US07681240B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a trusted database system that leverages a small amount of trusted storage to secure a larger amount of untrusted storage. Data are encrypted and validated to prevent unauthorized modification or access. Encryption and hashing are integrated with a low-level data model in which data and meta-data are secured uniformly. Synergies between data validation and log-structured storage are exploited.
US07681237B1
In the method of the present invention, an anti-virus scan of a file is performed in real time. A thread manager (101) detects (202) that an activity concerning a file has been initiated by a first thread. Responsive to the detection, the thread manager (101) determines (204) that a scan of the file should be conducted. The thread manager (101) initiates (206) the scan of the file by a second thread, thereby enabling the first thread to complete the activity concerning the file and to perform other tasks while the scan occurs. The thread manager (101) blocks (212) access to the file while the scan occurs.
US07681232B2
The present invention relates to a credit card comprising a card body, which comprises fingerprint reading means providing fingerprint signals representative of at least one fingerprint from a card user, when at least one finger of said user is pressed against said fingerprint reading means. Said card body further comprises data carrier means holding at least card owner fingerprint data and secured data, and fingerprint authentication means for activating said secured data. The card body further comprises an electrical power supply delivering electrical current to at least said fingerprint reading means. Accordingly, there is no need for an external electrical power supply, and thus the existing standard card reading systems, such as ID-card readers, money transfer machines such as ATM's and the like may be used in conjunction with said credit card. Thus, investments into new standard reader systems are not necessary in order to improve the security of the secured data carried by the credit card. A complete and self-contained automated authentication process is conducted prior to communication concerning said secured data being established between said credit card and any of the existing ATM's on the market today, irrespective of type (automated or manually operated), manufacturer, version, or geographical position of said ATM and of credit card use.
US07681227B2
An encrypted stream of video information (20) contains first video frames (22) and second video frames which are accessible and not accessible during trick play respectively. From a source stream encrypted that is for decryption with repeatedly changing control words sections of the stream are identified where respective first ones of the frames occur in the stream. Control words for decryption (24) are included in the stream. At least part of the control words are included in the stream at positions selected synchronized to the identified sections.
US07681222B1
In a video-on-demand system, memory-based video streams are seamlessly replaced with disc-based video streams. This is achieved by first switching each memory-based video stream to a mixed video stream; and later, switching each mixed video stream to a disc-based video stream.
US07681218B2
When a multi-directional antenna is connected to a digital TV broadcast signal receiver, the digital TV broadcast signal receiver measures a term suitable for switching or changing an effective signal receiving direction of the multi-directional antenna corresponding to kind or specification of the multi-directional antenna. Control signals are outputted at an interval suitable for switching or changing the effective signal receiving direction of the multi-directional antenna corresponding to the measured term so as to switch the effective signal receiving direction of the multi-directional antenna to an optimum signal receiving direction of a channel chosen by a user. Consequently, it is possible to shorten a term necessary for switching or changing the effective signal receiving direction of the multi-directional antenna to the optimum signal receiving direction of the channel chosen by the user.
US07681212B2
A photosensitive recording medium cartridge comprising a cartridge body, an opening, and a shutter, the cartridge body receiving a disc type photosensitive recording medium therein so that the photosensitive recording medium can rotate, the opening being provided in the cartridge body for exposing the photosensitive recording medium to an outside, the shutter being attached to the cartridge body so that the shutter can move between a close position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening, wherein: the shutter includes a bent portion which is formed in an outer circumferential end portion of the shutter so as to be bent toward the cartridge body side; and the cartridge body includes a protrusion portion which is formed in a position corresponding to the outer circumferential end portion.
US07681208B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided for management of network access on a per application basis. Initially, applications are selected from a group of applications adapted for working in conjunction with a first application program interface to gain access to a network. Next, a second application program interface is utilized which is adapted for precluding all of the applications from accessing the network. In use, the selected applications are wrapped for allowing such applications to access the network via the second application program interface.
US07681204B2
Architecture that facilitates performance enhancement in message-based computing across a performance-based interface. When a request from a source is transmitted across the interface to a destination, a filter component in communication with the destination dynamically allows only one or more relevant responses from the destination to transition the interface to the source. This mechanism achieves an even tighter filtering of events while at the same time giving developers more flexibility over the events they choose to register, thereby enhancing the performance of message-based computing architectures by reducing unnecessary computation.
US07681202B2
Techniques that enable an application or component developed according to a first framework specification to use services provided by an application executing on a second framework that is different from the first framework. A portal architecture is described that is capable of running portal snippets developed according to different framework specifications. A J2EE framework-based portal is configured to execute portal snippets developed using Java for a Java-based framework and also to provide support for and execute portal snippets that have been developed using a language supported by another framework such as .NET framework.
US07681194B2
Tasking systems and methods are provided that support user interfaces for displaying objects, the displayed objects enabling user access to resources that provide for effecting tasks among the system and devices of the systems' environment. More particularly, tasking systems and methods are provided that support the foregoing features, wherein the systems and methods support clustering operations respecting such task-associated objects so as to enhance the effecting of the associated tasks, such clustering operations responding to context. The clustering operations preferably are both adaptive and dynamic. Tasking systems and methods preferably support the tracking of selected states, including, as examples, one or more of environment states, device states, and system states. Tracked states typically also include states respecting other relevant criteria, such as temporal criteria.
US07681171B2
A method of generating complementary masks based on a target pattern having features to be imaged on a substrate for use in a multiple-exposure lithographic imaging process. The method includes the steps of: defining an initial H-mask corresponding to the target pattern; defining an initial V-mask corresponding to the target pattern; identifying horizontal critical features in the H-mask having a width which is less than a predetermined critical width; identifying vertical critical features in the V-mask having a width which is less than a predetermined critical width; assigning a first phase shift and a first percentage transmission to the horizontal critical features, which are to be formed in the H-mask; and assigning a second phase shift and a second percentage transmission to the vertical critical features, which are to be formed in the V-mask. The method further includes the step of assigning chrome to all non-critical features in the H-mask and the V-mask. The non-critical features are those features having a width which is greater than or equal to the predetermined critical width. The non-critical features are formed in the H-mask and the V-mask utilizing chrome. The target pattern is then imaged on the substrate by imaging both the H-mask and V-mask.
US07681167B2
A judgment section determines whether or not a reduction in the power dissipation is possible by relocation of an improvement-target cell. If a reduction in the power dissipation is possible, a calculation section calculates the delay time of a target path including the improvement-target cell to obtain a possible shift distance of the improvement-target cell, within which the timing constraint is satisfied. A layout change section relocates the improvement-target cell within a range in which the power dissipation can be reduced and timing constraint can be satisfied.
US07681160B1
Various techniques are provided to selectively collapse connections. In one example, a computer readable medium includes a computer program for performing a method of selectively collapsing connections between a plurality of LUTs. The method includes performing a first timing analysis to determine a timing slack value for each connection and determine a number of timing paths using each connection. The method also includes calculating a weight for each connection based on at least the timing slack value and the number of timing paths. The method further includes comparing the connections associated with a first one weight interval with collapsing criteria, wherein the first weight interval includes weights larger than weights of the remaining weight intervals. The method also includes collapsing the connections associated with the first weight interval that satisfy the collapsing criteria, and selectively repeating the comparing and collapsing for connections associated with remaining weight intervals.
US07681157B2
A method and system for decreasing processing time in multi-corner static timing analysis. In one embodiment, slack cutoff values are assigned across a parameter process space. For example, a slack cutoff value is assigned to each parameter in a process space by determining an estimated maximum slack change between a starting corner and any other corner in a corresponding process sub-space. In another embodiment, parameters are ordered in a parameter order by decreasing magnitude of impact on variability of timing.
US07681154B2
A method for designing a device that comprises a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip and an adjustment target is disclosed. The first semiconductor chip comprises an input pad, a first power supply pad and a first ground pad. The second semiconductor chip comprises an output pad coupled to the input pad. The adjustment target is connected to the first and the second semiconductor chips. A main target variable is calculated from an input circuit chip model, an output circuit chip model of the second semiconductor chip in frequency domain and a target impedance model of the adjustment target in frequency domain. The input circuit chip model is created by representing the first semiconductor chip in frequency domain in consideration of a first capacitor model between the input pad and the first power supply pad, a second capacitor model between the input pad and the first ground pad, and a chip internal capacitor model between the first power supply pad and the first ground pad. The main target variable is compared with a predetermined constraint represented in frequency domain to decide design guidelines for the adjustment target.
US07681152B2
A design structure including a voltage translator circuit and a method for operating the same. The voltage translator circuit includes (a) an input node, an output node, and a ground node; (b) a voltage divider circuit including a first and second resistors coupled in series between the input node and the ground node; (c) a first circuit coupled to a first voltage and to the input node; (d) a second circuit coupled to the output node; and (e) a capacitive circuit having a first and second capacitive nodes. The first capacitive node is coupled to the voltage divider circuit. The second capacitive node is coupled (i) to the first voltage via the first circuit, and (ii) to the output node via the second circuit. In response to the input node changing towards the first voltage, the first circuit may disconnect the second capacitive node from the first voltage.
US07681138B2
A system and appertaining method provide a user interface application whose design is optimally modular and can be simply serviced and expanded on, and offers and optimally “free” configuration in order to cover all types of system conditions. A GUI file comprising description of graphical elements and appertaining identifiers is used to permit field changes by non-software developers without rebuilding any software. A similar communications file comprising communications parameters is provided that permits linkage to the GUI file by utilizing identifiers in common with those of the graphical elements in the GUI file.
US07681136B2
Described herein is a collaborative and Web-based whiteboarding tool for creating, collecting, storing, managing and performing searches on graphical customer information and information related thereto. When implementing the present invention, the company retains possession of and control over the sales-related diagrams generated by its sales force. Participants in a collaborative Web session are provided with one or more palettes of diagram primitives, which reduce the whiteboarding (diagram) task to an easily mastered series of object drag-and-drops, line connections, and text blurbs. The diagrams, as well as the diagram primitives (including, for example, icons, diagrams and portions thereof) are stored in a selectably accessible database. In addition, the diagram primitives may have fully searchable information associated therewith, in the form of metadata or tags, for example.
US07681125B2
A conditional text publication system and method. Conditional text publication allows for the publication of text that varies based on data values associated with the text. More specifically, allows for the inclusion and exclusion of text to or from a publication based on clauses such as conditional clause, functions such as database functions, and operators such as mathematical, logical and set operators that utilize selectors such as fields, attributes, validations, families and other entities associated with data in a database.
US07681124B2
In one aspect, the user can rapidly enter and search for text using a data entry system through a combination of entering one or more characters on a digitally displayed keyboard with a pointing device and using a search list to obtain a list of completion candidates. The user can activate the search list to obtain a list of completion candidates at any time while entering a partial text entry with the data entry system. When the search list is active, a list of completion candidates is displayed on a graphical user interface for the user to select from and the user can perform one of several actions. When the user deactivates the search list, the user can continue adding to or modifying the current partial text entry being entered, and may re-invoke the search list to further search for completion candidates based on the modified partial text entry.
US07681123B2
An apparatus, method and article of manufacture of the present invention provide improved rate of text presentation to a reader. The invention provides a method for defining a region of the display at which text is preferably read, and further provides a user interface for adjusting the speed of text display according to a screen location corresponding to that at which text is being read at any time.
US07681122B1
A flexible and scalable file format conversion system is capable of supporting a number of contemporaneous conversion requests. For each file, a conversion request entry and one or more related conversion task entries are maintained in FIFO queues under the control of a distribution manager program. Conversion operations are handled by application programs under the control of associated graphical processor programs. Conversion tasks are assigned to graphical processors by the distribution manager based on the conversion capabilities of the associated application program. The uploaded files received from clients for conversion are stored in a shared folder pending access by the assigned graphical processor. The graphical processors have a uniform interface with the queues and the memory. The results of the processing are stored in the shared folder where they are subsequently accessed by the web server and transmitted back to the client.
US07681121B2
A read document image is converted into first vector data. First layout structure information representing the layout structure of the first vector data is generated. The first layout structure information is changed into second layout structure information on the basis of preset layout setting information. The first vector data is converted into second vector data on the basis of the changed second layout structure information.
US07681109B2
A plurality of logical pages is stored in a MBC flash memory along with corresponding ECC bits, with at least one of the MBC cells storing bits from more than one logical page, and with at least one of the ECC bits applying to two or more of the logical pages. When the pages are read from the memory, the data bits as read are corrected using the ECC bits as read. Alternatively, a joint, systematic or non-systematic ECC codeword is computed for two or more of the logical pages and is stored instead of those logical pages. When the joint codeword is read, the logical bits are recovered from the codeword as read. The scope of the invention also includes corresponding memory devices, the controllers of such memory devices, and also computer-readable storage media bearing computer-readable code for implementing the methods.
US07681100B2
A system and method for retransmission of voice packets in wireless communications are provided. The method includes transmitting a voice packet from a base station to a communication unit or from a communication unit to a base station at a rate faster than a generation rate of the voice packet. The method further includes determining whether the transmitted voice packet is successfully received and retransmitting the voice packet if not successfully received. The number of retransmissions is limited by a predetermined value.
US07681080B2
A diagnostic system and method for repairing computing devices comprises a diagnostic application running on a same computing system having a failed operating system (O/S). The diagnostic application is provided with access to the file system of the failed O/S image. The diagnostic software application collects relevant configuration information from the file system of the failed O/S image, and transports this information to a proxy system running the same operating system as the computing device being diagnosed. The proxy system utilizes the collected data to diagnose the subject failed O/S system. Once the proxy makes a determination it synthesizes repair information comprising new or modified files and instructions to be transported back to the diagnostic software system to apply. A network connection is provided between the computer running the diagnostic application and the proxy system that enables data to be easily transported between the two systems without human intervention.
US07681077B1
A graphics processing unit has a reduced memory space shadow memory as a source of state information for performing validation of commands. The reduced memory space shadow memory is smaller in size than a full version of state variables associated with an abstract state machine representation of a class of commands received from a software driver.
US07681069B1
In one embodiment, a data corruption checker is integrated into the data backup operation. In one embodiment, the data corruption checker can skip over minor corruptions and back up the non-corrupt files, or can abort the backup and locate a major corruption. In one embodiment, the present invention includes receiving a backup command at a storage server, the backup command requesting that the storage server perform a backup operation on a storage component, scanning a set of inodes associated with the storage component to determine a subset of inodes corresponding to files to be backed up, and, as part of the scanning, identifying one or more corrupted files.
US07681065B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for processing messages. Aspects of the method may comprise receiving at least one signal on a chip that controls switching from a core processor to a DSP. At least a first bus that couples the core processor to a message processor and at least a first clock signal that clocks the core processor may be switched. At least a second bus that couples the DSP to the message processor and at least a second clock signal that clocks the DSP may be switched. When a loss of clock signal from the core processor or the DSP to the message processor is detected, a third clock signal for clocking the message processor may be generated. The message processor switch significantly reduces the amount of bandwidth utilized for transfer of data between the core processor and the DSP and provides incremental redundancy (IR) without high hardware cost and software MIPS, thereby providing significant improvement in system performance.
US07681063B2
A clock data recovery circuit includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit. The first circuit is configured to receive data and a clock signal and to detect transitions in the data and provide a first signal based on the clock signal and the transitions in the data. The second circuit is configured to receive the first signal and provide a first shift signal based on the first signal. The third circuit is configured to receive the first shift signal, wherein the first circuit, the second circuit, and the third circuit are configured to form a first circuit loop and the third circuit is configured to disable the first circuit loop and shift the clock signal based on the first shift signal.
US07681042B2
A computer-based system (10) and method for dis-identifying personal identifiable information (152, 162) and associated records (172) is disclosed. The system includes a system manager (20) module, an encryption and key management module (30), and a storage module (40). The system manager module (20) stores related sensitive information portions (152) of the personal identifiable information (152, 162), non-sensitive information portions (162) of the personal identifiable information, and associated records (172) in separate databases (100, 110, 120 or 150, 160, 170) in storage module (40) with each database record including one or more hidden links generated by the encryption and key management module (30) that can be used to determine the related records or information in one of the other databases. The hidden links are encrypted so that the relationships between the database records are hidden. The methods provide for storing sensitive and non-sensitive personal identifiable information and associated records as database records, and for storing the hidden links associated with these database records. The present invention also includes methods for retrieving sensitive personal identifiable information for a given associated record and for retrieving the associated record(s) for a given sensitive personal identifiable information.
US07681027B2
Methods and apparatus for providing self-describing media are disclosed. In one example, the processor readable media includes a first portion storing information arranged according to a format and further includes a second portion storing a firmware extension thereon. In such an arrangement, the firmware extension is adapted to be read by a processor in a pre-boot environment and to inform the processor of the format of information stored in the first portion.
US07681019B1
Reference architecture instructions are translated into target architecture operations. In some embodiments, an execution unit of a processor executes a function determined from a collection of operations, the function specifying functionality based on instructions, the collection selected from operations translated from the instructions. In further embodiments, the function is specified as a fused operation. Sequences of operations are optimized by fusing collections of operations; fused operations specify a same observable function as respective collections, but advantageously enable more efficient processing. In some embodiments, a collection comprises multiple register operations. Sequences of operations, in a predicted execution order in some embodiments, form traces. In some embodiments, fusing operations requires setting only final architectural state, such as final flag state; intermediate architectural state is used implicitly in a fused operation. In some embodiments, fused operations only set architectural state, such as high-order portions of registers, that is subsequently read before being written.
US07681016B2
A low overhead mechanism for supporting speculative execution and code compression in a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) microprocessor. Profitable speculations can be determined statically at compile time and a low overhead hardware recovery mechanism used that does not require compensation code.
US07681005B1
An integrated circuit memory device is designed for high speed data access and for compatibility with existing memory systems. An address strobe signal is used to latch a first address. During a burst access cycle the address is incremented internal to the device with additional address strobe transitions. A new memory address is only required at the beginning of each burst access. Read/Write commands are issued once per burst access eliminating the need to toggle the Read/Write control line at the device cycle frequency. Transitions of the Read/Write control line during a burst access will terminate the burst access, reset the burst length counter and initialize the device for another burst access. The device is compatible with existing Extended Data Out DRAM device pinouts, Fast Page Mode and Extended Data Out Single In-Line Memory Module pinouts, and other memory circuit designs. Additionally, a DRAM is provided having both pipelined and burst Extended Data Out modes of operation and the ability to switch between them.
US07680985B2
A method and apparatus for accessing a cache. The method includes receiving a request to access the cache. The request includes an address of requested data to be accessed. The method also includes using a first portion of the address to perform an access to a first directory for the cache and using a second portion of the address to perform an access to a second directory for the cache. Results from the access to the first directory for the cache and results from the access to the second directory for the cache are used to determine whether the cache includes the requested data to be accessed.
US07680973B2
The invention provides for a sideband signal for the USB that has real-time interrupt capabilities. A system and method for hardware detection of an interrupt signal provides for the ability to superimpose a high frequency interrupt signal on a USB power line for transmission to a controller. Alternatively, an overcurrent flow may be generated from a peripheral device and detected by an overflow current detector on the USB. In response, the overflow current detector may output an interrupt/overflow current detection signal to the controller.
US07680969B1
A method and system for disk I/O (input output) command splitting in a computer system. The method includes tracking a head position of a disk drive. Upon receiving a request for data from the disk drive, a first split access is executed to read a first portion of the data and a second split access is executed to read a second portion of the data. The second split access is executed after a rotation of the disk drive. The first split access and the second split access are used to fulfill the request for data.
US07680968B2
An enhanced switch/network adapter port incorporating shared memory resources (“SNAPM™”) selectively accessible by a direct execution logic element and one or more dense logic devices in a fully buffered dual in-line memory module (“FB-DIMM”) format for clustered computing systems employing direct execution logic such as multi-adaptive processor elements (“MAP®”, all trademarks of SRC Computers, Inc.). Functionally, the SNAPM modules incorporate and properly allocate memory resources so that the memory appears to the associated dense logic device(s) (e.g. a microprocessor) to be functionally like any other system memory such that no time penalties are incurred when accessing it. Through the use of a programmable access coordination mechanism, the control of this memory can be handed off to the SNAPM memory controller and, once in control, the controller can move data between the shared memory resources and the computer network such that the transfer is performed at the maximum rate that the memory devices themselves can sustain. This provides the highest performance link to the other network devices such as MAP® elements, common memory boards and the like.
US07680964B2
A method for improving timing behavior of a processing unit in a multithreading environment is disclosed, wherein the processing unit generates data frames for an output unit by combining data from a plurality of input units, and the processed data are buffered in an output buffer between the processing unit and the output unit. The method comprises sending from the output unit to the processing unit a value corresponding to the filling of the output buffer, calculating a timer value, setting a timer with the timer value, wherein the timer calls the processing unit thread after the specified time. The timer value depends on the value corresponding to the averaged filling of the output buffer. As a result, the average filling of the output buffer is lower compared to conventional thread management, and thus the system is more flexible and reacts quicker.
US07680946B2
A stream data processor suitable for various applications and which performs the process of various types of stream inputs in packet data. In the stream data processor which decides individually and sequentially whether packets forming an input stream are to be processed by a predetermined process, after stream data is temporarily stored packet by packet, packet selection and data processing based on a packet identifier present in any bit position are possible.
US07680940B2
Methods and systems are described for managing dynamic associations between folksonomic data and resources. One method includes receiving from a subscriber a subscription request to establish at least one of a first subscription to tag/resource association data associated with a resource and a second subscription to tag/resource association data associated with a folksonomic tag, wherein the folksonomic tag is unstructured metadata that includes a user-defined character string and establishing at least one of the first subscription and the second subscription. The method further includes determining a change to the tag/resource association data associated with at least one of the folksonomic tag and the resource identified in the subscription request, generating a notification message including at least one of an identifier of the folksonomic tag and an identifier of the resource in response to determining the change to the tag/resource association data associated with at least one of the folksonomic tag and the resource, and sending the notification message to the subscriber pursuant to at least one of the first subscription and the second subscription.
US07680921B2
A management system of one embodiment of the invention has a management computer and a managed computer which is managed by the management computer. The management computer comprises a communication device configured to receive operating data of a monitoring object inside a managed computer and information relating to an event. A processor is configured to identify from the operating data received by the communication device a portion of the operating data which relates to the event, based on the operating data and the information relating to the event indicating trouble occurrence or performance decrement of the monitoring object.
US07680918B2
A method and system for monitoring and managing applications and services. A repository comprising information identifying a plurality of assets and one or more relationships among the assets is maintained. One or more assets used to support an application are identified, along with one or more applications that are included in a service. Event and performance data are collected by a plurality of tools that perform monitoring and/or managing of the identified assets, the application, and/or the service. The gathered event and performance data is aggregated. The user is provided with a portal to access the aggregated event and performance data. Through this portal, the user can determine an impact of an event or a performance issue on the application or service based on the aggregated event or performance data and the relationships among the assets.
US07680916B2
Method and apparatus for separating background utilization from transaction resource consumption to simulate resource costs on system servers including a computer application server is taught. Transaction throughput combined with resource consumption data. Regression analysis on the resulting data set provides information useful for determining performance and for creating discrete event simulations. In a first embodiment, data from an application server is combined with the application transaction log to find a background utilization on the application servers and to simulate transaction resource cost with a background load. In a second embodiment, data from servers other than the application server are combined with the application transaction log to estimate the resource cost per transaction for a given resource in the system. In a third embodiment, data from servers other than the application server are combined with the application transaction log to simulate resource cost for a given resource based on transaction throughput.
US07680907B2
A system that includes one or more clients, databases and servers. The clients communicate with the servers using hyper-text transfer protocol. Each client includes a scheduling and monitoring agent. Each server includes several components. A first server component performs a plurality of functions, including receiving requests from the client(s) for configuration file verification information and storing in the database(s) a log of the requests. A second server component is capable of performing a plurality of functions, including receiving hardware and software inventory information, as well as software metering statistics, and storing the inventory information in at least one of the databases.
US07680906B2
A “Device Correlator,” operates to identify and configure complementary devices as a combined function of device “touching” and observations of contextual history of human interaction with the various devices in an ad-hoc network environment. New devices are brought into a local trust domain of the network via a “touch-based” process. Further, as each device is added to the trust domain, a contextual history of user interaction with each device is recorded. This recorded context history is evaluated to determine probable device associations. Inter-device associations and device behaviors for trusted devices are then automatically configured as a function of both the context history and the capabilities of the various devices. The result is an automatically configured invisible computing environment, wherein the only actions required by the user are to bring new devices into the local area of the ad-hoc network, and then designate those devices as being trusted.
US07680903B2
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the configuration of a device in a data network. According to said method, a domain name is first stored in the device. The device then transfers an inquiry message comprising the domain name to an addressing server that serves for the conversion between the domain name and the associated internet addresses. In a further step, the addressing server transmits an address information of a parameter server associated with said device to the device as a response to said inquiry message. The device establishes a link to the parameter server on the basis of said address information. The parameter server transmits via this link parameters to the device which serve to configure the device.
US07680900B2
The invention relates to a message broker for managing subscription requests in a multicast messaging system. The messaging system comprises a plurality of publishers publishing information to the broker and a plurality of subscribers subscribing to information received from one or more publishers. The broker is able to receive a subscription request pointing to topic information in which the requesting subscriber is interested, the topic information defining a specific topic within a topic hierarchy. The broker is able to parse the request to determine if the request includes a wildcard and if the request does include a wildcard, the broker instructs the requesting subscriber to listen on a multicast address associated with the topic in the topic hierarchy which precedes the wildcard.
US07680896B2
A system in which even in the case where an arbitrary client computer downloads or uploads a large amount of data to/from a device on a network, no influence is exerted on device management which is being executed by another client computer is provided.
US07680894B2
The present invention relates to a method for the distribution of multimedia content, comprising: a first step comprising a download in “push” mode of a multimedia content, in a partial way, from a content server to a client device, and a second step comprising a download of the missing elements of said multimedia content in “pull” mode via a “peer to peer” mechanism from a second client device, and in that the multimedia content can be reconstituted with n+p blocks, n and p being non-null natural integers, n blocks being downloaded during said first step and p blocks being downloaded during the second step, the multimedia content being exploitable only after reception of n+p blocks.
US07680891B1
Methods and systems of spam control for content creation systems include evaluation of documents created by a creator for characteristics associated with spam. A challenge rate is determined based on the evaluation. Whenever the creator attempts to create a document, he may be presented a challenge in accordance with the challenge rate. The challenge rate may be adjusted based on the creator's response to the challenge.
US07680890B1
Systems and methods for classifying e-mail messages as spam by combining outputs of a plurality of spam classifiers or classification tools using a fuzzy logic voting algorithm or formula are provided. According to one embodiment, a first classification value associated with an e-mail message and a second classification value associated with the e-mail message are received. The first classification value and the second classification value being indicative of whether the e-mail message is spam. Then, a single, aggregated classification value for the e-mail message is generated by combining the first classification value and the second classification value using a fuzzy logic-based voting mechanism.
US07680888B1
Systems and methods for processing instant messenger messages are described. In one embodiment, an instant messenger event is captured by compiling event data associated with at least one instant messenger message, the instant messenger event is associated with a conversation, and at least some of the event data associated with the instant messenger event is indexed.
US07680886B1
Computer implemented methods, apparati, and computer readable media for suppressing spam entering a computing device. A method embodiment comprises the steps of routing an electronic message leaving the computing device to a machine learning based spam filter defining the message to be clean; and training the filter, with the message being an input to the filter.
US07680864B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided that may include determining, at least in part, by a device comprised, at least in part, in storage, whether to request that the storage perform, at least in part, at least one operation. The at least one operation may involve, at least in part, at least one object stored in the storage. The determining may be based, at least in part, upon metadata associated with the at least one object. The metadata may be stored in the storage, and may indicate an earliest permitted deletion time for the at least one object and/or a latest permitted access time for the at least one object. Of course, many modifications, variations, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US07680862B2
The TABLE function mechanism available in a RDBMS is used to integrate RDF models into SQL queries. The table function invocation takes parameters including an RDF pattern, an RDF model, and an RDF rule base and returns result rows to the SQL query that contain RDF triples resulting from the application of the pattern to the triples of the model and the triples inferred by applying the rule base to the model. The RDBMS includes relational representations of the triples and the rules. Optimizations include indexes and materialized views of the representations of the triples, precomputed inferred triples, and a method associated with the TABLE function that rewrites the part of the SQL query that contains the TABLE function invocation as an equivalent SQL string. The latter technique is generally applicable to TABLE functions.
US07680861B2
A system and process is presented that identifies nearby objects and/or points in relation to a base object or point. An object or point is nearby if it resides within a prescribed area around the base point. The identification is based on information accessed from a database of geometric data. The identification of nearby neighbors begins by dividing the geographic system defined by said geometric data into a plurality of zones. The zone in which each object or point resides and the zones intersected by the prescribed area are determined. The nearby objects and/or points of interest are then identified by initially considering only those that are identified as residing in the zones intersected by the prescribed area. The search for nearby neighbors can be further refined by limiting the objects and/or points considered to those with locations within the lateral extent and/or within the height of the prescribed area.
US07680855B2
A computer system and method for capture, managing and presenting data obtained from various often unrelated postings via the Internet for examination by a user. This system includes a scraping module having one or more scraping engines operable to scrape information data sets from listings on the corporate sites and web sites, direct feeds, and other sources, wherein the scraping module receives and stores the scraped listing information data sets in a database. The system also has a management platform coordinating all operation of and communication between the sources, system administrators and processing modules. The processing modules in the platform include scraping management module analyzing selected scraped data stored in the database, and a categorization module that examines and categorizes each data set stored in the database into one or more of a predetermined set of categories and returns categorized data sets to the database.
US07680852B2
A technique to maintain the fast search capability for the large-scale documents without causing the update delay is provided. This search processing method includes: causing an index search unit for carrying out an index search using a search index before document update to carry out the index search relating to a search request, and obtaining a first list of document IDs of pertinent documents; causing a string pattern matching unit having document contents after the document update to carry out a string pattern matching relating to the search request for the document contents after the document update, and obtaining a second list of document IDs of pertinent documents; and generating a search result for the search request by using the first and second lists and a third list of document IDs of documents relating to the document update.
US07680850B2
A computer-readable recording medium storing an information search program capable of retrieving desired information with ease. An index information-producing section produces index information associating a preparation object keyword with file identification information for identifying files in the file information each including, in a usage time zone thereof, a date and time matching a date and time at which the preparation object keyword was entered, based on dates and times at which the keyword in the keyword information stored in a keyword information-storing section was entered, and usage time zones during which files in the file information are used. A retrieval section retrieves the preparation object keyword matching a search object keyword entered by a keyword input operation from the index information, and outputs the file identification information for identifying files associated with the retrieved preparation object keyword.
US07680848B2
In a multi-tenant environment, synchronous processing requests from clients associated with tenants are handled by middle tier servers, which forward requests for asynchronous processing to queues associated with organizational databases for each tenant directed by a locator service. A group of independent asynchronous processing servers are used to perform the asynchronous processing interacting with the databases in a distributed manner. The allocation of the requests among the asynchronous servers is managed by an exponential back off for organizations with no waiting requests algorithm combined with a quota system based on historic load for organizations that have requests. The independence of the synchronous and asynchronous processing servers, as well as the distributed interaction between the asynchronous processing servers and the databases enables scalability of the system based on request types and implementation of reliable recovery mechanisms.
US07680839B1
System and method for resynchronizing mirrored volumes in a storage system. According to one embodiment, a system may include a first volume located at a primary site and associated with a first storage management device, and a second volume located at a secondary site and associated with a second storage management device, where the secondary site is coupled to the primary site via a data link, and where the second volume is configured as a mirror of the first volume. The first storage management device may be configured to convey to the second storage management device an indication of a data block written to the first volume subsequent to a failure of the data link. Dependent upon the indication, the second storage management device may be configured to create a snapshot of the data block as stored on the second volume prior to resynchronization of the data block.
US07680836B2
In one embodiment, a user or client device is connected to a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each include nested files and directories. According to one embodiment, the system stores representations of the snapshots that govern a file or directory and its descendants within metadata associated with that file or directory. Before modifying a file or directory, the system updates the representations of the governing snapshots by traversing the metadata of ancestors of the file or directory.
US07680828B2
A method and a system for facilitating data retrieval from a plurality of data sources are provided. A plurality of ‘Local Data Objects’ (LDOs) corresponding to the plurality of data sources are generated. Further, the plurality of LDOs are mapped onto a ‘Global Data Object’ (GDO). The GDO consolidates the plurality of LDOs into a single integrated model. The mapping of the LDOs onto the GDO includes a plurality of ‘binding conditions’ that relate LDO attributes to GDO attributes. The mapping also includes a plurality of ‘transformation functions’ for transforming the LDO attributes to the GDO attributes.
US07680825B2
Exemplary methods and systems may designate a data structure as tenant-specific or shared. By reviewing a plurality of data structures at the provider corresponding to a plurality of tenants, the provider may determine which of the plurality of data structures are specific to a first tenant of the plurality of tenants, and generate a tenant specific designation to identify a data structure as specific to the first tenant. Further, the provider may associate a data structure determined to be specific to the first tenant with the generated tenant specific designation. With this capability a provider-tenant system may separately store each tenants data.
US07680822B1
A method and system are provided for inserting access control rules into an access control list. The access control list may be configured to contain independent rule blocks having ordered access rules. In one example, the method includes creating a new independent rule block and inserting a new access rule into the block if the list is empty. If the list is not empty, a set of mapped independent rule blocks may be created from the list. For each block in the set, the method may attempt to determine a position for the new access rule. Those blocks for which a position cannot be determined may be removed from the set, and the blocks in the set may be merged to form a new independent rule block with the new access rule.
US07680819B1
A basic architecture for managing digital identity information in a network such as the World Wide Web is provided. A user of the architecture can organize his or her information into one or more profiles which reflect the nature of different relationships between the user and other entities, and grant or deny each entity access to a given profile. Various enhancements which may be provided through the architecture are also described, including tools for filtering email, controlling access to user web pages, locating other users and making one's own location known, browsing or mailing anonymously, filling in web forms automatically with information already provided once by hand, logging in automatically, securely logging in to multiple sites with a single password and doing so from any machine on the network, and other enhancements.
US07680817B2
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for organizing information elements in a system having a display capability which (a) generates a first information element vector based on a predetermined first characterization attribute, (b) generates a second information element vector based on a second characterization attribute, and (c) display on the display device the first information element vector adjacent to the second information element vector. Furthermore, the computer-executable instructions allow a user to select the characterization attributes and to visualize the information element vectors.
US07680815B2
A user data management apparatus for connection to a terminal data processor used by a user through a network, registers data that is dependent on a user ID peculiar to the user. The user data management apparatus has a first unit for generating a first data registration screen, when data of the user is to be initially registered, which differs from user ID to user ID, and a second unit for displaying, on the terminal data processor, a second data registration screen based on the first data registration screen generated by the first unit, when the data of the user is to be registered.
US07680809B2
An indexing system in a computer system may include applications, a capture processor, a queue, a search engine, and a display processor. The indexing system captures events of user interactions with the applications. Events are queued and if indexable, indexed and stored for user access through the search engine. Capture components in the capture processor can include a keyboard capture component that processes user keystrokes to determine events. A display capture component captures event data from windows associated with the applications. Display event data can be captured on a polling schedule or based on state changes of window elements. To determine target applications and window applications of interest application profiles and window profiles can be used.
US07680808B2
A transmission apparatus includes a license data input unit accepting an input of license data which permits reproduction of a storage content linked from a streaming content; a multiplexer generating multiplexed data by multiplexing the inputted license data on a broadcast content for a predetermined period of time; and an output unit transmitting the generated multiplexed data to a content reproduction apparatus via digital broadcast. The content reproduction apparatus includes a receiving unit receiving multiplexed data; a demultiplexer extracting license data and a broadcast content from the received multiplexed data; and a content reproduction unit reproducing the extracted broadcast content, and when obtaining a storage content whose reproduction is permitted based on the extracted license data, reproducing the obtained storage content based on the license data by switching the reproduction from the broadcast content to the storage content.
US07680807B2
The inventive method makes it possible to reduce the size of a digital audio, image and/or video file in such a way that a reduced number of representative data needed for reformatting a file is transmitted to a receiving entity encoder. Said method consists in assigning references of at least one file component value to another value of the same component or in integrating at least one reference of the value group of the same component or another component into a component value group.
US07680805B2
A method is described that involves generating an update to an object-oriented model of an information system from information that describes a new state of the information system. The generating includes applying a synchronization rule for a sub-system identified within the information system. The synchronization rule indicates whether a new component within the sub-system that appears within the information is merged within the sub-system or replaces a component within the sub-system.
US07680804B2
According to one embodiment, a content data store maintains the one or more content items in accordance with a programmable indexing schemes, with each container in the comprising storage for one or more references to one or more content items. Systems and methods are provided that re-index the references to content items that the content data store is indexing in accordance with one or more container creation schemes for ease of management and navigation.
US07680796B2
The usefulness, and consequently the performance, of advertisements are improved by allowing businesses to better target their ads to a responsive audience. Location information, such as country, region, metro area, city or town, postal zip code, telephone area code, etc. is determined (or simply accepted) and used. For example, location information may be used in a relevancy determination of an ad. As another example, location information may be used in an attribute (e.g., position) arbitration. Such location information may be associated with price information, such as a maximum price bid. Such location information may be associated with ad performance information. Ad performance information may be tracked on the basis of location information. The content of an ad creative, and/or of a landing page may be selected and/or modified using location information. Finally, tools, such as user interfaces, may be provided to allow a business to enter and/or modify location information, such as location information used for targeting and location-dependent price information.
US07680782B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for automatically generating a query. Data and occurrence is described using a sequence type. The data and occurrence from the sequence type are matched to a sequence type pattern. Sentences in a query language are generated automatically using the sequence type pattern for testing an ability of a query processing engine to interpret queries.
US07680781B1
Techniques are presented for automatic search query generation and results set management. A searcher makes selections from metadata; the metadata is associated with a particular lexicon or industry. Furthermore, the selections are mapped to fields associated with a data source. A thread-safe or unique search query is generated in response to the fields. The thread-safe search query is in a query language format which can query the data source. In an embodiment, the thread-safe search query is executed against the data source and the results returned are customized to rank the results, to sort the results, to filter the results, and/or to acquire a random sampling of the results.
US07680780B2
A method, system and article of manufacture for providing natural language support for users running queries against a multilingual database. One embodiment comprises identifying one or more physical values defined by physical data in the multilingual database for a query result associated with an executed query. At least one translation function configured to transform at least a portion of the identified physical values defined in one or more different natural languages into alternative values defined in a selected language is executed. From each executed translation function, a data structure mapping at least a portion of the identified physical values to translated values defined in the selected language is identified and the translated values defining the alternative values defined in the selected language are retrieved from each identified data structure. The query result associated with the executed query including the alternative values defined in the selected language is output.
US07680778B2
Computerized methods and systems for generating a suggested query list with suggested search terms displayed as highlighted text utilizing a user-defined query are provided. Query search terms are received by a user-interface display. Upon inputting query search terms, the user-interface automatically generates a suggested query list. The suggested query list is associated with the query search term and the suggested query list is comprised of at least one suggested search term. A query suggestion architecture determines if the query search term and the suggested search term are a match, and if so, highlights the suggested search term that is not a match. The user interface displays the highlighted terms to assist in refining a search. The present invention further provides a stemming algorithm that extracts the root form of the query search term.
US07680777B2
A contents display and search system for navigating and searching and exploring a collection of objects includes a database of Attributes; each of the Attributes being associated with one or more objects, and a database of Kinds, each Kind being associated with one or more Attributes. When a user enters a search query including at least one Attribute, an object is tested to determine whether it has Attributes of the Kind corresponding to the Kind of the at least one specified Attribute before function testing is performed. Search and contents investigation results are presented in a hierarchical format in which Kinds and Attributes rather than objects, are displayed until the search or content type is further specified by selecting additional Kinds and/or Attributes such that the number of objects satisfying the specified search is below a threshold. User interaction modifies the hierarchical order of Kinds and Attributes in the display.
US07680767B2
A data access architecture is provided that includes a mapping architecture for mapping data as may be used by an application to data as persisted in a database. The mapping architecture makes use of two types of mapping views—a query view that helps in translating queries and an update view that helps in translating updates. Incremental view maintenance can be used to translate data between the application and database.
US07680762B2
A system and method is provided to facilitate communications between object systems. A caller is provided having optimized in-lined functionality when initiating a remote function call between managed and unmanaged object systems, for example. The in-lined functionality includes utilizing direct calls and returns within a calling function. In this manner, pushing additional arguments onto an execution stack because of an external stub reference is mitigated. In addition, one or more code loops can be analyzed to enable stack markers to be “hoisted” and thus pushed a single time instead of each time the calling function executes. Other aspects of the optimized caller provide garbage collection and thread management, security attribute checking on outgoing calls, calling convention considerations, wherein arguments and return values are organized according to the convention utilized by the remote object system, and in-lined marshalling to provide enhanced performance over external stub code references. Code extensibility options can be included enabling functions to be generalized thereby insulating object systems from implementation details of the called functions.
US07680750B2
A method of scheduling network resources in a first domain by transforming the problem to a second domain, solving the problem and transforming back to the first domain.
US07680749B1
Adaptive navigation techniques are disclosed that allow navigation systems to learn from a user's personal driving history. As a user drives, models are developed and maintained to learn or otherwise capture the driver's personal driving habits and preferences. Example models include road speed, hazard, favored route, and disfavored route models. Other attributes can be used as well, whether based on the user's personal driving data or driving data aggregated from a number of users. The models can be learned under explicit conditions (e.g., time of day/week, driver ID) and/or under implicit conditions (e.g., weather, drivers urgency, as inferred from sensor data). Thus, models for a plurality of attributes can be learned, as well as one or more models for each attribute under a plurality of conditions. Attributes can be weighted according to user preference. The attribute weights and/or models can be used in selecting a best route for user.
US07680748B2
Object recognition techniques are disclosed that provide both accuracy and speed. One embodiment of the present invention is an identification system. The system is capable of locating objects in images by searching for local features of an object. The system can operate in real-time. The system is trained from a set of images of an object or objects. The system computes interest points in the training images, and then extracts local image features (tokens) around these interest points. The set of tokens from the training images is then used to build a hierarchical model structure. During identification/detection, the system, computes interest points from incoming target images. The system matches tokens around these interest points with the tokens in the hierarchical model. Each successfully matched image token votes for an object hypothesis at a certain scale, location, and orientation in the target image. Object hypotheses that receive insufficient votes are rejected.
US07680739B1
A method for processing checks includes capturing check data from a check, where the check data includes payee information or payor information. A category of the check is identified based at least in part on the captured check data. A user account is updated with the category and at least a portion of the captured check data. The user account is analyzed to identify transactions involving paper checks. Based on the analysis, an incentive is provided to a user associated with the user account, where the incentive discourages paper check transactions by the user.
US07680737B2
Methods and systems of processing a plurality of payments. One method can include receiving the plurality of payments from a plurality of customers, the plurality of payments payable to at least one receiver, determining a first set of payments included in the plurality of payments to automatically accept based on validation parameters, determining a second set of payments included in the plurality of payments to reject based on the validation parameters, determining a third set of payments included in the plurality of payments to conditionally accept based on the validation parameters, and electronically prompting at least one user to accept or reject payments included in the third set of payments.
US07680729B2
Systems and methods are provided for education planning. One method embodiment includes collecting information associated with a cost of obtaining an education and information associated with funding the cost, determining an amount to be financed by using the information associated with the cost and the information associated with funding the cost, and providing a payment plan for financing the amount to be financed, the payment plan including a levelized payment (L) to be made at a number of intervals for a repayment term, wherein the levelized payment is determined by using a net present value (V) associated with more than one funding event over the course of an education program.
US07680722B2
A computer-implemented system and method for executing trades of financial securities according to a combination passive/aggressive trading strategy that reliably executes trades of lists of securities or blocks of a single security within a desired time frame while taking advantage of dynamic market movement to realize price improvement for the trade within the desired time frame. A passive trading agent executes trades at advantageous prices by floating portions of the order at the bid or ask to maximize exposure to the inside market and attract market orders. An aggressive agent opportunistically takes liquidity as it arises, setting discretionary prices in accordance with historical trading data of the specified security.
US07680719B1
The invention enables a system user to create a scenario that includes an analysis resolution, portfolio component data and analysis environment data. Once the scenarios are established, the system user can conduct processing/modeling/analysis in order to optimize the portfolio allocation data—effectively maximizing the return on the component investments, while minimizing the risk exposure for the portfolio. In achieving the optimization, the system can process stored user or system defined scenarios based on a series of modeling/analysis system modules. Further, it is possible for a system user to model, analyze and compare multiple scenarios historically or prospectively. The system may provide wealth outcome analysis which allows a user to determine likely long term outcomes of a particular investment plan, while accounting for the tax consequences of the chosen plan. In an implementation, the system is configured to store the modeling/analysis results and generate a scenario report. Further, the system can be configured to generate the report in a standardized format and automatically distribute the report to designated recipients.
US07680714B1
One disclosed embodiment comprises a computerized method and system for matching structured cash flows by transmitting a information of an exchange definition comprising information of two or more underlyings, a notional amount or range, and a payment provision, and receiving information of a linear combination of one or more partial exchange definitions such that the net present value of the cumulative cash flow of the linear combination of partial exchange definitions is substantially zero.
US07680708B1
A method for associating a tax-line item to a user transaction in a financial management software application including obtaining the user transaction by the financial management software application, associating a first tax line item with the user transaction, where the tax line item is selected by accepting input from a user separately from categorizing the transaction, and presenting the user transaction and the first tax line item selected by the user.
US07680705B2
A system and method is provided for automating placement of orders from a catalog that has been JumpCode enabled by inclusion of bar codes. A sequence of additive bar codes uniquely identify each item available from the catalog. A scanner is used for designating items from the catalog by scanning the identifying sequences of bar codes, which include at least a bar code element that uniquely identifies the catalog and the page of an item, and a further bar code element that uniquely identifies an item among the other items on a page, using a common reference scheme that is applicable to each page. This combination of bar code elements is a JumpCode, and JumpCodes for the items scanned are grouped into orders by affiliate and sent to the respective e-commerce sites of each affiliate, which are designed to handle orders from the catalog. The web sites generate shopping carts from the orders and appropriate URLs are returned to the user, who can use a browser to complete the order by direct communication with the respective web sites.
US07680704B2
In the present invention, items are described with a compact item descriptor where two items with the same compact item descriptor are interchangeable. The compact item descriptor can be generated for an item using a classification process and a set of parameters with values that describe the item.An organization assigns an identifier, a part number, to an item. The compact descriptor for the part number is stored in the item description field of the materials planning system and in the Approved Manufacturing List, AML. The AML identifies the supplier and supplier part number that may be ordered as the item. The Bill of Materials, BoM, for a product, is the parts list to build the product. The AML is used to identify the suppliers and supplier part number to purchase items needed to build the product The AML may contain errors and must be validated by the contract manufacturing company, called an EMS, Electronic Manufacturing Service provider. The EMS can use the compact item descriptor to validate or change the AML for a product quotation, for the ordering parts or components on the BoM.
US07680702B1
Price searching and customer self-checkout on a mobile device is provided. A system for purchasing products comprises at least one subsystem that receives from a mobile device at least price and seller identification data of a product, (at least the price of said product having been electronically read by the mobile device), and at least one subsystem that charges a user for the product based upon the received price and identification data.
US07680695B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for role-based authorization in web shopping. According to the embodiments, operations available to a user of a web shop may be filtered based on the user's role, and correspond authorization level, within an organization.
US07680694B2
A solution is provided for a method for a user to shop online in a three dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) setting by receiving a request at a shopping server to view a shopping location, having at least one store, and displaying the shopping location to the user's computer in a 3D interactive simulation view via a web browser to emulate a real-life shopping experience for the user. The server then obtains a request to enter into one of the stores and displays the store website to the user in the same web browser. The store website has one or more enhanced VR features. The server then receives a request to view at least one product and the product is presented in a 3D interactive simulation view to emulate a real-life viewing of the product.
US07680693B2
A system constituted by a product information supply server 2, an automatic graphic server 3, an order processing server 4 and a product information database 1. The servers 2, 3 and 4 may be connected to product information database 1 on a network 5, wherein product information is supplied and an order is accepted on the basis of a request from a customer terminal 6. The product information supply server 2 searches and supplies various pieces of product information in accordance with the request from the customer terminal 6. The product information supply server 2 searches a product specification database 11 on the basis of the product specification information entered from the customer terminal 6, extracts a call number of a relevant product from the product specification database 11, and supplies the call number of the relevant product together with price information and delivery to the customer terminal 6.
US07680689B2
An ATM network is coupled to a data warehouse. Information about transactions, the timing of transactions and advertisements displayed on or near ATM terminals in the network are stored in the data warehouse. Complex queries performed on the data warehouse are then used to provide information about the effectiveness of advertisements displayed on or near the ATM terminals and also to enable choices of subsets of the terminals to be made to provide information about suitable subsets for advertising placement.
US07680685B2
A computer system models customer response using observable data. The observable data includes transaction, product, price, and promotion. The computer system receives data observable from customer responses. A set of factors including customer traffic within a store, selecting a product, and quantity of selected product is defined as expected values, each in terms of a set of parameters related to customer buying decision. A likelihood function is defined for each of the set of factors. The parameters are solved using the observable data and associated likelihood function. The customer response model is time series of unit sales defined by a product combination of the expected value of customer traffic and the expected value of selecting a product and the expected value of quantity of selected product. A linear relationship is given between different products which includes a constant of proportionality that determines affinity and cannibalization relationships between the products.
US07680683B2
Systems and methods that dynamically reset a workflow state by employing a dynamic state manager that is external to the workflow, and enables interaction of a host with a workflow instance. An event driven workflow or state machine workflow can be supplied, wherein ad hoc events are employed to reset and manipulate the workflow to states that have not been modeled as part of the workflow itself, to dynamically create relation ships at runtime.
US07680679B1
The present invention relates to a method and system for processing transactions involving accounts for reimbursing medical expenses or patient responsible balances, wherein the accounts may be handled by multiple payors having multiple transaction substantiation requirements. Examples of such accounts include flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangement accounts, medical savings account, health savings account and the like. The system and method of the present invention allow an employer that uses multiple payors for administering the aforementioned accounts to distinguish its employees based on their associated payors in order to determine the proper transaction substantiation requirement per each employee and associated payor without having required to collect payor data at the employee level.
US07680670B2
The invention relates to compression coding and/or decoding of digital signals, in particular by vector variable-rate quantisation defining a variable resolution. For this purpose an impulsion dictionary comprises: for a given dimension, increasing resolution dictionaries imbricated into each other and, for a given dimension, a union of: a totality (D′i
US07680668B2
A computer-implemented method for generating a language-independent regression test script. A language-specific regression test script comprising at least one object is received, wherein the language-specific regression test script is for use by an automated testing tool for testing an application in a first language. A translatable string of the object is identified, wherein the translatable string is represented in the first language. The translatable string is replaced with a language-independent string that can be represented in a plurality of languages, generating a language-independent regression test script that can be used for testing internationalized applications.
US07680649B2
A system, method, and computer program are disclosed for recognizing one or more words not listed in a dictionary database. One or more sequences of characters in the word are checked to determine a probability that the word is valid. A prefix removal process removes any prefixes from a word, and obtains information about the removed prefix. A suffix removal process removes any suffixes from the word, and obtains information about the removed suffix. A root process obtains information about a root word from the dictionary database. A combination process then determines if the prefix, the root, and the suffix can be combined into a valid word as defined by one or more combination rules, obtains one or more of the possible parts of speech of the valid word, and stores the parts of speech with the valid word in the dictionary database.
US07680646B2
In a translation apparatus, a translation memory (32) stores (i) source language target language translation unit pairs and (ii) structural information for at least some source language translation units indicating a structural position within a document from which the source language translation unit was derived. A comparator (30) compares a new source language translation unit with source language translation units stored in the translation memory. Each comparison includes (i) a textual comparison and (ii) a structural comparison between an identified structural position within a source language document (10) from which the new source language translation unit was derived and the structural information for the source language translation unit stored in the translation memory.
US07680643B2
A portable device is connected to a host system that operates according to a first industry standard architecture (e.g., a personal computer built according to the IBM Personal Computer standard). The user initiates a session in the host system using the software and data in the portable device. The user suspends the state of the session, the state is stored in the portable device, and the user disconnects the portable device from the host. The user later connects the portable device to a second host that operates according to a second industry standard architecture (e.g., Apple Macintosh™ computer). The second host boots an autoconfiguring host operating system stored in the portable device and starts a virtual machine layer also stored in the portable device. The user then resumes operation of the suspended virtual machine layer session.
US07680642B2
An equivalent circuit for a coil incorporated in a circuit simulator is a model of an equivalent circuit for a coil included in a circuit simulator for analysis of an electrical device including a coil forming a magnetic circuit. The equivalent circuit of a coil included in an electric motor or other electrical device is preferably comprised of a resistance component (R), induced voltage component (−dΦ/dt), and inductance component (L). The equivalent circuit of the inductance component is provided with a current source, a voltage extractor for extracting the voltage across the terminals of this current source, a current generator for determining the value of the current of the current source based on the value of the voltage output by this voltage extractor, and a current-carrying path connected in parallel to the current source and carrying a regenerative current at the time of off operation. By the above configuration, an electrical device including a coil can be analyzed and the iterative calculation at the time of handling nonlinear characteristic data becomes unnecessary. An actual model can be realized with variable values of the inductance element.
US07680632B1
The present invention provides methods and systems for using a design element in a graphical model to represent and identify a precondition for use by a verification tool in verifying an executable form of the design represented by the graphical model. The precondition design element provides a specification of a verification constraint without affecting the behavior of the design. The constraint is to be applied by the verification tool in verifying the design. As such, the precondition design element of the present invention provides a mechanism and formalism in a model-based design approach that is used to constrain automatically generated tests or verification of the design represented by the graphical model.
US07680628B1
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a processor usage adjustment factor and for automatically applying the processor usage adjustment factor to provide a processor usage estimate for an SMT processor. In one implementation, the methods and systems obtain samples of processor usage reported by the operating system at a predefined sampling rate over a predefined sampling interval. Thread states for the threads substantially corresponding to the reported processor usage are so obtained at the predefined sampling rate and over the predefined sampling interval. This sampling may be performed for servers running different applications and having diverse processing loads. An estimate of the distribution of the number of threads running for the processor usage reported may then be determined from the sampled data. A processor usage adjustment factor may then be derived, based on the distribution, and used to provide a processor usage estimate.
US07680615B2
A parallel testing system with shared golden calibration table includes: a storage unit, multiple testing platforms, and a server. The storage unit is used for storing the golden calibration table, and the testing platforms are used to test a device under test (DUT) respectively by utilizing the golden calibration table. The server is connected to the storage unit and the testing platforms to send the golden calibration table to the testing platforms, and then, to cumulatively record calibration data produced after the testing platforms respectively test the DUTs, so that the server can further perform a weighted arithmetic operation to the calibration data so as to update the golden calibration table. Thereby, the purpose of accelerating the convergence speed of the golden calibration table can be achieved.
US07680612B2
A vehicle power supply device performs highly accurate determination of degradation of the capacitor unit as follows. Internal resistance and capacitance are corrected according to the temperature of capacitor unit during charge or discharge, thereby obtaining a corrected calculated value if capacitance. The corrected calculated value of capacitance is substituted into a degradation determination formula, which is pre-calculated according to the temperature, thereby calculating the standard value corresponding to the temperature detected by temperature sensor. When the standard value is equal to or less than the corrected calculated value of internal resistance, capacitor unit is determined to be degraded.
US07680611B2
A method for detecting and reporting fluid leaks in a distribution network, particularly in condominium water or gas distribution networks, the method providing the steps of: acquiring at a preset rate statistical samples related to the extent of the water flow in input to the network; acquiring a variation coefficient which indicates the characteristics of the samples over a set time interval; comparing the variation coefficient with a preset reference value to identify a situation of fluid leak or of normality within the network; reporting the situation to monitoring devices.
US07680601B1
Methods for the computational analysis of polyketides and the computer-assisted design of PKS genes are facilitated by representing the structure of a polyketide and/or a PKS gene that encodes the PKS that produces the polyketide by alphanumeric symbols that facilitates computer assisted analysis. A database of polyketides and corresponding PKS genes that can be rapidly searched and information extracted for a variety of applications, including the design and specification of PKS genes via the recombining of modules or portions of modules or sets of modules from already known and available PKS genes.
US07680592B2
A drive assistance system is provided for assisting an operation of a driver of a vehicle in a manner that does not cause disturbance for the driver, based on image information derived from an external apparatus such as roadside cameras or the like. The image information is provided for the driver by a liquid crystal display unit, and the provision of the image information is accompanied by a provision of supplemental information from a headup display unit that draws driver's attention to the provision of the image information from the liquid crystal display unit in an appropriate manner.
US07680591B2
A navigation apparatus that includes a position information acquiring unit acquiring position information of a parking position; a parking information acquiring unit acquiring information as to a parking time in the parking position; and a memory storing the position information acquired by the position information acquiring unit when it is judged on the basis of the information as to the parking time acquired by the parking information acquiring unit that its parking time exceeds a predetermined time.
US07680581B2
A method for diagnosing an air intake throttle with a spring activated throttle actuator, on an electronic controlled internal combustion engine system including an electronic control unit (ECU) with memory, a battery electrically connected to said engine and an ignition switch for connecting said battery to said engine and supplying current, comprising engaging the ignition switch to close a circuit between said battery and said engine; applying a first predetermined voltage to an air intake throttle plate actuator and determining a first period of throttle response time elapsed from a full open throttle position to a full close throttle position for a first throttle velocity; discontinuing application of said first predetermined voltage to said air intake throttle actuator and determining a second period of throttle response time elapsed from a full close throttle position to a full open throttle position for a second throttle velocity; applying a second voltage to said air intake throttle plate actuator and determining a third period of throttle response time elapsed from a full open throttle position to a full close throttle position for a third throttle velocity; and determining a fourth period of throttle response time elapsed from a full close throttle position to a full open throttle position with no voltage applied to the throttle plate actuator for a fourth throttle velocity.
US07680577B2
The estimating method for a road friction coefficient μ includes the steps of detecting a steering angle by a steering angle sensor; detecting a lateral acceleration by a lateral acceleration sensor; and calculating an approximate friction coefficient μ by referring to a road friction coefficient μ determination table where a plurality of regions each composed of steering angle and lateral acceleration are defined so as to respectively correspond to a plurality of road friction coefficients μi (i=1 to n, n is an integer not less than 2) on the basis of a boundary line derived from lower limits of the lateral acceleration over various values of the steering angle, and by specifying one of said regions according to the steering angle detected by said steering angle sensor and the lateral acceleration detected by said lateral acceleration sensor to thereby specify one of said road friction coefficients μi as said approximate friction coefficient μ.
US07680569B2
An automotive lane deviation prevention (LDP) apparatus includes a control unit connected to a yawing-motion control actuator for LDP control purposes. The control unit determines, based on information regarding a lane marking line detected based on a picture image in front of a host vehicle, whether the host vehicle is in a state FLD≠0 where there is an increased tendency for the host vehicle to deviate from the driving lane. The control unit executes, based on a state Fdw≠0 where the host vehicle is traveling on predetermined irregularities formed on or close to the lane marking line and the information regarding the lane marking line, vehicle yawing motion control by which the host vehicle returns to a central position of the driving lane, in a lane-marking non-detecting state Fcamready=0 where the lane marking line is out of an image pick-up enabling area.
US07680566B2
A consist controller is provided that enables an operator to take advantage of all horsepower combinations for locomotives in a consist. The consist controller provides a fractional increase option and a fractional decrease option that enables the operator to increase or decrease horsepower output with finer adjustments. In a preferred implementation, the fractional increases and decreases are used in conjunction with a fuel optimization routine such that the target setpoint, from which a range of horsepower values is computed, can be increased or decreased in steps that are less than a full notch increase or decrease.
US07680560B2
A recording material stacking apparatus equipped with a plurality of discharge ports and a plurality of stacking trays can be set to normal mode and large capacity stacking mode each having a different maximum loading capacity. A stacking tray on the upper side has a plurality of lower limit positions and uses a lower limit position located on the upper side when normal mode is selected. On the other hand, it uses a lower limit position located on the lower side when the large capacity stacking mode is selected. The lower limit position located below a stacking tray on the upper side when this large capacity stacking mode is selected exists at a position in which it blocks a lower discharge port of sheets. Selection of the large capacity stacking mode and normal mode is executed according to a result of computation from data input through an input portion.
US07680553B2
Methods of interfacing nanomaterials used to monitor and execute the pharmaceutical manufacturing process are disclosed herein. The nanomaterials are useful to provide a plurality of analysis to the manufacturing process. Consequently, the methods provide a means to perform validation and quality manufacturing on an integrated level whereby pharmaceutical manufacturers can achieve data and product integrity and ultimately minimize cost.
US07680552B2
The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for improvement of High Frequency Reconstruction (HFR) techniques using frequency translation or folding or a combination thereof. The proposed invention is applicable to audio source coding systems, and offers significantly reduced computational complexity. This is accomplished by means of frequency translation or folding in the subband domain, preferably integrated with spectral envelope adjustment in the same domain. The concept of dissonance guard-band filtering is further presented. The proposed invention offers a low-complexity, intermediate quality HFR method useful in speech and natural audio coding applications.
US07680536B2
Approaches for estimating capture thresholds for alternate pacing vectors of multi-electrode pacing devices are described. Capture thresholds of at least one initial pacing vector is measured. The impedance of the initial pacing vector and at least one alternate pacing vector is measured. The initial and alternate pacing vectors have an electrode in common. The common electrode has the same polarity in both the initial and the alternate pacing vectors. The capture threshold for the alternate pacing vector may be estimated based on the measured capture threshold of the initial pacing vector, the measured the impedance of the initial pacing vector, and the measured impedance of the alternate pacing vector.
US07680535B2
A system and method recording sensing and pacing events in a cardiac rhythm management device. The method may be particularly useful in assessment of pacing parameters for ventricular resynchronization therapy.
US07680530B2
A cardiac rhythm management system that includes a pacemaker configured for biventricular pacing and an external programmer with an associated display for displaying electrogram data and markers representing ventricular events. Associated with each marker are intraventricular intervals designed to relate information to a user in a manner suited for ventricular resynchronization pacing.
US07680521B2
Disclosed is a battery pack locking device for a mobile phone which attaches or detaches the battery pack to or from a body of the phone by slidably moving a cover of a camera lens module. The battery pack locking device includes a sliding cover; a push locker portion moved upwardly or downwardly according to movement of the sliding cover; a slide locker portion slidably moved according to the upward or downward movement of the push locker portion to restrict or release the battery pack; and a resilient member.
US07680514B2
A portable wireless-enabled system includes an input transducer (for example, a microphone), an output transducer (for example, a speaker) and a wireless transceiver system. Also included, is a memory having a programmable user speech profile. A processor system controls operation of the input transducer, the output transducer, the wireless transceiver system and the memory.
US07680508B2
A transmitter is included in a mobile communication network. The transmitter is included configured to transmit to a receiver a data channel and a first control channel controlling data transmissions on the data channel, transmit, on the first control channel, an indicator indicating that there is data transmission to the receiver on the data channel. The transmitter also is configured to omit data transmission on the data channel.
US07680504B2
A method for transmitting a message including inputting, at a transmitting terminal, a message body and an activation condition indicating when the message body is to be activated on a receiving terminal, and transmitting message data to the receiving terminal. The message data includes the message body and the activation condition. Further, the activation condition is compared to a current status of the receiving terminal to determine when the message body is to be activated.
US07680503B2
An apparatus and method of mapping a short message service (SMS) information from a first communications system to a corresponding message in a second, different cellular system is claimed. SMS information having a format required by the first communication system is received. The SMS information is mapped into a format required by the second communication system. Additional information is appended, if necessary, or information is removed as being extraneous information, if necessary, as required by the second communication system.
US07680492B2
A technique for updating and maintaining a wireless communication database (40) includes several features. One feature is a search capability that facilitates, for example, an individual locating appropriate portions of the database to be updated in a desired manner. A platinum data image portion includes a relational database regarding various rules governing the contents of the wireless communication database. If a proposed change will violate any of these rules, an error message is provided. If a proposed change is acceptable, it will be implemented on an automated basis. A disclosed example includes the capability of scheduling proposed changes into the future, indicating a proposed change for one particular data field and instructing an automated update of all similar or related data fields in a particular manner.
US07680489B2
A method for providing concurrent service in a mobile communication system is disclosed in which a SCCP connection identifier SLR/DLR of a lower layer and a Service Option Connection Identifier (SOCI) on an IOS message of the higher layer to be exchanged are transmitted when a SCCP connection is established between a BSC and a MSC, thereby providing additional services to those already requested from a mobile station after the SCCP connection establishment without stopping a currently used service. According to the method, the concurrent service is provided while minimizing the conventional call processing procedures on the interface between the BSC and the MSC, thereby allowing a subscriber to use new additional service without stopping the current service or concurrently use a plurality of services such as voice and packet data services. Furthermore, a flexible confront is possible to a future development direction of the network. Providing concurrent service is an essential function of the third generation mobile communication network in a multimedia environment.
US07680487B2
Upon detecting (201) a communication need for a group of communication recipients that entails attempting to make at least one transmission to each of the communication recipients in the group (wherein at least one of the communication recipients has both a scheduled personal communication opportunity and a scheduled group communication opportunity), one automatically uses (202) whichever of the scheduled communication opportunities occurs first to make the at least one transmission to the communication recipient(s) for which this option applies. In one approach this response is further informed and influenced by one or more other factors, such as but not limited to system loading (203), group size and/or known whereabouts (204), and/or whether a recent transmission response was received (205).
US07680484B2
A method for transmitting surveillance image data over a wireless network includes associating an authorized identification with a surveillance device, and transmitting the surveillance image data and the authorized identification to a mobile telecommunications switching station.
US07680478B2
Different types of traffic requiring different inactivity timer settings are assigned to different bearers or to different QoS classes. Different inactivity timer settings are established for different traffic types. Individual bearers or individual QoS classes are linked to a corresponding inactivity timer profile. The link may be accomplished in a number of ways. For example, an additional QoS parameter may be employed in a 3GPP QoS profile, or a new QoS class identifier may be mapped to an inactivity timer setting. Different inactivity timer settings allows both UE battery power conservation to be prioritized for some traffic and end-user experience (quick subsequent response times) to be prioritized for other traffic.
US07680475B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate dynamically scheduling frequency sets for reuse by user devices to reduce inter-cell interference by evaluating an overall scheduling metric for each user device in a wireless communication region. The overall scheduling metric can be evaluated by determining a fairness metric for each user device in a wireless communication region, an overall channel peak desirability metric for each user device, and a channel delay desirability metric for each user device. The overall scheduling metric can be the product of the fairness metric and one or more of the overall channel peak desirability metric and the channel delay desirability metric. A user device with a highest overall scheduling metric score for a given round of dynamic scheduling can be awarded a frequency set.
US07680468B2
A method of reducing distortion in the output of an amplifier is provided. The method comprises subtractively combining an error signals with the appropriate phase shift with input signals to be amplified. The error signal being generated by subtractively combining a fed-forward portion of the input signal with a portion of the fed-back amplified output signal, and signal processing applied to it between its generation and application to correcting the input signal in the baseband domain. The error therefore being down-converted, filtered, and up-converted in the feedback path. The filtered baseband error signal components providing inputs to a controller which adjusts active elements of the amplification and feedback path in order to minimize the distortion within the output of the amplifier.
US07680453B2
A method of storing, accessing and displaying electronic data features: storing a first part of the data in a memory tag; storing a second part of the data in a separate location having an address, using a reader, when data is accessed, to couple to the memory tag and access the first part of the data and, while or after the first part of the data is being displayed on a screen, and using a communication unit to link to the address of the separate location and obtain the second part of the data.
US07680447B2
A method of securely duplicating in a copying machine a document which includes a readable security device. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: reading the readable security device to determine contents of the readable security device; copying the document; generating a copy of the readable security device that includes data which is determined from the contents of the readable security device; and attaching the copy of the readable security device to the copy of the document before the copy of the document exits the copying machine to generate a secure duplicate of the document.
US07680434B2
A developing cartridge includes a main frame including a photosensitive medium, and a charging member frame including a charging member to charge the photosensitive medium and detachably disposed at the main frame. The main frame includes a plurality of frame reference grooves, and the charging member frame includes a plurality of frame reference projections to be inserted into the plurality of frame reference grooves of the main frame.
US07680429B2
A charging device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus are provided. The charging device includes a charging roller configured to charge an image carrier and a cleaning roller configured to clean the charging roller while making contact with a surface of the charging roller. The charging device further includes a bearing member including a first portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the charging roller and a second portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the cleaning roller. The charging device also includes an elastic member provided outside of the second portion of the bearing member with respect to an axial direction of the rotational shaft of the cleaning roller such that the charging roller makes contact with the image carrier when the first portion of the bearing member is pressed by the elastic member.
US07680419B2
A repeater is disclosed that transmits an optical signal using wave division multiplexing. The repeater includes a demultiplexing unit that separates plural channels contained in the optical signal, an adjusting unit that adjusts at least optical power of each of the channels according to a control signal, a multiplexing unit that outputs a multiple wavelength signal in which the channels are multiplexed, and a monitoring unit that determines a modulation scheme and a bit rate of the optical signal for each of the channels so as to generate the control signal.
US07680410B2
Upon depression of a release button, pre-shooting is performed before regular shooting. In the pre-shooting, flash of a predetermined amount is emitted and exposure of an image sensor is performed. A shooting frame is divided into small areas. As to each of the small areas, subject brightness of pre-emission and subject brightness of non-emission are detected to calculate a difference between them. The small area having the maximum difference is selected as a main-subject area. The brightness of the non-emission of the selected small area, which is the brightness of an ambient light applied to the main subject, is set as reference brightness. A correction amount of the flash amount of the regular shooting corresponding to the reference brightness is derived with reference to an LUT. In the regular shooting, regular emission is performed during a regular-emission time corresponding to the collected flash amount.
US07680404B2
A device includes a housing capable of forming an internal space during operation of the device. The device also includes a camera having an optical zoom portion provided within the housing. The optical zoom portion is capable of expanding into the internal space when the camera is in use.
US07680395B2
The present invention relates to method and apparatus of providing supplementary service information for A/V contents written in a recording medium. This method has a recording medium containing Presentation Language data, which have to be included like as in a digital television signal for supplementary service information in accordance with Advanced TV Enhancement Forum or Digital TV Application Software Environment standard, and reproduces, if a disk reproduction is requested, the Presentation Language data as well as requested A/V data and provides them for a connected external device such as a digital television. As a result, various video information and functions provided with Presentation Language data by a recording medium can be realized at a digital television set being able to accept Presentation Language data.
US07680392B2
A streaming contents recording method of a mobile terminal including comparing a length of streaming contents with a remaining memory capacity of the mobile terminal, and recording the streaming contents by omitting a specific frame type if the length of the streaming contents is greater than the memory capacity. Further, the omitted specific frame types include a B-frame type or a B-frame type and a P-frame type.
US07680388B2
A method for testing a fiber drop terminal from a single geographic location may include placing a signal onto a first optical fiber at the single geographic location. The first optical fiber is communicatively coupled to a first output receptacle on the fiber drop terminal. The method may also include detecting the signal via a second optical fiber at the single geographic location. The second optical fiber is communicatively coupled to a second output receptacle on the fiber drop terminal, and the second output receptacle is communicatively coupled to the first output receptacle via a loop-back assembly.
US07680377B2
Techniques for ultra-high density connection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultra-high density connector includes a bundle of substantially parallel elongate cylindrical elements, where each cylindrical element is substantially in contact with at least one adjacent cylindrical element. Ends of the elongate cylindrical elements are disposed differentially with respect to each other to define a three-dimensional interdigitating mating surface. At least one of the elongate cylindrical elements has an electrically conductive contact positioned to tangentially engage a corresponding electrical contact of a mating connector.
US07680374B2
An apodised Bragg grating comprises a base grating section formed by a base order 5 periodic pattern of marks and spaces. The Bragg grating further comprises one or more apodised grating sections that are formed by a periodic pattern of marks and spaces, each defined by the base order pattern from which at least some of the marks are missing. The determination of which marks are missing may be performed by combining the base order pattern with a higher order modulation envelope function.
US07680373B2
Scanning beam devices are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a housing having a transparent portion. A scanning optical element may be enclosed within the housing. Light may be directed between the scanning optical element and the transparent portion of the housing. The device may include a temperature adjustment device to adjust a temperature within the housing. Methods of using such apparatus are also disclosed, as are base stations to control the adjustment of the temperature.
US07680372B2
A resonator sensing device having an optics coupler device for communicating light between light source(s) and sensor(s) and a hollow core fiber resonator. Light from one resonator fiber tip is coupled to a second resonator fiber tip via a graded index (GRIN) lens having the appropriate pitch such that the maximum coupling efficiency is achieved and having two angled surfaces. The angled surfaces are coated with an appropriate coating having a reflectance R in order to achieve the desired degree of coupling. Light reflected by the second angled surface is captured with another lens (such as a microlens) and coupled to a third fiber segment (coupled port). The optical parameters for the GRIN lens and the microlens are tailored to have the least loss.
US07680367B2
In the optical connection between multi-layered optical waveguides and photoelectric converting elements or optical waveguide array connectors formed on a substrate, the optical coupling efficiency is to be prevented from degrading due to deviation of the optical axis positions between optical elements and the optical waveguide layers that is caused by a radiation due to a beam expansion or by a deviation of positioning layers in producing the optical waveguides. There are stacked, on a substrate, optical waveguide layers, each of which comprises a clad layer and a core having a higher refractive index than the clad layer, and optical elements formed on the uppermost optical waveguide layer. The optical elements are positioned such that they correspond to the optical path conversion mirrors of the cores of the underlaying optical waveguide layer. The light transmission/reception between the optical elements and the optical path conversion mirrors of the cores of the underlaying optical waveguide layer is performed via the cores of overlying optical waveguide layer.
US07680366B2
The present invention relates to an optical waveguide chip, etc., having a structure for effectively avoiding or suppressing peeling of an optical waveguide layer in a process of cutting a wafer. The optical waveguide chip comprises a substrate having a main surface, and an optical waveguide layer formed on the main surface of the substrate. The optical waveguide layer comprises a cladding portion and a core portion that is disposed inside the cladding portion and that has a higher refractive index than the cladding portion, and at least one of side surfaces of the optical waveguide layer is positioned at a predetermined distance toward a center of the main surface from an edge of the main surface. This arrangement includes an arrangement having a thin film portion at a peripheral region that includes the edge of the main surface. In the case that the optical waveguide layer has the thin film portion at its periphery, the optical waveguide layer has a side surface that coincide with the side surface of the substrate including the edge of the main surface and a side surface that is separated by a predetermined distance from edge of the main surface. By this arrangement, when cutting a wafer into chip units, even if chipping occurs at an edge of the main surface of the substrate to be cut, peeling of the optical waveguide layer, formed on the substrate, is suppressed effectively.
US07680363B2
The present invention aims to provide an optical pressure sensor capable of detecting a more minute pressure change. A base film is formed with a through hole passing first and second surfaces, an optical fiber is fixed to the base film at a region other than the FBG portion such that the FBG portion is positioned on the through hole in plan view. The optical pressure sensor according to the present invention is attached to an object body such that the second surface of the base film is closely attached to a surface of the object body directly or indirectly.
US07680358B2
When the data is divided into blocks each having a set block size, and image data includes an object which extends over a plurality of blocks, the object is divided based on object information associated with the object. The object information of the divided object is re-set based on the object information associated with the object divided into blocks. Block vector image data are generated using the object having the re-set object information.
US07680355B2
A method includes making a first determination as to whether a current pixel has a value which reflects a mosquito noise artifact, and determining whether to apply a filtering process at the current pixel based on a result of the first determination. In addition, or alternatively, a method includes making a second determination as to whether a current pixel has a value which reflects a ringing artifact, and determining whether to apply a filtering process at the current pixel based on a result of the second determination.
US07680343B2
The invention automatically evaluates the quality of the visual images in a collection of visual images and selects one or more visual image(s) from the collection based on the evaluation of the quality of the visual images.
US07680336B2
An imaging apparatus index detecting unit detects an index in a physical space from an image captured by an imaging apparatus including a first camera. A position and orientation estimating unit estimates the position and orientation of the imaging apparatus based on information relating to image coordinates of a detected index. A second camera index candidate detecting unit monitors an index on the imaging apparatus with a second camera positioned in the physical space, and detects an index candidate. A position constraint condition calculating unit calculates a position constraint condition based on information relating to image coordinates of a detected index candidate. A second camera index identifying unit identifies a second camera index based on the estimated position and orientation of the imaging apparatus and the position constraint condition of the second camera index candidate.
US07680331B2
The present invention provides a document processing device including: a general feature vector memory that stores feature vectors of a shape for each of plural characters; an input unit that optically reads in a document; a extracting unit that extracts feature vectors from the shapes of characters in a document read in by the input unit; a general shape recognition unit that estimates a character for which the feature vectors of its shape extracted by the extracting unit, based on the feature vectors extracted by the extracting unit and the content stored in the general feature vector memory; and a specific feature vector memory that stores the feature vectors extracted by the extracting unit in association with an estimation result of the general shape recognition unit.
US07680318B2
A method and apparatus for reading MICR characters is disclosed, in which both magnetic and optical data are read and stored. The magnetic and optical data are then normalized and combined to form a combined data set which is compared to templates representing combined magnetic imaging and optical imaging of the standard MICR characters. Character values are selected in response to the comparison of the combined data sets.
US07680317B2
A method and apparatus for reading MICR characters is disclosed, in which both magnetic and optical data are read and stored. Each type of data is analyzed to identify possible character values and a confidence level associated with each identified value. The result of the analysis for each type of read data are then analyzed together to finally identify characters.
US07680313B2
A method is disclosed for post-processing of a 3D image data record which has been recorded by way of an imaging tomographic appliance of a body area, and covers at least one hollow organ which is at least partially filled with contrast agent. An imaging apparatus is also disclosed. In the method, an automatic three-dimensional edge detection process is carried out in the 3D image data record in order to determine transitions between areas which have contrast agent and a wall of the hollow organ as boundary surfaces. A weighted high-pass filtering process is carried out at right angles to the boundary surfaces and leads to removal of the areas which have contrast agent and in which process areas around the transitions are given a lower weighting than areas which are further away from the transitions. After low-pass filtering in the areas around the transitions, a 3D image data record is produced from which the areas which are filled with contrast agent are eliminated, without image artifacts being produced at the transitions to the wall of the hollow organ. The method can be used in particular for virtual bowel cleaning in virtual colonography.
US07680305B2
Provided in this invention is a vein authentication device comprising: an interface on which a part of a living body; one or more light sources for emitting infrared light; an image pickup unit for picking up a blood vessel image of the part of the living body using infrared light emitted from the light sources; an image computing unit for processing the blood vessel image picked up by the image pickup unit; and a light shielding unit for shielding infrared light emitted from the light sources and preventing the infrared light from traveling in an image pickup direction of the image pickup unit, wherein the interface has an opening opened in the image pickup direction of the image pickup unit, and wherein the light sources irradiates the part of the living body with infrared light from an image pickup side of the part of the living body.
US07680303B2
A method registers images by first determining spatial gradient magnitudes for each pixel in each image to provide a corresponding energy image. Each energy image is transformed according to motion parameters associated with the energy image. An average sum of the transformed energy images is maximized. The motion parameters are then updated according to the maximized average sum. The above steps are repeated until a termination condition is reached, and then the images can be registered with each other according to the updated motion parameters.
US07680288B2
An apparatus for generating, storing or editing an audio representation of an audio scene includes audio processing means for generating a plurality of speaker signals from a plurality of input channels as well as means for providing an object-oriented description of the audio scene, wherein the object-oriented description of the audio scene includes a plurality of audio objects, wherein an audio object is associated with an audio signal, a starting time instant and an end time instant. The apparatus for generating further distinguishes itself by mapping means for mapping the object-oriented description of the audio scene to the plurality of input channels, wherein an assignment of temporally overlapping audio objects to parallel input channels is performed by the mapping means, whereas temporally sequential audio objects are associated with the same channel. With this, an object-oriented representation is transferred into a channel-oriented representation, whereby on the object-oriented side the optimal representation of a scene may be used, whereas on channel-oriented side the channel-oriented concept users are used to may be maintained.
US07680282B2
A signal processing circuit is configured by connecting a plurality of basic circuits connected in series, each of the basic circuits comprising an arithmetic circuit subjecting a first input signal and a second input signal to a signal processing; a first selection circuit outputting the first input signal or an output signal of the arithmetic circuit; and a second selection circuit outputting the second input signal or an output signal of the arithmetic circuit, so as to make it possible to change operations of the circuit as a whole by properly making a selection on which signal should be output with the aid of the first and second selection circuits, and to execute different signal processing on a single circuit depending on the selection.
US07680273B2
Disclosed is a system and method for optimizing error detection to detect unauthorized modification of transmitted data. The system includes an encrypting device and a decrypting device operatively coupled to the first encrypting device. The encrypting device is configured to re-order and encrypt a first data stream to form a second data stream, and the decrypting device is configured to re-order and decrypt the second data stream to form a third data stream substantially identical to the first data stream. Each of the encrypting and decrypting devices includes at least one pseudo-random number generator, a reversible function device responsive to a first pseudo-random number generator to cause data stream bits to be re-ordered, and a XOR function responsive to a second or the first pseudo-random number generator to cause either consecutive portions of the data stream bits to be encrypted or decrypted.
US07680270B2
A method of elliptic curve encryption includes, (a) selecting an elliptic curve Ep (a,b) of the form y2=x3+ax+b mod (p) wherein a and b are non-negative integers less than p satisfying the formula 4 a3+27b2 mod (p) not equal to 0; (b) generating a large 160 bit random number by a method of concatenation of a number of smaller random numbers; (c) generating a well hidden point G (x,y) on the elliptic curve Ep (a,b) by scalar multiplication of a point B (x,y) on the elliptic curve with a large random integer which further includes the steps: (i) converting the large random integer into a series of powers of 231; (ii) converting each coefficient of 231 obtained from above step into a binary series; (iii) multiplication of binary series obtained from steps (i) and (ii) above with the point B (x,y) on the elliptic curve; (d) generating a private key nA (of about >=160 bit length); (e) generating a public key PA (x,y) given by the formula PA (x,y)=(nA−G (x,y)) mod (p); (f) encrypting the input message MSG; (g) decrypting the ciphered text.
US07680268B2
Systems and methods for elliptic curve octupling using Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) processing are described. In one aspect, a weighted projective point P on an elliptic curve, P having coordinates (x, y, z) is identified. Value 8P is computed from P with 12 sets of field multiplications using SIMD processing. Each set of field multiplications includes one to four respective field multiplications. Each set of field multiplications is performed in parallel according to an assigned time-step.
US07680261B2
The invention concerns a method of providing an improved call forwarding service in a telecommunications network, and a network unit and a computer program product to execute this method. A call initiated by a caller (10) to a first callee (21) is consecutively forwarded, starting from the first callee (21), to one or more further interlinked callees (22, 23), thereby forming a call forwarding chain (401, 402). A set of data is added to the call, the data comprising an identifier of each of the callees (21, 22, 23) involved in the call forwarding chain (401, 402) and an address associated with a respective message memory (210, 220, 230) assigned to each of the callees (21, 22, 23) involved in the call forwarding chain (401, 402). When the call is forwarded to the message memory (230) assigned to a last callee (23) of the call forwarding chain (401, 402), the caller (10) is prompted to provide a message to be stored in one or more of the message memories (210, 220, 230). From the set of data one or more of the addresses associated with the message memories (210, 220, 230) are retrieved. And the message received from the caller (10) is delivered to one or more of the message memories (210, 220, 230) by routing the message to the retrieved one or more addresses.
US07680245B2
A radiosurgery system is described that is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, the ocular structures are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, the ocular structures inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the ocular structures within the coordinate system. In some embodiments, the position of the ocular structure is tracked and related to the status of the radiosurgery system. In some embodiments, a treatment plan is utilized in which beam energy and direction and duration of time for treatment is determined for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. In some embodiments, the structure is an eye and the eye is tracked by the system. In some embodiments, the eye is held in place and in some embodiments, the eye is fixed by the patient. In some embodiments, a fiducial is placed on the eye to aid in positioning. In some embodiments, a reflection off the eye is used to aid in positioning. In some embodiments, radiodynamic therapy is described in which radiosurgery is used in combination with other treatments and can be delivered concomitant with, prior to, or following other treatments.
US07680244B2
A radiosurgery system is described that delivers a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, ocular structures are placed in a global coordinate system, based on ocular imaging, which leads to direction of an automated positioning system. In some embodiments, the position of an ocular structure is tracked and related to a radiosurgery system. In some embodiments, a treatment plan is utilized for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. In some embodiments, a fiducial aids in positioning the system. In some embodiments, a reflection off the eye is used to aid in positioning. In some embodiments, radiodynamic therapy is described in which radiosurgery is used in combination with other treatments and can be delivered concomitant with, prior to, or following other treatments.
US07680233B1
Apparatus, methods and techniques for adjusting the phase offset used in sampling rate conversion uses a Farrow structure or the like to compensate for clock problems such as “clock jitter” and/or “clock drift” effects, which typically arise where one clock is truly independent of the other. A phase offset adjustment value Δμ based on the measured data flow between clock domains across a transition interface and/or through a buffer is calculated. Where an output FIFO buffer is used, the measured data flow value represents the number of data words written to and read from the FIFO buffer, such as the current number of data words stored in the FIFO buffer or a counter value representing the net number of data words written to the FIFO buffer. The measured data flow value is compared to a target data flow value, which may be a range of values. The phase offset adjustment value may be updated and/or recalculated continuously and/or periodically and is added to or subtracted from the phase offset μ as necessary. Such systems are useful in software defined radio and the like and may be implemented on a variety of devices, including PLDs.
US07680230B2
A frame format decoder (22) and training sequence generator (24) for determining the frame format of received data which is compliant with the IEEE 802.1 1b standard for wireless local area networks, and for providing a training sequence for an adaptive equalizer (16). The received signal is first despreaded, demodulated and descrambled, so that the SYNC field is reconstructed, and then a counter 32 counts the number of consecutive bits having the same polarity or logic value until N such bits are counted (where N is an integer greater than 1). The polarity or logic value of the N counted bits enables the decoder (22) to determine whether the frame format is long or short. A training sequence, being a copy of the transmitted SYNC field eventually followed by an SFD field, is also generated for use by an adaptive equalizer (16).
US07680221B2
An observation lock detector receives I and Q correlations and measurement residuals and transforms the I and Q quadrature correlation outputs based upon computed code phase and carrier phase into transformed I and Q quadrature signals communicated to conventional output lock detectors to provide validity and confidence indicator signals for indicating that the residual estimates are valid for dynamic propagation of the residuals in a navigation receiver for improved performance especially in low signal-to-noise environments such as for use in an ultratight GPS navigation system.
US07680218B2
A method and apparatus for predicting channel estimates for non-received signal frequencies provides knowledge of propagation channel characteristics for non-received frequencies. One embodiment predicts uplink (or downlink) channel estimates based on measured downlink (or uplink) channel estimates, which is advantageous in systems having different uplink and downlink frequencies. Another embodiment predicts channel responses for non-received OFDM sub carrier frequencies based on measuring channel responses for received OFDM sub carrier frequencies. Such processing may comprise, for example, measuring channel responses for received OFDM pilot sub carriers, predicting channel responses at frequency intervals corresponding to pilot sub carrier spacing, and interpolating between those values to predict channel responses at data sub carrier frequencies.
US07680212B2
A method, processor and system for linear precoding for a multiple-input communication channel described in terms of an effective mean and an effective correlation is provided. The effective mean and correlation can be the sample mean and correlation of the channel, or they can also include an estimate of the channel and a quality parameter of the estimate. The precode is derived by minimizing a Chernoff bound on the pairwise error probability. It is assumed the channel code is a matrix block code, which includes spatial multiplexing and space-time block codes (STBCs) as special cases. In some cases (e.g., an orthogonal STBC) the codeword separation matrix is a scaled identity matrix. In these cases, the precode that minimizes the Chernoff bound can be determined analytically. It may be necessary to perform a “dynamic water-filling” procedure in order to satisfy constraints on the optimization. In other cases, the codeword separation matrix is not a scaled identity matrix. In such cases, various precodes which approximately minimize the Chernoff bound are provided.
US07680211B1
A method for constructing architectures for multiple input transmit and multiple output receive (MIMO) systems with generalized orthogonal space-time codes (C0) and generalizations (H0) of the transmission matrix (H) that enable the MIMO equation to be written Y=H0∘C0∘X+No which factors out the input signal symbol vector X and allows a direct maximum-likelihood calculation of the estimate {circumflex over (X)} of X, and where Y is the received symbol vector and No is the received noise vector. The architectures spread the users uniformly over the transmission paths to provide improved bit error rate performance and are developed to support code division multiple access (CDMA) and variations including multi-carrier CDMA (MC-CDMA) for equalization, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and orthogonal Wavelet division multiple access (OWDMA) using waveforms that include multi-resolution Wavelets and with Walsh, Hybrid Walsh, generalized Hybrid Walsh orthogonal and quasi-orthogonal codes for CDMA and MC-CDMA and variations.
US07680200B2
Disclosed is a transceiving apparatus and method in which a space frequency block coding (SFBC) technique is applied to the SC-FDE technique. The transceiving method encodes an input signal into frequency-domain blocks so as to output at least two signal blocks in parallel to each other, inserts a cyclic prefix (CP) into the output signal blocks, and outputs the signal blocks through the same sub-channel using a corresponding antenna.
US07680194B2
Apparatus and methods for processing a signal are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The subject matter includes a payload part having at least one of data coding information including pilot coding information per a frame and entropy coding information and a header part having main configuration information for the payload part.
US07680190B2
A video encoding system and method utilizes a three-dimensional (3-D) wavelet transform and entropy coding that utilize motion information in a way to reduce the sensitivity to motion. In one implementation, the coding process initially estimates motion trajectories of pixels in a video object from frame to frame in a video sequence to account for motion of the video object throughout the frames. After motion estimation, a 3-D wavelet transform is applied in two parts. First, a temporal 1-D wavelet transform is applied to the corresponding pixels along the motion trajectories in a time direction. The temporal wavelet transform produces decomposed frames of temporal wavelet transforms, where the spatial correlation within each frame is well preserved. Second, a spatial 2-D wavelet transform is applied to all frames containing the temporal wavelet coefficients. The wavelet transforms produce coefficients within different sub-bands. The process then codes wavelet coefficients. In particular, the coefficients are assigned various contexts based on the significance of neighboring samples in previous, current, and next frame, thereby taking advantage of any motion information between frames. The wavelet coefficients are coded independently for each sub-band to permit easy separation at a decoder, making resolution scalability and temporal scalability natural and easy. During the coding, bits are allocated among sub-bands according to a technique that optimizes rate-distortion characteristics.
US07680181B1
Techniques are provided which allow computers with relatively less computational power to perform dynamic conversion of video from inter-frame dependent format to an independent-frame format while playing the video as it is being converted. If the conversion operation is not keeping up with the arrival of the incoming video, the video is spooled within the computer system. The playback and conversion operations proceed as the spooling is performed. Thus, to a viewer of the video, the video may appear to slow, but the playback and conversion operation proceed without losing frames.
US07680171B2
A semiconductor laser device and an image display device that efficiently release a heat from stripe active regions, and operated at a low-consumption current and a low-consumption electric power. A semiconductor laser element includes stripe active regions for emitting laser beams. On a base block, there are formed wirings electrically connected to stripe laser electrodes of the semiconductor laser element, respectively. The stripe laser electrodes corresponding to the stripe active regions are formed in proximity to a first surface of the semiconductor laser element, close to the active regions. An electric current is supplied to the active regions from connecting portions between each of the laser electrodes and the wirings.
US07680168B2
A surface emitting laser array comprising a plurality of surface emitting laser devices each having a semiconductor layer containing a first reflection mirror, an active layer, a current confined portion and a second reflection mirror. The laser array further comprises a first metal material layer for dissipating heat formed through a first insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and a second metal material layer for injecting current into the active layer formed through a second insulating layer on the first metal material layer. The first metal material layer is commonly shared by the plurality of the surface emitting laser devices.
US07680166B2
A laser drive includes a variable output voltage source that can control an output voltage, a laser source connected to the variable output voltage source, a laser drive circuit that drives the laser source, and a monitoring controller that monitors an operating voltage of the laser drive circuit and controls the output of the variable output voltage source such that the monitored operating voltage becomes equal to a desired value.
US07680154B2
A method includes determining a network counter value indicative of a network clock time of a system at a first time instant and a second time instant occurring later in time than the first time instant. The method further includes determining an audio counter value indicative of an audio clock time of the system at a third time instant occurring the first and second time instants and a fourth time instant occurring later in time than the second time instant. The method further includes determining an offset based upon the determined network counter values and the audio counter values. The method further includes adjusting the audio clock time based upon the determined offset to synchronize operation of at least one audio component operating according to the audio clock with at least one audio component operating according to the network clock. An associated system is also disclosed.
US07680148B2
A communication apparatus includes a receiving device configured to receive one physical frame in which a plurality of MAC frames are aggregated. This physical frame includes one acknowledgement request frame for the plurality of MAC frames. The apparatus includes an acknowledgement frame forming device configured to form an acknowledgement frame representing reception statuses of the plurality of MAC frames in response to the acknowledgement request frame. The apparatus also includes a transmitting device configured to transmit the acknowledgement frame. This acknowledgement frame includes a compressed acknowledgement frame representing an acknowledgement bitmap having a size equal to a maximum number of MSDUs (MAC Service Data Units) when one MPDU (MAC Protocol Data Unit) corresponds to one MSDU.
US07680129B2
An apparatus for data transmission over a network includes a buffer and a timer mechanism for timing an optimum interval (less than the round-trip error response delay) for retransmission of data. A first accessor accesses data in the buffer for transmission and starts a first timeout clock. Second or further accessors of the buffer are responsive to a timeout to access the data, start a timeout clock and attempt to transmit the data on a path avoiding path elements used by prior accessors. A counter increments and decrements a count of the references to the buffer by accessors and signals when the count reaches zero. A memory manager returns the buffer to a free buffer pool responsive to the reference counter signaling that the count has reached zero. An analysis mechanism can be used to determine the optimum interval and tune the timer mechanism.
US07680121B2
A transmission apparatus connected to a first network obtains information on a device connected to a third network, to which a destination of communication with a communication device connected to a second network is connected, and transmits the obtained information to a device connected to the second network via the first network.
US07680117B1
A method may include receiving a packet associated with a flow of packets, the packet including a destination address; selecting one of a plurality of memory banks, the selected memory bank being associated with the flow of packets, wherein each of the plurality of memory banks stores the same next-hop information for forwarding the packet to the destination address; accessing, in the selected memory bank, the next-hop information for forwarding the packet to the destination address; and forwarding the packet to the destination address based on the next-hop information.
US07680101B2
The invention enables accessing and using a Voice over Internet Protocol network, and can use a standard telephone to automatically access a VoIP network. A first aspect of the invention uses an auto dialer to transmit digits, such as a network access number, an account number and a PIN, which remain unchanged from call to call made through a given network service provider. A second aspect of the invention provides a speed dial feature for placing VoIP telephone calls. Speed dial numbers are recorded in a VoIP service provider's database on a server, which is accessible through the Internet from a personal computer (PC) or a conventional telephone. A third aspect of the invention enables callers to complete calls from conventional telephones to personal computers connected to the Internet. The VoIP network detects a flag such as leading “0,” determines that the call recipient station is a personal computer, looks up the IP address of the PC and routes the call to the PC.
US07680100B1
A system and method for allowing remote access to an IP communications network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for allowing access to an IP network comprises: sending a first message addressed to a first port of an IP communications network component, the first message comprising a command requesting the performance of a selected telecommunications function; a selected IP endpoint performing, in response to the first message, the selected telecommunications function; sending a second message addressed to a different second port of the IP communications network component, the second message comprising a request for information associated with the IP endpoint; and tunneling, in response to receiving the second message at the second port, the second message to the IP endpoint.
US07680083B2
A baseband processing module includes an RX interface, a rake receiver combiner module, and may include additional components. The RX interface receives the baseband signals from an RF front end and creates baseband RX signal samples there from. The rake receiver combiner module includes control logic, an input buffer, a rake despreader module, and an output buffer. The rake despreader module is operable to despread the baseband RX signal samples in a time divided fashion to produce channel symbols including pilot channel symbols and physical channel symbols.
US07680070B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising retransmitting Automatic Repeat request (ARQ) blocks from a subscriber station (SS) to a base station (BS) without waiting for a timer to expire or depending on an explicit NACK from the BS. An embodiment of the present invention may further comprise accomplishing the retransmission of ARQ blocks by performing ARQ acknowledgement state updates at the SS and BS that affect the other side at PHY frame boundary, keeping block transmission relationship to a PHY frame number at the SS, and positively deducing the outcome of a transmission at the sender by exploiting the temporal relationship between blocks transmitted in the same PHY frame.
US07680063B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting packets in a wireless communication system (100). The method and apparatus determining a delay period from among the various delay times at each of a plurality of access nodes (106-110) wherein the delay time is the time it takes for a node to receive a data packet from a source (102) through a network (104). During transmission of data from the source, the nodes receive data packets and from the data packets, the wall clock time is determined. The packets are transmitted from the nodes at a time equivalent to the wall clock time and the delay period so that the packets are synchronously transmitted from the multiple nodes.
US07680056B2
For extracting signal test sections conforming to an auditory test from an audio signal, in particular for non-intrusive tests for a quality assessment of a transmission system, first of all a temporal structure of the audio signal is parsed in order to differentiate an information-carrying section of the audio signal from a preceding non-information-carrying section of the audio signal or a subsequent non-information-carrying section of the audio signal. Hereupon, a test signal section is generated based on the information-carrying section of the audio signal. Thus, test signal sections conforming to an auditory test are obtained, on the one hand determining the comparability with other auditory tests and, on the other hand, reducing a too inaccurate assessment of the transmission system based on system-immanent artefacts.
US07680055B1
A method and apparatus for increasing the capability of a network topology model having a plurality of nodes connected by existing links to maintain service continuity in the presence of faults. The steps of the method include adding new links to the network topology model to protect against single node failures, and adjusting link weights for the network topology model to reduce at least one of a cost of network operation and an imbalance in link utilizations. Preferably, the link weights are adjusted to reduce the imbalance in link utilizations without deteriorating the cost of network operation. The link weights are preferably adjusted to reduce the cost of network operation without increasing the imbalance in link utilizations. Preferably, the link weights are adjusted to reduce the cost of network operation without increasing the imbalance in link utilizations while keeping the utilization for each link below a specific threshold. In addition, links can be added to the network topology model to reduce the cost of network operation.
US07680047B2
A Real-Time Protocol (RTP) source node of a network operates to send a first data packet of a first size to a destination node over a path of the network that includes a plurality of intermediate nodes, at least one of the intermediate nodes having a maximum transmission unit (MTU) size smaller than the first size such that fragmentation of the first data packet occurs. The destination node sends back to the source node a RTCP report that includes a number of fragments received and a largest minimum data packet size. In response, the source node sends subsequent data packets having a second size less than or equal to the largest data packet size of the fragments. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07680043B2
In a first aspect, a network processor services a plurality of flows including a first flow and a discard flow. The first flow includes a first flow queue and the discard flow includes a discard queue that lists frames to be discarded. An indication is made that the first flow is to be disabled. In response to the indication, all frames included in the first flow queue are transferred to the discard queue. Because the first flow queue is now empty, reconfiguration of the first flow may proceed immediately.
US07680041B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sensing a change in a network topology using a discovery node in a mesh network; transmitting an explore frame, based at least in part on the sensed change, from the discovery node to a destination node using an intermediate node; receiving a response to the explore frame from the destination node; determining at least one functional network route from the discovery node to the destination node based at least in part on route information received in association with the response to the explore frame, wherein the route information includes a node path; and transmitting an instruction to the destination node from the discovery node based on a reverse node path.
US07680040B2
A process is described to build physical layer frames with a modcode adapted to the signal quality of a destination terminal. Data packets assigned to the same modcode may be sent in the same frame, although packets associated with higher modcodes may be used to complete a frame before switching to the applicable higher modcode for construction of subsequent frames. After an interval, the order of progression is restarted with an out of order packet above a threshold age. Flow control filtering mechanisms and a variable reliability margin may be used to adapt dynamically to the current data traffic conditions.
US07680038B1
Techniques for optimizing bandwidth usage while controlling latency. A latency mitigating congestion avoidance and control technique is described that is suitable for use with unreliable transport protocols. Embodiments of the present invention facilitate communication of data for applications that communicate using unreliable communication protocols and that would like to maximize use of available bandwidth but cannot tolerate high latencies. Techniques are described for preventing latency from exceeding a certain level, without destroying the ability of an application or system to probe for additional available bandwidth and maximize bandwidth usage.
US07680014B2
An objective optical system is formed of a diffractive optical element with a diffractive surface formed on a virtual plane and an objective lens for focusing three collimated light beams of three different wavelengths at three different numerical apertures onto desired positions of three different recording media with substrates that include different thicknesses, such as an AOD, a DVD, and a CD, that introduce different amounts of spherical aberration in the focused beams. The objective optical system provides compensating spherical aberration to the three light beams by varying the distance between the diffractive optical element and the objective lens with the recording medium being used. The objective optical system focuses second-order diffracted light of one wavelength and first-order diffracted light of the other two wavelengths. An optical pickup device includes the objective optical system, the recording media, and a light source that provides the three light beams.
US07680006B2
An optical recording medium having a plural number of recording layers includes a n-th recording layer (23) (n≧1), made up by a substrate (20) and a semi-reflective layer (21) carried by the substrate (20) and adapted for partially reflecting and partially transmitting the incident light, a (n+1)th recording layer (28), made up by another substrate (25) and a reflecting layer (26) carried by the substrate (25) and adapted for reflecting the incident light, and a light condensing layer (24) for condensing the light incident via the n-th recording layer (23) on the (n+1)th recording layer (28).
US07680002B2
An information recording medium includes an object data file for storing object data as a series of content information such as video information and audio information and play list information file for storing play list information defining a reproduction sequence on play list basis. Furthermore, the medium includes a disc information file for storing a plurality of title play lists each containing information specifying play list information defining a play list to be reproduced, pre-command information and post-command information specifying commands to be executed before and after a reproduction, respectively, according to the play list information.
US07679994B2
Seismic sensor systems and sensor station topologies, as well as corresponding cable and sensor station components, manufacturing and deployment techniques are provided. For some embodiments, networks of optical ocean bottom seismic (OBS) stations are provided, in which sensor stations are efficiently deployed in a modular fashion as series of array cable modules deployed along a multi-fiber cable.
US07679990B2
A method for obtaining seismic data is disclosed. A constellation of seismic energy sources is translated along a survey path. The seismic energy sources include a reference energy source and a satellite energy source. The reference energy source is activated and the satellite energy source is activated at a time delay relative to the activation of the reference energy source. This is repeated at each of the spaced apart activation locations along the survey path to generate a series of superposed wavefields. The time delay is varied between each of the spaced apart activation locations. Seismic data processing comprises sorting the traces into a common geometry domain and replicating the traces into multiple datasets associated with each particular energy source. Each trace is time adjusted in each replicated dataset in the common-geometry domain using the time delays associated with each particular source. This result in signals generated from that particular energy source being generally coherent while rendering signals from the other energy source is generally incoherent. The coherent and incoherent signals are then filtered to attenuate incoherent signals.
US07679981B2
A semiconductor device may include a first logic unit for performing a logic operation with respect to a plurality of first control signals, each of which indicates whether a corresponding one of a plurality of banks of the semiconductor device is in an active state, a refresh detector for outputting a second control signal which is enabled when at least one of the banks performs a self-refresh operation or auto-refresh operation, and a second logic unit for performing a logic operation with respect to an output signal from the first logic unit and the second control signal to generate a third control signal having information about activation of the semiconductor device. The third control signal is enabled when at least one of the banks performs the self-refresh operation or auto-refresh operation even though it is in the active state.
US07679980B2
A memory includes an array of phase change memory cells and a first circuit. The first circuit is for refreshing only memory cells within the array of phase change memory cells that are programmed to non-crystalline states in response to a request for a refresh operation.
US07679977B2
A semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array with electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells arranged therein, wherein the device has such a test mode that includes a page searching sequence for searching a fast page with the fastest write speed in the memory cell array.
US07679976B2
A method and system for high speed testing of memories in a multi-device system, where individual devices of the multi-device system are arranged in a serial interconnected configuration. High speed testing is achieved by first writing test pattern data to the memory banks of each device of the multi-device system, followed by local test read-out and comparison of the data in each device. Each device generates local result data representing the absence or presence of a failed bit position in the device. Serial test circuitry in each device compares the local result data with global result data from a previous device. The test circuitry compresses this result of this comparison and provides it to the next device as an updated global result data. Hence, the updated global result data will represent the local result data of all the previous devices.
US07679963B2
An intergrated circuit having a drive circuit is disclosed. One embodiment provides an intergrated memory circuit arrangement with a drive circuit for an EEPROM. In one embodiment, the drive circuit contains tunnel field effect transistors and can be produced in particular on a small chip area.
US07679959B2
A memory cell MC stores a plurality of bits of data using threshold levels 1, 2, . . . , n (n is a natural number). A storage section stores a plurality of items of parameter data for generating the threshold levels. An arithmetic circuit generates voltage data for generating voltages corresponding to the threshold levels by accumulating the parameter data read from the storage section. A voltage generating circuit generates a voltage on the basis of the voltage data generated by the arithmetic circuit. The arithmetic circuit, when reading data from the memory cell at threshold level k (k<=n), generates the voltage data by accumulating parameter data at the threshold levels i to k (i<=k).
US07679951B2
A memory cell array including a data line; a capacitor; and a transistor coupled between the data line and the capacitor. At least one of the capacitor and the transistor includes a material with a mutable electrical characteristic.A memory cell array including a first transistor coupled between a first node, a second node, and a third node; and a second transistor coupled between the second node and a fourth node. The first transistor includes a material with a mutable electrical characteristic.
US07679949B1
A column select multiplexer circuit for a domino random access memory array including a plurality of column selector circuits for selecting a column from a plurality of columns of static random access memory cells.
US07679941B2
A power conversion system has a three-phase AC input, where each AC input phase is linked to a string of cascaded single-phase AC-DC converters placed in series with a three-phase AC-DC converter. Each single-phase AC-DC converter in one embodiment includes a silicon carbide (SiC) pulse width modulated MOSFET H-bridge that placed in series with the three-phase AC-DC converter that includes a silicon (Si) SCR bridge. The single-phase AC-DC converters and the three-phase AC-DC converter together in one embodiment include a mixed silicon-carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) device topology.
US07679897B2
A cover assembly includes a panel defining an opening therein for allowing a storage device to move in or out therethrough, a cover shielding the opening, a connecting member, and an elastic member. The connecting member is pivotably connected to the panel through a first pivoting mechanism formed therebetween along a first axis, and is pivotably connected to the cover through a second pivoting mechanism formed therebetween along a second axis separate from and parallel with the first axis. The elastic member is arranged between the cover and the connecting member, for restoring the cover to shield the opening of the panel.
US07679880B2
The invention provides an electrostatic chuck in which a workpiece-chucking surface is made flat. An electrostatic chuck with a built-in electric heating means comprises a base plate formed of carbon or a carbon-based composite material and, successively formed on one surface of the base plate, an insulating layer (a1), an electroconductive layer (a2) to serve as a chucking electrode and an dielectric layer (a3) to form a workpiece-chucking surface and, successively formed on the other surface of the base plate, an insulating layer (b1) and an electroconductive layer (b2) to serve as an electric heater element, the electrostatic chuck improved in that the workpiece-chucking surface of the electrostatic chuck and an opposite surface thereof are warped to have a relationship selected from concavo-convex and convexo-concave, and in that the warping of the surfaces is in a manner such that the workpiece-chucking surface of the dielectric layer is rendered flat when the opposite surface of the electrostatic chuck is fastened to a machine.
US07679879B2
An air cleaner includes an ion generator arranged in a path from an inlet port to an outlet port, a humidifying filter arranged in the path at a position closer to the inlet port than the ion generator, a dust sensor and an odor sensor for detecting impureness of air, and a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. When impureness is detected by the dust sensor and the odor sensor and when the temperature and the humidity attain a specific state (YES at S06 to S08), a fan motor is driven such that water is supplied to the ion generator in an amount larger than when the specific state is not attained (S14).
US07679871B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a fuse which comprises a conductive material and is formed on a semiconductor substrate, a contacting target conductor region which is placed around the fuse on the semiconductor substrate and formed so as to make electrical contact with the fuse through the conductive material constituting the fuse when a process for cutting the fuse is carried out, and a determination unit which detects whether or not the fuse is electrically disconnected, and detects whether or not the contacting target conductor region and the fuse are electrically connected, and determines that the fuse is in a cut state when electrical disconnection of said fuse is detected or electrical connection between said contacting target conductor region and said fuse is detected.
US07679858B2
Provided is a method for differential timing based servo pattern for magnetic-based storage media. A magnetic storage media includes a magnetic first-pole polarity initialized servo track segment and a magnetic second-pole polarity differential timing based servo pattern recorded on the magnetic first-pole polarity initialized servo track segment. The magnetic second-pole polarity differential timing based servo pattern represents magnetic encoded servo position information for facilitating a determination of a servo position error signal exclusive of noise.
US07679855B2
A magnetic, head in one embodiment includes a substrate; a write transducer; leads coupled to the write transducer; and a resistor coupled between one of the leads and the substrate or a common line. A magnetic storage system in another embodiment includes a cable having a characteristic impedance associated with a pair of conductors; a write signal generator coupled to the pair of conductors; at least one first device coupled to the cable in series with the write signal generator and at least one of the cable conductors, the at least one first device providing a first impedance; at least one second device providing a second impedance and coupled to a second end of the cable in series with at least one of the cable conductors and the first device; and a head having a write transducer coupled to the at least one second device.
US07679842B2
A reduced size catadioptric objective and system is disclosed. The objective may be employed with light energy having a wavelength in the range of approximately 190 nanometers through the infrared light range. Elements are less than 100 mm in diameter. The objective comprises a focusing lens group configured to receive the light energy, at least one field lens oriented to receive focused light energy from the focusing lens group and provide intermediate light energy, and a Mangin mirror arrangement positioned to receive the intermediate light energy from the field lens and form controlled light energy for transmission to a specimen. The Mangin mirror arrangement imparts controlled light energy with a numerical aperture in excess of 0.65 and up to approximately 0.90, and the design may be employed in various environments.
US07679835B2
A zoom lens includes a first lens band having a positive focal length, a second lens band having a negative focal length, and at least third to fifth lens bands having positive focal lengths. An aperture diaphragm is located in the vicinity of the third lens band. When magnification i.e., zooming is performed from short to long focal point ends, the second lens band smoothly moves toward the third lens band and the fourth lens band simultaneously moves from the fifth lens band side toward a long focal point end so as to share a magnification function together with the second lens band.
US07679824B2
A polarizing device having a synthetic resin film of a polarizing plate sandwiched and bonded between two glass members. At least a surface on one side of the polarizing plate is bonded to one of glass members by the use of a tackiness agent. Adjoining surfaces of the two glass members, which are located on the side of the sandwiched polarizing plate, are finished to a high degree of planeness, and at least one of the two glass members is in the form of a resilient glass plate capable of flexural deformation in a lateral direction.
US07679819B2
A reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) and an operating system based on a downstream optical signal reuse method with feed-forward current injection are provided. The RSOA has two active regions and includes a reflecting plane that reflects an input optical signal; and an optical amplifying semiconductor including a rear portion, which is positioned at a side of the reflecting plane and to which a signal having polarity opposite to that of the input optical signal is injected, and a front portion, which is positioned at a side opposite to the side of the rear portion facing the reflecting plane and which the input optical signal is passed though and a signal used to modulate a reflected input optical signal from the reflecting plane to an output optical signal is injected into.
US07679818B2
The present invention provides an optical switch including a loss element having a signal loss, and a rare earth doped gain element optically connected in series with the loss element. The rare earth doped gain element is operable to produce a signal gain. The signal gain and the signal loss are about equal. The present invention also provides a method of optical switching including optically connecting a loss element in series with a rare earth doped gain element and passing an optical signal through the loss element and the gain element. The loss element attenuates the optical signal by a first amount. The method further includes selectively applying an optical pump to the gain element to perform the switching, the gain element amplifying the optical signal by the first amount in response to the optical pump.
US07679815B2
In the information display panel, in which one or more groups of display media are sealed between opposed two substrates, at least one substrate being transparent, and, in which the display media, to which an electrostatic field generated between the substrates is applied, are made to move so as to display information such as an image, at least one substrate of the two substrates (both substrates in the figure) is a laminated substrate in which a first substrate, a low elastic layer and a second substrate are successively laminated from an outer surface, so that a stress concentration at a rib adhesion portion and so on of a partition wall can be reduced, If the laminated substrate with a laminated construction including a buffer layer for reducing stress concentration, it is possible to provide the information display panel, which can improve a mechanical strength with respect to an external force.
US07679799B2
In a laser display displaying a video by scanning a beam from a laser light source two-dimensionally on a screen, image quality is deteriorated markedly by speckle noises induced from coherency of the light source. A known method of oscillating the screen to remove the speckles has a problem that a large-scale device is necessary and the screen cannot be chosen without any restraint. A speckle pattern that is generated can be suppressed using a beam oscillating means that oscillates a light spot on the screen at a high speed, causing a viewer to perceive a time-mean image as not having speckle noises.
US07679794B2
An image scanning apparatus includes a scanning section which scans an object opposite to a linear scanning area along a main scanning direction while moving the scanning area along a subscanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction. The scanning section generates image data on the basis of the result of the scanning. A control unit of the scanning section includes a first image acquiring section that acquires first image data by making the scanning section execute scanning at a first subscanning resolution. The control unit also has a pattern searching section that searches the first image data for the image of the predetermined pattern. A second image acquiring section of the control unit acquires second image data in such a manner that when the image of the predetermined pattern is not detected by the pattern searching section.
US07679787B2
What is provided herein are systems and methods for digitally reproducing a moiré-free color halftone image using an enhanced halftone screen set consisting of a halftone screen for each of N colorants, where N>4. Also disclosed is an enhanced color halftoning screening apparatus for reproducing a moiré-free color halftone image using an enhanced halftone screen set consisting of a halftone screen for each of N colorants, N>4. Further disclosed are embodiments for generating a plurality of non-orthogonal halftone screen outputs for moiré-free enhanced color halftoning.
US07679784B2
A tone setting screen that includes a tone specifying area 110 for specifying a color tone of a monotone image using a single specification point is disclosed. A monotone image tone is determined according to the position of the specification point specified in the tone specifying area 110. The tone specifying area 110 is defined on the a* b* plane in the L*a*b* color space, where three reference tone points Pneutral, Pwarm, and Pcool, for the neutral, warm, and cool tones are disposed linearly in advance in the tone specifying area 110.
US07679775B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with an orientation setting part for setting a readable orientation of a document that enables an operator of the image forming apparatus to readily read and understand an image on the document when carrying out an image forming process to form the image on a recording medium, a folding direction setting part for setting a folding direction in which a Z-fold of the recording medium is to be made after the image forming process, and a Z-fold part for forming the Z-fold on the recording medium, based on the readable orientation and the folding direction.
US07679773B2
According to the present invention, in a borderless printing mode, a printing region is determined from an original image, a region expanded outward is determined for borderless printing based on the determined region. When the thus determined region exceeds the region of the original image, an image in the surplus portion is extrapolated based on an image at end portions of the original image, and printing data is formed based on the extrapolated image and image data of the expanded region.
US07679769B2
A data receiving system which enables, even when the location of a recipient is changed, a sender to always send data to the same transmission destination, and the recipient to obtain received data from a nearest output terminal apparatus. A server as the data receiving apparatus receives data addressed to an IP address, as received data through the Internet. A multi-function peripheral as an output terminal apparatus receives the received data from the server and outputs the same. In this case, the server selects the multi-function peripheral from registered multi-function peripherals based on the IP address to which the received data is addressed, and relationship map information, and then transfers the received data to the selected multi-function peripheral.
US07679765B2
An image processing apparatus includes an input unit inputting image data, a memory having a storage region for storing the image data inputted by the input unit, a printer printing the image data in response to an user's instruction of printing the image data stored in the storage region, a transmitting unit transmitting set information indicating setting of the storage region to an other image processing apparatus, and a control unit controlling the transmitting unit not to transmit the set information to the other image processing apparatus when a pass word for accessing the storage region is included in the set information, and to transmit the set information to the other image processing apparatus when the pass word for accessing the storage region is not included in the set information.
US07679756B2
A device for examining the optical properties of surfaces includes at least one first radiation device emitting radiation to a surface to be examined at least at a first predetermined spatial angle, at least one first detector for capturing the radiation emitted to and reflected back from the surface, wherein the detector, allowing a local resolution of detected radiation, is positioned at least at a second predetermined spatial angle relative to the surface. At least one spatial angle at which the radiation device and/or the detector are positioned, is variable and the radiation device and the detector are positioned in a space at least part of which exhibits light-reflecting properties.
US07679754B2
An apparatus and associated method for detecting vulnerable plaque within a lumen defined by an intraluminal wall is described. The apparatus includes a probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The apparatus includes an optical waveguide extending along the probe. The optical waveguide is configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portions, and has a distal end in communication with the intraluminal wall. The apparatus includes an interferometer coupled to the optical waveguide and configured to provide an interference signal for sub-surface imaging of the intraluminal wall, and a processing module configured to provide spectroscopic information from detected intensity of light collected from the intraluminal wall.
US07679732B2
A measurement range is extended while maintaining the spatial resolution high by completely separating the increment of a probe light from noises. Modulations are performed on both probe light and pump light to differentiate both lights. Using the modulations, only the change in the probe light necessary for measuring the characteristic of a measurement-target optical fiber FUT can be separated. Accordingly, unlike the conventional technology, an optical wavelength filter becomes unnecessary. Further, in a case where an amplitude Δf of the frequency modulation of a light source 1 is made wide to some extent to make the measurement range wide while maintaining a spatial resolution Δz high, the amplitude Δf does not affect to detection of the change in the probe light. Therefore, the increment of the probe light can be completely separated from noises, thereby extending the measurement range while maintaining the spatial resolution Δz high.
US07679731B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to inspect defects in mask blanks. A first iris diaphragm is located at an illumination source to limit an illumination angle of light emitted from the illumination source. A scattering limit unit is located at exit of a dark field optical unit to limit scattering angle of the light scattered after reflecting from a mask blank. A defect analyzer is optically coupled to the dark field optical unit to generate an angular distribution of the scattered light. The angular distribution is used to characterize criticality of a defect found on the mask blank.
US07679729B2
A light wave radar apparatus includes a frequency deviation detecting unit 12 for detecting a frequency deviation fchirp of a light signal, and a weighted average processing unit 13 for determining a systematic error ΔVoffset from the frequency deviation fchirp detected by the frequency deviation detecting unit 12, and subtracts the systematic error ΔVoffset from a wind velocity VW calculated by a Doppler signal processing unit 11. As a result, the light wave radar apparatus can carry out a measurement of the wind velocity VW with a high degree of precision.
US07679724B2
A target distance to a system target located at variable distances from an imaging system is determined by illuminating a calibration target at a calibration distance with a collimated light beam during a calibration mode of operation, by illuminating the system target at the variable target distance with the collimated light beam during an imaging mode of operation, by configuring the collimated light beam with a beam spot of a generally constant size during both modes of operation, by capturing return light of a calibration image size from the calibration target during the calibration mode, by capturing return light of a target image size from the system target during the imaging mode, and by determining the variable target distance based on the calibration distance, the calibration image size, and the target image size.
US07679720B2
An apparatus is configured to position a workpiece. The apparatus includes a planar base, and a movable stage configured to support the workpiece. The stage is configured to be moved over the planar base. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to move the stage, a contactless position measurer configured to measure a position of the stage, and a first pump configured to generate a conditioned gas flow in a volume between the measurer and the stage. The base includes a plurality of gas channels provided in the base that provide a path of the conditioned gas flow through the base.
US07679718B2
An exposure apparatus including a projection optical system which projects a pattern of an original onto an exposed surface of a substrate, and a supply nozzle configured to supply the liquid through a supply opening into a gap between a final surface of the projection optical system and a part of the exposed surface of the substrate. The supply opening is arranged more distant than the final surface of the projection optical system from the exposed surface of the substrate.
US07679713B2
A liquid crystal display device includes an upper substrate; a lower substrate facing the upper substrate; a liquid crystal layer formed between the upper and the lower substrates; common electrodes and pixel electrodes formed parallel to each other in pixel regions of the lower substrate; and polymer walls formed between the upper and the lower substrates. A manufacturing method includes forming gate and data lines on a lower substrate, the gate and data lines intersecting each other to define a plurality of pixel regions; forming thin film transistors at respective intersections of the gate and data lines; forming common electrodes and pixel electrodes in parallel with each other in the pixel regions; joining an upper substrate with the lower substrate so that a liquid crystal layer is disposed between the upper and the lower substrates; and forming a plurality of polymer walls between the upper and the lower substrates.
US07679708B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the first and second substrates, and a sealing member that is formed in peripheral portions of the first and second substrates. The sealing member includes a ring-shaped portion that seals the liquid crystal layer inboard of the sealing member and connecting portions that connect first and second regions of the sealing member to form the ring-shaped portion. The connecting portions are formed outboard of the ring-shaped portion.
US07679699B2
A liquid crystal display device, including: first and second substrates; a gate line on the first substrate; a data line crossing the gate line defining a pixel area with a gate insulating film therebetween; a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a semiconductor layer with a channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode; a common line in parallel to the gate line on the first substrate; a common electrode extending from the common line into the pixel area; and a pixel electrode on the gate insulating film in the pixel area, wherein the drain electrode overlaps with the pixel electrode to connect to the pixel electrode; and wherein the semiconductor layer is removed from an area where it overlaps a transparent conductive film.
US07679698B2
A vertical alignment liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of substrates which are arranged opposite each other; a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the paired substrates; an interlayer insulating film which is formed on at least either the first substrate or the second substrate and provided with an aperture which is rectangular when viewed in plan and opened toward the other substrate; a transmissive region provided within the periphery of the aperture and performs transmissive display; and a reflective electrode which is arranged along the periphery of the aperture. The liquid crystal display device further includes a light shield for preventing light from passing through discontinuity regions which are included in a portion of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the aperture and where liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a discontinuous manner.
US07679696B2
A liquid crystal display device has support leg parts formed in one piece with a rear frame, and a support base part that has a base part formed in one piece with the support leg parts for supporting a printed wiring board. The rear frame and the support leg part are connected to each other through a first curved surface part, and the support leg part and the base part are connected to each other through a second curved surface part. The first curved surface part has a curvature radius greater than that of the second curved surface part, and the support leg part is formed perpendicular to the rear frame.
US07679694B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having liquid crystal material sandwiched between a pair of substrates, optical components disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel, a frame-like mold which houses the liquid crystal display panel and the optical components, and a frame which houses the frame-like mold. The frame includes a bottom portion and a sidewall, and the bottom portion is provided with plural engaging through holes which are formed along the sidewall not to extend into the sidewall. The frame-like mold is provided with plural engaging protrusions which are disposed correspondingly to the engaging holes and protrude downward beyond a lower surface of the frame-like mold. The frame-like mold and the frame are fixed together by inserting each of the engaging protrusions into a corresponding one of the engaging through holes.
US07679686B2
An electronic device includes at least one gamma correction unit including a first gamma correction unit. In one embodiment, the first gamma correction unit includes at least one tap that is configured to allow the gamma function for the first gamma correction unit to be changed after the electronic device has been fabricated. In another embodiment, a process for using the electronic device operating the array during a first time period using a first gamma function for the first gamma correction unit. The process also includes changing the first gamma function to a second gamma function. The process further includes operating the array during a second time period using the second gamma function for the first gamma correction unit. A data processing system readable medium has code that includes instructions for carrying out the process.
US07679685B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system (100) that processes an analog video signal (502), the analog video signal (502) comprising luminance information (408), first chrominance information (410), and second chrominance information (410). An exemplary video system (100) comprises a first time-sampled analog filter (506) that extracts the luminance information (408) from a first aliased copy of the analog video signal (502), a second time-sampled analog filter (508) that extracts the first chrominance information (410) from a second aliased copy of the analog video signal (502), and a third time-sampled analog filter (510) that extracts the second chrominance information (410) from a third aliased copy of the analog video signal (502).
US07679683B2
Disclosed is a method of managing an image display apparatus of the present invention. The method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a first information on a predetermined output image format; (b) obtaining a second information on an input image format and a data broadcasting contents format; (c) comparing the first information on the predetermined output image format with the second information on the input image format and the data broadcasting contents format; (d) controlling output modes of the input image format and the data broadcasting contents format according to the predetermined output image format based on a comparison result of the output image format, the input image and the data broadcasting contents format performed by the comparing unit; and (e) outputting on image display unit the input image and the data broadcasting contents output modes of which are processed.
US07679680B2
A television apparatus includes a front panel keyboard having first and second keys, and a controller for detecting a type of operational logic of the front panel keyboard. The controller applies a keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard according to the detected type of operational logic. If the controller determines that the type of operational logic is negative, the controller applies the keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard. Otherwise, if the controller determines that the type of operational logic is positive, the controller applies no keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard.
US07679672B2
An electronic flash, imaging device and method for producing a flash of light having a wavelength spectrum in the visible wavelength range and the infrared wavelength range uses a fluorescent material to convert at least some of the original light emitted from one or more light sources of the electronic flash to longer wavelength light to produce the flash of light. The light sources may be configured to generate light having a peak wavelength in an ultraviolet-and-visible wavelength range. The fluorescent material may include any combination of red, green, blue and yellow phosphors.
US07679671B2
An image capturing apparatus illuminate and captures an image of an object using reflected light from the object. In the apparatus, a plurality of light-emitting devices are mounted in the periphery of an image sensor, and the light of the plurality of light-emitting devices is guided to an image capturing region by a light guide member for illumination. On the image capturing apparatus having the image capturing system disposed close to the illumination system, a hood is provided for optically intercepting the image capturing system from the illumination system, with a flange disposed thereon. The light reflected on the upper face of a filter can be intercepted from being incident on an image capturing system unit. Accordingly, output light not irradiating the object and causing an image capturing noise can be intercepted, which is effective for a clear photographed image.
US07679661B2
Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arranged in two dimensions for effecting photoelectric conversion; a light blocking section for blocking light to conceal the pixel section in accordance with a light blocking instruction signal; a region setting section for outputting the light blocking instruction signal and setting a correcting pixel region from which pixel data for correction are extracted within an effective pixel region of the pixel section where an object image is formed; a line memory for retaining pixel data from the correcting pixel region at the time of blocking light; and a correcting section for correcting an output of pixel data from the pixel section using the pixel data retained at the line memory.
US07679657B2
In an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing element that senses an object and outputs image data and an electronic zoom function, either a first processing mode or a second processing mode is set and an angle of view is designated. In the first processing mode, the image sensing element is driven by switching reading regions and reading methods of image data from the image sensing element based on the designated angle of view and the image data is read, processed, and the angle of view determined by the switched reading region is changed to the designated angle of view. In the second processing mode, the reading region and the reading method of the image data are fixed and the image data output from the image sensing element is processed, and the angle of view determined by the fixed reading region changed to the designated angle of view.
US07679654B2
An image sensor comprising a number of light sensor circuits each representing a unit pixel and capable of outputting a sensor signal corresponding to a photo current produced in a photoelectric converting element in proportion to light falling thereon, which is provided with a way of detecting a period and a phase of flicker in light from a light source and a way of determining timing of obtaining the maximum brightness of the light source based on the flicker detection signal and reading sensor signals from respective pixels at the timing determined. This image sensor can easily prevent the effect of flicker resulting from flicker of the light source to an image taken and displayed by the image sensor with no need for adjusting the time of accumulating a charge in the capacitor in accord with incident light thereon and compensating an image signal to be displayed.
US07679653B2
Image acquisition device, method and computer program for digital image acquisition, where the image acquisition device comprises an actuated user interface, where the image acquisition device receives control information from a user indicative of actuation of the user interface, initiates an image acquisition process by receiving lighting data on its sensor and detecting light information. A processor in the image acquisition device analyzes then the detected light information and converts these to image data and acquires image data related to at least two different light configurations, where at least one of the light configuration comprises an image acquired by means of a flash output in the image acquisition device.
US07679651B2
An image pickup apparatus capable of creating various composite images easily, and also obtaining composite images such as would be obtained at different shutter speeds even after the frame images were picked up. Successive frame images of an object are picked up in a successive image-pickup mode at predetermined time intervals. The predetermined number of frame images obtained are then stored in time series in a buffer memory. Pointers indicating composition start and end positions slidable on a bar of a range selector specify therebetween a composition range in which some successive ones of the predetermined number of frame images fall on a composing picture. The respective frame images falling in the specified range are read from the buffer memory and processed, thereby producing a composite image. In this case, by changing the composition range with the range selector, a composite image such as would be obtained at a different shutter speed is displayed on a composite result display picture.
US07679634B2
An image forming apparatus includes a light emission source, a polygon mirror, a plurality of image carrying members, an optical detection mechanism, and an instruction mechanism. The light emission source outputs a plurality of optical beams in accordance with image data. The polygon mirror receives the optical beams at different mirror points, and deflects the beams into a first plurality of scanning optical beams in given directions to scan on predetermined scanning lines in a main scanning direction. The plurality of image carrying members rotating in a sub-scanning direction receive the first plurality of scanning optical beams to form primary separate color images. The optical detection mechanism detects a second plurality of scanning optical beams included in the first plurality of scanning optical beams. The instruction mechanism instructs the light emission source to light on and off at timings based on a plurality of detection signals from the optical detection mechanism.
US07679632B2
A first thermal head that comes into contact with a front surface of a thermal paper sheet, and a second thermal head that comes into contact with a rear surface of the thermal paper sheet are provided. Further, forward printing and backward printing of the first thermal head with respect to the front surface of the thermal paper sheet are selectively controlled. Furthermore, forward printing and backward printing of the thermal head with respect to the rear surface of the thermal paper sheet are selectively controlled.
US07679630B2
A method for detecting and correcting misregistration between a plurality of separations printed by a printing apparatus, comprising: producing a calibration print output on a substrate, the calibration print output including at least one calibration pattern, wherein the at least one calibration pattern translates horizontal misregistration into a detectable indicator of misregistration in a process direction; detecting misregistration; and, performing a fine adjustment of the horizontal position of at least one of the separations using the at least one calibration pattern.
US07679627B2
The invention comprises systems and methods for controller and driver features for displays, and in particular, controller and driver features that relate to displays with bi-stable display elements. In one embodiment, such a display includes at least one driving circuit and an array comprising a plurality of bi-stable display elements, where the array is configured to be driven by the driving circuit, and where the driving circuit is programmed to receive video data and provide a subset of the received video data to the array based on a frame skip count. In some embodiments, the frame skip count is programmable or dynamically determined. In another embodiment, a method of displaying data on an array having a plurality of bi-stable display elements comprises receiving video data comprising a plurality of frames, displaying selected frames based upon a frame skip count, measuring the change between each selected frame and a frame previous to the selected frame, and displaying non-selected frames if the measured change is greater than or equal to a threshold.
US07679624B2
A system for displaying content, such as a computer's displayed desktop, to a user such that remote content may be easily accessed, is presented. An exemplary display system includes a preferred interaction area through which the user interacts with the displayed content. The display system detects a user's reposition action and repositions the displayed content on the display system according to the detected reposition action. A user may reposition any portion of the displayed content to any location within the preferred interaction area. That portion of the displayed content falling outside of the preferred interaction area is displayed according to the available display area outside of the preferred interaction area. The displayed content outside of the preferred interaction area may be scaled according to the available display area. Display areas uncovered by repositioning the displayed content may be displayed with empty space.
US07679622B2
A method for improving real-time video communications using a Foveation-based unequal error protection scheme (UEP) and error resilience. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a real time processing module partitions a video image into at least two data bit stream signals based on a directional pointing device or a pattern filter definition of “areas of importance.” These different data bit stream signals are then processed via different algorithms based on the importance of correcting errors in the data signals. The data is then transmitted. After reception at a receiving device, the data signals are regenerated and corrected to their original form.
US07679613B2
A method of displaying an image with a display device including a plurality of display pixels includes receiving image data for the image, the image data including individual pixels of the image; buffering the image data and creating a frame of the image, the frame of the image including a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows of the pixels of the image; defining a first sub-frame and at least a second sub-frame for the frame of the image, image data of the second sub-frame being offset from image data of the first sub-frame by an offset distance of at least one pixel; and displaying the first sub-frame with a first plurality of the display pixels and displaying the second sub-frame with a second plurality of the display pixels offset from the first plurality of the display pixels by the offset distance.
US07679612B2
Resources of a video presenting network having plural outputs can be configured. A provisional configuration can be supported. Configuration of inputs can be performed separately from configuration of outputs. Interdependencies between network resources can be considered to restrict provided options to those co-functional with a provisional configuration. Responsibility for considering interdependencies can be delegated to a video driver, such as a video miniport. A client can use a variety of approaches to find a desired configuration. A variety of configuration goals (e.g., optimal configurations) can be achieved in light of the interdependencies.
US07679606B2
A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, which includes an input apparatus having a number of input members that are capable of being actuated, wherein at least one of the input members has a plurality of selectable output alternatives, includes detecting as a first input an actuation of an input member, generating a first output, detecting as a second input an actuation of an input member having a plurality of selectable output alternatives comprising at least a primary punctuation and a secondary punctuation, determining that said first output has a predetermined characteristic, preferring as a second output said secondary punctuation, and outputting said second output.
US07679595B2
An image sticking prevention circuit for a display. The image sticking prevention circuit comprises a diode, a first capacitor, a transistor, and a second capacitor. The first terminal of the diode is coupled to a first voltage terminal of a voltage converter. The first capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the diode and a second terminal coupled to a first fixed potential. The transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor, a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the diode and the first voltage terminal of the voltage converter, and a third terminal coupled to a second voltage terminal of the voltage converter and a gate driver circuit. The second capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the third terminal of the transistor and a second terminal coupled to a second fixed potential.
US07679594B2
A driving circuit built in liquid crystal display panel for increasing an area of a driving circuit by an overlap between the driving circuit and a sealant is disclosed. In the driving circuit built in the liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal cell matrix is provided in a display area of first and second substrates joined to each other by a sealant. A driving circuit is provided in a circuit area of a non-display area of the display panel at an outer portion of the display area to drive the liquid crystal cell matrix. A plurality of LOG-type signal lines are provided at a LOG area of the non-display area to supply a plurality of signals required for the driving circuit. The driving circuit area and the LOG area overlaps with the sealant.
US07679588B2
The present invention relates to a display device for providing charges discharged from data lines to a battery. The display device includes data lines, scan lines, pixels, a charge storing circuit and a discharging circuit. The pixels are formed in cross areas of the data lines and the scan lines, and driven on the basis of a driving voltage. The charge storing circuit is coupled to at least one data line during a first sub-discharge time of a discharge time, and stores electric charges discharged from the data line during the first sub-discharge time. The discharging circuit is coupled to the data line during a second sub-discharge time of the discharge time, and discharges the data line up to a certain discharge voltage during the second sub-discharge time.
US07679578B2
A video system comprises a base portion mounted in a vehicle seat headrest, and a door pivotally attached to the base portion, wherein the door includes a display and a media player mounted to the door. The media player may be one of a slot-type device and a clamshell-type device.
US07679574B1
A Tapered Slot Antenna EC Method (NC #098517). The method comprising coupling a first antenna element to a second antenna element to for a tapered slot antenna pair; electrically coupling a first end cap to the first antenna element; electrically couples a second end cap to the second antenna element; and configuring the first and second end caps to provide induction-canceling, capacitive coupling when operating at frequencies below a theoretical cutoff frequency.
US07679572B2
A mounting for a vehicle antenna including a mounting base which has an insertion portion for insertion through a hold in a vehicle body panel and a flange for engagement with an inner surface of the vehicle panel. The mounting further includes a temporary retainer at least two resilient temporary retention arms extending upward from engaging with the outer surface of the vehicle body panel after being inserted through the hole in the vehicle body panel. A retainer is then provided in the insertion portion to permanently mount the mounting to the vehicle body panel.
US07679566B2
An antenna structure includes a radiation conductor made of a metal plate that is supported by legs provided upright on a surface of a dielectric substrate and is spaced apart from the surface. The radiation conductor is circularly shaped such that the contour of the radiation conductor conforms to the outer periphery of the dielectric substrate and such that the radiation conductor includes an open portion. One of the legs functions as a feeding terminal and the other functions as a grounding terminal, whereby the radiation conductor operates as a dipole antenna. The radiation conductor has slots for adjusting impedance. Impedance can be adjusted by changing the length of the slots.
US07679562B2
A target detection apparatus that includes a transmission/reception device for generating a transmission signal for detection of a target, and extracting distance information about the target from a received signal; a number of sensors each of which transmits the transmission signal to respective different angle ranges, receives a signal reflected by the target, and transfers the received signal to the transmission/reception device; and a switch device for switching in a time division manner a connection between the transmission/reception device and one of the sensors to a connection between the transmission/reception device and another one of the sensors, where the switch device selects a first of the sensors for transmitting the transmission signal in a time slot and a second of the sensors for receiving the signal reflected by the target in the time slot.
US07679560B2
In an environment of spatially correlated additive noise, the direction estimation apparatus for coherent signals calculates (M−q−1) instantaneous cross-correlations between some array data, and selecting multiple pairs each of which is consisted of p instantaneous correlations from the (M−q−1) instantaneous cross-correlations to form a Hankel correlation matrix, where a length of a spatial correlation in terms of antenna elements is assumed to be q. Next, the apparatus divides that Hankel matrix into an upper submatrix and a lower submatrix, and then calculates a linear operator at time n by using the adaptive LMS algorithm with a fixed or time-varying step-size parameter. Then a noise subspace is estimated from that linear operator. Finally the directions of incident signals at a predetermined time is estimated and tracked by using that noise subspace with Newton approximation.
US07679557B2
Multifunction satellite positioning receiver having a plurality of functions that are selectable in response to predetermined events or in response to user actions and enable more efficient use of the hardware and processing resources of a multifunction satellite position receiver.
US07679552B2
A system for standard positioning service (SPS) and precise positioning service (PPS) cooperative operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a PPS receiver is utilized to process a PPS data portion of a positioning signal. In addition, an SPS receiver is utilized to process an SPS data portion of the positioning signal. Furthermore, the PPS receiver and the SPS receiver are communicatively coupled such that the PPS data portion from the PPS receiver is cross-validated with the SPS data portion from the SPS receiver thereby corroborating the accuracy of the positioning signal.
US07679549B2
It is possible to generate D/A conversion voltage in which an error generated by numeric irregularities of a D/A conversion element such as resistor constituting a D/A converter 11 is corrected. A waveform generation method characterized in that input data into a D/A converter 11 are provided to the D/A converter in order at a timing at which a voltage of a desired waveform which has D/A conversion data indicating a conversion amount of the input data obtained by varying the input data by a minimum conversion unit or a unit obtained by multiplying the minimum conversion unit by an integer, and which varies with time series, becomes substantially equal to a D/A-converted voltage, whereby the D/A-converted voltage is generated in accordance with the desired waveform.
US07679548B2
A radar apparatus where the rate of writing detected image data into an image memory does not decrease, irrespective of an enlarged amount of the detected image data. When an azimuth direction enlargement section of a W data generator receives detected image data of a sweep, it outputs the data to an image memory, and delays the data, depending on a cycle of an azimuth direction shift timing signal. When detected image data of a next sweep is drawn into a pixel adjacent in a sweep moving direction to a pixel into which previous detected image data has been drawn and is located at the same distance in a sweep distance direction, the delayed data is compared with new data, and the greater data is drawn into the new pixel. When the delayed data is greater, this detected image data is enlarged in the azimuth direction.
US07679546B2
An apparatus and method of determining location of an object hidden from view. The apparatus includes an imaging tool for detecting hidden objects. The imaging tool includes a housing including a first end and a second end, a display supported by the first end of the housing, and a tracking device supported by the second end of the housing. The imaging tool also includes a transmitter supported by the housing and operable to transmit electromagnetic radiation toward a hidden target, an analysis module supported by the housing and operable to analyze feedback data related to the interaction between the target and the electromagnetic radiation, and an image module operable to receive data from the analysis module to generate an image on the display.
US07679544B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for a remote control device. Means for detecting orientation of the remote control device couples to a processor. The processor changes a mode of operation of the remote control device in response to a change in the orientation.
US07679542B2
Image sensor using auto-calibrated ramp signal for improved image quality and driving method thereof
An image sensor comprises an active pixel sensor (APS) array, a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a ramp signal generator. The APS array includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, wherein the APS array generates a reset signal and an image signal for each selected column of the APS array. The first ADC includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit array comprising CDS circuits that are arranged for each column of the APS array, wherein the first ADC generates a digital code from a signal corresponding to the difference between the reset signal and the image signal which are generated by the CDS circuit using a ramp signal. The ramp signal generator generates the ramp signal, wherein a second ADC receives a feedback of the generated ramp signal and generates a feedback reference code, and wherein the ramp signal generator calibrates the ramp signal based on a comparison using the feedback reference code.
US07679538B2
A current-steering type digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is disclosed. The DAC includes a first sub-DAC, a second sub-DAC and a controlling device. Both the first sub-DAC and the second sub-DAC are configured to receive input signals. The controlling device selectively and periodically sends output signals of either the first sub-DAC or the second sub-DAC to a resistive load while sending output signals of the remaining one of the two sub-DACs to a dummy resistive load. An output of the DAC is provided at the resistive load.
US07679537B2
A precision digital to analog conversion circuit and method are provided. A regulated direct current (DC) voltage having a DC voltage magnitude is supplied to a device, such as a processor. The processor generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) output signal based, at least in part, on the regulated DC voltage. An analog output signal is generated from the PWM output signal. The regulated DC voltage is compared to a precision reference DC voltage, the DC voltage magnitude is selectively adjusted based on the comparison.
US07679533B2
A photodiode detector array for an optical encoder includes a sequence of photodiodes having a pitch between adjacent photodiodes that alternates between a first pitch and a second pitch, the second pitch being different than the first pitch.
US07679529B2
A method and a system for indicating a target idle running speed, a predicted core speed, a predicted time to running, current engine state or automation modes of an operating aircraft engine, and indicating that the current core speed of the aircraft engine is less than a target idle running speed or is abnormally decreasing towards a target idle running speed. The indicators may be visual or aural. The visual indicators may include graphical or numeric symbols indicating the target idle running speed, the direction of core speed change, the predicted core speed at some future time, or current engine state or automation mode.
US07679522B2
A media enhanced shopping cart system comprises a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a base tray, a plurality of wheels, a read component for performing a proximity scan of the shopping cart, a locationing component for determining a location of the shopping cart within a store based on the scan, and a display component for displaying at least one advertisement for a product based on the location of the shopping cart within the store, wherein the locationing component is further operable to determine a location of the product within the store relative to the shopping cart based on the scan, and wherein the display component is further operable to display an indication of the location of the advertised product relative to the location of the shopping cart.
US07679513B2
The invention includes apparatus and methods using a means for wirelessly communicating, preferably a radio location-tag unit, for reporting a sensed state of a container handler. The status reporting device may include: a micro-controller module, a means for wirelessly communicating, which may include means for wirelessly determining container handler location, and a means for sensing the state of the container handler.
US07679510B2
Apparatus for RFID tagging of packages is provided, including a conveyor, along which tags having microchips and antennae are applied to packages, with the tags being encoded via radio waves, to contain information about packaged identification and other information, with the encoding being done upstream of a palletizer system, and with the palletizer system being provided for receiving encoded packages from the conveyor.
US07679508B2
A sensing device for detecting an approaching object is composed of a sensor section that includes a detection electrode supplied with a detection source signal having a prescribed frequency and another detection electrode disposed in close vicinity to the detection electrode, a communication signal amplifier that amplifies the communication signal and outputs the amplified communication signal as an amplifier output signal, an integrator that integrates the amplifier output signal and outputs a judging signal for judging whether or not an object approaches the sensor section, and a detection sub-signal switch that is disposed between an output side of the communication signal amplifier and an input side of the integrator. A communication signal is obtained from the detection source signal that is transmitted to the other detection electrode from the detection electrode and attenuated thereat when an object approaches the sensor section. The detection sub-signal switch periodically switches on only during a prescribed period in which a peak value of the amplifier output signal is included in response to a detection sub-signal, wherein a frequency of the detection sub-signal is equal to that of the detection source signal, and the detection sub-signal maintains specific phase relation with the detection source signal, and further a duty ratio of the detection sub-signal is less than 50%.
US07679507B2
A method for monitoring an alarm zone within a perimeter, border and/or building includes capturing video image data of an alarm event detected in the alarm zone, and automatically establishing a cell phone session with an end-user to verify a true or false nature of the detected alarm. The end-user may use the cell phone display to review the video during the cell phone session, and may use the cell phone's key for the verifying. The novel monitoring method with end-user alarm event verification avoids false alarms being raised where the nature of the detected alarm event is false, and the verifying occurs before a false alarm is raised/communicated.
US07679502B2
A receiving module selects frequencies to be used for data request signals from all channels if there is no channel prohibited from being used, and if there are channels prohibited from being used, the receiving module selects frequencies to be used for data request signals from channels other than the channels prohibited from being used. In the case failed in acceptance of measured data from a sensor module, the receiving module sets communication channels failed in acceptance of measured data predetermined times to prohibited channels from being used. In this manner, when the receiving module transmits the data request signals to the sensor module, frequencies of channels having jamming radio waves and the like could not be selected by the receiving module, thereby enabling the receiving module to select the frequencies of high probability in communication reception.
US07679500B2
A wireless vehicular sensing system is disclosed. The wireless sensing system may include a radio frequency access control system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to the plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of radio frequency access permission devices via the plurality of antennas in response to operator invoked interrogation requests, and a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than vehicle access control. The at least one radio frequency transceiver effects radio frequency interrogations of the plurality of radio frequency sensors via the plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests. The wireless sensing system may include a radio frequency tire monitoring system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to the plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of tire monitor devices via the plurality of antennas in response to tire monitor device invoked interrogation requests, a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than tire monitoring. The at least one radio frequency transceiver effects radio frequency interrogations of the plurality of radio frequency sensors via the plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests.
US07679499B2
A warning system warns a driver of a vehicle that a vehicle location in a record of previously detected drive operation that indicates a violation of a safety standard and a current position of the vehicle are determined to be within a predetermined distance from each other based on repeated detections of a current vehicle position by a detector and a detection of the drive operation that indicates the violation of the safety standard transmitted through an interface from a drive recorder. In this manner, the warning system for warning the driver lightens a process load of a unit that performs a position detection process and a unit that performs a record keeping process.
US07679497B1
A method for the driver of an automotive vehicle to avoid distraction from the task of driving, but yet to preserve and later recover legal evidence of events, objects, or conditions that may be encountered during the driving of the vehicle, by utilizing a perimeter optical viewing system in conjunction with a central digital recording system to (monitor and) record and subsequently retrieve images of those events, objects, or conditions.
US07679489B2
An auto anti-theft system with door-mount wireless remote-control pushbutton includes a main controller installed in a car for controlling the operation of the anti-theft system; a remote controller being carried by a user for code matching; and a small-size wireless remote-control pushbutton, which includes a coupling section for mounting the pushbutton to a car of any version or brand on or near a car door, such as on a door handle, a keyhole, a door surface, or a door window. The wireless remote-control pushbutton, the main controller, and the remote controller cooperate with one another to provide the functions of releasing and enabling the anti-theft system directly beside the car without pressing the remote controller button, making the anti-theft system a humanized design.
US07679486B2
An in-vehicle antitheft device and a central authentication device can improve a convenience of use of a user while maintaining a high security, which is a merit of a central-type authentication system. A use of a first group of vehicle functions, which has not been permitted, is permitted when an authentication by an in-vehicle local collation part is completed in agreement. A request signal of requesting a user authentication is transmitted to a central authentication device through a communication line. A use of a second group of vehicle functions, which have note been permitted, is permitted when the user authentication is completed in agreement in the central authentication device.
US07679480B2
A method for magnetizing a wellbore tubular includes a positioning a wellbore tubular substantially coaxially in a plurality of longitudinally spaced magnetizing coils deployed on a frame. The coils are selectively connected and disconnected from electrical power such that a circumferential electrical current flows in each of the coils to impart a predetermined magnetic field pattern to the tubular. Exemplary embodiments of this invention provide for semi-automated control of tubular magnetization and thereby enable a repeatable magnetic pattern to be imparted to each of a large number of wellbore tubulars.
US07679475B2
A bandpass filter having a bandpass width appropriate for UWB, a high frequency module including the bandpass filter, and radio communication device including both is provided. The bandpass filter including a laminate composed of a plurality of dielectric layers 11; first and second ground electrodes arranged on the bottom and top surfaces, respectively, of the laminate; resonance electrodes 30a, 30b, and 30c arranged in an inter-digital structure on a first inter-layer surface of the laminate, one end of each of the resonance electrodes being grounded; an input coupling electrode 40a arranged on an inter-layer surface different from the first inter-layer surface of the laminate facing the resonance electrode 30a of the input stage in the inter-digital type; and an output coupling electrode 40b arranged on an inter-layer surface different from the first inter-layer surface of the laminate to face the resonance electrode 30b of the output stage. Accordingly, it can be possible to achieve a bandpass filter that has a flat and low-loss pass characteristic over the entire region of the broad passband that could not be achieved by a band pass filter using the conventional ¼ wavelength resonator.
US07679474B2
A surface acoustic wave resonator has a piezoelectric substrate (11), an IDT (13) formed of a plurality of electrode fingers (12) disposed on piezoelectric substrate (11), and reflectors (14) disposed near the opposite ends of IDT (13). The IDT (13) has a gradation region where the electrode finger pitch of the plurality of electrode fingers (12) at the opposite ends is different from the electrode finger pitch near the center of the IDT (13). In this gradation region, the electrode finger pitches are sequentially varied in the range from the electrode finger at the farthest end that is one end of the gradation region to the electrode finger lying at the other end of the gradation region. The electrode finger pitch of the electrode fingers at the farthest end that is one end of the gradation region is set to be 1 through 5% smaller than the electrode finger pitch near the center of the IDT (13).
US07679471B2
A signal splitter for reducing noise ingress and a cable television network incorporating such splitters. A signal splitter has an input and a plurality of outputs, where alternate outputs are connected to phase shifting devices. Prevention circuitry is provided for at least preventing the generation of intermodulation products in the phase shifting devices. The prevention circuitry is provided with a pre-connected filter in the form of a high-pass filter for stopping voltage peaks through reflection of the energy contained in the voltage peaks.
US07679470B2
A nonreciprocal circuit device includes a permanent magnet, a ferrite to which the permanent magnet applies a direct-current magnetic field, first and second central electrodes arranged on the ferrite, and a circuit board. The first central electrode includes electrode layers provided on main surfaces of the ferrite connected by an electrode provided on a top surface of the ferrite. A second central electrode includes electrode layers provided on the main surfaces of the ferrite connected by electrodes arranged on top and bottom surfaces of the ferrite. The second electrode is wound at least about three turns around the ferrite. A width dimension of the outermost electrode layers of the second central electrode is greater than a width dimension of the inner electrode layers of the second central electrode.
US07679452B2
An amplifier arrangement having a transistor arrangement comprising a first transistor (1) in common-emitter configuration and a second transistor (2) in common-base configuration. A switching device (7) couples, in a first mode of operation, the first transistor (1) to an input (3) of the amplifier arrangement and while the second transistor (2) forms a cascade stage. In a second mode of operation the second transistor (2) is coupled to the input (3). While high gain is achieved during the first mode, the second mode allows for high linearity without requiring inductive degeneration.
US07679445B2
Disclosed is a differential amplifier system that maintains high speed characteristics of the differential amplifier while providing stability from a common-mode loop by using dominant pole compensation. The disclosed system includes a first and second transconductance stage, a circuit having high impedance, and a compensation circuit.
US07679441B2
A high frequency power amplifier comprises: an amplifier that amplifies signals received from a first input terminal and outputs amplified signals to an output terminal; a bypass route that connects a second input terminal to the output terminal without passing through the amplifier; a capacitor having a first end connected to the amplifier, and a second end connected to the output terminal; a first switch having a first terminal connected to the second end of the capacitor and to the output terminal, and a second terminal connected to the bypass route; an inductor connected in parallel with the capacitor; a second switch connected in parallel with the capacitor, and connected in series with the inductor; and a control unit that turns off the first switch and the second switch at a high power level and turns on the first switch and the second switch at a low power level.
US07679440B2
There is disclosed a feedforward amplifier for compensating for distortion produced in an amplifier. The feedforward amplifier controls the phase in a vector adjuster effectively. The feedforward amplifier has a first variable phase shifter PH1—1 or PH2—1 for varying the phase of a signal passed through the first variable phase shifter and a second variable phase shifter PH1—2 or PH2—2 for varying the signal passed through the first variable phase shifter in either or both of a distortion detection loop for detecting the distortion and a distortion compensation loop for compensating for the distortion. A phase control portion controls the amount of variation in phase in the first variable phase shifter and values of the amount of variation in phase are concentrated toward either one of relatively-larger directions or relatively-smaller directions, the amount of variation in phase in the second phase shifter is controlled according to the concentrated values.
US07679439B2
A predistorter for correcting distortion caused by a memory effect in amplifying a signal by an amplifier is provided. In the memory PD 2 provided to the predistorter, the level detection means 21 detects the level of the signal, the coefficient output means 22 outputs the coefficient corresponding to the detected level, the delay means 23 delays the output coefficient, the difference detection means 24 detects the difference between the output coefficient and the delayed coefficient, the multiplication means 25 multiplies the detected difference with the signal, and the combination means 26 combines the result of the multiplication and the signal. Thus, the result of the combination is output to the amplifier.
US07679438B2
A small, high performance, multifunctional high frequency circuit that is multiband and multimode compatible reduces loss from a switch formed on the output side of a final stage amplification unit. The final stage amplification unit power amplifies an input signal and outputs an amplified signal. A first matching circuit impedance converts the amplified signal input thereto at a first input impedance, and outputs a first impedance-converted signal at a first output impedance. A control unit that generates a control signal denoting signal path selection information. A switch unit selects one of at least two signal paths based on the control signal, passes the first impedance-converted signal at an on impedance through the selected path, and outputs the pass signal. A second matching circuit impedance converts a pass signal input thereto at a second input impedance, and outputs a second impedance-converted signal at a second output.
US07679435B2
A digital input class-D amplifier includes a decoder which outputs a plurality of lines of time-series digital signals having a density of 1 or 0 conforming to an input digital signal, an error integrator which integrates a difference between a drive waveform to be applied to a load and a sum of the plurality of lines of time-series digital signals output from the decoder, and a modulation circuit which generates a pulse modulated with a pulse width or a pulse density based on a result of integration performed by the error integrator. The load is driven in accordance with the pulse generated by the modulation circuit.
US07679432B2
An operation amplifier (op-amp) and a circuit for providing dynamic current thereof are disclosed. The circuit can be applied to any current op-amp. The circuit comprises two transistors which are simultaneously or non-simultaneously turned on as the input signals respectively received by the first input and the second input of the op-amp get a transition, namely, as the op-amp is in the transient state, so as to increase the bias current at the first input terminal or/and the second input terminal of the op-amp by a dynamic current. Therefore, not only the internal slew rate of the op-amp can be accelerated by the circuit of the present invention, but also the power consumption of the op-amp can not be increased by the circuit of the present invention as the op-amp in the steady state.
US07679427B2
A semiconductor device including a bias voltage generator formed from a junction field effect transistor (JFET). The JFET includes a control gate terminal and a first and a second source/drain terminal. The first and second source/drain terminals can form a first terminal of a p-n junction and the control gate terminal can form a second terminal of the p-n junction. The first terminal of the p-n junction can be provided with a first potential. The second terminal can be left essentially floating to provide a bias voltage. A bias receiving circuit can receive the bias voltage. The bias receiving circuit can be in close proximity on the semiconductor device to the bias voltage generator.
US07679412B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply circuit including: a detection circuit that is connected to an external power supply voltage and that outputs a first signal indicating whether the external power supply voltage is in a dropped-state in which the external power supply voltage is dropped below a reference voltage; a control circuit that includes: a delay circuit that outputs a second signal acquired by delaying the first signal for a reference time; and a determination circuit that outputs a third signal based on the first signal and the second signal; a generation circuit that generates internal power supply voltage from the external power supply voltage and that supplies the internal power supply voltage; and an interruption circuit that interrupts the internal power supply voltage supplied from the generation circuit based on the third signal.
US07679409B2
A semiconductor device stabilizes an operation of an input buffer. A semiconductor device includes an input potential detection unit outputting a detection signal in response to a level of an input signal. An input buffer buffers the input signal by performing a differential amplifying operation through a first current sink unit. A second current sink unit, sharing an output with the input buffer, differentially amplifies the input signal of the input buffer in response to a level of the detection signal.
US07679407B2
Method and apparatus for providing a peak detection circuit comprising a diode including an input terminal and an output terminal the input terminal of the diode configured to receive an input signal, a capacitor operatively coupled to the output terminal of the diode, an output terminal operatively coupled to the capacitor and the output terminal of the diode for outputting an output signal is provided. Other equivalent switching configuration is further provided to effectively detect and compensate for a voltage droop from a power supply signal, as well as to electrically isolate the voltage droop from the system circuitry.
US07679404B2
A method to detect a missing a clock pulse is provided. The method begins by providing a clock signal and a delayed clock signal. The delayed clock signal is then sampled to generate a sample of the delayed clock signal. A missing clock pulse may be detected if the sample of the delayed clock signal does not equal an expected value of the delayed clock signal.
US07679400B2
An apparatus for and method of programming a programmable logic device, the programmable logic device comprising a plurality of serially connected programmable logic regions. The method comprises the steps of receiving initial programming data for programming the plurality of serially connected programmable logic regions and receiving transformation data related to the presence and location of at least one faulty serially connected programmable logic region. The method also comprises the steps of generating bypass programming data which, in use, renders a serially connected programmable logic region logically invisible and generating effective programming data by incorporating, using information found in the transformation data, the bypass programming data into the initial programming data. Finally, the method comprises the step of programming the programmable logic device using the effective programming data such that the at least one faulty serially connected programmable logic region is programmed with the bypass programming data.
US07679397B1
Techniques are provided for controlling an on-chip termination (OCT) in an output driver. The OCT control circuit calibrates the effective resistance of transistors in the output driver to match an external resistor using a feedback loop. The feedback loop monitors the output voltage and generates an analog calibration signal that varies the output impedance of a selected group of the output transistors that are enabled to drive the output terminal. Digital signals under the control of the user select the number of output transistors to be enabled based on the output driver requirements of the circuit. The analog calibration signal varies the signal level driving the selected output transistors to modify the effective output impedance of the circuit for better termination matching.
US07679396B1
Method and apparatus are disclosed for implementing low noise circuits. The method includes providing a first subcircuit and a second subcircuit, where the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit include substantially same circuit elements and have substantially same configuration and layout, providing one or more coupling capacitors configured to couple between a circuit power and a circuit ground that power the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit, providing one or more pairs of differential input signals to the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit, where the first subcircuit receives a differential signal and the second subcircuit receives a complement of the differential signal, operating the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit to generate one or more pairs of differential output signals using the one or more pairs of differential input signals.
US07679394B2
Provided is a power supply noise resistance testing circuit, in which a test pattern is applied to a data input portion of a functional block formed on a semiconductor chip and a voltage on which a power supply noise is superimposed is supplied to a power supply portion of the functional block, thereby testing a power supply noise resistance of the functional block. In the power supply noise resistance testing circuit, a power supply noise generating circuit for generating the power supply noise is provided around or inside the functional block. A power supply of the power supply noise generating circuit is connected with a power supply of the functional block through a connection path to transmit the power supply noise.
US07679378B2
A dual function capacitive occupant detection sensor includes a capacitive load cell disposed below a seat cushion, an electric field emitter disposed above the seat cushion and a capacitance-responsive control circuit. The control circuit determines a seated weight of an occupant based on the load cell capacitance, and a coupling of the electric field through an occupant based on the capacitance between the electric field emitter and the vehicle ground. The measured seated weight and electric field coupling parameters are logically combined to detect an occupant and to distinguish between a normally seated occupant and a cinched down infant or child seat of similar apparent weight.
US07679375B2
A system for detecting a change in material composition in a product including a microwave transmitter emitting a microwave signal at a predetermined microwave frequency composition, and an ultrasonic transmitter emitting an ultrasound signal at a predetermined ultrasound frequency composition into at least a part of the product to create a density displacement within the product. The system further includes a receiver to receive a microwave signal and/or an ultrasonic signal passed through at least apart of the product, device to measure the attenuation and/or runtime between each emitted signal and each received signal, respectively, under the influence of the created density displacement, and a comparator to compare the measured attenuation and/or runtime with a previously determined attenuation and/or runtime to determine a change in material composition to detect a possible change in material composition in a product.
US07679369B2
A system and method for measuring voltage of individual cells connected in series includes a single flying capacitor. The capacitor stores the charge of one of the cells such that an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the capacitor may process an accurate representation of the voltage of the cell being measured. A plurality of switches electrically connects and disconnects the cells from the capacitor. A controller is in communication with the ADC and the switches for sequencing the switches and recording the voltage measurements of each cell. At least one precision voltage reference device is included to provide the ADC a reference voltage to provide self-calibration.
US07679368B2
A galvanic resistivity tool with one or more measurement electrodes and guard electrodes, and one or more shielding electrodes. The impedance seen by the measurement electrode (indicative of the formation resistivity) is determined by using a directional coupler that measures a reflection coefficient of an electrical signal.
US07679366B2
An electromagnetic logging tool includes a support configured for disposal in a well; at least one antenna mounted on the support; and a plurality of coils mounted on the support proximate the at least one antenna, wherein the plurality of the coils are configured for selective connection with the at least one antenna. A methods for balancing an induction array on an electromagnetic logging tool includes measuring a mutual coupling between a transmitter and a receiver on the electromagnetic logging tool; and selectively connecting a subset of a plurality of coils on the electromagnetic logging tool to the transmitter or the receiver based on the measured mutual coupling.
US07679364B2
An apparatus is disclosed for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratios (SNR). Radio Frequency transmitting and/or Radio Frequency receiving elements include carbon nanotube material, a ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. The shapes of the receiving and transmitting elements can be linear, curvilinear, or coiled. The carbon nanotube material can be layered. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, preferred embodiments have smaller static magnetic field strengths with imaging quality comparable to known field systems, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost. Other preferred embodiments provide enhanced imaging with known MRI static magnetic field strengths.
US07679349B2
Embodiments of the present invention include an electronic circuit for performing current sensing. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor both coupled to receive a first switching current and a switching signal, and one or more transistors coupled in a first series. A first terminal of an initial transistor in the first series is coupled to a second terminal of the second switching transistor. A second terminal of a last transistor in the first series is coupled to a reference voltage. The first switching current is coupled to a second node between the second terminal of the second switching transistor and the first terminal of the initial transistor in the first series. In this manner, the circuit produces a switching voltage corresponding to said first switching current.
US07679347B2
A control system comprises a DC/DC converter that includes first and second inductances, that receives a first DC voltage and that generates a second DC voltage. A control module selectively charges or discharges the first inductance while discharging or charging the second inductance during a first mode and one of charges both of the first and second inductances or discharges both of the first and second inductances during a second mode.
US07679346B2
A power supply apparatus and an operation-mode determining unit and a method thereof are provided. The power supply apparatus includes first and second control units, a switching unit, a power output unit, and an operation-mode determining unit. The first and second control units provide first and second control signals respectively. The switching unit selects to output the first or second control signal according to a switching signal. The power output unit adjusts its output power in accordance with the control signal output from the switching unit. The operation-mode determining unit compares an operation frequency in the power output unit with a reference frequency, and detects an inductor current in the power output unit. The operation-mode determining unit determines the state of a switching signal and outputs it to the switching unit in accordance with the comparison result and the detection result.
US07679343B2
A power supply system including an external power supply unit generating direct-current output voltage and an electronic device connected to the external power supply unit and operable on the output voltage of the external power supply unit. The external power supply unit includes a voltage control circuit receiving control current and controlling the output voltage of the external power supply unit in accordance with the control current. The voltage control circuit controls the output voltage of the external power supply unit to be equal to the minimum voltage possible for the external power supply unit to generate when the control current is minimum.
US07679334B2
Provided is a power supply unit for supplying power to an electric apparatus, comprising an indicator unit, an introduction-detecting unit for detecting introduction of the electric apparatus into a vehicle for transportation of the electric apparatus, a voltage-detecting unit for detecting the voltage of the power source, a memory unit for storing a first voltage and a second voltage lower than the first voltage, a judgment unit for determining whether the voltage of the power source detected by the voltage-detecting unit is higher than the first voltage and a forced discharge unit. The forced discharge unit is configured to cause the indicator unit to notify if the electric apparatus is in a state prohibiting introduction into the vehicle and forcibly discharge the power source.
US07679333B2
A delay time generation circuit is disclosed that includes a counter circuit composed of plural cascade-connected flip-flop circuits for counting a pulse number of an input clock signal and uses as a delay time signal an inverse signal of an output of the last stage or a predetermined stage of the flip-flop circuits of the counter circuit. In the delay time generation circuit, a delay time is generated by the use of an output signal of one of the flip-flop circuits precedent to the last stage or the predetermined stage flip-flop circuit of the counter circuit at testing an electronic circuit. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the delay time without using a special high-speed clock.
US07679332B2
A battery protection IC using charging control pin, Cout, so as to reduce delay time during CP test or FT test for is disclosed. The battery protection IC has a delay time control circuit including a comparator and a delay signal selector. The comparator has a negative input terminal connected to VCC, a positive input terminal connected with the Cout pin and an output terminal connected to the delay signal selector. To perform foregoing test, a voltage source is added to activate the short delay time mode rather than a normal delay time one.
US07679330B2
A protection circuit is provided, which protects a battery pack from overcurrents and overvoltages using sensing means and a protection device having a heating resistor and a fuse element provided on a circuit board. This protection circuit allows for sharing a protection device regardless of the current rating and the voltage rating of the battery pack, thereby being manufactured at low costs.
US07679329B2
In an SOC compensation method, a first SOC having at least two sections is detected, and a first OCV corresponding to the first SOC is calculated; a second OCV is calculated by using the measured pack current and voltage, and an internal resistance, and a second SOC corresponding to the second OCV is calculated; when a difference between the first and second OCVs is greater than a first reference, a first compensation value corresponding to the first SOC among at least two first compensation values corresponding to the two sections is used to compensate the first SOC; and when a difference between the first and second OCVs is less than a second reference, a second compensation value corresponding to the first SOC among at least two second compensation values corresponding to the two sections is used to compensate the first SOC value.
US07679327B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for accurately estimating a state of charge of a battery, which can measure a change of temperature and an open circuit voltage so as to estimate the state of charge at an initial time when a vehicle is not driven, and while measuring a decrement in a capacity of a battery according to charging and discharging of the battery when the vehicle is driven. The method includes the steps of: measuring a temperature in an initial estimation of the state of charge; measuring an open circuit voltage; obtaining parameters indicating a change of the open circuit voltage according to a change of temperature; and calculating the state of charge using the parameters and the open circuit voltage which is measured depending on the obtained parameters. The method further includes the steps of: measuring electric current in order to integrate the electric current during an estimation of the state of charge after initial time; calculating a decrement in capacity of the battery according to cycles; and estimating the state of charge by dividing a value, which is obtained by integrating electric current, by the decrement in the capacity of the battery according to the cycles.
US07679325B2
A battery management system for controlling a secondary battery module which includes a plurality of unit batteries includes a sensor, a comparator and a controller. The sensor sequentially measures respective voltages of the unit batteries. The comparator compares the respective voltages of the unit batteries to a cut-off voltage range and a recovery voltage range to determine if the voltages are within the cut-off voltage range and the recovery voltage range. The controller receives comparison results from the comparator, cuts off the secondary battery module from an external device when there is at least one unit battery within the cutoff voltage range, and couples the secondary battery module to the external device when all of the unit batteries are within the recovery voltage range.
US07679316B2
In accordance with the teachings described herein, a method and apparatus for handling a charging state in a mobile device is provided. A universal serial bus (USB) interface may be used for connecting the mobile device to a USB host. A processing device may be used to execute programs and to control operation of the mobile device, the processing device may be further operable to receive an enumeration acknowledgement signal from the USB host via the USB interface. A rechargeable battery may be used for powering the processing device. A voltage regulator may be coupled to the USB interface and operable to receive a USB bus voltage from the USB interface and use the USB bus voltage to power the processing device. A timing circuitry may be used to disable the voltage regulator from powering the processing device after a pre-determined amount of time has expired, the timing circuitry being operable to measure the passage of the pre-determined amount of time upon detecting the USB bus voltage. A battery charger may be used to receive the USB bus voltage from the USB interface and use the USB bus voltage to power the processing device and to charge the rechargeable battery. The processing device may enable the battery charger to power the processing device and to charge the rechargeable battery when the enumeration acknowledgement signal is received from the USB host.
US07679314B2
A multiple battery system includes a battery housing, first and second batteries disposed in the battery housing, a one-way charging circuit, and at least one switching device. The battery housing includes at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, which are electrically coupleable to an electrical system. Each battery includes respective positive and negative outputs. The negative output of each battery is electrically connected to the negative terminal(s) of the battery housing. The one-way charging circuit is electrically connected between the positive outputs of the two batteries and is configured to facilitate charging of, but prevent current flow from, the second battery when the first battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system. The switching device(s) is operable in at least two states to selectively electrically connect the positive terminal(s) of the battery housing to a selective one of the positive outputs of the two batteries.
US07679311B2
A field weakening control system for use with an induction motor is disclosed. The field weakening control system has a sensing device configured to generate a signal indicative of a speed of the induction motor and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an initial voltage command based on the signal and determine an acceleration of the induction motor based on the signal. The controller is also configured to generate a desired voltage command based on at least one of the initial voltage command and the acceleration.
US07679307B2
A motor starting apparatus (10) includes a motor starting relay (112) to switch a motor starting capacitor (110) into a motor circuit across a run capacitor (111). The system control (116) includes an electronic voltage measurement circuit to measure a winding voltage (113, 114) of the motor winding (102, 103). The system control (116) also includes a microprocessor to run an algorithm that causes the system control to switch the starting capacitor (110) out of the motor circuit when a measured winding voltage (113, 114) exceeds a winding voltage threshold. A method to start a motor includes the steps of determining a motor winding voltage (113, 114) threshold; closing the motor starting capacitor relay (112) when needed; closing a contactor (108, 109) to supply power to the motor starting apparatus and the motor circuit; measuring a winding voltage (113, 114); comparing the measured winding voltage (113, 114) to the voltage threshold; and opening the starting capacitor relay (112) when measured winding voltage (113, 114) exceeds the voltage threshold indicating that the motor has been started.
US07679294B1
A method and system for reducing and/or eliminating striations from gas discharge lamps powered by an electronic ballast charges a capacitive energy device, which is coupled in parallel with the lamp, when the capacitive energy device detects that a predetermined lamp voltage condition has been satisfied. The system/method supplements the current supplied to the lamp by the electronic ballast with current supplied from the capacitive energy device when the predetermined lamp voltage condition is not satisfied. The supplemental current supplied to the lamp creates a harmonic-rich lamp current waveform that reduces and/or eliminates striations.
US07679293B2
An electronic ballast circuit having at least two distinct switching cycles also includes an anti-striation feature. More particularly the electronic ballast includes an input section configured to receive an input from a power source. A resonant section receives the signals from the input section in order to generate a resonant signal. An anti-striation component is connected within the electronic ballast circuit to affect operation of the resonant section, which results in an affected resonant signal. A switching arrangement is configured to receive the affected resonant signal from the resonant section and anti-striation component, and is further configured to generate an asymmetric output signal due to the affects of the anti-resonant component, wherein the anti-striation component causes parameters of the resonant section of the electronic ballast circuit to be different for different switching cycles of the electronic ballast circuit. An output section is provided to output the asymmetric output signal to a lamp system.
US07679286B1
A positive column gas discharge plasma display device with one or more ionizable gas filled elongated Plasma-tubes. The display may be a dual substrate or a single substrate device. One or more substrates may be of a flexible material. The ionizable gas produces photons in the UV, IR, and/or visible range during gas discharge. An impervious barrier is positioned between the gas discharge cells in adjacent tubes to minimize or prevent optical cross-talk between pixels in adjacent tubes. The photons may excite one or more luminescent materials located on or in close proximity to one or more Plasma-tubes. The plasma display device may contain at least one Plasma-shell filled with an ionizable gas that produces photons in the UV, IR, and/or visible range during gas discharge. Plasma-shell includes Plasma-disc, Plasma-dome, and Plasma-sphere.
US07679284B2
A light emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting elements, an element layer, an auxiliary electrode, and an insulating layer. An effective region in which the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged and a peripheral region that surrounds the effective region are provided on the substrate. Each of the light emitting elements includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a light emitting layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode. A circuit element is arranged in the element layer to control emission of light of the light emitting elements. The auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode. The second electrode covers the effective region and is formed uniformly so as to extend into the peripheral region. The auxiliary electrode extends through a gap between adjacent light emitting elements in the effective region and is formed partly in the peripheral region.
US07679283B2
An EL display device has first and second pixel electrodes and a counter electrode formed of a transparent conductive film, a sealing-side light-emitting area for extracting light emitted from a light-emitting functional layer from a sealing member formed on the first pixel electrode, a substrate-side light-emitting area for extracting light emitted from the light-emitting functional layer from the substrate is formed on the second pixel electrode, a light-shielding layer which is adjacent to the first pixel electrode in the sealing-side light-emitting area and the counter electrode in the substrate-side light-emitting area is formed, and the light-emitting functional layer emits light independently in the sealing-side light-emitting area and the substrate-side light-emitting area.
US07679280B2
An image display device which prevents damage to an electron-emitting device from discharge between a faceplate and a rear plate is provided. A conductive plate 12 including a transparent conductive film is formed over a surface of a substrate 1, a distance specifying member 13 having a plurality of openings is formed on the conductive area 12, a fluorescent material 14 is arranged in the opening, and a conductive film 15 is arranged on the fluorescent material 14 to for a face plate. A resistance Rx between the adjacent conductive films 15 is set larger than a resistance Rz between the conductive film 15 and the conductive area 12. Discharge current generated between each conductive film 15 and a rear plate 21 is caused to flow into the conductive area 12 by applying anode voltage to the conductive area 12, which suppresses influence on an electron-emitting device 23.
US07679277B2
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element having an emission peak wavelength of 350 nm-420 nm and a phosphor absorbing light from this light emitting element and emitting fluorescence having a different emission peak wavelength. The phosphor is formed of a semiconductor material that allows the emission peak wavelength to be controlled by transition across the bandgap, and is configured with four or more fluorescences having different emission peak wavelengths. Thus, it is possible to provide a light emitting device which has a relatively simple structure to keep high theoretical efficiency limit and achieves good general color rendering index (Ra) and special color rendering index (R9).
US07679272B2
To provide a multi-layer piezoelectric device having excellent durability in which the amount of displacement does not change even when the piezoelectric actuator is subjected to continuous operation over a long period of time under a high voltage and a high pressure, the multi-layer piezoelectric device comprises a stack formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes alternately one on another and external electrodes formed on a first side face and on a second side face of the stack, wherein one of the adjacent internal electrodes is connected to the external electrode formed on the first side face and the other internal electrode is connected to the external electrode formed on the second side face, while content of alkali metal in a range from 5 ppm to 300 ppm is contained.
US07679264B2
A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an actuator comprising: an electro-mechanical conversion element; and a driving member which moves according to elongation and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; (ii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member; and (iii) a case, wherein the actuator allows the driven member to move along the driving member, and the actuator is supported by the case laterally in elongating and contracting directions of the electro-mechanical conversion element.
US07679262B2
The present invention is a driving circuit applied to a piezoelectric activation element, which comprises: a driving period generation unit and a switch circuit unit. The driving period generation unit further comprises: a driving indication signal and a programmable micro-controller, in which the programmable micro-controller is to receive the driving indication signal, and to generate a programmable driving period signal in response to the driving indication signal; and, the switch circuit unit is connected to the driving period generation unit and the piezoelectric activation element, and to receive the driving period signal, and generate an alternate driving voltage in response to the driving period signal; in which, the half-wave leading edge of the alternate driving voltage has the waveform of a parabolic curve waveform, and the half-wave trailing edge of the alternate driving voltage has the waveform of approximately a vertical line waveform, and the alternate driving voltage is connected to the piezoelectric activation element.
US07679261B2
An electrostatic actuator including: at least one fixed electrode, fixed with respect to a substrate; at least one flexible electrode arranged to face the substrate; a pivot member extending from the flexible electrode, the pivot member being fixed to a face of the flexible electrode facing the fixed electrode, and the pivot member being made from a conducting material; and at least one suspending unit suspending the flexible electrode and holding the flexible electrode at rest at a distance from the substrate, wherein the suspending unit and the pivot member are different.
US07679258B2
A vibration motor includes a housing, a stator (10) received in the housing (30) and a rotor (20) rotatably disposed in the stator. The stator includes two claw-pole assemblies (11) arranged back-to-back, and a shaft (23) being fixedly connected with the two claw-pole assemblies. The rotor includes a bearing (22) rotatably mounted around the shaft, a permanent magnet (26) mounted around the bearing, and an eccentric weight (24) fixedly attached to the permanent magnet. The eccentric weight includes a main body (240) and at least one inserting portion (244) having a density higher than that of the main body.
US07679257B2
In a direct current electric motor, segment pieces of a commutator are generally planar and are arranged one after another in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the commutator. A slidably engaging surface of each segment piece, which is slidably engageable with a plurality of brushes of the motor, extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the rotational axis, and each segment piece includes a radially inner engaging portion at a radially inner end part of the segment piece. Each conductive line extends along a corresponding straight line and electrically interconnects between the radially inner engaging portions of corresponding two of the plurality of segment pieces to implement the same electric potential in the corresponding two of the plurality of segment pieces.
US07679253B2
A stator assembly for a dynamoelectric machine featuring a cascaded construction includes several conductors, each having a plurality of slot segments interconnected by plurality of end loop segments. The consecutive slot segments of a first conductor forms nearly all of a radially-outermost first layer of the stator winding, with the remaining portion of the radially-outermost winding layer being defined by a slot segment of a second conductor that is then inserted into the core to form nearly all of a second layer of the stator winding radially-inwardly of the first winding layer. The second winding layer is completed with an additional single slot segment of the first conductor.
US07679250B2
The invention relates to a device for fixing permanent magnets inside the cylinder head of a field winding of an electric engine. The inventive device comprises spring clips (12) which are disposed between the permanent magnets in order to ensure the angular positioning and the axial and radial support of said magnets against the inner wall of the head. The end of each clip (12) which first penetrates the head when the permanent magnets are being inserted, comprises means for axially sliding on the inner cylindrical wall of the head, while preventing any contact with an end edge of the clip. Moreover, the clip is set apart from the head by means of at least one boss (17) which is provided on the core (16), and said boss is in turn set back from the edge and disposed between two fins (14) for the axial locking of the magnets.
US07679245B2
Featured is a method for passively-repulsively lifting a rotor assembly (11) of a flywheel energy storage system (10), comprising the steps of mechanically coupling a first permanent magnet (204a) to the rotor assembly (11) and fixedly positioning a second permanent magnet (204b) proximal to the first permanent magnet (204a) so that a repulsive force is generated therebetween causing the first permanent magnet (204a) to move with respect to the second permanent magnet (204b), thereby causing the rotor assembly (11) to be lifted to an operating level. The method further includes applying a radial force sufficient in magnitude and direction to oppose a radial force being generated by the permanent magnet repulsive force. Also featured is a passive-repulsive rotor assembly lift system (100) for a flywheel energy storage system (10) and a flywheel energy storage system (10) including such a repulsive rotor lift system (100).
US07679230B2
A stator core 35 includes a core back 352 of a substantially annular shape. At a radially outer end portion of the core back 352 four teeth 351 are arranged radially. At the teeth 351, a coil 371 is formed by winding a magnet wire 37 via an insulator 36. A first insulator 361 configuring a lower half of the insulator 36 includes a first core back insulating portion 3611, 1 first teeth insulating portion 3612, and a first cylindrical portion 3613. A hook portion 4 is formed at the first core back insulating portion 3611 at radially outer side, and between the teeth 351. The magnet wire 37 extracted from the coil 371 is hooked on the hook portion 4. The magnet wire 37 hooked on the hook portion 4 is lead the magnet wire 37 around the hook portion 4 as a base, and is soldered to a land 381 formed above a circuit board 38.
US07679228B2
In an electromagnetic actuator including a bearing member which slidably supports a variable core, a yoke for retaining a coil assembly by cooperation with a bottom wall of a housing is connected to the housing, and the bearing member is fitted into the yoke. A support for supporting an outward-facing flange formed at one end of the bearing member is mounted on the bottom wall, and a set spring for biasing the outward-facing flange toward the support is mounted under compression between the outward-facing flange and the first yoke. A low-friction material coating made of a fluorocarbon resin is formed on at least one of opposed sliding surfaces of the bearing member and a movable core. Thus, even if wear powder is generated between the set spring of the bearing member and a portion on which the set spring is pressed, the wear powder is prevented from entering inside the bearing member.
US07679227B2
Machine with an electromechanical converter, where a linear movable piston (30) is placed in a tubular cylinder casing (20). The piston supports a row of centrally placed annular permanent magnets (38) which produce an electromagnetic field of force. This is effective towards a surrounding row of annular coils (21). Such a machine can be driven as a motor or as a generator with a minimum of movable parts. At the ends of the closed cylinder is formed a chamber (40, 50), which forms a gas spring. In its simplest form the machine acts as a vibrator or as a vibration-driven generator. Additionally, to the gas springs, and at least at one end of the cylinder casing, can be placed a helical spring which ensures the central position of rest of the piston in the case of vertical installation. The piston can be connected to an axial bar (34) which is lead out of the machine on its one end for transmission of kinetic energy to or from the machine.
US07679217B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a high efficiency redundant power system. First and second power supplies are connected in parallel to power a load. Each power supply includes a primary stage and a regulator stage. Each primary stage regulates voltage on an internal bus that is input for each regulator stage. Each regulator stage regulates a regulated bus connected to the load. A power meter detects power provided to the load and determines if the provided power is below a predefined power threshold. A regulator control module shuts down the regulator stage of the first power supply after the provided power falls below the predefined power threshold so the second power supply powers the load and the primary stage of the first power supply remains operational. A recovery module starts up the regulator stage of the first power supply after failure of the second power supply.
US07679212B2
A touch switch for controlling accessory equipment of a vehicle in such a manner that malfunctions caused by factors such as changes in atmospheric conditions, receipt of an electromagnetic impulse, or the like can be avoided. A vehicle accessory touch switch comprises a touch section having a sensor conductor plate which is touched by an operator, a capacitance measurement section which measures a change in electrostatic capacity of the sensor conductor plate to a ground conductor as a sensor conductor plate capacity change, and a control section which controls accessory equipment according to comparison between the sensor conductor plate capacity change and a control judgment value, wherein the vehicle accessory touch switch controls the accessory equipment according to an operator touching the touch section, a sub-conductor plate is disposed, the capacitance measurement section measures a change in electrostatic capacity between the sub-conductor plate and the ground conductor as a sub-conductor plate capacity change, and the control section decides the control judgment value according to the sub-conductor plate capacity change measured by the capacitance measurement section.
US07679210B2
A vehicle wheel electricity generating device for a automotive vehicle comprising a generator rotor winding (2) and a stator (4). A wind actuated component (3) is rotatably connected to a vehicle wheel (12), said rotator winding (2) is fixedly connected to the vehicle wheel (12), and said stator (4) is fixedly arranged on the wind actuated component (3). During the traveling of the automotive vehicle, the wind actuated component (3) rotates with respect to the vehicle wheel (12), such that the generator rotator winding (2) rotates with respect to the stator (4) to generate electricity.
US07679208B1
A pitch control apparatus for controlling the pitch value for a wind power generation system includes a generator comparing unit that calculates an error signal based on a difference between a generator measurement signal corresponding with an operation of the power generation system and a generator reference signal, and a reference pitch calculating unit that calculates a reference pitch value using the error signal. The pitch control apparatus further includes a compensation pitch calculating unit that calculates a compensation pitch value using an error value from the wind power generation system and a pitch calculating unit that calculates a pitch value using the reference pitch value and the compensation pitch value. The error value may be any one of a voltage error value from a direct-current capacitor, a voltage error value from a grid connection point, a speed error value from a rotor, and a frequency error value from a grid connection point.
US07679207B2
A wind power generating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of vertically stacked wind acceleration modules that are shaped to accelerate wind passing between them. At least one of the modules includes a rotor assembly, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly, and an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the CVT. The electrical generator is capable of converting mechanical energy transferred by the CVT from the rotor assembly into electrical energy. A sensor may be mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly or the electrical generator and electrically coupled to a controller. The controller may control the CVT according to a signal received from the sensor such that the electrical generator operates within a predetermined range of rotational velocities.
US07679202B2
A plurality of device patterns constituting part of an electronic circuit are formed over the surface of a substrate. A symbol pattern to be used for an identification sign is formed in the same layer as the device patterns. A width of the device pattern is within a pattern width range on a design rule. The symbol pattern is formed by a plurality of isolated element patterns. The element pattern is either a linear pattern or a dot pattern. A width of the element pattern is equal to or larger than 0.8 time a lower limit value of the pattern width range and equal to or smaller than 1.2 times an upper limit value of the pattern width range.
US07679199B2
A semiconductor apparatus capable of simply detecting a crack generated in plural semiconductor chips while the design freedom is improved, includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip that is laminated on the first semiconductor chip, in which a first wiring that is formed along the outer periphery of the first semiconductor chip and a second wiring that is formed along the outer periphery of the second semiconductor chip are connected in series.
US07679188B2
To provide a high-performance, highly-reliable semiconductor device in which an adhesive used to mount (e.g., flip-chip mount) a semiconductor chip on a substrate has less air bubbles, and a low-cost, efficient method for manufacturing the same. Semiconductor device 10 of the present invention includes semiconductor chip 11 having a plurality of electrode pads 12, and substrate 14 having a plurality of electrode terminals 15 at positions corresponding to electrode pads 12. A plurality of bumps 13, each composed of base part 13A and protruding part 13B having a diameter smaller than the diameter of base part 13A, is formed on at least one of electrode pads 12 in such a way that the respective base parts 13A of bumps 13 are in contact with each other, and semiconductor chip 11 is bonded to substrate 14 with adhesive 17 in a state where bumps 13 are electrically connected to electrode terminals 15.
US07679180B2
An improved via arrangement for a bonding pad structure is disclosed comprising an array of vias surrounded by a line via. The line via provides a barrier to cracks in the dielectric layer encompassing the via array. Although cracks are able to spread relatively unhindered between the vias of the via array, they are blocked by the line via and thus can not spread to neighboring regions of the chip or wafer. The line via can be provided in a variety of shapes and dimensions, to suit a desired application. Additionally, due to its substantially uninterrupted length, the line via provides added strength to the bond pad.
US07679179B2
Systems and methods for packaging integrated circuit chips in castellation wafer level packaging are provided. The active circuit areas of the chips are coupled to castellation blocks and, depending on the embodiment, input/output pads. The castellation blocks and input/output pads are encapsulated and held in place by an encapsulant. When the devices are being fabricated, the castellation blocks and input/output pads are sawed through. If necessary, the wafer portion on which the devices are fabricated may be thinned. The packages may be used as a leadless chip carrier package or may be stacked on top of one another. When stacked, the respective contacts of the packages are preferably coupled. Data may be written to, and received from, packaged chips when a chip is activated. Chips may be activated by applying the appropriate signal or signals to the appropriate contact or contacts.
US07679178B2
A semiconductor package on which a semiconductor device can be stacked and fabrication method thereof are provided. The fabrication method includes the steps of mounting and electrically connecting at least one semiconductor chip on the substrate, mounting an electrical connecting structure consisting of an upper layer circuit board and a lower layer circuit board on the substrate and electrically connecting the electrical connecting structure to the substrate, where the semiconductor chip is received in a receiving space formed in the electrical connecting structure; forming an encapsulant on the substrate encapsulating the semiconductor chip and the electrical connecting structure, and after the encapsulant is formed, exposing top surface of the upper layer circuit board with a plurality of solder pads from the encapsulant to allow at least one semiconductor device to electrically connect the upper layer circuit board so as to form a stack structure.
US07679177B2
An integrated circuit packaging system comprising: fabricating a system-in-package substrate; mounting a first integrated circuit die on the system-in-package substrate; mounting a second integrated circuit die on the system-in-package substrate; and coupling a passive component over and between the first integrated circuit die and the second integrated circuit die.
US07679168B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) with a differential pair arrangement includes a mounting area for receiving a chip, a plurality of first pads located near one edge of the mounting area, a plurality of second pads located near an opposite edge of the mounting area, the first pads and the second pads are arranged for receiving pins of the chip. A pair of vias is used for connecting layers of the PCB. The second pads are located between the vias and the mounting area. A differential pair includes two signal traces, one of the signal traces is connected to one of the first pads and routed to one of the vias through the mounting area, the other of the signal traces is routed through the mounting area and connected to one of the second pads and then routed to the other one of the vias.
US07679167B2
A package module for an image sensor device is disclosed. The package module comprises a device chip disposed between lower and upper substrates. A first conductive layer is over a first sidewall of the lower substrate and insulated from the device chip. A first protective layer is on the first conductive layer and exposes a portion of the first conductive layer over the first sidewall of the lower substrate. A first pad is on the bottom surface of the lower substrate and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The invention also discloses an electronic assembly for an image sensor device and a fabrication method thereof.
US07679155B2
The present invention provides a low resistance high magnetoresistance (MR) device comprised of a junction of two magnetic elements separated by a magnesium oxide (MgO) layer doped with such metals as Al and Li. Such device can be used as a sensor of magnetic field in magnetic recording or as a storage element in magnetic random access memory (MRAM). The invention provides a high-MR device possessing a diode function, comprised of a double junction of two outer magnetic elements separated by two MgO insulating layer and a center MgO layer doped with such metals as Al and Li. Such device provides design advantages when used as a storage element in MRAM. The invention with MR wherein a gate electrode is placed in electrical or physical contact to the center layer of the double tunnel junction.
US07679153B2
An electronic component includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface; a trans-substrate conductive plug that penetrates the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface; an electronic element provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the semiconductor; and a sealing member that seals the electronic element between the sealing member and the first surface, wherein the electronic element is electrically connected to the trans-substrate conductive plug.
US07679149B2
A method of formation of contacts with cobalt silicide since is disclosed. For example, after siliciding with the SOM solution, both unreacted sections of the deposition layer including, for example, cobalt as initial layer for the siliciding and an oxidation protection layer including titanium and deposited by means of cathode beam sputtering, for instance, may be removed rapidly and with high selectivity relative to the cobalt silicide and other, densified metal structures and metal layers.
US07679135B2
A semiconductor device includes a source region, a drain region, and a fin that connects the source region to the drain region. A gate electrode having a substantially planar surface overlies the fin and is positioned between the drain region and the source region. A first set of spacers is positioned between a first sidewall of the gate electrode and the source region and between a second sidewall of the gate electrode and the drain region. A second set of spacers is positioned on at least a portion of a top surface of the source region and the drain region and alongside at least a portion of the first set of spacers. At least a portion of sidewalls of the second set of spacers contacts a portion of the first or second sidewall of the gate electrode.
US07679134B1
A semiconductor device includes a group of fin structures. The group of fin structures includes a conductive material and is formed by growing the conductive material in an opening of an oxide layer. The semiconductor device further includes a source region formed at one end of the group of fin structures, a drain region formed at an opposite end of the group of fin structures, and at least one gate.
US07679133B2
In a semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing thereof, the device includes a substrate of single-crystal semiconductor material extending in a horizontal direction and a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers on the substrate. A plurality of gate patterns are provided, each gate pattern being between a neighboring lower interlayer dielectric layer and a neighboring upper interlayer dielectric layer. A vertical channel of single-crystal semiconductor material extends in a vertical direction through the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the plurality of gate patterns, a gate insulating layer being between each gate pattern and the vertical channel that insulates the gate pattern from the vertical channel.
US07679128B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, comprising a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of first polycrystalline silicon layers formed on the gate insulating film and including recesses formed therebetween; an inter-gate insulating film formed along the recesses on the first polycrystalline silicon layers; a second polycrystalline silicon layer having an upper flat surface and formed directly on the inter-gate insulating film; an etch-stopping insulating film made from a material different from a material of the inter-gate insulating films and formed on the second polycrystalline silicon layers into a flat plate shape, the etch-stopping insulating film being located immediately above the recesses between the first polycrystalline silicon layers so as to cover the first polycrystalline silicon layers and the recesses between the first polycrystalline silicon layers; and a third polycrystalline silicon layer formed on the etch-stopping insulating film.
US07679125B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing a first wafer and providing a second wafer having a first side and a second side, the second wafer including a semiconductor substrate, a storage layer, and a layer of gate material. The storage layer may be located between the semiconductor structure and the layer of the gate material and the storage layer may be located closer to the first side of the second wafer than the semiconductor structure. The method further includes boding the first side of the second wafer to the first wafer. The method further includes removing a first portion of the semiconductor structure to leave a layer of the semiconductor structure after the bonding. The method further includes forming a transistor having a channel region, wherein at least a portion of the channel region is formed from the layer of the semiconductor structure.
US07679120B2
A semiconductor structure having a plurality of gate stacks on a semiconductor substrate provided with a gate dielectric. The gate stacks have a lower first layer made of polysilicon, an overlying second layer made of a metal silicide, and an upper third layer made of an insulating material, and a sidewall oxide on the sidewalls of the first and second layers. The sidewall oxide is thinned or removed on one of the sidewalls, and the gate stacks have sidewall spacers made of the insulating material.
US07679114B2
An object is to provide a solid state image pickup device and a camera which do not worsen a sensor performance in terms of an optical property, a saturated charge amount and the like. A solid state image sensor including a pixel region having a plurality of pixels includes at least a photodiode and an amplifying portion amplifying photocharges outputted from the photodiode in the pixel region, and further includes a well electrode for taking well potential of a well region in which the amplifying portion is arranged. Between the well electrode and the photodiode, no element isolation regions by an insulation film are arranged. Moreover, on the surface of a first semiconductor region in which the photodiode stores the charges, a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type reverse to that of the first semiconductor region is arranged.
US07679109B2
A semiconductor device having a multilayer structure, each layer including: a dummy pattern for ensuring a flatness thereof; a pad area in which a bonding pad is formed; an input-output circuit area in which an input-output circuit is formed, the input-output circuit area being adjacent to the pad area in plan view; and a dummy pattern confined area for forbidding an arrangement of the dummy pattern in every layer included in the semiconductor device, the dummy pattern confined area being provided between the pad area and the input-output circuit area in plan view.
US07679108B2
A semiconductor memory includes a plurality of active regions; a plurality of bit line contacts disposed on respective active regions; a plurality of first local lines formed in an island shape and in contact with upper surfaces of the plurality of bit line contacts; a plurality of first via contacts in contact with the upper surfaces of the plurality of first local lines and aligned in a direction parallel to the active regions; a first bit line in contact with one of the plurality of first via contacts and extending in a direction parallel to the active regions; and a plurality of second via contacts arranged above the first via contacts that are not in contact with the first bit line through respective second local lines.
US07679096B1
A heat sink for use with a high output LED light source is disclosed. The heat sink is used with an LED and conical reflector. The heat sink has a cylindrical back end holding the light emitting diode. The heat sink includes a conically shaped wall having an inner and outer surface and an open front end. The open front end has a rim with notches. The reflector has a front flat surface with arms which are fixed in the notches with a fastener. The heat sink includes a plurality of slits formed on the inner and outer surfaces extending between the back and front ends. A plurality of vanes extend radially from the inner surface. The heat sink is fabricated from a thermally conductive material. The conical shape of the heat sink, the slits and vanes increases exposed surface area to assist in dissipating heat generated from the LED.
US07679085B2
A method for fabricating a thin film transistor (TFT) on a substrate includes forming a gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer being insulated from the gate electrode and partially overlapped with the gate electrode; sequentially forming first and second gate insulating layers between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer, wherein the first gate insulating layer is formed of a material different from the second gate insulating layer and at least one of the first and second gate insulating layers includes a sol-compound; and forming source and drain electrodes at both sides of the semiconductor layer.
US07679084B2
A TFT array panel and a method for fabricating the same is disclosed, wherein an adhesion force between an elongated wire and a TFT array panel pad is improved by increasing the contact area of a bonding pad. The TFT array panel pad includes a first conductive layer formed in a pad region on an insulating substrate. The first conductive layer includes a plurality of conductive islands and holes. A second conductive layer is formed over and covers the first conductive layer.
US07679077B2
A nanodevice (1) for a desired function includes a substrate (11), a one-dimensional nanostructure (12), a functional layer (20) having a desired function, a conductive thin film electrode (30), and an insulating layer (40). The one-dimensional nanostructure is operatively extends from the substrate. The functional layer surrounds at least a portion of the one-dimensional nanostructure. The conducting thin film electrode surrounds/encompasses the functional layer. The insulating layer is positioned between the substrate and the conductive thin film electrode, thereby electrically insulating the one from the other. Further, the nanodevice can incorporate one or more functional units 50, each unit including a one-dimensional nanostructure and a respective functional layer. The units may or may not share the same conductive thin film electrode and/or insulating layer.
US07679076B2
Provided is an optical semiconductor device, which includes a GaAs substrate (or a semiconductor substrate) 20; an n-type contact layer (or a doping layer) 21 formed on one surface 20a of the GaAs substrate 20; an active layer 25 formed on top of the n-type contact layer 21 and including at least one quantum dot 23; a p-type contact layer (or a contact layer) 26 formed on top of the active layer 25 and being of an opposite conduction type to the n-type contact layer 21; an insulating layer 29 formed on top of the p-type contact layer 26 and including a first opening 29a whose size is such that a contact region CR of the p-type contact layer 26 lies within the first opening 29a; a p-side electrode layer 33c formed on top of the contact region CR of the p-type contact layer 26 and on top of the insulating layer 29 and including a second opening 33a lying within the first opening 29a; and a n-side electrode layer (or a second electrode layer) 37 formed on the other surface 20b of the GaAs substrate 20.
US07679071B2
An example electron beam drawing apparatus includes an electron beam emitting unit which emits an electron beam, a rotary stage which rotatably supports a turntable for retaining a drawing object, and a sample stage which is supported by the turntable in a range including a rotating center of the turntable to retain an adjustment sample. A rotationally symmetrical pattern such as a concentric pattern and a radial pattern can be drawn in the drawing object by irradiating the drawing object with the electron beam during rotation of the turntable. Before the pattern is actually drawn in the drawing object, beam adjustment and rotating center adjustment are performed using an adjustment sample. The adjustment sample is retained by the sample stage, and the sample stage is supported by the turntable in the range including the rotating center of the turntable. Therefore, the beam adjustment and the rotating center adjustment can be performed using the adjustment sample supported by the turntable, and the different stage for placing the adjustment sample is not required, which allows the apparatus to be miniaturized.
US07679061B2
An x-ray imaging source comprises a radiation source (12) providing x-ray radiation. A substrate comprised of a scintillating material (16) responsive to a level of incident radiation provides output light according to the level of incident radiation. A Fresnel lens (40) is disposed proximate to the substrate for directing the output light toward a second lens. The second lens directs the output light to an image sensor for converting light levels to the digital data, forming an image thereby.
US07679054B2
The present invention relates to e.g. a charged particle beam energy width reduction system for a charged particle beam with a z-axis along the optical axis and a first and a second plane, comprising, a first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a second element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a first quadrupole element being positioned such that, in operation, a field of the first quadrupole element overlaps with a field of the first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a second quadrupole element being positioned such that, in operation, a field of the second quadrupole element overlaps with a field of the second element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a first charged particle selection element being positioned, in beam direction, before the first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, and a second charged particle selection element being positioned, in beam direction, after the first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner. Thereby, a virtually dispersive source-like location without an inherent dispersion limitation can be realized.
US07679047B2
An infrared gas sensing apparatus for sensing gas includes an infrared source for emitting infrared light, a wavelength tunable filter for selectively allows passage of the infrared light at a specific wavelength, an infrared detector for detecting the amount of the filtered infrared light, and a control circuit for controlling the wavelength tunable filter. The control circuit has a check circuit that checks whether the wavelength tunable filter selects a collect wavelength. The check circuit controls the wavelength tunable filter so that the wavelength tunable filter allows passage of the infrared light at a wavelength within a wavelength range where atmospheric gases do not absorb the infrared light. The check circuit checks whether the wavelength tunable filter operates normally by comparing the amount of the filtered infrared light with a reference value.
US07679046B1
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide infrared camera systems and infrared camera calibration techniques in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example in accordance with an embodiment, a method of calibrating an infrared camera includes capturing video images of a calibration vessel having one or more chambers filled with a gas; displaying the video images from the capturing; and adjusting settings of the infrared camera such that colors of the displayed video images of the one or more chambers approximately match predetermined colors of one or more corresponding sections of a video overlay.
US07679045B2
Method for correcting control of an optical scanner in a laser scanning microscope for imaging of a sample by scanning, the microscope guiding at least one beam path section of an illumination beam path of the microscope over the sample from an illumination device to the sample and/or an imaging beam path of the microscope from the sample to an acquisition device of the microscope in order to obtain an image of the sample, generating control signals corresponding to a predefined target movement using parameters and/or a transfer function of the scanner that are used for control and/or regulation and moving the at least one beam path section in response to the control signals, whereby an image of a reference sample having predefined structures imageable by the microscope is obtained by generating control signals corresponding to a predefined target test movement and moving the at least one beam path section in response to the control signals, thereby obtaining the image. From the image thereby obtained, a deviation in the actual positions of the predefined structures of the reference sample from the predefined target positions is determined and the transfer function or parameters are corrected as a function of the deviations at least one of the parameters used for control and/or regulation, so that when using the corrected parameter for control or regulation and/or when using the corrected transfer function, the deviation in the actual position of at least one of the structures from the target position of the structure is reduced.
US07679039B2
The invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the position of a radiation beam. The apparatus includes (a) a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, the reflective surfaces being placed to form the reflective exterior of a wedge; (b) a first detector placed to detect radiation reflected from the first reflective surface, and (c) a second detector placed to detect radiation reflected from the second reflective surface. The method includes the steps of (a) directing a radiation beam to the reflective exterior of a wedge formed by a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface; (b) selectively detecting radiation reflected from the first reflective surface; (c) selectively detecting radiation reflected from the second reflective surface; and (d) determining the position of the radiation beam based on the difference in the amount of radiation detected from each surface.
US07679022B2
A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising a case having a switch section, a bus-bar section and a cable section, each being partitioned by an earthed metal plate, a vacuum double break three point switch disposed in the switch section and having breaking and disconnecting function, an operator, a bus-bar disposed in the bus-bar section of the case, and a cable connection terminal connected to a cable in the cable section.
US07679017B1
A switch structure includes a switch body, a holding member, a torsion member, and a swinging lever. The switch body includes a base included a front surface and a rear surface, a pushing portion, two fixing portion, each fixing portion defining a guiding slot. The holding member defines two cavities. The switch body is rotatably installed onto the holding member by inserting the fixing portion into the cavity. The torsion member includes two elastic arms and a connecting pole, one of the elastic arm is hooked to the holding member. The swinging lever includes a first end movably connected to the switch body, a second end movably connected to the other elastic arm, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end, the swinging lever rotatably installed to the holding member via the connecting portion.
US07678994B2
An encapsulating permanent wire connector is comprised of a housing provided with a first port and a second port. At least one division wall extends coaxially in a portion of the housing to a side of a straight central axis of the housing and defines an electrically isolating cavity in the housing. The housing has an opening to inject a sealing substance therein. Air evacuation holes are associated with the electrically isolating cavity for the escape of air therefrom when a sealing substance is injected within the housing with soldered wire connections being disposed in the housing and isolated from one another by the electrically isolating cavity. In a preferred embodiment, there are two spaced-apart electrically isolating cavities with a central cavity therebetween.
US07678982B2
A device and method for automatic tuning of a string Instrument, in particular, a guitar, comprising a recording device, for recording a tone generated by striking a string and for the output of a digital signal corresponding to the recorded tone, a memory device for storage of given digital signals which correspond to a desired tone, a comparator device for comparison of the digital signal output by the recording device with a digital signal corresponding to the desired tone stored in the memory device, an adjuster device for altering the tension of the strings, at least one actuator, for operating the adjuster device, a controller connected to the comparator device, which controls the at least one actuator using a bus line, by means of a difference determined in the comparator device between the signals representing the generated tone and the desired tone. The above is improved with relation to conventional techniques in so far as the above may be integrated in an instrument, in particular, a guitar, with minimal effect on the sound properties and with the smallest and least possible number of elements. The controller and the at least one actuator are arranged in the string instrument, on opposing sides of the strings viewed in the longitudinal direction of the strings and a string, made from a conducting material or wound or coated with such, is used as bus line between the controller and the at least one actuator. Furthermore, a method for the automatic tuning of a string instrument is disclosed.
US07678980B2
The present invention is directed to musical instruments that are based on the operation of an air reed and, in particular, encompasses end-blown flutes comprising an acoustic air space and a fluid air space. The communication between the acoustic and fluid air spaces is positioned so as to minimally interfere with the flow of air introduced, i.e., blown, into the fluid space and enables the instrument to produce rich, in-tune tones across a three octave range. The acoustic air space is formed by a hollow tuning chamber positioned opposite the air reed. In alternate embodiments, the invention encompasses a head-joint of a musical instrument, which head joint comprises a an acoustic space and a fluid space. The head joint of the invention may be used to replace or in place of the head joint or mouthpiece of common musical instruments of the woodwind family, e.g., the Western flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, nay, shakuhachi, or recorder.
US07678977B2
There is provided a repetition lever for a grand piano, which is excellent in shape retainability and dimensional stability and is light in weight and high in rigidity, thereby enabling required operations to be stably performed and improving the capability of repeated key striking. A repetition lever 4 for a grand piano, which performs the operation of pushing up a hammer 30 after the hammer has struck a string, is formed by a molded article of a thermoplastic resin containing long fibers for reinforcement, the molded article being molded by a long fiber process. The repetition lever 4 has reduced cross-sectional area portions 49, 50, and 54 for reducing weight thereof. The long fibers for reinforcement are carbon fibers, and the thermoplastic resin is an ABS resin.
US07678976B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH811261. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH811261, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH811261 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH811261.
US07678963B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5896414. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5896414. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5896414 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5896414 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07678961B2
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated 92M75. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety 92M75, to the plants of soybean 92M75 to plant parts of soybean variety 92M75 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety 92M75 with another soybean plant, using 92M75 as either the male or the female parent.
US07678952B2
A process to prepare a gasoline fuel by contacting a Fischer-Tropsch product with a catalyst system of an acidic matrix and a large pore molecular sieve wherein the Fischer-Tropsch product has a weight ratio of compounds having at least 60 or more carbon atoms and compounds having at least 30 carbon atoms in the Fischer-Tropsch product of at least 0.2 and wherein at least 30 wt % of compounds in the Fischer-Tropsch product have at least 30 carbon atoms.
US07678948B2
This application discloses provides a process for the introduction of nitro-group functionality into a compound which contains also a site of unsaturation and/or oxygen functionality by direct (one step) oxidation of an oxime functional group mediated by a molybdenum VI/VII peroxo complex, the process comprising: (a) providing a substrate of Formula I containing an oxime functional group; wherein R1 and R2 are selected independently from linear, branched or cyclic alkyl and linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl groups, optionally substituted, with the proviso that at least one of R1 or R2 contains a carbon/carbon double bond; and (b) contacting said substrate of Formula I with a molybdenum oxidation complex, thereby oxidizing said oxime functional group to a nitro functional group to yield the structure of Formula III. Where R1 and R2 are as defined above.
US07678946B2
Trisubstituted phenol compounds and methods of using the compounds, e.g., for anesthetizing a subject, are disclosed.
US07678941B2
The present invention provides polyoxyalkylene ammonium imide or methide salts and their use as antistatic agents. Another embodiment provides articles comprising these salts, and processes for making and using these salts.
US07678940B2
A process for producing a purified carboxylic acid having “n+1” carbon atoms comprises feeding a carboxylic acid stream containing a carboxylic acid having “n+1” carbon atoms, a hydrogen halide, a lower boiling point (bp) component, a higher bp component, and others to a first distillation column; separating a lower bp fraction containing part of the lower bp component and a higher bp fraction containing part of the higher bp component in the first column; withdrawing a side stream containing at least the carboxylic acid by side cut from the first column; feeding the side stream to a second distillation column; separating a lower bp fraction containing part of the lower bp component and a higher bp fraction containing part of the higher bp component in the second column; and withdrawing a side stream containing the carboxylic acid by side cut from the second column to recover a purified carboxylic acid; and the process further comprises feeding at least one first component (A) selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, corresponding to the carboxylic acid, having “n” carbon atom(s), and an ester of the alcohol with the carboxylic acid to the first column, and if necessary water. Such a process ensures reduction of the concentration of the hydrogen halide in the purified carboxylic acid.
US07678934B2
A transition metal compound represented by the following formula (2a):
US07678922B2
Provided herein are processes for the preparation of compounds useful for the treatment, prevention or management of diseases associated with a nonsense mutation. More specifically, provided herein are processes for the synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles. In particular, provided herein are processes useful for the preparation of 3-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid.
US07678912B2
A process for preparation of 1-isobutyl-1H-imidazo-[4,5-c]-quinoline-5-N-oxide, comprising oxidation of 1-isobutyl-1H-imidazoquinoline with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid.
US07678911B2
Disclosed are compounds of formula (I): wherein R3, R5, R7 and R8 are defined herein, which are useful as inhibitors SYK kinase and are thus useful for treating diseases resulting from inappropriate mast cell activation, which include allergic and inflammatory diseases. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and processes for preparing these compounds.
US07678909B1
Compounds are provided which may be used to inhibit DPP-IV comprising the formula: wherein the substituents are as described in the specification and claims.
US07678902B2
Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 11-(4-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-1-piperazinyl)-dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine. In the process, low-priced 2,2′-dithiosalicylic acid as starting material is subjected to bond formation reaction with 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene in a basic aqueous solution, a nitro group reduction reaction is conducted, cyclization and chlorination reactions are simultaneously carried out in the presence of a equivalent amount of halogenating agent, a reaction with piperazine is continuously conducted without separation, and a reaction with 2-haloethoxyethanol is conducted, thereby it is possible to economically producing Quetiapine, that is, 11-(4-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-1-piperazinyl)-dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine, in an environmentally friendly manner. Particularly, the process is advantageous in that economic efficiency is assured because of use of the low-priced starting material, use of an organic solvent is minimized because a reaction is conducted in an aqueous solution, and it is possible to achieve the environmentally friendly and economical process having high commercial usefulness because the number of reaction steps of the process is reduced and because generation of acidic waste is minimized.
US07678892B2
The invention provides novel dye-labeled ribonucleotide analogs and methods for synthesizing those analogs. The compounds of the invention are especially useful for DNA sequencing by the polymerase chain reaction.
US07678883B2
Peptide tags, referred to here as inclusion body tags, are disclosed useful for the generation of insoluble fusion peptides. The fusion peptides comprise at least one inclusion body tag operably linked to a peptide of interest. Expression of the fusion peptide in a host cell results in a product that is insoluble and contained within inclusion bodies in the cell and/or cell lysate. The inclusion bodies may then be purified and the protein of interest may be isolated after cleavage from the inclusion body tag.
US07678881B2
The present invention has an object to provide a transparent resin material having a low water absorption ratio without deteriorating various properties such as transparency which transparent resin has and also having a controllable refractive index. The present invention provides a transparent resin material containing a polymer capable of forming a formed product having transparency, wherein the transparent resin material comprises a fluorine atom-containing polymer and/or compound and contains 0.3 to 35% by weight of a fluorine atom in 100% by weight of the formed product.
US07678878B2
Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a polyester, which method comprises in a first step, reacting a dicarboxylic acid or a C1-C4 dicarboxylic diester with a diol at a suitable temperature and pressure to effect esterification or transesterification to prepare a precondensate and in a second step, reacting the precondensate to effect polycondensation at a suitable temperature and pressure to prepare a high molecular weight polyester, where a metal phosphonic acid complex compound of the formula is employed in the first step, in the second step or in both the first and second steps as a reaction catalyst.
US07678876B2
Hydroxy-aromatic compounds of formula (I) are provided: wherein at least one of the set consisting of R1, R3, and R5 is a group of formula (II); any remaining one or two of the set consisting of R1, R3, and R5 being H, OH, a C1-C12 alkyl group or an oligomeric or polymeric system; R2 and R4 are H, OH, a C1-C12 alkyl group or an oligomeric or polymeric system; wherein formula (II) is the following group: wherein EWG is an electron-withdrawing group.
US07678872B2
A water soluble polymer comprising a copolyhydroxyaminoether having side-chains of polyalkylene oxides, an aqueous solution of said polymer and process for preparing the copolyhydroxyaminoether.
US07678868B2
A catalyst composition for the polymerization of propylene comprising one or more Ziegler-Natta procatalyst compositions comprising one or more transition metal compounds and one or more esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acid internal electron donors; one or more aluminum containing cocatalysts; a selectivity control agent (SCA) comprising at least one silicon containing compound containing at least one C1-10 alkoxy group bonded to a silicon atom, and one or more activity limiting agent (ALA) compounds comprising one or more aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids; alkyl-, cycloalkyl- or alkyl(poly)(oxyalkyl)-(poly)ester derivatives thereof; or inertly substituted derivatives of the foregoing.
US07678864B2
A silylated polycarbonate comprises silylated carbonate units, where the silylated carbonate units can be derived from a silylated dihydroxy aromatic compound of the formula (1a): wherein Ga and Gb are each independently C1-12 alkyl, —OSi(C1-12 alkyl)3, C1-12 arylalkyl, or —OSi(C1-12 arylalkyl)3; Za and Zb are each independently a straight or branched C2-18 alkylene, a C8-18 arylalkylene, or a C8-18 alkylarylene, Xa is a direct bond, a heteroatom-containing group, or a C1-18 organic group, and r and s are each independently 1 or 2. A method of forming the silylated dihydroxy aromatic compound, and for forming the silylated polycarbonate, are disclosed. Also disclosed is a thermoplastic composition comprising the silylated polycarbonate, and an article comprising the thermoplastic composition.
US07678857B2
In order to increase the viscosity of semiconductive polymers in solution, they are mixed with non-semiconductive polymers.
US07678856B2
Topically-applied binder materials for imparting wet strength to soft, absorbent paper sheets, such as are useful as household paper towels and the like, include an azetidinium-reactive polymer, such as a carboxyl-functional polymer, an azetidinium-functional polymer and, optionally, a component useful for reducing sheet-to-sheet adhesion (blocking) in the product. These binder materials can be cured at ambient temperature over a period of days and do not impart objectionable odor to final product when wetted.
US07678844B2
Compositions, systems, and methods of printing an ink-jet image are provided. The composition can include a liquid vehicle including water, a liquid vehicle having from 5 wt % to 35 wt % of total organic solvent content; from 1 wt % to 6 wt % of acid-functionalized pigment solids; and from 0.001 wt % to 6 wt % of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, said styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from about 400 Mw to 15,000 Mw.
US07678841B2
A method of increasing the gas transmission rate of a packaging film comprises providing a packaging film that comprises at least about 0.001 weight % of fullerene material selected from spherical fullerenes, bowl-shaped fullerenes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanocones, and carbon nano-onions. The packaging film is exposed to an amount of radiation energy effective to increase the oxygen transmission rate of the packaging film by at least about 100 cc (STP)/m2. day (1 atm, 0% RH, 23° C.).
US07678839B2
Expanded beads including cell walls which define a plurality of cells and which comprise a base resin containing a polypropylene resin, each of the beads having a through hole extending therein from one end to the other end. The expanded beads have a maximum diameter D0 (mm), an average cell diameter LCV in a radial direction, an average cell diameter LCH in a circumferential direction and a maximum through hole diameter HD (mm) satisfying the following conditions: LCV/LCH is at least 1.05, HD/D0 is 0.08 to 0.4 and the ratio HD/LCV is 0.1 to 10, where D0, LCV and LCH are as defined in the specification. The expanded beads may give a foam molding by an in-mold molding method.
US07678831B2
Compounds of the formula (I): in which R, R1 and R2 are as defined in the description, the use thereof for the treatment of dyslipidaemia, atherosclerosis and diabetes, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and . processes for the preparation of these compounds. Compounds of formula (I) are activators of PPARα and PPARα isoforms.
US07678829B2
Compounds of the following formula are disclosed: Methods of preparing the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating patients by administration of the pharmaceutical compositions, are also disclosed.
US07678827B2
Solid or semi-solid intraocular implant compositions are disclosed. The compositions contain a lipophilic compound but lack a polymeric ingredient.
US07678826B2
Compounds of formula (I) in free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, m, n, w, X, and Y have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating conditions mediated by the CRTh2 receptor, especially inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases.
US07678822B2
Methods of inducing immune tolerance by administering an immunosuppressive agent and a compound represented by Formula (I) are disclosed: Additionally methods of suppressing an immune response by administering an immunosuppressive agent and a compound represented by Formula (I) are disclosed. Further disclosed are methods for treating autoimmune diseases by administering an immunosuppressive agent and a compound represented by Formula (I). The variables of Formula (I) are described herein.
US07678817B2
An enteric medicinal composition comprising a drug ingredient, pectin, alginic acid, or a derivative thereof, and water is provided that is easy to swallow.
US07678807B2
The invention concerns a compound of formula (I): Wherein A, l, m, n, R1 and R2 are as defined herein. The compounds of this invention are useful as medicaments, particularly, in the treatment of disorders improved by modulation of the histamine H3 receptor.
US07678801B2
Novel substituted 2,4,8-trisubstituted 8H-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one containing compounds and compositions, and their use use in therapy as CSBP/RK/p38 kinase inhibitors.
US07678800B2
The present invention relates to 2-(1H-indolylsulfanyl)-aryl amine derivatives of the general formula I as the free base or salts thereof and their use for the treatment of affective disorders, pain, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and stress urinary incontinence.
US07678790B2
Novel compounds of formula (I) to (VI), which more particularly include sulfonylurea derivatives, sulfonylthiourea derivatives, sulfonylguanidine derivatives, sulfonylcyanoguanidine derivatives, thioacylsulfonamide derivatives, and acylsulfonamide derivatives which are effective platelet ADP receptor inhibitors. These derivatives may be used in various pharmaceutical compositions, and are particularly effective for the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular diseases, particularly those diseases related to thrombosis. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or treating thrombosis in a mammal comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formulae (I)-(VI), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US07678789B2
The present invention relates to 5-imino-5H-[1,2,4]-dithiazol-3-yl-amine and [1,2,4]-dithiazolidine-3,5-diylidene-diamine derivatives as inducers of gluthathione-S-transferase (GST) and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase (NQO), to methods for the preparation of these compounds and to novel intermediates useful for the synthesis of said [1,2,4]-dithiazoli(di)ne derivatives. The invention also relates to the use of a compound disclosed herein for the treatment of adverse conditions associated with cytotoxicity in general and apoptosis in particular. The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I): wherein wherein the symbols have the meanings given in the specification.
US07678786B2
The invention is directed to compounds of Formula (I) useful as PPAR agonists. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating one or more conditions including, but not limited to, diabetes, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypertension, ischemia, stroke, irritable bowel disorder, inflammation, cataract, cardiovascular diseases, Metabolic X Syndrome, hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia, dyslipidemia (including hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, and hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia), atherosclerosis, obesity, and other disorders related to lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis complications thereof, using compounds of the invention are also described.
US07678783B2
The present invention is directed to macrocyclic tertiary amine compounds represented by general formula (I) which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved.
US07678775B2
The invention relates to the treatment of renal diseases using modulators of integrin linked kinase. Methods of treatment as well as therapeutic agents including antisense, small molecules, catalytic peptides and antibodies are disclosed. The agents of the invention may also be used in combination with traditional therapies for renal disease including ACE inhibitors. An advantage of the invention is that it treats one of the causes of renal disease, rather than just ameliorating symptoms, and can help prevent the progression of renal disease to the point of acute renal failure.
US07678772B2
The present invention describes the identification and purification of 7-hydroxychromes that exhibit potent antioxidant activity. In one embodiment the present invention includes a method for providing an antioxidant to a host in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a 7-hydroxychrome or a mixture of 7-hydroxychromones. The present invention includes methods that are effective in inhibiting free radical and oxidation caused damage through the simultaneous suppression of free radical generation and the suppression of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present invention also includes methods for preventing and treating ROS mediated diseases and conditions and diseases and conditions associated with other oxidative processes. The method for preventing and treating ROS mediated diseases and conditions and diseases and conditions associated with other oxidative processes is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprised of a 7-hydroxychrome or a mixture of 7-hydroxychromones and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Included in this invention is an improved method to isolate and purify 7-hydroxychromones from plant sources.
US07678765B2
The invention relates to aplidine derivatives of the general formula: which are useful for the treatment of tumors.
US07678752B2
Systems, compositions and methods for fabric laundering comprising selected organosilicones which are formulated into microemulsions for improved deposition onto fabrics to provide fabric care benefits.
US07678751B2
Disclosed are a composition for removing photoresist, a method of removing photoresist and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a composition. The composition may include a ketone compound and a first polar aprotic solvent. The composition may also include the ketone compound and a second polar aprotic solvent. Moreover, the composition may include the first polar aprotic solvent and a second polar aprotic solvent with or without the ketone compound. The first polar aprotic solvent has at least one of an ether compound and an ester compound, and the second polar aprotic solvent has at least one of a sulfur-containing compound and a nitrogen-containing compound.
US07678750B2
The present invention is related to an aqueous cleansing composition especially for keratin fibers such as human hair with shine enhancing effect. More specifically subject matter of the present invention is an aqueous cleansing composition especially for keratin fibers such as human hair comprising one or more surfactant selected from anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric ones at a concentration of 5 to 50% by weight calculated to total composition, wherein the composition does not comprise any monoethanolamide surfactant, and at least one color effect pigment consisting of synthetic mica coated with metal oxide or oxides and having a volume particle size distribution in the range of 1 to 750 μm at a concentration of 0.01 to 10% by weight, calculated to total composition.
US07678738B2
A method for treating saturated activated coke comprises the following steps: A) The saturated activated coke is subjected to a dehydration treatment so that the water content in the activated coke is ≦25%; B) The product obtained from step A is dried at a starting temperature of 120° C.-150° C.; C) The product obtained from step B is subjected to dry distillation and the condition of the dry distillation is that: by heating to a final temperature for the drying of 500° C.-600° C. at a speed of 4° C.-10° C./min and maintaining for 10-60 minutes, the organics adsorbed on the surface and in the pores of the activated coke is cracked, volatilized and carbonized; D) The product obtained from step C is activated and the activation condition is that: after heating to 800° C.-950° C. at 2° C.-8° C./min, a stream is supplied, wherein the weight ratio of the activated coke to the stream is 1:0.5-5 and the activation time is 0.5-2 h. The activated coke after several times of treatment can be used as the fuel.
US07678714B2
The present invention has an object to provide a method for manufacturing a dynamic random access memory capable of reducing a defect rate even if the memory has a large packing density. The method of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a dynamic random access memory having memory array areas and a peripheral circuit area arranged in a semiconductor substrate and a silicon nitride film provided over the memory array areas and the peripheral circuit area, the method having at least a step (1) of eliminating the silicon nitride film provided in the peripheral circuit area; and a step (2) of processing in an atmosphere of a hydrogen gas a substrate-to-be-processed obtained by the step (1).
US07678713B2
The present invention provides a process for improving the hardness and/or modulus of elasticity of a dielectric layer and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The process for improving the hardness and/or modulus of elasticity of a dielectric layer, among other steps, includes providing a dielectric layer having a hardness and a modulus of elasticity, and subjecting the dielectric layer to an energy beam, thereby causing the hardness or modulus of elasticity to increase in value.
US07678710B2
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatuses that are adapted to form a high quality dielectric gate layer on a substrate. Embodiments contemplate a method wherein a metal plasma treatment process is used in lieu of a standard nitridization process to form a high dielectric constant layer on a substrate. Embodiments further contemplate an apparatus adapted to “implant” metal ions of relatively low energy in order to reduce ion bombardment damage to the gate dielectric layer, such as a silicon dioxide layer and to avoid incorporation of the metal atoms into the underlying silicon. In general, the process includes the steps of forming a high-k dielectric and then terminating the surface of the deposited high-k material to form a good interface between the gate electrode and the high-k dielectric material. Embodiments of the invention also provide a cluster tool that is adapted to form a high-k dielectric material, terminate the surface of the high-k dielectric material, perform any desirable post treatment steps, and form the polysilicon and/or metal gate layers.
US07678696B2
A method of making a through wafer via. The method includes: forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench; oxidizing the polysilicon layer to convert the polysilicon layer to a silicon oxide layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the trench, the silicon oxide layer not filling the trench; filling remaining space in the trench with an electrical conductor; and thinning the substrate from a bottom surface of the substrate and removing the silicon oxide layer from the bottom of the trench. The method may further include forming a metal layer on the silicon oxide layer before filling the trench.
US07678691B2
A semiconductor device and fabrication process wherein the device includes a conductive layer with a localized thick region positioned below the contact hole. In one embodiment of the invention, the thick region to which contact is made is formed by means of an opening in an underlayer of material. This embodiment of the device includes an underlayer of material having an opening therein; a layer of thin conductive material formed on the underlayer and in the opening; and overlayer of material having a contact hole therethrough formed on the layer of thin conductive material; a conductor contacting the layer of thin conductive material through the contact hole; and wherein the opening in the underlayer is positioned below the contact hole and sized and shaped to form a localized thick region in the layer of thin conductive material within the opening.
US07678690B2
By providing additional etch stop layers and/or etch protection layers, a corresponding etch process for forming contact openings for directly connecting polysilicon lines and active areas may be controlled in a highly reliable manner. Consequently, conductive line erosion and/or penetration into extension regions may be significantly reduced, thereby improving the reliability and performance of corresponding semiconductor devices.
US07678688B2
A method for forming a metal interconnection in an image sensor includes forming a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer having a contact plug over a substrate, forming a diffusion barrier layer over the first ILD layer, performing a forming gas annealing, forming a second ILD layer over the diffusion barrier layer, etching the second ILD layer and the diffusion barrier layer to form a trench, forming a conductive layer to fill the trench, and planarizing the conductive layer to form a metal interconnection electrically connected to the contact plug.
US07678687B2
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, insulation resistance of the porous film is stabilized, and leakage current between adjacent interconnects provides an improved reliability in signal propagation therethrough. The method includes: sequentially forming over a semiconductor substrate a porous film and a patterned resist film; forming a concave exposed surface of the substrate; forming a non-porous film covering the interior wall of the concave portion and the porous film; selectively removing the non-porous film from the bottom of the concave portion and the non-porous film by anisotropic etch; forming a barrier metal film covering the porous film and the interior wall; and forming a metallic film on the barrier metal film to fill the concave portion. The anisotropic etch process uses an etching gas with mixing ratio MR, 45≦MR≦100, where MR=((gaseous “nitrogen” containing compound)+(inert gas))/(gaseous “fluorine” containing compound).
US07678686B2
A method of forming a copper metal line in a semiconductor device includes depositing an interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate having a lower metal line, forming a via contact hole and a metal line pattern in the semiconductor substrate, sequentially depositing a barrier metal film and a copper seed layer, forming a copper film on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, removing the copper film and the barrier metal film, other than the portion of a copper metal line to be formed, removing a native oxide film existing on a surface of the copper metal line of the semiconductor substrate, depositing a silicon layer on the semiconductor substrate, making the deposited silicon layer and copper metal react to each other to form a copper silicide layer, removing a remaining silicon layer without being reacted, and depositing an insulating anti-diffusion film over the semiconductor substrate.
US07678685B2
An interposer includes a substrate made of an inorganic material; a through wiring including conductors embedded in through holes; and an upper wiring and (or) a lower wiring. The through wiring, the upper wiring and the lower wiring are respectively formed on preliminary wiring patterns that are additionally simultaneously or sequentially formed on layers made of an insulating material applied to at least wiring forming parts of the substrate, and are formed with a metal mold itself used for forming the preliminary wiring patterns or layers made of a wiring material applied by a printing operation, a plating operation or a deposition on the preliminary wiring patterns formed on the layers of the insulating material by transferring a fine structure pattern of the metal mold.
US07678682B2
Processes for sealing porous low k dielectric film generally comprises exposing the porous surface of the porous low k dielectric film to ultraviolet (UV) radiation at intensities, times, wavelengths and in an atmosphere effective to seal the porous dielectric surface by means of carbonization, oxidation, and/or film densification. The surface of the surface of the porous low k material is sealed to a depth less than or equal to about 20 nanometers, wherein the surface is substantially free of pores after the UV exposure.
US07678672B2
A device and method associated with carbon nanowires, such as single walled carbon nanowires having a high degree of alignment are set forth herein. A catalyst layer is deposited having a predetermined crystallographic configuration so as to control a growth parameter, such as an alignment direction, a diameter, a crystallinity and the like of the carbon nanowire. The catalyst layer is etched to expose a sidewall portion. The carbon nanowire is nucleated from the exposed sidewall portion. An electrical circuit device can include a single crystal substrate, such as Silicon, and a crystallographically oriented catalyst layer on the substrate having an exposed sidewall portion. In the device, carbon nanowires are disposed on the single crystal substrate aligned in a direction associated with the crystallographic properties of the catalyst layer.
US07678669B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate in which a semiconductor wafer, formed of a material less likely to increase the hole diameter, is processed to a semiconductor substrate actually applicable to an existing manufacture line. An SiC wafer 12 is temporarily fixed to a Si wafer 18 through a wax 20. The SiC wafer 12 temporarily fixed to the Si wafer 18 is overlapped with a Si wafer 14 having the same hole diameter as the Si wafer 18 through an SOG film 16P. Orientation flats 14A and 18A are aligned, and while the Si wafers 14 and 18 are overlapped with each other, heating is performed under pressure to solidify the SOG film 16P, whereby an SOG solidified film 16S is formed. With the aid of the SOG solidified film 16S, the SiC wafer 12 is adhered to the Si wafer 14. The SiC wafer 12 is adhered at a predetermined position of the Si wafer 14 facing the SiC wafer 12 so as to be transferred from the Si wafer 18 to the Si wafer 14. The unneeded Si wafer 18 is detached, and the wax 20 is then removed.
US07678668B2
It is object to provide a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate provided with a single-crystal semiconductor layer, even in the case where a substrate having a low allowable temperature limit, such as a glass substrate, is used and to manufacture a high-performance semiconductor device using such an SOI substrate. Light irradiation is performed on a semiconductor layer which is separated from a semiconductor substrate and bonded to a support substrate having an insulating surface, using light having a wavelength of 365 nm or more and 700 nm or less, and a film thickness d (nm) of the semiconductor layer which is irradiated with the light is made to satisfy d=λ/2n×m±α (nm), when a light wavelength is λ (nm), a refractive index of the semiconductor layer is n, m is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 (m=1, 2, 3, 4, . . . ), and 0≦α≦10 is satisfied.
US07678654B2
A memory cell array includes a number of memory cells, each of the memory cells including a source and a drain region defined by corresponding bitlines within a semiconductor substrate. Each of the bitlines has a doped semiconductor region as well as a conductive region in direct electrical contact with the doped semiconductor region.
US07678651B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate structure in which a plurality of gate lines are already formed; forming a capping layer over the substrate structure; oxidizing the capping layer; and forming an insulation layer over the oxidized capping layer. The capping layer may include a nitride-based material. The insulation layer may include substantially the same material as the capping layer. The oxidizing of the capping layer may comprise performing a radical oxidation process.
US07678637B2
Ultra high temperature (UHT) anneals above 1200 C for less than 100 milliseconds for PMOS transistors reduce end of range dislocations, but are incompatible with stress memorization technique (SMT) layers used to enhance NMOS on-state current. This invention reverses the conventional order of forming the NMOS first by forming PSD using carbon co-implants and UHT annealing them before implanting the NSD and depositing the SMT layer. End of range dislocation densities in the PSD space charge region below 100 cm−2 are achieved. Tensile stress in the PMOS from the SMT layer is significantly reduced. The PLDD may also be UHT annealed to reduce end of range dislocations close to the PMOS channel.
US07678629B1
According to an exemplary embodiment, a PHEMT (pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor) structure includes a conductive channel layer. The PHEMT structure further includes at least one doped layer situated over the conductive channel layer. The at least one doped layer can include a heavily doped layer situated over a lightly doped layer. The PHEMT structure further includes a recessed ohmic contact situated on the conductive channel layer, where the recessed ohmic contact is situated in a source/drain region of the PHEMT structure, and where the recessed ohmic contact extends below the at least one doped layer. According to this exemplary embodiment, the recessed ohmic contact is bonded to the conductive channel layer. The recessed ohmic contact is situated adjacent to the at least one doped layer. The PHEMT structure further includes a spacer layer situated between the at least one doped layer and the conductive channel layer.
US07678628B2
An anneal of a gate recess prior to formation of a gate contact, such as a Schottky contact, may reduce gate leakage and/or provide a high quality gate contact in a semiconductor device, such as a transistor. The use of an encapsulation layer during the anneal may further reduce damage to the semiconductor in the gate recess of the transistor. The anneal may be provided, for example, by an anneal of ohmic contacts of the device. Thus, high quality gate and ohmic contacts may be provided with reduced degradation of the gate region that may result from providing a recessed gate structure as a result of etch damage in forming the recess.
US07678626B2
A method of forming a thin film device on a flexible substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing an imprintable material over the flexible substrate. The imprintable are stamped material forming a three-dimensional pattern in the imprintable material. A sacrificial layer is formed over the three-dimensional pattern. A conductive layer is deposited over the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed, leaving portions of the conductive layer as defined by the three-dimensional pattern.
US07678625B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including a channel layer includes forming a single crystalline semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate. The single crystalline semiconductor layer includes a protrusion extending from a surface thereof. A first polishing process is performed on the single crystalline semiconductor layer to remove a portion of the protrusion such that the single crystalline semiconductor layer includes a remaining portion of the protrusion. A second polishing process different from the first polishing process is performed to remove the remaining portion of the protrusion and define a substantially planar single crystalline semiconductor layer having a substantially uniform thickness. A sacrificial layer may be formed on the single crystalline semiconductor layer and used as a polish stop for the first polishing process to define a sacrificial layer pattern, which may be removed prior to the second polishing process. Related methods of fabricating stacked semiconductor memory devices are also discussed.
US07678615B2
Various methods and apparatus for establishing a thermal pathway for a semiconductor device are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a metal layer on a semiconductor chip and forming a gel-type thermal interface material layer on the metal layer. A solvent and a catalyst material are applied to the metal layer prior to forming the gel-type thermal interface material layer to facilitate bonding between the gel-type thermal interface material layer and the metal layer.
US07678611B2
A semiconductor spacer structure comprises in order a backgrinding tape layer, a spacer adhesive layer, a semiconductor spacer layer, an optional second spacer adhesive layer, a dicing tape layer. In a first method a spacer wafer having first and second sides, a backgrinding tape layer and a spacer adhesive layer between the first side and the backgrinding tape layer, is obtained. The second side is background and secured to a dicing tape. The backgrinding tape is removed and the resulting structure is diced to create spacer/adhesive die structures. A second method backgrinds the second side with the backgrinding tape layer at the first side. A protective cover layer is secured to the second side with a spacer adhesive layer therebetween. The backgrinding tape layer is removed and the remaining structure is secured to a dicing tape with the protective cover layer exposed. The protective cover layer is removed and the resulting structure is diced thereby creating spacer/adhesive die structures. The thickness of the second spacer adhesive layer may be selected to accommodate an uneven support surface.
US07678609B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor package which includes coupling an electrode of a semiconductor device to a portion of a lead frame, overmolding at least a portion of the die, and then removing a portion of the die to obtain a desired thickness.
US07678599B2
A process for the fabrication of an inertial sensor with failure threshold includes the step of forming, on top of a substrate of a semiconductor wafer, a sample element embedded in a sacrificial region, the sample element configured to break under a preselected strain. The process further includes forming, on top of the sacrificial region, a body connected to the sample element and etching the sacrificial region so as to free the body and the sample element. The process may also include forming, on the substrate, additional sample elements connected to the body.
US07678585B2
A composite arrangement has a substrate material with a main surface, a metal-insulator arrangement including a metal sheet with an insulation area on the main surface, and a magnetoresistive structure on the metal-insulator arrangement. Thereupon, a cover layer arrangement is heated, so that the same at least partially covers the magnetoresistive structure with a target thickness D, and finally the magnetoresistive structure is heated by light radiation with given wavelength λ. The absorbed portion of the emitted radiation depends on the actual thickness D′ of the cover layer arrangement and the wavelength λ, wherein the target thickness D of the cover layer arrangement is adjusted so that, if the cover layer deviates from the target thickness D in a range of ±20% with reference to the target thickness D, a change of the absorbed portion of the emitted radiation in the magnetoresistive structure of less than ±40% is caused.
US07678580B2
A test strip for use of the determination of an analyte in a fluid sample according to one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The test strip comprises a base having a top and a bottom, a collection chamber that extends between the top and the bottom of the base, a containing ring that is disposed on the bottom of the base and surrounds the collection chamber, and a capillary channel formed in top of the base that has an inlet fluidly coupled to the collection chamber, a test element disposed within the capillary channel. A lid is attached to the top of the base and covers the collection chamber, the test membrane, and at least a portion of the capillary channel.
US07678576B2
The invention provides a chemical analysis apparatus which easily agitates and warms up. A chemical analysis apparatus has a motor, a retaining disc which can be rotated by the motor, a plurality of inspection cartridges which are arranged on the retaining disc, a punching machine for punching the inspection cartridges, a warming apparatus and a detection apparatus. The inspection cartridge includes a container formed by a concave portion and a base plate having a flow path. A cover covering the container and the flow path is installed to the base plate. A liquid solution is moved to the container in an outer peripheral side with respect to a rotation axis from the container in an inner peripheral side with respect to the rotation axis via the flow path, by utilizing a centrifugal force generated on the basis of the rotation of the retaining disc. The inspection cartridge is provided with an agitating means for agitating the liquid solution within the container and a warming means for warming up the liquid solution within the container.
US07678574B2
The invention provides for a process for preparing a sensitivity control for blood group determination including dissolving an amount of an antigen in water to give an antigen solution of known concentration, contacting the antigen solution with cells to allow insertion of antigen molecules into the cell membranes of the cells to give transformed cells or contacting the antigen solution with cells that have been modified by the insertion of a linker molecule into the membranes of the cells to allow attachment of antigen molecules to the linker molecules to give transformed cells, washing the transformed cells to give a transformed cell solution, and determining the concentration of the transformed cell solution to enable the solution to be used as a sensitivity control for blood group determination.
US07678572B2
T-cells are generated with enhanced immunostimulatory capabilities for use in self therapy treatment protocols, by utilizing a biodegradable device with a biodegradable support that has one or more agents that are reactive to T-cell surface moieties. The biodegradable devices are mixed with the T-cells sufficiently so that the one or more agents cross-link with the T-cells' surface moieties and deliver a signal to the T-cells to enhance immunostimulatory capabilities.
US07678570B2
A novel human cell strain enabling the continuous production of a desired protein with high efficiency, comprising a novel human cell strain established by transforming a human cell strain whose total intracellular protein weight is 0.1 to 1 mg per 1,000,000 cells; with the novel human cell strain being further characterized in that after a gene encoding a desired protein is transfected into it, the transfected cell is subsequently cultured.
US07678568B2
The invention provides an incubator 1 wherein stackers 3 having a plurality of microplate accommodating portions are arranged in a chamber 11, and a microplate transport device 5 is arranged for transporting a microplate 31 within the chamber 11 and moving the microplate 31 into or out of a desired microplate accommodating portion. A camera 7 is provided on a position opposed to a microplate accommodating portion of an uppermost stage in the stacker 3. The camera 7 faces said microplate accommodating portion, whereby a sample on the microplate 31 can be photographed.
US07678563B2
An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The apparatus and methods include the organ cassette with one or more openings configured to allow tubing to pass through the openings and be connected to the organ or tissue within the cassette, and including a pressure control device to allow pressure inside the portable housing to be varied.
US07678562B2
Featured are devices and systems embodying one or more electrically-addressable-solid-state nanopores useful for sensing and/or characterizing single macromolecules as well as sequencing DNA or RNA. In one aspect of the present invention, there is featured a linear or 2-D electrically-addressable array of nanopores, where the nanopores are located at points of intersections between V-shaped grooves formed in an upper surface of the insulating member and a V-shaped groove formed in a lower surface of the insulating member. In another aspect of the present invention the solid-state nanopore of the present invention the width and/or length of the nanopore is defined or established by sharp edges of cleaved crystals that are maintained in fixed relation during the formation of the insulating member including the nanopore.
US07678559B2
The invention relates to a microbial composition for the neutralization of alkaline waste waters by biological means and a method of neutralization of alkaline waste waters using a synergistic mixture of the bacterial strains of Bacillus alkalophilus and Bacillus sp.
US07678558B2
The present invention is directed to methods for producing and selecting novel mutant strains of B. fragilis that constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; compositions directed to the novel mutant strains of B. fragilis that constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; improved methods for purification of individual capsular polysaccharides; and compositions directed to novel res02 and inv19 genes and their gene products. Significantly, the present invention provides methods and compositions for overexpressing and purifying immunomodulatory capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) in high yield.
US07678549B2
Aggressive human tumor cells from disparate tissues were found to secrete nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B (NDPK-B) as a phosphoprotein into the extracellular environment. The secreted enzyme was capable of trasphosphorylation activity in the absence of a phosphoryl donor, thereby producing elevated level of extracellular ATP that plays a significant role in angiogenesis required for the growth of cancer cells and cancer metastasis. A series of structurally related non-nucleotide anticancer compounds such as ellagic acid (EA), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG) were found to inhibit the activity of secreted nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B as well as angiogenesis. The nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B inhibition data disclosed herein can be used in predicative models to design novel inhibitors of nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B activity.
US07678546B1
Disclosed is a method for detection of ligand-cell membrane protein binding by solid state NMR spectroscopy. The method starts by forming a lipid bilayer inside nanopores of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrate, the lipid bilayer containing a membrane protein sample. The AAO substrate is treated with multiple candidate ligands having potential binding affinity for the membrane protein. Solid-state NMR analysis is performed on the treated AAO/lipid preparation so as to generate an NMR spectrum for the treated membrane protein. The solid-state NMR spectrum of the treated membrane protein is compared with the spectrum of the same preparation of membrane protein in the absence of the ligands. It is then determined whether the solid-state NMR spectrum of the treated membrane protein has shifted from the NMR spectrum of the untreated membrane protein, a shift being indicative of protein binding by the candidate ligand.
US07678539B2
The present invention overcomes the problems and disadvantages associated with prior art arrays by providing an array comprising a plurality of biological membrane microspots associated with a surface of a substrate that can be produced, used and stored, not in an aqueous environment, but in an environment exposed to air under ambient or controlled humidities. Preferably, the biological membrane microspots comprise a membrane bound protein. Most preferably, the membrane bound protein is a G-protein coupled receptor, an ion channel, a receptor serine/threonine kinase or a receptor tyrosine kinase.
US07678533B2
A heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface and a coating which does not dissolve in an aqueous alkaline developer in the unexposed areas and which becomes soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer in the exposed areas, and an intermediate layer between said hydrophilic surface or said hydrophilic layer and said coating, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a first polymer having a first monomeric unit of formula I wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, R4 and R5 are independently an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl group. The precursor exhibits an excellent differentiation in dissolution kinetics between the exposed and non-exposed areas of the coating and a high chemical resistance against printing liquids and press chemicals.
US07678531B2
Positive-working imageable elements have a substrate and an imageable layer that can be used to prepare lithographic printing plates. The imageable elements also include a radiation absorbing compound, and a mixture of first and second polymers in the same imageable layer. The first polymer has two or more centered H-bonds (hydrogen bonds) within a non-covalently bonded unit, and the second polymer is a polyvinyl acetal. This mixture of polymers in the same imageable layer provides improved solvent resistance and processing latitude without a loss in imaging speed.
US07678530B2
Lactone-containing compounds having formula (1) are novel wherein A1 is a polymerizable functional group having a double bond, R1 is a monovalent C1-C10 hydrocarbon group in which some or all hydrogen atoms are substituted by fluorine atoms, and W is CH2, O or S. They are useful as monomers to produce polymers for the formulation of radiation-sensitive resist compositions which have high transparency to radiation of up to 500 nm and exhibit good development properties. Radiation-sensitive resist compositions comprising the polymers as base resin exhibit high resolution and prevent dissolution in water and penetration of water when processed by immersion lithography.
US07678525B2
The invention relates to a liquid toner and imaging apparatus provided with an imaging surface having a liquid toner image formed thereon on fibrous toner particles and carrier liquid. The fibrous toner particles can be composed of a polymer portion and pigment dispersed therein, where the polymer portion comprises a surface of the fibrous toner particles and is insoluble in the carrier liquid at temperatures below 40° C., so that the polymer portion will not dissolve or solvate in storage. The polymer portion also is solvatable by the carrier liquid only at temperatures above 50° C. The carrier liquid has, as a major component, first liquid hydrocarbon having a first rate of evaporation, and, as a minor component, second liquid hydrocarbon having a second rate of evaporation which, at room temperature, is at least an order of magnitude less than the first rate of evaporation.
