US07918575B2
This invention proposes a high-power LED light base structure, which has a base plate, and at least one set of V-shape mounting module that comprises first and second slant faces for mounting LED purposes. And, there are upper and lower horizontal plates set between the first and second slant faces so as keep LED modules properly spaced. It is in such manner that the beams emitted from LED modules mounted in first and second slant faces interlace each other so as to have enhanced and uniform brightness.
US07918566B2
There is provided an image display apparatus including a display portion that displays a first image in a given display region, a projection portion that projects to superimpose a second image on the first image displayed with the display portion in the display region, an image recording portion that records the display region, and a controller that controls at least one of displaying the first image with the display portion and projecting the second image with the projection portion, on the basis of a third image of the display region obtained with the image recording portion.
US07918565B2
An expanding chassis for an imaging unit is provided, the expanding chassis for use in imaging systems having a plurality of imaging units arranged in an array. The expanding chassis comprises a rigid frame for housing a light engine and related circuitry, and for mounting a screen on a front surface of the rigid frame for use with the light engine. The expanding chassis further comprises at least one expandable interface pad on at least one side of the rigid frame. The rigid frame and the expandable interface pad have a combined thermal expansion characteristic that provides an overall expansion in the expanding chassis that substantially matches the expansion of the screen.
US07918561B2
An optical system (light guiding optical system) for guiding G-light and R-light to liquid crystal panels is protruded in an opposite direction from projection optical system with regard to an optical axis of a light source. A space is created between an optical engine and a wall surface, and air stream for suction fan is thus secured. A distance (H1) between the optical engine and the wall surface can be reduced to, for example, a thickness of an external housing of the projector. Since a unit comprising the light source and a suction fan is retracted in a direction of the projection optical system than a protruded portion of the light guiding optical system, a distance (H2) from an end edge of the optical engine to a projection light emitting position can be reduced.
US07918547B2
A liquid container for containing liquid includes an optical path formation member for forming an optical path for guiding to an operating portion light received from an outside at a predetermined position of the liquid container, the optical path forming member constituting a part of the liquid container, wherein the operating portion is caused to emit light by the light guided by the optical path.
US07918546B2
An ink supply arrangement for an inkjet printhead is provided having at least one collapsible ink bag containing ink for distribution to nozzles of the printhead via a fluid path between the ink bag and nozzles, a body for housing the ink bag and the printhead, and a biasing member in the ink bag. The ink is primed in the fluid path and nozzles so as to be ejected by the nozzles, in use, thereby depleting the ink contained in the ink bag. The ink bag is attached to the body at a wall opposite a wall of the ink bag facing the printhead. The biasing member applies outwardly directed force on the wall of the ink bag facing the printhead thereby maintaining substantially constant negative pressure at the nozzles as the ink is depleted. The fluid path connects the ink bag to at least 6400 nozzles of the printhead.
US07918541B2
A micro-electromechanical integrated circuit device comprises a substrate; drive circuitry positioned on the substrate; and a plurality of elongate actuators. Each actuator comprises a fixed end portion fast with the substrate, a free end portion that is spaced from the substrate, and a heating circuit that is connected to the drive circuitry to heat the actuator. A portion of the actuator is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion such that the material is capable of performing work by thermal expansion. The heating circuit is positioned to generate differential thermal expansion and contraction when heated and cooled to cause reciprocal displacement of the free end portion of the actuator. Each actuator is a laminated structure having a first metal layer and a dielectric layer, the first metal layer being interposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate and defining the heating circuit. The drive circuitry is operable to generate drive pulses of first and second widths, the pulses of the first width being sufficient to cause substantial displacement of the free end of the actuator, and the pulses of the second width being insufficient to cause substantial displacement of the free end of the actuator.
US07918539B2
A recording head includes outlets disposed in a staggered pattern so that the distances from an ink inlet to the outlets differ alternately for adjacent outlets. The recording head includes an outlet group including a plurality of the outlets on at least one side of the ink inlet. The outlet group includes first outlets and second outlets, wherein the distance from the ink inlet to the first outlets differs from the distance from the ink inlet to the second outlets. First recording elements and second recording elements including heat resistors are provided. The first recording elements and second recording elements correspond to the first outlets and the second outlets, respectively, and are disposed in first ink channels and second ink channels, respectively. The first recording elements are rectangular, whereas the second recording elements are substantially square.
US07918538B2
In a printhead having a plurality of element substrates, the effects of the rise in element substrate temperature and current noise are not manifested in a biased manner in only one of the element substrates. The printhead includes a plurality of printing elements and is provided with first and second element substrates having the plurality of printing elements and a second element substrate in such a manner that the first element substrate and second element substrate are spaced apart, with the first element substrate having a first function circuit electrically connected to the second element substrate and having processing functions used for driving the printing elements of the second element substrate.
US07918536B2
An ink jet head includes a recording element substrate includes a plurality of ink supply ports and a supply port partition between adjacent ink supply ports; a substrate supporting portion supporting the recording element substrate at a back side thereof, the substrate supporting portion including ink supply passages corresponding to the ink supply ports and a supply passage partition corresponding to the supply port partition; a sealing material contacted to a side surface of the recording element substrate and to the substrate supporting portion; adhesive material fixing the opening partition and the supply passage partition to each other, wherein back sides of opposite ends of the recording element substrate with respect to an arranging direction of the ink supply ports are unfixed by the adhesive material to the substrate supporting portion.
US07918522B2
A printhead system comprising an inkjet printhead and a printer controller for supplying dot data to the printhead is provided. The printhead comprises a plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles supplied with a same colored ink. The first nozzles and second nozzles are configured in a plurality of sets, wherein each set of nozzles comprises one first nozzle and one corresponding second nozzle. Each nozzle in a set is configurable by the printer controller to print a dot of the ink onto a substantially same position on a print medium. The printer controller is programmed to supply dot data such that the first nozzles and the second nozzles each contribute dots to a line of printing.
US07918521B2
In a droplet ejecting apparatus, a detection pattern output unit drives a droplet ejecting head based on a pulse signal and image information of a detection pattern comprising plural unit patterns so as to form an image of the detection pattern on a recording medium. A correction information generating unit derives a distance between adjacent unit patterns based on the image of a read detection pattern, compares the distance with a distance according to the conveyance velocity of the recording medium by a moving unit, and generates correction information so as to enlarge the pulse width when the derived distance is shorter, and to reduce the pulse width when the derived distance is longer.
US07918513B2
The invention concerns a vehicle wheel, in particular for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, comprising a rim for receiving a tire and a spoke unit or a wheel disc connecting the rim to the hub. The rim is made of plastic material and the spoke unit or the wheel disc of metal. The rim is connected to the spoke unit or wheel disc by form-closure and/or by force-closure of the material. The invention aims at enabling the wheel disc to be accurately positioned relative to the rim base and at providing a wheel with an attractive design. Therefore, the spoke unit, or the wheel disc are connected via at least one connecting element guided through the rim base and the connecting element is housed in the spoke unit or the wheel disc so as to be completely covered by a tire or by the spoke unit or the wheel disc.
US07918511B2
A vehicle seat may include a longitudinal sliding mechanism having a longitudinal slide base that is arranged and constructed to move back and forth relative to a vehicle floor, and a covering device having a covering member and a wind-up roller that is capable of winding and unwinding the covering member. The covering member is arranged and constructed to cover a substantial portion of the longitudinal sliding mechanism when the longitudinal slide base is moved forwardly. The wind-up roller of the covering device is arranged so as to be positioned forward of a rear end periphery of the longitudinal slide base when the longitudinal slide base is in a farthest rearward position.
US07918498B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a ventilated seat with a valve sheet having one or more valve assemblies. The valve sheet maybe on a frame of the seat. The valve assemblies open in response to a force such as a force applied by an individual occupying the seat. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of thermally regulating a seat by occupying a seat with a valve sheet. By occupying the seat one or more valves assemblies open air moving though the open valve assemblies thermally regulates the seat.
US07918497B2
A chair includes a base portion, and a seat portion supported by the base portion. The seat portion is configurable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the seat portion is raised to a highest level and includes a frame that is adapted to arrange the seat portion in an upright position. In the second mode, the seat portion is lowered to a level that is lower than the highest level.
US07918493B2
A main body of an impact energy absorber is formed by integrally molding a deformable portion and a plurality of deformation controlling portions which are adapted to control the direction of plastic deformation of the deformable portion. The deformation controlling portions have such a configuration and shape that, when a compression load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is input to the main body in a tube axis direction, the deformable portion undergoes plastic deformation in at least one of a radially outward direction and a radially inward direction of the main body concurrently with the compressive plastic deformation in the tube axis direction.
US07918489B2
A vehicle seat includes: a seat body; a plurality of seat supports which extend along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, are disposed with interval along a width direction of the vehicle, and support the seat body; and a load absorption member which connects the adjacent seat supports each other, wherein the load absorption member having: a plurality of beams which extend between the adjacent seat supports along the width direction of the vehicle; and a plate-shaped portion on which the beams are provided along the width direction of the vehicle and which has a plurality of areas which are partitioned with the beams so as to be arranged along the longitudinal direction of vehicle.
US07918479B2
A curtain airbag may include a tube assembly coupled to an inflator and supplying inflation gas generated by the inflator into a cushion, wherein the tube assembly is inserted into a fabric wrap receiving the cushion and the fabric wrap is fixed to the tube assembly.
US07918475B2
Embodiments described herein relate to methods and structures that can be used to quickly disconnect a trailer from a tractor. One embodiment provides a quick disconnect hitch that links a tractor and a trailer. The quick disconnect hitch comprises a tongue attached to the tractor and a body insertable into the tongue. An extension is attached to and projects away from the body. The extension is connectable with the trailer. A pair of lugs is disposed on the body. The lugs are movable between a connected position where the trailer moves responsive to movement of the tractor and a disconnected position where the trailer moves independently of the tractor. A detent is disposed on each of the pair of lugs. A pair of slots is disposed on the tongue. Each of the pair of slots is configured to accept the detent. Each detent is disposed in each of the pair of slots when the lugs are in the connected position, and each detent is dislocated from each of the pair of slots when the lugs are in the disconnected position.
US07918471B2
Bicycle frame, which consists of a rear triangle (t) joined to a front quadrilateral (c) of tubular elements, with a common coupling element (A) for the two, which is joined at the upper part with an upper tube (4) and the rear triangle (t) consisting of upper braces (3), lower braces (7) and the sealing element (2), which is curved and covers the back wheel of the bicycle, and the shaft (e2) of the coupling element(A) being approximately coplanar with the shaft of the upper braces (3) forming a comfort angle (α) with respect to the shaft of the upper tube (4) of equal value to or greater than 120°: α>120°.
US07918469B2
A single unit that combines the advantages of a rear spring spacer block and a traction bar. The rigidity of the traction bar and design of the spacer block eliminate wheel hop and axle wrap while maintaining a level vehicle drive height. No welding is required to install the device, the device is length and height adjustable for a plethora of vehicle applications and the factory ride and handling are preserved.
US07918466B2
A control (60) that mounts in a space (52) between main vehicle parts (66, 68) that are supported one on the other by air bags (16). The control includes first and second vertical tubes (82, 106) that telescope in one another. The tubes enclose at least parts of valves (98, 111) and passages (84, 104, 101, 103) that connect the valves to inlet, exhaust and air bag ports (74, 76, 80).
US07918462B1
A method for facilitating the installation of labyrinth packing comprises the step of using pressurized air to extend the packing segments of a portion of a disassembled rotor casing to the close clearance position.
US07918459B1
A thrower used in a game machine includes a joystick having a stick and an induction switch spaced below the stick, a thrower holder holding an electromagnetic valve that is controllable by the induction switch to throw an object away from the thrower holder, a tilting bar pivotally coupled between the joystick and the thrower holder and movable by the joystick to bias the thrower holder in Y-axis direction, a swinging bar pivotally coupled between the joystick and a connection frame that is pivotally coupled between the swinging bar and the thrower holder for enabling the swinging bar to bias the thrower holder in X-axis direction according to the control of the joystick.
US07918452B2
A sheet width aligning device includes two width aligning members which respectively contact widthwise ends of a sheet to regulate a widthwise position of the sheet. A first detector detects one widthwise end of the sheet and a second detector detects the other widthwise end of the sheet. A moving mechanism moves the first and second detectors located at initial positions at outer sides of the sheet towards the center of the sheet in the widthwise directions. A determining section determines the positions of the width aligning members based on a detection timing, at which the first detector detected the one widthwise end, and a detection timing, at which the second detector detected the other widthwise end. A driving mechanism drives the width aligning members to move to the positions determined by the determining section.
US07918450B2
When a sheet is conveyed to a position where a conveying speed can be changed from a first conveying speed to a second conveying speed while a discharging unit is discharging a preceding stack of sheets, a conveyance control unit calculates a third conveying speed for conveying the sheet based on a first conveyance time to be taken until a leading end of the stack of sheets reaches a second tray unit from a first tray unit and a second conveyance time to be taken until a current discharging operation is completed from a start of the current discharging operation, and changes the conveying speed from the first conveying speed to the third conveying speed.
US07918444B2
A media handling device includes a media shingling mechanism having a roller actuator located adjacent an upper portion of a media stack and upstream thereof relative to a predetermined direction of an uppermost sheet from the stack toward a media restraint dam located downstream thereof. The roller actuator undergoes counterclockwise rotation in response to upward moving contact by successive sheets in the upper portion of the stack against a peripheral segment of the roller actuator as the stack is moved vertically upward in a rectilinear direction toward the roller actuator. The counterclockwise rotation of the roller actuator and upward movement of the upper portion of the stack produces a lateral displacement of successive sheets toward the dam so as to produce shingling of successive sheets of the upper portion of the stack relative to one another, providing a uniform inter-page gap between successive sheets.
US07918438B2
A dynamic damper containing a mass and an elastic connector is connected to an inner tube to provide the dynamic damper integrally as a part of an apparatus. Since the dynamic damper is integrally provided as part of the apparatus (cab mount) by connecting the dynamic damper containing the mass and the elastic connector to the inner tube via a connecting member in the cab mount, it is possible to eliminate work for assembling the dynamic damper separately from the cab mount. Further, the dynamic damper may be constructed integrally as part of the cab mount.
US07918432B2
This invention relates to a support or hanger utilizing a conical spring washer or set of conical spring washer displaying variable load characteristics. When installed, both types (support or hanger) allow for small movements in pipe, ductwork or equipment (PDE), thus, allowing for the thermal growth of PDE. Conventionally, helical coil spring supports are chosen to meet the load capacities of PDE but are reluctantly used because of their large size. By using conical spring washer s, the size of the support is substantially reduced making it a more useable device. A smaller, more compact design proves to increase the support/hanger's application making it more stable to place under piping and even under reciprocating motion equipment like generators and pumps. For small displacements, it is found that this invention behaves in the same manor as a conventional helical coil spring support under the same applied loads.
US07918428B2
A supporting apparatus of a display device is provided that includes a fixing unit, one or more sliding units, and a device connecting part. The fixing unit may be fixed to a mounting position. The sliding units may be rotatably connected to the fixing unit. The device connecting part may be rotatable relative to the sliding unit and may be coupled with the display device. The sliding unit may include a first sliding member rotatable relative to the fixing unit, and a second sliding member slidable relative to the first sliding member.
US07918423B2
An antenna support, including a top transit case stacked upon a bottom transit case and an antenna mounting surface stacked upon the top transit case. The bottom transit case, the top transit case and the antenna mounting surface retained by a plurality of turnbuckle(s), each of the turnbuckle(s) coupling between a respective attachment point of the bottom transit case and the antenna mounting surface. A length of the turnbuckle(s) adjustable to clamp the top transit case against the bottom transit case and the antenna mounting surface against the top transit case.
US07918422B2
An intravenous (IV) pole system for supporting medical equipment having a base with legs, a mast engaged to the base, and a lifting mechanism including a gas spring engaged to the base and the mast. Each of the legs includes at least one wheel. The lifting mechanism is constructed to position the legs in an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The lifting mechanism is further constructed to raise the legs and wheels relative to the base and relative to a surface. The lifting mechanism is configured to position the wheels proximate to the mast in the retracted configuration.
US07918415B2
The invention relates to a convertible aircraft operating method. According to the invention, the aircraft comprises: a fuselage, standard fixed wings which are equipped with ailerons, a tail unit with flight-control surfaces, engines, a rotor with blades, a transmission which is placed between the engines and the rotor and which is equipped with rotor clutch and braking means, a landing gear, means for transition from helicopter mode to autogyro mode and vice versa, and means for direct or reverse transition from autogyro/helicopter mode to aeroplane mode. The lift for a range of low speeds is produced by means of the rotor, while the lift for a range of high speeds is produced by means of the wings. In addition, the lift for a range of intermediate speeds can be produced using the wings and the rotor in autogyro mode simultaneously, and take-off and landing can be performed in autogyro mode or in helicopter mode with the engines coupled to the rotor. The aircraft comprises a hybrid helicopter/autogyro/aeroplane aircraft and, as such, can perform the direct or reverse transition to aeroplane mode from both helicopter mode and autogyro mode.
US07918412B2
A recording tape cartridge that can secure the attached region of an RFID in a case is provided including: a case that has an upper case and a lower case and houses a reel around which a recording tape is wound; a restricting wall that is formed at least in the lower case and defines an area in which the reel is housed; a housing portion that is formed between the restricting wall and the corner of the case; and a planar RFID that is provided in the housing portion such that the rotational axis direction of the reel is a normal line direction.
US07918410B2
Disclosed herein is a shear application system for applying substantially uniform amounts of shear throughout a powder sample. The shear application system preferably includes a cylinder assembly having an inner cylinder, a housing, an inner set of lugs, and an outer set of lugs. The inner cylinder has an external cylindrical surface and the housing has an internal cylindrical surface concentric with said external cylindrical surface. The internal and external cylindrical surfaces form an annular chamber therebetween. Each one of the lugs of the inner set extend radially outward from the external cylindrical surface, and each one of the lugs of the outer set extend radially inward from the internal cylindrical surface and are substantially uniformly spaced. The shear application system preferably includes drive means mechanically connected to the inner cylinder and control means electrically connected to the drive means.
US07918404B2
Machine-readable coded data disposed on or in a substrate in accordance with a layout, the layout having at least order n rotational symmetry, where n is at least two, the layout encoding an orientation codeword comprising a sequence of an integer multiple m of of n symbols, where m is one or more, each encoded symbol being distributed at n locations about a center of rotational symmetry of the layout such that decoding the symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the orientation codeword, each representation comprising a different cyclic shift of the orientation codeword and being indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout, and wherein the orientation codeword is fault tolerant.
US07918396B2
An electronic-ink based information organizing device employing an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The device includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, data, including information and graphical input data provided by a user by way of an activator module. The integrated circuit structure also includes a programmed processor in communication with the storage element. The activator module is mounted beneath the surface of the addressable display assembly to (i) determine graphical indicia to be selected and/or displayed on the addressable display assembly, (ii) allow graphical indicia being displayed on the addressable display assembly, to be modified in real-time by a user of the device, and (iii) allow graphical indicia to be displayed on the addressable display assembly while graphical input data is being provided to the programmed processor by said activator module, so that the user is enabled to write and/or draw on the surface of the addressable display assembly while graphical indicia is being displayed thereon.
US07918394B1
A card reader device for reading a card having data stored on a magnetic stripe incorporated into the card is disclosed in which the card reader device comprises a read head for passing a magnetic stripe of a card by to read data stored on a magnetic stripe and for producing a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, a signal setting device for setting an amplitude of the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, and an output jack adapted to be inserted into a microphone input associated with a cell phone for providing the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe to a cell phone. Data stored on the card and sensed by the card reader device is decoded by components such as a microphone amplifier, an analog to digital converter, and a microprocessor already resident in a cell phone.
US07918392B2
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
US07918385B2
A carton having a dispenser with a removable dispenser panel. The dispenser panel is configured to be easily removed and to allow access to containers in the carton.
US07918382B2
A method for attaching a porous metal layer to a dense metal substrate, wherein the method is particularly useful in forming orthopedic implants such as femoral knee components, femoral hip components, and/or acetabular cups. The method, in one embodiment thereof, comprises providing a solid metal substrate; providing a porous metal structure; contouring a surface of the porous metal structure; placing the porous structure against the substrate such that the contoured surface of the porous metal structure is disposed against the substrate, thereby forming an assembly; applying heat and pressure to the assembly in conjunction with thermal expansion of the substrate in order to metallurgically bond the porous structure and the substrate; and removing mass from the substrate after the porous structure is bonded to the substrate, thereby finish processing the assembly.
US07918377B2
Circular stapling instruments for cutting and applying one or more surgical staples to tissue are disclosed. The instruments include various forms of feedback systems designed to provide at least one mode of feedback to the surgeon when the anvil has been attached to the device and/or when the anvil has been attached to the device and oriented in a firing position. Various types of feedback indicators are disclosed such as illumination devices, sound generating devices and vibration generation devices. In various embodiments, the feedback indicator comprises at least one illumination device mounted on the anvil which indicates that the anvil has been properly attached to the instrument and which can also serve to illuminate the surgical site.
US07918376B1
One example of a surgical instrument may include a handle, an end effector, and a shaft that connects the handle to the end effector, where the shaft includes an articulated region. At least one feeder belt may extend through the lumen of the shaft into the end effector, where at least one feeder belt may include at least one staple frangibly connected thereto.
US07918358B2
A method and system used to make a fuel tank inert that includes a chiller assembly coupled in flow communication with a vehicle fuel tank, and a system controller assembly operatively coupled to the chiller assembly. More specifically, the chiller assembly includes a pump configured to extract a quantity of a fluid from the vehicle fuel tank, and an evaporator configured to receive a flow of the extracted quantity of fluid from the pump and further configured to reduce a temperature of the fluid. The chiller assembly also includes a chiller controller configured to activate and deactivate the pump. The system controller assembly is operatively coupled to chiller controller, wherein the system controller assembly is configured to transmit to the chiller controller one of a start signal to start chiller operations or a stop signal to stop chiller operations.
US07918356B2
A finish for a plastic container and a preform adapted to be molded into the plastic container. The finish and the preform include an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container. At least one groove is defined around a radial sidewall of the upper portion. The groove slopes gradually downward along the radial sidewall to a terminal end.
US07918355B2
A blow-molded plastic container includes an upper portion having a finish, a body portion and a base. At least one groove is formed in a radial sidewall of the finish. The groove slopes gradually downward along the radial sidewall and away from an opening into the container. A method of making the blow-molded plastic container includes disposing a preform into a mold cavity having a surface defining a body forming region, a finish forming region and a moil forming region. The preform is blown against the mold surface to form an intermediate container having a body portion, a finish and a moil portion. The moil is severed from the finish to define the opening into the container. A closure member is adapted to selectively mate with the finish on the container. At least one thread is formed on the closure member.
US07918351B2
A point of purchase display structure (300) is described incorporating one or more shelves (132) for supporting items, wherein the display structure in a partially assembled configuration is a generally flat structure, and may be converted to a finished structure by movement of an inner slide (150) within an outer sleeve (100).
US07918347B2
The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus (1) for removing solid matter from a liquid, especially for a coolant-lubricant circuit (35). Said cleaning apparatus (1) comprises a hollow cylindrical filter member (2) that separates a crude chamber (6) from a pure chamber (7), an inlet (8) which is located on the crude side and is connected to the crude chamber (6), an outlet (9) which is located on the pure side and is connected to the pure chamber (7), a backwashing device (10) for backwashing the filter member (2) segment by segment, and a discharge mechanism (12) for removing clean solid matter from the crude chamber (6). In order to make it easier to remove clean solid matter from the crude chamber (6), the filter member (2) surrounds the crude chamber (6) while the pure chamber (7) surrounds the filter member (2), and the discharge mechanism (12) is equipped with a screw conveyor (13) which feeds the clean solid matter to a discharge port (14).
US07918345B2
Electromagnetic separator comprising two or more solenoids (6, 7) arranged inside a rotatable drum (1) and connected to a continuous current power supply (8) for generating a magnetic field suitable for separating ferromagnetic parts, wherein said power supply (8) supplies a current being substantially constant in time. The invention also relates to a separation method that can be carried out by means of said electromagnetic separator.
US07918343B2
The invention provides systems and methods for obtaining recycled mixed cullet at a beneficiator. The recycled mixed cullet can be used by glass plants to make new glass articles, such as beverage bottles.
US07918341B2
A wafer container comprising a base and a cover that nest together. The base includes a staggered wall structure composed of inner and outer walls. The staggered wall structure is arranged so that forces from side impacts are absorbed principally by outer wall segments. A rib on the cover restrains the outer wall segments from flexing beyond the inner wall diameter. Reference tabs on the base facilitate alignment of the base to the cover.
US07918337B2
A pharmaceutical waste disposal device comprises an upper portion adapted for receiving pharmaceutical waste and a lower portion adapted for collecting the pharmaceutical waste, the lower portion being selectively and removably engagable with the upper portion. The upper portion includes a housing surrounding an internal rotating wheel and a lid slideably engaged with the housing. Additionally, the rotating wheel includes collection areas adapted for collecting pharmaceutical waste placed in the upper portion. The lid includes a lower pivoting flap adapted for contacting and rotating the wheel upon closing the lid to transfer the pharmaceutical waste to the lower portion. Further, the rotating wheel is sized and positioned within the housing in a manner to substantially prevent access to the pharmaceutical waste collected in the lower portion.
US07918332B2
The present invention is a conveyor arrangement for a stamping die employed within a stamping press. The conveyor arrangement has a fixed conveyor with a protruding end, wherein the fixed conveyor is mounted on the die for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the die. The conveyor arrangement also has a moveable conveyor with a supported first end and a cantilevered second end, wherein the moveable conveyor is arranged for positioning the second end under the fixed conveyor's protruding end for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the fixed conveyor.
US07918331B2
A conveying device (100) according to the invention includes several conveying bodies (102), which roll on a guidance (101) via several rolls (3), wherein the rolls (3) are connected and mutually distanced by means of a flexible connecting body (9). The conveying bodies (102) include means (103; 104, 105) for mutual support, which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies (102) out of the guidance (101). A connecting body (9) and allocated rolls (3) form a roll body (2), wherein the roll body (2), on average, includes two or less than two rolls (3) per conveying body (102). A roll body (2) for a conveying device (100) includes a plurality of rolls (3) mutually connected in a linear manner, wherein the rolls (3) are mutually connected and distanced by means of a flexible and in particular also elastic connecting body (9). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting body (9) may be bent in at least two directions.
US07918328B2
A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles, such as bottles, includes a plurality of machines arranged in a machine arrangement. At least one of the machines includes an apparatus configured to modify the articles by at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping the articles as they pass from an article infeed to an article discharge of the machine arrangement. A recirculation mechanism moves articles from a downstream machine after a first pass (or run) and recirculates the articles back to an upstream machine in a second (recirculation) pass (or run) so that the articles, which are recirculated through the second pass are again subjected to a different machine modifying operation in at least one machine that the articles have previously passed in the first pass. The articles move continuously through the first and second passes while being subjected to at least one machine modifying operation.
US07918324B2
A driving force interrupting mechanism includes input and output members. A coupling sleeve is to be movable on the input and output members along a rotational axis. A fork is swingable around a swing shaft to move the coupling sleeve between a connecting position and a disconnecting position. The coupling sleeve is positioned on both of the input and output members in the connecting position. The coupling sleeve is positioned on either the input member or the output member in the disconnecting position. An operating member is integrally rotatable with the swing shaft. A spring is provided on the swing shaft between the operating member and the fork relatively rotatably with respect to the swing shaft. A motion of one of the operating member and the fork follows a motion of another of the operating member and the fork via an elastic force of the spring.
US07918322B2
A brake disc/hub connection for connecting a brake disc to a brake disc hub includes supporting elements on the inner circumference of the brake disc. The brake disc hub is provided with bosses or cams on the outer circumference. Intermediate elements, which protrude into intermediate spaces provided between the bosses and the supporting elements, are distributed between the brake disc hub and the brake disc in the circumferential direction and ensure transmission of the braking torque from the brake disc to the brake disc hub. Each intermediate element rests in a radially secured manner on the associated support element and boss by way of shaping.
US07918321B2
A control system for elevators is provided with a landing call registration device provided at each of landing floors so as to be operable thereat, a landing call automatic registration portion for setting that one of the landing floors at which the landing call registration device is operated as a car call floor and registering a car call to stop one of cars at the car call floor, a response selection portion for selecting that one of elevator apparatuses which responds to a registered car call as a selected elevator, a passenger traveling time period calculation portion for setting that one of elevator doorways of the selected elevator which is provided at the car call floor as a selected doorway and calculating a passenger traveling time period corresponding to the selected doorway, and an opening/closing control portion for controlling the opening/closing operation of the selected doorway based on information from the selected elevator and information from the passenger traveling time period calculation portion. When the selected doorway is already in a door-open state at the time of registration of the car call, the opening/closing control portion continues to hold the selected doorway in the door-open state until the passenger traveling time period elapses after registration of the car call.
US07918319B2
In an elevator apparatus, a second car is disposed below a first car. The second car is suspended within a hoistway by a second suspension body and a third suspension body to be raised/lowered by a second hoisting machine. The second suspension body has a second car end connected to the second car on a first lateral surface side thereof. The third suspension body has a third car end connected to the second car on a second lateral surface side thereof. A looping angle adjusting pulley for increasing the looping angle of the second suspension body with respect to a second drive sheave is disposed in an upper portion of the hoistway.
US07918316B2
The invention relates to a cyclone separator integrated into the cover of an oil tank for separating an oil flow charged with gas into a flow which is low in air and into a flow which contains air.
US07918315B2
A limited slip differential transmission of the closed type in which a pressurized lubricant is fed to the rotating gears and a series of limited slip clutch plates. The clutch plates are engaged by pressurized control fluid. A valve assembly having a spool valve is responsive to engagement pressure to permit discharge of a portion of pressurized fluid from the clutch plates to a sump chamber and the transmission to purge debris that may have accumulated in the clutch plates. The spool valve is arranged so that fluid is passed only during an intermediate movement of the valve to minimize any pressure loss from the lubricating fluid for the transmission and limited slip clutches.
US07918312B2
A portable acoustic reflective panel assembly used as a background for outdoor performances has an upright frame surrounding a sound reflecting sheet member. A plurality of elastic cords secure the sheet member to the frame. Braces connected to the frame and anchored to the ground maintain the frame and sheet member in upright positions on the ground.
US07918308B2
The present invention is directed to a pad and sound transmission system which is adapted to directly transmit audible sound waves into the body at high intensity levels. In one embodiment, the subject invention includes a back pad and a seat pad. Each pad includes a speaker module having an acoustic speaker disposed within the pad and surrounded by a plurality of different layers.
US07918302B2
A seat apparatus includes a seat adapted to be arranged on a floor of a vehicle, a motor driving the seat to move, and a control unit supplying electric power to the motor by controlling a duty ratio with duty cycle control. The control unit determines an initial start-up time in which the duty ratio is defined as a first duty ratio over a period between the time the motor is started up after being powered by the control unit and the time before the seat driven by the motor starts moving. The control unit reduces the duty ratio when the initial start-up time elapses and sets the duty ratio to a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio when the seat starts moving.
US07918298B2
A bi-directional ice-particle spray generating device for use on snow vehicles is disclosed which is primarily constructed of multi-strand wire rope. The use of wire rope as a spring member allows for 360 degree flexibility to enable the design to be compatible with reverse-gear-equipped snow vehicles. A replaceable wear point or points is integral in the design for added durability.
US07918291B2
A well drilling head comprises a housing and a bearing assembly. The housing has a sidewall structure defining a central bore. The bearing assembly includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel, bearing units and a preload force exerting member. The outer barrel has a central bore and the inner barrel is removably seated within the housing central bore. The bearing units are coupled between the barrels for providing concentric alignment of the barrels and allowing rotation therebetween. A first one of the bearing units is configured for carrying loads exerted radially between the barrels and a second one of the bearing units is configured for carrying loads exerted longitudinally between the barrels. The preload force exerting member maintains force on the longitudinal load carrying bearing unit and said barrels thereby preloading the longitudinal load carrying bearing unit.
US07918286B2
In an impact tool including a spindle, an anvil, and an impact mechanism having a hammer and a coil spring, a restricting portion is provided at a front surface of a large-diameter portion of the spindle so as to receive a rear end of the coil spring and to restrict an inner diameter of the rear end of the coil spring. A ring-shaped groove is formed at a rear surface of the hammer to receive a front end of the coil spring, in a manner which provides an inner cylindrical portion at a rear side of the hammer. A run-off portion is formed in the restricting portion so as to allow the inner cylindrical portion of the hammer to move thereinto, so that the hammer can move backward for a distance corresponding to a depth of the run-off portion.
US07918283B2
A system for assuring subsea hydrocarbon production flow in pipelines by chilling the hydrocarbon production flow in a heat exchanger and causing solids to form, periodically removing deposits and placing them in a slurry utilizing a closed loop pig launching and receiving systems.
US07918273B2
A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
US07918270B2
An apparatus for flexibly restraining service loops in an oil derrick to prevent entangling of the loops, comprising a plurality of identical apparatus wherein each apparatus is positioned at different longitudinal level to restrain the service loops. Each apparatus is comprised of a plurality of interlocking units, wherein each unit is comprised of a central steel ring which is adhesively bonded to a braid of a service loop penetrating therethrough and exteriorly affixed to first and second interconnecting rings. A first flexible cable and second flexible cable connect the respective first and second interconnecting rings of the units of each apparatus. Therefore, the service loops are flexibly restrained to have a uniform path and bend radius when they travel longitudinally during operation of an oil well drilling machine, which results in reduction of damage of the service loops.
US07918269B2
Systems and methods for drainage of a heavy oil reservoir via a horizontal wellbore. A method of improving production of fluid from a subterranean formation includes the step of propagating a generally vertical inclusion into the formation from a generally horizontal wellbore intersecting the formation. The inclusion is propagated into a portion of the formation having a bulk modulus of less than approximately 750,000 psi. A well system includes a generally vertical inclusion propagated into a subterranean formation from a generally horizontal wellbore which intersects the formation. The formation comprises weakly cemented sediment.
US07918264B2
A speed reducer assembly for rolling screen systems includes a speed reducer chamber. A resistance element is mounted for movement within the speed reducer chamber. A non-viscous resistance material is provided in contact with the resistance element within the speed reducer chamber.
US07918258B2
A tire for a two-wheeled motorized vehicle includes a carcass-type reinforcement structure, having reinforcement elements anchored on each side to a bead. Each bead extends radially by a sidewall, which meets up radially with a tread. Under the tread is a crown reinforcement structure including at least one working layer of working reinforcement elements, and a layer of circumferentially oriented reinforcement elements disposed radially to the outside of the carcass-type reinforcement structure. Over the profile of the tire in a radial plane, radially to the outside of the two points of tangency of the curvilinear abscissa of the carcass-type reinforcement structure with perpendiculars to the axis of rotation, at least one layer of working reinforcement elements is at least partially radially to the inside of the part of the carcass-type reinforcement structure radially to the outside of the two points of tangency.
US07918257B2
In the invention, a run-flat tire including a pair of bead portions having an annular first bead, sidewall portions respectively extending to an outer side in a tire diametrical direction from the bead portions, reinforce rubber layers arranged in the sidewall portions, a tread portion connecting outer peripheral side ends of the sidewall portions via shoulder portions, wherein the run-flat tire includes an annular inflating portion provided on the outside in a tire width direction of the bead portion arranged on the outside of the vehicle, and having an inner circumferential side face opposing to an outer circumferential curved side face of a rim flange when a regular rim is fixed; and an annular second bead arranged at the annular inflating portion, wherein the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the outside of the vehicle has a rubber hardness of 60 to 82 degree, the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the inside of the vehicle has a rubber hardness of 65 to 90 degree, and the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the inside of the vehicle has the rubber hardness which is equal to or more than that on the outside of the vehicle, and has a maximum thickness which is larger than that on the outside of the vehicle by at least 0.5 mm.
US07918256B2
A heavy-duty tire having a tread portion improved in the shoulder wear is disclosed. Under the maximum load condition[W100], the tread portion has a ground contacting face G[W100] having circumferential lengths L97[W100] and L70[W100] at specific axial positions. Under the 70% load condition[W70], the tread portion has a ground contacting face G[W70] having lengths L97[W70] and L70[W70] at specific axial positions. The lengths L70[W100], L97[W100], L70[W70] and L97[W70] satisfy specific conditions: 0.95
US07918254B2
A method for creating a design on a surface comprising providing a template to overlay the surface upon which the design is to be created, forming a pattern of the design on the template for the design which is to be created on the surface, placing the template with the pattern of the design thereon on the surface, with a tool, tracing the pattern of the design on the template to form an impression on the surface below the template and removing the template leaving the impression of the design on the surface.
US07918248B2
A shed-forming component (1, 3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) of a shed-forming apparatus includes an information source (12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 29, 33) which may be connected to a control unit (13) for transmitting data about the specification of the component and/or data about operating parameters of the component during weaving to a control unit (13).
US07918247B2
An improved garden hose including an elongated generally cylindrical inner core being made of a first material, the inner core having an integrally formed backbone being made of a second material. The second material has a higher durometer than the first material.
US07918246B2
A hydropneumatic accumulator with a flexible porous filler intended for fluid power recuperation in hydraulic systems with a high level of pulsations includes a shell where a gas port and a fluid port are connected, respectively, with a gas reservoir and a fluid reservoir of variable volume separated by a movable separator. The flexible porous filler fills the gas reservoir so that the separator movement reducing the gas reservoir volume compresses said filler. The filler is connected with internal walls of the gas reservoir with the possibility of stretching the filler at the separator movement increasing the volume of the gas reservoir. The accumulator contains means of protection of the filler boundary layer against rupture made with the possibility of reducing local deformations of the boundary filler layer in case of jerks of the separator. Development of residual deformations of the filler during multiple recuperation cycles and destruction at non-uniform motion of the separator with strong jerks are prevented.
US07918242B2
A processing solution pressurized at a constant pressure is supplied to improve processing accuracy. A controller receives a pressure signal indicating a measured pressure exerted on a processing solution from a pressure sensor, and controls an electropneumatic regulator on the basis of the pressure signal so that pressure on the discharge side of the electropneumatic regulator is constant. The controller decides whether the processing solution contained in a processing solution tank has been depleted on the basis of a difference between a desired pressure and the pressure measured by the pressure sensor, and switches pressurizing shut-off valves accordingly.
US07918241B1
A control valve for a faucet includes a valve housing, a hollow valve seat, two sealing gaskets, at least one water outlet channel, a rotation plate, a control unit, two mounting seats, a fixed sleeve, and a movable sleeve. Thus, the movable sleeve is movable in the fixed sleeve to control the water flow rate of the mixed cold and hot water to the optimum value to regulate and stabilize the water pressure automatically so as to provide a pressure balance effect so that the mixed water flowing from the water outlet channel is kept at a constant temperature, thereby providing a comfortable sensation to a user.
US07918234B2
An endoscope washer disinfector washes and disinfects an endoscope with a mouth ring communicating with an endoscope duct. The washer disinfector comprises a washing disinfecting bath; a nozzle arranged with the bath, loaded into the mouth ring, and formed to supply fluid to the duct via the mouth ring; a tray on which the endoscope is mounted. In this washer disinfector, a bilateral positioning member positions the endoscope and the tray so that the mouth ring of the endoscope mounted on the tray is located at a given position on the tray; and a trilateral positioning member positions the washing disinfecting bath, the tray, and the endoscope so that, when the tray is loaded into the washing disinfecting bath, the mouth ring of the endoscope positioned at the given position on the tray by the bilateral positioning member is positioned at a position that is across is from the nozzle.
US07918232B2
A process for the on line production of cigarette filters comprises the steps of conveying a continuous thin flexible substrate past a source of smoke altering particulate material, such as adsorbents, catalysts and flavorants. An electrostatic charge is applied onto the substrate upstream of the source of particulate material. A layer of particulate material from the source is deposited onto the substrate with the thickness of the layer depending upon the strength of the electrostatic charge. The coated substrate is then cut into pieces, and the pieces are placed into the cavities between spaced apart filter components. In an alternative process, filter paper is coated with smoke altering particulate material by electrostatic deposition techniques, and spaced apart filter components are placed onto the particulate coated filter paper which is then folded around the filter components.
US07918217B2
Exhaust gas check valve with a movable valve element held by a plurality of return springs, an exhaust gas through-opening closable by the valve element, and a stop element delimiting the stroke of the valve element; in order to improve the service life of the check valve, damping means are provided in the check valve for bringing about a comparatively gentle breaking of the valve element when at the end of its stroke it approaches that position in which the check valve is fully open, the damping means comprising spring elements holding the stop element, and/or a gas space which, when the check valve is open, is defined and at least almost closed by the valve element and the stop element.
US07918203B2
A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; one or more heaters thermally coupled to the motor oil, wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heaters and power the heaters based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heaters warm the engine oil.
US07918200B2
A rocker arm (1) made of thin-walled sheet steel which rocker arm is intended for a suspended arrangement together with other like rocker arms under a girder-like carrier (2) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, the rocker arm having an inverted U-shaped profile, a support (7) for a gas exchange valve is formed on one end (6) of an underside (5) of a crossbar (4) of the rocker arm, an upper side (9) of the crossbar (4) is stamped in the region of the support (7) by a stamping and extrusion molding method toward the underside (5), so that an M-like cross-section with a longitudinal channel (10) formed on the upper side (9) is obtained and at its other end (11), the rocker arm (1) has a fork-shaped, open configuration and merges into a region (12) which is angularly bent towards the underside (5) and on which a roller (13) forming a cam contacting surface is arranged, said rocker arm (1) of this type possesses, among other things, an excellent stiffness, is simple to manufacture and has a small design height requirement.
US07918194B2
A cooling device for a vehicle is provided at a vehicle comprising an engine control unit which stops an engine due to establishment of engine stoppage conditions and restarts the engine due to establishment of engine restart conditions. The cooling device for a vehicle is able to cool a coolant within a heat exchanger for cooling by cooling wind, which is guided from an exterior of the vehicle, passing through the heat exchanger for cooling. Cooling by driving force of either one of an electric motor or the engine can be selected in accordance with preset conditions.
US07918191B2
One embodiment of a remotely controlled apparatus for selectably admitting a large animal into and then selectably releasing the animal from a livestock chute uses the weight of the animal as its primary energy source for opening and closing the entry and exit gates. The livestock chute has a linking mechanism for communicating with the entry gate, the exit gate, a moveable floor, and a biasing force wherein the weight of the animal is used to overcome the biasing force to open the entry gate and to store energy that can be selectively activated to open the exit gate on the livestock chute.
US07918187B2
Provided is a floating structure for use in an aquarium or other aquatic setting, having a manufactured hollow body with a top side, a bottom side and sidewalls extending between the top side and the bottom side. The hollow body is weighted so as to have a stable floating position in water such that the hollow elongated body predominantly remains submerged beneath the water's surface, but an outer surface of the top side consistently remains above the surface of the water.
US07918183B2
A protective cover for an automobile or truck motor protective hood is provided. The cover may be a blanket that is attractive to animals, such as cats, and be pleasant to rest on, paw and chew. The cover may be shaped in a square, a rectangle, a circle, or in an outline of a cartoon character or a team or corporate logo. An image, picture, photo, signage or a logo may be visibly displayed on at least one side of the fabric. The cover may have a pillow section.
US07918181B2
A stent mandrel fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided.
US07918175B2
A flexible mast track extension for use on sail boat mast permitting the luff of a sail bent to the mast to deflect from the line of the mast and facilitate the extension or retraction of a sail from a furling apparatus.
US07918168B2
A seed meter is provided having an endless belt as a seed transport member together with a pressure differential to hold the seed onto the belt. The use of an endless belt as the seed transport member enables the spatial orientation of the seed transport member to vary from location to location along the path of the belt where different seed meter functions are performed. The belt allows greater freedom in determining the location of the seed pick-up region and the seed release or removal region beyond the constraints of a fixed diameter seed disk. The belt further allows for a narrow envelope seed meter which can cross-feed seed into a substantially vertically oriented delivery device.
US07918166B2
A pallet assembly includes an upper deck and a lower deck spaced by a plurality of columns. The weight of the pallet is reduced without significant reduction in strength by providing only a single cross beam in each of the upper and lower reinforcement members and orienting them perpendicular to one another. The reinforcement members are minimized for weight reduction and for improved performance in heat tests. The peripheral rail of the upper reinforcement member is reduced such that it rests on only an inwardly open recess on an inner corner of each of the corner columns. This reduces the size and weight of the upper reinforcement member, while still providing support to the upper deck. Additionally, the peripheral rails of both the upper and lower decks are reduced in length such that either ledge does not directly support them while the pallet is stored on a rack. As a result, in the case of sufficient heat source on the pallets, the pallets will eventually collapse without interference from the reinforcement members and at least partially smother the heat source.
US07918164B1
A bullet includes at least a mid core and a rear core in tandem alignment. The hardness of the mid core is greater than the hardness of the rear core. A jacket envelops both the mid core and the rear core. The jacket has a generally cylindrical sidewall, which is in contact with the mid core, and a boat-tail, which is in contact with the rear core. The rear core is substantially contained within the boat-tail. The mid core and the rear core may be substantially lead-free. In one embodiment, the bullet includes a front core in tandem alignment with the rear core and in contact with a nose portion of the jacket. In another embodiment, the mid core extends from the nose portion of the bullet to the boat-tail.
US07918154B2
In a pressure booster having a cylinder mechanism, a floating mechanism is disposed between pistons and a piston rod, the floating mechanism being capable of absorbing offset (off centered) loads that are imposed on the pistons from the piston rod. The floating mechanism is constituted from swing bolts connected to both ends of the piston rod, support plates mounted onto end surfaces of the pistons and which swingably support the swing bolts therein, and fixing plates disposed between the ends of the piston rod and the support plates.
US07918135B2
A semiconductor device includes a diaphragm, a sensing element, and a circuit. The sensing element is configured to sense deflection of the diaphragm. The circuit is configured to heat the diaphragm to induce deflection of the diaphragm.
US07918131B2
To detect a slip state in a contact region of a rotating tire on a road surface, first, the first radical direction data and the second width direction data of measurement data of acceleration at a tread portion of the rotating tire for a duration corresponding to one round of tire rotation are acquired. Second, time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation is extracted from the first radical direction data and displacement data is obtained by subjecting the time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation to a time integration of second order, thereby a deformation at the tread portion is calculated and a contact region of the rotating tire is determined from the calculated deformation. Next, from the second width direction data, a slip region within the determined contact region is specified based on vibration level of the second data.
US07918129B2
A control system for an engine system includes a temperature sensor and a diagnostic module. The temperature sensor measures an outlet temperature at an outlet of a cooling system. The diagnostic module estimates the cooling fluid temperature, determines the cooling performance based on the outlet temperature and the cooling fluid temperature, and selectively diagnoses a fault in the cooling system based on the cooling performance and a predetermined threshold.
US07918128B2
A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel injector is equipped with a fuel pressure sensor, a sensor circuit such as an amplifier, and a valve actuator such as a piezoelectric actuator. The fuel injector also includes a conductive shield which is disposed between the sensor circuit and actuator drive terminals to supply electric power to the actuator and works to shield the sensor circuit from electric noises arising from the drive terminals, thereby minimizing the addition of the noises to an output of the fuel pressure sensor, as being processed in the sensor circuit, and ensuring the accuracy in determining the pressure of fuel based on the output of the fuel pressure sensor.
US07918117B2
A lock assembly including a housing, a fastener that has a head, a lock member that is movable between a first position and a second position, and a barrier that is movably disposed within the housing. The barrier is displaceable between a first position at which the barrier at least partially covers the fastener head, and a second position at which the fastener head is generally accessible. The barrier is coupled with the lock member such that the barrier displaces from the barrier first and second positions when the lock member displaces between the lock member first and second positions.
US07918109B2
A steam generator having a steam generation tube defining a chamber for receiving water and converting the water to steam, and a heating element wrapped around the tube and having a first portion emitting a greater thermal output than a second portion.
US07918108B1
An interchangeable jewelry mounting system that allows for the attachment and detachment of gems from a jewelry setting. This system is provided with a gem mount that has a gem permanently secured to the mount. This mount contains an internal safety catch that, when engaged secures the gem mount to the jewelry setting. The jewelry setting is provided with latches that engage pins on the gem mount to ensure that the internal safety catch does not disengage prematurely.
US07918106B2
A refrigerant circuit (15) is provided with a low-pressure stage oil separator (26) for separating refrigerating machine oil out of refrigerant discharged from a low-pressure stage compressor (21) and returning it to the suction side of the low-pressure stage compressor (21), and a high-pressure stage oil separator (36) for separating refrigerating machine oil out of refrigerant discharged from a high-pressure stage compressor (31) and returning it to the suction side of the high-pressure stage compressor (31). The efficiency of oil separation of the low-pressure stage oil separator (26) is set lower than that of the high-pressure stage oil separator (36).
US07918104B2
A water cooling type air conditioner is provided. The water cooling type air conditioner includes first and second heat exchangers, a refrigerant pipe, and a direction controlling unit. The first heat exchanger performs heat exchange between air and refrigerant. The second heat exchanger performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and cooling water. The refrigerant pipe is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to guide a flow of the refrigerant. The direction controlling unit is disposed on one side of the second heat exchanger and controls the refrigerant and the cooling water flowing inside the second heat exchanger to flow in respectively opposite directions.
US07918101B2
A front panel constituted by a synthetic resin molded product is used with respect to a base panel, side panels, and a top panel which are formed of a metal, first retaining means for the side panels and second retaining means for the top panel are provided on the front panel to effect fixation.
US07918098B2
An air conditioning system can improve the cooling/heating performance of the system because the injection of refrigerant into the compressor is achieved. The air conditioning system can further improve the cooling/heating performance in a low temperature region by injecting refrigerant as a two-phase refrigerant or a superheated vapor state into the compressor. The air conditioning system can prevent damage of the compressor and further improve reliability by controlling such that the ratio of a liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant injected into the compressor may be less than a set value.
US07918096B2
In a refrigerant circuit (11), a compressor (20) and an expander (30) are provided separately. An expander casing (34) is connected to a delivery pipe (26) of the compressor (20) and high pressure refrigerant passes through the inside of the expander casing (34). Therefore, the compressor casing (24) and the expander casing (34) are equalized in their internal pressure. An oil distribution pipe (41) for connection of an oil sump (27) of the compressor (20) and an oil sump (37) of the expander (30) is provided with an oil regulating valve (52). The oil regulating valve (52) is controlled in response to a signal outputted from an oil level sensor (51). When the oil regulating valve (52) is opened, the oil sump (27) within the compressor casing (24) and the oil sump (37) within the expander casing (34) fluidly communicate with each other whereby refrigeration oil travels through the oil distribution pipe (41).
US07918094B2
Heat pumps move heat from a source to a higher temperature heat sink. This invention enables spontaneous source-to-sink heat transfer. Spontaneous heat transfer is accomplished by conducting heat from the source through rotating disks to a portion of the generally warmer sink flow that is cooled to a temperature below that of the source by the Bernoulli effect. The nozzled flow required for Bernoulli cooling is provided by the corotating disk pairs. The distance between the opposing surfaces of the disk pair decreases with distance from the rotation axis, forming a nozzle. The heat-sink flow through the nozzle is maintained by centrifugal force caused by the circular motion of the gas near the disk surfaces. Embodiments of the invention differ in the paths followed by the source and sink fluid flows, by the number of disk pairs and by the state (gas or liquid.) of the heat source.
US07918091B1
Systems and methods for controlling humidity of a working fluid used to provided climate control of a mission critical application are provided. Such control may be accomplished by using a humidification system in connection with a CAS or TACAS system. The humidification system may introduce a liquid (e.g., water) into one or more, predetermined points within the CAS or TACAS system to adjust the moisture content of a working fluid used to influence the environment of a mission critical application or enclosure.
US07918087B1
A water energy conversion system for convening the potential energy of water to electrical or mechanical energy, takes water at an inlet (105) from a higher elevation source, through a conduit (110) to a lower location. Then a riser (120) conveys the water up to nearly the same elevation it had at the inlet. The riser acts as a “virtual dam”, delivering the water with nearly the same head as a dam. The water from the riser is delivered to an energy converter (100) which comprises a loop raceway (130) which constrains and guides a plurality of carriage and disc assemblies (135) connected in a continuous train by links (155). An inlet (125) at the top of the energy converter receives the water where it falls downward through a jacket (140) that is constrained by the raceway (140).
US07918084B2
An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a movable component that is operated during operation of the internal combustion engine includes: a switching portion that switches the exhaust gas temperature increasing control between a first control in which the temperature of exhaust gas is increased without operating the movable component and a second control in which the temperature of exhaust gas is increased operating the movable component; a detecting portion that detects a temporarily sticking state of the movable component; and a controlling portion that, when a temporarily sticking state of the movable component is detected, extends an execution region for the first control toward an execution region for the second control in the entire operation region of the internal combustion engine, whereby the execution region for the second control is reduced.
US07918082B2
A method is intended for desulfation of a nitric oxide trap (22) and regeneration of a particle filter (24) arranged in an exhaust line (20) for treating exhaust gas from an internal-combustion engine (10), notably a Diesel engine. The saturation rate of the trap and the clogging rate of the filter are evaluated and, as soon as one of the rates reaches a threshold value, the fuel/air ratio of the exhaust gas is increased without it reaching a fuel/air ratio of 1, then desulfation of trap (22) is performed in association with regeneration of particle filter (24).
US07918080B2
A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base.
US07918079B2
A rope with a core and a casing surrounding the core. The core is composed of a multitude of synthetic fibers and the casing is composed of a multitude of synthetic fibers that are interlaced with one another. The synthetic fibers that form the casing are composed of polytetrafluoroethylene and form a lightproof and fluid-repellent envelope for the core.
US07918070B2
The invention pertains to a device and a method for sealing a package with a sealing seam by partially fusing together the packaging material, and a supply system for protective gas. The device includes a gas supply for inert gas and an inert gas outlet opening, wherein the gas supply for inert gas and the inert gas outlet opening are arranged such that an inert gas current resulting therebetween flows around the sealing seam during sealing of the package. The method provides a flow of inert gas around the sealing seam during sealing of the package.
US07918062B2
Methods and systems for decorating at least one bevel surface or other surface of a laminated flooring are described. The bevel surface can be decorated by non-transfer printing such as digital printing. The digital printer can be an ink jet printer such as a piezoelectric drop-on-demand (DOD) printer that allows a color and pattern to be placed on the bevel surface that matches the print design (décor pattern or face design) of the laminated flooring. Other devices are provided such as a device that takes a picture of or scans an image of the print design, and modifies the taken picture or the scanned image so that the edge pattern thereof matches with an edge pattern of the print design.
US07918060B2
The present invention relates to a watertight sub-floor system for balcony or roof, in the form of a semi-rigid rollable plank of corrugated polymeric type installed in juxtaposition to form a waterproof flooring between boards and beams. Under-plank are unwrapped and cut at a desired length to avoid transverse junction with respect to water flow. Under-planks overlap parallel to water flow without loss of sealing. The corrugated under-plank has a design of crests and dips, crests widened and sloping to make possible the receiving of screws from deck board, thereby permitting the descent of water trickling from around the damaging screwing of the under-plank, and dips which bear no perforations from screwing and merely allow water to run off to protect wood structures of patios, balconies or terraces against moisture causing premature rot and to protect objects (bike, mowers . . . ) under a deck.
US07918058B2
A device for attaching a profiled trim to a portion of a shaped bead mounted on a glazing, for example mounted on at least part of the periphery of a glazing. The device includes at least one rigid clip including at least an upstream interacting part configured to allow interaction with the shaped bead and a downstream interacting part configured to allow interaction with the profiled trim. The upstream interacting part includes at least one protruding male element or a hollow female element, this element interacting respectively with a corresponding hollow female element or a protruding male element arranged in the shaped bead. The hollow female element has internal dimensions at least partially less than external dimensions of the protruding male element.
US07918053B2
A basic container has at least one expansion element which can be moved out of the basic container. A lifting device permits lowering of the expansion element such that, after the expansion element has been moved out of the basic container, the floor wall of the expansion element and the basic container are situated at the same level. An expansion element can be lifted such that, after the lowering, the expansion element can be moved back into the basic container. The lifting device is active between the folded-open side wall and the expansion element.
US07918050B2
An extermination device for exterminating pests includes a holder, trigger mechanism and a resilient ring mounted on the holder. When a pest actuates the trigger mechanism, the ring is released from the holder onto the pest, thereby killing the pest in a humane manner. A cover may be provided to protect the trigger mechanism from dirt and animals larger than target pest size. A loading device having a tapering body adapted to allow a resilient ring to be expanded from the narrow end to the wide end of the tapering body, wherein the wide end includes a formation adapted to engage with a holder of an extermination device.
US07918048B2
A revolver cartridge assembly storing device, that sequentially delivers cartridge assemblies to a consistent point for extraction. The device consists of a guide rail suspended by its ends on a mainframe which is mounted to a user's torso. The cartridge assemblies sit on said guide rail where they are propelled by a means of force to either a left or right extraction point. There they may be freely retrieved to augment the reloading of the revolver.
US07918023B2
A variable-vane cartridge mechanism for a turbocharger is assembled from a nozzle ring, an insert that engages a turbine housing bore, and a plurality of spacers. Holes larger in diameter than the spacers are formed in the nozzle ring and a nozzle portion of the insert, such that the spacers fit loosely in the holes. A locating fixture is engaged with the nozzle ring and insert for precisely locating these parts radially (and optionally also axially) with respect to each other; the spacers can move within the holes as needed to allow the positions of the parts to be adjusted. Once located relative to each other, the nozzle ring and insert are fixed in the desired relative positions by affixing the spacers to them, such as by welding.
US07918021B2
A flexible circuit printable board can be favorably produced by a process composed of steps of forming in a polyimide film having a metal coat on each surface side a via hole penetrating at least one metal coat and the polyimide film; and applying a mixture of liquid and abrasive grains under pressure onto the via hole, whereby smoothing an edge of the via hole and cleaning the via hole.
US07918018B2
In a method and apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device having a flexible tape substrate, a hole is punched in the flexible tape substrate. The flexible tape substrate includes a metal layer attached to a polyimide layer without an adhesive there between. A cover is placed on the metal layer to cap a base of the hole. A metal is deposited on the cover exposed at the base of the hole, the metal being used to form a bond with the metal layer. The metal being deposited causes the hole to be plugged up to a selective height. Upon removal of the cover, the metal may also be deposited on the metal layer to increase a thickness of the metal layer.
US07918016B2
A reinforced plastic foam cup including a body which defines an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the top end has a greater diameter than the bottom end. The body includes a reinforced tapered side wall that extends from the bottom end to the top end. A substantial portion of the reinforced tapered side wall includes a plastic foam layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a rigid material layer. Such reinforced plastic foam cup provides an improved tactile feel and enhanced insulation and rigidity properties.
US07918009B2
A pharmaceutical pig is used to transport a syringe containing a liquid radiopharmaceutical from a radiopharmacy to a medical facility for administration to a patient. The pharmaceutical pig includes an elongate polymer cap that is removably attached to an elongate polymer base. The elongate polymer cap includes a cap shell that completely encloses a cap shielding element and the elongate polymer base includes a base shell that completely encloses a base shielding element. Preferably the polymer utilized for the cap shell and the base shell is polycarbonate resin, e.g., LEXAN®. An inner liner is not utilized and the cap shielding element and the base shielding element, which are preferably, but not necessarily, made of lead, are completely sealed and unexposed.
US07918005B2
A reinforced plastic foam cup including a body which defines an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the top end has a greater diameter than the bottom end. The body includes a reinforced tapered side wall that extends from the bottom end to the top end. A substantial portion of the reinforced tapered side wall includes a plastic foam layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a rigid material layer. Such reinforced plastic foam cup provides an improved tactile feel and enhanced insulation and rigidity properties.
US07917994B2
The present invention is to provide a hinge suitable for a glass door, having a roller actuating by a spring member and cooperating with a cylindrical surface and slots on the cylindrical surface to hold the glass door in the opened and closed positions, and to make the fluent opening and closing movement of the glass door.
US07917990B2
A duct cleaning apparatus for cleaning ventilation ducts in a household environment comprises a typical household or light industrial vacuum cleaning having a sealed container, a blower having suction and exhaust, a first flexible hose attached to the suction port and a second flexible hose attached to the exhaust port. The hoses are adjacent and parallel to each other and fixed together using a plurality regularly spaced elastic bands. A blower nozzle and a suction nozzle are adjacent to each other and placed in a duct for cleaning. The blower nozzle directs a jet of air into the vacuum zone of the suction nozzle thereby agitating dirt and debris within the vacuum zone for a more efficient cleaning action.
US07917985B2
Wipes capable of picking up hair and other large particles, and methods of making same, are provided. A wipe includes a layer of netting material bonded to a substrate, and subsequently stretched via ring rolls such that strands of the netting material break and extend outwardly from the substrate to form teeth. The wipe may be impregnated with one or more chemical ingredients, such as cleaning solutions, soaps, antiseptics, surfactants, tackifying agents, antimicrobial agents, detergents, bleaches, polishes, and facial cleansers. The wipe may be electrostatically charged.
US07917982B2
A handpiece of an electric toothbrush having a housing in which a drive unit is received. The housing has a forward or rearward housing opening adapted to be closed by a cover in a preferably moisture- and liquid-proof manner, with snap-action detent elements provided on the housing and/or the cover for locking the cover on the housing with a snap action. A combination of snap-fitting and threaded engagement releases the snap-fitting engagement between the cover and the housing.
US07917978B2
A patient support (10) includes a frame (12), a mattress supported by the frame, and a set of siderails (18-20) configured to block the egress of a patient from the patient support (10). The siderails (18-20) are configured to reduce gaps defined between the siderails (18-20) and other components of the patient support (10).
US07921463B2
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing an insertion and integrity protection system associated with a wireless communication platform are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07921439B2
Apparatus in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data storage cartridge and/or a receiver configured to receive the cartridge in facilitation of data transfer to and/or from the cartridge. The cartridge and the receiver each include respective connector portions configured to connect when the cartridge is inserted into the receiver. The cartridge and/or the receiver also include guide features configured to facilitate alignment of the connector portions for connection as the cartridge is inserted into the receiver.
US07921438B2
A claw member includes at a radially inward surface thereof a protrusion inclined surface in order to minimize deformation occurring in an axial direction to an elastic member which is a coil spring. The protrusion inclined surface is preferably inclined, when a tip portion of the claw member is at an axially lowest point, to be substantially perpendicular to the central axis, or such that the further radially inward a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is. By virtue of such configuration, the protrusion inclined surface minimizes deformation occurring to the elastic member in the axial direction.
US07921434B2
When a normal disk having the diameter of 12 cm is inserted into the disk device, first and second optical detecting elements detect the insertion, and transitions to a first detection state, which initiates transfer operation of first and second transfer rollers. If the disk is further moved to an inner portion of the device, thus pressing first and second detecting pins, first and second detecting switches are turned OFF, and the detecting elements enter a second detection state. Before the transition from the first detection state to the second detection state occurs, a rotating speed of the first and second transfer rollers is set low. After transition to the second detection state, the rotating speed is increased. As a result, a card or other such foreign objects can be removed and a monitoring period can be increased until detection of a normal disk is detected.
US07921427B2
A method for processing a message that includes receiving the message by a plurality of resource adapters (RA). The method includes calculating a selector string using an application instance selection portion of the message, determining whether the selector string calculated by the RA identifies the application instance corresponding to the RA, transmitting the message to the application instance corresponding to the RA when the selector string calculated by the RA identifies the application instance, and discarding the message when the selector string calculated by the RA does not identify the application instance corresponding to the RA, where one RA transmits the message to the application instance corresponding to the RA and the remaining RAs discard the message.
US07921424B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward extending a federation of servers and balancing the data load of said federation of servers, in order to improve accessibility and scope of the system by moving the first backup data structure on the second server to the new server, creating a second data structure on the new server, and creating a second backup data structure for the second data structure on the second server. To balance the load, certain embodiments employ a method comprising suspending writes to the selected logical partitions, copying selected logical partitions to the new physical partition, redirecting reads and writes to the logical partitions in the new physical partition, and removing the original selected logical partitions. Alternative embodiments for balancing data load comprise the substitute steps of creating a temporary replication stream for the selected logical partitions to the new physical partition, copying selected logical partitions to the new physical partition, deconflicting inconsistencies in the logical partitions on the new physical partition, redirecting reads and writes for the selected logical partitions to the logical partitions in the new physical partition, and removing the original selected logical partitions that were copied to the new physical partition.
US07921422B2
A scheduling mechanism that fairly allocates a resource to a number of schedulable elements, of which some are latency-sensitive, is disclosed. Each element's use of the resource is tracked by determining the element's virtual time. An active element is selected from the elements that are ready to use the resource by determining the element that has the smallest effective virtual time. The effective virtual time is the element's actual virtual time modified by a borrowed virtual time value. When an element has a short-term need for the resource, it can borrow the privilege to run by borrowing virtual time. As the element uses the resource, it consumes virtual time according to its weight. When the elements are scheduled for the resource, the ready element having the smallest virtual time is selected. The invention enforces long-term fairness to each element while allowing latency-sensitive elements to be preferably selected.
US07921400B1
A cell library is disclosed that includes soft error resistant logic cells. The soft error resistant logic cells can be used along with memory cells and conventional logic cells to form integrated circuit designs having increased soft error resistance. A method for forming an integrated circuit device is disclosed in which a first integrated circuit design is formed using conventional logic cells. An iterative process is then performed in which some of the conventional logic cells are replaced with high soft error resistant logic cells to obtain a soft error resistant design. Each soft error resistant logic cell that replaces a corresponding conventional logic cell will have the same cell size as the cell that is replaced, producing a soft error resistant design that does not take up additional surface area on the semiconductor substrate.
US07921397B2
Standard cell libraries and methods of designing semiconductor integrated circuits are provided. At least one of delay-adjusting cell data and load-capacitor cell data is stored in the cell library for a specified type standard cell in addition to the standard cell data. The specified type standard cell may be utilized as a delay-adjusting cell or a load-capacitor cell. Accordingly, precise adjustment of delay times during designing a semiconductor integrated circuit is enabled without requiring registering a new standard cell in the cell library. Semiconductor integrated circuits are also provided that are configured to allow precise adjustment of delay times in the semiconductor integrated circuits.
US07921383B1
A method, system, and related computer program products and computer-readable numerical arrays for computer simulation of a photolithographic process is described. In one preferred embodiment, simulation of a photolithographic process is provided in which a computation time for computing each subsequent result for each subsequent combination of process variation values and/or target depths is significantly less than a computation time for computing an initial result for an initial combination of the process variation values and/or target depths. Accordingly, where computation for the initial combination requires a first time interval T, results for (N−1) subsequent combinations can be achieved such that a total time interval for the N results is substantially less than NT. Computation of a process model used for the computer simulation is also described, as well as calibration of the process model to a physical photolithographic processing system.
US07921376B2
The present invention provides a three-dimensional user interface for a computer system that allows a user to combine and store a group of windows as a task. The image of each task can be positioned within a three-dimensional environment such that the user may utilize spatial memory in order remember where a particular task is located.
US07921373B2
A display screen management unit is provided which can reduce a screen resource required to switch screens and simultaneously display a pre-transition screen and a post-transition screen. A screen control section requests a screen discard determination section to determine whether or not a currently displayed screen is to be discarded. The screen discard determination section compares currently displayed screen information with switching target screen information, and when the currently displayed screen is completely hidden by the switching target screen, determines that the currently displayed screen is to be discarded. The screen control section discards a screen resource for the screen determined to be discarded, from a screen resource saving section. The screen control section generates a screen resource for the switching target screen, and saves the screen resource into the screen resource saving section. The screen control section causes a display section to display the saved screen resource.
US07921370B1
Novel techniques and tools for indicating, to a user, that a development application has detected a condition of text that is not currently displayed. A user may use the development application to develop other applications at an object level without being distracted by text related to graphical objects in the applications being developed by the user. If the development application detects an undesirable condition in text related to a graphical object, the development application may display a graphical indicator of the detected condition. The user may then interact with the graphical indicator to obtain additional information about the detected condition and to view and modify the text in which the application detected the condition.
US07921365B2
The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for managing multiple content windows. The content windows may host a web browser, a shell view, a word processing application, and the like. A set of content windows are grouped into a frame in a manner such that a taskbar shows one item for the set of content windows. Each content window is associated with a tab for the frame. A content-specific menu may be associated with each tab. The content-specific menu includes a set of commands based on the heterogeneous content hosted in the content window. The set of commands provide functionality to the heterogeneous content.
US07921364B2
Controlling a computer user interface with sound including defining ranges of audio frequencies; associating each range with a user interface command; receiving as input from a user a sound representing an instruction to execute a user interface command, the sound characterized by a spectrum of frequencies and energies; identifying the user interface command to be executed in dependence upon the spectrum of frequencies and energies, the defined ranges of audio frequencies, and the user interface commands associated with the ranges; and executing the identified command.
US07921361B2
In one aspect, a method, apparatus, computer-readable medium and system is provided for facilitating user text generation and entry. In some illustrative embodiments, user input received from a digital keyboard and search list is used to retrieve completion candidates likely intended by the user or containing at least a portion of the user's intended text. Completion candidates may be selected using a pointing device (for example, a touch-sensitive screen) with a pointing operation that includes a gesture. A completion candidate may be used to search for more relevant completion candidates.
US07921360B1
A system and method are disclosed to restrict editing in a tag-delimited, multi-formatted document comprising parsing the multi-formatted document, identifying a plurality of tags responsive to the parsing, generating a revised document based on the multi-formatted document, inserting one or more restriction tags into the revised document delimiting non-editable content defined by one or more of the plurality of tags, and restricting edit functions of a page editor responsive to the page editor reading the one or more restriction tags.
US07921351B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for increasing the error correction capabilities of a receiver circuit that receives a data stream of encoded data symbols that are encoded with a linear block code. Analog and digital comparator circuits are used to detect laser clipping or analog to digital converter overloading. Corrupted symbols are detected by comparing in-phase and/or quadrature phase baseband signals with pre-determined threshold limits that indicate that the in-phase and quadrature phase signals have exceeded the normal signal trajectory of an unimpaired signal. Corrupted symbols may also be detected by determining that the laser has been clipped. Corrupted symbols are marked for erasure prior to decoding and error correction. Erasure of corrupted signals increases the error correction capabilities of the decoder circuit.
US07921343B2
A testing system including a plurality of test applying portions that operate a test device for outputting an output signal; a plurality of testing portions that test the output signal of the test device; and a switch portion that switches the output signal between the test applying portions and the testing portions. The testing portions each have a test information portion that outputs test item information which includes a test capability of the testing portion, and have a test performing portion which is selected under the test item information that receives the output signal from the test applying portion through the switch portion, and performs a test under a designated test item.
US07921340B2
A life parameter generator generates life parameters related to the life of a nonvolatile memory device by using parameters related to allowable capacity for memory defect and occurrence capacity for memory defect. The life parameters are stored in a life parameter storing block of a nonvolatile memory. An access device reads and displays the stored life parameters. Thus, the user can precisely know the life of the nonvolatile memory device or the moment when a device having a built in nonvolatile memory such as a portable audio becomes unusable.
US07921335B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for performing diagnostic testing for an application executing on a computer. A diagnostic utility executes on the computer. The diagnostic utility includes a graphical user interface and a plurality of diagnostic functions. A selection of the application executing on the computer is received for diagnostic testing through the graphical user interface. Responsive to receiving the selection of the application, a set of diagnostic functions from the plurality of diagnostic functions is identified to test at least one of connectivity, operation of the application, and a presence of a set of needed files for the application to form a set of identified diagnostic functions. The set of identified diagnostic functions are identified using configuration information for the application. The set of identified diagnostic function are executed, wherein a result is generated. A result from executing the set of functions is presented using the graphical user interface.
US07921328B1
A mirror destination storage server receives mirror update data streams from several mirror source storage servers. Data received from each mirror is cached and periodic checkpoints are queued, but the data is not committed to long-term storage at the mirror destination storage server immediately. Instead, the data remains in cache memory until a trigger event causes the cache to be flushed to a mass storage device. The trigger event is asynchronous with respect to packets of at least one of the data streams. In one embodiment, the trigger event is asynchronous with respect to packets of all of the data streams.
US07921323B2
Reconfigurable communications infrastructures may be implemented to interconnect ASIC devices (e.g., FPGAs) and other computing and input/output devices using high bandwidth interconnection mediums. The computing and input/output devices may be positioned in locations that are physically segregated from each other, and/or may be provided to project a reconfigurable network across a wide area. The reconfigurable communications infrastructures may be implemented to allow such computing and input/output devices to be used in different arrangements and applications, e.g., for use in any application where a large array of ASIC devices may be usefully employed such as supercomputing, etc.
US07921320B2
A single wire serial interface for power ICs and other devices is provided. To use the interface, a device is configured to include an EN/SET input pin. A counter within the device counts clock pulses sent to the EN/SET input pin. The output of the counter is passed to a ROM or other decoder circuit. The ROM selects an operational state for the device that corresponds to the value of the counter. In this way, control states may be selected for the device by sending corresponding clock pulses to the EN/SET pin. Holding the EN/SET pin high causes the device to maintain its operational state. Holding the EN/SET pin low for a predetermined timeout period resets the counter and causes the device to adopt a predetermined configuration (such as off) until new clock pulses are received at the EN/SET pin.
US07921313B2
A power management system schedules the voltage and frequency of processors in a data processing system based on two criteria. The first criterion is a prediction of the performance that the work currently running on the processor will experience at the different frequencies that are available. The second criterion is a system-wide constraint on the total power budget allocated to processors. Based on these criteria, low-level code sets the frequency and voltage of the processors in the system to match what the operating system is currently running on them.
US07921312B1
A system and method is disclosed for providing a plurality of hardware performance monitors for adaptive voltage scaling in an integrated circuit system that comprises a plurality of clock domains. Each hardware performance monitor is associated with one of the plurality of clock domains and provides a signal that measures a performance of its respective clock domain temperature, process corner and supply voltage. The difference between the measured performance and a nominal expected performance for each hardware performance monitor is determined. The largest of the plurality of difference signals is selected and used in an advanced power controller to provide adaptive voltage scaling for the integrated circuit system.
US07921310B2
A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) communication system dynamically provides power and data communications over a communications link. In a computing environment made up of one or more personal computing devices (PCD) and/or one or more powered devices (PD), power source equipment (PSE) determines an allocated amount of power to be supplied to each device. The personal computing devices include a unified LAN-On-Motherboard (LOM) that combines the functionality of a powered device (PD) controller of a conventional PD and a LOM of a conventional personal computing device into a single unified subsystem. This allows the personal computing devices to use the existing hardware architecture and software architecture, such as software drivers and Access Protocol Interfaces (API), with few modifications to implement PoE. Further, the personal computing devices provide the power source equipment with access to some of the operational parameters, such as the voltage and the current of the personal computing device, using a communication via the data link layer, also referred to as layer two in the Open System Interconnection (OSI) networking model. Additionally, the power source equipment may dynamically manage the power requirements for the personal computing devices using the data link layer.
US07921304B2
Accessing a data set with secret and non-secret data. A method includes accessing a data set image. The data set image comprises secret data. The data set image is derived from an authorized data set associated with a master key that authorizes access to the secret data. The master key is not provided with the data set image. The method further comprises restoring the data set image to a computing system to create a degraded data set. Data in the degraded data set other than the secret data is accessed without restoring the master key.
US07921299B1
The present invention relates to a system and methodology for interacting with a Subscription Platform Service (SPS) and providing data security between entities that employ such service. The system includes a component that receives a request to access an object by an entity, and a data store that stores security information on classes of the objects. A verification component employs the security information to determine whether the entity has permission to call an Application Programming Interface (API) for the object and/or operate on the object, wherein the verification component exposes the object if permission exists or masks the object if permission does not exist.
US07921287B2
An application's access to storage is limited on a per application basis. The application is granted access to a portion of the storage. The application may manipulate that portion of the storage by creating distinct file structures within that portion, modifying, reading and writing files contained therein. The application is denied access to the storage area outside the granted portion. Similarly, other applications stored in the storage area follow a similar paradigm. In one embodiment, the storage area is a hierarchical file structure and applications are stored as children in the file structure. The applications, however, are mapped to indicate each are stored at the root of the file structure to prevent access to other areas of the file structure. In another embodiment, the file structure supports a shared directory that multiple applications are mapped to, also as a root directory but to another drive.
US07921280B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a retirement unit to receive and retire executed instructions. The retirement unit may include a first array to receive information at allocation and a second array to receive information after execution. The retirement unit may further include logic to calculate an event associated with an executed instruction if information associated with the executed instruction is stored in an on-demand portion of at least one of arrays. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07921240B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for supporting hardware acceleration for iSCSI read and write operations via a TCP offload engine may comprise pre-registering at least one buffer with hardware. An iSCSI command may be received from an initiator. An initiator test tag value, a data sequence value and/or a buffer offset value of an iSCSI buffer may be compared with the pre-registered buffer. Data may be fetched from the pre-registered buffer based on comparing the initiator test tag value, the data sequence value and/or the buffer offset value of the iSCSI buffer with the pre-registered buffer. The fetched data may be zero copied from the pre-registered buffer to the initiator.
US07921236B2
A method and apparatus for providing bidirectional signaling in a bus topology is provided. The bus topology allows more than two electrical circuits or devices to be coupled together along one or more common electrical conductors. For each device on the bus, a transmit buffer is preferably provided for every other device on the bus with which it will communicate. One or more logic circuits, for example, a scheduler, is provided to coordinate exchange transactions between pairs of devices. Time delays are preferably provided between exchange transactions of different device pairs so as to prevent interference. Coherency checking is preferably implemented to avoid discrepancies introduced by information being held in a buffer pending an exchange transaction.
US07921231B2
Discovery of electronic devices utilizing a control bus. An embodiment of a method includes connecting a receiving device to a cable, where the cable includes a control bus. If the receiving device is in a disconnect state and a signal from a transmitting device is detected on the control bus, the device is transferred to a state for a first type of transmitting device. If the receiving device is in either the disconnect state or the state for the first type of transmitting device and a predetermined voltage signal is received from the transmitting device, then the receiving device is transferred to a state for a second type of transmitting device.
US07921228B2
A modularized electronic switching controller assembly for a computer includes a computer device; a hub positioned at a rear end of the computer device; two sides of the hub unit being installed with tracks which are retained in a machine frame; the machine frame being formed by four supporting posts; a support arm connected between the computer-related assembly and the hub for receiving conductive wires; a switching controller installed at the tracks having two racks of the hub unit; a connecting surface of the switching controller having an electric connector; a rear side of the switching controller being installed with at least one connecting port; moving the switching controller through the tracks will make the switching controller entering from a rear end of the machine case; by the connection of the electric connector and the hub unit, the connecting port can be connected to external peripherals or a server.
US07921219B2
In one embodiment, a method generally includes establishing a routing protocol peer relationship and a Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) session with a neighbor node, receiving a DOWN BFD event signal from the neighbor node, and maintaining a routing protocol adjacency down state following successful exchange of routing protocol packets with the neighbor node. An apparatus for maintaining protocol adjacency state with a forwarding failure is also disclosed.
US07921210B1
A method and system to control call admissions into data networks is disclosed. A network device has a port to receive a pre-authentication request associated with a call and a status memory to store system status information. A processor in the device is configured to determine if the pre-authentication request can be granted based upon the system status information. The method receives a pre-authentication request associated with a call and accesses system status information. The method then determines if the request can be granted.
US07921208B2
An example method for time-out handling comprises establishing a session from a network-based application at a client to a web server. The method includes identifying a time-out parameter for the web server. A timestamp of the established session is saved at the client. The method also includes determining a first time-out by adding the identified time-out parameter to the timestamp and triggering a system-based communication from the network-based application to keep the session alive. The method may be implemented by a client of a learning management system.
US07921206B2
A computer implemented technique framework, prototype tool and associated methods that provide a high degree of visibility and control over the in-field execution of software in a minimally intrusive manner wherein developer-defined correctness tests and validation logic are embedded into the sensor node itself, making in-field software testing autonomous without necessitating continuous developer participation.
US07921201B2
A distributed user validation and profile management system operates to automatically validate and update user profiles, such as those stored within an organizational security database, to properly reflect the actual positions and rights of various users within the organization to the various organizational assets, such as computer implemented applications. The user validation and profile management system described herein includes a user validation engine which periodically sends notifications in the form of e-mails to various users within the organization to initiate the process of updating and verifying user profile information. The individual users may respond to the validation e-mails by accessing or using an electronic link provided within the validation e-mails to verify their position and status within the organization as well as the position or status of one or more other closely associated users, such as a manager or a subordinate. Failure of the user to respond to the validation e-mail causes the user validation and profile management system to determine that the user profile is invalid when the user attempts to access an application, which thereby prevents the user from being able to access or use networked applications within the organization.
US07921200B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for interacting with multi-attribute managed resources as groups. The apparatus, system and method identify in a repository one or more groups associated with a target attribute. The apparatus system and method further determine a set of managed resources from the repository wherein each managed resource in a set comprises the same value for the target attribute. The apparatus system and method further associate each set of managed resources with a group. The apparatus system and method may subdivide the groups into sub-groups according to additional attributes possessed by members of each group and may display the groups and sub-groups to summarize and highlight the managed resources of each group and sub-group.
US07921198B2
A method for managing multicast traffic in a data network, and devices using said method. The hosts store for each multicast group an included source record and an excluded source record, and the network interfaces of the hosts send to the router a message containing information about the included source record and information about the excluded source record. The router also stores for each multicast group an included source record and an excluded source record, and updates them when it receives through its network interface a message from the hosts containing information about an included source list and/or information about an excluded source list. The devices are a router, host equipment and network equipment compatible with the method.
US07921197B2
A computer implemented method for configuring virtual internal networks for testing is provided. The method includes deploying a virtual firewall and deploying a public switch enabling access to an external local area network through a first interface of the virtual firewall. A private switch enabling access to a plurality of virtual machines through a second interface of the virtual firewall is provided. The plurality of virtual machines define a private network behind the firewall. A network address is assigned to the virtual firewall and a private address is assigned to each of the virtual machines. The plurality of virtual machines are then tested through a test launcher in communication with the public switch.
US07921193B2
A presence server is described herein that implements a method which processes and integrates a presence watcher's communication preferences and a presentity's communication preferences and then distributes the integrated communication preferences along with the presentity's presence information so that the presence watcher can use this information to make a decision on how to contact the presentity. In this way, the presence watcher can achieve promoted communication satisfaction because they know now if they can contact the presentity using their preferred language/device (media type)/security mode (protocol). This enhancement of the communication satisfaction is possible because the integrated communication preferences provided to a presence watcher reflects not only the presentity's communication preferences but also the presence watcher's communication preferences.
US07921177B2
A method for providing remote direct memory access (RDMA) between two computers, preferably between central processing units (CPUs) and a functional subsystem of a computer system as part of their network communication, e.g. using TCP/IP. Tasks of analyzing network protocol data and the actual RDMA operations can be offloaded to the functional subsystem with this method. Further, the functional subsystem cannot compromise the status of the first computer system as only access to certain allowed memory locations is granted by a memory protection unit during phases of actual data transfer between the functional subsystem and the CPUs.
US07921173B2
The present invention provides for generating inputs that can be provided to a message classification module to facilitate more reliable classification of electronic messages, such as, for example, as unwanted and/or unsolicited. In one embodiment, a sending messaging server provides an appropriate response to address verification data thereby indicating a reduced likelihood of the sending messaging server using a forged network address. In another embodiment, it is determined if a messaging server is authorized to send electronic messages for a domain. In yet another embodiment, electronic message transmission policies adhered to by a domain are identified. In yet a further embodiment, a sending computer system expends computational resources to solve a computational puzzle and includes an answer document in an electronic message. A receiving computer system receives the electronic message and verifies the answer document.
US07921172B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for wireless presyncing of data. A scan module scans a partial email stored on a mobile electronic device. The partial email comprises subject text, address data, and a specified quantity of message text. A complete version of the partial email resides on a server. The server is in communication with the mobile electronic device over a wireless network. A download module determines if the partial email satisfies a priority policy. In addition, the download module downloads the complete email to the mobile electronic device if the partial email satisfies the priority policy.
US07921170B2
A method and system creates virtual email identifications and dynamically map the virtual email-ids to the real email identities. A virtual email identify will be described in a specific fixed syntax that is easy for the users to remember and implement. The virtual email-id is dynamically mapped to one or more real email-ids by using a database of employees or other personnel maintained by the organization. The database can have various configurations that will be a function of the organization of the entity and the relationships of the persons in the entity.
US07921167B2
The computer implemented method and system disclosed herein enables online networking based on exchange of virtual electronic cards between a plurality of users. An online networking environment is provided to a user. The user creates a personal profile in the online networking environment. Further, the user may create a company profile or link with an existing company profile. A virtual electronic card of the user is automatically created in the online networking environment. The virtual electronic card is one of a personal electronic card and a company electronic card. A personal contact network of the user is established in the online networking environment by exchanging personal electronic cards between the user and the plurality of users. Further, a company contact network of the company of the user is established by exchanging company electronic cards between the company of the user and a plurality of companies.
US07921154B2
A method of communicating from a mobile device using a computer program is provided. The method includes communicating a keystroke to a remote server via a network upon detecting the keystroke in a text input area of a user-interface page; receiving data from the remote server via the network in response to the remote server processing the keystroke; and displaying on the mobile device at least a portion of the data on the user-interface-page by reloading less than the entire user-interface page. Computer code and a system are also provided.
US07921148B2
A cell for an arithmetic logic unit includes a first input; a second input; a carry-in input; a first control input and a second control input; and a circuit connected to the first input, the second input, the carry-in input, the first control input, and the second control input. The circuit has a first output and a second output, the second output having a first value as a function of the first input and the second input when the first control input and the second control input are supplied values equal to a value at the carry-in input, and having a second value as a function of the first input and second input when the values at the first control input and the second control input are independent of the value at the carry-in input.
US07921141B2
A schema identifies a field in a document as a key field. Using an XML schema, the key field can be identified by attaching a property to the element or attribute to be used as a key field (if the XML schema standard is modified to support properties). Otherwise, attributes can be used to identify the element or attribute that is to be a key field. Fields can be primary keys, secondary keys, or foreign keys, as supported by data stores. The data store can analyze the schema to determine which fields are key fields. The key fields can be duplicated in the native format of the data store for use in indexing, searching, and other data store functions on the documents. The documents themselves can be stored as objects, into which the data store cannot reach, or can be stored in the native format of the data store, as desired.
US07921138B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media employing computer-readable components for localization of data included in software programs are described. The computer-readable components comprise data elements defined based on a software data schema; and an owned comment data element comprising information about the localization of the data included in the software programs and an associated owner with permission to create, access, and manipulate the owned comment data element. The owned comment data element is included in other data elements. The owned comment data element may also be included in a list of owned comment elements comprising at least one owned comment data element.
US07921135B2
A method and system for automating electronic merchandising and product recommendation by creating a third party merchandising product database populated with data obtained directly at the point of sale. According to one embodiment, collection or direct importation of such data from an existing physical source or a product or merchandising database, which can be complex and costly, is not required. As a result, the cost of creating a usable merchandising system and database is reduced.
US07921129B2
At least one implementation described herein relates to evaluating queries structured according to a first format against one or more objects structured according to a second, different format without serializing the object. Typically, evaluating an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) query against a CLR (Common Language Runtime) object required serializing the CLR object and deriving an XML construct from the serialized data. The query is then be evaluated against the XML construct. In the described implementations, significant system resources are realized by creating an infoset model that maps properties of an object to an object infoset. The query is then evaluated using the infoset to locate object values and, thus, no serialization is required. Dynamically generated IL is used and re-used to efficiently perform subsequent evaluation steps on similar queries.
US07921127B2
This invention allows a user to play back desired information even in the form of an icon indicating a file, check the contents of the file, and open the file. The invention stores, in a search attribute file written in a structured format, location information indicating the location of a management target file, search item information used for searching, icon image for brief display created from the target file, and brief playback information for brief playback of a desired portion in the target file. When search key is input, a search attribute file matching the key is searched so that the attribute file is displayed as an icon based on icon image in the file. When right-clicking a desired icon, brief playback information in the attribute file is played back. When left-clicking the icon, the target file is opened according to location information in the attribute file.
US07921124B1
A method for filtering online content involves uploading application data from a desktop application to a data repository associated with a website, where the application data are associated with a user of the desktop application, and where the website includes a message board associated with the desktop application. The method further involves designating at least part of the application data as message filtering criteria, and filtering messages on the message board based on message filtering criteria, where filtering messages provides a customized experience of the message board for the user.
US07921118B2
Methods and systems are provided for characterizing market distribution for a business having multiple business representatives. The business is considered to be in competition with one or more competitors, each of which also has multiple representatives. Locations are determined both for the business representatives and for the competitor representatives, and these locations are used to populate one or more databases. A locator identification is assigned to each distinct location and used as a pointer within the databases. The locator identification may be unique to specific street addresses, permitting improved analysis of the market information, particularly analysis derived from the geographical distributions of the business representatives and of the competitor representatives.
US07921114B2
Systems and methods are provided for capturing and combining media data and geodata into a composite file. The system may include a media data capture module configured to capture media data at a plurality of geographic locations along a path in a geographic area, and to store the media data in a media data stream. The system may further include a geodata capture module configured to capture geodata indicating the geographic locations along the path at which the media data was captured. The system may also include a multiplexing module for interleaving the media data and the geodata into a composite file.
US07921110B1
The present invention provides a system and method for comparing data sets, to ensure that they are accurate reflections of each other, without the need for performing O(N2) operations, in which N is the size of each data set. A hash table is generated for the first data set. For each of the second data set entries, should the entry not exist in the hash table, the entry is second data set unique. Otherwise, the entry is removed from the hash table. At the end of the pass through the second data set entries, only those entries that exist in the hash table are first data set unique. Alternately, two processes operate in parallel so that each selects entries from one of the data sets and determines if the entry exists in the hash table. If the entry does exist, it is removed. Otherwise, the entry is added to the hash table.
US07921103B2
Techniques described herein adaptively select materialized view fragments for persistent maintenance. During an interval of time, the selected fragments are persistently maintained in the database system, while the other non-selected fragments are not persistently maintained as materialized view fragments. Over time, the composition of the set of selected fragments may change. As queries are executed in the database system over an interval of time, statistics including the frequency of access of each currently selected fragment during that interval are generated. At the start of the next interval of time, based on these statistics, some currently selected fragments may be unselected. Some currently non-selected fragments of one or more candidate materialized views may be selected based on the statistics. For the next interval, the newly unselected fragments cease to be persistently maintained as materialized view fragments, while the newly selected fragments begin to be persistently maintained as materialized view fragments.
US07921097B1
A method for generating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is described. Content associated with a web page is obtained. A URL is generated based on the content of the web page. The URL includes one or more tokens. The URL is limited to a token threshold. The token threshold is defined as a maximum number of words in the URL. One or more tokens are removed from the URL. The URL is associated with the web page.
US07921092B2
Techniques for automatically generating and displaying topic-focused summaries for search results are disclosed. Users can “peek” inside a search result to see document excerpts that pertain specifically to a user-selected topic. Thus, a user can view the aspects of a document that are most interesting prior to deciding whether to retrieve the complete document. For each search result, a user can select from among several different available summaries, each of which focuses on a different topic of the document to which that search result refers. According to one aspect, key concepts are automatically identified in a document. For each such key concept, contextual snippets that pertain to that key concept are automatically selected. The key concepts are displayed to the user at search time. A summary that contains the contextual snippets that pertain to a user-selected key concept is displayed in response to the user's selection of that key concept.
US07921085B2
A method and system are presented for quantifying a data page repetition pattern for a database index in a database management system. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a database index to provide a basis for collecting a data page repetition statistic, the database index having a database index key. The method may also include collecting the data page repetition statistic based on the database index key, wherein the data page repetition statistic quantifies a data page repetition pattern associated with database queries that reference sequential entries of the database index. The method may further include optimizing a data page access process based on the data page repetition statistic. In a further embodiment, the method may utilize both cluster ratio and data page repetition statistics to evaluate data page I/O and CPU cost.
US07921083B2
A file management device for a control system, has a file write unit which records data of a file into cluster areas of a recording medium, records file information into a directory area of recording medium, and records FAT chain information into FAT of recording medium; a file delete unit which stores file restoration information having the file information and FAT chain information into a memory area, sends back a restoration descriptor for identifying the file restoration information to control system, and deletes the file information and FAT chain information in recording medium; and a file restoration unit which reads data of deleted file from the recording medium based on the file restoration information and sends the data back to control system, and restores the file information and FAT chain information in the recording medium based on the file restoration information of the file selected by the control system.
US07921082B2
Methods and systems for recovering data utilize a command line interface of a data-processing system, run by an operating system such as Linux, Unix, DOS, Windows, Mac and the like, to recover and manage inadvertently deleted data. Desired data such as files, folders, and the like can be initially identified from a command line interface. The desired data can then be automatically saved in a memory location of the data-processing system, in response to identifying the desired data from the command line interface. The data can then be automatically recovered from the memory location of the data-processing system for display within the command line interface, if the desired data is inadvertently deleted. Additionally, a user can be permitted to specify a plurality of recycling rules presented through a graphical user interface dialog or other graphical user interface device.
US07921075B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for providing a generic sequencing service for ordering processing requests in a scalable business integration environment. When a request is received at a sequencing component, the operation specified in the request is identified. A determination is then made as to whether to sequence the operation according to a sequencing specification. If the operation is to be sequenced, key information of the operation is classified according to the sequencing specification. A lock on the request is then requested using the operation and the key information. Responsive to the lock being granted, a determination is then made as to whether the request is synchronous or asynchronous. If the request is synchronous, the target service component is invoked synchronously. If the request is asynchronous, the target service component is invoked asynchronously.
US07921071B2
A recommendation system increases the diversity of item recommendations provided to a target user by using item similarity data to filter an initial recommendation set. In one embodiment, selected items are filtered from the initial recommendation set based on similarity scores that represent degrees of similarity between particular items. The similarity scores may be generated based on an automated comparison of item attributes or content, or based on another measure of item similarity.
US07921069B2
A method of targeting receives several granular events and preprocesses the received granular events thereby generating preprocessed data to facilitate construction of a model based on the granular events. The method generates a predictive model by using the pre-processed data. The predictive model is for determining a likelihood of a user action. The method trains the predictive mode. A system for targeting includes granular events, a preprocessor for receiving the granular events, a model generator, and a model. The preprocessor has one or more modules for at least one of pruning, aggregation, clustering, and/or filtering. The model generator is for constructing a model based on the granular events, and the model is for determining a likelihood of a user action. The system of some embodiments further includes several users, a selector for selecting a particular set of users from among the several users, a trained model, and a scoring module.
US07921061B2
Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for simultaneous price optimization and asset allocation to maximize manufacturing profits. In one embodiment, a set of price points for the item and a set of expected demand values for each price point are determined. A supply-side constraint which models inventory, replenishment, and capacities associated with replenishment and a joining constraint, which requires that the set of expected demand values be equal to a planned supply of the item, are determined. A demand-side constraint is determined. Further, an objective function to maximize profits is determined, based on the set of price points, the set of expected demand values, and subject to the supply-side, joining, and demand-side constraints. Based on the objective function, an optimal price profile for the item is provided.
US07921057B1
An automated method and article of manufacture are provided for processing large deposits that exceed an established deposit insurance limit so that the large deposits are fully insured. The large deposits are received by a plurality of banks from their depositors, and the plurality of banks include banks that are unaffiliated with each other. An order from a bank is received at a processor to process a large deposit. The processor partitions the large deposit into a plurality of deposit portions such that each deposit portion does not exceed the established deposit insurance limit. The processor automatically assigns at least some of the deposit portions to at least some banks other than the bank that received the large deposit for deposit therein. The processor automatically deposits in the bank that sent the order to the processor an amount of funds equal to the amount of the order.
US07921052B2
Online auction-style listing and transaction system provides new features including for example allowing sellers to issue offers to sell before auction-style listing completion to encourage direct negotiation between seller and buyer for an out-of channel transaction; postponing auction-style end upon receipt of a last-minute bid to prevent sniping; allowing sellers to contact buyers registering adverse ratings before the ratings are published; allowing sellers to terminate listings before end of auction-style listing and/or to move the listing to a classified ad from an auction-style listing; and other features.
US07921051B2
A system in an electronic securities market includes a configurable look-up table that has assignment entries that assign each of a plurality of securities to one or more securities processors in the system. Whenever an order is received that involves a specific security, a security look-up process accesses the configurable look-up table to determine which securities processor the specific security is assigned to. Once determined, a messaging process, which is responsive to the security look-up process, sends the received security order to the securities processor to which the specific security is assigned.
US07921048B2
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for generating an online, web-enabled financial model accessible over the Internet. A service level agreement that defines a level of financial management desired by a user is provided. A user is prompted to input financial information relative to the user. The financial information is stored in a database. A prospective cash flow of the user is aggregated over a predetermined amount of time based on the service level agreement and the financial information. The prospective cash flow is then output to the user. As an option, the user may be allowed to re-input the financial information if the prospective cash flow is deemed unacceptable by the user. A risk analysis may be executed if the prospective cash flow is deemed acceptable by the user. Further, advice based on the financial information may be output if the prospective cash flow is deemed acceptable to the user.
US07921047B2
Users of a simulator gain skills for investing using a simulator. The simulator simulates a business system that conducts a market transaction. The simulator selects a set of factors from a plurality of sets; selects a current factor from the selected set; and determines a price in accordance with the current factor. The simulator further updates a financial position of the user of the simulator in response to a transaction; and performs the transaction in accordance with the price and an input from the user. The input from the user corresponds in content to an input to the business system. Consequently, the user develops skill in specifying market transactions to be conducted by reviewing changes in the user's financial position. The simulator may include a simulated competitor having a financial position affected by transactions according to a strategy of the competitor selected from a set of stored strategies.
US07921041B1
An Internet-based (web-based) system and method for allowing a vehicle owner to obtain a fair repair estimate for a vehicle. The system and method allows information relating to the vehicle to be repaired and the components of the vehicle to be repaired or replaced to be entered by the vehicle owner into the user interface of a repair estimating website. Geographic location information may also be provided to facilitate the preparation of a more accurate estimate. The system and method retrieves necessary information from one or more databases and provides the information to one or more software applications that are used to quickly generate an electronic repair estimate. Various options may be selected to customize the repair estimate and to allow for other actions.
US07921038B2
Receiving payment includes the establishment, at a first server, a transaction record including information identifying a payment amount, a first account to be credited by the payment amount, and a second account to be debited by a debit amount. A financial authorization network performs an authorization analysis on at least the second account. The second account is debited if the authorization analysis is successfully completed, and the first account is directly credited by the payment amount to conclude the transaction. Risk analysis may be performed for each individual. Payment is integrated with shipping.
US07921033B2
A system and method for facilitating high-density interactive voting (such as during a live event) using a computer network and tabulating and providing voting results in real-time. In general, the high-density interactive voting system of the present invention includes five major components that reside on the voting network: (1) a Live Event Wizard; (2) a Live Event Staging Component; (3) a Live Event Database; (4) a Live Event Object (LEO); and (5) a Live Event Display Engine. The Live Event Wizard is enables a user to quickly and easily create polling questions for distribution and presentation to a voter. The Live Event Staging Component ensures the validity of the polling questions and sends a copy of a live event definition and the polling questions to the Live Event Database. The Live Event Database tabulates current voting results at specified (or pre-determined) time intervals and performs statistical calculations of voting results. The present invention also includes a Live Event Object (LEO) that resides and remains in memory (such as random access memory (RAM)). The LEO establishes and maintains persistent connections with the Live Event Database such that these connections do not have to be continually opened and closed, thus greatly reducing the burden on the server and increasing system performance. The Live Event Display Engine receives the live event definition from the LEO and renders the definition and results on a display device for voters to view.
US07921029B2
Projection factors are used to project product sales data from sample retail outlets to the universe of outlets. Weekly forecasts of market conditions and product demand are generated based on the projected product sales data. The projection factors and the weekly forecasts are updated during the course of the forecasted week, for example, daily, as data on actual product sales during the forecasted week is received.
US07921022B2
Multiple passenger multiple route travel queries are solved using travel planning systems that receive multiple, individual queries to produce individual solutions that meet joint travel requirements. The multiple, individual sub-queries are merged to produce joint solutions for the passenger groups.
US07921018B2
A translation system is provided, which comprises: a translation server comprising guidelines for writing original text that serve as criteria for determining whether errors exist in the original text, an original text controller determining whether the original text conforms to the guidelines for writing original text, and a translation engine translating the original text with reference to at least one of a basic dictionary and a plurality of user dictionaries; a user interface comprising an original text processing part receiving and transmitting the original text to the translation server, a translated text processing part outputting the received translated text from the translation server and transmitting a result about whether to approve the corresponding translated text to the translation server, and a user dictionary editing part modifying contents of the user dictionary; and a user community server comprising an original text writing method shared database and a user dictionary shared database.
US07921016B2
A method for providing a 3D audio work includes providing a one-ear HRTF filter and a related function synthesizer storing a related function therein, and inputting sound signals into the one-ear HRTF filter. The sound signals are converted into one-ear output sound signals which are received by one ear and synthesized to output sound signals for the other ear. A method for providing the related function includes inputting sound signals into HRTF filters of opposite ears and obtaining output sound signals which respectively act as raw signals and target signals. The raw signals are synthesized by a synthesizer to output sound signals which compare with the target signals. A related function registered in the synthesizer is accordingly regulated so as to obtain the related function which satisfies a minimum difference between the output sound signals from the synthesizer and the target signals.
US07921008B2
A method for detecting voice activity comprises pre-processing a first frame in an audio frame sequence, receiving a subsequent frame as a current frame, calculating weighted linear prediction energy of the current frame based on Nth-order linear prediction coefficients, determining whether the current frame contains a noise or speech, if a speech is indicated, performing linear prediction analysis on the current frame to derive new Nth-order linear prediction coefficients and updating the coefficients with the derived one; if a nose is indicated and not the last frame, repeating the calculating and determining process. The corresponding device comprises a component for storing Nth-order linear prediction coefficients, a component for performing linear prediction analysis, a component for computing weighted linear prediction energy and a component for determining whether the current frame contains speech or noise based on calculated weighted linear prediction energy.
US07921004B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for analyzing transmission lines with decoupling of connectors and other circuit elements. According to one aspect of the invention, circuits with one or more parasitic elements are analyzed by partitioning at least one of the parasitic elements in a transverse manner; identifying a plurality of subcircuits each comprised of partitioned circuit elements from the plurality of transmission lines and one or more parasitic elements in a given path; wherein each of the subcircuits is associated with a path in the circuit; performing a waveform relaxation analysis between each of the subcircuits; and repeating the step of performing the waveform relaxation analysis using waveforms determined in a previous iteration until convergence to a resultant waveform has occurred. The circuit can optionally further comprise one or more transmission lines which would also be partitioned in a transverse manner.
US07921002B2
A simulation method for flow of fluid around a body, according to the present invention, comprising dividing a target domain of simulation into a plurality of computational unit domains named cubes, generating an uniform number of Cartesian mesh elements named cells, in each of the cubes, performing computation in the cubes in each computational step, and exchanging data between adjacent cubes after completion of each computational step. In dividing the target domain of simulation into cubes, division is repeated while a ratio between adjacent cube sizes is maintained in a certain range until cubes including a boundary between the body and the fluid, is small enough to obtain a desired resolution so that sizes of the cubes are appropriately determined according to a shape of the body.
US07920996B2
The sliced data structure used for a particle-based simulation using a CPU or GPU is a data structure for a calculation space. The space is a three-dimensional calculation space constructed from numerous voxels; a plurality of slices perpendicular to the Y axis is formed; numerous voxels are divided by a plurality of two-dimensional slices; the respective starting coordinates of the maximum and minimum voxels are calculated for a range of voxels in which particles are present in each of a plurality of two-dimensional slices; the voxel range is determined as a bounding box surrounded by a rectangular shape; and memory is provided for the voxels contained in the bounding boxes of each of the plurality of two-dimensional slices.
US07920987B2
A method of determining the intrinsic electrical characteristics of a device under test (DUT) includes determining a set of test measurements for a test structure including the device and determining test measurements for a number of de-embedding test structures. Based on the test measurements, DUT measurements are determined using both open-short and three-step de-embedding processes. The DUT measurements are combined to determine an imperfection error, which is used to adjust the calculations of a four-port de-embedding method. The adjusted calculations provide for a more accurate measurement of the parasitic elements in the test structure, thereby improving the determination of the intrinsic electrical characteristics of the device.
US07920983B1
A computerized method for monitoring a water utility network, the water utility network comprising a network of pipes for delivering water to consumers and a plurality of meters positioned within the pipes across the water distribution network. The method includes receiving meter data representing parameters measured by the meters, such as flow, pressure, chlorine level, pH and turbidity of the water being distributed through the pipes. The method also includes receiving secondary data from sources external to the meters and representing conditions affecting consumption of water in a region serviced by the water utility network such as weather and holidays. The meter and secondary data is analyzed using statistical techniques to identify water network events including leakage events and other events regarding quantity and quality of water flowing through the pipes and operation of the water network. The events are reported to users via a user interface.
US07920979B2
A signal generation circuit that uses a waveform generation mechanism to generate predetermined waveform(s) when triggered. A triggering mechanism is configured to repeatedly trigger the waveform generation mechanism at times that are dependent on data provided by a data source. The predetermined waveform may be a bandwidth-limited pulse, but might also be a rising edge or a falling edge of a pulse. Various consecutive waveforms may be summed together to thereby formulate a continuous signal. The waveform may have particular characteristics by design.
US07920973B2
Embodiments described herein generally relate to a method of measuring the vibration of an aircraft engine. One embodiment herein provides an engine monitoring system either connected to and/or positioned in close proximity to an aircraft engine. Also provided is a clearance measuring device within the engine monitoring system. The clearanceometer collects clearance data that is later converted into vibration data.
US07920969B2
A tracking system adapted for use with communicatively coupled traveling host and remote vehicles, includes a locator device configured to determine sets of current position, and trail coordinates for each of the vehicles. The preferred system further includes sensors operable to determine a condition value for each vehicle at each of said set of coordinates, and a controller configured to determine a congruent path between the vehicles, and a congruent path divergence by the host vehicle, and cause the transmission of an alert of the divergence from the host vehicle to the remote vehicle using vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
US07920967B1
Route information for at least a first route and a second route is displayed using display indicators assigned to each route. The routes may be decomposed into discrete segments, some of which may be shared among the routes. Upon determining which segments are shared by routes, the shared segments may be displayed using an interleaved pattern of the display indicators associated with the routes. The interleaved pattern may comprise an alternating pattern of the display indicators associated with the routes. Non-shared segments may be displayed with the respective display indicators for the routes that use that segment. The width of the interleaved patterns may be substantially the same as the width of the non-shared segments. In one embodiment, the routes may be fixed. Targets associated with each route may be displayed on the routes.
US07920947B2
Apparatus and a method for monitoring the performance of control algorithms, providing a safeing subsystem for a vehicle, particularly an agricultural windrower, for determining when a controlled system such as the propulsion system is no longer tracking a reference input signal sufficiently well. An appropriate action can then be executed, such as outputting a fault signal and/or shutting down the controlled system. An exponentially decaying integrator can be used to monitor the tracking errors.
US07920941B2
A dust detection method and apparatus of a cleaning robot. The dust detection method involves acquiring a floor image as a current floor image of a predetermined place at a current location of the cleaning robot in the predetermined place; obtaining a difference image between the current floor image and a background image selected from a feature map consisting of a plurality of floor images of the predetermined place; and detecting a dusty area based on the difference image and adjusting a cleaning power of the cleaning robot.
US07920936B2
A three dimensional object creation system for printing a three dimensional object comprised of layers stacked vertically with respect to each other includes a series of printheads for printing the layers, the series of printheads simultaneously printing at least two layers of different vertical positions within the stack; and a semiconductor memory for storing data defining at least one layer. The series of printheads are arranged in groups of one or more printheads per group, each group being fixedly positioned downstream of a preceding group with respect to the three dimensional object. Each group of printheads is adapted to print a layer at a predetermined vertical position within the stack.
US07920930B2
A method for controlling a process variable as it approaches a predetermined value (setpoint) so that the setpoint is not exceeded. The method employs a time domain polynomial equation in a feedback configuration and utilizes a controller that acts as an On/Off controller until the process variable approaches setpoint. As the process variable approaches setpoint, the controller acts as a fast responding analog controller thereby “tailoring” a control variable to precisely bring the process variable to the setpoint without exceeding or overshooting the setpoint.
US07920929B2
A method to automatically tune control systems, the method comprising selecting a target loop transfer function for at least one plant subsystem in response to an input excitation, selecting at least one fit-error criterion for a plant subsystem transfer function, and automatically inputting the input excitation and tuning the plant subsystem transfer function to the target loop transfer function. The tuning includes automatically selecting a bandwidth of the plant subsystem transfer function from a plurality of bandwidths determined in accordance with limits of the plant subsystem, inputting the input excitation to the plant subsystem, determining the fit-error of the plant subsystem transfer function to the target loop transfer function in response to the input excitation, and continuing the selecting of a bandwidth in accordance with the fit-error criterion.
US07920923B2
The present invention discloses of binaural stimulation in a neural auditory prosthesis. Binaural acoustic signals are generated that represent sound associated with a user's left and right ears respectively. Based on the binaural acoustic signals, corresponding binaural stimulation signals are generated for electrical stimulation of auditory nerve tissue of the user, wherein the binaural stimulation signals each include a fine structure component with periodic characteristics and interaural time difference (ITD) information. A phase jitter component is added to the binaural stimulation signals to reduce the periodic characteristics of the fine structure component while preserving the interaural time difference (ITD) information.
US07920920B1
An exemplary method includes receiving a signal of cardiac electrical activity after delivery of electrical energy to the heart, rectifying the signal to produce a rectified signal, comparing the rectified signal to the signal and, based at least in part on the comparing, deciding whether the delivered electrical energy resulted in non-capture, capture or fusion. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US07920916B2
One or more inductors and one or more capacitors are physically disposed relative to one another in series and are electrically connected to one another in parallel to form a bandstop filter. Chip inductors and chip capacitors having spaced apart conductive terminals are physically arranged in end-to-end abutting relation to minimize electrical potential between adjacent conductive terminals. The bandstop filter may be hermetically sealed within a biocompatible container for use with an implantable lead or electrode of a medical device. The values of the inductors and the capacitors are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at one or more selected frequencies, such as an MRI pulsed frequency.
US07920915B2
An implantable stimulator includes a tube assembly that is configured to house a number of components that are configured to apply at least one stimulus to at least one stimulation site within a patient. The tube assembly has a shape that allows the stimulator to be implanted within said patient in a pre-determined orientation. Exemplary methods of stimulating a stimulation site within a patient include applying an electrical stimulation current to a stimulation site via one or more electrodes extending along one or more sides of a stimulator. The stimulator has a shape allowing the stimulator to be implanted within the patient in a pre-determined orientation.
US07920913B1
Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, that increase the accuracy of measurements produced using an implanted sensor, where the measurements are affected by cycles of a cyclical body function (e.g., heart beat and/or respiration). In accordance with specific embodiments of system, a measurement that is presumed to be accurate is obtained. The measurement can be of a physiologic property, such as, but not limited to, blood oxygen saturation, hematocrit, or blood glucose concentration. Additionally, the implanted is used to produce a plurality of measurements of the physiologic property. Such measurements, produced using the implanted sensor, are compared to the measurement presumed to be accurate to thereby identify when the measurements produced using the implanted sensor are most accurate. Thereafter, the implanted system is configured to use the implanted sensor to produce measurements when the measurements produced using the implanted sensor are most accurate.
US07920900B2
A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device.
US07920897B2
The present invention can reduce interference generated by processors and other computing devices when a connected radio is active. In one embodiment, the invention may include determining a start of reception of radio signals by a radio, generating a radio active signal, transmitting the radio active signal to a coupled computer to affect the radio interference generated by the coupled computer. The embodiment may further include determining an end of reception of radio signals by the radio, generating a radio not active signal, and transmitting the radio not active signal to the coupled computer to affect the radio interference generated by the coupled computer.
US07920884B2
Frame structures and transmission techniques for a wireless communication system are described. In one frame structure, a super-frame includes multiple outer-frames, and each outer-frame includes multiple frames, and each frame includes multiple time slots. The time slots in each super-frame are allocated for downlink and uplink and for different radio technologies (e.g., W-CDMA and OFDM) based on loading. Each physical channel is allocated at least one time slot in at least one frame of each outer-frame in the super-frame. An OFDM waveform is generated for each downlink OFDM slot and multiplexed onto the slot. A W-CDMA waveform is generated for each downlink W-CDMA slot and multiplexed onto the slot. A modulated signal is generated for the multiplexed W-CDMA and OFDM waveforms and transmitted on the downlink. Each physical channel is transmitted in bursts. The slot allocation and coding and modulation for each physical channel can change for each super-frame.
US07920883B2
Techniques involving network access are disclosed. For instance, an apparatus may include first and second transceivers, a first control module, and a second control module. Each transceiver may send one or more wireless transmissions, which are scheduled by the control modules. For example, the first control module may schedule transmissions of the first transceiver and the second control module may schedule transmissions of the second transceiver. These may be scheduled to avoid transmissions of the first transceiver overlapping in time with transmissions of the second transceiver.
US07920882B2
Provided are a human interface device and a wireless communication method thereof. The wireless communication method of the human interface includes the steps of: setting up an occupancy channel of the host digital terminal and the wireless input unit by communicating data for setting up the occupancy channel through the emergency channel; transmitting, at the wireless input unit, operation data through the occupancy channel, and receiving, at the host digital terminal, the operation data; and when the operation data is not generated until a predetermined time lapses, enabling the wireless input unit and the host digital terminal to operate in an operation standby state, and confirming whether there is interference on the occupancy channel. Accordingly, efficiency of a frequency band is increased, and cost and size of the product can be reduced. Further, when interference on the occupancy channel is detected, a new occupancy channel can be set up so that reliability and efficiency of the wireless communication can be increased.
US07920880B2
The present application discloses an apparatus, system and method for reducing the time required for transmitting a multimedia message from any sender to any addressee and thus generally cut the cost of the multimedia message service. A traffic channel connection is kept to a receiving telecommunication device, which is established by a multimedia message service center that has received a multimedia message designated by a transmitting telecommunication device for said receiving telecommunication device, for example, in order to transmit an information message to the receiving telecommunication device during an SMS session by means of which the multimedia message service center informs the receiving telecommunication device about the arrival of the multimedia message, established for at least the period of time it takes the receiving telecommunication device to evaluate the received information message and hold an MMS session for fetching the message content of the multimedia message designated for the receiving telecommunication device from the multimedia message service center.
US07920875B2
Techniques for locating wireless devices involve a wireless device making measurements of signals transmitted by geographically distributed base stations within a wireless network. If some key site information is known about these transmitters, such as the transmitter location, transmit signal power, signal propagation, and transmit signal timing, measurements of these transmit signals by a device to be located can be used to determine the position of the device. In this example, all information exchange between the device and the location node is facilitated by a data link that is not provided by the wireless network providing signals used in the location estimation process. Accordingly, devices may be located based on downlink signal measurements made by the devices, where the devices are not part of the wireless network, are not provided wireless service by the network, and do not possess the ability to transmit signals to the wireless network, and where communication resources of the wireless network are not consumed to facilitate location.
US07920869B2
A method in a wireless communications device including determining whether the device is operating in a network other than a home network, determining whether to search for the home network when not operating in the home network by comparing network record information associated with the network in which the device is operating to reference information. In some embodiments, the device indicates that it is operating in a network other than the network in which it is operating.
US07920855B2
A method of printing content on a print medium is disclosed. The method starts by receiving the print medium in a media feed path. The media feed path includes a sensor module and a printer module. A print media identifier is read from a surface of the print medium using the sensor module. The print medium identifier uniquely identifies the print medium. The content is then on the print medium using the printer module and the content is stored in association with the print medium identifier in a database. The content is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier.
US07920853B2
A method and arrangement for establishing a conference call from a mobile station in a call centre environment. A user may choose conference call participants from his mobile phone, and a client application in the mobile phone will communicate relevant parameters to the call centre server, which will then call the conference initiator and other participants via the gateway server. The calls are handed over to the gateway server, which will digitize each call to an audio and/or video stream, typically an RTP stream. The streams are relayed to a computer where the streams are combined to form a successful conference call. The conference call is then recorded to a data file on the computer, and may be sent to participants or stored to a database with relevant metadata. The network infrastructure of the telecommunications network operator need not be consulted, nor is there any need for additional hardware.
US07920850B1
A system and method for a hospitality entity to communicate goods and services to a guest based on events occurring at a facility of the hospitality entity is disclosed herein. The method includes establishing a unique identifier with a mobile phone of a guest and then sending executable offers to the guest which upon acceptance triggers another offer based on the first offer acceptance and events occurring at the time and location of the guest.
US07920849B2
An Internet Platform administering an Integrated Network System of Localized (customized) marketing and advertising BLUETOOTH® Broadcasting Points, accessed by cell phone/BLUETOOTH device users in BLUETOOTH Wireless Access Points (BLUETOOTH Hot Spots). The marketing and advertising relies on BLUETOOTH transmissions based on predetermined criteria and can be accomplished in an unlimited number of media formats.
US07920837B2
Methods and systems for wireless communication are disclosed and may include band-limiting a wireless signal utilizing a programmable bandpass filter, generating a first signal by undersampling utilizing a clock signal and generating a second signal by undersampling the signal utilizing a delayed version of the clock signal, which may then be subtracted from the first signal. The filter may comprise a microstrip or a coplanar waveguide bandpass filter. The delay may be variable, and may be defined as an inverse of a frequency difference between the desired channel and a blocker signal. The bandwidth of the filter may be centered at the desired channel. The clock signal may be generated at a frequency which may be an integer sub-harmonic of the desired channel, and may be greater than twice a bandwidth of the filter. The delay may be controlled by a programmable delay circuit, which may comprise CMOS inverters.
US07920832B2
An electrical device comprises analog conversion circuitry having an input and an output. The electrical device is essentially provided for converting a first input signal within a first frequency range applied to the input to a first output signal within a second frequency range different from the first frequency range at the output. The electrical device further comprises a signal adding means for adding at least a portion of the first output signal as second input signal to the first input signal. The analog conversion circuitry is also capable of converting the second input signal, which is within the second frequency range, back to the first frequency range. Additionally, a characteristic deriving means is provided for deriving at least one characteristic of the electrical device from the frequency converted second input signal, which appears at the output of the analog conversion circuitry.
US07920823B2
Capability checking to examine a computing device's capabilities to determine if the device supports a software defined radio to communicate according to a specific wireless protocol. Applicants have appreciated that as the reliance on software defined radio increases, numerous potential options may be available to a user for performing wireless communication. Applicants have appreciated the desirability of providing the ability to discover the capabilities of a user's computer to determine whether it is capable of supporting one or more wireless protocols.
US07920819B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a rotary heating member and a rotary pressure member forming a nip therebetween, a guide wall positioned immediately downstream of the fixing unit and on the side of the rotary heating member with respect to a boundary defined by the transfer medium passing the nip, a guide member positioned on the side of the rotary pressure member with respect to the boundary and face to face with the guide wall, the guide member and the guide wall cooperatively guiding the transfer medium discharged from the fixing unit, and a guide member positioning mechanism for shifting the guide member between a first position where the guide member is moved away from the guide wall and a second position where the guide member is moved closer to the guide wall than at the first position.
US07920815B2
A fixing device is provided with a pair of a fixing unit and a pressing unit for performing fixation of a toner image on a recording sheet; a support frame for supporting the fixing unit and the pressing unit; and a heater for generating heat for the fixation, the heater having a cylindrical shape, and being provided with an insulator on at least one of the opposite ends thereof, the insulator having a retaining space operable to fixedly engage with a portion of the support frame. This facilitates the attachment of heaters on the support frame.
US07920804B2
A developing device according to the present invention includes a developer storing section storing a developer, a stirring member disposed in the developer storing section and transporting the developer while stirring the developer, a developer carrier receiving the developer from the developer storing section and carrying the developer, a developer regulating member regulating the amount of the developer received by the developer carrier from the developer storing section, and a heat-dissipating member disposed at a position in contact with the developer and capable of dissipating heat of the developer. The heat-dissipating member has a surface in contact with the developer and the contact surface of the heat-dissipating member has an arithmetic surface roughness Ra1 that is set to be equal to or less than ⅓ of the volume average particle size of toner particles contained in the developer.
US07920800B2
An image forming apparatus includes toner image forming devices for forming toner images of a plurality of mutually different colors, a toner image carrying member for carrying thereon the toner images of the plurality of colors to be transferred onto a recording medium at one time, an adhesion amount detection device for detecting a toner adhesion amount of each of the toner images, and a failure determination device for determining the presence or absence of a sign of failure in the toner image forming devices. The failure determination device determines the presence or absence of the sign of failure in one of the toner image forming devices on the basis of information based on adhesion amount detection results obtained through detection by the adhesion amount detection device of toner adhesion amounts of toner images formed on the toner image carrying member by the other toner image forming devices.
US07920792B2
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for managing communication in a hybrid passive optical network (HPON) is provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes transmitting, at a first wavelength, a first configuration message on the HPON. The method also includes receiving at one or more of a plurality of receivers at an optical line terminal (OLT) one or more configuration response messages from one or more optical network units (ONUs) in a first set of ONUs. The method further includes, based on the configuration response messages from the first set of ONUs, associating, in a database, each ONU in the first set of ONUs with the first wavelength and with the receiver receiving the configuration response message from the ONU. The method also includes, after transmitting the first configuration message, transmitting, at a second wavelength, a second configuration message on the HPON. The method further includes receiving at one or more of the plurality of receivers at the OLT one or more configuration response messages from one or more ONUs in a second set of ONUs, wherein the ONUs in the second set of ONUs do not belong to the first set of ONUs. The method also includes, based on the configuration response messages from the second set of ONUs, associating, in the database, each ONU in the second set of ONUs with the second wavelength and with the receiver receiving the configuration response message from the ONU.
US07920791B2
Regarding the passive optical network (PON) system of the present invention, in an OLT, data of different bit rates is framed, and framed data rows are subjected to FEC encoding processing without changing the line up of the data, and a check bit is added to the end of the frame, and an optical signal that has been modulated in accordance with the data row to which the check bit has been added is transmitted to the optical transmission line. Then in an ONU that corresponds to a high speed bit rate to which an optical signal from the OLT has been applied via a power splitter, forward error correction of the reception data is performed. As a result in a PON system in which data of different bit rates coexist, the minimum reception rate of a high speed ONU can be improved without having an influence on a low speed ONU.
US07920781B2
An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor, composition unit, coupling unit, and arithmetic unit. The image sensor has a plurality of pupil-divided focus detection portions each formed from a first focus detection pixel and second focus detection pixel. The composition unit composites signals output from the first focus detection pixels to obtain a first composite signal, and composites signals output from the second focus detection pixels to obtain a second composite signal in each of sections assigned to the image sensor to include a plurality of focus detection portions. The coupling unit couples first composite signals to obtain a first coupled signal, and couples second composite signals to obtain a second coupled signal in the plurality of sections. The arithmetic unit calculates the defocus amount of an image forming optical system on the basis of the first and second coupled signals.
US07920780B2
An image stabilization apparatus includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a supporting unit configured to support the first lens unit and the second lens unit, a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the first lens unit and the second lens unit in the direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a shake detection unit configured to detect a shake added to the image stabilization apparatus, a shake correction unit configured to supply a drive signal to the driving unit to correct the detected shake, and a connecting unit configured to mechanically connect the first lens unit and the second lens unit, wherein the connecting unit is configured to enable the first lens unit and the second lens unit to move in mutually opposite directions on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
US07920778B2
A boiler (1) for heating water to steam comprises a boiler housing (10) having a bottom wall (12), a top wall (13) and a circumferential wall (14) extending between these walls (12, 13). When the boiler (1) is mounted in a steam generating device for generating steam and supplying steam to an appliance such as a steam iron (20), the boiler (1) is given an inclined orientation. In a lower portion (13a) of the top wall (13) of the boiler housing (10), an inlet opening (15) for letting in water to a boiler space (11) which is enclosed by the boiler housing (10) is arranged. When water is supplied through the inlet opening (15), the water lands on a lower zone (14a) of the circumferential wall (14) and flows further in a downward direction, along the circumferential wall (14). As a result, the water is pre-heated when it reaches the water which is already present in the boiler space (11), and there is no danger of the steam production getting interrupted.
US07920773B2
The present invention provides a video reproducing device which provides a function of reproducing a still image file and a moving image file recorded onto a recording medium in plural formats so that a user can easily identify a matched statuses of the files in the video reproducing device and can select and operate a target file as well as a control method therefor. The present invention displays an index screen in which thumbnails of a still image file and a moving image file in plural formats read from a recording medium are arrayed and further displays icons for clarifying a match relation between the video reproducing device and the files.
US07920772B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07920767B2
The effect of bending is anticipated in an optical fiber design, so that resonant coupling remains an effective strategy for suppressing HOMs. The index profile of the fiber and its bend radius are configured so that there is selective resonant coupling of at least one HOM, but not the fundamental mode, in the bent segment of the fiber. In an illustrative embodiment, the core and cladding regions are configured to support the propagation of signal light in a fundamental transverse mode and at least one higher-order transverse mode in the core region. The cladding region includes an outer cladding region and an annular trench region. The trench region includes at least one axially extending, raised-index pedestal (waveguide) region having a refractive index higher than that of the outer cladding region.
US07920765B2
Disclosed are wellbore electric cable components, methods of manufacturing such components, and cables incorporating the components. Particularly, ruggedized optical fibers useful for forming slickline electric cables are described. The ruggedized optical fiber components contain one or more coated optical fibers, metallic conductors, non-fiber-reinforced resins, and long-fiber-reinforced resins. The optical fiber(s) are generally positioned in the center of the component, while the metallic conductors are helically disposed around the metallic conductors. The long-fiber-reinforced resin forms an outer jacket around the combination of optical fibers and metallic conductors. A non-fiber-reinforced resin is disposed directly upon the metallic conductors, between the conductors and long-fiber-reinforced resin.
US07920764B2
Composite fiber optic cables having exposed, conductive traces external to the cable jacket enable non-invasive, wireless electrical tone tracing of fiber optic cables. The cross sectional geometry of the fiber optic cable prevents conductive traces from short circuiting when abutting other cables or grounded conductive elements. Moreover, the structure allows convenient electrical contact to the conductive traces at any location along the longitudinal extent of the cable without requiring penetration of the cable jacket or removal of fiber optic connectors. Traceable fiber optic cables of various types are disclosed, including simplex, duplex and ribbon cables. Systems of traceable cables utilizing connectors with integrated electrical antenna elements attached to the conductive elements of cable and RFID tags for remote connector port identification are further disclosed.
US07920763B1
The present invention discloses an optical fiber collimator suitable for coupling optical radiation from an optical fiber to an optical device, the optical fiber collimator comprising: a graded-index multi-mode fiber segment for receiving optical radiation transmitted by the input optical fiber; an optional mode field device, and a collimating lens for receiving optical radiation transmitted by the graded-index multi-mode fiber segment, the collimating lens for coupling the optical radiation into the optical device.
US07920753B2
Pre-processing techniques for processing an image to improve the distinctiveness of an information pattern captured in the image before the information pattern is analyzed in a decoding process. The brightness of an image first is normalized by dividing the image into blocks of areas, such as pixels. A brightness distribution value then is determined for each area of the image by fitting the brightness of its surrounding blocks using bilinear interpolation and extrapolation, and a normalized brightness value for each area can then be obtained by dividing the original brightness value by the brightness distribution value. Next, masks are created to distinguish the information pattern from content captured in the image. The masks may be generated based upon contrast differences between the brightness of pixels representing the information pattern, the brightness of pixels representing content, and the brightness of pixels representing the background of the writing medium.
US07920736B2
The invention generally provides methods and systems for determining characteristics of cellular structures. The methods include non-invasive, non-perturbing, automatable, and quantitative methods and may be applied to the examination of cells such as stem cells, embryos, and egg cells.
US07920734B2
A method is disclosed for visualization of plaque deposits from 3D image data records of vessel structures, in particular of the coronary vascular system, in which at least one predeterminable section of the vessel structure with the plaque deposits is segmented in the 3D image data record in order to obtain segmented 3D image data. A synthetic 3D model image of the at least one section of the vessel structure and of the plaque deposits is produced from the segmented image data, and includes only boundary surfaces of the vessel structure and of the plaque deposits. The synthetic 3D model image is produced by three-dimensional interpolation between pixels which are associated with boundary surfaces of the vessel structure, and between pixels which are associated with boundary surfaces of the plaque deposits in order to obtain a uniform grid at pixels for the 3D model image. Finally, the synthetic 3D model image or a partial volume of it is visualized. The method allows a vessel section with plaque deposits to be visualized better for evaluation.
US07920725B2
A characteristic amount calculating means calculates first characteristic amounts, which do not require normalization, and normalized second characteristic amounts. A first discriminating portion discriminates whether a candidate for a face is included in the target image, by referring to first reference data with the first characteristic amounts, calculated from the target image. The first reference data is obtained by learning the first characteristic amounts of a plurality of images, which are known either to be of faces or to not be of faces. In the case that the candidate is included, a second discriminating portion discriminates whether the candidate is a face, by referring to second reference data, obtained by learning the second characteristic amounts of a plurality of images, which known either to be of faces or to not to be of faces.
US07920724B2
The present invention disclose an iris recognition method, which utilizes a matching pursuit algorithm to simplify the extraction and reconstruction of iris features and reduce the memory space required by each iris feature vector without the penalty of recognition accuracy. The iris recognition method of the present invention comprises an iris-localization component and a pattern matching component. The iris-localization component locates the iris region via the color difference between different portions of the eyeball. The primary iris features are extracted from iris information and transformed into a sequence of iris feature vectors by a matching pursuit algorithm. Thus, the iris image can be represented by a sequence of atoms, and each atom contains base, amplitude and location. Then, the comparison between the feature vectors of two irises is performed to determine whether the two irises match.
US07920716B2
A vehicle search system is provided, which is capable of easily and efficiently searching for a particular vehicle image based on vague and uncertain information. The vehicle search system includes an image database for accumulating vehicle images photographed by a stationary camera placed on the road under a condition that the vehicle images are associated with at least photographing date and time information and photographing place information of the vehicle image; an image recognizing part for extracting feature information (vehicle color, vehicle shape, etc.) from the vehicle image; an image data managing part for selecting vehicle images from the image database, based on at least one of the photographing date and time information, the photographing place information, and the feature information; and a display processing part for displaying the selected vehicle images in a two-dimensional space or a simulated three-dimensional space on a display, in an arrangement in accordance with similarity of at least one of the photographing date and time information, the photographing place information, and the feature information.
US07920714B2
Systems and methods for assisting in the determination of the authenticity of security documents based on known characteristics of similar but authentic security documents. The system and methods use digital processing to capture a digital image of the document being examined and they use a feature localization or detection technique to search for a specific feature in the document based on a stored image of a similar feature from an authentic document. Once the feature on the subject document has been found, the digital image of the localized feature is transformed, by applying mathematical transforms or other image/mathematical operators, such that the result will have distinguishing characteristics that can be derived or analyzed. When the distinguishing characteristics have been analyzed, these are then compared to the stored distinguishing characteristics of similar features from known authentic documents. Based on the comparison, a score is then generated that is indicative of how similar or how different the distinguishing characteristics of the feature being examined are from the features from known authentic documents. The system may also be used such that multiple features from a single document are assessed and scored separately from one another with a final aggregate or weighted score being provided to the user for the whole document.
US07920713B2
An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to analyze an audio-video data stream to determine watermark appropriate information for the audio-video data stream. The second circuit may be configured to communicate the watermark appropriate information either in-band with or out-of-band from a bit stream communicating the audio-video data.
US07920710B2
An array loudspeaker is constructed by stacking loudspeaker rows in a plurality of stages, each of the loudspeaker rows being formed by arranging loudspeaker elements in the form of a horizontal line. The loudspeaker rows are arranged in a zigzag form by, for example, offsetting the positions of the loudspeakers in the left and right direction for each stage. As for a high range signal, a two-stage portion of halves of the loudspeaker rows is used to narrow the pitch of the loudspeaker elements so as to prevent the grating lobe. As for a low range signal, the entire single-stage loudspeaker row is used to alleviate the deviation with respect to the directivity characteristics of the high range.
US07920704B2
Systems and methods for obtaining information on a key in the BB84 (Bennett-Brassard 1984) protocol of quantum key distribution are provided. A representative system comprises a quantum cryptographic entangling probe, comprising a single-photon source configured to produce a probe photon, a polarization filter configured to determine an initial probe photon polarization state for a set error rate induced by the quantum cryptographic entangling probe, a quantum controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate configured to provide entanglement of a signal with the probe photon polarization state and produce a gated probe photon so as to obtain information on a key, a Wollaston prism configured to separate the gated probe photon with polarization correlated to a signal measured by a receiver, and two single-photon photodetectors configured to measure the polarization state of the gated probe photon.
US07920702B2
A system and a method for providing variable security mechanisms for securing digital content, in which a single security mechanism is not used for all content. Instead, at least one characteristic or feature of the security mechanism is varied between units, instances or categories of content. Therefore, even if unauthorized access is gained to a single unit of content, the overall integrity and security of the system for content distribution is not compromised. Preferably, security is provided though a general mechanism, which is then varied in order to provide variable, dissimilar security schemes for different types of content. By “type of content”, it is meant any of a single unit of content, a single instance of content or a single category of content. For example, for a category of content, the content may be characterized according to the identity of the content itself, such as the title of a movie for example, and/or according to the owner of a particular copy of the content. Thus, different security schemes may optionally and preferably be generated from a particular root structure. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.
US07920699B2
Valid code data and invalid code data are alternately input to a register that fetches data synchronously with a clock signal. A state of a data value input to the register is monitored. Each time when it is determined that the data is stabilized by the valid code data, the register holds the valid code data.
US07920697B2
System and method for processing communication signals in a communication system having a detector for detecting a parameter of a communication signal. A communication signal is provided to a non-linear processor (NLP) adapted to examine the signal and to decide whether or not to enter an active state based upon a parameter of the signal. If the NLP enters an active state, the NLP performs non-linear processing on the signal. The NLP communicates to the detector whether the NLP is active or inactive. If the NLP is active, a processing step of the detector is disabled.
US07920691B2
A method and apparatus for configuring connectivity at a hub having a plurality of subscriber lines from a plurality of subscriber premises and a plurality of feeder lines from a central office. The hub provides connectivity between the plurality of subscriber premises and the central office. The method and apparatus include categorizing the plurality of subscriber lines into a plurality of groups based on penetration rates and churn rates of the plurality subscriber lines. Each group of subscriber lines are connected to feeder lines based on the penetration and churn rates for POTS and/or DSL services. Subscriber line groups with high penetration rates and high/low churn rates are coupled directly to feeder lines. Subscriber line groups with low penetration rates and high/low churn rates are terminated at the hub. Subscriber lines with an intermediate penetration rate are candidates for being connected to the feeder lines via an automatic switch.
US07920687B2
A communication network that includes a flash hook detector and a communication device is operated by detecting a flash hook of the communication device at the flash hook detector. A signal is transmitted from the flash hook detector to the communication network responsive to detecting the flash hook. The flash hook is processed in the communication network.
US07920686B2
A method for determining the name of a calling party where the calling party's name and corresponding telephone number are found in a remote database. The method first identifies whether the calling party's telephone number is contained within the local database. When it is determined that the telephone number is not within the local database, the method attempts to locate the telephone number in a remote database. A query is formed according to a basic signal transmission protocol to ensure that a database which receives the query will be able to respond to it. The query requesting the name associated with the telephone number is sent across a network. The method receives a response to the inquiry and checks to ensure that a name was returned to the local database before delivering the name to the called party.
US07920685B2
A telecommunications system is disclosed that enables a user to pair a desk set that is an extension of a private-branch exchange with a cell phone that is accessible via the Public Switched Telephone Network. One feature of the telecommunications system enables a call that is directed to the user's desk set to be automatically forwarded to the user's cell phone. This is advantageous to the user because it provides the illusion to the caller that the user is physically in his or her office when they are not necessarily there. A similar feature also provides the illusion when a third party initiates a call that connects the user's cell phone to a called party. Such a third party includes a computer telephony application in a telephone telemarketing center, which automatically places many outgoing telephone calls.
US07920684B2
A system for processing calls based on call attributes includes a call screening processor arranged for receiving a call setup message for placing a call between an originating switch and a dialed number. The call setup message contains basic network information including at least the number dialed and information related to the originating switch. The call screening processor matches the basic network information with data in a database in response to receiving a call setup message. The data in the database identifies call attributes of the call setup message based on the data matched to basic network information. The identified call attributes comprise call attributes comprise at least one of trunk ID, member ID, and destination. The call screening processor then processes the call setup message in accordance with the call attributes by appending data to the call setup message or altering the call setup message.
US07920683B2
A testing device and a method for verifying the charge invoicing for a communications device according to time unit intervals is provided. A testing device, which can simulate at least one calling analog terminal and at least one called terminal, is connected to a network node that generates time pulses. At least one predetermined test communications connection is set up and terminated over at least the one network node. Further, the time interval between the beginning of the test communications connection and the generation of a first time pulse is determined and verified to ascertain whether the determined time interval is located within a first predetermined time domain. During the existing test communications connection, time unit intervals of successive time pulses are measured and compared with a predetermined time interval. A further method involving receipt of additional time pulse(s) after the termination of the test communications connection is also provided.
US07920679B1
A communication system for notifying persons of an emergency telephone call is provided according to the invention. The communication system includes a communication network configured to receive a user-initiated emergency telephone call from a caller. The communication system further includes a notification system configured to receive the user-initiated emergency telephone call from the communication network, select one or more proximity communication devices based on one or more predetermined proximity criteria, and generate a notification communication to the one or more proximity communication devices. The notification communication notifies the one or more proximity communication devices of the user-initiated emergency telephone call.
US07920675B2
The present embodiments relate to producing a radiation treatment plan. In one embodiment, the method may include specifying a dataset in which an object requiring to be irradiated is represented; determining a target volume requiring to be irradiated within the object; ascertaining a metric identifying a density heterogeneity for a region that will be struck by the planned treatment beam; and determining as a function of the ascertained metric a safety margin for the target volume requiring to be irradiated.
US07920673B2
Phase-contrast imaging is performed by directing radiation from a plurality of pinhole sources through a phase object to be imaged, wherein the phase object includes a first composition that produces a phase shift in the radiation relative to radiation passing through a second composition in the phase object and detecting a phase-contrast image of the radiation after it passes through the phase object. The phase-contrast image is then decoded to generate an image of the phase object in which the first composition is distinguished from the second composition.
US07920669B2
Methods, apparatuses and computer readable mediums for generating a volume visualization image based on multi-energy computed tomography data are provided. In one method, an image is rendered based on a multi-dimensional graphical representation of the computed tomography data. The computed tomography data includes at least two different energy image data sets and the multi-dimensional graphical representation represents intensity values of each of the at least two different energy image data sets.
US07920668B2
Systems for displaying images are provided. An embodiment of such a system has a dynamic shift register. The dynamic shift register includes a sampling unit, a holding unit, and a first logic circuit. The sampling unit, which is coupled to an incoming signal and a first input terminal of the dynamic shift register, samples the incoming signal according to a first input signal received by the first input terminal to generate a sampled value. The holding unit, which is coupled to the sampling unit, is utilized to hold the sampled value. The first logic circuit, which is coupled to the holding unit and an output terminal of the dynamic shift register, generates an output signal according to the sampled value and a second input signal inputted into the first logic circuit.
US07920661B2
A decision feedback equalizer (DFE) processes a signal having multiple code channels by filtering an error signal based on a difference between a received signal and an estimated received signal. The received signal is processed to recover data on each of the code channels and to generate an estimate of a transmitted signal corresponding to the received signal. A channel estimate is applied to the resulting estimated transmitted signal to generate the estimated received signal. After the filter filters the error signal, a combiner combines the filtered error signal and the estimated transmitted signal.
US07920647B2
A partial bit demodulation section that demodulates partial bits among a plurality of bits that form 1 symbol of each modulated signal using a detection method different from likelihood detection, signal point reduction sections that reduce the number of candidate signal points using demodulated partial bits, and a likelihood detection section obtains received digital signals by performing likelihood detection based on the Euclidian distances between the reduced candidate signal points and a reception point, are provided. By this, only some bits which are unlikely to be erroneous are found by the partial bit demodulation section, and other bits can be found by the likelihood detection section, enabling bit error rate performances to be effectively improved with a comparatively small computational complexity.
US07920637B2
A class of bandwidth reduction techniques are used develop a broad class of modulation types collectively called SSB-FM. These signals can be used to construct communication systems that provide bandwidth-normalized performance gains of 10 dB or more when compared to popular prior art modulation methods. An aspect of the invention involves mapping trellis paths in a complex signal space onto corresponding real-valued trellis signals with desirable spectral properties. The invention can be used map continuous phase modulated (CPM) signals onto simpler amplitude-modulated trellis signals having double the channel capacity of prior art CPM signals. Multi-amplitude signaling and frequency division multiplexing may also be incorporated to further accommodate more information per symbol.
US07920635B2
There is provided a method of clipping a transmission signal. The method comprises: providing a residual signal of a complex envelope clipper based on the transmission signal to be clipped; providing a reference signal respective to the residual signal, the reference signal corresponding to an ideal residual signal; forming a clipping signal on the basis of the residual signal and the reference signal; subtracting the clipping signal from the residual signal for removing higher amplitudes of the residual signal; and subtracting the clipping signal from the reference signal for providing a reference signal respective to the clipped residual signal.
US07920628B2
A method and system for reducing noise in a video stream comprising images divided into macroblocks, where each macroblock includes luma and chroma blocks and each block is comprised of pixels. The method comprises determining correlation of a macroblock with a reference macroblock, comparing its motion vectors to a predetermined threshold, computing a residual signal of the macroblock by subtracting the macroblock from a predicted macroblock, computing a variance of a residual signal of the macroblock, comparing the variance of the residual signal to another predetermined threshold, determining a filter strength for the macroblock based on one or more of factors such as correlation, motion vector size and variance of the residual signal and filtering the macroblock using a filter of appropriate strength.
US07920624B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for performing inverse quantization for multiple decoding standards, where the functional operations that comprise the inverse quantizer are modularly implemented and can be selectably performed. Each operation can be represented via a table entry in an associated memory area, with the functional operation being performed via reference to that table entry. Functional operations can be bypassed as needed if inverse quantization does not need to be performed on a set of data. Certain other processing operations can be performed between steps as needed to accommodate different coding standards. Macroblock data can be read from and written back to a common storage area, or a direct path is provided for writing the data directly to a subsequent inverse transform device.
US07920623B2
Simultaneous display of multiple audio/video (AV) programs transmitted over a digital link is described. At a source device, at least one non-composited digital transport stream is generated from the plurality of AV programs. The at least one non-composited digital transport stream is augmented with control information. The control information is operative to invoke simultaneous display of the plurality of AV programs on a display device. The at least one non-composited digital transport stream is then transmitted as augmented over the digital link. At a sink device, at least one non-composited digital transport stream having the plurality of AV programs is received over the digital link. Control information is extracted from the at least one non-composited digital transport stream. The plurality of AV programs are identified within said non-composited digital transport stream in response to the control information. The identified AV programs are then simultaneously displayed on the display device.
US07920622B2
A digital broadcasting transmitter, a turbo stream processing method thereof, and a digital broadcasting system having the same. The digital broadcasting transmitter includes a first compressor, forming a normal stream by compressing audio and video signals in a first compression format, a second compressor, forming a turbo stream by compressing the audio and video signals in a second compression format, a transport stream (TS) constructor, compressing the turbo stream in an H.264 format and forming the dual transfer stream by multiplexing the normal stream and the turbo stream, and a TS processor, robustly processing the dual transfer stream transmitted from the TS constructor, thus enhancing the transmission efficiency.
US07920618B2
Mitigation of interference effects in certain wireless communications is accomplished by the disclosed method. A wireless communications device communicates utilizing a protocol which requires hopping from channel to channel within a communications frequency band while transmitting. Operating according to the disclosed method, the device scans the available communications channels and identifies channel(s) experiencing interference from other transmitting devices. When hopping to such identified channels, the device transmits only null packets, thus avoiding the need to re-transmit packets due to interference and mitigating the effects of such interference on the communications data rate.
US07920611B2
It is an object to provide a laser apparatus, a laser irradiating method and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that make laser energy more stable. To attain the object, a part of laser beam emitted from an oscillator is sampled to generate an electric signal that contains as data energy fluctuation of a laser beam. The electric signal is subjected to signal processing to calculate the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the energy fluctuation of the laser beam. The transmittance of a light amount adjusting means is controlled in order that the transmittance changes in antiphase to the phase of the energy fluctuation of the laser beam and with an amplitude capable of reducing the amplitude of laser beam emitted from the oscillator, the control being made based on the phase difference between the phase of a signal that is in synchronization with oscillation of laser beam emitted from the oscillator and the phase calculated, on the energy ratio of the sampled laser beam to laser beam emitted from the oscillator, and on the frequency and amplitude calculated. In the light amount adjusting means, energy of the laser beam oscillated from the oscillator energy is adjusted.
US07920607B2
A wavelength conversion apparatus capable of keeping high wavelength conversion efficiency for a longer time than ever before is provided. A wavelength conversion apparatus includes: a wavelength conversion section including a nonlinear optical crystal, and performing wavelength conversion of incident laser light by allowing the incident laser light to pass through the nonlinear optical crystal; and a relative position control section, when wavelength conversion is performed by the wavelength conversion section, relatively displacing the incident position of the incident laser light in an incident plane into which the incident laser light enters of the nonlinear optical crystal in a direction including a projection direction component of a +C axis to the incident plane in the nonlinear optical crystal or a direction orthogonal to the projection direction component.
US07920602B2
A method of formatting a digital broadcast transport stream packet, a digital broadcast transmitter, and a signal processing method thereof, includes constructing a transport stream packet that includes a stuffing region for an insertion of a known supplementary reference signal (SRS) data therein, randomizing the packet that includes the stuffing region is randomized, and the SRS data is inserted into the stuffing region of the randomized packet. Adding a parity for an error correction to the packet into which the SRS data has been inserted, the packet to which the parity has been added is interleaved, and a trellis encoding of the interleaved packet is performed. Inserting a segment sync signal and a field sync signal into the trellis-encoded packet, and a vestigial side band (VSB) modulation and an RF conversion of the packet are performed to transmit the VSB-modulated and RF-converted packet.
US07920601B2
A communications system for controlling equipment associated with a vehicle, includes a micro-controller (604) and a digital serial communication link (621, 622, 662, 663) using a multiplexed timing signal and first data signal. A camera or image sensor (650) located in the vehicular component communicates with the micro-controller (604) via the digital serial communication link.
US07920591B2
A method and a device for realizing dynamic adjustment of data bandwidth of the invention are disclosed. The method comprises adding a control channel in a PCM trunk link to describe occupancy condition of time slots for current services. The device comprises a control word process circuit, a time slot distribution circuit and a CPU interface circuit, wherein the control word process circuit is designed to complete abstraction and insertion of control information in a control channel of E1/T1 link, the time slot distribution circuit completes separating voice time slots from Ethernet data time slots and rebuilding the data, and the CPU interface circuit implements time slot distribution control. The method and the device can implement dynamic adjustment of Ethernet data bandwidth while ensuring voice services, to make effective use of trunk bandwidth and enhance user's data service bandwidth, without error code and interruption of data service during bandwidth adjustment.
US07920581B2
A node device having a plural hierarchy levels in a tree-like shape while placing a broadcast device at a top of the levels and connecting the node devices through a communication means, wherein content data is sequentially transferred from the node device at an upper hierarchy level to that at a lower hierarchy level, including: a control means for displaying a predetermined screen for a user; and a means for carrying out a process of participating in the system when a broadcast information screen related to broadcast of the content data is displayed and for carrying out a process of withdrawing from the system when display is finished, wherein when transiting to display in another screen, the participation and withdrawal control means carries out the withdrawal process on a condition that the broadcast information screen is not displayed again within a waiting time previously set up.
US07920580B2
Content and/or services are provided for a session to a user by controlling use of at least two different networks to deliver the content and/or services for the session to the user. The at least two different networks have different data transfer characteristics. Control of use of the at least two different networks is based on the data transfer characteristics of the at least two different networks and characteristics of the content and/or services for the session to the user.
US07920576B2
Nodes 901 and 902 have the same address. Upon reception of a broadcast packet whose TTL value is not zero from a ringlet 910a, a forwarding circuit 51 of each of the nodes 901 and 902 copies and transits the packet, and an address table 60 of each node learns the address based on the copied broadcast packet. Upon reception of a unicast packet whose destination is an address common to the two nodes from the ringlet 910a, the forwarding circuit 51 of one node 901 copies and transits the packet, while the forwarding circuit 51 of the other node 902 strips the packet, and each address tables learns the address. A filter circuit of the node 902 prohibits the passage of the packet from the ringlet 910a.
US07920558B2
A data network has a number of inter-connected router devices forward received packets of data towards a destination node in accordance with a routing table associated with each router. A trust value is assigned to one or more other router devices, or links between router devices, in the network. A route metric is calculated in respect of one or more paths for forwarding on received data packets for onward transmission towards a specified destination. A next hop destination is selected for onward transmission of each such received packet to be forwarded on the basis of the calculated route metric for each applicable path. Each route metric is calculated in dependence upon the trust value assigned to one or more of the router or routers within each such path.
US07920556B2
A method for improving subscriber access capacity of a broadband access device is disclosed, including: establishing a Virtual Local Area Network Path Identifier (VlanPI) and corresponding VlanPI Tag, establishing a VLAN Circuit identifier (VlanCI) and corresponding VlanCI Tag for each access port of the broadband access device, dividing the access ports into groups and assigning the established VlanPIs to each group; then, before transmitting an ethernet frame, determining the VlanCI which corresponds to the access port and inserting the VlanCI Tag for identifying the VlanCI into the standard ethernet frame, determining the VlanPI corresponding to the group to which the access port belongs and inserting the VlanPI Tag which is used to identify the VlanPI into the standard ethernet frame, and transmitting the ethernet frame to an uplink device through an uplink port by the broadband access device which directly connects with the uplink device.
US07920549B2
An approach provides interdomain traversal to support packetized voice transmissions. A signaling message is received for establishing a voice call from a first endpoint associated with a first domain to a second endpoint associated with a second domain. The first endpoint queries a STUN (Simple Traversal of UDP (User Datagram Protocol)) server to determine information relating to a firewall and network address translator that the first endpoint is behind, and to log into a TURN (Traversal Using Relay NAT (Network Address Translation)) server configured to establish a media path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint. A first proxy server serving the first endpoint communicates with an ENUM (Electronic Number) server to convert a directory number corresponding to the second endpoint to a network address. The first proxy server communicates with a second proxy server serving the second endpoint to establish the voice call. The STUN server, the TURN server and the ENUM server are maintained by service provider. The first endpoint is authenticated to permit exchange of a media stream over the media path. The media stream is relayed, if the first endpoint is successfully authenticated.
US07920548B2
A switching apparatus for switching packetized voice traffic between a plurality of communication devices, the switching apparatus comprises a multi-layer switch, a plurality of communication ports, control means and ingress processing means, said packetized voice traffic comprises call control packets and medium packets which are exchanged between the communication devices via said communication ports, wherein medium packet traffic from a first communication device to a second communication device is split into a first call segment and a second call segment, the first call segment originates from said first communication devices and terminates at said switching apparatus, the second call segment originates from said switching apparatus and terminates at said second communication device, each medium packet from said first communication device is processed by said ingress processing means of said switching apparatus before onward transmission to said second communication device.
US07920541B2
In a radio access network, techniques for enabling the network to provide a service availability guarantee to a user of a premium service without requiring the network to identify a priority level of a connection with an access terminal associated with the premium service user prior to connection establishment.
US07920531B2
Network connectivity may be managed on a computing device. An identifier of each wireless access point or network that is available at a given location is determined. The identifier determined without the device attempting to connect to any available wireless access point or network at the given location. Each determined identifier is compared to one or more network identifiers that are known to the device. The device connects to an available wireless access point having the identifier that is known and detected.
US07920511B2
A method of managing channels in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes generating channel quality feedback comprising a maximum channel quality indicator (CQI) and a delta-CQI value at a subscriber station and transmitting the channel quality feedback to a base station.
US07920507B2
A system facilitates communication among nodes in a wireless network. A timeslot is assigned to each of a group of nodes (201) in the wireless network (400, 800, 1200, 1300). The timeslot is a time for a corresponding node to receive messages transmitted by other nodes (201). A modulation scheme is assigned to each of the nodes (201). A message is transmitted from at least one of the nodes (201), using the assigned modulation scheme, to at least one destination node during a timeslot assigned to the at least one destination node. The messages are received at the at least one destination node from the at least one of the nodes (201).
US07920503B2
Provided are a packet transmission method for transmitting packets in a forward link of a multibeam satellite communication system and a computer-readable recording medium for recording a program that implements the method. The packet transmission method transmitting packets to mobile stations in a forward link of a multibeam satellite communication system, comprising the steps of: wherein downlink beams of a satellite share an orthogonal spreading code set for transmitting packets to the mobile stations, a) generating downlink beam signals by using an identical structure for the radio frames transmitted through the downlink beams and an identical pseudo-noise (PN) scrambling code for generating downlink beam signals; and b) synchronizing transmission timings of frames, symbols and spread chips on the downlink beam signals.
US07920493B2
A method of initiating a set up process for a call between users with reduced set up times using one or more 3G telecommunication networks. The method is provided between at least a pair of H.324-like terminals coupled to the one or more 3G telecommunication networks. The method includes establishing a bearer channel between a first terminal and a second terminal after a call signaling process, transmitting a first FSS message from the first terminal to the second terminal. The first FSS message includes a first preference profile associated with a first mode of operation for the call and a second preference profile associated with a second mode of operation for the call. The method also includes selecting either the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation.
US07920479B2
In one embodiment, a plurality of connections couple to a plurality of service providers (SPs) that each provide services at a cost. The cost of the services of each SP is determined according to a tiered pricing structure that includes one or more tiers. Each tier correlates a particular amount of data transferred with the SP to a particular cost. A data collector collects measurement data that indicates an amount of data transferred with each SP. A processor selects a target tier in the tiered pricing structure of each SP based on the measurement data. The processor also generates a momentary target utilization rate (MTUR) for each SP based on the target tier for the SP and the measurement data. The processor then distributes utilization of services among the SPs based on the MTUR and tiered pricing structure of each SP to minimize the cost of the services provided by the SPs.
US07920474B2
A system and method which provides for efficient data transmission between multiple microprocessors in a computer system is disclosed. A physical data path is divided into a plurality connection queues. The connection queue size is compared to thresholds. Bandwidth allocation weights associates with the queues can be progressively refined based upon the comparison.
US07920460B2
An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.
US07920455B2
A complex optical element includes a first optical portion and a second optical portion which are made of materials different from each other. The second optical portion is bonded to an optical functional face of the first optical portion. A concavoconvex face part is formed at the central part of the bond area between the first optical portion and the second optical portion.
US07920453B2
An adaptive equalization circuit (105) operates for PR-equalization of the reproduced signal that is subjected to an A/D conversion by an A/D converter (103) and shaped by a waveform shaping circuit (104). An ideal-waveform generation circuit (110) generates an ideal waveform that corresponds to the reproduced signal that is binarized by a Viterbi-decoding circuit (108). A mark-length/space-length calculation circuit (112) calculates the actual mark length/space length relative to the mark length/space length to be formed, based on the equalization error that arises when the ideal waveform assumes a central reference level as calculated by an equalization-error calculation circuit (111) and the intervals of polarity inversions of binarized data detected by a 0-cross detection circuit (109). A system controller (114) adjusts the edge shift quantity of the recording waveform when forming a mark based on the calculated mark length/space length.
US07920448B2
A method for determining runout disc is disclosed. The method comprises: focusing on a focal point on a disc; driving the disc to spin the disc; generating a crossover signal according to a track of the disc crossing the focal point; and determining that the disc is a runout disc when the frequency of the crossover signal exceeds a pre-determine value.
US07920440B2
A method and an apparatus for real-time calculation of receive focusing parameters for beamforming are provided. The apparatus is coupled to the signal input end of the receive beamforming module of an ultrasound imaging system as an independent accessory, including a first accumulator and a second accumulator for calculating a quantified focus coordinate (Fx,Fz); a distance determination circuit for calculating the distance between the quantified focus coordinate (Fx,Fz) and quantified coordinate (Elexj,Elezj) of the j-th array element of a probe; a third accumulator for accumulating the value of i*N/2; and a third summator for reading the output results of the third accumulator and the distance determination circuit, adding both output results up and outputting the added-up result as a reading address of echo data calculated in real time. With the present invention, the system memory resource required is reduced, the circuit is simpler, and the parameter loading is faster.
US07920435B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells connected to a bit line, and a sense amplifier of the current sense type. The sense amplifier includes an initial charging circuit capable of initially charging the bit line with a suppressed value of current only for a certain starting period during an initial charging period. The sense amplifier detects a value of current flowing in the bit line to decide data read out of each of the memory cells.
US07920432B2
One embodiment includes a non-volatile memory cell array, and a read unit configured to disable read operation for the non-volatile memory cell array for a time period following writing of data in the non-volatile memory cell array.
US07920427B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for modifying soft-programming trims of a non-volatile memory device, such as a flash memory device. The soft-programming trims may be modified based on a count of erase pulses applied to memory cells of the memory device. The number of erase pulses used to erase memory cells may be indicative of accumulated charge in the memory cell. The start voltage, step size, pulse width, number of pulses, pulse ramp, ramp rate, or any other trim of the soft-programming operation may be modified in response to the number of erase pulses.
US07920422B2
Techniques are disclosed herein for verifying that memory cells comply with a target threshold voltage that is negative. The technique can be used for an erase verify or a soft program verify. One or more erase pulses are applied to a group of non-volatile storage elements that are associated with bit lines and word lines. One or more non-negative compare voltages (e.g., zero volts) are applied to at least a portion of the word lines after applying the erase pulses. Conditions on the bit lines are sensed while holding differences between voltages on the bit lines substantially constant and while applying the one or more compare voltages. A determination is made whether the group is sufficiently erased based on the conditions. At least one additional erase pulse is applied to the group of non-volatile storage elements if the group of non-volatile storage elements are not sufficiently erased.
US07920412B2
A magnetic random access memory includes a first wiring, a second wiring formed above and spaced apart from the first wiring, a magnetoresistive effect element formed between the first wiring and the second wiring, formed in contact with an upper surface of the first wiring, and having a fixed layer, a recording layer, and a nonmagnetic layer formed between the fixed layer and the recording layer, a metal layer formed on the magnetoresistive effect element and integrated with the magnetoresistive effect element to form stacked layers, a first side insulating film formed on side surfaces of the metal layer, the magnetoresistive effect element, and the first wiring, a first contact formed in contact with a side surface of the first side insulating film, and a third wiring formed on the metal layer and the first contact to electrically connect the magnetoresistive effect element and the first contact.
US07920409B1
A Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell having high stability and low leakage is provided. The SRAM cell includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters providing differential storage of a data bit. Power to the SRAM cell is provided by a read word line (RWL) signal, which is also referred to herein as a read control signal. During read operations, the RWL signal is pulled to a voltage level that forces the SRAM cell to a full-voltage state. During standby, the RWL signal is pulled to a voltage level that forces the SRAM cell to a voltage collapsed state in order to reduce leakage current, or leakage power, of the SRAM cell. A read-transistor providing access to the bit stored by the SRAM cell is coupled to the SRAM cell via a gate of the read transistor, thereby decoupling the stability of the SRAM cell from the read operation.
US07920406B2
A method for forming a memory structure, includes: forming an array of individual memory cells arranged in a network of bit lines and word lines, each individual memory cell further comprising a resistive memory device that is capable of being programmed to a plurality of resistance states, each of the resistive memory devices coupled to one of the bit lines at a first end thereof; configuring a rectifying element in series with each of the resistive memory devices at a second end thereof; configuring an access transistor associated with each of the individual memory cells, the access transistors activated by a signal applied to a corresponding one of the word lines, with each access transistor connected in series with a corresponding rectifying element; and forming a common connection configured to short neighboring rectifying devices together along a word line direction, in groups of two or more.
US07920405B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a memory cell array having word lines, bit lines, and non-volatile memory cells, each non-volatile memory cell having a variable resistive material and an access element connected between the corresponding word line and the corresponding bit line. The variable resistive material has a resistance level that varies according to data to be stored. A selection circuit selects at least one non-volatile memory cell in which data will be written. An adaptive write circuit/method supplies a write bias to the selected non-volatile memory cell through the bit line connected to the selected non-volatile memory cell to write data in the selected non-volatile memory cell and varies (e.g., increases) the write bias until the resistance level of the selected non-volatile memory cell varies.
US07920397B1
A memory device operates in a calibration mode during which the effects of bit line leakage current are measured and to operate in a normal mode during which the bit line current is adjusted to compensate for leakage according to the results of the calibration mode. In the calibration mode, a leakage-free sense operation is performed to determine the differential voltage generated on the bit lines in response to a data value. Then, a leakage-susceptible test read operation is performed to determine the differential voltage generated on the bit lines in response to the data value. A detection circuit measures the difference between the differential voltages generated in the leakage-free and leakage-susceptible test read operations to generate a compensation signal, which subsequently adjusts the bit line compensation current during the normal mode.
US07920396B2
A synchronous rectifier is arranged to rectify inductively coupled power using FETs (field effect transistors) to minimize the voltage drop of the rectifier, which minimizes power loss. Power loss is an important consideration in applications where fairly significant power is coupled to a device (such as a battery charger or other energy storage device) for a fairly short time (such as less than one hour) at a fairly low voltage (such as around 2.5 to 4.5 volts). Body diodes of the FETs can be used to supply power for bootstrapping and control logic for controlling the FETs.
US07920392B2
A voltage sag correction device includes an input terminal adapted to receive a first operating signal having a line-to-neutral voltage. The first operating signal is provided to a load through an output terminal. A regulator module includes a rectifying device adapted to rectify a line-to-line input signal, a storage unit adapted to store energy corresponding to the rectified line-to-line input signal, and an inverter switching device adapted to use the stored energy to generate a correction signal during at least a portion of a voltage sag. An injection transformer in electrical communication with the regulator module is adapted to reduce a voltage of the correction signal. A bypass switch is in a closed position during a normal operating condition such that the injection transformer is bypassed. The bypass switch is in an open position during at least a portion of the voltage sag such that the injection transformer is energized.
US07920390B2
An inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit provided in the primary circuit of a transformer. The switch circuit is controlled by a PWM circuit. The switch circuit is operated on the basis of an intermittent-operation signal having an ON state and OFF state to: set an error signal to a substantially zero level during OFF periods; gradually increase the error signal upon transition from an OFF state to an ON state; and gradually decrease the error signal upon transition from an ON state to an OFF state. Each ON phase of the intermittent operation is slowly started and slowly ended through charging and discharging of a capacitor provided in a feedback circuit. This enables concomitant application of constant-current control and intermittent-operation control to the inverter, which in turn provides a broad range of power that can be supplied to a load, significantly reduces hamming of the transformer, and prevents over-current from occurring in the inverter.
US07920389B2
An RF blind-mate connection device disclosed herein includes a duplexer, a power amplification circuit board, a transceiver, an RF signal connector, and a power connector. The duplexer and the transceiver are located at one end of the RF blind-mate connection device, and the transceiver is fixed on the duplexer; the power amplification circuit board is located at the other end of the RF blind-mate connection device, and the location of the power amplification circuit board corresponds to that of the duplexer; the RF signal connector is fixed on the duplexer and the power amplification circuit board; the power connector is fixed on the transceiver and the power amplification circuit board; and the RF signal connector and the power connector transmit both the power signal and the RF signal in a blind-mate way. A board hardware device is disclosed herein to transmit RF signals and power signals inside the RF module through the connector.
US07920377B2
Embodiments include hardware and/or software for manufacturing a removable plate having a medium, to be integral to a casing for a processor-based device. Integrating the removable plate in or on the casing facilitates access to the medium and the data stored on the medium by providing storage in a location that is convenient and local to the processor-based device. The removable plate may include a first surface designed to cover a portion of the processor-based device and a second surface to be covered by the first surface when integrated with the casing, to provide access to the medium. The removable plate may also include any other types of media that can communicatively couple with the processor-based device directly, or indirectly through, e.g., a computer network.
US07920374B2
An anti-oscillation device for a notebook display can include a clutch housing and a dampening device connected to the shaft extension. The clutch housing can be configured to be connected to the display of the notebook and to a base of the notebook. The clutch housing can include a body and a shaft extension that extends from the body of the clutch housing.
US07920371B2
Films of active electrode material, such as films made from carbon and fibrillized polymer, are attached to a porous separator. Outer surfaces of the films (i.e., surfaces opposite those adjoining the separator) are then covered with current collectors. The 5 resulting stack is usable in fabrication of electrical energy storage devices. The stack can be shaped as needed, connected to terminals, and immersed in an electrolytic solution to provide a double layer capacitor.
US07920369B2
An apparatus and method for initiation and control of a sustained metal plasma and nano plasma (macroparticulate) deposition methods for preparing modified metal coatings are provided. The plasma deposition process can be tightly controlled by virtue of a device that incorporates a plasma arc initiator component and an internal power supply that is capable of controlling dwell time on the target and the size range of particles ejected in the plasma arc.
US07920360B2
Certain example embodiments relate to torsion compensation coils that cooperate with primary coils in voice coil motors of disk drive devices, and methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a voice coil motor is provided which may include a single external magnet. A primary coil may be located above the external magnet, with the primary coil being capable of receiving a first current. At least one torsion compensation coil may be connected to the primary coil. The at least one torsion compensation coil may be capable of receiving a second current. The at least one torsion compensation coil may be configured to reduce torsion and/or bending forces introduced by the first current passing through primary coil and/or magnetic field leakage from the external magnet.
US07920354B2
A recordable medium according to some embodiments includes a servo control field having a bit patterned media (BPM) pattern. The pattern includes a plurality of isolated magnetic islands or dots arranged in a down-track orientation and in a cross-track orientation. A phase of dots arranged on the medium in the servo control field varies in a first cross-track direction. The dots arranged on the medium may include a first phase pattern that has a first phase gradient in the first cross-track direction and a second phase pattern that has a second phase gradient, different from the first phase gradient, in the first cross-track direction. The dots may include a plurality of dot composites including a plurality of dots.
US07920352B2
A magnetic disk apparatus that uses a head to write data in a plurality of unit areas arranged in an adjacent relationship to each other on a surface of a magnetic disk, and includes: a first recording section that records, in a RAM, the position of a unit area which is a target of data write; a first counting section that counts the number of times of data write operation performed for the unit area corresponding to the position recorded by the first recording section; and a second recording section that records, in a non-volatile storage medium different from the RAM, the side position which is the position of a unit area adjacent to the unit area whose number of records counted by the first counting section is more than a predetermined value.
US07920349B2
A magnetic storage medium such as a BPM includes a plurality of magnetic dots for writing and reproducing data disposed in a magnetically separated manner so as to be spaced a predetermined distance in a down-track direction and a plurality of tracks concentrically disposed so that the magnetic dots are disposed in a magnetically separated manner. In the BPM, a phase-adjusting track is disposed in an arbitrary track among the tracks. On the phase-adjusting track, phase detection dots disposed in a down-track direction to allow writing and reproduction of phase detection data and blank bits providing a predetermined phase difference in a down-track direction to next successive phase-detecting dots are alternately disposed in a successive manner.
US07920343B2
Micro-electrical-mechanical (MEMS) wafers in which a lens is formed on a micro-electrical-mechanical structure. The micro-electrical-mechanical wafers can comprise a substrate, MEMS structures, and a lens array. A method of forming a micro-electrical-mechanical wafer comprises providing a substrate, forming a micro-electrical-mechanical structure on the substrate, forming a carrier, forming a lens array on the carrier, and transferring the lens array from the carrier onto the micro-electrical-mechanical structure. The lens array is placed above the micro-electrical-mechanical structure.
US07920334B2
Providing a zoom lens system being compact with high optical performance, an optical apparatus using the same, and a method for zooming the zoom lens system. The system includes, in order from an object along an optical axis, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state W to a telephoto end state T, each distance between adjacent lens groups is varied. Given conditional expression is satisfied.
US07920333B2
A variable focal distance lens system includes a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, which are sequentially disposed from an object side to an image side. The system satisfies −0.65<(R33−R34)/(R33+R34)<−0.25 and −1.0<(R22−R23)/(R22+R23)<−0.6, wherein R33 represents the radius of curvature of the most image-side surface of a cemented lens of the third lens group, R34 represents the radius of curvature of the object-side surface of a positive lens of the third lens group disposed on the most image side, R22 represents the radius of curvature of the image-side surface of a negative lens of the second lens group disposed on the most object side, and R23 represents the radius of curvature of the most object-side surface of a cemented lens of the second lens group.
US07920330B2
The invention is directed to different optical active elements (1, 20, 22) such as tunable diffraction gratings and tunable phase shifters having in general a similar setup. The optical active elements (1, 20, 22) comprise an intermediate layer (4) made out of a deformable material which is mechanically interconnected to a driving means. The driving means comprises a first and a second driving plate (2, 3) arranged in general opposite to each other on opposite sides of and at least partially covering the intermediate layer (4) such that a local compression of the intermediate layer (4) by the driving plates (2, 3) causes a local reduction of the thickness in a first direction. This reduction in a first direction causes a secondary deformation of the intermediate layer in a second direction which results in a change of the optical behavior of the optical active element.
US07920329B2
A wafer-level optical lens module including one or more embedded lenses and two outer lenses on an outer side of two outermost glass wafers. The embedded lenses may be formed of air or of any material with desired refractive index and dispersion characteristics. The outer lenses may be formed of any material with desired refractive index and dispersion characteristics. This arrangement, with various lenses of the optical module having different refractive indices and dispersions, allows for the formation of a wafer-level optical lens system which corrects for chromatic aberration and astigmatism.
US07920328B2
A lens module and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The module comprises a substrate and a lens structure. The substrate comprises a through-hole therein. The lens structure is embedded in the through-hole.
US07920327B2
An image capturing apparatus includes: at least one or more vertically movable lens groups among at least three or more lens groups, which constitute a zoom lens, movable in an optical axis direction, the vertically movable lens group being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis; a zoom lens group among the three or more lens groups, the zoom lens group being movable in the optical axis direction; and a correction mechanism that corrects a position of the optical axis based on the three or more lens groups by moving the vertically movable lens group in a wide-angle end state to a predetermined position in the substantially perpendicular direction. When the vertically movable lens group is moved for the purpose of anti-vibration at each zoom position in the substantially perpendicular direction, the apparatus is configured to satisfy the following Conditional Expression (1). 0.7<(Lw+Bw)/Bt<1.3 (1)
US07920324B2
A system and method for telescope guiding requires creating an artificial reference star which is locked to the line of sight of the imaging means of a main telescope in the field-of-view (FOV) of a guide scope. A real guide star is selected using the guide scope, such that both artificial and guide stars are within the FOV of the guide scope. Guiding is accomplished by varying the line of sight such that the positional displacement between the guide and artificial stars on the guide star's focal plane is maintained approximately constant. The artificial star is created by generating a point source of light near the main scope's imaging means, directing the light outside the main scope and retroreflecting it at the same direction angle of the beam exiting the aperture into the guide scope, effectively locking the guide scope to the line of sight of the imaging means.
US07920322B2
Provided are a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (R-SOA) and a superluminescent diode (SLD). The R-SOA includes: a substrate; an optical waveguide including a lower clad layer, an active layer independent of the polarization of light, and an upper clad layer sequentially stacked on the substrate, the optical waveguide comprising linear, curved, and tapered waveguide areas; and a current blocking layer formed around the optical waveguide to block a flow of current out of the active layer, wherein the linear and curved waveguide areas have a single buried hetero (BH) structure, and the tapered waveguide area has a dual BH structure.
US07920320B2
The invention relates to electronic devices, in particular consumer electronic devices, including an electrophoactive display, as well as to electronic document reading devices, sometimes called e-readers, such as electronic books. We describe an electronic device including an electroactive display and a light to illuminate said display, wherein said display has a viewing surface, and wherein said light is configured to illuminate said display from in front and to one side of an edge of said viewing surface, across said viewing surface and through a front-most surface of said display.
US07920319B2
In certain embodiments, a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device comprises a substrate having a top surface, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode disposed laterally from the reflective surface. The movable element comprises a deformable layer and a reflective element mechanically coupled to the deformable layer. The reflective element includes a reflective surface. The movable element is responsive to a voltage difference applied between the actuation electrode and the movable element by moving in a direction generally perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate.
US07920313B2
An oscillator device includes an oscillation system having first and second oscillators and first and second resilient supporting members, wherein the oscillation system has at least two frequencies of natural oscillation mode around a torsion axis which include a first resonance frequency f1 and a second resonance frequency f2, wherein there is a relationship that f2 is approximately two-fold of f1, and wherein a drive control member supplies, to a driving member, a driving signal which is comprised of a driving signal based on synthesizing a first driving signal having a first driving frequency and a second driving signal having a second driving frequency, and which is such driving signal that, among the first and second driving frequencies, a lower-frequency side driving frequency Df1 and a higher-frequency side driving frequency Df2 satisfy a relationship Df1×2=Df2 and that Df2 satisfies a relationship f2−|Δf/2|
US07920306B2
An image reading apparatus enabling a user to flexibly select one of plural reading modes, for example, for continuously reading two-sided images of stacked document sheets or reading pages of a book or a large document exceeding a platen. In a first reading mode, a reading unit scans a document and reads a document image. In a second reading mode, a stationary reading unit and the reading unit read an image of a document fed from a document feeder section. The reading unit is provided in a flatbed reading section which is detachable from an apparatus body. The flatbed reading section, when detached from the apparatus body, can be used as a flatbed scanner.
US07920293B2
A preferred embodiment reproduces an image by receiving an input contone array of M contone data values. The contone data values may lie within a range from 1 to N. The embodiment includes comparing each contone data value to an array of M sets of pattern look-up tables to generate an array of M pattern values. M may be a number of one or more. Each pattern value in the array of M pattern values may be decoded to a corresponding K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data. The binary data is rendered by a reprographic device.
US07920287B2
A layout apparatus lays out a document by referencing personal information registered on a per user basis. Even if no particular print setting is input for a print job by a user, excellent prints customized for each user are thus provided.
US07920282B2
A method is provided for prioritizing jobs in a computing environment having a plurality of nodes sharing one or more resources. Such method includes, given a job A to be scheduled having certain resource requirements, generating a list P of already scheduled jobs which utilize resources required by job A and which can be preempted by job A. For each resource requirement of job A, an ordered list of jobs which can be preempted by job A is created which is ranked by the applicability of each job in the list relative to resource requirements of job A, so as to provide a plurality of ordered lists, one for each resource requirement. An ordered list L is generated by selecting one of the ordered lists, adding the top-ranked job from that ordered list to list L, then adding the top-ranked job from another one of the ordered lists to list L and so on, by repetitively selecting the top-ranked job from individual ones of all the ordered lists. Finally, a set of jobs to be preempted by job A is selected based on the list L of jobs.
US07920279B2
Apparatus and methods for adjusting a skew angle of an LED array in the second of dual/tandem print engine systems to compensate for shrinkage of the printable medium exiting the first print engine. Features and aspects hereof provide for manually and/or automatically measuring the shrinkage of the printable medium as it exits the first print engine and for automatically and/or manually adjusting the skew angle of the mounting of the LED array in the second print engine. The image data applied through the LED to the corresponding photoconductor of the second print engine is similarly skewed to match the skew angle of the LED array. Thus a substantially normal bitmap image is applied through the skewed LED to the photoconductor of the second print engine shrunk in the width dimension. Visual artifacts and anomalies from the mathematical approximations and rounding are visually imperceptible at sufficiently high resolutions.
US07920274B2
A method of measuring topology of functional liquid in a pixel, in which thickness or volume of the functional liquid in the pixel is measured by a surface topology measuring apparatus comprising: measuring surface topologies in which surface topology of the functional liquid in the pixel and surface topology of the bank are measured by the surface topology measuring apparatus, and measurement parameters regarding the surface topologies are generated; adding a bank height in which a height parameter of a height of the bank is added to the measurement parameter of a surface of the functional liquid in the pixel of the measurement parameter generated; and calculating topology in which the thickness or the volume of the functional liquid in the pixel is calculated based on the added measurement parameter of the surface of the functional liquid in the pixel and the measurement parameter of the surface of the bank.
US07920273B2
In the tracking type laser interferometer including: a laser interferometer; an optical axis deviation detection sensor for detecting a deviation of an optical axis of the laser interferometer; a two-axis turning mechanism for turning the laser interferometer to any optional direction; an angle sensor for detecting a turning angle of the two-axis turning mechanism; a retroreflector for reflecting its reflected light to a direction parallel to the incident light; and a controller for driving the two-axis turning mechanism so as to track the retroreflector based on signals of the optical axis deviation detection sensor and the angle sensor, stop of the retroreflector is detected, and a target distance is calculated from the turning center of the laser interferometer to the center of the retroreflector based on the total sum of deviation of an optical axis during movement, which is obtained by the optical axis deviation detection sensor, and a turning angle during movement, which is obtained by the angle sensor.
US07920265B1
In a modulated optical reflectance (MOR) system, a laser noise suppression technique utilizes a reference beam split optically from a probe laser prior to injection of a beam from the probe laser into an MOR signal path. The reference beam and a probe beam reflected from the sample are sent to first and second detectors, which produce first and second signals. A signal combiner receives the second signal at a first input and produces a combiner signal that corresponds to a difference between signals applied to the first and a second input. A level balancer receives the first signal and a signal derived from the combiner signal and produces a balancer output that is coupled to the second input of the signal combiner. The combination of the balancer output and the second signal tends to cancel out an average value of the second signal from the combiner signal.
US07920259B2
The invention is directed to an arrangement for an optical system for polarization-dependent, time-resolved optical spectroscopy, in particular a spectrometer that includes a polarization device which has a crystal polarizer and includes a light entry area which is arranged upstream of the polarization device and which is formed in such a way as to enclose a spatial acceptance angle of the crystal polarizer, and also that includes a light exit area which is arranged downstream of the polarization device, wherein an intermediate area which connects the light entry area and the light exit area is formed in the polarization device with a path length of at most approximately 4 mm which is traversed in the crystal polarizer by light impinging within the spatial acceptance angle.
US07920258B2
A method of selecting components for a multivariate optical computing and analysis system to isolate a spectral region includes selecting a spectral region of interest; selecting a spectral element with a predetermined transmission characteristic to control a spectral range of an illumination source; illuminating a sample with the illumination source; and analyzing an optical frequency returned by the sample relative to the spectral region of interest.
US07920251B2
Devices capable of capturing still and motion imagery are integrated with an accurate distance and speed measuring apparatus. By measuring the changing distance of the target over that time, a target's speed can be determined. At substantially the same time as the target's speed is determined, imagery of the target is captured in both a still and moving format. Using a queuing mechanism for both distance and imagery data along with time stamps associated with each, a target's image, both in motion and still, can be integrated with its speed. In situations in which a still image is unavailable, a target's speed can be associated with a portion of a continuous stream of motion imagery to a point where a positive identification can be captured with a still image.
US07920247B2
A distance measurement system includes: an projection apparatus (1) which projects measurement beams (PL1, PL2) at least at first and second projection angles (α3, α15, α, β) towards a detection area; an image pick-up apparatus (2) which picks up an image of a first reflected light (LB1) and an image of a second reflected light (LB2) from the detection area. The system further includes: a distance calculation unit (32) which calculates a first distance (d1) to a first measurement point (P2, P5) and a second distance (d2) to a second measurement point (P4, P7); a judgment unit (33) which judges that specular reflection is caused; and an operation unit (34) which, when it is judged by the judgment unit (33) that the specular reflection is caused, calculates a distance (d4) to a detection object (MB1, MB2) causing the specular reflection.
US07920246B2
An LCD device and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The LCD device includes a substrate having a pixel region. A gate electrode is formed in the pixel region. A gate insulating film is formed on the substrate including the gate electrode. A conducting layer is formed on the substrate including the gate insulating film. A semiconductor layer containing a nanosemiconductor material is formed on the conducting layer above the gate electrode. Source and drain electrodes overlap opposing sides of the semiconductor layer. A passivation layer is formed on the substrate including the source and drain electrodes. A first contact hole in the passivation layer exposes the drain electrode. A pixel electrode in the pixel region is connected to the drain electrode through the first contact hole.
US07920243B2
A color filter substrate includes a transparent substrate, a light-blocking layer, a color filter layer, a first cell gap maintaining member and a second cell gap maintaining member. The transparent substrate has a plurality of pixel regions. Each of the pixel regions includes first and second regions. The light-blocking layer is disposed over the transparent substrate. The light-blocking layer blocks light that leaks through boundaries of the pixel regions. The color filter layer is disposed over the transparent substrate. The color filter layer has a first thickness at the first region and a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness at the second region. The first cell gap maintaining member is disposed at the first region. The second cell gap maintaining member is disposed at the second region. Therefore, a height difference between the main column spacer and the sub column spacer may be easily adjusted.
US07920235B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate with a liquid crystal material sandwiched therebetween, a pixel having an optically transmissive portion and an optically reflective portion, a phase plate which is formed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal material in the optically transmissive portion of the pixel, and a color filter which is formed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal material in the optically transmissive portion of the pixel and between the phase plate and the liquid crystal material in the optically reflective portion of the pixel. A counter electrode is formed between the color filter and the liquid crystal material, and a pixel electrode is formed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal material. An electric field which is produced by a voltage between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode induces behavior of the liquid crystal material.
US07920225B2
An electronic apparatus with a protective panel, includes a display device 3 having a display section 3A, an enclosure 2 having a display window 2A which is open in one direction and mounts therein the display device 3 so as to expose the display section 5A to the outside, a protective panel 4 disposed at the display window 2A so as to cover the display section 3A from the outside; and a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 14 interposed between a movable portion M including at least the protective panel 4 of the protective panel 4 and the display device 3 and a frame-like support portion 2b defined by a surface of the enclosure 2 within the display window 2A, so as to prevent intrusion of foreign substance to the interior of the enclosure 2 through the display window 2A, the rubber detecting a depressing operation on the movable portion M.
US07920222B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a backlight module, a cell module installed in front of the backlight module, and a front frame which includes a frame body with holes and buffer material. The buffer material has a first part disposed in the holes and fixed to the cell module and backlight module through the front frame, and a second part sandwiched between the frame body and cell module. A method for manufacturing a LCD device is also provided, including forming a buffer material on a frame body by injection molding, firmly connecting the frame body, a cell module, and a backlight module, and locating the buffer material between the frame body and cell module.
US07920218B2
A recording device that includes an obtainment unit that obtains image information representing an image; and a voltage application unit that applies a voltage with a frequency according to the image information obtained by the obtainment unit, to a pair of electrodes equipped with a display medium, the display medium having a multi-layered liquid-crystal phase provided between the pair of electrodes, the multi-layered liquid-crystal phase having a first layer capable of assuming a specific alignment when the applied voltage is greater than or equal to a pre-set first voltage threshold, and a second layer capable of assuming a specific alignment when the applied voltage is greater than or equal to a second voltage threshold. An application of a voltage to the pair of electrodes effecting a first voltage component and a second voltage component applied to the first layer and the second layer, respectively.
US07920197B2
An image pickup apparatus includes the following units. An image pickup unit captures an image and outputs an analog image signal. A conversion unit converts the analog image signal into a digital image signal. A synchronization signal generation unit generates a synchronization signal to be supplied to the image pickup unit and the conversion unit, and supplies the synchronization signal to the image pickup unit. An adjustment unit adjusts the timing at which the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization signal generation unit is supplied to the conversion unit, and supplies the synchronization signal to the conversion unit. The adjustment unit is disposed in a position such that the adjustment unit is affected by the self-heating of the image pickup unit.
US07920190B2
An imaging apparatus and a method using column processing circuits arranged in multiple rows for processing pixels in a pixel array.
US07920189B2
A solid-state imaging device comprising a plurality of pixel parts each capable of obtaining one color signal, said plurality of pixel parts being arranged in the same plane, wherein each of the pixel parts comprises: a photoelectric conversion element comprising a lower electrode formed on or above a substrate, an upper electrode formed above the lower electrode and a photoelectric conversion film sandwiched between the lower electrode and the upper electrode; and a color filter formed on or above the upper electrode, wherein d
US07920185B2
An image sensor having an array of pixel cells, each including a photo-conversion device. The array has first, second, and third groups of pixel cells. The first group of pixel cells receives light and the second and third groups are shielded from light. Each pixel cell of the second group is configured to output a black reference signal for determining a black level of the array. Each pixel cell of the third group has at least one first transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device, and each transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device has a gate coupled to a power supply voltage.
US07920180B2
A method of capturing images in an imaging device in a burst zoom operation includes zooming the imaging device from a first zoom setting to a second zoom setting, and automatically capturing a plurality of still images during the zooming, each of the plurality of still images being captured at a different zoom setting.
US07920174B2
A method and an apparatus for outputting pixel data with appended data are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an image sensor, which outputs raw data corresponding to an external image, a memory, which stores the raw data inputted from the image sensor; an output control unit, which adds appended data to the raw data stored in the memory and outputs the added raw data, and an image signal processor, which performs image processing corresponding to at least one of filtering and interpolation of the raw data or the raw data to which the appended data are added. With the present invention, a loss of image data to be displayed can be prevented.
US07920157B2
In an image forming apparatus, an exposure device performs exposure on a non-image area of image pattern, performs an exposure on the image area in an exposure amount lower than the non-image area or does not perform exposure, and an exposure amount control device controls, with respect to pixels having the same density data, an exposure amount given by an exposure device to be smaller in a first portion, which is a thin-line of a width that is equal to or less than a predetermined number of pixels or which is an isolated dot of widths that are equal to or less than the predetermined number of pixels in two directions substantially orthogonal to each other, than in a second portion which is a line of a width exceeding the predetermined number or a surface of widths that exceed the predetermined number in two directions substantially orthogonal to each other.
US07920152B2
A method of automatically tracking the portions of a 3D medical imaging volume, such as the voxels, that have already been displayed according to use-defined display parameters, notating those portions, and providing the user with information indicating what portions of the imaging volume have been displayed at full resolution.
US07920151B2
A video processing device may comprise one or more processors and/or circuits for use in a video processing device, in which the one or more processors and/or circuits may comprise a video scaler, a memory, a scaler engine, a clock selection circuit. The one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to receive a video image and select a video input clock or a display output clock for upscaling the received video image, or select the video input clock or the display output clock for downscaling the received video image based on a determination of whether the video image is to be downscaled or upscaled. The one or more circuits may be operable to downscale the received video image to generate a first scaled video image, and/or upscale the received video image to generate a second scaled video image, based on the selection.
US07920144B2
A method for visualization of dynamic three-dimensional (3D) virtual objects comprises storing a plurality of static 3D key-models respectively describing a dynamic 3D object in at least one of a number of poses and shapes; and rendering the dynamic 3D object by interpolation of the 3D key-models by performing the interpolation in a vertex shader program of a programmable graphics processing unit (GPU).
US07920140B2
A system or tool kit is provided that allows a user to specify a deformation for a model. When the deformation produces anomalies the user can select functions or solutions from the tool kit to be executed that correct the anomalies. When the effect of a warp or deformation extends into a region outside a user specified constraint, a clamp function can be selected from the kit to stop the effect outside of the constraint. When a constraint causes the transition from a warp to a non-warp region to result in a sharp transition a tangent continuous transition function can be applied from the kit. When contradictory modifiers and constraints cause unexpected excursions in the warped model, samples with outlier Laplacians can be culled. When the model includes rigid objects, the motion of the rigid objects can be used as a modifier to allow the rigid objects to move with the deformed model without being deformed.
US07920138B2
A liquid crystal panel includes a gate line; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; a common line parallel to the gate line; a first switching part in the pixel region for applying a first voltage from the data line to the pixel region; and a second switching part in the pixel region for applying a second voltage from the common line to the pixel region, wherein the first and second switching parts are simultaneously switched on through the gate line.
US07920134B2
The automatic calibration of a sensor panel is disclosed by varying the amplitude of an input stimulus Vstim to simulate a full-touch condition and calibrating each pixel of the sensor panel in accordance with the difference between the simulated full-touch condition and a baseline full-touch condition. To accomplish this, a baseline full scale output FS_targ_cal can be measured at during pre-delivery calibration for each pixel using a test fixture capable of applying a no-touch to full-touch condition given a nominal Vstim. A full-touch condition can then be emulated for each pixel by lowering Vstim until the current full scale output FS_targ_current equals FS_targ_cal, and determining the Vstim value Vstim_cal at that point. During field calibration, Vstim_cal can be applied to each pixel to simulate a full-touch condition, and FS_targ_current can be obtained and compared against FS_targ_cal. Each analog channel can then be tuned so that in subsequent full-touch conditions, FS_targ_current will approximately equal FS_targ_cal.
US07920111B2
An LED-based optical system and a method of compensating for aging thereof are provided. The LED-based optical system includes LED blocks composed of a predetermined number of LEDs; a sensor which senses output values of the respective LED blocks; and a control block which generates compensation rates by comparing initial output values of the respective LED blocks in an initial state with comparison output values of the LED blocks sensed by the sensor at a comparison time point, and controls current being supplied to the respective LED blocks in accordance with the compensation rates.
US07920109B2
A system on panel (SOP)-type emission driving device of an organic light emitting display device. The emission driving device includes an odd emission control line controller having a plurality of flip-flops for outputting emission control signals to odd emission control lines, and an even line controller having a plurality of flip-flops for outputting emission control signals to even emission control lines. Each of the flip-flops alternately receives a clock signal and an inverted clock signal for causing the flip-flip to output an emission control signal. In one embodiment, each flip-flop includes nine PMOS transistors and two capacitors.
US07920106B2
Disclosed is a method of driving a plasma display panel and apparatus thereof enabling to minimize power consumption for driving the plasma display panel 1. The present invention includes the steps of generating a reset discharge by supplying ramp waves so as to equalize cells in the plasma display panel in a reset period, supplying selected specific ones of the cells with a scan voltage pulse swinging between a lowest voltage levels of the reset discharge and a data pulse of a voltage level lowered as much as a negative voltage level of the scan voltage pulse, generating an address discharge by the scan voltage pulse and data pulse applied to the selected cells in an address period, and maintaining the address discharge for a sustain period.
US07920099B2
Compact 24-port and 36-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna designs and methods of construction based on a cube-like structure are provided. The antennas can be implemented with slot antennas distributed on the edges and faces of cubes. According to various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, both spatial and polarization diversity can be achieved and average mutual couplings among the ports better than −20 dB can be achieved providing good channel capacity in MIMO applications. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to antenna and system design considerations.
US07920085B2
Method and system for analog-to-digital conversion. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a different operational amplifier, which includes a first output, a second output, a first input, and a second input. The operational amplifier is associated with an amplification factor. The integrated circuit also includes a first voltage input. The first voltage input can be characterized by a first voltage. Additionally, the integrated circuit includes a second voltage input. The second voltage input can be characterized by a second voltage. Furthermore, the integrated circuit includes a first voltage source configured to provide a first reference voltage. In addition, the integrated circuit includes a second voltage source configured to provide a second reference voltage. Furthermore, the integrated circuit includes a first capacitor being electrically coupled to the first input and disengageably coupled to the first voltage input.
US07920074B2
An accelerated roller apparatus on a handheld electronic communications device that handles urgency conditions. The device includes a manipulable mechanism that is capable of generating a manipulation-related signal. Changes in the signal occur whenever motion is imparted upon the manipulable mechanism. An urgency activity detector module generates an urgency message when the changes in the signal indicate an urgency condition. The urgency activity detector module uses the signal changes to determine the urgency condition based upon timing of successive manipulations of the manipulable mechanism satisfying a preselected timing threshold. The urgency message is then used by an application operating on the device.
US07920067B2
The present invention generally provides methods and systems for managing a medical gas system by using wireless sensors located at the point of use. In one embodiment, a wireless sensor is fixed to a gas outlet, and is configured to measure gas flow, and to detect whether the gas outlet is connected to a medical device. The gas flow and connection data is included in a wireless signal that is transmitted to a remote server. The data received by the server may be analyzed to determine if any local or system leaks are occurring. In addition, the data may be used to monitor patient therapies, to calculate costs, and to determine replenishment points.
US07920064B2
A RFID tag capable of storing and restoring flag data is described. The RFID tag includes an analog block for generating a driving power using a radio frequency signal received through an antenna. The driving power is used to store the flag data. A digital block is operated using the generated driving power and processes RF data that is transmitted and received via the analog block in order to store the flag data in the analog block. A memory block reads and writes data to a nonvolatile ferroelectric capacitor depending on a control signal from the digital block. The analog block supplies the flag data to the digital block during an activation time period of a power-on reset signal.
US07920062B1
The present invention teaches and discloses method and apparatus for alerting a grocery store check out cashier of merchandise placed on the bottom tray of a typical grocery shopping cart. A passive RFID transponder is incorporated into the structure of the cart which when interrogated by an associated reader, located at the cashier's check out station, responds with a signal verifying the presence, or absence, of an unseen item upon the carts bottom tray.
US07920049B2
A system and method for determining encoded information borne by transportation modalities. The system includes substrates carried by the modalities and an optical interrogation device capable of remotely acquiring the information and comparing it with a database of acceptable information incorporated into or proximal to the system. The encoded information is provided on the substrate in a matrix of zones exhibiting different optical properties. The matrix of zones and the associated properties constitute a code which is interrogated and read by the system.
US07920030B2
A multi-phase voltage-control oscillator including a first voltage-control oscillator circuit and a second voltage-control oscillator circuit is provided. The second voltage-control oscillator circuit and the first voltage-control oscillator circuit have a plurality of inductors, and the inductors in the second voltage-control oscillator circuit are respectively cross-coupled with the inductors in the first voltage-control oscillator circuit to generate a mutual inductance effect, so as to output a plurality of oscillating signals with different phases.
US07920028B2
A bias circuit for applying a bias voltage to a nonlinear amplification circuit, including a constant-current source; and a first, second, third, and fourth transistors, wherein a current mirror circuit is configured by the first transistor and the second transistor, and the bias voltage is outputted from the drain of the second transistor, gate lengths and gate widths of the first and second transistor are the same, gate lengths of the first to fourth transistor are the same, and gate lengths and gate widths of the first, second, third, and fourth transistor are configured so that k4−0.5−k3−0.5 is approximately 1, where k3 stands for a ratio of a gate width of the third transistor to the gate width of the first transistor and k4 stands for a ratio of a gate width of the fourth transistor to the gate width of the first transistor.
US07920025B2
It was difficult to design an operational amplifier which can cancel an offset to drive a liquid crystal display. An operational amplifier includes: a first differential pair having a first transistor and a second transistor of a first conduction type; a second differential pair having a third transistor and a fourth transistor of a second conduction type; a first floating current source; a second floating current source; and an output stage having a fifth transistor and a sixth transistor, in which, when an input signal is applied to the first and third transistor, an electric current which flows into the fifth transistor and the sixth transistor is set by the first floating current source, and when the input signal is applied to the second and fourth transistor, an electric current which flows into the fifth transistor and the sixth transistor is set by the second floating current source.
US07920019B2
A microprocessor including a substrate bias rail providing a bias voltage during a first operating mode, a supply node providing a core voltage, a clamp device coupled between the bias rail and the supply node, and control logic. The control logic turns on the clamp device to clamp the bias rail to the supply node during a second operating mode and turns off the clamp device during the first operating mode. The clamp devices may be implemented with P-channel and N-channel devices. Level shift and buffer circuits may be provided to control the clamp devices based on substrate bias voltage levels. The microprocessor may include a substrate with first and second areas each including separate substrate bias rails. The control logic separately turns on and off clamp devices to selectively clamp the substrate bias rails in the first and second areas based on various power modes.
US07920013B2
A switching circuit configured to reduce the effects of signal oscillation on the operation of the switching circuit is provided. The switching circuit may include signal oscillation and detection circuitry that suppresses control signals during a detected oscillation, allowing stored energy to naturally decay in the switching circuit and thereby prevent unwanted extension of the oscillation that may be caused by the repeated switching of a semiconductor element coupled between the input and output of the switching circuit.
US07920008B2
A data output clock generating circuit for a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a rising data output clock generating unit configured to combine a rising clock with a rising clock extraction signal generated in response to a rising output enable signal and a falling clock, to generate a rising data output clock; and a falling data output clock generating unit configured to combine the falling clock with a falling clock extraction signal generated in response to a falling output enable signal and the rising clock, to generate a falling data output clock; wherein the rising data output clock generating unit and the falling data output clock generating unit are independently driven in parallel.
US07920005B2
The present invention relates to a large time constant steering circuit for slowly changing a voltage on a node between at least two discrete voltage levels. The present invention further relates to a slow steering current DAC comprising said large time constant steering circuit. The present invention further relates to an instrumentation amplifier device comprising a current balancing instrumentation amplifier for amplifying an input signal to an amplified output signal and a DC servo-loop for removing a DC-component from the input signal. The present invention further relates to an EEG acquisition ASIC comprising said instrumentation amplifier device.
US07920002B2
A high-level period of each of n first pulse signals partially or wholly overlaps a period during which all of n second pulse signals are at the low level. A high-level period of each of the n second pulse signals partially or wholly overlaps a period during which all of the n first pulse signals are at the low level. Each of n first drive transistors includes a source connected to a ground node, a drain connected to a first node, and a gate receiving a corresponding one of the first pulse signals. Each of n second drive transistors includes a source connected to the ground node, a drain connected to a second node, and a gate receiving a corresponding one of the second pulse signals. A current mirror circuit allows a current corresponding to a current flowing through the second node to flow through the first node.
US07920001B2
A semiconductor memory device has a DLL circuit capable of suppressing EMI without distorting a DLL clock required in high-speed operation. The semiconductor memory device includes a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit configured to be responsive to a system clock to output a DLL clock having a phase that is changed when electromagnetic interference (EMI) is detected, for the DLL clock to have frequencies within a delay locking range, and a data output circuit configured to output data in synchronization with the DLL clock.
US07919997B2
Systems and methods for providing a clock signal are provided. A frequency multiplier circuit is provided that can include a plurality of serially connected delay elements that are configured to generate a plurality of delay tap signals from an input signal. The frequency multiplier circuit can also include a phase detector configured to receive a first selected delay tap signal and the input signal. The phase detector can detect a phase shift between the first selected delay tap signal and the input signal, and can generate a phase detection signal indicative of a value of the phase shift. The frequency multiplier circuit can also include a digital logic gate configured to receive the input signal and a second selected delay tap signal. The digital logic gate can be further configured to generate an output signal responsive to the second selected delay tap signal and the input signal. The frequency multiplier circuit can also include a controller coupled to the phase detector and coupled to an output gate. The controller can be configured to receive the phase detection signal and to enable the output gate when the value of the phase shift corresponds to a predetermined value. The output gate can provide the output signal when enabled.
US07919992B2
A high dynamic range amplifier circuit for amplifying pixel signals of an imager device is disclosed. The amplifier circuit uses a read-out scheme based on a charge recycling approach, where a pixel signal is first amplified with a low gain during a first amplification phase T1, and then the amplifier output is immediately recycled and the pixel signal amplified with a higher gain during a second amplification phase T2.
US07919985B2
Various circuit techniques for implementing ultra high speed circuits use current-controlled CMOS (C3MOS) logic with inductive broadbanding fabricated in conventional CMOS process technology. Optimum balance between power consumption and speed for each circuit application is achieved by combining high speed C3MOS logic with inductive broadbanding/C3MOS logic with low power conventional CMOS logic. The combined C3MOS logic with inductive broadbanding/C3MOS/CMOS logic allows greater integration of circuits such as high speed transceivers used in fiber optic communication systems.
US07919975B2
A differential signaling system, wherein a first wiring and a second wiring are coupled between a sending end and a receiving end as a differential signal line. A termination resistor is coupled between the first wiring and the second wiring in the receiving end side. A test circuit is coupled to the termination resistor in parallel, and amplifies and detects a variation of a differential impedance due to the differential signal line. The test circuit includes: a differential test amplifier for amplifying a variation in the differential impedance of the first wiring or the second wiring; a switching unit installed at an input terminal of the differential test amplifier for controlling an operation of the differential test amplifier; and a peak detector for converting an output signal of the differential test amplifier into a direct current component; and a phase detector for detecting a skew, a time delay, and/or a phase difference of a signal inputted to the differential signal line.
US07919969B2
The invention relates to a network analyzer comprising a signal generator for generating an excitation signal which can be supplied to a measuring object connectable to a network analyzer by means of a measuring line, and a measuring bridge which is connected to the measuring line by means of signal transmission. A reference signal corresponding to the excitation signal can be extracted from a reference channel, and a measuring signal corresponding to a signal corresponding to a signal reflected from the measuring object can be extracted from a measuring channel. the measuring bridge comprises a resistive bridge and at least one hybrid coupler which is connected to the resistive bridge in series. the measuring bridge is operated as a resistive bridge in a low frequency range and as a hybrid coupler in a upper frequency range.
US07919962B2
A magnet scanning device uses a helical scanning technique to scan a cylindrical magnet along a helical path on a cylindrical surface that corresponds to the cylindrical magnet. Based on the magnetic field profile, the device may detect any unacceptable irregularities in the magnetic field and identify a location of the cylindrical magnet associated with the irregularity.
US07919953B2
Reliability enhanced systems are shown where an short-lived electrolytic capacitor can be replaced by a much smaller, perhaps film type, longer-lived capacitor to be implemented in circuits for power factor correction, solar power conversion, or otherwise to achieve DC voltage smoothing with circuitry that has solar photovoltaic source (1) a DC photovoltaic input (2) internal to a device (3) and uses an enhanced DC-DC power converter (4) to provide a smoothed DC output (6) with capacitor substitution circuitry (14) that may include interim signal circuitry (28) that creates a large voltage variation for a replaced capacitor (16). Switchmode designs may include first and second switch elements (17) and (18) and an alternative path controller (21) that operates a boost controller (22) and a buck controller (23) perhaps with a switch duty cycle controller (32).
US07919950B2
A power factor correction converter includes a diode bridge arranged to perform full-wave rectification on an AC input power supply, a switching element arranged to perform switching on an output voltage thereof, an inductor arranged to pass a current interrupted by the switching element and to accumulate and emit excitation energy, a diode, and a smoothing capacitor defining a step-up chopper circuit. A digital signal processing circuit detects a phase of an input voltage, and a switching frequency of the switching element is modulated in accordance with the phase. Accordingly, the switching frequency can be appropriately modulated without depending on an input voltage, so that a wide range of input voltages can be accepted while suppressing EMI noise with a peak generated in the switching frequency and higher-order frequency components thereof.
US07919929B2
In one aspect, an impedance component which exhibits a high impedance in a high frequency region is arranged on a high pressure line formed on a secondary side of a transformer. The potential difference generated at both ends of the impedance component is used to detect an abnormal electrical discharge generated in the high pressure line. When the abnormal electrical discharge is detected, a switching operation is stopped by a controlling circuit whereby a protection operation is performed.
US07919922B2
Provided are a green phosphor for a plasma display panel (PDP) represented by Formula 1 and a PDP including a phosphor layer formed of the same: (Y1-x-yGdx)Al3(BO3)4:Tby Formula 1 where 0≦x<1, 0
US07919916B2
A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element having a first electrode layer, a second electrode, a light-emitting functional layer, a reflective layer which reflects light toward the light-emitting functional layer, a translucent semi-reflective layer which reflects some portion of light emitted from the light-emitting functional layer and transmits the rest of light therethrough, and a color filter which transmits light which passed through out the translucent reflective layer. An optical path d1 has a value between d1a calculated by d1a=(p+1/2)·λ/2−(φ1−φ2)·λ/4π−nz·tz and d1b=m·λ/2+(φ3+φ2)·λ/4π.
US07919911B2
By making Nd concentration in the tunneling insulating film 11 smaller than Nd concentration in the base electrode first layer 16, the accumulated electric charge amount in the tunneling insulating film 11 is reduced and afterimage is decreased. By setting a relation between a position of a stack interface of the base electrode 13 and a thickness of an insulating layer properly, the generation of a device defect is prevented.
US07919908B2
A piezoelectric resonator device includes a base holding a piezoelectric resonator element and a lid bonded to the base in order to hermetically seal the piezoelectric resonator element held on the base. In addition, the region of bonding of the base to the lid is composed of at least a nickel-cobalt layer comprising nickel and cobalt, and a metal layer laminated on the nickel-cobalt layer, with the base and lid bonded by heat-melting using a metallic braze material.
US07919907B2
A circuit module, e.g., for use in a vehicle tire, includes a housing, a piezoelectric generator, which has a mass element that is movable within the housing and a spring device, which has at least one piezoelectric element, the mass element and the spring device forming an oscillatory system, and the piezoelectric element being elastically deformable in response to the oscillation of the oscillatory system. A current supply circuit is provided for receiving a piezoelectric voltage output by the piezoelectric element in response to the mechanical deformation thereof and for supplying power to the circuit module.
US07919903B2
A Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) switch includes a substrate, a fixed signal line formed on the substrate, a movable signal line spaced apart from one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the fixed signal line, and at least one piezoelectric actuator connected to a first end of the movable signal line so as to bring or separate the movable signal line in contact with or from the fixed signal line. The piezoelectric actuator includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer, and a connecting layer formed on the second electrode and connected with the movable signal line.
US07919894B2
The invention includes an electric machine having a rotor, stator and at least one winding in the stator adapted to conduct a current, and a secondary winding, electrically isolated from the first winding and inductively coupled to the first winding, which may be used to control at least one of the output voltage and current of the first winding.
US07919893B2
A motor rotor includes a hub having a peripheral wall. A metal ring includes an engaging portion. The metal ring is formed by bending a strip of metal plate to form a cylindrical ring. The metal plate includes first and second positioning portions on two ends thereof. The first and second positioning portions are coupled with each other to form the engaging portion. The metal ring is coupled to an inner peripheral face of the peripheral wall of the hub. A magnet ring is coupled to an inner peripheral face of the metal ring.
US07919891B2
A directed flux motor described utilizes the directed magnetic flux of at least one magnet through ferrous material to drive different planetary gear sets to achieve capabilities in six actuated shafts that are grouped three to a side of the motor. The flux motor also utilizes an interwoven magnet configuration which reduces the overall size of the motor. The motor allows for simple changes to modify the torque to speed ratio of the gearing contained within the motor as well as simple configurations for any number of output shafts up to six. The changes allow for improved manufacturability and reliability within the design.
US07919889B2
An oscillator device includes an oscillator, a resilient support member configured to support the oscillator for oscillatory motion about an oscillation central axis, a magnetic member provided on the oscillator, and a magnetic-field generating member disposed opposed to the oscillator, wherein the oscillator has a through-hole extending through the oscillator from its top surface to its bottom surface, and wherein the magnetic member is provided in the through-hole.
US07919886B2
There is provided a power receiving device capable of receiving a carrier wave transmitted from a power transmitting device without contact and obtaining electric power from the received carrier wave, which includes a carrier receiving section at least including a communication antenna having predetermined inductance and not equipped with an intermediate tap, to receive the carrier wave and generate an induced voltage corresponding to the carrier wave, a processing section to generate a drive voltage based on the induced voltage and perform data processing using the generated drive voltage, and an impedance converting section to convert impedance between the carrier receiving section and the processing section.
US07919881B2
A method is disclosed for supplying external energy to electrical on-board power networks of ships, with there being at least one generator, one converter and electrical loads in the ship's on-board power network. In at least one embodiment of the method, the converter (shore connection converter) on board the ship, for transfer into the on-board power network, is fed by a connectable external current source with current of a different frequency and voltage to that of the on-board network and the current is converted in the converter semiconductors into current with the voltage, and the frequency of the on-board power network and fed to the on-board power network.
US07919867B2
A chip structure comprises a substrate, a first built-up layer, a passivation layer and a second built-up layer. The substrate includes many electric devices placed on a surface of the substrate. The first built-up layer is located on the substrate. The first built-up layer is provided with a first dielectric body and a first interconnection scheme, wherein the first interconnection scheme interlaces inside the first dielectric body and is electrically connected to the electric devices. The first interconnection scheme is constructed from first metal layers and plugs, wherein the neighboring first metal layers are electrically connected through the plugs. The passivation layer is disposed on the first built-up layer and is provided with openings exposing the first interconnection scheme. The second built-up layer is formed on the passivation layer. The second built-up layer is provided with a second dielectric body and a second interconnection scheme, wherein the second interconnection scheme interlaces inside the second dielectric body and is electrically connected to the first interconnection scheme. The second interconnection scheme is constructed from at least one second metal layer and at least one via metal filler, wherein the second metal layer is electrically connected to the via metal filler. The thickness, width, and cross-sectional area of the traces of the second metal layer are respectively larger than those of the first metal layers.
US07919846B2
A stacked semiconductor component includes a plurality of semiconductor substrates in a stacked array and a continuous wire extending through aligned vias on the semiconductor substrates of the stacked array in electrical contact with contacts on the semiconductor substrates. A method for fabricating the semiconductor component includes the steps of stacking the semiconductor substrates in a stacked array with aligned vias; threading a wire through the aligned vias; and forming a plurality of electrical connections between the wire and the contacts on the semiconductor substrates.
US07919844B2
A stackable tier structure comprising one or more integrated circuit die and one or more feedthrough structures is disclosed. The I/O pads of the integrated circuit die are electrically rerouted using conductive traces from the first side of the tier structure to a feedthrough structure comprising one ore more conductive structures. The conductive structures electrically route the integrated die pads to predetermined locations on the second side of the tier structure. The predetermined locations, such as exposed conductive pads or conductive posts, in turn, may be interconnected to a second tier structure or other circuitry to permit the fabrication of a three-dimensional microelectronic module comprising one or more stacked tiers.
US07919838B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit package system includes forming a paddle having a paddle top surface, the paddle top surface having a depression provided therein, forming an external interconnect having a lead tip and a lead body with the lead body having a first recess segment along a length-wise dimension of the lead body, connecting a device over the paddle top surface and the external interconnect, and filling a substantially electrically nonconductive material in the depression.
US07919836B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which includes a semiconductor chip and a base substrate. The semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnect layer and a high-frequency interconnect. The interconnect layer is provided on the substrate. The high-frequency interconnect is formed within the interconnect layer. The semiconductor chip is mounted onto the base substrate. An electromagnetic shield layer is provided between the high-frequency interconnect and the interconnect.
US07919829B2
A method of depositing dielectric material into sub-micron spaces and resultant structures is provided. After a trench is etched in the surface of a wafer, a silicon nitride barrier is deposited into the trench. The silicon nitride layer has a high nitrogen content near the trench walls to protect the walls. The silicon nitride layer further from the trench walls has a low nitrogen content and a high silicon content, to allow improved adhesion. The trench is then filled with a spin-on precursor. A densification or reaction process is then applied to convert the spin-on material into an insulator. The resulting trench has a well-adhered insulator which helps the insulating properties of the trench.
US07919824B2
A semiconductor device includes a super junction region that has a first-conductivity-type first semiconductor pillar region and a second-conductivity-type second semiconductor pillar region alternately provided on the semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor pillar region and the second semiconductor pillar region in a termination region have a lamination form resulting from alternate lamination of the first semiconductor pillar region and the second semiconductor pillar region on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor pillar region and/or the second semiconductor pillar region at a corner part of the termination region exhibit an impurity concentration distribution such that a plurality of impurity concentration peaks appear periodically. The first semiconductor pillar region and/or the second semiconductor pillar region at a corner part of the termination region have an impurity amount such that it becomes smaller as being closer to the circumference of the corner part.
US07919821B2
An integrated circuit includes a diffusion layer, a first poly-silicon layer, and a second poly-silicon layer. The first poly-silicon layer is located on the diffusion layer to form a transistor. The second poly-silicon includes a first section and a second section. The first section of the second poly-silicon layer is located on the first poly-silicon layer to form a capacitor. The second section of the second poly-silicon layer is located on the diffusion layer to form a resistor.
US07919818B2
A semiconductor device includes a principal IGBT controllable in accordance with a gate voltage applied to a gate electrode thereof, a current detecting IGBT connected to the principal IGBT in parallel and a current detecting part including a detecting resistor capable of detecting a current passing through the current detecting IGBT. The base region of the current detecting IGBT and the emitter region of the principal IGBT are electrically connected to each other, and the emitter region of the current detecting IGBT and the emitter region of the principal IGBT are electrically connected to each other through the detecting resistor.
US07919809B2
A memory system is disclosed that includes a set of non-volatile storage elements. A given memory cell has a dielectric cap above the floating gate. In one embodiment, the dielectric cap resides between the floating gate and a conformal IPD layer. The dielectric cap reduces the leakage current between the floating gate and a control gate. The dielectric cap achieves this reduction by reducing the strength of the electric field at the top of the floating gate, which is where the electric field would be strongest without the dielectric cap for a floating gate having a narrow stem.
US07919807B1
The number of times that a non-volatile memory (NVM) can be programmed and erased is substantially increased by utilizing a localized heating element that anneals the oxide that is damaged by tunneling charge carriers when the NVM is programmed and erased. The program and erase voltages are also reduced when heat from the heating element is applied prior to programming and erasing.
US07919804B2
An improved technique for power distribution for use by high speed integrated circuit devices. A mixture of high dielectric constant, Er and low Er materials are used in a dielectric layer sandwiched between the voltage and ground planes of a printed circuit board that is used to fixture one or more integrated circuit devices. The low Er material is used in an area contained by the location of the integrated circuit device and its corresponding decoupling capacitors located nearby. High Er material is used in areas between the regions of low Er material. The low Er material improves that speed at which current from an adjoining decoupling capacitor can propagate to a power pin of the integrated circuit device. The high Er material mitigates cross-coupling of noise between the low Er regions.
US07919798B2
An image sensor and fabricating method thereof for preventing cross-talk between neighboring pixels by providing at least three light-shield walls combining to extend vertically above a lateral periphery of a photodiode for deflecting light from a microlens array towards the photodiode.
US07919796B2
Provided is an image sensor. The image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer dielectric, metal interconnections, a first electrode, a lower electrode, a second electrode, and a photodiode. The semiconductor substrate has at least one transistor thereon. The interlayer dielectric is on the semiconductor substrate. The metal interconnections pass through the interlayer dielectric. The first electrode is in the interlayer dielectric between the metal interconnections. The lower electrode is on the interlayer dielectric to connect to the metal interconnection. The second electrode is on the interlayer dielectric at a position corresponding to the first electrode, and a gap region is between the second electrode and the lower electrode. The photodiode is on the interlayer dielectric with the lower electrode and the second electrode.
US07919795B2
Provided are a wire structure, a method for fabricating a wire, a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a method for fabricating a TFT substrate. The wire structure includes a barrier layer formed on a substrate and including copper, copper solid solution layer.
US07919794B2
A memory including a memory cell and method for producing the memory cell are disclosed. The memory includes a substrate in a first plane. A first metal connection extending in a second plane is provided. The second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is provided having a first layer coupled to the metal connection such that the first layer of the MTJ is oriented along the second plane.
US07919793B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a plurality of standard cells including a transistor having a gate electrode and arranged in combination with each other; a metallic wiring layer interconnecting the standard cells to form a desired circuit; and a plurality of reserve cells having a gate electrode, unconnected with the metallic wiring layer and arranged on a periphery of the standard cells, wherein each of the gate electrodes of the standard cells and the reserve cells has a gate pad section and two gate finger sections extending from the gate pad section to sides opposite to each other in a predetermined direction, and length of the gate pad sections of the reserve cells in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction is equal to or more than a sum total value of three times a minimum line width in the metallic wiring layer and twice a minimum separation distance.
US07919785B2
The present invention provides a light-emitting diode-converted phosphor compound having the following chemical formula: (M1-m-nCemEun)2BO3X wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cl and Br, 0≦m≦0.5, and 0≦n≦0.5.
US07919764B2
A method and device for generating terahertz radiation comprising a polar crystal material layer operative to emit terahertz radiation; the polar crystal material layer comprising a plurality of stacking faults; the stacking faults lying substantially perpendicular to the polar axis and forming boundaries at which the internal electric polarization terminates leading to charges accumulating at the boundaries, and creation of internal electric fields oriented along the polar axis; a pulsed radiation source for creating photogenerated carriers in the polar crystal material; whereby the photogenerated carriers accelerate in the internal electric fields associated with the termination of the internal electric polarization by the stacking faults to thereby generate terahertz radiation.
US07919760B2
The present invention relates to an operation stage of a charged particle beam apparatus which is employed in a scanning electron microscope for substrate (wafer) edge and backside defect inspection or defect review. However, it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides an operation stage for substrate edge inspection or review. The inspection region includes top near edge, to bevel, apex, and bottom bevel. The operation stage includes a supporting stand, a z-stage, an X-Y stage, an electrostatic chuck, a pendulum stage and a rotation track. The pendulum stage mount with the electrostatic chuck has the ability to swing from 0° to 180° while performing substrate top bevel, apex and bottom bevel inspection or review. In order to keep the substrate in focus and avoid a large position shift during altering the substrate observation angle by rotation the pendulum stage, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method such that the rotation axis of the pendulum stage consist of the tangent of upper edge of the substrate to be inspected. The electrostatic chuck of the present invention has a diameter smaller than which of the substrate to be inspected. During the inspection process the substrate on the electrostatic chuck may be rotated about the central axis on the electrostatic chuck to a desired position, this design insures all position on the bevel and apex are able to be inspected.
US07919758B2
A neutron detector has a volume of neutron moderating material and a plurality of individual neutron sensing elements dispersed at selected locations throughout the moderator, and particularly arranged so that some of the detecting elements are closer to the surface of the moderator assembly and others are more deeply embedded. The arrangement captures some thermalized neutrons that might otherwise be scattered away from a single, centrally located detector element. Different geometrical arrangements may be used while preserving its fundamental characteristics. Different types of neutron sensing elements may be used, which may operate on any of a number of physical principles to perform the function of sensing a neutron, either by a capture or a scattering reaction, and converting that reaction to a detectable signal. High detection efficiency, an ability to acquire spectral information, and directional sensitivity may be obtained.
US07919746B2
The instant invention deals with species that may be required to enhance an upstream sample preparation or separation process may be less compatible with the downstream ES processes and cause reduction in MS signal. New electrolytes have been found that increase positive and negative polarity analyte ion signal measured in ESMS analysis when compared with analyte ESMS signal achieved using more conventional electrolytes. The new electrolyte species increase ES MS signal when added directly to a sample solution or when added to a second solution flow in an electrospray membrane probe, it has also been found that running the ES membrane probe with specific electrolytes in the second solution of the ES membrane probe have been found to enhance ESMS signal compared to using the same electrolytes directly in the sample solution being electrosprayed. The new electrolytes can be added to a reagent ion source configured in a combination atmospheric pressure ion source to improve ionization efficiency.
US07919741B1
Described are systems and methods that compensate for phase aberration in a high energy laser (HEL) without the need for a “beacon” laser or a wave front sensor to measure the phase aberration in the return signal from the “beacon” laser. In one aspect, the systems and methods use an imaging camera to image a HEL hit spot on a target, estimate the phase aberration of the HEL at the target based on the image of the HEL hit spot, and compensate for the phase aberration in the HEL using the estimated phase aberration. Also described are systems and methods that clean up an image of a target by estimating a wave aberration of an incoming beam based on the image of the target and clean up the image of the target using the estimated wave front aberration.
US07919736B2
A heating device includes a main body with an opening, a magnetron for generating electromagnetic waves for heating, a door for putting in and taking out an object to be heated, a reader, and a barrier. The magnetron emits electromagnetic waves into the main body. The door covers the opening of the main body. The reader reads information contained in a wireless IC tag attached to the object to be heated. The barrier acts a shield for the reader from the electromagnetic waves emitted by the magnetron when the door is closed, and the shield is broken when the door is opened.
US07919735B2
In fabricating a door switch for a microwave oven, two switches are incorporated in a single switch case to allow a reduction in the size and to allow common use of switch components, thereby achieving a cost reduction through a reduction in the number of components. Further, a contact switching structure tilted in conjunction with opening and closing of a door is provided to achieve high accuracy in switching the switches. There is provided a first switch whose contact portions are switched by elastically displacing a conductive contact piece in the switch case when a first tilting lever is tilted, a second switch whose contact portions are switched by elastically displacing another conductive contact piece in the switch case at timing that is slightly different from the timing for switching the contact portions of the first switch, and a third switch which is switched when a second tilting lever is tilted.
US07919728B2
A welding current controlling method is provided for an arc welding process using a consumable electrode and including an alternate repetition of a short-circuiting state and an arc generating state occurring between the consumable electrode and a base material. In the method, a neck detection is performed for the molten electrode in the short-circuiting period of time to determine if a new arc is established between the consumable electrode and the base material. Upon detection of the neck, the welding current is sharply decreased. After the new arc is established, the welding current is increased from a low level to a high level with a predetermined inclination selected for reducing vibration to the molten pool.
US07919726B2
It is an object to provide a laser irradiation apparatus for enlarging an area of a beam spot and reducing a proportion of a region with low crystallinity. It is also an object to provide a laser irradiation apparatus for enhancing throughput with a CW laser beam. Furthermore, it is an object to provide a laser irradiation method and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with the laser irradiation apparatus. A region melted by a first pulsed laser beam having harmonic is irradiated with a second CW laser beam. Specifically, the first laser beam has a wavelength of visible light or a shorter wavelength than that of visible light (approximately not more than 830 nm, preferably, not more than 780 nm). Since the first laser beam melts a semiconductor film, an absorption coefficient of the second laser beam to the semiconductor film increases drastically and thereby being more absorbable.
US07919724B2
A cutting device for cutting a hard-brittle material along a cutting path is provided. The cutting device includes a cooling source having a first output terminal for providing a first cooling effect along the cutting path, and a heating source having a second output terminal disposed in the first output terminal for providing a heating effect following the first cooling effect along the cutting path.
US07919719B2
A dome contact (32) for pushbutton switches (300) includes a diaphragm (33) having a reversible dome portion (331), and a bump (34) projecting from a central portion of a convex surface of the dome portion. A method for fabricating the dome contact includes steps of: providing a diaphragm formed by injection molding or screen printing; and forming a bump on a central portion of a convex surface of the diaphragm via thermal extrusion laminating technology of rapid prototyping technology.
US07919718B2
An acceleration switch includes a closed container further including a cylindrical housing and a substantially circular metal header plate, a conductive lead terminal inserted through a hole of the header plate and hermetically fixed in the hole, a contact member secured to a distal end of the lead terminal and having a plurality of elastically deformable movable contacts substantially concentric about the distal end of the lead terminal, a conductive inertia ball accommodated in the container and caused to roll in the housing thereby to contact the movable contact, whereby the housing and the contact member are rendered conductive, and a braking member disposed between the movable contacts so as to be capable of urging the inertia ball in a direction of a center of the closed container. The braking member includes an elastically deformable braking portion which is extended so as to normally contact the inertia ball.
US07919717B2
A three-dimensional PWB is provided that may include two or more layers stacked together forming a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more side surfaces, and one or more solder pad situated on at least one of the one or more side surfaces. The one or more solder pads may include exposed voids in the one or more side surfaces. In some cases, the top surface and/or the bottom surface may have one or more solder pad. The one or more solder pads on at least one of the one or more side surfaces may be electrically connected to the one or more solder pads on the top surface and/or the bottom surface. In the illustrative PWB, the top surface and/or the bottom surface may be adapted to be mounted with an inertial sensor. The one or more side surfaces may be adapted to be mounted to a printed wiring board.
US07919709B2
A temperature power generation device includes a temperature reactive layer made of high thermal energy absorbing material and a thermal electron generation layer made of low work function material. A temperature power generation method by using the temperature reactive layer and the thermal electron generation layer to absorb heat and generate thermal electrons which are then induced to a conductive layer through an externally applied electric field, and the generated thermal electrons are then further transferred via an electricity output component to an output load for providing power.
US07919703B2
Disclosed is a method of removing staff lines from a music score an image. The method includes detecting a region with staff lines in an image including a music score; checking a gradient of the staff lines, and dividing the staff lines extending continuously in a longitudinal direction into a plurality of regions in consideration of the gradient, estimating each of the staff lines included in the divided regions by analyzing a histogram of the image, extracting each of the staff lines from the music score on the basis of the estimated staff lines and removing each of the extracted lines of the staff lines from the music score.
US07919688B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5462579. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5462579. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5462579 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5462579 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07919684B2
A transgenic plant transformed by a Protein Kinase Stress-Related Protein (PKSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated PKSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding PKSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US07919683B2
Embodiments of the present invention include polypeptides having ferulate esterase activity and the nucleic acid sequences that encode them. Methods of the embodiments utilize these ferulate esterase polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences to enhance the digestibility of plant cell walls and the accessibility of carbohydrates in plants. The invention provides for transgenic plants transformed with expression vectors containing a DNA sequence encoding ferulate esterase from Lactobacillus buchneri. Methods of using same to enhance plant fiber digestion in animals, are disclosed. Uses of this invention include, but are not limited to, forage and silage with improved digestibility for livestock, and enhanced biomass conversion.
US07919679B2
A process to prepare a recombined transgenic Zea mays plant or plant cell from a first transgenic Zea mays plant cell, wherein the transgene in the recombinant plant or plant cell has an altered genetic structure relative to the genetic structure of the transgene in the first transgenic plant cell, due to homologous recombination-mediated transgene deletion.
US07919677B2
The invention concerns a method for obtaining potyvirus resistant plants exhibiting one or several mutations in a preserved region of the eIF4E translation factor, defined by the following general sequence (I):DX1X2X3X4KSX5QX6AWGSSX7RX8X9YTFSX10VEX11FWX12X13YNNIHX14P SKLX15X16GAD wherein: —X1, X2, X3, X4, X6, X7, X8, X9, X10, X12, X13, X15, et X16 represent each a neutral amino acid; X5 and X14 represent a basic amino acid; X11 represents an acid amino acid; D, K, S, Q, A, W, G, R, Y, T, F, V, E, N, I, H, P, and L have their usual one-letter code meaning.
US07919670B1
The present invention provides for a transgenic non-human animal whose cells contain a DNA sequence comprising: (a) a nerve tissue specific promoter; and (b) a DNA sequence which encodes a receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE), wherein the promoter and the DNA sequence which encodes the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) are operatively linked to each other and integrated in the genome of the non-human animal, and wherein said non-human animal exhibits a reduced amount of cerebral tissue infarcted following a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion compared to an identical non-human animal lacking said DNA sequence.
US07919662B2
Isobutene is prepared by dissociation of MTBE in the gas phase, by a) fractional distillation of an MTBE-containing stream comprising feed MTBE (I) and a recycle stream (VIII) to give an MTBE-containing overhead stream (II) and a bottom stream (III) having a boiling point higher than MTBE, b) catalytic dissociation of the overhead stream (II) obtained in step a) to give a dissociation product (IV), c) separation by distillation of the dissociation product (IV) obtained in step b) into an overhead stream (V) comprising more than 90% by mass of isobutene and a bottom stream (VI) comprising diisobutene, MTBE and more than 50% of the methanol present in the dissociation product (IV), d) fractional distillation of the bottom stream obtained in step c) under conditions under which the methanol is obtained as bottom product (VII) and more than 99% of the MTBE is obtained in the overhead product (VIII), and e) recirculation of the overhead product (VIII) to step a).
US07919659B2
A catalyst for production of a cycloolefin by partial hydrogenation of a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, wherein the catalyst comprises zirconia as a carrier, and particles having an average primary particle diameter in a range of from 3 to 50 nm and an average secondary particle diameter in a range of from 0.1 to 30 μm.
US07919658B2
A process for purifying 1,3-propanediol from the fermentation broth of a cultured E. coli that has been bioengineered to synthesize 1,3-propanediol from sugar is provided. The basic process entails filtration, ion exchange and distillation of the fermentation broth product stream, preferably including chemical reduction of the product during the distillation procedure. Also provided are highly purified compositions of 1,3-propanediol.
US07919657B2
To provide a process for producing anhydrous hexafluoroacetone from hexafluoroacetone hydrate. To provide a process taking environment into consideration, that does not require a treatment of wastes, such as waste sulfuric acid, containing organic substances, which is inevitable in processes conducted hitherto using concentrated sulfuric acid, fuming sulfuric acid, and the like.A process for dehydrating a hexafluoroacetone hydrate, comprising introducing a hexafluoroacetone hydrate and hydrogen fluoride either as a mixture or separately into a distillation column, obtaining a composition containing hexafluoroacetone or a hexafluoroacetone-hydrogen fluoride adduct and hydrogen fluoride as a low boiling component, and obtaining a composition containing water and hydrogen fluoride as a high boiling component.
US07919655B2
Processes comprising: (i) providing a reactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and mixtures thereof; and (ii) reacting the reactant with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zirconium dioxide- and nickel-containing catalytically active composition, to form an amine; wherein the catalytically active composition, prior to reduction with hydrogen, comprises oxygen compounds of zirconium, copper, and nickel, and one or more oxygen compounds of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Sb, Pb, Bi, and In.
US07919653B2
The present invention provides a method of suppressing the nonspecific interaction between molecules, characterized in that in a process to immobilize a molecule onto a solid phase carrier and analyze the specific interaction between the molecule and a molecule that specifically interacts with the molecule on the solid phase, the hydrophobic property of the solid phase surface in the solid phase carrier is regulated, particularly a hydrophilic spacer is interlaid at the time of immobilization of the molecule onto the solid phase carrier, which method makes it possible to suppress the nonspecific interaction between the molecules, and to reduce nonspecific adsorption to the solid phase.
US07919651B2
A compound represented by general formula (I) shown below; and a polymeric compound having a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a halogenated lower alkyl group; A represents a divalent hydrocarbon group of 2 or more carbon atoms which may have a substituent; B represents a divalent hydrocarbon group of 1 or more carbon atoms which may have a substituent; and R2 represents an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group.
US07919645B2
A system and method for a high shear mechanical device incorporated into a process for the production of acetic anhydride as a reactor device is shown to be capable of decreasing mass transfer limitations, thereby enhancing the process. A system for the production of acetic anhydride including the mixing of catalyst and acetic acid via a high shear device.
US07919644B2
A process for producing an aromatic carbonate, which comprises the steps of: (I) transesterifying a starting material selected from the group consisting of a dialkyl carbonate, an alkyl aryl carbonate and a mixture thereof with a reactant selected from the group consisting of an aromatic monohydroxy compound, an alkyl aryl carbonate and a mixture thereof, in the presence of a catalyst, to thereby obtain a high boiling point reaction mixture comprising an aromatic carbonate (a) and an aromatic carbonate ether (b), while withdrawing a low boiling point reaction mixture containing a low boiling point by-product; and (II) separating the aromatic carbonate ether (b) from the high boiling point reaction mixture to thereby obtain a high purity aromatic carbonate.
US07919643B2
This invention relates to the synthesis for a precursor of E6020, compound 26, via a β-keto amide alcohol intermediate, compound 22. The synthesis reacts compound 22 with compound 25 and the resultant intermediate is oxidized to produce compound 26, the precursor to E6020. Compounds 22 and 25, and their crystalline forms, represent separate embodiments of the invention. The invention also relates to compounds of formulas (3) and (4) and processes for their preparation. The β-keto amide alcohol intermediate compound 22 is a compound of formula (3). Compound 25 is a compound of formula (4).
US07919624B2
The invention provides compounds of formula (I), wherein Y, R, n and X are as defined in the description, a process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The compounds of formula (I) inhibit the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), which plays a pivotal role in the development of post-inflammatory analgesia, therefore they can be used as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.
US07919617B2
The present invention provides low molecular weight compounds useful as cytokine inhibitors, and compositions thereof. In particular, compounds of the invention are useful as anti-inflammatory agents. There are further provided methods for the preparation of such agents and their use in preventing or treating conditions mediated by cytokines such as arthritis.
US07919614B2
Synthetic polysaccharides are disclosed containing 8-24 monosaccharide units made up of a concatenation of disaccharides consisting of a uronic acid and a hexose, wherein the hydroxyl groups of the polysaccharides are etherified with a C1-6 alkyl group or esterified in the form of a sulpho group, each disaccharide being at least monoetherified; and salts thereof, are disclosed.
US07919610B2
A combined yeast/bacterial two-hybrid system is disclosed.
US07919593B2
An isolated human antibody or a fragment of a human antibody which specifically binds to human delta-like ligand 4 (hDll4) and blocks hDll4 binding to a Notch receptor. The human anti-hDll4 antibody or antibody fragment binds hDll4 with an affinity of ≦500 pM, as measured by surface plasmon resonance.
US07919591B2
Modified human plasma polypeptides or Fc and uses thereof are provided.
US07919587B2
The invention relates to an isolated aquaporin having a bound ligand, wherein said ligand close the conformation of said aquaporin and inhibit and/or reduce water transport of said aquaporin, and/or a high resolution structure of an isolated aquaporin in a closed conformation characterized by the coordinates deposited at the Protein Data Bank ID:1Z98 and as set forth in Appendix 1, a crystal of said isolated aquaporin as well as the coordinates defining said crystal and the use of said aquaporin, and the use of the high-resolution structure as defined by the coordinates deposited at PDB ID:1Z98 and as set forth in Appendix 1, and a method to produce said aquaporin.
US07919585B2
B7-HS costimulatory polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, and methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids to enhance a T cell response are provided herein.
US07919575B2
The process of the present invention provides for the manufacture of lower molecular weight DMC-catalyzed polyols than is possible using non-acidified continuous addition of starter (CAOS) feeds, by adding excess acid to a starter feed stream over that required for mere neutralization of the basicity of the starter. The benefits of the invention also extend to starters which do not contain basicity. Polyether polyols made by the inventive process may be used to produce improved polyurethane products such as coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, foams and the like.
US07919558B2
A rubber composition containing (i) a conjugated diene-based rubber gel having a toluene swelling index of 16 to 70, (ii) a diene-based rubber such as natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber, aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene copolymer rubber and/or polybutadiene rubber, and (iii) an optional carbon black and/or silica and (a) a pneumatic tire using this composition as a high hardness reinforcing layer extending from a bead along a tire sidewalls, in which the fluidity and dimensional stability at the time of extrusion are improved, while maintaining a sufficient hardness of a high hardness reinforced rubber, (b) a pneumatic tire using this composition as two ends of a tire tread extrudate, maintaining a flex fatigue of the two ends of the tread, in which the extrudability and extrusion dimensional stability are improved and (c) a pneumatic tire using the composition as a 1.5 mm to 6 mm thick undertread, in which a high elasticity and relatively thick gauge undertread, and excellent processability and steering stability are provided.
US07919554B2
A heat-resistant seal material includes 100 parts by weight of a ternary fluoroelastomer, 1 to 30 parts by weight of vapor-grown carbon fibers having an average diameter of more than 30 nm and 200 nm or less, and carbon black having an average particle diameter of 25 to 500 nm. The heat-resistant seal material contains the vapor-grown carbon fibers and the carbon black in an amount of 20 to 40 parts by weight in total. The heat-resistant seal material has a compression set when subjected to a compression set test at a compression rate of 25% and a temperature of 200° C. for 70 hours of 0 to 15% and a dynamic modulus of elasticity at 200° C. (E′/200° C.) of 30 to 100 MPa.
US07919553B2
The present invention aims to produce a rubber composition for a base tread, which suppresses reversion and achieves excellent mechanical strength, fuel economy and processability, and a tire using the rubber composition, with high efficiency to provide them to customers at low prices. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a base tread, containing: a rubber component; and a mixture of a zinc salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid and a zinc salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid, wherein the rubber component contains natural rubber and butadiene rubber, the butadiene rubber content being 10 to 90% by mass per 100% by mass of the rubber component, and the mixture of a zinc salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid and a zinc salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid is contained in an amount of 1 to 10 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.
US07919548B2
Disclosed herein is a sterically hindered phenolic phosphonate resin compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1. The present invention also provides a polycarbonate resin composition including the sterically hindered phenolic phosphonate resin compound as a flame retardant. wherein R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C6-C14 aryl group; each R2 is independently a C1-C6 linear alkyl group or a C3-C6 branched alkyl group; and each n is independently 1-3.
US07919541B2
The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing flame-retardant polyethylene or polypropylene foam using a derivative of carboxylic acid of phenylphosphinic acid and the flame-retardant polymer foam made thereby. More specifically, this invention concerns a method of manufacturing highly expanded flame-retardant polymer foam prepared by mixing the above mentioned phosphorous flame retardant in a polymer resin and expanding the mixture with a volatile blowing agent or by applying a solution of an organic phosphorous compound to an already-made highly expanded foam and then drying the highly-expanded polymer foam, and the flame-retardant foam prepared thereby.
US07919535B2
The invention relates to an aqueous sol containing silica-based particles which sol has a specific surface area of at least 115 m2/g aqueous sol and an S-value within the range of from 10 to 45% or contains silica-based particles having a specific surface area of at least 550 m2/g and less than 1000 m2/g SiO2. The invention further relates to processes for the production of said aqueous sol and the use of the aqueous sol containing silica-based particles as a drainage and retention aid in the production of paper as well as a process for the production of paper from an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibres, and optional filler, in which silica-based particles and at least one charged organic polymer are added to the cellulosic suspension.
US07919528B2
Novel PDF inhibitors and novel methods for their use are provided.
US07919524B2
Compounds useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases and disorders by modulating the activity of KSP are disclosed.
US07919522B2
Provided is a novel ivermectin derivative and compositions for the treatment or prophylaxis of parasite infestations in mammals or birds which comprise: (A) a pharmaceutically effective amount of a 1-N-phenylpyrazole compound; (B) a pharmaceutically effective amount of an ivermectin derivative of formula (II) wherein: R14 represents —(CH2)s—O—Z wherein, s is 1 or 2; Y represents —CH(OR15)—, —C(═O)— or —C(═NOR15); R15 represents hydrogen, alkyl or phenyl; and R16 represents —CH3 or —CH2CH3; Z is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, alkylalkoxy, aryl, alkanoyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenoyl, alkynoyl, or aroyl.
US07919512B2
Compounds of general formula (II) wherein W is chloro or fluoro; R1 is phenyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents, selected from halo, —CN, —C1-C6 alkyl, —SOR3, —SO2R3, —SO2N(R2)2, —N(R2)2, —NR2C(O)R3, —CO2R2, —CONR2R3, —NO2, —OR2, —SR2, —O(CH2)pOR2, or —O(CH2)pO(CH2)qOR2 wherein each R2 is independently hydrogen, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; each R3 is independently, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; p and q are each independently an integer from 1 to 3; and R4 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkyl substituted with aryl, aryl, (CH2)mOC(═O)C1-C6alkyl, ((CH2)mO)nCH2CH2X, (CH2)mN(R5)2 or CH((CH2)mO(C═O)R6)2; m is 1 or 2; n is 1-4; X is OR5 or N(R5)2; R5 is hydrogen or methyl; and R6 is C1-C18 alkyl; and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, complexes or prodrugs are useful in orally administrable compositions for the treatment of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.
US07919508B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula I: a stereoisomer or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, R4, X and n are defined as defined herein. Additionally, a method for treating dopamine-related neurological disorders selected form the group consisting of neurological, psychological, cardiovascular, cognitive or attention disorders, substance abuse and addictive behavior, or a combination thereof, comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of compounds of formula I.
US07919507B2
Disclosed are N-aroyl cyclic amine derivatives having the formula: wherein the substituent variables are as defined herein, and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US07919500B2
The present invention is a DNA intercalating agent represented by the structure Y—Z—Y, wherein Y is an anti-tumor bis-carbazole and Z is a linear arrangement of multiple aromatic rings, containing at least two aromatic rings, or at least two alicyclic rings, wherein the rings are linked in a 1,4 or 1,3 manner. Methods of inhibiting cancer cells and treating subjects having cancer with these agents are also provided.
US07919497B2
Compounds represented by the following structure (II) are disclosed: as are methods for making such compounds. Compositions and methods for treating various disease conditions including cancer and non-cancer diseases associated with vascular proliferation are also disclosed.
