US08718456B2
A surface heating device for a substrate treatment device with increased power density and improved homogeneity of heat radiation includes a jacket tube heater with straight tube sections and bent tube sections in which straight tube sections are arranged parallel to each other in a main plane and straight tube sections are connected to each other by bent tube sections, so that at least part of the bent tube sections are aligned sloped relative to the main plane.
US08718434B2
This disclosure describes a fiber optic enclosure in which a cable entry port is sealed using a wedge that compresses a gasket that surrounds a fiber optic cable. As described herein, a fiber optic enclosure may include one or more entry ports through which fiber optic cables pass. As one of the fiber optic cables passes through one of the entry ports, the fiber optic cable passes through a gasket located in a receptacle behind the cable entry port. A wedge compresses the gasket, thereby compressing the gasket. When the gasket is compressed, the gasket exerts radial pressure on the fiber optic cable. In this way, the gasket forms a seal around the fiber optic cable.
US08718427B2
A loose tube optical fiber cable includes at least one cable unit. Each cable unit includes a plurality of loose, non-buffered optical fibers, a strength yarn at least partially surrounding the non-buffered optical fibers, and a jacket surrounding the strength yarn and the non-buffered optical fibers.
US08718418B2
DC current in a high voltage AC/DC or DC/AC converter station can be measured via the Faraday effect in one or more loops of an optical sensing fiber located at the base of a bushing extending through a wall of the hall. This arrangement can exploit the base of the bushing being at ground potential, which can simplify mounting work and maintenance.
US08718416B2
A novel micro-optical electric field sensor exploits morphology-dependent shifts of the optical modes of dielectric cavities to measure temporally- and spatially-resolved of electric field with extremely high sensitivity. The measurement principle is based on the electrostriction effect on the optical modes of dielectric micro-resonators (or micro-cavities) and exploits recent developments in optical fiber and switching technologies. The optical modes are commonly referred to as “whispering gallery modes” (WGM) or “morphology dependent resonances” (MDR). By monitoring the WGM shifts, the electric field causing the electrostriction effect can be determined. Different sensitivities and measurement ranges (maximum measured electric field) can be obtained by using different cavity geometries (for example solid or hollow spheres), polymeric materials (PMMA, PDMS, etc) as well as poling the dielectric material.
US08718412B2
A DP QPSK optical modulator includes an input port; an optical branching unit; an optical modulation unit having first through fourth Mach-Zehnder interferometers; a first phase-change unit connected to the third Mach-Zehnder interferometer; a second phase-change unit connected to the fourth Mach-Zehnder interferometer; an optical multiplexer; and a multimode interference coupler including a multimode interference waveguide, first through third input ports, and an output port having a taper-shaped waveguide. The first Mach-Zehnder interferometer is connected to the first input port. One end of the optical multiplexer is connected to the second Mach-Zehnder interferometer and the third Mach-Zehnder interferometer via the first phase change unit. The other end of the optical multiplexer is connected to the second input port. The fourth Mach-Zehnder interferometer is connected to the third input port via the second phase-change unit.
US08718408B2
Adaptive filtering techniques are set forth that improve video playback performance. A color similarity metric is computed for source pixels undergoing an image transform operation to determine color values of a target pixel location. The value of the color similarity metric defines what algorithm is used to determine the color values of the target pixel location from the source pixels. While the computation of the color similarity metric introduces additional instructions for each pixel, going against conventional wisdom, enormous performance savings by avoiding unnecessarily complex sets of interpolation instructions where a simpler instruction set suffices, outweighs any such cost from additional instructions.
US08718405B2
A position and orientation measurement apparatus for measuring the position and orientation of a target object includes a first search unit which searches a geometric model for a lost model region corresponding to a lost image region in a range image, a determination unit which determines whether or not a point on a geometric model corresponding to a pixel on the range image of the target object falls within the lost model region, a correction unit which corrects combinations of pixels on the range image and corresponding points which are determined to fall within the lost model region, and a calculation unit which calculates the position and orientation of the target object based on the corrected combinations of the pixels on the range image and points on the geometric model.
US08718401B2
An image processing device includes a subject detecting unit detecting a subject on a material image, a working unit performing a working process on the material image such that a region of the subject puts in the block, an image generating unit clipping a subject-including region of the material image so as to have the same form and size as the block and generating a subject-including clipped image and a replacing unit setting one clipped image which is the most similar to the block in terms of color-related characteristics as the replacement image for each block of the production target image and replacing the block by the replacement image to generate a photo-mosaic image.
US08718400B2
A method for identifying modified sections of a drawing region and selecting at least one modified drawing region section to transmit to a remote computer. A local computer can execute a prioritization module that can identify a first modified drawing region section and a second modified drawing region section. Each of the first and second modified drawing region section can have a corresponding priority. The prioritization module can determine whether the first priority of the first section is greater than the second priority of the second section and can select the greater priority. The local computer can then transmit the selected modified drawing region section that has the greatest priority to a remote computer that communicates with the local computer over a virtual channel.
US08718396B2
An image processing apparatus comprises an input unit configured to input image data including m frame images per unit time; a filtering unit configured to generate a high-frequency component emphasized frame image and a low-frequency component frame image from each frame image; a correction unit configured to correct a luminance of the low-frequency component frame image corresponding to each frame image at a predetermined ratio so as to make the image data perceptible in the same brightness as that of each of the frame images output as the m frames per unit time; and an output unit configured to alternately output the high-frequency component emphasized frame image generated by the filtering unit and the low-frequency component frame image whose luminance has been corrected by the correction unit as image data including 2 m frame images per unit time.
US08718395B2
Provided is an image processing apparatus that obtains an effect of improving perceived definition even when an input image signal does not include much of a high range component. The image processing apparatus (10) includes a high-pass filter (1) that extracts a mid-high range component from the input image signal; a nonlinear processing unit (2) that performs nonlinear processing on an output signal from the high-pass filter (1); an addition unit (3); a threshold value determination unit (4) that determines an upper threshold value and lower threshold value for clipping processing based on the maximum value and minimum value of the pixel values in the input image signal in the range thereof that was subjected to processing by the high-pass filter (1); a clipping unit (5) that performs clipping processing using the upper threshold value and lower threshold value; a high-pass filter (6) for an output signal from the clipping unit (5); a non-linear processing unit (7) that performs non-linear processing on an output signal from the high-pass filter (6); and an addition unit (8) that adds an output signal from the non-linear processing unit (7) and the output signal from the clipping unit (5).
US08718392B2
An image processing method is disclosed that includes dividing image data into a plurality of blocks, determining whether each block is color or monochrome, and compressing the block of image data based on the determination as to whether the block is color or monochrome.
US08718391B2
An image encoding system and method for performing random access may be provided. The image encoding system may perform intra prediction based on a processing unit, and code a pixel using a result of the intra prediction. Also, the image encoding system may generate a bitstream with respect to an input image using a Fixed Length Code (FLC). Coding may be performed based on the processing unit, and thus random access may be performed based on the processing unit.
US08718390B1
A method is described to greatly improve the efficiency of and reduce the complexity of image compression when using single-sensor color imagers for video acquisition. The method in addition allows for this new image compression type to be compatible with existing video processing tools, improving the workflow for film and television production.
US08718383B2
Registration and classification of non-textual information, such as digital images and video is described. Image searching and comparison of the images is also described. The digital images are indexed (i.e., each image is assigned a unique numerical parameter and/or a plurality of numerical parameters). The resulting index files are stored in a database that can be quickly searched because the index files are universal numerical files that are significantly smaller in size than their source images. Image search queries are also indexed to generate an index file, which is then compared with the stored index files. A similarity score is also calculated to rank the similar images based on the index file-to-index file comparison.
US08718382B2
A two-level matching technique is described. A system can generate a set of index patterns based on a set of library patterns in a pattern library. The pattern library can include patterns that are expected to have problems during manufacturing. Next, the system can use a fast matching process to check if a first-level pattern clip potentially matches one or more index patterns from the set of index patterns. If so, the system can use a detailed matching process to match a second-level pattern clip with library patterns that correspond to the one or more index patterns. Otherwise, the system can report that the first-level pattern clip does not match any library pattern in the pattern library.
US08718377B2
A cancer determination apparatus (1) includes a Betti number calculation section (42) for calculating, in a captured image (i) in which a tissue is captured and (ii) which has been binarized by use of a prescribed reference value as a threshold, (I) the number of connected components and (II) the number of spaces, each of the connected components being an aggregate of at least one component which is defined by connecting an outer edge(s) of the at least one component which is a graphic having a closed outer edge, each of the spaces being surrounded by an outer edge(s) of the at least one component, a comparison value calculation section (43) for calculating a comparison value indicating a difference between the number of connected components and the number of spaces, and a determination section (44) for determining, by comparing the comparison value thus calculated with a predetermined reference value, whether or not an image of a cancer tissue is included in the captured image.
US08718366B2
Methods and apparatus for detecting moving text in video comprising receiving consecutive frames from a video stream, extracting a sequence of pixels from the consecutive frames, categorizing the pixels, thinning the pixels, correlating corresponding thinned pixels in the frames, identifying the peaks that are equal to or exceed a threshold, and performing further processing on the peaks to determine if the peaks contain moving text.
US08718364B2
An apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a region extraction unit configured to extract region data for each object from document image data including tables; a table structure analysis unit configured to analyze the region data relating to table objects out of the extracted region data and extract table structure information on each of the table objects; a sheet generation unit configured to generate a display sheet for reproducing a layout of the object in the document image data and an edit sheet for each table for editing the table, by using the region data and the table structure information on each object; and an electronic-document generation unit configured to generate an electronic document which associated the display sheet with the edit sheet.
US08718354B2
The invention relates to a method for analyzing masks for photolithography. In this method, an aerial image of the mask for a first focus setting is generated and stored in an aerial image data record. The aerial image data record is transferred to an algorithm that simulates a photolithographic wafer exposure on the basis of this data record. In this case, the simulation is carried out for a plurality of mutually different energy doses. Then, at a predetermined height from the wafer surface, contours which separate regions with photoresist from those regions without photoresist are in each case determined. The result, that is to say the contours, are stored for each of the energy doses in each case in a contour data record with the energy dose as a parameter. Finally, the contour data records are combined to form a three-dimensional multicontour data record with the reciprocal of the energy dose as a third dimension, and, on the basis of the transitions from zero to values different than zero in the contours, a three-dimensional profile of the reciprocal of the energy dose depending on the position on the mask is generated. This profile, the so-called effective aerial image, is output or stored or automatically evaluated. The same can also occur with sections through said profile.
US08718352B2
A computer-aided method, system and computer program product are provided for optical testing of a rope. Such method includes: providing an image data set for at least one portion of the rope; providing target values of a pictorial longitudinal extension of the representation of wires relative to a pictorial longitudinal extension of the rope in the image data set; determining a pictorial longitudinal extension of the wires in the image data set, including adapting an estimated longitudinal extension to the image data set; determining at least one quality value using a quality norm as a function of the determined pictorial longitudinal extension of the wires and the target values of the pictorial longitudinal extension of the wires; discriminating pictorial positions within the image data set of the rope, where at least one quality value exceeds or falls below a predetermined, assigned quality threshold value; and providing the discriminated pictorial positions.
US08718347B2
An X-ray perfusion-image creating unit creates an X-ray perfusion image indicating blood flow dynamics in a certain organ from an X-ray projection image of a subject given with a contrast agent. An image correction unit extracts thickness information indicating the thickness of a myocardium from a three-dimensional image taken by an X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) apparatus. Moreover, the image correction unit creates a corrected perfusion image in which the thickness of the myocardium in the X-ray perfusion image is corrected, based on the thickness information. A display unit then displays the corrected perfusion image.
US08718344B2
An image processing apparatus and a medical image diagnosis apparatus comprise a creation unit, a designation unit, a measurement unit, and a display control unit. The creation unit is configured to create a virtual endoscopic image observed using a preset viewpoint position and a preset line-of-sight direction based on 3-dimensional image data. The designation unit is configured to analyze the 3-dimensional image data to designate a plaque portion and/or a calcification portion. The measurement unit is configured to measure information on spatial distribution of the plaque portion and/or the calcification portion designated by the designation unit. The display control unit is configured to perform control to display the virtual endoscopic image created by the creation unit and the information on spatial distribution measured by the measurement unit.
US08718343B2
A method is disclosed for reconstructing image data of an examination object from measured data, wherein the measured data was captured previously during a relative rotary motion between a radiation source of a computed tomography system and the examination object. In at least one embodiment, the measured data is modified to achieve a particular grayscale characteristic of the image data to be reconstructed. The image data is calculated by way of an iterative algorithm using the modified measured data, wherein no arithmetic step for reducing noise is employed in the iterations.
US08718342B2
A method and a data-processing system are disclosed for determining the proportion of calcium in coronary arteries using image data from CT angiography. In at least one embodiment of the method, anatomical landmarks are detected in the image data in the region of the heart and coronary arteries are segmented taking into account the detected landmarks. Regions with an increased HU value compared to a contrast agent surroundings are segmented in the segmented coronary arteries. A proportion of calcium respectively is calculated from the segmented regions for one or more of the segmented coronary arteries. At least the last two steps are carried out fully automatically by a data-processing system. Weighting factors for the individual regions are used when calculating the proportion of calcium, which weighting factors depend on both the threshold for segmenting the respective region and the volume of said region. The method and the data-processing system of at least one embodiment allow the dose exposure of the patient to be reduced and reduce the time expenditure of the user for determining the proportion of calcium.
US08718338B2
A system and method to compensate for respiratory motion in imaging of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy is provided. The system can include an imaging system in communication with a controller. The controller can include a memory with program instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of: detecting an illustration of at least a portion of the plurality of instruments introduced into the subject anatomy in a first image and a second image, comparing and calculating a displacement of the plurality of instruments between the first and second images, calculating one of an average or median displacement of the plurality of instruments between the first and second images, and applying one of the average and the median displacement to adjust at least a portion of the first or second images or a pre-acquired three-dimensional model of the internal region of interest.
US08718334B2
A system includes an image sensing device that is configured to receive a digital image of a human hand, and a range sensing device that is configured to receive range data relating a distance from the range sensing device to a plurality of points on the human hand. The system uses the range data to generate a range map of the human hand, normalizes a pose of the image of the human hand using the range data and the image, extracts one or more features of the hand from the normalized pose, and stores the extracted features into a computer storage medium.
US08718328B1
A method and system for occlusion region detection and measurement between a pair of images are disclosed. A processing device receives a first image and a second image. The processing device estimates a field of motion vectors between the first image and the second image. The processing device motion compensates the first image toward the second image to obtain a motion-compensated image. The processing device compares a plurality of pixel values of the motion-compensated image to a plurality of pixels of the first image to estimate an error field. The processing device inputs the error field to a weighted error cost function to obtain an initial occlusion map. The processing device regularizes the initial occlusion map to obtain a regularized occlusion map.
US08718327B2
Methods, apparatuses, and articles associated with gesture recognition using depth images are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, an apparatus may include a face detection engine configured to determine whether a face is present in one or more gray images of respective image frames generated by a depth camera, and a hand tracking engine configured to track a hand in one or more depth images generated by the depth camera. The apparatus may further include a feature extraction and gesture inference engine configured to extract features based on results of the tracking by the hand tracking engine, and infer a hand gesture based at least in part on the extracted features. Other embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed.
US08718326B2
A system and method for extracting 3D coordinates, the method includes obtaining, by a stereoscopic image photographing unit, two images of a target object, and obtaining 3D coordinates of the object on the basis of coordinates of each pixel of the two images, measuring, by a Time of Flight (TOF) sensor unit, a value of a distance to the object, and obtaining 3D coordinates of the object on the basis of the measured distance value, mapping pixel coordinates of each image to the 3D coordinates obtained through the TOF sensor unit, and calibrating the mapped result, determining whether each set of pixel coordinates and the distance value to the object measured through the TOF sensor unit are present, calculating a disparity value on the basis of the distance value or the pixel coordinates, and calculating 3D coordinates of the object on the basis of the calculated disparity value.
US08718324B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided that may enable devices to provide improved object tracking, such as in connection with computer vision, multimedia content analysis and retrieval, augmented reality, human computer interaction and region-based image processing. In this regard, a method includes adjusting parameters of a portion of an input frame having a target object to match a template size and then performing feature-based image registration between the portion of the input frame and an active template and at least one selected inactive template. The method may also enable switching the selected inactive template to be an active template for a subsequent frame based at least on a matching score between the portion of the input frame and the selected inactive template and determine a position of a target object in the input frame based on one of the active template or the selected inactive template.
US08718322B2
Methods and apparatus for processing image data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, via an image sensor, an image that includes a plurality of objects including a target object, and receiving, from the target object, via a medium other than the image sensor, distinguishing information that is broadcast by the target object. The distinguishing information distinguishes the target object from other objects, and is used to select, within the captured image, the target object from among the other objects.
US08718319B2
Optoelectronic detection and location of moving objects is performed to capture one-dimensional images of a field of view through which objects may be moving, make measurements in those images, select from among those measurements those that are likely to correspond to objects in the field of view, make decisions responsive to various characteristics of the objects, and produce signals that indicate those decisions.
US08718313B2
Electroactive polymer devices are provided. A device includes a membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element. The element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with a voltage application. The element is covered by the membrane.
US08718312B2
An earmuff which is adapted to covering a driver includes a first case having a first through hole and a second case having a second through hole. The second case accommodated within the first case to form an inner chamber where the driver is disposed therein. Since air flows between the first case and the second case via the first through hole and the second through hole, a satisfactory ventilation effect can be achieved and thus feeling of being at ease can be furnished.
US08718301B1
A telescopic spatial radio system is provided for sending a signal representative of a sound at a speaker location to a listener location, the signal providing positioning information of the speaker location relative to the listener location and processing the signal using the positioning information to provide a telescopic zoomable binaural sound at the listener location having a simulated spatial relationship based on the position information of the speaker location relative to the listener location.
US08718300B1
A motorcycle media system for playing audio or video on a motorcycle includes a wiring harness mounted on a motorcycle, a plurality of speakers is mounted to the motorcycle and an enclosed housing mounted behind a rider of the motorcycle. The housing is removable from the motorcycle to expose a compartment in the motorcycle. A power source is mounted to the motorcycle and in electrical communication with the wiring harness. A media source is mounted to the motorcycle, within the compartment, and in electrical communication with the wiring harness. A display mounted within the compartment and is in electrical communication with the wiring harness. A control assembly is in electrical communication with the wiring harness for controlling the operation of the system. A bracket supports the control assembly on handlebars of the motorcycle.
US08718293B2
A signal separation system and a method for automatically selecting a threshold to separate sound sources. The signal separation system calculates a power sequence for a target signal using a target mask, and a power sequence for an interference signal using a complementary mask, based on signals received from a plurality of microphones; applies a nonlinearity to the target signal power sequence and the interference signal power sequence; calculates a correlation coefficient of the nonlinear target signal power sequence and the nonlinear interference signal power sequence; and sets a noise masking threshold that minimizes the correlation coefficient.
US08718289B2
An active noise control system includes a plurality of adaptive filters. The plurality of adaptive filters each receives an input signal representative of an undesired sound. The adaptive filters may each generate an output signal based on the input signal. The output signals are used to generate an anti-noise signal configured to drive a speaker to produce sound waves to destructively interfere with the undesired sound.
US08718286B2
A testing system tests an audio connection between an audio source and a loudspeaker. The system includes a loudspeaker that converts a reference signal into a sound. An adaptive filter processes the reference signal to minimize an error signal. A decision circuit analyzes the error signal and the received signal to determine signal correlation. When the signals are not correlated, a defect is detected.
US08718281B2
In one embodiment, apparatus and methods for a rekey process are disclosed. In certain rekey embodiments, when a key-generation protocol exchange is executed, instead of generating a single new security relationship, such as a Security Association or SA, a multiple set (e.g., 10) of new security relationships (e.g., SAs) are generated. An authorized device can then individually use these security relationships (e.g., SAs) as needed to securely communicate with each other. For example, a set of SAs can be efficiently programmed into an 802.1ae protocol ASIC for handling transmitted and received data packets. In the description herein, embodiments of the invention are described with respect to SA's, and this “SA” term is generally defined as any type of security relation that can be formed to allow a particular node to securely transmit packets or frames to another receiving node.
US08718280B2
In the field of computer enabled cryptography, such as a block cipher, the cipher is hardened against an attack by protecting the cipher key, by applying to it a predetermined linear permutation before using one key to encrypt or decrypt a message. This is especially advantageous in a “White Box” environment where an attacker has full access to the cipher algorithm, including the algorithm's internal state during its execution. This method and the associated computing apparatus are useful where the key is derived through a process and so is unknown when the software code embodying the cipher is compiled. This is typically the case where there are many users of the cipher and each has his own key, or where each user session has its own key.
US08718276B2
A cryptographic calculation includes obtaining a point P(X,Y) from a parameter t on an elliptical curve Y2=f(X); and from polynomials X1(t), X2(t), X3(t) and U(t) satisfying: f(X1(t))·f(X2(t))·f(X3(t))=U(t)2 in Fq, with q=3 mod 4. Firstly a value of the parameter t is obtained. Next, the point P is determined by: (i) calculating X1=X1(t), X2=X2(t), X3=X3(t) and U=U(t); (ii) if the term f(X1)·f(X2) is a square, then testing whether the term f(X3) is a square in Fq and if so calculating the square root of f(X3) in order to obtain the point P(X3); (iii) otherwise, testing whether the term f(X1) is a square and, if so, calculating the square root of f(X1) in order to obtain the point P(X1); (iv) otherwise, calculating the square root of f(X2) in order to obtain the point P(X2). This point P is useful in a cryptographic application.
US08718271B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center, along with an intelligent routing system. An exemplary method includes combining multiple output variables of a pattern matching algorithm (for matching callers and agents) into a single metric for use in the routing system. The pattern matching algorithm may include a neural network architecture, where the exemplary method combines output variables from multiple neural networks. The method may include determining a Z-score of the variable outputs and determining a linear combination of the determined Z-scores for a desired output. Callers may be routed to agents via the pattern matching algorithm to maximize the output value or score of the linear combination. The output variables may include revenue generation, cost, customer satisfaction performance, first call resolution, cancellation, or other variable outputs from the pattern matching algorithm of the system.
US08718270B2
A web-based hosted solution through which business entities create and manage communications campaigns is described. To reduce latency of customer-to-agent connections, the system implements an agent stay-on-line function by which a persistent telephony connection is established and maintained between the system infrastructure and an available agent. In this manner, the agent may handle multiple customers while avoiding an ACD hold queue. In addition, preferably a service-side hold queue also is established and maintained on the service-side of the infrastructure. This hold queue maintains calls that are waiting to be connected to available agents. It ensures that any customer abandons do not impair the connections being established and maintained to the agents.
US08718268B2
The present disclosure describes various ways of providing agents with a configurable mechanism by which they may bid on training opportunities with contacts in a given contact center. Specifically, an architecture providing a team of agents and agents-in-training to service a contact or set of contacts and methods of employing that team architecture are described. The bids of one or more agents may be collected and evaluated to determine at least one winning agent that will team together with at least one subject matter expert, qualified agent, or team in handling a contact for the purposes of training.
US08718265B2
A method and apparatus for routing a call to a subject matter expert via a packet network is described. In one embodiment, a request to route said at least one call to the SME is received. A predefined location associated with the SME is also obtained. The call is then routed to a foreign Internet Protocol gateway associated with the predefined foreign location to communicate with the SME.
US08718263B2
A communications center supports sales and/or customer support services corresponding to a plurality of business affiliations. Operator terminals within the communications center are configurable. A management module manages the allocation of the operator terminals between the plurality of different business affiliations being supported by the communications center. The management module loads a set of configuration information into an operator terminal to match a determined business affiliation with a customer's communications device capabilities. At different times, e.g. corresponding to an initial communications session and a follow-on communications session, the same customer may be connected to different physical operator terminals and be communicating with different actual operators; however, from the perspective of the customer, the customer is made to think that the communication is with the same operator terminal and same operator.
US08718259B2
A system and method for transferring calls. A voice communication is received. The voice communication is placed on hold in response to receiving user input. Multiple phones are rung simultaneously in response to receiving the user input. The voice communication is connected to one of the multiple phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on one of the multiple phones.
US08718256B2
Disclosed herein is a method and system for providing a ringback tone (RBT). The system for providing an RBT to a user comprises: a sound file storage for storing a sound file; a user database receiving sound selection information from a user terminal, recording a sound identifier of the sound file corresponding to the sound selection information, receiving output position information of the selected sound file from the user terminal, and recording the sound position information; and an RBT providing unit reproducing a region which corresponds to the output position information from the sound file corresponding to the sound identifier with reference to the sound file storage and the user database so as to be provided as an RBT.
US08718247B2
An image processing apparatus that covers standards of a dial tone for a plurality of countries with a relatively small number of pattern tables and reduces the number of times that a sound is misdetected as a dial tone, a method for controlling the same and a program are provided. To accomplish this, the image processing apparatus measures a length of a tone signal received from outside; determines whether an intermittent dial tone including the measured tone signal and a previously received tone signal has a specific pattern or not; and determines whether a duty cycle of the intermittent dial tone is a duty cycle within a given range or not, thereby determining whether the dial tone is valid or not.
US08718246B2
A communication manager establishes a call between two or more participants on two or more communication devices. The call can be an audio or video call. A call request is sent from one of the communication devices to conference an additional communication device to the call. For example, a participant in the call decides to conference an additional person to further discuss an idea.An information manager gets a roster of the participants. In addition to the call request, the roster of the participants is sent to the additional communication device. The additional communication device receives the call request and the roster. The roster is displayed to the user of the additional communication device. The user can then indicate to answer the call request. If answered, the additional communication device sends an indication that the call was answered and the additional communication device is conferenced into the call.
US08718245B2
Methods and systems for online counseling sessions conducted over the Internet are disclosed. In some configurations, a method for remotely conducting counseling sessions between a client and an expert using an IP-based network includes providing a website accessible to the network wherein the expert and a client both have access to the website. In such configurations, upon accessing and logging into the website, the client is permitted to search a database for online experts and select an appropriate expert for a counseling session. In some configurations, the client initially completes various intake and/or registration forms in a virtual waiting room, wherein such forms are customized per the relevant expert. The method continues as an expert remotely conducts a counseling session with the client via remote means, including video conferencing. Following the counseling session, the client is automatically returned to the virtual waiting room and provided with subsequent counseling based options.
US08718235B2
To carry out processing to be executed upon occurrence of an emergency, a mobile phone includes a power control portion for supplying driving power, a RAM capable of storing data in the state where the driving power is not supplied from the power control portion, a crime prevention switch for detecting occurrence of an emergency, and a control portion which is driven by the driving power supplied from the power control portion. The control portion stores an emergency flag in an ON state indicating an emergency mode in the RAM in response to detection of the emergency by the crime prevention switch, and carries out emergency processing. When the control portion is activated as the supply of the driving power from the power control portion is started, it carries out the emergency processing if the emergency flag in the ON state is stored in the RAM.
US08718233B2
A linkage mechanism of a scattered ray inhibition apparatus and a radiation field control apparatus is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a first timing belt, a second timing belt, and a transmission mechanism between the first timing belt and the second timing belt, wherein the scattered ray inhibition apparatus is mounted on the first timing belt, the radiation field control apparatus is mounted on the second timing belt, the transmission ratio of the transmission mechanism is equal to the ratio of the moving speed of the scattered ray inhibition apparatus to the moving speed of the radiation field control apparatus.
US08718227B2
A CT scanner comprising: a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation: an X-ray source mounted to the rotor having a focal spot from which an X-ray beam emanates; an X-ray detector array comprising a plurality of X-ray detectors for detecting X-rays in the X-ray beam; wherein the detector array has at least one high resolution region in which detectors have a high packing density and at least one low resolution region in which detectors have a low packing density and are separated by X-ray insensitive regions substantially larger than insensitive regions resulting from septa between detectors that function to reduce detector cross talk.
US08718220B2
A system and method for storing multiple canisters containing high level waste below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a ventilated system for storing high level waste emitting heat, the system comprising: an air-intake shell forming an air-intake cavity; a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a storage cavity; a lid positioned atop each of the storage shells; an outlet vent forming a passageway between an ambient environment and a top portion of each of the storage cavities; and a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed passageways between a bottom portion of the air-intake cavity and at least two different openings at a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities such that blockage of a first one of the openings does not prohibit air from flowing from the air-intake cavity into the storage cavity via a second one of the openings.
US08718210B2
Estimating a channel impulse response (CIR) for a wireless transmission, for example a multimedia broadcast multicast services single frequency network (MBSFN) transmission, may be performed by a receiver of an wireless subframe, without requiring operational memory in excess of what is needed for CIR estimation of unicast signaling, while providing enhanced delay spread coverage. The wireless subframe may be a MBSFN subframe. The receiver may form an aggregate vector of pilot tones extracted from an OFDM reference symbol of an wireless subframe. The receiver may subsample the aggregate vector to obtain a plurality of sub-vectors each comprising a distinct subsampling phase. The receiver may process the plurality of sub-vectors using an inverse fast Fourier transform to obtain time domain representations of each of the sub-vectors. The receiver may combine the time domain representations in various ways to obtain a CIR estimate for the wireless subframe.
US08718209B2
A receiving device which receives a signal transmitted from a transmitting device by using a power amplifier, the receiving device includes a calculating unit which performs distortion compensation on a symbol included in a reception signal, a delay unit which holds a signal for a result from the distortion compensation, and the calculating unit performing the distortion compensation on a second symbol at a timing later than a first symbol based on a coefficient corresponding to an amplification characteristic of the power amplifier and on the signal for the result from the distortion compensation with respect to the first symbol held by the delay unit.
US08718206B2
There is obtained a frequency correction circuit capable of correcting the frequency errors of received signals with high accuracy and preventing the degradation of demodulated signals, while further suppressing an increase in the circuit scale.A frequency correction circuit according to the present invention includes a demodulation means that gives respective preset frequency offsets corresponding to a plurality of frequency errors to received radio signals and demodulates said received radio signals by utilizing respective ones of a plurality of preset in-phase summation periods, and a selection means that selects one demodulated signal from among a plurality of demodulated signals demodulated by said demodulation means.
US08718201B2
Techniques are provided for a demodulation and decoding method and apparatus for a given user equipment device to receive a one or more Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) symbols over a control channel, where the OFDM symbols comprise a plurality of resource element groups distributed in time and frequency that are combined to form control channel elements. Those resource element groups that form specific control channel elements for the user equipment device and those resource element groups that form common control channel elements for one or more user equipment devices including the given user equipment device are identified. The resource element groups that form the specific control channel elements and the resource element groups that form the common control channel elements are demodulated to generate encoded control messages comprising one or more control channel elements.
US08718197B2
A receiver includes an equalizer and a decoder which decodes data from a signal. The signal is based upon an output of the equalizer. The receiver also includes an encoder, which re-encodes the decoded data, and an error generator, which generates an error vector based upon the signal and the encoded data and which weights the error vector according to a reliability that the decoder accurately decoded the data from the signal. A controller controls the equalizer in response to the weighted error vector.
US08718196B2
A symbol error detector can be configured to detect symbol errors of GFSK modulated portions of a Bluetooth packet without relying solely on a CRC error detection mechanism. The symbol error detector can operate on frequency error signals that are a difference between a frequency associated with a current symbol and predetermined frequency outputs from a bank of filters matched to a frequency response of the Bluetooth receiver for predefined combinations of three consecutive symbols (i.e., an estimated previously decoded symbol, an estimated current symbol, and an estimated subsequent symbol). The frequency error signals can be compared against a threshold and against each other to determine a potential unreliability in decoding the current symbol and to determine whether to generate a symbol error notification. The frequency error signals being within a threshold of each other can indicate potential unreliability in decoding the current symbol.
US08718194B2
Aspects of the present disclosure describe an efficient channel estimation algorithm for high-speed processing of dedicated reference signals. The channel estimation algorithm may utilize one or more compressed interpolation matrices. The compressed interpolation matrices may be selected based on the Doppler value and signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the channel.
US08718190B2
A receiver/transmitter and related receiving/method capable of simultaneously receiving/transmitting discontinuous frequency band signal components of an input/output signal are provided. Phase swapping on in-phase/quadrature-phase local oscillation differential signals is applied to frequency down-conversion of the input signal or frequency up-conversion of a baseband signal to be outputted to radio domain, and thereby achieve simultaneously receiving discontinuous frequency bands of the input signal and simultaneously sending different baseband signal components on discontinuous frequency bands of the output signal.
US08718188B2
Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system including a power amplifier and an envelope tracker is provided. The power amplifier is configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal, and the envelope tracker is configured to control a supply voltage of the power amplifier using an envelope of the RF signal. The envelope tracker includes a buck converter for generating a buck voltage from a battery voltage and a digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) module for adjusting the buck voltage based on the envelope of the RF signal to generate the supply voltage for the power amplifier.
US08718187B2
At least one example embodiments discloses a method of compensating for in-phase and quadrature (IQ) imbalance in a base station. The method includes generating, at the base station, compensation filter weights based on a plurality of IQ imbalanced training signals, the generating including, determining the compensation filter weights based on the plurality of imbalanced training signals in a frequency domain. The method further includes filtering based on the compensation filter weights.
US08718183B2
A system and method for receiving a plurality of pilot tones, generating an analytic signal in a frequency domain, the analytic signal including frequency components that when converted to a time domain include a preamble having a first half containing only non-zero data and a second half containing only zero data, converting the analytic signal from the frequency domain to the time domain, resulting in the preamble having the first half containing only non-zero data and the second half containing only zero data, generating a cyclic prefix based on the second half of the preamble, and attaching the cyclic prefix to the preamble to form a pilot signal, the cyclic prefix including only zero data.
US08718178B1
Self-jamming interference associated with a transmitted signal of an aggressor transmitter may affect a received signal of a victim receiver in a communication device. An aggressor transmitter may provide two or more non-linear interference cancelation (NLIC) signals, including a first NLIC signal and a second NLIC signal. A NLIC unit may reconstruct an interference signal based on a selected one of the first NLIC signal or second NLIC signal. Power of the transmitted signal at the aggressor transmitter may be used to select either the first interference cancelation signal or the second interference cancelation signal. The first and second NLIC signals may differ by the use of digital pre-distortion (DPD) at the aggressor transmitter.
US08718177B2
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors based on the same transmitted vector. The symbols of the received signal vectors are combined, forming a combined received signal vector that may be treated as a single received signal vector. The combined received signal vector may be equalized by, for example, a zero-forcing or minimum-mean-squared error equalizer or another suitable linear equalizer. Following equalization, the equalized signal vector may be decoded using a simple, linear decoder.
US08718176B1
In a method for generating steering matrices for beamforming, one or more subsets of one or more maximum transmit steering matrices are selected, where the maximum transmit steering matrices correspond to a maximum number of spatial streams able to be transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver. The subsets correspond to an actual number of spatial streams to be transmitted, and the subsets are applied to spatial streams to be transmitted. In an apparatus for generating steering matrices, a steering matrix calculator is configured to determine, from maximum transmit steering matrices, a plurality of steering coefficients corresponding to an actual number of spatial streams.
US08718175B2
A method, a receiver and computer program product for reporting at least one channel quality indicator from a receiver to a transmitter in a MIMO system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the receiver receives one or more data streams transmitted by the transmitter wherein the data streams are processed by the transmitter using a transmission precoding matrix W prior to transmission to the receiver. The receiver estimates a preferred precoding matrix Wp which is preferred by the receiver and processes the received data streams using the transmission precoding matrix W, such that the effective channel G at the output of the signal processing module is dependent upon the transmission precoding matrix W used by the transmitter. The receiver determines a second effective channel Gp, uses it to determine the at least one channel quality indicator and transmits the determined at least one channel quality indicator to the transmitter.
US08718169B2
A communication device for transmitting a Very High Throughput Signal Field B (VHT-SIG-B) is described. The communication device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The communication device allocates at least twenty signal bits and six tail bits for the VHT-SIG-B. The communication device also uses a number of subcarriers for the VHT-SIG-B that is the same as a number of subcarriers for a Very High Throughput Long Training Field (VHT-LTF) and a DATA field. The communication device additionally applies a pilot mapping for the VHT-SIG-B that is the same as a pilot mapping for the DATA field. The communication device further transmits the VHT-SIG-B.
US08718167B2
Disclosed is a method for channel estimation and feedback in a wireless communication system that estimates a channel for each transmission antenna using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) impulse signal. A method for channel estimation in a wireless communication system includes causing a base station to generate a training signal with a specific waveform for each transmission antenna and to transmit the generated training signal to terminals; causing the terminals to acquire a downlink channel impulse response for each transmission antenna of the base station using the training signal transmitted from the base station; causing the terminals to acquire a downlink channel characteristic for each transmission antenna of the base station using the acquired channel impulse response; causing the terminal to feed back the acquired downlink channel characteristic information to the base station; and causing the base station to perform fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the downlink channel information transmitted from the terminals to indirectly acquire full channel status information (CSI).
US08718166B2
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors based on the same transmitted vector. The receiver linearizes each received signal vector using one or more zero-forcing, MMSE, or other suitable linear equalizers. The components of the equalized signal vectors may be combined using maximum-ratio combining to form the components of a combined equalized signal vector. The components of the combined equalized signal vector may then be decoded individually using a linear decoder.
US08718164B2
Techniques for transmitting pilot and for processing received pilot to obtain channel and interference estimates are described. A terminal may generate pilot symbols for a first cluster in a time frequency block based on a first sequence and may generate pilot symbols for a second cluster in the time frequency block based on a second sequence. The first and second sequences may include common elements arranged in different orders and may be considered as different versions of a single sequence. The terminal may transmit the pilot symbols in their respective clusters. A base station may obtain received pilot symbols from multiple clusters in the time frequency block. The base station may form each of multiple basis vectors with multiple versions of the sequence assigned to the terminal and may process the received pilot symbols with the multiple basis vectors to obtain a channel estimate for the terminal.
US08718158B2
A system and method that scrambles the phase characteristic of a carrier signal are described. The scrambling of the phase characteristic of each carrier signal includes associating a value with each carrier signal and computing a phase shift for each carrier signal based on the value associated with that carrier signal. The value is determined independently of any input bit value carried by that carrier signal. The phase shift computed for each carrier signal is combined with the phase characteristic of that carrier signal so as to substantially scramble the phase characteristic of the carrier signals. Bits of an input signal are modulated onto the carrier signals having the substantially scrambled phase characteristic to produce a transmission signal with a reduced PAR.
US08718157B2
Codebook based communication of precoding data between two stations involves determining a ‘best fit’ precoding at a receiving station, on the basis of channel state measurements taken therein. The best fit precoding is compared with pre-agreed entries in a codebook, and an indicator is sent back to the terminal emitting the analysed signal. The determination is separated into two elements, one being sufficient for use with SU-MIMO, and another being provided, with a second codebook indicator, if MU-MIMO is to be employed. This second codebook indicator points to a codebook of eigenvector representations for the multi-user space in which the channel is persisting.
US08718156B2
Methods and systems for indexing signal option selections are disclosed. The signal options can be any of a variety of options that permit the establishment of a communication link, including modulation format, coding rate, precoding index and assigned subbands. The selected options can be represented as a vector and the index can be determined by employing a worth function for a particular selected vector element that is dependent on a selection occurrence count of the element and on an element position count of the element. In particular, the index can be the summation of worth function values for each selected element.
US08718144B2
In general, techniques are described for implementing an 8-point discrete cosine transform (DCT). An apparatus comprising an 8-point discrete cosine transform (DCT) hardware unit may implement these techniques to transform media data from a spatial domain to a frequency domain. The 8-point DCT hardware unit includes an even portion comprising factors A, B that are related to a first scaled factor (μ) in accordance with a first relationship. The 8-point DCT hardware unit also includes an odd portion comprising third, fourth, fifth and sixth internal factors (G, D, E, Z) that are related to a second scaled factor (η) in accordance with a second relationship. The first relationship relates the first scaled factor to the first and second internal factors. The second relationship relates the second scaled factor to the third internal factor and a fourth internal factor, as well as, the fifth internal factor and a sixth internal factor.
US08718135B2
Described herein is a novel transcoding technique called lossless inter frame transcoding (LIFT) for improving the error resilience of video streaming. According to various embodiments, conventional coded blocks are selectively transcoded into new transcoded blocks. At the decoder, the transcoded blocks can be transcoded back to the conventional coded blocks when prediction is available and can also be robustly decoded independently when prediction is unavailable. According to another embodiment, an offline transcoding and online composing technique is provided for generating a composite frame using the transcoded and conventional coded blocks and adjusting the ratio of the transcoded blocks, thereby achieving error robustness scalability.
US08718133B2
A method and system for image scaling detection is provided. Image scaling detection involves receiving a decoded scaled input image having a plurality of pixels, wherein the input image has a scaling ratio relative to an original image; detecting blocking boundary artifact pixels in the image; determining a sum of pixel values for each blocking boundary artifact; detecting the pixel distance value between each pair or neighboring block boundaries; and determining the scaling ratio based on a distance value and said sum of pixel values.
US08718131B2
A method and apparatus for generating and processing a packet are provided. In the method of processing a packet, a packet including main data, an identifier representing the type of the main data, and packet information corresponding to information on other packets that will have the same identifier as the identifier is received, the identifier and the packet information are extracted from the received packet, and the main data is selectively extracted from the packet based on the extracted identifier.
US08718127B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a receiver device. One such apparatus includes an equalizer configured to process an input signal transmitted over a channel. The equalizer includes a first node configured to receive the input signal; a second node; and a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) having an adjustable gain. The PGA has an input electrically coupled to the first node, and an output electrically coupled to a third node. The equalizer also includes a high pass filter (HPF) having an input electrically coupled to the third node, and an output electrically coupled to the second node; and a control block configured to adjust one or more of the PGA or the HPF at least partly in response to a PGA output signal from the PGA or an HPF output signal from the HPF.
US08718126B2
An adaptive equalizer includes an equalization circuit and an operation number change unit. The equalization circuit includes a plurality of cascade-coupled delay taps. The equalization circuit equalizes an input signal by adding calculation results of the plurality of delay taps. The operation number change unit changes a number of operations of the plurality of delay taps according to an equalization error of the equalization circuit.
US08718110B2
A nitride semiconductor laser includes an electrically conductive support substrate with a primary surface of a gallium nitride based semiconductor, an active layer provided above the primary surface, and a p-type cladding region provided above the primary surface. The primary surface is inclined relative to a reference plane perpendicular to a reference axis extending in a direction of the c-axis of the gallium nitride based semiconductor. The p-type cladding region includes first and second p-type Group III nitride semiconductor layers. The first p-type semiconductor layer comprises an InAlGaN layer including built-in anisotropic strain. The second p-type semiconductor layer comprises semiconductor different from material of the InAlGaN layer. The first nitride semiconductor layer is provided between the second p-type semiconductor layer and the active layer. The second p-type semiconductor layer has a resistivity lower than that of the first p-type semiconductor layer.
US08718109B2
A laser array light source unit 1 includes: a plurality of semiconductor lasers 2 each including a main body portion 2a and a leg portion 2b with two leading electrodes; a laser holder 3 holding the main body portions 2a, and having through-holes for the leg portions 2b; a pressing member 5 for fixing the semiconductor lasers 2 to the laser holder 3; an insulator 4 including a plurality of electrode insertion portions 4f having through-holes for the leading electrodes; and a wiring base 6 for electrically connecting at least two of the semiconductor lasers 2 in series. The insulator 4 includes a connecting portion 4b for connecting the plurality of electrode insertion portions 4f in the same direction in which the plurality of semiconductor lasers 2 are arranged. The wiring base 6 includes first through-holes into which the leading electrodes of the semiconductor lasers 2 are inserted.
US08718101B2
A pilot selection method adapted for selecting rank-2 pilot patterns for a macrocell advanced base station (ABS), a femtocell ABS and a non-macrocell and non-femtocell ABS is proposed along with a wireless communication system and a base station thereof. Different rank-2 pilot pattern is selected for a femtocell ABS from its overlay macrocell ABS and non-macrocell and non-femtocell ABS rank-2 pilot patterns. Another pilot selection method for selecting a rank-1 pilot pattern for a femtocell ABS co-located with at least a macrocell ABS is also proposed. Different rank-1 pilot pattern is selected for a femtocell ABS from its overlay macrocell ABSs using rank-1 and/or rank-2 pilot patterns, where some of the macrocell ABSs can use rank-2 pilot patterns and the rest of the macrocell ABSs just use rank-1 pilot patterns. Also, different rank-1 pilot pattern is selected for the femtocell ABS from its neighboring femtocell ABSs using rank-1 pilot patterns.
US08718100B2
Methods and apparatus for selecting digital (network) interface technology for programming and data delivery over, e.g., a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable or satellite network that includes a server process interfacing with a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE), and/or associated client devices, each having different capabilities profiles. The server determines the one or more capabilities possessed by the CPE, and evaluates one or more program or content choices for possible delivery to that CPE based on its profile. The server generates a list of programs or content based on this evaluation, and transmits this list to the CPE, which displays the list for viewing by a user. The user is therefore offered a list of available content that is compatible with their specific configuration. A business and operational rules engine is also optionally employed to control the operation of the foregoing processes to accomplish particular business or operational goals.
US08718099B2
A transmission apparatus for converting a transmission data series into frequency-domain, converting the frequency-domain converted signal into time-domain signal, and transmitting the time-domain converted signal, the apparatus including: a preamble pattern generation unit which outputs at least two preamble patterns among second and third preamble patterns, including bit series in which each of bits of a first preamble pattern is continued for n bits (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and for k bits (where k is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and k≠n), and the first preamble pattern; and a transmission unit which transmits the transmission signal including at least two of the preamble patterns output from the preamble pattern generation unit.
US08718094B2
A content server is configured to buffer and transmit numerous live media streams to individual devices. The content server analyzes characteristics associated with the live media streams to determine timing and sequence number information. Other characteristics such as network congestion metrics, device buffer usage metrics, etc., can also be evaluated. Combined peak transmission times are determined to allow packets designated for transmission at a bandwidth usage peak to be transmitted earlier in time. Earlier packets are shifted even earlier as sequence numbers allow. This evens out bandwidth usage rates and allows improved live media stream transmission.
US08718088B2
Methods and devices of converting signals of consumer electronics connection protocols to high speed bi-directional signals are presented. A novel packing method packs all the data, clocks, and control signals into one or more packets of a predefined format. A novel unpacking method unpacks the packets to original data, clocks, and control signals.
US08718085B2
An outdoor broadband unit implements full IP-based routing between a wide area network (WAN)-side interface (such as a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) air interface) and a local area network (LAN)-side interface (such as a home network using MoCA protocol). The outdoor broadband unit maintains a routing table for all connections through an internal routing system based on matching between WAN-side Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and/or ports and LAN-side IP addresses and/or ports. The outdoor broadband unit may support both connection-oriented transport layer routing (such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)) and connectionless transport layer routing (such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP)).
US08718082B2
In a network system of this invention including a plurality of network devices that transfer frames by repeating, in a constant cycle, a reserved transfer interval that is a time band, in which a frame is transferred with a reservation and a free transfer interval that is a time band, in which a frame is freely transferred, a relay network device that links a first network device that is a transmission source of a frame and a second network device that is a transmission destination of the frame and the first network device execute a reservation processing such that the same time band within the reserved transfer interval is reserved and transfer the frame from the first network device to the second network device on the basis of the reservation result.
US08718081B2
A system and method of wireless communication power control is provided which allows for adjusting power levels without requiring high bandwidth for control. Embodiments allocate subcarriers into unequal power groups, each group having a consistent subcarrier power level. Using interference parameter information from a user, a subcarrier is assigned from a group having adequate power to maintain the user's required power level. In general, users with higher power requirements, such as those near cell boundaries, will be assigned subcarriers from a group having a higher power level. A cell may use a different allocation than a neighbor, so that subcarriers with the highest power level in one cell may not also have the highest power level in a neighboring cell. Such diversity may reduce inter-cell interference of the subcarriers near a cell boundary, since no two subcarriers are transmitted with highest power simultaneously by neighboring base stations.
US08718078B2
A communication apparatus able to maintain and improve the security at the time of retransmission of stored data to a network even in a network environment where multi-home connection can be made. When receiving a job through a network, the communication apparatus identifies the network through which the job is received, adds network information representing the identified network to the job, and stores the network information into a management table when the job is stored into an image forming apparatus. When acquisition of any of data stored in the image forming apparatus is requested by a terminal apparatus, whether a transmission condition is satisfied is determined based the network information for the requested data and transmission destination network information in the management table, and the requested data is transmitted, if the transmission condition is satisfied.
US08718077B1
A network switch including a plurality of ports; a memory, and a queue controller. The queue controller is configured to: maintain a list of pointers to a first plurality of buffers in the memory; of the first plurality of buffers, selectively allocate a first buffer to a first port of the plurality of ports; in response to i) the first port receiving a first frame of data, ii) the first buffer being allocated to the first port, and iii) the first frame being stored in the memory, remove the pointer to the first buffer from the list of pointers; transfer, to an output queue associated with a second port of the plurality of ports, the pointer to the first buffer; and in response to the first frame of data being sent from the second port, add the pointer to the first buffer back to the list of pointers.
US08718073B2
A method and apparatus for signaling virtual channel support in communication networks. A node receives a data packet from another node to examine whether the other node commonly supports one or more virtual channels of a given type on a point-to-point communication link between the nodes, and the node signaling common support for one or more virtual channels of a given type, based on the content in the received data packet that indicates whether the other node transmitting the data packet has adequate queue resources to support one or more virtual channels of a given type, and based on whether the node has adequate queue resources to support the one or more virtual channels of a given type.
US08718072B2
An apparatus comprising a data framer configured to frame an external protocol extension message for transmission, the external protocol extension message comprising a header that indicates an external protocol extension and at least one type-length-value (TLV) comprising a type field, a length field, and a value field, wherein a format of the TLV is specified by a specific organization, and wherein the value field comprises information related to protocol functions external to the network. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising compiling an external protocol extension message comprising a plurality of TLVs and a header that indicates an external protocol extension, and transmitting the external protocol message.
US08718070B2
Some embodiments provide a distributed control system for controlling managed switching elements of a network. The distributed control system comprises a first network virtualizer for converting a first set of input logical forwarding plane data to a first set of output physical control plane data. It also includes a second network virtualizer for converting a second set of input logical forwarding plane data to a second set of output physical control plane data. In some embodiments, the physical control plane data is translated into physical forwarding behaviors that direct the forwarding of data by the managed switching elements.
US08718065B2
A method to transmit data using a device having a plurality of physical input/output (I/O) interfaces is provided. The method comprises receiving data and determining a topology according to which data is to be transmitted. Data is transmitted in sequential order via a single physical interface for a first topology and in random order via a plurality of physical interfaces for a second topology.A System On Chip (SOC) unit enabled to transmit data via one or more physical interfaces is provided. The SOC comprises a processor and a network interface including multiple physical input/output (I/O) interfaces coupled to the processor. In response to receiving data for transmission, the processor is enabled to select a single I/O interface for sequential data transmission according to a first topology or select multiple physical I/O interfaces for random order data transmission according to a second topology.
US08718061B2
A data center network system and a packet forwarding method are provided. The data center network includes a management server and a plurality of machines containing physical machines and virtual machines. The management server configures a logical media access control (MAC) address for each of the machines, wherein most significant bytes of each of the logical MAC addresses are set as 0. When a data packet is about to be sent from a physical machine, the physical machine executes an encapsulation procedure on the data packet for forwarding the data packet to an intermediate node between a transmitter and a receiver of the data packet, and the intermediate node executes a decapsulation procedure on the data packet for forwarding the data packet to the true receiver. Accordingly, the number of virtual machines exposed to the forwarding table of Ethernet switches can be effectively reduced.
US08718058B2
A device search apparatus able to easily search for and find a device on a different subnet in a network environment where a plurality of subnets are connected together by routers. A client PC as a device search apparatus transmits by multicast a Probe message in which a value representing a search server is set, and extracts from a message received from the search server a URL of a search server on another subnet other than a network to which the client PC is connected. The client PC transmits by unicast, based on the URL of the search server, to the search server on the other subnet a message in which a device type to be searched is set, and extracts from a message received from the search server a URL of a device on the other subnet.
US08718053B2
In one implementation, a cluster of network devices forwards packets within the cluster according to a node vector and a cluster database. The cluster database defines a path from each network device in the cluster to every other network device in the cluster. When a packet is received, the receiving network device accesses a forwarding database for egress ports according to a destination address of the packet and accesses the cluster database to identify a first cluster link in the path from the receiving network device to the egress network device. The receiving network device adds a node vector to the packet. The node vector communicates to subsequent network devices how the packet is to be forwarded through the cluster on the path from the receiving network device to the egress network device. The node vector is specific to the network device cluster and operates independent from packet forwarding protocols.
US08718048B2
Internet protocol (IP) based calls from a first terminal in an IP based communications system are routed to a second terminal in another communications system. In response to a call setup request at a common communications core that is common to both the IP based communications system and the other communications system, a query is transmitted to a private telephone number mapping database that contains routing information for terminals in both the IP based communications system and the other communications system requesting routing information for the second terminal. Routing information for the call setup request is received from the private telephone number mapping database for routing the call.
US08718044B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for assessing and indicating the quality of VoIP calls, comprising the steps of end-point reception of the VoIP packets over an IP network link, end-point determination of the VoIP quality (QRX) of the received VoIP packet sequence, the VoIP quality (QTX) of the transmitted VoIP packet sequence, exchange of the quality information (QRX and QTX) between the end points, calulation of the difference (QRX-QTX) between the received VoIP quality and the VoIP quality transmitted by the other side; supply of the determined VoIP quality information to a quality indication; and end-point indication of the quality information in optical and/or acoustic form.
US08718040B2
An integrated circuit device for use in a line card of a network node of a digital networking system is provided. The integrated circuit device is capable of intercepting one or more control messages from at least one CPE device. The one or more control messages correspond to at least an operational status of at least one TE device associated with the at least one CPE device. The integrated circuit device is also capable of transmitting one or more rate control messages to a network processor of the network node to adapt bandwidth utilization and provide adapted data traffic flow to at least one CPE device in relation to the operational status of the at least one TE device.
US08718034B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for facilitating synchronization between a base station (BS) and a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system. The UE receives a synchronization signal originated by the BS. The synchronization signal is encoded with a selected cyclically permutable (CP) codeword, the selected CP codeword being selected from a set of CP codewords. Encoding of the synchronization signal is facilitated by a repetitive cyclically permutable (RCP) codeword derivable from the selected CP codeword. The RCP codeword has a plurality of codeword elements each associated with a value, the value of at least one codeword element in the RCP codeword being repeated in another codeword element position in the RCP codeword. And the synchronization signal is decoded in accordance with repetitive structure of the RCP codeword.
US08718033B2
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and a device for transferring radio service data. The method includes: designing a radio service frame timing mechanism and/or a rule of filling IQ data for a plurality of standards; configuring frame timing mechanisms corresponding to various services according to the designed radio service frame timing mechanism and/or the rule of filling IQ data for a plurality of standards; and transmitting multi-standard radio service data according to the configured frame timing information and/or methods of mapping IQ containers. The device includes a determination unit, a configuring unit and a transfer unit. Thus, uniform transmission of radio IQ data and frame synchronization for different standards may be enabled via a common radio interface between a Radio Equipment Controller (REC) and a Radio Equipment (RE).
US08718025B2
The present invention discloses a method and device for transmitting downlink information in a multi-carrier aggregation system. The Method includes: a base station side sends a downlink subframe to a terminal side, wherein, the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the downlink subframe is used for bearing more than one piece of downlink control indicating information and the carrier scheduling indicating information corresponding to each downlink control indicating information. It solves the problem in the prior art of indefinite identification at the terminal side because the length of DCI may be same due to the difference of the bandwidths of carriers in the carrier aggregation system.
US08718023B2
Upon the UE transmission power requirement exceeding the maximum or allowable transmission power the MAC may be informed for subsequent TFC selection of all TFCs that currently exceed this limit. The UE may then chose the TFC with the next lower transmission power requirement and the sequence will continue until an acceptable TFC is determined. The system also enables the replacement of the TFCs in the TFCS and advanced determination of non-supported TFCs. The TFCs that require transmission power greater then the maximum or allowed UE transmission power shall be determined continuously in every TTI, not just in TTIs where the maximum power has been exceeded.
US08718022B2
There are disclosed a method of and a system for collecting information related to operation of a radio communication system inexpensively and easily. A mobile radio terminal monitors a communication status of user communication, and detects as a trigger when the communication status has satisfied a predetermined condition. When a trigger is detected, the mobile radio terminal acquires a reception status of a radio signal and the position of the mobile radio terminal. The mobile radio terminal sends measured information including the reception status and the position to an information collecting server. The information collecting server receives the measured information from the mobile radio terminal and records therein the measured information which has been received.
US08718021B2
Transmission of uplink control message for a wireless system. The uplink control message may be encoded according to one of multiple possible schemes. The choice of encoding scheme may be made based on the control message size and/or based on the available transmission resources and/or based on the detection scheme used on the receiving end. A modulation scheme may also be selected based on such factors. CDM may be used for certain control messages. Block code encoding, such as Reed-Muller encoding may be used for certain control messages. Different transmission resources may be allocated for different control message uses. The encoding specifics may be selected to obtain a certain hamming distance and/or size of the encoded message or based on other factors.
US08718015B2
Disclosed are a method and a terminal for synchronizing a subordinate carrier cell, which method comprises the following steps of: after a terminal receives an activation uplink subordinate carrier order from a service node B, the terminal, with the current time as a reference, carrying out synchronization in a cell in an activation set of the enhanced dedicated channel of the subordinate carrier under a non-service node B at a first time point after having carried out delay according to an acquired subordinate carrier activation processing offset time period. The present technical solution reduces the time delay required by synchronization and inter-cell interference and enables the cell capacity and coverage to be unaffected.
US08718011B2
This invention is a method for time-sharing sounding resources. A first embodiment defines one common sounding period for all user equipment and all sounding resources. A second embodiment allows for different sounding periods so long as each individual sounding resource uses only one sounding period. A third embodiment offers the most flexibility in sharing of the sounding resources by permitting changes in time. The first option is a special case of the second option. The second option is a special case of the third option.
US08718003B2
A user equipment is capable of receiving communications from a cell including at least one base station. The user equipment includes a receiver configured to receive from the base station both a cell specific radio resource control (RRC) configuration comprising a cell specific resource offset parameter for a PUCCH HARQ-ACK, and a UE specific RRC configuration comprising a UE specific RS base sequence parameter and an UE specific resource offset parameter for the PUCCH HARQ-ACK.
US08717997B2
Systems and methods are for generating a codebook by: generating a multi-resolution codebook by selecting a common precoder index from a low resolution codebook for a group of adjacent resource blocks (RB)s and for each RB within the group, selecting a high-resolution codebook to fine-tune each RB precoder; and generating feedback for the multi-resolution codebook by quantizing channel state variations.
US08717987B2
Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are described for mitigating macrocell interference during femtocell discovery in a wireless communications system. In one example, a mobile device may be camped on a macrocell. A femtocell transmits out-of-band (OOB) discovery signals to, or receives OOB band discovery signals from, the mobile device to facilitate presence detection. The femtocell may also be configured to use various techniques to transmit in-band beacon bursts (e.g., low or high power beacon bursts) to the mobile device in the macrocell frequency range to trigger the mobile device to perform an inter-frequency scan for cell reselection. The femtocell may transmit communications signals to the mobile device in a femtocell frequency range (different from the macrocell frequency range) after the mobile device has discovered and selected the femtocell.
US08717982B2
A wireless communication network is provided. The network comprising a plurality of base stations capable of wireless communication with a plurality of subscriber stations within a coverage area of the network. At least one of the plurality of base stations comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a downlink frame. The downlink frame comprising a first Enhanced Multicast Broadcast Service (E-MBS) MAP. The first E-MBS MAP comprises a field with an indicator to indicate a next E-MBS MAP to be decoded by a subscriber station. The subscriber station, upon decoding the first E-MBS MAP, refrains from decoding subsequent E-MBS MAPS that precede the next E-MBS MAP to be decoded by the subscriber station in accordance with the indicator.
US08717973B2
In the presence information management method of the present invention, the e-mail address of the user and the terminal address of a terminal are extracted upon receipt of an e-mail transmission request, the e-mail address and terminal address correspondence table is retrieved by using the extracted e-mail address, and the extracted terminal address is registered in the e-mail address and terminal address correspondence table if the retrieved terminal address does not correspond to the extracted terminal address. Thus, the user can automatically update presence information with his/her e-mail transmission request.
US08717970B2
The present invention discloses a method and system for transferring TDM services in GPON, the method includes the steps of: in the case of performing the GPON ranging process, buffering the uplink TDM service data received by an optical signal transceiver in an Input Buffer, reading out and transferring the uplink TDM service data buffered in an Output Buffer. The present invention eliminates the possible interruption of TDM services during the GPON ranging process by buffering the uplink services at the OLT and ONU/ONT side and relevant processes, and therefore realizes the TDM service transmission without any loss during the GPON system ranging process.
US08717965B2
A wireless communications network includes a subscriber station acting as a relay station (or ad-hoc repeater) between another subscriber station (a child subscriber station) and a base station (BTS) when there is no LOS between the other subscriber station and the base station, but there is LOS between the other subscriber station and the relay station. The BTS divides each of the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) sub-frames into P1 and P2 portions and schedules transmissions of child subscriber DL and UL data during P1 of the DL and UL frames (from the BTS), respectively. The relay station receives the child subscriber DL and UL data, stores the data, and transmits/forwards the child subscriber DL and UL data during P2 of the DL and UL frame (to the BTS), respectively.
US08717964B2
A system and method for managing a multihop relay station in a wireless wide-area communication network includes determining whether any mobile stations are being served by the relay station. If not, inactivating the relay station by; inactivating transmitted signals from the relay station, leaving a receiver active, and monitoring signals on the active receiver. Whereafter, estimating a channel quality of at least one mobile station from the monitored signals by the inactive relay station, and activating the relay station in response to the monitored signals indicating that a channel quality of the mobile station will improve when being served by the relay station.
US08717960B2
A method and system for multicast and broadcast system (MCBCS) mapping and delivery to support MCBCS services is provided. Media content flows are assigned a media content identifier grouped into one or more multicast and broadcast system (MBS) services, wherein each MBS service is assigned an MBS service ID. An MBS content ID (MCID) is assigned to each MBS service. Data packets are formed that include the MBS service information (e.g., the media content flows) and classification/synchronization rules. A data path ID (DPID) is assigned to one or more MBS services dependent upon the destination of the data packets. Frames for transmission are then created and transmitted via radio frequencies. Optionally, a logical channel ID (LCID) may be assigned to each media content flow, if more than one media content flow is included within an MBS service.
US08717959B2
In at least some embodiments, a wireless communication device includes a transceiver having control logic to detect traffic conditions for a communication group and to enter different power-save modes for different traffic conditions. The control logic is configured to advertize a first power-save mode to the communication group in response to a first detected traffic condition, to advertize a second power-save mode to the communication group in response to a second detected traffic condition, and to advertize a third power-save mode to the communication group in response to a third detected traffic condition.
US08717951B2
A method of allocating a radio resource in a frequency division duplex (FDD) frame in which a downlink frame and an uplink frame are divided in a frequency domain in a wireless communication system includes allocating a downlink resource region for a first system in the downlink frame, and allocating an uplink resource region for the first system to the uplink frame such that the uplink resource region does not temporally overlap with the downlink resource region for the first system, wherein a resource region except for the downlink resource region for the first system is allocated to a downlink resource region for a second system in the downlink frame, and a resource region except for the uplink resource region for the first system is allocated to an uplink resource region for the second system in the uplink frame. When a half-duplex FDD (H-FDD)-type user equipment is supported in a frequency division duplex (FDD) frame supporting heterogeneous systems, radio resources can be effectively utilized by minimizing waste of unnecessary radio resources.
US08717949B2
Procedures for identifying clients in an audio event are described. In an example, a media server may order clients providing audio based on the input level. An identifier may be associated with the client for identifying the client providing input within the event. The ordered clients may be included in a list which may be inserted into a packet header carrying the audio content.
US08717945B2
A method for application-specific chargeback of content cached at a wireless tower of a RAN includes receiving a request for content from an end user device in a base station of a RAN and routing the request to an application in a packet switched data communications network from the base station by way of a CN. Content from the application can be received in the base station within a response to the request, the response can be cached in a local cache of the base station in connection with the application and the response can be forwarded to the end user device. Subsequently, in response to a new request for the content received in the base station, the content can be served in a response from the local cache. Further, an identity of the application can be transmitted to a remote charging service external to the base station but within the RAN for charging the application in consequence of having served the content from the local cache of the base station.
US08717940B2
The mobile ad hoc network (MANET) includes a plurality of wireless mobile nodes and a plurality of wireless communication links connecting the nodes together. A method for operating a MANET includes predicting future-needed network services, network resources and network configurations in the MANET. A network response is predicted, based upon the predicted future-needed network services, network resources and network configurations. The MANET is adjusted based upon the predicted network response before the future-needed network services, network resources and network configurations are actually needed in the MANET.
US08717937B2
A method and an apparatus for acquiring network configuration information are disclosed. The method includes: when a terminal device dials up and needs to carry out network data services, delivering, by a NDIS driver layer of the terminal device, a Query Network Configuration Information message to a wireless modem; and acquiring, by the NDIS driver layer, the network configuration information returned from the wireless modem, and providing an application layer of the terminal device with the acquired network configuration information. In this way, when the terminal device does not provide the function of a DHCP client, the terminal device can effectively acquire needed network configuration information to implement dial-up successfully, and can carry out network data services online, so as to ensure that normal services can be carried out on the terminal device.
US08717932B2
Aspects of a method and system for determining and securing proximity information over a network are provided. In this regard, data transmitted over a network may be time-stamped upon entering and/or exiting a network node. By taking the total time to travel between two network nodes and subtracting out any latency internal to one or more intermediate nodes, the time to traverse the physical links (the propagation time) between the two network nodes may be determined. Accordingly, if the speed at which data propagates over each link of the network is known, then a distance from the source node to the destination node may be determined. Additionally, aspects of the invention may enable one or more of authentication, validation, and encryption of timing and/or proximity information transmitted over a network.
US08717925B2
Methods and apparatus to test connection rate of a network device. T connections between a test system and the network device may be defined and C connections of the T connections may be initiated in each of a plurality of sequential time intervals, where T and C are positive integers and T>C. Connection identifiers associated with active connections and inactive connections may be stored in first-in first-out active and idle queues, respectively. Connection identifiers associated with the initiated connections may be moved from the head of the idle queue to the tail of the active queue. When a number NI of connection identifiers in the idle queue at the start of a time interval is less than C, C−NI connections associated with connection identifiers at the head of the active queue may be aborted and re-initiated.
US08717918B2
A network device transmits and receives data packets between the network device and a network. The data packets includes information about a procedure needed in order to process the data packets. According to the information, the network device executes the procedure to process the data packets. If the time of the procedure has not been executed to process the data packets is more than a predetermined time and no other data packets are needed to be processed, the network device turns off the procedure automatically.
US08717914B2
A method for controlling interference between a plurality of neighboring base stations for a terminal by a serving base station of the terminal in a communication system is provided. The method includes receiving interference amount information on a first region of a downlink frame from the terminal, determining an interference amount estimate for the first region based on the received interference amount information, comparing the determined interference amount estimate with an interference amount tolerance for the first region; and transmitting an interference indicator requesting reduction in transmission power for the first region to the plurality of neighboring base stations when the interference amount estimate exceeds the interference amount tolerance.
US08717906B2
A network relay device constituting a network includes a frame determination unit for referencing a protocol identifier contained in a frame from an external network relay device constituting another standard network different from the network, to determine whether or not the frame contains a confirmation frame for network operation, administration or maintenance, and a processing unit for performing operation, administration, or maintenance on the frame, when the frame determination unit determines that the frame is the confirmation frame.
US08717896B2
A new type of data transport service which uses a frame relay layer 2 data link connection identifier (DLCI) to select among various service types, feature sets, and/or closed user groups (CUGs). A layer 3 address may be extracted from a layer 2 frame, and the layer 3 address information may be used to route a data packet over a packet-switched network according to the service classes, feature sets, and/or CUGs selected. At the destination, the layer 3 data packet may again be enclosed in a layer 2 frame with a DLCI indicating the service classes, features sets, and/or CUGs. Because the use of conventional permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) is not required in aspects of the invention, new methods of measuring and managing network traffic are presented.
US08717885B2
A method of aggregating a plurality of packet based communication channels is provided by the system. The communication channels connect two common endpoints, and aggregation devices are present at each point to implement an aggregation policy. The system provides a dynamic aggregation system where an aggregation policy is employed on a per packet flow basis. Packet flow can be classified by application type, so that an appropriate aggregation policy can be used for packets belonging to the flow. The selected aggregation policy is used for each flow within the aggregation devices at each endpoint.
US08717882B2
Methods and apparatus relating to repurposing a data lane as a clock lane by migrating to reduced speed link operation are described. In one embodiment, speed of a link is reduced upon detection of failure on a clock lane of the link and one of a plurality of data lanes of a link is repurposed as a replacement clock lane. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08717880B2
An abnormal termination of a dedicated bearer (e.g., a lost bearer) (134) or a change in bearer characteristics that renders the dedicated bearer unusable of a mobile device (114) can be detected. The lost bearer (128) is a bearer that is not a default bearer (132) within a communication network that includes one or more lost communication flows (135). At least one radio access network (RAN) capable of communicating with the mobile device (114) can be determined, where the at least one RAN is not one used for the dedicated bearer (134) that was abnormally terminated. At least one alternative bearer (150) can be detected or established at the at least one RAN. Each lost communication flow (138) can be automatically and dynamically routed to the at least one alternative bearer (150). The routing of the lost communication flows (138) can occur without interrupting communications.
US08717877B2
The present invention provides a method for completing smooth cut-over and a device and equipment for performing cut-over operations. The method comprises: when the device for performing cut-over operations maintains a first connection with the first cut-over device via a first interface, establishing a second connection with a second cut-over device via a second interface, and transferring the services carried on the connection resources between the device for performing cut-over operations and the first cut-over device, that is, the first connection resources, to the connection resources between the device for performing cut-over operations and the second cut-over device, that is, the second connection resources. The present invention does not interrupt services during the cut-over procedure, without affecting the normal service usage by the user, thus improving the security and reliability of cut-over.
US08717872B2
A fail-to-wire (FTW) module that preserves a primary data path connection from an upstream computer to a downstream computer if there is any kind of failure in a breakout data path to a breakout system. The FTW module provides switches between the incoming data network data and the breakout system such that when the breakout system encounters a failure, the switches are de-activated to bypass the breakout system. The switches in the FTW module are activated by a system health signal from the breakout system. The breakout system can be serviced without interrupting the data network connections since the FTW module can be extracted from the failed breakout system with data network connections intact. The FTW module is preferably a compact modular element that fits within the breakout chassis and is easily inserted and removed from the breakout system during servicing operations.
US08717869B2
Methods and apparatus to detect and restore flapping circuits in IP aggregation network environments
Methods and apparatus to detect and restore flapping circuits in IP aggregation network environments are disclosed herein. An example method for use in maintaining a communication network includes retrieving information related to an operating state of a device associated with a network disturbance; determining whether the information related to the operating state of the device is indicative of a flapping condition; when the operating state information indicates that the flapping condition is present in the network, determining a cause of the flapping condition; when the cause of the flapping condition is a physical cause, selecting a first recovery procedure; and when the cause of the flapping condition is a logical cause, selecting a second recovery procedure different from the first recovery procedure.
US08717867B2
A communications system comprising a base station, and a plurality of terminals served by that base station which may include an ad-hoc network of terminals. Information from the base station or transmitting terminal is transported to the receiving terminals in the form of symbols in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed format. Each terminal has means for measuring a channel dispersion and rate of phase variation corresponding to multipath signal reception for that terminal and for reporting that dispersion and variation measure to the transmitting station. In response to the channel dispersion and phase change measurements, the base station or transmitting terminal is arranged to provide, for groups of terminals having a similar channel dispersion, respective symbol and prefix lengths on the basis of the dispersion measurement of that group of terminals.
US08717865B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for constructing a short training field (STF) sequence of a Very High Throughput (VHT) preamble in an effort to reduce a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). The constructed STF sequence may feature a specific repetition period.
US08717864B2
Representative implementations of devices and techniques communication circuitry configured to communicate via a plurality of transmission channels, the communication circuitry includes crosstalk reduction circuitry to reduce crosstalk for a part of the plurality of transmission channels, the part of the plurality of transmission channels is selected from the plurality of transmission channels depending on an error threshold value.
US08717863B2
An apparatus includes a transmitter configured to transmit data via a plurality of communication channels of a communication connection. The transmitter is further configured to transmit a same sequence for vector training on each of the communication channels. The sequences for at least two of the communication channels are shifted with respect to each other.
US08717851B1
Disclosed are embodiments of an alert announcer system with and without a remote unit which alerts a person at medicine dosing times. The system comprises a primary unit; one or more medication modules, wherein each medication module has a plurality of medicine compartments; one alert device is attached to each medicine container monitored by the system; and optionally a remote unit. Medicine containers each have an alert device attached which executes a dosing schedule appropriate to the medicine in the container and produces an alert at medicine dosing times according to each individual dosing schedule. Medicine containers with attached alert devices are placed in or on the medication modules in predetermined physical locations. Medication modules detect alerts pertaining to each medicine container and transmit those alerts to the primary unit where an amplified sensible alert is generated to alert the user that it is time to take a dose of medicine. The primary unit may relay alerts to remote units or send notification via phone, text, mail or any other electronic means of communication.
US08717846B2
Methods of seismic data collection are described that reduce the amount of data required, reduce noise in the data collected and collect more data in areas where data collection is required. This results in a dramatic reduction of datasets required and improves noise reduction in data collected. By reducing the amount of data collected and increasing the noise reduction, a more accurate seismic survey is conducted at a dramatically reduced cost.
US08717845B2
A survey method includes towing one or more sources and one or more streamers behind a vessel to acquire geophysical survey data. Steering signals are determined for at least one of: the one or more sources, the one or more streamers, and the vessel. The steering signals minimize an error function having parameters that include a measure of a cross-line position error and a measure of data quality. The cross-line position error may be measured as an offset of the sources or the receivers from their desired paths, or in some embodiments as an offset between midpoints for base survey traces and subsequent survey traces. Some embodiments may employ a maximum spatial cross-correlation coefficient between a newly acquired trace and one or more base survey traces as a data quality measure, while others may employ a time shift, a phase rotation, or a normalized root mean square error. Data quality may indicate sensor noise levels.
US08717838B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide a memory module including at least one memory block. The memory block includes a memory array and a shift wrapper. The memory array includes regular cell lines and at least a redundant cell line. The regular cell lines and the redundant cell line extend in a bit-line direction, and are ordered in a word-line direction. The shift wrapper interfaces between block inputs/outputs and the regular and redundant cell lines. The shift wrapper is configured to shift a mapping between the block inputs/outputs and the regular and redundant cell lines to bypass a defective cell line that has at least one defective cell, and engage the redundant cell line, while maintaining the order in the word-line direction.
US08717833B2
Based on a continuous erase start signal outputted, in response to an inputted continuous erase command, from a continuous erase control circuit, a shift circuit outputs a control signal for giving instructions to execute respective data erase operation to a plurality of non-volatile memory circuits sequentially, and when the data erase operation in all of the non-volatile memory circuits has been completed, the shift circuit outputs a continuous erase completion signal. Thereby, the data erase operation in all of the non-volatile memory circuits built in one chip can be continuously executed by one continuous erase command as is also the case where a single non-volatile memory circuit is built in.
US08717830B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor device and a method for testing the same are provided. The nonvolatile semiconductor device includes a current generating unit configured to generate a set write current depending on a step pulse that is generated based on a reference current and output the set write current to a memory cell, and a current measuring unit configured to measure a step duration of the step pulse and output a measured result outside of a chip during an activation period of a test enable signal.
US08717824B2
A calibration module generates a plurality of calibration codes respectively for a first plurality of transistors located along (i) a plurality of bit lines and (ii) a first word line of a memory array. Each of the calibration codes is based on a distance of a corresponding one of the plurality of bit lines from an input of the first word line. A voltage generator outputs a first voltage generated based on a first plurality of codewords to an input of a second word line. A control module determines values of threshold voltages of a second plurality of transistors located along (i) the plurality of bit lines and (ii) the second word line based on (a) the first plurality of codewords and (b) currents sensed through the second plurality of transistors, and adjusts the values of the threshold voltages based on the calibration codes.
US08717818B1
In one aspect, a storage device includes a plurality of storage strings, each comprising a serial interconnection of a plurality of active storage elements, each storage element having a part for maintaining a storage state and a part of modulating a current through the element according to the storage state. The device also includes mapping circuitry for selectively sensing a storage state of a storage element in a storage string by forming current though the storage element that is a non-linear function of the storage state. In some examples, the mapping circuitry comprises reference string of active elements, and the mapping circuitry selectively senses a storage state by forming a difference in currents in the sensed storage string and in the reference string that is a non-linear function of the storage state. In some examples, the active storage elements comprise floating gate transistors.
US08717816B2
A flash memory 100 capable of reducing electric fields applied to the word lines on a memory array and reducing a chip area, includes a memory array 110, a word line decoder 120 disposed at an end of the memory array on the row direction, selecting a predetermined memory block in the memory array according to an address signal, and outputting a selecting signal to the selected memory block, and a word line drive circuit 130 comprising a switch circuit arranged between the memory arrays 110A and 110B and switching the application of the work voltage to a memory cell according to the selecting signal, and a pump circuit raising the voltage level of the selecting signal. The word line decoder 120 has lines WR(i) to transmit the selecting signals. The lines WR(i) are connected to the switch circuit of the word line drive circuit 130.
US08717814B2
A three-dimensional (3-D) nonvolatile memory device includes vertical channel layers protruded from a substrate, interlayer insulating layers and memory cells, which are alternately stacked along the vertical channel layers, and select transistors including planar channel layers, each contacted with at least one of the vertical channel layers and being parallel to the substrate, and gate insulating layers formed over the planar channel layers.
US08717795B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes first and second ports arranged in a first direction and first and second circuits arranged between the first and second ports. The first and second ports are coupled to the first and second circuits, respectively. The first and second circuits include first and second sub circuits that control an operation timing thereof based on a timing signal, respectively. The control signal is transmitted through a control line extending in a second direction. Distances between the control line and the first and second sub circuits in the first direction are the same as each other. A coordinate of the control line in the first direction is different from an intermediate coordinate between coordinates of the first and second ports in the first direction.
US08717790B2
The present invention is directed to an electrical supply apparatus having an input for connecting the electrical supply apparatus to a mains supply which provides an alternating voltage as input voltage, having an output for connecting the electrical supply apparatus to a load, wherein the output provides a DC voltage as output voltage, having a rectifier which rectifies the input voltage to form a rectified input voltage, having a PFC module which comprises a smoothing device for smoothing the rectified input voltage and an active power factor correction device, wherein the power factor correction device is designed to form a time-dependent supply current for the smoothing device depending on a time-dependent current form signal in such a way that a time-dependent input current in the PFC module is matched to the current form signal, wherein the current form signal is produced by an analogue circuit.
US08717782B2
An LLC resonant power regulator system includes a transformer having a primary inductor and a secondary inductor and an input resonant tank including an input resonant capacitor, an input leakage inductor, and the primary inductor connected in series. The system also includes an input stage having a plurality of switches that are controlled in response to a respective plurality of switching signals sweeping frequency to supply an input resonant current to the input resonant tank. Each of the respective plurality of switching signals can have a fixed duty cycle and a sweeping frequency. The system further includes an output resonant tank that includes an output resonant capacitor, an output leakage inductor, and the secondary inductor connected in series. The output resonant tank can be configured to generate an oscillating output resonant current at an output.
US08717776B2
An assembly for connection of an electronic equipment item to wiring of an aircraft, in which the item of electronic equipment is disposed in a support means and includes connection means configured to be connected to the wiring, a connection interface disposed between the wiring and the connection means to provide connection of the item of electronic equipment to the wiring, the connection assembly configured to change over from a connected state in which the connection means are connected to the connection interface to a disconnected state in which the connection means are free. The connection interface is fastened to the structure of the aircraft; whether the connection assembly is in the connected or disconnected state. The support means is movable and includes an at least partially open face turned toward the connection interface and onto which the connection means emerge. The connection of the connection assembly to the connection interface is made by moving the support means between a first position where the connection assembly is in a disconnected state and a second position where it is in a connected state.
US08717775B1
A fingerprint sensor package includes a flat surface having a dielectric protective coating protecting a sensing element of a fingerprint sensor and an electrically conductive bezel that discharges electrostatic discharge (ESD). Both the protective coating and the bezel can be colored to have desired colors. Accordingly, the flat surface can be colored as desired enhancing the attractiveness for consumer applications. Further, light emitting diodes are integrated into the fingerprint sensor package providing a visual feedback to the user that the user's fingerprint has been successfully sensed. Further, the fingerprint sensor package is formed using a high volume low cost assembly technique.
US08717770B2
Latching mechanisms for pluggable electronic devices. In one example embodiment, a latching mechanism includes a driver and a follower. The driver is configured to rotate about an axis between a latched positioned and an unlatched position. The follower is operably connected to the driver and configured to slide axially along an electronic device toward the driver as the driver is rotated from the unlatched position to the latched position and slide axially along the electronic device away from the driver as the driver is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position.
US08717755B2
A docking device mounting system (400) is provided. The system can include a display device (100) having a plurality of mounting features (110) disposed thereupon; a docking device (200) including a plurality of universal serial bus (“USB”) interfaces (210, 220), at least one power interface (230), and at least one video interface (240); and at least one mounting member (300) having at least one mounting feature (320) and at least one extension member (330) disposed thereupon. Each of the at least one mounting member mounting features correspond to each of the plurality of display device mounting features and the at least one extension member permits detachable attachment of the docking device to the display device.
US08717749B2
A modular server system includes a midplane having a system management bus and a plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane. The blade interfaces are in electrical communication with each other. A server blade is removeably connectable to one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane. The server blade has a server blade system management bus in electrical communication with the system management bus of the midplane, and a network interface to connect to a network. A media blade is removeably connectable to one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane, and the media blade has at least one storage medium device.
US08717748B2
The present application describes various embodiments regarding an apparatus and method for providing an audio jack for a portable computing device. More specifically a method and apparatus are disclosed for mounting the audio jack to machined audio jack mounts extending from an interior sidewall of the portable computing device housing. The machined mounts allow the audio jack to be suspended above an inner surface of the portable computing device so that the audio jack does not interfere with audio output or aesthetics of a speaker grill drilled into the portable computing device housing.
US08717746B2
A cooling apparatus is provided for a switchgear having at least one primary contact to connect to a terminal of a circuit breaker, with a busbar joint connected to the primary contact. The cooling apparatus includes an evaporator associated with the primary contact. A condenser is located at a higher elevation than the evaporator. Heat pipe structure fluidly connects the evaporator with the condenser. Heat transfer structure is coupled with the busbar joint for removing heat from the busbar joint. Working fluid is in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the heat pipe structure transferring the vapor to the condenser and passively returning condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling the at least one primary contact.
US08717738B2
In a multilayer ceramic electronic component, dummy electrodes are located in margin regions. In a region between an extension line of a side of a facing portion of an internal electrode facing a side surface of an element body and a side of an extending portion of the internal electrode facing the side surface, the dummy electrode is arranged not to extend to the extension line of the side facing the side surface. The dummy electrode includes a plurality of electrode pieces linearly extending in the direction parallel or substantially parallel to the side surface.
US08717726B2
A surge protection device that includes varistors to absorb surge currents and protect a load from an overvoltage condition. The surge protection device includes a combination of switching elements and diodes. The surge protection device includes a basic cell design that can be easily adapted for higher voltage applications and/or higher discharge current applications and/or higher energy applications by parallel and/or series combinations of the basic cell design. Operation of the device minimizes fatigue to the varistors, thereby extending their useful life. The surge protection device achieves a better ratio of MOV clamping voltage rating versus MOV maximum continuous AC voltage rating, as compared with a conventional MOV installed alone.
US08717720B2
A system is provided including: (1) an arc fault circuit interrupter having a line side terminal and a load side terminal, wherein the line side terminal is coupled to a voltage source, and (2) a current source coupled to the load side terminal to backfeed the arc fault circuit interrupter. Numerous other aspects also are provided.
US08717717B2
An embodiment high efficiency power regulator comprises a three-terminal converter and a protection device. The three-terminal converter comprises a first terminal coupled to a positive terminal of an input voltage bus, a second terminal coupled to a positive terminal of an output voltage bus and a third terminal coupled to the protection device. The protection device comprises an inrush current limiting element connected in series with a reverse polarity protection device.
US08717712B1
Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.
US08717708B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording, and a magnetic disk apparatus capable of preventing data erasure caused by alignment marks. In an embodiment, the magnetic head includes a head element including at least a main pole having a pole face on a flying surface and an auxiliary pole; alignment marks made of a magnetic material and used to detect the amount of lapping work when lapping the pole face of the main pole; and members made of a magnetic material, continuously extending in either direction with respect to the position of the main pole from within the alignment marks outward at least beyond the alignment marks.
US08717695B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, and a head actuated over the disk. The head is positioned over a track while writing a first frequency pattern substantially centered on the track at a first frequency. After writing the first frequency pattern, a second frequency pattern is written substantially centered on the track at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency pattern is written over the first frequency pattern. After writing the second frequency pattern over the first frequency pattern, the head is scanned across the track while reading the disk to generate a read signal. A first frequency component is extracted from the read signal representing the first frequency.
US08717691B2
A lens barrel includes a lens group including a fixed lens including one or more lenses and an adjustment lens including one or more lenses, and a lens frame to hold the lens group, including an adjustment lens frame to hold the adjustment lens and an aligning mechanism to hold the adjustment lens frame movably in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens group relative to the lens frame.
US08717677B2
An optical device is provided. The optical device comprises a substrate having a coating region and a non-coating region. A first film is on the coating region, wherein the first film has a band edge structure extending to a portion of the non-coating region with an angle between a surface of the band edge structure and a surface of the first film to diminish the attenuation of an incident light beam.
US08717675B2
A polarizing film having a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin film on which an iodine-first component composite particle is absorbed and oriented. A first component is included in the iodine-first component composite particle prevents iodine having high sublimation characteristics from being sublimated and prevents a molecular structure of the iodine of the iodine-first component composite particle from being destroyed.
US08717673B2
An improved microscope stage mount with built-in fiduciary markers is used for fluorescence microscopy, and comprises: (a) an optically-transparent glass plate adapted for specimen mounting and microscope viewing and comprising a specimen mounting area; and (b) a defined and ordered, two-dimensional microscopic array of fiduciary markers, wherein the markers are polymeric pillars affixed to the plate about the specimen mounting area, wherein the markers provide a three-dimensional spatial reference for the specimen.
US08717672B2
Aberrations are sufficiently corrected, and an excellent image is acquired. Provided is a variable-focus optical system including a positive-power front-group optical system, a rear-group optical system having the same power, and an optical-system driving unit configured to relatively change the distance therebetween in the optical axis direction, wherein the front-group optical system consists of a positive-power first-group optical system formed of a joined lens, that is, a lens L1 and a lens L2, a positive-power second-group optical system consisting of a lens L3, and a third-group optical system formed of a lens L4 and a lens L5, and the rear-group optical system consists of a positive-power fourth-group optical system formed of a lens L7 and a lens L6, a fifth-group optical system consisting of a positive-power lens L8, and a positive-power sixth-group optical system formed of a joined lens, that is, a lens L10 and a lens L9.
US08717655B2
An image forming apparatus includes a light output unit that outputs light and a light scanning unit that includes at least one light reflection part reflecting the light output from the light output unit, and scans a display surface in a first direction at a first speed and scans the surface in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction at a second speed lower than the first speed with the light reflected by the light reflection part, wherein a drawable region in which an image can be formed on the display surface by scanning with the light has at least two parts of a part in which a length of the drawable region in the first direction increases, a part in which the length decreases, and a part in which the length is maintained constant from a first side toward a second side in the second direction.
US08717650B2
Methods create images viewable under different selected angles on optical storage devices and other photosensitive surfaces and optical storage devices with super-imposed images. Generally, a photosensitive surface is exposed with multiple diffraction patterns creating super-imposed images. These diffraction patterns create super-imposed images on the photosensitive surfaces, which can be read by either a human or a computer.
US08717643B2
An image reading apparatus includes a drive source, a speed change mechanism provided in a transmission unit that transmits a driving force from the drive source to a scanning drive unit. The speed change mechanism is configured to change a transmission ratio of the transmission unit by selectively bringing one of first and second couplings into a connected state. The image reading apparatus further includes a selector configured to selectively bring one of the first and second couplings into the connected state, a detector configured to detect the connected state of the second coupling, and a controller configured to control a scanning position of the reading unit based on the transmission ratio changed via the second coupling after the detector detects the connected state of the second coupling after the selector changes selection from the first coupling to the second coupling.
US08717631B2
An image processing apparatus includes a pattern generation unit configured to cause an image forming section to generate a plurality of image patterns that have periodicity unique to the image forming section and are different from each other, a selection unit configured to select one test pattern from the generated plurality of image patterns, and an image correction unit configured to correct an image based on the test pattern selected by the selection unit.
US08717624B2
The shape of a target mark extracted from within a print sample and to be reproduced on a print is entered. A color chart is printed comprising multiple color patches in which the shape of the target mark is simulated.
US08717623B2
A method to perform color mis-registration correction in an image forming apparatus includes detecting a plurality of color image data from print data, detecting edge information of each color image pixel for each of the color image data, and comparing the detected edge information and determining whether to perform color mis-registration correction. If it is determined to perform the color mis-registration correction, the method includes comparing a value of a pixel which constitutes each color image and setting a correction value, and if a correction value for entire pixels of the each color image is set, performing color mis-registration correction for the plurality of color image data according to the set correction value. Accordingly, color mis-registration correction may be performed effectively and stably.
US08717622B2
A thickening process is applied to a thin line fill figure that is not a line drawing command, and thereby output with an improved reproducibility is performed. An image processing apparatus includes: a drawing command determination section that determines whether a drawing command is a fill figure that forms a thin line; and a line width correction section that performs line width correction process of a drawing command determined to be a fill figure that forms a thin line.
US08717620B2
According to one embodiment, a print server includes an acquisition portion, an analysis portion, a selection portion, and a control portion. The acquisition portion acquires target color gamut information from print data and acquires printer color gamut information from each of a plurality of printers. The analysis portion analyzes the target color gamut information and the printer color gamut information of each printer. The selection portion selects one or more printers from among the plurality of printers on the basis of the analysis result. The control portion instructs the selected printer to print the print data.
US08717609B2
A printing system includes a print data generating apparatus, a printing apparatus, a print instruction apparatus, and a print data processing apparatus. The print data generating apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a print instruction, a print data generating unit that generates print data, a storing unit that stores the print data, a notifying unit that transmits notification information, and a transmitting unit that transmits the print data. The printing apparatus includes a requesting unit that requests the print data generating apparatus to transmit the print data. The print instruction apparatus transmits the print instruction to the print data generating apparatus. The print data processing apparatus includes a requesting unit that requests the print data generating apparatus to transmit the print data, a receiving unit that receives the print data, a unit that processes the print data, and a transmitting unit that transmits the processed print data.
US08717608B2
In a terminal device, a first requesting unit performs a first request requesting a web server for transmission of first web page data based on web-page information specifying data, the first web page data being specified by the web-page information specifying data and that corresponding to a first web-page-displaying software type. A second requesting unit performs a second request requesting transmission of web-page information based on the web-page information specifying data, the web-page information being either one of the first web page data and second web page data that is specified by the web-page information specifying data and that corresponds to a second web-page-displaying software type different from the first web-page-displaying software type. A print controlling unit generates print data based on one set of web-page information that is either the first web page data or the web-page information that is acquired as a result of the second request.
US08717596B2
Apparatus and methods for providing downgraded fonts for VDP printing application are described. A server system may be configured to generate and/or select a set of downgraded rasterized fonts for delivery to a client system in order to provide limited client-side WYSIWIG display functionality using the downgraded fonts. A client side application may use the downgraded fonts to provide a display-only or draft print only rendering of a VDP print job.
US08717593B2
A method for maintaining security of scanned documents which monitors read operations and output operations of documents containing proprietary or confidential information. For example, every time it is determined that a scanned document includes proprietary or confidential information, unique identification data corresponding to the read operation is generated and stored in a secured storage unit. The unique identification data can later be used to trace the scanned document and retrieve the information regarding the particular read operation (e.g., user, time, machine used, etc.).
US08717590B2
In an image forming apparatus, when a first state (which allows a process of accepting a job involving image processing) continues over a shift timer period without reception of an execution request for the job, a state control part performs an operation of shifting from the first state to a second state (which is lower in power consumption than the first state). Moreover, in a case where job acceptance started in the second state on the basis of a first execution request is failed and job acceptance started in the second state on the basis of a second execution request is also failed, the shift timer period is extended on the basis of a differential value of a difference between a first execution request reception time and a second execution request reception time, and a third execution request for the job in the first state is awaited.
US08717589B2
Each of a plurality of process execution portions includes an accumulation portion to accumulate a job in which the first process among processes not yet executed is an in-charge process, and a batch processing portion to execute the in-charge process on combination data including one or more data on condition that a total process volume becomes equal to or greater than a lower limit value predetermined for the in-charge process. The batch processing portion includes a determination portion to determine whether there exists a job having a previous process now being executed, a first delay portion to delay start of the in-charge process until a prescribed time has elapsed since the total process volume becomes equal to or greater than the lower limit value, and a second delay portion to delay start of the in-charge process until a job determined that the previous process is now being executed is accumulated.
US08717576B2
A short coherence interferometer apparatus for measuring multiple axially spaced regions of a specimen, in particular the eye, which has at least one measuring beam path, through which multiple individual measuring beams are incident on the specimen, and one reference beam path, through which a reference beam runs, with which the individual measuring beams are superimposed and brought into interference. The individual measuring beams are axially offset to one another upon incidence on the specimen by an amount which is adapted to the axial spacing. The interferometer apparatus superimposes each individual measuring beam with the reference beam in an interfering manner and conducts it to a detector associated with the particular individual measuring beam. The individual measuring beams are combined into a mixture in which they have varying phasing in the superposition with the reference beam.
US08717561B2
A miniature spectrometer comprises an input unit, a stray light filtering structure, and a miniature diffraction grating. The input unit receives a first optical signal and a second optical signal. The stray light filtering structure has first and second filter sections to filter out the second optical signal. The first and second filter sections have first and second dentate structures disposed on opposite sides. The first and second dentate structures define an optical channel for the transmission of the first optical signal. The second optical signal enters into the first or the second dentate structure and is filtered out by the first or the second dentate structure. The miniature diffraction grating receives the first optical signal from the stray light filtering structure and separates the first optical signal into a plurality of spectral components.
US08717560B2
The present invention provides apparatuses including a point light source, a diffraction grating oriented in a light path generated from the point light source wherein the diffraction grating diffracts and concentrates light from the point light source into one or more rings of light, a detector positioned to detect one or more of the rings of light or light transmitted from a sample exposed to said rings of light, and a computer operably connected to the detector to analyze the intensity of one or more of the rings of light or said light transmitted from said sample. Variations including samples and additional components and methods of making the apparatuses of the present invention are also disclosed.
US08717559B2
An optical fiber probe includes an optical fiber, a carbon nanotube film structure, and a number of metallic particles. The optical fiber includes a detecting end. The carbon nanotube film structure is located on a surface of the detecting end. The carbon nanotube film structure includes a number of carbon nanotubes joined by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. The metallic particles are located on outer surfaces of the carbon nanotubes.
US08717556B2
A microfluidic system may include an image sensor integrated circuit containing image sensor pixels. A channel containing a fluid with particles such as cells may be formed on top of the image sensor. Flow control components may be mounted to the image sensor integrated circuit for controlling the flow of fluids through the channel. The flow control components may include a chemically powered pump. The chemical pump may include one or more chambers and a valve between the chambers. The valve may be operable to allow chemical reactants stored in the chambers to be mixed to produce gasses for generating pressure in the channel. The pressure in the channel may be used to control the flow of the fluid. As the fluid and particles flow through the channel, the image sensor pixels may be used to capture images of the particles.
US08717555B2
A device for inspecting a polycrystalline silicon layer that is crystallized by receiving irradiated laser beams on a front side of the polycrystalline silicon layer includes: a light source configured to emit inspection beams to a rear side of the polycrystalline silicon layer; a light inspector configured to inspect the inspection beams reflected at the rear side of the polycrystalline silicon layer; and a controller that controls the light source and the light inspector.
US08717543B2
An object of the invention is to hold a substrate with satisfactory flatness, even at a circumferential edge part that surrounds a suction space. The invention is equipped with a circumferential edge part that surrounds a suction space, and a first support part that is provided in the suction space and that supports a substrate. Furthermore, the invention is equipped with a second support part that extends from the circumferential edge part to the first support part and that supports the substrate.
US08717540B2
Embodiments of the invention related to lithographic apparatus and methods. A lithographic method comprises calculating a laser metric based on a spectrum of laser radiation emitted from a laser to a lithographic apparatus together with a representation of an aerial image of a pattern to be projected onto the substrate by the lithographic apparatus, and using the laser metric to modify operation of the laser or adjust the lithographic apparatus, and projecting the pattern onto the substrate.
US08717536B2
A lithographic apparatus operates by moving a substrate and a patterning device relative to each other in a sequence of movements such that a pattern is applied at a successive portions on the substrate. Each portion of the substrate is patterned by a scanning operation in which the patterning device is scanned through the radiation beam while synchronously scanning the substrate through the patterned radiation beam so as to apply the pattern to the desired portion on the substrate. An intrafield correction is applied during each scanning operation so as to compensate for distortion effects which vary during the scanning operation. The intrafield correction includes corrective variations of one or more properties of the projection system, and optionally out-of-plane movements of the patterning device and/or substrate table.
US08717533B2
A lithographic projection projects a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate through a liquid confined to a space adjacent the substrate. The space is smaller in plan than the substrate. The apparatus includes a plate substantially parallel to the substrate to divide the space into two parts, the plate having an aperture to allow transmission of the pattern onto the substrate.
US08717532B2
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The projection system is mounted on a reference structure of the lithographic apparatus by a mount of the lithographic apparatus. The mount includes a first piezoelectric element to exert a force on the projection system, a second piezoelectric element to measure the force, and an interconnection member interposed between the first and second piezoelectric elements, the interconnection member comprising a cut.
US08717530B2
An embodiment of the invention provides an array substrate for a liquid crystal display comprising a substrate and a gate scanning line, a thin film transistor, a data line, and a passivation layer on the substrate, the passivation layer covering the gate scanning line, the thin film transistor, the data line, and a through hole being formed in the passivation layer. A pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer and comprises a transmissive part and a reflective part, the transmissive part comprises an amorphous-type indium tin oxide film and a poly-type indium tin oxide film below the amorphous-type indium tin oxide film, and the reflective part comprises the poly-type indium tin oxide film and a metal film covering the poly-type indium tin oxide film.
US08717528B2
A liquid crystal display is disclosed which comprises a first substrate and a second substrate, which are supported by primary spacers. At least a secondary spacer is provided on the first substrate, and the secondary spacer is covered by a conductive electrode. An X-direction detecting wire and a Y-direction detecting wire perpendicular to each other are provided on the second substrate, the X-direction detecting wire and the Y-direction detecting wire are respectively provided with a first connection electrode and a second connection electrode; and positions of the first and second connection electrodes on the second substrate correspond to a position of the secondary spacer on the first substrate; under a press condition, at least one of the first and second connection electrodes contacts with the secondary spacer and is connected with the conductive electrode on the secondary spacer.
US08717524B2
A liquid crystal display device includes an alignment layer having an alignment direction inclined at an angle α where 0°<α<90° with respect to an extending direction of a gate line, a pixel electrode, and a common electrode placed opposite to the pixel electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. One of the pixel electrode and the common electrode has a slit for generating a fringe electric field to liquid crystals with the other of the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The slit includes a first slit lying in the alignment direction or a direction perpendicular to the alignment direction, and a plurality of second slits and a plurality of third slits respectively inclined at an angle ±θ with respect to the first slit.
US08717519B2
An optical film for reducing color shift and an LCD having the same. The optical film is disposed in front of a display panel of the LCD. The optical film includes a background layer and a plurality of engraved or embossed lens sections formed in the background layer such that they are spaced apart from each other. When light having different colors depending on a viewing angle and a grayscale level is emitted, a portion of the light incident onto the lens sections is diffused, and is thus mixed with another portion of the light passing between adjacent lens sections. The cross-section of the lens sections includes first, second and third sides. The first and second sides face each other and are connected by the third side. The average curvature of the third side is smaller than that of the first side and than that of the second side.
US08717515B2
Provided is an LED substrate capable of being downsized in width. In addition, provided are LED substrates that can be disposed laterally in an efficient fashion. Each LED substrate (20) has a configuration that two single terminal connectors of a light-source-side substrate connector (single terminal connector) 40 including a light-source-side terminal 41 and a ground-side substrate connector (single terminal connector) 50 including a ground-side terminal 51 are included and disposed at right and left ends of each LED substrate so as to sandwich therebetween a plurality of LEDs (21) connected in series.
US08717513B2
Disclosed is a display device which can maintain a space between a lower substrate and a portion of an upper substrate with a transmitting hole formed therein, in an atmospheric pressure state. The display device includes a display unit and a guide frame. The display unit includes a panel which is sealed, with liquid crystal being charged between an upper substrate and a lower substrate. The guide frame supports the display unit. The guide frame includes a guide side wall guiding a side surface of the panel, and a panel supporting part supporting the panel.
US08717511B2
An electronic apparatus includes an image display panel that includes an image display screen to display an image on a front side; a light emitting/receiving unit that is disposed at an end of a first side of the image display panel and emits and receives light to detect a position of an object proximal to or on a front surface of the image display panel; a cover that exposes the image display screen and that includes a plate covering at least the first side of the front surface of the image display panel with a gap; and a reinforcement component that contacts the plate between the image display panel and the plate.
US08717509B2
A stereoscopic optical device includes a substrate, an alignment film and a liquid crystal layer. The alignment film includes at least one first region and at least one second region. The liquid crystal layer, disposed on the alignment film, includes first liquid crystal molecules and second liquid crystal molecules. The first liquid crystal molecules correspond to the first region of the alignment film and have a first pre-tilt angle, the second liquid crystal molecules correspond to the second region of the alignment film and have a second pre-tilt angle. The fast axis of the first liquid crystal molecules and the fast axis of the second crystal molecules substantially face the same direction, and the slow axis of the first liquid crystal molecules and the slow axis of the second liquid crystal molecules substantially face in the same direction.
US08717507B2
A highly moisture-resistant liquid crystal display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof suppresses display deterioration due to the occurrence of image retention without gap controllability and alignment-stability maintenance. The liquid crystal display apparatus includes: a first sealing member arranged at an outer periphery of a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates; and a second sealing member arranged at an outer periphery of the first sealing member in contact with the pair of substrates. The second sealing member 16 is formed from an alkylsiloxane compound as a main ingredient which is formed into an inorganic film by irradiation with an ultraviolet radiation. The alkylsiloxane compound is a di-alkylsiloxane compound or di-methyl-siloxane compound.
US08717502B2
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect content that represents original image information; detect a direction of the content wherein the direction corresponds to a portion of the original image information; compare a variation between adjacent pixels that are represented by the original image information; and generate new image information based on the direction of the content and the variation between the adjacent pixels.
US08717496B2
A system for mounting includes an electronic device, a male mount member, and a female mount member. The male mount member is attached to the electronic device, and has a protrusion. The female mount member has a receiving track for mating with the protrusion, thereby coupling the electronic device to the female mount member.
US08717493B2
A shutter device is disclosed, the device including a base formed with a lens hole through which reflective light from an object passes, a first blade and a second blade rotating about a hinge provided at the base to open or close the lens hole, and an actuator provided with a linearly-shifting slider at an area eccentrically positioned from the hinge to allow the first and second blades to be activated with rotation moment.
US08717488B2
Optical apparatus includes an image sensor and an optical assembly, which is configured to focus optical radiation via an aperture stop onto the image sensor. The optical assembly includes a plurality of optical surfaces, consisting of a first, curved surface through which the optical radiation enters the assembly, a final surface through which the rays exit the assembly toward the image sensor, and at least two intermediate surfaces between the first and final surfaces. An interference filter, which has a center wavelength and a passband no greater than 4% of the center wavelength, and includes a coating formed on one of the optical surfaces. All rays of the optical radiation passing through the aperture stop are incident on the coating over a range of incidence angles with a half-width that is no greater than three fourths of the numerical aperture of the optical assembly.
US08717486B2
A technique of enabling both of higher functionality and higher accuracy in a compact optical system is provided. To achieve this object, an imaging unit has a laminated structure formed by laminating a plurality of layers including: an image capturing element layer including an image capturing element part; a lens layer capable of changing a distance from the image capturing element layer; and an actuator layer including a movable part for moving the lens layer; and a signal transmitter disposed so as to connect the actuator layer and the image capturing element layer, and transmitting a drive signal for driving the movable part from the image capturing element layer side to the actuator layer, and the movable part is deformed according to the drive signal transmitted through the signal transmitter, and the actuator layer is provided between the image capturing element layer and the lens layer.
US08717485B2
An improved ratio between hardware/manufacturing expenditure, on the one hand, and picture quality, on the other hand, when using a multi-channel optical element is achieved in that the samples of the pixels are arranged in accordance with an imaging direction from which the optical element images objects on the respective pixel, or with a lateral imaging position in a focal-depth area that is imaged to the respective pixel by the optical element, and when the distribution, thus arranged, of samples of the pixels is interpolated at intersection points of a regular grid extending over the entire distribution of the samples. In this manner, processing is standardized across the entire picture, so that transition problems between the subareas are avoided.
US08717480B2
A method of displaying a portrait on a display is provided. The method includes determining whether a photographed image is a character-photographed image according to photographing information of the photographed image; executing face detection from the photographed image if it is determined that the photographed image is a character-photographed image; setting a character area in the photographed image according to a result of the face detection; and magnifying and displaying the character area on the display.
US08717479B2
An imaging apparatus for shooting images includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about an evaluation of an identified individual in at least one shot image based on a composition of the image, and a presentation unit configured to present the information corresponding to the identified individual, wherein the information is used to support shooting of the images.
US08717472B2
A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a reading unit having a plurality of pixels connected thereto, holding signals from the pixels, and a control unit capable of controlling operations of the pixels and reading unit. The control unit controls the pixels and reading unit in a first operation mode without addition, in a second operation mode in which signals from aa of the pixels are added, aa being an integer greater than one, and in a third operation mode in which signals from bb of the pixels are added, bb being an integer greater than aa. The reading unit includes a holding unit having a capacitance value of C, and the holding unit includes a first capacitor having a capacitance value of C/bb and a second capacitor having a capacitance value of C/p, p being a common multiple of aa and bb.
US08717470B2
The solid-state imaging apparatus illustrates a solid-state imaging element having a light receiving portion; a package which contains the solid-state imaging element; a light-transmissive member which is provided above the solid-state imaging element; and a partitioning member which is fixed to the package to isolate the light receiving portion of the solid-state imaging element from the surrounding portion of the light receiving portion of the solid-state imaging element.
US08717463B2
A compressive imaging (CI) device for attenuating noise. The CI device may acquire samples during steady state portions of pattern modulation periods, avoiding the disturbing effect of transients that occur at pattern transitions. A CI device may acquire and then average multiple samples per spatial pattern to reduce (deterministic and/or random) zero-mean noise. A CI device may apply a filter to the photodetector signal in the analog domain and/or in the digital domain to attenuate noise components, e.g., noise due to electromagnetic interference.
US08717461B2
A method for associating event times or time periods with digital images in a collection for determining if a digital image is of interest, includes storing a collection of digital images each having an associated capture time; comparing the associated capture time in the collection with a special event time to determine if a digital image in the collection is of interest, wherein the comparing step includes calculation of a special event time associated with a special event based on the calendar time associated with the special event and using such information to perform the comparison step; and associating digital images of interest with the special event.
US08717453B2
An image processing apparatus for cropping and outputting a plurality of partial images from an image, includes: an acquisition unit adapted to acquire object areas for a plurality of objects included in an image to be processed; an analysis unit adapted to analyze a distribution of the acquired object areas; a determination unit adapted to determine a cropping scheme for cropping partial images from the image to be processed, based on the distribution of the object areas; and a cropping unit adapted to crop the partial images from the image to be processed, using the determined cropping scheme.
US08717451B2
The camera body includes a synchronizing signal generator that generates a synchronizing signal, a body controller that controls the camera body and generates a command to control the interchangeable lens. The body controller performs control to send the interchangeable lens a command to set the interchangeable lens to a synchronous mode in which operation of the interchangeable lens is controlled in synchronization with the synchronizing signal and a command to set the interchangeable lens to an asynchronous mode which is a mode other than the synchronous mode. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller that controls the operation of the interchangeable lens. The lens controller controls the operation of the interchangeable lens in the synchronous mode or the asynchronous mode according to the command received from the camera body.
US08717446B2
The present invention evaluates the quality of an image shot by a terminal device in a state closer to that seen with the eye. A computer evaluates the quality of an image obtained by shooting a photographic subject including a periodic pattern that fluctuates periodically in one direction. A Fourier transform unit accomplishes a two-dimensional Fourier transform on the image to obtain two-dimensional spatial frequency spectrum components. An analysis unit analyzes the resolution of the image on the basis of spectrum components of spatial frequencies included in the periodic pattern, among the two-dimensional spatial frequency spectrum components obtained by the Fourier transform unit, and analyzes the deterioration of the image on the basis of spectrum components other than these.
US08717431B2
A detection apparatus includes a housing, a circuit board, an image detection module, an ultrasonic detection module, and a connecting terminal. The image detection module includes a barrel, one or more lenses received in the barrel, and an image sensor configured to receive light through the lens and generate image signals. The image sensor is electrically connected to the circuit board. The ultrasonic detection module includes a piezoelectric member fixed to the housing to emit ultrasonic waves and receive reflected ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic control module operable to apply a voltage on the piezoelectric member, receive alternating voltages generated by the piezoelectric member, and generate voltage signals when receiving the voltages from the piezoelectric member. The ultrasonic control module is electrically connected to the piezoelectric member and the circuit board. The connecting terminal is electrically connected to the circuit board to output the image signals and the voltage signals.
US08717427B2
An endoscope includes a bending operation knob inputting a bending operation of a bending section in first perpendicular directions, a touch surface which is exposed in an outer surface of a grip casing and on which a bending operation of the bending section in second perpendicular directions is input, and a positional information calculator calculating a positional information of a touched region with time, the touched region being a region that is touched in the touch surface. The endoscope includes a positional change detector detecting a positional change of the touched region when the bending operation of the bending section in the second perpendicular directions is input, and a drive controller controlling a drive state of a drive member in accordance with the positional change of the touched region.
US08717426B2
A method of determining drilling fluid contents including fractionating a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid, and collecting image data from the fractioned fluid sample. Furthermore, processing the image data with a process station to produce a rendered image, and outputting the rendered image. Additionally, a system for determining drilling fluids content including an image gathering vessel having a holding section and an image gathering device operatively coupled to the image gathering vessel for collecting image data from a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid. Furthermore, a processing station for receiving the image data from the image gathering device and for producing a rendered image of the fluid sample based on the image data.
US08717421B2
A method and system to enable a computer to estimate calibration parameters autonomously so that accurate stereopsis can be performed. The present invention automatically calibrates two or more cameras with unknown parameters with respect to a robot or robotic appendage (e.g., articulated robot arm) with a light source that can be turned on and off at one end. A pair of cameras (e.g., digital cameras) are positioned and aimed so as to give stereoptic coverage of the robot's workspace. The procedure determines the positions and orientations of the pair of cameras with respect to a robot (i.e., exterior orientations) and the focal lengths, optical centers, and distortion coefficients of each camera (i.e., intrinsic parameters) automatically from a set of known positions of the robot arm, and a set of images from the right and left cameras of the robot arm in each position as the light is turned on and off.
US08717408B2
Conducting a private videoconference within a videoconference. A videoconference may be established between a plurality of endpoints. Input may be received requesting the private videoconference for a plural subset of the plurality of endpoints. The private videoconference may be established between the plural subset of the plurality of endpoints. The initial videoconference may continue during the private videoconference. Private videoconference data may be transmitted only to the plural subset of endpoints of the private videoconference. The private videoconference may be sent directly between the plural subset of endpoints or may be sent via a multipoint control unit, e.g., of the initial videoconference. The private videoconference data may not be sent to the remaining endpoints of the initial videoconference.
US08717392B2
An apparatus including a first expander configured to provide a first image and including a first portion configured to provide a first calibration image; a second expander configured to provide a second image and including a second portion configured to provide a second calibration image; and a controller configured to control alignment of the first image and the second image, a combination of the first calibration image and the second calibration image being useable to control alignment of the first image and the second image.
US08717391B2
A display pipe may include fetch circuitry and a scaler unit, and registers programmable with information that defines active regions of an image frame. Pixels within the active regions are active pixels to be displayed, pixels outside of the active regions are inactive pixels not to be displayed. The fetch circuitry may retrieve frames from memory, retrieving the active pixels and not retrieving the inactive pixels as defined by the programmed contents of the registers. A scaler unit may produce scaled pixels from the fetched pixels, basing each scaled pixel on a respective corresponding set of pixels. When a given pixel of the respective corresponding set of pixels is an inactive pixel, the scaler unit may assign an estimated value to the given pixel based on one or more active pixels in the respective corresponding set of pixels. The scaler unit may provide the scaled pixels to a blend unit for blending with other pixels.
US08717389B2
A centralization point in a projection area is designated. The projection area is on a projection surface onto which images are projected by a projector array, which includes a plurality of projectors. A first image is projected in a first maximum area rectangle at a first aspect ratio of the first image, and the first image is projected into the projection area centered at the centralization point. A second image is projected in a second maximum area rectangle at a second aspect ratio of the second image, and the second image is projected into the projection area centered at the centralization point.
US08717384B1
An image file format article of manufacture for a PFI.
US08717380B2
An image processing apparatus and its control method receives a drawing command including a moving image drawing command and a graphics drawing command and performs drawing processing. A drawing command is received, and the moving image drawing command is separated from the graphics drawing command. A graphics drawing unit obtains the result of graphics drawing in accordance with the graphics drawing command. A moving image drawing unit generates moving image data processed in accordance with the moving image drawing command. A composition unit composes the result of graphics drawing by the graphics drawing unit with the moving image data generated by the moving image drawing unit.
US08717378B2
A cubic, or other polynomial, approximation to a panel's gamma function. Embodiments contemplate a display system configured to apply a panel gamma function that is a third-order polynomial function, as well as its substantial inverse. This third order function is often easier to implement, and yields lower gate count than current power law gamma functions.
US08717375B1
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes computer-implemented graphics frame buffer process that establishes on a computing device a graphics frame buffer accessible to be written by an application process and to be read by a graphics server process. The method further comprises generating a plurality of control bits whose value or values control access to the frame buffer by the application process and the graphics server process and reading frames from the frame buffer using the value or values in the plurality of control bits.
US08717366B2
A method of rendering a stroked curve for display in a graphics processing system in which an input stroked curve 2 to be displayed, such as a character in a computer font or a portion thereof, is defined in user space 4 and projected into a surface space 6 for display. For each of one or more sampling points in the surface space 6, a corresponding sampling position in a projected space 12 is determined, and predetermined information is used to estimate the extent in a defined direction of a projected form of the stroked curve in the projected space 12 at a position along the length of the projected form of the stroked curve corresponding to the position along the length of the projected form of the stroked curve of the sampling position in the projected space 12. The estimated extent is then used to determine whether the sampling position in question falls within the stroked curve or not, thereby allowing suitable rendering data to be assigned to the sampling point.
US08717364B2
A method of creating a graphical representation of data points in the form of a heatmap wherein the heatmap represents a plurality of multi-directional flow values between the data points, the method including the steps of positioning data points on a heatmap for graphical representation, calculating bi-directional flow values between at least a first and second data point, determining the intensity and direction of a predominant flow from the bi-directional flow values, and graphically representing the predominant flow and bi-directional flows between the data points in the heatmap.
US08717361B2
The method includes divisionally-capturing a target region from a platform such as an airplane (1) by rendering viewing angles as being different from each other as well as rendering a focal length (f, f′) as being different with reference to a predetermined ground resolution, thereafter generating an elevation model (5) of the entire target region (1) in accordance with matching of elevation models (3, 3) generated based on respective divisionally-captured images (2) between image capturing overlap regions (4), and generating an orthophoto image of the entire target region by applying an orthogonal projection transformation processing to the respective divisionally-captured images (2) by use of altitude information of the elevation model (5).
US08717355B2
An image processor processes an assembly of data that defines an elementary image and a graphics object. The assembly of data includes composition data that defines a given appearance of the graphics object in an output image, where the graphics object overlays a portion of the elementary image. The image processor includes an occlusion analyzer for establishing an occlusion indication based on the composition data. The occlusion indication specifies an area in the elementary image that the graphics object will occlude in the output image, but which may be de-occluded in a stereoscopic rendering of the output image. An occlusion data generator composes an occlusion image based on the occlusion indication and the elementary image. The occlusion image represents a portion of the elementary image that corresponds with the area specified by the occlusion indication.
US08717352B2
An exemplary tracing-type stereo display apparatus includes a tracing member, an index member, a sub-pixel array, and a stereo display member. The tracing member is configured for obtaining a space position of a viewer. The index member is configured for obtaining an index factor according to the space position and generating an index table according to the index factor. The sub-pixel array member configured for arraying sub-pixels according to the index table. The stereo display member configured for displaying the sub-pixels arrayed according to the index table. A tracing-type stereo display method is also provided in the present disclosure.
US08717346B2
A low duty cycle wireless device is disclosed. The low duty cycle wireless device includes a high data rate transceiver, a low data rate receiver, and a microprocessor. The low data rate receiver receives a command to receive a large amount of information. The display information far exceeds the capacity for reception through the low data rate receiver. In response to the received command, the microprocessor wakes up from a sleep mode and activates the high data rate transceiver to receive the display information. The microprocessor deactivates the high data rate transceiver once the display information has been received.
US08717340B2
Disclosed is a thin film transistor that is provided with a gate insulating film that is inexpensive, and that is less likely to have a low-density microcrystalline silicon layer formed thereon due to plasma induced damage, while suppressing fluctuation of a threshold voltage. In a TFT (100) having the bottom gate structure, since a silicon nitride film (31) having a natural oxide film (32) formed on the surface thereof is used as the gate insulating film (30), the gate insulating film (30) is not only capable of preventing the alkali metal ions contained in a glass substrate (10) from entering the gate insulating film (30), but also capable of suppressing a formation of the low-density microcrystalline silicon layer on the surface of a microcrystalline silicon film (41) on the side in contact with the gate insulating film (30). Since the mobility of the microcrystalline silicon film (41) is increased, the operation speed of the TFT (100) can be improved. Thus, with the simpler configuration, the TFT (100) having the same electrical characteristics as those of the conventional TFTs can be provided.
US08717338B2
A display driving circuit includes a buffer section, an N-dot switch circuit, a charge sharing switch circuit, and a sharing voltage level control switch circuit. The buffer section buffers a plurality of pixel driving signals outputted from a plurality of DACs. The N-dot switch circuit selects paths of the plurality of pixel driving signals outputted from the buffer section in response to a first path selecting signal or a second path selecting signal that is determined depending upon a dot inversion method, and switches the paths to a plurality of output terminals. The charge sharing switch circuit shares charges among the plurality of output terminals in response to a charge sharing control signal. The sharing voltage level control switch circuit controls charge sharing between the plurality of output terminals and a voltage level upon charge sharing, in response to a sharing voltage level control signal.
US08717325B1
A system includes a controller situated on a circuit board and a touch sensor coupled to the controller. The touch sensor includes a plurality of electrodes configured to capacitively coupled to a surface. The system also includes a drive element that is coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to send a drive signal to the drive element and, after sending the drive signal to the drive element, receive a set of sense signals from the touch sensor. The controller is further configured to determine whether an object that is not contact with the surface is in a vicinity of the surface the set of sense signals.
US08717321B2
Disclosed is a display device integrated with a touch screen in which resistance is reduced by forming a narrow bezel or increasing a routing margin through structure change of the outer portion of a sensing area in a structure in which a touch sensor is applied to a display panel, the display device includes a display panel including a display active area, a touch screen layer located on the surface of the display panel, including a sensing area, and connection electrodes and routing lines provided at the outer portion of the sensing area, wherein the connection electrodes and routing lines are formed of a metal having reflectivity of 10% or less, and a cover glass located above the touch screen layer, having an lower surface coated with a black printing material covering the outer portion of the sensing area.
US08717317B2
A display control device that facilitates an operation on a touch panel, for the timeline display of a moving image. A synthesis section controls display on a touch panel. A touch state-detecting section detects any touched position on the touch panel, and determines whether two touched positions are detected on a single display object displayed on the touch panel. Determining that two touched positions are detected on the single display object, the touch state-detecting section determines whether the detected touched positions are moved while keeping their touched states. When the touched positions are determined to be moved while keeping their touched states, an overall controller extracts frame images of which the number depends on a distance between the two touched positions after the movement thereof, and controls the synthesis section to display the extracted frame images between the two moved touched positions.
US08717309B2
A method includes detecting a touch on a first touch-sensitive display, applying force by an actuator on a touch-sensitive display to simulate depression of a switch, and storing a first indicator of depression simulation for the first touch.
US08717305B2
One or more touch input signals can be obtained from a touch sensitive device. A touch event model can be used to determine touch and/or gesture events based on the touch input signals. The touch and gesture events can be associated with touch input signals generated from different regions of a web page displayed on the touch sensitive device. Access can be provided to at least one touch or gesture event through a programming interface.
US08717301B2
There is provided a content selection view in which the user can select a content intuitively and easily. When the user places a touch pen in touch with a touch panel in a position corresponding to a position P1 in a map and drags the touch pen along a locus to a position P2 with the touch pen being kept in touch with the touch panel, PD will judge that a grid is still an option. Thereafter, when the user takes the touch pen off the touch panel surface, the PD will select the grid corresponding to the position P2 where the touch pen has finally been in touch with the touch panel. The PD will output not only content data assigned to the selected grid but a sound corresponding, to predetermined content data even while the grid is still an option. The present invention is applicable to a portable recorder/player.
US08717299B2
A method and apparatus for entering words into a computer system. Letters contained in a desired word are entered by giving approximate location and directional information relative to any specified keyboard layout. The inputs need not correspond to specific keys on the keyboard, a sequence of ambiguous key entries corresponding to individual words can be used to retrieve a word from the dictionary. The system tracks directional information of movement relative to a/the specific keyboard layout, reducing it to predetermined primary directions and translates this seemingly ambiguous information into accurate words from the dictionary. The system may also capture the user's intention (with regard to text entry) by observing the movements on the keyboard.
US08717295B2
A hand-held device with a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface enables power to the sensor at a first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is stationary and adjacent relative to the object surface, enables power to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is moving and adjacent relative to the object surface, and enables power to the sensor at a third time interval when the hand-held device is determined to be in a position that is removed relative to the object surface.
US08717288B2
Techniques are disclosed for determining a user's motion in relation to displayed images. According to one general aspect, a first captured image is accessed. The first captured image includes (1) a first displayed image produced at a first point in time, and (2) a user. A second captured image is accessed. The second captured image includes (1) a second displayed image produced at a second point in time, and (2) the user. First information indicating motion associated with one or more objects in the first and second displayed images is accessed. Second information indicating both motion of the user and the motion associated with the one or more objects in the first and second displayed images is determined.
US08717287B2
A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback device communicates with a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects and characterizes force sensations using the interface tool, and a graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation The user can include multiple force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation.
US08717281B2
An electrofluidic device includes first structural layer and second structural layer. First structural layer includes first substrate; and first electrode and second electrode on the first substrate. The second electrode has an indent region surrounding and without contacting first electrode. First hydrophobic layer is at least over the second electrode. Second structural layer at one side of the first structural layer with a gap includes second substrate and groove structure layer. The groove structure layer includes an indent groove, corresponding to the indent region of the second electrode. Second hydrophobic layer is over the groove structure layer. Polar fluid is disposed in the indent groove and remains in contact with the first electrode. Non-polar fluid is disposed in the gap between the first and second structural layers.
US08717254B1
A portable system is disclosed for displaying a real time video to a user wearing video glasses and while engaging in exercise. The system comprises a motion sensor for attachment to the of the user, with sensor generating a plurality of consecutive signals based upon the motion of the user's body. The video glasses of the system also comprise a video frame sequence stored in a memory; a programmed video processor for modifying the video frame sequence as a function of the difference in magnitude between the consecutive signals generated by the motion sensor; and a video display for displaying the modified video frame sequence with the display of the modified video frame sequence changing as a function of the body motion of the user.
US08717250B2
Antenna assemblies are provided for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals over an enhanced frequency band. An assembly includes an electrically conductive ground reference and a radiative element formed from an electrically conductive material and comprising an apex. The radiative element is electrically connected to an antenna feed at the apex and configured such that the radiative element lacks two-fold rotational symmetry around a first axis coinciding with the antenna feed. The radiative element extends such that a distance between the radiative element and the electrically conductive ground reference increases as a radial distance from the first axis along the radiative element increases.
US08717224B2
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a radar apparatus and an antenna apparatus, and more particularly, an integrated radar apparatus and an integrated antenna apparatus which make it possible to attain angle resolution with high definition, to decrease size and the number of devices, to integrate long and mid-range radar function and short range radar function.
US08717218B2
A regular expression pattern matching circuit based on a pipeline architecture is proposed, which is designed for integration to a data processing system, such as a computer platform, a firewall, or a network intrusion detention system (NIDS), for checking whether an input code sequence (such as a network data packet) is matched to specific patterns predefined by regular expressions. The proposed circuit architecture includes an incremental improvement on an old combination of a comparator circuit module and an NDFA (non-deterministic finite-state automata) circuit module, where the incremental improvement comprises a data signal delay circuit module installed to the comparator circuit module and an enable signal delay circuit module installed to the NDFA circuit module to thereby constitute a multi-sage pipeline architecture that allows a faster processing speed than the prior art.
US08717217B2
An analog-to-digital converter includes a comparison unit that outputs a result obtained by comparing a voltage of an input node with a comparison voltage; 1st to Nth capacitors having one ends connected to the input node, respectively; and 1st to N−1th voltage selection units corresponds to the 2nd to Nth capacitors, respectively and applies one of a voltages of a 1st node, a 2nd node, and the comparison voltage to the other ends of the corresponding capacitors. An input signal is sampled to the input node, the 1st to N−1th voltage selection units select one of the voltages of the 2 nodes and convert a part of the input signal into a 1st digital signal, and the 1st to N−1th voltage selection units select one of the voltages of the 2 nodes and convert the remaining part of the input signal into a 2nd digital signal.
US08717209B2
Various pipeline ADCs are disclosed that substantially compensate for interference or distortion that results from imperfections with various ADC modules of the pipeline ADCs. The pipeline ADCs include various ADC stages and various compensation stages that are coupled to the various ADC stages. The various ADC stages convert their corresponding analog inputs from an analog signal domain to a digital signal domain to provide various digital output signals and various analog residual signals to subsequent ADC stages. The various compensation stages compensate for interference or distortion that is impressed onto the various analog residual signals which results from imperfections within previous ADC stages.
US08717197B2
A method is provided for assessing the attentiveness of the driver of motor vehicle traveling in a lane including, but not limited to detecting the position of the motor vehicle on the lane transverse to the direction of travel, determining the extent of fluctuations of the position, and assessing the attentiveness as insufficient if within an observation period at least one first significant period is detected in which the extent of fluctuations of the position falls below a first low limiting value and a second significant period is detected in which the extent of the fluctuations exceeds a second high limiting value.
US08717189B2
An electronic device includes a detection unit, a comparison unit, and a warning unit. The detection unit generates a detection signal. The comparison unit determines whether the detection signal exceeds a predetermined detection signal. If it is determined that the detection signal exceeds the predetermined detection signal, the comparison unit generates a first comparison signal indicating the proximity of an object to the electronic device. The warning unit sends a warning message in response to the first comparison signal.
US08717182B1
Disclosed is an improved method, system, and mechanism for a reader mechanism for a container-based approach for monitoring the history and/or quality of a consumable product. According to one approach, a monitoring mechanism is affixed to a wine container (e.g., a wine bottle) to monitor the handling/storage history and/or the drinkability of the wine inside the container. One or more environmental sensors are associated with the monitoring mechanism which tracks environmental conditions that may affect the wine. The tracked environmental conditions are analyzed to determine and/or indicate the drinkability of the wine. A reader mechanism is used to access and/or control the monitoring mechanism.
US08717173B2
An alarm for digital storage discs includes an alarm module positioned within the central indention found in conventional CD and DVD jewel cases. A lid sensor in communication with the alarm module includes a pair of spaced trigger arms that form an ovate opening. A nodule on the uppermost arm engages the jewel case lid to maintain engagement of electrical contacts on the arms. An arming switch includes a magnetically-operated pin that is extended into the opening formed between the triggers to prevent the contacts from separating. Once the jewel case is sealed, an arming station initially retracts the pin while the case lid firmly engages the nodule to maintain the contacts in engagement. If an unauthorized user opens the jewel case without first extending the pin at the arming station, the triggers will automatically separate thereby activating the alarm.
US08717166B2
An improved system and method for defining an event based upon an object location and a user-defined zone and managing the conveyance of object location event information among computing devices where object location events are defined in terms of a condition based upon a relationship between user-defined zone information and object location information. One or more location information sources are associated with an object to provide the object location information. One or more user-defined zones are defined on a map and one or more object location events are defined. The occurrence of an object location event produces object location event information that is conveyed to users based on user identification codes. Accessibility to object location information, zone information, and object location event information is based upon an object location information access code, a zone information access code, and an object location event information access code, respectively.
US08717165B2
The present invention is directed to a miniaturized apparatus to locate, track, recognize and control objects using miniature RF circuits that are programmed as an active tag or as one of several embodiments of a controller, including one small enough to be incorporated into a personal object, like a ring. In its simplest embodiment, a portable or wearable controller communicates wirelessly with a tag secured to a surface, analogously to a car remote—push button, receive a signal from tag or back at the controller, to locate tagged object. In more complex forms, the tag can be integrated into objects or connected to a network. One controller can manage a plurality of tags. The basic platform of tag and controller can be built up to create a sophisticated area control with environmental sensors, inventory functions, tracking individuals and allowing or denying access, operating objects like doors and lights, and creating supporting ambient security with checks and balances between tags and controllers on people and their possessions, such as baggage at an airport. Arrays of tag or controllers extend the wireless range to accommodate large structures and areas. This novel system is self-contained, with a low power protocol to give long battery life time and does not require internet or GPS to perform its functions.
US08717164B2
An integrated security system for oil-field and gas-field sites is disclosed. The system utilizes state-of-the-art technologies including “logical QR emblems” and powerful, advanced RFID tags. The system is particularly valuable for emergency responders, since it facilitates immediate, secure display of critical site data-according to predetermined classifications, e.g., emergency triage for an accident or terrorist event.
US08717139B2
A vibration-suppressed transformer is fixed to a base plate and includes a magnetic lower core, two or more magnetic upper cores, primary and secondary coils. The lower core is on the base plate. The upper cores are arranged face to face over the lower core. The coils are arranged between the lower and upper cores. Each upper core contacts the lower core, on an outer side of the coils, with a first gap being provided between the upper and lower cores, on an inner side of the coils. The upper cores are extended towards each other from the outer to the inner side of the coils, with a second gap being provided therebetween. The second gap is provided therein with a non-magnetic pressing member to press the lower core against the base plate, on an inner side of the coils.
US08717137B2
A system and method utilize a redistribution layer in a flip-chip or wirebond package, which is also used to route signals to bumps, as a layer for the construction of an on-chip inductor or a layer of a multiple-layer on-chip inductor. In one example, the redistribution layer is surrounded by dual-layer passivation to protect it, and the inductor formed thereby, from the environment and isolate it, and the inductor formed thereby, from the metal layer beneath it.
US08717133B2
A reactor including an assembly of a coil, a magnetic core on which the coil is disposed, and a case that houses the assembly. The case includes an installation face, a side wall that is removably attached to the installation face and surrounds the periphery of the assembly, and a heat dissipation layer formed on the inner face of the installation face and interposed between the installation face and the installation-side face of the coil. The installation face consists of aluminum, the side wall consists of an insulating resin, and the heat dissipation layer consists of an adhesive with high thermal conductivity and excellent insulation. The installation face is separate from the side wall, making it easy to form the heat dissipation layer, and having excellent heat dissipation. The side wall consists of an insulating resin, thus reducing the gap between it and the coil.
US08717132B2
A method for plating magnets with metal is disclosed. In one embodiment, the metal is aluminum and the aluminum plating provides a number of aesthetic and structural advantages, over brittle magnetic materials, which are only plated with a thin, anti-corrosive metallic layer. More specifically, methods for creating multi-pole bar magnets and structural elements primarily with aluminum coated magnetic material are disclosed.
US08717104B1
A system for compensating impedance mismatch at an output terminal of a RF power amplifier is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes a plurality of samplers to measure a first set of parameters associated with an amplified signal being generated by the power amplifier. The first set of parameters is transmitted to a processing unit. The processing unit varies an impedance of an impedance element based on the first set of parameters. The impedance element is connected to the output terminal of the power amplifier.
US08717102B2
An amplifier circuit includes an RF transistor, a parallel resonator and a series resonator. The RF transistor has an input, an output and an intrinsic output capacitance. The parallel resonator is connected to the output of the RF transistor and includes a first inductive component connected in parallel with the intrinsic output capacitance of the RF transistor. The series resonator connects the output of the RF transistor to an output terminal and includes a second inductive component connected in series with a capacitive component. The series resonator is operable to compensate for a change in impedance of the parallel resonator over frequency.
US08717100B2
Apparatus and methods for capacitive load reduction are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal of a first frequency and an envelope tracker configured to control a supply voltage of the power amplifier using an envelope of the RF signal. The power amplifier system further includes an inductor electrically connected between the power amplifier and the envelope tracker and a capacitor electrically connected between the power amplifier and the envelope tracker. The capacitor and the inductor are configured to have a resonance near the first frequency.
US08717099B2
A wideband Doherty amplifier circuit includes a main amplifier configured to operate in a linear mode, a peaking amplifier configured to operate in a non-linear mode and a Doherty combiner directly connected to an output of each amplifier so that no output match devices are in the path between the amplifier outputs and the Doherty combiner. The Doherty combiner is configured to present the same load impedance to each amplifier when both amplifiers are conducting and present a modulated load impedance to the main amplifier when the peaking amplifier is non-conducting so that a variation in the VSWR seen by the main amplifier is less than 5% over a plurality of frequency bands and/or so that the peaking amplifier has an off-state impedance spreading of 20 degrees or less over the plurality of frequency bands.
US08717092B1
An improved current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit includes a current mirror base network, a current source transistor, and an error transistor. The current mirror base network includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal is connected to the current source transistor through a first impedance element. The second terminal is connected to the error transistor. The third terminal is connected to a first bias voltage source, and the first terminal is connected to a second bias voltage source.
US08717091B2
A control circuit for a power converter is disclosed, having a shared pin, a driving circuit, a current source, a sampling circuit, and a signal processing circuit. The shared pin is used for coupling with an output end of the power converter through a resistor. The driving circuit is used for conducting a switch of the power converter. The current source provides a current to the resistor through the shared pin. The sampling circuit samples the signal on the shared pin for generating a first sampling value and a second sampling value. When the difference between the first sampling value and the second sampling value is less than a predetermined value, the signal processing circuit configures the driving circuit to adjust at least one of the conduction time and the conduction frequency of the switch according to an output signal of the power converter received from the shared pin.
US08717088B2
A charge pump device and method for providing power to a microcontroller where the voltage required to operate the microcontroller (VCCmin) is greater than the voltage of the power source, which may be a single galvanic cell. The invention utilizes a flying capacitor circuit having a flying capacitor, and a supply capacitor connected to the power supply terminal of the microcontroller. The invention utilizes firmware that runs on the microcontroller and which controls the flying capacitor circuit to repeatedly switch the flying capacitor from being connected in series with the power source to being connected in parallel with the power source so as to maintain the voltage provided to the microcontroller at a level of at least VCCmin.
US08717083B2
A method including receiving an input signal; amplifying the input signal to generate an output signal using a cascade of a plurality of amplifier stages including a first amplifier stage and a last amplifier stage; generating a voltage signal by sensing the output signal in a noninvasive manner so that the sensing results in substantially no change to the output signal; generating a current signal from the voltage signal using a transconductance amplifier; and injecting the current signal into an output node of the first amplifier stage in a noninvasive manner so that the injecting results in substantially no change to an amplification function of the first amplifier stage.
US08717082B2
An electrical circuit and a procedure for tracking at least one input pulse width applied to the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit includes a threshold component (e.g., a comparator) arranged to provide an output pulse width based on whether an input to the threshold component exceeds a threshold. The circuit also includes a controller arranged to control the threshold of the threshold component, based on the at least one input pulse width applied to the electrical circuit, such that the output pulse width of the threshold component tracks the at least one input pulse width applied to the electrical circuit. The controller includes at least a switch, and the output pulse width tracks the at least one input pulse width by following or anticipating the pulse width. In one example embodiment the tracking is performed for a series of pulses of varied widths.
US08717076B1
An apparatus, comprising: a PMOS current mirror have a first PFET and a second PFET coupled at their respective gates; a first current source coupled to drain of the first PFET; a second current source configured to have a current that is greater than the first current source, coupled to the drain of the second PFET; a capacitor coupled to the gates of the PFET current mirror; a third PFET gate-coupled to the current mirror; a driver NFET having a gate coupled to the drain of the third PFET, wherein a drain of the driver NFET is coupled to the capacitor.
US08717072B2
A semiconductor device includes a comparison unit configured to compare the phases of a plurality of clocks having different frequencies and output a phase comparison signal, a phase inversion control unit configured to generate a phase inversion control signal, and a start control unit configured to generate a start control signal in response to a clock enable signal, wherein the comparison unit is configured to start an operation in response to the start control signal and invert, in response to the phase inversion control signal, a phase of an internal clock generated from one of the plurality of clocks when the plurality of clocks have different phases.
US08717070B1
An integrated circuit device can include a plurality of analog circuit blocks, each comprising an input section configured to receive an analog input signal, and an output section configured to drive a plurality of output signals corresponding to the input signal, each output signal having a different maximum drive strength; and a signal network comprising a plurality of switches, and providing a configurable connection between at least outputs of the analog circuit blocks and a plurality of N connections to the integrated circuit device, including less than N direct signal paths between each analog circuit block and the N connections.
US08717067B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for counter-based digital frequency lock detection. A counter-based digital frequency lock detector in accordance with the present invention comprises a reference counter clocked by a reference clock and a target counter clocked by a target clock. The target counter is n bits and n is less than a number of bits of the reference counter. A frequency offset violation of the target clock is detected by comparing a value of the target counter to an n bit counter.
US08717052B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for testing semiconductor devices. A semiconductor device includes one or more external terminals configured to receive fuse configuration data from an external source. The semiconductor device also includes a soft-blow circuit to generate a soft-blow signal based on the fuse configuration data, and a fuse circuit that includes a fuse and has first and second operational states corresponding to the fuse being intact and blown, respectively. The fuse circuit is configured to receive the soft-blow signal and to select its operational state to be the first or second operational state based on the received soft-blow signal.
US08717051B2
Systems and methods for managing process and temperature variations for on-chip sense resistors are disclosed. The system includes a circuit that can leverage a linear gm circuit in order to provide linear gains (positive gains and/or negative gains). The linearity of the circuit enables compensation for temperature and process variations across an entire range of current (positive to negative). A control signal is generated by using a linear gm amplifier and a replica resistor, which is substantially similar to the on chip resistor. The control signal is used to control the gain of a disparate linear gm amplifier within a compensation circuit, which provides an offset voltage to compensate for the variation in resistance of the on chip resistor.
US08717046B2
A fully-functional radio receiver fabricated from a single nanotube is being disclosed. Simultaneously, a single nanotube can perform the functions of all major components of a radio: antenna, tunable band-pass filter, amplifier, and demodulator. A DC voltage source, as supplied by a battery, can power the radio. Using carrier waves in the commercially relevant 40-400 MHz range and both frequency and amplitude modulation techniques, successful music and voice reception has been demonstrated. Also disclosed are a radio transmitter and a mass sensor using a nanotube resonator device.
US08717045B2
A microorganism number-measuring apparatus includes: measurement container including measurement liquid; rotary driver; bacteria-collection signal generator; measurement signal generator; output amplifier for amplifying outputs of signal generators and; I/V amplifier; impedance measuring unit for measuring impedance of liquid; microorganism number-computing unit for computing the number of microorganisms present in liquid; solution conductivity-computing unit for computing conductivity of liquid; and warm-up section for warming up at least one of I/V amplifier and output amplifier. Warm-up section computes a warm-up signal based on the conductivity computed by conductivity-computing unit. Warm-up section computes the warm-up signal having a current the same in magnitude as that flowing through measurement electrode by using the measured solution conductivity, and applies the signal to at least one of I/V amplifier and output amplifier.
US08717039B2
An electromagnetic generating device is used for testing an electromagnetic interference of electronic elements of an electronic device. The electromagnetic generating device includes a power source and a detector. The power source includes a power output. The detector includes a first magnetic guiding portion, a second guiding portion, and an electronic coil. The first magnetic guiding portion is connected to the second magnetic guiding portion. The electronic coil surrounds the second magnetic guiding portion. The electronic coil includes an input coupled to the power output of the power source, and an output being grounded.
US08717036B2
A method and an apparatus for detecting a phase-to-earth fault on a three-phase electric line of an electric network, the apparatus determining a neutral admittance based on a ratio of a difference between zero sequence currents on the three-phase electric line and a difference between zero sequence voltages in the electric network before an earth fault and during the earth fault. The apparatus also compares the determined neutral admittance, to a predetermined operation characteristic to detect a phase-to-earth fault on the three-phase electric line. The predetermined operation characteristic, when presented on an admittance plane, defines a closed area such that the center of the closed area is offset from the origin of the admittance plane towards a negative susceptance direction and/or towards a negative conductance direction.
US08717032B2
A protection switching system in a power supply distribution system, comprises at least one protection switch (25) comprising a controllable semiconductor arranged to conduct current through the power supply line in a normal mode, a control unit (27) arranged to place the at least one protection switch in a test mode in which the current is reduced compared to the normal mode, registration means (28, 29) for registering a test mode value of at least one electrical characteristic in the power supply line that will be affected when the test mode is applied, a monitoring unit (30; 47) arranged to evaluate the at least one electrical characteristic and determine, based on the evaluation, whether or not an action should be taken. If a malfunction is detected an alarm is issued to indicate to service personnel that the protection switch should be replaced.
US08717029B2
An apparatus for measuring permittivity of a sample. The apparatus includes: a sample chamber including a sealed space portion in which a sample to be measured is put; a pressure adjusting unit for varying pressure by applying water pressure to the space portion of the sample chamber; a permittivity sensor for measuring permittivity of the sample and disposed outside the sample chamber; measurement conducting wires including conductors, installed to contact the sample and connected to the permittivity sensor by using electric wires; and a data logger for storing data relating to permittivity that is measured by the permittivity sensor.
US08717023B2
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with self-justification fitting for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxation parameter quantification are described. One example nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes a self-justification fitting logic configured to selectively include and exclude data points from a set of data points associated with NMR signals based, at least in part, on their impact on a fit attribute (e.g., standard deviation). In one embodiment, the self-justification is configured to select a subset of data points from the set of data points as a function of values for a fit attribute computed from fitting at least two different subsets of data points from the set of data points to a known NMR signal evolution.
US08717022B2
A method based on pure phase encode FIDs that permits high strength gradient measurement is disclosed. A small doped water phantom (1˜3 mm droplet, T1, T2, T2*<100 μs) within a microprobe is excited by a series of closely spaced broadband RF pulses each followed by single FID point acquisition. Two trial gradient waveforms illustrate the technique, neither of which could be measured by the conventional microprobe measurement. The first is an extended duration gradient waveform while the other illustrates this method's ability to measure gradient waveforms with large net area and/or high amplitude. This method is a point monitor with simple implementation and low cost hardware requirements.
US08717015B2
A magnetic field measuring system is disclosed. The magnetic field measuring system includes a substrate, a conductive well formed in the substrate, the well having a first side with a first length, a first contact electrically coupled to the conductive well at a first location of the first side, a second contact electrically coupled to the conductive well at a second location of the first side, wherein the distance between the first location and the second location is less than the first length, a stimulus circuit coupled to the first contact and the second contact, and a sensor for identifying a property indicative of the length of a current path from the first location to the second location through the conductive well.
US08717014B2
A magnetic field verifier apparatus includes a magnetic field detection element configured to produce a voltage signal in response to an applied magnetic field wherein the voltage signal corresponds to the strength of the applied magnetic field. Substantially identical circuit boards or units are connected to a central unit or mother board to place magnetic field detection elements of each board or unit in an mutually approximately orthogonal relationship. A microcontroller is in communication with the voltage signal. The magnetic field verifier apparatus is configurable to sense particular field strengths at various frequencies and store the readings to provide the user with a reliable verification that a particular magnetic field strength has been produced in a particular environment.
US08717010B2
Magnetic position sensors, systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a position sensing system includes a magnetic field source with a dipole moment in a direction along a z-axis; and a sensor module spaced apart from a center of the dipole moment a distance y0 along a y-axis and spaced apart a distance z0 from a center of the dipole moment along a z-axis, at least one of the magnetic field source or the sensor module configured to move relative to the other along a path in the y=y0 plane, the sensor module configured to determine a relative position of the magnetic field source to the sensor module with respect to the path from a ratio of a gradient dBz/dx to a gradient dBz/dy, where Bz is a magnetic field component associated with the permanent magnet, and where an x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are at right angles.
US08717007B2
An intelligent electronic device having a terminal assembly for coupling the IED, e.g., a revenue meter, to a meter mounting socket. The assembly includes a housing including a generally planar, rigid base, the base including at least one opening and at least one circuit board having at least one electrically conducting terminal surface mounted thereon, the at least one electrically conducting terminal extending through the at least one opening of the base to mate with at least one matching jaw of a detachable meter mounting device coupled to the electrical circuit.
US08717002B2
A constant ON-time converter is disclosed. The constant ON-time converter comprises a feedback circuit, a slope compensation circuit and a buffer circuit. The feedback signal comprises an output configured to provide a feedback signal indicating an output voltage of the constant ON-time converter. The slope compensation circuit comprises an output configured to provide a slope compensation signal. The buffer circuit is coupled between the output of the feedback circuit and the output of the slope compensation circuit to avoid the feedback signal and the output voltage of the constant ON-time converter is influenced by the slope compensation signal.
US08716998B2
A DC-DC converter has a switching element, a lowpass filter, an oscillator, an AD converter, an error signal generator, a counter, a comparator, a selector configured to select one of the plurality of clock signals in accordance with a value of a lower side bit of the error signal in sync with a timing when the comparator detects coincidence, and a switching controller configured to control ON/OFF of the switching element in accordance with the clock signal selected by the selector. The selector selects one among the plurality of clock signals and a new clock signal generated by combining two or more clock signals comprising neighboring phases among the plurality of clock signals.
US08716996B2
A switching control circuit for an AC/DC converter stops the switching of a switching device in a low-phase angle range of an AC power supply to prevent an improper recovery operation after a brownout is detected.
US08716993B2
A low dropout (LDO) regulator includes a voltage regulation loop for providing an output voltage to an output terminal, where the output voltage is proportional to a reference voltage. The voltage regulation loop includes a current bias input for receiving a bias current. The LDO regulator also includes a bias current control circuit for providing the bias current at a first value when the reference voltage is greater than a feedback voltage and at a second value higher than the first value when the reference voltage is less than the feedback voltage.
US08716991B1
A switching power converter includes a first and second switching device, an air core coupled inductor, and a controller. The air core coupled inductor includes a first winding electrically coupled to the first switching device and a second winding electrically coupled to the second switching device. The first and second windings are magnetically coupled. The controller is operable to cause the first and second switching devices to repeatedly switch between their conductive and non-conductive states at a frequency of at least 100 kilohertz to cause current through the first and second windings to repeatedly cycle, thereby providing power to an output port. The switching power converter may have a topology including, but not limited to, a buck converter topology, a boost converter topology, and a buck-boost converter topology.
US08716986B2
A power conversion circuit which receives a high potential, a low potential, and a neutral potential intermediate between the high and low potentials includes an AC switch connected so as to receive the neutral potential and a switching device receiving the high potential. The AC switch includes a diode and an inductance is connected to the diode and the switching device.
US08716984B2
A method and generator for modifying interactions between a load and the generator are described. The method includes applying output power to the load using a power amplifier, controlling a level of the output power responsive to a power control setting, and adjusting a conduction angle of the power amplifier to reduce a level of sensitivity of the power amplifier to variations of an impedance of the load. The generator includes a compensation subsystem coupled to the power amplifier that controls a conduction angle of the power amplifier to enable a sensitivity of the power amplifier to be adjusted.
US08716980B2
An electronic device includes a secondary battery having at least one bare cell, the secondary battery including a charge/discharge switching module for placing the secondary battery in one of a charging state for charging the at least one bare cell or a discharging state for discharging the at least one bare cell; and an analog front end for generating an analog signal based on information of the secondary battery and for transmitting the analog signal out of the secondary battery; and a processor external to the secondary battery for receiving the analog signal from the analog front end and for controlling the charge/discharge switching module in accordance with the analog signal.
US08716974B2
A resonance type non-contact charging system is disclosed that includes a resonance system. The resonance system has a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a reflected power detecting section, a power converting section having a DC/DC converter, and a battery. The charging system has a controlling section that controls the DC/DC converter. The controlling section controls the duty cycle of the DC/DC converter based on detection result of the reflected power detecting section such that the input impedance of the resonance system at the resonant frequency and the output impedance of a high-frequency power source match each other.
US08716973B1
A haptic arm comprising: a user connection element; a reference; a first linkage connecting the user connection element to the reference, where the first linkage provides at least six independent degrees of freedom, and contains an intermediate link, three force sensors, three angle sensors; a second linkage connecting the intermediate link to the reference; a third linkage connecting the intermediate link to the reference a fourth linkage connecting the intermediate link to the reference; the second, third, and fourth linkages each containing an independent actuator and position sensor.
US08716970B2
A method for controlling a motor comprises steps of: first, determining whether a switch of a motor control circuit in an electronic system is in a first state; then, operating the motor at a fanless operation mode when a temperature inside an enclosure of the electronic system is higher than zero and lower than a first threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is zero rpm; operating the motor at a silent operation mode when the temperature is higher than the first threshold temperature and lower than a second threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is a constant rotation speed; and operating the motor at a cooling operation mode when the temperature is higher than the second threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is a function of the temperature and varies between the constant rotation speed and a maximum rotation speed.
US08716969B2
A trash can with a power operated lid can include a sensor assembly and a lifting mechanism. The sensor assembly can include at least one light emitter and at least one light receiver, the viewing area of the at least one light receiver being limited in size. The lifting mechanism can include a controller, a drive motor, and a lifting member. The trash can with power operated lid can further include at least one position sensor for detecting the position of the lid.
US08716968B2
A control circuit for a blender provides low-cost power conditioning through the use of a high resistance which provides temporary power for operation of low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches for a time sufficient to switch the motor on, and a lower resistance which provides sufficient power for maintaining the motor on state indefinitely as instructed by the low-voltage logic circuitry. Low average power dissipation is provided by powering the low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches using the high resistance in a standby mode and switching in the lower resistance only when the motor is activated.
US08716967B2
A motor control device for controlling a three-phase brushless motor that has a rotor and field coils includes: a load range determining unit that determines a rotor rotation angle range, in which the three-phase brushless motor becomes a load, as a load range when a short-circuit fault occurs in one of a plurality of switching elements. The load range determining unit determines a rotor rotation angle range, in which load current is presumed to flow through a closed circuit formed of the short-circuit switching element and any one of regenerative diodes connected in parallel with the respective normal switching elements when the rotor is rotated in a state where all the switching elements other than the short-circuit switching element are turned off, as the load range.
US08716964B2
Phase correction unit (25) for outputting a commutation signal for switching a winding that allows a current to flow to brushless DC motor (4) and drive unit (16) for outputting a drive signal indicating supplying timing of electric power supplied to brushless DC motor (4) by inverter (3) based on the commutation signal output from phase correction unit (25) are provided so as to maintain a predetermined relation between a phase of a current flowing to a predetermined winding of brushless DC motor (4) and a phase of a voltage. Since brushless DC motor (4) is driven by a signal for holding the predetermined relation between the phase of the current and the phase of the voltage, the stability of drive under high-speed and high-load conditions is enhanced and a drive range is extended.
US08716959B2
A linear motion control device for use in a linear control system is presented. The linear motion control device includes a coil driver to drive a coil that, when driven, effects a linear movement by a motion device having a magnet. The linear motion control device also includes a magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field associated with the linear movement and an interface to connect an output of the magnetic field sensor and an input of the coil driver to an external controller. The interface includes a feedback loop to relate the magnetic field sensor output signal to the coil driver input.
US08716953B2
Mechanisms for light management include a light emitting diode (LED) light bulb. The LED light bulb includes multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured for illumination in the LED light bulb and includes a battery. A base is configured to fit a standard socket designed for an incandescent light bulb, and the base is configured to operatively connect to an electrical power source. A module is operative to detect a residual voltage of the power source when a control for powering the LED light bulb is powered off. The module is configured to determine that a power outage occurred and operative to switch to battery power from the battery in response to not detecting the residual voltage of the power source.
US08716952B2
A lighting device comprising first, second and third groups of solid state light emitters, the first group emitting light having a dominant wavelength of 430 to 490 nm, the second group at 525 to 575 (in some devices 540 to 575 nm), the third group at 610 to 640 nm. In some devices, wavelength of light from emitters in first and second groups, and light from second and third groups, differs by at least 70 nm. Some devices emit light having CRI Ra of at least 70 when first, second and third groups of emitters are illuminated. Also, a lighting arrangement comprising first, second and third groups as above, in addition to a fourth emitter emitting light of dominant wavelength outside the ranges for the first, second and third groups, and not more than 10 nm different from a dominant wavelength of a color on an item to be illuminated.
US08716947B2
Various embodiments relate to a method of producing a high precision current using N current mirrors, a feedback control amplifier, and a reference current regulator to drive a light emitting diode, including: selecting one of the N current mirrors as a first current mirror; driving the first current mirror using a reference current produced by the reference current regulator; measuring a first sense voltage at the first current mirror; measuring a second sense voltage at a second current mirror that is one of the remaining N−1 current mirrors; integrating a difference of the first sense voltage and the second sense voltage to produce a feedback signal; and driving the remaining N−1 current mirrors using the feedback signal.
US08716943B2
According to one embodiment, a light-emitting device includes a substrate including an insulating surface, a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted on the surface of the substrate and electrically connected to each other, a positive power feeding conductor and a negative power feeding conductor mounted on the surface of the substrate to feed power to the light-emitting elements, lead-out terminals leading from the power feeding conductors, to the outside of an mounting area of the light-emitting elements, and an anti-noise part connected to the lead-out terminals and arranged outside the mounting area.
US08716942B2
A first lighting assembly receives a lighting profile that instructs the first lighting assembly to operate according to the lighting profile over a first period of time. The received lighting profile is implemented, including causing a light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a first intensity. An input acquired in proximity to the first lighting assembly and indicating activity in a region proximate the first lighting assembly is received. The received lighting profile is then deviated from, in response to the received input, by increasing the intensity of the light to illuminate at a second intensity for a predetermined period of time. A message is transmitted for receipt by the control center, the message including an indication of the increased light intensity and an identifier associated with the first lighting assembly.
US08716937B1
A lighting ballast includes a filament drive reduction circuit with a first inductor coupled across a filament drive source, and a second inductor and a capacitor coupled in parallel to define an LC tank between a first end of the first inductor and the filament drive source. The inductance value of the second inductor and the capacitance value of the capacitor are selected such that the natural resonance of the LC tank is substantially equal to the normal operating frequency of the filament drive source, wherein the LC tank acts as an open circuit during normal operation and the first inductor acts to balance the pin currents of series connected lamp filaments. The first and second inductors are further substantially equal in value, wherein excess filament drive current is shunted away in accordance with a normal operating frequency.
US08716935B2
A light irradiation control system for a vehicle lamp includes a control unit configured to provide control signals for controlling light irradiation of the vehicle lamp based on detection signals detected by sensors. Actuator units are configured to control the light irradiation of the vehicle lamp based on the control signals. The control unit includes a body-side control unit and a lamp-side control unit. The body-side control unit is configured to perform signal processing on the detection signals and to provide the signal-processed signals to a common bus as common data. The lamp-side control unit, which is mounted in at least some of the actuator units, is connected to the common bus to provide the control signals based on the common data provided to the common bus.
US08716931B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate main body; an organic light emitting element on the substrate main body; an encapsulation substrate covering the organic light emitting element and coupled to the substrate main body; a translucent insulating layer filter formed on the encapsulation substrate; and a microcavity between the translucent insulating layer filter and the encapsulation substrate.
US08716924B2
A spark plug having a metallic shell covered with a nickel plating layer and having a groove portion formed between a tool engagement portion and a gas seal portion and having an orthogonal-to-axis sectional area of 36 mm2 or less.
US08716919B2
A drive apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a movable unit configured to include a first sliding surface, and slide along the first sliding surface; a vibration generating unit configured to generate vibrations; a vibration transmitting unit configured to include a second sliding surface in contact with the first sliding surface of the movable unit, and transmit the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the movable unit via the first and second sliding surfaces; a pre-pressure applying unit configured to apply pre-pressure to the movable unit via the vibration transmitting unit; and a driving force generating unit configure to generate a driving force for driving the movable unit in a predetermined direction, the driving force being greater than a friction force between the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface when the vibrations are being transmitted to the vibration transmitting unit, the driving force being smaller than the friction force when the vibrations are not being transmitted to the vibration transmitting unit.
US08716912B2
A rotor for an outer rotor-type motor is provided. The rotor includes a metallic coupler and a polymeric frame molded over at least part of the metallic coupler.
US08716908B2
A power tool in the form of an electric disc grinder has a driving motor for driving a grinding wheel that performs a grinding or polishing operation on a workpiece, a motor housing that houses the driving motor, a rear cover that is mounted to a rear end region of the motor housing and forms together with the motor housing a grip to be held by a user, and a power switch including an operating lever that extends longitudinally on both of the motor housing and the rear cover and is operated by gripping with a user's hand, and a switch part that is disposed within the rear cover and actuated by operation of the operating lever to control energization of the driving motor and connected to the operating lever through an opening.
US08716904B2
The present disclosure relates to a high-voltage pulse generator including a “frozen-wave” generation system for generating high-voltage pulses and a trigger system for triggering the pulses, the generation system including a first and a second photoconductor element, wherein the triggering system includes means for generating a laser light beam and means for splitting the laser beam into two laser beam fractions, each laser beam fraction being directed onto a photoconductor element of the generation system, the splitting means being capable of controlling the distribution of the respective powers of the two laser beam fractions as a function of the orientation of the polarization of the laser beam. The present disclosure also relates to a facility comprising multiple high-voltage pulse generators and electrooptic pump-probe equipment operating such a high-voltage pulse generator.
US08716902B2
The present invention provides a system and apparatus for transferring electronic data and/or power from one station to another by means of a transportable pod comprising a solid state memory device and further provided with an inductively linked, electrically insulated connector. The transportable pod comprises a battery which is used to power a remote host docking station, which may be used in an underwater environment for the collection of subsea data. The transportable pod can be transferred alternately from a home docking station, where it is charged up, and where it's stored data is uploaded and to a remote host docking station where is provides power, and where it collects and stores data collected by the remote host docking station.
US08716899B2
A wireless power transceiving system includes a power transmitting apparatus which converts power into a resonance wave and transmits the resonance wave, and a power receiving apparatus which receives the transmitted resonance wave, and converts the resonance wave into DC power using a parallel resonant rectifier circuit that is impedance matched with impedance generated in the power receiving apparatus by parasitic components at a frequency of the resonance wave.
US08716888B2
The voltage control apparatus (202) includes: a first information obtaining unit (302) obtaining an output value of active power output from each of the distributed generations, and a voltage deviation amount or a voltage value at a point of common coupling of each of the distributed generations; and a control variable calculating unit (303) calculating a control variable corresponding to an amount of the active power or reactive power that should be changed and is to be output from each of the distributed generations to the distribution system so that the voltage deviation amount or the voltage value at one of the points of common coupling falls within a predetermined proper range in advance, wherein the control variable calculating unit calculates the control variable to be larger, as the output value of the active power output from one of the distributed generations is larger.
US08716884B2
There is provided a vehicle controller that is mounted in a box-shaped manner beneath the floor or on the roof of a vehicle so as to supply electric power to vehicle apparatuses. The vehicle controller is configured with a plurality of functional modules 4; each of the functional modules 4 has at one side thereof an interface side 22 in which a first interface region 5 where signal-line terminals are arranged and a second interface region 6 where power-line terminals are arranged are separated; in each of the interface sides 22, the first interface region 5 is disposed in the vicinity of one and the same end and the second interface region 6 is disposed in the vicinity of the other and the same end; the plurality of functional modules includes a monitoring circuit, an overvoltage protection circuit, and an inverter.
US08716883B2
Disclosed is a mobile terminal capable of converting an operational state of a controller thereof upon generation of a preset event and controlling an operational state of a particular terminal having a communication connection under control of the controller, and a control method thereof, the control method for controlling power functions within a vehicle telematics control unit comprising: accessing stored voltage information for a battery included in a vehicle; determining a present voltage characteristic of the battery based on measurements of voltage; determining whether a difference exists between the stored voltage information and the present voltage characteristic; converting an operational state of a vehicle telematics control unit responsive to determining that a difference exists; accessing threshold information associated with the battery; comparing the present voltage characteristic of the battery to the threshold information; determining whether the present voltage characteristic of the battery satisfies a threshold requirement indicated by the threshold information; and generating a first control signal responsive to determining that the present voltage characteristic of the battery satisfies the threshold requirement indicated by the threshold information.
US08716874B2
A semiconductor device that is resin-sealed in a wafer level after a rewiring layer forming process and a metal post forming process forming a metal post are performed on a semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor device includes devices formed on the semiconductor substrate. Further all of the devices are disposed in respective positions other than positions overlapping a peripheral border of the metal post when viewed from a top of the semiconductor substrate.
US08716860B2
A tin (Sn)-based solder ball and a semiconductor package including the same are provided. The tin-based solder ball includes about 0.2 to 4 wt. % silver (Ag), about 0.1 to 1 wt. % copper (Cu), about 0.001 to 0.3 wt. % aluminum (Al), about 0.001% to 0.1 wt. % germanium (Ge), and balance of tin and unavoidable impurities. The tin-based solder ball has a high oxidation resistance.
US08716858B2
A semiconductor device includes a barrier layer between a solder bump and a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) layer. The barrier layer is formed of at least one of an electroless nickel (Ni) layer, an electroless palladium (Pd) layer or an immersion gold (Au) layer.
US08716849B2
A stiffener molded to a semiconductor substrate, such as a lead frame, and methods of molding the stiffener to the substrate are provided. The stiffener is molded to the substrate to provide rigidity and support to the substrate. A stiffener material can comprise a polymeric material molded to the substrate by a molding technique such as transfer molding, injection molding, and spray molding, or using an encapsulating material. One or more dies, chips, or other semiconductor or microelectronic devices can be disposed on the substrate to form a die assembly. The stiffener can be molded to a substrate comprising one or more dies, over which an encapsulating material can be applied to produce a semiconductor die package.
US08716847B2
Flow diverting structures for preferentially impeding, redirecting or both impeding and redirecting the flow of flowable encapsulant material, such as molding compound, proximate a selected surface or surfaces of a semiconductor die or dice during encapsulation are disclosed. Flow diverting structures may be included in or associated with one or more portions of a lead frame, such as a paddle, tie bars, or lead fingers. Flow diverting structures may also be inserted into a mold in association with semiconductor dice carried on non-lead frame substrates, such as interposers and circuit boards, to preferentially impede, redirect or both impede and redirect the flow of molding compound flowing between and over the semiconductor dice.
US08716846B2
A method of packaging a pressure sensor die includes providing a lead frame having a die pad and lead fingers that surround the die pad. A tape is attached to a first side of the lead frame. A pressure sensor die is attached to the die pad on a second side of the lead frame and bond pads of the die are connected to the lead fingers. An encapsulant is dispensed onto the second side of the lead frame and covers the lead fingers and the electrical connections thereto. A gel is dispensed onto a top surface of the die and covers the die bond pads and the electrical connections thereto. A lid is attached to the lead frame and covers the die and the gel, and sides of the lid penetrate the encapsulant.
US08716844B2
A chip package includes: a substrate; a signal pad and a ground pad disposed on the substrate; a first and a second conducting layers disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the signal pad and the ground pad, respectively, wherein the first and the second conducting layers extend from an upper surface of the substrate towards a lower surface of the substrate along a first and a second side surfaces of the substrate, respectively, and the first and the second conducting layers protrude from the lower surface; and a protection layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the protection layer completely covers the entire portion of the first conducting layer located on the first side surface of the substrate, and the entire portion of the second conducting layer located on the second side surface of the substrate is not covered by the protection layer.
US08716842B2
A semiconductor device includes a dielectric layer in which zirconium, hafnium, and a IV group element are mixed. A method for fabricating a capacitor includes forming a bottom electrode, forming the dielectric layer and forming a top electrode over the dielectric layer.
US08716841B1
A photolithography mask and method includes receiving a layout of an integrated circuit including main pattern elements, inserting an array of dummy pattern elements between and around the main pattern elements, analyzing a diffraction spectrum of at least one of the main pattern elements and the array of dummy pattern elements, and varying one or more of a first pitch between corresponding features of dummy pattern elements adjacent to each other in a first direction and a second pitch between corresponding features of dummy pattern elements adjacent to each other in a second direction based on the analyzed diffraction spectrum to form a modified array of dummy pattern elements. The diffraction spectrum of the modified array of dummy pattern elements and the main pattern elements is more diffuse than a diffraction spectrum of a corresponding array of dummy pattern elements in which neither the first nor second pitch are varied and the main pattern elements.
US08716832B2
One or more embodiments related to a semiconductor structure, comprising: a conductive feature; an outer guard ring; and an inner guard ring between the outer guard ring and the conductive feature, the inner guard ring being electrically coupled to the conductive feature.
US08716821B2
A semiconductor device contains a photodiode which includes a buried collection region formed by a bandgap well to vertically confine photo-generated minority carriers. the bandgap well has the same conductivity as the semiconductor material immediately above and below the bandgap well. A net average doping density in the bandgap well is at least a factor of ten less than net average doping densities immediately above and below the bandgap well. A node of the photodiode, either the anode or the cathode, is connected to the buried collection region to collect the minority carriers, the polarity of the node matches the polarity of the minority carriers. The photodiode node connected to the buried collection region occupies less lateral area than the lateral area of the buried collection region.
US08716820B2
A memory includes an underlying layer of a ferromagnetic body, a first nonmagnetic layer on the underlying layer, a data memorizing layer laid on the first nonmagnetic layer and made of a ferromagnetic body having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, a reference layer coupled through a second nonmagnetic layer with the data memorizing layer, and first and second magnetization fixed layers laid underneath the underlying layer to come into contact with the underlying layer. The data memorizing layer includes a magnetization liberalized region having reversible magnetization, and overlapping with the reference layer, a first magnetization fixed region coupled with an end of the magnetization liberalized region, and having a magnetization direction fixed to +z direction by the first magnetization fixed layer, and a second magnetization fixed region coupled with a different end of the magnetization liberalized region, and having a magnetization direction fixed to −z direction by the second magnetization fixed layer.
US08716817B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory element includes a stacked body including first and second stacked units stacked with each other. The first stacked unit includes first and second ferromagnetic layers and a first nonmagnetic layer provided therebetween. The second stacked unit includes third and fourth ferromagnetic layers and a second nonmagnetic layer provided therebetween. Magnetization of the second and third ferromagnetic layers are variable. Magnetizations of the first and fourth ferromagnetic layers are fixed in a direction perpendicular to the layer surfaces. A cross-sectional area of the third ferromagnetic layer is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the first stacked unit when cut along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction.
US08716816B2
A multi-layer stacked micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) device that acts as a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a hermetically sealed device cavity formed by a wafer bonding process with semiconductor and insulator layers. The CMUT design uses a doped Si SOI and wafer bonding fabrication method, and is composed of semiconductor layers, insulator layers, and metal layers. Conventional doped silicon may be used for electrode layers. Other suitable semi-conductor materials such as silicon carbide may be used for the electrode layers. The insulator may be silicon oxide, silicon nitride or other suitable dielectric.
US08716811B2
A semiconductor device includes a first conduction-type semiconductor substrate, a first semiconductor region of a first conduction-type formed on the semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor region of a second conduction-type formed on a surface of the first semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region of the second conduction-type formed to be separated from the second semiconductor region on the surface of the first semiconductor region, a fourth semiconductor region of the second conduction-type formed to be separated from the second semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region on the surface of the first semiconductor region, and a first electrode connected to the second semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region.
US08716809B2
Hardened programmable logic devices are provided with programmable circuitry. The programmable circuitry may be hardwired to implement a custom logic circuit. Generic fabrication masks may be used to form the programmable circuitry and may be used in manufacturing a product family of hardened programmable logic devices, each of which may implement a different custom logic circuit. Custom fabrication masks may be used to hardwire the programmable circuitry to implement a specific custom logic circuit. The programmable circuitry may be hardwired in such a way that signal timing characteristics of a hardened programmable logic device that implements a custom logic circuit may match the signal timing characteristics of a programmable logic device that implements the same custom logic circuit using configuration data.
US08716808B2
An integrated circuit including a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) static random access memory (SRAM) with periodic deep well structures within the memory cell array. The deep well structures are contacted by surface well regions of the same conductivity type (e.g., n-type) in the memory cell array, forming two-dimensional grids of both n-type and p-type semiconductor material in the memory cell array area. Bias conductors may contact the grids to apply the desired well bias voltages, for example in well-tie regions or peripheral circuitry adjacent to the memory cell array.
US08716807B2
A semiconductor device includes a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET located on a substrate, the first FET comprising a first interfacial oxide layer, and the second FET comprising a second interfacial oxide layer, wherein the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET is thicker than the first interfacial oxide layer of the first FET; and a recess located in the substrate adjacent to the second FET.
US08716806B2
Methods and associated structures of forming a microelectronic device are described. Those methods may include forming a source/drain region in an NMOS portion of a substrate, wherein the source/drain region of the NMOS portion comprises at least one dislocation, and wherein a PMOS source/drain region in a PMOS portion of the substrate does not comprise a dislocation.
US08716804B2
A semiconductor device and methods for small trench patterning are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of gate structures and sidewall spacers, and an etch buffer layer disposed over the sidewall spacers. The etch buffer layer includes an overhang component disposed on the upper portion of the sidewall spacers with an edge that extends laterally. The width between the edges of adjacent overhang components is narrower than the width between adjacent sidewall spacers.
US08716795B2
Methods of making, structures, devices, and/or applications for lateral double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an LDMOS transistor with source, drain, and gate regions on a substrate, can include: forming p-type and n-type buried layer (PBL, NBL) regions; growing an epitaxial (N-EPI) layer on the NBL/PBL regions; forming a p-doped deep p-well (DPW) region on the PBL region; forming a well region in the N-EPI layer; forming a doped body region; forming an active area and a field oxide (FOX) region, and forming a drain oxide between the source and drain regions of the LDMOS transistor; forming a gate oxide adjacent to the source and drain regions, and forming a gate on the gate oxide and a portion of the drain oxide; and forming a doped drain region, and first and second doped source regions.
US08716787B2
A fabrication method of a power semiconductor device is provided. Firstly, a plurality of trenched gate structures is formed in the base. Then, a body mask is used for forming a pattern layer on the base. The pattern layer has at least a first open and a second open for forming at least a body region and a heavily doped region in the base respectively. Then, a shielding structure is formed on the base to fill the second open and line at least a sidewall of the first open. Next, a plurality of source doped regions is formed in the body region by using the pattern layer and the shielding structure as the mask. Then, an interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the base and a plurality of source contact windows is formed therein to expose the source doped regions.
US08716783B2
A field effect transistor (FET) includes a plurality of trenches extending into a silicon layer, each trench having upper sidewalls that fan out. Contact openings extend into the silicon layer between adjacent trenches such that each trench and an adjacent contact opening form a common upper sidewall portion. Body regions extend between adjacent trenches. Source regions that are self-aligned to corresponding trenches extend in the body regions adjacent opposing sidewalls of each trench, and have a conductivity type opposite that of the body regions.
US08716781B2
A first conductive layer and an underlying charge storage layer are patterned to form a control gate in an NVM region. A first dielectric layer and barrier layer are formed over the control gate. A sacrificial layer is formed over the barrier layer and planarized. A first patterned masking layer is formed over the sacrificial layer and control gate in the NVM region which defines a select gate location laterally adjacent the control gate in the NVM region. A second masking layer is formed in the logic region which defines a logic gate location. Exposed portions of the sacrificial layer are removed such that a first portion remains at the select gate location. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first portion and planarized to expose the first portion. The first portion is removed to result in an opening at the select gate location which exposes the barrier layer.
US08716779B2
A flash memory device includes an active region, drain contacts, a source contact line, and source contacts. The active regions are formed on a substrate extend at least from a source region to a drain region of the substrate. The drain contacts are formed over the active regions in the drain region. The source contact line is formed in the source region of the semiconductor substrate. The source contact line intersects the active regions and is continuously line-shaped. The source contact line includes source contacts formed at locations where the source contact line and the active regions intersect. The source contacts are zigzag-shaped and are separated from corresponding drain contacts by a given distance.
US08716777B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a sealing insulation film over a semiconductor substrate including a device isolation film and an active region, forming a bit line contact plug that protrudes from an upper part of the sealing insulation film and is coupled to the active region, forming a spacer over a sidewall of the protruded bit line contact plug, and forming a bit line coupled to an upper part of the bit line contact plug.
US08716773B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a memory cell region and a peripheral circuit region; a bit line extending over the memory cell region and the peripheral circuit region, the bit line including a first portion in the peripheral circuit region; and a sense amplifier in the peripheral circuit region. The sense amplifier includes a transistor having a gate electrode which includes the first portion of the bit line.
US08716772B2
The present invention is generally directed to a DRAM cell design with folded digitline sense amplifier. In one illustrative embodiment, a memory array having a plurality of memory cells having an effective size of 6F2 is disclosed which has a plurality of dual bit active areas, each of the active areas having a substantially longitudinal axis, and a plurality of digitlines arranged in a folded digitline architecture, wherein the active areas are positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the active areas is oriented at an angle with respect to a centerline of the digitlines.
US08716765B2
A contact structure for a semiconductor device includes a substrate comprising a major surface and a cavity. A bottom surface of the cavity is lower than the major surface. The contact structure also includes a strained material in the cavity, and a lattice constant of the strained material is different from lattice constant of the substrate. The contact structure also includes a first metal layer over the strained material, a dielectric layer over the first metal layer, and a second metal layer over the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a thickness ranging from 1 nm to 10 nm.
US08716761B2
An image sensor for a semiconductor light-sensitive device including a semiconductor substrate and a light receiving device configured to receive light and generate a signal from the light. The image sensor may include an electron collecting device formed in the semiconductor substrate to receive at least a portion of the electrons generated by the light in the light receiving device. The image sensor may include a first type device isolation film configured to isolate the light receiving device from the electron collecting device. The image sensor may include a shielding film formed over the semiconductor substrate and configured to shield the first electron collecting device from the light.
US08716741B2
A highly reliable LED package mounting structure which can realize improvement in solder fatigue life at low costs is provided. An LED package has a light-emitting surface which is perpendicular to a mounting surface of a circuit board, comprises connection terminal portions on the side face or on the side face and the bottom face of the package, and is joined with the circuit board by soldering via the connection terminal portion. Furthermore, the shape of the solder is optimized by defining the relative position relation between the end of an electrode on the central side of the LED package on the bottom face of an LED package body and the end of a component mounting pad on the circuit board.
US08716714B2
A method of manufacturing a display device including an electrostatic discharge protection circuit, the method including: forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; crystallizing a partial region of the amorphous silicon layer into a polycrystalline silicon layer; and forming at least one transistor on the amorphous silicon layer that was not crystallized into the polycrystalline layer, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection circuit comprises the at least one transistor.
US08716710B2
A thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate comprises: a substrate; an active layer and a capacitor first electrode formed on the substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the substrate, the active layer and the capacitor first electrode; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film corresponding to the active layer and a capacitor second electrode formed on the gate insulating film corresponding to the capacitor first electrode; an interlayer insulating film formed on the gate insulating film, the gate electrode, and the capacitor second electrode; and a pixel electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode formed on the interlayer insulating film; wherein at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode is formed on the pixel electrode. A method of fabricating the TFT array substrate is also disclosed.
US08716709B2
The present invention provides an inexpensive display device that includes an ion sensor portion and a display and that can be miniaturized. The present invention is a display device that includes an ion sensor portion including an ion sensor circuit and a display including a display-driving circuit. The display device has a substrate, and at least one portion of the ion sensor circuit and at least one portion of the display-driving circuit are formed on the same main surface of the substrate.
US08716708B2
Provided is a bottom-gate transistor including an oxide semiconductor, in which electric-field concentration which might occur in the vicinity of an end portion of a drain electrode layer (and the vicinity of an end portion of a source electrode layer) when a high gate voltage is applied to a gate electrode layer is reduced and degradation of switching characteristics is suppressed, so that the reliability is improved. The cross-sectional shape of an insulating layer which overlaps over a channel formation region is a tapered shape. The thickness of the insulating layer which overlaps over the channel formation region is 0.3 μm or less, preferably 5 nm or more and 0.1 μm or less. The taper angle θ of a lower end portion of the cross-sectional shape of the insulating layer which overlaps over the channel formation region is 60° or smaller, preferably 45° or smaller, further preferably 30° or smaller.
US08716704B2
An organic electroluminescent device including a driving element having a driving gate electrode connected to the switching element, the driving gate electrode formed uniformly on the substrate, a driving source electrode having a first driving source electrode along a first direction and a plurality of second driving source electrodes extending from the first driving source electrode along a second direction crossing the first direction, a driving drain electrode spaced apart from the driving source electrode, the driving drain electrode having a first driving drain electrode along the first direction and a plurality of second driving drain electrodes extending from the first driving drain electrode along the second direction, wherein the plurality of second driving source electrodes alternate with the plurality of second driving drain electrodes, wherein the driving source electrode and the driving drain electrode including an interval therebetween are facing the driving gate electrode.
US08716703B2
Provided is an organic semiconductor transistor including plural electrodes, and an organic semiconductor layer containing at least one fluorene compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 each independently represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 3.
US08716699B2
There is provided an organic light-emitting diode luminaire. The luminaire includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electroluminescent layer therebetween. The electroluminescent layer includes: a host material capable of electroluminescence having an emission color that is blue; and a dopant having an emission color that is red-orange. The additive mixing of the emitted colors results in an overall emission of white light.
US08716681B1
In one embodiment, a sample processing method includes placing a sample on a sample placing module, and setting first processing boxes on one side of slice formation scheduled regions of the sample, and second processing boxes on the other side thereof. The method includes processing the sample by performing a primary scan which sequentially scans the first processing boxes with a continuously generated ion beam, and a secondary scan which sequentially scans the second processing boxes with a continuously generated ion beam, to form slices of the sample. The primary and secondary scans are performed so that a first scanning condition for scanning first regions within the first and second processing boxes is set different from a second scanning condition for scanning second regions between the first processing boxes and between the second processing boxes, to allow frame portions of the sample to remain in the second regions.
US08716680B2
A system and method for improving the survivability of space systems following a High Altitude Nuclear Explosion (HANE) incident resulting in energetic electrons being trapped in the inner radiation belt of Earth is disclosed. The ULF electromagnetic waves is generated by space or ground based transmitters and the frequency range is selected such that the injected waves are in gyrofrequency resonance with trapped energetic particles. The Radiation Belt Remediation (RBR) depends on the wave-number of the injected waves and the wave-number of the injected waves increases along their propagation path when they approach the cyclotron frequency of the dominant or minority ions 0+, He+ and H+.
US08716678B2
A method is provided for manufacturing a microstructure on a substrate in which the substrate has thereon linear and parallel atomic steps. The microstructure includes linear elements that extend along the atomic steps. The method includes a step for preparing a substrate having atomic steps on its surface and a step for applying linear elements onto the substrate. Each linear element is oriented to extend along one of the atomic steps, with the result that a microstructure in which the linear elements extend along the atomic steps is formed on the substrate. The substrate can be prepared by subjecting a silicon carbide substrate, a sapphire substrate, or a zinc oxide substrate to an ultrasmoothing process. As the linear elements, peptide fibers can be employed that are made up of peptide molecules that form β-sheet structures.
US08716677B2
An apparatus includes a transverse scanning optical system in the path of a first light beam traveling along a first optic axis; a wavefront correction system in the path of a second light beam traveling along a second optic axis, the wavefront correction system including a wavefront correction device having a spatial phase profile on its surface; a beam combiner that receives the first light beam and the second light beam and outputs an interference beam having a beat frequency equal to a difference frequency between the first light beam and second light beam; and a detection system placed relative to a random scattering medium, which is in the path of the interference beam. The detection system detects measurement light produced by the random scattering medium while the interference beam strikes the random scattering medium.
US08716674B2
The present invention provides a timing device, especially a timing device for use in mass spectrometers, for example TOF mass spectrometers, for processing trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event, the timing device having: a trigger signal deserialiser configured to receive trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event as serial data and to output the trigger signal data as parallel data, and wherein suitably the timing device has a processing means configured to process trigger signal data outputted by the trigger signal deserialiser as parallel data.
US08716672B2
The present invention provides a charged particle optical system which emits a charged particle beam, the system including an electrostatic lens, and a grid electrode opposed to the electrostatic lens along an optical axis of the electrostatic lens, and configured to form an electrostatic field in cooperation with the electrostatic lens, wherein the grid electrode is configured such that an electrode surface, opposed to the electrostatic lens, of the grid electrode has a distance, from the electrostatic lens in a direction of the optical axis, which varies with a position in the electrode surface.
US08716670B2
Methods and apparatus for a detector system to detect gamma and neutron radiation. In one embodiment, a detector comprises a tank to hold a liquid, a plurality of tubes adjacent the tank to detect neutrons, and a plurality of photon detectors to detect Cherenkov light generated by gamma radiation in the liquid. The tank is configured to contain the liquid so that the liquid generates the Cherenkov light and moderates the neutrons.
US08716668B2
The present invention provides a radiation detector which comprises a tube and detector elements distributed over the tube. Such an arrangement can be used to provide information on a radiation beam prior to interaction with a patient and after interaction with the patient. The detector is particularly compact and therefore suited to use with apparatus where space is restricted. By a particular arrangement of detectors and optical fibers, the detector can provide data at all angles of rotation.
US08716666B1
Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a contaminant material in a food sample. The method includes irradiating a food sample with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, the beam having a plurality of frequencies in the range of about 100 GHz to about 2 THz; detecting radiation transmitted and/or reflected from the food sample; and, analyzing the detected radiation to determine the presence of contaminant material. The contaminant material may be melamine, cyanuric acid, ammeline, or ammelide.
US08716664B2
An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an MR scanner including a magnet that defines an opening in which a subject is positioned, a set of PET detectors disposed between the opening and the magnet, and a plurality of data processing units, each data processing unit being configured for communication with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors. Each data processing unit includes an RF shield housing, and the RF shield housings of the plurality of data processing units are disposed in a symmetrical arrangement relative to the opening.
US08716655B2
An apparatus including an ion injector having an inlet and an outlet and a micro-corona ionizer positioned between the inlet and the outlet of the ion injector. A drift and separation channel having a first end and a second end is positioned with the first end coupled to outlet of the ion injector, and an ion detector is coupled to the second end of the ion separation and drift channel. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08716653B2
Various embodiments of ion detection systems, devices, and associated methods of operation are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for ion detection includes separating a target species from other species in an ionized sample of a first polarity, generating ions of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, and contacting ions of the second polarity with the ionized sample to generate emissions after separating the target species from other species in the ionized sample. The method also includes detecting the generated emissions when combining the ionized sampled of the first polarity with the ions of the second polarity.
US08716642B2
The present invention provides a method and a device for automatic inclination compensation of solar sunlight tracing panel. The device includes a plurality of solar panels adjacent to each other and capable of swinging towards sun. Two or more light sensors are separately installed on the light receiving end surface to be illuminated by sunlight and to generate electric potential signals. When comparing the electric potential signals and there is potential difference, the solar panels are driven to synchronically swing until the electric potential of the electric potential signal become the same. Thus the solar plane inclination is compensated and the whole light receiving end is illuminated by sun.
US08716638B2
A food package kit including a plurality of trays having a bottom, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, and a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange includes a rim section configured to receive a sealing film, and a recessed section extending from the rim section, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein the kit also includes a sleeve adapted to contain the trays completely therein, the sleeve including a sleeve top, a first depending sleeve side, and a second depending sleeve side and a sleeve bottom, wherein the tray is completely disposed within the sleeve by frictional force between the tray and the sleeve.
US08716634B2
A temperature monitoring system for a flexible, thin-film graphite heater element includes a temperature sensing component that uses the heater element to sense temperature. The temperature sensing component includes a current sensor and a voltmeter circuit. A temperature control component is associated with the heater element. The temperature control component receives at least one set point value associated with the heater and controls the temperature of the heater element based on the at least one set point value.
US08716632B1
A scent bowl may include a base having an external concave base surface and at least one sidewall extending from the base. A majority of the base and the at least one sidewall may be formed of ceramic material. A system for scenting the air in a room with scent from a scent bowl may include a scent bowl warmer configured to generate heat at a first temperature and a detachable and separate scent bowl including a base having an external concave base surface and at least one sidewall extending from the base and a scent emitter therein, the scent emitter having a fragrance and a second temperature at which the fragrance evaporates. The first temperature is high enough to evaporate at least a portion of the fragrance from the scent emitter in the bowl in less than three hours.
US08716630B2
A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.
US08716627B2
A welding system is provided for welding a first work piece to a second work piece at a joint having a weld face and a root face. The welding system includes a weld face sensor configured to determine first joint characteristics at the weld face; a root face sensor configured to determine second joint characteristics at the root face; a controller coupled to the weld face sensor and the root face sensor and configured to generate positioning signals based on the first joint characteristics and the second joint characteristics; and a welding gun coupled to the controller and positioned proximate to the weld face, the welding gun configured to generate a welding beam for welding the joint based on the positioning signals from the controller.
US08716621B2
A head for the continuous precision machining on three-dimensional bodies includes a fastening means to a flange of a machining equipment, having a first mechanical rotation axis, an intermediate means having a second mechanical rotation axis in series to the first mechanical rotation axis. The second mechanical rotation axis is orthogonal to the first mechanical rotation axis which intersects at a point of intersection. A terminal processing means has in series with the first and second mechanical rotation axes a third mechanical translating axis. The intermediate means has an arc configuration of a circumference with its centre at the point of intersection. The first mechanical rotation axis and the third mechanical translating axis are radially oriented to the arc.
US08716596B1
A silicon solar cell having a silicon substrate includes p-type and n-type emitters on a surface of the substrate, the emitters being doped nano-particles of silicon. To reduce high interface recombination at the substrate surface, the nano-particle emitters are preferably formed over a thin interfacial tunnel oxide layer on the surface of the substrate.
US08716594B2
Novel structures of photovoltaic cells (also called as solar cells) are provided. The Cells are based on the micro (or nano) structures which could not only increase the surface area but also have the capability of self concentrating the solar spectrum incident onto the cell. These photovoltaic cells have large power generation capability per unit physical area over the conventional cells. These cells will have enormous applications such as in space, in commercial, residential and industrial applications.
US08716593B2
A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
US08716587B2
Musical instruments are described including a first portion designed to be operated by one hand of a player and a second portion designed to be operated by the other hand. The two portions include means within each for sensing hand and/or finger activity, position or movement, and one of the portions is adapted to produce an output signal corresponding to the music being played by the user. The two portions may be physically connected together or they may be separate, each including its own power supply to enable it to operate, and for the two portions to communicate with one another. The invention is of particular value in the construction of practice instruments which do not need to include a sound box, and can thus be very compact, especially if the two parts, such as a fingerboard (20) and a body (82) with strings (83) mounted on it are connected by a telescopic neck (60A).
US08716582B2
A percussive shaker instrument with improved control in producing rhythmic sound and capable of producing different percussive sounds in a single shaker is disclosed. The shaker comprises one or more channels filled with a striker material. The channel isolates the striker material from the striker material in other channels and from any other part of the shaker. The striker material is freely movable within the channel such that it may collide with a striking surface when the shaker is moved. Alternatively, the shaker may comprise one or more pairs of jingles suspended inside the shaker body. The jingles are freely movable within the body such that they are capable of striking each other when the shaker is moved.
US08716579B1
A novel maize variety designated X13A498 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13A498 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13A498 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13A498, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13A498. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13A498.
US08716570B2
A soybean cultivar designated S110127 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S110127, to the plants of soybean cultivar S110127, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S110127, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S110127. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110127. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110127, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S110127 with another soybean cultivar.
US08716563B2
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety WN0912882 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety WN0912882 and its progeny, and methods of making WN0912882.
US08716558B2
Novel pro-drugs and methods for their use to alter the growth and biological characteristics of living cells, tissues, or whole organisms are described. Such cells may include animal cells, plant cells and bacterial cells. The methods allow for selective activation of the pro-drugs at or near transformant host cells expressing a gene for an enzyme that activates the pro-drugs. Pro-drugs according to a preferred embodiment of the invention are conjugates of a bioactive compound and a chemical group that is capable of being cleaved from the bioactive compound by action of an enzyme. Methods according to this invention include, (a) introducing into targeted cells a gene encoding an enzyme and (b) administering a pro-drug, wherein the enzyme releases the pro-drug from conjugation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gene encoding the enzyme is a marker gene. Methods according to a preferred embodiment of the invention include altering protein production in a plant cell such as altering glycosylation of a protein produced by the plant cell.
US08716553B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions comprise novel nucleic acid sequences encoding a transcriptional activator involved in modulating gene expression in response to abiotic stress such as cold or drought. Methods for expressing the nucleic acid sequence in a plant and improving cold and/or drought tolerance of plants are also provided.
US08716551B2
The present invention concerns hybrid Lactuca sativa seeds which have a male sterile genotype and which are heterozygous for at least one distinct gene which provides plants derived from said seeds with a distinct phenotype. The invention also concerns a method for producing hybrid Lactuca sativa seeds, comprising a step for culture, in an enclosed medium, of phenotypically male sterile plants and phenotypically male fertile plants, a step for pollinization by diptera introduced into the closed medium upon flowering of the plants, and a step for harvesting the seeds produced by the male sterile plants.
US08716549B2
An absorbent article to be worn the lower torso is provided. The absorbent article comprises a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and a pair of longitudinal barrier cuffs attached to the chassis. Each of the longitudinal barrier cuffs comprises a web of material. The web of material comprises a first nonwoven component layer, and a second nonwoven component layer. Each of the longitudinal barrier cuffs comprises a longitudinal zone of attachment where each of the longitudinal barrier cuff attaches to the chassis, a longitudinal free edge, and a plurality of mechanical bonds disposed between the longitudinal zone of attachment and the free edge. The plurality of mechanical bonds attach one of a first portion of the web of material to a second portion of the web of material, and the web of material to a portion of the absorbent article.
US08716545B1
Methods and apparatuses for separating toluene from multiple hydrocarbon streams are provided. A method includes fractionating a first hydrocarbon stream, which includes benzene-depleted fractionation bottoms from benzene fractionation, in a first fractionation zone into a first fractionation overhead stream that includes toluene and a first fractionation bottoms. A second hydrocarbon stream, which includes toluene and is substantially free of compounds having a higher vapor pressure than toluene, is fractionated in a second fractionation zone into a second fractionation overhead stream including toluene and a second fractionation bottoms. The second fractionation zone is in liquid isolation from and in vapor communication with the first fractionation zone. The first fractionation bottoms are removed from the first fractionation zone, and the second fractionation bottoms are removed from the second fractionation zone separate from the first fractionation bottoms. The first fractionation overhead stream and the second fractionation overhead stream are combined to produce a combined fractionation overhead stream.
US08716539B2
Dinitroxylated diamantanes are suitable for being reacted with nucleophiles to form the corresponding disubstituted diamantanes. Surprisingly, at least dinitroxylated or hydroxylated diamantanes are rearranged in the presence of a strong acid and at least 4,9-nitroxylated or hydroxylated diamantanes are created. On this basis, 4,9-substituted diamantanes are able to be produced in a targeted manner by reaction with further nucleophiles. Methods for producing at least disubstituted diamantanes include: (a) at least dinitroxylation, followed by the substitution of all nitroxy groups by a nucleophile; or (b) at least dinitroxylation, the subsequent rearrangement in the presence of a strong acid, after realized rearrangement all nitroxy groups are replaced by a nucleophile; or (c) at least dinitroxylation, then subsequent reaction with water (as nucleophile), and rearrangement of the at least dihydroxylated compound in the presence of a strong acid, all hydroxy groups being replaced by another nucleophile in the event of a successful rearrangement.
US08716531B2
A method for producing a norbornene derivative includes forming a Mannich base represented by any of general formulae (5) to (7) by reacting a carbonyl compound represented by any of general formulae (1) to (3) and an amine compound represented by general formula (4) with each other in an acidic solvent, to thereby obtain a reaction liquid comprising the Mannich base in the acidic solvent, wherein the acidic solvent comprises a formaldehyde derivative and 0.01 mol/L or more of an acid represented by formula HX; reacting the Mannich base and a diene compound represented by general formula (8) with each other by adding an organic solvent, a base in an amount of 1.0 to 20.0 equivalents to the acid, and the diene compound to the reaction liquid, and then heating the reaction liquid, to thereby form the norbornene derivative represented by any of general formulae (9) to (11).
US08716530B2
The present invention discloses methods of use of facially amphiphilic polyaryl and polyarylalkynyl polymers and oligomers, including, but not limited to, pharmaceutical uses of the polymers and oligomers as antimicrobial agents and as antidotes for hemorrhagic complications associated with heparin therapy. The present invention also discloses novel facially amphiphilic polyaryl and polyarylalkynyl polymers and oligomers, compositions of the novel polymers and oligomers, including pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of designing and synthesizing the facially amphiphilic polyaryl and polyarylalkynyl polymers and oligomers.
US08716525B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid, and more specifically to a method of continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid, including: conducting gas phase oxidation of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of propane, propylene, butane, i-butylene, t-butylene, and (meth)acrolein in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a mixed gas containing (meth)acrylic acid; quenching the (meth)acrylic acid-containing mixed gas to remove high boiling point by-products in the (meth)acrylic acid-containing mixed gas; contacting the high boiling point by-product-free (meth)acrylic acid-containing mixed gas with water or an aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution containing (meth)acrylic acid; and purifying the aqueous solution containing (meth)acrylic acid to obtain (meth)acrylic acid.The continuous recovery method of (meth)acrylic acid according to the presentA invention may significantly reduce energy consumption and continuously recover high purity (meth)acrylic acid with excellent production efficiency compared to the previous recovery methods.
US08716522B2
Methods are disclosed for producing, from renewable carbon sources, acetic acid in an economical manner. In particular, these methods are directed to the separation and recovery of acetic acid as a substantial product (e.g., as much as 5% by weight or more) of biomass pyrolysis. For a given commercial biomass pyrolysis unit, the acetic acid yield can represent a significant quantity of that used in a major industrial applications such as purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production. According to some embodiments, pyrolysis conditions and/or flow schemes advantageously improve the recovery of acetic acid for a given purity level.
US08716518B2
A monomer compound has the formula (I): where each R1, R2, and R3 is independently H, F, C1-10 alkyl, fluoro-substituted C1-10 alkyl, C1-10 cycloalkyl, or fluoro-substituted C1-10 cycloalkyl, provided that at least one of R1, R2, or R3 is F; n is an integer of from 1 to 10, A is a halogenated or non-halogenated C2-30 olefin-containing polymerizable group, and G+ is an organic or inorganic cation. The monomer is the reaction product of a sultone precursor and the oxyanion of a hydroxy-containing halogenated or non-halogenated C2-30 olefin-containing compound. A polymer includes the monomer of formula (I).
US08716516B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyalkylene glycol di(meth)acrylates by reacting polyalkylene glycol with (meth)acrylic anhydride, wherein the reaction mixture contains at most 0.5% by weight of metal compounds and/or amines, the reaction is carried out in the presence of polymerization inhibitors and the reaction temperature is at least 60° C.
US08716513B2
Object To provide a method for producing a bis-quaternary ammonium salt efficiently and a novel synthetic intermediate thereof.Solution The present invention relates to a method for producing a bis-quaternary ammonium salt represented by a general formula [3] which comprises reacting a disulfonic acid ester represented by a general formula [1] (in the formula, definitions of two R1's and T are as described in claim 1) with a tertiary amine represented by a general formula [2] (in the formula, definitions of R3 to R5 are as described in claim 1), and a disulfonic acid ester represented by a general formula [1′] (in the formula, two R16's represent independently a halogen atom or a C1-C3 fluoroalkyl group, and two m's represent independently an integer of 1 to 5).
US08716509B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing ruthenium(0)-olefin complexes of the (arene)(diene)Ru(0) type by reacting a ruthenium starting compound of the formula Ru(+II)(X)p(Y)q (in which X=an anionic group, Y=an uncharged two-electron donor ligand, p=1 or 2, q=an integer from 1 to 6), with a cyclohexadiene derivative or a diene mixture comprising a cyclohexadiene derivative, in the presence of a base. In this process, the arene bound in the (arene)(diene)Ru(0) complex is formed from this cyclohexadiene derivative by oxidation. Suitable ruthenium(II) starting compounds are, for example, RuCl2(acetonitrile)4, RuCl2(pyridine)4 or RuCl2(DMSO)4. The bases used are inorganic or organic bases. The ruthenium(0)-olefin complexes prepared by the process according to the invention have a high purity and can be used as precursors for homogeneous catalysts, for preparation of functional ruthenium- or ruthenium oxide-containing layers and for therapeutic applications.
US08716508B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a metal catalyst comprising at least one ligand that is coordinated to the metal through at least one phosphorous (P) atom and at least one nitrogen (N) atom, the method comprising reacting a metal pre-cursor complex with an acid addition salt of an aminophosphine, diaminophosphine, aminodiphosphine or diaminodiphosphine, in the presence of a base.
US08716505B2
The present invention discloses a commercial process for the production of refined palm oil rich in natural carotene. The process for the production of natural carotene rich refined oil comprises the steps of: (i) fractionating crude palm oil to form a liquid fraction and a solid portion; (ii) separating the liquid fraction from the solid portion; (iii) degumming the liquid fraction; (iv) neutralizing the degummed liquid fraction to substantially remove free tatty acids and impurities; (v) washing off the soap resulting from the neutralization step; and (vi) deodorizing the neutralized the product of step (v) to remove remaining free fatty acids and other impurities contained therein, thus forming a refined palm oil that contains less than 0.1% free fatty acid, has a carotene content retained of about 75%, an iodine value of less than 60 and a peroxide value of zero.
US08716496B2
Substituted sulfonated coumarins are expressed in the general formula (I), where: R1 is H, OH, or a substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl radical, or —COR4, or —COOR4, or —CONHR4, R2 is H or a halogen, in particular fluorine, or a substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl radical, or —COR4, or —COOR4, or —CONHR4, R1 and R2 being capable of together forming a ring, such as a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or furane, R3 is H or a halogen, in particular fluorine, or a substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl radical, or —COR4, or —COOR4, or —CONHR4, where R4 is H, or a substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl radical, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and M is Na or K.
US08716486B2
Methods of treating or suppressing oxidative stress disorders including mitochondrial diseases, impaired energy processing disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and diseases of aging are disclosed, as well as compounds useful in the methods of the invention, such as 2-heterocyclylaminoalkyl-(p-quinone) derivatives.
US08716479B2
The invention is directed to a method to reduce a C—C double bond of an enone of a steroidal compound to produce a mixture of β ketone product and α ketone product, comprising treating a solution or suspension of the steroidal compound in a solvent with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst and a substituted pyridine.
US08716475B2
2-Aminopyrimidine compounds are described, which are useful as H4 receptor modulators. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by H4 receptor activity, such as allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and pruritis.
US08716466B2
Disclosed are methods for identification of agents that modulate cell attachment, cell migration and cell viability. Cancer and primary cells adhered to a matrix are treated with agent(s) that modulate ActRII signaling and cell adhesion. Agents are tested that modulate cell adhesion, detachment, invasion and viability. Agents that modulate the expression, phosphorylation, function and translocation of ActRII signaling pathway members also can predict agents that modulate cell adhesion, detachment, invasion and viability. The methods have utility in identifying agents that prevent cancer cell metastasis, wound dehiscence, aortic dissection and aid retina attachment and skin replacement and fertility.
US08716462B2
The invention encompasses methods for improving the level and/or sustainability of expression for a target nucleic acid in a eukaryotic cell comprising: (a) modifying the target nucleic acid to introduce or to comprise signals that limit or constrain the positions of nucleosome cores, and (b) introducing the modified target nucleic acid into the eukaryotic cell, wherein the modified target nucleic acid has improved levels and/or sustainability of expression compared to original unmodified nucleic acid.
US08716459B2
The present invention provides variant activin IIB soluble receptor polypeptides and proteins capable of binding and inhibiting the activities of activin A, myostatin, or GDF-11. The present invention also provides polynucleotides, vectors and host cells capable of producing the variant polypeptides and proteins. Compositions and methods for treating muscle-wasting and other diseases and disorders are also provided.
US08716446B2
The present invention provides for biopolymer conjugates of an IL-11 analog (mIL-11) and a biocompatible polymer. The mIL-11 of the invention displays an enhanced resistance to acidolysis and shows increased stability as compared to rhIL-11. The conjugates of the present invention are characterized by a longer serum half-life and exhibit essentially no loss of activity as compared to the corresponding unconjugated mIL-11.
US08716444B2
The present invention provides a method of screening a subject for mutations in the TRAPPC9 gene that are associated with developmental disabilities. The present invention also provides proteins that are associated with developmental disabilities including a truncation of NIBP. Also provided are nucleotide sequences encoding such proteins and methods of screening subjects to identify nucleotide sequences or proteins associated with developmental disabilities.
US08716442B2
The problem to be resolved is to provide an electron mediator and a fusion body with high affinity with an enzyme, a measuring method using extracellular secretion type cytochrome and an enzyme, an electrode, and a sensor.The present invention relates to an electron mediator for glucose oxidoreductase comprising extracellular secretion type cytochrome, a fusion body in which the electron mediator is fused with glucose oxidoreductase, a composition for glucose measurement including the electron mediator or fusion body, a gene encoding a new extracellular secretion type cytochrome, and a measurement method using extracellular secretion type cytochrome and an enzyme, an electrode, and a sensor.
US08716430B2
The invention concerns polymer comprising residues of 2-(4-amino phenyl)-5 (6) amino benzimidazole (DAPBI), paraphenylene diamine (PPD), and terephthaloyl dichloride, made by a process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a slurry of b mole percent DAPBI and y mole percent PPD in a solvent system comprising organic solvent and c weight percent of an inorganic salt, wherein the inorganic salt is present in an amount of at least 5 weight percent of the organic solvent, DAPBI and PPD being present in an amount sufficient for providing a polymer solution having a weight percent solids of 12 percent or greater on a polymer basis; and (b) contacting the slurry of step a) with a stoichiometric amount of terephthaloyl dichloride to form a product comprising the polymer; wherein the sum of y+b is 100 and the product of b×c is 225 or greater.
US08716425B2
A method of improving the mechanical properties of polymers is described. The method involves heat treating the polymer at a temperature below the glass transition temperature in a wet or in a dry environment. Polymer articles capable of moisture uptake in humid environments, as well as polymer articles less susceptible to moisture uptake, have improved mechanical properties, particularly improved stress relaxation behavior and set properties, when treated in accord with the heat treatment method.
US08716424B2
The present invention is characterized in that it is a process for synthesizing an organic/inorganic composite that not only comprises an oxide of silicon and metal, oxide which includes a bond being expressed by “M-O-M” (where “M” independently represents silicon atom or metal atom), but also possesses an organic group which is bonded to a part of silicone atoms at least; and it includes: a preparation step of preparing a raw-material solution by dissolving an organo alkoxysilane, which possesses one or more alkoxy groups and has the silicon atom that is bonded with the organic group by covalent bond, and a metallic compound, which includes the metal atom, in a first solvent, which is a polar solvent; a reaction step of synthesizing the organic/inorganic composite by not only hydrolyzing the organo alkoxysilane and the metallic compound but also condensing them by means of dehydration; and a removal step of adding a second solvent, which does not dissolve compatibly with a solution that has undergone the reaction step, to the solution, thereby dissolving the organic/inorganic composite in the second solvent, and thereafter removing another solution, which does not dissolve compatibly with the second solvent. It is possible to recover the organic/inorganic composite readily by means of the present synthesizing process.
US08716422B2
Materials and Methods for the generation of polyelectrolyte multilayers that can erode to release cationic components. The multilayers comprise layers that contain one or more cations and one or more charge-dynamic anionic polymers. Charge-dynamic anionic polymers contain side chains having removable functional groups. Removal of the functional groups results in a change in the net change in the charge of the polymer which can disrupt interactions between cations and the anionic polymers and facilitate release of cations.
US08716420B2
An amphiphilic polymer (A) comprising repeat units of the general formulae (I), (II) and (III): or salts thereof, wherein R1 is H or methyl, R2 is an aliphatic moiety with a main chain of 3 to 30 carbon atoms and 0 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group N, O, S, Se and Si, and R3 is one of (i) an alicyclic moiety with a main chain of 5 to 80 carbon atoms and 0 to 30 heteroatoms (ii) a moiety —Z—R4 wherein R4 is an alicyclic moiety with a main chain of 5 to 80 carbon atoms and 0 to 30 heteroatoms and Z is an aliphatic bridge of 1 to 3 carbon atoms and 0 to 2 heteroatoms, (iii) an aliphatic moiety with a main chain of 3 to 80 carbon atoms and 0 to about 30, and a C≡C group or an azido group.
US08716414B2
The present invention relates to a mixed metallocene catalyst composition including a first metallocene catalyst and a second metallocene catalyst, and a method for preparing a polyolefin using the catalyst composition. According to the catalyst composition and the preparation method, provided is a polyolefin having a wide molecular weight distribution and superior mechanical properties and processability.
US08716409B2
A composition includes a baleable polymer resulting from the polymerization of at least one conjugated diene in the presence of an anionic initiator. The baleable polymer has carboxylate termination resulting from the addition of carbon dioxide to terminate the polymerization reaction. The polymer has Mooney ML1+4 viscosity of >35 and a solution viscosity of X, where X is >75 cP. The addition of an lonolizer to a composition that includes the polymer reduces the solution viscosity of the polymer from X to Y where Y meets the following formula: 0.4X≦Y≧0.58X. The baleable polymer is blended with impact-modified plastics resulting in improved izod values and optical qualities. Processes for making and utilizing the polymer composition, and ionolizer are also described.
US08716407B2
A novel vulcanizable composition is provided, based on at least one hydrogenated nitrile rubber, on at least one peroxide, on at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or salts thereof, and also on specific microgels. These vulcanizable compositions can be used to obtain vulcanized products which can in particular be used for drive belts, roll coverings, hoses and cables.
US08716406B2
Multi-piece golf balls having at least one component made of a composition comprising a polymerized substituted imidazolium liquid ionomer are provided. The multi-piece golf ball contains a core, which may have a dual-core construction including a center and surrounding outer core layer or other multi-layered structure. Preferably at least one of the core layers is formed from a composition comprising a rubber material or highly neutralized acid copolymer (HNP) and the liquid ionomer. The resulting golf ball has high resiliency.
US08716401B2
A semiconductor chip laminate comprises a plurality of semiconductor chips and an adhesive layer through which the plurality of semiconductor chips are laminated, wherein the adhesive layer is composed of an adhesive composition comprising an acrylic polymer (A); an epoxy resin (B); a thermal curing agent (C); and a certain organophosphonium compound (D) as a thermal curing accelerator, and the content of the organophosphonium compound (D) relative to 100 parts by weight in total of the epoxy resin (B) and the thermal curing agent (C) is 0.001 to 15 parts by weight.
US08716397B2
An adhesive composition for use in adhering insulation panels to roofing substrates and roofing membranes to the insulation panels include two components that are mixed prior to application on the roofing substrate. The first component may include a renewable polyol and catalyst. The renewable polyol is selected from any non-petroleum based polyol that is derived from a renewable source. The second component includes isocyanate, and may also include a polyol and a catalyst. The isocyanate and the polyol may each be any non-petroleum based isocyanate or polyol that is derived from a renewable source.
US08716394B2
Polypropylene compositions having a MFR value (2.16 kg, 230° C.) from 15 to 200 g/10 min., comprising: A) a propylene polymer or polymer composition selected from propylene homopolymers or copolymers of propylene containing up to 5% by moles of comonomer(s), said homopolymers and copolymers having values of MFR, obtained without degradation treatments, from 500 to 2500 g/10 min., or combinations of the said homopolymers or copolymers; B) a filler or pigment, or their combinations; and optionally C) from 0.5 to 5% by weight, with respect to the total weight of A), B) and C), of a compatibilizer.
US08716390B2
The present invention relates to a solid pigment preparation comprising, each percentage being based on the total weight of the preparation, (A) at least 60% by weight of a pigment component comprising one or more pigments and optionally a filler; (B) 1% by weight to 39% by weight of at least one nonionic water-soluble surface-active additive based on polyethers having an HLB value of greater than 10, (C) 1% by weight to 39% by weight of at least one nonionic surface-active additive based on polyethers having an HLB value of less than 10; (D) 0% by weight to 10% by weight of an additive component comprising at least one further additive, the sum total of the weight fractions not exceeding 100% by weight. The present invention further relates to processes for production thereof and to processes for coloring macromolecular materials.
US08716385B2
Disclosed is a polymerizable fluoromonomer represented by the following general formula (1). In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, methyl group, fluorine atom, or trifluoromethyl group. n is an integer of 0 or 1, and m is that of from 1 to (3+n). R2 and R3 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a protective group. A resist containing a fluoropolymer obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing the monomer is suitable for use in microfabrication by immersion exposure or by a double patterning process based on immersion exposure.
US08716378B2
A thermoplastic polyester composition comprising, based on the total weight of the composition, a chlorine- and bromine-free combination of: from 40 to 60 wt % of a polyester; from 25 to 35 wt % of a reinforcing filler; from 2 to 8 wt % of a flame retardant synergist selected from the group consisting of melamine polyphosphate, melamine cyanurate, melamine pyrophosphate, melamine phosphate, and combinations thereof; from 5 to 15 wt % of a phosphinate salt flame retardant; from more than 0 to less than 5 wt % of an impact modifier component comprising a poly(ether-ester) elastomer and a (meth)acrylate impact modifier; from more than 0 to 5 wt % poly(tetrafluoroethylene) encapsulated by a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer; from more than 0 to 2 wt % of a stabilizer; wherein the thermoplastic polyester composition contains less than 5 wt % of a polyetherimide.
US08716377B2
The present invention relates to a polymerizable composition comprising at least one polymerizable benzoxazine compound and core-shell particles, where the core of the core-shell particles comprises at least one (co)polymer of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer (A) and the shell of the core-shell particles comprises at least one crosslinked (co)polymer of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer (B), where the ethylenically unsaturated monomer (B) encompasses at least one aromatic group. The present invention further relates to adhesives, sealants or coatings, which encompass the polymerizable composition of the invention, and also to the polymerization products of this composition. The present invention further relates to a process for the production of the polymerizable composition of the invention.
US08716374B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising, (a) a transparent or translucent polymer or polymer blend in an amount which together with components b) to g) gives 100 wt. %, (b) optionally 0 ppm to 2500 ppm of one or more stabilizers, (c) 0.001 ppm to 10,000 ppm of at least one dye comprising structure 1a and/or 1b, (d) 0.001 ppm to 10,000 ppm of at least one dye selected from the group consisting of dyes differing from dyes having structure 1a and/or 1b based on perinone or indanthrone and dyes based on a phthalocyanine or phthalocyanine complex, (e) optionally 0 ppm to 3000 ppm of one or more release agents, (f) optionally 0 ppm to 6000 ppm of one or more UV absorbers, and (g) optionally 0 ppm to 500,000 ppm of one or more further additives.
US08716368B2
This invention relates to unsaturated polyester resin or vinyl ester resin compositions comprising a polymer containing reactive unsaturations as a resin; a 1,3-dioxo-component, and optionally a reactive diluent and/or an inhibitor and/or a stabilizer; the resin compositions being curable with a peroxide component, and wherein the resin in the resin composition has an acid value=10; and the resin composition contains—while being cured—a base, which is either selected from the group of organic or inorganic oxides, hydroxides, alkoxides or carboxylates for each of which the cation has a redox potential of the metal of at most −1V, or of ammonium ions; or is selected from the group of nitrogen-containing organic compounds. The present invention also relates to objects and structural parts prepared from such resin composition by curing with a peroxide. Finally the invention also relates to methods of peroxide curing of unsaturated polyester or vinyl ester curing and its use in chemical anchoring, roof coatings etc.
US08716348B2
Bronchodilating compositions and methods are provided. The compositions are intended for administration as a nebulized aerosol. In certain embodiments, the compositions contain formoterol, or a derivative thereof, and a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Methods for treatment, prevention, or amelioration of one or more symptoms of bronchoconstrictive disorders using the compositions provided herein are also provided.
US08716344B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the following formula wherein R3 is a fluorescent tag. Another aspect of the invention provides an assay for determining the inhibitory effect of a test compound on an HDAC protein comprising: incubating the HDAC protein with a substrate of the above formula in the presence of a test compound; and determining the activity of the HDAC protein.
US08716332B2
The present invention relates to a dietary supplement composition made of: linolenic expeller pressed soybean oil in the range of 65%-85%, Omega 3 (18/12) fish oil 15%-35%, and 1%-20% alpha-tocopherol and a method to use this composition to supplement the diet of a domestic animal, such as a canine or an equine.
US08716318B2
This invention concerns N-(ortho phenylamino dihydropyridyl)sulfonamides and N-(ortho phenylamino dihydropyridyl), N′-alkyl sulfamides which are inhibitors of MEK and are useful in the treatment of cancer and other hyperproliferative diseases.
US08716311B2
The present invention relates to the use of at least one piperidine ester derivative of formula (I) below: in which: R1 is a linear or branched C1-C12 alkyl radical, R2 is a linear or branched C1-C20 alkyl radical, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms for R1 and R2 is between 2 and 22, in a composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one liquid fatty phase and at least one lipophilic active agent, and containing no dibenzoylmethane-type UV screening agent, as a solvent for said active agent in said liquid fatty phase and/or as an agent improving the solubility of said active agent in said fatty phase. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one liquid fatty phase, characterized in that it comprises at least one piperidine ester derivative of formula (I) as defined above and in that it does not contain a dibenzoylmethane-type UV screening agent.
US08716310B2
Provided are compounds that are inhibitors of both rho kinase and of a monoamine transporter (MAT) act to improve the disease state or condition. Further provided are compositions comprising the compounds. Further provided are methods for treating diseases or conditions, the methods comprising administering compounds according to the invention. One such disease may be glaucoma for which, among other beneficial effects, a marked reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) may be achieved.
US08716306B2
A compound of formula I is disclosed. Compounds of formula I are useful as analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-diarrheal agents, anticonvulsants, antitussives and anti-addiction medications.
US08716298B2
Disclosed is a composition effective in reducing skin wrinkles. The composition comprises or uses a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor as an active ingredient. Further disclosed is a method for reducing skin wrinkles using the composition.
US08716296B2
Compounds of general formula (I): are useful as inhibitors of cyclin dependent kinases such as CDK9.
US08716280B2
The antibacterial compound of formula I wherein X1, X3; X4 and X6, each independently of the others, represents a nitrogen atom or CR2, with the proviso that at least one of X1, X3; X4 and X6 represents a nitrogen atom; X2 represents C—H, C—(C1-C6alkyl), C—(C1-C6alkoxy), C-halogen, C—COOH; X5 represents C—H or C—(C1-C6alkyl), C-halogen; A1, A2, A3, R1 and R4 represent various substituents, G represents aryl or heteroaryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted which compounds show good activity against pathogenic bacteria.
US08716278B1
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a drug substance consisting essentially of a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of an amine containing pharmaceutically active compound wherein the amine containing pharmaceutical active compound is selected from the group consisting of racemic or single isomer ritalinic acid or phenethylamine derivatives and the drug substance has a physical form selected from amorphous and polymorphic.
US08716276B2
The present invention generally relates to a series of compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and to use of the compounds and compositions as therapeutic agents. More specifically, compounds of the present invention are thiophenyl and pyrrolyl azepine compounds. These compounds are serotonin receptor (5-HT2c) ligands and are useful for treating diseases, disorders, and conditions wherein modulation of the activity of serotonin receptors (5-HT2c) is desired (e.g. addiction, anxiety, depression, obesity, and others).
US08716273B2
The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I): Wherein X, Y, Z, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 and n are as defined herein. The invention also relates to a method for making the same and to the use thereof in therapy.
US08716269B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related peripheral neuropathies. More particularly, the invention relates to combined therapies for treating said disease by affecting simultaneously muscarinic receptor signaling and thyroid hormone pathway in a subject.
US08716266B2
The present invention pertains to use of PKC-iota inhibitors for treatment of glioma. In a specific embodiment, the treatment method comprises administering ICA-1 or a salt thereof to a subject with glioma. In another embodiment, the treatment method comprises contacting glioma cells with an effective amount of ICA-1 or a salt thereof.
US08716264B2
The present invention relates to therapeutic combinations of [2-(6-amino-purin-9-yl)-1-methyl-ethoxymethyl]-phosphonic acid diisopropoxycarbonyloxymethyl ester (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, Viread®) and (2R,5S,cis)-4-amino-5-fluoro-1-(2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl)-(1H)-pyrimidin-2-one (emtricitabine, Emtriva™, (−)-cis FTC) and their physiologically functional derivatives. The combinations may be useful in the treatment of HIV infections, including infections with HIV mutants bearing resistance to nucleoside and/or non-nucleoside inhibitors. The present invention is also concerned with pharmaceutical compositions and formulations of said combinations of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine, and their physiologically functional derivatives, as well as therapeutic methods of use of those compositions and formulations.
US08716255B2
The invention provides methods, uses, kits and compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the microRNA miR-223 for treating myelogenous leukemia in a subject in need of such treatment. The invention further comprises methods encompassing the use of miR-223 for promoting the differentiation of a leukemia stem cell that is resistant to a differentiating agent, and a method of screening for candidate compounds capable of treating a myeloid leukemia by comparison of the therapeutic activity of the candidate compound with the therapeutic activity of miR-233.
US08716243B2
Compositions and methods related to Wnt signaling regulation by Dickkopf (Dkk) polypeptides and Wnt-related diseases are disclosed. For example, compounds that bind a Dkk or LRP polypeptide are disclosed. Compounds that disrupt binding of a Dkk polypeptide to an LRP polypeptide are also disclosed. Methods for using the described compounds and compositions are also disclosed.
US08716240B2
The invention includes methods and compositions for remodeling a peptide molecule, including the addition or deletion of one or more glycosyl groups to a peptide, and/or the addition of a modifying group to a peptide.
US08716236B2
Novel inhibitors of IAP that are useful as therapeutic agents for treating malignancies and have the general formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as described herein.
US08716235B2
Methods and compositions are provided for inhibiting metastasis of a tumor in a subject, or of inhibiting progression of a primary tumor in a subject which requires macrophages for progression.
US08716231B2
The present invention is a method for the treatment of pain comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of one or more novel benzo-fused heterocycle sulfamide derivatives of formula (I) and formula (II) as described herein. The present invention is further directed to methods for the treatment of pain comprising co-therapy with analgesic agent(s) and a compound of formula (I) or formula (II) as described herein.
US08716227B2
A graft prostheses (11), materials and method for implanting, transplanting, replacing, or repairing a part of a patient. The graft prosthesis includes a purified, collagen-based matrix structure removed from a submucosa tissue source. The submucosa tissue source is purified by disinfection and removal steps to deactivate and remove contaminants, thereby making the purified structure biocompatible and suitable for grafting on and/or in a patient.
US08716217B2
The present invention relates to novel biodegradable materials based on modified polyamino acids that are useful in particular in the vectorization of active principle(s) (APs). The invention is also directed to novel pharmaceutical, cosmetic, health-food or plant-protection compositions based on these polyamino acids.The aim of the invention is to provide a novel polymeric starting material which can be used for AP vectorization and which satisfy all the requirements: biocompatibility, biodegradability, ability to easily associate with or dissolve numerous active principles and to release these active principles in vivo. This goal is achieved by the present invention, which relates to novel polyglutamates modified by cationic groups, which, if they can be deprotonated, exhibit a pKa equal to or greater than 7, and by hydrophobic groups comprising from 8 to 30 carbon atoms.These polyglutamates modified by cationic groups are easily and economically converted into particles for the vectorization of active principles, these particles being themselves capable of forming stable aqueous colloidal suspensions. These modified polyglutamates exhibit the advantage of being less viscous than other analogous polymers while retaining an ability to associate proteins, such as insulin. Some are soluble in water at acidic pH and become insoluble at physiological pH (7.4) and should thus, during subcutaneous injection, precipitate on the site of injection.
US08716216B2
A composition of an immunosuppressant protein (HISP) which is achieved by the steps of obtaining supernatant from hNT neuronal cells; exposing the supernatant to preparative polyacrylamide gel; placing the active isoelectric fraction on a Blue Sepharose column to bind albumin; and collecting the free fraction containing the concentrated, isolated HISP. The HISP is anionic, has a molecular weight of 40-100 kDa, an isoelectric point of about 4.8 and is obtained from the supernatant of hNT cells. HISP can suppress proliferation of responder peripheral blood mononuclear cells in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte cultures; HISP can suppress T-cell proliferation and IL-2 production in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), ionomycin and concanavalin-A. HISP does not act through the T-cell receptor-CD3 complex or via altered accessory signal cells.
US08716211B2
The invention provides a solid dishwashing detergent composition comprising an amount of from 0.01 to 10 % wt of one or more anionic polyesters. The compositions exhibit good drying properties, especially on plasticware.
US08716204B2
Artificial or synthetic synovial fluids and methods for making such fluids are disclosed. The fluid includes selected proteins, phospholipids and hyaluronic acid and mimics the properties of human synovial fluid.
US08716196B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for generating libraries of DNA sequences encoding homologous polypeptides, and uses of the libraries to identify naturally diversified polypeptide variants. The invention also provides compositions and methods for generating collections of synthetic antibody fragments in which one or several complementary determining regions (CDR) are replaced by a collection of the corresponding CDR captured from a natural source. The invention further provides compositions and methods for diversifying a portion of a polypeptide by inserting a diversified sequence of synthetic or natural origin without the need for modification of the original polypeptide coding sequence.
US08716191B2
A method for identifying one or several molecular structure(s) having a high-affinity for a target of interest, the molecular structure(s) each including one nucleotide chain onto which is hybridized at least one PNA-encoded molecule.
US08716190B2
Methods are provided for multiplexed amplification of selected targets and analysis of the amplified targets. In preferred aspects the amplification and analysis take place on the same solid support and preferably in a localized area such as a bead or a feature of an array. Targets are circularized by hybridization to probes followed by ligation of the ends of the target to form a closed circle. The targets are then used as template for extension of an array bound probe resulting in extended probes having multiple copies of the target. The extended probes can then be analyzed. The methods may be used for genotyping, sequencing and analysis of copy number.
US08716187B2
The films of this invention are high temperature superconducting (HTS) thin films specifically optimized for microwave and RF applications. In particular, this invention focuses on compositions with a significant deviation from the 1:2:3 stoichiometry in order to create the films optimized for microwave/RF applications. The RF/microwave HTS applications require the HTS thin films to have superior microwave properties, specifically low surface resistance, Rs, and highly linear surface reactance, Xs, i.e. high JIMD. As such, the invention is characterized in terms of its physical composition, surface morphology, superconducting properties, and performance characteristics of microwave circuits made from these films.
US08716179B2
An adhesive label has a support, an adhesive layer placed on the support, and a stretched non-adhesive porous layer placed on the adhesive layer and being openable by heating to expose the adhesive layer.
US08716175B2
There is provided a catalyst for producing ethylene oxide from ethylene which is composed of at least silver (Ag), cesium (Cs), rhenium (Re) and a carrier, and can be improved, in particular, in selectivity.The present invention relates to a catalyst for producing ethylene oxide from ethylene, comprising at least silver (Ag), cesium (Cs), rhenium (Re) and a carrier, said catalyst being produced by optionally pretreating the carrier to support an alkali metal thereon and then supporting Ag, Cs and Re on the carrier, wherein the carrier has a specific surface area of 0.6 to 3.0 m2/g and a weight ratio of a silicon (Si) content to a sodium (Na) content of 2 to 50 in terms of SiO2/Na2O; a content of Re in the catalyst is 170 to 600 ppm per 1 m2/g of the specific surface area of the carrier on the basis of a weight of the carrier; and a molar ratio of Cs to Re in the catalyst is 0.3 to 19.
US08716172B2
Catalyst composition represented by the general formula REVO/S wherein RE is at least one of the group of rare earth metals Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er and Yb in an amount of up to 6.0 wt.-%; V is vanadium in an amount of 0.2-2.5 wt.-%; O is oxygen in an amount of up to 3.5 wt.-%; and S is a support containing TiO2 in an amount of at least 70 wt.-%, with the rest being WO3 and optionally SiO2. This catalyst composition shows high removal efficiencies for NOx even after aging at 750° C.
US08716168B2
Electrode catalysts for fuel cells, a method of manufacturing the same, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including the same, and a fuel cell including the MEA are provided. The electrode catalysts include a first catalyst alloy containing palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), and phosphorus (P), a second catalyst alloy containing palladium (Pd) and phosphorus (P), and a carbon-based support to support the catalysts.
US08716162B2
The zeolite structure is a porous zeolite structure constituted of a formed article obtained by extruding a zeolite raw material containing zeolite particles and an inorganic binding material including at least basic aluminum chloride, a ratio P1 (P1=V2/V1×100) of a volume V2 of the inorganic binding material in the zeolite structure with respect to a volume V1 of the zeolite structure is from 10 to 50 vol %, and a relation of equation (1) is satisfied: P2/P1≦1.0 (1), in which P1 is the ratio of the volume V2 of the inorganic binding material in the zeolite structure with respect to the volume V1 of the zeolite structure and P2 (P2=Vb/Va×100) is a ratio of volumes Vb of pores having pore diameters of 0.003 to 0.03 μm with respect to the whole pore volume Va of the zeolite structure.
US08716159B2
A method for eliminating silicon or silicon compounds in alumina based materials without destroying such alumina based materials enabling reutilization particularly in catalysts for hydrotreating processes, comprising: a) mixing alumina based solid material which contains silicon with an alcohol extraction agent at a temperature between 10 and 300° C., for 10 minutes to 96 hours to form a mixture; b) separating solids from the mixture by centrifugation, decantation or filtration to obtain separated solids; c) washing the separated solids with at least one of water, alcohol or an ammonium hydroxide solution to form washed solids; and d) drying the washed solids to obtain regenerated alumina based solid material.
US08716157B2
An optical glass in the form of an oxide glass, characterized by comprising, denoted as cation percentages: P5+ 14 to 36%; Bi3+ 12 to 34%; Nb5+ 12 to 34%; Ti4+ 5 to 20%; and W6+ 0 to 22%; wherein the total content of Bi3+, Nb5+, Ti4+, and W6+ is equal to or greater than 50%; and in that the Knoop hardness is equal to or higher than 370, the refractive index nd is equal to or higher than 2.02, and the Abbé number vd is equal to or lower than 19.0. A glass material for press molding and an optical element comprised of this optical glass. A method for manufacturing a glass material for press molding comprising the step of mechanically processing this optical glass.
US08716155B2
Methods of improving charge trapping are disclosed. One such method includes forming an oxide-nitride-oxide tunnel stack and a silicon nitride layer on the oxide-nitride-oxide tunnel stack. This silicon nitride layer is implanted with ions. These ions may function as electron traps or as fields. The silicon nitride layer may be part of a flash memory device.
US08716147B2
Provided are a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device and a substrate processing apparatus. The manufacturing method of the semiconductor device includes: loading a plurality of substrates into a reaction vessel, which is configured by a process tube and a manifold that supports the process tube, and arranging the loaded substrates within the reaction vessel; pre-processing the plurality of substrates by supplying a pre-process gas from the manifold side toward the process tube side within the reaction vessel; main-processing the plurality of pre-processed substrates by supplying a main-process gas from the manifold side toward the process tube side within the reaction vessel; and unloading the plurality of main-processed substrates from the reaction vessel, wherein in pre-processing the plurality of substrates, the pre-process gas is supplied from at least one position in an area corresponding to the manifold, and at least one position in an upper area of an area corresponding to a substrate arrangement area.
US08716143B1
A method of cleaning a low dielectric constant film in a lithographic process includes providing a dielectric film having thereover a resist composition, the dielectric film having a dielectric constant no greater than about 4.0, and stripping the resist composition to leave a substantially silicon-containing ash residue on the dielectric film. The method then includes contacting the ash residue with plasma comprising an ionized, essentially pure noble gas such as helium to remove the resist residue without substantially affecting the underlying dielectric film.
US08716140B2
A micropattern is joined to a substrate (W1) by: a first group of covering step and micropattern forming step by etching in a transfer step; and a second group of covering step and micropattern forming step by etching in the transfer step.
US08716138B2
Field Side Sub-bitline NOR-type (FSNOR) flash array and the methods of fabrication are disclosed. The field side sub-bitlines of the invention formed with the same impurity type as the memory cells' source/drain electrodes along the two sides of field trench oxide link all the source electrodes together and all the drain electrodes together, respectively, for a string of semiconductor Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) cells in a NOR-type flash array of the invention. Each field side sub-bitline is connected to a main metal bitline through a contact at its twisted point in the middle. Because there are no contacts in between the linked NVM cells' electrodes in the NOR-type flash array of the invention, the wordline pitch and the bitline pitch can be applied to the minimum geometrical feature of a specific technology node. The NOR-type flash array of the invention provides at least as high as those in the conventional NAND flash array in cell area density.
US08716137B2
According to an embodiment, a method for etching polycrystalline silicon includes a step of holding the polycrystalline silicon at a temperature higher than or equal to TE (K) given in a following equation; and a step of etching the polycrystalline silicon by dry etching with an etching gas containing CF4 and O2, T E = - 0.114 x + 0.0556 k × ln { ( 1 - r / d ) × - 6.27 x + 5.38 - 2.01 x + 3.11 } where d (nm) is etching amount of the polycrystalline silicon, r (nm) is surface roughness of the polycrystalline silicon after the etching, x is ratio of flow rate of CF4 gas to sum of flow rate of the CF4 gas and flow rate of O2 gas, and k (eV/K) is Boltzmann constant.
US08716129B2
A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes the step of forming a silicon dioxide film. The step of forming an electrode includes the steps of forming a metal film containing Al and Ti on the silicon carbide substrate, and heating the metal film. The step of heating the metal film has the steps of increasing temperature of the metal film from a temperature of less than 300° C. to a temperature of not less than 300° C. and not more than 450° C. with a first temperature gradient, holding the metal film within a temperature range of not less than 300° C. and not more than 450° C. with a second temperature gradient, and increasing the temperature of the metal film to a temperature of not less than 500° C. with a third temperature gradient. The second temperature gradient is smaller than the first temperature gradient and the third temperature gradient.
US08716125B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of in-situ vapor phase deposition of self-assembled monolayers as copper adhesion promoters and diffusion barriers. A copper region is formed in a dielectric layer. A diffusion barrier comprising a self-assembled monolayer is deposited over the copper region. A capping layer is deposited over the self-assembled monolayer. In some embodiments, the capping layer and self-assembled monolayer are deposited in the same process chamber.
US08716123B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming an under-bump metallurgy (UBM) layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. Next, a first photoresist film is formed on the UBM layer where the first photoresist film has a first photosensitivity and a first thickness. Additionally, the method includes forming a second photoresist film on the first photoresist film. Next, the method includes performing an exposure process on the second photoresist film and the first photoresist film. The method further includes removing an exposed portion of the second photoresist film to form a first opening. The method further also includes removing an exposed portion of the first photoresist film to expose a portion of the UBM layer. Furthermore, the method includes forming a copper layer in the first opening. The method also includes removing the second photoresist film and the first photoresist film where the copper layer forms a copper post.
US08716118B2
A transistor includes a semiconductor layer and a gate structure located on the semiconductor layer. The gate structure includes a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer includes a doped region and an undoped region below the doped region. A second dielectric layer is located on the first dielectric layer, and a first metal nitride layer is located on the second dielectric layer. The doped region of the first dielectric layer comprises dopants from the second dielectric layer. Source and drain regions in the semiconductor layer are located on opposite sides of the gate structure.
US08716117B2
A semiconductor device and a method of forming the semiconductor device includes: forming gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate and forming spacers on both side surfaces of the gate electrodes; forming capping patterns on the gate electrodes; and forming a metal contact between the gate electrodes. Each of the capping patterns is formed to have a width greater than a width of each of the gate electrodes.
US08716116B2
A method is disclosed for forming a memory device having buried access lines (e.g., wordlines) and buried data/sense lines (e.g., digitlines) disposed below vertical cell contacts. The buried wordlines may be formed trenches in a substrate extending in a first direction, and the buried digitlines may be formed from trenches in a substrate extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The buried digitlines may be coupled to a silicon sidewall by a digitline contact disposed between the digitlines and the silicon substrate.
US08716115B2
Dual shadow mask design can overcome the size and resolution limitations of shadow masks to provide capacitor structures with small effective areas. The capacitor structures have bottom and top electrode layers patterned using shadow masks, sandwiching a dielectric layer. The effective areas of the capacitors are the overlapping areas of the top and bottom electrodes, thus allowing small area sizes without subjected to the size limitation of the electrodes. The dual shadow mask design can be used in conjunction with high productivity combinatorial processes for screening and optimizing dielectric materials and fabrication processes.
US08716107B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to epitaxial lift off (ELO) thin films and devices and methods used to form such films and devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming a thin film material during an epitaxial lift off process is provided which includes forming an epitaxial material over a sacrificial layer on a substrate, adhering a non-uniform support handle onto the epitaxial material, and removing the sacrificial layer during an etching process. The etching process further includes peeling the epitaxial material from the substrate while forming an etch crevice therebetween and bending the support handle to form compression in the epitaxial material during the etching process. In one example, the non-uniform support handle contains a wax film having a varying thickness.
US08716104B1
A method of fabricating an isolation structure of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. Firstly, a substrate including a first surface and a second surface is provided. At least one trench is formed in the first surface of the substrate. The trench has a sidewall and a bottom surface. Then, a first chemical vapor deposition process is performed to form a first isolation layer on the first surface of the substrate and the sidewall and the bottom surface of the trench. Then, an anisotropic surface treatment process is performed, so that a surface of the first isolation layer has differential surface chemical properties. Afterwards, a second chemical vapor deposition process is performed to form a second isolation layer on the first isolation layer with a surface having differential surface chemical properties.
US08716098B1
A method for forming a non-volatile memory device includes providing a substrate having a surface region, forming a first wiring structure overlying the surface region, depositing a first dielectric material overlying the first wiring structure, forming a via opening in the first dielectric material to expose a portion of the first wiring structure, while maintaining a portion of the first dielectric material, forming a layer of resistive switching material comprising silicon, within the via opening, forming a silver material overlying the layer of resistive switching material and the portion of the first dielectric material, forming a diffusion barrier layer overlying the silver material, and selectively removing a portion of the silver material and a portion of the diffusion barrier layer overlying the portion of the first dielectric material while maintaining a portion of the silver material and a portion of the diffusion barrier material overlying the layer of silicon material.
