US07937048B2
A signal transmission apparatus of the invention comprises: a correlator 12 for shaping a spectrum of a signal; and a precoder 12 disposed on a previous stage of the correlator and including an adder which subtracts an output signal of a feedback filter from an input signal, a modulo arithmetic unit which inputs an output signal of the adder and executes modulo arithmetic operation, and the feedback filter which inputs an output signal of the modulo arithmetic unit and is provided with a transfer function obtained by subtracting 1 from a transfer function of the correlator. The correlator may be IIR filter means having a desired notch characteristic. By disposing a correlator which can freely shape a transmission signal spectrum containing a deep notch and suppress only a specified band on a receiving side, the suppression of an external noise can also be realized.
US07937046B2
Provided is a wireless communication device for receiving a mobile broadcasting signal and transmitting/receiving a Bluetooth® signal through a single antenna, which allows separation of the two signals using a difference in their frequency bands. A diplexer separates the signals using different band-pass filters. The signals are respectively input into a mobile broadcasting module and a Bluetooth® module. The wireless communication device allows reception of mobile broadcasting and Bluetooth signals within different frequency bands through a single antenna, thus achieving a compact and thin device with a reduced antenna mounting space.
US07937039B2
A method of indexing information stored on a portable electronic device. The method includes receiving an association signal by the portable electronic device the association signal providing an indication of adjacent resources, accessing a database including a table storing relationships between data stored on the portable electronic device and the association signal, and indexing the data based on the relationships accessed in the database.
US07937038B2
The apparatus transmits in a first zone, for example, an aircraft, a masking signal which masks transmissions from a second zone outside of the first. By doing this a mobile cellular telephone is inhibited from connecting or attempting to connect to base-stations on the ground. A hole in the masking signal spectrum may be provided to enable connection to a base-station within the aircraft. Alternatively, a base-station within the aircraft may be arranged to transmit at a power level greater than the masking signal.
US07937032B2
An image forming apparatus has a function for adjusting the position at which a toner image is formed on a printing material, based upon amount of light reflected from a toner image that has been formed on an image carrier. The light-emitting unit emits light that irradiates the image carrier, and the detecting unit detects an amount of substrate-light reflected from the substrate of the image carrier. The determining unit determines whether the difference between the amount of substrate-light detected at a first point in time and the amount of substrate-light detected at a second point in time later than the first point in time is greater than a predetermined threshold value. The light-power control unit increases the amount of light in the light-emitting unit if the difference is greater than the predetermined threshold value.
US07937028B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a toner feed unit used in a developing device and provided near a top surface of a body casing. The toner feed unit includes a frame that includes a toner container storage space portion including a curved concave portion formed of a material different from a material constituting the body casing, and has supporting surfaces, in a part of a top surface of the space, that support side portions of a device mounted on the body casing and a rear portion of the device connected to the side portions by surface contact. The frame has legs that extend from a position, which is located opposite to the device to be mounted, toward an installation surface of the body casing. The frame is built in the body casing.
US07937013B2
Disclosed herein is a fusing device having an improved heating structure. The fusing device is configured to apply heat and pressure to fix a developer to a print medium and includes a pressure device and a heating device. The heating device includes a heat radiating member extending along a longitudinal direction of the fusing device and terminal parts disposed at both ends of the heat radiating member. Contact points at which current is supplied to the heat radiating member through the terminal parts can be adjusted to change the effective width of heating area.
US07936997B2
A directly modulated optical transmitter for use with a fiber optical communications system operating in the 1550 nm wavelength band exhibits very low chirp. The chirp inherently present in a directly modulated laser is cancelled by a phase modulator which optically modulates the directly modulated laser light beam by applying a 180° phase delay to a split-off portion of the input radio frequency signal. This provides a low cost transmitter capable of operating in the 1550 nm band and with laser chirp effectively cancelled or substantially reduced, thereby avoiding distortions due to laser chirp interactions with the downstream optical fiber.
US07936986B2
An image-pickup apparatus (1) includes a light projection part (32, 33) projecting light to an object, a focus detection part (26) detecting a focus state, a light-source detection part 31 detecting information relating to a light source. When a focus detection is performed without lighting of the light projection part, a controller (100) generates information used for focusing control based on a focus state detection result and the information relating to the light source. When the focus detection is performed with lighting of the light projection part, the controller generates the information used for the focusing control based on the focus state detection result and correction information depending on a wavelength of the light projected from the light projection part without using the information relating to the light source. Thus, a highly-accurate AF control can be performed under various light sources including an AF assist light.
US07936983B2
An imaging device includes a light source layer having imaging light source units for radiating the imaging light containing a first wavelength on an object to be imaged, a detection layer having detection elements for detecting the light of the first wavelength radiated from the light source units, and a light-blocking unit interposed between the light source layer and the detection layer. The light source layer is held between the detection layer and the object to be imaged. The light-blocking unit is arranged in such a manner as to block the direct radiation of at least part of the light radiated from the light source units to the detection elements.
US07936976B2
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.
US07936968B2
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.
US07936966B2
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.
US07936961B2
In a multi-family building, such as a condominium complex, a device for storing optical fiber cable for use by a resident, the cable being stored in a hidden manner. The device can fit behind hallway molding and penetrates the hallway drywall. The cable is fed through an aperture in the device and is stored in a bag attached to the device. The bag is located in the dead-space between the hallway-drywall and the drywall of the residence for which the stored cable is intended. When the occupant of the residence subscribes for cable service, the service technician retrieves the stored cable from its hidden location and feeds it into the residence at that time.
US07936959B2
An apparatus comprises a thin film metallic layer, a first dielectric layer arranged on a first side of said thin film metallic layer and having a first index of refraction, a second dielectric layer arranged on a side of the first dielectric layer opposite of said thin film metallic layer from said first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer having a second index of refraction that is higher than the first index of refraction; and wherein the thin film metallic layer, the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are arranged in a conical shape to direct plasmon waves induced at an interface between the thin film metallic layer and the first dielectric layer to an aperture.
US07936957B1
A fiber optic cable can inhibit water, that may inadvertently enter the cable, from damaging the cable's optical fibers. The fiber optic cable can comprise buffer tubes extending along the fiber optic cable. The buffer tubes can be arranged such that a ring of buffer tubes surrounds one or more centrally located buffer tubes. Stacked ribbons of optical fibers can be disposed in each buffer tube, along with water-swellable tape and water-swellable yarn. The tape, yarn, and optical fibers can be dry or free from water-blocking gels or fluids. The water-swellable materials can provide an unexpected level of water protection. The water-swellable materials can, for example, limit flow of seawater within the buffer tubes. In an exemplary embodiment, progression of seawater can be limited to three meters or less for a twenty-four hour test period during which the seawater is under about one meter of head pressure.
US07936955B2
A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.
US07936949B2
Method and system for creating a fused image from an image pair. The method includes obtaining (204) image data defining a first image of a panchromatic image type and a second image of a multi-spectral image type. The first image has a first spatial resolution and a first spectral resolution. The second image has a second spatial resolution which is lower than the first spatial resolution and a second spectral resolution higher than the first spectral resolution. The first image and the second image are fused (216) to initialize a fused image having the first spatial resolution and the second spectral resolution. A point spread function and a set of spectral weights are used to determine scaling factors for scaling (218) radiance value of pixels defining the fused image in accordance with radiance value of pixels forming the first image and the second image.
US07936947B1
A method of processing image data for registration of multiple images to a common reference space comprising the step of computing a mapping between each image and a common reference image comprising an average of all of the images.
US07936932B2
Prediction-based compression engines are spoon-fed with sequentially efficiently compressible (SEC) streams of input data that make it possible for the compression engines to more efficiently compress or otherwise compact the incoming data than would be possible with streams of input data accepted on a TV-raster scan basis. Various techniques are disclosed for intentionally forming SEC input data streams. Among these are the tight packing of alike files or fragments into concatenation suitcases and the decomposition of files into substantially predictably consistent (SPC) fragments or segments that are routed to different suitcases according to their type. In a graphics-directed embodiment, image frames are partitioned into segment areas that are internally SPC and multidirectional walks (i.e., U-turning walks) are defined in the segment areas where these defined walks are traced during compression and also during decompression. A variety of pre-compression data transformation methods are disclosed for causing apparently random data sequences to appear more compressibly alike to each other. The methods are usable in systems that permit substantially longer times for data compaction operations than for data decompaction operations.
US07936930B2
A method for reducing an amount of data to be processed in a visualization pipeline. The visualization pipeline includes data capture, data compression, data storage, data decompression, and data rendering including the use of a transfer function. The data is divided into blocks in the compression and the reduction is achieved by adaptively selecting a level-of-detail for each block in the step of decompression utilizing a significance measure based on the transfer function.
US07936926B2
A face feature point detection apparatus includes an image capturing device, an edge calculating unit calculating edge values indicating a luminance change in a direction, and a detection target determining unit scanning an edge image, which is created by arranging the edge values for corresponding pixels based on pixel arrangement of the face images, with an image window being an aggregation of selected pixels formed in a predetermined shape, the detection target determining unit determining a position of the image window having a largest weighted sum of weighted sums to be a detection position where a detection target is present, providing that the weighted sum is calculated by multiplying the edge value which corresponds to each pixel in the image window by a predetermined value defined on a per-pixel basis and adding up all products of the edge value and the predetermined value.
US07936923B2
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for suppressing the background of an image. In embodiments, the number of foreground pixels or background pixels within a neighborhood of an identified background pixel may be compared against an aggressiveness threshold. Responsive to the number of foreground pixels within a neighborhood of an identified background pixel not exceeding an aggressiveness threshold, the color of the identified background pixel may be changed to an average local background color. Alternatively, responsive to the number of background pixels within a neighborhood of an identified background pixel exceeding an aggressiveness threshold, the color of the identified background pixel may be changed to an average local background color. In embodiments, additional processes may be performed on the image including, but not limited to, color adjusting, filtering, image enhancing, compression, format conversion, watermarking, special effects, video editing, etc.
US07936916B2
A video quality measurement (VQM) system for a video stream includes a neural network VQM module having a constructed architecture to calculate a video quality metric based on a hybrid of image metric and packet metric of the video stream. An image metric measuring module receives the video stream and calculates the image metric of the video stream. A packet metric measuring module obtains information about packet-level characteristics of the video stream to calculate the packet metric. The image metric and the packet metric are inputted to the neural network VQM module to calculate the video quality metric. The VQM system further includes a VQM test-bed that determines and validates the architecture of the neural network VQM module. Furthermore, a video quality measurement (VQM) method based on a hybrid of image metric and packet metric is also described.
US07936904B2
This device includes an input unit for inputting an imaging signal sent from a camera for imaging an area around a vehicle in which the device is loaded, a coordinate area extracting unit for extracting predetermined continuous coordinate areas from the imaging signal inputted by the input unit, a feature quantity calculating unit for calculating a feature quantity of the coordinate areas extracted by the coordinate area extracting unit, a pairing unit for pairing the coordinate areas having the same or closer feature quantities, calculated by the feature quantity calculating unit, the coordinate areas being included in the coordinate areas extracted by the coordinate area extracting unit, with each other, and an output unit for outputting a signal that designates a distance between and a direction of the coordinate areas paired by the pairing unit.
US07936902B2
Plural nodes are arranged at predetermined initial positions, and feature values at plural sampling points around each node are obtained as a node feature value of each corresponding node. An error estimator indicating displacement between the current position of each node and the position of corresponding feature point is obtained based on correlation information on a difference between the node feature value obtained in a state in which the plural nodes are arranged at correct positions of the corresponding feature points and the node feature value obtained in a state in which the plural nodes are arranged at wrong positions of the corresponding feature points in a learning image, correlation information on a difference between the correct position and the wrong position, and a node feature value of each node. The position of each feature point is estimated in an input image based on the error estimator and the current position of each node.
US07936882B2
The aim of the present invention is to propose a very fast alternative mechanism to the traitor tracing algorithm introduced by Boneh and Franklin to trace private keys in a public-key cryptosystem. This invention concerns a method to trace traceable parts of original private keys in a public-key cryptosystem consisting of one public key and λ corresponding private keys, a private key being formed by a traceable array of 2k elements forming a syndrome of a generalized Reed-Solomon code with parameters (λ, λ-2k) defined by the base points {right arrow over (π)}=(π1, . . . , πλ) and a scaling vector {right arrow over (c)}=(c1, c2, . . . , cλ), comprising the steps of: obtaining the traceable part {right arrow over (d)}=(d1, . . . , d2k)T of a rogue private key, applying a Berlekamp-Massey algorithm on the traceable part {right arrow over (d)}=(d1, . . . , d2k)T of the rogue private key, to obtain the k coefficients of an error-locator polynomial, applying the Chien's search algorithm to the error-locator polynomial, to obtain roots of the error-locator polynomial, determining the base points of the traceable part of the original private keys by computing the arithmetic inverse of each root, these base points allowing to uniquely determine the private key.
US07936881B2
A method for transmitting signaling information, such as cryptographic key synchronization information, over a data path of a network, the data path having an originating end and a terminating end. The method uses in-band signaling to transmit the signaling information from the originating end of the data path to the terminating end of the data path without consuming any bandwidth of the data path. More specifically, the method includes the steps of receiving user data to be transmitted over the data path and encrypting this user data with a cryptographic key, thereby generating cipher data. The method next includes processing the cipher data such that the cipher data includes the signaling information, and mapping the cipher data including the signaling information into a traffic unit for transmission over the data path.
US07936880B2
A method, an apparatus and a system for key derivation are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: a target base station) receives multiple keys derived by a source base station, where the keys correspond to cells under control of the target base station; the target base station selects a key corresponding to the target cell after knowing a target cell that a user equipment (UE) wants to access. An apparatus for key derivation and a communications system are also provided.
US07936879B2
A method and apparatus for providing improved security and improved roaming transition times in wireless networks. The same pairwise master key (PMK) from an authentication server can be used across multiple access points and a new pairwise transition key (PTK) is derived for each association of a station to any of the access points. A plurality of access points are organized in functional hierarchical levels and are operable to advertise an indicator of the PMK cache depth supported by a group of access points (N) and an ordered list of the identifiers for the derivation path. Access points in each level in the cache hierarchy compute the derived pairwise master keys (DPMKs) for devices in the next lower level in the hierarchy and then deliver the DPMKs to those devices. An access point calculates the PTK as part of the security exchange process when the station wishes to associate to the access point. The station also computes the PTK as part of the security exchange process. The station calculates all the DMPKs in the hierarchy as part of computing the PTK. The method and apparatus allow the cache depth to vary per station, but it remains constant for a given station within a key circle.
US07936875B2
A method and a circuit for protecting a digital quantity stored in a microcontroller including a JTAG interface, including the step of making the digital quantity dependent from a value stored in non-volatile fashion in the microcontroller and made inaccessible if signals are present at the input of the JTAG interface.
US07936873B2
For digital rights management (DRM) of e.g. digitally delivered music or video, a technique to make the decryption keys more secure. The technique fragments a message (song or video or other) into a number of portions, and uses a different decryption key for each portion. Each of the various keys is a function of the preceding key, in one version. In another version, each key is a function of a seed value and of the particular portion of the material with which the key is associated.
US07936872B2
A system and method in a wireless network for discovering which resources (e.g., other wireless computing devices) are proximate a user's wireless computing device. Wireless signal strengths with respect to various base stations are compared with the signal strengths of other network devices or resources, to determine which devices are experiencing similar signal strengths. Devices with similar signal strengths are deemed proximate. Each participating computing device may send its signal strength reports to a proximity server, which distributes proximity data to network clients. Each client may receive and process the signal strength data for determining which other clients/resources are proximate, or the server can perform proximity computations and return a list of proximate clients. Once computed, the identities of the proximate clients can be used to query for additional data about the clients, such as the names and other details of their owners, or information about the resource.
US07936868B2
A method and system automatically generates flow charts of call flow programs used in a call center based on information about the call flow program and other telephone system resources collected from the call center. Such collected information includes automatic call distributor (ACD) programming. The method and system generate the flow chart of the call flow programs without prior knowledge of such collected information.
US07936864B2
A lock control technique suitable for voice communication terminals. A voice communication terminal includes an unattended state detecting unit which detects an unattended state of the terminal, when its user leaves the terminal, and a lock control unit. The lock control unit determines whether the unattended state detected by the unattended state detecting unit has continued for a given time period or longer. If determining that the unattended state has continued for the given time period or longer, the lock control unit controls the terminal's communication so that voice input to the terminal will not be transmitted to other parties in conversation and voice of any other party will not be output from the computer.
US07936859B2
The present invention concerns a method, a system, a measurement tool and computer readable medium for determining a predetermined position of a positioning system in a radiation therapy system comprising a radiation therapy unit relatively a fixed radiation focus point of the radiation therapy unit. The method comprises positioning (73) a diode element, obtaining (75) measurement data at each of a predetermined number of measurement points from a radiation intensity curve, determining (76) a three-dimensional centre coordinate of the obtained coordinates, and determining (76) the predetermined position of a patient positioning unit (20) relatively to a fixed focus point of a radiation unit (10) using the determined three-dimensional centre coordinate.
US07936857B2
A phase selector is disclosed. The phase selector is utilized for outputting an output clock to a flip-flop according to an input data signal latched by the flip-flop. The phase selector includes: a clock phase adjustor, for adjusting the delay of an input clock to generate a first clock and a second clock, wherein the clock phases of the first clock and the second clock are different; a phase detector, for detecting phase relation between the input data signal and the first clock to generate a detecting signal; a decision circuit, coupled to the phase detector, for generating a selecting signal according to the detecting signal; and a selection circuit, coupled to the decision circuit, for selecting the input clock or the second clock to generate the output clock to the flip-flop according to the selecting signal.
US07936853B2
A system and method are provided for detecting a false clock frequency lock in a clock and data recovery (CDR) device. The method accepts a digital raw data signal at a first rate and counts edge transitions in the raw data signal, creating a raw count. A clock signal is also accepted at a second rate. The clock signal is a timing reference recovered from the raw data signal. The raw data signal is sampled at a rate responsive to the clock signal, generating a sampled signal. Edge transitions are counted in the sampled signal, creating a sampled count. Then, the raw count is compared to the sampled count, to determine if the first rate is equal to the second rate. The method is used to determine if the second rate is less than the first rate—to detect if the clock signal is incorrectly locked to the first rate.
US07936838B2
It is an object to provide a receiving apparatus which is capable of demodulating signals with a very simple arrangement. Receiving apparatus 1 has N reception antennas 11-1-11-N, and reception antennas 11-1-11-N receive signals. Channel coefficient estimator 12 estimates and outputs channel coefficients from the signals received by respective reception antennas 11-1-11-N. QR decomposer 13 is supplied with a channel matrix having the channel coefficients as its elements, performs QR decomposition on the channel matrix, and outputs a Q matrix and an R matrix. A QH processor 14 is supplied with the Q matrix and the received signals, multiplies the received signals by a complex conjugate transposed matrix of the Q matrix, and outputs converted signal z. A transmitted sequence estimator 15 is supplied with converted signal z and the R matrix and estimates transmitted sequences.
US07936835B1
The adverse effects of RF and baseband circuits are mitigated using a post-compensation method wherein a transfer function that would un-distort or complement a distorted waveform is parameterized to a relatively small number of degrees of freedom; and the parameters are estimated in a feedback loop. The error function of the feedback loop is generated by comparing some relatively low-order statistics that are known a priori or can be computed with relative certainty from the decided output waveform—to the statistics of the corrected signal.
US07936833B2
Aspects of a method and system for efficient transmission and reception of RF energy in MIMO systems using polar modulation and direct digital frequency synthesis are provided. A plurality of carrier signals in a MIMO system may be polar modulated utilizing polar modulation. One or more direct digital frequency synthesizer may be utilized to phase modulate the plurality of carrier signals. The direct digital frequency synthesizer may be modulated utilizing a single reference clock. The clock may be a single fixed-frequency reference clock. The plurality of carrier signals may be amplitude modulated by controlling a gain of a power amplifier.
US07936824B2
Provided is a method of coding and decoding a moving image, which can optimize the coding rate and reduce the time required for decoding the first image frame during an operation of displaying the image. The coding method includes receiving an image, determining the number of frames in a GOP to be decoded with respect to the image, performing a 3D wavelet transformation on the GOP, and coding the results of the 3D wavelet transformation.
US07936822B2
A moving picture decoding method, which generates a predicted image, and having multiple prediction modes including a mode without motion vector decoding, including: selecting a frame(s) to be referenced to in the prediction of each prediction direction in the prediction mode from among multiple candidate reference frames; and selecting motion vector information used in the prediction mode, wherein at the selecting the frame(s) to be referenced to, when candidate blocks adjacent a current block include blocks that use forward reference frames, a forward reference frame having the smallest index number is selected as the forward reference frame for the current block from the forward reference frames that the blocks using the forward reference frames have; and moving picture decoding is performed by generating the predicted image using the information on the selected reference frame and the information on the selected motion vectors in the prediction mode.
US07936821B2
A moving picture encoding method which generates a predicted image using information on motion vectors and information on reference images, the moving picture encoding method having multiple prediction modes including a mode without motion vector encoding, including: a step of selecting a frame(s) to be referenced to in the prediction of each prediction direction in the prediction mode from among multiple candidate reference frames, and a step of selecting motion vector information used in the prediction mode, wherein said step of selecting motion vector information is performed based on whether blocks adjacent to a current block have a motion vector; and moving picture encoding is performed by generating said predicted image using the information on said selected reference frame and the information on said selected motion vectors in said prediction mode.
US07936816B2
A digital transcoder system is presented for receiving data bit streams with a first bit rate (R1) and outputting a data bit stream with a second bit rate (R2) which differs from the first bit rate (R1), and in particular is reduced relative thereto. This transcoder system has a decoder device (10) on its input side and a coder device (20) on its output side, the latter consisting of a series circuit of a quantizer (21) for requantizing the data dequantized in the decoder device (10), with a requantization factor (Q2), also with a subsequent VLC coder (22) and an output buffer (23). Establishing the second bit rate (R2) requires that the requantization factor of the quantizer (21) be changed, with reference to macro-blocks, according to the specification of a certain calculational formula.
US07936808B2
A method and system for channel quantization for multiuser diversity are provided. A quantizer may utilize quantization levels determined based on an objective function J that corresponds to a performance metric for a finite-rate feedback multiuser downlink communication system. The quantization levels may be obtained based on the results of maximizing the objective function J by means of an optimization algorithm. The optimization algorithm may be a multivariate optimization algorithm that may be implemented utilizing an iterative approach. The quantizer may utilize the quantization levels to quantize channel state information (CSI) to achieve multiuser diversity in the finite-rate feedback multiuser system. The performance metric may be based on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), bit error rate (BER), and/or system capacity. The quantization levels may be utilized in a multiuser system where distributed quantization is needed for optimal selection.
US07936806B2
A method and apparatus for multiplexing frequency hopping in a wireless communication system using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) is provided. The frequency hopping multiplexing method and apparatus efficiently indicates time division multiplexing for global hopping and local hopping by indicating and using the number and positions of slots for global hopping and local hopping to time-division-multiplex global hopping and local hopping in a reverse link, depending on information the number of Distributed Resource CHannels (DRCHs), provided from a transmitting side over a Forward link Secondary Broadcast Control CHannel (F-SBCCH), which is one of the forward common channels.
US07936805B2
Provided are a transmitter and a frequency hopping method thereof. The transmitter includes: a channel encoder outputting a bit stream of encoded information data; a symbol mapper outputting a symbol stream obtained by constellating the bit stream; a frequency allocation and hopping part determining a frequency to be allocated to the symbol stream; and a multi-carrier modulator loading and outputting the symbol stream output by the frequency allocation and hopping part on a multi-carrier, wherein the frequency allocation and hopping part comprises a logical frequency mapping part determining a frequency capable of optimally averaging adjacent cell interference, and a physical frequency mapping part mapping the determined frequency one-to-one and determining a frequency.
US07936785B2
An apparatus for generating a data stream having a series of segments using data organized in subsequent data frames, a data frame having more important and less important data. It comprises a packetiser for packetising data from a data frame into the series of segments having a first segment and a second segment, where the packetiser is operative to packetise the data of the frame so that a starting point of the more important data coincides with a starting point of the first segment and an information block adder for adding a first information block to the first segment.
US07936778B2
Certain aspects for the start-up procedure of transceivers supporting higher data rates over twisted-pair copper cabling are provided for 10 Gbit/sec Ethernet links (10GBASE-T). During a PMA (physical medium attachment) training period of the start-up procedure, long PMA training frames are exchanged periodically between link partners. A significant portion of each PMA training frame consists of known pseudo random sequences simultaneously transmitted over four wire pairs. PMA training frames include an InfoField for exchanging parameters and control information between link partners. For example, the InfoField's payload comprises fields for indicating current transmit power backoff (PBO), next PBO, requested PBO, transition count, control information, and for communicating precoder coefficients. Information in InfoFields is repeated and is not necessary that a link partner decodes every InfoField. For example, by occasionally reading the transition count, a link partner can determine when a change in transmit PBO and/or a state transition is to occur.
US07936777B2
Embodiments of the present invention enable robust and quick parallel detection of the remote LPI request signal (rem_lpi_req) and SEND ZERO mode (SEND_Z) defined in the Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard. Embodiments do not rely on energy detection for detecting SEND_Z. Therefore, SEND_Z can be detected reliably and with minimal latency. In addition, since SEND_Z and rem_lpi_req are detected in parallel, embodiments are not concerned with the false detection of rem_lpi_req (before SEND_Z is detected) or the need to disable detection of rem_lpi_req (after SEND_Z is detected).
US07936771B2
A method and system for transmitting frames using a fiber channel switch element is provided. The switch element includes a port having a receive segment and a transmit segment, wherein the fiber channel switch element determines if a port link has been reset; determines if a flush state has been enabled for the port; and removes frames from a buffer, if the flush state has been enabled for the port. For a flush state operation, frames are removed from a receive buffer of the fiber channel port as if it is a typical fiber channel frame transfer. The removed frames are sent to a processor for analysis. The method also includes, setting a control bit for activating frame removal from the transmit buffer; and diverting frames that are waiting in the transmit buffer and have not been able to move from the transmit buffer.
US07936770B1
A method and apparatus are provided that allows for the representation of a larger number of classes of network traffic and logical queues than is physically available on a per port basis within a network device. A number of logical queues, whose number can match the number of classes of network traffic a network device handles, may be supported across an aggregated set of ports even though the network device has fewer physical queues per port than there are classes of network traffic. The method and apparatus improve the management of network traffic sensitive to time delay and jitter, and further facilitates the operation of these applications in a simultaneous or near simultaneous manner.
US07936769B2
A Fibre Channel router used to join fabrics. EX_ports are used to connect to the fabrics. The EX_port joins the fabric but the router will not merge into the fabric. Ports in the Fibre Channel router can be in a fabric, but other ports can be connected to other fabrics. Fibre Channel routers can be interconnected using a backbone fabric. Global, interfabric and encapsulation headers are developed to allow routing by conventional Fibre Channel switch devices in the backbone fabric and simplify Fibre Channel router routing. Phantom domains and devices must be developed for each of the fabrics being interconnected. Front phantom domains are present at each port directly connected to a fabric. Each of these is then connected to at least one translate phantom domain. Zoning is accomplished by use of a special LSAN zoning naming convention. This allows each administrator to independently define devices are accessible.
US07936768B2
A decentralized data network contains a plurality of network nodes. The network nodes are able to direct requests into the data network with the aid of checking values. The network nodes are each assigned one or more table entries in a value table distributed between the network nodes, with each table entry containing a checking value and the data associated with the checking value. Each of the plurality of network nodes are monitored to determine the frequency with which requests for the checking values assigned to a respective network node are directed to the respective network nodes. If it is found that the frequency of the requests for one or more checking values to a respective network node exceeds a predetermined threshold value, at least the table entry or entries for this or these checking values is or are assigned to at least one other network node.
US07936763B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of routing a message to one of a plurality of available processing systems, comprising the steps of detecting the presence of a destination identifier in the message, and where the presence of the destination identifier is detected, forwarding the message to the processing system identified thereby. Where the presence of the destination field is not detected the steps of determining a destination processing system for processing the message, inserting into the message a destination identifier identifying the determined destination processing system, and forwarding the message to the determined processing system may be performed.
US07936759B2
A system detects an error in a network device that receives data via a group of data streams. The system receives a data unit, where the data unit is associated with at least one of the streams and a sequence number for each of the associated streams. The system determines whether each sequence number associated with the data unit is a next sequence number for the corresponding stream, and detects an error for a particular stream when the sequence number for that stream is not a next sequence number.
US07936750B2
In a network having an L2SW in which uplink VLAN is set, a transfer delay of a voice call packet is prevented. In a process of establishing a session between terminals (5), a packet transfer device (1) stores information capable of specifying a sending terminal (5-1) and a receiving terminal (5-2) and a correspondence relation (user connection information) to a connection port into a table. A SIP message of a session control packet communicated between the terminals (5) is snooped, and a destination IP address, a transmission source IP address, a destination port number, a transmission source port number, a connection port etc. are stored into the table. In a case where an RTP packet as voice data is received after the session is established, the packet transfer device (1) performs a loopback transfer or transfers it to an uplink port in accordance with the table.
US07936742B2
A frequency digital signal demultiplexing apparatus including: demultiplexing filter bank units connected in a multistage manner to form a demultiplexing filter bank, wherein each unit includes at least one filter for filtering an input signal in series with a down-sampler, and frequency conversion and decimator part to receive at least one of the received signal and output signals of each unit demultiplexing filter bank, which includes a frequency conversion part, for each input signal, to shift a frequency of an input signal, and at least one decimator part serially connected to an output of each frequency conversion part, the decimator part including a filter for performing band limitation of an input signal and a down-sampler for down-sampling an output signal of the filter and output a down-sampled signal.
US07936732B2
In one embodiment, a method includes determining, at a local node in a network of multiple nodes, a first neighbor node of one or more neighbor nodes with which the local node is in direct communication based on a first number of nodes with which the first neighbor node is in direct communication. The first neighbor node is selected as an aggregation node for information about the local node. The aggregation node outputs data that is a combination of data received from multiple different nodes. The method allows wireless routers in mobile ad hoc networks to automatically determine their own aggregation nodes for routing information and thus automatically enables routing protocols to scale for many thousands of mobile wireless nodes.
US07936727B2
One transmission rate of a physical layer (PHY rate) is selected from among a plurality of PHY rates of a protocol stack by calculating one or more effective values of transmission rates of an upper layer of the protocol stack with respect to one or more PHY rates of the plurality of PHY rates respectively, and making a comparison with use of the calculated one or more effective values. Each of the one or more effective values is calculated based on (i) an ideal value of corresponding one of the transmission rates and (ii) a retransmission ratio via the physical layer that corresponds to a reception power value detected in the reception apparatus.
US07936723B2
Disclosed is a status report transmission of the PDCP layer for a PDCP status report which can reduce radio resources, by transmitting the reception success or failure of a series of PDCP SDUs in the form of a bitmap when configuring the PDCP status report for reporting a reception status of the PDCP SDU to another party in the PDCP layer in the LTE system.
US07936691B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for replicating data from a first network device to a second network device involving selecting a plurality of data sections containing data accessed by the first network device, systematically assigning at least one replication attribute to each of the plurality of selected data sections, and replicating the plurality of selected data sections from the first network device to the second network device, to create a replicated version of the plurality of selected data sections accessible by the second network device, wherein replication of each of the plurality of selected data sections is performed in accordance with the at least one replication attribute assigned to the selected data section.
US07936687B1
A system for statistically sampling packets is described. In this system, upon or after the occurrence of a predefined statistical event in relation to a packet, a pseudo-random value is obtained and compared to a predetermined threshold. Responsive to this comparison, the system selectively arranges to have the packet statistically sampled. A system for compiling statistics for packets undergoing processing by a packet processing system is described. In this system, upon or after the occurrence of a predefined statistical event in relation to a packet, a cumulative index for the packet is updated to reflect the current processing cycle for the packet. Upon or after completion of processing of the packet, whereupon the cumulative index may reflect more than one processing cycle, packet statistics are updated responsive to the cumulative index for the packet. A second system for compiling statistics for packets undergoing processing by a packet processing system is described. In this system, upon or after a predefined statistical event in relation to a packet, a partial statistics update request is queued. A statistics processor monitors the update requests in the queue for completion. Upon or after completion of a statistics update request, the statistics processor updates packet statistics responsive to the completed update request.
US07936680B2
After statically provisioned paths are created through an Ethernet network, trunks may be created to extend along those paths. The trunks extend between pairs of NNI interfaces on either end of the path, and Ethernet OAM may be run over the trunks to detect connectivity along the paths. Service instances and service groups may be provisioned over particular paths through the network. Each service instance/service group is associated with a trunk and the Ethernet OAM service on the trunk may be used to provide Ethernet connectivity OAM for the service instance/service group. Upon detection of a failure on the trunk, the service instances/service groups associated with the trunk may be caused to failover to an alternate path through the network. Thus, a single Ethernet OAM service instance may be used to provide connectivity verification so that connectivity detection does not need to be performed on each individual service instances/service group.
US07936679B2
A transceiver having shared and discrete components forming a transmit path and a receive path configured to couple to a subscriber line for establishing a communication channel with a remote transceiver. The transceiver comprises a pseudo link manager coupled between the transmit and receive path components to manage pseudo links on the subscriber line prior to entry into a session with the remote transceiver. The pseudo link manager includes: a line monitor and a disruptor. The line monitor monitors the subscriber line, prior to initiating a session, for a received communication signal indicative of a pre-existing session on the remote transceiver. The disruptor transmits a disruptor signal over the subscriber line to the remote transceiver responsive to the detection by the monitor of the received communication signal; thereby disrupting the remote transmitter's pre-existing session and allowing a new session to be established with the remote transceiver.
US07936677B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide for methods, devices, and systems for providing quality of service to network data that is received by an intermediate node in a local area network. In some embodiments, network data is categorized based on data flow, and based on such data flow, determining whether such flow exceeds a threshold. If the flow exceeds a threshold, such data flow is accordingly provided quality of service.
US07936672B2
A communication system for use with a packet-based network is disclosed. A first node is configured to transmit circuit data in data packets across the network. A second node is configured to receive the data packets from the network and serialize the synchronous data. The second node comprises a configurable buffer, the buffer being configurable to adjust to network packet delay variance through analysis of packet delay variance as measured over at least one period of time.
US07936667B2
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying at a node, a destination for which a primary path is defined between the node and the destination, transmitting a request message to a neighbor node for routing information for a backup path between the node and the destination, receiving a reply message containing an address identifying the backup path, and building a backup tunnel to the address. The request message includes at least one node identified as a node to be avoided in the backup path and a request cost. An apparatus for building backup tunnels is also disclosed.
US07936665B2
A subscriber data restoring type IMS (IP Multimedia subsystem) network system includes a P-CSCF (Proxy Call Session Control Function) connected to a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) terminal as a subscriber terminal via an access network; a S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function) located within a service provision area of a provider to which the SIP terminal subscribes; and a HSS (Home Subscriber Server) storing user subscription information. The S-CSCF transmits a SIP RESET signal to the P-CSCF neighboring thereto when losing subscriber data acquired by registration processing; receives a SIP REGISTER signal transmitted by the P-CSCF in response to the SIP RESET signal; and performs re-registration processing according to the received SIP REGISTER signal to restore the lost subscriber data from the HSS.
US07936662B2
A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system comprises establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; and adjusting a round trip path delay associated with the first remote unit.
US07936659B2
The present invention uses a stationary medium and a stationary optical pickup unit. The stationary optical pickup unit has a laser, which sends a beam of light through an objective lens, which focuses the beam on a point on the track of the stationary medium. The beam is then reflected toward a re-directing surface (e.g., prism) which diverts it to a photodiode array. Instead of the entire optical pickup moving to follow the track as in conventional systems, only the objective lens inside of the optical pickup moves. The position of the objective lens determines where on the information track the laser will reach. Depending upon where the laser beam reaches, the reflected light beam received by the photodetector array changes. This, in turn, affects the amount of light sensed by each photodetector in the array, thereby causing the output of each of the four photodetectors to change each time the objective lens moves. To implement the invention, the output of the photodetector array is manipulated wherein the manipulated signal corresponds to the signal that would be received if the photodetector were actually following the track directly above the laser as in prior art systems. In this manner, a signal can be used in a tracking servo that corresponds to movement within a conventional media player when actually the pickup and the medium are stationary.
US07936657B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes rotating an integrated disc formed by temporarily fixing an initialization reference plate to an uninitialized optical disc that is an optical disc to be irradiated with a light beam of light having a predetermined or higher intensity to record information as a recording mark. The initialization reference plate has a reference part that reflects at least a part of a servo light beam of servo light intended for servo control. The reference part contains information that indicates the position of a track of the optical disc for the recording mark to be formed on, in the form of a track of pit-and-projection pattern.
US07936653B2
An information processing device is a device for processing specific information recorded to a recording medium, and has a characteristic identification unit and a processing unit. The characteristic identification unit identifies the reflection characteristic of the recording medium. The processing unit processes the specific information recorded to the recording medium according to the identified reflection characteristic. The reflection characteristic is either a first characteristic such that the reflectance of light reflected by a recorded region of the recording medium (referred to as first reflectance) is greater than the reflectance of light reflected by an unrecorded region of the recording medium (referred to as second reflectance), or a second characteristic such that the first reflectance is less than the second reflectance.
US07936651B2
An information recording system, where new data recording is started from LRA (old) and a record error is detected, at position P0, an extent is closed and the record position is made to jump from the position P0 to position P1. Further, a new extent is set, at the position P1 so that the data recording is continued. Further, a range from the position P0 where the record error was detected to the position P1 where the new data recording was started is registered, as a defect sector.
US07936650B2
An attenuation-amount adjusting circuit includes: a light irradiating unit that alternately irradiates a laser beam of a writing level and a laser beam of a readout level on an optical disk that has a groove formed by a wobble pattern and plural markers indicating physical positions in the groove; a light receiving unit that receives reflected light of the laser beam irradiated on the optical disk and converts the reflected light into a reproduction signal; and a writing-waveform attenuating unit that attenuates an amplitude level of a writing waveform corresponding to the reflected light of the laser beam of the writing level in the reproduction signal according to a position from a rising edge of the writing waveform.
US07936648B2
In one embodiment, the recording medium includes a user data area on which one or more recording ranges are allocated and a management area. The method of recording on the recording medium includes receiving an overwriting command to record data on a recorded area of a recording range. Each recording range is one of an open recording range having a recordable position and a closed recording range not having a recordable position. An open recording range is selected fro recording the data from the one or more open recording ranges on the user data area, and the data is recorded starting from the recordable position of the selected open recording range.
US07936647B2
An optical information recording device includes: a section that acquires recording information that should be recorded on an optical information recording medium on which information are recorded by forming a recording mark at a position where an optical beam is focused on and from which the information are reproduced based on the reflectance of the recording mark; a section including at least one or more one-surface beam emission sections that emit a recording beam according to part of the recording information to one surface of the recording medium and focus the beam on a target position to form the recording mark; and an section including at least one or more other-surface beam emission sections that emit an recording beam according to the rest of the recording information to the other surface of the recording medium and focus the beam on a target position to form the recording mark.
US07936646B2
Spherical aberration correction is provided for CD writing in a double (CD+DVD), triple (CD+DVD+BD) or quadruple (CD+DVD+BD+HD-DVD) writer, which use the same light path for CD and DVD. In an optical drive that uses numerous laser wavelengths combined into one light path each wavelength having a different numerical apertures a correction for spherical aberration is made to correct for effective numerical apertures of the light path that becomes shifted up from the original value to higher values. The correction in spherical aberration removes that effect of the higher effective NA and defects, particularly in writing, are corrected.
US07936645B2
This optical disc drive can read and/or write data from/on an optical disc 20 with multiple information layers including first and second information layers. The drive includes: a light source 3, 4 that emits the light beam; an objective lens 1; an actuator 2 for moving the objective lens perpendicularly to the information layers; a focus error generator 7 for generating a focus error signal representing how much the light beam has been converged on a target one of the information layers; and focus control means for forming a focal point of the light beam on the target information layer by driving the actuator in accordance with the focus error signal. According to the present invention, while a focus jump is being made to shift the focal point of the light beam from the first information layer of the optical disc 20 to the second information layer thereof by moving the objective lens 1, wavelengths and/or numerical apertures for the light beam are changeable while the objective lens 1 is moving.
US07936636B2
Semiconductor memory device and method for operating the same includes a data output unit configured to output data in synchronization with a data output clock and a clock control unit configured to selectively transfer the data output clock to the data output unit under the control of a read command.
US07936625B2
Various embodiments are generally directed to a method and apparatus for carrying out a pipeline sensing operation. In some embodiments, a read voltage from a first memory cell is stored in a voltage storage element (VSE) and compared to a reference voltage to identify a corresponding memory state of the first memory cell while a second read voltage from a second memory cell is stored in a second VSE. In other embodiments, bias currents are simultaneously applied to a first set of memory cells from the array while read voltages generated thereby are stored in a corresponding first set of VSEs. The read voltages are sequentially compared with at least one reference value to serially output a logical sequence corresponding to the memory states of the first set of memory cells while read voltages are stored for a second set of memory cells in a second set of VSEs.
US07936624B2
A method and system are described for a two step precharging of bitlines in a memory array. In the first step a partial precharge of the bitline is accomplished with a lower power supply, the second step completes the bitline precharge with the higher power supply. Since the higher power supply must ultimately supply the final bitline precharge voltage achieving a partial bitline precharge with a lower power supply will result in lower sram and system power.
US07936622B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an apparatus and associated method for handling defective bits in a multi-layer integrated memory device. In accordance with some embodiments, the multi-layer integrated memory device is formed from a plurality of vertically stacked semiconductor layers each having a number of storage sub-arrays and redundant sub-arrays. Each semiconductor layer is tested to determine a defect rate for each array, and a defective portion of a first semiconductor layer having a relatively higher defect rate is stored to a redundant sub-array of a second semiconductor layer having a relatively lower defect rate.
US07936614B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a data input driver and a data output driver for receiving an external power supply voltage, and for inputting and outputting data, respectively; and a voltage detector for detecting the external power supply voltage to generate a detection signal, wherein a drive current of each of the data input driver and the data output driver is controlled by the detection signal.
US07936612B2
A phase change memory device may include a memory cell array, a write driver, and/or a control unit. The memory cell array may include a plurality of memory cells. The write driver may be configured to provide a program current to the memory cell array for setting a state of a phase change material to program a selected memory cell. The write driver may be configured to provide the program current such that the program current has a plurality of steps. The control unit may be configured to receive step information for adjusting a magnitude and a width of each step of the program current during a test operation and provide the step information to the write driver during a normal operation.
US07936607B2
A non-volatile memory includes a plurality of cells on a substrate of a first conductivity type, each cell including a portion of the substrate, a control gate, a charge-storing layer between the portion of the substrate and the control gate, and two S/D regions of a second conductivity type in the portion of the substrate. A circuit provides a first voltage to the substrate and a second voltage to both S/D regions of each cell, wherein the difference between the first and second voltages is sufficient to cause band-to-band tunneling hot holes. The circuit also provides a voltage to the control gate and the period of applying the voltages are controlled such that the threshold voltages of all the cells converge in a tolerable range.
US07936606B2
In one or more of provided embodiments, a read operation is compensated for back pattern effect. A bit line current is generated by a read operation that biases the word lines. As part of a back pattern effect measurement phase, at predetermined time intervals an indication of the discharge status of the bit line is stored in a latch of a set of N latches coupled to each bit line. At the end of the measurement phase, the set of latches contains a multiple bit word that is an indication of the back pattern effect experienced by that particular series string of memory cells. This back pattern effect indication is used in subsequent read operations to adjust the timing of the operation.
US07936603B2
A storage system that comprises multiple solid-state storage devices includes a command set that enables a host system to initiate one or more types of purge operations. The supported purge operations may include an erase operation in which the storage devices are erased, a sanitization operation in which a pattern is written to the storage devices, and/or a destroy operation in which the storage devices are physically damaged via application of a high voltage. The command set preferably enables the host system to specify how many of the storage devices are to be purged at a time during a purge operation. The host system can thereby control the amount of time, and the current level, needed to complete the purge operation. In some embodiments, the number of storage devices that are purged at a time may additionally or alternatively be selectable by a controller of the storage system.
US07936601B2
Methods of operating a multi-level non-volatile memory device can include accessing data, stored in the device, which is associated with read voltages and modifying the read voltages applied to a plurality of multi-level non-volatile memory cells to discriminate between states stored by the cells in response to a read operation to the multi-level non-volatile memory device. Related devices and systems are also disclosed.
US07936599B2
Memory devices adapted to receive and transmit analog data signals representative of bit patterns of two or more bits facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices communicating data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming of such memory devices includes initially programming a cell with a coarse programming pulse to move its threshold voltage in a large step close to the programmed state. The neighboring cells are then programmed using coarse programming. The algorithm then returns to the initially programmed cells that are then programmed with one or more fine pulses that slowly move the threshold voltage in smaller steps to the final programmed state threshold voltage.
US07936593B2
Chalcogenide materials conventionally used in chalcogenide memory devices and ovonic threshold switches may exhibit a tendency called drift, wherein threshold voltage or resistance changes with time. By providing a compensating material which exhibits an opposing tendency, the drift may be compensated. The compensating material may be mixed into a chalcogenide, may be layered with chalcogenide, may be provided with a heater, or may be provided as part of an electrode in some embodiments. Both chalcogenide and non-chalcogenide compensating materials may be used.
US07936579B2
A semiconductor device includes a first CMOS inverter, a second CMOS inverter, a first transfer transistor and a second transfer transistor wherein the first and second transfer transistors are formed respectively in first and second device regions defined on a semiconductor device by a device isolation region so as to extend in parallel with each other, the first transfer transistor contacting with a first bit line at a first bit contact region on the first device region, the second transfer transistor contacting with a second bit line at a second bit contact region on the second device region, wherein the first bit contact region is formed in the first device region such that a center of said the bit contact region is offset toward the second device region, and wherein the second bit contact region is formed in the second device region such that a center of the second bit contact region is offset toward the first device region.
US07936578B2
A read only memory cell for storing a multiple bit value is disclosed. The read only memory cell comprises: at least three output lines, each of the at least three output lines representing a different multiple bit value; a switching device connected between a single one of the three output lines and a voltage source. The switching device provides an electrical connection between the voltage source and the single one of the three output lines in response to a switching signal, a voltage of the connected output line switching value in response to connection to the predetermined voltage and the multiple bit value represented by the output line is thereby selected. There is also an output device provided for outputting the selected multiple bit value.
US07936577B1
A content addressable memory (CAM) may include a plurality of precharge circuits, each coupled to a group of CAM cells and comprising a first precharge path that is temporarily enabled in response to an activated first control signal, and a second precharge path that is temporarily enabled in response to an activated second control signal and a valid indication that indicates whether or not the corresponding group of CAM cells stores valid data, the valid indication being different than the first and second control signals.
US07936558B2
An electronic device includes first and second screens, and a slide mechanism. The first screen includes a housing and a first display panel. The second screen is disposed behind the housing, and includes a second display panel. The slide mechanism includes two slide rails connected to the housing, and a slide frame connected slidably to the slide rails and coupled to the second display panel. One of the slide rails has first and second positioning recesses. The slide frame can bring the second display panel to move between an initial position where the second display panel is located on a rear face of the housing and a retaining unit is retained in the first positioning recess, and an open position where the second display panel is exposed from one side of the housing and the retaining unit is retained in the second positioning recess.
US07936549B2
A state grasp device that needs no optical adjustment, and can be downsized. An exciting current waveform of an opening electromagnetic coil of an electromagnetic operating set functioning to drive a moving contact of a switching device includes an inflection point appearing subsequently to a maximum value, the inflection point taking place at the time of the contact being parted. Accordingly, a wear amount of contact from the change over time can be obtained. A position of the inflection point is obtained, for example, by focusing the rate of change in current; and a wear amount of a switching contact is obtained from the change over time of a time when the inflection point takes place. With the device, the use of a mechanical detection device, such as an optical detector, can be eliminated.
US07936548B2
In order to form an overcurrent switching apparatus for medium-voltage or high-voltage applications with a current detection device for changing over a contact system associated with them from a first state to a second state in the event of a threshold current being exceeded, the switching properties of which overcurrent switching apparatus are precise, an actuating device is disposed downstream of the current detection device, which is in a first current branch, via a coupling device. The actuating device is configured to change over the contact system, which is in a second current branch, from the first to the second state.
US07936546B2
Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems provide power and data communications over the same communications link, where a power source device (PSE) provides DC power (for example, 48 volts DC) to a powered device (PD). The DC power is transmitted simultaneously over the same communications medium with the high speed data from one node to the other node. The PSE typically includes a controller that controls the DC power provided to the PD at the second node of the communications link. The PSE controller measures the voltage, current, and temperature of the outgoing and incoming DC supply lines to characterize the power requirements of the PD. In addition, the PSE controller may detect and validate a compatible PD, determine a power classification signature for the validated PD, supply power to the PD, monitor the power, and reduce or remove the power from the PD when the power is no longer requested or required. During detection, if the PSE finds the PD to be non-compatible, the PSE can prevent the application of power to that PD device, protecting the PD from possible damage.
US07936535B2
A data storage disc carrier (1) for carrying discs (10). The carrier includes an axial clamping mechanism which incorporates a three legged resilient clamping member (7) that can flees between release and clamping positions to allow easy loading a gripping of discs (10). The clamping member is articulatingly mounted on a tail (4) that is gripped to provide clamping.
US07936526B2
Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position.
US07936524B2
A barrier unit which can be easily assembled to a lens holding member in view of the above problems. The direction in which a barrier unit is rotated when the barrier unit is assembled with a lens holding member coincides with the direction in which a barrier blade driving member is rotated when the barrier blade is closed from the open state.
US07936523B2
A lens drive device may include a support body, a movable body having a lens, a magnetic drive mechanism for magnetically driving the movable body in a lens optical axis direction, and a spring member connected between the support body and the movable body. The magnetic drive mechanism includes a coil held by the movable body and both end parts of the coil are electrically connected to different spring pieces of the spring member through terminals. The support body includes an insulation member which holds the terminals, and each of the terminals includes an outside connecting terminal part which is located on an outer side of the insulation member, and a long elongated connecting part which is extended along an inner wall of the insulation member from the outside connecting terminal part and connected with the spring piece of the spring member.
US07936518B2
A head-up display apparatus includes an infrared ray emitting unit for emitting an infrared ray toward a user, a mirror member for reflecting visible light emitted from a display toward a combiner member, and transmitting the infrared ray reflected by the user and the combiner member, a plurality of imaging units disposed to face the mirror member for sensing the infrared ray, each imaging the user from differing directions, and an image processing unit for calculating the eye position of the user based on an image captured by the imaging units.
US07936507B2
The invention relates to a screen for projectors which comprises a screen base in which at least two kinds of colorants selected from a colorant having an absorption wavelength region in 400 nm to 440 nm, a colorant having an absorption wavelength region in 470 nm to 510 nm, and a colorant having an absorption wavelength region in 570 nm to 610 nm are carried on the whole image display area of the screen base. Also disclosed are processes for producing the screen and projectors having the screen.
US07936506B2
System and method for projection display with slim cabinet depth. An embodiment comprises a collimating layer positioned in a light path of a display plane, and a diffusion layer positioned in the light path of the display plane after the collimating layer. The diffusion layer increases the viewing angle of the display plane. The collimating layer comprises a first lens having first and second axes orthogonal to each other and to the light path and a second lens positioned in the light path after the first lens, the second lens having first and second axes orthogonal to each other and to the light path. The first lens is configured along its first axis to redirect light towards the light path and the second lens is configured along its first and second axes to redirect light towards the light path so that the light is substantially parallel to the light path.
US07936501B2
The embodiments of the invention include a microscope having a transparent specimen holder and a digital imaging device positioned within the transparent specimen holder. The digital imaging device can include a wireless transmitter. The transparent specimen holder can have a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the transparent specimen holder is completely transparent between the top surface and the bottom surface. Thus, the transparent specimen holder is completely transparent above and below the digital imaging device. Furthermore, a processor is operatively connected to the digital imaging device, wherein the processor produces an image of a specimen positioned on the specimen holder. A display is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the display displays the image.
US07936500B2
A wavelength-specific optical switch combines one or more tunable filters and bandblock reflectors such that the absorption or reflection of selected wavelength bands in the optical spectrum (visible, near infrared, or near ultraviolet) can be switched on and off. The wavelength switch is programmable, multifunctional, general-purpose, solid-state optical filter. The wavelength switch may serve as a tunable notch or bandblock filter, a tunable bandpass filter, a tunable highpass or lowpass filter, or a tunable band reflector. The wavelength switch has particular, but not exclusive, application in optics as a filter, band reflector, and as a means of isolating particular wavelengths or wavelength bands from a collimated light stream for transmission to, or rejection from, a sensor.
US07936498B2
A display element includes a hollow structure. The hollow structure includes plural cells disposed in a plane, each having an opening in a first wall of the hollow structure, and a partition wall separating the adjacent cells. A solvent having one or more types of white particles and/or colored particles dispersed therein is disposed in the cells. The openings are sealed with a resin insoluble in the solvent. A thickness of the partition wall separating the adjacent cells is 0.01 μm or greater but not greater than 10 μm.
US07936490B2
Systems and methods for shearless digital hologram acquisition, including an apparatus incorporating an illumination source configured to produce a first beam of light, which is then split by a beamsplitter into a reference beam and an object illumination beam. The reference beam is directed onto a phase-shaping optical element which imparts a phase shift to the reference beam and returns the phase-shifted reference beam on itself to the beamsplitter. The object illumination beam is directed onto an object, and a portion of the beam is reflected back to the beamsplitter, which combines the phase-shifted reference beam and object illumination beam substantially coaxially. The combined beams are passed through a focusing lens which focuses them at a focal plane. A digital recorder is positioned at the focal plane to record the spatially heterodyne hologram formed by the focused phase-shifted reference beam and reflected object illumination beam.
US07936483B2
A digital photo frame for storing and displaying photos. The photo frame has a photo-sized display screen rotatably mounted on a support such that the display screen is configurable in landscape-viewing or portrait-viewing orientations by rotation of the screen. A memory stores photo image files tagged as either landscape orientation or portrait orientation and a user interface receives instructions to display photos stored in the memory. A processor is configured for receiving orientation data regarding an orientation of the display screen, retrieving only photo image files from the memory that are tagged with an orientation corresponding to the orientation of the display screen, and displaying the retrieved photo image files as photos on the display screen.
US07936479B2
An image processing method includes a step of converting halftoned pixels of an image to be printed represented at a first lower tonal resolution into pixels represented at a second higher tonal resolution. Image processing is used on the pixels having a higher tonal resolution to reduce image quality artifacts when the pixels are printed at the first lower tonal resolution. In a preferred embodiment, the image processing includes error diffusion of a sigma delta modulation.
US07936464B2
An optical radiation processing unit directs different wavelengths of the optical radiation emitted by an optical source to an object being measured from a direction that differs from the normal of a surface being measured so that the different wavelengths focus on different heights in the direction of the normal of the surface. A possible polarizer polarizes the reflected radiation in a direction perpendicular to the normal of the surface. The optical radiation processing unit directs to a detector polarized optical radiation that received from the object. The signal processing unit determines on the basis of a signal provided by the detector from the detected radiation the wavelength on which radiation is the highest, and determines the location of the surface by the determined wavelength. When measuring an object from both sides, the thickness of the object being measured is determinable using the locations of the surfaces.
US07936461B2
A compact and stable interferometer is easily built only with fusion splices. The air-holes of a microstructured fiber are intentionally collapsed in the vicinity of the splices and this broadens the propagating optical mode, allowing coupling from core to cladding modes. The transmission spectrum is sinusoidal and of single frequency, indicating predominant interference between the fundamental core mode (7) and a cladding mode (6). A regular interference spectrum can be observed from 650 nm to 1600 nm with fringe visibility reaching 80%. The fringe spacing is inversely proportional to the distance between the splices. This behavior has a significant impact in optical sensing and communications and so the interferometer can be applied for strain sensing. The device comprises two splices (5) of a microstructured optical fiber (1), said splices (5) determining two regions in which the air-holes (4) are collapsed, separated a length (L) along which said two modes are excited.
US07936458B2
A variety of toy polariscopes are simpler in design and less costly than precision instruments used in scientific research and stress analysis of materials and structures. The toy polariscopes are designed for a variety of objects that may exhibit photoelastic properties such as glass, plastic, Plexiglas, gel candle material and other gels, and even edible photoelastic objects. They are specially designed for objects of various sizes with a variety of purposes such as objects to enhance learning in a variety of conditions and experiences. Special objects are designed to go with the toy polariscopes such as edible and inedible photoelastic objects, photoelastic candle material, a variety of photoelastic/photoplastic stands capable of a variety of displays in interaction with other designed photoelastic objects capable of a variety of interaction and displays. Other optical phenomena may also be observed.
US07936450B2
The invention relates to an opto-electronic sensor arrangement (10) with an optical transmitter (20) and an optical receiver (30), such that the optical transmitter (20) and the optical receiver (30) are so positioned that they either form an optical scanner designed as an optical scanner with background gating or form a reflecting light barrier in conjunction with a reflector (60), and such that the optical receiver (30) has a detector (32) in which successive images of the light beam (30a) reflected from the object (50) are detected and are compared in an evaluating unit (36), and the outcome of the comparison provides information on the movement of the object (50) relative to the optical receiver (30), so that the detector exercises a movement function.
US07936437B2
A display device includes a first display panel, a second display panel facing the first display panel, and a plurality of spacers maintaining a distance between the first display panel and the second display panel. Each of the spacers includes column spacers, ball spacers, and an adhesive.
US07936436B2
The present invention lowers leaking of light at the time of performing a black display of VA-type liquid crystal display device and, at the same time, prevents lowering of a numerical aperture. In a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal display panel which sandwiches a liquid crystal material between a first substrate having a pixel electrode and a second substrate having a counter electrode, the second substrate includes an orientation control projection which is formed by forming a conductive film on the second substrate, by forming an insulation film on the conductive film and, thereafter, by patterning the insulation film, and a light shielding layer which is formed by patterning the conductive film using the orientation control projection as a mask.
US07936433B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device that is capable of preventing a conductive paste for connecting a common wiring line of a TFT substrate and a counter electrode of a counter substrate from flowing outward. A sealant is formed outside a display region of a liquid crystal display device. A conductive paste for connecting a common wiring line of a TFT substrate and a counter electrode of a counter substrate is provided at a corner of the liquid crystal display device outside the sealant. An L-shaped stopper is formed on the counter substrate so as to prevent the conductive paste from flowing outward. With the stopper, even if the width of a frame is equal to or less than 1.5 mm, it is possible to prevent the conductive paste from flowing outward.
US07936429B2
A liquid crystal display includes a pair of transparent substrates opposed to each other with liquid crystal therebetween. One of the pair of transparent substrates has a plurality of drain signal lines and a plurality of gate signal lines, and a plurality of pixel regions defined by the drain signal lines and the gate signal lines. The pixel regions have a TFT element, a pixel electrode formed of a transparent electrode having a plurality of slits, and a counter electrode formed of a transparent electrode. The counter electrode is disposed between the pixel electrode and the one of the pair of transparent substrates in overlapping relationship with the transparent electrode of the pixel electrode and the gate signal line, and the counter electrode is connected with the counter electrode of an adjacent pixel region.
US07936428B2
The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged in facing relation to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode associated with a pixel, a common electrode to which a reference voltage is applied, a data line, a scanning line, and a common electrode line. The second substrate is designed to include no electrodes thereon. The first substrate includes an electric-field shielding layer for preventing an electric field from leaking into pixels in which images are to be displayed, from the scanning line, the electric-field shielding layer being comprised of an electrically conductive layer and being formed in a layer located closer to the liquid crystal layer than an area in which the scanning line is arranged.
US07936425B2
A transflective liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal film and a polarizing plate on a backlight source side. A transflective liquid crystal display device includes an uniaxially anisotropic film (a quarter wave plate) and a polarizing plate on a visual confirmation side. The liquid crystal film has the nematic hybrid orientation, in which a polymeric liquid crystal substance formed in a liquid state is fixed. The optical axis of the anisotropic film is disposed to be orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to that of the liquid crystal film.
US07936422B2
An optical element is arranged in such a manner that a screen thereof can be hardly observed from a predetermined direction, and a deterioration of an image quality caused by moire does not occur. The optical element is constituted by a first polarizing layer, a second polarizing layer, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between these two polarizing layers. In the optical element, absorption axes of the first polarizing layer and the second polarizing layer are located parallel to each other; the liquid crystal layer is made of hybrid-aligned discotic liquid crystal; and an alignment axis of the liquid crystal layer is located parallel to, or perpendicular to both absorption axes of the first polarizing layer and of the second polarizing layer.
US07936419B2
An illumination light source includes a coherent light source in which a plurality of light emitting points that emit coherent light beams are arranged in a one-dimensional array; and a light magnifying unit that magnifies the coherent light beams that are emitted from the light emitting points so that a diameter of light emitted from the coherent light source in a direction perpendicular to a direction of arrangement of the light emitting points is larger than a diameter in the direction of arrangement of the light emitting points. The illumination light source also includes an optical fiber; and a light-converging optical system in which a magnification is set such that light emitted from the light magnifying unit is coupled to the optical fiber, based on a maximum diameter of the light emitted from the light magnifying unit.
US07936418B2
A white light-emitting device 1 includes a semiconductor light-emitting element 2 emitting ultraviolet light or violet light, and a light-emitting unit 10 which includes three or more kinds of visible light-emitting phosphors 9 and emits white light when excited by the light from the semiconductor light-emitting element 2. The emission spectrum of the light-emitting unit 10 has peaks in a blue region of not less than 440 nm nor more than 460 nm, a green region of not less than 510 nm nor more than 530 nm, and a red region of not less than 620 nm nor more than 640 nm, and the three or more kinds of visible light-emitting phosphors 9 are bound together with a binder in advance.
US07936416B2
A display device, a front frame used therein, and a method of manufacture thereof are provided. The display device includes a display panel and the front frame. The display panel has a display surface which is partially covered by the front frame. The front frame includes a side wall corresponding to the sides of the display panel, a top plate extending from the side wall towards the center of the display panel, and cushion filler. The top plate has an inner surface featuring a groove distributed along the side wall. The cushion filler is contained within the groove while its top protrudes from the groove and contacts the display surface outside an active area.
US07936408B2
A four-mask process and a three-mask process proposal are constructed for a TN-type liquid crystal display device and an IPS-type liquid crystal device in which the formation of a passivation insulating layer is not required by streamlining the formation of a scan line and a pseudo-pixel element, both comprising a laminate made of a transparent conductive layer and a metal layer, at the same time and the formation of the transparent conductive pixel electrode by removing the metal layer on the pseudo-pixel electrode at the time of the formation of the opening in the gate insulating layer, by streamlining the treatment of the formation process of the contact and the formation process of the protective insulating layer using one photomask due to the introduction of half-tone exposure technology, and the formation of source-drain wires for etch-stop type insulating gate-type transistor using a photosensitive organic insulating layer and leaving the photosensitive organic insulating layer unchanged on source-drain wires or on the source wire (signal line), or by forming an anodized layer, which is an insulating layer, on source-drain wires.
US07936402B2
Provided is a method for setting a digital broadcasting channel in a digital broadcasting receiver having a tuner and a demodulator. According to the method, when an automatic channel setting command is input by a user, a channel is selected using a tuner, and whether an NS flag is detected in each channel is judged. When the NS flag is not detected as a result of the judgment, a mode of each selected channel of the digital broadcasting receiver where signals are detected is judged from a VSB mode and a QAM mode. A channel map is constructed according to the judgment result. Accordingly, the method allows a subscriber or a manufacturer to automatically detect signals and store a corresponding channel in a channel map without separately setting cable broadcasting in cable digital TV broadcasting environment where VSB and QAM modes are provided.
US07936400B2
A signal processing apparatus includes a signal processing unit for applying predetermined processing to a signal to be supplied. A parameter adjusting unit manually and continuously changes a parameter in processing the signals using the signal processing unit. At least one operating unit has a function different from a function of the parameter adjusting unit; and a value of the parameter and any one of the operating units are made to correspond to each other. A detection unit detects that a current parameter value attributed to the operation of the parameter adjusting unit agrees with a value of a parameter within the data, and a function of the operating unit is executed in response to the value of the parameter within the data based on a detection result of the detection unit.
US07936391B2
Digital camera includes an image sensor receiving incident light of a scene, the digital camera captures an image corresponding to the incident light; display displays the plurality of captured images and displays a menu of destinations; at least one user input for selection of at least one image from the plurality of captured images and a destination from the menu of destinations displayed on the display; communications interface transmits the at least one selected image to the selected destination over one of a plurality of networks, the plurality of networks including at least two different types of wireless networks; memory; and processor coupled to the image sensor, the display, the at least one user input, the communications interface, and the memory, the processor controlling the transmission of the at least one selected image to the selected destination using either one of the at least two different types of wireless networks.
US07936383B2
An imaging apparatus has an optical zoom function, with which the image imaged on the imaging device (CCD) is enlarged and reduced by moving an optical system, and an electronic zoom function, with which the image data generated by the imaging device is electronically enlarged and reduced. In an imaging mode (pixel-number conversion mode) in which the image generated by the imaging device is recorded with the number of pixels lower than that of the imaging device, the imaging apparatus performs control so that only the electronic zoom is actuated when a total zoom magnification is not more than a predetermined value.
US07936362B2
A method is disclosed for spreading a non-periodic color signal sent to a spatial light modulator across a frame period. The method can include the operation of dividing a frame period into a plurality of time slices. A further operation can be assigning a color to each of the plurality time slices. Another operation can be interleaving one or more colors assigned to the time slices across the frame period in a non-periodic manner.
US07936358B2
In one embodiment, a display device comprises a timing controller, a first computer readable memory medium coupled to the timing controller and comprising a first color table, a video processor coupled to the timing controller via a communication link and comprising logic to request the first color table from the timing controller, and use data in the first color table to implement a color correction routine.
US07936344B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display with a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit includes two sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel includes a thin film transistor, a liquid crystal capacitor and a storage capacitor. One of the storage capacitors is a changeable capacitor. By the changeable capacitor, two different data voltages are generated in respective sub-pixels during adjacent frames. The different data voltages are symmetrical with respect to a common voltage to improve image quality.
US07936339B2
A device user interface in which computer functionality is invoked by user interaction with dynamically generated interface regions of a writing surface. A computer system identifies a marking written on the writing surface or a user selection of an existing written marking. Adjacent to the marking, the computer system automatically generates one or more interface regions associated with the marking. User interaction with one of these regions automatically invokes computer functionality related to the interacted region. A different function may be invoked by each region. The computer system dynamically positions and may dynamically size the interface regions based on the position (and size) of the marking. Multiple markings yield multiple regions, with different regions associated with respective markings. In one embodiment, the regions are established in front of and/or after a written word. Regions may also be established on top of and/or below the written word, for example. In another embodiment, the computer system is a pen-based interactive computer system.
US07936317B2
A television receiving apparatus 100 includes a television receiver 20, and a smart antenna 10 having directivity capable of being electrically changed so as to match radio waves to be received. A handle 50 is provided with a mechanism holding the smart antenna 10 therein, fixed to the television receiver 20 and capable of changing the distance between the smart antenna 10 and the television receiver 20 as an antenna holding box. The antenna having directivity capable of being electrically changed so as to match with radio waves to be received is disposed so that the aesthetic appearance can be improved and the signal receiving sensitivity of the antenna can be enhanced.
US07936315B2
An antenna system adapted for a communication device has a common antenna with a predetermined length, an AM matching circuit matching with the common antenna and an FM matching circuit matching with the common antenna. A switch alternatively electrically connects the common antenna to the AM matching circuit and the FM matching circuit for achieving the AM function and FM function.
US07936313B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for antenna designs for radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are described.
US07936311B2
A broadband, high-gain, active antenna system is disclosed, which operates with a bi-directive reception pattern while in its standard configuration and with a directive reception pattern over several octaves of Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum when affixed with a tuned scatter-plate. As a standalone active antenna system the disclosed antenna probe element and the amplifier subassembly exhibit the bi-directional directive properties of a standard fixed length dipole, while the addition of a scatter-plate makes the antenna directive with separate frequency-dependant directive modes. The scatter-plate can be tuned such that these separate directive modes occur at convenient areas of the RF frequency spectrum. Other means of achieving directivity are disclosed using the antenna probe element and the amplifier subassembly.
US07936310B2
A high-impedance substrate is provided, which includes a metallic plate employed as a ground plane, a resonance circuit layer spaced away from the metallic plate by a distance “t”, the resonance circuit layer being provided with at least two resonance circuits having the same height and disposed side by side with a distance “g”, a connecting component connecting the resonance circuit with the metallic plate, and a magnetic material layer interposed between the metallic plate and the resonance circuit layer. The distance “t” between the metallic plate and the resonance circuit layer is confined within the range of 0.1 to 10 mm, the distance “g” between neighboring resonance circuits is confined within the range of 0.01 to 5 mm, the distance “h” between the magnetic material layer and the resonance circuit layer is confined within the range represented by the following inequality 1: g/2≦h≦t/2 inequality 1.
US07936307B2
The specification and drawings present a new apparatus, method and software product for using a cover antenna (e.g., conductive, metallic, etc.) in an electronic device, with multiple coupled feeds (e.g., dual feed) to the antenna and with one or more switches and a matching circuit. Then it is possible to use a metal plate as a metal cover, e.g., for mobile devices, which will act as an antenna with multiple feedings for cellular and non-cellular radios.
US07936304B2
This invention relates to the use of a sufficiently-sampled auxiliary array in combination with one or more under-sampled sub-arrays. The sufficiently-sampled auxiliary array is used to create a signal-free reference (SFR) beam that contains grating lobe interference. The SFR may be used to cancel the interfering grating lobe in an under-sampled main beam by coherently eliminating or subtracting the SFR from the main beam. Exemplary aspects of the invention thus support significant under population of the full aperture and avoid the problems and limitations of previous solution, with consequent savings in sensor hardware cost and weight.
US07936293B2
An object is to provide a stable delta-sigma modulator having good microlevel signal reproducibility and capable of outputting a 1-bit PDM signal with a low oversampling ratio of about 64 times at a high duty ratio of 90% or more. The delta-sigma modulator has a higher-order loop filter; a first 1-bit quantizer for making a decision as to the output of the higher-order loop filter; a first feedback component for feeding the first output signal back to the input stage of the higher-order loop filter; a second 1.5-bit quantizer for making a decision as to the output absolute value of an internal stage to be monitored; a second dynamic feedback component for feeding a second output signal back to the input stage of the higher-order loop filter; and an operational unit for producing a 1-bit PDM signal Y by performing operation on the first output signal and second output signal.
US07936291B2
A method compensates for errors in an output signal of a comparator based/zero crossing based circuit. The method includes generating with a comparator based/zero crossing based switched capacitor circuit a first output signal with an input signal, generating with the comparator based/zero crossing based switched capacitor circuit a second output signal with the input signal of an opposite polarity, and subtracting the second output signal from the first output signal to generate a final output signal for the comparator based/zero crossing based switched capacitor circuit.
US07936288B2
Methods and systems for audio CODEC voice ADC processing are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include using a decimating filter that may be enabled to generate 13 MHz, 9-level digital output signal from a 26 MHz, 3-level digital input signal. The 13 MHz, 9-level digital output signal may be processed for RF transmission, for audio output to an output device, and/or utilized for testing by a test fixture, for example. The 13 MHz, 9-level digital output signal may be further processed to generate a 6.5 MHz, 33-level digital signal. The 6.5 MHz, 33-level digital signal may be converted to an analog signal, and processed for audio output and/or testing. The 13 MHz, 9-level digital output signal may also be processed to generate a 40 KHz, 17-bit digital signal, which may be communicated to a test equipment or further processed for RF transmission.
US07936281B2
The invention regards a system and method for using a handheld programming device to configure a lighting control system wirelessly. In one embodiment, at least one device configured with a processing section is installed in the lighting control system. A communications receiver that is operable to receive a signal from the handheld programming device is also installed in the lighting control system, wherein the signal includes an instruction for configuring the lighting control system. Further, the signal is wirelessly sent from the handheld programming device to the communications receiver, and the instruction is transmitted from the communications receiver to a device in the system. The instruction functions to configure the lighting control system.
US07936279B2
Embodiments include systems and methods of illuminating indicator lights. For example, one embodiment includes an apparatus for indicating status of an electrical device. The apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to an electrical device, an electrical input disposed on the housing and configured to receive an electrical signal, a lighting element disposed in the housing and configured to output light in response to the electrical signal, and a first optical element disposed in the housing. The apparatus further includes a second optical element configured to be attached to a panel. The first optical element and the second optical element are positioned so that the first optical element is configured to transmit at least a portion of the output light to the second optical element and the second optical element is configured to output light received from the first optical element.
US07936278B2
A portable electronic device is provided, including a first body, which has a display screen, a second body, which is slidably connected to the first body, and a door unit, which opens and closes a battery compartment disposed between the first and second bodies, in which the door unit is concealed and made externally visible according to the position of the second body relative to the first body, and in which the door unit can be opened and closed when it is externally visible.
US07936277B2
An apparatus and method for detecting a difference in width of a strip of material from a desired width of material. The apparatus may comprise a light source, a light detector, an alarm, a first fiber optic cable coupled with the light source, a second fiber optic cable coupled with the light detector, and a housing. The housing may comprise a material slot for passing the strip of material therethrough such that edges of the strip of material may at least partially intersect a plurality of light fields directed from the first fiber optic cable to the second fiber optic cable. The amount of light detected by the light detector is dependant on the amount of light blocked by the strip of material. If the amount of light received is outside of a range of tolerance from the desired width of material, the alarm may be actuated.
US07936270B2
Methods and apparatus are described for space charge dosimeters for extremely low power measurements of radiation in shipping containers. A method includes insitu polling a suite of passive integrating ionizing radiation sensors including reading-out dosimetric data from a first passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor and a second passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor, where the first passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor and the second passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor remain situated where the dosimetric data was integrated while reading-out. Another method includes arranging a plurality of ionizing radiation sensors in a spatially dispersed array; determining a relative position of each of the plurality of ionizing radiation sensors to define a volume of interest; collecting ionizing radiation data from at least a subset of the plurality of ionizing radiation sensors; and triggering an alarm condition when a dose level of an ionizing radiation source is calculated to exceed a threshold.
US07936269B2
The present invention relates to a registration sign for vehicles, where the registration sign (2) comprises a sign package (38) consisting of individual plastic film sections (6a, 9a), a bottom sheet (18) and a front panel (12), and also comprises a frame (21) which surrounds the sign package. According to the invention, the registration sign (2) comprises in addition at least one transponder (50) for receiving and/or transmitting radio signals and the transponder (50) is embedded in the frame (21). The present invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of a registration sign whereby at least one transponder (50) is fastened on and/or in the sign package (38) for the registration sign (2) and the transponder 50 is embedded in the frame (21) when the latter is injection-molded round the edges of the sign package (38).
US07936263B2
The present invention is directed toward systems and methods for providing a remote monitoring system with radio dispatch. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a central monitoring unit for receiving a first event signal from a first remote monitoring device, identifying the first remote monitoring device as the originator of the first event signal, accessing a first prerecorded dispatch message associated with the first event signal, and transmitting the first prerecorded dispatch message. The present invention may also include multiple remote monitoring units for detecting events at a plurality of remote monitoring locations. Upon detection, the remote monitoring units transmit an event signal to the central monitoring unit.
US07936260B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for identifying potentially redundant alarms based on a statistical correlation calculated between categories of alarms are provided. Each alarm in a compilation of alarm history data is assigned to an alarm category. A coefficient of correlation is computed between each distinct pair of alarm categories that indicates the probability that an alarm assigned to the second category of the pair occurs coincidentally within the alarm history data with an alarm assigned to the first category of the pair, given that an alarm assigned to the first category has occurred. Finally, a list of potentially redundant alarms is created consisting of pairs of alarm categories having a coefficient of correlation equal to or exceeding a threshold value.
US07936259B1
The present embodiments generally relate to an alarm management system for providing a time to manage value enabling a user to respond to an abnormal situation for at least one device and prevent the at least one device from reaching a trouble point value.
US07936257B2
The invention proposes an emergency intervention system and a method for automatically redressing malfunctions in means of transport (41). A sensor system (401) in an emergency intervention system (80) is used to detect occurring malfunctions and an activation apparatus (203) is used to generate dedicated activation signal data on the basis of a detected malfunction. The activation signal data are transmitted to an appropriate, automated intervention means (40) which is used to redress the malfunction. A switching module (104) in the emergency intervention system (80) enables the activation apparatus (203) if a cumulative stack memory level value for two stack memories (102/202) reaches a defined cumulative stack memory level value. The two stack memories (102/202) are preliminarily incremented on the basis of activation parameters transmitted by network units and are decremented in line with the dedicated activation signal data during the enabling. When a predefinable time window has elapsed, the emergency intervention system (80) is reset using a clearing module and the enabling is interrupted by means of the switching module (104).
US07936256B2
A telemetry system coupled to a vehicle can communicate with a remote site using the overhead control channels of a wireless network, such as a cellular mobile radiotelephone network. The telemetry system can monitor or control aspects of the vehicle's operations based on remote user input. The telemetry system can receive a command from a data processing center and, based on the command, perform an action at the vehicle such that a user can remotely interact with the vehicle.
US07936252B2
System, methods and computer program product are provided for an adaptive control for adjusting the electromagnetic interrogation signal of an RFID transceiver where said signal is used to read and/or write to an RFID transponder, or to adjust the gain of the RFID transceiver, or adjust both the gain and the signal strength. The system includes a RFID transceiver having at least a transmitter portion and a receiver portion and capable of generating electromagnetic signals, a signal-to-noise ratio module, and an adaptive control module that adjusts the power of the electromagnetic signal of the transmitter portion or the gain of the receiver portion according to the signal-to-noise ratio of a first electromagnetic signal. In one embodiment the system may be employed in printer-encoder devices for reading or encoding RFID transponders during a printing process.
US07936232B2
A substrate for a semiconductor package includes a dielectric substrate, a circuit pattern formed on a first surface of the dielectric substrate, and an electromagnetic band gap (EGB) pattern. The EGB pattern includes multiple unit structures formed on a second surface of the dielectric substrate, where each unit structure includes a flat conductor electrically connected to the circuit pattern through a ground connection, and multiple spiral-patterned conductors electrically connected to the flat conductor. The second surface is formed on an opposite side of the dielectric substrate from the first surface. Each flat conductor is electrically connected to a flat conductor of another one of the unit structures. At least one of the spiral-patterned conductors in each one of the unit structures is electrically connected to another one of the spiral-patterned conductors.
US07936221B2
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of spur reduction using computation spreading in a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) architecture. A software based PLL incorporates a reconfigurable calculation unit (RCU) that is optimized and programmed to sequentially perform all the atomic operations of a PLL or any other desired task in a time sharing manner. An application specific instruction-set processor (ASIP) incorporating the RCU is adapted to spread the computation of the atomic operations out over and completed within an entire PLL reference clock period. Each computation being performed at a much higher processor clock frequency than the PLL reference clock rate. This functions to significantly reduce the per cycle current transient generated by the computations. Further, the frequency content of the current transients is at the higher processor clock frequency. This results in a significant reduction in spurs within sensitive portions of the output spectrum.
US07936219B2
A power amplifier and bias circuit includes a combination circuit in which a voltage drive bias circuit and a current drive bias circuit are connected in a parallel relationship with each other. The power amplifier bias circuit also includes an idle current control circuit which uses the collector voltage of amplifier transistors. When the collector voltage of the amplifier transistors is lower than the threshold voltage of a first transistor (approximately 1.3 V), the first transistor is turned off. At that time, since the reference voltage (2.4-2.5 V) is higher than the voltage for turning on both a second transistor and a diode (namely, approximately 1.3 V plus 0.7 V), a current flows and the first transistor turns on. As a result, a current is drawn from the bases of the amplifier transistors to GND through two resistances, so that the idle currents of the amplifier transistors decrease.
US07936218B1
Shared-current electronic systems (120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, and 220) include two or more electronic devices, such as an electronic device (Q1), a baseband processor (110), and a multiplier/up-converter (112), that are connected in dc series or dc series-parallel, that may be connected in rf series, and that either fixedly or variably share portions of a dc source voltage. Various embodiments produce separate rf outputs, variably shift the phase of a single rf output, variably shift rf power between/among rf outputs, or produce a frequency-compressed modulation. The apparatus includes means (122, 162, 162A, and/or 162B) for precisely proportioning the regulated dc source voltage to one or more of the dc series-connected electronic devices irrespective of production variations in operating parameters of the electronic devices and/or drift of the electronic devices.
US07936214B2
An apparatus and method for the cancellation of third order derivative distortion for ultra low power (ULP) applications are disclosed involving a first amplifier connected in parallel with a second amplifier for amplifying a received signal. The first amplifier includes at least one transistor operating in the sub-threshold region such that the first amplifier possesses a positive third derivative of a transfer function of the first amplifier, which generates a first amplified signal having in phase third order distortions. The second amplifier includes at least one differential pair of transistors operating in the sub-threshold region such that the second amplifier possesses a negative third derivative of a transfer function of the second amplifier, which generates a second amplified signal having in opposite phase third order distortions. The first and second amplified output signals are combined resulting in cancellation of third order distortions in the combined amplified signal.
US07936213B2
A Doherty amplifier is provided. The Doherty amplifier includes a first path circuit including a carrier amplifier and a first impedance adjusting circuit connected with the carrier amplifier; and a second path circuit including a peaking amplifier, a second impedance adjusting circuit connected with the peaking amplifier, and a peaking amplifier bias circuit connected with the peaking amplifier. At least one among an impedance of the first impedance adjusting circuit, an impedance of the second impedance adjusting circuit, and a bias of the peaking amplifier bias circuit is adjusted in response to a control signal.
US07936208B2
A method and circuit for providing a bias voltage to a MOS device is disclosed. The method and circuit comprise utilizing at least one diode connected circuit to provide a voltage that tracks process, voltage and temperature variations of a semiconductor device. The method and circuit includes utilizing a current mirror circuit coupled to the at least one diode connected circuit to generate a bias voltage for the body of the semiconductor device from the voltage. The bias voltage allows for compensation for the process, voltage and temperature variations.
US07936203B2
A method and circuitry for adjusting the delay of a variable delay line (VDL) in a delay locked loop (DLL) or other delay element or subcircuit on an integrated circuit is disclosed. Such delay circuitry will inherently have a delay which is a function of temperature. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, such temperature-dependent delays are compensated for by adjusting the power supply voltage of the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit. Specifically, a temperature sensing stage is used to sense the temperature of the integrated circuit, and hence the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit. Information concerning the sensed temperature is sent to a regulator which derives the local power supply voltage from the master power supply voltage, Vcc, of the integrated circuit. If the temperature sensed is relatively high, which otherwise would increase the delay though the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit, the regulator increases the local power supply voltage, thus decreasing the delay and offsetting the increase in delay due to temperature. Through this scheme, and assuming the temperature sensing stage is properly tuned, temperature-dependent delays can be reduced to approximately zero.
US07936192B2
A frequency synthesis phase-locked loop architecture using a regenerative sampling latch is described. The frequency divider typically employed in the feedback path of a frequency synthesis phase-locked loop is replaced by a regenerative sampling latch with a binary output. The regenerative sampling latch subsamples the frequency synthesizer output to produce a low-frequency aliased signal that can be processed further or directly used to lock the phase-locked loop. This architecture is referred to as an alias-locked loop. The relaxed constraints on the regenerative sampling latch make it possible to create high-speed frequency synthesizer phase-locked loops without the suffering the limitations imposed by traditional dividers connected directly to the oscillator output.
US07936191B2
A start-up reset circuit includes a flip-flop and a clock signal generator. The clock signal generator generates a first clock signal and a second clock signal, wherein there is a phase difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal. The flip-flop receives an operation voltage and has a setup time, and further includes an input terminal to receive the first clock signal, a clock input terminal to receive the second clock signal, and an output terminal to output a reset signal, wherein the setup time corresponds to the operation voltage.
US07936190B1
A frequency divider can include at least one input device receiving an input signal, the at least one input device converting the input signal to a current signal; a driver stage with at least two drivers, the at least two drivers receiving the current signal from the at least one input device; a latch stage with at least two latches receiving output signals from the driver stage, the latch stage amplifying the output signals from the driver stage in proportion to an imbalance on the driver stage; and a feedback loop feeding back latch stage output signals to the driver stage. The driver stage and the latch stage can divide the input signal such that the current signal has a frequency of a multiple of the divided signal, and the frequency divider can also include at least one output device to convert the divided signal to a divided voltage signal.
US07936186B1
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of duty cycle correction, and more particularly to method and apparatus for correcting duty cycle of a CMOS level signal when converted from a Current-Mode-Logic (CML) to a CMOS level signal via a CML to CMOS converter. The converter comprises a first differential pair unit to receive a CML level signal; a second differential pair unit to receive the CML level signal; and an embedded differential biasing unit, coupled with the first and the second differential pair units, to adjust drive strength of the first and second differential pair units based on a duty cycle of the CML level signal. The method for correcting duty cycle of the CMOS level signal output comprises receiving by the first differential pair unit a CML level signal; receiving by the second differential pair unit the CML level signal; and adjusting drive strength of the first and the second differential pair units based on a duty cycle of the CMOS level signal.
US07936180B2
The invention provides a serial link transmitter coupled to a serial link receiver through a pair of transmission lines and having a pair of transmitting terminals respectively coupled to one of the transmission lines. The serial link transmitter comprises a differential amplifier and a voltage clamping circuit. The differential amplifier generates a pair of differential output voltages on the transmitting terminals according to a pair of differential input voltages for transmitting data to the serial link receiver, and the differential output voltages are transmitted with a common mode voltage to the serial link receiver during data transmission. The voltage clamping circuit clamps the pair of differential output voltages of the transmitting terminals to the common mode voltage before the serial link transmitter transmits data to the serial link receiver.
US07936178B2
A test probe is provided. The test probe includes a group of shielding boards and two probe pins. The group of shielding boards has two opposite surfaces. The group of shielding boards includes at least two insulation boards and at least one metal board. The metal board is formed between the two insulation boards. The two probe pins are formed on the two surfaces of the group of shielding boards and have a distance between each other.
US07936173B2
In a method for the excitation of port groups of a multi-port device under test with coherent incident waves of the same frequency, which provide defined amplitude ratios and phase differences within each port group, the waves are generated respectively by one signal generator of a vectorial network analyzer per test port. The network analyzer has unbalanced test ports. A system-error correction of the unbalanced incident and reflected waves with reference to the ports of the device under test is implemented in order to obtain corrected waves. The amplitude and phase changes required in the signal generators to fulfill the desired amplitude and phase conditions are calculated from these corrected waves.
US07936164B2
The invention provides a current sensor that may be folded over a conductor without the need to sever the conductor or thread the conductor through the current sensor. In one embodiment, the current sensor includes an outer body having a first folding portion and a second folding portion coupled to the first folding portion. The current sensor also includes a soft ferromagnetic body disposed within the outer body comprising a first core element and a second core element. The first and second core elements form a lumen when the first and second folding portions are folded. The lumen is configured to receive a conductor. The current sensor also includes a magnetic field detector to sense a current in the conductor. The magnetic field detector is disposed at least partially between the first and second core elements when the first and second folding portions are folded.
US07936150B2
A type of protection and cell conditioning circuit is proposed that partly uses the typically existing hardware present in traditional cell-protection circuits and that can achieve an optimum state of charge for the individual cell independently from the actions of the external battery charger. For minimum cost, the proposed circuit and system can solve the battery-cell-balancing problem, while optimizing the performance of the battery pack and while simultaneously enhancing the safety of the battery pack. Multiple battery cells can be communicatively combined to form large batteries. Information from and commands to each of the individual battery cells can be relayed through a low-power serial bus in order to form “intelligent” and optimally managed battery systems.
US07936144B2
A motion control device for controlling a motor is presented. The motion control device is operable to scale or adjust an input relative to an input range that is based on calibration values and to use that scaled input to produce a drive signal to drive the motor. The motion control device performs a self-calibration to produce the calibration values. The self-calibration involves measuring home position and full travel position values for the motor.
US07936139B2
A movable barrier operator having control circuitry (206) to selectively cause movement of a corresponding movable barrier (203) and a power supply that is operably coupled to a mains (201) and is operably coupled to provide electrical motive power to components of the operator can be configurable to selectively disconnect a portion, but not all, of the power supply from the mains when full power availability for the components is not required. This power supply can comprise a less efficient first power supply (204) and a more efficient second power supply (205). In such a case, these teachings can provide for disconnecting (105) the first power supply from the mains when a higher level of power is not presently required. Meanwhile, the second power supply can continue to provide operating power to, for example, the aforementioned control circuitry to ensure ongoing functionality of the movable barrier operator.
US07936138B2
Provided is a motor controller for controlling a motor installed at an object such as an electric car operated using a transmitter. A manipulation of a manipulation tool of the transmitter is allocated for brake and reverse modes. A specific value of brake power contained in a signal demodulated by a receiver is stored in a memory unit as a changeover reference value, and a changeover determining unit compares the changeover reference value with the brake power. If the brake power is greater than the changeover reference value, the changeover determining unit transmits a changeover signal to a control unit, and if the manipulation tool is manipulated to a neutral point after the control unit receives the changeover signal, the control unit changes the state of the manipulation tool from brake mode to reverse mode. The changeover reference value can be changed by an operator using an external device.
US07936127B2
A plasma display apparatus is provided that includes a front substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode and a dielectric layer formed on the front substrate, a rear substrate faced with the front substrate, a third electrode formed on the rear substrate, and a barrier rib which is formed on the rear substrate and partitions discharge cells, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is formed with one layer, and the width of at least one of barrier ribs which partitions the discharge cells in the outside of an effective display region is wider than the width of barrier ribs which partition the discharge cells in the inside of the effective display region. The plasma display apparatus does not include a transparent electrode consisting of ITO, reducing the manufacturing cost of the plasma display panel. Further, by forming projecting electrodes protruded in the direction of the center of the discharge cell or in the opposite direction of the center of the discharge cell from the scan electrode or the sustain electrode line, the firing voltage can be lowered and the discharge diffusion efficiency of the discharge cell increased.
US07936126B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp tube includes a circuit board and a tubular enclosure. The circuit board is disposed in the enclosure such that the enclosure is divided into a non-illuminated portion and a light-receiving portion. The light-receiving portion has two light-condensing side sections corresponding respectively to two sides of the circuit board, and a light-diffusing middle section connected between the light-condensing side sections. An outer surface of the light-receiving portion has a smoothly varying curvature. The light-condensing side sections cooperate with the light-diffusing middle section to diffuse uniformly LED light transmitted from an outer surface of the enclosure.
US07936116B2
An objective is to provide a motor stator that may achieve: a reduction in parts costs by shaping coil ends so that length thereof is reduced, thereby reducing the amount of use of copper, and minimizing the amount of use of binding strings for securing the coil ends in place; a reduction in manufacturing process costs by a structure which allows a protector and a wire lead outlet part to be easily assembled; and then an improvement in quality of a stator by firmly holding the coil ends and the protector. The motor stator may include a stator core 1 including slots; a plurality of cut surfaces forming flat surfaces on the outer surface of the stator core 1; end surface insulating plates 2 formed in an approximately same shape as the shape of magnetic steel plates punched out, and assembled into the stator core 1 on both axial end surfaces thereof; projections formed in a vicinity of a peripheral portion of an end surface insulating plate 2, and engaged with the cut surfaces on the stator core 1; slot-like cutouts, a little larger in size than the slots, formed on an inner peripheral side of the each end surface insulating plate 1; and coil ends. The coil ends are shaped by pressure against the end surface insulating plates 2.
US07936113B2
An energy harvesting apparatus, for deployment on a vehicle, comprises a shock absorber, including a dust tube assembly, a jounce bumper assembly mounted within the dust tube assembly at a first end thereof, and a damper tube mounted for telescopic movement through a second end of the dust tube, the jounce bumper assembly configured for impact with the damper tube. A piezoelectric device is coupled to the jounce bumper assembly.
US07936109B1
Disclosed is an energy harvesting device which can produce electrical power from vibrational energy over a wide range of frequencies. The energy harvester includes a housing having opposing slots. A bendable substrate is at least partially positioned within the housing and at least partially extends through the opposing housing slots. A piezoelectric element is positioned on the bendable substrate and a weight cooperates with the bendable substrate. A stopper is positioned on each end of the bendable substrate that extends outside the housing; the stoppers are configured to maintain a portion of the bendable substrate within the housing such that the bendable substrate is freely movable within the housing. Vibrational energy causes collisions between the bendable substrate and the housing such that the forces on the piezoelectric element generate power.
US07936102B2
A rotating machine with a permanent magnet rotor that is easier, lower cost, and lighter includes a plurality of permanent magnet assemblies (20) mounted on a rotor body (1). The magnet assemblies (20) are mounted via magnet holders that each include a pair of claws (2, 3) connected by a bridge (5) and forming a seat for a respective magnet assembly (20). The claws have terminal expansions (11) that extend beyond the bridge (5) and form a second seat in which a tightening section (9) is received. The claws (2, 3) can elastically pivot about the bridge (5) when the terminal expansions (11) are squeezed together or forced apart, allowing insertion of and securing the magnet assembly, respectively.
US07936096B2
A canned linear motor armature includes an armature winding, a picture-frame-shaped casing, a flat can, and a plurality of refrigerant flow channels. The armature winding includes a coil. The picture-frame-shaped casing has an opening and encloses the armature winding. The flat can has a plate surface to close and seal the opening of the picture-frame-shaped casing. The plurality of refrigerant flow channels are provided within the can to face the coil of the armature winding.
US07936091B2
An energy supply system adapted for supplying energy to equipment on a high voltage platform. The system includes a fuel cell and an effectuating capacitor. The system also includes an intermediate storage and supply unit. This unit stores energy from the fuel cell and supplies energy to the effectuating capacitor via an electric transforming unit. A high voltage platform including the energy supply system. An electrical network including the platform. A method for supplying energy to equipment on a high voltage platform.
US07936085B2
A voltage detection circuit comprises a tap to be connected to a positive line and a return tap to be connected to a return line on a power supply. The potential difference between the positive line and the return line is the input line voltage. A scaling resistor network scales down the input line voltage to be indicative of a voltage on the input line. The scaled voltage is connected to an input for a comparator. A reference voltage is supplied to the comparator. The reference voltage supplied to the comparator is indicative of a threshold voltage at which an output of the circuit changes states. An output of the comparator communicates a signal to an optical isolation device when the input line voltage is below the threshold voltage to turn the optical isolation device on and send a signal to an output of the optical isolation device. The optical isolation device is not turned on if the input line voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. A DC power bus incorporating the voltage detection circuit, along with an aircraft electrical system incorporating the DC power bus are also disclosed and claimed.
US07936076B2
A power system for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, the power system comprises an electric machine (12) further comprising a first excitation source (47), a permanent magnet rotor (28) and a magnetic coupling rotor (26) spaced from the permanent magnet rotor and at least one second excitation source (43), the magnetic coupling rotor (26) also including a flywheel having an inertial mass to store kinetic energy during an initial acceleration to an operating speed; and wherein the first excitation source is electrically connected to the second excitation source for power cycling such that the flywheel rotor (26) exerts torque on the permanent magnet rotor (28) to assist braking and acceleration of the permanent magnet rotor (28) and consequently, the vehicle. An axial gap machine and a radial gap machine are disclosed and methods of the invention are also disclosed.
US07936062B2
Packaged microelectronic elements are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a microelectronic element having a front face and a plurality of peripheral edges bounding the front face has a device region at the front face and a contact region with a plurality of exposed contacts adjacent to at least one of the peripheral edges. The packaged element may include a plurality of support walls overlying the front face of the microelectronic element such that a lid can be mounted to the support walls above the microelectronic element. For example, the lid may have an inner surface confronting the front face. In a particular embodiment, some of the contacts can be exposed beyond edges of the lid.
US07936056B2
An airtight sealed package with a device sealed therein in an airtight manner under vacuum, the device being placed in a space defined in the airtight sealed package by a lid and a substrate, includes at least one pressure adjustment unit provided on at least one of the lid and the substrate, and configured to receive energy from an outside of the airtight sealed package, with the device sealed in the airtight manner in the airtight sealed package, to adjust pressure in the space. An energy transmission member transmits the energy to the pressure adjustment unit.
US07936051B2
A silicon wafer which achieves a gettering effect without occurrence of slip dislocations is provided, and the silicon wafer is subject to heat treatment after slicing from a silicon monocrystal ingot so that a layer which has zero light scattering defects according to the 90° light scattering method is formed in a region at a depth from the wafer surface of 25 μm or more but less than 100 μm, and a layer which has a light scattering defect density of 1×108/cm3 or more according to the 90° light scattering method is formed in a region at a depth of 100 μm from the wafer surface.
US07936049B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a nitride semiconductor device with low parasitic resistance by lowering barrier height to reduce contact resistance at an interface of semiconductor and metal. The nitride semiconductor device includes a GaN layer, a device isolation layer, an ohmic electrode, an n-type Al0.25Ga0.75N layer, a sapphire substrate, and a buffer layer. A main surface of the n-type Al0.25Ga0.75N layer is on (0 0 0 1) plane as a main surface, and concaves are arranged in a checkerboard pattern on the surface. The ohmic electrode contacts the sides of the concaves of the n-type Al0.25Ga0.75N layer, and the sides of the concaves are on non-polar surfaces such as (1 1 −2 0) plane or (1 −1 0 0) plane.
US07936043B2
The specification describes an integrated passive device (IPD) that is formed on a silicon substrate covered with an oxide layer. Unwanted accumulated charge at the silicon/oxide interface are rendered immobile by creating trapping centers in the silicon surface. The trapping centers are produced by a polysilicon layer interposed between the silicon substrate and the oxide layer.
US07936031B2
Embodiments of MEMS devices comprise a conductive movable layer spaced apart from a conductive fixed layer by a gap, and supported by rigid support structures, or rivets, overlying depressions in the conductive movable layer, or by posts underlying depressions in the conductive movable layer. In certain embodiments, both rivets and posts may be used. In certain embodiments, these support structures are formed from rigid inorganic materials, such as metals or oxides. In certain embodiments, etch barriers may also be deposited to facilitate the use of materials in the formation of support structures which are not selectively etchable with respect to other components within the MEMS device.
US07936029B2
A Hall effect element includes a Hall plate with an outer perimeter. The outer perimeter includes four corner regions, each tangential to two sides of a square outer boundary associated with the Hall plate, and each extending along two sides of the square outer boundary by a corner extent. The outer perimeter also includes four indented regions. Each one of the four indented regions deviates inward toward a center of the Hall plate. The Hall plate further includes a square core region centered with and smaller than the square outer boundary. A portion of each one of the four indented regions is tangential to a respective side of the square core region. Each side of the square core region has a length greater than twice the corner extent and less than a length of each side of the square outer boundary.
US07936024B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device may include forming an interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, and the interlayer insulating layer may have a contact hole therein exposing a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A single crystal semiconductor plug may be formed in the contact hole and on portions of the interlayer insulating layer adjacent the contact hole opposite the semiconductor substrate, and portions of the interlayer insulating layer opposite the semiconductor substrate may be free of the single crystal semiconductor plug. Portions of the single crystal semiconductor plug in the contact hole may be removed while maintaining portions of the single crystal semiconductor plug on portions of the interlayer insulating layer adjacent the contact hole as a single crystal semiconductor contact pattern. After removing portions of the single crystal semiconductor plug, a single crystal semiconductor layer may be formed on the interlayer insulating layer and on the single crystal semiconductor contact pattern. A second interlayer insulating layer may be formed on the single crystal semiconductor layer, and a common contact hole may be formed through the second interlayer insulating layer, through the single crystal semiconductor layer, and through the first interlayer insulating layer to expose a portion of semiconductor substrate. In addition, a conductive contact plug may be formed in the common contact hole in contact with the semiconductor substrate. Related devices are also discussed.
US07936022B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated signal or an amplitude modulated signal.
US07936011B2
This invention discloses a semiconductor power device that includes a plurality of power transistor cells surrounded by a trench opened in a semiconductor substrate. At least one of the cells constituting an active cell has a source region disposed next to a trenched gate electrically connecting to a gate pad and surrounding the cell. The trenched gate further has a bottom-shielding electrode filled with a gate material disposed below and insulated from the trenched gate. At least one of the cells constituting a source-contacting cell surrounded by the trench with a portion functioning as a source connecting trench is filled with the gate material for electrically connecting between the bottom-shielding electrode and a source metal disposed directly on top of the source connecting trench. The semiconductor power device further includes an insulation protective layer disposed on top of the semiconductor power device having a plurality of source openings on top of the source region and the source connecting trench provided for electrically connecting to the source metal and at least a gate opening provided for electrically connecting the gate pad to the trenched gate.
US07936010B2
A power semiconductor element having a lightly doped drift and buffer layer is disclosed. One embodiment has, underneath and between deep well regions of a first conductivity type, a lightly doped drift and buffer layer of a second conductivity type. The drift and buffer layer has a minimum vertical extension between a drain contact layer on the adjacent surface of a semiconductor substrate and the bottom of the deepest well region which is at least equal to a minimum lateral distance between the deep well regions. The vertical extension can also be determined such that a total amount of dopant per unit area in the drift and buffer layer is larger than a breakdown charge amount at breakdown voltage.
US07936003B2
A semiconductor device includes transistors with a vertical gate electrode. In a transistor structure, a semiconductor pattern has first and second sides facing in a transverse direction, and third and fourth sides facing in a longitudinal direction. Gate patterns are disposed adjacent to the first and second sides of the semiconductor pattern. Impurity patterns directly contact the third and fourth sides of the semiconductor pattern. A gate insulating pattern is interposed between the gate patterns and the semiconductor pattern.
US07935995B2
A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements configured to convert incident light to electric carriers, an amplifier MOS transistor shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of floating diffusions connected to the gate electrode of the amplifier MOS transistor, and a plurality of transfer MOS transistors arranged corresponding to the respective photoelectric conversion elements, each of the transfer MOS transistors transferring electric carriers from corresponding one of the photoelectric conversion elements to corresponding one of the floating diffusions. In such a photoelectric conversion apparatus, at least two of the floating diffusions are electrically connected to each other with a wiring line included in the same wiring layer as the gate electrode of the amplifier MOS transistor.
US07935994B2
System and method for providing a light shield for a CMOS imager is provided. The light shield comprises a structure formed above a point between a photo-sensitive element and adjacent circuitry. The structure is formed of a light-blocking material, such as a metal, metal alloy, metal compound, or the like, formed in dielectric layers over the photo-sensitive elements.
US07935986B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a method of fabricating a bipolar transistor with a self-aligned raised extrinsic base. In the method a dielectric pad is formed on a substrate with a minimum dimension capable of being produced using current state-of-the-are lithographic patterning. An opening is aligned above the dielectric pad and etched through an isolation oxide layer to an extrinsic base layer. The opening is equal to or greater in size than the dielectric pad. Another smaller opening is etched through the extrinsic base layer to the dielectric pad. A multi-step etching process is used to selectively remove the extrinsic base layer from the surfaces of the dielectric pad and then to selectively remove the dielectric pad. An emitter is then formed in the resulting trench. The resulting transistor structure has a distance between the edge of the lower section of the emitter and the edge of the extrinsic base that is minimized, thereby, reducing resistance.
US07935982B2
In a side view type light emitting diode (LED) package, a lead frame portion and lead frame electrical contact portions are exposed outside a package body to serve as an additional heat dissipation path. The side view type LED package includes an LED chip, a package body having a side surface with an opening for receiving the LED chip, and lead frames for applying a current to the LED chip. The lead frames include inner leads electrically connected to the LED chip within the package body; electrical contact lower legs extending from the inner leads to a lower portion of the package body and exposed outside the package body in the vicinity of a lower surface of the package body perpendicular to the side surface; and a heat dissipation means extending, separately from the electrical contact lower legs, from at least one of the inner leads outside the package body.
US07935976B2
Provided is a package of a light emitting diode. The package includes a metal plate, a light-emitting diode chip, an insulating layer, a lead frame, a reflective coating layer, and a molding material. The light-emitting diode chip is surface-mounted on the metal plate, and the insulating layer is formed on the metal plate and is separated from the light-emitting diode chip. The lead frame is provided on the insulating layer, the reflective coating layer is formed on the lead frame, and the molding material molds the light-emitting diode chip in a predetermined shape.
US07935974B2
The invention relates to a monolithic white light emitting device using wafer bonding or metal bonding. In the invention, a conductive submount substrate is provided. A first light emitter is bonded onto the conductive submount substrate by a metal layer. In the first light emitter, a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, a first active layer, an n-type nitride semiconductor layer and a conductive substrate are stacked sequentially from bottom to top. In addition, a second light emitter is formed on a partial area of the conductive substrate. In the second light emitter, a p-type AlGaInP-based semiconductor layer, an active layer and an n-type AlGaInP-based semiconductor layer are stacked sequentially from bottom to top. Further, a p-electrode is formed on an underside of the conductive submount substrate and an n-electrode is formed on a top surface of the n-type AlGaInP-based semiconductor layer.
US07935968B2
A semiconductor device having a display unit, which is small in size, suppresses the defect caused by the mounting of IC chips and the like on the substrate, and operates at a high speed. A semiconductor display unit and other circuit blocks are integrally formed on the substrate having an insulating surface by using a process for fabricating TFTs that realize a high degree of mobility. Concretely, there is employed a process for crystallizing a semiconductor active layer by using a continuously oscillating laser. Further, the process for crystallization relying upon the continuously oscillating laser is selectively effected for only those circuit blocks that must be operated at high speeds, thereby to realize a high production efficiency.
US07935966B2
A semiconductor device including, on at least one surface of a crystalline semiconductor substrate, at least one first amorphous semiconductor region doped with a first type of conductivity. The semiconductor substrate includes, on the same at least one surface, at least one second amorphous semiconductor region doped with a second type of conductivity, opposite the first type of conductivity. The first amorphous semiconductor region, insulated for the second amorphous semiconductor region by at least ore dielectric region in the contact with the semiconductor substrate, and the second amorphous semiconductor region form an interdigitated structure.
US07935962B2
Disclosed herein is an organic electroluminescent device including: an anode; a cathode; and an organic layer including a light-emitting layer, a naphthacene compound layer containing a naphthacene compound, and an electron transport layer; the light-emitting layer being composed of a light-emitting guest material and an aromatic hydrocarbon compound having the skeleton of anthracene, and the naphthacene compound layer containing no less than 80 wt % of naphthacene compound represented by the formula (1) below and having a thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm and being in contact with that side of the electron transport layer which faces the light-emitting layer.
US07935960B2
The invention relates to novel polyacene compounds, organic semiconducting formulations and layers comprising them, a process for preparing the formulation and layer and electronic devices, including organic field effect transistors (OFETs), comprising the same.
US07935955B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure having a smooth surface and exhibiting excellent crystallinity, which multilayer structure employs a low-cost substrate that can be easily processed. Another object is to provide a Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device comprising the multilayer structure.The inventive Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure comprises a substrate; an AlxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1) buffer layer which is provided on the substrate and has a columnar or island-like crystal structure; and an AlxInyGa1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1) single-crystal layer provided on the buffer layer, wherein the substrate has, on its surface, non-periodically distributed grooves having an average depth of 0.01 to 5 μm.
US07935930B1
A device (100) includes a substrate (2) having a surface (4). A plurality of nano-resonate structures (8) is disposed in rows (12) and columns (14) on the surface (4). A generally two-dimensional charged particle beam (10) passes over at least a portion of the plurality of nano-resonant structures (8) and at a particular height above the surface. At least a portion of the plurality of nano-resonant structures (8) interact in response to the generally two-dimensional charged particle beam (10) and generate electromagnetic energy (16).
US07935928B2
A method and a device for generating images in a motor vehicle are provided. An infrared-sensitive camera generates images of the surroundings of the motor vehicle. An emission source emitting in the near infrared spectral region is used for the pulsed illumination of sub-ranges of the image recording region of the camera. The camera generates the images by recording partial image regions. To record the partial image regions, a synchronization in time is carried out with the pulsed illumination of the sub-range including at least the partial image region. In the preferred exemplary embodiment, the recording of partial image regions of an infrared-sensitive CMOS camera is synchronized in time with a laser diode array emitting in the near infrared spectral region.
US07935918B2
Provided is a 4-transistor CMOS image in which a driving condition or a pixel structure is changed so that a transfer transistor in a pixel operates in a pinch-off condition during reset and transfer operations in order to reduce dark current and fixed-pattern noise caused by a change in an operation condition of the transfer transistor and inter-pixel characteristic discrepancy. The image sensor includes a photosensitive pixel including a transfer transistor for transferring photon-induced charges created in a photodiode; and a voltage control unit for controlling a turn-on voltage applied to a gate of the transfer transistor to be lower than a floating diffusion node voltage plus the threshold voltage of the transfer transistor during a partial or entire section of a turn-on section of the transfer transistor such that the transfer transistor operates in a pseudo pinch-off mode.
US07935907B2
A contact system for a short-circuiting device for a switchboard, the contact system including at least one fixed contact piece connected to a main voltage source. The contact system also includes at least one moving contact piece and an insulating screen penetrable using the at least one moving contact piece so as to make contact between the at least one moving contact piece and the at least one fixed contact piece. The screen is disposed between the at least one fixed contact piece and the at least one moving contact piece.
US07935905B2
A contact system is disclosed for use in electromechanical switchgear. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a contact system is provided which has a simple constructive design and allows for an especially reliable contact. For this purpose, at least one embodiment of the contact system includes a spring support, an actuating element, and a contact element. The contact element includes a spring area, supported on the spring support, for providing a jump function, an actuator area, actuated by the actuating element, for initiating the jump function, and a contacting area for simultaneously establishing electrical contact with the stationary contact pieces.
US07935899B2
Provided is a circuit device in which an electronic circuit to be incorporated therein operates stably. A hybrid integrated circuit device includes multiple circuit boards which are disposed on approximately the same plane. An electronic circuit including a conductive pattern and a circuit element is formed on each top surface of the circuit boards. Furthermore, these circuit boards are integrally supported by a sealing resin. Moreover, a lead connected to the electronic circuit formed on the surface of the circuit board is led out from the sealing resin to the outside.
US07935893B2
A printed wiring board is manufactured by a method in which a laminate body having a first insulation layer and a conductive film is provided. An alignment mark is formed in the laminate body by removing at least a portion of the conductive film. An electronic component is placed on an adhesive layer provided on the first insulation layer at a position determined based on the alignment mark. After the electronic component is enclosed inside an opening of the second insulation layer, a via hole exposing a terminal of the electronic component is formed at a position determined based on the alignment mark used to determine the position of the electronic component. A via conductor is formed in the via hole, and a conductive layer is formed on the conductive film and patterned to form a conductive circuit connected to the via conductor.
US07935879B2
A method and apparatus creates “micro edits” or alterations and manipulation of sounds, per track or per portion of a track in a “drum machine,” thereby creating unique subdivisions of sound as well as providing means for panning sound within a two dimensional sound space.
US07935877B2
The present disclosure relates to music composition devices and methods. A system is provided which allows composers of all skill levels to easily create music that is pleasurable to the ear. The system may also assist more advanced composers in creating complex musical arrangements based off of partially completed compositions. The system also streamlines composition and arrangement in multi-instrument environments. The user is able to select from a variety of available music visualizations and instrument views, allowing comparison therebetween. The system may comprise composition error checking functions, free-play performance abilities, and recording and playback features. Certain embodiments incorporate remote access for collaboration between users.
US07935862B2
The invention provides various methods for the targeted integration and stacking of nucleotide sequences in the genome of a host plant cell using homologous recombination.
US07935843B2
The present invention relates to dephenolic compounds, an example of which is shown below, which are functionalized, and polymers formed from the same. Polymers formed from the functionalized diphenolics are expected to have controllable degradation profiles, enabling them to release an active component over a desired time range. The polymers are also expected to be useful in a variety of medical applications.
US07935841B2
The invention concerns an enantiomerically enriched compound of formula (1) or the opposite enantiomer thereof wherein each of Ar1—Ar4 represent the same or different aromatic groups of up to 20 carbon atoms and the bridging group X is the formula (5) in which * denotes points of attachment to phosphorus atoms and methods of making thereof.
US07935832B2
The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein: R2 represents hydrogen, halogen, C1-6 alkyl, C6-10 arylmethyl-, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl or C3-6 cycloalkylmethyl-; and any of said C1-6 alkyl, C6-10 arylmethyl-, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl or C3-6 cycloalkylmethyl- is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 halogen atoms; and R3 represents hydrogen, fluorine or methyl; or R2 and R3 together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a benzene ring optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents, which may be the same or different, selected from the group consisting of C1-6 alkyl, C2-6 alkenyl and C2-6 alkynyl. The compounds or salts modulate P2X7 receptor function and are capable of antagonizing the effects of ATP at the P2X7 receptor. The invention also provides the use of such compounds or salts, or pharmaceutical compositions thereof, in the treatment of disorders mediated by the P2X7 receptor, for example pain, inflammation or neurodegeneration.
US07935827B2
The present invention relates to new optically active heteroaromatic β-hydroxy esters useful in the synthesis of epothilone derivatives, to certain compounds used to produce these intermediates, as well as to processes for their production.
US07935824B2
The invention relates a compound represented by the formula (1): Q1-Q2-C(═O)—N(R1)-Q3-N(R2)-T1-Q4 (1) wherein R1 and R2 represent H or the like; Q1 represents an aromatic ring, heterocyclic ring or the like; Q2 represents a single bond, aromatic ring, heterocyclic ring or the like; Q3 represents a group or the like, Q4 represents an aromatic ring, heterocyclic ring or the like; and T1 represents —CO— or —SO2—, and a medicine which comprises the compound and is useful for thrombosis and embolism.
US07935821B2
A process for the purification of an impure preparation containing naltrexone by means of a reverse phase preparative chromatography process is provided. In an illustrative embodiment a chromatographic column is loaded with a stationary phase, typically a silica particle having an organic ligand bound thereto. With a loading ratio of from about 10 to about 1000 the impure preparation is acidified and passed through the column. The column is eluted with typically an aqueous solution with acetonitrile and the purified naltrexone is obtained in a specified fraction.
US07935815B2
A compound represented by the formula (I): or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ar1 represents an imidazolyl group or the like which may be substituted with a C1-6 alkyl group, Ar2 represents a phenyl group or the like which may be substituted with a C1-6 alkoxy group, X1 represents a double bond or the like and Het represents a triazolyl group or the like which may be substituted with a C1-6 alkyl group or the like, is effective as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for a disease caused by Aβ.
US07935803B2
A mutant hydrolase optionally fused to a protein of interest is provided. The mutant hydrolase is capable of forming a bond with a substrate for the corresponding nonmutant (wild-type) hydrolase which is more stable than the bond formed between the wild-type hydrolase and the substrate and has at least two amino acid substitutions relative to the wild-type hydrolase. Substrates for hydrolases comprising one or more functional groups are also provided, as well as methods of using the mutant hydrolase and the substrates of the invention. Also provided is a fusion protein capable of forming a stable bond with a substrate and cells which express the fusion protein.
US07935792B2
A polypeptide of N-acetylglucosamine-6-O-sulfotransferase and a DNA encoding the peptide are provided. The polypeptide is (a) or (b) below: (a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2; or (b) a polypeptide which includes an amino acid sequence including substitution, deletion, insertion or transposition of one or a few amino acids in the amino acid sequence of (a) and which has an enzymatic activity to transfer a sulfate group from a sulfate group donor to a hydroxyl group at 6 position of an N-acetylglucosamine residue located at a non-reducing end of an oligosaccharide represented the formula I: GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc (I) where GlcNAc represents an N-acetyl-glucosamine residue, Gal represents a galactose residue, β 1-3 represents a β 1-3 glycosidic linkage, and β 1-4 represents a β 1-4 glycosidic linkage.
US07935779B2
Disclosed are processes for synthesizing polyimides by a sequential self-repetitive reaction between poly (aryl carbodiimide) (p-CDI) or aryl diisocyanates with dianhydrides.
US07935775B2
Disclosed are novel Mannich bases which are produced by using at least one phenolic compound of formula (I): formaldehyde, and at least one polyamine. Also disclosed is a two-step method for producing Mannich bases, by means of which low viscous Mannich bases are obtained.
US07935773B2
The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising a copolymer that includes a first monomer and a second monomer that is different from the first monomer, wherein both the first and second monomer are selected from the group consisting of 3-sulfopropyl acrylate potassium salt, sodium acrylate, N-(tris(hydroxyl methyl)methyl)acrylamide, and 2-acrylamideo-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid. The present disclosure further relates to methods for preparing the copolymer compositions and shaped articles comprising the copolymers.
US07935766B2
Disclosed are propylene impact copolymer compositions, articles thereof, and processes for producing same. Polymerization with an improved catalyst composition provides a propylene impact copolymer with high melt flow and low volatiles content.
US07935763B2
In one embodiment is a thermoplastic vulcanizates having improved extrusion properties formed from a composition that includes from 20% to about 80% by weight of an elastomer, from about 80% to about 20% by weight of a thermoplastic, from about 0.05 to about 12 phr of a multifunctional methacrylate monomer peroxide curing coagent; and from about 0.02 to about 6 phr of a phosphorous containing stabilizer. The resultant thermoplastic vulcanizate may be cured with a peroxide curing agent and shows improved die lip build up compared to conventionally prepared thermoplastic vulcanizates. Methods of forming thermoplastic vulcanizates having improved die lip build up are also taught.
US07935743B1
This invention describes an electrically driven mechanochemical actuator comprising an electroactive material capable of converting electrical to mechanical energy in communication with a first electrode and a second electrode, the electroactive material immersed in an electrolyte, the electroactive material and electrolyte surrounded by a flexible encapsulating coating, wherein a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode penetrate there through.
US07935741B2
An ink composition is provided that includes a condensed polycyclic aromatic compound, a polymerization initiator, and a polymerizable compound, and the condensed polycyclic aromatic compound is a compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the formula below, a compound having at least three hydroxy groups, alkoxy groups, and/or aryloxy groups on a condensed polycyclic aromatic ring, and a compound having at least one atom having an atomic weight of 32 or greater bonded to a condensed polycyclic aromatic ring and/or one group bonded to the condensed polycyclic aromatic ring via an atom having an atomic weight of 32 or greater. There are also provided a printed material obtained by employing the ink composition, a process for producing a lithographic printing plate employing the ink composition, and a lithographic printing plate obtained by the production process. R4m—Ar-A-SiR1R2R3)n
US07935740B2
The present subject matter relates to processes for irradiating visbroken propylene polymer compositions or extrudates of propylene polymer compositions containing a propylene polymer having a low polydispersity index and a non-phenolic stabilizer.
US07935739B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a cationic curable composition which has low viscosity, can be rapidly photo-cured even in the air, has good adhesion to a substrate such as glass or resin, and is excellent in glass cleaner resistance and water resistance; an ink jet ink, a gravure ink and a hard coating material which comprise the composition; and cured products thereof. A cationic curable composition comprising: (A) 1 to 100 parts by weight of a phenol derivative having 3 or more aromatic rings per molecule, wherein the aromatic ring has a structure in which some or all of hydrogen atoms of phenolic hydroxyl groups of the aromatic ring are substituted by polymerizable functional groups; (B) 1 to 500 parts by weight of a cationic polymerizable compound; and (C) 0.05 to 20 parts by weight of a photo- and/or thermo-cationic initiator is provided.
US07935735B2
A composition of matter is formed from a graftable polymer, having graftable sites onto which sidechains have been grafted. The sidechains include at least one silane group, and may be formed by polymerization of a polymerizable group of a silane precursor. These compositions may further include acid groups, and may be used, for example, in improved proton conducting materials in fuel cells.
US07935734B2
The disclosed technology relates to a process for conducting a chemical reaction between at least one liquid reactant and at least one gaseous reactant in a process microchannel containing at least one catalyst, the catalyst comprising a solid phase catalyst or a homogeneous catalyst immobilized on a solid. In one embodiment, the process microchannel comprises a processing zone containing one or more structures for disrupting fluid flow and a reaction zone containing one or more structures for contacting and/or supporting the catalyst, the one or more structures for contacting and/or supporting the catalyst containing openings to permit the reactants to flow through the one or more structures and contact the catalyst.
US07935730B2
This invention provides methods for improving reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows and other mammals. The method in the case of cows comprises feeding to the cows, a composition comprising conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12. When these CLAs are fed daily to dairy cows starting at or prior to calving, and continued after parturition, an improvement in reproductive performance is observed.
US07935705B2
Compounds of the formula: where X and Y are each independently H, halo, or C1-C6 straight or branched chain substituted or unsubstituted alkyl.
US07935704B2
Compounds represented by the following structure (I) are disclosed: as are methods for making such compounds, wherein said methods comprise reacting a diacyldiketopiperazine with a first aldehyde to produce an intermediate compound; and reacting the intermediate compound with a second aldehyde to produce the class of compounds with the generic structure, where the first aldehyde and the second aldehydes are selected from the group consisting of an oxazolecarboxaldeyhyde, imidazolecarboxaldehyde, a benzaldehyde, imidazolecarboxaldehyde derivatives, and benzaldehyde derivatives, thereby forming the above compound wherein R1, R1′, R1″, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, X1 and X2, Y, Z, Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 may each be separately defined in a manner consistent with the accompanying description. Compositions and methods for treating vascular proliferation are also disclosed.
US07935702B2
Substituted biaryl quinolin-4-ylamine analogues of Formula I are provided. Such compounds are ligands that may be used to modulate specific receptor activity in vivo or in vitro, and are particularly useful in the treatment of conditions associated with pathological receptor activation in humans, domesticated companion animals and livestock animals. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using such compounds to treat such disorders are provided, as are methods for using such ligands for receptor localization studies.
US07935695B2
This invention relates to novel 1,4-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl heteroaryl derivatives and their use in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions. The compounds of the invention are found to be cholinergic ligands at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.Due to their pharmacological profile the compounds of the invention may be useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders as diverse as those related to the cholinergic system of the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases or disorders related to smooth muscle contraction, endocrine diseases or disorders, diseases or disorders related to neuro-degeneration, diseases or disorders related to inflammation, pain, and withdrawal symptoms caused by the termination of abuse of chemical substances.
US07935694B2
The present invention provides novel compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various diseases.
US07935690B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising: (A) an androgen; (B) a cyclic enhancer of the type used in the compositions and methods claimed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,252 to Hsieh; and (C) a thickening agent; including, for example, a composition in which the cyclic enhancer is a macrocyclic ester or a macrocyclic ketone; the use of the composition to treat a condition, for example, male hypogonadism, in a patient by applying the composition to the membrane of the patient; and a method for making the composition.
US07935689B2
Agents useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are disclosed, compound of the formula (I): wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8; q is 0 or 1; t is 0 or 1; R1 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R3 and R4 together are alkyl having two or three carbon atoms; or R3 and R4 are the same as each other and each is methyl or ethyl; R5 is hydrogen or alkyl having from one to six carbon atoms. A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 groups selected from: halo, hydroxy, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy; or A is cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or one or two ring carbons are independently mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl; or A is a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring having 1 or 2 ring heteroatoms selected from N, S and O and the heteroaromatic ring is covalently bound to the remainder of the compound of formula (I) by a ring carbon. Alternatively, the agent can be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula (I).
US07935682B2
The present invention relates to the ability of SAP to suppress the differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes. It also relates to the ability of IL-4 and IL-3 to enhance the differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes. Methods and compositions for binding SAP, decreasing SAP levels and suppressing SAP activity are provided. Methods of using, inter alia, CPHPC, the 4,6-pyruvate acetyl of beta-D-galactopyranose, ethanolamines, high EEO agarose, IL-4, and IL-13, and anti-SAP antibodies and fragments thereof to increase monocyte differentiation into fibrocytes are provided. These methods are useful in a variety of applications, including wound healing. Wound dressings are also provided. Finally, the invention may include assays for detecting the ability of various agents to modulate monocyte differentiation into fibrocytes and to detect monocyte defects.
US07935668B2
A detergent composition comprises an MGDA containing particulate material. The MGDA particulate is at least partially coated with a coating of a water soluble/dispersible material having a melting point of less than 100° C. The coating material exhibits a pH of greater than or equal to 7 in an aqueous medium.
US07935664B2
A lubricating oil composition comprising oil of lubricating viscosity and an overbased metal hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate detergent manufactured in the presence of an amine- or ester-based friction modifier.
US07935662B2
A method for removing drilling damage from a formation in a wellbore that has not been produced includes injecting a chemical-acting cleanup fluid and contacting it with a filtercake on a face of a formation of interest for a period of time sufficient to loosen some of the solids embedded in the filtercake. The method further includes circulating a solids removal fluid at a high rate through the wellbore across the face of the formation of interest, the solids removal fluid including a viscosifier, and positioning a second treatment fluid having a fluid loss control pill in the wellbore at the formation of interest. The method further includes degrading particles of the fluid loss control pill and degrading remaining bridging agent from the drilling fluid.
US07935660B2
A process for producing a self-disrupting filter cake in an underground formation, which process comprises: (a) incorporating into a drilling fluid a solid polymer capable of being converted by hydrolysis into one or more organic acids; (b) using the drilling fluid to drill a wellbore into the underground formation such that the solid polymer in the drilling fluid contributes to the formation of a filter cake; and (c) allowing the solid polymer to hydrolyse in the presence of water and to disrupt the integrity of the filter cake. A drilling fluid which contains as a bridging agent one or more solid polymers capable of being converted by hydrolysis into one or more organic acids is also provided.
US07935650B2
The present invention provides a process for separating and disposing of catalyst in an oxygenate to olefins reaction system. Oxygenates are converted to olefins in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst having carbonaceous deposits, then effluent stream comprising the olefins is removed from the reactor. This effluent stream is entrained with a portion of the catalyst having carbonaceous deposits. The catalyst is separated from the effluent stream by contacting the effluent stream with a neutralized liquid quench medium to produce a catalyst containing stream. The carbonaceous deposits are incinerated and then the catalyst is recirculated to the reactor.
US07935649B2
Alkali-free glasses are disclosed which can be used to produce substrates for flat panel display devices, e.g., active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs). The glasses contain iron and tin as fining agents, and preferably are substantially free of arsenic and antimony. In certain embodiments, the glasses are also substantially free of barium. Methods for producing alkali-free glass sheets using a downdraw process (e.g., a fusion process) are also disclosed.
US07935643B2
The formation of a gap-filling silicon oxide layer with reduced tendency towards cracking is described. The deposition involves the formation of a flowable silicon-containing layer which facilitates the filling of trenches. Subsequent processing at high substrate temperature causes less cracking in the dielectric film than flowable films formed in accordance with methods in the prior art. A compressive liner layer deposited prior to the formation of the gap-filling silicon oxide layer is described and reduces the tendency for the subsequently deposited film to crack. A compressive capping layer deposited after a flowable silicon-containing layer has also been determined to reduce cracking. Compressive liner layers and compressive capping layers can be used alone or in combination to reduce and often eliminate cracking. Compressive capping layers in disclosed embodiments have additionally been determined to enable an underlying layer of silicon nitride to be transformed into a silicon oxide layer.
US07935637B2
A method for fabricating a microelectronic structure provides for forming a backfilling material layer at least laterally adjacent, and preferably laterally adjoining, a resist layer located over a substrate. Preferably, the resist layer comprises a surface treated resist layer. Optionally, the backfilling material layer may be surface treated similarly to the surface treated resist layer. Under such circumstances: (1) surface portions of the backfilling material layer and resist layer; and (2) remaining portions of the backfilling material layer and resist layer, may be sequentially stripped using a two step etch method, such as a two step plasma etch method. Alternatively, a surface portion of the surface treated resist layer only may be stripped while using a first etch method, and the remaining portions of the resist layer and backfilling material layer may be planarized prior to being simultaneously stripped while using a second etch method.
US07935635B2
A method of forming fine patterns of semiconductor device according to an example embodiment may include forming a plurality of multi-layered mask patterns by stacking first mask patterns and buffer mask patterns on an etch film to be etched on a substrate, forming, on the etch film, second mask patterns in spaces between the plurality of multi-layered mask patterns, removing the second mask patterns to expose upper surfaces of the first mask patterns, and forming the fine patterns by etching the etch film using the first and second mask patterns as an etch mask. This example embodiment may result in the formation of diverse dimensions at diverse pitches on a single substrate.
US07935634B2
A method of making an integrated circuit comprises providing a substrate and forming a structure on the substrate comprising a first enclosed portion of a carbon material and a second portion of the carbon material, wherein an intersection of the first and second portion of the carbon material has a defined dimension. The method further comprises processing the substrate with a plasma comprising hydrogen in order to etch the second portion of the carbon material, wherein the defined dimension of the intersection of the first and second portion of the carbon material substantially suppresses etching of the first enclosed portion of the carbon material in a self-limiting way.
US07935631B2
A cap layer for a metal feature such as a copper interconnect on a semiconductor wafer is formed by immersion plating a more noble metal (e.g. Pd) onto the copper interconnect and breaking up, preferably by mechanical abrasion, loose nodules of the noble metal that form on the copper interconnect surface. The mechanical abrasion removes plated noble metal which is only loosely attached to the copper surface, and then continued exposure of the copper surface to immersion plating chemicals leads to plating at new sites on the surface until a continuous, well-bonded noble metal layer has formed. The method can be implemented conveniently by supplying immersion plating chemicals to the surface of a wafer undergoing CMP or undergoing scrubbing in a wafer-scrubber apparatus.
US07935624B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming an opening defined by an inner wall surface in an insulation film, forming a Cu—Mn alloy layer in the opening, depositing a Cu layer on the Cu—Mn alloy layer and filling the opening with the Cu layer, and forming a barrier layer as a result of reaction between Mn atoms in the Cu—Mn alloy layer and the insulation film, wherein the step of forming the barrier layer is conducted by exposing the Cu layer to an ambient that forms a gaseous reaction product when reacted with Mn.
US07935621B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a circuit and method for electroplating a feature (e.g., a BEOL anti-fuse device) onto a wafer. The embodiments eliminate the use of a seed layer and, thereby, minimize subsequent processing steps (e.g., etching or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)). Specifically, the embodiments allow for selective electroplating metal or alloy materials onto an exposed portion of a metal layer in a trench on the front side of a substrate. This is accomplished by providing a unique wafer structure that allows a current path to be established from a power supply through a back side contact and in-substrate electrical connector to the metal layer. During electrodeposition, current flow through the current path can be selectively controlled. Additionally, if the electroplated feature is an anti-fuse device, current flow through this current path can also be selectively controlled in order to program the anti-fuse device.
US07935620B2
Methods and apparatus are described for semiconductor devices. A method comprises providing a partially completed semiconductor device including a substrate, a semiconductor on the substrate, and a passivation layer on the semiconductor, and using a first mask, locally etching the passivation layer to expose a portion of the semiconductor, and without removing the first mask, forming a Schottky contact of a first material on the exposed portion of the semiconductor, then removing the first mask, and using a further mask, forming a step-gate conductor of a second material electrically coupled to the Schottky contact and overlying parts of the passivation layer adjacent to the Schottky contact. By minimizing the process steps between opening the Schottky contact window in the passivation layer and forming the Schottky contact material in this window, the gate leakage of a resulting field effect device having a Schottky gate may be substantially reduced.
US07935617B2
A method of providing a layer in a semiconductor device, wherein the layer includes Si1-x-yGexCy, and wherein the carbon in the layer is in a stable condition, includes preparing a silicon substrate; preparing a SiGeC precursor; forming a Si1-x-yGexCy layer on the silicon substrate from the precursor; forming a top silicon layer on the Si1-x-yGexCy layer; and completing the semiconductor device.
US07935614B2
A multiplicity of silicon wafers polished at least on their front sides are provided and successively coated individually in an epitaxy reactor by a procedure whereby one of the wafers is placed on a susceptor in the epitaxy reactor, is pretreated under a hydrogen atmosphere at a first hydrogen flow rate, and with addition of an etching medium to the hydrogen atmosphere at a reduced hydrogen flow rate in a second step, is subsequently coated epitaxially on its polished front side, and removed from the reactor. An etching treatment of the susceptor follows a specific number of epitaxial coatings. Silicon wafers produced thereby have a global flatness value GBIR of 0.07-0.3 μm relative to an edge exclusion of 2 mm.
US07935610B2
Structures and methods are disclosed for the electrical isolation of semiconductor devices. A method of forming a semiconductor device may include providing a second integrated device region on a substrate that is spaced apart from a first integrated device region. An isolation region may be interposed between the first integrated device region and the second integrated device region. The isolation region may include an isolation recess that projects into the substrate to a first predetermined depth, and that may be extended to a second predetermined depth.
US07935600B2
A multi-channel transistor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method of a manufacturing a multi-channel transistor device includes defining an active region in a semiconductor substrate by forming an isolation layer exposing an upper side portion of the active region. An active expanding region is formed on the exposed upper side portion of the active region by selective epitaxial growth (SEG). A portion of the active region is selectively etched to define first channel bars in the active expanding region that extend between first and second laterally separated portions of the active region and a second channel bar that is an unetched portion of the active region. A portion of the isolation layer is selectively removed such as to expose side portions of the second channel bar and bottom surface portions of the first channel bars. A gate is formed on the first and second channel bars with a gate dielectric layer between the gate and the channel bars. A source/drain region is formed in a region of the active expanding region adjacent to the gate, thereby resulting in a multi-channel transistor structure.
US07935595B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device whereby the process is simplified and high performance can be obtained in both a trench-gate transistor and a planar transistor that has a thin gate insulating film when the two transistors are formed on the same semiconductor substrate. In a state in which the gate insulating film (11s) in a peripheral circuit region PE is covered by a protective film (12), a gate trench (18) is formed in a memory cell region M, after which a gate insulating film (19) that is thicker than the gate insulating film (11s) is formed on an inner wall of the gate trench (18) in a state in which the gate insulating film (11s) of the peripheral circuit region PE is still covered by the protective film (12).
US07935586B2
A thin film transistor that has improved characteristics and uniformity is developed by uniformly controlling low concentration of crystallization catalyst and controlling crystallization position so that no seed exists and no grain boundary exists, or one grain boundary exists in a channel layer of the thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a substrate; a semiconductor layer pattern which is formed on the substrate, the semiconductor layer pattern having a channel layer of which no seed exists and no gram boundary exists; a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer pattern; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film. A method for fabricating the thin film transistor includes forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; forming a semiconductor layer pattern having a channel layer in which no seed exists and no grain boundary exists by crystallizing and patterning the amorphous silicon layer; forming a gate insulating film on the semiconductor layer pattern; and forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating film.
US07935582B2
An amorphous oxide containing hydrogen (or deuterium) is applied to a channel layer of a transistor. Accordingly, a thin film transistor having superior TFT properties can be realized, the superior TFT properties including a small hysteresis, normally OFF operation, a high ON/OFF ratio, a high saturated current, and the like. Furthermore, as a method for manufacturing a channel layer made of an amorphous oxide, film formation is performed in an atmosphere containing a hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas, so that the carrier concentration of the amorphous oxide can be controlled.
US07935571B2
Through substrate vias for back-side electrical and thermal interconnections on very thin semiconductor wafers without loss of wafer mechanical strength during manufacturing are provided by: forming (101) desired device regions (21) with contacts (22) on the front surface (19) of an initially relatively thick wafer (18′); etching (104) via cavities (29) partly through the wafer (18′) in the desired locations; filling (105) the via cavities (29) with a conductive material (32) coupled to some device region contacts (22); mounting (106) the wafer (18′) with its front side (35) facing a support structure (40); thinning (107) the wafer (18′) from the back side (181) to expose internal ends (3210, 3220, 3230, 3240, etc.) of the conductive material filled vias (321, 322, 323, 324, etc.); applying (108) any desired back-side interconnect region (44) coupled to the exposed ends (3210, 3220, 3230, 3240, etc.) of the filled vias; removing (109) the support structure (40) and separating the individual device or IC assemblies (48) so as to be available for mounting (110) on a further circuit board, tape or larger circuit (50).
US07935566B2
A method of fabricating an organic field effect transistor (OFET) includes forming at least one OFET structure by ultraviolet (UV) transfer embossing printing, where, in an example embodiment, the method includes providing ink material on at least part of a patterned surface of a mold, where the mold 100 is then contacted on a coating of ultraviolet (UV) curable resin on a substrate so as to insert at least part of the ink material into the resin, the resin is then irradiated with UV light, and the mold is separated from the resin so as to transfer the ink material onto the substrate to form at least one OFET structure.
US07935560B2
A method of fabricating a CMOS image sensor comprising an array of active pixel cells. Each active pixel cell includes a substrate; a photosensing device formed at or below a substrate surface for collecting charge carriers in response to incident light; and, one or more light transmissive conductive wire structures formed above the photosensing device, the one or more conductive wire structures being located in an optical path above the photosensing device. The formed light transmissive conductive wire structures provide both an electrical and optical function. An optical function is provided by tailoring the thickness of the conductive wire layer to filter light according to a pixel color scheme. Alternately, the light transmissive conductive wire structures may be formed as a microlens structure providing a light focusing function. Electrical functions for the conductive wire layer include use as a capacitor plate, as a resistor or as an interconnect.
US07935555B2
A method of sealing a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device from ambient conditions is described. The MEMS device is formed on a substrate and a substantially hermetic seal is formed as part of the MEMS device manufacturing process. The method may include forming a metal seal on the substrate proximate to a perimeter of the MEMS device using a method such as photolithography. The metal seal is formed on the substrate while the MEMS device retains a sacrificial layer between conductive members of MEMS elements, and the sacrificial layer is removed after formation of the seal and prior to attachment of a backplane.
US07935554B2
Provided are a semiconductor light emitting device having a nano pattern and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device includes: a semiconductor layer comprising a plurality of nano patterns, wherein the plurality of nano patterns are formed inside the semiconductor layer; and an active layer formed on the semiconductor layer. The optical output efficiency is increased and inner defects of the semiconductor light emitting device are reduced.
US07935551B2
A method for manufacturing a sensor image may include forming a pixel array including a photodiode structure and an insulating film structure in an active area of a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal pad on the insulating film structure; forming a dielectric and/or etch stop film on the metal pad (and optionally over the pixel array); forming a protective layer on the dielectric and/or etch stop film; and forming a pad opening and a pixel opening by etching the protective layer.
US07935548B2
A deposition apparatus includes: a first electrode for placing a processing object; a second electrode for generating plasma with the first electrode, the second electrode being opposed to the first electrode; and a heat flow control heat transfer part for drawing heat from the processing object to generate a heat flow from a central area to a peripheral area of the processing object.
US07935547B2
A method for patterning a layer on a semiconductor substrate includes forming a layer of a semiconductor substrate and exposing the layer to light. The light travels through a second pellicle that is manufactured by a method that includes determining a first transmission of a first light through a first pellicle, wherein the first light is normal to the first pellicle, determining a second transmission of a second light through the first pellicle, wherein the second light is not normal to the first pellicle, and modifying the first pellicle to form a second pellicle using the first and second transmission.
US07935542B2
To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device capable of forming, as a protective film of an MTJ element, a silicon nitride film having good insulation properties without deteriorating the properties of the MTJ element. The method of the invention includes steps of forming a silicon nitride film over the entire surface including an MTJ element portion (MTJ element and an upper electrode) while using a parallel plate plasma CVD apparatus as a film forming apparatus and a film forming gas not containing NH3 but composed of SiH4/N2/helium (He). The film forming temperature is set at from 200 to 350° C. More ideally, a flow rate ratio of He to SiH4 is set at from 100 to 125.
US07935540B2
A metallic nanoparticle coated water-soluble polymeric substrate and the process for preparing and using the same is described.
US07935537B2
A sample preparation device for reducing a concentration of one or more concomitant components of a sample and/or increasing a concentration of one or more desired sample components is described.
US07935526B2
It is an object of the present invention to establish a method of establishing a cell with a remarkably high hERG channel expression level for use in predicting adverse effects based on hERG channel inhibition in research and development of drugs, and to thereby establish a highly sensitive and high throughput evaluation method.By inserting a hERG gene into a retrovirus vector plasmid or lentivirus vector plasmid to thereby prepare a virus vector, concentrating the vector by ultracentrifugation if necessary, transferring the hERG gene into cells and expressing hERG channels therein, it has become possible to secure an expression level effective in measurements using a fully automated high throughput patch clamp system or dyes.
US07935520B2
Methods and compositions are provided for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods can be performed in a high-throughput manner. The invention also provides optical devices useful as narrow band filters.
US07935508B2
A higher-yielding process for the production of monoglycerides in which triglycerides are enzymatically reacted with a catalytic amount of an esterase, preferably lipase, that has been activated by the addition of alkaline salts, in the presence of linear or branched alcohols containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, then the esterase may be deactivated and it and the remaining alcohol removed, with the monoglycerides thus produced useful in lubricants, fuel additives, and emulsifying constituents in foods, and cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical formulations.
US07935504B2
A thermal cycling method may include adding a sample to a sample vessel, placing the sample vessel into a thermal cycler having a processing unit with three processing stations, compressing the sample vessel with the first compression member, transferring energy to the sample with the second energy transfer element, transferring energy to the sample with the third energy transfer element, compressing the sample vessel with the third compression member, and transferring energy to the sample with the first energy transfer element.
US07935499B2
The invention relates generally to methods, systems, and devices for measuring the concentration of target analytes present in a biological system using a series of measurements obtained from a monitoring system and a Mixtures of Experts (MOE) algorithm. In one embodiment, the present invention describes a method for measuring blood glucose in a subject.
US07935495B2
The present invention provides a method for the detection of early renal disease in animals. The method includes the steps of (a) obtaining a sample from an animal to be tested and (b) determining the amount of albumin in the sample. An amount of albumin in the range of from 10 μg/ml to about 300 μg/ml indicates the presence of early renal disease. The present invention also provides antibodies to canine, feline and equine albumin which can be used to detect the presence of early renal disease.
US07935493B2
The present invention provides protein fragment complementation assays for drug discovery, in particular to identify compounds that activate or inhibit cellular pathways. Based on the selection of an interacting protein pair combined with an appropriate PCA reporter, the assays may be run in high-throughput or high-content mode and may be used in automated screening of libraries of compounds. The interacting pair may be selected by cDNA library screening; by gene-by-gene interaction mapping; or by prior knowledge of a pathway. Fluorescent and luminescent assays can be constructed using the methods provided herein. The selection of suitable PCA reporters for high-throughput or high-content (high-context) assay formats is described for a diversity of reporters, with particular detail provided for examples of monomeric enzymes and fluorescent proteins. Methods are described for constructing such assays for one or more steps in a biochemical pathway; testing the effects of compounds from combinatorial, natural product, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid or other diverse libraries on the protein or pathway(s) of interest; and using the results of the screening to identify specific compounds that activate or inhibit the protein or pathway(s) of interest. Single-color and multi-color assays are disclosed. Further disclosed are universal expression vectors with cassettes that allow the rapid construction of assays for a large and diverse number of gene/reporter combinations. The development of such assays is shown to be straightforward, providing for a broad, flexible and biologically relevant platform for drug discovery.
US07935492B2
The present invention provides native Goodpasture antigen binding protein isoforms, monoclonal antibodies directed against such proteins, and methods for their use.
US07935491B2
A novel gene 024P4C12 (also designated 24P4C12) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 24P4C12 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 24P4C12 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 24P4C12 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 24P4C12 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US07935481B1
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for the use of self-assembled monolayers to electronically detect nucleic acids, particularly alterations such as nucleotide substitutions (mismatches) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
US07935480B2
A method for detecting a mutation in a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the target nucleic acid sequence comprising a first DNA strand and optionally the complementary strand thereof, said method comprising: (a) adding a detection primer to the nucleic acid, wherein the detection primer binds to the first DNA strand at a DNA sequence that comprises the mutation site; (b) extending the detection primer to form second DNA strands that are complementary to the first DNA strand; (c) adding an amplification primer to the nucleic acid, wherein the amplification primer binds to the second DNA strand and/or to the complementary strand, at a position away from the mutation site; (d) extending the amplification primer to form third DNA strands that are complementary to the second DNA strands, and/or additional copies of the first DNA strand; (e) annealing the DNA strands by complementary base pairing, to form nucleic acid duplexes, wherein if the two strands of the duplex have a mismatched residue at the mutation site, the duplex is a heteroduplex, and wherein if the two strands of the duplex do not have a mismatched residue at the mutation site, the duplex is a homoduplex; and (f) detecting the presence of heteroduplexes and/or homoduplexes.
US07935477B2
A method of lithography patterning includes forming a first resist pattern on a substrate, the first resist pattern including at least one opening therein on the substrate; curing the first resist pattern; forming a second resist pattern on the substrate; forming a material layer on the substrate; and removing the first and second resist patterns to expose the substrate.
US07935467B2
In a magnetic toner which has magnetic toner base particles containing at least a binder resin and a magnetic material, and an inorganic fine powder, (i) the magnetic toner has an average circularity of from 0.950 or more to 1.000 or less, (ii) the magnetic toner has a compressibility of 30 or less, and (iii) the magnetic toner contains boron nitride particles having a median diameter (D50) of from 0.5 μm or more to 8.0 μm or less, as the inorganic fine powder in an amount of from 0.05 part by mass or more to 1.00 part by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the magnetic toner base particles. This provides a magnetic toner with which stable image density can be achieved without regard to service environment and which do not cause any image defects such as fog.
US07935456B2
A fluid conduit for use in an electrochemical cell, the fluid conduit comprising a support comprising an elastically deformable material and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough defining a mesh through which fluid communication can be maintained and a peripheral sealing area; a flow plate positioned adjacent the support, the flow plate including an inlet and an outlet; and a separator positioned adjacent the support. The support, flow plate, and separator are sealingly engaged with one another and cooperate to define a plurality of flow paths in fluid communication with and extending axially between the inlet and the outlet. The support, flow plate, and separator can be comprised of a metallic material coated with an electrically conductive joining compound for providing sealing engagement and electrically conductive communication therebetween.
US07935452B2
The present invention relates to fuel cells and components used within a fuel cell. Heat transfer appendages are described that improve fuel cell thermal management. Each heat transfer appendage is arranged on an external portion of a bi-polar plate and permits conductive heat transfer between inner portions of the bi-polar plate and outer portions of the bi-polar plate proximate to the appendage. The heat transfer appendage may be used for heating or cooling inner portions of a fuel cell stack. Improved thermal management provided by cooling the heat transfer appendages also permits new channel field designs that distribute the reactant gases to a membrane electrode assembly. Flow buffers are described that improve delivery of reactant gases and removal of reaction products. Single plate bi-polar plates may also include staggered channel designs that reduce the thickness of the single plate.
US07935447B2
A water generation system for the generation of water on board an aircraft comprises a fuel cell device having an exhaust for an exhaust gas, a condenser and an outflow valve for discharging cabin air, which is drawn off through the condenser due to the pressure difference between the cabin pressure and ambient pressure without extensive cooling circuits or pumps, for example. The condenser may be coupled to the exhaust such that the exhaust gas is cooled by cabin air, and the outflow valve is connected to the condenser and to the environment of the aircraft, such that, when the aircraft is at cruising altitude, the cabin air is drawn through the condenser and is discharged into the environment.
US07935442B2
Disclosed is an electrochemical device, which comprises: (A) a binder comprising polymer particles obtained from the polymerization of: (a) 20-70 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer; (b) 20-60 parts by weight of a vinyl monomer; and (c) 0.01-30 parts by weight of an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, based on 100 parts by weight of a binder polymer; and (B) electrochemical cells stacked multiply by using the binder, wherein the binder allows electrode active material particles in an electrode to be fixed and interconnected among themselves and between the electrode active material and a collector, and the electrode and a separator that is in contact with the electrode are bonded to each other by way of hot fusion. The binder is also disclosed. The binder has excellent adhesion and thermal bonding characteristics, and thus is useful for an electrochemical device comprising multiply stacked electrochemical cells, and can improve the overall quality of a battery.
US07935441B2
A case is made by disposing side plate portions on the long side and a side plate portion on one short side on the circumference of a plate portion. Provided on the other short side of the case in two tiers are a side plate portion and a substrate casing portion which has a height lower than the side plate portion. The substrate casing portion has a lower plate portion, side plate portions and an upper plate portion. The lower plate portion is provided with window portions from which the respective output terminals are exposed. The battery assembly is held in the case by fitting the protection circuit substrate which is laid down on a side face, into the substrate casing portion.
US07935439B2
A pouch type lithium secondary battery having a positive temperature coefficient element disposed to rapidly operate depending on an increase in the temperature of the battery, thereby improving the thermal stability of the battery. The pouch type lithium secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate to which a first electrode tab is attached, a second electrode plate to which a second electrode tab is attached, and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates; a pouch material having a space in which the electrode assembly is received; a protection circuit module having a junction pad, for controlling charging and discharging of the electrode assembly; and a positive temperature coefficient element which has one end attached to the junction pad, and the other end electrically connected to one of the first and second electrode tabs, so as to interrupt electric current when a temperature of the battery rises.
US07935435B2
A magnetic tunnel junction cell having a free layer, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, and a barrier layer therebetween. The free layer has a central ferromagnetic portion and a stabilizing portion radially proximate the central ferromagnetic portion. The construction can be used for both in-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is in the stack film plane and out-of-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is out of the stack film plane, e.g., perpendicular to the stack plane.
US07935425B2
A material for insulating film suitable as an interlayer insulating material for a semiconductor device, from which an insulating film is formed by chemical vapor deposition, and an insulating film formed from such a material and a semiconductor device employing an insulating film, are provided.A material for insulating film comprising an organosilicon compound which is one of an organosilane compound in which a secondary hydrocarbon group and an alkenyl group, or an alkenyl group, is directly bonded to a silicon atom, or an organosiloxane compound in which a secondary hydrocarbon group and/or an alkenyl group is directly bonded to a silicon atom, represented by the formulae (1) to (4), from which an insulating film is formed by chemical vapor deposition of the organosilicon compound:
US07935423B2
The subject of the invention is a transparent substrate, especially a glass substrate, provided with a thin-film multilayer acting on solar radiation, the multilayer being deposited by magnetron sputtering, characterized in that it includes at least a lubricating film of high optical index n, this lubricating film being associated with at least one sublayer, which is based on silicon nitride or oxynitride or carbonitride, or based on aluminum and/or zirconium nitride or oxynitride or carbonitride, or a mixture of at least two of these compounds (mixed Si—Al or Si—Zr nitrides or oxynitrides or carbonitrides).
US07935409B2
The roll properties of tissue sheets are improved either by imparting cross-machine direction dominant bar-like protrusions to the air side of the tissue by using specially woven transfer fabrics and/or by offsetting recurring surface features of the sheet relative to the surface features of adjacent sheets within the roll, such as by providing a throughdryer fabric with an offset seam. Both techniques provide the resulting tissue sheets with improved capabilities for providing an improved combination of roll bulk and roll firmness.
US07935406B2
The first of the two connecting profiles of a sheet pile wall assembly possesses a base attached to a sheet pile wall, a neck strip projecting from the base in a predetermined direction, and a head strip of larger cross section on the free end of the neck strip for engagement with a claw strip partially surrounding the head strip. The second of the two connecting profiles possesses a base attached to a second sheet pile wall and a claw strip to secure a head strip. The head strip of the first connecting profile is thus configured both to secure the claw strip of a sheet pile as a sheet pile wall and to secure the claw strip of the second connecting profile.
US07935400B2
A packaging laminate comprising a core layer of paper or carton with a through-going hole, a layer of thermoplastics applied onto one outer side of the core layer, an aluminium foil applied onto the other, inner, side of the core layer and bonded to the core layer by means of an intermediate layer of thermoplastics, the two layers of thermoplastics being sealed to each other within the region of the hole to form a membrane of aluminium foil and thermoplastics, and a first adhesive part-layer applied onto the inner side of the aluminium foil, a second intermediate part-layer of low density polyethylene applied adjacent to the first adhesive part-layer, and a third innermost part-layer comprising in the majority a metallocene polyethylene. The packaging laminate has improved sealability properties and provides improved or maintained package integrity and openability to a packaging container manufactured from the laminate, having an opening arrangement, which at opening removes the membrane of laminated layers of aluminium foil and thermoplastics from the region of the hole in the core layer.
US07935395B2
A liquid crystal molecule is disclosed, having a structure represented by the following general formula (1): wherein X1 is a group selected among groups represented by the following formula (2): X2 is represented by the following formula (3): R1 represents a linear or branched hydrocarbon group or an alkoxy group each having from 4 to 16 carbon atoms; R2 represents an optionally branched organosiloxane or organosilane having from 1 to 6 silicon atoms; other variables in formulae are defined therein.
US07935392B2
A high-solid UV-curable coating composition of the present invention, comprising a low viscosity multifunctional acrylate oligomer, a UV-curable monomer, 10% by weight or less of an organic solvent and a photoinitiator has good workability and environmental characteristics and provides a coating film having improved properties.
US07935387B2
Method embodiments for coating alloys comprise providing a superalloy substrate, applying a bond coat onto the superalloy substrate, forming an oxidation barrier coating comprising an yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phase on the bond coat, and depositing a top coat on the oxidation barrier coating.
US07935386B2
An aqueous polyorganosiloxane (POS) emulsion which can easily be deposited on/applied to a fibrous substrate at high speed and at limited deposition rates, for example less than 40 g/m2. The emulsion contains (A) a POS with ≡Si-vinyl units, (B) a POS with ≡SiH units, (C) an adhesion promoter, (D) a catalyst, (E) at least one surfactant, (F) optionally a POS resin with ≡Si-vinyl units, (G) optionally a crosslinking inhibitor, (H) optionally a pH fixing agent, (I) optionally a formulating additive, (J) optionally a filler, and (K) water. Adhesion promoter (C) is selected from protective hydrocolloids, hydroxylated silanes and/or POS carrying at least one hydroxyl group and at least one salified amino group per molecule, and mixtures thereof, and is present in the range from 0.005 to 10% by weight, based on the silicone phase. Also disclosed is the corresponding coating process and the coated substrate.
US07935384B2
The present invention relates to a method of forming a metal-nitride film onto a surface of an object to be processed in a processing container in which a vacuum can be created. The method of the invention includes: a step of continuously supplying an inert gas into a processing container set at a low film-forming temperature; and a step of intermittently supplying a metal-source gas into the processing container, during the step of continuously supplying the inert gas. During the step of intermittently supplying the metal-source gas, a nitrogen-including reduction gas is supplied into the processing container at the same time that the metal-source gas is supplied, during a supply term of the metal-source gas. The nitrogen-including reduction gas is also supplied into the processing container for a term shorter than a non-supply term of the metal-source gas, during the non-supply term of the metal-source gas. According to the invention, a metal-nitride film can be deposited whose chlorine density is low, whose resistivity is low, in which less cracks may be generated, and whose abnormal growth may not be generated.
US07935381B2
One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si—O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain.
US07935378B2
A nectarine juice drink and methods of producing a nectarine juice drink are described. The method involves (a) providing nectarines; (b) treating the nectarines with heated, moist air or heated water to produce heat treated nectarines; (c) pressing the heat treated nectarines through one or more filters to produce a nectarine juice solution and (d) combining the nectarine juice solution with one or more plant cell wall degrading agents to produce a nectarine juice drink.
US07935377B2
A crystal of free (2R,4R)-monatin is useful as a sweet substance. The crystals resist absorption of water even under high humidity, are stable and exhibit a high degree of sweetness. Thus, such crystals may used as a sweetening agent or an ingredient thereof, and as an ingredient for imparting sweetness to foods and beverages.
US07935347B2
The invention relates to the preparation of DNA sequences of group 4 major allergens from cereals. The invention also includes fragments, novel combinations of partial sequences and point mutations with hypoallergenic effects. The recombinant DNA molecules and the derived polypeptides, fragments, novel combinations of partial sequences and variants can be used for therapy of pollen-allergy diseases. The proteins produced by recombination can be applied to in-vitro and in-vivo diagnosis of pollen allergies.
US07935336B2
The present invention provides, as an enzyme which can be used for enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease, a protein having α-galactosidase activity, which shows no allergic adverse side effect, shows a high stability in blood, and can be easily incorporated into a cell of an affected organ. The protein of the present invention is a protein which has acquired α-galactosidase activity by changing the structure of the active site of wild-type human α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase.
US07935327B2
A fluidized bed reactor and a Siemens reactor are used to produce polycrystalline silicon. The process includes feeding the vent gas from the Siemens reactor as a feed gas to the fluidized bed reactor.
US07935320B2
A system and/or process for decreasing the level of at least one organic fluoride present in a hydrocarbon phase contained in an alkylation settler by contacting the hydrocarbon phase with an HF containing stream, containing greater than about 80 wt. % and less than about 94 wt. % HF, in the intermediate portion of the settler which contains at least one tray system, with each tray system comprising a perforated tray defining a plurality of perforations and a layer of packing below the perforated tray, are disclosed.
US07935317B2
A fluid-ejection device includes a handheld and/or mountable enclosure, a pneumatic fitting, an electrical connector, and a controller. The pneumatic fitting extends from and/or through the enclosure and is receptive to placement of a tip thereon. The tip contains a supply of fluid, a fluid-ejection mechanism, and an electrical connector for the fluid-ejection mechanism. The electrical connector extends from and/or through the enclosure and is receptive to electrical coupling of the electrical connector of the tip. The controller is situated within the enclosure to cause the tip to eject the fluid via the electrical coupling of the electrical connectors of the tip and the fluid-ejection device.
US07935314B2
An apparatus for mixing regenerated and carbonized catalyst involves obstructing upward flow of catalyst by one or more baffles between a catalyst inlet and a feed distributor. Each catalyst stream may be passed to opposite sides of a riser. Baffles obstruct upward flow to effect mixing of regenerated and carbonized catalyst to obtain a more uniform temperature and catalyst mixture before contacting the feed.
US07935306B2
A system and method (1) for acquiring, compiling and storing measured values in a temperature and/or pressure and/or moisture-dependent process comprises at least one sensor (4, 6) for acquiring measured values. The device (1) contains means (3) for storing the measured values. The sensor (4, 6) and the means (3) are designed to be positioned inside a closed process chamber (2). The device (1) further comprises means (11) for the wireless transmission of the stored measured values at preset or settable time intervals to a receiver unit (10) disposed outside the closed process chamber (2). In a process for monitoring a temperature and/or pressure and/or moisture-dependent process, an acquisition of measured values is accomplished by means of at least one sensor (4, 6) located inside a closed process chamber (2). The acquired measured values are compiled and stored in at least one data logger (3), and during the process are transmitted at preset or settable time intervals to a receiver unit (10) located outside the process chamber (2), by means of a wireless system.
US07935284B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of concrete blocks or concrete slabs of varying formats and sizes, whereby concrete is filled into molds for several blocks or slabs, the surface layer of which or the facing concrete layer of which has a base color and the surfaces, which have regions of difference colors, is puddled by means of vibration and/or compacting and subsequently hardened, whereby, before puddling, at least one portion of a pigmented and/or variously-pigmented and/or a color- and/or various color-containing finishing material is projected or thrown by means of at least one application device.
US07935275B2
A shaped resin article comprising a polyamide (A) (comprising at least two different polyamide components), a polyphenylene ether (B) and a partially hydrogenated block copolymer (C) (obtained by partially hydrogenating a block copolymer comprising an aromatic vinyl polymer block and a conjugated diene polymer block) including a block copolymer (C-1) having a number average molecular weight of from 200,000 to 300,000, wherein (A) is present as a continuous phase in which (B) is dispersed to form a dispersed phase, and (C) is present in the continuous phase of (A) and/or the dispersed phase of (B), wherein the surface area of the polyamide (A) exposed on the overall surface of the shaped resin article is at least 80%, based on the surface area of the shaped resin article. A conductive resin composition comprising a polyamide (A), a polyphenylene ether (B), a partially hydrogenated block copolymer (C) comprising an aromatic vinyl polymer block and a conjugated diene polymer block, a conductive carbonaceous material (D) and wollastonite particles (E).
US07935271B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a composition of matter comprising a solid form of chlorine dioxide complexed with a cyclodextrin. When stored, a concentration of the chlorine dioxide in the composition of matter can be retained, with respect to an initial concentration of chlorine dioxide in said composition of matter, at, for example, greater than 12% for at least 14 days. Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising releasing chlorine dioxide from a solid composition comprising chlorine dioxide complexed with a cyclodextrin.
US07935270B2
Provided is a cathode active material having a layered-spinel composite structure lithium metal oxide represented by Formula 1: xLi2MO3-yLiMeO2-zLi1+dM′2−dO4 (1) where x+y+z=1 where 0
US07935267B2
The invention provides an electrolyte solution for hydrogen generating apparatus including water; at least one ionizing compound; and at least one cation exchange resin, as well as a hydrogen generating apparatus that includes the electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution for hydrogen generating apparatus according to the invention can increase the time and amount of hydrogen generation by reducing an amount of metal hydroxide generation.
US07935265B2
A method for producing a ceramic substrate material having a first layer and possibly a further layer is specified. The first layer comprises at least one first component made of a crystalline ceramic material and/or a glass material as a matrix and a second component made of a further crystalline ceramic material, which is provided in the matrix. An etching step is performed, mantle areas of the crystals and/or crystal agglomerates of the second component being etched selectively in the first layer to generate a cavity structure in the first layer. The present invention also relates to a corresponding ceramic substrate material, an antenna or an antenna array, and the use of the ceramic substrate material for an antenna or an antenna array.
US07935262B2
A method of manufacturing fine patterns includes providing a base portion having a plurality of protruding portions with recess portions therebetween, depositing a material layer on the protruding portions, the material layer including grooves in an upper surface thereof and a plurality of material portions on respective protruding portions, the material portions being in direct contact with adjacent material portions to form contact surfaces therebetween and to overhang corresponding recess portions between the adjacent material portions, and wet etching the material portions through the grooves and contact surfaces to form pattern portions.
US07935259B2
A filtering apparatus comprises a microporous membrane and an actuator. The membrane is positioned to traverse across the hollow interior of a conduit used for the transport of molecules in bulk. In one example, the pores of the membrane comprise a plurality of open-ended carbon nanotubes. The actuator comprises a transducing material such as a polyvinyledene fluoride film that is operatively positioned in contact with the membrane and is capable of propagating acoustic vibration onto the membrane at a particular frequency so as to hasten the movement of the molecules through the membrane. Similarly, a method of filtering water comprises the steps of: (a) sifting molecules of water through the membrane, the pores of the membrane comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and (b) propagating acoustic vibration onto the microporous membrane at a libration frequency of ice so as to hasten movement of the water molecules within the carbon nanotubes.
US07935255B2
A filter cartridge configured as a filter-in-filter design with an inner filter and an outer filter. The filter cartridge has features, for example an overhanging lip, to engage with a lid of a filter housing in which the cartridge is installed such that the lid is connected to the cartridge. As a result, the cartridge can be connected to the lid to facilitate installation and removal of the cartridge. Alternatively, the same features that allow connection with the lid permit a user to manually grasp the cartridge during installation and removal so that the cartridge can be used without a lid having attachment features. The filter cartridge is also designed to enable use of a longer inner filter within the outer filter. A longer inner filter increases the amount of filter media available for filtering the fluid.
US07935254B2
We disclose a device for the production of hydrogen from water using heat. The device employs thermal water splitting and works essentially without electricity. It is based on the concept of a membrane reactor with two kinds of membranes allowing the separation of hydrogen and oxygen simultaneously in stoichiometric quantities from the reactor volume. The device has a special geometry resulting in a temperature distribution inside the reaction chamber to accommodate the use of hydrogen selective membranes. The device will help to reduce the need for hydrogen transport and storage as it will be rather compact for on-site use in households, small factories or gas stations. The use of the device in mobile applications is conceivable. The heat source of the device as described is combustion of a hydrocarbon using porous burner technology; however the device can be modified to exploit any other heat source, especially solar radiation.
US07935253B2
Installation for treating a biological liquid, including a circulation pump (5), a filter element (9), a container for collecting treated liquid, a first circuit section connecting a source of said biological liquid to an inlet orifice of said filter element (9), including a circuit element adapted to cooperate with said circulation pump (5); a second circuit section, connecting an outlet orifice of said filter element (9) to said treated liquid collecting container; characterized in that said treated liquid collecting container, said first circuit section and said second circuit section are disposable and said installation further includes a first cart (1) carrying said pump (5) and a second cart (2) including a housing (14) for said collecting container, separable from the first cart (1) and adapted to be at least partly nested in said first cart (1).
US07935251B2
A facility for treating solid and liquid waste includes a receiving station, a screening station, a preprocessing station, an alkali mixing station, a press station and a processing station. The screening station is connected to an inlet capable of receiving liquid and solid waste and includes a screen for capturing at least some of the solid waste. The preprocessing station is in fluid communication with the screening station, and includes a degrit chamber for settling out an additional amount of the solids. The alkali mixing station includes an alkali for mixing with the waste to stabilize the waste at a predetermined pH level. The press station receives the stabilized waste and includes a press for separating out an additional portion of the solids. The processing station includes at least one aerobic microorganism generating unit for converting nitrites into nitrogen gas and consuming carbon-based waste material.
US07935248B2
The present invention provides adsorbents for deep denitrogenation/desulfurization of hydrocarbon oils, and more particularly to an adsorbent material that selectively adsorbs organonitrogen and organosulfur from transportation fuels at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
US07935241B2
A slurry comprises suspended aluminum particles in a colloid having dispersed colloidal particles of a metal oxide such as a hydroxide. The metal oxide is reducible by metallic aluminum. The slurry has such a basic pH that dissolution of the aluminum particles in the slurry is inhibited so that when the slurry is subjected to a heat treatment, the undissolved aluminum particles are reactable with the colloidal particles to form an aluminum-based mixture resistant to chemical attack made of aluminum oxide, metal aluminum and the metal of the colloidal particles. The slurry can be used to form an aluminum-based protective coating on a component, in particular of an aluminum electrowinning cell or an apparatus for treating molten aluminum.
US07935237B2
A method of removing particulate solids from an oil based drilling or completion fluid (1) is disclosed. The method involves exposing the fluid to an electric field to electrically migrate particulate solids suspended therein, and collecting the migrated particulate solids to remove them from the fluid.
US07935233B2
Disclosed are a tyrosinase enzyme electrode containing metal nanoparticles and its producing method. Metal nanoparticles are applied to a surface of a support with high chemical stability. Also, a buffer layer consisting of a self-assembled monolayer is formed on the metal nanoparticles. Such self-assembled monolayer is used to immobilize tyrosinase enzyme which was subsequently prepared. In other words, the self-assembled monolayer is arranged between the metal nanoparticles and the tyrosinase enzyme so as to immobilize the tyrosinase enzyme on the support. Introduction of the metal nanoparticles into the electrode contributes to improvement in detection limits of the tyrosinase enzyme electrode. In addition, the introduction of substrate induces the activation of enzyme.
US07935232B2
To provide a sputtering apparatus and method, and a sputtering control program which are configured simply and can secure the uniformity of the film thickness from the beginning to the end of the use of a target.There are provided: a target 15 disposed so as to face an object to be treated 19; a permanent magnet unit M which generates a high-density plasma by means of a magnetic field and deposits a material of the target 15 on the object to be treated, in the form of a film; a rotational mechanism 9 which rotates the permanent magnet unit M; and a rotation number control apparatus 7 which gradually changes the number of rotations of the permanent magnet unit M rotated by the rotational mechanism 9. The rotation number control apparatus 7 has a rotation number setting section 702b for setting the number of rotations to be switched, a switching time setting section 702a for setting the time for switching, a detection section 703 for detecting the switching time, a selecting section 704 for selecting the number of rotations at the switching time, and a switching section 705 for outputting an instruction of switching to the selected number of rotations.
US07935230B2
A processor for making porous silicon or processing other substrates has first and second chamber assemblies. The first and second chamber assemblies include first and second seals for sealing against a wafer, and first and second electrodes, respectively. The first and/or second seal is moveable towards and away from a wafer in the processor, to move between a wafer load/unload position, and a wafer process position. The first electrode may move along with the first seal, and the second electrode may move along with the second seal. A light source shines light onto the first side of the wafer. The processor may be pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation, for loading and unloading a wafer, to a substantially vertical orientation, for processing a wafer.
US07935223B2
A panel includes about 0.1% to about 95% by weight of a renewable component. The panel has at least one of a CAC value of at least about 25, an NRC value of at least about 0.25 and an STC of at least about 25. A method for manufacturing such panels is also provided.
US07935216B2
An apparatus for applying different amounts of pressure to different locations of a semiconductor device structure or other substrate during polishing thereof. The apparatus is configured to be associated with a wafer carrier of a polishing apparatus and includes pressurization structures configured to individually apply pressure to a major surface of the semiconductor device structure during polishing thereof. Systems including the pressure application apparatus, as well as differential pressure application methods and polishing methods are also disclosed.
US07935212B2
The present invention relates to processes for transferring a coating borne by a carrier onto at least one surface of the substrate of an optical article. Specifically, the invention relates to processes for transferring any kind of patterned layer having a refractive index profile from a carrier to the surface of an optical article. The invention allows for manufacture of optical articles presenting high transmittance, low haze, and excellent adhesion performances, and in particular vision corrective optical articles that are customized and optimized to the patient's individual requirements. The invention also contemplates optical articles made by such methods.
US07935209B2
A protective covering constructed from an electrostatically charged sheet having a top and bottom surface and an absorbent layer. The absorbent layer has top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface of the absorbent layer being bonded to the top surface of the electrostatically charged sheet. The absorbent layer is divided into a plurality of cells for containing liquid spilled on the absorbent layer. The absorbent layer can be constructed from paper, open cell foam, fibrous mat, or any other absorbent material. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cells are constructed by providing hydrophobic barriers in the absorbent layer. The barriers can be constructed from paraffin, plastic, or any other material that can penetrate the absorbent layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, a hydrophobic layer is bonded to the top surface of the absorbent layer. The hydrophobic layer has a plurality of pores that allow liquid spilled on the hydrophobic layer to penetrate the hydrophobic layer and be absorbed by the absorbent layer.
US07935197B2
A high strength steel plate containing 0.02 to 0.08% C, by mass, and has substantially a two phase microstructure of ferrite and bainite. The ferrite contains precipitates having a particle size of 30 nm or smaller grain size. The steel plate has a yield strength of 448 MPa or higher. A method for manufacturing the high strength steel plate which comprises hot rolling, accelerated cooling and reheating. The accelerated cooling is conducted down to a temperature of 300 to 600° C. at a cooling rate of 5° C./s or higher. The reheating is conducted up to a temperature of 550 to 700° C. at a heating rate of 0.5° C./s or higher.
US07935192B2
A rotatable, portable drum auger drain cleaning device includes a rotational control which is biased towards the off position. The rotational control device is utilized in conjunction with a motor and the drum to direct drum rotation. The rotational control is typically biased in the off position making it the default position. The rotational control must therefore be manually moved to either a forward or reverse position. When in the forward position, the rotational control can be locked, and when in the reverse position, the switch must be manually held in position or the switch will return to the off position.
US07935190B2
The current invention relates to a process for preparing maltitol enriched products and said process is chromatographically fractionating a maltose syrup followed by hydrogenating it into a liquid maltitol enriched product and optionally solidification or crystallization of maltitol. Liquid, solid and crystalline maltitol of different purities are obtainable by a single process.
US07935181B2
A corrosion-responsive agent comprising a neutralized metal salt of a corrosion inhibiting organic anion and methods of making and using it are described.
US07935180B2
In certain embodiments, removing non-condensable gas from a cooling system includes trapping contents of a discharge tube of a heat exchanger, where the heat exchanger is in thermal communication with an ambient environment at an ambient temperature. The contents of the discharge tube comprises a vapor portion of a cooling fluid, a liquid portion of the cooling fluid, and a non-condensable gas. The cooling fluid is at a subambient pressure, and the ambient temperature is lower than a boiling point of the cooling fluid. A first additional portion of the cooling fluid is inlet into the discharge tube to increase a pressure within the discharge tube. The vapor portion of the cooling fluid within the discharge tube is allowed to condense. A second additional portion of the cooling fluid is inlet to purge the non-condensable gas from the discharge tube.
US07935176B2
A facility and process capable of extracting oxygen in extraterrestrial environments from materials available in extraterrestrial environments, for example, on planets, planetoids, etc. The facility extracts oxygen from a mineral-containing solid material and is configured to form a free-falling molten stream of the solid material, evaporate at least a portion of the molten stream and produce a vapor containing gaseous oxygen, create a supersonic stream of the vapor, condense constituents of the supersonic stream to form particulates within the supersonic stream, separate the gaseous oxygen from the particulates, and then collect the gaseous oxygen.
US07935171B2
A process for producing a metallic nickel product with a low iron content, that includes: (i) providing an acidic product liquor; (ii) subjecting the acidic product liquor to an ion exchange process to absorb the nickel and part of the iron; (iii) eluting the nickel and iron to produce an eluate containing the nickel and iron. (iv) neutralising the eluate to leave an iron depleted eluate; (v) neutralising the iron depleted eluate to cause precipitation of nickel hydroxide containing low iron; (vi) calcining the nickel hydroxide to convert it to nickel oxide; (vii) subjecting the nickel oxide to direct smelting in the presence of a reductant to produce a molten nickel phase; and (viii) refining the molten nickel phase by oxidation to produce a metallic nickel product with low iron content.
US07935162B2
Object of the present invention is to provide a dust collecting device (10) for a vacuum cleaner of the dust collecting performance is improved. For this, a dust collecting device (100) for a vacuum cleaner is provided, including a primary cyclone unit (200) for separating dust by a cyclone principle, a secondary cyclone unit (300) around the primary cyclone unit (200) for separating dust from air discharged from the primary cyclone unit (200) by the cyclone principle, a primary dust container (111) for storing the dust separated at the primary cyclone unit (200), and a secondary dust container (112) in the primary dust container (111) for storing the dust separated at the secondary cyclone unit (300).
US07935158B2
A bonded abrasive article is provided which includes abrasive grains made of cubic boron nitride within a bond matrix including a silicate. The bonded abrasive further includes a reaction product at the interface between the abrasive grains and bond matrix comprising a transition metal nitride.
US07935157B2
A method comprising applying controlled flow cavitation apparatuses and holding tanks to a pretreatment process in order to reduce the free fatty acid content of a biodiesel feedstock. A feedstock comprising a high content of free fatty acids can be passed through controlled flow cavitation apparatuses and holding tanks at a velocity capable of generating hydrodynamic cavitation zones and subsequent dwell times where the free fatty acid content can be reduced to below 2%.
US07935152B2
Hinged connecting apparatus (1) for a lower limb prosthesis (2), the hinged connecting apparatus (1) comprising a first device (1000) intended to oppose a predetermined resistance during flexion of the prosthesis (2), this resistance being switched by said first device (1000) between two values which are a predetermined minimal value and a predetermined maximal value.
US07935151B2
Methods and apparatus for knee arthroplasty, including implants, positioning and alignment guides, cutting guides, cutting tools and techniques for the femur and/or tibia.
US07935148B2
Methods and devices for connecting an insertion device to an implant. The insertion device includes a body having first and second ends. The first end may be configured to connect with the implant. The first end may be selectively positionable between orientations to provide for the connection. Methods of positioning the implant within the patient generally include connecting the insertion device to the implant. The insertion device can then be manipulating to position the implant within the patient. The insertion device is removed from the implant once positioned, or may be reconnected at another location to further position the implant.
US07935145B2
A remodeling mitral annuloplasty ring with a reduced anterior-to-posterior dimension to restore coaptation between the mitral leaflets in mitral valve insufficiency (IMVI). The ring has a generally oval shaped body with a major axis perpendicular to a minor axis, both perpendicular to a blood flow axis. An anterior section lies between anteriolateral and posteriomedial trigones, while a posterior section defines the remaining ring body and is divided into P1, P2, and P3 segments corresponding to the three scallops of the same nomenclature in the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The anterior-to-posterior dimension of the ring body is reduced from conventional rings; such as by providing, in atrial plan view, a pulled-in P3 segment. Viewed another way, the convexity of the P3 segment is less pronounced than the convexity of the P1 segment. In addition, the ring body may have a downwardly deflected portion in the posterior section, preferably within the P2 and P3 segments. The downwardly deflected portion may have an apex which is the lowest elevation of the ring body and may be offset with respect to the center of the downwardly deflected portion toward the P1 segment. A sewing cuff may have an enlarged radial dimension of between 5-10 cm, or only a portion of the sewing cuff may be enlarged.
US07935144B2
A method for reducing an axial profile of a valve implant includes providing a valve implant having a longitudinal axis and a delivery catheter having a central axis and a distal receiving section. The method further includes helically rolling the valve implant around a rolling axis that is offset at an angle of about 15 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis to form a rolled valve implant having a rolled axis, where the rolled axis is the same as the rolling axis. The method further includes aligning the rolled axis of the rolled valve implant with the central axis of the delivery catheter. The method further includes inserting the rolled valve implant into the distal receiving section of the delivery catheter.
US07935143B2
Implantable medical devices fabricated at least in part of a polymer-bioceramic composite having bioceramic particles with radiopaque functional groups grafted to a surface of the bioceramic particles are disclosed. Implantable medical devices fabricated at least in part of a radiopaque material having bioceramic particles with polymer chains grafted onto a surface of the bioceramic particles, the radiopaque functional groups being chemically bonded to the grafted polymer chains, are disclosed.
US07935139B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving bodily safety during exposure to an intense pulsed light source by diverging the light, such as with a diffuser. At a first position of the distal end of the light source the energy density of exit light from the distal end is substantially equal to the energy density of the light required for desired applications, such as effecting an aesthetic improvement without appearance of purpura or scarring, and at a second position of the distal end the radiance of the light emitted therefrom is significantly less than the radiance of the intense pulsed light. Eye safety is further enhanced by attaching at least one element of adjustable opacity to the handpiece of the light source, so that subcutaneously backscattered light may be absorbed by the at least one element.
US07935136B2
A method for promoting fusion of and/or stabilizing a facet joint between two adjacent vertebrae comprises clamping the two adjacent vertebrae across the facet joint to apply a compressive force across the joint. Apparatus for promoting fusion of and/or stabilizing a facet joint comprises at least one cinchable tether and at least one locking member coupled with the tether for locking the cinched tether to maintain compressive force across the facet joint. The tether is adapted to extend through at least one hole through each of two adjacent vertebrae, across the facet joint.
US07935131B2
The present disclosure relates to Shape Memory Polymers (SMP's) comprising function groups that allow the polymers to be elastically deformed, utilized in the elastically deformed state, and subsequently returned to the original polymorphic shape.
US07935126B2
Removable guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a fracture fixation plate. The guide tips may be used with or without drill guides to guide a drill along the axes of threaded holes defined in the plate. In addition, the tips may be used with bending tools to contour the plate laterally, longitudinally and with twist. More particularly, such plate contouring can be performed while the plate is located on the bone.
US07935125B2
A device for use on a patient during surgery including a distal portion, a transition portion, and a proximal portion is disclosed. The distal portion is adapted to attach to an implement having a proximal portion. The transition portion is angled toward an anterior direction and a medial direction with respect to the implement, the proximal portion of the handle being connected to the transition portion and extending in a proximal direction substantially parallel to the implement.
US07935120B2
A method of preparing the proximal tibial and distal ends of the femur for the implantation of prosthetic components, including the steps of exposing the joint; resecting the distal end of the femur; resecting the tibia; and making a preliminary rough cut of a posterior portion of the pair of condyles. The rough cut is made by positioning a guide on the distal end of the femur and severing a small piece of the posterior portion of the pair of condyles. The rough cut is made prior to the step of resecting the tibia. The method may include finishing the femur by severing and removing a final piece of the posterior portion of the pair of condyles. The small piece removed in the preliminary rough cut step is sized to preserve enough of posterior portion to permit the removal of the final piece.
US07935114B2
A treatment system includes an energy source, a pair of holding portions, an output portion and a first channel. At least one of the holding portions is configured to relatively move with respect to the other holding portion. The output portion is disposed on at least one of the pair of holding portions and connected with the energy source. The output portion is configured to generate a fluid including a gas and/or a liquid from the living tissue by the energy supplied from the energy source. The first channel is disposed at a position close to the output portion. The first channel is configured to pass the fluid generated from the living tissue.
US07935107B2
Methods and apparatus for dermatology treatment are provided which involve the use of continuous wave (CW) radiation, preheating of the treatment volume, precooling, cooling during treatment and post-treatment cooling of the epidermis above the treatment volume, various beam focusing techniques to reduce scattering and/or other techniques for reducing the cost and/or increasing the efficacy of optical radiation for use in hair removal and other dermatological treatments. A number of embodiments are included for achieving the various objectives indicated above.
US07935104B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and devices for sustained medical infusion with controlled rate injection of a fluid into a body. Such a system may include a first separate reusable unit, a second separate depletable unit a third separate disposable unit having a cannula, and may include a fourth separate remote control unit. Emission of appropriate instructions from the fourth unit, when the first unit, the second unit, and the third unit are coupled together in associative operation and disposed on the skin, power is supplied to an engine for generating motion to a fluid transfer system, and when the cannula is inserted in the body, fluid is transferred from the reservoir to the body, via the tube and the cannula.
US07935093B2
A disinfectant delivery system and method of providing alcohol-free disinfection to a body to be disinfected, as well as a method of infection reduction by preparation of a patient before an invasive procedure. A blended cloth comprising first fibers and second fibers is provided with the first fibers generally being greater in quantity by weight than the second fibers. A disinfectant solution impregnates the blended cloth, with the disinfectant solution having chlorhexidine gluconate as an active ingredient and having no alcohol. In the method according to the invention, at least one impregnated blended cloth is used to disinfect at least a portion of a body. A plurality of blended cloths can be provided for disinfecting discrete portions of the body. When an invasive procedure is to be performed on a patient, a further method according to the invention of infection reduction comprises using a CHG-impregnated cloth to disinfect at least a portion of the patient at least one day prior to the invasive procedure proximate the location of the invasive procedure.
US07935090B2
The disclosures made herein relate to an infusion device specifically adapted for syringe injections. In one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, an infusion device comprises a body including an accessible surface having a single inlet port therein, an engagement surface having a single outlet port therein, a medication delivery channel extending between the single inlet port and the single outlet port, and an identification feature on the accessible surface of the body adjacent to the single inlet port. The single inlet port of the medication delivery channel is tapered thereby forming a funnel-shaped entry into the medication delivery channel. A cannula is coupled to the body at the single outlet port and is adapted for receiving medication from the single outlet port and transmitting the medication therethrough.
US07935084B2
A medical article securement device holds a medical article in position upon the body of a patient and can be used to inhibit lateral and longitudinal motion of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer with a base and at least one post, and at least one cap. The cap is attached to the base of the retainer by a flexible connection, and can be placed into either a covered or uncovered configuration with respect to the post. The cap includes a recess which can receive a protrusion at the end of the post of the retainer. By placing the post through an appropriate opening in the medical article to be retained and then securing the medical article to the retainer by placing the cap into the covered position over the post, longitudinal and lateral motion of the medical article is inhibited.
US07935081B2
Disclosed is an interface between a drug delivery cassette and a medical effector system. The cassette may be mounted to the medical effector system in such a way that a fluid tube located on the cassette is positioned adjacent to a pump located on the medical effector system. The medical effector system may purge the fluid line of air by activating the pump and forcing fluid through the fluid line until a sensor positioned to monitor the fluid line indicates that fluid and not air is present in the tube. To prevent air purging of the fluid tube when connected to the patient, the medical effector system prohibits air purging unless the drug delivery end portion of the fluid tube is in a designated storage site located on the cassette. This is accomplished with a position sensor at the storage site that monitors the position of the fluid tube.
US07935080B2
A needle shield assembly with a needle having a distal tip and a static feature is provided. The needle shield assembly includes an adapter having an open distal terminus and an open proximal terminus to allow passage of the needle and a needle shield slidably associated with the adapter having an open distal end and an open proximal end where the open proximal end is sufficiently narrow to restrict proximal movement of the needle static feature causing the shield to move in a proximal direction when the needle is pulled proximally after the static feature has established contact with the needle shield proximal end. The assembly includes a canting plate having an unactivated first position and an activated second position that restricts needle movement. The canting plate is activated via a canting plate retention system in communication with the canting plate and responsive to proximal movement of the needle.
US07935066B2
An improved inflatable compression dressing (10) for use in controlling swelling and promoting healing to wounds subsequent to surgery while allowing visual inspection of the wound during healing is provided. The dressing comprises a bladder (138) formed by an outer wall (114) secured to an inner wall (112) to define an elongated, cup-shaped cavity for receiving an appendage (136); an air supply delivering air to the bladder; and a sensor monitoring air pressure within the bladder and indicating said air pressure to an air pressure control (140). The air pressure control provides air to the bladder at a rate which substantially matches air leaked from the bladder. Thus, the air supply inflates the bladder so as to provide uniform air pressure to the appendage, wherein the appendage is an arm or a leg.
US07935065B2
An oral device for use with a person in which at least one non-toxic gas pulse is delivered to a predetermined location in the mouth via a device conduit. The oral device may be provided as a kit with at least one device for measuring the subject's responses and representing them as feedback to the subject/clinician. A method of creating a gas bolus pulse train, delivering it to a predetermined mouth area, and monitoring the subject's responses to it, is also shown. The oral device and method may be used as a diagnostic tool, or a therapeutic tool, in swallowing or speech rehabilitation of children and adults who have swallowing, speech, salivary, and/or oral sensorimotor impairments.
US07935061B1
The invention concerns a physiological monitoring device that, in one embodiment, comprises a capacitive sensor. The sensor comprises a first plate, a second plate and a dielectric medium coupled to the first plate and second plate. A power source charges the sensor to generate an initial capacitance. A band couples the sensor to a blood vessel of a patient. For example, the blood vessel can be located in the umbilical cord of a human baby. An impulse from the blood vessel exerts pressure against the second plate of the sensor and consequently generates a first capacitance. A controller monitors the patient's physiological measurement by detecting the generation of the first capacitance.
US07935060B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to a probe. The probe includes a sheath, a flexible, bi-directionally rotatable, optical subsystem positioned within the sheath, the optical subsystem comprising a transmission fiber, the optical subsystem capable of transmitting and collecting light of a predetermined range of wavelengths along a first beam having a predetermined beam size. The probe also includes an ultrasound subsystem, the ultrasound subsystem positioned within the sheath and adapted to propagate energy of a predetermined range of frequencies along a second beam having a second predetermined beam size, wherein a portion of the first and second beams overlap a region during a scan.
US07935051B2
A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US07935049B2
A medical instrument in particular a uretero-renoscope has a proximal head part and an elongate thin shaft for introduction into a small diameter elongate hollow organ. An instrument channel and at least one further channel is disposed within the shaft. The instrument channel is arranged centrally in the shaft.
US07935044B2
Devices and methods are provided for applying vacuum near to devices for delivering treatments to tissue adjacent a body cavity, effective to draw adjacent tissue near to such devices and to enhance treatment of the tissue. Body cavities include natural body cavities and cavities remaining after removal of tissue such as cancerous tissue. A device may include an inner balloon assembly with an inflation conduit. A sheath assembly having a fluid-permeable sheath wall may enclose the inner balloon assembly. Vacuum applied to the space between the sheath and the inner balloon is useful to draw tissue into contact with the device, improving treatment effectiveness. Methods for treating tissue with such devices and systems are also provided. Treatments may include providing radioactive material for radiation treatment, providing chemotherapeutic material for chemotherapy, providing thermal treatment, and combinations thereof. Systems may include devices of the invention and a vacuum source.
US07935022B2
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle power transmitting system including a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state in response to an operation of a shift lever, the control apparatus including (a) an operating-state estimating portion configured to estimate an operating speed of an electric motor which constitutes a part of the power transmitting path or a rotating speed of a coupling element of the coupling portion, which speed is established after switching of the power transmitting path from one of the power transmitting and cut-off states to the other, and (b) a switching restricting portion configured to restrict a switching operation to switch the power transmitting path between the two states, when the estimated operating or rotating speed of the electric motor or coupling device is higher than a predetermined upper limit.
US07935020B2
A drive train for a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a low speed shaft connected to blades of the wind turbine and a higher speed shaft connected to a generator. The drive train also includes a bearing that substantially supports the weight of at least the low speed shaft. A compound planetary gear stage is connected to the low speed shaft and the higher speed shaft, and includes a rotating carrier, a non-rotating ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears, and a rotating sun gear. The sun gear is connected to the higher speed shaft.
US07935018B2
An automatic transmission is provided with three planetary gear units and five friction elements that establish at least six forward speeds and one reverse speed by engaging different combinations of three out of five friction elements simultaneously. In the automatic transmission, an output shaft is always connected to a first ring gear of the first planetary gear unit. A second ring gear of the second planetary gear unit is always fixed. A first carrier of the first planetary gear unit and a third ring gear of the third planetary gear unit are connected together to form a first rotating member. A second sun gear of the second planetary gear unit and a third carrier of the third planetary gear unit are connected together to form a second rotating member.
US07935011B1
Assisting a player of a racket sport, such as tennis, in positional awareness of the racket head, both visually and physically, is disclosed by adding an axial extension to the racket handle, the axial extension of similar or greater length than that of the racket. Regardless of racket position, whether or not within the direct sight of the player, a visually obvious indicator located at the end of the extension permits positional awareness of the racket before, during, and after each swing. Such positional awareness can also be obtained when both the racket and visually obvious indicator at the end of the handle extension are not visible by physical contact, when any part of the handle extension touches the body indicating poor racket initial position, swing motion, or follow-through after each swing.
US07935008B2
A striking section includes a planar central portion. The planar central portion has holes. A major striking surface is provided. The striking section also includes a peripheral portion. The peripheral section extends from both sides of the central portion. In this manner spaced parallel thin minor striking surfaces are provided. The peripheral portion has a distal end. The distal end is in a semi circular configuration. The distal end couples the minor striking surfaces. A handle section has a central extent. The central extent is in a generally cylindrical configuration. The central extent has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is coupled to the central extent of the handle section and to the proximal end of the peripheral section.
US07935001B2
A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.
US07934995B2
A hand-held game apparatus comprises a pointing device, such as a touch panel or the like. A predetermined program including a letter recognition program is transmitted from a stationary game apparatus to a plurality of hand-held game apparatuses. Players perform handwriting input using the touch panels or the like of the respective hand-held game apparatuses. A letter recognition process is performed in each hand-held game apparatus. A result of letter recognition is transmitted to the stationary game apparatus. In the stationary game apparatus, a game process is executed based on the result of letter recognition received from each hand-held game apparatus.
US07934992B2
A game machine which uses play items such as cards and which enables the player to play a game seriously and to concentrate in the game so as to win over the opponent is provided according to the present invention.The game machine controls the progress of a game based on data read out from the play items, and issues a new play item for each game played. The game machine includes means for setting a game fee at a discount rate in accordance with the number of previous consecutive wins for the player to try a next post-victory bonus game after winning one game, and means for determining the number of games played based on the outcome (win or loss) of the player's previous games and for issuing new play items collectively to the player by the number corresponding to the determined number of games played.
US07934980B2
Apparatuses for stacking chips include a container for receiving unstacked chips, a carrier comprising a channel for carrying a chip stack, a transport system for transporting chips from the container towards the carrier, and at least one ejector system for ejecting or moving chips from the transport system into the channel of the carrier. Chip stack cutter devices may include an elongated displacement member, which may extend from an actuating lever member movably coupled to a base member configured to slide along a channel of a chip stack carrier. In additional embodiments, the cutter device may include an energy-responsive device configured to selectively move an elongated displacement member for displacing a number of chips in a chip stack carried in a channel of a chip stack carrier.
US07934974B2
A toy container is provided including a multiple portions. In some embodiments, the device has several portions that are movable from a closed configuration, in which the portions overlay one another, to an open configuration, in which a doll section and cosmetics are accessible.
US07934973B2
A pneumatic action figure doll is disclosed with articulated limbs controlled by a hand operated pneumatic pump. The articulated limbs may comprise connected limb members and links configured to move in a plane. Operation of the handheld pump may cause the articulated limbs to extend and retract. When the limbs are arms, operation simulates arm swinging motions similar to fighting or boxing. The doll may include actuators to extend articulated arms in response to operation of the pump. The doll may be articulated at the waist to provide movement of the torso when articulated arms extend and retract. The doll may be used alone or with other similarly configured dolls. The dolls may be placed opposite each other. Simultaneous extension and retraction of the doll arms in response to simultaneous operation of the handheld pumps may resemble fighting or boxing between the dolls.
US07934970B2
A track set for toy vehicles and a method for colliding toy vehicles are provided. The track set has a collision platform that defines a collision area. The track set further includes a first track member being pivotally secured to the collision platform at a pivot axis of the collision platform, and a second track member being pivotally secured to the collision platform at the pivot axis. The first and second track members each have a vehicle launcher for launching a toy vehicle towards the collision platform. The first track member defines a first vehicle pathway to the collision platform and the second track member defines a second vehicle pathway to the collision platform. The track set further includes an actuator configured to simultaneously activate the vehicle launcher of each of the first and second track members to propel at least one toy vehicle along at least one of the first and second vehicle pathways toward the collision area.
US07934957B1
A connector is mountable on a circuit board and matable with a mating connector inserted from a front end of the connector toward a rear end of the connector. The connector has a plurality of contacts, a holder for holding the plurality of contacts so that the plurality of contacts is arranged in a lateral direction, and a shell for covering at least part of the holder. The shell has a lower plate facing the circuit board when the connector is mounted on the circuit board. The lower plate includes a front edge, an inner back edge located away from the front edge by a predetermined distance, inner side edges connecting the inner back edge to the front edge, and a ground portion projecting frontward from the inner back edge. The inner back edge and the inner side edges define a recessed area recessed rearward from the front edge by a predetermined distance. The ground portion is connectable to the circuit board.
US07934947B2
An electronic apparatus includes: a plurality of casings that are mounted so as to be movable relative to each other and have circuits provided therein; and an electric wire that electrically connects the circuits provided in the casings. The electronic wire has a harness structure that includes a plurality of wires and connection portions provided at both ends of each of the plurality of wires, and connection portions of the casings to the harness are arranged such that a line linking the connection portions is not parallel to a direction in which the plurality of casings are moved.
US07934941B2
The present invention relates to an insulation displacement connector. One embodiment includes an insulation displacement terminal in which wire insulation displacement portions, to be electrically connected to wire, are formed by cutting and folding, a connector housing for holding the insulation displacement terminal therein and having a holder opening in an area in which the wire insulation displacement portion of the insulation displacement terminal are located, and a wire holder having a pair of upper and lower covers capable of being assembled together by being mounted to the holder opening, wherein the lower cover includes a rotary piece rotatable inward about a proximal end thereof when the lower cover is assembled with the upper cover to clamp or to provide strain relief for the wire in association with the upper cover.
US07934933B2
The invention relates to a printed circuit board plug-type connector (1), comprising a housing, in which contact elements (6) are arranged, wherein the contact elements (6) have a first contact part at one end and a second contact part at the opposite end, wherein the first contact part is in the form of a fork contact (7, 8), wherein the second contact part is in the form of a contact which makes contact with the printed circuit board, and an associated connection module (30) with a printed circuit board plug-type connector (1).
US07934931B2
An attachment structure is provided for attaching a stator member of a rotating connector to a bracket fitted into a steering column while being positioned. The bracket is provided with engaging recess grooves having first and second reference surfaces each orthogonal to each other, which are arranged along the axial direction of a steering shaft, and the stator member is provided with engaging protrusions respectively inserted into the corresponding engaging recess grooves. An elastic tongue piece for elastically urging the engaging protrusions on the first reference surface is formed in the engaging recess groove. Elastic tongue pieces for elastically urging the engaging protrusions on the second reference surfaces are formed on the engaging protrusions.
US07934928B2
An implanter is provided, which enables rebuilding of an interdental papilla with a simple method. An implanter 1 is made up of a T-shaped steel member as a main body. The lateral side portions centering a web portion 2 in a flange portion 3 are inclined so as to be closer to the web portion 2 with respect to a plane perpendicular to the web portion 2, to provide an angular shape, with its peak residing in a portion joining with the web portion. A plurality of holes 4 large enough for gingival fibers to thrust in are opened in the flange portion 3. One or more embedding portions 5 are projected from a tip end portion (lower end portion) of the web portion 2. Each of the embedding portions 5 has a tip end portion with at least an acute shape, or a shape that enables embedding by being driven into alveolar bone 10.
US07934927B2
An impacted tooth appliance including a micropin bone anchor with a quadrilateral aperture formed therein, a rigid apertured ribbon secured to the impacted tooth by means of a rotatable bracket secured to the tooth, the ribbon pivoted on the bracket, and the ribbon and the micropin interconnected by means of spring-biased quadrilateral wire.
US07934924B2
A system and method for providing continuous measurement and control of a combustion device by altering the fuel composition delivered thereto. The system includes devices for sensing combustion characteristics or other device characteristics, and controlling the performance of the combustion device based on the sensed information. Performance control occurs via addition of one or more additives to the fuel to adjust combustion characteristics. Via such sensing and performance control, consistent combustion device performance may be maintained, despite varying fuel characteristics. In one variation,—characteristics of the combustion device in operation, such as flame characteristics, are sensed and used to adjust fuel characteristics via iterative addition of one or more additives.
US07934920B2
A mold core includes a forming pin having a hollow interior and an end wall. A passage, preferably in the form of a hollow tube, extends into the hollow interior of the forming pin and has an end sealingly secured at a position spaced from the end wall of the forming pin. A poppet valve is disposed on the end wall of the forming pin. The poppet valve is responsive to air pressure within the passage to open and permit flow of air through the end wall of the forming pin to assist stripping of molded articles from the mold core. The poppet valve includes a valve element having an outer end at the end face of the forming pin and an inner end adjacent to the end of the passage. A spring preferably biases the valve element to a closed position. The spring preferably comprises a coil spring captured in compression between the valve element and the forming pin.
US07934919B2
A method includes the following steps: a first shell (12) is immobilized in a first shell carrier (6); a second shell (29) is immobilized in a second shell carrier (27); the first shell carrier (6) is oriented in such a way that a useful moulding surface of the first shell (12) faces upwards and forms the base of a vessel; a pre-determined quantity of polymerizable material is placed in the vessel; the first shell carrier (6) and the second shell carrier (27) are moved into a pre-determined relative position wherein the first shell (12) and the second shell (29) are in a pre-determined moulding position, by at least partially arranging the second shell (29) in the vessel, at a distance from the edges thereof. The inventive device includes a structure for positioning the shell carriers.
US07934918B2
In an injection molding tool with at least one hot channel nozzle (1), which is provided with a discharge nozzle opening (1a) and a closure needle (2) for closing the nozzle opening, an element (3) is provided by which at least the closing position of the closure needle can be monitored.
US07934908B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing method for an impeller with which molding and high-quality finishing can be performed extremely easily and quickly through resin molding using a die, and an impeller manufactured by the impeller manufacturing method. A metallic bush is disposed in a die, whereupon a resin material is injected through a gate in the die. A connecting portion between an unnecessary resin portion formed from residual resin material in the gate and a resin impeller main body molded around the bush is formed to be thin, and the unnecessary resin portion is removed from the impeller main body using pushing or withdrawing means.
US07934907B2
A winglet includes a vertical member and a mounting member. The mounting member is configured to facilitate the mounting of the winglet to the tip of a fan blade. The vertical member is configured to extend perpendicularly relative the tip of a fan blade. A cuff extends from the vertical member to substantially cover at least a portion of the interface between the end of a fan blade and the vertical member. Adding winglets to fan blades may improve the aerodynamics of the fan blades, and thereby increase efficiencies of a fan.
US07934898B2
A wafer processing system has a wafer loading system accommodating sufficient wafer carriers to substantially maximize the processing speed capability of the processing system. Wafer carriers are placed into and removed from the loading system by one or two overhead carrier loading tracks. Carriers may be loaded or removed while other carriers are in work. One or more transfer robots may move wafers from the carriers to buffers. One or more process robots in a process module move wafers from buffers, or other locations, to processors in the process module.
US07934886B2
Rolling apparatus for rolling of turf or grass surfaces is provided which includes a mobile main frame (11) and at least three undercarriages (61, 62, 63) attached to the main frame (11). Each undercarriage has one or more smoothing rollers (64) in the form of idler rollers; there is further provided a control frame for each of the undercarriages (61, 62, 63) pivotally mounted to each undercarriage with one (63) of the at least three undercarriages located rearwardly or forwardly of the other two (61, 62) undercarriages in a direction of travel of the rolling apparatus. In the direction of travel, each undercarriage is located adjacent to each other presenting substantially no gaps in a front view between adjoining undercarriages or smoothing rollers attached to the undercarriages.
US07934883B2
A writing instrument that includes a barrel extending along a longitudinal axis, a cartridge housed inside the barrel and having a front end connected to a writing point and a rear end, and a cartridge support connected to the barrel and against which the rear end of the cartridge rests.
US07934880B2
Disclosed herein is a coating and developing apparatus 1 whose decreases in substrate-conveying accuracy can be suppressed. A processing block S2 of the coating and developing apparatus 1 includes multiple resist-film forming blocks G2, G3, and a developing block G1. A conveyance element 12 for substrate loading into the processing block S2 is provided to convey substrates W from a carrier C to the resist-film forming blocks G2, G3. Also, a conveyance element I for substrate loading into an exposure apparatus S4 is provided in an interface block S3 to load the substrates W into the exposure apparatus S4 and after unloading the substrates W from the exposure apparatus S4, convey the substrates W to the developing block G1. The processing block loading conveyance element 12 conveys the substrates W, one at a time, from the carrier C to each resist-film forming block G2, G3, sequentially and periodically, and the exposure apparatus loading conveyance element I loads the substrates W from each resist-film forming block G2, G3 into the exposure apparatus S4 in the sequence that each has been conveyed to the resist-film forming block G2, G3 by the processing block loading conveyance element 12.
US07934871B2
The large diameter cage has an asymmetric shape, a diameter (discharge diameter) of which close to an opening is larger than a diameter (inflow diameter) close to the small diameter cage, and the small diameter cage has a symmetric shape, in which a diameter (inflow diameter) of which close to an opening is equal to a diameter (discharge diameter) close to the large diameter cage.
US07934864B2
The invention relates to a multicomponent foil-type container comprising a first chamber (5) for accommodating a first component, at least one second chamber (5′) for accommodating a second component, a discharge duct (6) that can be connected to said chambers (5, 5′), deflection elements (11) for mixing the components within the discharge duct (6), and a seal (12; 12′; 21; 25, 25′; 36, 36′) which prevents the components from being mixed before being used and can be opened for discharging the components. The deflection elements (11) of the inventive multicomponent foil-type container are disposed on a separate mixing element (9) that is located in the discharge duct (6) such that the multicomponent foil-type container is easy to produce while allowing different components to be mixed in a particularly effectively manner. The invention further relates to a device for squeezing a multicomponent foil-type container in a particularly effective fashion. The disclosed squeezing device is provided with a holding element (61; 77) for accommodating a multicomponent foil-type container. At least one leg (68, 69; 88) that can be moved towards the chambers (5, 5′) of the multicomponent foil-type container in order to squeeze the multicomponent foil-type container is hingedly connected to the end of the holding element (61; 77) which faces the rear end of an inserted multicomponent foil-type container, resulting in the components being effectively mixed.
US07934859B2
A light emitting diode module which includes a hollow enclosed body having a transparent or translucent portion. A power source is disposed within the body. At least one light emitting diode is disposed within the body. The at least one light emitting diode is visible through the transparent or translucent portion of the body. A power circuit couples the at least one light emitting diode to the power source. An externally accessible switch is provided to open and close the power circuit so that the at least one light emitting diode can be turned on and turned off.
US07934857B2
An illuminating device includes: an illuminating board having a plate-like transparent board, a reflector provided on a back surface of the transparent board to reflect light, and a cloudy, translucent medium provided on a front surface of the transparent board; a support member supporting an end of the illuminating board in a cantilever fashion, so as to provide a free end for the other end of the illuminating board; a light emitting portion, arranged beside the supported end of the illuminating board, that emits light to the transparent board at the supported end; and an emission control unit that causes the light emitting portion to emit light.
US07934852B2
A jacketed light emitting diode assembly is provided, which includes a light emitting diode including a set of positive and negative contacts, and a lens body containing a semiconductor chip and end portions of the contacts. An electrical wire set of first and second electrical wires are connected to the positive contact and the negative contact, respectively. A light transmissive cover receives the lens body, and has an opening through which at least one of the contact set and the electrical wire set passes. An integrally molded plastic jacket at the opening of the light transmissive cover provides a seal at the opening against moisture and airborne contaminants. A waterproof light string including one or more of the jacketed light emitting diode assemblies is also provided, as are related methods.
US07934851B1
A luminaire is provided with a housing having an attachment element and a LED mounting element. A plurality of LEDs are also provided and are supported by the LED mounting element of the housing. A plurality of reflectors are positioned proximal to the plurality of LEDs and reflect light emitted by the LEDs toward an illumination surface.
US07934850B2
A decorative light display includes a plurality of light source assemblies, each respective light source assembly of the plurality of light source assemblies having a known power requirement and at least one power supply operably coupled to each respective light source assembly of the plurality of light source assemblies for supplying power from an external power source to each respective light source assembly of the plurality of light source assemblies, the at least one power supply providing power to each respective light source assembly, which power satisfies the known power requirement thereof. A method of displaying decorative lighting is further included.
US07934848B1
A lighting system for illuminating stairs and a method for installing the same. The wiring for the lighting system may be hidden from view, providing a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Furthermore, the lighting system may be installed simultaneously with the deck itself, or afterwards. Embodiments of the present invention include stair riser lights which extend only minimally from the front surface of the stair riser. Embodiments of the present invention may focus the light towards the horizontal surface in front of the stair riser. Embodiments of the present invention may also protect the lighting system from environmental damage. Embodiments of the installation method include utilizing a jig so that the light assembly may be quickly and accurately installed.
US07934842B2
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle including an extendable mirror for improved rearward viewing is disclosed. Several embodiments of the rearview mirror assembly each comprise a mirror housing, a mirror disposed in the mirror housing, and some structure to allow extension of the mirror between an inboard position and an outboard position. In one embodiment, the mirror assembly includes structure to allow rotation of the mirror between inboard and outboard positions. The mirror may comprise a post disposed in a mirror shell and extending along a longitudinal horizontal axis which extends through a plane defined by the mirror, offset from a central vertical axis of the mirror. In another embodiment, the means for rotating the mirror comprises a pivot part having a shaft disposed in an aperture in the mirror shell, which is disposed along the longitudinal horizontal axis. In yet another embodiment, the mean for extending the mirror for an inboard position to an outboard position comprises a groove in the mirror housing, in which a mirror frame is slidably disposed. The frame may be slid, relative to the mirror housing, from an inboard position to an outboard position.
US07934832B2
Disclosed are method and apparatus for characterizing the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). An advantageous diagnostic parameter for characterizing the RNFL is a function of the product of the local RNFL thickness at a measurement locus×the distance of the measurement locus from a base point. The value of the diagnostic parameter in a patient's retina is compared to a corresponding reference range acquired from a population of healthy retinas.
US07934831B2
A very low inventory method of making eyeglasses. Two lens elements having special complementary surfaces are provided. These lens elements can be positioned relative to each other to provide wide ranges of focus correction and astigmatism correction. Various preferred embodiments of the invention are described. In one embodiment the required inventory is only identical sets of two complementary lenses for providing correction for almost all needed eye correction for a typical population. In this embodiment, the lens units are first adjusted relative to each other to provide a desired focusing power. Astigmatism may be corrected by a small adjustment in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction followed by a rotation of the two lenses about the axis of the two lenses. When the adjustments have been made the two lenses are fixed with respect to each other and installed in eyeglass frames. Cutting to the shape of the eyeglass frames can occur either before or after the fixing.
US07934830B2
Silicone hydrogels formed from a hydrated polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising (a) a major amount of a non-silicone-containing hydrophilic monomer; and (b) a minor amount of a silicone-containing monomer, wherein the hydrogel has a water content of greater than 50 weight percent are disclosed.
US07934827B2
The direction in which the media tray 21 moves in and out of the printer and the direction in which the inkjet head 17 moves when printing are on the same line along the front-to-back axis Y of the label printer 5, and the written medium 2B carried on the media tray 21 is positioned on the printing line of the inkjet head 17 when the media tray 21 moves to the tray retraction position 21A. Moving the media tray 21 retracted inside the printer widthwise to the printer from the tray retraction position 21A to the printing position is unnecessary, and printing can start immediately while moving the media tray 21 from the tray retraction position 21A on the widthwise axis X of the printer. The width of the label printer 5 can be reduced because the media tray 21 moves only the diameter of the media widthwise to the printer.
US07934826B2
The apparatus has a carriage that holds a head, a carriage-driving mechanism having a motor, and a holding mechanism configured to press a recording medium to a medium-holding base. The holding mechanism has a pair of arm members and a pushing member secured to the arm members. A spring urges the holding mechanism toward the medium-holding base. The carriage can move to a first region and farther to as second region. In the first region, the head can read data from the recording medium. The apparatus has a sliding member that moves together with the carriage while the carriage remains in the second region. When the carriage moves to the second region and moves together with the carriage, the pushing member moves away from the medium-holding base.
US07934825B2
A printing system includes first and second marking engines which output marked print media to first and second angularly spaced print streams. The marking engines define, at least in part, first and second sides of a working area, whereby a user has access to the first and second marking engines via access members on the first and second sides of the working area. A merge module receives print media from the first and second print streams. The merge module includes at least one rotate and redirect path for merging print media from one of the first and second streams with print media from the other of the first and second streams to generate a merged print stream. At least one finisher receives the merged print stream from the merge module.
US07934788B2
A serial inkjet printing apparatus is capable of stably printing a preferable image, when a printing medium is released and conveyed from an upstream conveying unit, and when the printing medium is conveyed by only a downstream conveying unit. Specifically, the serial inkjet printing apparatus, which includes the upstream conveying unit and the downstream conveying unit, corrects a conveyance amount of the printing medium by predicting a shift of a printing position due to expansion or contraction of the printing medium, when the printing medium is released and conveyed from the upstream conveying unit, and when the printing medium is conveyed by only the downstream conveying unit.
US07934784B2
An image recording apparatus including: a carriage on which a recording head is mounted and which is reciprocable across an image recording area and a maintenance area; driven portions; a first and a second drive source which generate drive power; and a drive-power transmitting system which transmits the drive power to the driven portions, wherein the system includes: a shaft; a first and a second switching gear supported by the shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and respectively rotated by the drive power of the first and the second drive source; transmission gears each of which is meshable with at least one of the first and the second switching gear, and transmits the drive power of one of the first and the second power source to a corresponding one or ones of the driven portions; and a switching-gear positioning mechanism which positions a set of the first and the second switching gear, depending upon a position of the carriage in the areas, at a selected one of specific positions.
US07934782B2
The present invention relates to electrical enclosures having a cabinet and a door connected by hinges and in particular to a hinge which allows a door, while closed, to be flush with a surface that surrounds the perimeter of the cabinet door opening. The hinge system utilizes a spring that pushes the door in a direction that is generally normal to and away from the cabinet, creating a space between the peripheral flange on the door and the surface that surrounds the cabinet door opening thus allowing the door to swing freely as it is opened and closed. The door can be held closed by use of various latching systems. While the door is in the closed position, latches near the hinges will compress the hinge springs, eliminating the space between the door and the cabinet opening.
US07934781B2
A computer housing includes a foldable frame and a face panel. The frame is disposed for mounting a motherboard, an optical disk drive, and a power supply, and includes two first housing panels and two second housing panels that are connected pivotally and surroundingly as a whole. The frame is foldable into a folded state, where the first and second housing panels are turned pivotally to be proximate to each other so as to reduce the size of the frame, as well as the space and material required for packaging the frame, thereby saving costs of transport and packaging material.
US07934779B2
In the hybrid vehicle of the invention, when the sum of a regenerative braking force BFr produced by a motor and an operational braking force BFpmc based on a master cylinder pressure Pmc is insufficient for a braking force demand BF* required by the driver in response to the driver's depression of a brake pedal, the motor and a brake actuator of an HBS are controlled to satisfy the braking force demand BF* by the total of the regenerative braking force BFr of the motor, the master cylinder pressure Pmc-based operational braking force BFpmc, and a compensated braking force BFpp based on a pressure increase by two pumps included in the brake actuator (steps S170 through S190).
US07934776B2
A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight.
US07934775B2
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a vest and a restraint incorporated into the vest. The vest includes a front panel, a back panel, and left and right shoulder portions extending between the front panel and the back panel. The vest has an inner face and an outer face. The restraint includes a front latch fixed to the vest front panel and a back latch fixed to the vest back panel. The restraint includes webbing portions extending in a force-transmitting relationship between the front latch and the back latch, within the front panel and the shoulder portions and the back panel of the vest, so as to extend at least partially around the torso of a occupant wearing the vest. The front panel of the vest includes a front armor pocket and the back panel of the vest includes a back armor pocket, for receiving and supporting panels of body armor.
US07934771B2
An armrest frame (5A) bends at a hinge groove (5A2), which serves as a weak portion, when an impact load is applied to the armrest frame (5A) in an armrest (5) following a side impact with another vehicle. As a result, the armrest (5) is allowed to move toward the inside, in the vehicle width direction, during a side impact with another vehicle, thus ensuring the movement of a seated individual toward the inside, in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle armrest (5) also provides the same sense of stability as an armrest as a conventional armrest during normal use at times other than when there is a side impact with another vehicle.
US07934759B2
A packaging system for handling palletized product arranged in multiple layers of product cases, a pallet de-layering system includes a gripper mechanism. The gripper mechanism is configured to clamp a layer of the multiple layers by applying a clamping force to one or more product cases of the layer such that the layer can be removed from an adjacent layer of product cases to a different location. The layer includes a void between adjacent product cases. The gripper mechanism includes a void filling member carried by the gripper mechanism. The void filling member is sized and located to be positioned within the void to limit movement of the adjacent product cases into the void during a clamping operation.
US07934756B2
A gripping assembly having a first or holding end with a pair of rotatable operating elements held therein and connected to a wind assembly having a flexible, non-resilient link held by one end therein for operating a pair of gripping elements. The gripping assembly is movably mounted on a distal end of an adjustable, two part hollow body. The wind assembly is captured between a pair of lever housings and includes a constant force spring to allow the flexible, non-resilient link to be wound onto or from the wind assembly.
US07934755B2
An omelet spatula includes a handle and a body. The body is attached to the handle and includes a surface in the shape of half of a cooking food, having an inner edge and an outer edge that meet at each end. The shape of the spatula allows the user to easily fold the cooking food over itself, for example, as when cooking an omelet. The spatula is configured to remain in the cooking pan, underneath half of the omelet, until the omelet is folded. Also, a cooking method using the spatula is described.
US07934753B2
An aircraft having a connection element for connecting at least one first conduit element or the like positioned in a supply chamber of an aircraft with at least one second conduit element positioned in a cabin chamber of the aircraft, where the supply chamber and cabin chamber are separated from each other by a separation element, substantially comprising a connection part comprising fastening elements for fastening the first and second conduit element. Known connection elements have the disadvantage that there occur sealing problems due to the fastening of the fastening element at the outside of the connection part at the end facing the cabin chamber. A further disadvantage is that the connection elements protrude into the cabin chamber and form edges over which one may stumble there. In that at least the fastening element for the fastening the conduit element of the cabin chamber is provided within the connection part, there may be realized a compact structural shape which does not protrude from the separating element into the cabin chamber, and which may in addition be reliably sealed.
US07934750B2
An airbag includes on an area of a circumferential wall encircling mounting holes a reinforced area that has a laminated structure of base cloths, i.e. a body cloth and a plurality of reinforcing cloths overlaid on the body cloth. Each of the base cloths has an adhesive layer on one surface and, the reinforced area includes in between the base cloths an adhesion area that bonds the base cloths together by heat sealing. The adhesion area is formed between two of the base cloths immediately adjoining each other or between two of the base cloths that has at least one other base cloth placed in between and at an area of the other base cloth where there is no cloth. All the base cloths are bonded together by the adhesion area without slippage from one another in a direction orthogonal to a layering direction of the base cloths.
US07934739B2
A twenty-nine inch wheel bicycle frame includes substantially rigid front and rear triangles that are pivotally connected to one another by a pair of linkages. The frame is designed so that chain tension urges the linkages to pivot in opposite directions, while bumps urge the linkages to pivot in the same direction.
US07934728B2
A wheelbarrow having two wheels mounted on an axis which is allowed to swivel, thereby allowing the axle to tilt with the terrain while the tray and handles remain substantially level. The wheel assembly is coupled to stop-limits to prevent the excessive tilting of the wheels with respect to the tray and handles.
US07934726B1
An integrated shopping cart display and information handle attachment having multiple display orientation surfaces that are selectively positioned for viewing and use access by index rotation. Information display surfaces combining interior light source with position activation and display criteria, multiple features are available including product coupon access and bar code product scanning as well as sanitation and lotion dispensing access. Display panel illumination with internal self-contained renewal power source through solar cells and multiple safety reflective tape surfaces positioned on said display attachment. Information sheet overlying the display viewing area so as to provide for a useful point of sale information display and coupon redemption system.
US07934725B2
A surface vehicle capable of overcoming obstacles is disclosed in which the vehicle accelerates vertically while having a horizontal velocity. The vehicle has a frame and at least three wheels attached to the frame to which a horizontal propulsion system is coupled. Further, a vertical propulsion system is coupled to the frame and the wheels. The vertical propulsion system is capable of providing a force to such wheels normal to the surface so that the vehicle separates from the surface. The vehicle has an electronic control unit coupled to the vertical propulsion system to automatically control its operation.
US07934720B2
A fluffer section and method for controlling a fluffer port in an image production device is disclosed. The fluffer section may include a variable port configuration device that contains a plurality of fluffer port configurations, a stepper motor that moves the variable port configuration device, a variable-speed pressure blower that blows air to fluff a media stack, and a fluffer port control unit that receives an input from one or more sensors that sense at least one of media type, media weight, temperature, and humidity, selects a fluffer port configuration from a plurality of fluffer port configurations based on the received sensor input, sends a signal to the stepper motor to move the variable port configuration device to the selected fluffer port configuration, and sends a signal to the variable-speed pressure blower to blow air to fluff a media stack using the selected fluffer port configuration.
US07934718B2
A printing system with a pre-determined printing rate, in which a modular print media sheets feeding system feeds unprinted sheets to the printing system from at least two separate sheet separator/feeders and sheet stacks under the control of a programmed sheet feeding algorithm which alternately feeds the sheets into at least two separate fed sheet streams at a sheet feeding cycle time for each separator/feeder of approximately one-half or less of the printing system printing rate and with sheet feeding commands such that the separate sheet separator/feeders feed their respective sheets into their respective fed sheet streams at programmed times which allow the fed sheet streams to interleave into a single fed sheet stream at a sheet merging position at the full pre-determined printing rate of the printing system before being fed to the printing system.
US07934716B2
The invention provides a paper sheet separating and accumulating apparatus which prevents a discharged paper money from entering into an accumulating carrier path in the case of discharging the paper money, and inhibits a jam from being generated. The paper sheet separating and accumulating apparatus is provided with a movable portion (for example, a stack guide, a detection lever, and a pressurized member) which is changed its position in correspondence to a movement of a paper sheet to a position at which an elevating plate discharges the paper sheet from an accumulating portion, and the movable portion is provided with a shielding portion (for example, a concavity and convexity of the movable portion and a shielding member) shielding a route from a two-way carrier path to an accumulating carrier path, in the case of discharging the paper sheet from the accumulating portion.
US07934708B2
An air spring for a vehicle seat. The air spring includes a plurality of air spring components which delimit at least one air spring chamber. The air spring forms an intake air connection and a discharged air connection for controlling the height and/or level of the vehicle seat, wherein the air spring furthermore has, for controlling the height and/or level of the vehicle seat, a valve device which is integrated in the air spring or in at least one air spring component.
US07934700B2
A net/fence includes retro-reflective elements such as tapes that extend in horizontal and/or vertical directions with respect to the fence. The tapes are attached to the netting by thread or glue. One method for weaving the net/fence includes dragging the tape extending in a machine direction along the netting during weaving and threading the tape thereto. Another method for weaving the net/fence includes dragging the tape extending in a transverse direction and attaching the tape thereto with glue. A net-weaving machine can produce such a net in a machine direction and use a comb having threading needles to selectively attach the tape to the net with the thread. If attached in the transverse direction, a trolley borne on a beam lying in the transverse direction introduces the tape onto the net and a connection device, such as a glue jet, connects the tape to the net.
US07934698B2
A device for pulling an elongate member includes a rotational motor having an output and a rotating drum connected to the output of said rotational motor. The device further includes a guide mechanism for guiding the resilient elongate element onto, around at least a portion of the circumference of, and off of, the rotating drum. When the rotational motor turns the rotating drum, the rotating drum thereby continuously pulls the resilient elongate element through the device.
US07934696B1
Methods and apparatuses for injecting starting fluid into an internal combustion engine are provided, through use of a control valve having a two-stage filter apparatus disposed upstream of a metering device internal to the control valve, a valve arrangement for positively opening and closing a gas pathway through the valve having a conical-shaped valve poppet and seat arrangement, an electrical solenoid having an electrical coil thereof operatively attached to the control valve in such a manner that the electrical coil may be removed and replaced without disturbing operative connections between a valve outlet and/or a valve inlet, in a valve construction including a one-piece valve body.
US07934695B2
A refrigerator includes a valve assembly located at a refrigerant path from a condenser to at least one expansion valve for controlling flow of a refrigerant from the condenser to the at least one expansion valve. The valve assembly includes a valve chamber, wherein the refrigerant drawn from the condenser is held in the valve chamber; at least one outlet hole through which the refrigerant held in the valve chamber is discharged to a corresponding outlet path connected to the at least one expansion valve; and a valve body for selectively opening and closing the at least one outlet hole as the valve body rotates, such that the refrigerant held in the valve chamber is selectively discharged to the corresponding outlet path.
US07934685B1
A technique whereby one or more conducting plates electrically-biased negatively with respect to a spacecraft's electrical potential and insulated from the spacecraft surface are located around the spacecraft surface whereby contaminant ions in a plasma surrounding the spacecraft are accelerated through an electric potential, caused to collide with the conductive surface, neutralized through collisions with surface atoms, and then reflected away from the spacecraft as neutral atoms or molecules.
US07934684B2
A method for racing rocket-powered vehicles directly against one another is provided in which a first rocket-powered vehicle simultaneously races against a second rocket-powered vehicle to be the first to complete a race course. The method may include the first and second rocket-powered vehicles performing a pre-determined maneuver while proximate a group of spectators, and/or the rocket-powered vehicles strategically performing the steps of gliding and boosting the flight of their rocket-powered vehicle in accordance with a pre-determined maximum fuel criteria. The method further may include permitting spectator interaction with participants of the racing competition and enabling spectators to compete with actual participants via virtual vehicles. The method may also include the rocket-powered vehicles performing a refueling operation. The method may further include providing audible or visual identifiers of the vehicles. In addition, the method may include providing safety data to ensure safe separation between competing vehicles.
US07934675B2
An apparatus and method for splicing tapes dispensed from a tape dispenser. According to one embodiment, a first, running or unwinding roll of tape is provided with a first splicing element secured to its trailing end portion. A second, stationary or standby roll of tape is provided with a second splicing element secured to its leading end portion. The second splicing element comprises a body made of a self-supporting material and formed with at least one aperture sized to receive the tape from the first roll. While tape is being dispensed from the first roll, the running tape is inserted into the aperture of the second splicing element. When the first roll of tape becomes depleted, the first splicing element engages the second splicing element, thereby splicing the leading end portion of the second tape roll to the trailing end portion of the first tape roll.
US07934658B1
A method and an apparatus for achieving a tailored content response based upon a product identifier coupled with a user identifier are provided. In one method embodiment, the present invention receives a machine readable indicia wherein at least a first portion of the machine readable indicia pertains to the product identifier and at least a second portion of the machine readable indicia pertains to the user identifier. Next, a product associated with the product identifier is identified in a database, wherein the database is not required to be formatted according to an extrinsic product identification standard. Moreover, a user profile associated with the user identifier is identified, the user profile comprising context information for the user. A tailored content response is then compiled for the device based upon the product and the context information.
US07934651B2
A method is disclosed for providing an observer with an intuitive sense of the tactical situation in an operational area that surrounds a point-of-interest. The observer is simultaneously presented a top-down view of the operational area that includes contact indicators for each of one or more contacts within the operational area, and a status display that indicates the instantaneous hostility assessment of one or more of these contacts. In addition, the operator is automatically presented historical information, including contact images, for each contact whose hostility assessment exceeds a threshold level. The operator, or a group of operators, is enabled to view all of the displayed information from a single vantage point, assess the relative hostility of numerous contacts simultaneously, and rapidly confirm the identity of apparently hostile contacts prior to engagement.
US07934646B2
A face panel assembly is disclosed having a mounting flange for detachably fastening to a bill/coin acceptor in an automatic vending machine, a slot for the insertion of a bill/coin into the bill/coin acceptor, and a RFID module, which has a sensor for sensing a RFID stored-value card for enabling the RFID module to fetch stored data from the RFID stored-value card and to transmit the fetched data to the automatic vending machine, and a transmission interface (wired or wireless type) for communication between the RFID module and the automatic vending machine.
US07934639B1
Systems and methods for a point of sale reward system are provided. The system notifies users proximate to a point of sale location of rewards available for redemption specific to that user at that specific point of sale location.
US07934632B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor package includes an index rail transferring a lead frame in forward and backward directions, the lead frame having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, a loader portion connected to an end portion of the index rail and supplying the lead frame to the index rail, a frame driving portion connected to the opposite end portion of the end portion of the index rail and rotating the lead frame around a normal to the first surface, and a wire bonding portion electrically connecting the lead frame and a semiconductor chip attached to the lead frame supplied to the index rail using a wire bond.
US07934630B2
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied so as to apply various clamping forces and pressures to soft tissue captured within the staples. In at least one embodiment, the staples can include crowns formed thereon which can be utilized to adjust or control the clamping force and/or pressure applied by the staples.
US07934624B2
The invention serves to simultaneously pour out two separate liquids with a specified quantitative ratio from a container. To this end, a separate container is located inside said container. The container closure forms a mouth cap (1). This tapers upward conically into a straight concentric spout (2) with an interior space (11). A larger, closeable spout neck (4) having a projection (5) that radially projects at the bottom is placed concentrically around the straight spout (2) of the mouth cap (1). This projection (5) is supported with supporting braces (6) an the shoulder (7) formed by the conical taper. A flow opening (9), which encircles up to the supporting braces (6), is left open between the shoulder (7) and the inside edge (8) of the projection (5) and of the larger spout neck (4). The supporting braces (6) and the radial projection (5) are each passed through by a borehole (10) that communicate with the inside of the mouth cap (1) and with the space (16) outside the larger spout neck (4). When the container is tilted, the separate contents are poured out with a specified ratio.
US07934621B2
A handle or gripping implement for a cooking vessel comprises two bottom and top handle elements to be mutually assembled to form the handle or cooking implement, the top element being made of a clear synthetic material and having a surface facing the bottom element, the bottom element including, in turn, a surface facing the top element, the surfaces of the top element and/or of the bottom element supporting wording, trademarks, patterns, colors or the like.
US07934620B2
A flexible check valve is introduced within a fluid path for leakage protection. The flexible check valve can be a duckbill/crossbill valve comprising multiple flexible members that restrict the flow of fluid in a tubular member. The flexible check valve is preferably used in conjunction with a drinking straw to prevent liquid from exiting a container such as a drink box. Preferably, the flexible check valve is a crossbill valve that is attached using an adapter. Liquid is designed to only flow through when an external compressive force (e.g. users fingers or lips) is applied to the valve. When force is no longer applied to the valve section, the valve returns to its normally closed position and fluid is wholly or substantially prevented from exiting.
US07934615B2
A container including a base, a cover, a dispensing port, and a slider is provided. The base has a bottom, front and back walls, and a pair of side walls defining a lower portion of a storage area. The cover has a top including a generally rectangular recess, front and back walls, and a pair of side walls defining an upper portion of the storage area. The cover is operably coupled to the base to enclose the storage area. The dispensing port passes through the top of the cover within the recess. The slider is disposed within the recess, operably coupled to the cover, and moveable within the recess from a closed position where the dispensing port is covered to an open position where the dispensing port is uncovered.
US07934613B2
A container unit for a drug is composed of a container, which is formed of a cylindrical drug-solution-containing portion and a drug-solution-filling neck portion, and a rubber closure for sealing the drug-solution-filling neck portion. The rubber closure comprises a disk-shaped head portion and a substantially cylindrical leg portion arranged on a lower wall of the head portion. The container is provided with a flat surface formed on a side of its inner wall at a boundary between the drug-solution-containing portion and the drug-solution-filling neck portion such that a lower end wall of the leg portion of the rubber closure can be brought into close contact with the flat surface, and at least a side wall of the drug-solution-containing portion forms a cornerless, rounded surface on a side where a drug solution is to be contained. When the drug-solution-filling neck portion has been sealed with the rubber closure, the lower end wall of the leg portion and the flat surface of the container are maintained in close contact with each other without any protrusion of an inner circumferential edge of the lower end wall into an interior of the container beyond an inner circumferential edge of the flat surface.
US07934610B2
The knife supporter comprises at least two magnetic boards has same magnetic polarity at inner side facing each other, so that the magnetic boards repel each other, and a supporting frame slidably supports the magnetic boards, so that the magnetic board can slide along the supporting frame for magnetic the knife therebetween, whereby when a knife is put between the two magnetic boards, the magnetic boards with magnetism can attract the knife and clamp the knife tightly therebetween, when no knife is put between the two magnetic boards, the magnetic boards are separated due to same magnetic polarity repelling each other.
US07934593B2
The transport device comprises a screw conveyor (5), in a casing (5a) of which a propeller (5b) rotates. The device also comprises an elastic cradle (7), interposed between the casing (5a) of the screw and the propeller (5b), internally of which the propeller (5b) of the screw rotates.
US07934592B2
A plurality of conveying apparatuses ace arranged from the inside of the first building to the inside of the second building along a conveying direction. A plurality of connection mechanisms connect each pair of adjacent conveying apparatuses such that the conveying apparatuses are arranged in a meandering manner in a case where relative positions between the first building and the second building are changed.
US07934588B2
A torque damper can comprise a clutch piston arranged within a cover of a torque converter and can be adapted to be moved between a connected position and a non-connected position relative to the cover. Damper springs can be arranged along the circumference of the clutch piston. Connecting members can be arranged abutting against one end of the damper spring and adapted to connect a turbine arranged within the cover and the clutch piston via the damper spring. Damper holders can be arranged abutting against the other end of the damper spring and adapted to hold the damper spring against the compressive force applied to the damper spring from the connecting member. Guide sheets having wear resistance can be interposed between the circumference of the clutch piston and the damper spring and can be adapted to guide the damper spring. A torque input to the cover can be transmitted to the turbine via the clutch piston and the damper springs when the clutch piston is in the connected position. The guide sheets can be anchored to the damper holders and secured thereto immovably in the circumferential direction of the clutch piston.
US07934585B2
The invention relates to a method of servicing the outer components of a wind turbine such as the wind turbine blades and the tower with a work platform, said method comprises the steps of: positioning the work platform at the wind turbine tower and connecting the work platform to an upper part of the wind turbine with at least one cable. Further the method comprises the steps of raising the work platform with the cable and cable winding means to a position of use, and holding the work platform to the side of the wind turbine tower with holding means. The invention also relates to a work platform for servicing the outer components of a wind turbine.
US07934568B2
A rock core removal method and apparatus allows efficient, safe, and reliable removal of a rock core sample. An inner collet tube and an outer ground tube, within a drill tube, protect the core sample during drilling. At depth, the collet tube is raised with respect to the ground tube so that the conical wall of the ground tube pushes constricting fingers on the collet tube inward, gripping the core sample within. The collet tube and ground tube are then raised, rotated, or raised and rotated, applying the necessary force to break the core sample off of the substrate. After retracting the tubes, the collet tube is lowered with respect to the ground tube to release the core sample. An ejection rod then pushes the core sample out of the collet tube. The ground tube may also act as the actuating means for a quick-change drill-bit release feature.
US07934566B2
A device for impacting a fastener in one embodiment includes a lever arm pivotable between a first position whereat a flywheel is spaced apart from a drive mechanism and a second position whereat the flywheel can contact the drive mechanism, a lever arm solenoid for pivoting the lever arm between the first position and the second position, a drive mechanism sensor for generating a position signal indicative of the position of the drive mechanism, a timer for generating a timing signal, a memory including program instructions, and a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions to (i) energize the solenoid to pivot the lever arm to the second position, (ii) de-energize the solenoid based upon the position signal, and (iii) de-energize the solenoid based upon the timing signal.
US07934565B2
A device for impacting a fastener in one embodiment includes a lever arm pivotable between a first position whereat a flywheel is spaced apart from a drive mechanism and a second position whereat the flywheel can contact the drive mechanism, a motor operably connected to the flywheel for storing energy in the flywheel, a trigger sensor assembly for generating a trigger signal indicative of the position of a trigger, a work contact element (WCE) sensor for generating a WCE signal indicative of the position of a WCE, a memory including program instructions, and a processor operably connected to the memory for executing the program instructions to (i) energize the motor based upon the WCE signal, and (ii) pivot the lever arm based upon the trigger signal.
US07934563B2
A method and apparatus for creating inverted laterals or drainholes for producing from a subterranean reservoir including the steps of lowering, positioning and securing a reverse whipstock in a wellbore. A tube is secured from the surface to a pull tube which extends through and below the reverse whipstock. Fluid is pumped from the surface and through a U-tube device below the pull tube. At least one inverted drainhole is drilled using force from the pumping fluid. The pull tube is pulled upward vertically toward the surface while pumping the fluid.
US07934557B2
Disclosed embodiments relate to methods of completing wells in subterranean formations. An exemplary embodiment comprises forming an artificial barrier to water flow, wherein the artificial barrier is located at or above a hydrocarbon-water interface between a water-bearing formation zone and a hydrocarbon-bearing formation zone. The exemplary embodiment further comprises consolidating a portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation zone, wherein the artificial barrier is located between the consolidated portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation zone and the water-bearing formation zone.
US07934554B2
Methods and compositions are provided that relate to well bore treatments that comprise swellable particles. An embodiment includes a method that comprises introducing a fluid comprising a dual oil/water-swellable particle into a subterranean formation. Another embodiment includes a method of cementing that comprises: introducing a cement composition comprising cement, water, and a dual oil/water-swellable particle into a space between a pipe string and a subterranean formation; and allowing the cement composition to set in the space. Another embodiment includes a well treatment composition comprising a dual oil/water-swellable particle.
US07934545B2
A system and method to detect leaks in the rotating control head and a latching system to latch the rotating control head to a housing is disclosed.
US07934537B2
A liquid receptacle for rapidly lowering the temperature of a liquid contained therein to a warm range suitable for human contact and maintaining the liquid in the warm range for an extended period of time includes an inner vessel with an open upper end and a closed lower end and a wall connecting the upper and lower end. An insulated outer shell is spaced from the inner vessel to define an interstitial chamber between the inner vessel and the outer shell. A phase change material occupies the chamber and regeneratively absorbs thermal energy from the liquid to cool the liquid and then releases the thermal energy back to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid.
US07934535B2
A centrifugal casting method and apparatus for casting molten metal into a mold. The casting apparatus includes a housing provided with a bottom surface and a retaining wall for minimizing a number of projectiles that escape the housing during casting operations. A prime mover is provided for imparting a centrifugal force on the molten metal, and an arm is coupled to the prime mover adjacent to a proximate end to be rotated about a rotational axis and to support a cradle for receiving the mold adjacent to a distal end. A crucible is to be coupled to the arm for supporting the molten metal to be cast into the mold, while a catch surface is disposed between the arm and the bottom surface of the housing to collect molten metal that is cast but not received within the mold.
US07934529B2
Method and apparatus for manufacture and inspection of swatch bearing sheets using a vacuum conveyor
An apparatus and method of high speed manufacture of swatch bearing sheets wherein each sheet is directed through various operating stations via sequentially releasing a suction force from an endless vacuum belt conveyor while sequentially pulling the sheet onto another endless vacuum belt conveyor with a suction force to allow for substantially continuous engagement of the sheet with the endless vacuum conveyors during the manufacture and inspection of the sheets.
US07934525B2
A hands-free wood (log segment) splitting apparatus and method of employing a mobile vehicle having mounted thereon the splitting apparatus. The splitting apparatus includes a mount removably secured to the mobile vehicle and having secured thereon a rotatable auger, the location of the mount and the components carried thereon being safely remote from an operator. Control over the positioning of the apparatus, including the auger relative to a to-be-split log segment, control over the movement of the auger relative to the log segment being split, restraining the log segment from undesired movement relative to the spinning auger, and other related actions, are effected by the operator from the remote location and without exposure of the operator to personal injury from the splitting apparatus. Guides are provided for entry thereof into a split to serve as impediments to collapse of the split portions of the log segment against the auger.
US07934524B2
A tractor has a log splitter installed on two loader arms pivoted at a front end of the tractor. The log splitter includes a frame for attachment to the loader arms. The frame includes a surface, to which a ram and a wedge are coupled. An actuator mounted to the frame moves the ram and/or the wedge to split a log received between the ram and the wedge. The wedge includes a main blade and a cross blade perpendicular to the main blade. An edge of the cross blade is offset from an edge of the main blade so as to reduce the force required to achieve a four-way split of the log. The wedge and the frame are designed to enable inverting the log splitter to grasp a log, then raising the inverted log splitter to split the log directly into a truck bed. The uniquely designed hydraulic tank-ballast box combination provides an owner an external high volume hydraulic system without impeding the capability of the tractor hydraulic system. The tank and ballast box hitch assembly can also integrate the pump mounted to the hitch frame allows one to remove all components together.
US07934514B2
A fuel cutoff valve comprises a casing having a seal portion disposed facing a connecting passage and projecting in annular configuration towards a valve chamber; and a float mechanism having a float which rises and falls due to increasing and decreasing buoyancy according to the fuel level within the valve chamber. The float comprises a flexural depression-enabling recess situated on its upper surface at a location in opposition to the seal portion, for enabling the seat portion to undergo flexural depression when pressed by the seal portion. The casing has a regulating portion on the outside perimeter of the seal portion, for regulating the level of elastic deformation at which the seat portion elastically deforms into the flexural depression-enabling recess.
US07934513B2
A facility for cleaning substrates such as semiconductor wafers includes a loading/unloading part, an aligning part where wafers are repositioned from a horizontal state to a vertical state, a cleaning part performing etchant-treating, rinsing, and drying processes for wafers and having a plurality of process chamber stacked, and an interface part where a transfer bath is disposed to transfer wafers between the process chambers. When the wafers are transferred between the process chamber, the transfer bath is filled with deionized water (DI water) to prevent their exposure to the air. Wafers drawn out of the loading/unlading part are repositioned from a horizontal state to a vertical state and are transferred to a first process chamber being one of the process chambers to be subjected to a part of processes. After the wafers are transferred to a second process chamber being the other one of the process chambers to be subjected to the other processes, they are repositioned from a vertical state to a horizontal state. That is, the wafers are transferred along a loop shape to be processed.
US07934512B2
A hair highlighting applicator which comprises includes a flexible dispenser for holding a hair coloring gel therein. The flexible dispenser has a first open end and a second open end. A first twist-off cap is removably mounted to the first open end of the flexible dispenser. A prong is axially supported on the first twist-off cap for separating the hair. A second twist-off cap is removably mounted to the second open end of the flexible dispenser. A mechanism is for distributing the hair coloring gel onto the hair. The distributing mechanism is axially supported on the second twist-off cap and is in fluid communication with the flexible dispenser. When the flexible dispenser is squeezed the hair coloring gel will be forced through the distributing mechanism and applied onto the hair.
US07934505B2
A bite block intended primarily for use with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy comprises a unitary body that fits into the mouth between the teeth or dental ridges. The bite block includes a central passageway large enough to accommodate a gastroscope. The bite block also has a surface which lies exterior to the oral cavity and extends around the outer surface of the lips. A suction wand is releasably connected to the body and extends into the intra-oral portion thereof where it forms an angle and allows suction drainage of pooled oral fluids from the cheek cavity. The interior tip of the suction wand has a terminal opening as well as multiple circumferentially arranged secondary openings adjacent the terminal opening all of which allow suction drainage of oral fluids with diminished occlusion by the oral tissues.
US07934502B2
A supraglottic airway of the type used to facilitate lung ventilation and the insertion of endo-tracheal tubes or related medical instruments through a patient's laryngeal opening where the shield is designed to have an internal increase in pressure during assisted inhalation such as positive-pressure ventilation.
US07934501B2
A swivel elbow includes a conduit pathway separated from a vent airflow pathway for conducting respective gas flow streams in use. The swivel elbow further includes baffle structure that separates the respective gas flow streams so that they do not interfere with each other within an interior (e.g., breathing chamber) of a mask to which the elbow is connected in use.
US07934499B2
An improved ventilator which delivers ventilatory support that is synchronized with the phase of the patients respiratory efforts and guarantees a targeted minimum ventilation. Improved synchronization is achieved through an instantaneous respiratory phase determination process based upon measured respiratory airflow as well as measured respiratory effort using an effort sensor accessory, preferably a suprasternal notch sensor. The ventilator processes a respiratory airflow signal, a respiratory effort signal and their respective rates of change to determine a phase using standard fuzzy logic methods. A calculated pressure amplitude is adjusted based upon the calculated phase and a smooth pressure waveform template to deliver synchronized ventilation.
US07934496B2
A solar collector panel which can also be utilized to display information and/or images and/or messages and having an external frame, with a transparent upper panel securely positioned within the frame. A lower panel is positioned within the frame and spaced in relation to the upper panel so as to provide a closed chamber between the upper panel and the lower panel, an upper surface of the lower panel having applied thereon heat conversion means for converting solar radiation to heat energy, the heat conversion means providing thereon information, an image or message which is visible above the upper surface of the upper panel. A back panel is positioned within the frame, so as to define a closed volume of air space between the lower panel and the back panel through which air may flow. Intake and exhaust pipes introduce air into the frame, and transfer heated air from the frame.
US07934494B1
A collapsible unit for supporting food items over a heat source comprises a collapsible frame enclosure wherein at least one side of the frame is reconfigurable to enable various types of cooking and heating arrangements.
US07934486B1
A method for controlling combustion in a combustion chamber of a turbocharged engine is described. The method includes admitting to the combustion chamber prior to ignition a first amount of exhaust from an intake manifold of the engine, the first amount changing at a first rate in response to a changing engine load. The method also includes retaining in the combustion chamber prior to the ignition a second amount of exhaust from the combustion chamber, the second amount changing at a second rate, greater than the first rate, in response to the changing engine load.
US07934485B2
A control device for an internal combustion engine which transmits output to a drive-train via a dual mass flywheel, the control device including: an engine rotational state detecting unit that detects a rotational state of the internal combustion engine; a rotational fluctuation inhibiting unit that executes a process of inhibiting rotational fluctuation for the internal combustion engine when a rotational state that is detected by the engine rotational state detecting unit satisfies a rotational fluctuation inhibiting condition; and a rotational fluctuation inhibiting condition adjusting unit that is adjusts the rotational fluctuation inhibiting condition based on a operating state of the internal combustion engine.
US07934475B2
In an internal combustion engine including cylinders arranged in a housing, a crankshaft, pistons disposed in the cylinders so as to be movable by the crankshaft, and a device for varying a compression ratio of the internal combustion engine wherein the device, for varying the compression ratio, includes an adjusting structure which varies the effective length of a connecting rod of the piston, the lift of the crankshaft or the position of the cylinder with respect to the center of the crankshaft, an operating structure is provided by rotation of which the position of the adjusting structure can be controlled, and a drive device for controlling the operating structures contains a coupling mechanism with an integrated brake function, whereby h the adjusting structure can either be placed in operative connection with the crankshaft or can be blocked.
US07934458B2
An axlebox-spring-unit of a railway bogie includes at least one hydraulic spring having a housing required for functionality of the hydraulic spring, and an axlebox. At least a part of the axlebox forms at least a part of the housing.
US07934448B2
A kebab machine (10) is disclosed for inserting sticks (12) into various food components (14a-f), such as meat, vegetables and the like, automatically. The food components are held within carriers (16) while the individual sticks are conveyed by a stick conveyor (22). A jet of air from air jets (24) drive a pair of sticks into an insertion device (400) where smooth belts (402) drive by rotating rollers (452) drive the sticks through the carriers (16) and food components therein to form the kebab.
US07934440B2
The problem of reaching a work piece, such as a nut on a bolt, in a restricted space not permitting traditional means of applying torque is addressed with a powered wrench. The wrench translates motor power on one axis to an engageable socket on a perpendicular axis through an innovative gearbox. Means are provided to shift from a gear ratio for power to a gear ratio for speed by simple manipulation, while different size work pieces can be accommodated through socket change parts.
US07934437B2
The invention relates to an actuating device, especially for use in a throttle device, comprising a turning spindle rotatably mounted in the device housing. Said turning spindle is functionally linked via a transmission device with a drive device to displace an actuating element that is linked with the turning spindle. The aim of the invention is to provide an improved actuating device that is secure and has a simple design and that can be telecontrolled in a simple manner without major maintenance work, without losses of functionality of the actuating device and at reduced costs. To this end, the actuating device comprises at least two separately or synchronously operated motors and the transmission device has at least one self-locking transmission unit, said transmission unit being functionally linked with the two motors for turning the turning spindle.
US07934436B2
The invention relates to a starter device (1) for starting internal combustion engines, comprising an electromagnetic toe-in mechanism which is used to displace an axially displaceable pinion shaft (5), starter pinions (6) which are arranged in the front thereof, in addition to a start-stop mechanism which is embodied in such a manner that in a stop phase of the internal combustion engine, even when the internal combustion engine is stopped, said start-stop mechanism provokes a positioned state of the toe-in mechanism, such that during a subsequent starting of the internal combustion engine, the starter pinion (6) is already arranged in an advanced position, enabling power loss to be reduced. This is achieved by a maintaining mechanism (15) which maintains the electromagnetic toe-in mechanism in the advanced position and in a currentless manner during and/or after the stop phase.
US07934435B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus relate to a glass reference plate panel; to a modular glass reference plate assembly; and to creation of the modular glass reference plate assembly, which may include providing a plurality of glass reference plate panels, arranging the plurality of glass reference plate panels into an array of adjoining glass reference plate panels, and adhering together the adjoining glass reference plate panels. One or more embodiments may include 6.8 mm-thick borosilicate glass, ground, and polished, with reference marks on a top side and a PVD aluminum coating on a bottom side, perforated with holes, arranged in a 4×4 array of 16 glass reference plate panels, each approximately 810 mm2 in size, abutting at interfaces formed by lap joints, and bonded together with a UV-curable adhesive into a contiguous piece.
US07934431B2
A measuring transducer of a flow measuring device for measuring the flow of a medium through an existing pipeline system, wherein, in a cost-favorable manner, an equalization of potential between medium and measuring transducer is effected. The measuring transducer includes a measuring transducer housing, a measuring tube integrated in the measuring transducer, two process connections of an insulating material, via which the measuring tube is connectable to the pipeline system, and, placed in one of the process connections, at least one electrode, which is exposed in an inner space of the process connection, through which medium flows during operation. The electrode is connected with the measuring transducer housing via an electrically conductive connection.
