US07974830B2
A tape management method capable of easily using a file on a virtual tape from a plurality of programs in a system virtually emulating a magnetic tape apparatus by a disk apparatus. When a use request is generated from other program to a volume of a virtual tape used by one program, a host computer generates and uses a volume of a temporal virtual tape and can thus permit the use of the temporal tape volume from a plurality of programs without drastically changing the specification of an existing tape interface. The volume of the virtual tape temporarily generated is generated in a virtual tape management table and a virtual tape file uses a file of the same type.
US07974828B2
A simulation device for a programmable controller is formed by realizing by software on a computer a virtual PLC for emulating operations of a real PLC, a tool that functions as a development aid device for the virtual PLC and an error simulator for emulating an error that occurs in the virtual PLC. The virtual PLC and the error simulator are structured such that the simulation device is adapted to set, without any operations by the tool, a specified condition at a corresponding address in an error memory of the virtual PLC by carrying out a specified error selection operation and a specified operation regarding presence and absence of error generation, based on a list display of error items on the computer screen, after causing desired PLC type data stored in a PLC type memory in the virtual PLC through the tool.
US07974827B2
Operational resource modeling is usable to analyze application and computer system performance over a wide range of hypothetical scenarios. Operational resource modeling involves creating and training one or more resource models, and/or simulating hypothetical scenarios using resource models.
US07974824B2
To perform seismic inversion, a model representing a subterranean structure is provided. Simulated seismic data is generated using the model, where the simulated seismic data includes surface-related multiples. The model is iteratively updated based on comparing the simulated seismic data with the observed seismic data collected by a seismic survey.
US07974812B2
A method for determining the total temperature of the air stream surrounding an aircraft, including the following operations; measuring a parameter of static temperature, measuring a parameter of total temperature, determining a value of speed of the air stream, determining a total temperature computed from the parameters of measured static temperature and measured total temperature as a function of the speed of the air stream.
US07974810B2
A portable diagnostic device. The portable diagnostic device includes a housing, a processor located within the housing, an input device located on the housing and coupled to the processor, and a display screen located on the housing and coupled to the processor. The processor includes a microbrowser module configured for communicating with an external source of information and a diagnostic module configured for analyzing information received from the external source of information.
US07974808B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for using black box data to analyze vehicular accidents. The methods include obtaining information from an event data recorder associated with a vehicle and using the data obtained therefrom in determining and analyzing the vehicular accident. Attributes to be analyzed include impact severity, change in velocity, and other desired parameters. Further disclosed are methods to securely communicate the downloaded black box information to a secure location for later analysis and processing.
US07974807B2
Techniques for adaptively calibrating a TDC output signal in a digital phase-locked loop (DPLL). In an exemplary embodiment, a calibration factor multiplied to the TDC output signal is adaptively adjusted to minimize a magnitude function of a phase comparator output signal of the DPLL. In an exemplary embodiment, the calibration factor may be adjusted using an exemplary embodiment of the least-mean squares (LMS) algorithm. Further techniques for simplifying the adaptive algorithm for hardware implementation are described.
US07974806B1
A method for compensating axial misalignment between wheel-mounted alignment sensors and an axis of rotation for an associated wheel. The method compensates sensors mounted to each wheel of a vehicle simultaneously, without requiring jacking of the vehicle wheels above a supporting surface, and which only requires wheel rotational movement over an arc of 60 degrees or less. The method utilizes measurements of a change in a wheel toe angle and measurements of a change in a wheel camber angle, during a measured rotational movement of the wheel, to identify sinusoidal variation in the respective toe and camber angles during the wheel's rotational movement, from which a measure of axial misalignment between the wheel-mounted alignment sensor axis of rotation and the wheel axis of rotation is identified.
US07974804B2
A registration detection system realizes both substrate-by-substrate correction and highly accurate correction of an exposure process. Therefore, the registration detection system includes: the first detection apparatus installed on a pathway to a collection in a transport container of substrates taken out of the transport container, after passing at least an exposure process and a development process, registration-detects the substrates after passing the development process at multiple points; the second detection apparatus outside the pathway, and performing registration-detecting the substrates at more points than the first detection apparatus when the substrates after passing the first detection apparatus and collected in the transport container are taken out from the transport container again; and a generation unit (image processing parts of the aforementioned detection apparatuses) that generates compensation data for the exposure process based on detection results by the first detection apparatus and detection results by the second detection apparatus.
US07974801B2
By performing a two-step approach for predicting a quality distribution during the fabrication of semiconductor devices, enhanced flexibility and efficiency may be accomplished. The two-step approach first models electrical characteristics on the basis of measurement data, such as inline measurement data, and, in a second step, an appropriate distribution for the electrical characteristics may be established, thereby obtaining modeled wafer sort data which may then be used for predicting a quality distribution of the semiconductor devices under consideration.
US07974799B2
A substrate unit and other substrate unit are mounted with integrated circuits and are connected to a backboard via respective connectors. The substrate unit monitors a signal wave passed between the substrate unit and other substrate unit and detects a delay time and a gain of a reflected wave with respect to a signal wave, performs delay adjustment with respect to a cancellation wave based on the detected delay time, performs gain adjustment with respect to the cancellation wave based on the detected gain, and superimposes the processed cancellation wave on the signal wave thereby canceling the reflected wave.
US07974797B2
A method and apparatus is used to confirm the charge amount and degradation state of a battery. Various cycle test battery measurements are conducted at prescribed time intervals until the end of the battery life, and the measured values are used to generate a determination table or determination tables showing relationships between battery charge amount and degradation state. To establish the charge amount and degradation state of a subject battery, the subject battery is measured and the results compared with determination table values. The existing charge amount and the state of battery degradation are estimated in accordance with a determination table location of matching values.
US07974796B2
A fully-charged battery capacity detection method detects first and second no-load voltages (VOCV1, VOCV2) of a battery at first no-load timing and second no-load timing, respectively. Further, first and second remaining capacities (SOC1 [%], SOC2 [%]) of the battery are determined based on the first and second no-load voltages, respectively, when the first no-load voltage (VOCV1) falls within a predetermined voltage range. Moreover, a fully-charged capacity (Ahf) of the battery is calculated based on a remaining capacity variation rate (δS [%]) and a capacity variation value (δAh) of the battery. Also, the variation rate of the remaining capacity is calculated based on a difference between the first and second remaining capacities. The capacity variation value of the battery is calculated based on an integrated value of the charging current and discharge currents of the battery to be charged/discharged from the first no-load timing to the second no-load timing.
US07974794B2
An electric energy meter comprises a terminal unit and a measurement unit. The terminal unit includes plural electric lines each of which carries an electric current supplied from an external power source to a load, and a coil which is provided to at least one of the plural electric lines and converts the electric current flowing to the load into a magnetic field directly proportional to the electric current. The measurement unit includes a hall element which generates a voltage directly proportional to the magnetic field converted by the coil, a voltage detector which detects voltages of the plural electric lines, and a processing unit which calculates electric energy consumption based on the voltage generated by the hall element and the voltages detected by the voltage detector. The electric energy meter can facilitate the replacement.
US07974793B2
Methods and systems for controlling the synchronization of diagnostic cycles and data conversion for redundant I/O applications are provided. An exemplary system comprises a first analog input module adapted to request mastership with respect to a second analog input module, output a synchronization pulse to said second analog input module, initiate a diagnostic cycle of said second analog input module, and initiate a data conversion cycle, and wherein said second analog input module, said second analog input module are adapted to assume a slave role with respect to said first analog input module. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07974788B2
The present invention also relates to natural language processing and extraction of relational information associated with genes and proteins that are found in genomics journal articles. To enable access to information in textual form, the natural language processing system of the present invention provides systems and methods for extracting and structuring information found in the literature in a form appropriate for subsequent applications.
US07974778B2
In a vehicular control object determination system, locus correlation degree calculator calculates a degree of correlation between a future travel locus of a vehicle estimated by first travel locus estimator based on a vehicle speed and a yaw rate and a future travel locus of the vehicle estimated by second travel locus estimator based on a past travel locus of the vehicle calculated by travel locus calculator. When control object determiner determines a control object based on the travel locus estimated by the first travel locus estimator and predetermined control object determination conditions, the control object determination conditions are modified according to the degree of correlation, that is, the degree of reliability of the travel locus estimated by the first travel locus estimator, thereby achieving both accuracy with which the control object is determined and determination of the control object at a distance.
US07974776B2
A system for providing origin and destination guide information selects an origin position of a vehicle, and selects a destination link that is a road near the destination in consideration of a position and a type (crossroads, apartment complex, park, or superhighway) of the destination that the vehicle reaches, generates a path from origin to destination based on the selected origin link, the destination link, and real-time traffic information (or map link information), generates guide information including an adjacent map of the generated path and speech information, and provides the guide information to the vehicle terminal. According to the present invention, the system generates the optimized path from the current position to the desired destination and provides the optimized path to the user.
US07974771B2
A commuter groups service (CGS) allows commuters to join commuter groups so that they are able to socialize while commuting. Through the commuter groups, the users may share commuting routes, traffic updates, road conditions, and other information. Group members may arrange car pools, short term riding arrangements, and may anonymously or directly contact each other. The CGS may collect group member position information, e.g. GPS information, to enable the CGS to calculate traffic conditions and to select location specific information for group members. The system may include an on-line service accessible through a computer or wireless networking device. The user may log into the CGS, create or modify a user profile, and join groups of their choosing. Groups may be associated with specific events or with getting to/from work. Commuter groups may be formed for commuters that use private vehicles and/or public transportation.
US07974759B2
A drive force control portion firstly changes a front wheel command torque (Tfcm) and a rear wheel command torque (Trcm) so that each command torque reaches a torque in a predetermined range. The drive force control portion releases the restriction on the change of the rear wheel command torque (Trcm) after the front wheel command torque (Tfcm) and the rear wheel command torque (Trcm) have entered the predetermined range. Therefore, it becomes possible to improve the vehicle stability in a vehicle that includes a plurality of power sources that drives a plurality of wheels.
US07974757B2
An agricultural harvester includes a first power unit which is couplable with a first primary load. The first primary load includes a threshing system load. A first motor/generator is mechanically coupled with the first power unit. A first clutch is mechanically coupled between the first power unit and the first primary load. A second power unit is couplable with a second primary load. The second primary load includes a propulsion load. A second motor/generator is mechanically coupled with the second power unit and electrically coupled with the first motor/generator. A second clutch is mechanically coupled between the second power unit and the second motor/generator.
US07974750B2
The present invention is directed toward a cellular phone that connects to an existing vehicle data link to perform the functions of an off-board device, such as a scan tool, for displaying diagnostic information relating to vehicles. In addition, the cellular phone connects to a starter/charger system and/or a battery to perform the functions of a starter/charger/battery testing device. Such a device allows a user to connect the cellular phone to a data link connector located in a vehicle, download software to either an adaptor or the cellular phone, retrieve information relating to diagnostic tests on the vehicle and view the results on the cellular phone display, and/or communicate the results to another person or device.
US07974742B2
The invention relates to a method of coordinating and stabilizing the delivery of wind generated power, such as to a power grid, or a facility having pneumatically driven equipment, so as to avoid sudden surges and spikes, despite wind speed fluctuations and oscillations. The method preferably uses a plurality of windmill stations, wherein energy can be used directly, and/or stored for later use when demand is high or wind availability is low. The method contemplates forming an energy delivery schedule, to coordinate the use of energy from storage, based on daily wind speed forecasts, which help to predict the resulting wind power availability levels for the upcoming day. The schedule preferably sets a reduced number of constant power output periods during the day, during which time energy delivery levels remain substantially constant, despite fluctuations and oscillations in wind speed and wind power availability levels.
US07974732B2
A control system for a modular reconfigurable numerically controlled machine comprising at least one memory storage device associated with each of a plurality of detachable modular components to store kinematic and connection information about the modular component. The information in the memory storage devices is read and processed by a main processing unit when the modular component is attached to a primary structure of the numerically controlled machine. The control system further comprises a plurality of component actuators, which receive control signals from the main processing unit, to actuate the modular components attached to the numerically controlled machine. A hardware component connector may provide at least one of a physical, electrical, communications, and pneumatic connection between the primary structure of the numerically controlled machine and the modular components.
US07974731B2
The disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for stacking wood products. In some embodiments, the disclosure the steps of designing at least two types of engineered wood products via a software application; producing the at least two types of engineered wood products based on the designs utilizing a saw in conjunction with the software application; designating, via the software application, at least two bins to hold the at least two different types of engineered wood products; selecting a first bin for depositing a first type of engineered wood product; selecting a second bin for depositing a second type of engineered wood product; automatically placing the first type of engineered wood product into the first bin; and automatically placing the second type of engineered wood product into the second bin. The at least two types of engineered wood products are at least two of: panels, I-joists, headers and dimensional lumber.
US07974730B2
Method for the chip-removing machining of the tooth flanks of a gear wheel having n teeth and n tooth gaps on a multiaxis grinding machine. A grinding disc which may be dressed is used for the machining and one of the n tooth gaps after another is machined using this grinding disc in the single indexing method. The grinding disc plunges into each of the n tooth gaps up to a predefined plunging depth (T1). If it is a freshly dressed grinding disc, the grinding disc is plunged using a predefined first restraint in relation to the normal predefined plunging depth into m of the n tooth gaps at the beginning of the machining of the gear wheel, to pre-machine these m tooth gaps (for this purpose: m=1, 2, or 3 and m
US07974729B2
A server device is provided with a measurement information storage unit 1201 which can store plural measurement information, i.e., information having a measurement value and time information indicating time; an instruction receiving unit for receiving an output instruction of the measurement information; a measurement information acquisition unit for acquiring, from the measurement information storage unit, the measurement information designated by the output instruction; an output information composing unit for composing output information by using the acquired measurement information; and an output unit for outputting the output information composed by the output information composing unit. The output instruction includes an instruction for designating one or more desired number of times of execution of a sub-recipe among plural number of times of execution of the sub-recipe in the recipe and the measurement information acquisition unit acquires measurement information corresponding to the sub-recipe designated by the output instruction.
US07974723B2
A yield prediction is received by a scheduling and dispatch controller, wherein the yield prediction is associated with a manufacturing tool and a product. A weighting of the manufacturing tool is adjusted in a routing algorithm based on the yield prediction. A cost-benefit analysis is computed that identifies a cost and a benefit of manufacturing future products on the manufacturing tool. A determination is made regarding whether to process a future product on the manufacturing tool based on the cost-benefit analysis.
US07974722B2
A computer-based method for defining a surface of a part for placement adjacent a mating surface of a base part is described. The method includes receiving raw data which defines the mating surface of the base part, smoothing the raw data, generating a stable reference frame consisting of at least one of a substantially smooth curve and surface based on the smoothed raw data, calculating a dimensional offset curve or surface using the smoothed raw data and the stable reference frame curve or surface by referencing any peaks in the smoothed raw data within a predefined range of a corresponding point in the stable reference frame curve or surface, smoothing the dimensional offset curve or surface, and outputting the dimensional offset curve or surface for utilization in fabricating the part that is to be adjacent the base part.
US07974712B2
An implantable electrode array (30) that can adopt a first configuration selected to allow the array (30) to be inserted into a cochlea (12) of an implantee and at least a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation. The array (30) comprises an elongate carrier (31) having a proximal end (37), a distal end (34), and an inner surface (35) conformable with the inner wall of the implantee's cochlea (12). A plurality of electrodes (36) are supported within the carrier (31) at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end (37) and the distal end (34) with at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface (35) of the carrier (31). The carrier (31) is formed in the second configuration from a first layer (32) and at least a second layer (32) of resiliently flexible material. A method of forming an array (30) is also described.
US07974708B2
Calibration of adaptive-rate pacing by a cardiac rhythm management system using an intrinsic chronotropic response. The cardiac rhythm management system may include an adaptive-rate pacing device. The adaptive-rate pacing device may include an adaptive-rate sensor module for measuring an activity level of the individual. A monitor module may be coupled to the adaptive-rate sensor module, the monitor module monitoring an intrinsic chronotropic response. A calculator module may be coupled to the monitor module, the calculator module calculating a calibrated parameter for the adaptive-rate pacing device based on the intrinsic chronotropic response. An adjuster module may be coupled to the calculator module, wherein the adjuster module adjusts the adaptive-rate pacing device based on the calibrated parameter. The parameters of the adaptive-rate pacing device adjusted by the adjuster module may include a sensor rate target, a maximum sensor rate, and a response factor.
US07974704B2
A lead body of an implantable medical electrical lead includes a first filler and a second filler, each extending within a proximal portion thereof. The first filler may have a stiffness that is less than that of the second filler, and may surround and isolate a plurality of conductors which are coupled to a connector terminal of the lead, which connector terminal extends proximally from a proximal end of the lead body. The second filler extends along a limited length, alongside the first filler, wherein the limited length extends distally from the connector terminal; the second filler may further extend into the connector terminal.
US07974699B2
A vision regeneration assisting device for regenerating vision of a patient, comprising: a plurality of electrodes which are stuck and placed into an optic disc of the patient; a storage unit which stores a generation position of a phosphene specific to the patient in association with the first output conditions for the stimulation signal that has caused to generate the phosphene, the storage unit storing various first output conditions for the stimulation signals and the generation positions of the phosphenes caused by the stimulation signals based on the various first output conditions in association with each other; a processor which sets second output conditions for the stimulation signal based on image data obtained by an external photography unit and the generation positions of the phosphenes stored in the storage unit, and converts the obtained image data into data for the stimulation signal based on the set second output conditions.
US07974697B2
A method, system, and apparatus are provided for performing an adaptive stimulation process using medical imaging feedback data for affecting an operation of an implantable medical device. The first stimulation signal is applied to a neural structure for modulation of a target portion of the patient's brain associated with a disorder. Medical imaging data is acquired that is indicative of whether the target portion of the brain is modulated as a result of the first stimulation signal. The first signal characteristic is modified to generate a second stimulation signal in response to a determination that said target portion of the brain is not modulated as a result of said first stimulation signal. The first and second stimulation signals may be used to navigate an effect of the first and second stimulation signals until a targeted portion of the human body is stimulated according to a predetermined threshold.
US07974693B2
Apparatus is provided including an implantable sensor, adapted to sense an electrical parameter of a heart of a subject, and a first control unit, adapted to apply pulses to the heart responsively to the sensed parameter, the pulses selected from the list consisting of: pacing pulses and anti-arrhythmic energy. The apparatus further includes an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve of the subject, an epicardial fat pad of the subject, a pulmonary vein of the subject, a carotid artery of the subject, a carotid sinus of the subject, a coronary sinus of the subject, a vena cava vein of the subject, a right ventricle of the subject, and a jugular vein of the subject; and a second control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the site a current that increases parasympathetic tone of the subject and affects a heart rate of the subject. The first and second control units are not under common control. At least one of the control units is adapted to coordinate an aspect of its operation with an aspect of operation of the other control unit. Other embodiments are also described.
US07974688B2
A method sensing at least two physiological parameters and, for each of the at least two physiological parameters, generating a first series of signals representative of the physiological parameter sensed over a first time period, storing each of said first series of signals as a time sequence data stream, and determining when a physiological event has occurred in a patient. The method further comprises analyzing each of said time sequence data streams for a predetermined time interval preceding the occurrence of a physiological event to determine at least one marker as a predictor of the event, and again sensing the physiological parameters. Furthermore, the method comprises generating a second series of signals representative of the physiological parameter sensed, analyzing each of the second series of signals to determine whether the marker is present, and stimulating a cranial nerve when the marker is present in the second series of signals.
US07974686B2
A multi-channel bio-med electric signals capturing device includes: a detection channel unit, a control unit, a voice signal generator and a computer device. The detection channel unit is provided to detect bioelectric signals produced from human body and amplify the same. The control unit is provided to capture the amplified bio-med electric signals based on a frequency conforming to a computer acceptable audient signal. The voice signal generator transmits the captured amplified bio-med electric signals to a microphone of the computer device, whereby a recording program built in the computer device records the input audient signal as a voice file. Accordingly, the user is able to monitor the bio-med electric signals by easily and simply using a computer device.
US07974684B2
Electrocardio-graphic (ECG) signals such as the standard 12-lead are synthesized from a novel reduced electrode set. Signals are received from a group of electrodes connected to predetermined locations on a human body, and deriving at least one further ECG signal using predetermined transformation(s) (130) on said first set of ECG signals. This forms a desired set of signals. The group of electrodes may comprise the standard 12 lead electrode sites V2 and V5 plus one electrode positioned substantially level with V5 on the right anterior axillary line, and a further electrode on each of the right hand side and left hand side of the body. In an alternative arrangement the electrode position V2 is replaced by an electrode position Vc on the sternum directly between the standard electrode sites V1 and V2. Also disclosed is a method of improving accuracy of synthesized signals by detecting body posture and modifying the transformations.
US07974677B2
A method and system to assist in a selection and planning of procedure and assist in selecting a prosthetic for the procedure. Generally, the system allows for image acquisition of a selected area of the anatomy. A model may be formed of the anatomy from the acquired images. The system may also allow for navigational tracking of the procedure to ensure that the procedure is substantially carried out relative to the selected plan.
US07974673B2
A multi-element probe array suitable for sensing or stimulating is disclosed. In one embodiment, the multi-element probe array includes a plurality of microfibers extending longitudinally and oriented substantially parallel to form a bundle. Probe elements are defined by a first subset of the microfibers displaced in a forward direction along the longitudinal axis relative to spacer elements defined by a second subset of the microfibers. Interface elements and communication elements are disposed on the probe elements.
US07974669B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a method and instrument for measuring glucose concentration in blood using infrared spectroscopy. Glucose concentration in blood is measured based on an integrated value obtained by measuring an absorption spectrum that includes the wavenumber range of 1020-1040 cm−1, and by integrating the intensity of absorption of the wavenumber range of 1020-1040 cm−1 within the absorption spectrum. Alternatively, a glucose concentration in blood is measured based on an integrated value through measuring an absorption spectrum including the wavenumber range of 1010-1050 cm31 1; obtaining a second-derivative spectrum by calculating a second derivative of the absorption spectrum that includes the wavenumber range of 1010-1050 cm−1 in the absorption spectrum; determining an integration range based on the second derivative spectrum; and then obtaining the integrated value by integrating the intensity of absorption based on this determined integration range.
US07974666B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an opening/closing hinge device which can be produced simple in construction and inexpensive in production by reducing the number of the parts forming part of the mobile device and to provide a mobile device small in size, reduced in cost and sufficiently reliable in the hinged members. The second member is rotated with respect to the first member toward the opening operation direction through the movable cam (150) by the urging force of the urging means (170) when the operation cam (130) is displaced in the predetermined operation direction by the external operation force. The fixed guide member (110) has inclined guide portions (115) each inclined at an advance angle in a predetermined inclination direction with respect to the surface perpendicular to the guide center axis to have the second rotation cam (140) rotated around the guide center axis in response to the displacement of the second rotation cam (140) along the guide center axis. The second rotation cam (140) being driven to rotate by the inclined guide portions (115) under a pressing force from the movable cam (150) to have its engagement state with the movable cam (150) changed and to have the urging direction of the second member by the urging means (170) changed when the operation cam (130) is operated to cause the first rotation cam (160) to be rotated from the operation starting position.
US07974662B2
A detachable connection mechanism is to establish an electrical connection between a mobile phone and a notebook computer. The detachable connection mechanism is designed at a housing board. The housing board has an opening. A load board is pivotally connected with the housing board, and in contact with or away from the housing board in parallel. When the load board is in contact with the housing board, the load board is fitted within the opening. Two rotatable members are pivotally connected with housing board. Several resilient arms are respectively pivotally connected with the housing board at one end and with the load board at the other end. The mobile phone is selectively connected or disconnected with the notebook computer by interacting the rotatable members, movable members, resilient arms and the load board.
US07974656B2
An electronic apparatus has a storage part to store a plurality of screen information, including incoming call screen information, a display part to display the screen information, and an output control part to output to an outside of the electronic apparatus arbitrary screen information that is to be output to the outside, of the screen information stored in the storage part, and to display the arbitrary screen information on the display part, when an external output function is set to an ON state. The output control part continues outputting the arbitrary screen information to the outside and displays on the display part the incoming screen information stored in the storage part, when an incoming call is received in a state where the external output function is set to the ON state.
US07974653B1
Methods and systems are provided for manually configuring low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) coverage using an associated mobile station. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives a user command of a first type, responsively enters a coverage-configuration mode, and then receives from a mobile station a series of user commands of a second type, each instructing the LCIB to engage in a power-calibration call with the mobile station. Responsively, the LCIB engages in a respective series of power-calibration calls with the mobile station, each call comprising the LCIB identifying a minimum transmission-power level at which a forward-link frame error rate (FFER) for the mobile station is less than a FFER threshold. The LCIB sets a transmission-power level for a pilot beacon (i.e. configures its coverage) based at least in part on the maximum transmission-power level among the minimum transmission-power levels identified while engaging in the series of power-calibration calls.
US07974652B2
The invention concerns a method for coordination of the interference in the uplink between cells (B1,B2) of a single frequency network with the frequency band used for uplink being subdivided into at least two subsets(F1 F2. . . FR), whereby a resource related to a dedicated subset is allocated to a mobile terminal (T1) located in a first cell (B1) of said cells in the border area to a neighbor cell (B2-B4), the based station of the cell (B2) with the highest interference damage caused by the mobile terminal (T1) accepts a high interference level on said dedicated subset dependent on network criteria, and the usage of said dedicated subset in the cell (B2) with the highest interference damage caused by the mobile terminal (T1) is restricted under observation of the interference level, a base station, a mobile terminal and a mobile network therefor.
US07974650B2
An exemplary gateway apparatus provides push-to-talk (PTT) communications between users in one network with users in another network where the networks utilize different communication protocols. It includes two protocol modules that interface with the two networks, respectively. The protocol modules are capable of receiving and transmitting messages compatible with the communication protocols used by the associated networks. An interoperability module, connected between the two modules, converts PTT control messages received from one of the networks into PTT control messages compatible with and transmitted to the other network. The PTT control messages received from the one network have a protocol that differs from the protocol of the PTT control messages transmitted to the other network.
US07974649B2
A mobile user terminal, which transmits downlink quality information indicating downlink channel quality and an uplink pilot signal to a base station, in which a carrier frequency used for transmitting the downlink quality information and a carrier frequency used for transmitting the uplink pilot signal are selectable respectively from among a plurality of carrier frequencies assigned to a mobile user terminal, a mobile user terminal comprising of a radio transmitting unit, which transmits said downlink quality information and said uplink pilot signal by using the same carrier frequency among a plurality of carrier frequencies or by using adjacent carrier frequencies among a plurality of carrier frequencies.
US07974647B2
A mobile apparatus and method of timing synchronization. The mobile apparatus comprises a timing synchronization controller, a frame detector, a decoder, and a clock generator. The timing synchronization controller determines a number of times of the mobile station clock switching from a first clock speed to a second clock speed, and compares the number of times of the mobile station clock switching the clock speed with a predetermined number of clock speed switch. The frame detector, coupled to the timing synchronization controller, receives a control channel block when the number of times of clock speed switch reaches the predetermined number of clock speed switch. The decoder, coupled to the frame detector, decodes the control channel block to compute a timing error between the base station clock and the mobile station clock. The clock generator, coupled to the decoder, receives the timing error to compensate for the mobile station clock.
US07974637B1
A method and system of Passive Mode Tracking of an item, object or cargo associated with a wireless communication device through existing and future wireless networks is described. The method builds on the observation that for many applications, cargo tracking included, an exact GPS or comparable accuracy method of location is not always necessary, however, the progress or rough movement, is. Therefore it is possible to utilize the tracking units' geographical location based on the registration process of a wireless service and its associated networks to locate the tracking unit. This method improves the size, weight, power consumption and complexity of the tracking unit by removing work from the tracking unit and utilizing the information collected by the wireless system(s) and the network(s) it attaches to. The location of the tracking unit is determined by inquiring of the wireless network the location of the wireless communication device.
US07974636B2
A method and system are provided for paging a mobile device in the intersection of logical areas of two or more different subsystems using information indicative of the logical areas of each subsystem in which the mobile device is likely located. In some embodiments, only those cells which belong to at least two of the different logical areas in which the mobile device is likely located are used to page the mobile device. In some embodiments, the intersection area is used to provide paging access to a first network on which a mobile is not active, by sending a first network page or a request to listen for the page over the second network.
US07974632B2
A method and a system for the localization of a mobile WLAN client, located within a WLAN network of multiple WLAN stations. Static reference points are ascertained by measuring field strengths of the WLAN stations at spatial coordinates, aided by WLAN client(s), and assignment of the measured field strengths to the spatial coordinates in terms of data records. Self-learning ascertainment of further dynamic reference points is obtained by measuring field strengths of the WLAN stations, aided by WLAN client(s) moving through the region of the network, and assignment of the measured field strengths in terms of data records to the respective spatial coordinates calculated for this purpose, in the database server. This may be done to localize a WLAN client by selecting a plurality of nearest matched data records of static and dynamic reference points whose subsequently calculated center of gravity corresponds to the estimated position of the WLAN client.
US07974631B2
A method and system for efficient resource allocation based on distributed scheduling in a wireless communication system including heterogeneous mobile stations. The method includes receiving, by a base station, a first message including resource request quantity information from at least one heterogeneous mobile station using different resource allocation schemes; calculating, by the base station, a shadow price for a corresponding mobile station based on the resource request quantity information associated with the corresponding mobile station; and transmitting a second message including resource allocation quantity information determined based on the shadow price to the corresponding mobile station.
US07974630B1
A network element, such as a radio network controller, for use in a communication network (e.g. UMTS), the network element being arranged between an end station and an end element, for example an SGSN, wherein connections are established between the end station and the end element via the network element, the network element determining if the connection between the end element and the end station is to be released.
US07974617B2
A method and apparatus adapted to permit an internal handover from 1900 MHz to 900 MHz under controlled circumstances. Using the method of the present invention, the amount of time needed to disconnect a call of a user equipment (UE) under test, remove the 1800 MHz cell and setup a GSM 1900 MHz cell, allow the UE to perform a search for the 1900 MHz cell, register and establish a new call and then perform tests on GSM 1900 MHz is reduced by several seconds. On a production line in which millions of UEs are manufactured, the time saved by the present invention allows for significant savings in production costs.
US07974604B2
A method of authentication in an IMS includes: after receiving a Register message from a UE, locating, by a P-CSCF, a CLF according to information contained in the Register message and a pre-configured relationship; querying, by the P-CSCF, the CLF about NASS attachment information of the UE to obtain a query result, and sending the Register message carrying the query result to an I-CSCF; forwarding, by the I-CSCF, the Register message carrying the query result to a S-CSCF assigned by a UPSF or the HSS; authenticating the UE and sending an authentication result to the UE by the S-CSCF. In embodiments of the present invention, the UPSF or the HSS in the service layer determines the authentication mechanism of the user, and the S-CSCF implements the authentication, which is more reasonable. Embodiments of the present invention also provide combinations of NBA with other authentication mechanisms, thereby guarantees the authentication of the user after the NBA authentication fails.
US07974592B2
A transmission chain comprises a power amplifier adapted for receiving as input a signal to be amplified Sw(t) and for providing as output an amplified signal Dw(t); a predistortion module comprising a linearization unit adapted for applying a predistortion coefficient W(t) to an input signal S(t), and a unit for determining said predistortion coefficient. The input signal S(t) is received and the amplified signal Dw(t) is received through a return pathway, at the level of the unit for determining the predistortion coefficient, and the predistortion coefficient is determined on the basis of a comparison between the input signal and the amplified signal. Next, at the level of the linearization unit, the predistortion coefficient is applied to the input signal to provide as output the signal to be amplified. The determining unit determines the predistortion coefficient on the basis of a first-order approximation of the input signal.
US07974591B2
A programmable transmitter generates a frame preamble to train a receiver with respect to a communication link format that corresponds to a transmission mode wherein the transmission mode may comprise transmitting the communication link over one or more antennas. Generally, the invention includes generating a preamble with an arrangement that depends upon whether a Greenfield (high data rate) or mixed mode transmission is to occur and that depends upon a number of spatial streams that are to be generated. One format for high data rate transmission includes a short training sequence, a long training sequence and a signal field. The mixed mode transmission further includes a legacy prefix.
US07974588B2
A disclosed transceiver includes a case; a transceiver module housed in the case and configured to send and receive a signal; and a battery holder configured to hold a battery supplying electric power to the transceiver module. In the disclosed transceiver, the battery holder is formed using a part of the case and is disposed alongside the transceiver module so as not to overlap the transceiver module.
US07974586B2
A passive directional coupler is receptive of VoIP, Internet, and video/data signals, and is used in a CATV amplifier device to couple the video/data signals from a cable drop input port to the input terminal of an amplifier, and to passively bypass the VoIP and Internet signals to a modem port, for insuring continuous connection of the VoIP and Internet signals to the a modem of a user connected to the modem port, regardless of the loss of power to the amplifier or the failure of the amplifier, in one embodiment of the invention. In another embodiment, a switching circuit is responsive to the loss of power to the amplifier, for electrically connecting a 75 ohm resistor between a source of reference potential, and the common connection between the directional coupler and the amplifier, for maintaining a 75 ohm impedance at the directional coupler output to the common connection. In a preferred embodiment, the switching circuit also opens the common connection between the directional coupler and amplifier, upon the loss of power to the amplifier.
US07974583B2
A technique for real-time formation of optimal power spectral density masks is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for real-time formation of optimal power spectral density masks. The method may comprise sensing line conditions in a communication medium, wherein the communication medium is capable of carrying signals in a plurality of tones. The method may also comprise determining, in real-time, one or more power spectral density masks that substantially optimize transmissions of the signals in the plurality of tones. The method may further comprise transmitting the signals in the plurality of tones based on the one or more power spectral masks.
US07974579B2
A single host device, comprising a plurality of Bluetooth devices, estimates bandwidth requirements such as maximum rates and/or an average data rate expected by each of a plurality of Bluetooth applications to be run on the single host. For each Bluetooth device, available frequencies utilized are determined based on the estimated bandwidth requirements. Each of the plurality of Bluetooth applications is allocated to corresponding one or more Bluetooth devices based on the determined available frequencies so as to, for example, concurrently run corresponding Bluetooth applications on the single host. The determined available frequencies are assigned to corresponding Bluetooth devices based on the estimated bandwidth requirements. The determined available frequencies and the plurality of Bluetooth applications may be reassigned and reallocated, respectively. Each of plurality of Bluetooth applications is allocated to the corresponding one or more Bluetooth devices based on the assigned/reassigned available frequencies and/or the estimated bandwidth requirements.
US07974576B2
In a telecommunication network where a wireless path is provided between a transmitter and a receiver via a satellite relay forming a multi-hop relayed signal path, a method and system are provided for furnishing adequate signal at a user terminal, which may be in motion, along the propagation path, the method including an open loop component that uses measurements of fading in a received signal at a first terminal to adjust transmit power from the first terminal and further includes a closed loop component that uses measurements of fading in the received signal at a second terminal along with an acknowledgement message and power correction.
US07974570B2
The present invention provides a method of doing cognitive diagnosis of mental skills, medical and psychiatric diagnosis of diseases and disorders, and in general the diagnosing of latent properties of a set of objects, usually people, for which multiple pieces of binary (dichotomous) information about the objects are available, for example testing examinees using right/wrong scored test questions. Settings where the present invention can be applied but are not limited to include classrooms at all levels, web-based instruction, corporate in-house training, large scale standardized tests, and medical and psychiatric settings. Uses include but are not limited to individual learner feedback, learner remediation, group level educational assessment, and medical and psychiatric treatment.
US07974567B2
An image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same to improve a transferring path of a document to prevent curl from being generated in the document and to prevent interference between a document having both surfaces scanned and a previously discharged document. The image reading apparatus includes a scan path having one end connected to a document supplying unit and the other end connected to a document discharging unit, a scan unit to read information recorded on a document passing through the scan path, a two-sided document branch path to branch from the scan path so that the document whose first surface is scanned by the scan unit passes through the two-sided document branch path before the document is reversed for a two-side scanning process, and a two-sided document transferring path having one end connected to the two-sided document branch path and other end connected to the scan path. A two-sided document guide is provided between the document supplying unit and the document discharging unit in a vertical direction to guide the document discharged from the two-sided document branch path.
US07974566B2
An image forming apparatus including: a toner cartridge to store toner; a developer to develop an image on a printing medium using the toner from the toner cartridge; and a waste toner container to store waste toner removed from the developer, wherein the waste toner container includes: a first transporting unit provided near a waste toner inlet; and a second transporting unit provided at a point where the waste toner transported by the first transporting unit falls to transport the waste toner to a farthest point from the waste toner inlet.
US07974565B2
The present invention relates to a cleaning device that allows the obtaining of a high level of removal performance while reducing wear between a plate-shaped elastic member and a cleaning-targeted surface moving member, while also being able to stably maintain the contact status between the surface moving member and the plate-shaped elastic member, and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge provided therewith. A plate holder retains a blade via warping restriction means, a bearing and a support shaft engage at an engaging portion with a degree of freedom due to the presence of a gap therebetween, the plate holder is able to be displaced relative to a frame of the device body, the support shaft is arranged on the device body in the direction of surface movement of a photosensitive element downstream a normal line of the surface of the photosensitive element at a portion contacted by the blade, and a foreign object infiltration prevention member is provided on the bearing or the support shaft of the engaging portion to prevent entry of foreign objects into the gap.
US07974564B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device that causes a toner image to be fixed onto a recording medium; an opposing unit that is disposed opposing the fixing device and forms a conveyance path in between the fixing device, the recording medium being conveyable on the conveyance path; a holding member for the recording medium that is disposed at the opposing unit and positioned between the recording medium conveyed on the conveyance path and the fixing device; and a withdrawal mechanism that causes the opposing unit to be withdrawn in a direction away from the fixing device.
US07974562B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device in which a width of a slide member is larger than a width of a pressurizing belt while both ends of the slide member are positioned outside of both ends of the pressurizing belt. The above-structured slide member makes it possible to prevent lubricant on the slide member from leaking out of the ends of the slide member and coming around the inner surface of the slide member, and thereby to prevent a pressing member beneath the slide member from swelling, resulting in avoidance of wrinkle generation on recording materials.
US07974561B2
A belt fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image on a recording material in a nip portion having: an endless fixing belt and a pressing device to press the fixing belt to a fixing member so as to form the nip portion between the fixing belt and the fixing member, wherein the pressing device is structured from an aggregate of a plurality of metal members arranged in a conveyance direction of the recording material.
US07974560B2
A separation mechanism of a fixing device includes a separation member extending in a direction orthogonal to the paper convey direction and arranged opposite the fixing member in a state apart from the fixing member by a predetermined gap, a support shaft member extending in a direction orthogonal to the paper convey direction and rotatably supporting the separation member, a first gap adjustment unit capable of rotating the separation member around the support shaft member to adjust the predetermined gap in the rotation direction, and a second gap adjustment unit capable of moving the separation member in a direction in which an imaginary surface from the support shaft member towards the fixing member extends, to adjust the predetermined gap in the surface direction.
US07974558B2
The present general inventive concept relates to a toner cartridge locking apparatus, which includes a rotation handle rotatably disposed at a first end of a toner tank, and having a locking blade formed at an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a hooking portion disposed at a developing unit to which the toner tank is mounted, wherein when the rotation handle is rotated in a predetermined angle, the locking blade of the rotation handle is inserted into the hooking portion.
US07974557B2
A replenishment and image mottle reduction system for adding carrier particles to a developer housing in a two-component developer toner imaging machine. The replenishment system includes (i) a carrier-only hopper for receiving and containing a first quantity of carrier particles; (ii) metering valves connected to a discharge end of the carrier-only hopper; (iii) a pneumatic plenum connected to the metering valves; (v) an air blower connected to the carrier-only hopper and to the pneumatic plenum for pressurizing the carrier-only hopper and for pneumatically conveying a metered quantity of carrier particles in an air stream from the pneumatic plenum; and (vi) a carrier separator assembly connected to the pneumatic plenum, located above each developer housing and including a carrier current collector, for separating fresh carrier from the air stream, and for allowing the carrier separated as such to drop by gravity into the developer housing.
US07974551B2
A developing device is provided for an image forming apparatus that has a photoreceptor. The developing device has a housing with upper and lower housing pieces that are snap fit together. A developer opening is formed in an upper portion of the upper housing piece for supplying a developer and a bottom opening is formed in a bottom part of the upper housing piece. A developer carrier and a developer agitating member are supported rotatably in the upper housing so that an axis of the developer agitating member is below an axis of the developer carrier and below the developer opening. The lower housing piece is configured to seal the bottom opening of the upper housing piece. However, the snap fit housings can be separated for cleaning as necessary.
US07974546B2
A system and method for outputting finished image receiving medium in an image forming device are provided. The systems and methods include receiving an image forming operation in an image forming device. The image forming operation is evaluated to determine a number of pages required. Image receiving medium information relevant to an image receiving medium available to the image forming device may be accessed. Stacking thickness may be estimated based on the determined page count and the image receiving medium information. The image forming operation is processed based on the estimated stacking thickness. Processing may include comparing the estimated stacking thickness to an available stacker space and determining, from amongst a plurality of available stackers, a target stacker to deliver finished image receiving media to based on the results of the comparison.
US07974542B2
An OTDM-DPSK signal generator includes an optical splitter, a first and a second phase modulator, an optical coupler, and a monitor signal splitter. The optical splitter splits an optical pulse string into a first and a second optical pulse string. The first and second phase modulators generate a first and a second channel DPSK signal, respectively. The DPSK signals are provided with one bit delay to generate another DPSK signal, which enters the optical coupler, which outputs an OTDM-DPSK signal, which enters a monitor signal splitter. The monitor signal splitter splits from the OTDM-DPSK signal a monitor signal and inputs the monitor signal to an optical carrier phase difference detector. The detector generates an optical carrier phase difference detection signal as a function of an optical carrier phase difference between optical pulses. The optical carrier phase difference can thus be detected between optical pulses in an OTDM-DPSK signal.
US07974541B2
A filter conducts the round trip by using the return optical signal that has been shifted in frequency, and measures the transmission optical signal and the return signal in phase by the principle of the Michelson interferometer at the same time, independently, and splits the two optical signals. A polarization state in which transmission and reception optical signals within an optical phase shifter which enters one route of the two optical signals are made orthogonal to each other is provided, to thereby distinguish the transmission and reception signals of the round trip from each other. The light is allowed to pass the shifter in incoming and returning to remove the polarization rotation of the shifter by using the reversibility of the light. Then, the phases of the transmission signal and the return signal are measured and synchronized with each other to conduct the transmission phase compensation.
US07974535B2
A quick selection of a depression key provided with a remote controller is impeded, so that controllable characteristics of the remote controller are deteriorated, and a lifetime of a cell provided on the side of the remote controller is reduced in order to acquire transport motional information.While a remote control system is equipped with the remote controller and an infrared communication apparatus 33, a pattern for reflecting diffraction light by illumination light is provided with the remote controller, whereas a transmitting/receiving unit 37 and a control unit 39 are provided with the infrared communication apparatus 33. A light emitting unit 11 for emitting light to the pattern, and a light receiving unit 17 for receiving reflection light from the pattern are provided with the transmitting/receiving unit 37. A detecting unit 41 for detecting intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit 17, a calculating unit 43 for binary-processing the intensity of the detected light to obtain binary information in response to the intensity of the detected light, and a converting unit 45 for converting the binary information into a control signal for a main appliance are provided with the control unit 39.
US07974534B2
An apparatus and method is disclosed for producing and filtering optical and electrical waveforms. The apparatus includes an electro-optical modulator, an optical filter capable of modulating at least two spectral regions within the bandwidth of the electrical waveform, and an optical-to-electrical converter. The optical filter includes a spatial dispersion means, a spatial modulating means having the capability to substantially independently modulate a characteristic of each of a pair of optical spatial elements.
US07974525B2
The present invention is a heat processing furnace comprising: a processing vessel for accommodating an object to be processed and performing thereto a heat process; and a cylindrical heater disposed to surround a circumference of the processing vessel, for heating the object to be processed; wherein: the heater includes a cylindrical heat insulating member, ribbed shelf sections that are axially formed in a tier-like manner on an inner circumference of the heat insulating member, and heating resistance wires of a helical pattern that are placed along the respective shelf sections; and pin members are arranged in the heat insulating member at suitable intervals therebetween, the pin members holding the heating resistance wires such that the heating resistance wires are movable in a radial direction of the heater, while preventing dropout of the heating resistance wires from the shelf sections.
US07974522B2
The present invention is directed towards reducing hard disk drive (HDD) activity by reducing the activity of an internal time shift buffer (TSB). The HDD may be included in a digital host communications terminal (DHCT). The TSB can switch between buffering a high definition quality to a standard definition quality of a streaming program. Additionally, the TSB can be disabled to prevent buffering of the streaming program. The reduced buffering of the TSB is determined by several factors including the temperature of the HDD, the health of the HDD, a set-up menu including TSB options, and/or whether there is a high definition television connected to the DHCT.
US07974520B2
A method of optically recording data on a disk-like information recording medium from the center side to the peripheral side thereof, dividing the information recording medium into a plurality of recording divisions, includes the steps of: (a) recording the data in an initial recording division; (b) recording terminal end information successively after the step (a), the terminal end information indicating the end of the initial recording division; (c) determining whether the terminal end information recorded on the information recording medium reaches a specified region beyond a predetermined range from the center of the information recording medium; and (d) extending and recording the terminal end information in the step (b) so that the terminal end information reaches the specified region if the step (c) determines that the terminal end information does not reach the specified region.
US07974507B2
Disclosed is a fiber-optic cable that possesses a high cable filling coefficient (and/or a high cable fiber density) yet ensures that its enclosed optical fibers demonstrate improved attenuation performance when subjected to temperature variations between about −40° C. and 70° C. The fiber-optic cable is suitable for efficient installation into ducts, such as via blowing.
US07974500B2
A force sensor particularly suited for use in an electronic stylus that senses the contact force on its nib for recording pen strokes and handwriting recognition. The sensor has a load bearing member movably mounted for receiving an input force to be sensed, the load bearing member being biased against the direction of the input force. The sensor also has a light source, a photo-detector for sensing levels of illumination from the light source and circuitry for converting a range of illumination levels sensed by the photo-detector into a range of output signals. During use, the illumination level sensed by the photo-detector varies with movement of the load bearing member such that the output signal from the circuitry is indicative of the input force. Using an optical sensor avoids the need to use a delicate piezo-resistive sensor that requires careful tolerancing during production.
US07974499B2
Disclosed is an algorithm for applying a morphological operation to an image. In one embodiment, the morphological operation is iteratively applied to a focal pixel of the image and to another pixel of the image. The other pixel is located at an offset with respect to the focal pixel. The offset is based on an operation count. In another embodiment, the algorithm includes performing a morphological operation on an image using a convex structuring element. A work structuring element having dimensions corresponding to the outer-most dimensions of the convex structuring element is iteratively applied to the image. The dimensions of the work structuring element are then adjusted to correspond to the remaining outer dimensions of the convex structuring element not yet covered by the previous work structuring element. The applying and adjusting steps are repeated until a predetermined number of morphological operations have been performed.
US07974492B2
When a transition is made from display of one image of a subject to display of another image of a subject in a slideshow, the transition is made in a natural manner. A first enlarged image is obtained by cropping and enlarging a portion of a subject image so as to include a face-image portion. A plurality of first enlarged images are obtained in such a manner that a cropping zone gradually decreases and the enlarging rate of the cropped image gradually increases. A first enlarged image in which the face-image portion is displayed in close-up is obtained. When a plurality of enlarged images are displayed one after another and a first enlarged image prevailing at the time of image transition is displayed, a second enlarged image in which a face image contained in a second subject image is shown in close-up is displayed. Second enlarged images that gradually zoom out from the face-image portion are displayed one after another to thereby make a transition to display of the second subject image.
US07974489B2
An optical imaging system with dynamic buffer management is described. Embodiments of the optical imaging system include an image sensor, a buffer, and a buffer mode controller. The image sensor includes a pixel array to read out a plurality of pixel lines for a frame of an image. The buffer is configured to store a plurality of buffer values corresponding to a plurality of pixel values for each of the pixel lines. The buffer mode controller is configured to dynamically switch between an accumulation mode and an averaging mode. The accumulation mode facilitates a computation of each buffer value according to a sum value of the corresponding pixel value and a corresponding previous buffer value. The averaging mode facilitates a computation of each buffer value according to an average value of a normalized value of the corresponding pixel value and the corresponding previous buffer value.
US07974486B2
A method and apparatus for allowing applications to access edited image data from an image editing application are disclosed herein. When the user desires to export edited images, the user causes the image editing application to display a plug-in user interface (UI). The plug-in UI may allow the user to enter exporting parameters, although this is not required. After the user selects an “export” button in the plug-in UI, the image editing application confirms with the plug-in on an image-by-image basis which of the images should be exported. The image editing application then generates an export version of the image. If necessary, the image editing application applies image adjustments to the master image to generate the export version. The image editing application then makes the export version available to the plug-in.
US07974482B2
An image distribution apparatus divides image data of a single frame into a plurality of blocks, orthogonally transforms the blocks and calculates transformation coefficients, quantizes the calculated transformation coefficients, codes the quantized transformation coefficients, and distributes the coded image data. The image distribution apparatus acquires the quantized transformation coefficients, stores the acquired transformation coefficients in a storage unit, calculates differences between the transformation coefficients of a first frame and the transformation coefficients of a second frame stored in the storage unit in a unit of block, counts blocks whose difference values calculated above are equal to or greater than a predetermined value as changing blocks of the first frame, and determines that the first frame has changed when the counted number of blocks is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
US07974477B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward reversible/invertible and lossless, image data hiding that can imperceptibly hide data into digital images and can reconstruct the original image without any distortion after the hidden data have been extracted in various digital image formats including, but not limited to Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG). In particular, embodiments of the invention provide a lossless data hiding technique for JPEG images based on histogram pairs. that embeds data into the JPEG quantized 8×8 block DCT coefficients and achieves good performance in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) versus payload through manipulating histogram pairs with optimum threshold and optimum region of the JPEG DCT coefficients. Furthermore, the invented technology is expected to be able to apply to the I-frame of Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video for various applications including annotation, authentication, and forensics.
US07974475B1
This invention relates generally to a system and method for correlating two images for the purpose of identifying a target in an image where templates are provided a priori only for the target. Information on other objects in the image being searched may be unavailable or difficult to obtain. This invention treats the design of target matching-templates and target matched-filters for image correlation as a statistical pattern recognition problem. By minimizing a suitable criterion, a target matching-template or a target matched-filter is estimated which approximates the optimal Bayes discriminant function in a least-squares sense. Both Bayesian image correlation methods identify the target with minimum probability of error while requiring no prior knowledge of other objects in the image being searched. The system and method is adaptive in that it can be re-optimizing (adapted) to recognize the target in a new search image using only information from the new image.
US07974471B2
To identify pixels constituting image elements for generating a labeled image in which pixels are labeled with identification information, a pixel block including four pixels adjacent to one another in two dimensions is inputted as a unit from data including pixels that form an image. All of the on-pixels that are subject for grouping, included in the pixel block are labeled with the same identifier. Since the on-pixels that are included in a pixel block are consecutively connected, such pixels can be labeled with the same identifier without having to calculate whether such pixels are connected.
US07974468B2
An image processing apparatus for performing a white balance correction for RAW data obtained by an image capturing unit, includes a storage, operable to store a RAW file to which the RAW data and developed data obtained by performing a development processing to the RAW data are attached, and a corrector, operable to perform the white balance correction for the RAW data based on the developed data stored in the storage.
US07974466B2
A method for obtaining a target color measurement using an electronic image capturing device comprising the steps of: (1) determining one or more of a field correction array, level correction vectors, a color correction matrix, and a calibration correction and; (2) adjusting a target color measurement based upon one or more of a field correction array, level correction vector, a color correction matrix, and a calibration correction to obtain a corrected color target measurement.
US07974463B2
Systems and methods using an unstructured pattern for three-dimensional model construction, such as may be used for processing images of documents are disclosed. The method generally includes projecting an unstructured infrared pattern onto a target object, capturing a pair of stereoscopic images of the pattern projected onto the target object, such as with infrared cameras, performing signal processing on the pair of stereoscopic images to cross-correlate portions of the stereoscopic images in order to identify corresponding portions in the stereoscopic images, and constructing a three-dimensional model of the target object. The three-dimensional model can be utilized to rectify, e.g., de-warp, an image of the target object, e.g., a page or both facing pages of a bound document.
US07974462B2
In a method of calibrating an image capture environment based on a captured image obtained by capturing an image of a physical space by an image capturing unit that captures the image of the physical space, an image of the physical space is captured using the image capturing unit, an index serving as a reference for calibration is detected from the captured image of the physical space, the position and orientation of the image capturing unit are calculated from the detected index, and image capturing unit unique information, geometric information associated with the physical space, or the relationship between the image capturing unit and the physical space is calibrated using the obtained data.
US07974460B2
A method and system for obstacle mapping for navigation of an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises providing an autonomous vehicle with an image capturing device, and focusing the image capturing device at a predetermined number of different specified distances to capture an image at each of the specified distances. The method further comprises identifying which regions in the captured images are in focus, and assigning a corresponding lens-focus distance to each of the regions that are in focus. A composite image is formed from the captured images, with each of the regions labeled with the corresponding lens-focus distance. A three-dimensional obstacle map is then produced from the composite image. The three-dimensional obstacle map has an x, y, z coordinate system, with x being proportional to pixel horizontal position, y being proportional to pixel vertical position, and z being the lens-focus distance.
US07974444B2
One camera having a horizontally wide view angle is installed at each of the left and right rear ends of a tractor. The visual field of the left camera includes the road surface located to the left side of the tractor and a trailer, and the like. The visual field of the right camera includes the road surface located to the right side of the tractor and the trailer, and the like. The left and right cameras have a common visual field at the rear side of the trailer. A panorama image obtained by synthesizing images respectively obtained by the left and right cameras is displayed on a display device located in the interior of the tractor.
US07974441B2
An object detection apparatus for detecting a specific object in an input image includes a specific object detection module for performing a specific object detecting process of setting the input image or a reduced image of the input image as a target image, and of determining whether or not the specific object exists in a determination region while scanning the determination region in an edge feature image of the target image. The specific object detection module includes a determination module for determining whether the specific object exists in the determination region, based on an edge feature amount of the edge feature image corresponding to the determination region, and a previously determined relationship between an edge feature amount and a weight indicating object likelihood for each predetermined feature pixel in an image having the same size as the determination region.
US07974440B2
A person estimation device (10) includes an identification unit (200) for identifying a person in video. A person displayed in a smaller display area than the area defined by an identification enabled frame of the identification unit (200) is estimated by a CPU (110) in combination with the person identification by the identification unit (200). Here, statistic data concerning the person or the relationship between the persons is acquired from the statistic DB (20) and given as an estimation element. The person is estimated according to the estimation element.
US07974429B2
A wireless microphone includes a tubular housing having top and bottom open ends. The housing has an outer surrounding wall and an inner partition wall. The inner partition wall cooperates with an upper portion of the outer surrounding wall so as to define a battery-receiving space. A battery module is received in the battery-receiving space. A head unit is mounted on the top open end of the housing, and covers the battery module. A positioning unit is disposed at an outer surrounding surface of the battery module and an inner surrounding surface of the outer surrounding wall of the housing for positioning the battery module in the battery-receiving space.
US07974422B1
Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatuses for adjusting audio content when more multiple audio objects are directed toward a single audio output device. The amplitude, white noise content, and frequencies can be adjusted to enhance overall sound quality or make content of certain audio objects more intelligible. Audio objects are classified by a class category, by which they are can be assigned class specific processing. Audio objects classes can also have a rank. The rank of an audio objects class is used to give priority to or apply specific processing to audio objects sin the presence of other audio objects of different classes.
US07974421B2
An audio signal processing method includes: controlling the volume of a digital audio signal according to a latest value of an adaptive gain value which is adjustable; detecting whether data carried by the digital audio signal satisfies a specific criterion and utilizing a pendulum counter to count a number of times the data carried by the digital audio signal satisfies the specific criterion; if the counter value of the pendulum counter reaches an upper bond, selectively decreasing the adaptive gain value according to a decrement to decrease the volume of the digital audio signal; and if the counter value of the pendulum counter reaches a lower bond, selectively increasing the adaptive gain value according to an increment to increase the volume of the digital audio signal, where the magnitude of the decrement and the magnitude of the increment are different from each other.
US07974416B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method to establish a secure pre-boot environment in a computer system; and perform at least one secure operation in the secure environment. In one embodiment, the secure operation may be storage of a secret in the secure pre-boot environment.
US07974411B2
Techniques for protecting information in an audio file are provided. The techniques include obtaining an audio file, detecting information bearing one or more segments in a speech signal, wherein the information comprises information sought for protection, encrypting the information sought for protection by scrambling the one or more segments using a scrambling filter, and selectively decrypting an amount of the encrypted information, wherein the amount of the encrypted information to be decrypted depends on user access privilege, and wherein selectively decrypting the amount of the encrypted information protects said amount of the encrypted information. Techniques are also provided for protecting information in an audio file.
US07974407B2
A computer implemented method for performing a privacy enhanced comparison of a plurality of data sets includes allocating a private encryption key to each of the data sets; performing an encryption operation for each of the data sets, the encryption operation comprising generating a commutatively encrypted data set of the respective data set, wherein the commutatively encrypted data sets are generated by successively applying a keyed commutative encryption function on the respective data set with the private encryption key of the respective data set itself and with the private encryption keys of the other data sets; and comparing the commutatively encrypted data sets.
US07974399B2
An enhanced whisper feature enables a user to engage simultaneously in disparate telephonic communication sessions by isolating audible input of the user from a select one of the telephonic communication sessions while providing audible output from each of the telephonic communication sessions to the user. The whisper feature can be further enhanced using a presence system that maintains presence information indicating the availability of the user. The presence system can enable the whisper feature of the user upon determining that the user is currently engaged in a first telephonic communication session when a request for the user to engage in a second telephonic communication session is received. In addition, the whisper feature can include a silent ring mode that is activated upon receipt of the request for the user to engage in the second telephonic communication session.
US07974396B2
A disclosed method allows service subscribers to modify service subscriptions online. Operations within the method may include receiving an order for a service package from a subscriber, wherein the service package includes multiple features. In response to the order, the features in the service package may automatically be cross referenced with a list of existing features for the subscriber to detect any overlap between the features in the service package and the existing features. In response to detecting an overlap, a subscription change request may automatically be computed, wherein subscription change request includes only the features in the service package that do not overlap the existing features. The subscription change request may then be submitted for implementation by a service provider, possibly after receiving confirmation of the change request from the subscriber.
US07974390B2
A method and system for transferring audio content to a telephone-switching system is provided. The telephone-switching system receives the audio content from a source. Thereafter, the telephone-switching system authenticates the source. The telephone-switching system also authenticates the audio content. Thereafter, the telephone-switching system stores the audio content in a file directory of the telephone-switching system.
US07974388B2
An enterprise network includes at least one communication device 208-1, an Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) Layer 2 switch 206, and a corresponding enterprise switch 208. The communication device 208-1 is connected to at least one of an access point 904-1 and a respective port 207-1 of the Layer 2 switch 206. The enterprise network includes a plurality of Emergency Location Information Numbers (ELINs) corresponding to differing segments of the enterprise network. The Layer 2 switch 206 serves at least one of the differing segments. The communication device 208-1 includes a discovery agent 252 operable, when a predetermined first event occurs, to obtain from the Layer 2 switch 206 at least one of an access point identifier, a switch identifier from the Layer 2 switch 206, and a port identifier identifying the respective port 207-1.
US07974386B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for testing failure rate of newly installed network elements within a predetermined amount of time prior to customer use of the network elements are provided. An order report including information regarding one or more network elements is accessed, and based on the information provided by the orders report, a network element from the one or more network elements to be tested is determined. Information regarding the network element to be tested is retrieved from the orders report and included on a ticket created for the network element to be tested. The ticket created for the network element is then forwarded to a test device for testing of the network element associated with the forwarded ticket.
US07974380B2
An integrated fluidic circuit includes a substrate layer and a first structure coupled to the substrate layer and including a plurality of channels. The first structure is configured to provide for flow of one or more materials through the plurality of channels. The integrated fluidic circuit also includes a second structure coupled to the substrate layer. The second structure includes a plurality of control channels configured to receive an actuation pressure. The integrated fluidic circuit is characterized by a thickness of less than 1.5 mm.
US07974379B1
A metrology system that uses an imaging system to monitor alignment features on the sample or sample holder of an X-ray laminography or tomography system. the metrology system has the capability to provide both sample shift and sample rotation movement data to a data acquisition system. These shift and rotation data can be used in alignment routines to produce 3D reconstructions from the X-ray images/projections. The metrology system is based on an imaging and focusing measurement of intrinsic feature of the sample or artificial features fabricated on the sample or sample holder.
US07974376B2
High precision continuous time gmC BPF (Band Pass Filter) tuning. A novel approach is presented by which a continuous time signal serves as a BPF control voltage for tuning of a BPF within a communication device (e.g., transceiver or receiver). A PLL (Phase Locked Loop) tunes the center frequency of the BPF using this continuous time signal, and the PLL oscillates at the center frequency of the BPF. The BPF is implemented as a gmC (transconductance-capacitance) filter, and the PLL is implemented using a number of gm (transconductance) cells as well. The PLL's gm cells and the BPF's gm cells are substantially identical in form. All of these gm cells are operated within their respective linear regions. This similarity of gm cells within the PLL and the BPF provide for substantial immunity to environmental perturbations including temperature and humidity changes as well as fluctuations of power supply voltages.
US07974371B2
A radio communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving modulation signals of a plurality of channels in the same frequency band via a plurality of antennas. A communication method is based on information on electric wave propagation environment corresponding to each antenna of the communication partner and transmission is performed by selecting a transmission method for transmitting modulation signals of channels in the same frequency band from a plurality of antennas or a transmission method for transmitting a modulation signal of one channel from one antenna. Thus, it is possible to multiplex a plurality of modulation signals so as to be transmitted and to demultiplex and demodulate the transmitted multiplexed modulation signals at a reception unit, thereby improving the data transmission rate.
US07974369B2
In one embodiment, a (hard-drive) read channel has a phase detector used in a timing recovery loop. The phase detector utilizes the sign bit and confidence value from a received log-likelihood ratio (LLR) signal to generate a mean value. The mean value is convolved with a partial response target to generate an estimated timing error signal. When implemented in a hard-drive read channel, the phase detector allows for timing recovery with lower loss-of-lock rates.
US07974356B2
A hybrid transmitter includes first and second up-conversion modules, a combining module, and a power amplifier circuit. The first up-conversion module is operably coupled to generate a first up-conversion signal based on a normalized in-phase (I) symbol, an in-phase local oscillation, and phase or frequency information. The second up-conversion module is operably coupled to generate a second up-conversion signal based on a normalized quadrature (Q) symbol, a quadrature local oscillation, and the phase or frequency information. The combining module is operably coupled to combine the first and second up-conversion signals to produce a radio frequency (RF) signal. The power amplifier circuit is operably coupled to adjust amplitude of the RF signal based on amplitude information to produce an amplitude and phase modulated RF signal.
US07974351B1
In detecting a signal, angle information is generated based on a complex signal having a periodic portion. An autocorrelation signal is generated based on the angle information and not based on magnitude information associated with the complex signal. The periodic portion is detected based on the autocorrelation signal.
US07974347B2
A mechanism for automatically determining an optimal temporal interval for displaying data is provided. The mechanism receives information indicating a temporal range. The mechanism determines the size of a display area in which data corresponding to the temporal range is to be displayed. The mechanism further determines, based at least partially upon the size of the display area, how many data display elements can be displayed within the first display area. The mechanism then determines, based at least partially upon the temporal range and how many data display elements can be displayed within the display area, a temporal interval by which the temporal range is to be divided for purposes of displaying the data corresponding to the temporal range. Each data display element corresponds to a particular instance of temporal interval.
US07974345B2
An image data processing apparatus is provided and includes a variable length decoding section to decode and extract quantized DCT coefficients from an encoded signal input thereto and extract encoded information from side information added to the encoded signal. Classification adaptation processing sections use the input signal supplied from a decoding section and a creation signal supplied from a signal storage section to determine the reliability of each of motion compensating vectors of the encoded signal supplied from a coded information storage section, selects that one of the motion compensating vectors which has the highest reliability as a selected vector, and produces a creation signal based on the selection vector.
US07974344B2
A “rounding to zero” method can maintain the exact motion vector and can also be achieved by the method without division so as to improve the precision of calculating the motion vector, embody the motion of the object in video more factually, and obtain the more accurate motion vector prediction. Combining with the forward prediction coding and the backward prediction coding, the present invention realizes a new prediction coding mode, which can guarantee the high efficiency of coding in direct mode as well as is convenient for hardware realization, and gains the same effect as the conventional B frame coding.
US07974341B2
Methods and apparatus for efficient encoding multimedia data, such as live video streams are disclosed. The multimedia data is pre-encoded into multiple layers and characteristics of the pre-encoded data are determined. Based at least in part on the determined characteristics, the multimedia data is encoded into multiple layers.
US07974335B2
A decision feedback equalization apparatus includes a channel estimation unit estimating a channel on received signal based on the received signal and a training sequence; a channel matched filter maximizing SNR from the channel estimated by the channel estimation unit changing channel characteristics of the received signal; a noncausal filter approximating the changed channel; an equalizer input signal storage unit storing received symbols passed through the channel matched and the noncausal filters; a channel equalization unit performing a decision feedback equalization; a Trellis decoder detecting symbol from a channel-equalized signal; a mode selection unit selecting a specific mode; an error signal calculator comparing an output signal of the selected mode with an output signal of the channel equalization unit to calculate an error signal; and a tap coefficient updater updating tap coefficients to the channel equalization unit, an output signal from the storage unit, and an output signal from the Trellis decoder.
US07974330B2
The multi-carrier code dividing multiplex transfer system of the present invention includes a direct demodulator that discriminates transmitted signals according to a receiving signal point composed of a combination of receiving values in a spread state of sub-carriers in a range where one modulated symbol is spread, and according to reference signal composing values that can be taken by the combination of the receiving values in the spread state of the sub-carriers. As a result, it is possible to prevent from affects of inter-code interference, and improve receiving characteristics as well.
US07974329B2
A method for performing symbol timing estimation is disclosed herein. In one approach, the method includes defining a search space in a plurality of estimated magnitudes of channel taps; defining a search window in the search space; and locating a symbol timing estimate index in the search space corresponding to a maximum value of an energy of the plurality of estimated magnitudes of channel taps within the search window. A computer program product having code and a wireless communications apparatus for performing the method are also described herein.
US07974307B2
In a method of decoding data that contains payload data, start codes and stuffing data that prevents emulation of start codes within the data, and correspondingly in a method of encoding data that contains payload data and start codes, data is read or written. Substantially simultaneously with reading or writing the data, the data is checked for the presence of stuffing data which are to be discarded or the need to insert stuffing data as the case may be. In preferred embodiments, one or more state machines are used to track the need to discard/insert stuffing data.
US07974303B2
Different polling rates are applied to high priority BE service flows depending on whether the service flow contains, or is about to contain, traffic packets. A high priority service flow is identified upon boot-up of a user device, and defaults to a slow polling mode. A trigger causes the service flow to be serviced as a fast polling mode. The fast polling mode lasts for a predetermined period of time. If traffic continues at the end of the predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time is reset so that the fast-polling mode continues until traffic flow on the high priority service flow ceases.
US07974302B2
Provided is a distributed and asynchronous implicit token carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol guaranteeing quality of service for both real time and non-real time traffic. The implicit token CSMA/CA protocol allocates a band in an entire bandwidth to voice traffic and allows the remaining bands to be used for data traffic. The implicit token CSMA/CA protocol includes applying a token passing protocol to transmit voice traffic in real time by having a band in an entire bandwidth allocated using a predetermined data frame and applying a CSMA/CA mechanism to transmit data traffic in non-real time by employing remaining bands not allocated to the voice traffic using another predetermined data frame.
US07974299B1
Methods and apparatus for switching transmission channels that include monitoring a number of packets within a transmitter buffer of a transmitter, determining that the number of packets within the transmitter buffer exceeds a pre-determined threshold, and changing a transmission channel used by the transmitter for transmission based at least upon the number of packets within the transmitter buffer exceeding a pre-determined threshold.
US07974298B2
A method and system for automatically trunking ports connecting network devices arranged in a stacked configuration is provided. The method includes sending a packet, from a sending network device to at least one other receiving network device, through each of a plurality of ports of the network device. The packet includes at least an identifier for identifying the sending network device. The receiving network device maintains a table identifying which ports are connected to a neighboring network device. The network device automatically trunks the ports which are connected to the same network device.
US07974276B2
For use with a user communication device (UCD) that communicates over a packet network by alternately transmitting and receiving streams of associated continuous media communication data packets, systems and methods for providing call processing features, such as call forwarding and call blocking, to the communication device. In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the call processing system: (1) determines that a call composed of a stream of continuous media communication packets and associated with the UCD requires a specified alternative processing and (2) causes the continuous media communication data packets associated with the call to be processed in accordance with the specified alternative processing.
US07974273B2
This invention relates to a data transmitting apparatus and a data receiving apparatus, which multiplexes and transmits HD-SDI signals, and which receives the multiplexed and transmitted HD-SDI signals. The data transmitting apparatus is characterized by being equipped with a parallel data forming section which forms word string data De based on HD-SDI signals DHS of n channels, a data multiplexing section which obtains multiplex word string data Dm based on De, a multiple channel data forming section which forms bit string data DSX of m channels from Dm, a data multiplexing and P/S converting section which forms bit string data DTG based on DSX and in which a bit rate is set to 10 Gb/s or more, and an electric photo converting section which sends away DTG.
US07974270B2
Media routes may be optimized in network communications, such a radio telephony communications networks. In one embodiment, the description includes identifying a first network controller corresponding to a first media communications client, identifying a second network controller corresponding to a second media communications client, determining whether the first and second network controller coincide, and if the first and second network controller coincide, then establishing a direct media communications connection between the first and the second client.
US07974267B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a telephone system comprises a plurality of telephone terminals and a main unit. The main unit comprises an authentication processing unit performs login authentication MAC address authentication, and a mode specification unit receives specification of a plural terminal registration mode. The MAC address authentication refuses logins from telephone terminals differing in MAC address from a telephone terminal that has been allowed to log in firstly even if the logins are made by the same extension numbers. The plural terminal registration mode exclusively allows the simultaneous login by the same extension numbers from a plurality of telephone terminals having different MAC addresses. The authentication processing unit gives priority over the plural terminal registration mode higher than the MAC address authentication and makes the MAC address authentication void in the plural terminal registration mode.
US07974265B2
A remote parking meter monitoring system is provided. The system has a plurality of radio transceivers. Each transceiver communicates with at least one other transceiver within a transceiver communication region. The transceivers are integrated to parking meters. A separate aggregate point has a transceiver and a communication network that is connected to a computer. The aggregate point communicates with at least one proximal transceiver and communicates to the computer through the network. The system has a mesh communication arrangement, and a signal routing architecture, where the information is communicated along any path of adjacent communication regions. The computer is able to communicate information through the network to the aggregate point, and the aggregate point transceiver sends the information to the proximal transceiver. The information is communicated to any one of the transceivers in the mesh using the routing architecture by communicating the signal through any path between adjacent communication regions.
US07974262B2
A telecommunications network participant, comprising means for digitising, as a series of samples, a received signal containing a succession of symbols, means for measuring time misalignment between the symbols and the samples and means for applying a fractional delay to the positions of the samples to reduce the misalignment.
US07974259B2
A method of polling in a wireless communications system includes prohibiting polling within a predetermined period and triggering a poll function while polling is prohibited. After the predetermined period has expired the method determines that there are no protocol data units (PDUs) scheduled for transmission or re-transmission and that the poll function was triggered by a “Every Poll_SDU SDU” trigger, and selects a PDU to schedule for re-transmission to fulfill the poll function.
US07974258B2
An adaptive mode transmitter enables either OFDMA or SC-FDMA modulation schemes to be used during transmission of a wireless signal, such as during mobile phone use. The modulation scheme is selected automatically, and is based on characteristics of the transmitting entity, such as bandwidth allocation, selected modulation order, and transmit power.
US07974255B2
A method and apparatus increase the time and frequency diversity of a multi-stream signal in a DAB system. A plurality of audio streams are divided into four (4) digital sub-streams, C00, C01, C10, and C11. Each sub-stream C00, C01, C10, and C11 is assigned a unique frequency band, and time slot. A first core sub-stream C10 is mapped to one frequency partition and a second core sub-stream C00 is mapped to another frequency partition and delayed relative to the first core sub-stream. Similarly, two enhancement sub-streams C11 and C01 are mapped to different frequency partitions and are time delayed relative to each other and the core sub-streams. The two core sub-streams C00 and C10 can have a maximum separation across both the time and frequency axes.
US07974246B1
A method for exchanging information within a radio communications system includes establishing communications between radio systems utilizing a carrier sense multiple access mode during a period of lower traffic load on the radio communications system and establishing communications between the radio systems utilizing a time division multiple access mode during a period of higher traffic load on the radio communications system.
US07974241B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing cellular handoff. According to embodiments, a method for providing a cellular handoff is provided. According to the method, a first group of users is associated with a first class of service and a first cellular tower. A second group of users is associated with a second class of service. Whether to hand off the first group of users from the first cellular tower to a second cellular tower is determined based on real-time quality of service provided to at least one of the first group of users and the second group of users. In response to determining to hand off the first group of users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower, a handoff of the first group of users from the first cellular tower to the second cellular tower is performed.
US07974237B2
An operational mechanism enables frequency re-use techniques, including selective frequency hopping and channel aggregation, on very low-cost transceiver hardware.
US07974232B2
Some embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for managing communications within a distributed network. According to some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may include a communication management module and a synchronization module. The communication management module may be operatively coupled to a communication module belonging to the distributed network. The communication management module may be adapted to allocate for each communication within the network a communication frame comprised of a predetermined number of timeslots. The communication management module may configure the communication module coupled thereto to repeat a communication at one or more of the timeslots of the frame allocated for the communication. The timeslots may, for example, be equal in length and may each correspond to a predetermined fraction of the length of a communication frame. The synchronization module may be adapted to synchronize frames across the distributed network, either directly or indirectly. According to further embodiments of the invention, the synchronization module may be adapted to bit synchronize the communication module.
US07974223B2
A method for communication via a ring network that includes a plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving at a first node in the ring network a data packet transmitted over a virtual private LAN service (VPLS), the data packet including an identification of the VPLS. The first node reads the identification from the data packet. Responsively to reading the identification, the first node forwards the data packet to at least one second node in the ring network that is associated with the VPLS.
US07974221B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes: providing an abstract tree structure having a root node, tree nodes, and leaf nodes, each leaf node corresponds to a portion of data; mapping first network nodes of a distributed network to the tree nodes; mapping second network nodes to the leaf nodes; assigning unique identifiers to the root node, tree nodes, and leaf nodes; storing, at each first network node, the unique identifier of the corresponding tree node, the unique identifier of a parent, and the unique identifiers of children; storing, at each second network node, the portion of data and path information; providing a distributed hash tree wherein the DHT includes a hash value for each node of the ATS signing the top hash value for the root node; and storing, at each second network node, the corresponding hash value of the tree node and the hash values of children.
US07974216B2
The real time availability of a group of network elements is determined based upon both a real time availability value for each of the network elements and cooperation relationships between the network elements. The cooperation relationships reflect both the topological relationships between the network elements, i.e., how the network elements are connected, and the extent to which network elements interact with each other effectively. For relatively small groups of network elements, where the cooperation relationships are not overly complex, the real time availability is determined directly from the real time availability value for each of the network elements and cooperation relationships between the network elements. Decomposition and recombination are used to determine the real time availability of large groups of network elements based on specific formulas for basic network element topology models.
US07974215B1
Embodiments provide systems and methods for diagnosing a network and identifying problems in a network which reduce the data transfer rate of data through the network. One embodiment of a method for network diagnosis may include infusing data into a network upstream and downstream of a portion of the network relative to a library drive, querying the drive at intervals over time for drive data to determine the data transfer rate at the drive and comparing the data transfer rate of the data infused upstream of the device or network portion with the data transfer rate of the data infused downstream of the device or network portion to determine throughput. By comparing the data transfer rate of data infused upstream and downstream of a network device or network portion, problem devices in a network may be identified.
US07974213B2
Methods and apparatus to select composite link cost-out thresholds are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises collecting traffic statistics for a communication network, computing, based on the collected traffic statistics, a plurality of flow rates for a composite link of the communication network for respective ones of a plurality of potential fault conditions for the composite link, computing a plurality of remaining capacities of the composite link for respective ones of the plurality of fault conditions, computing a plurality of differences between respective ones of the plurality of flow rates and the plurality of remaining capacities, and selecting a cost-out threshold for the composite link based on the plurality of computed differences.
US07974212B2
Performance of endpoints, client devices and servers within a communication system, is monitored by collecting call quality data from each endpoint. The collected metric data is retrieved periodically from a database, categorized based on endpoint location and metric type, and compared to predefined thresholds for different endpoint types, metric categories, and call configurations. If an alert condition is met indicating a problem with quality of experience in the system, an alert is issued to an administrator.
US07974211B2
A method of baselining a network topology including at least one network device and one application node from and to which data from the network device may be sent using a network protocol. The method includes the steps of providing a network-wide time reference ensuring clock synchronicity of all the network devices and at the application node with the network-wide time reference. The method further includes causing configuration information to be collected at the application node from all network devices at a particular time or within a predetermined time slot, determining the number of networks supplied such configuration information and comparing this number against a stability threshold value. Finally, the method includes storing the configuration information together with an indication that such is stable, and thus usable in providing a reliable baseline, only if the stability threshold value is met or exceeded.
US07974201B1
A technique is provided for managing VPN packet flows over shared access data networks. Each node in the shared access network typically has an identifier or ID associated with it which is used at a Head End of the shared access network to uniquely identify that particular node from the other nodes in the network. According to the technique of the present invention, the node ID may be used at the Head End of the network to identify not only the corresponding node, but also to identify any virtual private networks (VPNs) of which the corresponding node is a member. Using the technique of the present invention, nodes which are members of the same VPN within a shared access network may exchange packets in a manner which does not require the packets to be routed outside the shared access network.
US07974199B2
A method (400) for optimizing bandwidth utilization in a communications network (100). The communications network can include a data source (105) and a data client (110). Responsive to a measurement of at least one communication parameter (120) of a commutated bitstream (115) which is transmitted to the client, the data source can change a commutation format of the commutated bitstream. The communication parameters can include a data receive time (TRx), a data latency and/or an effective receive data rate (DEff) of the commutated bitstream. The communication parameters can be transmitted to the data source as telemetry. The change of commutation format can occur in an open systems interconnection (OSI) layer such as a session layer and/or a transport layer.
US07974198B2
Apparatus and method for guaranteeing a Quality of Service (QoS) traffic rate in a mobile communication system are provided. The scheduling method for guaranteeing a QOS traffic rate in a mobile communication system includes calculating a total sum of traffic rates based on a channel change and a total sum of sustained traffic rates; calculating a weighted traffic rate using the traffic rate based on the channel change and the sustained traffic rate when the sustained traffic rate does not meet the QoS traffic rate; and determining a service priority using the weighted traffic rate. Therefore, the minimum reserved traffic rate and the maximum sustained traffic rate can be assured.
US07974195B2
The present invention is a delay based model and in fact uses queuing delay as a congestion measure, providing advantages over prior art loss based systems. One advantage is that queuing delay can be more accurately estimated than loss probability. This is because packet losses in networks with large bandwidth-delay product are rare events under TCP Reno and its variants (probability on the order 10−7 or smaller), and because loss samples provide coarser information than queuing delay samples. Indeed, measurements of delay are noisy, just as those of loss probability. Thus, another advantage of the present invention is that each measurement of queuing delay provides multi-bit information while each measurement of packet loss (whether a packet is lost) provides only one bit of information for the filtering of noise. This makes it easier for an equation-based implementation to stabilize a network into a steady state with a target fairness and high utilization. In addition, the dynamics of queuing delay provides scaling with respect to network capacity. This helps maintain stability as a network scales up in capacity.
US07974180B2
The present invention relates to transmitting/receiving apparatuses of a wideband radio channel measuring device using a multi-carrier. The wideband radio channel measuring device using the multi-carrier may measure radio channel characteristics at a frequency domain. Since the radio channel is measured at the frequency domain by the wideband radio channel measuring device using the multi-carrier, the channel characteristics may be simultaneously measured while maintaining a maximum Doppler measurement frequency at a predetermined level regardless of increase of the number of transmitting and receiving antennas, in an MIMO configuration.
US07974174B2
A method and an apparatus for detecting a number of variation in resistance within a material stack in response to a scanning and injection of a non-contacting electron stream into a material stack, the material stack having a first conductive contact layer, a variable resistive layer, a fixed resistive layer, and a second conductive contact layer, and the variations in resistance within the material stack being based on one of a plurality of resistive states of the variable resistive layer. The method also includes generating two magnetic fields within a transformer, the transformer being operatively coupled to the first and second conductive contact layers and generating a differential output signal within the transformer based on the two magnetic fields, the differential output signal being associated with one of the plurality of resistive states.
US07974168B2
A reproducing device includes a detection circuit and an integration circuit. The detection circuit detects a push-pull signal PP. The integration circuit carries out integration processing with respect to one or greater frames of the push-pull signal, and carries out binarization processing with respect to integration results thus obtained, thereby detecting sub data. In the integration circuit, the more the frames to be used for detecting sub data is, the higher the accuracy of the detected sub data is. The reproducing device further includes a control circuit for controlling the total number of the frames to be used for generating valid sub data in the integration circuit. The control circuit controls the total number of the frames in accordance with a result of an error correction made by an error correction circuit.
US07974166B2
Information recording device and information recording method generating a copy preventing structure
User data is recorded onto a DVD by the incremental recording method and by using padding when closing a recording zone, read error data is recorded onto the DVD. The read error data is generated by making a sector error detection code or a PI/PO error correction code in the ECC block different from a correct value.
US07974164B2
An information recording apparatus (2) is for forming a record mark corresponding to a recording signal by applying a laser beam to a recording medium, and is provided with: a light source (21) for emitting the laser beam; and a signal generating device (22) for generating a recording pulse signal for driving the light source on the basis of the recording signal, the recording pulse signal includes a mark period and a space period, a level of the recording pulse signal corresponds to a recording power by which waveform distortion is greater than or equal to an upper limit (L) or is less than or equal to a lower limit (−L) of an amplitude limit value on a limit equalizer (15), in the mark period corresponding to a long mark.
US07974159B2
A tray control method for a disk drive including a tray for carrying a disk, a detect switch movable to different inclined positions for detecting different positions of the tray during tray ejection operation, a firmware for receiving signals transmitted by the detect switch upon reaching the different inclined positions. The voltage applied to the DC motor for moving the tray is adjusted based on the time difference between the signals.
US07974143B2
The memory system, memory device, memory controller and method may have a reduced power consumption. The memory system, memory device, memory controller and method may transition a data strobe signal to a valid logic level during a standby state. The valid logic level may be less than a logic level associated with a higher impedance level, such as when a bus may be turned off or connected to a ground voltage. A delay locked circuit need not be used in the memory device.
US07974142B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: a data transferrer configured to transfer data; a main driver configured to apply the data to the data transferrer in response to a control signal; and a pre-driver configured to decrease a voltage level of the data transferrer when the voltage level of the data transferrer is higher than a logic threshold voltage, and to increase the voltage level of the data transferrer when the voltage level of the data transferrer is lower than the logic threshold voltage prior to activation of the control signal.
US07974140B2
A semiconductor device includes a mode register and a plurality of voltage generators in connection with a plurality of banks. Based on an operation mode set to the mode register, the voltage generators are selectively driven in response to an access to each bank and a CAS latency number defining a delay time between the input timing of an external command and the input/output timing of data of each bank. The number of voltage generators being driven is controlled based on the CAS latency number so that an adequate internal voltage is supplied to the peripheral circuitry, thus adjusting the current consumption without increasing the power consumption.
US07974138B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a selector line selection circuit for selecting, in a read operation, a selector line for connecting a first main bit line connected to the sense amplifier with a sub-bit line to which the memory cell being read is connected, a selector line for connecting the first main bit line with a sub-bit line of at least one sector different from the sector to which the memory cell being read belongs, a selector line for connecting a second main bit line connected to the sense amplifier with a sub-bit line to which the reference cell is connected, and a selector line for connecting the second main bit line with a sub-bit line of at least one sector different from the sector to which the memory cell being read belongs.
US07974137B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a comparing unit that comprises a potential of a memory cell with a reference potential supplied by a reference cell to read data of the memory cell; first and second bit lines connected to inputs of the comparing unit; a first memory cell connected to the first bit line; a second memory cell connected to the second bit line; a first reference cell acting as the reference cell; a second reference cell acting as another reference cell; a potential line that supplies the reference potential to the first and second reference cells; and a dummy cell comprising a coupling capacitor that stabilizes potential of the potential line.
US07974136B2
A flash memory cell is of the type having a substrate of a first conductivity type having a first region of a second conductivity type at a first end, and a second region of the second conductivity type at a second end, spaced apart from the first end, with a channel region between the first end and the second end. The flash memory cell has a plurality of stacked pairs of floating gates and control gates with the floating gates positioned over portions of the channel region and are insulated therefrom, and each control gate over a floating gate and insulated therefrom. The flash memory cell further has a plurality of erase gates over the channel region which are insulated therefrom, with an erase gate between each pair of stacked pair of floating gate and control gate. In a method of erasing the flash memory cell, a pulse of a first positive voltage is applied to alternating erase gates (“first alternating gates”). In addition, a ground voltage is applied to erase gates other than the first alternating gates (“second alternating gates”). In a second method to erase the flash memory cell, a pulse of a first positive voltage is applied to the first alternating gates and a negative voltage is applied to the second alternating gates and to all control gates.
US07974128B2
A flash memory device including a high voltage generator circuit that is adapted to supply a program voltage having a target voltage to a selected word line is provided. The flash memory device is adapted to terminate the program interval in accordance with when the program voltage has been restored to the target voltage after dropping below the target voltage. A method for operating the flash memory device is also provided.
US07974127B2
A method for programming a first memory cell in a memory array. In a specific embodiment, each memory cell has a drain, a source, a channel, and a control gate overlying a charge storage material and the channel. The source of the first memory cell is coupled to the drain of a second memory cell. A voltage is applied to the drain of the first memory cell, and the source of the second memory cell is grounded. The method includes floating the drain of the second memory cell and the source of the first memory cell and turning on the channels of the first and second memory cells, effectively forming an extended channel region. Hot carriers are injected to the charge storage material of the first cell to program the first memory cell. The extended channel lowers electrical fields and reduces punch through leakage in unselected memory cells.
US07974124B2
Selecting circuits for columns of an array of memory cells are used to hold read data or write data of the memory cells. In a first set of embodiments, a shift register chain, having a stage for columns of the array, has the columns arranged in a loop. For example, every other column or column group could be assessed as the pointer moves in first direction across the array, with the other half of the columns being accessed as the pointer moves back in the other direction. Another set of embodiments divides the columns into two groups and uses a pair of interleaved pointers, one for each set of columns, clocked at half speed. To control the access of the two sets, each of which is connected to a corresponding intermediate data bus. The intermediate data buses are then attached to a combined data bus, clocked at full speed.
US07974123B2
Using a synthetic molecular spring device in a system for dynamically controlling a system property, such as momentum, topography, and electronic behavior. System features (a) the synthetic molecular spring device having (i) at least one synthetic molecular assembly each featuring at least one chemical unit including at least one: (1) atom; (2) complexing group complexed to at least one atom; (3) axial ligand reversibly physicochemically paired with at least one complexed atom; and (4) substantially elastic molecular linker; and, (ii) an activating mechanism directed to at least one atom-axial ligand pair; and, (b) a selected unit operatively coupled to synthetic molecular assembly, and exhibiting the system property. Activating mechanism sends an activating signal to atom-axial ligand pairs, for physicochemically modifying atom-axial ligand pairs, thereby activating at least one cycle of spring-type elastic reversible transitions between contracted and expanded linear conformational states of substantially elastic molecular linkers, causing dynamically controllable change in the system property.
US07974116B2
A variable resistance memory device includes a variable resistance memory cell array including a plurality of variable resistance memory cells; a plurality of global word lines configured to drive the variable resistance memory cell array; and a plurality of local word line decoders. Each of the plurality of local word line decoders includes a first transistor having a gate connected to the global word line. A voltage greater than an operation voltage of one or more of the plurality of local word line decoders is applied to a selected one of the plurality of global word lines.
US07974114B2
In an embodiment, a memory cell arrangement is provided. The memory cell arrangement may include a first memory cell and a second memory cell, a first source/drain line coupled to a first source/drain region of the first memory cell and a second source/drain line coupled to a second source/drain region of the first memory cell, and a third source/drain line coupled to a first source/drain region of the second memory cell and a fourth source/drain line coupled to a second source/drain region of the second memory cell, wherein the third source/drain line is disposed proximate to the second source/drain line, and wherein the third source/drain line is disposed in the same metallization level as the second source/drain line.
US07974100B2
A retaining device for a PCI card (30) includes a chassis (50), a retaining plate (20) configured for retaining the PCI card, and a mounting apparatus (10). The chassis has a rear wall (52). The rear wall has two clipping portions (526) and a perpendicular portion (52). The retaining plate includes an end (22) abutting on the perpendicular portion of the rear wall of the chassis. The mounting apparatus includes a mounting strip (11), and a mounting bracket (13) resisting on the end of the retaining plate. The mounting strip includes an elongated main body (12) with a handling portion (127) formed in the middle thereof and two arms (15) extending from two ends of the main body for engaging with the clipping portions respectively. The mounting strip abuts on the mounting bracket.
US07974087B2
A cartridge type HDD unit 20 is mounted on the outside of a back plate panel 2 of an exterior cover rear portion in an image forming apparatus 1. An HDD main body is detachably attachable into a unit case 21. When the HDD main body is attached into the unit case 21, the HDD main body is substantially horizontally inserted from a sideways case opening 22. In the conventional art, there is the problem that the HDD main body is caused to fall carelessly in attachment working in which the HDD main body is mounted to a housing case such that the HDD main body drops into a housing case in a vertical direction. However the problem above described is eliminated, and the attachment working of the HDD main body can be performed easily and safely. With reference to security protection of information stored in the on-board mounted built-in HDD, the information stored in the built-in HDD can be transferred to and stored in the cartridge type HDD.
US07974084B2
Multi-sectioned arms are used as a basic mechanism for coupling the display and the base of a portable electronic device. With this mechanism, one single portable electronic device can support all of the following capabilities. The display can move continuously, relative to the back edge of the base, along any combination of up and down, left and right, and forward and backward directions. The display can be tilted up and down as well as sideways and also set to portrait and landscape orientations. The base can be tilted forward for typing comfort and better heat dispersion. There is also an anti-tipping mechanism. When the display is in conventional open or close positions, each arm can be folded and parked alongside, parallel to, and away from the edge of the base. The arms can be detached from the computer. The base and the display can overlay each other in four ways.
US07974083B2
A displaying apparatus includes a displaying panel having a plane and being surrounded by an external margin of the displaying panel, with the plane comprising a central region closer to a center position of the displaying panel than the external margin and a peripheral region positioned between the external margin and the central region, and a support member supporting the displaying panel by having a first portion opposing the central region and a second portion opposing the peripheral region. In addition, an adhesive member is provided between the displaying panel and the support member, with the plane being bonded to the support member by the adhesive member, and a cushion material is provided between the displaying panel and the support member. The plane of the displaying panel is bonded to the first portion by the adhesive member only at its central region, and the cushion material is provided between the peripheral region of the plane and the second portion.
US07974080B2
A computer system that has an outer shape that is round in outer cross-section. The computer housing can be formed of first and second housing parts that are each round in outer cross-section where one unscrews relative to another like taking the lid off a jar. The inside of the housing can store various kinds of nonvolatile memory and a processor. The user's entire processing environment may be stored within the memory and processor, and part of that environment may include stylesheet that represents specific styles of the user.
US07974073B2
An electric double-layer capacitor includes: a positive electrode containing a carbon material; a negative electrode containing a carbon material and a titanium oxide; and an electrolytic solution containing an ammonium salt. A weight ratio of the titanium oxide to the carbon material contained in the negative electrode is 2% by weight or more but not more than 50% by weight.
US07974070B2
An NTC capacitor comprises a capacitor body having a plurality of insulator layers laminated therein, first to third inner electrodes arranged within the capacitor body, and first to third terminal electrodes arranged on outer surfaces of the capacitor body. The first inner electrode is connected to only the first terminal electrode. The second inner electrode is connected to only the second terminal electrode. The third inner electrode is connected to only the third terminal electrode. The third inner electrode opposes none of the first and second inner electrodes in the laminating direction of the insulator layers.
US07974055B2
A protection circuit network includes one or more protection devices, used to protect one or more devices in an integrated circuit (IC) design. The protection devices are globally coupled together, for connection to an internal or external power supply. During manufacture of the IC, the protection circuit network protects the at-risk devices. During operation of the IC, the protection circuit network is powered down, such that excessive current leakage is avoided.
US07974051B2
An interface circuit is provided between a first circuit block and a second circuit block that operates using a power supply system differing from that of the first circuit block. An electrostatic discharge protection circuit that include a PN diode and a diffused resistor is formed in order to prevent electrostatic discharge destruction of a gate insulating film of a transistor that forms the interface circuit. The electrostatic discharge protection circuit may be formed using the remaining basic cells of a gate array that forms the second circuit block. An electrostatic discharge protection circuit formed of a bidirectional diode may be connected between a first low-potential power supply and a second low-potential power supply.
US07974046B2
The present invention provides a thin-film magnetic head which surely improves the writing and reading characteristic with reducing the flying height and surely handles the contact or collision with the magnetic recording medium.A thin-film magnetic head is provided, which includes, an substrate with ABS; a read or write head element provided on an element-formed surface of the substrate; at least one protrusion adjustment portion whose end reaches a slider end surface on the ABS side, which provides on an element-formed surface of the substrate; at least one heating portion provided rear at least one protrusion adjustment portion viewed from the slider end surface on the ABS side.
US07974043B2
A thermally assisted magnetic head has a slider having a medium-facing surface, and a light source unit having a light source support substrate, and a light source disposed on the light source support substrate; the slider has a slider substrate and a magnetic head portion disposed on a side surface of the slider substrate; the magnetic head portion has a magnetic recording element for generating a magnetic field, first and second waveguides, for receiving light through an end face and guiding the light to the medium-facing surface, and a near-field light generator disposed on an end face; the light source support substrate is fixed to a surface of the slider substrate so that light emitted from the light source can enter the end face of the first waveguide.
US07974042B2
The present invention relates to a thin-film device whose bump has an improved surface property. A thin-film element of the thin-film device includes at least one of an electromagnetic conversion element, a passive element and an active element. A lead conductor film containing Cu as a main component is connected to the thin-film element. The lead conductor is provided with a bump. The bump includes a first conductor film and a second conductor film. The first conductor film is adhered onto the lead conductor film and is a Ta film or made of a material having a comparably fine crystal structure. The second conductor film is a plated film which is directly or indirectly formed on the first conductor film and contains Au as a main component.
US07974024B2
A lens drive apparatus includes a base, a lens frame, a nut movable with the lens frame while being threadably engaged with a lead screw, a main guide shaft for guiding the lens frame along an optical axis, an auxiliary guide shaft for guiding the lens frame along the optical axis while inhibiting the lens frame from rotating, and a cover, arranged so as to oppose the base for mating with and securing the main guide shaft and auxiliary guide shaft. The lens frame has a lens holding part projecting out of the base and cover. The base and cover have a first positioning pin and a first positioning hole, which are provided near the main guide shaft, and a second positioning pin and a second positioning hole, which are provided at a position distanced from the main guide shaft. The foregoing can yield a lens drive apparatus having high optical performances, which can be assembled with a high precision.
US07974022B2
A lens module includes a barrel, a first lens, an annular retaining member and three driving devices. The retaining member is arranged in the barrel. The driving devices are arranged on the retaining member. Each of the driving devices has a base attached on the retaining member, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the base and a comb-shaped carrier. The carrier has a beam attached on the base and a plurality of second electrodes extending from the beam and suspended above the first electrodes at a first position. The first lens is carried by the second electrodes. When a first voltage is applied on the first electrodes and a second voltage is applied on the second electrodes, an electrostatic force is generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes, and the second electrodes are moved down, such that the first lens is brought to a second position.
US07974016B2
A fixed focus lens includes, numbered in order of location from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens. The first lens is a biconvex lens with a positive refractive power, and the second lens is a convex-concave lens with a negative refractive power. The third lens is a concave-convex lens with a positive refractive power, and the fourth lens is an aspherical lens having a negative refractive power in the centre portion thereof and a positive refractive power at the periphery portion thereof. The fixed focus lens satisfies the condition: 1.0>|(1/r2−1/r1)|>0.6, where r1 denotes the radius of curvature of a front surface of the second lens and r2 denotes the radius of curvature of a rear surface of the first lens.
US07974014B2
An optical system for taking image comprises three lens elements with refractive power, wherein a first lens element with positive refractive power includes at least one aspheric surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power, and a third lens element with negative refractive power includes at least one aspheric surface, which are mounted orderly from the object side to the image side. By such arrangements, the volume of the lens assembly can be reduced, and can obtain high resolution.
US07974010B2
The present invention relates to pigments comprising or consisting of a layer made of a material with an index of refraction that is higher than the index of refraction of the adjacent material by at least 0.25; whereas said layer has a zero-order diffractive micro-structure; whereas said layer acts as an optical waveguide and whereas said layer has a thickness between 50 nm and 500 nm; to processes for its manufacture and to its use. These pigments show a color effect upon rotation and/or tilting, and it is believed that this color effect is based on zero-order diffraction.
US07974007B2
A display device comprising: a display cell including at least two color regions, each of the at least color regions including a right-eye pixel and a left-eye pixel corresponding to a right eye and a left eye of a viewer, respectively; and a lenticular cell including at least two lenses corresponding to the at least two color regions, wherein the at least two lenses having different focal lengths.
US07974006B2
The present invention serves to provide a stereoscopic sheet structure in which a three-dimensional design appears to be changing by changing the angle of observation. The stereoscopic sheet structure has a convex lens assembly which is formed on one surface of a sheet member and in which a plurality of convex lenses are arranged; and a repeating design portion in which a plurality of design units are arranged on a focal plane of the convex lenses at arrangement intervals and/or in arrangement directions different from those of the convex lenses, and which has a continuously deformed design portion in which the arrangement intervals and arrangement directions of the design units regularly change.
US07974002B2
An optical communication system is operable to communicate a plurality of wavelength signals at a bit rate of at least 9.5 gigabits per second over a multiple span communication link spanning at least 400 kilometers without optical regenerators. The plurality of wavelength signals include a bandwidth of more than 32 nanometers separated into at least 160 optical channels. The system includes a plurality of optical transmitters implementing a forward error correction (FEC) coding technique. The FEC encoded wavelength signals comprise a bit error rate of 10−09 or better after FEC decoding. The system also includes at least five (5) optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs), each coupled to one or more spans of the multiple span communication link. The system further includes a plurality of amplifiers each coupled to one or more spans of the communication link, at least a majority of the amplifiers comprise a distributed Raman amplification stage.
US07973996B2
An optical system for a digital light projection system is provided. The optical system comprises a plurality of LED arrays, wherein each LED array comprises a plurality of LEDs. The optical system also comprises an optical concentrator element positioned substantially adjacent to each of the LED arrays, wherein each concentrator element totally internally reflects light emitted from the plurality of LEDs within the corresponding LED array so as to provide substantially uniform light at an output surface of each concentrator element, and wherein the concentrator element has a complex conic shape. The optical system preferably further comprises an optical combiner element, wherein the output surface of each concentrator element is positioned substantially adjacent to a corresponding side of the combiner element, and wherein the combiner element spatially combines the substantially uniform light provided at the output surface of each concentrator element so as to form substantially white light at an output surface of the combiner element.
US07973995B2
A nanostructured optoelectronic device is provided which comprises a nanostructured material and a host material intermingled with the nanostructured material. The host material may have a higher index of refraction than the nanostructured material. The host material's index of refraction may be chosen to maximize the effective active area of the device. In an alternative embodiment, the host material comprises scattering centers or absorption/luminescence centers which absorb light and reemit the light at a different energy or both.
US07973991B2
An oscillator device includes an oscillation system 115 having a plurality of oscillators and a plurality of torsion springs, a supporting member for supporting the oscillation system 115, driving members 114 and 1152, a signal output device 121 and 122, and a drive control unit 101-113, 123 and 124, wherein the driving member drives the oscillation system 115 so that the oscillator provides oscillation presented by an equation including the sum of a plurality of periodic functions, wherein the signal output device produces a signal corresponding to the displacement of the oscillator, and wherein the drive control unit controls the driving member based on an output signal of the signal output device and by use of a driving signal which is expressed by an equation including the sum of a plurality of periodic functions, the drive control unit including a driving signal generation circuit 109 for generating a driving signal using a trigonometric function table 110.
US07973981B2
A scanner includes a first illuminant device having a first power associated therewith, and a second illuminant device having a second power associated therewith. The first power is greater than the second power, and each of the first illuminant device and the second illuminant device is configured to selectively scan a document. The scanner is configured to select one of the first illuminant device and the second illuminant device based, at least in part on, a level of power supplied to the scanner via a power source, and perform a single scan of the document using only the selected one of the first illuminant device and the second illuminant device.
US07973974B2
A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for modifying printing based upon direct on-the-fly media characteristic parameters is disclosed. The present invention on-the-fly directly measures a media characteristic parameter and performs real-time print modification in response thereto. The measured characteristic parameters include paper texture and composition, as well as adhesion and penetration of print. The modification of print in response to these measured parameters may allow a customer to maintain observed print quality with lower-cost materials. Adjustments may include the addition of coating, hot rolling, or adjustment of toner concentration. Measured parameters may include mottle, paper texture, and bleed through.
US07973972B2
An image processing method generates a halftone image by forming a halftone dot represented by a set of one or plural output dots corresponding to an intensity of an input image signal while making a part of the dots constituting the halftone dot to be an actual non-output dot so as to reduce an amount of a coloring material of a halftone-dot portion. The image processing method includes holding in a predetermined storage medium halftone-dot profile data for forming the halftone dot corresponding to the intensity of the image signal and gap-size profile data representing a size of a set of the non-output dot; and generating the halftone dot comprising a gap having a size based on the gap-size profile data, a size of the halftone dot being based on the halftone-dot profile data.
US07973968B2
A method of automatic white balance for an image capture system is disclosed. The automatic white balance mechanism ascertains the illuminant source of an image by analyzing the number of white pixels within a predefined white area in a color space diagram. The automatic white balance mechanism also determines gain adjustments based on the evaluating the average RGB values to achieve white balance.
US07973965B2
A digital camera comprises an image sensor for sensing an image; a card reader configured to read a removable data card carrying distortion information; a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the printer including a replaceable print roll carrying both the print media and ink to be printed upon the print media; anda controller for controlling the communication of the distorted images to the printer. The print roll includes an ink reservoir section and the ink reservoir section includes a plurality of bladder type containers for storing respective types of ink. A cavity is provided in the ink reservoir section for receiving an integrated circuit device storing information associated with the print roll.
US07973964B2
A computer-readable recording medium recorded with a printing program causes a processor of a computer to calculate a rendering area of print data stored in a storing section of the computer as a primary area based on the print data, and to calculate a rendering area of commentary string data to be attached to the print data as a sub-area. The program then judges whether the primary area and the sub-area overlap, and whether the sub-area deviates from an effective printing area. The commentary string data can be changed so that the primary area and the sub-area do not overlap, and so that the entire sub-area is within the effective printing area, if at least one of the judgment results in the judging step is affirmative. The changed commentary string data then is attached to the print data.
US07973962B2
Approaches for the optimized printing of electronic documents are provided. The approaches are applicable to a wide variety of contexts and implementations and include generating an estimated processing time for an electronic document and reporting the estimated processing time back to a client device. Generating an estimated time to process includes processing at least a portion of the print data. Further, the approaches include re-ordering a processing queue based on the estimated processing time for the electronic document, and additionally based on an in-queue time for each print data in the processing queue. Further, any user-designated priority may be factored into the re-ordering of print data in the processing queue, or in the alternative, bypass the optimization process entirely. These approaches may be implemented on a printing device, a print server, a client device or any other device capable of utilizing these approaches.
US07973945B2
A printer for printing an interface is provided. The printer has a coded tag generator configured to generate coded tags based on identity data indicative of an identity associated with the interface and position data defining a relative position of each tag on the interface, and a printhead for printing the interface with the coded tags at the positions defined by the position data and having the identity data.
US07973940B2
An optical object measurement apparatus includes a light source for generating a low-coherent light beam, which is swept via an array of pinholes on a Nipkow disk that rotates about an axis. A beam splitter splits the swept light beam into a probe light beam toward an object to be measured and a reference light beam toward a reference optical path. The probe light beam from the object and the reference light that has traveled along the reference optical path are combined in the beam splitter to produce interference light. A two-dimensional image-capturing device detects the interference light and produces a video signal to provide reflection intensity information of the interior of the object. This allows an interference optical system to be readily realized and tomographic images of an object to be observed at high levels of resolution and contrast.
US07973934B2
The plasmon resonance sensor (1) comprises a chip (2) of transparent plastic with a gold layer (3) made up of narrow part surfaces (4), arranged in a row, on the inner side of which light from a planar light source (12) is convergently guided. A Fourier lens (24) integrated in the chip (2) forms the reflected angular spectrum on the detector (23), arranged at a focal separation (F) from the integrated Fourier lens (24) for temporal determination of the incident angle with a resonant intensity minimum of reflected light. An incident lens (13) brings about imaging of the planar light source (12) in the form of lines of light on the part surfaces (4), which are further imaged in the form of lines of light on the detector (23).
US07973921B2
An optical inspection system or tool can be configured to inspect objects using dynamic illumination where one or more characteristics of the illumination is/are adjusted to meet the inspection needs of different areas. For example, the illumination intensity may be increased or decreased as the tool inspects areas of memory and periphery features in a wafer die. In some embodiments, the adjustment can be based on data obtained during a pre-inspection setup sequence in which images taken based on illumination with varying characteristics are evaluated for suitability in the remainder of the inspection process.
US07973920B2
A defect inspection apparatus includes a movable stage for mounting a substrate having circuit patterns as an object of inspection, an irradiation optical system which irradiates a slit-shaped light beam from an oblique direction to the circuit patterns of the substrate, a detection optical system which includes an image sensor for receiving reflected/scattered light from the substrate by irradiation of the slit-shaped light beam and converting the received light into a signal, and an image processor which processes the signal. The irradiation optical system includes a cylindrical lens and a coherency reduction optical system, which receives the light beam and emits a plurality of slit-shaped light sub-beams which are spatially reduced in coherency in a light-converging direction of the cylindrical lens. The cylindrical lens focuses the plurality of slit-shaped light sub-beams into the slit-shaped light beam irradiated to the surface of the substrate.
US07973910B2
A stage apparatus includes: a moving stage, which moves along a movement plane; a first moving table, which holds a specimen while being able to move with respect to the moving stage; and a second moving table, which is provided on the moving stage and, when the first moving table has moved from a first position to a second position, is positioned at the first position.
US07973908B2
The invention relates to a projection system for guiding light with wavelengths ≦193 nm from an object plane to an image plane, comprising at least a first mirror, a second mirror, a third mirror, a fourth mirror, a fifth mirror and a sixth mirror centered around an optical axis and being arranged along the optical axis, with the light traveling from the object plane to the first mirror, then from the first mirror to the second mirror then from the second mirror to the third mirror, then from the third mirror, the fourth mirror, then from the fourth mirror to the fifth mirror and then from the fifth mirror to the sixth mirror. The invention is characterized in that the first mirror is arranged along the optical axis geometrically between the fifth mirror and the sixth mirror, and the third mirror is a convex mirror.
US07973895B2
An antiglare film includes an antiglare layer having a binder matrix, and particles A and particles B therein on a transparent substrate. A difference in density between the particles A and particles B is 0.2 g/cm3 or less. The quotient value (RA/H), which is obtained by division of the average diameter of the particles A (RA) by the average thickness of the antiglare layer (H), is in the 0.40-0.80 range. The quotient value (RB/RA), which is obtained by division of the average diameter of the particles B (RB) by the average diameter of the particles A (RA), is in the 0.20-0.60 range. The quotient value ((wA+wB)/wM), which is obtained by dividing the sum of the content of the particles A (wA) and that of the particles B (wB) in the antiglare layer (wA+wB) by the content of the binder matrix in the antiglare layer (wM), is in the 0.10-0.40 range. The quotient value (wB/wA), which is obtained by division of the content of the particles B (wB) by that of the particles A (wA) in the antiglare layer, is in the 0.50-1.50 range.
US07973885B2
Disclosed is a display substrate including a pixel electrode and a thin film transistor formed thereon. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, and the pixel electrode is formed by extending the drain electrode thereby reducing the required number of process steps and photo masks.
US07973878B2
An optical structure placeable between a backlight array of point light sources and a planar display. The structure distributes light emitted by the point light sources to uniformly illuminate the plane of the display, without introducing significant viewing parallax. The emitted light is partially collimated within a preferred angular viewing range, maximizing the display's luminance when viewed from the normal direction. The structure is highly reflective, such that a substantial portion of any non-emitted light rays are internally reflected by the structure, increasing the likelihood that those rays will be subsequently emitted by the structure.
US07973869B2
A liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substrates facing and spaced apart from each other; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing each other to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, the thin film transistor including a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode; a first shielding layer covering a space between the source and drain electrodes; a color filter layer on the first shielding layer; a pixel electrode on the color filer layer; a black matrix on the second substrate, the black matrix corresponding to the gate line and the data line; a common electrode on the black matrix; a patterned spacer on the common electrode, the patterned spacer corresponding to the black matrix; and a liquid crystal layer between the pixel electrode and the common electrode.
US07973854B2
An image pickup apparatus which permits reduction of the thickness of a mechanism for holding an optical filter component and prevents failure of the optical filter component. A CCD is configured to convert an object image having passed through the photographic lens into an electric signal. A CCD plate holds the CCD. A CCD rubber is disposed on the object-side surface of the CCD, and an optical LPF is disposed on the object-side surface of the CCD rubber. An LPF cover is opposed to the CCD rubber in a manner sandwiching the optical LPF between the CCD rubber and the LPF cover itself. The LPF cover is supported by the CCD plate such that the CCD, the CCD plate, the CCD rubber, the optical LPF, and the LPF cover are combined into a unitary assembly.
US07973853B2
An image pickup device provided with an automatic exposure function includes an image pickup unit configured to input image data corresponding to a subject, a face detection unit configured to detect a human face from the image data input from the image pickup unit, a photometric unit configured to measure optical intensity, designating the human face detected by the face detection unit as a photometric area, and an exposure control unit configured to calculate the exposure based on the photometric result of the human face by the photometric unit, and to perform exposure control based on the calculated exposure.
US07973851B2
An auto-focus system comprising an AF area indicating device for indicating a range of an AF area in the shooting screen, an AF area changing device for changing a range of an AF area to be set in the focus controlling device to a range of an AF area indicated by the AF area indicating device, and a switching device for switching a change of a range of an AF area by the AF area changing device between possible and impossible, wherein the change at least relates to the location of an AF area, and wherein the switching device switches a change of a range of an AF area to impossible when the view finder controlling device has no function of displaying the AF area information on the view finder.
US07973842B2
The invention provides a new method and apparatus for NTSC and PAL image sensors which employs fusion of adjacent row pixel charge samples to generate image data for a row. A variety of fusion schemes are possible for fusing the pixel signals from the adjacent rows. The rows of pixels are scanned so that each scan takes an odd row signal sample and, in some cases, an adjacent even row signal sample when specified conditions are met. One sampled row of the two adjacent rows integrate an image with a first integration period while the other adjacent row integrates an image with a second integration period.
US07973840B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the matrix defining columns of the pixels, and each of the pixels outputting an analog signal by performing photoelectric conversion; an analog-digital converter provided for each of columns which sequentially converts a plurality of analog signals outputted from the pixels in a column into a plurality of digital signals; a memory circuit provided for each column which includes memories and performs, in parallel, a process of storing a one of the digital signals in one of the memories and a process of outputting another of the digital signals previously stored in another of the memories; and data buses connected to the memory in each column.
US07973830B2
In a digital camera (10), an imaging sensitivity setting circuit (61) selects a pair of distance range selection parameters “A” and “B” according to a zoom position of a zoom lens (41), to compare an in-focus position of a focusing lens (43) with these parameters “A” and “B”, wherein the parameters “A” and “B” correspond to a farther distance and a nearer distance respectively. If the in-focus position is farther than the parameter “A”, the imaging sensitivity is set to a high level. If the in-focus position is in between these parameters “A” and “B”, the imaging sensitivity is set to a middle level. If the in-focus position is nearer than the parameter “B”, the imaging sensitivity is set to a low level. Based on the set imaging sensitivity level and a measured subject brightness value, a system controller (41) controls the exposure value and the flashlight volume.
US07973826B2
There is provided a program creation apparatus with improved operability in checking an operation of a created control program, including: a program generating section for acquiring a camera image from a camera based upon an image pick-up trigger signal, to extract a measurement result from the acquired camera image as a control program for the image processing controller; a simulation part for executing the control program; and a communication section for transferring the control program to the image processing controller, wherein the simulation part includes an offline simulation section for extracting a measurement result from a camera image previously held as a registration image, and an online simulation section for acquiring a camera image from the camera through the image processing controller when executing the control program, to extract the measurement result from the acquired camera image.
US07973819B2
An apparatus for determining the present position of a vehicle, by utilizing a visible-light communication system. The apparatus uses a visible-light communication beacon and video data representing an image photographed by one camera. The beacon emits a visible optical signal, thus transmitting position data. The visible-light communication beacon comprises a road-illuminating lamp and a visible-light communication apparatus, both secured to a lamp post. The vehicle has the camera and a vehicle position determination apparatus. The vehicle position determination apparatus demodulates the visible optical signal, there restoring the position data, and calculates the present position of the vehicle from the position data.
US07973817B2
A pixel clock and pulse-modulation-signal generating device includes a high-frequency-clock generating unit that generates a high-frequency clock; a modulation-data generating unit that generates, based on pixel control data that specifies a pixel length and image data, phase data that indicates a transition timing of a pixel clock and modulation data that indicates a desired bit pattern that corresponds to the image data; a pixel-clock generating unit that generates a pixel clock based on the high-frequency clock, the phase data, and a horizontal synchronization signal; and a serial-modulation-signal generating unit that inputs the modulation data, and outputs a pulse modulation signal in a serial pulse string based on the high-frequency clock.
US07973812B2
Movement of platen rollers are started at a predetermined timing considering the distance from a paper sensor to thermal heads, and a paper feeding speed, so that the movement of the platen rollers is completed at the time when the thermal paper reaches the thermal heads.
US07973810B2
An object of the invention is to provide a display device that allows its useful life to be prolonged without letting the user of the device conscious of changes in the display state of the display device, and the power consumption to be prevented from increasing, and the usable time without charging to be prevented from being shortened even when a light emitting display device is used. The display device is driven by a power source chargeable by connection with an external power source and includes a display portion (4), a display control portion (31) that switches between an inverted display state and a non-inverted display state of said display portion (4), and a power source detection portion (5) that detects a connection with said external power source. The display control portion switches between the inverted display state and non-inverted display state of said display portion (4) when said power source detection portion (5) detects a connection with said external power source.
US07973809B2
A driving circuit of an electro-optical device wherein one field is divided into p (p is an integer that is equal to or more than two) groups and each group is divided into two sub-fields. The p groups each are set to have the length of a time period that is equal to one another. The 2p sub-fields that constitute the one field are set to different lengths of time periods in such a manner that a boundary between two sub-fields of each group is shifted by a predetermined interval compared to the boundary between the two sub-fields of the preceding group. The different gray scale values are expressed by turning on a single sub-field or n (n is an integral number that is equal to two or more and that is equal to or less than 2p) sub-fields that are adjacent to each other.
US07973798B2
A “texture generator” uses an inverse texture synthesis solution that runs in the opposite direction to traditional forward synthesis techniques to construct 2D texture compactions for use by a graphics processing unit (GPU) of a computer system. These small 2D texture compactions generally summarize an original globally variant texture or image, and are used to reconstruct the original texture or image, or to re-synthesize new textures or images under user-supplied constraints. In various embodiments, the texture generator uses the texture compaction to provide real-time synthesis of globally variant textures on a GPU, where texture memory is generally too small for large textures. Further, the texture generator provides an optimization framework for inverse texture synthesis which ensures that each input region is properly encoded in the output compaction. In addition, the texture generator also computes orientation fields for anisotropic textures containing both low- and high-frequency regions.
US07973794B2
A method and system are disclosed for rendering animated graphics on a browser client based upon a stream of runtime data from a manufacturing/process control system. The graphics animation is based upon an animated graphic display object specification and runtime data from a portal server affecting an appearance trait of the animated graphic display object. The client browser receives an animated graphics description from the portal server specifying an animation behavior for an identified graphical display object. The client creates a data exchange connection between an animated display object, corresponding to the animated graphics description, and a source of runtime data from the portal server affecting display of the animated display object. Thereafter, the client applies runtime data received from the source of runtime data to the animated display object to render an animated graphic display object.
US07973786B2
A first viewer (310) is activated to define and render a visualization of a first interactive virtual reality experience to a user. At least one first application (320, 330, 340) is selected for use with the first interactive virtual reality experience and at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) associated with the at least one first application is responsively activated. State information is responsively stored in the viewer concerning the objects in the virtual reality experience, the selected at least one first application (320, 330, 340) and the at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) in a memory. The first viewer (310), the at least one first application (320, 330, 340), and the at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) are then deactivated and a second viewer (350) associated with a second interactive virtual reality experience is activated.
US07973784B2
A drive circuit of an electro-optical device includes: plural rows of scanning lines; plural columns of data lines; a plurality of common electrodes; pixel switching elements, pixel capacitors; and pixels. Here, the drive circuit includes a scanning line drive circuit; and first transistors corresponding to the plurality of common electrodes. Each of the first transistors includes: a common electrode drive circuit for connecting the common electrode to a power supply line, to which a predetermined voltage is applied, when the scanning line is selected, a common signal output circuit having a voltage for allowing a detection voltage of the common electrode corresponding to a scanning line to become a reference voltage when the scanning line is selected, and a data line drive circuit having a voltage according to the gray scale level of the pixel to the pixel corresponding to the selected scanning line via the data line.
US07973782B2
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: an available pixel section having a plurality of available pixel circuits; a plurality of scan lines; a plurality of capacitor lines; a plurality of signal lines; a driving circuit; and a monitor circuit wherein each of the available pixel circuits laid out on the available pixel section includes a display element having first and second pixel electrodes and a storage capacitor having first and second electrodes, in each of the available pixel circuits, the first pixel electrode and the first electrode are connected to one terminal of a switching device, in each of the available pixel circuits provided on any individual one of the rows, the second electrode is connected to the capacitor line provided for the individual row, and the common voltage signal with the level changing at time intervals determined in advance is supplied to the second pixel electrode of each of the display elements.
US07973781B2
There is provided an image display device with a two-modulation optical system for displaying an image corresponding to input image signals. The image display device includes a first optical modulation element for turning on or off pixels every subfield in the unit of plane; and second optical modulation elements for displaying gradation of the pixels in the unit of line, the first optical modulation element and the second optical modulation element are arranged optically in series; a second optical modulation element drive unit for driving the second optical modulation elements in a line-sequential manner; and a first optical modulation element drive unit for generating a control signal for controlling the pixels in lines disposed to correspond to the unit of single or several lines of the line-sequential driving of the second modulation elements with a driving interval in the unit of single or several lines and controlling the first optical modulation element in synchronism with the unit of single or several lines.
US07973777B2
A display apparatus may include touch detection circuitry including a light sensing circuit and a physical parameter sensing circuit (e.g., a pressure sensing circuit). The display apparatus may further include processing circuitry implementing a power-saving mode and a normal mode, and configured to generate touch information. An display driver may include a photo sensing circuit and a pressure sensing circuit. An embodiment of the display driver may include: an amplifying unit amplifying a photo sensing signal and a pressure sensing signal; a parallel-to-serial converting unit converting the amplified photo sensing signal and the amplified pressure sensing signal into serial sensing signals; and an analog-to-digital converter converting the serial sensing signals into digital sensing signals, wherein the amplifying unit, the parallel-to-serial converting unit, and the analog-to-digital converter operate in one of a normal mode and a power saving mode according to the pressure sensing signal.
US07973775B2
A system for enabling user interaction with computer software which includes a printer for receiving print data, printing a form, using the print data, by printing information related to at least one text field coincident with coded data indicative of the text field, receiving indicating data from a sensing device and transferring the indicating data to a computer system to allow the interaction to be interpreted. The sensing device when moved relative to the text field senses the coded data and generates the indicating data using the sensed coded data to be indicative of the relative movement of the sensing device. The computer system determines a handwritten signature using the movement, determines a predetermined signature using a user identity, and verifies the user by comparing the signatures.
US07973768B2
An optical navigation device for operation in a surface navigation mode and a free space navigation mode. The optical navigation device includes a microcontroller, a first navigation sensor, and a second navigation sensor. The first navigation sensor is coupled to the microcontroller, and the second navigation sensor is coupled to the first navigation sensor. The microcontroller processes a movement of the optical navigation device. The first navigation sensor generates a first navigation signal in a first navigation mode. The second navigation sensor generates a second navigation signal in a second navigation mode and sends the second navigation signal to the first navigation sensor. By implementing a navigation sensor to process signals from multiple navigation sensors, the cost and size of the optical navigation device can be controlled, and a small packaging design can be used.
US07973764B2
The present invention is directed to a method for switching a data entry mode, when editing data displayed on a limited input device. The method comprises evaluating a first input point, in relation to a second input point, positioned in an input window of the limited input device, wherein the first point is associated with a first data entry mode and the second input point is associated with a second data entry mode.
US07973758B2
An apparatus and method for display backlight control are disclosed. The method includes: finding statistics characteristics of pixels in a frame; using statistics characteristics to refer to a table for outputting representative gamma value; using a user setting value and representative gamma value for calculating a backlight setting range; starting from the user setting value, using a backlight adjusting value obtained from subtracting or adding a predetermined value from current backlight setting value to control a backlight module in each predetermined time period; using boundary value of the current backlight setting range as backlight adjusting value when the backlight adjusting value is beyond the backlight setting range; using current backlight adjusting value and user setting value to refer to an image compensation table for finding an image compensation value; performing compensation operations on input image data according to the backlight adjusting value and the user setting value of backlight luminance.
US07973753B2
An image display device corrects image data, which are used for displaying an image, using a gray scale value assigned to each pixel and also controls the amount of source light emitted from a light source. The image display device includes a source light amount control device and an image correction device. The source light amount control device determines the amount of source light and then controls the amount of source light. The image correction device corrects a signal used for changing saturations of the image data so as to reduce a change in the saturations due to a change in the amount of source light, the change in the amount of source light being performed by the light source amount control device.
US07973752B2
The present invention is so arranged as to include (a) gradation reference potential generating means including a group of output terminals whose voltages are determined in accordance with a voltage division ratio of one ladder resistor, so as to output gradation reference potentials, for example, of 1024, which is a 16 multiple of a required 64-gradations; (b) output terminal designating means including a memory for designating, among from the output terminals, an output terminal for each of the 64-gradations required, in accordance with the display modes; and (c) selecting means for selecting an output terminal that corresponds to an input gradation signal, among from the output terminals designated by the output terminal designating section, and for applying a voltage via the thus selected output terminal to a display screen. With this arrangement, it is possible to attain very similar gradient signal-brightness characteristics for respective display modes with high accuracy, in order to prevent a gradient display from being changed due to switchover of the display modes.
US07973739B2
An electronic book includes a housing defining a card slot on a first face thereof, the housing including first and second housing portions; a spine member pivotally coupling the first and second housing portions, the spine defining a cavity therein; a screen display mounted on the housing on a second face thereof opposite the first face; microprocessor circuitry positioned in the housing, in between the card slot and the screen display, the microprocessor circuitry controlling an operation of the electronic book; and a card scanner mounted in the housing between the microprocessor circuitry and the card slot, and facing away from the screen display, the card scanner configured to scan a card inserted into the card slot and to convert a two-dimensional pattern on the card into data signals, the card scanner being connected to the microprocessor circuitry. The microprocessor circuitry is configured to convert the data signals into image data to be viewed on the screen display.
US07973731B2
The conical monopole antenna includes a conical antenna element having an apex and a base, a conductive base member coupled across the base of the conical antenna element and a ground plane antenna element, e.g. a disc antenna element, adjacent the apex of the conical antenna element. A fold conductor is coupled between the conductive base member and the ground plane antenna element. The fold conductor may include at least one impedance element, such as a resistive element or inductive element. An antenna feed structure is coupled to the ground plane and conical antenna elements. The antenna may have reduced gain above a cutoff frequency being traded for low VSWR below the cutoff frequency to get increased usable bandwidth. The folded resistive termination is preferential to driving point attenuation and edge loading, and the conical monopole antenna provides low VSWR at most radio frequencies.
US07973719B2
A semiconductor package includes an insulating substrate configured to be provided for mounting a semiconductor chip which processes a signal with a frequency in a radio frequency band. The insulating substrate includes a first external connecting electrode, a second external connecting electrode, and a partial antenna wiring. The first external connecting electrode and the second external connecting electrode are connected with the partial antenna wiring. Each of the first external connecting electrode and the second external connecting electrode is an electrode to be connected with an external antenna pattern.
US07973717B2
A system and method for an antenna which is constructed into or conforming onto the roof or wall of a cargo container is provided. The antenna system may have multiple antennas for short range wireless, cellular, global positioning, or satellite built into a single functional element. The antenna system may utilize a patch or phased array design. The method of construction of the antenna system may as part of the container fabricated or installed at the factory, applied as an adhesive film kit, or applied as a successive spray coating and etching process.
US07973696B2
Methods and apparatus for providing a tunable absorption-emission band in a wavelength selective device are disclosed. A device for selectively absorbing incident electromagnetic radiation includes an electrically conductive surface layer including an arrangement of multiple surface elements. The surface layer is disposed at a nonzero height above a continuous electrically conductive layer. An electrically isolating intermediate layer defines a first surface that is in communication with the electrically conductive surface layer. The continuous electrically conductive backing layer is provided in communication with a second surface of the electrically isolating intermediate layer. When combined with an infrared source, the wavelength selective device emits infrared radiation in at least one narrow band determined by a resonance of the device. In some embodiments, the device includes a control feature that allows the resonance to be selectively modified. The device has broad applications including gas detection devices and infrared imaging.
US07973686B2
An integrated circuit device includes a plurality of data line driver circuits, a first correction D/A conversion circuit, and a plurality of D/A conversion circuits. Each of the data line driver circuits includes an operational amplifier, an input capacitor, and a first correction capacitor. Each of the D/A conversion circuits outputs an output signal to the input capacitor. The first correction D/A conversion circuit outputs a correction output voltage to the first correction capacitors to correct data signals output from the data line driver circuits.
US07973680B2
A system and computer readable storage medium for creating an in-memory physical dictionary for data compression are provided. A new heuristic is defined for converting each of a plurality of logical nodes into a corresponding physical node forming a plurality of physical nodes. Each of the physical nodes are placed into the physical dictionary while traversing the dictionary tree in descending visit count order. Each physical node is placed in its nearest ascendant's cache-line with sufficient space. If there is no space in any of the ascendant's cache-line, then the physical node is placed into a new cache-line, unless a pre-defined packing threshold has been reached, in which case the physical node is placed in the first available cache-line.
US07973674B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a vehicle-to-vehicle traffic queue information communication system, a traffic queue information communication device, and method. The system and method embodiments incorporate the use of multiple vehicles. Each vehicle is equipped with a traffic queue information communication device. Each traffic queue information communication device can be used to determine if its corresponding vehicle has entered or exited a queue in a single lane of traffic. When the vehicle is in a queue, the device can communicate with the immediately adjacent vehicles in front and behind. Specifically, it can receive data from the preceding vehicle in the queue and use the received data to determine its position in the queue as well as the estimated time it will take to travel through the queue. Revised data can then be transmitted by the device to the next vehicle in the queue for making the same determinations.
US07973671B2
A wireless breakage indicator for a shear pin having an axial bore. The indicator (10) comprises a stem (20) having a head (22) and a foot (24) at opposite ends thereof; a sleeve (32) around a portion of the stem between a first (28) and second (30) axial positions, the stem (20) and sleeve (32) adapted to be broken by the shear pin (12) in the event of its breakage; a spring (26) compressed between the head (22) of the stem (20) and a first end (34) of the sleeve (32); the foot (24) of the stem (20) being retained to the second end (36) of the sleeve (32). The breakage of the stem (20) frees the head (22) to be displaced by the spring (26) and indicate breakage of the shear pin (12). The indication can be direct, by visual inspection of the displaced head, or indirect by the displacement of the head activating a transmitter.
US07973654B2
A system and method for detecting impending failure of a component of a disc cutterhead of a cutterbar of a plant cutting machine, the components will generate at least one indicator of an impending failure thereof, utilizing a plurality of sensors distributed among the cutterheads, each of the sensors being configured and operable for sensing at least one of the indicators of impending failure and outputting signals representative thereof to a controller automatically operable for processing the signals, to enable identifying an individual location or one of the cutterheads in which an impending failure of one or more of the components is present, and outputting a signal representative thereof to a warning device. The indicators can include, but are not limited to, temperature, sound, and vibration. The controller is also operable for determining comparative threshold values for the indicators, to adapt to changing conditions and norms.
US07973652B1
A personal safety system is designed for a user of a vehicle. The system includes body-protective gear adapted for wear by the user of the vehicle. A sensor determines a positive or negative functional state of the body-protective gear. In the positive functional state, the body-protective gear is presumed to be properly applied to a body part of the user; and in the negative functional state, the body-protective gear is presumed to be improperly applied to the body part of the user. A transceiver is operatively connected to the sensor, and communicates the functional state of the body-protective gear to the vehicle. When the body-protective gear is in the negative functional state, operation of the vehicle is restricted.
US07973648B2
When a television receiver is connected to a DVD player via an HDMI cable, HDMI authentication is carried out. EDID data is then acquired from the television receiver and a manufacturer name is determined. When the manufacturer name is determined to be, for example, “company A”, a table indicating a correspondence relationship of manufacturer names and remote control codes is referred to and remote control codes corresponding to the determined company A are selected. The selected remote control codes are then transmitted after selection of remote control codes of the company A is carried out. Remote control codes corresponding to the manufacturer name of the company A received from the DVD player are then stored in a memory in a manner corresponding to operation key numbers allocated in advance to a plurality of operation keys at a remote control unit.
US07973642B2
A system and method for managing food production, inventory and delivery in a restaurant by automatically monitoring the types and quantities of food types that have been cooked and are in a cooked food holding area. Food holding trays are equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and holding cabinets are equipped with RFID interrogators. The type and quantity of food items are determined manually or by machine vision or weighing systems, and the data is stored on the RFID tags and in a controller. The system manages the use of food items on a first-in, first-out basis, alerts operators when the inventory of an item is nearing exhaustion, and alerts operators when food items in the holding area must be discarded. The system manages movable trays of food no matter where in the facility they are located.
US07973641B1
An radio frequency identification (RFID) tag parking system to control a gate to allow a patron in a vehicle to enter and exit a parking facility without stopping, the system comprising: a first antenna for reading an RFID tag in a first area contained within a lane 215 associated with an entrance or an exit of the facility; a second antenna for reading the RFID tag in a second area, separate from the first area, contained within the lane 215 associated with the entrance or exit; an RFID reader 250 connected to the first and second antennae to read an identification (ID) associated with the RFID tag when the RFID tag passes through one of the first and second areas; and a processing device to determine that the read ID is valid and may access the facility and to control the gate to open. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second antennae are sequentially activated as a vehicle enters the first area and the second area, respectively. The system also may include a registration unit 120, a payment unit, a driver information unit, and a reservation unit.
US07973640B2
An output management system includes a terminal device and an output device, wherein the output management system includes an area management device for managing an access of the user to an area in which the output device is located and a shutoff device for shutting off the access of the user to the area. The area management device has a storing unit for storing registered authentication data, an inputting unit for inputting input authenticated data, a checking unit for checking the input authenticated data and the registered authentication data, and a shutoff releasing unit for releasing the shutoff by the shutoff device when the input authenticated data and the registered authentication data conform to each other.
US07973631B2
A method for manufacturing an inductive component which is formed from a plurality of layers, wherein the method comprises the steps of a) arrangement of an electrically conductive material as a winding of the component on a first non-magnetic, dielectric ceramic layer; b) formation of at least one cutout which passes all the way through in the non-magnetic, dielectric ceramic layer; c) arrangement of a first magnetic ceramic layer on an upper face and a second magnetic ceramic layer on a lower face of the non-magnetic, dielectric ceramic layer; and d) carrying out a process step in which at least one of the magnetic ceramic layers is plastically deformed such that contact is made with the two magnetic ceramic layers in the area of the cutout, and the two magnetic ceramic layers form a magnetic core of the component.
US07973630B2
A thin film magnetic device is provided, in which magnetic permeability in a high frequency range can be easily improved. Scratch-like grooves extending along an extending direction of a coil (for example, a Y-axis direction being an extending direction of a second coil part) are formed at least one side of a surface and a back of each of a lower magnetic film and an upper magnetic film. A magnetization direction of anisotropic magnetization is controlled in each of formation areas of the scratch-like grooves (formation areas of lower magnetic films and upper magnetic films), and therefore displacement (rotation) of the magnetization direction of the anisotropic magnetization is pinned by the scratch-like grooves. Consequently, certain magnetic permeability is kept even in a high frequency range. Moreover, such formation of the scratch-like grooves may not cause complexity in manufacturing process.
US07973621B2
A HOM attenuated high frequency resonator provided with a cylindrical resonator cavity on the outer surface of which are arranged three circular tapered waveguides with two symmetrically arranged ridges each, the cut-off frequency of the waveguide base mode being kept constant over the length of the waveguides by varying the height of the ridges, and the ridge waveguides being provided at their end of the smaller diameter with an impedance transformer each for the broadband adjustment of the coaxial line is to be cost-efficiently manufacturable as a compact structure and is to be of improved attenuation properties while at the same time having, relative to prior art arrangements, a high shunt impedance for the fundamental modes.
US07973620B2
A power amplifier filter for radio-frequency signals having an outphasing type architecture comprising a first stage (2) capable of generating, from an input signal s(t), two signals s1(t), s2(t) having an identical amplitude but phase shifted relative to each other, a second amplifier stage (3) for said signals s1(t), s2(t), and a third recombining stage (4) capable of summing the two signals s′1(t), s′2(t) obtained from second stage (3), characterized in that recombining stage (4) includes an assembly of acoustic wave resonators coupled to each other, some of these resonators referred to as “input resonators” being connected to the outputs of second stage (4) and others of these resonators referred to as “output resonators” being connected to the output terminals of the filter.
US07973606B2
The present relates to a fractional-N frequency synthesizer improving noise characteristics and a method thereof. The fractional-N frequency synthesizer includes a reference oscillator that generates a reference frequency signal; a sigma-delta modulator that generates a desired decimal value based on the reference frequency signal; a divider that divides a voltage controlled oscillation frequency signal; first to M phase/frequency detectors that detect a difference in phase and frequency between the reference frequency signal and the divided voltage controlled oscillation frequency signal; first to M charge pumps that are connected to each of the phase/frequency detectors in series and charges or pumps charge amount according to output signals from each of the phase/frequency detectors; a loop filter that controls the amount of supplied current based on output signals from the charge pumps to filter low-pass frequency components; and a voltage controlled oscillator that is oscillated in response to the output signal from the loop filter and generates voltage controlled oscillation frequency signals.
US07973604B2
The present invention relates to a tunable filter device for providing a tunable band pass characteristics for the receive path of a multi-band front-end module. According to the invention is proposed, a distributed, wide-band amplifier with a low-frequency cut-off and a high-frequency cut-off in combination with a LCR network, of which wide-band amplifier the DC blocking capacitors define the low-frequency cut-off of the filter device, whilst the high-frequency cut-off is determined by the cut-off frequency of the artificial input and output transmission lines of the LCR network. In one embodiment, additional capacitors are coupled in parallel to the DC blocking capacitors of the LCR network, switchable by MOS transistors as switching elements. Accordingly, in a certain embodiment it is proposed to allow tuning of the low- and the high-frequency cut-off by programming with a digital control command.
US07973603B2
A low-noise amplifier includes a first resistor that receives a first signal of a differential input signal, and a second resistor that receives a second signal of the differential input signal. The amplifier includes a first transconductance device coupled to the first resistor that provides a first signal of a differential output signal, and a second transconductance device coupled to the second resistor, that provides a second signal of the differential output signal. The receiver also includes a first capacitor coupled between the first resistor input and a control electrode on the second transconductance device, and a second capacitor coupled between the second resistor input and a control electrode on the first transconductance device. The low-noise amplifier can include additional gain stages.
US07973598B2
An audio power amplifier includes a pre-amplifier, an error amplifier, a comparator, a bridge circuit, and a feedback circuit, in which the gain of the pre-amplifier gradually increases when the audio power amplifier is powered on. The comparator generates a PWM signal by comparing a reference signal and an amplified audio signal. The bridge circuit has switches controlled according to the PWM signal such that a driving current alternately flows to and from a load. The feedback circuit generates the feedback signal indicating a condition of the load.
US07973588B2
An analog insulation multiplexer not causing magnetic saturation even if a small transformer is used and having a wide use temperature range. The analog insulation multiplexer includes: a first switching element for generating a drive control signal in accordance with an external signal; a drive insulation transformer for receiving the drive control signal on a primary side via a first resistor and for delivering an insulated drive control signal from a secondary side; a second switching element for chopping an analog signal input in accordance with the insulated drive control signal; and an analog signal insulation transformer for delivering an insulated chopped analog signal on a secondary side. The analog insulation multiplexer further includes a secondary side output adjusting circuit having a second resistor connected, on the primary side of the drive insulation transformer, in parallel to the first resistor and a capacitor having one end connected to a ground and another end connected in series to the second resistor.
US07973587B2
A mixer having high linearity and an associated transconductor combining programmable gain amplifier and mixer functions are provided. The transconductor includes first and second resistors, a differential amplifier, first and second feedback circuits, and first and second transistors. A differential voltage signal is inputted to first and second input ends of the differential amplifier via the first and second resistors. The first and second feedback circuits are provided between a first output end and the first input end, and a second output end and the second input end of the differential amplifier, respectively. The first output end outputs a first output signal for controlling a first current passing through the first transistor. The second output end outputs a second output signal for controlling a second current passing through the second transistor. The first current and the second current determine a differential current.
US07973585B2
A driver circuit including a pre-driver B1 that operates by receiving operating power from a first power supply VDDI, and a main-driver B2 that receives operating power from a second power supply VDDE, amplifies an output signal from the pre-driver B1, and outputs the amplified signal. It also includes a first switch B4 between the first power supply VDDI and the pre-driver B1. It also includes a second switch B5 between the second power supply VDDE and the main-driver B2. A overvoltage protection sequence circuit B3 controls the On/Off states of the first switch B4 and the second switch B5 to controls the On/Off order of the pre-driver B1 and the main-driver B2. By doing so, the overvoltage protection sequence circuit B3 prevent an overvoltage from being applied to the driver circuit, especially to the main-driver B2.
US07973580B2
A semiconductor device includes: a voltage-control-type clock generation circuit having a plurality of stages of first delay elements and whose oscillation frequency is controlled according to a control voltage applied to the first delay elements; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages of second delay elements connected serially; and a selection circuit selecting one from pulse signals output by the plurality of stages of respective second delay elements. The first delay elements and the second delay elements have a same structure formed on a same semiconductor substrate, and a delay amount of the second delay elements is adjusted according to the control voltage.
US07973576B2
A voltage controlled oscillator comprising first and second differential delay cells. The first differential delay cell has a first control voltage input terminal. The second differential delay cell is coupled to the first differential delay cell in a loop and has a second control voltage input terminal. The second voltage input terminal is disconnected from the first voltage control input terminal. The first voltage control input terminal receives a first voltage signal, and the second voltage control input terminal receives a second voltage signal different from the first voltage signal.
US07973566B2
A logic gate implements logical expressions. A least one logic gate input receives at least one input logic gate signal and at least one control signal. At least one output for produces a logic gate output signal. A nonlinear updater operates as a dynamically configurable element to produce a plurality of different logic gates as selected by the control signal. The nonlinear updater includes a nonlinear updater output. The nonlinear updater is configured to apply a nonlinear function to the input logic gate signal to produce the nonlinear updater output signal representing a logical expression being implemented by one of the plurality of different logic gates on the input logic gate signal. A comparator includes a comparator input that is adapted to receive a reference threshold value for producing the logical gate output signal based on a comparison of the nonlinear output signal to the reference threshold value.
US07973554B2
A method of configuring application-specific functional blocks embedded in a user programmable fabric, the user programmable fabric comprising configuration data control means having an input and an output and the application-specific functional blocks comprising configuration memory means having an input and an output. The method comprises the steps of sending configuration data to configure the application-specific functional block to the configuration control means of the user programmable fabric, routing the output of the configuration data control means of the user programmable fabric to the input of the configuration memory means of the application-specific functional blocks, transferring the configuration data to the configuration memory means of the application-specific functional blocks and configuring, using the configuration data, the application-specific functional blocks.
US07973553B1
A circuit includes first transistors and a comparator. The comparator compares a reference signal and a signal that is based on conductive states of the first transistors. A control circuit generates first control signals based on an output signal of the comparator. The conductive states of the first transistors are determined based on the first control signals. An arithmetic circuit performs an arithmetic function based on the first control signals and second control signals to generate calibration signals. Second transistors provide a termination impedance at an external terminal of the circuit that is based on the calibration signals.
US07973539B1
A method is disclosed for calibrating a capacitance of an apparatus for measuring dielectric properties of a part. The apparatus includes an electrically grounded chamber, a lower electrode disposed within the chamber and connected to a radiofrequency (RF) transmission rod, an electrically grounded upper electrode disposed within the chamber above the lower electrode, and a variable capacitor connected to control transmission of RF power through the RF transmission rod to the lower electrode. A method is also disclosed for determining a capacitance of a part through use of the apparatus. A method is also disclosed for determining a dielectric constant of a part through use of the apparatus. A method is also disclosed for determining a loss tangent of a part through use of the apparatus.
US07973534B2
A protection device for an assembled battery includes a sampling unit which individually samples voltages of batteries of the assembled battery to generate sampled voltages, a holding unit which holds the sampled voltages to generate a plurality of holding voltages, a multiplexer which sequentially reads the holding voltages and outputs each voltage to a common output node, a measuring unit configured to measure the individual voltages and the state of charges of the batteries based on a voltage of the node in a measuring period within a constant measuring cycle, and a control unit configured to turn on/off the sample switches at the same time within the measuring period and repeatedly turn on/off at least one sample switch selected from the plurality of sample switches in accordance with the state of charge in a term other than the measuring period.
US07973528B2
A sensor device for detecting a relative movement including a transmitter unit configured to generate a field. The transmitter unit includes first transmitter elements and second transmitter elements, wherein the first transmitter elements and the second transmitter elements, configured to generate a spatially varying field, are arranged alternately one behind another along a line at predetermined positions, and at a reference position, which corresponds to at least one of the predetermined positions of a first or second transmitter element along the line, at least one value of the field is altered by a positive factor with respect to a corresponding other position of a first or second transmitter element. Furthermore, a pick-up unit is configured to generate an alternating output signal depending on the field generated by the first and second transmitter elements, wherein the transmitter unit and the pick-up unit can be moved relative to one another.
US07973526B2
A reference voltage generator for improving setup voltage characteristics without an increase in a standby current and a method of controlling the same, in which the reference voltage generator includes: a reference voltage generation unit including a resistor connected between a power supply voltage and an output node, for dividing the power voltage, and generating a reference voltage fed to the output node thereof; a voltage detector receiving a feedback of the reference voltage and detecting a level of the reference voltage; and a bypass circuit connected in parallel to the resistor of the reference voltage generation unit and bypassing the resistor in response to an output signal of the voltage detector.
US07973524B1
A regulated power supply includes an inverter comprising an upper switch and a lower switch that are connected in series. A control module selectively controls the upper switch and the lower switch in one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode and a discrete control mode (DCM), receives a feedback signal from an output of the regulated power supply, and switches between the PWM mode and the DCM based on the feedback signal.
US07973511B2
A method is provided for distinguishing between batteries having different chemistry compositions. The method includes: supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; monitoring a voltage characteristic of the battery periodically during charging, wherein the voltage characteristic varies over time with the state of charge of the battery; and identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the voltage characteristic of the battery.
US07973503B2
A system has a sensor assembly mounted adjacent to a moving magnetic member such as a motor rotor to sense its position. The sensor assembly includes Hall-effect sensors each having a binary output, configured such that distinct positions of the moving magnetic member correspond to distinct digital patterns of the outputs of the Hall-effect sensors. Encoding circuitry is coupled to the outputs of the Hall-effect sensors to generate a multi-valued analog output, distinct values of the multi-valued analog output representing corresponding distinct digital patterns of the outputs of the Hall-effect sensors. The encoding circuitry may employ a ladder network with weighted-value resistors contributing different components of an analog current sensed by the controller. The sensed current can be converted to digital position information using suitable analog-to-digital conversion circuitry. The multi-valued analog output can be conveyed on a single wire in contrast to the prior art which requires one wire per Hall-effect sensor.
US07973501B2
A fan system includes a control device and a fan device. The control device has a first node, a rotation speed signal generation circuit and a rotation speed reading circuit. The fan device has a second node, a signal transforming circuit, a motor driving circuit, a motor and a fan. The first node is electrically connected with the second node to set up a transmission route between the control device and the fan device. The rotation speed control signal and the motor rotation speed signal are transmitted via the two-way transmission route, and the control device controls the fan device via a wired or wireless transmission route. A motor control device is also disclosed.
US07973500B2
A normal revolution number calculation unit calculates a normal revolution number of a driving motor generator in every control period, based on a signal from a rotational position sensor. A moving average calculation unit calculates a moving average revolution number of the normal revolution number given in every control period. A predicted revolution number calculation unit determines whether or not the revolution number of the motor generator is in an increasing state, from the locus of the moving average revolution number. Determining that the revolution number of the motor generator is in the increasing state, the predicted revolution number calculation unit calculates a predicted revolution number based on respective moving average revolution numbers in the present and preceding control periods. The calculated predicted revolution number is set to be used as a control revolution number and output to a motor control unit and a torque command calculation unit.
US07973499B2
A crawler type power shovel vehicle (1) operated by a hydraulic actuator (20), constructed from an electric motor (31) for driving a hydraulic pump (32) for supplying hydraulic oil to the hydraulic actuator (20), a battery (50) for supplying direct current power, an inverter (41) for operating the electric motor (31) by converting the direct current power into alternating current power and supplying it to the motor, a controller (40) for causing the inverter (41) to control operation of the electric motor (31), and a voltage/current sensor (42) for detecting the magnitude of a load current flowing from the battery (50) into the inverter (41). The controller (40) stops the motor (31) when the magnitude of the load current detected by the voltage/current sensor (42) continuously exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined time period.
US07973496B2
The present invention relates to a power supply device for supplying power to a load, preferably a LED, comprising a first circuitry (12) with an inverter unit (24) adapted to provide an AC voltage, preferably a rectangular voltage, and a resonant circuit (30) with a capacitance (32) and an inductance (34), a second circuitry (14) with a rectifier unit (42), a switch (64) and said load (60), said switch being adapted to switch said load on and off, a controller unit (16) adapted to control said switch (64) as to adjust the power provided to said load (60) without any measurement signal from said primary circuitry (12), and a transformer (18) with a primary side (20) and a secondary side (22), said primary side being connected to said first circuitry (12) and said secondary side (22) being connected to said second circuitry (14), preferably said rectifier, so that said first and second circuitries are galvanically isolated.
US07973471B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a light emitting device in which no copy-in is caused in the case of a light emitting device having a glossy cathode. An uneven portion is formed on the surface of a cathode which is in contact with an organic layer in a pixel portion, and incident light is reflected in all directions. An insulating film having a high light absorption property is formed in a driver circuit portion, and the copy-in becomes invisible to the observer.
US07973465B2
A multiple layer film and a method of manufacturing the same, the film having a phosphor bearing layer including phosphor and a carrier, and a rigid protective layer. In some embodiments a mixture including phosphor and an uncurable fluid are dispensed onto a surface, and the mixture is at least partially dried. A curable fluid is dispensed onto the at least partially dried mixture, and the curable fluid is cured.
US07973460B2
A composition for forming an electron emitter, an electron emitter formed using the composition, and a backlight unit including the electron emitter, where dispersion of the electron emission material in the composition is increased, and the composition includes an electron emission material, a vehicle, and carbon-based filler particles.
US07973448B2
A brush holder having brush holding portions and coil holding portions is disclosed. Each brush holding portion holds a brush such that the brush is slidable on a commutator attached to a rotary shaft. Each coil holding portion holds a choke coil electrically connected to one of the coils. The brush holder includes a holder base member and brush holding members that are assembled to the holder base member so as to form the brush holding portions. Each brush holding member includes a coil supporting portion, which forms the coil holding portion between the corresponding brush holding member and the holder base member.
US07973446B2
Electrical output generating devices and driven electrical devices having tape wound core laminate rotor or stator elements. The tape wound core portions enhance magnetic flux and may be shaped and cut to receive magnet and/or flux conducting portions in corresponding stator or rotor portions of devices. The devices can include cooling features integral with the stator and/or rotor portions and superconducting elements. The tape wound core portions can be contained in housings and/or be impregnated with adhesive or other bonding so as to maintain shape and to protect the tape wound core portions during operation of the device. In some variations, the housings can include features for simplifying the adhesive/bonding process.
US07973445B2
A rotary actuator includes a stator assembly positioned within an outer enclosure. A rotor assembly is positioned adjacent to the stator and is configured to rotate relative thereto and about a centerline axis of the rotary actuator. Each of the outer enclosure, the stator assembly, and the rotor assembly are arranged to carry a magnetic flux therethrough and form a flux path loop, such that as a magnetic flux flows through the outer enclosure, the stator assembly, and the rotor assembly, a torque is generated by rotation of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly.
US07973441B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to magnetic gears comprising a pair of rotors magnetically coupled in a geared manner via a magnetic space harmonic generated as a consequence of varying an air gap between sets of permanent magnets.
US07973437B2
The invention relates to a transmission for a motor vehicle with a transmission housing, with an electrical actuator for the actuation of the transmission and with an electrical control device for the control of the actuator. The transmission has a heat sink device 24 thermoconductively connected to the device and a heat insulating layer between a housing of the actuator and the heat sink device for the thermal insulation of the actuator housing and of the heat sink device, with the actuator housing being thermoconductively connected to the transmission housing or being part of the transmission housing. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding actuator unit for a transmission.
US07973436B2
In the field of electrical linear motors, it is known to make more than one laminate core (20) having teeth (22), wherein grooves (24) are designed between the teeth (22). Until now, coils assigned to the laminate core are arranged on each laminate core. The invention is based on this background. Instead, each coil (18) is arranged with a first section in a groove (24) of a first laminate core (20a) and with a second section in a groove (24) of a second laminate core (20b). The coils are consequently wound in an entirely different direction and now lie in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the secondary part of the electrical linear motor.
US07973432B2
The microscope system comprises: an imaging apparatus used for picking up an image of a specimen; an electric unit; a control apparatus for controlling turning On and Off of the power supply to the electric unit; a storage apparatus storing the initialization requirement time of the electric unit; and a drive management arithmetic operation apparatus for calculating, on the basis of an image pickup interval and initialization requirement time, a clock time for controlling turning On/Off of the power supply to the electric unit.
US07973430B2
A power supply is provided. The power supply comprises: a power input unit switching an input power; a transformer unit inducing an output power of the power input unit to a secondary side; a first power output unit connected to a first coil of the secondary side of the transformer unit; a second power output unit connected to a part of the first coil of the secondary side of the transformer unit; a synchronization signal detecting unit connected to a third coil of the secondary side of the transformer unit and detecting a switching period of the power input unit; and a synchronization signal output unit controlling an operation of the second power output unit according to the detected signal of the synchronization signal detecting unit.
US07973420B2
Several embodiments are disclosed that enhance and improve the efficiencies of alternative electrical generating sources by converting electrical energy to potential energy through electro-mechanical means. The embodiments provide gravitational energy storage by lifting masses from lower to higher elevations during desired periods, such as when the generating sources are producing excess energy or when electrical rates are the least expensive. Energy storage is maintained until such time as it is need and then converted from potential mechanical energy to electricity by gravitational forces. By storing energy, one can supplement and enhance the efficiencies of producing electricity by alternative means such as wind and solar by expanding the times when electricity is available. Additionally, one can time-shift the purchase and use of commercial power by buying power to store energy when rates are low and using the stored energy when rates are high.
US07973418B2
An apparatus and method for a semiconductor package including a bump on input-output (IO) structure are disclosed involving a device pad, an under bump metal pad (UBM), a polymer, and a passivation layer. The shortest distance from the center of the device pad to its outer edge, and the shortest distance from the center of the UBM to its outer edge are in a ratio from 0.5:1 to 0.95:1. Also, the shortest distance from the center of the polymer to its outer edge, and the shortest distance from the center of the UBM to its outer edge are in a ratio from 0.35:1 to 0.85:1. Additionally, the shortest distance from the center of the passivation layer to its outer edge, and the shortest distance from the center of the UBM to its outer edge are in a ratio from 0.35:1 to 0.80:1.
US07973414B2
A semiconductor package including a through-electrode for stacked a semiconductor package and a semiconductor package having the same is disclosed. The semiconductor package through-electrode includes a first electrode having a recessed portion formed therein to pass through a semiconductor chip. A second electrode is disposed within the recess of the first electrode. The first electrode of the semiconductor package through-electrode includes a first metal having a first hardness, and a second electrode comprises a second metal having a second hardness lower than the first hardness. The through-electrode passes through the semiconductor chip body and may be formed with the first metal having the first hardness and/or a first melting point and the second metal having the second hardness and/or a second melting point which are lower than the first hardness and/or the first melting point. This through-electrode allows a plurality of semiconductor packages to be easily stacked.
US07973408B2
Various semiconductor chip passivation structures and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes applying a polymeric passivation layer to a side of a semiconductor chip. The side of the semiconductor chip includes plural conductor pads. Plural openings are formed in the polymeric passivation layer to expose the plural conductor pads. Plural conductor structures are formed on the plural conductor pads.
US07973406B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a plurality of bumps formed over the die. A substrate has a plurality of conductive traces formed on the substrate. Each trace has an interconnect site for mating to the bumps. The interconnect sites have parallel edges along a length of the conductive traces under the bumps from a plan view for increasing escape routing density. The bumps have a noncollapsible portion for attaching to a contact pad on the die and fusible portion for attaching to the interconnect site. The fusible portion melts at a temperature which avoids damage to the substrate during reflow. The noncollapsible portion includes lead solder, and fusible portion includes eutectic solder. The interconnect sites have a width which is less than 1.2 times a width of the conductive trace. Alternatively, the interconnect sites have a width which is less than one-half a diameter of the bump.
US07973391B2
Disclosed are tapered dielectric and conductor structures which provide controlled impedance interconnection while signal conductor lines transition from finer pitches to coarser pitches thereby obviating electrical discontinuities generally associated with changes of circuit contact pitch. Also disclosed are methods for the construction of the devices and applications therefore.
US07973388B2
A single crystal silicon etching method includes providing a single crystal silicon substrate having at least one trench therein. The substrate is exposed to a buffered fluoride etch solution which undercuts the silicon to provide lateral shelves when patterned in the <100> direction. The resulting structure includes an undercut feature when patterned in the <100> direction.
US07973384B2
A memory cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first portion of phase-change material contacting the first electrode. The memory cell includes a second portion of phase-change material contacting the second electrode and a third portion of phase-change material between the first portion and the second portion. A phase-change material composition of the third portion and the second portion gradually transitions from the third portion to the second portion.
US07973383B2
The bottom side of an N type silicon substrate is connected to a power supply terminal, a second P type epitaxial layer is formed on all sides of the N type silicon substrate, and a device forming portion is provided on the second P type epitaxial layer. A first P type epitaxial layer and an interlayer insulating film are provided on the device forming portion and an N well and a P well are formed on the top surface of the first P type epitaxial layer. The second P type epitaxial layer is connected to a ground terminal via the first P type epitaxial layer, the P well, a p+ diffusion region, a via and a wire. Accordingly, a pn junction is formed at the interface between the second P type epitaxial layer and the N type silicon substrate.
US07973382B2
A gate electrode 20 and first field plates 22a to 22d and 23 are provided on a field oxide film 19. The gate electrode 20 and first field plates 22a to 22d and 23 are covered with an insulating film 24. A high-voltage wiring conductor 28 is provided on the insulating film 24. A shielding electrode 29 is provided between the first field plate 22a positioned closest to a source side and the high-voltage wiring conductor 28.
US07973381B2
A schottky diode of the trench variety which includes a trench termination having a thick insulation layer that is thicker than the insulation layer inside the trenches in its active region.
US07973380B2
A method of providing metal extension in a backside illuminated image sensor is provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a first set of pads and a second set of pads, and a metal layer are provided in a backside illuminated image sensor. The first set of pads are electrically coupled to the second set of pads through the metal layer, and a pad in the second set of pads is exposed to the surface of the backside illuminated image sensor for testing. In an alternative embodiment, a first set of pads, at least one second pad directly positioned over the first set of pads are provided in a backside illuminated image sensor. The first set of pads are electrically coupled to the at least one second pad and the at least one second pad is exposed to the surface of the backside illuminated image sensor for testing.
US07973378B2
Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
US07973370B2
A extractor implanted region is used in a silicon-on-insulator CMOS memory device. The extractor region is reversed biased to remove minority carriers from the body region of partially depleted memory cells. This causes the body region to be fully depleted without the adverse floating body effects.
US07973369B2
Methods of forming transistors and structures thereof are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a semiconductor device including a workpiece, a gate dielectric disposed over the workpiece, and a thin layer of conductive material disposed over the gate dielectric. A layer of semiconductive material is disposed over the thin layer of conductive material. The layer of semiconductive material and the thin layer of conductive material comprise a gate electrode of a transistor. A source region and a drain region are formed in the workpiece proximate the gate dielectric. The thin layer of conductive material comprises a thickness of about 50 Angstroms or less.
US07973361B2
A high breakdown voltage semiconductor device is formed using an SOI substrate comprising a support substrate, an insulating film, and an active layer. The high breakdown voltage semiconductor device comprises an N-type well region and a P-type drain offset region formed on the active layer, a P-type source region formed on the well region, a P-type drain region formed on the drain offset region, a gate insulating film formed in at least a region interposed between the source region and the drain offset region of the active layer, and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film. The device further comprises an N-type deep well region formed under the drain offset region. A concentration peak of N-type impurity for formation of the deep well region is located deeper than a concentration peak of P-type impurity for formation of the drain offset region.
US07973360B2
An integrated circuit device comprising a diode and a method of making an integrated circuit device comprising a diode are provided. The diode can comprise an island of a first conductivity type, a first region of a second conductivity type formed in the island, and a cathode diffusion contact region doped to the second conductivity type disposed in the first region. The diode can also comprise a cathode contact electrically contacting the cathode diffusion contact region, an anode disposed in the island, an anode contact electrically contacting the anode, and a first extension region doped to the first conductivity type disposed at a surface junction between the first region and the island.
US07973356B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate through a gate insulating film; a second gate electrode formed in a side direction of the first gate electrode and electrically insulated from the first gate electrode; and an insulating film formed at least between the semiconductor substrate and the second gate electrode to trap electric charge, as an electric charge trapping film. The first gate electrode comprises a lower portion contacting the gate insulating film and an upper portion above the lower portion of the first gate electrode, and a distance between the upper portion of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode is longer than a distance between the lower portion of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.
US07973342B2
Disclosed are a CMOS image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same, capable of improving the characteristics of the image sensor by increasing junction capacitance of a floating diffusion area. The CMOS image sensor generally includes a photodiode and a plurality of transistors (e.g., transfer, reset, drive, and select transistors), a first conductive type semiconductor substrate, having an active area including a photodiode area, a floating diffusion area, and a voltage input/output area, a gate electrode of each transistor on the active area, a first conductive type first well area in the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the voltage input/output area, a first conductive type second well area in the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the floating diffusion area, and a second conductive type diffusion area in the semiconductor substrate at opposed sides of each gate electrode.
US07973337B2
A semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof wherein a PMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate includes a first strained layer in the PMOS source/drain region and a first capping layer in contact with the first strained layer. Further, the semiconductor device and method provide for an NMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate including a second strained layer in the NMOS source/drain region and a second capping layer in contact with the second strained layer.
US07973331B2
The present invention is related to a light-emitting device. The present invention illustrates a vertical light-emitting device in one embodiment, comprising the following elements: a conductive substrate includes a through-hole, a patterned semiconductor structure disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a first bonding pad and a second bonding pad disposed on a second surface of the substrate, a conductive line passing through the through-hole connecting electrically the semiconductor structure layer, and an insulation layer on at least one sidewall of the through-hole insulates the conductive line form the substrate. The present invention illustrates a horizontal light-emitting device in another embodiment, comprising the following elements: a substrate includes a first tilted sidewall, a patterned semiconductor structure disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a first conductive line is disposed on at least the first tilted sidewall of the substrate and connecting electrically the patterned semiconductor structure.
US07973330B2
A substrate-free light emitting diode (LED) including an epitaxy layer, a conductive supporting layer, and a first contact pad is provided. The epitaxy layer includes a first type doped semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a second type doped semiconductor layer. The light emitting layer is disposed on the first type doped semiconductor layer, and a portion of the first type doped semiconductor layer is exposed. The second type doped semiconductor layer and the conductive supporting layer are sequentially disposed on the second type doped semiconductor layer. The first contact pad is disposed on the exposed first type doped semiconductor layer and electrically connected thereto. The first contact pad and the conductive supporting layer serving as an electrode are disposed on the same side of the epitaxy layer to avoid the light shielding effects of the electrode to improve the front light emitting efficiency of the LED.
US07973329B2
Embodiments provides a semiconductor light emitting device, which comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer under the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer under the active layer, a second electrode layer under the second conductive semiconductor layer, an insulator on one side of the second electrode layer, and a first electrode electrically connected to a one end of the first conductive semiconductor layer, on the insulator.
US07973323B2
A semiconductor device includes: an insulating base; a semiconductor element provided on the insulating base; a protector provided on the semiconductor element; and a frame provided on a periphery of the insulating base and surrounding the semiconductor element. A region inside the frame is filled with a sealing resin, and at least one groove is provided in an upper corner portion of the frame on the semiconductor element side of the frame.
US07973314B2
A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor layer including a first circuit, a second semiconductor layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer and having a second circuit, and a via extending through portions of the first and second semiconductor layers and by which the first and second circuits are electrically connected. One of the circuits is a logic circuit and the other of the circuits is a memory circuit. The semiconductor device is manufactured by fabricating transistors of the logic and memory circuits on respective substrates, stacking the substrates, and electrically connecting the logic and memory circuits with a via.
US07973311B2
A photosensor structure includes a pixel metal layer disposed in physical and electrical contact with a pixel thin film transistor and a lower sensor layer of a p-i-n photosensor. The pixel metal layer extends laterally to an extent less that the lower sensor layer such that an overhang region is defined below the lower sensor layer and the adjacent the lateral edge of the pixel metal layer. When the relatively thick intrinsic sensor layer is formed over the lower sensor layer, it attaches to the upper surface and, due to the presence of the overhang region, the lateral edge of the lower sensor layer, forming a discrete intrinsic sensor layer structure over the pixel which is physically isolated from adjacent corresponding structures. This isolation allows for thermal expansion and contraction during formation of the intrinsic sensor layer without cracking the intrinsic sensor layer structure.
US07973308B2
An organic-semiconductor-based infrared receiving device comprises an electrode layer having a positive layer and a negative layer to form an electric field, and a transport layer located between the positive and negative layers and having a first and a second predetermined material combined in a predetermined ratio. The energy of infrared light from a light source is received at an interface between the first and second materials. The thickness of the transport layer can be increased to enhance the light absorbance in the infrared light range to form electron-hole pairs, which are then parted to form a plurality of electrons and holes driven by the electric field to move to the negative layer and the positive layer, respectively, so that a predetermined photocurrent is generated.
US07973306B2
Disclosed in an anthracene derivative, an organic electronic device using the anthracene derivative, and an electronic apparatus including the organic electronic device. The anthracene derivative is capable of being used as a hole injecting material, a hole transporting material, an electron injecting material, an electron transporting material, and a light emitting material in an organic electronic device including an organic light emitting device. In particular, the anthracene derivative is capable of being used alone as a light emitting material and a host or a dopant in a host/dopant system. The organic electronic device is excellent in views of efficiency, driving voltage, life time, and stability.
US07973305B2
A thin film transistor includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconducting layer, and a gate electrode. The drain electrode is spaced from the source electrode. The semiconducting layer is connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode. The gate electrode is insulated from the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the semiconducting layer by an insulating layer. The semiconducting layer comprises at least two stacked carbon nanotube films, and each carbon nanotube film comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes primarily oriented along a same direction, and the carbon nanotubes in at least two adjacent carbon nanotube films are aligned along different directions.
US07973288B2
A method includes purposefully electromagnetically shielding a portable x-ray detector.
US07973287B2
A system and method for detection of alpha particles generated by a test material in proximity to a light atomic weight element. The system includes a neutron detector that is configured to detect a rate of generation of neutrons produced by an (alpha, n) reaction between the test material and the light atomic weight element. There is also at least one gamma-ray detector configured to measure a rate of generation of 511 keV gamma rays produced by an annihilation reaction triggered by a positron emission from a daughter product of the light atomic weight element. A comparator is configured to compare the rate of generation of neutrons and the rate of generation of 511 keV gamma rays.
US07973284B2
An image sensing module includes a printed circuit board, an image sensor, and a color filter exchanging system. The image sensor positioned between the printed circuit board and the color filter exchanging system is assembled on the printed circuit board. The color filter exchanging system aligning with the image sensor fastens to the printed circuit board. The color filter exchanging system includes a stand, a driving module and a filter assembly. The stand fastening to the printed circuit board defines an opening revealing the image sensor. The driving module slides the filter assembly within the stand. The filter assembly includes a frame and a visible light bandpass filter and an infrared bandpass filter assembled to the frame. In different modes, the driving module drives the filter assembly so that the visible light bandpass filter or the infrared bandpass filter aligns with the image sensor by way of the opening.
US07973282B2
There is provided a charged particle beam apparatus which allows implementation of a high-reliability and high-accuracy dimension measurement even if height differences exist on the surface of a sample. The charged particle beam apparatus includes the following configuration components: An acquisition unit for acquiring a plurality of SEM images whose focus widths are varied in correspondence with the focal depths, a determination unit for determining, from the plurality of SEM images acquired, a SEM image for which the image sharpness degree of the partial domain including a dimension-measuring domain becomes the maximum value, and a measurement unit for measuring the dimension of the predetermined domain from the SEM image whose image sharpness degree is the maximum value.
US07973281B2
A semiconductor substrate inspection method includes: generating a charged particle beam, and irradiating the charged particle beam to a semiconductor substrate in which contact wiring lines are formed on a surface thereof, the contact wiring lines of the semiconductor substrate being designed to alternately repeat in a plane view so that one of the adjacent contact wiring lines is grounded to the semiconductor substrate and the other of the adjacent contact wiring lines is insulated from the semiconductor substrate; detecting at least one of a secondary charged particle, a reflected charged particle and a back scattering charged particle generated from the surface of the semiconductor substrate to acquire a signal; generating an inspection image with the signal, the inspection image showing a state of the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and judging whether the semiconductor substrate is good or bad from a difference of brightness in the inspection image obtained from the surfaces of the adjacent contact wiring lines.
US07973280B2
An apparatus is provided that precisely conduct ion beam etching to a sample having the properties of which easily change by electron beam irradiation with no loss of ease of operation and throughput. An apparatus includes an ion beam lens barrel and an electron beam lens barrel, which can observe or measure the conditions of a sample with an electron beam in the process of etching with an ion beam, wherein first, an observation image is obtained that includes the entire process area formed by secondary signals generated by an electron beam, secondly, an irradiation permit area and an irradiation inhibit area are defined in the observation image, and thirdly, electron beam irradiation is restricted only to the irradiation permit area.
US07973274B2
The invention provides a tactile sensor module that enables adjustment of the density of sensing elements and adjustment of mounting regions to be carried out in a straightforward manner with one type of module that is highly adaptive to complex curved surfaces. A tactile sensor module comprises a flexible substrate having one or a plurality of strips, a plurality of sensing elements arranged at the one or plurality of strips of the flexible substrate, one or more communication terminals provided at the flexible substrate; and at least one electronic circuit section provided at the flexible substrate having communication functions. At least one of the strips comprises a foldable region and/or a cuttable region.
US07973271B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of pixels on a light-receiving surface, photodiodes disposed on the light-receiving surface of a semiconductor substrate while being partitioned on the pixel basis, signal transferring portions which are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and which read signal charges generated and stored in the photodiodes or voltages corresponding to the signal charges, insulating films disposed on the semiconductor substrate while covering the photodiodes, concave portions disposed in the insulating films, pad electrodes disposed on the insulating films, a passivation film which covers inner walls of the concave portions, which is disposed on the pad electrodes, and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide, and a core layer which is disposed on the passivation film while being filled in the concave portions and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide.
US07973270B1
A projectile including: a shell; and a movable exterior surface of the shell, the movable exterior surface having one or more actuators for providing thrust to move the movable exterior surface from a first position to a second position.
US07973242B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a vertical cable manager for routing cables or wires. The vertical cable manager includes a vertical trough with sets of fingers. The fingers include arrow-shaped ends, which allow installation and/or removal of cables and wires, while retaining the cables and wires in cable rings. In some embodiments, a door attached to the vertical cable manager can be removable from one or both sides of the trough. In some embodiments, the vertical cable manager can include removable spools that can be attached to the trough in various positions and configurations.
US07973237B2
An outlet assembly installed over an existing device box and wiring to provide an integrated appearance for a new low voltage installation alongside the existing device box, without requiring disturbance of the existing device box or wiring.
US07973235B2
A hybrid solar lighting distribution system and components having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one fiber receiver, at least one hybrid luminaire, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator and each hybrid luminaire. A controller operates all components.
US07973233B2
A musical tone control system for a grand-type piano, which not only enables a shutter to be mounted on a hammer without any inconvenience even when a space above the hammer is small, but also is capable of properly controlling musical tones to be sounded. In this system, first to third optical sensors are disposed along the length of a hammer shank. Depression or non-depress of a key and a pivoting direction of an associated hammer are determined based on signals from the first and second optical sensors, respectively. Further, the pivoting speed of the hammer is calculated based on a signal from the third optical sensor. A musical tone to be sounded is controlled based on the determined depression or non-depression of the key and pivoting direction and the calculated speed of the hammer.
US07973232B2
A media application for providing outputs (e.g., audio outputs) in response to inputs received from an input device is provided. The media application may connect input mechanisms of an input device with parameters of channel strips (e.g., which may define output sounds) using an intermediate screen object. The media application may first assign an input mechanism to a screen object, and separately map a screen object to a channel strip parameter. The media application may map a screen object to several channel strips simultaneously such that, based on the value of the screen object, the volume of each of the several channel strips changes. The media application may provide a graphical representation of available channel strips using layers. As the media application accesses a channel strip, the appearance of the portion of the layer associated with the channel strip may change. The media application may also allow the patches, which may include several channel strips, to survive after a new patch is selected instead.
US07973225B2
The mounting position of a winding shaft on a main body is changed, and a peg may be mounted in various stringed instruments by miniaturizing the main body or reducing the thickness thereof. The peg for the stringed instrument includes a main body mounted in the stringed instrument; a worm rotatably supported by the main body, the worm having a knob at an end thereof; a worm wheel engaging with the worm, the worm wheel rotatably supported by the main body; a winding shaft connecting to one side of the worm wheel in an axial direction, the winding shaft for winding a string of the stringed instrument; and bearing holes formed in at least two surfaces of the main body, the bearing holes supporting the winding shaft rotatably.
US07973222B1
According to this invention, by introducing genes encoding hexulose-6-phosphate synthase and 6-phosphohexulose isomerase into a plant to have the genes expressed in the chloroplast of the plant, a transgenic plant having a pathway to assimilate formaldehyde through the Calvin cycle is provided. The transgenic plant according to this invention has resistance to formaldehyde and is capable of reducing the level of environmental formaldehyde significantly. Therefore, it is assumed that the transgenic plant according to this invention can be used to purify environmental condition, by placing it in a residence or in an office.
US07973220B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS46001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS46001, to the plants of soybean RJS46001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS46001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS46001 with another soybean plant, using RJS46001 as either the male or the female parent.
US07973216B2
This invention relates to polynucleotides encoding novel transcription factors and to the encoded transcription factors, that are capable of regulating anthocyanin production in plants. The invention also relates to constructs and vectors comprising the polynucleotides, and to host cells, plant cells and plants transformed with the polynucleotides, constructs and vectors. The invention also relates to methods of producing plants with altered anthocyanin production and plants by the methods.
US07973208B2
A catalyst for converting methanol to light olefins and the process for making and using the catalyst are disclosed and claimed. SAPO-34 is a specific catalyst that benefits from its preparation in accordance with this invention. A seed material is used in making the catalyst that has a higher content of the EL metal than is found in the principal part of the catalyst. The molecular sieve has predominantly a roughly rectangular parallelepiped morphology crystal structure with a lower fault density and a better selectivity for light olefins.
US07973206B1
A process is presented for the production of linear alkylbenzenes. The process includes contacting an aromatic compound with an olefin in the presence of a selective zeolite catalyst. The catalyst includes two zeolites combined to improve the linearity, and to produce detergent grade LAB. The two zeolites are selected to limit skeletal isomerization while producing a desired 2-phenyl content for the LAB.
US07973197B2
The present invention provides (I) a method of manufacturing a triphenylmethane colorant that can suppress the sub-reactions in conversion to a sulfonamide and is industrially advantageous, (II) a colorant compound that has both excellent spectral characteristics and a high solubility relative to organic solvents or polymers as a coloring agent to be used in color filters and (III) a blue resist composition for use in a color filter that shows a high lightness and an excellent hue particularly for blue color and can be used to display an image that is excellent in terms of spectral characteristics and contrast.
US07973193B2
The present invention is to provide a method for preparing an ester condensate and a catalyst therefore; wherein the method enables synthesis of enormous amounts of ester condensates comprising a specific structure in good yield, by a reaction of carboxylic acid and alcohol in equimolar amounts, while generation of by-products is prevented; wherein the catalyst exhibits good catalytic efficiency as a catalyst for use, the use of the catalyst in small amount is sufficient, and the catalyst is reusable and can be used repeatedly; therefore, the method for preparing an ester condensate of the present invention and the catalyst therefore can be applied to industrial methods which are preferable in view of green chemistry. Esterification reaction is performed by using a catalyst comprising a zirconium(IV) compound and/or a hafnium(IV) compound and an iron compound and a gallium compound. It is preferable that the zirconium(IV) compound is a compound represented by Zr(OH)a(OR1)b, wherein, R1 represents an acyl group or an alkyl group, and each of a and b is 0 or any one of integers of 1 to 4 and the relationship of a+b=4 is satisfied, and a zirconium(IV) halide.
US07973187B2
Natural oil based halogenated compounds that are useful as flame retardants for polymeric materials, such as polyurethanes. Novel compositions of matter, novel processes for preparing such compositions of matter, and end use applications of the novel compositions of matter. The process comprises the reaction of natural oil hydroxylates with halogenated reactive materials such as halogenated anhydrides of organic acids or their esters in the presence of a titanium catalyst.
US07973181B2
Compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of histone deacetylase activity, and are useful in the treatment of, for example, cancers: wherein Y1 is a bond, —(C═O)—, —S(O2)—, —C(═O)O—, —OC(═O)—, —(C═O)NR3—, —NR3(C═O)—, —S(O2)NR3—, —NR3S(O2)—, or —NR3(C═O)NR5—, wherein R3 and R5 are independently hydrogen or optionally substituted (C1-C6)alkyl, L1 is a divalent radical of formula -(Alk1)m(Q)n(Alk2)p wherein m, n, p, Alk1, Alk2 and Q are as defined in the claims; z is 0 or 1; A represents an optionally substituted mono-, bi— or tri-cyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring system; -[Linker]- represents a divalent linker radical; R is a radical of formula (X) or (Y): wherein R1 is a carboxylic acid group (—COOH), or an ester group which is hydrolysable by one or more intracellular carboxylesterase enzymes to a carboxylic acid group; R4 is hydrogen; or optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7cycloalkyl, aryl, aryl(C1-C6 alkyl)-, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C1-C6 alkyl)-, —(C═O)R3, —(C═O)OR3, or —(C═O)NR3 wherein R3 is hydrogen or optionally substituted (C1-C6)alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl, aryl(C1-C6 alkyl)-, heteroaryl, or heteroaryl(C1-C6 alkyl)-; R41 is hydrogen or optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl; and B is a monocyclic heterocyclic ring of 5 or 6 ring atoms wherein R1 is linked to a ring carbon adjacent the ring nitrogen shown, and ring B is optionally fused to a second carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring of 5 or 6 ring atoms in which case the bond shown intersected by a wavy line may be from a ring atom in said second ring.
US07973170B2
Disclosed are compounds of the Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein W, R1, R2, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are as defined in the specification. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation, in mammals. Also disclosed is a method of using such compounds in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases in mammals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US07973168B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting binuclear transition metal compound of Chemical Formulae 1 and 2, and an organic electroluminescence device including the compound. In the Chemical Formulae 1 and 2, M is selected from Ir, Pt, Rh, Re, and Os, and m is 2, provided that the m is 1 when M is Pt.
US07973159B2
The present application provides compounds, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I. Additionally, the present application provides pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound according to Formula I and optionally at least one additional therapeutic agent. Finally, the present application provides methods for treating a patient suffering from an MCHR-1 modulated disease or disorder such as, for example, obesity, diabetes, depression or anxiety by administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a compound according to Formula I. where R1, R1a, R1b, A, R3, R4, R5, R5b and R6 are as defined herein.
US07973152B2
Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants.
US07973147B2
A microorganism represented by a strain K04-0144 belonging to Streptomyces sp. having ability to produce K04-0144 substance is cultured in the medium, and the isolated K04-0144A substance, K04-0144B substance and K04-0144C substance therefrom have strong antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Streptococcus aureus (MRSA), consequently these are useful as the therapeutic agents for infectious disease caused by MRSA as well as infectious diseases caused by multidrug including β-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria. Further, similarly, since the novel K04-0144D substance isolated from the cultured liquid has the action for enhancing the effect of β-lactam antibiotics, which are utilized as the antibacterial agents, in combination with them, it is useful as the therapeutic agent for infectious diseases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug including β-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria.
US07973146B2
Engineered nucleotide compositions, having polymerase interacting components that improve the interactivity of the polymerase and the nucleotide, particularly for nucleic acid sequencing applications. Compositions include the interactive polymerases along with the nucleotide analogs. Kits, methods and systems are provided for analysis of nucleic acid synthesis reactions.
US07973145B2
Sulfoquinovosylacyl propanediol compounds represented by formula (I): wherein R1 is an acyl residue of a fatty acid, Y is a number of 1, 2 or 3, and M represents a cation having a positive charge equal to Y and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are effective for treating tumors.
US07973134B2
The invention discloses 211 novel phosphorylation sites identified in signal transduction proteins and pathways underlying Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) involving the ALK-NPM translocation/fusion, and provides phosphorylation-site specific antibodies and heavy-isotope labeled peptides (AQUA peptides) for the selective detection and quantification of these phosphorylated sites/proteins, as well as methods of using the reagents for such purpose. Among the phosphorylation sites identified are sites occurring in the following protein types: Protein Kinases (including Receptor Tyrosine Kinases), Adaptor/Scaffold Proteins, Cellular Metabolism or Miscellaneous Enzymes, Oxidoreductases, Transcription Factors, Cytoskeletal Proteins, Translation Initiation Complexes, RNA Binding Proteins, Proteases, Acetyltransferases, G protein regulators/GTPases, Helicases, Apoptosis/Cell Cycle Regulation proteins, and Hydrolases.
US07973131B2
The invention establishes a technology that allows non-specific amplification to be inhibited during nucleic acid amplification in an isothermal amplification reaction, such that the amplification efficiency is increased. The invention is a extreme thermophile single-stranded DNA binding mutant protein, having an amino acid sequence that expresses a function that can contribute to increasing an amplification efficiency of a template nucleic acid in an isothermal amplification reaction system that uses a strand displacement polymerase, and having in its amino acid sequence a mutation site where a mutation involving at least one of deletion, substitution, addition, and insertion of one or more amino acids in amino acid sequence of extreme thermophile single-stranded DNA binding protein has occurred, and a method of use thereof.
US07973130B2
TSG101 is a tumor susceptibility gene whose homozygous functional knock out in fibroblasts leads to transformation and the ability of these cells to form metastatic tumors in nude mice. The cellular transformation that results from inactivation of TSG101 is reversible by restoration of TSG101 function. Decreased expression of TSG101 is associated with the occurrence of certain human cancers, including breast carcinomas. The TSG101 nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways. In addition, modulation of the gene activity in vivo is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, such as treatment of cancer, identification of cell type based on expression, and the like. The DNA is further used as a diagnostic for a genetic predisposition to cancer, and to identify specific cancers having mutations in this gene.
US07973125B2
A method of evaluating the dissolution rate of a polyimide by Raman spectroscopy, wherein the Raman spectral intensity I(a) of imide groups contained within the polyimide is measured, and I(a) is then compared with the Raman spectral intensity I(b) of imide groups contained within a polyimide with a known dissolution rate. The polyimides are preferably obtained using an aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride and/or an aromatic diamine.
US07973122B2
Polyamideimide coating compositions, including polyamideimide coating compositions suitable for magnet wire applications are described. Processes for preparing coating compositions, for coating articles such as magnet wire, and for curing coating compositions are also described.
US07973116B2
Pyridyldiamido transition metal complexes are disclosed for use in alkene polymerization. The ligands are tridentate with an NNN configuration. The general formula is: where M, Z, Ln, Lw′, R1-R5, R10 and R11 are as defined in the specification.
US07973110B2
Preparing a non-ionic copolymer having a hydrolysable monomer residue and a polyether macromonomer residue in a semicontinuous mode in a polymerization reactor associated with a metering device, including introducing polyether macromonomer and water into the reactor, wherein hydrolysable monomer which is added thereto forms a polymerization reaction mixture; introducing hydrolysable monomer into the metering device; adding hydrolysable monomer into the reactor from the metering device; passing a free radical polymerization initiator into the reactor before and/or during the addition of the hydrolysable monomer, the hydrolysable monomer and the polyether macromonomer reacting by free radical polymerization to form the non-ionic copolymer; and, subjecting the reaction mixture to polymerization while an addition rate of the hydrolysable monomer and/or at least a component of the polymerization initiator is varied stepwise or continuously. No monomer is introduced to incorporate ionic cement binding sites into the non-ionic copolymer.
US07973108B2
[Problem] There is provided a curable composition having good curability and adhesion by use of a non-organotin catalyst.[Means to Solve] A curable composition comprising (A) an organic polymer having a silicon-containing group being capable of crosslinking by forming siloxane bonds, (B) one or more kinds selected from a titanium catalyst, an aluminum catalyst and a zirconium catalyst and (C) a low molecular weight compound containing a hydrolyzable silicon group and having a molecular weight of from 100 to 1,000, characterized in that a ratio (a/b) of the total mole (a) of titanium atoms, aluminum atoms and zirconium atoms of the component (B) in the composition to the total mole (b) of silicon atoms of the component (C) in the composition is more than 0.4.
US07973091B2
A process for producing flowable and liquid dispersable particles of a highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer is provided in which a dispersion of a highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer in a liquid comprised of at least 10 wt % of an organic liquid is provided, atomized to produce droplets, and released into a inert heated gas. The dispersion droplets dry to produce flowable particles of highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer having dry exterior surfaces and an internal residual moisture content of at least 4 wt %.
US07973090B2
A process for producing a zeolite membrane comprising a seed crystal forming step of placing, in a pressure-resistant vessel, a seeding sol containing silica, water and a structure-directing agent and a support in a state that the support is immersed in the seeding sol and heating the heat-resistant vessel to form a zeolite seed crystal on the surface of the support, and a membrane formation step of allowing the zeolite seed crystal to grow to form a zeolite membrane on the surface of the support. In the seed crystal forming step, the molar ratio of water/silica in the seeding sol is set 10 to 50 and the heating of the pressure-resistant vessel is conducted at 90 to 130° C. The crystal c-axis of the present zeolite membrane is oriented in a direction vertical to the surface of the support and its thickness is uniform.
US07973084B2
The inventive molecular transporter compound shows significantly high permeability through a biological membrane such as plasma membrane, nuclear membrane and blood-brain barrier, and accordingly, it can be effectively used in delivering various biologically active molecules, such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel to target cells.
US07973078B2
A compound that can be used as an agent for treating a disease associated with an EP1 receptor, in particular a lower urinary tract symptom. It was confirmed that a sulfonamide compound having an amide structure and characterized by a chemical structure in which a carbon atom in the amide bonds to the N atom in sulfonamide through lower alkylene, or a salt thereof, has a potent EP1 receptor antagonistic activity, accomplishing the present invention. Since the sulfonamide compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has a potent EP1 receptor antagonistic activity, it is useful as an agent for treating a disease associated with an EP1 receptor, in particular, a lower urinary tract symptom.
US07973075B2
Disclosed are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment, and methods for selectively antagonizing a GluR5 receptor, a GluR6 receptor, or both receptors. The pharmaceutical compositions include and the methods utilize compounds that are analogs and stereoisomers of dysiherbaine and neodysiherbaine which have specificity for kainate receptors.
US07973068B2
A method and solution for perioperatively inhibiting a variety of pain and inflammation processes during arthroscopic procedures. The solution preferably includes a vasoconstrictor that exhibits alpha-adrenergic activity and one or more additional pain and inflammation inhibitory agents at dilute concentration in a physiologic carrier, such as saline or lactated Ringer's solution. The solution is applied by continuous irrigation of a wound during a surgical procedure for peripheral vasoconstriction and inhibition of pain and/or inflammation while avoiding undesirable side effects associated with systemic application of larger doses of the agents.
US07973066B2
The use of a compound of formula (I), is disclosed in treating and/or preventing 5 chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN). The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions wherein the compound of formula (I) is present in a mixture with anticancer agents. An improved anticancer treatment with reduced CIPN-related side effects is also provided.
US07973065B2
The compounds disclosed herein are isoxazole derivatives that are useful as antimicrobial compounds, particularly as anti-bacterial compounds. The disclosed methods comprise incubating at least two different substrates in the presence of at least one oxygenase to provide the disclosed compounds, or to prepare and identify compounds that have antimicrobial activity.
US07973064B2
Composition and methods of treating pain and reducing or reversing tolerance to opiate analgesics are disclosed. The composition and method utilize an opiate analgesic and an endothelin antagonist as active agents to treat pain in mammals, including humans.
US07973061B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I, wherein L, X, Y, Z, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined herein. The invention also provides methods of using the compounds for inhibition of kinases, more specifically ALK kinases. The invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinase receptor signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, and the invention includes compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions; (Formula I).
US07973056B2
A triazole derivative or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is provided, the triazole derivative being represented by formula (I): wherein * represents an asymmetric carbon and takes R configuration or S configuration; and R1 represents a structure represented by formula (II) or (III): represents single bond or double bond wherein Y represents a hydrogen atom or an oxygen atom; and R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a formyl group, a carboxyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group, an arylcarbonyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, an amino group, an alkylcarbonylamino group, an arylcarbonylamino group, a cyano group, a nitro group or a halogen atom.
US07973052B2
Agents useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are disclosed. wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is 0 or 1; t is 0 or 1; R2 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R3 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 groups selected from: halo, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy; or 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 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; and R1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, provided that when m is 0 or 1, R1 is not hydrogen. Alternatively, when R1 is hydrogen, the biologically active agent can be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula I.
US07973050B2
Novel compounds in enantiomeric excess that are inhibitors of bacterial methionyl synthetase (MetRS) are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for their preparation and their use in therapy as antibacterial agents, and in particular their use in therapy for Clostridium difficile infection.
US07973039B2
The present invention is related to derivatives of Formula (I) and use thereof in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and fibrosis, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver and pulmonary fibrosis.
US07973038B2
Compounds of the present invention, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.
US07973031B2
The present invention relates to the use of staurosporines derivatives for the preparation of a drug for the treatment of diseases involving deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity, especially for the curative and/or prophylactic treatment of leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes, and to a method of treating diseases involving deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity.
US07973030B2
A pharmaceutical useful as a therapeutic agent and a preventive agent for hyperlipemia, and a pharmaceutical useful as a therapeutic agent and a preventive agent for hepatic disorders associated with cholestasis, particularly, primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, and a pharmaceutical useful as a therapeutic agent and a preventive agent for obesity, fatty liver and steatohepatitis are provided. A benzothiazepine or benzothiepine compound represented by the following formula (1A) having a thioamide bond and a quaternary ammonium substitutent:
US07973029B2
Provided is a method of treating the health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) symptoms of a lung disease, comprising the administration of an inhalable aerosol of aztreonam lysine. The method is suitable for the short term and sustainable long term treatment of HRQOL symptoms.
US07973027B2
Compounds with high antimalarial activity; and antimalarial drugs containing the same as an active ingredient. There are provided compounds with antimalarial activity represented by the chemical formula: (wherein R1 is H, Cl or OCH3; R2 is H or CH3; R3 is CH, CH2, C(CH3), CH(CH3) or C(CH3)2; Ar is imidazole, triazole, pyridine, benzene, pyrrole, furan, thiophene or derivatives thereof; n is 1 to 5; and m is 1 to 5). Further, there are provided antimalarial drugs containing these compounds with antimalarial activity or pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof as active ingredients.
US07973014B2
Medicinal composition containing ginseng secondary glycosides, its preparation method and application. The present composition contains mainly, as active ingredients, the ginsenoside with protopanoxadiol as aglucone (ginsenoside Rg3) and the ginsenoside with protopanoxatriol as aglucone (ginsenoside Rg2 and ginsenoside Rh1). It is prepared from the ginseng genus of plants through extracting, acid hydrolyzing and using macroreticular resin to separate, purify and concentrate. It is useful in the manufacture of medicaments for treating CHD, angina pectoris, myocardial ischemia, hemorrhagic shock, heart failure, and arrhythmia.
US07973013B2
Provided are pyrrolo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazinyl, imidazo[1,5-f][1,2,4]triazinyl, imidazo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazinyl, and [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-f][1,2,4]triazinyl nucleosides, nucleoside phosphates and prodrugs thereof, wherein the 2′ position of the nucleoside sugar is substituted with halogen and carbon substitutents. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are useful for the treatment of Flaviviridae virus infections, particularly hepatitis C infections caused by both wild type and mutant strains of HCV.
US07973007B2
Neuregulin, a known neuroprotein, has been found to ameliorate or prevent damage caused by mechanical or chemical assault to blood vessels and, when administered into the cerebral spinal fluid, can ameliorate damage to neuronal tissue caused by stroke or inflammation. Additionally, neuregulin has been found to be useful for enhancement of stem cell migration from the ventricle to the site of injury to the brain.
US07972985B2
A nonwoven fabric 10 has a first layer 1 containing crimped fibers 11. In the layer 1, the crimped fibers gather in parts to form a large number of fiber clusters 12 that are distributed all over the layer 1. The clusters 12 interconnect to each other to form a network structure in the layer 1. The nonwoven fabric 10 further has another fiber layer as a second layer 2 disposed on a side of the first layer 1. The two layers are partly joined at a large number of joints 3. The second layer 2 protrudes outwardly between the joints 3 to form a large number of protrusions 20.
US07972977B2
Methods for forming metal silicate films are provided. The methods comprise contacting a substrate with alternating and sequential vapor phase pulses of a silicon source chemical, metal source chemical, and an oxidizing agent, wherein the metal source chemical is the next reactant provided after the silicon source chemical. Methods according to some embodiments can be used to form silicon-rich hafnium silicate and zirconium silicate films with substantially uniform film coverages on substrate surface.
US07972975B2
The invention relates to dielectric layers with a low dielectric constant, said layers being used to separate metallic interconnections especially during the production of integrated circuit boards (in the BEOL part of the circuit). According to the invention, the dielectric layer comprises SiC and/or SiOC, and is obtained from at least one precursor comprising at least one —Si—Cn—Si chain where n=1.
US07972972B2
Methods for sealing a porous dielectric are presented including: receiving a substrate, the substrate including the porous dielectric; exposing the substrate to an organosilane, where the organosilane includes a hydrolysable group for facilitating attachment with the porous dielectric, and where the organosilane does not include an alkyl group; and forming a layer as a result of the exposing to seal the porous dielectric. In some embodiments, methods are presented where the organosilane includes: alkynyl groups, aryl groups, fluoroalkyl groups, heteroarlyl groups, alcohol groups, thiol groups, amine groups, thiocarbamate groups, ester groups, ether groups, sulfide groups, and nitrile groups. In some embodiments, method further include: removing contamination from the porous dielectric and a conductive region of the substrate prior to the exposing; and removing contamination from the conductive region after the forming.
US07972971B2
The disclosure relates to a method for producing a microelectronic device including a plurality of Si1-yGey based semi-conducting zones (where 0
US07972967B1
A method of forming patterns of a semiconductor device comprising forming an auxiliary layer over an underlying layer comprising a cell region and a select transistor region, forming a first passivation layer over the auxiliary layer, wherein the first passivation layer blocks the auxiliary layer of the select transistor region and opens the auxiliary layer of the cell region, and forming a first photoresist pattern having a narrower width than the first passivation layer over (a) the first passivation layer and (b) second photoresist patterns, each having a narrower width than the first photoresist pattern, over an opening region of the auxiliary layer, wherein a gap between the first and second photoresist patterns is identical in width with a gap defined between the second photoresist patterns.
US07972965B2
The present invention relates to a process for improved interfacial adhesion of dielectrics using patterned roughing. Improved adhesion strength between layers and substrates can be achieved through increasing the roughness of the interface between the materials. Roughness may including any disturbance of an otherwise generally smooth surface, such as grooves, indents, holes, trenches, and/or the like. Roughing on the interface may be achieved by depositing a material on a surface of the substrate to act as a mask and then using an etching process to induce the roughness. The material, acting as a mask, allows etching to occur on a fine, or sub-miniature, scale below the Scale achieved with a conventional photo mask and lithography to achieve the required pattern roughing. Another material is then deposited on the roughened surface of the substrate, filling in the roughing and adhering to the substrate.
US07972964B2
A plurality of gate lines are formed on a substrate. After depositing a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer and a doped amorphous silicon layer are sequentially formed thereon. A lower insulating layer made of silicon nitride and an upper insulating layer made of a photosensitive organic material are deposited thereon after forming data lines and drain electrodes. The upper insulating layer is patterned to form an unevenness pattern on its surface and contact holes on the drain electrodes. The lower insulating layer is patterned together with the gate insulating layer using a photoresist pattern having apertures located in the contact holes to form other contact holes respectively exposing the drain electrodes, portions of the gate lines, and portions of the data lines. After forming transparent electrodes and contact assistants respectively connected to the drain electrodes and the gate and the data lines through the contact holes, reflecting electrodes having apertures are formed on the transparent electrodes.
US07972961B2
A method of processing semiconductor substrates includes: depositing a film on a substrate in a reaction chamber; evacuating the reaction chamber without purging the reaction chamber; opening a gate valve and replacing the substrate with a next substrate via the transfer chamber wherein the pressure of the transfer chamber is controlled to be higher than that of the reaction chamber before and while the gate valve is opened; repeating the above steps and removing the substrate from the reaction chamber; and purging and evacuating the reaction chamber, and cleaning the reaction chamber with a cleaning gas.
US07972960B1
A method for manufacturing a thin film includes: applying a liquid to a surface of a processing target member having at least one of a trench and a concave portion. The liquid includes a solvent and at least one of fine particles of a metal, fine particles of a semiconductor, fine particles containing a metal oxide, and fine particles containing a semiconductor oxide. A first heat treatment is included for volatilizing the solvent of the liquid applied to the surface of the processing target member. The fine particles are remained on the surface of the processing target member. A second heat treatment is also included for heating the fine particles by using microwave irradiation. At least one of the trench and the concave portion is filled with the thin film containing the fine particles or a component of the fine particles.
US07972955B2
Provided are a three dimensional semiconductor memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes forming a stepwise structure by using mask patterns and a sacrificial mask pattern formed on the mask patterns as a consumable etch mask.
US07972953B2
A liquid crystal display has a pad structure. The pad structure includes at least one pad formed on a substrate, an insulating film formed on the pad, and at least one conductive layer connected to the pad through contact holes defined through the insulating film. The insulating film covers side surfaces of the pad and a portion of the substrate adjacent to the side surfaces of the pad.
US07972951B2
A method of manufacturing a memory device forms a first dielectric layer over a substrate, forms a charge storage layer over the first dielectric layer, forms a second dielectric layer over the charge storage layer, and forms a control gate layer over the second dielectric layer. The method also forms a hard mask layer over the control gate layer, forms a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer over the hard mask layer, and provides an etch chemistry that includes tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and trifluoromethane (CHF3) to etch at least the control gate layer.
US07972949B2
An electronic component or display device of the present invention can be provided by using a following pattern formation method. On a substrate treated with a first etching with a first resist pattern as a first mask, a second resist pattern is transfer-printed on the first resist patterns so as to partially overlap with the first resist pattern and partially extended from the first resist pattern. And then a second etching is performed by using the first resist pattern and the second resist pattern as a second mask. The first resist pattern and the second resist pattern are used for forming wirings and/or terminals, and the extended portion of the second resist pattern is used to make the wirings to have a cross section of a stair-like edge shape.
US07972947B2
In a method for fabricating a semiconductor element in a substrate, first implantation ions are implanted into the substrate, whereby micro-cavities are produced in a first partial region of the substrate. Furthermore, pre-amorphization ions are implanted into the substrate, whereby a second partial region of the substrate is at least partly amorphized, and whereby crystal defects are produced in the substrate. Furthermore, second implantation ions are implanted into the second partial region of the substrate. Furthermore, the substrate is heated, such that at least some of the crystal defects are eliminated using the second implantation ions. Furthermore, dopant atoms are implanted into the second partial region of the substrate, wherein the semiconductor element is formed using the dopant atoms.
US07972938B2
Methods of producing CdZnTe (CZT) layers for the epitaxial growth of HgCdTe thereon include implanting ions into a CZT substrate at a low temperature to form a damaged layer underneath a CZT surface layer, bonding a wafer to the CZT substrate about the CZT surface layer using a bonding material, and, annealing the CZT substrate for a time sufficient to facilitate the splitting of the CZT substrate at the damaged layer from the CZT surface layer.
US07972935B2
When single crystal semiconductor layers are transposed from a single crystal semiconductor substrate (a bond wafer), the single crystal semiconductor substrate is etched selectively (this step is also referred to as groove processing), and a plurality of single crystal semiconductor layers, which are being divided in size of manufactured semiconductor elements, are transposed to a different substrate (a base substrate). Thus, a plurality of island-shaped single crystal semiconductor layers (SOI layers) can be formed over the base substrate. Further, etching is performed on the single crystal semiconductor layers formed over the base substrate, and the shapes of the SOI layers are controlled precisely by being processed and modified.
US07972930B2
In a transistor and a method of manufacturing the same, the transistor includes a channel layer arranged on a substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the substrate so as to contact respective ends of the channel layer, a gate insulating layer surrounding the channel layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode surrounding the gate insulating layer.
US07972928B2
This invention has a purpose to provide an insulated gate-type semiconductor device and its manufacturing method in which a decrease in gate insulation dielectric strength voltage and a reduction in manufacturing costs are both achieved. First, (a) a CZ bulk substrate is prepared. Next, (b) P− diffused layer and N+ diffused layer 31 are formed by executing processes such as ion implantation and thermal diffusion treatment. Further (c) a gate trench is formed by reactive ion etching. Next, (d) a gate insulation film containing carbon of 1.0×1018 atoms/cm3 is formed on the wall face of a gate trench according to a CVD method and, annealing is subsequently performed. As a consequence, a low defect area is formed in the vicinity of an interface between the CZ bulk substrate and the gate insulation film.
US07972924B2
A method for manufacturing a memory includes first providing a substrate with a horizontally adjacent control gate region and floating gate region which includes a sacrificial layer and sacrificial sidewalls, removing the sacrificial layer and sacrificial sidewalls to expose the substrate, forming dielectric sidewalls adjacent to the control gate region, forming a floating gate dielectric layer on the exposed substrate and forming a floating gate layer adjacent to the dielectric sidewalls and on the floating gate dielectric layer.
US07972919B2
The present invention relates to a device structure located in a semiconductor substrate and containing high performance vertical NPN and PNP transistors. Specifically, the vertical PNP transistor has an emitter region, and the vertical NPN transistor has an intrinsic base region. The emitter region of the vertical PNP transistor and the intrinsic base region of the vertical NPN transistor are located in a single silicon germanium-containing layer, and they both contain single crystal silicon germanium. The present invention also relates to a method for fabricating such a device structure based on collateral modification of conventional fabrication processes for CMOS and bipolar devices, with few or no additional processing steps.
US07972910B2
It is an object of the present invention to improve a factor which influences productivity such as variation caused by a characteristic defect of a circuit by thinning or production yield when an integrated circuit device in which a substrate is thinned is manufactured. A stopper layer is formed over one surface of a substrate, and an element is formed over the stopper layer, and then, the substrate is thinned from the other surface thereof. A method in which a substrate is ground or polished or a method in which the substrate is etched by chemical reaction is used as a method for thinning or removing the substrate.
US07972899B2
An apparatus for depositing a solid film onto a substrate from a reagent solution includes reservoirs of reagent solutions maintained at a sufficiently low temperature to inhibit homogeneous reactions within the reagent solutions. The chilled solutions are dispensed through showerheads, one at a time, onto a substrate. One of the showerheads includes a nebulizer so that the reagent solution is delivered as a fine mist, whereas the other showerhead delivers reagent as a flowing stream. A heater disposed beneath the substrate maintains the substrate at an elevated temperature at which the deposition of a desired solid phase from the reagent solutions may be initiated. Each reagent solution contains at least one metal and either S or Se, or both. At least one of the reagent solutions contains Cu. The apparatus and its associated method of use are particularly suited to forming films of Cu-containing compound semiconductors.
US07972896B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory cell including phase change material. A multi-bit memory cell may implement phase change material. Various kinds of information can be stored in one memory cell. A chip size may be minimized without sacrificing capacity and/or memory performance, as compared with a one-bit memory cell.
US07972894B2
A method of producing a photovoltaic cell. A passivation layer based on an intrinsic amorphous semiconductor is deposited on a back surface of a substrate based on a crystalline semiconductor. A first sacrificial mask including at least one through-opening on the passivation layer is screen-printed at a temperature less than or equal to 250° C. A doped amorphous semiconductor layer of a first type of conductivity is deposited at least in the opening. The first sacrificial mask is removed, leaving at least one doped amorphous semiconductor pad of the first type of conductivity remaining at the opening of the first sacrificial mask.
US07972886B2
Provided is a MEMS device which is robust to the misalignment and does not require the double-side wafer processing in the manufacture of a MEMS device such as an angular velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a combined sensor or a micromirror. After preparing a substrate having a space therein, holes are formed in a device layer at positions where fixed components such as a fixing portion, a terminal portion and a base that are fixed to a supporting substrate are to be formed, and the holes are filled with a fixing material so that the fixing material reaches the supporting substrate, thereby fixing the device layer around the holes to the supporting substrate.
US07972882B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are related to microresonator systems and to methods for fabricating the microresonator systems. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a microresonator system comprises: forming a multilayer system having a bottom layer, a top layer, and an intermediate layer having one or more quantum wells and sandwiched between the bottom layer and the top layer; embedding at least one waveguide in a substrate having a top surface, the at least one waveguide positioned adjacent to the top surface of the substrate; wafer bonding the top layer of the multilayer system to the top surface of the substrate; forming a microresonator in the multilayer system, wherein at least a portion of a peripheral annular region of the microresonator is portioned above the at least one waveguide; and forming a current isolation region in at least a portion of a central region of the microresonator.
US07972864B2
A method of measuring concentration of a fuel is provided. First, a fuel cell unit having at least an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is provided. Next, a fuel is supplied to the anode, while a reactive gas is supplied to the cathode. Then, the amount of the reactive gas supplied to the cathode is adjusted and the concentration of the fuel is estimated in accordance with the consumption rate of the reactive gas in the fuel cell unit.
US07972862B2
A method of sensing glucose in subjects includes the steps of providing a sensing solution including a plurality of metal ions, introducing a bodily fluid sample from a subject into the sensing solution. An optically-based measurable derived from directing incident light on the solution is generated. The concentration of glucose in the bodily fluid using the measurable is then determined which permits the blood glucose level to be derived.
US07972856B2
This invention provides methods for obtaining targeted gene modification in vertebrate cells using parvoviral vectors, including adeno-associated virus (AAV). The parvoviral vectors used in the methods of the invention are capable of targeting a specific genetic modification to a preselected target locus in a cellular genome by homologous pairing.
US07972852B2
A reconstructed artificial tissue is obtained by seeding and culturing desired homogeneous or heterogeneous cells having an ability to form a basement membrane on the basement membrane specimen constructed by the following process: the cells having an ability to form a basement membrane adhered onto a support structure through a basement membrane are treated with a surface active agent; the lipid component of cells is lysed; the mixture of an alkaline solution and a protease inhibitor is used to lyse the protein remained on the surface of the basement membrane of the cells. A protein support structure is temporarily adhered to plastic surface through an adsorptive polymer by hydrophobic bonding, such as an alternating copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, which has a hydrophobic linear carbon skeleton and a functional group which can react with protein in a molecule and a basement membrane specimen or an artificial tissue is formed thereon.
US07972848B2
Cross-reactive T cells recognizing both MBP93-105 and HHV-61-13 peptides represent a significant subset of T cells with some degree of TCR degeneracy. It appears that the recognition of the cross-reactive T cells has a less stringent requirement for the flanking residues of the two peptides. In contrast, these flanking residues are critical for the T cell recognition of mono-specific T cells. The association between HHV-6 and autoreactive immune responses to MBP indicates that cross-reactive T cells, peptides from the V-D-J region of the T cell receptor from autoreactive T cells, and antiviral agents may prevent or treat MS.
US07972845B2
The invention described herein provides for human antibodies produced in non-human animals that specifically bind to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The invention further provides methods for making the antibodies in a non-human animal, expression of the antibodies in cell lines including hybridomas and recombinant host cell systems. Also provided are kits and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies and methods of treating or preventing pseudomonas infection by administering to a patient the pharmaceutical compositions described herein.
US07972835B2
A blood-viscosity reducing agent contains a protein derived from Bacillus subtilis natto and including, sequentially from an amino group terminal, a first structural amino acid sequence having alanine, threonine, aspartic acid, glycine, valine, glutamic acid, tryptophan, asparagine, valine, aspartic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, alanine, proline, lysine, alanine, tryptophan, alanine, leucine, glycine, tyrosine aspartic, acid, glycine, threonine, glycine, threonine, valine, valine, alanine, serine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, threonine, glycine, valine, glutamic acid, tryptophan, asparagine, histidine, proline, alanine, leucine, lysine, glutamic acid, lysine, tyrosine, arginine, glycine, tyrosine, asparagine, proline, glutamic acid, asparagine, proline, asparagine, glutamic acid, proline, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, methionine, asparagine, tryptophan, tyrosine, aspartic acid, alanine, valine, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, serine, proline, tyrosine, aspartic acid, aspartic acid, leucine, alanine, histidine, glycine, threonine, histidine, valine, and threonine, a second structural amino acid sequence having alanine, phenylalanine, serine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, glycine, threonine, aspartic acid, alanine, aspartic acid, isoleucine, leucine, glutamic acid, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, tryptophan, valine, and leucine, a third structural amino acid sequence having aspartic acid, alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, asparagine, proline, histidine, proline, glutamic acid, methionine, alanine, proline, aspartic acid, and valine, and a fourth structural amino acid sequence having valine, proline, glycine, glutamine, alanine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, tryptophan, and aspartic acid, thereby reducing the viscosity of whole blood.
US07972833B2
The invention involves isolation of nucleic acid molecules, the expression of which are upregulated by interleukin-9. The amino acid sequences of the proteins which correspond to the nucleic acid molecules show some structural features of cytokines. In addition to the nucleic acid molecules and the proteins, various uses of the molecules are disclosed. The molecules are referred to as T cell inducible factors.
US07972828B2
The present invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for protecting thermostable DNA polymerase during amplification reactions conducted at a temperature ranging from about 40° C. to greater than 100° C. The composition comprises a thermostable DNA polymerase and an anionic detergent or zwitterionic detergent.
US07972827B2
Described herein is a method for the attachment of proteins to any solid support with control over the orientation of the attachment. The method is extremely efficient, not requiring the previous purification of the protein to be attached, and can be activated by UV-light. Spatially addressable arrays of multiple protein components can be generated by using standard photolithographic techniques.
US07972822B2
An enzymatic process for preparing aliphatic polycarbonates via terpolymerization or transesterification using a dialkyl carbonate, an aliphatic diester, and an aliphatic diol or triol reactant. A catalyst having an enzyme capable of catalyzing an ester hydrolysis reaction in an aqueous environment is subsequently added to the reaction mixture. Next, polymerization of the reaction proceeds for an allotted time at a temperature≦100° C. Finally, the copolymer is isolated from an the catalyst via filtration.
US07972816B2
The present invention provides a simple method for producing a dumbbell-shaped DNA.A method for producing a dumbbell-shaped DNA, wherein each of sense and antisense strands is connected at both the 5′ and 3′ ends of a linear-shaped double stranded DNA by a single stranded DNA of loop structure, comprising the steps of; 1) amplifying a target DNA in a template DNA by PCR using sense and antisense primers, wherein each of the sense and antisense primers contains the following sequence (a) at the 5′ end and also contains the following sequences (b), (c), and (d) in order from the 5′ end to the 3′ end, (a) a part of a sense sequence of a nickase recognition sequence, comprising the sequence of a region between the site where a nick is introduced by the action of a nickase and the 3′ end, (b) a sequence capable of forming a loop structure from a single strand, (c) the entire antisense sequence of the nickase recognition sequence (a), (d) a sequence complementary to all or part of the sequence of the target DNA; 2) treating the amplified DNA product of step 1) with a nickase of (a); 3) heating and then annealing the nickase treated amplified DNA product of step 2); and 4) treating the heated and annealed amplified DNA product of step 3) with DNA ligase, wherein the sense and antisense primers used in step 1) are phosphorylated at the 5′ end, or the amplified DNA product is phosphorylated at the 5′ end after step 1) but before step 4).
US07972813B2
The present invention is directed to a chimp sodium channel alpha subunit and methods and compositions for making and using the same.
US07972812B2
A novel cytokine designated TRAIL induces apoptosis of certain target cells, including cancer cells and virally infected cells. Isolated DNA sequences encoding TRAIL are disclosed, along with expression vectors and transformed host cells useful in producing TRAIL polypeptides. Antibodies that specifically bind TRAIL are provided as well.
US07972810B2
Culture media comprising manganese and methods of culturing cells to improve sialylation and glycosylation of glycoproteins are provided.
US07972806B2
The present invention is related to a method for producing a phospholipase by processing an expressed fungal peptide and to certain specified phospholipases. Furthermore the invention provides a method for producing cheese with a phospholipase.
US07972805B2
A method is described for improving the nutritional value of a foodstuff comprising a source of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate by feeding the foodstuff in combination with a phytase expressed in yeast. The method comprises the step of feeding the animal the foodstuff in combination with a phytase expressed in yeast wherein the phytase can be selected from the group consisting of AppA1, AppA2 and a site-directed mutant of AppA. The invention also enables reduction of the feed to weight gain ratio and an increase bone mass and mineral content of an animal. A foodstuff and a feed additive comprising AppA2 or a site-directed mutant of AppA are also described.
US07972803B2
Described are methods for modulating cellular secretion, and methods for identifying novel modulators of cellular secretion, that target centrosomal proteins.
US07972801B2
The present invention provides BoNT/B peptides, BoNT/B peptide compositions, tolerogizing compositions, immune response inducing compositions, as well as methods of determining immunoresistance to botulinum toxin therapy in an individual, methods of treating immunoresistance to botulinum toxin therapy in an individual, methods of reducing anti-botulinum toxin antibodies in an individual and methods of inducing a BoNT/B immune response an individual.
US07972800B2
By using a G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising an amino acid sequence, which is the same or substantially the same as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof, and an ionizable metal element or a salt thereof, an agonist for or an antagonist to the above receptor protein or a salt thereof can be efficiently screened.
US07972798B2
The present invention provides methods for detecting and measuring, in a sample from a subject, the plasma levels of endothelial cell antibodies to diagnose an increased risk of pathological complications, such as visual impairment, associated with diabetes.
US07972793B2
Methods and compositions that relate to genetic markers of psychotic disorders, e.g., schizophrenia (SZ), are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods for determinations of a SULT4A1-1 haplotype are described. Furthermore, the invention provides methods and compositions involving treatment of psychotic disorders using the haplotype status.
US07972792B2
Disclosed is a method for the purification and collection of a nucleic acid comprising a specific nucleotide sequence, which can be carried out within an extremely short period and can achieve both high sequence-specificity and a high collection rate. Specifically disclosed is a method for the purification of a target nucleic acid comprising a specific nucleotide sequence and contained in a nucleic acid mixture. The method comprises the steps of: hybridizing a photo-ligating nucleic acid having a group represented by formula (I) as abase moiety with the target nucleic acid to form a hybrid; irradiating the hybrid of the photo-ligating nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid with light to cause the photo-ligation of the hybrid; removing any un-photo-ligated nucleic acid by washing; and irradiating the hybrid of the photo-ligating nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid with light to cause the photo-cleavage of the hybrid.
US07972791B2
The present invention provides a novel method for specifically isolating and separating large segments of genomic DNA that can subsequently be used to determine a genomic haplotype. The invention relies on using a solid phase having a flat surface arrayed with oligonucleotides designed to specifically hybridize to each particular haplotype of an individual sample, e.g., oligonucleotides designed to specifically hybridize with each of the two HLA-B haplotypes, HLA-A, HLA-C, HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and the like. The genomic DNA is contacted and hybridized to the arrayed oligonucleotides to form a genomic DNA/oligonucleotide complex. The excess genomic DNA is washed away and the haplotype separated genomic DNA is denatured from the oligonucleotide probe and collected. The method of the present invention allows for the separation of genomic DNA fragments of between approximately 2 to about 4 megabases (Mb). Separation of the haplotypes of large genomic DNA fragments allows for linkage analysis of other HLA alleles and polymorphisms, microsatellite, SNPs, and the like across a large span of the HLA region, including HLA-A, -B, -C, and HLA-DRB1 regions. This linkage analysis is particularly useful when HLA typing for an individual with limited family HLA typing available.
US07972787B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.
US07972785B2
The present invention provides a method for detecting liver fibrotic injury, including fibrosis and/or cirrhosis, by assaying biological samples for differential expression of at least one gene encoding a protein chosen from SEQ ID NO: 1-SEQ ID NO: 63 and human orthologs thereof, wherein differential expression of at least one gene suggests the presence of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. The invention also provides a kit containing nucleic acid probes or antibodies for detecting liver fibrosis and/or cirrhosis by assaying the differential expression of proteins encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1-SEQ ID NO: 63 and human orthologs thereof.
US07972781B2
The health condition of a living organism is detected by electrochemically analyzing samples from selected areas of the body of said living organism for elevated free levels of nucleotide excision products resulting from DNA or RNA damage.
US07972780B2
The present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug such as AZA or 6-MP by genotyping the patient for a polymorphism in the gene encoding ITPase (ITPA). The present invention also provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug by determining a level of ITPase activity or ITP in a sample from the patient. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a thiopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in the ITPA gene.
US07972776B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods, assays, and kits for detecting HPV infection, including infection by various HPV genotypes, early and/or late HPV-associated or HPV-specific proteins or antibodies. Detection of HPV DNAs, genomes, and/or oncoproteins by protein chips immunological assays can be used in early clinical screening for HPV infection and general diagnosis for cervical cancer and can be advantageous performed in a multiplexed test. Comparative detection of altered levels of HPV proteins and host proteins can performed in one or more assays. The polypeptides, recombinant proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, and various detection methods thereof are particularly useful for diagnosing carcinomas of the uterine cervix and those at risk of developing cervical cancer.
US07972770B2
The disclosed methods address the identification and monitoring of cancer in a subject using serum peptide profiles. Such profiles allow the detection of the differential presence of certain serum peptide markers in comparison with controls. The profiles can be determined employing mass spectrometry.
US07972755B2
There is disclosed a substrate processing method by a multi-patterning technique, which comprises a lithography process and an etching process, each of the processes is performed to one substrate at least twice. The substrate processing method is performed by using a substrate processing system comprising a plurality of process units for performing respective steps of the lithography process. When a second lithography process is performed to a substrate, process unit(s) for performing one or more steps of the second lithography process to be used in the second lithography process is automatically selected based on the process history of the first lithography process in such a way that the process unit(s) to be used in the second lithography process is (are) identical to the processed unit(s) used in the first lithography process.
US07972750B2
The mask blank is patterned to form a corresponding mask having a light shielding film pattern with enhanced resolution. A mask blank (10) on which a chemically amplified resist film (20) is formed, the mask blank (10) comprising a substrate (12), a light shielding film (13) provided on the substrate (12), and a resist underlying film (18) provided on the light shielding film (13), for suppressing the deactivation of the chemically amplified resist film (20). When the light shielding film (13) is etched using the patterned chemically amplified resist film (20) as a mask, the etching rate of the deactivation preventive film (18) is higher than the etching rate of the chemically amplified resist film (20).
US07972741B2
A fuel cell stack that includes straight cathode flow channels and straight anode flow channels through a seal area between bipolar plates in the stack. The fuel cell stack includes a seal that extends around the active area of the stack and between the stack headers and the active area. At the locations where the cathode flow channels extend through a seal area to the cathode input header and the cathode outlet header, and the anode flow channels extend through a seal area to the anode input header and the anode output header, the diffusion media layer on one side of the membrane is extended to provide the seal load. Alternately, shims can be used to carry the seal load.
US07972733B2
Disclosed is an electrolyte for a secondary battery comprising an electrolyte salt and an electrolyte solvent, the electrolyte further comprising both a cyclic diester compound and a sulfinyl group-containing compound. Also, disclosed is an electrode having a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film partially or totally formed on a surface thereof, the SEI film being formed by electrical reduction of the above compounds. Further, a secondary battery comprising the electrolyte and/or the electrode is disclosed.
US07972728B2
The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivineor the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3− as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
US07972725B2
Irreversible first cycle capacity loss in lithium secondary cells having a cell electrode based on a powdered material and a binder may be significantly decreased or eliminated by using an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyimide binder. Compared to conventional polyimide binders prepared by reacting an aromatic dianhydride and a diamine, the disclosed polyimide binders have decreased aromatic carbonyl content, may be less likely to undergo electrochemical reduction, and may be less likely to consume electrons that might otherwise help lithiate the electrode.
US07972715B2
A plurality of recording magnetization portions is arranged in a concentric manner around a center of a glass substrate. A plurality of non-magnetization portion having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the recording magnetization portions is formed each between adjacent recording magnetization portions along a circumferential direction on a main surface of the glass substrate. A mean squared roughness of a surface of an area where each of the non-magnetization portions is formed is equal to or smaller than 1 nanometer.
US07972709B2
A Cu—Zn alloy strip and Sn plating strip thereof having improved thermal peel resistance of Sn Plating is provided. In a Cu—Zn alloy strip comprising 15 to 40% by mass of Zn and a balance of Cu and unavoidable impurities, the total concentration of P, As, Sb and Bi is regulated to 100 ppm by mass or less, the total concentration of Ca and Mg is regulated to 100 ppm by mass or less, and the concentrations of O and S are each regulated to 30 ppm by mass or less.
US07972705B2
Silicone coating on various soft supports, for instance textiles, made of synthetic polymers (polyamide, polyester) provides an efficient method for producing water impermeable and water permeable coatings, on soft supports, said method enabling to improve permeability to water vapor of the silicones while preserving impermeability to water. The inventive method enabling this consists mainly in: coating one of the surfaces of the support with a film formed by an invert water-in-oil silicone emulsion comprising a continuous oily silicone phase phi s, crosslinkable into elastomer and including a polyorganosiloxane (POS) A crosslinkable by addition polymerization, by cationic process or free-radical process; optionally a crosslinking organosilicon compound B; and optionally at least a catalyst C; an aqueous phase phi a; a stabilizing agent; and in ensuring crosslinking of the silicone phase phi s and elimination of water. The invention also concerns water impermeable and water vapor permeable soft polyamide or polyester substrates obtained by using an invert water-in-oil silicone emulsion.
US07972700B2
A laminated film including a thermoplastic resin film, and a laminated layer disposed on at least one surface of the thermoplastic resin film including an acryl-urethane copolymer resin (A), and a polyester resin (B), and a crosslinking agent (C) including an isocyanate crosslinking agent, a carbodiimide crosslinking agent or mixtures thereof, the amount of the crosslinking agent (C) is from 5 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the sum of the acryl-urethane copolymer resin (A) and the polyester resin (B).
US07972697B2
The present teachings are directed toward methods for preparing activated capacitor materials by exposing capacitor material to an electrical potential of sufficient voltage and for a sufficient time to activate the capacitor materials. Compositions of capacitor materials containing carbon nanotubes and other carbon-containing materials are also disclosed.
US07972683B2
A material for bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, which includes an insulating adhesive with conductive particles embedded in the adhesive substance. When the adhesive is applied and melted or fused, and pressure is applied between the first wafer and the second wafer, the first wafer approaches the second wafer until a minimum separation is reached, defined by a dimension of the conductive particles. Each of the first wafer and the second wafer may have circuitry formed thereon, and the conductive particles may form a conductive path between the circuitry on one wafer and the circuitry on the other wafer. Advantageously, the high fusing temperature required by the insulating adhesive may also serve to activate a getter material, formed in the device cavity between the first wafer and the second wafer.
US07972682B2
Suspensions of fine particles in a liquid containing a colloid-scale adhesive produce coatings and shaped articles which are both porous and robust.
US07972677B2
There is provided a honeycomb structure including: porous partition walls separating and forming a plurality of cells extending between two end faces, and an outer peripheral wall formed unitarily with the partition walls. The cells include outermost peripheral portion partial cells each locating in an outermost peripheral portion of the honeycomb structure and having an incomplete cell cross section, a part of which is brought into contact with the outer peripheral wall, and complete cells each having a complete cell cross section other than the outermost peripheral portion partial cells. The complete cells and the outermost peripheral portion partial cells having plugging portions formed on one end portion so that an entire end face of the honeycomb structure shows a checkerwise plugging pattern, and the depth of the plugging portions in the outermost peripheral partial cells is smaller than that of the plugging portions in the complete cells.
US07972672B2
A laminated anti-fatigue area rug comprises a bottom laminate of anti-fatigue material being rubber or vinyl having anti-slip properties for stability, a top laminate of cork with an upper wearing surface having a polyurethane coating and a middle bonding laminate of fiberglass cloth and adhesive material to bond the layers together. There resulting rug is sufficiently flexible that it may be rolled for storage without cracking the cork or delaminating.
US07972669B2
Disclosed is a foam sheet made of a biodegradable resin composition. The biodegradable resin composition contains a wax and/or a polyolefin resin. The biodegradable resin is mainly composed of polylactic acid. Natural candelilla wax or paraffin wax is preferable as the wax. Polyethylene is preferable as the polyolefin resin. Also disclosed are a foam article and a molded container made of such a foam sheet wherein the degree of crystallinity of the biodegradable resin is 10% or more.
US07972665B2
The invention provides an ink jet recording medium comprising a support and an ink receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the support. In one embodiment, a center line average roughness average Ra of a surface of the ink-receiving layer, measured with a 2.5 mm measuring length and 0.8 mm cut-off value, is in a range of 0.3 μm or more but less than 0.8 μm. In another embodiment, a center line average roughness average Ra of the surface of the support measured with a 2.5 mm measuring length and 0.8 mm cut-off value, is preferably in a range of 0.3 μm or more but less than 1.0 μm. An image clarity of the surface of the ink receiving layer is preferably in a range of 2 to 40%.
US07972664B2
Disclosed are a liquid-crystalline medium, which contains a compound of formula I and the use thereof for electro-optical purposes, in particular for TN, TFT, IPS or OCB displays.
US07972662B2
An information recording medium is prepared by forming a multi-layered film, including an information recording layer, on a substrate by transferring the substrate heated at an average heating rate of at least 10° C./second in a heating zone, along consecutive film-forming zones, and consecutively forming layers forming the multi-layered film in the film-forming zones.
US07972659B2
Organofunctional silanes are applied to metal surfaces using an oil bath. Metal is immersed in an oil bath containing approximately 2% silane and an oil dispersible hygroscopic liquid, such as glycerol. In one embodiment, the metal is a tire cord. Water vapor entrained in a carrier gas can also be bubbled into the oil silane bath.
US07972658B2
Devices, systems and methods for controlling the coating of a sample are disclosed. The exemplary system may have a manufacturing device for providing a sample with one or more sample characteristics associated with one or more coating characteristics. The exemplary system may have a sample sensor for determining the one or more sample characteristics and a manufacturing controller for controlling the manufacturing device and controlling the one or more characteristics of the sample provided by the manufacturing device based on the determined one or more sample characteristics. The exemplary system may also have a coating device for providing coating to the sample with the one or more coating characteristics; a coating sensor for determining the one or more coating characteristics; and a coating controller for controlling the coating device and controlling the one or more characteristics of the coating provided by the coating device based on the determined one or more coating characteristics.
US07972655B2
A method is disclosed for enhancing the corrosion resistance of a surface of a copper or copper alloy substrate. The method comprises depositing a metallic surface layer comprising a precious metal on a surface of the copper or copper alloy substrate by immersion displacement plating and exposing the electronic device to an aqueous composition comprising a first organic molecule comprising at least one functional group that interacts with and protects precious metal surfaces and a second organic molecule comprising at least one functional group that interacts with and protects copper surfaces.
US07972653B2
A coating film removal method for a coated member having a coating film formed over the surface of a substrate is disclosed, which can easily achieve a coating film removal, even for a carbon-based coating film containing carbon as a main component, besides a carbon-based coating film containing a metal element etc. A coated member regeneration method is also disclosed, which removes a coating film from a coated member, and then forms a new coating film over the member, to regenerate the coated member. The coating film removal method is adapted to remove a carbon-based coating film from a coated member (10) including a substrate, and the carbon-based coating film coated on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate while containing carbon as a main component. The coating film removal method includes bringing a molten salt having an oxidizing function for carbon into contact with the carbon-based coating film, to remove at least a portion of the carbon-based coating film coated over the surface of the substrate. A coated member regeneration method includes removing the carbon-based coating film from the coated member, using such coating film removal method, and subsequently forming a coating film on at least a portion of a surface of the film-removed member (11).
US07972651B2
A method for forming a multi-layered structure using a droplet-discharging device; the method comprises: (A) forming a first insulating-material layer covering the material-body surface by discharging a droplet of a first insulating material including a first photosensitive resin to a material-body surface; (B) obtaining a first insulating layer by curing in the first insulating-material layer; (C) forming a pattern of an electric conductive material layer on the first insulating layer by discharging a droplet of an electric conductive material to the first insulating layer; and (D) forming a wiring pattern on the first insulating layer by activating the pattern of the electric conductive material layer.
US07972650B1
A method for manufacturing an electronic circuit in three-dimensional space provides for interconnecting electronic components within the circuit by directly writing conducting lines. The method may include observing a direct writing tool of a direct write system using a vision system, determining proper placement of the direct writing tool at least partially based on the step of observing, and directly writing conducting lines in three dimensions using the proper placement. The direct writing may be on a surface or in free space. The method may include stacking a plurality of chips to provide a stack having a top surface and edges extending away from the top and interconnecting connections of the chips by directly writing conducting lines along one of the edges.
US07972649B2
A thin film formation method is used for forming a thin film by providing a conductance valve on an exhaust path connecting a depressurizable processing chamber and a vacuum pump, arranging a processing object substrate inside the processing chamber, performing once or plural times a cycle including a first step of supplying a first reactive gas and a second step of supplying a second reactive gas into the processing chamber during a film formation processing period to cause a chemical reaction between the first reactive gas and the second reactive gas, and using the chemical reaction to form the thin film on the substrate. The thin film formation method includes a first process of supplying into the processing chamber a predetermined gas by a specified flow while exhausting the inside of the processing chamber, and determining a reference value that is equal to a valve opening level of the conductance valve causing pressure inside the processing chamber to substantially match a specified value, the first process being performed during a preparation period before the film formation processing period starts; and a second process of maintaining the valve opening level of the conductance valve at the reference value at least during the first step and the second step of the cycle performed during the film formation processing period.
US07972647B2
The invention relates to a method for improving one or more functional properties of a protein product, said method having the adjustment of the pH of the protein product to a value higher than 7. The invention further relates to a product having such a protein product and to the use of a protein product in a food product in order to improve one or more functional properties of the food product.
US07972644B2
With the object of providing a bottleable green tea beverage for selling hot, a bottleable green tea beverage was prepared, which is a bottleable green tea beverage containing a green tea extract obtained by extracting green tea leaves, wherein the content in epigallocatechin gallate and gallocatechin gallate is 380 mg/l to 1500 mg/l as a total value, the content of glutamic acid is 20 mg/l to 120 mg/l, the diff-use transmittance is 1.0% or less, and the pH is 5 to 7.
US07972643B2
An enzyme resistant starch type III having a melting point or endothermic peak of at least about 140° C. as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is produced in yields of at least about 25% by weight, based upon the weight of the original starch ingredient. A gelatinization stage, nucleation/propagation stage, and preferably a heat-treatment stage are used to produce reduced calorie starch-based compositions which contain the enzyme resistant starch type III. The high melting point of the enzyme resistant starch permits its use in baked good formulations without substantial loss of enzyme resistance upon baking. A gelatinized, starch-based bulking agent having at least 30% by weight of the enzyme-resistant starch may be used in bar-type, extruded, sheeted, or rotary molded food products. The melting enthalpy of the bulking agent may be from about 0.5 to about 4 Joules/g and its water-holding capacity may be less than 3 grams.
US07972641B2
Lipoxygenase-free soybean grains are mechanically pulverized into fine particles and then subjected to heat drying treatment with water vapor having a temperature in the range of 130 to 250° C. under atmospheric pressure to form lumps of soybean powder. The lumps are formed into granules having controlled sizes by placing the lumps in a space defined by two plates having a predetermined distance therebetween and having a plurality of parallel grooves formed in the surfaces. The plates are in a state of relative rotation. This method allows the production of soybean powder free from disagreeable odor and taste and the production of soybean milk from the soybean powder, with inexpensive equipment in a quick process.
US07972633B2
Compositions for supporting healthy memory and optimizing mental energy and methods for improving, preventing, and treating mental disorders or deterioration. The compositions of the invention can be formulated as nutritional or dietary supplements.
US07972627B2
Nasal pharmaceutical formulations comprising a drug substance having a specific particle size distribution profile are disclosed herein. Such profile provides increased bioavailability, increased efficacy or prolonged therapeutic effect of the drug substance when administered intranasally. The formulations of the present invention may comprise one or more corticosteroids having a specific particle size distribution profile. In a preferred embodiment, the corticosteroid is beclomethasone or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof for the treatment of one or more symptoms of rhinitis. Preferably, the drug substance is beclomethasone dipropionate. The formulations herein may be provided as an aqueous suspension suitable for inhalation via the intranasal route.
US07972616B2
This invention provides novel nanofiber enhanced surface area substrates and structures comprising such substrates for use in various medical devices, as well as methods and uses for such substrates and medical devices. In one particular embodiment, methods for enhancing cellular functions on a surface of a medical device implant are disclosed which generally comprise providing a medical device implant comprising a plurality of nanofibers (e.g., nanowires) thereon and exposing the medical device implant to cells such as osteoblasts.
US07972615B2
The presently disclosed subject matter provides compositions comprising a first substrate-binding domain (a peptide or a polymer) having binding affinity for a tissue or a medical device, a second substrate-binding domain having binding affinity for a target molecule, and the target molecule. In some embodiments, the first and second substrate-binding domains are covalently linked. The first and second substrate-binding domains are covalently coupled to at least one hydrophobic interaction tag, negatively charged interaction tag, or positively charged interaction tag. When the substrate-binding domains are combined and coated onto the tissue or medical device, the hydrophobic interaction tags interact with each other and the charged interaction tags interact with the oppositely charged interaction tags or the oppositely charged substrate binding polymers, to form a macromolecular network of non-covalently coupled substrate-binding domains to load the target molecule onto the tissue or medical device.
US07972608B2
The present invention provides, among other things, improved carrier proteins for antigen-based vaccines, including polysaccharide-based vaccines. An aspect of the invention advantageously employs tetanus toxin Fragment C.
US07972607B2
Francisella tularensis is the bacterial pathogen that causes tularemia in humans and a number of animals. To date, no approved vaccine exists for this widespread and life-threatening disease. The present disclosure provides attenuated Francisella mutants that include functional deletions in one or more of the dsbB, FTT0742, pdpB, fumA, and carB genes. Also provided are immunogenic compositions that include the attenuated bacteria. Methods are provided for treatment using the attenuated Francisella mutants.
US07972605B2
The present invention relates, in general, to vaccines and, in particular, to a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus, to a composition comprising such a virus and to methods of using same to induce an immune response.
US07972602B2
The present invention relates to the discovery of novel T cell epitopes of the human HER-2/Neu protein that is promiscuous for at least 25 different HLA-DR alleles. The invention also relates to compositions that contain one of the novel epitopes or a fusion peptide of such a epitope and a heterologous polypeptide. Further disclosed herein is the use of the epitopes or their fusion peptides, and compositions containing the epitopes or their fusion peptides.
US07972597B2
The invention provides antibodies that bind to a plurality of β-chemokines, particularly monocyte chemotactic proteins MCP-1, MCP-2 and MCP-3. The invention also provides cells producing the antibodies, and methods of making and using the same.
US07972594B2
The invention disclosed herein relates generally to immunotherapy and, more specifically, to the use of immunotherapy for treating tumors and pathogen infected tissues by first priming patients with allogeneic cells designed to be rejected by a Th1 mediated mechanism, then inducing necrosis or apoptosis in a tumor or pathogen infected lesion by methods such as cryotherapy, irreversible electroporation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, ultrasound therapy, ethanol chemoablation, microwave thermal ablation, radiofrequency energy or a combination thereof applied against at least a portion of the tumor or pathogen infected tissue, and then delivering one or more doses of allogeneic cells (e.g., Th1 cells) within or proximate to the tumor or pathogen-infected tissue in the primed patient. The present invention provides an immunotherapeutic strategy to develop de-novo systemic (adaptive) immunity to a tumor or pathogen.
US07972589B2
The present invention relates to a hair fixative film, which contains a natural and/or synthetic polymer as the main component and a method of applying said film to hair. Such film is useful in maintaining a desired look and style of hair. Furthermore, the film is beneficial because it enables the combination of ingredients that are incompatible in other application forms.
US07972586B2
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing magnesium oxide powder using a vapor phase reaction and a method of preparing the same and more particularly to a fluorine-containing magnesium oxide powder brings about a cathode-luminescence emission having a peak within a wavelength range of 220 to 320 nm upon being excited by electron beams. The present invention provides a fluorine-containing magnesium oxide powder using a vapor phase reaction that sprays fluorine-containing gas and oxygen-containing gas to magnesium vapor, and the purity of magnesium oxide containing fluorine (i.e. the purity of fluorine-containing magnesium oxide) of 0.001 to 2 wt % is at least 98 wt % and a BET specific surface area thereof is 0.1 to 50 m2/g.
US07972577B2
A measuring chip is configured for separating and measuring a target component in a sample by rotation around first and second axes of rotation. The measuring chip includes a centrifugal separation tube that centrifugally separates the target component from the sample by rotating the measuring chip around the first axis of rotation; a first holding section installed in the bottom of the centrifugal separation tube, wherein non-target components other than the target component in the sample are introduced therein by rotation around the first axis of rotation, and the first holding section holds the non-target components during rotation around the second axis of rotation; and a measuring section connected to one end of the centrifugal separation tube that measures the non-target components introduced from the centrifugal separation tube by rotation around the second axis of rotation.
US07972574B2
A test kit for testing production waste includes a plurality of components including reagents, test equipment, or a combination thereof, sufficient to perform analysis on production waste and at least one protective case for shipping and for using the plurality of components, the protective case including a top portion releasably engaged with a bottom portion. The top portion includes a top side attached at an inner face of the top side to a top edge of a continuous sidewall formed by a plurality of sides such that the top portion of the protective case includes a hollow interior cavity bound by the inner face of the top side and an inner face of the continuous sidewall, wherein the hollow interior cavity is open on a bottom side, and wherein the hollow interior cavity defines a water-tight enclosure opened on the bottom side, such that the top portion, resting on a support surface inverted on an outer face of the top side, is capable of forming a liquid reservoir.
US07972573B2
A reactor suitable for the continuous oxidizing of an organic material in a supercritical water oxidation process, the reactor includes (a) a reactor body with reactor walls; (b) and a threaded reactor upper plug; and (c) a cylindrical liner attached solely to the threaded reactor upper plug, such that, when the threaded reactor upper plug is removed from the reactor, the reactor liner is consequently and simultaneously removed from the reactor as well.
US07972572B2
A reactor vessel liner system includes a liner having a plurality of first conduits and a plurality of second conduits for conveying a coolant. The plurality of second conduits is located at least partially within corresponding ones of the plurality of first conduits.
US07972562B2
The present invention relates to a high-pressure fluidized bed reactor for preparing granular polycrystalline silicon, comprising (a) a reactor tube, (b) a reactor shell encompassing the reactor tube, (c) an inner zone formed within the reactor tube, where a silicon particle bed is formed and silicon deposition occurs, and an outer zone formed in between the reactor shell and the reactor tube, which is maintained under the inert gas atmosphere, and (d) a controlling means to keep the difference between pressures in the inner zone and the outer zone being maintained within the range of 0 to 1 bar, thereby enabling to maintain physical stability of the reactor tube and efficiently prepare granular polycrystalline silicon even at relatively high reaction pressure.
US07972558B2
A method and an apparatus for sterilizing packaging material for use in packaging for protein containing products, such as food products or medical drugs. The packaging material is sterilized by irradiating it using a beam of ionizing radiation, such as an electron beam or a beam of gamma rays. Afterwards, the packaging material is processed in such a manner that protein reactive substances or compounds formed in the packaging material during the irradiation step are at least partly removed or rendered inreactive with respect to proteins. The processing step may advantageously be performed by heating the packaging material. Preferably, the processing step involves accelerating diffusion from the packaging material of protein reactive substances or compounds. Since the protein reactive substances or compounds are removed or rendered inreactive with respect to proteins, degradation of the product which is later stored in the packaging material is considerably reduced. The packaging material needs to be stored under sterile conditions for a shorter period of time. Thereby the space needed for sterile storage, as well of the risk of contamination, is considerably reduced.
US07972555B2
Methods for fabricating compressible object are described. These compressible objects may be utilized in drilling mud and with a drilling system to manage the density of the drilling mud. The method includes selecting an architecture for a compressible object; selecting a wall material for the compressible object; and fabricating the compressible object, wherein the compressible object has a shell that encloses an interior region, and has an internal pressure (i) greater than about 200 pounds per square inch at atmospheric pressure and (ii) selected for a predetermined external pressure, wherein external pressures that exceed the internal pressure reduce the volume of the compressible object.
US07972551B2
A method for producing a solid body having depressed portions on its surface is provided. The method includes: using a solution which includes a solvent A, a solvent B, a solvent C, and a polymer compound, where the solvent B is a hydrophobic solvent, the solvent A is a hydrophilic solvent having a boiling point not lower than the boiling point of the solvent B, and the solvent C is a non-hydrophobic solvent having a boiling point lower than the boiling point of the solvent B, and the contents of the solvent A, solvent B, and solvent C satisfy specific conditions; and solidifying the solution while forming depressed portions on the surface of the solution by condensation during the process of evaporating the solvents included in the solution.
US07972550B2
An underground mine tire 20 having a nominal bead diameter of 20.0 inches or less has a carcass, a tread 25 and a pair of rubber sidewalls 23, each extending along the outer periphery of the carcass 21 below the tread 25. The tire 20 has a nominal bead width D greater than 8.50 inches and an overall diameter of less than 55 inches. The carcass 21 has at least one radial steel cord reinforced ply 24.
US07972547B2
A casting dope (27) prepared from CAP, additive and solvent is cast onto a belt (46) and peeled as a wet film (74) that is drawn in the longitudinal direction in a transporting area (80). In a tenter device (47), while the wet film (74) is stretched in the widthwise direction, a relaxation of the wet film (74) in the longitudinal direction is made. If an extent percentage of the stretch is less than 70%, the relation is started. The wet film (74) is fed out as a polymer film (82) from the tenter device (47). On the polymer film (82), the in-plane retardation increases and the thickness retardation decreases. Thus the optical properties become preferable.
US07972537B2
A carbon nanotube-conductive polymer composite includes a plurality of CNTs and conductive polymer fibers. The CNTs are connected with each other to form a network. The conductive polymer fibers adhere to surfaces of the CNTs and/or tube walls of the CNTs.
US07972536B2
The present invention is directed to the effective dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer matrices. The nanocomposites are prepared using polymer matrices and exhibit a unique combination of properties, most notably, high retention of optical transparency in the visible range (i.e., 400-800 nm), electrical conductivity, and high thermal stability. By appropriate selection of the matrix resin, additional properties such as vacuum ultraviolet radiation resistance, atomic oxygen resistance, high glass transition (Tg) temperatures, and excellent toughness can be attained. The resulting nanocomposites can be used to fabricate or formulate a variety of articles such as coatings on a variety of substrates, films, foams, fibers, threads, adhesives and fiber coated prepreg. The properties of the nanocomposites can be adjusted by selection of the polymer matrix and CNT to fabricate articles that possess high optical transparency and antistatic behavior.
US07972535B2
Composite particles for an electrochemical device electrode containing an electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder, wherein primary particles of the composite particles have a volume average particle size of 1 to 500 μm and, when a relative particle amount of the primary particles having a particle size of a fine range near a mode radius R1 of the primary particles in the particle size distribution of the primary particles of the composite particles found by the volume standard is ρ1 and a relative particle amount of secondary particles having a particle size of the fine range in the particle size distribution of the secondary particles of the composite particles found by the volume standard in measurement at 23° C. is ρ2, ρ2/ρ1 is 0.03 to 0.60.
US07972515B1
An in situ reverse flow shipboard membrane integrity test apparatus and method, for determining if a membrane arrangement is defective. A membrane arrangement within a separation unit is tested when the membrane arrangement is arranged to perform wastewater separating functions. The separation unit includes a first inlet conduit, a first outlet conduit, and a second outlet conduit. An end cap is attached to the second outlet conduit to seal the second outlet conduit. A test air supply connected to the first outlet conduit for supplying an airflow to the membrane and a microparticle source containing microparticles for injecting microparticles into the airflow forming a test airflow. The test airflow is directed towards the membrane, and a filter is positioned over the first inlet conduit. The presence or absence of microparticles on the filter indicates whether or not the membrane arrangement is defective.
US07972504B2
A skimmer apparatus including a floatation element defining an operative top end and configured to remain on top of a body of water, a net material having a top edge connected to the floatation element and extending nearly a complete width of the floatation element, a non-floatation element defining an operative bottom and connected to a bottom edge of the net material, a guide element extending from a first side and second side of the floatation element and first side and the second side of the non-floatation element, and a handle attached to the end of the guide element distant from the floatation element and the non-floatation element.
US07972492B2
Disclosed is a process for the electrochemical transformation of a compound to form a product, the process comprising (i) effecting the transformation in the presence of an electrolyte comprising at least one room temperature ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid is air-stable and moisture-stable, (ii) recovering the product, and optionally (iii) recovering the ionic liquid. The process can be used to effect the electrochemical transformation of a wide range of organic compounds.
US07972481B2
Scraping apparatus for the paper industry, of the type which consists of a scraping blade (l), a support (s) for the scraping blade (l) with a pivot swivel pin (e) with respect to a tray (4), said tray being supported (4) on the frame (b) of the apparatus, characterized because magnetic means are used to exert magnetic forces between the tray (4) or from the fixed element to it and the frame (b), and there are means of action on said magnetic means to activate/deactivate the magnetic forces between the tray (4) and the frame (b).The magnetic means consist of at least one zone (z) of ferromagnetic material and several permanent magnets or electromagnets (1) placed on the tray (4)-frame (b) in a conjugate/corresponding manner.
US07972479B2
The present invention relates to a process for the control of pitch in an aqueous medium by adding surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate or an aqueous suspension comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate and having a pH greater than 6.0 measured at 20° C., to the medium, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a reaction product of natural calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more acids, the use of the surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate for pitch control, as well as to a combination of a surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate and talc for pitch control, and the resulting composites.
US07972472B2
A process for forming a patterned thin film structure on a substrate or in-mold decoration film is disclosed. A pattern is printed with a material, such as a masking coating or ink, on the substrate, the pattern being such that, in one embodiment, the desired structures will be formed in the areas where the printed material is not present, i.e., a negative image of thin film structure to be formed is printed. In another embodiment, the pattern is printed with a material that is difficult to strip from the substrate, and the desired thin film structures will be formed in the areas where the printed material is present, i.e., a positive image of the thin film structure is printed. The thin film material is deposited on the patterned substrate, and the undesired area is stripped, leaving behind the patterned thin film structure.
