. Picture information is reproduced through the steps of detecting the presentation time value of a picture information set to be retrieved from the corresponding picture information record mark; using said clip information to detect the recording position on the recording medium which corresponds to the detected presentation time value; and reproducing picture information from the detected recording position.
US07715689B2
A receiving system and a receiving device are provided for receiving and processing broadcast digital and analog signals such as video and audio programs. The system and device are capable of determining whether a received program is subject to copy prohibition. If the program is subject to copy prohibition, the system prevents copying of the program. The system and device are capable of performing timed recording of received programs, including checking the status of the device and/or the recording medium to determine whether timed recording is permitted. Timed recording may be permitted if a selected broadcast receiving device is a registered device.
US07715684B2
A cable exit trough with pivoting cover. The cover having a cover plate and a pivot plate hingedly mounted thereto for easy access to the trough. The exit trough may define an insert aperture for receiving modular cable management inserts. The modular insert providing an additional cable management device such as a curved guidewall. The cable management device may alternatively be fixed to the cable exit trough. Removable snap-mounted flanges may also be included in the exit trough.
US07715683B2
A fiber access terminal includes a drop cable side and a distribution cable side. The sides are separated by a frame to which a variety of cable management and cable connections components may be mounted. Optical fibers are routed from drop and distribution cables through a plurality of routing paths to splice trays for connection to other optical fibers. The terminal includes a base and a dome cover mounted to the base defining an enclosed interior. Passageways between the base and the dome cover are closed by removable covers to limit moisture and animals from accessing an interior of the dome cover. A tether connects the removable covers to the frame. The removable covers include one or more break out regions configured for being removed to receive one or more cables.
US07715671B2
The invention relates to an asymmetric Mach Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) having a reduced drive voltage, coupled to a compact low-loss arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) to provide a broader passband with low ripple. The integrated device has a compact stackable design for improved manufacturing yield. Inputs and outputs of the device are disposed in alignment on opposite sides of a silicon chip with the MZI having an opposite curvature to the AWG. To achieve this alignment, waveguide arms of the MZI are crossed without coupling between them before the optical signal is combined and coupled into the AWG.
US07715670B2
A bidirectional fiber-optic transceiver with lower optical loss than previous beam-splitters or fiber couplers and a method of implementing the same. Preferably, the transceivers can operate in both directions using a single-wavelength of electromagnetic radiation.
US07715651B2
A system and method processes original digital numbers (DNs) provided by a satellite imaging system to produce a set of spectral balanced and contrast enhanced multispectral images. Spectral balancing is achieved based on physical characteristics of sensors of the imaging system as well as compensation for atmospheric effects. The DNs in the multispectral bands may be processed using a relatively small amount of processing resources otherwise required to produce such images. Such images may be processed completely automatically and provide relatively easy visual interpretation. Each image pixel may be, for example, in an 8-bit or 16-bit format, and the image may be displayed and/or printed without applying any additional color correction and/or contrast stretches.
US07715646B2
A system and method are provided for unified visual measurement of blur and noise distortions in digital image data, the system including a processor, an input adapter in signal communication with the processor for receiving digital image data, a visual discrimination model (VDM) simulation unit in signal communication with the processor, a just noticeable difference (JND) analysis unit in signal communication with the processor, and a JND selection unit in signal communication with the processor; and the method including receiving digital image data, simulating a single-ended VDM, analyzing individual JND channels, including the responses of the highest spatial frequency channel(s), and selecting a reference JND level corresponding to low noise and blur distortions.
US07715644B2
An image calibration method according to the present invention includes the steps of receiving a calibration request from a user terminal 20 (S10), receiving a calibration object image photographed in accordance with an instruction for calibration photographing (S16), performing a calibration process using the received calibration object image (S26), receiving a subject image photographed by a camera 2, transmitted from the user terminal 20 (S30), performing a calibration on the subject image in accordance with results of the calibration process to form a corrected subject image (S32), and returning the formed corrected subject image to the user terminal 20 (S34).The present invention allows acquisition of a corrected subject image in which distortions due to the camera lens are corrected even for those unskilled in three-dimensional measurement based on the principle of the stereo method, precise two-dimensional measurement, and precise image formation.
US07715641B2
The present invention includes a method to use a phase modulating micromirror array to create an intensity image that has high image fidelity, good stability through focus and good x-y symmetry. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.
US07715638B2
The invention relates to a method as well as a system, a device, an encoder and a decoder, and a computer software product for image processing by the method. In the invention, the number of bits is limited in the bit string of a pixel to be processed, wherein the pixel is encoded with the limited number of bits. A prediction value corresponding to said pixel is searched for. If it is found, the difference between the pixel and the prediction value is determined, to select the method for encoding the bit string of said pixel. Also, a code word is encoded in the bit string, to indicate the selected encoding method. If the prediction value is missing, the number of bits in said pixel is limited by quantizing. By means of the invention, a fixed number of bits is obtained for all encoded pixels in an image.
US07715636B2
A decoding apparatus includes a random-number generating section and a decoding section. The random-number generating section generates random numbers according to distribution of original data corresponding to respective quantization indexes. The decoding section generates decoded data on a basis of the random numbers generated by the random-number generating section.
US07715633B2
The present invention comprises, in order to allow recognition of content of information indicated in a medium accurately, based on an image data obtained by reading a medium, an extraction unit for extracting each of plural information items from an image data obtained by reading a medium in which each of plural information items satisfying a predetermined relationship is indicated in plural areas, a recognition unit for recognizing content of each of plural information items, and a confirmation unit which evaluates whether or not content of plural information items recognized by the recognition unit is correct based on the predetermined relationship, and confirms content of plural information items as recognized by the recognition unit if correct, and executes correction of recognition content recognized by the recognition unit if incorrect, based on the predetermined relationship, to confirm content of plural information items.
US07715632B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for recognizing a specific subject from a still image or a moving image at a high speed. An object of the apparatus and the method is to reduce the amount of information required for image recognition. One feature vector value is extracted by using one feature template for dividing an image into a plurality of areas, and learning and image recognition is performed with respect to a subject to be recognized in the image using the extracted feature vector value.
US07715628B2
Precise grayscale character segmentation apparatus and method. The precise grayscale character segmentation apparatus comprises an adjustment and segmentation unit for adjusting and segmenting an inputted low resolution text line image undergone coarse segmentation, so as to generate an adjusted character image; a character image binarization unit for generating a binary character image from the character image inputted therein; a noise removal unit for removing noise information in the binary character image generated by the binarization unit; and a final character image segmentation unit for generating a precisely segmented character image from the binary character image from which noise has been removed.
US07715621B2
A method of representing a group of images comprises determining the values of one or more dominant colours for the group of images and deriving a dominant colour representation expressing the group of images in terms of one or more of said dominant colour values.
US07715615B2
A test assembly is used to determine a characteristic of a separator sheet. The test assembly includes a source of light to illuminate at least a portion of the separator sheet. The test assembly also includes a vision inspection system to record at least one discrete image of the illuminated surface of the separator sheet and apply at least one test to the discrete image to determine the characteristic of the separator sheet.
US07715604B2
A system and method for automatically registering a three dimensional (3D) pre-operative image of an anatomical structure with intra-operative electrophysiological (EP) points of a 3D electro-anatomical (EA) image map of the anatomical structure is disclosed. The pre-operative image is displayed in a first supporting view. The intra-operative EA image map is displayed in a second supporting view. An alignment of the pre-operative image with the intra-operative map is performed by identifying at least one corresponding point on each image. The view of the pre-operative image is integrated with the EA map based on the alignment.
US07715603B2
A method and a device are disclosed for processing available time/phase-dependent primary data sets of a computer tomography of a displaced object, preferably a beating heart, in order to produce an image sequence 3D-recording set records for representing the displacement of an object. The method includes the following steps: calculating and representing of a 3D reference display of any particular orientation in relation to any particular displacement phase of an available present primary data sequence of a CT-scan, determining the desired calculation parameters of the image sequence which is to be calculated, single transfer of the calculation parameter to the calculation process and automatic creation of the entire image sequence with the predetermined calculation parameters.
US07715602B2
There is provided a method for intra-operatively presenting an approximate model of an anatomical structure by collecting a cloud of small surfaces. The cloud of small surfaces is gathered with a registration pointer having an adapted tip capable of making contact with the surface of an anatomical structure and registering the normal at the point of contact.
US07715586B2
The present invention provides a system and method for recommending templates for electronic or online photo albums. In general, digital images are selected to form a photo album. The metadata associated with the digital images is analyzed to provide selection criteria. Using the selection criteria, one or more templates are selected from a template database as recommended templates. One of the recommended templates is selected and applied to the photo album.
US07715581B2
An improved hearing aid and method that employs a combination microphone/speaker, sized to have the microphone inserted within the concha bowl of the outer ear and the speaker is inserted within which the opening of the ear canal such that it does not obstruct the same for more natural hearing.
US07715579B2
A tone control circuit includes a capacitor-resistor circuit; a resistor-capacitor circuit which is connected to the capacitor-resistor circuit; and a variable resistor which is connected between the resistor-capacitor circuit and capacitor-resistor circuit or a connecting point of both circuits. The variable resistor controls tone easily at high and low frequencies without change of the loudness when voice is output.
US07715577B2
Method and system for automatically adjusting a hearing aid. The method includes measuring an acoustic reflectance associated with an ear canal as a function of an incident pressure and an acoustic frequency, processing information associated with the measured acoustic reflectance, determining a reflectance slope based on, at least, information associated with the measured acoustic reflectance, and adjusting, at least, one parameter associated with the hearing aid based on, at least, information associated with the reflectance slope. The reflectance slope is associated with a reflectance component varying with the incident pressure.
US07715573B1
Bandwidth expansion for audio signals by frequency band translations plus adaptive gains to create higher frequencies; use of a common channel for both stereo channels limits computational complexity. Adaptive cut-off frequency determination by power spectrum curve analysis, and bass expansion by both fundamental frequency illusion and equalization.
US07715566B2
An apparatus and a method of automatically compensating a difference between audio signals of an analog broadcast and a digital broadcast depending on a difference of a modulation degree of an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal. The apparatus includes an analog demodulating unit to demodulate an analog audio signal of a tuned analog broadcast channel, a digital demodulating unit to demodulate a digital audio signal of a tuned digital broadcast channel, a switching unit to receive the audio signals from the analog demodulating unit and the digital demodulating unit and to selectively output the received audio signals, an audio amplifying unit to amplify the audio signals output from the switching unit at a predetermined amplification degree, and a central processing unit to control the switching unit to output the audio signal of the digital demodulating unit and to control an amplification degree of the audio amplifying unit as the digital broadcast channel is tuned by a user, to allow the output audio signal of the digital broadcast channel to have the same magnitude as when the corresponding analog broadcast channel is tuned.
US07715563B2
A state vector acquisition technique for a counter-based cryptographic data communication system is disclosed. The acquisition technique facilitates receipt of the state vector components (the short component and the long components) in any chronological order. The state vector components are saved upon receipt, and a counter for each long component is initialized upon receipt of the long component. After receipt of all components, the receiver device constructs a current state vector value based upon the received component values and the long component counter values.
US07715558B2
An encrypted content playback apparatus and a playback method are suitable for content playback from a recording medium having stored thereon both content that is subject to conventional copy protection and content to which DRAM is applied. The recording medium stores information indicating, for each content, whether the content is content subject to conventional copy protection or content to which DRAM is applied. Based on this information, the playback apparatus determines the key to use to decrypt the content.
US07715557B2
The present invention proposes a method for managing rights of subscribers to a pay-television system comprising an access control system to which are connected subscriber management systems each managed by an operator and a plurality of subscriber decoders, said decoders each being equipped with a security module containing the rights for each subscriber allowing him the decryption of encrypted digital data of a stream broadcasted by at least one operator, during a modification of the rights carried out by an operator in the security module of a subscriber, the control access system receives data identifying a subscriber with modification commands of rights of said subscriber coming from a subscriber management system of an operator, generates a management message containing the modified rights and transmits said message to the security module of the subscriber via the stream containing the encrypted data, said method comprising the step of verification of the modifications according the properties and the available resources of the security module and the step of generation of the management message containing the modified rights when the result of the comparison is positive.
US07715556B2
Provided are a key establishment method and system using commutative linear functions. In the method, a server defines a set of linear functions that use elements of a first finite field as coefficients and satisfy a commutative rule, selects a first linear function from the set, and selects a predetermined element from a second finite field. Next, the server selects a second linear function corresponding to each of nodes from the set, generates a predetermined combination function based on the first and second linear functions, generates a value of the second linear function using the selected element as a factor, and transmits the combination function and the value of the second linear function to a corresponding node. Each node receives the value of the second linear function from a server, exchanges the received values with the other nodes, computes a value using the exchanged value as a factor of the combination function, and establishes the computed value as a shared key between the nodes. Therefore, each node can perform key establishment with a small amount of computation and low memory consumption, while guaranteeing end-to-end security.
US07715555B2
In a wireless communication system, a method and system for extending Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) operations for enhanced security are provided. In an AES encryption operation, an initial state may be modified by XORing with an initial modifier before a first processing round and a final state may be modified by XORing with a final modifier after a final processing round. The output of a MixColumns function performed during AES decryption operation rounds may be modified by XORing with a corresponding round modifier. In an AES decryption operation, an initial state may be modified by XORing with a decoded final modifier before a first processing round and a final state may be modified by XORing with a decoded initial modifier after a final processing round. The input of an InvMixColumns function performed during AES decryption operation rounds may be modified by XORing with a corresponding decoded round modifier.
US07715552B2
Included are systems and methods for data authentication. At least one embodiment of a system includes a secure processor configured as a physically secure environment, the secure processor further configured to receive a control word from a headend, the secure processor further configured to encrypt the received control word using a first encryption key. Other embodiments of a system includes a transport processor configured to receive the encrypted control word, the transport processor further configured to decrypt the received control word using a first decryption key, wherein the first decryption key is compatible with the first encryption key.
US07715551B2
A cryptographic system comprising: 1) a first Montgomery-based cryptographic engine that receives a first operand and a second operand and generates a first result and 2) a second Montgomery-based cryptographic engine that receives a first reduced operand derived from the first operand and a second reduced operand derived from the second operand and generates a second result. The second Montgomery-based cryptographic engine operates in parallel with the first Montgomery-base cryptographic engine. The cryptographic system further comprises a comparator for comparing the second result to a first reduced result derived from the first result and generating an error flag if the second result and the first reduced result are different.
US07715549B2
A control block recognizes the other party of the telephone call when both calling and called case. When the user operates the reservation melody key of the key input block while talking over the telephone and the telephone call reservation is directed, the control block retrieves telephone/E-mail memory and judges for the calling melody number whether to be registered. Because calling melody number 1 is registered, music data 1 is read, and the mute is placed “on” so that the voice from mike is not transmitted. When the control block outputs music data 1 to melody generation block, the melody generation block generates the calling melody signal based on music data 1, and transmits it to the other party of the telephone call via modem, sending and receiving block and antenna. Moreover, the control block always observes the control channel specified by the base station while waiting. When detecting the arrival of a call and “4” of the calling melody specification data, the control block judges for caller information transmitted at the same time whether to be registered in telephone/E-mail memory. In this case, the control block displays the caller number and Hanako Yamada of the name because it is registered in memory number 1. In addition, because the calling melody specification data is “4”, “Good news” of the character data corresponding to it is displayed, and “Beautiful Sunday” of music data 4 registered in memory number 4 is performed as a calling melody.
US07715537B2
One embodiment of the present invention facilitates efficient metering in a packet network environment by providing a single metering message, which contains sufficient information to provide the complete call tariff model for a particular call. The media gateway receiving the message can analyze the information provided in the message to determine how to provide metering pulses for all phases of the call, as well as any one-time charges, such as setup and add-on charges. Another embodiment of the invention provides a way for handling fractional pulse counts in an efficient manner. Yet another embodiment facilitates the handling of situations where charge intervals do not divide evenly into the phase duration of the phase associated with the call. In still another embodiment, the amount of information necessary to deliver the parameters of the call tariff model is minimized to reduce the overhead necessary for facilitating the metering process.
US07715527B2
A method of analyzing patterns. The method comprises: receiving a first diffraction pattern; receiving a second diffraction pattern; receiving a third diffraction pattern; determining a similarity between the first and second diffraction patterns; determining a similarity between the first and third diffraction pattern; determining a similarity between the second and third diffraction pattern; and performing hierarchical cluster analysis on the first and second diffraction pattern based on the determined similarity.
US07715523B2
A stereotactic breast biopsy apparatus and system that may comprise an x-ray source, a digital imaging receptor, and a biopsy specimen cassette, wherein the x-ray source is provided with a means for displacing the beam axis of the x-ray source from a working biopsy corridor beam axis to permit an unobstructed illumination of the biopsy specimen and thereby produce biopsy x-ray images directly in the procedure room for immediate analysis. Some examples of the benefits may be, but are not limited to, a more rapid analysis of biopsy specimen digital images, post-processing image capability, and decreased procedure time and diminution of patient bleeding complications and needle discomfort.
US07715522B2
An X-ray CT apparatus inputs information with respect to a target tissue of the object to be discriminated in the tomographic image and inputs an index with respect to correctness of the discrimination, and determines scanning conditions for discriminating the target tissue based on the index.
US07715519B2
An X-ray tube generates X-rays. An X-ray detector detects X-rays generated from the X-ray tube and transmitted through an object to be examined. A rotating frame continuously rotates the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector around the object. A reconstruction unit reconstructs a plurality of first volume data sets with different scan times for the same scan area of the object on the basis of an output from the X-ray detector. An image processing unit generates single second volume data set corresponding to a maximum value, an average value, a median value, or minimum value of the plurality of reconstructed first volume data sets in the temporal direction.
US07715509B2
A receive circuit for receiving a signal transmitted via an electric signal conductor. A first sampling circuit generates a first sample value that indicates whether the signal exceeds a first threshold level, and a second sampling circuit generates a second sample value that indicates whether the signal exceeds a second threshold level. A first select circuit receives the first and second sample values from the first and second sampling circuits and selects, according to a previously generated sample value, either the first sample value or the second sample value to be output as a selected sample value.
US07715501B2
A receive circuit for receiving a signal transmitted via an electric signal conductor. A first sampling circuit generates a first sample value that indicates whether the signal exceeds a first threshold level, and a second sampling circuit generates a second sample value that indicates whether the signal exceeds a second threshold level. A first select circuit receives the first and second sample values from the first and second sampling circuits and selects, according to a previously generated sample value, either the first sample value or the second sample value to be output as a selected sample value.
US07715497B2
A wireless communication system capable of obtaining diversity gain without fail even when the distribution of the reception qualities is large. In a radio transmitter apparatus (100) of the wireless communication system, a repetition/constellation pattern ratio deciding part (113) adjusts the number of constellations to be used by a modulating part (102) and also adjusts the number of replicas of a repetition part (103) in such a manner that the product of the number of constellation patterns to be used by the modulating part (102), that is, the number of outbound symbols to be generated and the number of outbound symbols as replicated by the repetition part (103) becomes equal to the number of outbound symbols generated from a single transmission data notified from a control information extracting part (112).
US07715493B2
Embodiments of a multicarrier transmitter and method of generating an RF signal for transmission are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a multicarrier transmitter generates RF signals for transmission using non-linear switching power amplifiers to amplify outphased switching waveforms allowing the multicarrier transmitter to operate more efficiently than some conventional multicarrier transmitters.
US07715492B2
A transmitter includes a time/frequency-domain converter that converts a time-domain data signal to a frequency-domain data signal of a fixed number; a subcarrier allocator that allocates the obtained frequency-domain data signal to any of subcarriers, the number of which exceeds the fixed number, the subcarriers being allocated in a predetermined transmission frequency band; and a controller that controls the subcarrier allocator to allocate signals other than the data signal to subcarriers in an idle band to which the data signal is not allocated. By this, without the need for a plurality of time/frequency-domain conversion circuits with a large size, such as DFTs, frequency utilization efficiency (data transmission efficiency) is improved.
US07715490B2
A novel sigma delta amplitude modulator having a noise transfer function adapted to shift quantization noise outside at least one frequency band of interest. In one embodiment, the sigma delta amplitude modulator includes a programmable order low pass stage. In a second embodiment, the sigma delta amplitude modulator incorporates comb filtering wherein each comb filter comprises a plurality of fingers to permit greater programmability in the frequency location of notches. A polar transmitter incorporating the sigma delta amplitude modulator is presented that shapes the spectral emissions of the digitally-controlled power amplifier such that they are significantly and sufficiently attenuated in one or more desired frequency bands.
US07715485B1
Communication of data over a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel includes allocating transmission power unequally to the different data streams. The transmission power allocation is performed without regard to a state of a changing channel response of the MIMO channel. A relatively low complexity interference cancelling receiver can therefore decode the data streams.
US07715484B2
The invention relates to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system with PN-sequence. In the synchronization of the invention, both timing offset and frequency offset are estimated and compensated by utilizing a time and frequency synchronization device. In addition, the PN-sequence with the cyclic prefix is added to the OFDM symbol before transmitting. The time and frequency synchronization device of the invention comprises two synchronization circuits from the cyclic prefix and PN-sequence when calculating the timing offset and frequency offset of receiving signal. As a result, the OFDM system of the invention not only has better performance in fading channel, but also has the better bandwidth utilization without extra bandwidth for transmitting the PN-sequence.
US07715483B2
A method of allocating sub-channel signal interleaving patterns to BSs forming a wireless communication system that divides a frequency band into a plurality of sub-carriers and including a plurality of sub-channels, which are a set of predetermined adjacent sub-carriers. The method includes: creating a basic orthogonal sequence having a length identical to a number of the sub-carriers forming the sub-channel; creating a plurality of sequences having a same length as the basic orthogonal sequence by cyclic-shifting the basic orthogonal sequence a predetermined number of times or performing a modulo operation based on a number of the sub-carriers forming the sub-channel, after adding a predetermined offset to the cyclic-shifted basic orthogonal sequence; selecting a predetermined number of sequences corresponding to a number of the BSs from among the plurality of sequences; and allocating the selected sequences as the sub-channel signal interleaving patterns for the BSs.
US07715481B2
System and method for efficient allocation of resources for processing video. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for processing video. The method includes providing a system for processing video. The system is characterized by a known quantity of processing power. The method also includes providing a video file, which is characterized by a plurality of properties. The plurality of properties includes a file type, resolution, bit rate, frame rate, video quality, etc. The video type is associated with a first compression method. The method further includes determining the video type and the first compression method. Additionally, the method includes determining a first usage for the video file. For example, the first usage being associated with the video type. The method further includes decoding the video. Additionally, the method includes determining a residual processing power, which associated with the first usage. The method also includes providing a first plurality of processing modules.
US07715466B1
Presently disclosed is a method for reducing interference in a wireless distributed antenna systems. In an embodiment, interference is reduced by selectively placing a first wireless remote unit in a reduced signal interference mode. A controller sends a signal, such as a reverse link power-down signal, to the first remote unit after detecting less than a threshold incoming signal strength at the first remote unit. In an alternative embodiment, the controller requests that a given remote unit switch to the reduced signal interference mode when the controller is receiving signals from a mobile station through at least two different remote units.
US07715463B2
A simple and robust CTL is used for time tracking of multipath components of a spread spectrum signal transmitted over a wireless multipath fading channel. A digital code-tracking loop includes the implementations of despreading early and late data samples by use of a pseudonoise sequence, an error signal output generated by the despreading, and adjustment for a plurality of on-time, early and late samples, a data rate of a control signal provided as a fractional proportion of a data rate of error signals.
US07715456B2
A semiconductor laser device has at least one semiconductor laser element, a heat sink having a first bearing area, on which the at least one semiconductor laser element bears, a housing upper part and a housing lower part, which, in the interconnected state, can at least partly surround the semiconductor laser element, and also a sealing for the tight connection of housing upper part and housing lower part. The heat sink services as housing lower part.
US07715442B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus, and system of wireless transmission with frame alignment. For example, a method in accordance with demonstrative embodiments of the invention may include synchronizing between a transmitter using a first modulation scheme, which may have multiple frame formats, and a receiver using a second modulation scheme, by calculating a transmission time that aligns an inter frame space start time of the first and second modulation schemes. Other features are described and claimed.
US07715440B2
Different types of media (text, sound, animated images, . . . ) are transmitted to a relay center. According to the invention, this data is split up in terms of common synchronization points (PS0, . . . , PS4), and packets are assembled together combing all of the data of each media type that is defined between identical synchronization points. As a result, each packet contains data that is to be executed simultaneously on the telecommunications terminal. A particular application lies with mobile terminals.
US07715436B1
Transfer of data over UDP is facilitated between at least one application and at least one peer via a network. Data destined for the at least one peer is provided from the at least one application for transmission to the peer via the network. The data is encapsulated into UDP segments, which may further be fragmented according to packet size or application level framing constraints. Modulation event tokens are managed, and protocol processing of the data with the at least one peer is based in part on a result of the modulation event tokens managing such that data is caused to be transmitted to the at least one peer via the network nominally with desired data transmission rate characteristics. A result of the modulation event processing step is fed back to the to the modulation event tokens managing.
US07715431B1
The invented method and apparatus include a transport mechanism for transporting a non-V.42, e.g. a V.14 or synchronous modem, data stream in a modem relay connection utilizing the standard V.14 raw or character mode, the transport mechanism including a rate-control mechanism for substantially speed-matching the end-to-end flow of data. Preferably, speed-matching is based on a calculated effective data rate—which takes into account various character and link framing and compression overhead—rather than a physical layer rate. Rate-control methods include the use of receive not ready (RNR) to control data flow in a V.42 leg of a mixed non-V.42 and V.42 connection, a single leaky bucket technique and effective data rate-matching. Also proposed is a lossless compression mechanism (e.g. run-length encoding (RLE)) for encoding a data bit stream into modem relay packets. An auto-detection method on the non-V.42 leg in the character mode is proposed for determining character size to enable extraction and packetizing thereof for modem relay transmission.
US07715430B2
The modulation indication bit is interpreted as a QPSK/xQAM modulation indication if both the user equipment and the serving cell support 64QAM modulation, such that if QPSK is indicated, the 7 code-set information bits in the HS-SCCH part 1 structure is interpreted as is presently interpreted today as defined in the 3GPP release 5 specification, and if xQAM is indicated, the 7 code-set information bits in the HS-SCCH part 1 structure is interpreted such that only 6 bits are used for code information and one bit is stolen for use for the 16QAM/64QAM selection.
US07715427B2
In a method for carrying out cyclic and conflict-free data communication for the subscribers of a data bus, which transmits data in non-overlapping time periods within a subscriber cycle interval and processes jobs, and whose fixed transmission time slots in a planning phase are allocated within the subscriber cycle interval, the task processing for a subscriber is carried out exclusively within an application time interval within the subscriber cycle interval, and in the planning phase the transmission time slots for each subscriber, within a transmission time interval which is disjunct with respect to the application time interval, are selected within the subscriber cycle interval, and the selected transmission time slots are communicated to the subscribers in a subsequent initializing phase.
US07715426B2
Communication performed within a network including a plurality of communication stations is provided, in which when an access control is performed so that communication timing of a packet can not collide with that of another station by detecting a signal which is transmitted from another station, “a header area processed not to become easily an error such as a physical layer header portion of a packet” which is transmitted from a communication station is made to have at least information which is required for extracting information in a payload of the packet and a field for controlling an access reservation of transmission of a packet which is generated as a result of transmission of another packet so that processing using the field can be performed.
US07715419B2
An architecture for a line card in a network routing device is provided. The line card architecture provides a bi-directional interface between the routing device and a network, both receiving packets from the network and transmitting the packets to the network through one or more connecting ports of a network interface. A high priority buffer and a low priority buffer can be assigned to each port of the network interface. The network interface can perform packet prioritization through buffer selection based on priority. High priority packets will be transmitted to an ingress packet processor before low priority packets for a given port.
US07715418B2
A method and apparatus for ensuring QoS in a synchronous Ethernet bridge are disclosed, in which a classifier classifies an ingress packet according to a PHB mapped to a DSCP value of the packet and provides the classified packet to one of a predetermined synchronous packet queue and a predetermined asynchronous packet queue, a buffer queue with a plurality of queues mapped to priority levels buffers the classified packet, a marker marks the buffered packet as a synchronous packet or, if the buffered packet is an asynchronous packet, marks the packet in a predetermined format corresponding to a priority level of the packet, and a synchronous Ethernet scheduler schedules the marked packet.
US07715417B2
A technique is disclosed that enables the adaptive pooling of M transmission paths that offer a first signal-quality guarantee, or no guarantee at all, with N transmission paths that offer a second signal-quality guarantee. Through this adaptive pooling, a telecommunications channel is created that meets the quality of service or waveform quality required for a packet stream being transmitted, while not excessively exceeding the required quality. The technique adaptively recaptures any excess signal quality from one path and uses it to boost the quality of an inferior path. A node of the illustrative embodiment selects the paths to handle a current segment of source packets, based on one or more parameters that are disclosed herein. The node adapts to changing conditions by adjusting the transmission characteristics for each successive segment of packets from the source packet stream.
US07715416B2
A method for processing packets. The method includes receiving a first packet, wherein the first packet is associated with a first protocol, classifying the first packet using a protocol associated with the first packet, sending the first packet to a first receive ring based on the classification, sending the first packet from the first receive ring to a first virtual network interface card (VNIC) based on an operating mode, sending the first packet from the first VNIC to a first protocol specific virtual network stack (VNS), wherein the first protocol specific VNS is configured to only process packets associated with the first protocol, and processing the first packet by the first protocol specific VNS to obtain a first processed packet.
US07715413B2
A multi-network exchange system has a first type network (PSTN) and a second type network (Internet) and a multi-network exchange bridge in communication with the first and second type networks for the transfer of electronic information signals (telephone calls) between the first and second type networks. The multi-network exchange bridge apparatus facilitates transfer of electronic information signals to a portable access device or a gateway portal in communication with a node of one of second type networks from the first network. The multi-network exchange bridge has at least one multi-network instantiation device that enables the portable access device to function as a remote extension of the multi-network exchange bridge. A fixed address translation device provides conversion of a first address fixedly describing a node of the first type network to a second address or third address virtually describing nodes of the second type network.
US07715411B2
A controller controls exchange of data between a plurality of storage units based on transfer rates of the storage units and a fixed rate. If at least one of the transfer rates of a transfer-source storage unit and a transfer-destination storage unit are different than the fixed rate, the controller accumulates a certain amount of data, and outputs accumulated data to the transfer-destination storage unit at the transfer rate of the transfer-destination storage unit so that data is transferred from the transfer-source storage unit to the transfer-destination storage unit at apparently at the fixed rate.
US07715404B2
A method and apparatus that controls a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) decoder in a communication device is disclosed. The method may include determining if a packet has been received, and if a packet has been received, determining if a receive error has occurred, and if a receive error has not occurred, setting a counter that counts a number of sequential bad frames to a value of zero, decoding the received packet, and sending the decoded packet to an audio queue for presentation to a user of the communication device.
US07715397B2
An embodiment of a method, system, and structure communicating messaging data in a header of a packet are provided. The data structure includes a data packet comprising a header and a payload, wherein part of the header includes first and second data portions, wherein the first data portion indicates a type of message encoded in the second data portion, and wherein the second data portion includes message data. An embodiment of a method includes encoding a communications message, which would otherwise be inclusive in a payload portion of a packet into a portion of a header of a packet, encoding an indication that indicates a type of messaging that said messaging is, and facilitating the communication of the packet to a destination.
US07715393B2
A system and method for processing information transport elements, such as ethernet packets, at interfaces to a forwarder. Modules that implement processing logic are allocated per interface and per direction (i.e., inbound or outbound). At any given interface, a series of modules would be used to process inbound packets; likewise, a set of modules would be used to process outbound packets. For inbound packets, the modules allocated for inbound processing are executed when the packet is received from the interface, before sending the packet on to the forwarder. For packets that are outbound from the forwarder, the modules allocated for outbound processing are applied when the packet is sent by the forwarder, prior to any other processing, e.g., queuing to hardware. To assign modules to different interfaces at a forwarder, a registration process is performed during the system start-up process, or dynamically at runtime. For any given interface and direction, modules can be prioritized, so that a packet is processed sequentially in a specific order, one module after the other.
US07715391B1
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a way to provide optimal delivery of multicast content by retail ISPs in a wholesale aggregation network environment. A broadband network gateway dynamically informs an access node of a mapping between a multicast domain corresponding to the retail service provider, allowing the gateway to send multicast data to the access node for replication to subscribers instead of replicating the multicast data at the gateway. The gateway dynamically informs the access node of the mapping using a standardized access node control protocol. The gateway can also dynamically instruct the access node to update or delete the mapping.
US07715389B2
A network element provides multicast/broadcast support. The network element is configured to process streams which are transported by a media access control layer, wherein the streams use separate multicast bursts, and to process streams which are transported on an internet protocol. Each of the streams transported by the media access control layer comprises a related connection identity, and each of the streams transported on an internet protocol comprises a related internet protocol flow, wherein a mapping is present between a connection identity and an internet protocol flow for each stream.
US07715387B2
A hospital bed, patient/nurse call system, and a hospital network are provided. Communication is provided over a packet based communication network.
US07715384B2
A network device for selecting a port from a trunk group to transmit a unicast packet on the selected port. The network device includes at least one trunk group including a plurality of physical ports. The network device also includes a table with a plurality of entries. Each entry is associated with one trunk group and includes a plurality of fields that are associated with ports in the trunk group. Each entry also includes a hash field that is used to select bits from predefined fields of an incoming unicast packet to obtain an index bit for accessing one of the plurality of fields. The network device transmits the unicast packet to a port associated with an accessed one of the plurality of fields.
US07715383B2
According to an embodiment, previous data group input time is subtracted from current data group input time in order to obtain a difference time each time a data group is input. The difference time is subtracted from a packet transmission interval in order to obtain an interval difference. The interval difference is added to a total difference time. If the total difference time is not greater than the first predetermined value, then the input data group is transmitted as a packet. Otherwise, the input data group is discarded and the total difference time is initialized to a value obtained by subtracting the packet transmission interval from the first predetermined value, if the total difference time is greater than the first predetermined value.
US07715382B2
The SoftRouter architecture separates the implementation of control plane functions from packet forwarding functions. In this architecture, all control plane functions are implemented on general purpose servers called the control elements (CEs) that may be multiple hops away from the forwarding elements (FEs). A network element (NE) or a router is formed using dynamic binding between the CEs and the FEs. The flexibility of the SoftRouter architecture over conventional routers with collocated and tightly integrated control and forwarding functions results in increased reliability, increased scalability, increased security, ease of adding new functionality, and decreased cost.
US07715381B2
A method and apparatus for routing and forwarding between virtual routers is described. A method in a single network element comprises peering a first virtual router to a second virtual router, wherein the first and second virtual routers have separate address spaces and separate routing tables, distributing a set of one or more routes from the first virtual router to the second virtual router, wherein a first of the set of routes identifies the first virtual router as a next hop of the first route, said first route including a destination, and downloading to a set of one or more forwarding tables, the destination and the next hop.
US07715377B2
A matrixed memory array device is disclosed that includes input ports and output ports. Each input port is coupled to a first data bus and each output port is coupled to a second data bus that is different and separate from the first data bus. A memory brick is placed at each cross-point between first data buses and second data buses so as to switchably couple frames of data from input ports to output ports. Each memory brick contains a plurality of eight transistor (8-T) memory cells that can be used to store, erase, read, write, and switchably couple a data bit from the input port to a corresponding output port.
US07715372B2
During communication over the network, periods of silence may exist. During these periods, the system may enable a user at a user terminal to select a type of comfort signal to be played. The system may monitor transmission to detect periods of silence. The system may adapt the monitored transmission by adding the selected comfort signal during the periods of silence, as background noise, or during periods of silence and as background noise.
US07715369B1
A backplane having a switch card interface and an adapter card interface where the switch card interface has input/outputs in an arrangement that functionally mate to a networking layer system switch card and a physical layer system switch card. The adapter card interface is coupled to the switch card interface. The adapter card interface has input/outputs in an arrangement that functionally mates to a networking layer system adapter card and a physical layer system adapter card. A method that involves forming a first and second backplane according to a manufacturing process, integrating the first backplane into a networking layer system switch, and integrating the second backplane into a physical layer system switch.
US07715365B2
Disclosed is a communication vocoder. An encoder and a decoder in a first format, and a decoder in a second format are formed in the communication vocoder. The encoder in the first format encodes voice signals into voice packets in the first format, and the decoder in the first format decodes the voice packets in the first format into voice signals. When voice packets in the second format are input to the communication vocoder, the decoder in the second format decodes the voice packets in the second format into voice signals. The decoders in the first and second formats are formed as subroutines in the communication vocoder.
US07715364B2
The present invention is directed toward, a data sink/data source data transmission device and data terminal device for a circuit-switched and packet-switched network, the ability to eliminate the logical separation between applications, which are based on the circuit-switched network (e.g., PSTN, ISDN), and applications, which are based on the packet-switched network, (e.g., Internet). To this end, a data transmission device for transmitting and receiving data into/from the circuit-switched network includes controllable switchover parts. This data transmission device is or can be assigned to a universally useable unit for automatically processing data and for transmitting and receiving data to/from the packet-switched network and is assigned or can be assigned to the at least one data terminal device for transmitting and receiving data into/from the circuit-switched network. The switch-over parts can be controlled in such a manner that the data terminal device which, in a first operating mode is connected to the circuit-switched device, can be switched from the first operating mode into a second operating mode, during which the data terminal device is connected to the packet-switched network via the data transmission device and the data processing device, and from the second operating mode into the first operating mode.
US07715363B1
The present invention relates to the networking of a large number of endpoints using a high bandwidth optical backbone. The large number of endpoints, which may be thousands or more in number, connect through a local access telecommunications networks to points of presence. From each point of presence, the connection with the endpoints are routed directly to an optical node, which provides access to and from the high bandwidth optical backbone. No intermediate network layer is employed between the point of presence and the optical node, thereby reducing network complexity, increasing network stability, and eliminating limitations on bandwidth available to the endpoints imposed by an intermediate network layer and communications protocols employed therein.
US07715362B1
A device stores forwarding information associated with fragments of a first data unit, stores information common to the fragments of the first data unit, receives fragments of a second data unit, and forwards the fragments of the second data unit based on the forwarding information of the first data unit and the information common to the first data unit.
US07715361B2
In a communication system, a first Downlink (DL) signal to be commonly received by all Mobile Stations (MSs) at a Base Station (BS) is generated. A second DL signal that all the MSs do not need to commonly receive is generated. The first DL signal is applied to an interference cancellation scheme. The first DL signal is transmitted in a first time interval. The second DL signal is transmitted in a second time interval.
US07715360B2
The present invention relates to communicating control information in a mobile communication system, by which new control information can be transmitted more quickly. The present invention comprises transmitting a first data block comprising control information for transmitting first data when no resources for the transmission of the first data are available, receiving second data from an upper layer to be transmitted, wherein the second data has a higher priority than the first data, and transmitting a second data block comprising updated control information for transmitting the first and second data when no resources for the transmission of the first and second data are available.
US07715356B2
A mobile user terminal 402 accesses a packet data network 450 through one or more of several network access points 404-412. One or more control points 432-440 determines which network access point or points the user terminal is to access. Control may be retained in the current control point, or transferred to another control point, whenever it is convenient. There are preferably several routers, each having an associated home agent 418-420 which determines which foreign agents need to be accessed on behalf of each user terminal. There are several foreign agents 422-430, which forward packets received from a user terminal's home agent to the control point currently controlling communications with the user terminal.
US07715354B2
A method and a system for using the method are provided. The method and system allow a low power device having an asymmetric link to access a wireless network to exchange beacons with any one of a plurality of normal power devices in the wireless network. The method includes the steps of confirming whether the low power device has the asymmetric link with the normal power device, when the low power device receives a beacon of the low power device based on the received beacon; negotiating with at least one relay device so that the low power device requests a relay with respect to the asymmetric link, when the low power device has an asymmetric link with the normal power device; and at least one relay device noting a result of the negotiation to the low power device and a normal power device with which the low power device is intending to communicate, based on the result of the negotiation.
US07715344B2
A method and apparatus for providing new configurations for transmitting control information between a mobile terminal and a network using a common control channel (CCCH) logical channel/transport channel. The new configurations enable messages to be sent that are larger than currently allowed and the availability of the new configurations is indicated such that mobile terminals that do not support the new configurations are not impacted.
US07715333B2
A method in a mobile wireless communication device capable of receiving a paging message transmitted in a series of bursts over successive time frames including receiving (210) not more than one burst of an incoming paging message, determining (220) whether the incoming paging message corresponds to a known paging message, and (230) reducing power consumption of radio circuits of the mobile wireless communication device during time frames when other bursts would be received if the incoming paging message corresponds to the known paging message. If the incoming data does not correspond to the known data, additional burst are received and decoded.
US07715330B2
In a network having nodes, N nodes are members of a virtual communications ring for multicast communication among the N nodes, each of the N nodes being associated with only an upstream and a downstream one of the other N nodes. One of the N nodes manages changes in ring membership, including requesting the others of the N nodes to participate in measuring distances to a N+1th, node responsive to receiving an insertion request message. The manager node inserts the N+1th node in the communications ring responsive to receiving replies, which includes inserting the N+1th node in a selected location between two selected ones of the N nodes, such that the N nodes and the N+1th node are enabled to multicast messages around the ring. Due to the selected location of the N+1th node, communication distances for muticasted messages tend to be shorter than such distances that would otherwise occur.
US07715325B2
A home network system which can efficiently configure a new home appliance in the home network system. The home network system includes at least one new device newly connected to a master device through a network, for transmitting a plugged-in request message containing an initial address through the network, receiving an address change request message containing a logical address, and changing the initial address to the logical address, and at least one master device connected to the new device through the network, for receiving the plugged-in request message from the new device, setting the logical address for the new device, and transmitting the address change request message containing the logical address to the new device, wherein the initial address comprises at least a product code and a logical address of the new device, and the new device changes the logical address to the logical address set by the master device.
US07715320B2
A method, PT client device and PT server device for controlling transmission of media data, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes starting, by a PT server, a timer when a media burst revoke message is transmitted to a PT client; stopping, by the PT server, the timer before the timer expires when last media data and a media burst release message are received from the PT client; and transmitting, by the PT server, a media burst idle message to the PT client when the timer is stopped.
US07715309B2
A system and method are disclosed for reliable communications in a packet network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a controller programmed to establish between first and second customer edge (CE) routers in a full mesh packet network first and second logical data tunnels conforming to an isolation protocol, synchronize packet data in the first and second logical data tunnels, enable packet data exchanges between the first and second CE routers over the first logical data tunnel, direct the first and second CE routers to duplicate the packet data exchanged between them over the second logical data tunnel, and direct the first and second CE routers to synchronously switch to the second logical data tunnel upon detecting a fault in the first logical data tunnel.
US07715307B2
Communication connection control systems and methods are disclosed. If a control failure recovery function is to be enabled for a data communication connection established by a communication connection controller by communicating control information with a remote controller, an indication that the control failure recovery function is supported at the controller is included in the control information communicated with the remote controller. Each of the controller and the remote controller may support, for example, either or both of a local control information recovery function or a resynchronization function to reduce the amount of time that the data connection is interrupted during a temporary failure of one of the controllers.
US07715306B2
Provided is a multi-layer restoration method using a LCAS (Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme) in a synchronous network having a mesh structure. The method includes: performing a hardware restoration method if a network failure is detected; performing a pre-planned restoration method if the network failure is not repaired by performing the hardware restoration method; determining whether channels that pass along a line where the network failure occurs use the LCAS if the network failure is not repaired by performing the pre-planned restoration method; and applying the LCAS to the channels if the channels are determined to use the LCAS, and performing a dynamic restoration method if the channels are not determined to use the LCAS. The multiplayer restoration method minimizes data loss due to an increase in restoration time and overcomes service disconnection caused by failure to obtain a spare channel.
US07715304B2
According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the second light reflecting layer is larger than the thickness of the first light reflecting layer.
US07715302B2
An optical element for use in an optical pickup apparatus includes a substrate made of resin; an antireflection layer coating the substrate and having a low refractive index layer and a high refractive index layer, wherein the resin includes a polymer with an alicyclic structure, the low refractive index layer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide; aluminum fluoride; yttrium fluoride; magnesium fluoride; a mixture of silicon oxide and aluminum oxide; and a mixture thereof, the high refractive index layer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of scandium oxide; niobium oxide; lanthanum oxide; praseodymium titanate; lanthanum titanate; lanthanum aluminate; yttrium oxide; hafnium oxide; zirconium oxide; tantalum oxide; a mixture of tantalum oxide and titanium; silicon nitride; and a mixture thereof.
US07715294B2
An optical recording and reproducing apparatus includes a recording-pulse-shift setting unit that shifts a front edge and a rear edge of a recording pulse and sets a write strategy of the recording pulse, an mark-edge-position evaluating unit that detects a front edge and a rear edge of a mark formed and detects a front mark edge position error and a rear mark edge position error, an assuming unit that assumes that the front mark edge position error is represented by a first linear function and assumes that the rear mark edge position error is represented by a second linear function, a sensitivity calculating unit that executes test recording and calculates sensitivities, and a write-strategy calculating unit that calculates a write strategy of the recording pulse on the basis of the sensitivities.
US07715285B2
An information recording medium is provided with a plurality of information recordable recording layers, and a spiral or concentric tracks are formed on each of the plurality of recording layers. At least a portion of each track has wobbles corresponding to a wobble signal that includes layer information for discriminating the recording layer formed with the track.
US07715284B2
A cassette library apparatus and a posture control method thereof are provided. A swing arm (16a) is capable of chucking or releasing a cassette (1) by getting into a recessed part (10a) of the cassette (1) and getting out of the recessed part (10a) when a swing frame (34) swings up and down. The apparatus includes a swing mechanism (47, 48) for swinging the swing frame (34) and the swing arm (16a), a stepping motor (45) for driving the swing mechanism (47, 48), a device (51, 52) which detects the swing arm (16a) being in a specific posture, and a device (55) which detects the posture of the swing arm (16) by counting a number of pulses supplied to the stepping motor (45) when the posture of the swing arm (16a) is changed from the specific posture by drive of the stepping motor (45).
US07715279B2
A time correction device has a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites orbiting the Earth; a time correction information storage unit that stores time correction information for correcting time information produced by a time information generating unit; and a time information correction unit for correcting the time information based on the time correction information. The satellite signals are transmitted by individual positioning information satellites, and contain a time-related information part denoting time-related information that is kept by each satellite, and a satellite information part denoting satellite information other than the time-related information. The time correction information is generated based on the time-related information. The reception unit receives the satellite signal during the signal period in which the time-related information part can be received, and does not receive the satellite signal during the signal period in which the satellite information part can be received.
US07715278B2
An alarm clock device includes a monitor for monitoring a transmission of a selected station, a detector for detecting, in the transmission of the selected station, at least one milestone. A controller operating in response to detection of the milestone is provided to store, in a memory, data of the transmission after the milestone was detected, and to initiate playing of the data at a selected wakeup time. According to the present invention, the data is recorded in response to detecting a transmission of a selected station selected from a plurality of stations.
US07715276B2
A presence detection system for level crossing or to detect a target at the intersection of any paths is described herein. The system comprises an ultrasound sensor array positioned at the intersection of the first and second paths for defining a detecting area thereon and for emitting a first trigger signal when the body is in the detecting area; and a controller coupled to the ultrasound sensor array for receiving the first trigger signal and for emitting an alarm signal indicative of the first trigger signal. The sensor array detects the presence of a target by creating acoustic virtual lines which form between emitter and receiver or transducer and reflectors and/or by deploying conical or parallel detecting beams and which can be used, for example to measure the distance between each sensor forming the array and the target. The sensor array can deploy beams or acoustic lines in several plans and therefore allow detecting penetration above the conventional railway crossing barriers.
US07715255B2
Memory die are provided with programmable chip enable circuitry to allow particular memory die to be disabled after packaging and/or programmable chip address circuitry to allow particular memory die to be readdressed after being packaged. In a multi-chip memory package, a memory die that fails package-level testing can be disabled and isolated from the memory package by a programmable circuit that overrides the master chip enable signal received from the controller or host device. To provide a continuous address range, one or more of the non-defective memory die can be readdressed using another programmable circuit that replaces the unique chip address provided by the pad bonding. Memory chips can also be also be readdressed after packaging independently of detecting a failed memory die.
US07715244B2
A non-volatile register includes a memory element. The memory element comprises a first end and a second end. The non-volatile register includes a register logic connected with the first and second ends of the memory element. The register logic is positioned below the memory element. The memory element may be a two-terminal memory element configured to store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles that can be non-destructively determined by applying a read voltage across the two terminals. New data can be written to the two-terminal memory element by applying a write voltage of a predetermined magnitude and/or polarity across the two terminals. The two-terminal memory element retains stored data in the absence of power. A reference element including a structure that is identical or substantially identical to the two-terminal memory element may be used to generate a reference signal for comparisons during read operations.
US07715234B2
A selected word line that is coupled to cells for programming is biased with an initial programming voltage. The unselected word lines that are adjacent to the selected word line are biased at an initial Vpass. As the quantity of program/erase cycles on the memory device increases, the programming voltage required to successfully program the cells decreases incrementally. Vpass tracks the decrease of the programming voltage.
US07715233B2
A non-volatile memory device is provided. In an aspect, the non-volatile memory device includes two or more common source lines that are included in one memory cell block in order to distribute the current that could have been concentrated on one common source line. As a result, the bouncing phenomenon generated by the nose of the source line can be reduced. That is, at the time of a verifying operation performed during a program operation, the current concentrated on a common source line can be distributed and, therefore, the occurrence of under-programmed cells can be prevented.
US07715227B2
A read only memory implemented as a 3D integrated device has a first stratum, a second stratum, and bonded inter-strata connections for coupling the first stratum to the second stratum. The physical bonding between the two strata implements the programming of the read only memory. The stratum may be in wafer form or in die form. The first stratum includes functional active devices and at least one non-programmed active device. The second stratum includes at least conductive routing to be associated with the at least one non-programmed active device. The bonded inter-strata connections include at least one bonded programmable inter-strata connection for programming the at least one non-programmed active device and for providing conductive routing to the programmed active device. The two strata thus form a programmed ROM. Other types of programmable storage devices may be implemented by bonding the two strata.
US07715224B2
An MRAM that is not subject to accidental writing of half-selected memory elements is described, together with a method for its manufacture. The key features of this MRAM are a C-shaped memory element used in conjunction with a segmented bit line architecture.
US07715222B2
A static random access memory (SRAM) circuit includes first SRAM cell and a second SRAM cell that are configured to operate in a shared mode and/or an independent mode. In one example, a shared mode includes the sharing of a memory node of a first SRAM cell. In another example, an independent mode includes isolating a first SRAM cell from a second SRAM cell such that they operate independently.
US07715216B2
A powering circuit of an AC-DC converter, for converting a high AC input voltage into a low DC output voltage to provide a load voltage in a stable DC bias range, includes a rectifier, a sensing circuit, a control switching circuit, and a voltage regulating capacitor. The rectifier has a primary side coupled to an AC power supply and a secondary side for outputting a DC power supply. The sensing circuit compares the AC input voltage with a preset reference voltage, and turns on a second switch in the control switching circuit when the AC input voltage is lower than the reference voltage, thereby providing a low DC output voltage. The control switching circuit sustains the DC output voltage in a stable DC bias range. Therefore, in addition to reducing the power consumption of the second switch, this circuit structure is simple and can achieve the purpose of circuit integration.
US07715213B2
The present disclosure relates to a rack for telecommunications equipment. The rack includes a frame defining a bay opening sized and shaped for receiving a plurality of jack modules. The rack also includes a first set of cable management brackets that define a first vertical channel arranged and configured for receiving and vertically managing a plurality of cross-connect cables. Each of the cable management brackets includes a pivot portion that is pivotally movable relative to the frame. The pivot portions are pivotally movable between first positions in which the pivot portions extend partially across a front of the bay opening, and second positions in which the pivot portions are generally offset from the front of the bay opening. The present disclosure also relates to a rack for telecommunications equipment that includes rear cable management structure that defines a plurality of vertical channels along a back side of the rack. The present disclosure further relates to a telecommunications jack module including an array of jacks arranged in top and bottom horizontal rows. The jack module also includes an array of cross-connect locations positioned beneath the bottom horizontal row of jacks. The array of cross-connect locations is electrically connected to both the top and bottom rows of jacks.
US07715212B2
A printed board includes a printed board body and throwaway boards provided on opposite sides of the printed board body through joining portions spaced away from each other in a longitudinal direction. Bores are provided in areas bridging the joining portions and throwaway boards. The bores can receive guide pins on a conveying unit for carrying the printed board to an electronic element mounting apparatus. The joining portions and throwaway boards can be removed from the printed board body after mounting the electronic elements on the printed board. This structure can minimize a width of a throwaway board and reduce total costs without lowering mounting efficiency of electronic elements in an electronic element mounting step.
US07715206B2
A system comprises a chassis and a system board contained within the chassis. The system board has an edge connector adapted to receive an add-in card in a configuration in which the system board and add-in card are substantially co-planar.
US07715198B2
A package structure of an inverter apparatus includes at least four metal column supports arranged vertically to be spaced apart from each other, and sheet-metal bent beams connecting the column supports in transverse direction and longitudinal direction to form rectangular package structure. The metal column support is an aluminum die-cast support, and the sheet-metal bent beam has a U-shape with sharp edges in cross section.
US07715196B2
A mounting device for chips has a heat sink and at least one clamp. The heat sink has at least one conductive side, two ends, multiple chip units and two connecting bases. The chip units are arranged on the at least one conductive side. The connecting bases are formed on the ends of the heat sink. The at least one clamp is mounted across the at least one conductive side of the heat sink and has two ends, a middle sheet, multiple pressing tabs and two connecting arms. The pressing tabs extend from the middle sheet to press the chip units against the conductive side of the heat sink. The connecting arms are formed respectively on the ends of the clamp and are mounted respectively on the connecting bases.
US07715195B2
The invention relates to an inverter casing, said inverter casing comprising in the bottom at least one depression for receiving heat dissipating electric components, coils in particular.
US07715181B2
In some embodiments, an adapter is configured to couple an electrical component to a slot in a host device. The electrical component can have at least three sides. The adapter including: (a) a first housing piece configured to be coupled to two or more sides of the at least three sides of the electrical component when the adapter is coupled to the electrical component; and (b) a second housing piece coupled to the first housing piece and configured to couple to a first side of the at least three sides of the electrical component. When the adapter is coupled to the electrical component, a portion of the second housing piece can be configured to be located inside the slot in the host device along with the electrical component. When the adapter is coupled to the electrical component and the portion of the second housing piece is located inside the slot in the host device, the first housing piece can be located outside of the slot. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.
US07715179B2
A power supply includes a casing mounted in a computer housing, a power module disposed in the casing, and an electrical socket and a switch module embedded in an exposed side wall of the casing. The switch module includes an operating unit mounted movably in a mounting seat, and operable so as to move among a first position adjacent to the side wall, where two terminal units coupled respectively to the electrical socket and the power module disconnect electrically from each other such that the switch module is in an OFF mode, a second position distal from the side wall, and a third position between the first and second positions, where a conducting member contacts electrically the terminal units such that the switch module is in an ON mode. When the switch module is switched from the ON mode to the OFF mode, the operating unit is moved from the third position to the first position via the second position.
US07715174B1
A metal or metal alloy foil substrate, preferably an unetched and uncoated metal or metal alloy foil substrate, such as but not limited to titanium, palladium, lead, nickel, tin, platinum, silver, gold, zirconium, molybdenum, tantalum, palladium-silver alloy, platinum-rhodium alloy, platinum-ruthenium alloy, and/or platinum-iridium alloy, is used as the cathode in an electrolytic capacitor, preferably an aluminum electrolytic capacitor having a multiple anode flat, stacked capacitor configuration. Despite a 120 Hz bridge capacitance measurement lower than with etched aluminum, the use of an unetched and uncoated metal or metal alloy foil cathode according to the present invention will inhibit gas production and not cause the capacitor to swell. Furthermore, an electrolytic capacitor built with a 30 micron unetched and uncoated foil cathode according to the present invention can deliver a stored to discharge energy ratio sufficient for use in pulse discharge applications, such as an in an ICD.
US07715170B2
Electrostatic clamping devices and methods for reducing contamination to a workpiece coupled to an electrostatic clamping device are disclosed. According to an embodiment an electrostatic clamping device for coupling a workpiece comprises: an embossment portion on a surface of a body to contact the workpiece; and at least two electrodes within the body; wherein the two electrodes are separated by a separation portion below the embossment portion.
US07715168B2
A method and system for proving a solenoid drive circuit. An exemplary solenoid drive circuit comprises a solenoid drive circuit input coupled to a primary switch. The primary switch comprises a first set of contacts residing in a first stable position. A remote control switch is coupled to an output of the primary switch and the remote control switch comprises a solenoid drive circuit having a predetermined delay. The predetermined delay energizes a solenoid after the primary switch contact transitions from a first stable position to a second stable position.
US07715166B2
A permanent magnet degausser includes at least one magnetic field generator comprising magnetic elements arranged near a media conveyance path and a conveyor for transporting magnetic media through a magnetic media conveyance path. A passive belt or protector plate may be provided to assist the passage of the magnetic media through the applied magnetic field. The conveyor may be a continuous motion conveyor belt including cleats for holding the magnetic media or a reciprocal media conveyor including magnetic storage media bin. The magnetic field generator may include permanent magnets of varying intrinsic coercivities and/or remanences.
US07715162B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing electro-static discharge (ESD) protection between a first and a second circuit node. One embodiment of the ESD protection circuit includes one or more steering diodes that generate electromagnetic radiation and couple the first circuit node to ground in response to a voltage applied to the first circuit node. The ESD protection circuit also includes a latch circuit that couples the first circuit node to ground in response to the electromagnetic radiation generated by the steering diode(s).
US07715153B2
A magneto-resistive effect element includes a free layer having a magnetization direction which varies with respect to an external magnetic field; a pinned layer which includes a stacked structure comprising an outer pinned layer which has a magnetization direction that is fixed with respect to the external magnetic field, a non-magnetic intermediate layer which is made of ruthenium with a thickness of about 0.4 nm, and an inner pinned layer with a thickness of 3 nm or more, wherein the inner pinned layer has a magnetization direction which is fixed with respect to the external magnetic field due to anti-ferromagnetic coupling with the outer pinned layer via the non-magnetic intermediate layer; and a spacer layer sandwiched between the free layer and the inner pinned layer. Sense current flows through the pinned layer, the spacer layer, and the free layer substantially in a stacked direction.
US07715149B1
A disk drive includes an actuator rotatably coupled to a disk drive base. A fixed member is in fixed spatial relation to the base. A latch is rotatably coupled to the base. The latch includes a catch portion in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and not in contact the actuator with the latch open. The catch portion comprises a first material. The latch includes a crash stop portion comprising a second material having a lesser stiffness than the first material. The crash stop portion includes a stop portion and a pusher portion. The stop portion is in contact with the fixed member with the latch closed and not in contact with the fixed member with the latch open. The pusher portion is in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position.
US07715143B2
A disk drive controller includes a servo system operable to associate a time stamp with an arrival of a servo wedge, a firmware loop and core PLLs in the read channel. The firmware loop is operable to determine a period between the arrival of a pair of consecutive servo wedges and produce a desired frequency of when to read/write data to disk based on the period between the arrival of a pair of consecutive servo wedges. Processing circuitry is operable to adjust a clock signal, wherein the clock signal itself is not locked to the data and produce a fine control signal for the core PLLs in the read channel. These core PLLs are operable to determine a phase and/or frequency associated with when an analog signal is sampled and/or written to disk, wherein these core PLLs comprises Fractional N Sigma Delta PLLs.
US07715141B2
A magnetic data storage system according to one embodiment includes a head having a reader, the reader further comprising a shield, a sensor, and leads coupled to the sensor; a charge clamp circuit electrically coupling the shield to the leads; and a bias circuit for passing a bias current through the sensor via the leads; wherein the bias circuit maintains a potential of the shields at about a ground potential.
US07715139B2
A write head, which is positioned by reading a servo pattern with a read head, writes data on even tracks of a magnetic disc, and then writes data on odd tracks. Then a read head is positioned on a read position and sequentially reads all the written data. As a result, it is decided whether a read error has occurred. Further, positional deviation of the tracks, in which the read error occurs, is measured.
US07715128B2
A lens barrel includes: an image pickup optical system including a plurality of lenses. The plurality of lenses includes an adjusting lens for a shift adjustment in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the image pickup optical system. The lens barrel further includes a lens frame holding the adjusting lens; and a housing holding the lens frame and including a wall portion. The lens frame comprises a plurality of protrusions coming contact with the wall portion and each of the plurality of protrusions has a protruding amount which differs from the other for correcting a tilt of an optical axis of the adjusting lens.
US07715126B2
An optical recording unit having a compound lens which includes a lens stack. The lens stack encompasses a plurality of lenses, which are inset in a tubular housing. The lens stack includes a spacer ring which accommodates a sealing material or a sealing element and which is braced resiliently against one of the lenses in the tubular housing.
US07715124B2
A lens driving device includes a lens, a moving member that supports the lens, a stationary member that movably supports the moving member, a pitch drive mechanism that drives the moving member in the pitch correction direction, and a yaw drive mechanism that drives in the yaw correction direction. The pitch drive mechanism has first and second magnets provided to the stationary member, and first and second coils provided to the moving member. The yaw drive mechanism has a third magnet provided to the stationary member, and a third coil provided to the moving member. The first and second coils are arranged on opposite sides of the lens when viewed in a third direction that is perpendicular to the pitch and yaw correction directions, and the third coil is arranged on the same side as the first coil with respect to the lens when viewed in the third direction.
US07715122B2
A wide-angle zoom optic system includes: in an order from an object, a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group includes two lens elements. In the zoom optic system, the ratio of the distance between the last lens element with respect to the object and an image field at a wide-angle position to a focal length at the wide-angle position is adjusted, so that a compact zoom optic system having a high magnification and a wide viewing angle can be implemented.
US07715119B2
An imaging lens is provided and includes: in order from an object side of the imaging lens, a first lens having a convex surface on the object side and having a positive power; a second lens having a concave surface on the object side and having a negative power; a third lens having a positive power; and a fourth lens having a convex surface on the object side near a paraxial axis and having a meniscus shape. The imaging lens satisfies conditional expressions as specified.
US07715117B2
An optical system includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power. The second lens unit includes a front lens unit, a stop, and a rear lens unit. The front lens unit includes a biconvex positive lens located closest to the image side. A back focus during focusing on an infinitely-distant object point (BF), a focal length of the entire optical system (f), a focal length of the positive lens of the front lens unit located closest to the image side (fp), a focal length of the front lens unit (f2a), a refractive power of a surface of the rear lens unit located closest to the object side (φf), and a refractive power of the entire optical system (φ) satisfy the following conditions: 1.0
US07715091B2
A spatially-fed high-power amplifier comprises one or more shaped reflectors to reflect an initial wavefront, and an active array amplifier to amplify the reflected wavefront to generate a high-power planar wavefront. The shaped reflectors provide the reflected wavefront with substantially uniform amplitude when incident on the active array amplifier. The initial wavefront may be a substantially spherical wavefront, and the shaped reflectors may compensate for any amplitude taper of the initial wavefront to provide the reflected wavefront with substantially uniform amplitude components for incident on the active array amplifier. In some embodiments, the shaped reflectors may also contour the illumination to fit the shape of the active array amplifier to help minimize spillover.
US07715077B2
A micro mirror device includes a first hinge supported by a substrate, a mirror plate tiltable around the first hinge and having a first set of arms facing the substrate, and a second set of arms on the substrate. The first set of arms and the second set of arms can be interdigitated when the mirror plate is tilted. The micro mirror device includes a first lateral guard on the substrate (or the mirror plate). The first lateral guard can limit movement of the mirror plate to a position in a first direction substantially parallel to an upper surface of the substrate to prevent the first set of arms from contacting the second set of arms when the arms are in the interdigitated position.
US07715058B2
An engraver having a shoe sensor system for sensing a movement of the shoe and for adjusting an engraving signal in response thereto.
US07715055B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an image processing apparatus, system, method, computer program and product, capable of generating verification data for detecting document alteration, generating a protected document embedded with the verification data, and detecting document alteration using the verification data. Other exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an image processing apparatus, system, method, computer program and product, capable of generating verification data for detecting image alteration or document duplication, generating a protected document embedded with the verification data, and detecting image alteration or document duplication using the verification data.
US07715051B2
An image forming apparatus receives printing data including image drawing data and job information specifying a name of an application program used to generate the image drawing data. The apparatus includes: a data analyzer which determines whether the image drawing data were generated by the application program; a data quantity assessor which analyzes the image drawing data to determine a quantity of data to be printed; and an image forming unit which forms an image by a first process if the image drawing data were not generated by the application program or the quantity of data to be printed does not exceed a predetermined threshold, and forms an image by a second process if the image drawing data were generated by the application program and the quantity of data to be printed exceeds the predetermined threshold.
US07715045B2
A method includes scanning a page of a paper document to generate a first digital page image. The method further includes obtaining a second digital page image which corresponds to a second page. The method also includes comparing the first digital page image pixel-by-pixel with the second digital page image to generate a score that indicates a degree to which the first digital page image differs from the second digital page image.
US07715035B2
A system for enabling user interaction with computer software. The system includes a computer system that determines information and an identity, which are at least partially indicative of a text field. The computer system then determines a layout defining an arrangement for coded data indicative of the identity and information, and transfers print data to a printer to thereby cause the printer to print a form by printing the coded data and the information. The coded data is printed to be substantially coincident with the information such that when a sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the information, the sensing device can sense the coded data and generate indicating data at least partially indicative of the text field.
US07715033B2
When the function of a printer has been changed, the printer notifies a DSC of a change in printer function using a capabilityChanged tag. If the DSC does not return any inquiry about the capabilityChanged tag, the printer determines that the DSC has no function that supports the capabilityChanged tag. The printer executes disconnection and re-connection of USB to execute a communication procedure with the DSC from the beginning, thereby notifying the DSC of the latest capability information in the printer.
US07715032B2
A method (100), a system and, a computer program product for bulk communication of information to recipients via multiple delivery media are disclosed. The media include facsimile, email, surface mail, SMS messaging, and archiving (and is adapted for new media types in the future). A single interface is used to receive information (106, 108, 110) for distribution including one or more template documents (110) and data (106) specific to each recipient. At least one document based on the received information (106, 108, 110) is transmitted using a specified delivery media (144, 150, 156, 162, 168) for each recipient based on the recipients' delivery preferences (122, 176). Escalating (172, 178) transmission of the document may occur using a different delivery media for any recipients for whom transmission by the specified delivery media fails. The escalating step (172, 178) may depend upon status information (176) from a carrier regarding delivery of the document to each recipient.
US07715029B2
A printing support system for reducing an environmental load that changes an input load of a print operation depending on data representing the environmental load includes: an environmental load calculation basis information storage unit that stores environmental load calculation basis information used to calculate the data representing the environmental load; a print request input unit through which a print request including a print setting is input; an environmental load calculation unit that calculates the data representing the environmental load on the basis of the print request input by the print request input unit and the environmental load calculation basis information stored in the environmental load calculation basis information storage unit; a print operation input unit through which a print operation for instructing to start printing is input; and a determination unit that, when it is determined that the print operation through the print operation input unit has been input more than a predetermined condition on the basis of the data representing the environmental load calculated by the environmental load calculation unit, allows printing according to the print request input by the print request input unit.
US07715013B2
A system is provided to monitor targeted pest populations, disease, presence of transgenic and non-transgenic plants, or targeted pest population in a transgenic crop using remote imagery to discern differences in crops along with pest infestation in all crop varieties. The system relies on the fact that plant leaves are known to change color based on stress, herbivory, and other environmental factors. The system provides a special camera that can see reflected light energy across the visible and near infrared (about 400-1000 nm) to identify these effects.
US07715008B2
A system and method for optically monitoring contamination of machinery includes an optical illumination source, a photodetector and an analysis module. The system and method can monitor a fuser roll, a fuser belt, or other printer module component. The optical illumination source can emit at least one illuminating frequency. The at least one illuminating frequency is configured to cause a contaminant marker to fluoresce at least one fluorescing frequency and is also configured to at least partially illuminate the machine component. The machine component contains the contaminant marker when at least partially contaminated. The photodetector is responsive to the at least one fluorescing frequency and detects the at least one fluorescing frequency emitted from the contaminated machine component. The analysis module is in operative communication with the photodetector and is figured to receive a signal therefrom. The analysis module is configured to estimate contamination of the machine component as a function of the signal from the photodetector.
US07715004B2
A system and method for characterizing contributions to signal noise associated with charge-coupled devices adapted for use in biological analysis. Dark current contribution, readout offset contribution, photo response non-uniformity, and spurious charge contribution can be determined by the methods of the present teachings and used for signal correction by systems of the present teachings.
US07715002B2
A method is provided for characterizing a scientific material, such as a silicate material, a polymer material and/or nanomaterial. The method can include the steps of irradiating a measuring light of a predetermined wavelength range into material specimens, recording the measuring light reflected and/or reemitted by the material specimens, determining a ratio depending on the wave lengths of irradiated to detected measuring light (spectrum), and numerical-mathematical processing of spectral data of single material specimens for determining the characteristic features of the material specimens.
US07714998B2
In an optical inspection tool, an image of an object under inspection, such as a semiconductor wafer, may be obtained using imaging optics defining a focal plane. Light comprising the image can be split into portions that are detected using multiple detectors which each register a portion of the image. The image of the object at the focal plane can be split into two, three, or more parts by polarization-based beam splitters and/or lenses positioned tangent to the focal plane. The splitting apparatus may comprise a pair of arrays of half-cylinder lenses comprising a convex side and a flat side. The arrays can be positioned with the cylinder axes perpendicular to one another and the flat sides facing each other. Thus, the pair of arrays can divide incoming light into a plurality of rectangular portions without introducing non-uniformities which would occur if several spherical lenses are configured for use in a rectangular array.
US07714995B2
A material independent profiler system and method for measuring a slope on the surface of an object such as a thin film disk, a silicon wafer, or a glass substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an electromagnetic energy source to generate a beam of electromagnetic energy, a polarizer to polarize the beam of electromagnetic energy into a first component having a first polarization orientation and a second component having a second polarization orientation, a radiation targeting assembly to direct the first component onto the surface in a first direction and a first plane of orientation, direct the second component onto the surface in a second direction and a second plane of orientation, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction, a radiation detector assembly to generate a first signal from a portion of the first component reflected from the surface, generate a second signal from a portion of the second component reflected from the surface, and a processor to generate a surface measurement from the first signal and the second signal.
US07714990B2
A hand-held pulse laser distance measuring device and a pulse reflection mixing method both having an algorithm which controls a microcontroller and which serves to calculate the distance to a measurement object by at least two different time differences τ11, τ12 between a measurement pulse and a reference pulse with a pulse width Δt, which time differences τ11, τ12 are measured with a pulse repetition frequency f1, f2, respectively, wherein a selection module is provided which selects at least the first pulse repetition frequency f1 from at least a first frequency set {f}1 with at least one other pulse repetition frequency f1i in such a way that the condition |τ11·f1i|>A >2·|Δt11·f1i| is satisfied with a pre-selected lower limit A, a relative time difference |τ1i·f1i| and a relative pulse width |Δtλ·f1i|.
US07714989B1
A laser tracking processor is provided for integrating measured target-reflection signals used in directional control. The integration is performed to distinguish pulses reflected from the target against a noise background. The processor includes an optical detector, an accumulator, a correlator, a phase-lock loop and an integrator array. The optical detector receives the measured signals distributed among several guidance channels. The accumulator sums the measured signals as a combined signal for all the channels. The correlator temporally identifies an event that occurs to indicate a target-reflection pulse within the combined signal. The phase-lock loop synchronizes the event with a clock reference to produce a pulse window within which to search the combined signal for the pulses. The integrator array superimposes the measured signals within the pulse window for each channel to produce channel-specific integrated pulse signals. The processor can further include a sum integrator, a noise comparator and a reset trigger. The sum integrator superimposes a temporal sequence of combined signals from the accumulator as sum integration signals. The noise comparator determines whether the sum integrated signals exceed a noise threshold to set a detection satisfaction condition. The reset trigger initializes the temporal sequence of the integrator array and the sum integrator in response to the detection satisfaction condition, so that as the processor approaches the target, the guidance system can receive updates from the measured signals after becoming distinguishable above the noise.
US07714984B2
A uniformity correction system may be used as an actuator for the correction of asymmetry scan-integrated illumination pupil fill that varies in the non-scanning direction of a lithography system. Instead of minimizing asymmetric opaque element insertion, opaque elements are inserted into an illumination beam to introduce an additional pupil asymmetry into the illumination beam. The compensating pupil asymmetry substantially nulls the original pupil asymmetry. To introduce the pupil asymmetry, a first opaque element can be moved into or out of the illumination beam in tandem with a second, opposing opaque element. Iterative feedback of both uniformity and pupil asymmetry ensure that both are substantially simultaneously optimized.
US07714983B2
An illumination system for a microlithography projection exposure installation is used to illuminate an illumination field with the light from a primary light source (11). The illumination system has a light distribution device (25) which receives light from the primary light source and, from this light, produces a two-dimensional intensity distribution which can be set variably in a pupil-shaping surface (31) of the illumination system. The light distribution device has at least one optical modulation device (20) having a two-dimensional array of individual elements (21) that can be controlled individually in order to change the angular distribution of the light incident on the optical modulation device. The device permits the variable setting of extremely different illuminating modes without replacing optical components.
US07714979B2
A substrate processing apparatus enables an efficient collection of a solvent vapor discharged via a nozzle onto a wafer on which a resist pattern is formed. A retaining base that retains the wafer is moved relative to the nozzle, which includes a nozzle head. A pair of leakage preventing portions are disposed opposite to each other across the nozzle head. Each of the leakage preventing portions has an opening via which the solvent vapor discharged out of the discharge opening can be sucked, or a solvent vapor blocking gas can be discharged selectively. A solvent vapor supply source and a gas supply source are switchably connected to the supply opening of the nozzle head via a first switching valve. An exhaust pump and a solvent-vapor-blocking gas supply source are switchably connected to the openings of the leakage preventing portions via a second switching valve.
US07714974B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a common electrode on an upper substrate, a gate driver on a lower substrate facing an upper substrate, an insulating pattern on the common electrode, and a conductive sealant for bonding the upper and lower substrates together that overlaps the gate driver.
US07714968B2
A liquid crystal display device whose transparent electrodes have slits of a rectangle shape or a parallelogram shape. The slits include slits of first and second kinds having different angles relative to a row direction. The slit of the first kind in one transparent electrode and the slit of the second kind in the other transparent electrode are alternately disposed along the column direction to form a first slit column, and the slit of the second kind in the one transparent electrode and the slit of the second kind in the other transparent electrode are alternately disposed along the column direction to form a second slit column. The first slit column and second slit column are alternately disposed along the row direction, and each position of slits of the first slit column is shifted by half a slit period from each position of slits of the second slit column.
US07714963B2
An array substrate for a transflective liquid crystal display device includes: a substrate; a gate line and a data line on the substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing each other to define a pixel region including a transmissive area and a reflective area surrounding the transmissive area; a thin film transistor having a gate insulating layer, the thin film transistor electrically connected to the gate line and the data line; a first passivation layer having a drain contact hole exposing a drain electrode of the thin film transistor and a through hole exposing the substrate in the transmissive area; a pixel electrode on the first passivation layer, the pixel electrode contacting the substrate in the transmissive area through the through hole; and a reflective plate on the pixel electrode, the reflective plate being electrically connected to the drain electrode through the drain contact hole and to the pixel electrode.
US07714961B2
A display panel includes: a first substrate including a gate line and a data line crossing the gate line, a pixel portion formed in a display region and electrically connected to the gate and the data line and a gate driving part formed on a first peripheral region and electrically connected to the gate line; a second substrate having a light blocking layer formed on an area of the second substrate corresponding to the first peripheral region; and a seal line formed between the first substrate and the second substrate to confine a liquid crystal layer therebetween, the seal line being formed in an area outside an outer peripheral edge of the display region, the area outside the outer peripheral edge of the display region being closer to an outer peripheral edge of the light blocking layer than to the outer peripheral edge of the display region.
US07714957B2
A liquid crystal display device, in which a viewing angle is controlled, and a viewing angle controlling method are provided. A liquid crystal display device includes at least one pixel including at least one color sub-pixel and at least one white sub-pixel, wherein liquid crystal molecules in the white sub-pixel are aligned to be driven in a different direction than liquid crystal molecules in the color sub-pixel.
US07714951B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes: a first substrate opposite a second substrate and coupled to the second substrate by a first seal pattern; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates within the first seal pattern; a second seal pattern sealing an injection hole in the first seal pattern; and a common line disposed at a first surface of the first substrate and having a predetermined pattern that exposes the second seal pattern to a second surface of the first substrate.
US07714945B2
A trim retarder for a liquid crystal display based projection system including a light source, a polarizer/analyzer, a liquid crystal display panel, and a projection lens, is clocked to an optimal azimuthal angle that provides a system contrast level substantially unaffected by the orientation of the slow axis of the liquid crystal display panel.
US07714935B2
A highly integrated data structure for synthesizing a waveform is provided for facilitating integrated handling of the data. The data structure for waveform synthesis data or use in generation of a target waveform comprises, at a macro level, a macro waveform value data field for storing a waveform value data section including source waveform value data for use in the generation of the target waveform, and a macro (first) header including control data for forming a macro waveform in the target waveform using the source waveform value data included in the data field. At a micro level, the data structure according to the present invention comprises a micro waveform value data field, and a micro (second) header for generating a micro waveform in the target waveform using the waveform value data included in the micro waveform value data field.
US07714933B2
A digital cable broadcast receiver and a method for automatically processing caption data of various standards and types, is disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes: a demultiplexer for dividing a received broadcast stream into video data, audio data, supplementary information; a controller for determining whether caption data included in the video data is digital caption data or analog caption data on the basis of caption information included in the supplementary information, and outputting a control signal according to a result of the determining; a digital caption decoder for extracting and decoding digital caption data from the video data according to the control signal; and an analog caption decoder for extracting and decoding analog caption data from the video data according to the control signal.
US07714930B2
A control method for a digital photographing apparatus is provided in which one of operating modes associated with a button is set according to the length of time the button is pressed and a digital photographing apparatus using the method. The method includes setting a next operating mode in a forward direction if a first setting signal is generated by pressing the button and setting a next operating mode in a reverse direction if a second setting signal including the first setting signal is generated by pressing the button. Also, a system for controlling the operation of a digital photographing apparatus is provided. The system includes means for a digital photographing apparatus to operate in at least two selectable operating modes, means for showing the available operating modes in both a forward and reverse direction and means for selecting one of the operating modes.
US07714928B2
An image sensing apparatus is provided with an image sensor having a photoelectric conversion characteristic having a linear characteristic area where an electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to an amount of an incident light and a logarithmic characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of the incident light; an evaluation value detector for detecting exposure evaluation values concerning an exposure control based on a luminance information of a subject; and a central control unit for controlling the exposure based on the exposure evaluation values detected by the evaluation value detector. The central control unit includes an exposure amount control parameter calculating section for controlling an exposure amount in accordance with the photoelectric conversion characteristic using the exposure evaluation values and a dynamic range control parameter calculating section for controlling a dynamic range in accordance with the photoelectric conversion characteristic using the exposure evaluation values. Accordingly, a subject image can be picked up while an optimal exposure is made for the subject and a specified dynamic range is attained.
US07714925B2
Provided is a method of controlling a digital image processing apparatus which sequentially stores images in a recording medium after capturing the images in a photographing mode and sequentially displays the images stored in the recording medium by receiving direction signals input by a user in a play mode. A go to setting is set regarding the captured images according to a selection of the user in the photographing mode. A list of images that are set with the go to setting is displayed according to the selection of the user in the play mode and then the image selected by the user from the list is displayed.
US07714923B2
An integrated imaging apparatus for displaying images while capturing images of a scene, including an electronic display having an array of display pixels which are used to display image content; at least one image capture device which captures an image, wherein the image capture device having at least an imaging lens and an image sensor array; and wherein the image capture device looks through an aperture in the display, the aperture having at least one partially transparent pixel; and wherein the partially transparent pixels also provide light to display image content.
US07714920B2
Photosensitive cells each includes a photodiode (1), a transfer gate (2), a floating diffusion layer portion (3), an amplifying transistor (4), and a reset transistor (5). Drains of the amplifying transistors (4) of the photosensitive cells are connected to a power supply line (10), and a pulsed power supply voltage (VddC) is applied to the power supply line (10). Here, a low-level potential (VddC_L) of the power supply voltage has a predetermined potential higher than zero potential. Specifically, by making the low-level potential (VddC_L) higher than channel potentials obtained when a low level is applied to the reset transistors (5), or channel potentials obtained when a low level is applied to the transfer gates (2), or channel potentials of the photodiodes (1), a reproduced image with low noise is read.
US07714919B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes an adder adding signals from pixels to achieve a high S/N, while performing both static image and moving image pickup. The device has a pixel unit having pixels arranged two-dimensionally and outputs pixel signals derived by photoelectric conversion. The device operates in a first mode of reading a pixel signal of every pixel, and a second mode of adding and reading a plurality of pixel signals. Variable gain column amplifiers perform readout at different gains in the first and second modes. The device also has output lines where output signals from the pixels arranged in one line are outputted respectively, and at least one of the variable gain amplifier is connected to each of the output lines. The gain at the time of readout in the second mode is higher than the gain at the time of readout in the first mode.
US07714918B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of two-dimensionally disposed pixel cells each for effecting photoelectric conversion of an incident light; an electronic shutter scanning circuit for outputting to the pixel section a second line select signal for selecting second lines of a subject which an operation setting corresponding to an exposure time is effected; and a scanning control section for controlling selection of the first lines through the line scanning circuit, controlling, including as subject of selection the first lines and lines to be omitted in a skipping read, selection of the second lines through the electronic shutter scanning circuit, and controlling timing at which the pixel cells belonging to the second lines are reset in accordance with the exposure time.
US07714914B2
The invention relates to a method for the correction of the brightness of a raw image generated by a sensor matrix, in which an intensity matching is carried out at picture elements defined by a line coordinate and a column coordinate and at least one intensity value. The intensity matching comprises the application to the intensity values of the picture elements to be corrected of two intensity corrections independent of one another, in dependence on the line coordinate, on the one hand, and in dependence on the column coordinate, on the other hand. The invention furthermore relates to an optoelectronic sensor comprising a correction device. This correction device is matched to carry out the initially described intensity matching.
US07714909B2
A method and apparatus are provided for annotating video and audio media with supplementary content for post video processing. In one embodiment, the invention may include maintaining a current state of auxiliary information regarding a sequence of video frames, the sequence of video frames being encoded as a video bit stream having video frame data for each respective video frame of the sequence of video frames. It may further include comparing the current state of auxiliary information with auxiliary information regarding a current video frame of the sequence of video frames to determine differential information, and annotating the differential information to the video bit stream as an annotation to the video frame data for the current video frame.
US07714904B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixel cells, each of which includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, is arranged, and an adder for performing an addition operation on a plurality of signals output from the photoelectric conversion elements of the pixel array in a predetermined combination of the photoelectric conversion elements, while setting between the signals to be added a ratio determined according to the arrangement of the photoelectric conversion elements.
US07714900B2
A scene is captured. A two-dimensional matrix comprising a plurality of image detection components is generated according to the captured scene. Each image detection component corresponds to one color component. A plurality of matrixes are generated according to the image detection components. One image detection component and a portion of matrixes are calculated to obtain the missing color components.
US07714896B2
An image processing apparatus that provides multiple services for users who issue various requests on a network, while maintaining the real-time nature of the apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes a developing unit for developing image data to time-varying image data, an image processing unit for performing image processing of the time-varying image data, a network interface for sending out the time-varying image data processed by the image processing unit onto a network, and a network control unit for controlling the time-varying image data for which multiple different image processing operations have been performed by the image processing unit, to be outputted to the network interface within one picture period.
US07714892B2
Disclosed are various systems, devices and methods for digital camera image stabilization. In one embodiment, a digital camera captures a plurality of digital images of a subject simultaneously or near-simultaneously and stores the captured images in memory as individual digital data sets. While the digital images are being captured simultaneously or near-simultaneously by means of a plurality of rolling shutters, a relative position determination device such as an angular rate sensor is employed to sense and save to memory data representative of the relative positions of the digital camera at the moments the individual digital images or frames are being exposed. Spatial shift directions and magnitudes are calculated in a processor of the camera on the basis of such data, and then applied to the individual data sets to form aligned data sets comprising aligned data points. To compensate for camera shake occurring while the individual images were being captured, the aligned data sets are added together to form an output data set representative of an output image.
US07714888B2
A device detects the location of patterned objects in an environment by receiving an optical image and converting the optical image of the lost object into a color digital image. The device employs software to perform an analysis of the color digital image to detect the location of the one or more patterned objects in the environment by using color characteristics of light reflected from a pattern on the one or more patterned objects. The software uses a range of the visible portion of the color space uniquely identified for the light reflected from the pattern on the object and identifies those pixels in the digital image that may be possible targets.
US07714887B2
The image processor of the present invention generates a more natural synthesized image from camera images taken with a plurality of cameras capturing the surroundings of a vehicle. A parameter storage section stores a plurality of image synthesis parameter groups representing the correspondence between the camera images and the synthesized image and having different spatial or temporal resolution relations. A parameter selection section selects the image synthesis parameter group according to the output of a vehicle motion detection section for detecting the motion of the vehicle such as the driving speed and direction. An image synthesis section generates the synthesized image from the camera images according to the selected image synthesis parameter group.
US07714875B2
A method and system of determining the screen capability and rendering the appropriate display attribute is herein described. The present invention performs this task by using a color table, which contains a list of object types and a corresponding list of display attributes. The application program obtains the correct display attribute for the object by calling the color table, giving it an identifier of the object. The color table is indexed by the identifier of the object and a screen capability flag that is obtained, in one embodiment, from the operating system. The color table provides the display attribute for the specified object based on the screen capability flag. Advantageously, the application program does not need to know the computer's display capability. Furthermore, the application program needs only one piece of computer code, regardless of the number of display capabilities which are possible. Thus, memory space in the palmtop is conserved. In another embodiment of the present invention, the application program is allowed to modify the default values of the display attributes in the color table. Thus, an application program could use its own color to display an object if the default color is undesirable.
US07714872B2
A method of quickly creating a texture which shows a continuous pattern when mapped repeatedly is provided. A space having three-dimensional objects arranged therein is rendered into a two-dimensional plane, or a rendering area. The rendering area is virtually divided into a plurality of congruent areas. Corresponding pixels of the areas are overlapped with each other to obtain a desired texture. At the time of overlapping, Z values in Z buffers are compared to update color information and Z values of a target area so that the data on pixels closer to a viewpoint shows all the time.
US07714870B2
A method and apparatus employing selectable hardware accelerators in a data driven architecture are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of processing elements (PEs). A plurality of hardware accelerators are coupled to a selection unit. A register is coupled to the selection unit and the plurality of processing elements. In one embodiment, the register includes a plurality of general purpose registers (GPR), which are accessible by the plurality of processing elements, as well as the plurality of hardware accelerators. In one embodiment, at least one of the GPRs includes a bit to enable a processing element to enable access a selected hardware accelerator via the selection unit.
US07714861B1
A method for drawing pie charts illustrating comparative data on the display of a client computer in a client-server environment with horizontal parallel lines each having a height of one pixel. A circular or elliptical pie is first defined in an array of endpoints of a set of horizontal lines from which the pie is constructed. Each slice of the pie is assigned a start angle and a stop angle as a function of the datum that it represents and its proximity to other slices. Pixels on the horizontal lines forming the pie are then tested to define segments of the horizontal lines for inclusion in the slices. The pixels of each line segment are illuminated on the display to form an image of a pie with each slice proportional in area to its respective datum.
US07714857B2
An apparatus is provided with a display unit and a optical filter. The unit has pixels arranged in a matrix form, which are groped into a first group and second groups to display two-dimensional image information constituting elemental images, the image information being obtained from different directions. The optical filter has a first optical opening opposed to the first pixel group and second optical openings opposed to corresponding one of the second pixel groups. The center of the first pixel group is coincident with the axis of the first opening, each center of the second pixel groups is deviated from corresponding one of the second opening axe, and the deviation is gradually increased depending on a distance between the first and the second pixel group centers. The light rays are directed to a reference plane from the first and second pixel groups through the first and second opening axes.
US07714856B2
The invention relates to a method and to a device for the representation of a predeterminable region (3) in multidimensional data sets (2). The data sets (2) are especially made of three or four dimensional image data of an object which is to be examined. The image data is produced by means of one or several receiving elements of the object and especially at least one two-dimensional cut (S) is located and displayed through the predeterminable region (3). The cut (S) is defined by at least one vector plane and/or indicator plane (E1, E2), which are arranged in the multi-dimensional data set (2), by means of a vector (4). Said vector or indicator is fixed by manipulation in the multidimensional data set (2) and/or on, particularly, the two-dimensional cut planes (S1, S2) of the multi-dimensional data sets (2) on at least one vector plane (E1, E2) and the vector and/or indicator (4). Advantageously, the vector (4) is a directional vector (or an arrow) provided with a predeterminable direction and length and extends along the predeterminable region (3).
US07714851B2
Video line drivers that operate using a single external supply voltage, without the need for large external capacitors (e.g., 470 uF) on the output, are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a video line driver includes a charge pump and a plurality of amplifiers. The charge pump uses the single external supply voltage to produce a further voltage having an opposite polarity than the external supply voltage. The plurality of amplifiers are each powered by the external supply voltage and the further voltage produced by the charge pump. Each amplifier receives a portion of a video signal and outputs an amplified version of the received portion of the video signal. The video signal can include, e.g., an R portion, a G portion and a B portion, or a Y portion, a Pb portion and a Pr portion. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of the invention.
US07714850B2
A display device includes a left and a right panel sections provided adjacently along a sequence of a plurality of data signal lines, and a plurality of source drivers which are provided along a sequence of the data signal lines and correspond to the panel sections. A controller sends data signals to the respective source drivers in parallel, and a start signal to one of the source drivers in each of the display panel. In each panel section, an operation of acquiring data signals sequentially shifts from the source driver having received the start signal to the next source driver. The controller sends the start signals to the two source drivers closest to a border between the two display regions, and rearranges an order of data signals, which are supplied to source drivers in one of the display regions, to be in line with an order of data signals which are supplied to the other one of the display regions.
US07714846B1
Digital signal processed touchscreen system. The invention employs amplitude ramped signals across a touchscreen. The pattern to which the amplitude ramped electric signals are provided may be located on the surface of the touchscreen, or alternatively on the backside of the touchscreen. The signal processing employed by the invention, using digital signal processing techniques, is operable to discern a user's touch and to determine its location. A dielectric, protective surface is used to enable implementation into a wide variety of applications, including those applications that are environmentally rugged and have, until now, been too rugged for prior art touchscreen systems. The invention employs a user generated unbalanced capacitive load generated on the touchscreen to identify the location of the user's touch.
US07714837B2
An electronic book reading apparatus mainly includes a user interface, an operation controlling unit, and a display unit. The user interface allows a user to flip an appropriate number of pages of a displayed electronic book. The user interface includes a plurality of sensing units for generating sensing signals in response to the flipping operations. The operation controlling unit is used for determining a speed and direction of the flipping operations and generating a speed signal and a direction signal according to the sensing signals. The display unit receives the direction signal, flips the appropriate number of pages of the displayed electronic book in a corresponding direction according to the received speed signal and direction signal, and displays the resulting page of the electronic book after flipping. A related method is provided.
US07714828B2
A display capable of reducing the increase in the current consumption is disclosed. The display comprises a shift register circuit having a plurality of first circuit portions connected thereto. Each of the first circuit portions includes a first conductive type first transistor connected to a first voltage supply source, a first conductive type second transistor connected to a second voltage supply source, a first conductive type third transistor connected between the gate of the first transistor and the second potential, a first conductive type fourth transistor connected to the gate of the first transistor and turned on in response to a first signal, and a first conductive type fifth transistor connected between the fourth transistor and the first potential and turned off in response to a second signal when the first signal is for turning on the fourth transistor.
US07714827B2
An integrated circuit is provided for scan driving that can significantly reduce the chip size. In first region AODD, odd-numbered output pads OUT1, OUT3, . . . OUT173, OUT175, driver circuits DR1, DR3, . . . DR173, DR175, and flip-flops SREG1, SREG3, . . . SREG173, SREG175 in an order corresponding to the order of the odd-numbered scanning lines are each arranged as a column in the X-direction, and, at the same time, output pads OUTi, driver circuits DRi and flip-flops SREGi corresponding to the scanning lines are arranged in the same row in the Y-direction (chip width direction). In second region AEVEN, even-numbered output pads OUT2, OUT4, . . . OUT174, OUT176, driver circuits DR2, DR4, . . . DR174, DR176, and flip-flops SREG2, SREG4, . . . SREG174, SREG176 in an order corresponding to the order of the even-numbered scanning lines are each arranged as a column in the X-direction, and, at the same time, output pads OUTi, driver circuits DRi and flip-flops SREGi corresponding to the scanning lines are arranged in the same row in the Y-direction (chip width direction).
US07714824B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a device, system and method for displaying a color image. According to some exemplary embodiments of the invention a device for displaying a color image may include an illumination source including a plurality of light-producing elements able to produce light of each of m different wavelength spectra, wherein m is equal to or greater than three. The device may also include an array of attenuating elements able to spatially selectively attenuate the light produced by the illumination source according to an attenuation pattern corresponding to a gray-level representation of the color image, and an array of color sub-pixel filter elements able to receive selectively attenuated light from the array of attenuating elements, each sub-pixel filter element able to transmit light of one of n different primary colors, wherein n is equal to or greater than four.
US07714819B2
A liquid-crystal-panel drive and driving method capable of preventing unevenness on a display face from occurring after turning off a power supply in a liquid crystal display apparatus using OCB mode liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal layer using OCB mode liquid crystal, a driver applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, a liquid-crystal driving power supply supplying power to the driver, and a switch outputting an on/off signal to the driver. When the switch outputs an off signal, the driver applies a predetermined voltage that can be applied to each pixel of the liquid crystal layer for a predetermined time, and after the elapse of the predetermined time, stops the supply of power to the driver from the liquid-crystal driving power supply.
US07714814B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for driving an electro-luminescence display panel capable of doing an aging operation upon driving.A method of driving an electro-luminescence display panel according to the present invention includes: a scan period when electro-luminescence cells formed at a cross of both a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines are line-sequentially emitted; and an aging period when an aging is performed in the electro-luminescence cells at the same time by applying a reverse bias, wherein the scan period and the aging period are repeated for each frame.
US07714813B2
A pixel circuit, display device, and method of driving a pixel circuit enabling source-follower output with no deterioration of luminance even with a change of the current-voltage characteristic of the light emitting element along with elapse, enabling a source-follower circuit of n-channel transistors, and able to use an n-channel transistor as a drive transistor of a light emitting element while using current anode-cathode electrodes, wherein a capacitor C111 is connected between a gate and source of a TFT 111 as a drive transistor, a source side of the TFT 111 is connected to a fixed potential (for example GND) through the TFT 114, the gate and drain of the TFT 111 are connected through the TFT 113 to cancel the threshold value Vth, the threshold value Vth is charged in the capacitor C111, and the input voltage Vin is coupled with the gate of the TFT 111 from the threshold voltage Vth.
US07714811B2
A light-emitting device avoids a cross-talk phenomenon. The device includes a precharge controlling circuit and a precharge circuit. The precharge controlling circuit provides a precharge controlling signal in accordance with display data input from an external source. The precharge circuit applies a precharge current corresponding to display data and a scan line resistance to the data lines in accordance with the precharge controlling signal transmitted from the precharge controlling circuit. As a result, precharge current is applied to data lines according to a pixel cathode voltage, and thus cross-talk occurs is eliminated or at least substantially reduced in the device.
US07714810B2
The invention provides an electro-optical apparatus that can prevent a shift in a threshold voltage of an amorphous silicon transistor while driving an organic EL device in a pixel circuit including the amorphous silicon transistor. A characteristic-adjustment circuit can be provided, which has a function of returning a shift in the threshold voltage of the amorphous silicon transistor included in the pixel circuit to the original state.
US07714806B2
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof. In accordance with a plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof, widths of scan pulses are different depending on locations of the scan lines. Since scan pulse widths are set depending on locations of the scan lines, high speed driving is possible, a sustain period can be secured and luminance can be increased.
US07714803B2
This invention describes procedures for writing data to a spatial light modulator (SLM) to achieve the purpose of “sub-frame method”, i.e. increasing effective frame rate of the SLM, without the need of additional color switching means or modulation at illumination source. The purpose is to improve the resolution of V3D displays based on projectors. The method divides the pixels of the SLM into a number of groups and defines each group as a sub-panel. Frames of image data are then written in sequence to each of the sub-panels in a fixed order. An image frame written to a sub-panel is called a “sub-frame” when displayed on the sub-panel. The method then displays one sub-frame on one sub-panel at a time, with the rest sub-panels displaying blank (black). If the SLM has no memory buffer and image is displayed when it is written, then all data on the SLM must be erased after a sub-panel is being displayed and before the next sub-panel is written. If the SLM has a memory buffer and to update the SLM with the written data requires a separate command, then one can erase the data of previous sub-panel after the next sub-panel is written and is ready to display.
US07714798B2
An antenna for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic radiation is provided. The antenna includes a body portion, which can be flexible to permit incorporation of the antenna into a material. The antenna also includes an aggregate of extended length nanotubes along the body portion, and a plurality of contact points between adjacent nanotubes to permit transmission of electromagnetic radiation, while reducing resistivity along the antenna at a high frequency, for example, above 100 MHz. A method of manufacturing an antenna is also provided.
US07714797B2
A phased array antenna for a telecommunications satellite, that is deployable from a retracted condition to a deployed condition when the satellite is on-station, comprising a base member of hexagonal form, and a plurality of deployable antenna panels stacked one on top of the other on the base member in the retracted condition, each antenna panel being connected to a respective side edge region of the base by means of a respective back flap hinge, and the hinges having pivot points that are offset relative to one another, such that the antenna panels can be hinged sequentially one after the other from the stick to a position in which each panel is adjacent a respective base side edge region to provide an extended flat two-dimensional area when deployed.
US07714795B2
Antenna apparatus, and an associated methodology, for a multi-frequency-band-capable radio device, such as a quad-band mobile station. The antenna apparatus is formed from a three-dimensional rectilinear non-conductive dielectric antenna substrate, such as cube. An elongated radiation element is disposed over multiple surfaces of the antenna substrate. A T-shaped impedance matching element located at the end of the radiation element permits the antenna input impedance to be matched to a communications device. The length of the radiation element is selected to be substantially equal to a quarter wavelength of the lowest frequency band at which the antenna operates.
US07714784B2
Disclosed are a base station and a mobile terminal for location detection, and a location detecting method. The base station in which a plurality of antennas having RF modules are installed transmits a signal including location information of each of the antennas to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal carries out location detection by selectively using location information received from a GPS receiver or location information received from a DSRC transceiver. The base station and mobile terminal for location detection can perform location detection with high accuracy using the existing DSRC service. Thus, the base station and mobile terminal can carry out location detection having an error of approximately 10 m in downtown areas or buildings.
US07714779B2
A method and apparatus for providing assistance data for satellite positioning system receivers utilizing a secure user plane location (SUPL) service. In one embodiment, the assistance data is supplied by a global secure user plane location center that contains global assistance data.
US07714777B2
Provided is a semiconductor device for a spread spectrum radar apparatus which suppresses spurious signals resulting from non-linearity of active elements. The semiconductor device as the inverse spread spectrum modulation unit for the spread spectrum radar apparatus has a coupled line of two lines and another coupled line of two lines. The semiconductor device includes: an unbalanced to balanced transforming circuit which converts a received signal inputted as an unbalanced signal into a balanced signal pair; a switch circuit having one or more transistors; and a balanced inverse spread spectrum circuit which obtains as differential signal PN signals belonging to the same sequence code as a PN code which is used to generate an original signal of the received signal, also obtains the balanced signal pair from the unbalanced to balanced transforming circuit, and performs inverse spread spectrum modulation on the balanced signal pair by the switch circuit using the PN codes inputted as the differential signal.
US07714776B2
An antenna array comprises a surface comprising a replicated pattern of conductive tracks, the tracks defining a plurality of ports. A plurality of antennae are located at ports distributed about the surface. A plurality of radiative transceivers are electrically connected to a respective antenna. A plurality of reference transceivers are electrically connected to a non-radiative impedance located at a respective port so that each reference transceiver is surrounded by a group of antennae and electrically coupled to the group of antennae by the tracks. At least one antenna from at least one group of antennae belongs to one other group of antennae. Calibration circuitry includes a controller associated with each reference transceiver, each controller being arranged to transmit a calibration signal through an associated reference transceiver and to receive and store a received calibration signal from a selected transceiver for the group of antennae coupled to the reference transceiver. Each controller is further arranged to receive and store a calibration signal from the selected transceiver for the group of antennae coupled to the reference transceiver. The calibration circuitry further includes for each other transceiver for the group of antenna, circuitry for adjusting the phase and amplitude of signals transmitted and received by the radiative transceivers relative to the stored calibration signals for the selected radiative transceiver.
US07714769B2
In a method for estimating the width of radar objects in a position finding system for motor vehicles, which has at least two angle-resolving radar sensors, the reflection points positioned by several of the radar sensors, which are to be assigned to the same object on the basis of their distance data and relative velocity data, are combined into a group, lateral positions of the reflection points from this group are calculated, the difference of the lateral positions is calculated for various pairs of these refection points, and the maximum of these differences is sought out to determine an estimated value for a minimum width of the object.
US07714743B1
An aircraft lightning event detector includes a sensor mounted to an aircraft. The sensor determines whether a lightning event has struck the aircraft or induced a possibly damaging current into the aircraft. A threshold mechanism determines whether the sensed lightning event is greater than a predetermined size. A memory stores a record of the sensed lightning event for post-flight maintenance analysis when the lightning event is greater than the predetermined size.
US07714739B2
A self-contained handle assembly for a door provides a light emitting diode which indicates whether the door is locked or unlocked. The LED blinks when the door is locked and thus provides an active reminder of the position of the deadbolt.
US07714718B2
A security assembly includes a first building structure at least partially defining a building opening. The first building structure has a first surface. A movable building structure is movable between a closed position in which the movable building structure covers the opening and an open position in which the movable building structure uncovers the opening. The movable building structure has a perimeter with a second surface disposed in opposition to the first surface when the movable building structure is in the closed position. An optical sensor apparatus includes an electronics module mounted in association with the first surface or the second surface. The electronics module has an optical emitter and an optical receiver. The optical emitter emits a first beam. A reflector arrangement is mounted in association with the other of the first surface and the second surface. The reflector arrangement provides a plurality of sequential reflections of the first beam to thereby produce a second beam directed at the optical receiver.
US07714717B2
A door alarm system comprises a door having a doorframe, a door body and a door alarm device mounted in the doorframe or door body. The door alarm device comprises a housing, a cover mounted on the housing and having a rear surface, a push button hole and four guideposts formed on and protruding from the rear surface, a battery compartment, a push button and a controller. The push button is mounted slidably in and protrudes from the push button hole and has a cap with a neck, an electrical pad mounted on the guideposts and having a through hole, a metallic plug and a resilient member. The metallic plug is mounted through the through hole in the electrical pad, connects to the neck and selectively makes contact with the electrical pad when the door is open. The controller mounted in the housing and provides an audible warning when the door body is open.
US07714714B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for improved signal processing within a remote sensor system. The system includes a detection component and a classification component. The detection component is adapted to detect an event. The classification component is adapted to classify the event based at least in part on a situation. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for improved signal processing within a remote sensor system. The system includes determining a situation, detecting an event, and classifying the event based at least in part on a situation.
US07714712B2
In some embodiments, a technique for logging an item encountered by a mobile device comprises automatically detecting an item in an uncontrolled environment, extracting an identity associated with the item, logging an encounter, wherein the encounter includes the identity, and deleting the encounter after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, wherein the encounter is not marked as relevant.
US07714710B2
Disclosed is a method and system for determining the location of at least one of a plurality of uniquely-identified transducers within one of a plurality of known areas (210-270). The method comprises the steps of receiving information from at least one sensor selected from a plurality of first (211, 212, 216) and second sensors (218, 228, 238), wherein the first sensors (211, 212, 216) are distributed within the plurality of known areas, and the second sensors are located between adjacent ones of the plurality of known areas (220, 240), the information including at least a transducer-unique identification, associating the received information based on the transducer identification, and determining the location based on the information received by at least one of the first sensors. In one aspect the information is a signal strength. In another aspect of the invention, the location may be determined based on information received by a plurality of the first sensors. In another aspect of the invention, the transition of the transducers from one area to an adjacent area may be determined and such transition stored in a database.
US07714707B2
A system (10) is provided for monitoring a remote tire monitoring sensor. The system includes a tire-based unit (16) having a sensor (42) and transmitter (44) that receives power from a power supply (18) located within the tire-based unit (16). The transmitter (44) transmits a signal (22) relating to a parameter measured by the sensor (42). The system (10) further includes a controller (36) that evaluates the life of the power supply (18) by monitoring energy usage of the power supply (18) by counting the number of occurrences in which the energy usage is above a prescribed amount (59) and comparing the number of occurrences to an energy threshold (60).
US07714691B2
A lockable MEMS switching architecture provided having a clutch assembly, a switching member, and an actuator. The clutch assembly has one or more engagement features located in proximity to the switching member—particularly one or more receiving features located upon the switching member. The clutch assembly is actuated to disengage the engagement features from the receiving features. The switching member is actuated to move in relation to the clutch assembly. Once the switching member is in a desired position, the clutch assembly is de-actuated, causing the engagement features to re-engage with the switching member, thereby restricting its further movement.
US07714689B1
A transformer structure includes an iron core set, a main bobbin, and two sub-bobbins. The main bobbin includes a primary winding area for winding a first coil, a main bobbin through hole longitudinally mounted in and penetrating through the main bobbin, and two assembling troughs respectively formed at two ends of the main bobbin through hole. The two sub-bobbins are respectively accommodated in the two assembling troughs and respectively include a secondary winding area for winding a second coil and a sub-bobbin through hole communicated with the main bobbin through hole for penetrating the iron core set. Therefore, the sub-bobbins are mounted in two extended assembling troughs of the main bobbin, the first coil is wound on the primary winding area at the outer side of the main bobbin, and the first coil is separated from the second coils not only by horizontal distance but also by the assembling troughs.
US07714688B2
Disclosed is methodology and apparatus for producing a planar inductor having a high quality (Q) factor. The inductor is formed by providing a first, relatively wide coil turn, and at least a pair of relatively more narrow second coil turns, displaced in a different plane from that occupied by the first coil turn. The configuration of such coil turns produces a high value of mutual coupling among the coil turns, resulting in an inductor having a high quality (Q) factor.
US07714671B1
A target signal analyzer having at least one receiving antenna configured to receive the target signal, and a parallel array of oscillator rings. Each oscillator ring is operatively coupled to receive the target signal from the receiving antenna. Each oscillator ring has an odd number of at least three bistable, nonlinear oscillators circularly coupled to each other such that only one-way signal flow is allowed between the oscillators in each oscillator ring. Each of the oscillator rings is configured to oscillate and thereby produce a response signal only when the target signal frequency is within a designated frequency band. For every designated frequency band in a spectrum of interest, at least one of the oscillator rings is configured to produce a response signal.
US07714668B2
In a PLL circuit including a VCO having a plurality of oscillation frequency bands, a TDC circuit calculates a phase difference between a predetermined reference signal from a fixed frequency divider and a PLL frequency-divided signal from a variable frequency divider. The TDC circuit detects the amount of time by which the phase of the PLL frequency-divided signal leads or lags with respect to that of the reference signal in one cycle of the reference signal, thereby detecting which of the signals has a higher frequency and which has a lower frequency. Therefore, for each oscillation frequency band, the frequency comparison is completed in one cycle of the reference signal, allowing an oscillation frequency band selection circuit to detect an optimum oscillation frequency band corresponding to a predetermined PLL output frequency in a short time.
US07714665B2
An apparatus and method fore harmonic characterization and ratio correction of device mismatch between coarse and fine varactor tuning devices within a segmented unified varactor bank of an (RF) digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). The DCO is divided into an MSB bank, LSB bank and sigma-delta (SD-LSB) bank. Any ratio mismatches between MSBs and LSBs are digitally calibrated out using a DCO step-size pre-distortion scheme wherein LSB steps are adjusted to account for ratio mismatch between the MSB/LSB step sizes. A harmonic characterization technique is used to estimate the mismatches in the minimal size CMOS tuning varactors of a digitally controlled RF oscillator (DCO), wherein nominal ratio mismatch between the MSB and LSB devices is estimated using hybrid stochastic gradient DCO gain estimation algorithms. The nominal ratio mismatch and the mismatches in MSB and LSB banks are used to determine average MSB/LSB mismatch which is then used to correct the LSB steps.
US07714646B2
An audio power amplifier includes a pre-amplifier, an error amplifier, a comparator, a bridge circuit, and a feedback circuit, in which the gain of the pre-amplifier gradually increases when the audio power amplifier is powered on. The comparator generates a PWM signal by comparing a reference signal and an amplified audio signal. The bridge circuit has switches controlled according to the PWM signal such that a driving current alternately flows to and from a load. The feedback circuit generates the feedback signal indicating a condition of the load.
US07714637B2
A negative potential discharge circuit may include an internal voltage generating circuit and/or a discharge unit. The internal voltage generating circuit may be configured to generate a regulated output voltage based on a power supply voltage. The discharge unit may be configured to discharge a negative potential using the regulated output voltage. A method of discharging a negative potential may include generating a regulated output voltage based on a power supply voltage, and/or discharging a negative potential using the regulated output voltage.
US07714635B2
Measurement circuit components are included in an integrated circuit fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. These measurement circuits include registers that are connected to a voltage regulation circuit that provides the integrated circuit voltage source and to a power management circuit. These measurement circuits provide signals to control the voltage regulation circuit for adjusting the voltage output to the integrated circuit based upon a measurement values obtained on the semiconductor device. These measurements include temperature, IR drop at locations on the semiconductor substrate, along with the frequency response of integrated circuit.
US07714630B2
The present disclosure is an apparatus for generating a decreasing delay with increasing input voltage to a predetermined voltage value at which point the delay may remain constant. The apparatus may include a circuit comprising a voltage regulator receiving an input voltage and two paths of inverters. At least two paths of inverters may be coupled to an input signal, the input signal may be low voltage (e.g. 0) or high voltage (e.g. 1). A first path may be referenced to a reference voltage while the second path may be referenced to the input voltage. The apparatus may include logic gates for receiving the output of each of the first path of inverters and the output of the second path of inverters to generate a desired output. As the input voltage increases, delay of the apparatus may decrease until the input voltage is approximately the same voltage as the reference voltage, at which the delay may remain constant.
US07714616B2
In order to provide a semiconductor device having a circuit for operating normally even when the amplitude of a signal voltage is smaller than the amplitude of a power source voltage, a correcting circuit is provided before a digital circuit to be operated normally. As for a signal outputted from the correcting circuit, when a transistor in the objective digital circuit is required to be turned OFF, the correcting circuit outputs a corresponding signal, namely a first power source potential. At this time, the transistor is turned OFF. On the other hand, when the transistor is required to be turned ON, the correcting circuit outputs a first input potential. Consequently, the objective digital circuit is turned OFF when it is required to be in an OFF state while turned ON when it is required to be in an ON state. Thereby, the objective digital circuit can be normally operated.
US07714615B2
A circuit for de-emphasizing information transmitted via a differential communication link includes a voltage mode differential circuit and a bi-directional current source circuit. The voltage mode differential circuit includes a first and second output terminal. The voltage mode differential circuit provides a first voltage via the first output terminal and second voltage via the second output terminal in response to a differential input voltage. The bi-directional current source circuit is operatively coupled between the first and second terminals. The bi-directional current source circuit selectively provides current in a first and second direction between the first and second terminals based on the first and second voltage.
US07714611B1
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit has a L-level permutable switching network (L-PSN) comprising L levels of intermediate conductors. The integrated circuit can be used in electronic devices, such as switching networks, routers, and programmable logic circuits, etc.
US07714608B1
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit, such as an FPGA, has one or more programmable termination schemes, each having a plurality of resistive termination legs connected in parallel, and a calibration circuit designed to control each termination scheme for process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. A sense element in the calibration circuit and each resistive leg in each termination scheme has a transistor-based transmission gate connected in series with a non-silicided poly (NSP) resistor. The negative temperature coefficient of resistivity of each NSP resistor offsets the positive temperature coefficient of resistivity of the corresponding transmission gate to provide a temperature-independent sense element and temperature-independent termination legs. The temperature-independence and constant IV characteristic of the sense element and termination legs enable a single calibration circuit to simultaneously control multiple termination schemes operating at different termination voltage levels.
US07714602B2
A simple structure socket 10 for connecting a ball grid array integrated circuit device to a test circuit has a base 14, contacts 26 arranged corresponding to the ball grid array, a nest assembly 16 of two comb structures 70 and a lever assembly 18 for spacing opposed tip portions of each contact away from each other to define a gap for receiving a ball. The lever assembly has two rectangular frames 86 each made of a distal cross piece 94, a proximal cross piece and two side pieces connecting the distal and proximal cross pieces. The two rectangular frames are arranged so that the side pieces are intersected at substantially mid portions thereof. This allows that, by depressing the proximal cross pieces toward the base, the distal cross pieces forces the comb structures toward each other.
US07714598B2
An interconnection apparatus and a method of forming an interconnection apparatus. Contact structures are attached to or formed on a first substrate. The first substrate is attached to a second substrate, which is larger than the first substrate. Multiple such first substrates may be attached to the second substrate in order to create an array of contact structures. Each contact structure may be elongate and resilient and may comprise a core that is over coated with a material that imparts desired structural properties to the contact structure.
US07714595B2
A foreign object detection sensor applied to an electric sliding door apparatus is provided. The sensor includes a contact detecting section, a change detecting section, and a determination section. The contact detection section has a pressure sensitive portion which is capable of elastically changing in form through contact with a foreign object. The contact detecting section outputs a contact detection signal. The change detecting section measures the time required for the oscillation signal for a predetermined number of cycles to be outputted within a measurement period, which is set shorter than the response time it takes from when the object makes contact with the pressure sensitive portion to when the contact detecting section outputs the contact detection signal in the case where the movable body is in the closing operation at a predetermined maximum moving speed.
US07714588B2
There is provided a current sensor for monitoring electrical disturbances on an electrical circuit having an electrical conductor. The current sensor comprises a magnetic flux sensor for sensing a magnetic flux generated by a current flowing in the electrical conductor and for providing a signal representative of the current; and a processor for acquiring the signal from the magnetic flux sensor, for detecting an electrical disturbance on the current and for providing electrical disturbance data. The current sensor may also comprise a ring-shaped magnetic structure for receiving the electrical conductor and an opening within the ring-shaped magnetic structure for receiving the magnetic flux sensor. The magnetic flux sensor being for sensing a magnetic flux generated in the magnetic structure by the current in the electrical conductor.
US07714587B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting a faulty ground strap connection for a machine hosting a high voltage system. In one embodiment, a fault detection and compensation system includes a ground strap, a DC power supply electrically referenced to a machine frame, a leakage detection switch connected to the machine frame, a current source controlled by the leakage detection switch, and a voltage measuring device that measures an offset voltage. The fault detection and compensation system further includes a leakage detection and compensation controller that compensates for the unbalanced fault condition by controlling the leakage detection switch and the current source, and determines whether the ground strap is properly connected to the machine frame.
US07714580B2
An arrangement for producing an imaging region of increased maximum radial diameter in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising a solenoidal magnet arrangement (30) comprising primary magnet coils (32) arranged symmetrically about an axis (A-A) and a shim coil set.
US07714579B2
An NMR probe permits measurements to be made with its inner coil without replacing the probe. The NMR probe has three coils disposed to surround a sample tube. An inner coil can resonate with the HF and LF. An intermediate coil can resonate with the HF and LF, and produces an RF magnetic field perpendicular to the RF field produced by the inner coil. An outermost coil can resonate at least at a lock frequency. The outermost coil produces an RF magnetic field which is perpendicular to the RF field produced by the intermediate coil but which is coincident in direction with the RF field produced by the inner coil.
US07714578B2
A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes a transmit coil (22) and one or more receive coils (32). The transmit coil includes one or more circuit segments (44, 44, 80, 90) including a light-sensitive metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitor (50) which is connected by an optic fiber to one of a plurality of variable light sources (68). In the set-up mode, the transmit coil transmits RF pulses into an examination region (14). A plurality of the receive coils are disposed around the imaging region. The tuning processor (60) analyzes the received RF fields from around the imaging region and determines adjustments to the amount of light transmitted to each light-sensitive capacitor to shim or tune the transmit coil to optimize RF field homogeneity. Further, the receive coils (32) include a light-sensitive capacitor whose illumination is changed during RF transmission to detune the receive coil.
US07714577B2
A method and apparatus for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR). Imaging and/or Radio Frequency receiving coils include a ballistic electrical conductor such as carbon nanotubes, the ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, system designs with smaller static magnetic field strength can be constructed for the same quality of imaging, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost, as well as to enhanced imaging with existing MRI systems.
US07714567B2
A method and apparatus to detect non-cancelled magnetic field produced when current flows through an electric conductor are provided. The sensor includes multiple coils, which allow the sensor to be arbitrarily oriented and attach to the outside of an electrical power cable. Arbitrary orientation provides for easy of field installation.
US07714562B2
A switching regulator circuit including a high-side switch and a low-side switch; an inductor having a first terminal coupled to a common terminal between the high-side switch and the low-side switch, and a second terminal coupled to an output terminal of the switching regulator circuit; a low-pass filter coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, where the low-pass filter is operative for generating a ramp signal based on the voltage signal present at the first terminal of the inductor; and a hysteretic comparator coupled to the low pass filter, where the hysteretic comparator receives the ramp signal as an input signal, and generates an output signal which is operative for controlling the operation of the high-side switch and the low-side switch.
US07714561B2
A driver for a DC-to-DC converter that may utilize a flyback or buck-boost converter circuit. The driver includes a driver circuit and an interface circuit. The interface circuit has a sensor sensing an input voltage from a DC supply and generating a sensor signal to a driver selector. The driver selector compares the sensor signal to a comparison voltage to determine the type of converter circuit and then transmits a selector signal to a driver circuit where it is used to control one or more of the components of the driver circuit, such as the logic circuit which is used for driving the converter to regulate the converter output. The sensor includes a sense resistor along with a current-sense amplifier, which is adapted for connection to a high side or a low side of a power supply while still producing a substantially equivalent output voltage or sensor signal.
US07714558B2
In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a high side pass device. The apparatus also includes a low side pass device coupled in series to the high side pass device. The apparatus further includes a control module coupled to the high side pass device and the low side pass device. The control module is coupled to the high side pass device and the low side pass device to control the high side pass device and the low side pass device.Additionally, the apparatus includes a first resistor coupled in series with the high side pass device and the low side pass device. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a first comparator coupled in parallel with the first resistor. The first comparator has a threshold voltage input differential corresponding to a first current limit, and an output of the first comparator is coupled to the control module. Moreover, the apparatus includes a second comparator coupled to sense current of the high side pass device as a voltage. The second comparator has a threshold voltage input differential corresponding to a second current limit. An output of the second comparator is coupled to the control module. The second current limit is higher than the first current limit. Also, the control module is operable to lock out the high side pass device responsive to the output of the first comparator until a reset signal is received and is operable to lock out the high side pass device responsive to the output of the second comparator until a low current signal is received.
US07714555B2
A switching regulation device includes a switching regulation module and a control module. The switching regulation module generates a first control signal. The control module is coupled to the switching regulation module for receiving the first control signal and performing an over-current protection on the switching regulation module according to a current ratio.
US07714549B2
A switching regulator includes a first switching regulator corresponding to a master channel, and a second switching regulator corresponding to a slave channel. The first switching regulator generates first output voltage Vout1 by a constant on-time system in which on-time is constant. On the other hand, the second switching regulator monitors a first switching signal and a second on-time control circuit determines on-time of a second switching signal in accordance with lapse time from the rising time of the first switching signal to the rising time of a second switching signal.
US07714547B2
The teachings presented herein provide a method and apparatus for operating constant on-time DC/DC converters, including pseudo constant on-time variants, with a virtual current-mode slope signal. Use of the slope signal provides, among other advantages and improvements, greater noise immunity and the ability to operate with a wider range of converter output filters. More particularly, incorporating a properly synchronized slope signal into the on-time triggering comparison provides for a maximum slope offset at on-time triggering. Doing so prevent double-pulsing (i.e., erroneous on-time retriggering) and other undesirable behavior of conventional constant on-time DC/DC converters and, as a particular but non-limiting advantage, allows ready and advantageous use of the slope-compensated converter as taught herein with low ESR capacitors in the output filter.
US07714546B2
An output voltage VC obtained by boosting an input voltage VIN by means of a charge pump control circuit 3 of a charge pump 102 is supplied as a power supply voltage to a control circuit 4 of a step-up converter. It is thus possible to eliminate the need for a conventional self-bias method, eliminate switching from startup oscillation to main oscillation of the conventional self-bias method upon startup, and overcome problems caused by the switching of oscillation states, thereby achieving switching power supply circuitry starting in a reliable and stable manner.
US07714540B2
An assembled battery voltage detecting apparatus includes a sampling switch section which samples a voltage of each of single batteries, capacitors charged with voltages of single batteries, a transfer switch section to transfer a charge voltage charged in each of the capacitors, a ground potential setting switch section which, in the case of reading the voltage charged in the capacitor, connects a reference electric potential of the capacitor to a grounding terminal of a voltage detecting apparatus, and a voltage detecting circuit which controls a switching timing of each of the above switches, and then reads a voltage of each capacitor.
US07714538B2
An electrical combination including a driver drill capable of producing an average current draw of approximately 20-amps, a circular saw capable of producing an average current draw of approximately 20-amps, and a power tool battery pack operable to supply power to the driver drill and to the circular saw, the battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells each having a lithium-based chemistry.
US07714537B2
There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof.
US07714532B2
Safety against error setting of a primary battery in a dedicated battery charger for secondary batteries can be assured even when the battery charger is of a timer type advantageous for cost reduction. A switching circuit (2) is connected between terminals (13, 15), and terminals (14, 16) are connected. Terminals (15, 17) are connected, and terminals (16, 18) are connected. The positive pole of a battery (3) set in position is connected to the terminal (17), and the negative pole is connected to the terminal (18). A battery discriminating circuit (4) connects to the positive pole and the negative pole of the battery (3) set in position; and judges whether the battery (3) is a primary battery or a secondary battery. Depending upon the result of the discrimination, the battery discriminating circuit (4) supplies a switching signal to the switching circuit (5) to turn it on or off. A capacitor (6) and a resistor 7 are connected in parallel between a timer circuit (9) and a ground potential. The switching circuit (5) and a resistor (8) are connected in series between the timer circuit (9) and the ground potential. Once the switching circuit (2) turns on, a constant voltage source circuit 1 supplies a charging direct current to the secondary battery.
US07714528B2
A fan driving circuit includes a digital-analog converting circuit (10), an amplifier circuit (40), and a controlling circuit (50). The digital-analog converting circuit receives a digital signal from a controlling integrated circuit (IC), and outputs an analog signal. The amplifier circuit receives the analog signal from the digital-analog converting circuit, and outputs an amplified analog signal at an output terminal. The controlling circuit includes an isolation diode (D1), a transistor (Q1), and a resistor (R4), an anode of the isolation diode is coupled to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit, a cathode of the isolation diode is coupled to a base of the transistor, the base of the transistor is coupled to a power supply (Vcc1) via the resistor, a collector of the transistor is coupled to the power supply, an emitter of the transistor is coupled to a fan (60).
US07714526B2
The control device for a closure member of a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: estimated load calculation means (8b) for obtaining an estimated load from a rotation speed, acceleration, and drive voltage of a DC motor (3) for driving a closure member (9); motor torque calculation means (8b) for calculating a motor torque from the rotation speed and drive voltage of the motor; reference torque calculation means (8f) for calculating a reference torque based on a stationary state of the motor torque; and pinching determination means (8c) for determining a pinching of an object based on the estimated load, motor torque and reference torque, wherein the pinching determination means determines that there is no pinching when at least one of the estimated load and the motor torque is below the reference torque even when the estimated load is greater than a prescribed threshold value.
US07714525B2
The present invention comprises a gear motor assembly and control system for use with ice crushers and the other similar devices. The assembly utilizes a novel reversing circuit which allows the use of a bidirectional DC powered gear motor in existing refrigerator and freezer configurations, which heretofore used AC powered gear motors, to power ice crushing and dispensing apparatus.
US07714518B2
A ballast includes a drive circuit, a half-bridge inverter, a transformer, and a filter. The drive circuit is configured for generating a drive signal on receiving a power. The half-bridge inverter is configured for generating a power AC signal according to the drive signal generated by the driver. The power AC signal is fed back to the drive circuit, for determining a non-overlap time of the drive signal. The transformer is configured for generating a high frequency signal based on the power AC signal. The high frequency signal is configured for lightening a lamp, and maintaining the lightening of the lamp. The filter is used for filtering out noise in the feedback power AC signal.
US07714516B2
When the level at an input terminal goes low upon the reception of a signal to dim an LED, a PNP transistor is rendered on and a voltage at the positive input terminal of an operational amplifier is raised, in accordance with a time constant that is defined by a resistor and a capacitor. In accordance with the increase in this voltage, a source current is supplied from the operational amplifier to a current detection terminal, and as the value of the source current is gradually increased, a current flowing across the shunt resistor of the switching regulator is gradually reduced. Further, the light emission level of the LED is gradually lowered from the fully lighted state to the 70% lighted state, and there is, for the LED, a light quantity change of about 30% in ten seconds.
US07714508B2
A plasma display panel is provided. The plasma display panel includes a front glass substrate, a transparent electrode formed on the front glass substrate, a black layer formed on an upper part of the transparent electrode, and a bus electrode formed on an upper part of the black layer. The width of the bus electrode is less than the width of the black layer.
US07714499B2
An organic electro-luminescence device and a fabricating method thereof wherein an organic light-emitting layer can be provided at an accurate location to prevent a deterioration of picture quality. In the organic electro-luminescence device, a first barrier rib is provided between adjacent organic electro-luminescence cells along a first direction. A second barrier rib is provided between said adjacent organic electro-luminescence cells along a second direction and is positioned between the first barrier ribs.
US07714490B2
A spark plug for an internal combustion engine and related manufacturing method are disclosed having a metal shell, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode and a ground electrode. The center electrode includes a substantially columnar shaped base material body, and a substantially square shaped rod-like Ir alloy tip bonded to a leading end portion of the base material body. The leading end portion has a diameter D2 smaller than a diameter D1 of the base material body. The Ir alloy tip has a square shape with a long diagonal line supposed to form a diameter A of a circumscribed circle CA of the Ir alloy tip whose inscribed circle CB is coaxial with the circumscribed circle CA and has a diameter B, with four diameters A, B, D1 and D2 lay in the relationship expressed as D1>A>D2>B.
US07714487B2
It is possible to prolong service life of a discharge lamp of hot-cathode type and to reduce a diameter thereof. A discharge lamp 1 is provided with an electrode 3. The electrode 3 has a heater 4 made up a coil portion 4a, and a first lead wire portion 4b and a second lead wire portion 4c that respectively extend from rear ends of this coil portion 4a and applied by an electron emission material 3a. In the electrode 3, a first lead-in wires 6a is connected to the first lead wire portion 4b and a second lead-in wires 6b is connected to the second lead wire portion 4c, so that the coil portion 4a is arranged vertically along the tube axis of the glass tube 2. The electrode 3 is also provided a sleeve 7 covering surrounding of the coil portion 4a and having openings in the faces respectively opposite to the forward end and rear end of the coil portion 4a. An open end 7a of the sleeve 7 exceeds a forward end of the coil portion 4a, thereby protecting the coil portion 4a.
US07714483B2
A fuel injector includes a piezoelectric actuator subassembly having a casing and a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing. The piezoelectric element has an operating temperature range and includes a thermally contractive material having a negative thermal expansion coefficient over a second temperature range overlapping with the operating temperature range. A preload control element is coupled with the piezoelectric element and includes a thermally expansive material having a positive thermal expansion coefficient over the second temperature range. The preload control element maintains a constant preload on the piezoelectric element over a wide temperature range to inhibit temperature induced variability in operation, and can axially lengthen in opposition to axial shortening of the piezoelectric element, responsive to a temperature increase.
US07714480B2
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive membrane sensor is provided, wherein a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body contains an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and a sulfide and the main component of terminal electrodes are contained near the surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. A voltage equal to or higher than a withstand voltage is hardly applied to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body, and consequently, the sensor is prevented from dielectric breakdown. In addition, the sensor is hardly electrostatically charged, and thus prevented from electrostatic discharge damage and attraction of dust, dirt or the like.
US07714471B2
A motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor is relative to the stator, and has a rotation axis. A magnet and a magnetic-material member magnetically interact with each other. The magnet and the magnetic-material member are provided for enabling the stator and the rotor to magnetically attracting each other. The magnet has a shape of a ring, and is coaxial with the rotation axis. The magnet has an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The inner circumference and an outer circumference have a common center. The magnet has a plurality of N and S poles alternately arranged along a circumferential direction thereof. At least one of boundaries between the N and S poles extends on a straight line out of the common center. A method of manufacturing the motor, and a method of magnetizing a raw member for the magnet are also disclosed.
US07714469B2
In the base bracket of the motor, the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket includes a first bottom-inner area arranged over a circuit board attaching portion of a bottom-outer surface to which the circuit board is attached, and a second bottom-inner area arranged other than the first bottom-inner area in a level axially lower than the first bottom-inner area. The second bottom-inner area defines a base of the concave portion arranged in the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket. A characteristic frequency of the disk storage device using the motor with the base bracket is preferably adjustable by changing the depth or width of the concave portion while the strength of the base bracket is preferably maintained.
US07714468B2
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetoelectric generator including: a flywheel rotating around an axis of rotation; a plurality of magnets disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the flywheel and rotating together with the flywheel; a stator core disposed radially inside the magnets, the stator core being constituted by stacking a plurality of thin steel sheets and having: an annulus portion; and a plurality of teeth projecting radially outward from the annulus portion; and a generating coil configured by winding conducting wire onto the teeth, wherein: a coolant aperture through which a coolant passes is formed on the annulus portion so as to penetrate through the thin steel sheets in a direction of lamination.
US07714462B2
A composite backup-type power supply system can be configured and assembled to become a small backup-type power supply system or a large backup-type power supply system according to actual requirements. In a condition of a lower loading requirement, one power supply unit consisting of M+P sets of power supply devices can be selected to connect to a main power panel to form the small backup-type power supply system. When the load increases, extra N sets of power supply units each consisting of M+P sets of power supply devices can be added, and N+1 sets of power supply units are connected to the main power panel so that all the base power supply devices and backup power supply devices can be integrated to form the large backup-type power supply system.
US07714460B2
An electric steering lock device includes an operation relay for operating an electric motor, a pair of switching relays for switching the rotating direction of the electric motor, and diodes for energizing each relay connected to a port of a control unit respectively. A steering shaft is unlocked by providing the operation relay in an ON status to allow the electric motor to displace the locking rod in the unlocking direction. The steering shaft is locked by providing the operation relay and the pair of switching relays in an ON status respectively to allow the electric motor to displace the steering rod in the locking direction.
US07714459B2
A locking device for a steering spindle, includes a locking bolt arrangement and a control element coupled thereto, such that the locking bolt arrangement can be displaced in the axial direction between a locking position and a release end position by rotating the control element. An electronic control unit controls a motor drive and a sensor arrangement, coupled to the control unit for detection of at least one axial position of the locking bolt arrangement. The control unit switches off the motor drive when the locking bolt arrangement is displaced in the axial direction from the locking position to the release end position. The sensor arrangement emits an output signal which displays when a switching off position of the locking bolt arrangement has been reached. The sensor arrangement is so constructed that the output signal can receive a plurality of monotone output signal values which are dependent on the axial position thereof, at least in one displacement interval of the locking bolt arrangement precedent to the release end position and comprising a desired switching position, thus enabling the desired switching position to be selected by selecting an associated output signal value. The control unit includes a selection device which enables one of the desired switching off positions, corresponding to the output signal value as a threshold value to be selected, such that a signal is emitted when the motor drive is switched off, when the threshold value is reached, exceeded or is fallen below.
US07714457B2
The invention provides an environmentally friendly renewable energy harvesting system for harvesting wind energy on a frozen surface, as in cold weather climatic regions associated with higher latitudes or higher altitudes, with snow or ice surfaces. A plurality of ski, skate or runner supported wings or sails are connected together to form a wind energy harvesting system, and capture wind energy by appropriate setting of wing or sail angles of attack so as to drive a cyclic motion that in turn can drive energy capture means such as electric generator means. The invention thus provides a wind energy harvesting system which is supported by a frozen surface, which includes fluid-foil means for interfacing with an air current such as a wind and which includes energy harvesting means utilizing periodic motion of the fluid-foil means for capturing wind energy and converting it into usable energy in a desired form such as electricity. The present invention is intended to provide devices, methods and systems for harvesting renewable energy which can be efficient and cost-effective for small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale applications, to provide real and substantial benefits to meet local energy needs while also more broadly serving humanity and our global environment.
US07714433B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a semiconductor package having a plurality of fan blades embedded within a first surface of the package, where a first group of the fan blades extend from a first side of the package and a second group of the fan blades extend from a second side of semiconductor package. The fan blades may be powered by piezoelectric devices to cause motion of the fan blades. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07714419B2
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing an elevated tiebar; forming a die paddle connected to the elevated tiebar; attaching an integrated circuit die over the die paddle adjacent the elevated tiebar; attaching a shield over the elevated tiebar and the integrated circuit die; and forming an encapsulant over a portion of the elevated tiebar, the die paddle, and the integrated circuit die.
US07714415B2
A semiconductor package includes a lead structure upon which a semiconductor die is mounted with at least some portion of at least some of the leads extending to, at, or across an axis or axis of the package to militate against thermally induced growth of the package and the reduce or minimize strain within the package and reliability issuse associated therewith.
US07714407B2
A high voltage/power semiconductor device has a semiconductor layer having a high voltage terminal end and a low voltage terminal end. A drift region extends between the high and low voltage terminal ends. A dielectric layer is provided above the drift region. An electrical conductor extends across at least a part of the dielectric layer above the drift region, the electrical conductor being connected or connectable to the high voltage terminal end. The drift region has plural trenches positioned below the electrical conductor. The trenches extend laterally across at least a part of the drift region in the direction transverse the direction between the high and low voltage terminal ends of the semiconductor layer, each trench containing a dielectric material. The trenches improve the distribution of electric field in the device in the presence of the electrical conductor.
US07714406B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor wafer electrostatic clamp, comprising providing a mounting plate, forming an insulative layer on an insulating portion of the mounting plate, forming a first electrode on a first portion of the mounting plate, forming a second electrode on a second portion of the mounting plate, forming a first segment having a first conductivity over the first electrode, forming a first region having a second conductivity over the first segment that creates an n-p type composite, forming a second segment having a third conductivity formed over the over the second electrode, forming a second region having a fourth conductivity formed over the second region that creates an p-n type composite.
US07714395B2
A static random access memory at least includes: pluralities of transistors disposed on a substrate, each transistor at least includes a gate, a gate dielectric layer, a source doped region and a drain doped region, in which some of the source doped regions are used for connecting with a Vss voltage or a Vdd voltage, and a salicide layer disposed on the gates, the source doped regions except those source doped regions used for connecting a Vss voltage and a Vdd voltage and the drain doped regions.
US07714393B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including an N-channel insulated gate field effect transistor and a P-channel insulated gate field effect transistor, the device having: a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer; and gate electrode contact plugs. Each of the gate electrodes of the N-channel insulated gate field effect transistor and the P-channel insulated gate field effect transistor is buried in a gate electrode formation opening provided in the first insulating layer.
US07714382B2
A trench gate semiconductor device, which is capable of securing a sufficient margin for a photo process while achieving an enhancement in gate-source leakage characteristics, is disclosed. Embodiments relate to a trench gate semiconductor device including an oxide film buffer filling a trench in an upper surface of an epitaxial layer over a semiconductor substrate; a gate poly formed in a gate trench, the gate trench extending from the oxide film buffer to the epitaxial layer; NPN junctions formed beneath the oxide film buffer at opposite sides of the gate poly; and poly plugs to electrically connect P type portions of the NPN junctions to upper metal electrodes.
US07714362B2
A semiconductor device including a plurality of input/output cells and having a first bond pad and at least one second bond pad coupled to each input/output cell. The first bond pads comprise a first pattern, and the at least second bond pads comprise at least one second pattern, wherein the at least one second pattern is different from or the same as the first pattern. Either the first bond pads, the at least second bond pads, or both, may be used to electrically couple the input/output cells of the semiconductor device to leads of an integrated circuit package or other circuit component.
US07714354B2
A method is provided for electroforming metal integrated circuit structures. The method comprises: forming an opening such as a via or line through an interlevel insulator, exposing a substrate surface; forming a base layer overlying the interlevel insulator and substrate surface; forming a strike layer overlying the base layer; forming a top layer overlying the strike layer; selectively etching to remove the top layer overlying the substrate surface, exposing a strike layer surface; and, electroforming a metal structure overlying the strike layer surface. The electroformed metal structure is deposited using an electroplating or electroless deposition process. Typically, the metal is Cu, Au, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Pt, or Ag. The base, strike, and top layers can be deposited using physical vapor deposition (PVD), evaporation, reactive sputtering, or metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).
US07714340B2
A bottom-emitting nitride light-emitting device with enhanced light extraction efficiency is provided. The increased light output is provided by the reflector that redirects upward-going light towards the bottom output. A mesh contact area, in one form, spreads current across the entire carrier injection area without occupying the entire top surface of the device.
US07714334B2
A polarless surface mounting light emitting diode comprises a substrate; an upper surface of the substrate being etched with four independent metal thin film blocks; a lower surface of the substrate being formed with two independent metal thin film blocks; two ends of the substrate being formed with electroplated through holes; a plurality of metal thin films adhered upon the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate; two light emitting assemblies, each light emitting assembly being formed by a chip resistor and a chip light emitting diode; and a package layer. The connection of the polarless surface mounting light emitting diode of the present invention is not limited by the polarity. Any end of the polarless surface mounting light emitting diode can be connected to positive electrode or negative electrode.
US07714333B2
A solid-state element has: a semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, the semiconductor layer having a first layer that corresponds to an emission area of the solid-state element to and a second layer through which current is supplied to the first layer; a light discharge surface through which light emitted from the first layer is externally discharged, the light discharge surface being located on the side of the substrate; and an electrode having a plurality of regions that are of a conductive material and are in ohmic-contact with the second layer.
US07714327B2
An electronic device of the present invention includes a first substrate provided with a thin film active element, having a thickness of 200 μm or lower, and a second substrate formed with a high thermal conductivity portion. The second substrate is applied to one surface of the two surfaces of the first substrate, i.e., the surface being the side other than the side that formed with the thin film active element. The thin film active element has a maximum power consumption of 0.01 to 1 mW. The high thermal conductivity portion is a region that corresponds to the position of the thin film active element and whose thermal conductivity falls within the range from 0.1 to 4 W/cm·deg.
US07714321B2
An organic thin film transistor, a flat display device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the organic thin film transistor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the organic thin film transistor includes: i) a substrate, ii) a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, iii) a gate insulation film disposed on the gate electrode, iv) a source electrode and a drain electrode spaced from each other and disposed on the gate insulation film, v) an organic semiconductor layer contacting the source electrode and the drain electrode and having an edge to be distinguished from an adjacent organic thin film transistor, and vi) a cantilever layer disposed to cover the organic semiconductor layer, contacting a portion of a layer which is disposed in or under the organic semiconductor layer, and is exposed to the outside of the edge of the organic semiconductor layer. According to one embodiment, a patterning effect of an organic semiconductor layer is easily obtained and characteristics such as an on/off ratio are improved.
US07714318B2
An electronic device can include a transistor structure of a first conductivity type, a field isolation region, and a layer of a first stress type overlying the field isolation region. For example, the transistor structure may be a p-channel transistor structure and the first stress type may be tensile, or the transistor structure may be an n-channel transistor structure and the first stress type may be compressive. The transistor structure can include a channel region that lies within an active region. An edge of the active region includes the interface between the channel region and the field isolation region. From a top view, the layer can include an edge the lies near the edge of the active region. The positional relationship between the edges can affect carrier mobility within the channel region of the transistor structure.
US07714306B2
A lithographic apparatus includes a radiation source configured to emit radiation to form a radiation beam, the radiation being of a type which can create plasma in a low pressure environment in the apparatus, and an optical component configured to condition the radiation beam, impart the conditioned radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate, and/or to detect radiation. The optical component is provided with a plasma quenching structure, the plasma quenching structure being configured to provide electron-ion recombination in, on and/or near the optical component.
US07714303B2
Mitigative and remedial approaches to reduction of autofluorescence background noise are applied in analytical systems that rely upon sensitive measurement of fluorescent signals from arrays of fluorescent signal sources. Such systems are for particular use in fluorescence based sequencing by incorporation systems that rely upon small numbers or individual fluorescent molecules in detecting incorporation of nucleotides in primer extension reactions.
US07714300B1
One embodiment relates to a solid-state charged-particle detector. The detector includes a PIN diode and a conductive coating on the front-side of the PIN diode, wherein the front-side receives incident charged particles to be detected. In addition, the detector includes a metal layer on the backside of the PIN diode and electrical connections to the metal layer and to the conductive coating. Other embodiment are also disclosed.
US07714296B2
A radiation solid-state detecting device includes a cooling panel disposed on a surface of a sensor substrate that is irradiated with radiation, or on a rear surface of the sensor substrate opposite to the irradiated surface thereof. The cooling panel comprises a plurality of cooling units. Cooling units, which face (pixels depending on) the recording areas in which radiation image information is recorded in the sensor substrate, are energized to cool the recording areas.
US07714295B2
An image detecting device includes an image detector for recording an image therein and outputting the recorded image as image information, and a cooling panel disposed on a surface of the image detector for cooling the image detector, wherein the cooling panel has a thermal conductivity oriented in a planar direction along the surface of the image detector.
US07714293B2
A method includes mechanically correcting for a keystone effect on an x-ray detector.
US07714292B2
A avalanche mode photodiode array (102) is fabricated using a silicon on insulator wafer and substrate transfer process. The array includes a plurality of photodiodes (100). The photodiodes (100) include an electrically insulative layer (206), a depletion region (204), and first (208) and second (210) doped regions. An interconnection layer (212) includes electrodes (214, 216) which provides electrical connections to the photodiodes. The photodiode array (102) is carried by a handle wafer (217).
US07714291B2
The method calculates a scatter estimate for annihilation photons in a subject having a distribution of attenuation. The method can be used for scatter correction of detection data from a positron emission tomographic scanner. The method uses the following steps: —select a first scatter point S1 and a second scatter point S2, —determine a first scatter probability for scattering of a photon at scatter point S1 and a second scatter probability for scattering of a photon at scatter point S2, —determine an integral of the attenuation over a line connecting S1 and S2, —multiply the integral and the scatter probabilities and use the product in the calculation of the scatter estimate.
US07714287B1
Apparatus and method for obtaining topographical dark-field images in a scanning electron microscope
An electron beam apparatus is configured for dark field imaging of a substrate surface. Dark field is defined as an operational mode where the image contrast is sensitive to topographical features on the surface. A source generates a primary electron beam, and scan deflectors are configured to deflect the primary electron beam so as to scan the primary electron beam over the substrate surface whereby secondary and/or backscattered electrons are emitted from the substrate surface, said emitted electrons forming a scattered electron beam. A beam separator is configured to separate the scattered electron beam from the primary electron beam. The apparatus includes a cooperative arrangement which includes at least a ring-like element, a first grid, and a second grid. The ring-like element and the first and second grids each comprises conductive material. A segmented detector assembly is positioned to receive the scattered electron beam after the scattered electron beam passes through the cooperative arrangement. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. The apparatus is configured to yield good topographical contrast, high signal to noise ratio, and to accommodate a variety of scattered beam properties that result from different primary beam and scan geometry settings.
US07714282B2
A method of separating ions includes providing a FAIMS analyzer region for separating ions, the FAIMS analyzer region in fluid communication with an ionization source and with an ion detecting device. The method further includes affecting a gas composition within a first portion of the FAIMS analyzer region to be different from a gas composition within a second portion of the FAIMS analyzer region. The establishment of a gas composition gradient within the FAIMS analyzer region enhances ion focusing and ion transport efficiency.
US07714269B2
A light receiving circuit according to the present invention includes a current control voltage generation circuit 10 outputting control voltages Vcont1 and Vcont2, a first current adjusting circuit 11 generating a first output current Io1 by regulating a first input current Ii1 depending on a voltage difference of the control voltages Vcont1 and Vcont2, the first input current Ii1 generated by adding a first reference current Ia1 and an input current Ipd, a second current adjusting circuit 12 generating a second output current Io2 by regulating a second reference current Ia2 depending on the voltage difference of the control voltages Vcont1 and Vcont2, and a current voltage conversion circuit 13 generating a first output voltage Vo1 by converting the first output current Io1 to voltage based on a first resistance Rf1 and generating a second output voltage Vo2 by converting the second output current Io2 to voltage based on a second resistance Rf2.
US07714264B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor integrated circuit device such as a for-camera preprocessing LSI suitable for a semiconductor integrated circuit and having improved responsiveness. In a D/A converter circuit for generating a feedback signal for compensating for black level variation in a for-camera preprocessing LSI, first-conductivity-type MOSFETs as first current sources produce currents corresponding to digital signals. The digital signals are supplied to first-conductivity-type first differential MOSFETs and second-conductivity-type second differential MOSFETs, with the gates and drains of the first differential MOSFETs and the gates and drains of the second differential MOSFETs being connected together respectively. There is provided a differential amplifier circuit in which a bias voltage is supplied to a noninverting input terminal thereof and an inverting input terminal thereof is connected to an analog current output node which is the drains connected together of one sides of the first differential MOSFETs, and a resistive element is provided between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal thereof. A converted analog output voltage is generated at the output terminal, and a voltage equal to the bias voltage is supplied to drains of the other sides of the first differential MOSFETs.
US07714262B2
There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.
US07714260B2
A heliostat includes a pedestal, a transmission system, a heliostat frame assembly, and a mirror assembly. The heliostat frame assembly generally includes a first heliostat frame set and a second heliostat frame set mounted to the transmission system which is mounted upon the pedestal. Each heliostat frame set includes a stackable heliostat inner frame assembly and a stackable heliostat outer frame assembly. Each stackable heliostat inner frame assembly is identical and each stackable heliostat outer frame assembly is identical such that a multiple of heliostat inner frames and a multiple of heliostat outer frames are readily stackable in a nested arrangement for storage and transport.
US07714255B2
A flexible heating subassembly, that may be incorporated in a heating blanket or any other type of flexible heater, includes a flexible sheet-like heating element, or heater, to which first and second conductive bus bars are coupled, each with a respective first and second row of conductive stitching. A first electrically insulating member is interposed between the first bus bar and the heater and is secured therebetween by the first row of stitching, and a second electrically insulating member is interposed between the second bus bar and the heater and is secured therebetween by the second row of stitching. The first and second insulating members prevent direct electrical contact between respective first and second bus bars and the heater.
US07714249B2
A laser beam processing machine comprising a laser beam application means for applying a laser beam to the top surface of the workpiece held on the chuck table, the laser beam application means comprising a processing laser beam oscillation means for oscillating a processing laser beam and a condenser for converging the processing laser beam oscillated by the processing laser beam oscillation means, wherein the laser beam processing machine further comprises a focal point position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the focal point of the processing laser beam converged by the condenser, a height position detection means for applying a detection laser beam to the workpiece through the focal point position adjusting means to detect the height position of the top surface of the workpiece based on its reflected light, and a control means for controlling the focal point position adjusting means based on the detection value of the height position detection means.
US07714235B1
Microelectronic contact structures (260, 360, 460) are lithographically defined and fabricated by applying a masking layer (220, 320, 420) on a surface of a substrate (202, 302, 402) such as an electronic component, creating an opening (222, 322, 422) in the masking layer, depositing a conductive trace of a seed layer (250, 350, 450) onto the masking layer and into the openings, and building up a mass of conductive material on the conductive trace. The sidewalls of the opening can be sloped (tapered). The conductive trace can be patterned by depositing material through a stencil or shadow mask (240, 340, 440). A protruding feature (230, 430) may be disposed on the masking layer so that a tip end (264, 364, 464) of the contact structure acquires a topography. All of these elements can be constructed as a group to form a plurality of precisely positioned resilient contact structures.
US07714231B2
A motor winding wire. The motor winding wire may be configured for use in, and direct exposure to, a hydrocarbon environment. The motor winding wire may be electrically insulated by one polymer layer, whereas another, outer, polymer layer is employed to provide moisture resistance as well as other contaminant and hydrocarbon environment shielding to the underlying layer. Additionally, this manner of polymer layering over the motor winding wire is achieved in a manner cognizant of the limited dimension of the motor winding wire.
US07714217B2
A coated string for a stringed device which includes a coating applied to the surface of the string. The coating includes a base layer bonded to the surface of the string and an at least partially transparent low-friction top coat applied to the base layer. The base layer includes heat activated pigments that change color when heated above a color shifting temperature. In one embodiment, the color of the pigment in one area contrasts with the color of the pigment in an adjacent area without otherwise affecting the low-friction surface of the coating. The areas of different color created in locations along the length of the low-friction coated string.
US07714216B1
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH491400. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH491400, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH491400 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH491400.
US07714215B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH155784. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH155784, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH155784 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH155784.
US07714204B1
An inbred corn line, designated 5RQ675, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line 5RQ675, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line 5RQ675 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line 5RQ675 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 5RQ675, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 5RQ675 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US07714199B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7824344 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7824344, to the plants of soybean 7824344, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7824344 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7824344 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7824344, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7824344 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7824344 with another soybean cultivar.
US07714198B2
A soybean cultivar designated S070154 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S070154, to the plants of soybean S070154, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S070154 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S070154 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety S070154, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S070154 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S070154 with another soybean cultivar.
US07714193B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated 08550821. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line 08550821, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line 08550821 with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line 08550821, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.
US07714189B2
The present invention provides a method for altering the tryptophan content of a plant by introducing and expressing an artificial polynucleotide sequence encoding an anthranilate synthase in the cells of the plant. Transgenic plants transformed with an artificial polynucleotide sequence encoding an anthranilate synthase, as well as human or animal food, seeds, and progeny derived from these plants, are also provided.
US07714188B2
Novel proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are novel polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these novel proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these novel compounds, diversification methods involving the novel compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the novel methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate.
US07714187B2
Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the level of phytate in plants. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of modulating the level of phytate utilizing nucleic acids comprising Ins (1,3,4,5,6)P52-kinase (IP2K) nucleotide sequences to modulate the expression of IP2K in a plant of interest. The compositions and methods of the invention find use in agriculture for improving the nutritional quality of food and feed by reducing the levels of phytate and/or increasing the levels of non-phytate phosphorus in food and feed. The invention also finds use in reducing the environmental impact of animal waste.
US07714182B2
A method for treating bottom ash from a waste incineration plant. The invention relates in particular to a method for treating bottom ash from a domestic waste incineration plant. In accordance with the invention bottom ash having a size ranging up to 2 mm is treated by removing a previously determined component. The treatment comprises at least one of the following steps: the removal of organic components, the removal of heavy metals, the removal of ions and the removal of a fraction having a size of up to 50 μm. It is preferred for the nonferrous heavy metals to be removed and the ferrous metals to remain in the fraction. Most preferably at least one of the treatment steps comprises a wet treatment.
US07714181B2
Process for separating colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture using a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, by contacting the hydrocarbon mixture with the feed side of the membrane, wherein between the feed and permeate sides of the membrane a pressure difference is applied, thereby passing part of the hydrocarbon mixture from the feed side to the permeate side and obtaining at the permeate side of the membrane a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants, and by removing the hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane, wherein during selected time intervals the removal of hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane is stopped so that the pressure difference over the membrane is temporarily substantially lowered.
US07714175B2
According to the present invention, two hydroxyl groups can be introduced into the 1-position and the 4-position of the benzene ring of an aromatic compound highly efficiently and highly selectively by a one step process to give the corresponding aromatic hydroxide.The present invention provides a production method of an aromatic hydroxide represented by the formula (2) wherein R1, R2, R3, and, R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-20, and R1, R2 and/or R3 and R4 are optionally bonded to each other to form a ring, which comprises irradiating light to a photoelectrode comprised of metal oxide while applying a given potential in the presence of an aromatic compound represented by the formula (1) wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined above.
US07714164B2
In a production method in which an acrylic acid-containing solution obtained from an acrylic acid-containing gas (or an acrylic acid-containing liquid obtained simply by subjecting the acrylic acid-containing solution to a separation process of reaction by-products) is directly subjected to a crystallization process, the crystallization process can't be carried out smoothly in an unsteady state (when the concentration of water in the acrylic acid-containing solution is high). The present invention aims to provide a method for collecting the purified acrylic acid having high purity in good yield even in an unsteady state.When the acrylic acid-containing solutions 18 and 16 have a concentration of water higher than 10 mass % (unsteady state), the purified acrylic acid 20 and 22 or the acrylic acid-containing solution 23 containing 10 mass % or less of water is mixed therewith to make the concentration of water 10 mass % or less [a] [b]. Alternatively, when the acrylic acid-containing solutions 18 and 16 have a concentration of water higher than 10 mass %, it is used as an absorption liquid [c]. Thereafter, the crystallization process is carried out.
US07714160B2
An alkyl nitrite is produced with high efficiency by bringing a nitrogen monoxide gas into contact with an aqueous solution of an alkyl alcohol and nitric acid in a reactor 2, which aqueous solution may be a liquid fraction generated in an alkyl nitrite-production process in which an alkyl alcohol is reacted with nitrogen monoxide and oxygen in a reaction column 1.
US07714158B2
The present invention relates to a new polymorph crystal form of 3-(N-methyl-N-pentyl) amino-1-hydroxypropane-1 1-diphosphonic acid monosodium salt monohydrate (Ibandronate) with the following formula.
US07714155B2
An alkoxide compound of formula (I) suitable as a material for thin film formation used in thin film formation involving vaporization of a material such as CVD, a material for thin film formation including the alkoxide compound, and a process for thin film formation using the material. The process includes vaporizing the material for thin film formation, introducing the resulting vapor containing the alkoxide compound, onto a substrate, and causing the vapor to decompose and/or chemically react to form a thin film on the substrate. wherein one of R1 and R2 represents an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, the other representing a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms; R3 and R4 each represent an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms; A represents an alkanediyl group having 1-8 carbon atoms; M represents a silicon atom or a hafnium atom; and n represents 4.
US07714149B2
The present invention provides a chiral ligand, represented by a formula or its enantiomer: X and X′ can be independently O, NH, NR, NCOR or S; each of Z1-Z7 and Z1′-Z7′ can be independently H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, alkoxyl, aryloxyl, nitro, amide, aryoxide, halide, hydroxyl, carboxylate, hetereoaryl, or a cyclic alkene, fused aryl, or cyclic ether group formed from any two adjacent Z groups or any two adjacent Z′ groups; Y and Y′ can be independently OH, OR, NH2, NHR, NR2, SH, PR2, OPR2, NHPR2, OP(OR)2, COOH, COOR, CONHR, or a linking group formed from Y and Y′ groups together. Processes of preparing these ligands, catalysts that employ them and methods of using the catalysts are also provided.
US07714146B2
The invention is related to novel azulene-oxindole compounds having formula (I) shown below, wherein one of R1, R2 and R3 represents a moiety of formula (II), each of A1 and A2 independently is nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, each of the others of R1, R2, R3, R1, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, and R14 is as recited in the specification. The novel compound potentially inhibits multiple kinases and thus can be used to treat some disease like cancer or inflammatory.
US07714138B2
The present invention is directed to compounds having the formula and methods for using them for the treatment of cancer.
US07714129B2
Provided is a method of preparing aripiprazole anhydrous Form II from aripiprazole.
US07714124B2
Sulfation or sulfonation of cellulose and cellulose ethers is conducted in an ionic liquid such as a quaternary ammonium salt. Detergent compositions containing the sulfated or sulfonated reaction product are suitable for fabric cleansing.
US07714117B2
The present invention is directed toward biomarkers that identify characteristics of algae. The invention is further directed toward biomarkers that serve to identify algae species and strains of algae species as well as detect the presence of algal toxins. Additional embodiments feature methods utilizing algal biomarkers and polypeptides that can serve as biomarkers.
US07714116B2
Recombinational cloning is provided by the use of nucleic acids, vectors and methods, in vitro and in vivo, for moving or exchanging segments of DNA molecules using engineered recombination sites and recombination proteins to provide chimeric DNA molecules that have the desired characteristic(s) and/or DNA segment(s).
US07714111B2
The invention relates to methods for isolating a product and/or reducing turbidity and/or impurities from a load fluid comprising the product and one or more impurities by passing the load fluid through a medium, followed by at least one wash solution comprising an arginine derivative, and collecting the product using an elution solution. The invention further relates to a product prepared using a method as described herein.
US07714106B2
The present invention discloses novel pest control compounds comprising NPF polypeptides and methods for using such compounds in the control of pests.
US07714092B2
The invention provides branched copolymers as precursors for preparing silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics represented by the general formulae: [Si(˜)RC(˜)H]xn[SiR1R2CH2]yn, Formula Type-I wherein n is the degree of polymerization, 0.1≦x<0.8, 0.2≦y<0.9 and x+y=1; and R=methyl or H, R1 and R2 are randomly composed of hydrogen (H), allyl, methyl (Me), phenyl (Ph), propargyl or vinyl. Another branched copolymer is represented by the general formula: [Si(˜)RC(˜)H]xn[SiR1R2CH2]yn[SiR3R4CH2]zn Formula Type-II wherein n is the degree of polymerization, 0.1≦x<0.8, 0≦y<0.8, 0.2≦z<0.8 and x+y+z=1; and R=methyl or H, R1 and R2 are randomly composed of hydrogen (H), methyl (Me) and phenyl; R3 and R4 are randomly composed of H, allyl, methyl, phenyl (Ph), propargyl, and vinyl. The invention also provides methods for the preparation of such branched copolymers.
US07714088B2
An activated, substantially water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol) is provided having of a linear or branched poly(ethylene glycol) backbone and at least one terminus linked to the backbone through a hydrolytically stable linkage, wherein the terminus is branched and has proximal reactive groups. The free reactive groups are capable of reacting with active moieties in a biologically active agent such as a protein or peptide thus forming conjugates between the activated (polyethylene glycol) and the biologically active agent.
US07714085B2
An anionic polymerizable monomer is added to a reaction system in which an anion species which is incapable of initiating polymerization but may react with polymerization inhibiting substances to convert them into compounds that do not inhibit polymerization is present, and then an anion species capable of initiating polymerization is added thereto. It becomes possible to produce high molecular weight polymers and to precisely control the molecular weight thereof even if polymerization inhibiting substances are present in the system or when polymerization inhibiting substances enter from outside.
US07714079B2
The present invention relates to ultra-large scale integrated (ULSI) interconnect structures, and more particularly to patternable low dielectric constant (low-k) materials suitable for use in ULSI interconnect structures. The patternable low-k dielectrics disclosed herein are functionalized polymers that having one or more acid-sensitive imageable functional groups.
US07714075B1
This invention concerns a free radical polymerization process, selected chain transfer agents employed in the process and polymers made thereby, in which the process comprises preparing polymer of general Formula (A) and Formula (B) comprising contacting: (i) a monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl monomers (of structure CH2═CUV), maleic anhydride, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate and cyclopolymerizable monomers; (ii) a thiocarbonylthio compound selected from Formula (C) and Formula (D) having a chain transfer constant greater than about 0.1; and (iii) free radicals produced from a free radical source; the polymer of Formula (A) being made by contacting (i), (ii) C and (iii) and that of Formula (B) by contacting (i), (ii) D, and (iii); and (iv) controlling the polydispersity of the polymer being formed by varying the ratio of the number of molecules of (ii) to the number of molecules of (iii); wherein Q, R, U, V, Z, Z′, m, p and q are as defined in the text.
US07714073B2
The invention provides blends comprising an ethylene copolymer formed from ethylene with at least one comonomer selected from (a) the group comprising compounds represented by the formula H2C═CHR wherein R represents a C1-C20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or a C6-C20 aryl group, and (b) a C4-C20 linear, branched or cyclic diene. Each copolymer has a specific density, a specific molecular weight distribution, and a specific comonomer content distribution characteristic.
US07714067B2
A block copolymer mixture containing a branched block copolymer characterized in that it has at least three types of polymer blocks with different molecular weights, each comprising a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon as monomer units, the molecular weight distribution of a mixture of the polymer blocks S1, S2 and S3 each comprising a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon as monomer units is within a specific range, and in a gel permeation chromatogram of the mixture of three types of the polymer blocks S1, S2 and S3, M1/M3 and M2/M3 are within specific ranges, where M1, M2 and M3 are peak top molecular weights of the respective polymer blocks.
US07714062B2
A powder coating composition comprising (A) at least one hydroxyl functional polyurethane resin binder, and (B) at least one polyurethane resin as cross-linking agent containing blocked isocyanate groups, wherein the at least one hydroxyl functional polyurethane resin binder (A) and the at least one polyurethane resin (B) both having a melting temperature of 60 to 180° C., in particular, 80 to 160° C.; the powder coating composition makes it possible to achieve a low melt viscosity and an excellent processability along with a good storage stability and in particular, to form thin films of the coating layers having high flexibility in combination with an excellent weather resistance.
US07714056B2
Thermoplastic polymers, rubbery polymeric components and reinforcing fillers are mixed and heated to a range of 380° F. to 440° F. The resulting mixture is then fed into a Banbury mixer, with the resulting mixture fed into a diverter feeding two molds. The velocity of the piston of each mold being filled is controlled to thereby control the density of the molded product along its length. As each mold is filled, it is deposited in a cool water bath (50° F.-60° F.) while the next mold is being filled. The molds are sequentially transferred to an air cooling rack to complete the process. A texture, generally comprising indentations perpendicular to the longitudinal axis on the molded object, provides a frictional surface between the railway crosstie and the ballast beneath the crosstie.
US07714051B2
The present invention is directed to a rubber compound, such as for use in tires, containing one or more polyoxyalkylene amines, such as to reduce the amount of silane coupling agent conventionally used therein. The presence of the polyoxyalkylene amine(s) allows for the silane coupling agent to be present in a low percent by weight of silica without substantially sacrificing the performance characteristics of the rubber compound. In one embodiment, the rubber compound includes 100 phr of a natural elastomer, a synthetic elastomer, or combinations thereof, no less than about 20 phr silica, a silane coupling agent present in an amount no more than 8% by weight of the silica, and about 2 phr to about 10 phr of at least one polyoxyalkylene amine defined by a primary amino group attached to the terminus of a polyether backbone.
US07714044B2
A description is given of the use of naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic monoimides of the formula (I), in which R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl and R2 is a radical containing at least one π electron system containing a carbon atom and at least one further atom selected from carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, with the proviso that the radical contains at least one atom other than carbon; to protect organic material from the damaging effects of light, of compositions which comprise at least one naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic monoimide of the formula (I) in an amount which provides protection from the damaging effects of light, and at least one organic material, and of new naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic monoimides (I).
US07714041B2
The plasticity of a tread composition may advantageously be increased by incorporating, for example, a relatively small amount of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”). A tread cap composition, in accordance with the principles of the invention, may be a composition resulting from the combination of components including: a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer containing olefinic unsaturation; a reinforcing filler; a mineral oil softener; a silane coupling agent; and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”).
US07714031B2
Shaped articles of melamine/formaldehyde foam have a formaldehyde emission of less than 0.1 ppm, determined according to DIN 55666, and are obtainable by the following process: a) a foam is prepared from a melamine/formaldehyde precondensate having a molar melamine: formaldehyde ratio greater than 0.5, b) the foam obtained is annealed at below 200° C., and c) the annealed foam is molded in a press at from 160 to 240° C. and an absolute pressure from 5 to 100 bar in the course of from 15 to 120 seconds to give the shaped article.
US07714027B2
An aromatic polymer film substrate, or a grafted aromatic polymer film substrate having a monomer introduced therein as graft chains is irradiated with ionizing radiation to impart a crosslinked structure. The aromatic polymer film substrate or the grafted aromatic polymer film substrate, provided with the crosslinked structure, is directly sulfonated to obtain a crosslinked aromatic polymer electrolyte membrane. The crosslinked aromatic polymer electrolyte membrane has low water uptake, high proton conductivity, low methanol permeability, high chemical stability, and excellent mechanical characteristics. A method for producing the crosslinked aromatic polymer electrolyte membrane is also provided.
US07714016B2
The present disclosure provides drug-cleavable substrate conjugates that are potent cytotoxins. The disclosure is also directed to compositions containing the drug-cleavable substrate conjugates, and to methods of treatment using them.
US07714011B2
A gelled composition formulated to maintain an active ingredient in association with the nasal membrane for an extended period of time is provided. The gelled composition may be formulated as a decongestant or a sinus discomfort relieving agent. The invention further includes a system and method for applying the gelled composition to the nasal membrane.
US07714005B2
Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 binding inhibitors useful in the treatment of unwanted proliferating cells, including cancers and precancers, in subjects in need of such treatment. Also provided are methods of treating a subject having unwanted proliferating cells comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 binding inhibitor described herein to a subject in need of such treatment. Also provided are methods of preventing the proliferation of unwanted proliferating cells, such as cancers and precancers, in a subject comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 binding inhibitor described herein to a subject at risk of developing a condition characterized by unwanted proliferating cells.
US07714003B2
This invention relates to compounds of Formula I and the use of compounds of Formula I as neuroprotective agents in the treatment of neuronal disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Formula I:
US07713999B2
Heterocyclic-substituted tricyclics of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: the dotted line represents an optional single bond; represents an optional double bond, n is 0-2; Q is cycloalkyl, optionally substituted by R13 and R14; R13 and R14 are independently selected from (C1-C6)alkyl, (C3-C8)cycloalkyl, —OH, (C1-C6)alkoxy, R27-aryl(C1-C6)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, halogen and haloalkyl; or R13 and R14 together form a spirocyclic or a heterospirocyclic ring of 3-6 atoms, Het is a mono- or bi-cyclic optionally substituted heteroaryl group; and B is a bond, alkylene, or optionally substituted alkenylene or alkynylene, wherein the remaining substituents are as defined in the specification, are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them and a method of treating diseases associated with thrombosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart failure, and cancer by administering said compounds. Combination therapy with other cardiovascular agents is also claimed.
US07713994B2
This invention provides compounds of Formula (I), having the structure where G1, G2, G3, G4, A1, A2, Y1, Y2, L1, Z, e and f are defined herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which are useful for treating or preventing cancer.
US07713992B2
The present invention relates to adenosine A3 receptor ligands of the general formula (I), within those preferably antagonists, as well as their salts, solvates and isomers, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, to the use of the compounds of the general formula (I), as well as their salts, solvates and isomers, to the preparation of the compounds of the general formula (I) and their salts, solvates and isomers, furthermore to the new intermediates of the general formulae (II) and to the preparation thereof.
US07713985B2
Compounds having the structural formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X1 and X2 are 1-3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, halo, —CF3, —OCF3, alkoxy, —OH and —CN; n is 0, 1 or 2; and R and R1 are H or alkyl; also disclosed is the use of the compounds in the treatment of CNS diseases such as Parkinson's disease, alone or in combination with other agents for treating CNS diseases, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and kits comprising the components of the combinations.
US07713982B2
The present invention relates to a therapeutically active xanthine derivative compound of formula (I): corresponding pharmaceutical formulations containing, manufacture processes for, methods or uses of such compounds in therapy, in particular for treatment of diseases where under-activation of the HM74A receptor contributes to such diseases or where activation of the HM74A receptor will be beneficial.
US07713979B2
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula I: (I) having 11beta-HSD type 1 antagonist activity, as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I, as well as the use of the Formula I and compositions as medicaments to treat diabetes, hyperglycemia, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, Syndrome X, and other conditions associated with hyperglycemia.
US07713972B2
The present invention provides the compounds inhibiting PDE 7 selectively, and therefore, enhances cellular cAMP level. Consequently, the compound is useful for treating various kinds of disease such as allergic disease, inflammatory disease or immunologic disease. The compound is imidazotriazinone compound represented by the following formula (IA) or (IB): especially, R1 is cyclohexyl group, R2 is methyl group; R3 is a hydrogen atom; nitro group; cyano group; a halogen atom; heteroaryl group; substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; substituted or unsubstituted C2-C6 alkenyl group; saturated or unsaturated heterocycloalkyl group which is substituted or unsubstituted; a group: —NR5R6, —C(O)R7, —SO2R7, —OR8, —NR8COR7, —NR8S02R7; A is CR4; and B is CH.
US07713967B2
Compounds comprising a structure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof; wherein a dashed line represents the presence or absence of a bond are disclosed, wherein Y, A, B, and J are as described. Methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.
US07713961B2
The present invention relates to substituted 1,2-ethylenediamines of general formula (I) wherein the groups R1 to R15, A, B, L, i as well as X1—X4 are defined as in the specification and claims and the use thereof for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and similar diseases.
US07713960B2
The invention disclosed herein provides for methods of treating cancer using inhibitors of the Raf/Mek/P-Erk 1/2 pathway. These inhibitors include B2AR agonists (such as ARA-211 (pirbuterol) and isoproterenol), adenylyl cyclase activators, cAMP analogs and Epac activators. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing cancer in an individual.
US07713957B2
Pharmaceutical composition containing gabapentin or pregabalin and N-type calcium channel antagonist
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition useful for preventing/treating pain, which comprises combination of gabapentin or pregabalin, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and N-type calcium channel antagonists or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof such as a compound having the following structure.
US07713947B2
The present invention is related to the use of Cladribine for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, especially relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis or early secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, wherein the preparation is to be orally administered and wherein re-treatments are possible.
US07713931B2
This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US07713930B2
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of insulin, an insulin metabolite, an insulin analog, an insulin derivative and combinations thereof; a surfactant or combinations of two or more surfactants; optionally a preservative or combinations of two or more preservatives; and optionally an isotonicizing agent, buffers or further excipients or combinations thereof, the pharmaceutical formulation having a pH in the acidic range.
US07713929B2
A combined rapid acting-long acting insulin formulation has been developed in which the pH of the rapid acting insulin is decreased so that the long acting glargine remains soluble when they are mixed together. In the preferred embodiment, this injectable basal bolus insulin is administered before breakfast, provides adequate bolus insulin levels to cover the meal, does not produce hypoglycemia after the meal and provides adequate basal insulin for 24 hours. Lunch and dinner can be covered by two bolus injections of a fast acting, or a rapid acting or a very rapid acting insulin. As a result, a patient using intensive insulin therapy should only inject three, rather than four, times a day.
US07713928B1
Ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions, methods of using the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions, and methods of preparing the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions. The ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprise bivalirudin and one or more stabilizing agents. The one or more stabilizing agents may be buffering agents having a pKa of about 2.5 to about 6.5, pH-adjusting agents, polymers, preservatives, antioxidants, sugars or polyols, or a combination thereof. The ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions may also comprise [9-10]-cycloimido bivalirudin, [11-12]-cycloimido bivalirudin, or a combination thereof. The method of using the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprises administering the ready-to-use compositions to a patient in need thereof. Further, the method of preparing the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprises mixing bivalirudin with one or more stabilizing agents.
US07713913B2
The present invention is directed to a composition comprising glyphosate and at least one taurate salt. This composition can further comprise a water-immiscible phase comprising a triazolinone herbicide and one or more aromatic solvents with an aqueous phase comprising the glyphosate and an emulsifier comprising the at least one taurate salt. The glyphosate and emulsifier of the present invention can be advantageously mixed with the triazolinone herbicide and one or more aromatic solvents to produce compositions that are chemically and physically stable.
US07713912B2
The present invention relates to a nano-sized photocatalytic sol and application thereof. The invention utilizes spherical nano-photocatalyst and non-spherical photocatalytic sol for coating a photocatalyst layer on a substrate. Because of the stereo, interlaced and composite structure between spherical photocatalyst and non-spherical photocatalyst, a hard and well adhesion coated layer of photocatalyst with good photocatalytic activity can be obtained without using binder.
US07713908B2
A method of producing a porous composite metal oxide comprising the steps of: dispersing first metal oxide powder, which is an aggregate of primary particles each with a diameter of not larger than 50 nm, in a dispersion medium by use of microbeads each with a diameter of not larger than 150 μm, thus obtaining first metal oxide particles, which are 1 nm to 50 nm in average particle diameter, and not less than 80% by mass of which are not larger than 75 nm in diameter; dispersing and mixing up, in a dispersion medium, the first metal oxide particles and second metal oxide powder, which is an aggregate of primary particles each with a diameter of not larger than 50 nm, and which is not larger than 200 nm in average particle diameter, thus obtaining a homogeneously-dispersed solution in which the first metal oxide particles and second metal oxide particles are homogeneously dispersed; and drying the homogeneously-dispersed solution, thus obtaining a porous composite metal oxide.
US07713906B2
A catalyst composition comprising titanium incorporated into a silica support, characterized in that the silica support is a shaped extrudate of silica powder. The catalyst composition is useful in the epoxidation of olefins into alkylene oxides using organic hydroperoxides. The composition can be prepared by extruding silica powder into an extrudate having a selected shape; calcining the extrudate; impregnating the extrudate with a titanium-containing impregnating agent; and drying and calcining the impregnated extrudate.
US07713905B2
The present invention concerns a process for “ex situ” treatment of a hydrogenation catalyst containing nickel prior to use, consisting of carrying out three steps, namely bringing the catalyst into contact with at least one sulphur-containing compound or agent (the step termed selectivation), treating said catalyst with hydrogen at a temperature of more than 250° C. (the step termed reduction) and passivation of said catalyst.
US07713900B2
The present invention provides bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds of the formula wherein R is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; R′ and R″ are independently optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or an enantiomer thereof; or an enantiomeric mixture thereof. The compounds of the formula (I) are chiral atropisomeric bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds and, thus, may be employed as ligands to generate chiral transition metal catalysts which may be applied in a variety of asymmetric reactions, e.g., in palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The compounds of the present invention are easily accessible in high enantiomeric purity according to the methods disclosed herein.
US07713897B2
Disclosed are ceramic articles comprising a sintered phase ceramic composition containing, as expressed on a weight percent oxide basis: a(Al2TiO5)+b(ZrTiO4)+c(Y2O3)+d(YPO4) wherein “a, b, c, and d” represent weight fractions of each component such that (a+b+c+d)=1.00 and wherein 0.5
US07713880B2
Recessing a trench using feed forward data is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a region on a wafer including a trench area that includes a trench and a field area that is free of any trench, and a material applied over the region so as to fill the trench in the trench area and form a step between the trench area and the field area; etching to partially etch the trench; determining a target etch duration (tD) for etching to the target depth (DT); and etching the trench to the target depth (DT) for a period approximately equal to the target etch duration (tD). The target etch duration tD may be fed forward for recessing another trench to the target depth DT. The method does not require a send ahead wafer, is fully compatible with conventional automated processes and provides in-situ etch time correction to each wafer.
US07713876B2
A method for integrating a Ru layer with bulk Cu in semiconductor manufacturing. The method includes depositing a Ru layer onto a substrate in a chemical vapor deposition process, modifying the deposited Ru layer by oxidation, or nitridation, or a combination thereof, depositing an ultra thin Cu layer onto the modified Ru layer, and plating a Cu layer onto the ultra thin Cu layer.
US07713871B2
An embodiment of a system for contacting at least one electronic device having a plurality of contact elements is proposed. The system includes a substrate having a main surface and a plurality of contact terminals projecting from the main surface, wherein each contact terminal includes a core of polymeric material and a covering of conductive material surrounding the core, the covering having an operative portion spaced apart from the main surface for electrically connecting a corresponding contact element and a lateral portion extending between the main surface and the operative portion. In an embodiment, the lateral portion forms an angle with the main surface between 45° and 75°.
US07713863B2
A method for manufacturing a dual damascene structure includes forming a wiring layer over a substrate, forming an inorganic insulating film over the wiring layer, forming a via hole in the inorganic insulating film using a first resist pattern with an opening as an etching mask, removing the first resist pattern, forming an organic insulating film on the inorganic insulating film and in the via hole, forming a hard mask on the organic insulating film, forming a hard mask pattern using a second resist pattern with an opening on the hard mask as an etching mask, forming a wiring groove by etching the organic insulating film using the second resist pattern and the hard mask pattern as etching masks until the organic insulating film inside the via hole is eliminated and simultaneously eliminating the second resist pattern, and implanting a conductive substance into the via hole and wiring groove.
US07713860B2
The method mainly contains the following steps. First, an UBM is formed on a top side of a semiconductor's I/O pad. An isolative layer and a metallic foil are sequentially arranged in this order on the UBM. Then, a via is formed to expose the top surface of the UBM. Subsequently, a thin metallic layer is formed in the via and a resist is formed on the metallic foil. Then, by using the metallic foil and the thin metallic layer as an electrode to conduct electrical current, a metallic bump is formed using electroplating in the via on the top side of the UBM. Finally, the resist and the metallic foil are removed and the formation of the metallic bump is completed.
US07713858B2
A carbon nanotube (CNT) array is patterned on a substrate. The substrate can be a microelectronic die, an interposer-type structure for a flip-chip, a mounting substrate, or a board. The CNT array is patterned by using a patterned metallic seed layer on the substrate to form the CNT array by chemical vapor deposition. The patterned CNT array can also be patterned by using a patterned mask on the substrate to form the CNT array by growing. A computing system that uses the CNT array for heat transfer from the die is also used.
US07713851B2
A silicon epitaxial layer 2 is grown in vapor phase on a silicon single crystal substrate 1 manufactured by the Czochralski method, and doped with boron so as to adjust the resistivity to 0.02 Ω·cm or below, oxygen precipitation nuclei 11 are formed in the silicon single crystal substrate 1, by carrying out annealing at 450° C. to 750° C., in an oxidizing atmosphere, for a duration of time allowing formation of a silicon oxide film only to as thick as 2 nm or below on the silicon epitaxial layer 2 as a result of the annealing, and thus-formed silicon oxide film 3 is etched as the first cleaning after the low-temperature annealing, using a cleaning solution. By this process, the final residual thickness of the silicon oxide film can be suppressed only to a level equivalent to native oxide film, without relying upon the hydrofluoric acid cleaning.
US07713847B2
A method for preparing an AlGaN crystal layer with good surface flatness is provided. A surface layer of AlN is epitaxially formed on a c-plane sapphire single crystal base material by MOCVD method, and the resulting laminated body is then heated at a temperature of 1300° C. or higher so that a template substrate applying in-plane compressive stress and having a surface layer flat at a substantially atomic level is obtained. An AlGaN layer is formed on the template substrate at a deposition temperature higher than 1000° C. by an MOCVD method that includes depositing alternating layers of a first unit layer including a Group III nitride represented by the composition formula AlxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1) and a second unit layer including a Group III nitride represented by the composition formula AlyGa1-yN (0≦y≦1 and y≠x) such that the AlGaN layer has a superlattice structure.
US07713842B2
In a method for producing a bonded wafer by bonding a wafer for active layer to wafer for support layer and then thinning the wafer for active layer, a terrace grinding for forming a terrace portion is carried out prior to a step of exposing the oxygen ion implanted layer to thereby leave an oxide film on a terrace portion of the wafer for support layer.
US07713835B2
New spin-on, bonding compositions and methods of using those compositions are provided. The cured bonding compositions comprise a crosslinked oxazoline (either crosslinked with another oxazoline or with a crosslinking agent), and can be used to bond an active wafer to a carrier wafer or substrate to assist in protecting the active wafer and its active sites during subsequent processing and handling. The compositions form bonding layers that are chemically and thermally resistant, but that can be thermally decomposed at 285° C. or higher to allow the wafers to slide apart at the appropriate stage in the fabrication process.
US07713834B2
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The liner for the trench is formed from a semiconductor or metal layer which is deposited in a low temperature process which reduces germanium outgassing. The low temperature process can be a ALD process.
US07713829B2
A SiGe bipolar transistor containing substantially no dislocation defects present between the emitter and collector region and a method of forming the same are provided. The SiGe bipolar transistor includes a collector region of a first conductivity type; a SiGe base region formed on a portion of said collector region; and an emitter region of said first conductivity type formed over a portion of said base region, wherein said collector region and said base region include carbon continuously therein. The SiGe base region is further doped with boron.
US07713826B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a high-k dielectric thin layer formed using an interfacial reaction. The method includes the steps of: forming an oxide layer on a silicon substrate; depositing a metal layer on the oxide layer to form a metal silicate layer using an interfacial reaction between the oxide layer and the metal layer; forming a metal gate by etching the metal silicate layer and the metal layer; and forming a lightly doped drain (LDD) region and source and drain regions in the silicon substrate after forming the metal gate. In this method, a semiconductor device having high quality and performance can be manufactured by a simpler process at lower cost.
US07713825B2
Exemplary embodiments provide manufacturing methods for forming a doped region in a semiconductor. Specifically, the doped region can be formed by multiple ion implantation processes using a patterned photoresist (PR) layer as a mask. The patterned PR layer can be formed using a hard-bakeless photolithography process by removing a hard-bake step to improve the profile of the patterned PR layer. The multiple ion implantation processes can be performed in a sequence of, implanting a first dopant species using a high energy; implanting the first dopant species using a reduced energy and an increased implant angle (e.g., about 9° or higher); and implanting a second dopant species using a reduced energy. In various embodiments, the doped region can be used as a double diffused region for LDMOS transistors.
US07713823B2
In a high speed vertical channel transistor, a pillar structure is formed over a substrate, a gate electrode surrounds an outer wall of a lower portion of the pillar structure; and a word line extends in a direction to partially contact an outer wall of the gate electrode. The word line shifts toward a side of the pillar structure resulting in increased transistor speed.
US07713814B2
Method of limiting the lateral extent of a trench capacitor by a dielectric spacer in a hybrid orientations substrate is provided. The dielectric spacer separates a top semiconductor portion from an epitaxially regrown portion, which have different crystallographic orientations. The deep trench is formed as a substantially straight trench within the epitaxially regrown portion such that part of the epitaxially regrown portion remains overlying the dielectric spacer. The substantially straight trench is then laterally expanded to form a bottle shaped trench and to provide increased capacitance. The lateral expansion of the deep trench is self-limited by the dielectric spacer above the interface between the handle substrate and the buried insulator layer. During subsequent formation of a doped buried plate, the dielectric spacer blocks diffusion of dopants into the top semiconductor portion, providing a compact bottle shaped trench capacitor having high capacitance without introducing dopants into the top semiconductor portion.
US07713813B2
The invention includes methods in which silicon is removed from titanium-containing container structures with an etching composition having a phosphorus-and-oxygen-containing compound therein. The etching composition can, for example, include one or both of ammonium hydroxide and tetra-methyl ammonium hydroxide. The invention also includes methods in which titanium-containing whiskers are removed from between titanium-containing capacitor electrodes. Such removal can be, for example, accomplished with an etch utilizing one or more of hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide.
US07713806B2
Structures and methods of manufacturing are disclosed of dislocation free stressed channels in bulk silicon and SOI (silicon on insulator) CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) devices by gate stress engineering with SiGe and/or Si:C. A CMOS device comprises a substrate of either bulk Si or SOI, a gate dielectric layer over the substrate, and a stacked gate structure of SiGe and/or Si:C having stresses produced at the interfaces of SSi (strained Si)/SiGe or SSi/Si:C in the stacked gate structure. The stacked gate structure has a first stressed film layer of large grain size Si or SiGe over the gate dielectric layer, a second stressed film layer of strained SiGe or strained Si:C over the first stressed film layer, and a semiconductor or conductor such as p(poly)-Si over the second stressed film layer.
US07713785B1
A surface mountable chip comprises a semiconductor substrate having IC devices formed thereon and also vertically exposed electrical contacts formed as part of the IC fabrication substrate. Metallization lines electrically connect the IC devices with the contacts. The inventor also contemplates wafers having electrical connection vias in place on the wafers in preparation as a product for further fabrication. A method embodiment of the invention describes methods of fabricating such surface mountable chips.
US07713782B2
Methods are disclosed for electrically connecting I/O bond-pads on a chip to corresponding I/O bond-pads on a substrate. In an exemplary method a respective stud-bump is formed on each I/O bond-pad on the substrate. The stud-bumps can be made of a fusible material, or a layer of fusible material can be formed on each I/O bond-pad on the chip. The chip is flipped and placed on the stud-bumps such that the I/O bond-pads on the chip are registered with the corresponding stud-bumps on the substrate. At each stud-bump, the fusible material is caused to fuse with and electrically connect the respective stud-bump to the respective I/O bond-pad on the chip. The method can include forming under-bump metallization (UBM) on each of the I/O bond-pads on the chip before placing the chip on the stud-bumps. The resulting structures provide robust I/O connections and can be fabricated using fewer process steps and using process steps that are compatible with other processes in wafer-fabrication and chip-assembly facilities.
US07713781B2
Methods are provided for forming Quad Flat No-Lead (QFN) packages. An embodiment includes disposing an active side of a semiconductor chip on a plurality of leads, coupling a plurality of wire bonds to the active side of the semiconductor chip, coupling the plurality of wire bonds to the plurality of leads in a space between the active side and the plurality of leads, and encasing the semiconductor chip, at least a portion of each of the plurality of leads, and the plurality of wire bonds in a mold material to define a mounting side of the QFN package. The mounting side has a perimeter, the plurality of leads are oriented on and exposed on the mounting side within the perimeter, and the plurality of wire bonds are oriented between the active side and the mounting side within the mold material.
US07713780B2
A method of multi-processing an object using a polygon mirror according to an embodiment of the invention includes setting processing parameters for individual layers of an object having a multilayer structure, performing laser processing on exposed layers in a region to be processed of the object according to the processing parameters using a polygon mirror, determining whether or not all of the layers of the object having a multilayer structure are processed, and if it is determined in the determining that not all of the layers are processed, progressing the performing of laser processing. Therefore, efficiency in processing the object can be increased, and cracks that occur in the object during laser processing using a polygon mirror can be minimized.
US07713758B2
The invention can provide a method of processing a substrate using Gate-Optimization processing sequences and evaluation libraries that can include gate-etch procedures, COR-etch procedures, and evaluation procedures.
US07713753B2
A method of fabricating a device includes: providing a substrate having a patterned surface, depositing a first-level self-assembled material on at least a portion of the patterned surface, wherein the position and/or orientation of the first-level self-assembled material is directed by the patterned surface, to form a first nanostructure pattern, and depositing a second-level self-assembled material on at least a portion of the first nanostructure pattern to form an array of nanostructures of the second-level self-assembled material. An apparatus fabricated using the method is also provided.
US07713751B2
A method for detecting binding of biological and/or chemical components of liquid or gaseous mixtures and solutions, which are of mainly biological origin and/or determine parameters of living activity of biological objects, to substances that bind said components due to a biological, chemical or physical interaction; and analysis of mixtures and solutions to determine presence of biological and/or chemical components. Binding substances are arranged on a surface of or inside a sensor layer, which changes its thickness due to the binding being detected; the layer is affected by light of different wavelengths; a signal due to interference on the sensor layer is registered in the reflected or transmitted light.
US07713747B2
The invention relates to a method of assessing the risk of suffering from atherosclerosis in an individual comprising removing anti-lipoprotein immune complexes from a sample from the individual, measuring the level of cholesterol/lipoprotein associated with said anti-lipoprotein immune complexes, and determining thereby the risk of atherosclerosis in the individual.
US07713742B2
A calibration gas generation method and apparatus for generating a selectively humidified calibration gas to a measurement probe includes a delivery conduit having a conduit inlet adapted to receive a carrier gas stream and a conduit outlet for delivering a calibration gas stream. The apparatus is provided with a first injection unit having a first intake in fluid communication with a first reservoir and a first outlet in fluid communication with the delivery conduit, the first reservoir being adapted to hold a first analyte in liquid form, and a second injection unit having a second intake in fluid communication with a second reservoir and a second outlet in fluid communication with the delivery conduit, the second reservoir being adapted to hold a humidificant in liquid form. The apparatus further includes at least one vaporizer downstream of the first and second outlets and upstream of the conduit outlet for converting the analyte and humidificant liquids to vapor form and delivering a calibration gas including the carrier gas, analyte vapor, and humidificant vapor to the conduit outlet.
US07713733B2
An apparatus and methods for detecting at least one analyte of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing a housing defining a chamber, placing a plurality of cells in the chamber, and simultaneously detecting at least two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.
US07713732B1
A modular support system for organic filter material, compost material or other material is formed of a multiplicity of polygonal bed platform modules with planar top surfaces, the modules arranged side by side contiguously to form a bed platform which is elevated above a base surface. Perforations are included in at least some of the bed platform modules to allow passage of air, gas or liquid through the elevated support bed platform. The bottom sides of the modules have sockets to receive legs, and special legs are provided at corners where a plurality of adjacent modules meet, to engage with sockets in the undersurface in all of the adjacent nodules. At corners the modules are preferably bolted down to the corner pedestals or legs. The modular support system can support very heavy loads, such as earth-moving equipment used to move and spread filter bed or compost material.
US07713730B2
A pneumatic bioreactor having a containment vessel which includes a semi-cylindrical concavity defined by the vessel bottom. A mixing apparatus includes a rotational mixer rotatably mounted within the containment vessel about a horizontal axis. The rotational mixer has buoyancy-driven mixing cavities which are fed by a gas supply beneath the rotational mixer. The mixing apparatus extends into the semi-cylindrical concavity to substantially fill that concavity. The rotational mixer is divided into two wheels with outer paddles extending axially outwardly and inner paddles extending axially inwardly on either side of each wheel. Blades between the outer and inner paddles form impellers in the wheels to induce axial flow through the wheels in opposite directions. Stationary baffles fixed relative to the containment vessel are inclined toward the rotational mixer in the direction of rotation. The containment vessel may be of film and supported by a structural housing also having a semi-cylindrical concavity defined by the housing bottom.
US07713729B2
A biochemical analysis unit comprises a base plate, which has holes, and a porous adsorptive material, which is filled in each of the holes and forms each of adsorptive regions. Each of the adsorptive regions is provided with a layer, which has pores having a comparatively small mean pore diameter, and a layer, which has pores having a comparatively large mean pore diameter. In cases where the layers, which constitute each of the adsorptive regions, are connected with the layers, which constitute an adjacent adsorptive region, at one of surfaces of the base plate, the biochemical analysis unit further comprises a signal absorbing layer for absorbing a signal, which passes through layers located under the base plate and thus propagates from a certain hole toward an adjacent hole.
US07713727B2
A process controls enzymatic degumming characteristics which cause fouling of post-reactor equipment of industrial scale processing of edible oils. An anti-fouling agent including an organic or mineral acid is added after the reactor and before any post-reactor equipment such as heat exchangers and centrifuges. Typically the anti-fouling agent is added at greater than about 100 ppm of the oil, and typically the pH of the aqueous phase of the oil is between about 3.5 and 4.2.
