US07890400B2

A method and related system obtains consent from an individual for computer-aided delivery of compliance information. Initially, a computer-readable data storage device is provided to the individual. The device stores the compliance information and computer-executable instructions. By inserting the device into a computer, the instructions are executed and the individual is prompted by the computer to consent to the computer-aided delivery of additional compliance information. Once consent is indicated, it is communicated from the individual's computer to another computer such as a server over, for example, a modem connection. Having secured the individual's consent, the additional compliance information can be delivered to the individual's computer as, for example, a file attachment to an email message.
US07890398B2

Software aggregates and integrates credit exposure and credit data across accounting, trading and operational systems within an organization and generates views of available credit in light of the exposure and credit limits. A comprehensive model of exposure to all counterparties, across all of their divisions and subsidiaries, is assembled, enabling the creation of a hierarchical view of each counterparty that models its real-world parent-child relationships. Credit limits are set across the enterprise, supporting the organization's unique methodology and business process, and on a granular basis, incorporating factors such as external credit ratings, internal credit scores, commodity, geographic region, deal duration, and security instruments. Credit, transactions, and risk are then determined at any level in the hierarchy. After aggregating exposure and credit limit information, the system presents a comprehensive, detailed, real-time, enterprise-wide view of current exposure, collateral requirements and available credit for both a company and its counterparties, making it easy for users to identify trouble spots by counterparty, geography, industry, and credit rating and to manage the company's liquidity.
US07890383B2

A computer-implemented method includes receiving item data at a network-based computer system, the item data related to an item categorized in at least a first category of a plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system and including an item price-based value associated with the item. A category-specific threshold price-based value, for the first category of the plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system, is automatically determined. The item data is automatically determined to the irregular, based on the item price-based value associated with the item and the category-specific threshold price-based value for the first category of the plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system. Responsive to the determination that the item data is irregular, an entity associated with the item is restricted from using the network-based computer system.
US07890377B2

A hearing device to be ordered in identified by a set (2) of data elements. Identifying data sets K[E] according to previous orders are stored (5) to such ordered data sets (K[E]) weighing values are assigned to (W[K]) which reflect the frequency of ordering hearing devices with respective data. The data set (2) of an intended order is compare with data sets of previous orders (K[E]) on the bases of a pre-established similarity criterion (#E). Similar data sets of previous orders are ranked according to the assigned weighing values (W[K]) and dispatched. The stored ordering data sets (K[E]) and the assigned weighing values (W[K]) are updated by an order for a hearing device which is placed.
US07890372B1

An electronic point-of-sale authorization device is removably attachable to an auxiliary register system for verifying the identity of a user during point-of-sale transactions. The device may include a user interface, a microprocessor coupled with a memory, displays, fingerprint and card readers, an electronic pen and a communication link. The device may further include a mechanism for pivotally oscillating the housing and a mechanism for linearly reciprocating a telescopic support rod. A user interface may be communicatively linked to the pivotally oscillating mechanism and linearly reciprocating mechanism such that the housing may pivotally oscillate about a pivot axis while the support rod telescopically reciprocates along a vertical axis respectively. In addition, the housing may be freely rotated about the pivot axis while each of the support rod and the mounting bracket remain at static positions.
US07890366B2

A personalized communication document pertaining to financial products or services is provided, including a method and system for preparing the same. The financial product and/or financial services are associated with a set of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications, any one of which may be presented within a personalized content section of the personalized communication documents. The documents are generated automatically by a computing system such that different consumer entities can be provided with different personalized content for a particular product/service.
US07890360B1

A system and method is provided for sourcing agreement and performance analysis comprising the steps of identifying scenarios for material requirements, identifying scenarios for supply environments, identifying terms of existing and/or prospective sourcing agreements, identifying a set of sourcing agreement utilization policies, identifying inventory-related and shortage costs scenarios, and computing future sourcing performance based on the identified scenarios, existing or prospective sourcing agreements, and sourcing agreement utilization policies. Various cost/risk and other future performance measures (e.g., scenarios, metrics, etc.) are output from the stated computing step and business decisions.
US07890349B2

A system supports creation and modification of a flexible and comprehensive location structure model able to track patients in a healthcare (or other) setting and identify suitable patient locations and location availability via a user friendly display interface. A method processes location related information for use in facilitating movement of a patient in a healthcare enterprise. The method involves establishing a profile comprising information identifying multiple locations available to accommodate a patient for different purposes. The profile incorporates attributes including a location type identifier, and a location characteristic of clinical significance influencing availability of a particular location to a patient having a particular medical condition. The profile is employed in providing a user with an indication of location availability in response to user command.
US07890325B2

Speech recognition such as command and control speech recognition generally use a context free grammar to constrain the decoding process. Word or subword background model are constructed to repopulate dynamic hypothesis space, especially when word spareness is at issue. The background models can be later used in speech recognition. During speech recognition, background and conventional context free grammar decoding are used to measure confidence. The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
US07890309B2

A system for analyzing a business process integration and management (BPIM) solution includes an assembler which assembles a plurality of solution artifacts to form a platform independent solution template, a simulator which simulates an execution of a BPIM solution based on the platform independent solution template, and an analyzer for analyzing a performance of the BPIM solution.
US07890303B2

A system for managing design parameters in a plurality of different CAD systems flexible for the plurality of different CAD systems having essentially different design purposes. In a method for managing design parameters being used in a plurality of different CAD systems, respectively, in order to prevent prolongation of the completion time of the entire design of a product, arbitrary design parameters in the design parameters being used in the plurality of different CAD systems, respectively, are brought into a virtually shared state among the plurality of different CAD systems. Design parameters in the virtually shared state and design parameters not in the virtually shared state are managed independently.
US07890302B2

A system, apparatus, and method for astronomical activity monitoring and imaging using a plurality of distributed remotely-reprogrammable observing devices communicating with a server, and providing astronomical activity monitoring and imaging information. In one embodiment the observing devices may also have sensors coupled to provide atmospheric data that further characterizes the astronomical activity monitoring and imaging information. Furthermore, remote reprogramming of observing device by broadcast data transmitted by a satellite is provided.
US07890297B2

A method for monitoring a data processing system is proposed. The method involves the measuring of state parameters of the system. Indicators of the performance of the system are then inferred from the state parameters by applying fuzzy-logic rules. The proposed solution is based on the idea of estimating the expected value of each performance indicator in the future from a set of corresponding samples. In this way, it is possible to predict the evolution of the system and then detect any problem in advance.
US07890292B2

This method for measuring the diameter of a circular track on a component comprises: a) a step (162) of moving the component along a measurement path, b) as the component is moving along the measurement path, a measurement step (170), for measuring at least one parameter, without contact with the component, c) a step (186) of determining the diameter of the circular track from the parameters measured. During step a) a robot continuously moves the component at an instantaneous speed that is never zero along the measurement path and an instantaneous acceleration that never changes sign along the measurement path.
US07890284B2

An identification system and method for recognizing a device as one of a plurality of different types of devices connected to at least one terminal of an information handling system includes supplying a test signal to a device in a test mode; measuring an electrical characteristic of the device in response to the test signal being applied to the device in the test mode; and matching a representation of the electrical characteristic of the device with representations of the electrical characteristics of the plurality of devices for recognizing the device connected to the terminal as one of the plurality of different devices.
US07890282B2

The present invention provides a method for estimating crystal efficiency in a PET detector that takes axial compression into account. It does so via an iterative methodology in which a μ-map is first generated and then is used to obtain a solution for the equation L ⁡ ( ɛ i ) = ∑ n ∈ N ⁢ ⁢ y n ⁢ log ⁢ ∑ i , j ∈ span ⁢ ⁢ g ij ⁢ ɛ i ⁢ ɛ j ⁢ x ij - ∑ i , j ∈ span ⁢ ⁢ g ij ⁢ ɛ i ⁢ ɛ j ⁢ x ij , wherein gij is a geometric factor for LOR(i,j), εi and εj are the efficiencies for crystal i and crystal j, and xij is the line integral of the source distribution along LOR(i,j). Once efficiencies are determined, they are used to calibrate the PET detector.
US07890279B1

A phase-locked loop is characterized by analyzing phase noise in its output signal while known levels of input phase noise are provided. The resulting data provides intrinsic phase noise and gain of the phase-locked loop. These values provide a general relationship between input phase noise and output phase noise for the phase-locked loop, which allows estimation of output phase noise corresponding to a given level of input phase noise, and allows estimation of input phase noise corresponding to a given level of output phase noise.
US07890254B2

A point-of-interest display system includes an updateable database which interfaces with a microprocessor which receives data from a GPS receiver providing the system with current vehicle location and direction of travel information. A display provides the operator textural and elemental graphic display information, and easily accessible control switches allow the operator to select upcoming highway exits, categories of points of interest, and points of interest and display directions to a selected entry.
US07890250B2

A navigation system (20) includes a transceiver unit (210), a display unit (250), an input unit (260) and an ECU (230). The transceiver unit (210) transmits a signal for demanding a detection of a navigation path to a path detecting server (10) and then receives path data which represent the navigation path from the path detecting server (10). The display unit (250) outputs the navigation path or a revised navigation path. The ECU (230) conveys data on a departure point and a destination from the input unit (260) to the transceiver unit (210) and transfers the path data from the transceiver unit (210) to the display unit (250). Further, the ECU (270) precalculates deviation-expected paths in the course of driving along the navigation path and selects the revised navigation path among the precalculated deviation-expected paths in case a present position of a mobile object deviates from the navigation path to thereby provide the revised navigation path to the display unit (250).
US07890244B2

An internal combustion engine having a plurality of banks; each having a cylinder provided to said banks comprising: an intake valve provided between said cylinder and an intake manifold a camshaft opening and closing said intake valve by means of mechanical power of said internal combustion engine; and a changing unit changing, according to an operating state of said internal combustion engine a phase angle of said camshaft said phase angle corresponding to a closing timing of said intake valve said banks differing from each other in most retarded phase angle changed by said changing unit.
US07890242B2

Immediately after startup of the engine, secondary air is supplied by an air pump into each exhaust branch passage via a secondary-air supply passage. A pressure sensor is disposed in the secondary-air supply passage. An output voltage of the pressure sensor decreases as the battery voltage decreases. When the battery voltage is lower than a permissible voltage, the output value of the pressure sensor is inhibited from being used as an output value representing the pressure. Thus, atmospheric pressure can be accurately detected.
US07890235B2

A system for controlling a work machine and work tool from a remote controller. The remote controller sends a control signal to a receiver assembly and machine controller. The machine controller processes the control signal to determine the location of the remote controller relative to the receiver assembly and to alter operational characteristics of the machine or work tool based on the control signal or the location of the remote controller relative to the receiver assembly. The system may include a tag system to detect the presence of workers at the jobsite and to alter operation of the machine and work tool based upon the location of the workers relative to the machine or work tool. In another embodiment, a signal may be transmitted from the work machine and detected by a remote receiver assembly. A processor uses the detected signal to determine the position of the remote receiver assembly relative to the work machine.
US07890227B2

A vehicle-mounted electronic control apparatus can perform a variety of abnormality detections while reducing the control load of a microprocessor in the abnormality detection of a volatile backup memory that is backed up by an on-board battery. The apparatus includes a control CPU which is fed with power from a main power supply circuit upon closure of a power switch, a nonvolatile control memory and a backup memory. Even if the power switch is opened, the backup memory, being a partial area of a RAM memory, is fed with power through an auxiliary power supply circuit connected directly to the battery. When the battery is replaced with a new one and connected again, a power supply interruption monitoring memory is reset. At the start of operation of the control CPU, the backup memory is initialized based on reset information, and the power supply interruption monitoring memory is rewritten into a set state.
US07890226B2

An emission management system (200) for a vessel (100) adapted to travel on water. The emission management system includes a monitoring assembly (202) for monitoring an emission from the vessel. The monitoring assembly is adapted to automatically detect the emission from the vessel and generate a data set representative of a vessel location at a time the emission occurred. The emission management system also includes a data storage system (210) in communication with the monitoring assembly for recording the data set generated by the monitoring assembly.
US07890220B2

A tool includes a chamber, a network, a sensor, a tool controller, and a pressure controller. The network carries messages to and from devices on the network. A header portion of a message indicates a sender of the message and at least one intended recipient of the message. The sensor measures a pressure within the chamber. The sensor, tool controller, and pressure controller are on the network. The pressure controller controls the pressure within the chamber in response to measurements provided by the sensor and in response to a set point provided by the tool controller. The pressure controller processes header portions of all messages carried on the network to determine the intended recipients of each message and processes at least part of data portions of both messages intended for the pressure controller and at least some messages not intended for the pressure controller.
US07890218B2

A system for managing battery temperature is described. The system may include a cooling system which may include a fluid. A cabin circulation subsystem may be coupled to the cooling subsystem and may utilize the fluid for cabin cooling. A separate battery circulation subsystem may also may also be coupled to the cooling subsystem so that it may additionally utilize the fluid for battery cooling. A control may be present in order to regulate movement of the fluid to the cabin circulation subsystem and/or to the battery circulation subsystem.
US07890216B2

Valve positioning systems may include one or more components and a controller. Components may include one or more electric-to-pressure output converters, relays, gas supplies, and/or actuators. A controller may adjust a position of a valve by sending a signal. The valve positioning system may individually monitor components and determine the condition of each component being individually monitored. The valve positioning system may determine if a component will fail prior to failure and/or determine if a problem will occur in a component prior to the problem occurring.
US07890212B2

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a wizard, which enables a user to configure and program an intelligent module by answering a series of questions about a specific application. The output of the wizard includes two distinct components. The wizard generates a parameter configuration for an intelligent module, reflecting the choices specified by a user for a specific application. The wizard also generates a set of customized instructions for use in a program. These instructions are specific to the choices that the user input into the wizard, and can be used in the same manner as standard instructions. Certain exemplary embodiments of the application, program, and instructions apply to a Program Logic Controller (PLC).
US07890210B2

Provided are a network-based robot control system and a robot velocity control method in the network-based robot control system. A client calculates a robot control velocity according to its reception state of video data frames captured by a robot, generates a robot control message including the calculated robot control velocity, and transmits the robot control message to the robot. The robot then changes its velocity according to the robot control velocity included in the received robot control message. In this way, the velocity of the robot is controlled according to the video data reception state of the client, thereby allowing a user to easily control the robot regardless of the performance of the client.
US07890201B2

A production planning system creates executable an production plan for a production workplace while adjusting production capacity giving consideration to a period where production capacity is fixed in each workplace, a period where management of workers between workplaces is possible, and a period where it is not necessary to consider production capacity because of new employment of workers.
US07890191B2

A fixation device for a subcutaneous implantable medical device includes a deformable tip portion that reduces in width when coupled with a fixation tool such that implantation of the implantable medical device through tissue is facilitated. Upon release from the fixation tool, the fixation device returns to its initial shape and stably secures the position of the implantable medical device.
US07890185B2

Apparatus for treating a condition of a subject is provided. An electrode device is adapted to be coupled to longitudinal nervous tissue of the subject, and a control unit is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nervous tissue a current which is capable of inducing action potentials that propagate in the nervous tissue in a first direction, so as to treat the condition. The control unit is further adapted to suppress action potentials from propagating in the nervous tissue in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US07890184B2

A core component of a medical electrical lead extends within an inner conductive surface of a conductive ring such that an outer surface of the core holds a portion of a conductor against the inner conductive surface for electrical contact therewith. The outer surface of the core may be deformed by a compressive force of the conductor portion having been forced against the inner surface of the ring. Such a conductor junction may be formed by pushing the ring over the core to capture the conductor portion between the ring and the core and thereby displace a layer of insulation surrounding the conductor portion. The inner surface of the ring preferably has a diameter at one, or both terminal ends that is greater than a diameter of the inner surface between the ends.
US07890172B2

Cardiac therapy systems include multiple electrodes respectively positionable at multiple left ventricular electrode sites. A pulse generator is coupled to the electrodes and configured to deliver a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). A processor is configured to measure, for each left ventricular electrode site, a timing interval between first and second cardiac signal features associated with left ventricular depolarization. The timing interval is associated with a degree of responsiveness of each left ventricular electrode site to CRT. The processor is configured to determine a pacing output configuration that provides improved patient responsiveness to CRT based on the timing interval measurements and to select at least one left ventricular electrode site from the plurality of left ventricular electrode sites based on the timing interval measurements. The processor may be configured to monitor for a change in hemodynamic status of the patient based on a change in the timing interval.
US07890167B2

A system and method for painlessly calculating an estimated defibrillation threshold, such as by using an implantable medical device and a controller. The estimated defibrillation threshold can be calculated using a delivered first energy to a first thoracic location, an electric field detected at a second thoracic location, and an electric field detected between a third thoracic location and a fourth thoracic location. The estimated defibrillation threshold represents an energy that, when delivered at the first thoracic location, can create an electric field strength in a target region of the heart that meets or exceeds a target electric field strength.
US07890161B2

A method for detecting the myocardial state of a heart with a measuring apparatus which includes inserting a bipolar cardiological measuring electrode (4) into a heart division (8) at an acute attachment angle (9) on the myocardium (6) of less than 90°, measuring a cardiological stimulation signal such as an IEGM in sequential cardiac cycles, and in addition, determining the positive and negative maximum amplitudes Vp and Vn of the IEGM, ascertaining an asymmetry factor η of the stimulation signal (IEGM) of sequential cardiac cycles according to the equation η=(Vp−|Vn|)/(Vp+|Vn|) and storing the asymmetry factor η of sequential cardiac cycles for analysis.
US07890160B2

Heart monitoring system includes implantable medical device and service center. Implantable medical device includes stimulation pulse generator, ventricular sensing stage, activity sensor, impedance determination unit with a constant current or voltage source to generate sub-threshold measuring current pulses having constant current strength or constant voltage, measuring unit for measuring a voltage corresponding to a current fed through a body, impedance value determination unit connected with measuring unit adapted to determine impedance value for each measuring current pulse, and perform intrathoracic impedance measurement, a control unit adapted to collect data representing values of changes, and initiate data transmission, implant transceiver unit communicating with the service center with a data evaluation module including data trending of stored data with a user interface and said data evaluation module adapted to allow a physician to set for each data trend trigger criteria for decompensation detection and generate a decompensation indicator signal.
US07890159B2

Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems provide monitoring, diagnosis, and defibrillation and/or pacing therapies. A signal processor receives a plurality of composite signals associated with a plurality of sources, performs a source separation, and produces one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with all or a portion of one or more cardiac activation sequences based on the source separation. A method of signal separation involves detecting a change in a characteristic of the cardiac signal vector relative to a baseline. One or more vectors and/or activation sequences may be selected, and information associated with the vectors and/or activation sequences may be stored and tracked.
US07890158B2

Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics. Apparatuses are disclosed that incorporate a spectral biometric sensor with a personal electronic device such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, wristwatches, electronic fobs for the purpose of providing secure biometric access to protected property.
US07890152B2

An applicator head is provided for a reflectance modifying agent (RMA) applicator is moved across the skin by means of a floating ring having dispersed raised contact points to maintain a proper distance from the surface to be treated, reduce the influence of outside light during scanning, and limit smudging during deposition. During an application session, software on the computer uses a camera to sense aspects of color and texture on human features, calculates cosmetic enhancements, and uses the printer head to apply RMA precisely to the features to create those enhancements. Skin landmarks are used for registration. The head uses differential lighting by providing a sequence of directional lighting, with some exposures left dark to adjust for ambient light leakage. The exposures are co-synchronized in stacks, where each stack is a grouping of data about a particular instant of time during the scanning.
US07890138B2

A portable computer system such as a laptop computer system includes a computing subsystem that includes a processor that may execute instructions that implement application software, and a storage coupled to the processor that may store information. The laptop computer system also includes a wireless subsystem that may communicate with a wireless network. In addition, the wireless subsystem may receive an incoming communication and determine whether a requesting user is an authorized user. The processor may retrieve at least a portion of the information from the storage and send the retrieved information to a destination via email, for example, in response to a request by the requesting user for the information.
US07890137B2

A wireless communications system that provides communication for a plurality of communication devices. The wireless communications system includes an interface including a local exchange carrier (LEC) connection port, a subscriber connection port and a wireless connection port. The wireless communications system includes a wireless terminal connected to the interface that provides wireless data and voice connectivity over a wireless network.
US07890135B2

A method of protecting data stored by an electronic device includes determining an identity of a restricted device. Also determined is the identity of restricted data associated with the restricted device, the restricted data being one or more items of data stored by the electronic device. Data protection for the restricted data to limit access to the restricted data by the restricted device in invoked when geographic presence of the restricted device with respect to the electronic device is detected.
US07890126B2

A system and method are provided for provisioning network support to allow an authorized mobile subscriber to update message content of a remote signage system having variable content capabilities such as an electronic road sign or the like. The authorized subscriber does so by transmitting a text message, which is processed by the network and provided to the sign as content for display.
US07890122B2

Rules of communication are established between a wireless communication device (102) and a remote source (108). Communications between the wireless communication device (102) and the remote source (108) are managed to prohibit at least one of an identity and a location of the wireless communication device (102) from being known to the remote source (108) responsive to the established rules of communication. The steps of establishing and managing may be implemented in a wireless communication device (102), a wireless communication network (104), and/or a location privacy manager (106). The rules of communication preferably include a password generated by the remote source (108), an identity of the remote source (108), an identity of a location privacy manager (106), and/or masking of the identity of the wireless communication device (102). The wireless communication device (102) is preferably a cellular telephone device. The remote source (108) is preferably a location-enabled service, such as, for example, a map service, a people finder service, or a remote party.
US07890110B2

A radio network controller comprises a cell selector configured to select a cell to use by a mobile station after data reception, and a mobile station controller configured to control the mobile station to communicate by radio using the cell selected by the cell selector after the data reception.
US07890109B2

A mobile terminal device for a mobile telecommunication system is adapted to receive a telephone call, receive packet-oriented radio signals, and select at least one transmission service which is transmitted using the packet-oriented radio signals. The mobile terminal device is further adapted to receive a signal regarding a time slot from the network of the mobile telecommunication system, the time slot being determined in accordance with the selected transmission service. During the at least one time slot, the reception of the packet-oriented radio signal is suspended in order to receive a radio paging signal which signals a telephone call addressed to the mobile transmission device so that the mobile terminal device remains accessible to telephone calls during reception of the packet-oriented radio signals.
US07890102B2

An improved User Plane location based service (LBS) architecture and message flow, enabling seamless User Plane location based services even when a mobile or wireless device has roamed among different carrier networks. The present invention overcomes constraints inherent in the current protocol for roaming support defined by the Secure User Plane Location Service specification. A location system is enabled to automatically fall back to a message tunneling mechanism to ensure the security of a communication path between the location service system and the target wireless device, ensuring that the communication path is uninterrupted as the wireless device travels.
US07890096B2

A method for handling call originations is provided. The method includes sending origination information from a mobile device to an application server in an enterprise network using Short Message Service (SMS) and determining whether a hotline feature is present in a subscriber profile associated with the mobile device. Data is then routed from the mobile device to a predetermined destination based on the hotline feature.
US07890091B2

Embodiments of a system and method for copying data from a database to an intelligent mobile device are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a means to define a data linking schema, a means to selectively read data from a database based on this data linking schema, a means to prepare the intelligent mobile device to receive data transmissions, and a means to transmit data to the intelligent mobile device.
US07890081B2

The demodulator by direct frequency conversion comprises a vector addition device having: a first circuit (1) that furnishes, starting from a first AC signal (LO), a respective AC signal to n outputs that are not all of the same amplitude and of the same frequency, but are out of phase with regard to one another in such a manner that each one is not either in phase nor in opposite phase with any other; a second circuit (2) that splits a second AC signal (RFin) toward n outputs; a number n of summers (3a, 3b, 3c) each receiving, at the input, a respective output of the first circuit (1) and a respective output of the second circuit (2), and; a respective power sensor (4a, 4b, 4c) for each summer, whereby the number n is greater than or equal to 3. The demodulator also comprises digital processing means (5, 6) that furnish the result of the demodulation.
US07890080B2

A transceiver for a RFID reader and a transceiver for a RFID transponder (tag) allow communication between the two devices. The RFID reader utilizes an analog front end and a digital backend. In the receiver portion of the transceiver, the front end of the RFID reader uses a pair of down-conversion mixers to demodulate a received signal into in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components and analog-to-digital converters (ADC) digitize the signal. A digital signal processor (DSP) in the back end processes the digital signal and uses a matched filter for data detection. The RFID tag receives an inductively coupled signal from the reader and the receiver portion of the tag uses a pulse/level detector that employs an analog comparator and a sample and hold circuit to detect the received signal. A digital decoder/controller is used to decode the incoming data and to establish a sampling clock for the pulse/level detector. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit adjusts a receiver gain according to the received signal strength and controls tuning of magnetic coupling circuitry.
US07890076B2

A method of providing an input signal to a mixer circuit comprises coupling an output signal from a low-noise amplifier circuit to a mixer input of the mixer circuit via an AC coupling circuit, comprising an inductive of capacitive coupling circuit. For capacitive coupling configurations, a coupling capacitor is configured to have a capacitance value determined as a function of a transconductance sensitivity of the mixer circuit. For balanced output configurations of the low-noise amplifier circuit, matched coupling capacitors are used for coupling the balanced output signals to respective inputs of the mixer circuit. In one embodiment, the mixer circuit comprises a quadrature mixer circuit, which may be in a balanced or double-balanced configuration. In another embodiment, the mixer circuit comprises a four-phase mixer circuit, which may be configured as a balanced four-phase mixer circuit coupled to the low-noise amplifier circuit via inductive or capacitive embodiments of the coupling circuit.
US07890072B2

A wireless communication apparatus includes a mechanism for estimating carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio using a variable bandwidth filter. More particularly, the wireless communication apparatus includes a channel equalization unit coupled to a C/I ratio estimation unit. The channel equalization unit may be configured to calculate instantaneous carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio values of a received signal. In addition, the C/I ratio estimation unit may be configured to calculate a C/I ratio estimate by filtering successive ones of the instantaneous C/I ratio values. The C/I ratio estimation unit may also be configured to determine whether a transmitter of the signal is transmitting voice data in a voice channel of the signal. The C/I ratio estimation unit may be further configured to inhibit the filtering in response to determining the transmitter of the signal is not transmitting the voice data such as during DTX mode, for example.
US07890059B2

A method for successive interference cancellation in code division multiple access (CDMA) systems is provided that uses variable interferer weights. This method allows interfering signals to be cancelled in order to recover a transmitted data signal. This method involves receiving the data signal subject to interference from at least one interfering signal. A first interfering signal is identified. Then an interferer weight coefficient associated with the first interfering signal is generated. This allows the first interfering signal to be cancelled from the received data signal using the interferer weight coefficient. These processes may then be reiterated for other interfering signals. It is then possible to recover the transmitted data signal from the received data signal.
US07890045B2

A technique is provided which allows an agitation paddle, which flattens waste toner in a waste toner container, to rotate at a sufficiently low rotation speed and contributing to a decrease in cost with the saving of space and a simple configuration. A waste toner recovering mechanism includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, a linking member, and a one-way clutch which is disposed between an agitation paddle and the second rotating member and which transmits only a rotational driving force from the second rotating member rotating in a first rotation direction to the agitation paddle. Here, the support positions of the linking member relative to the first and second rotating members and the length of the linking member are set so that a rotation angle range of the second rotating member while the first rotating member rotates in one turn is narrower than 180°.
US07890044B2

A powder conveyance device capable of removing toner (powder) stuck to a conveyor belt easily and reliably comprises a powder conveyor belt having a plurality of concavo-convex portions formed continuously on a conveyance surface thereof, driving means for driving the conveyor belt, and a scraping member that contacts the conveyor belt. At least one of the scraping member and a convex portion of the conveyor belt deforms elastically such that a tip end of the scraping member enters a concave portion and scrapes away the powder stuck to the conveyor belt.
US07890034B2

Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a first image bearing member; a first transfer member that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer member; a colored toner image forming portion; a second image bearing member; a second transfer member; and a transparent toner image forming portion for forming the transparent toner image wherein the transparent toner image forming portion is provided on an upstream side with respect to the colored toner image forming portion in a movement direction of the intermediate transfer member, and a distance between a most upstream end of the second contact area and the second transfer member in a rotation direction is larger than a distance between a most upstream end of the first contact area and the first transfer member in a rotation direction.
US07890030B2

A magnetic roller includes a cylindrical magnetic field generation part (140), a cylindrical support part (143) that contacts both of the edges of the magnetic field generation part (140), further has a smaller diameter than the magnetic field generation part (140), and which is installed upon a common axis thereof as an axis of the cylindrical support part (143), and a depression part (140c) that is installed upon an obverse surface of the cylindrical magnetic field generation part (140), extends in a direction of the axis of the magnetic field generation part (140), and wherein a lengthwise magnet formation is inserted. The cylindrical magnetic field generation part (140) is configured of a main body portion (140a), which is installed upon a central portion of the cylindrical magnetic field generation part (140), and a reinforcing portion (140b), which is installed upon each of both ends, wherein the depression part (140c) is installed across the main body portion (140a) of the magnetic field generation part (140) overall, and the reinforcing portion (140b) is installed between an end of the depression part (140c) and an end of the support part.
US07890027B2

A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a container body for containing toner and a coupling member. The coupling member includes a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion which is elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of the container body and is elastically restorable in an outward direction away from such axis, an engaging portion configured and positioned to displace in an inward direction with the supporting portion and to engage with a slot of a hollow cylindrical driving member of the image forming apparatus when the supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction, and a displacing force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a force from a hollow cylinder of the image forming apparatus and cause the supporting portion to elastically displace in an inward direction.
US07890025B2

A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes first and second rotatable main assembly drive transmission members. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum coupling member, provided on one axial end of the drum, for engaging the first m transmission member and transmitting a first rotational driving force to the drum, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and a shaft coupler provided on one axial end of the developing roller, for transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of the second transmission member and an axis of the developing roller. The shaft coupler includes an engaging portion for engaging the second transmission member and receiving the second rotational driving force, when the cartridge is mounted to the main.
US07890021B2

A developing cartridge includes a developer carrying member for supplying a developer to an image bearing member; a protecting member provided movably between a closing position where the protective member covers the carrying member and an opening position where the protective member exposes the carrying member; a shifting member for shifting the cartridge, mounted to the mounting portion, between a operable position where the carrying member operably opposes the image bearing member and a separation position where the carrying member is moved away from the operable position; a grip portion provided movably between a first position and a second position; and an interrelating member for interrelating the cartridge with the grip portion. In a state where the cartridge is mounted to mounting portion, the interrelating member shifts the cartridge from the separation position to the operable position by the shifting member while moving the protecting member from the closing position to the opening position in interrelation with movement of the grip portion from the first position to the second position, and shifts the cartridge from the operable position to the separation position by the shifting member while moving the protecting member from the opening position to the closing position in interrelation with movement of the grip portion from the second position to the first position.
US07890020B2

An organic photoconductor (OPC) drum includes a support member formed as a unitary molded body, a pair of mounting members, a pair of rollers, and an OPC belt. The support member includes a plurality of support plates, a plurality of groove-defining U-shaped segments, and first and second sidewalls. Each of the support plates extends in a first direction. Adjacent ones of the support plates are spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction. Each of the U-shaped segments interconnects a corresponding adjacent pair of the support plates. Each of the mounting members is coupled to a respective one of the first and second sidewalls. The rollers flank the support member in the second direction. The OPC belt is trained on an assembly of the support member and the rollers, and is driven by the rollers to move on the support plates.
US07890016B2

A charging apparatus includes a charging roller and a cleaning member. The charging roller charges a surface of an image bearing body. The cleaning member extends in a longitudinal direction parallel to the charging roller and that cleans the charging roller. The charging apparatus includes a bearing and a supporting member. The bearing supports a shaft of the charging roller. The cleaning member is mounted to the supporting member the cleaning member is held between the supporting member and the charging roller. The supporting member includes a surface to which the cleaning member is mounted, the surface being a curved surface configured to a circumferential surface of the charging roller. The supporting member includes a surface to which the cleaning member is mounted, the surface including a flat portion extending upstream with respect to rotation of the charging roller and a curved portion extending downstream.
US07890015B2

In a cooling mechanism for a fixing device according to an embodiment of the invention, a duct that flows outer air taken in by a fan is attached firmly to a slit formed between a bent coil part at an end part of a coil and a magnetic core in an induction heating device. The bent coil part is directly cooled without exerting influence of outer air on a heat roller, and temperature rise in the bent coil part is securely prevented.
US07890013B2

An image forming apparatus may include an apparatus body, and a photosensitive-member unit slidably attached to the apparatus body and retaining a plurality of photosensitive members. The apparatus body includes side wall portions opposing each other with a unit receiving section sandwiched therebetween, and a plurality of apparatus-body-side electrode members provided on the side wall portions, and each urged inward in an opposing direction of the side wall portions. The photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of unit-side electrode members each protruding outward in the opposite direction and a guide path comprising a flat surface formed in a flat shape so that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacts to the flat surface during attachment of the photosensitive-member unit with respect to the unit receiving section, and that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacted maintains a constant inward and outward position in the opposite direction.
US07890009B2

The image forming apparatus has a heat member for heating an unfixed image and is configured so that a longitudinal center of the heat member becomes a conveyance center of the recording material, the image forming apparatus including a central portion temperature detection part adjacent to the conveyance center, an end portion temperature detection part for detecting an end portion temperature of the heat member, and a width detection part for detecting a lateral width of the recording material, wherein the width detection part is disposed at a side opposite to a side at which the end portion temperature detection part is disposed with respect to the conveyance center position of the recording material. A control part controls a power supply or conveyance interval of the heat member in accordance with the presence/absence sensor, top sensor, width sensor, central portion temperature sensor, and end portion temperature sensor.
US07890007B2

An image formation apparatus, an image formation method, an image formation program, and a computer-readable recording medium are provided, a rotation of the developer supply roller is controlled in order to prevent plugging of the developer supply roller based on quality information and environmental information.
US07890001B2

An image forming apparatus including a plurality of consumable items. The apparatus includes a consumption status detecting unit that detects a respective consumption status of each of the consumable items; a consumption information output setting unit that sets presence or non-presence of information output for each of the consumption statuses detected by the consumption status detecting unit; and a consumable item information output unit that outputs information on the consumable items based on the respective consumption statuses detected by the consumption status detecting unit and the setting of the presence or the non-presence of information output set by the consumption information output setting unit.
US07890000B2

An optical receiving apparatus is provided with a receiver, a setting unit, and a storage unit. The receiver receives an optical signal modulated in a DPSK format and performs variable dispersion compensation and delay interference processing on the optical signal to demodulate the optical signal. The setting unit sets suitable setting values of the variable dispersion compensation and the delay interference processing for the receiver based on an error condition of the demodulated signal. The storage unit stores the setting values set by the setting unit.
US07889989B2

A method for automatically implementing Tandem Concatenation Monitoring (TCM), includes: requesting a network management system for a required number of TCM levels; assigning an available TCM level to a pair of network nodes in a sub-network; performing TCM processing, mapping TCM use information into a corresponding overhead, transferring the TCM use information together with TCM overhead information downstream, and reporting TCM information to the network management system; and extracting TCM monitored information, determining transmission quality of each sub-network of a set of sub-networks, and locating a network failure. The invention also presents a device for automatically implementing TCM, including a controller, a TCM generator and a TCM terminator which cooperate with each other to automatically implementing a TCM function. The invention addresses the poor flexibility and complexity due to a static configuration by the network management system, and thus improves the flexibility of the TCM processing.
US07889984B2

A focal point detection device includes a focal point detection section which detects a focal point state of an object image corresponding to each of focal point detection regions. A group selection section selects focal point detection regions as a group. A judgment section determines a focal point detection region in which detection of the focal point state is enabled in the selected group. An automatic focal point detection region selection section selects, when detection of the focal point detection regions can be performed in the selected group, a focal point detection region in the selected group, and selects, when detection of the focal point detection regions cannot be performed, a focal point detection region outside the selected group. A control section drives an imaging optical system in accordance with the focal point state corresponding to the focal point detection region selected.
US07889979B2

A radiant device (1) comprises a supporting frame (2) and at least a radiant element (4) having two mutually opposed ends (4a), each being provided with electrical connection terminals (7). The radiant element (4) engages hooking groups (3) of the supporting frame (2) by means of suitable electrical connection elements (9) placed between the ends (4a) and the hooking assemblies (3). The elastic connection elements (9) dampen collisions and/or vibrations, if present, and insulate at the same time the electrical parts of the device (1) both from fluid seepages and from overheating.
US07889977B2

Disclosed is a drive circuit for generating the drive current used to energize the windings of a motor. The drive circuit includes a data processing unit that produces two outputs used to control an H-bridge and generation of the drive current. One output, a commutation signal, controls the timing of generation of drive current. The drive current in turn is determined based on the other output, a speed signal. The speed signal waveform includes blanking portions to avoid occurrences of shoot through in the H-bridge.
US07889966B2

An information processing apparatus is disclosed which allows image data to be used commonly by a plurality of personal computers. A check box of a copy option setting window is selected in order to delete AV contents of an original recorded on a HDD after the AV contents are copied from the HDD into an external recording medium. A check box is selected in order to set so that AV contents recorded as compression data of the MPEG 2 system on the HDD are copied onto the external recording medium after they are converted into compression data of the MPEG 1 system which has compatibility with a video CD.
US07889965B2

An optical disk apparatus for recording information on an optical disk or for reproducing information recorded on an optical disk, wherein previews corresponding to respective titles or chapters of information recorded on an optical disk are displayed and reproduced on a display device. The apparatus includes: a system controller which compares a target title or chapter with a comparison reference title or chapter during reproduction of a preview corresponding to the target title or chapter, and skips common scenes and reproduces subsequent information when the target title or chapter and the comparison reference title or chapter have common scenes.
US07889957B2

An optical selector switch contains an optical waveguide that includes a first optical waveguide portion having a first light-transmissivity, a second optical waveguide portion having a second light-transmissivity, reflecting members that reflect light, and a light-dividing device that reflects and transmits light; at least one light-emitting unit that emits the light toward the first optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide; and at least one light-receiving unit that receives the light which is incident to the first optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide from the light-emitting unit, based on a directivity due to an angle of the incident light to the first optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide, wherein the incident light to the first optical waveguide portion is emitted radially toward the circumference of the second optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide.
US07889952B2

An information processing device that includes: a correction parameter storage unit that stores therein an individual correction parameter for each of a plurality of projectors connected to the information processing device for use to individually perform an image correction process of enabling appropriate image display by each of the projectors; a correction parameter combination process unit that calculates a combined correction parameter by combining together the individual correction parameters for the projectors; a combined correction image data generation unit that generates combined correction image data by performing the image correction process with respect to an incoming image source based on the combined correction parameter; and an image data transmission unit that transmits the combined correction image data to any of the projectors.
US07889948B2

An “Oblique Image Stitcher” provides a technique for constructing a photorealistic oblique view from a set of input images representing a series of partially overlapping views of a scene. The Oblique Image Stitcher first projects each input image onto a geometric proxy of the scene and renders the images from a desired viewpoint. Once the images have been projected onto the geometric proxy, the rendered images are evaluated to identify optimum seams along which the various images are to be blended. Once the optimum seams are selected, the images are remapped relative to those seams by leaving the mapping unchanged at the seams and interpolating a smooth mapping between the seams. The remapped images are then composited to construct the final mosaiced oblique view of the scene. The result is a mosaic image constructed by warping the input images in a photorealistic manner which agrees at seams between images.
US07889942B2

Methods and corresponding apparatus are presented that perform dynamic range compensation (DRC) and noise reduction (NR) together on a pixel-by-pixel basis, adjusting the noise reduction parameters in response to the dynamic range compensation decisions. By such a modification of image noise reduction parameters based on the dynamic range compensation gain or, more generally, other such factors, these techniques make it possible to perform DRC on noisy images, achieving an image with low and uniform noise levels.
US07889941B2

A fast and robust segmentation model for piecewise smooth images is provided. Local statistics in an energy formulation are provided as a functional. The shape gradient of this new functional gives a contour evolution controlled by local averaging of image intensities inside and outside the contour. Fast computation is realized by expressing terms as the result of convolutions implemented via recursive filters. Results are similar to the general Mumford-Shah model but realized faster without having to solve a Poisson partial differential equation at each iteration. Examples are provided. A system to implement segmentation methods is also provided.
US07889940B2

High-frequency noise is generated that approximates the appearance of traditional “film grain” for a digital video signal. By adding a relatively small amount of film grain noise, the video can be made to look more natural and more pleasing to the human viewer. The digital film grain generation can be used to mask unnatural smooth artifacts in digital video such as “blockiness” and “contouring” in the case of compressed video and/or used to provide visual enhancements or special effects to any digital video stream. The digital film grain generator can control grain size and the amount of film grain to be added.
US07889923B1

A method for merging histograms may include generating a histogram for a region of an image, the histogram including bucket values representing a count of pixels having the same pixel value or a weighting dependent on the pixels. The method may include maintaining an array of values indicating non-zero histogram entries for a group of bucket values (e.g., a count of non-zero bucket values in the group or a bitmask indicating if each bucket value is non-zero). A sparse histogram for which such an array exists may be merged with a second histogram. Merging the histograms may include not merging any bucket values in the group if the associated array value is zero, and merging some or all of the bucket values if it is non-zero. The methods disclosed may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs.
US07889920B2

According to the claimed invention, an image processing apparatus is provided, wherein the image processing apparatus comprises a color determiner, adapted to determine a color of image data; a color space determiner, adapted to determine a color space for compressing the image data based on the color determined by the color determiner; and a converter, adapted to convert the image data into data on a plurality of planes that constitute the color space determined by the color space determiner and compressing the data on each plane, wherein the color space determiner determines the color space based on the color determined by the color determiner so that AC components of the image data concentrate on a certain plane of the plurality of planes.
US07889916B2

An image processing device includes: a component separating unit; a distribution modifying unit; and a component combining unit. The component separating unit separates an image, which is represented by image data obtained by imaging a scene, into component images for a plurality of color components. The distribution modifying unit sets one of the component images for a predetermined color component as a reference component image, sets at least one component image other than the reference component image as at least one non-reference component image, and modifies distribution of pixels for brightness levels in each non-reference component image based on distribution of pixels for brightness levels in the reference component image. The component combining unit combines together the reference component image and the at least one non-reference component image modified by the distribution modifying unit.
US07889911B2

An image processing apparatus for wafer inspection tool that is able to perform continuously cell to cell comparison inspection, die to die comparison inspection, and cell-to-cell and die-to-die hybrid comparison inspection, employing a plurality of processors. This image processing apparatus for wafer inspection tool comprises a plurality of processors for performing parallel processing, means for cutting out image data including a forward end overlap and a rear end overlap at partition boundaries in order to cut serial data into a predetermined image size, means for distributing the cutout image data to the plurality of processors, and means for assembling results of processing performed by the plurality of processors. The forward end overlap is set greater than a pitch of the cell subject to cell to cell comparison inspection.
US07889909B2

It is an object of the invention to provide a suitable method for identifying depression/protrusion information in a design data; and a program and an apparatus for the same; for example, even in the case that similar portions are arranged, to provide a method for enabling a pattern matching with high precision between the design data and an image obtained by an image formation apparatus or the like; and a program and an apparatus for the same. To attain the above object, a pattern matching method, wherein, using information concerning a depression and/or a protrusion of the pattern on the design data, or a pattern portion and/or a non-pattern portion on the design data, pattern matching is executed between the pattern on the design data and the pattern on said image; and a program for the same are provided.
US07889904B2

An image processing device includes an image input portion that inputs two images, an image processing portion that applies image processing to the two images to generate processed images, and a difference processing portion that performs difference processing between the processed images to generate and output a difference image. The image processing portion performs the image processing on the basis of an image processing condition selected by a processing-condition selection portion.
US07889885B2

A method for detecting whether perforations are present on the edge of an image of a form, such as a check, includes obtaining a bitmap of the image, identifying a selected portion of the bitmap that corresponds to at least the edge and that includes a matrix of a plurality of rows and columns of brightness values, and selecting a particular one of the rows of brightness values. The method further includes performing a Fourier transform of the brightness values included in the particular selected row to generate a Fourier transform output, and determining whether a series of perforations is present based on the Fourier transform output. The method may also include steps wherein the brightness values are low pass filtered and wherein the values in the selected row are high pass filtered prior to the step of performing a Fourier transform.
US07889882B2

A condenser microphone having a capsule with a cardioid pattern diaphragm on opposite sides of a back plate wherein each diaphragm is selectively activated via a switch to complete the audio circuit. The microphone employs two different diaphragm materials to produce two different sound reproduction characteristics. A first diaphragm produces a “warm and lush” sound output, while the second diaphragm produces a “bright and airy” sound output. The microphone includes the use of a pair of light emitting diodes located behind the grill indicating which capsule diaphragm is activated. The dual diaphragm arrangement is mounted on a standard microphone body and includes conventional electronics for connection to an associated piece of audio equipment producing phantom power.
US07889878B2

To provide a speaker array apparatus and a method for setting audio beams in a speaker array apparatus, in which the degree of freedom in the place where the speaker array apparatus is installed is high, and a user can set audio beams easily. A speaker array apparatus 1 sweeps a range of from 0 degree to 180 degrees in front of a speaker array 10 with audio beams based on an audio signal limited to a band where the angles of the audio beams can be adjusted. The speaker array apparatus 1 collects direct sounds or reflected sounds of the audio beams through a nondirectional microphone 2. The speaker array apparatus 1 analyzes the collected audio data, detects peaks not lower than a threshold value, and checks symmetry among the peaks. When there is a symmetry, the angles where the peaks were detected are set as angles with which audio beams of respective channels of a surround-sound should be output. Thus, outgoing angles of the audio beams can be set in optimum positions in accordance with the shape of a room or the installation position where the speaker array apparatus is installed.
US07889876B2

An improved driver assembly for a panel loudspeaker includes a retaining element for locating the voice coil with respect to the magnet assembly and forming a surface for removable attachment of the driving assembly to a radiating member. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining element is injection moulded from a hydrogel material with Shore A hardness in the range 0 to 20.
US07889867B2

A system and method for performing SRNS relocation in a communications system transmits radio resource information including a ciphering parameter from a source RNC to a target RNC, modifies the ciphering parameter to coincide with a deciphering parameter which a user terminal uses when out-of-sequence data is received, ciphers a data unit based on the modified ciphering parameter, and transmits the ciphered data unit from the target RNC to the user terminal. The method may be modified to operate in UM mode or AM mode and to transmit data over one of several radio bearers. In accordance with another embodiment, the system and method transmits radio resource information from a source RNC to a target RNC and then transmits a data unit from the target RNC to a user terminal. In this case, the data unit including a transmission sequence number which consecutively follows a transmission sequence number of a data unit last transmitted from the source RNC to the user terminal. In accordance with another embodiment, the system and method resets ciphering and state variables in a target RNC and then transmits a message instructing a user terminal to reset a deciphering and state variables to the same or similar values. All the embodiments are advantageous because they ensure successful communications will take place between the target RNC and user terminal after a serving radio network sub-system relocation procedure is performed.
US07889851B2

A conference control server accesses a calendar server in order to identify calls scheduled by an organizer and to facilitate initiation of the calls at the scheduled time. A method for integrating the calendar server and the conference control server includes identifying a plurality of resources, which each have a resource identifier, and registering to receive notifications of updates to those resources. If update notifications are received, the conference control server determines meeting information for a scheduled conference indicated by the update notifications. The conference control server may also provide a portion of the meeting information to a resource identified by the meeting information.
US07889850B2

A method of establishing a telecommunication service over a communication network between a user and a telecommunications services agent using a computer terminal. The method includes providing information regarding the telecommunication service to the user, by the agent interacting with a customer service application. The method also includes retrieving information regarding complementary services that are related to the telecommunication service, by the agent interacting with the customer service application, and describing the retrieved information regarding the complementary services to the user. The method further includes automatically checking, by the customer service application, to determine if a computer terminal entry has been made by the agent indicating that the user has acknowledged receiving the information regarding complementary services, and establishing the telecommunication service for the user only when the customer service application indicates that the user has acknowledged receiving the information regarding the complementary services.
US07889843B2

In order to improve the reliability of a radiographic image detection unit and the reliability of a radiographic apparatus, when it is not detected that the radiographic image detection unit is mounted on a support portion or a cooling portion, processing for restricting radiography of a moving image is executed.
US07889840B2

A method and system for determining damage prediction of a component. The component may be critical component used in an aircraft or other vehicle experiencing cyclic loading. The method and system determines the ΔK, Kmax and Kinternal values for the component and utilizes these values in order to predict damage and/or failure of the component.
US07889838B2

An interferometer for X-rays, in particular hard X-rays, for obtaining quantitative phase contrast images, includes a standard polychromatic X-ray source, a diffractive optical beam splitter other than a Bragg crystal in transmission geometry, and a position-sensitive detector with spatially modulated detection sensitivity.
US07889836B2

In a device and a method for data transfer between two parts moving relative to one another while maintaining a slight distance between the parts, a transmission device with at least one transmission antenna (connected with a transmitter) and a reception device with a reception antenna (connected with a receiver are used). The transmission antenna and/or the reception antenna is/are fashioned as radio-frequency conductors and are arranged such that signals fed into the transmission antenna during at least one segment of the relative movement are received by the reception antenna by capacitive or inductive coupling. One or more compensation devices is/are arranged between the transmitter and the receiver. The compensation devices counteract signal distortion caused on the radio-frequency conductor by propagation of the signals. Higher data transfer rates can be realized in a cost-effective manner given the use of radio-frequency strip conductors as transmission and/or reception antennas.
US07889832B2

Disclosed is a shift register which includes first transistor connected between a first clock signal terminal and an output terminal, a second transistor with a gate connected to an input terminal and a source connected to a gate of the first transistor, a third transistor with a gate connected to a second clock signal terminal, an inverter with an input connected to the input terminal, a fourth transistor cascode connected to the third transistor with a gate connected to an output of the inverter, a fifth transistor connected between the gate of the first transistor and a power supply terminal, a sixth transistor connected between the fourth transistor and the power supply terminal with a gate connected to the input terminal, and a seventh transistor connected between the output terminal and the power supply terminal, the fifth and seventh transistors having gates connected in common to a connection node of the fourth and the sixth transistors.
US07889829B2

An integral multilevel debris-catching system for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly having a lower protective grid incorporating laterally offset debris-catching arches at several elevations, extended solid fuel rod bottom end plugs and a bottom debris-filtering nozzle. Dimples and opposing opposite springs and the debris-trapping arches, which are spaced from the end plugs, are all located at elevations below the fuel cladding.
US07889824B2

A system and method for training a clock signal are described. The method includes determining a first position of a clock signal by training the clock signal using a first test data, determining a final position of a clock signal by training the clock signal using a second test data, and using the offset between these positions to speed up subsequent trainings.
US07889820B2

A control of an amplifier in an automatic gain control (AGC) loop, e.g. in the RF front end circuitry of an OFDM receiver, provides phase adjustment control data to an associated automatic frequency control (AFC), to compensate for a phase jump that would otherwise be caused by switching of the AGC gain between discrete gain states. In the disclosed example, for each gain state, comparators detect a signal energy estimate crossing either a high threshold or a low threshold. Upon threshold crossing, multiplexers select compensation data corresponding to the necessary transition from the prior state to the new state determined by the comparators, based on identification of the prior state and on the particular threshold that has been crossed (high or low). The phase compensation data supplied to the AFC, for one interval corresponding to the timing of the gain switching, adjusts phase rotation implemented in the AFC.
US07889819B2

Methods and systems that are capable of detecting and correcting the sampling frequency offset as part of signal synchronization in MIMO OFDM systems. An exemplary MIMO OFDM system includes a transmitter with a number of OFDM modulators that provide data to antennas for transmission across a channel to a receiver. The OFDM modulators include a training symbol inserter that may insert a matrix of pilot tones into the data. The data including the matrix of pilot tones is received by a receiver having a number of OFDM demodulators including a synchronization circuit. The synchronization circuit uses the matrix of pilot tones to detect and correct the sampling frequency offset as part of the signal synchronization. The synchronization circuit may apply an open loop process including sampling frequency offset estimation, phase rotation, and channel estimation. Alternatively, the synchronization circuit may apply a closed loop process including error generation, loop filtering and accumulation as well as sampling frequency offset estimation, phase rotation, and channel estimation.
US07889814B2

A transmitter and a receiver are disclosed herein that support transmit antenna diversity using space-time block coding in a wireless communication system. The transmitter produces symbol combinations containing, as their elements, input symbols, the inversions and conjugates of the symbols, and symbols obtained by rotating the phases of the symbols once, forms a matrix having symbols in at least two columns orthogonal to each other with the symbol combinations, and transmits the matrix. The receiver detects symbols that minimize maximum likelihood (ML) decoding metrics over all possible symbols using channel gains from transmit antennas to a receive antenna. Also, the receiver selects candidate symbols among all possible symbols according to the characteristics of transmitted modulation symbols and detects symbols that minimize the ML decoding metrics.
US07889798B2

A method of reducing the peak-to-mean ratio of a multi-carrier signal includes the steps of: generating a residual signal from the multicarrier signal, the residual signal representing the difference between the multicarrier signal and a hard-clipped multicarrier signal. The method also includes the steps of applying a least squares function to the residual signal for each carrier of the multi-carrier signal, thereby generating a minimized residual signal for each carrier and combining the minimized residual signals and the multicarrier signal.
US07889797B2

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.
US07889778B2

A circuit for detecting attacks by contacting an integrated circuit chip comprising means for applying a random signal to a first terminal of at least one conductive path formed in at least one first metallization level of the chip, means for comparing the applied signal with a signal present on a second terminal of the path, and means for delaying the comparison time with respect to the application time, of a duration longer than or equal to the propagation delay through the first path.
US07889761B2

Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for bandwidth allocation and sharing in a hybrid wired/wireless network. Bandwidth allocation and sharing may include reserving bandwidth for a first access device, a first access point and/or a first switch. In response to a communication session associated with one or more of the first access device, first access point and first switch, at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be allocated for use by the first access device, first access point and/or first switch. At least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized during the communication session. At least an unused remaining portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized for communication by one or more of a second access device, a second access point and a second switch.
US07889754B2

A method of operation for a node of an Ethernet access network includes issuing a multicast message on the Ethernet access network by a maintenance end point (MEP) of the node. The multicast message contains a name of a target MEP. The node is further operable to receive a unicast reply message from the target MEP, the unicast message reply containing a MEP identifier (MEP-ID) and a MEP Media Access Control (MAC) address of the target MEP.
US07889751B2

A transmitter, a receiver, and a transceiver for use in a wireless communication system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the radio frequency (RF) transmitter comprises a first parallel-to-serial converter to convert first parallel data corresponding to a I quadrature baseband signal component into a first set of serial data bits, a second parallel-to-serial converter to convert second parallel data corresponding to a Q quadrature baseband signal component into a second set of serial data bits, and one or more stages having a first XOR gate coupled to a gate terminal of a first transistor and a second XOR gate coupled to a gate terminal of second transistor. The first XOR gate has a pair of inputs coupled to the first set of serial data bits and a first clock (e.g., an I clock) that corresponds to the I quadrature baseband signal component, and has a first output coupled to drive the gate terminal of the first transistor, while the second XOR gate has a pair of inputs coupled to the second set of serial data bits and a second clock (e.g., the Q clock) that corresponds to the Q quadrature baseband signal component, and has a second output coupled to drive the gate terminal of the second transistor. The first and second outputs are summed at a node to obtain a single-side band (SSB) RF output.
US07889744B2

A method and apparatus for automatic synchronization of monitoring points for a network management system (“NMS”) along a permanent virtual circuit (“PVC”) is disclosed. A NMS in an asynchronous transfer mode (“ATM”) network coupled to a plurality of ATM switches is operative to monitor each of the plurality of ATM switches storied in a monitoring service object corresponding to a PVC. The NMS receives at least one notification from at least one ATM switch of the plurality of ATM switches indicating an ATM switch has been added or removed from the PVC. In response to the at least notification, the NMS adds at least one ATM switch to the monitoring service object or removes at least one ATM switch from the monitoring service object.
US07889741B1

In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a condition test vector, selecting a key from a plurality of keys, and determining whether the key selected and a condition value satisfy a condition relation. The accessing being based on an index value. The condition test vector including a first plurality of bit values defining the condition relation, a second plurality of bit values defining a key selector, and a third plurality of bit values defining the condition value. The selecting being based on the second plurality of bit values. Each key from the plurality of keys including a combination of bit values representing a portion of a data packet. A result is defined based on the determining.
US07889737B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a method for selectively identifying nodes implemented enhanced version of a standard by creating a random locally administered MAC address and advertising said random locally administered MAC address as the address that implies a particular amendment of a standard.
US07889734B1

A method and apparatus for mapping sessions to preassigned processing entities in a network system. A network interface unit is operably connected to a plurality of processing entities and a plurality of memory units that define a shared memory space. The network interface unit further comprises a memory access module that includes a plurality of memory access channels, a packet classifier, and a plurality of scheduling control modules that are operable to control processing of data transported by the network. In various embodiments of the invention, predetermined subsets of the plurality of processing entities are operably associated with predetermined subsets of the plurality of memory units thereby defining a plurality of asymmetrical data processing partitions. The packet classifier is operable to provide an association between packets and the plurality of asymmetrical data processing partitions based upon an association with a predetermined session. In various embodiments of the invention, the asymmetrical data processing partitions can comprise a plurality of processor cores, a single processor core, a combination of strands of an individual processor core or a single strand of an individual processor core. The asymmetrical data processing partitions are scalable by adding additional processing entities.
US07889733B2

An adjunct network device includes several ports, an uplink interface, and an adjunct forwarding engine coupled to the ports and the uplink interface. A first port is configured to receive a packet, which includes a destination address. The adjunct forwarding engine is configured to send the packet to the uplink interface if the destination address is not associated with any of the ports. The packet is sent to one of the ports if the destination address is associated with the one of the ports.
US07889729B2

A system and method are provided for fairly distributing grants for access to switch outputs, through crossbars, between switch input channels. Crossbars are granted access between specified switch inputs and switch outputs, and the least recently used input channels are associated with selected switch outputs. A history of the previous channel transaction is maintained for each switch output, and channels are nominated in a rotation through a priority channel list. The present invention bid grant algorithm permits information packets to be transferred across a switch in the time between a bid submission and a bid grant.
US07889724B2

A system including a plurality of software-controlled broadcast stations each having at least one media asset, and a controller to allow a user to link a first media asset of a first one of the stations to a second media asset of a second one of the stations. When the user schedules the first station to broadcast the first media asset at a specified time, the controller automatically causes the second station to broadcast the second media asset at the specified time.
US07889721B2

A device selects a mode and communicates data based on the selected mode. The device comprises at least one interface circuit configured to monitor analog audio signals from a customer premise equipment device and a processor circuit. The processor circuit assigns a first band mode for converting the analog audio signals to data packets if the analog audio signals do not have frequency components outside the first band of frequencies and assigns a second band mode for the conversion otherwise. The assignment of the second band mode for the conversion enables the output circuit to use a larger bandwidth of the communication channel to a network.
US07889715B2

Techniques are described herein which are operable to manage Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.
US07889706B2

An apparatus and method for detecting a pilot signal in a mobile communication system are provided by which the processing time taken to demodulate a traffic channel based on a channel estimation result can be reduced, and thus, the size of a buffer for buffering signals until the presence of a secondary/auxiliary pilot signal is detected can also be reduced. The apparatus includes a first channel estimator for estimating a channel for a noise component of a pilot symbol received by a first receiver, a second channel estimator for adding a pilot symbol received by a second receiver and the pilot symbol received by the first receiver and estimating a channel for a noise component of the added pilot symbol, an energy detector for detecting an energy value of a pilot symbol using result values output from the first and second channel estimators, and a comparison and determination unit for determining whether or not there is a secondary/auxiliary pilot signal by using the detected energy values.
US07889701B2

A method and system are disclosed that can be applied to achieve high-throughput in a WLAN. Central to the present invention is the use of an SDMA compatible multi-beam antenna system by a WLAN access point. A system based on two types of antennas-dynamic beam forming and fixed beam antennas—is described. A mechanism and protocol are described that implement simultaneous transmissions with respect to an SDMA compatible access point and thereby improve spectral efficiency, and by extension achieve higher throughput. Based on the recognition that current WLAN MAC has major limitations in throughput, certain MAC extensions (that can be applied independently of SDMA) are described. Also disclosed are power-saving and power control techniques that improve battery performance and contribute to a reduction in station size, and a means of reducing channel interference. The present invention also deals with the problem of backward compatibility with conventional devices that implement the protocol that is a subset covered by the present invention.
US07889700B2

In a method of configuring connection identifier (CID) update information in a broadband wireless access (BWA) communication system where each service between an mobile station (MS) and a base station (BS) has a unique CID, a registration request message is received from the MS, requesting updating of at least one old CID used for the MS. The CID update information is configured to include a bitmap area indicating whether a service corresponding to the at least one old CID is available, and a new CID area including at least one new CID in correspondence with a predetermined bit value in the bitmap area.
US07889698B2

A transmission rate control method for controlling, at a mobile station, a transmission rate of uplink user data, based on a dedicated absolute transmission rate of uplink user data received via a dedicated E-AGCH which is transmitted using a dedicated identifier for the mobile station or a common absolute transmission rate of uplink user data received via a common E-AGCH which is transmitted using a common identifier for mobile stations which satisfy a predetermined condition, includes: storing, at the mobile station, the common absolute transmission rate of the uplink user data received via the common E-AGCH; and deleting, at the mobile station, the stored common absolute transmission rate of the uplink user data when changing a serving cell for the mobile station.
US07889695B2

A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. The method includes receiving a data processing method includes receiving a broadcast signal in which main service data and mobile service data are multiplexed, acquiring transmission-parameter-channel signaling information including transmission parameter information of the mobile service data, and fast-information-channel signaling information, acquiring binding information describing a relationship between at least one ensemble transferring the mobile service data and a first virtual channel contained in the at least one ensemble by decoding the fast-information-channel, and acquiring status information of the first virtual channel, displaying content data contained in the mobile service data according to the binding information and the status information of the first virtual channel.
US07889694B2

A communication apparatus and method for channel switching for ad-hoc communication provides effective utilization of an infrastructure communication channel while preventing a deterioration in the quality of the infrastructure communication affected by a transmission signal used in the ad-hoc communication. Typically, the number of channels that can be used for a second communication is increased.
US07889693B2

Provided is a method and system for providing a QoS in a broadband convergence network deploying a mobile IP. In the method, a service and policy is defined at a first network design stage for guaranteeing the QoS of the broadband convergence network. QoS parameters corresponding to the defined service and policy are reflected in a DSCP field corresponding to the defined service. The DSCP field and the QoS parameters are applied to an access router in a management network. Accordingly, the QoS can be guaranteed to be suitable for the service and policy and a seamless handover guaranteeing the QoS can be provided.
US07889688B2

A radio communication apparatus has a battery, a transmit buffer for temporarily accumulating packets to be sent, a battery state monitoring unit for monitoring a battery state of the battery, and a traffic control unit. The traffic control unit determines a packet burst length and an interval time between the packet bursts in order to obtain charge recovery effect based on the battery state, and controls so as to take out data packets of the packet burst length from the transmit buffer for every interval time between the packet bursts of the packet burst.
US07889683B2

A half-duplex communication network comprises a plurality of communication links, each link being configured a priori to communicate in one direction; and a plurality of nodes, each node coupled to a first and second direct neighbor nodes and a first and second skip neighbor nodes via the plurality of communication links. Each node comprises propagation logic adapted to arbitrate conflicts between concurrent messages based on at least one of higher level policies and a comparison between a priority of each message, wherein each node is adapted to communicate a message without waiting to determine if another node is transmitting another message with a higher priority.
US07889682B2

A bridge (e.g., IEEE 802.1 bridge) and a method are described herein which ensure the proper propagation of a “cut” within a bridged network (e.g., Ethernet-based bridged network). In one embodiment, the bridge has a port role transitions (PRT) state machine which uses a first condition represented as (proposed && !agree) to transit to an X_PROPOSED state and a second condition represented as (! proposed && allSynced && !agree) ∥ (proposed && agree) to transit to an X_AGREED state (where X represents “ROOT”, “ALTERNATE” and “MASTER”). The first condition and the second condition are both defined such that the X_PROPOSED state is always entered before the X_AGREED state which ensures the proper propagation of a “cut” within the bridged network.
US07889681B2

The present invention provides improved unicast routing, multicast routing and unicast load sharing as compared with conventional methods. Preferred implementations of the invention provide improvements to IEEE 802.1Q. According to preferred aspects of the invention, each bridge is the root of its own multiple spanning tree instance (“MSTI”). Preferred implementations of the invention require no learning of media access control (“MAC”) addresses on the backbone of a network. Some methods of the invention can resolve spanning tree asymmetries. Preferred implementations of the invention require a very low computational load for control protocols.
US07889680B2

Algorithms are described that facilitate the inference of a network topology by estimating router co-ordinates and merging anonymous routers. The algorithms have practical applications in the inference of a network topology as part of the provision of a network service that is based on the underlying topology and where knowledge of the actual topology allows improved performance.
US07889677B1

A Signaling System 7 (SS7) tool for planning an SS7 network having a plurality of network elements is provided herein. The SS7 tool is configured to obtain current traffic data from the SS7 network and determine a current peak utilization of each of the network elements based upon the traffic data. The SS7 tool is further configured to obtain pending reconfiguration plan data and to determine a preliminary reconfiguration based upon the reconfiguration plan data. The SS7 tool also obtains subscriber load data to forecast future peak utilization of the SS7 network by determining for each of the network elements, the impact of at least one of the following: the subscriber load data, the reconfiguration plan data for that element, and an element status. The SS7 tool then automatically recommends a reconfiguration of the network based upon said forecasted peak utilization.
US07889664B2

A receiver employing CDMA techniques estimates background noise based on a periodically updated code. The transmitted signal includes a periodically updated code of a predetermined type and wherein the received signal has CW interference in addition to the transmitted signal. The decision circuit determines if a value representing the likelihood of detection of the code exceeds a predetermined threshold. In the case of a pilot signal not being detected within a predetermined time period which corresponds to code update period, the background noise estimator obtains a new background estimation.
US07889659B2

Controlling a transmission rate of packet traffic includes receiving packets from a network processor. The packets are stored in a buffer associated with a processor. If an occupancy level of the buffer is greater than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the processor is congested. A message is transmitted to the network processor indicating the processor is congested.
US07889655B2

Techniques for detecting loops in routes that cross route information boundaries include receiving a control message at a first edge node on one side of the boundary that is connected to a different second edge node on another side of the boundary. The control message indicates a particular network address of a particular node that is reachable from the first edge node. Distinguisher data is determined that indicates if a node in the first collection can reach the first edge node without leaving the first collection. An advertising message is sent from the first edge node to the second edge node that includes route data that indicates the particular network address and the distinguisher data. Based on the distinguisher data, a testing edge node in the first collection can determine whether there is a loop comprising both an internal path and an external path to the first edge node.
US07889654B2

Provided are apparatuses and methods for transmitting or receiving data packets in a data block in a communication network with a transport protocol. In one example, a loss tolerant TCP protocol is used in which a maximum segment size (MSS) may be adapted to a minimum granularity of a congestion window. Also, proactive forward error correction (FEC) packets may be added to a window of the data block. The number of proactive FEC packets may be determined, for example, based on an estimate erasure rate. In addition, reactive FEC packets may be added to the data block. Also, a receiver may receive data packets in a data block and process a selective acknowledgment (SACK) responsive to the data packets received.
US07889653B2

Provided is a method for reconstructing non-continuous packetized data of a continuous data stream from a data connection into a reconstructed continuous data stream at the receiving point of a packet-based network, the method including gathering measurements of the data connection; predicting at least one value characterizing the data connection based on the gathered measurements using an estimation method; evaluating a de-jittering delay for the data connection based upon the at least one value characterizing the data connection; and delaying and converting the data packets based on the evaluated de-jittering delay.
US07889651B2

Methods and apparatus operating in a stream processing network perform load shedding and dynamic resource allocation so as to meet a pre-determined utility criterion. Load shedding is envisioned as an admission control problem encompassing source nodes admitting workflows into the stream processing network. A primal-dual approach is used to decompose the admission control and resource allocation problems. The admission control operates as a push-and-pull process with sources pushing workflows into the stream processing network and sinks pulling processed workflows from the network. A virtual queue is maintained at each node to account for both queue backlogs and credits from sinks. Nodes of the stream processing network maintain shadow prices for each of the workflows and share congestion information with neighbor nodes. At each node, resources are devoted to the workflow with the maximum product of downstream pressure and processing rate, where the downstream pressure is defined as the backlog difference between neighbor nodes. The primal-dual controller iteratively adjusts the admission rates and resource allocation using local congestion feedback. The iterative controlling procedure further uses an interior-point method to improve the speed of convergence towards optimal admission and allocation decisions.
US07889640B2

A method for establishing protected connections includes determining a primary path to a first node through a first layer of a multi-layer network. The primary path comprises a plurality of first layer links. At least one link of the plurality of first layer links comprises at least one second layer link at a second layer. The method also includes determining a secondary path to the first node through the first layer. Upon detecting a first link of the plurality of first layer links is protected against link failure by the at least one second layer link the secondary path comprises the first link of the first layer. Additionally, upon detecting a second link of the plurality of first layer links is not protected against link failure by the at least one second layer link, the secondary path comprises a third link of the first layer.
US07889638B2

Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for conducting a point-to-point (PPP) session relating to establishing a PPP session involving at least a local node and a remote node, wherein the local node comprises a data plane for handling transfer of data for the PPP session at the local node, and wherein the local node comprises a first control plane for controlling operations of the data plane, replicating at least one portion of information accessed by the first control plane, such that the at least one portion of information may be accessed by a second control plane, and switching from the first control plane to the second control plane, such that the second control plane controls operations of the data plane, wherein the second control plane accesses the at least one portion of information replicated from the first control plane, wherein the data plane is capable of continuing to handle transfer of data for the PPP session during switching from the first control plane to the second control plane.
US07889635B2

The present invention provides a versatile system for selectively spreading carrier data across multiple carrier paths within an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system, particularly an ultra-wideband (UWB) system. The present invention provides a data input, which passes data to a randomizer. The data then passes to a convolutional code function, the output of which is punctured by puncturing function. An interleaver function receives the punctured code data, and cooperatively operates with a mapper element to prepare the coded data for pre-transmission conversion by an IFFT. The mapper element comprises a dual carrier modulation function, which associates and transforms two punctured code data elements into a format for transmission on two separate signal tones.
US07889632B2

A radio communication system for carrying out communications between radio stations by modulating a plurality of signal sequences to be transmitted and received into at least one frequency channel assigned to each of a plurality of cells is formed by a channel mapping means for rearranging for each cell a plurality of frequency channels assigned with respect to each cell, and newly assigning particular frequency channels as a transmission and reception band of said signal sequences, and a bandwidth control means for controlling a bandwidth of said assigned frequency channel according to a propagation state of said assigned frequency channel.
US07889629B2

A data storage system includes a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied; and a data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising: a substrate; and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location, characterized in that the polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages.
US07889622B2

An optical head for recording or reproducing a signal on or from an optical recording medium including a light source, an objective lens for condensing light emitted from the light source to the optical recording medium, and a light-separating device arranged between the light source and the objective lens in order to separate the light reflected from the optical recording medium from the light emitted from the light source. The light-separating device includes a first glass, a multilayer film formed on the first glass, and an adhesive layer arranged on the multilayer film in order to bond a second glass onto the multilayer film. The majority of the light emitted from the light source enters into the light-separating device through the first glass and is reflected by the multilayer film.
US07889617B2

An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium, is provided with a first light source for emitting first light flux having a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive portion, and a photo detector; wherein in case that the first light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux, and in case that the second light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux, where n stands for an integer other than zero.
US07889603B2

A recording medium, a method of creating a file of the recording medium, and a method and apparatus for reproducing the same are disclosed. In the recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, the method of creating a file of the recording medium includes continuously recording a stream data file within a first recording layer and a second recording layer among the plurality of recording layers, which are adjacent to one another, and forming a PlayList file so as to enable seamless playback of the recorded stream data file, wherein the PlayList file includes a presentation start time (IN-Time), at which playback begins, positioned in the first recording layer, and a presentation end time (OUT-Time), at which playback is ended, positioned in the second recording layer.
US07889593B2

A clock generator circuit generates a sequence of clock signals equally phased from each other from a master clock signal. The clock generator is formed by inner and outer delay-locked loops. The inner delay-locked loop includes a voltage controlled delay line that delays a reference clock applied to its input by a plurality of respective delays. Two of the clock signals in the sequence are applied to a phase detector so that the signals at the outputs of the delay line have predetermined phases relative to each other. The outer delay-locked loop is formed by a voltage controlled delay circuit that delays the command clock by a voltage controlled delay to provide the reference clock to the delay line of the inner delay-locked loop. The outer delay-locked loop also includes a phase detector that compares the command clock to one of the clock signals in the sequence generated by the delay line. The outer delay-locked loop thus locks one of the clock signals in the sequence to the command clock. As a result, all of the clock signals in the sequence generated by the delay line have respective predetermined phases relative to the phase of the command clock. One of the clock signals in the sequence is selected by a multiplexer to clock a command data latch at a time corresponding to the delay in coupling a command data bit to the latch.
US07889582B1

A memory device is provided for performing writing operations on memory cells while maintaining a stability thereof. A memory array is provided including a plurality of memory cells. Additionally, segmented write bitlines are provided for performing writing operations on the memory cells while maintaining a stability thereof.
US07889581B2

A digital delay locked loop circuit generates a delay value to delay the timing of taking in read-data by a memory interface when data is read from a memory. The digital delay locked loop circuit includes a selector that selects either one of a clock signal and a data strobe signal as a signal to output; a delay line that induces delay on the signal output from the selector when the signal passes through the delay line; and a phase-comparing/delay-value determining unit that compares a phase of the clock signal and a phase of the signal output from the delay line, and that determines a delay value that defines an amount of delay to be induced on the data strobe signal when passing through the delay line.
US07889580B2

A memory system circuit and method therefor are disclosed. The circuit is adapted to detect a transition in a data timing signal from an indeterminate logic level to a selected one of a high logic level and a low logic level. The circuit includes a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output. The first and second inputs receive the data timing signal and a reference voltage respectively. The output changes logic levels in response to a change in polarity of a voltage difference between the voltage of the timing signal and the reference voltage. The reference voltage is sufficiently closer to the selected one of the logic levels as compared to the other of the logic levels so as to at least substantially prevent potential false positive detections.
US07889579B2

A data capture circuit includes strobes that track input data even when conditions arise that cause the differences in skew from interpreting data state ones and zeros. This is accomplished whether these skews arise from reference voltage variation, data pattern loading, power supply droop, process variations within the chip itself, or other causes. The differential input strobes of the data capture circuit are input into individual input buffers, each compared against a reference voltage individually, as well as a data input pin. The outputs from these buffers are maintained separate from each other all the way to the point where the input data is latched. In latching the input data, data ones are latched entirely based on input signals derived from a rising edge (both strobes and data), and zeros are latched entirely based on input signals derived from a falling edge (both strobes and data).
US07889561B2

Non-volatile memory devices utilizing a NAND architecture are adapted to perform read operations where a first potential is supplied to a source line selectively coupled to a bit line through a string of series-coupled non-volatile memory cells containing a memory cell targeted for reading, and where a second, different, potential is supplied to other source lines selectively coupled to the bit line through other strings of series-coupled non-volatile memory cells not containing the target memory cell. Supplying a different potential to the other source lines facilitates mitigation of current leakage between the other source lines and the bit line while sensing a data value of the target memory cell.
US07889559B2

A circuit for providing a voltage, which includes a first voltage generating circuit to output a first voltage generated by dividing an input voltage on the basis of resistance rate varied in accordance with a first control signal, a second voltage generating circuit to output a third voltage by using a second voltage, where the third voltage is shifted in accordance with a temperature, a third voltage generating circuit to change the third voltage by using a voltage shift rate set in accordance with a level of an operation voltage to be outputted at the temperature, thereby outputting a fourth voltage, and a comparison amplifying circuit configured to output the operation voltage in accordance with the first voltage, the fourth voltage and resistance rate.
US07889558B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of sense amplifiers, each amplifier being connected to one of the plurality of bit lines respectively and a memory cell array including a memory cell region including a plurality of memory strings having a plurality of electrically reprogrammable memory cells connected in series, each of the memory cells having two or more storage states, said plurality of memory cells being connected to a corresponding word line of the plurality of word lines respectively, the plurality of memory strings being connected to a corresponding bit line of the plurality of bit lines respectively, and at the time of programming all of the plurality of bit lines are selected, the number of the storage states being different in two of the memory cells which are adjacent on the same bit line.
US07889555B2

A memory system includes a memory and a memory controller operating to control the memory. The memory includes a random accessible memory including a memory cell array operable in a random access mode, a NAND flash memory, and a selection circuit making the memory controller operate either one of the random accessible memory or the NAND flash memory.
US07889554B2

A non-volatile memory system is formed of floating gate memory cells arranged in blocks as the smallest unit of memory cells that are erasable together. One feature is the storage in separate blocks of the characteristics of a large number of blocks of cells in which user data is stored. According to another feature, multiple sectors of user data are stored at one time by alternately streaming chunks of data from the sectors to multiple memory blocks. Yet another feature, for memory systems having multiple memory integrated circuit chips, provides a single system record that includes the capacity of each of the chips and assigned contiguous logical address ranges of user data blocks within the chips which the memory controller accesses when addressing a block, making it easier to manufacture a memory system with memory chips having different capacities.
US07889552B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor device according to example embodiments may include a plurality of memory cells on a semiconductor substrate and at least one selection transistor on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the at least one selection transistor may be disposed at a different level from the plurality of memory cells. The at least one selection transistor may be connected to a data line and/or a power source line via a first contact and/or a third contact, respectively. The at least one selection transistor may be connected to the plurality of memory cells via a second contact and/or a fourth contact. The active layer of the at least one selection transistor may contain an oxide. Accordingly, the nonvolatile semiconductor device according to example embodiments may include a selection transistor having a reduced size.
US07889548B2

According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the phase change material including a first crystalline phase is converted to one of a second crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. The second crystalline phase transitions to the amorphous phase more easily than the first crystalline phase. For example, the first crystalline phase may be a hexagonal closed packed structure, and the first crystalline phase may be a face centered cubic structure.
US07889539B2

A memory cell including conductive oxide electrodes is disclosed. The memory cell includes a memory element operative to store data as a plurality of resistive states. The memory element includes a layer of a conductive metal oxide (CMO) (e.g., a perovskite) in contact with an electrode that may comprise one or more layers of material. At least one of those layers of material can be a conductive oxide (e.g., a perovskite such as LaSrCoO3-LSCoO or LaNiO3-LNO) that is in contact with the CMO. The conductive oxide layer can be selected as a seed layer operative to provide a good lattice match with and/or a lower crystallization temperature for the CMO. The conductive oxide layer may also be in contact with a metal layer (e.g., Pt). The memory cell additionally exhibits non-linear IV characteristics, which can be favorable in certain arrays, such as non-volatile two-terminal cross-point memory arrays.
US07889538B2

A three-dimensional memory device includes: a plurality of mats laminated therein, each having memory cells arranged in a two-dimensional manner; and access signal lines and data lines to select memory cells in each mat being shared between respective adjacent mats. Laminated mats are divided into three or more groups. When selecting one of these groups, memory cells in some of the remaining groups are biased so that a leakage current flows therethrough, while memory cells in the rest of the remaining groups are biased so that a leakage current does not flow therethrough.
US07889529B2

In a bridge type power converter including series connectors of power semiconductor switches having first and second main terminals and a control terminal; plural steps of the series connectors connected in parallel, a gate drive circuit for limiting voltage between the first and second main terminals of the power semiconductor switch to a predetermined value only in turning off the power semiconductor switch is provided between the first main terminal and the control terminal of the power semiconductor switch.
US07889528B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rectifier circuit that can suppress deterioration or dielectric breakdown of a semiconductor element due to excessive current. A rectifier circuit of the present invention includes at least a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a diode which are sequentially connected in series in a path which connects an input terminal and one of two output terminals, and a transistor. The second capacitor is connected between one of a source region and a drain region and a gate electrode of the transistor. Further, the other one of the source region and the drain region and the other one of two output terminals are connected each other.
US07889527B2

An electric power source in which a plurality of inverters operate on the same frequency and the plurality of inverters are connected in parallel so that a resistance value expressed by (1−β·G)/(α·G) where α is the output voltage feedback gain, β is the output current feed forward gain, and G is the inverter current gain, is made to be the equivalent output impedance; and is an electrical power source in which the cross-current between the inverters are made to be an acceptable value or below by adjusting the output of each of the inverters by controlling the equivalent output impedance by modifying both or either one of the output voltage feedback gain α or the output current feed forward gain β.
US07889525B2

A multi-phase voltage regulator comprises a plurality of current supplying stages, each current supplying stage configured to supply a local output current equaling at least a portion of a load current output from the multi-phase voltage regulator; and a plurality of control circuits, each control circuit coupled to a respective one of the plurality of current supplying stages, wherein each control circuit calculates a control signal based, at least in part, on a sampled current representative of the respective local output current and a sampled current representative of a master output current. The control signal from each control circuit causes the respective current supplying stage to be disabled gradually over a first time interval if the sum of the local output current and the master output current is detected as being below a respective first predetermined level.
US07889524B2

This invention relates to a power module for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle including an integrated converter having a rectifier changing AC to DC, a DC/DC converter changing from a first voltage to a second voltage, and a battery storing electrical energy. The integrated converter operates in three modes 1) AC plug-in charging mode, 2) boost mode supplying power from the battery to the electrical bus and 3) buck mode supplying power from the electrical bus to the battery. The integrated converter utilizes the same single inductor during each of the three operating modes to reduce cost and weight of the system.
US07889520B2

A DC-DC converter using a plurality of transformers capable of decreasing the loss, preventing heat generation of transformers, and improving the heat transfer property of the core, and an integrated type transformer used in this DC-DC converter. A terminal T1 in which a negative electromotive force is generated and a terminal TR2 in which a positive electromotive force is generated, while a switching element Q1 is conducting, are connected at a node N1. An output coil L1 and output terminals TO1 and TO2 are provided on a current route shared by transformers T1 and T2. Diodes D1 and D2 are respectively inserted in a forward direction from a node N3 toward a terminal TR3 and in a forward direction from the node N3 toward a terminal TR4. An operation of a first transformer and an operation of a second transformer are respectively assigned to a flyback operation and a forward operation.
US07889516B2

A cable management system with an inspection window allows a technician to see available ports in a telecommunications module. The cable management systems inspection window is substantially transparent to permit visual access to underlying ports and associated electrical connectors. The inspection window is solid to prevent physical access to the electrical connectors, thereby preventing contamination, short-circuiting or other damage. The visual access permitted by an inspection window prevents the need to remove a cable trough to find available ports, which reduces the chance of causing a disruption in service by inadvertently disconnecting a cable that is in or around the cable trough.
US07889495B2

A cooling unit includes: a heat absorbing section which absorbs heat from a heat-producing element; a heat radiating section which defines a ventilation area and radiates the heat into air passing through the ventilation area; and a fan having a blowing opening and blowing air toward the ventilation area from the blowing opening. The blowing opening and the ventilation area are different in size and/or position in a direction intersecting a flow of the air. The cooling unit further includes a filter installed between the blowing opening and the ventilation area to remove foreign substances in the air blown to the ventilation area. The filter has a wall guiding the air to the ventilation area from the blowing opening by connecting the blowing opening and the ventilation area at a part of a portion that is a difference in size and/or position between the blowing opening and the ventilation area.
US07889493B2

A cover structure comprises: a substrate defined a sliding slot and an opening adjacent to the sliding slot; a covering board defined a receiving portion; an alignment plate defined a salient point, and an aperture aligned with the opening; the alignment plate is fixed on the substrate, the covering board is slidably positioned in the sliding slot and between the substrate and the alignment plate, and the salient point is received in the receiving portion to lock the covering board.
US07889483B2

An electronic device includes a bottom cover, and a display unit, a main keyboard, and at least one secondary keyboards mounted on the bottom cover respectively. The bottom cover defines a first guiding slot. The display unit defines at least one second guiding slot. The second guiding slot crosses the first guiding slot and an angle between the first guiding slot and the second guiding slot is less than 90 degrees. Each of the secondary keyboard includes a positioning shaft passing through the first guiding slot and one of the second guiding slot. When the electronic device is closed, the main keyboard and the secondary keyboard are positioned between the display unit and the bottom cover. When the electronic device is opened, the second guiding slot drives the positioning shaft to slide along the first guiding slot, thus to expose the secondary keyboard and the main keyboard accordingly.
US07889481B2

A secondary computing device display system includes a removable attachment mechanism operable to removably attach a secondary computing device display to a primary computing device display. The removable attachment mechanism comprises a first attachment member, operable to lockably attach to the secondary computing device display, and a second attachment member, comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion. The first and second clamping portions are operable to removably clamp the primary computing device display within a gap defined between the first and second clamping portions. The first and second attachment member are frictionally rotatable with respect to each other along a first axis and a second axis. A surface of the primary computing device display is adapted to engage the second attachment member and utilize friction to reduce the amount of pressure sufficient to removably clamp.
US07889479B2

An integrated multilayer chip capacitor module including: plurality of multilayer chip capacitors arranged close to one another and co-planar with one another; and a capacitor support accommodating the multilayer chip capacitors, wherein each of the multilayer chip capacitors includes a rectangular parallelepiped capacitor body and a plurality of first and second external electrodes formed on at least two sides of the capacitor body, and the external electrodes on adjacent sides of adjacent ones of the multilayer chip capacitor in the capacitor support are electrically connected to each other by a conductive adhesive material.
US07889469B2

A discharge circuit holds the potential difference between a power supply terminal and reference potential terminal at a predetermined value. The gates of a first pMOSFET and first nMOSFET are connected to an input terminal. A second pMOSFET is connected between the first pMOSFET and power supply terminal, and has a gate to which a first signal is supplied. A second nMOSFET is connected between the first nMOSFET and reference potential terminal, and has a gate to which a second signal is supplied. A detection circuit outputs the first signal which turns on the second pMOSFET and the second signal which turns on the second nMOSFET, while the potential difference is held at the predetermined value. The detection circuit outputs the first signal which turns off the second pMOSFET and the second signal which turns off the second nMOSFET, while the potential difference deviates from the predetermined value.
US07889460B2

A slider supporting apparatus is provided with a flexure formed of a metal plate having spring characteristics. The flexure comprises a gimbals portion including a tongue, a first support portion which supports one longitudinal end of a slider, a second support portion which supports the other end of the slider, and a spring portion composed of a pair of flat springs. Convexes and concaves of each flat spring are alternately formed along a surface direction of the flexure by etching. The flat springs extend to a length which allows the slider to be inserted between the support portions when subjected to a tensile load, and contract to a length such that the slider can be held between the support portions when subjected to no tensile load.
US07889458B2

A magnetic write head having a magnetic cross yoke arranged to provide a cross magnetic field in a pole tip region of the magnetic head. The cross field, which is perpendicular to the magnetization of write pole, reduces the switching time of the write field, thereby increasing the speed with which the write head can record data. The write head can be a longitudinal write head or a perpendicular write head. In the case of a perpendicular write, the write head can include a write pole arranged to provide a magnetic write field that emits a magnetic field substantially perpendicular with an Air Bearing Surface (ABS). A magnetic cross yoke is formed having ends that are disposed at opposite sides of the pole tip region of the write pole.
US07889457B2

There is provided a perpendicular magnetic recording head device which can increase magnetic field gradient to exhibit excellent recording performance while maintaining magnetic field intensity capable of performing information recording well. In a perpendicular magnetic recording head device composed of a main magnetic pole layer and a return path layer which are laminated with a nonmagnetic insulating layer therebetween, the return path layer has a two-layer structure composed of a low saturation magnetic flux density layer (low Bs layer), and a high saturation magnetic flux density layer (high Bs layer) formed an the low Bs layer and made of a material that has a relatively high saturation magnetic flux density. In a front end surface of the return path layer, the low Bs layer and the high Bs layer are exposed.
US07889447B2

A method includes: producing a readback signal using a recording head positioned adjacent to a recording medium, amplitude demodulating the readback signal to produce an amplitude demodulated signal, frequency demodulating the readback signal to produce a frequency demodulated signal, and using the amplitude demodulated signal and the frequency demodulated signal to determine contact of the recording head with the recording medium. An apparatus that can be used to implement the method is also provided.
US07889444B2

A wide-angle lens optical system, including, in a sequence from an object side, a first lens group having a positive or negative refractive power, a stop, and a second lens group having positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group comprises, in a sequence from the object side, a front group having negative refractive power and a rear group having positive refractive power, and the wide-angle lens optical system satisfies the following Inequalities: 1.0 < f II f < 1.45 0.6 ≤  f Ia f Ib  < 1.5 where f denotes the overall focal distance of the lens optical system, fII denotes the focal distance of the second lens group, fIa denotes the focal distance of the front group of the first lens group, and fIb denotes the focal distance of the rear group of the first lens group.
US07889428B2

An external laser light introducing device is constructed to introduce laser light from outside of an optical apparatus into inside so that the laser light is condensed on a target by a condenser lens located inside the optical apparatus. In this case, the external laser light introducing device comprises a pupil projection optical system for projecting the entrance pupil of the condenser lens on an external pupil located outside the optical apparatus and an optical axis aligning mechanism for practically aligning the optical axis of the laser light with that of the external pupil.
US07889424B2

A device for folding a reflective projection sheet, including a wall decoration including a box placed behind it, a device inside the box opening out to form a three-portion device including a first panel, a second panel, and a central false back that advances into alignment with the first and second panels when open and/or that reverses to the back of the box, a reflective projection sheet tensioned over the panels and the false back so that the sheet deploys and is tensioned when the first and second panels are open, and folds over into three portions without leaving any fold marks when the first and second panels are closed. The device presents dimensions that are relatively small, because of the way the panels fold, and does so without leaving fold marks on the sheets. The device can discreetly integrate a front projection sheet for video projectors.
US07889422B2

A two-dimensional image display device using a Yb-doped clad pump fiber which is a rare-earth-doped fiber as a laser activation substance, whereby a peak of a fluorescence spectrum can be significantly increased as compared with a case of using an oxide crystal, and a variation width of an oscillation wavelength can be increased. Further, since the rare-earth-doped fiber is used as a fiber amplifier without providing laser mirrors at both ends thereof, control for a resonator length, which has been required in a conventional device (wherein an oxide crystal is used as a laser medium), is dispensed with, and thereby high-speed wavelength control is achieved, resulting in reduction in speckle noise when it is mounted on a two-dimensional image display device.
US07889409B2

An optical scanning device including a light beam emission unit configured to emit a light beam, a main scanning line deflection unit configured to deflect the light beam in a main scanning direction to emit a scanning beam, a scanning lens configured to focus the scanning beam in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, a reflective optical element configured to deflect the scanning beam, a tilt adjustment unit configured to change a position of the reflective optical element to adjust a tilt of a scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating a target to be irradiated, and a curve adjustment unit configured to bend the reflective optical element to adjust a curve in the scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating the target to be irradiated.
US07889402B2

Systems and methods for limiting total colorant in a color rendering system are disclosed. Implementation of the present invention provides for transformation of a specified colorant in which the sum of the colorant components exceeds a total area coverage (TAC) limit to create a second or resultant colorant in which the sum of the colorant components is within the limit. Using a bijective transformation, colorant sampling and other manipulations can be performed using a nominal hypercube space and the results can be compressed from the nominal space back to the actual colorant-limited space, simplifying manipulation of the colorant-limited polytope space. The unlimited colorant hypercube may be divided into simplexes. For each simplex, intersection points may be found between the TAC limit and the edges of the simplex. A barycentric interpolation technique may then be used to map the unlimited simplex onto a corresponding simplex within the colorant-limited polytope.
US07889398B2

The present invention is a changeable apparatus for different total tracks and a corresponding method. The apparatus reflects a light from a light source at least twice toward predetermined directions. The apparatus comprises plural reflection elements, at least one of the plural reflection elements is a rotational reflection element, which has plural reflection surface sets, and each reflection surface set has at least one reflection surface. The rotational reflective element further comprises a pivot axis is for each rotational reflection element for circulating and changing of reflection surface sets and a fixing apparatus, which connects to a rotational reflection element for adjusting and fixing positions of the rotational reflection element.
US07889397B2

In order to specify a region on an original on an original plate more accurately, an image processing apparatus, which reads an original placed on an original plate as digital image data using an image reading unit, includes a detection unit which detects a code image, that is recorded on an original and includes reading setting information, from an image read by a prescan using the image reading unit, an extraction unit which extracts the reading setting information from the detected code image, and a reading control unit which executes a main scan using the image reading unit based on the extracted reading setting information, and the reading setting information includes reading range information designated by a relative position to the original that records the code image with reference to the position and direction of the code image.
US07889390B2

Systems and method for digitally reproducing a moiré-free color halftone output image having an embedded correlation-based digital watermark are provided using an enhanced halftone screen set consisting of a halftone screen for each of N colorants forming N color separations (where N≧3). The N different uniform rosette halftone screen configurations are generated such that each meets uniform rosette halftone screen conditions. A corresponding three-dimensional threshold array is generated for each halftone screen configuration having a phase shift value as an input. The color input image is halftoned, halftoning each one of the N different color separations using a corresponding halftone screen configuration and three-dimensional threshold array to form a moiré-free color output image having the correlation-based digital watermark embedded therein. A single key can be used to produce a full color image of the output image having the watermark image visible therein.
US07889389B2

The invention provides printing method of printing on a printing medium. The method includes: generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, by performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image; and generating the print image with a print head by mutually combining a plurality dot groups in a common print area, each of the plurality dot groups being formed in each scan of the print head in response to the dot data. The generating dot data comprise setting a condition for the halftone process for reducing contact between dot groups formed consecutively by a plurality of temporally consecutive scan within at least part of tone values.
US07889386B2

An image processing apparatus processes vector image data in units of blocks. When vector image data associated with a first block satisfies a predetermined condition, the image processing apparatus stores the result of processing the vector image data associated with the first block. When vector image data associated with a second block matches the vector image data associated with the first block, the image processing apparatus outputs the result of processing the vector image data associated with the first block, which is stored therein.
US07889383B2

Even when a part of a subject image is cut down after imaging, an image of good image quality is obtained. When a subject is imaged, divisional photometry (divided brightness measuring) is performed. Image data representing an image of the subject and a divisional photometry values are recorded on a memory card in correspondence with photometry sections obtained by division. At the time of reproduction (playback), image data is read out of the memory card, to display the subject image. A desired part of the displayed subject image is cut out (trimmed). Correction is made such that the brightness of the trimmed image is proper using the divisional photometry values corresponding to the trimmed image.
US07889380B2

When the time period is night, processing advances to step S13 to set the initialization speed of a line feed motor to the first speed (v1), and to step S15 to execute initialization operation of the line feed motor at the first speed (v1). When the time period is morning or daytime, the processing advances to step S12 to detect a cover open/closed state. When the cover is open, the processing advances to step S13 to set the initialization speed of the line feed motor to the first speed (v1). When the cover is closed, the processing advances to step S14 to set the initialization speed of the line feed motor to the second speed (v2) which is higher than the first speed (v1). The processing advances to step S15 to execute initialization operation of the line feed motor at the second speed (v2).
US07889379B2

Disclosed is an image processing apparatus which prevents repetitive storage of identical image data, and efficiently uses a storage area. More specifically, a facsimile apparatus (8) has a network interface, and also has a display unit (4c) as a display means for displaying an image as a user interface, a main controller (3) including a memory as a storage means for storing image data, a display controller (4b) as a generating means for generating an image to be displayed on the display means, by using the image data stored in the memory, and an HTTP server as a transmitting means for transmitting the image data stored in the memory, in response to a browsing request input via the network interface.
US07889378B2

In an image processing system for executing a job for an image, when security recording processing for an image to be processed is set valid, the image and the information related to a job to be executed for the image are stored in a predetermined unit. The state of storage processing of the image is monitored to prohibit the execution of the job for the image until storage processing of the image is completed.
US07889370B2

A facsimile machine comprises a connection for connecting an external storage device, a detection unit for detecting whether or not the external storage device is connected to said connection, a switching unit that switches confidential fax transmitting function to enable if the external storage device is connected to the connection and switching the confidential fax transmitting function to disable if it is not connected, a display unit that displays names of files of image data that can be transmitted by facsimile from the image data stored in the external storage device connected to the connection, a file selection unit that selects based on a user's instruction a file to be transmitted, from the displayed files, and a transmission unit that transmits the image data of the selected file by the confidential fax transmitting function.
US07889369B2

The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus connected to a network and used for forming an image on a sheet, comprising: a 1st obtaining unit operable to obtain via the network, with respect to each of one or more image files related to an authenticated user, (i) a corresponding identification information piece and (ii) a corresponding storage-destination information piece indicating a storage destination; a display unit operable to display the obtained identification information pieces; a receiving unit operable to receive a specification of, among the displayed identification information pieces, an identification information piece for an image file that the authenticated user desires to obtain; and a 2nd obtaining unit operable to obtain, via the network, the desired image file corresponding to the specified identification information piece from a storage destination indicated by a storage-destination information piece of the desired image file.
US07889368B2

The present invention provides increased processing reliability for a service of performing predetermined processes on document data through cooperation among the processes over a network A service processing device in a service processing system providing a service of performing predetermined processes on document data through cooperation among the processes over a network comprises a controller that controls reexecution of a process in which an error occurs, if the error occurs on the document data in the course of the processes.
US07889364B2

An image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit to read an original document, an image data storage unit to store read image data, a print unit to print out the image data, a sheet insertion designation unit to perform a sheet insertion processing and a sheet insertion control unit. The user performs execution designation of the sheet insertion processing by the sheet insertion designation unit before a reading job of a first original document. When the execution of the sheet insertion processing is designated and a reading job of a specified original document is ended, the sheet insertion control unit requests the user to select a mode of the sheet insertion processing, and creates page data for performing the sheet insertion in the mode designated there. The printout including the page data for the sheet insertion is performed collectively after reading jobs of all original documents are ended.
US07889354B2

A device for an interferometric measuring device having a first interferometer and a second interferometer, short coherent radiation being supplied to the first interferometer via a radiation source which is split into to beam components by a first beam splitter; and the optical path length in a beam component being longer than in the other beam component to the effect that the optical path difference is greater than the coherence length of the radiation; before emerging from the first interferometer, the two beam components being recombined and supplied to the second interferometer, which splits the radiation into two additional beam components; the optical path lengths of the two beam components being different to the effect that the optical path difference registered in the first interferometer is balanced again; the optical path length for the respective beam component in the first and the second interferometer being able to be set by at least one movable optical component, and the movable optical components are coupled to each other mechanically. A method for balancing an optical path difference in such an interferometric measuring device, the optical path differences between the beam components being changed in the two interferometers by mechanically coupled movable optical components at the same time and by the same absolute amount. By doing this, path differences in the beam components of the interferometers are able to be varied in one working step, the conditions for the formation of interference being complied with.
US07889351B2

A gyroscope for determining an angular rate output. The gyroscope includes a first demodulator configured to demodulate an angular rate measurement at a first bias modulation frequency to determine the angular rate signal and a second demodulator configured to demodulate the angular rate measurement at a second bias modulation frequency to provide a signal with ARW information. The gyroscope further includes an ARW estimator that provides an output that is proportional to ARW that is then stored in a memory. The second bias modulation frequency is an even order harmonic of the first bias modulation frequency.
US07889326B2

A distance measuring apparatus includes a light source unit generating reference light for distance measuring, a light receiving device receiving light reflected from an object to be measured, which has received the reference light, a mirror controlling a path of the reference light, and controlling a path of light, reflected from the object to be measured, toward the light receiving device, and a sensor lens focusing the light reflected from the mirror on the light receiving device. The sensor lens includes a lens portion refracting light, a flange portion provided around the circumference of the lens portion and including a coupling portion for fixing the sensor lens, and a light passing portion formed at the lens portion.
US07889324B2

A projector includes a light source unit, a light source-side optical system for guiding light from the light source unit to a display device, the display device, a projection-side optical system for projecting an image emitted from the display device on to a screen, and a distance measuring system 1 and has a projector control unit for controlling the light source unit and the display device. In addition, the distance measuring system 1 has a laser beam emitter 2 for emitting a laser beam to a distance measurement target object, a receiving lens 4 for concentrating reflected light from the distance measurement target object and a receiving element 3 for receiving the reflected light from the distance measurement target object which has passed through the receiving lens 4, and optical axes of the receiving lens 4 and the receiving element 3 are made to be aligned with an optical axis of the emitted laser beam.
US07889319B2

The present invention provides an exposure apparatus including a measuring unit which includes an imaging optical system configured to guide light having propagated through a projection optical system to an image sensor, and is configured to measure the overall birefringence of the imaging optical system and the projection optical system, a calibration unit which is set on a side of an object plane of the projection optical system in order to measure a birefringence of the imaging optical system, and is configured to reflect the light from the measuring unit back to the measuring unit without using the projection optical system, and a calculation unit configured to isolate, from the result of measuring the overall birefringence, the birefringence of the imaging optical system measured by the measuring unit, thereby calculating the birefringence of the projection optical system.
US07889315B2

A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system that is configured to condition a radiation beam; a projection system that is configured to project at least a portion of the radiation beam as a projected radiation beam; and a lens interferometer for sensing a wavefront state of the projected radiation beam. The lens interferometer is provided with a polarizing element so as to be capable of sensing a polarisation state of the projected radiation beam.
US07889309B2

A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display panel includes: a sealant arranging step of arranging a sealant on a main surface of one of or each of two substrates to be bonded to each other; a liquid crystal dropping step of dropping liquid crystal on one of the two substrates; and a bonding step of bonding the two substrates to each other, wherein the method further includes: to be performed prior to the liquid crystal dropping step, a deaerating step of arranging in a pressure-reduced atmosphere at least a substrate on which the liquid crystal is to be dropped out of the two substrates; and, to be performed prior to the bonding step, a releasing step of releasing the pressure-reduced atmosphere by an inert gas.
US07889302B2

An LCD device is disclosed, to prevent a connection caused by pressing a sealant between a common voltage line and a inspection line by removing a predetermined portion of common voltage transmission line at a crossing portion of the common voltage transmission line and the inspection line, a substrate including a plurality of pixel regions defined by a plurality of gate and data lines crossing each other; an auxiliary voltage transmission line supplying an auxiliary voltage to one terminal of auxiliary capacitor formed in the pixel region; a common voltage transmission line supplying a common voltage to the plurality of the pixel regions through a common electrode; an inspection line connected to the auxiliary voltage transmission line by crossing the common voltage transmission line; a sealant positioned above the inspection line; and wherein a predetermined portion of the common voltage transmission line is removed from the crossing portion of the inspection line and the common voltage transmission line.
US07889298B2

A transparent conductive film including an indium oxide, a tin oxide and at least one lanthanoid metal oxide, the film including a portion connected to a conductor, and at least the connection portion having crystallinity.
US07889291B2

A liquid crystal display device is provided which includes: a liquid crystal panel; an image information application unit disposed on a side opposite to a display side of the liquid crystal panel; an illumination unit for irradiating light to the image information application unit; a liquid crystal shutter device disposed between the image information application unit and the liquid crystal panel; a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal layer disposed in the liquid crystal shutter device and containing liquid crystal molecules and polymers, in which the polymers are aligned in a twisted manner at a twist angle larger than 0 degree and smaller than 180 degrees; and a polarization layer disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal shutter device so that in a rotation direction where the polymers are aligned in a twisted manner, an absorption axis thereof is set in a direction substantially perpendicular to a radial direction where the polymers are twisted by half the twist angle.
US07889290B2

In general, an illumination display includes a light transmitting panel that provides enhanced illumination edge lighting. One or more light sources are optically coupled into an edge of the light transmitting panel to illuminate the light transmitting panel. The light transmitting panel refracts and reflects light such that a greater intensity of light may be emitted from one or more enhanced illumination portions, such as a raised enhanced illumination portion, of the light transmitting panel. The light source(s) may emit light of different colors corresponding to different conditions such that the illumination display indicates a condition by illuminating with the color corresponding to the condition. The illumination display may be used in various devices including, but not limited to, a device for checking the temperature of food.
US07889289B2

In a liquid crystal display device having a light diffuser, a desired luminance distribution is realized and displaying with a high contrast ratio across a broad angle range is performed. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel for modulating light emitted from a light source, and a light diffuser being disposed at a viewer's side of the liquid crystal display panel. The light diffuser is a prism sheet including a plurality of prisms, each prism having: a first prism section including a first slope slanted at a first angle with respect to the display surface normal direction; and a second prism section including a second slope slanted with respect to the display surface normal direction at a second angle different from the first angle and being disposed at the viewer's side of the first prism section.
US07889285B2

A four-mask process and a three-mask process proposal are constructed for a TN-type liquid crystal display device and an IPS-type liquid crystal device in which the formation of a passivation insulating layer is not required by streamlining the formation of a scan line and a pseudo-pixel element, both comprising a laminate made of a transparent conductive layer and a metal layer, at the same time and the formation of the transparent conductive pixel electrode by removing the metal layer on the pseudo-pixel electrode at the time of the formation of the opening in the gate insulating layer, by streamlining the treatment of the formation process of the contact and the formation process of the protective insulating layer using one photomask due to the introduction of half-tone exposure technology, and the formation of source-drain wires for etch-stop type insulating gate-type transistor using a photosensitive organic insulating layer and leaving the photosensitive organic insulating layer unchanged on source-drain wires or on the source wire (signal line), or by forming an anodized layer, which is an insulating layer, on source-drain wires.
US07889283B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device appreciating room making it possible to prevent glare or external-image-projection on the basis of external light so that persons can watch the screen of a liquid crystal display device satisfactorily. The appreciating room comprises a room, a liquid crystal display device arranged inside the room and having a liquid crystal panel 2, and a light source which lightens the inside of the room, wherein a ¼ wavelength plate 6 is arranged on the front surface side of a viewing-side polarizer 3 of the liquid crystal panel 2, the ¼ wavelength plate 6 is arranged to set the angle θ of the slow axis direction X thereof to 45±5° or 135±5° from the absorptive axis direction A of the viewing-side polarizer toward the counterclockwise direction when the ¼ wavelength plate is seen from the viewing-side, and light inside the room is any one of left-handed circularly polarized light and right-handed circularly polarized light.
US07889281B2

A video processing apparatus including: an input device which inputs an encoded video signal; a decoder which decodes the encoded video signal having a video format which is one of a plurality of video formats to produce a decoded video signal; a processor which processes the decoded video signal by using a scanning method information of the decoded video signal, to produce a processed video signal; and an output device which outputs both of the video signal processed by using the scanning method information and scanning method information of the processed video signal, from the video processing apparatus to an external video processing apparatus.
US07889277B2

A high speed video switch in a KVM system using discrete Radio Frequency (RF) switch circuits. The RF switch circuits are configured into a multiplexed circuit to route video signals from a selected host computer to a target monitor. Voltage converters are used to provide control signals of the proper voltage to the RF switch circuits. Peaking operational amplifiers are used to compensate for the roll-off effect caused by the video connectors. An On Screen Display (OSD) switch using the RF switches is used to rapidly switch between the OSD data and host computer video for display to the target operator control center monitor.
US07889276B2

A mounting device is provided having a base, first mounting arms, second mounting arms, first engaging portions, and second engaging portions. The base is annular and has an elastic body. Both first and second mounting arms have elastic bodies and extend from said base in the outward radial direction of said base. The first engaging portions project orthogonally to the axis of said base from the edge of said first mounting arms. The second engaging portions project in the direction opposite to the projection direction of said first engaging portions, from the edge of said second mounting arms. The first engaging portions project parallel to each other in the same direction.
US07889274B2

An image input apparatus can acquire an image with a high contrast without saturating a camera output even for a subject having a large light and dark difference while achieving a wide dynamic range. An image sensor has an input-output characteristic varying with a plurality of regions delimited according to a difference in the amount of incident light. A video luminance signal level is detected from a video signal of the image sensor. An amount of light on a screen is calculated from the image luminance signal level. The image sensor is adjusted to make the amount of light on the screen coincide with a target light amount. The target light amount is set such that a relation between the target light amount R and an amount of light Q at a change point that is at the lowest luminance in an input-output characteristic of the image sensor satisfies R
US07889268B2

A digital camera is disclosed, which has a still image shooting mode and a moving image shooting mode, and performs different focusing operations between the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode. According to present invention, the range of focusing tolerance or the driving speed of a focusing optical system can vary between the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode such as to set the range of focusing tolerance wider or the driving speed of the focusing optical system slower in the moving image shooting mode.
US07889263B2

A system and method for high numeric aperture imaging systems includes a splitter, a defocusing system, and a combiner. The splitter reflects a portion of collected light and transmits another portion of the collected light. The defocusing system is configured to modify optical power of either the transmitted portion or reflected portion of the collected light. The combiner is oriented with respect to a mechanical angle. The combiner recombines portions of the transmitted portion and the reflected portion such that the transmitted portion and reflected portion are subsequently transmitted being separated by an optical separation angle based upon the mechanical angle of orientation of the combiner. Various other implementations are used to maintain focus with regards to the imaging systems involved.
US07889252B2

An image processing device includes a first calculation means for calculating a non-capture color signal corresponding to an H-th interpolation color for a pixel of interest, a second calculation means for calculating a non-capture color signal by multiplying a J-th capture color signal corresponding to the capture color for the pixel of interest by the ratio of the H-th two-dimensional low-pass filter output to the J-th two-dimensional low-pass filter output, and a third calculation means for calculating a non-capture color signal corresponding to the H-th interpolation color for the pixel of interest using the calculation result according to the first calculation means and the calculation result according to the second calculation means.
US07889251B1

Calibrating a white level in an image scanning device. A target white level is accessed. A high white level is determined for pixel data output by an amplifier. A gain adjustment to the amplifier is determined to correct a portion of an error between the target white level and the high white level. The gain adjustment is applied to the amplifier.
US07889243B2

A constant amount of new portion of image data as still images is always stored on a memory in an image taking operation. In response to a shutter release operation, the image data stored on the memory is recorded onto a recording medium. A next new portion of the image data generated subsequent to the shutter release operation is then recorded on the recording medium. A predetermined pixel count, smaller than a standard pixel count set in the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, is set in the image data prior to the shutter release operation. Process time for multi-shot operation is shortened in order to prevent photo opportunity missing. The pixel count in the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation remains unchanged so that the image data of high image quality is acquired.
US07889240B2

An electronic camera and method of operating an electronic camera which detects whether an external device such as a personal computer is properly connected to the camera and in a state which permits communication. The camera monitors a data terminal ready (DTR) signal of an RS-232 connection in order to determine that the external device is properly connected and in a state which permits communication. Once the proper connection is detected, the camera can either transmit or receive images and/or audio from the external device. Accordingly, a specific switch which places the camera in a communication mode can be eliminated. Further, a single switch may be utilized for both controlling whether the camera records or plays images when there is no device connected, and which controls whether the camera transmits or receives images and/or audio when an external device is determined to be connected.
US07889238B2

A multicamera system including: a controller having a reset phase transmitting unit for transmitting information showing a reset phase corresponding to a position in a frame synchronized with a sync reference signal to one or each of plural image pickup apparatuses within a frame period of a one-precedent frame of the frame; and the one or plural image pickup apparatuses each having an image pickup unit for photographing light from an object, an image pickup driving unit for driving the image pickup unit so as to start the photographing of one image pickup frame on the basis of the reset phase information transmitted from the controller, and an output unit for outputting image pickup data of the one image pickup frame photographed by the image pickup unit on the basis of the sync reference signal transmitted from the controller.
US07889234B2

A method and apparatus for providing a distortion corrected video signal. A camera is directed toward a test pattern for producing a raw video signal. An image processor is operatively connected to the camera for receiving the raw video signal. The image processor is operable to capture at least one calibration image of the test pattern using the raw video signal from the camera, analyze the at least one calibration image to provide a calibration data table, and store the calibration data table within the image processor.
US07889232B2

A surveillance system and method for vessels. The system comprises surveillance means for surveying a waterway; vessel detection means for determining the presence and location of a vessel in the waterway based on information from the surveillance means; camera means for capturing one or more images of the vessel; image processing means for processing the images captured by the camera means for deriving surveillance data; wherein the camera means captures the vessel images based on information from the vessel detection means, the surveillance data from the image processing means, or both. The images can be used to classify and identify the vessel by name and category, possibly also to compare the category with that previously registered for a vessel of this name. The vessel can be tracked, including by speed and direction until it leaves the surveyed waterway.
US07889229B2

The present invention relates to a security surveillance system. The security surveillance system includes an image acquisition unit, a surveillance image transmission unit, and a surveillance image reception unit. The image acquisition unit acquires captured image signals from a plurality of cameras and outputs them. The surveillance image transmission unit separates the acquired images into moving images and still images, and generates and transmits surveillance images where the still images are separated at predetermined regular intervals. The surveillance image reception unit separately stores the moving images and the still images, reads a still image near a moving image output at a time when a signal requesting the output of the still image is received, and outputs the read still image. Therefore, the system according to the present invention can provide still images together with moving images at the time of the output of images for security surveillance, thus improving the efficiency of security surveillance.
US07889228B2

An endoscope includes a solid image-pickup device having an image area and an optical black area for performing photoelectric conversion and including a function of varying an amplification ratio, and a first signal clamp circuit clamps the analog output signal that is outputted from the solid image-pickup device to adjust into an input range of the analog signal processing circuit with an analog reference signal which is unaffected by a defective pixel in the optical black area. The clamped signal is processed to extract signal components which are photoelectrically converted by the analog signal processing circuit by the image area. The output signal from the analog signal processing circuit clamps the signal in the optical black area by using output signals of at least the number of pixels larger than the number of pixels in a horizontal direction in the optical black area by the second signal clamp circuit.
US07889224B2

A disclosed optical path switching device includes a polarization bistable VCSEL that emits a beam having a rising polarization plane, a laser light source configured to emit a beam having a polarization plane orthogonal to the rising polarization plane, and an optical path switching unit configured to switch an optical path of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL by switching the angle of the rising polarization plane of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL. The beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL is incident on an entrance window of the optical path switching unit, and the beam emitted from the laser light source is incident on an exit window of the polarization bistable VCSEL.
US07889220B2

A system and method are provided for maintaining optical energy density on a defined area of a medium markable by optical energy. The method includes the operation of directing a light beam from a light source to an optical system. The light beam can pass through at least one optical component in the optical system, where the optical system has astigmatic properties selected to maintain desired irradiance within the defined area of the medium through a range of working distances between the optical system and the defined area. A further operation is guiding the light beam by the optical system onto the marking area of the medium.
US07889199B1

A system and method for graphing mathematical features of a given function within an optimum viewing window. The system and method can also highlight the mathematical features. Further, for example, the system and method can determine the type of a function and the various behaviors of the function, and highlight curve segments of concavity, increase/decrease, and where the function is constant.
US07889197B2

A computer-implemented method for capturing and processing a series of images captures a first image incorporating a surface having a plurality of markers varying in texture or color to obtain an image representation. A plurality of alignment tracking points, obtained from the plurality of markers, is designated. The plurality of alignment tracking points is utilized in a first image frame to locate a position of a first marker in a second, succeeding image frame. The first marker is reused in the second, succeeding image frame if located. Otherwise, a defined region surrounding the position of the first marker is searched for a second marker matching the first marker in texture or color. The second marker is used in the second, succeeding image if located. Otherwise, a best guess position of the first marker is interpolated by processing translation information of a third marker geometrically interconnected to the first marker.
US07889194B2

A method for multi-planar reconstruction of digitized medical images includes providing an image volume, sampling the neighborhood about each point in a planar region and saving a color value and a depth, providing a projection plane onto which rendering rays are projected from a viewing point through said image volume, advancing sampling points along rays through the image volume, computing depths of each sampling point, determining for sampling points on rays that penetrates the planar region if a depth of said sampling point is less than the buffer depth of a corresponding point in the planar region and sampling neighborhoods of points about such sampling points, determining if sampling points are near said planar region, applying first transfer function to sample values interpolated from first volume for sampling points close to or inside the planar region, and otherwise applying second transfer function to sample values interpolated from second volume.
US07889192B2

The present invention provides a mobile phone that includes a single camera for picking up a 2D image and provides the 2D image with parallax information to create a 3D image. The 3D image is displayed on a display unit.
US07889190B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying power source for providing power source to a plurality of display devices. The apparatus for supplying power source includes a boosting circuit and a voltage adjusting circuit. The boosting circuit boosts a battery voltage to a first voltage, and supplies the first voltage to a first display device. The voltage adjusting circuit adjusts the first voltage to a second voltage, and supplies the second voltage to a second display device. The apparatus supplies a voltage outputted from a boosting circuit to a first display device, downs the voltage through a voltage adjusting circuit, and then supplies the downed voltage to a second display device. In other words, the apparatus of the present invention may provide voltages having different magnitude to a plurality of display devices, respectively.
US07889179B2

A device for controlling movement of an object relative to an environment is disclosed. The device may include a ball configured to store data for determining at least an orientation of the object relative to the environment. The data may pertain to a plurality of possible orientations of the object. The device may also include a speed control unit configured to determine at least a speed of the object relative to the environment.
US07889177B2

A hand-held device includes a display, a position sensor, a communication port operable to receive screen image data, and a processor. The processor is operable to determine a new cursor position in response to a change of position detected by the position sensor. The processor is additionally operable either to display on the display a window of an image positionally referenced to the new cursor position in response to screen image data when the hand-held device is operated in a remote mode. Alternatively, the processor is operable to display on the display a local image in response to local image data and a cursor icon overlaid on the local image when the hand-held device is operated in a local mode. The image displayed represents a fractional portion of the local image data, and the fractional portion is selected in response to the new cursor position.
US07889173B2

A user may always know that on a portable media device, by pressing an input field in particular location, such as the input field to the right of the center point of a plurality of input fields, the same function may occur no matter what the orientation of the device.
US07889171B2

One embodiment of the invention is a user input system for a hand held computing device that comprises a movable piece with a reflective side, an optical cavity adjacent to said movable piece, a light emitting source positioned within the cavity such that emitted light is incident on to the reflective side of the movable piece, and a sensor positioned within the cavity to receive light reflected from the reflective side.
US07889170B2

A force feedback apparatus of the present invention includes: jetting means that includes a nozzle and that can control a jet amount or a jet direction of gas or liquid jetted from the nozzle; jet control means for controlling the jet amount or the jet direction of the gas or the liquid according to a position or an orientation of a receiver that receives pressure by the gas or the liquid jetted from the jetting means so as to provide force feedback to an operator. When the receiver has a concave shape of a diameter D, intervals for placing the nozzles in the jetting means are set such that at least one nozzle exists within a region having a diameter of a constant×D.
US07889167B2

A liquid crystal display for recognizing a flicker with the naked eyes in a step of inspecting a flicker in the case where a liquid crystal display is driven with a frame frequency of 120 Hz is disclosed.In the liquid crystal display, a timing controller supplies a first frame inversion polarity signal which is used at a first frame inversion and, at the same time supplies a gate start pulse which indicates a supply of a scanning pulse. A frame polarity signal converting means converts a first frame inversion polarity signal into a second frame inversion polarity signal in response to the gate start pulse. And a data driver changes the inputted frame into a second frame inversion in response to the second frame inversion polarity signal.
US07889156B2

There is provided a plasma display apparatus comprising a plasma display panel and a driver. The plasma display panel includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The driver alternately supplies a first sustain signal and a second sustain signal to the first electrode and the second electrode in a first subfield and supplies a third sustain signal and a fourth sustain signal that swing a positive polar voltage and a negative polar voltage in a second subfield to the first electrode and the second electrode.
US07889155B2

A plasma display apparatus is disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a scan electrode, a sustain voltage supply unit supplying a sustain voltage to the scan electrode, a scan reference voltage supply unit supplying a scan reference voltage to the scan electrode, a scan reference voltage controller that is connected between the scan reference voltage supply unit and the scan electrode and includes a resistor changing the scan reference voltage into a reset signal with a predetermined slope, a voltage storing unit that is connected between the sustain voltage supply unit and the scan reference voltage supply unit and stores the scan reference voltage, and a driving signal output unit that controls an output of a voltage supplied to the scan electrode using a single switch.
US07889131B2

An apparatus, logic and method are provided to improve beamformed space time code (STC) wireless communication. A first device comprising a plurality of antennas receives signals at the plurality of antennas transmitted from a first antenna of a second device. A testing spatial signature for a second antenna of the second device is computed based on the signals received at the plurality of antennas of the first device from the first antenna of the second device. Using the testing spatial signature and the signals received at the plurality of antennas of the first device from the first antenna of the second device, beamforming weights are computed to be applied to a space time code signal to be transmitted from the first device to the second device via the plurality of antennas of the first device.
US07889127B2

A phased array antenna system may include a sheet of conductive material with a plurality of aperture antenna elements formed in the sheet of conductive material. Each of the plurality of aperture antenna elements is capable of sending and receiving electromagnetic energy. The phased array antenna system may also include a wide angle impedance match (WAIM) layer of material disposed over the plurality of aperture antenna elements formed in the sheet of conductive material. The WAIM layer of material includes a plurality of metamaterial particles. The plurality of metamaterial particles are selected and arranged to minimize return loss and to optimize an impedance match between the phased array antenna system and free space to permit scanning of the phased array antenna system up to a predetermined angle in elevation.
US07889119B2

Radial gap measurement on turbines by a microwave measuring method and an evaluation of a Doppler effect which varies according to the size of the radial gap is described. At least one radar sensor embodied as a transmission and reception unit is provided in the wall of a turbine housing which is radially oriented towards the centre of the turbine. The relative speed of an outer end of a turbine blade, dependent on the size of the radial gap, is evaluated many times in relation to the radar sensor during the passage of the blade end past the same, and the course of the relative speed over time on the zero crossing constitutes a measure for the radial gap on the basis of the relation between the absolute value of the relative speed and the incline thereof in the zero crossing.
US07889117B1

A method of determining an angle with a beam to terrain for a terrain avoidance system includes receiving first data associated with first returns associated with a first portion of an antenna. The method further includes receiving second data associated with second returns associated with a second portion of the antenna, wherein the first portion is different than, intersects, or includes the second portion. The method further includes determining the angle to terrain using the first data and second data.
US07889113B2

An inspection system that can detect contraband items concealed on, in or beneath an individual's clothing. The system employs millimeter wave radiation to detect contraband items. The system is described in connection with a check point security system that includes temperature controlled walls to enhance imaging of contraband items. Also, a millimeter wave camera is used in conjunction with a visible light camera that forms images. To address privacy concerns of displaying images of people made with millimeter wave cameras that effectively “see through” clothes, the millimeter wave images are not displayed directly. Rather, computer processing produces indications of suspicious items from the underlying raw millimeter wave images. The indications of suspicious items are overlaid on the image formed by the visible light camera.
US07889111B2

A conversion operation B is performed with respect to a sample value R in an A/D conversion stage 101 to generate a conversion result D3, and a sampling operation A is performed with respect to this conversion result D3 in an A/D conversion stage 103. The conversion operation B is performed with respect to a sample value in an A/D conversion stage 105 to generate a conversion result D4, and the sampling operation A is performed with respect to the conversion result D4 in an A/D conversion stage 107. The conversion operation B is performed with respect to a sample value in an A/D conversion stage 107 to generate a conversion result D5, and the sampling operation A is performed with respect to this conversion result D5 in an A/D conversion stage 101. The conversion operation B is performed with respect to a sample value in the A/D conversion stage 103 to generate a conversion result D6, and the sampling operation A is performed with respect to the conversion result D6 in the A/D conversion stage 105.
US07889104B2

A digital to analog converter (DAC) converting a digital code to an output voltage and capable of self calibration. The DAC includes a self-calibration signal generator generating a self-calibration signal based on the output voltage, a constant current generator, a first and a second current provider and a current-voltage converter. The current generating elements of the first and second current providers provide proportional currents, and are enabled/disabled according to the self-calibration signal and the digital code, respectively. The constant current is divided into the actual working current generating elements of the first current provider, and an output current is generated by the actual working current generating elements of the second current provider. The output current is converted to the output voltage by the current-voltage converter.
US07889101B2

A method and apparatus for a navigation system for generating a reminder message by applying predefined validation rule to display and/or voice announce the reminder message associated with a particular location. The method includes the steps of creating reminder message data which include a reminder message, a primary location, a secondary location, and a validation rule; comparing a reference location with the primary location; applying the validation rule in the reminder message data to determine whether a relationship between the primary location and the reference location satisfies the condition in the validation rule; displaying the reminder message when the condition is satisfied; and conducting a route guidance operation to reach a location selected by the user.
US07889086B2

The invention presented herein is about a camera arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprised of a housing that can be attached on the inside of a windshield of a motor vehicle, at least one camera residing in the housing, a moisture sensor installation capable of detecting the moisture on the windshield, where the moisture sensor installation is a non-optical moisture sensor installation.
US07889080B2

This invention discloses a control system and method thereof that is applied to a navigation apparatus. The system includes an apparatus body, a tag, a reader, a recognition module, and a processor. The apparatus body is mounted in the navigation apparatus to provide a navigation function. The tag is mounted on an object to provide a recognition data. The reader is used to detect and read the recognition data. The recognition module is used to compare the recognition data with a predetermined recognition data in order to generate a trigger signal. The processor is used to receive the trigger signal and then drives the apparatus body to perform a wakeup mode. If the processor does not receive the trigger signal in a determined period, the processor will drive the apparatus body to perform a sleep mode.
US07889079B2

There is disclosed an antitheft security alarm system and method for manhole covers, rainwater drains, and the like, to prevent burglary of the cover by transmitting a wireless alarm signal to a remote station when the cap is removed to notify a dispatch center or other notification message recipient of the burglary incident and location. The security apparatus may be an integrated unit, including sensors, a telemetry unit, a power supply, a processor, and supporting hardware, all located in an enclosed, waterproof housing. The security alarm system apparatus is adapted to fit within a manhole cavity without the need for extensive or alteration of existing manhole structures.
US07889077B2

The object of the present invention is a device for the detection of concealed objects which exploits a transceiving system of the microwave type.
US07889073B2

Information in the form of emotional responses to a media presentation may be passively collected, for example by a microphone and/or a camera. This information may be tied to metadata at a time reference level in the media presentation and used to examine the content of the media presentation to assess a quality of, or user emotional response to, the content and/or to project the information onto a demographic. Passive collection of emotional responses may be used to add emotion as an element of speech or facial expression detection, to make use of such information, for example to judge the quality of content or to judge the nature of various individuals for future content that is to be provided to them or to those similarly situated demographically. Thus, the invention asks and answers such questions as: What makes people happy? What makes them laugh? What do they find interesting? Boring? Exciting?
US07889071B2

The invention relates to a method for sending environmental data by means of a mobile terminal device, comprising the steps of detecting said environmental data, evaluating said environmental data, determining if said evaluated environmental data is to be sent, and sending said environmental data in case of an affirmative determination.
US07889070B2

A method of transferring medical information can include transmitting medical information from a mobile personal medical device responsive to determining that a remote system is authorized to receive the medical information. Related Systems, devices, and computer program products are also disclosed.
US07889066B2

The present Self-Configuring Alarm System uses a decentralized (ad hoc or mesh) architecture where any node is capable of autonomously reporting the alarm event directly to all other nodes in the ad hoc network independent of where the alarm event occurred. In addition, the Self-Configuring Alarm System includes a plurality of autonomous output devices which function to provide an audible alarm that directs the occupants to the location of the hazard and/or provides an indication of the nature of the detected hazard or whether an indication of the hazard has been received at a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that serves the dwelling or locale. The alarm networks and output networks may not be coextensive in their coverage areas.
US07889060B2

An active radio tag including a card holder. The card holder has built therein a memory having stored therein a tag ID and a transmission unit that transmits the tag ID by radio. In addition, the card holder includes a card placement section in which a card is to be placed and a card detection switch that detects the card. Only when the placement of the card in the card placement section is detected by the card detection switch, the radio tag is activated and the tag ID is transmitted.
US07889058B2

The radio-tag reading system includes a radio-tag reader and a radio tag storing therein radio tag information. In the radio-tag reader, a radio-tag detection processor transmits via the communication unit a search signal at a predetermined time interval, and detects that the radio tag enters into the communication area of the communication unit based on a response signal to the search signal. A radio-tag information communication processor reads the radio tag information from the radio tag upon receiving the response signal from the radio tag. In the radio tag, a response processor transmits, upon receiving a signal from the radio-tag reader, a response signal in response to the signal.
US07889050B2

A method for training a trainable transmitter in a vehicle that includes receiving a request to enter a training mode of the trainable transmitter from a user, beginning a training mode of the trainable transmitter, receiving a control signal from an original transmitter associated with a remote control system, detecting a frequency and control data of the control signal. The method further includes determining if the control signal is a fixed code signal or a rolling code signal. If the control signal is a fixed code signal, storing the detected frequency and control data. If the control signal is a rolling code signal, comparing the detected control signal frequency to a plurality of predetermined frequencies and based on the comparison, shifting the detected frequency to match one of the predetermined frequencies.
US07889040B2

A DC inductor comprising a core structure (11) comprising one or more magnetic gaps (12, 13), a coil (14) wound on the core structure (11), at least one permanent magnet (15) positioned in the core structure, the magnetization of the permanent magnet (15) opposing the magnetization producible by the coil (14). The DC inductor further comprises at least one magnetic slab (16) inserted to the core structure which forms the one or more magnetic gaps (12, 13), at least one supporting member (17) made of magnetic material extending from the core structure inside the core structure and supporting the at least one permanent magnet (15), and that the at least one supporting member (17) is arranged to form a magnetic path for the at least one permanent magnet.
US07889028B2

The coupled resonator comprises a first low frequency resonator, such as a balance spring (1) and a second higher frequency resonator, such as a tuning fork (2), the two resonators (1 and 2) including permanent mechanical coupling means. Application to the regulating system of a timepiece.
US07889027B2

An object is to provide a film bulk acoustic resonator capable of improving resonant characteristics by reducing the generation of a standing wave to be caused by a transverse-mode acoustic wave to a minimum. In a film bulk acoustic resonator including a resonant portion A having a piezoelectric material layer 3 sandwiched between a first electrode 2 and a second electrode 4, the resonant portion A is configured to have a planar shape that is an ellipse having a part thereof cut off along a straight line L. The straight line L intersects at least one of a minor axis and a major axis of the ellipse, and preferably intersects both the minor axis and the major axis, and passes through the center of the ellipse.
US07889025B1

An anti-reflective acoustic diffusion device is provided by a group of irregularly dimensioned diffusing elements positioned on an acoustic wave substrate end that diffuse the SAW and eliminate unwanted acoustic reflections from the end of the substrate. The irregularly dimensioned diffusing elements are substantially irregular in size, shape, composition, and location and provide the desired diffusion into a nearly uniform distributed acoustic energy with a random phase. The anti-reflective acoustic diffusion device can be used with SAW, BAW or multiple acoustic wave configurations. This invention also encompasses an anti-reflective acoustic diffusion system and methods for diffusing acoustic reflections with anti-reflective acoustic diffusing elements.
US07889020B2

Disclosed is methodology and apparatus for producing an asymmetrical filter for use with implantable medical devices, and in other input filtering environments. Differing forward and reverse characteristic responses are provided by inserting a low value resistor in series with heart connecting leads so that EMI input protection may be provided without significantly reducing energy transfer from the protected device. Improved protection against voltage transients is provided with present arrangements of differentiated series impedance. Higher frequency energy is allowed out of a subject device than is allowed into such device, which allows for attenuation of undesired frequency ranges entering the filter while allowing output pulses to exit without distortion.
US07889018B2

An oscillator utilizes two current sources that have the same temperature and VDD dependency so they generate the same current in changing conditions. Therefore, there is very low VT dependency. The resistor and fringe capacitor temperature coefficient are very low and opposite so they compensate for each other. A comparator with a short period of operation also minimizes VT dependency.
US07889015B2

To provide an oscillation device having a long oscillation wavelength in which wavelength variable width is relatively broad and wavelength sweep rate is relatively high. An oscillation device includes a gain medium having a gain with respect to an electromagnetic wave to be oscillated, cavity structures for resonating the electromagnetic wave, and energy injection means and for injecting pumping energy into the gain medium. The gain medium is sandwiched between a first negative permittivity medium and a second magnetic permittivity medium each of which real part of permittivity with respect to the electromagnetic wave is negative. Electric field application means is provided for at least one of the first negative permittivity medium and the second negative permittivity medium to apply an electric field for changing a depletion region formed at a boundary part with the gain medium.
US07889005B2

A controllable amplifier amplifies a radiofrequency input signal on the basis of a control signal. A current path is formed between a supply potential connection and a reference potential connection. The current path includes an amplifier transistor and a cascode transistor, the cascode transistor being connected to the input for supplying the control signal. The output power of the amplifier is controlled using the cascode transistor, as a result of which a low power consumption is achieved in conjunction with good noise properties.
US07889000B2

Aspects of a method and system for polar modulating OFDM signals with discontinuous phase may include amplifying a normalized OFDM signal via a plurality of amplifiers such that a combined gain of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a coarse amplitude gain and an amplitude offset gain. A gain of one or more of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the coarse amplitude gain, and a gain of one or more remaining ones of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the amplitude offset gain adaptively and/or dynamically. The setting of the coarse amplitude gain and/or the amplitude offset gain may be adjusted dynamically and/or adaptively via an amplitude control.
US07888992B2

A circuit for controlling an internal voltage is provided.The circuit for controlling an internal voltage, comprising: a level detector configured to detect a voltage level of a core voltage to generate a core voltage level detection signal; a release controller configured to generate a release control signal according to the core voltage level detection signal; and a core voltage release driver configured to release the core voltage according to the release control signal.
US07888987B2

A temperature compensation circuit according to an embodiment includes a bias circuit configured to output a bias current, the bias current having a current value increasing in proportion to absolute temperature, in a low temperature region in which a temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, and having another current value increasing at a faster rate than the current value increasing in proportion to absolute temperature, in a high temperature region in which the temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature, and a transistor having a collector connected to a power supply terminal, an emitter which is grounded, and a base supplied with the bias current.
US07888986B2

A method and a circuit for controlling a thyristor (V1) into conducting state, the thyristor (V1) being in a rectifier, which rectifier supplies DC voltage to a DC voltage circuit. The circuit comprising a trigger capacitor (C2) adapted to be charged from the voltage difference across the thyristor (V1) when the anode-to-cathode voltage of the thyristor is positive, a zener diode (V5) adapted to be triggered with the voltage of the trigger capacitor (C2), when the voltage of the trigger capacitor (C2) exceeds the breakdown voltage of the zener diode (V5), and an auxiliary thyristor (V3) adapted to be triggered with the current from the trigger capacitor (C2) flowing via the zener diode (V5), wherein the cathode of the auxiliary thyristor (V3) is connected to the gate of the thyristor (V1) for triggering the thyristor (V1) with the current from the trigger capacitor (C2) flowing via the auxiliary thyristor (V3) for using the thyristor (V1) in a diode mode.
US07888980B2

A charge pump with low charge injection and low clock feed-through for a phase locked loop (PLL). A first source-switched current mirror has a source transistor and an output transistor. The source transistor has a drain connected to a first current source. The output transistor has a drain connected to an output of the charge pump. The gates of the source and output transistors are coupled together by a first conductive link. A switch is coupled between a supply voltage source and a source of the output transistor of the current mirror. A tuner is coupled between the switch and the output transistor of the current mirror. A source of the tuner is coupled to a drain of the switch and to the source of the output transistor. A drain of the tuner is coupled to the first conductive link between the source and output transistors of the current mirror.
US07888977B2

An electronic device for delivering DC power includes a load, a power end, an upper gate switch including a first end coupled to the power, a second end, and a third end, for conducting connection between the first and third ends according to the signal level of the second end, a lower gate switch including a first end coupled to the third end of the upper gate switch, a second end, and a third end coupled to ground, for conducting connection between the first and third ends according to the signal level of the second end, an inductor, and a switch control unit, coupled to the second end of the upper gate switch and the second end of the lower gate switch, for switching the upper gate switch between an ON state and an OFF state, and switching the lower gate switch between an ON state and a semi-ON state.
US07888968B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a single driver that can be used to transmit data with configurable levels of pre-emphasis, and can have either a constant or adjustable driver output impendence, selectively. One embodiment, directed to a driver apparatus, is associated with a digital communication channel for transmitting data signals, wherein at least one of the signals includes a higher frequency component. The apparatus comprises a first sub-driver that has a constant output impedance, and is selectively configurable to implement two or more different levels of pre-emphasis. The apparatus further comprises one or more second sub-drivers. A set of connector elements are provided for connecting the first sub-driver and each of the second sub-drivers in parallel relationship with one another, so that the first sub-driver and each of the second sub-drivers all have inputs that respectively receive a specified driver apparatus input signal, and all have outputs that are connected together to selectively provide a specified driver apparatus output impedance. The apparatus further includes a device that is connected to selectively disable and enable each of the second sub-drivers.
US07888958B2

A probe for current test is provided. The probe includes a probe body having a plate-like connection portion whose end face becomes a connection face to a probe board, a solder layer formed on at least one side face of said connection portion, and a guide portion formed on the connection portion. The guide portion penetrates the connection portion in its thickness direction from the one side face with the solder layer formed to the other side face. When the solder layer is melted, the guide portion guides a portion of the melted solder to the other side face.
US07888953B2

A probe card is disclosed that includes a board having a first surface and a second surface facing away from each other and a through hole formed between the first and second surfaces; and a probe needle having a penetration part and a support part. The penetration part is placed in the through hole without contacting the board and projects from the first and second surfaces of the board. The support part is integrated with a first one of the end portions of the penetration part and connected to one of the first and second surfaces of the board. The support part has a spring characteristic. The penetration part is configured to have a second one of its end portions come into contact with an electrode pad of a semiconductor chip at the time of conducting an electrical test on the semiconductor chip.
US07888949B2

An electronic testing machine includes a plurality of test modules. Each test module has a plurality of contact pairs for testing electronic components. An apparatus and process for electrical test setup and calibration of the electronic testing machine includes a plate having at least one contact per track movable between test positions to electrically insert a test device selectively between any one contact pair, and a control program. The test device can be selected from a group consisting of a volt meter, a current meter, a precision voltage/current source, a calibration resistor, and a calibration capacitor. The control program can perform at least one test function through the plate. The test function can be selected from a group consisting of alignment verification, voltage/current source verification, insulation resistance (IR) leakage measurement verification, part-present contact check verification, capacitance and dissipation (CD) measurement verification, IR/CD compensation, and IR/CD calibration.
US07888937B2

A beam current sensor is composed of a cylindrical super-conductive body having a bridge unit formed on the outer diameter side wherein a beam passes through the inner diameter side. The sensor improves efficiency of creating a magnetic field from a current and can measure a beam current as 1 nA. The bridge unit includes a first coil unit formed so as to have an eddy shape wound counterclockwise from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side; a second coil unit formed so as to have an eddy shape wound clockwise from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side; and a connection portion for connecting the center position of the inner diameter side of the first coil unit with the center position of the inner diameter side of the second coil.
US07888931B2

The present invention provides an improved magnetic winding and method of calculating desired winding parameters (winding layer thickness, number of winding layers and number of turns per winding layer) for a winding in a magnetic component. The invention may be applied to general boundary conditions in a magnetic winding or component and considers relative phase displacement for sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal winding currents. Ratios of magnetic surface field intensities at corresponding inner and outer boundaries of one or more winding layer(s) are calculated, and considered with relative phase displacement to select magnetic winding configurations having desired or optimal power dissipation. In certain aspects, a normalized loss function f(H,R,B,Φ) is utilized to determine a preferred construction among a plurality of iteratively generated selections.
US07888925B2

A method of operating a synchronous power converter generates a control signal in a load current compensation circuit based on a light load condition at the converter, where the control signal controls a gate driver for at least one power switch of the converter. When the gate driver is turned off via the control signal, the method monitors one or more comparison signals in a reference voltage adjustment module of the compensation circuit, a first comparison signal of the one or more comparison signals indicative of a voltage level at a phase node of the converter. Based on a remaining body diode conduction level associated a body diode with the at least one power switch as detected by at least a second comparison signal, the method adjusts a reference voltage for the at least one power switch with the adjustment module until the body diode is no longer conducting.
US07888919B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for an adaptive high efficiency switching power supply. The switching power supply has a regulation stage with a stage controller that operates to regulate a voltage of the regulation stage relative to a reference voltage. A power detection module detects an amount of power used by the switching power supply. A low power module determines if the power supply is operating below a minimum power capacity threshold. A stage voltage adjustment module adjusts the reference voltage from a high power reference voltage to a low power reference voltage in response to the low power module determining that the power supply is operating below the minimum power capacity threshold. The low power reference voltage causes a regulated voltage adjustment such that the switching power supply operates more efficiently below the minimum power threshold.
US07888917B2

Systems and methods for producing a substantially constant output voltage in a power source boost system are provided. A power supply boost circuit includes an output node for supplying an output voltage, a feed forward loop configured to be coupled to a load and a power source, and a feedback loop including a voltage limiter coupled to the feed forward loop and the output node. One power source boost system includes the above power source boost coupled to a load and a power source. A method includes the steps of comparing, via a feedback loop, a constant voltage to a reference voltage, and stabilizing a power source boost system over a range of input voltages and load variations. The stabilizing step includes the step of limiting, via a limiter, a voltage supplied to a feed forward loop to a predetermined range of voltages based on the comparing step.
US07888916B1

A power conditioner for circuit breaker panel and method of use. The apparatus comprises an electric motor electrically connected to distribution power lines into the breaker panel. The electric motor drives an electric generator. Electric power from the electric generator is fed into sector circuit breaker bus bars in the circuit breaker panel, which in turn power sector circuit breakers mounted to the sector circuit breaker bus bars. The circuit breaker panel may incorporate a main breaker between the distribution power lines and the sector circuit breaker bus bars. The apparatus may include a transmission between the motor and the generator. The method steps include using electric power from the distribution power line to run the electric motor, using the electric motor to drive the generator, and feeding power from the generator to the sector circuit breaker bus bars.
US07888902B2

A method of configuring a signal for controlling a voice coil motor (VCM) is disclosed. A voltage at an error amplifier of a VCM driver is accessed. A target value at the error amplifier is accessed. A difference value between the target value and the voltage is determined. An impedance value of the variable compensation coupled with the error amplifier is adjusted, based on the difference value.
US07888900B2

A robot arm is provided with an end effecter for grasping an object and a force sensor for detecting a force acted upon the end effecter. In the state in which end effecter grasps an object, when there is a change in the force acting on the end effecter detected by the force sensor, outputted is a signal for releasing the force of the end effecter grasping the object. The object grasped by the end effecter can be taken out as if the object were handed from person over to person.
US07888894B2

An electric motor control system including a generator, an AC motor, a power converter for driving the AC motor using a DC output voltage of the generator, and an electric motor controller for controlling the power converter. The electric motor controller controls the power converter by predicting a change in the DC voltage.
US07888883B2

A lighting system is provided that includes at least one lighting device, at least one connector, and a plurality of external power sources. The at least one lighting device includes at least one lighting source, and an internal power source applying a first electrical current to illuminate the at least one lighting element, wherein the internal power source supplies the first electrical current. The at least one connector electrically connects to the at least one lighting device. The plurality of external power sources include at least first and second external power sources that are adapted to be electrically connected to the at least one lighting device by the at least one connector. The first external power source supplies a second electrical current to the at least one lighting device to illuminate the at least one lighting source and the second external power source supplies a third electrical current to illuminate the at least one lighting source, such that the internal power source and one of the plurality of external power sources each supply electrical current to illuminate the at least one lighting source at different times.
US07888882B2

An LED lamp including at least one LED is electrically connected to a utility input voltage. A driving apparatus located inside a lamp holder of the LED lamp includes an input rectifying/filtering unit to accept the utility input voltage; an isolated power inverter electrically connected to the input rectifying/filtering unit to generate an a buck A.C.; an output rectifying/filtering unit electrically connected to the isolated power inverter to generate an output D.C. voltage to drive the at least one LED. The components of the driving apparatus could be located inside the LED lamp, and the components can provide an isolation protection against the utility input voltage. The driving apparatus can more precisely control output D.C. voltage, current, and power as output D.C. voltage and current signals sent from the output rectifying/filtering unit are feedbacked to a photo coupler signal feedback unit.
US07888881B2

Exemplary embodiments provide a system, method and apparatus for regulating current in loads, such as in an array of independent pluralities of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). An exemplary system comprises a multiplexer adapted to switch current to each independent string of LEDs; a first controller to maintain a substantially constant average current level to the plurality of LEDs; and a second controller to modulate a current amplitude and duration of time division multiplexing for each independent string of LEDs. Another aspect of the system provides for modulating the on time for switching current to maintain a substantially constant average current level and to respond and converge quickly to changing current reference levels.
US07888877B2

A light emitting diode (LED) lamp electrically connected to a switch is provided. The LED lamp includes a lamp body, an LED array disposed inside the lamp body, and a current control circuit disposed inside the lamp body. The current control circuit is electrically connected between the LED array and the switch. The current control circuit is capable of outputting various driving currents to the LED array according to the number of flashing times of the switch, so as to modulate the intensity of light emitted from the LED array. Since the above-mentioned LED lamp has the built-in current control circuit, users are capable of modulating the intensity of light emitted from the above-mentioned LED lamp by flashing the switch.
US07888870B2

A plasma display panel (PDP) and a method of producing the same are provided. In the PDP, airtightness of discharge space is maintained and the performance of the PDP does not deteriorate while a sealing part containing P2O5 and SnO is provided. The sealing member with which such PDP can be obtained also is provided. The PDP includes a pair of substrates that are disposed facing each other so that a discharge space is formed therebetween, and peripheries of the pair of substrates are sealed together, with a first sealing part. The first sealing part includes a glass composition containing P2O5 and SnO, and a refractory filler. The organic matter content in the first sealing part is less than 11 ppm.
US07888869B2

A light emitting device, comprises a light emitting element, a plurality of electroconductive layers on which said light emitting element is mounted or which are electrically connected to the light emitting element, and a translucent insulating member that seals the light emitting element and has the electroconductive layers as its bottom surface, wherein the electroconductive layers have a protrusion on part of their side faces, and the upper edges of the protrusion is rounded off.
US07888868B2

A light source that has improved light mixing. The light source uses a nanolens layer in conjunction with an LED light source to enhance the mixing of the colored light emitting from the LED light source.
US07888863B2

The present invention relates to novel organic electroluminescent compounds, and organic electroluminescent devices employing the same as electroluminescent material. Specifically, the organic electroluminescent compounds according to the invention are characterized in that they are represented by Chemical Formula (1): wherein, A and B independently represent CR7 or N, provided that both A and B cannot be CR7 or N at the same time; and X is O or S.
US07888859B2

In an organic electroluminescence element which incorporates a substrate having thereon an anode and a cathode and which incorporates a plurality of organic layers between the aforesaid anode and cathode, wherein at least one of the aforesaid organic layers is a first organic layer incorporating a compound having at most 10 repeating units, the first organic layer being prepared by coating the compound having at least one polymerizable group, followed by polymerization.
US07888855B2

Composition comprising one or more energy donors and one or more energy acceptors, wherein energy is transferred from the energy donor to the energy acceptor and wherein: the energy acceptor is a colloidal nanocrystal having a lower band gap energy than the energy donor; the energy donor and the energy acceptor are separated by a distance of 40 nm or less; wherein the average peak absorption energy of the acceptor is at least 20 meV greater than the average peak emission energy of the energy donor; and wherein the ratio of the number of energy donors to the number of energy acceptors is from about 2:1 to about 1000:1.
US07888844B2

A micromachined structure, comprises a substrate and a cavity in the substrate. The micromachined structure comprises a membrane layer disposed over the substrate and spanning the cavity.
US07888843B2

A micro-electromechanical resonator self-compensates for process-induced dimensional variations by using a resonator body having a plurality of perforations therein. These perforations may be spaced along a longitudinal axis of the resonator body, which extends orthogonal to a nodal line of the resonator body. These perforations, which may be square or similarly-shaped polygonal slots, may extend partially or entirely though the resonator body and may be defined by the same processes that are used to define the outer dimensions (e.g., length, width) of the resonator body.
US07888822B2

The present invention provides a power-saving laser pointer mouse including a battery, a micro-controller and a laser diode. The power-saving laser pointer mouse can be operated in multi-stage power-saving modes according to the voltage value of the battery. The lighting time interval of the laser diode is adjusted by the micro-controller according to the voltage value of the battery. When the voltage value of the battery is reduced, the lighting time interval of the laser diode is shortened so as to achieve the power-saving purpose.
US07888816B2

A system and method of isolating an uninterruptible power supply system is disclosed that comprises bypassing an inverter section of the power supply to couple primary power to a load bus; and, thereafter, isolating the power supply by simultaneously uncoupling the power supply from the load bus and coupling the primary power to the load bus.
US07888815B2

An AC/DC power supply, a method of delivering DC power at multiple voltages and a computer data storage system. In one embodiment the AC/DC power supply includes: (1) a transformer having a primary winding couplable to an AC power source and a secondary winding inductively couplable to the primary winding and (2) multiple DC voltage rails coupled to the secondary winding at designated locations and configured to deliver power to loads coupled thereto, each of the DC voltage rails configured to dynamically transfer therebetween an available portion of the power in response to changes in the loads.
US07888811B2

A converter ECU controls a converter to transmit an electric power between a power storage device and a power storage unit through a main positive bus line and a main negative bus line during temperature rise control of the power storage device. Specifically, converter ECU sets a target voltage of the converter to a second voltage value lower than a first voltage value when a voltage value reaches the first voltage value, and sets the target voltage of the converter to the first voltage value when the voltage value reaches the second voltage value.
US07888801B2

A semiconductor device includes at least three or more wiring layers stacked in an interlayer insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, a seal ring provided at the outer periphery of a chip region of the semiconductor substrate and a chip strength reinforcement provided in part of the chip region near the seal ring. The chip strength reinforcement is made of a plurality of dummy wiring structures and each of the plurality of dummy wiring structures is formed to extend across and within two or more of the wiring layers including one or none of the bottommost wiring layer and the topmost wiring layer using a via portion.
US07888791B2

A device is provided for electrically connecting an integrated circuit chip. The device includes a main board, an intermediate board, and electrical connection balls in a space separating the boards. In the space, a peripheral zone comprises a peripheral matrix of balls, a central zone comprises a central matrix of balls, a first secondary zone comprises a matrix of electrical connection vias linked to the balls of the two adjacent rows of balls of the peripheral matrix, and a second secondary zone comprises a matrix of electrical connection vias linked to balls of the central matrix. The first secondary zone and the second secondary zone are separated by an intermediate zone that includes at least a first part having at least one complementary row of electrical connection balls, and a second part having complementary electrical connection vias linked to the balls of this complementary row.
US07888781B2

Semiconductor packages and methods for making and using the same are described. The semiconductor packages contain a lead frame with a customized array of lands at the bottom of the package. The lands are connected to a series of leads that are located within the perimeter of the lands. The leads can be routed according to the requirements of each specific IC die which they support and therefore can support both a single die and multiple die in the semiconductor package. Such a configuration provides a flexible routing for optimized layout, a maximized package density, and a higher input/output capability with a smaller package size. Other embodiments are also described.
US07888778B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a through hole. An active layer is formed on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate. An inner wall surface of the through hole, a bottom surface of the through hole closed by the active layer and a second surface of the semiconductor substrate are covered with an insulating layer. A first opening is formed in the insulating layer which is present on the bottom surface of the through hole. A second opening is formed in the insulating layer which is present on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. A first wiring layer is formed from within the through hole onto the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. A second wiring layer is formed to connect to the second surface through the second opening.
US07888771B1

An electronic fuse (“E-fuse”) has a silicide filament link extending along a gap between polysilicon structures formed on a silicon substrate. The silicide filament link extends across diffusions formed in the gap. A P-N junction between terminals of the E-fuse provides high resistivity after programming (fusing) the silicide filament link.
US07888764B2

A semiconductor structure includes an interconnect region and a semiconductor stack bonded to the interconnect region through a bonding region. The stack includes at least two semiconductor layers having different electrical properties. The stack also includes single crystalline semiconductor material. The stack can be processed to form a mesa structure and the mesa structure can be processed to from a vertically oriented semiconductor device.
US07888763B2

A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor layer and an infrared detecting layer. The semiconductor layer has a front surface and a back surface. An imaging pixel includes a photodiode region formed within the semiconductor layer. The infrared detecting layer is disposed above the front surface of the semiconductor layer to receive infrared light that propagates through the imaging sensor from the back surface of the semiconductor layer.
US07888760B2

A solid state imaging device includes: an imaging device substrate with an imaging device section formed on a first major surface side thereof; a backside interconnect electrode provided on a second major surface side of the imaging device substrate and electrically connected to the imaging device section, the second major surface being on the opposite side of the first major surface; a circuit substrate provided with a circuit substrate electrode opposed to the second major surface; a connecting portion electrically connecting the backside interconnect electrode to the circuit substrate electrode; and a light shielding layer provided coplanar with the backside interconnect electrode or on the circuit substrate side of the backside interconnect electrode.
US07888754B2

An MEMS transducer is constituted of a diaphragm, a plate, a support structure for supporting the diaphragm and the plate with a gap layer surrounded by an interior wall, an electrode film (e.g. a pad conductive film) for covering a contact hole formed in the support structure, and a protective film (e.g. a pad protective film) which is formed on the support structure externally of the interior wall so as to cover the side surface of the electrode film having low chemical stability. The protective film is formed in the limited area including a part of the surface of the electrode film except for its center portion and the surrounding area of the electrode film. This allows the protective film to use materials having high membrane stress such as silicon nitride or silicon nitride oxide.
US07888744B2

In various method embodiments, a device region is defined in a semiconductor substrate and isolation regions are defined adjacent to the device region. The device region has a channel region, and the isolation regions have volumes. The volumes of the isolation regions are adjusted to provide the channel region with a desired strain. In various embodiments, adjusting the volumes of the isolation regions includes transforming the isolation regions from a crystalline region to an amorphous region to expand the volumes of the isolation regions and provide the channel region with a desired compressive strain. In various embodiments, adjusting the volumes of the isolation regions includes transforming the isolation regions from an amorphous region to a crystalline region to contract the volumes of the isolation regions to provide the channel region with a desired tensile strain. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US07888740B2

The semiconductor device includes a first MIS transistor including a gate insulating film 92, a gate electrode 108 formed on the gate insulating film 92 and source/drain regions 154, a second MIS transistor including a gate insulating film 96 thicker than the gate insulating film 92, a gate electrode 108 formed on the gate insulating film 96, source/drain regions 154 and a ballast resistor 120 connected to one of the source/drain regions 154, a salicide block insulating film 146 formed on the ballast resistor 120 with an insulating film 92 thinner than the gate insulating film 96 interposed therebetween, and a silicide film 156 formed on the source/drain regions 154.
US07888733B2

A power semiconductor having a first, second, third, and fourth semiconductor layer on top of each other, two trench gates parallel and adjacent to each other, each having a trench in the fourth semiconductor layer with the a trench bottom portion reaching into the third semiconductor layer, a gate insulation film lining the trench, and a gate electrode filling the trench being lined with the gate insulation film, two first semiconductor region regions provided contiguously bordering on one side of each of the two trench gates, located at the outer sides of each of the two adjacent trench gates, and located in the top side of the fourth semiconductor layer, a first main electrode on the fourth semiconductor layer, and a second main electrode provided on a bottom of the first semiconductor layer.
US07888717B2

A thin film transistor substrate includes a color filter layer and a gate line. The color filter layer has a reverse taper shape, which is used to pattern the gate line without a separate mask. Thus, the total number of masks used to manufacture the thin film transistor substrate can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and improving the productivity.
US07888711B2

A structure for a memory device including a plurality of substantially planar thin-film layers or a plurality of conformal thin-film layers is disclosed. The thin-film layers form a memory element that is electrically in series with first and second cladded conductors and operative to store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles. A select voltage applied across the first and second cladded conductors is operative to perform data operations on the memory device. The memory device may optionally include a non-ohmic device electrically in series with the memory element and the first and second cladded conductors. Fabrication of the memory device does not require the plurality of thin-film layers be etched in order to form the memory element. The memory element can include a CMO layer having a selectively crystallized polycrystalline portion and an amorphous portion. The cladded conductors can include a core material made from copper.
US07888708B2

A wireless sensor chip suitable for the compact, high-sensitive, and low-cost examination apparatus for easily examining a biological material such as gene at low cost is provided. A sensor chip is formed on an SOI substrate, and an n type semiconductor layer on which a pMOS transistor is formed and a p type semiconductor layer on which an nMOS transistor is formed are isolated by a pn junction. Therefore, the p type semiconductor layer at the outermost portion (chip edge portion to be in contact with solution) is set to floating, and the maximum potential and the minimum potential of the chip are supplied to an n type semiconductor layer and a p type semiconductor layer inside the outermost portion, respectively. Also, the chip is covered with an ion impermeable insulating film for reducing the penetration of positive ions through the oxide layer.
US07888700B2

An inorganic light emitting device including a transparent substrate; a first electrode; a second electrode opposed to the first electrode; a polycrystalline inorganic light emitting layer including core/shell quantum dots within an inorganic semiconductor matrix and, wherein the first electrode is transparent and formed on the transparent substrate, the polycrystalline inorganic light emitting layer is formed over the first electrode, and the second electrode is formed over the light emitting layer.
US07888695B2

A manufacture method of a light emitting device is provided. Firstly, at least one circuit board is provided. A plurality of light emitting packages, a first undetermined power input end and a second undetermined power input end are disposed at the circuit board. The light emitting packages are electrically connected to the first undetermined power input end and the second undetermined power input end. Each of the first undetermined power input end and the second undetermined power input end has at least two first pads. The first pads of each of the first undetermined power input end and the second undetermined power input end are electrically isolated from each other. Next, the first undetermined power input end is selected to be a power input region for inputting an external power signal. Then, the first pads of the second undetermined power input end are electrically connected to each other.
US07888694B2

A nitride-based semiconductor light emitting device having an improved structure in which light extraction efficiency is improved and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The nitride-based semiconductor light emitting device comprises an n-clad layer, an active layer, and a p-clad layer, which are sequentially stacked on a substrate, wherein the n-clad layer comprises a first clad layer, a second clad layer, and a light extraction layer interposed between the first clad layer and the second clad layer and composed of an array of a plurality of nano-posts, the light extraction layer diffracting or/and scattering light generated in the active layer.
US07888690B2

An image display unit and a method of producing the image display unit, wherein the image display unit includes an array of a plurality of light emitting devices for displaying an image, and wherein the method of producing the image display unit employs, for example, a space expanding transfer, whereby a first transfer step includes transferring the devices arrayed on a first substrate to a temporary holding member such that the devices are spaced from each other with a pitch larger than a pitch of the devices arrayed on the first substrate, a second holding step includes holding the devices on the temporary holding member, and a third transfer step includes transferring the devices held on the temporary holding member onto a second board such that the devices are spaced from each other with a pitch larger than the pitch of the devices held on the temporary holding member.
US07888689B2

Example embodiments may include a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package may include a light emitting device, a package body including a cavity having a bottom surface on which the light emitting device is mounted and a side surface for reflecting light emitted from the light emitting device, a first electrode protruding from the package body, and a second electrode coupled with the package body. The first and second electrodes may be designed to couple respectively with the second and first electrodes of another light emitting device package, thereby forming an array of light emitting device packages.
US07888687B2

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode that can produce powerful light emission with low driving voltage, without reducing crystallinity. The electrode for a semiconductor light emitting device has a structure with an n-type or p-type electrode and an opposing p-type or n-type electrode on the same side of the light emitting device. Both electrodes comprise a bonding pad and a transparent conductive layer. Preferably, the light emitting device is a GaN-based semiconductor light emitting device. The material of the transparent conductive layer is a metal oxide such as ITO, or a metal such as Al, Ni.
US07888685B2

Processes for the purification of silicon carbide structures, including silicon carbide coated silicon carbide structures, are disclosed. The processes described can reduce the amount of iron contamination in a silicon carbide structure by 100 to 1000 times. After purification, the silicon carbide structures are suitable for use in high temperature silicon wafer processing.
US07888673B2

Provided is a monitoring pattern for a silicide that may include a plurality of poly pads, a plurality of N-well regions and P-well regions, active regions, and a poly gate line. The plurality of poly pads are disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of N-well regions and P-well regions are disposed in a single line between the poly pads. The active regions are disposed on the N-well and the P-well regions. The poly gate line electrically connects the active regions to the poly pads and has a configuration permitting it to pass through the active regions a plurality of times.
US07888666B2

The cross-sectional area of a contact with a phase-change memory element within the cell is controlled by a first dimension of a bottom electrode and a second dimension controlled by an etch process. The contact area is a product of the first dimension and the second dimension. The method allows the formation of very small phase-change memory cells.
US07888651B2

Methods and systems for determining a location of a photon event for an imaging system including a plurality of 3-D detectors. For one of the photons in the photon pair, an interaction in a first 3-D detector is detected. For the other of the photons in the photon pair, at least two interactions in a second 3-D detector are detected. A cone-surface projector function is produced based on the at least two interaction locations in the second 3-D detector. A projector function is produced based on the produced cone-surface projector function, the detected interaction in the first 3-D detector, and the at least two detected interactions in the second 3-D detector.
US07888649B2

The present invention relates to a radiation image capturing system. A radiation detector of a radiation detecting cassette detects a radiation that has passed through a patient, and an accumulated exposed radiation dose calculator calculates an accumulated exposed radiation dose by accumulating radiation image information detected by the radiation detector, at every image capturing. The calculated accumulated exposed radiation dose is transmitted, together with cassette ID information, to a console. In the console, a status determining unit compares the accumulated exposed radiation dose with an allowable accumulated exposed radiation dose for the radiation detecting cassette to determine the status of the radiation detecting cassette, and issues a warning based on the determined status.
US07888642B2

The present invention provides an electron beam apparatus for irradiating a sample with primary electron beams to detect secondary electron beams generated from a surface of the sample by the irradiation for evaluating the sample surface. In the electron beam apparatus, an electron gun has a cathode for emitting primary electron beams. The cathode includes a plurality of emitters for emitting primary electron beams, arranged apart from one another on a circle centered at an optical axis of a primary electro-optical system. The plurality of emitters are arranged such that when the plurality of emitters are projected onto a straight line parallel with a direction in which the primary electron beams are scanned, resulting points on the straight line are spaced at equal intervals.
US07888633B2

The invention relates to mass spectrometers in which ion clouds are stored in two spatial directions by radial forces while oscillating largely harmonically at a mass-specific frequency in a third spatial direction perpendicular to the other two, in a potential minimum, the shape of which is as close to a parabola as possible. Analysis of the oscillation frequencies of these ion clouds, preferably by a Fourier analysis, leads via a frequency spectrum to a mass spectrum. The frequency spectrum is analyzed to identify false signals in the frequency spectrum as harmonics and eliminating them where necessary.
US07888624B1

A multi-image detector assembly for detecting a plurality of correlated images of a single scene over a plurality of disparate electromagnetic wavelength sets includes an imaging-sensor array, a plurality of focusing elements and a plurality of optical filtering elements. The imaging-sensor array has a plurality of detector-array sections, each of which detector-array sections comprises at least two detector-array subsections dedicated to the detection of a common wavelength set associated with that detector-array section. Each focusing element is aligned for focusing upon a corresponding one of the plurality of detector-array sub-sections an image of the scene correlating to the images of the scene focused upon other detector-array sub-sections by the other focusing elements. Additionally, each focusing element and its corresponding detector-array sub-section defines an optical path and each detector-array section has associated with it at least two such optical paths. At least two detector-array subsections belonging to each common detector-array section are configured to register images that are commonly filtered by a single optical filtering element.
US07888623B2

An illumination device includes: a light emitting element to be a light source; a light amount detecting means for detecting the amount of light emitted by the light emitting element; a light emitting element drive means for controlling drive current supplied to the light emitting element so that the difference between the light mount detected by the light amount detecting means and a light amount target value becomes small; a junction temperature detecting means for calculating junction temperature of the light emitting element; and a setting means for setting the light amount target value in accordance with the junction temperature detected by the junction temperature detecting means.
US07888621B2

A system includes a cutting station having a laser cutter for cutting surface marks, score lines, holes, slots, flaps, panels, etc. into a selected substrate, an image capture device for capturing digital image data associated with the selected substrate, and a computing system for controlling the cutting process. The computing system 32 initiates a calibration test cycle that 1) cuts a test pattern into the selected substrate; and 2) analyzes the test pattern that was cut into the selected substrate. Based on the results of the analysis of the captured image, the system adjusts the operational parameters of the laser cutter during a subsequent packaging production run utilizing the same substrate type.
US07888620B2

A method of and system for forming two laser processing beams with controlled stability at a target specimen work surface includes first and second mutually coherent laser beams propagating along separate first and second beam paths that are combined to perform an optical property adjustment. The combined laser beams are separated into third and fourth laser beams propagating along separate beam paths and including respective third and fourth main beam components, and one of the third and fourth laser beams contributes a leakage component that copropagates in mutual temporal coherence with the main beam component of the other of the third and fourth laser beams. An effect of mutual temporal coherence of the leakage component and the other main beam component with which the leakage component copropagates is reduced through acousto-optic modulation frequency shifts or through incorporation of an optical path length difference in the two beams.
US07888613B2

In an embodiment, a membrane switch may include a flexible light guide having a first refractive index. The flexible light guide may include a first wall, an opposing second wall, and one or more additional walls. One or more of the first wall, the second wall and the additional walls may be disposed adjacent to a substance including a second refractive index that is lower than the first refractive index.
US07888612B1

A platform of the type holding a plurality of normally-open electric switches in position for activation of a selected individual switch by application of a force in a direction normal to a surface of the switch by a portion of a human body. An exemplary platform according to the invention forms a dance platform on which a user steps to activate switches in accordance with instructions viewed on a video display device. A joining structure may by used to hold two platforms in a side-by-side competition arrangement. A security vault may be affixed to structure associated with platform to resist theft of a commercially available game controller adapted to operate the video display and to receive switch input from a platform. Certain aspects of the invention include one or more, typically inert, practice platforms structured to represent the user interface surface of an activatable platform. A method for using a system of active and inert platforms is also disclosed.
US07888607B2

A thin film circuit board device includes: a first thin film circuit board having a first protrusion provided with a first conductive contact; a second thin film circuit board having a second protrusion provided with a second conductive contact; and an insulator film disposed between the first and second thin film circuit boards. The first and second protrusions are disposed one above the other. The insulator film is free of a portion that extends between the first and second protrusions. The first and second protrusions are folded together in such a manner that the first and second conductive contacts are brought into contact with each other at the fold thereof.
US07888601B2

One system of the present application includes an electronic assembly with a heat dissipating device, printed wiring board with electronic circuitry, bus bar, insulative grommet, and fastener. The board defines a bus with an interconnection pad and a board opening. The bus bar connects with the interconnection pad and defines a bar opening with a beveled shoulder portion that align with the board opening to define a passage to a fastening site of the heat dissipating device. The grommet defines a distal end portion opposite a proximal end portion shaped with a flange. The distal end portion is inserted into the passage with the flange abutting the beveled shoulder portion. The fastener extends through the grommet to provide a mechanical connection of the board and bar to the site and maintain thermal coupling between the board and device while the grommet electrically insulates the fastener from the bar.
US07888598B2

The present invention provides a non-halogen resin composition, an insulated electrical wire formed of the non-halogen resin composition, and a wire harness including the insulated electrical wire. The non-halogen resin composition, comprising: (A) 100 parts by weight of a base resin, containing 50 to 75 weight percent of a polypropylene, 20 to 40 weight percent of a propylene-alpha olefin copolymer, and 5 to 10 weight percent of a low density polyethylene; (B) 50 to 100 parts by weight of a metal hydroxide; (C) 3 to 5 parts by weight of a phenolic anti-oxidant; and (D) 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of a hydrazine-containing metal capture agent. The non-halogen resin composition exhibits excellent mechanical properties such as abrasion resistance, flame retardant property, flexibility, and long-term heat resistance, even if it contains inorganic flame retardant therein.
US07888594B2

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to an electrode (e.g., front electrode) for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. In certain example embodiments, a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) of the front electrode for use in a photovoltaic device is of or includes titanium oxide doped with one or more of Nb, Zn and/or Al. Additional layers may also be provided in the front electrode in certain example embodiments. It has been found that the use of transparent conductive TiOx(:Nb) or TiZnOx(:Al and/or Nb), in a front electrode of a photovoltaic device, is advantageous in that such materials have a high refractive index (n) and have a higher transparency than conventional titanium suboxide (TiOx). Thus, the use of such materials in the context of a front electrode of a photovoltaic device reduces light reflection due to the high refractive index, and increases transmission into the active semiconductor film due to the higher transmission characteristics thereof, thereby improving the efficiency of the device.
US07888592B2

A photovoltaic power module (10), comprising a substrate (12) provided with a circuit, one or more photovoltaic cells (16) mounted to the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit, and one or more bypass diodes (20), each corresponding to a respective one or more of the cells, wherein each of the diodes is located between the substrate and the cells and between conducting portions (14) of the circuit. Solder (18) connects the bypass diode, the conducting portions, and the photovoltaic cell.
US07888590B2

The supply unit comprises a box type profile frame (1), whose base rests on wheels (2) and on whose top side (3), a square frame (16), as seen from above, is placed, said frame containing a solar panel (7). This can be swiveled about a horizontal axis (8) and is so connected to one of the top sides of the box type profile frame (1). A peripheral, square frame (5) of same size, each containing a solar panel (6), is connected in a swiveling way to each side of this square frame (16), so that out of the five square frames (16;5), a cube is formed when these frames are swiveled down. The peripherally connected square frames (5) can be swiveled to the plane of the central square frame (16) and can be locked in this position to the central square frame (16). The box type profile frame (1) contains several box type modules (24-26), which can be inserted like drawers from one side and can be arrested in these inserted positions; these modules are for various functions like accumulation of energy from sun and wind, preparation of drinking water, pumping water, delivery of electric power or Direct Current-Hydrogen generation through fuel cells.
US07888588B2

A tracking solar collector assembly includes solar collector support structure, with at least one solar collector mounted thereto and first and second spaced apart pivotal support points defining a tilt axis, Southside supports, with first pivot connectors, and North side supports, with a base, a second pivot connector, and one or two support elements connected to the base and to the second pivot connector at the ends thereof. The first and second support points are pivotally connected to and supported by the first pivot connectors and by the North side supports, respectively. The assembly also includes a tilting assembly causing the solar collectors therewith to tilt in unison.
US07888585B2

A photovoltaic module includes a plurality of interconnected submodules. Each submodule has a transparent front electrode layer, a semiconductor layer and a back electrode layer which have separating lines in each case for forming series-connected strip-shaped photovoltaic cells. The outer cells of two adjacent submodules are united into a single tap cell for current collection, the separating lines of the two adjacent submodules being disposed mirror-symmetrically with respect to their common tap cell.
US07888575B1

An improved drum construction in which sound hindering hardware is removed from the drum shell utilizing a unique tuning system that allows the drum skin to be tuned by rotating a counterhoop to bear pressure on an annular hoop securing the drum skin against a bearing rim. Rotation of the counterhoop drives the annular hoop deeper into an annular channel thereby increasing the tautness of the drum skin across the bearing rim. The bearing rim may be modified with adjustable bearing edges. The drum strainer is also removed from the drum shell and attached to the rim or counterhoop. Tone bridges and tone coats may be added to the drum shell to enhance sound production.
US07888569B2

The shoulder rest for a violin and a viola is formed in the manner that the basis of the shoulder rest (1) is partially rolled up in the opposite direction and that enables maximal adjustment to physiological characteristics of the violinist. The strain leg holder (2) is rotated for 180° C. in each direction in the way that the shoulder rest length is reduced from the functional shoulder rest length for one fourth.
US07888568B2

Timpani with quick and accurate tuning are shown. Each of timpani has a motor to drive the mechanism which gives variable tension to the head. Given tone is transformed to period of vibration and then to target displacement value of head rim against body. Motor is driven so that the head rim reaches the target displacement. Parameters of transform function to transform period to target displacement are stored, and updated, when head sounds and pair data of period of head vibration and the displacement are acquired, so that pair data fit the transform function. Combination of tones can be programmed stepwise in advance. In performance, steps are advanced by foot pedal or touch pad and tone changes of timpani are quickly done without sound. Muffling device is equipped and its actions are programmed with tone change.
US07888567B2

This invention provides hybrid maize plant designated PP79702. This invention further provides hybrid seed of PP79702, hybrid plants produced from such seed, and variants, mutants, and trivial modifications to hybrid PP79702, as well as methods of using the hybrid and products produced from the hybrid.
US07888566B1

A novel maize variety designated PHPH7 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHPH7 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHPH7 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHPH7 or a trait conversion of PHPH7 with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHPH7, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHPH7 and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07888564B1

A novel maize variety designated PHWTN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHWTN with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHWTN through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHWTN or a trait conversion of PHWTN with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHWTN, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHWTN and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07888548B2

An absorbent layer structure for use as an absorbent body in an absorbent article includes a first surface layer having cellulose fluff pulp, a second surface layer having cellulose fluff pulp, and an inner layer arranged between the surface layers having a mixture of cellulose fluff pulp and 5-90% by weight superabsorbent material, the cellulose fluff pulp in the surface layers having a mat strength which is lower than the mat strength in the inner layer by at least 1 N measured at a weight per unit area of 300 g/m2 and a bulk of 4.5 cm3/g or less and preferably a mat strength which is lower than the mat strength in the inner layer by at least 2 N measured at a weight per unit area of 300 g/m2 and a bulk of 4.5 cm3/g or less.
US07888531B2

Nateglinide M-type crystals (main peaks in powder X-ray diffraction: 6.0°, 14.2°, 15.2°, 18.8° (2θ)) can be produced by dissolving nateglinide in a solvent in which nateglinide is highly soluble and then adding a solvent in which nateglinide is difficultly soluble.
US07888524B2

Process for the preparation of sulfuric acid monoesters of aminoalkanols by reacting sulfuric acid with aminoalkanols and removing the water forming in the reaction from the reaction mixture, sulfuric acid and at least one aminoalkanol being mixed and the hot reaction mixture forming being passed with turbulent flow into a container and being quenched therein with a fluid.
US07888520B2

The present invention relates to a process of preparing fatty alkyl esters (biodiesel), glycerin and lithium soap comprising: a) transesterifying an oil, fat or grease with a solution of lithium base in a monohydric aliphatic alcohol to produce fatty alkyl esters and a lithium alkaline glycerin; b) separating the fatty alkyl esters and the lithium alkaline glycerin and utilizing the lithium alkaline glycerin to saponify fatty alkyl compounds to produce glycerin and lithium soap; and c) optionally, separating the glycerin and lithium soaps.
US07888513B2

The invention relates to a method for producing an azoline compound represented by the general formula (3): wherein R1 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group, an optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl group, a halogen atom, a substituted amino group, a substituted carbamoyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R3, R4, R5 and R6 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group, an optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl group, a halogen atom, a substituted amino group, a substituted carbamoyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; two arbitrary groups selected from R3, R4, R5 and R6 may bond to each other to form a ring; and Z1 represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a selenium atom; comprising reacting a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid derivative represented by the general formula (1): R1CO2R2  (1) wherein R1 is as defined above; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group; and R1 and R2 may bond to each other to form a ring; with an aminochalcogenide represented by the general formula (2): wherein R3, R4, R5, R6 and Z1 are as defined above; in the presence of a compound containing a group 12 metal element in the periodic table.
US07888511B2

Optically pure esomeprazole and its salt can be simply prepared by dissolving (S)-(−)-binol, a weak base and the racemic form of omeprazole in a mixture of a water-compatible organic solvent and water at a high temperature, cooling the mixed solution to crystallize the inclusion complex of esomeprazole and (S)-(−)-binol, and removing the (S)-(−)-binol moiety from the crystallized inclusion complex.
US07888507B2

Novel energy transfer dyes which can be used with shorter wavelength light sources are provided. These dyes include a donor dye with an absorption maxima at a wavelength between about 250 to 450 nm and an acceptor dye which is capable of absorbing energy emitted from the donor dye. One of the energy transfer dyes has a donor dye which is a member of a class of dyes having a coumarin or pyrene ring structure and an acceptor dye which is capable of absorbing energy emitted from the donor dye, wherein the donor dye has an absorption maxima between about 250 and 450 nm and the acceptor dye has an emission maxima at a wavelength greater than about 500 nm.
US07888505B2

The present invention relates to a 6,7-dihydrobenzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazolin-6-one carboxylic acid and its esters of the general structural formula (I), and provides a method for their synthesis (I) where R and each R′ are selected independently from the list comprising —H—CH3, —C2H5, —C3H7, -iso-C3H7, —CH2CH2CH2CH3, —CH(CH3)CH2CH3, —CH2CH(CH3)CH3 and —C(CH3)3; n is 1, 2, 3 or 4; Y is a substituent selected from the list comprising —CH3, —C2H5, —NO2, —Cl, —Br, —F, —CF3, —CN, —OH, —OCH3, —OC2H5, —OCOCH3, —OCN, —SCN, —NH2, —NHCOCH3; and z is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4.
US07888499B2

Barley with reduced SSII activity has a starch structure with reduced amylopectin content and a consequent high relative amylose content. Additionally the grain can have a relatively high β glucan content. The structure of the starch may also be altered in a number of ways which can be characterized by having a low gelatinsation temperature but with reduced swelling. The viscosity of gelatinised starch of the starch is also reduced. There is a chain length distribution of the amylopectin content and a low crystallinity of the starch. The starch is also characterized by having high levels of lipid associated starch exhibiting very high levels of V form starch crystallinity. The dietary fiber content of the starch is high. This has desirable dietary and food processing characteristics.
US07888498B2

The invention relates to a doable-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene, comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the IKK-B gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases, caused by the expression or activation of the IKK-B gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of the IKK-B gene in a cell.
US07888497B2

The present invention relates to a first group of novel oligonucleotides, here identified as “Genomic Address Messenger” or “GAM” oligonucleotide, and a second group of novel operon-like polynucleotides, here identified as “Genomic Record” or “GR” polynucleotide. GAM oligonucleotides selectively inhibit translation of known “target” genes, many of which are known to be involved in various diseases. Nucleic acid molecules are provided respectively encoding 122,764 GAM oligonucleotides and their respective precursors, and 18602 GR polynucleotides, as are vectors and probes both comprising the nucleic acid molecules, and methods and systems for detecting GAM oligonucleotides and GR polynucleotides and specific functions and utilities thereof, for detecting expression of GAM oligonucleotides and GR polynucleotides, and for selectively enhancing and selectively inhibiting translation of the respective target genes thereof.
US07888495B2

The invention provides DNA compositions that relate to transgenic insect resistant maize plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize DAS-59122-7 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided.
US07888483B2

The present invention provides antibodies or antigen-binding molecules that specifically recognize and antagonize human PAR1 receptor. Also provided in the invention are polynucleotides and vectors that encode such molecules and host cells that harbor the polynucleotides or vectors.
US07888482B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods relating to or derived from anti-PAR-2 antibodies. In particular embodiments, the invention provides antibodies that bind human PAR-2, PAR-2-binding fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, and PAR-2-binding polypeptides comprising such fragments. Other embodiments provide nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, cells comprising such polynucleotides, methods of making such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, and methods of using such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, including methods of treating or diagnosing subjects having PAR-2-related disorders or conditions.
US07888480B2

The invention discloses nearly 288 novel phosphorylation sites identified in signal transduction proteins and pathways underlying human Leukemia, and provides phosphorylation-site specific antibodies and heavy-isotope labeled peptides (AQUA peptides) for the selective detection and quantification of these phosphorylated sites/proteins, as well as methods of using the reagents for such purpose. Among the phosphorylation sites identified are sites occurring in the following protein types: Adaptor/Scaffold proteins, Cytoskeletal proteins, Cellular Metabolism enzymes, G Protein/GTPase Activating/Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor proteins, Immunoglobulin Superfamily proteins, Inhibitor proteins, Lipid Kinases, Nuclear DNA Repair/RNA Binding/Transcription proteins, Serine/Threonine Protein Kinases, Tyrosine Kinases, Protein Phosphatases, and Translation/Transporter proteins.
US07888477B2

Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of cancer, particularly ovarian cancer, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more ovarian tumor 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 and/or treatment of diseases, particularly ovarian cancer.
US07888476B2

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a very high purity von Willebrand factor concentrate from a biological fraction containing von Willebrand factor, including a separation by anion exchange chromatography using a vinyl polymer support of weak base type, the separation comprising the steps of loading of the chromatographic support with the fraction containing von Willebrand factor, previously equilibrated with a suitable buffer, with a predetermined flowrate allowing the retention of the von Willebrand factor, washing of the support with an acidic buffer with a flowrate higher than the flowrate of the step a) until the not-retained proteins and the contaminants are removed, flushing and equilibrating of the chromatographic support with the buffer and using the flowrate of the step a), and elution of the von Willebrand factor by increasing of the ionic strength of the step c). The invention also relates to a von Willebrand factor concentrate for therapeutic use likely to be obtained by implementing the process wherein the rate of Factor VIII:C/FvW:RCo is less than 0.06%.
US07888474B2

The present invention relates to HDM2 polypeptides and mutants thereof which are complexed with various compounds, e.g., HDM2 inhibitors.
US07888462B2

The present invention is a peptide compound which stimulates the formation of hard tissues such as bone and cartilage. The invention is also related to a method to treat a defect in hard tissues such as bone and cartilage using the peptide. The method of the present invention may be used to treat or prevent the defects in bones and cartilages which are caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis which involves the regeneration of new bone or cartilage in or around the defects.
US07888456B2

A process for continuously producing a thermoplastic copolymer, in which a copolymer (A) containing unsaturated carboxylic acid alkyl ester units and unsaturated carboxylic acid units is produced and in succession heat-treated to perform intramolecular cyclization reaction by dehydration and/or dealcoholization reaction, for producing a thermoplastic copolymer (B) containing glutaric anhydride units and the unsaturated carboxylic acid alkyl ester units. The obtained copolymer is excellent in heat resistance and colorless transparency and very small in foreign matter content.
US07888455B2

A polycarbonate copolymer contains: 0.1 to 50 mol % of a monomer unit represented by the following formula (1); and a monomer unit represented by the following formula (2). In the polycarbonate copolymer, the content of biphenols having a structure represented by the following formula (3) is 90 mass ppm or less. In the formula, R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or a halogen atom. In the formula: R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or a halogen atom; and X represents any one of bonding groups represented by —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, —CO— and 9,9-fluorenylidene group. In the formula, R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or a halogen atom.
US07888452B2

The invention provides a polymer of formula I: wherein A, B, D, E, R1, and R2 have any of the values defined in the specification, as well as electrical devices comprising such polymers.
US07888448B2

The present invention is directed to a method of forming a golf ball that contains an interpenetrating polymer network, or IPN, which includes at least two polymeric systems, in one or more of the layers. The first polymeric system may include a polyurethane-based or polyurea-based system having blocked isocyanate groups and the second polymeric system may include an epoxy-based or acrylic-based system, wherein the two systems are polymerized or cured simultaneously or sequentially to form an IPN.
US07888441B2

The present invention relates to metal-containing compositions comprising a metal-containing precursor unit (MU), a prepolymer unit (PU), and a catalyst or an initiator capable of inducing a combining reaction of ethylenically unsaturated groups of the metal-containing precursor unit and the prepolymer unit. In another embodiment, the composition comprises MU and a catalyst or initiator capable of inducing a combining reaction of the metal-containing precursor units. Both MU and PU contain additional functional groups, which may be selected to impart compatibility with each other and to produce optically clear films. The metal-containing compositions can be used to produce films or articles having a transmittance of at least 90% and index of refraction in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 in the 400-700 nm range of light and 1.4 to 2.4 in the 150-400 nm range of light.
US07888436B2

Sealant and potting formulations comprising a thioether-functional, oligomeric polythiol prepared by reacting together: (a) a compound having at least two thiol functional groups; and (b) a compound having triple bond functionality are disclosed.
US07888435B2

Methods for continuous bulk production of polyolefin polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and their amino, isocyanate, and alcohol derivatives using silane coupling agents as precursors.
US07888423B2

The invention relates to a polypropylene composition comprising: (i) 30-97 wt. % of a polypropylene; (ii) 2-20 wt. % of a branched low density polyethylene with a density between 910 and 935 kg/m3 and a Melt Flow Index (MFI) between 0.1 and 100 g/10 min; (iii) 1-20 wt. % of a copolymer of ethylene and a C3-C20 α-olefin with a density between 840 and 890 kg/m3 and a Melt Flow Index (MFI) between 0.1 and 100 g/10 min; and (iv) 0.5-60 wt. % of a filler, wherein wt. % are calculated on the total amount of the polypropylene composition.
US07888421B2

RTV-1 compositions are continuously produced from essentially linear organosilicon compounds having at least two condensable groups bound to silicon, filler and, optionally, further constituents, by mixing in one step in a single pass through the mixing zone of a rotor-stator mixer, wherein the pressure at the outlet of the mixing apparatus is at least 100 hPa greater than that at the inlet of the mixing apparatus.
US07888414B2

A composition is disclosed that comprises a blend of at least two different phosphites of the structure wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected alkylated aryl groups and wherein said blend is a liquid at ambient conditions. The compositions are useful for stabilizing thermoplastic resins and elastomers.
US07888413B2

A method of selecting a crack resistant layer to be applied to an existing surface, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one bituminous binder to examine, where the bituminous binder comprises bitumen and one or more polymers, where the one or more polymers include a sufficient amount of conjugated diene such that at least 2.5% of the bituminous binder's weight comprises conjugated diene, preferably at least 3.0%, more preferably at least 3.5%, and most preferably 4.0%; forming at least one bituminous mixture comprising the bituminous binder and an aggregate; testing each bituminous binder for binder fracture energy properties; and selecting a bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer. The method may further comprise the steps of testing the bituminous mixture for fatigue properties and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on fatigue properties and binder fracture energy properties, and/or testing the bituminous mixture for fracture energy and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on mixture fracture energy properties and bituminous binder fracture energy properties.
US07888408B2

A treated pigment comprising: (a) an inorganic pigment; (b) an organic compound comprises a fluoroalkyl group and a hydrocarbon group and having the structure: RH-L-RF, wherein RF is a fluorochemical component containing at least one Zerewitinoff hydrogen; RH is an aliphatic group of 1-30 carbons, cycloaliphatic group of 3-30 carbons, an aromatic group of 6-30 carbons, or a group having the structure: R′—(OCH2CHR″)x′—(OCH2CH2)y′—O—, wherein R′ is H or an aliphatic group of 1-20 carbons, R″ is H or methyl; and x′ and y′ are the same or different integers ranging from 0-20 except that the sum of x′ and y′ is at least 1 when R′ is H; and L is selected from the group CO, isocyanate, and a mixture of polyisocyanates containing at least three isocyanate groups per RH-L-RF structure. Plastic articles containing a pigment and the organic compound have improved cleanability with all the other needed properties and without the negative property of chaulking.
US07888395B2

The present invention relates to an agent for suppressing STAT3 phosphorylation and for suppressing Notch1 expression comprising as an active ingredient a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and X represents a linear or branched alkyl, alkylene or alkenylene group having 10 to 28 carbon atoms.
US07888380B2

1,2,4-Triazolylaminoaryl(heteroaryl)sulfonamide derivatives of formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for the manufacture of 1,2,4-triazolylaminoaryl(heteroaryl)sulfonamide derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions containing 1,2,4-triazolylaminoaryl(heteroaryl)sulfonamide derivatives are disclosed: The 1,2,4-triazolylaminoaryl(heteroaryl)sulfonamide derivatives of formula (I) possess cell cycle inhibitory activity and are accordingly useful for their anti cell proliferation (such as anti cancer) activity.
US07888379B2

The present invention is related to thiazole derivatives of Formula (I) in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, bacterial or viral infections, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, transplantation, graft rejection or lung injuries.
US07888377B2

Monocyclic and bicyclic himbacine derivatives of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate of said compound wherein represents an optional double bond and wherein Gn, Jn, R3, R8, R9, R10, R11, R32, R33, B and Het are herein defined are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them and a method of treating diseases associated with thrombosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart failure, and cancer by administering said compounds. Combination therapy with other agents is also claimed.
US07888376B2

Compounds of formula Ia and Ib wherein A, B, C and R1 are described herein.
US07888367B2

Compounds of the formula (I) wherein: R1 is independently H1—OR3, —NHR4; C1-C4 alkyl; or, when n is 2, adjacent R1 together define an olefinic bond; R2 is H; or when the gem R1 is C1-C4 alkyl, that R2 may also be C1-C4 alkyl; or when the gem R1 is —OR3, that R2 may also be —C(═O)OH or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester thereof; R3 is independently H, or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester thereof; R4 is independently H or a pharmaceutically acceptable amide thereof; R5 and R6 are H or an amine prodrug moiety n is 1, 2 or 3; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; have utility in the treatment or prophylaxis of HIV, especially reverse transcriptase mutants which allow an obligate chain terminating nucleoside- or nucleotide phosphate to be excised from the nascent DNA strand by ATP- or pyrophosphate-mediated excision.
US07888364B2

The invention provides novel inhibitors of hedgehog signaling that are useful as a therapeutic agents for treating malignancies where the compounds have the general formula I: wherein A, X, Y R1, R2, R3, R4, m and n are as described herein.
US07888363B2

An isomer, enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound, represented by formula I: wherein A, B, R2, R3, L, M1, M2, M3, M4, Y1, Y0, Z and Sp are as defined in claim 1, or a salt thereof, as an inhibitor of HCV NS5B polymerase.
US07888359B2

The invention relates to antibiotic cyclohexyl or piperidinyl carboximide derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1 represents hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy, cyano or COOR2, R2 being (C1-C4)alkyl; one or two of U, V, W and X represent(s) N and the remaining represent each CH, or, in the case of X, may also represent CRX, RX being a halogen atom; either B represents N and A represents CH2CH2 or CH(OR3)CH2, or B represents CH or C(OR4) and A represents OCH2, CH2CH(OR5), CH(OR6)CH2, CH(OR7)CH(OR8), CH═CH or CH2CH2; each of R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 represents independently hydrogen, SO3H, PO3H2, CH2OPO3H2 or COR9, R9 being either CH2CH2COOH or such that R9—COOH is naturally occurring amino acid or dimethylaminoglycine; and to salts of such compounds of formula (I).
US07888356B2

The structure and preparation of antibiotics incorporating borinic acid complexes are disclosed, especially hydroxyquinoline, imidazole and picolinic acid derivatives, along with compositions of these antibiotics and methods of using the antibiotics and compositions as bactericidal and fungicidal agents as well as therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases caused by bacteria and fungi.
US07888352B2

Compounds of Formulas Ia-d where X is S or O, mor is a morpholine group, and R3 is a monocyclic heteroaryl group, and including stereoisomers, geometric isomers, tautomers, solvates, metabolites and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for modulating the activity of lipid kinases including PI3K, and for treating disorders such as cancer mediated by lipid kinases. Methods of using compounds of Formula Ia-d for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed.
US07888351B2

The present invention relates to compounds of the formula; and their use in therapy.
US07888350B2

This invention pertains generally to the field of phenothiazine compounds, and more particularly to certain stably reduced phenothiazine compounds, specifically, certain 3,7 diamino-10H-phenothiazine (DAPTZ) compounds of the following formula wherein: each of R1 and R9 is independently selected from: —H; C1-4alkyl; C2-4alkenyl; and halogenated C1-4alkyl; each of R3NA and R3NB is independently selected from: —H; C1-4alkyl; C2-4alkenyl; and halogenated C1-4alkyl; each of R7NA and R7NB is independently selected from: —H; C1-4alkyl; C2-4alkenyl; and halogenated C1-4alkyl; each of HX1 and HX2 is independently a protic acid; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and hydrates thereof. These compounds are useful as drugs, for example, in the treatment of tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease, and also as prodrugs for the corresponding oxidized thioninium drugs (for example, methythioninium chloride, MTC).
US07888346B2

A method of treating organophosphorous (OP) poisoning comprising administering to a mammal at risk for OP poisoning an OP poisoning-inhibiting amount of galantamine.
US07888339B2

This invention discloses 2-methylene-20(21)-dehydro-19-nor-vitamin D analogs, and specifically 2-methylene-20(21)-dehydro-19-nor-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits relatively high transcription activity as well as pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent and for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis as well as skin conditions such as wrinkles, slack skin, dry skin and insufficient sebum secretion. This compound also shows lower activity in vivo on bone calcium mobilization and similar in vivo intestinal calcium transport activity compared to the native hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and therefore may be used to treat autoimmune disorders or inflammatory diseases in humans as well as renal osteodystrophy. This compound may also be used for the treatment or prevention of obesity.
US07888337B2

Novel phosphonate compounds are described. The compounds have activity as neuraminidase inhibitors against wild-type and H274Y mutant of H1N1 and H5N1 viruses. The present disclosure also provides an enantioselective synthetic route to known neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and the anti-flu drug Tamiflu®, as well as novel phosphonate compounds, via D-xylose. Another efficient and flexible synthesis of Tamiflu and the highly potent neuraminidase inhibitor Tamiphosphor was also achieved in 11 steps and >20% overall yields from the readily available fermentation product (1S-cis)-3-bromo-3,5 -cyclohexadiene-1,2-diol. Most of the reaction intermediates were obtained as crystals without tedious purification procedures. The key transformations include an initial regio- and stereoselective bromoamidation of a bromoarene cis-dihydrodiol, as well as the final palladium-catalyzed carbonylation and phosphonylation.
US07888335B2

This invention relates to pharmaceutically acceptable amphiphilic antioxidant compounds, compositions and dosage forms comprising said compounds, and methods and uses reliant on said compounds. The exemplified compounds are all mitoquinone derivatives, being methoxyphenyl alkyl triphenylphosphonium or methoxy dioxocyclohexadiene alkyl triphenylphosphonium derivatives. The compounds, compositions, dosage forms, uses and methods are useful in, for example, the treatment of diseases or conditions associated with oxidative stress.
US07888331B2

Novel synthetic glycosphingolipids and pharmaceutical compositions containing such synthetic glycosphingolipids are described. Methods of making the novel synthetic glycosphingolipid compounds and compositions as well as their use in the field of neuroprotection and cancer treatment is also described.
US07888329B2

A2A agonists of formula (I) is provided, wherein R1, R2, R4, R5, X, Y, Z, n, p, and q are as described herein. Also provided are compositions comprising and methods of using compounds of formula (I).
US07888328B2

Provided are compositions of cladribine and cyclodextrin which are especially suited for the oral administration of cladribine.
US07888324B2

Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of apolipoprotein B. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding apolipoprotein B. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of apolipoprotein B expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of apolipoprotein B are provided.
US07888313B2

α2-macroglobulin-related agents for treating or preventing a fibrotic disorder associated with fibrillogenesis are disclosed along with methods for using the agents, as well as methods for producing agents suited for use in the disclosed methods for treating or preventing a fibrotic disorder.
US07888311B2

The invention concerns uranium-chelating peptides as well as their uses for decontaminating soils and water, and for detecting and treating people contaminated by uranium. Said peptides have a helix-loop-helix type structure comprising the sequence of a calmodulin loop including at least one mutation of neutral residues selected from the group consisting of S, T, C, H, Y, N and Q, of one, two or three residues of at least one of the four calmodulin calcium binding sites: site I: residues selected among D20, D22 and D24 residues; site II: residues selected among D56, D58 and N60 residues; site III: residues selected among D93, D95 and N97 residues; site IV: residues selected among D129, D131 and D133 residues; said positions being indicated with reference to the human calmodulin sequence.
US07888309B2

This invention relates to substituted cyclooctenes of the formula I, wherein X and R are defined in the specification.
US07888298B2

A lubricant composition for providing friction reducing properties and VI and solvency improving properties in a lubricant system is disclosed. The lubricant composition comprises a major amount of at least one base oil and an effective amount of a high viscosity polyester additive having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of at least about 2,500 mm2/s.
US07888291B2

The present invention is directed to novel substrates for Hu-Asp. More particularly, the invention provides peptide substrates and fusion polypeptide substrates comprising a β-secretase cleavage site. Methods and compositions for making and using the peptides are disclosed.
US07888288B2

Triclopyr butoxyethyl ester compositions with a dearomatized aliphatic solvent or a vegetable oil ester as a carrier provide enhanced control of woody vegetation in foliar applications.
US07888285B2

The present invention relates to novel 2,4,6-phenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols of the formula (I) in which W, X, Y and CKE have the meanings given in the disclosure, to a plurality of processes for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides. The invention further relates to selectively herbicidal compositions containing 2,4,6-phenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols and a compound which improves crop plant tolerance.
US07888272B2

A semiconductor fabrication process allows the fabrication of both logic and memory devices using a conventional CMOS process with a few additional steps. The additional steps, however, do not require additional masks. Accordingly, the process can be reduce the complexity, time, and cost for fabricating logic and memory devices on the same substrate, especially for embedded applications.
US07888271B2

A method for making silicon nano-structure, the method includes the following steps. Firstly, providing a growing substrate and a growing device, the growing device comprising a heating apparatus and a reacting room. Secondly, placing the growing substrate and a quantity of catalyst separately into the reacting room. Thirdly, introducing a silicon-containing gas and hydrogen gas into the reacting room. Lastly, heating the reacting room to a temperature of 500˜1100° C.
US07888268B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has forming a first silicon film over the first insulating film, forming a second silicon film over the first silicon film, a first etching the second silicon film in a depth, which the first silicon film is not exposed, in first condition, a second etching a remaining portion of the second silicon film and the first silicon film in a depth, which the first insulating film is not exposed, in second condition which gives a higher vertical etching component ratio than the first condition; and a third etching a remaining portion of the first silicon film in third condition which an etching rate for the first silicon film is larger than an etching rate for the first insulating film as compared to the second condition, wherein an impurity concentration of a first conductivity type of the first silicon film is higher than an impurity concentration of first conductivity type of the second silicon film.
US07888258B2

A forming method of an electrode includes the steps of providing an electrode material on a conductive part; exposing the electrode material at a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the electrode material in an oxidizing atmosphere; and exposing the melted electrode material, in a reducing atmosphere, at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the electrode material and lower than the temperature at which the electrode material is exposed in the oxidizing atmosphere.
US07888248B2

A method for growing a SiC-containing film on a Si substrate is disclosed. The SiC-containing film can be formed on a Si substrate by, for example, plasma sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, or atomic layer deposition. The thus-grown SiC-containing film provides an alternative to expensive SiC wafers for growing semiconductor crystals.
US07888237B2

A method of cutting a semiconductor wafer includes preparing a semiconductor wafer including a scribe region and a chip region, forming a groove in the scribe region, loading the semiconductor wafer with the groove formed therein in a chamber, and cutting the semiconductor wafer into a plurality of chips through increasing a pressure of the chamber by a first pressure change rate, and then reducing the pressure of the chamber by a second pressure change rate.
US07888236B2

A method for packaging a semiconductor device disclosed. A substrate comprising a plurality of dies, separated by scribe line areas respectively is provided, wherein at least one layer is overlying the substrate. A portion of the layer within the scribe lines area is removed by photolithography and etching to form openings. The substrate is sawed along the scribe line areas, passing the openings. In alternative embodiment, a first substrate comprising a plurality of first dies separated by first scribe line areas respectively is provided, wherein at least one first structural layer is overlying the first substrate. The first structural layer is patterned to form first openings within the first scribe line areas. A second substrate comprising a plurality of second dies separated by second scribe line areas respectively is provided, wherein at least one second structural layer is overlying the substrate. The second structural layer is patterned to form second openings within the second scribe line areas. The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to form a stack structure. The stack structure is cut along the first and second scribe line areas, passing the first and second openings.
US07888229B2

The present invention relates to methods of manufacturing an electrochemical energy storage device, such as a hybrid capacitor. The method comprises saturating a porous electrically conductive material in a solution comprising an organic solvent and a metal complex or a mixture of metal complexes; assembling a capacitor comprising the positive electrode made of porous electrically conductive material saturated with a metal complex, a negative electrode, and a separator in a casing; introducing the electrolyte solution into the casing; sealing the casing; and subsequent charge-discharge cycling of the capacitor. The charge-discharge cycling deposits a layer of an energy-accumulating redox polymer on the positive electrode. The electrolyte solution for filling the hybrid capacitor contains an organic solvent, a metal complex, and substances soluble to a concentration of no less than 0.01 mol/L and containing ions that are electrochemically inactive within the range of potentials between −3.0 V to +1.5 V.
US07888228B2

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including a memory device includes, generating a solid electrolyte layer including a first solid electrolyte layer area and a second solid electrolyte layer area, the height of the top surface of the solid electrolyte layer within the second solid electrolyte layer area being lower than the height of the top surface of the solid electrolyte layer within the first solid electrolyte layer area; generating a conductive layer above the top surfaces of the first solid electrolyte layer area and the second solid electrolyte layer area; planarizing the top surface of the conductive layer such that the solid electrolyte layer is exposed within the first solid electrolyte layer area, however is covered by the conductive layer within the second solid electrolyte layer area; patterning the exposed solid electrolyte layer within the first solid electrolyte layer area.
US07888224B2

A method for forming a shallow junction region in a crystalline semiconductor substrate and method for fabricating a semiconductor device having the shallow junction region includes a defect engineering step in which first ions are introduced into a first region of the substrate and vacancies are generated in the first region. During the generation of substrate vacancies, the first region remains substantially crystalline. Interstitial species are generated in a second region and second ions are introduced into the second region to capture the interstitial species. Laser annealing is used to activate dopant species in the first region and repair implantation damage in the second region. The defect engineering process creates a vacancy-rich surface region in which source and drain extension regions having high dopant activation and low sheet resistance are created in an MOS device.
US07888210B2

Fabricating semiconductor-based non-volatile memory that includes composite storage elements, such as those with first and second charge storage regions, can include etching more than one charge storage layer. To avoid inadvertent shorts between adjacent storage elements, a first charge storage layer for a plurality of non-volatile storage elements is formed into rows prior to depositing the second charge storage layer. Sacrificial features can be formed between the rows of the first charge storage layer that are adjacent in a column direction, before or after forming the rows of the first charge layer. After forming interleaving rows of the sacrificial features and the first charge storage layer, the second charge storage layer can be formed. The layers can then be etched into columns and the substrate etched to form isolation trenches between adjacent columns. The second charge storage layer can then be etched to form the second charge storage regions for the storage elements.
US07888207B2

Enhancement mode, field effect transistors wherein at least a portion of the transistor structure may be substantially transparent. One variant of the transistor includes a channel layer comprising a substantially insulating, substantially transparent, material selected from ZnO or SnO2. A gate insulator layer comprising a substantially transparent material is located adjacent to the channel layer so as to define a channel layer/gate insulator layer interface. A second variant of the transistor includes a channel layer comprising a substantially transparent material selected from substantially insulating ZnO or SnO2, the substantially insulating ZnO or SnO2 being produced by annealing. Devices that include the transistors and methods for making the transistors are also disclosed.
US07888201B2

A static memory element includes a first inverter having an input coupled to a left bit node and an output coupled to a right bit node. A second inverter has an input coupled to the right bit node and an output coupled to the left right bit node. A first fully depleted semiconductor-on-insulator transistor has a drain coupled to the left bit node, and a second fully depleted semiconductor-on-insulator transistor has a drain coupled to the right bit node.
US07888199B2

A semiconductor light-emitting transistor device, including: a bipolar pnp transistor structure having a p-type collector, an n-type base, and a p-type emitter; a first tunnel junction coupled with the collector, and a second tunnel junction coupled with the emitter; and a collector contact coupled with the first tunnel junction, an emitter contact coupled with the second tunnel junction, and a base contact coupled with the base; whereby, signals applied with respect to the collector, base, and emitter contacts causes light emission from the base by radiative recombination in the base.
US07888181B2

A semiconductor device is made by providing a metal substrate for supporting the semiconductor device. Solder bumps are connected to the substrate. In one embodiment, a conductive material is deposited over the substrate and is reflowed to form the solder bumps. A semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate using a die attach adhesive. The semiconductor die has a plurality of contact pads formed over a surface of the semiconductor die. An encapsulant material is deposited over the solder bumps and the semiconductor die. The encapsulant is etched to expose the contact pads of the semiconductor die. A first redistribution layer (RDL) is formed over the encapsulant to connect each contact pad of the semiconductor die to one of the solder bumps. The substrate is removed to expose the die attach adhesive and a bottom surface of the solder bumps.
US07888175B2

The described embodiments provide a system that facilitates inter-chip alignment for proximity communication and power delivery. The system includes a first integrated circuit chip and a second integrated circuit chip, both of which whose surfaces have corresponding etch pit wells configured to align with each other. A shaped structure is placed in an etch pit well of the first integrated circuit chip such that when the corresponding etch pit well of the second integrated circuit chip is substantially aligned with the etch pit well of the first integrated circuit chip, the shaped structure mates with both the etch pit well of the first integrated circuit chip and with the corresponding etch pit well of the second integrated circuit chip, thereby aligning the first integrated circuit chip with the second integrated circuit chip. In some embodiments the etch pit wells include conductive structures for routing power through a conductive shaped structure.
US07888172B2

A chip package structure is provided, includes a chip that having a plurality of pads and an adhesive layer on the back side; an encapsulated structure is covered around the four sides of the chip to expose the pads, and the through holes is formed within the encapsulated structure; a patterned first protective layer is formed on the portion surface of encapsulated structure, the portion of active surface of the chips, and the pads of the chip and the through holes are to be exposed; a metal layer is formed on the portion surface of the patterned first protective layer and formed to electrically connect the pads and to fill with the through holes; the patterned second protective layer is formed on the patterned first protective layer and the portion of metal layer, and the portion surface of metal layer is to be exposed; a patterned UBM layer is formed on the exposed surface of the metal layer and the portion surface of the patterned second protective layer; and the conductive elements is formed on the patterned UBM layer and electrically connect to the metal layer.
US07888169B2

A low-cost and efficient process producing improved organic electronic devices such as transistors that may be used in a variety of applications is described. The applications may include radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, displays and the like. In one embodiment, the improved process is implemented by flash annealing a substrate with an energy having wavelengths ranging from about 250 nm to about 1100 nm or higher. In this flash annealing process energy having wavelengths from about 250 nm to about 350 nm or higher is substantially prevented from irradiating the substrate.
US07888160B2

A process of manufacturing a solar cell is disclosed. The process comprises steps of (a) providing a semiconductor substrate, (b) forming a dielectric layer with amorphous silicon structure on the semiconductor substrate, (c) partially removing the dielectric layer with amorphous silicon structure to expose parts of the semiconductor substrate, (d) simultaneously forming a heavily doped region on a surface of the exposed semiconductor substrate and a lightly doped region on a surface of the unexposed semiconductor substrate using the dielectric layer with amorphous silicon structure as a translucent barrier layer, (e) removing the dielectric layer with amorphous silicon structure, (f) forming an anti-reflection coating on the semiconductor substrate, and (g) forming a first electrode on the anti-reflection coating and coupled with the heavily doped region.
US07888155B2

A phase-change memory element is provided. The phase-change memory element includes: a first electrode formed on a substrate; a first dielectric layer, with an opening, formed on the first electrode, wherein the opening exposes a top surface of the first electrode; a pillar structure formed directly on the first electrode within the opening; an inner phase-change material layer surrounding the pillar structure, directly contacting the first electrode; a second dielectric layer surrounding the inner phase-change material layer; an outer phase-change material layer surrounding the second dielectric layer; a phase-change material collar formed between the second dielectric layer and the first electrode, connecting the inner phase-change material layer with the outer phase-change material layer; and a second electrode formed directly on the pillar structure, directly contacting the top surface of the inner phase-change material layer.
US07888149B2

Provided is a surface emitting laser or the like capable of suppressing horizontal misalignment between the surface relief structure and the current confining structure to make higher the precision of the alignment, to thereby obtain single transverse mode characteristics with stability. The surface emitting laser having a semiconductor layer laminated therein includes: a first etching region formed by etching a part of the upper mirror; and a second etching region formed by performing etching from a bottom portion of the first etching region to a semiconductor layer for forming a current confining structure, in which a depth of the second etching region is smaller than a depth of the first etching region.
US07888143B1

An apparatus and method of utilizing an electron beam and ion beam microscope in combination with nanomanipulators to improve the accuracy of the characterization of structures within an integrated circuit. Probes attached to the nanomanipulators, i.e., nano-probes, are applied to the features of interest via a first trench, while physical dimensions of the features of interest are altered via a second trench. As such, the nano-probes may remain attached to the feature being characterized, while alteration of the feature is conducted from the second trench to obtain 3-dimensional characterization of the feature of interest with improved accuracy. The nano-probes may also be used to apply the test stimulus to the features of interest, or conversely, an electron beam microscope may be used.
US07888140B2

An integrated circuit package may include a substrate and an integrated circuit. The substrate may include at least one region, and a first magnetic material associated with the at least one region. The integrated circuit may have a second magnetic material associated therewith. The second magnetic material may be attracted to the first magnetic material to coupled the integrated circuit to the at least one region of the substrate. The IC package may be utilized in an RFID tag of an RFID system. An associated method for assembling an integrated circuit to a substrate is also provided.
US07888134B2

An apparatus and methods for binding an analyte of interest in a sample are provided. The apparatus comprises a substrate with an exposed surface with an compound, that is electrostatically charged or capable of forming hydrogen bonds, provided bound to the solid substrate. A recombinant single chain antibody (scFv) molecule specific for the analyte of interest, having one or more amino acids with charged or hydrogen-bond forming sidechains in a linker polypeptide portion, is bound to the layer on the solid substrate. When the analyte of interest is present in the sample the scFv binds the analyte to the solid substrate. The apparatus can be used with an immunoglobulin layer to detect Fc receptors, so as to detect microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus having protein A or protein G.
US07888124B2

A method and apparatus is provided for a system for maintaining hydrogen purity in an electrical power generator where the system monitors the health of the electrical generating system by calculating the time remaining until preventative maintenance is required based on hydrogen usage. The system also monitors the health of the system by detecting the occurrence of major leaks within the electrical power generator and adapting the operation of the system to maintain a desired operating environment.
US07888122B2

The present invention provides genetic identification and use information about a family of genes, the FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) genes, that is part of the regulate the timing of the onset of flowering in plants. This information enables creation of transgenic plants in which the timing of the flowering of the plants has been selectively altered. Since these genes natively act to delay the time of flowering in plants, enhancing activity of the FLC protein delays the timing of flowering initiation while inhibiting the activity of FLC advances the timing of the start of flowering. A representative number of samples of the gene family are described. Members of the gene family are demonstrated to work in other plant species as well.
US07888120B2

A method of screening a compound for anti-fungal properties comprising the steps of exposing a test compound to a fungal histidine kinase, and determining whether kinase activity is inhibited, wherein inhibition of kinase activity indicates that the compound has anti-fungal properties is disclosed.
US07888118B2

The present invention relates to 4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazole compound inducing differentiation of myoblasts or muscle fibers into neuron cells, a pharmaceutical composition including said compound, a method of inducing neuron cells differentiation and a screening method for identifying additional compound useful for inducing neuron cells differentiation. More specifically, it relates to 2-{2-[5-(3-chlorophenyl)]furanyl}-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazole that induces differentiation of myoblasts or muscle fibers into neuron cells, all pharmaceutically acceptable isomers, salts, and a pharmaceutical composition including said compound, a method of inducing neuron cells differentiation and a screening method for identifying additional compound useful for inducing neuron cells differentiation.
US07888115B2

There is provided an MHC class I peptide epitope from 5T4 antigen. In particular, there is provided a peptide epitope of 5T4 which comprises one of the following: (i) the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No.2; (ii) the minimal epitope from the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No.3; (iii) the minimal epitope from the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No.4. (iv) the minimal epitope from the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No. 5. (v) the minimal epitope from the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No.6. (vi) the minimal epitope from the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No.7. There is also provided a vaccine comprising such a peptide (or precursor thereof) and its use to treat and/or prevent a disease, in particular a cancerous disease.
US07888113B2

The present invention provides nucleic acid molecules encoding mutant fluorescent proteins as well as proteins encoded by these nucleic acids. In addition, host-cells, stable cell lines and transgenic organisms comprising the above-referenced nucleic acid molecules are provided. The subject protein and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of different applications and methods, particularly for labeling of biomolecules, cells, or cell organelles.
US07888109B2

There are disclosed apparatus and methods for the field-assisted acceleration of biological processes involving charged entities, including in particular the detection of target DNA in a biological sample. A reaction cell is provided with a dielectric surface, and a field is generated by inducing charge-separation in the dielectric material by applying a potential to an electrode in contact with the dielectric material.
US07888108B2

The invention is directed to a method and device for simultaneously testing a sample for the presence, presence, and/or amounts of one or more of a plurality of selected analytes. The invention includes, in one aspect, device for detecting or quantitating a plurality of different analytes in a liquid sample. Each chamber may include analyte-specific reagent effective to react with a selected analyte that may be present in the sample, and detection means for detecting the signal. Also disclosed are methods utilizing the device.
US07888101B2

Improved host cells and culture methods involving overexpression of MAN1C1 activity to improve protein production are provided.
US07888096B2

The present invention addresses the need to improve the long-term storage stability (i.e. infectivity) of vector formulations. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of bulking agents, cryoprotectants and lyoprotectants imparts desired properties that allow both lyophilized and liquid adenovirus formulations to be stored at 4° C. for up to 6 months and retain an infectivity between 60-100% of the starting infectivity.
US07888094B2

Peptides including HisGlyTrpSerTyrGlyGlyPheLeu; LeuAspGluAsnValHisPhePhe; GluArgHisSerIleArg and PheValIleGlnGluGluPhe which show peptidase ability and have substrate specificity for at least one of the compounds H-Ala-Pro-pNA, H-Gly-Pro-pNA and H-Arg-Pro-pNA are disclosed. Nucleic acids, vectors, antibodies and hybridoma cells are also claimed with reference to the above sequences and their abilities.
US07888091B2

The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a Herpesviridae thymidine kinase enzyme comprising one or more mutations, at least one of the mutations encoding an amino acid substitution located toward the N-terminus from a DRH nucleoside binding site which increases a biological activity of the thymidine kinase, as compared to unmutated thymidine kinase. Such mutations include amino acid substitutions within a Q substrate binding domain which increases a biological activity of the thymidine kinase, as compared to unmutated thymidine kinase. Within a further aspect, fusion proteins are provided which have both guanylate kinase and thymidine kinase biological properties. Also provided are vectors suitable for expressing such DNA molecules, as well as methods for utilizing such vectors.
US07888089B2

The present invention relates to new NOS variants or mutants which contain structural alterations in the site of Akt dependent phosphorylation. The altered NOS proteins or peptides, especially the human eNOS proteins or peptides, Akt proteins or polypeptides and their encoding nucleic acid molecules are useful as gene therapy agents for the treatment of diseases including post angioplasty restenosis, hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, diabetes and diseases with defective angiogenesis. NOS proteins and peptides are also useful in methods of screening for agents which modulate NOS activity.
US07888082B2

A process for producing ethanol by the conversion of carbohydrates from a corn dry milling process in which the bottoms fraction from distillation of ethanol in a conventional yeast fermentation is used in a process including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions. The process results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from bottoms fraction, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts of the process include a high protein content solids fraction produced in the fermentation.
US07888069B2

The subject application provides various compositions of matter directed to West Nile virus (WNV) polypeptides and fragments thereof and polynucleotides, vectors and transformed host cells that encode, direct the expression of, or produce WNV polypeptides as set forth herein. Methods of using the polypeptides and polynucleotides for the production of immune responses in individuals or detecting the presence of WNV specific or neutralizing antibodies are also provided herein.
US07888068B2

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide capable of binding to IgE from subjects allergic to venom of an insect from the order Hymenoptera having a homology of more than 70% to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, which is the honey bee allergen C (Api m 5). The invention further relates to expression vectors, host cells and polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid, as well as diagnostic and pharmaceutical uses thereof.
US07888061B2

A method is provided for stabilizing a creatinine sensor comprising creatininase as a bioactive molecule. The creatininase is stabilised by exposing it to a sufficient amount of a divalent manganese ion. This result may be obtained by exposing the sensor to a solution comprising the divalent manganese ion or by introducing a composition within the sensor providing sustained release of the divalent manganese ion.
US07888056B2

The present invention relates to a method of forming a peptide-receptor complex with zsig33 polypeptides and their receptors as well as antibodies. Methods of modulating gastric contractility, nutrient uptake, growth hormones, the secretion of digestive enzymes and hormones, and/or secretion of enzymes and/or hormones in the pancreas are also included.
US07888055B2

A substrate comprises a surface, and a plurality of moieties, on at least a portion of the surface. The moieties are moieties of formula: Surf-L-Q-T, where -T comprises a reactant ligand, and Surf- designates where the moiety attaches to the surface. The substrate can be made into a protein chip by the reaction of a reactant ligand and a fusion polypeptide, where the fusion polypeptide includes a capture polypeptide moiety which corresponds to the reactant ligand.
US07888053B2

Disclosed are methods for detecting antibody in a sample, where the antibody targets an antigen expressed by red blood cells or red blood cell ghosts. Rather than detecting the binding events between a particular antigen antibody pair (as in traditional agglutination based assays) the methods herein allow for multiplexed detection of clinically important allo-immune antibodies to blood group antigens. Specifically the method involves generating fluorescently encoded red blood cells or red blood cell ghosts with known antigen presentation and using them to detect the presence of antibody in serum/plasma with a fluorescent sandwich type immunoassay. The assay results can be read using flow cytometric or fluorescent microscope based imaging techniques.
US07888050B2

The invention involves a method for measuring phosphorylation of proteins at specific sites and, as such, is an indicator of the protein kinase activity of enzymes capable of phosphorylating those sites. The method involves the in vitro or in vivo phosphorylation of a target protein at a specific serine, threonine or tyrosine residue, subjecting that protein (non-phosphorylated) to reaction mixture containing all reagents, including phosphokinase which allow the creation of a phosphorylated form of protein. The phosphorylated protein is measured by contacting it with an antibody specific for the phosphorylation site(s). The invention includes antibodies useful in practicing the methods of the invention. The invention particularly relates to all proteins modified by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation as illustrated by Tau, Rb and EGFR proteins and antibodies specific for the site of phosphorylation of the Tau, Rb or EGFR proteins.
US07888048B2

Human P4HA genes are identified as modulators of the IGFR pathway, and thus are therapeutic targets for disorders associated with defective IGFR function. Methods for identifying modulators of IGFR, comprising screening for agents that modulate the activity of P4HA are provided.
US07888031B2

The present invention concerns an assay for the detection of polyketide synthetase (PKS) mRNA from the red tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. Another aspect of the invention concerns NASBA primers and a molecular beacon that enable detection of mRNA of one of the PKS genes. In another aspect, the present invention includes an internal control RNA (IC-RNA) that enables quantitative detection of the target as well as correction for inhibition of amplification. The assay of the invention provides a rapid and specific detection of the putative toxin-producing genes of the Florida Red Tide Organism. The assay of the invention is useful for determining the virulence of red tide blooms.
US07888022B2

The invention concerns methods of screening for a hepatic syndrome occurring in the young adult and associating cholesterol biliary microlithiasis, intrahepatic cholestasis and several mutations of the MDR3 gene. The invention is also directed to methods for the treatment of said syndrome. The hepatic syndrome screening methods comprise detecting, from a nucleic acid sample extracted from peripheral blood mononucleate cells, heterozygous mutations of the MDR3 gene and/or homozygous mutations of the MDR3 gene that do not eliminate the expression of the protein expressed by the MDR3 gene, which has phosphatidylcholine carrier activity, in adult subjects associating cholesterol biliary microlithiasis and intrahepatic cholestasis.
US07888021B2

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polymorphic site selected from the group consisting of positions 164, 269, 284, 407 and 989 of SEQ ID NO: 1, an array or a kit comprising the same. Also provided are a method for detecting single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in bovine proteinase inhibitor (PI) gene, a method for haplotyping a bovine cell, a method for progeny testing of cattle based on said haplotyping, a method for selectively breeding of cattle based on haplotyping a parent animal. The present invention further provides a method for testing a dairy cattle for its milk production trait, comprising haplotyping its cells, wherein a cattle having haplotypes 1, 3, 4 or 5 indicates that the cattle has desirable milk production trait. Haplotype 1 indicates that the cattle has the most desirable milk production trait.
US07888019B2

The invention concerns genes that have been identified as being involved in estrogen metabolism, and are useful as diagnostic, prognostic and/or predictive markers in cancer. In particular, the invention concerns genes the tumor expression levels of which are useful in the diagnosis of cancers associated with estrogen metabolism, and/or in the prognosis of clinical outcome and/or prediction of drug response of such cancers.
US07888006B2

The present invention relates to an improved process for isolating DNA from biological samples, particularly from human whole blood.
US07887993B2

To provide an optical information recording medium including a pigment appropriate for high-density and high-speed optical recording by the blue laser light of 350 to 500 nm and especially around 400 nm (for example, 405 nm), enabling recording at low power, suppressing thermal affect of recording to the optical recording layer, and assuring a reflection ratio or modulation degree by the change of a refraction index n and an attenuation coefficient k; and to provide a recording method thereof.Instead of the recording based on the optical phase difference obtained by a change Δn of the refraction index n of the pigment as in the conventional method, a pigment capable of performing recording based on the change ?k of the attenuation coefficient k has been obtained. Recording may be performed mainly by the change Δk of the attenuation coefficient k. It is preferable to use a recording wavelength which is at the side of longer wavelength than the absorption peak of the absorption spectrum for the laser beam of the aforementioned pigment. However, the invention is not to be limited to this and characterized in recording performed by the change of the attenuation coefficient of the pigment against the recording wavelength.
US07887992B2

Disclosed is a photosensitive paste comprising a polymerizable monomer and a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the glass transition temperature of the polymerizable monomer is −10° C. or less. The present paste may be used for creating a fine pattern and prevents residue from remaining in the area where paste should be removed.
US07887989B2

Provided are compositions derived from a polycarboxylic acid, a copper phthalocyanine complex, and a plasticizer. The compositions can be used to prepare color filter films that exhibit lower lip heights, suitable in color filter elements, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.
US07887988B2

A resist composition, which comprises: (A) a resin containing a repeating unit represented by formula (I); and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation: wherein AR represents a benzene ring or a naphthalene ring; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group; Z represents a linking group for forming a ring together with AR; and A represents an atom or group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group and an alkyloxycarbonyl group, and a pattern forming method using the resist composition.
US07887983B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a toner for electrophotography containing a resin binder and a colorant, including the step of preparing fine particles of the resin binder to have a volume-median particle size (D50) of from 0.05 to 3 μm in an aqueous medium in the presence of a nonionic surfactant within a temperature range of from 10° C. below to 10° C. above a cloud point of the nonionic surfactant; and a toner for electrophotography obtained by the process as defined above, wherein the toner contains 60% by weight or more of a crystalline polyester and has a volume-median particle size (D50) of from 1 to 7 μm. The toner obtained according to the process of the present invention can be suitably used, for example, in development of a latent image formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US07887978B2

Mask defects, such as crystal growth defects and the like, may be efficiently detected and estimated at an early stage of their development by generating test images of the mask under consideration and inspecting the images on the basis of wafer inspection techniques in order to identify repeatedly occurring defects. In some illustrative embodiments, the exposure process for generating the mask images may be performed on the basis of different exposure parameters, such as exposure doses, in order to enhance the probability of detecting defects and also estimating the effect thereof depending on the varying exposure parameters. Consequently, increased reliability may be achieved compared to conventional direct mask inspection techniques.
US07887975B2

A current collector for a fuel cell that includes at least one wire having an inner core of high conductivity metal and an outer cladding of an environmentally isolating material. The current collector may be utilized in both an oxidizing and reducing environment.
US07887974B2

The present invention provides, among other things, membrane cassettes and stacks thereof which are suitable for a use in a variety of electrochemical applications. The invention further provides membrane cassettes which comprise one or more external manifolds which deliver reagents and/or coolant to one or more reactant or coolant flow fields of the membrane cassettes. In particular, the present invention describes the insert molding method, whereby the plenums of the external manifolds are created during the stack encapsulation step. The invention describes several methods for creating the manifold runner geometry via insert-molding, machining, or with separate components.
US07887972B2

A cathode catalyst for a fuel cell includes an Ru—Se alloy having an average particle size of less than or equal to 6 nm. The Ru—Se alloy is amorphous catalyst. A membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell system include the cathode catalyst. A catalyst for a fuel cell is prepared by drying a ruthenium solution including a water-soluble ruthenium precursor to obtain a first dried product; subjecting the first dried product to a first heat-treatment to obtain a heat-treated product; adding an Se solution including a water-soluble Se precursor to the heat-treated product to obtain a mixture; drying the mixture to obtain a second dried product including ruthenium and Se; and subjecting the second dried product to second heat-treatment.
US07887970B1

The instant invention relates a solid-state electrochemical cell and a novel separator/electrolyte incorporated therein. The invented electrochemical cell generally comprising: a unique metal oxyhydroxide based (i.e. AlOOH) separator/electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode. The novel separator/electrolyte comprises a nanoparticulate metal oxyhydroxide, preferably AlOOH and a salt which are mixed and then pressed together to form a monolithic metal oxyhydroxide-salt membrane.
US07887955B2

A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes an electrode group and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The electrode group has a laminated structure in which positive electrodes and negative electrodes are alternately interposed between overlapped parts of a separator folded in a zigzag form. A Gurley value of an outermost layer of the separator is larger than that of an inner layer. The battery satisfyies the following equation (1): 3×10−5≦(X/Y)≦1.5×10−3   (1) wherein X is a rated resistance [mΩ] of the nonaqueous electrolyte battery and Y is a rated capacity [mAh] of the nonaqueous electrolyte battery.
US07887954B2

A composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction may comprise a first material represented by MyXO4 or AxMyXO4, where each of A, M, and X independently represents at least one element, O represents oxygen, and each of x and y represent a number, and second material selected from SiC, BN, carbon tube material, carbon fiber material, and an oxide of at least one element. When the first material is represented by MyXO4, it may be capable of being intercalated with ionic A to form AxMyXO4. At least a portion of the second material may be at least partially distributed within the first material and/or may at least partially coat the first material. An electrode comprising such a composition is also described, as is an electrochemical cell comprising such an electrode. A process of preparing a composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction is also described.
US07887952B2

A secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly having a winding including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, the winding centered around a winding axis; a case adapted to receive the electrode assembly, the winding axis being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the case; and first and second cap assemblies adapted to respectively seal opposite ends of the case, the first and second cap assemblies respectively having positive and negative electrode terminals electrically coupled to the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly is adapted to respectively be connected to the first and second cap assemblies by parts of the electrode assembly not coated with active materials, the parts of the electrode assembly not coated with active materials being arranged at opposite ends of the electrode assembly perpendicular to the winding axis.
US07887950B2

A lithium secondary battery has protrusions or depressions formed on a surface of a gasket, which makes contact with a safety vent, so that gas, which is generated inside the battery, and an electrolyte, do not leak, thereby improving the safety.
US07887946B2

A prismatic battery according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a flat electrode group 10 stacked or rolled by mutually positive and negative electrodes with a separator therebetween, a pressing plate 13A, a current collecting body 18A or 18B and a plurality of exposed sections 16, at least one end of the positive and negative electrodes substrates in a width direction being uncoated with a positive or negative electrode mixture. The pressing plate 13A is welded to the exposed sections 16. The pressing plate 13A includes opposing surfaces with a space therebetween provided by folding back a metal plate, and includes a slit 15 along a folded back section at least to one of the opposing surface's side. The exposed sections 16 are inserted into a gap of the pressing plate 13A, and the exposed sections 16 and the pressing plate 13A are welded by a high energy beam from a transverse direction through the slit 15. This provides a prismatic battery for large current application in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.
US07887943B2

A power device includes a battery module for fixing a connecting terminal to an end and a bus bar connected to the connecting terminal of the battery module. The connecting terminal includes a fixing plate portion fixed to the end of the cell, an outer cylindrical portion protruded cylindrically from the fixing plate portion, an end face plate portion closing a tip surface of the outer cylindrical portion, and an inner cylindrical portion protruded from the end face plate portion toward the fixing plate portion. The connecting terminal is provided with a female screw on an internal surface of the inner cylindrical portion and a setscrew penetrating through the bus bar is screwed toward the female screw, and the bus bar is fixed to the connecting terminal through the setscrew.
US07887937B2

Thermal insulation assemblies and methods for fabricating thermal insulation assemblies are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a thermal insulation assembly comprises a ceramic tile having a surface coated with an alumina-mullite slurry. A ceramic matrix composite is disposed on the coated surface. The ceramic matrix composite comprises a first ply of a ceramic fiber impregnated with a ceramic matrix.
US07887934B2

Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One embodiment is a material comprising a primary oxide and a secondary oxide. The primary oxide comprises cerium and hafnium. The secondary oxide comprises a secondary oxide cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium. Another embodiment is a material comprising a primary oxide and a secondary oxide. The primary oxide comprises cerium or hafnium. The secondary oxide comprises (i) praseodymium or ytterbium, and (ii) another cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium.
US07887933B2

An electroluminescent composition is provided comprising: (a) a compound of the general chemical formula (I): wherein M is lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, copper, silver, gold, zinc, boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, germanium, tin, antimony, lead, manganese, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, cadmium or chromium; n is the valence of M; and R1, R2 and R3 can be the same or different, and are selected from hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic, heterocyclic or polycyclic ring structure, a fluorocarbon, a halogen or a nitrile group; and (b) a suitable dopant. The composition may be used in forming electroluminescent devices.
US07887932B2

An organic light-emitting device including a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The organic layer includes at least one organosiloxane compound selected from organosiloxane compounds represented by An organic light-emitting device using the organosiloxane compound has a low operating voltage, high color purity, and high efficiency.
US07887930B2

A crystalline chromium deposit having a lattice parameter of 2.8895+/−0.0025 Å, and an article including the crystalline chromium deposit. An article including a crystalline chromium deposit, wherein the crystalline chromium deposit has a {111} preferred orientation. A process for electrodepositing a crystalline chromium deposit on a substrate, including providing an electroplating bath comprising trivalent chromium and a source of divalent sulfur, and substantially free of hexavalent chromium; immersing a substrate in the electroplating bath; and applying an electrical current to deposit a crystalline chromium deposit on the substrate, wherein the chromium deposit is crystalline as deposited.
US07887928B2

A lead frame having a coating of organic compounds on its lead fingers prevents tin and flux from contaminating the lead fingers after die attach. The coating is removed prior to wire bonding. The coating allows for reliable second bonds (bond between wires and lead fingers) to be formed, decreasing the likelihood of non-stick and improving wire peel strength.
US07887926B2

The invention provides novel polymers, including triblock polymers, as well as methods of preparing the polymers, and compositions that include such polymers. The polymers can include at least three blocks, the first block that includes poly(styrene), the second block that includes a random arrangement of poly(ethylene) and poly(butylene), and a third block that includes functionalized poly(isoprene). Units of the functionalized poly(isoprene) block can include hydroxyl groups and one or more ether linked side chains comprising R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, as defined herein, or a combination thereof. The polymers can be used to provide antifouling coatings, for example, for marine ship hulls.
US07887924B2

A high-strength steel excellent in hydrogen embrittlement resistance is provided. The high-strength steel of the present invention excellent in hydrogen embrittlement resistance has a tensile strength of 1800 N/mm2 or above, contains 0.3 to 0.7% (percent by mass) C, 0.95 to 5.0% Cr, not higher than 0.6% and higher than 0% Mn, and 0.7 to 2.5% Si, and contains at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Li, Na and K so as to meet the following conditions: (1) the upper limits of the Mg, the Ca, the Sr, the Ba, the Li, the Na and the K content are 0.05%, and (2) the Mg, the Ca, the Sr, the Ba, the Li, the Na and the K content meet Expression (1): Cr + Mn 4 ≤ 1000 × [ Ca + Mg + Sr + Ba 2 + Li + Na + K 8 ] . ( 1 )
US07887911B2

An electromagnetic noise suppressor of the present invention includes a base material containing a binding agent and a composite layer formed by integrating the binding agent that is a part of the base material and the magnetic material. This electromagnetic noise suppressor has high electromagnetic noise suppressing effect in the sub-microwave band, and enables it to reduce the space requirement and weight. The electromagnetic noise suppressor can be manufactured by forming the composite layer on the surface of the base material by physical vapor deposition of the magnetic material onto the surface of the base material. The article with an electromagnetic noise suppressing function of the present invention is an electronic component, a printed wiring board, a semiconductor integrated circuit or other article of which at least a part of the surface is covered by the electromagnetic noise suppressor of the present invention.
US07887909B2

In some embodiments, a foamed polymer sheet comprises: a polymeric material and cells located in the polymeric material. The cells have a size distribution, D90 of greater than or equal to 300 μm and the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to about 5%. In another embodiment, the cells have an average diameter, as measured along a major axis, of about 1 mm to about 4 mm, and the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to about 5%. In another embodiment, a method of making a foamed polymeric sheet comprises: combining a blowing agent with a polymeric material to form a mixture, nucleating bubbles in the mixture, and cooling the mixture. The mixture is at a sufficient temperature and the cells have a sufficient cell size such that the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to 10%.
US07887907B2

In accordance with the invention, thin bodies of plastic, such as sheets or strands, with substantially different thermal coefficients of expansion are laminated together to make plastic bodies which move in response to heat. The movable plastic bodies can be secured to a suitable base to make a variety of devices for amusement, temperature monitoring and display. Applications for amusement include a thermally blooming flower, a solar activated butterfly, and curling hair for a doll. Applications for temperature monitoring include safety lids for drinking cups, sunlight blockers and ventilators.
US07887903B2

The present invention provides a laminated film including at least two layers of an outer layer having a printed portion on a surface and an inner layer subjected to an antifogging treatment in which principal resin comprising a solid content of the printed portion is made of chlorinated polypropylene-based resin or urethane-based resin. This antifog laminated film hardly degrades in an antifogging property even when the antifog laminated film subjected to printing on the outer layer of a surface subjected to the antifogging treatment and the printed surface are strongly brought into contact with each other due to an operation of winding the film into a roll or the like.
US07887898B1

The present invention provides light weight, cost effective flame, fire and heat resistant compositions and materials for use in a variety of applications, as well as methods for producing and installing the compositions and materials in a variety of settings.
US07887894B2

A packaging bag and a drying agent with a moisture absorption indicator function are provided without using a heavy metal harmful to the human body. The packaging bag includes a first packaging material (10) and a second packaging material (20). The first packaging material (10) is provided on an outermost side thereof with a transparent barrier film (12) having a barrier property against water vapor. The second packaging material (20) has a light-reflective or light-absorbing film (24) and a pattern printed layer (23) overlaid on a bag interior side thereof, the pattern printed layer (23) having a printed moisture-absorbing indicator pattern (30). A desiccant-containing resin film (11, 21) which becomes transparent due to moisture absorption is overlaid on a bag interior side of at least one of the first packaging material (10) and the second packaging material (20). The drying agent with a moisture absorption indicator function includes an indicator film layer (70) having a barrier film (75), a pattern printed layer (73) for a moisture absorption indicator, and a moisture-absorbing film (71) containing zeolite, the pattern printed layer (73) and moisture-absorbing film (71) being laminated in this order on the barrier film (75). The drying agent further includes a main desiccant layer (61) and a moisture permeable film (64) that are overlaid on the moisture-absorbing film (71).
US07887885B2

The invention provides methods of nanolithography and products therefor and produced thereby. In particular, the invention provides a nanolithographic method referred to as high force nanografting (HFN). HFN utilizes a tip (e.g., a scanning probe microscope (SPM) tip such as an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip) to pattern a substrate passivated with a resist. In the presence of a patterning compound, the tip is used to apply a high force to the substrate to remove molecules of the resist from the substrate, whereupon molecules of the patterning compound are able to attach to the substrate the form the desired pattern.
US07887884B2

A method for atomic layer deposition. The method includes providing a substrate having a surface region and exposing the surface region of the substrate to an atmospheric pressure. The method also maintains at least the substrate at about the atmospheric pressure and forms a film overlying the surface region using atomic layer deposition, while the substrate is maintained at about atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the film is grown at a rate of greater than about 1 nanometer per minute.
US07887880B2

A stabilized, chemically reactive, metallic nano-material effective for degradation of chlorinated organic compounds in soils, sediments and groundwater. The nano-material is composed of a magnetic metal nanoparticle and a carbohydrate stabilizer bound to the nanoparticle. The preferred metal nanoparticle is iron and the preferred carbohydrate stabilizer is either a starch or a water soluble cellulose such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The nanoparticle may be either mono-metallic, bi-metallic or multi-metallic in nature, but is preferably bi-metallic wherein it is coated with a secondary catalytic metal coating, preferably palladium. A method of making the metallic nano-material is further disclosed wherein a solution of the metal nanoparticle and carbohydrate stabilizer is prepared, and the nanoparticle is then reduced under inert conditions. A process for reductive dechlorination of chlorinated organic compounds is also disclosed wherein the reduced magnetic metal nanoparticle is prepared, and then contacted with a chlorinated organic compound to dechlorinate the compound. Preferably, the nano-material is injected into a site such as soil subsurface or groundwater contaminated with a chlorinated organic compound to provide in-situ dechlorination.
US07887879B2

Disclosed herein are a coating solution for the formation of a dielectric thin film and a method for the formation of a dielectric thin film using the coating solution. The coating solution comprises a titanium alkoxide, a β-diketone or its derivative, and a benzoic acid derivative having an electron donating group. The method comprises spin coating the coating solution on a substrate to form a thin film and drying the thin film at a low temperature to crystallize the thin film. The titanium-containing coating solution is highly stable. In addition, the coating solution enables formation of a thin film, regardless of the kind of substrates, and can be used to form dielectric thin films in an in-line mode in the production processes of PCBs.
US07887878B2

A method of manufacturing a carbon nano-tube (CNT) emitter includes the steps of: (a) dispersing a CNT powder, an organic binder, a photosensitive material, a monomer, and a nano-sized metal particle in a solvent to manufacture a CNT paste; (b) coating the CNT paste onto an electrode formed over a substrate; (c) exposing the CNT paste coated on the electrode to thereby perform fine-patterning; (d) plasticizing the finely patterned CNT paste; and (e) processing a surface of the CNT paste such that the surface of the plasticized CNT paste is activated, wherein step (d) includes a first plasticizing step performed in an air atmosphere; and a second plasticizing step performed in a vacuum or inactive gas atmosphere. Improved uniformity of electron emissions in a field emission device is achieved and a plurality of CNT emitter regions are formed within a single pixel.
US07887876B2

An organic electronic device to emit or receive radiation includes a cathode, a first layer including a salt, a second layer including an active organic material, and an anode. A method to manufacture an organic electronic device to emit or receive radiation includes depositing a cathode, depositing a first layer including a salt adjacent the cathode, depositing a second layer including an active organic material adjacent the first layer, and depositing an anode adjacent the second layer. An organic electronic device for emitting or receiving radiation includes a cathode, a first layer including a salt, a second layer including an active organic material, and an anode, the anode being adapted to transmit a significant portion of the radiation to or from the second layer.
US07887871B2

A method and system for modifying a drug delivery polymeric substrate for an implantable device, such as a stent, is disclosed.
US07887866B2

The invention relates to mutant strains of the genus Sphingomonas which have a mutation in at least one gene encoding a protein involved in polyhydroxybutyrate (“PHB”) synthesis that allows the mutant strains to produce PHB-deficient sphingans. The invention is also directed to a process for preparing a clarified sphingan solution comprising heating aqueous sphingan solution, in particular PHB-deficient sphingan solution, to a clarification temperature of about 30° C. to about 70° C., and treating the solution with a clarification agent and enzymes. In addition, the invention is directed to a food or industrial product comprising a PHB-deficient and/or clarified sphingan. One particular embodiment of the invention is directed to a clarified, PHB-deficient high-acyl gellan and the processes of making thereof.
US07887861B2

The invention pertains to topical, wax-based compositions comprising one or more flower waxes and candelilla wax, in the ratio of about 20:1 to about 1:20. Such compositions may have improved shear resistance or be substantially plasticizer free. Stick-type and stay-in-place topical preparations are contemplated.
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