US07698742B1
A method and apparatus for scanning exclusively locked files uses a kernel mode driver to scan the operating system's table of applications and identify a handle that owns an exclusive lock for an exclusively locked file. In one embodiment, the kernel mode driver then copies the handle and passes the handle over to a handle list of the anti-virus application requesting access to the exclusively locked file and provides the anti-virus application with the access handle reference number. Armed with the access handle reference number for the copied handle, the anti-virus application can then open the exclusively locked file and scan the exclusively locked file as it would any other file.
US07698728B2
An automated playlist chaser (APC) improves the recovery time and robustness of playlists to component failures and/or human errors in a content sourcing and editing environment. Following detection and correction of an error in a content sourcing subsystem controlled by a playlist, the APC retrieves a last known good playlist from a playlist archive and automatically builds a new playlist for resynchronization of the subsystem. Building the new playlist involves iteratively solving for the first new program segment entry in the new playlist and the new “on-air time,” “start-of message,” and “duration” attributes for the entry as a function of a reference time (e.g., the present time of day), the original on-air time for the entry, the subsystem recovery time, the APC processing time, and the queuing delay of the audio-video source for the program segment.
US07698725B2
An information processing apparatus arranged to refer to image capture limitation information to judge whether an image capture range after control includes a limitation area, the image capture limitation information defining the limitation area corresponding to an attribute of a user of a terminal, and effect control so that if it is judged that the image capture range includes the limitation area, the terminal is controlled so as to perform secure communications.
US07698723B2
The exemplary embodiments describe systems and methods for multimedia-on-demand services. A multimedia-on-demand system includes a mass storage device that receives and stores multimedia content items. Memory couples to the mass storage device and stores a multimedia-on-demand data table and multimedia-on-demand instructions. The multimedia-on-demand data table includes a multimedia content identifier field corresponding to a multimedia content item stored on the mass storage device. The multimedia-on-demand data table may also include a multimedia content usage indicator field associated with the multimedia content item. The multimedia-on-demand instructions are executed by a processor and include instructions to automatically receive the multimedia content items. The multimedia-on-demand instructions also send a multimedia-on-demand usage message based at least in part on the multimedia content usage indicator.
US07698718B2
An integrated circuit restricts use of a data item and includes a data memory storing the data item; a value memory storing a value; a signature input that receives a signature derived from data in a data item field and a value in a value field, the signature being in a coded form; a decoding circuit that decodes the signature and outputs information representing the data in the data item field and the value in the value field; and a comparison circuit that receives the decoding circuit output, determines whether the information representing the data from the data item field corresponds to the stored data item and whether the information representing the value from the value field corresponds to the value stored in the value memory, and outputs a comparison signal according to the determinations. The circuit restricts the use of the data item according to the comparison signal.
US07698716B2
Apparatuses, products, devices and methods of manufacture consistent with the invention include optically readable media with at least one mechanism, chemical, agent, and/or process for limiting the time period that at least a portion of encoded information can be read and/or accessed by an optical beam and/or reader capable of reading the encoded information.
US07698711B2
An apparatus and method capable of performing multiple tasks in a portable terminal are provided, in which menu functions of the portable terminal can be implemented while continuing to play the music. The multi-tasking apparatus includes a controller for performing controlling to implement at least one menu function while playing a music file and a display unit for displaying an indication that the music file is being played during the implementation of the menu function.
US07698702B2
A versioning schema enforced by the application development environment enables the runtime environment of a terminal device to evaluate a software update to identify potential compatibility issues and control installation of the update. The versioning schema includes a respective field for each one of a plurality of aspects of the application and defines an initial value of each field when an initial application load is released. For each successive software update affecting the application, the method involves identifying each aspect of the application affected by the software update and incrementing a value of the respective field of each identified aspect. The version number can be in the form D.M.F where D, M and F are incremented in response to changes in the application relating to data components, message components and features.
US07698701B2
A method for adapting a provisioned content of an application program on a mobile device, the content of the application being partitioned into a set of addressable logical modules, the method comprising the steps of provisioning a first group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules to provide provisioned content on the device, monitoring execution path information of the provisioned content during execution on the device, evaluating the execution path information to adapt the provisioned content by one or more of adding logical modules to the first group from the set of logical modules, removing logical modules from the first group of logical modules or suspending logical modules from the first group of logical modules, to form a second group of logical modules, revising the first group of logical modules to correspond to the second group of logical modules to provide a revised content; and adapting the provisioned content of the application on the terminal to correspond to the revised content, during execution on the device.
US07698699B2
A method is provided for updating an application residing on a storage device of a computing device. The update is simulated by performing all necessary actions except for actually committing data relating to the update to the storage device, and it is determined whether the simulated update succeeded. If so, the update is performed by performing the same necessary actions and also actually committing the data relating to the update to the storage device.
US07698684B2
A method and system for generating schema to Java™ mapping description. In one embodiment, default schema to Java™ mapping information is customized into customized schema to Java™ mapping information. An object having the customized mapping information is created, and schema to Java™ generation is initialized via the object.
US07698683B1
Systems and methods for a generic data model for the representation of an arbitrarily complex environment are disclosed. These systems and methods allow the representation of any logical or physical entity and the associations and dependencies between these entities. Components may be used to represent the entities while relationships may be used to represent the associations and dependencies between the entities. A typing system may be utilized in conjunction with a generic data model to define a hierarchy of components and relationships for use with a particular category of environments. The data structures associated with a generic data model may be stored utilizing a table schema which does not change with the addition of new data structures or types of data structures. Applied data models created from these generic data models may be searched utilizing a query language which allows efficient searching of the applied data model, and structuring of the concomitant results.
US07698673B2
One disclosed embodiment may comprise a design method for a dynamic circuit system. The method may include providing a design for a single stage network comprising a pull-down network that is configured to perform a desired logic function according to a plurality of inputs. The method may also include designing a multi-stage network that includes at least two stages, each of the at least two stages including a pull-down network that receives a respective portion of the plurality of inputs and each of the at least two stages cooperating to perform the desired logic function.
US07698669B1
The present invention is directed to a method and a system to evaluate operational characteristics of an electronic circuit. The method includes generating a visual display, on a monitor, of an eye diagram viewer. The eye diagram viewer is used to establish a test parameter for the circuit. Accessed is data that includes a graphical file containing eye diagram information corresponding to the test parameter. A visually perceivable image of the eye diagram information is provided in response to the test parameter. Specifically, the eye diagram viewer is used to establish an eye diagram information identifier by displaying in a plurality of test condition selector screens one of a multiple condition values for the test condition parameters. The graphical file containing the eye diagram information corresponding to the eye diagram information identifier is obtained from the server and displayed.
US07698665B2
Photomask patterns are represented using contours defined by mask functions or other formats. Given target pattern, contours may be optimized such that defined photomask, when used in photolithographic process, prints wafer pattern faithful to target pattern. Optimized patterns or blocks may be simplified for mask manufacturing.
US07698663B2
In a preferred embodiment, a CPU extracts a regular structure in a layout of an integrated circuit using layout graphic information, net list information, and constraint information with reference to regularity information of an array-structure, a row-structure, and the like, stored in a magnetic disk storage to evaluate the regular structure, and optimizes the layout of the integrated circuit using the layout graphic information, the net list information, etc., in consideration of the evaluation of the regular structure. Thus, a layout excellent in circuit characteristics and device matching properties, wiring characteristics can be obtained.
US07698658B2
A display controlling apparatus which displays icons representative of data in layers on a screen, the display controlling apparatus including: an operating section which, based on operations performed by a user, obtains at least instructions for how to display the icons on the screen; a storing section for storing at least data constituting the icons in the layers; a controlling section for generating picture data for displaying the icons in the layers on icon array axes; and a display outputting section for outputting the picture data generated by the controlling section onto a display device; wherein, when the operating section obtains an instruction from the user, the controlling section acting on the instruction generates the picture data in such a manner as to move each of the icon array axes into a different direction together with the icons displayed in an array on each of the axes.
US07698653B2
A graphical user interface (GUI) graphically corresponds to an image display window through which a single image or a stream of images or video frames are displayed. The GUI includes a zoom control box having an inner region positioned within an outer region. The size of the inner region relative to the outer region represents the magnification of the portion of the image being displayed within the image display window. The magnification of the image being displayed is increased by using a cursor control device to position a cursor within the inner region and clicking the cursor control device. The magnification of the image being displayed is decreased by using the cursor control device to position the cursor outside of the inner region but inside of the outer region and clicking the cursor control device. As the magnification is increased or decreased, the size of the inner region relative to the outer region is changed accordingly. A magnification factor is also displayed within the inner region to display a numeric representation of the current magnification. The position of the inner region within the outer region represents the portion of the entire image being displayed within the image display window. The portion of the image being displayed within the image display window is changed by clicking and dragging the inner region to the desired position within the outer region using the cursor control device.
US07698652B2
In a user-interface application, a computing apparatus has a user-interface to assist the user in searching for information from a data array. In an example embodiment according to the present invention, the data array is an ordered list of addresses. In a UI so equipped, the user experiences a particular sequence of events. The user begins at a point on a list of addresses. After the user presses the scroll key, the list rolls down a low rate. As the user continues to hold down the scroll button the scroll accelerates. After a predetermined time, a helper character is displayed. This character may represent a first letter of a name or a first digit of a telephone number. The UI displays the helper character to the user. The user continues to hold the scroll button until a help character, corresponding to his/her desired selection, appears. The user releases the scroll button and may slowly browse among a smaller group of data to locate the particular selection.
US07698642B1
Techniques are provided for generating a prompt in a particular language. Multiple prompt components are selected and arranged based on the language in which the prompt is generated.
US07698636B2
A component can be edited from within the context of a hosting file. A system and method for providing an in-place editing surface for a component such as a file, document or control, within the context of the hosting file is described. A non-persistable container is generated for the hosting file and another non-persistable container (e.g., an editing frame) is generated for the component. The current contents of the component are loaded into an editing frame. Modifications made to the component within the editing frame are saved and the hosting file is displayed. Any changes made to the component are visible in the hosting file.
US07698634B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for designing data movement from a source file to a target file includes receiving a first data format of a source file via a graphical user interface, receiving a second data format of a target file via the graphical user interface, receiving mappings from a user via the graphical user interface to represent a desired movement of data from the source file to the target file, and automatically converting the mappings into a script to represent a movement of data from the source file to the target file.
US07698627B2
A device, a control method, and a program to increase the accuracy of voice read-out and text mining by automatically structuring a presentation file. The arrangement and practice of the invention involves an overlap grouping part for extracting overlap information between objects in a presentation file and grouping the objects as a parent-child relationship; a graph dividing grouping part for grouping the objects as a sibling relationship by representing the objects as nodes of a graph and by recursively dividing the graph so that a predefined cost between the nodes is minimized; a distance information grouping part for further grouping the objects as a sibling relationship if distance information between the objects is below a threshold determined by a predefined computation from a distribution histogram of the distance information; and a link information extraction part for extracting arrow graphics that represents a link relationship and generating link information including the link relationship and a link label. The resulting structured data is output as meta-information.
US07698613B2
Disclosed is a circuit in which for conducting the scan path test, test clock terminals are provided in a number smaller than that of user clock domains, and a test clock control circuits on respective test clock lines to control whether the pulses of the test clock are propagated or blocked.
US07698612B2
The present disclosure describes novel methods and apparatuses for directly accessing JTAG Tap domains that exist in a scan path of many serially connected JTAG Tap domains. Direct scan access to a selected Tap domain by a JTAG controller is achieved using auxiliary digital or analog terminals associated with the Tap domain and connected to the JTAG controller. During direct scan access, the auxiliary digital or analog terminals serve as serial data input and serial data output paths between the selected Tap domain and the JTAG controller.
US07698610B2
A technique of detecting an open integrated circuit (IC) pin includes selectively coupling a first open detect circuit, which includes a first inverter having a first threshold, to the IC pin. Next, a first logic state at an output of the first inverter is determined. Then, based upon the first logic state, it is determined whether the IC pin is open or whether it is indeterminate as to whether the IC pin is open. When it is indeterminate as to whether the IC pin is open, based on the first logic state, a second open detect circuit is selectively coupled to the IC pin. The second open detect circuit includes a second inverter having a second threshold (the first threshold is greater than the second threshold). A second logic state at an output of the second inverter is then determined. Finally, based upon the first and second logic states, it is determined whether the IC pin is open.
US07698608B2
A mechanism is provided for using a single bank of electric fuses (eFuses) to successively store test data derived from multiple stages of testing are provided. To encode and store array redundancy data from each subsequent test in the same bank of eFuses, a latch on a scan chain is used that holds the programming information for each eFuse. This latch allows for programming only a portion of eFuses during each stage of testing. Moreover, the data programmed in the eFuses can be sensed and read as part of a scan chain. Thus, it can be easily determined what portions of the bank of eFuses have already been programmed by a previous stage of testing and where to start programming the next set of data into the bank of eFuses. As a result, the single bank of eFuses stores multiple sets of data from a plurality of test stages.
US07698606B2
Methods and apparatus for logging, analysis, and reporting of events such as reboots in a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) using applications. In one aspect, an improved event logging and monitoring system is provided within the device with which the application(s) can interface to record event or error data. In one exemplary embodiment, the client device comprises a digital set-top box having Java-enabled middleware adapted to implement the various functional aspects of the event logging system, which registers to receive event notifications (including resource exhaustion data) from other applications running on the device. The network operator can also optionally control the operation of the logging system remotely via a network agent. Improved client device and network configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed.
US07698597B2
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer usable program code for preventing execution of program components having errors. First, a software application is executed. The software application interacts with a number of programs. Next, an error message is received. The error message indicates an error has occurred in a first program within the number of programs. The first program is then isolated such that the first program no longer interacts with the software application.
US07698595B2
Provided is a highly reliable storage apparatus for supplying power to a plurality of memory mediums. This storage apparatus has a plurality of hard disks separately disposed in groups of eight; a plurality of power supply units for supplying power to each of the eight hard disks belonging to each group; and a redundant power supply unit connected in parallel with each power supply unit, wherein power is supplied from the redundant power supply unit to the eight hard disks connected to the power supply unit subject to a malfunction during such malfunction among the plurality of power supply units.
US07698579B2
A computer system includes a processor, a memory, first and second graphical processors that have different operating characteristics, a switching mechanism coupled to the graphical processors, and a display coupled to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display. Furthermore, a program module, which is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, is configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display. Note that the changing of the configuration and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running and are based on the operating condition of the computer system.
US07698576B2
A central processing unit (CPU) is disclosed. The CPU includes a CPU die; and a voltage regulator die bonded to the CPU die in a three dimensional packaging layout.
US07698572B2
A security module for use with a terminal comprises a data interface adapted to be coupled to a terminal, for receiving at least part of an algorithm code or the complete algorithm code from the terminal, and a power interface for receiving supply power. A volatile memory coupled to the power interface in order to have power supplied thereto stores the part of the algorithm code or the complete algorithm code received via the data interface. A processor performs, the algorithm code in order to obtain an algorithm code result that can be delivered to the terminal. Due to storing at least part of an algorithm code in the volatile memory of the security module, the algorithm code of the security module is effectively protected against being detected by spying from a potential attacker.
US07698571B2
A system includes of a main device and a recording medium device. The main device includes a reception unit that receives a digital work from an external distribution server, an internal storage area for storing the digital work, a playback unit that plays back the digital work, and a unique information storage area for storing information that is unique to the main device. The main device also includes an encryption unit that encrypts the digital work using the unique information, a decryption unit that decrypts, using the unique information, the encrypted digital work having been read from the recording medium device, a write unit that writes the encrypted digital work into the recording medium device which is portable, and a read unit that reads the encrypted digital work from the recording medium device.
US07698570B2
A content distribution system and method which prevents unauthorized access to secured content such as movies and music. The system includes a source, a receiver, an authorized security device such as a conditional access module (CAM) for decrypting authorized content and an output device for outputting content. The system can also include a backend for managing accounts and system operations. One aspect of this invention is that the content data is derived from the Internet. The system allows for the verification of authorization to play secured content, the addition of watermarks to the secured content, the conversion of the secured content to a displayable form and the means for preventing output of the secured content.
US07698567B2
The present invention satisfies these needs by providing an improved system and method for tokenless authorization of an electronic scrip transaction using at least one scrip supporter biometric sample and an electronic identicator. The preferred embodiment of the method comprises the steps of a scrip supporter registration step, wherein a scrip supporter registers with an electronic identicator at least one registration biometric sample, an electronic scrip transaction proposal step, comprising electronic scrip donator account data, at least one transmittal step, wherein a scrip supporter bid biometric sample is obtained from the scrip supporter's person and is electronically transmitted to the electronic identicator, a scrip supporter identification step, wherein the electronic identicator compares the bid biometric sample with at least one registration biometric sample for producing either a successful or failed identification of the scrip supporter, wherein upon successful identification of the scrip supporter, a scrip transaction is biometrically authorized, without the scrip supporter presenting any personalized man-made tokens such as smartcards or magnetic swipe cards.
US07698550B2
A software based wireless infrastructure system is provided. The system has a driver that communicates with the network stack and a network interface card (NIC), a station server in communication with the station driver and an 802.1X supplicant or an 802.1X authenticator. Each NIC provides station and/or access point functionality support. The driver drops packets that have been received if the packet has not been authenticated and associated. Packets that have been fragmented or encrypted are unfragmented and decrypted. An association manager is used in conjunction with a configuration table manager to associate stations and access points via management packets. A manager receives 802.1X data packets from the packet processor and sends them up to a station server that communicates with user mode applications and an 802.1X supplicant or an 802.1X authenticator that are used to authenticate and deauthenticate stations and access points. APIs are provided to enable communication between the components.
US07698524B2
An apparatus for controlling data exchange with a memory device includes an interface configured to receive an arbitration signal indicating when the apparatus has use of a shared bus and an interface to the memory device configured to provide a clock signal to the memory device that synchronizes data exchange between the apparatus and the memory device. A selection circuit selectively supplies the clock signal to the memory device responsive to the arbitration signal.
US07698523B2
Methods, systems and computer program products to implement hardware memory locks are described herein. A system to implement hardware memory locks is provided. The system comprises an off-chip memory coupled to a System-On-a-Chip(SOC) unit that includes a controller and an on-chip memory. Upon receiving a request from a requester to access a first memory location in the off-chip memory, the controller is enabled to grant access to modify the first memory location based on an entry stored in a second memory location of the on-chip memory. In an embodiment, the on-chip memory is Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and the off-chip memory is Random Access Memory (RAM).
US07698518B2
The usage amount of a pool area is avoided from becoming equal to 100%, thereby preventing all snapshot images from being crashed. There is provided a disk-array apparatus including a control processor. Here, the control processor controls a data reading/writing from/into a first logical volume created using a memory area of plural disk drives, and controls past data such that the past data is written into a second logical volume as differential data on each generation basis, the past data being stored into the first logical volume, and manages the differential data. If the amount of the differential data stored into the second logical volume has exceeded a first predetermined value, the control processor determines a generation of the differential data to be deleted from among the differential data written into the second logical volume. The control processor deletes the differential data of the generation determined.
US07698517B2
Systems and methods for managing the distribution and access of data on a pool of storage media are disclosed. The data are managed based on access patterns, storage media activity, and/or health parameters. An access pattern of one or more units of data in a pool of two or more storage media is determined. At least a portion of the one or more units of data are migrated from one storage medium to another storage medium within the pool of two or more storage media based on the access pattern. Systems and methods are also disclosed for storing data on several different disk storage sets according to different qualities.
US07698515B2
An information storage medium, a recording/reproducing apparatus and a recording/reproducing method are provided to increase data reproduction efficiency. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes: a write/read unit for recording data on an information storage medium and reading data from the medium; and a controller for controlling the write/read unit to record a replacement block by logical overwrite (LOW) for updating data recorded on the medium in a first area of the medium, record a replacement block for replacing a defect block generated on the medium in a second area of the medium, and record a second replacement block for replacement by defect of a first replacement block in the second area if the defect is detected while the first replacement block is being recorded in the first area to perform the logical overwrite of an original block recorded in a predetermined area of the medium, generate a defect list (DFL) entry including location information of the original block and location information of the second replacement block in order to indicate the replacement state, and move location information of the first replacement block in the second replacement block. As a result, an area for replacement by defect and an area for replacement by LOW are discriminated from each other, and data reproducing efficiency can be improved by effectively managing replacement information though the replacement by defect due to a defect generated during the replacement by LOW.
US07698513B2
A proactive, resilient and self-tuning memory management system and method that result in actual and perceived performance improvements in memory management, by loading and maintaining data that is likely to be needed into memory, before the data is actually needed. The system includes mechanisms directed towards historical memory usage monitoring, memory usage analysis, refreshing memory with highly-valued (e.g., highly utilized) pages, I/O pre-fetching efficiency, and aggressive disk management. Based on the memory usage information, pages are prioritized with relative values, and mechanisms work to pre-fetch and/or maintain the more valuable pages in memory. Pages are pre-fetched and maintained in a prioritized standby page set that includes a number of subsets, by which more valuable pages remain in memory over less valuable pages. Valuable data that is paged out may be automatically brought back, in a resilient manner. Benefits include significantly reducing or even eliminating disk I/O due to memory page faults.
US07698509B1
A multiprocessing node has a plurality of point-to-point connected microprocessors. Each of the microprocessors is also point-to-point connected to a filter. In response to a local cache miss, a microprocessor issues a broadcast for the requested data to the filter. The filter, using memory that stores a copy of the tags of data stored in the local cache memories of each of the microprocessors, relays the broadcast to those/microprocessors having copies of the requested data. If the snoop filter memory indicates that none of the microprocessors have a copy of the requested data, the snoop filter may either (i) cancel the broadcast and issue a message back to the requesting microprocessor, or (ii) relay the broadcast to a connected multiprocessing node.
US07698508B2
A system and method for cache management in a data processing system. The data processing system includes a processor and a memory hierarchy. The memory hierarchy includes at least an upper memory cache, at least a lower memory cache, and a write-back data structure. In response to replacing data from the upper memory cache, the upper memory cache examines the write-back data structure to determine whether or not the data is present in the lower memory cache. If the data is present in the lower memory cache, the data is replaced in the upper memory cache without casting out the data to the lower memory cache.
US07698498B2
In some embodiments a memory controller is disclosed that includes at least one command/address input buffer to receive commands and addresses. The addresses specify a memory bank and a location within the memory bank. An arbiter, coupled to the at least one command/address input buffer, merges commands and addresses from the at least one command/address input buffer and sorts the commands and addresses based on the addresses specified. A plurality of bank buffers, coupled to the arbiter and associated with memory banks, receive commands and addresses for their associated memory banks. A scheduler, coupled to the plurality of bank buffers, groups commands and addresses based on an examination of at least one command and address from the bank buffers. Other embodiments are otherwise disclosed herein.
US07698496B2
A cache miss judger judges a cache miss when a cache access is executed. An entry region judger judges which of a plurality of entry regions constituted with one or a plurality of cache entries in the cache memory is accessed by each of the cache accesses using at least a part of an index for selecting an arbitrary cache line in the cache memory. A cache miss counter counts number of the cache misses judged by the cache miss judger in each of the entry regions that is made to correspond to each of the cache accesses.
US07698495B2
A computer system is set forth that includes a processor, general memory storage, and cache memory for temporarily storing selected data requested from the general memory storage. The computer system also may include file system software that is executed by the processor. The file system software may be used to manage the file data and the structure of the file system for files stored on the general memory storage. Management of the cache memory is placed under the control of cache management software. The cache management software is executed by the processor to manage the contents of the cache memory pursuant to cache hit and cache miss criterion. Sections of the cache memory are organized by the cache management software based on logical addresses of file data requested from the general memory storage.
US07698482B2
A serial interface for a programmable logic device supports a wide range of data rates by providing a first number of channels supporting a first range of data rates and a second number of channels supporting a second range of data rates. The first range of data rates is preferably lower than the second range of data rates and preferably the first number of channels is higher than the second number of channels which preferably is 1. For backward compatibility with existing devices, the first number of channels in each interface preferably is four. Each channel preferably includes a physical medium attachment module and a physical coding sublayer module. Each of the higher-speed channels in the second number of channels preferably also includes a clock management unit, while the lower-speed channels in the first number of channels preferably share one or more clock management units.
US07698479B2
This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for providing an interface between a client and one or more data storage systems. Existing approaches to the management of multiple, distributed heterogeneous data storage systems are deficient in that they are inflexible to change. To alleviate these deficiencies there is provided a method of providing an interface between a client (307) and one or more data storage systems (309). The method comprises the steps of receiving a request from a client (307), searching, in a rule store populated by modifiable human-readable rules each specifying a handler for use in responding to client requests, for a human readable rule and providing the interface by activating the handler specified in the human readable rule to communicate with the data storage systems.
US07698467B2
A Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) system and method transform multimedia contents in a manner adaptive to the available data processing capability of the digital media renderer (DMR) of the DLNA network. A digital media server (DMS) and a digital media renderer (DMR) are discovered. A list of contents provided by the DMS is obtained. Information on a transport protocol and a data format of the DMR is obtained. Information on available data processing capability of the DMR is obtained. The transport protocol and the data format of the DMS are matched to those of the DMR. Transcoding and transrating schemes of the DMS are adjusted based on the available data processing capability of the DMR. A connection between the DMS and the DMR is established, and content stored in the DMS is transmitted to the DMR.
US07698463B2
Described is a link-state routing protocol used in a mobile ad hoc network or in an Internet for disseminating topology and link-state information throughout the network. Reverse-path forwarding is used to broadcast each update along the minimum-hop-path tree rooted at the source of the update. Each path tree has the source node as a root node, a parent node, and zero or more children nodes. Updates are received from the parent node in the path tree for the source node that originates the update. Each update includes information related to a link in the network. A determination is made whether to forward the update message to children nodes, if any, in the path tree maintained for the source node originating the update in response to information in the received update. This information itself can indicate whether the update is to be forwarded to other nodes.
US07698460B2
A peer-to-peer (P2P) probing/network quality of service (QoS) analysis system utilizes a UDP-based probing tool for determining latency, bandwidth, and packet loss ratio between peers in a network. The probing tool enables network QoS probing between peers that connect through a network address translator. The list of peers to probe is provided by a connection server based on prior probe results and an estimate of the network condition. The list includes those peers which are predicted to have the best QoS with the requesting peer. Once the list is obtained, the requesting peer probes the actual QoS to each peer on the list, and returns these results to the connection server. P2P probing in parallel using a modified packet-pair scheme is utilized. If anomalous results are obtained, a hop-by-hop probing scheme is utilized to determine the QoS of each link. In such a scheme, differential destination measurement is utilized.
US07698457B2
Applications and users dynamically make QoS provisioning requests for individual traffic flows traversing client and server hosts. A traffic flow provisioning request is conveyed to a services manager, which determines a set of traffic attributes for the flow and determines the networks the flow traverses between the client and server hosts. The services manger then oversees the admission of the flow to appropriate traffic classes in each determined network and the obtaining of a DSCP value for each network. Lastly, the services manger conveys the DSCP value of the first network traversed back to the client or server host, depending on the direction of the flow, which host is then configured to appropriately mark the DSCP field of the traffic flow packets. In a further embodiment, the services manager also instructs the client or server host to perform packet policing and shaping for the flow.
US07698450B2
Continuous streaming video is conditioned for display at a remote monitor adapted for receiving and playing a streaming video file of a discrete length. The continuous streaming video has no known beginning of data signal and no known end of data signal, and an arbitrary beginning of data signal is assigned to the streaming video in mid-stream and an arbitrary end of data signal is assigned to the streaming video for identifying the length of the video stream and for making it compatible with the display platform. The continuous streaming video may be time stamped, and the beginning of data signal may be arbitrarily assigned a zero value for identifying an artificial beginning of the file. Specifically, the each time stamp received may be calculated by resetting each time stamp received time stamp with a value of the current time stamp minus first time stamp received, whereby the first time stamp received is set to zero and additional time stamps are counted from the first time stamp received. The encoded video signal may be viewed by more than one user, wherein the streaming video signal is sent to a multicast group address for forwarding the stream identified recipients, with a multicast routing technique used for determining that multiple recipients are located on one specific network path or path segment, wherein only one copy of the video signal is sent along that path.
US07698448B2
An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system level interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system level interface includes proxy command libraries configured to designate a proxy device from the automation network devices. The proxy device accepts commands or messages to be transmitted to another automation network device.
US07698442B1
A URL verification service is provided that is used to evaluate the trustworthiness of universal resource locators (URLs). As a user browses the world wide web, a URL verification client captures a URL associated with a web page of unknown authenticity. The URL verification client transmits the captured URL to a URL verification server. The URL verification server compares the URL to actively maintained whitelist and blacklist information. The server also uses the URL and a user-supplied or automatically-extracted brand to query a search engine. The URL verification server processes the response of the search engine to the search engine queries and the results of cache and whitelist and blacklist comparisons to determine whether the captured URL is legitimately associated with the brand. The results of the URL evaluation process are transmitted from the URL verification server to the URL verification client, which notifies user.
US07698439B2
An API enables an application to make a single call for a send operation to an operating system that results in a multicast communication. The API may provide the ability to define a socket group including one or more sockets, in which each socket represents a respective network connection to another network device. An application may utilize the socket group when calling to the operating system with a send operation, by specifying an identifier (i.e., a handle) of the socket group to the operating system. Based on the socket group identifier, the operating system may control sending multiple instances of a communication to the network devices corresponding to the connections represented by the sockets of the socket group. Tasks that are repeated for every destination of a multicast in known systems may be performed only once, reducing CPU utilization and making applications that use multicasting more scalable.
US07698438B1
In one embodiment, a method comprises transmitting a PING from a network element to a computing device, wherein a static route is between the network element and the computing device. The method also includes causing a distribution of availability of the static route to at least one other network element based on whether the computing device responded to the PING.
US07698431B1
Systems and methods for pre-positioning data in a network memory are described. A pre-positioning command may be executed to position specific data at one or more network memory appliances before the data is requested at a branch office. For example, the first download of a software update over the communication network at a branch office may require several minutes. To make the first download of the software update faster, the software update may be downloaded previously to the branch appliance. According to various embodiments, the pre-positioning command may comprise a time of transfer and/or a schedule. The data may be received by a pre-positioning receiver such as a file system server, a hypertext transfer protocol server, a file transfer protocol server, or a virtual client.
US07698424B1
An aggregator device provides an iSCSI client with a list of storage areas which are offered by a single aggregated network array. The storage areas on the list are provided by multiple data storage systems and are accessible by the client using data paths which are out-of-band with the aggregator device. The aggregator device further receives an iSCSI login request from the client. The iSCSI login request identifies a particular storage area on the list of storage areas. The aggregator device further generates and sends an iSCSI login response to the client in response to the iSCSI login request. The iSCSI login response includes a network address of a particular data storage system of the multiple data storage systems which provides the particular storage area to enable the client to directly access the particular storage area using a data path which is out-of-band with the aggregator device.
US07698416B2
A method is disclosed for application layer message-based network element management of server failures. According to one aspect, a network element such as a router intercepts session state information that is contained in a request from a client and locally stores the session state information. As a result, application servers to which the requests are directed do not need to store the session state information. If an application server fails, then the network element can use the session state information stored at the network element to continue the session with another application server, transparently to the client application that is involved in the session.
US07698405B2
An add-on module provides extrinsic management functionality to legacy and other devices. Contemplated modules include: (a) a state agent that provides at least one of the MILARRS function, and (b) a product agent that communicates with the device using at least one serial interface. Implementations are contemplated for both legacy devices that natively provide less than complete MILARRS functionality, and newly developed devices for which the developer desires a ready-made implementation of MILARRS functionality.
US07698397B2
A framework and method are disclosed for providing/consuming data items. A memory structure is created within an address space allocated to a provider application. The memory structure stores performance counter data generated by the provider application. The counter provider application registers a counter provider and an associated performance counter memory structure via a set of application program interface methods. Thereafter, a counter provider consumer application, via additional application program interface methods, determines the identity of the performance counter provider, sets up a buffer to receive the counter data of the counter provider, and requests extraction of the counter data stored within the performance counter memory structure. The transfer of data from the provider application to the consumer application occurs through the system API.
US07698394B2
A method and system are disclosed for remotely storing information for initializing a configurable network device at a direct server in the network. The information for initializing the configurable network device is automatically retrieved and used by the network device to self-initialize after the network address of the directory server is provided. Included in the information in some embodiments are the network addresses of a policy server and an authentication server, thereby allowing the network device to automatically retrieve policy information and authentication information as needed. Remote storage of substantially all information used to setup and run the network device substantially reduces the effort needed to backup or change information for large distributed networks including numerous configurable network devices.
US07698387B2
In a service providing system, a first database holds plural kinds of balloon data, in which each of plural pieces of three-dimensional real space range information and an identifier for identifying the three-dimensional real space range information is related, and a second database holds a service execution file in which each of plural pieces of three-dimensional space region information related to each identifier and service information in each three-dimensional space region are related. An extracting unit extracts, using position on a user terminal and an identifier, a service execution file corresponding to a three-dimensional space region. A service execution processing unit performs an executing process of a service corresponding to service information held in the extracted service execution file. The service system provides various kinds of services information at any time, effectively use the hardware, and limit the access. The user obtains service information available in a wide area.
US07698382B2
A system is provided for remote controlling equipment, which allows at least one server and at least one remote piece of equipment to be interconnected according to the MQIsdp protocol. The system associates at least one of the remote pieces of equipment with radio communication device that emits and receives AT-type commands issued by and/or addressed to an external application which is used by the distance piece of equipment. The radio communication device is provided with a set of specific AT commands for exchanging data with at least one server that uses the MQIsdp protocol such that said server/s and the remote piece/s of equipment can be interconnected via the radio communication device without the distant pieces of equipment having to know the MQIsdp protocol.
US07698377B2
A method of determining a geographic location of an Internet user involves determining if the host is on-line, determining ownership of the host name, and then determining the route taken in delivering packets to the user. Based on the detected route, the method proceeds with determining the geographic route based on the host locations and then assigning a confidence level to the assigned location. A system collects the geographic information and allows web sites or other entities to request the geographic location of their visitors. The database of geographic locations may be stored in a central location or, alternatively, may be at least partially located at the web site. With this information, web sites can target content, advertising, or route traffic depending upon the geographic locations of their visitors. Through web site requests for geographic information, a central database tracks an Internet user's traffic on the Internet whereby a profile can be generated. In addition to this profile, the central database can store visitor's preferences as to what content should be delivered to an IP address, the available interface, and the network speed associated with that IP address.
US07698375B2
A method and a system are presented in which federated domains interact within a federated environment. Domains within a federation can initiate federated operations for a user at other federated domains. A point-of-contact server within a domain relies upon a trust proxy within the domain to manage trust relationships between the domain and the federation. The point-of-contact server receives incoming requests directed to the domain and interfaces with a first application server and a second application server, wherein the first application server responds to requests for access to controlled resources and the second application server responds to requests for access to federated user lifecycle management functions, which are implemented using one or more pluggable modules that interface with the second application server.
US07698374B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems of storing data in storage volumes while ensuring data matching between the storage volumes. In one embodiment, a system for storing data comprises a first storage area to store data, a second storage area to store data, a first storage control unit configured to control the first storage area, and a second storage control unit configured to control the second storage area. In response to a first write request issued to write data in the first storage area, the first storage control unit is configured to write data associated with the first write request to the first storage area and to transfer the first write request to the second storage control unit, and the second storage control unit is configured to write the data associated with the first write request to the second storage area. In response to a second write request issued to write data in the second storage area, the second storage control unit is configured to transfer the second write request to the first storage control unit.
US07698364B2
Systems and methods for enabling users at a plurality of client computers to share a common browsing experience are provided. A server computer according to the invention includes an interface to a communications network for establishing a first link between the server and the host client computer and a second link between the server and the slave client computer. The server has a shared view engine for receiving from the host client computer, an identifier that identifies the slave client computer and a locator corresponding to content on the server. The shared view engine causes the server to deliver the content corresponding to the locator to both the host client computer and the slave client computer. Thus, the host client computer and the slave client computer are enabled to share browsing of the content received from the server. To enable the slave clients to share in the browsing experience, the host client can send information such as URL and cookie data to the slave clients. Using the information from the host client, the slave clients can request the same Web pages being viewed by the host client. Alternatively, the host client can request the content not only for itself, but for the slave clients as well.
US07698363B2
A method, system, computer program product, and data structure for processing requests for services in a networked data processing system is provided. In one embodiment a request is received by a service provider. The request includes defined allowable actions and request definition compositions. The request also includes a plurality of actions wherein the relationships between the plurality of actions are defined. The service provider processes the plurality of actions according to the defined relationships and generates a response.
US07698361B2
A method and system for offloading I/O processing from a first computer to a second computer, using RDMA-capable network interconnects, are disclosed. The method and system include a client on the first computer communicating over an RDMA connection to a server on the second computer by way of a lightweight input/output (LWIO) protocol. The protocol generally comprises a network discovery phase followed by an I/O processing phase. During the discovery phase, the client and server determine a minimal list of shared RDMA-capable providers. During the I/O processing phase, the client posts I/O requests for offloading to the second machine over a mutually-authenticated RDMA channel. The I/O model is asymmetric, with read operations being implemented using RDMA and write operations being implemented using normal sends. Read and write requests may be completed in polling mode and in interrupt mode. Buffers are managed by way of a credit mechanism.
US07698360B2
A system and method for distance learning that can be used to teach a typical IT training course. In one aspect, a student that desires to perform remotely an exercise from an IT training course uses his/her Java-capable browser to connect to a distance learning web server. The web server downloads to the browser a list of exercises that the student can choose from. After the student selects an exercise, the web server launches the virtual machines that are needed for the student to perform the selected exercise. The virtual machines are launched on a computer system that is remote from the student, but the computer system includes a remote display server. After the virtual machines are launched on the remote system, a remote display viewer is loaded in the student's browser and the remote display viewer connects to the remote display server. After the viewer connects to the remote display server, the viewer displays one or more of the virtual machines in a window on the student's computer. Thus, after the viewer connects to the remote display server, the student can remotely interact with the virtual machines that are required for the student to perform the exercise.
US07698358B1
In a programmable logic device having a specialized functional block incorporating multipliers and adders, multiplication operations that do not fit neatly into the available multipliers are performed partially in the multipliers of the specialized functional block and partially in multipliers configured in programmable logic of the programmable logic device. Unused resources of the specialized functional block, including adders, may be used to add together the partial products produced inside and outside the specialized functional block. Some adders configured in programmable logic of the programmable logic device also may be used for that purpose.
US07698353B2
A data processor includes a first bit field of a first plurality of bits representing a mantissa of a floating point number and a second bit field of a second plurality of bits representing an exponent of the floating point number. The first plurality of bits is partitioned into a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions comprises more than one bit of the first plurality of bits. A leading zero anticipator or other type of leading bit indication circuit is coupled to each region and determines a position of a leading bit of the first plurality of bits. A normalizer is coupled to receive a region of the plurality of regions that contains the leading bit, the normalizer may normalize or denormalize the region to produce a normalized or denormalized floating point number.
US07698352B2
A system and method for converting from scaled binary coded decimal (SBCD) into decimal floating point (DFP). The system includes a mechanism for receiving one or more of an exponent part of a SBCD number and a coefficient part of the SBCD number. The system also includes at least one of a mechanism for performing coefficient compression on the coefficient part of the SBCD number to create a coefficient part of a DFP number and a mechanism for performing exponent insertion including inserting the exponent part of the SBCD number into an exponent part of the DFP number.
US07698347B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for reducing the size of one or more keys encoded into a link to a target resource. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving a request for a target resource, encoding a link to the target resource with one or more key/value pairs and selecting a given key/value pair from among the one or more key/value pairs to identify a key. The key is located in a key map to identify a substitute key, which replaces the key in the link.
US07698344B2
Search macros suggestions are provided to refine a user's search. When a search query is received from an end user, one or more search macros are determined to be relevant to the search query. The search macros are then provided to the end user as suggestions for refining the user's search. In some instances, the end user may chose to select one of the suggested search macros. A search is then performed using the search query and the selected search macro to provide search results to the end user that may be more relevant to the user's search.
US07698342B1
A method for searching involving receiving a search term and obtaining a related word based on the search term to generate a search criteria, searching forms for the search criteria, identifying a topic associated with a field within a form based on the search criteria, and presenting the field within the form associated with the topic.
US07698333B2
An intelligent query system and method used in a search and retrieval system provides an end-user the most relevant, meaningful, up-to-date, and precise search results. The system and method allows an end-user to benefit from an experienced recommendation that is tailored to a specific industry. The system and method recognizes that the phrases “strike outs” and “home run” are much more strongly correlated with “BASE” as opposed to “EQUITIES.” When a search is conducted or a lookup is done in a map, the system and method recommends the strongest correlation as “BASE.”
US07698330B2
The present disclosure relates to a search service system and a method thereof, and more particularly, relates to a search service system capable of providing an input ranking of a keyword which is input into the search service system, according to a category to which the keyword belongs, and a method thereof.
US07698322B1
A method for integrating duplicate checks with an existing computer system includes capturing participant biometric data from each of a plurality of participants and enrolling each of the participants in a biometric duplicate check computer system. Moreover, the method includes checking for potentially duplicate biometric enrollment data records and communicating potentially duplicate unique identifiers associated with potentially duplicate biometric enrollment data records from the biometric duplicate check computer system to the existing program computer system. Furthermore, the method includes identifying potentially duplicate enrollment data records using the potentially duplicate unique identifiers, determining whether any of the potentially duplicate enrollment data records are true duplicate enrollment data records, and deleting true duplicate data records that are not to be retained.
US07698321B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for dynamically updating web content using W3C standards. One such method sends a request to a web server for a web page. A web browser receives and renders a static HTML web page. The web browser periodically sends a query to the web server and, in response, receives a latest date and time stamp indicating the latest update to the web page. The web browser compares the latest date and time stamp to a previously stored date and time stamp representing a previous update. If the latest date and time stamp matches the previously stored date and time stamp, then no update has occurred and no update is required. If, however, the date and time stamps do not match, then the web page has changed since the previous update and the web browser retrieves the latest update to the web page.
US07698311B2
A system for augmenting data from a source data file with data from a reference database to generate an augmented data file and tracking the augmented data file is provided. The system includes a reference database including at least one reference datum. A handler component is configured to retrieve a source data file including the structured datum. A locator component is configured to locate the structured datum in the source data file; an analyzer component configured to associate the identified structured datum to one reference datum to create an association according to an analyzing strategy. A generating component is configured to generate a hyperlink based upon the association and embeds the generated hyperlink and an identification code in the source file to create and track an augmented data file.
US07698305B2
Systems and methods for implementing system management which are based on reviewing of the interactions between one or more programs and the persistent state they tend to represent. The system provides for detection of modifications that occur within a system, verifying whether the modifications are approved or not and generating notifications on detecting unknown modifications.
US07698294B2
A content object indexing process including creating a content object knowledge index, calculating a description vector of a target content object, and indexing the target content object by searching for the description vector in the content object knowledge database. It may be difficult to search for an exact content object such as a music file or academic researcher as a conventional search index may not include related hierarchical information. A content object indexing process may add hierarchical information taken from a content object knowledge index and incorporate the hierarchical information to the index entry for a specific content object. An application of such a content object indexing process may be a world wide web search engine.
US07698293B2
A system and method directed to capturing the structure of data models using entity patterns is provided wherein an entity pattern is an abstraction, for example in the MICROSOFT BUSINESS FRAMEWORK® (MBF), that surfaces in the model editor of the framework at the root level and consists of one or more entity roles that together define a structural pattern of a model. The entity pattern may be considered as an über-model, or a model template for a model. Prescriptive rules are added to the design of entities, required properties and relations to other entities (entity roles). Applications of the entity patterns are validated at design time. The runtime framework supports any applied pattern and invokes the pattern specific code. It is a general advantage that the runtime operation is model driven and interprets the model data at runtime. The application and usage of a pattern is part of the model of the application/software program.
US07698291B2
A method and system for integrating user-defined objects into a business management application. A mode is selected with which to add a user-defined object in the application having a base class of objects with a base class of services. Information is received to define the user-defined object. A selection is received of at least one service from the base class of services to be associated with the user-defined object. At least one field associated with the user-defined object is received for display. Additional information may be received to define a son object of the user-defined object. Business logic may be received to be added to the application. The user-defined object and related information are registered with the application. The integrated user-defined object thereby automatically inherits the selected at least one service from the base class of services of the business management application.
US07698282B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided in which search indices are configured on a server. The search indices are associated with corresponding business components. The search indices are displayed to a client that is connected to the server via a computer network. The client is configured to perform search using data records stored on a local machine. One or more particular search indices from the server are downloaded onto the client in response to the client's request to download the one or more particular search indices to be used for searching on the local machine.
US07698280B2
In a client-server computer system, an active cache is utilized by a client-based project management application program to share server-based project files with an offline client, so that the project files may be updated by modifications made offline. A project file is saved from the active cache for sharing with the offline client. The shared project file is sent to the offline client for editing. After editing, a modified project file is received from the offline client and saved to the active cache. The active cache initiates an update of the server-based project file with the project file which was modified offline.
US07698277B2
A domain processor includes at least one robot modeler, at least one domain modeler, and at least one Query Processor Modeler. The robot modeler includes means for modeling at least one computer-based robot, the robot adapted for accessing at least one web-based data source including entities in a predefined domain. The domain modeler includes means for modeling at least one domain model and means for establishing at least one extraction model and at least one storage model. The Query Processor Modeler includes means for selecting at least two Query Processor elements from a set of predefined query processor elements, means for combining the selected Query Processor elements, and means for executing the associated query processor elements on at least one computer system, at least one of the query processor elements of the associated query processor elements being a Robot query processor Element adapted for accessing the web-based data source.
US07698266B1
A method for advertising on electronic data networks based upon semantic differentiation.
US07698260B2
An apparatus and method for handling a LET binding used in a WHERE clause of an XQuery FLWOR expression during an XML pivot join procedure. The disclosed apparatus and method enable an XML pivot join procedure to accurately process a query and return one or more qualifying documents. A logical expression within the WHERE clause is identified. Next steps of the logical expression are separated by logical operators. The LET binding is incorporated with each next step. The XQuery FLWOR expression is rewritten using the incorporations along with a FOR binding of the XQuery FLWOR expression to make a syntactically equivalent XPath query. Predicates of the LET binding may also be incorporated with the next steps, without altering the predicates.
US07698259B2
A search system performs a search in a database. In one embodiment, a process of the search system includes, but is not limited to, in response to a request to search a search term in the database, performing the search in the database based on semantics relationships of the search term and an entity in view of one or more transactions associated with the entity, and presenting a search result of the search, the search result including one or more documents associated with the one or more transactions.
US07698255B2
A system, method, and processor readable medium for processing data in a knowledge management system gathers information content and transmits a work request for the information content gathered. The information content may be registered with a K-map and assigned a unique document identifier. A work queue processes the work requests. The processed information may then be transmitted to another work queue for further processing. Further processing may include categorization, full-text indexing, metrics extraction or other process. Control messages may be transmitted to one or more users providing a status of the work request. The information may be analyzed and further indexed. A progress statistics report may be generated for each of the processes performed on the document. The progress statistics may be provided in a record. A shared access to a central data structure representing the metrics history and taxonomy may be provided for all work queues via a CORBA service.
US07698251B2
A fault tolerant capability for the reliable collection and aggregation of disparate data from multiple processing units. Data of a processing unit is collected and locally aggregated at that processing unit. The locally aggregated data is stored in a local database, and periodically forwarded to a central manager. In response to receiving the data, the central manager determines whether the data should be included in a total aggregate of data for the processing environment.
US07698248B2
Systems and methods for auditing knowledge-based projects or methods wherein the users participate in and contribute to generating an automatically updating community data set for obtaining information for evaluating and comparing a target project to best practices and relevant comparables from within the community data to audit likelihood of success and to predict the outcome of the knowledge-based project, and to identify components for improvement or modification to improve the outcome.
US07698242B2
Example systems and methods to maintain process control systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves retrieving first information and determining whether the first information is associated with a process control system. If the first information is associated with the process control system, second information is generated to indicate that the first information is associated with the process control system. It is also determined whether the first information is associated with a particular node of the process control system. If the first information is associated with the particular node of the process control system, third information is generated to indicate that the first information is associated with the particular node.
US07698241B2
A technique is provided for resolving a reportable condition. Upon detection of a reportable condition on a processor-based medical system, machine data is provided to a knowledge engine. One or more identified solutions are received from the knowledge engine and implemented on the processor-based medical system. The one or more solutions are verified as they are implemented to determine if the currently implemented solution resolves the reportable condition. Routines implementing some or all of the technique may be provided on a processor-based system or on a machine-readable medium.
US07698239B2
In a distributed computing system, an artificial intelligence system may be employed to configure the network variables. A metric describing the overall system performance may be derived during network operation or simulation and compared to an ideal metric describing the same distributed system performance. The difference between the derived metric and the ideal metric may then be used with an artificial intelligence system to modify the network variables to evolve the system toward the ideal performance standard.
US07698235B2
A learning system that can predict a desired result, and can have stable and improved prediction precision is presented. The learning system includes a learning section which learns the learning data using a learning algorithm to generate hypotheses, a storage section containing at least a plurality of un-labeled candidate data, a calculating section which uses the hypotheses to calculate a score for each of the plurality of candidate data, a selecting section that selects desired candidate data based on the calculated scores and a predetermined stochastic selection function, a data updating section which affixes a user-determined label to the desired candidate data and outputs the desired candidate data to the learning data, and a control unit which outputs the hypotheses to an output unit when an end condition is met, so that a desired result is predicted.
US07698226B2
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus in which a limiting value of a counter for restricting the use of the apparatus can be dynamically set and changed in a secure method and a controlling method of the information processing apparatus. License information including an appliance serial number of a copy machine SC1 and a new limiting value is input to the copy machine with a counter function that restricts a function when a counter value reaches a limiting value. The input license information is determined whether it is valid or not. If it is determined valid, a saved limiting value is updated to the new limiting value included in the license information.
US07698225B2
The present invention is directed to a system, comprising: a license manager 113 operable to identify the occurrence of a predetermined licensing event and a mode setting agent 124 operable to change, in response to the occurrence of the predetermined licensing event (e.g., an absence of a valid license), from a first licensing mode (e.g., a license normal mode) to a second licensing mode (e.g., a license error mode). The second licensing mode is different from the first licensing mode. In each of the first and second licensing modes a common set of features performed by the telecommunication application (e.g., call processing functions) are operational.
US07698220B2
In some embodiments, a process for performing transaction tasks using a virtual terminal comprises: presenting functions to a user, receiving a selected function, and performing the selected function. The presented functions may comprise: (a) activating at least one card; (b) deactivating a card; (c) generating a PIN; (d) inserting value; (e) generating an End of Day report; and (f) managing users.
US07698214B1
A method of trading individual, closed residential mortgage loans without loans being presented in a structured pool. The method includes authorizing a file associated with an individual, closed residential mortgage loan to be made available to a plurality of potential buyers and converting information in the file into electronic file data for submittal to the plurality of potential buyers. The information in the file includes information of importance to the potential buyer in understanding the loan. The method also includes making the electronic file data available to the plurality of potential buyers for review and purchase without pooling or averaging the electronic file data prior to making it available to the plurality of potential buyers, and prior to bidding, thereby making the risk of the individual, closed mortgage loan transparent to the plurality of potential buyers; receiving a bid from one or more of the potential buyers on the individual, closed residential mortgage loan; accepting the bid and electronically forwarding a note associated with the file to a clearing agency for delivery to the potential buyer; and receiving funds from the clearing agency into a seller account as payment for the individual, closed residential mortgage loan.
US07698212B1
The present invention integrates data from multiple outside sources for the purpose of managing the closing, funding, and audit of a real property transaction using a secure, computer network, such as an internet-based network, and graphic user interface(s), thereby allowing permitted users to import, update, verify, view, and control transaction information. Permitted users can electronically communicate and view the transaction data during the process of the real property transaction. An Internet-based computer system may execute one or more computer program products for providing secured data input, data input screens, and data import capability, and sequencing an approval of data input by the permitted users.
US07698208B2
A credit derivative trading system comprises a credit derivative authority configured to receive defined positions for credit derivatives and update a plurality of trade clients in real-time whenever there is movement in the market for a particular credit derivative.
US07698205B2
A method of calculating leg prices in trading of a combination order on a market having set price rules is provided. The combination order comprises a combination of instruments of at least two different kinds that are traded for a single net price and each kind of instrument is associated with a respective leg price. The method comprises the following steps: a) assigning seed price values to all leg prices but a last leg price; b) calculating the last leg price by means of the assigned seed price values and a net price for the combination order; c) checking whether the last leg price complies with the price rules; d) if the last leg price does not comply with the price rules, modifying the seed price values; and repeating steps c) and d) until the last leg price complies with current price rules or for a predetermined number of times. This attains compliance with the tick step rules and in turn avoids the use of secondary price algorithms, which may lead to costly and time-consuming manual re-booking.
US07698204B2
A freight management method and system for arranging for shipment of a load, offering equipment, selling a product, or providing a service from a shipper by a carrier, based on shipping data and carrier data supplied by the shipper and the carrier, respectively, comprising a central processing system (10), inputting into the central processing system (10) a request for bids (18), which includes requests to apply pre-defined rates from the shipper (12) for shipping a load; electronically transmitting an invitation to bid (19) for shipping the load from the central processing system (10) to a plurality of carriers (13); electronically receiving bids (20) at the central processing system (10) from at least some of the carriers (13) for shipping the load; electronically transmitting to the shipper a bid report (21) with bids received from at least some of the carriers (13) receiving the invitation to bids; and electronically receiving from the shipper a bid selection (22) and notifying the carrier of acceptance (23) of at least one of the bids.
US07698202B2
Techniques for more accurately estimating the risk, or active risk, of an investment portfolio when using factor risk models are disclosed. This improved accuracy is achieved by identifying and compensating for the inherent “modeling error” present when risk is represented using a factor risk model. The approach adds one or more factors that depend on the investment portfolio and that explicitly compensate for factors that are unspecified or unattributed in the original factor risk model. These unspecified factors of the original factor risk model lead to modeling error in the original factor risk model. The approach can be used with a variety of different factor risk models, such as, fundamental, statistical and macro risk models, for example, and for a variety of securities, such as equities, international equities, composites, exchange traded funds (ETFs), or the like, currencies, and fixed-income, for example. The risk associated with modeling error in a factor risk model relative to a particular portfolio is identified and quantified. Knowledge of this risk associated with modeling error can be utilized when estimating risk, or active risk, using factor risk models or when constructing optimal portfolios by mean-variance optimization or other portfolio construction strategies and procedures that make use of factor risk models.
US07698199B2
A method of trading includes performing a transaction of a futures contract between a buyer and a seller. The futures contract is associated with at least one entertainment event and comprises a purchase price and a settlement date. The method concludes by performing a settlement of the futures contract based at least in part upon the purchase price and a value associated with the entertainment event at the settlement date. The entertainment event is associated with a security and the transaction of the futures contract is performed in conjunction with the issuance of the security to the seller.
US07698171B2
Methods and systems are provided for facilitating bidding for placement of alternate offers in an alternative payment platform, including methods and systems for providing a platform for presenting alternate offers the completion of which serves as an alternative to payment for an item associated with a primary offer, receiving a bid for the opportunity to present an alternate offer in the platform, wherein the bid is associated with a placement attribute, wherein the placement attribute is at least one of an attribute of a prospective user and an attribute associated with the presentation of the alternate offer, and determining a placement of the alternate offer based at least in part on the bid.
US07698166B2
For a multi-party advertising exchange including advertising and publishing entities, each participant specifies tax rate(s), such as import tax and export tax, that apply to at least one other entity in the exchange. Since tax rate(s) can be expressed in different transactional terms by different parties, each tax rate is reduced to a common tax rate expression within the exchange for comparison. Intelligent tax rate selection and support can be provided to dynamically set tax rates that achieve utilitarian goals for the individual participants taking into account the tax rates expressed by other participants and their respective advertising goals, and dynamically adjusting tax rates over time in response to condition changes. Various refinements are provided and disclosed according to a host of optional implementations.
US07698158B1
A method of evaluating a permanent life insurance policy including the steps of accessing a policy illustration, establishing an effective life span of the policy illustration, identifying a first amount attributed to death benefit claims, identifying a second amount attributed to premium loads, identifying a third amount attributed to policy expenses, calculating a sum of the first, second and third amounts for a plurality of policy years, averaging the sum for each year throughout the effective life span, calculating a cash value of the policy illustration for the plurality of policy years, identifying a projected investment earnings forecast in the policy illustration, normalizing the projected investment earnings forecast, adding the project investment earnings to the cash value, and recalculating the current cash value of the policy illustration for the plurality of policy years.
US07698153B2
An information collection and processing system and related automated method for use by an organization providing health care to a given population. The system includes an arrangement for storing information relating to a plurality of contractual relationships existing between the organization, a plurality of health care providers, and a plurality of payors. The storage arrangement also includes information relating to a plurality of patients in the given population, and information relating to transactions between the organization, providers and the payors. An aspect of the system and method relates to storing information relating to an expected receivable resulting from an encounter between a patient and one or more of the providers, storing information relating to a corresponding remittance received as a result of said encounter, comparing the expected receivables with the corresponding remittances, and initiating an action if the remittance falls outside of predetermined limits of the respective receivable.
US07698147B2
In a network-based mail processing system and method of the invention, the originating presort bureau or node is defined as the first bureau to receive and process mail, usually near the point of creation. Each presort bureau or node in the network is generally also a destination bureau or node since each processes mail from other nodes for delivery to recipients in its respective region by the postal regional sorting centers associated with its destination codes. Interactive network processing enables higher density of sorts at destination nodes and reduces overall sorts, postage, and sort costs over non-interactive processing centers. The term “presort bureau” is used to connote a service bureau or any other entity which is a) part of the enterprise network, b) processes mail created and entered by itself or by mailers it services, and/or c) processes mail interactively with other network nodes. A similar network is described for mail-like items.
US07698144B2
Automated testing of audio performance of applications across platforms is provided for via capture of audio data. The audio data can include, inter alia, output sounds from a sound card or pre-rendered buffer data. The audio data is processed to produce descriptive data including data describing the audio data at least a first resolution and a second resolution. This descriptive data is used to compare data samples and describe the degree of similarity of two or more data samples. This comparison enables a determination as to whether the audio performance is satisfactory.
US07698142B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing voice control of a system, an ultrasound system for example. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of forming a generic input device used in an ultrasound system and responsive to at least one voice command. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises forming at least one display in the generic input device, the display having at least one tab associated therewith. The method further comprises defining a grid layout on at least one display and associating at least one control of the ultrasound system with at least one of the tab and the grid layout. At least one voice command is associated with at least one of the tab and grid layout.
US07698140B2
A message transmission system accepts a telephone call from a user who wishes to send an e-mail message, send an SMS message, perform an Internet query or retrieve his or her electronic mail. The voice call is transcribed and the message is sent, or the question in the voice call is transcribed and answered by an agent. Any number of agents connect to a central site over an Internet connection and transcribe messages or answer queries in an assembly line like fashion. In addition, a Web query delivery system accepts a query or statement from a user; the query is transcribed, classified, and then broadcast over any medium to any number of experts or web sites that desire to answer the particular type of query received. The entire query is delivered to an expert or web site who provides a full answer to the user.
US07698135B2
A first filter (2061 in FIG. 1) calculates a long-time average of first change quantities based on a difference between a line spectral frequency of an input voice signal and a long-time average thereof. A second filter (2062 in FIG. 1) calculates a long-time average of second change quantities based on a difference between a whole band energy of the input voice signal and a long-time average thereof. A third filter (2063 in FIG. 1) calculates a long-time average of third change quantities based on a difference between a low band energy of the input voice signal and a long-time average thereof. A fourth filter (2064 in FIG. 1) calculates a long-time average of fourth change quantities based on a difference between a zero cross number of the input voice signal and a long-time average thereof. A voice/non-voice determining circuit (1040 in FIG. 1) discriminates a voice section from a non-voice section in the voice signal using the long-time average of the above-described first change quantities, the long-time average of the above-described second change quantities, the long-time average of the above-described third change quantities, and the long-time average of the above-described fourth change quantities.
US07698134B2
A selecting device according to voice includes output unit for outputting guide voice for guiding a selection item, voice recognition unit for recognizing a selection instruction for selecting the selection item that is issued during the output of the guide voice by output unit or within a certain time after the completion of the output, and interaction-control and result-selection unit for selecting the selection item instructed to be selected when voice recognition unit recognizes the selection instruction. When a voice for selecting a selection item is raised during the output of the guide voice by output unit or within the certain time after the completion of the output, voice recognition unit can select the selection item, and the selection item can be selected even during the output of the guide voice.
US07698129B2
The present invention enables analysis of customer needs with a high level of precision, not by indicating whether the customer opinions are positive or negative, but by quantitatively indicating their levels of importance. An information processor storing customer opinion information containing document data expressing opinions of customers in natural language, includes: a morphological analysis unit which parses document data into individual words, correlates each individual word to a grammatical part of speech, and outputs resultant data; a syntactic analysis unit which uses the data outputted from the morphological analysis unit to analyze content of the document; a clustering unit which uses the processing results from the syntactic analysis unit to categorize and output the customer opinion information according to predetermined customer needs; an evaluative word definition unit which receives, from a user, a setting of a keyword for evaluating the customer needs and an evaluation value for the keyword; and a tally processing unit which calculates a score indicating level of importance of the customer need, by using the customer opinion information categorized by the customer needs, along with the keyword and evaluation value set for the keyword.
US07698119B2
The present invention takes place of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in tests. Some tests among them are done to find ways to recycle exhausts of the SOFC. And, some other tests among them are done to evaluate benefits of re-burning the exhausts. All tests save cost and time.
US07698110B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus and article of manufacture for modeling a variety of three-dimensional (3D) utility networks constructed from individual network part elements. In one embodiment, users may construct a utility network by selecting and assembling a network of inter-connected parts, where each part is selected from a pipe and structure list. Connectivity among parts is established through part placement. Structure and connected pipe properties may be managed as a single property set. As parts are placed in the utility network, auto-sizing logic resizes existing structures to connected pipes. Pipes and structures are represented by part model data that defines a set of common behavior and properties. When a user modifies part model data or property sets or moves inter-connected parts, a logic component resizes and automatically updates any associated two-dimensional and three-dimensional views of the utility network.
US07698104B2
Articles and systems comprise a diagnostic symptom tree system for diagnosing a failing system element causing a symptom in a system-under-test. A diagnostic symptom tree comprises symptom roots and dependent lower function nodes and sub-function nodes. Element nodes depend from the function or sub-function nodes, and a plurality of penultimate failure mode leaves depend from the element nodes. The function and sub-function nodes and the failure mode leaves comprise test information. Responsive to positive test results, the diagnostic symptom tree is configured to identify a function or sub-function or element node associated to a lowest symptom tree node or failure mode leaf for which a test is positive, or advise that no failing function or sub-function or element is found. In one aspect of the invention, nodes may include parameter values allowing successive selections of the nodes of the symptom tree for test iterations according to the parameter values.
US07698091B2
The present invention provides a method for detecting the start of a dive for a portable electronic device (1) comprising a pressure sensor (5) for measuring the value of the ambient pressure (P) as well as electronic circuits (2) for processing the pressure measurement results comprising a time base (4) and at least one memory zone (7, 8). The detection method updates the reference pressure value (Pref) on the basis of ambient pressure (P) measurements, this value being used to detect the start of a dive. In certain particular conditions, the method according to the present invention suspects the start of a dive, and backs up the value (Psauv) of the reference pressure (Pref) stored before updating. If the start of a dive is confirmed after having been suspected, the reference pressure value (Pref) stored is replaced by the backed up value (Psauv) upon activation of the dive mode.
US07698070B2
A method of determining aggregation rate data predicting an aggregation rate of a polypeptide defined by an amino acid sequence, the method comprising determining a hydrophobicity value, a charge value, and at least one shape propensity value for said sequence; identifying one or more aggregation-influencing patterns within said sequence; determining a pattern value for the sequence responsive to said identifying; and determining said aggregation rate data by determining a weighted combination of said hydrophobicity value, said charge value, said at least one shape propensity value, said pattern value and at least one factor extrinsic to said amino acid sequence.
US07698068B2
A method for providing data useful in procedures associated with the oral cavity, in which at least one numerical entity representative of the three-dimensional surface geometry and color of at least part of the intra-oral cavity is provided and then manipulated to provide desired data therefrom.
US07698054B2
An engine ECU stores a map in which a region at high temperature and high pressure, a region at low temperature and low pressure, and a region provided therebetween are defined by the relationship between the temperature and pressure of fuel and the saturation fuel vapor pressure of the fuel. The engine ECU executes a program including the following steps: when start-up of the engine is requested, detecting the engine cooling water temperature and the fuel pressure; if the detection results fall into the region, setting a pre-feed time; pre-feeding until the fuel pressure reaches a desired fuel pressure threshold; and when the fuel pressure reaches the fuel pressure threshold, starting cranking. In this way, start-up failure due to fuel vapor can be avoided without unnecessarily actuating a fuel pump.
US07698051B2
In a system for controlling a plant (engine) 10 having an input u, there are provided with applying device (vibration signal) 100 for applying a component p that changes at a predetermined cycle to the plant, parameter calculating device (Washout Filter) 102 for calculating a parameter h based on an output y of the plant, integrating device (finite interval integrator) 104 for integrating a value j obtained by multiplying the calculated parameter h by the applied component p in an interval of integral multiple of a cycle of the component p, and input calculating devices (infinite interval integrator 106a, multiplier 106b, adder 106c) for calculating the input u based on the integrated value g obtained by the integration. Owing to this configuration, it becomes possible to provide a system that can optimize the output y, while preventing the resonance of the control system while, thereby enabling to control the output of the plant to the extremum point.
US07698046B2
A method for the transition of a gasoline engine with direct gasoline injection and with a variable valve train assembly from an initial mode of operation to a target mode of operation, whereby the initial mode of operation and the target mode of operation are either a mode of operation with an externally-supplied ignition or a mode of operation with a self-ignition, wherein the method comprises adapting operating parameters of the initial mode of operation to required values for the target mode of operation in a map-based pilot control phase; shifting the mode of operation after the map-based pilot control phase; and controlling the operation parameters after the shift.
US07698040B2
One embodiment of this invention discloses a system for activating a vehicle's emergency flashers upon harsh braking or if the vehicle otherwise undergoes severe deceleration.
US07698039B2
The present invention makes improvements in a mobile communication system that performs a communication via a communication network provided in a mobile body to execute a data transfer. The present system comprises a plurality of nodes, a path control device which receives data from the nodes respectively, selects a path for the data transfer on the communication network, and outputs the data, first optical fibers which connect each of the nodes and the path control device and transfer the data, and second optical fibers provided in parallel with the first optical fibers. In the present system, the path control device communicates with the node via the second optical fiber when a failure occurs in the first optical fiber.
US07698028B1
A system and method for data logging, collection, and analysis techniques. Logging, collection, and analysis of data relating to the condition of a structure, such as a railway rail. Monitoring the neutral temperature of a railway rail.
US07698023B2
An apparatus comprises a matrix of thermoelectric devices for applying thermal gradients across an electronic component mounted in a PCB substrate within an enclosed housing. A matrix of thermosensitive devices are placed around the perimeter of the electronic component to measure thermal gradients associated with the component. A controller controls the matrix of thermoelectric devices based on the thermal gradients measured by the matrix of thermosensitive devices with a matrix of thermocouple coefficients.
US07698022B2
A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to calculate global energy utility targets and define optimal driving force distribution for a process or cluster of processes under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approach values, simultaneously, and without enumeration, are provided. The program product can utilize stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ΔTmini, where the superscript i represents the specific hot stream, as the optimization parameters instead of the single global ΔTmin currently used, in addition to identifying the optimal operating conditions. The program product can define optimal process conditions and an optimal driving force distribution in heat recovery systems, and can produce an optimal Pareto-curve that shows the rigorous trade off between energy cost and capital cost for any energy recovery system.
US07698019B2
A system, software and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long term care facilities are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmacological operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities, a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication therewith, a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, and a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility and in communication with the remote pharmacy group server or the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server.
US07698018B2
A production system capable of further improving production efficiency and quality. The ring management system includes size measurement unit for measuring size of the ring, first convey unit for moving the ring w whose size has been measured, a first stocker having a plurality of storage positions for storing rings conveyed by the first convey unit, a second convey unit for conveying out the rings from the first stocker means for stacking, and a control unit. The control unit includes memory means for storing the rings size measured by the size measurement means in association with the storage position in the first stocker, first selection means for selecting a ring constituting a stacked ring according to the ring size stored in the memory means, and first instruction means to instruct the second convey unit to convey out the ring selected by the first selection means from the storage position pj in the first stocker.
US07698017B2
The electric press is provided with a main CPU 1 and a sub CPU 3, the main CPU 1 being responsive to a signal from a servo driver 10 to give an detecting signal to a relay 2 when a ram 51 is located in a predetermined position, thereby to give a mute signal to an area sensor 30 and the sub CPU 3 being responsive to a signal from an encoder 9 to give a detecting signal to a relay 4 when the ram is located in a predetermined position, thereby to give a mute signal to the area sensor 30. The main CPU 1 and sub CPU 3 watch each other, that is, the main CPU 1 checks the output of a relay 4 and turns the relay 2 off when the mute signal is not produced from the relay 4. The conditions of sub CPU and main CPU are compared with each other. In case the two conditions are in accord with each other, it is decided that the relay 4 is out of order. The sub CPU 3 makes the same check operation in connection with the relay 2.
US07698016B2
A system having a server having processing circuitry and an operation manager configured to compare source geometric data of each of a plurality of features in a source geometric model with target geometric data of respective features in a target geometric model, and operative to identify discrepancies in respective features therebetween. The server is configured to rectify discrepancies in a feature after generating the feature and prior to generating another feature among the plurality of features. The system further includes a communication link, at least one client communicating with the server over the communication link, and an interrupt interface provided by one of the at least one client and the server and operative to notify a user of the presence of an inability to automatically generate an accurate representation of a feature of the source geometric model in the target geometric model.
US07698010B2
The present invention provides methods, systems and computer program products for altering video images including superimposing objects onto the images, particularly addressed to identifying fastener insertion locations onto displayed images of a work pieces. The invention is capable of importing an image of a work piece contained in a computer file, displaying the image, and altering the displayed image and/or superimposing objects onto the image to show the location(s), sequence(s) and/or type(s) of fasteners to be inserted onto the displayed work piece according to operator input and instructions. After each insertion is completed, the display is again altered to show the completion. During use, the system is capable of tracking the fastener installations and updating the video display to show the current status of insertions on the work piece.
US07698009B2
A control surface for an audio processing system that performs surround sound panning includes a touchscreen in combination with one or more other input devices. The touchscreen displays the position and movement of sound according to inputs from the various input devices or from recorded control information. An operator can input position information through the touchscreen or through one or more other input devices. The control surface may include two complete, separate panning sections. Each panning section may include the touchscreen, input devices, and switches. The touchscreen may also provide switches that change function based on the state of the other switches in the panning section. The separate panning sections can be linked together, for example to process stereo tracks. An “autoglide” operation enables an operator to move the location of a sound along a fixed path between a start location and a destination location over a time period set by the operator.
US07697985B2
An implantable medical device (IMD) identifies lead performance issues and provides alternative lead configurations to continue with the programmed therapy. In the absence of an appropriate alternatively lead configuration, the IMD determines alternative mechanisms to provide a similar therapy or to determine a secondary therapy.
US07697979B2
A method for analyzing synchronizations of the electroencephalography of an individual using a set of sensors starting from cerebral electromagnetic analysis of the individual. The method creates a database by acquisition and digitization of electrophysiological signals output from the sensors, and calculates the degree of synchronization existing between all pairs of sensors recorded in an assembly protocol, in frequency bands between 0 and 2000 Hz, to build up the database of classes each characterizing a reference state. The method further performs statistical validation of a period analyzed in real time, which assigns this period to a class in the database, and detects a specific period with a determined degree of synchronization. A device implements this method.
US07697978B1
Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, are provided for monitoring myocardial stability based on a signal that is indicative of functioning of a patient's heart for a plurality of consecutive beats. Sample data is obtained that is representative of functioning of a patient's heart for a plurality of consecutive beats, wherein each beat has a corresponding cycle length that may differ from cycle lengths of other beats. Such sample data is adjusted so that cycle lengths of consecutive beats represented in the adjusted sample data are substantially equal. Myocardial stability is then monitored based on the adjusted sample data. Where the obtained sample data is representative of electrical functioning of the patient's heart, electrical stability can be monitored, e.g., by monitoring for electrical alternations. Where the obtained sample data is representative of mechanical functioning of the patient's heart, mechanical stability can be monitored, e.g., by monitoring for mechanical alternans.
US07697972B2
An image guided navigation system for navigating a region of a patient includes an imaging device, a tracking device, a controller, and a display. The imaging device generates images of the region of a patient. The tracking device tracks the location of the instrument in a region of the patient. The controller superimposes an icon representative of the instrument onto the images generated from the imaging device based upon the location of the instrument. The display displays the image with the superimposed instrument. The images and a registration process may be synchronized to a physiological event. The controller may also provide and automatically identify an optimized site to navigate the instrument to.
US07697968B2
A method, computer-readable medium, and system for predicting a response to tongue-base therapies (particularly as it relates to obstructive sleep apnea) are provided. The method includes generating with a processing element a plurality of images of at least a portion of a patient's anatomy, acquiring data indicative of the portion of the patient's anatomy from the images, and determining a probability of a patient's response to a tongue-base treatment based on the acquired data.
US07697966B2
The invention provides a targeting system used to direct a measuring system to a targeted sample site or volume. The targeting system increases analyte estimation performance by increasing precision and accuracy of sampling and/or by targeting an analyte rich tissue volume.
US07697962B2
A cellular communication device including a housing having a front section and a rear section complementary to the front section such that the front and rear section align and mate together. A cavity is formed by mating of the front and rear section of the housing. An electronic circuit board having a microprocessor is located within the cavity. At least one of an accelerometer, a tilt sensor and a thermal sensor is operably connected to the microprocessor for detecting displacement of the cellular communication device from the ear of the user during communication.
US07697955B2
The invention relates to a casing for a handheld device that has an upright axis defining an operation orientation of the device and a diagonal axis. The casing has only two continuous side sweeps meeting at points in line with the diagonal axis. The diagonal axis coincides with the greatest span across the face of the casing.
US07697950B2
In one illustrative example, a mobile station includes a wireless transceiver; a user interface including a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for initiating a PTT voice communication and a microphone for receiving voice input signals; one or more processors; and a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer memory coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more processors are operative to identify a user actuation of the PTT switch and, in response, save digital voice data corresponding to voice input signals in the FIFO buffer memory; cause a request for the PTT voice communication to be made through a wireless network; identify that a floor grant has been received through the wireless network in response to the request; and after identifying the floor grant, cause the digital voice data from the FIFO buffer memory to be retrieved and transmitted to the wireless network for the PTT voice communication. Advantageously, the saving of the digital voice data in the FIFO buffer memory is performed at least in part during a delay time period between the user actuation of the PTT switch and the identifying of the floor grant.
US07697945B2
Described is a system for handling multimedia content with a wireless network. The concept is a cross-carrier mobile social network and promotional platform for submitting content (e.g., photos, videos, and/or audio) taken with a camera phone to the Internet via short code. By combining mobile messaging, short codes, MMS, camera phone, email and Internet technologies, this solution offers camera phone enthusiasts a simple, fun and easy way to upload multimedia content to social networks, a variety of world wide web destinations, as well as participate in promotional events.
US07697944B2
For processing digital communication traffic in a network comprising a central communication processing structure (402, 403; 502, 503) and a number of separate devices (401, 405; 501, 505) of users designed for communication with the central communication processing structure, each time, a communication coming from one of the separate devices (401; 501) is received which communication is addressed to another of the separate devices (405; 505). It is then checked whether the received communication meets at least one condition applicable to the communication or the sender (401; 501). In reaction to meeting the condition, a message is added to the communication and the communication including the added message is sent to the addressed device (405; 505).
US07697937B2
A transmission rate control method for controlling a transmission rate of data transmitted from a mobile station to a radio base station via an uplink, includes: receiving, at the mobile station, an Absolute Rate Grant Channel which indicates an absolute value of the transmission rate from the radio base station; and ignoring, at the mobile station, a Relative Rate Grant Channel which indicates a relative value of the transmission rate until each HARQ process has been performed once, after receiving the Absolute Rate Grant Channel.
US07697930B2
This invention provides a method and apparatus that uses a mobility management server (MMS) device for supporting mobility management in wireless networks. With the MMS device for services of resource management and packet relay, this invention speeds up the handover procedure for a mobile device switching from a first network domain to a second network domain in a wireless network environment having a session initiation protocol (SIP) server. When the mobile device needs to switch to the second network domain, the MMS allocates the required resources for packet relay, provides the related information for the second network domain, and takes care of the packet relay. This invention shortens the inter-domain handover latency and reduces the number of lost packets during the handover procedure. Thereby, the transmission efficiency of the present invention meets the requirement for real-time multimedia applications.
US07697920B1
An authorization and authentication system utilizing a mobile communication device. The authentication and authorization system enables a trusted server, in conjunction with a user controlled mobile communication device (which has been registered with the trusted site), to authorize a transaction carried out at a transaction management system. An identity of the user is authenticated by a verification that the user is in possession of the mobile communication device. In this way, the transaction management system is able to effectuate an authorized transaction with confidence that the authorization was from the user and not a third party. In variations, the authentication is a multi-factor authentication, i.e., the user must both possess the mobile communication device and information, e.g., a password.
US07697919B1
The present invention is a method and system to mitigate emulator spoofer signals. In an embodiment of the invention, the system of the present invention may be a navigational receiver which may acquire authentic signals in the presence of spoofer signals whereby the authentic navigational signals may be processed to determine a correct position of the receiver. The receiver of the present invention may execute a mitigation method of the present invention whereby characteristics of pairs of signals of received signals may be determined. The mitigation method may also include selection of an authentic signal based upon the characteristics of signal pairs. Characteristics of signal pairs may include relative amplitude, phase and frequency.
US07697918B2
When a tunnel has no problem therein, a reception wave of a broadcast is retransmitted into the tunnel. At this moment, terminal registers prevent a retransmission signal from leaking from the tunnel and do not influence an adverse effect to a broadcast wave outside the tunnel. When an accident occurs in the tunnel, sensors sense this fact, and a monitoring center issues an emergency operation instruction to broadcast equipment for an emergency. At this moment, the broadcast equipment stops the retransmission of the reception wave to broadcast emergency alarm information into the tunnel and also controls transmitting antennas to emit broadcast signals to broadcast the alarm information also nearby tunnel mouths.
US07697917B2
A method of operating electronic equipment, wherein said electronic equipment utilizes a wireless signal to communicate, includes determining if the electronic equipment is operated within a moving vehicle based on a characteristic of the wireless signal and inhibiting operation of the electronic equipment if the electronic equipment is in a moving vehicle.
US07697914B2
A radio receiver front-end includes first and second RF receiver sections and an RF combining module. The first RF receiver section is coupled to receive an inbound RF signal and provide to a first representation of the inbound RF signal, wherein the inbound RF signal includes a desired signal component and an undesired signal component. The second RF receiver section is coupled to receive the inbound RF signal and to provide a second representation of the inbound RF signal. The RF combining module is coupled to combine the first and second representations of the inbound RF signal to produce a desired RF signal, wherein the desired RF signal includes the desired signal component and an attenuated representation of the undesired signal component.
US07697912B2
The present invention provides a method to adjustably sample a first digitized signal having a first data rate to produce a second digitized signal having a second data rate. This involves processing the second digitized signal to produce an output signal having a timing component contained therein. An error sensing module determines a timing error between the timing component and a digitized reference period. Then this timing error is used to produce a feedback signal that is applied to the sample timing of the first digitized signal. This allows the second digitized signal to be processed using a time domain associated with the second data rate.
US07697910B2
A signal receiver and a method for separating a RDS signal component from a received signal is described. After the received signal has been downconverted to the baseband, the baseband signal is split up into a first baseband signal for a first signal path and a second baseband signal for a second signal path. The first baseband signal is highpass filtered and forwarded to a frequency synchronization unit that generates a frequency synchronization carrier. The second baseband signal is modified in accordance with the frequency synchronization carrier provided by the first signal path, and a synchronized baseband signal is obtained that still comprises the full range of the RDS signal's spectral components.
US07697908B2
A FM receiver comprises an IF filter, a demodulator and a decoder. The IF filter generates an RSSI and a FM modulated signal in response to a FM signal. The demodulator comprises a duty-to-voltage amplifier for amplifying a peak of a MPX signal. The duty-to-voltage amplifier comprises a current source, a switch and a current splitter. The current source generates a current. The switch controls a flow of the first current in response to a PWM signal. The current splitter splits the flow of the current into a sub-flow in response to the RSSI. The peak of the MPX signal is proportional to the sub-flow. The decoder receives the MPX signal to generate an audio signal to play sound.
US07697902B2
A control signal is wirelessly transmitted from a first radio communication unit of a portable communication device to a second radio communication unit. The portable communication device is provided for radio communication over a first radio frequency band using a first modulation technique. The control signal is transmitted by generating a control signal, switching off the first modulation of a carrier signal, shifting the frequency of the carrier signal from a first radio frequency band to a second radio frequency band for the first radio communication unit, switching on the second modulation of the carrier signal having a frequency within the second radio frequency band, wherein the carrier signal is modulated with the control signal, and transmitting the control signal modulated carrier signal wirelessly over the second radio frequency band to the second radio communication unit.
US07697899B2
An RFIC includes a transmit acoustic transducer, a digital conversion module, a transmit baseband module, an analog conversion module, an up-conversion module, a power amplifier circuit, a low noise amplifier circuit, a down-conversion module, a receive baseband processing module, and a receive acoustic transducer circuit. The transmit acoustic transducer circuit converts transmit sound waves into transmit electrical signals. The digital conversion module converts the transmit electrical signals into digital transmit audio signals and converts down-converted signals into digital receive baseband or low IF signals. The transmit baseband processing module converts the digital transmit audio signals into digital transmit baseband or low IF signals. The analog conversion module converts the digital transmit baseband or low IF signals into analog transmit baseband or low IF signals and converts digital receive audio signals into receive electrical signals. The up-conversion module converts the analog transmit baseband or low IF signals into up-converted signals. The power amplifier circuit amplifies the up-converted signals. The low noise amplifier circuit amplifies receive RF signals. The down-conversion module converts the amplified receive RF signals into the down-converted signals. The receive baseband processing module converts the digital receive baseband or low IF signals into the digital receive audio signals. The receive acoustic transducer circuit converts the receive electrical signals into receive sound waves.
US07697896B2
A game apparatus according to a preferred embodiment includes a first wireless communication module and a second wireless communication module. The first wireless communication module performs communication utilizing Bluetooth protocols, whereas the second wireless communication module performs communication utilizing IEEE802.11 protocols. The first radio communication module and the second radio module have a common reference communication cycle, and each communicates in communication cycles of an integral multiple of a reference communication cycle. A control unit sets offset time between from the start time of a communication by the first wireless communication module until the start time of a communication by the second wireless communication module. In so doing, the control unit monitors the communication load of the first wireless communication module and sets the offset time based on a monitored result.
US07697889B2
An apparatus for outputting data may be provided. The apparatus may include a DMB module for receiving a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) signal and processing the received DMB signal, a navigation module, and an output unit for outputting data according to at least one of operations of the DMB module and the navigation unit. The apparatus may further include a controller for controlling the DMB module and the navigation module, and controlling a switching operation for switching data to be outputted according to a broadcasting signal received through the DMB module. A method for outputting data may also be provided.
US07697882B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a thermoelectric generator thermally coupled to an assembly having a member, wherein the thermoelectric generator is configured to convert heat from the assembly to an electrical energy. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism comprising a motor configured to actuate the member using the electrical energy.
US07697880B2
A process cartridge includes: an image bearing body; a brush member; a brush holder member; and a tension imparting portion. The image bearing body bears an image on its surface. The brush member removes deposits adhered to the surface of the image bearing body. The brush holder member extends along a longitudinal direction of the image bearing body and holds the brush member. The tension imparting portion imparts tension to the brush holder member in the longitudinal direction thereof.
US07697875B2
An image forming apparatus includes either one of a process cartridge and a development device. The process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus, and integrally includes the development device. The development device includes a developer supplying member and a developer carrying member, at least one of which is formed of an elastic material, and which rotate in contact with each other. The developer supplying member is provided to be displacable in directions of contacting with and separating from the developer carrying member, and is biased toward the developer carrying member by predetermined biasing force.
US07697871B2
A toner container for containing toner includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other; a toner discharge hole; an agitator for agitating the toner, the agitator rotatable around an agitating shaft bridged between the first side wall and the second side wall; a bearing portion for supporting one end of the agitating shaft; a swing prevention portion for preventing the container from swinging; and a toner charging hole for charging toner into the container. The first side wall is formed with the bearing portion, the swing prevention portion, and the toner charging hole. The bearing portion is between the toner charging hole and the swing prevention portion on an outer surface of the first side wall.
US07697867B2
After detecting a speed fluctuation pattern per rotation of a photosensitive drum, a process that forms an image based on image data while causing the photosensitive drum to rotate at a nonstandard linear speed is executed as an image forming process by driving a process driving motor that drives the photosensitive drum to curb a speed fluctuation of the photosensitive drum by using a driving speed fine tuning pattern. Before executing the image forming process, a fine-tuning-pattern correcting process is executed for correcting the driving speed fine tuning pattern of the process driving motor, based on the nonstandard linear speed.
US07697866B2
An image forming apparatus includes a disengagement unit that disengages all of plurality of image carrier gears and plurality of driving, gears, and allows an image carrier unit to be removed outside of an unit containing portion.
US07697865B2
A frame structure includes a base plate 70, and a pair of side plates 72, 73. The base plate 70 has a bottom surface 70a, and an attachment edge 70b formed by drawing the edge of the base place downward around the entire periphery of the bottom surface 70a. The pair of side plates 72, 73 is attached on the attachment edge 70b of the base plate 70, and serves to support components used by an image forming device in image formation.
US07697863B2
A cooling system for an electrical component, comprises: a substrate having a mounting surface on which an electrical component is mounted; an air sucking section that takes in air for cooling the electrical component; a first guide member comprising a first guide surface that leads the air taken into the air sucking section in such a direction as to be separated from the mounting surface of the substrate; and a second guide member comprising a second guide surface that leads, to the mounting surface of the substrate, the air led to the first guide surface.
US07697860B2
Fusers for fusing toner on media, printing apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in printing apparatuses are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the fusers comprises a fuser roll comprising a fusing imaging surface; at least one heating element for heating the fuser roll; a pressure roll including an outer surface, the outer surface and the fusing imaging surface defining a nip; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature on the fusing imaging surface; a time delay calculator connected to the temperature sensor; a feedback controller connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element, the feedback controller receives a signal from the temperature sensor indicating the temperature on the fusing imaging surface and controls the heating element based on the temperature; and an open-loop controller connected to the heating element and the time delay calculator. The open-loop controller receives a time delay signal from the time delay calculator and bypasses the feedback controller to control the heating element to increase the temperature of the fusing imaging surface starting at about a time, t−Δt (where Δt is a time delay), which is before a medium arrives at the nip, and continuing until about a time, t, at which the medium arrives at the nip and is contacted by the fusing imaging surface. The feedback controller resumes control of the heating element at about the time t.
US07697856B2
An image forming apparatus has a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a member to be transferred. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to make it perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state, and a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressure contact state and the separated state. The pressure contact state or the separated state of the secondary transfer roller is detected in accordance with a variation of an output of an IDC sensor for detecting a state of a bare surface of the intermediate transfer belt.
US07697854B2
An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming higher-quality images by detecting a toner concentration with higher accuracy to attain appropriate toner supply and image density. A value obtained by adding a correction value based on a temperature, humidity, a print coverage, or the like to a developer concentration adjustment value is set as a control voltage value Vc which is to be inputted to a toner concentration sensor, and an output value of the toner concentration sensor is detected for each of process speeds. A difference between the output value detected and a value at reference process speed is calculated and based on the difference, a correction value is further calculated. Such another calculation of the correction value with use of the output value detected allows for highly accurate correction.
US07697850B2
A printer monitoring interface is disclosed that uses a combination of dynamic three dimensional representations of a printing system and actual photographic images (still or video) of problem areas to give an operator monitoring the printing system realtime feedback, in both graphical and actual-image form, of areas of the printing system experiencing problems. The graphical images (which may also be actual photographic images) provide the operator with a representation of the overall system, and the actual images of problem areas provide the operator with the ability to actually see the problem that is occurring. The graphical and actual-image views are combined so that the operator can quickly and easily identify where in the system the problem is occurring, and quickly diagnose problems and determine solutions.
US07697849B2
An optical transmitter generates a transmission signal having a frame as a unit, the frame including a single optical pilot signal with a constant optical phase and a plurality of phase-modulated optical data signals, and outputs the transmission signal into a transmission line. In a receiver, a splitter splits the optical signal input from the transmission line. On a second arm of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, an optical gate transmits the optical pilot signal and a duplicator duplicates the optical pilot signal output from the optical gate at predetermined time intervals. A balanced optical receiver converts the interfered optical signal output from the interferometer into an electrical signal. A gate and a discriminator extract the data from the electrical signal output from the receiver.
US07697847B2
An optical transmitter is disclosed including an optical signal source generating a frequency modulated signal encoding data. An optical spectrum reshaper is positioned to receive the frequency modulated signal and converts the frequency modulated signal into a reshaped signal having increased amplitude modulation relative to the frequency modulated signal. A third-order dispersive element is positioned to receive the reshaped signal and is adapted to impose third-order dispersion on the reshaped signal to generate a compensated signal having third-order dispersion effective to compensate for second-order dispersion caused by an optical fiber positioned between the optical transmitter and a receiver.
US07697835B2
An imaging apparatus includes an emission device for illuminating a subject, a preliminary emission control device for controlling preliminary emission before photographing, a photometry device for measuring a reflected light volume from the subject in the preliminary emission so as to obtain a photometric result, and a main emission control device for controlling main emission when photographing, the main emission control device has a first emission control for conducting emission by adjusting emission volume by using the photometric result, and a second emission control for conducting emission until the reflected light volume from the subject reaches a predetermined volume, the main emission control device conducts an emission control by either the first emission control or the second emission control according to the photometric result.
US07697834B1
In a method and system for focusing a camera focus can be repeatedly alternated between an original focus position and a plurality of other focus positions. An image can be displayed when the focus position is the original focus position. The image can be suppressed at other focus positions when the images are out of focus. The image can be displayed at one of the other focus position when the image is in focus. In this manner, the display of annoying and distracting unfocused images is mitigated.
US07697829B1
Systems and techniques for electro-magnetic damping in a stage system. An excitation waveform for one or more actuators includes one or more frequency components with associated amplitudes. Frequency components at a resonance frequency of the stage system have associated amplitudes that are substantially zero.
US07697823B2
In a recording control apparatus and method, in recording areas on an optical disk, consecutive empty areas for an ALLOCATION_UNIT are reserved as reserved areas. Multiplexed data in units of packets which can be recorded in the reserved areas is recorded in the reserved areas. A remaining part of the reserved areas in which the multiplexed data in units of packets is not recorded is freed as empty areas. Subsequently, multiplexed data is similarly recorded.
US07697815B2
The present invention relates to the video playback unit of one or a plurality of videos, the delivery unit and the recording medium for recording the program of the processing of these units. The video playback unit of one video reads in order the video data of the video file from the storage unit. The display displays the video data, the time information sequence data and the still image sequence data positioned before and after the playback time of the video data. In this way, the video scene contained in the video file stored in the storage unit and the video file within the server network-connected can be effectively read or the target scene can be effectively retrieved. On the other hand, the playback unit of a plurality of videos divides a plurality of videos read from the storage unit into the main videos and the proxy videos so that these videos can be simultaneously displayed. In this way, a plurality of videos can be played back even in a limited transmission bandwidth and decoding capacity.
US07697810B2
A three-dimensional photonic crystal includes a structure that includes first, second, third, and fourth layers in this order. The structure of each layer includes a flat surface as one end surface, and first, second, and third structural portions. The first structural portion has a first width along the flat surface and a first height from the flat surface. The second structural portion has a second width larger than the first width and a second height larger than the first height. The third structural portion has a width and a height that continuously or stepwise change in the extending direction of the structure. The flat surface at the structural portion of one of two adjacent layers in the first layer to the fourth layer contacts a surface opposite to the flat surface at the second structural portion of the other of the two adjacent layers.
US07697808B2
An optical component has a plurality of parallel noncontiguous optical conduits of at least one protrusive phase material embedded in a recessive phase material that acts as a support structure. The optical conduits extend from a proximal surface to a distal surface of the optical component. The distal surface has a plurality of spaced apart surface features of the protrusive phase material. Each independent optical conduits act as waveguides for a wavelength or range of wavelengths. The optical component can be formed such that the protruding surface features at the distal end of the component form an ordered array. An optical instrument can include the optical component in conjunction with a light source for illuminating a sample and a detector in optical communication optical component via the optical conduits.
US07697794B2
A narrow-linewidth micropulse LIDAR transmitter based on a low-SBS single clad, small-mode-area optical fiber. High narrow-linewidth peak powers are achieved through the use of an erbium doped fiber with an acoustic waveguide. Over 6 μJ per pulse (100 ns pulse width) is achieved before a weak form of stimulated Brillouin scattering appears. This laser has the potential to scale to very high power in a low-SBS dual clad fiber.
US07697793B2
A silicon-based optical modulator structure includes one or more separate localized heating elements for changing the refractive index of an associated portion of the structure and thereby providing corrective adjustments to address unwanted variations in device performance. Heating is provided by thermo-optic devices such as, for example, silicon-based resistors, silicide resistors, forward-biased PN junctions, and the like, where any of these structures may easily be incorporated with a silicon-based optical modulator. The application of a DC voltage to any of these structures will generate heat, which hen transfers into the waveguiding area. The increase in local temperature of the waveguiding area will, in turn, increase the refractive index of the waveguiding in the area. Control of the applied DC voltage results in controlling the refractive index.
US07697785B2
In one embodiment, the present invention extracts video regions of interest from one or more videos and generates a highly condensed visual summary of the videos. The video regions of interest are extracted based on to energy, movement, face or other object detection methods, associated data or external input, or some other feature of the video. In another embodiment, the present invention extracts regions of interest from images and generates highly condensed visual summaries of the images. The highly condensed visual summary is generated by laying out germs on a canvas and then filling the spaces between the germs. The result is a visual summary that resembles a stained glass window having cells of varying shape. The germs may be laid out by temporal order, color histogram, similarity, according to a desired pattern, size, or some other manner. The people, objects and other visual content in the germs appear larger and become easier to see. The visual summary of the present invention utilizes important regions within the key frames, leading to more condensed summaries that are well suitable for small screens.
US07697784B2
There is provided a method of reducing block noise, mosquito noise and other image noises in an image by a filtering process using a smoothing filter, which block noise, mosquito noise and other image noises being caused at the time of decoding encoded, compressed image data on a block-by-block basis. The method includes changing the extent or intensity of the image noise reduction in the filtering process in a continuous or stepwise manner according to an output size or expansion rate of an image to be outputted to printer paper, photographic paper or other output media, thereby allowing the extent or intensity of the image noise reduction to be increased as the output size or expansion rate of the image increases. This method is capable of allowing the extent of the image noise reduction applied to image data to be perceived in a similar fashion, irrespective of the output size.
US07697782B2
A system for reducing ringing artifacts on an image.
US07697781B2
An image obtained by being imaged by an imaging device and converted to color data using a color processing parameter is input and target color data corresponding to converted color data is input. Next, the color processing parameter is optimized based upon the color difference between the converted color data and target color data. When the optimization processing is executed, first optimization processing is executed for optimizing the color processing parameter using the first target color data being within a prescribed color gamut, and the converted color data corresponding to the target color data, and second optimization processing is executed for optimizing the color processing parameter using second target color data, which includes the target color data being out of the prescribed color gamut and is less than a prescribed threshold value, and the converted color data corresponding to the second target color data.
US07697780B2
A method for filtering image noise includes the steps of: acquiring an image; converting gray-scale values of the image and sharpening the image; defining axes perpendicular to image borders and selecting intersecting points between the axes and the image border; creating an object points set and inputting all the intersecting points into the object points set; fitting a geometric character according to the object points set; defining a tolerance threshold value; selecting an intersecting point from the object points set; calculating a distance from the selected intersecting point to the geometric character; determining whether the distance is larger than the defined tolerance threshold value; marking the selected intersecting point as a noise if the distance is larger than the defined tolerance threshold value; and deleting the selected intersecting point from the object points set. A related method is also disclosed.
US07697771B2
A method and apparatus for encoding (622) digital image data wherein a region of interest (606) can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process, such that the priority (616) of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines.
US07697763B2
A Block Truncation Coding (BTC) method and apparatus thereof are provided, which can avoid the flickers of pixels when applied to moving picture sequence, or increase the quantization levels with a simple and low-cost method. The BTC method includes: (a) receiving an image input of a block containing a plurality of pixels, and calculating the block mean in the pixels X; (b) classifying the pixels into a high intensity group and a low intensity group based on the mean value of the pixels, and assigning a corresponding bit based on which group each of the pixels belongs to, the corresponding bits of all the pixels constituting a bitmap, wherein the pixels or the corresponding bits are stabilized; and (c) calculating the mean value of the pixels of the high intensity group A and the mean value of the pixels of the low intensity group B.
US07697761B2
A method for classifying an input character, the method comprising the steps of, in a processing system, for a plurality of character models, decomposing the input character into one or more segments in accordance with a segmentation scheme associated with the character model, and evaluating the one or more segments against a segment model associated with the character model, by using fuzzy logic rules to produce a score indicative of the conformity with the segment model, the method further including selecting the character model that produced the highest score, and classifying the input character as a character associated with the character model that produced the highest score.
US07697760B2
A handwritten word is transcribed into a list of possibly correct transcriptions of the handwritten word. The list contains a number of text words, and this list is compared with previously stored set of lists of text words. Based on a metric, one or more nearest neighbor lists are selected from the set. A decision is made, according to a number of combination rules, as to which text word in the nearest neighbor lists or the recently transcribed list is the best transcription of the handwritten word. This best transcription is selected as the appropriate text word transcription of the handwritten word. The selected word is compared to a true transcription of the selected word Machine learning techniques are used when the selected and true transcriptions differ. The machine learning techniques create or update rules that are used to determine which text word of the nearest neighbor lists or the recently transcribed list is the correct transcription of the handwritten word.
US07697759B2
A method, computer readable storage, and apparatus for implementing recursive segmentation of data with spatial characteristics into regions including splitting-remerging of pixels with contagious region designations and a user controlled parameter for providing a preference for merging adjacent regions to eliminate window artifacts.
US07697757B2
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for computer assisted document modification. One embodiment is a method for software execution. The method automatically extracts articles, in a first phase, from documents to generate different zones of the articles. Different zones of the extracted articles are displayed. In a second phase, plural different zones are manually modified with a document correction tool.
US07697748B2
A system and method for imaging a three-dimensional scene having one or more objects. The system includes a light source, a detector array, a timing circuit, an inertial guidance system and a processor connected to the timing circuit and the inertial guidance system. The light source generates an optical pulse and projects the optical pulse on an object so that it is reflected as a reflected pulse. The detector array includes a plurality of detectors, wherein the detectors are oriented to receive the reflected pulse. The timing circuit determines when the reflected pulse reached detectors on the detector array. The inertial guidance system measures angular velocity and acceleration. The processor forms a composite image of the three-dimensional scene as a function of camera position and range to objects in the three-dimensional scene.
US07697746B2
The inspection system arbitrarily selects from among a plurality of optical conditions to change a distribution of reflected or diffracted light component from an object being inspected. The inspection system has a one- or two-dimensional optoelectric conversion image sensor, optically acquires an image of the object by scanning a stage on which the object is mounted or scanning the image sensor, and processes the image to check for defects in the object. Under each optical condition (illumination optical system, detection optical system, scan direction, etc.) the object being inspected is imaged and, based on the brightness distribution and contrast in the detection field of the image sensor, image sensor output correction data is generated to correct the output of the image sensor.
US07697744B2
An image processor and X-ray diagnostic apparatus designate areas of interest, by using an input unit, on at least two of a plurality of still images forming a moving image when continuously displayed, estimate corresponding areas on the remaining images which correspond to the areas of interest by geometrical calculation or the like by using a position detecting section, shift the respective areas of interest and the respective corresponding areas to the image centers of the respective images by using an AFFINE transformation section, and perform continuous display by using the respective images after the shift processing.
US07697743B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for performing tomosynthesis including: receiving an image representative of an anatomy of a patient; allowing an interaction with the image to arrange at least one element with respect to the image to form an arrangement; and prescribing at least one parameter for obtaining a tomosynthesis image based at least in part on the arrangement. In an embodiment, the method further includes performing tomosynthesis in accordance with the at least one parameter. In an embodiment, the at least one element includes a detector representation. In an embodiment, the at least one element includes at least one thickness guide. In an embodiment, the at least one element includes at least one slice location guide. In an embodiment, the at least one parameter includes at least one of: a detector position, a detector size, a thickness size, a thickness position, a slice size, a slice position, a slice thickness, a slice separation, a field of view, a reconstruction algorithm, a hanging protocol, and an image processing routine. In an embodiment, the at least one parameter includes at least one of: an x-ray source location, an x-ray source angulation, an x-ray beam intensity, an x-ray beam gating, and a detector sensitivity.
US07697740B2
IVR-CT apparatus has an angio-image obtaining unit, an angio-image imaging direction obtaining unit, a CT-image obtaining unit, a blood vessel part extracting unit, a projected image generating unit and a display control unit. The angio-image obtaining unit obtains a required angio-image from multiple chronological angio-images. The angio-image imaging direction obtaining unit obtains a direction of imaging as incidental information included in data on the required angio-image. The CT-image obtaining unit obtains a three-dimensional CT-image corresponding to the required angio-image. The blood vessel part extracting unit extracts a blood vessel part in the three-dimensional CT-image. The projected image generating unit generates a three-dimensional projected image by projecting the blood vessel part, and a three-dimensional projected image corresponding to a direction of a projection after a manual operation operates the direction of the projection. The display control unit makes display the three-dimensional projection image and the angio-image one over another.
US07697737B2
A method and system use a biometric personal identity verification (BioPIV) system to provide a fingerprint enabled wireless add-on for personal identification number (PIN) accessible smartcards. The BioPIV system may function as a trusted biometric reader and a smartcard reader with full remote functionality for both logical and physical access.
US07697734B2
Provided are a method and apparatus of detecting an eye using symmetrical and moment characteristics of an object. According to the method, an eye band is extracted from a facial image, and eye candidates each having symmetry are detected by extracting symmetrical component from the eye band. After that, a moment line integral is calculated on the basis of contrast of the eye band image and a coordinate of each of the eye candidates is inputted, so that each of the detected eye candidates is verified.
US07697733B2
An image collating apparatus includes a storage device and a processor. The storage device stores data representing a sensing image, data representing a template image, and a program. The processor detects exclusion areas in the sensing image to be excluded from the image collation operation based on classification of image patterns. The processor determines whether or not the sensing image and the template image are derived from the identical object by performing template-matching operations to evaluate similarity between the template image and partial images of the sensing image in different levels with increasing the size of area covered by the partial image to be matched with the template image level by level. At least in one level the processor performs the template-matching operation with respect to the partial image where the exclusion areas are excluded.
US07697729B2
A device for and method of performing a task associated with fingerprint data is disclosed. The method comprises reading fingerprint data, matching the read fingerprint data to stored fingerprint data, the stored fingerprint data having an associated task, and performing the task. The associated task is part of a chain of tasks that are automatically executed when the read fingerprint data is matched to the stored fingerprint data. Preferably, at least one task has associated user profile data that is used to perform the task. An electronic device that can be controlled in accordance with the present invention includes, but is not limited to, a telephone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a remote controlled device.
US07697720B2
One embodiment of a method of tracking a plurality of targets can be broadly summarized by the following steps: capturing a plurality of images of a plurality of targets with a plurality of image capture devices; generating a target observation for each target, said target observation including at least a visual signature of the target and a time value; partitioning target observations according to similarities in their visual signatures; and producing primary tracks from the partitioned target observations, wherein each primary track includes ordered sequences of observation events having similarities in their visual signatures. Other methods and systems are also provided.
US07697718B2
The picture information of video can be used in various ways to identify the video or its topical subject matter. This enables numerous novel arrangements in which particular video of interest to a particular consumer can be discerned. A variety of other embodiments and features are also detailed.
US07697717B2
Methods of embedding and detecting a watermark into-from a digital image are disclosed. A method of embedding a watermark in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention into a digital image, the method comprising: generating a difference from an original image; segmenting said difference image into sub-regions; and calculating a watermark block into each sub-region by adding said watermark block with pixel values of each sub-region.
US07697715B2
We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighbouring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process.
US07697696B2
In an audio amplification apparatus connected to a microphone and a speaker, an audio amplification circuit amplifies an audio signal and inputs the amplified audio signal to the speaker. A howling canceller has an adaptive filter which is set with a filter coefficient based on the audio signal input to the speaker and a residual signal so as to simulate a feedback transmission path from the speaker to the microphone such that the adaptive filter processes the audio signal to produce a simulation signal. The residual signal is obtained by subtracting the simulation signal from an input audio signal inputted from the microphone and fed to the audio amplification circuit. An internal sound source generates the audio signal and inputs the audio signal to the speaker. A sound source determination portion determines whether or not the input audio signal contains an external audio signal provided from an external sound source other than the audio signal fed back from the speaker to the microphone, and controls update of the filter coefficient in accordance with a result of the determination.
US07697694B2
Methods and apparatuses for synchronizing the exchange of cryptography information between kernel drivers. A high level application in an electronic system passes a pointer to a base driver. The pointer is a unique identifier for cryptography information, such as a Security Association (SA), that the base driver uses to populate a cryptography information table for performing cryptography operations on secure traffic data packets. If the network interface device and/or its associated driver are reset, the pointer is used to repopulate the cryptography information table with specific cryptography information needed to perform cryptography operations on the data packets.
US07697690B2
Windowed backward key rotation. A user is provided information that allows determining a limited number of previous keys in a series of keys from a later key in the series. A key in the series is generated, based at least in part on the information provided to the user. The key in the series is provided to the user. The user determines at least one key in the limited number of previous keys in the series by applying the information to the key in the series.
US07697687B2
A method of synchronizing the encryption/decryption functions of an AlphaEta physical-layer encryption or key generation system. The method includes the insertion of a header to indicate the start of encryption after clock-synchronization has been established. The method also allows for a side-channel to signal other useful information, such as a loss-of-syncrhonization signal from Bob or to synchronize a dynamic key change.
US07697680B2
A traceable method for encrypting and/or decrypting data broadcast by at least one transmitter towards several decoders includes the steps: during encryption of broadcast data, the transmitter implements (in 86) at least one first secret function to transform an unencrypted message into an encrypted message; and during decryption of the broadcast data, all the decoders implement (in 92) at least one common second secret function, each decoder using therefor a mathematical description of the second function stored in a memory (21), the mathematical description of the second function being different from one decoder to another or from one group of decoders to another such that the mathematical description used identifies exclusively the particular decoder or group of decoders.
US07697674B2
The present invention is directed to a telephony communication interface device. The device includes a communication transceiver configured to communicate with a remote system via a predetermined communication channel. A control circuit is coupled to the communication transceiver. The control circuit is configured to determine a device operating mode status based on communication transceiver activity. The device operating mode status includes a telephonic communications mode and a remote system communications mode. An interface circuit is coupled to at least one telephone set. The interface circuit is configured to propagate voice telephony signals between the at least one telephone set and a telephony network in a telephonic communications mode and propagate voice intercom signals between the at least one telephone set and the communication transceiver in the remote system communications mode.
US07697668B1
A computing device and computer-readable medium storing instructions for controlling a computing device to customize a voice in a multi-media message created by a sender for a recipient, the multi-media message comprising a text message from the sender to be delivered by an animated entity. The instructions comprise receiving from the sender inserted voice emoticons, which may be repeated, into the text message associated with parameters of a voice used by an animated entity to deliver the text message; and transmitting the text message such that a recipient device can deliver the multi-media message at a variable level associated with a number of times a respective voice emoticon is repeated.
US07697663B2
A radiosurgery system is described that delivers a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, ocular structures are placed in a global coordinate system, based on ocular imaging, which leads to direction of an automated positioning system. In some embodiments, the position of an ocular structure is tracked and related to a radiosurgery system. In some embodiments, a treatment plan is utilized for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. In some embodiments, a fiducial aids in positioning the system. In some embodiments, a reflection off the eye is used to aid in positioning. In some embodiments, radiodynamic therapy is described in which radiosurgery is used in combination with other treatments and can be delivered concomitant with, prior to, or following other treatments.
US07697659B2
A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.
US07697656B2
It is provided a method of controlling a shift register in which a plurality of transfer unit circuits, each having a storage unit and a writing unit, are connected in series. The storage unit has a hold gate and stores a logical level of a pulse when the hold gate is in an active state, and the writing unit has a writing gate and stores a pulse in the storage unit when the writing gate is in an active state. The method includes: performing control such that the writing gate is shifted from the active state to the non-active state and then the hold gate is shifted from the non-active state to the active state, when the writing gate is shifted from an active state to a non-active state and the hold gate is shifted from a non-active state to an active state; and performing control such that the hold gate is shifted from the active state to the non-active state and then the writing gate is shifted from the non-active state to the active state, when the writing gate is shifted from the non-active state to the active state and the hold gate is shifted from the active state to the non-active state.
US07697653B2
A mobile station is configured to acquire at least one of country information and carrier in formation as output control information. The mobile station is also configured to receive download data that includes harmful level information. The mobile station includes a predetermined rule for determining whether output of the data is to be permitted based on the harmful level information and the output control information.
US07697652B2
A quarter-rate phase detector can include: four latches controllable to latch, at different times according to quadrature clock signals, respectively, data received by the phase detector so as to form latched signals; an error circuit to combine corresponding ones of the latched signals, respectively, resulting in a plurality of intermediate signals; and a multiplexing unit to selectively output the intermediate signals as a phase error signal. A related method can have similar features.
US07697651B2
A tracking loop of an interpolator based receiver includes clock elements that generate a plurality of clocks to sample a signal from a remote transmitter. The tracking loop includes samplers and voter elements that sample the signal with the clocks and generate samples that comparatively indicate a phase relationship between the signal and the clocks. Based on the comparison of the samples in the samplers and voter elements, the tracking loop either sends phase-shift signals to the clock elements to shift the phase of the clocks to match the phase of the signal, or sends a phase-flip signal to the clock elements to flip the clocks if the phase relationship between the signal and the clocks is about 180°. Once a phase match between the clocks and the signal is established, the tracking loop remains phase locked with the signal and provides a recovered signal.
US07697645B2
A wireless communications receiving apparatus and a method for removing interference in a wireless communication system. The apparatus removes interferences and comprises a power detector, a channelization filter, a channel filter unit having a plurality of filters (e.g., including an all-pass filter, a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter), a plurality of interference power detectors corresponding to the plurality of filters, a channel filter selection block and a multiplexer. The power detector receives a digital signal and detects its power, the channelization filter selects a signal having a predetermined channel frequency from the received digital signal; the channel filter unit has a plurality of filters each for receiving and filtering the signal output from the channelization filter; each of the plurality of interference power detectors respectively receives a stored training signal and a training signal received within an output signal of a corresponding filter among the plurality of filters and calculates a plurality of corresponding interference powers; the channel filter selection block outputs a selection signal based on the power of the first signal; the interference powers calculated from the plurality of interference power detectors and a plurality of reference values; and the multiplexer selects any one from the output signals of the plurality of filters based on the selection signal.
US07697643B2
A spread spectrum mobile station comprises at least one antenna configured to receive power commands. The power commands indicate that the mobile station should increase or decrease its transmit power. A decision device is configured to process the received power commands and produce a decision indicating whether each received power command indicates an increase or a decrease in the mobile station's transmit power level. An accumulator is configured to accumulate a plurality of the decisions. An algorithm device is configured to receive the accumulated decisions and apply an algorithm to the accumulated decisions to set the mobile station's transmit power level. The algorithm compares a plurality of the decisions to determine if the plurality of decisions match and the transmission power level is adjusted by a first amount if the decisions are determined to match and not adjusted by that first amount if the decisions are determined to not match.
US07697641B2
A demodulator, suitable for use in a communication system and in a modem, has a block polyphase circuit with circuit blocks for different signal processing functions, particularly filtering, delay, and frequency conversion. The circuit blocks are arranged for parallel processing of different portions of an input sequence of signals. Signals of the input sequence to be filtered are divided among the blocks by a demultiplexer for processing at a clock frequency lower than a clock frequency of the input signal sequence. Signals outputted by groups of the circuit blocks are summed to produce an output signal of the group. Output signals of all of the groups are multiplexed to provide an output signal sequence such that the repetition frequency of the outputted signals may be higher, lower, or equal to that of the input signal sequence. This enables use of programmable circuitry operative at reduced clock rates.
US07697639B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for robust Binary Phase Shift Keying/Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (BPSK/QPSK) blind modulation classification. The apparatus includes first and second likelihood value calculators for calculating a likelihood value of a received baseband signal each for of BPSK and QPSK modulation modes. A maximum setting unit derives a maximum value of the likelihood values or ith likelihood ratios calculated by the first and second likelihood value calculators. A flag is set for the maximum value to “1” and a flag for the remaining value is set to “0”. First and second flag combining units combine the flags for the modulation modes. A modulation mode flag setting unit selects a maximum value from the flags combined by the first and second flag combining units.
US07697637B2
A demodulation circuit can perform a capturing operation although a frequency error is large. A phase comparator out puts a predetermined value other than 0 as a determination result of a phase error when a phase error of a carrier wave is large and a signal point is located at a predetermined position. A loop filter outputs a negative minimum value to an integrator when an integrated value of a determination result reaches a positive maximum value of a limiter. Thus, when a phase error is large, a value changing from a negative minimum value to a positive maximum value is output from the loop filter, thereby realizing a broad synchronous capture range.
US07697634B2
An improved interpolation technique for reconstructing a complex signal from sampled data estimates a carrier phase for each sampled data time. The carrier phase is then used to compensate for frequency variation in the complex signal. The complex components of the sampled data are then interpolated separately with the interpolated results being used to produce an interpolated magnitude that is the reconstructed complex signal.
US07697625B2
A method and system for transmitting and receiving data using a plurality of antennas are disclosed. The method of transmitting includes the steps of receiving feedback information from a receiving end, the feedback information including group selection information and weight values for the plurality of antennas, grouping the plurality of antennas into a plurality of antenna groups based on the group selection information included in the feedback information, and transmitting, to a receiving end, a plurality of data streams through the plurality of antenna groups, respectively, based on the weight values.
US07697624B2
There are included a transmission modulator (103) for impulse-modulating the data to be transmitted, thereby producing a subcarrier; a subcarrier control section for controlling the subcarrier to be utilized for communication, depending on the amount and significance of information and on the propagation condition of communication; and an antenna section (101) for radiating the subcarrier signal. This structure allows selection of a subcarrier suitable for information to be transmitted and for propagation environment, and hence allows a communication to be performed which exhibits a high flexibility and a high noise immunity. Thus, there can be provided a communication apparatus that can perform a high-quality, high-stability communication exhibiting an improved interfering immunity and that performs a flexible impulse communication.
US07697617B2
A system and method for synchronising data for use in a powerline communications network.Data containing a plurality of symbols is received and a predetermined number of data samples are used to calculate an alignment error associated with the data samples. The alignment error represents the extent to which the data samples are aligned with one of the symbols. The alignment error is then used to determine the extent to which the alignment position should be changed so as to provide substantial alignment with a subsequent symbol.
US07697615B2
A method for modulating a sequence of data symbols such that the transmit signal exhibits spectral redundancy. Null symbols are inserted in the sequence of data symbols such that a specified pattern of K data symbols and N−K null symbols is formed in every period of N symbols in the modulated sequence, N and K being positive integers and K being smaller than N.
US07697613B2
For the binary representation of a description corresponding to an extended description scheme, the same principles as in the MPEG-7 binary format could in principle be used, however, the resulting binary format is different from the binary format of the original MPEG-7 description scheme, even for the identical parts of both description schemes. Means and method are provided for user or application specific extension of the binary format, where the binary format of that part of the description schemes, which is common to both the original MPEG-7 description scheme and the extended description scheme, is preserved.
US07697610B2
Systems and methods for variable block size early termination for video coding are described. In one aspect a set of thresholds are selected based on block sizes in a video encoding scheme. The thresholds include a respective threshold for each block size used by the encoding scheme. For each macroblock of multiple macroblocks in a video data sequence, blocks in the macroblock are evaluated in view of respective threshold(s) to determine if motion estimation operations can be terminated prior to evaluating remaining blocks in the macroblock.
US07697595B2
A receiver employs low-rate processing to synthesize the effect of high-rate interference in a received multi-rate signal. Each high-rate subchannel is analyzed on its low-rate descendents to produce symbol estimates for each low-rate symbol interval. The symbol estimates are applied to low-rate descendent subchannels, which are then combined to synthesize the effects of the high-rate interference. An interference canceller processes the synthesized interference with the received signal for producing an interference-cancelled signal. Alternatively, analogous steps may be applied at high-rate to analyze, synthesize, and cancel the effects of low-rate interference in a multi-rate signal.
US07697586B2
Provided is a high-output surface-emitting laser capable of reducing effects on reflectance of an upper reflection mirror in a single transverse mode. The surface-emitting laser includes plural semiconductor layers, laminated on a substrate, which includes a lower semiconductor multilayer reflection mirror, an active layer, and an upper semiconductor multilayer reflection mirror, wherein the lower or upper semiconductor multilayer reflection mirror includes a first semiconductor layer having a two-dimensional photonic crystal structure comprised of a high and low refractive index portions which are arranged in a direction parallel to the substrate, and wherein a second semiconductor layer laminated on the first semiconductor layer includes a microhole which reaches the low refractive index portion, the cross section of the microhole in the direction parallel to the substrate being smaller than the cross section of the low refractive index portion formed in the first semiconductor layer.
US07697570B2
A method for multi-path TDM data transmission includes: applying a plurality of high-speed serial lines to connect a center switch network board to a plurality of service boards; multiplexing multi-path TDM data from the center switch network board at transmitting side, and transmitting TDM data multiplexed in batch via one of the high-speed serial lines to one of the service boards; at receiving side, serial receiving the TDM data multiplexed and de-multiplexing the TDM data multiplexed to multiple TDM paths. The TDM bridge connector includes: a TDM high-speed serial transmitting adaptive circuit, and a TDM high-speed serial receiving adaptive circuit and a clock control circuit. The invention increases greatly transmission capacity and looses the requirement of clock synchronization, so the system reliability is greatly raised.
US07697567B2
In a packet repeater of a wireless base station, a packet analyzer receives uplink packets from mobile terminals and stores data indicating quality of each wireless link between the base station and each mobile terminal in a memory. A packet sorter receives downlink packets from a network and stores the received packets into buffers according to the destinations of downlink packets and their service classes. According to the data stored in the memory, packets in the buffers are into a first group of queues in which quality of service is not satisfied and a second group of queues in which quality of service is satisfied. A packet scheduler sequentially transmits all packets from the first-group queues to mobile terminals, and reorders the second-group queues in a descending order of their qualities of wireless links and sequentially transmits all packets from the reordered queues to the mobile terminals.
US07697557B2
In various exemplary embodiments, a method for the distribution of content within a network of constrained capacity uses distributed content storage nodes functioning to achieve optimal service quality and maximum service session capacity. The method, which functions in unicast, broadcast, switched broadcast, and multicast mode networks, uses predictions of the utility of particular content items to download or record the highest utility items to distributed content stores during periods and in modes that will not increase demand peaks. These predictions of utility may be based on, for example, the number of potential users, the likelihood of their use, and the value to the service provider. The method uses signaling between network nodes to identify the best source for particular content items based on which nodes hold that content and the nature of network constraints.
US07697550B2
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a network peripheral device. The network peripheral device includes a plurality of antennas, network communications electronics operable with the antennas, a plurality of electronically controllable visual indicators, and circuitry that activates the selected indicators. The network peripheral device may also include networking electronics, router functionality, a modem, a base band processor, a firewall, and/or a media access control (MAC) processor. The visual indicators may comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs). The visual indicators may correspond to a particular antenna. The visual indicators may also be arranged in a pattern corresponding to an arrangement of antennas in the plurality of antennas, or in a substantially circular pattern. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to various methods and devices.
US07697541B2
This invention discloses a service scheduling unit and the method thereof, which performs scheduling for the packet service that comes from the line unit and the data service access processing unit in the digital communication system, and the service scheduling unit includes: a mapping module, a de-mapping module, an encapsulating module, a decapsulating module and a packet scheduling module. After entering the service scheduling unit, the services needing to be scheduled go through the mapping/de-mapping module and the encapsulating/decapsulating module, arrive at the scheduling module for final scheduling This method of scheduling the services can achieve the 1+1 or 1:1 protect function of the service scheduling module. The usage of this method can achieve different granularities of the mapping/de-mapping, different protocol encapsulating and can efficiently decrease the total cost of the system.
US07697537B2
A method and system are provided for using generic comparators with firmware interface to assist video/audio decoders in achieving frame sync. The method may involve processing a portion of an incoming packet by hardware components, which may result in a partially processed packet. The incoming packet may comprise audio, video, and/or record data. The partially processed packet may then be completely processed by firmware and sent to decoders if comprising audio/video data or to a record engine if comprising record data. Generic comparators may be utilized with the incoming packet to search for data patterns associated with synchronization information within the packet. The extracted data patterns may be sent to the firmware to utilize while processing the partially processed packet. The firmware may send synchronization information determined based on the extracted data patterns to aid decoders in decoding audio and video content.
US07697535B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for boundary detection of protocol data units in a communication system. A protocol entity such as a header check sequence (HCS) validation circuit is used to compute header check sequences of protocol data units in a packet burst. If a given HCS is valid, then the payload of the respective protocol data unit may be used. However, if the given HCS is invalid, then a parallel sliding window is used to compute other possible HCSs to identify a protocol data unit boundary. Once the boundary is located, then the payload may be used. Even if a protocol data unit is invalid or a header is not found, other protocol data units in a packet burst may be used in accordance with aspects of the invention. Such operation reduces the number of retransmissions required due to invalid HCSs.
US07697523B2
Method and apparatus for data packet transport in a wireless transmission system supporting broadcast transmissions. A multicast tree is built between nodes through neighboring routers. The multicast tree forms a tunnel through which the broadcast content is transmitted. The broadcast message is encapsulated in an Internet Protocol packet for transmission through the multicast tree. At least one multicast tree is formed between the Internet portion of the system and the wireless portion of the system, such as the Access Network. In one embodiment, an external multicast tree is formed between a content source and a packet data service node, and an internal multicast tree is formed between the packet data service node and a packet control function node.
US07697518B1
Methods of updating b-tree data structures (e.g., b*tree data structure) using search key insertion and deletion operations proceed from respective known states (e.g., respective canonical forms). These insertion operations include inserting a first search key into the b-tree by reconfiguring (e.g., pre-processing) a plurality of sibling nodes of the b-tree into a predetermined overloaded form having a shape that is independent of a value of the first search key to be inserted therein. An operation is then performed to split the sibling nodes by redistributing the first and other search keys among an expanded plurality of the sibling nodes. These insertion operations use a process that trades off possibly performing additional memory accesses (e.g., to shift search keys (and/or handles or pointers) to the predetermined overloaded form) for the certainty that the same key movements are ultimately performed during operations to split sibling nodes.
US07697517B2
A packet forwarding apparatus 200 transmits an inputted packet A to a first output port that is one of a plurality of output ports and transmits a dummy packet A storing the packet length of packet A to the other output port. A shaping unit 100-1 corresponding to the first output port uses the packet length of the packet A and a shaping unit 100-2 corresponding to the port other than the first output port uses a packet length in the dummy packet A so as to control the bandwidth of the packet A to be transmitted, thus controlling the total bandwidth of the packet A.
US07697509B2
A method in one example comprises the steps of establishing a location database for a first network that associates Internet Protocol address information for VOIP telephony devices with physical locations for the VOIP telephony devices; upon detecting registration of a VOIP telephony device through a network port of the first network, determining physical location of the VOIP telephony device by identifying physical location of the network port through which the VOIP telephony device is connected, and updating the location database; and, upon detecting IP telephony activity originating from a remote VOIP telephony device connected to the first network through a VPN gateway, determining physical location of the remote VOIP telephony device connected through the VPN gateway by identifying physical locations of network resources of a second network to which the remote VOIP telephony device is connected, and updating the location database; such that updated location information is provided to a 911 server in the event that an emergency call is originated by any VOIP telephony device or remote VOIP telephony device.
US07697502B2
Multistage switching for mixed SONET VT traffic, such as VT1.5s and VT2s, is accomplished by employing an input time switch, a space switch and an output time switch. The input time switch and output time switch include VT1.5 time switches arranged to alter the time order of the input VT1.5s and VT2 time switches arranged to alter the time order to the input VT2s. The space switch includes a VT1.5 space switch arranged to order the input VT1.5s with respect to output channels in an output channel order different from the input channel order of the VT1.5s. The space switch also includes a VT2 space switch arranged to order the input VT2s with respect to output channels in an output channel order different from the input channel order of the VT2s.
US07697501B2
MIP Home Agent (HA) architectures are described that decompose, e.g., split, packet forwarding control functionality from actual data packet forwarding operations performed by a conventional MIP HA. This places MIP routing control in a node which is distinct from the tunnel end-points which perform packet forwarding operations to direct packets including a mobile's Home Address. Tunneling establishment and control functionality is implemented by what is referred to herein as decomposed HA (DHA) while data packet forwarding and redirection is performed, under the control of the DHA, by a tunneling agent (TA) node. The tunneling agent node serves as the data packet redirection node for a mobile as it moves from one location to another and may be located outside of a firewall used to protect the DHA. Tunnel endpoint nodes (Mobile Nodes and/or Access Nodes) send tunnel packets to the tunnel agent whilst directing control signaling packets to the DHA.
US07697500B2
A host device according to an embodiment of the present invention sends to a plurality of device units a specific token packet including address information of a first device unit and a general token transmission time derived from an execution time of a plurality of consecutive transactions upon execution of the plurality of consecutive transactions with a first device unit out of the plurality of device units. The first device unit receives the specific token packet to execute the plurality of transactions. The plurality of device units other than the first device unit receive the specific token packet to shift to and stay in a suspend state until the general token transmission time elapses, and then shift to a waiting state after the general token transmission time.
US07697497B2
A wireless transmitter (400) having a quantity of data to transmit (101) can automatically determine (102) whether that data can be transmitted using a first transmission state in a manner that complies with regulatory requirements as will apply to such a transmission state. When true, these teachings can provide for automatically transmitting (108) that data using that first transmission state. When not true, however, these teachings will then provide for automatically determining (103) whether this data can be transmitted using a second transmission state in a manner that is appropriately compliant with the salient regulatory requirements. By one approach, this second transmission state is at least partially different from the first transmission state but offers a substantially comparable quality of service. When true, these teachings then provide for transmission (105) of that data using this second transmission state.
US07697495B2
A wireless system includes a plurality of wireless nodes structured to participate in a system test of the wireless nodes. The system test includes a plurality of test packets. A packet sniffer node includes a wireless receiver, a memory storing a schedule defining transmission and reception of the test packets by the wireless nodes, and a processor cooperating with the wireless receiver and the memory to receive at least some of the test packets responsive to the schedule, and to output data corresponding to the received test packets of the system test. A monitoring computer receives the output data from the processor of the packet sniffer node. Operation of the packet sniffer node, which does not transmit, does interfere with or alter execution of the system test.
US07697491B2
A wireless communication apparatus includes a transmitting device configured to transmit burst data of a plurality of transmission data, a receiving device configured to receive an acknowledgement status of the burst data transmitted by the transmitting device, a retransmitting device configured to control the transmitting device to retransmit any of the plurality of transmission data contained in the burst data, in accordance with the acknowledgement status received by the receiving device, and a retransmission limiting device configured to limit the retransmission for each frame exchange sequence of the burst data.
US07697490B2
A cluster of terminals, and an ad-hoc network of two or more such clusters, for carrying a multi-party, cluster-based, conference, wherein each cluster includes a super member comprising a super user agent, and one or more members including a user agent. Communications sessions are established between the super member of each cluster and each member terminals of the same cluster, and between the super members of each one of the first and second clusters. The user agent comprises identity of the super member, a conference identity, cluster parameters including a split value (Sv) indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when Sv is reached during the conference the cluster is split, and a merge value (Mv) indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when Mv is reached the cluster is merged with another cluster. The super user agent comprises a cluster member list, the conference identity, a cluster neighbour list, the one or more terminals also participating to the same conference, and cluster parameters.
US07697489B1
A network access server, such as a PDSN, might provide Mobile IP services to one or more access points for a wireless wide area network. A wireless device might handoff to an access point served by the network access server, and the wireless device might receive from the access point an identifier, such as a Packet Zone ID, that identifies the network access server. The wireless device might then register with the access server but delay making any subsequent Mobile IP re-registrations until after a predetermined amount of time.
US07697477B2
Handover in a wireless communications system from a first communications platform to a post-handover platform is implemented utilizing low-level synchronization mechanisms to enable at least some of a plurality of terminals to adjust timing and synchronize communications with the post-handover platform. Synchronization with the post-handover platform can be facilitated based on a comparison between an expected time to receive response data and the actual time that such data is received from the post-handover platform.
US07697474B2
A system is provided for estimating the geographical distribution of user throughput in a cellular system, including user terminals and a base station for effecting wireless packet communications with user terminals inside in its own cell using a shared channel. Reception quality estimating means (11) estimates the reception quality of the shared channel at the location of a user terminal in the cell. Traffic information reading means (12) reads the traffic information on the estimation target area in which estimation of the reception quality was performed. User throughput estimating means (13) estimates the user throughput at the location of a user terminal in the cell, using the user throughput calculating function that receives as its input the reception quality of the shared channel at the location of the user terminal in the cell and the traffic information on the estimation target area and calculates user throughput.
US07697471B2
A controller for a communications system comprises an input and an output for communicating with nodes connected to the communications system. The controller is provided with a processor for determining presence of an address translator entity between a first node and a second node. The controller is further configured for generating an indication of the presence of the translator entity for sending to another node.
US07697463B2
A control unit estimates the time required from when signals are transmitted respectively to a plurality of terminal apparatuses to when responses from them are received. In a plurality of partial periods, partial periods for receiving signals continue after partial periods for transmitting the signals continue, and the order of terminal apparatuses assigned in the partial periods for receiving signals are defined in the order of terminal apparatuses assigned in the partial periods for transmitting signals, and the control unit assigns a terminal apparatus, whose estimated required time is longer, to an early partial period in a series of partial periods for transmitting signals. A radio unit and the like perform communication with the plurality of terminal apparatuses to which the respective plurality of partial periods have been assigned.
US07697454B2
The propagation of link state advertisements (LSAs) is limited by defining a propagation radius on the network, measured by sum of link cost, or using another metric. By limiting the distance a LSA will propagate on the network it is possible to limit LSA traffic on the network without defining areas on the network. This eliminates the need to name those areas and designate nodes as belonging to particular areas, which enables the nodes to be added on an ad-hoc basis without a centralized management structure. Additionally, this enables the nodes to be mobile on the network without requiring close monitoring and updating of area affiliation by the nodes. Further, not having areas on the network eliminates the requirement for area border routers to control link state advertisements, reduces or eliminates special intra-area communication protocol exchanges, and avoids potential congestion which may occur in connection with inter-area traffic.
US07697438B2
An embodiment of a method of routing a packet between nodes of a network begins with a step of determining that a route of an external network from a source node to a network node provides an expected near minimum transmission time for transmission of the packet from the source node to a destination node. The method continues with a step of determining that a packet queue for a network link at a source node exceeds a threshold. The method concludes with a step of routing the packet to the destination node via the external network and the network node.
US07697432B2
A method of mediating the flow of datagrams to a destination in a network is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a datagram at a port of a network device, evaluating a destination address for the datagram based on fields in the incoming packet, searching a longest prefix match (LPM) table using the destination address as a LPM key, determining an address table index and an offset based on entries found in the search of the longest prefix match table, searching an address table using the address table index and the offset as an address key to determine an egress port number of the network device and forwarding the packet based upon at least the egress port number.
US07697429B2
Systems and methods for transmitting signals according to service flows are described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, a routing device, such a cable modem, comprises memory configured to store a configuration file. The cable modem also comprises a network port and a plurality of input ports. The network port is configured to communicate with a cable network via a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The input ports are each configured to communicate with a communication device. The configuration file includes logic for defining a service flow for data transmission on the network port based on one or more input ports.
US07697427B2
A system for distributing network traffic to multiple traffic management devices. A distributor receives each packet from a network and may act as a layer 2 switch, a router, or distribute the packet to one of a group of traffic management devices. The distributor may receive packets from servers that the traffic management devices are managing communications to. When distributing packets to traffic management devices, information such as source and destination addresses may be used to determine which traffic management device each packet should be sent to. The distributor causes packets that are part of a flow to be delivered to the same traffic management device. Many configurations are possible for connecting the distributor to the traffic management devices, including connecting each traffic management device to a physical or virtual port on the distributor, connecting the traffic management devices to the distributor using a virtual local area network, and connecting the traffic management devices to a layer 2 switch.
US07697419B1
An apparatus to manage a set of switches in a computer network is described. In particular, a computer-readable medium to direct a computer network to function in a specified manner is provided. The computer-readable medium comprises instructions to configure a first switch of a set of switches as a first master switch and instructions to identify a first plurality of switches of the set of switches that are connected to the first master switch. The first plurality of switches includes a second switch and a third switch, and the second switch can be configured as a second master switch. The computer-readable medium also comprises instructions to modify an operational parameter associated with the third switch using the first master switch.
US07697415B2
A resource management system for an intelligent communications network having one or more distributed service nodes, each service node for providing services relating to an event received at a network resource associated with a service node. The system comprising a first processing tier comprising one or more local execution environments located at a node, each execution environment including a mechanism for instantiating one or more service objects capable of performing event services at a first local execution environment, and, for generating status information relating to executing service objects; and, a second processing tier associated with a service node and including a system processor for tracking status and availability of service objects and local execution environments. Upon receipt of service requests, the system processor communicates with the first processing tier for receiving the status information and initiating service object instantiation in the one or more local execution environments in the first processing tier at the node based upon the status and availability information of the requested service object.
US07697414B2
A system and method for achieving crest factor (CF) reduction for multi-carrier modulation in a wireless communication network (100), such as an ad-hoc peer-to-peer multi-hopping mobile wireless communication network (100). The system and method use the properties of the Inverse Fourier Transform (TFT) for achieving crest-factor reduction. Specifically, the system and method map original signal input frequencies to a new set of frequencies by mapping every input frequency to some other input frequency, and then using the IFT to create multiple versions of the transmitted signal and then computing the transform with the lowest CF and selecting that signal for transmission.
US07697407B2
A multilayer optical recording medium enabled to retain an ideal signal regenerating property in spite of accidental adhesion of finger mark or alien substance is provided. The multilayer optical recording medium 1 is provided with a plurality of information-recording layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 capable of reading information with a reading light irradiated through a light incidence surface 38A on one side and is so adapted that the light incidence side information-recording layer 26 approximating most closely to the light incidence surface 38A may be set at a small recording capacity as compared with the recording capacities of at least one of the other information-recording layers.
US07697405B2
An inspection apparatus for inspecting a phase modulated wobble track of an optical disk is provided. A radial push-pull signal (a wobble signal) of an optical disk is supplied to a low pass filter where a phase boundary portion of the wobble signal is smoothed, and then binarized by a binarizer and supplied to a time interval analyzer. The time interval analyzer analyzes a period of the binary wobble signal to extract two peak values T1 and T2 thereof. An operation device computes a difference value of the two periods T1 and T2 and a standard deviation of each peak, and compares each computed value to a threshold value for simultaneously evaluating CNR and a phase shift. The low pass filter and the binarizer may be incorporated into an optical disk apparatus for smoothing the phase boundary portion of the reproduced wobble signal.
US07697404B2
A medium, system, and method are disclosed for a common data storage medium depression depth. An optical data storage medium comprises a plurality of spacer layers and data surfaces. A wavelength for a radiation beam such as the emission of a laser diode is identified. The index of refraction for a first spacer layer or substrate is also identified. The substrate is configured to transmit the radiation beam. The index of refraction of a second spacer layer that is configured to transmit the radiation beam is also identified. A depression depth for a plurality of pits for ROM media, or sector headers for recordable media, or grooves for recordable media on each data surface is substantially equal to the radiation beam wavelength divided by four times the average of the indexes of refraction of each spacer layer. In one embodiment, the average is an arithmetic mean of the indexes of refraction. In an alternate embodiment, the average is a harmonic mean of the indexes of refraction. The average may also be a geometric mean of indexes of refraction.
US07697401B2
An optical head device 201 includes a light source 1, an objective lens group 13, a two-dimensional actuator 15, spherical aberration adding means 9, 10, and 16, a hologram element 17 for splitting the light beam from the optical disk 14 into a plurality of split light beams, and a photodetector 22 which includes at least one photoreceptor including a plurality of split light receiving areas and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the light amount of a split light beam entering each of the plurality of split light receiving areas or an electric signal corresponding to a combination of the light amount of split light beams entering the corresponding split light receiving areas, and the plurality of split light beams split by the hologram element 17 include one circular ray U1 and at least two annular rays U2 and U3.
US07697398B2
A piezoelectric element of a driving device is arranged on the opposite side of the light source, when an optical pickup device is divided by a plane that includes an optical axis of an objective lens and perpendicularly intersects the axis line of a light flux entering a raising mirror, that has come from the light source, whereby, it is possible to cause optical elements existing between the objective lens and the laser light source to be away from the piezoelectric element, and thereby to avoid an influence of heat even when a gap between members is reduced.
US07697391B2
An information storage apparatus uses an optical data element (nano-grating) with features that are smaller than the wavelength of light. The optical data element alters one or more properties of the light such as reflected amplitude, polarization, phase, wavelength, and spatial orientation to encode data in a massively multi-level format.
US07697387B2
An information recording medium is provided with: a recording area divided into a plurality of partial areas; and an information area for recording therein (i) management information for managing recording conditions of the plurality of partial areas at least for each of the plurality of partial areas and (ii) reliability information for indicating reliability of the management information for each of the plurality of partial areas.
US07697371B2
A circuit for calibrating a data control signal includes a time-delay compensation circuit and a voltage-control delay circuit. The time-delay compensation circuit receives two complementary signals and a direct current voltage which has two voltage cross points with the two complementary signals respectively, and outputs a control voltage according to a time difference between the two voltage cross points. The voltage-control delay circuit delays a data control signal for a predetermined time according to the control voltage, thereby eliminating signal skew between the data control signal and a data signal.
US07697364B2
Memory architecture having multiple partial wordline drivers and contacted and feed-through bitlines
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to a memory circuit architecture. In an example embodiment, which may accommodate a change to a new memory size or cell aspect ratio, while migrating between different process nodes or the same process generation, while retaining at least a portion of the periphery circuitry, a memory circuit architecture may be employed in which the memory array is divided into an upper half and a lower half, thereby splitting the cache Ways among the two halves. The wordline may be split among the two array halves, with each half driven by a half wordline driver. Also, in another embodiment, two sets of bitlines may be provided for each column, including a contacted set of bitlines and a feed-through set of bitlines.
US07697360B2
Double refresh executing means is changed in accordance with a manner (distributed refresh or burst refresh) of a refresh command so as to suppress a drop of internal power supply that occurs upon double refresh.
US07697356B2
A method of testing a semiconductor apparatus performs a function test of reading data from memory cells in SRAM by applying a potential lower than a GND potential to a backgate of an n-type MOS transistor with a drain connected with a storage node and a source connected with the GND potential. Then, the method performs a function test of reading data from memory cells by applying a potential higher than the GND potential to the backgate.
US07697355B2
To fully evaluate a real signal line and a real memory cell adjacent to a dummy signal line and utilize dummy signal line as real signal line, a semiconductor memory includes at least one real signal line connected to real memory cells driven by a real driver and at least one dummy signal line outside the real signal line connected to dummy memory cells, driven by a dummy driver. Real driver and dummy driver drive the real signal line and the dummy signal line synchronous with a common timing signal generated by an operation control circuit. Consequently, a stress evaluation is also performable, e.g., on a real signal line outside of a memory cell array under the same condition of a real signal line on the inner side. Dummy signal line is driven using common timing signal and evaluated, thus being usable as a redundancy signal line to relieve failure.
US07697348B2
A first input buffer receives sequentially inputted first data. A first data selector selectively transfers the first data from the first input buffer in accordance with a data input mode. A first data alignment circuit aligns and outputs the data from the first data selector. A second input buffer receives sequentially inputted second data in accordance with the data input mode. A second data selector selectively transfers the data of the first input buffer or of the second input buffer, in accordance with the data input mode. A first data alignment circuit aligns and outputs the data from the second data selector.
US07697338B2
A soft programming pre-charge voltage provides boosting control during soft programming operations for non-volatile memory devices. A pre-charge voltage can be applied to the word lines of a block of memory cells to enable pre-charging of the channel region of a NAND string to be inhibited from soft programming. The level of boosting in the channel region of the inhibited NAND string is governed by the pre-charge voltage and the soft programming voltage. By controlling the pre-charge voltage, more reliable and consistent channel boosting can be achieved. In one embodiment, the pre-charge voltage is increased between applications of the soft programming voltage to reduce or eliminate a rise in the channel's boosted potential. In one embodiment, the soft programming pre-charge voltage level(s) is determined during testing that is performed as part of a manufacturing process.
US07697324B2
A non-volatile memory device programs memory cells in each row in a manner that minimizes the coupling of spurious signals. A control logic unit programs the cells in a row using a set of bit state assignments chosen by evaluating data that are to be written to the cells in the row. The control logic unit performs this evaluation by determining the number of cells in the row that will be programmed to each of a plurality of bit states corresponding to the write data. The control logic unit then selects a set of bit state assignments that will cause the programming level assigned to each bit state to be inversely proportional to the number of memory cells in the row that are programmed with the bit state. The selected set of bit states is then used to program the memory cells in the row.
US07697319B2
An embodiment of a device for memorization of a memory bit is provided, comprising a bistable circuit having complementary first and second read/write terminals, wherein the device comprises an initialization input connected to said bistable circuit, said input being designed to go into a first state controlling a pre-load phase of said bistable circuit and following said preload phase, to go into a second state controlling setting up of said memory bit and its complement at said read/write terminals.
US07697310B2
The control apparatus for controlling a voltage transforming apparatus having a transformer, power switching elements disposed in a primary side, and synchronous-rectifying switching elements disposed in a secondary side includes a judging circuit making a judgment as to whether or not an output current of the voltage transforming apparatus is smaller than a specified current on the basis of a primary-side current of the transformer and an inhibition circuit inhibiting the synchronous-rectifying switching elements from performing their synchronous-rectifying control operation when the judging circuit judges that the output current is smaller than the specified current. The judging circuit makes the judgment with compensating for a variation of a relationship between the primary side-current and the output current due to variation of duty ratio of the power switching elements, and variation of at least one of the DC output voltage and the DC input voltage of the voltage transforming apparatus.
US07697309B2
The present invention provides an overpower-protection circuit and a power supply apparatus having the same. The power supply apparatus comprises a rectifier, a transformer and an overpower-protection circuit The overpower-protection circuit comprises a converter having a converter input electronically coupled to the rectifier and a converter output, a photo coupler having at least a first terminal coupled with the converter output, and having an output terminal, and a clipper electrically coupled across said terminals of the photo coupler for keeping the converter output below a predetermined voltage.
US07697302B2
A mounting apparatus is configured for fixing an expansion card. The mounting apparatus includes a support fixed to an enclosure, a fastening member, and a latching member pivotably coupled to the fastening member. One end of the fastening member is fixed to the support, and the other end of the fastening member is urged against the expansion card. The latching member includes a first elastic portion configured for pressing the fastening member, and a locking portion extending from the first elastic portion. When the first elastic portion is pressed, the first elastic portion is deformed to press the fastening member to urge against the expansion card, and the latching portion is engaged in the support.
US07697293B1
A heat dissipation device includes a first heat sink, a second heat sink juxtaposed with the first heat sink and a plurality of heat pipes thermally connecting the first heat sink and the second heat sink. The first heat sink includes a plate-like spreader used for contacting with a first electric component and a honeycomb-like first fin unit thermally attached on the spreader. The spreader is a flat heat pipe. The heat pipes each include a flat plate-shaped evaporating section sandwiched between the spreader and the first fin unit of the first heat sink and a condensing section extending in the second heat sink. Due to a provision of the honeycomb-like first fin unit, the heat dissipation area of the first heat sink greatly increases.
US07697283B2
Wall portions, such as wall portions of electronic device housing components, are provided with one or more foot assemblies. A foot assembly can be formed by creating an internal cavity in an internal surface of the wall portion, an external cavity in an external surface of the wall portion, and a hollow passageway extending through the wall portion and between the cavities. The foot assembly can be completed by inserting a foot at least partially through the external cavity and hollow passageway and into the internal cavity, such that an external portion of the foot is at least partially contained within and contacting the surfaces of the external cavity, and such that an internal portion of the foot is at least partially contained within the internal cavity. A portion of the foot may be deformable to at least partially conform to the surfaces defining the internal cavity.
US07697273B2
A liquid crystal display according to this invention includes a liquid crystal display panel, a frame assembly accommodating the liquid crystal display panel and being provided with a space adjacent to an end of the accommodated liquid crystal display panel, and a designed package covering the frame assembly. There is provided on a surface of the frame assembly with a through hole exposing the space and the end of the liquid crystal display panel adjacent to the space. Further, provided on an inner surface of the designed package is a positioning projection which passes through the through hole to be brought into contact with the end of the liquid crystal display panel within the space. As the designed package and the liquid crystal display panel can be positioned directly with each other, it is possible to realize accurate positioning of the designed package with respect to the liquid crystal display panel.
US07697271B2
A portable computer enclosure includes a main body, a cover body pivotably attached to the main body, and an outer plate detachably attached to the cover body for covering an outer surface of the cover body opposite to the main body. The cover body defines at least one opening therein, and the outer plate forms at least one latch detachably engaging in the at least one opening in the cover body.
US07697265B2
An electric double layer capacitor comprises an electrode, a current collector, an electrolyte, a separator, a concave-shaped container for accommodating them, and a sealing plate for sealing an opening part of the container, wherein the sealing plate is fitted inside the container. By having a structure fitting the sealing plate inside an opening part of the concave-shaped container, the positioning between the sealing plate and the container becomes easy, and the displacement of the sealing plate in the horizontal direction can be reduced. Thus, the decline of the yield can be prevented.
US07697264B2
It is to provide a lithium ion capacitor having a high energy density, a high output density, a large capacity and high safety.A lithium ion capacitor comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an aprotic organic solvent solution of a lithium salt as an electrolytic solution, wherein a positive electrode active material is a material capable of reversibly supporting lithium ions and anions, a negative electrode active material is a material capable of reversibly supporting lithium ions, and the potentials of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are at most 2.0 V after the positive electrode and the negative electrode are short-circuited, characterized in that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are respectively made by forming electrode layers by the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material on both sides of a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector each having pores penetrating from the front surface to the back surface, the capacitor has such a cell structure that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound or laminated, and the outermost portion of the wound or laminated electrodes is the negative electrode.
US07697257B2
Apparatuses, systems and methods for generating, dispersing and delivering chemical compounds utilizing desorption electrospray ionization. Embodiments include an airflow channel into which an airflow is directed, a solvent reservoir containing a volume of solvent, at least one charged droplet source for producing a plurality of charged liquid droplets in the channel, and at least one grounded counter electrode positioned within the channel with the electrodes having at least one surface containing one or more chemical compounds that include releasable ions. In operation, the charged droplets are directed onto the surface or surfaces so that the impact of the charged particles on said surface produces gaseous ions of at least one chemical compound on said surface, after which the gaseous ions are dispersed into the airflow.
US07697254B2
A power supply protecting circuit configured to protect an electronic device includes a normally open switch, a voltage dropping circuit, a first rectifier, and a relay having a coil and switch. A power terminal of the electronic device is connected to a power terminal of a power supply, the other power terminal of the electronic device is connected to the other power terminal of the power supply via the normally open switch. The power terminal of the electronic device is connected to the other power terminal of the electronic device via the voltage dropping circuit, the first rectifier, and the coil of the relay in turn. The switch of the relay is connected in parallel to the normally open switch.
US07697248B2
In all electrical circuits, various arcing conditions can arise, however, there are primary ones are series arcing (low current arcing), and, parallel arcing (high current arcing). An arc fault circuit interrupter (“AFCI”) that protects for both series and parallel arcing is called a combination type. An AFCI is a device that controls the effects of electrical arcing by opening a circuit through a tripping mechanism that isolates the load from the supply line upon detection of an arcing condition. In this invention, this arc fault is detected by a Hall-Effect sensor (“HES”), a HES integrated circuit, and microprocessor. When circuit fluctuation starts, the microprocessor logs this from its first occurrence then compares it to a pre-determined threshold time to determine an arcing condition. Continued fluctuation beyond this threshold time is considered an arcing condition for safety the microprocessor then executes a command to activate the tripping mechanism.
US07697244B2
A magnetic head in one embodiment includes first and second ferromagnetic shield layers, first and second nonmagnetic read-gap layers positioned between the first and second ferromagnetic shield layers, a sensor used in a current-in-plane (CIP) mode, first and second longitudinal bias layers electrically coupled with the sensor, and first and second conducting layers electrically coupled with the first and second longitudinal bias layers, respectively.
US07697240B2
The present invention relates to a magnetic head actuator and a magnetic disk device in which a magnetic head is moved to a predetermined position by actuating an arm on a revolving magnetic disk. A magnetic head actuator comprises an arm in which a suspension for supporting a magnetic head is provided, the arm being actuated to move the magnetic head. A damper material is provided on at least one side of the arm, the damper material comprising a restriction material and a viscoelastic material, the restriction material suppressing vibrations of the arm, and the viscoelastic material absorbing vibrations of the arm.
US07697239B2
A magnetic head used in a lamp load type magnetic disk device is disclosed. The magnetic head includes a head slider having a recording element and/or a reproducing element, and a suspension that supports the head slider. The suspension includes a magnetic head support unit arranged at its tip portion. The magnetic head support unit comes into contact with a lamp unit of the magnetic disk device when at least one of magnetic head loading operations and magnetic head unloading operations are performed and has a surface on which a lubricating layer is formed.
US07697238B2
In one embodiment, a disk drive has a solenoid and spring for turning a ramp mechanism about a rotating shaft. When the drive operates, since the ramp mechanism moves out from the magnetic disk by the force of the solenoid, the outer peripheral edge of a magnetic head that has formerly been unusable can be used as a data read/write region, without the magnetic head interfering with the fins of the ramp mechanism. During a non-operating state of the drive and in case of a power interruption, the force of the spring returns the ramp mechanism to a position at which the magnetic head can be unloaded. This construction allows the storage capacity of the drive to be easily increased without sacrificing the shock resistance of the ramp mechanism.
US07697237B1
An integrated lead disk drive suspension flexure including a gimbal region including gimbal spring arms having conductive spring metal traces embedded within dielectric between a pair of conductive metal shields. The traces function as the spring arms of the gimbal spring arms, wherein the gimbal spring arms are free from spring metal layers opposite the pair of conductive metal shields from the spring metal trace supports.
US07697235B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive that allows members to be mounted onto a base simply and accurately. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a base; a disk assembly including at least one magnetic disk and mounted rotatably on the base; and an actuator assembly including at least one actuator having a magnetic head and mounted swingably on the base. The base is formed with a guide. The guide functions to guide, when a member to be disposed on the base is to be mounted, the member from a corresponding initial placement position of the member on the base to a target position, at which the member is to be disposed. Further, the guide includes a positioning portion, against which the member abuts at the corresponding target position.
US07697231B2
A portable electronic apparatus includes: a non-contact type integrated circuit module; a magnetic recording device including: a magnetic recording medium; and a magnetic head that is adapted to be moved from a predetermined retract position to the magnetic recording medium for writing or reading of information; a magnetic detection unit that detects a magnetic force; and a control device that is adapted to make the magnetic head retract from the magnetic recording medium to the retract position when the magnetic head is positioned above the magnetic recording medium in response to the magnetic detection unit detecting the magnetic force.
US07697227B2
A hard disk drive includes a disk pack having at least one disk for recording and/or storing data and a spindle motor that support and rotates the disk, a base to which the disk pack is mounted, a cover that covers an upper surface of the base, and a respective filter disposed close to each of at least one of the major surfaces of the disk and extending in the radial direction of the disk including over at least an inner peripheral region of the disk. The filter has an absorbent layer capable of absorbing particles that come in contact with it. Particles on the surface of the disk, from the inner to the outer peripheral regions of the disk, are removed by the filter when the disk is rotated and the particles are flung off of the disk. Thus, particles will not damage the magnetic head(s) of the hard disk drive nor will the particles cause errors to occur in the recording and/or reproducing of data.
US07697226B2
A rewrite determining unit acquires, for every servo frame recorded on a magnetic disk, an amplification degree, i.e., a gain of an amplifier circuit by which a read signal read from the magnetic disk is amplified to a predetermined output, determines a rewrite sector count based on the amplification degree, and performs data rewriting according to the rewrite sector count.
US07697202B2
An image display apparatus includes an image generation source, optics for projecting in an enlarged form the image generated by the image generation source, and a transmissive screen for displaying the image projected from said optics. The transmissive screen includes a Fresnel lens sheet disposed at an image generation source side, and a diffusing sheet disposed at an image-watching side in order to diffuse image light at least in a horizontal direction of the screen. The Fresnel lens sheet has a plurality of entrance-side prisms formed at the image generation source side, and a plurality of exit-side prisms formed at the image-watching side, and the Fresnel lens sheet emits lights in a first direction and a second direction. The first direction is almost parallel to a central axis of the Fresnel lens sheet, and the second direction extends toward the central axis.
US07697196B2
A parametric process is provided for producing visible light at a second wavelength including pumping an optical fiber (4) with input light (1) at a first wavelength of less than one micron, which is longer than the second wavelength, and wherein the optical fiber (4) has zero group velocity dispersion at a third wavelength in the visible or near infrared region and longer than the first wavelength. An optical amplifier that uses the parametric process for producing light at second wavelength is also provided. The optical fiber (4) may be a photonic crystal fiber. The parametric process is tuneable by adjusting the frequency of the zero group velocity dispersion, the frequency of the first wavelength or the birefringence of the optical fiber (4).
US07697195B2
We disclose acousto-optic modulators that include: (a) an optical element configured to receive an input optical beam that propagates along a first direction; and (b) a transducer extending along the first direction and positioned on one or more surfaces of the optical element, the transducer having a transducer material positioned between two electrodes configured to apply a potential difference across the transducer to cause the transducer to generate an acoustic waveform propagating in a second direction in the optical element, and the input optical beam undergoing diffraction in a region of the optical element that includes the acoustic waveform. The transducer extends along a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and at least one of the transducer material and the electrodes has a maximum length L along the third direction and is shaped so that the acoustic waveform has a reduced phase variation within a central region of length L of the waveform in the third direction, relative to a phase variation within a central region of length L in the third direction of an acoustic waveform generated by a rectangular transducer.
US07697194B2
An improved moving particle display device having a plurality of pixels (12, 14; 21, 22, 23, 24) is disclosed. The pixels are formed between first (1) and second (2) substrates that are spaced apart by a plurality of partition walls (10; 20). Each pixel comprises charged particles (115) that are movable under the influence of primary electric field lines of force (16) to set the optical appearance of the pixel. The pixels further comprise blocking material (210) for physically blocking the charged particles from entering predetermined regions (200) of the pixels that are likely to have secondary electric field lines of force (18) that extend through the partition walls. Hence, the charged particles are blocked from entering regions of the pixels having secondary electric field lines of force that could attract the particles to move into any gaps (9) that exist between the partition walls and the substrates.
US07697190B2
Disclosed is an electrochromic device, which includes a first electrode formed on a first region of a first substrate, a second electrode formed on a second region of the first substrate, an electrochromic layer formed on the first electrode, an electrolyte layer formed on both of the electrochromic layer and the second electrode, and a second substrate formed on the electrolyte layer; and a display device including the electrochromic device.
US07697178B2
A recording medium records therein image data for distributing contents as element holograms with interference fringes generated by interference between an object beam representing the image data and a reference beam. The image data to be distributed which are recorded as the element holograms in the recording medium are reproduced by applying reference beams to the recording medium.
US07697167B2
Upon re-creating a conversion table, which is created for each device and viewing conditions, so as to absorb variations of the color reproduction characteristic of a device, data indicating the relationship between color signals on the color space of the device whose color reproduction characteristic has varied, and color signals on a device-independent color space must be obtained again. Hence, input data is converted into output data using conversion tables for input and output conversions, which are created for an input or output device and for each conversion setting, and a conversion adjustment table. The conversion adjustment table is modified in correspondence with variations of the color reproduction characteristic of the input or output device or color correction for the input or output device.
US07697158B2
The present invention pertains to a method for printing a digital print file using a system comprising a digital network which interconnects a plurality of service units, for example a plurality of printers, and a print file memory. The method includes submitting a print job comprising the print file via a workstation to the network, upon which the system sends information corresponding to the print job to a default service unit, and stores the print file in the memory while linking the print file to a user, selecting a service unit different from the default service unit to print the print file, the selected service unit not having information corresponding to the print job, receiving data corresponding to the user, which is entered by an operator at a user interface of the selected service unit, identifying the user by the system using the data, after which the system retrieves the print file linked to the identified user from the memory, and sends the retrieved print file to the selected service unit, and printing the print file by the selected service unit.
US07697157B2
A document retrieval device for retrieving a second document in response to first indicating data received from a sensing device. The first interactive document has a corresponding page description stored in one of a plurality of servers. The device is configured to receive the first indicating data; determine a network address of a server handling the page description corresponding to the first interactive document; send second indicating data to the network address identified using the page identity; receive response data corresponding to the second document; and provide the second document to a user.
US07697155B2
A document management apparatus and a document management system that selects the document which are best to digitize from among document being used in an office, and set the priority for digitization of each document are provided. The document management apparatus comprising: an accumulator apparatus that stores, the document ID, used place and used time for a document that is used; a computing part that analyzes information stored in accumulator apparatus, and for each document, computes the usability of the document data to be digitized; a specifying part that specifies document that correspond to document data for which the usability is relatively high by comparing it to the usability already computed for the data for each document; and output part that outputs the specified result to client.
US07697153B2
In a print system which processes a print job on the basis of a print instruction in which request items in print processes for obtaining a printed matter are described in a predetermined description format, a print management device manages print processings for the printed matter. The print management device includes a detection unit that detects a connection state of a processing device for executing a predetermined process among the request items included in the print instructions, and a selection unit that selects a print instruction of a description format corresponding to the connected processing device to output the print instruction to the processing device.
US07697146B2
An apparatus and method for processing an integrated circuit employing optical interference fringes. During processing, light is directed on the integrated circuit and based upon the detection of interference fringes, further processing may be controlled. One implementation involves charged particle beam processing of an integrated circuit as function of detection of interference fringes. A charged particle beam trench milling operation is performed in or on the substrate of an integrated circuit. Light is directed on the floor of the trench. When the floor approaches the underlying circuit structures, some light is reflected from the floor of the trench and some light penetrates the substrate and is reflected off the underlying circuit structures. Interference fringes may be formed from the constructive or destructive interference between the light reflected from the floor and the light from the circuit structures. Processing may be controlled as function of the detection of interference fringes.
US07697139B2
A surface inspection apparatus includes units illuminating repetitive patterns formed on a surface of a suspected substance and measuring a variation in an intensity of regular reflection light caused by a change in shapes of the repetitive patterns, units illuminating the repetitive patterns with linearly polarized light, setting an angle formed between a repetitive direction of the repetitive patterns and a direction of a plane of vibration of the linearly polarized light at a tilt angle, and measuring a variation in a polarized state of the regular reflection light caused by the change in the shapes of the repetitive patterns, and a unit detecting a defect of the repetitive patterns based on the variation in the intensity and the variation in the polarized state of the regular reflection light.
US07697133B2
One aspect of the invention relates to methods for analysis of phenotypic parameters or a trait in a plant comprising using a digital analyzing device, comparing phenotypic parameters or traits between plants in a population, and selecting plants with a selected parameter or trait. The invention also relates to an apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device which comprises a unique identifier.The apparatus may comprise a transporter system for moving the containers, and may comprise a workstation at which an operation, such as imaging, is performed on plants in the containers. The operation may be performed automatically, and/or at a high throughput rate. The unique identifier of each container and the information derived from each plant may be linked to this identifier via a computer, and may be stored in a digital database.
US07697131B2
A method and apparatus for automating a quality assurance test conducted on display devices used for diagnostic imaging. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an automated mechanical system for scanning a light meter over a test pattern displayed on a display device. In another embodiment, the method comprises an automated method of comparing the measured data from the light meter with an ideal image. In another embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a digital image of the test pattern displayed on the display device, and the digital image is compared with an ideal image.
US07697125B2
A LADAR has adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site. The LADAR includes a controller, a laser source governed by the controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at a pulse repetition rate, an optical scanner, a first set of optics, a first drive assembly governed by the controller, a second drive assembly governed by the controller, a light detector, a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses, and a processor coupled to the light detector to accommodate surveillance of the particular site.
US07697123B2
Apparatus for measuring the differential group delay τ1 in an optical fiber connection. The apparatus comprises at the inlet to said connection, a generator (10) for generating a binary signal sequence at a data rate D and a first polarization controller (30) suitable for subjecting the binary signal of an incoming sequence to a first scan through polarization states; and at the outlet from the connection, a second polarization controller (60) suitable for subjecting the signal resulting from the outgoing sequence to a second scan through polarization states, independently of said first polarization scan, a differential group delay emulator (70) suitable for introducing a variable additional group delay τ2, and an analyzer device (90) suitable for detecting the equality τ1+τ2=1/D in the resulting signal sequence.
US07697120B2
A scanning apparatus for use in a scanning optical system comprises a laser transmitter to produce a transmitter beam. This transmitter beam is deviated by a beam scanner, e.g. a tiltable mirror, to produce a pattern of a scanning beam. There are bearings which define first and second axes of rotation perpendicular to each other and intersecting each other in an intersecting point for allowing the beam scanner to scan. In front of the beam scanner is a window of transparent material in the shape of a spherical cap so as to define a central axis and a central point. The central axis intersects the intersecting point of the two other axes, and this common intersecting point coincides preferably with the central point of the sphere of the window.
US07697116B2
A lithographic apparatus includes a device having a blade selectively insertable into the beam. The device is in a first plane intermediate a second plane conjugate to a plane of the substrate and a third plane conjugate to a pupil plane of the projection system. The blade may include a partially opaque blade and a solid blade or have a predetermined transmissibility pattern. The transmissibility may vary in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in which the substrate and the patterning device are movable. In an illumination system including a field faceted mirror and a pupil faceted mirror, a reflecting blade is selectively insertable into the beam to reflect a portion of the beam to a beam dump that may be cooled to reduce a heat load. The reflecting element may have a coating that scatters the portion of radiation or changes the phase.
US07697087B2
An exemplary backlight module (100) includes a housing (10), a reflective sheet (30), a number of point light sources (20). The housing includes a bottom plate (12) and at least one platform support (14) extending out from the bottom plate towards an interior of the housing. The reflective sheet is supported by the platform support, and defines a number of through holes (301). The point light sources are arranged in the housing corresponding to the through holes of the reflective sheet. Each point light source includes a base portion (22) and a light emitting portion (24). The base portion is secured at the bottom plate of the housing, and the light emitting portion protrudes through a corresponding one of the through holes.
US07697083B2
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device having an Optically Compensated Bend (OCB) mode, which can restrict an initial high current while supplying a high voltage to a liquid crystal, includes: pixel circuits formed at crossing points of a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines and including an Liquid Crystal (LC) capacitor of an OCB mode formed between a pixel electrode and a common electrode; an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection circuit connected to each data line to prevent static electricity from accumulating in each pixel circuit; a DC-DC converter outputting a voltage for initial bend transition of the LC capacitor of the OCB mode; and a high voltage supplying circuit receiving a voltage of the DC-DC converter and transmitting a high voltage to the common electrode. An initial high current is prevented from flowing through the LC panel to thereby protect the LC panel and other elements from damage, and an initial bend transient time of the OCB mode liquid crystal is significantly reduced.
US07697081B2
A method for activating a state transition of a liquid crystal in a liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display has a first substrate, a second substrate and plural pixel structures, wherein the liquid crystal is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate and each of the plural pixel structures has a transistor having a first electrode and a second electrode. The method including steps of: providing a first potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode to generate a first electric field; providing a second potential difference between the first substrate and the second substrate to generate a second electric field; and transitioning the liquid crystal from a non-display alignment state to a display alignment state by the first and the second electric fields.
US07697073B2
An image processing system and method. The image processing system acquires a first set of scan lines in at first field of image data and a second set of scan lines in a second field of image data; the second set of scan lines are interlaced relative to the first set of scan lines and performs a line by line correlation therebetween to provide an error signal or value. The first and second fields are buffered and coupled to a line-to-line correlator. The error signal is used to adjust either the first or the second set of scan lines to correct for skew or blur in the second field of image data.
US07697069B2
A two-way Opencable multi-input and multi-output device used with a tuner, and the multi-input and multi-output device includes an over-the-air signal input port connected for an over-the-air signal, a cable signal input port connected for a cable signal, at least one or more splitters to split the over-the-air signal or the cable signal to plural output ports, a shield cable to connect the splitter connected to the over-the-air signal input port and the splitter connected to the cable signal input port. The two-way OpenCable system can prevent transient states upon channel changes.
US07697064B2
To provide a video signal processing apparatus capable of generating video signals that enable displaying and recording of a high-quality picture. A video signal processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a decoder decoding an input TS to generate a video signal having a field frequency fv of 60 Hz or a video signal having a field frequency fv of 59.94 Hz, and a converter converting the respective video signals into NTSC video signals having a color subcarrier the phase of which is inverted for each frame.
US07697061B2
An apparatus (200) for increasing field of view of optical system is provided. The optical system includes a lens module (20). The apparatus comprises a rotational mechanism (30) rotatably mounted in the optical system. The rotational mechanism includes a refraction means disposed on an optical axis of the lens module and configured for refracting a light signal from outside of the optical system into the lens module. The apparatus may be used in optical systems, such as camera modules, digital video cameras, image pick-up systems used in cars, infrared optical systems, projection optical systems, and real-time detector systems.
US07697058B2
The autofocus adjustment device comprises a distance-measuring sensor and a contrast system AF, and is capable of attaining further speeding up and high accuracy. The autofocus adjustment device drives a focus lens according to the measurement result of a distance-measuring sensor and then performs focus adjustment according to a contrast system according to the image signal outputted from a solid-state image pickup element, and makes variable the search range and determination area of the contrast AF according to the measured distance from the object, brightness of the object, focal length and aperture, etc. of the lens. The distance-measuring sensor measures the distance from the object periodically before a release button is depressed and speeds up the focusing when the release button is depressed. The autofocus adjustment device also detects a change of the periodically acquired distance measurement output, determines the change of the object and when it is decided that the change of the object is large, performs focus adjustment according to the contrast system, and thereby speeds up AF processing and reduces electric power consumption.
US07697056B2
An exemplary digital camera module (200) includes a lens module (20), a chip package (30) and a focusing structure (40). The lens module includes a holder (24) and a barrel slidably received in the holder. At least one lens element (222) is fixed in the barrel. The holder has several channels (246) defined therein. Each channel respectively has an enlarged end opening (2468) and receives a corresponding wire (28) therein. The focusing structure is attached to the holder. Several pads (36) are formed on the surface of the chip package. Each wire electrically connects with a given pad using a conductive adhesive (52), and, via such a connection, the chip package is able to control the focusing structure to drive movement of the barrel. The respective enlarged end openings serve to help retain the corresponding conductive adhesive proximate/adjacent a given pad.
US07697049B1
Various embodiments of the invention comprise imaging systems and methods for an interlaced scan of an image sensor array. An exemplary method is described in which an image sensor array is exposed to light for a period of time to generate voltage levels representative of array pixels. The voltage levels of a first field of the array are scanned, the first field comprising a number of row-pairs of the array. The voltage levels of a second field of the array are also scanned, the second field comprising a different set of row-pairs interlaced with the row-pairs of the first field. A set of image data from the first field and a set from the second field are generated. Various row-pairs may be averaged in generating the sets of image data. Additionally, exemplary imaging systems are described with various configurations for scanning an image sensor array in interlaced mode.
US07697047B2
An image sensor, a reading device and a method for setting a resolution are provided for setting the resolution to multiple levels without increasing signal types. The image sensor comprises plural photoelectric converting elements for converting optical signals to electric signals; a group of channel select switches, each channel select switch arranged between a charge output unit of each channel select switch and a signal line corresponding to each photoelectric converting element, wherein the group of the channel select switches can be turned on and off sequentially synchronizing with an externally supplied clock pulse signal; and resolution setting means, wherein when a resolution assignment signal, a resolution assignment timing signal and a resolution assignment period setting signal are input, the resolution setting means sets an on-off control pattern for the group of the channel select switches according to an on-off pattern of the resolution assignment signal at a plurality of timings set by the resolution assignment timing signal in a resolution assignment period set according the resolution assignment setting signal.
US07697044B2
The image processing apparatus includes an RGB-YUV converter for converting a color image into a luminance signal and a color difference signal and a YUV false color remover for removing false color based on the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals U, V. The false color remover includes an edge intensity calculator for calculating edge intensity based on the luminance signal Y, a modulation coefficient calculator for calculating a modulation coefficient so that a degree of modulation is greater as the edge intensity is higher, and a UV modulator for modulating a color difference signal having a value smaller than a prescribed threshold based on the degree of modulation.
US07697041B2
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a rear zoom lens system which includes focus preset devices 15 and 16 for controlling the storage of a given distance from a subject (camera-to-subject distance) and shift of focus to the position. Trajectory information can be stored corresponding to each of camera-to-subject distances and indicating correspondences between zoom-and-focus positions, which facilitates moving the second lens group to compensate for the movement of the first moving lens group while facilitating maintaining its focus.
US07697029B2
An image display apparatus includes a camera, a laser radar, a depression angle correction calculation device, a three-dimensional object detection device, and a viewpoint conversion device, which are installed in a vehicle. The laser radar detects changes in the condition of a road surface with respect to the camera. The depression angle correction calculation device adds a correction angle to a depression angle of the camera. The viewpoint conversion device reduces the correction angle if the change in road surface condition detected by the laser radar is due to a three-dimensional object detected by the three-dimensional object detection device.
US07697022B2
An electro-optical device includes a light source array having a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged on a substrate in a direction, a lens array having a plurality of lens elements arranged in the direction, each lens element forming an image on an image carrier using light from the light-emitting element, and a first light transmissible member and a second light transmissible member disposed between the light source array and the lens array so as to be in contact with the light source array and the lens array, in which the first light transmissible member and the second light transmissible member are arranged in continued manner in the direction, and wherein the first light transmissible member and the second light transmissible member are different in any one or more characteristics of refractive index, elastic modulus and light transmittance.
US07697017B2
A method and apparatus is described for receiving a first data stream comprising a graphic image having an aspect ratio of 16:9 into a computer system, capturing the image within a storage device of the computer system, and displaying the image on a graphical user interface of the computer system in a 16:9 aspect ratio format.
US07697014B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable code for rendering graphical markers in a manner that avoids overlap of graphical markers on a map display. The process identifies a plurality of points for display from data describing locations and associated data about locations. The process determines whether displaying graphical markers for a set of points in the plurality of points will result in graphical markers overlapping each other. If the process determines that displaying graphical markers for the set of points will result in graphical markers overlapping each other, the process displays the graphical markers for the set of points in an arrangement that avoids overlap. Each graphical marker representing a point in the set of points does not overlap with any other marker associated with the map display when displayed in the arrangement that avoids overlap.
US07697011B2
An apparatus and method of automatically digitizing analog video and stroke and with size and positioning information. This is accomplished using signal characteristics of the deflection waveforms and video signals together with the video synchronization and blanking timing. This allows analog real time positioning and scaling by synchronizing the video data and deflection information. The deflection information in the form of signals either or both horizontal or X axis and vertical or Y axis characteristics such as amplitude, peak or peak to peak, and zero crossing, can be used to determine the size or scaling for each axis independently.
US07697009B1
Circuits, methods, and apparatus provide for the storage of texture descriptors in a graphics memory. Since the texture descriptors are stored in a graphics memory, they do not need to be stored in the graphics processor itself, thus reducing graphics processor circuitry and cost. This allows more textures to be associated with each graphics primitive, thereby improving image realism.
US07697006B2
A modified display list contains a series of n nested bounding volumes. The first bounding volume in the series contains the remaining n-1 bounding volumes the series. The second bounding volume contains the remaining n-2 bounding volumes in the series, and so on. Upon invocation, the graphics display system processes the modified list sequentially and tests the bounding volumes as they are encountered. As soon as a bounding volume is encountered whose coordinates define a region that should not be rendered, further sequential processing of rendering commands in the list may be halted. If any state commands remain in the list, those commands or an equivalent set of state commands may be executed, and then processing of the list is complete. Alternatively, if push/pop state commands exist on either side of the list, then processing of the list may be halted without more.
US07696999B1
An information transfer system includes a transmitter for transferring to a receiver an information signal having main data and sub data. The sub data includes coded text lines having a plurality of character codes. The receiver is provided with a character display unit for displaying characters corresponding with the character codes in the coded text lines. The number of character display positions is less than the number of character codes in the coded text line. The receiver is further provided with display control means for controlling the display of characters corresponding to the character codes included in the coded text line in dependence on serial control codes included in the coded text line. Parts of the text in the sub data may be shown on both a full multi-line display units for displaying full text lines and a 1-line display with a relative small number of digits.
US07696993B2
An input stream of graphics primitives may be converted into to a predetermined output stream of graphics primitives by a processor in a graphics pipeline. The processor recognizes a predetermined sequence pattern in the input stream of graphics primitives to the processor. The processor determines whether the recognized sequence pattern can be converted into the one of the plurality of predetermined output streams of graphics primitives. If so, the processor identifies a number of vertices in the recognized sequence pattern and reorders the vertices into a predetermined output pattern. Thereafter, the processor outputs the predetermined output pattern corresponding to one or more graphics processing components.
US07696991B2
A method and an apparatus for analyzing a twinned crystal can display three-dimensionally the real space unit lattice, the reciprocal space primitive lattices and the reciprocal lattice points of each component of the twinned crystal. Respective crystal orientation matrices of the plural components of the twinned crystal are obtained with the use of X-ray single crystal structure analytical equipment. The first computing means finds the real-space unit lattices of the plural components based on the crystal orientation matrices and creates display data for displaying them three-dimensionally with possible their rotation, scaling up and down and translation. The second computing means finds the reciprocal-space primitive lattices and creates display data for displaying them three-dimensionally. The third computing means creates display data for displaying three-dimensionally reciprocal lattice points causing X-ray diffraction with a distinction between the components of the twinned crystal.
US07696990B2
The present invention relates to an LED driving circuit and a serial LED illumination system. The LED driving circuit compares a data signal with a voltage threshold via a comparator to output a mode selection signal. The register unit includes an instruction register and a data register. The register unit is coupled to the comparator unit and controlled by the mode selection signal to perform an instruction or data transmission mode. The instruction register stores the instruction data under the instruction mode. The data register stores the illumination display data under the data transmission mode. When the data register is full, the register unit outputs a secondary data signal. The driving unit is controlled by the instruction data and drives an LED module according to the illumination display data. The serial LED illumination system includes a controller that is connected with at least one LED driving circuit in serial.
US07696989B2
The present invention is applied, for example, to a liquid crystal display apparatus in which drive circuitry is formed integrally on an insulating substrate, wherein processing results from circuit blocks 41A, 41B on the side of a higher power supply voltage are inputted into the side of a lower power supply voltage through active elements performing on-off operation complementarily, and by the fall of the power supply voltage on this higher side, the output of these active elements is set to a predetermined level.
US07696988B2
Selectively providing LC overdrive by determining a relative noise level between a current video frame and a previous video frame and overdriving the current video frame based upon the determined relative noise level.
US07696972B2
A single clock driven shift register comprising multiple stages is provided. The (M)th stage comprises a latch unit, a logic unit, and a non-overlap buffer. The latch unit latches an input signal from the (M−1)th stage according to a clock signal. The logic unit connecting to an output terminal of the latch unit deals with an output signal of the latch unit and the clock signal with an NAND logic calculation. The non-overlap buffer connecting to the output terminal of the logic unit comprises at least three inverters connected in a serial, and an output signal of the first inverter coupled to the output terminal of the logic unit is input to an latch unit of the (M+1)th stage. Meanwhile, an output signal of the non-overlap buffer of the (M−1)th stage is input to the non-overlap buffer or the logic unit to delay the output signal of the non-overlap buffer.
US07696960B2
The level of a storage capacitor line is changed between two types, an H level and an L level. As a result of this change, the voltage applied to a liquid crystal is shifted so that a sufficient voltage is applied to the liquid crystal to perform a display operation. Then, at least one of two voltage levels of the storage capacitor line is used in common with the potential of at least one of plurality of voltage levels which are used in vertical driver which drives the said selection line. Furthermore, the values of the storage capacitance and parasitic capacitance for the storage capacitor line are set within a specific range.
US07696959B2
Scan electrode potential detected by a feedback switch is inputted into a negative-phase input terminal of an amplifier, reference selection potential from a reference-selection-potential-signal generation circuit is inputted into a positive-phase input terminal of the amplifier, and the reference-selection-potential-signal generation circuit delays reference potential of a reference voltage source, thereby scan electrode potential without overshooting components can be achieved.
US07696958B2
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus and image processing method thereof. According to the present invention, the plasma display apparatus includes a scan driving unit and a sustain driving unit which have a sustain driving circuit for allowing a peaking pulse to be included in one sustain pulse so that a plurality of discharges are generated by one sustain pulse when a sustain pulse is supplied to a PDP and predetermined electrodes of the PDP.
US07696947B2
A RFID transponder having a microchip or integrated circuit, an impedance-matching structure and a resonant structure mounted on at least one substrate and connected to each other by an electric field.
US07696941B2
The embodiments contemplate a printed circuit board of at least two layers for providing remote wireless communication between a wireless device and a unit, as well as methods of creating an omni-directional radiation pattern for transmitting/receiving information using a notch antenna formed in the printed circuit board having radio frequency circuitry. The notch antenna, with a closed and opened end, may be etched or embedded into a ground plane conductor on a first layer of the board. A transmission line positioned on the bottom surface of a second layer of the board crosses under the portion of the board containing the notch antenna. A first and second intermediate layer electrically connected between the first layer and the second layer may serve as return ground planes for the transmission line. A capacitive circuit, positioned in series with the transmission line and across the notch antenna, functions to reduce and/or eliminate inductance of the transmission line.
US07696940B1
A wireless networking adapter that incorporates a Yagi-style directional antenna preferably includes at least one driver element positioned between a reflector element and at least two director elements. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a wireless access point having Yagi-style antenna that includes a driver that is adapted to rotate between a first position, in which the driver is in phase with the reflector an at least two directors, and a second position, in which the driver out of phase with a reflector and at least two directors.
US07696939B2
A diversity antenna system may receive transmitted signals. The diversity antenna system includes multiple phase diversity antenna elements. One or more of the phase diversity antenna elements are positioned substantially parallel to an external surface of a vehicle. The phase diversity antenna elements are adapted to receive phase diversity signals.
US07696936B2
A method of determining at least one characteristic parameter of a resonant structure (4) comprising the following steps: firstly placing the resonant structure (4) at a location, said location being located in the far field of a first antenna (2) and in the far field of a second antenna (5), and secondly emitting electromagnetic waves (EEW) with different frequencies in a given frequency range by means of the first antenna (2) such that the emitted electromagnetic waves (EEW) are modified by the resonant structure (4) and modified electromagnetic waves (MEW) are achieved, and thirdly determining during a first determining step a first electric power-value being representative of the power associated with the emitted electromagnetic waves (EEW), and fourthly receiving the generated modified electromagnetic waves (MEW) by means of the second antenna (5) and fifthly determining during a second determining step a second electric power-value being representative of the power associated with the received modified electromagnetic waves (MEW), and sixthly determining the at least one characteristic parameter by using the first and second power-values determined during the first and second determining steps.
US07696934B2
An antenna device built in a radio communication device, including a substrate having a support portion and a groove, and an electrically conductive elongate antenna member having first and second end portions, and wherein the elongate antenna member is supported at the first end portion by the support portion, and at least the second end portion of the elongate antenna member extends along the groove such that at least an extreme end of the second end portion is positioned within a depth of the groove.
US07696929B2
Tunable microstrip devices formed by capacitively coupled conductive strips are disclosed. Device parameters can be tuned by adjusting corresponding lengths of a resonator and a coupling section of the device by connecting one or more auxiliary segments to the conductive strips.
US07696927B2
The present invention seeks to provide an antenna having multiple radiating bands, including a ground plane, a feed plate extending generally parallel to and being spaced from the ground plane by a first distance and having a feed connection extending between the feed plate and the ground plane, at least one radiating element extending generally parallel to and being spaced from the feed plate by a second distance and at least one galvanic connector connecting the at least one radiating element at a first location on the at least one radiating element to the ground plane at a first location on the ground plane, the first location on the ground plane being separated from the feed connection by a third distance, the first, second and third distances being selected to achieve desired impedance matching of the feed plate, and the feed plate feeding the at least one radiating element at a location corresponding to an impedance substantially greater than 50 Ohm at least one band.
US07696924B2
A radioterminal includes a wireless communications transmitter, a wireless communications receiver and a GPS receiver. A controller is configured to enable the GPS receiver when the wireless communications receiver is receiving wireless communications, and to disable the GPS receiver when the wireless communications transmitter is transmitting wireless communications. Related methods also are described.
US07696905B2
A system is disclosed that senses physical characteristics of an electronic device. The system controls the electronic device in response to the sensed physical characteristics. The system includes a control subsystem. The control subsystem includes a time trigger and an anticipation/latency reduction subsystem. The anticipation/latency reduction subsystem includes additional subsystems such as a time trigger, a position trigger and an attitude trigger. In an alternate embodiment, the anticipation/latency reduction subsystem also includes an activation interval trigger, a repetitive action trigger and a repetitive distance trigger. The various triggers can be implemented using processors that execute software. The system also includes sensing devices, such as a position sensing device and an attitude sensing device, to sense physical characteristics of the particular electronic device being controlled. The control subsystem receives signals from the sensing devices. Physical characteristic information obtained from these signals is provided to the various triggers. In response to this physical characteristic information, the various triggers process the physical characteristic information such that the system controls the electronic device.
US07696882B1
RFID reader systems, components, software and methods are provided for use premises that have RFID-tagged items. When a person comes onto an enclosure of the premises already carrying a personal tag, the incoming code of that personal tag is read. When later the person exits the enclosure, they could be transporting some of the items that have actionable codes. The actionable codes can be read, but the incoming code can be removed from them, before the actionable codes are acted upon, in Point-of-Sale or Electronic Article Surveillance systems.
US07696881B2
A series of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are delineated. An RFID system comprises an RFID signpost having a transmitter for transmitting signals of a predefined type, and a receiver for receiving signals of the predefined type, wherein the transmitter for transmitting signals of the predefined type cannot transmit until a determination is made that the predefined type of signal is not present at the receiver. Another RFID system comprises an RFID signpost including a transmitter having a continuous power dissipation rating, and a processor for controlling the transmitter such that peak pulse power of a transmission from the transmitter multiplied by its duty cycle does not exceed the continuous power dissipation rating for the transmitter.
US07696870B2
A programmable interface module includes a linear power regulator to control and provide power to interfaced components on an as needed basis. The interface module is implemented in, for example, a sensor pack and multiplexed to a plurality of sensor modules. In a first mode, the linear voltage regulator provides a relatively small amount of power which allows a sensor module to output a signal responsive to detecting an environmental condition (e.g., gamma or x-ray radiation, extreme temperatures, etc.). The interface module can switch the linear voltage regulator to a second mode in which the linear voltage regulator ramps up the amount of power provided to a detecting sensor module. The sensor module can then provide a level indicative of a concentration or intensity of the environmental condition. If the level surpasses a predetermined threshold, the sensor pack can output an alert signal to security server.
US07696862B2
An apparatus, system and method for monitoring and reporting the tethered/untethered status of a mobile asset are described. An asset tracking device comprises a sensor and circuit that detects whether a physical connection exists between a tractor portion and a trailer portion of a tractor/trailer vehicle. The physical connection is detected through the connection of an air hose coupling (or glad hand) at the trailer front wall. The sensor is continuously monitored by the sensor circuit and when a change is detected, the circuit sends a signal that turns on the power to the rest of the system. This enables the system to run in a very low power mode for extended periods of time. The sensor, which is located on the air hose (glad hand) coupling, senses the presence (or non-presence) of a tractor attached to the trailer and sends a trigger signal to turn on the power to the rest of the system, enabling the system to operate for extended periods of time on battery power. The asset tracking device and system also includes a processor, a location determining device for determining the geographic location of the mobile asset, and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving the tethered/untethered status of the mobile asset.
US07696859B2
A vehicle equipment control system locks vehicle doors by any one of auto-lock and trigger lock systems. In the auto-lock system, a wide communication area is set that covers an entire vehicle compartment is set. In the trigger lock system, a narrow communication area is set that disables the communication with a portable unit carried by a user near a vehicle. When no response signal is received from the portable unit in the respective communication areas, the respective vehicle doors are locked. Accordingly, even when any one of the auto-lock and trigger lock systems is used, the portable unit is prevented from being left in the compartment, and the respective vehicle doors can be locked.
US07696852B1
The present invention relates to transformer inductor devices and to the methods of construction for inductive components such as inductors, chokes, and transformers. Plural via holes 12 are formed through a ferromagnetic substrate 10. Primary 32 and secondary 34 conductors are placed through common vias to form a plurality of cell transformers have 1:1 turns ratio. Circuits connect these primary and secondary winding in parallel and serial combustion to provide a transformer having the desired turns ratio.
US07696848B2
A pair of disk-shaped guide members abut on opposite end surfaces in the axial direction of a conductor wire wound round into a coil shape by using a separable jig. The guide members are biased toward each other by engaging a part of the conductor wire with engaging portions formed at circumferences of the pair of guide members. Then, the jig is separated from the center of the conductor wire, thereby maintaining the coiled shape of the conductor wire to create a bobbinless coil having an exposed inner peripheral surface. In addition, the pair of disk-shaped guide members are biased toward each other by utilizing a part of the conductor wire, and therefore a special biasing member is not needed.
US07696845B2
In a dielectric filter (1) for base station communication equipment, a rectangular solid dielectric block (2) is provided with a plurality of ¼ wavelength resonators (3A1-3A4; 3B1-3B4), which are arranged along side planes (2c,2d) of the dielectric block and extend in parallel to each other and to the side planes (2c,2d). The dielectric block (2) is composed of dielectric ceramics having a relative dielectric constant of 5-20, and a size (H) in a direction orthogonally intersecting with the side planes (2c,2d) of the dielectric block (2) is 10-30 mm.
US07696827B2
A power amplifier system including a power terminal, a ground terminal, an output terminal, a ripple terminal, a control terminal to which a control signal is supplied from outside, a power amplifier circuit connected between the power terminal and the ground terminal, a negative potential detection circuit connected to the output terminal, and a bias circuit which supplies a bias voltage to the power amplifier circuit, and a bias start-up circuit controlling the startup operation of the bias circuit.
US07696822B2
An amplifying circuit and an associated linearity improving method are provided to correct the AM to PM distortion of an amplifier, thereby improving the amplifier linearity. The amplifying circuit includes an amplifier and a correcting unit. The amplifier has a non-linear input capacitor. The correcting unit generates a correction signal according to an input signal of the amplifier, and performs an AM to PM correction according to the correction signal, thereby making the amplifier have an approximately linear equivalent input capacitor.
US07696818B2
A pulse modulator generates a pulse-modulated signal by pulse-modulating and amplifying the amplitude component of an input signal. A low-pass filter filters the pulse-modulated signal from the pulse modulator, and generates an amplified amplitude signal which is obtained by amplifying the amplitude component. An error corrector generates a corrected amplitude signal by correcting an error of the amplified amplitude signal from the low-pass filter by using the amplitude component of the input signal. A mixing unit generates the output signal by mixing the corrected amplitude signal from the error corrector and the phase component of the input signal.
US07696812B2
A multiple polarity reversible charge pump circuit is disclosed which, in certain embodiments, may be configured to generate a positive voltage at times and may be reversed to generate a negative voltage at other times. Such a charge pump circuit is advantageous if both the positive and negative voltage are not simultaneously required. In certain other embodiments, a charge pump circuit generates a high output current for only a positive boosted voltage in one mode of operation, but lower current positive and negative boosted voltage outputs in another mode of operation. Use with certain erasable memory array technologies is disclosed, particularly certain resistive passive element memory cells, and more particularly in a three-dimensional memory array.
US07696811B2
A design structure. The design structure includes: a first set of FETs having a designed first Vt and a second set of FETs having a designed second Vt, the first Vt different from the second Vt; a first monitor circuit containing at least one FET of the first set of FETs and a second monitor circuit containing at least one FET of the second set of FETs; a compare circuit configured to generate a compare signal based on a performance measurement of the first monitor circuit and of the second monitor circuit; a control unit responsive to the compare signal and configured to generate a control signal regulator based on the compare signal; and an adjustable voltage regulator responsive to the control signal and configured to voltage bias wells of FETs of the second set of FETs, the value of the voltage bias applied based on the control signal.
US07696810B2
The reference current source circuit (10) is provided with a current source circuit (1), a trimming fuse (3), a switching circuit (2) which connects/disconnects the current source circuit (1) and/from the trimming fuse (3), a NAND circuit (4) which controls the operation of the switching circuit (2), and a pull-down resistor (R1) which connects one input terminal of the NAND circuit (4) to a GND terminal. The NAND circuit (4) controls the operation of the switching circuit (2) upon receipt of control signals (S1 and S2) and also in accordance with a signal of the one input terminal of the NAND circuit (4) so as to connect the current source circuit (1) to the trimming fuse (3). This arrangement makes it possible to measure characteristics of a semiconductor integrated circuit after fuse trimming. In addition, it is possible to maintain the state after fuse trimming without the supply of a signal from outside. Moreover, a reference current source circuit which does not consume extra consumption current is realized.
US07696804B2
Level shift circuits are disclosed for level shifting an input signal corresponding to a first voltage domain, to generate a pair of complementary output signals corresponding to a second, higher-voltage domain. Snap-back sensitive devices in a discharge circuit for a high voltage output node are protected, irrespective of the loading on the output node, and without requiring precise transistor sizing as a function of the output loading. The snap-back sensitive devices are protected by a voltage shifter circuit in series with the sensitive devices, to limit the voltage across the sensitive devices, even for a high capacitance output node at its highest output voltage. The voltage shifter circuit is then bypassed to provide for an output low level that fully reaches the lower power supply rail.
US07696802B2
A data delay control circuit and method that can adaptively reflect changes in an operating environment, such as an operating temperature, an operating voltage and a manufacturing process of a semiconductor chip. The data delay control circuit is designed to be able to adaptibly delay data when an expected delay of a predetermined period should be required when the semiconductor chip is designed. The data delay circuit includes a clock oscillation unit that can reflect changes in a delay period of a delay cell and automatically adjust the delay period of the delay cell. Since the data delay circuit includes a monitoring circuit and a plurality of delay paths, the data delay circuit can provide a delay path having a desired delay value. Therefore, even when the operating environment of a semiconductor device changes, the data delay circuit can control the delay period of a data signal. Consequently, the data delay circuit can automatically generate a data delay signal according to the changes in the operating environment.
US07696801B2
The present invention discloses a reset method for a digital circuit. The method includes: providing a clock signal to the digital circuit; keeping the clock signal at a logic level according to a first indicating signal; generating a reset signal for resetting the digital circuit; and recovering the clock signal to the digital circuit according to a second indicating signal.
US07696797B1
Systems and methods for design and operation of signal generator circuitry with output frequencies greater than the oscillator frequency. Accordingly, in a first method embodiment, a method of producing an output periodic electronic signal comprises accessing four signals having a quadrature phase relationship. First and second pairs of these signals having a one half cycle phase relationship are averaged to produce two signals having an improved duty cycle and a one-quarter cycle phase relationship. The first and second averaged periodic electronic signals are combined in an exclusive OR circuit to produce the output periodic electronic signal at twice the oscillator frequency. Advantageously, the periodic signal may comprise a desirable duty cycle of 50 percent.
US07696794B2
The invention relates to a drive circuit for providing a drive signal (S3) for a switch in a switching converter in a manner dependent on a control signal (S2), the drive circuit comprising at least two groups (22, 30) of circuit components, each group having at least one circuit component, and the circuit components being coupled to one another and designed to provide the drive signal (S3) from the control signal (S2). In this case, voltage is supplied to the circuit components of the first group by means of the control signal, while voltage is supplied to the circuit components of the second group (30) by means of a supply voltage at a supply terminal (K2).
US07696789B2
Disclosed is a high-frequency signal detector circuit including a diode detector circuit for detecting an input signal by diode detection; a differential-input/differential output amplifier with a common mode feedback circuit, the amplifier including a differential amplifying circuit for differentially receiving outputs of the diode detector circuit and outputting a differential output signal, and a common mode feedback circuit for controlling the differential amplifying circuit in such a manner that a voltage corresponding to a mid-point of the differential output signal from the differential amplifying circuit will take on a voltage identical with a prescribed voltage; and a differential-input/single-ended output amplifier for receiving the differential output signal of the differential amplifying circuit and outputting a single-ended output signal. The circuit further includes a binarization circuit for receiving the output signal of the differential-input/single-ended output amplifier and comparing the output signal with a threshold voltage to thereby binarize and output the signal. The threshold voltage is adjustably set.
US07696772B2
A method and apparatus are provided for using a strip socket in testing or burn-in of semiconductor devices in a strip. In one example of the method, processing of semiconductor devices involves assembling the semiconductor devices into a strip, isolating a portion of each of the semiconductor devices of the strip, and performing operations on the strip using a strip socket, wherein the strip socket is designed to make electrical contact substantially simultaneously with each semiconductor device in the strip.
US07696768B2
An integrated circuit includes a heating circuit configured to heat the integrated circuit under the control of a controller. A transfer function with adjustable pole, zero and overall gain is implemented in the controller such that a temperature response of the integrated circuit can be changed by adjusting one or more of the adjustable pole, zero and overall gain.
US07696767B2
A first conductive contact connecting a first electrode of an inspection circuit board and one external electrode of a semiconductor integrated circuit is arranged in a fixed member. A second conductive contact connecting a second electrode of a wiring board and the other external electrode of the semiconductor integrated circuit is arranged in a movable member. A third conductive contact connecting one third electrode of the inspection circuit board and the other third electrode of the wiring board is arranged in the movable member. The other third electrode is connected to the second electrode. When the movable member moves to the contacting position, the second conductive contact makes contact with the other external electrode, and the third conductive contact makes contact with the one third electrode.
US07696755B2
A magnetic resonance coil has an antenna portion for accommodating a body part to be examined, the antenna portion is formed by a number of constituent units connected in series, the positions between various constituent units are relatively movable. By moving the positions between the constituent units, a portion of the area between at least two constituent units overlaps. By increasing or reducing the number of the constituent units, or by adjusting the overlapped area between the constituent units, one pair or a number of pairs of the constituent units are made to overlap completely, so as to achieve the adjustment of the size of the antenna portion to accommodate a body part to be examined, and to make said antenna portion as close as possible to the body part to be examined, so as to obtain a signal with a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio, and to obtain a relatively high imaging quality.
US07696747B2
Any inspection object regardless of material can easily be inspected or discriminated with high accuracy and high sensitivity by being placed in a magnetic field generated by applying an alternating current to an exciting coil and detecting changes of voltage level and phase of electromotive force induced by a detection coil unit. The discrimination of the inspection object is performed on the basis of a DC voltage value with respect to a standard specimen and a phase differential voltage value with respect to a phase difference between the phase of a voltage signal from the induction coil and the phase of the exciting current to the exciting coil.
US07696745B2
Operation methods of test handler are disclosed. The pick-and-place apparatus picks up semiconductor devices from first loading compartments arrayed in a matrix on a first loading element, moves, and places onto second loading compartments arrayed in a matrix on a second loading element. Pickers of the pick-and-place apparatus pick up the semiconductor devices from the first loading compartments and place them selectively onto a plurality of adjacent odd rows or a plurality of adjacent even rows of the second loading compartments during one operation. The pick-and-place apparatus includes a relatively large number of the pickers, preferably arrayed in a matrix, and thus performs loading and unloading of semiconductor devices at a relatively high speed.
US07696744B2
A screw-less latching system for securing load boards comprises a frame and a backer plate. The frame includes a loading site for a device under test. The loading site includes a first tee clamp disposed along a first longitudinal axis and a second tee clamp disposed along a second longitudinal axis of the loading site. The loading site further includes a first spring plunger disposed along a first lateral axis of the loading site. The backer plate is configured to attach the device under test. The backer plate includes two lock tabs coupling with the first and second tee clamps. The backer plate further includes a first recess coupling with the first spring plunger.
US07696742B2
The measurement of a very low intensity of an electric current is carried out by 5 integrating the electric current over integration cycles having a time period ti and measuring a peak value of a sawtooth voltage at an integrated circuit output each time at the end of the integration cycle, whereat noise voltage components of a frequency above a cut-off frequency, which has a value of the order of magnitude (0,1×2π×ti)−1, being parts of a voltage of a noise generated in an operational amplifier comprised in the integrated circuit are filtered out of the said sawtooth voltage and noise components, which have the origin in the high-frequency voltage components of Johnson noise, which appear in the low-frequency spectral part of the sawtooth voltage as aliasing, are subtracted from a filtered sawtooth voltage. A higher absolute accuracy of the measurement is achieved by means of a reduction of the direct as well as the aliasing contribution of the Johnson noise of the operational amplifier in the measuring circuit.
US07696737B2
A power supply control circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, a power supply control circuit includes a controller to be coupled to a switch to regulate an output of a power supply in response to a feedback signal and a parameter change signal. A parameter response circuit is coupled to generate the parameter change signal in response to a difference between a first value of a parameter measured before an event and a second value of the parameter measured after the event. The difference between the first value of the parameter and the second value of the parameter is representative of the relative efficiency of the power supply.
US07696735B2
A switched capacitor converter has a supply voltage input, an output circuit with one or more load capacitors, a semiconductor switch network. The switch network is connected at a switch junction point and across the voltage input, and has one or more pairs of said first and second switches. Each pair of switches is associated with one of the load capacitors and each pair is connected in series. The converter also has a charging capacitor network connected across the semiconductor switch network and across the voltage input. The charging capacitor network has one or more charging capacitors and inductances connected between the switch junction point and the output circuit. Each of the charging capacitors and inductances is associated with one of the load capacitors. The load capacitors are each charged by the associated charging capacitor when the associated first switch is closed and the associated second switch is open. And the load capacitors are each discharged by the associated inductance when the associated first switch is closed and the associated second switch is open.
US07696730B2
A control apparatus for an AC-AC direct converter. The control apparatus includes a calculator providing a phase command θ* of an output voltage of the converter, a calculator providing a q-axis current iq by using output currents iu and iw and the phase command θ*, a detector detecting a pulsation component contained in the q-axis current iq, a calculator providing a phase correction magnitude θcmp so as to decrease the pulsation component, and an adder/subtractor correcting the phase command θ* by using the correction magnitude θcmp. This apparatus can decrease the output voltage distortion and low frequency torque pulsation and can suppress the increase of an output current without weakening a magnetic flux, even when the converter is operated in an overmodulation region.
US07696728B2
A combination of an electrically powered toothbrush incorporating an electric power supply which comprises a capacitor, and a charging unit which incorporates one or more replaceable or rechargeable battery cells, enabling recharging of the capacitor without connection to the main electricity supply.
US07696725B2
A monitoring circuit for accurately monitoring a voltage level from each of a plurality of battery cells of a battery pack includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a processor. The ADC is configured to accept an analog voltage signal from each of the plurality of battery cells and convert each analog voltage signal to a digital signal representative of an accurate voltage level of each battery cell. The processor receives such signals and provides a safety alert signal based on at least one of the signals. The ADC resolution may be adjustable. A balancing circuit provides a balancing signal if at least two of the digital signals indicate a voltage difference between two cells is greater than a battery cell balance threshold. An electronic device including such monitoring and balancing circuits is also provided. Various methods are also provided.
US07696723B2
A battery charger and a method of judging a charging condition of a secondary battery capable of judging precisely a charging condition of the secondary battery are provided. Charging conditions of the secondary battery are classified to four charging conditions depending on change of the voltage value of the secondary battery during charging operation, and one of these four charging conditions is displayed on the secondary battery by detecting the voltage value of the secondary battery at predetermined intervals.
US07696716B2
The invention provides a dual battery electrical switchable system 2 for a vehicle having an engine. The vehicle comprises a plurality of first loads 8 and a plurality of second loads 10. The vehicle is switchable between an ON state in which the engine is running, an OFF state in which the engine is not running and a START state, in which at least one of the first loads 8 requires power. The system 2 comprises a first battery 4 arranged to provide power to the first loads 8 and a second battery 6 arranged to provide power to the second loads 10. A switch 18 is provided between the first battery 4 and the second battery 6 and control means 20 is arranged to open the switch 18 only when the vehicle is in the OFF state. A connection system 12 is also provided having a plurality of output terminals 16 for connection to the plurality of primary and secondary loads 8, 10, and two input terminals 14 for connection to the first and second batteries 4, 6 respectively.
US07696711B2
A diaper pail has a body with an interior container space and an access opening into the interior container space. A diaper receptacle is also in the body and has a diaper receiving opening into the receptacle. An obstruction is provided that can be moved between a receiving orientation and a dumping orientation. In one aspect, an input device I configured to signal a part of the diaper pail to automatically operate the obstruction between the dumping orientation and the receiving orientation to receive a soiled diaper into the diaper receptacle and to dump the soiled diaper from the diaper receptacle into the interior container space. In another aspect, an activated charcoal filter is in communication with at least the interior storage space and is designed to chemically eliminate odors that emanate from the soiled diapers in the interior storage space.
US07696706B2
A fan system includes a stator magnetic pole, a driving unit and a real-time stopping unit. The driving unit is coupled with the stator magnetic pole and controls a polarity change of the stator magnetic pole in accordance with a driving signal. The real-time stopping unit is electrically connected with the driving unit. When the fan system is powered off, the driving unit enables two ends of the stator magnetic pole to have the same voltage level in accordance with a control signal generated by the real-time stopping unit so that the fan system stops operating immediately.
US07696704B2
A driving device for driving plural discharge lamps. A controller circuit converts a received signal to a first high voltage signal and a second high voltage signal. A first balancing circuit is mounted on a first connecting board and connected to one ends of the discharge lamps. A second balancing circuit is mounted on a second connecting board and connected to the other ends of the discharge lamps. A first set of high voltage lines connects the controller board and the first connecting board, and the first high voltage signal is outputted from the control circuit to the first balancing circuit via the first set of high voltage lines. A second set of high voltage lines connects the controller board and the second connecting board, and the second high voltage signal is outputted from the control circuit to the second balancing circuit via the second set of high voltage lines.
US07696703B2
An exemplary driving circuit for a light-emitting diode having a positive terminal includes a resistor having first terminal and second terminal, a field-effect transistor, and a width-pulse modulation circuit. The second terminal of the resistor is connected to the positive terminal of the light-emitting diode. The field-effect transistor includes a source electrode and a gate electrode, the source electrode being connected to the first terminal of the resistor. The pulse-width modulation circuit is configured for modulating a voltage across the resistor so as to control the grate electrode of the field-effect transistor.
US07696696B2
A cathode for use in a magnetron may include a plurality of longitudinally oriented emitter regions disposed around a longitudinal axis of the cathode. Each emitter region may be configured to emit electrons and adjacent emitter regions may be separated from one another by openings.
US07696692B2
Disclosed herein is a plasma display panel and a method of fabricating the same. The plasma display panel comprises a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate. An electrode structure disposed between the front and rear glass substrates is prepared in such a way that a non-photosensitive black dielectric layer and a non-photosensitive or photosensitive electrode layer, formed on the front glass substrate, are subjected to heat treatment. The black dielectric layer is blackened at a lower surface by the heat treatment. Current flows between an upper electrode and a transparent electrode and it is possible to assure sufficiently low visibility even though costly metal particles are not used as conductive material on the front substrate of the plasma display panel. It is possible to use various types of black pigments thanks to non-photosensitivity, thus it is possible to fabricate a low-priced plasma display panel due to a reduced material cost.
US07696687B2
An organic EL display device, and a manufacturing method thereof, including a rear substrate, and an organic EL portion formed on a surface of the rear substrate. The organic EL portion includes a first electrode, an organic layer, and a second electrode sequentially stacked, and a nano-porous layer and a highly refractive layer are interposed between the rear substrate and the first electrode.
US07696686B2
To provide an image display device including a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and an electron acceleration layer composed of an insulator or a semiconductor provided there between, and further including a thin film electron source array that emits electrons from the upper electrode, and a phosphor surface, wherein degradation of an electron emission characteristic caused by an increase of a work function due to an adhesive material to the above-described upper electrode is suppressed. An amount of S content adhering to the upper electrode is set equal to or less than 20 mol % of a total amount of elements used as the upper electrode in terms of elements by using an element belonging to Group VIII or Group Ib or a laminated film or alloy film thereof as a component of the upper electrode of the thin film electron source.
US07696685B2
When a phosphor for ultraviolet excitation or visible light excitation is excited by light having wavelengths in a range of 100 to 500 nm and emission colors of the phosphor are represented by xy coordinates, the phosphor has a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of x coordinates and a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of y coordinates which are respectively 0.020 or less. A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting part which contains at least such a phosphor. The light-emitting part emits visible light when irradiated with ultraviolet or visible light emitted from an excitation source.
US07696682B2
An organic light emitting device according to embodiment of the present invention comprises: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a light-emitting member formed on the first electrode, and comprising multi-layer structure; and a second electrode formed on the light-emitting member, wherein the second electrode comprises Mg—Ag alloy which contains Mg of 1-10 wt % and a concentration gradient of the Mg—Ag alloy is formed from the top of the emitting-light member.
US07696681B2
An organic electroluminescence device includes an array element divided into sub-pixels and including thin film transistors formed in the sub-pixels; a color conversion portion disposed below a second substrate and including a red (R), green (G) and blue (B) conversion layer for converting white light into three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B); a first electrode disposed below the color conversion portion and including a transparent conductive material; an organic EL layer disposed below the first electrode in the sub-pixels and including a plurality of stack units each including a charge generation layer, an electrode transporting layer, a hole transporting layer and an emission layer; a second electrode patterned below the organic EL layer in the sub-pixels; and a conductive spacer electrically connecting the thin film transistors with the second electrode.
US07696679B2
A spark plug has an optical window for sensing combustion processes in an Otto engine. The optical window is located in the central electrode of the spark plug and has at least one lens exposed to the combustion chamber, as well as at least one flexible optical fiber which can conduct light through the spark plug from the lens to an analysis system.
US07696678B2
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus including an external light blocking sheet which blocks and absorbs the external light injected from the outside, in particular, in which a pattern portion having a predetermined gap and width on a base portion prevents the external light from injecting into the inside of a panel inside, in addition, and permits to efficiently radiate a light emitted from the inside of the panel, thereby, the bright room contrast of PDP can be improved.
US07696672B2
An ultrasonic sensor according to the present invention is used, for example, for detecting an obstacle positioned in front of an automotive vehicle. The ultrasonic sensor includes an piezoelectric element connected to an acoustic matching member and a processing circuit, all contained in a casing. Ultrasonic waves reflected on an object are received by the acoustic matching member and converted into electrical signals in the piezoelectric element. The electrical signals are processed in the processing circuit to thereby detect a distance to the object and/or positions of the object. A surface of the acoustic matching member connected to the piezoelectric element is made larger than the piezoelectric element to form an overhang area on a conductive layer formed on the acoustic matching member. In this manner, electrical connection in the ultrasonic sensor is easily made, and detection sensitivity of the ultrasonic sensor is enhanced.
US07696671B2
An ultrasonic transducer in which lead wire connection is facilitated even when piezoelectric devices are divided in order to prevent lateral vibrations from affecting longitudinal vibrations is manufactured by a method comprising: a step in which first dicing grooves are formed on an acoustic matching layer and a piezoelectric device plate that are mounted together in order to form a plurality of piezoelectric devices; a step in which a board and the respective piezoelectric devices are connected together; a step in which surfaces in the vicinity of locations at which the board and the piezoelectric devices are connected together are coated with a conductive sheet; and a step in which the plurality of transducer elements are formed by forming second dicing grooves between the first dicing grooves formed on the piezoelectric devices and the board that is coated with the conductive sheet and on the acoustic matching layer.
US07696665B2
A brush holder for a motor. The brush holder includes a plastic support structure corresponding incorporating at least a first and a second essentially rigid conducting element connected, respectively, between positive and negative brush or brushes and associated connecting members to form corresponding connecting paths in the brush holder for connecting the brushes to the terminals of an external source of supply voltage. At least one discontinuity is provided in at least one of the connecting paths. A resiliently deformable and electrically conducting strip is connected mechanically and electrically across this discontinuity, with a substantially permanent connection at one end, and with a thermally fusible connection at the other end, the strip having a resilient pre-loading which tends to break the connection at the said other end.
US07696657B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring an electric machine system, the system having at least two machines or machine channels independently cooled by separate flows of a coolant fluid, the method including comparing coolant properties of the machines to detect a condition(s) of interest in one or more of the machines.
US07696654B2
A linear motor not requiring a yoke structure is provided. A first unit forming a stator is constructed of two permanent magnet rods. The permanent magnet rods each have a magnetically permeable shaft and a permanent magnet row having a plurality of permanent magnets so arranged that opposite polarities of their magnetic poles alternately appear. The permanent magnet row of the permanent magnet rod is arranged with a positional difference of 180° in an electrical angle from the permanent magnet row of the permanent magnet rod. The second unit that constitutes a moving member includes unit cores and winding sets arranged alternately in an axial direction of the shaft. The winding set includes two excitation windings through each of which the permanent magnet rod loosely extends. One excitation winding of the winding set is excited with a phase difference of 180° in an electrical angle from the other excitation winding.
US07696645B2
A circuit arrangement for voltage switching is used for optimized control of switching transistors, which are used for switching voltages applied to an output of the circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement of the invention enables rapid voltage switching with a simultaneously low current consumption.
US07696642B2
In a cogeneration system having a generator unit that generates DC power, an internal combustion engine for driving the generator unit, a battery that stores DC power for starting the engine, and an inverter that inverts the DC power generated by the generator unit to AC power, there are provided a solar unit that generates DC power by converting radiant energy of sunlight into electrical energy and a DC/DC converter that boosts the DC power stored in the battery, such that one of the battery and the solar unit is connected to the inverter through the DC/DC converter, thereby enabling them to share the DC/DC converter and thus to make the structure simple.
US07696637B2
An input circuit for a tractor includes one or more switches having open and closed positions, based on operating characteristics of the tractor, and a power transistor drawing a threshold current through the switches during short intervals during which the switch states are sensed by a microcontroller.
US07696628B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a substrate for connecting circuit boards comprises: a substrate member having a first surface and a second surface facing each other and a first end and a second end facing each other; a first signal line formed on the first surface of the first end; a second signal line formed on the second surface of the second end; a third signal line connecting the first signal line with the second signal line; a first ground plane arranged on the first surface and surrounding the first signal line; and a portion of the second signal line formed over the first ground, the portion comprising narrower than an other portion of the second signal line.
US07696615B2
A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor chip included in the semiconductor device includes a pillar-shaped terminal and a pad-shaped terminal in a terminal region. The pillar-shaped terminal is exposed at a first surface of a chip substrate in the terminal region and the pad-shaped terminal is exposed at a second surface of the chip substrate in the terminal region, where the first surface and the second surface of the chip substrate in the terminal region face oppositely from each other.
US07696605B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor component comprising a buried temporarily n-doped area (9), which is effective only in the event of turn-off from the conducting to the blocking state of the semiconductor component and prevents chopping of the tail current in order thus to improve the turn-off softness. Said temporarily effective area is created by implantation of K centers (10).
US07696602B2
An integrated circuit device is provided including an integrated circuit substrate having a fuse region. A window layer is provided on the integrated circuit substrate that defines a fuse region. The window layer is positioned at an upper portion of the integrated circuit device and recessed beneath a surface of the integrated circuit device. A buffer pattern is provided between the integrated circuit substrate and the window layer and a fuse pattern is provided between the buffer pattern and the window layer. Methods of forming integrated circuit devices are also described.
US07696600B2
A semiconductor device in the form of an IGBT has a front side contact, a rear side contact, and a semiconductor volume disposed between the front side contact and the rear side contact. The semiconductor volume includes a field stop layer for spatially delimiting an electric field that can be formed in the semiconductor volume. The semiconductor volume further includes a plurality of semiconductor zones, the plurality of semiconductor zones spaced apart from each other and each inversely doped with respect to adjacent areas. The plurality of semiconductor zones are located within the field stop layer.
US07696594B2
Methods and arrangements to attach a QFN to a PCB, systems which include a QFN attached to a PCB, and apparatuses for controlling the deposit of solder upon a PCB are disclosed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to calculate a total area for the QFN IO pads. Embodiments may then determine a total area for the regions of solder applied to the PCB thermal pad to which the QFN thermal pad may be connected in dependence upon the calculated total area for the QFN IO pads. In some embodiments, the total area of the solder regions applied to the PCB thermal pad is approximately equal to the calculated total area for the QFN IO pads. In many embodiments, the number of regions of solder and the shape of the regions of solder is determined.
US07696591B2
The invention relates to an overvoltage protection apparatus having a semiconductor substrate, a first doping region in order to provide a protection diode, and a second doping region in order to provide a protection resistance, with the second doping region being immediately adjacent to the first doping region.
US07696590B2
A housing accommodating a semiconductor chip is set out. The housing and chip may be used for sending and/or receiving radiation. Popular applications of the housing may be in light emitting diodes. The housing includes a conductor strip that is punched into two electrically isolated portions. The housing further includes a cavity extending inwards from the top of the housing. The conductor portions include respective areas that are exposed at the bottom of the cavity. The semiconductor chip is bonded to one of the exposed areas and a wire bonds the chip to the second exposed area. The conductor portions also terminate in exposed electrodes, which allow for electrical connection of the chip with external devices. A window is formed in the cavity and the walls of the housing that form the cavity may be made of a reflective material. The electrodes remain unexposed to the window but for any residual areas about the chip and bonding wire within the first and second exposed areas. By minimizing the area of the conductor exposed to the window, delamination brought about by the different thermal expansions of the window and conductor are minimized and/or eliminated. Likewise, with a reflective housing covering the base of the cavity that accommodates the window, internal radiation reflection is increased over that which was achieved with an exposed conductor.
US07696585B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate; a first gate dielectric layer provided on the semiconductor substrate, the relative dielectric constant ratio of the first gate dielectric layer being no less than 8; a second gate dielectric layer provided on the semiconductor substrate, the relative dielectric constant ratio of the second gate dielectric layer being no less than 8; a first gate electrode provided on the first gate dielectric layer and made of germanide which is a metallic compound containing a metal element of a rare earth metal; and a second gate electrode provided on the second gate dielectric layer and made of silicide which is a metallic compound containing the same metal element of a rare earth metal as the germanide in the first gate electrode.
US07696573B2
A semiconductor structure includes an epitaxial surface semiconductor layer having a first dopant polarity and a first crystallographic orientation, and a laterally adjacent semiconductor-on-insulator surface semiconductor layer having a different second dopant polarity and different second crystallographic orientation. The epitaxial surface semiconductor layer has a first edge that has a defect and an adjoining second edge absent a defect. Located within the epitaxial surface semiconductor layer is a first device having a first gate perpendicular to the first edge and a second device having a second gate perpendicular to the second edge. The first device may include a performance sensitive logic device and the second device may include a yield sensitive memory device. An additional semiconductor structure includes a further laterally adjacent second semiconductor-on-insulator surface semiconductor layer having the first polarity and the second crystallographic orientation, and absent edge defects, to accommodate yield sensitive devices.
US07696559B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate, on which an impurity diffusion layer is formed in a cell array area; a gate wiring stack body formed on the cell array area, in which multiple gate wirings are stacked and separated from each other with insulating films; a gate insulating film formed on the side surface of the gate wiring stack body, in which an insulating charge storage layer is contained, pillar-shaped semiconductor layers arranged along the gate wiring stack body, one side surfaces of which are opposed to the gate wiring stack body via the gate insulating film, each pillar-shaped semiconductor layer having the same conductivity type as the impurity diffusion layer; and data lines formed to be in contact with the upper surfaces of the pillar-shaped semiconductor layers and intersect the gate wirings.
US07696558B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a substrate; a semiconductor layer of a first conductive type isolated from the substrate by an insulator layer; a memory transistor having a gate electrode, a drain and a source regions of a second conductive type formed in the semiconductor layer, and a channel body of the first conductive type formed in the semiconductor layer between the regions, the memory transistor operative to store data as a state of majority carriers accumulated in the channel body; an impurity-diffused region of the first conductive type formed at a location in contact with the upper surface of the drain region, the impurity-diffused region having a higher impurity concentration of the first conductive type than an impurity concentration of the second conductive type in the drain region; and a write transistor including a bipolar transistor having the impurity-diffused region as an emitter region, the drain region as a base region and the channel body as a collector region, the write transistor operative to write data in the memory transistor.
US07696557B2
Floating-gate field-effect transistors or memory cells formed in isolated wells are useful in the fabrication of non-volatile memory arrays and devices. A column of such floating-gate memory cells are associated with a well containing the source/drain regions for each memory cell in the column. These wells are isolated from source/drain regions of other columns of the array. Fowler-Nordheim tunneling can be used to program and erase such floating-gate memory cells either on an individual basis or on a bulk or block basis.
US07696556B2
High-voltage MOS transistors with a floated drain-side auxiliary gate are provided. The high-voltage MOS transistors include a source region and a drain region provided in a semiconductor substrate. A main gate electrode is disposed over the semiconductor substrate between the drain region and the source region. A lower drain-side auxiliary gate and an upper drain-side auxiliary gate are sequentially stacked over the semiconductor substrate between the main gate electrode and the drain region. The lower drain-side auxiliary gate is electrically insulated from the semiconductor substrate, the main gate electrode and the upper drain-side auxiliary gate. Methods of fabricating the high-voltage MOS transistors are also provided.
US07696555B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first insulating layer with a flat surface formed over a semiconductor substrate structure in which a plurality of semiconductor elements are formed; column-like conductive plugs formed to penetrate the first insulating layer in the thickness direction; elongated wall-like conductive plugs formed through the first insulating layer in the thickness direction; a second insulating layer with a flat surface formed on the first insulating layer covering the column-like conductive plugs and the wall-like conductive plugs; and first wirings having dual damascene structures. Each of the first wirings has a first portion penetrating the second insulating layer in the thickness direction and connected to at least one of the columnar conductive plugs, and a second portion formed in the second insulating layer to an intermediate depth and apparently intersects at least one of the wall-like conductive plugs when viewed above.
US07696549B2
A functional perovskite cell formed on a silicon substrate layer and including a functional layer of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3 or BFO) sandwiched between two electrode layers. An optional intermediate template layer, for example, of strontium titanate allows the bismuth ferrite layer to be crystallographically aligned with the silicon substrate layer. Other barrier layers of platinum or an intermetallic alloy produce a polycrystalline BFO layer. The cell may be configured as a non-volatile memory cell or a MEMS structure respectively depending upon the ferroelectric and piezoelectric character of BFO. Lanthanum substitution in the BFO increases ferroelectric performance. The films may be grown by MOCVD using a heated vaporizer.
US07696546B2
A silicide layer (first silicide layer, second silicide layer) is laminated on top laminate surfaces of gates of a transmission transistor and a reset transistor, respectively. Each of the first silicide layer and the second silicide layer respectively formed on each of the gates extends in a direction along the main surface of the semiconductor substrate among at least a portion of a plurality of image pixels, connecting gates with one another among the respective image pixels. On the other hand, a signal outputter is not in contact with any silicide layers, has the top laminate surface that is covered with an insulating layer, and is connected with other transistors via a metal wiring layer.
US07696545B2
An imaging device having pixels that store charge from a photosensor under at least one storage gate during a sampling period. A driver used to operate the at least one storage gate, estimates how much charge in the pixel exceeds a predetermined limit during a non-destructive pixel sensing operation. A specific voltage is stored on the pixel's floating diffusion region to flag how many times the pixel exceeded the limit. The final pixel signal and the stored information is readout at the end of integration period to create a sum that represents the pixel's final signal value.
US07696539B2
A method of fabrication and a field effect device structure are presented that reduce source/drain capacitance and allow for device body contact. A Si based material pedestal is produced, the top surface and the sidewalls of which are oriented in a way to be substantially parallel with selected crystallographic planes of the pedestal and of a supporting member. The pedestal is wet etched with an anisotropic solution containing ammonium hydroxide. The sidewalls of the pedestal become faceted forming a segment in the pedestal with a reduced cross section. The dopant concentration in the reduced cross section segment is chosen to be sufficiently high for it to provide for electrical continuity through the pedestal.
US07696538B2
Liquid detection sensors are attached to both sides of a robotic arm end effector of a semiconductor wafer process system. The sensor mechanism or probe is situated on the front side and backside of the end effector, designed with electrical lines that are traced onto a polyester base material. The electrical lines are positioned in a serpentine formation. The high conductance of the sulfuric acid in the copper sulfate solution acts as the conductor between the traced lines. When the conductive liquid comes in contact with the traced lines, the lines short and the sensor activates or turns on.
US07696516B2
An active matrix substrate includes base substrate, gate lines, data lines, thin-film transistors and pixel electrodes. The gate lines are formed on the base substrate. The data lines are formed over the gate lines. Each of the data lines crosses all of the gate lines with an insulating film interposed therebetween. The thin-film transistors are formed over the base substrate. Each of the thin-film transistors is associated with one of the gate lines and operates responsive to a signal on the associated gate line. Each of the pixel electrodes is associated with one of the data lines and one of the thin-film transistors and is electrically connectable to the associated data line by way of the associated thin-film transistor. Each of the pixel electrodes and the associated thin-film transistor are connected together by way of a conductive member. Each of the pixel electrodes crosses one of the gate lines, while the conductive member for the pixel electrode crosses another one of the gate lines that is adjacent to the former gate line.
US07696490B2
A device for the UV treatment of fluids flowing in a flow channel, including a plurality of cylindrical low-pressure mercury UV emitters arranged in groups in the flow channel. The longitudinal axes of the UV emitters are disposed substantially parallel to one another such that the emitters of a given group are disposed in a plane. At least one elongated sensor arrangement monitors the operating state of the emitters, and is spaced from and parallel to one of the groups of the emitters. The sensor arrangement extends essentially transverse to the longitudinal axes of the emitters of the adjacent group, and is provided with a separate UV sensor for each emitter. At least one unit connected with the sensor arrangement controls and/or regulates the emitters.
US07696473B2
Method and system of optical manipulation of micrometer-sized objects, which comprises the steps of placing a pattern (2) of a certain material on a surface (1), wherein said material is capable of sustaining surface plasmons; placing a solution (4) comprising micrometer-sized objects in contact with said surface (1) and said pattern (2); applying at least one optical beam (5) at a certain wavelength and with a certain incident angle (Φ) to said surface (1) for certain time interval, thereby creating surface plasmons forces at said surface (1), in such a way that said micrometer-sized objects are trapped by the pattern (2) in a stable and selective way. Optical trap and use thereof as a tool for optically driven lab-on-a-chip.
US07696470B2
The an optical communication module associated with the present invention comprises a semiconductor substrate, a light emitting element mounted on said semiconductor substrate to output light for transmission (transmitted light), a light receiving element mounted with an adhesive resin on said semiconductor substrate to convert light received (received light) to an electric signal and a wavelength filter to branch out the received light guided to said light receiving element and the transmitted light output from said light emitting element. A groove for an optical path, through which the received light passes to be guided to said light receiving element and a first protective groove formed around said groove for an optical path to block said adhesive resin from intruding into said groove for an optical path are formed on said semiconductor substrate.
US07696464B2
An imager in which a column line bias current control signal is pulsed at some time during and/or after the pulsing of the reset control and the transfer control signals to increase a bias current in a pixel column line during reset and transfer operations. The bias current is then decreased by removing the pulse before the sampling and storing of reset and image signals. Pulsing the bias control voltage signal and thus, the bias current, decreases the settling time of the column line, while maintaining the required low current during sampling and storage of the reset and image signals.
US07696457B2
A magnetic separator has a funnel-shaped inlet opening that is adapted to admit and align any misaligned workpieces moving into the separator. A view port for enables viewing of the pole pieces from a location other than the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The view port is preferably formed in a lower guide plate. The separator has a jack screw adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the upper guide plate relative to the lower guide plate. An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the upper pole piece relative to the upper guide plate includes an adjustment screw that is accessible from the top of the separator The upper guide plate is easily removable from the separator by removing only one fastener per side.
US07696450B2
A cutter including a base, a holder, a cutter blade portion, and a laser generator. The holder is supported on the base portion in an upright posture. The cutter blade portion supports a moving blade. The cutter blade portion is supported on the holder movable between an upper position and a lower position. The cutter blade portion is moved into the lower position to cut a workpiece supported on the base using the moving blade. The laser generator is attached to the holder or the cutter blade portion in an orientation to direct at least a portion of the laser light onto a position on the workpiece that is directly beneath the cutter blade portion when the cutter blade portion is in the upper position. Alternatively, a holder has a shaft support portion, and a slide shaft is axially slidably supported by the shaft support portion. A front end of the slide shaft has a hinge holder which pivotally supports the cutting blade portion. A laser generator is fixed to a front side of the hinge holder.
US07696442B2
A wiring board comprising: a core board including a core body and a ceramic sub-core which is accommodated in a sub-core accommodation space that is a through-hole that communicates with major surfaces of the core body or a recess having an opening in a first major surface of the core body; and wiring laminates each formed by resin insulating layers and conductor layers laminated on each of major surfaces of the core board, wherein: a groove-filling portion which fills a gap between the core body and the ceramic sub-core is integral with a lowest resin insulating layer of the first-major-surface-side wiring laminate; and via conductors that are connected to respective conductor patterns formed on a first major surface of the ceramic sub-core penetrate through the lowest resin insulating layer.
US07696427B2
A method for recommending music that includes identifying a granularity of a plurality of genres based on a request for music similarity, wherein the request identifies a user, training a genre classifier based on the granularity to obtain a trained genre classifier, calculating a first profile by the trained genre classifier, wherein the first profile that includes, for each of the plurality of genres, the likelihood that a music selection associated with a user is in the genre, calculating a second profile by the trained genre classifier, wherein the second profile that includes, for each of the plurality of genres, the likelihood that an unknown music selection is in the genre, obtaining a first similarity score between the first profile and a second profile, and recommending the unknown music selection to the user based on the first similarity score.
US07696419B2
A collapsible stringed instrument having a body with a soundboard, a back face, a neck, and a spacer. The perimeter of the soundboard is connected to the perimeter of the back face by the spacer. The volume between the spacer, the soundboard, and the back face define a sound chamber. The neck is pivotally and laterally coupled to the body which has a door in the back face. The neck is able to pivot and slide through the door and into the sound chamber.
US07696416B2
The present invention relates to new, distinct and stable Capsicum annuum plants that have an ornamental phenotype and produce fruit that is non-pungent.
US07696408B2
The invention provides a method to enhance Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plant cells, parts and tissues, thereby enhancing the production of transgenic plants.
US07696396B2
Carotenoids are extracted and/or enriched from a mixture containing such compounds. The extraction/enrichment process involves the use of liquefied or supercritical solvents to extract lipids and carotenoids from carotenoid-containing substrates. The extraction process can also be performed in two steps in which lipids and carotenoids are first removed from a carotenoid-containing substrate with a liquefied or supercritical solvent, and subsequently a liquefied or supercritical gas is used to separate the lipids from the carotenoids. The two step process can be reversed to first extract lipids with the liquefied or supercritical gas, and subsequently use the solvent to extract the carotenoids. The process is also applicable to yield an organic solvent-free product from a carotenoid-containing source that was first extracted using an organic solvent.
US07696393B2
A method for inhibiting formation of hydrocarbon hydrates in mixtures of water and a hydrate-forming guest molecule has been discovered that involves adding a composition to the mixtures in an amount that is effective in inhibiting formation of the hydrocarbon hydrates under conditions otherwise effective to form the hydrocarbon hydrates in the absence of the reaction product. The composition includes at least one dendrimeric compound having a number average molecular weight of at least 1,000 atomic mass units (amu); and at least one small molecular weight species having less than 1,000 amu, selected from the group consisting of polyalkyleneimine, polyallylamine, starch, sugars, and polymers or copolymers of vinyl alcohol or allyl alcohol; and, optionally, at least one surfactant.
US07696390B2
A process is disclosed for the synthesis of methanol from methane comprising three reaction steps operated in tandem. In the first step methylene chloride is produced by the reaction of methane with oxygen and hydrogen chloride. In the second step, methylene chloride is hydrolyzed to formaldehyde, which is hydrogenated in the third step to provide the product methanol.
US07696387B2
The present invention relates to a novel method for preparing a catalyst for partial oxidation of methylbenzenes, comprising, (a) a step of preparing a solution or slurry of the compounds comprising tungsten; (b) a step of supporting the solution or slurry obtained in the step (a) on inorganic carrier; (c) a step of drying the catalyst obtained in the step (b); and (d) a step of calcining the dried catalyst obtained in the step (c), characterized in that the ratio of the pore volume of inorganic carrier and the volume of the solution or slurry in the step (b) is 1:0.9˜1.1, and the catalyst provides superior aromatic aldehydes selectivity to those prepared by the conventional impregnation or heat evaporation method over a wide range of conversion rate.
US07696384B2
Processes comprising: providing a starting material comprising monoethanolamine; and reacting the starting material with ammonia in the presence of a heterogeneous transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product comprising one or more ethylene amines; wherein the catalyst comprises a catalytically active composition, which prior to treatment with hydrogen, comprises a mixture of oxygen-containing compounds of aluminum, copper, nickel and cobalt; and wherein the catalyst is present as one or more shaped catalyst particles selected from spheres, extrudates, pellets and other geometries, wherein the sphere or extrudate has a diameter of <3 mm, the pellet has a height of <3 mm, and the other geometries have an equivalent diameter L=1/a′ of <0.70 mm, where a′ is the external surface area per unit volume (mms2/mmp3), as defined by a ′ = A p V p where Ap is the external surface area of the catalyst particle (mms2) and Vp is the volume of the catalyst particle (mmp3).
US07696383B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a compound of formula (1), or a tautomer, stereoisomer, hydrate, or solvate thereof, wherein R1 is H or CH3. Other embodiments of the invention relate to a pharmaceutical composition containing these compound, to methods for preparing these compounds, and to methods for preparing compositions containing these compounds. Yet other embodiments of the invention relate to the uses of these compounds and compositions containing it, such as for the manufacture of medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions for treating a condition chosen from depression, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, general depressive disorders, diabetic neuropathy, migraine and hot flashes.
US07696382B2
The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Z is OR1 or NR1R2 wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently H, or a hydrocarbyl group; X is an alkylene, alkenylene, or alkynylene group, each of which may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from alkyl, COOH, CO2-alkyl, alkenyl, CN, NH2, hydroxy, halo, alkoxy, CF3 and nitro; Y is a polar functional group selected from OH, NO2, CN, COR3, COOR3, NR3R4, CONR3R4, SO3H, SO2—R3, SO2NR3R4 and CF3, where each of R3 and R4 is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group; A is an aryl or heteroaryl group, each of which may be optionally substituted; and B is (CH2)n where n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; with the proviso that: (i) when A is phenyl, n is 0, and Z is OH, X—Y is other than meta-C≡—C—(CH2)2CO2H, meta-C≡—C—(CH2)2OH, meta-C≡C—(CH2)2CO2Me, meta-(CH2)4CO2H, ortho-CH2CO2H, ortho-(CH2)2CO2H and ortho-(CH2)4CO2H; and (ii) when A is phenyl, n is 0, and Z is OMe, X—Y is other than meta-C≡C—(CH2)4OH. Further aspects of the invention relate to the use of such compounds in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a muscular disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, or for controlling spasticity or tremors.
US07696380B2
Disclosed are a mixture of at least two amide-based compounds represented by General Formula (1): wherein a represents an integer of 2 to 6, R1 represents a C2-30 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic polycarboxylic acid residue, and the aliphatic polycarboxylic acid has a valency of 2 to 6, and two to six R2 groups are the same or different, and each represent a trans-2-alkylcyclohexylamine residue or a cis-2-alkylcyclohexylamine residue, the mixture having a content of a trans-2-alkylcyclohexylamine residue of at least 70 mole % but less than 100 mole % of the total 2-alkylcyclohexylamine residues in the mixture, or an all-trans amide-based compound wherein all of the 2 to 6 R2 groups represent a trans-2-alkylcyclohexylamine residue; a polyolefin resin nucleating agent comprising the mixture or the all-trans amide-based compound; a polyolefin resin composition containing the amide-based compound or the mixture; a molded article obtainable by molding the composition.
US07696376B2
A method for the manufacture of an ester by transesterification allows the transesterification reaction to proceed within a short reaction time and under a pressure of the order of normal pressure. It was found that transesterification proceeds when a starting material ester and an alcohol are brought into contact with a catalyst comprising (A) an amorphous zirconium oxide and (B) an oxide of a Group II element, an oxide of a Group V element, and/or an oxide of a Group IV element other than zirconium and hafnium. In this method, it is preferred that the starting material ester in a liquid-phase state and the alcohol in a vapor-phase state be brought into contact with a solid acid catalyst comprising the above components (A) and (B), the starting material ester be an oil or fat, and the alcohol be methanol or ethanol. An oxide of titanium, silicon, germanium, or tin is the preferred oxide of the Group IV element other than zirconium and hafnium.
US07696374B2
The invention relates to a compound having general formula (I): Wherein n, A, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein. The invention also relates to methods of preparation of compound of formula (I) as well as its use in therapeutics.
US07696371B2
A method for preparing an aliphatic chloroformate comprising, introducing a mixture of at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound, phosgene, at least one solvent, and optionally at least one organic base into a flow reactor to obtain a unidirectional flowing reaction mixture. The at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound comprises at least one aliphatic hydroxyl group. The unidirectional flowing reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 60° C. to produce a single product stream comprising an aliphatic chloroformate.
US07696368B2
A method to achieve a controlled start-up temperature of an expoxidation process which exceeds the maximum achievable temperature of the epoxidation reactor relative to using an external heat source. The method of the present invention employs an oxidation reaction within the reactor to bring the temperature of the reactor to a temperature that is suitable for conditioning a high selectivity catalyst. The method of the present invention includes first bringing a reactor including a high selectivity catalyst to a first temperature using the external heat source to the reactor, while staying within the reactor design limitations and maintaining a gas flow to the reactor that is within 25 to 100% of the design rates. Once the reactor has achieved the first temperature, at least an olefin, e.g., ethylene, and then oxygen are introduced to the reactor feed gas. The olefin and oxygen concentrations are adjusted to have a heat of reaction that will allow raising the reactor gas flow to 100% of design and then have sufficient heat of reaction to raise the reactor temperature to a second temperature which is greater than the first temperature and greater than the temperature of the reactor achievable by the external heat source.
US07696360B2
The invention relates to a method for the separation of ascorbic acid from a mixture containing ascorbic acid and 2-keto-L-gulonic acid in a polar, preferably aqueous solvent, by means of liquid/liquid extraction using an amide. The method preferably also comprises steps for the back-extraction of the ascorbic acid, recycling of the extraction solvent and/or the back extraction solvent and for isolation of the ascorbic acid from the back extraction solvent. The invention further relates to a method for the production of ascorbic acid from KGA and isolation of the ascorbic acid so produced.
US07696359B2
Objects of the present invention are to provide a compound which is useful as a surface modifier for producing a drug carrier or the like, or a salt thereof; a fine particle comprising the same; and the like. The present invention provides a compound in which a substance to be modified, which is selected from the group consisting of an amphiphilic substance and a hydrophobic substance, is modified with a glycerol derivative represented by the following formula (1): wherein R represents a residue comprising a reactive group for the substance to be modified, which is selected from the group consisting of an amphiphilic substance and a hydrophobic substance or for a spacer capable of binding the substance to be modified, which is selected from the group consisting of an amphiphilic substance and a hydrophobic substance, to R-X, or a group capable of being transformed into the reactive group; n represents an integer of 3 or more; and X represents a residue capable of having the following structure by n in number: directly or via the spacer, or a salt thereof; a fine particle comprising the same; and the like.
US07696358B2
The present invention describes methods of treating bacterial infections with 7-pyrrolyl tetracycline compounds of formula (I):
US07696341B2
The invention provides DNA compositions that relate to transgenic insect resistant maize plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize DAS-59122-7 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided.
US07696330B2
The present invention provides binding molecules that specifically bind to SARS-CoV, nucleic acid molecules encoding the binding molecules, compositions comprising the binding molecules and methods of identifying or producing the binding molecules. The binding molecules are capable of specifically binding to SARS-CoV and can be used in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of a condition resulting from SARS-CoV.
US07696324B2
Humanized antibodies that bind ICAM-1 are provided. Antibodies include those selected from: SEQ ID NO:1 and 3 (HumA); SEQ ID NO:5 and 7 (HumB); SEQ ID NO:9 and 11 (HumC); SEQ ID NO:13 and 15 (HumD); SEQ ID NO:17 and 19 (HumE); SEQ ID NO:21 and 23 (HumF); SEQ ID NO:25 and 27 (HumG); SEQ ID NO:29 and 31 (HumH); and SEQ ID NO:33 and 35 (HumI). Subsequences of the humanized antibodies capable of binding an ICAM-1 epitope are also provided. Methods of inhibiting pathogen infection (e.g., HRV) of a cell employing humanized antibodies capable of binding an ICAM-1 epitope are further provided.
US07696309B2
The present invention is directed stromal cell derived factor-1 peptides that have been mutated to make them resistant to digestion by the proteases dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) but which maintain the ability of native SDF-1 to attract T cells. The mutants may be attached to membranes formed by self-assembling peptides and then implanted at sites of tissue damage to help promote repair.
US07696308B2
The invention relates to a recombinant protein fabricated in a baculovirus system, of which the essential constitutive polypeptide sequence is that of a C-terminal fragment of 19 kilodalton (p19) of the surface protein 1 (protein MSP-1) of the merozoite parasite of the Plasmodium type, particularly Plasmodium falciparum, which is infectious for humans, said C-terminal fragment remaining normally anchored at the surface of the parasite at the end of its penetration phase into human erythrocytes, in the occurrence of an infectious cycle. Said recombinant protein is applicable to the production of vaccines against malaria.
US07696302B2
The invention under consideration concerns novel high-molecular-weight polyazoles, which are suitable for the production of fibers, films, membranes, and molded articles, on the basis of their high molecular weight, expressed as intrinsic viscosity, of at least 1.3 dl/g. Moreover, the invention under consideration describes a method for the production of high-molecular-weight polyazoles.
US07696299B2
The invention relates to modified Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN) polymers with fast crystallizing properties, which helps in crystallization of amorphous PEN resin prior to its solid state polymerization (SSP).
US07696296B2
Provided is a composition including a reaction product of: (A) a reactive compound that includes a material having functional groups that are reactive with active hydrogens; (B) a thioether-functional, oligomeric polythiol prepared by reacting together: (1) a compound having at least two thiol functional groups; (2) a compound having triple bond functionality; and optionally (3) a compound having at least two double bonds; and, optionally, (C) a compound different from (B) containing active hydrogens. Coating compositions, articles of manufacture and related processes also are provided.
US07696291B2
A material having properties required for a chromatic aberration-free lens and excellent in moldability and impact resistance, which material is an amorphous fluoropolymer containing a carbon atom chain as a main chain and containing a fluorinated atom-bonded carbon atom as a carbon atom of the main chain, wherein vd>75, θgF>0.50, and ΔθgF>0.03, where vd represents an Abbe number, θgF represents a relative partial dispersion of a g-F line, and ΔθgF represents a deviation from a standard line of the relative partial dispersion of the g-F line.
US07696288B2
The present invention relates to a polymerization process for producing olefin polymers in a loop reactor comprising two or more settling legs, comprising the steps of: —introducing into the loop reactor one or more olefin reactants, polymerization catalysts and diluents, and while circulating said reactants, catalysts and diluents; —polymerizing said one or more olefin reactants to produce a polymer slurry comprising essentially liquid diluent and solid olefin polymer particles; said process further comprising one or more cycles of: (a) allowing said polymer slurry to settle into said setting legs, and (b) sequentially discharging said settled polymer slurry from said two or more settling legs out of the reactor, whereby the aggregate time of discharge of all the legs is more than 50%, preferentially more than 80% and most preferably more than 95% of the time interval between two triggerings of the same settling leg.
US07696284B2
The present invention relates to white-emitting copolymers which are obtained by a combination of blue-, green- and red-emitting repeating units. The copolymers of the invention display better film formation and an improved efficiency when used in polymeric organic light-emitting diodes compared to materials according to the prior art.
US07696282B2
The present invention relates to a method for the hydrogenation of unsaturated polymers containing double bonds, the unsaturated polymers present in latex form being hydrogenated in the presence of a metal-containing colloid.
US07696278B2
The present invention relates to an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive composition, specifically, an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive composition having improved anti-static properties, comprising 100 part by weight of acrylic copolymers, 0.01 to 20 part by weight of ester plasticizer having at least one ether linkage in the molecular structure, and 0.001 to 25 part by weight of metal salts consisting of alkali metal cation, and anion which is counter-ion of super strong acid and has perfluoro alkyl group, and prevent whitening of appearance under high temperature and humidity condition as well as static electricity without change of the durability, transparency, and adhesion.
US07696268B2
The present invention provides a method of producing a fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion by which the fluorine-containing emulsifier contained in the fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion as obtained after polymerization can be efficiently removed as well as a fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion low in fluorine-containing emulsifier concentration. The present invention is a method of producing a fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion which comprises carrying out a concentration treatment comprising a concentration operation of a pretreatment fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion, wherein the pretreatment fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion is obtained by carrying out a polymerization in an aqueous medium in the presence of a fluorine-containing surfactant (A), the fluorine-containing surfactant (A) is a fluorine-containing surfactant having an octanol/water partition coefficient of 1.5 to 3.5.
US07696265B2
A process for the production of a translucent, IR-reflective plastic element, consisting entirely or at least in part of an impact-resistant, thermoplastic plastic, containing IR-reflective particles made of a lamellar-shaped carrier pigments coated with a metal oxide and the plastic element made therefrom.
US07696262B2
An inkjet ink includes an ink vehicle including humectant co-solvents and a fluorosurfactant, and a colorant in the vehicle.
US07696260B2
A composition comprising a cationically-polymerizable compound, an iodonium-based cationic initiator, a sensitizer for said cationic initiator and an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of phenol antioxidants, lactone antioxidants, and combinations of these antioxidants is provided. The addition of this antioxidant to this composition contributes to the reduction of potential run-away reaction when it is exposed in-bulk to actinic radiation.
US07696256B2
There is presented a new flame retardant composition comprising a brominated aromatic composition and a butyl substituted phenyl phosphate.
US07696252B2
Methods for the formation of colloidal suspensions. The method includes combining an aqueous substance with a second substance that is normally immiscible with the aqueous substance, to form a mixture, and before, during or after the combining removing dissolved gases from one or both of the aqueous and second substance, whereby the aqueous and second substances mix and form a colloidal suspension. The methods for the formation of colloidal suspensions include methods for the formation of emulsions as well as particulate dispersions. The methods used to form the colloidal suspensions in accordance with the present invention produce colloidal suspensions that are stable for periods from an hour to several weeks in the absence of surfactants or stabilizing agents.
US07696243B2
The present invention is directed to compounds that may be used as agonists of prostaglandin receptors. More specifically, the specification describes methods and compositions for making and using DP1 receptor agonists that are pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives.
US07696240B2
The invention is concerned with novel fused pyrrole derivatives of formula (I) wherein A, Ar, R1, R2, R2′ and R2″ and n are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds inhibit chymase and can be used as medicaments.
US07696235B2
The present invention relates to novel EP2 Receptor agonists that are useful for treating glaucoma and other conditions and indications in man. Ocular hypotensive agents are useful in the treatment of a number of various ocular hypertensive conditions, such as post-surgical and post-laser trabeculectomy ocular hypertensive episodes, glaucoma, and as presurgical adjuncts.
US07696221B2
This invention provides estrogen receptor modulators having the structure: wherein R1 to R7 are as defined in the specification; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US07696218B2
Compounds of the substituted 1,3-dialkyl-2,4-dioxo-6-(arylamino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-hydroxamic acids, show below: wherein the variables are as defined herein, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are provided for use as inhibitors of with MEK kinase.
US07696206B2
The application claims a compound of the formula or a salt, a hydrate, or a hydrate of a salt thereof. The compounds inhibit cGMP-metabolizing phosphodiesterases and are suitable for use as active compounds in pharmaceuticals, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
US07696198B2
Selective PDE4 inhibition is achieved by 4-(substituted-phenyl)-2-pyrrolidinone compounds. The compounds exhibit improved PDE4 inhibition as compared to compounds like rolipram and show selectivity with regard to inhibition of other classes of PDEs. The compounds of the present invention are of formula I: wherein R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein.
US07696193B2
The present invention relates to benzazepine derivatives of formula (I) wherein: R1 represents —C3-7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted by C1-3 alkyl; having pharmacological activity, processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
US07696189B1
The invention provides methods to treating conditions such as prostate cancer, or for ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with prostate cancer, or for agents that modulate the biological activity of the androgen receptor. The invention also provides methods and compositions suitable for therapeutic applications.
