US08649996B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling environmental systems in containers. A first set of environmental conditions for a first product to be stored in a container is received and it is determined if the first set of environmental conditions are compatible with a second set of environmental conditions for one or more second products in the container. An acceptable set of environmental conditions for both first and second products based on the first set of environmental conditions and the second set of environmental conditions is determined and the acceptable set of environmental conditions are stored.
US08649992B2
A method for reducing effect of motion on electromagnetic signals detected while moving an electromagnetic receiver through a body of water includes measuring a parameter related to an amount of current passed through an electromagnetic transmitter to induce an electromagnetic field in subsurface formations. A magnetic field proximate the electromagnetic receiver is measured. A transmitter portion of the measured magnetic field is estimated from the measured parameter. A motion portion of the measured magnetic field is estimated from the measured magnetic field and the estimated transmitter portion. A voltage induced in the receiver is estimated from the estimated motion portion. Signals detected by the receiver are corrected using the estimated voltage.
US08649990B2
A method of detecting variance by regression model has the following steps. Step 1 is preparing the FDC data and WAT data for analysis. Step 2 is figuring out what latent variable effect of WAT data by Factor Analysis Step 3 is utilizing Principal Component Analysis to reduce the number of FDC variables to a few independent principal components. Step 4 is demonstrating how the tools and FDC data affect WAT data by Analysis of covariance model, and constructing interrelationship among FDC, WAT and tools. The interrelationship can point out which parameter effect WAT significantly. By the method, when WAT abnormal situation happened, it is easier for engineers to trace where the problem is.
US08649974B2
A navigation system for motor vehicles includes at least one display device for a pictorial representation of the vehicle surroundings, at least one data memory containing data that allow for a three-dimensional reconstruction of the vehicle surroundings, at least one camera capable of recording digital images of the vehicle surroundings, and at least one data processing unit, which is capable of generating a reconstruction of the vehicle surroundings representable on the display device from the data contained in the data memory, and which is capable of performing an at least partial integration of the digital images recorded by the camera into the reconstruction of the vehicle surroundings, which reconstruction is based on the data contained in the data memory.
US08649969B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area, wherein the parameters may be used to associate a speed limit with the geographic area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that comprises one or more street segments is identified. Additionally, speed data associated with one of more of the street segments is received. After receiving the speed data, a speed limit is determined for one or more of the street segments and associated with one or more of the street segments.
US08649966B2
A drive support system can provide drive support information on traveling of an own vehicle with respect to another vehicle based on positional information. The drive support system can include a drive support level determination part which changes the degree of offer of the drive support information in a stepwise manner corresponding to a traveling area of the own vehicle. An error occurrence area memory part stores an area where an error in the positional information meets or exceeds a predetermined level in advance along with map information. A degree of offer of the drive support information is limited when the own vehicle is present within an area where an error in the positional information meets or exceeds a predetermined level.
US08649953B2
A vehicle is provided comprising: a main body; a plurality of wheels coupled to the main body; a traction motor associated with the main body and coupled to at least one of the wheels for driving the one wheel; control apparatus coupled to the traction motor and generating a motor drive signal to the traction motor; a first sensor for generating a velocity signal indicative of a velocity of the driven wheel; and a further sensor for sensing an acceleration of the main body and generating a vehicle acceleration signal. The control apparatus determining a measured velocity of the driven wheel from the first sensor speed signal, calculating a velocity of the vehicle using the vehicle acceleration signal and comparing the measured velocity of the driven wheel to the calculated velocity of the vehicle to determine wheel slip status.
US08649944B2
A blade system of the present invention includes: a blade angle calculating part configured to calculate sum of a forwardly tilting angle of a vehicle body with respect to a reference surface and a blade lifting angle of a lift frame with respect to a reference position; a difference angle calculating part configured to calculate a difference angle by subtracting a predetermined angle from the sum of the forwardly tilting angle and the blade lifting angle; an opening ratio setting part configured to set an opening ratio of a proportional control valve based on the difference angle; and a lift controlling part configured to control the proportional control valve in accordance with the opening ratio set by the opening ratio setting part until a predetermined period of time is elapsed after onset of dozing by a blade.
US08649943B2
A control system for a construction machine includes at least one sensor and at least one controller, wherein a serial connection exists between the sensor and the controller, and wherein at least one sensor and/or controller are of the two-channel or multi-channel type. Furthermore, this invention relates to a method for operating such control system for a construction machine.
US08649942B2
An engine speed sensor determines engine speed data of an internal combustion engine for moving a material distribution vehicle. A ground speed sensor measures a ground speed of the material distribution vehicle. A data processor for controlling a dispensation system to distribute an agricultural input or material at a rate based on the measured ground speed and the engine speed data (e.g., sensed engine speed or change in engine speed) to anticipate a change in the ground speed of the material dispensation vehicle such that a lag in the rate of agricultural input delivered is reduced.
US08649941B1
A method for operating an HVAC system in a host vehicle. The method includes detecting a following distance between the host vehicle and another vehicle, and operating an on-board control device to control the HVAC system in the host vehicle to operate in a first mode while the following distance is detected as being greater than a threshold distance and to automatically operate in a second mode while the following distance is detected as being less than or equal to the threshold distance.
US08649939B2
There is provided an embedded control device having high real time performance and capable of securing data concurrency. The embedded control device according to the present invention includes disclosure data and stored data as control data to be disclosed to a data reference component. The embedded control device changes over a reference destination for the data reference component either to the disclosure data or to the stored data, depending on which of the execution priority of the data disclosing source component and the execution priority of the data reference component is higher.
US08649937B2
An energy absorber for a vehicle is described, which includes a sensor integrated into the energy absorber, which is designed to detect an impact magnitude acting on the energy absorber and to provide information about the impact magnitude. Furthermore, the energy absorber includes at least one setting element, which is designed to set a stiffness of the energy absorber in response to the information about the impact magnitude.
US08649935B2
A battery system for vehicle comprises a battery unit that is constituted with a plurality of serially connected cell groups each include a plurality of serially connected battery cells, integrated circuits that are each disposed in correspondence to one of the cell groups of the battery unit and each measure terminal voltages at the battery cells in the corresponding cell group, and a signal transmission path through which one of the integrated circuits is connected to another one of the integrated circuits or to a circuit other than that of the integrated circuits.
US08649934B2
A method for checking the plausibility of the signals of a tank filling level sensor of a motor vehicle (120) is characterized in that the roadway inclination of the roadway (130) which is traveled on by the motor vehicle (120) is determined, and definitive information about the possibility of using the signals of the tank filling level sensor is obtained as a function of the roadway inclination (N).
US08649932B2
A solution for evaluating a vehicle using infrared data is provided. In particular, evaluation data for the vehicle is obtained, which includes infrared data for a plurality of sides of the vehicle as well as vehicle identification data for distinguishing the vehicle from another vehicle. The infrared data is processed to enhance a set of signal features. Additional non-infrared based data also can be obtained for evaluating the vehicle. The evaluation data is analyzed to determine whether one or more anomalies are present. The anomaly(ies) can be correlated with a possible problem with a component of the vehicle. Data on the anomaly, problem, and/or vehicle identification can be provided for use on another system, such as a remote inspection station, maintenance system, and/or the like.
US08649931B2
A vehicle cooling system includes: a channel allowing a liquid medium cooling a drive device of the vehicle to circulate; a flow rate detection unit detecting a flow rate of the liquid medium flowing in the channel; a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the liquid medium; a pump provided on the channel for circulating the liquid medium; a rotational speed sensor detecting a rotational speed of the pump; and a control device controlling drive of the pump. The control device identifies a malfunctioning part of the cooling system based on the flow rate and the temperature of the liquid medium and the rotational speed of the pump. Thus, since abnormalities of the cooling mechanism can be detected with higher precision so that the abnormalities are distinguished from each other, it is a limited part that should be checked when repairs are made and the work efficiency is improved.
US08649928B2
To prevent damage of a vehicle or a cord set used to charge a plug-in electric vehicle when the vehicle is driven away while the cord set is attached, an interlock can be provided to disable the vehicle. Such interlock may be based on a protective door over the charging receptacle being open or detection that a cord set is plugged in. However, in the event that the vehicle is in an activated state, the interlock is prevented from disabling the vehicle according to an embodiment of the disclosure. That is, undesirable disabling of the vehicle is prevented when either there is no indication of a cord set being coupled to the vehicle or the vehicle is in an activated state.
US08649905B2
The invention relates to a medical workstation and an operating device (1) for the manual movement of a robot arm (M1-M3). The operating device (1) comprises a controller (5) and at least one manual mechanical input device (E1-E3) coupled to the controller (5). The controller (5) is designed to generate signals for controlling a movement of at least one robot arm (M1-M3) provided for treating a living being (P) based on a manual movement of the input device (E1-E3) such that the robot arm (M1-M3) carries out a movement corresponding to the manual movement. The input device (E1, E2) comprises at least one mechanical damping unit (27, 40), which generates a force and/or torque during a manual movement of the input device (E1, E2) for at least partially suppressing a partial movement resulting from a tremor of the person operating the input device (E1, E2).
US08649893B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor manufacturing device including, a chamber, a sensor, a sticking probability calculating section, an acting section, and a control section.
US08649889B2
A method of hosting and managing a talent competition through online, onstage, studio, and live performances allows contestants to compete through a series of levels. The series of levels include a level-one, a level-two, a level-three, a level-four, and a grand finale. For level-one, the contestant submits a home video of their performance, which is voted on by the fans. For level-two, the contestant submits a onstage video of their performance, which is also voted on by the fans. For level-three and level-four, a professional will record the contestant's performance, which is again voted on by the fans. The grand finale will reveal which of the contestants won the grand prize. The method also allows judges to compete through an initial selection process, an intermediate selection process, and at the grand finale with the contestants. The grand finale will reveal which of the judges obtained the title of celebrity judge.
US08649887B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, systems and apparatus for implementing dithering in motor drive system for controlling operation of a multi-phase electric machine.
US08649886B2
An automation system for programming appliances having programmable controllers, programmable devices and trigger devices that communicate over a communication link. The user programs the programmable devices by placing the programmable controller in its training mode, activating the trigger device to generate a trigger signed and places select programmable devices in their programmed state. After all of the desired programmable devices have been put in then programmed states, the user takes the programmable controller out of its training mode. When the programmable controller is out of its training mode, it monitors the communication link for the trigger event. Upon detecting the trigger event, the programmable controller sends messages to the selected programmable devices instructing them to go to their programmed state.
US08649880B1
This invention provides a percutaneous implantable electrode array that can be deployed or repositioned though a needle insertion site. The deployable electrode apparatus, in one embodiment, is made of a fixed electrode array on a central body of the apparatus and a deployable electrode array. The deployable electrode array is actuated by at least two struts, each of the struts having a first and second end. The central body of the apparatus is configured to retain the first end of the at least two struts. Each of the side arrays are flexurally connected to the second end of each of the strut and the side arrays are connected to at least one stylet, which extends to the proximal end of the apparatus.
US08649878B2
A temporary medical lead in which stimulating electrical energy is transmitted to body tissue through the lead electrodes via ionic conduction within the hydrogel material. The structure of the hydrophilic hydrogel material consists of a porous structure into which conductive salt ions are diffused. In addition the structure of the hydrogel material can be loaded with a single or combination of therapeutic drugs from which is eluted from the electrode's surface.
US08649871B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for quantifying the quality of a fiducial time marker for a candidate heart beat, quantifying the quality of a candidate heart beat, or determining a time of beat sequence of the patient's heart. A fiducial time marker is obtained for a candidate heart beat. A quality index of said candidate heart beat is set to a first value. The candidate heart beat is tested with at least one beat validity test. At least a second value is added to said quality index of said candidate heart beat if said candidate heart beat passes said at least one beat validity test. The candidate heart beat is tested with at least a second heart beat validity test. At least a third value is added to said quality index of said candidate heart beat if said candidate heart beat passes said at least second heart beat validity test. In one class of beat validity test, a constraint defining a pass is modified at one or more times after the most recent prior valid heart beat that is greater than a constraint modification time threshold.
US08649863B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for use with a heart of a subject, including a set of one or more electrodes. A control unit paces the heart by driving a first electric current via the electrode set into tissue of the subject, in accordance with a first set of parameters. The control unit stimulates nitric oxide production by a portion of the heart by driving a second electric current via the electrode set into the portion of the heart, in accordance with a second set of parameters. Other embodiments are also described.
US08649860B2
Monitoring physiological parameter using an implantable physiological monitor in order to detect a condition predictive of a possible future pathological episode and collecting additional physiological data associated with the condition predictive of a possible future pathological episode. Monitoring another physiological parameter in order to detect a condition indicative of the beginning of a present pathological episode and collecting additional pathological data in response to the condition. Determining that the condition predictive of a future episode and the condition indicative of a present episode are associated and, in response thereto, storing all the collected physiological data.
US08649855B2
Methods and systems for monitoring subjects, analyzing EEG data, and maintaining subjects at desired sedation states.
US08649853B2
Systems and methods to monitor cardiac function using information indicative of lead motion are described. In an example, a system including an implantable medical device can include a receiver circuit configured to be electrically coupled to conductor comprising a portion of an implantable lead and be configured to obtain information indicative of a movement of the implantable lead due at least in part to a motion of a heart. The system can include a sensing circuit configured to obtain information indicative of cardiac electrical activity. The system can include a processor circuit configured to construct a template representative of a contraction of the heart, where the template can be constructed using the information indicative of the movement of the implantable lead due at least in part to the motion of the heart during the contraction, and using the information indicative of the cardiac electrical activity sensed during the contraction.
US08649852B2
An embodiment of the invention comprises a method of monitoring cardiac electrical activity with two or more ECG devices and computing an enhanced cardiac electrical signal from the cardiac electrical signals obtained from the two or more ECG devices. Electrodes of the two or more ECG devices are positioned in a manner to provide an electrical potential difference that is large enough to give useful information about a given ECG signal. The method further includes recommending addition of a supplemental ECG device when it is determined that the one or more of the existing ECG devices are inadequate for providing cardiac electrical data that identifies a specific cardiac event.
US08649848B2
System and method are described for synchronizing a pulsed source of the near infrared illumination used in visualizing subcutaneous structures with the background illumination normally extant in medical treatment settings that allow both enhanced image acquisition and use of higher power pulsed infrared illumination sources.
US08649841B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08649840B2
Electrochemical sensor devices are provided, in various amperometric, potentiometric, and conductometric sensor device configurations. An amperometric sensor device may include a structural body which has at least one reservoir that has at least one opening; a working electrode located within the reservoir; analyte sensor chemistry located within the reservoir and deposited on at least the working electrode; an auxiliary electrode located outside of the reservoir; a reference electrode; at least one reservoir cap closing the opening to isolate the working electrode and analyte sensor chemistry within the reservoir and to prevent an analyte outside of the reservoir from contacting the analyte sensor chemistry; and means for rupturing or displacing the reservoir cap to permit the analyte from outside of the reservoir to contact the analyte sensor chemistry.
US08649839B2
A non-invasive optical sensor which uses the motion signal to calculate the physiological characteristic being measured. For pulse oximetry, a least squares or a ratio-of-ratios technique can be applied to the motion signal itself. This is made possible by selecting a site on the patient where variations in motion produce signals of two wavelengths which are sufficiently correlated. In particular, it has been determined that a sensor placed on a nail, in particular a thumbnail, exhibits the characteristics of having the red and infrared signals correlated when used for pulse oximetry, and the resulting signals correlate to arterial oxygen saturation.
US08649838B2
The present disclosure describes techniques that may provide more accurate estimates of arterial oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry by switching between a wavelength spectrum of at least a first and a second light source so that the arterial oxygen saturation estimates at low (e.g., in the range below 75%), medium (e.g., greater than or equal to 75% and less than or equal to 84%), and high (e.g., greater than 84% range) arterial oxygen saturation values are more accurately calculated. In one embodiment, light emitted from a near 660 nm and a near 900 nm emitter pair may be used when the arterial oxygen saturation range is high. In another embodiment, light emitted from a near 730 nm and a near 900 nm emitter pair may be used when the arterial oxygen saturation range is low. In yet another embodiment, light emitted from both a near 660 nm-900 nm emitter pair and light emitted from a near 730 nm-900 nm emitter pair may be used when the arterial oxygen saturation range is in the middle range. Priming techniques may also be used to reduce or eliminate start up delays of certain oximetry system components.
US08649830B1
A multifunction cover with touch screen display, icons, and a keyboard is described. A multifunction touch screen enabled mobile device may be configured to be connected to the separate cover, which may be attached to the device and detached from the device. The mobile device may be enabled with a cellular voice and data communication, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and Internet Protocol connectivity. The mobile device may be enabled to play videos, capture photos, and stream multimedia content.
US08649829B1
A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone, other mobile phones, or other portable devices when in sleep mode. A small software agent, or a low power mode core, operates so that, while the electronic device is in sleep mode, the low power mode core may be kept alive. When implemented in a smartphone, for example, the low power mode core may react to an incoming call so that at least part of the external memory of the smartphone may be powered down. When there is an incoming call, the low power mode core may acknowledge the call and provide a user interface (UI) for answering the call before the operating system is resumed, so as to keep the same or similar phone usage experience as when the operating system is processing the incoming call. At the same time, the low power mode core may wake up the operating system. The same approach is applicable in monitoring devices, where the entire device need not be running.
US08649826B2
The mobile device for providing a haptic function includes a vibration unit which generates vibration for a tactile effect as the haptic function; and a control unit which includes a platform providing an application programming interface (API) corresponding to the haptic function and having a plurality of parameters, executes an application prepared by the API, determines a characteristic of the vibration based on the plurality of parameters set up in the application, and controls the vibration unit to generate the vibration having the determined characteristic.
US08649818B2
A software-defined radio (SDR) capability may be provided in a general purpose, many core processing system by sequestering one or more partitions running on one or more cores and instantiating a communications capability by having discrete SDR functions performed by the sequestered partitions. Each SDR module embodied in a sequestered partition may be independently upgraded without modifying the hardware of the underlying processing system. By executing SDR modules in cores not accessible by application programs and/or an operating system (OS), a better Quality of Service (QoS) may be provided for wireless communications on the general purpose, multi-core processing system. An embodiment comprises isolating a core of a many core processing system as a sequestered partition, loading a software-defined radio module onto the core, and executing the software-defined module to implement wireless communications.
US08649814B2
A method of managing a call group by a number of mobile devices in a mobile telecommunications network. The mobile telecommunications network includes a serving node in communication with the mobile devices. The method includes a network node identifying a radio access node adjacent a first radio access node. The method also includes a serving node creating the group call area on basis of the first and adjacent radio access nodes. The method also includes establishing a signalling channel within a cell corresponding to the adjacent radio access node. The signalling channel includes an identifier corresponding to the group call area. The radio access nodes, or base stations, that have established a data communications channel with the mobile communications device have traffic and signalling channels established therein and are marked as an active cell of the group call area.
US08649810B2
A wireless telecommunication device conducts base station pages at large intervals, such as 30 seconds, rather than the more conventional 0.5 to 4 seconds. The network processes calls placed to that telecommunication device in accordance with an SMS (Short Messaging Service) type protocol rather than a conventional voice call protocol. Particularly, the network sends an SMS to the telephone indicating that a third party is calling (hereinafter termed a “pre-call SMS”). The pre-call SMS indicates the telephone number of the third party. The user of the telephone may call the third party back. In accordance with this protocol, the need to page at very short intervals so as to permit a telephone call to be established in “real-time” is eliminated. Therefore, the paging interval can be increased substantially, thereby substantially prolonging battery charge lifetime of the telephone. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, when a cellular telephone sends a pre-call SMS, it temporarily decreases its paging interval to a more conventional interval such as 0.5 seconds for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 1-5 minutes) after placing a call so that, if the called party returns the call, the calling party will receive the return call in real-time and be able to answer the incoming call and establish a voice call.
US08649805B2
A method of advertising tailored based on usage patterns of a portable electronic device includes determining if a portable electronic device has entered an area associated with a local area network (LAN). A link is established between the portable electronic device and the LAN if it is determined that the portable electronic device has entered the area associated with the LAN. User services are established between the portable electronic device and a remote server using the established link based on a user profile associated with the portable electronic device. Devices associated with the remote server communicatively coupled to the LAN are controlled using the portable electronic device. Actions and/or behaviors of a user are tracked based on use of the portable electronic device. Advertisements are displayed and/or played on at least one of the controlled devices based on the tracked user actions and/or behaviors.
US08649804B2
A method for accessing a location-based social network service in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes determining whether virtual location information is used when the location-based social network service is requested, obtaining virtual access location information of the portable terminal when it is determined that the virtual location information used, and accessing the location-based social network service using the obtained virtual access location information.
US08649803B1
An Interactive Tracking Virtual World (ITVW) system, may be utilized with other systems accessible through the Internet and/or a communications network. The ITVW system may be operable as an online game and/or to provide a virtual environment. ITVW system users (i.e., ITVW users) may be individuals or groups, such as parents and/or their children, which utilize the ITVW system for tracking an identity within the ITVW system. The ITVW system may also include ITVW system participants (i.e., ITVW participants), such as commercial business establishments, individuals and/or other entities associated with the ITVW system. The ITVW system collects an ITVW user's location information and location history.
US08649795B2
A method for providing control information for a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in network access equipment is provided. The method includes separating a multicast control channel of an MBMS transmission into a first portion and a second portion, placing in the first portion information related to the second portion, and placing in the second portion information related to receiving a multicast traffic channel portion of the MBMS transmission.
US08649791B1
A list of neighbor cells for a base station of a Long-Term Evolution mobile communication network is developed based on distance information of neighboring cells. Location data identifying location of the base station for which the list of neighbor cells is to be developed and locations of other base stations are processed to determine distance between the base station and each respective one of the other base stations. Based on at least in part determined distances, identification data of the other base stations are ordered. The list of neighbor cells for the base station is compiled to include the ordered identification data for a selected number of nearest ones of the other base stations, based on at least in part the determined distances.
US08649786B2
A method is provided of registering a mobile terminal in an area of overlapping cell coverage by first and second networks for wireless mobile telecommunications. The networks are of different types. The method comprises: storing an identifier of the mobile terminal; storing in a controller a first record of in which cell or group of cells the mobile terminal is located in the first network and a second record of in which cell or group of cells the mobile terminal is located in the second network; and providing the mobile terminal with information of both records and said identifier.
US08649783B2
An application stored in a mobile device is provisioned using provisioning data received from remote data storage via a network. Provisioning data is obtained at no cost to a user of the mobile device. In some implementations, the provisioning data is received after the mobile device requests to establish a data channel with a data network. The data network is identified using a predetermined identifier that the network recognizes. If the network does not recognize the special identifier, no data channel is established. After a data channel is established, the mobile device requests provisioning data from the remote data storage. In some implementations, the mobile device receives a provisioning message through a predetermined port. The provisioning message either includes provisioning data or prompts the mobile device to obtain provisioning data.
US08649782B2
A cellular communication system is capable of supporting local access points with shorter communication ranges than macro cells within which they are positioned. When a user wishes to send a communication a request is sent to an access point. At the access point a determination is made as to whether or not the maximum capacity of the access point has been reached. If maximum capacity has been reached then a rejection signal is sent to the user equipment and the communication is redirected into the macro cell in which the access point is positioned.
US08649777B2
The invention relates to a method for providing a time zone information of a mobile user entity to a presence server of a cellular network, wherein a network control node by which the mobile user entity is served, is determined. Based on the geographical position of said network control node, a time zone information is determined and transmitted to the presence server.
US08649767B2
A Femtocell base station has a determination means and a transmission means. The determination means, upon receiving a location update request message from UE (User Equipment), determines whether a first message that prompts the UE to again attempt a location update should be transmitted to the UE, whether a second message that prompts the UE to divert to another network should be transmitted to the UE, or whether a third message that notifies the UE that the location update request is accepted should be transmitted to the UE. The transmission means transmits to the UE either the first message, or the second message, or the third message in accordance with the determination of the determination means.
US08649766B2
Multi-factor authentication apparatus pre-loads a first factor, for example a passcode, to user equipment such as a mobile telephone. The user subsequently initiates access to a protected product or service, triggering the apparatus to run a multi-factor authentication process, via an access device such as a computer connected to the Internet. The user enters the pre-loaded first factor, together with another factor such as a UserID and PIN. The pre-loading avoids vulnerability to communications problems at the time the user initiates access. Pre-loading is done every time an access session terminates for the user, either successful or failed and a user profile data store is used to manage passcodes in a manner that allows incorrectly entered first factors to be retried when delivery to user equipment is not possible.
US08649746B2
An apparatus and a method for processing reduced bandwidth Envelope Tracking (ET) and Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) are provided. The apparatus includes a Crest Factor Reduction (CFR) unit, a resealing Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) unit, an envelope converter, a Supply Modulator (SM), and a Power Amplifier (PA). The CFR unit suppresses an increase of a side lobe occurring when a Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) decreases with respect to a signal generated in a baseband according to a standard and passes through a transmit (Tx) filter. The resealing DPD unit receives an original envelope amplitude and a reduced bandwidth envelope amplitude of an In-phase/Quadrature-phase (I/Q) signal output from the CFR unit to perform a pre-distortion process. The envelope converter converts an envelope signal to a reduced bandwidth envelope signal based on the I/Q signal output from the CFR unit.
US08649740B2
A wireless transceiver apparatus is provided. The wireless transceiver apparatus includes a signal transmitting circuit, a circuit unit, and a signal receiving circuit. The signal transmitting circuit includes a first output port and is utilized for outputting a first transmission signal via the first output port in a transmission mode. The circuit unit is coupled to the first output port of the signal transmitting circuit. The signal receiving circuit includes a first receiving port and is utilized for receiving a first wireless communication signal via the first receiving port in a reception mode. The first output port is coupled to the first receiving port at a first node. The circuit unit forms a frequency resonance mode to increase an impedance value of the signal transmitting circuit seen by a signal at the first node.
US08649707B2
A developing device includes: a developing roll; a bearing member that supports the developing roll rotatably, the bearing member including plural outer side surfaces, and distances from a center of a rotation axis of the developing roll to the outer side surfaces being different; and a supporting member that supports the bearing member in a positioning state where one of the plural outer side surfaces is in contact with a reference surface, the outer side surface in contact with the reference surface being changeable.
US08649703B2
An image formation apparatus includes a first unit and a second unit connected with each other, a first exterior cover covering a part of the first unit, a second exterior cover covering a part of the second unit and formed with a cover main body and an extension extending from the cover main body. A third exterior cover is provided between the first exterior cover and the second exterior cover and overlaps with while contacting the extension of the second exterior cover.
US08649696B2
An image forming apparatus includes a color toner image forming portion for forming a toner image with a color toner on a recording material; a clear toner image forming portion for forming a toner image with a clear toner on the recording material, wherein the clear toner has a melt viscosity, at a fixing temperature, higher than that of the color toner; a fixing device for fixing the toner image formed on the recording material; an obtaining portion for obtaining information on an area in which designated glossiness is partly increased, partly decreased, or partly increased and decreased; and a control device for determining the order of formation of the toner image with the color toner and the toner image with the clear toner on the recording material depending on the information obtained by the obtaining portion.
US08649694B2
An image forming apparatus includes image holding bodies that hold latent images and toner images, developer units that form toner images by developing the latent images, a transfer unit that transfers the toner images to a recording medium, a fixing unit that fixes the transferred toner images to the recording medium, container mounting portions on which toner containers are replaceably mounted, and remaining toner amount calculating units that calculate the amount of toners remaining in the toner containers, wherein the remaining toner amount calculating unit includes a primary calculator that calculates plural primary remaining amounts on the basis of bases different from each other, a storage unit that stores empty area data of a remaining amount space, and a secondary calculator that refers to the empty area data stored in the storage unit, and calculates a ratio of a distance.
US08649688B2
The present disclosure provides Radio Frequency (RF) drive level control systems and methods for an Electro-Optic (EO) M-ary Phase-Shift Keying (M-PSK) phase modulator. Specifically, an M-PSK drive waveform is tightly controlled for maximum symmetry in the associated constellation. In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure includes an M-PSK transmitter, an M-PSK electro-optic phase modulator, and phase modulation method that each control RF drive level based upon a carrier suppression ratio defined as a measure of ratio of a modulated time-averaged E-field to the magnitude of the E-field. In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier suppression ratio is measured based on a modulation depth measurement.
US08649685B2
A light receiving device includes: a converter digitalizing an analog signal with a given sampling clock frequency, the analog signal being obtained through a photoelectric conversion of a received optical signal; a plurality of fixed distortion compensators compensating an output signal of the converter for waveform distortion with a fixed compensation amount that is different from each other; a plurality of phase shift detector circuits detecting a sampling phase shift from an output signal of the plurality of the fixed distortion compensators; a phase-adjusting-amount determiner determining a sampling phase adjusting amount with use of an output signal of the plurality of the phase shift detector circuits; and a phase adjusting circuit reducing a phase difference between the sampling clock frequency and the received optical signal based on a determination result of the phase-adjusting-amount determiner.
US08649677B2
An exchangeable lens includes: a camera lens mount unit; a holding portion where twelve lens connector terminals, each connected to one of the twelve body connector terminals and each including a contact area to come into contact with one of the body connector terminals, are disposed; an optical system that includes a drive target member which can be driven; and a drive unit that drives the drive target member. A shape of at least one lens connector terminal among the twelve lens connector terminals is different from a shape of another lens connector terminal among the twelve lens connector terminals.
US08649676B2
A motor control device includes a counter that counts pulses output from a one-phase encoder according to rotation of a DC motor, and a controller that recognizes rotation number of the DC motor based on the number of pulses counted by the counter. After the DC motor is braked, the controller starts applying a predetermined voltage to the DC motor at first timing before the DC motor stops, and stops applying the predetermined voltage at second timing after the DC motor stops. The controller subtracts the number of pulses generated after the second timing from a value counted by the counter. The predetermined voltage is lower than a lowest voltage necessary for driving a driven object, and is higher than a lowest voltage necessary for rotating the DC motor against an attracting force between a magnet and a coil in the DC motor.
US08649674B2
A lens driver having a manually operated ring, rotation detection means for detecting rotation direction and rotating speed of the manually operated ring on the basis of rotation the manually operated ring, a switching means for switching a control mode, on the basis of detection result of the rotation detection means, between a normal control mode in which a lens is driven at normal driving speed depending on rotating speed of the manually operated ring and a high-speed control mode in which the lens is driven at high driving speed which is faster than the normal driving speed, and a driving control means for controlling a driving means so that the lens is driven at the normal driving speed when the normal control mode is set and controlling the driving means so that the lens is driven at the high driving speed when the high-speed control mode is set.
US08649671B2
An electric storage water heater with double cathodic protection includes a sacrificial anode (5) and an impressed current anode (6) combined so as to provide cathodic protection, even in the absence of a power supply. The sacrificial anode (5) surrounds the impressed current anode (6) so as to prevent any contact of the impressed current anode (6) with the water of the water tank before consumption of the sacrificial anode (6).
US08649667B2
A drop sensor detects a drop of a device. When the drop of the device is detected, a sub CPU allows a counter to count a drop time. When the device drops for a predetermined time or more, the sub CPU controls a regulator so that the regulator forcibly disconnects an electric power to be supplied to a hard disc, and writes a drop occurrence flag into a nonvolatile memory. When the power supply is again turned on, a main CPU allows a display section to display information indicating that the power supply is disconnected due to the drop of the device.
US08649662B2
A formatter 2s13 is provided and, when a code sequence which matches a part (‘00’) of the head of a predetermined code sequence detected by a start code prefix detection unit 2s3, is detected, the start code prefix detection unit 2s3 detects the residual part (‘00’, ‘00’, ‘01’, ‘E0’) of the detected predetermined code sequence to detect a pattern of (‘00’, ‘00’, ‘00’), and the formatter 2s13 outputs one (‘00’). After the boundary of packets is defined, amongst data which are not transferred to a decoding buffer 2s9, data corresponding to code sequences other than the code sequence (‘00’, ‘00’, ‘01’, ‘E0’) indicating the packet boundary are output to the decoding buffer 2s9. Therefore, when separating a coded and multiplexed signal, control of an input buffer reading control circuit 2s4 is simplified, and thereby the hardware scale is reduced, resulting in an inexpensive apparatus for reproducing a digital code sequence.
US08649660B2
It is quite common for users to have both video and photo material that refer to the same event. Adding photos to home videos enriches the content. However, just adding still photos to a video sequence has a disturbing effect. The invention relates to a method to seamlessly integrate photos into the video by creating a virtual camera motion in the photo that is aligned with the estimated camera motion in the video. A synthesized video sequence is created by estimating a video camera motion in the video sequence at an insertion position in the video sequence at which the still photo is to be included, creating a virtual video sequence of sub frames of the still photo where the virtual video sequence has a virtual camera motion correlated to the video camera motion at the insertion position.
US08649657B2
A recording apparatus for recording a moving image file including a first area to store moving image data and a second area to store meta data constructed by one or more tracks into a recording medium generates a first track, stores first position information into the first track and stores the first track into the second area to be recorded into the recording medium, generates a second track when a size of moving image file reaches a threshold value, generates second position information which can represent a larger value than the first position information, stores the second position information into the second track, stores the first and second tracks into the second area to be recorded into the recording medium.
US08649656B2
An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. A playback-position feature value extracting unit extracts, as a playback-position feature value, a feature value at a playback position from an image being played back. A synchronizing unit synchronizes the playback-position feature value with a feature value on a data recording medium on which setting information for processing the image is recorded in association with a feature value of the image. A control unit controls a time width used for synchronization between the feature value on the data recording medium with the playback-position feature value. A reading unit reads, when the playback-position feature value is synchronized with the feature value on the data recording medium, the setting information recorded on the data recording medium in association with the playback-position feature value. A reflecting unit reflects, based on the read setting information, the process in the image being played back.
US08649634B2
A device and a method for image zooming are provided, in which two FIFO buffer units and a read/write control unit are added between a data storage unit and an image zooming unit. The read/write control unit respectively controls two FIFO buffer units to obtain and output the gray values of the pixels on the two adjacent channels to the image zooming unit in parallel. Then, the image zooming unit calculates gray values of pixels to be inserted between the two adjacent channels to finish interpolation. The image zooming unit need not read the gray values of the pixels on the two adjacent channels in the zooming direction from the data storage unit in series and in turn, but instead, may simultaneously read the gray values of the pixels on the two adjacent channels to pixels to be inserted from the two FIFO buffer units in parallel.
US08649625B2
An image quality adjustment capability measurement method includes the steps of: using an instructor image serving as a target for the image qualities of an evaluation image and a correlation function between image quality characteristic differences and image quality adjustment capability values, the instructor image and the correlation function being obtained in advance; inputting a corrected image obtained after the image qualities of the evaluation image is adjusted; calculating the image quality characteristic difference between the input corrected image and the instructor image; and calculating the image quality adjustment capability value from the correlation function between the image quality characteristic differences and the image quality adjustment capability values, which is obtained in advance, and the calculated image quality characteristic difference.
US08649622B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a decoder. The decoder is configured to obtain first and second motion vectors of a block other than the current block. The other block neighbors the current block at one of a left, top and top right position. The decoder is configured to determine first and second motion vectors of the current block using the first and second motion vectors of the other block such that the first motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the first motion vector of the other block and the second motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the second motion vector of the other block.
US08649618B2
Computer-readable medium having an image decoding program performing: storing a reference image of a previously decoded image; receiving coded information including motion vector and rounding method information specifying a rounding method for synthesizing a prediction image of a currently decoded image; and synthesizing the prediction image via motion compensation using the motion vector information and reference image, using a positive and negative rounding method for interpolating pixel intensity values; wherein interpolation of pixel intensity values uses a rounding method specified by the rounding method information included in the encoded current P frame bitstream; wherein the rounding method information is not received from the encoded I frame bitstream; wherein the rounding method information is included in a header section of the coded information of the currently decoded image; and wherein the rounding method information specifies one of a plurality of values.
US08649613B1
A classifier training system trains unified classifiers for categorizing videos representing different categories of a category graph. The unified classifiers unify the outputs of a number of separate initial classifiers trained from disparate subsets of a training set of media items. The training process divides the training set into a number of bags, and applies a boosting algorithm to the bags, thus enhancing the accuracy of the unified classifiers.
US08649612B1
One or more portions of a cascaded face detection process, such as a process using a number of stages in which each stage includes classifiers having one or more associated features, can be parallelized. For instance, multiple pixels associated with an image can be evaluated in parallel, including simultaneously evaluating one or more features for each of the selected pixels. As a result, the number of operations required to perform the face detection processing can be reduced. Further, pre-processing can be performed to identify one or more image regions for which face detection process need not be performed. For instance, either or both of a skin-tone measure and a variance measure can be used to identify image regions in which a face is unlikely to be depicted.
US08649611B2
A line scan imager is used to determine the motion of a subject. Each line of image data from the line scan imager is compared with a reference image. The location of a matching line in the reference image reveals the displacement of the subject. The current subject displacement can be determined based on each line of image data. The resulting displacement information can be used to correctly place other optical beams on the subject. The method can be applied to tracking the human eye to facilitate measurement, imaging, or treatment with a beam of optical radiation.
US08649603B2
A computer-readable storage medium has stored therein an information processing program that causes a computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as: means for sequentially obtaining an image; means for detecting a specific object from the obtained image; means for detecting, on the basis of a first threshold and a pixel value obtained from a first region of the detected specific object, first region information on the first region; calculation means for calculating a second threshold on the basis of the pixel value obtained from the first region when the first region information is detected; means for detecting, on the basis of the second threshold calculated by the calculation means and a pixel value obtained from a second region of the detected specific object that is different from the first region, second region information on the second region; and means for outputting at least the second region information detected.
US08649602B2
Various systems and methods are described for tagging photos of individuals. A plurality of facial regions is detected from a plurality of images. The images are grouped based on similarities between the facial regions within the plurality of images. Tagging data associated with one or more of the clusters is received, and based on comparing the untagged clusters with tagged clusters, untagged clusters are tagged.
US08649598B2
The method comprises, for each cross-section image, determining the position of the object (O) in relation to the cross-section plane at the moment the cross-section image is captured, and determining a three-dimensional representation (V) of the object (O) using cross-section images (X0 . . . Xm) and positions of the object (O) in relation to the cross-section plane at each moment of image capture.The positions of the object (O) in relation to the cross-section plane are determined using the cross-section images (X0 . . . Xm).
US08649595B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for sampling images using minimum mean square error subpixel-based down-sampling are presented herein. A partition component can be configured to divide a first array of pixels into two-dimensional (2-D) blocks of pixels. A sampling component can be configured to receive a query from a device including information associated with a display of the device; diagonally down-sample subpixels of a block of the 2-D blocks and generate a second array of pixels based on the down-sampled subpixels and the query. The sampling component can communicate at least a portion of the second array to the device based on the query. The information associated with the display can include a dimension associated with the display. Further, sampling component can be associated with a web browser; and the query can include an internet based query.
US08649592B2
A system for background image subtraction includes a computing device coupled with a 3D video camera, a processor of the device programmed to receive a video feed from the camera containing images of one or more subject that include depth information. The processor, for an image: segments pixels and corresponding depth information into three different regions including foreground (FG), background (BG), and unclear (UC); categorizes UC pixels as FG or BG using a function that considers the color and background history (BGH) information associated with the UC pixels and the color and BGH information associated with pixels near the UC pixels; examines the pixels marked as FG and applies temporal and spatial filters to smooth boundaries of the FG regions; constructs a new image by overlaying the FG regions on top of a new background; displays a video feed of the new image in a display device; and continually maintains the BGH.
US08649585B2
A method and system for retrospective image combination for free-breathing magnetic resonance (MR) images is disclose. A free-breathing cardiac MR image acquisition including a plurality of frames is received. A key frame is selected of the plurality of frames. A deformation field for each frame to register each frame with the key frame. A weight is determined for each pixel in each frame based on the deformation field for each frame under a minimum total deformation constraint. A combination image is then generated as a weighted average of the frames using the weight determined for each pixel in each frame.
US08649579B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with removing motion artifacts from MR images are described. One example method includes controlling an MRI apparatus to acquire a fully sampled, centric-ordered, non-interleaved, data set from an object to be imaged and controlling a Generalized Auto-Calibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA) logic to produce a GRAPPA duplicate of a single partition through the data set. The method also includes computing, from the GRAPPA duplicate, a GRAPPA navigator for a phase encoding (PE) line in the single partition and computing an error between the PE line in the single partition and a corresponding PE line in the GRAPPA duplicate using the GRAPPA navigator. The method also includes selectively replacing data in the PE line in the single partition with replacement data upon determining that the error exceeds a threshold. The method may include reconstructing an MR image based, at least in part, on the single partition.
US08649577B1
A method uses a computer and software to measure bone density and structure of the proximal femur of the hip from a volumetric set of images containing pixels representing x-ray attenuation of the subject which are acquired with three-dimensional X-ray imaging devices. The method automatically locates anatomical markers of the hip without operator interaction, automatically positions regions of interest (ROIs) for measurement, automatically determines bone density measures of the ROIs, and automatically reports the results for individual subjects. Bone density measurements of ROIs include the integral bone of the total hip and neck as well as trabecular bone. The method automatically identifies a three-dimensional region-of-interest (ROI) volume which includes the hip, determines a three-dimensional coordinate system referenced to the anatomy of the subject, analyzes the ROI volume to identify voxels in the volume which satisfy defined criteria, and determines a measure of bone structure.
US08649572B2
An embodiment provides for enabling retrieval of a collection of captured images that form at least a portion of a library of images. For each image in the collection, a captured image may be analyzed to recognize information from image data contained in the captured image, and an index may be generated, where the index data is based on the recognized information. Using the index, functionality such as search and retrieval is enabled. Various recognition techniques, including those that use the face, clothing, apparel, and combinations of characteristics may be utilized. Recognition may be performed on, among other things, persons and text carried on objects.
US08649565B1
Described is a system for automatic object localization based on visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and cognitive swarm recognition. The system is configured to detect a set of location data corresponding to a current location of a sensor positioned on a platform. A map model of an environment surrounding the sensor is generated based on an input image from the sensor and the location data. In a desired aspect, a cognitive swarm object detection module is used to search for and detect an object of interest. The three-dimensional location of the object of interest relative to the platform is then estimated based on the map model and the location data regarding the sensor. The system described allows for real-time, continuous three-dimensional location updating for moving objects of interest from a mobile platform. A computer-implemented method and computer program product are also described.
US08649561B2
A subject designating device includes: a representative value calculation unit that calculates a representative value for each image of a brightness image and chrominance images based upon pixel values indicated at pixels present within a first subject area; a second image generation unit that creates a differential image by subtracting the representative value from pixel values indicated at pixels present within a second subject area; a binarizing unit that binarizes the differential image; a synthesizing unit that creates a synthetic image by combining binary images in correspondence to the brightness image and the chrominance images; a mask extraction unit that extracts a mask constituted with a white pixel cluster from the synthetic image; an evaluation value calculation unit that calculates an evaluation value indicating a likelihood of the mask representing the subject; and a subject designating unit that designates the subject in the target image based upon the evaluation value.
US08649558B2
Video data is processed with region-based warping. In accordance with various example embodiments, video data having a plurality of source video frames is processed as follows, for each source video frame. Pixels representing the source video frame and at least one temporally-adjacent video frame are used to generate a motion history map, based upon frame-to-frame movement of at least one region in the source video frame and temporally-adjacent video frames. At least one salient region is identified in the source video frame based upon the motion history map and static image saliency data. Weighting data is determined for warping pixels corresponding to background regions of the source video frame differently than pixels corresponding to the at least one salient region in the source video frame. Using the weighting data, the pixels representing the source video frame are warped to generate pixels representing a warped video frame.
US08649554B2
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for controlling perspective of a camera-controlled computer. A capture device captures user gestures and sends corresponding data to a recognizer engine. The recognizer engine analyzes the data with a plurality of filters, each filter corresponding to a gesture. Based on the output of those filters, a perspective control is determined, and a display device displays a new perspective corresponding to the perspective control.
US08649550B2
Disclosed is a multi-magnet system for speaker. The multi-magnet system includes a yoke having a bottom, a pair of main magnets separated from each other and mounted on the bottom of the yoke, respectively, a mid-magnet mounted on the bottom of the yoke and located between the pair of main magnets, and a pair of auxiliary magnets attached to two ends of the yoke. Wherein, the first main magnet together with the first auxiliary magnet and the mid-magnet defines a first magnetic gap and the second main magnet together with the second auxiliary magnet and the mid-magnet defines a second magnetic gap. By virtue of place the magnets at appropriate locations, the sensitivity of the speaker is effectively enhanced.
US08649548B1
A transducer assembly includes a first enclosure element, an electro-acoustic transducer coupled to the first enclosure element, and a second enclosure element. The first enclosure element and the second enclosure element are configured to capture a portion of an automobile frame there between and to define an acoustic volume relative to the automobile frame.
US08649545B2
To provide a downsized microphone unit in which a differential microphone is densely mounted thereon.The microphone unit has a cover portion 30 and a microphone substrate 10, in which a first substrate internal space 15 is communicated with a cover portion internal space 32 via a first substrate opening 11 and a cover portion opening 31, and is communicated with the outside via a second substrate opening 12, a second substrate internal space 16 is communicated with the cover portion internal space 32 via a third substrate opening 13 and a cover portion opening 31, and is communicated with the outside via a fourth substrate opening 14, a partition portion 20 covers a communication aperture between the first substrate opening 11 and the cover portion opening 31, and a diaphragm 22 covers at least a part of the communication aperture between the first substrate opening 11 and the cover portion opening 31.
US08649535B2
Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.
US08649527B2
An electronic circuit comprises one or more upstream stages and two or more downstream stages positioned, in a processing direction of the signals, downstream of the upstream stage. A plurality of configurable connections is present between the upstream stage and the downstream stages. The connections are configurable to provide a predetermined communication path between a respective upstream stage and one or more selected downstream stage selected from the two or more downstream stages and to communicatively disconnect the upstream stage from not selected downstream stages. The electronic circuit may for example be an amplifier circuit.
US08649524B2
The present subject matter relates generally to the method and apparatus for using haptics for fitting hearing aids. The application of haptics technology to hearing aid fitting system software is provided. A graphical user interface with a touch screen for hearing aid fitting provides tactile response to a user adjusting hearing aid parameters using the touch screen. The interface provides feedback to assist the user in rapid and accurate hearing aid fitting. Other variations include using a touch pad for the tactile response.
US08649520B2
An authentication method sends an open request to a common directory server for a first key, the first key being a trusted embedded authentication common directory service key wrapped in a public key of a public-private key pair. The open request includes an authentication request value that identifies the open request as a verified setup directory service, the public key, an email address and a specified third additional out-of-band communication channel. The common directory server sends a first reply directly back to the directory server with a first half of the first key offset by a unique value and wrapped using the public key. A second reply is sent to the email address, which includes a second half of the first key offset by the first half of the first key. A third reply is sent to the specified third additional out-of-band channel, which includes the unique value.
US08649513B2
Method for converting non copy protected data into copy protected data. The non copy protected data includes data structure data, controlling data and content data. The content data are embedded into data structures defined by the data structure data, and are processed using the controlling data. The method includes transferring part of the data structure data or the controlling data via a first network, from a first to a second network location, generating modified data structure data or modified controlling data at the second network location based on the data structure/controlling data supplied to the second network location, transferring the modified data structure/controlling data via a second network from the second to a third network location, where the copy protected data is generated by embedding the content data into modified data structures based on the modified data structure data or by replacing the controlling data with the modified controlling data.
US08649511B2
A method for dealing with Galois Field computation includes: providing an operating circuit which has at least a multiplicative inverse unit; and using the multiplicative inverse unit to execute at least a plurality of isomorphism maps for deriving a multiplicative inverse at a specific Galois Field corresponding to an input data, wherein the plurality of isomorphism maps include at least a change of basis.
US08649506B2
Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, and an acoustic source that is integrated with the frame for emitting sound from the media device.
US08649501B1
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for processing an outbound call to a target. The methods and systems of the present disclosure may provide an interface between a human controller and an automated dialing system to prompt the human controller for permission to place the outbound telephone call to the target.
US08649488B2
The invention relates to the field of computer telephony integration. In particular the invention relates to displaying and producing computer based documents seamlessly to users that relate to their telephone calls. The best mode of the invention is considered to be the use of the invention with social media, such as Facebook, where the mobile station (30) searches for the social media page of the caller based on the Caller ID and displays it to the recipient of the call on the mobile station screen, possibly with other Internet search results. The methods and arrangements of the invention allow the user to obtain the newest public information about the person who calls him or he decides to call, or any documents that might be intermittent between the people. In other words the Desktop or screen of the invention automatically arranges itself to a state in which it is easiest to work during the call, using searches made based on call parameters, such as caller ID. The invention adds “bandwidth”, i.e. speed, efficiency and more dimensions to personal communication, as the users of the inventive system can also visually see by documentation what is going on in the relationship between two or more people.
US08649487B2
The present invention relates to a three-party video conference. With the utilization of the monitor display resource by a host party, the assembled three-party video captured and decoded by the monitor display resource is transmitted to the conference-participant parties, the screen-captured real-time transport protocol (RTP) data transmitted from the host party are respectively displayed on monitors of the conference-participant parties, thereby eliminating the resource consumption of mixed video data, controlling the video resource loss, and providing a cost-effective hardware to enable three parties to see and hear from each other.
US08649478B2
An X-ray CT scanner performs CT imaging twice on a single imaging site such that respiratory phases relative to rotation of a measuring unit (X-ray generator and X-ray detector) are inverted with respect to each other. For determining a start time of the second CT imaging, a respiration cycle and the like are calculated according to projection data acquired by the first CT imaging. Further, sinograms 70a and 70b are generated, on each of which sets of projection data acquired from each CT imaging are arranged in the order of rotational angles. Subsequently, a corrected sinogram is generated in which sets of data fluctuated portions b and f attributable to respiration in the first sinogram 70a are replaced with data of the corresponding portions in the second sinogram 70b. Finally, a tomographic image is generated on the basis of the corrected sinogram.
US08649477B2
A level shifter includes: an input terminal to which an input voltage is applied; a capacitor; a first transistor provided between the input terminal and one of electrodes of the capacitor, and having a gate electrode connected to the other of the electrodes of the capacitor; a second transistor provided between the input terminal and the other electrode of the capacitor; a signal generating unit which generates a signal for switching the second transistor between conduction and non-conduction and supply the signal to the gate electrode of the second transistor, in a period when the input voltage is provided to the input terminal; and an output terminal for outputting a voltage at the other electrode of the capacitor which is level-shifted by a change in the second transistor to a non-conducting state in the period as an output voltage.
US08649475B2
Systems and methods are provided for a partial-rate transfer mode using fixed-clock-rate interfaces. In the partial-rate mode, each data bit is transmitted consecutively two or more times. The receiver uses a global clock without phase adjustment to detect the replicated incoming bits. As a result, the receiver system can receive data at a partial data rate when the system is locking into the phase of data received from the transmitter.
US08649471B1
A technique for applying crest factor reduction to a signal involves identifying peaks of an oversampled digital signal that exceed a threshold and generating a correction waveform corresponding to a sequence of correction pulses for respective peaks. The correction waveform is applied to the oversampled digital signal via a delta-sigma modulator to generate an oversampled digital output signal with reduced peaks. The delta-sigma modulator causes most of the energy of the correction waveform in the oversampled digital output signal to fall outside a frequency band of the oversampled digital signal. The oversampled digital output signal is low pass filtered to remove energy outside the frequency band of the oversampled digital signal such that noise introduced into the oversampled digital output signal by the correction waveform is reduced. The oversampled digital output signal is down sampled to produce a digital output signal with a lower sampling rate.
US08649466B2
A device for detecting a cyclic prefix length according to the present invention includes: a plurality of cyclic prefix length searchers that receive a received signal from a transmitting apparatus to search different cyclic prefix lengths for the received signal; a normalizer that receives and normalizes a plurality of search results received from each of the plurality of cyclic prefix length searchers and outputs a plurality of normalization values; and a determining unit that determines any of the normalization values as the cyclic prefix length of the received signal.
US08649462B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting information data using a repetition coding scheme in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The transmission method includes generating a codeword of a predetermined size Nencoded by encoding information data of a size Ninfo, and transmitting the codeword to a receiver. The codeword includes a plurality of repeated blocks based on the information data and if the information data includes an odd number of 1s, the information data of odd-numbered repeated blocks out of the plurality of repeated blocks are bit-inverted.
US08649461B2
Controllable delay circuitry is included in each channel of multi-channel, high-speed, serial transmitter and/or receiver circuitry to compensate for or to at least help compensate for possible skew (different signal propagation time) between the various channels. In systems employing CDR circuitry, the delay circuitry may be at least partly controlled by a signal derived from the CDR circuitry to make the amount of delay effected by the delay circuitry at least partly responsive to changes in data rate detected by the CDR circuitry.
US08649458B2
A system having a multi-layer (multi-stream) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system, having a MIMO baseband module and a radio distribution network (RDN) connected to the MIMO receiving system. The RDN has two or more beamformers that are fed by two or more antennas, so that a total number of antennas in the system are greater than the number of branches of the MIMO baseband module. Each of the beamformers combines RF signals coming from the antennas. The system further implements an antenna routing module that swaps antennas between different beamformers according to one or more qualitative indicators derived from the baseband module, thus increasing the probability of grouping antennas that have lower conflicts between best phases of different layers' transmitted signals. The system increases the range of antenna selection beyond the set of antennas available for each beamformer.
US08649456B2
A system and method for channel information feedback in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for communications device operation includes receiving a pilot transmitted by a controller, computing a channel estimate for a channel between the controller and a communications device, the computing based on the pilot, computing a channel correlation matrix for the channel based on the channel estimate, and transmitting a reduced rank representation of the channel correlation matrix to the controller as a first feedback information. The method also includes adapting a first codebook based on the reduced rank representation of the channel correlation matrix, computing a representation of the channel using the adapted codebook, transmitting the representation of the channel as a second feedback information, and receiving a transmission beamformed based on the first feedback information and the second feedback information.
US08649455B2
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system including a base station and at least one terminal may adaptively transform a codebook. The terminal may calculate one or more correlation matrices based on one or more subchannel matrices included in a channel matrix. The terminal may feed back information for the base station to reconstruct the one or more correlation matrices. The terminal may transform a codebook stored in the memory of the terminal, based on the one or more correlation matrices. The base station may verify the one or more correlation matrices using the information for the base station to reconstruct the one or more correlation matrices. The base station may transform a codebook stored in the memory of the base station such that the transformed base station codebook is the same as the transformed terminal codebook.
US08649454B2
A detector receives detects a first known signal in a packet signal. An LTF correlation unit performs correlation processing on the packet signal received by a receiving unit. Upon detecting the arrival timing, an update correlation unit terminates a first window and performs correlation processing on the packet signal received by the receiving unit, in a second window. When correction timing is detected and when correction timing is more likely to be accurate than the arrival timing, an estimation unit changes the correction timing to the arrival timing; when the arrival timing is more likely to be accurate than the correction timing, the estimation unit maintains the arrival timing.
US08649452B2
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication device which comprises an automatic frequency controller configured to detect a radio frequency shift amount between a transmitting side and a receiving side, comprises a controller, a first weight multiplier, and an error correction decoder. The controller is configured to designate subcarrier that suffers interference caused by a DC component based on the radio frequency shift amount detected by the automatic frequency controller. The first weight multiplier is configured to multiply amplitude values of demodulated signals of signals carried by the subcarriers designated by the controller by a weighting coefficient in a range from 0 to 1. The error correction decoder is configured to perform error correction of the demodulated signals multiplied by the weighting coefficient by the first weight multiplier. The controller sets the weighting coefficient to be multiplied by the first weight multiplier based on the radio frequency shift amount.
US08649451B2
Techniques are provided to support multi-carrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) in an orthogonal uplink of a wireless communication system. A method of wireless multi-carrier communications comprises dividing sub-carriers on an uplink into non-overlapping groups, allocating a time-frequency block including a hopping duration and a non-overlapped group, respectively, assigning a different set of orthogonal codes to each user, spreading data (or pilot) symbols of each user over the allocated time-frequency block, wherein the data (or pilot) symbols of each user are spread using the different set of orthogonal codes assigned to each user, mapping each data (or pilot) symbol to a modulation symbol in the time-frequency block, generating an orthogonal waveform based on the mapped symbols, and transmitting the orthogonal waveform.
US08649445B2
In bus communications methods and apparatus, a first set of physical signals representing the information to be conveyed over the bus is provided, and mapped to a codeword of a sparse signaling code, wherein a codeword is representable as a vector of a plurality of components, some of which are quiescent components and some of which are non-quiescent components, wherein the number of quiescent components and non-quiescent components meet a sparseness requirement.
US08649440B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for normalization of an image signal, particularly for use in perceptual video and still image quality measurement when the quality measurement is achieved by making a comparison between a reference signal and a decoded signal. The invention provides a method for normalizing a decoded image signal in relation to a reference image signal to generate a normalized image signal comprising the steps of: generating a non-linear transformation vector in dependence upon at least one component of the decoded image signal and at least one component of the reference image signal; and applying said non-linear transformation vector to at least one component of the decoded image signal to generate a normalized image signal. Methods and apparatus for perceptual video and still image quality measurement using said method are also provided.
US08649439B2
A decoding circuit, a decoding device, and a decoding system are included for decoding a B picture encoded by a direct mode at a high speed. A decoding process of an n-th macroblock is performed in parallel with transfer of a motion vector of an anchor block for an (n+1)-th macroblock to a buffer 106. With this construction, even if the (n+1)-th macroblock is encoded by the direct mode, a motion vector can be immediately calculated using the motion vector of the anchor block for the (n+1)-th macroblock in the buffer 106, when the (n+1)-th macroblock is decoded during a time T2.
US08649436B2
The approach of the present invention is to take advantage of similarity in implementation between SKIP and DIRECT modes and one other inter-picture prediction modes, namely, the 16×16 partition mode. The SKIP/DIRECT modes are classified into two groups, one involving inter-picture prediction in one temporal direction in which prediction is chosen from either past or future recon pictures, and the other involving prediction in two temporal directions in which prediction is constructed as a superposition of both past and future recon pictures. The first group requires interpolation for only one direction, whereas the latter requires interpolation for both directions, thus requiring roughly twice as much data processing power than the first group. The 16×16 partition mode also allows both prediction schemes, either past or future, or a superposition of past and future. The SKIP/DIRECT and 16×16 partition modes all apply the same motion vector on the entire block unit.Methods of the present invention consider the SKIP/DIRECT modes if and only if the final prediction information of the 16×16 partition mode, including motion vector, reference picture index, and prediction direction, is the same as that of the respective SKIP and/or DIRECT modes. The point here is that the same motion prediction, reference picture index and prediction direction are used for the 16×16 partition mode and the SKIP/DIRECT modes, and therefore, the same interpolation scheme can be used for both SKIP/DIRECT and 16×16 partition modes, thus saving computational cost as well as implementation cost.
US08649432B2
A process for allowing a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network to control the HSDPA downlink data rate received from a NodeB, said UE successively receiving blocks of data having a predetermined size (N), involving the steps of: —receiving (10) one block of data; —determining (20) the size N associated to said block of data; The process further includes the steps of: —comparing (30) the size N of said block with at least a first predetermined threshold (N1); —if the size N shows to be superior than said first threshold (N1), execute the following steps: —storing (40) said block; —issuing (50) a NACK message to said NodeB; —accessing (60) a predetermined Look-Up-Table (LUT) with the value of N1 as an input and extracting a corresponding CQI value (CQI_LUT); —reporting (70) the CQI being the minimum between the CQI measured by the UE and said CQI_LUT value to said NodeB.
US08649427B2
The invention relates to an image processor configured to: receive an image, take area-specific samples (11) of the image information of the area and calculate (12) a reference value (REF) on the basis of the samples; store into a memory (16) or to transmit (17) the reference value (REF) calculated for an area and the area identifier (ALUE) area-specifically; check (13) whether the reference value (REF) obtained as a result of the calculation and the image information (INF) corresponding to it have already been stored in the memory (16) or transmitted (15); and to store into the memory (16) or to transmit (15) the calculated reference value (REF) and the corresponding image information (INF), if the reference value (REF) and the corresponding image information (INF) have not been stored into the memory or transmitted previously.
US08649424B2
A network device may act as a proxy for a client requesting video from a server and may control the quality of the video requested from the server. The network device may detect a negotiation for a video stream, the negotiation including at least a first message from the client indicating a requested video quality by the client; and determine a maximum allowed video quality for the client. The network device may additionally determine whether the requested video quality by the client is greater than the maximum allowed video quality and modifying, when the requested video quality by the client is greater than the maximum allowed video quality, a first message to change the requested video quality to be equal to the maximum allowed video quality.
US08649421B2
The invention relates to measurement-capable cable modems for cable networks. Idle receivers and transmitters of a cable modem are used to perform upstream and downstream measurements on DOCSIS and non-DOCSIS digital and analog TV channels without disrupting customer services. A currently idle receiver is tuned to a target downstream channel under directions of a modem measurement controller, and is queried by the measurement controller to perform a measurement as specified by a measurement plan. A currently idle transmitter is tuned to a target upstream channel to transmit a test signal that is received by an upstream measurement system. Measurements are communicated to a central measurement controller, for example located at the headend, which collects measurements from a plurality of cable modems and the upstream measurement system. The resulting monitoring system performs cable network wide monitoring using existing cable modems without requiring additional monitoring devices.
US08649412B2
The closed cycle solid state optically pumped gas hybrid (chemical recovery) system utilizes a laser diode excited solid state, fiber or bulk, laser as a pump for a molecular gas, or gas mix, medium. The existence of efficient high power laser diode excited solid state fiber or bulk lasers, output spectrally matched to suitable principle and excited level 1st and 2nd overtones of relevant gases, is the enabling system technology. The utilization of such in combination with suitable gases introduces a range of viable, in principle sourcing on laser diodes and thus effectively laser diode pumped, gas laser systems with access to the approximately 3.5 μm to approximately 5.2 μm and approximately 9 μm to approximately 11 μm spectral regions. Continuous wave or pulsed operation, with significant energy capability courtesy of solid state storage, is admitted.
US08649409B2
A surface-emitting laser device includes a lower reflector, a resonator structure having an active layer and an upper reflector on an inclined substrate, and an emission region emitting laser light enclosed by an electrode. The upper reflector includes a confinement structure having a current passing region enclosed by an oxide containing at least an oxide generated as a result of partial oxidation of a layer containing aluminum subject to selective oxidation, and a dielectric film formed within the emission region, the dielectric film at least enclosing a partial region including a center of the emission region. In viewing from a direction orthogonal to the emission region, a center of a region enclosed by the dielectric film is located at a position distant from the center of the emission region based on a size of the confinement structure relative to a direction orthogonal to an inclined axis of the inclined substrate.
US08649401B2
Techniques for generating a synchronization signal (e.g., a secondary synchronization signal) based on an M-sequence are described. In one design, first and second sequences for a secondary synchronization signal may be generated based on different cyclic shifts of the M-sequence. The cyclic shifts may be determined based on cell ID and/or other information to send in the secondary synchronization signal. An output sequence may be generated based on the first and second sequences, e.g., by combining the first and second sequences and scrambling the combined first and second sequences with at least one scrambling sequence. The secondary synchronization signal may then be generated based on the output sequence, e.g., by mapping samples in the output sequence to subcarriers and generating an OFDM symbol with the mapped samples. Detection for the secondary synchronization signal may be efficiently performed using fast M-sequence transform (FMT).
US08649400B2
A method and apparatus for timing an output signal based on timing of an input signal is provided. A method includes determining a first clock rate derived from the input signal during a first time interval measured by a reference clock. The method also includes signal processing logic to determine a second clock rate during a second time interval based on an error signal that is calculated as a difference between the first clock rate multiplied by the second time interval and a previous value of the second clock rate multiplied by the first time interval.
US08649399B2
A method begins by a processing module generating a payload section of a dispersed storage network (DSN) frame regarding a check request operation by generating one or more slice name fields of the payload section to include one or more slice names corresponding to one or more encoded data slices and generating a transaction number field of the payload section to include a transaction number corresponding to the check request operation. The method continues with the processing module generating a protocol header of the DSN frame by generating a payload length field of the protocol header to include a payload length that represents a length of the payload section and generating remaining fields of the protocol header.
US08649391B2
Methods and devices are provided to aid in the control of a channel used in communicating data packets between a first communication device and a communication device with which the first communication device is communicating. For an open session occurring on the channel, the channel can be in an active state or a dormant state. Controlling when the channel is brought down to the dormant state can help improve operating conditions such as battery life of a communication device. Time-out parameters associated with the communication device, each open session and packets being sent and received on the channel are used in determining when the channel is brought up to the active state or brought down to the dormant state.
US08649380B2
Hosts or end-systems residing at the edges of a network gather data about the traffic they transmit into and receive from the network. The network's routing protocol (typically a link-state protocol such as OSPF) is monitored and routing data or packets are used to recover the network's current status and topology. This data can be collected, fused, and maintained and a platform, preferably distributed, can be provided to query the data, thus enabling a variety of network management applications.
US08649362B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for user equipments to implicitly determine the location of the transmission of uplink control signaling information, that is in response to downlink data packet transmissions, using information that is already available through the downlink control signaling for the respective downlink scheduling assignments. No additional explicit downlink control signaling is required for the transmission of the above uplink control signaling from each user equipment.
US08649361B2
The invention provides a method and device that communicate with a 802.11-class network and processes communications with a Bluetooth network. A passive beacon scan is conducted in a channel of a 802.11-class network through a series of spaced segments, such that the series of spaced segments represent a timeframe of a notional beacon period that would span a continuous period for the 802.11-class network; and data is transmitted from the communication device to the Bluetooth network between two of consecutive segments of the series of spaced segments.
US08649353B2
A method and apparatus for accessing a random access channel (RACH) during handover are disclosed. A handover procedure is initiated and a maximum handover interruption timer is activated. A dedicated preamble is transmitted in an attempt to access the RACH on a condition that the dedicated preamble is reserved in a current random access opportunity and the maximum handover interruption timer has not expired. A contention-based preamble is transmitted in an attempt to access the RACH on a condition that a dedicated preamble is not reserved in a current random access opportunity. If the maximum handover interruption timer has expired, a contention-based preamble is transmitted in an attempt to access the RACH.
US08649343B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method of uplink transmission, in which a user equipment transmits a signal in uplink in a wireless communication system. The present invention includes switching an uplink transmission mode used in transmitting the signal to a base station to either a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode, generating a plurality of signals to transmit to the base station via a plurality of component carriers (CCs), and transmitting a plurality of the signals to the base station according to the switched uplink transmission mode, wherein the first transmission mode allows multi-carrier characteristics for the signal transmitted via a plurality of the component carriers and wherein the second transmission mode requests single carrier characteristics for the signals transmitted via a plurality of the component carriers.
US08649335B2
A method for providing cellular access to a mobile device when the mobile device is out of a home network operated by a home wireless service provider that has no pre-arranged roaming agreements with any foreign wireless service provider in a location of the mobile device, The method includes implementing an intelligent Mobile Device Access Network Manager (iMDANM) application on a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). The iMDANM application being configured to allow a foreign wireless service provider to lease a portion of the UICC from the home wireless service provider to provision service credentials to the leased portion of the UICC, thereby providing the mobile device access to a foreign network operated by the foreign wireless service provider.
US08649330B2
A method of allocating a radio resource in a wireless access system includes transmitting, by a base station (BS) to a mobile station (MS), a MAP message comprising a persistent MAP information element, wherein the persistent MAP information element includes resource allocation information for persistently allocating a resource allocation region for communicating data with the MS and acknowledgment (ACK) information indicating an ACK transmission region; waiting for an ACK message from the MS, wherein the ACK message represents a successful reception of the persistent MAP information element; and determining that the persistent MAP information element has not been successfully received by the MS if the ACK message is not transmitted via the ACK transmission region.
US08649329B2
A communication system transmits a paging signal from a base station to a mobile terminal, via a designated carrier among multiple carriers. The communication system includes the base station that transmits the paging signal via the designated carrier, and further transmits via a carrier that is among the carriers and not the designated carrier, information that indicates the designated carrier; and the mobile terminal that based on the information received via a carrier to which the mobile terminal is connected, connects to the designated carrier and receives the paging signal transmitted via the designated carrier.
US08649324B2
A data communication method in a basic service set (BSS) of a wireless communication system using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol includes: performing, by first and second nodes within the BSS, communication within a predetermined first time period; and transmitting, by a third node within the BSS, data to a fourth node within the first time period through a channel which is not used by the other nodes.
US08649323B2
A plug-and-play radio base station autonomously establishes X2 logical interfaces and S1 logical interfaces with existing base stations and upper nodes. A new radio base station which is installed in a network advertises an IP address of the new radio base station over a transport network. An existing radio base station or an upper node which receives the IP address detects the number of hops from the new radio base station to the existing radio base station or the upper node. An initial logical interface with the new radio base station is established when the detected number of hops is below a predetermined threshold.
US08649322B2
A method and system for controlling access to a wireless communication medium are disclosed. The system includes at least one access point (AP) and at least one station (STA). The AP defines a superframe for transmission of data in a time domain having a high throughput (HT) period which includes at least one scheduled resource allocation (SRA) and at least one management SRA (MSRA). The AP broadcasts an extended beacon (EB) including information about the SRA and MSRA. The SRA is defined for transmitting traffic data between the AP and the STA, and the MSRA is defined for transmitting management and control data between the AP and the STA. The system reduces station battery consumption, supports higher throughput for non-real time (NRT) traffic and is more efficient for real time (RT) traffic while maintaining full compatibility.
US08649317B2
A wireless communication relay station apparatus, a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication relay method and a wireless communication method are presented that effectively utilize resources and prevent loop interference. A wireless communication relay station relays communication between a first wireless communication apparatus and a second wireless communication apparatus in at least two or more frequency bands and includes a transmitter for using a first subframe to transmit a first uplink signal to the first wireless communication apparatus in a first frequency band, and transmitting a first downlink signal to the second wireless communication apparatus in a second frequency band. A relay station receiver receives a second downlink signal from the first wireless communication apparatus in the first frequency band, and receives a second uplink signal from the second wireless communication apparatus in the second frequency band.
US08649313B2
A mobile station (MS), a base station (BS), a transmission method and a computer storage medium thereof are provided. When the MS requests a bandwidth from the BS, it may generate a selected transmission sequence and a quick access message. The selected transmission sequence comprises pre-defined bit information (e.g., a flow identification, a size of the bandwidth or the like), and the quick access message comprises a station identification of the MS. The MS may transmit the transmission sequence and the quick access message to the BS in a frame so that the BS may allocate the bandwidth to the MS according to the size of the bandwidth, the station identification and the flow identification. Thereby, the amount of the control signals needed when the MS requests a bandwidth from the BS may be decreased.
US08649312B2
A method and apparatus for multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) counting is provided. A user equipment (UE) may transmit selected service information to a multi-cell and multicast coordination entity (MCE) through a target evolved node base station (eNB), every time that a service requiring counting is received or cancelled and thus, the MCE may accurately manage a number of UEs that receive a service for each eNB. Also, the use may transmit selected service information to the MCE through the target eNB every time that the UE enters a new cell and thus, the MCE may accurately manage a number of UEs that receive a service for each eNB.
US08649311B2
The present invention discloses a method for transmitting a logical channel identifier in a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS), it comprises: an evolved Node B (eNB) notifies a User Equipment (UE) of a radio frame or a radio subframe carrying an MBMS Control Channel (MCCH) through a system broadcast message; and the UE reads a Medium Access Control (MAC) head from the radio frame or radio subframe, identifies the type of a logical channel according to the MAC head, and reads data from an MAC Service Data Unit (SDU). The present invention also discloses a system for transmitting a logical channel identifier in an MBMS. By adopting the present invention, the UE can accurately identify the type of the logical channel when various types of MBMS logical channels multiplex on the same MAC Protocol Data Unit (PDU).
US08649305B2
An echo cancellation device relies on the known characteristics of the sync frame to monitor, update in an off-line fashion and determine the accuracy of an echo canceller in, for example, a modem, such as an ADSL modem. Specifically, time domain samples are read from the transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) paths of the modem. These samples are stored in memory. When the sync frame has received a predetermined number of the same Tx samples and Rx samples, the samples are stored. Running averages, over the sync frames, of the TX and RX samples are maintained. These averages are subtracted from a sync frame of samples, to allow LMS updating of the echo canceller taps, free of extraneous signals. Updating, i.e., tracking of changes in the echo channel, is done for the echo canceller in an off-line fashion. The coefficients for the in-line version are updated, while the off-line version is updated over several sync frames. Periodically, the performance of the off-line version is compared with the in-line version. The coefficients of the in-line version are replaced by those of the off-line version only if it is determined the off-line version, which is tracking echo channel changes, has better performance. After replacement of the in-line coefficients, the off-line tracking is continued in the off-line version.
US08649301B2
A method for wireless digital radio communication is put into effect on a first number K of channels between a second number A of users. All A of the users are permitted to listen on one and the same listening channel. A limited number B of channels is used for outgoing speech communication. The communication on these channels is transmitted to all A users on the listening channel. A communication apparatus which utilizes this method includes at least one stationary base unit (1) and at least A handsets (2).
US08649297B2
A method in one example implementation includes discovering a networking device within a wireless connectivity range from a first computing device. The networking device may be configured for wireless connectivity by sending new network configuration settings to the networking device to be stored in a memory element. The method also includes configuring the first computing device to initiate a wireless connection to the networking device, such that the wireless connection is created without requiring the user to provide any configuration settings associated with the wireless connection. In more specific embodiments, if it is determined that the networking device is unconfigured, then the new network configuration settings are automatically generated. In other more specific embodiments, the new network configuration settings include a new network identifier and a new network password.
US08649295B2
A node device for searching for a course between start and end points in a network under constraining conditions includes a holding unit holding the constraining conditions corresponding to node devices and links connecting the node devices and indexes corresponding to the node devices and the links as network topology information; a making unit making combinations of the constraining conditions from which a part of the constraining conditions is removed; a searching unit searching for the course between the start point and the end point under the constraining conditions; a joining unit obtaining a joined result by joining the successfully searched for course to the network topology information; and a presenting unit comparing a piece of the network topology information corresponding to course information of the successfully searched for course with the removed part, extracting a nonconforming portion, and storing the joined result and the extracted nonconforming portion.
US08649291B2
The invention performs long term evolution (LTE) tracking area updates (TAUs), and tracking area code (TAC) and public land mobile network identification (PLMN-ID) assisted optimized wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) cell reselection. An evolved Node-B broadcasts system information including at least one system information block (SIB) based at least in part on an enhanced universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) parameter response message sent by an evolved packet core (EPC) network. A WTRU generates a new TAC, which represents a tracking area identification (TA-ID) of a new cell, based on the system information, and compares the new TAC to an existing TAC, which represents a TA-ID of a previous cell. The WTRU transmits to the EPC network a TAU request message including the TA-ID of the new cell. The EPC network sends either a TAU accept message or a TAU reject message to the WTRU.
US08649287B2
An apparatus and a method for detecting interference in a heterogeneous system of a mobile communication system that uses an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band are provided. More particularly, an apparatus and a method for determining a start section and an end section of a packet using an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) change in a Zigbee communication system that uses an ISM band and detecting interference in a heterogeneous system using a reception rate of a packet and an interference occurrence rate depending on whether a synchronization process is performed during the determined section. The apparatus includes an interference detector. The interference detector determines a reception section of a packet by determining a start and an end of the received packet, determines whether a packet is synchronized during the determined section, and determines interference occurrence and a packet reception rate depending on whether the packet is synchronized.
US08649285B2
Methods, traffic receivers, and computer readable storage media for testing network connections are disclosed. A traffic receiver coupled to a network under test may receive a packet. A packet group identification number (PGID and a sequence number (SN) may be extracted from the received packet. Data associated with the PGID may be retrieved from a memory, the data including a next expected sequence number (NESN), a start of run (SOR), a number of in-order packets (NIO) and a number of duplicate packets (NDP). When SN is equal to NESN, NESN and NIO may be incremented. When SN is less than NESN and SN is greater than or equal to SOR, NDP may be incremented. When SN is greater than NESN, SOR may be set to SN, NESN may be set to SN plus one, and NIO maybe incremented. Updated data may be stored in the memory.
US08649275B2
Methods and computer readable storage media to test secure network connections. One or more pre-calculated encryption data (PCCD) sets may be defined in accordance with a secure communications protocol. The one or more PCCD sets may be stored in a first PCCD memory and a second PCCD memory located respectively within a first port unit and a second port unit of a plurality of port units. Each PCCD set may include at least a first parameter and a second parameter generated by encrypting the first parameter. A simulated secure connection between the first port unit and the second port unit via a network under test may be opened using a selected PCCD set from the one or more PCCD sets without performing decryption processing.
US08649268B2
A method for processing telephony sessions of a network including at least one application server and a call router, the method including the steps of assigning a primary Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and at least a secondary URI to an application; mapping a telephony session to the primary URI; communicating with the application server designated by the primary URI using an application layer protocol; receiving telephony instructions from the application server and processing the telephony instructions with the call router; detecting an application event; and upon detecting the application event, communicating with the application server designated by the secondary URI.
US08649261B2
The present invention provides a method for blocking a protocol message at a Sub-ring control channel without a virtual channel, for avoiding the problem that the Sub-ring is in a continuous refresh state all the time caused by the existing solution of the Sub-ring control channel without the virtual channel, and the method includes: blocking forwarding of relevant messages when a forced switch is initiated or a failure is detected.
US08649260B2
Systems and methods for providing a stable communication between a vehicle's on-board connectivity layer include at least one vehicle located communication node and at least one vehicle associatable communication node, and an off-board connectivity layer including at least one remote system located communication node, wherein each communication node communicates with at least one other communication node over a communication connection, and in case the communication connection to the at least one communication node is disturbed or interrupted, a communication connection to another communication node is established.
US08649248B2
When a phase shift is to be evaluated, based on a difference between an output from a waveform equalization circuit to equalize an input reproduced signal to a predetermined target equalization characteristic and the target equalization characteristic, the phase shift of the reproduced signal relative to a channel clock, a group delay characteristic with respect to the frequency of the waveform equalization circuit is fixed. Hence, an equalized waveform as an output from the waveform equalization circuit can preserve phase shift information of the inputted reproduced signal to correctly detect the phase shift of the reproduced waveform using the equalized waveform. It is hence possible to realize, with high precision, optimal value learning of various parameters for the recording, reproduction, and servo by use of the phase shift as an index.
US08649247B2
An optical disc apparatus includes: a light source; a power detection portion that detects optical power of light emitted from the light source; a temperature detection portion that detects an ambient temperature of the power detection portion; a storage portion in which information relating to a temperature drift characteristic of the power detection portion is stored; and a control portion that controls the optical power while performing a temperature correction relating to the power detection portion by using the information stored in the storage portion. In the optical disc apparatus, the information stored in the storage portion is updated.
US08649244B2
The target searching device includes: a sound source which transmits a sound wave into a propagation space; a transducer array placed in an area to receive a forward scattering wave which scatters forward from the target within the propagation space; a subtraction processing device which subtracts a traveling wave directly traveling towards the transducer array from a mixed wave of the forward scattering wave and the traveling wave so as to separate the forward scattering wave; a passive-phase conjugate processing device which performs passive-phase conjugate processing on the forward scattering wave separated by the subtraction processing device so as to generate a passive-phase conjugated signal of the forward scattering wave; an autocorrelation processing device which performs autocorrelation processing on the traveling wave to generate an autocorrelation processed signal of the traveling wave; and a correlation device which judges a similarity between the autocorrelation processed signal and the passive-phase conjugated signal.
US08649238B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, an address control unit and a logic circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of banks which are divided into a first bank block and a second bank block. The address control unit accesses the memory cell array. The logic circuit controls the address control unit based on a command and an address signal such that the first and second bank blocks commonly operate in a first operation mode, and the first and second bank blocks individually operate in a second operation mode.
US08649236B2
A circuit for controlling leakage current in random access memory devices comprises a pre-charge equalization circuit. The pre-charge equalization circuit provides a pre-charge voltage to a pair of complementary bit lines of a memory cell of a random access memory device in accordance with a pre-charge signal. When the memory cell is in a self-refresh mode, the pre-charge signal is activated by a periodically triggered pre-charge request and also activated before and after the memory cell is self-refreshed.
US08649234B2
According to one embodiment, an interface includes first to third input circuits, delay and selection circuits. The first input circuit outputs an active first internal signal in response to an active first control signal received by a memory device. The second input circuit outputs an active second internal signal in response to an active second control signal received by the device while the device is receiving the active first control signal. The delay circuit outputs a selection signal in first or second states after the elapse of a first period from inactivation or activation of the first control signal. The selection circuit outputs the first and second internal signals as an enable signal while receiving the selection signal of the first and second states. The third input circuit outputs an input signal received from the outside from the interface to inside the device while receiving the active enable signal.
US08649230B2
A memory architecture includes a plurality of local input and output circuitries, with each local input and output circuitry associated with at least one memory bank. The memory architecture also includes a global input and output circuitry, which includes a plurality of global sub-write circuitries, is coupled to the plurality of local input and output circuitries One global sub-write circuitry is enabled and provides a write-data to a selected local input and output circuitry.
US08649228B2
An output driver comprises a pull-up circuit that pulls up an output node to a supply voltage in N successive intervals in response to N pull-up control signals having different phases and a pull-down circuit that pulls down the output node to a ground voltage in M successive intervals in response to M pull-down control signals having different phases.
US08649224B2
A control circuit performs a read operation of reading data held in a memory-cell by supplying a selected word-line with a read voltage that is a voltage between the lower limit and the upper limit of a plurality of threshold-voltage distributions provided to the memory-cell. The control circuit also performs a verify operation of determining whether a write operation is completed by supplying a selected word-line with a verify voltage higher than the read voltage to read the memory cell. The control circuit then performs a data variation determination operation of determining whether the memory-cells connected to a selected word-line each have a threshold voltage equal to or less than a certain value to determine, from among the plurality of memory cells connected to the selected word-line, whether the number of memory cells where data variation has occurred is not less than a certain number.
US08649223B2
According to one embodiment, a device includes transistors each with a path connected to a bit line, and circuits each includes a switch, the circuit being connected to the bit line. The device includes a amplifier connected to the transistor and to the circuit, and a latch connected to the amplifier to hold first data before read is carried out on a cell and to hold second data if a current equal to or a larger than a predetermined value flows via the bit line. In the device, the switch is turned on or off depending on data held in another latch located adjacently in a direction of the word lines, to control a connection between the bit line and connected to another bit line the amplifier via the circuit.
US08649221B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a memory cell array and a control circuit. The control circuit executes a first reading operation and a second reading operation. The first reading operation is an operation of reading a threshold voltage set in the selected memory cell by setting a voltage between a control gate electrode and source of the selected memory cell to a first value. The second reading operation is an operation of reading a threshold voltage set in the selected memory cell by setting a voltage between the control gate electrode and source of the selected memory cell to a second value lower than the first value. When executing the second reading operation, the control circuit keeps a voltage of the control gate electrode of the selected memory cell to 0 or a positive value.
US08649219B2
An erase process for a 3D stacked memory device performs a two-sided erase of NAND strings until one of more of the NAND strings passes an erase-verify test, then a one-sided erase of the remaining NAND strings is performed. The two-sided erase charges up the body of a NAND string from the source-side and drain-side ends, while the one-sided erase charges up the body of the NAND string from the drain-side end. The NAND strings associated with one bit line form a set. The switch to the one-sided erase can occur when the set meets a set erase-verify condition, such as one, all, or some specified portion of the NAND strings of the set passing the erase-verify test. The erase operation can end when no more than a specified number of NAND strings have not met the erase-verify test. As a result, erase degradation of the memory cells is reduced.
US08649217B2
According to one embodiment, a memory cell section includes a memory layer in which a non-volatile memory cell is arranged at an intersecting position of a first wiring and a second wiring to be sandwiched by the first wiring and the second wiring. A first drawing section connects the memory cell section and a first contact section with the first wiring, and a second drawing section connects the memory cell section and a second contact section with the second wiring. A dummy pattern is provided in a layer corresponding to the memory layer immediately below the first and second wirings configuring the first and second drawing sections.
US08649213B2
A phase change memory cell has more than one memory region each being a narrowed region of phase change memory material extending between first and second electrodes. Each of the plurality of memory regions can be programmed to be in a low resistance state or a high resistance state by applying suitable programming conditions of current and/or voltage. The resistances of the high resistance states and the programming conditions to convert the high resistance states to the low resistance state are different in each of the plurality of memory regions.
US08649212B2
Techniques for determining access information describing an accessing of a phase change memory (PCM) device. In an embodiment, an initial read time for a PCM cell is determined based on a final read time for the PCM cell, set threshold voltage information and a reset threshold voltage drift, wherein the final read time and the initial read time define a time window for reading the PCM cell. In another embodiment, a time window extension is determined based on a reset threshold voltage drift.
US08649204B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes an array of resistive memory cells and a write driver, which is configured to drive a selected bit line in the array with a reset current pulse, which is responsive to a first external voltage input through a first terminal/pad of the memory device during a memory cell reset operation. The write driver is further configured to drive the selected bit line in sequence with a first set current pulse, which is responsive to the first external voltage, and a second set current pulse, which is responsive to a second external voltage input through a second terminal/pad of the memory device during a memory cell set operation.
US08649193B2
First windings of a first common mode transformer and second windings of a second common mode transformer are connected in series via connection lines. The windings are connected to an AC power supply via connection lines. The first windings are connected to a three-phase motor via connection lines, a converter, and an inverter. High-frequency leakage currents flowing in the connection lines are detected as a common mode voltage by a winding for common mode voltage detection. An output voltage is inputted via a filter to a voltage amplifier unit that amplifies the output voltage, and the amplified voltage is applied to a winding via a capacitor in substantially a same direction as a direction of the common mode voltage. As a result, leakage currents are reduced by induced voltages on the windings.
US08649188B2
A power generator includes one or more full bridge inverter modules coupled to a semiconductor opening switch (SOS) through an inductive resonant branch. Each module includes a plurality of switches that are switched in a fashion causing the one or more full bridge inverter modules to drive the semiconductor opening switch SOS through the resonant circuit to generate pulses to a load connected in parallel with the SOS.
US08649187B2
A two-level two-terminal modular multilevel converter subsystem. The subsystem includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The modular multilevel converter subsystem is configured to selectively place the first capacitor in series with the second capacitor. The modular multilevel converter subsystem is also configured to selectively place the first capacitor in parallel with the second capacitor relative to first and second output terminals of the modular multilevel converter subsystem.
US08649181B2
A tire condition detecting device according to the present invention includes: an electronic component including a sensor configured to detect a tire condition; and a casing configured to house the electronic component. The casing includes a casing main body configured to house the electronic component and having an opening surface formed thereon, and a lid unit configured to cover the opening surface. An inside of the casing main body having the opening surface covered by the lid unit is filled with a sealant. Accordingly, tire conditions such as inner pressure and temperature of a tire can be surely detected and a breakdown of an electronic component can be prevented even in an environment where water content such as a coolant is injected in the tire.
US08649177B2
A method of fabricating a liquid-cooled electronic system is provided which includes an electronic assembly having an electronics card and a socket with a latch at one end. The latch facilitates securing of the card within the socket. The method includes providing a liquid-cooled cold rail at the one end of the socket, and a thermal spreader to couple the electronics card to the cold rail. The thermal spreader includes first and second thermal transfer plates coupled to first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the card, and thermally conductive extensions extending from end edges of the plates, which couple the respective transfer plates to the liquid-cooled cold rail. The extensions are disposed to the sides of the latch, and the card is securable within or removable from the socket using the latch without removing the cold rail or the thermal spreader.
US08649170B2
A system and method for cooling an electronic image assembly having a plurality of cooling gas pathways place behind the electronic image assembly. A first fan may be used to force cooling gas through a first grouping of cooling gas pathways while a second fan may be used to force cooling gas through a second grouping of cooling gas pathways. Temperature sensing devices may be positioned so as to measure the temperature of the first and second groupings of cooling gas pathways. The speeds of the first and second fans may be adjusted based on the temperature measurements of the cooling gas pathway groupings. Additional fans with additional temperature sensing devices may be used for further accuracy and control over the temperature gradients of the electronic image assembly. Manifolds may be used to distribute/collect cooling gas to/from the cooling gas pathways.
US08649169B2
Systems for securing mobile devices such as laptops are provided. Such systems are characterized by two end members, each with a male electrical connector, that engage opposite sides of mobile device, a crossbeam between the two end members that cradles the underside of the mobile device, and a mechanical linkage that is used to release the mobile device. In addition to a slim form factor, systems of the present invention can comprise registration posts to align a top edge of the mobile device to the crossbeam, a receptacle for a power adapter connector, and a locking mechanism to lock an end member to the crossbeam and optionally also lock the power adapter connector to the system.
US08649168B2
A case arranged to contain a disk storage apparatus. The case includes a case wall including a case inner flat face that extends along a outer flat face of the disk storage apparatus when the disk storage apparatus is contained in the case, and a deformable plate disposed between the outer flat face and the case inner flat face and that extends along the case inner flat face when the disk storage apparatus is contained in the case.
US08649167B2
Apparatus (100) is provided for mounting media drives. Top and bottom frames (102, 104) are coupled together in a pivoting relationship (106, 108). The frames (102, 104) are configured to receive top and bottom media drives, respectively. In a closed position, the top frame (102) fits substantially over the bottom frame (104). In an open position, the top frame (102) pivots away from the bottom frame (104) by a pivot angle (136) sufficient to insert the bottom media drive into or remove the bottom media drive from the bottom tray (104).
US08649163B2
Provided is an information processing apparatus includes an exterior plate and a sheet-like member. The exterior plate is formed of a plate-like member. The exterior plate has one of a transparent first area and a semi-transparent first area. The sheet-like member is arranged on a rear surface of the exterior plate.
US08649162B2
The present invention provides a display device comprising a top chassis including first plate and a second plate extended and bent down from the first, a lens plate disposed below the first plate, a first frame supporting a peripheral area of the lens plate, a display panel disposed below the first frame, a backlight unit supporting a peripheral area of the display panel, and a chassis fixing member fixing the top chassis to the backlight unit. The first frame includes a first surface facing an inner surface of the first plate and a second surface facing an inner surface of the second surface.
US08649156B2
In a capacitor body of a multilayer capacitor, one second capacitor portion is sandwiched between two first capacitor portions. An ESR is controlled by setting a width of lead portions of third and fourth internal electrodes disposed in the second capacitor portion to be less than that of lead portions of first and second internal electrodes disposed in the first capacitor portions and by changing ratios between the first and second capacitor portions in the width of the lead portions and in the number of stacked internal electrodes. In the first capacitor portions, current paths from the internal electrodes to an external terminal electrode are widely distributed so that the first capacitor portions have a relatively low ESL, and accordingly, the ESL of the entire multilayer capacitor is reduced.
US08649155B2
An electronic component includes a ceramic body including first to fourth side surfaces, a first external electrode provided on one side surface of the ceramic body, a second external electrode, and a plurality of reinforcing electrodes. Each of the first and second external electrodes includes a thick-film electrode layer including sintered metal, a plated layer arranged so as to cover the thick-film electrode layer, an external electrode main body portion covering the side surface of the ceramic body, and turnback portions extending to the top surface and the bottom surface of the ceramic body. An end portion of at least one reinforcing electrode of the plurality of reinforcing electrodes is exposed on the top surface or the bottom surface of the ceramic body on the center portion of the ceramic body in relation to the thick-film electrode layer in the turnback portion.
US08649148B2
Systems and methods for dynamically defending a site from lightning strikes are provided. The systems and methods involve dynamically altering electrostatic fields above the site and/or dynamically intervening in lightning discharge processes in the vicinity of the site.
US08649133B2
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system that includes a connector device having connector contacts coupled to termination structures that couple a first AC power conductor and a second AC power conductor to corresponding contacts of the plurality of connector contacts. An electrical wiring device includes a device housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion includes at least one user-accessible control element disposed thereon. The at least one user-accessible control element is coupled to an electrical switch mechanism disposed in the device housing and coupled to a plurality of device contacts. The plurality of device contacts are accessible by way of a device connection arrangement formed in the rear portion of the device housing. The plurality of device contacts are configured to mate with the plurality of connector contacts when the connector device is coupled to the device connection arrangement.
US08649132B2
Disclosed is a trip device of a circuit breaker, the device including: a rectifying unit converting an AC (Alternating Current) voltage applied to the circuit breaker to a DC (Direct Current) voltage; a smoothing unit connected to the rectifying unit in parallel to mitigate ripples of the converted DC voltage; and a trip coil connected to the smoothing unit in parallel to determine whether to trip the circuit breaker.
US08649128B2
Disclosed is a power supply for receiving an input voltage and generating an output voltage and an output current, which includes a power converter for receiving the input voltage and generating an intermediate output voltage, an output protection circuit connected to an output terminal of the power converter and including a plurality of switch circuits connected in parallel with each other. The output protection circuit is configured to limit the flowing direction of the output current by the switching operations of the switch circuits. The power supply further includes a control unit connected to the output protection circuit for issuing a plurality of control signals to the switch circuits, in which at least two of the control signals are set to allow at least two of the switch circuits to be turned off with different timings.
US08649126B2
A head slider for supporting a head over a magnetic disk in a hard disk drive, and a method of making the head slider are disclosed. The air bearing surface (ABS) of the head slider includes a relatively deep recess in front of a trailing pad and an island pad. A recess is formed between the trailing pad and the island pad of the ABS. In operation, the recess may reduce the peak pressure of the ABS, resulting in a reduced mid disk (MD) hump without a reduction in other performance parameters. The reduction in peak pressure may also reduce lubrication pick-up from the magnetic disk.
US08649123B1
A method for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is disclosed. The method comprises: providing an insulating layer; covering the insulating layer with a hard mask material; forming a pre-defined shape in the hard mask material; forming a pole trench and a yoke area in the insulating layer by a first reactive ion etching (RIE) process in which the yoke area includes a loading prevention pattern; performing a wet etching process to remove the hard mask material from the pole trench and the yoke area; performing a second RIE process to remove the loading prevention pattern of the yoke area, wherein the pole trench and the remainder of the yoke area are not removed and remain having similar side wall angles; and providing a PMR pole in which at least a portion of the PMR pole resides in the pole trench.
US08649117B2
Preamble fields are written on a storage disk in a hard disk drive in a way that reduces track squeeze. Preamble fields for a particular data storage track on the storage disk are written over multiple revolutions of the storage disk to eliminate low-frequency variations of the preamble stitch line from an ideal position of the preamble stitch line. By writing the preamble fields for one data storage track over multiple revolutions, and by writing the preamble fields in each revolution to non-consecutive servo wedges, low-frequency variations of the preamble stitch line from its ideal position can be converted to high-frequency variations of the preamble stitch line that do not produce low-frequency track squeeze.
US08649115B2
An optical image lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The second lens element with refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The third lens element with refractive power has two surfaces being aspheric. The fourth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface, wherein the surfaces of the fourth lens element are aspheric. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and the fifth lens element has inflection points on at least one of the surfaces thereof.
US08649112B2
An image lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, and has at least one surface being aspheric. The fourth lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, and has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein at least one surface of the fourth lens element is aspheric. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power is made of plastic material, and has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein at least one surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric.
US08649108B2
A zoom lens includes first to fifth lens groups having positive, negative, negative, positive, and positive refractive powers, respectively, arranged along an optical axis in order from an object side, and an aperture stop disposed between the third and fourth lens groups. When zooming from wide angle end to telephoto end, the zoom lens is moved so that an interval between the first and second lens groups increases, an interval between the second and third lens groups varies, an interval between the third and fourth lens groups decreases, and the third lens group focuses. The second lens group is arranged to have a focal length to satisfy the following condition: 0.95<|f2/√(fw*ft)|<4.0 where f2 is a focal length of the second lens group, fw and ft are focal lengths of the entire zoom lens at wide angle end and at telephoto end, respectively.
US08649098B2
A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarterwave plate is disposed adjacent the first polarizer and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45° to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarterwave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90°, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member adjacent the second quarter-wave plate. A second linear polarizer is adjacent the reflective-transmissive polarizing member, the second linear polarize: having its plane of polarization oriented with respect to the plane of polarization of the first linear polarizer at an angle substantially equal to a second integral multiple of 90°, both of the multiples being even or both being odd.
US08649097B2
Fabry-Perot tunable filters is provided with a first fixed semitransparent mirror and a second movable semitransparent mirror arranged against each other, and piezoelectric elements more than three arranged at an equi-interval on the second movable semitransparent mirror to change a space between the first and second semitransparent mirrors. The second movable semitransparent mirror is adapted to be rotated by using as a pivot an imaginary axis toward which each length of perpendiculars let fall from each of the piezoelectric elements on a plane parallel to the second movable semitransparent mirror and including the imaginary axis connected between arbitrary two points of each middle point between the adjacent piezoelectric elements is equal each other.
US08649095B2
A diffraction grating lens according to the present invention includes a lens body and a diffraction grating provided on the surface of the lens body, the diffraction grating including a plurality of annular zones having slopes inclined along a width direction and a plurality of step surfaces respectively located between the plurality of annular zones. At least one of the plurality of annular zones is light-transmissive across its entire area along the width direction, and in the at least one annular zone, a light transmittance near at least one of two ends along the width direction is smaller than a light transmittance near a central portion along the width direction.
US08649093B2
As the polarizing fiber of the present invention, the cross sectional form perpendicular to the longitudinal direction has a sea-island structure, and the cross sectional form is continuously made up in the longitudinal direction. A resin (sea component) that constitutes the sea region of the sea-island structure comprises a dichroic dye, and a resin (island component) that constitutes the island regions of the sea-island structure is a transparent resin. The polarizing fiber of the present invention may be used as a forming material of a polarizer, for example. By using the above polarizing fiber, a polarizer wherein unevenness of the transmittance is small and cracks are less generated may be formed.
US08649092B2
A screen reflects projection light for display. The screen has a screen base designed to be wound and including a first surface (front surface) and a second surface (rear surface) on the side opposite to the front surface. The front surface contains a display area that has a reflection film on which the projection light is reflected. The screen further has a flexible protection member which is disposed on the portion of the rear surface corresponding to the outside of the display area in the width direction of the display area, and extends through substantially the full length of the display area in the winding direction of the display area. The front surface is positioned outside when the screen base is wound.
US08649090B2
A rear-projection screen for an ultra short throw projector includes a diffusing member to diffuse incident light having a specific angular range (AR) corresponding to a hotspot area generated on the rear-projection screen, and to transmit incident light having an angular range other than the specific angular range (AR). The diffusing member is provided at an area of the rear-projection screen where light having smaller incidence angle with respect to the rear-projection screen strikes the rear-projection screen.
US08649081B1
Photochromic-dichroic articles are provided, which include a substrate, a first photochromic-dichroic layer over the substrate, and a second photochromic-dichroic layer over the first photochromic-dichroic layer. The first photochromic-dichroic layer includes a first photochromic-dichroic compound that is laterally aligned within the first photochromic-dichroic layer, and which defines a first polarization axis of the first photochromic-dichroic layer. The second photochromic-dichroic layer includes a second photochromic-dichroic compound that is laterally aligned within the second photochromic-dichroic layer, and which defines a second polarization axis of the second photochromic-dichroic layer. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are oriented relative to each other at an angle of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°. The photochromic-dichroic articles can provide, for example, a combination of increased optical density and increased kinetics when exposed to a given amount of actinic radiation.
US08649080B2
In a two-dimensional optical deflector having a mirror and a support body surrounding the mirror, first and second piezoelectric actuators of a meander-type are provided opposite to each other with respect to a first axis of the mirror. Each of the first second piezoelectric actuators includes a plurality of piezoelectric cantilevers folded at every piezoelectric and connected from the support body to the mirror. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers are in parallel with the first axis. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers includes first and second piezoelectric cantilever elements in parallel with each other combined by a substrate. The second piezoelectric cantilever elements are divided into a first group of piezoelectric cantilever elements and a second group of piezoelectric cantilever elements alternating with the first group of piezoelectric cantilever elements.
US08649073B2
A scanner assembly includes an automatic document feeder and a first scanner. The automatic document feeder defines a media pathway that includes an input portion and an output portion having an exit roller. The first scanner is positioned along the media pathway upstream from the exit roller. In a first assembled configuration, the assembly is configured to scan both a first side and a second side of the media via the first scanner. In a second assembled configuration, the assembly additionally includes a second scanner positioned along the output portion and interposed between the first scanner and the exit roller. In the second configuration, the assembly is configured to scan the first side of media via the first scanner and to scan the second side of media via the second scanner.
US08649069B2
A document photosensor is provided which comprises upper and lower sensor assemblies 1 and 2 disposed on opposite sides of a passageway 55 along which a document 50 is transported. Upper sensor assembly 1 comprises an upper substrate 11, an upper LED chip 21 surface-mounted on upper substrate 11 and an upper PD chip 37 surface-mounted on upper substrate 11. Lower sensor assembly 2 comprises a lower substrate 12, a lower LED chip 31 surface-mounted on lower substrate 12 and a lower PD chip 38 surface-mounted on lower substrate 12. These chips 21, 37, 31 and 38 are secured at precise locations on upper and lower substrates 11 and 12 with accuracy on the order of a few micrometers or less to exactly detect by upper and lower PD chips 37, 38 lights irradiated from upper and lower LED chips 21 and 31 after penetration of these lights through particular points on a bill 50 moved along passageway 55 to improve validation performance of bill 50.
US08649063B2
An image forming apparatus includes a user interface, and an image forming unit to perform an image forming job in a new image mode by combining two or more image modes when the two or more image modes are selected through the user interface. The image forming unit may include a controller to combine color lookup tables of the two or more selected image modes and to create a new color lookup table, and an engine unit to perform the image forming job in an image mode corresponding to the new color lookup table. Therefore, it is possible for the image forming apparatus to support various image modes.
US08649054B2
A method for performing color registration on template media having template markings thereon comprises sensing the template media using a sensor to obtain first image data; printing a test pattern on the template media; sensing the template media along with the test pattern printed thereon using the sensor to obtain second image data; determining an output image data of the test pattern from the first image data, the second image data, and an estimated image data of the template media with the test pattern printed thereon; determining process direction and cross-process direction misregistrations from the output image data; and adjusting printheads based on the process direction and the cross-process direction misregistrations to provide adjusted color registration on subsequent template media. The estimated image data is representative of light scatter from the test pattern and light absorption by the test pattern.
US08649046B2
An image processing system disclosed is arranged to (i) when an image processing apparatus has received document image data and image processing request information for the document image data, cause a display section of the image processing apparatus to display an execution/non-execution selection screen for allowing a user to select whether to carry out an image processing corresponding to the image processing request information and (ii) upon acceptance of an instruction from the user to carry out the image processing corresponding to the image processing request information, carry out, with respect to the document image data, the image processing corresponding to the image processing request information.
US08649042B2
An improved automated planning method and system includes the use of an automated planner for generating a plan template and a final plan generator to produce a fully parameterized workflow plan. Such an approach provides for the generation of fully parameterized workflow plans utilized in rendering environments. A plurality of device capability descriptions can be converted into a data indicative of facts and operators for use with an automated planner, which can be either domain-independent or domain-dependent. Next, a formal product description can be converted into properties indicative of a goal state. The goal state and the data indicative of facts and operators can then be utilized with the automated planner to synthesize a plan template. The plan template is then provided to a final plan generator, along with a formal product description, to produce a fully parameterized workflow plan.
US08649037B2
An image reading apparatus reads an original-document image and generates image data of the original-document image, and includes an image reading unit, a security pattern detection unit, and a main control unit. The image reading unit reads the original-document image and sequentially generates the image data of the original-document image as a plurality of pieces of band data. The security pattern detection unit performs security pattern detection processing on band data of a single band to detect a portion or an entirety of a security pattern included therein. The main control unit causes the security pattern detection unit to perform the security pattern detection processing on band data of a single band having the lowest background color density and not on band data of a single band having the greatest background color density, among the plurality of pieces of band data.
US08649036B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a print command receiving unit that receives print command information indicating a print command; an authentication determination unit that determines whether or not the print command information received by the print command receiving unit includes authentication requirement information indicating that authentication is required upon print processing based on the print command; a determination unit that, when the authentication determination unit has determined that the print command information includes the authentication requirement information, determines whether or not an originator of the print command information and a user who performs the print processing based on the print command information are different; and a notification unit that, when the determination unit has determined that the originator of the print command information and the user who performs the print processing are different, notifies the user who performs the print processing of presence of the print command information.
US08649034B2
An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion on which an external memory device is mountable, a detecting unit that detects mounting or non-mounting of the external memory device to the mounting portion, a printing unit that prints data acquired from the external memory device, a memory unit that stores the data, and a controller. The controller is operable to control the printing unit to reprint the data stored on the memory unit, and prohibit the data from being reprinted when a detection result by the detecting unit indicates non-mounting of the external memory device.
US08649022B2
A material sensing apparatus comprises an excitation source configured to induce waves in a workpiece, and an optical waveguide interferometer configured to sense the induced waves in the workpiece. The optical waveguide interferometer comprises a probe segment having a probe segment end, and an adjustable coupler configured to permit setting a gap between the probe segment end and the workpiece. A controller is coupled to the adjustable coupler and configured to set the gap between the probe segment end and the workpiece.
US08649021B2
A sensing apparatus comprises an excitation source configured to induce waves in a target, and a fiber optic interferometer configured to sense the induced waves in the target. The fiber optic interferometer comprises a probe segment having a probe segment end, and an adjustable coupler configured to permit setting a gap between the probe segment end and the target. A controller is coupled to the adjustable coupler and configured to set the gap between the probe segment end and the target.
US08649020B2
A color chart having a plurality of mirror-image color blocks arranged in a matrix, with each color block a mirror image of an adjacent color block, each color block having rows and columns of color patches, wherein the concentration of a first color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given row of a color block, the concentration of a second color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given column of a color block, and the concentration of a third color of the multiple colors remains unchanged across all the plurality of color patches within a color block and differs only between color blocks.
US08649019B2
A shape determining device includes first and second homodyne interferometers respectively provided for front and back surfaces of an object to be measured and a thickness distribution calculator that calculates a thickness distribution of the object based on intensities of first and second interference light beams respectively detected by the first and second homodyne interferometers for the front and back surfaces of the object at a plurality of measurement sites. The thickness distribution calculator calculates, for each interference light beam for which the intensity is detected by the first and second homodyne interferometers, a phase difference between the polarization components of a corresponding reference light beam and a corresponding object light beam in a corresponding non-interference light beam based on the intensity of the interference light beam, and calculates the thickness distribution based on a distribution of the calculated phase differences.
US08649013B2
A probe for gas analysis is provided in a pipe through which sample gas flows. The probe includes a tubular member and one or more sample gas inflow portions. The tubular member is disposed to cross a flow of the sample gas, and includes a measurement field to which the sample gas is introduced. The one or more sample gas inflow portions are provided in the tubular member. The sample gas flows around, and flows into the measurement field through the one or more sample gas inflow portions.
US08649010B2
An optical measurement method for high-speed acquisition of integral transformed time domain optical signals is presented. A circuit network is used to generate a modulation signal and a reference signal from a broadband signal such as a pseudo random bit sequence. The integral transformed measurements are obtained by cross correlating the time dependent response to the modulated illumination with the reference signal.
US08649008B2
Combined spectral and polarimetry imaging and diagnostic techniques are disclosed, including an imaging system that simultaneously records spatially co-registered spectral and polarization information from an image of a target scene such as an ocular structure or material or device in an around the eye. Image acquisition and image calibration by such an imaging system or an imaging spectrometer or polarimeter are also disclosed. Methods of data storage and image display relevant to medical practice in general and ophthalmology practice specifically are further disclosed.
US08649005B2
Optical flow cell detector comprising a sample inlet and outlet in fluidic communication through a flow cell channel of cross sectional area A, an input light guide with an light exit surface arranged adjacent and in optical alignment with a light entrance surface of an output light guide, wherein the input light guide and the output light guide protrudes into the flow cell channel and wherein the distance between the light exit surface and the light entrance surface is less than 1.0 mm, and wherein the cross sectional area of the protruding portions of the input light guide and the output light guide in the flow direction is less than A/2.
US08648998B2
A method for measuring time of flight of radiation includes emitting modulated radiation (51) in response to a first modulation signal, projecting the modulated radiation (51) onto a scene (55), and receiving radiation, the received radiation including at least modulated radiation reflected by the scene (55). The received radiation (26, 27) is converted into a radiation induced electrical signal. The radiation induced electrical signal is mixed with a second modulation signal, thus generating a mixed signal, which is integrated, thus generating an integrated signal. When the integrated signal exceeds a threshold value (Vref), charge is injected into the integrated signal. The method includes applying changes to the first and/or second modulation signal at one or more moments in time, and measuring the integrated signal at one or more moments in time, thus obtaining at least one TOF pair difference signal (62). The measuring includes using a single detector node (38) and associated memory element (25), to obtain a TOF pair difference signal (62). The method furthermore includes using one or more TOF pair difference signals to determine time of flight of radiation.
US08648990B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a laminate section in which p-type layer 5 and n-type layer 7 are laminated such that they sandwich active layer 6. A part of light emitted from active layer 6 exits from a first surface of the laminate section. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a reflection layer that is located on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the laminate section and that reflects light that is emitted from active layer 6 and that enters from the second surface in the direction of the active layer side. The reflection layer includes metal layer 1 and transparent electrode films 2 to 4 that are transparent to a wave length of light that enters from active layer 6 and that have conductivity. The refractive index of transparent conduction film 3 is lower than that of each of transparent conduction films 2 and 4 and p-type layer 5. The absorption coefficient of transparent conduction film 3 is smaller than that of each of transparent conduction films 2 and 4.
US08648988B2
This invention enables forming a photo-alignment film having a large LC anchoring strength in an IPS type liquid crystal display device. An alignment film is adapted to have a two-layer structure including a photo-alignment film and an alignment film with enhanced film strength. The photo-alignment film is formed of a precursor of polyamide acid ester, 80 percent or more of which is polyamide acid ester including cyclobutane. The alignment film with enhanced film strength is formed of a precursor of polyamide acid. After irradiating the substrate with ultraviolet light for photo-alignment, the substrate is heated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a high LC anchoring strength of the alignment film as the whole for photo-alignment, without degrading the mechanical strength of the alignment film with enhanced film strength.
US08648984B2
A color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device and a method of fabricating the same includes black matrixes on a transparent insulating substrate, the black matrixes defining pixel areas and having a first region and a second region, color filters in the pixel areas and having areas overlapping the first region of the black matrixes, and ball spacers above the second region of the black matrixes, wherein a thickness of the first region is greater than a thickness of the second region.
US08648980B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal display protection panel set above the liquid crystal display panel so as to protect a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display protection panel being warped with its central portion being protruded, and a frame supporting the liquid crystal display panel and the liquid crystal display protection panel.
US08648979B2
An object of the present invention is to reduce the tendency that local deformation occurs in an extending member in a backlight unit. A backlight unit 12 of the present invention includes LEDs 17 as light sources, a chassis 14 that stores the LEDs 17, a reflection sheet 21 and an LED substrate 18 as extending members extending along an inner surface of the chassis 14 and a holding member 20 that holds the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18 with the chassis 14 such that the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18 are sandwiched between the holding member 20 and the chassis 14. The holding member 20 is fixed to the chassis 14. The holding member 20 includes contact portions 26 that protrude toward the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18. The contact portions 26 are in contact with the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18.
US08648972B2
A switchable two dimensional/three dimensional display (2D/3D display) suitable for being viewed by a user is provided. The switchable 2D/3D display includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a switchable barrier which are overlapped with each other. The LCD panel has a display area, a non-display area surrounding the display area, and a first black matrix extending from the display area to the non-display area. The first black matrix has a plurality of openings arranged in array and merely distributed within the display area. The switchable barrier has a 3D image control area, a non-display area surrounding the 3D image control area, and a second black matrix merely disposed within the non-display area. The second black matrix surrounds the 3D image control area. An area occupied by the 3D image control area is different from an area occupied by the display area.
US08648968B2
A saturation adjusting apparatus for processing a pixel, which has three color components each having a value falling within a range defined by upper and lower extreme values, of a RGB color model includes an extreme value controller and a component adjuster. The extreme value controller determines maximum and minimum extreme value thresholds for ensuring that the values of the color components of the pixel after undergoing linear color correction processing based on a correction indicator fall within the range defined by the upper and lower extreme values. The component adjuster includes a decision-making unit for choosing the correction indicator from a group of values which includes the maximum extreme value threshold, the minimum extreme value threshold, and a saturation setting. The component adjuster further includes a color corrector for performing linear color correction processing on the three color components of the pixel using the correction indicator.
US08648965B2
An image signal processor and a method for processing an image signal thereof are disclosed. When the image signal processor executes an automatic chroma gain control (ACC), the image signal processor adjusts a variable rate of ACC gain according to a size of an input color signal to reduce a time for processing the ACC. Even if a difference between the size of the input color signal and the size of a reference color signal is large, the ACC is rapidly processed. As a result, transient phenomenon disappears from a screen.
US08648964B2
A multi-projection display system is provided with a plurality of sensor units corresponding to projector units. The sensor units detect brightness for each color in a projected image that is projected on a screen and supply the detection results. The projector unit generates a brightness correction table on the basis of the image signal of a specific picture element of the projected image realized by an adjacent projector unit and on the basis of the brightness of the specific picture element of the projected image of the adjacent projector unit that is detected by a sensor unit for matching the brightness of the image projected by its own projector unit with that of the adjacent projector unit, refers to the brightness correction table to correct brightness for each color of the image signals that are received as input, and projects onto a screen the light of each color in accordance with the corrected image signals.
US08648963B2
Various embodiments of an eyeball device for use in robots are provided. In one embodiment, the eyeball device has an eyeball, a main part having a camera, a frame having first and second sections, first and second actuators, a first connecting member and a second connecting member. The first section is horizontally pivotally coupled to the main part relative to the main part, while the second section vertically pivotally supports the eyeball. The first and second actuators produce rotary motions. The first connecting member is coupled to the first section and the first actuator to connecting the rotary motion of the first actuator to the first section. The second connecting member is coupled to the eyeball and the second actuator to transmit the rotary motion of the second actuator to the eyeball. The eyeball horizontally pivots through the first connecting member and vertically pivots through the second connecting member.
US08648962B2
A camera body allows the mounting of a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject, and includes a body mount, an imaging element, a capacitor, and a housing member. The body mount allows a lens unit to be mounted. The imaging element includes a light receiving face arranged to receive light passing through the lens unit, and converts an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal. The capacitor is disposed more to the imaging element side than the body mount in a direction of the light passing through the lens unit. The housing member accommodates the imaging element and the capacitor. The camera body has no mirror box.
US08648954B2
A currently captured image of an object is displayed at a center of a display frame on a display screen in a shooting mode. When a dial is rotated, the currently captured image is moved rightward. A reproduced image captured before the currently captured image is displayed on the left thereof. Another reproduced image captured before the reproduced image is displayed on the left thereof. The currently captured image and the reproduced images are displayed simultaneously on the display screen as a co-existent shooting and reproducing mode. When the dial is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, only the reproduced images are displayed in a reproducing mode. The reproduced images are displayed along a time axis.
US08648948B2
Imaging arrays comprising at least two different imaging pixel types are described. The different imaging pixel types may differ in their light sensitivities and/or light saturation levels. Methods of processing the output signals of the imaging arrays are also described, and may produce images having a greater dynamic range than would result from an imaging array comprising only one of the at least two different imaging pixel types.
US08648945B2
An image sensor includes a clock signal generator configured to generate and output at least first and second clock signals, a plurality of pixels configured to generate associated distance signals based on corresponding clock signals from among the at least first and second clock signals and light reflected by an object, and a distance information deciding unit configured to determine distance information with respect to the object by using the associated distance signals. At least one first pixel from among the plurality of pixels is configured to generate the associated distance signal based on at least the first clock signal, and at least one second pixel from among the plurality of pixels, which is adjacent to the at least one first pixel, is configured to generate the associated distance signal based on at least the second clock signal.
US08648943B2
A solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of arrayed pixels, an optical inner filter layer, and a light-blocking side wall. The plurality of arrayed pixels each includes a photoelectric conversion portion and a pixel transistor. The optical inner filter layer is provided for blocking infrared light and formed facing to a light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion portion of a desired pixel among the arrayed pixels. The light-blocking side wall is formed on a lateral wall of the optical inner filter layer.
US08648933B2
The present invention provides an image sensing apparatus including an encoding unit for converting video from an image sensing unit so as to generate stream data, and store the stream data in a buffer unit, a control unit for controlling the encoding unit, in a case where, in a fixed time recording mode for recording for a fixed time in response to an instruction to start recording, a second instruction to start recording is issued before the fixed time has elapsed since a first instruction to start recording was issued, to store in the buffer unit stream data that lasts for the fixed time corresponding to the first instruction to start recording, and stream data that lasts for the fixed time corresponding to the second instruction to start recording, and a recording unit for recording each piece of stream data stored in the buffer unit on a recording medium.
US08648923B2
An image pickup apparatus controls a first mode for controlling a function to change an image pickup range of an image pickup unit in response to a received change request of the image pickup range to obtain image data of the changed image pickup range from the image pickup unit and a second mode for controlling an image process of a trimming and a magnification to the image data without performing the change of the image pickup range of the image pickup unit in response to the received change request of the image pickup range to generate image data of the image pickup range corresponding to the change request. The apparatus controls the change of the image pickup range of the image data in response to the change request of the image pickup range to select the first mode when an object detection process is not executed and select the second mode when the object detection process is executed.
US08648921B2
A transmission apparatus includes: setting means for setting a transmission target period during which transmission data is transmitted to a destination apparatus; control means for resizing the transmission data in such a way that the size thereof becomes smaller than or equal to a total transfer data size of the transmission data, the total transfer data size determined based on the transmission target period; and transmission means for transmitting the transmission data having been resized by the control means to the destination apparatus.
US08648914B1
A laser communication and spatial referencing system and related methods provides effective and secure non-line-of-sight communications. A laser communication and spatial referencing system includes a laser transmitter transmitting a pulsed laser beam encoded with binary communications data, and an imaging data receiver for receiving the pulsed laser beam reflecting off a reflective target. The imaging receiver decodes the binary communications data and determines the position of the laser beam. The laser communication and spatial referencing system may operate synchronously and/or asynchronously, and may include a display displaying a video image of area surrounding the target with the reflecting location superimposed on the image to provide visual identification of the target.
US08648913B2
A stage of pipeline analog to digital converter (ADC) includes a multiplying digital to analog converter (MDAC) and a sub-analog to digital converter (sub-ADC). The sub-ADC includes a comparator and a random offset controller. The comparator is coupled to compare a first analog signal received by the stage with a reference signal. The random offset controller is coupled to the comparator to apply a random offset to an input of the comparator to randomly distribute errors by the sub-ADC in a digital output of the pipeline ADC.
US08648912B2
Bicycles present before a vehicle are identified. A picked-up image having intensity values that are in accordance with the temperatures of objects is acquired to extract image regions having intensity values representative of higher temperatures than a background. An object, which includes a pair of first object portions (legs) and a second object portion (a tire), would be identified as a bicycle if the pair of first object portions, which have greater dimensions in length in the vertical direction than in width in the horizontal direction and the distance between which is less than a predetermined value in the horizontal direction, are detected from the extracted image regions and further if the second object portion, which has a different intensity value from any one of the first object portions and also has a length greater than a predetermined value in the vertical direction, is existent between the pair of first object portions.
US08648905B2
A transparent body inspecting device includes a light application unit, an image capturing unit, an image capture driving unit, and a defect determining unit. The image capturing unit is moved in the directions in which the image capturing unit is brought close to and away from the upper surface of the transparent body, and the image capturing unit captures a plurality of images of the transparent body during the movement. The images are captured while the position of the depth of field of the image capturing unit is adjusted to more than one spots inside the transparent body. When brightness of pixels in the captured image is nonuniform, the defect determining unit determines that a defect exists within the depth of field at the time of capture of the image.
US08648897B2
Systems and methods for viewing image data. The system includes a head borne image source, a controller, an eyepiece lens assembly and a display device. The head borne image source images an object and provides the image data. The controller determines a focus adjustment from a focus position of the head borne image source. The display device receives and displays the image data to a user's eye via the eyepiece lens assembly. A distance between the eyepiece lens assembly and the display device is adjusted based on the focus adjustment responsive to the focus position.
US08648894B2
Included are systems and methods for a virtual inmate visitation. Some embodiments include providing a scheduling user interface for a visitor to schedule a video visitation, receiving a visitor scheduling request for the video visitation with an inmate, and determining a visitor type for the visitor. Some embodiments include providing, based on the visitor type, a scheduling option, providing a visitor payment mechanism that depends on the visitor type, and providing a video visitation user interface to the visitor for conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate. Still some embodiment include in response to receiving a visitor input, conduct the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate, determining whether the video visitation includes an unacceptable activity and performing a preventative measure.
US08648889B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, in an even-numbered signal line group, the arrangement sequence of the first and second signal lines is reversed between in a display area and in a non-display area, and the same goes for the arrangement sequence of the third and fourth signal lines. The ends of the first to sixteenth signal lines in the non-display area are connected to the first to sixteenth individual drivers, respectively. An odd-numbered individual driver and an even-numbered individual driver each output a corresponding one of drive signals of opposite polarity. Thus, the polarities of subpixels of the same color arranged in a first direction D1 (horizontal direction) differ between the subpixels connected to the odd-numbered signal line group and the subpixels connected to the even-numbered signal line group. That is, all of the subpixels having the same color arranged in the horizontal direction do not have the same polarity. This helps reduce a horizontal shadow.
US08648872B2
A computer system is described for automatically generating a three-dimensional model of a structure. The computer system includes hardware and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium accessible by the hardware and storing instructions that when executed by the hardware cause the hardware to: locate multiple oblique images containing a real façade texture of a structure having a geographical position from one or more database of oblique images; select a base oblique image from the multiple oblique images by analyzing, with selection logic, image raster content of the real façade texture depicted in the multiple oblique images, the selection logic using a factorial analysis of the image raster content; and, relate the real façade texture of the base oblique image to the three dimensional model to provide a real-life representation of physical characteristics of the structure within the three-dimensional model.
US08648870B1
A method and apparatus for performing frame buffer rendering of rich Internet content on a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of performing frame buffer rendering of rich Internet content on a display device is disclosed. The method comprises storing content in a frame buffer according to a frame update rate, wherein the frame buffer comprises a portion of the rich Internet content, determining a consumption rate for presenting the content of the frame buffer on the display device, and adjusting the frame update rate according to the determined consumption rate.
US08648867B2
An accelerator system is implemented on an expansion card comprising a printed circuit board having (a) one or more graphics processing units (GPU), (b) two or more associated memory banks (logically or physically partitioned), (c) a specialized controller, and (d) a local bus providing signal coupling compatible with the PCI industry standards (this includes but is not limited to PCI-Express, PCI-X, USB 2.0, or functionally similar technologies). The controller handles most of the primitive operations needed to set up and control GPU computation. As a result, the computer's central processing unit (CPU) is freed from this function and is dedicated to other tasks. In this case a few controls (simulation start and stop signals from the CPU and the simulation completion signal back to CPU), GPU programs and input/output data are the information exchanged between CPU and the expansion card. Moreover, since on every time step of the simulation the results from the previous time step are used but not changed, the results are preferably transferred back to CPU in parallel with the computation.
US08648859B2
An intermediate image generating means (1) generates a horizontal intermediate image (D1h) and a vertical intermediate image (D1v) by extracting components of an input image (DIN) in a particular frequency band; an intermediate image processing means (2) generates a horizontal image (D2Bh) and a vertical image (D2Bv) by performing non-linear processing (2A) and high-frequency component generation (2B); an intermediate image (D2) is obtained by combining these horizontal and vertical images by performing weighted addition for each pixel and is added (3) to the input image (DIN) to obtain an enhanced output image (DOUT). Even if the input image includes a fold-over component on the high-frequency side or does not include an adequate high-frequency component, adequate image enhancement processing can be carried out.
US08648850B2
A method and apparatus for controlling picture quality of a flat panel display capable of electrically compensating for a display defect of a display panel are disclosed. The method of compensating for a display defect of a flat panel display includes reading identification information of a display panel; generating positional information indicating the position of the display defect and the form of the display defect of the display panel on the basis of first input information and the identification information; generating a compensation value for compensating the degree of the display defect of on the basis of second input information; storing the positional information and the compensation value in a memory; and reading the positional information and the compensation value from the memory, modulating data to be displayed at the position of the display defect of the display panel by the compensation value, and displaying the modulated data on the display panel.
US08648847B2
An LED driving apparatus comprising: a power feed unit; a driving control unit; a current detection unit that detects load current flowing in an LED module; and an output control unit that determines whether the LED module is under conducting state or opening state, and outputs a signal in accordance with a result of the determination, wherein, when the LED module is under conducting state, the output control unit outputs a first signal to the driving control unit so that the load current is constant, wherein, when the LED module is under opening state, the output control unit outputs a second signal to the driving control unit so that a voltage becomes a predetermined constant-voltage value, and wherein the predetermined voltage value is a voltage or higher, at which the LED module starts conduction, and a voltage or lower corresponding to an upper limit of the LED.
US08648845B2
With respect to liquid crystal display inversion schemes, a large change in voltage on a data line can affect the voltages on adjacent data lines due to capacitive coupling between data lines. The resulting change in voltage on these adjacent data lines can give rise to visual artifacts in the data lines' corresponding sub-pixels. Various embodiments of the present disclosure serve to prevent or reduce persisting visual artifacts by offsetting their effects or by distributing their presence among different colored sub-pixels. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished by using different write sequences during the update of a row of pixels.
US08648844B2
For reduced power wastage, a transmissive display (100), comprises a backlight (106) and a valve (110) for modulating light from the backlight to create an image, and furthermore the transmissive display comprises: a connector (198) for connection with a connected viewer behavior detection means ((150, 152, 165), 160), and a power optimizer (120), having an input connection (C_i) to the viewer behavior detection means for receiving from it a behavior measuring signal (I_usr), and having an output (O_BL) for sending an optimal drive value (D_Lb) to the backlight (106) depending on the behavior measuring signal (I_usr).
US08648843B2
An image display system including a plurality of display devices, each with a serial bus port, the plurality of display devices to be provided with image data; a serial bus link coupled with each of the plurality of display devices; and a content source coupled with the serial bus link, the content source to send the image data over the serial bus link to at least one of the plurality of display devices. A bulk end-point is established, through which image data is transferred, and a control end-point is established, through which control data is transferred.
US08648840B2
A display apparatus includes: a pixel array section including a row of first and second scanning lines, a column of signal lines, and pixels in a matrix, each of the pixels disposed at an intersection of both of the lines; and a drive section. The drive section performs line progressive scanning on the pixels. The pixel includes a light emitting device, a sampling transistor, a driving transistor, a switching transistor, and a holding capacitor. The sampling transistor samples a video signal on the signal line to hold the signal potential in the holding capacitor, the driving transistor makes the light emitting device conductive to be in a luminous state in accordance with the held signal potential, and the switching transistor becomes ON in accordance with the control signal supplied in advance of the sampling of the video signal to change the light emitting device to a non-luminous state.
US08648837B1
A data transfer device comprising: a body; a tip coupled to the body, wherein the tip has a dielectric constant value suitable for interacting with a capacitive touch screen of a separate device; a control unit mounted to the body; and an electronic switch mounted to the body and operatively coupled to the control unit, wherein the switch is disposed to connect the tip to a ground source when the switch is in a closed configuration and to break the connection between the tip and the ground source when the switch is in an open configuration.
US08648834B2
Various embodiments of a low-power-consumption analog-to-digital converter (“ADC”) for a touchscreen or touch panel in a capacitive sensing system are disclosed. The ADC is configured to operate in a first mode or a second mode. The first mode is characterized by a first resolution having a first number of ADC bits and a first level of power consumption associated therewith. The second mode is characterized by a second resolution having a second number of bits and a second level of power consumption associated therewith. The ADC operates under control of the controller and is configured such that the first number of bits is greater than the second number of bits and the first power level is greater than the second power level. The controller causes the ADC to switch from operating in the first mode to operating in the second mode when low radio frequency (RF) noise conditions are detected by sense circuitry, the ADC and/or the controller.
US08648832B2
A touch sensor assembly may include a cover, an electrode film assembly, an adhesive layer, a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the electrode film and a back plate configured to be coupled to the cover with the PCB and the electrode film assembly disposed between the housing and the back plate. The electrode film assembly may include an electrode film formed from a conductive ink and may comprise a plurality of contacts corresponding to a plurality of touch areas. The electrode film assembly may optionally comprise capacitive circuitry configured to exhibit a capacitance response to contact with the touch areas. The adhesive layer may be configured to secure the electrode film assembly to the cover. The PCB may be substantially planar and the cover may include an inner surface having a curvature. The electrode film may be configured to substantially conform to the curvature when secured thereto.
US08648831B2
A touch position detection apparatus and method using multistage scan, the apparatus including: a scan lines connection circuit, used to control the connection configuration between a first group of scan lines and a second group of scan lines, to form an equivalent resolution distribution of a sensor device, wherein the second group of scan lines are coupled with the sensor device; a touch scan unit, used to select a portion of the first group of scan lines to detect an interim touch coordinate; and a touch coordinate decision unit, having a plurality of operation stages, used to control the scan lines connection circuit and the touch scan unit according to the operation stages, and sum up a plurality of the interim coordinates detected in the operation stages.
US08648829B2
Systems and methods for providing haptic cues to a touch-sensitive input device having a rotary degree of freedom are described. One described method includes the steps of receiving data from at least one packet, determining navigation within at least one list based at least in part on the data, and determining whether to output a haptic effect, the haptic effect based at least in part on the data.
US08648825B2
Methods and devices for discontinuing the presentation of a virtual keyboard or dismissing a virtual keyboard in response to the receipt of input are provided. More particularly, input entered outside of an area of a screen comprising a touch screen display can cause the presentation of a virtual keyboard to be discontinued. The discontinuance of the virtual keyboard display can be performed simultaneously with an operation indicated by the received input.
US08648822B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for recognizing selection regions from multiple simultaneous inputs. Input selection regions are calculated from simultaneous contacts on a multi-touch input display surface. Computer system users can use natural and/or more intuitive hand gestures to select items on an input/display surface. Selection regions can be dynamically adjusted to in response to detected changes in contact at different locations on a surface. For example, selection region changes can be updated in essentially real-time as fingers are added and moved on the multi-touch input display surface. The calculation of selection regions can vary based on an application and/or operating system context.
US08648821B2
A multi-positionable computer comprises a user interface portion and a processing portion. The user interface portion includes a path along its back surface. The user interface portion can include a slot for receiving computer peripherals. The processing portion includes a connecting member for slidably coupling the processing portion to the user interface portion, and a rolling surface for contacting an external surface. The processing portion allows the user interface portion to be oriented in one of a plurality of positions along the path. In one orientation of the user interface portion, content is automatically displayed to align with the orientation of the user interface portion. In some embodiments, a virtual keyboard is displayed when the user interface portion is oriented in a predetermined position. The processing portion includes sides adjacent to the rolling surface. In some embodiments, ports and/or connections are accessible from at least one of the sides.
US08648806B2
A foldable mouse including a first bottom plate, a second bottom plate, a first top plate, a second top plate, and two flexible side edge covers is provided. The first bottom plate and the second bottom plate are partially stacked together, and are suitable for relative movement. The first top plate has a first end and a second end, in which the first end pivots to a side of the first bottom plate away from the second bottom plate. The second top plate has a third end and a fourth end, in which the fourth end pivots to a side of the second bottom plate away from the first bottom plate. The two flexible side edge covers are connected to two side edges of the first top plate and the second top plate and two side edges of the first bottom plate and the second bottom plate.
US08648800B2
A control method of a brain computer interface (BCI) with a stepping delay flickering sequence is provided. First, a plurality of different flickering sequence signals are generated by encoding a static flashing segment and a plurality of stepping delay flashing segments divided in different time sequences. Then, a plurality of target images corresponding to the flickering sequence signals are displayed. Thereafter, a response signal generated by an organism evoked by the target images is acquired. Then, signal processing is performed on the response signal by using a mathematic method to distinguish which one of the target images is gazed by the organism. Thereafter, a controlling command corresponding to one of the target images is generated. A control system of a BCI with a stepping delay flickering sequence is also provided herein.
US08648797B2
An information input/output device includes: a position input unit configured to designate a position by a user in a prescribed operation area Sd in real space; a designated position measurement unit configured to measure a designated position “rd” in the operation area Sd, which is designated by the user in the position input unit; an operation area offset amount determination unit configured to determine an offset amount “Δrv0” of an origin position “rv0” of an operation area Sv in virtual space based on the measured position “rd” in the operation area Sd; and a designated position determination unit configured to determine a designated position “rv” in virtual space which corresponds to the position in real space designated by the user through the position input unit based on the measured position “rd” in the operation area Sd, the origin position “rv0” of the operation area Sv in virtual space and the determined offset amount “Δrv0”.
US08648796B2
An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, preferably a trackball, an output apparatus, namely a display, and a processor apparatus. The processor apparatus is structured to execute a number of routines including a stroke-based input user interface routine. The stroke-based input user interface routine is structured to present a user interface on the display. The user interface includes an active portion, a filter portion and an output portion.
US08648794B2
In a screen light computation device, a first polarizing filter (93) blocks P waves reflected by a reflective surface, and screen light; the reflected light sensor (95) receives S waves; a second polarizing filter (83) allows the screen light to pass while blocking the S waves; and a screen light sensor (85), being set at Brewster's angle, where the P waves is not received, still receives some leakage P waves. A screen light extraction computation (LUT; not shown) stores a correlation between the detection value by the reflected light sensor 95 and the detection value by the screen light sensor 85. The LUT is queried, a value of only the screen light that does not include reflected light is computed, and the screen light that does not include ambient light (reflected light) reflected in a display screen of the monitor is detected without turning off a backlight of a monitor.
US08648788B2
A display apparatus includes a plurality of frame rate controllers that generate a motion interpolated intermediate image. The frame rate controllers exchange image information with adjacent frame rate controllers. According to the display apparatus, each frame rate controller displays the intermediate image on a corresponding display area based on the image information provided from the adjacent frame rate controller.
US08648779B2
A method includes outputting a first signal from a first DAC decoder circuit in response to receiving a first number of bits of a digital control signal, outputting a second signal from a second DAC decoder circuit in response to receiving a second number of bits of the digital control signal, and alternately outputting one of the first and second signals to an LCD column from a buffer coupled to the first and second DAC decoder circuits. The first signal has a voltage level equal to one of a first plurality of voltage levels received at one of a first plurality of inputs of the first DAC decoder circuit. The second signal has a voltage level equal to one of a second plurality of voltage levels received at one of a second plurality of inputs of the second DAC decoder circuit.
US08648778B2
A liquid crystal display and driving method thereof are disclosed. The liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the invention includes a liquid crystal panel having liquid crystal cells in a matrix array at crossings of data lines and gate lines; a timing controller for receiving a digital video data and synchronous signals, and generating a source output enable signal, a first gate start pulse, a second gate start pulse having a pulse width different from that of the first gate start pulse, a gate shift clock, a first gate output enable signal and a second gate output enable signal; a data driving circuit for providing a data voltage to the data lines in response to a first logic value of the source output enable signal, and any one black gray voltage of a charge share voltage and a precharge voltage to the data lines in response to a second logic value of the source output enable signal; and a gate driving circuit for providing a first gate pulse in synchronization with the data voltage and a second gate pulse in synchronization with the black gray voltage to the gate lines, in response to the first gate start pulse, the second gate start pulse, the gate shift clock, the first gate output enable signal and the second gate output enable signal.
US08648776B2
A display device has a pixel circuit (100) including: a drive element (110) provided on a path connecting a first wiring line (Vp) to a second wiring line (Vcom), having a control terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal, and controlling a current flowing through the path; an electro-optic element (130) provided in series with the drive element (110) on the path, being connected to the first terminal of the drive element (110), and emitting light at a luminance according to the current flowing through the path; a first switching element (111) provided between the first terminal of the drive element (110) and a data line (Sj); a second switching element (112) provided between the control terminal and the second terminal of the drive element (110); a third switching element (113) provided between the second terminal of the drive element (110) and the first wiring line (Vp); and a capacitor (121) provided between the control terminal of the drive element (110) and a third wiring line (Ui). In the display device, a potential at which a voltage applied to the electro-optic element (130) is a light-emission threshold voltage or less is provided to the data line (Sj), and a potential of the third wiring line (Ui) changes in two levels.
US08648770B2
A reconfigurable antenna is disclosed that includes a ground plane, an electrically-conductive microstrip patch element, and a plurality of switches. The patch element is spaced-apart from the ground plane with a dielectric medium between the patch element and the ground plane. The switches are coupled between the ground plane and the patch element. The switches are openable and closable, for example, in response to a control signal from an external television device to configure the state of the reconfigurable antenna. Additional reconfigurable antenna elements are disclosed. Antenna arrays including reconfigurable antenna elements, switchable fixed elements, or a combination thereof are also disclosed.
US08648768B2
A switched beam antenna system is provided. The antenna system includes a plurality of feed elements arranged radially about a center point. A feed switch provides equidistant signal paths between each antenna element and a transceiver. The production of an antenna beam in a desired direction is achieved by controlling a switch to selectively operate a feed element associated with a beam coverage area that encompasses the desired steering angle.
US08648765B2
A compact size antenna operating in LTE frequency bands includes a radiation element, a ground plane, a connecting piece, and a ground extension element. The radiation element at least includes a first radiation branch extending toward a first direction, wherein a connection end of the radiation element has a signal feeding point. The connecting piece is coupled to the ground plane. The ground extension element includes: a metal arm, coupled to the ground plane through the connecting piece; a first ground branch, coupled to the metal arm, and extending toward the first direction; a second ground branch coupled to the metal arm, and extending toward a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a third ground branch, coupled to the metal arm, coupled to the second ground branch, and extending toward the first direction.
US08648761B2
A behind-the-ear wireless device includes a main body casing including a wireless circuit housed therein and an audio transmission unit having a function of transmitting sound to an ear. The main body casing and the audio transmission unit are integrally connected to each other, whereby the wireless device can be fitted to the ear. An antenna element having a length of about half wave length is disposed in a hollow of the sound tube. A parasitic element having a length of about a half wave length is disposed in the main body casing.
US08648757B2
The embodiments described herein are directed to providing a notched antenna element for improving polarization control without sacrificing gain, bandwidth, scan volume, recurring cost, or manufacturability. The notched antenna element includes a base portion comprising a plurality of contiguous first cross-sectional notched antenna elements, each of the plurality of first cross-sectional notched antenna elements configured in an end-loaded structure for increasing polarization stability; and an upper portion coupled to the base portion, the upper portion comprising a plurality of contiguous second cross-sectional notch antenna elements.
US08648754B2
An antenna including: a conducting wire part which includes a first part extending in a first direction, a second part extending from an end of the first part in a direction crossing the first direction, and a third part extending from an end of the second part to face the first part, wherein lengths of the first and third parts are different from each other.
US08648748B2
An effective marine stabilized antenna system, in terms of antenna to radome size and antenna/RF performance complies with all relevant worldwide SatCom regulations. The combination of a dual offset Gregorian antenna (DOGA) with a stabilized polarization over elevation over tilt over azimuth pedestal, and a control/stabilization algorithm, ensures antenna orientation restrictions guarantee compliance with side-lobe intensity regulations. Operating a dual offset Gregorian antenna substantially within a pre-determined antenna cut range of a 45 degree angle relative to a configuration of the antenna and a relative position of a target provides antenna performance that complies with applicable SatCom regulations, despite having to flip the antenna 90 degrees to continue tracking the satellite.
US08648742B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention utilize a CS architecture based on a sub-linear time recovery process (with reduced memory requirements). In several embodiments, a novel structured measurement matrix is exploited during signal acquisition allowing the use of a recovery process based on relatively simple computational primitives making it more amenable to implementation in a fully-integrated form. One embodiment of the invention includes an analog front end configured to receive an analog input signal, and CS sampling circuitry connected to an output of the analog front end and configured to generate a plurality of measurements using a structured measurement matrix, where each row of the structured measurement matrix is generated using a different predetermined check node. In addition, the CS sampling circuitry is configured to generate the plurality of measurements at a rate that is less than the Nyquist rate of the analog input signal.
US08648737B1
A telephone keypad for one touch text messaging the QWERTY pattern of keys in a matrix of nine keys. Using the multi position biasing keys only one touch is needed for each character, so in use to input the letter “C” you touch one key one time, decreasing the time spend text messaging from cell phones or desk tops and dialing phone numbers advertised in letters. The keypad also has a shift key to get upper case included in the nine keys, and a 2nd key to double functionality of the keys.
US08648732B2
A locating and tracking system is provided. The locating and tracking system includes plural pressure sensing modules, each of which includes at least one pressure sensing unit detecting a pressure source and generating a signal; a data processing unit connected with the at least one pressure sensing unit, and processing the signal to generate a module information; a storage unit connected with the data processing unit, and storing the module information and an user information; a communication unit connected with the data processing unit, transmitting the module information, and receiving an outer information; and a power managing unit managing a power needed by the at least one pressure sensing unit, the data processing unit, the storage unit and the communication unit; a bottom board configured on a floor, and bearing the mentioned units; and a top board covering the mentioned units, and transferring the pressure source to the pressure sensing unit.
US08648731B2
Techniques are generally described related to a method and system for monitoring gas concentrations. One example gas monitoring apparatus includes a light source, a MEMS micro-mirror arranged to be in an optical path of a light from the light source that has passed through a sample and configured to direct selected wavelengths of the light to a single detection point, a detector arranged at the single detection point and configured to convert incident light into electrical signals, and a processor programmed to determine a gas concentration of one or more gases in the sample based on the electrical signals.
US08648729B2
An exemplary embodiment of a system includes first and second sensors. The first sensor is operable to provide an output indicative of a sensed refrigerant liquid temperature of a liquid refrigerant line that is within or extending from an outlet of a condenser coil of an air conditioner or heat pump unit. The second sensor is operable to provide an output indicative of a sensed refrigerant liquid pressure in the liquid refrigerant line. A controller is configured to determine at least one target pressure value from the output indicative of the sensed refrigerant liquid temperature of the liquid refrigerant line. The controller is configured to determine if the level of refrigerant charge is at, above, or below an acceptable level based on a comparison of the output indicative of sensed refrigerant liquid pressure to the at least one target pressure value.
US08648727B2
A system (10) and method for use by a subject with a sleep disorder, such as nocturnal enuresis. The system (10) comprises at least one sensor (11) that detects at least one attribute of the sleep disorder, for example urine, and outputs at least a first signal on or after detection of that attribute. The system (10) further comprises a control device (12) that comprises an arousal device (14), such as a loudspeaker, that activates on or after receipt of the first signal, an interactive device (15) that is actuable by the subject to deactivate or modify the operation of the arousal device (14) and an output device (16) for delivering an output to the subject. The output being delivered on or after deactivation or modification of the arousal device (14).
US08648725B2
An IPTV can receive a user name and present a screen enabling a user by means of a remote control to select health information categories, inputting numeric parameters into the selected categories which can be uploaded to an Internet server for analysis and viewed by the user for subsequent monitoring/charting.
US08648716B2
A system for identifying medication in the form of pills, capsules or tablets, and communicating medicine dosage and intake instructions to a user, utilizing Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) and optical recognition technology. The RFID is performed by labeling a medicine container with a tag containing a unique identifier, associating the unique identifier with an audio file comprising instructions related to medicine usage, and delivering the audio file to an electromagnetic wave-enabled device. A wireless device, such as a mobile telephone or PDA, via a service, plays an audio and/or vibrational file associated with the unique identifier when the RFID tag is read by the device. The mobile device has a camera therein and is operable to capture an image of the pill, capsule or tablet and, via execution of optical recognition software, identify the pill, tablet or capsule, and verify the identity thereof.
US08648704B2
A method and a control device for triggering passenger protection devices are provided, the passenger protection devices being triggered as a function of a first acceleration signal and/or a driving dynamics signal. The acceleration signal is corrected by an offset by a comparison with the driving dynamics signal.
US08648702B2
An object detection system of a vehicle includes a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor that receives a reflected object detection signal at a second time based on an object detection signal transmitted at a first time. An image sensor generates an image signal including an image of a detected object. The image sensor is distinct from and adjacent to the TOF sensor. A TOF control module generates distance data based on the first time and the second time and determines whether at least a portion of a detected object is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle. An image control module generates image data based on the image signal. A detection control module correlates the distance data with the image data to generate a warning indicator when at least a portion of the detected object is within the predetermined distance of the vehicle.
US08648701B2
A saddle riding vehicle includes a storage box and an anti-theft system. The storage box is openable in a vehicle horizontal direction. The anti-theft system is configured to measure position information on the vehicle and to send the position information via radio, the anti-theft system being attached to an undersurface of a ceiling of the storage box. Preferably, the anti-theft system is rotatably attached to the undersurface of the ceiling of the storage box by a hinge and the anti-theft system is attached to the tray member.
US08648691B2
An electronic device and a method for changing housing colors thereof are provided. This electronic device comprises: a power supply, a display screen, a housing (7), a user operation interface (1), a master controller (3), and a control circuit (5), wherein the housing (7) is configured to have multiple independent color-variable units, and each color-variable unit, which is connected to the power supply, is made of electrochromic materials with capacity of memory respectively; the user operation interface (1) is configured to receive an instruction inputted by a user for selecting a housing pattern; the master controller (3), which is connected to the user operation interface, is configured to convert the selected housing pattern into a first control signaling, and then to output the first control signaling; and the control circuit (5), which is connected to the master controller (3), is configured to receive the first control signaling, and to convert the first control signaling into different voltage signals and to control each color-variable unit of the housing (7) to change the color. By adopting this electronic device and the method for changing housing colors thereof, the housing patterns of electronic devices can be changed by following users' demands, which improves users' experience.
US08648687B2
A symmetric planar transformer having adjustable leakage inductance has a circuit board, two first bobbins mounted respectively on opposite side surfaces of the circuit board, two primary windings mounted respectively on the first bobbins, two secondary windings disposed respectively between the circuit board and the first bobbins, two second bobbins disposed respectively between adjacent first bobbins and primary windings, two pad sets disposed respectively between adjacent first bobbins and second bobbins, and a magnetic core assembly mounted through the circuit board, the first and second bobbins, the secondary and primary windings and the pad sets. Adjusting the numbers of the at least one pad of each pad set also adjusts distances between the primary and secondary windings to allow the secondary windings to have the same leakage. Thus, a balanced electric current is induced.
US08648682B2
A magnet coil arrangement for an electromagnetically operated valve includes a coil that is electrically connectable to a current source by means of a base. The base is constructed in substantially two parts by a coil part and a connection part. A current source can be connected to contacts of the connection part, while the coil part has contacts which are electrically connected to the coil. The connection part and the coil part are connected by means of a connecting apparatus in order to be electrically and mechanically connected.
US08648676B2
A method and an apparatus are provided for providing a tunable substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) for which a parameter of at least some element or portion thereof may be altered or varied to alter the propagation of a signal propagating through the SIW thereby achieving a tunable SIW. In some embodiments a plurality of capacitively variably loaded transverse slots achieve the tunability for the SIW.
US08648672B2
An object is to obtain a steep and large attenuation amount in attenuation bands close to each other out of a band of a TV wave and to provide a filter in which the use number of inductors is reduced thereby to be able to contribute to downsizing of a device. Elastic wave resonators of a plurality of parallel arms for each forming plurality of attenuation band are connected to the same electric potential point in a signal path without aid of an inductor. Otherwise, a series circuit of a plurality of element parts generating series resonance is connected in a signal path as a parallel arm. Therefore, a large attenuation amount can be obtained in each of the plural attenuation bands, but a region equivalent to what is called a zero point exists between adjacent poles. However, there can be obtained a characteristic in which steep attenuations occur in both sides of the zero point even if the zero point exists. Sets of elastic wave resonators (sets of resonators) connected to the same potential points or parallel arms constituted by the series circuits are connected in a signal path in a plurality of stages, and an inductor for inverting a phase intervenes between the stages.
US08648665B2
Electrical apparatus for connecting a radio frequency power-supply having two outputs to a load includes two radio frequency transmission-lines, each one connected to a corresponding power-supply output. A transformer arrangement connects the two transmission-lines to the load. Each transmission-line includes a series-connected pair of twelfth-wave transmission-line sections. The series-connection between the twelfth wave transmission-line sections in one transmission line is connected to the series-connection between the twelfth-wave transmission-line sections in the other by a device having an adjustable impedance.
US08648651B2
A transceiver comprises a transmitter and a receiver. At least one of the transmitter and the receiver comprises an adaptive filer. One or more coefficients of the adaptive filter are determined based at least in part on an output of a real time clock. The adaptive filter may comprise a coefficient update engine and a memory for storing a plurality of sets of adaptive filter coefficients in association with respective time indicators derived from the output of the real time clock, with the coefficient update engine being configured to determine a particular one of the sets of filter coefficients for use by the adaptive filter based at least in part on at least a subset of the time indicators. The time indicators may comprise respective time stamps generated based on the output of the real time clock at respective times at which the corresponding sets of coefficients are determined.
US08648645B2
Disclosed is a digital voltage regulator system and method for mitigating voltage droop in an integrated circuit. If an unacceptable voltage droop is detected, the digital voltage regulator may take action to allow the power supply voltage to recover. A digital voltage regulator in accordance with embodiments discussed herein detects voltage droop by comparing a power supply voltage measurement with a threshold voltage. The threshold voltage may be calibrated based on power supply voltage measurements taken while the integrated circuit is operating.
US08648644B2
The switch control device controls a switching operation of a power switch. The switch control device includes an auxiliary power device. The auxiliary power device includes a parasitic capacitor, and charges the parasitic capacitor by receiving a power voltage to generate an auxiliary power voltage. The switch control device includes a control pulse generator driven by the auxiliary power voltage and generating a set pulse and a reset pulse according to an input signal that is input for controlling the switching operation of the power switch. The switch control device generates a gate signal that turns on the power switch by being synchronized with the set pulse and generates a gate signal that turns off the power switch by being synchronized with the reset pulse.
US08648641B2
A voltage controlled variable resistor circuit is configured to variably attenuate a variable source signal. A fixed attenuation circuit is coupled to receive the variable source signal and output an attenuated variable source signal. The variable source signal is further applied across a variable resistive divider formed of a fixed resistive circuit and a variable resistive circuit. The variable resistive circuit has a first input configured to receive the attenuated variable source signal and a second input configured to receive a variable resistance control signal. The variable resistive circuit is configured to have a resistance which is variable in response to the attenuated variable source signal and the variable resistance control signal.
US08648640B1
Apparatus and methods are provided for an extraction circuit. In one configuration, an apparatus includes: an edge extraction circuit for receiving a first clock signal and outputting a second clock signal, wherein a duty cycle of the second clock is substantially smaller than a duty cycle of the first clock; a transistor for receiving the second clock signal and outputting a current signal; a transmission line for receiving the current signal on a first end and transmitting the current signal to a second end; a termination circuit for receiving the current signal at the second end and converting the current signal into a voltage signal; and an edge detection circuit for outputting a third clock by detecting an edge of the voltage signal. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises an inverter. In another embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises a comparator.
US08648636B2
In one embodiment, multiple (serializer-deserializer) SERDES channels are aligned by selectively slipping one or more of the incoming serial data streams one bit at a time prior to deserialization. Within each SERDES channel, a slip circuit slips the corresponding serial data stream by one bit (i.e., one unit interval (UI)) by extending the high portion of the duty cycle of a corresponding clock signal. The high portion of the clock signal is extended using a 3-to-1 mux that selects a fixed high signal, such as the high power supply rail, as an intermediate mux output signal whenever transitioning between two different applied clock signals that are offset from one another by one UI. In this way, the slip circuit avoids glitches that might otherwise result from switching directly between the two clock signals.
US08648634B2
An input jitter filter for a phase-locked loop and methods of use are provided. The method includes generating a masking zone around falling edges of a feedback signal. The method also includes determining that one or more outputs of a phase detector fall within the masking zone. The method further includes ignoring input clock noise when the one or more outputs of the phase detector fall within the masking zone.
US08648631B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a controller includes a comparator, a delay element, and a timer. The delay element is connected to an input terminal of the comparator and the timer is connected to an output terminal of the comparator. The delay element may include a switch having a control electrode coupled for receiving a control signal. In accordance with another embodiment, a detection signal is generated in response to a comparison signal transitioning to a first level.
US08648625B2
There is provided a frequency synthesizer capable of improving phase noise. A sinusoidal signal with a frequency set by a frequency setting part is output as a digital signal from a set signal output part, and the digital signal is D/A-converted. A difference between a sinusoidal signal with a frequency corresponding to an output frequency of a voltage controlled oscillating part and a sinusoidal signal output from a D/A converting part is amplified by a differential amplifier, and an amplified signal is input via an A/D converting part to a means for extracting a phase difference between the aforesaid sinusoidal signals. A voltage corresponding to a signal being the result of integration of the phase difference is input as a control voltage to the voltage controlled oscillating part. Then, a gain of the differential amplifier is set larger than a maximum value of phase noise degradation of the A/D converting part, whereby the phase noise degradation of the A/D converting part is cancelled.
US08648624B2
A voltage-to-current converter circuit has a differential input unit, and is provided with an input offset voltage, wherein the temperature characteristics of the differential input unit and input offset voltage are substantially flat. A current is supplied wherein a second fixed current having positive temperature characteristics is added to a first fixed current having flat characteristics as a bias current to the differential input unit, to balance the temperature characteristics of the differential input unit and the temperature characteristics of the bias current, thus causing the differential input unit transconductance temperature characteristics to be substantially zero (e.g., substantially flat).
US08648609B2
A testing system utilizing a common power supply and a display device to test different types of a main board circuit is disclosed. The testing system includes a power supply device for outputting a predetermined power; a liquid crystal display for receiving a control signal from the main board circuit to perform a testing procedure; and an adapter. The adapter includes a first circuit coupled electrically between the power supply device and the main board circuit for converting the predetermined power into a power needed by the main board circuit, and a second circuit coupled electrically between the main board circuit and the liquid crystal display for converting a control signal generated by the main board circuit into a signal format required to perform the testing procedure on the liquid crystal display.
US08648608B2
Disclosed is a very low frequency test generator for generating a high voltage having a low frequency in order to test the insulation of capacitive loads, in particular power cables. Said VLF test generator comprises an oscillator part which generates a high voltage that has a high frequency and is modulated with a lower frequency at an output, and a demodulator which is connected to the oscillator part, demodulates the high voltage, and recovers the low frequency therefrom. A discharge resistor for the capacitive load is connected in parallel to the demodulator, said discharge resistor conducting back to the aforementioned output.
US08648591B2
A magnetoresistive angular sensor and sensing method, in which an external magnetic field generator is used to provide a first mode in which a dc external magnetic field is provided in a predetermined direction and which dominates over the magnetic field generated by the input device being sensed. In a second mode, the external magnetic field is smaller. The angular sensor arrangement outputs from the two modes are combined, and this enables the input device angular orientation to be determined with offset voltage compensation.
US08648590B2
An induction detecting type rotary encoder includes: a stator; a rotor configured to be rotated with respect to a rotary shaft; a first transmitting coil; a second transmitting coil; a first receiving coil; a second receiving coil; a first magnetic flux coupling body; and a second magnetic flux coupling body. The first transmitting coil is disposed between the first and second receiving coils. A distance between the second transmitting coil and the rotary shaft is larger than that of the second receiving coil and the rotary shaft. The first magnetic flux coupling body forms a first track for causing a periodic change for each rotation. The second magnetic flux coupling body forms a second track for causing a periodic change for each rotation. The second magnetic flux coupling body has a pattern of which an inner peripheral side is substantially continuous in a circumferential direction.
US08648581B2
There is provided a voltage mode push-pull driver output stage with low power consumption and improved output return loss (ORL) suitable for various high bandwidth data transmission applications. By structuring the output stage to have tunable resistances adjustable by voltages applied to transistors, the output stage is readily adaptable to different applications requiring different resistances or impedance matching.
US08648570B2
The present invention relates to a cell balancing method for a high-voltage battery pack, and the method comprises steps of a) measuring an electromotive force of each cell composing the battery pack; b) selecting the cell to be balanced based on the electromotive force of the each cell; c) computing a total amount of charges used for balancing of the cell to be balanced; d) obtaining an accumulative amount of charges by accumulating an amount of current consumed for the balancing while performing the balancing of the cell to be balanced; and e) completing the balancing of the cell to be balanced when the accumulative amount of charges equals the total amount of charges.
US08648557B2
A drive control signal generating circuit that generates a drive control signal for driving a motor includes an output control circuit that includes a flip-flop in which a state changes by a rotational state signal of the motor crossing a reference value and generates a motor drive control signal according to the state of the flip-flop, a clock generating circuit that generates a clock that defines a time of reading data in the flip-flop of the output control circuit; and a PWM conversion circuit that PWM-converts the drive control signal using the clock as a PWM signal. The clock has a frequency in which the output control circuit operates and has a duty ratio of the PWM signal.
US08648554B2
An embodiment of an electric motor car control system includes a resistor connected parallel to a main motor cut-off switch, or a switch for grounding terminals of the main motor, to discharge electric charges accumulated in stray capacitances of the main motor, whereby the electric motor car control system can prevent electrical shocks due to electric charges accumulated in main motor stray capacitances.
US08648546B2
A solid state lighting device comprising at least one first light emitter that emits non-saturated non-white light of a first color point, at least one second light emitter that emits saturated non-white light, and a controller configured to control a ratio of light emitted by the first emitter(s) and by the second light emitter(s) to provide non-white light of a second color point. Also, a solid state lighting device comprising at least one first light emitter that emits light within a first area or a second area on a Chromaticity Diagram, and at least one second light emitter, wherein output light is non-white and has a second color point. Also, methods of providing non-white light.
US08648536B2
A pair of coaxial electrodes 10 that face each other, a discharge-environment-maintaining device 20, and a voltage-applying device 30 are provided. Each coaxial electrode 10 includes a center electrode 12, a guide electrode 14 which surrounds the front end portion of the facing center electrode, and an insulation member 16 which insulates the center electrode and the guide electrode from each other. The insulation member 16 is formed of partially porous ceramics including an insulative dense portion 16a and a porous portion 16b. The insulative dense portion 16a includes a reservoir 18 which holds a plasma medium therein, and by the porous portion 16b, the inner surface of the reservoir 18 communicates with a gap between the center electrode 12 and the guide electrode 14 through the inside of the insulative dense portion 16a.
US08648527B2
Provided is a display apparatus using an organic EL device in which blur in a display image to be a problem for the display apparatus is reduced while propagating light propagating through a high-refractive-index transparent layer is efficiently extracted outside. The display apparatus has a configuration in which a high-refractive-index transparent layer is provided on a light exit side of the organic EL device, a light extraction structure is provided on the high-refractive-index transparent layer so as to surround each of subpixels, a visible light absorbing member is arranged between pixels adjacent to each other, and the visible light absorbing member is not arranged in a region between subpixels adjacent to each other within a pixel.
US08648526B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, a color filter layer on the substrate, a transflective reflective layer on the color filter layer, the transflective reflective layer being configured to partly transmit and partly reflect visible light, a first electrode on the transflective reflective layer, an intermediate layer on the first electrode, the intermediate layer including an organic emission layer, a second electrode on the intermediate layer, and an optical path control layer (OPCL) between the transflective reflective layer and the first electrode, the OPCL including an insulating material and being configured to control a path of light generated in the intermediate layer.
US08648523B2
The light emitting device comprises a light emitting element, a red phosphor formed from a nitride phosphor and a green phosphor formed from a halosilicate, wherein the emission spectrum has a first peak at a wavelength between 440 nm and 470 nm, a second peak at a wavelength between 510 nm and 550 nm and a third peak at a wavelength between 630 nm and 670 nm, and the minimum relative light emission intensity between the second peak wavelength and the third peak wavelength is 80% or less of whichever the lower of the relative light emission intensity of the second peak wavelength and the relative light emission intensity of the third peak wavelength.
US08648517B2
A multilayer piezoelectric element includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of metal layers stacked alternately. The plurality of metal layers include a plurality of low-filled metal layers having a lower filling rate of metal composing the metal layers than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. The plurality of metal layers may include a plurality of thin metal layers having a smaller thickness than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. Where the plurality of metal layers are composed mainly of an alloy, the plurality of metal layers may include a plurality of high-ratio metal layers having a higher ratio of a component constituting the alloy than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction.
US08648516B2
A resilient support for a bridge includes: an upper plate fixedly installed on the undersurface of the bridge deck panel; a base plate fixedly installed on the top surface of the pier; an upper fixed panel and a lower fixed panel fastened and fixed by fastening bolts to the upper plate and to the base plate, respectively; and a rubber pad, the top and bottom surfaces of which are thermally bonded and fixed to the upper and lower fixed panels, respectively, and including a plurality of steel panels in a multi-stack configuration filled therein, wherein the resilient support is configured with a plurality of piezoelectric devices for converting vibrations transmitted from the bridge deck panels into electric energy, and the piezoelectric devices are stacked between each of the steel panels within the rubber pad.
US08648509B2
A power source for a vehicle includes at least one toroidal ring positioned in a housing. The toroidal ring includes magnetic material such as permanent magnets. The toroidal ring is magnetically levitated in the housing. A propulsion winding is coupled with the housing and energizable via a power signal to move the toroidal ring. Once moving, the magnetic material and the propulsion winding cooperate to produce electrical power and/or provide a stabilizing effect for the vehicle. In some applications, such as in an aircraft application, two or more toroidal rings may be used and rotated at counter directions so as to produce a predetermined net angular momentum.
US08648500B1
In accordance with some embodiments, an integrated circuit device comprises a circuit configured to provide a sense signal representing a dynamic power requirement of the circuit to a first sense node, a first sense switch coupled between the first sense node and a first die bump, and a sense switch controller configured to provide a control signal to the first sense switch.
US08648497B2
A solar photovoltaic plant is disclosed where a number of distributed DC-to-DC converters are used in conjunction with a central DC-to-AC converter. Each DC-to-DC converter is dedicated to a portion of the photovoltaic array and tracks the maximum power point voltage thereof. The DC-to-DC converters also boost the photovoltaic voltage and regulate a DC output current for transmission to the central DC-to-AC converter. Five distinct advantages are had over the prior art. First, efficiencies in intra-field power collection are greatly improved by transferring power at higher DC voltages. Second, the number of independent photovoltaic maximum power point trackers in the power plant can be increased, in a cost effective manner, to optimize the overall photovoltaic array energy harvest. Third, each DC-to-DC converter output “looks” like a current source at the input of the DC-to-AC converter and therefore can be easily paralleled. Fourth, the current source nature of the DC-to-DC converter outputs enables the DC-to-AC converter to operate with a minimum, fixed DC bus voltage to provide maximum DC-to-AC power conversion efficiencies. And fifth, each distributed DC-to-DC converter can isolate a faulted portion of the photovoltaic array while the remainder of the array continues producing power.
US08648485B1
A improved energy collection device is disclosed comprising a base a first shaft, rotatable about an axis, a second shaft fixedly mounted to the base, rotatably adapted around the first shaft defining spring housing. A spring is contained within the spring housing of the second shaft attached at a first end to the first shaft and at a second end to the second shaft. A winder is attached to the base, connected to the energy source which rotates the winder and is connected at a second point to the second shaft which is rotated by the winder tightening the second end of the spring to a designed point then unwinding the first end of the spring rotating the first shaft while continuing to wind the second spring end A generator is connected to the end of the first shaft generating electricity as the first shaft is rotated.
US08648480B1
A system includes a housing disposed within a fluid having a fluid flow. A first member is located substantially external to the housing and is directly exposed to the fluid flow and lengthwise positioned transverse to the direction of the fluid flow. The first member is configured to vibrate independently of the housing responsive to direct exposure to the fluid flow. A coil is coupled to one end of the first member. The coil is disposed within the housing and shielded from direct fluid flow. A magnet is disposed within the housing separate from and adjacent to the coil. The magnet is shielded from direct fluid flow. Magnetic flux from the magnet induces an electric current through the coil responsive to relative motion between the magnet and the coil caused by vibration of the first member.
US08648477B2
A semiconductor chip package including a film substrate and a semiconductor chip loaded on the semiconductor chip is provided. The semiconductor chip includes a plurality of input pads and a plurality of output pads. A power supply input pad of the input pads is formed at a different edge from an edge of the semiconductor chip where other input pads are formed. The film substrate includes input lines and output lines. The input lines of the film substrate are connected to the corresponding input pads of the semiconductor chip, and the output lines thereof are connected to the corresponding output pads of the semiconductor chip.
US08648475B2
A flip chip comprises first and second circuitry portions formed in a substrate. The first and second circuitry portions are spaced apart from one another in a separation direction. A substrate-contact boundary is formed in the substrate between the first and second circuitry portions.
US08648472B2
In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, first, a first metal interconnect is formed in an interconnect formation region, and a second metal interconnect is formed in a seal ring region. Subsequently, by chemical mechanical polishing or etching, the upper portions of the first metal interconnect and the second metal interconnect are recessed to form recesses. A second insulating film filling the recesses is then formed above a substrate, and the upper portion of the second insulating film is planarized. Next, a hole and a trench are formed to extend halfway through the second insulating film, and ashing and polymer removal are performed. Subsequently to this, the hole and the trench are allowed to reach the first metal interconnect and the second metal interconnect.
US08648468B2
Provided is a wafer level packaging. The packaging includes a first semiconductor wafer having a transistor device and a first bonding layer that includes a first material. The packaging includes a second semiconductor wafer having a second bonding layer that includes a second material different from the first material, one of the first and second materials being aluminum -based, and the other thereof being titanium-based. Wherein a portion of the second wafer is diffusively bonded to the first wafer through the first and second bonding layers.
US08648464B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, and an interconnection above the semiconductor substrate. The interconnection includes a co-catalyst layer, a catalyst layer on the co-catalyst layer, and a graphene layer on the catalyst layer. The co-catalyst layer includes a portion contacting the catalyst layer. The portion has a face-centered cubic structure with a (111) plane oriented parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The catalyst layer has a face-centered cubic structure with a (111) plane oriented parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08648458B2
An integrated circuit leadframe device supports various chip arrangements. As consistent with various embodiments, a leadframe includes a plurality of banks of conductive integrated circuit chip connectors. Each bank has a plurality of conductive strips respectively having an end portion, the end portions of each of the strips in the bank being substantially parallel to one another and arranged at an oblique angle to end portions of strips in at least one of the other banks. Each of the end portions has a tip extending to an interior portion of the leadframe device and separated from the other tips by a gap. A fastening material is arranged on at least some of the conductive strips and configured to fasten an integrated circuit chip to the conductive strips
US08648451B2
Provided are a socket, a semiconductor package, a test device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package. A socket to test a semiconductor package comprising a housing, a trench receiving a semiconductor package in the housing, at least one probe connected to the semiconductor package at a bottom of the trench, and at least one connector electrically connecting a plurality of contact points exposed at a side of the semiconductor package when the semiconductor package is inserted into the trench. A semiconductor package with contacts exposed from a side of a package substrate, and a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor package are also disclosed.
US08648445B2
An MOS device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and first and second source/drain regions of a second conductivity type formed in the semiconductor layer proximate an upper surface of the semiconductor layer. The first and second source/drain regions are spaced apart relative to one another. A gate is formed above and electrically isolated from the semiconductor layer, at least partially between the first and second source/drain regions. At least a given one of the first and second source/drain regions is configured having an effective width that is substantially greater than a width of a junction between the semiconductor layer and the given source/drain region.
US08648444B2
A semiconductor wafer having a multi-layer wiring structure is disclosed. The wafer comprises a plurality of chip die areas arranged on the wafer in an array and scribe line areas between the chip die areas. The scribe lines of a semiconductor wafer having USG top-level wiring layers above ELK wiring layers have at least one metal film structures substantially covering corner regions where two scribe lines intersect to inhibit delamination at the USG/ELK interface during wafer dicing operation.
US08648439B2
The present invention provides a thin and bendable semiconductor device utilizing an advantage of a flexible substrate used in the semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has at least one surface covered by an insulating layer which serves as a substrate for protection. In the semiconductor device, the insulating layer is formed over a conductive layer serving as an antenna such that the value in the thickness ratio of the insulating layer in a portion not covering the conductive layer to the conductive layer is at least 1.2, and the value in the thickness ratio of the insulating layer formed over the conductive layer to the conductive layer is at least 0.2. Further, not the conductive layer but the insulating layer is exposed in the side face of the semiconductor device, and the insulating layer covers a TFT and the conductive layer.
US08648438B2
Techniques for fabricating passive devices in an extremely-thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) wafer are provided. In one aspect, a method for fabricating one or more passive devices in an ETSOI wafer is provided. The method includes the following steps. The ETSOI wafer having a substrate and an ETSOI layer separated from the substrate by a buried oxide (BOX) is provided. The ETSOI layer is coated with a protective layer. At least one trench is formed that extends through the protective layer, the ETSOI layer and the BOX, and wherein a portion of the substrate is exposed within the trench. Spacers are formed lining sidewalls of the trench. Epitaxial silicon templated from the substrate is grown in the trench. The protective layer is removed from the ETSOI layer. The passive devices are formed in the epitaxial silicon.
US08648434B2
A magnetic memory device includes a magnetic pattern, a reference pattern, a tunnel barrier pattern interposed between the magnetic pattern and the reference pattern, and at least one magnetic segment disposed inside the magnetic pattern. The magnetic segment(s) is/are of magnetic material whose direction of magnetization has at least a component which lies in a plane perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the magnetic pattern.
US08648432B2
A fully embedded micromechanical device and a system on chip is manufactured on an SOI-substrate. The micromechanical device comprises a moveable component having a laterally extending upper and lower surface and vertical side surfaces. The upper surface is adjacent to an upper gap which laterally extends over at least a part of the upper surface and results from the removal of a shallow trench insulation material. The lower surface is adjacent to a lower gap which laterally extends over at least a part of the lower surface and results from the removal of the buried silicon oxide layer. The side surfaces of the movable component are adjacent to side gaps which surround at least a part of the vertical side surfaces of the moveable component and result from the removal of a deep trench insulation material.
US08648428B2
A memory array that includes access devices that are each electrically coupled to more than one memory cell. The memory cells are coupled to the access devices via diode devices. The access devices include vertical semiconductor material mesas upstanding from a semiconductor base that form a conductive channel between first and second doped regions, and also planar access devices.
US08648409B2
A method for fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes forming a channel link layer and an isolation layer surrounding the channel link layer over a substrate, forming a stack structure having interlayer dielectric layers that are alternately stacked with gate electrode layers over the channel link layer and the isolation layer, and forming a pair of channels connected to the channel link layer through the stack structure, and a memory layer interposed between the channel and the stack structure.
US08648407B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first opening and a second opening adjacent thereto. A first dielectric layer is disposed in a lower portion of the first opening. A charge-trapping dielectric layer is disposed in an upper portion of the first opening to cover the first dielectric layer. A doping region of a predetermined conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the first opening and the second opening, wherein the doping region of the predetermined conductivity type has a polarity which is different from that of the charges trapped in the charge-trapping dielectric layer. A gate electrode is disposed in a lower portion of the second opening. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device is also disclosed.
US08648403B2
A dynamic random access memory cell is disclosed that comprises a capacitive storage device and a write access transistor. The write access transistor is operatively coupled to the capacitive storage device and has a gate stack that comprises a high-K dielectric, wherein the high-K dielectric has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric constant of silicon dioxide. Also disclosed are a memory array using the cells, a computing apparatus using the memory array, a method of storing data, and a method of manufacturing.
US08648402B2
A semiconductor device includes an active region defined by a device isolation layer and including first and second sections or regions, a gate electrode extending in a first direction across the active region over a channel between the first region and the second region and including at least one first gate tab protruding in a second direction toward the first region, and first and second contact plugs. The first gate tab covers and extends along a boundary between the active region and the device isolation layer. The first contact plug is disposed over the first region, the second contact plug is disposed over the second region, and the second contact plug has an effective width, as measured in the first direction, greater than that of the first contact plug.
US08648377B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device including a substrate, an n-type semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, an active layer laminated on the n-type semiconductor layer and capable of emitting a light, a p-type semiconductor layer laminated on the active layer, an n-electrode which is disposed on a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate or on the n-type semiconductor layer and spaced away from the active layer and p-type semiconductor layer, and a p-electrode which is disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer and includes a reflective ohmic metal layer formed on the dot-like metallic layer, wherein the light emitted from the active layer is extracted externally from the substrate side.
US08648372B2
A light emitting device includes a plurality of LEDs that each emit light. A wavelength conversion member converts wavelengths of at least part of the light emitted from the LEDs to at least one other wavelength, and outputs light obtained by combining light having at least two wavelengths emitted from the wavelength conversion member. At least part of a light emitting surface of the wavelength conversion member has a surface state that differs from other parts of the light emitting surface.
US08648363B2
An organic electroluminescence display unit including: a lower electrode for each device; a first hole injection/transport layer provided on the lower electrode for each device; a second organic light emitting layer of the first color provided on the first hole injection/transport layer for the second organic electroluminescence device; a second hole injection/transport layer provided on the entire surfaces of the second organic light emitting layer and the first hole injection/transport layer for the first organic electroluminescence device, and being made of a low molecular material; a blue first organic light emitting layer provided on the entire surface of the second hole injection/transport layer; and an electron injection/transport layer having at least one of electron injection characteristics and electron transport characteristics, and an upper electrode that are provided in sequence on the entire surface of first organic light emitting layer.
US08648354B2
Electronic field effect devices, and methods of manufacture of these electronic field effect devices are disclosed. In particular, there is disclosed an electronic field effect device which has improved electrical properties due to the formation of a highly mobile two-dimensional charge-carrier gas in a simple structure formed from diamond in combination with polar materials.
US08648343B2
An object is to increase the aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion (also referred to as a pixel portion) over the same substrate. The driver circuit portion includes a channel-etched thin film transistor for a driver circuit, in which a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed using a metal and a channel layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor, and a driver circuit wiring formed using a metal. The display portion includes a channel protection thin film transistor for a pixel, in which a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed using an oxide conductor and a semiconductor layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor, and a display portion wiring formed using an oxide conductor. The thin film transistors provided in the semiconductor device are formed with a resist mask formed using a multi-tone mask.
US08648339B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first data input/output terminals, a plurality of second data input/output terminals, a first semiconductor chip, and a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a plurality of first data input/output pads connected with the first data input/output terminals, a first test circuit, and a first memory portion. The first test circuit generates a first test result in response to a data output from the first memory portion at a test operation. The second semiconductor chip includes a plurality of second data input/output pads connected with the second data input/output terminals, a second and a third test circuits, and a second memory portion. The second test circuit generates a second test result in response to a data output from the second memory portion, and the third test circuit generates a third test result in response to the second test result and the first test result input from the first test circuit of the first semiconductor chip and outputs the third test result from a specified second data input/output terminal.
US08648321B2
An optical sensor for use in a washing machine or dishwasher comprises a housing, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and a light-conducting structure, which is made from a transparent material, having a light entry point, a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface and a light exit point. A light measurement path runs from the light-emitting element, via the light entry point, the first reflection surface, the second reflection surface and the light exit point, to the light-receiving element wherein the light undergoes total reflection on the first reflection surface and on the second reflection surface and where a light beam that runs from the first reflection surface to the second reflection surface has a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.9 mm2.
US08648318B2
The invention relates to a multiple beam charged particle optical system, comprising an electrostatic lens structure with at least one electrode, provided with apertures, wherein the effective size of a lens field effected by said electrode at a said aperture is made ultimately small. The system may comprise a diverging charged particle beam part, in which the lens structure is included. The physical dimension of the lens is made ultimately small, in particular smaller than one mm, more in particular less than a few tens of microns. In further elaboration, a lens is combined with a current limiting aperture, aligned such relative to a lens of said structure, that a virtual aperture effected by said current limiting aperture in said lens is situated in an optimum position with respect to minimizing aberrations total.
US08648316B2
The invention relates to a cooling apparatus (101) for a sample in an ion beam etching process, including, a sample stage (102) for arranging the sample, a coolant receptacle (120) containing a coolant, at least one thermal conduction element (106a, 106b) that connects the sample stage (102) to the coolant, a cooling finger (105) connected to the thermal conduction element (106a, 106b), the cooling finger (105) comprising a conduit (130, 131) through which coolant can flow and which is connectable to the coolant receptacle (120). The invention further relates to a method of adjusting the temperature of a sample in an ion beam etching process, including mounting a sample on a coolable sample stage (102), aligning the sample on the sample stage (102), and cooling the sample by coolant directed through a conduit (130, 131) of a cooling finger.
US08648306B1
The present disclosure relates to forming a dispersion of metamaterial particles in an atmosphere. The metamaterial particles can be dispersed into the atmosphere, for example, from an aircraft or another type of platform, to form the dispersion. The resulting dispersion can interact with electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. The particles may strongly interact with both the magnetic and electric field components of the electromagnetic signals. In some implementations, the dispersion absorbs electromagnetic signals in a frequency range. In some implementations, the dispersion modifies electromagnetic signals in a frequency range, for example, by applying a phase shift, a polarization shift, a frequency shift, or a reflection angle to the electromagnetic signals.
US08648304B1
A thermal detector manufacturing method includes: forming a sacrificial layer on a structure including an insulating layer; forming a support member on the sacrificial layer; forming on the support member a heat-detecting element; forming a first light-absorbing layer so as to cover the heat-detecting element, and planarizing the first light-absorbing layer; forming a contact hole in a portion of the first light-absorbing layer, subsequently forming a thermal transfer member having a connecting portion that connects to the heat-detecting element and a thermal collecting portion having a surface area greater than that of the connecting portion as seen in plan view; forming a second light-absorbing layer on the first light-absorbing layer; and removing the sacrificial layer to form a cavity between the support member and the structure including the insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate.
US08648298B2
In an ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer ions are excited into cyclotron orbits by an alternating current excitation signal having a nonlinear function of the excitation frequency vs. time in a “chirp.” Such an excitation signal produces transients which have no pronounced beats, even if mixtures of many ion species, all having the same mass differences, are present. The dynamic measuring range for the image currents can thus be better utilized. In particular, sum spectra of specified quality can be generated from a significantly smaller number of individual transients, and thus in a significantly shorter measuring time.
US08648295B2
A combined distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) instrument includes an ion source configured to produce ions having varying mass-to-charge ratios, a first detector configured to determine when each of the ions travels a predetermined distance, a second detector configured to determine how far each of the ions travels in a predetermined time, and a detector extraction region operable to direct portions of the ions either to the first detector or to the second detector.
US08648290B2
Provided are a data selection circuit, a data transmission circuit, a ramp wave generation circuit, and a solid-state imaging device. A delay section delays signals input to delay units of n (n is a natural number equal to or more than 3) stages that are connected to each other and have the same configuration and outputs delayed signals from the delay units. A delay control section controls a delay amount of the delay units. An output section performs a logical operation on signals output from i-th and j-th (i and j are natural numbers that are different from each other and equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than n) delay units to generate a signal and outputs the signal to a k-th (k is a natural number equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than m) first data selection pulse input terminal of a functional circuit having m (m is a natural number equal to or more than 2) first data selection pulse input terminals.
US08648278B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a substrate provided with a metal pattern by forming a pattern of a metal layer on a substrate using a laser light, the process including: a step of preparing a substrate in which the metal layer is formed on a surface thereof; a step of forming on the metal layer an assist layer which comprises a metal material different from that of the metal layer and which has a light absorptivity for the laser light different from that of the metal layer, thereby forming a metal laminate on the substrate; and a step of patterning the metal layer by irradiating the metal laminate with the laser light to remove a laser light-irradiated portion of the metal laminate, thereby forming a metal pattern on the substrate.
US08648272B2
A bracket and shell assembly (100) includes a bracket (1) having a base portion (11) and a tail portion (14) connecting to the base portion, a switch unit (2) assembled on the base portion of the bracket, and a shell (3) covering the bracket for shielding the switch unit. The shell defines an opening (31) and a button (4) extends through the opening of the shell to be located over the switch unit. A protrusion (141) is formed on one of the tail portion and the shell. A notch (32) is defined on the other one of the tail portion and the shell. The notch correspondingly receives the protrusion for pre-mounting the shell on the bracket.
US08648271B2
A position switch and a circuit breaker having a position switch are provided. Contact plates, each having an elastically variable height, may be provided between switch blocks and switch levers. A testing contact plate and a running contact plate may compensate for inferior dimensioning of the switch blocks and the switch levers. Such a configuration may allow a position of a breaker body to be quickly and accurately displayed and, further, may prevent damage of the position switch provided at the breaker body. Furthermore, such a configuration may prevent any connection inferiority between a terminal of the breaker body and a terminal of a cradle.
US08648265B2
Terminal pins that include a refractory metal forming a full perimeter weld connected to a terminal block including a dissimilar metal incorporated into feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are discussed. The feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are particularly useful for incorporation into implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and the like, to decouple and shield internal electronic components of the medical device from undesirable electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals.
US08648260B2
A wiring substrate includes differential wirings; a first insulating layer adjacent to one side of the differential wirings, including first fiber bundles parallel to the differential wirings; a second insulating layer adjacent to another side of the differential wirings, including second fiber bundles parallel to the differential wirings and disposed by the same pitch as the first fiber bundles; a third insulating layer on the first insulating layer on a side opposite to the differential wirings, including third fiber bundles in parallel to the differential wirings; and a fourth insulating layer on the second insulating layer on a side opposite to the differential wirings, including fourth fiber bundles in parallel to the differential wirings. Intervals of the third and fourth fiber bundles are respectively narrower than intervals of the first and second fiber bundles. The differential wirings are disposed between adjacent first fiber bundles, and between adjacent second fiber bundles.
US08648254B2
An overhead tower assembly comprising an overhead tower, a threading device attached to the tower and defining an opening, a cable positioned through the opening, and a cable catcher attached to the cable. The catcher includes a body secured to the cable and sized to fit through the opening, and an arm attached to the body and movable relative to the body between a collapsed position, having a cross-section smaller than the opening, and an expanded position, having a cross-section larger than the opening. The catcher and can be used to perform a method including attaching the catcher to the cable, inserting an end of the cable through the threading device, pulling the cable through the threading device, contacting the arm with the threading device, moving the arm from the expanded position toward the collapsed position, continuing to pull the cable until the catcher has passed through the threading device, and moving the arm back to the expanded position.
US08648246B2
According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric module includes a housing and a power generation member. The housing has a first temperature layer and a second temperature layer, the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer being stacked, the housing further having a cylindrical through-hole provided so as to penetrate the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer. The power generation member has thermoelectric materials stacked such that current flows in one direction in the power generation member, the power generation member being provided in the through-hole so that opposite ends of each of the thermoelectric materials are positioned at the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer, respectively.
US08648244B2
A percussion instrument including an acoustic chamber housing having a zigzag shape, a material chamber housing having the zigzag shape, a sound board having the zigzag shape arranged between the acoustic chamber housing and the material chamber housing to form an acoustic chamber defined by the acoustic chamber housing and the sound board, and a material chamber defined by the material chamber housing and the sound board, and particulate material arranged in the material chamber.
US08648226B2
The present invention provides a process for producing gasoline components from syngas. Syngas is converted to one or more of methanol, ethanol, mixed alcohols, and dimethyl ether, followed by various combinations of separations and reactions to produce gasoline components with oxygenates, such as alcohols. The syngas is preferably derived from biomass or another renewable carbon-containing feedstock, thereby providing a biorefining process for the production of renewable gasoline.
US08648223B2
A method of the present invention, for producing an iodizing agent, includes the step of electrolyzing iodine molecules in a solution by using an acid as a supporting electrolyte. This realizes (i) a method of producing an iodine cation suitable for use as an iodizing agent that does not require a sophisticated separation operation after iodizing reaction is completed, and (ii) an electrolyte used in the method. Further, a method of the present invention, for producing an aromatic iodine compound, includes the step of causing an iodizing agent, and an aromatic compound whose nucleus has one or more substituent groups and two or more hydrogen atoms, to react with each other under the presence of a certain ether compound. This realizes such a method of producing an aromatic iodine compound that position selectivity in iodizing reaction of an aromatic compound is improved.
US08648222B2
There is provided methods for making a catalyst composition represented by the formula MX/M′F2 wherein MX is an alkali metal halide; M is an alkali metal ion selected from the group consisting of Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+; X is a halogen ion selected from the group consisting of F−, Cl−, Br−, and I−; M′F2 is a bivalent metal fluoride; and M′ is a bivalent metal ion. There is also a method for making a fluorinated olefin.
US08648217B2
A modified carbonaceous material having chemically bound on its surface at least one fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain Rf) and a process for the modification of a carbonaceous material [material (C)]. The process comprises: contacting the material (C) with a (per)fluoropolyether peroxide comprising at least one peroxidic moiety comprised between sp3 carbon atoms and at least one fluoropolyoxyalkene chain (chain Rf), i.e. a fluorocarbon segment comprising ether linkages in main chain [peroxide (P)]; and heating the material (C) while in contact with the peroxide (P) at a temperature exceeding decomposition temperature of the peroxide (P).
US08648208B2
A compound represented by the formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof is used as an activator of PPAR wherein each of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 alkyl substituted with halogen, or the like; each of R3, R4, R5, and R6 is hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, or the like; X is sulfur or the like; Y is oxygen, a bond, or the like; p is 0 or 1; A is oxygen, CH2, N—NH2, or the like; when p is 1, B is phenyl, which can have a substituent; when p is 0, B is a condensed ring such as benzisoxazole, which can have a substituent; m is an integer of 1 to 4; and n is an integer of 0 to 5.
US08648201B2
Compounds of the formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R7 and Y have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of PDK1 and cell proliferation/cell vitality and can be employed for the treatment of tumors and for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
US08648200B2
The present invention provides compounds of the formula below: where A, X and R1-R6 are as described herein, a pharmaceutical salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition containing this compound; methods of treating pain associated with osteoarthritis using one of the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and processes for preparing the compounds.
US08648196B2
A process for making 1-(6-amino-3,5-difluoropyridin-2-yl)-8-chloro-6-fluoro-7-(3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, and therapeutically acceptable salts thereof, and intermediates used in the process are disclosed.
US08648193B2
The present invention relates to the field of organic chemistry and in particular to organic free radicals used as polarizing agents in the technique of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP), which involves transferring the polarization of electron spins to the nuclei of a compound whose Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is being observed. It concerns dinitroxide-type biradical polarizing agents characterized by a rigid linkage between the nitroxide units that enables optimal orientation and distance to be maintained between the aminoxyl groups of said nitroxide units. This particular structure enables, at low temperatures and high fields, optimal transfer of polarization and optimal enhancement of NMR/MAS signals of the polarized nuclei of the compound studied.
US08648184B2
The present invention relates to a zearalenone-inducible promoter originated from Gibberella zeae, recombinant vectors comprising the promoters, methods of producing proteins and detecting plants contaminated with zearalenone. The promoter of the present invention can be used for studying essential genes in fungus, characterizing the mechanism of self/nonself recognition in G. zeae, engineering of plant systems to generate plants that can recognize a G. zeae attack and detecting ZEA contamination as a biosensor.
US08648183B2
It is intended to provide base sequences participating in the regulation of the expression of a promoter. It is also intended to modify a promoter based on the base sequence data to give a modified promoter having a high expression activity. Namely, a modified promoter constructed by inserting a first DNA fragment containing CCAATNNNNNN (SEQ ID NO:1) (a first base sequence) and a second DNA fragment containing CGGNNNNNNNNNGG (SEQ ID NO:2) (a second base sequence) into a promoter functioning in a filamentous fungus, wherein N in the base sequence denotes A (adenine), G (guanine), C(cytosine), or T (thymine).
US08648181B2
Specific DNA ligand sequences for binding various arthropod-borne pathogens including arboviruses, rickettsia and parasites are described. Each of these sequences or their linear, two-and three-dimesional linked sequences can function in varying assay and sensor formats with varying degrees of success. Linkage of the whole or partial DNA sequences (putative binding sites) can be used to enhance specificity and affinity towards complex targets, thereby improving assay selectivity and sensitivity in many instances. In addition, the DNA sequences may bind and neutralize or prevent infection from arthropod-borne viruses, rickettsia and Leishmania or other parasites.
US08648175B2
The present invention provides a new stable pharmaceutical composition of erythropoietin (EPO) that is stabilized with PVP.
US08648171B2
The invention relates to members of the Fc receptor homolog (FcRH) subfamily, as well as fragments and variants thereof. Each FcRH is a Type I transmembrane receptor, preferably, comprises an extracellular region, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic region. The cytoplasmic region preferably comprises one or more immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory or activation motifs (“ITIMs” or “ITAMs). The invention provides polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors, expression systems, and antibodies and antibody fragments related to the FcRHs as well as uses thereof. Such uses include uses in the diagnosis and treatment of a malignancy of hematopoietic cell lineage or an inflammatory or autoimmune disease in a subject and in the modulation of a humoral immune response in a subject.
US08648169B2
The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and/or glaucoma using modulators of neurotrophic receptors that comprise β-turn peptidomimetic cyclic compounds or derivatives thereof. The neurotrophic receptor modulators can be used alone, in combination and/or in conjunction with one or more other compounds, molecules or drugs that treat or prevent ocular hypertension, RGC death and/or glaucoma.
US08648166B2
An antimony-free PET resin produced by using an inorganic Ti—Mg catalyst and a small amount of blue and red dyes, in the absence of an antimony catalyst or a phosphorus stabilizer; and, in a melt spinning process for producing PET polyester fiber, the PET resin demonstrates excellent spinnability but no yarn breaks or aggregation of TiO2 delustering agent so that the resultant PET polyester fiber features commercially desired in both color tone and glossiness. Especially the PET resin and the PET polyester fiber containing no antimony are therefore environmentally friendly by causing no heavy metal pollution to the environment.
US08648157B2
The present invention relates to metal-containing compositions comprising a metal-containing precursor unit (MU), a prepolymer unit (PU), and a catalyst or an initiator capable of inducing a combining reaction of ethylenically unsaturated groups of the metal-containing precursor unit and the prepolymer unit. In another embodiment, the composition comprises MU and a catalyst or initiator capable of inducing a combining reaction of the metal-containing precursor units. Both MU and PU contain additional functional groups, which may be selected to impart compatibility with each other and to produce optically clear films. The metal-containing compositions can be used to produce films or articles having a transmittance of at least 90% and index of refraction in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 in the 400-700 nm range of light and 1.4 to 2.4 in the 150-400 nm range of light.
US08648143B2
Processes for producing thermoplastic molding compositions, which comprise a) from 3 to 79% by weight of one or more (methyl)styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers, which have no maleic-anhydride-derived units, b) from 15 to 91% by weight of one or more polyamides, c) from 5 to 50% by weight of one or more rubbers, d) from 1 to 25% by weight of one or more compatibilizers, e) from 0 to 2% by weight of one or more low-molecular-weight compounds which comprise a dicarboxylic anhydride group, f) from 0 to 50% by weight of one or more fibrous or particulate fillers, and g) from 0 to 40% by weight of further additives, by producing a melt comprising components A, B, and C in a first step and subsequently incorporating D, Also, thermoplastic molding compositions obtainable by these processes, the use of these thermoplastic molding compositions, and moldings, fibers, and foils comprising these thermoplastic molding compositions.
US08648135B2
A surface-treatment agent contains a resin compound having a specific bisphenol skeleton, a cationic urethane resin emulsion, a silane coupling agent, an organic titanium chelate compound, a tetravalent vanadyl compound, and water, with predetermined proportions and having a pH of 4 to 5; a method for producing a coated steel sheet using the surface-treatment agent; and a coated steel sheet.
US08648132B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for the formation of a polymer nanocomposite material using a high-concentration masterbatch as a source of nanocomposite filler.
US08648124B2
The invention concerns novel weather-resistant polyurethane casting compounds, a process for preparation thereof and use thereof in the building sector.
US08648116B2
This invention concerns N-(2-arylamino) aryl sulfonamide compounds which are inhibitors of MEK including crystalline polymorphic forms which exhibit a specific powder x-ray diffraction profile and/or a specific differential scanning calorimetry profile. This invention also concerns pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds described herein and methods of use of the compounds and compositions described herein, including the use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancer, hyperproliferative diseases and inflammatory conditions. The invention also concerns methods of making the compounds and compositions described herein.
US08648114B2
Methods and compositions for treating and preventing toxic side effects of platinum-based chemotherapy agents are disclosed, in which transplatin is administered to a subject. Transplatin is shown to have protective effects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, nephotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Anti-inflammatory activity of transplatin is demonstrated and methods and compositions for treating and preventing inflammatory pain are described.
US08648091B2
Disclosed are uses of dihydroquinolinone derivatives for combating ectoparasites on non-human animals. Example ectoparasites include, for example, representatives of the order acarina, including ticks and mites. Also disclosed are compositions containing dihydroquinolinone derivatives.
US08648084B2
The present application describes selective ligands of formula (I) for neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs), more specifically for the α4β2 NNR subtype, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same, wherein X, R1, X, R2, R3, L1, m, n, p, and q are defined in the specification.
US08648080B2
The present invention relates to a use of a compound having an acid pump antagonistic activity, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for prevention or treatment of diseases in which abnormal gastrointestinal motility is involved. In addition, the present invention relates to the method of prevention or treatment including administering to a human or animal. The compound, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or pharmaceutical compositions containing them, may be used in combination with one or more second active agent. Further, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising a compound having an acid pump antagonistic activity or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the prevention or treatment of said diseases.
US08648077B2
The present invention relates to toluenesulfonic acid addition salt crystals of 4-((6bR,10aS)-3-Methyl-2,3,6b,9,10,10a-Hexahydro-1H-Pyrido[3′,4′:4,5]Pyrrolo[1,2,3-De]Quinoxalin-8(7H)-yl)-1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-Butanone, the method of making and using such crystals.
US08648066B2
The invention is directed to Compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, as well as methods of making and using the compounds.
US08648062B2
Composition and method for irrigating a prepared dental root canal. The composition is an aqueous composition of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, chlorhexidine or orally acceptable addition salt, and N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, and is effective for simultaneous smear layer removal and disinfection.
US08648058B2
A compound of formula I, wherein R1-R7 are defined herein, or stereoisomers therof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of stereoisomers thereof, and methods of using these compounds for treating hypertension.
US08648051B2
The present invention provides a method for inhibiting the proliferation of malignant and/or hyperplastic cells in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a guanosine rich oligonucleotide. The present invention also provides oligonucleotides which are capable of being specifically bound to a specific cellular protein which is nucleolin and/or nucleolin in nature, which is implicated in the proliferation of cells, specifically malignant and/or hyperplastic cells, and a method for their selection.
US08648046B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment, and more particularly to compositions and methods that may be useful for eliminating cancer cells with stem-like characteristics. The disclosed compositions and methods may also be useful for managing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer or endometrial (uterine) cancer with metastases; and visualizing the cancer cells in patient's body. The compositions of the instant invention include human prolactin receptor antagonist G129R.
US08648035B2
The present invention discloses compositions of peptide inhibitors of protein synthesis, and methods of identifying peptide inhibitors that are capable of inhibiting protein synthesis through an interaction at a stem-loop H18 in 16S rRNA of a 30S ribosomal subunit. Screening methods for peptides are disclosed, in addition to methods of determining the affinity of a test compound for a ribosomal subunit.
US08648021B2
A hydrocarbon-based lubricating base oil wherein a urea adduct value is not greater than 4% by mass, a viscosity index is 100 or higher, an average of carbon atoms number is 23-31 as determined by gas chromatography distillation, a value obtained by dividing an integral value of a peak in 30 ppm by an integral value of total peaks in the range of from 0 ppm to 50 ppm for the 13C-NMR spectrum is 0.1-0.2, and a product of a value obtained by dividing an integral value of peaks attributed to tertiary carbon atoms by an integral value of total peaks in the range of from 0 ppm to 50 ppm for the 13C-NMR spectrum, and the average of carbon atoms number, is 1.8-2.5.
US08648017B2
Described are methods for detection of neuronal pathologies using quantitative analysis in bodily fluids of synapse and/or neurite small RNAs and application of these methods to early diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological disorders.
US08648008B2
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides filtering compositions, their method of production, and methods for their use. In specific implementations, the filtering composition includes lanthanum and has a surface area of at least about 125 g/m2. In more specific examples, the filtering composition is free-flowing or has a moisture content between about 10 wt % about 30 wt %. Particular compositions include at least one of iron or magnesium. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide filtering compositions that are resilient or leach-resistant.
US08648005B2
The present invention provides a method of preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst having high activity by liquid phase reduction without decreasing purity of the solvent and a method for efficiently producing an alcohol. The present invention provides the method of preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst, including reducing a molded precursor of the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst by supplying hydrogen gas or a mixture of hydrogen gas with an inert gas at a temperature of 50 to 150° C. in the presence of a solvent to obtain the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the reduction is conducted at an average reduction velocity of the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst of not more than 3.0% by weight/hour. The present invention also provides the method of producing an alcohol, including preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst by the method of preparation, and subjecting a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid ester to catalytic reduction with hydrogen in the presence of the prepared copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst.
US08648003B2
A catalyst composition is provided, which may be used for ring closing metathesis. In the composition, a catalyst is immobilized on a siliceous mesocellular foam support. A suitable catalyst for use in the composition is a Grubbs-type catalyst or a Hoveyda-Grubbs-type catalyst.
US08647998B2
The present invention relates to a continuous catalyst regeneration device comprising at least one burning zone formed by at least one annular combustion zone (3), centered along a longitudinal axis (A), in which the catalyst circulates, an inlet conduit of the catalyst (4) and an outlet conduit of the catalyst (4′), an external zone (11) for circulation of a combustive gas disposed around the annular combustion zone (3) and an internal circulation zone (15) disposed inside the annular combustion zone (3), wherein the burning zone is divided into sectors (14) by hermetic longitudinal plates (10) disposed radially relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the regenerator.The invention also relates to the process using this device.
US08647997B2
A free-standing zeolite membrane and a zeolite membrane supported on a support structure are disclosed. The free-standing zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing zeolite particles and an optional inorganic binder, forming a green body, and sintering the green body at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selectivity properties of the zeolite particles. The supported composite zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing a sacrificial binder, an optional inorganic binder, boehmite sol and zeolite particles to form a slurry. The slurry is then coated onto a porous support structure, dried and sintered at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selective properties of the zeolite particles. In both membranes, the zeolite particles span the entire thickness of the membrane to provide a high selectivity path for the flow of gas to pass therethrough.
US08647991B1
A method for forming a dual damascene opening includes the following steps. Firstly, a first hard mask layer with a trench pattern is formed over a material layer. Then, a dielectric layer is formed over the first hard mask layer and filled into an opening of the trench pattern. Then, a second hard mask layer with a via opening pattern is formed over the first hard mask layer and the dielectric layer. Then, a first etching process is performed, so that a via opening is at least formed in the dielectric layer. After the second hard mask layer is removed, a second etching process is performed. Consequently, a trench opening is formed in the material layer and the via opening is further extended into the material layer, wherein the via opening is located within the trench opening.
US08647989B2
The present invention provides a method of forming an opening on a semiconductor substrate. First, a substrate is provided. Then a dielectric layer and a cap layer are formed on the substrate. A ratio of a thickness of the dielectric layer and a thickness of the cap layer is substantially between 15 and 1.5. Next, a patterned boron nitride layer is formed on the cap layer. Lastly, an etching process is performed by using the patterned hard mask as a mask to etch the cap layer and the dielectric layer so as to form an opening in the cap layer and the dielectric layer.
US08647986B2
A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A first gate structure and a second gate structure are formed on a substrate, wherein the top of the first gate structure includes a cap layer, so that the vertical height of the first gate structure is higher than the vertical height of the second gate structure. An interdielectric layer is formed on the substrate. A first chemical mechanical polishing process is performed to expose the top surface of the cap layer. A second chemical mechanical polishing process is performed to expose the top surface of the second gate structure or an etching process is performed to remove the interdielectric layer located on the second gate structure. A second chemical mechanical polishing process is then performed to remove the cap layer.
US08647976B2
A semiconductor package and testing method is disclosed. The package includes a substrate having top and bottom surfaces, a semiconductor chip mounted in a centrally located semiconductor chip mounting area of the substrate, and a plurality of test pads disposed on top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and comprising a first group of test pads configured on the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and having a first height above the respective top and bottom surface of the substrate, and a second group of test pads disposed on the lower surface of the substrate and having a second height greater than the first, wherein each one of the second group of test pads includes a solder ball attached thereto.
US08647970B2
An electronic device can include a substrate including an underlying doped region and a semiconductor layer overlying the substrate. A trench can have a sidewall and extend at least partly through the semiconductor layer. The electronic device can further include a first conductive structure adjacent to the underlying doped region, an insulating layer, and a second conductive structure within the trench. The insulating layer can be disposed between the first and second conductive structures, and the first conductive structure can be disposed between the insulating layer and the underlying doped region. Processes of forming the electronic device may be performed such that the first conductive structure includes a conductive fill material or a doped region within the semiconductor layer. The first conductive structure can allow the underlying doped region to be farther from the channel region and allow RDSON to be lower for a given BVDSS.
US08647965B2
A method of producing a radiographic image detector includes: preparing a thin-film transistor substrate comprising an insulating substrate and a thin-film transistor that is disposed on a surface of the insulating substrate at a first side; attaching, to the thin-film transistor substrate, a protective member comprising a protective member support and an adhesive layer that includes conductive particles and that is disposed on the protective member support, such that the adhesive layer and a surface of the thin-film transistor substrate at the first side contact each other; polishing a surface of the thin-film transistor substrate at a second side opposite to the first side, after the attaching of the protective member; separating and removing the protective member from the thin-film transistor substrate after the polishing; and providing a scintillator layer on a surface of the thin-film transistor substrate at the first side, after the removing of the protective member.
US08647963B2
A wafer is provided having a chip side and a non-chip side, the chip side comprising a plurality of semiconductor chips. A plurality of dies are provided, each of the dies is bonded to one of the plurality of semiconductor chips. One or more trenches are formed on the chip side of the wafer. The chip side of the wafer and the plurality of dies are encapsulated with a protecting material, the protecting material substantially filling the one or more trenches. The wafer is diced to separate it into individual semiconductor packages.
US08647956B2
The present invention relates to a dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, which includes: a dicing tape including a base material layer, a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer stacked in this order, and a film for semiconductor back surface stacked on the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the dicing tape, in which a peel strength Y between the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is larger than a peel strength X between the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the film for semiconductor back surface, and in which the peel strength X is from 0.01 to 0.2 N/20 mm, and the peel strength Y is from 0.2 to 10 N/20 mm.
US08647952B2
Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to sophisticated semiconductor devices and methods for forming the same, wherein the pitch between adjacent gate electrodes is aggressively scaled, and wherein self-aligning contact elements may be utilized to avoid the high electrical resistance levels commonly associated with narrow contact elements formed using typically available photolithography techniques. One illustrative embodiment includes forming first and second gate electrode structures above a semiconductor substrate, then forming a first layer of a first dielectric material adjacent to or in contact with the sidewalls of each of the first and second gate electrode structures. The illustrative method further includes a step of forming a second layer of a second dielectric material on the first layer, followed by forming a third layer of a third dielectric material on the second layer, wherein forming the third layer further comprises forming a first horizontal portion of the third layer above a surface of the semiconductor substrate between the first and second gate electrode structures.
US08647950B2
A method of fabricating a vertical gate region in LDMOS transistor includes depositing a first masking layer on an n-well region implanted on a substrate, patterning the first masking layer to define an area, depositing a second masking layer over the area, etching through the second masking layer in a first portion of the area to expose the n-well region, and etching the exposed n-well region to form a first trench. The first trench, extending from a surface of the n-well region to a first depth, is filled with an oxide. The second masking layer is etched through in a second portion of the area to expose the n-well region. A second trench is formed in the n-well, the second trench extending from the surface to a second depth, less than the first depth. An asymmetric vertical gate is formed by filling the second trench with a conductive material.
US08647949B2
An integrated circuit transistor is fabricated with a trench gate having nonconductive sidewalls. The transistor is surrounded by an isolation trench filled with a nonconductive material. The sidewalls of the gate trench are formed of the nonconductive material and are substantially free of unetched substrate material. As a result, the sidewalls of the gate trench do not form an undesired conductive path between the source and the drain of the transistor, thereby advantageously reducing the amount of parasitic current that flows between the source and drain during operation.
US08647942B2
An object of the invention is to reduce an area occupied by a capacitor in a circuit in a semiconductor device, and to downsize a semiconductor device on which the capacitor and an organic memory are mounted. The organic memory and the capacitor, included in a peripheral circuit, in which the same material as the layer containing the organic compound used for the organic memory is used as a dielectric, are used. The peripheral circuit here means a circuit having at least a capacitor such as a resonance circuit, a power supply circuit, a boosting circuit, a DA converter, or a protective circuit. Further, a capacitor in which a semiconductor is used as a dielectric may be provided over the same substrate as well as the capacitor in which the same material as the layer containing the organic compound is used as a dielectric. In this case, it is desirable that the capacitor in which the same material as the layer containing the organic compound is used as a dielectric and the capacitor in which the semiconductor is used as a dielectric are connected to each other in parallel.
US08647933B2
It is an object to provide a method for manufacturing a display device suitable for mass production without complicating a manufacturing process of a thin film transistor. A microcrystalline semiconductor film is formed by use of a microwave plasma CVD apparatus with a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 GHz using silicon hydride or silicon halide as a source gas, and a thin film transistor using the microcrystalline semiconductor film and a display element connected to the thin film transistor are formed. Since plasma which is generated using microwaves with a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 GHz has high electron density, silicon hydride or silicon halide which is a source gas can be easily dissociated, so that mass productivity of the display device can be improved.
US08647931B2
A manufacturing method of a thin film transistor includes: forming semiconductor layers for a plurality of thin film transistors over a substrate; forming an insulating layer covering the semiconductor layers; and forming a metal layer over the insulating layer. The method further includes: patterning the metal layer to form mask patterns; doping first ions using a first mask pattern among the mask patterns into a first semiconductor layer among the semiconductor layers to simultaneously form source region/a drain regions and an active region of the first thin film transistor; and doping second ions using a second mask pattern among the mask patterns into a second semiconductor layer among the semiconductor layers to form a source region and a drain region of the second thin film transistor.
US08647922B2
The present invention relates to a method of forming a wire bond-free conductive interconnect area on a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor substrate with an electrically conductive protrusion, defining a bond pad, is provided as well as a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The plurality of carbon nanotubes is immobilized on the bond pad by allowing at least one random portion along the length of the carbon nanotubes to attach to the surface of the bond pad. Thus an aggregate of loops of carbon nanotubes is formed on the surface of the bond pad. Thereby a conductive interconnect area is formed on the electrically conductive protrusion without heat treatment.
US08647920B2
Ultra-low capacitance interconnect structures, preferably Through Silicon Via (TSV) interconnects and methods for fabricating said interconnects are disclosed. The fabrication method comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a first main surface, producing at least one hollow trench-like structure therein from the first main surface, said trench-like structure surrounding an inner pillar structure of substrate material, depositing a dielectric liner which pinches off said hollow trench-like structure at the first main surface such that an airgap is created in the center of hollow trench-like structure and further creating a TSV hole and filling it at least partly with conductive material.
US08647918B2
Methods of forming a graphene material on a surface are presented. A metal material is disposed on a material substrate or material layer and is infused with carbon, for example, by exposing the metal to a carbon-containing vapor. The carbon-containing metal material is annealed to cause graphene to precipitate onto the bottom of the metal material to form a graphene layer between the metal material and the material substrate/material layer and also onto the top and/or sides of the metal material. Graphene material is removed from the top and sides of the metal material and then the metal material is removed, leaving only the graphene layer that was formed on the bottom of the metal material. In some cases graphene material that formed on one or more side of the sides of the metal material is not removed so that a vertical graphene material layer is formed.
US08647903B2
A method of fabricating an antireflective grating pattern and a method of fabricating an optical device integrated with an antireflective grating pattern are provided. The method of fabricating the antireflective grating pattern includes forming a photoresist (PR) pattern on a substrate using a hologram lithography process, forming a PR lens pattern having a predetermined radius of curvature by reflowing the PR pattern, and etching the entire surface of the substrate including the PR lens pattern to form a wedge-type or parabola-type antireflective subwavelength grating (SWG) pattern having a pointed tip on a top surface of the substrate. In this method, a fabrication process is simplified, the reflection of light caused by a difference in refractive index between the air and a semiconductor material can be minimized, and the antireflective grating pattern can be easily applied to optical devices.
US08647902B2
A method of manufacturing an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes forming gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate; forming a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; forming a passivation layer on the substrate having the gate lines, data lines and the thin film transistor; forming a first conductive material layer on the passivation layer and connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; oxidizing a surface of the first conductive material layer; forming a second conductive material layer on the oxidized first conductive material layer; forming a photoresist pattern on the second conductive material layer; etching the first and second conductive material layers using the photoresist pattern to form pixel and common electrodes which are alternately arranged in the pixel region and produces an in-plane electric field; and removing the photoresist pattern.
US08647899B2
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof. A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes forming a thin film structure on a first substrate, forming a dehumidification buffer layer on a second substrate, combining the first substrate and the second substrate, and heat treating the dehumidification buffer layer to soften the dehumidification buffer layer.
US08647898B2
An LED device comprises a substrate, an LED chip and a luminescent conversion layer. The substrate comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a reflector located on top faces of the first and the second electrodes. The LED chip is disposed on the first electrode and electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes. The luminescent conversion layer is located inside the reflector and comprises a first luminescent conversion layer and a second luminescent conversion layer with different specific gravities. A manufacturing method for the LED device is also provided.
US08647890B2
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for the detection of a target, e.g. pathogen in a human body fluid wherein a body fluid sample is collected with a swab member.
US08647885B2
Process for detecting a gaseous compound of BX3, HX or X2 type within a gas using a composition containing a probe molecule, characterized in that the probe molecule is a molecule for which the reaction with one or more compounds of BX3, HX or X2 type leads to a variation of at least one of its physicochemical properties, this variation being measurable via a suitable analysis technique, and in that the following steps are carried out in this order: (a) measurement of said physicochemical property of the probe molecule, such as a spectral property, (b) bringing the gas into contact with the composition containing the probe molecule from step (a), (c) repeat measurement of said physicochemical property, (d) correlation of the variation of said spectral property between steps (a) and (c) in the presence of said gaseous compound of BX3, HX or X2 type, the measurement of the physicochemical property from step (a) possibly being a prior step, process for trapping gaseous compounds of BX3, HX or X2 type contained in a gas, material capable of reacting with at least one compound of BX3, HX or X2 type in gaseous form and sensor for compounds of BX3, HX or X2 type.
US08647878B2
The invention relates to an immersion liquid including at least one compound of the general formula I in which R1 and R2 each include at least one ring structure and X denotes: O, S, NR3 with R3 selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbon, wherein Y denotes independently of each other O, S or NR4 with R4 selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbon. In addition, the invention relates to a further immersion liquid, a compound for an immersion liquid and a use of the immersion liquids or of the compound as an immersion oil for a microscope, in particular for a near-field microscope.
US08647861B2
System and method includes a body having a central microchannel separated by one or more porous membranes. The membranes are configured to divide the central microchannel into a two or more parallel central microchannels, wherein one or more first fluids are applied through the first central microchannel and one or more second fluids are applied through the second or more central microchannels. The surfaces of each porous membrane can be coated with cell adhesive molecules to support the attachment of cells and promote their organization into tissues on the upper and lower surface of the membrane. The pores may be large enough to only permit exchange of gases and small chemicals, or to permit migration and transchannel passage of large proteins and whole living cells. Fluid pressure, flow and channel geometry also may be varied to apply a desired mechanical force to one or both tissue layers.
US08647858B2
The present invention relates to, among other things, a device for collecting airborne microorganisms, said device having: an air collecting module, comprising: i. an upper element having an air admission duct permitting entry of an air stream into said module, said duct being provided, at its base, with means for disturbance of the air stream, ii. a lower element having air evacuating means permitting the air stream created to exit and said upper and lower elements can be made integral with one another so that the air stream can be created within said air collecting module; a cartridge, of roughly cylindrical shape, having a microorganism retention zone, said retention zone having means for lysis of the microorganisms, said cartridge being positioned within said air collecting module.
US08647856B2
The present invention relates to methods of producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a) cultivating a mutant of a parent Fusarium venenatum strain in a medium for the production of the polypeptide, wherein the mutant strain comprises a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide and one or more (several) genes selected from the group consisting of pyrG, amyA, and alpA, wherein the one or more (several) genes are modified rendering the mutant strain deficient in the production of one or more (several) enzymes selected from the group consisting of orotidine-5′-monophosphate decarboxylase, alpha-amylase, and alkaline protease, respectively, compared to the parent Fusarium venenatum strain when cultivated under identical conditions; and (b) recovering the polypeptide from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to enzyme-deficient mutants of Fusarium venenatum strains and methods for producing such mutants.
US08647854B2
The present invention relates to a metagenome-derived alkaline phosphatase, and more particularly to a novel, metagenome-derived alkaline phosphatase screened using a artificial genetic circuit that detects phenolic compounds, and a preparation method thereof. A novel alkaline phosphatase according to the present invention has high activity of dephosphorylating DNA and can be inactivated rapidly by simple heat treatment. Thus, it can be used for a dephosphorylation reaction so that genetic manipulations, including genetic cloning, become efficient. In addition, it can be actively expressed in recombinant microorganisms, and thus can be used in various assays, including enzyme immunoassay.
US08647844B2
Glucosyl stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using the starch as source of glucose residues. The short-chain glucosyl stevia compositions were purified to >95% content of total steviol glycosides. The compositions can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
US08647836B2
The invention relates to a method and device for the cross-referencing of identification (1) of tissue slice supports (2), for microtomised analytical samples still to be mounted thereon, with identification information (3) of a tissue sample holder (4) of a tissue sample (5) which is not yet microtomised. The conventional problem of cross-referencing is improved in a simple manner, whereby the identification information (3) for the tissue sample holder (4) is automatically detected when positioned in the microtome (6) and an identification (1) corresponding thereto is automatically transferred to at least one tissue slice support (2) and that tissue slice support (2), provided with the identification (1), is dispensed for application of the tissue sample slice at the moment when a tissue sample slice must be applied to a tissue slice support (2).
US08647835B2
The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The method may also be useful for the physical separation and/or enrichment of two or more different or individual microorganism species contained in a mixed test sample. The invention further provides for spectroscopic interrogation of the separated microorganism sample(s) to produce measurements of the microorganism and characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism(s) in the sample using said spectroscopic measurements.
US08647829B2
Methods and kits for binding and releasing biological targets, comprising, a binder comprising an environmentally reactive molecular switch that can switch between a high affinity state, to bind the target, to a low affinity state, to release the target.
US08647827B2
The invention is based on the finding that IDT307 and analogs thereof are fluorescent substrates transported by several neurotransmitter transporters. Provided are methods for the analysis of neurotransmitter transport and binding using IDT307 and its analogs. The invention also provides rapid methods for screening for modulators of neurotransmitter transport.
US08647818B2
Methods and compositions are provided which employ chimeric polypeptides having at least one heterologous epitope for a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) neutralizing antibody. These chimeric polypeptides behave as molecular scaffolds which are capable of presenting the various heterologous HIV-1 epitopes. The invention demonstrates that a heterologous epitope recognized by the HIV-1 neutralizing antibody can be more fully exposed to neutralizing antibodies when presented within the backbone of the chimeric polypeptide than when the epitope is presented within the context of an HIV-1 backbone. Polynucleotides encoding these chimeric polypeptides are also provided. Immunogenic compositions are provided which comprise a chimeric polypeptide having at least one heterologous epitope that interacts with an HIV-1 neutralizing antibody. Immuno genie compositions comprising chimeric polynucleotides encoding the chimeric polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Vaccines comprising such immunogenic compositions are also provided. Further provided are methods which employ the immunogenic compositions of the invention. Such methods include, for example, methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject, methods for generating antibodies specific for the chimeric polypeptide or the chimeric polypeptide, and methods for inhibiting or preventing infection by HIV-1 in a subject.
US08647815B1
A method for manufacturing an electrode comprising the steps of: applying onto a substrate a conductive paste to form a conductive paste layer comprising; (i) 100 parts by weight of a copper powder coated with a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide (SiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2), magnesium oxide (MgO) and a mixture thereof; (ii) 5 to 30 parts by weight of a boron powder; and (iii) 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a glass frit; dispersed in (iv) an organic vehicle; and firing the conductive paste in air.
US08647802B2
To provide a toner manufacturing method including: continuously mixing an oil phase with an aqueous phase to form an emulsified liquid using an emulsifying mechanism having an emulsified liquid circulation pathway and an emulsifying device equipped with a stirring blade; forming liquid droplets from the emulsified liquid by controlling the equilibrium between atomization and integration of the liquid droplets; and feeding the liquid droplets with stirring to a series of treatments including at least desolvation, filtration, washing and drying; wherein a product T of the solid content concentration (% by mass) of the oil phase and viscosity (mPa·s) measured with a rotating viscometer at 25° C., and 6 rpm satisfies 30,000≦T≦50,000.
US08647801B2
A natural oil-based toner resin for producing toner in developing electrophotographic image comprising a copolymer of unsaturated polyester resins and vinyl monomers, wherein the polyester resins have a molecular weight of 500 to 30000 and obtained from polycondensation between a polycarboxylic acid, a natural oil or derivative thereof and a polyol. The toner resin in emulsion form is mixed with fine suspensions or emulsions of a colorant and a charge control agent; and a flocculating agent is incorporated therein to induce aggregation for forming particles of desired sizes, and subsequently the temperature is suitably raised to cause coalescence to produce raw toner particles of regular shape and smooth surface. The raw toner particles are washed and dried, and treated with suitable additives to produce the finished product of chemically produced toner.
US08647787B2
A gas diffusion element has a hydrophobic layer which includes a thermoplastic material and particles embedded in the thermoplastic material so that the hydrophobic layer has voids and is a porous layer configured so that water can not pass through the hydrophobic layer from its one side to its another side, while passage of gas from the other side to the one side is not interfered with; and also a method of producing the gas diffusion element and devices using the gas diffusion element are proposed.
US08647786B2
A cell stack pair (100a, 100b) includes refrigerant introduction openings (42a, 42b) arranged at lower end portions of the cell stacks (100a, 100b) and also includes refrigerant discharge openings (44a, 44b) arranged at upper end portions of the cell stacks (100a, 100b), and the cell stack pair (100a, 100b) is arranged symmetrical about a plane (v) vertical to a horizontal plane (h). The direction of stacking of unit cells (50) in each of the cell stacks (100a, 100b) is inclined relative to the horizontal plane (h).
US08647785B2
A system and method for determining a maximum average cell voltage set-point for fuel cells in a fuel cell stack that considers oxidation of the catalyst in the fuel cells. The method includes determining the average cell voltage, the stack current density (I) and an internal resistance (R) of membranes in the fuel cells to calculate an IR corrected average cell voltage. The IR corrected average cell voltage is then used to determine the oxidation state of the catalyst particles using, for example, an empirical model. The oxidation state of the particles is then used to calculate the maximum average cell voltage set-point of the fuel cells, which is used to set the minimum power requested from the fuel cell stack.
US08647784B2
A fuel cell stack start method is to provide in which without relying on oxidation and reduction condition of an anode, an output reduction of the fuel cell stack can be avoided.In the start method of a solid polymer type fuel cell stack that is comprised of a separator including an anode flow channel for flowing a fuel, another separator including a cathode flow channel for feeding an oxidant and electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between the separators, the method is characterized by performing successively a first step of feeding the fuel to the fuel cell stack under a condition that a cathode is covered by generated water, a second step of forming an oxide layer on the cathode, a third step of feeding the oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack and a fourth step of extracting load current from the fuel cell stack.
US08647781B2
This invention provides a redox fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane; means for supplying a fuel to the anode region of the cell; means for supplying an oxidant to the cathode region of the cell; means for providing an electrical circuit between the anode and the cathode; a non-volatile catholyte solution flowing in fluid communication with the cathode, the catholyte solution comprising a redox mediator which is at least partially reduced at the cathode in operation of the cell, and at least partially regenerated by, optionally indirect, reaction with the oxidant after such reduction at the cathode, and a transition metal complex of a multidentate macrocyclic N-donor ligand as a redox catalyst catalysing the regeneration of the mediator.
US08647773B2
The disclosure relates a niobium oxide useful in anodes of secondary lithium ion batteries. Such niobium oxide has formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7, wherein 0≦x≦3, 0≦y≦1, and M represents Ti or Zr. The niobium oxide may be in the form of particles, which may be carbon coated. The disclosure also relates to an electrode composition containing at least one or more niobium oxides of formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7. The disclosure further relates to electrodes, such as anodes, and batteries containing at least one or more niobium oxides of formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to methods of forming the above.
US08647768B2
Disclosed are a positive active material composition for an electrochemical device, a positive electrode, and an electrochemical device including the same. The positive active material composition includes: a carbon-based additive including a hydroxyl group (—OH) and an enol group (—C═C—OH) on the surface, having a peak area ratio (OH/C═COH) of a hydroxyl group peak area and an enol group peak area of an infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum ranging from about 0.5 to about 10, having a specific surface area of about 50 m2/g to about 3000 m2/g, and having an oxygen-containing heterogeneous element in a content of less than about 15 wt %; a positive active material; a conductive material; and a binder.
US08647759B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap assembly including a cap plate having a first through-hole and coupled to the case and a short-circuiting member electrically coupled to one of the first and second electrodes, and a displacement plate in the first through-hole and spaced from a bottom surface of the short-circuiting member at a first position, and configured to be separated from the first through-hole and to contact the bottom surface of the short-circuiting member at a second position.
US08647758B2
An electrochemical energy storage device provides problem-free pressure compensation at a permanently high impermeability, includes a storage housing (1), which encases a volume, in which cells are accommodated, wherein the storage housing (1) protects the volume from the surroundings, and includes a volume compensation device (2), which compensates pressure differences between the interior of the storage housing (1) and the surroundings without a material replacement between the surroundings and the interior of the storage housing (1).
US08647757B2
A magnetic storage medium is formed of magnetic nanoparticles that are encapsulated within nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes), which are arranged in a substrate to facilitate the reading and writing of information by a read/write head. The substrate may be flexible or rigid. Information is stored on the magnetic nanoparticles via the read/write head of a storage device. These magnetic nanoparticles are arranged into data tracks to store information through encapsulation within the carbon nanotubes. As carbon nanotubes are bendable, the carbon nanotubes may be arranged on flexible or rigid substrates, such as a polymer tape or disk for flexible media, or a glass substrate for rigid disk. A polymer may assist holding the nanoparticle filled carbon-tubes to the substrate.
US08647747B2
Provided is a hybrid silicon wafer in which molten state polycrystalline silicon and solid state single-crystal silicon are mutually integrated, comprising fine crystals having an average crystal grain size of 8 mm or less at a polycrystalline portion within 10 mm from a boundary with a single-crystal portion. Additionally provided is a method of manufacturing a hybrid silicon wafer, wherein a columnar single-crystal silicon ingot is sent in a mold in advance, molten silicon is cast around and integrated with the single-crystal ingot to prepare an ingot complex of single-crystal silicon and polycrystalline silicon, and a wafer shape is cut out therefrom. The provided hybrid silicon wafer comprises the functions of both a polycrystalline silicon wafer and a single-crystal wafer.
US08647746B2
The present teachings provide an intermediate transfer member which includes a substrate layer and a surface layer disposed on the substrate layer. The surface layer includes a plurality of core-shell particles wherein the core is a conductive particle and the shell is a fluoroplastic dispersed in a fluoroelastomer.
US08647743B2
A ferromagnetic powder composition including soft magnetic iron-based core particles, wherein the surface of the core particles is provided with a first inorganic insulating layer and at least one metal-organic layer, located outside the first layer, of a metal-organic compound having the following general formula: (R1[(R1)x(R2)y(MOn-1)]nR1, wherein M is a central atom selected from Si, Ti, Al, or Zr; O is oxygen; R1 is a hydrolysable group; R2 is an organic moiety and wherein at least one R2 contains at least one amino group; wherein n is the number of repeatable units being an integer between 1 and 20; wherein the x is an integer between 0 and 1; wherein y is an integer between 1 and 2; wherein a metallic or semi-metallic particulate compound having a Mohs hardness of less than 3.5 is adhered to a metal-organic layer; wherein the powder composition further includes a particulate lubricant.
US08647731B2
A purge dam for retaining a purge gas around a weld zone includes a purge dam structure configured to substantially obstruct an air passage leading to the weld zone. The purge dam includes a main blocking portion configured to substantially block the air passage. The purge dam structure further includes a wall portion configured to engage the air passage for attachment. Adhesive can be optionally provided on the wall portion to facilitate the air passage attachment. Some or all of the purge dam structure may be formed as a multi-layer structure that includes one or more layers of water degradable paper and one or more layers of water degradable polymer. If present, the optional adhesive may be applied to the water degradable polymer layer. The purge dam may be installed by placing the purge dam in the air passage and adhering the wall portion thereto.
US08647728B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a polyester, a copolyester ether, and an oxidation catalyst, wherein the copolyester ether comprises a zinc compound and at least one polyether segment selected from the group consisting of poly(tetramethylene ether) and poly(tetramethylene-co-alkylene ether). The present invention further relates to articles made from the composition and methods to make the composition and the articles.
US08647726B2
An optical element and a stereoscopic image display device are provided. The optical element is a light-dividing element, for example, an element that can divide incident light into at least two kinds of light having different polarized states. Therefore, the optical element can be used to realize a stereoscopic image.
US08647724B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the probability of image sticking. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates. At least one of the substrates includes an alignment film and a polymer layer on the alignment film. The polymer layer includes monomer units derived from at least two species of polymerizable monomers. The at least two species of polymerizable monomers include at least two species of monomers selected from the group consisting of: specific polyfunctional monomers and specific monofunctional monomers.
US08647720B2
A system for applying coatings and more specifically paint coatings is provided that combines fluid stored in separate reservoir containers prior to expelling the mixture for application. The reservoirs may be comprised of collapsible and disposable bags that eject its fluid upon activation of an actuator or expanding bladder. The fluid components are combined and blended together in a mixer that is positioned between the reservoirs and a nozzle.
US08647716B2
A method of dissociating an organoborane-amine complex in a coating composition is provided. The method includes the step of introducing the organoborane-amine complex, the radical polymerizable compound, and optionally an amine, onto a substrate to form the coating composition. The method also includes the step of introducing carbon dioxide into the coating composition in a molar ratio of at least 1:1 of the carbon dioxide to free amine groups present in the coating composition. More specifically, a carbamic zwitterion is formed in-situ from reaction of the carbon dioxide and the free amine groups. The formation of the carbamic zwitterion leads to dissociation of the organoborane-amine complex and formation of a radical. The radical is then used to polymerize the radical polymerizable compound.
US08647715B2
The present invention relates to a process for increasing the abrasion resistance of a pre-determinable part of the surface of an annealed glass container comprising the following operative phases: a) applying a liquid composition comprising an organo-titanate compound on a pre-determinable part of the annealed glass container surface by spraying at room temperature; b) selectively heat-treating the surface on which the liquid composition of step a) has been applied at a temperature between the glass annealing temperature and glass softening temperature, said selective heat treatment resulting in the formation of a titanium oxide coating layer on said surface.
US08647714B2
In a nickel film forming method, an initial Ni film is formed on a substrate by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process by using a nickel-containing compound having a molecular structure in which a ligand containing a nitrogen-carbon bond is included and nitrogen of the ligand coordinates with nickel as a film forming source material and at least one selected from ammonia, hydrazine, and derivatives thereof as a reduction gas. Further, a main Ni film is formed on the initial Ni film by CVD by using the nickel-containing compound as the film forming source material and hydrogen gas as the reduction gas.
US08647708B2
A method of producing a photoelectric conversion element, which the element contains an electrically conductive support, a photosensitive layer having porous semiconductor fine particles, a charge transfer layer; and a counter electrode;containing the steps of: applying a semiconductor fine particle dispersion liquid, in which the content of solids excluding semiconductor fine particles is 10% by mass or less based on the total amount of the dispersion liquid, on the support, to form a coating; heating the coating, to obtain porous semiconductor fine particles; and sensitizing the porous particles by adsorption of the following dye: wherein X represents a group of non-metallic atoms necessary for forming a 7-membered ring; Y represents a dye residue; n represents an integer of 1 or more; Z represents a substituent; m represents 0 or a positive integer; and R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a specific substituent.
US08647707B2
A method of forming a pattern includes: providing a heating substrate that selectively controls positions where heat is generated by controlling locations where electric current flows; forming a pattern forming material on a surface of the heating substrate; aligning a patterning substrate, on which a pattern may be formed, to face a surface of the heating substrate; and selectively applying electric current to the heating substrate to transfer some of the pattern forming material onto the patterning substrate. According to the method of forming the pattern and a method of fabricating an OLED, the pattern is transferred by heating the pattern forming material formed on the heating substrate, and thus, the pattern may be formed with high accuracy without using a mask, and the pattern forming material remaining on the heating substrate may be re-used.
US08647705B2
A method for forming a superconductive article is disclosed. According to one method, a substrate is provided, the substrate having an aspect ratio of not less than about 1×103, forming a buffer layer overlying the substrate, forming a superconductor layer overlying the buffer layer, and characterizing at least one of the substrate, the buffer layer and the superconductor layer by x-ray diffraction. In this regard, x-ray diffraction is carried out such that data are taken at multiple phi angles. Data acquisition at multiple phi angles permits robust characterization of the film or layer subject to characterization, and such data may be utilized for process control and/or quality control. Additional methods for forming superconductive articles, and for characterizing same with XRD are also disclosed.
US08647703B2
Provided is an apparatus for coating a photoresist on a substrate. The photoresist coating apparatus includes a nozzle, a discharge unit, and a foreign substance barrier. The nozzle coats a photoresist on the substrate. The discharge unit is formed in a body with a lower portion of the nozzle and discharges a photoresist. The foreign substance barrier is formed at a front lower portion of the nozzle and protects the discharge unit from a foreign substance on the substrate.
US08647690B2
A process to coat a food product. The process can include providing a food product; providing a vibrating conveyor wherein the vibrating conveyor includes an enclosed channel and wherein the vibrating conveyor has an inlet and an outlet; feeding the food product into the inlet of the vibrating conveyor; operating the vibrating conveyor at a Peclet number of greater than about 6, at a dimensionless acceleration number of greater than about 1, and a vertical amplitude of vibration of greater than about 3 mm; feeding a coating material into the vibrating conveyor such that the food product is coated with the coating material as it moves from the inlet to the outlet.
US08647684B2
An insect repellent/insecticide starts with a main composition that is composed of the three primary essential oils of eucalyptus, citronella, and pine. A number of secondary essential oils can be added that provide additional beneficial characteristics, depending upon the application. A safe embedded tick “remove and kill” product includes a basic pH adjuster that is added to the main composition in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the main composition to approximately between 6.4 and 7.4, and preferably equal to about 6.5. A repellent spray dilutes the main composition in water to about 1% concentration by volume and a sufficient amount of a basic pH adjuster is added thereto to adjust the pH of the main composition to approximately between 6.4 and 7.4, and preferably equal to about 6.5. Soap includes the main composition combined with a detergent, glycerin, and a sufficient amount of an acidic pH adjuster to adjust the pH of the soap composition to approximately between 6.4 and 7.4, and preferably equal to about 6.8.
US08647675B2
Disclosed herein is an implantable medical device including an antimicrobial layer. The antimicrobial layer may include a first distinct size of silver nanoparticles, a second distinct size of silver nanoparticles, and a third distinct size of silver nanoparticles. The antimicrobial layer extends over a surface of the implantable medical device, and, in some instances, the surface of the implantable medical device may serve as a substrate on which the antimicrobial layer is deposited.
US08647671B2
Provided herein are chemical matrices, compositions, and methods for the treatment of skin diseases and disorders in an individual. Said chemical matrices and compositions comprise an alcohol selected from ethanol, isopropanol or n-propanol, at least one excipient, and, a corticosteroid, wherein the alcohol is distributed within the chemical matrix as a microbubble and the corticosteroid is present in less than the standardized topical corticosteroid concentration. Additionally, methods are described for the use of said chemical matrices and compositions for the treatment of skin diseases and disorders.
US08647665B2
The present invention relates generally to methods for treating hot flashes by administering formulations for transdermal or transmucosal administration of estrogen. The formulations of the invention are effective at treating hot flashes at surprisingly low daily doses, preferably the lowest effective dose of estrogen to treat hot flashes, e.g., about 0.45 to about 0.6 mg of estrogen per day. The amount of estrogen which is administered produces an estimated nominal daily estrogen dose in a subject undergoing treatment of from about 10 to about 15 micrograms, and a serum estradiol level of between about 25 pg/ml to about 50 pg/ml. The preferred formulations are substantially free of malodorous, and irritation causing long-chain fatty alcohols, long-chain fatty acids, and long-chain fatty esters.
US08647663B2
The invention is directed to a novel wound healing device. In particular, the invention is directed to a novel wound healing device comprising a suture or knitted mesh that has adsorbed onto it novel cellular factor-containing compositions (referred to herein as CFC), including Amnion-derived Cellular Cytokine Solution (referred to herein as ACCS) or Physiologic Cytokine Solutions (herein referred to as PCS), as well as methods of making and uses thereof.
US08647662B2
The invention is directed to a wound healing device. Such wound healing device utilizes novel wound healing compositions embedded onto or into a natural plant-derived cloth-based matrix.
US08647649B2
The emulsion composition of the present invention contains (A) 0.001 to 10 wt. % of an organic compound having two or more hydroxyl groups, an inorganic value of 220 to 450, and an organic value of 300 to 1,000; (B) 0.001 to 10 wt. % of an organic compound having one hydroxyl group, an inorganic value of 100 to 200, and an organic value of 280 to 700; (C) 0.001 to 10 wt. % of a compound represented by formula (2): wherein R1 is a C4 to C30 hydrocarbon group; Z is a methylene group, a methine group, or an oxygen atom; X1, X2, X3 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an acetoxy group; X4 is a hydrogen atom, an acetyl group, or a glyceryl group; each of R2 and R3 a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, or an acetoxymethyl group; R4 is a C5 to C60 hydrocarbon group; and R5 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms in total; (D) 0.00012 to 10 wt. % of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a nonionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene group and an HLB of 10 or higher, an ionic surfactant, and a sphingosine salt; (E) 0.003 to 15 wt. % of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a sugar alcohol selected from the group consisting of erythritol, threitol, xylitol, and mannitol, a disaccharide, and a trisaccharide; and (F) water.
US08647648B2
The invention relates to personal care products containing multilayer films with decorative layers and may impart a noticeable color change. The invention is applicable in products including type toothpaste, soaps, and other products until diluted with water (or saliva).
US08647647B2
A topical formulation for application to exposed body tissue, the formulation comprising a silver(II) oxide and zinc oxide, intimately dispersed within a carrier medium.
US08647646B2
Disclosed is a process for the preparation of laguinimod sodium which removes the impurities after the salt formation step, thus resulting in crystals of higher purity as well as crystals having improved crystalline characteristics.
US08647640B2
The present invention provides a novel immunogenic composition, vaccine and methods for making and using the immunogenic composition and vaccine. The immunogenic composition is capable of providing an immune response and/or a protective immunity into subjects, preferably mammals, against microorganism-associated disease. The immunogenic composition includes one or more extracellular proteins isolated from a microorganism capable of providing an immune response and/or a protective immunity into subjects against microorganism-associated disease. The isolated extracellular proteins range in molecular weight from about 10,000 Da to about 220,000 Da. Suitable microorganisms may include members of the genus Salmonella, Listeria, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Vibrio. Kits are also encompassed for detection, diagnosis and prevention of microorganism-associated disease.
US08647638B2
The present invention broadly relates to the synergistic attenuation of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), More particularly, the invention relates to the identification of combined mutation classes which synergistically attenuate the pathogenicity of VSV vectors in mammals and immunogenic compositions thereof.
US08647636B2
Disclosed are compositions, kits, and methods for inducing an immune response against disease. The dosage of antigen contained or utilized in the presently disclosed compositions, kits, and methods is substantially lower than dosages conventionally used in the field. The compositions, kits, and methods may be utilized to induce a cell-mediated response, such as a T-helper cell response, and/or a humoral response against a pathogen or a disease. In some embodiments, the compositions, kits, and methods may be utilized to induce preferentially a Th1 response versus other types of immune responses such as a Th2 response.
US08647635B2
Provided is a composition which contains a red microalga polysaccharide and a heavy metal, which is used as a cosmetic, diagnostic, or pharmaceutical formulation. The pharmaceutical formulation may be employed topically or for treating nutritional and other disorders.
US08647632B2
Provided herein are four polypeptides, named PRT5, PRT6, PRT7 and PRT8, the nucleic acids encoding the same, compositions comprising the proteins, as well as their uses in therapeutic and diagnostic methods. Antibodies which specifically recognize the polypeptides are also provided, as well as their uses. Characterization of each protein showed that PRT5 and PRT8 are involved in glucose metabolism, PRT6 is involved in androgen regulation, while PRT7 correlates with cancer.
US08647631B2
The present invention is related to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the therapeutic and diagnostic use in the treatment of diseases and disorders which are caused by or associated with neurofibrillary tangles. In particular, the invention relates to pharmaceutical composition comprising an antigenic peptide, particularly an antigenic phospho-peptide mimicking a major pathological phospho-epitope of protein tau, for the therapeutic and diagnostic use in the treatment of tauopathies including Alzheimer's Disease.
US08647630B2
A safe and efficient recombinant mite allergen is provided as a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent for mite allergic diseases, which contains no anaphylaxis-inducing impurities. The following recombinant protein (a) or (b) is provided: (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or 35; or (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or 35 by deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acids and having mite allergen activity.
US08647629B2
The present invention relates to peptides, nucleic acids, and cells for use in the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to survivin-derived tumor-associated cytotoxic T cell (CTL) peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. The present invention specifically relates to three novel peptide sequences and variants thereof derived from HLA class I and class II molecules of human tumor cells that can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses.
US08647620B2
The present invention relates to chimeric Factor VII polypeptides and methods of using the same.
US08647619B2
It is intended to provide an osteogenesis promoter capable of promoting osteogenesis by promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts, and foods, drinks, drugs or feeds for promoting osteogenesis. Namely, an osteogenesis promoter capable of promoting osteogenesis by promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts which comprises, as the active ingredient, lactoperoxidase and/or a digestion product obtained by digesting lactoperoxidase with a protease such as trypsin; and foods, drinks, drugs or feeds for promoting osteogenesis containing lactoperoxidase and/or its digestion product.
US08647614B2
A method for reducing the occurrence of new post-operative fractures in vertebrae of a patient's spine after a vertebroplasty procedure performed to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of a patient comprising the steps of performing a vertebroplasty procedure to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, wherein the vertebroplasty procedure comprises the step of injecting a material into the fractured vertebra, wherein the material is formed by mixing together a first paste and a second paste, wherein the first paste comprises at least one of a polymerizable monomer and a filler, and wherein the second paste comprises at least one of a polymerizable monomer and a filler.
US08647613B2
The present invention has an object of providing a drug carrier capable of controlling in vivo pharmacokinetics. The present invention is directed to a drug carrier comprising a molecular assembly having a drug incorporated therein, and the above object can be achieved by a part of the amphiphilic molecules included in the molecular assembly being released from the molecular assembly by an external environmental change. The present invention utilizes a phenomenon that the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the amphiphilic molecules is shifted toward hydrophilicity by an external environmental change and thus the amphiphilic molecules are freed from the molecular assembly.
US08647604B2
An aqueous soluble, lanthanide rich nanoparticle for investigative use, such as NMR, MRI, CT, PET, and GdNCT is provided. The nanoparticle is synthesized from a mixture comprising lanthanide ions and coated with a suitably selected organic ligand such that the resultant nanoparticle is soluble in aqueous solutions. A method of collecting nuclear magnetic resonance information on a sample or a subject is also provided.
US08647596B1
Disclosed embodiments include methods of removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, systems for removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, vehicles, methods of managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle, and computer software program products for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.
US08647584B2
The present invention is intended to suppress a reduction in insulation between a heat generation element and a case resulting from PM in an electric heating catalyst. In the electric heating catalyst which has an inner pipe (6a) arranged so as to be located between the heat generation element and the case, a precious metal band (10) is formed on at least either one of an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of that portion (6a) of the inner pipe which protrudes from an end face of an insulating support member into an exhaust gas, in such a manner as to extend around on a circumferential surface thereof.
US08647582B2
Safely processing fluid via monitoring and decreasing explosiveness of vapor-gas species formed therefrom, or contained therein. Fluid input unit 12, for transporting source fluid 24; first fluid processing unit 14, for receiving and processing fluid 26, and forming processed fluid including vapor-gas portion 30; vapor-gas explosiveness monitoring and decreasing unit 16, for measuring at least an indication of explosiveness level of vapor-gas portion 30, wherein if the measurement exceeds a pre-determined threshold explosiveness level (PDTEL), then vapor-gas portion 30 is condensed, for forming condensate and output vapor-gas 32 whose explosiveness level is less than lower explosion limit (LEL) of output vapor-gas 32; second fluid processing unit 18, for processing output vapor-gas 32, and forming processed vapor-gas product 34. Includes an output unit 20 for transporting processed vapor-gas product 34 as (vapor-gas, liquid, or/and solid) output products 36, for disposal, storage, or/and additional processing, and a central process control unit 22.
US08647575B2
A blood glucose meter includes a front attachment part to which a test piece is attached, a measurement part for measuring a component of blood collected via a blood guide passage in the test piece, and a monitor for displaying the measurement results obtained by the measurement part. When the device is placed on a horizontal plane by referring to the display face of the monitor as the upper side and the opposite side as the lower side and placing the display face of the monitor upward, the central axis of the test piece extends obliquely downward toward the front side. The blood glucose meter comprises a main part provided with the monitor and a linking part between the main part and the front attachment part. The top face of the linking part is placed roughly parallel to the central axis line and is provided with an ejector lever.
US08647570B1
Method and system embodiments of the present invention control the ascorbate concentration in produce treatments and particularly are exemplified in fresh cut fruit and vegetable treatments via measured refractivity and/or electrical conductivity of, and/or calcium ions present in, the treatment solution.
US08647558B2
A method for manufacturing a structure includes, in the following order, preparing a substrate having a positive-type photosensitive resin layer and an absorption layer stacked thereon in this order, the absorption layer being capable of absorbing a light having a photosensitive wavelength which the positive-type photosensitive resin senses; pressing a projecting portion of a mold into both the positive-type photosensitive resin layer and the absorption layer; separating the mold from both layers; irradiating the two layers with the light from an upper face side of both layers; removing the absorption layer; and developing the positive-type photosensitive resin layer.
US08647557B2
Disclosed herein is a method for producing a sheet including a silica aerogel, the method including (S1) gelling a water glass solution in a mixture of an alcohol and water to prepare a wet gel, (S2) hydrophobically modifying the surface of the wet gel with a non-polar organic solvent, an organosilane compound and an alcohol, (S3) dissolving the hydrophobically modified silica gel and a polymer in an aprotic organic solvent to prepare an electrospinning solution, and (S4) electrospinning the electrospinning solution to produce a fiber web including a silica aerogel, and a sheet in which a polymer and a silica aerogel coexist in the form of a fiber.
