US07870042B2
System and methods for identifying waste items in a waste management environment includes reading data from a plurality of identifiers that are attached to waste items. The read data is compared with reference data stored in one or more data repositories. If a match exists between any of the read data and the reference data, an indication of non-compliance of the waste item with predetermined safety criteria is provided.
US07870036B2
An order-reception system has: an order-reception subsystem which receives, from a customer, customer order information including order-reception information and/or support request information and customer information; a business management subsystem having a customer-information database storing the customer information including information regarding a price of a commodity purchased frequently by the customer, and a cost of a support requested frequently by the customer, the price and the cost set by a seller; an order-entry subsystem which performs an order-reception processing based on the customer order information; and a delivery subsystem which arranges delivery of the commodity and providing of the support.
US07870031B2
A method and a system that associate items offered by sellers and others with selected categories within a network-based system are provided. The method and system may operate to include receiving a request including an item identification having at least one token, parsing the item identification to identify the token, and assigning a token weight to the token based on a total number of items offered at a site and a number of items offered at the site and associated with the token.
US07870030B2
A system and method for managing the drafting, submission, and evaluation of invitations to bid for the delivery of one or more products and/or services. An archival database of performance descriptions and prices is utilized to generate a list of desired performances; the list being automatically distributed to a plurality of selected potential bidders. Upon receipt of the submitted bids, the system evaluates the bids based on price, past pricings, and bidder performance history. A bid is selected as the winning bid, and a contract listing the desired performances is generated and forwarded to the successful bidder. During contract performance, bidder performance is monitored, with the results being added to a historical database for subsequent use in the bid evaluation and selection process. The contents of the successful bid, including any new performance descriptions drafted during the generation of the bid, are added to the archival database for use in future bid invitation generation applications.
US07870017B2
A method and system for determining a bidding strategy for on-line query answer set or contextual advertisement positions for marketing options is described herein.
US07870011B2
Methods and systems are described for automated processing of medical data for insurance and disability determinations. Based on medical conditions claimed by a claimant, medical evidence queries are automatically generated to provide instructions to medical providers for conducting physical exams and laboratory tests and for retrieving medical records. After medical evidence is collected according to the queries, the medical evidence and related rating codes and decisions are displayed to rating personnel in a user-friendly format to assist in making a rating decision.
US07870008B2
A system and method for commercial food management. Nutritional information for identified food items is stored on a central server, along with recipes using the food items. Each recipe is assigned a diet type, and using the nutritional information, menus for a requested diet type are prepared.
US07870003B2
An acoustical-signal processing apparatus includes a feature extracting unit that extracts feature data common to each channel signal which forms a multichannel acoustical signal, based on a composite similarity obtained by combining similarities calculated from each channel signal; and a time-base companding unit that executes time compression and time expansion of the multichannel acoustical signal based on the extracted feature data.
US07870002B2
To provide a pointer position control method and the like for manipulating a pointer more easily. The user moves the pointer P two-dimensionally and perform click and other operations by using only “voice”—by varying the volume and pitch of produced voice without uttering any specific command. The user moves the pointer P by varying the volume and switches the travel direction of the pointer P by changing the pitch. Also, by stopping to vary the volume, the user can automatically enter a fine adjustment mode in which the user can make fine adjustments. Furthermore, the user can perform a click by stopping to produce voice suddenly and return to normal speech recognition mode by keeping silent.
US07869998B1
A voice-enabled help desk service is disclosed. The service comprises an automatic speech recognition module for recognizing speech from a user, a spoken language understanding module for understanding the output from the automatic speech recognition module, a dialog management module for generating a response to speech from the user, a natural voices text-to-speech synthesis module for synthesizing speech to generate the response to the user, and a frequently asked questions module. The frequently asked questions module handles frequently asked questions from the user by changing voices and providing predetermined prompts to answer the frequently asked question.
US07869996B2
A speech processing system divides a spoken audio stream into partial audio streams, referred to as “snippets.” The system may divide a portion of the audio stream into two snippets at a position at which the speaker performed an editing operation, such as pausing and then resuming recording, or rewinding and then resuming recording. The snippets may be transmitted sequentially to a consumer, such as an automatic speech recognizer or a playback device, as the snippets are generated. The consumer may process (e.g., recognize or play back) the snippets as they are received. The consumer may modify its output in response to editing operations reflected in the snippets. The consumer may process the audio stream while it is being created and transmitted even if the audio stream includes editing operations that invalidate previously-transmitted partial audio streams, thereby enabling shorter turnaround time between dictation and consumption of the complete audio stream.
US07869989B1
Configurations herein provide a language processing mechanism operable to define a machine vocabulary and identify a machine language version of the words that preserves context and identifies the proper definition of the words by identifying and preserving context of a particular set of words, such as a sentence or paragraph. The machine vocabulary includes a definition section for each definition of a word. Each definition section includes a set of one or more definition elements. The definition elements include a predetermined format of definition fields, and each has a corresponding mask indicative of significant definition fields. The set of definition elements corresponding to a particular definition describe the usage of the word in a context matching that particular definition. Each definition element captures a characteristic of the definition according to fuzzy logic such that the definition elements collectively capture the context.
US07869983B2
An orthodontic treatment planning system is described that models the effects of torque losses within an orthodontic archwire-appliance system when computing a predicted final occlusion for a dental arch. The treatment planning system models engagement of the archwire with the orthodontic appliances at each appliance position along the length of the archwire. The treatment planning system iteratively determines the twist angle of the archwire at each appliance position along the length of the archwire and incrementally adjusts the orientation and the position of each tooth based on the determined twist angles until the twist angle at each position along the archwire is within a defined tolerance of zero. When the twist angle at each position along the archwire is within a defined tolerance of zero, the archwire is relaxed and a 3D representation of the computed final occlusion of the dental arch may be displayed.
US07869974B2
An apparatus (130) including an integrated circuit (200 200a) and at least one coupler (302a 302b) for electromagnetically coupling the integrated circuit (200 200a) to a conductor (323a 323b), which may be man-made or naturally occurring, such as in a human or non-human animal. The coupling is electromagnetic, i.e. indirect, and not a result of a mechanical attachment, but instead via an electromagnetic field (or only an electric or magnetic component). The conductor (323a 323b) may be suitable for conveying electronic or spintronic or optical signals, and the coupling is more specifically a coupling to the fields associated with such signals. The integrated circuit/chip (200 200a) can be electrical, optical, optoelectronic, or quantum, and can be of ordinary scale or nanoscale, and can make use of spintronic devices. A connector (100 100a) including such an apparatus (130) is also provided.
US07869973B2
To include a first replica buffer that has substantially the same circuit configuration as a pull-up circuit which constitutes an output buffer and a second replica buffer that has substantially the same circuit configuration as a pull-down circuit which constitutes the output buffer. When a first calibration command ZQCS is issued, either a control signal ACT1 or ACT2 is activated, and a calibration operation is performed for either the first replica buffer or the second replica buffer. When a second calibration command ZQCL is issued, both of the control signals ACT1, ACT2 are activated and the calibration operation is performed for both the first replica buffer and the second replica buffer.
US07869972B2
The method and system of the present invention uses synchronous rectification and frequency domain analysis to remove the need for calibration of the A/D and D/A components. It is applicable to any sensor based measurement in which either the sensor can be excited with an AC voltage or current, or in which the signal can be modulated with an AC voltage or current.
US07869971B2
A method of measuring the condition of a safety valve includes measuring a condition parameter that varies with the sealing force of the valve. The condition parameter may be determined from in-line measurements, such as measurements of a pressure pso at which the valve will open and a pressure psl at which the valve will leak.
US07869962B2
The method for tracking deformation of a metal part subjected to a pressure force (F) includes the steps of measuring the displacement (d) of the metal part in the deformation zone, of measuring the intensity of the pressure force (F), of calculating, during a first period, the constant ratio (α) between the intensity of the pressure force (F) and the displacement (d) of the metal part, and of determining, during a second period, displacement values (de) and (dp) related respectively to an elastic deformation and to a plastic deformation of the metal part from the constant ratio (α) and a displacement (da) measured during the said second period.
US07869960B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for detecting bio-complexes that are important sub protein interaction networks using a rule-based template in large interaction networks present in a single species. The method includes (a) defining a rule-based template corresponding to a bio-complex to be detected by defining a node that consists of at least one protein, a triplet that consists of two defined nodes and a protein interaction relationship therebetween, and single and composite rules using the triplet and an operator; (b) analyzing the rules of the defined rule-based template by analyzing whether the protein corresponding to the node included in the defined rule-based template and the protein interaction relationship corresponding to the triplet are present in a protein interaction network; and (c) detecting a bio-complex in the protein interaction network by assessing the triplet included in the rules analyzed and the node included in the triplet using a protein interaction relationship and protein of the protein interaction networks.
US07869953B1
A system and method for presenting lightning strike information in a manner so as to be easily understood and appreciated by viewers of televised weather report presentations. Lightning strike information is displayed with a marker and textual indication of the lightning strike location in a viewer friendly format. Lightning strike data from a lightning strike data source is filtered to select individual lightning strikes to be displayed and processed to obtain the viewer friendly lightning strike location information to be presented overlaid on a geographic map or satellite image background. Personalized lightning strike information indicating the distance of a lightning strike from a viewer location of interest may be generated and provided directly to individual viewers via the internet, cellular phone, and/or other wired or wireless communication channels.
US07869951B1
Local ES refractivity for a geographical position on a given date is determined by locating the geographical position within one of the Delaunay triangles in a grid of Delaunay triangles defined by a plurality of data points in a database containing temporal (e.g. monthly) average refractivity values at various locations around the globe. Each of the data points in the database form the vertices of the Delaunay triangles and by interpolating the temporal averaged refractivity of the vertices of the triangle enclosing the geographical position to the given date and then interpolating the refractivity of the vertices to the geographical position within the triangle, the local ES refractivity of the geographical position is estimated.
US07869950B2
A positioning system 10 includes a positioning unit 15 configured to perform position estimation based on radio signals from artificial satellites and an autonomous navigation unit 14 configured to perform position estimation by autonomous navigation. In the positioning system 10, the positioning unit 15 and the autonomous navigation unit 14 estimate the position of a mobile body in cooperation with each other; and when the number of the artificial satellites available is less than three, the positioning unit determines a point in an area calculated based on the radio signals which point is closest to an inertial-navigation-based position calculated by autonomous navigation, and uses the determined point as a satellite-based position estimated based on the radio signals.
US07869948B2
Provided herein are methods and system for enabling a navigation receiver to generate receiver specific satellite orbital models based on relatively small sets of parameters obtained from a server. In an embodiment, a set of parameters for a satellite includes a force parameter (e.g., solar radiation pressure), initial condition parameters (e.g., satellite position and velocity at a time instance) and time correction coefficients, which the receiver uses in a numerical integration to predict the position of the satellite. The set of parameters needed for the integration is small compared to current methods which require transmission of a complete set of ephemeris and other parameters for each satellite. Since the set of parameters is relatively small, it requires less communication resources to transmit compared to current methods. Further, the integration based on the small set of parameters enables the receiver to predict satellite orbits with low computational load.
US07869947B2
A navigation system and method having a function of alerting the driver to potential wrong way driving comprises means 102 for determining a position of a vehicle 300, means 107 for calculating a driving route of the vehicle 300, means 108 for determining a driving manoeuvre in accordance with the predetermined driving route 305, means 104, 105, 110, 111 for outputting indications relating to the determined driving manoeuvre to a driver of the vehicle 300, and means 109 for alerting the driver to potential wrong way driving including means 201 for detecting a potential wrong way driving situation and means 202, 104, 105, 110, 111 for outputting an indication relating to the potential wrong way driving situation to the driver.
US07869943B1
The invention provides, in some aspects, flight management systems and methods that generate three-dimensional (3D) graphical representations of airspace in a vicinity of an aircraft (e.g., in flight or during take-off). Such systems can include a display and a processor that drives the display to generate a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) depiction of flight path. In a first mode, the processor drives the display to generate a flexible highway-in-the-sky (HITS) fight path having an endpoint that is fixed to a destination and having an origin that moves relative to a current location of the aerial vehicle (e.g., a path that “stays” with the vehicle). In a second mode, the processor drives the display to generate a depiction of a fixed HITS flight path that is fixed as to origin and destination and that does not move relative to the craft.
US07869940B2
A method for processing road use data. A first moving vehicle has an encounter with vehicles in motion. An apparatus in the first vehicle generates and stores encounter records for the encounters. Each encounter record includes a location of the first moving vehicle and a location and identifier of a corresponding vehicle in motion, and is stored in the apparatus. A first encounter record for an encounter between the first moving vehicle and a second moving vehicle is sent by the first moving vehicle to a charging system of a road use charging authority having a data store. If the charging system determines that the data store includes a second encounter record of the encounter received from the second moving vehicle, then the second encounter record is not used in a charging process and/or is deleted from the data store; otherwise, the first encounter record is stored in the data store.
US07869930B2
A method of controlling fuel supplied to an engine is provided. The engine includes at least one cylinder having a port injection fuel injector being supplied with fuel from at least one of a first fuel storage tank and a second fuel storage tank and a direct injection fuel injector being selectively supplied with fuel from one of the first fuel storage tank and the second fuel storage tank. The method includes at a first condition, supplying at least some of a second type of fuel from the second fuel storage tank to the direct injection fuel injector and supplying at least some of a first type of fuel from the first fuel storage tank to the port injection fuel injector, and at a second condition, supplying at least some of the first type of fuel from the first fuel storage tank to the direct injection fuel injector.
US07869924B2
A flow management valve is operative to enable a multi-range electro-mechanical transmission in first and second ranges. Fluid pressure in a hydraulic circuit is monitored to detect a fault in the flow management valve.
US07869919B1
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide improved infrared camera techniques for vehicular applications. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle includes at least a first plate to reflect infrared energy and an infrared camera to detect the infrared energy reflected from the first plate(s) to provide infrared images. The plate allows the infrared camera to provide a desired line of sight view without requiring the infrared camera to be directly within the line of sight.
US07869917B2
A vehicle control apparatus includes a first storage area in which malfunction record information that is information on the record of a malfunction in a vehicle, and identifying information used to identify a program are stored in a nonvolatile manner; and a second storage area in which the program is stored in a rewritable and nonvolatile manner. If the identifying information stored in the first storage area does not match the identifying information corresponding to the rewritten program stored in the second storage area when rewriting of the program stored in the second storage area is completed, the control portion erases the malfunction record information in the first storage area, and rewrites the identifying information stored in the first storage area to the identifying information corresponding to the rewritten program.
US07869914B2
Image data (44) assigned to a specific language is included in a second data file (28) at a specific position. A first data file includes a position information data specifying the position of the image data. A processing unit obtains the image data assigned to the specific language based on the position information data in the first data file. An image is displayed on the screen based on the obtained image data (44). The language is set in the first data file for generation of the image. A change of the position information data in the first data file enables a facilitated change of language included in the display image data.
US07869912B2
This invention relates to a hybrid vehicle controlling device and method of using the device, in which an engine torque proportion (which is transmitted from an engine to a driving shaft) of a total sum of torque transmitted to the driving shaft is calculated. An allowed surge torque value, which is an upper limit of a surge torque allowed to the engine, is set to a larger value as the engine torque proportion is reduced. Then a predetermined parameter of the engine is changed so that the engine is controlled in a range in which the surge torque of the engine does not go beyond the allowed surge torque value.
US07869910B1
A system is provided to control maneuvering flapping foils of an underwater vehicle. An oscillator generates periodic signals in which effects of external disturbances are minimized or amplified as required; the periodic signal can be either sinusoidal or can depart significantly from a sinusoid; the amplitude and frequency are varied by changing the oscillator parameters and the phase between the signals are varied by changing the parameters. The oscillator restores the parameters after a disturbance. Since the oscillator functions without external sensors, the oscillator serves as an inner-loop controller with a centralized control. An open loop control architecture for the controller, results in a motion where the vehicle maneuvers execute as force and moment commands. The non-linear, auto-catalytic oscillator can be realized using a variety of second-order differential equations. An oscillator model is added to a conventional motor control, where the outputs of the oscillator control the foils in real-time.
US07869908B2
A computer-implemented system and method of contemporaneously testing a respective system on-board each of a plurality of locomotives with a common user interface where the locomotives are in electrical communication with one another for transmitting electronic signals among the locomotives. An electronic signal may be transmitted to the plurality of locomotives instructing a respective on-board computer of each locomotive to synchronously engage a self-load sequence. An electronic signal may be transmitted to the plurality of locomotives instructing a respective engine of each locomotive to execute a testing sequence. Operating parameter data associated with the respective systems may be downloaded from each of the plurality of locomotives through the common user interface to a database engine to determine whether the downloaded operating parameter data is within acceptable operating limits.
US07869893B2
An exposure apparatus includes a plurality of stations and a plurality of substrate stages, and exposes a substrate to radiant energy by executing a plurality of jobs using the plurality of stations and the plurality of substrate stages. The apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire the plurality of jobs, and to determine an execution sequence of the plurality of jobs. One of the plurality of substrate stages includes a measurement unit that is different from any measurement unit included in another of the plurality of substrate stages in what to measure. The controller is configured to determine the execution sequence of the plurality of jobs based on information of respective positions of the plurality of substrate stages, information of measurement units that the plurality of substrate stages respectively have, and information of the measurement units respectively necessary for the plurality of jobs.
US07869888B2
A information processing apparatus 100 for processing an acquired value, which is a value acquired in regard to a state during a treatment, performed by a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 200 for performing a treatment on a treatment target containing a semiconductor according to a set value, which is a value for setting a condition of a treatment, includes: a set value receiving portion 101 for receiving the set value; a state value receiving portion 102 for receiving the acquired value; a correction amount calculating portion 103 for calculating a correction amount of the acquired value, using a correction function indicating a relationship between the set value and the acquired value; a correcting portion 104 for correcting the acquired value received by the state value receiving portion 102, using the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculating portion 103; and an output portion 105 for outputting a result of correction performed by the correcting portion 104.
US07869886B2
The invention relates to an input/output channel control block that comprises a number of successive input/output modules. The first is a control master module and the subsequent ones are expansion slave modules. Each expansion slave module comprises a processing logic unit as well as respective first signal port and a respective equal number of second signal ports and an equal number of third signal ports which are arranged at identical positions of each expansion slave module. The first signal port is connected to the processing logic unit, to which at least one fourth signal port for connecting an input/output bus terminal subscriber belongs, and a respective second signal port is connected to a third signal port. The control master module likewise possesses a number of third signal ports and a control logic unit for data exchange with a data bus and for targeted driving of the signal ports.
US07869884B2
Devices and methods of non-surgically providing vagus nerve therapy trans-esophageally to treat a variety of medical conditions are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device comprises a support member having an outer surface. The support member is adapted to engage the inner wall of an esophagus. The IMD also comprises at least one electrode disposed on the outer surface of the support member. The at least one electrode is capable of applying a trans-esophageal electrical signal to the vagus nerve through the wall of the esophagus from the inner lumen thereof. The implantable medical device further comprises a signal generator coupled to the support member and to the at least one electrode. The signal generator causes the at least one electrode to apply an electrical signal to the vagus nerve to treat a medical condition.
US07869881B2
An aspect relates to an implantable medical device. An embodiment of the device comprises a pulse generator, sensor circuitry, a lead, and a controller. The pulse generator generates baroreflex stimulation pulses. The lead is adapted to be electrically connected to the pulse generator and to the sensor circuitry. The lead includes an electrode to distribute the baroreflex stimulation pulses to a baroreflex site and a pressure sensor to provide a signal indicative of blood pressure to the sensor circuitry. The controller is connected to the pulse generator and the sensor circuitry. The controller adapted to adjust the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the blood pressure. Other aspects are provided herein.
US07869878B1
An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides an intracardiac electrogram with reduced respiratory modulation effect. The device includes a sensing circuit that senses cardiac activity and provides an intracardiac electrogram signal extending over a plurality of cardiac cycles, a respiration monitor that monitors respiration associated with the sensed cardiac activity, and a cardiac cycle selector that selects a set of intracardiac electrogram cardiac cycles of the plurality of cardiac cycles in response to the monitored respiration. A processing circuit processes the selected set of intracardiac electrogram cardiac cycles to provide the intracardiac electrogram with reduced respiratory modulation effect.
US07869877B2
An implantable cardiac device is configured and programmed to assess a patient's cardiopulmonary function by evaluating the patient's heart rate response. Such evaluation may be performed by computing a heart rate response slope, defined as the ratio of an incremental change in intrinsic heart rate to an incremental change in measured activity level. The heart rate response slope may then be compared with a normal range to assess the patient's functional status.
US07869869B1
In one embodiment, an implantable stimulation apparatus includes a vagal nerve stimulator configured to generate electrical pulses below a cardiac threshold of a heart, and an electrode coupled to the vagal nerve stimulator which is configured to transmit the electrical pulses below the cardiac threshold, to a vagal nerve so as to inhibit injury resulting from an ischemia and/or reduce injury resulting from an ischemia. In another embodiment, an implantable stimulation apparatus includes a vagal nerve stimulator configured to generate electrical pulses below a cardiac threshold, and includes an electrode, which is coupled to the vagal nerve stimulator and configured to transmit electrical pulses to a vagal nerve so as to reduce a defibrillation threshold of the heart.
US07869867B2
In some embodiments, a method comprises providing an electrical signal to a nerve to evoke an action potential. The nerve thereby enters a refractory period in which the nerve is in a refractory state. The method further comprises, during the refractory period, providing an electrical signal to the nerve thereby altering the refractory period of the nerve or non-target tissues.
US07869858B2
A patient table is disclosed. The patient table includes a cradle for linearly receiving and transferring a board comprising a top surface defined by a single plane for carrying a patient, a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle, a locker within the cradle for positioning the board and patient on the table, and for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle, and a stopper within the cradle for preventing the cradle form sliding off the cradle supporting member.
US07869842B2
The present invention relates to a folder or hinge type portable terminal having a grounding unit. A main body has a main board. A folder opens and closes at an angle from the main body. At least one component of a hinge module is formed of a metallic material, and opens and closes the folder at an angle from the main body. A connecting means selectively contacts a grounding portion of the main board to the material components of the hinge module in response to the opening and closing operation of the folder, to provide optimal antenna radiation characteristic irrespective of the opening and closing operation of the folder.
US07869840B2
A semi-automatic swing device for a swing-type portable terminal. The semi-automatic swing device includes a first member; a second member for semi-automatically performing first and second swing operations along a desired trajectory on the first member, while facing the first member; guide means having a first guide portion formed in the first member and a second guide portion spaced apart from the first guide portion, for determining a direction of the swing operations; a driving source installed in the first guide portion, for allowing the second member to semi-automatically perform the swing operations; and first and second coupling members mounted on the second member and coupled with the first and second guide portions, respectively, the first and second coupling members moving along the first and second guide members and restricting the first and second members while the first and second members face each other.
US07869834B2
A mobile terminal including a first body having a first surface and a second surface and a second body having a first surface and a second surface. In addition, the first body includes a first display located at the first surface and configured to display at least one icon, the at least one icon being selectable by touching the first display where the icon is displayed, a second display located at the second surface and configured to display information, and a receiver located in the first body and configured to transmit sound through the first surface. The second body includes an input device located at the first surface thereof to input information and is rotatably connected to the first body such that the first body can be rotated from a first state to a second state.
US07869831B2
A communication terminal having one or more one-touch-dial buttons simplifies operations needed for registration of destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses. A communication terminal (e.g., a cellular phone) having one or more one-touch-dial buttons includes a destination-data registration unit (e.g., a phone-directory database) that allows destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses to be registered therein, a one-touch-dial registration unit that allows destination data to be registered therein so as to be associated with the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, and a control unit that, in response to an operation of the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, determines whether destination data has been registered in the one-touch-dial registration unit or the destination-data registration unit, and that outputs a result of the determination and a query message regarding registration of the destination data.
US07869822B2
The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.
US07869813B2
The invention relates to a method for calculating a position of a mobile communications equipment. In order to obtain a more accurate position information of the mobile communications equipment, receiving physical communication channels within the mobile communications equipment, receiving first signal codes within said physical communication channels, measuring a signal phase of said first signal code within said mobile communications equipment, measuring a pseudodoppler frequency within said physical communications channels within said mobile communications equipment, reducing a noise level of said measured signal phase by using said pseudodoppler frequency, and calculating said position of said mobile communications equipment using at least said noise level reduced signal phase, is proposed.
US07869806B2
A method and apparatus for saving power of a multi standby mobile terminal are provided that can reduce power consumption by limiting an unnecessary operation in a communication mode that does not perform a communication service in the multi standby mobile terminal. The method of saving power of a multi standby mobile terminal includes detecting whether a communication event is generated; acquiring, if a communication event is generated, a communication service; and operating the multi standby mobile terminal in a communication mode of the acquired communication service.
US07869805B2
A method and apparatus are provided for allowing a field device to select a data communication provider among a plurality of available data communication providers. Preferably, the method includes periodically, or selectively, assessing the strengths and efficacy of data communication on one or more alternate data communication providers. The data communication provider with the strongest signal and/or most effective data communication is selected for use by the field device. Preferably, the field device logs events where it switches among data communication providers.
US07869804B2
Disclosed is a method for automatically searching a wireless LAN AP (access point) in a terminal having a wireless LAN module, a mobile communication module, and a GPS receiving module installed therein. The method comprises: (a) acquiring location information of the wireless LAN AP provided in a service area of a base station from the base station connected through the mobile communication module; (b) consecutively tracking a current location of the terminal through the GPS receiving module; (c) determining a driving start time of the wireless LAN module through the location information of the wireless LAN AP acquired in (a) and the current location information of the terminal tracked in (b); and (d) driving the wireless LAN module to detect a beacon signal periodically output by the wireless LAN AP.
US07869791B1
A secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, and including radio access and communication for activation, association, and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. An automated private service activation (APSA) port is used for accepting access and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation, association and authentication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. The APSA port provides an access and communication channel for radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the access and communication channel only within limited spatial constraints. In addition the APSA port provides space for receiving the wireless device for activation and communication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.
US07869777B2
In RF transceivers, a method and system for a second order input intercept point (IIP2) correction are provided. A DC offset sensor may detect DC offset voltages produced by blocker signals in “I” and “Q” signal component paths in an RF receiver. The DC offset sensor may generate control signals which may be utilized by a first and second injection circuits to generate DC offset currents that compensate for the DC offset voltages in the signal component paths. An injection circuit may utilize current drivers to generate binary weighted currents which may be added together to produce a DC offset current. The polarity of the DC offset current and the selection of which current drivers to use may be determined by the control signals. A calibration voltage may also be utilized to correct or adjust the gain in the injection circuit.
US07869773B2
The present invention provides an electronic circuit for measuring of an output power of a RF power amplifier. The electronic circuit comprises a current sensing transistor for sensing the RF current of the power amplifier and a voltage sensing module for sensing the voltage of the RF power amplifier. The electronic circuit further comprises a coherent detector for multiplying the sensed current and the sensed voltage in the time domain. In this way a signal is generated that is directly indicative of the power provided by the power amplifier irrespective of its actual load. Preferably, the coherent detector is implemented as a Gilbert quad and provides a differential output that effectively allows for DC offset compensation.
US07869771B2
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to wireless transmitters, and also relating to multi-band transformers. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus may include a multi-band transformer configured to receive as an input a signal associated with a first frequency band or a signal associated with a second frequency band. The transformer may include one or more inputs and a first output and a second output. The transformer may also include one or more switches coupled to the transformer and configured to selectively output a received input signal onto the first output and/or the second output of the transformer.
US07869769B2
A frequency generator (100) takes a signal source (clock or carrier) (101) and generates a edge encoded direct digital modulated differential output signal (110). The differential signal (110) is applied to a frequency extension quadrature generator (FEQG) (112). The FEQG (112) includes a fractional differential wavelength delay locked loop (DLL) (280) and a frequency multiplier (240). The DLL (280) generates a control voltage (214) with which to control delays of the edge encoded modulation signal (110). A frequency extended quadrature function is applied to the periodic steady state input signal with edge encoded modulation (110), to provide the output signal set 113.
US07869767B2
A signal processing system according to various aspects of the present invention includes an excursion signal generator, a scaling system and a filter system. The excursion signal generator identifies a peak portion of a signal that exceeds a threshold and generates a corresponding excursion signal. The scaling system applies a real scale factor to contiguous sets of excursion samples in order to optimize peak-reduction performance. The filter system filters the excursion signal to remove unwanted frequency components from the excursion signal. The filtered excursion signal may then be subtracted from a delayed version of the original signal to reduce the peak. The signal processing system may also control power consumption by adjusting the threshold. The signal processing system may additionally adjust the scale of the excursion signal and/or individual channel signals, such as to meet constraints on channel noise and output spectrum, or to optimize peak reduction. The magnitude threshold, excursion signal and/or individual channel signals may also be adaptively adjusted based on, for example, a channel signal quality such as a noise level specification.
US07869766B2
An intra-platform wireless communications system is disclosed. The wireless intra-platform communication system comprises a first wireless transceiver, coupled to a platform processor and a second wireless transceiver, coupled to at least one of the subsystems. Platform operational data is communicated between the platform processor and the at least one subsystem via the first and second wireless transceivers.
US07869765B2
A device that includes a broadcast receiver and a local wireless interface where the broadcast receiver is capable of receiving broadcast data, and the local wireless interface is capable of communicating with at least one wireless device and transmitting at least some of the broadcast data to the at least one wireless device. The broadcast receiver may be an audio receiver, a video signal receiver, or a satellite receiver. The local wireless interface may be a Bluetooth interface, an IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) interface, an IrDA interface, or a home radio frequency (HomeRF) interface.
US07869751B2
An endless belt is supported by a plurality of rollers. A transfer roller comes in contact with an outer surface of the belt to form a transfer nip. An auxiliary member makes contact with a recording medium on an upstream side of the transfer nip in a movement direction of the belt, to cause the recording medium to be in close contact with the outer surface of the belt. A bias applying unit applies to the auxiliary member a bias for electrostatically transferring a toner adhered to the auxiliary member to the outer surface of the belt.
US07869742B2
A developing cartridge that maintains a pressing condition to press a developer carrier against the image carrier is described. The developing cartridge may include a coil spring that presses the developer carrier against the image carrier. The coil spring may include a handle that transmits a pressing force to the coil spring via the contacting member. By doing so, every time the developing cartridge is replaced, a new coil spring and handle can be provided for the color laser printer with the developing cartridge attached. Therefore, a constant pressure by the coil spring can be continuously maintained. Thus, a preferable pressure condition of the developer carrier against the image carrier can be continuously maintained.
US07869734B2
An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray on which a recording medium is placed and which is attachably and detachably assembled into a housing. The placement tray includes a holding portion having an upwardly concave configuration at one end of the placement tray in an attaching and detaching direction of the placement tray. The holding portion includes at least one air vent for taking air into the housing in a vicinity of at least one of both end portions of the holding portion in a width direction perpendicular to the attaching and detaching direction.
US07869728B2
In a density detection device, a casing includes an internal space. An inflow path is communicated with the internal space through an inlet facing the internal space. An outflow path is communicated with the internal space through an outlet facing the internal space. A base is provided in the internal space to block the liquid flowing from the inlet. The base has a top side positioned above the inlet. A movable member has a bottom side opposed to the top side of the base. The movable member is configured to move to cause the bottom side to be close to and away from the top side of the base. A density detection section is configured to detect density of a liquid layer formed between the bottom side and the top side while the bottom side is positioned close to the top side at predetermined distance.
US07869718B1
A wireless, automatic door obstruction detection system for protecting a motorized door or gate by signaling various hazardous conditions and reacting to said conditions by signaling control means. The invention utilizes wireless infrared emitter, receiver and controller apparatus. Infrared pulse timing data is sent as pulse repetition rate changes depending upon battery condition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the photoelectric transmitter emits timed pulse groups to present control information differentiating between a good battery and a low battery condition in the wireless transmitter. A wireless photoelectric transmitter extends the time period between pulse groups to indicate a low battery condition. A low battery condition signaling thereby presents a low power drain condition allowing for an extended period of low battery condition signaling.
US07869705B2
A subject captured by a camera may be affected by environmental lighting provided by nearby light sources and the sun or moon, which may cause underexposure or overexposure of the image or aesthetically displeasing color tones. Image processing and camera adjustments may mitigate some imaging problems with limited effect and introduce undesirable side effects. A lighting array may be devised to expose the subject to various types of light (e.g., white light comprising full spectrum illumination and red, green, and blue lights comprising partial spectrum illumination) to resolve lighting problems in a more effective manner. Moreover, the lighting array may be responsively controlled to adjust the subject image with respect to one or more target spectra specifying desirable colors for the subject image. The lighting array may be iteratively controlled, e.g. by a gradient descent algorithm, for incrementally adjusting parameters with respect to proximate target spectra for the image.
US07869699B2
A mechanism is presented for editing a video stream as the stream is received, allowing real-time displaying and storing of the edited video stream without requiring the received video stream to first be recorded. The mechanism allows the selection of editing options prior to starting or during the record process. The mechanism can monitor the input video stream for specific characteristics and edit the video stream according to predefined editing options based on those characteristics and/or user inputs. Special effects can be intelligently selected based upon internal and external information about the video stream, for example, user actions, input source, and content information.
US07869695B2
To improve operability of figure key input in a title search, a chapter search, a track search, and a time search mode in an optical disc apparatus, for example, the quantity number of titles and the quantity number of digits thereof are detected from an optical disc. When a figure for title search is inputted, if this figure exceeds a figure included in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, this figure is considered as a figure in the one's digit for search. If the figure for search is equal to or smaller than the figure in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, the figure inputted for search is registered as a figure in the ten's digit. Subsequently, if the figure for search is smaller than the figure in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, a figure in the one's digit for search within a range from 0 to 9 is inputted and registered. If the figure for search is equal to the figure in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, a figure inputted in the one's digit for search, which is limited to a figure equal to or smaller than the figure in the one's digit of the quantity number of titles, is inputted and registered.
US07869692B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a recording and reproduction unit configured to record a serial moving image signal generated by the imaging unit as one cut on a recording medium during a period from an instruction to start photographing to an instruction to stop photographing, and to reproduce a moving image signal recorded on the recording medium, a mode setting unit configured to selectively setting one of a reproduction mode for reproducing a moving image signal recorded on the recording medium and a recording mode for recording a moving image signal on the recording medium, and a control unit configured to, responsive to an instruction to start reproduction in the reproduction mode, control the recording and reproduction unit to reproduce a moving image signal starting with a cut recorded first among a plurality of cuts recorded within a predetermined time period.
US07869674B2
A light emitting unit, an apparatus and method for manufacturing the same, an apparatus for molding a lens thereof, and a light emitting device package thereof, which are capable of achieving an enhancement in light extraction efficiency and an improvement in mass productivity, are disclosed. The light emitting unit manufacturing apparatus includes a mold including a first mold and a second mold coupled to each other under a condition in which at least one light emitting unit is interposed between the first and second molds, a groove formed in one of the first and second molds at a position facing the light emitting unit, the groove having a lens shape, and a passage extending from an outer surface of the mold to the groove.
US07869673B2
Embodiments described herein relate to an optical fiber stretch that may experience forward Raman amplification in which the peak optical signal power occurs at some distance from the transmitter. Smaller effective area optical fiber is used at a portion of the optical fiber stretch in which the optical signal power is increasing, while larger effective area optical fiber is used at a more remote stretch of the optical fiber stretch that experiences the peak optical signal power. Thus, the quality of the signal is better preserved since the larger effective area fiber reduces maximum optical signal density thereby reducing non-linear degradations on signal quality.
US07869670B2
A substrate on which an optical element is mounted is provided, including: an optical element; an optical circuit substrate which is formed by an optical waveguide layer having a core portion and cladding portions; and an electrical circuit substrate on which is provided a mounting portion that is used for mounting the optical element, wherein the optical element is mounted on the electrical circuit substrate via the optical circuit substrate and wherein the optical circuit substrate has an optical element mounted thereon and is provided with a receptor structure having a conductive portion that conducts electricity between an electrode of the optical element and an electrode of the electrical circuit substrate.
US07869669B2
The invention provides an optical phase modulator having a substrate made of an electro-optical material, a signal electrode provided on the substrate and first and second ground electrodes provided on both sides of the signal electrode. The electrodes are provided so that a size of the first gap between the first ground electrode and the signal electrode is smaller than a size of a second gap between the second ground electrode and the signal electrode. Furthermore, an optical waveguide is provided in the first gap as an optical phase modulator and not provided in the second gap. A driving voltage required for the phase adjustments is thereby lowered, the impedance matching is easily made and excellent radio frequency property can be realized.
US07869667B1
The present invention relates to methods for aligning raster and vector data. In an embodiment, a raster/vector aligner receives raster data and an approximate vector of a feature within the raster data. The raster/vector aligner generates an edge signal by edge filtering the raster data along a direction of the approximate vector and a smoothness signal by smoothness filtering the raster data along a direction of the approximate vector. The raster/vector aligner combines the edge signal and the smoothness signal into a combined signal which is used to generate a translation vector or a signal weight for the feature within the raster data.
US07869637B2
An X-ray diagnostic imaging system is disclosed that includes an X-ray source for controlling an X-ray beam radiated towards a patient under examination. The X-ray source includes an X-ray tube and X-ray collimator assembly. The system includes an-ray imaging device arranged for receiving the X-ray beam after is has passed through the patient to acquire latent image frames of a region of interest (ROI) of the patient's anatomy, and a system controller coupled to X-ray source and X-ray imaging device for controlling latent image frame acquisition and post-acquisition processing. The controlling includes controlling the X-ray imaging device and X-ray positioning, and collimator assembly operation. An image processing chain including an image processor coupled to the system controller, receives latent image frames from the X-ray imaging device for processing, including calculating a histogram from which pixels within a collimated area are removed. The improved histogram is used in post-acquisition processing such as a window level setting. An X-ray image processed by functions using the improved histogram is displayed by a display device coupled to the image processing chain.
US07869635B2
A method of recognizing an injury pattern on a fingerprint is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing biometric information to a contact imager; imaging and characterizing the biometric information; comparing an image of the biometric information against previously stored templates; upon a comparison result of the comparison, determining an injury pattern; wherein upon an injury pattern determination, performing a comparison against a stored template based on features extracted from the biometric data and the damage data.
US07869626B2
An iris recognition method is provided. In the iris recognition method, binary image data is obtained by receiving eye image data and filtering the received eye image data using a predetermined threshold value. Then, candidate center search regions are searched for finding a pupil center using profile information of rows and columns of the binarized image. a pupil boundary and a center point are detected by performing a mask operation using 8 pupil boundary mask templates for each of concentric circles formed of pointes in the searched candidate center search regions as candidate pupil centers and different radiuses. An iris boundary region is detected by performing a masking operation using 6 iris boundary mask templates corresponding to 6 locations for concentric circles formed of the pupil center as an origin and different radiuses.
US07869624B2
The present invention enables permanent biometric authentication without the risk of forgery or the like. The present invention enables living-tissue discrimination as well as biometric authentication.The roughness distribution pattern of deep-layer tissue of the skin covered with epidermal tissue is detected, thereby extracting a unique pattern of the living tissue. Then, biometric authentication is performed based upon the detected pattern. The roughness distribution pattern of the deep-layer tissue of the skin is optically detected using difference in optical properties between the epidermal tissue and the deep-layer tissue of the skin. In this case, long-wavelength light, e.g., near-infrared light is used as illumination light cast onto the skin tissue. A fork structure of a subcutaneous blood vessel is used as the portion which is to be detected, for example. The portion which is to be detected is determined based upon the structure of the fork structure. In this case, the living-tissue discrimination may be made using the subcutaneous blood vessel.
US07869620B2
The present invention is a processing method to increase the detection of objects below the surface of the water comprising the steps of: acquiring image data in separate spectral regions simultaneously and converting the image data into intensity value arrays for each spectral region, transforming the intensity value arrays into two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform arrays for each spectral region, and subtracting in a pair wise manner the two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform arrays thereby obtaining images showing an object below the surface of the water.
US07869600B2
A dynamic range of intensity modulation is set to range from a maximum intensity Smax to a minimum intensity Smin. A difference Δ(=Smax−Smin) between the maximum intensity Smax and the minimum intensity Smin is divided by the number 2M of multilevel signals. Thus, a distance (an intensity difference) between adjacent signals is [Δ/2M]. The number 2M of multilevel signals is selected such that the distance [Δ/2M] between adjacent multilevel signals (between an intensity Si and an intensity Si+1) is sufficiently buried within a range of quantum fluctuations obtained when heterodyne measurements are made or buried within a range of quantum shot noise obtained when a direct detection is made. Bases of a basis group are each positioned for intensity signals so as to have a high intensity and a low intensity between which a distance is set to be a certain value smaller than a middle point intensity [Δ/2]. Note that adjacent bases are set to have an intensity signal transmitting a logical value “1” of transmission data and an intensity signal transmitting a logical value “0” of transmission data in an inverted manner.
US07869595B2
A content copying device has a mutual authentication section that performs a mutual authentication with a copy source recording medium and a copy destination recording medium respectively and generates a first medium unique key and a second medium unique key, a content key decrypting section that reads an encrypted content key from the copy source recording medium, and decrypts the encrypted content key using information based on the first medium unique key, a content key encrypting section that encrypts the decrypted content key using information based on the second medium unique key and writes the encrypted content key onto the copy destination recording medium, and a content copying section that reads an encrypted content from the copy source recording medium and writes the content onto the copy destination recording medium without performing decryption.
US07869592B2
A calculation apparatus capable of executing any of a first calculating process operation including a first matrix calculation, and a second calculating process operation including a second matrix calculation, includes: a first calculation unit for executing the second matrix calculation; at least one calculation unit other than the first calculation unit, for executing a matrix calculation in parallel to the first calculation unit so as to execute the first matrix calculation; and a logic circuit for performing a logic calculation with respect to a calculation result of the first calculation unit and a calculation result of the other calculation unit. Then, when a calculation result of the first matrix calculation is requested, the calculation apparatus acquires the calculation result from the logic circuit. As a result, the calculation apparatus and an encrypt/decrypt processing apparatus can commonly perform portions of the plural calculating process operations which contain the matrix calculations, and can realize high speed operation by executing portions of the matrix calculations in parallel.
US07869590B2
In a wireless communication system, a method and system for a hardware accelerator for implementing the f9 integrity algorithm in WCDMA compliant handsets are provided. Intermediate variables may be initialized in an integrity function and a first processing block of bits and at least one additional processing block of bits may be generated for the integrity function from a padded string generated from input variables. Values for a first and a second processing variable may be generated for each processing stage based on a corresponding processing block of bits and on immediately generated previous first and second processing values. The first processing value may be generated utilizing a KASUMI operation after an indication that an immediately previous generated first processing value is available. An authentication code may be generated based on a last of the second processing values and a modified integrity key.
US07869588B2
A system and method of generating at least two distinctive auditory alerts upon receiving a transmission or telephone call at a device is described. Data indicative of a first plurality of sounds corresponding to a user of a device configured to receive the transmission or telephone call is accessed, such as from a memory. The first plurality of sounds is played at the device so as to identify a received transmission or telephone call being directed to the user. A telephone number, subscriber name or identifier associated with a transmitting or calling party of the transmission or telephone call is accessed. Data indicative of a second plurality of sounds designating the transmitting or calling party based on the subscriber name, telephone number or identifier is retrieved, such as from a data structure, and the second plurality of sounds is played at the device so as to identify the transmitting or calling party.
US07869587B2
An acoustic echo canceller (AEC) apparatus for canceling an echo signal input to a microphone in a mobile terminal. In the AEC apparatus, a first analysis filter bank divides a signal received from the microphone into a plurality of subband signals, and classifies the subband signals into high-band signals and low-band signals according to a predetermined reference. A second analysis filter bank divides a far-end user's signal into a plurality of subband signals, and outputs particular subband signals being lower than or equal to a reference band to an adaptive filter bank. The adaptive filter bank receives the subband signals output from the second analysis filter bank, and generates estimated echo signals for the individual subbands. An adder calculates differences between the low-band signals among the subband signals output from the first analysis filter bank and the estimated echo signals output from the adaptive filter bank. A synthesis filer bank synthesizes signals output from the adder according to subband, and converts the synthesized signals into a time-domain signal.
US07869569B2
A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. Applications include the imaging of radionuclide distributions within the human body or the use of a dual energy source to provide a dual photon bone densitometry apparatus that uses stationary or scanning acquisition techniques. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. A dual energy x-ray source that delivers two different energy levels provides quantitative information regarding the object being imaged using dual photon absorptiometry techniques. Dual scintillation screens can be used to simultaneously generate images of low-energy and high-energy x-ray patterns. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images.
US07869561B2
Apparatus for CT cone beam scanning, comprising: a table for holding a subject; a gantry; a first detector array, having a given number of rows of detector elements spaced along an rotation axis of the gantry, mounted on the gantry; a first plurality of x-ray sources mounted on the gantry for rotation about the patient table on a rotation axis, the number of rows being at least twice the number of sources; and a controller that acquires data responsive to radiation from the sources from the detector array attenuated by at least part of the common volume of the subject irradiated by the plurality of radiation sources.
US07869559B2
A method includes performing an x-ray focal spot deflection to generate two complete projections from two different channels of an x-ray detector, wherein the channels are purposefully different from each other in some respect other than being different channels.
US07869553B1
Phase locked loop circuitry operates digitally, to at least a large extent, to select from a plurality of phase-distributed candidate clock signals the signal that is closest in phase to transitions in another signal such as a clock data recovery (“CDR”) signal. The circuitry is constructed and operated to avoid glitches in the output clock signal that might otherwise result from changes in selection of the candidate clock signal. Frequency division of the candidate clock signals may be used to help the circuitry support serial communication at bit rates below frequencies that an analog portion of the phase locked loop circuitry can economically provide. Over-transmission or over-sampling may be used on the transmit side for similar reasons.
US07869552B2
In a receiving apparatus for receiving communication data from a transmitting apparatus, specific code patterns are inserted in the communication data at predetermined intervals. The receiving apparatus includes a first frequency difference measurement device for measuring a first frequency difference between a receiving clock of the receiving apparatus and a transmission clock provided to the communication data, based on one of the specific code patterns and another of the specific code patterns which is positioned later; and a frequency adjustment device for adjusting a frequency of the receiving clock based on the measured first frequency difference so that the frequency substantially coincides with a frequency of the transmission clock.
US07869541B2
Aspects of a method and system for direct and polar modulation using a two input PLL are presented. Aspects of the system may include generating digital signals Wn and Vn from an input data signal Un and a feedback signal Yn. The generated digital signals Wn and Vn combined may carry the information content of Un while they compensate the non-idealities of the two-input analog phase locked loop (PLL). The digital signal Wn, which may be scaled appropriately in frequency, and the digital signal Vn may be provided as inputs to the PLL. The feedback signal Yn may be a digital signal that may correspond to the analog feedback signal Pt that may be generated by the PLL. Accordingly, the PLL may be adaptively controlled via the digital signals Wn and Vn for properly transmitting the input data signal Un.
US07869538B2
A transmitter (102) generates a first set of data symbols and a first pilot symbol (601) at a first time, and a second set of data symbols and a second pilot symbol (602) at a different, second time. The first (601) and second (602) pilot. symbols are each represented by first (701) and second (702) pilot carriers, respectively, located at first (703) and second (704) predetermined sample frequencies, respectively, in a channel bandwidth. For the first pilot symbol (601), the first (701) and second (702) pilot carriers have first and second predetermined values, respectively. For the second pilot symbol (602), the first (701) and second (702) pilot carriers have third and fourth predetermined values, respectively. A receiver (104) measures the first, second, fourth and third predetermined values responsive to receiving the first (601) and second (602) pilot symbols to determine first, second, third and fourth estimates of channel distortion, respectively, for compensating and recovering the first and the second sets of data symbols.
US07869536B2
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receiver includes a MIMO decoder, a pre-scaling unit, a demapper, and a post-scaling unit. The MIMO decoder performs a MIMO decoding on received signals to decouple a plurality of symbols transmitted via a plurality of data streams. Both pre-demapping scaling and post-demapping scaling are performed to improve the performance of the receiver. A pre-scaling coefficient is applied to the symbols by the pre-scaling unit to generate pre-scaled symbols. The pre-scaled symbols are converted to soft bits by the demapper. The post-scaling unit then applies a post-scaling coefficient to the soft bits. The post-scaling coefficient is a signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR). Cross interference is taken into account in post-demapping scaling to obtain more accurate soft bits for subsequent decoding. The present invention is applicable to both a multi-carrier system, (such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)), and a single carrier system.
US07869530B2
The Energy spectral density of OFDM signals inherently rolls off slowly. Slow OFDM spectral rolloff has system level implications traditionally mitigated by some combination of the following: addition of bandlimiting filtering; use of significant guard bands of zeroed tones; and, guard time shaping. Each of these techniques negatively impact system performance and/or flexibility. This application presents a methodology for active cancellation of out of band spectral energy. The technique can be used by itself or in conjunction with above traditional methods to help control out of band emission. Examples of the use of the new technique are provided. Computational cost of the new technique is also discussed.
US07869522B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a video signal multiplexing apparatus including a separator separating picture information and additional information from a received video signal, a controller adjusting, if the picture information is out of sync with the additional information, a data amount of the additional information based on a data amount of the picture information in such a manner that the picture information is in sync with the additional information, and a multiplexer multiplexing the encoded data and the additional information the data amount of which has been adjusted.
US07869514B2
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.
US07869513B2
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.
US07869511B2
A video encoding apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.
US07869506B2
A video encoding method comprises selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations each including a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture, generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination, generating a predictive error signal representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal, and encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination.
US07869495B2
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver capable of improving equalization performance is provided. In the OFDM receiver receiving an OFDM signal having a frame structure constructed with one reference symbol and a plurality of data symbols following the reference symbol, the OFDM receiver includes: a synchronizer which detects a position of the reference symbol from the received OFDM signal; a time-domain equalizer which equalizes in a time domain the data symbols that are separated by a distance longer than a predetermined distance from the position of the reference symbol; an FFT (fast Fourier transform) unit which performs an FFT process on the OFDM signal; and a frequency-domain equalizer which equalizes in a frequency domain the data symbols that are separated by a distance shorter than a predetermined distance from the position of the reference symbol.
US07869494B2
One or more embodiments of the invention comprise a continuous-time equalizer (CTE) for reducing both pre-cursor and post-cursor intersymbol interference (ISI) from data received from a communication channel. One such equalizer comprises two independent stages that process the input signal in parallel. One stage subtracts a scaled version of the derivative of the input signal from a scaled version of the input signal to reduce pre-cursor ISI from the input signal. The other stage adds a scaled version of the derivative of the input signal to a scaled version of the input signal to reduce post-cursor ISI from the input signal. The outputs from the two stages are then multiplied to arrive at an output signal in which both pre- and post-cursor ISI is minimized. Because the scalars used in each of the stages are independent, each can be adjusted for greater manipulation of the ISI-reduced signal.
US07869489B2
A preamble acquisition apparatus includes a first PN code generation unit for generating a first PN code having a bit string, a first correlation calculation unit for correlating a received frequency domain preamble signal with the first PN code within a first correlation range to generate a first correlation value, a first correlation value comparison unit for comparing the first correlation value with a first threshold value, a second PN code generation unit for generating a second PN code, a second correlation calculation unit for correlating the received frequency domain preamble signal with the second PN code within a second correlation range to generate a second correlation value, and a preamble acquisition determination unit for comparing the second correlation value with a second threshold value to determine whether to acquire the preamble. The bit values of the first PN code are located in the second PN code.
US07869487B2
A quadrature multi-frequency ranging system applied to DSSS multipath mitigation problems is described. The QMFR techniques include taking the time-of-arrival measurements on the received signal at a time when the multipath component is at a 90 degree angle to the direct path. Further, the preferred embodiment of the present invention recognizes that when a signal is transmitted at a series of frequencies, and the spread of these frequencies is sufficient, a quadrature or near quadrature condition can be forced to occur, at which the TOA estimation gives the highest certainty of measurement.
US07869464B2
A communication network comprises a first digital subscriber line (DSL) unit having a plurality of application ports and at least one DSL port; and a second DSL unit having a plurality of application ports and at least one DSL port; wherein the first DSL unit is communicatively coupled to the second DSL unit via a DSL pair coupled to the at least one DSL port in each of the first and second DSL units; and wherein each of the first and second DSL units are configured to receive a signal of a first interface format over one of the plurality of application ports, extract timeslots from the received first interface format signal, transmit the timeslots over the at least one DSL port, and use timeslots received over the at least one DSL port to generate at least one second signal of a dissimilar interface format.
US07869462B2
A sorting section in a restoration section sorts out a packet for an intended service from a transport stream received according to the control of a reception control section. The sorted out packet is provided to an output section and restored to NTSC signals. An audiovisual output section (such as a TV set) receives the signals and outputs images and voices. The reception control section acquires information on the type of contents chosen out of the transport stream through the sorting section, and further compares the contents type information with restorable contents type information recorded in a restorable contents type information recording section. Then, a determination is made whether or not the contents intended for restoration are restorable. Depending on the determination, the manner of process applied to the contents is changed. For example, the restoration of the contents is interrupted.
US07869461B2
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data from a mobile terminal to a radio access network of a mobile communication system, the mobile terminal comprising a medium access control entity and to a mobile terminal. In order to enhance data transmission dependent on the scheduling mode, the present invention provides individual priorities depending on the scheduling mode which are used by the mobile terminal to schedule the transmission data or to multiplex different transmission data of different radio bearers onto a transport channel. Further the invention relates to a method and mobile terminal allowing a scheduling mode dependent scheduling of data transmissions by foreseeing and setting a flag for each logical channel depending on the scheduling mode of the associated radio bearer.
US07869458B2
This invention provides a relay connection unit that relay message and make sufficient number of branches to be able to connect a plurality of ECUs. The relay connection unit includes: reception connectors to which a plurality of insertion connectors of communication lines can respectively be connected; a branch connection unit that divides the reception connectors into a plurality of groups, the branch connection unit branch-connecting the communication lines through the reception connectors belonging to the respective groups; a plurality of vehicle-mounted LAN communication units respectively connecting to each of the groups of the reception connectors via the branch connection unit, which are configured to perform transmission/reception of messages; and a relay processing unit that relays an incoming message received via one of the vehicle-mounted LAN communication units to another of the vehicle-mounted LAN communication units of another relay connection unit in accordance with a relaying destination.
US07869455B2
A code division multiplex transmitting and receiving apparatus has a transmitting apparatus with two coders per channel and terminal units with two matched filters each. One coder and one matched filter employ one spreading code; the other coder and the other matched filter employ another spreading code. The two coded signals output in parallel by the two coders are converted to a single serial signal before being multiplexed. The two matched filters sample alternate chips in the multiplexed signal. The two coders can be supplied with different data signals to double the transmission capacity, or with the same data signal to double the transmission distance. The outputs of the two matched filters are processed separately in the former case and are combined in the latter case.
US07869453B2
There is provided an apparatus and method for transferring data packets from a peripheral module to a memory via a memory-controller. When a given peripheral module requests that it send a data packet to the memory via the memory-controller, the memory-controller sends an acknowledgement indicating that the peripheral module can send the data packet, whether or not there is a descriptor for the data packet. If there is a descriptor, the memory-controller receives the data packet from the peripheral module and stores it in the memory. If there is not a descriptor, the memory-controller discards the data packet as it receives it. Thus, whether or not there is a descriptor available for the data packet, the peripheral module still sends the data packet to the memory-controller. The data packets may be assigned classifications and each classification may be assigned a dedicated space in the memory.
US07869449B2
A statistic reporting method includes: obtaining the current time information after an MG determines that the statistic parameter value needs to be reported if the reporting of a statistic parameter value needs to be bound to the time information, when associating the current time with the current value of the statistic parameter to be reported, and reporting such information to an MGC. In the present disclosure, the MG associates the current time information with the current value of the statistic parameter to be reported, and reports such information to the MGC, thus enabling the MGC to obtain the correct time of triggering the reporting of the statistic parameter value, reducing errors and improving the accuracy of subsequent analysis and prediction based on the reported statistic parameter value.
US07869441B2
An input interface segments a variable length packet into plurality of fixed length cells and generates an internal switching information based on the header information of the variable length packet. The input interface transmits the information to a switch and, after that, transmits the cells as the following cells of the information to the switch. The switch performs switching processing to the succeeding cells based on the information. Therefore, the information is not added to the cells. When an input interface starts to transmit cells generated from a packet to its destination output interface through the switch, the switch is reserved until all the cells arrive at the output interfaces.
US07869427B2
The invention includes systems and methods for improving the performance of non-blocking data switching systems. One embodiment of the invention includes a method comprising routing data from a plurality of inputs to a plurality of outputs through a switching core according to a first switching schedule, receiving a first set of reports comprising reports from data sources associated with the plurality of inputs, evaluating one or more reports of the first set of reports, determining a sufficiency of the first switching schedule based on the one or more reports, adapting a second switching schedule, wherein the second switching schedule differs from the first switching schedule, sending the second switching schedule to the data sources, issuing one or more synchronization signals associated with a transition to the second switching schedule to the data sources and routing data from the plurality of inputs to the plurality of outputs through the switching core according to the second switching schedule.
US07869426B2
A telecommunications network manager includes a network scanner, a scanner interface unit, and intelligence activation units. The intelligence activation units are used with cable connection modules including insulation displacement contacts for connecting to cables. The intelligence activation units provide visual signals to a technician about which cable connection modules should be accessed during system set up or system maintenance.
US07869423B2
A system and method for accommodating mobile station synchronization to neighbor cells in a mobile communication system. At least one available frame is utilized as a search window in an uplink data transfer multiframe for receiving neighboring cell synchronization information. At least one transmit time slot in a frame adjacent to the available frame in the uplink data transfer multiframe is surrendered to extend the search window. The neighboring cell synchronization information may then be contiguously received via the extended search window.
US07869421B2
The claimed subject matter relates to acquiring channel access in a wireless communication environment. A wireless terminal may transmit first and second sets of tones over respective first and second contiguous transmission periods. The first and second tone sets may be disjoint from each other and may each comprise a number of contiguous tones. The terminal may then refrain from transmitting during a third time period in order to receive a grant signal from a base station in response to the access request. The beginnings of the first time period and the second time period may be a function of a determined uplink transmission time.
US07869412B2
In an example embodiment, there is described herein a method for providing quality of service during a contention period. A tiered access protocol enables an Access Point to act as a channel arbitrator and gain control a channel during a contention period. The Access Point waits a specified amount of time before taking control of a channel for either transmitting an outbound frame or initiating Polled-Contention Free Bursts. In addition, a method for increasing the time span between Delivery Traffic Indication Message beacons by tracking when Wireless Stations are able to receive messages and instantly delivering messages to those Wireless Stations.
US07869404B2
The equipment and techniques disclosed herein introduce a deferred acknowledgement (DACK), in the context of a protocol for a wireless station to request and obtain access to a wireless network resource for communication of one or more data packets. Essentially, a network node, such as a wireless base station, sends the DACK instruction in response to the access request telling the requesting station that the node has heard the request but that the requesting station should defer its transmission. The requesting station need not back off and re-initiate its access request. Instead, the requesting station waits for a later acknowledgement (ACK) granting access to a resource as requested. Although the DACK provides additional signaling, this technique can still utilize a fast ACK type message, that is to say a relatively short signaling packet.
US07869393B2
An access gateway node couples a control node to an external data network, where the control node and access gateway node are for use in a wireless communications network. The access gateway node comprises a data function to route packets containing traffic data between the control node and the external data network. An interface to the control node enables exchange of control messages between the data function and a control function in the control node.
US07869390B2
The present invention provides a method and a system for PSMP communication in a wireless communication system such as an IEEE 802.11n WLAN including an AP and multiple STAs. An example of such a PSMP communication involves transmitting a PSMP frame from the AP to the STAs over a wireless channel, detecting if the channel is idle for certain duration, and if the channel is idle for said certain duration, then performing a PSMP recovery process. The PSMP frame includes one or more STA info fields which specify schedules of periods for communication over the wireless channel in a PSMP sequence. In performing a PSMP recovery process, the AP constructs and broadcasts a PSMP recovery frame that allows STAs that missed the original PSMP frame to join the PSMP sequence.
US07869387B2
A system and method for providing group communication services is disclosed. Each of a plurality of group communication devices coverts media, such as video, audio, image and/or data into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, such as the Internet. The data packets are selectively transmitted through the data network to a communications manager. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any communication device to be selectively routed to the plurality of communication devices based on the types of the communication devices and/or the requests received from the corresponding users. The communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.
US07869385B2
A system and method are provided for testing the bus interface assembly in order to determine if the bus interface assembly is configured to interface with a data bus between an aircraft and a store. If the bus interface assembly is determined not to be properly configured, a troubleshooting routine can be deployed to more specifically identify a malfunction of the bus interface assembly, thereby facilitating the repair of the bus interface assembly. Moreover, the system and method may also program the bus interface assembly. By providing the capability to test and troubleshoot and, in some instances, program the bus interface assembly, the bus interface assembly may be more readily deployed and the performance of the bus interface assembly may be assured, thereby promoting the reliability of the bus interface assembly and the associated communications transferred across the data bus between the aircraft and the store.
US07869383B2
A hardware and/or software facility for durably and securely storing data within a shared community storage network. A user may have a storage device that they intend to share with others in the network. All or a portion of the storage device is registered with the community storage network as a storage node. Once registered with the network, third party data may be stored on the storage node and remotely accessed by third parties. In addition, data stored on the storage device by the user may be stored in the shared community storage network by encrypting the data, adding redundancy, and distributing it to other storage nodes within the storage network. Data that is stored in the storage network is accessible to the user even if their storage device is inaccessible or fails.
US07869379B2
A method is disclosed for tuning each channel of a high-speed SerDes cable link interface arranged in a configuration linking a local side physical layer to a remote side physical layer. The method includes initiating an operational state of high-speed SerDes cable link interface, identifying flow-control packet Op codes not cited for use by operational high-speed SerDes cable link interface, transmitting a flow control signal from the local side physical layer to the remote side physical layer to control the remote side physical layer to monitor the eye characteristics of the channels used by the local side physical layer to transfer data to the remote side physical layer, transferring eye characteristics acquired in the monitoring to the local side physical layer and processing the eye characteristics by the local side physical layer to generate equalization setting adjustments.
US07869377B2
A method for estimating a subjective quality of a signal carried over a transmission path. The transmission path is monitored at periodic intervals. For each of the periodic intervals, at least one impairment factor is measured, an estimated effect of each of the impairment factors is determined using at least one value, and an estimated subjective quality of the signal is determined using the estimated effect of each of the impairment factors. Further, an estimated combined subjective quality of the signal is determined using the estimated subjective quality for at least two of the periodic intervals.
US07869368B2
In a data packet transmission network a stream of packets of data sent by a first terminal passes in transit through at least one network equipment with which there is associated a stream measurement unit; wherein said first terminal and said measurement unit are connected to a collection unit. The measurement method comprises the following steps the first terminal generates a stream of packets, comprising a first and a second session status control packets the measurement unit analyzes said first and/or second packet of said stream, in transit through the network equipment the first terminal sends the collection unit a sent packet stream description comprising at least the number of packets sent the stream measurement unit sends the collection unit a stream description comprising at least one information item indicating the number of analyzed packets; and the collection unit identifies each analyzed packet of the stream as a function of the stream description to correlate said stream description and said sent packet stream description packet by packet.
US07869360B2
A method for saving power on a digital subscriber line (xDSL) includes: generating a statistic on data rates on the xDSL, adjusting the line rate and the transmit power on the xDSL according to the statistic result, and updating the line rate of an xDSL transceiver according to the adjusted line rate and transmit power. An apparatus for saving power on an xDSL includes a data rate statistics unit, a line rate adjustment policy unit, a line parameter adjusting unit, and a line rate updating unit for an xDSL transceiver. According to the embodiments of the present invention the average transmit power of the xDSL line can be reduced effectively and energy can be saved.
US07869354B2
Methods and products are disclosed for analyzing network traffic using an improved Markov Modulated Poisson Process Model with one bursty state and a plurality of idle states that include: establishing a time scale of operation for each state in the improved MMPP model; establishing a transition value for each state in dependence upon the time scale of operation for the state; measuring inter-arrival times between individual packets received in one or more network adapters; and determining a current state for the network traffic independence upon the measured inter-arrival time of a most recently received packet and the transition values.
US07869337B2
A user operates a selection panel installed in a shop to select contents which the user wants to review. A reception unit identifies the contents based on the user's operation on the selection panel, acquires an ID of a portable device incorporated in headphones worn by the user, and transmits the ID to a management server. The management server transmits data of the contents to a transmission device, which searches for a signal electrode capable of communicating with the portable device of the user among signal electrodes that are embedded in the floor of the shop. The transmission device transmits a signal representative of the contents from the signal electrode that has been searched for, and the portable device receives the signal transmitted from the transmission device. An audio signal of the contents is output from the headphones.
US07869332B2
There is provided a solid immersion lens in a material of refractive index n1, having an effective dioptre (26) separating from a medium of refractive index n2, an optical axis, a virtual object focal point for a convergent optical beam entering the lens via the effective dioptre, this virtual object focal point being conjugate with a real image focal point. The dioptre (26) is defined by the equation √{square root over (x2+y2)}−n√{square root over ((x−a)2+y2)}=L, x, y are the coordinates of a point (I) of the dioptre (26) in a system (A, x, y) whose origin is the virtual object focal point (A) and whose abscissa axis is the optical axis (Ax), a is the, nonzero, algebraic distance between the virtual object focal point (A) and its conjugate (A′), L is the, nonzero, optical path, separating the virtual object focal point (A) from its conjugate (A′), n is the ratio n1/n2 of the refractive indexes. The dioptre (26) is smooth and the conjugate (A′) lies downstream of the effective dioptre (26) for the optical beam. Particular application to reading, writing, reproduction of optical data.
US07869331B2
An optical head includes a hologram which extracts, from a luminous flux of reflected light from an optical disk, at least a first luminous flux branch which does not include the optical axis of the luminous flux; and a photodetector which receives the reflected light from the optical disk and produces signal output, wherein the photodetector has light-receiving areas which receive the first luminous flux branch of reflected light from an optical information recording medium layer targeted for recording or playback out of the plurality of optical information recording medium layers of the optical disk, the light-receiving areas are placed in such a way that the signal output resulting from a light spot formed by the first luminous flux branch of the reflected light from the optical information recording medium layer targeted for recording or playback is practically the same between the first and second photodetection areas, and a boundary line of the light-receiving areas is located in such a position as not to include light spots formed by luminous fluxes of reflected light from the optical information recording medium layers other than the optical information recording medium layer targeted for recording or playback.
US07869330B2
An optical disc apparatus reproducing information on the basis of a standing wave recorded on a disc-like volume type recording medium includes: a first focus position adjusting unit configured to adjust the position of a focus on which a first light beam focuses inside a recording layer inside the volume type recording medium in the optical axis direction of the first light beam; a second focus position adjusting unit configured to adjust the position of a focus on which a second light beam focuses inside the recording layer in the optical axis direction of the second light beam; a controller configured to control the first focus position adjusting unit and the second focus position adjusting unit; and first and second detectors configured to detect the first and second reproduction light beams.
US07869326B2
An optical disc drive having an optical pickup head emitting a light beam to an optical storage medium, detecting the light beam reflected from the optical storage medium, and outputting a signal based on the received reflected light, having a jitter measuring unit measuring jitter in signals output from the optical pickup head and having an evaluation unit determining from the measured jitter if the optical storage medium is good or defective. The jitter measuring unit measures jitter in a train of 3T or longer marks or spaces from an optical storage medium to which digital information is recorded as a train of marks or spaces of length kT based on a period T and an integer k of two or more.
US07869317B2
Each layer includes a data recording area and a test writing area divided into a plurality of small areas, wherein the small areas of the test writing area are recorded in advance so that other each layer can make a combination of recorded and unrecorded states with respect to the small area, where OPC is carried out, in a layer where OPC is carried out. Moreover, OPC is carried out to each small area, where a combination of recorded/unrecorded states of other each layer differs from each other, to thereby calculate, as the optimum power, an average value of the result of each OPC or a central value of the dispersion thereof.
US07869316B2
A playback device for playback of a media stream stored on a storage medium, the device includes a controller for controlling the reading, buffering and playback of the media stream. During playback, a buffer is filled by a reader and emptied by a playback unit. At each buffer, filling a buffer refilling time, i.e., the moment when the buffer will be empty and thus has to be refilled, is calculated. After each buffer filling, the storage medium can change to standby mode till buffer refilling is to occur. Thus, power consumption by the storage medium is minimized. The buffer refilling time depends on the total consumption time and the buffer filling period. The total consumption time is determined depending on playback mode control information. The buffer filling period is calculated depending on information about the retrieval of the media stream or an estimation of the buffer filling period is made.
US07869302B2
A local on-chip programmable pulsewidth and delay generating circuit includes a clock generation circuit configured to receive a global clock signal and output a local clock signal. The clock generation circuit includes a pulse shaping portion which adjusts a pulse width of the global clock signal in accordance with at least one of a trailing edge delay and a leading edge delay. The leading edge delay is generated by a leading edge delay circuit, and the trailing edge delay is generated by a trailing edge delay circuit configured to apply a delay to a trailing edge of a pulse. The trailing edge delay circuit includes a delay chain having programmable stages of delay elements, each stage being independently controlled using control bits decoded from address latches.
US07869300B2
In memory circuitry, to ensure that a memory device, such as a DDR3 RDIMM, safely operates in self-refresh mode while the memory controller is powered down and off, the memory device's clock enable (CKE) input is connected to both (i) the CKE signal applied by the memory controller and (ii) a termination voltage provided by the power module. To power down the memory controller, the memory controller drives the CKE signal low, then the power module drives the termination voltage low, then the power module powers down the memory controller. To resume normal operations, the power module powers up the memory controller, then the memory controller drives the CKE signal low, then the power module powers up the termination voltage. By holding the termination voltage low, the memory circuitry ensures that the memory device stays in self-refresh mode while the memory device is powered down and off.
US07869289B2
A semiconductor device has a transmission control circuit comprising a signal transmission circuit, an output control circuit, a replica circuit and a detection circuit. The single transmission circuit receives a predetermined signal in synchronization with a first control signal, and transmits and outputs the signal through a signal bus in synchronization with a second control signal. The output control circuit supplies the second control signal and controls an output timing thereof. The replica circuit transmits and outputs a replica signal (having level shifted in response to the input timing of the predetermined signal) through a replica signal bus having the same transmission characteristics as the signal bus. The detection circuit detects shifting of the replica signal and supplies a feedback signal to the output control circuit whose output timing is controlled in accordance with the shifting timing of the replica signal based on the feedback signal.
US07869284B1
The present invention relates to an erasing method for nonvolatile memory, which uses forward bias between the source/drain region and body contact to inject majority carriers into the body, and then accelerates the majority carriers by an electric field between the body and the gate to energize the majority carriers to overcome the oxide barrier and to erase the nonvolatile memory.
US07869282B2
A method of processing an array of non-volatile memory cells to program or erase the same, by applying a voltage to the same through a program and verify pulse application circuit. The process includes a first step of selecting a voltage to be applied. Then, the maximum number of memory cells that can be processed simultaneously is determined, based on the selected voltage and characteristics of the memory cells and the circuit. The array is divided into processing groups, each group having a number of cells less than or equal to the maximum determined number. Finally, the voltage is applied to the cells.
US07869278B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of strings each of which is configured with a first select transistor, a second select transistor, and a plurality of memory cells connected in series between the first and second select transistors. A common source line is connected to a source of the second select transistor. A metal interconnection is electrically insulated from the common source line, and connected to the source of the second select transistor.
US07869273B2
A system for programming non-volatile storage is proposed that reduces the impact of interference from the boosting of neighbors. Memory cells are divided into two or more groups. In one example, the memory cells are divided into odd and even memory cells; however, other groupings can also be used. Prior to a first trigger, a first group of memory cells are programmed together with a second group of memory cells. Subsequent to the first trigger and prior to a second trigger, the first group of memory cells are programmed separately from the second group of memory cells. Subsequent to the second trigger, the first group of memory cells are programmed together with the second group of memory cells. Before and after both triggers, the first group of memory cells are verified together with the second group of memory cells.
US07869267B2
A method for accessing a phase change memory device, wherein a first sub-plurality of bitlines is grouped in a first group and a second sub-plurality of bitlines is grouped in a second group. At least a bitline in the first and second groups are selected; currents are supplied to the selected bitlines; and a selected wordline is biased. The bitlines are selected by selecting a first bitline in the first group and, while the first bitline is selected, selecting a second bitline in the second group which is arranged on the selected wordline symmetrically to the first bitline in the first group.
US07869263B2
An elastic power header device and methods of operation are provided to improve the read margin of static random access memory (SRAM) cells by increasing read stability, reducing read disturbance and improving the Signal to Noise Margin (SNM) figure of merit. For example, various implementations of an elastic power header device are utilized as programmable resistances to permit the power supply lines to reach a maximum voltage. Allowing the power supply lines to reach the reference voltage allows more flexibility in read margin and read stability. Furthermore, this additional flexibility can be controlled by means for adjusting a voltage. This adjustment voltage can fine-tune the programmable resistances so that the read margin can be more conveniently controlled.
US07869260B2
A plurality of memory cells, each including a variable resistance element capable of having four or more values, are arranged at intersections of first wirings and second wirings. A control circuit selectively drives the first and second wirings. A sense amplifier circuit compares, with a reference voltage, a voltage generated by a current flowing through a selected memory cell. A reference voltage generation circuit includes: a resistance circuit including first and second resistive elements connected in parallel. Each of the first resistive elements has a resistance value substantially the same as a maximum resistance value in the variable resistance elements, and each of the second resistive elements has a resistance value substantially the same as a minimum resistance value in the variable resistance elements. A current regulator circuit averages currents flowing through the first and second resistive elements.
US07869255B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a substrate having a recess thereon, a resistant material layer pattern in the recess, a lower electrode on the resistant material layer pattern in the recess, a dielectric layer, and an upper electrode formed on the dielectric layer. The resistant material layer pattern includes a material whose resistance varies according to an applied voltage. The dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, the resistant material layer pattern and the lower electrode. An upper electrode overlaps the resistant material layer pattern and the lower electrode. The applied voltage is applied to access the upper and lower electrodes to vary the resistance of the resistant material layer pattern.
US07869253B2
A method of determining the memory state of a resistive memory cell including a first electrode, a second electrode and an active material being arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, comprises generating a read capacity by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, discharging the read capacity over the active material of the memory cell, and determining the memory state of the memory cell in dependence on a change of the voltage during the discharge of the read capacity.
US07869239B2
A layout structure of bit line sense amplifiers for use in a semiconductor memory device includes first and second bit line sense amplifiers arranged to share and be electrically controlled by a first column selection line signal, and each including a plurality of transistors. In this layout structure, each of the plurality of transistors forming the first bit line sense amplifier is arranged so as not to share an active region with any transistors forming the second bit line sense amplifier.
US07869233B2
A control device calculates a voltage command value of a voltage step-up converter based on a torque command value and a motor revolution number and calculates an on-duty of an NPN transistor based on the calculated voltage command value and a DC voltage from a voltage sensor. When the on-duty is influenced by a dead time of NPN transistors, control device fixes the on-duty at 1.0 to control the NPN transistors in such a manner that the voltage is increased or decreased.
US07869231B2
A synchronous rectifier is switched in accordance with a primary switch transition and a reference signal representing current in a current storage device to which the synchronous rectifier is coupled. A current emulator provides a signal representing current in the current storage device as a volt-second product so that current stored in the current storage device while the primary switch is on is discharged by the synchronous rectifier. The use of a current emulator provides an inexpensive solution for controlling synchronous rectifier transitions without resorting to more expensive current sensing solutions that are commercially impracticable. Blanking intervals are provided for avoiding false transitions of the synchronous rectifier when the primary switch turns on and after the synchronous rectifier turns off. The disclosed system and method can be applied to flyback converters for a synchronous rectifier on the secondary side of a transformer, or the inductor of buck converters.
US07869218B2
A Solid State Drive (SSD) device includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) defining rivet holes, and a support structure including parallel side frame rails defining rivet openings and support platforms for receiving and supporting the PCBA. Compression-mated rivet sets are used to connect the PCBA to the support structure, each rivet set including a female rivet portion and an associated male rivet portion. The PCBA is mounted onto the support structure such that the rivet holes are aligned with the rivet openings of the plurality of rivet openings, and then the rivet sets are mounted and secured using an automatic rivet tool such that each rivet set extends through an associated rivet hole/opening and fixedly engaged such that the PCBA and the support structure are held between end caps of the respective male and female rivet portions.
US07869209B2
This rack (1) houses rackable electronic gear modules (2, 3) and has cooling by natural convection thanks to ventilation orifices (20, 21) provided in its bottom (10) and top (11) walls and forced air cooling thanks to internal air distribution ramps (30) fed with air under pressure through the intermediary of a distribution box (31) connected to a forced air circulation duct (37). The use of internal distribution ramps for the forced air makes it possible to produce a pulsed air circulation providing only a slight obstacle to the air circulation obtained by natural convection. Compared to usual configurations, this makes it possible to lower the operating temperature reached by the equipment in the event of loss of the forced ventilation.
US07869204B2
A computer with a fully integrated virtual keyboard projector and a display projector. The computer includes a base having a CPU, a video card and memory, a screen pivotally mounted to one side of the base, and a display projector mounted to an opposite side of the base and angled to project a computer generated image onto the screen. Further, the computer includes a keyboard projector mounted to the opposite side of the base to project a keyboard onto a surface adjacent to the opposite side of the base. Further, the computer includes another display projector mounted to the opposite side of the base and digitally synchronized with the first display projector for projecting a superimposed image.
US07869190B2
A solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention has: a capacitor element (30) having an anode terminal (31) protruding; a resin sheath (6) that covers the capacitor element (30); an anode lead frame (1) having an anode-side terminal surface (10) that is connected to a tip section of the anode terminal (31) of the capacitor element (30) and exposed from the resin sheath (6); and a cathode lead frame (2). The anode lead frame (1) includes, in a portion thereof embedded in the resin sheath (6), a spaced frame section (13) that extends along the anode terminal (31) at a distance from the anode terminal (31) and a bonding frame section (11) that protrudes from a center portion of the spaced frame section (13) to the anode terminal (31) and is bonded to the anode terminal (31).
US07869184B2
A method of modifying the heat transfer coefficient profile of an electrostatic chuck by configuring the areal density of a mesa configuration of an insulating layer of the chuck is provided. A method of modifying the capacitance profile of an electrostatic chuck by adjustment or initial fabrication of the height of a mesa configuration of an insulating layer of the chuck is further provided. The heat transfer coefficient at a given site can be measured by use of a heat flux probe, whereas the capacitance at a given site can be measured by use of a capacitance probe. The probes are placed on the insulating surface of the chuck and may include a plurality of mesas in a single measurement. A plurality of measurements made across the chuck provide a heat transfer coefficient profile or a capacitance profile, from which a target mesa areal density and a target mesa height are determined. The target density and height are achieved mechanically; the target density by mechanically adjusting the areal density of existing mesas; and the target height by creating or deepening low areas surrounding planned or existing mesas, respectively. This can be accomplished using any of known techniques for controlled material removal such as laser machining or grit blast machining on an X-Y table.
US07869182B1
A method is disclosed for monitoring a user wearing a static electricity garment. The garment comprises a first conductive upper body portion including a first electrical interface, a second conductive upper body portion including a second electrical interface, a first user interface for electrically coupling the first conductive upper body portion to a first upper limb of the user, a second user interface for electrically coupling the second conductive upper body portion to a second upper limb of the user, and an insulative portion for electrically insulating the first conductive upper body portion from the second conductive upper body portion. To monitor the static electricity, the user touches the first electrical interface to a first lead of a monitoring device and touches the second electrical interface to a second lead of the monitoring device.
US07869173B2
A bi-directional fault circuit interrupter comprising a first connection interface, a second connection interface, at least one fault circuit, and at least one switch which is movable from at least one first position to at least one second position to selectively electrically connect the fault circuit to either the first connection interface or the second connection interface. There are also a plurality of conductors configured to electrically connect the first connection interface to the switch and the second connection interface to the switch.
US07869169B2
A method and system to detect currents in the saturation region of a current transformer for a circuit breaker is disclosed. An example method is sensing a fault condition with a current transformer in a circuit breaker. The characteristic curve of the current transformer in a saturation mode is determined based on peak current. A current is received on the transformer. A secondary current is output from the transformer. It is determined whether the secondary current is indicative of a fault current in the saturation mode of the transformer. The breaker is tripped if the secondary current is indicative of a fault current.
US07869167B2
Method and device for prevention and protection of electrical transformer against explosion and fire
The present invention relates to the system and method for protection, prevention and or detection of the explosion and or resulting fire in electrical transformers in advance, i.e before decomposition of combustible coolant fluid/dielectric oil.
US07869158B1
A recording medium can include multiple helicoid patterns arranged in multiple helicoid groups, e.g., first and second helicoid groups. Operating a disk drive can include switching between helicoid groups to maintain the alignment of the head with respect to a target track of the rotating recording medium. Enabling a switch can include receiving a waveform produced by a head operated with respect to a rotating recording medium, generating first information from one or more portions of the waveform corresponding to the helicoid patterns of the first helicoid group; generating second information from one or more portions of the waveform corresponding to the helicoid patterns of the second helicoid group; and analyzing the second information with respect to the first information to generate calibration information. The calibration information can compensate for operational differences between using the helicoid patterns of the first helicoid group and the helicoid patterns of the second helicoid group.
US07869150B2
An actuator used for a camera module and controlling a lens assembly to move along an optical axis, includes a magnet disposed on a side of the lens assembly, a coil part disposed within a magnetic field of the magnet and controlling an up-and-down movement of the lens assembly when an electric power is applied, and a yoke part disposed to horizontally move the magnet disposed on the side of the lens assembly. The lens assembly is provided with a friction-generating member generating a frictional force to the lens assembly in an opposite direction to a direction in which the lens assembly moves to the yoke part.
US07869145B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for illuminating a target includes a light source configured to emit one or more light beams with a first divergence. The system further includes a lens separated from the light source. The lens is configured to substantially satisfy the sine condition without removing spherical aberrations from the one or more light beams. The lens is further configured to receive the one or more light beams with the first divergence. The lens is further configured to change the first divergence of the one or more light beams to a second divergence. The second divergence is less than the first divergence. The second divergence is greater than zero. The lens is further configured to transmit the one or more light beams with the second divergence.
US07869142B2
An optical lens system for taking image has, in order from the object side to the image side: a positive first lens element with a convex object-side surface; a negative plastic second lens element with a concave object-side surface; a negative plastic third lens element with a concave object-side surface; a positive fourth lens element with a concave image-side surface; and an aperture stop located between an object to be photographed and the second lens element. The second lens element is provided with at least one aspheric surface, the third lens element is provided with at least one aspheric surface, and the fourth lens element is formed with inflection points. An on-axis distance between the first and second lens elements is T12, a focal length of the optical lens system for taking image is f, they satisfy the relation: (T12/f)*100>0.7.
US07869127B2
A method, element and system are provide for efficiently, accurately and without significant contribution of noise, splitting a beam of radiation or combining beams of radiation. In one embodiment of the invention, a beamsplitter front surface partially reflects incident radiation and refracts the rest of the radiation. The refracted radiation is completely reflected at a back surface of the beamsplitter and is completely refracted producing a parallel beam without creating any stray radiation or optical noise. This is accomplished using a p-polarized input beam and a Brewster angle geometry.
US07869124B2
It is an object to perform high-precision observation by compensating group-velocity-delay dispersion and angular dispersion with a simple structure. The invention provides a laser microscope 1 including a light source; an acousto-optic deflector 7 that deflects ultrashort-pulse laser light L emitted from the light source; an angular-dispersion element 8, disposed in front of or after the acousto-optic deflector 7, that applies angular dispersion in a direction opposite to the acousto-optic deflector 7; and a group-velocity-delay dispersion-amount adjusting unit 10 that adjusts the amount of dispersion compensation by moving the angular-dispersion element 8 so as to vary the optical path length at each wavelength between the angular-dispersion element 7 and the acousto-optic deflector 8.
US07869119B2
An object of the present invention is to increase the resistance of electronic paper to external stress. The resistance to external stress is increased by providing an element formation layer, which includes an integrated circuit portion, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a charged particle-containing layer, between a first insulating film including a first structure body in which a first fibrous body is impregnated with a first organic resin, and a second insulating film including a second structure body in which a second fibrous body is impregnated with a second organic resin.
US07869103B2
An image reading device capable of correctly reading an image on a document is provided without the need to increase the size of an upper cover, etc. of the device. A CIS (Contact Image Sensor) is supported by holders and support shafts to be movable toward the upper cover (rib) and is biased toward the rib by compression springs. In this configuration, the rib for holding the document is not required to be installed as a movable component and there is no need to provide a space for allowing the rib to move or providing the upper cover with a mechanism for allowing the rib to move, which can avoid the need to increase the size of the upper cover.
US07869097B2
A computer program product for enabling a computer to have a printing control function for transparent-printing second print data in superposition on first print data includes software instructions for enabling the computer to separate the second print data into parts for combining with the first print data and parts not for the combining with the first print data, and combining the data of the parts set for the combining with the first print data so as to be superposed on the first print data.
US07869088B2
Methods and apparatus for determining a preferred size for a Link LUT as used in conversion from an input color space defined by an input ICC profile into an output color space defined by an output ICC profile. The Link LUT may be incorporated within a device link structure as generally defined in the ICC specification or within a Link Color Conversion CMR in an AFP architecture system. The preferred size is determined from the size of an input LUT associated with the input ICC profile and the size of an output LUT associated with the output ICC profile. In AFP architecture systems, the input and output LUTs and profiles may each be incorporated in appropriate Color Conversion CMRs. The preferred size is determined as a reduced size that requires less computation to generate but does not cause loss of accuracy in conversion between the input and output color spaces.
US07869087B2
Methods and systems are presented for calibrating or characterizing a color printer or determining the color response of a color printer to combat spatial non-uniformity, in which color patches are printed on a test page according to an input matrix of input color in a printer-dependent-color space and the test page is measured to provide a corresponding output matrix of output color in a printer-independent-color space. Initial forward and inverse color transforms between the input and the output colors are generated based on the input and the output matrices. The output values are mapped to the input color space based on the initial inverse transform to form a feedback matrix, and spatial non-uniformities present in the printed test page are estimated according to noise values derived from the input matrix and the feedback matrix. The input matrix is modified according to the estimated spatial non-uniformity to form a modified input matrix of input color, and final forward and inverse transforms are generated for the color printer according to the modified input matrix and the output matrix.
US07869086B2
An offset adjusting device includes a sample-hold unit that sample-holds an analog image signal obtained by converting reflected light from an original into an electric signal with a photoelectric conversion device to thereby obtain a sample-hold signal; an amplifying unit that amplifies the sample-hold signal to obtain an amplified signal; an analog-digital converter that digitizes the amplified signal to obtain a digital signal; a difference detecting unit that detects a difference between a black-level detection value of the digital signal and a black-level target value; an selecting unit that selects an adjustment coefficient among a plurality of adjustment coefficients based on comparison of the difference and a reference value; and a feedback unit that subjects an offset adjustment value based on the adjustment coefficient selected by the selecting unit to feedback processing.
US07869084B2
The present invention provides a droplet discharging apparatus including a discharge head for deflectively discharging droplets through one discharge port at a plurality of pixel areas in adaptive fashion. The discharge head is controlled to discharge droplets at an object. A storage unit stores status information about the discharge head. A communication unit communicates with an information processing apparatus located outside so as to transmit the status information to the information processing apparatus.
US07869082B2
In a multi-function input/output device, an optical reading unit optically reads an optically readable code from a device control setting medium on which device control setting information, including use authentication information and unit-control-setting information for a document input control setting unit, a document-data-processing control setting unit, and a document-data-output control setting unit, is recorded. The device control setting information including the use authentication information is recognized from the code read by the optical reading unit. A user authentication unit authenticates the user by using a use authentication code of the use authentication information. A setting processing unit sets the unit-control-setting information based on a recognition result of the device control setting information and the use authentication information.
US07869077B2
An apparatus and a method are provided that can easily distribute material suitable for each person or each place to which the material is distributed compared to conventional apparatuses and methods. A material delivery server is provided with a box for each user, a print data sorting portion for making the box for a user to whom material is delivered memorize print data of the material to be delivered, a print conditions memorizing portion for memorizing print conditions information for each user, a transmission data generation portion for generating print data for transmission by setting the print conditions information of a user relating to the box for the print data memorized in the box, and a print data transmission portion for transmitting the print data generated from the print data memorized in the box to a material reception terminal of the user relating to the box.
US07869075B2
When rasterized text is pasted on a picture image included in a print image, image processing for a picture region is applied to the print image, thus deteriorating the image quality of a text region. Print data is input from the exterior, and objects included in the print data are rendered to generate image data for print. Attribute information of each object is appended to the image data for print, and the image data appended with the attribute information is stored in a memory. Image data indicating a picture attribute is extracted from the rendered image data for print. The extracted image data is segmented into region. Attribute information of image data of a region of a text attribute, which is divided in the segmentation, is rewritten to a text attribute.
US07869069B2
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for printing on pre-printed media. A printing device includes a printer component to identify location and color setting information of pre-printed material on a print media. A print engine can execute a print job on the print media based on the location and color setting information of the pre-printed material on the print media.
US07869068B2
A software plug-in module extends the functionality of a standard printer driver. For example, the plug-in facilities the ability to provide a customizable user interface. The plug-in also facilitates the use of multiple forms of color management and half-tone screening. Further, the plug-in provides a system and method for determining the status of a printing device.
US07869065B2
An image forming system includes an image forming device having an image forming section that forms image on a recording medium based on image information and ejects the recording medium; a post-processing device that performs post-processing on a recording medium, the post-processing device having a sheet feeding section to load the recording medium; a power switching device to turn on power to the image forming system; a post-processing operation setting device for setting post-processing dedicated mode to execute post-processing on the recording medium loaded on the sheet feeding section; and a controller that executes startup operation for setting only the post-processing device into an operable state and prohibits startup operation of the image forming section of the image forming device when power has been turned on via the power switching device and the controller has detected that the post-processing dedicated mode has been set via the post-processing operation setting device.
US07869058B2
A system for evaluation of optical quality of an optical device includes a light source configured to generate light, the generated light be received by an optical device. An interferometric lens apparatus is removably mounted to the optical device to generate interference fringes. A camera device is configured to receive and display the interference fringes, and a computer configured to analyze the interference fringes received from the camera device to determine aberrations of the optical device and generate a recommendation to correct the determined aberrations. Methods for evaluating the optical quality of an optical device are also described.
US07869056B2
A tilting angle measuring device includes an optical device, a four-quadrant optical detector and a computing unit. By the optical device, a light beam emitted by the coherent light source is processed into a reference beam and a test beam. The four-quadrant optical detector has four photoelectric converting units arranged in an array for respectively receiving the reference and test beams. The computing unit is electrically connected to the four-quadrant optical detector for computing a tilting angle of the object with respect to a predetermined position according to four intensity values of the test beam.
US07869054B2
An apparatus for determining a polarization-insensitive interferometric signal and a birefringence for a sample and methods for using such an apparatus to characterize the sample are proved herein. Such apparatuses may generally be designed to eliminate birefringence associated with the apparatus itself, collect data from the sample using light in both orthogonal states, and determine the interference birefringence associated with the collected data.
US07869053B2
An optical sampler with high temporal resolution comprises a TOAD device with a loop optical path at the inlet of which is input an optical signal to be sampled and along which path is arranged a point of input of an optical control signal produced by a source and appropriately delayed by a delay line to change on command the temporal position of the TOAD transmittance window compared to the signal to be sampled. In the loop there is also a nonlinear device. The sampler includes a controller to command the delay line to move step by step the transmittance window and make it run on the signal to be sampled. The mean power transmitted at the TOAD output is measured for each window position and a derivative on the mean powers found for each window position is performed, thus finding samples representing the optical signal.
US07869039B2
A microscopic-measurement apparatus capable of conducting measurement successively in several set areas regardless of the type of stage driving system or the precision of the stage driving system. The microscopic-measurement apparatus for acquiring optical information from desired portions of a sample by moving a measuring optical axis on a surface of the sample includes an observation-image display section for displaying a sample surface image as an observation image, in a range of visual field which is observable at a present sample position; an optical-axis display section for displaying areas to be measured and a present position of the measuring optical axis in an overlapped state with the observation image; an area setting section capable of setting measuring areas by expanding, reducing, changing in shape and moving the areas to be measured; and an optical-information acquisition section for measuring one set measuring area or several set measuring areas successively with an instruction of starting measurement.
US07869030B2
The present invention is directed to an aggregate composed of a plurality of nanoparticles of a transition metal and a plurality of cyanine dye molecules that are interacting non-covalently. The nanoparticles are capped with a capping molecule, while the cyanine dye molecule can be cationic, anionic, or neutral cyanine dye. Methods of making such aggregates and for using them in detection of an analyte are also disclosed.
US07869026B2
A method for evaluating three-dimensional (3-D) coordinate system measurement accuracy of an optical 3-D measuring system using targeted artifacts is provided. In this regard, an exemplary embodiment of a method for evaluating 3-D coordinate system measurement accuracy using targeted artifacts comprises: taking a series of measurements from different positions and orientations using target dots on a targeted artifact with an optical 3-D measuring system; and calculating measurement errors using the series of measurements. An exemplary embodiment of a targeted artifact used with the method includes a base and target dots located on the base.
US07869023B2
A cylindrical mirror or lens is used to focus an input collimated beam of light onto a line on the surface to be inspected, where the line is substantially in the plane of incidence of the focused beam. An image of the beam is projected onto an array of charge-coupled devices parallel to the line for detecting anomalies and/or features of the surface, where the array is outside the plane of incidence of the focused beam.
US07869021B2
A system for on-the-fly inspection of components is provided. The system includes a prism structure disposed below an inspection item transit path. An image data system is disposed below the prism structure. A lighting assembly provides a first lighting source to illuminate a plurality of sides of an inspection item and a second lighting source to illuminate a bottom of the inspection item.
US07869006B2
A laser measuring device maintains high responsivity irrespective of changes in surrounding environment, provides more correct measurement and long distance measurement due to reduced noise, and ensures the safety and reliability of a product. A first light emitter emits first wavelength light having a first wavelength. A second light emitter emits second wavelength light having a second wavelength, the second light emitter being arranged perpendicular to the first light emitter. An optical mirror allows one of the first wavelength light and the second wavelength light to pass but reflecting the other one. A first band pass filter for allows the first wavelength light to pass. A second band pass filter allows the second wavelength light to pass. A light receiver receives incident light, which arrives through one of the first and second band pass filters. A controller activates at least one of the first and second light emitters.
US07869005B2
A device for determining a distance from an object may include a light emitter for emitting an emission light beam, a light receiver for receiving a reception light beam, and an evaluation unit for determining the distance on the basis of a propagation time of the emission and reception light beams. The reception light beam may arise as a result of reflection of the emission light beam at the object. The light receiver may have a reception optical unit comprising a first lens element and a pinhole diaphragm. A light-impermeable element may shade a central region of the reception optical unit in such a way that the reception light beam is incident in the form of a light ring on the pinhole diaphragm. A second lens element, which is substantially hat-shaped in cross section, is arranged between the first lens element and the pinhole diaphragm.
US07869001B2
An eddy current damper has an electrically conducting body having a face, and an array of magnets extending over the face of the conducting body. Each magnet generates a magnetic field directed essentially transversely to the face of the conducting body. The magnet array generates oppositely directed magnetic fields each having a field width. At least one of the magnetic fields generated by the magnets has a field width that is smaller than a field width of an adjacent magnetic field. The conducting body may have an opening having a width that is smaller than a field width of a corresponding magnetic field.
US07868999B2
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that has a plurality of control circuits, each control circuit arranged to be connected to an associated radiation source of a plurality of radiation sources configured to generate pulses of radiation for projection onto a substrate and each control circuit arranged to control the energy of radiation pulses generated by that associated radiation source.
US07868983B2
The invention relates generally to a modular display panel for enclosing Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (“COTS”) display technologies. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular display panel for housing COTS light emitting or transmitting display subassemblies such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) for military and other severe environments. The modular display assembly can comprise a base plate, a first frame, a window, a second, a circuit located, and a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the circuit board. The COTS light emitting or transmitting display subassembly can be connected to the second frame.
US07868972B2
A light source unit which can minimize current differences between a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”) which includes an active region that emits light and an inactive region that accounts for a remainder of the PCB, an LED array which includes a plurality of LEDs that are arranged at regular intervals, and a current balancing circuit which is disposed in the inactive region, generates a plurality of current balancing voltages by uniformly adjusting current differences between the LEDs, and outputs the current balancing voltages. A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) including the light source unit, and a method of minimizing current differences between a plurality of LEDs are further provided.
US07868971B2
A liquid crystal module includes a frame, a light reflecting sheet, a cold cathode tube, an optical sheet, a liquid crystal panel and a bezel. The frame has a pair of opposing edge frame parts formed on a pair of opposing side plates of the frame, respectively. At least one of the edge frame parts has an opening. The light reflecting sheet is disposed on the frame and has a pair of opposing end edge parts that is superposed on the edge frame parts of the frame, respectively. At least one of the end edge parts has a tab piece that is inserted through the opening of the at least one of the edge frame parts of the frame to engage to a lower side of the at least one of the edge frame parts.
US07868968B2
A liquid crystal module includes a rear frame, a panel support, a liquid crystal panel and a bezel. The rear frame has a side plate, a top plate extending outward from the side plate, an outer plate extending rearward from the top plate and a bezel fixing component protruding outward from the top plate with respect to the outer plate. The panel support is disposed on the rear frame and covers the outer plate and the top plate of the rear frame. The liquid crystal panel is disposed on the panel support. The bezel is fixedly coupled to the bezel fixing component of the rear frame and holds an edge portion of the liquid crystal panel on the panel support.
US07868960B2
An active matrix substrate includes a plurality of transistors. A source electrode is connected with a data signal line, and a drain electrode is connected with a pixel electrode in each transistor. The source electrode is located on a semiconductor layer, and at least a portion of the drain electrode is overlapped with the gate electrode. A gate insulating film covering the gate electrode of each transistor has a thin section having a reduced film thickness, at a portion where the gate insulating film is overlapped with each gate electrode. An overlapping area of the thin section with the source electrode is smaller than an overlapping area of the thin section with the drain electrode. Thus, the active matrix substrate can prevent the generation of short-circuits between the signal lines (between the data signal line and a scanning signal line) in a TFT forming region, while guaranteeing TFT characteristics.
US07868958B2
A method for forming a liquid crystal display device includes incremental removal of a gate insulator. After forming a gate line layer, a gate insulator, a semiconductor layer, a data layer and a photoresist layer, a mask is used to define a plurality of regions in the photoresist layer through selective development. The developed portions of the photoresist layer are removed and parts of the underlying layers are etched in a plurality of steps using the photoresist layer as a mask. The gate insulator is partially removed during the etching of the data layer and completely removed during formation of source and drain electrodes.
US07868938B2
An image pickup device having a photoelectric conversion unit having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix pattern for converting exposed light into electric charges and accumulating the same and an electronic shutter function for controlling the exposure time for each frame including: a first reader for reading out electric charges exposed during a standard exposure time from respective pixels including the photoelectric conversion elements in the exposed area of the photoelectric conversion unit in a destructive read-out method; a second reader for reading out electric charges exposed during a short exposure time, which is an exposure time shorter than the standard exposure time, from the respective pixels including the photoelectric conversion elements during the same exposure period as the first reader in a nondestructive read-out method; and a saturation predictor for predicting whether or not the amounts of accumulated electric charges in the respective pixels being exposed during the standard exposure time are saturated on the basis of a non-standard exposure pixel data including the electric charges being exposed during the short exposure time, which are read out by the second reader.
US07868926B2
A digital camera can employ logic to delay capturing a still image after a person has operated the control button until such time as predetermined subject criteria are met, e.g., the subject is smiling with eyes open, three or more players are in the field of view to ensure a good action shot, etc.
US07868918B2
An image stabilization control circuit comprises a plurality of vibration detecting elements for detecting vibration of an image pickup apparatus; a plurality of position detecting elements for detecting a position of an optical component; an analog/digital converter circuit for converting output signals of the plurality of vibration detecting elements and the plurality of position detecting elements to digital signals; and a logic circuit for generating a control signal for driving the optical component based on the output signals of the plurality of vibration detecting elements and the plurality of position detecting elements digitalized by the analog/digital converter circuit, wherein the analog/digital converter circuit digitalizes and outputs the output signal of the plurality of vibration detecting elements with respect to a plurality of axis directions, and successively digitalizes and outputs the output signal of the plurality of position detecting elements with respect to a plurality of axis directions.
US07868914B2
A method for calculating a parameter from an image sequence includes selecting a first frame and a second frame in an image sequence. The image sequence has a frame speed. The image sequence or another image sequence is enhanced using a calculation that considers the frame speed and selected frames. The enhancement may be with text, graphics or both such as those that may present statistics corresponding to an event in the image sequence.
US07868912B2
A video surveillance system extracts video primitives and extracts event occurrences from the video primitives using event discriminators. The system can undertake a response, such as an alarm, based on extracted event occurrences.
US07868891B2
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices, and/or systems for load balancing two processors, such as for graphics and/or video processing, for example, are described.
US07868884B2
A system and a method for generating a digital image indicative of an internal anatomy of a person over a respiratory cycle are provided. The method includes scanning the internal anatomy of the person at a plurality of positions along an axis to obtain scanning data, wherein the scanning at each position is performed over at least one respiratory cycle of the person. The method further includes generating a plurality of cross-sectional digital images based on the scanning data. The method further includes generating a plurality of cross-sectional digital image groups, each group comprising at least two digital images of the plurality of cross-sectional digital images wherein each of the two digital images indicate the internal anatomy at a substantially similar respiratory state. The method further includes generating a plurality of 3-D digital images, wherein each digital image of the plurality of 3-D digital images is determined from a corresponding one of the plurality of cross-sectional digital image groups. Finally, the method includes processing the plurality of 3-D digital images to obtain a resultant 3-D digital image indicating positions of at least a portion of the internal anatomy of the person during at least the respiratory cycle.
US07868883B2
There is provided an electro-optical circuit including: a substrate; a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scan lines disposed in a pixel region on the substrate to intersect each other; a plurality of pixel portions disposed at intersections of the data lines and the scan lines; a scan line driver circuit which applies scan signals through the scan lines to the pixel portions; an image signal apply circuit which applies image signals through the data lines to the a plurality of the pixel portions; and a plurality of power supply lines used to supply multiple-system powers to at least one of the scan line driver circuit and the image signal apply circuit.
US07868882B2
An electronic circuit, which has transistors disposed on a substrate, each transistor including an active layer made of thin-film polysilicon, includes a sensor that converts a measured quantity into a current value, a current-voltage conversion circuit that converts the current value into a voltage, and a voltage detection circuit that detects the voltage converted by the current-voltage conversion circuit and outputs a predetermined signal. The current-voltage conversion circuit includes a storage circuit and a range-switching circuit that switches a current-voltage conversion range of the current-voltage conversion circuit by switching the capacitance of the storage circuit.
US07868881B2
A picture display device displays a video signal supplied from a data process device. Bi-directional communication is carried out with each of a plurality of data process devices. A plurality of video signals is combined into one screen corresponding to information of the picture size of each of the plurality of video signals obtained by the bi-directional communication with each of the plurality of data process devices. A video signal, outputted when the plurality of video signals is combined, is displayed. A second control signal is generated which controls the plurality of data process devices and which corresponds to a first control signal that corresponds to a user operation. The first control signal and the second control signal are transmitted to the plurality of data process devices. The plurality of data process devices also communicate bi-directionally with each other.
US07868879B2
An apparatus for serving audiovisual content comprises a parser, a decompression module, a packaging module, and a transmission module. The parser is adapted to receive an image data file and separate the image data file into a first compressed image component and a second compressed image component. The decompression module is coupled to the parser and adapted to decompress the first compressed image component into an uncompressed image component. The packaging module is coupled to the decompression module and adapted to package the uncompressed image component into a data stream having plural data fields arranged in a format defined in accordance with an industry-accepted standard and the second compressed image component into unused ones of said plural data fields, for transmission over a data interface. The transmission module is coupled to the packaging module and adapted to transmit the data stream over the data interface.
US07868875B2
The present invention relates to a touch sensitive display device, the display device including a display panel unit, a sensing unit formed on the display panel unit, receiving a sensor control signal, and generating a sensor data signal based on a touch exerted on the display panel unit, an output unit generating a sensing signal based on the sensor data signal from the sensing unit, and a compensation unit adjusting the sensor control signal such that the sensing signal is bounded in a predetermined range.
US07868868B2
A shift register for a gate driving circuit in a liquid crystal display device, the shift register including a plurality of stages, each stage including a control block connected to receive a first clock signal, a start pulse, and a high-level supply voltage to generate a first control signal and a second control signal, and an output block connected to receive a second clock signal, the first control signal, and the second control signal to generate an output voltage in response to the first and second control signals.
US07868862B2
A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a plurality of first pixels provided with RGB color filters and a plurality of second pixels provided with CMY color filters are formed at a liquid crystal display panel. A video processing part is inputted with RGB data to generate CMY data, and selectively outputs RGB data inputted in accordance with a clock signal and CMY data generated in accordance with a clock signal. A control part controls a supply of RGB data or CMY data inputted from the video processing part in accordance with the clock signal. In accordance with a control part, a data driving part converts RGB data or CMY data outputted from the control part into an analog data, and then supplies it to the plurality of first pixel or the plurality of second pixel.
US07868852B2
A method of driving a PDP apparatus to sufficiently suppress the background light emission and improve the dark room contrast, in which first electrodes and second electrodes are arranged adjacently by turns, a first display line is formed between one side of the second electrode and the first electrode adjacent thereto, a second display line is formed between the other side of the second electrode and the first electrode adjacent thereto, and the interlaced display that displays the first display line and the second display line alternately in different fields is performed, has been disclosed, wherein the reset voltage that directly relates to the intensity of the background light emission is varied according to the number of times of sustain discharges, the display conditions, and so on, in each subfield and the reset discharge is caused to occur with the minimum voltage in each subfield.
US07868841B2
A full-wave di-patch antenna having two half-wave patch antennas located such that the feed points are facing one another and are brought out to a balanced transmission line having two conductors of microstrip feed lines. The phase of the current and the voltage is inverted 180 degrees between the two patches relative to the mechanical structure. The physical spacing of the two patches from center-to-center is one guide wavelength long. The two patches are disposed on a dielectric substrate which is in turn disposed over a ground plane. The two patches can take any of a number of shapes including a rectangle.
US07868838B2
A wideband antenna includes a ground element comprising an upper first side, a first metal sheet a short arm connecting to the first side of the grounding element and a long arm separated from the first side, a second metal sheet electrically connecting to the first metal sheet, a third metal sheet perpendicular to the second metal sheet, and a slot between the first side of the ground element and the long arm of the first metal sheet; wherein said slot, said second metal sheet and said third metal sheet work together to form an ultra wide resonant frequency.
US07868833B2
The invention as disclosed is of a buoyant cable antenna for use with underwater vehicles having improved bandwidth through the use of discrete distributed loading along the antenna. The buoyant cable antenna is designed with an antenna wire that is divided into N equal length segments of length d/2. A capacitor is coupled between every other segment such that capacitors are separated by a distance d. A shunt inductor is coupled to the antenna wire between the adjoining segments not separated by a capacitor such that the shunt inductors are separated by a distance d. This antenna design provides a substantially improved impedance bandwidth over existing prior art antennas at high frequency without increasing the physical profile of the antenna and without the use of active circuit elements.
US07868827B2
Device comprising a patch antenna, and coupling means for connecting the antenna to an electronic component, wherein the patch antenna is arranged on one side of an antenna plate, and the electronic component can be mounted on the other side of the antenna plate, wherein the coupling means comprise a metal passage through the antenna plate. This passage thus ensures the transmission of signals between the antenna and the electronic component. Such a passage is mechanically very robust and not susceptible to ageing, whereby this passage is suitable for automotive applications. This passage is generally not ideal, since it does not have the same characteristic impedance as the antenna and the electronic component, but the dimensions of the passage can be kept sufficiently small so that no disruption is encountered from this impedance mismatch.
US07868804B2
The present invention relates to emphasizing and de-emphasizing of an analog data signal. Using a main analog driver a data signal indicative of bit values of binary data is converted into a first analog data signal. A second data signal is determined by delaying the data signal a predetermined time interval and inverting the delayed data signal. Using a de-emphasis driver, the second data signal are converted into a second analog data signal, wherein the second analog data signal is additive to the first analog data signal if the data signal and the second data signal are indicative of a same bit value, and wherein the second analog data signal is subtractive to the first analog data signal if the data signal and the second data signal are indicative of an opposite bit value. The first analog data signal is emphasized or de-emphasized by superposing the first analog data signal and the second analog data signal.
US07868802B2
Techniques for reducing quantization error in electronic components are described herein.
US07868797B2
There is disclosed a sample-and-hold circuit. An operational amplifier includes an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting output terminal, and a non-inverting output terminal. First and second groups of capacitors are operated in first to third modes periodically. Positive and negative input signals are input to charge an electric charge in the first mode, electric charge are held while positive and negative output signals are output from the operational amplifier by connecting between the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting output terminal and by connecting between the non-inverting input terminal and the inverting output terminal in the second mode, and electric charge are discharged in the third mode. Second group of capacitors shifts to the third mode when first group of capacitors is in the first or second mode, and shift to the first or second mode when first group of capacitors is in the third mode.
US07868789B1
Methods and systems are described that involve usage of dictionaries for compressing a large set of variable-length string values with fixed-length integer keys in column stores. The dictionary supports updates (e.g., inserts of new string values) without changing codes for existing values. Furthermore, a shared-leaves approach is described for indexing such a dictionary that compresses the dictionary itself while offering access paths for encoding and decoding.
US07868788B2
Described herein is an efficient encryption method and system having improved security features based on randomness. The method and system utilize a random dictionary insertion and a random dictionary permutation, and a key stream generated by a stream cipher. Security analysis results show that the method and system provides a higher level of security without incurring any coding efficiency loss, compared with a existing encoding methods.
US07868783B2
A cellular-based preemption system that uses existing cellular infrastructure to transmit preemption related data to allow safe passage of emergency vehicles through one or more intersections. A cellular unit in an emergency vehicle is used to generate position reports that are transmitted to the one or more intersections during an emergency response. Based on this position data, the one or more intersections calculate an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the emergency vehicle, and transmit preemption commands to traffic signals at the intersections based on the calculated ETA. Additional techniques may be used for refining the position reports, ETA calculations, and the like. Such techniques include, without limitation, statistical preemption, map-matching, dead-reckoning, augmented navigation, and/or preemption optimization techniques, all of which are described in further detail in the above-referenced patent applications.
US07868779B2
Circuitry for automatically powering on and maintaining activation of a powered down electronic component in a first device in RF communication with a second device, wherein the first and second devices are preferably an implantable medical device and an external control device, respectively. The system including power logic circuitry for generating a power on signal to automatically close a switch and energize an otherwise powered off electronic device when the power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry. The electronic component while powered by the power source generates a hold signal and a second power signal that is transmitted to the power on logic circuitry to sustain power to the electronic component irrespective of interruptions of relatively short duration for less than a predetermined period of time in RF communication.
US07868774B2
An oil leakage detector for detecting the leakage of e.g. diesel or fuel oil in an engine room of a vessel comprises a conduit for an airflow therethrough, and a screen in the conduit. The screen is meshed to prevent oil particles or droplets from passing therethrough. A sensor determines a pressure loss across the screen, and a control system operatively connected to the sensor is configured to output an oil leakage warning signal if the pressure loss exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A fan may be provided for generating the airflow through the conduit. A gas sensor for determining the presence of hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide is optionally provided.
US07868768B2
A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is tracked using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. A bulk load of GMOs, which is intended for consumption by livestock only, is laced with RFID tags at or near a time of harvest. If the RFID tags appear in a product that is intended for human consumption, then the product is pulled from distribution, since it contains GMOs that are potentially harmful to humans if eaten.
US07868766B2
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag comprises a flexible substrate and an integrated circuit embedded within the flexible substrate. The top surface of the integrated circuit is coplanar with the flexible substrate. At least one conductive element is formed on the flexible substrate. The conductive element is electrically connected to the integrated circuit. The conductive element serves as an antenna for the RFID tag.
US07868763B2
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design is provided. The design structure includes a security system for inventory that automatically detects removal of inventory items from an area or areas protected with security sensors. A person removing the item then scans an identifying code of the item, such as its bar code or radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, with a device such as a portable shopping assistant device; if the item is not scanned in an appropriate manner, such as within a particular a time period, then theft of the item may be suspected. Information for completing a purchase transaction can be sent from the portable shopping assistant device. In this manner, items can be purchased directly from the protected areas.
US07868762B2
A system for determining compatibility between various items is disclosed. A wireless communication device is used to scan a machine-readable tag which includes a plurality of information fields. The information fields include at least identification information of the primary object to which the tag is affixed, list of compatible items, characteristic information of the primary object or other objects, etc. The scanned information from the tag is compared to information in other tags. If the at least some of the information in the tag affixed to the primary object matches the information in one or more other tags, a notification event is triggered to inform the user of the match.
US07868752B1
The present invention provides a method of monitoring the position of a vehicle, vessel, rail car, barge, tanker truck that is loaded with bulk or hazardous material. A G.P.S unit is set to send a signal to a radio transmitter if the unit moves beyond a maximum permissible distance (for example, 50 feet or more). An oxygen sensor can be used to send a signal to a radio transmitter if oxygen levels fall below a selected minimum concentration. The radio transmitter can send the message to a tugboat crew, police department, fire department, company headquarters, civil defense office or other personnel if either of the unit has moved beyond the selected maximum travel distance or if oxygen levels fall below a minimum concentration. In addition to the radio transmission of oxygen concentration data and/or G.P.S position data, visible or audible alarms can be used such as strobe light, horn or the like. Also disclosed is a system for concealment of chemical and/or biological sensors in a building for urban or industrial environments.
US07868750B2
A system and method for notifying primary and second drivers about a status of a safety restraint in a vehicle is provided. A primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to the primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary key and secondary keys. The key ignition device is adapted to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to generate restraint status signals indicative of the status of the safety restraint. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the restraint signals based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver.
US07868748B2
A chamber room is located between a bumper reinforcement and a bumper cover in a vehicle front-rear direction. The chamber room is deformed with a relative movement of the bumper cover to the bumper reinforcement in the event of the collision. A pressure sensor is located in the chamber room to detect a pressure change in the chamber room. A touch sensor is located between the bumper reinforcement and the bumper cover to detect contact with the bumper cover. The touch sensor and the chamber room are located at different positions in a vehicle top-bottom direction. It is determined whether collision occurs based on the detection results of the pressure sensor and the touch sensor.
US07868745B2
A portable personal convenience device carried by a person having access to a transportation vehicle is provided that includes personal convenience means for performing a non-transportation related convenience function. A passive entry device is integrated within the personal convenience means and adapted to interact with the transportation vehicle for passively gaining access thereto. The passive entry device includes a receiver for receiving an interrogating signal from an electronic control module in the transportation vehicle. A transmitter is provided for broadcasting a response signal to the electronic control module. A controller is provided for controlling the transfer of the response signal to the electronic control module in response to the interrogating signal.
US07868741B2
A medication managing apparatus includes a medicine package case and a main body unit removably storing the medicine package case. The medicine package case includes blocks each storing a medicine package, openings provided at walls of each block and formed at positions facing each other such that the medicine package stored in the block is sandwiched therebetween, and an openable/closable cover. The main body unit includes a sensor portion (a medicine package sensor) disposed corresponding to each opening at the opposing walls of each block, to sense a medicine package based on that the medicine package stored in the block blocks a gap between a pair of openings, and a switch lever and a micro-switch (a medicine package case sensor) sensing attachment/removal of the medicine package case to/from the main body unit.
US07868737B2
A system, apparatus and method for supporting multiple reader-tag configurations and reader-tag distances using a single multi-mode tag. A multi-mode radio frequency (RF) transponder is provided, which includes operational tag circuitry configured to provide information in response to being activated by a reader device(s). Multiple antenna circuits are coupled to the operational tag circuitry, where each of the antenna circuits is configured to operate at a different reader-tag distance. At least one disabling circuit is coupled to the operational tag circuitry and to at least one of the antenna circuits, where the disabling circuit is configured to disable operation of at least one of the antenna circuits to which it is coupled.
US07868729B2
A stacked semiconductor device assembly (20) includes a device (24) having conductive traces (34) formed therein, and conductive interconnects (28) electrically connected to the conductive traces (34). Another device (26) has conductive traces (44) formed therein and device pads (54) formed on an outer surface (52) of the device (26). A method (120) entails attaching (84) a magnetic core (30) to an outer surface (42) of the device (24) and forming (92) the conductive interconnects (28) on the outer surface (42) using a stud bumping technique such that the interconnects (28) surround the magnetic core (30). The conductive interconnects (28) are coupled (126) with the device pads (54) using thermocompression bonding to couple the device (26) with the device (24) to form a continuous device coil (22) wrapped around the magnetic core (30) from an alternating electrical connection of the traces (34), the conductive interconnects (28), and the traces (44).
US07868727B2
The invention is directed to inter-helix inductor devices. The inter-helix inductor device includes a dielectric substrate. An input end is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate. A clockwise winding coil has one end connecting to the input end and at least one winding turn through the dielectric substrate. A counter clockwise winding coil includes at least one winding turn through the dielectric substrate, wherein the clockwise and counter clockwise winding coils are connected by an interconnection. An output end is disposed on the dielectric substrate, connects one end of the counter clockwise winding coil, and is adjacent to the input end.
US07868724B2
The present invention discloses a power converter with low common mode noise. The power converter having a primary side and a secondary side, comprises a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and at least one electrostatic shield disposed between the primary winding and the secondary winding, wherein the electrostatic shield is configured with partial first region of the primary winding and partial second region of the secondary winding such that the electrostatic shield partially shields with the primary winding and the secondary winding to reach the purpose of suppressing the common mode noise. In addition, another method can be used to reduce the common mode noise of a power converter having primary side and secondary side, which is adding some additional impedance between the static points and jump points of the primary side and secondary side.
US07868716B2
An acoustic wave filter apparatus where first balance input/output terminals of first and second acoustic wave filter sections are commonly connected to each other and then connected to a first balance terminal, second balance input/output terminals thereof are commonly connected to each other and then connected to a second balanced terminal, the first and second balance input/output terminals of the first acoustic wave filter section are coupled to the first and second balance terminals, respectively, via first and third wiring lines and first and third acoustic wave resonators, respectively, the first and second balance input/output terminals of the second acoustic wave filter section are coupled to the first and second balance terminals, respectively, via second and fourth wiring lines and second and fourth acoustic wave resonators, respectively, and the second wiring line and the third wiring line cross each other on a piezoelectric substrate.
US07868711B2
An arrangement for pulse-width modulating an analog or digital input signal is provided. The non-linear distortion generated in the pulse-width modulator is precompensated by applying a signal with reversed error to the pulse-width modulator. The signal with reversed error is generated by a further pulse-width modulator that receives the input signal and whose output signal is subtracted from twice the input signal. The arrangement may e.g. be used to drive class D audio amplifiers.
US07868708B2
The method of making uniform low-stress crystals includes immersing a seed crystal held at a temperature under its melting point in a melt in a crucible and drawing it from the melt. The crystal and/or melt are rotated relative to each other and a planar phase boundary surface is maintained between them by detecting a surface temperature of the melt and/or crystal and controlling temperature fluctuations by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed. The single crystals obtained by this method have a diameter ≧50 mm and no visible growth strips in a fishtail pattern when a 2-mm thick sample is observed between crossed polarizers. These crystals have an index of refraction uniformity Δn of <1 ppm and a stress birefringence of <1 nm/cm at 193 nm, so that optical elements suitable for DUV lithography can be made from them.
US07868694B2
A variable resistor array adapted to make a resistance value between a first terminal and a second terminal variable, includes a plurality of resistors connected in series, first through nth MOS transistors selectively connected to the resistors, and first through nth switches having one input terminal connected to the source of the ith MOS transistor, another input terminal connected to a predetermined voltage, and an output terminal connected to a back gate of the ith MOS transistor, and connecting either one of the one input terminal and the other input terminal to the output terminal under control of the ith control signal. The ith switch connects the other input terminal to the output terminal, and the ith switch also connects the one input terminal to the output terminal.
US07868691B2
Variable gain commutating amplifier apparatus and methods for use in a polar modulator are described. The apparatus may include two or more commutating amplifier stages configured to be switched to an output load based on a desired amplitude and/or transmit power level. The amplifier stages may include cross-coupled differential pairs to cancel RF carrier feedthrough. An additional R-2R ladder circuit may be provided to further extend the dynamic range by reducing the output power at the lowest output stages.
US07868689B2
An apparatus and method for communications is disclosed. The apparatus includes a slicer configured to generate samples of a signal carrying information, and a demodulator having a digital integrator configured to integrate the samples, the demodulator being further configured to recover from the integrated samples data representative of the information carried by the signal.
US07868683B2
A switch includes a switching transistor, a switching resistor, connected between a control terminal of the switching transistor and a switching control terminal, and an accelerating element. The accelerating element includes a resistance smaller than a resistance of the switching resistor, the accelerating element being adapted to be connected in parallel to the switching resistor upon switching of the switching transistor until a voltage at the control terminal of the switching transistor has reached a predetermined value.
US07868682B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an insulating communication circuit includes a first insulating circuit 62#11 having first and second circuits, a second insulating circuit 62#12 having third and fourth circuits, and a communication interface that is connected to a first ground and transmits a signal to the first circuit based on a communication signal and a clock signal from an external control device.
US07868673B2
A power-down mode control apparatus includes an internal power-down control block configured to receive a locking completion signal and to generate an internal power-down signal, which is toggled for a predetermined time; a noise check block configured to check occurrence/non-occurrence of noise on the basis of a phase detection signal and to generate a plurality of power-down selection signals in response to the locking completion signal and the internal power-down signal; and a power-down enter control block configured to generate a plurality of power-down enter signals, which instruct individual circuits to enter a power-down mode in response to a reference clock signal, the plurality of power-down selection signals, a power-down mode signal, and the internal power-down signal.
US07868669B2
One embodiment described is a charge pump arrangement that includes at least one input node and two output nodes. A regulator is included to regulate at least one of the two output nodes, the regulator is decoupled from one of the two output nodes, and the regulator has at least one input coupled directly to virtual ground.
US07868665B2
New sensors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are provided. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use both solid state and scintillator detectors. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive preamplifier(s) at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and/or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for widely different applications. Some of these applications may require fast data acquisition, some others may need ultra high energy resolution, and a separate portion may require very high contrast. The embodiments described herein addresses all these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging. The applications of the new sensors and integrated circuits addresses a broad range of applications such as medical and industrial imaging, NDE and NDI, security, baggage scanning, astrophysics, nuclear physics and medicine.
US07868663B2
A receiver circuit for sensing and transmitting input data in sync with a plurality of clock signals having mutually different phase sequentially enabled comprising a sense amplifier configured to receive, as offset voltages, first signals which can be obtained by amplifying the input data in sync with a first clock signal of the plurality of clock signals, being driven in sync with a second clock signal enabled subsequently to the first clock signal, and outputting second signals, and a discharging controller configured to control a discharging speed of the sense amplifier according to the offset voltages to control a driven speed of the sense amplifier.
US07868657B1
High voltage logic circuits that can handle digital input and output signals having a larger voltage range are described. In an exemplary design, a high voltage logic circuit includes an input stage, a second stage, and an output stage. The input stage receives at least one input signal and provides (i) at least one first intermediate signal having a first voltage range and (ii) at least one second intermediate signal having a second voltage range. The second stage receives and processes the first and second intermediate signals based on a logic function and provides (i) a first drive signal having the first voltage range and (ii) a second drive signal having the second voltage range. The output stage receives the first and second drive signals and provides an output signal having a third voltage range, which may be larger than each of the first and second voltage ranges.
US07868646B1
In one embodiment, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of configuration cells that store configuration data, wherein the programmable logic device is adapted to provide soft error upset (SEU) protection for the configuration cells that are reprogrammable. The programmable logic device may further include or alternatively provide hard coding and/or hard encoding of the configuration cells.
US07868641B2
A semiconductor device with technology for externally deciding if the stress test was performed or not. A semiconductor device includes a stress test circuit and a stress test decision circuit. The stress test circuit outputs control signals for executing the stress test to the stress test decision circuit and the object for testing. The stress test decision circuit then outputs the decision results if the stress test was performed, based on the control signals.
US07868634B2
A probe or measuring head for measuring an electrical signal of an electrical contact has an electrically conducting feeler (1) which protrudes out of a housing (3) and has, at its end, a contact region (4) which comes into touching contact with the electrical contact. The contact region (4) of the feeler (1) and the measurement environment surrounding the contact region (4) of the feeler (1) is illuminated by the light beams from a light source (101, 102, . . . , 10n, 10o) connected to the probe or measuring head.
US07868633B1
An electronic device burn-in thermal management system includes Burn-in-Boards (BIBs) with quick disconnect connectors to easily connect and disconnect the BIB (102) from liquid cooling lines (104, 106) in a rack that can hold one or more BIBs. The BIB (102) may include liquid cooled heat sinks (408) embedded in the BIB sockets (406) in order to cool the electronic devices undergoing burn-in test (DUT). This arrangement allows the DUT to make positive thermal contact with the heat sink when it is mounted in the BIB socket and allows the user to remove the BIB (102) quickly after completing a test to load the next batch of DUTs onto a separate BIB.
US07868621B2
A power line communication-based aircraft power distribution system may allow for both power line communication (PLC) technology and spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) technology to be utilized in aircraft power distribution systems to achieve key maintenance functions. Unlike conventional power distribution systems, which may, for example, use only SSTDR for fault detection, the present invention includes a hardware platform that may allow both the PLC and the SSTDR to be utilized in aircraft power distribution systems to achieve key maintenance functions, such as real time wire fault location, and cost and weight savings. Further, unlike conventional power distribution systems, which may only detect and locate damage in feeder conductor wire sections before the power is applied to the load, the power distribution system of the present invention may permit real time wire fault location.
US07868618B2
The MRI apparatus of the present invention executes a non-imaging mode 501 for obtaining a steady state of magnetization and an imaging mode 502 for measuring echoes for images. In the non-imaging mode 501 and the imaging mode 502, imaging is performed by using a GrE type pulse sequence. In the imaging, RF pulses are irradiated while flip angle of nuclear magnetization in the imaging mode 502 is changed in a range of values not larger than a certain value determined by flip angle of nuclear magnetization used in the non-imaging mode 502 is irradiated. This certain value is, for example, the maximum value of flip angle of nuclear magnetization used in the non-imaging mode, or flip angle provided by an RF pulse used at the end of the non-imaging mode. SAR observed with use of a GrE type pulse sequence can be thereby reduced without degrading image contrast, and thus influence on human bodies can be reduced.
US07868617B2
An apparatus for controlling a temperature of a warm bore of a superconducting magnet in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a cooling tube that is mounted on a surface of the warm bore and is configured to transport a coolant. A chiller is coupled to the cooling tube and is configured to provide the coolant to the cooling tube. A controller is coupled to the chiller and is configured to provide a control signal to the chiller to control a temperature of the coolant.
US07868614B2
The invention provides a magnetic resonance system and method of measuring continuous regions at high speed without decreasing SN. As a receive system, multiple RF coil sets a, b comprising multiple RF coils a1, a2, b1, b2 are disposed in positions where there is no spatial interference with at least one of the RF coils of an adjacent coil set, the RF coils constituting each coil set are changed over one by one, sets of RF coils which do not interfere mutually are activated, and signals are simultaneously acquired from a number of regions equivalent to the number n of coil sets. Hence, if the number of coil sets is set to n, the measurement time can be shortened to 1/n. Alternatively, the SN can be improved by √n times.
US07868602B2
A power supply device includes a clamp circuit that increases the upper limit value of an error voltage stepwise after the device is started up. This makes it possible to shorten the rise time of an output voltage and to reduce the maximum current at start-up.
US07868591B2
A cordless system has cordless system components that include a cordless device, such as a cordless power tool, a battery pack and a charger. The battery pack is mated with either the cordless device to provide power to operate the cordless device or to the charger to charge the battery cells in the battery pack. In an aspect of the invention, the cordless system has an identification and communication system by which the battery pack identifies and communicates information about the battery pack to the cordless device or to the charger to which the battery pack is mated. In another aspect of the invention, the battery pack of the cordless system is capable of multiple modes, such as controlling the cordless device and controlling the charger. In yet another aspect of the invention, the battery pack validates the cordless device or charger to which it is mated. In still another aspect of the invention, the cordless system uses any of a wired interface, radio frequency interface, an optical interface or a magnetic interface to communicate information between the battery pack and the cordless device or charger to which the battery pack is mated.
US07868589B2
Various embodiments of a cordless charging device and a method for charging a portable media player are provided. Among other things, the charging device is compact and portable so that it can easily be stowed for transport, greatly enhancing a customer's ability to use the primary portable media player without all of the problems associated with recharging, including cables that inevitably accompany a docking station device. Features of the device include collapsible prongs and a hinged arm that radially releases from the body to reveal a docking connector for charging a portable media player.
US07868584B2
A DC-DC converter includes an inductor, a capacitor, an output voltage detection circuit, and a synchronous rectification circuit including a rectifier-side synchronous rectifier element and a commutator-side synchronous rectifier element. The commutator-side synchronous rectifier element is turned on so as to pass a current through a closed loop composed of the commutator-side synchronous rectifier element, the inductor, and a second secondary battery. The characteristic evaluation of the second secondary battery is performed on the basis of the decrease in a detection voltage Vout of an output voltage Vo. As a result, it is possible to determine the effective capacity or characteristic degradation state of the second secondary battery with a circuit to charge the second secondary battery without using a dedicated circuit.
US07868578B2
Disclosed is an assembly comprising at least two electric drive units (4) for respectively driving one of at least two drawers (2) which are movably mounted within a common furniture carcass (3). A measuring instrument (10) is assigned to each drive unit (4) in order to detect a force (F) that a user applies to the respective drawer (2). The inventive assembly further comprises at least one control or regulation device (9) for controlling or regulating the drive units (4). The measuring signals of the measuring instrument (10) can be fed to the control or regulation device (9) while the control or regulation device (9) can trigger the associated drive unit (4) after receiving a predetermined measuring signal from one of the measuring instruments (10). The control or regulation device (9) features a mode of operation in which the same prevents the drive units (4) allocated to the other measuring instruments (10) from being triggered after receiving the predetermined measuring signal from one of the measuring instruments (10).
US07868576B2
The present invention may be applied to a drive device, a travel device, and a drive device control method which are suitable for use in a robot arm and a twin cycle, for example. By eliminating (reducing) the opportunity of the use exceeding a rated torque of a servo motor, it is possible to increase the machine reliability and set an appropriate safety factor so as to reduce device costs. The operation value during the actual machine operation obtained by {(effective torque)2−(rated torque)2}*(elapsed time from start) is compared with a value based on the rated torque, and the system driving is stopped and/or an alarm is started.
US07868569B2
A motor driving apparatus comprises a charge/discharge control circuit for controlling charge to or discharge from a capacitor connected in parallel in a link section between a converter and an inverter, and a current control means for controlling discharge current from the charge/discharge control circuit. The current control means controls discharge current from the charge/discharge control circuit based on input current to the inverter or output current from the converter so that output current from the converter is equal to a prescribed value.
US07868565B2
A method of selectively utilizing a set of linear actuator motors for an application includes providing a plurality of linear actuator motors numbered from 1 to N including a box shaped housing with respective lengths between a first end-plate and a second end-plate and respective hollow shafts. Each hollow shaft includes an extended portion out of either the first end-plate or the second end-plate and configured to receive a nut including a tube part integrally connected with a flat-end part. The nut is configured to be able to mate in a common manner to any of the plurality of linear actuator motors. The method further includes testing any of the plurality of linear actuator motors including the nut for the application, wherein the nut is detached from one linear actuator motor to reattach with another linear actuator motor.
US07868559B2
An electronic ballast with higher startup voltage includes converter with a switching circuit (40) responsive to a switching control signal (50) and operably connected to a DC bus (30); a DC controller (44) comparing a sensed DC bus voltage signal and a reference DC bus voltage signal to generate the switching control signal (50); and a startup adjustor operably connected to the DC controller (44) to adjust at least one of the sensed DC bus voltage signal and the reference DC bus voltage signal for a predetermined time at startup so that startup DC bus voltage is greater than steady state DC bus voltage.
US07868557B2
Controlling an arrangement of semiconductors of which different semiconductors emit light of different distinct colors is disclosed, whereby a feed forward control part, which is dependent on a junction temperature of semiconductors for each color, is operated with first intervals and is adjusted dependent on measure light output for each color with much longer second intervals.
US07868556B2
A RF matching network is described, and which includes a 1st to nth RF generators, and wherein each RF generator has a different frequency, and wherein the frequencies of the 1st to the nth RF input ports decline in sequence, and wherein between the ith frequency RF input port, and the output port is a ith circuit, which has a high impedance at the output port to all RF generator frequencies other than the ith frequency; and wherein the ith circuit, when connected to a RF generator with the ith frequency, and wherein measuring from the output port to the ith circuit, the ith circuit has a first impedance at the ith frequency; and when measuring from the output port in the opposite direction to the ith circuit, the ith circuit has a second impedance at the ith frequency; and wherein the first impedance is a substantial conjugate match of the second impedance.
US07868555B2
The present invention relates to a vehicle side light system for signaling an event that is directly connected to a vehicle's signaling system and power source. The system comprises at least one series of lights having multiple light emitting devices set in a row, a flexible circuit attached to at least one circuit of a vehicle and at least one digital shift register coupled to at least one schmitt trigger circuit. The lights in the system are automatically sequentially activated by the schmitt trigger circuits to signal the occurrence of an event. The light system may alternatively be attached to an independent power source to add instinctive awareness to an object or situation.
US07868548B2
Disclosed is a plasma display panel fabricated by low temperature process at not more than 300° C. More particularly, the present invention provides a plasma display panel comprising at least one of a dielectric layer in an upper plate, another dielectric layer and barrier ribs in a lower plate, and a sealing material for the upper and lower plates which is prepared of a particular compound obtainable by curing organic monomer, organic oligomer or siloxane based oligomer having polymerizable functional groups; and, in addition, a method for fabrication of the plasma display panel.
US07868535B2
The present invention is a light emitting device which uses a specific phosphor powder. The phosphor powder is a combination of cerium (Ce) and lithium aluminum oxide (LiAlO2). They are mixed under a specific range of composition ratio. With the specific phosphor powder applied, the light emitting device has advantages in a low cost, a reduced power consumption, an easy production, a long life, and so on. In addition, a transformation efficiency of the phosphor powder is high and so a light emitting efficiency of the light emitting device is enhanced.
US07868532B2
A light emission device includes first and second substrates opposing each other to form a vacuum vessel, an electron emission unit located on the first substrate, a light emission unit located on the second substrate and emitting visible light in response to electrons emitted from the electron emission unit, and a heat dissipating sheet located on an outer surface of the second substrate. The heat dissipating sheet includes carbon nanotubes. A display device includes the light emission device, and a panel assembly located in front of the light emission device to transmit therethrough the light emitted from the light emission device to display images.
US07868529B2
The present invention discloses a magnetic light, having a magnetic energy generator, and a light body having at least a through slot for penetrating the energy generator, the magnetic energy generator includes a pair of detachable magnetic members jointed together with a face to face manner for defining a magnetic air gap between two magnetic members, as a result, the magnetic field center could be accurately positioned, wherein one of the magnetic members is adapted to penetrate the through slot to be coupled with the remaining magnetic member. In short, such magnetic light has a simpler structure, and solid cost saving, and more importantly prone to be manufactured with an industrial scale.
US07868528B2
A light emitting device includes: a light emitting element which includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a light emitting function layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a reflection layer which reflects light emitted from the light emitting function layer toward the light emitting function layer; and a translucent semi-reflection layer which is disposed opposite the reflection layer with the light emitting function layer interposed therebetween to reflect some of the light emitted from the light emitting function layer toward the light emitting function layer and to transmit the remainder of the light, wherein the translucent semi-reflection layer has a refractive index of 1 or more.
US07868515B2
A tactile laminate and a method for generating tactile feedback, wherein the tactile laminate and method provide a flexible laminate for creating a tactile sensation on a desired surface without the need for separate motion generating devices, is disclosed. A tactile laminate includes a first layer having a first conductive pad disposed thereon, the first conductive pad adapted to receive a first desired electric charge, a second layer having a second conductive pad disposed thereon, the second conductive pad adapted to receive a second desired electric charge, and a third layer having a desired permittivity disposed between the first layer and the second layer.
US07868512B2
A motor-generator system with a current control feedback loop for generating electrical energy in stationary, portable, and automotive applications. The generator includes a housing defining an interior space and including a first portion and a second portion; an electric motor assembly positioned within the first portion of the housing, and operationally coupled to a shaft member for selectively rotating the shaft member; an electric generator assembly positioned within the second portion of the housing and operationally coupled to the shaft member for converting mechanical rotation into electrical energy, the electric generator assembly including a current output for supplying electrical current; and a control assembly operationally coupled between the electric generator assembly and the electric motor assembly the control assembly providing a control current to the electric motor assembly for controlling a speed of rotation induced into the shaft member by the electric motor assembly.
US07868500B2
A stepping motor includes a housing, a supporting shaft, a rotor, and a stator. The housing includes a first wall and a second wall facing each other. The supporting shaft is inserted into a through hole of the rotor and is held by the first wall and the second wall. The rotor has a first end face and a second end face in an axial direction of the rotor. The first end face and the second end face are separated from the first wall and the second wall, respectively. A lubricant fills between the through hole and the supporting shaft, and an oil repellent agent is applied at a predetermined first area of the first wall around the supporting shaft and a predetermined second area of the second wall around the supporting shaft.
US07868496B2
A plurality of winding parts are wound around teeth of an iron core with insulators disposed therebetween, and a printed wiring board is electrically connected to the winding part with a plurality of terminal pins. Each terminal pin is extends along an axial direction of the iron core and is attached to one of the insulators. An end portion of each winding part is wound around one of the terminal pins, and the terminal pin is soldered to the printed wiring board together with the end portion of the winding part. The terminal pins extend through hole portions of the printed wiring board.
US07868475B1
Provided is an expansion joint system including: at least one transversely extending vehicular load bearing member; and an electrical energy generator connected to a component of the expansion joint system for capturing displacements having kinetic energy; an amplifier for amplifying the captured displacements; and an energy converter for converting said kinetic energy of the amplified displacements to electrical energy. Various embodiments including an electrical junction box, a cathodic protection system, dampers, and/or data acquisitions systems integrated with the electrical energy generator are also provided.
US07868473B2
A method for determining the centroid of a wafer target. In one embodiment, the method comprises a series of steps in a stepper, starting with the step of receiving a wafer, having a target set formed therein. Next, a signal is passed over the target set and over a material separating target shapes in the target set. Then a return signal is reflected, and received, from the surface of the target shapes and the material separating them. A location of at least one maxima point of the return signal is identified. Finally, a centroid is determined as the median of the locations of at least one maxima point.
US07868469B2
An adapter board includes a package substrate having a first surface and a second surface and further including a board having wirings formed therein, pads disposed in the device side, and the pads disposed in the bump side, an insulating resin layer joined to the first surface, through holes formed in the positions corresponding to the pads in the insulating resin layer, vias formed in the through holes, and pads covering the through holes, wherein the pads are electrically coupled to the pads through the wirings, and the pads are electrically coupled to the pads through the vias.
US07868468B2
A semiconductor package has a semiconductor die disposed on a substrate. A bond wire is connected between a first bonding site on the semiconductor die and a second bonding site on the substrate. The first bonding site is a die bond pad; the second bonding site is a stitch bond. The second bonding site has a bond finger formed on the substrate, a conductive layer in direct physical contact with the bond finger, and a bond stud coupled to the bond wire and in direct physical contact with the conductive layer to conduct an electrical signal from the semiconductor die to the bond finger. The bond finger is made of copper. The conductive layer is made of copper or gold. The bond stud is made of gold and overlies a side portion and top portion of the copper layer.
US07868464B2
A multilayer substrate according to the present invention includes a plurality of laminated insulating layers and conductive patterns formed between the respective insulating layers. The conductive patterns include a first conductive pattern having a predetermined thickness and a second conductive pattern thicker than the first conductive pattern. The first and second conductive patterns are located in the same layer. The first conductive pattern is formed by pattern-etching a conductive layer having a uniform thickness by the subtractive method. The second conductive pattern is formed by forming a pattern-forming groove and then filling the inside of the pattern-forming groove with a conductive material simultaneously with forming a via hole. The first conductive pattern is suitable for an LC pattern for a high-frequency circuit requiring small variations in the width and the thickness of the pattern as well as accuracy in the thickness relative to an insulating pattern, and for a normal conductive pattern requiring impedance matching. The second conductive pattern is suitable for an L pattern for a choke coil.
US07868457B2
An electrical structure and method for forming. The electrical structure includes a first substrate comprising a first electrically conductive pad, a second substrate comprising a second electrically conductive pad, and an interconnect structure electrically and mechanically connecting the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad. The interconnect structure comprises a non-solder metallic core structure and a first solder structure. The first solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a first portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the first electrically conductive pad. A second portion of the non-solder metallic core structure is thermo-compression bonded to the second electrically conductive pad.
US07868445B2
Electronic modules and methods of fabrication are provided implementing a first metallization level directly on a chips-first chip layer. The chips-first layer includes chips, each with a pad mask over an upper surface and openings to expose chip contact pads. Structural dielectric material surrounds and physically contacts the side surfaces of the chips, and has an upper surface which is parallel to an upper surface of the chips. A metallization layer is disposed over the front surface of the chips-first layer, residing at least partially on the pad masks of the chips, and extending over one or more edges of the chips. Together, the pad masks of the chips, and the structural dielectric material electrically isolate the metallization layer from the edges of the chips, and from one or more electrical structures of the chips in the chips-first layer.
US07868435B2
An adhesive comprises a base material which generates adhesive strength through curing, a hardening agent which promotes the curing of the base material, and a filler. In order to solve the problems mentioned above, the adhesive is made of particles having a maximum particle diameter of 0.8 μm or less.
US07868417B2
A semiconductor device includes plural fuse elements which can be disconnected by irradiating a laser beam, and attenuation members which are located between the plural fuse elements as viewed two-dimensionally and can attenuate the laser beam. Each attenuation member includes plural columnar bodies. With this arrangement, the attenuation members including plural columnar units absorb the laser beam leaked out from a fuse element to be disconnected to a semiconductor substrate side. The laser beam is also scattered by Fresnel diffraction. Therefore, the columnar body can efficiently attenuate the laser beam, without generating a crack in the insulation film by absorbing excessive energy.
US07868414B2
A bipolar transistor is formed in an isolation structure comprising a floor isolation region, a dielectric filled trench above the floor isolation region and a sidewall isolation region extending downward from the bottom of the trench to the floor isolation region. This structure provides a relatively deep isolated pocket in a semiconductor substrate while limiting the depth of the trench that must be etched in the substrate.
US07868412B2
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a semiconductor substrate; a well, having a well contact connection region, formed in the semiconductor substrate; a transistor formed on the well; an isolation region formed between the transistor formed on the well, and the well contact connection region; and a silicide layer formed between a bottom surface of the isolation region, and the semiconductor substrate.
US07868410B2
A method is provided for electroplating a gate metal or other conducting or semiconducting material directly on a dielectric such as a gate dielectric. The method involves selecting a substrate, dielectric layer, and electrolyte solution or melt, wherein the combination of the substrate, dielectric layer, and electrolyte solution or melt allow an electrochemical current to be passed from the substrate through the dielectric layer into the electrolyte solution or melt. Methods are also provided for electrochemical modification of dielectrics utilizing through-dielectric current flow.
US07868405B2
The present invention proposes an organic photovoltaic component, particularly an organic solar cell, whose electrode is implemented as unstructured and is provided with a passivation layer, so that the passivated electrode layer acts functionally as a structured electrode or electrode layer.
US07868387B2
A high-voltage, low-leakage, bidirectional electrostatic discharge (ESD, or other electrical overstress) protection device includes a doped well disposed between the terminal regions and the substrate. The device includes an embedded diode for conducting current in one direction, and a transistor feedback circuit for conducting current in the other direction. Variations in the dimensions and doping of the doped well, as well as external passive reference via resistor connections, allow the circuit designer to flexibly adjust the operating characteristics of the device, such as trigger voltage and turn-on speed, to suit the required mixed-signal operating conditions.
US07868384B2
A high-voltage semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having a plurality of pillars of a first conductivity type defined by a plurality of trenches which extend from a top surface of the semiconductor layer toward a bottom surface thereof. A charge compensation layer of a second conductivity type is disposed over at least sidewalls of each trench to a predetermined thickness to form a groove in each trench. A charge compensation plug of the first conductivity type substantially fills each groove.
US07868377B2
A flash memory is provided. The flash memory features of having the select gate transistors to include two different channel structures, which are a recessed channel structure and a horizontal channel. Because of the design of the recessed channel structure, the space between the gate conductor lines, which are for interconnecting the select gates of the select gate transistors arranged on the same column, can be shortened. Therefore, the integration of the flash memory can be increased; and the process window of the STI process can be increased as well. In addition, at least one depletion-mode select gate transistor is at one side of the memory cell string. The select gate transistor of the depletion-mode is always turned on.
US07868375B2
An improved split gate non-volatile memory cell is made in a substantially single crystalline substrate of a first conductivity type, having a first region of a second conductivity type, a second region of the second conductivity type, with a channel region between the first region and the second region in the substrate. The cell has a select gate above a portion of the channel region, a floating gate over another portion of the channel region, a control gate above the floating gate and an erase gate adjacent to the floating gate. The erase gate has an overhang extending over the floating gate. The ratio of the dimension of the overhang to the dimension of the vertical separation between the floating gate and the erase gate is between approximately 1.0 and 2.5, which improves erase efficiency.
US07868369B2
Container structures for use in integrated circuits and methods of their manufacture without the use of mechanical planarization such as chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP), thus eliminating CMP-induced defects and variations. The methods utilize localized masking of holes for protection of the inside of the holes during non-mechanical removal of exposed surface layers. The localized masking is accomplished through differential exposure of a resist layer to electromagnetic or thermal energy. The container structures are adapted for use in memory cells and apparatus incorporating such memory cells, as well as other integrated circuits.
US07868359B2
In a semiconductor device including multiple unit cells arranged in an array, transistors are affected by a stress from an STI at different degrees depending on the position in the array. As a result, a variation occurs in transistor characteristic. In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, each of predetermined transistors in outermost unit blocks in the array has a transistor size according to the stress from the STI.
US07868358B2
A device includes a coiling layer, a circuit device layer and active microelectronic circuitry fabricated on the circuit device layer. The coiling layer is formed onto a surface of and coupled to the circuit device layer. The coiling layer having intrinsic stresses which cause coiling of the coiling layer and the circuit device layer including the microelectronic circuitry as the circuit device layer is released from an underlying substrate. A coiled circuit device is formed.
US07868351B2
A light emitting device includes a pair of electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is transparent or semi-transparent, and an phosphor layer provided between the pair of electrodes, wherein the phosphor layer includes a layer having nitride semiconductor particles, and wherein the nitride semiconductor particles have metal nano structures precipitated in grain boundaries between the nitride semiconductor particles.
US07868340B2
An optical device capable of generating warm light using an array of phosphor islands situated over a phosphor layer is disclosed. The device includes a solid state light emitter, a phosphor layer, and phosphor islands. The solid state light emitter, in an aspect, is a light emitting diode (“LED”) capable of converting electrical energy to optical light. The phosphor layer is disposed over the solid state light emitter for generating luminous cool light in response to the optical light. Multiple phosphor islands are disposed on the phosphor layer for converting cool light to warm light, wherein the phosphor islands are evenly distributed over the phosphor layer.
US07868337B2
Provided are a light emitting diode (LED) and a method for manufacturing the same. The LED includes an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer. The active layer includes a well layer and a barrier layer that are alternately laminated at least twice. The barrier layer has a thickness at least twice larger than a thickness of the well layer.
US07868334B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting element, a lead electrically connected to the semiconductor light emitting element, and a resin package covering the semiconductor light emitting element and part of the lead. The resin package includes a lens facing the semiconductor light emitting element. The lead includes an exposed portion that is not covered by the resin package. The exposed portion includes a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion has a first mount surface oriented backward along the optical axis of the lens, and the second portion has a second mount surface oriented perpendicularly to the optical axis of the lens.
US07868328B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device capable of being mass-produced and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. The present invention also provides a semiconductor device using an extreme thin integrated circuit and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. Further, the present invention provides a low power consumption semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. According to one aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device that has a semiconductor nonvolatile memory element transistor over an insulating surface in which a floating gate electrode of the memory transistor is formed by a plurality of conductive particles or semiconductor particles is provided.
US07868325B2
Semiconductor wafer of monocrystalline silicon contain fluorine, the fluorine concentration being 1·1010 to 1·1016 atoms/cm3, and is free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects whose diameter is greater than or equal to a critical diameter. The semiconductor wafers are produced by providing a melt of silicon which is doped with fluorine, and crystallizing the melt to form a single crystal which contains fluorine within the range of 1·1010 to 1·1016 atoms/cm3, at a growth rate at which agglomerated intrinsic point defects having a critical diameter or larger would arise if fluorine were not present or present in too small an amount, and separating semiconductor wafers from the single crystal.
US07868313B2
A phase change memory control ring lower electrode is disclosed. The lower electrode includes an outer ring electrode in thermal contact with a phase change memory element, an inner seed layer disposed within the outer ring electrode and in contact with the phase change memory element, and an electrically conductive bottom layer coupled to the outer ring electrode.
US07868301B2
A device for deflecting a beam of electrically charged particles onto a curved particle path is provided. The device includes at least one beam guidance magnet having a coil system which has at least one coil that is curved along the particle path for the purpose of deflecting the beam onto a curved particle path, and at least one scanner magnet for variably deflecting the beam in a y,z plane at right angles to the particle path, characterized in that the device has at least one correction system which is embodied to influence the particle path in a regulated or controlled manner with the aid of electric and/or magnetic fields as a function of the position of the beam in the y,z plane. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for deflecting a beam of electrically charged particles onto a curved particle path.
US07868295B2
A chemical and biological sensor system (200) includes at least one micro-cantilever sensing element (202) and a mechanism for collecting aerosol, liquid, and solid particles, and depositing the particles as a film layer (146) on a stack (140) formed with the cantilever. The deposited particles include chemical or biological species to be analyzed. A polarized light (242) illuminates the stack (140) at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light. The light is polarized in a plane parallel to the stack (140). The polarized light (242) heats the cantilever with different wavelengths of the light spectrum. Readout electronics detect movement of the cantilever (202) as a result of heat transfer from the light and provide spectral data signals corresponding to the detected movement. A spectral analyzer (840) analyzes the spectral data signals, compares spectral images of the materials present to spectral images of known materials, and identifies one or more chemical or biological species present.
US07868293B1
In some aspects, the present invention embodies both the method and apparatus for converting a pattern of irradiation to a visible image. An embodiment of the present invention provides an array of micro-electro-mechanical sensors with each sensor includes a deflectable micro-cantilever, responsive to absorbed incident radiation and to an applied repulsive electrostatic field. In an aspect, the sensor device also includes a null-sensing circuit coupled to a switch contact on or near the substrate, which senses when the micro-cantilever reaches its null location, by electrical connection with an upper switch contact on the micro-cantilever. Other embodiments are also described.
US07868286B2
A vehicle-mounted imaging device that is mounted in an automobile and performs color imaging has been provided with a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixel cells. In each of the pixels, a color filter separates incident light by a multilayer interference filter. The multilayer interference filter is composed of two λ/4 multilayer films and a spacer layer sandwiched therebetween. The multilayer interference filter transmits light in a wavelength region that corresponds to an optical thickness of the spacer layer. The λ/4 multilayer films and spacer layer are composed of inorganic materials.
US07868284B2
Optical semiconductor package having an optical module with a progressively varying refractive index
An imaging optical module is designed to be placed in front of an optical image sensor of a semiconductor component. The module includes at least one element which has a refractive index that varies between its optical axis and its periphery, over at least an annular part and/or over its central part. The element may be a tablet in front of the semiconductor sensor or a lens in front of the semiconductor sensor. The direction of variation in refractive index may be oppositely oriented with respect to the table and lens.
US07868279B2
The focus detecting apparatus comprises an objective lens, a point light source which irradiates illumination light for generating a focusing signal to a transparent substrate through the objective lens, a mask means having a first shading part for shading one of areas of the luminous of the illumination light, and a photodetector having two light receiving parts, wherein the mask means is formed so as to have a shape similar to one of light receiving parts in the photodetector, and has a second shading part that intercepts a part of luminous flux passing through another area so that reflected light from one of the surfaces may enter into the two light receiving parts, and reflected light from another surface may pass through an area which is located off the light receiving part arranged at one of the areas, when a focus of the objective lens is positioned near one of surfaces out of the first or second surface in the transparent substrate.
US07868278B2
An auto darkening eye protection device comprising a shutter assembly and a control circuit. The shutter assembly is adjustable between a light state and a dark state. The control circuit comprises a sensing circuit, a weld detect circuit, a positive voltage generator, and a negative voltage generator. The sensing circuit senses incident light and provides an output indicative of the incident light. The weld detect circuit receives the output of the sensing circuit, and enables a dark state drive signal to be delivered to the shutter assembly. The positive and negative voltage generators output the dark state drive signal to the shutter assembly to switch the shutter assembly from the light state to the dark state upon enablement by the weld detect circuit. The dark state drive signal includes a high voltage pulse followed by a stable AC waveform. The high voltage pulse is formed by a positive voltage signal and a negative voltage signal.
US07868277B2
A sight system for guiding a missile towards a moving target by use of a guidance beam that can be used for the missile to trail the target. A first viewing device receives visible light and/or a second viewing device receives non-visible light radiating from the target. The viewing device(s) include adjustable alignment marks being aligned by use of a light source and a guidance beam detector arranged together in one common position.
US07868274B2
A microwave energy interactive web includes a reagent that is responsive to heat. The microwave energy interactive web may be used to form a package for heating a food item.
US07868267B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for constantly setting the energy distribution of a laser beam on an irradiating face, and uniformly irradiating the laser beam to the entire irradiating face. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including this laser irradiating method in a process. Therefore, the present invention is characterized in that the shapes of plural laser beams on the irradiating face are formed by an optical system in an elliptical shape or a rectangular shape, and the plural laser beams are irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in a first direction, and the plural laser beams are irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in a second direction and is moved in a direction reverse to the first direction. The plural laser beams may be irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in the first direction, and the plural laser beams may be irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in the direction reverse to the first direction, and the irradiating face may be also moved in the second direction.
US07868263B2
An electrical hand-held power tool includes an assembly (2) vibrating along a vibration axis (A) during operation of the power tool, at least one, transversely projecting, vibration-decoupled pivotal side handle (3), a manual switch (4) having an actuation element (5) arranged in the side handle (3) and switchingly connectable with at least one sensor switch (8) which is located in the assembly (2) in vicinity of the handle pivot point (G), by a switching rod (7) having a switching element (6) and being pivotally supported on the side handle at a switching pivot point (S) spaced from the handle pivot point (G) and from the vibration axis (A).
US07868259B2
A device has a housing (1) with a frame element (8) which is arranged within the housing (1). The frame element (8) accommodates at least one component and has at least one bending arm (12). The bending arm (12) is designed such that a contact region (36) of the bending arm (12) bears with prestress against a contact region (38) of a wall (34) of the housing (1) in a mounted state within the housing (1). The bending arm (12) is cohesively connected to the housing (1) by means of transmission laser welding by supplying a laser beam (46) of prespecified wavelength to the device in such a way that the laser beam is transmitted through the housing (1) to the contact region (36) of the bending arm (12). At least one region of the housing (1), through which region the laser beam is transmitted, is produced from a material which is transparent to the prespecified wavelength of the laser beam (46). The contact region (36) of the bending arm (12) is produced from a material which is absorbent for the wavelength of the laser beam (46).
US07868257B2
A via transmission line for a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) in which a wave guiding channel is formed by a signal via or a number of signal vias, an assembly of ground vias surrounding the signal via or corresponding number of coupled signal vias, a set of ground plates from conductor layers of the multilayer PCB, and a clearance hole. In this via transmission line, the signal via, or the number of signal vias forms an inner conductive boundary, ground vias and ground plates from conductor layers of the multilayer PCB form an outer conductive boundary, and the clearance hole provides both isolation of the inner conductive boundary from the outer conductive boundary and high-performance broadband operation of the via transmission line by means of the predetermined clearance hole cross-sectional shape and dimensions where the cross-sectional shape of the clearance hole is defined by the arrangement of ground vias in the outer conductive boundary and dimensions of the clearance hole are determined according to a method to minimize frequency-dependent return losses caused by specific corrugations of the outer conductive boundary formed by ground plates in the wave guiding channel of the via transmission line.
US07868250B2
An electronic device support having a surface upon which electronic devices rest, such as a shelf, and one or more power sockets into which the power cord for the device is plugged. A first embodiment has a shelf, a rear panel and a moveable façade covering over a power strip. A second embodiment has a shelf, a body with a pair of power sockets and a pair of ears on opposite ends that cords can be wrapped around. The ears are removable and have a female, non-powered socket therein. A third embodiment has a deck shelf and a base with a power strip mounted therebetween. Apertures in the deck permit cords and other items to be inserted therethrough, and a groove on the deck prevents rolling of items. A fourth embodiment has a tower body with a plurality of moveable shelves, a plurality of electrical sockets and channels for hiding cords.
US07868248B2
An interconnect structure is provided by applying a conductive layer (typically one or more metal layers 23,28) over the entire surface of the module (11) to form all of the contacts (19,32) to all of the cells in the module and then scribing the conductive layer into a series of strips using a series of straight high speed laser scribes. The strips are then divided into individual links by scribing transversely to the first scribe direction with the laser turned on and off to cut each alternate stripe. The p-type regions of the cells are contacted through holes (19), n-type regions are contacted through holes (32). A silicon film (12) is separated into cells (35a,b,c,d) by isolation grooves (16). In a first embodiment, every second transverse scribe is offset by one strip such that each strip is cut into links which overlap two links on either side that are offset by a distance equal to half the pitch of the links. The pitch of the links is equal to two cell widths and the transverse scribes are coincident with or close to interruptions in the underlying cell layout representing cell boundaries between adjacent cells of the module. In a second embodiment, conductive bridges extend across longitudinal interruptions separating the parallel extending strips. In this embodiment, the like type contact pads for the cells are aligned in rows extending transverse to the cell boundary with alternating rows of p type and n type contact pads.
US07868244B2
A concentrated solar energy device is connectable to a solar array and includes a photovoltaic cell that provides electrical energy and heat from a solar energy source, a thermally conductive element, concentrating optics, and a housing. The concentrating optics are positioned between the solar energy source and the photovoltaic cell and are aligned with the solar energy source. The thermally conductive element functions to dissipate heat from the photovoltaic cell. The housing and the concentrating optics are attached to one another and together enclose the photovoltaic cell and a portion of the thermally conductive element. An optical film may be positioned over the concentrating optics during assembly, installation, and/or maintenance of the concentrated solar energy device.
US07868243B2
Method for producing a nanostructure based on interconnected nanowires, nanostructure and use as thermoelectric converter The nanostructure comprises two arrays of nanowires made from respectively n-doped and p-doped semi-conducting material. The nanowires of the first array, for example of n type, are formed for example by VLS growth. A droplet of electrically conducting material that acted as catalyst during the growth step remains on the tip of each nanowire of the first array at the end of growth. A nanowire of the second array is then formed around each nanowire of the first array by covering a layer of electrically insulating material formed around each nanowire of the first array, and the associated droplet, with a layer of p-type semi-conducting material. A droplet thus automatically connects a nanowire of the first array with a single coaxial nanowire of the second array. This type of nanostructure can be used in particular to form a thermoelectric converter.
US07868240B2
A signal processing apparatus is disclosed which processes an audio signal. The signal processing apparatus includes a detection section which detects a first tempo from an audio signal, a calculation section which calculates a speed feeling that indicates whether the first tempo is fast or slow, and a determining section which determines a second tempo by correcting the first tempo using the speed feeling.
US07868225B2
A new and distinct hybrid of artichoke named ‘PS-H2015’, characterized by its numerous bud numbers, fleshiness of bracts, fleshiness of hearts, uniformity of head shapes; strong violet blush coloration; and ability to bolt in warm summer conditions (reduced vernalization requirements) allowing spring/summer planting and fall production.
US07868221B2
This invention relates to an elastic bandage for supporting a body extremity such as a leg. Such bandages are used to overcome problems with fluid retention and swelling in the legs, occurring as a consequence of varicose veins, vascular incompetence, pregnancy, etc. It is a task of this invention to supply an active support for a body extremity such as a leg, which can be used by a person underneath the clothes and will not reduce the mobility of the patient. This task is solved in that an elastic bandage comprises an elastic layer for surrounding a body extremity to exert compressive force on the extremity, the bandage being, at least partly, formed by elastomeric actuation elements, whereby electrical control of the compressive force is possible, and where the control is due to a signal from some sensing system.
US07868219B2
A process for producing an ethylbenzene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of ethylbenzene present in the product by the ethylation of the benzene present in non-extracted feed, e.g., non-extracted hydrocarbon composition. The non-extracted feed is substantially free of both C4− hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions.
US07868218B2
A process is described for producing an alkylaromatic compound in a multistage reaction system comprising at least first and second series-connected alkylation reaction zones each containing an alkylation catalyst. A first feed comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and a second feed comprising an alkene and one or more alkanes are introduced into said first alkylation reaction zone, having operating conditions, e.g., temperature and pressure, which are controlled effective to cause the alkylatable aromatic compound to be partly in the vapor phase and partly in the liquid phase with the ratio of liquid volume to vapor volume of the feed in each zone to be from about 0.5 to about 10. The aromatic compound and the alkene are reacted in the presence of the alkylation catalyst to form an effluent comprising the alkylaromatic compound, unreacted alkylatable aromatic compound, any unreacted alkene and the alkane, which is withdrawn and then supplied to the second alkylation reaction zone without removal of the alkane.
US07868213B2
A method for producing 1,4-bis(bromodifluoromethyl)tetrafluorobenzene (BFTFB) is disclosed. The target compound is predicted as a very potent monomer for low dielectric constant material. This method comprises the following steps: (a) mixing 1,4-bis(bromodifluoromethyl)tetrafluorobenzene (DFMTFB), a bromination agent, and a solvent (with or without) to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture under UV radiation; and (c) purifying the resultant to obtain 1,4-bis(bromodifluoromethyl)tetrafluorobenzene (BFTFB) with high purity.
US07868201B2
A process for the oxidation of hydrocarbons comprises contacting the hydrocarbon with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a microporous solid support, preferably a zeolite, having from 8- to 12-ring open windows and comprising non-framework metal cations selected from manganese, iron, cobalt, vanadium, chromium, copper, nickel, and ruthenium, and mixtures thereof, providing that the oxygen-containing gas does not contain significant amounts of added hydrogen. The catalyst is novel and forms part of the invention.The process may be used for oxidation of alkanes, cycloalkanes, benzene and alkylbenzenes, and is suitable for use in regioselective terminal oxidation of straight chain alkanes and for selective oxidation/separation of p-dialkylbenzenes from an alkylbenzene mixture, for example, p-xylene from an isomeric mixture of xylenes.
US07868199B2
Fluoroalcohol compounds of formula (4) are prepared by reacting a fluorine compound of formula (1) with reducing agents or organometallic reagents of formulas (2) and (3) wherein R1 is H or a monovalent C1-C20 hydrocarbon group in which any —CH2— moiety may be replaced by —O— or —C(═O)—, R2 is H or a monovalent C1-C6 hydrocarbon group, R3 and R4 are H or a monovalent C1-C8 hydrocarbon group, and M1 is Li, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Al, B, or Si. From the fluoroalcohol compounds, fluorinated monomers can be produced in a simple and economic way, which are useful in producing polymers for the formulation of radiation-sensitive resist compositions.
US07868192B1
The present invention relates to a process for producing glycidol from glycerol carbonate by subjecting the glycerol carbonate to decarboxylation reaction in the presence of a solvent containing no active hydrogen. In the process, glycidol can be produced from glycerol carbonate as a raw material of the glycidol with a high selectivity.
US07868191B2
The present invention relates to methods for the preparation and purification of mupirocin calcium. The process comprises adsorbing mupirocin to a hydrophobic adsorbent resin, exposing the bound mupirocin to a calcium-containing solution, washing impurities from the resin and eluting purified mupirocin calcium from the resin.
US07868181B2
The present invention relates to new compounds of formula I, where R1 and R2 are independently halo or C1-3haloalkyl, X is ethenyl or ethynyl, or a salt thereof.
US07868174B2
The present disclosure relates to an improved process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched alcohols of Formula (I), from the corresponding ketone of Formula (II), by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation, using a hydrogen donor, catalyzed by a ruthenium or rhodium complex of an optically active N-sulfamoyl-1,2-diamine. R is as defined herein.
US07868172B2
Compounds of the formula I, in which W, R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumours
US07868171B2
The present invention relates to selected glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine compounds forming an open chain or cyclic ketal structure, a polymerizable composition comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and b) a glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiator compound. Further aspects of the present invention are a process for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the use of glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiators for radical polymerization.
US07868170B2
The present invention relates to a platinum complex as the following formula (I): wherein X, n, R1, R2, R3,R4, R5, X1, X2, L1, and L2 are defined the same as the specification. The present invention also further provides an organic light-emitting device using the same. The complexes of the present invention exhibit enhanced emission quantum yields, and short phosphorescence radiative lifetimes in the range of several microseconds so as to be applied in high efficiency OLEDs.
US07868151B2
This application relates to recombinant human interferon-like proteins. In one embodiment a recombinant protein created by gene shuffling technology is described having enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activities in comparison to naturally occurring human interferon alpha 2b (HuIFN-α2b). The invention encompasses a polynucleotide encoding the protein and recombinant vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotide. Preferably the polynucleotide is selected from the group of polynucleotides each having a sequence at least 93% identical to SEQ ID: No. 1 and the protein is selected from the group of proteins each having an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. The proteins and compositions comprising the proteins can be used for treatment of conditions responsive to interferon therapy, such as viral diseases and cancer.
US07868149B2
The present invention is in the field of plant biochemistry and genetics. More specifically the invention relates to nucleic acid molecules from plant cells, in particular, genomic DNA sequences from rice plants and nucleic acid molecules that contain markers, in particular, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and repetitive element markers. In addition, the present invention provides nucleic acid molecules having regulatory elements or encoding proteins or fragments thereof. The invention also relates to proteins and fragments of proteins so encoded and antibodies capable of binding the proteins. The invention also relates to methods of using the nucleic acid molecules, markers, repetitive elements and fragments of repetitive elements, regulatory elements, proteins and fragments of proteins, and antibodies, for example for genome mapping, gene identification and analysis, plant breeding, preparation of constructs for use in plant gene expression, and transgenic plants.
US07868148B2
A method is described of obtaining a plasmid contained in a difficult to separate, heterogenous plasmid DNA fraction, particularly one containing various plasmids of similar sizes. Another aspect of the present invention are new plasmids obtained via the method according to the present invention, their derivatives and/or fragments, as well as the application of these products in biotechnology and medicine, particularly gene therapy.
US07868145B2
A magnetic particle and fabrication method thereof. The magnetic particle comprises a polymer core, a magnetic material layer covering the polymer core, and a silicon containing layer covering the magnetic material layer. In addition, the magnetic particle may further comprise a coupling agent on the silicon containing layer, and an active molecule connected to the coupling agent. The magnetic particles provide controllable size, uniform diameter distribution, high magnetization, improved storage stability, and modified surface for targeting biomolecules for biomaterial separation and environmental analysis.
US07868143B2
The invention relates to microparticles with a support structure and CD28-specific superagonistic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) bonded to the support structure or a compound mimicking the above.
US07868141B2
This invention relates to anti-OX40L antibodies and, in particular, to anti-OX40L antibodies and variants thereof that contain a Fc part derived from human origin and do not bind complement factor C1q. These antibodies have new and inventive properties causing a benefit for a patient suffering from inflammatory diseases.
US07868139B2
Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more bacterial polypeptides, immunogenic portions thereof, polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides, antigen presenting cell that expresses such polypeptides, and T cells that are specific for cells expressing such polypeptides. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory disease.
US07868138B2
A method for DNA reassembly after random fragmentation, and its application to mutagenesis of nucleic acid sequences by in vitro or in vivo recombination is described. In particular, a method for the production of nucleic acid fragments or polynucleotides encoding mutant proteins is described. The present invention also relates to a method of repeated cycles of mutagenesis, shuffling and selection which allow for the directed molecular evolution in vitro or in vivo of proteins.
US07868130B2
A multi-level tubular reactor operable to facilitate a chemical reaction in a reaction medium flowing therethrough. The tubular reactor can include a plurality of horizontally elongated and vertically spaced reactor segments coupled to and extending outwardly from a common header. One or more of the reactor segments can contain a tray that divides the internal volume of the reactor segment into upper and lower chambers. The reaction medium can flow away from the header in the upper chambers and back to the header in the lower chambers.
US07868123B2
The invention relates to a tertiary amine intermediate represented by the following formula, and electrophilic monomers derived therefrom. The invention also relates to adhesives or sealants derived from such electrophilic moieties. where R═CH3, H, CH3CH2 or other alkyl group; and R1═H, C(O)CH2OCH2COOH, C(O)(CH2)nCOOH with n=1-4, or combinations thereof.
US07868117B2
A resin composition comprising: a tri-functional or more (meth)acrylate having an alkoxysilyl group; and at least one of a metal oxide fine particle having a hydroxyl group on a surface thereof and a metalalkoxide, wherein the tri-functional or more (meth)acrylate having the alkoxysilyl group and the at least one of the metal oxide fine particle having the hydroxyl group on the surface thereof and the metal alkoxide covalently bind, and the production method thereof.
US07868115B1
Provided herein are farnesene interpolymers derived from a farnesene and at least one vinyl monomer. In certain embodiments, the farnesene is α-farnesene, β-farnesene or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the at least one vinyl monomer is ethylene, an α-olefin such as styrene, or a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl halide, vinyl ether, acrylonitrile, acrylic ester, methacrylic ester, acrylamide or methacrylamide, or a combination thereof.
US07868107B2
A process for producing a cycloolefin addition polymer comprising addition-polymerizing a cycloolefin in the presence of a catalyst comprising a combination of a specific transition metal compound of Group 4 of the Periodic Table, with an organoaluminum oxy compound, and/or a compound capable of reacting with the Group 4 transition metal compound to form an ion pair. The specific group 4 transition metal compound preferably has a structure such that the group 4 transition metal is bonded to a cyclopentadienyl ring in an η1 mode. The above-mentioned catalyst exhibits high activity for both of addition homopolymerization of a cycloolefin and addition copolymerization of a cycloolefin with an α-olefin.
US07868103B2
A method for producing a polybutadiene, which comprises subjecting 1,3-butadiene to cis-1,4 polymerization, and subsequently subjecting a resultant in the resulting polymerization system to syndiotactic-1,2 polymerization, the method being characterized in that there is added, after the polymerization, a halogen acid or halogen acid salt.
US07868098B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing (meth)acrylate-based ABA triblock copolymers with an olefinic functionalization of the A blocks.
US07868092B2
A bimodal polyethylene composition that includes ethylene-derived units, and, optionally, one or more other olefin-derived units, wherein the bimodal polyethylene composition possesses a density of at least 0.940 g/cc, an average molecular weight (Mw) of from 200,000 to 370,000, a z-average molecular weight (Mz) of from 1,500,000 to 3,400,000 Daltons, and a z+1 average molecular weight (Mz+1) of from 2,500,000 to 6,800,000 Daltons, is provided in various embodiments. Articles made therefrom and methods of making the same are also provided.
US07868090B2
A polyester composition comprising (a) a polyester derived from a diol and a diacid, (b) a fluoropolymer and (c) a carboxy reactive compound, where the polyester composition has a highly useful combination of (i) mechanical properties and (ii) melt strength is disclosed. Also disclosed is a process to prepare these compositions and articles therefrom.
US07868084B2
A curable composition comprises a reactive silicon group-containing polyoxyalkylene polymer which is obtained by reacting a polyoxyalkylene polymer (A) having a molecular weight distribution of 1.6 or less, a number average molecular weight of 15,000 to 50,000, and 0.8 or more reactive groups, on average, per molecule thereof with an organic compound (B) having in the molecule thereof a reactive silicon group and a functional group capable of reacting with the reactive groups of the polymer (A) in a proportion of 0.8 to 1.5 molecules of the organic compound (B), on average, per molecule of the component (A), a filler (C) and a curing catalyst (D). The composition contains no plasticizer or a small amount of plasticizer.
US07868082B2
A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer composition, the process comprising synthesizing an elastomeric copolymer by polymerizing ethylene, an α-olefin, and optionally a diene monomer within the gas phase to thereby produce a gas-phase elastomeric copolymer, blending the gas-phase elastomeric copolymer with a thermoplastic polymer to form a mix of the elastomeric copolymer and thermoplastic polymer, and dynamically vulcanizing the gas-phase elastomeric copolymer within the mix of the elastomeric copolymer and thermoplastic polymer.
US07868081B2
This invention relates to a rubber composition having excellent workability, fracture characteristics and wear resistance and a low heat buildup and a high storage modulus (G′), and more particularly to a rubber composition comprising not less than 20 parts by mass of a reinforcing filler (B) and 5 to 60 parts by mass of a low-molecular weight aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer (C) having an aromatic vinyl compound content of 5 to 80% by mass, a vinyl bond content in a conjugated diene compound portion of 10 to 80% by mass and a weight average molecular weight as measured with a gel permeation chromatography and converted to polystyrene of 5,000 to 300,000 based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (A) containing not less than 10% by mass of a modified conjugated diene-based polymer having at least one functional group.
US07868079B2
A field grading material including a polymeric matrix provided with a filler. The filler includes a field grading effective amount of particles having at least one dimension smaller than or equal to 100 nm. A device including the field grading material for grading an electric field in high-voltage applications and a method for grading an electric field at a joint or termination of an electric power cable using the field grading material.
US07868064B2
Ink receptive particles for receiving ink, including: particles P including hydrophilic polymer particles having a ratio of hydrophilic monomer(s) to the total monomer components thereof of from about 10 mol % to about 90 mol %; and hydrophobic polymer particles, attached to at least a part of a surface of the particles P and having a ratio of hydrophilic monomer(s) to the total monomer components thereof of from about 0 mol % to about 10 mol %.
US07868059B2
A polymeric colorant comprises a polymer-encapsulated pigment, wherein the polymer has a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 2,000,000 g/mole (2 to 2,000 kDa) and is a polymerization product of at least one dye-monomer conjugate. In some instances, a comonomer is added. The polymeric colorant is made by a method that comprises polymerizing at least one dye-monomer conjugate in a mixture containing pigment particles, to produce a polymerization product wherein the pigment particles are encapsulated by the polymerization product.
US07868049B2
The invention provides an organic/inorganic hybrid material and the method for manufacturing the same. A variety of functional monomers are co-polymerized to form a copolymer. The copolymer is subjected to sol-gel reactions with metal alkoxide oligomers to form an organic/inorganic hybrid material. The hybrid material has a high refractive index, a low moisture absorption, a high light transmission ratio, and a high glass transition point, such that the material can be applied in high light extraction efficient LED sealing materials, thin and light myopia/hypropia lens, portable projector lens, high brightness LCD prism films, solar cell refractive photoelectric conversion mirrors, and camera phone/digital camera lens.
US07868043B2
Mesophasic forms of (3S)-aminomethyl-5-hexanoic acid prodrugs and methods of preparing and methods of using mesophasic forms of (3S)-aminomethyl-5-hexanoic acid prodrugs are provided.
US07868041B2
The present invention provides cyclic 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl prodrugs of GABA analogs, methods of making cyclic 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl prodrugs of GABA analogs and compositions of cyclic 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl prodrugs of GABA analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cyclic 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl prodrugs of GABA analogs and compositions of cyclic 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl prodrugs of GABA analogs.
US07868037B2
The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using such compounds or compositions for treating infection by a virus, or for affecting viral IRES activity.
US07868026B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, methods for their preparation, methods for their use, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising them.
US07868016B2
A pharmaceutical formulation suitable for multi-dose administration comprising endo-N-(9-methyl-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-3-yl)-1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxanide hydrochloride, a preservative selected from the group consisting of alkyl paraben and phenol, and a buffer selected from the group consisting of acetate and phosphate buffers is disclosed.
US07868015B2
The present invention provides methods of treating cognitive deficits associated with mental retardation. The methods comprise combining cognitive training protocols and a general administration of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors.
US07868013B2
The present disclosure provides 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds having antiproliferative activity, compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds to inhibit cellular proliferation and to treat proliferate diseases such as tumorigenic cancers.
US07868010B2
The invention relates to substituted pyrazinoylguanidine compounds. These compounds are useful as sodium channel blockers, and may be effective in treating a variety of conditions including chronic bronchitis and cystic fibrosis.
US07868008B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and n are as defined for formula I in the description. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds and to new intermediates employed in the preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and to the use of the compounds in therapy.
US07868004B2
A compound of the formula I in which X and Y are selected as follows: (i) X is H and Y is selected from the group consisting of (ii) X and Y together form a bivalent radical selected from the group consisting of —O—CH2—O—, —N═CH—O— and —N═CH—S— thus forming together with the carbon atoms to which the radical is attached a 5-membered ring. The compounds have cooling properties and are useful in, for example, foodstuffs, dentifrices and cosmetics.
US07868002B2
As discussed above, there remains a need for the development of novel therapeutic agents useful for treating inflammatory or autoimmune and proliferative diseases. The present invention provides novel compounds of general formula (I), and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, as well as methods of making and using such compounds.
US07868001B2
A compound of Formula I: Each variable is defined in the specification. This invention relates to a method of decreasing a level of a cytokine (e.g., TNFα or interlukine such as IL-1β) in a subject with a compound of Formula I. It also relates to a method of treating a disorder mediated by an overproduction of a cytokine with such a compound.
US07867998B2
Method for relieving cough using an effective antitussive chemical compound belonging to stemoamide or tuberostemospironine and method for manufacturing pharmaceutical compositions for treating or relieving cough in human and animal subjects which including a stemoamide or tuberostemospironine compound. In addition, the antitussive property of the compounds provides a method for assessing the quality of herbs traditionally used in treating cough by analyzing the content of the effective chemical ingredient, i.e., compounds of stemoamide type and/or tuterostemospironine type. It further provides a method for identifying medicinal herbs which may be used for relieving cough by phytochemical determination of the existence of compounds that are of stemoamide or tuterostemospironine type.
US07867992B2
The invention relates to substituted quinolones and to processes for their preparation as well as to their use for the production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially for use as antiviral agents, particularly against cytomegaloviruses.
US07867991B2
Methods are provided for treating or preventing conditions comprising hypertension and dyslipidemia using antihyperlipemic agents and compounds that antagonize the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, function as partial or full activators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and lower triglycerides or elevate blood HDL-cholesterol. Compositions are provided for treating or preventing conditions comprising hypertension and dyslipidemia, comprising antihyperlipemic agents which lower triglycerides and inhibit cholesterol synthesis such as statins, and compounds that antagonize or block the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, activate PPARs and lower triglycerides or elevate blood HDL-cholesterol such as sartans.
US07867985B2
Fluid compositions and methods for lubrication of mammalian joints are disclosed, including both natural and artificial fluids. Synovial fluid acts to lubricate the bearing surfaces of bones and bone-like structures which are held in frictional contact within biological joints. Such fluids may be used to treat arthritic, injured, and diseased joints. Synovial fluid containing a dextran-based hydrogel with lipids provides enhanced rheological and tribological properties of such a fluid. Phospholipids are particularly useful in dextran-based compositions for synovial fluid. One phospholipid that can be used advantageously in synovial fluid is dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC).
US07867983B2
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of skeletal muscle and/or the protection of skeletal muscle against injury. The adenosine A3 receptor has been identified as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of skeletal muscle. Adenosine A3 receptor agonists are used treat subjects with skeletal muscle ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injuries, individuals with skeletal muscle disorders, and individuals suffering from skeletal muscle injury resulting from physical exertion.
US07867979B2
A drug composition for treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic chronicity complications is disclosed. The composition is composed of mangiferin and berberine in a certain ratio. The composition has a preferable hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect compared with mangiferin and berberine which is used alone.
US07867977B2
Disclosed are immunogenic peptides, related fusion proteins, nucleic acids encoding the peptides or fusion proteins, conjugates, expression vectors, host cells, and antibodies. Also, disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer, e.g., alveolar rhabodomyosarcoma, methods of stimulating a T cell to kill a tumor cell, methods of stimulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and methods of treating or preventing cancer are further provided herein.
US07867974B2
Disclosed herein is a simple method for the treatment of antigen-deficiency diseases, by orally administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of the deficient antigen, wherein the antigen is not present in a liposome. In one embodiment, the method increases hemostasis in a subject having hemophilia A or B, by orally administering to the hemophiliac a therapeutically effective amount of the appropriate clotting factor other than in a liposome, sufficient to induce oral tolerance and supply exogenous clotting factor to the subject.
US07867971B2
Use of polymers which comprise (a) monomer units of the formula I in which R1 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, (b) monomer units of the formula II in which R1 and R2, independently of one another, are hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, or (c) monomer units of the formula I and monomer units of the formula II, for odor prevention during machine dishwashing.
US07867970B2
The laundry detergent composition of the invention contains a combination of a soap, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, optionally a builder system, and optionally other detergent ingredients. The surfactant system comprises from 5 to 85 wt % in which the amount of soap is from 20 to 50 wt %, the amount of anionic is from 10 to 65 wt %, and the amount of nonionic is from 15 to 70 wt %, and wherein from 75 wt % to 100 wt % of the soap is present in the form of a granule which is dry-mixed with the other components, and the soap granule has a concentration of soap of at least 75 wt % based on the weight of the granule.
US07867968B1
A laundry scent additive having polyethylene glycol and perfume. The laundry scent additive enables consumers to control the amount of scent imparted to their laundry.
US07867960B2
Method for forming tetraoxy-silane derived antiwear films and lubricating oil compositions therefrom
Disclosed is a method for forming an antiwear film on an internal engine component comprising: contacting a surface of an internal wearing component of the engine with a tetra-functional hydrolyzable silane compound of the general formula Si—X4 or hydrolysis product thereof, wherein X is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, amino, monoalkyl amino and dialkyl amino; and hydrolyzing and condensing the tetra-functional silane to thereby form a film. Also disclosed are mixed silane films and the products produced by these methods.
US07867957B2
The lubricating oil composition of the invention comprises a lubricating base oil with a urea adduct value of no greater than 4% by mass and a viscosity index of 100 or higher, an ashless friction modifier at 0.01-10% by mass and a phosphorus-containing anti-wear agent at 0.01-0.2% by mass as phosphorus, based on the total amount of the composition.
US07867956B2
A urea-based lubricating grease composition comprising (a) as a thickener, a diurea compound which is an alkyldiurea compound having an average molecular weight in the range of from 600 to 700, wherein in the range of from 25 to 60 mole % of the total alkyl groups is an unsaturated component, and the total amine value of the primary amine constituting the raw material is in the range of from 250 to 350, (b) a base oil having as its main component one or more synthetic hydrocarbon oil(s) having a pour point of −40° C. or below, wherein the kinematic viscosity of the base oil is 6000 mm2/sec or less at −40° C., and (c) as additives, a mixture comprising an oil-soluble organic molybdenum complex, an oil-soluble organic zinc compound of dithiocarbamic acid, an oil-soluble organic zinc compound of dithiophosphoric acid and an inorganic sulphur compound; and a roller bearing and electric power steering device wherein the said lubricating grease composition is used as the lubricant.
US07867954B2
A cement composition comprises fine pumice particles, for use in cementing subterranean wells, and oil and gas wells in particular. The pumice containing cement blends feature enhanced compressive strength, and favorable compressive strength to Young's Modulus ratios. Lightweight cement blends containing pumice, and their use in cementing oil and gas wells are also described.
US07867952B2
Disclosed are a flexible polymer, particles made from same, and a process for preparing the particles. This flexible polymer is obtained from copolymerizing monomer (A) and monomer (B), wherein monomer (A) is one or more water-insoluble unsaturated diene monomers; monomer (B) is at least one compound with the general formula of wherein R is C1-C12alkyl, C1-C12 alkyl aryl, C1-C12 alkyl ether or C1-C12alkyl ester. Monomer (A) is in an amount of 60-90% by weight of the total combined weight of monomer (A) and monomer (B). Monomer (B) is in an amount of 10-40% by weight of the total combined weight of monomer (A) and monomer (B). The flexible polymer particles show excellent flexibility, deformability, elasticity as well as stability. They can be used in oilfields in nearby wellbore profile control and in-depth profile control or as in-depth flooding fluid diverting agents. They can also be applied in water shutoff in high temperature and high salinity production wells; preventing chemical channeling in polymer and ASP (alkali-surfactant-polymer) flooding; temporarily plugging in acidization; huff and puff; and preventing in-depth channeling in steam flooding, loss of circulation control and filtration control, and the like.
US07867942B2
The invention provides a method for manufacturing a highly dispersed carbon supported metal catalyst, including charging a carbon support and a dispersing agent in water. The carbon support is evenly dispersed in water with an average diameter of 10 nm to 2000 nm and a specific surface area of 50 m2/g to 1500 m2/g. A metal salt of Pd, Pt, or combinations thereof is formed on the carbon support surface and then reduced to a valance state less than (IV).
US07867937B2
Catalysts for experimentation are produced having a controlled matrix pore structure. The manufacturing process utilizes tape casting in the drying procedure in which a catalyst slurry is cast on a substrate and dried at a temperature of between about 50° C. to 200° C. for a period of time of about 0.1 to 1.0 hour. The dried catalyst particles can be removed from the substrate by several techniques, including scraping, burning, and deforming the substrate material. The resulting catalytic particles can be produced in an amount of about ca. 3 g to 300 g from slurries with volumes between 5 cc to 500 cc, which are suitable for small scale FCC reactors and for high throughput experimentation.
US07867932B2
A formation of internally nucleated glass ceramics articles that can be heated in the 1350-1450° C. range for extended periods of time without significant deformation or change in shape is disclosed. The predominant crystal phase of these glass ceramics is celsian (BaAl2Si2O8) or its strontium equivalent (SrAl2Si2O8), or solid solutions or mixtures of these compositions, all belonging to the feldspar mineral group.
US07867923B2
A method of depositing a silicon and nitrogen containing film on a substrate. The method includes introducing silicon-containing precursor to a deposition chamber that contains the substrate, wherein the silicon-containing precursor comprises at least two silicon atoms. The method further includes generating at least one radical nitrogen precursor with a remote plasma system located outside the deposition chamber. Moreover, the method includes introducing the radical nitrogen precursor to the deposition chamber, wherein the radical nitrogen and silicon-containing precursors react and deposit the silicon and nitrogen containing film on the substrate. Furthermore, the method includes annealing the silicon and nitrogen containing film in a steam environment to form a silicon oxide film, wherein the steam environment includes water and acidic vapor.
US07867921B2
A processing chamber is seasoned by providing a flow of season precursors to the processing chamber. A high-density plasma is formed from the season precursors by applying at least 7500 W of source power distributed with greater than 70% of the source power at a top of the processing chamber. A season layer having a thickness of at least 5000 Å is deposited at one point using the high-density plasma. Each of multiple substrates is transferred sequentially into the processing chamber to perform a process that includes etching. The processing chamber is cleaned between sequential transfers of the substrates.
US07867907B2
The present invention provides a method by which a thin film process can be conducted simply and accurately without using resist. Further, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices at low cost. A first layer is formed over a substrate, a peeling layer is formed over the first layer, the peeling layer is selectively irradiated with a laser beam from the peeling layer side to reduce adhesiveness of a part of the peeling layer. Next, the peeling layer in the part with reduced adhesiveness is removed, and the left portion of the peeling layer is used as a mask to selectively etch the first layer.
US07867900B2
Embodiments herein provide methods for forming an aluminum contact on a cobalt silicide junction. In one embodiment, a method for forming materials on a substrate is provided which includes forming a cobalt silicide layer on a silicon-containing surface of the substrate during a silicidation process, forming a fluorinated sublimation film on the cobalt silicide layer during a plasma process, heating the substrate to a sublimation temperature to remove the fluorinated sublimation film, depositing a titanium-containing nucleation layer over the cobalt silicide layer, and depositing an aluminum-containing material over the titanium-containing nucleation layer. In one example, the method further provides forming the cobalt silicide layer by depositing a cobalt-containing layer on the silicon-containing surface, heating the substrate during a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process, etching away any remaining portions of the cobalt-containing layer from the substrate, and subsequently heating the substrate during another RTA process.
US07867899B2
Methods and structures for reducing resistance in wordlines of an integrated circuit memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming multiple columns of polycrystalline silicon for respective number of wordlines, forming core transistor junctions and periphery transistor junctions associated with the wordlines, performing a salicidation process for the periphery transistor junction and performing a salicidation process for the columns of polycrystalline silicon to from the wordlines with low resistance.
US07867895B2
An interconnect structure including a gouging feature at the bottom of the via openings and a method of forming the same, which does not introduce either damages caused by Ar sputtering into the dielectric material that includes the via and line openings, nor plating voids into the structure are provided. The method includes the uses of at least one infusion process that forms an infused surface region within a conductive material of a lower interconnect level. The infused surface region has a different etch rate as compared with the conductive material and thus in a subsequent etching process, the infused surface region can be selectively removed forming a gouging feature within the structure.
US07867894B2
A metallic film 43 that becomes the matrix of pad 32 is formed on semiconductor substrate 41. Next, through hole 31 is formed in the semiconductor substrate 41 facing the metallic film 43 at the portion corresponding to an area where the pad 32 is formed. Thereafter, penetration electrode 17 is formed in through hole 31. Next, penetration portion 49 to expose the side of the penetration electrode 17 is formed in the semiconductor substrate 41. Next, an insulative member 16 is formed to be filled up in at least the penetration portion 49. After that, the pad 32 is formed by patterning the metallic film 43.
US07867890B2
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which comprises steps of forming a plurality of wirings on a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate so as to adjoin one another, forming a second insulating film on the first insulating film by a plasma CVD method and covering the wirings with the second insulating film in such a manner that air gaps are formed between the respective adjacent wirings, forming a third insulating film on the second insulating film by a high density plasma CVD method, and forming a fourth insulating film high in moisture resistance on the third insulating film.
US07867889B2
A method of forming an interconnect structure, comprising forming a first interconnect layer (123) embedded in a first dielectric layer (118), forming a dielectric tantalum nitride barrier (150) by means of atomic layer deposition on the surface of the first interconnect (123), depositing a second dielectric layer (134) over the first interconnect (123) and the barrier (150) and etching a via (154) in the dielectric layer (134) to the barrier (150). The barrier (150) is then exposed to a treatment through the via (154) to change it from the dielectric phase to the conductive phase (180) and the via (154) is subsequently filled with conductive material (123).
US07867877B2
A method for manufacturing SOI wafers is provided which allows the obtaining of a thin SOI layer having uniform in-plane thickness. In this manufacturing method, an oxygen ion implanted layer is first formed on an active layer wafer. This is then laminated to a base wafer with a embedded oxide film interposed therebetween. The active layer wafer side of the laminated wafer is then ground to remove a portion thereof. The remaining surface side of the active layer wafer is removed by polishing or KOH etching to expose the oxygen ion implanted layer. Oxygen ions are implanted to a uniform depth within the plane of the oxygen ion implanted layer in this oxygen ion implanted layer. Subsequently, oxidizing treatment is carried out to form an oxide film on the exposed surface of the oxygen ion implanted layer. Moreover, this oxide film is removed together with the oxygen ion implanted layer by an HF solution. The remaining portion of the active layer wafer serves as a thin SOI layer.
US07867871B1
An efficient method is disclosed for increasing the breakdown voltage of an integrated circuit device that is isolated by a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process. The method comprises forming a portion of a field oxide in an integrated circuit so that the field oxide has a gradual profile. The gradual profile of the field oxide reduces impact ionization in the field oxide by creating a reduced value of electric field for a given value of applied voltage. The reduction in impact ionization increases the breakdown voltage of the integrated circuit. The gradual profile is formed by using an increased thickness of pad oxide and a reduced thickness of silicon nitride during a field oxide oxidation process.
US07867870B2
A device isolation film in a semiconductor device and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes etching a middle portion of a device isolation film having a deposition structure including a Spin-On-Dielectric (SOD) oxide film and a High Density Plasma (HDP) oxide film to form a hole and filling an upper portion of the hole with an oxide film having poor step coverage characteristics to form a second hole extending along the middle portion of the device isolation film. The second hole serves as a buffer for stress generated at the interface between an oxide film, which can be a device isolation film, and a silicon layer, which can be a semiconductor substrate, thereby increasing the operating current of a transistor and improving the electrical characteristics of the resulting device.
US07867868B2
The present invention generally provides an absorber layer using carbon based materials with increased and stabled thermal absorption coefficient and economical methods to produce such an absorber layer. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing a substrate comprising depositing an absorber layer on a top surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate is maintained under a first temperature, annealing the substrate in a thermal processing chamber, wherein the substrate is heated to a second temperature, and the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, and removing the absorber layer from the substrate.
US07867862B2
A high voltage device includes a substrate with a device region defined thereon. A gate stack is disposed on the substrate in the device region. A channel region is located in the substrate beneath the gate stack, while a first diffusion region is located in the substrate on a first side of the gate stack. A first isolation structure in the substrate, located on the first side of the gate stack, separates the channel and the first diffusion region. The high voltage device also includes a first drift region in the substrate coupling the channel to the first diffusion region, wherein the first drift region comprises a non-uniform depth profile conforming to a profile of the first isolation structure.
US07867861B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including implanting a selected material at a desired target depth below a surface of a silicon substrate, performing an annealing process to create a band of precipitates formed from the selected material and the silicon of the silicon substrate at the desired target depth, and forming a source region and a drain region in the substrate such that a channel region there between is positioned above the band of precipitates, wherein the desired target depth is such that a desired separation distance is achieved between the channel region and the band of precipitates, and wherein an average lattice constant of the band of precipitates is different from the average lattice constant of the silicon substrate so as to cause a stress in the channel region.
US07867860B2
A strained channel transistor is provided. The strained channel transistor comprises a substrate formed of a first material. A source region comprised of a second material is formed in a first recess in the substrate, and a drain region comprised of the second material is formed in a second recess in the substrate. A strained channel region formed of the first material is intermediate the source and drain region. A gate stack formed over the channel region includes a gate electrode overlying a gate dielectric. A gate spacer formed along a sidewall of the gate electrode overlies a portion of at least one of said source region and said drain region. A cap layer may be formed over the second material, and the source and drain regions may be silicided.
US07867849B2
Example embodiments relate to methods of fabricating a non-volatile memory device. According to example embodiments, a method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device may include forming at least one gate structure on an upper face of a substrate. The at least one gate structure may include a tunnel insulation layer pattern, a charge storing layer pattern, a dielectric layer pattern and a control gate. According to example embodiments, a method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device may also include forming a silicon nitride layer on the upper face of the substrate to cover the at least one gate structure, forming an insulating interlayer on the silicon nitride layer on the upper face of the substrate, and providing an annealing gas toward the upper face of the substrate and a lower face of the substrate to cure defects of the tunnel insulation layer pattern.
US07867848B2
Methods for fabricating dual bit memory devices are provided. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for fabricating a dual bit memory device comprises forming a charge trapping layer overlying a substrate and etching an isolation opening through the charge trapping layer. An oxide layer is formed overlying the charge trapping layer and within the isolation opening. A control gate is fabricated overlying the isolation opening and portions of the charge trapping layer adjacent to the isolation opening. The oxide layer and the charge trapping layer are etched using the control gate as an etch mask and impurity dopants are implanted into the substrate using the control gate as an implantation mask.
US07867835B2
An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including an active device with a gate and a gate dielectric; forming a first liner, a first spacer, a second liner, and a second spacer adjacent the gate; forming a material layer over the integrated circuit system; forming an opening between the material layer and the first spacer by removing a portion of the material layer, the second spacer, and the second liner to expose the substrate; and forming a source/drain extension and a halo region through the opening.
US07867834B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: forming a trench for a device isolation area and a semiconductor projection with a first width by etching a semiconductor substrate; forming an oxide film on the trench and the semiconductor projections; forming an insulating layer on the oxide film; exposing the upper surface of the semiconductor projection by polishing the insulating layer and the oxide film; forming a gate insulating layer at a lower region of the semiconductor projection; and etching the insulating layer and the oxide film on the substrate.
US07867833B2
Known drawbacks associated with use of tungsten as a gate material in a semiconductor device are prevented. A gate oxide layer, a polysilicon layer, and a nitride layer are sequentially formed on a semiconductor substrate having a isolation layer for defining the active region. A groove is formed by etching the nitride layer. A metal nitride layer is formed to an U shape in the groove, and then a metal layer is formed to bury the groove. A hard mask layer is formed for defining a gate forming region on the nitride layer, the metal nitride layer, and the metal layer. A metal gate is formed by etching the nitride layer, the polysilicon layer, and the gate oxide layer using the hard mask layer as an etch barrier.
US07867827B2
A physical quantity sensor is constituted using a lead frame having at least one stage and a plurality of leads whose bases are arranged in the same plane, wherein at least one physical quantity sensor chip having a plurality of electrode pads is mounted on the stage and is inclined so that the electrode pads are disposed in the inclination direction and are connected to the leads by use of wires whose lengths substantially match distances between the electrode pads and leads. This prevents the leads and wires from being unexpectedly broken, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of separation of the leads from the physical quantity sensor chip. In addition, the tip ends of the leads are disposed along the surface of the inclined stage before wire bonding; hence, it is possible to easily connect the tip ends of the leads to the physical quantity sensor chip.
US07867822B2
A method includes forming a switching device which includes a vertical channel spaced apart from a semiconductor substrate, and forming a storage device which is positioned on opposed sides of the switching device. The storage device includes a cylindrically shaped storage node, a plate electrode coupled to the storage node, and a dielectric film which is formed between the storage node and plate electrode, the storage nodes being electrically connected to the switching device.
US07867812B2
The invention relates to the formation of thin-film crystalline silicon using a zone-melting recrystallization process in which the substrate is a ceramic material. Integrated circuits and solar cells are fabricated in the recrystallized silicon thin film and lifted off the substrate. Following lift-off, these circuits and devices are self-sustained, lightweight and flexible and the released ceramic substrate can be reused making the device fabrication process cost effective.
US07867811B2
Provided is a display panel comprised of a white color organic luminescent element and a color filter for full color implementation, wherein a substrate in which an organic luminescent element is formed and a color filter are assembled and fixed to face each other with an adhesive pattern therebetween, and liquid oil is filled between the color filter and the substrate inside of the adhesive pattern so as to block external moisture or oxygen, so that deterioration of luminous characteristics due to the external moisture or oxygen may be prevented by encapsulating the organic luminescent element and the color filter with the liquid oil, which leads to enhance reliability and stability of the element, and also allows the encapsulation process to be performed with relatively simple steps and low cost.
US07867810B2
A method for manufacturing a solid-state image capturing apparatus including a pixel array constituted of a plurality of pixels, is provided, where each of the plurality of pixels includes a photoelectric conversion section, the method comprising the steps of: forming an impurity diffusion area in a surface area of a semiconductor substrate; and forming a plurality of different impurity diffusion areas in the surface area of the semiconductor substrate, other than the impurity diffusion area constituting the photoelectric conversion section.
US07867805B2
Methods and apparatus for forming a product from ultra thin layers of a base material are disclosed. Some embodiments provide a process that allows one to structure a silicon base material, like the ingot, and to transfer this structure into a respective silicon process step. Some embodiments provide a process that allows one to structure any complex structured layer stacks, where the layers can be applied on top of each other using, e.g., bonding technology.
US07867800B2
A light-emitting semiconductor device (10) consecutively includes a sapphire substrate (1), an AlN buffer layer (2), a silicon (Si) doped GaN n+-layer (3) of high carrier (n-type) concentration, a Si-doped (Alx3Ga1−x3)y3In1−y3N n+-layer (4) of high carrier (n-type) concentration, a zinc (Zn) and Si-doped (Alx2Ga1−x2)y2In1−y2N emission layer (5), and a Mg-doped (Alx1Ga1−x1)y1In1−y1N p-layer (6). The AlN layer (2) has a 500 Å thickness. The GaN n+-layer (3) has about a 2.0 μm thickness and a 2×1018/cm3 electron concentration. The n+-layer (4) has about a 2.0 μm thickness and a 2×1018/cm3 electron concentration. The emission layer (5) has about a 0.5 μm thickness. The p-layer 6 has about a 1.0 μm thickness and a 2×1017/cm3 hole concentration. Nickel electrodes (7, 8) are connected to the p-layer (6) and n+-layer (4), respectively. A groove (9) electrically insulates the electrodes (7, 8). The composition ratio of Al, Ga, and In in each of the layers (4, 5, 6) is selected to meet the lattice constant of GaN in the n+-layer (3). The LED (10) is designed to improve luminous intensity and to obtain purer blue color.
US07867782B2
Methods and structures for placing nanoscale moieties on substrates are provided.
US07867780B2
The present invention provides a lateral flow format and materials and methods for using the format in a variety of applications. More particularly, the present invention provides single-layer lateral flow formats, materials and methods for detecting the presence of an analyte using a test strip comprising a dry porous medium comprising a single hydrophilic matrix. Devices are also provided as well as methods of making and using the format. The format is particularly useful for diagnosis of physiological and genetic conditions. In addition, the present invention provides methods and materials for concentrating a reagent in a porous medium.
US07867767B2
Techniques are described for the detection of multiple target species in real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). For example, a system comprises a data acquisition device and a detection device coupled to the data acquisition device. The detection device includes a rotating disk having a plurality of process chambers having a plurality of species that emit fluorescent light at different wavelengths. The device further includes a plurality of removable optical modules that are optically configured to excite the species and capture fluorescent light emitted by the species at different wavelengths. A fiber optic bundle coupled to the plurality of removable optical modules conveys the fluorescent light from the optical modules to a single detector. In addition, the device may control the flow of fluid in the disk by locating and selectively opening valves separating chambers by heating the valves with a laser.
US07867765B2
The invention relates to methods of isolating white blood cells (WBCs) from a sample, e.g., whole blood, using magnetic particles that specifically bind to WBCs and a series of specific steps and conditions. The methods can include one or more of decreasing the viscosity of the sample prior to WBC isolation, agitating the sample at specified frequencies, and/or using a sample container arranged such that all of the sample is placed in close proximity (e.g., within 5, 2, 1, or 0.5 mm) to the source of the magnetic field. The new methods provide for isolation of WBC preparations with high yield, purity, and viability. The methods are designed for compatibility with automation protocols for rapid processing of multiple samples.
US07867759B2
A mobile, modular multi-chamber composting system for the composting of organic material includes a composting unit having a pair of adjacent composting chambers enclosed by sidewalls, a roof, and closure panels, with the chambers delimited by a separation panel, and the first chamber having a uni-directional tilting floor and the second chamber having a bi-directional tilting floor so that organic material can be placed in the first chamber and transferred to the second chamber to facilitate decomposition of the material. Hydraulic mechanisms are interconnected to each floor to facilitate the tilting of the floor and the transference of the material, and the second chamber can transfer the material back to the first chamber or expel the material from the unit or transfer the material to another adjoined composting unit. The composting units are stackable one atop another, and the composting units are towable by a lawn tractor, a vehicle, or can be configured as an industrial-sized system towable by a tractor-trailer.
US07867755B2
A method for analyzing proteins makes use of an array of first capture molecules which are specific for peptide epitopes. The proteins to be analyzed or a protein mixture containing the proteins to be analyzed is degraded to peptide fragments corresponding to the peptide epitopes, after which the array of capture molecules is incubated with the peptide fragments. The peptide fragments bound to the capture molecules are then detected.
US07867749B2
Nucleic acid molecules from nematodes encoding phosphoethanolamine n-methyltransferase polypeptides are described. PEAMT-like polypeptide sequences are also provided, as are vectors, host cells, and recombinant methods for production of PEAMT-like nucleotides and polypeptides. Also described are screening methods for identifying inhibitors and/or activators, as well as methods for antibody production.
US07867747B2
The present invention relates to a novel protease, a polynucleotide encoding the protease, and a fibrinolytic agent comprising the same. The protease is obtained from a new gene source by using metagenomic library technology, and can replace the conventional fibrinolytic agent.
US07867731B2
The present invention provides polynucleotides, as well as polypeptides encoded thereby, that are differentially expressed in cancer cells. These polynucleotides are useful in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The present invention further provides methods of reducing growth of cancer cells. These methods are useful for treating cancer.
US07867723B2
Methods for detecting anti-lipidic particle antibodies and lipidic particles in cellular membranes for the diagnosis of diseases associated with antiphospholipid syndrome are disclosed. Kits or sets to put these methods of diagnosis into practice are disclosed. Methods for the therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with antiphospholipid syndrome are disclosed as well. In addition, methods for the detection of the diverse physiologic states of cells and kits useful for this are also disclosed.
US07867717B2
Disclosed are immunoassay methods for the diagnosis/prognosis of diseases and disease susceptibility traits associated with gene mutations that cause protein truncation or allelic loss. The levels of one or more targeted wild-type proteins expressed by a subject gene or genes are immunologically quantitated in biological samples. Results indicating that a targeted wild-type protein is not present in an assayed sample, or that approximately 50% of the normal amount of such a wild-type protein is present in an assayed sample are considered to be positive for a mutation in one or both alleles of a subject gene, and correlated with the disease or the disease susceptibility trait associated with that mutation or mutations. Normal cells, particularly normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, are preferred biological samples.
US07867713B2
A polymerase chain reaction system for analyzing a sample containing nucleic acid includes providing magnetic beads; providing a flow channel having a polymerase chain reaction chamber, a pre polymerase chain reaction magnet position adjacent the polymerase chain reaction chamber, and a post pre polymerase magnet position adjacent the polymerase chain reaction chamber. The nucleic acid is bound to the magnetic beads. The magnetic beads with the nucleic acid flow to the pre polymerase chain reaction magnet position in the flow channel. The magnetic beads and the nucleic acid are washed with ethanol. The nucleic acid in the polymerase chain reaction chamber is amplified. The magnetic beads and the nucleic acid are separated into a waste stream containing the magnetic beads and a post polymerase chain reaction mix containing the nucleic acid. The reaction mix containing the nucleic acid flows to an analysis unit in the channel for analysis.
US07867708B2
To solve a problem occurring in the PALSAR method that a polymer would be formed in the state of unbound to a captured test gene and thus affect the quantitative characteristics as a nonspecific signal, it is intended to develop a technique whereby the polymer formation is controlled in the step of forming an assembly (polymer) of probes so that the polymer is formed exclusively on a test gene to thereby improve the sensitivity and quantitative characteristics. It is found that the polymer can be quantitatively formed and a nonspecific reaction can be inhibited by, in the step of forming a polymer by reacting plural kinds of probes having abilities to complementarily bind to each other, not adding or reacting these probes at once but starting with the reaction of a first probe in one group, and then reacting the second probe in the other group followed by the reactions of probes one by one (i.e., the first probe, the second probe, and so on).
US07867693B1
Methods for forming device structures on a wafer are provided. One method includes transferring approximately an inverse of patterned features formed in a positive resist layer on the wafer to a device material on the wafer to form the device structures in the device material. Another method includes transferring approximately an inverse of patterned features formed in a sacrificial layer on the wafer to a device material on the wafer to form the device structures in the device material.
US07867692B2
Aspects of the invention can provide a method for manufacturing a microstructure, including forming a photosensitive film above a work piece, exposing the photosensitive film, as a first exposure, by irradiating interference light generated by intersecting two laser beams having a wavelength shorter than a wavelength of visible light, developing the exposed photosensitive film so as to develop a shape corresponding to a pattern of the interference light to the photosensitive film, and etching the work piece using the developed photosensitive film as an etching mask.
US07867682B2
A toner including a core including at least a colorant, a release agent and a first binder resin; and a shell located overlying the core and including at least a second binder resin, wherein the first binder resin includes a polyester resin including a unit obtained from a diol selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diols and alicyclic diols, and the second binder resin includes a vinyl copolymer, and wherein a weight ratio (S/C) of the shell (S) to the core (C) is from 0.05 to 0.5 and the toner has a volume average particle diameter of from 3 to 8 μm.
US07867675B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and a nitrogen heterocyclic component such as a triazine.
US07867673B2
A pattern forming system 1 includes a checking apparatus 400, a storage device 502, and a control section 500. The checking apparatus 400 is configured to measure and check a state of a resist pattern formed on a substrate W after a developing process and output a first check result thus obtained, and to measure and check a state of a pattern formed on the substrate after an etching process and output a second check result thus obtained. The storage device 502 stores a correlation formula obtained from the first check result and the second check result. The control section 500 is configured to use the correlation formula to obtain a target value of the state of the pattern after the developing process from a target value of the state of the pattern after the etching process, and to use a difference between the target value of the state of the pattern after the developing process and the first check result to set a condition for the first heat process and/or the second heat process.
US07867672B2
An image forming medium includes a substrate; an imaging layer including an imaging material coated on said substrate, wherein the imaging material exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless state and a colored state; and a protective layer over the imaging layer, the protection layer including dipolar molecules that can be reversibly switch between a UV light transmission state and a UV light absorption state, wherein the dipolar molecules in their random orientation absorb in substantially the same spectral region as the imaging material in its un-imaged state, and wherein the imaging layer is imageable by ultraviolet light when the dipolar molecules are in the UV light transmission state, but the imaging layer is substantially not imageable by ultraviolet light when the dipolar molecules are in the UV light absorption state.
US07867667B2
A polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes an ion exchange resin membrane, and an electric conductive polymer. The electric conductive polymer is present along a thickness direction of the ion exchange resin membrane from one side of the ion exchange resin membrane to the interior of the ion exchange resin membrane.
US07867662B2
A contactor electrically connects and disconnects a fuel cell from a load. When a failure-detecting mode for detecting a closing failure of a contactor is initiated, an opening command is transmitted to the contactor, and a DC/DC converter connected to a motor changes the load voltage. Then, the load voltage and a fuel cell voltage are compared with each other. If the contactor is in a normal open state, as a result of the opening command, the fuel cell voltage is constant, whereas the load voltage of the DC/DC converter decreases, thereby producing a voltage difference. A closing failure of the contactor is determined when it is detected that the fuel cell voltage is substantially equal to the load voltage.
US07867659B2
The present invention provides a humidification system for a fuel cell, in which a plurality of membrane humidifiers employing hollow fiber membranes of different kinds having different diameters and pore sizes, or having different numbers of hollow fiber membranes is selectively used according to the amount of current generated from a fuel cell stack or a vehicle output, thus adjusting the humidification amount for dry air to be supplied to a fuel cell stack, and preventing the flooding phenomenon caused at a cathode and the starvation phenomenon in which the air supply is insufficient at the cathode.
US07867651B2
An electro-chemical storage device is described, and a method for making the same. In some aspects, a guidewire is co-wound with sheet or ribbon-like electrode materials so that contact is made between the guidewire and collector extensions of the electrode materials thereby forming an endcap with low impedance and high thermal sinking capabilities. In one embodiment, the storage device includes a negative electrode sheet have an edge which is substantially free of electrode active material, a positive electrode sheet have an edge which is substantially free of electrode active material, a first conductive guidewire disposed adjacent to the edge of the negative electrode sheet which is substantially free of electrode active material, and a second conductive guidewire disposed adjacent to the edge of the positive electrode sheet which is substantially free of electrode active material. The first conductive guidewire and the edge of the negative electrode sheet which is substantially free of electrode active material define a first electrode endcap and the second conductive guidewire and the edge of the positive electrode sheet which is substantially free of electrode active material define a second electrode endcap. The electrode endcaps are coupled to terminals of the storage device, which are capable of being connected to the terminals of an external circuit.
US07867642B2
A method of starting a fuel cell stack in subzero conditions that minimizes start times while avoiding cell reversal by using an iterative model to determine the optimal current density time profile for startup.
US07867640B2
An alpha voltaic battery includes at least one layer of a semiconductor material comprising at least one p/n junction, at least one absorption and conversion layer on the at least one layer of semiconductor layer, and at least one alpha particle emitter. The absorption and conversion layer prevents at least a portion of alpha particles from the alpha particle emitter from damaging the p/n junction in the layer of semiconductor material. The absorption and conversion layer also converts at least a portion of energy from the alpha particles into electron-hole pairs for collection by the one p/n junction in the layer of semiconductor material.
US07867638B2
A magnetic-recording medium which is provided on a nonmagnetic substrate with at least an orientation-controlling layer for controlling the orientation of a layer formed directly thereon, a perpendicularly magnetic layer having an easily magnetizing axis oriented mainly perpendicularly relative to the nonmagnetic substrate, and a protective layer. The perpendicularly magnetic layer includes two or more magnetic layers, at least one of the magnetic layers is a layer having Co as a main component and containing Pt as well and containing an oxide, and at least another of the magnetic layers is a layer having Co as a main component and containing Cr as well and containing no oxide.
US07867637B2
A low-coupling perpendicular magnetic recording media comprising a magnetic storage layer and at least one low saturation magnetization layer. The magnetic storage layer has a saturation magnetization between about 400-900 emu/cm3 and the at least one low saturation magnetization layer has a saturation magnetization below that of the magnetic storage layer.
US07867635B2
The present invention is directed toward a coated substrate including an undercoating layer deposited on at least a portion of the substrate and a functional coating layer deposited over at least a portion of the undercoating layer. The functional coating layer comprises a material that can be present in more than one crystal structure.
US07867631B2
A fluorine-containing compound is represented by Formula 1 below: wherein R1a, R1b, R2a, and R2b are each independently a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 aryloxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted C4-C30 heteroaryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 condensed polycyclic group, a hydroxy group, halogen, a cyano group, or a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, and adjacent groups selected from R1a, R1b, R2a, and R2b may join together to form a saturated or unsaturated carbon ring; n and m are each independently an integer of 0 to 5; Ar1a and Ar1b are each independently a C6-C30 aryl group which is unsubstituted or substituted by at least one fluorine or a C4-C30 heteroaryl group which is unsubstituted or substituted by at least one fluorine; and Ar2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C30 heteroaryl group. The fluorine-containing compound has good electrical characteristics and charge transport capability, and thus, is useful as a hole injection material, a hole transport material, and/or an emitting material for fluorescent or phosphorescent devices capable of producing light of a full spectrum of colors, including red, green, blue, and white. Thus, the fluorine-containing compound can be used to produce organic light-emitting devices with high efficiency, a low driving voltage, high brightness, and a long lifetime.
US07867627B2
Functionalized substrates and method of passivating the surface of a substrate to improve the surface by imparting desirable surface properties to improve the performance of a surface, the method steps including exposing the substrate to a chemical vapor deposition process to coat the substrate with silicon, and functionalizing the coated surface by exposing the substrate surface to a binding reagent having at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon group.
US07867614B2
A process for modification, in particular for surface modification of an organophilic clay material, encompassing the following steps: a) provision of a dry, pulverulent, organophilic clay material (component a); b) provision of at least one additive (component b) for modification of component a); c) intensive mixing of components a) and b) in a high-shear mixing assembly, where no water or solvent is added or used for addition of component b).
US07867604B2
The present invention relates to a composition coextrudable with PVDF and comprising: 30 to 50 parts of PVDF; 70 to 50 parts of a copolymer comprising, by weight, 90 to 50% of methyl methacrylate (MMA) per 10 to 50% of an alkyl (meth)acrylate respectively, the alkyl having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms; 1 to 4 parts of a UV absorber; the total making 100 parts. The invention also relates to coextruded films consisting of this composition as the adhesive layer and a PVDF-based layer of 50 to 100 parts of PVDF per 50 to 0 parts of PMMA respectively. These films possess mechanical properties sufficient to allow them to be used as a coating transparent to visible light but opaque to UV radiation.
US07867601B2
A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which comprises a resin film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on at least one side of the film, and which has a concave-convex form containing plural grooves arranged at given intervals in a face of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that is to be stuck onto an adherend, and has a region where the interval of the arrangement of the grooves is 400 μm or more, the tensile modulus of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape in the temperature range of 23 to 80° C. being in the range of 30 to 600 MPa. This tape has such an excellent workability that when the tape is stuck onto an adherend, air bubbles escape easily therefrom so as to prevent the generation of defects based on the entrainment of the air bubbles.
US07867598B2
A honeycomb structure having porous partition walls having a large number of pores, formed so as to produce a plurality of cells each extending between the two ends of the honeycomb structure, and plugged portions formed so as to plug the cells at either one end of the honeycomb structure or at the insides of the cells, wherein the honeycomb structure has the partition walls of a permeability of 7×10−12 to 4×10−8 m2. The honeycomb structure can provide a honeycomb catalyst structure which is superior in purification efficiency, is low in pressure loss and can be mounted even in a limited space.
US07867596B2
A carbon fiber composite material (10) is provided which includes carbon fibers (11), a matrix (12) binding the carbon fibers (11) together, and pores (13), and a volume fraction of the carbon fibers (11) exclusive of the pores (13) is not less than 45% and up to 80%. The carbon fiber composite material (10) may preferably have a porous structure of which a porosity is not more than 20% and up to 70%. This carbon fiber composite material (10) has a high static friction coefficient (μS), and low μ ratio, and thus is suitable for a wet friction member (e.g., carbon disc 5) which is excellent in both of static friction performance and dynamic friction performance.
US07867595B2
An optical information recording medium is provided having a superior jitter property even when an organic substance is used for a recording layer. The optical information recording medium has a substrate having a penetrating hole in a central portion thereof and a spiral pre-groove provided in one surface of the substrate, a reflection layer provided on the surface of the substrate in which the pre-groove is provided, a recording layer which is provided on the reflection layer and which is composed of an organic substance including a dye, and a light transmissive cover layer provided on the recording layer. In the optical information recording medium, the cover layer has an elastic modulus of 40 MPa or less at 25° C. in an interface region facing the recording layer.
US07867588B2
A polyethylene composition is provided that has a density of about 0.945 to about 0.960 g/cm3 and a melt flow index of about 0.1 to about 0.4. The composition is a melt blend of a linear low density polyethylene resin and/or a linear medium low density polyethylene resin, and a high density polyethylene resin. A feature of the composition is that the resins can independently be virgin, recycled, scrap and/or wide specification resins, and mixtures of these. Methods of producing the compositions and extruded, molded and formed plastic articles manufactured from the compositions are presented.
US07867584B2
The present invention is drawn to a media sheet for ink-jet printing and can comprise a media substrate and a coating composition applied to the media substrate to form an ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer can include semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates, at least 5 wt % of a water soluble coating formulation additive, and a binder. The media sheet can also have a wash conductivity less than about 80 microsiemens/cm, said wash conductivity determined by measuring the conductivity of a 50 mL bath of deionized water after placing a 100 cm2 sample of the media sheet in the deionized water for 45 seconds at room temperature under agitation.
US07867583B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to plant hedges or barriers and provide a method, system and apparatus for creating artificial plant hedges or barriers. In one embodiment of the invention, an artificial plant barrier system can be provided. The system can include a starter unit, a middle unit coupled to a top of the starter unit, and a top end unit coupled to a top of the middle unit. The starter unit can include a channel defined between a first opening in a top of the starter unit and a second opening in a bottom of the starter unit, wherein the bottom of the starter unit is coupled to a base support. The middle unit can include a channel defined between a first opening of a top of the middle unit and a second opening of a bottom of the middle unit, wherein the bottom of the middle unit is coupled to the starter unit. The top end unit can include a channel defined between a top of the top end unit and a first opening of a bottom of the top end unit, wherein the bottom of the top end unit is coupled to the middle unit. The system can further include a support core assembly configured to interface with the channels of the starter unit, the middle unit and the top end unit.
US07867581B2
A retardation film, formed by stretching a film including a norbornene-based, ring-opening polymer containing a structural unit (A) represented by a formula (1), has high transparency, excellent wavelength dispersion characteristics in a single layer, is capable of providing specific retardation to broadband light, is extremely adhesive to other materials, is capable of attaining optical characteristics that are unique among negative birefringence characteristics, and is capable of providing a reverse dispersion of birefringence wavelength dispersion characteristics. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display device using the foregoing film.
US07867577B2
A composition having a polythiol reactant and an alkenyl silane reactant which are combined to form a polysulfide polysilane. In the process, the reactants are combined in a thiol-ene addition process driven by UV radiation. The polysulfide polysilane is then hydrolyzed and may be combined with other hydrolyzed compounds. For coatings, the polysulfide polysilane is hydrolyzed and may optionally be combined with nanoparticles. For bulk materials, the polysulfide polysilane is hydrolyzed, concentrated and heated to form a high refractive index material which can be used to form lenses.
US07867574B2
A multi-functional cyclic silicate compound, a siloxane-based polymer prepared from the silicate compound and a process of producing an insulating film using the siloxane-based polymer. The silicate compound of the present invention is highly compatible with conventional pore-generating substances and hardly hygroscopic, so it is useful for the preparation of a siloxane-based polymer suitable to a SOG process. Furthermore, a film produced by the use of such siloxane-based polymer is excellent in mechanical properties, thermal stability and crack resistance and enhanced in insulating properties by virtue of its low hygroscopicity. Therefore, in the field of semiconductor production, this film is of great use as an insulating film.
US07867558B1
A method and apparatus is disclosed for remotely and robotically installing an organic, monolithic, structural and non structural, circumferential and partial radius membranes in conduits, pipelines or passageways. The included apparatus has the mechanical function to manually or automatically center the liner dissipation device in any geometrical shape. The included apparatus possesses the remote controlled capability to manipulate centrifugal dissipation of the liner to afford consistent thickness on any shaped profile or flat surface of the pipe wall surface. The apparatus includes a manual or automatic mechanical scissoring device for elevation changes and a manual or automatic rotational table for shaft alignment. The apparatus includes a means of automated self alignment by way of proximity sensors. The pendulum oscillation bracketing incorporates a fluid driven motor assembly communicating with a bored shaft and integrates as many as two offset dissipation devices. The included apparatus has both fluid and electrical rotary unions to transmit fluids and current from fixed ports to a rotating shaft assembly. The included apparatus has a mechanical function facilitating cutting and retrieval of cured spray build up on the spray orifice. This method and apparatus will allow for continuous lining applications of any thickness in one pass, in conduits and passageways employing multi component liquid polymers with rapid mechanical properties formation.
US07867550B2
According to the present invention, when the electrode for electrochemical devices is fabricated, the treating method for removing off a binder solvent adsorbed to pores in an electrode-constituting activated charcoal or the like, using carbon dioxide in a supercritical state, is used or a method wherein the supercritical-state treating method is modified using a low-boiling solvent is used, whereby the electrostatic capacity of the carbonaceous material as the active substance and the reliability of the electro-chemical device can be improved.
US07867538B2
Oil of improved quality is produced by treating the oil with an active substance capable of reducing the anisidine value of the oil. Food products comprising the oil of improved quality are also disclosed.
US07867531B2
Heat shrinkable, oxygen barrier, packaging films, methods of packaging and packages are provided having a myoglobin blooming agent to provide, promote, enhance or maintain a desirable coloration on the surface of a myoglobin-containing meat product.
US07867530B2
There is provided a composition comprising i) a wax in an amount of 10 to 40 wt. % based on the composition ii) a compound in an amount of 60 to 90 wt. % based on the composition, having the formula wherein t is an integer, wherein each R1, R2 and R3 is independently selected from an acyl group or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is H or an acyl group (a short acyl group) having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is an optionally branched chain acyl group (a long acyl group) consisting of a saturated chain having 10 to 20 carbon atoms and an optional hydrophilic branch group.
US07867524B2
The present invention relates to a pre-mix and a pharmaceutical composition for oxygenating a subject's tissues, uses and methods of treatment thereof.
US07867513B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a capsule anti-sticking agent which can provide excellent anti-sticking effect on a soft capsule without impairing various properties such as water activity, disintegration property and safety, a coated soft capsule of high quality which is coated with the capsule anti-sticking agent and excels in anti-sticking effect, and an efficient method for manufacturing the coated soft capsule.The present invention includes a capsule anti-sticking agent containing an enzymatically decomposed lecithin, a coated soft capsule wherein a surface is coated with the capsule anti-sticking agent, and a method for manufacturing the coated soft capsule in which a surface of a soft capsule is coated with the capsule anti-sticking agent.
US07867511B2
The potential for substance abuse involving residual amounts of abusable substances remaining in used skin-worn patches is reduced by the provision of a system and method for combining the abusable substance with a separate anti-abuse substance agent as part of a removal or disposal procedure.
US07867509B2
Physiologically acceptable films, including edible films, are disclosed. The films include a water soluble film-forming polymer such as pullulan. Edible films are disclosed that include pullulan and antimicrobially effective amounts of the essential oils thymol, methyl salicylate, eucalyptol and menthol. The edible films are effective at killing the plaque-producing germs that cause dental plaque, gingivitis and bad breath. The film can also contain pharmaceutically active agents. Methods for producing the films are also disclosed.
US07867503B2
A method for treatment or prevention of Toxoplasma gondii infections pharmaceutical composition comprising an antigen fragments of Toxoplasma gondii in the form of a chimeric fusion product or a nucleotide sequence coding for the chimeric fusion product and a method of using the chimeric fusion product or nucleotide sequence coding therefor.
US07867501B2
The invention provides isolated polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae that are useful in diagnosis and therapy of pathological conditions; antibodies against the polypeptides; and methods for the production of the polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for the detection, prevention and treatment of pathological conditions resulting from bacterial infection.
US07867488B2
The present invention discloses the use of active dendritic cells (DCs) releasing interleukin 12 (IL-12) which are loaded with an antigen against a specific pathogen or a specific tumor and, due to the treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), release IL-12, for the preparation of a medicament for treating a patient having an infection with said specific pathogen or for treating a patient having said specific tumor.
US07867485B2
The present invention is directed to a novel method for preventing or treating the development of respiratory allergies. The method comprises prenatal and/or postnatal administration of a therapeutically effective amount of LGG.
US07867483B2
The invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for cancer prophylaxis and therapy using recombinant MVA viruses encoding tumor-associated antigens, such as PSA and PAP. The recombinant MVA viruses can induce B- and T-cell responses. The recombinant MVA viruses can be administered prior to, at the same time as, or after a taxane.
US07867475B2
Disclosed are methods of treating subjects having disorders or conditions characterized by an unwanted immune response including administering an effective amount of an early activation molecule agonist, antagonist or depletor, to the subject. Human monoclonal antibodies specific to the early activation molecules, and methods of use, are also disclosed.
US07867473B2
A process for preparation of a MEL-structural-type zeolite that comprises at least the following stages: i) the mixture, in aqueous medium, of at least one source of at least one tetravalent element and at least one nitrogen-containing organic radical of the formula: in which n represents the methylene group number (CH2) and is equal to 6 or 7, and R1 and R2 represent alkyl groups that have 2 to 7 carbon atoms, ii) the hydrothermal treatment of said mixture until said MEL-structural-type zeolite is formed, is described.
US07867470B1
A method and system for on-site production of solutions is described according to embodiments. In an embodiment, the solution is sulfuric acid.
US07867464B2
A process for the reversible storage of hydrogen, comprising bringing an alloy of alkaline metal and silicon into contact with gaseous hydrogen leading to the formation of the hydride or corresponding hydrides, comprises the use of at least one balanced system that corresponds to the formula: MXMSi MXMSiHn where M is selected from among Li, Na, or K and in which atomic ratios XM take on the following values: XLi=1 1≦XNa≦3 1≦XK≦2 n is the number of hydrogen atoms corresponding to the stoichiometry of the hydride or formed hydrides. or to the formula MSiXSi MSiXSiH2XSi+1 where M is selected from among Li, Na, or K and in which the atomic ratio XSi=Si/M takes on a value of 1 to 4.
US07867454B2
An M.times.N matrix microfluidic device for performing a matrix of reactions, the device having a plurality of reaction cells in communication with one of either a sample inlet or a reagent inlet through a via formed within an elastomeric block of the device. Methods provided include a method for forming vias in parallel in an elastomeric layer of an elastomeric block of a microfluidic device, the method comprising using patterned photoresist masks and etching reagents to etch away regions or portions of an elastomeric layer of the elastomeric block.
US07867453B2
The present invention relates to a gravity-driven fraction separator and method thereof. The gravity-driven fraction separator is substantially a substrate having a microchannel structure arranged thereon, in which the microchannel structure is extending longitudinally on the substrate while sloping with respect to the level of the substrate by a specific angle. As a micro fluidics is being filled in a loading well situated upstream of the microchannel structure, the micro fluidics is driven by gravity to flow downstream in the microchannel structure while filling a plurality of manifolds formed in a area situated downstream of the microchannel structure, so that accurate quantification and separation of the micro fluidics using the plural manifolds, each having a specific length, can be achieved and provided for posterior inspection and analysis.
US07867449B2
A pipette tip includes a cylindrical distal end portion in which an opening that dispenses or draws in liquid is formed and a body portion that has a cylindrical shape whose outer periphery has a larger diameter than that of the distal end portion and which configures an outer peripheral step portion between itself and the distal end portion.
US07867430B2
Provided is an injection mold which can reduce the amount of resin that is separated from injection-molded parts and then thrown away. The injection mold includes for an embodiment an extension cylinder coupled to an upper clamp plate and having a nozzle at an end thereof; a nozzle positioner disposed under the nozzle, the nozzle positioner having a nozzle insertion groove adapted to receive the nozzle; a gate-lock-pin holder disposed under the extension cylinder and the nozzle positioner, comprising a gate lock pin which has a first end coupled to a gate molded part and a second end coupled to the gate-lock-pin holder, and adapted to separate the gate molded part from an injection-molded part; a gate stripper plate disposed under the gate-lock-pin holder and adapted to separate the gate molded part from the nozzle; and a cavity plate and a core plate disposed under the gate stripper plate and having a cavity which is shaped like the injection-molded part.
US07867418B2
The present invention is directed to a tool and apparatus for forming a moldable material into a formed product having a desired shape, and optionally having a pouch for inserting pills, vitamins, and the like. The tool comprises a sleeve with a concentric insert, with a gap between the two for directing compressed air to eject the formed product from the tool. Exemplary apparatus using the tool and an associated method are also provided.
US07867411B2
A method for producing a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a source gas containing light hydrocarbons, includes the steps of: performing low temperature steam reforming by adding steam to the source gas and converting hydrocarbons of carbon numbers of 2 or higher in the source gas to methane; and performing a catalytic partial oxidation by adding oxygen after the low temperature steam reforming.
US07867407B2
An ink-jet recording head has a plate-shaped member including a first layer with a partition wall formed by a first etching process and defining a pressure chamber, an ink inlet passage and a common ink storage chamber, a second layer with a land formed by a second etching process so as to correspond to the pressure chamber, and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the first and the second layers. The recording head also has a pressure producing device disposed with its extremity in contact with the land, and a nozzle plate with a nozzle hole bonded to the front surface of the plate-shaped member. An ink particle is jetted through the nozzle hole when the pressure in the pressure chamber is changed by the pressure producing device.
US07867402B2
A method realizes a multispacer structure including an array of spacers having same height. The method includes realizing, on a substrate, a sacrificial layer of a first material; b) realizing, on the sacrificial layer, a sequence of mask spacers obtained by SnPT, which are alternately obtained in at least two different materials; c) chemically etching one of the two different materials with selective removal of the mask spacers of this etched material and partial exposure of the sacrificial layer; d) chemically and/or anisotropically etching the first material with selective removal of the exposed portions of the sacrificial layer; e) chemically etching the other one of the two different materials with selective removal of the mask spacers of this etched material and obtainment of the multispacer structure.
US07867393B2
The support element (4) is provided with a plurality of connectors (7), (8), (11) which receive corresponding counter-connectors of a blood treatment device. The support element is also predisposed to include a fluid distribution circuitry cooperating with the blood treatment device in order to provide an integrated module for blood treatment. An assembly process of the integrated module for blood treatment is also described.
US07867389B2
Disclosed herein is a pool cleaning an electric pool cleaning vehicle having a drive assembly and including an advanced system for draining water from the vehicle as the vehicle is removed from a pool of water. The vehicle includes a housing defining a body shell and the body shell having an interior cavity and an electrical power cord to supply power to the vehicle having a connection point on the vehicle. A filtering system is located within the body cavity. The vehicle includes a drain door assembly and the drain door assembly has an inlet connected to the filtering system. A handle is located adjacent the electrical cord connection point, sized and shaped to easily lift the vehicle filled with water out of a pool and the drain door assembly being on an opposed portion of the vehicle from the handle.
US07867382B2
Processing unconventional and opportunity crude oils using one or more mesopore structured materials
A process for removing contaminants and breaking emulsions in a feedstream comprising a crude source composition comprising unconventional or opportunity crude oil, the process comprising: providing the feedstream comprising the crude source composition comprising unconventional or opportunity crude oil, the feedstream comprising an emulsion comprising one or more contaminants, a salt content, and a water content; and, contacting the feedstream directly with one or more mesopore structured materials and one or more demulsifiers under conditions effective to separate a majority of the water content, the salt content, and the one or more contaminants from the feedstream, thereby breaking the emulsion and producing a purified hydrocarbon phase.
US07867377B2
A composition having a density at 15° C. of between 820 and 845 kg/m3 and a cetane number of equal or greater than 40, which composition has been obtained by blending the following components: (a) a cracked gas oil, (b) a mineral derived gas oil other than (a), and (c) a Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fraction; and the use of this composition as an automotive gas oil fuel composition.
US07867372B2
An apparatus for performing vertical electrophoresis comprises a main body, a pair of gel plates, a pair of clamping devices, and a lower buffer tank. The clamping devices are slidably attachable to the sides of the main body between a loading position for allowing the gel plates to be inserted into the main body, and a locking position for allowing secure attachment of the gel plates to the main body by a single horizontal sliding movement.
US07867358B2
Methods of producing cellulosic or lignocellulosic materials for use in papermaking include treating a cellulosic or lignocellulosic dry feedstock having a first average molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation such that the average molecular weight of the feedstock is reduced to a predetermined level. A method of producing an irradiated paper product includes treating a paper product including a first carbohydrate-containing material having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation so as to provide an irradiated paper product with a second carbohydrate-containing material having a second molecular weight higher than the first molecular weight. Pulp and paper products are produced.
US07867356B2
An adjustable RF coupling ring is capable of reducing a vertical gap between a substrate and a hot edge ring in a vacuum processing chamber. The reduction of the gap reduces polymer deposits on the substrate and electrostatic chuck and improves wafer processing.
US07867353B2
A thermally and electrically conductive material is provided as a mixture of a dimethylpolysiloxane, metal (or one metal coated with another metal) flakes and/or granules, a peroxide-based and/or a dimethyl hexane based catalyst, PTFE powder and a platinum based fire retardant. The thermally and electrically conductive material may be pre-formed into a film or pad and each side of the film protected with removable release layers. The thermally and electrically conductive material may alternatively be produced in a screen-printable paste. As such, a layer of the thermally and electrically conductive paste may be screen-printed on the metal surface in a complete sheet form or as a patterned film by using a stencil patterned screen mesh. Processes for manufacturing high- and low-frequency circuits that include the interface material are also provided.
US07867344B2
A method is proved for hot pressing hot rolled steel sheet, cold rolled steel sheet, Al-based plated steel sheet or Zn-based plated steel sheet, where the hot pressed sheet can exhibit a strength of at least about 1200 Mpa, and my be prevented from exhibiting hydrogen embrittlement. The steel sheet may include between about 0.05 to 0.5 wt % C, and/or it may be plated with an Al-based or Zn-based plating material. The steel sheet may be heating to a temperature greater than an Ac3 temperature and not more than about 1100° C. before pressing. An atmosphere can be provided during heating which contains not more than about 6 vol % of hydrogen and a dew point of not more than about 10° C. The exemplary methods may be used to form high strength parts which may be used, e.g., in automobiles.
US07867340B2
A dishwasher is provided which can reduce the discharge of noise produced by the dishwasher, thereby preventing a user from being upset due to the noise and achieving not only a comfortable use environment but also an improvement in productivity. With the dishwasher, it is possible to prevent the noise, caused during operation of the dishwasher, from being discharged from a lower side of a door, by use of a sound-insulation member with a simplified configuration. In the manufacture of the dishwasher, improved assembly productivity can be accomplished.
