US07690045B2
An access control system applies contents-based policies to data that is being transferred. This transfer can be between different computers, different operating systems on a single computer, different applications within on the same operating system, or different parts of the same operating system, for example. Data is scanned at a scan engine associated with a security reference monitor (SRM) as the data is being transmitted, on-the-fly. The data is forwarded directly to the recipient, so the data is not stored at the SRM. The data is encrypted at the SRM as it comes by, and the key is revealed to the recipient if it is subsequently determined that the transfer is allowed.
US07690043B2
A system and method for connecting remote player devices to regulated host gaming devices in a network to provide remote game play. A host gaming device is configured to provide game information to a plurality of remote player devices to allow remote play of the host game device. Whether each remote player device is permitted to receive gaming data is based upon, at least in part, the geographic location of the remote player device.
US07690040B2
Systems and methods are provided for preserving the privacy of data contained in mirrored network traffic. The mirrored network traffic may comprise data that may be considered confidential, privileged, private, or otherwise sensitive data. For example, the data payload of a frame of mirrored network traffic may include private Voice over IP (VoIP) communications between users on one or more networks. The present invention provides various techniques for securing the privacy of data contained in the mirrored network traffic. Using the techniques of the present invention, network traffic comprising confidential, privileged, private, or otherwise sensitive data may be mirrored in such a manner as to provide for the privacy of such data over at least a portion if not all of the mirrored communications between the mirror source point and the mirror destination point.
US07690039B2
A system for secure delivery of on-demand content over broadband access networks utilizes a pair of servers and security mechanisms to prevent client processes from accessing and executing content without authorization. A plurality of encrypted titles are stored on a content server coupled to the network. An access server also coupled to the network contains the network addresses of the titles and various keying and authorization data necessary to decrypt and execute a title. A client application executing on a user's local computer system is required to retrieve the address, keying and authorization data from the access server before retrieving a title from the content server and enabling execution of the title on a user's local computer system.
US07690037B1
Data center activity traces form a corpus used for machine learning. The data in the corpus are putatively normal but may be tainted with latent anomalies. There is a statistical likelihood that the corpus represents predominately legitimate activity, and this likelihood is exploited to allow for a targeted examination of only the data representing possible anomalous activity. The corpus is separated into clusters having members with like features. The clusters having the fewest members are identified, as these clusters represent potential anomalous activities. These clusters are evaluated to determine whether they represent actual anomalous activities. The data from the clusters representing actual anomalous activities are excluded from the corpus. As a result, the machine learning is more effective and the trained system provides better performance, since latent anomalies are not mistaken for normal activity.
US07690035B2
A system for preventing fraud of certification information performs a processing step of processing web page data, a first comparing step of comparing the web page data processed in the processing step with web page data stored in a web page storage unit in association with URL of the data, a second comparing step of comparing URLs of the web page data similar to each other when the first comparing step determines that the web page data are similar to each other, and an address attention message adding step of adding an address attention message to the web page data processed in the processing step when the second comparing step determines that the URLs differ. Therefore, a user who is to access a web site can determine whether or not this web site is authentic, and certification information fraud can be prevented beforehand.
US07690034B1
Behavior blocking mobility token managers track movement of suspicious files within a network. A behavior blocking mobility token manager on a source computer detects an attempt by a process on the source computer to write a file to a target computer. The behavior blocking mobility token manager determines a suspicion level associated with the process, and writes a behavior blocking mobility token containing at least the suspicion level associated with the process to the target computer. A behavior blocking mobility token manager on the target computer detects that a behavior blocking mobility token is being written to the target computer. The behavior blocking mobility token manager reads the behavior blocking mobility token, and determines a suspicion level of the file associated with the behavior blocking mobility token, responsive to contents of the behavior blocking mobility token.
US07690033B2
In general, the invention relates to a method for securing a computer system. The method includes monitoring an operating system in the computer system and trapping, in response to the monitoring, a process system call where the process system call originated in a host executing in the computer system. Responsive to the trapping, an isolated user environment (IUE) is created in the computer system. Creating the IUE includes allocating memory and persistent storage for the IUE. In addition, the IUE includes a file system filter driver (FSFD) configured to redirect Input/Output (I/O) calls originating from the IUE to the persistent storage, and a network interface/NDIS hook component configured to control network traffic originating from the IUE and destined for the IUE. The method further includes, after creating the IUE, loading the process system call into the IUE and executing the process system call in the IUE.
US07690032B1
A method of confirming the identity of a user includes processing biometric credentials, generating a user configurable policy including identities of a plurality of authenticating entities, storing the user configurable policy in a device, presenting the device to an authenticating entity at an authentication station, and requesting biometric and personal data of the user from the device data. The biometric data corresponds to at least one biometric feature desired for authenticating the user and the requesting operation is performed by a workstation of the authenticating entity. Moreover, the method includes consulting the user configurable policy in response to the requesting operation to determine whether the requested biometric data is permitted to be released from the device data, and releasing the requested biometric and personal data from the device data to the authenticating entity when the default rule associated with the one authenticating entity permits releasing the requested biometric and personal data.
US07690024B2
It is made possible to prevent “spoofing” and incur no additional management cost as effectively as possible. An authenticated device includes: at least one authenticated element that generates an output signal with characteristics spontaneously varying, at the time of manufacturing, with respect to a continuous input signal. The characteristics of the authenticated element are used as information unique to an individual.
US07690020B2
The present invention provides a hybrid central/distributed and tiered video on demand (VOD) service network with tiered content structure. In particular, the present invention uses media servers located in both the headend station and the hub stations. Set-top boxes generally would be supplied VOD services from the high-demand content media servers located in the hub station nearest to the user. The central media server located in the headend would be used as an installed backup to the hub media servers; as the primary source for lower demand VOD services and as the source of the real time, centrally encoded programs with PVR (personal video recorder) capabilities.By distributing the servers to the hub stations, the size of the fiber transport network associated with delivering VOD services from the central headend media server is reduced. The invention provides that each user has access to several server ports located on at least two servers. Multiple paths and channels are available for content distribution to each user, assuring high system reliability and enhanced asset availability. Substantial cost benefits are derived from the reduced need for a large content distribution network and the reduced storage capacity requirements for hub servers.
US07690014B2
An information processing apparatus with improved operatability in which the user is capable of watching a television program and connecting to the Internet. An index panel shows channel buttons operated to select a desired program, a first site button provides access to site A available on the Internet and a second site button provides access to site B on the Internet. The user is able to watch a television program and can have access to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, which can be connected to the Internet.
US07690010B2
A cartridge 2 receiving a photosensitive recording disc 4 therein including: a cartridge body 11 having inner openings 18 and 19 exposing part of the recording disc 4 to the outside; a light-shield plate 12 attached to the outside of the cartridge body 11 and having outer openings 14 and 15 which face the inner openings 18 and 19; and a shutter 13 opening/closing the inner openings 18 and 19 and the outer openings 14 and 15 between the cartridge body 11 and the light-shield plate 12; wherein recesses 25e and 26e for inserting end edges 12d of the outer circumference of the light-shield plate 12 are provided in light-shield plate attachment surfaces 25a and 26a of the cartridge body 11 so that when the end edges 12d are inserted into the recesses 25e and 26e and attached to the cartridge body 11, a labyrinth-shaped light-shielding structure is formed.
US07690009B2
An electromagnetic field generating element restrains magnetic field attenuation or magnetic field delay in a high frequency recording/reproducing head for thermally assisted magnetic field recording/reproduction using a near field. An information recording/reproducing head and an information recording/reproducing apparatus carry out high frequency magnetic recording/reproduction. The electromagnetic field generating element includes: (i) a substrate, (ii) conductors each provided on the substrate and each serving as a supporting section, (iii) a plate-like-shaped conductor provided on the conductors and (iv) a semiconductor laser element provided on the substrate. The semiconductor laser element irradiates laser light to the plate-like-shaped conductor substantially parallel to an extending flat surface of the plate-like-shaped conductor. This causes generation of a near field in the plate-like-shaped conductor. In addition, a magnetic field is generated by supplying a current to the plate-like-shaped conductor.
US07690008B2
An optical disc drive may include a tray movable for the sake of mounting and dismounting a disc, a disc rotation mechanism arranged at the center to rotate the disc, and a pickup arranged on a backside of the center to write and read the disc within a housing. The optical disc drive may be arranged with a first opening for inhaling outside air in a height range between the bottom surface of the tray and the proximity to the bottom end of the pickup on a back surface or a side surface around a corner on a right side viewed from the backside of the housing, and a second opening for exhausting internal air, arranged higher than a top surface of the tray on the back surface or a side surface around a corner on a left side viewed from the backside.
US07690005B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product provide applications and application developers with generic access from user mode to the L2CAP layer of Bluetooth by exposing the L2CAP layer to user mode via a socket interface. In particular, a kernel mode primary component and user mode helper component cooperate to expose a Winsock interface to user mode components, and to manage various Bluetooth-specific functions and operations, allowing a user mode user application to access Bluetooth functionality without providing Bluetooth-specific commands or actions, and without being required to use RFCOMM.
US07689995B1
Techniques for resolving scheduling conflicts for recording events are described. A user selects events that the user wishes to record. A PVR determines the times and sources at which each of recording can occur. The PVR determines a schedule for recording all of the user's requested events or as many events that can be recorded according to the resources available to the PVR. The PVR can be triggered to determine the schedule each time a new recording event is either added to deleted. The PVR can also determine the schedule each time the PVR receives updated or new scheduling information. If more than one schedule is determined, the PVR can present the schedules to the user for selection. The user's selection can be subsequently used to inform the PVR of the user's preferences the next time schedules are determined.
US07689994B2
The system and method of the present invention relates to the determining the specific ordering and execution of events from temporal constraints, filtering functions, and execution heuristics. To facilitate specification of event order objects be can associated with events in an object authoring system which provides for interaction, conditional behavior, and fuzzy relationships by dividing all time into past, present, and future. A user or developer can then perform all their work in the editable area marked “now.” Items that may have happened prior to the current work show up in the “past” area and items which might happen in the future show up in the “future” area. A user can then associate and/or dissociate objects associated with events in the editable area, for instance by simply loosely specifying temporal relationships or constraints amongst objects rather than specifying an exact temporal sequence directly.
US07689993B2
Tasks are assigned to processors of a system. The resident set size of each task is determined, specifying the amount of physical information allocated thereto, and locational information of this memory with respect to the processors is determined. Each task is assigned one processor, based on the task's resident set size, and the locational information of the task's allocated physical memory. Each task is attempted to be assigned to the processor closest to the largest portion of the physical memory allocated thereto. A number of the tasks may be determined as best suited to run on a given processor, but the given processor may be unable to run them all. The processor may be thus assigned only those tasks that have a greatest amount of physical memory allocated that is closest to the processor, such as the greatest amount or percentage of physical memory allocated that is local to the processor.
US07689992B2
Shared locks are employed for controlling a thread which extends across more than one protocol layer in a data processing system. The use of a counter is used as part of a data structure which makes it possible to implement shared locks across multiple layers. The use of shared locks avoids the processing overhead usually associated with lock acquisition and release. The thread which is controlled may be initiated in either an upper layer protocol or in a lower layer.
US07689986B2
A system for sharing listeners monitoring events occurring in objects shared by multiple applications each running inside its own virtual machine in a computer system.
US07689981B1
A mobile handset with a fault tolerant update agent employs an efficient interruption point detection technique to recover from interruptions during the update of firmware or software. In one embodiment, the update agent updates firmware and/or software employing a plurality of transforms, each transform employing one pass or a subset of one pass to execute, each pass associated with its own bank order and with its own decision maker bank (for recovery following a fault, such as power failure). The devices and method disclosed are applicable to other electronic devices such as, for example, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers (PCs), pagers, and the like.
US07689974B1
A method, computer program product and system for monitoring execution behavior of a program product in a data processing system include development of a trace tool having trace strings written in a human language and provided with data fields for diagnostic information relevant to executable portions of the program product. Identifiers of the trace tool, trace strings, and data fields and components of the diagnostic information are encoded using a coded binary language. After monitoring execution of the program product, a trace report of the trace tool is translated for an intended recipient from the coded binary language into the human language, whereas an unauthorized access to the contents of the trace record is restricted. The encoding or decoding operations are performed using databases containing the respective identifiers and components of the diagnostic information in the coded binary language and the human language.
US07689972B2
A system and method for last known good (LKG) for patches. A file cache is created to store binaries which have shipped as part of a previous wide public release—security fixes (GDRs) and service packs. There are two levels of cache, including an SP cache which keeps all of the files which were shipped as part of the service pack, and a GDR cache which keeps all of the files shipped in the GDRs. Customers do not need to download all of the binaries contained in a package when they already have the version of the dependent binaries on their system when they get the new patch. Customers only need to test the binaries which have changed, rather than everything in the new package, which speeds up the deployment of critical patches.
US07689963B1
Systems and methods of double diamond clock and power distribution. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, an integrated circuit comprises a first metallization layer. that is substantially a power plane and a second metallization layer disposed immediately adjacent to the first metallization layer. The first metallization layer and the second metallization layer are separated by an inter-plane distance. A signal trace on the first metallization layer is separated from the power plane by about three times the inter-plane distance.
US07689962B2
Exemplary impedance extraction methods, systems, and apparatus are described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, for instance, a signal-wire segment of a circuit layout is selected. A predetermined number of return paths are identified for the selected signal-wire segment. The selected signal-wire segment and the identified return paths are further segmented into a plurality of bundles, which comprise signal-wire subsegments and one or more associated return-path subsegments that are parallel to and have the same length as the signal-wire subsegments. Loop inductance values and loop resistance values are determined and stored for the signal-wire subsegments in the bundles for at least one frequency of operation. Computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform any of the disclosed methods or storing data or information created or modified using any of the disclosed techniques are also disclosed.
US07689959B2
The present invention relates to a method for automatically generating HDL code, a code generator and a product for generating the code for the purpose of its implementation in programmable logic, based on a graphical representation for coding a state machine. With the method according to the invention, state transitions are executed on the basis of a modified query structure in that, starting from a target state, all the preconditions are derived which must be fulfilled in order to reach said target state.
US07689951B2
In a design rule checking system for checking whether or not an integrated circuit design complies with design rules specifying limit values for respective geometric parameters, non-binary functions are used to model the way in which systematic yield loss varies with the value of the geometric parameters. This enables a value to be assigned to systematic yield loss in cases where the geometric parameter is compliant with the design rule but takes a value close to the design rule limit.
US07689938B2
A calculator having a hierarchical tree view (HTV) window provides a more efficient method of displaying calculator usage history. The HTV window provides tabs to choose between multiple windows displaying usage history such that more information can be displayed quickly without using more display area than is necessary. The HTV window also provides a view of usage such that expressions listed in the HTV window can quickly be expanded or unexpanded by the user in order to see data associated with that expression. Tool tip information may be provided to the user, displayed expressions may be re-used by double-clicking or dragging and dropping operations, expressions may be grouped into user-defined folders, and symbols may be used for easy identification of expressions, results, or folders. Additionally, usage history may be stored into a file, files may be opened for the purpose of re-using such usage history at a subsequent time, and scripts and functions may be created, executed, and saved for subsequent use.
US07689934B2
The invention relates to a data processing system enabling a user to view or edit a document. When the user scrolls the document over a relatively large distance within a short time period, the system automatically adjusts the zoom factor so as to provide the user with a better overview during scrolling. When the user has finished scrolling, the zoom factor may be reinstated to its initial value.
US07689924B1
A computer navigation system and method has one or more interactive links displayed on a display connected to a computer appliance, and one or more visual linktags associated with individual ones of the one or more interactive links, the linktags displaying one or more numbers, characters or symbols, the system enabled to initiate an interactive link in the display upon user input of one of the numbers, characters or symbols in a linktag.
US07689923B2
A framework is disclosed for generating user interfaces for application programs, such as web application programs. The framework may provide a first set of database tables to define screens including tables that describe components, screen layout, component configuration, application model assignment, and/or event handling. The framework may further provide a first set of transactions for maintaining the first set of database tables and hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) response means for generating the web pages by accessing the first set of database tables.
US07689919B2
Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from first and second sources indications of an ability to supply values for, respectively, an indicated one of the state attributes and another of the state attributes. In such situations, the providing also includes, in response to receiving a request from a first client for a value of the indicated one attribute, determining that the first source is available to supply the value, obtaining the value from the first source, and supplying a value obtained from the first source to the first client.
US07689916B1
A tooltip is updated dynamically as a user continues to hover a cursor over any displayed item for which additional information is available. The initial tooltip is terse or has one type of information, while the updates add more or substitute different information. Tooltips are created dynamically from whatever information is available about displayed items at the time. A client displays a web page, while a server identifies displayed items for which additional information is available, obtains the information, and either provides the information to the client to generate tooltips therefrom or generates the tooltips and provides them to the client.
US07689907B2
A router is configured for routing, via an open protocol network, a received message to a destination node based on parsing an XML portion within the received message. The router includes an XML parser configured for parsing XML tags specifying prescribed attributes, and an application resource configured for interpreting the prescribed attributes for a determined service based on runtime execution of the application resource. In particular, the runtime execution of the application resource provides application-specific syntax and semantics enabling interpretation of the parsed XML tags. The application resource, in response to interpreting the prescribed attributes, initiates selected application operations, including outputting the received message to a prescribed destination, based on the execution of the prescribed application operations.
US07689905B1
Run-time data and visual layout definition data can be stored in a storage medium. The run-time data and the visual layout definition data can be associated with a terminal application, which is configured to communicate with a host server in blocks of data in accordance with a standardized synchronous terminal protocol. A visual screen for the terminal application can be generated by combining the layout data and the run-time data. The generating can occur when the terminal application is disconnected from the host server or host server emulator. The generated visual screen, which is a screen of a front-end of a terminal application interface, can be presented.
US07689900B1
A method for electronically signing an electronic transcript. The method includes a first hash operation performed on the electronic transcript to generate a representation of the contents of the electronic transcript. Data identifying the user is concatenated to the representation of the contents of the electronic transcript, and a second hash operation is performed on the data and the representation. The second hash operation generates a representation of the contents of the electronic transcript and the data. The representation of the contents of the electronic transcript and the data is recorded/time stamped by a digital notary service, from which a notary record of the time stamping is obtained from the digital notary service. The notary record is digitally signed, and an electronically signed electronic transcript is formed by bundling the digitally signed notary record with the electronic transcript and with the data identifying the user. In this manner, an electronic transcript with an electronic signature is created.
US07689899B2
A document assembly production system including a server and at least one remote computer is provided. The server has a plurality of templates and other document assembly assets stored therein. The remote computer is configured to communicate with the server to access the plurality of templates and the other assembly assets to assemble fully formatted documents without using any document-assembly software and word processing software stored on the remote computer.
US07689898B2
Techniques are provided for converting live presentations into electronic media and managing captured media assets for distribution. An exemplary system includes capture devices that capture media assets of live presentations comprising a session, including image data of sequentially presented visual aids accompanying the live presentations and audio data. Each capture device has an interface for real-time image data marking of the image data for identification of individual images and session marking of the image data for demarcation of individual presentations of the session. A centralized device processes the captured media assets and automatically divides the captured media assets into discrete files associated with the individual presentations based on the session markings. An administrative tool manages the processed media assets to produce modified presentations and enables modification of the visual aid images identified by the image data markings. A production device formats the modified presentations for distribution on distribution media.
US07689887B2
A Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) state machine providing BIST testing operations associated with a thermal sensor device(s) located in proximity to the circuit(s) to which BIST testing operations are applied, and a design structure including the BIST state machine embodied in a machine readable medium are provided. The thermal sensor device compares the current temperature value sensed to a predetermined temperature threshold and determines whether the predetermined threshold is exceeded. A BIST control element suspends the BIST testing operation in response to meeting or exceeding said predetermined temperature threshold, and initiates resumption of BIST testing operations when the current temperature value normalizes or is reduced. A BIST testing methodology implements steps for mitigating the exceeded temperature threshold condition in response to determining that the predetermined temperature threshold is met or exceeded. These steps include one of: ignoring the BIST results of the suspect circuit(s), or by causing the BIST state machine to enter a wait state and adjusting operating parameters of the suspect circuits while in the wait state.
US07689884B2
An integrated chip architecture is provided which allows for efficiently testing multiple cores included in the integrated chip architecture. In particular, the provided approach enables the test time and the number of required Input/Output test pins is nearly independent from the number of cores included in the multicore chip. The presented embodiments provide a multicore chip architecture which allows for providing input data to the multiple cores in parallel for simultaneously testing the multiple cores, and analyzing the resulting multiple test outputs on chip. As a result of this analysis embodiments may store on chip an indication for those cores that have not successfully passed the test.
US07689882B2
A network relay apparatus relays data accompanied by additional information among plural networks through input ports and output ports. In the apparatus, a deciding unit decides, from the output ports, an objective output port to which the data inputted via any one of the input ports is to be inputted, on the basis of the additional information of the data inputted. An output unit outputs the inputted data through the decided objective output port. A producing unit produces diagnostic data to which the additional information including information indicating the decided objective output port is added, and a providing unit provides the deciding unit with the produced diagnostic data. Further, a fault diagnostic unit is provided to determine whether a fault has occurred in the network relay apparatus on the basis of information concerning the diagnostic data and the decided objective output port.
US07689861B1
A system and method for recovering from a computer system crashing as a result of the storage disk suffering physical damage and/or the corruption of an application, operating system, and/or data. The computer system may be standalone or a part of a communication network. The computer includes a hard disk storage divided into a primary partition containing a unique operating system for executing application programs and a recovery partition containing a unique operating system for executing application programs and for backup data storage. A boot track storing a boot manager, a backup status information file for establishing communication between the operating systems of the primary and recovery partitions, and a status validation file verifying the integrity of the backup status information file.
US07689859B2
Backup of a production instance of an application in a production machine environment is performed by creating a snapshot image that captures the state of the production machine, and then backing up the application from a backup machine created using the snapshot image. The backup of the application can be effected by shutting down the backup machine and backing up its storage, or by using backup software to act on the backup version of the application.
US07689858B2
A first storing unit stores therein information on a communication status relating to installing positions of a plurality of storage devices forming a disk array. A selecting unit selects a plurality of storage devices for storing data, based on stored information. A second storing unit stores recovery data recovered from a storage device from which a failure is detected from among the storage devices forming the disk array in selected storage devices in a striping manner.
US07689854B2
Apparatus for making legacy network elements transparent to IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol operation. Network elements are wrapped by device(s) capable of providing either transparent clock or boundary clock operation. In one embodiment, smart interface converters are used to provide transparent clock or boundary clock operation. The smart interface converters work cooperatively.
US07689849B2
In an electronic device including a processor interface and a processor interconnected to the processor interface by a bus, activity on the bus is monitored and in response to inactivity, the processor interface is placed in a lower power consumption mode. While in the lower power consumption mode, processor requests to the processor interface are inhibited.
US07689833B2
A method and apparatus for electro-biometric identity recognition or verification that produces and stores a first biometric signature that identifies a specific individual by forming the difference between a representation of the heartbeat pattern of the specific individual and a stored representation of common features of the heartbeat patterns of a plurality of individuals; after the producing step, the method and apparatus obtains a representation of the heartbeat pattern of a selected individual and produces a second biometric signature by forming the difference between the heartbeat pattern of the selected individual and the stored representation of common features of the heartbeat patterns of the plurality of individuals; it then compares the second biometric signature with the first biometric signature to determine whether the selected individual is the specific individual. The apparatus and method may be employed as a stand-alone unit or as part of another device pursuant to the many applications described herein.
US07689832B2
A network based mechanism for real time verification and authentication of data and user identities. The present invention enables a method whereby biometric elements, such as voice prints, are utilized to enhance the Public Key Infrastructure as a means to decrypt data and verify data authenticity, such that the user's private key is authenticated remotely on a one-time basis. The present invention comprises an authentication server (25) with various software modules that enable authentication of user identity, secure user access to data, digital signatures, secure messaging and secure online transactions.
US07689830B2
A communications apparatus configured to provide a prescribed service via a network based on a standardized interface of a prescribed communications protocol is provided. The communications apparatus includes a proof confirmation unit configured to, upon receiving a request message representing a request for call-up of the standardized interface from a user, extract proof information about the user from a header region of the request message and have validity of the user verified based on the proof information; and a service executing module configured to execute a process in accordance with the standardized interface for which the call-up is requested if the validity of the user is verified.
US07689819B2
Certain embodiments for a self-booting Ethernet controller chip (NAC) may comprise a processor within the NAC that determines whether legacy boot code is present in memory external to the NAC. If legacy boot code is present in the external memory, the NAC may boot from the legacy boot code. If the legacy boot code is not present in the external memory, the processor may boot the NAC from the self-boot code in the ROM within the NAC. The processor may also read network configuration data from the external memory. The network configuration data may be stored, for example, in a NVRAM. The processor may copy the network configuration data from the NVRAM to a RAM within the NAC while booting.
US07689811B2
A data processing apparatus (2) comprising: a register data store operable to store data elements; an instruction decoder (14, 16) operable to decode an instruction with generated constant, said instruction having a data value associated therewith; a data processor (18) operable to perform data processing operations within parallel processing lanes on at least one source operand in response to a data processing instruction decoded by said instruction decoder (16); and said data processor being operable in response to said decoded instruction with generated constant and associated data value to expand at least a data portion (1210) of said associated data value, said expansion being performed in response to said instruction with generated constant and depending on a selected function, to generate a constant (1240), said generated constant (1240) forming one of said at least one source operands.
US07689802B2
Address remapping is performed in a multi-booting system by storing a default operating system (“OS”) and a non-default OS at first and second address regions of a memory medium, respectively, and receiving a selection indicative of the non-default OS. A request to access data at an intended address within the first address region is received, and a remapped address within the second address region is calculated based upon the selection. The request to access data at the intended address is changed to a request to access data at the remapped address within the second address region using a remapping application.
US07689800B2
A method and system are provided for integrating partitions in a virtual machine environment. Specifically, a partition bus is provided, where the partition bus operatively connects partitions in such a way that it functions as a data transport mechanism allowing for data transfer and device sharing between partitions. The partition bus relies on virtualizing software in order to establish itself and to establish channels of communication between partitions and to inject interrupts to partitions where it is appropriate to do so. Furthermore, the partition bus employs such mechanisms ring buffers, transfer pages, and memory map changes to transfer information (requests and data). Furthermore, it uses policy agents to decide when information should be transferred or when devices should be shared among partitions. Lastly, it employs various mechanisms to ensure smooth integration between partitions, which includes remote services that have proxy devices and device versioning functionalities.
US07689798B2
A method for determining the size of each of a predetermined number of memory frames to be allocated for storing data blocks in a memory, and a processing device for implementing the method. The method comprises determining a data block size distribution for at least one set of data blocks. A data block size of the data block size distribution is eliminated iteratively until the number of data block sizes corresponds to the number of sizes of the memory frames. The data block sizes to merge are selected by means of a slack prediction algorithm. The sizes of the memory frames are determined as the data block sizes of the distribution which remain after the elimination.
US07689786B1
Described are techniques for overriding an existing device reservation. Discovery processing is performed by a first data storage system to locate a specified device. The discovery processing includes determining whether there is a reservation conflict for said device of a second data storage system. If there is a reservation conflict for the device, a command is issued from the first data storage system to the second data storage system during said discovery processing to create an override for said reservation conflict. The override causes processing to be performed at a subsequent point in time so that an existing reservation associated with the reservation conflict is overridden in connection with performing a first process on said first data storage system.
US07689780B2
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting data races that overcome the limitations of the prior art. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by detecting a first access to an object, determining whether the first access is associated with a suspicious pattern, automatically refining a pattern detection granularity from the object to a memory location within the object if a determination is made that the first access is associated with the suspicious pattern, and reporting the data race if a second access associated with the suspicious pattern occurs at the memory location after the pattern detection granularity is refined.
US07689773B2
A caching estimator process identifies a thread for determining the fair cache miss rate of the thread. The caching estimator process executes the thread concurrently on the chip multiprocessor with a plurality of peer threads to measure the actual cache miss rates of the respective threads while executing concurrently. Additionally, the caching estimator process computes the fair cache miss rate of the thread based on the relationship between the actual miss rate of the thread and the actual miss rates of the plurality of peer threads. As a result, the caching estimator applies the fair cache miss rate of the thread to a scheduling policy of the chip multiprocessor.
US07689767B2
A computer system or memory medium with instructions executable by a computer system to detect and/or suggest corrective actions when performance and availability are violated in an environment deploying virtualization at multiple levels. In one embodiment the computer system receives identities of a plurality of first physical storage devices, wherein storage in the plurality of first physical storage devices was logically aggregated to create a first storage object. The computer system also receives identities of a plurality of second physical storage devices, wherein storage in the plurality of second physical storage devices was logically aggregated to create a second storage object. Then, the computer system compares the identity of each of the plurality of first physical storage devices with the identities of the plurality of second physical storage devices.
US07689759B2
A method for providing continuous access to shared tape drives from two virtual tape server (VTS) nodes is disclosed. A group of tape drives are connected to two VTS nodes via a set of switches. Both VTS nodes can concurrently process requests to mount physical tape cartridges to separate tape drives. The selection of a tape drive to fulfill a volume mount request on a physical volume begins by locking down any access to a tape drive table having a composite view of all the tape drives shared between the two VTS nodes. An available tape drive is then selected to mount the physical volume, and an entry in the tape drive table is updated to claim ownership of the tape drive. A reservation command is sent to the tape drive to lock down any access to the tape drive, and the lock to the tape drive table is released. Having claimed ownership to the tape drive, the VTS node can now perform the volume mount request.
US07689758B2
A dual bus matrix architecture comprising: a first interconnect matrix connected to a plurality of high performance peripherals and having a plurality of master ports and a plurality of slave ports; a second interconnect matrix connected to a plurality of limited bandwidth peripherals and having a plurality of master ports and a plurality of slave ports; and a shared multiport controller connected to one (or more) of the slave ports of the first interconnect matrix and to one (or more) of the master ports of the second interconnect matrix, wherein the shared multiport controller controls accesses to the high performance peripherals and the limited bandwidth peripherals by directing accesses to the high performance peripherals through the first interconnect matrix and accesses to the limited bandwidth peripherals through the second interconnect matrix.
US07689753B2
A method of operating a wireless universal serial bus (USB) apparatus and the wireless USB apparatus using the same. The method including: receiving operation state information from a neighboring wireless USB apparatus in a beacon period (BP); the wireless USB apparatus, which is operating as a host in a first cluster by using the operation state information, identifying a distributed reservation protocol (DRP) corresponding to a second cluster; and the wireless USB apparatus, which is operating as the host in the first cluster, participating in the second cluster as a device by transmitting and receiving data in the DRP corresponding to the second cluster. Accordingly, the wireless USB apparatus which operates as a host may participate in a neighboring WUSB cluster as a device.
US07689742B2
A data output apparatus checks data accumulated state in the accumulating unit at a preset check interval, and changes at least one setting among an initial accumulation amount to be used as a basis for starting to output the data accumulated in the accumulating unit, an upper accumulation limit amount to be used as a basis for discarding accumulated data, and a check interval, according to a discarded state of the data based on check results. Therefore, in the data output apparatus such as an IP telephony terminal apparatus, it is possible to prevent sound interruption and limit a lowering of communication quality.
US07689738B1
Methods and systems are provided for reducing partial cache writes in transferring incoming data status entries from a peripheral device to a host. The methods comprise determining a lower limit on a number of available incoming data status entry positions in an incoming data status ring in the host system memory, and selectively transferring a current incoming data status entry to the host system memory using a full cache line write if the lower limit is greater than or equal to a first value. Peripheral systems are provided for providing an interface between a host computer and an external device or network, which comprise a descriptor management system adapted to determine a lower limit on a number of available incoming data status entry positions in an incoming data status ring in a host system memory, and to selectively transfer a current incoming data status entry to the host system memory using a full cache line write if the lower limit is greater than or equal to a first value.
US07689735B2
An interface requests instructions from a data store storing instructions of an application to be processed by a data processor, and receives and transmits the instructions to the data processor. The interface includes: an input that receives the instructions from the data store via at least one input bus; a buffer that stores received instructions; an output that outputs instructions to the data processing apparatus via the output bus; a control signal input that receives a control signal; and a buffer controller that controls the buffer to request an instruction subsequent to a previously received instruction within an instruction stream of the application from the data store in response to detection of no control signal on the control signal input and to detection of available buffer storage capacity. In response to a control signal received at the control signal input, the controller controls at least one of input and storage of instructions within the interface in order to seek to reduce instruction movement through the input.
US07689723B1
A system and method for virtualizing a hardware device node for a network interface circuit or other device. In a clone driver's configuration file, multiple virtual or clone nodes are defined. Their major numbers match the major number of the driver, but a virtual node's minor number for a Style 2 driver is calculated from the hardware driver's major number and the instance or port number of the corresponding hardware node. By creating multiple clone nodes, multiple paths through the protocol stack are created. Each one can be configured differently (e.g., for different MTU sizes), and each may be assigned a different address (e.g., MAC address). The separate addresses may be registered with hardware filters to filter incoming packets at the hardware level. A traffic classifier created in the device driver manages each virtual node's association with a hardware filter.
US07689716B2
Systems and methods for selectably controlling and customizing source access to a network, where the source is associated with a source computer, and wherein the source computer has transparent access to the network via a gateway device and no configuration software need be installed on the source computer to access the network. A user may be prevented access from a particular destination or site based upon the user's authorization while being permitted to access to other sites that the method and system deems accessible. The method and system can identify a source without that source's knowledge, and can access customizable access rights corresponding to that source in a source profile database. The source profile database can be a remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS) or a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) database. The method and system use source profiles within the source profile database to dynamically authorize source access to networks and destinations via networks.
US07689715B1
A method and system for implementing a global name space service. The method may include receiving a file system unique identifier corresponding to a particular file and a human-readable name corresponding to the same file. The method may further include binding the human-readable name to the file system unique identifier, thereby creating a mapping between the human-readable name and the file system unique identifier. The system may include a processor coupled to a memory and to a global name space service manager. The global name space service manager may be configured to receive a file system unique identifier corresponding to a particular file and a human-readable name corresponding to the same file. The global name space service manager may be further configured to bind the human-readable name to the file system unique identifier, thereby creating a mapping between the human-readable name and the file system unique identifier.
US07689706B2
The system and method for streaming media to a viewer and managing the media comprises and an enhanced service routing processor (ESRP), a real time switch management system (RTSMS), a name routing processor (NRP), and a managed media switch (MMS). The system and method operate with a reservation server. The ESRP receives media from an owner, manages the media according to media rules and order rules defined by the owner, and distributes the media to one or more switches, such as the MMS, according to the media rules and the order rules. The RTSMS is configured to receive the media rules and to receive a viewer's media request via the reservation server. The RTSMS processes the media request according to the media rules and builds a reservation for the requested media. The RTSMS generates the reservation to the viewer and to the NRP. The NRP receives the reservation data from the viewer and from the RTSMS. The NRP processes the reservation data and locates an MMS that can stream the media to the viewer. The NRP transmits the IP address of the MMS to the viewer and transmits the reservation data to the MMS. The viewer initiates a session or connection with the MMS using the reservation number. If the reservation data from the viewer matches the reservation data from the NRP, the MMS streams the media to the viewer.
US07689701B2
Access to state data by a client process such as state data in an Online Transaction Processing arrangement is controlled through generation of and exchanging of a dual-component token. The first component of the token is an Index value which indirectly points to a block of state data assigned to process or user. The second component of the token is a sequence value, such as a Random Unique Sequence value, which is also associated with the block of state data for a process. With each transaction request, a user process provides the token to the OLTP server, which then verifies the sequence numbers of the state data and the token match before allowing access to the data.
US07689689B2
A method of protecting a networked industrial controller from network storms is disclosed in the specification. The networked industrial controller has a real-time operating system and communication components performing communication exchanges with connected networks. The method comprises steps of:(a) Initializing a watchdog thread monitor thread to have a high priority within the real-time operating system's kernel level;(b) configuring a watchdog thread to periodically (every TAlive time) send an alive event signal to the watchdog thread monitor thread if all other threads of application programs are operating normally;(c) starting the watchdog thread monitor thread waiting for receiving the alive event signal within a timeout period TAliveTout (TAliveTout is longer than TAlive);(d) identifying a network storm in response to the alive event signal; and(e) controlling the communication exchanges in response to the alive event signal and current phase of the watchdog thread monitor thread.
US07689688B2
A system, method, and program product is disclosed to monitor multiple applications, each application configured to process part of a TCP/IP-based transaction. The applications communicate with one another by way of a TCP/IP protocol. Each application is further configured to generate one or more events associated with the TCP/IP-based transaction. Each application has associated therewith an event management module configured to acquire and deliver event information associated with their respective events to an event bus, to minimize overhead in managing the events. A monitoring module communicates with the event bus to receive and organize the event information to provide an integrated end-to-end view of the TCP/IP-based transaction.
US07689685B2
A method for maintaining a high availability data transmission and processing environment. A network of clusters is provided. Each cluster of the network includes at least two identical servers. Each cluster of the network is directly connected to at least one other cluster of the network. Each pair of clusters directly connected to each other is characterized by each server in a first cluster of the pair of clusters being directly connected to at least one server in a second cluster of the pair of clusters via a communication link. Provided is a control server adapted to monitor an operational status of the communication link (i.e., the communication link is operational or non-operational). The control server is directly linked to at least one server in each cluster via a communication channel between the control server and the at least one server.
US07689679B2
Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports keywords identifying a network support package or a Sockets Direct Protocol (SDP) support package. When the first keyword is provided, the IPoIB network protocol is used to access the boot server and retrieve the boot file. When the second keyword is provided, the IB network boot method is implemented, whereby the SDP network protocol is used to access the boot device. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.
US07689676B2
In accordance with certain aspects of the model-based policy application, each of a plurality of policies is associated with appropriate parts of a model of a heterogeneous system. A deployment agent is invoked to apply each of the plurality of policies to components associated with the parts of the model. An identification of a change to one of the plurality of policies is received, and the deployment agent is also invoked to apply the changed policy to selected ones of the components associated with the parts of the model.
US07689671B2
A system, method, and program product are provided that access a network resource by sending, from a client computer system, a first domain name resolution request to a DNS server. The first domain name resolution request includes a first domain name and requests multiple IP addresses. The client computer system receives, from the DNS server, a first multiple IP address response that corresponds to the first domain name resolution request, the first multiple IP address response including a IP addresses that each correspond to the first domain name included in the first domain name resolution request. At the client computer system, one of the plurality of IP addresses is selected by a user. The client computer system sends a request to a server corresponding to the selected IP address. The client computer system then receives responsive data from the server and displays the responsive data on a display screen accessible from the client computer system.
US07689662B2
A method and an arrangement of access to data by users in mobile communications networks which can be controlled. Data which is stored in one or more data memories in the mobile communications network for a user of the mobile communications network is addressed by a data processing device, after which a central control device in the mobile communications network uses predetermined checking criteria to check whether the data processing device is authorized to access such data, and the central control device allows access if the check result is positive.
US07689656B2
A communications system may include a plurality of source message servers for storing messages for delivery to a user, a target message server having a target message box associated therewith, and an aggregation server for periodically aggregating the messages from the source message servers to the target message box for retrieval by the user. The target message server may provide a delivery failure message to the aggregation server based upon a failure to deliver a message to the target message box. As such, the aggregation server may increase a period of sending messages to the target message box based upon a delivery failure message therefrom, and thereafter decrease the period of sending messages to the target message box based upon a successful delivery of a message thereto.
US07689655B2
A universal digital content system provides a dynamic user interface having a viewing area, an action menu area, and an organizing area. A user can create, organize, send, receive, access, collaborate with and otherwise manage digital content through a single user interface. The universal digital content system provides multiple ways of viewing and organizing all of the digital content accessible through the dynamic user interface. In addition, a user can create a collaboration session with one or more contacts using one or more digital content files.
US07689650B1
A presence model is maintained for a messaging system to message among a plurality of computing device users. A permission is maintained for providing to a first computing device a presence indication for a user of a second computing device. Based on an indication of a user of the first computing device not being in a messaging list for the user of the second computing device, the permission is maintained to provide only a basic presence indication to the first computing device for the user of the second computing device. From the first computing device, a message is caused to be sent to the second computing device. Based on the maintained permission, the basic presence indication for the user of the second computing device is provided to the first computing device and a user interface element is provided via which the user of the first computing device can be added to a messaging list for the user of the second computing device.
US07689645B2
Techniques are provided to determine service data features from an archive of web service transactions. Data features for functionally identical classes of service are determined. Differentiating data feature patterns uniquely identifying each service within the class are learned using machine learning, clustering, statistical analysis and the like. A service map associating services with the differentiating patterns is determined. The service map contains data feature patterns that differentiate among otherwise functionally identical services. The data features are optionally associated with past usage, objective and subjective service quality measurements and the like. The data features of the received service requests are compared to differentiating patterns in the service map. The service associated with the differentiating patterns matching the data features of the service request is selected. The data features of the service request may include, but document language, document genre, number of words or characters, type of images, subject matter of images and the like.
US07689643B2
An area efficient realization of an N-bit constant coefficient adder/subtractor implemented on FPGAs, utilizing N LUTs with single output generation capability. It includes three inputs from every LUT for addition/subtraction, without any requirement for extra logic for support of arithmetic mode and carry chains. For FPGAs supporting 4-input LUTs, the concept is further enhanced with the capability to perform addition and subtraction dynamically, by exploiting the fourth unused input of the LUTs. Another embodiment involves delay-optimized realization of an N-bit constant coefficient adder/subtractor implemented on FPGAs with 4-input LUTs. LUTs in the implementation have single output generation capability without any carry generation and propagation. The implementation utilizes N+1 LUTs and gives a delay proportional to N/2 of routing resource used. However, the implementation becomes more efficient by the use of cascade chains. The delay optimization is achieved by doing computation in two parallel chains.
US07689630B1
A method and apparatus for encoding data from heterogeneous sources and structuring them into a common format using bitmap techniques for integration, storage, access, and performing Boolean operations to derive new meaningful results is provided. A new control layer is added to a linear bitmap to provide data compression and management. Boolean operations are efficiently performed by first at the control bits level and will perform at the data bits only if necessary. The bitmap structures can be created independently on separate computing platforms and are operable interchangeably on different platforms, without the restricted need of using a separate database management system.
US07689629B1
A method for the use of fractal semantic networks is disclosed, wherein the fractal semantic network contains both semantic units that possess respective information contents as well as link units that describe a relation content that respectively links two semantic units such that the mutual relationship of the two linked semantic units is determined through the relation content. In that case, a knowledge network consists of category units and, as the case may be, additionally of instance units and/or Janus units. For the querying of information, classification and/or selecting of semantic sub-networks in this knowledge network, the networking of semantic units taking into consideration the type, content, composition and/or distance of other semantic units in the respective network environment can be employed. Furthermore, Janus functionality can be employed for the local classification or for the local alteration of the networking of a semantic unit.
US07689606B2
A method of efficiently generating and sending emails including creating an email template, setting up a campaign query, and distributing the email template and a set of information associated with the campaign query to a plurality of server groups. The method also includes running the campaign query on each of the plurality of server groups and obtaining a plurality of matching users; dividing the plurality of matching users into one or more batches; merging the email template with a set of information corresponding to each of the plurality of matching users from a first batch for each of the plurality of server groups, and sending the first batch of the merged emails directly from each of the plurality of server groups without saving copies of the merged emails.
US07689579B2
A system and methods for retrieving and presenting data in a tag-based component environment. The disclosed system provides an efficient mechanism for associating point and non-point data using selected modeling approaches to organize and reference the data. The modeling approaches provide the ability generate customized retrieval routines that support reusable components incorporating direct and indirect referencing techniques.
US07689563B1
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for managing electronic records on a computer network is provided. The method provides the steps of creating an electronic tag that uniquely identifies an electronic record, storing the electronic tag, and distributing the electronic record. The method further performs the steps of analyzing a network user's workstation specifications, analyzing a network user's user profile, and generating a reference code, wherein the electronic tag is generated from information analyzed in the network user's workstation specification, the network user's user profile and the reference code.
US07689553B2
A method, system and computer program product for reducing the execution cost of sampled queries of tables in a database. A subset of entries comprising row identifiers or key values based on an input query of data in the tables of the database is generated. A sampling predicate to reduce the number of entries in the subset is generated. The sampling predicate is applied to the subset to reduce the number of entries in the subset. The data in the database corresponding to the reduced subset is retrieved from the database.
US07689546B2
A “More Like This Headnote” search relates online headnotes intelligently so that users have the means to retrieve related headnotes quickly and easily. This is achieved by using a tailored search type in the search engine, which is designed to handle the text of a headnote as a search string. Retrieval logic then presents the search results to the user in a “Virtual Digest” view comprising related headnotes and case materials, sorted by user-selected options.
US07689545B2
In registering operation of a document to be searched for, a document identifier management table for managing a range of a document identifier stored for each page and a page identifier of the page is created, and an individual-search-server's search range management table for managing the range of the document identifier in charge of each search server is created. In searching operation of each search server of the document to be searched for, the individual-search-server's search range management table is referred to acquire a range of the allocated document identifier. For each index key forming a query term specified as a query condition, the document identifier management table is referred to to acquire the page identifier storing the document identifier of the allocated range. The searching operation is carried out by referring to a page shown by the acquired page identifier.
US07689544B2
A method is for automatically indexing multimedia data archives and categorizing the files held therein and also to a client/server architecture in an image retrieval system for content-based searching for relevant files in a particular format and having a particular file structure. The parsed files stored in a data archive managed by the document management system are subjected to a feature extraction algorithm. The features obtained are then used for producing a binary-coded inverted index which includes elements of at least two attributes and holds context information which is held in these files and is needed for content-based image retrieval. If new files or files with an extended or modified content are stored in the data archive, then it involves a parsing algorithm and also an algorithm for automatically extracting features of these files being executed under event control during every storage process, in order to extend the inverted index by individual attributes or in order to update particular elements of already existing index attributes.
US07689542B2
Dynamic return type generation in a database system. A request is received to execute a first function. A second function is executed if the first function is defined to return data in a first type of data structure. When executed, the second function returns formatting information that indicates an arrangement of fields of data within the first type of data structure. The first function is executed to obtain a collection of data formatted according to the first type of data structure, and the collection of data is organized according to the formatting information returned by the second function.
US07689526B2
A knowledge base is first characterized by an association-grounded semantics collapsed language. In response to the receipt of a query of the knowledge base, the collapsed language is used to determine whether there is an indication that the knowledge base contains knowledge requested in the query. Thereafter, the collapsed language can be used to carry out a full search for the knowledge much more efficiently than would otherwise be possible. Related methods, apparatus, and articles are also described.
US07689520B2
A machine learning system to rank data within sets is disclosed. The system comprises a ranking module that has differentiable parameters. The system further comprises a cost calculation module that uses a cost function that depends on pairs of examples and which describes an output of the ranking module. Methods of using the disclosed system are also provided.
US07689511B2
In a method for providing measured values for end customers: The measured value for a process variable is recorded using a sensor and is transmitted to a process control system. The number of transmission operations is counted on the basis of the number of transmission operations. The fundamental advantage of the invention is that the end customer no longer pays for the sensor itself, but rather only for that which he actually requires, the measured value.
US07689510B2
The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in managing content on at least a local network. Some embodiments provide a method for use in distributing content that receives a request to deliver premium content over a distributed network; identifies a location relative to where the request is made; determines whether there is a first additional content associated with the location; adds the first additional content to the requested premium content when there is the first additional content associated with the location; and distributes the requested premium content and the first additional content according to the request.
US07689504B2
The present invention relates to methods for allowing an account holder to easily customize the terms of an account such as a loan account, an asset account, a mortgage account, an insurance account, or a brokerage account. Exemplary embodiments of the invention allow the user to specify various preferred terms such as cost (e.g., APR and annual fee), rewards programs, card design, affiliates, credit line, and payment due date, among others. The financial service provider issuing the account, e.g., the issuing bank, may make the various available terms for the account easily accessible to the user, for example through an internet website or an automated phone system, enabling the user to easily specify his or her preferences. The customization methods may be applied to the process of opening a new account or customizing an existing account. The customization methods may dynamically update the available terms as the user begins to select his or her desired terms.
US07689496B1
New and improved methods and systems for creating collared option financial hedge products enable multiple customers to pool their assets into a single product. In contrast the prior art where such products were ‘tailor-made’ to individual investors, demand is collected across multiple investors and one or more collared option financial hedge products are created. Multiple customers are then permitted to participate in each product. Such hedge products are thus more readily available to a larger group of customers.
US07689490B2
Systems and methods for allocating limited resources of a securities research department to accounts of the department are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system includes an account scoring module and a resource matching module. The account scoring module is for generating a score for each account, and the resource matching module is for matching the resources of the department to the accounts based on the scores for each account.
US07689486B2
Methods of estimating a fee earned by one or more advisors from various types of investment banking deals and transactions are disclosed. The deals or transactions may be a merger or acquisition, an initial public offering, an offering of convertible securities, a secondary offering, a block trade of securities, an offering of investment-grade debt securities and/or an offering of high-yield securities. The advisors may be investment banks performing on the roles of the various tiers of a syndicate, such as book runner, lead manager, co-lead manager, or co-manager. The method comprises retrieving data regarding the financial deal or deals of interest. The data may include an identification of the one or more advisors, the role of those advisors, and a parameter of the deal, such as the size of the deal, the geographic region for the deal, or the maturity date when the deal involves the issuance of debt securities.
US07689482B2
A method of implementing buyer and seller transactions is provided. A set of rules for accepting information into a document is received from the buyer. Also defined is the form of the presentation of an interface to the seller for creating the seller's invoice. The seller also receives address information from the buyer. The rules for accepting information, the rules regarding presentation and the address information are stored in a storage resource. The rules regarding presentation are accessed from the storage resource, and an interface is presented to the seller based on those rules. The rules for accepting information are accessed from the storage resource, and information for the document based on those rules is accepted through the interface. The address information is accessed from the storage resource, and the document with the accepted information is sent to the buyer.
US07689480B2
An inventory control system includes a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows. Each storage unit is engaged with the track for selective movement along the track. An inventory control unit is associated with the storage module and has a user interface, a processor, a memory, and a mechanism for inputting object information, including storage unit placement. The processor receives the object information from the inputting mechanism, and stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface.
US07689476B2
An appliance supply distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing appliance supplies to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which facilitates dispensing or using one or more supplies from an appliance. The computerized system monitors the supply level(s) and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers additional supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing, use or appliance problems and orders and arranges for repair service.
US07689458B2
Systems and methods for determining the value of bids placed by content providers for placement positions on a page, e.g., a web page, rendered according to a given context, for instance, the search results listing for a particular query initiated on a search engine web site, are provided. Additionally, systems and methods are provided for determining placement of content items, e.g., advertisements and/or images, on a rendered page relative to other content items on the page based upon bid value.
US07689452B2
A novel system and method of predicting a user's rating of a new item in a collaborative filtering system is described. The invention incorporates social network information in addition to user ratings to make recommendations. The distance between users in the social network is used to enhance the estimate of user similarities for collaborative filtering. The social network can be constructed explicitly by users or deduced implicitly from observed interaction between users.
US07689450B1
Aspects of the present invention include improvements to a management decision support system. Before improvement, the system includes a computer system having memory and resources, a retail demand forecasting program applying one or more forecasting approaches, running on the computer system and utilizing the output, said analysis programs generating at least one of (a) order of goods from a supplier-related data, (b) allocation of the goods to be shipped by the supplier-related data, or (c) distribution of goods to selling locations-related data. The improvements, according to one aspect of the invention, include a causal calendar utilized by the forecasting program to generate the output, the calendar including certain attributes for a plurality of events, and an analysis program to generate open to buy reports. Other aspects of the present invention are described in the specification, drawing and claims.
US07689449B1
It is determined whether or not a transmitter has issued a request to display a completion state table, whether or not the current date and time have reached the date and time specified by the transmitter, whether or not an opening rate has exceeded a predetermined value, or whether or not a completion rate has exceeded a predetermined value. When any of these conditions is satisfied, a completion state table containing information such as the number of receivers who have opened the message, the opening rate, the number of receivers who have completed their jobs associated with the message, the completion rate, etc. is forcibly displayed on a terminal device.
US07689446B2
When a user reserves guest accommodations the user programmable settings of the appliances of the user's home network are transferred to the appliances of the guest accommodations. The settings can be stored in a file on the user's computer system or on an accessible external system such as the internet. Alternatively, or in addition, when the user makes a reservation, the home network can query appliances connected to the home network to determine the user programmable settings of such appliances.
US07689445B2
A product, and preferably an insurance product, whereby the product benefits reimburse the purchaser for those risks associated with a potential change in the taxation of insurance policies. Another aspect is a method to determine a benefit amount and a policy price based upon future potential changes in the tax laws. A computer system which receives as its inputs policy data, owner data and insured data and uses that data to calculate benefits, price those benefits and provide as part of its output the price of the policy and a full description of those benefits.
US07689441B1
A healthcare administration system integrates the entry of an order for a medical service for a patient with the scheduling of an appointment for performing the service. The system incorporates receiving service order information for a medical service for a patient from a user; generating an order for the medical service based upon the service order information; and enabling the user to perform one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of (a) scheduling an appointment with a provider of the medical service, (b) storing the order information in a queued waitlist, and (c) automatically rescheduling the appointment based upon the queued waitlist.
US07689438B1
A method and an apparatus for communicating healthcare information utilize a set of codes to communicate healthcare data in a convenient manner. A set of codes each corresponding to respective healthcare data is generated. The set of codes is stored in a memory associated with a portable terminal. Selection of at least one code corresponding to healthcare data relevant to a patient is detected, where after the selected at least one code is wirelessly transmitted to a recipient.
US07689431B1
An automatic critique of resumes, cover-letters, and/or other types of documents is provided. The invention employs an input document, a processing device, and a set of rules specific to the document type. The processing device searches the document for specific patterns described by the rules, generates a list of potential errors in the document, generates advice on how to correct the errors and may produce various figures of merit for the document.
US07689429B2
A decoding method for MP3 bit streams, which replaces a buffer required in the decoding process by manipulating the order of data decoding. The decoding method includes reading the head and side information of the current frame, and calculating a main data's start address of the current frame. While decoding the main data, the head and side information of subsequent frames are skipped if the reading of the main data is not yet completed. The start address of the next frame is calculated and directly accessed after finished reading the main data of the current frame. An optimum method for accessing frequency lines utilizes the characteristics of the MP3 frequency line, instead of inserting a plurality of zeros in the rzero zone containing successive zeros, the initial boundary address of the rzero zone is memorized.
US07689421B2
Described is a voice persona service by which users convert text into speech waveforms, based on user-provided parameters and voice data from a service data store. The service may be remotely accessed, such as via the Internet. The user may provide text tagged with parameters, with the text sent to a text-to-speech engine along with base or custom voice data, and the resulting waveform morphed based on the tags. The user may also provide speech. Once created, a voice persona corresponding to the speech waveform may be persisted, exchanged, made public, shared and so forth. In one example, the voice persona service receives user input and parameters, and retrieves a base or custom voice that may be edited by the user via a morphing algorithm. The service outputs a waveform, such as a .wav file for embedding in a software program, and persists the voice persona corresponding to that waveform.
US07689420B2
Architecture for integrating and generating back-off grammars (BOG) in a speech recognition application for recognizing out-of-grammar (OOG) utterances and updating the context-free grammars (CFG) with the results. A parsing component identifies keywords and/or slots from user utterances and a grammar generation component adds filler tags before and/or after the keywords and slots to create new grammar rules. The BOG can be generated from these new grammar rules and can be used to process the OOG user utterances. By processing the OOG user utterances through the BOG, the architecture can recognize and perform the intended task on behalf of the user.
US07689417B2
An improved voice recognition system in which a Voice Keyword Table is generated and downloaded from a set-up device to a voice recognition device. The VKT includes visual form data, spoken form data, phonetic format data, and an entry corresponding to a keyword, and TTS-generated voice prompts and voice models corresponding to the phonetic format data. A voice recognition system on the voice recognition device is updated by the set-up device. Furthermore, voice models in the voice recognition device are modified by the set-up device.
US07689406B2
Method and system for measuring transmission quality of an audio transmission system under test. Specifically, an input signal (X), such as an original input speech signal, is applied to the audio transmission system which results in an output signal (Y) produced by the transmission system. Both signals X and Y are mutually processed to yield a perceived quality signal. In accordance with the invention, output signal Y and/or input signal X are scaled such that, depending on a ratio of power of these two signals, relatively small deviations of power between these signals are compensated, while relatively larger deviations are only partially compensated. Further, an artificial reference speech signal may be created for which noise levels present in the input speech signal are reduced by a scale factor which reflects a local level of the noise in that input signal.
US07689402B2
The memory access capabilities of a host processor are used to facilitate the movement of instructions and data to an application-specific component having direct access to memory. Although the component executes code absent direct host processor control, the code may be uniquely tailored to the component's architecture. According to one embodiment, a flow of instructions requested by a host processor from a memory device is monitored. The flow of instructions is routed to an application-specific component in response to identifying code embedded in the flow of instructions targeted for execution by the component. While the instruction flow is routed to the component, a sequence of instructions is directed to the host processor that maintains instruction execution flow in the host processor, e.g., no-op instructions. When the end of the application-specific code is detected, the instruction flow is re-routed to the host processor for execution.
US07689385B2
A method of analyzing structural vibration according to one aspect of the present invention includes reception of data from a plurality of sensors on a structure, filtration of the data to exclude data outside of a selected frequency band, association of sensor locations with locations on computer model, and generation of an animation which displays the structural vibration.
US07689382B2
Provided is a system for monitoring resources in a utility computing environment (UCE). Measurements are evaluated to determine whether or not a particular resource requires remedial or other type of action. A sliding measurement window is employed to assemble a number of measurements corresponding to a particular resource. The number of intervals in a sliding measurement window is based upon best practices corresponding to the resource being measured and analyzed. A first threshold-crossing event and subsequent events are stored until the window is full, or closed. When the window is closed, the threshold-crossing measurements are analyzed to determine whether or not there exists an issue with the resource that requires action. Once a window has been closed and analyzed, the first threshold-crossing event and each subsequent event up to a second threshold-crossing event are discarded and the window reopens.
US07689381B2
A sensing system is adapted to sense a pointer and calculate a location of the pointer. The sensing system includes a panel, a reflective element, an image sensor and a processor connected to the image sensor. The panel has a first plane and a first area located at the first plane. The first area is quadrangular and has a first boundary, a second boundary, a third boundary and a fourth boundary connected in order. The reflective element is disposed at the first boundary and located on the first plane. A second plane of the reflective element which is a reflective plane is substantially perpendicular to the first plane and mirrors the first area to form a second area. The image sensor sensing the first and the second areas is disposed at a corner at which the third boundary and the fourth boundary intersects and located on the first plane.
US07689378B2
A highly miniaturized electronic data acquisition system includes MEMS sensors that can be embedded onto moving device without affecting the static/dynamic motion characteristics of the device. The basic inertial magnetic motion capture (IMMCAP) module consists of a 3D printed circuit board having MEMS sensors configured to provide a tri-axial accelerometer; a tri-axial gyroscope, and a tri-axial magnetometer all in communication with analog to digital converters to convert the analog motion data to digital data for determining classic inertial measurement and change in spatial orientation (rho, theta, phi) and linear translation (x, y, z) relative to a fixed external coordinate system as well as the initial spatial orientation relative to the know relationship of the earth magnetic and gravitational fields. The data stream from the IMMCAP modules will allow the reconstruction of the time series of the 6 degrees of freedom for each rigid axis associated with each independent IMMCAP module.
US07689374B2
A polyphase electric energy meter is provided that includes a microcontroller with a front end that converts analog current input signals and analog voltage input signals to digital current and voltage samples for processing by the microcontroller. The front end includes separate input channels, each for one of the current input signals with a sigma-delta modulator followed by a decimation filter. The front end further includes a common input channel for all voltage input signals with a multiplexer, an analog-to-digital converter and a de-multiplexer. The separate input channels and the common input channel provide the digital current and voltage samples for processing by the microcontroller.
US07689368B2
A system for early detection of component failure in a hydraulic system comprises a particle detection device disposed in a fluid flow channel of a machine, the particle detection device configured to monitor a current particle count associated with fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel. The system further includes a condition monitoring system in wireless data communication with the particle detection device. The condition monitoring system is configured to receive data indicative of the current particle count and analyze historic particle count data collected by the particle detection device. The condition monitoring system is also configured to estimate a trend in the historic particle count data based on the analysis. A failure event associated with one or more components associated with the fluid flow channel is predicted if the data indicative of the current particle count deviates from the trend by a threshold amount.
US07689367B2
A method and system of physically solving the charge, mass, and current density functions of excited-state atoms and atomic ions using Maxwell's equations and computing and rendering the nature of excited-state electrons using the solutions. The results can be displayed on visual or graphical media. The display can be static or dynamic such that electron spin and rotation motion can be displayed in an embodiment. The displayed information is useful to anticipate reactivity and physical properties. The insight into the nature of excited-state electrons can permit the solution and display of those of other atoms and atomic ions and provide utility to anticipate their reactivity and physical properties as well as spectral absorption and emission to lead to new optical materials and light sources.
US07689366B2
Compositions and methods for rapid and highly efficient characterization of genetic diversity in organisms are provided. The methods involve rapid sequencing and characterization of extrachromosomal DNA, particularly plasmids, to identify useful nucleotide sequences. The method involves generating a library of extrachromosomal DNA clones, sequencing a portion of the clones, comparing the sequences against a database of existing DNA sequences, using an algorithm to select novel nucleotide sequences based on the presence or absence of the sequence in a database, and identification of at least one novel nucleotide sequence. The DNA sequence can also be translated in all six frames and the resulting amino acid sequences compared against a database of protein sequences. Organisms of particular interest include, but are not limited to bacteria, fungi, algae, and the like. Compositions comprise a mini-cosmid vector comprising a stuffer fragment and at least one cos site.
US07689354B2
An adaptive guidance system for a vehicle includes an on-board GPS receiver, an on-board processor adapted to store a preplanned guide pattern and a guidance device. The processor includes a comparison function for comparing the vehicle GPS position with a line segment of the preplanned guide pattern. The processor controls the guidance device for guiding the vehicle along the line segment. Various guide pattern modification functions are programmed into the processor, including best-fit polynomial correction, spline correction, turn-flattening to accommodate minimum vehicle turning radii and automatic end-of-swath keyhole turning.
US07689351B2
A virtual profilograph is disclosed that can provide measurements indicative of the ride quality of a roadway as the road is being constructed. As a result, a more timely, less costly indication of the ride quality of a roadway is obtained as compared to prior methods. In a first embodiment a Global Navigation Satellite System antenna is attached to a vehicle. When the vehicle travels over a roadway, measurements of the position of the antenna are recorded at different times. A profile of the roadway is created by measuring the elevation of the antenna as a function of the distance traveled from a starting point. In another embodiment, tilt sensors are used to measure the slope of the roadway and the tilt of the vehicle so that a precise orientation of the vehicle and, hence, the contours of the roadway, can be determined.
US07689350B2
Provided is a system for providing information to a user via an interactive medium. The system includes a server with a memory, a printer and a wireless interface. The printer is configured to supply the interactive medium in the form of a printed page with visible and invisible data thereon, said invisible data indicative of page descriptors stored in the memory. The system also includes a monitoring device configured to sense user interaction with the medium and to sense and transmit the invisible data to the server via the wireless interface. The server is configured to interpret the user interaction in relation to the sensed page descriptors.
US07689343B2
There is provided a method and a control scheme to control an internal combustion engine operating in an auto-ignition mode by selectively activating a control scheme for controlling fuel injector operation based upon engine combustion parameters, e.g., IMEP or NMEP. The method comprises operating the engine in the auto-ignition combustion mode, and monitoring combustion in each of the cylinders. The fuel correction is selectively enabled only when either one of a partial burn and a misfire of a cylinder charge in one of the cylinders has been detected.
US07689338B2
An ECU executes a program including the steps of when an upshift is requested, determining whether engine torque ET changing rate ΔET>threshold value ΔET (1) is established or not: incrementing a recovery timer TE when engine torque ET changing rate ΔET<ΔET (2) is established during establishment of engine torque ET changing rate ΔET>threshold value ΔET (1); and initiating an upshift when recovery timer TE>threshold value TE (1).
US07689332B2
An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction vehicle may also include an electrical power storage device which can be selectively discharged to allow the vehicle to be serviced.
US07689325B2
A remote call center utilizes both cell phone and satellite communication networks to transmit data messages to a vehicle equipped with both a telematics module and a SDAR module. The telematics module and the SDAR module are both coupled to a vehicle data bus, and a software communication token containing a current budget is assigned to a selected module in response to a vehicle turn-off event. The module possessing the communication token determines the available signal strength on its respective communication network. If the available signal strength is adequate for reliable data communication with the call center, the module retains possession of the token and periodically wakes-up to check for incoming messages from the call center. If the available signal strength is inadequate, the module possessing the token passes the token to the other module, after which that module periodically wakes-up to check for incoming messages from the call center.
US07689316B1
The system for controlling and tracking medical items (830) includes a plurality of medical item storage cabinets (878). Each cabinet includes a plurality of doors (888-894). The doors control access to shelves (902, 904) and support modules (1210). Shelves and support modules include user interfaces (938, 1214). Authorized users desiring to take medical items from storage locations in cabinets for use in treating patients are enabled to provide inputs through a display terminal (880) adjacent to cabinets and/or interfaces to indicate the taking of medical items. Storage cabinets include visual indicators so that users may be guided to find a selected medical item for which information is input at an associated display terminal. Alternatively, authorized users gain access to the interior of the cabinet and indicate through appropriate inputs through interfaces on the shelves the types and quantities of items being taken.
US07689313B2
A method for monitoring the manufacture of molded ophthalmic lenses is disclosed. The method monitors the occurrence of predetermined events and records such events in a device history record and a shadow table.
US07689308B2
The invention relates to the examination of a dental prosthesis, wherein the dental prosthesis is examined with finite element methods. Furthermore, the invention relates to the automated manufacture of a dental prosthesis, wherein the shape of a remaining tooth area is directly determined on the basis of the remaining tooth area itself. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method, wherein manufacturing data (milling data) which have been created with a system for calculating manufacturing data (system for calculating milling data) are optionally forwarded to one or another manufacturing machine (milling machine) at different locations.
US07689305B2
A system for communication among audio-related devices in an audio system includes a performance equipment manager that communicates with audio-related devices to monitor and control changeable parameters of a corresponding audio-related device. Each of the audio-related devices includes an audio node structure having components that are representative of the functionality of the respective audio-related device. Some of the components are representative of changeable parameters in the audio-related device. The performance equipment manager is configured to be selectively subscribed to one or more of the changeable parameters so that when a predefined condition occurs, the audio-related device is configured to automatically provide the current value of the changeable parameter(s) to the performance equipment manager.
US07689297B2
An observation system configured to observe one or more initially unknown state variables of an observed system includes an input interface configured to receive a system input, and a processing module coupled to the input interface. The processing module is configured to determine the one or more initially unknown state variables, and the determination is based at least in part on the system input, a plurality of known state variables, and a time varying mode vector that is time dependent.
US07689295B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring and control of a system is disclosed. The method and apparatus include providing a plurality of sensors, a table, and a network processor. The sensors monitor attributes of the system. The table includes a plurality of entries. Each of the entries indicates at least one action to be taken in response to a portion attributes having particular values. The network processor is coupled with the sensors and with the table. The network processor receives from the sensors a plurality of statuses for the attributes. The network processor further determines at least one entry of the entries to access based upon the statuses and accesses the at least one entry to determine a corresponding action.
US07689284B2
A pseudounipolar stimulator lead for anchoring to a digestive organ is provided.
US07689280B1
A method of predicting a patient's response to multi-chamber pacing by implanting at least three sensing electrodes, measuring across at least two different impedance vectors of the heart via the three electrodes to obtain at least two impedance signals, and evaluating the at least two impedance signals for indications of contractile dysynchrony. Contractile dysynchrony indicates that the patient is likely to have a positive response to multi-chamber pacing. Also an implantable cardiac stimulation device with an implantable housing, a stimulation pulse generator positioned within the housing, at least two implantable leads, and a controller communicating with the pulse generator to induce the generator to deliver therapeutic stimulation to a patient's heart. The leads are arranged to measure a physiological parameter along at least two different spatial orientations. The controller evaluates relative timing of the physiological parameters along the different orientations for indications of contractile synchrony of the patient's heart.
US07689269B2
System, method and apparatus wherein a probe employing non-imagining optics is utilized in conjunction with a fluorescing nanocrystal tracer at the body of a patient. Excitation components within the probe working end are utilized to excite the nanocrystals to fluoresce at wavelengths in the near infrared region, such fluorescent energy is homogenized by interacting with involved tissue to provide a uniform fluorescing intensity over the surface of a photo-detector. Initialization and background determination procedures are described along with a technique for determining statistically significant levels of fluorescing activity.
US07689268B2
Spectral variation contributed from the absorbance of unwanted correlated signals, such as blood at variable pathlengths between an in vivo catheter optic probe and a coronary vessel wall is an obstacle in the detection of vulnerable plaque. Preprocessing methods are described to reduce the impact of blood upon the spectral signal, based on the principles of Orthogonal Subspace Projection (OSP) and Generalized Least Square (GLS). The multivariate discrimination models used on the processed spectral information reduce the number of independent factors that include contributions from blood. The disclosed chemometric processing including preprocessing methods provide for in vivo spectral detection of medical analytes within the human body and in particular within the coronary vessel wall. A demonstration of how the preprocessing methods impact a discrimination modeling technique is provided, how the blood filters were developed and optimized, and finally how the OSP and GLS blood filters correct the spectral signal and improve the discrimination results of the models.
US07689261B2
A method includes receiving a multi-phase axial cardiac dataset, receiving a selection of a phase from a user, when the received selection is systole, generating an endocardial volume of a left ventricle at an end systole phase without further user intervention, and when the received selection is diastole, generating an endocardial volume of the left ventricle at an end diastole phase without further user intervention.
US07689254B2
A mobile radio configuration for a motor vehicle has a vehicle-mounted terminal that is firmly installed in the vehicle. The terminal has, or is connected to, a mobile radio module linked with an antenna and a Bluetooth module. The system further includes a radio terminal that is provided with a SIM and a Bluetooth module. A Bluetooth connection can be established between the vehicle-mounted terminal an the mobile radio terminal, via which connection the SIM data can be transferred into the firmly installed terminal which then logs onto the mobile radio network using the SIM data. The mobile radio terminal functions as a handset of the vehicle-mounted terminal and the useful data are exchanged via the Bluetooth modules.
US07689253B2
A vehicle communication system facilitates hands-free interaction with a mobile device in a vehicle or elsewhere. Users interact with the system by speaking to it. The system processes text and processes commands. The system supports Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free use. The system handles telephone calls, email, and SMS text messages. The user can customize the device via a user profile stored on an Internet web server.
US07689252B2
An information processing system includes an information providing apparatus for providing a service, and a mobile terminal for receiving the service from the information providing apparatus. The information providing apparatus includes a plurality of directional antennas arranged in a predetermined space and forming at least one particular area in which communication coverage areas of the directional antennas overlap each other, and a plurality of data transmitting units for transmitting predetermined data to the mobile terminal in the particular area using the directional antennas thereof. The mobile terminal includes a data receiving unit for receiving in the particular area the predetermined data that the data transmitting unit has transmitted via the directional antenna having the particular area as the communication coverage area, and a data processing unit for processing the predetermined data received by the data receiving unit.
US07689247B2
A wireless communication system comprises a mobile station in communication with an infrastructure that supports multiple radio frequency (RF) band classes. When the infrastructure receives a request to originate a call from the mobile station via a first radio frequency (RF) band of the multiple RF bands, the infrastructure determines whether to attempt to assign the mobile station to an RF band other than the first RF band. In response to determining to attempt to assign the mobile station to an RF band other than the first RF band, the infrastructure retrieves RF traffic channel decision-related data maintained by the infrastructure before performing further call processing and determines whether the mobile station may be inter-band re-directed based on the RF traffic channel decision-related data. When the mobile station may be inter-band re-directed, the infrastructure re-directs the mobile station to a second RF band of the multiple RF bands.
US07689246B2
A wireless communications network participant comprising: a plurality of communications subsystems, each subsystem being arranged to transmit and/or receive signals under a different telecommunications standard; means for generating a clock signal; and scheduling means for sending commands to at least one of the subsystems for its or their operation, the scheduling means deducing the timing of the commands relative to the clock signal.
US07689245B2
A system and method of providing a location-based translation service is disclosed. A wireless device receives from a wireless network an updated priority target language list according to the location of the wireless device. The wireless device and/or wireless network are capable of automatic speech recognition (ASR), text-to-speech (TTS) services and language translation services. A language and location database module associates probable target languages in a given area. The wireless network node receives the location of the wireless device through a network-based location means or through a GPS system and compares the location of the wireless device to the language and location database. The wireless network transmits to the wireless device an updated priority language list based on the data in the language and location database such that the wireless device pre-selects the most likely target language if the user launches the language translation application. When the user launches the language translation application, the selection of the target language is simplified since the most likely target language is pre-selected.
US07689244B2
A mobile communication terminal with dedicated keys for controlling an integrated functional component such as an audio player, in which the dedicated keys are situated at convenient positions for use. The mobile communication terminal includes a housing that accommodates parts which enable wireless communications with an external device and has an audio player therein. The terminal includes a control key assembly positioned on at least one lateral side of the housing to enable a user to operate the audio player. The position of the control key assembly assists the user in pressing the keys using his thumb, forefinger, middle finger and third finger. The position of the control key assembly also enables a wide auxiliary display to be positioned on the upper surface of the housing, e.g., on the outer surface of the upper housing.
US07689242B2
The present invention relates to a device for receiving signals in a wireless cellular OFDM system, in which data symbols are transmitted in frequency subcarriers and timeslots. The present invention further relates to a method for channel estimation in such a device. According to the present invention, a channel estimation on the basis of received pilot symbols is performed, whereby the channel estimation for data symbols between pilot symbols is performed by means of a filter, said filter being selected from a set of filters on the basis of an interference reference value.
US07689241B2
A transmission power control method for controlling a transmission power of an E-RGCH for uplink user data transmitted from a cell controlled by a radio base station to a mobile station, includes: notifying, from a radio network controller to at least one radio base station controlling a first cell and a second cell, offsets between the transmission power of the E-RGCH and a transmission power of a DPCH, when a mobile station is performing a soft-handover with the first and second cell; determining, at the first cell, a transmission power of a first E-RGCH based on a notified offset, and transmitting the first E-RGCH to the mobile station using the determined transmission power; and determining, at the second cell, transmission power of a second E-RGCH based on a notified offset, and transmitting the second E-RGCH to the mobile station using the determined transmission power.
US07689230B2
A node for communications in a transportation network comprises a processor, a memory, a communication device, and a set of instructions executable by the processor for: extracting information from a first message, making a first determination based at least in part on the information; and making a second determination as to whether a second message should be sent based on the first determination.
US07689229B2
A limited-access environment is established to which admittance is controlled by an authority. Carrying of unapproved wireless communication devices into the environment is prohibited. Approved wireless communication devices are distributed, e.g. rented, under the authority's control for use within the environment. Rental fees may be collected for use of the device. The approved device may be specially configured to comply with rules applicable to the environment and/or to provide environment-relevant information, such as scoring and other information in context of a golf tournament event. The device may be specially configured with advertisements or other advertising indicia indicating sponsorship, etc., thereby providing the authority with advertising-related revenues. The device may include global positioning system (GPS) hardware and/or software for determining a physical location of the device relative to the earth, and software for providing information content as a function of such location information.
US07689220B2
A radio communication terminal according to the present invention includes: a transmitter-receiver configured to transmit voice and image data to a destination communication terminal, and to receive the voice and image data from the destination communication terminal; a connection processor configured to control a handoff between communication modes of which communication capabilities are different from each other; and a transmission controller configured to control the transmission of voice or image data by the transmitter-receiver, and/or the transmission of voice or image data by the destination communication terminal according to a communication capability of a communication mode at a destination of handoff, when the connection processor performs the handoff in a case where the voice and image data are being transmitted to and received from the destination communication terminal through the transmitter-receiver.
US07689218B2
A method includes provisioning a multi-mode wireless communications terminal with at least one system priority list (SPL) having information that identifies a plurality of wireless network system types and, for each identified wireless network system type, at least one wireless network of that type. The method selects from the SPL a wireless network for service selectively based on one of a manually specified priority, a priority specified automatically and a priority that is specified for use automatically only during a power-on mode of operation.
US07689217B2
A radio receiver (300) having a multi-state variable threshold automatic gain control (AGC) for fast channel scanning acquisition includes an amplifier (303) having an automatic gain control (AGC) for controlling the gain of a receiver analog signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (311) is used for converting the receiving analog signal to a digital signal while a digital signal processor (DSP) (325) operates to process the digital signal. A signal magnitude estimator (315) in an AGC controller (313) provides a signal strength estimate of the received signal. The AGC controller (313) then sets the receiver amplifier (303) for an open-loop AGC operational mode and sets a first threshold for triggering an interrupt service request (ISR). This ISR is provided the DSP (325) and the host processor (327) if a radio frequency (RF) signal is detected above a first threshold during a priority scan of a priority channel to minimize interruptions in audio during priority scan.
US07689216B2
In one illustrative scanning and decoding method, a signal strength level of an RF signal on an RF channel is measured for a plurality of RF channels of an RF band. The act of measuring a signal strength level is repeated at least one time to obtain at least one other signal strength level of the RF signal. Subsequently, an averaging function is completed with use of the signal strength level and the at least one other signal strength level for identifying an averaged signal strength level of the RF signal. At least one optimal RF signal is then identified based on the averaged signal strength levels of the RF signals on the RF channels. In between the repeated acts of measuring signal strength levels of the RF signals, and prior to identifying the averaged signal strength levels, control information is decoded on at least one of the RF channels and stored in memory. A wireless communication network is selected for communication with use of the control information stored in the memory which corresponds to one of the at least one optimal RF signal. In this manner, the mobile station expeditiously obtains the control information for network selection or other purposes prior to completing the averaging of the signal strength levels.
US07689211B2
A secure login method for a wireless local area network is implemented using a first wireless terminal that has already been logged in to the wireless local area network and that has obtained a settings value, and a second wireless terminal that has yet to be logged in to the wireless local area network and that has a public key and a secret key conforming to an asymmetric public key technique. The method includes: (A) enabling the second wireless terminal to send the public key to the first wireless terminal; (B) enabling the first wireless terminal to encrypt the settings value into an encrypted text using the public key and to send the encrypted text to the second wireless terminal; and (C) enabling the second wireless terminal to decrypt the encrypted text using the secret key so as to recover the original settings value that serves as a basis for logging in to the wireless local area network.
US07689203B2
The present invention discloses a method for implementing roaming charging, including: a proxy CRF is configured in the PLMN; a terminal uses bearer resources or packet data services in the currently visited PLMN to provide information for selecting charging rules for the home CRF through the proxy CRF in the PLMN, the home CRF selects the charging rules according to the information and provides the charging rules for the TPF serving the current terminal. The present invention also provides a system for implementing roaming charging, which includes a TPF, a home CRF in the terminal's home PLMN and a proxy CRF in the PLMN other than the terminal's home PLMN. When the terminal is roaming and utilizing the bearer resources or packet data services in the currently visited PLMN, the problem of addressing among the functions when implementing the data flow based charging procedure based on FBC mechanism is solved.
US07689200B1
An emergency call system comprises a control system and a location system. The control system associates emergency call processing parameters with individual ones of a plurality of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). The location system receives a call request for an emergency call placed by a mobile communication device. The emergency call is to be handled by one of the PSAPs. In response to the call request, the location system determines the emergency call processing parameters that are associated the one of the PSAPs handling the emergency call. The location system uses these associated emergency call processing parameters to process the emergency call.
US07689197B2
A portable audio system includes a housing. A docking cradle includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the electronic audio circuit. The docking cradle is mechanically coupled to the housing such that the docking cradle is capable of being rotated horizontally between an open position in which the connector is external to the housing and a closed position.
US07689196B2
Techniques for performing timer-based sleep to extend sleep time and thus battery life for a terminal in a wireless communication system. The likelihood of data traffic may be related to recent usage. If recent usage indicates that data traffic is unlikely, then the terminal can continue to maintain the link but monitor the signals from the system at a reduced rate. In one method, the probability of data traffic for the terminal is initially estimated (e.g., based on time since last activity and a particular usage model). A timer value is then determined based on the estimated probability of data traffic. The timer value may be modified based on an event, which may relate to link maintenance, hand-off, and so on. Sleep is then performed for the duration corresponding to the unmodified or modified timer value and may extend past one or more designated paging slots.
US07689191B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit having a built-in PLL circuit which has two charge pump circuits for charging and discharging capacitive elements of a loop filter in response to signals generated by a phase comparator circuit. One of the two charge pump circuits has current sources which generate current values smaller than those generated by current sources of the other charge pump circuit. The loop filter has a first capacitive element connected to a charge/discharge node, and a second capacitive element connected to the charge/discharge node through a resistive element. The first capacitive element is charged and discharged by the one charge pump circuit, while the second capacitive element is charged and discharged by the other charge pump circuit. A charging current source of the one charge pump circuit operates simultaneously with a discharging current source of the other charge pump circuit, i.e., the charge pump circuits operate in opposite phase.
US07689189B2
A method and circuit for receiving a radio frequency signal by receiving and amplifying the radio frequency signal to produce a received signal and generating first and second clock signals corresponding to first and second channel signals, respectively, of the received signal and multiplying the received signal with the clock signals to obtain the channel signals. Pre-selectivity filtering of the received signal is performed by filtering the first channel using a first impedance, filtering the second channel using a second impedance, and converting the first and second impedances with respect to one another through a first gyrator. Amplitude limiting of the first and second channels is performed to obtain first and second amplitude limited channels. Poly-phase selectivity filtering of the first and second amplitude limited channels is performed to obtain first and second selectivity filtered channels. The selectivity filtered channels are demodulated to obtain a data signal.
US07689187B2
A dual input low noise amplifier (LNA) for multi-band frequency operation is disclosed. The dual input LNA (100) simultaneously operates in two amplifier configurations for the two inputs (101 and 103), of a first frequency band and a second frequency band, to produce a common output (113). Matching networks (102 and 104) receive and pass the inputs (101 and 103) to a transistor device (106). The transistor device is coupled to a series resonant circuit (108) at a first input node (107) to ground AC signal energy from a second input node (109) of the transistor device. The grounding causes the transistor device to simultaneously amplify and combine the signals at the first and the second input nodes to produce the common output of the first frequency band and the second frequency band at a common output node (111) of the transistor device.
US07689185B2
An apparatus and method for estimating an initial frequency offset in a mobile communication system in which a user equipment (UE) performs initial cell search in order to identify a Node B with which the UE can exchange data is provided. The apparatus comprises a memory for storing a plurality of pulse duration modulation (PDM) hypotheses and storing the PDM hypotheses therein; a step#1 cell searcher for performing a step#1 cell search on each of the PDM hypotheses through a primary synchronization channel and outputting the cell search result to the memory; and an initial frequency offset estimator for determining an initial frequency offset estimation value from the cell search results for the PDM hypotheses.
US07689179B2
Provided are an amplifier section in which N amplifiers (N is an integer of 2 or more) are serially connected to one another, and which performs an amplitude modulation on an input signal using an amplitude signal, which is a control signal; and M distortion compensation apparatuses (M is a natural number satisfying M
US07689174B2
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a baseband processing module, a GPS receiver, an RF section, and an interface module. The GPS receiver module is coupled to recover a plurality of coarse/acquisition (C/A) signals and a plurality of navigation messages from a plurality of down converted GPS signals. The RF section is coupled to convert an inbound RF voice signal into the inbound voice symbol stream; convert the outbound voice symbol stream into an outbound RF voice signal; convert an inbound RF data signal into the inbound data symbol stream; convert the outbound data symbol stream into an outbound RF data signal; and convert a plurality of GPS RF signals into the plurality of down converted GPS signals.
US07689159B2
A sheet transport apparatus includes a pair of rollers for transporting a sheet and a sheet detection device for detecting the sheet transported by the pair of rollers. The sheet detection device includes a flag that is displaceable when urged by the sheet transported by the pair of rollers and a single-chip acceleration sensor attached to the flag to detect the arrival of the sheet. When the sheet is brought into contact with the flag to rotate the flag, the acceleration sensor detects the roll acceleration of the flag so as to determine the timing of stopping the pair of rollers on the basis of a detection signal.
US07689158B2
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and an original reading device disposed on top of the apparatus main body. A sheet supply cassette, a sheet discharge tray, an original feed tray, and the original discharge tray are oriented such that their lengthwise directions are aligned with the first horizontal direction, and are arranged to overlap with one another in the vertical direction. A pair of side walls is disposed at both widthwise ends of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray. The both widthwise ends of these components are formed as edge portions. The pair of side walls covers an entire length of each of the edge portions, thereby supporting all of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray.
US07689154B2
An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming section, an image carrying section, a transferring section, a recording material conveying section, a heat fixing section, a wet fixing section, and a recording material supply section. In the image forming apparatus, a surface temperature of fixing roller in the heat fixing section is detected by a temperature sensor and according to a detected result, the recording material conveying section selects either one of the heat fixing section and the wet fixing section as a conveyance destination for a recording material carrying an unfixed toner image.
US07689152B2
An image forming apparatus may include a first transfer section for transferring a toner image, formed on an image carrier by utilizing a charging section, an exposing section and a developing section, onto a belt shaped intermediate transfer member; and a second transfer section for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a recording material by applying an electric field between a second transfer roller being provided outside the intermediate transfer member and a backup roller being provided inside the intermediate transfer member, the second transfer roller and the backup roller sandwiching the intermediate recording member and the recording material. The second transfer roller may be grounded and a bias voltage may be applied to the backup roller, and a second charging section for charging a surface of the second transfer roller with a predetermined polarity may be included.
US07689151B2
A multi-color image-forming apparatus having image-forming sections for a plurality of different colors can include an optical sensor having a light-casting section that casts single polarized light and a light-receiving section that receives polarized light different from the cast light. A pattern for detecting toner positions can be used in which toner having high reflectance to a particular light emission wavelength is independently formed. In addition, other patterns in which toner having low reflectance to the particular light emission wavelength are partially formed on a central portion of the pattern of high reflection toner by using the high reflection toner as a foundation. The apparatus can detect each toner pattern by the optical sensor to correct the color shift of each color.
US07689148B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a photosensitive drum assembly. The drum assembly has a photosensitive drum, a driven section integral with the photosensitive drum, and a driving section which transmits a driving force to the driven section to rotate the photosensitive drum. Either one of the driven section and the driving section comprises a contact face, which constitutes a part of a plane including a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum. The other of the driven section and the driving section comprises a single boss, which is substantially in parallel with the rotation axis and contacts the contact face.
US07689146B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the apparatus, includes (a) a plurality of mounting portions for detachably mounting process cartridges, respectively, the process cartridges each including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer for use by the developing roller to develop the electrostatic latent image, a developer supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing roller from the developer accommodating portion, a sealing member for unsealably sealing the developer supply opening, and unsealing means for unsealing the developer supply opening by removing the sealing member from the developer supply opening; (b) a motor; and (c) driving force transmitting means for selectively transmitting a driving force from the motor to the unsealing means to unseal the developer supply openings of the process cartridges mounted to the mounting portions.
US07689141B2
A reassembled laser printer toner cartridge and method of manufacture including a cartridge seal assembly in which the remains of an OEM laser printer toner cartridge's toner hopper pull seal strip(s) is left in position, or a substitute conductive strip is put in the same position to simulate the OEM pull seal strip(s) if the OEM strips have been damaged or are missing in order to enable a repaired or remanufactured cartridge to cooperate with the printer in detecting measuring and displaying the amount of toner consumed from the cartridge and shut the printer down, once the toner cartridge is empty, and a toner cartridge hopper foam seal strip assembly that covers the remnants of the OEM seal strips and provides a seal to prevent leakage of toner from the re-filled toner cartridge.
US07689140B2
A blade cleaning jig includes a cleaning portion and a gripping portion. The cleaning portion includes a support body of stainless steel or the like and polishing tape provided on the upper face of this support body, and moreover a cushioning material is inserted between the support body and the polishing tape. A protective member for preventing damage to the surface of a developer roller is attached to the entire lower face of the support body. This protective member is attached bent at a circumferential end portion such that the protective member covers from the lower face of the support body via a circumferential edge portion to an upper face circumferential edge portion.
US07689132B2
An interference-rejection coding method for an optical wireless communication system and such an optical wireless communication system are provided. The coding method uses delay modulation, block code techniques and filtering to reduce the low frequency interference from light sources. A plurality of codewords from the block codes are reserved for performing digital data recovery. The invention removes the need of analog clock data recovery circuit, and does not require complex hardware for realization. Therefore, it can be applied to a wide range of applications, such as optical WLAN, data transmission of medical facilities, wireless communication in the aircraft, encrypted data transmission network, and low-priced transmission interfaces.
US07689126B2
A wavelength dispersion compensation control method determining whether a clock component is contained in an optical signal received from an optical transmission path and, if a clock component if contained in the optical signal, extracting the clock component, and stopping control of a variable wavelength dispersion compensator when no clock component is extracted.
US07689125B2
An optical processing method includes: receiving an optical signal from an optical system, wherein the optical signal is distorted by frequency-dependent polarization effects in the optical system; spatially dispersing frequency components of the distorted optical signal on a spatial light modulator (SLM); and independently adjusting the polarization transfer matrix of multiple regions of the SLM to reduce the distortion of the optical signal. A related optical processing method includes: providing a precompensation signal indicative of frequency-dependent polarization effects in a downstream optical system; spatially dispersing frequency components of an optical signal on a spatial light modulator (SLM); and independently adjusting the polarization transfer matrix of multiple regions of the SLM to at least partially precompensate the optical signal for distortions caused by the frequency-dependent polarization effects in the downstream optical system. Another related optical processing method includes: providing a model of the frequency-dependent polarization effects; spatially dispersing frequency components of the optical signal on a spatial light modulator (SLM); and independently adjusting the polarization transfer matrix of multiple regions of the SLM based on the model to emulate the optical signal transmission.
US07689123B2
A method and system includes at least one interconnect hub, connecting the at least one interconnect hub to a plurality of audio connection devices to form a network of audio connection devices with the interconnect hub at the center of the ring. The audio connection devices are connected to each other through the at least one interconnect hub, and data is synchronously transmitted between at least two of the audio connection devices through the at least one interconnect hub.
US07689122B2
A signal detect circuit includes a signal strength measuring differential output linear amplifier. A positive peak detection circuit is coupled to the positive output terminal of the linear amplifier and generates a signal that represents a peak magnitude of a signal received from the positive output terminal. Likewise, a negative peak detection circuit is coupled to the negative output terminal of the linear amplifier and generates a signal that represents a peak magnitude of a signal received from the negative output terminal. Upon power up of the signal detect circuit, a comparison circuit detects when the positive and negative peak signal magnitudes has both exceed respective values at least once. Once this occurs, the comparison circuit compares an interpolation of the positive peak signal and the negative peak signal with the value. If the interpolated signal falls below the value, the comparison circuit generates a signal representing that no signal is being received.
US07689121B2
An optical connection path surveillance device for a transparent optical network includes analysis means (80, 81) adapted to detect node signatures carried by an optical signal in transit at a point of said network, each node signature including information uniquely associated with a switching node of the network. The analysis means include calculation means (81) adapted to determine a number of hops from said detected node signatures and error detection means (81) adapted to compare said number of hops to a predetermined threshold in order to detect a routing error in relation to said optical signal if said threshold is exceeded. In one embodiment, a surveillance device detects looped paths on the basis of the detected node signatures.
US07689119B2
An image processing device including an optical system, a storage device, a position detecting device, and a direction detecting device. An optical system obtains an image of an object, and a storage device stores a predetermined position of an object to be shot. The position detecting device detects a current position of the image processing device, and the direction detecting device detects the directional orientation of the image processing device. A processor then determines whether an obtained object of shooting corresponds to the object to be shot by comparing signals output from said position detecting device and said direction detecting device with the stored position of the object to be shot.
US07689114B2
An imaging device equipped with an imaging system includes an imaging lens optical system which images an object, a flash emitting unit which synchronizes imaging in the imaging system to emit a flash having not less than a prescribed luminance in a charged state not less than a prescribed charged state by power to be charged, and a control unit which determines a charging amount of the charged state of the flash emitting unit and which controls imaging to be performed by using the flash emitting unit with an imaging sensitivity of the imaging lens optical system set in accordance with the charging amount of the charged state in imaging by the imaging lens optical system.
US07689113B2
A photographing apparatus and method employ an imaging device arranged including a matrix of pixels each which accumulates accumulation charges according to an amount of light incident thereon, an accumulation charge read device for reading the accumulation charges at a time difference based on the position of each row or column of the pixels, and a reset device resetting an entirety of the accumulation charges of the imaging device before a main exposure. The photographing apparatus and method each further employ a reset timing change device capable of changing a reset timing for resetting the accumulation charges with respect to a synchronization pulse corresponding to a time for reading the accumulation charges.
US07689110B2
A cam pin (16) and a demating prevention pin (35) that are provided in a driving frame (15) and have an identical shape are allowed to mate with a cam groove (18) and a demating prevention groove (36) that are provided in a cam frame (17), respectively. A first protrusion (37) is provided on at least one side in an optical axis direction of a portion of the demating prevention groove (36) with which the demating prevention pin (35) mates when the driving frame (15) is advanced. When an external force is applied to the driving frame (15), a cylindrical portion (35f) of the demating prevention pin (35) and the first protrusion (37) come into contact with each other. This prevents the cam pin (16) from demating from the cam groove (18). The cam pin (16) and the demating prevention pin (35) are made of common components, making it possible to reduce the number of components.
US07689105B2
A system and method in which read information is calculated with additional information as a coefficient and has superior in quality to basic information. The read information contains a larger amount of information than the basic information. So, even if an attempt is made to record the read information as it is to any other recording medium, the recording medium having a sufficiently large capacity for storage of the read information. Thus, copy of recorded data in the recording medium to any other recording medium is difficult.
US07689091B1
A fiber clamp (220) for clamping an optical fiber assembly (16) includes a clamp housing (230) and a member mover (228). The clamp housing (230) includes a base contact area (234) and a flexible member (238) that urges the optical fiber assembly (16) against the base contact area (234) to retain the optical fiber assembly (16). Further, the flexible member (238) includes a member contact area (238B) that engages the optical fiber assembly (16), and a member attachment area (238A). The member mover (228) selectively moves the member contact area (238B) relative to the member attachment area (238A) so that the optical fiber assembly (16) can be easily inserted between the base contact area (234) and the member contact area (238B). Additionally, the base contact area (234), and the flexible member (238) can be made of a one-piece, substantially homogeneous, unitary structure. With this design, the fiber clamp (220) can be made with minimal stack-up of tolerances. Further, the careful manufacture of the fiber clamp (220) guarantees that the forces on all contact areas (234) (238B) between the fiber or ferrule and the fiber clamp (220) are essentially the same. Moreover, the value of the forces is defined by geometry choices and material selection.
US07689086B2
Optical devices with versatile spectral attributes are provided that are implemented with one or more modulated and homogeneous layers to realize leaky-mode resonance operation and corresponding versatile spectral-band design. The first and/or higher multiple evanescent diffraction orders are applied to excite one or more leaky modes. The one- or two-dimensional periodic structure, fashioned by proper distribution of materials within each period, can have a resulting symmetric or asymmetric profile to permit a broadened variety of resonant leaky-mode devices to be realized. Thus, the attributes of the optical device permit, among other things, adjacent, distinct resonance frequencies or wavelengths to be produced, convenient shaping of the reflection and transmission spectra for such optical device to be accomplished, and the wavelength resonance locations to be precisely controlled so as to affect the extent to which the leaky modes interact with each other. Further, the profile asymmetry allows for the precise spectral spacing at interactive leaky modes so as to provide greater flexibility in optical device design.
US07689075B2
An optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer device is described that comprises a substrate having a plurality of wavelength selecting filters. The filters are arranged to provide conversion between a combined beam comprising a plurality of wavelength channels and a plurality of separate beams each comprising a subset of said plurality of wavelength channels. Hollow core waveguides are formed in said substrate to guide light between the wavelength selecting filters. An add/drop multiplexer is also described.
US07689073B2
A device employing at least one wavelength sieve/combiner that operates on discrete wavelength units and is optically interposed between an array of fibers and an array of micro mirrors which may be configured to act as in a multiplexing mode, a demultiplexing mode, a broadcast mode, and combinations of such modes. Each wavelength sieve/combiner can split a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) beam into various discrete wavelength unit beams, combine various discrete wavelength unit beams into a WDM beam, or cause multiple copies of part or all of the wavelengths to be supplied as outputs. Typically, each fiber is associated with one wavelength sieve/combiner. Preferably, the beams between a wavelength sieve/combiner and the micro mirror array should be converging to the plane of the micro mirror array.
US07689066B2
An optical modulator is provided for modulating light propagating in a three-dimensional optical waveguide 5 by applying a voltage thereto. The optical modulator has the three-dimensional optical waveguide 5 including at least one pair of branch optical waveguides 5c and 5d, a multiplexing part 5e of the branch optical waveguides and an emission part 5f provided in the downstream of the multiplexing part, modulation electrodes 3A, 3B and 4 for applying a signal voltage for modulating light propagating in the three-dimensional optical waveguide 5, and guiding waveguides 6A and 6B for guiding primary mode light from the multiplexing part. Thickness of the substrate is 20 μm or less at least under the modulation electrodes, and an operation point of the optical modulator is controlled by changing, based on light output from the guiding waveguides, DC bias applied onto the modulation electrodes.
US07689064B2
A system and method for generating collections of media are provided. A media collage is constructed such that all its contained media, such as digital images, are selected and organized according to an associated characteristic. Sequential media collages can be generated by the same selection and organization approach.
US07689058B2
A method of producing a plurality of filter kernels comprised of filter coefficients for use in a sub-pixel rendering operation comprises calculating a plurality of filter coefficients for each filter kernel by dividing a spatial area of an input image that is overlapped by a portion of a spatial rendering area by a total area of the spatial rendering area using floating point arithmetic. The method further comprises multiplying each filter coefficient by a divisor to produce a filter product such that a sum of all filter products produces a filter sum that equals the divisor. Then a binary search operation is performed to find a round off point for the filter sum such that when each filter coefficient is converted to an integer, a sum of the filter coefficients equals the divisor. The filter coefficients are then converted to integers using the round off point.
US07689053B2
An image processing method is described which makes it possible to obtain an image which has a high quality and resolution without leaving boundaries of adjacent blocks detectable even in the case where the image has already been subjected to a processing of resolution enhancement (enlargement) of the image using a set of fractal parameters. The image processing apparatus 100 includes: an image division unit 114 which divides an input image IN into range blocks using L (L is an integer of 2 or more) numbers of division patterns so that at least one of the boundaries of each region in a division pattern varies from the boundaries of each region in the other division patterns; a parameter calculation unit 103 which calculates a set of fractal parameters of each range block of the input image IN so as to obtain L numbers of fractal parameters; an image transformation unit 107 which generates L numbers of fractal transformed images using, one by one, the modified sets of fractal parameters obtained according to enlargement ratios; and an image synthesis unit 112 which synthesizes the L numbers of transformed images so as to generate a single synthesized image. The image transformation unit 107 and the image synthesis unit 112 repeat the transformation and synthesis using in sequence the respective sets of fractal parameters until this synthesized image satisfies the convergence condition.
US07689047B2
A method of compressing an image according to an image compression algorithm includes sequentially receiving pixel values into a buffers bank in line-by-line order. The image includes a plurality of pixels arranged into lines and columns. Each pixel has a pixel value associated therewith. Each line has L pixels. The image compression algorithm operates on blocks of pixels, each block having N lines and M columns. The method also includes storing each block-line of pixel values in a buffer of the buffers bank. A block-line includes M consecutive pixels of a line. The method also includes, for each block-line, storing a pointer to the buffer in which the block-line is stored and reading block-lines out of the buffers bank to a compression engine, wherein the block-lines are read out of the buffers bank in an order that is different from the line-by-line order in which the block-lines were received into the buffers bank. The method further includes compressing the image according to the image compression algorithm and displaying the image.
US07689045B2
An image capture apparatus generates video data from captured images, and generates a video PES (packetized elementary stream) from the video data. The image capture apparatus converts the video PES into a MPEG-2 program stream, and converts the video PES into a MPEG-2 transport stream. The image capture apparatus records the MPEG-2 program stream on a random-access recording medium, and transmits the MPEG-2 transport stream to an external device. The conversion from the video PES into the MPEG-2 program stream and the conversion from the video PES into the MPEG-2 transport stream are performed in parallel thereby enabling the image capture apparatus to perform the recording of the MPEG-2 program stream and the transmission of the MPEG-2 transport stream in parallel.
US07689043B2
A camera A produces a 3D natural image B which is re-oriented and repositioned at N to predetermined parameters. Different processes C, D, E extract different features from the image to provide different processed images. The data space occupied by the processed images is reduced, for example by Principle Component Analysis, at F, G, H and the reduced processed images are combined at O to provide an image key I representative of the image B. The image key I is compared at J with stored image keys L of known images, and the output comparison is sorted at K to produce a final list M of potential matches. In a verification process, just a single image key L may be compared. The processed images at C, D, E may alternatively be combined prior to a single subspace reduction and/or optimisation method. 2D data may be combined with or used instead of the 3D data.
US07689023B2
In a method and system and machine-readable medium, colors in an image (200) are unmixed (202) using a matrix X=AS, where A is a ns. ×nd matrix of spectral definitions, where ns is the number of spectral components and nd is the number of dyes into which the image is decomposed, and where S is a nd×l matrix of amounts of each dye at every pixel, where l is the number of pixels; the matrix X is constrained for solution by an unsupervised matrix decomposition method having constraints consistent with properties of an additive color model; and nd is determined. A texture is determined to identify areas of interest. Further processing may automatically measure cell dye concentration in the determined regions of interest.
US07689015B2
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises an imaging condition setting unit, a receiving unit, an image reconstructing unit, an image distortion correcting unit and an image correction estimating unit. The imaging condition setting unit sets mutually different image conditions. The receiving unit receives magnetic resonance signals from an imaging area according to the image conditions. The image reconstructing unit reconstructs a plurality of image data corresponding to the image conditions respectively based on the magnetic resonance signals. The image distortion correcting unit corrects distortions of the plurality of the image data based on a magnetic field distribution on the imaging area. The image correction estimating unit estimates whether a correction of at least one of the plurality of the image data is appropriate based on a plurality of corrected image data.
US07689008B2
A system and method are provided for detecting one or both eyes of the driver of a vehicle. The system includes a video imaging camera oriented to generate images of the driver's face. The system also includes a video processor for processing the images generated with the video imaging camera. Filters are applied to each of potential eye candidates to determine which candidates represent an eye, weighted values are assigned to the filtered eye candidates, and an eye is detected based on the weighting of each eye candidate. According to one aspect, different size patches of potential eye candidates are processed and compared to models.
US07689001B2
The present invention relates to a location recognition device for recognizing a location by a mobile terminal having a camera and a method thereof. In the above method, the location recognition device photographs a location recognition tag storing location recognition information, and measures a distance to the location recognition tag. Subsequently, the location recognition device analyzes an image of the photographed location recognition tag, and recognizes location information corresponding to the location recognition tag and direction information of the photographed location recognition tag. Accordingly, a location of the mobile terminal is measured by using information of the measured distance and the recognized location information and direction information. In this case, an absolute location coordinate or a logic location coordinate is stored in the location recognition tag. In addition, the location recognition tags are arranged so that using the location recognition tags achieves a desired precision in a predetermined physical area.
US07688993B2
A method of embedding watermark data in a two-color image includes assessing the suitability of each of several candidate pixels to embed a bit of watermark data. Candidate pixels for which one pixel directly above, directly below, and immediately to the left and right of the candidate pixel have different colors, are identified. In one embodiment, only a single candidate pixel in each 2×2 block is identified. Suitability of each candidate pixel may be determined based on a relationship of coefficients computed from a binary wavelet or binary lifting transform formed from the image. Data is embedded by inverting suitable pixels. A recipient of the image may assess which blocks contain watermark data, by assessing the suitability of each 2×2 block in the image to embed data and extract data without further information about the data's location.
US07688973B2
According to each embodiment of this invention, an encryption apparatus, decryption apparatus, and key generation apparatus based on a public-key cryptographic scheme whose security is based on the divisor finding problem of obtaining a divisor on an algebraic surface which is a difficult problem that has not been solved by contemporary mathematics are realized by an arrangement using, as a private key, a section D of algebraic curves (divisors) on a fibration X(x, y, t) of an algebraic surface X. This makes it possible to create a public-key cryptographic scheme which can ensure security even in the advent of a quantum computer, can be securely realized by even current computers, and can be realized in a low-power environment.
US07688969B2
An electronic apparatus includes an operation dial, a board disposed at an inner position from the operation dial, a rotary encoder disposed on a surface of the board on the side opposite to the operation dial side, and a connection member which engages with an encoder shaft of the rotary encoder and is connected with the operation dial. The electronic apparatus is capable of reducing a projection of the operation dial from a surface of an operation panel and thus improving design of the electronic apparatus.
US07688968B1
An adaptive analog echo/near-end crosstalk (NEXT) cancellation system includes a selector that outputs a first error control signal when a first receive signal does not include a remotely transmitted signal and a second error control signal when the first receive signal includes a remotely transmitted signal. An echo/NEXT cancellation module communicates with the selector and generates an estimated echo/NEXT signal based on the first error control signal and a first transmit signal when the first receive signal does not include a remotely transmitted signal and based on the second error control signal and the first transmit signal when the first receive signal includes a remotely transmitted signal. A summing module receives the first receive signal and the estimated echo/NEXT signal and generates an echo/NEXT filtered receive signal by subtracting the estimated echo/NEXT signal from the first receive signal.
US07688967B2
A method of facilitating a telephonic response to an electronic message is described. The method includes determining at least one telephone number from a received electronic message, and assigning the determined telephone number dynamically to a button on the telephone to provide a speed dial button on the telephone. Determining the telephone number may include comparing an electronic mail address in an address field of the electronic message with a telephone directory to determine a telephone number associated with the address. If the electronic message is a text or a voice message, determining the telephone number may include parsing a body of the message to determine a telephone number, if present, which has been included into the body of the text message.
US07688959B2
A system and method for allowing remote callers to access a secure telephone network maintains a registry (i.e. a database) of all remote callers that have access to the network. The registry contains an electronic serial number (ESN) and a personal identification number (PIN) for each remote caller. The ESN is typically the serial number of the callers cellular telephone. Alternatively, the ESN is a phone number of the remote caller's telephone. To establish a connection, the remote caller calls a private branch exchange (PBX) of the secure network. Upon receiving the call, the PBX compares the ESN and PIN of the remote caller with the ESN and PIN stored in the registry. If a match is found, the PBX authenticates the remote caller and allows the connection. The remote caller may have full access or access limited by a connection policy.
US07688958B2
The present invention relates to telephone call processing. In one embodiment, a call processing system receives from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information. The call processing system determines whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information and whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted. If the caller identification information is restricted, the call processing system instructs the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user. The call processing system determines whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call, and if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, the call processing system provides at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user.
US07688953B2
Communications rate control is described. The rate control includes receiving a message addressed to a client device of a user. A determination is made as to a category of the message. Data of the message is synchronized between a server and the mobile device in response to one or more of the category and one or more user actions at the client device.
US07688925B2
An IO method and system for bit-deskewing are described. Embodiment includes a computer system with multiple components that transfer data among them. In one embodiment, a system component receives a forward strobe signal and multiple data bit signals from a transmitting component. The receiving component includes a forward strobe clock recovery circuit configurable to align a forward strobe sampling clock so as to improve sampling accuracy. The receiving component further includes at least one data bit clock recovery circuit configurable to align a data bit sampling clock so as to improve sampling accuracy, and to receive a signal from the forward strobe clock recovery circuit that causes the data bit sampling clock to track the forward strobe sampling clock during system operation.
US07688924B2
An integrated circuit device for use in a node of a communication system is provided. The integrated circuit device includes a memory configured to store data written thereto by a receiver associated with the node in accordance with a receiver clock, and to read data therefrom by a transmitter associated with the node in accordance with a transmitter clock. The integrated circuit device also includes a control logic circuit that is in communication with the memory, and is configured to send a control signal to the transmitter to adjust a speed of the transmitter clock responsive to an operating condition of the memory.
US07688921B2
A transmitting apparatus, a transmitting method, a receiving apparatus, a receiving method, a transceiver, a communication apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program in which high quality voice can be decoded. A cellular telephone outputs coded voice data and also supplies uncoded voice sample data to a switching center while a telephone call is not made. Based on voice data used for the previous calculation processing and newly input voice data, the switching center performs calculation processing for quality-improving data for improving the quality of voice to be output from a cellular telephone that receives the coded voice data. The switching center stores the optimal quality-improving data as a user information database in association with the cellular telephone. The cellular telephone decodes the coded voice data based on the optimal quality-improving data supplied from the switching center.
US07688909B2
A radio transmitter includes an orthogonal transformation unit for carrying out an orthogonal transformation on pilot signals having orthogonal relation to each other between transmission antennas and a pilot multiplexing unit multiplexing the pilot signals and transmission data, and a radio receiver includes a channel estimation unit obtaining a channel estimate of a directive multibeam for each of reception antennas, an inverse transformation unit carrying out an inverse transformation of the orthogonal transformation on the obtained channel estimate and a received signal processing unit selectively conducting first processing based on the beam channel estimate in the first mode or second processing based on the channel estimate obtained by the inverse transformation unit in the second mode. This commonizes a common pilot for MIMO (second mode) and individual pilots for AAA (first mode), thus realizing the coexistence of MIMO and AAA without leading to a reduction of throughput.
US07688906B2
Method and embodiments in a multipath wireless communication system employing a wireless frame having alternating cyclic prefixes to reduce inter-symbol interference (ISI) are presented herein.
US07688892B2
In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.
US07688881B2
According to one embodiment taught herein, a method of determining impairment correlations between a plurality of delays of interest for a received CDMA signal comprises generating kernel functions as samples of a net channel response of the received CDMA signal taken at defined chip sampling phases for delay differences between the plurality of delays of interest. In a parametric Generalized Rake (G-Rake) receiver embodiment, the delays of interest represent the delay positions of the fingers being used to characterized received signal. In a chip equalizer receiver embodiment, the delays of interest represent the delay positions of the equalizer taps. The method continues with determining impairment correlations based on convolving the kernel functions. Corresponding receiver circuits, including an impairment correlation estimation circuit configured for parametric G-Rake operation, may be implemented in a variety of communication devices and systems, such as in wireless communication network base stations and mobile stations.
US07688880B2
A high dynamic range low noise direct conversion transmitter within a multimode apparatus having multiple transmit and receive operating modes is described. The direct conversion transmitter can include a digital baseband coupled to a low noise direct conversion stage. A high dynamic range current folding digital to analog converter can be used to convert the digital baseband signals to analog representations. A wide dynamic range variable gain baseband amplifier couples the baseband signal to the direct conversion stage. A controllable passive attenuation stage operates to provide further gain control. Carrier feedthrough can be substantially eliminated using a carrier feedthrough cancellation loop that selectively utilizes one of a plurality of receivers configured for one of the multiple receive modes.
US07688879B2
In a method of forming a beam, data signals and pilot signals are generated by despreading signals that are received by a plurality of antennas, the received signals including a modulated data signal and a modulated pilot signal, respectively. A first covariance matrix is calculated for the pilot signals. A second covariance matrix is calculated for averages of the pilot signals. A weight vector is calculated based on the first and second covariance matrices. A beam forming output signal for forming a beam is generated based on the data signals and the weight vectors. Therefore, an optimal beam may be accurately formed.
US07688872B2
A self-calibrating integrated photonic circuit and a method of controlling the same. In one embodiment, the circuit includes: (1) a substrate, (2) a laser located on the substrate and configured to produce source light at an output frequency, (3) a laser alignment sensor located on the substrate and including: (3a) a reference optical resonator configured to receive the source light, have a null proximate a predetermined center frequency and provide output light as a function of a relationship between the output frequency and the center frequency and (3b) a photodetector configured to provide an electrical signal of a magnitude that is based on the output light and (4) a calibration controller located on the substrate, coupled to the photodetector and configured to adjust the output frequency based on the magnitude.
US07688870B2
Provided is a super luminescent diode having low power consumption due to low threshold current and a high output power in low-current operation, which is suitable for an external cavity laser. The super luminescent diode for use in the external cavity laser is divided into a super luminescent diode (SLD) region and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) region to provide a light source having a low threshold current and a nearly double output power of a conventional SLD.A super luminescent diode-integrated reflective optical amplifier includes a substrate that has a super luminescent diode (SLD) region and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) region for amplifying light generated from the SLD region, an optical waveguide that has a buried heterostructure, the buried heterostructure including an active layer extending over the SLD and SOA regions on the substrate and tapered in the SOA region; a current blocking layer formed around the active layer for blocking a current flow to layers other than the active layer, the current blocking layer including a stack of semiconductor layers having different conductivity types; and a clad layer formed on the optical waveguide and the current blocking layer.
US07688867B1
A dual-mode network storage controller integrated on a chip is connected to a first set of hosts over a block-level storage area network (SAN), and to a second set of hosts over a metadata Ethernet/IP network. The dual-mode storage controller is also connected to one or more storage devices, such as a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID). The storage controller comprises dedicated-hardware metadata translation logic for translating metadata (e.g. file-level) storage commands into block-level storage commands. The storage controller can also include block translation logic for translating logical block-level storage commands into physical block-level storage commands. The storage controller further comprises multiplexing logic for sequentially transmitting to the storage device(s) block level storage commands derived from the commands received from the first set of hosts and the second set of hosts. The storage controller allows the first set of hosts and the second set of hosts to share a single storage device.
US07688866B2
In the communication system which performs the data communication by the discrete multi-tone modem scheme between a plurality of data communication units using the time-division half-duplex communication function, the ratio between the data transmission time suitable for data communication and the quasi-data transmission time dynamically changes within one period. Further, bits are assigned in such a manner that the data of one period can be transmitted during the data transmission time of that period. Dummy bits are assigned to the portions of the data transmission time to which the data to be transmitted has not been assigned.
US07688865B2
Disclosed are a method and system for estimating the skew and offset between two clocks in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a first set of data values representing a forward delay between the first and second clocks, and obtaining a second set of data values representing a negative backward delay between the first and second clocks. The method comprises the further steps of forming a lower convex hull for said first set of data values, and forming an upper convex hull, above the lower convex hull, for said second set of data values. The clock offset and the skew between said first and second clocks are estimated using those convex hulls. In a preferred embodiment, this estimation is made by identifying a best clock line between the first and second convex hulls.
US07688855B2
A method for sending a multi-rate multi-receiver message containing a multi-receiver multi-response aggregate. The multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate is transmitted until a multi-receiver multi-response aggregate embedded within the multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate is encountered. Transmission of the multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate is suspended for a predetermined time period. After the expiration of the predetermined time period, transmission of the multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate resumes.
US07688846B2
In one embodiment, a sensing device (200) can include a transceiver (202) to monitor a communication signal, and a controller (203) communicatively coupled to the transceiver to receive from a Cluster Head (140) a schedule comprising a listening period and an active sensing period. During the listening period, the sensing device can monitor an occupied communication channel of the communication signal. During the active sensing period the sensing device can transmit in the occupied communication channel a test signal. The sensing device can increase a duty cycle of the test signal during repeated transmission, and calculate a correlation between a duration of the occupancy caused by an incumbent transmitting a communication signal in the communication channel and a duration of the test signal. A negative correlation can indicate the presence of an incumbent Carrier Sensing Multiple Access (CSMA) node transmitting a communication signal in the network.
US07688838B1
A method for communication includes inputting from a host processor to a network interface device a sequence of work requests indicative of operations to be carried out by the network interface device with respect to a plurality of the connections. The device looks ahead through the sequence in order to identify at least first and second operations that are to be carried out with respect to one of the connections in response to first and second work requests, respectively, wherein the second work request does not immediately follow the first work request in the sequence. The device loads the context data for the one of the connections from a host memory into a context cache, and performs at least the first and second operations sequentially while the context data are held in the cache.
US07688830B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for fully-distributed packet scheduling in a wireless network. The decoding algorithm with low-density parity-check code is applied in a transmission wireless network to achieve the fully-distributed packet scheduling. In the packet scheduling, only one wireless network node is needed to exchange information and communicate with its neighboring network nodes. Therefore, it is not necessary to estimate the signal to noise ratio, while being eye to eye among the neighboring network nodes. If the network load exceeds the network capacity, the present invention automatically eliminates the most difficult user to reduce the overall network load and diverts the resources to the surviving users.
US07688827B2
A wireless communication method in a wireless communication apparatus, which can exchange data with another wireless communication apparatus via a wireless communication, searches for another wireless communication apparatus, and determines a function of the other wireless communication apparatus. The method selects a communication route required to wirelessly communicate with the other wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the function of the other wireless communication apparatus, and communicates data to the other wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the selected communication route.
US07688810B2
During communication over the network, periods of silence may exist. The system may enable a user at a user terminal to determine one or more events that trigger the addition of a comfort signal. The system may monitor packet transmission to isolate the one or more events. The system may selectively add the comfort signal to the transmission in reaction to the triggering of the one or more events. The comfort signal may be added during periods of silence, as background noise, or during periods of silence and as background noise.
US07688804B2
A method and apparatus are provided for processing a contact with a client within a contact distributor. The method includes the steps of providing a primary SIP back-to-back user agent and an associated secondary SIP back-to-back user agent for each resource of a plurality of resources of the contact distributor and setting up a communication connection between the client and a resource of the plurality of resources through the provided primary back-to-back user agent of the resource. The method further includes the steps of an availability server monitoring the communication connection between the client and the resource, the availability server detecting a failure of the primary back-to-back user agent and the availability server transferring the connection from the primary back-to-back user agent to the associated secondary back-to-back user agent of the resource when the primary back-to-back user agent fails.
US07688802B2
A system includes multiple wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, where each wireless node is configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock. One of the wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master. Each of the other wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node. The time synchronization information received by each of the other wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master.
US07688801B2
Information packets are routed through a distributed routing network by determining a forwarding equivalency class (FEC) for each subscriber unit accessing the network. The FEC to which each subscriber unit belongs is based on the point at which the subscriber unit accesses the network. The forwarding equivalency class for each subscriber unit is updated if the subscriber unit accesses the network at a different point. Information packets are routed from a distribution point by determining the next point connected to the distribution point based on the forwarding equivalency class for the destination subscriber unit specified in the packet.
US07688800B2
An apparatus and method for changing a channel according to direct channel change information transmitted from a broadcasting station. The apparatus includes a broadcast receiver, a tuner and a controller for checking parsed DCC information. The broadcast receiver receives a broadcast signal. The tuner tunes channels and stores the tuned channels in memory. The controller parses DCC information received in the broadcast signal and checks for a target channel included in the DCC information. The controller then changes a channel by selecting one among plural virtual channels according to a predetermined priority when several virtual channels correspond to the target channel.
US07688794B2
A printing system is provided including a plurality of printing devices. Each printing device includes an associated radio frequency identification (RFID) device. The RFID device associated with a first printing device of the plurality of printing devices is operable to sense the presence of an RFID device associated with a second printing device of the plurality of printing devices for sensing the presence of the second printing device.
US07688792B2
A wireless network assigns a single IP address to the wireless device, which assigns this IP address over to a TE2 device coupled to the wireless device. The wireless device derives a private IP address for communication with the TE2 device. The wireless device forwards packets exchanged between the TE2 device and the wireless network using the single IP address. The wireless device exchanges packets with the TE2 device by (1) using the private IP address for outbound packets sent to the TE2 device and (2) performing either address-based routing or packet filtering on inbound packets received from the TE2 device. The wireless device exchanges packets with the wireless network by (1) using the single IP address for outbound packets sent to the wireless network and (2) performing packet filtering on inbound packets received from the wireless network.
US07688783B1
A method and apparatus for mixing Basic Service Set (BSS) and mesh traffic is presented. A same channel or a same radio is shared for mesh traffic and BSS traffic. The sharing of the channel including reserving a channel for BSS traffic by a Mesh Access Point (MAP), the reserving comprising sending a CC-RTS or a CC-CTS addressed to the MAP and/or blocking use of the channel by a BSS stations when the channel is not reserved for BSS traffic, the blocking use of the channel comprising the MAP sending a frame setting a NAV in the BSS. The shared radio is switchable between serving the BSS traffic and serving the mesh traffic.
US07688774B2
An arrangement for cancelling interference from a received signal, comprising: a first radio system and a second radio system employing a time slot structure in data transmission and operating on at least partly the same geographical area as the first radio system. A receiver of the first radio system is configured to control the cancellation of interference from the received signal on the basis of the timing employed in the time slot structure of the second radio system.
US07688764B2
A communication system provides in-band speaker arbitration in a multi-participant communication session by use of RTP floor control messages that include a speaker arbitration command embedded in a data packet header extension.
US07688762B2
In an example embodiment, a number of contending nodes and colliding nodes for a plurality of links of a network is determined. The capacity of each of the plurality of links is determined. A sum of the traffic demand of each of the plurality of links divided the throughput of each of the plurality of links is used to form a cost function for the network. One, or more, of a group consisting of a plurality of frequency assignments, a plurality of transmit powers, and a plurality of clear channel assessment (CCA) values is searched to obtain a global minimum for the cost function. The frequency assignments, transmit powers, and/or CCA values providing the global minimum for the cost function are selected.
US07688727B1
Methods and devices for processing packets are provided. The processing device may Include an input interface for receiving data units containing header information of respective packets; a first module configurable to perform packet filtering based on the received data units; a second module configurable to perform traffic analysis based on the received data units; a third module configurable to perform load balancing based on the received data units; and a fourth module configurable to perform route lookups based on the received data units.
US07688723B1
A system for analyzing at least a portion of a telecommunications network is provided. The system includes a traffic flow analyzer 124 operable to (a) assign a plurality of network components to at least first, second, and third component sets 1216, 1220 and 1224, respectively, wherein the first and second component sets correspond to voice communication endpoints; (b) determine bulk voice traffic flows at least one of generated and received by the first and second component sets and passing through the third component set; and (c) based on the bulk voice traffic flow passing through the third component set, determine a requirement for the third component set to realize a selected grade and/or quality of service.
US07688722B2
A communication apparatus originally transmits data packets via a first channel based on a first beacon interval. A memory thereof records the first beacon interval. A receiving interface thereof receives information of a second channel. A processor thereof determines whether the second channel has been used according to the information. If not, a transmission interface thereof switches the communication channel to the second channel, and transmits data based on the first beacon interval via the second channel in order to solve the problem that packets are delay for transmission or even abandoned due to overload of the beacon network.
US07688715B2
An apparatus for providing duplicated shelf managers in an ATCA system is provided. The apparatus for providing duplicated shelf managers includes a hub/switch in a control backplane to allow a manager to access the duplicated shelf managers all the time from an external network while maintaining the switch configuration defined of the ATCA specification. The hub/switch connects Ethernet ports of the duplicated two shelf managers and Ethernet ports of the two switches at the same time, and connects the two shelf managers and the two switches to the Internet.
US07688714B2
A network data packet routing apparatus with BGP is configured to soft reset an AFI or SAFI, so that forwarding on routes associated with the AFI or SAFI can continue even after an event or error. One approach involves establishing a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peering session between a first node and a second node in a packet-switched network; detecting a BGP condition requiring a reset of a BGP address family indicator (AFI) data structure or a sub-address family indicator (SAFI) data structure, wherein the BGP condition does not affect states of routes in the AFI or SAFI; preserving a BGP state and a forwarding state of the AFI or SAFI; and forwarding data on routes represented in the AFI or SAFI. Soft notification messaging and marking routes as stale facilitates the approach.
US07688712B2
A method and network access point selection logic are described for a redundantly connected industrial LAN node including at least primary and backup network access points. Network connectivity is determined by a redundantly connected node by testing connectivity between the node's primary and backup physical network access points. Upon detecting a loss of connectivity between the redundant node's primary and backup network access points, the node executes access point selection logic, based upon tests of connectivity between the redundantly connected (primary and backup) network access points and a set of nodes on the LAN, to select a preferred/primary one of the redundant access points. Thereafter, the redundantly connected node binds its connections according to primary and backup designations for its redundant network access points.
US07688702B2
A single-sided dual-layer optical disc comprising an optically transparent layer; a first recording layer accessed by a first laser beam; an intermediate layer; and a second recording layer accessed by a second laser beam, wherein the optically transparent layer, the first recording layer, the intermediate layer, and the second recording layer are sequentially disposed in a laser beam incidence direction, wherein a thickness of the optically transparent layer, which is a distance from a light incident surface to the first recording layer, is 550 to 575 μm, wherein a thickness of the intermediate layer, which is a distance between the first and second recording layers, is 29 to 47 μm, and wherein a surface recording density of the second recording layer is at least 3 times that of the first recording layer.
US07688691B2
A signal processing apparatus for an optical disk system which apparatus has a variable gain amplifier that amplifies with a variable gain a light-detected signal obtained from an optical disk on which to perform playback processing so as to make a level of the light-detected signal coincide with a first reference level. The apparatus comprises a comparator that compares the level of the light-detected signal amplified by the variable gain amplifier with the first reference level; a gain adjuster that generates and supplies a control signal to adjust the variable gain according to a result of the comparing to the variable gain amplifier; and a gain adjustment controller that, when the level of the light-detected signal amplified is within a level range including the first reference level, controls a level of the control signal of the gain adjuster to be held at its preceding value.
US07688690B2
A method of determining whether an optical pick-up of an optical device passes through a data track of a storage device during track-seeking based on a radio frequency (RF) signal, a radio frequency zero cross (RFZC) signal radio and a track-seeking signal of the optical device. When the optical pick-up of the optical device passes through a data track of the storage device during track-seeking, a trigger signal is sent to a data phase locked loop of the optical device for frequency and phase adjustment. The method can activate the data phase locked loop of the optical device while the optical device is performing track-seeking.
US07688689B2
A head assembly comprises a slider including a transducer and a coupler for coupling electromagnetic radiation into the transducer, and an optical bench positioned adjacent to the slider, the optical bench including a mirror and a lens for directing electromagnetic radiation onto the mirror, wherein electromagnetic radiation passing through the lens is reflected by the mirror and focused onto the coupler. A microactuator can be included to move at least a portion of the optical bench. Disc drives that include the head assembly and a method of making the head assembly are also included.
US07688679B2
A system for locating and identifying an acoustic event such as gunfire. The inventive system employs a plurality of man wearable acoustic sensors for detecting gunfire, each acoustic sensor having a display associated therewith for displaying information concerning the acoustic event to a user. In preferred embodiments, the sensor includes a microphone for/receiving acoustic information; an A/D converter; a processor for processing the digitized signal to detect a gunshot and determine a time of arrival; a GPS receiver for determining the position of the acoustic sensor; and a network interface for bidirectional communication with a system server. Preferably the display comprises an LCD; and an electronically readable compass. When the display and acoustic sensor are in separate housings, the acoustic sensor includes a transmitter and the display includes a receiver for transferring the gunshot information.
US07688674B2
Methods and apparatus for creating a velocity profile of a formation surrounding a borehole by checkshot measurements while moving the tool along the borehole. A conveyance and a sensor section are configured to move the sensor section in the borehole. At least one receiver is configured to detect signals generated at or near the surface while the sensor section is moving in the borehole.
US07688672B2
Self-timed interfaces and methods for interfacing different timing domains. These self-timed interfaces receive a strobe signal from a component operating under a first clock domain. A first signal path of the self-timed interface couples the strobe signal to a receiver that samples data of data line under control of the strobe signal. A second signal path of the self-timed interface couples the strobe signal to an interface circuit through a hysteresis-based element. The interface circuit, under control of an output of the hysteresis-based element along with a clock signal that originates under a second clock domain, generates an interface enable signal for use in controlling data transfers between the different clock domains.
US07688670B2
A synchronous DRAM is provided which includes arrangements for operations of power supply circuitry based upon whether the DRAM is in a power down mode or not. In one embodiment, a first power supply circuit and a second power supply circuit are provided which both receive externally supplied voltages and output internal supply voltages. The first power supply circuit is not in operation when a semiconductor device of the synchronous DRAM is in a power down mode. However, the second power supply circuit is continuously in operation during the power down mode. In another arrangement, the operation of a voltage limiter circuit is controlled based on whether or not the DRAM is in a power down mode.
US07688668B2
A semiconductor memory storage cell and a memory comprising an array of these storage cells is disclosed. The storage cell comprising: a feedback loop comprising two devices for storing opposite binary values; data input and output for inputting data to and outputting data from said two devices; and each of said two devices comprising a power source input, such that each device can be powered independently of the other.
US07688657B2
A test signal generating apparatus for a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a fuse control unit that generates a plurality of fuse enable signals in response to a clock and a power-up signal, and a plurality of test mode fuses that individually output test mode fuse signals so as to generate test signals in response to the fuse enable signals after a test mode is completed.
US07688653B2
A plurality of improved memory systems employing a phase detection system in conjunction with either a synchronous mirror delay or a delay-locked loop, and related methods of operation, are disclosed. The memory systems determine timing characteristics among multiple signals and, based upon those timing characteristics, vary which clock-related signal is output. The improvement relates in part to the incorporation of a clock divider that reduces the frequency of the clock signals utilized by the system. Due to the incorporation of the clock divider and an edge recovery device, attenuation, power dissipation and duty cycle distortion associated with propagation of the clock signal(s) are reduced. Further, the reduction in frequency of the clock signals allows for numerous differently-phased clock signals to be generated within the system, which allows for finer timing comparisons to be performed, thus allowing for finer selections to be made in relation to which clock-related signal is output.
US07688652B2
In an embodiment, a memory device comprises memory, a first data link, a first input, a second input, a second data link, a first output and a second output. The first data link is configured to input one or more packets into the memory device. The first input is configured to input command strobe signals into the memory device that delineate command packets that are input into the memory device via the first data link. The second input is configured to input data strobe signals into the memory device that delineate data packets that are input into the memory device via the first data link. The first and second outputs are configured to output the command strobe signal and data strobe signal, respectively. The second data link is configured to output packets from the memory device.
US07688650B2
Write control circuitry and control method are provided for a memory array configured with multiple memory subarrays. The write control circuitry includes multiple subarray write controllers associated with the multiple memory subarrays, each subarray write controller selectively enabling a local write control signal to its associated memory subarray. The selectively enabling is responsive to a received subarray select signal, wherein only one subarray select signal is active at a time. At least some subarray write controllers are powered at least in part via a switched power node, wherein powering of the switched power node is distributively implemented among the subarray write controllers. In one example, the distributively implemented powering of the switched power node is accomplished via multiple inverters distributed among the subarray write controllers, each inverter having an output coupled to the switched power node, and an input coupled to receive a global write enable signal.
US07688649B2
A semiconductor memory device having a memory cell array, an input buffer, an output buffer, and an input-output control circuit that receives a write control signal and controls the input and output buffers. The output buffer generates a commencement signal indicating commencement of output. A mask generating circuit generates a mask signal with delayed active-to-inactive transitions from the commencement signal. A masking circuit passes the write control signal to the input-output control circuit while the mask signal is inactive, and holds the write control signal in the write-disabling state while the mask signal is active. The mask signal prevents unintended writing of data in the memory cell array when the write control signal is contaminated by noise from the output buffer.
US07688634B2
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a method for writing at least one memory cell of an integrated circuit; a method for writing at least two memory cells of an integrated circuit; and to integrated circuits. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for writing at least one memory cell of an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes determining a writing state of at least one reference memory cell, depending on the writing state of the at least one reference memory cell, writing the at least one memory cell, and writing the at least one reference memory cell to a given writing state.
US07688631B2
Provided is a method of programming the flash memory device including setting increments of program voltages according to data states expressed as threshold voltage distributions of multi-level memory cells. An Increment Step Pulse Programming (ISPP) clock signal corresponds to a loop clock signal and the increments of the program voltages and is generated in response to program pass/fail information. A default level enable signal is generated by performing a counting operation until reaching the increments of the program voltages, in response to the loop clock signal. An additional level enable signal is generated by performing a counting operation until reaching the increments of the program voltages, in response to the ISPP clock signal. The program voltage is increased by 1 increment, in response to the default level enable signal. The program voltage is increased by 2 increments, in response to the additional level enable signal.
US07688628B2
Embodiments of the invention take advantage of an unused state of an interface protocol (or specification), such as the ONFI specification, to control a selector circuit to assert one of a plurality of relatively localized device selection signals (e.g., chip enable signals).
US07688620B2
In a nonvolatile memory device, a program operation is performed on a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells by programming data having a first logic state in a first group among a plurality of selected memory cells selected from the plurality of nonvolatile memory cells during a first program interval of the program operation, and thereafter, programming data having a second logic state different from the first logic state in a second group among the selected memory cells during a second program interval of the program operation after the first program interval.
US07688610B2
A low power matchline sensing scheme where power is distributed according to the number of mismatching bits occurring on a matchline is disclosed. In particular, match decisions involving a larger number of mismatched bits consume less power compared to match decisions having a lesser number of mismatched bits. The low power matchline sensing scheme is based upon a precharge-to-miss sensing architecture, and includes a current control circuit coupled to each matchline of the content addressable memory array for monitoring the voltage level of the matchline during a search operation. The current control circuit provides a voltage control signal to the current source of the matchline to adjust the amount of current applied to the matchline in response to the voltage of the matchline. In other words, matchlines that are slow to reach the match threshold voltage due to the presence of one or more mismatching bits will receive less current than matchlines having no mismatching bits. Significant power reduction without compromising search speed is realized since matchlines carrying a match result are provided with the maximum amount of current.
US07688604B2
A first inverter control unit includes a harmonic generation unit. The harmonic generation unit generates a harmonic voltage instruction having a phase opposite to a harmonic generated at a neutral point of a motor-generator when the motor-generator revolves, based on motor revolution number of the motor-generator. A PWM signal generation unit generates a signal based on a voltage instruction obtained by superimposing an AC voltage instruction from an AC output control unit and the harmonic voltage instruction from the harmonic generation unit onto each voltage instruction of U-phase, V-phase and W-phase from a conversion unit.
US07688602B2
Circuit and method for controlling a synchronous rectifier. A circuit for monitoring the drain to source voltage of an SR transistor in a secondary side circuit of a voltage converter is disclosed, having a circuit for generating a gate control circuit for the SR MOSFET; the circuit preventing subsequent gate control signals until a primary turn on detection signal is received. In another embodiment a circuit for generating the primary turn on detection signal is provided. A method for controlling an SR transistor is disclosed comprising monitoring the drain to source voltage of the SR MOSFET, generating a gate control output, and preventing subsequent gate control output signals until a primary turn on detection signal is received. In another method embodiment a method for generating the primary turn on detection signal is disclosed. An SR embodiment incorporating the control circuit embodiments is disclosed.
US07688601B2
In order to increase the power of an induction heating device or in order to avoid system reactions when driving the latter, either the pulse widths of the two switching means can be made unsymmetrical in the case of half-bridge driving up to the half-point of a half-cycle. Alternatively, a dead time between the pulse width can be extended. This advantageously takes place without interruption and continuously. In the course of a half-cycle, the power is thus reduced given an unaltered operating frequency and an inductor current has virtually an ideal sine-wave form.
US07688594B2
A flexible printed circuit board has an insulation layer, a first signal wiring layer including a microstrip line, a second signal wiring layer including a signal connection terminal for allowing the microstrip line to connect the exterior connector electrically, and a ground conductive section having a ground connection terminal for connecting the exterior connector. The microstrip line and the signal connection terminal are connected to each other by a wiring via hole. The wiring via hole passes through the insulation layer, the first signal wiring layer, and the second signal wiring layer. The microstrip line has a taper section which gradually enlarges a width of the microstrip line toward the wiring via hole in the vicinity of the wiring via hole. The ground conductive section that corresponds to the microstrip line has a taper section with a shape matching the taper section of the microstrip line.
US07688590B2
A thermal module suitable for cooling a heat generating element within a casing of an electronic apparatus includes a fan, a heat sink and a heat pipe. The fan is mounted within the casing for generating airflow to an opening of the casing. The heat sink is mounted within the casing between the opening of the casing and the fan, such that the airflow generated by the fan passes through the heat sink and then flows out of the opening. The heat pipe contacts the heat generating element, extends from the heat generating element to the heat sink, and extends along a periphery of the fan to contact the heat generating element again.
US07688567B2
A method of manufacturing a multilayer capacitor comprises a first layer forming step, a first electrode forming step, a second layer forming step, a second electrode forming step, a separation step, an element forming step and a terminal forming step. In the first layer forming step, a first ceramic green layer is formed on a supporting body. In the first electrode forming step, a first electrode pattern is formed on the first ceramic green layer. In the second layer forming step, a second ceramic green layer is formed laminated on the first ceramic green layer. In the second electrode forming step, a second electrode pattern is formed at the second ceramic green layer. In the separation step, the support body is separated from the laminated body. In the element forming step, elements are formed by laminating a plurality of the laminated bodies.
US07688565B2
Circuit arrangement embodiments that use relative groupings of energy pathways that include shielding circuit arrangements that can sustain and condition electrically complementary energy confluences.
US07688556B2
The present invention discloses an arc-discharge detection device, which is used to detect the arc discharge persistently occurring in between an inverter and a load during an abnormal power transmission state. The inverter is arranged in a circuit board, and a carbonized loop is defined in an arc-discharge reaction area of the circuit board. In the present invention, a power-variation detection unit is electrically coupled to the carbonized loop and detects the power-level variation caused by the carbonized loop and generates a power-variation signal; an interpretation unit receives the power-variation signal and utilizes a decision level to determine whether the power variation is caused by arc discharge and outputs an abnormal-power signal if the interpretation result is positive; and a trigger unit is driven by the abnormal-power signal to interrupt the inverter's outputting high-voltage power to the load.
US07688545B1
A magnetic recording head with an overall planar design and tight dimensional control of throat height and notch width is achieved below the gap. Writer poles include very high magnetic moment material on both sides of the writer gap. Additionally the pole tips are shaped to provide high field with good spatial gradient for optimal writing conditions, thereby extending the capability of longitudinal recording heads for high density and high frequency applications.
US07688544B1
A write head includes a write return yoke, a write yoke connected to the write return yoke, conductive coils surrounding the write yoke, a write pole tip, and a non-magnetic spacer connecting the write pole tip to the write yoke. The non-magnetic spacer allows for reducing a magnetization of the write pole tip due to a remnant magnetic field in the write yoke. In another embodiment, the write head comprises a write shield, a write return yoke, a write yoke, conductive coils, a write pole tip, and a saturable yoke shunt connecting the write pole tip and the write shield. The saturable yoke shunt directs a limited amount of magnetic flux from the write pole tip to the write shield, such that when there is a remnant magnetic field in the write pole tip, the magnetic flux is directed to the write shield rather than to a disk.
US07688530B1
A mounting system allowing rapid removal and replacement of optical components within an instrument includes a base unit connected to the instrument, and a carrier unit which includes an optical component. The carrier unit is magnetically attracted to the base unit, with mounting nubs extending from one of the base and carrier units being received in depressions defined in the other of the units. Preferably, the magnets on the base and carrier units are aligned, and V-groove depressions receive hemispherical surfaces presented by the mounting nubs. When the base and carrier units are generated using precision manufacturing methods, the optical component on the carrier unit can maintain a predefined alignment upon the base unit (and the instrument) with sub-micrometer precision between successive mountings and removals of the carrier unit, thereby avoiding the need to realign the optical component within the instrument every time the carrier unit is removed and replaced.
US07688523B2
An image pickup lens is provided for forming an image of an object on a photoelectrical converter of a solid-state image pickup element. The image pickup lens includes, in order from an object side thereof: an aperture stop; a first lens having a positive refractive power; a second lens having a negative refractive power and including a concave surface facing an image side of the image pickup lens; a third lens including an aspheric surface; and a fourth lens including an aspheric surface. The image pickup lens satisfies predetermined conditions relating to a curvature radius of the surface of the second lens facing the image side and a refractive power of the third lens.
US07688506B2
Light emitted from a light source is modulated and projected on a screen. The screen includes a securing member, a diffuser plate supported by the securing member using a plurality of elastic members, where the elastic members are disposed so that the diffuser plate is resiliently displaced in two directions in the plane of the diffuser plate, and a driving unit that moves the diffuser plate with respect to the securing member in the two directions in the plane of the diffuser plate.
US07688503B2
A microscopy system allows to superimpose a light optically generated microscopic image of an object with an electronically generated image. The electronically generated image is composed of two input images, one of which is independent of optical settings of an ocular tube, such as a rotational position and a magnification thereof, and the other input image is dependent of the optical setting.
US07688498B2
An optical amplifier of the present invention comprises: an optical amplifying circuit which amplifies a signal light; an optical reflection medium which is disposed on an optical fiber connected to the optical amplifying circuit and is capable of reflecting a noise light which exists in a predetermined wavelength range outside a signal band, among noise lights generated in said optical amplifying circuit, to radiate the reflected noise light to the outside of a core of the optical fiber; a light receiver which receives the noise light reflected to be radiated to the outside of the core of the optical fiber by the optical reflection medium, to detect the power of the noise light; and a computation circuit which computes the total power of the noise lights generated in the optical amplifying circuit based on the detection result of the light receiver. Thus, it is possible to provide at a low cost an optical amplifier provided with a monitoring function capable of detecting high accurately, with a simple optical circuit configuration, the noise light power and the like generated when the signal light is amplified.
US07688497B2
A multi-layer film (300), useful as a barrier film in electro-optic displays, comprises a light-transmissive adhesive layer (316), a light-transmissive first protective layer (312), a light-transmissive first moisture barrier layer (308B), an intermediate layer (typically an adhesive layer) (310), a light-transmissive second moisture barrier layer (308A) and a light-transmissive second protective layer (306). The second protective layer may be covered by a hard coat (304) and/or a masking film (302).
US07688496B2
The invention provides a display medium having a dimmer layer which comprises at least two kinds of charged mobile fine particles. Each of the at least two kinds of the charged mobile fine particles respectively has different coloration and a different mobility, and the charged mobile fine particles of at least one kind of the at least two kinds show coloration when in a dispersed state. The invention further provides a display device having an electric field forming unit and the dimmer layer. The invention further provides a display method which uses the display medium and includes putting the charged mobile fine particles of at least one of the kinds being dispersed while having other charged mobile fine particles not being dispersed.
US07688480B2
An automatic scanning parameter setting device and method. The automatic scanning parameter setting device is a scanner that automatically sets the scanning parameters of a plurality of scan images so that scanning can be conducted in batches. The automatic scanning parameter setting device includes an image input device, an analysis device and a control unit. The image input device is attached to the scanner for inputting a plurality of scan images. A portion of the scan images contains a set parameter format. The set parameter format contains a plurality of scanning parameter values. The analysis device performs an analysis of the scan images containing recorded scan parameter values. The control unit uses the analyzed scanning parameter values to conduct a scanning parameter setting operation on the scan images having recorded scanning parameter values as well as the ordered scan images after the scan images with recorded scan parameter values but without recorded scan parameter values.
US07688478B2
An image processing apparatus which processes input image signals in real time. A plurality of image signals are input via input terminals. An external storage device stores a plurality of kinds of procedures for processing to be performed on image signals. A JOG dial specifies at least two kinds of procedures among the stored plurality of kinds of procedures, and enables the specified procedures and a procedure between the specified procedures to be arbitrarily changed and specified. When the procedure between the specified procedures is specified using the JOG dial, a CPU generates the specified procedure by interpolating the specified procedures, and carries out real-time processing on image signals for corresponding channels among the image signals for the plurality of channels according to the generated specified procedure.
US07688470B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for color calibration incorporating gray-component replacement, and more particularly, controlling gray component replacement in a color output device by applying a pre-defined transformation to a plurality of non-black channels to obtain at least one intermediate variable, and determining at least one output black (K) value from both the black channel input value and the intermediate variable, in order to provide control of gray component replacement in the color output device.
US07688465B2
An information managing apparatus assigns identification information to print information and manages the print information based on the identification information. A receiving section receives a plurality of items of data. A first counter is defined in a non-volatile first memory. A second counter is defined in a volatile second memory. An identification information producing section produces the identification information for each of the plurality of items of data based on a count of the first counter and a count of the second counter. An identification information managing section manages the plurality of items of data based on the identification information. The second counter counts up by a value every time the receiving section receives an item of data, and the first counter counts up when the image forming apparatus is turned on, and when the second counter overflows.
US07688464B2
A P2P printing system and method is disclosed. The printing comprising a system computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a printing device to perform a method. The method comprising establishing communications between one or more other printing devices, each printing device capable of sharing files with the other printing devices via a P2P file sharing network.
US07688463B2
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of executing printing processes for color images and monochromatic images and comprises a printer section capable of executing processes for color printing and monochromatic printing and a printing task management section for receiving a plurality of printing jobs including color printing jobs and monochromatic printing jobs as input, computationally determining the processing time required for each of the printing processes on the basis of the information indicating color printing or monochromatic printing and the information indicating the number of copies to be printed and outputting the data of the printing jobs of short processing time separately for monochromatic printing and color printing with priority to the printer section.
US07688462B2
A computer readable recording medium stores a printer driver program to be installed in a computer in order to use a printer. The printer driver program includes a grasping processing for grasping version information of various kinds of printer related programs for executing a processing as to the printer, installed in the computer; and a version information displaying processing for, when a predetermined version information displaying instruction is input, displaying version information of the printer driver program together with version information of the printer related programs grasped by the grasping processing.
US07688452B2
Air gap variation in an interferometric modulator over a two-dimensional spatial map of the modulator is determined by acquiring a digital photograph of the modulator. Color parameters of individual pixels in the photograph are determined and compared to a model of color parameters as a function of air gap distance. The model and individual pixel color parameters may be plotted on a color space plot for comparison. The determined distances may be plotted over a two-dimensional spatial map of the interferometric modulator to visualize the mirror curvature and air gap variation.
US07688440B2
The invention provides diagnostic apparatuses that are advantageously adapted for the Raman spectroscopic analysis of fluid samples, such as biological fluid samples, deposited on test strip substrates. The tests strips may be include a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) surface for deposition and analysis of a sample and/or may be lateral flow binding assay type test strips.
US07688427B2
A system for determining particle parameters. The system may, for example, may optically determine parameters common to a hematology analysis. Such parameters may include a red blood cell count, a platelet count, a mean cell volume and a red cell distribution width. A hematocrit parameter may be calculated. Also, a measurement of hemoglobin in a blood sample may be obtained leading to a calculation of a mean mass of hemoglobin in a red blood cell and a mean cell hemoglobin concentration. The system may be implemented in a portable cartridge type cytometer.
US07688423B2
A method and system are provided for forming a pattern within an area of a photosensitive surface. An exemplary method includes performing a first exposure of the photosensitive surface in accordance with predetermined image data, wherein the first exposure occurs during a first pass and produces a first image within the area. The image data is adjusted to compensate for identified image deficiencies image deficiencies, the image deficiencies being within a region of the first image. A second exposure, of the photosensitive surface, is performed in accordance with the adjusted image data during a second pass.
US07688419B2
A thin film transistor array substrate structure. The array substrate structure includes a thin film transistor array substrate, an organic material layer formed thereon, and a plurality of black matrices and color filter patterns disposed on the organic material layer. The invention also provides a method of fabricating the thin film transistor array substrate.
US07688416B2
Structural objects are disposed in a peripheral region in positions opposed to spacers. In this way, a substrate surface of a counter substrate in the peripheral region is gently inclined in a direction away from a liquid crystal layer. In this way, it is possible to prevent unevenness in display attributable to a difference in a cell gap between a display region and the peripheral region.
US07688408B2
There is provided a liquid crystal device, wherein a liquid crystal layer is interposed between a first substrate and a second substrate, and at least a display pixel corresponding to a colored region of a color from blue to green in a visible light region of which the color varies depending on a wavelength is included, wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate has a spacer which defines the thickness of the liquid crystal layer and an alignment film which is subjected to a rubbing process in a predetermined direction, and wherein a relative positional relationship between the spacer and the display pixel is defined such that a region of the alignment film, which is not subjected to the rubbing process due to existence of the spacer at the time of the rubbing process, is positioned in the display pixel corresponding to the colored region of the color from blue to green.
US07688404B2
A LCD device and a method for fabricating the same is disclosed that decreases the fabrication time of the LCD device by obtaining a white color in a fourth pixel region using first, second, and third auxiliary color filter layers, and improve the resolution for the white color by controlling the width of the auxiliary color filter layers. The device includes first and second substrates having first, second, third and fourth pixel regions arranged repetitively; a black matrix layer formed on the second substrate corresponding to portions of the substrates other than the pixel regions; first, second and third color filter layers respectively formed on the first, second, and third pixel regions of the second substrate; first, second, and third auxiliary color filter layers formed on the fourth pixel region of the second substrate to display a white color; and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates.
US07688401B2
A light source element is employed back-lighting of liquid crystal displays and that comprises an obliquely placed light exit face and/or light entry face. At its surfaces, the light waveguide is surrounded by reflectors into which suitable aperture regions are potentially formed. A plurality of light sources and/or a more direct view is provided and, thus, a corresponding increase of the luminance results. A method is also provided for the manufacture of a light source element with an integrated reflector.
US07688400B1
A light source element is employed back-lighting of liquid crystal displays and that comprises an obliquely placed light exit face and/or light entry face. At its surfaces, the light waveguide is surrounded by reflectors into which suitable aperture regions are potentially formed. A plurality of light sources and/or a more direct view is provided and, thus, a corresponding increase of the luminance results. A method is also provided for the manufacture of a light source element with an integrated reflector.
US07688398B2
A backlight assembly, which can provide improved display features by preventing a lamp assembly from being loosened from a lower receiving container, and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a light guiding plate guiding incident light, a lamp assembly disposed at one or more sides of the light guiding plate, and having at least one lamp to generate light and a lamp cover enclosing the lamp, a lower receiving container having a bottom plane and sidewalls formed around the periphery of the bottom plane and receiving the lamp assembly and the light guiding plate, and at least one elastic and conductive gasket including a hot-melt adhesive agent having a melting point greater than or equal to about 60° C. and interposed between the lamp cover and the lower receiving container.
US07688397B2
A display unit includes a display mounting main body 1 secured to a ceiling to which a display is installed; the display 3 openably/closably and rotatably attached to the display mounting main body 1 through a pair of lateral rotating hinge shafts 2; and a circuit board provided as a control system of the display, wherein a wiring-relay circuit board 8 is mounted and disposed on the axis of rotation at the upper part in the extending rotating position of the display 3, and electrically connects a main circuit board disposed in the display mounting main body 1 with an LCD 4 to thereby intermediately connect wirings.
US07688396B2
A backlight module having replaceable lamp module is provided. The backlight module includes a replaceable lamp module, a light-guiding plate, a frame and a positioning and protecting mechanism. The light-guiding plate is disposed over the bottom surface among four sides of the frame, wherein one side of the light-guiding plate and a corresponding side of the frame form a sliding groove. The replaceable lamp module is set in the sliding groove and slidably along the sliding groove. The positioning and protecting mechanism comprises a protecting device set on the replaceable lamp module and a positioning device set on the frame. The protecting device is capable of forming a gap between the replaceable lamp module and the bottom of the sliding groove in order to protect the replaceable lamp module from scraped by the structures of the backlight module while the replaceable lamp module is inserting into the sliding groove. The protecting device and the positioning device are capable of positioning and holding the replaceable lamp module in the sliding groove while the replaceable lamp module reaches the predetermined position in the backlight module, and meantime the gap is disappeared.
US07688394B2
It is an object to provide an active matrix liquid crystal display device capable of effectively eliminating flicker with a simple structure. An active matrix liquid crystal display device has a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source busses extending orthogonal to the gate lines, a plurality of liquid crystal elements provided in intersections of the gate lines with the source busses and, as a whole, disposed in matrix form, the liquid crystal devices being connected between a pixel electrode and an opposite electrode connected to a first bus line in a floating condition, a plurality of control circuits provided in relation with the liquid crystal element, the control circuits having: first and second transistors, of which gates are connected to the gate lines respectively, arranged in series between the source busses and the pixel electrode, a third transistor provided between a midpoint node of the first and second transistors and a second bus line to serve as a switch, the second bus line being identical in potential to the first bus line and being electrically isolated from the first bus line, and a fourth transistor connected in parallel with the liquid crystal elements between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode to detect drain voltage.
US07688390B2
There is provided a broadcast receiving apparatus having a broadcast receiving unit. The apparatus includes: an instruction receiving unit which receives a broadcasting type selection instruction or a channel number selection instruction, and a control unit which, when the instruction receiving unit receives the broadcasting type selection instruction, controls the broadcast receiving unit to receive a broadcast wave specified by a combination of a current channel number and a type of broadcasting corresponding to the received selection instruction if an elapsed time from latest reception of a channel number selection instruction is not more than a predetermined time, and receive a broadcast wave specified by a combination of a type of broadcasting corresponding to the received selection instruction and a default channel number associated with the type of broadcasting if the elapsed time from the latest reception of a channel number selection instruction is more than the predetermined time.
US07688378B2
An image sensor and a method of forming an image sensor. The image sensor includes an array of pixel cells at a surface of a substrate. Each pixel cell has a photo-conversion device. At least one a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) element including a photonic crystal structure is provided over at least one of the pixel cells. The MEMS-based photonic crystal element is supported by a support structure and configured to selectively permit electromagnetic wavelengths to reach the photo-conversion device upon application of a voltage. As such, the MEMS-based photonic crystal element of the invention can replace or compliment conventional filters, e.g., color filter arrays.
US07688371B2
This invention provides an image pickup device comprising a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit, a semiconductor area to which a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit is transferred, a transfer switch for transferring the signal from the photoelectric conversion unit to the semiconductor area, and a read unit for reading out the signal from the semiconductor area, and a drive circuit for outputting a first level at which the transfer switch is set in an OFF state, a second level at which the transfer switch is set in an ON state, and a third level between the first level and the second level, wherein the drive circuit controls to hold the third level for a predetermined time while the transfer switch is changing from the ON state to the OFF state.
US07688368B2
An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels; and the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group.
US07688361B2
A pixel signal output from a solid-state imaging device is converted into image data and recorded in a memory by a writing controller. A reading controller reads the image data from the memory by blocks and performs Y/C processing on the image data that has been read out by blocks. A JPEG processing section performs compression coding. The coded data is not recorded in the memory but is written on a recording medium by a DMA processing section.
US07688360B2
An imaging apparatus control unit, comprising a calculation block, a first control block, an output block, and a second control block, is provided. The calculation block calculates the number of possible photographs. The number of possible photographs is set as the sequential-photographing number. The first control block carries out imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing. The output block outputs the compressed image signal to the memory. The second control block either repeatedly carries out the sequential control for sequential-photographing, or stops carrying out the sequential control for sequential-photographing and begins carrying out the sequential control for single-photographing when the sequential-photographing number is below a first predetermined number.
US07688355B2
A method for storing images of a workpiece is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) reading an image of the workpiece from the storage; (b) reading one byte of the three bytes' color information of each pixel of the image; (c) storing one by one the read one byte of the three bytes' color information of each pixel of the image in an array allocated by the storage; (d) obtaining a coordinate value of a center point of the image from the location file; (e) storing the coordinate value of the center point of the image and the array representing the image's color information as an object in a source file; and (f) repeating the steps (a) to (e) till all the images of the workpiece are read. A related system is also disclosed.
US07688348B2
The system and method relate to detection of objects that are submerged, or partially submerged (e.g. floating), relative to a water surface. One aspect of the invention emits LIDAR fan-beam pulses and analyzes return-pulse portions to determine water-surface orientations and derive submerged-object images corrected for refractive distortion. Another defines simulated images of submerged objects as seen through waves in a water surface, prepares an algorithm for applying a three-dimensional image of the water surface in refractive correction of LIDAR imaging through waves—and also models application of the algorithm to the images, and finally specifies the LIDAR-system optics. Yet another emits nearly horizontal pulses to illuminate small exposed objects at tens of kilometers, detects reflected portions and images successive such portions with a streak-tube subsystem. Still others make special provisions for airborne objects.
US07688344B2
Systems and methods for providing a status of a teleconference by determining an approximate delay time and providing a status signal in view of the determined approximate delay time are provided. An approximate delay time is approximately the amount of time that will elapse before an occurrence occurring at a first time, which is captured into an occurrence signal by a source unit, will be experienced at a second time after the occurrence signal is received by at least one receiving unit.
US07688343B2
A measuring device for measuring a length of a sheet includes a sheet-carrying unit for carrying a sheet, a reading unit having an area sensor and configured to repeatedly read the surface of the sheet from the leading end to the trailing end of the sheet while the sheet is being carried by the sheet-carrying unit, and a measuring unit for measuring the length of the sheet in the carrying direction on the basis of information regarding the sheet surface that is repeatedly read by the reading unit.
US07688329B2
A pixel color conversion method applied to an output device includes: providing a trainable database for storing a plurality of data values corresponding to a set of indexes for use performing pixel color conversion; regarding at least one source image, training the trainable database; and according to the plurality of data values corresponding to the set of indexes in the trainable database, converting source samples of a source image into target samples for being outputted by the output device.
US07688324B1
According to one embodiment, a graphics/video processor includes a memory controller. The memory controller includes a first arbiter that receives memory client requests to access a memory device, and a first memory buffer coupled to the first arbiter. The first arbiter stores client requests that are selected by the first arbiter. The memory controller also includes a second arbiter coupled to the first memory buffer and a second memory buffer coupled to the second arbiter. The second arbiter receives requests from the memory client requests stored in the first memory buffer. The second memory buffer stores the client requests selected by the second arbiter. Further, the memory controller includes a third arbiter coupled to the second memory buffer. The third arbiter provides access of the memory device to the client requests stored in the second memory buffer.
US07688316B2
A system and method for measuring a color parameter values of a display for calibration purposes. An initial measurement of the color parameter value from the display is performed. Next, a number of additional measurements is determined in response to the value of the initial color parameter value. The color parameter value of the display is measured by the number of additional measurements in order to determine an average color parameter value of the display which will be used for calibration purposes.
US07688310B2
A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.
US07688305B2
The present invention provides, among other things, an information inputting tool that can be made space-saving and places small constraint on key touch actions. For that purpose, an information inputting tool of the present invention is provided with a reflection portion (11B) provided with a single or a plurality of reflection members (11C) having retroreflectivity, with an attaching gadget (11c, etc.) that attaches said reflection portion to a finger of an operator, and with a change mechanism (11S, 11a1, etc.) that changes the reflectance distribution of said reflection portion in accordance with a finger pressure applied to the finger end of said finger.
US07688302B2
A shift register includes plural stages of flip-flops. The last-stage flip-flop Fn and the flip-flop Fn−1 that is the preceding flip-flop thereof are reset by inputting thereto an output signal from the last-stage flip-flop. A delaying means is provided, between an output terminal Q of the last-stage flip-flop for outputting the output signal and an input terminal R of the last-stage flip-flop for receiving the output signal, for delaying an input of the output signal to the input terminal R. The flip-flop Fn is reset at same time or after the preceding flip-flop Fn−1 is reset. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of circuits due to a failure to reset the flip-flops.
US07688297B2
A bistable electro-optic display has a plurality of pixels, each of which is capable of displaying at least three gray levels. The display is driven by a method comprising: storing a look-up table containing data representing the impulses necessary to convert an initial gray level to a final gray level; storing data representing at least an initial state of each pixel of the display; receiving an input signal representing a desired final state of at least one pixel of the display; and generating an output signal representing the impulse necessary to convert the initial state of said one pixel to the desired final state thereof, as determined from said look-up table. The invention also provides a method for reducing the remnant voltage of an electro-optic display.
US07688296B2
A cholesteric liquid crystal driving device according to the present invention includes a first driving circuit for displaying one part of the image data to be displayed by a cholesteric liquid crystal on a first scanning line by driving the cholesteric liquid crystal on the first scanning line in accordance with first and second cycles; and a second driving circuit for displaying the other part of the image data to be displayed by a cholesteric liquid crystal on a second scanning line by driving the cholesteric liquid crystal on the second scanning line in accordance with a third or fourth cycle.
US07688295B2
A display has plural pixel groups each having plural color pixels. In a given frame that is divided into a first sub-period and a second sub-period, a first signal is provided in the first sub-period to a pixel of a given color in a first pixel group, and a second signal is provided to the pixel in the second sub-period. The first signal is set to one of a first polarity and a second polarity, and the second signal is set to one of the first polarity and second polarity, wherein the first signal and the second signal form a first sequence. A pixel of the given color in a second pixel group that is adjacent the first pixel group is driven with a second sequence of signals that is the same as the first sequence.
US07688290B2
A display system in which the luminance of light-emitting elements in a light-emitting device is adjusted based on information on an environment. A sensor obtains information on an environment as an electrical signal. A CPU converts, based on comparison data set in advance, the information signal into a correction signal for correcting the luminance of EL elements. Upon receiving this correction signal, a voltage changer applies a predetermined corrected potential to the EL elements. Thus, this display system enables control of the luminance of the EL elements.
US07688282B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus that includes a display panel; a filter facing the display panel; and a drive section turns on the filter in response to driving start of the display panel.
US07688280B2
An expanded bit map display (“EBMD”) (10) for displaying an image (14) and a method of creating such for mounting the EBMD (10) to a building surface (12) is provided. The EBMD (10) is a large-scale colored light display comprising a plurality of intelligent light fixtures (16) having a microprocessor and a memory and mounted to the building surface (12). Each light fixture (16) is separately addressable and operable to store lighting characteristics or information. Groups of light fixtures (16) are in communication with a central processor operable to communicate control protocol.
US07688274B2
An antenna system includes a dielectric structure formed on a substrate; an antenna, partially within the dielectric structure, and supported by the dielectric structure; a reflective surface formed on the substrate. A shield blocks radiation from a portion of the antenna and from at least some of the dielectric structure. The shield is supported by the dielectric structure.
US07688268B1
The present invention is an improved antenna system. In an embodiment of the invention, the antenna system of the present invention may be a high-gain, low-profile wide-band antenna. Advantageously, the antenna system of the present invention may include a plate with reflecting elements to form a reflectarray antenna suitable for mounting on an aircraft. The reflectarray antenna of the present invention may be formed from a planar array of waveguides which may operate as a low loss, wide-band reflecting elements. Individual waveguides may be designed to scatter an incident field while impressing appropriate phase shifts in order to form a plane wavefront at the array aperture to produce a desired output signal. Waveguides may include ridges to employ vertical and horizontal polarization across a wide bandwidth operable at a high frequency, such as 10 GHz to 30 GHz.
US07688266B2
An antenna module includes a substrate; a ground element disposed on the substrate; a first antenna element disposed on the substrate; and a second antenna element disposed on the substrate. The first antenna element and the second antenna element are, respectively, capable of transmitting radio waves having a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction unparallel to each other. A spacing between a perimeter of the ground element and the first antenna element increases as a function of increasing distance from the second antenna element. A spacing between the perimeter of the ground element and the second antenna element increases as a function of increasing distance from the first antenna element.
US07688260B2
Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system is described. In one example, satellite measurement data is obtained from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device. Position of the mobile device is computed using the satellite measurement data. The position is sent to a cellular device via a wireless ad hoc network. In one example, the wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link. In one example, the mobile device is configured to receive assistance data from a position server through the wireless ad hoc network. For example, the mobile device may comprise a housing configured to plug into a cigarette lighter connector of an automobile and the cellular device may comprise a cellular telephone without location-determination capabilities (i.e., the cellular telephone does not include an integrated GPS receiver).
US07688258B2
The present disclosure relates to a radio wave receiving system. The system includes an antenna that is operable for receiving a received signal. The received signal contains information. The radio wave receiving system also includes a reference signal generator that is operable for generating a reference signal. In addition, a selective output device is included that is operable for selectively outputting the received signal and the reference signal to a transmission path. The system also includes an information acquiring device that is operable for generating a signal component indicating a signal level difference between the received signal and the reference signal. The information acquiring device is further operable for acquiring the information from the signal component.
US07688249B2
A method for determination of precipitation types in the atmosphere is described, wherein an output signal, in particular a radar signal, having a transmitting frequency spectrum is transmitted, reflection signals formed by reflection of the output signals at precipitation particles at at least two atmospheric levels and having a reflection spectrum are detected, and wherein finally the characteristics of the reflection signals are analyzed.The method according to the invention is characterized in that on analyzing characteristics of the reflection signals a course of a difference frequency spectrum formed by transmission frequency and reflection frequency spectrum is analyzed resolved by altitude levels.
US07688246B2
A radio wave absorber for use in an electromagnetic field probe that measures an electromagnetic field by means of an antenna section provided therewith, the radio wave absorber including: a first end section; a second end section that is located at a position opposite the first end section; and an intermediate section that is located between the first and second end sections, the intermediate section having outer dimension and thickness that increase in accordance with a distance from the first end section toward the second end section.
US07688239B2
An A/D converter performs successive A/D conversion operations that are synchronized with respective periods of an externally supplied clock signal. A set of output digital data produced from the A/D converter, following each A/D conversion, is acquired a plurality of times in succession within an interval that extends to the start of the next A/D conversion operation. If identical sets of data are not obtained in the successive acquisitions, then it is determined that there is failure of the A/D converter due to loss of the external clock signal.
US07688223B2
System for assisting a driver of an industrial truck with the following features: transponders are arranged at predetermined points of the working area of the industrial truck, the transponders are designed so that they transmit a UHF signal upon receipt of a transmission signal, the industrial truck comprises at least one aerial for transmitting and/or receiving an LF signal, an evaluation unit is arranged on the industrial truck which, upon receipt of a signal, sends said signal to an electronic evaluation unit for the UHF signals, the evaluation unit is connected to an on-board computer in the industrial truck.
US07688202B1
A sensor system comprises a signal sensor configured to receive a plurality of event signals for an event, a processing system coupled to the signal sensor and configured to process the plurality of event signals to determine if the event is a threat and responsive to determining that the event is a threat generate a threat message identifying the event, and an interface system coupled to the processing system and configured to transmit the threat message to a control system.
US07688182B2
An integrated circuit chip includes a rectifier circuit configured to convert an alternating voltage supplied from an antenna into a direct-current voltage, a nonvolatile memory coupled to the rectifier circuit to operate by use of the direct-current voltage, a sensor circuit coupled to the rectifier circuit to operate by use of the direct-current voltage to collect measurement data, and a logic circuit configured to control the nonvolatile memory and the sensor circuit such that an access operation of the nonvolatile memory and a data collecting operation of the sensor circuit are not performed concurrently.
US07688179B2
A hands-free vehicle door opener utilizes a spring-loaded mechanical pushing device, or other method, to open a vehicle door a few inches upon a laser emitting device sensing a foot in its emitted laser. The laser is emitted from the laser emitter upon the key fob of a smart key being validated by the vehicle's smart key validation system when a user approaches the vehicle with the smart key fob. When the laser beam is interrupted, a signal is sent from a smart ECU to a door lock ECU, which unlocks the vehicle door. Next, a signal is sent to a door open ECU to unlatch the vehicle door. Upon door unlatching, the spring-loaded pushing device pushes open the vehicle door. Instead of a laser emitting device being used as the sensor, a device with electrical contacts, an ultrasonic wave emitting sensing device, or other device could be used.
US07688169B2
A long-proportional-stroke force motor which outputs force proportional to the exciting current. The motor has a magnetic circuit wherein a non-magnetic spacer is positioned axially between a magnetic guide and a magnetic sleeve. An armature moves within a central opening defined by the guide, the spacer and the sleeve. An end portion of the guide, adjacent to the spacer, has a sectional profile through a stepped surface facing radially outward and the corners of the steps define a curve which satisfies the following expressions: ⅆ Y ⅆ X > 0 , ⅆ 2 Y ⅆ X 2 > 0 , where X is a coordinate on an X-axis corresponding to a central axis of the guide; wherein the armature is moved in a direction along the X-axis by application of exciting current to a coil surrounding the guide, spacer and sleeve; and Y is a coordinate on an axis orthogonal to the X-axis.
US07688168B2
Linear actuators (also known as an inchworm actuator) including a magnetically actuatable shape memory alloy (SMA) are described. The linear actuators include a bar and an actuator assembly, configured to achieve a linear displacement of the actuator assembly relative to the bar. A hybrid magnetic trigger including an electromagnet and a permanent magnet is used to selectively attract the magnetically actuatable SMA toward the magnetic trigger. The motion of the magnetically actuatable SMA can be converted to a linear displacement. The magnetically actuatable SMA can be implemented using a SMA exhibiting both ferromagnetic and SMA properties, or by a ferromagnetic mass coupled with an SMA (i.e., a ferromagnetic SMA composite). Linear actuators including bars incorporating a ratchet mechanism, and featureless bars are described. A hydraulic system incorporating actuators including magnetically actuatable SMA membranes is also disclosed.
US07688162B2
A microstrip filter having a plurality of hairpin microstrip resonators each having two substantially rectangular legs connected at one end and generally configured in a “U” shape. The microstrip filter may comprise a first of the plural resonators operatively connected to a first feed point, a second of the plural resonators operatively connected to a second feed point, and a third of the plural resonators operatively connected between the first and second resonators where an end portion of one of the legs of one of the resonators is tapered so that a thickness of the one leg is greater at one end of the one leg than at another end of the one leg.
US07688159B2
A SAW duplexer includes a first SAW filter having a passband with a relatively low frequency, and a second SAW filter having a passband with a relatively high frequency. The first and second SAW filters each have a ladder-shaped circuit configuration. A bridging inductor is connected in parallel to at least one serial arm resonator in the second SAW filter. The bridging inductor includes a coiled portion provided on a multilayer package substrate. The coiled portion is defined by connecting first to third wires provided on first to third layers by via-hole conductors. First, third, and fifth via-hole conductors that define a coil return wire portion are disposed inside the coiled portion.
US07688139B2
A method of processing a signal is disclosed. The method comprises generating a digital signal, converting the digital signal to an analog signal, and generating an amplified analog signal having distortions. The method further comprises converting the amplified analog signal to a feedback digital signal at a sample rate and updating a model of the distortions based on the feedback digital signal.
US07688138B2
An electronic device includes a nonlinear power amplifier, a predistortion coefficient calculator, and a memory polynomial predistortion filter coupled to the nonlinear power amplifier and to the predistortion coefficient calculator. The memory polynomial predistortion filter may include a plurality of finite impulse response (FIR) filter stages, and a summer coupled to the plurality of FIR filter stages. The FIR filter stages may functionally operate in parallel or may include a series of FIR filters coupled in parallel.
US07688127B2
A device and a method for generating a output clock signal having a output cycle, the method includes: (i) adjusting a delay of an adjustable ring oscillator to provide a high frequency clock signal having a short cycle so that the output cycle substantially equals a sum of integer multiples of a sleep cycle and integer multiplies of the short cycle; wherein the output cycle differs from any integer multiples of the sleep cycle; wherein the sleep cycle characterizes a sleep clock signal that is generated by a low frequency sleep clock; wherein the short cycle is shorter than the sleep cycle; (ii) counting short cycles and sleep cycles; and (iii) generating, during a sleep mode, in response to the counting and to a predefined counting pattern, the first clock signal; wherein the generating includes activating the adjustable ring oscillator only during a portion of a single sleep cycle per each output cycle.
US07688125B2
Various systems and methods for comparing signals are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide comparator circuits with a preamplifier circuit, a latch circuit and a current re-use circuit. The current re-use circuit applies a current to the preamplifier circuit during a transparent phase, and applies a similar current to the latch circuit during a latch phase.
US07688120B2
An output driver of a semiconductor memory device is capable of controlling falling and rising edges of an output data. The output driver prevents the first output data form being relatively deteriorated compared with other output data in case that the output data are terminated centering around a predetermined voltage level. The output driver includes a pull-up driver for pull-up driving an output terminal in response to a pull-up control signal, a pull-down driver for pull-down driving the output terminal in response to a pull-down control signal, a first acceleration driver for accelerating the pull-up control signal, and a second acceleration driver for accelerating the pull-down control signal, wherein the first and second acceleration drivers are activated when a first data is outputted.
US07688112B2
Protection against anti single event effects associated with strikes of energetic particles is provided in current-mode logic (CML) or similar integrated circuits (ICs) using a current-switching architecture.
US07688107B2
The present invention provides a shift register which can operate favorably without providing a level shift portion. The first clocked inverter at the (2n−1)-th stage operates in accordance with the first output from the previous stage, an output from the second clocked inverter at the previous stage, and the first CK signal; the second clocked inverter at the (2n−1)-th stage operates in accordance with the second output from the previous stage, an output of the first clocked inverter at the (2n−1)-th stage, and the first CK signal; one of the first output and the second output is equal to a potential of VDD and the other is equal to a potential of VSS; the first CK signal at the 2n-th stage operates the third output from the (2n−1)-th stage, an output of the second clocked inverter and the second CK signal; the second clocked inverter at the 2n-th stage operates in accordance with the fourth output from the (2n−1)-th stage, an output from the first clocked inverter at the 2n-th stage, and the second CK signal; one of the third output and the fourth output is equal to the potential of VDD and the other is equal to the potential of VSS, and the second CK signal is an inversion signal of the first CK signal and the amplitude of the CK signal is smaller than the power supply potential.
US07688100B2
A method for evaluating a quiescent current, the method includes: measuring, when a module is at a first mode, a first voltage drop on a first resistor that is coupled between a supply pin of an integrated circuit that comprises the module and a first test pin of the integrated circuit; assessing, when the module is at a second mode, a second voltage drop on a second resistor that is coupled between the supply pin and a second test pin of the integrated circuit; and evaluating a quiescent current of the module in response to the first and second voltage drops; wherein expected values of quiescent current of the module differ from one mode to the other; and wherein a resistance of the first resistor differs from the resistance of the second resistor.
US07688097B2
The present invention relates to a probe tip assembly for testing of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices. The probe tip assembly may include a plurality of independently flexible contact fingers extending from a support, each contact finger spaced apart from the other contact fingers, and each contact finger terminating in free space at an end distal from the support. A probe may be constructed by attaching the free ends of the contact fingers to electrical contacts on a circuit board and then removing the support from the contact fingers.
US07688096B2
An inspecting apparatus is provided for inspecting electrical characteristics of an object (W) to be inspected, such as a semiconductor wafer. The inspecting apparatus is provided with a placing table (11) for supporting the object, a lift mechanism (12) for bringing up and down the placing table, and a driving apparatus (24) for driving the lift mechanism. The apparatus is also provided with a probe (13A) which makes contact with the object on the placing table brought up by the lift mechanism driven by the driving apparatus, and a load sensor (21), including a compression-type piezoelectric element, for detecting a contact load between the object and the probe as an oscillation waveform.
US07688095B2
Flexible and rigid interposers for use in the semiconductor industry and methods for manufacturing the same are described. Auto-catalytic processes are used to minimize the costs associated with the production of flexible interposers, while increasing the yield and lifetime. Electrical contact regions are easily isolated and the risk of corrosion is reduced because all portions of the interposer are plated at once. Leads projecting from the flexible portion of the interposers accommodate a greater variety of components to be tested. Rigid interposers include a pin projecting from a probe pad affixed to a substrate. The rigidity of the pin penetrates oxides on a contact pad to be tested. Readily available semiconductor materials and processes are used to manufacture the flexible and rigid interposers according to the invention. The flexible and rigid interposers can accommodate pitches down to 25 μm.
US07688094B2
In an electrical connecting apparatus, a first guide is arranged in a plate-shaped lower base in which the contactors are arranged. The first guide has a first space for guiding a device under test so that its electrodes will contact the tips of contactors and for positioning the device under test against the contactors. The device under test is guided to the first space by second guides and is received and thrust by the tips of the contactors. By doing so, displacement of the device under test caused by displacement of the upper base or the second guides is prevented.
US07688093B2
The invention relates to a device interface board for testing chips, which is cooperatively installed with one of a plurality of probe cards. Each of the plurality of probe cards is provided with a specified wiring area and a first public signal area, the specified wiring area being electrically connected with the first public signal area. The first public signal area of each of the plurality of probe cards is located in a same particular area, and the specified wiring area of each of the plurality of probe cards is electrically connected with a testing jig and is different depending on a different testing jig. The device interface board comprises a chip test area and a second public signal area, in which the chip test area is used to carry a chip under test and is electrically connected with the second public signal area, whereby, through electrical connection between the device interface board and the first public signal area of each of the plurality of probe cards, test signals are transferred between the testing jig and the chip under test, and testing of chips under test having the same model are accomplished between different testing jigs.
US07688088B2
At least one pair of electrode formed on a mounting surface of a stage is in contact with a conductive layer formed on a first surface of an inspection object, and an electrical path is formed between the both by using a fritting phenomenon.
US07688087B2
An under testing device interface with mixed-signal processing circuit is disclosed. The under testing device interface with mixed signal processing circuit software of integrates the mixed-signal processing circuit into the probe card or device under testing card, the mixed-signal processing circuit with the pin electric channel of the tester, and the programs for handling the process of mixed-signal processing circuit into the system software of the tester.
US07688083B2
A method of obtaining parametric test data for use in monitoring alignment between layers of a semiconductor device. The method employs a test structure comprising a meander (10, 30) of the material of a first layer of the semiconductor device, deposited relative to a conductive line (18,38). A number of sets (16a, 16b, 16e, 16d) of components 16, such as contacts or vias, are provided relative to the meander (10), at successively smaller distances therefrom. A single analogue measurement can be performed between a first and (A) of the meander (10, 30) and the conductive line (18, 38) so as to determine the resistance therebetween, and the critical distance at (or on acceptable margin in relation thereto) between the first layer and a component of the semiconductor device can be obtained.
US07688080B2
A capacitance sensing apparatus includes capacitance sensor elements covered by a layer of material. The layer of material has an uneven effect on a measure of capacitance induced in the capacitance sensor elements when an object is in proximity to a sensing surface. For example, the layer of material may have a non-uniform thickness, or a property of the material may be non-uniform across the layer. The capacitance sensor elements are dimensioned to compensate for the effect.
US07688078B2
A system or method for counting the number of layers of a multilayer object is adapted for counting the number of layers by means of a simple arrangement of emitting an electromagnetic wave to strike the object that is in a multilayer state. In the system or method, an electromagnetic wave is caused to strike at least either the top surface or the bottom surface of a multilayer object and electromagnetic waves generated by reflection of the incident electromagnetic wave at the respective interfaces of the layers of the multilayer object or an electromagnetic wave generated by transmission of the electromagnetic wave through the multilayer object.
US07688074B2
A battery monitor is provided for use with a battery of an automotive vehicle. The battery monitor can provide real time battery condition measurements and can selectively control the charging of the battery through an alternator of the vehicle based upon the measured battery condition.
US07688073B2
A diagnosis device of a capacitor discharge ignition device for an engine that detects, as a singularity, a leading edge or a trailing edge of a voltage between output terminals of an ignition power supply portion that generates a voltage for charging an ignition capacitor, counts the number of singularities detected while a crankshaft rotates through a measurement section, which is a section of a certain crank angle determined with reference to a pulse signal obtained by a signal generator that generates a pulse signal at a specific crank angle position of an engine, and diagnoses an abnormality of the ignition device and a cause of the abnormality by comparing the count value of singularity with the number of times of normal ignition of the engine performed while the crankshaft rotates through the measurement section.
US07688059B2
There is provided a filter characteristic adjusting apparatus and a filter characteristic adjusting method which can avoid an increase in circuit scale of the filter characteristic adjusting apparatus, and can speedily adjust a characteristic frequency of the filter to a desired frequency. When performing characteristic adjustment for the filter, the test signal generation unit (31) generates a test signal (s14) which is a pulse signal having the same frequency as the characteristic frequency of the filter (10) on the basis of a reference signal (s17), and a phase-shifted test signal (s14′) that is obtained by shifting the phase of the test signal (s14) by a predetermined amount with a phase shift unit (32) in a control signal generation unit (33) is compared with a filter output signal (s16) that is obtained by inputting the test signal (s14) into the filter (10) to obtain a phase difference between the signals, and then the phase difference is subjected to a binary search to generate a control signal (s11).
US07688050B2
A switching power supply controller has a nominal loop gain and transient loop gain that is only activated in response to an abrupt load change in one direction. The transient loop gain may be implemented with a series-connected diode and resistor combination arranged in a feedback configuration with an error amplifier. A large load change in one direction may swing the output of the error amplifier and forward bias the diode to create a non-linear gain change.
US07688038B2
A battery charging apparatus connects secondary batteries of the battery pack, plurality of charge terminals and two discharge terminals to form plurality charge paths and a discharge path, which has a main switch provided on the discharge path, a main controller connecting the battery pack and the main switch, plurality of sub switches provided on the charge paths, plurality of sub controllers connecting secondary batteries of the battery pack and corresponding sub switches, a thermal controller connecting the main controller and a temperature switch. The temperature switch connects the sub switches. The main controller and sub controllers monitor charge state and discharge state of the battery pack to set the main switch and sub switches cut off the discharge path and the charge paths. The thermal controller monitors temperature of the battery pack and main switch to set the main switch and the sub switches cut off the discharge path and the charge paths.
US07688036B2
A self-recharging battery comprising a generator and an energy storage device contained within the battery case. The generator comprises a magnetic structure configured to generate a compressed magnetic field and a coil configured to focus the compressed magnetic field in electrical conductive elements of the coil.
US07688028B2
A cordless system has cordless system components that include a cordless device, such as a cordless power tool, a battery pack and a charger. The battery pack is mated with either the cordless device to provide power to operate the cordless device or to the charger to charge the battery cells in the battery pack. In an aspect, the cordless system has an identification and communication system by which the battery pack identifies and communicates information about the battery pack to the cordless device or to the charger to which the battery pack is mated. In an, the battery pack of the cordless system is capable of multiple modes, such as controlling the cordless device and controlling the charger. In an aspect, the battery pack validates the cordless device or charger to which it is mated in an aspect of the invention, the cordless system uses any of a wired interface, radio frequency interface, an optical interface or a magnetic interface to communicate information between the battery pack and the cordless device or charger to which the battery pack is mated. In an aspect, female terminals are used in a terminal block of the battery pack to protect against foreign objects contacting the terminals. In aspect, the terminals in the terminal block of the battery pack are staggered or scattered to reduce the likelihood of a short circuit. In an aspect of the invention, the battery pack has a trap door that closes when the battery pack is not mated to a cordless device or charger to protect the terminal block of the battery pack. In an aspect of the invention, multi-spring, split contact terminals are used in the terminal block of at least one of the cordless system components. In an aspect of the invention, the battery cells are Lithium Ion battery cells.
US07688027B2
A charger configured to charge batteries includes a housing including a plurality of battery storage chambers accommodating the batteries, the battery storage chambers being aligned in a horizontal direction such that depth directions of the battery storage chambers are parallel to each other; openings formed on first ends of the battery chambers in the depth direction, the batteries being attached to and detached from the battery storage chambers through the openings; and charger-side terminals provided on the battery storage chambers, the charger-side terminals being connect to and disconnect from battery-side terminals of the batteries stored in the battery storage chambers.
US07688023B2
Disclosed is a battery pack management method for HEV and EV. Power for a control signal is applied to a relay of a battery pack connection circuit through a battery management system (BMS) or vehicle control device. Then, current or voltage from a pre-charge resistor of the battery pack connection circuit is detected. Thereafter, the detected current or voltage is compared with standard correspondence information pre-stored in a memory unit of the BMS to determine whether the detected value is within a normal range of the battery pack. A connection between the battery pack and the power conversion circuit is carried out when the detected value is within the normal range as a result of the determination, otherwise a pre-charge relay of the battery pack connection circuit is turned off and then a driver is provided with a warning signal.
US07688020B2
A step motor driving circuit is provided. An exemplary step motor driving circuit includes an input voltage source set, a reference voltage source, a voltage level shift unit, a logic unit, a reset voltage source, and an output voltage terminal. The input voltage source set provides an input voltage set. The reference voltage source provides a reference voltage. The voltage level shift unit raises one of the levels of the input voltage set to a level of the reference voltage. The logic unit receives the reference voltage and the input voltage set and outputs a control voltage. The reset voltage source outputs a reset voltage to reset the logic unit. The output voltage terminal receives the control voltage and outputs an output voltage.
US07688017B2
In at least one aspect, a second multi-axis vacuum motor assembly is provided. The second multi-axis vacuum motor assembly includes (1) a first rotor; (2) a first stator adapted to commutate so as to rotate the first rotor across a vacuum barrier and control rotation of a first axis of a robot arm within a vacuum chamber; (3) a second rotor below the first rotor; (4) a second stator below the first stator and adapted to commutate so as to rotate the second rotor across the vacuum barrier and control rotation of a second axis of the robot arm within the vacuum chamber; (5) a first feedback device adapted to monitor rotation of the first axis of the robot arm; and (6) a second feedback device adapted to monitor rotation of the second axis of the robot arm. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07688012B2
A method for determining the torque of an electric machine, in particular a permanently energized electric machine. The torque is determined by a particularly simple and accurate method by measuring a phase voltage and the rotational speed of the electric machine and calculating the torque based on these values.
US07688011B2
A control circuit for an electronically commutated motor (120), having a power stage (122) that comprises at least two semiconductor switches (216, 218) to influence the motor current. The semiconductor switches are controllable by way of commutation signals. The control circuit comprises a current measuring element (170) to make available a motor current control variable (I) dependent on the motor current, a base diode (240) that is arranged in series with the current measuring element and between the current measuring element and the at least two semiconductor switches, and a motor current setting element (180) with which the commutation signals can be influenced as a function of the motor current control variable.
US07688010B2
Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise an automatic reel capable assisting a user when attempting to unspool a linear material, such as a water hose. The automatic reel includes a control system having a motor controller capable of sensing a pulling of, or increased tension of, the linear material and capable of causing a motor to rotate to unspool the linear material. In certain embodiments, the motor controller tracks the length of the unspooled portion of the linear material and/or reduces the spooling speed of the motor when retracting a terminal portion of the linear material.
US07688009B2
In one embodiment, an LED current control circuit is configured with a sample and hold circuit that samples an error signal of an error amplifier during one time and holds the sampled value during a second time.
US07688005B2
A lighting control system is provided for a space that is equipped with multiple lamps for illuminating the space and multiple power circuits for supplying power to different groups of the lamps. The control system stores information relating to the past illumination of the lamps in each of the different groups. The system detects conditions or events that indicate that increased illumination of the space by the lamps is needed, and produces a control signal in response to the detection of a condition or event that indicates that increased illumination of the space by the lamps is needed. In response to the control signal, the system supplies power to at least one of the power circuits, which is selected on the basis of the stored information, to turn ON the group of lamps receiving electrical power from that power circuit.
US07688004B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for switching a lamp (2, 3) on and off that is controlled by a digital control input DALI. According to the invention, a load current monitoring is ensured.
US07687997B2
The subject of the present invention relates to a high efficiently dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-lamp for generating and/or emitting a radiation of ultraviolet (UV)-light comprising: a discharge gap (1) being at least partly formed and/or surrounded by at least an inner wall (2) and an at least partly transparent (3), each with an inner surface (2a, 3a), facing the discharge gap (1) and an outer surface (2b, 3b) arranged opposite of and directed away from the corresponding inner surface (2a, 3a), a filling located inside the discharge gap (1), at least two electrical contacting means (4), a first electrical contacting means (4a) at the inner wall (2) and a second electrical contacting means (4b) at the outer wall (3), and at least one luminescent coating layer (5) arranged at/on and at least partly covering at least a part of the respective wall's inner surface (3a), arranged such, that at least a part of the generated UV-light of a certain wavelength range can pass the luminescent coating layer (5) from the discharge gap (1) to the outside of the DBD-lamp, whereby at least one of both walls (2, 3) is at least partly arranged with directing means (6), so that the diffusive radiation is directed in direction through the transparent part of the outer wall (3) with reduced losses due to absorption effects and the like.
US07687996B2
A compound body has a first body part (15) made of glass and a mechanical connection (20, 60) which is melted on the first body part (15) and contains aluminum.
US07687995B2
Provided is a display apparatus that includes a panel assembly having a front panel and a rear panel coupled to the front panel and a plurality of discharge electrodes to which power is applied; a chassis base assembly that is combined with the panel assembly and on which a driving circuit unit is formed; a plurality of signal transmitting units that electrically connect the discharge electrodes and the driving circuit unit; and a silicon protection member which is formed on at least an end of each of the signal transmitting units to surround connection portions between the signal transmitting units and the discharge electrodes of the driving circuit unit, and comprises a silicon layer that seals the connection portions from the outside and an electromagnetic wave shielding material that is mixed in the silicon layer to block electromagnetic waves generated by the discharge electrodes or the driving circuit unit and has an electromagnetic wave shielding range from 1 to 200 dB. The display apparatus can prevent yellowing, and at the same time, can block electromagnetic waves.
US07687989B2
An emissive display device, including: a reflective electrode and a transparent electrode. One or more light-emitting layers are formed between the reflective and transparent electrodes. A scattering layer is positioned in the emissive display device to scatter light trapped in the one or more light-emitting layers; and a circular polarizer is located on the side of the scattering layer opposite the reflective electrode.
US07687984B2
An organic light emitting display device including a thin film transistor in first and second regions on a transparent insulating substrate, a lower anode coupled to the thin film transistor, a reflective layer pattern formed on the lower anode in the first region, an upper anode formed on the reflective layer pattern in the first region and on the lower anode in the second region, and an organic layer formed on the upper anode in the first and second regions.
US07687980B2
A spark plug comprises: a spark plug housing; an axial core electrode disposed in a longitudinal direction in the spark plug housing; and a ground electrode having a terminal part spaced apart along the longitudinal direction from a distal end of the axial core electrode and disposed in a perpendicular relation with the axial core electrode, the terminal part having a circular through hole formed along an axis coaxial with the axial core electrode, the circular through hole having a tapered inner surface and including a plurality of spiral protrusions disposed on the tapered inner surface to induce a turbulent air flow in the combustion inflow.
US07687976B2
An ultrasound imaging system (100). An exemplary system (100) includes a plurality of transducer elements (136) formed in subarrays (140) and a plurality of subarray circuit units (160′), with each circuit unit (160′) connected to a subarray (140) of the transducer elements (136). The circuitry in each unit (160′) comprises a plurality of integrated circuits (330, 340, 350), with at least a first (340) of the integrated circuits formed over a second (330) of the integrated circuits in a stacked configuration. In an example illustration the first integrated circuit (340) includes a first plurality of first bond pads (345) along a surface (342) thereof and the second integrated circuit (330) includes a second plurality of second bond pads (335) along a surface (331) thereof, with bond wires (344) extending between pairs of first and second bond pads to provide input/output signal connections therebetween.
US07687949B2
A rotor of a synchronous reluctance motor is provided. The rotor may include a laminated core including a plurality of laminated silicon steel sheets being equally divided into a plurality of regions with respect to a central portion of the plurality of silicon steel sheets. Each of the plurality of regions may include a plurality of barriers. Guide pin holes may be formed between adjacent regions so as to receive guide pins therethrough to align the plurality of silicon steel sheets and end caps provided at opposite ends thereof. Rivets may penetrate receiving holes formed at corresponding barriers in each of the respective regions so as to couple the laminated core and the end caps.
US07687946B2
A spindle motor is disclosed. The spindle motor includes a base including a PCB, a bearing housing installed on the base and having a bearing therein, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a stator including a core arranged around the bearing housing and a coil wound around the core, a rotor including a rotor yoke supported by the rotating shaft and a magnet coupled to the rotor yoke, and a stopper supported by the base at an outer side of the rotor yoke, and partially located above a portion of the rotor yoke to inhibit the rotor yoke from moving upward.
US07687923B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device package, comprising a die having a back surface and an active surface formed thereon; an adhesive layer formed on the back surface of the die; a protection substrate formed on the adhesive layer; and a plurality of bumps formed on the active surface of the die for electrically connection. The present invention further provides a method for forming a semiconductor device package, comprising providing a plurality of die having a back surface and an active surface on a wafer; forming an adhesive layer on the back surface of the die; forming a protection substrates on the adhesive layer; forming a plurality of bumps on the active surface of each die; and dicing the plurality of die into individual die for singulation.
US07687919B2
An integrated circuit package system includes an arched pedestal integrated circuit die including an active surface, a die mounting surface, a pedestal portion including an arch intersecting the die mounting surface and having an arch height, and the arch under a portion of the active surface and having an arch width less than the arch height.
US07687905B2
An integrated circuit package includes a first capacitor supported by a surface of a substrate, and a second capacitor supported by the surface of the substrate. The first capacitor is within a die shadow region, and the second capacitor lies outside of the die shadow region.
US07687895B2
A workpiece has at least two semiconductor chips, each semiconductor chip having a first main surface, which is at least partially exposed, and a second main surface. The workpiece also includes an electrically conducting layer, arranged on the at least two semiconductor chips, the electrically conducting layer being arranged at least on regions of the second main surface, and a molding compound, arranged on the electrically conducting layer. In the molding compound a contact via is arranged.
US07687891B2
A semiconductor device includes a first layer having a first conductivity type, a second layer having a second conductivity type, a third layer having the second conductivity type, one or more first zones having the first conductivity type and located within the second layer, wherein each one of the one or more first zones is adjacent to the third layer, and one or more second zones having the second conductivity type and located within the second layer, wherein each one of the one or more second zones is adjacent to one or more of the one or more first zones.
US07687889B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting display device, such as an organic electroluminescent device, and a method for manufacturing the same. Particularly, the present invention relates to reducing electrical resistance between the scan lines and the cathode electrode layers so that scan line signals do not degrade significantly degrade. One way to achieve this is to use materials to form the conducting layers of the scan line and the cathode electrode layers such that the conductivities of the conducting layers and the cathode electrode layer are as identical as possible. For example, if a same metal such as aluminum is used to form both the conducting layer and the cathode electrode layer, the resistance would be significantly lowered. In addition, a large contacting area may be provided.
US07687880B2
A fuse corner pad is part of an integrated circuit that includes a built-in fuse contact and a plurality of auxiliary pads. The fuse contact is a conductive metallic or metalloid structure that is connected to a fuse element. The fuse contact and fuse element are used inside of the fuse corner pad for programmability (e.g., for security) and/or adjustment (e.g., trimming) of analog and/or digital signals. The fuse contact and fuse element are not required to be bonded to an external electrical connection (such as, a pin or ball). The auxiliary pads provide a variety of functional or non-functional applications, such as testing, probing, programming, and/or circuit adjustment.
US07687877B2
An interconnect structure is provided that includes a dielectric material 52′ having a dielectric constant of 4.0 or less and including a plurality of conductive features 56 embedded therein. The dielectric material 52′ has an upper surface 52r that is located beneath an upper surface of each of the plurality of conductive features 56. A first dielectric cap 58 is located on the upper surface of the dielectric material 52′ and extends onto at least a portion of the upper surface of each of the plurality of conductive features 56. As shown, the first dielectric cap 58 forms an interface 59 with each of the plurality of conductive features 56 that is opposite to an electrical field that is generated by neighboring conductive features. The inventive structure also includes a second dielectric cap 60 located on an exposed portion of the upper surface of each of the plurality of conductive features 56 not covered with the first dielectric cap 58. The second dielectric cap 60 further covers on an exposed surface of the first dielectric cap 58.
US07687876B2
The present invention provides for nanostructures grown on a conducting substrate, and a method of making the same. The nanostructures grown according to the claimed method are suitable for manufacturing electronic devices such as an electron beam writer, and a field emission display.
US07687873B2
A photodiode comprises a support substrate, an insulating layer formed over the support substrate, a silicon semiconductor layer formed over the insulating layer and having a device forming area and device isolation areas which surround the device forming area, a device isolation layer formed in the device isolation areas, a P+ diffusion layer formed in the device forming area close to one edge lying inside the device isolation layer by diffusing a P-type impurity in a high concentration, an N+ diffusion layer spaced away from the P+ diffusion layer and formed in the device forming area close to the other edge opposite to the one edge of the device isolation layer by diffusing an N-type impurity in a high concentration, a low concentration diffusion layer formed in the device forming area located between the P+ diffusion layer and the N+ diffusion layer by diffusing an impurity of the same type as either one of the P+ diffusion layer and the N+ diffusion layer in a low concentration, and silicide layers respectively formed above the P+ diffusion layer and the N+ diffusion layer with being spaced away from a boundary between the low concentration diffusion layer and the P+ diffusion layer and a boundary between the low concentration diffusion layer and the N+ diffusion layer.
US07687872B2
An image sensor including photosensitive cells including photodiodes and at least one additional circuit with a significant heat dissipation including transistors. The image sensor is made in monolithic form and includes a layer of a semiconductor material having first and second opposite surfaces and including, on the first surface side, first regions corresponding to the power terminals of the transistors, the lighting of the image sensor being intended to be performed on the second surface side; a stack of insulating layers covering the first surface; a thermally conductive reinforcement covering the stack on the side opposite to the layer; and thermally conductive vias connecting the layer to the reinforcement.
US07687867B2
A method to integrate MIM capacitors into conductive interconnect levels, with low cost impact, and high yield, reliability and performance than existing integration methods is provided. This is accomplished by recessing a prior level dielectric for MIM capacitor level alignment followed by deposition and patterning of the MIM capacitor films. Specifically, the method includes providing a substrate including a wiring level, the wiring level comprising at least one conductive interconnect formed in a dielectric layer; selectively removing a portion of the dielectric layer to recess the dielectric layer below an upper surface of the at least one conductive interconnect; forming a dielectric stack upon the at least one conductive interconnect and the recessed dielectric layer; and forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor on the dielectric stack. The MIM capacitor includes a bottom plate electrode, a dielectric and a top plate electrode. The bottom and top plate electrodes can comprise the same or different conductive metal.
US07687853B2
A semiconductor device includes one or more LDMOS transistors and one of more SCR-LDMOS transistors. Each LDMOS transistor includes a LDMOS well of a first conductivity type, a LDMOS source region of a second conductivity type formed in the LDMOS well, and a LDMOS drain region of a second conductivity type separated from the LDMOS well by a LDMOS drift region of the second conductivity type. Each SCR-LDMOS transistor comprising a SCR-LDMOS well of the first conductivity type, a SCR-LDMOS source region of the second conductivity type formed in the SCR-LDMOS well, a SCR-LDMOS drain region of a second conductivity type, and a anode region of the first conductivity type between the SCR-LDMOS drain region and the SCR-LDMOS drift region. The anode region is separated from the SCR-LDMOS well by a SCR-LDMOS drift region of the second conductivity type.
US07687846B2
Disclosed are nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. A nonvolatile memory device can include a field isolation film configured to define active regions in a substrate and a wordline configured to intersect the active regions. Devices can also include source and drain regions formed in each of the active regions at both sides of the wordline and a source line configured to extend along the wordline under the source region. Devices can further include a join region configured to connect the source region with the source line.
US07687843B2
A process for producing structures in a semiconductor zone, has the steps of a) producing a trench (2) in the semiconductor zone (18), b) filling the trench with a photoresist (19), and c) exposing the photoresist (19) using ion beams (20), d) developing the photoresist (19). The energy density and ion dose for the ion beams (20) are selected in such a way that the photoresist (19) is only chemically changed at defined depths, so as to produce two regions, in the first region (21) of which the photoresist has been chemically changed at the defined depths by the ion beams (20), and in the second region of which the photoresist has been left chemically unchanged, so that during the developing step the photoresist is removed in precisely one of the two regions.
US07687838B2
Provided are a resistive memory device having a probe array and a method of manufacturing the same. The resistive memory device includes a memory part having a bottom electrode and a ferroelectric layer sequentially formed on a first substrate; a probe part having an array of resistive probes arranged on a second substrate, with the tips of the resistive probes facing the ferroelectric layer so as to write and read data on the ferroelectric layer; and a binding layer which grabs and fixes the resistive probes on or above the ferroelectric layer. The method of manufacturing the resistive memory device includes forming a bottom electrode and a ferroelectric layer sequentially on a first substrate; forming an array of resistive probes on a second substrate; and wafer level bonding the first substrate to the second substrate using a binding layer such that tips of the resistive probes face the ferroelectric layer.
US07687836B2
A conductive shield plane electrically isolating the photodiode regions from metal interconnect lines in an imager sensor device.
US07687828B2
A field-effect transistor has a so-called double heterostructure which is formed such that a channel layer through which electrons travel is provided between an electron supply layer and a liner layer, wherein a forbidden band width of the liner layer and a forbidden band width of the electron supply layer are broader than a forbidden bandwidth of the channel layer.
US07687827B2
Semiconductor structures including one, or more, III-nitride material regions (e.g., gallium nitride material region) and methods associated with such structures are provided. The III-nitride material region(s) advantageously have a low dislocation density and, in particular, a low screw dislocation density. In some embodiments, the presence of screw dislocations in the III-nitride material region(s) may be essentially eliminated. The presence of a strain-absorbing layer underlying the III-nitride material region(s) and/or processing conditions can contribute to achieving the low screw dislocation densities. In some embodiments, the III-nitride material region(s) having low dislocation densities include a gallium nitride material region which functions as the active region of the device. The low screw dislocation densities of the active device region (e.g., gallium nitride material region) can lead to improved properties (e.g., electrical and optical) by increasing electron transport, limiting non-radiative recombination, and increasing compositional/growth uniformity, amongst other effects.
US07687824B2
A heating process is performed in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of not less than 1650° C. upon an epitaxial substrate including a single crystal base and an upper layer made of a group-III nitride crystal and epitaxially formed on a main surface of the single crystal base. The result shows that the heating process reduces the number of pits in a top surface to produce the effect of improving the surface flatness of the group-III nitride crystal. The result also shows that the dislocation density in the group-III nitride crystal is reduced to not more than one-half the dislocation density obtained before the heat treatment.
US07687815B2
The invention provides a side-view LED having an LED window opened to a side to emit light sideward. A pair of lead frames each act as a terminal. An LED chip is attached to a portion of the lead frame and electrically connected thereto. A package body houses the lead frames and has a concave formed around the LED chip. Also, a high reflective metal layer is formed integrally on a wall of the concave. A transparent encapsulant is filled in the concave to encapsulate the LED chip, while forming the LED window. In addition, an insulating layer is formed on a predetermined area of the lead frames so that the lead frames are insulated from the high reflective metal layer. The side-view LED of the invention enhances light efficiency and heat release efficiency with an improved side-wall reflection structure.
US07687812B2
A representative LED array includes: a base substrate (BS) and a plurality of light emitting diodes, each of the light emitting diodes comprising a stack of a first contact layer, a semiconductor stack and a second contact layer, the semiconductor stack being on top of the first contact layer, the second contact layer being on top of the semiconductor stack; the plurality of light emitting diodes being arranged in pixel matrix on the base substrate as LEDs of at least three types (R, G, B); the LEDs according to their type (R, G, B) being arranged as at least a first, second and third sub-pixel in the pixel matrix for emission of radiation of a respective specific at least first, second and third color; and interconnection circuitry on the substrate, operative to connect to the light emitting diodes of the array for addressing each of the light emitting diodes.
US07687803B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip and a wiring substrate. The wiring substrate is configured to be electrically connected to the semiconductor chip, and have a plurality of terminals arranged on an surface opposite to a surface on which the semiconductor chip is mounted. The plurality of terminals includes a plurality of first terminals configured to be arranged closely to each other, and a plurality of second terminals configured to be arranged so as to surround the plurality of first terminals. The plurality of second terminals is provided such that terminals of the semiconductor chip are connected to outer terminals through the plurality of second terminals. Each of the plurality of first terminals is not provided with a metal ball, while each of the plurality of second terminals is provided with a metal ball.
US07687801B2
It is to provide a thermodynamically and chemically stable dopant material which can achieve controls of the pn conduction types, carrier density, and threshold value of gate voltage, and a manufacturing method thereof. Further, it is to provide an actually operable semiconductor device such as a transistor with an excellent high-speed operability and high-integration characteristic. Provided is a dopant material obtained by depositing, on a carbon nanotube, a donor with a smaller ionization potential than an intrinsic work function of the carbon nanotube or an acceptor with a larger electron affinity than the intrinsic work function of the carbon nanotube. The ionization potential of the donor in vacuum is desired to be 6.4 eV or less, and the electron affinity of the acceptor in vacuum to be 2.3 eV or more.
US07687799B2
Methods and associated structures of forming a microelectronic device are described. Those methods may include forming a GaSb nucleation layer on a substrate, forming a Ga(Al)AsSb buffer layer on the GaSb nucleation layer, forming an In0.52Al0.48As bottom barrier layer on the Ga(Al)AsSb buffer layer, and forming a graded InxAl1-xAs layer on the In0.52Al0.48As bottom barrier layer thus enabling the fabrication of low defect, device grade InGaAs based quantum well structures.
US07687784B2
An implanter is equipped with an ion beam current detector, a temperature sensor, a temperature controller and a cooling system to increase the ratio of a specific ion cluster in the ion source chamber of the implanter. Therefore, the implanting efficiency for a shallow ion implantation is increased consequently.
US07687778B2
An infrared receiver includes a shielding member and an infrared detecting member. The shielding member has negative refractive power for diverging incident infrared rays. The infrared detecting member includes a main body formed with a convex surface having positive refractive power and an infrared sensor enclosed in the main body. The infrared sensor receives infrared rays converged by the convex surface, and converts received infrared rays to electrical signals.
US07687777B2
A cost-effective photosensor system for rotor position detection includes securing an aperture assembly to an off-the-shelf infrared radiation-emitting component and/or an off-the-shelf infrared radiation-detecting component. The application discloses an aperture assembly that may be stamped from a thin, opaque, elongated piece of plastic having an aperture window through which a radiation beam may pass and be focused. The aperture assembly also has a locking system for securing the assembly to the off-the-shelf photosensor system component, and an alignment system to direct the infrared radiation beam. A replaceable stamped aperture assembly for use in a rotor-sensing system and a method of providing a replaceable aperture assembly and securing it to an infrared component of a photosensor system are also disclosed.
US07687776B2
A gas imaging system for remotely detecting gas emissions by passive images of infrared radiation includes an optical system having a field of view. The optical system has a lens, an optical filter system for filtering light passed through the lens, and a photosensitive array located at the focal plane of the optical system to produce multi-spectral infrared image data of a scene under observation. A multi-spectral image processing system is configured for processing the image data produced by the photosensitive array to detect hazardous gas emissions and to discriminate against infrared radiation emitted by false alarm sources. Some embodiments may be configured for flame detection. Other embodiments may be configured for gas and flame detection.
US07687774B2
An infrared ray sensing element, includes: 1) a semiconductor substrate; 2) an infrared ray receiver disposed above the semiconductor substrate in such a manner as to be isolated from the semiconductor substrate, the infrared ray receiver being configured to receive an infrared ray; and 3) a beam configured to support the infrared ray receiver to the semiconductor substrate and include a thermopile configured to sense a temperature increase of the infrared ray receiver, wherein one of the following has a cross sectional shape that includes at least one protruding part: i) the beam, and ii) the thermopile.
US07687770B2
Some principles described herein contemplate implementation of downhole imaging for the characterization of formation fluid samples in situ, as well as during flow through production tubing, including subsea flow lines, for short term investigation, permanent, and/or long term installations. Various methods and apparatus described herein may facilitate downhole testing. For example, some embodiments facilitate multi-dimensional fluorescence spectrum measurement testing downhole.
US07687769B2
Some principles described herein contemplate implementation of downhole imaging for the characterization of formation fluid samples in situ, as well as during flow through production tubing, including subsea flow lines, for short term investigation, permanent, and/or long term installations. Various methods and apparatus described herein may facilitate downhole testing. For example, some embodiments facilitate multi-dimensional fluorescence spectrum measurement testing downhole and correlating the fluorescence with other oil properties.
US07687752B2
The present invention discloses a focus detection device capable of reading a plurality of focus detection outputs in parallel. As an exemplary structure, the focus detection device includes a focus detection sensor having a plurality of output terminals for outputting, in parallel, analog data corresponding to focus states of multiple points in the field of a viewfinder, a multiplexer for arranging and outputting, in series order on the one terminal, the analog data output in parallel from the plurality of output terminals of the focus detection sensor, and an A/D converter for converting, to digital data, the analog data arranged in series order on the one terminal through and output from the multiplexer.
US07687747B2
An electromagnet heating cable includes a center core, an inner layer body formed around the center core, an intermediate layer body formed around the inner layer body, an outer layer body formed around the intermediate layer body, an inner layer coil having a magnetic core disposed between the center core and inner layer body, an intermediate layer coil disposed between the inner layer body and the intermediate layer body, and an outer layer coil disposed between the intermediate layer body and outer layer body, wherein when a temperature of the heating cable exceeds a threshold, the intermediate layer body melts to electrically connect the intermediate layer coil to the outer layer coil.
US07687735B2
A packaging structure for depression switches includes an electronic substrate containing at least one switch electrode, a push-on switch located on the electronic substrate to connect the switch electrode to generate a command signal and a sealing member. The push-on switch and the electronic substrate form a first air chamber between them. The sealing member has a fastening portion to seal the push-on switch on the electronic substrate and a second air chamber formed with the electronic substrate to communicate with the first air chamber. By depressing the push-on switch to connect the switch electrode, air held in the first air chamber is squeezed and flows to the second air chamber without escaping.
US07687734B2
A dome switch structure that includes an actuator integrally formed with a dome is disclosed. Advantageously, the actuator can be formed so as to be positioned over and properly aligned with the dome. In one embodiment, the dome switch structure is used by an electronic device to provide user input. When the actuator is pressed by a user, the actuator depresses the dome and induces a switching action. In one embodiment, the dome switch structures can be manufactured (i.e., machined) as a unitary structure. Consequently, since actuators and domes can be formed together, the dome switch structures yield not only consistent accurate alignment but also simplified assembly of dome switches. Given the accurate alignment of an actuator to a corresponding dome, dome switches formed from the dome switch structures can have consistent and reliable tactile feel to users, which thereby provides reliable usage by users.
US07687732B1
A keyswitch apparatus features a key cap having a stem slidably moveable within a housing of a keyboard frame, to interact with an underlying membrane switch. According to one embodiment, the stem is square and at least two sets of channel-like guides on opposite sides of the stem are configured to be in sliding engagement with corresponding ribs projecting from the housing. Sliding engagement between the ribs and corresponding guides serves to minimize points of contact between the key cap and housing, reducing noise of operation. The rigid ribs and corresponding guides are relatively simple shapes that facilitate their fabrication with precise dimensional tolerances.
US07687730B2
A switch panel including a switch unit is mounted on a dashboard of an automotive vehicle. The switch unit has switches for operating devices mounted on the vehicle and ornamental members disposed between the switches. The ornamental member is composed of a base portion and a portion extending from the base portion. Front surfaces of the extending portion and the base portion are covered with an ornamental light-reflecting layer. The front surface of the extending portion is positioned flush with a touch surface of the switch. The front surface of the base portion is sloped so that light incident thereon is reflected toward a direction not in parallel to a gap formed between the extending portion and the switch. The light reflected on the sloped surface is invisible while the front surface of the extending portion is clearly visible, enhancing ornamental design effects of the switch unit.
US07687728B2
A safety switch includes a cable having a first end connected to a cable translator moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the cable having a second end for connection to a remote lock and power supply switch.
US07687720B2
Described is an insulated non-halogenated, heavy metal free vehicular cable comprising an inner core of a copper based metal wire having a cross sectional area of at least about 0.1 mm2, and an outer insulation, covering the length of the inner core, comprised of a thermoplastic polyphenylene ether composition that has no halogen or heavy metal added thereto, the insulated cable capable of meeting the testing standard ISO 6722.
US07687715B2
An interconnection structure for circuit board and terminal members improves a configuration of a terminal member to be soldered to conductors on boards, and relaxes a stress applied to soldered portions, thereby preventing the soldered portions from a problem, such as cracking. An interconnection structure for circuit boards and terminal members includes two boards positioned away from each other. A terminal support base may be disposed on at least one of the boards and provided with a plurality of juxtaposed terminal guiding-holes, and a plurality of terminal members may be soldered to conductors on the two boards, may penetrate the terminal guiding-holes in the terminal support base, and may be provided with bent portions for stress relaxation at a position where the bent portions do not contact with the terminal support base.
US07687711B2
An entertainment device or other electronic device having an outward shape improved in functionality compared with that in the related art are provided. The electronic device includes a main housing that is formed in an approximately elliptical cylinder form, and disposed in a such a manner that a longitudinal direction is approximately horizontal to a setting surface, and has medium insertion ports for inserting a portable information storage medium such as an optical disk, and an approximately boxlike base portion attached to a lower portion of the main housing.
US07687710B2
Dead-end-to-dead-end overhead electrical power transmission line with at least two different conductors, and method of selecting and installing the conductors.
US07687709B2
This invention is a layered thin film semiconductor device comprising a first transparent layer; a thin, second transparent layer having a conductivity less than the first transparent layer; an n-type layer; and a p-type layer comprising one or more IIB and VIA elements. This invention is also a method for making such semiconductor device. The thin film semiconductor devices of this invention are useful for making photovoltaic devices.
US07687696B2
The present invention is a hollow body stringed musical instrument that utilizes a low mass, soundboard having a 12 to 25 foot radius dome configuration. The soundboard is made of a three ply torsion box design utilizing a honeycomb stiffening layer as the central core. Linear adjustable tuning braces are incorporated in the hollow body. The side and back of the instrument are also of a three ply construction having a polymer ir inorganic foam as the central layer. (Preferably this will be a closed cell foam.) The back also has a domed configuration with a 12 to 15 foot radius. All structural braces are eliminated from the interior of the instrument's body.
US07687686B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5124759. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5124759. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5124759 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5124759 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07687683B2
Disclosed herein are a sweetpotato expansin cDNA (IbExpansin), a plant transformation vector carrying the same, and a transgenic plant comprising the vector. The transgenic Arabidopsis, prepared using the IbExpansin cDNA, outgrows the wild-type, thereby increasing in size and seed production up to three times. Thus, the gene is useful in the generation of highly productive transgenic plants for improvement in biomass and/or seed production.
US07687681B2
A personal care absorbent article such as a disposable diaper, sanitary pad or tampon, wound dressing or bandage which includes a nonwoven web material made from a plurality of polymeric fibers having at least one treatment chemistry suitable for modifying at least one characteristic of a high viscoelasticity fluid upon contact with the high viscoelasticity fluid. In accordance with one particularly preferred embodiment, the treatment chemistry is suitable for immobilizing the high viscoelasticity fluid within the nonwoven web material.
US07687679B2
An absorbent wearing article includes a liquid-absorbent structure and an excrement receiving structure having a plurality of passages defined by flexible walls formed from flexible sheets and disposed along a liquid-absorbent surface of the liquid-absorbent structure.
US07687675B2
This invention is directed to methods of converting oxygenates to olefin products. The methods provided include steps for protecting against deactivation of active molecular sieve catalysts during the conversion process. In particular, the invention provides for methods of regenerating coked catalyst to minimize catalyst deactivation due to contact with moisture.
US07687674B2
Low temperature process for recovering and producing para-xylene and heat exchange network therefore
Recent experimental work with currently available adsorbents indicates that operating the adsorption section at lower temperatures improves the para-xylene productivity. As a result, an aromatics complex and heat recovery network for a low temperature adsorptive separation-isomerization loop is disclosed resulting in adsorbents savings in combination with higher capacity thereby enabling smaller adsorbents chambers, a smaller total heat exchanger area and a lower heat exchanger shell count.
US07687669B2
A method for alkyl oxygenate (e.g., methanol) manufacture via partial oxidation of alkane (methane) uses an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber in fluid communication with a tubular-flow reactor. Alkyl free radicals are induced in the backmixing reaction chamber prior to being fed through a flow-restriction baffle to the tubular-flow reactor. Injective intermixing of feed streams agitates the backmixing reaction chamber. In one embodiment, a variable position flow restriction baffle is axially moved to commensurately modify the backmixing reaction chamber and tubular-flow reactor volumes. In another embodiment, the tubular-flow reactor is quenched with a variable position quenching input. The method further provides for condensing the output stream from the reaction system in a condensing scrubber and also for recycling a portion of the scrubbed output stream to the reactor system.
US07687665B2
The present invention relates to inhibitors of 11-β hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1, antagonists of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The compounds of the invention can be useful in the treatment of various diseases associated with expression or activity of 11-β hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1 and/or diseases associated with aldosterone excess.
US07687660B2
The present invention relates to intermediates of rosuvastatin and processes for the production thereof.
US07687657B2
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of (bis)acylphosphanes of formula I, wherein n and m are each independently of the other 1 or 2; R1 if n=1, is e.g. unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl or C2-C18alkenyl, or phenyl, R1 if n=2, is e.g. a divalent radical of the monovalent radical defined above; R2 is e.g. C1-C18alkyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl, C2-C18alkenyl, mesityl, phenyl, naphthyl; R3 is one of the radicals defined under R1; the process comprises the steps a) contacting e.g. elemental phosphorous [P]∞, P(Hal)3 with a reducing metal optionally in the presence of a catalyst or an activator in a solvent to obtain metal phosphides Me3P or Me′3P2, wherein Me is an alkali metal and Me′ is an earth alkali metal or to obtain metal polyphosphides b) optionally adding a proton source, optionally in the presence of a catalyst or an activator to obtain metal dihydrogen phosphides MePH2; c) subsequent acylation reaction with m acid halides of formula III or m carboxylic acid esters of formula IV or, in case that in formula I m=1, with one carboxylic ester of formula IV followed by one acid halide of formula III or vice versa, wherein R is the residue of an alcohol and R2 is as defined above; d) alkylation reaction subsequent reaction with an electrophilic agent R1Hal or other electrophilic agents to obtain the compounds of formula I. An oxidation step may follow to obtain mono- and bisacylphosphane oxides or mono- and bisacylphosphane sulfides, which are used as photoinitiators.
US07687655B2
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of dinitrile compounds by double hydrocyanation of an olefin.It relates particularly to a process for the manufacture of dinitrile compounds by double hydrocyanation of an olefin present in a mixture of hydrocarbons, such as a petroleum fraction and more particularly still a petroleum fraction known under the name of C4 fraction.The process of the invention comprises a sequence of stages for the separation of the various compounds which makes it possible to remove the byproducts, such as the products from the trimerization of alkynes, present in the C4 fraction and thus to prevent their accumulation in the hydrocyanation reactors.
US07687651B2
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of trans- or cis-diammoniumdichlorodihydroxoplatinum(IV) and derivatives thereof. What is suggested is reacting trans- or cis-diammoniumdichloroplatinum(II) with a solution comprising >30% peroxide at temperatures below 30° C. and dissolving the product thus obtained in a mineral acid and subsequently precipitating with an alkaline solution.
US07687640B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound of formula (6a): wherein Ar1 represents an imidazolyl group which may be substituted with 1 to 3 substituents shown below; Ar2 represents a pyridinyl group, a pyrimidinyl group or a phenyl group which may be substituted with 1 to 3 substituents; and R11 represents a group selected from certain substituents.
US07687634B2
N-Substituted (6-haloalkylpyridin-3-yl)alkyl sulfoximines are effective at controlling insects.
US07687632B2
Process for the preparation of substituted pyridine derivatives of formula (I) comprising reaction of a α-β-unsaturated carbonyl compound of formula (II) R3—C(O)—C(R1)═C(R2)-G with a Wittig reagent or Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagent in the presence of a base and optionally subsequent cyclization.
US07687630B2
The invention provides a method for producing optically active 3-quinuclidinols having one or more substituted groups at the 2-position; wherein 3-quinuclidinones having one or more substituted groups at the 2-position are reacted with compounds providing hydrogen in the presence of a certain metal complex.
US07687613B2
The invention provides a gene transfer vector comprising a humanized nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunogenic portion of one or more exotoxins of Bacillus anthracis and a heterologous sorting signal. The invention also provides a method of producing an immune response against Bacillus anthracis in a host comprising administering to the host the gene transfer vector.
US07687612B1
The present invention relates to a novel reactive dyestuff with dialkylether bridge group, represented by the following formula (I): wherein B, B′, E1, E2, Z, Z′, i, j, (R1)0-3, (R2)0-3, m and n are defined the same as the specification. The reactive dyestuff of the present invention is suitable for exhaust dyeing, cold batch-up dyeing, continuous dyeing, printing and digital spray printing materials that contain hydroxyl group or amino group fibers.
US07687595B2
A sulfonated telechelic polycarbonate is described which is produced by melt synthesis. A dihydroxy compound is reacted with a sulfobenzoic acid salt, then with an activated carbonate. The method results in a sulfonated telechelic polycarbonate which has a high percentage of sulfonated end groups, is soluble, and is transparent.
US07687578B2
Sealant and potting formulations are provided which are prepared from components including ungelled mercapto-terminated polymer(s) prepared by reacting reactants comprising polyvinyl ether monomer(s) and polythiol material(s); curing agent(s) reactive with a mercapto group of the mercapto-terminated polymer; and additive(s) selected from the group consisting of fillers, adhesion promoters, plasticizers and catalysts.
US07687561B1
The present invention relates to toughened cyanoacrylate compositions.
US07687550B2
One embodiment of a composition includes a radiation-curable pre-polymer and at least one stabilizing additive contained in the radiation-curable pre-polymer. The stabilizing additive is configured to reduce shrinkage caused by radiation curing of the radiation-curable pre-polymer.
US07687544B2
A method of treating and preventing type 2 diabetes and obesity an animal, including mammals and humans, in which a therapeutically effective amount of catalpic acid to the animal is administered orally or parentally.
US07687539B1
The topical use of 5,6,7-trihydroxyheptanoic acid and analogs alone or in combination with histamine antagonists and/or mast cell stabilizers is disclosed for the treatment of ocular allergy.
US07687535B2
The present invention relates to substituted indoles useful as pharmaceutical compounds for treating respiratory disorders.
US07687532B2
Compounds of formula (I): are inhibitors of p38 kinase and are useful in the treatment of conditions or disease states mediated by p38 kinase activity or mediated by cytokines produced by the activity of p38.
US07687520B2
Selective dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are provided. These compounds have a lower side-effect profile and are useful in compositions and products for use in treatment of a variety of conditions including depression, fibromyalgia, anxiety, panic disorder, agorophobia, post traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, autism, schizophrenia, obesity, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome, vasomotor flushing, cocaine and alcohol addiction, sexual dysfunction, borderline personality disorder, fibromyalgia syndrome, diabetic neuropathic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, pain, Shy Drager syndrome, Raynaud's syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, and epilepsy.
US07687519B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, m, n, q, r, W, Z1, Ar1, Z2, Y, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US07687518B2
4-Tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine Compounds, compositions comprising an effective amount of a 4-Tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine Compound, methods for treating or preventing pain or diarrhea in an animal comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a 4-Tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine Compound and methods for stimulating opioid-receptor function in a cell comprising contacting a cell capable of expressing an opioid receptor with an effective amount of a 4-Tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine Compound are disclosed.
US07687513B1
Disclosed herein are aminopyridinium cations and compositions containing these cations. Piperidino pyridinium cations and compositions containing these cations are also described. Ionic compositions, particularly liquid ionic compositions that contain the aminopyridinium cation or piperidino pyridinium cation are also described. Methods of enhancing the thermal stability of a compound, particularly an ionic compound, using the aminopyridinium or piperidino pyridinium cations, are also presented. Compositions having an expanded liquidus range of from about −73° C. to about 444° C. are also described. Solvents, heat transfer fluids, and lubricants having improved thermal stability characteristics and an expanded and improved liquidus range are also disclosed.
US07687506B2
Inhibition of protein kinases having one or more cysteine residues within the ATP binding site is effected by contacting the kinase, per se or in a cell or subject, with an inhibitory-effective amount of a compound having a heterocyclic core structure comprised of two or more fused rings containing at least one nitrogen ring atom, and an electrophilic substituent that is capable of reacting with a cysteine residue within the ATP binding site of a kinase. Preferred compounds include certain pyrrolopyrimidines and oxindoles having such an electrophilic substituent and optionally an aromatic or heteroaromatic substituent that is capable of interacting with a threonine or smaller residue located in the gatekeeper position of the kinase. Kinases lacking such cysteine residues may be engineered or modified so that they are capable of being inhibited by such compounds by replacing a valine or other amino acid residue within the ATP binding site by a cysteine residue.
US07687501B2
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides tricyclic compounds of formula I (wherein J1-J3, X, Z, and R1, R3, and R4 are as defined herein) useful as metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonists, particularly as selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and methods of treatment using the compounds and compositions to treat diseases associated with metabotropic glutamate receptor (e.g., mGluR1) such as, for example, pain, migraine, anxiety, urinary incontinence and neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer's disease.
US07687499B2
Certain cyclopropyl amines are histamine H3 modulators useful in the treatment of histamine H3 receptor mediated diseases.
US07687497B2
The novel C10-modified camptothecin analogs, and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, of the present invention: (i) possess potent antitumor activity (i.e., in nanomolar or subnanomolar concentrations) for inhibiting the growth of human and animal tumor cells in vitro; (ii) are potent inhibition of Topoisomerase I; (iii) lack of susceptibility to MDR/MRP drug resistance; (iv) require no metabolic drug activation: (v) lack glucuronidation of the A-ring or B-ring; (vi) reduce drug-binding affinity to plasma proteins; (vii) maintain lactone stability; (viii) maintain drug potency; and (ix) possess a low molecular weight (e.g., MW<600).
US07687495B2
Substituted piperidines of formulae (I) and (II) with the substituent definitions as explained in the specification. The compounds are suitable in particular as renin inhibitors and are highly potent.
US07687493B2
The present invention relates to a novel method for the preparation of azetidine derivatives such as N-{1-[bis(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]azetidin-3-yl}-N-quinol-6-ylmethylsulfonamide and the dihydrochloride thereof and N-{1-[bis(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]azetidin-3-yl}-N-(3,5-difluorophenyl)methylsulfonamide.
US07687489B2
A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of cerebral ischemic diseases, which comprises two components, i.e. an astrocyte function-improving agent, preferably a compound represented by the formula (I): (wherein R6 is hydroxy, etc., (1) n is 1, R11 is hydrogen and R5 is (alkyl of which one carbon atom is substituted by fluorine)-CH2— or (2) n is 0 or 1, R11 is hydrogen, etc., and R5 is alkyl, etc.) and a thrombolytic agent, preferably tissue plasminogen activator, as active ingredients. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention exhibits a synergistic therapeutic effect compared to independent administration of an astrocyte function-improving agent and a thrombolytic agent.
US07687483B2
Novel phospho-derivatives of branched-chain lipophilic molecules useful for permeabilizing biological barriers and for inhibiting tumor growth are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising phospho-derivatives of branched-chain lipophilic molecules and their uses are also disclosed.
US07687481B2
The present invention provides novel pyrazoles that are useful as cannabinoid receptor antagonists and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of using the same for treating obesity, diabetes, and/or cardiometabolic disorders.
US07687476B2
The present invention relates to the use of one or more of the compounds of the group consisting of 4-thiouridine, isomaltitol, and uridine in the preparation of therapeutically effective compositions against acute or chronic inflammations, and/or problems in hemostasis related to platelet function, as well as a method for treatment of acute or chronic inflammations, and/or problems in hemostasis related to platelet function with the exception of the use of uridine in the treatment of inflammatory conditions caused by a bacterial infection.
US07687473B2
The present invention provides a method for increasing the efficacy of antifolates which act via inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The method comprises the steps of administration of 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside (Z) or its base with the antifolate such that the targeted cells are exposed to both the antifolate and Z simultaneously. This results in increased influx of the antifolate. For MTX, accumulation of the more biologically active polyglutamate forms is also potentiated. This potentiation appears to be mediated by an effect on the RFC.
US07687471B2
The present invention provides a stable veterinary oral composition which comprises one or more surfactants, a water-miscible solvent, optionally an oil and an effective amount of each of a benzimidazole antihelmintic compound, such as triclabendazole and a macrocyclic lactone, such as moxidectin. Said composition is useful for treating and controlling endo- and ectoparasitic infection and infestation in a homeothermic animal.
US07687461B2
The invention relates to novel proteins with TNF-alpha antagonist activity and nucleic acids encoding these proteins. The invention further relates to the use of the novel proteins in the treatment of TNF-alpha related disorders.
US07687453B2
A mixed micellar pharmaceutical formulation includes a micellar pharmaceutical agent, an alkali metal C8 to C22 alkyl sulfate, alkali metal salicylate, a pharmaceutically acceptable edetate and at least one absorption enhancing compounds. The absorption enhancing compounds are selected from the group consisting of lecithin, hyaluronic acid, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of hyaluronic acid, octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, glycolic acid, lactic acid, chamomile extract, cucumber extract, oleic acid, linolenic acid, borage oil, evening primrose oil, trihydroxy oxo cholanylglycine, glycerine, polyglycerin, lysine, polylysine, triolein and mixtures thereof. Each absorption enhancing compound is present in a concentration of from 1 to 10 wt./wt. % of the total formulation, and the total concentration of absorption enhancing compounds are is less than 50 wt./wt. % of the formulation.
US07687450B2
The present disclosure relates to compositions useful for maintaining the clean impression of a carpet (that is, its scent and appearance) over an extended time despite occurrences that might damage the carpet surface. The composition, which includes an antimicrobial agent, an enzyme inhibitor, and an odor-reacting compound, can be used by a consumer to remove contaminants from the carpet and to prevent the odor associated with the decomposition of future contamination. Specifically, the composition has been shown effective in neutralizing odors associated with the decomposition of organic materials (such as urine or food spills) by absorbing and/or removing the odor-generating source. A manufacturing treatment composition and methods for using are also disclosed.
US07687447B2
The present invention relates to semi-aqueous compositions and the method using same, to remove highly cross-linked resists and etch-residues. The compositions are comprised of aminobenzenesulfonic acid, water miscible organic solvent and water.
US07687444B2
A lubricating oil composition having a TBN in the range of 5 to 55 mg KOH/g and containing a major amount of a base oil of lubricating viscosity and a) 0.19 to 2.10 wt %, based on the total amount of the lubricating oil composition, of an overbased calcium carboxylate having a TBN of 100 mg KOH/g or more, wherein the wt % is expressed in terms of the calcium content; b) 0.002 to 0.06 wt %, based on the total amount of the lubricating oil composition, of a bis-succinimide compound, wherein the wt % is expressed in terms of the nitrogen content; and c) 0.007 to 0.15 wt %, based on the total amount of the lubricating oil composition, of a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate having a secondary alkyl group, wherein the wt % is expressed in terms of the phosphorus content.
US07687433B2
A method of fabricating a product of activated carbon fiber supporting silver has the steps of: a) Impregnate activated carbon fibers in a silver acetate solution under a vacuum condition for a predetermined time to deposit silver on surfaces of the activated carbon fibers via a chemical reaction. And then, dry the activated carbon fibers to remove water therein. b) Heat the activated carbon fibers in a stove filled with protective gas to break the silver on the activated carbon fibers into very fine grains, and c) wash the activated carbon fibers to remove redundant sliver from the surfaces of the activated carbon fibers.
US07687431B2
A nanotube-shaped titania having an aspect ratio of 6 or greater can be produced by anodizing a titanium metal or an alloy containing mainly titanium in an electrolyte solution containing a halogen atom-containing ion, such as a perchloric acid aqueous solution.
US07687426B2
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 monoesters of aromatic carboxylic acid internal electron donors; one or more aluminum containing cocatalyst; and a mixture of two or more different selectivity control agents, said SCA mixture comprising from 70 to 98 mol percent of one or more esters of one or more aromatic monocarboxylic acids or substituted derivatives thereof, and from 30 to 2 mol percent of one or more alkoxysilane compounds containing one or more 5- or 6-membered cyclic groups optionally containing one or more Group 14, 15 or 16 heteroatoms.
US07687420B2
The invention relates to a tempered glass comprising, in terms of mass percent, SiO2: 60 to 80%; Al2O3: 3 to 18%; B2O3: 0 to 7%; Li2O: 0.01 to 10%; Na2O: 4 to 16%; K2O: 0 to 15%; and R′O (wherein R′O indicates a total content of alkaline earth metal oxides): 0 to 5%, wherein a value of (Li2O+Al2O3)/(Na2O+K2O) in terms of molar ratio is within a range of 0.1 to 2, and wherein a surface of the tempered glass is treated to form a compressive stress layer.
US07687418B2
The X-ray opaque glass is characterized by a composition, in mol %, of SiO2, 75-98; Yb2O3, 0.1 to 40; and ZrO2, 0 to 40. Preferred embodiments of the glass are free of Al2O3 and B2O3. The glass is produced from the glass batch by melting at a temperature of at least 1500° C. in an iridium or iridium alloy vessel with the assistance of high-frequency radiation. In preferred embodiments of the glass production process at least one raw material ingredient is present in the batch as a nanoscale powder. The glass is useful in dental applications, optical applications, and biomedical applications, or for photovoltaics, or as a target material in PVD processes.
US07687398B2
Nickel silicide is formed on the basis of a gaseous precursor, such as nickel tetra carbonyl, wherein the equilibrium of the decomposition of this gas may be controlled to obtain a highly selective nickel silicide formation rate. Moreover, any etch step for removing excess nickel may be avoided, since only minute amounts of nickel may form on exposed surfaces, which may then be effectively removed by correspondingly shifting the equilibrium. Consequently, reduced process complexity, enhanced controllability and enhanced tool lifetime may be obtained.
US07687393B2
A polishing composition for reducing the haze level of the surface of silicon wafers contains hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyethylene oxide, an alkaline compound, water, and silicon dioxide.
US07687389B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate insulation layer over a substrate, forming a first gate conductive layer over the gate insulation layer, forming a barrier metal over the first gate conductive layer, sequentially forming a second gate conductive layer and a gate hard mask over the barrier metal, patterning the gate hard mask, the second gate conductive layer, the barrier metal, the first gate conductive layer, and the gate insulation layer to form a gate pattern, and performing a plasma selective gate re-oxidation process on the gate pattern.
US07687387B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes depositing first to third mask layers above a substrate, processing the third mask layer, processing the second mask layer, slimming the second mask layer in an L/S section and out of the L/S section, peeling the third mask layer in the L/S section and out of the L/S section, forming spacers on sidewalls of the second mask layer in the L/S section and out of the L/S section, etching the second mask layer in the L/S section, under a condition that the second mask layer out of the L/S section is covered with a resist, to remove the second mask layer in the L/S section while the second mask layer out of the L/S section remains, and processing the first mask layer by etching, using the spacers in the L/S section and out of the L/S section and the second mask layer out of the L/S section as a mask, the spacers in the L/S section and out of the L/S section and the second mask layer out of the L/S section being thinned by the etching.
US07687384B2
Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. In the method, a poly layer on a semiconductor substrate is etched to a predetermined depth. Ions are implanted into the poly layer at a predetermined angle. The poly layer is etched again to expose a portion of the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, stress is applied to the poly gate instead of the barrier layer, so that the barrier layer is not opened during contact etching because effects of the barrier layer thickness can be solved. Also, stress is applied to a poly gate directly contacting a channel region of the semiconductor substrate to allow tensile force caused by the stress of the poly gate to directly induce tensile force to the channel region, and thus increase mobility, so that device characteristics can be remarkably enhanced.
US07687383B2
Methods of making Si-containing films that contain relatively high levels of Group III or Group V dopants involve chemical vapor deposition using trisilane and a dopant precursor. Extremely high levels of substitutional incorporation may be obtained, including crystalline silicon films that contain at least about 3×1020 atoms cm−3 of an electrically active dopant. Substitutionally doped Si-containing films may be selectively deposited onto the crystalline surfaces of mixed substrates by introducing an etchant gas during deposition.
US07687379B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device whereby InAs(1-x)Sbx semiconductor layer is formed on an easily available and economical semiconductor substrate such as a GaAs substrate or a Si substrate. According to the method, a quantum dot layer is formed between a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer to reduce defects caused by lattice mismatch between the semiconductor layer and the semiconductor layer. The method may improve the growth speed of the semiconductor layer. In addition, because the InSb layer provided by the present invention has an electron mobility greater at room temperature, it may improve the quality and productivity of the semiconductor device.
US07687378B2
A fabricating method of nitride semiconductor substrate is provided. First, a first substrate including a first base material, a nitride semiconductor template layer stacked on the first base material, and a first dielectric layer stacked on the nitride semiconductor template layer is provided. Then, the first dielectric layer and the nitride semiconductor template layer are patterned, and a second substrate including a second base material and a second dielectric layer stacked on the second base material is provided. Next, the nitride semiconductor template layer and the first dielectric layer of the first substrate are transferred onto the second dielectric layer of the second substrate through bonding and transferring processes, and then a nitride semiconductor thick film is grown from the nitride semiconductor template layer through an epitaxy process. After that, the nitride semiconductor thick film and the second substrate are separated.
US07687377B2
In a method of fabricating a phase change memory (PCM) device, a substrate having bottom electrodes formed therein is provided. A first dielectric layer having cup-shaped thermal electrodes is formed over the substrate. Second dielectric layers are formed on the substrate. Stacked structures are formed on the substrate. A PC material film is formed over the substrate and covers the stacked structures and the second dielectric layers. The PC material film is anisotropically etched to form PC material spacers on sidewalls of the stacked structures, and each of the PC material spacers physically and electrically contacts each of the cup-shaped thermal electrodes and top electrodes. The PC material spacers include phase change material. The PC material spacers are over-etched to remove the PC material film on the sidewalls of the second dielectric layers.
US07687370B2
A method for forming a semiconductor isolation trench includes forming a pad oxide layer over a substrate and forming a barrier layer over the substrate. A masking layer is formed over the barrier layer and is patterned to form at least one opening in the masking layer. At least a part of the barrier layer and at least a part of the pad oxide layer are etched through the at least one opening resulting in a trench pad oxide layer. Etching of the trench pad oxide layer stops substantially at a top surface of the substrate within the isolation trench. An oxide layer is grown by diffusion on at least the top surface of the substrate corresponding to the at least one isolation trench. The method further includes etching the oxide layer and at least a portion of the substrate to form at least one isolation trench opening.
US07687368B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method is disclosed. The method is to form a second semiconductor layer which has less susceptibility to adopting insulative characteristics than a first semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer. Then, grooves which expose portions of the second and first semiconductor layers are formed to extend from the upper surface of the second semiconductor layer into the first semiconductor layer. Next, portions of the first and second semiconductor layers which are exposed to the grooves are changed into an insulator form to fill the grooves with the insulator-form portions of the first semiconductor layer.
US07687363B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of: forming a high-voltage well region (e.g., by implanting impurity ions into a semiconductor substrate and then annealing); forming an isolation layer on the semiconductor substrate; implanting impurity ions into the high-voltage well region, thereby forming a low-voltage well region within the high-voltage well region; forming a gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate; and implanting impurity ions using the gate electrode as a mask, thereby forming source/drain regions within the low-voltage well region.
US07687361B2
Disclosed is a method for fabricating a transistor of a memory device capable of preventing voids from being created when forming a low-resistant gate electrode. The method includes the steps of forming an active area by etching a semiconductor substrate, forming a field oxide layer in the semiconductor substrate and forming a recess by etching the field oxide layer. A gate insulation layer is formed along an upper surface of the active area and an exposed portion of the active area. A gate electrode is formed on the field oxide layer such that the gate electrode extends across an upper portion of the active area while being overlapped with a channel area and the recess. The first conductive layer to be patterned has the same thickness, so the low-resistant gate electrode is easily fabricated without forming the voids.
US07687350B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device using asymmetric junction ion implantation, including performing ion implantation for adjusting a threshold voltage to a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate to define a storage node junction region and a bit line junction region, implanting a first conductive impurity ion and a second conductive impurity ion using a mask layer pattern covering the storage node junction region while exposing the bit line junction region, forming a gate spacer layer at both sides of the gate stack, and implanting the first conductive impurity ion using the gate stack and the gate spacer layer as an ion implantation mask layer to form a storage node junction region and a bit line junction region having different impurity concentrations, and different junction depths from each other.
US07687348B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an insulation layer and a semiconductor layer formed on the insulation layer; a channel area formed in the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode formed on the channel area; a source area formed in the semiconductor layer and having a depth not reaching the insulation layer; a drain area formed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to the source area with the channel area in between and having a depth reaching the insulation layer; a separation area disposed next to the source area opposite to the channel area and having a depth not reaching the insulation layer; a high-concentration body area formed in the semiconductor layer at lease in a surface layer thereof and between the first separation area and the second separation area; and a body contact disposed on the high-concentration body area.
