US07711365B2
Communications are received from a user equipment UE on an uplink enhanced dedicated channel E-DCH. The radio resources of at least one downlink channel that supports the E-DCH are either released or configured or reconfigured while the E-DCH is maintained for the UE. The downlink channels may be E-AGCH, E-HICH, or E-RGCH, and the radio resources may include a temporary identifier E-RNTI, signature sequence, and/or channelization codes. At a serving cell change of the UE, either or both of the serving cell and the non-serving cell can add/configure/reconfigure a supporting downlink channel, all without terminating the E-DCH. The UE and the SRNC are notified by an E-RGCH release indicator whether the E-RGCH is released or not at a serving cell change, and the UE deletes its stored E-RGCH parameters when the release indicator indicates it is released.
US07711350B2
The invention provides a method for tracking communications usage time. Time increments are counted in response to a call. A call count is determined based on time increments. The call count is modified based on calling plan parameters.
US07711344B1
Methods and systems are provided that enable communication with a wireless device. In one such method, a communication event that is intended for a wireless device is detected and a user account associated with the wireless device is identified. Information associated with the user account is identified and a determination is made as to whether the information permits the communication event to occur. If the determination is that the information does not permit the communication event to occur, the communication event is terminated. If the determination is that the information permits the communication event to occur, the communication event is enabled.
US07711334B2
A system, method, and electrical circuit comprises a LNA signal line path comprising a LNA and a first signal mixer operatively connected to the LNA. The circuit further comprises an attenuator signal line path comprising an attenuator and a second signal mixer operatively connected to the attenuator; a radio frequency (RF) power detector operatively connected to an output of each of the LNA and the attenuator, wherein the RF power detector is adapted to vary a front end power gain of the electrical circuit; and logic circuitry operatively connected to the RF power detector, wherein the logic circuitry is adapted to (i) select transmission of a signal through only one of the LNA signal line path or the attenuator signal line path, and (ii) output the selected signal.
US07711318B2
An apparatus and method for relaying neighbor BS in a multi-hop relay broadband wireless access (BWA) communication system are provided. In the BWA communication system, a BS transmits a neighbor BS advertisement message to a relay station (RS) within a cell area of the BS. The RS configures a relay neighbor BS advertisement message by eliminating unavailable neighbor BS information from the neighbor BS advertisement message, and broadcasts the relay neighbor BS advertisement message in a cell area of the RS.
US07711313B2
A system for optimizing play of media content, and a method of optimizing play of media content are disclosed. The system for optimizing play of media content includes a hub that is at least partially remote from a media content play point, for accessing and instructing a forwarding of the media content for play, at least one output associated with the hub that contributes non-play content, and at least one module at the media content play point for the parsing of the non-play content, wherein the parsed non-play content enables the hub to instruct a preemption of a first of the media play content with an accessing and insertion of a second of the media play content to the media content play point.
US07711310B2
An image-forming apparatus includes multiple sheet discharge trays arranged on a downstream of a fixing unit in a layer structure, and multiple sheet-receiving units provided corresponding to the multiple sheet discharge trays arranged in the layer structure. Each of the sheet-receiving units respectively includes a climbing slope from a sheet discharge direction start point to a sheet discharge direction end point, and an angle of the climbing slope of a sheet-receiving unit is close to plane, as the sheet-receiving unit is arranged on a further downstream. It is thus possible to provide the image-forming apparatus in which discharged sheets of paper are not piled up on the sheet-receiving unit in a curled state or the discharged sheet does not push out the sheet piled on the sheet-receiving unit.
US07711297B2
The invention provides a belt including a belt base having elasticity and a projection member having elasticity which is provided along at least one edge of the belt base so as to project from the belt base, and an adhesive layer which bonds the belt base and the projection member, wherein the ten-point average roughness Rz in the region of the belt base to be bonded with the projection member is about 4 μm or more and the ten-point average roughness Rz in the region of the projection member to be bonded with the belt base is about 6 μm or more.
US07711294B2
A developer cartridge includes a cartridge cabinet that accommodates developer and includes an opening for enabling communication between an inside of the cartridge cabinet and an outside of the cartridge cabinet, a shutter that opens and closes the opening, and a cover that is arranged outside the cartridge cabinet and is movable between a closed position for closing the opening and an opened position for opening the opening, the opened position being located lower than the closed position, wherein the cover is movable such that a first end of the cover is in intimate contact with the cartridge cabinet while a second end of the cover is separated from the cartridge cabinet, the first end being farthest from the opening in the cover located in the opened position, and the second end being nearest to the opening in the cover located in the opened position.
US07711278B2
In an image forming apparatus in which a DC bias is applied to charge a photosensitive drum, when a charge eliminating device is in deterioration or failure, there are some cases where a proper charging is not made, and thus poor imaging occurs. A DC bias is applied to a charging member in the charge eliminating operation area of an image bearing member where the charge eliminating device makes charge eliminating operation; and based on the values of an electric current passing through the image bearing member on that occasion, a DC bias application is switched between by constant-current-control and by constant-voltage-control.
US07711273B2
In one embodiment, a receiver of the invention has an optical detector coupled to a digital processor. The optical detector is adapted to mix the received optical quadrature-amplitude modulation (QAM) signal with an optical local oscillator (LO) signal having a time-varying phase offset with respect to the carrier frequency of the QAM signal to produce two digital measures of the QAM signal. The digital processor is adapted to: (i) determine the amplitude and phase differentials for each QAM-symbol transition based on these digital measures; (ii) adjust each phase differential for an amount of phase drift associated with the time-varying phase offset; (iii) map each QAM-symbol transition onto a constellation point of a 2D decision map using the transition's amplitude differential and adjusted phase differential; and (iv) based on the mapping results, recover the data encoded in the optical QAM signal.
US07711271B2
The invention provides for optical circulators which redirect light from port to port sequentially in one direction used to separate traffic in a bidirectional optical fiber transmission system. The invention provides for using two optical circulators in each span of bidirectional fiber so that the OSC channel can be transmitted in one direction opposite to the WDM channels. The invention also provides for a gigabit Ethernet path between chassis which is utilized for control traffic and customer traffic. The invention is placed in a non-critical region of the optical spectrum and is independent of all other chassis equipment. The invention also provides the advantage in alternate embodiments of providing the option of a second counter propagating WDM channel being transmitted along with the OSC to provide additional system capacity. The invention also provides the advantage in an alternate embodiment of allowing the OSC to be amplified through a raman source without the need of complete system retrofit.
US07711265B2
In embodiments of the present invention, an optical device tester performs stressed eye testing on several optical receivers and transmission and dispersion penalty testing on optical transmitters at a variety of data rates wavelengths using single mode optical signals and multimode optical signals using a variety of supply voltages and temperatures.
US07711264B1
Disclosed is a method and apparatus which provides for alerting of potential fiber optic cable intrusion. A stress detector located at a fiber optic cable termination point detects stress on the fiber optic cable and generates an alarm signal in response to the stress detection. The alarm signal is transmitted to remote alarm units along the fiber optic right of way via a conductive metallic portion of the fiber optic cable (e.g., the fiber optic cable sheath). In response to receipt of an alarm signal, the alarm units initiate a perceptible (e.g., audible and/or visible) alarm. The stress detector may also determine a location of the stress, and generate an alarm signal addressed to a particular one or more alarm units in the vicinity of the stress location.
US07711263B2
A fault protection method for optical networks is provided. The method includes monitoring intensity of downstream optical signals transmitted through a first route from a rear terminal of a primary optical channel, so as to determine if there occurs any fault; and activating a second route to transmit optical signals when a fault in the primary optical channel is detected, in which the second route is counter to the first route. The present invention also includes a system performing the fault protection method.
US07711257B2
The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for using a flash light with, e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light sources of a camera of an electronic device for improving quality of images provided by the camera. The flash related parameters comprising a white balance setting and/or exposure settings can be determined using, e.g., an ambient light level and an estimate of the flash light reflected from said object.
US07711256B2
Methods and devices for implementing a camera restriction on a wireless handheld communication device. As more handheld devices incorporate camera functionalities, organizations and individuals with privacy concerns are more vulnerable to unauthorized disclosure. The camera restriction prevents a user from taking a picture of a subject if the device has not been steadily focused on the subject in question for a predetermined period of time. In short, this process extends the normal camera-taking procedure and thus requires the camera user to take pictures in a conspicuous manner—the rationale being that a camera user would be less likely to take unauthorized pictures if such actions could be easily recognized. The camera restriction can be communicated to the device via a wireless communication network. Additionally, the restrictions and boundaries can be communicated to the device as part of an IT security policy.
US07711251B2
The invention relates to a device for temperature controlled heating of a fluid line which comprises a jacket conduit made of a flexible material and provided with a longitudinal slot across which a fluid line is insertable into a cavity of said jacket conduit, at least one heating element extending in longitudinal direction of said jacket conduit and one temperature sensor each arranged in a first and a second section of the jacket conduit, wherein at both sides of a longitudinal center plane (M) extending through the longitudinal slot (5) the jacket conduit (1, 21) is provided with at least one circumferential section (7, 8, 22, 23) having a plurality of continuous longitudinal channels (9, 9′, 10, 10′, 13, 13′, 13″, 26, 26′) and/or intermittent longitudinal channels (13, 13′, 13″) adapted to accommodate at least two heating elements (11) and/or at least one temperature sensor (14, 15), said continuous longitudinal channels (9, 9′, 10, 10′, 13, 13′, 13″, 26, 26′) and/or intermittent longitudinal channels (13, 13′, 13″) extending symmetrically to said longitudinal center plane (M) of the jacket conduit (1, 21) and/or to a center plane of said circumferential section (7, 8, 22, 23).
US07711249B2
When a digital broadcast is decoded and then re-encoded and digitally recorded, detailed program information contained in the original digital broadcast and information such as age-based viewer control information or parental control information may be lost. This problem is solved by providing a digital tuner to demodulate the digital broadcast signal and output the MPEG-TS, a demultiplexer to demultiplex the MPEG-TS into the component packet streams, an AV decoder to decode the demultiplexed AV data packets, and an AV encoder to re-encode the demultiplexed AV data packets into AV data packets for recording. A control microprocessor reads, reconstructs, and sends the PSI or SI packets demultiplexed by the demultiplexer to save the viewer control information to the system multiplexer. The system multiplexer multiplexes the PSI or SI packets with the re-encoded AV data packets, and the multiplexed stream is then written to the recording medium.
US07711245B2
In the data structure, a data area of the recording medium stores a transport stream of at least video data. The transport stream is divided into transport packets. Each of the transport packets is associated with one of the multiple reproduction paths, and the transport packets of each reproduction path are interleaved with one another.
US07711231B2
Disclosed are an optical display device producing uniform light distribution and a method of fabricating such devices. The optical display device has waveguides arranged in vertical and horizontal directions. The waveguide has a conical shape whose cross-section decreases towards the light-projection side thereof. At least one of the size, height, spacing, and refraction index of the waveguide is designed to be different for each section, depending on an incident angle and/or intensity of light inputted from a light source. Therefore, the intensity of projected light can be made uniform over all sections of the optical device.
US07711214B2
There is provided a semiconductor optical modulator capable of performing a stable operation and having an excellent voltage-current characteristic to an electric field while exhibiting the characteristic of a semiconductor optical modulator with an n-i-n structure. The semiconductor optical modulator includes a waveguide structure that is formed by sequentially growing an n-type InP clad layer (11), a semiconductor core layer (13) having an electro-optic effect, a p-InAlAs layer (15), and an n-type InP clad layer (16). An electron affinity of the p-InAlAs layer (15) is smaller than an electron affinity of the n-type InP clad layer (16). In the waveguide structure having such a configuration, a non-dope InP clad layer (12) and a non-dope InP clad layer (14) may be respectively provided between the n-type InP clad layer (11) and the semiconductor core layer (13), and between the semiconductor core layer (13) and the p-InAlAs layer (15).
US07711207B2
The user assistance system provides a system and method for capturing images of a document and interaction of a primary user with the document in an interaction session. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises an image capture means adapted to capture an initial image of the document and at least one subsequent, additional image of the document during an interaction session, the image being mapped to a known co-ordinate system, interaction capture means for capturing the interaction of a user with the document whereby to determine at least one co-ordinate of a pointer used for the interaction relative to the same co-ordinate system defined for the initial captured image, and processing means for determining an appropriate transform that maps the additional image onto the original image.
US07711205B2
An image representation format for representing a digital image comprises: image information stored as a bitstream representing sequential image blocks, each block comprising one or more components, each component comprising one or more data units and each data unit being represented as a Huffman-coded stream of coefficients of basis functions, wherein a zeroth order coefficient is represented as a difference to the previous zeroth order coefficient of the corresponding component, and a block information table, which comprises: indicators to the first coefficient of a specified order of each image block in said bitstream, information indicating the number of bits in the bitstream between adjacent coefficients of said specified order of the image block, and the zeroth order coefficient of at least the first data unit of each component, said zeroth order coefficient being represented in a non-differential form.
US07711202B2
A method of image-resolution enhancement employing partial-template matching, including storing at least a portion of an image, and selecting from the image a window comprising a plurality of adjacent line segments having pixels, the window including a target pixel. The method also includes comparing the pixels of the window with a template for a partial match, and responsive to a partial match being found, substituting an enhancement pixel for the target pixel. By allowing a partial match for enhancement instead of requiring a 100-percent match of the prior art, the method provides image-resolution enhancement for digital-image data having noise or other errors.
US07711201B2
A method of and an apparatus for determining a depth map utilizing a movable lens and an image sensor are described herein. The depth information is acquired by moving the lens a short distance and acquiring multiple images with different blur quantities. An improved method of simulating gaussian blur and an approximation equation that relates a known gaussian blur quantity to a known pillbox quantity are used in conjunction with a non-linear blur difference equation. The blur quantity difference is able to be calculated and then used to determine the depth map. Many applications are possible using the method and system described herein, such as autofocusing, surveillance, robot/computer vision, autonomous vehicle navigation, multi-dimensional imaging and data compression.
US07711187B2
A method for efficiently allowing users to select or view images from a large quantity of images that are stored on various medias. The method groups images according to specific parameters and displays a sub set of these parameters allowing users to quickly select or determine if the image that they are seeking is in that particular storage area or media.
US07711186B2
A system and method are provided for correcting an image captured by a digital image capturing device. The method includes calculating a log of a desired correction value based on sample point and a target value for that point and calculating an approximation to the log of illumination based on an input pixel intensity. The method additionally includes calculating any target pixel intensity value based on the log of the correction value and the approximation to the log of illumination. Image correction tools correct the image to correspond to the target pixel intensity value. The technique may be used to correct the gain of any image and for example, may correct exposure or color balance deficiencies. The technique provides excellent results regardless of the image capturing device.
US07711185B2
Methods and apparatuses for supporting a color management system that processes an image in accordance to a hierarchically-structured policy are provided. The policy may be modeled with a schema in which the policy is organized with a plurality of policy levels. Policy settings at a lower policy level may override policy settings at a higher policy level, which may be inhibited with a lockout mechanism. A user interface supports the capability of a user configuring policy settings through a series of dialog boxes. The dialog boxes are hierarchically organized in accordance with configuration levels, where the configuration levels are associated with the policy levels. The dialog boxes provide a consolidated approach for configuring a color management system by a user. An interface is supported, enabling a component to send inputs to a color management system in order to configure the policy.
US07711183B2
A method generates a composite image by painting unfilled regions between micro-objects with other micro-objects to create a multiple layer effect. Another method generates a composite image from as few as one micro-object by changing the average color and/or intensity of the micro-object to match that of an area on the source image. Yet another method quickly generates a preview image of a composite image by saving the micro-objects in multiple resolutions so that the micro-objects at the small resolution can be quickly scaled to build a preview image of the composite image.
US07711182B2
Surface normals and other 3D shape descriptors are determined for a specular or hybrid specular-diffuse object. A camera records an image of a smoothly spatially-varying pattern being reflected in the surface of the object, with the pattern placed at an initial position. The camera then records multiple images of the pattern undergoing a sequence of subsequent displacements to a final position distinct from the initial position. For a pixel in the images, the pattern displacement that corresponds to the minimum difference between the pixel value in the initial image and any of the final images is determined. The incident ray that strikes the surface of the object at the point being imaged by the pixel is then determined using the determined pattern displacement. The surface normal at that same surface point is then determined using the determined incident ray. Other 3D shape descriptors are determined from the surface normals of the object, such as principal curvatures, or the principal axes of a parametric surface, or the 3D shape, or the object pose.
US07711180B2
The present invention provides a three-dimensional image measuring apparatus and method capable of measuring projections and depressions on a surface of an object with fine precision, as well as ensuring stable convergence, even for stereo images with significant project distortion. The apparatus includes an area setting section 56 for setting a reference area 57 in one image 53 of a pair of stereo images 46 and a search area 58 in the other image 54 in a position corresponding to the reference area 57, a search image distortion correcting section 62 for applying an image distortion correction to either one of the one image 53 or the other image 54 according to the positional relationship between the reference area 57 and the search area 58 corresponding to the reference area 57, and an area shape measuring section 66 for measuring a shape of a measuring object 41 photographed in the stereo images 46 based on the reference area 57 in the one image 53 and the search area 58 in the other image 54, either one of which has been corrected by the search image distortion correcting section 62.
US07711178B2
A pattern inspection method including: sequentially imaging plural chips formed on a substrate; selecting a pattern which is suitable for calculating position gap between an inspection image of a subject chip and reference image stored in memory from an image of a firstly imaged chip among said sequentially imaged plural chips formed on the substrate; computing position gap between an inspection image of a chip obtained by the sequential imaging and reference image stored in a memory by using a positional information of a pattern image included in the inspection image and a reference pattern image included in the reference image which are both corresponding to the pattern selected at the selecting; aligning the inspection image and the reference image by using information of the calculated position gap; and comparing the aligned inspection image with the reference image and extracting a difference as a defect candidate.
US07711176B2
A computer-implemented method is provided of processing a substitute check which has been made from an original check. The computer-implemented method comprises (a) reading from the substitute check a printed magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) codeline, (b) reading from the substitute check an imaged MICR codeline, and (c) comparing the printed MICR codeline of step (a) and the imaged MICR codeline of step (b) to determine if the printed MICR codeline and the imaged MICR codeline match.
US07711175B2
An image reading apparatus includes a carrying unit that carries an irradiated object having a reflecting portion and a transmitting portion in a carrying direction, a first light source arranged on one face side of the irradiated object that irradiates light to an irradiated portion in a path of carrying the irradiated object, a second light source arranged on other face side that irradiates light to the irradiated portion, a detecting unit arranged to be spaced apart from the irradiated portion by a predetermined distance that detects the transmitting portion, a lighting control unit that controls to put on the second light source during a time period of passing the transmitting portion through the irradiated portion, a lens array arranged on one face side of the irradiated object that converges reflecting light reflected by the reflecting portion and transmitting light, and a sensor that receives converged light.
US07711169B2
A method of automatically identifying a region of differing intensity in a functional image is described.
US07711168B2
A method for tracking images of a blood vessel wherein user indication of the source and terminus of an image of the blood vessel is provided and the Dijkstra algorithm is used to find the shortest path along the current established from a steady-state circuit model with the current source and sink given by user-placed seeds on the image. Since the method looks at the change in current flow, multiply-connected objects that are either significantly larger or smaller than the vessel will be ignored since the current flow will change dramatically. In contrast, a simple, shortest-path, approach between the source and terminus of the vessel would be unlikely to stay within the vessel if it were to touch another object with similar intensity.
US07711166B2
A series of velocity encoded MR image frames are acquired. To increase the temporal resolution of the acquired image frames radial projections are acquired and each image frame is highly undersampled. The radial projections for each velocity encoding direction are interleaved throughout the scan and a composite phase image is reconstructed from these and used to reconstruct a velocity image for each image frame in a highly constrained backprojection method.
US07711165B2
A method for segmenting coronary vessels in digitized cardiac images includes providing a digitized cardiac image, providing a seed point in the image, selecting a volume-of-interest about the seed point, performing a local segmentation in the volume-of-interest, including initializing a connected component with the seed point and a threshold intensity value to the intensity of the seed point, adding a point to the connected component if the point is adjacent to the connected component and if the intensity of the point is greater than or equal to the threshold value, lowering the threshold intensity value, and computing an attribute value of the connected component, wherein if a discontinuity in the attribute value is detected, the local segmentation is terminated, wherein a local segmentation mask of a vessel is obtained.
US07711156B2
An apparatus and method for generating a shape model of an object and an apparatus and method for automatically searching for feature points of an object employing the same. The apparatus for automatically searching for feature points of an object includes: a shape model generation unit which generates a shape model including a mean model of an object, and statistical feature data of each feature point forming a mean shape, by training a plurality of training sets in which a plurality of feature points are labeled for the object; an initial position resetting unit which resets an initial position of each feature point of the mean shape according to a pose of an input image; and a feature point extraction unit which adapts the mean shape whose initial position is reset, to the input image, by using the statistical feature data of each feature point of the mean shape, and extracts feature points of the input image.
US07711155B1
The present invention is a system and method for modeling faces from images captured from a single or a plurality of image capturing systems at different times. The method first determines the demographics of the person being imaged. This demographic classification is then used to select an approximate three dimensional face model from a set of models. Using this initial model and properties of camera projection, the model is adjusted leading to a more accurate face model.
US07711145B2
A method of searching through a collection of images, includes providing a list of individuals of interest and features associated with such individuals; detecting people in the collection images; determining the likelihood(s) for each listed individual of appearing in each collection image in response to the detected people and the features associated with the listed individuals; and selecting in response to the determined likelihood(s) a number of collection images such that each individual from the list appears in the selected number of collection images.
US07711133B2
A hearing prosthesis, including receiver means for receiving a signal representative of a signal over a frequency range; a first filter bank, having a relatively higher resolution, adapted to process said received signal and produce a first set of channel outputs relating to a selected region or regions of said frequency range; and a second filter bank having a relatively lower resolution, adapted to process said received signal and produce a second set of channel outputs relating to at least the rest of said frequency range; combination means to combine the first and second sets of channel outputs, and processing means operative upon the combined outputs so as to produce a set of stimulation signals for said hearing prosthesis.
US07711126B2
An integrally mounted control point node for use in an audio distribution system and including a control processor for receiving command signals and providing audio control signals to response thereto; a command signal generator for producing the command signals in response to activation by a user of the system; a terminal for receiving a plurality of audio signals; an audio signal tuner for receiving the control signals and the audio signals; an amplifier receiving an output signal from the tuner and the control signals from the control processor; and a speaker terminal for transmitting the output signal to a speaker.
US07711125B2
An audio distribution system comprises a plurality of individual signal conditioning circuits connected in series. Each circuit comprises a signal conditioning unit to which an audio input (13) is fed. The output from the unit is fed to a precision signal addition device. Each circuit also comprises a balanced line level input (11), which is fed to a balanced to unbalanced precision signal converter the output of which is connected to the precision signal addition device. The output from the precision signal addition device is fed to an unbalanced to balanced converter which provides at its output a balanced line level signal (12). As compared with a conventional distribution system, the system enables only one balanced line level input to amplification equipment eliminating any mixing or control means that equipment and obtaining the need for a conventional mixer.
US07711121B2
A multi-tiered server management architecture is employed including an application development tier, an application operations tier, and a cluster operations tier. In the application development tier, applications are developed for execution on one or more server computers. In the application operations tier, execution of the applications is managed and sub-boundaries within a cluster of servers can be established. In the cluster operations tier, operation of the server computers is managed without concern for what applications are executing on the one or more server computers and boundaries between clusters of servers can be established. The multi-tiered server management architecture can also be employed in co-location facilities where clusters of servers are leased to tenants, with the tenants implementing the application operations tier and the facility owner (or operator) implementing the cluster operations tier.
US07711119B2
The disclosed embodiments provide for methods and apparatus for encrypting media using a current media encryption key (MEK), requesting a new MEK, and receiving the new MEK. The method further provides for transitioning from the current MEK to the new MEK and continuing to encrypt the media using the new MEK. In another embodiment, the method provides for decrypting media during an ongoing media communication session, the method provides for receiving encrypted media, and decrypting the encrypted media using a current MEK. The method further provides for requesting a new MEK before the current MEK expires based on its associated expiration time, receiving the new MEK, and continuing to decrypt the encrypted media based on a received MEK indication flag (MIF) that indicates whether the encrypted media is encrypted using the current MEK or the new MEK.
US07711117B1
A technique for managing the migration of mobile agents to nodes of a communication network is proposed. The trustworthiness of at least one node (102b) of the network is checked (301). In case the trustworthiness exceeds a pre-set trust threshold, a trust token for the checked node (102b) is generated (306) and the trust token is stored (303) in the network. In advance to a migration of a mobile agent (104a) to a node of the network it is verified (108, 109) if a valid trust token is existing for the corresponding node (102b). The migration of the mobile agent (104a) is restricted (107) to nodes having a valid trust token.
US07711088B2
An x-ray diffraction measurement apparatus for measuring a sample, having an x-ray source and detector coupled together in a combination for coordinated rotation around the sample, such that x-ray diffraction data can be taken at multiple phi angles. The apparatus may provide a pole figure representation of crystal orientation of the sample, wherein the pole figure represents the crystal alignment, and a full width half maximum value is calculated from the pole figure for crystal alignment quantification. Data may be taken at discrete positions along a length of the sample, and the sample is in a fixed position during measuring; or data may be taken continuously along a length of the article, as the sample continuously moves along its length in a movement path between the source and detector. The sample may be in the form of a tape, linearly passing through a measurement zone.
US07711084B2
A CT scanner is employed having a first coordinate system called the CT coordinate system related to the CT scanner for determining an actual position of a structure of an object to be examined. A coordinate measuring instrument (MI) is employed which is either a tactile or an optical or multisensor or an ultrasonic coordinate measuring instrument and which has a second coordinate system, the MI coordinate system, related to said coordinate measuring instrument. According to a variant, a) the coordinates of the object are determined in the MI coordinate system, b) the target position of the structure is predefined, c) after steps a) and b) the target position is determined in the MI coordinate system, d) and, the object is positioned in such a way that the target position of the structure comes to lie within a volume detected by the CT scanner using the result of step c).
US07711075B2
A receiver is configured for canceling intra-cell and inter-cell interference in coded, multiple-access, spread-spectrum transmissions that propagate through frequency-selective communication channels. The receiver employs iterative symbol-estimate weighting, subtractive cancellation with a stabilizing step-size, and mixed-decision symbol estimates. Receiver embodiments may be implemented explicitly in software or programmed hardware, or implicitly in standard Rake-based hardware either within the Rake (i.e., at the finger level) or outside the Rake (i.e., at the user or subchannel symbol level).
US07711073B2
The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for determining the carrier frequency difference during the demodulating of received symbols (P1, P2) in the complex phase space (I, Q; R, α) of a quadrature modulation method (QAM), wherein to determine the frequency the received symbols are compared with symbols (S1, S2) at nominal positions in the complex signal space. In order to make the determination independent of a rotation of the coordinate system of the received signals with respect to the coordinate system of the symbols, it is proposed to determine the angle (∠(P1, P2)) between two received signal values (P1, P2) and compare it to possible nominal angles of the quadrature modulation method. An angle deviation between the determined angle of the received signal values and the nominal angle can be used as a direct measure of a frequency deviation (Δf).
US07711068B2
A method of encoding data for transmission from a source to a destination over a communications channel is provided. A plurality of redundant symbols are generated from an ordered set of input symbols to be transmitted. A plurality of output symbols are generated from a combined set of symbols including the input symbols and the redundant symbols, wherein the number of possible output symbols is much larger than the number of symbols in the combined set of symbols, wherein at least one output symbol is generated from more than one symbol in the combined set of symbols and from less than all of the symbols in the combined set of symbols, and such that the ordered set of input symbols can be regenerated to a desired degree of accuracy from any predetermined number, N, of the output symbols.
US07711057B2
A new method for transmitter-receiver design that enhances the desired signal output from the receiver while minimizing the total interference and noise output from the receiver at the desired decision making instant is presented. Further the new design scheme proposed here can be used for transmit signal energy and bandwidth tradeoff. As a result, transmit signal energy can be used to tradeoff for the “premium” signal bandwidth without sacrificing the system performance level in terms of the output Signal to Interference plus Noise power Ratio (SINR). The two designs—the one before and the one after the tradeoff—will result in two different transmitter-receiver pairs that have the same performance level. In many applications such as in telecommunications, since the available bandwidth is at premium, such a tradeoff will result in releasing otherwise unavailable bandwidth at the expense of additional signal energy. The bandwidth so released can be used for other applications or to add additional telecommunication capacity to the system.
US07711050B2
An image-coding format converting apparatus comprising an MPEG2 image decoder 30, a resolution/frame rate converter 31, a motion vector converter 32, and an MPEG4 encoder 33. The MPEG2 decoder 30 decodes a bit stream of MPEG2 image codes, generating an image signal. The resolution/frame rate converter 31 converts the image signal. The MPEG4 encoder 33 encodes the output of the resolution/frame rate converter 31, generating a bit stream of MPEG4 image codes. In the resolution/frame rate converter 31, pixels are added or extracted in accordance with the start position of a macro block, thus adjusting the input image signal to one than can easily be encoded to MPEG4 image codes. The motion vector converter 32 generates an MPEG4 motion vector from parameters such as an MPEG2 motion vector. The MPEG4 encoder 33 uses the MPEG4 motion vector to encode the output of the resolution/frame rate converter 31.
US07711048B2
A video program length is changed by processing an MPEG compressed video signal. Two temporally adjacent B-frames are selected, by looking for pairs with small differences. The selected B-frames are combined to create at least one intermediate frame; which is inserted in place of or between the selected frames. Presentation time stamps are altered to provide a uniform display rate.
US07711044B1
Embodiments of noise reduction systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises transforming a residual signal to produce transform coefficients, and applying the transform coefficients to a quantization matrix and a configurable gain matrix to provide a frequency-selective weighting of the transform coefficients having a gain that is sensitive to noise levels.
US07711037B2
A fraction chip correlation device for a spread spectrum receiver for receiving signals modulated with spread spectrum codes and a method for operating fractional chip correlation to spread spectrum signals received by the spread spectrum receiver are disclosed. In the present invention, at least one delayed version of an input signal is generated to be correlated with a local code replica to accomplish fractional chip correlation. By doing so, correlators can operate at a low speed, so that power consumption of the receiver can be significantly reduced.
US07711032B2
The frequency spectrum of a transmitter system is spreaded in the transmitter (1) through the codification of information bits by means of sequence pairs of Golay complementary sequences. The spectrum is received in the receiver (2) and is subject to a filter, which is adapted to the features of such sequences enabling the detection of digital levels corresponding to the original transmitted information. If pairs of orthogonal sequences, A amplitudes for moduling data, and N-PSK modulation are used, it is possible to get a transmission speed (C) equal to:Where B is to the null-to-null spread bandwidth used in Hertz. It allows an improvement in quality as compared to other digital-communication systems, which use spread spectrum techniques and CDMA, obtaining a process gain independent of the transmission speed.
US07711031B2
ICI canceling in an OFDM system includes taking a FFT of a wireless electrical signal to produce an OFDM signal; estimating a DC component of a frequency-selective channel in the OFDM system; obtaining an initial estimate of data symbols associated with data bits of the OFDM signal; correcting the data bits with a Viterbi decoder; encoding the corrected data bits to acquire corrected data symbols; re-estimating the DC component of the frequency-selective channel using the corrected data symbols; filtering the corrected data symbols and sub-carrier of the frequency-selective channel; calculating a first order differential function of the frequency-selective channel based on successive ones of the corrected data symbols; removing an ICI component from the calculated first order differential function; and re-estimating the data symbols as a function of the removed ICI component. The filtering occurs using a low pass filter comprising a bank of eight filters.
US07711030B2
A method is described comprising: transmitting a training signal from each antenna of a base station to each of a plurality of client devices utilizing tropospheric scatter, each of the client devices analyzing each training signal to generate channel characterization data, and transmitting the channel characterization data back to the base station utilizing tropospheric scatter; storing the channel characterization data for each of the plurality of client devices; receiving data to be transmitted to each of the client devices; and precoding the data using the channel characterization data associated with each respective client device to generate precoded data signals for each antenna of the base station; and transmitting the precoded data signals through each antenna of the base station to each respective client device.
US07711026B2
A method for specifying pulse characteristics applies codes having pre-defined characteristics to a layout. The layout can be sequentially subdivided into at least first and second components that have the same or different sizes. The method applies a first code having first pre-defined properties to the first component and a second code having second pre-defined properties to the second component. The pre-defined properties may relate to the auto-correlation property, the cross-correlation property, and spectral properties, as examples. The codes can be used to specify subcomponents within a frame, and characteristic values (range-based, or discrete) within the subcomponents.
US07711022B2
A polycrystalline transparent ceramic article including lutetium is presented. The article includes an oxide with a formula of ABO3, having type A lattice sites and type B lattice sites. The lattice site A may further comprise a plurality of elements, in addition to lutetium. Type B lattice site includes aluminum. An imaging device, a laser assembly, and a scintillator including the lutetium-based article is provided. A method of making the above article is also provided.
US07711015B2
A method for controlling operation of a transistor includes the following steps: providing a bipolar transistor having emitter, base and collector regions; applying electrical signals to the transistor to produce light emission from the transistor; effecting photon-assisted tunneling of carriers in the transistor with self-generated photons of the light emission, and controlling operation of the transistor by controlling the photon-assisted tunneling.
US07711009B2
Methods and apparatus for synchronizing a first clock of a transmit node and a second clock of a receive node in a packet network are provided. Receive time stamps are generated for transferred packets at a receive node in-accordance with the second clock. Propagation delay variation is filtered from receive time stamp intervals through a filter in accordance with a frequency of the second clock. The filtered receive time stamp intervals and transmit time stamp intervals of the transferred packets are input into a phase locked loop to generate a new frequency for the second clock. The filter and the second clock are updated in accordance with the new frequency for synchronization with the first clock of the transfer node.
US07711001B2
An apparatus and method to provide a portable networking interface for distributed switching systems. Two Application Program Interfaces (APIs) are defined for communication to a Forwarding Database Distribution Library (FDDL). The FDDL sits between network client applications and the switch device driver in order to provide a uniform interface to the switch device driver. Towers may be added to the FDDL to provide additional functionality specific to certain client applications.
US07710996B1
An arbiter system may include a first arbiter, a second arbiter, and selection logic. The first arbiter may be configured to select a first data identifier from among a group of data identifiers that are associated with a first bandwidth. The second arbiter may be configured to select a second data identifier from among another group of data identifiers that are associated with a second bandwidth. The selection logic may be configured to periodically select the first data identifier and the second data identifier so that the first data identifier and the second data identifier are respectively selected in proportion to the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth.
US07710994B1
A network device constructs a notification corresponding to a received multicast data unit, where the notification includes administrative data associated with the multicast data unit that does not include a payload of the multicast data unit. The network device replicates the notification at least three different processing elements at different locations in a processing path of the network device to produce multiple replicated data items and produces a copy of the multicast data unit for each of replicated notifications. The network device forwards each copy of the multicast data unit towards a multicast destination.
US07710992B2
A communication device for transmitting and receiving frames, which is capable of preventing an overflow of a buffer memory due to clock error even when the utilization factor of a transmission line is high. A frame holding section stores frames awaiting transmission. A transmission section sequentially takes out each frame from the frame holding section and outputs the frame to the transmission line, based on a control signal indicative of timing for transmitting the frame. A transmission control section initially outputs the control signal at a repetition period of T clocks (T≧2) and acquires the number of waiting frames in the frame holding section every N×T clocks (N≧2). When the number of waiting frames is equal to K (K≧1), the transmission control section makes some of transmission intervals shorter than T clocks to thereby output the control signal N+K times during next N×T clocks
US07710985B2
A spanning tree is formed for each of MST (Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol) instances defined by a VLAN ID and a COS value. Each terminal apparatus specifies the COS value corresponding to the TCP/UDP port number of a Ethernet frame to be transmitted, based on a conversion table indicating the correspondence of a TCP/UDP port number to a COS value and sets the specified COS value to the header of the Ethernet frame. Each of bridges in the transit network specifies the MST instance identifier of a received frame based on a conversion table indicating the correspondence of the MST instance identifier to the combination of a VLAN ID and a COS value and forwards the received frame in accordance with the spanning tree having the specified MST instance.
US07710980B2
Upon receipt of a synchronization request from the CPU, the AAL1 device of the act system causes its cell forming section to extract the allocation position information for the SAR-PDU payload about a particular time slot in the current frame and, via the synchronization information send/receive section, transfers the information to the AAL1 device of the standby system. The AAL1 device of the standby system causes its operation processing section to calculate the allocation position of a particular time slot in the next frame for the SAR-PDU payload based on the above allocation position information. The AAL1 device of the standby system starts allocation of the data of and following a particular time slot of the next frame to the SAR-PDU payload starting from the position indicated by the calculation result.
US07710974B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically allocating bandwidth to a plurality of client devices coupled over a network to a physical layer device (PHY). The PHY is preferably configured to utilize a connection criteria, such as bandwidth requirement for the client devices, to negotiate and connect the devices to a host device in a desired order.
US07710971B2
A method of blocking network attacks using information included in a packet, and an apparatus thereof are provided. The method includes: receiving a packet containing information on the packet including at least information on a source from which the packet is sent, and information on a destination to which the packet is sent; and extracting the information on the packet included in the packet, comparing the information with a predetermined access control condition, and blocking or passing the packet. By doing so, a packet being transferred with a routing header capable of bypassing a security device as in an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) network can be appropriately blocked or passed. Accordingly, security problems caused by the routing header can be overcome, and as a result, usage of the routing header can be promoted. Also, since a routing header can be used for transmitting a packet along a desired path, the routing header can be widely used without security problems, and can ease network security concerns relating to IPv6 networks that are expected to come into increasingly wide use.
US07710970B2
A header value or label, referred to herein as a source station identification (SSID), is added to an encapsulated packet header, such as by adding the SSID as a label to the bottom of a stack of MPLS labels. The SSID comprises a unique identifier that identifies the PE that originated the packet. In some embodiments, the IP address of the originating PE may be used as the SSID for that PE. The PE receiving this packet can then associate the source Ethernet MAC address of received TLS traffic, e.g., with the originating PE. Given the SSID of the originating PE, the receiving PE is able to determine which LSP to use to send Ethernet traffic to the station with the learned MAC address.
US07710964B2
A method, terminal, backend network entity, and system for discovering a network element in a communication system for a terminal, wherein the terminal is establishing a connection to a first part of the communication system, the discovering of the network element comprising a step of retrieving a network address of the network element from a backend network entity of the communication system, wherein the step of retrieving constitutes a part of an authentication of the terminal at the first part of the communication system by means of the backend network entity. Further, the retrieving can be based on a subscription profile of the terminal and/or a database at the backend network entity.
US07710962B2
The present invention provides a technology for processing packets, such as VoIP packets, with priority. A priority-designating unit designates priority information based on header information. A pointer searching unit refers to a pointer table to obtain pointer information corresponding to a destination address. A sorting unit sorts the pointer information into a high-priority queue and a low-priority queue according to the priority information. A next queue holds pointer information obtained from a destination information table. A scheduler extracts and outputs the pointer information from each queue in the following order of priority: the next queue, a high-priority queue, and a low-priority queue. A destination-information-table searching unit obtains destination information and/or the pointer information from the destination information table based on the pointer information, and outputs the destination information to a packet forwarding and duplicating unit and outputs the pointer information to the next queue.
US07710958B2
A remote mobile device periodically connects with a centralized data server to receive updated information. Because of the mobile nature of the remote device, a download of all available information may not be able to be completed during the initial network connection. When the mobile device can again reconnect to the centralized data server, the two machines are able to continue the exchange of information even if the new network connection uses different underlying technologies or different connection protocols. A fragmentation layer is used in the protocol stack above the transport layer to separate messages into chunks. By tracking which chunks are successfully sent between the two machines, the efficient exchange of messages can occur across multiple, different network connections.
US07710955B2
We describe an active node, which receives an active message containing an active application identifier, transmits the active application identifier to an active applications server. receives associated code from the active applications server, and executes the associated code. The active node also may transmit to the active applications server information relating to its own environment, and information relating to whether it is an edge node or core node in the network, enabling the active applications server to determine the associated code to return to the active node.
US07710950B2
Methods and apparatus for originating a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call from a user equipment (UE) device in a network environment including a circuit-switched (CS) network and IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network to a called party are disclosed. In one illustrative example, when the SIP call is originated by the UE device in the CS network domain, a SIP Invite message which includes a SIP Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) or Tel URI of the called party is sent from the UE device to the IMS network (e.g. to an application server (AS) node). At the AS node, a pool of E.164 numbers are maintained as IP multimedia routing numbers (IMRNs) which are utilized for mapping to or otherwise associating with called party URIs. Thus, the AS node dynamically allocates a select E.164 number with respect to the called party's URI received from the UE device, and returns it to the UE device in a SIP 380 (Alternative Service) Response message. Subsequently, the dynamically-allocated E.164 number is sent from the UE device in a call setup message for identification of the URI at the AS node, via the mapping, so that the SIP call may be properly routed towards the called party.
US07710944B1
A node with local GPS time in an ad-hoc wireless network synchronizes with the network time immediately and slowly pulls the network time to GPS time. However, network nodes may immediately transition to the common GPS time after an island or group head node determines that the transition in network time does not disturb the communication links.
US07710942B2
The present invention relates to a method of performing time drift compensation in a receiver (200) and a receiver (200) for performing time drift compensation. The basic idea of the invention is that a signal is received at the receiver. A control pulse is produced after a certain number of chips of the received signal has been received. A variable delay that is applied to the received signal is controlled by means of the control pulse. The resulting delayed signal is supplied to demodulation units (202, 203) in the receiver, in which delayed signal chips have been omitted or duplicated. A compensation signal is supplied to the demodulation units in the receiver, and this compensation signal indicates whether chips have been omitted or duplicated in the delayed signal. Finally, the delayed signal is demodulated such that the demodulation units consider the omission or duplication of chips in the delayed signal.
US07710939B2
A power saving process for wireless communications is provided, wherein a receiving station examines the header of each incoming frame and stops decoding data symbols of the frame, upon determining that the incoming frame is not intended for that receiving station. In one implementation, the receiving station stops receiving and decoding data symbols of the frame by entering a power saving mode. This conserves power at the receiving station.
US07710932B2
A node (200) includes a processor (201) for determining neighbor nodes in a routing path to a destination based on a routing table associated with the node (200). The node (200) includes a memory for storing a first authenticated tokens. The node includes a transmitter (203) for transmitting a first request-to-route (RTR) message including an indication specifying information units (IUs) from the first node to the neighbor nodes in a routing path from the first node to the destination. The node (200) includes a receiver (205) for receiving a neighbor reply message from one of the neighbor nodes to the first node which indicates that the neighbor node will route the information units (IUs). The transmitter (203) transmits a second authenticated tokens from the first node to one of the neighbor nodes. The second authenticated tokens are converted into a tradable entity and provide compensation to the neighbor node selected.
US07710931B2
Methods are provided for transitioning between SIP and MIP. Mobile devices, upon detecting a new system, automatically attempt a MIP session to avoid the default position of SIP. A history is maintained of systems visited, and for systems that did not support MIP in the past, a MIP session is not attempted, but rather SIP is initiated from the start.
US07710922B2
A control node (26) of a radio access network participating in a cell change procedure is permitted to begin sending HS-DSCH data frames to a target radio base station (28) even before the control node knows a calculated capacity allocation for the target cell. Such pre-knowledge transmission of HS-DSCH data frames by the control node effectively reduces a control node (e.g., RNC) bitrate transmission gap which otherwise would occur had the control node waited to send the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) data frames after the control node had been informed of the calculated capacity allocation. The control node is permitted to begin sending the HS-DSCH data frames even prior to an activation time (AT), and typically just after a switch time (ST).
US07710906B2
A transmitting and receiving system is provided. The transmitting of receiving system includes a transmitting apparatus to transmit data and a receiving apparatus to receive the data by means of radio communication. The transmitting apparatus includes: data transmission means for transmitting the data; state information reception means for receiving state information indicative of states of the radio communication from the receiving apparatus; and control means for controlling transmission using the data transmission means. When the state information reception means receives state information indicating a degraded state of the radio communication, the control means stores control information for the data transmission means to control transmission immediately before the state information is received; and, when the state information reception means thereafter receives state information indicating a normal state of the radio communication, the control means uses the most recently stored control information to control transmission by means of the data transmission means. The receiving apparatus includes: data reception means for receiving data transmitted from the data transmission means by means of the radio communication; determination means for determining the radio communication state based on data received by the data reception means; and state information transmission means for transmitting state information indicating the radio communication state determined by the determination means to the transmitting apparatus.
US07710904B2
An apparatus including a ring network, a plurality of nodes on the ring network to act as senders, a node on the ring network to act as a receiver, the receiver having receiver logic to place a token on the ring, the token further having an indication of an activation status, and network logic to pass the token along the ring network from each node to the next after the token is placed on the ring network and to activate the token by setting the indication of the activation status to a value indicating that the token is active at a location on the ring determined so that over a defined period of time, the token is activated in proximity to each sender at approximately the same frequency.
US07710903B2
A system and method automatically configures the interfaces of an intermediate network device. A discovery process operating at the device detects the identity or type of network entities actually coupled to the device's interfaces. Utilizing the identity or type of detected entities, a look-up is performed to obtain a configuration macro specially defined for each detected network entity. The retrieved configuration macros are executed and applied at the respective interfaces. During operation, the intermediate network device continues to monitor the identity and type of entities actually coupled to its interfaces. If a change is detected, such as an entity moving from a first to a second interface, the specially defined configuration macro for that entity floats from the first to the second interface where it is executed and applied.
US07710889B2
A communication system includes a probe transmission server 3 which transmits at fixed intervals of time a probe multicast packet distributed along the same path as a main multicast packet, a delay insertion server 5 which appends the same fixed delay time to each of the main multicast packet and the probe multicast packet, a backup server 2 which generates synchronism and delay backup multicast packets from the main multicast packet and transmits them, and a communication control device 7 which determines the communication of the main multicast packet based on a reception interval of the probe multicast packet, generates a backup main multicast packet from the backup multicast packet when a communication break is detected, and transmits it. The communication system, upon implementing a broadcast-type multicast service, enhances compensation of communication breaks when detecting and recovering from a fault in an IP network, and reduces the network traffic.
US07710882B1
A method is disclosed for computing routing information for a data communications network comprising a plurality of nodes. The method comprises the step performed at a computing node of receiving from a remote node in the network a routing information update representing a change of state of the network. The method further comprises processing the update to identify a change of state type and setting, dependent on the change of state type, a delay interval after which routing information is to be computed from the update.
US07710877B2
The present invention relates to a communication control system, and provides specifically a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication control system making it possible to effectively exploit P2P communication within an organizational network. The communication control system includes: an authentication server that authenticates a terminal which requests subscription to a network, sends communication priority information to the terminal whose subscription is permitted, and delivers communication regulation information based on the communication priority information to a router which accommodates the terminal; a terminal that uses a packet, to which the communication priority information sent from the authentication server is appended, to perform communication after having subscription thereof permitted; and a router that monitors the packet sent from the terminal, and imposes a communication regulation on the terminal according to the communication regulation information based on the communication priority information and delivered from the authentication server.
US07710873B2
The present invention relates to a gateway between two networks of a communication system. A plurality of communication service classes is available for the communication between the networks. In the method a call is routed from a network to another network via the gateway. The type of the call is defined. A gateway controller also determines the communication service class that is to be used for the call. The gateway controller communicates information that associates with the determined service class to the gateway. The communication is based on a communication protocol message that has been adapted to transport the information between the gateway controller and the gateway. The call is then processed based on the information.
US07710863B2
To provide a device and a method enabling a user to judge which route a path used at the present traces without being aware of whether the now-in-use path is a working path or a recovery path. A relay device positioned at a diverging node between the working path and the recovery path, when forwarding a message (e.g., a Path message and a Resv message each containing RRO) used for route trace, judges which type of path the path employed for forwarding the data at the present is coincident with and forwards the data to the relay device disposed on the in-use path, thereby actualizing the trace of the route used for forwarding the data at the present.
US07710862B2
A method and system of assigning media access control (MAC) addresses across teamed communication ports. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising teaming a plurality of communication ports in a computer system to appear as a single virtual port to an application program (each communication port transmits message packets with any of a number M possible MAC addresses, wherein the number communication ports is greater than M), assigning a set of size M of MAC addresses to each of the plurality communication ports such that each MAC address appears in the set for a communication port for which the MAC address is the primary address (and such that each MAC address appears in M−1 other sets for other communication ports), and receiving a message packet from a client device across a network, the message packet directed to a primary MAC address of the first of the plurality communication ports.
US07710849B2
Provided is an optical head device and an optical information recording or reproducing device for performing recording or reproduction to/from a plurality of types of optical recording medium, which can obtain a stable track error signal by a small size and exhibits high efficiency. Light PD and light PC emitted from a double-wavelength light source make incidence to a diffractive optical element in the same polarization directions. Diffraction gratings have a double refractive characteristic and in these areas the polarization directions of the two light beams become orthogonal. The light of 650 nm band is divided into 0th-order light and ±1st-order diffracted light in one of the diffraction grating and transmits through the other diffraction grating. The light of 780 nm band transmits through one of the diffraction grating and is divided into 0th-order light and ±1st-order diffracted light in the other diffraction grating. The two light beams are emitted from the diffractive optical element in the same polarization direction and guided towards the optical recording medium through a polarizing beam splitter and a quarter-wave plate.
US07710847B2
An optical pickup apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information for an optical information recording medium, comprising a light converging optical system including a coupling lens and an objective lens, wherein a first diffraction structure is installed on the objective lens, and a second diffraction structure is arranged on the coupling lens, whereby the spherical aberration and chromatic aberration caused by the difference in the thickness of the protective layer are corrected in the light converging optical system as a whole.
US07710846B2
The present invention provides: a protection member used for preventing a contact between a lens for focusing light on an optical information recording medium and the optical information recording medium upon optically recording or reproducing information on or from the optical information recording medium, the protection member including an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene porous film; and an optical pickup device having the protection member.
US07710844B2
An optical storage system for storing data in an optical medium comprises an initial light source, a first sheet, a light modulator and a second sheet. The initial light source provides an initial light beam. The first sheet comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the initial light beam is partially reflected on the first surface to act as a reference beam, and the initial light beam partially passes the first surface, reflected on the second surface to act as a signal beam. The light modulator provides a pattern, wherein the signal beam contacts the light modulator. The second sheet comprises a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the reference beam is reflected toward the optical medium on the third surface, the signal beam is reflected toward the optical medium on the fourth surface, and the reference beam and the signal beam interfere with each other to store the pattern into the optical medium.
US07710840B2
A disk device includes: an optical pick-up, operable to reproduce data recorded in a disk; a flaw detector, operable to output a flaw detecting signal when a flaw formed on the disk is detected; and a jump controller, operable to control a track jump of the optical pick-up including a first track jump and a second track jump subsequent to the first track jump. A timing of starting to control the track jump corresponding to a still reproduction mode is determined based on a rotational position of the disk. When the flaw detecting signal is outputted in a time period in which the jump controller controls the first track jump corresponding to the still reproduction mode, the jump controller sets a timing for stating the second track jump to a timing different from a timing for starting the first track jump.
US07710838B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a focus out detecting apparatus which detects focus out with accuracy during reproducing or recording of data from/on an optical disc having a plurality of recording layers. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc apparatus in which a recording or reproducing performance of data is improved by use of the focus out detecting apparatus. A focus out detection signal is output when a level of a focus error signal exceeds a first predetermined level, then reflected light quantity from the optical disc becomes lower than a third predetermined level in a predetermined period, and then the level of the focus error signal exceeds a second predetermined level of an opposite polarity to the first predetermined level.
US07710833B2
A radio-controlled timepiece has a reception means that receives a standard radio signal containing time information; a demodulation means that demodulates the standard radio signal received by the reception means and outputs a demodulated signal; a waveform discrimination means that discriminates the waveform of the demodulated signal based on a specific waveform discrimination standard, and outputs a code corresponding to the waveform; a time information conversion means that converts the code output by the waveform discrimination means to time information; and a waveform discrimination standard changing means for changing the waveform discrimination standard.
US07710832B2
Methods, systems and machine readable media for operating a calendar in a data processing system. In one exemplary method, a calendar interface is displayed on a device, wherein the calendar interface is capable of zooming between a first or current time frame and a target time frame containing an invitation while preserving contextual continuity for the user.
US07710826B2
A method and apparatus for measuring a distance to a sound source. The method includes combining sound source signals input through at least two microphones and generating at least two microphone output signals, and performing an operation on the generated microphone output signals and calculating a distance to a sound source by using the relationship between a result of the operation and a frequency of the input sound source signals. Accordingly, regardless of the strength of a sound source, the distance to a sound source can be measured.
US07710821B2
A method is described for reducing multiples in marine seismic data using at least two sets of signals representing seismic energy reflected and/or refracted from an earth structure using a plurality of seismic receivers located in a body of water with the two sets differing in the traveltime of signals through the body of water, separating said signals into up- and down-going wavefields and combining the two sets to remove multiples.
US07710819B2
The present invention relates to streamer cables. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for preparing a streamer cable. The method may comprise retrofitting the streamer cable with a solid void-filler material, where the streamer cable was configured as a liquid-filled streamer cable. The retrofitting may comprise introducing a void-filler material into the streamer cable when the void-filler material is in a liquid state and curing or otherwise solidifying the void-filler material to a solid state. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a streamer cable comprising an outer skin and at least one sensor positioned within the outer skin. The streamer cable may also comprise a solid void-filler material positioned between the outer skin and the at least one sensor, wherein the solid void-filler material is coupled to the at least one sensor.
US07710804B2
In the auto precharge circuit, a plurality of read auto precharge signal generating units and a plurality of auto precharge signal output units share a single write auto precharge signal generating unit. Each read auto precharge signal generating unit logically combines an internal CAS command signal, an internal address signal and a pre auto precharge signal to generate an auto precharge detect signal and a read auto precharge signal. The write auto precharge signal generating unit delays the read auto precharge signal by a predetermined time to generate a write auto precharge signal. Each auto precharge signal output unit logically combines the internal CAS command signal, an internal address signal, a read auto precharge signal, and a write auto precharge signal to output an auto precharge signal.
US07710802B2
A method for testing a memory includes the following steps. First, data is read from the memory and stored to a first temporary memory. Meanwhile, expected data corresponding to the data from the memory is written into a second temporary memory from a tester. Thereafter, the data in the first temporary memory and the expected data in the second temporary memory are compared with each other to judge whether the memory has an enough operation window.
US07710795B2
A semiconductor memory device that includes a first high voltage oscillator configured to generate a first control pulse in response to a first enable signal, a level shifter configured to generate a high voltage control pulse by boosting a level of the first control pulse using a source high voltage, and a first high voltage generator configured to generate a high voltage by boosting an external power supply voltage in response to the high voltage control pulse.
US07710793B2
Provided are a write voltage generating circuit of a non-volatile memory cell and a write voltage generating method. The write voltage generating circuit includes a voltage generating unit providing a preliminary write voltage at a level below a defined target level, a voltage sensing unit receiving the preliminary write voltage and a reference signal, and in response to a comparison between the preliminary write voltage and the reference signal generating a start signal, and a switching unit generating and applying a write voltage derived from the preliminary write voltage at a writeable level to a non-volatile memory cell during the write operation in response to the start signal, wherein the writeable level is less than the target level.
US07710784B2
A nitride trapping memory device includes a comparator, a bias unit, a memory cell, a cycling cell, a compensation cell and a control unit. The comparator has a reference voltage. The bias unit is for outputting a bias voltage to the comparator, and the comparator outputs a bit value according to comparison of the bias voltage and the reference voltage. The memory cell is connected to the bias unit via a first switch. The cycling cell is connected to the bias unit via a second switch. The compensation cell is connected to the bias unit via a third switch. The control unit is for controlling the cycling cell and the compensation cell according to the bit value.
US07710776B2
A system and method for determining a SONOS VT window using a current sensing scheme is disclosed. The present invention creates a first current path and a second current path through the volatile and non-volatile sections of an nvSRAM memory cell. The erase threshold voltage of the first edge of the window is determined when current is detected in the first path. The program voltage of the second edge of the window is determined when current is detected in the second path. Accordingly, the voltage used to power a plurality of SONOS transistors may be set using the values of the first and second threshold edges to determine the VT window.
US07710768B2
A memory element which has high affinity with a conventional semiconductor process, which has a switching function of completely interrupting electric conduction paths by in a mechanical manner, and in which nonvolatile information recording is enabled is realized. An electromechanical memory which is formed on a substrate, which is formed by interposing a memory cell by electrodes, and which has a movable electrode that is a beam stretched in the air via a post portion is realized. According to the configuration, a nonvolatile memory can be realized by a simple structure, and it is possible to realize a high-performance electromechanical memory which is conventionally difficult to be realized, and in which the power consumption is low and the cost is low, and an electric apparatus using it.
US07710765B2
Methods, devices and systems for a back gated static random access memory (SRAM) cell are provided. One method embodiment for operating an SRAM cell includes applying a potential to a back gate of a pair of cross coupled p-type pull up transistors in the SRAM during a write operation. The method includes applying a ground to the back gate of the pair of cross coupled p-type pull up transistors during a read operation. The charge stored on a pair of cross coupled storage nodes of the SRAM is coupled to a front gate and a back gate of a pair of cross coupled n-type pull down transistors in the SRAM during the write operation and during a read operation.
US07710757B2
Magnetic track using magnetic domain wall movement and information storage device including the same
Provided are a magnetic track using magnetic domain wall movement and an information storage device including the same. A magnetic track may comprise a zigzag shaped storage track including a plurality of first magnetic layers in parallel with each other, and stacked separate from each other, and a plurality of second magnetic layers for connecting the plurality of first magnetic layers. The information storage device may include the magnetic track having a plurality of magnetic domains, current applying device connected to the magnetic track, and a read/write device on a middle portion of the magnetic track.
US07710749B2
A method and arrangement are disclosed for operating a converter circuit. Such a converter circuit has a converter unit having a multiplicity of drivable power semiconductor switches. The converter unit is connected to an electrical AC voltage supply system on the AC voltage side. The drivable power semiconductor switches are driven by means of a drive signal formed from reference voltages (u*Na, u*Nb, u*Nc). The reference voltages (u*Na, u*Nb, u*Nc) are formed from a periodic modulation index and from a periodic modulation angle.
US07710744B2
A method controls a Full Bridge converter with a Current-Doubler of the type including at least a first and a second half-bridges of diodes connected to respective control transistors. The method includes detecting a reference value, comparing, instant by instant, the reference value with an output voltage value of the converter, and carrying out a switching from a transfer phase to an energy recirculation phase in correspondence with instants when the output voltage value reaches the reference value.
US07710729B2
A system and method for estimating parameters of transmission lines employing phasor measurement units is provided, wherein measurements are provided from the phasor measurement units relating to a transmission line. These measurements are filtered to remove invalid measurements. Using the remaining valid measurements, resistance, reactance and grounding admittance are calculated and estimated and checked for errors.
US07710727B2
A heat sink assembly for an add-on card includes a heat sink and a clip received in the heat sink. The heat sink includes a supporting plate and a first and a second heat absorbing plates extending downwardly from the supporting plate. The first and second heat absorbing plates sandwich first and second heat conductive plates and the add-on card therebetween. The supporting plate is located over and spaced from the add-on card. The clip includes a resisting member, first and second engaging members and first and second pressing members. The resisting member is received in the heat sink and abuts upwardly against the supporting plate of the heat sink. The first and second engaging members engage with the first and second heat absorbing plates, respectively. The pressing members abut downwardly against a clasp clasping the conductive plates and the add-on card together.
US07710726B2
An electronic circuit apparatus for a compressor includes a board and a case. One corner of the board is fixed to case such that the board cannot move in the thickness direction and is movable in the flattening direction. According to this structure, even when an electronic part generates heat or outside air temperature of the case varies, the expansion or contraction of the board in the flattening direction is not affected by the expansion or contraction of the case in the flattening direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the board and stress from being repeatedly applied to a soldering portion of the electronic part. As a result, it is possible to ensure the reliability of soldering strength for a long time.
US07710724B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus has a housing, a first heat emitter and a second heat emitter which are accommodated in the housing, and a cooling device accommodated in the housing. The cooling device includes a heat sink to cool the first heat emitter, a first heat pipe which thermally connects the first heat emitter with the heat sink, a second heat pipe, and a fan unit which cools the heat sink and the second heat pipe. The second heat pipe has a first end portion which is thermally connected to the second heat emitter, and a second end portion which is located near the heat sink.
US07710717B2
A buffer to be used with a disk drive, the buffer including a main body provided to the disk drive; one or more protrusions extending from an inner or outer surface of the main body; and one or more inner spaces corresponding to the respective protrusions; wherein the inner spaces are formed on an apposite surface of the main body to the protrusions.
US07710712B2
A multi-layer ceramic capacitor capable of being sintered at 1,080° C. or lower in a reducing atmosphere, having a permittivity of 2,000 or more, a temperature characteristic of X7R characteristic or X8R characteristic, and favorable life time property, in which the internal electrodes are formed of Cu or a Cu alloy, the dielectric ceramics are constituted with grains each of an average value for the diameter of 400 nm or less as viewed on the cross section and grain boundaries, the grain comprises a dielectric substance having a domain pattern and shells formed on the surface of the dielectric substance and with t/D from 2% to 10% where D represents an average value for the diameter of the grains as viewed on the cross section and t represents the average value for the thickness of the shells.
US07710710B2
An electrical component includes ceramic layers that are stacked to form a base body, electrode layers among the ceramic layers to form at least one capacitor, at least one phase gate on a ceramic layer that corresponds to a surface of the base body, contact surfaces on a top surface of the base body, and through contacts that electrically connect the electrode layers to the contact surfaces. The through contacts are inside the base body at least in part. Side surfaces of the base body are substantially free of surface metallic contacts and of metal plating.
US07710707B2
A flexible ionizer uses soft X-ray and has a head unit generating soft X-ray whose wavelength is 1.2˜1.5 Å, a soft X-ray protect unit shielding the leak of the soft X-ray from the head unit, and a power control unit supplying a control signal and control voltage to the head unit. The head unit is positioned outside of the soft X-ray protect unit with the flexible ionizer further having a flexible tube protecting a high voltage cable that connects the head unit and power control unit from external impact or vibration and letting the user bend the head of the head unit at an arbitrary angle toward a charged body if necessary, a connecting device letting the ions generated at the window positioned inside of the body of the ionizer emit toward the charged body by connecting one end of the flexible tube and the head unit, and a connecting device connecting the other end of the flexible tube and the body of the ionizer. The high voltage power lines in the flexible tube are molded to prevent short circuits occurring at a near distance between the high voltage power lines and mutual induction voltages occurring. The short circuit and the mutual induction voltage are caused by the mutual influence of the high voltage lines.
US07710704B2
A drive circuit for a firing element of an occupant protection system comprises first and second supply potential terminals and first and second firing element terminals. A first semiconductor switching element is integrated in a first semiconductor body and has a first load terminal coupled to the first supply potential terminal and a second load terminal coupled to the first firing element terminal. A second semiconductor switching element is integrated in a second semiconductor body and has a first load terminal coupled to the second firing element terminal and a second load terminal coupled to the second supply potential terminal. The first and second semiconductor bodies are applied to a thermally conductive carrier element and commonly housed. A temperature detector is integrated in the second semiconductor body and provides an overtemperature signal at an output of the drive circuit upon detection of an overtemperature of the first semiconductor switching element.
US07710701B1
A system and method are disclosed for providing a process, temperature and over-drive invariant over-current protection circuit. The over-current protection circuit comprises a power transistor, a sense transistor, at least one current sense transistor and at least one current reference transistor. The over-current protection circuit provides a current limit trip value that remains substantially constant over temperature variations, and over-drive voltage variations, and process variations.
US07710700B2
A converter coupled to a DC voltage input and connectable to a load, includes a signal responsive switch coupled between a first circuit point and a second circuit point. Current flow is directed by the switch, when in a closed state, to the second circuit point to bypass the load. A regulator circuit has an output coupled to a control input of the switch. The regulator circuit has a first input for receiving a sensed load parameter, a second input for receiving a sensed current level signal at the second circuit point when the switch is in its closed state, and a third input for receiving a sensed current level signal at the second circuit point, measured directly, when the switch is in an open state. A fixed minimum time is set for the switch to be in the open state. The third input inhibits re-closing of the switch, providing current limit protection for the switch.
US07710693B2
An apparatus and method provide protection for a synchronous generator in a power system. The method includes deriving a plurality of generator safe operating boundary data expressions from power system data and/or user-defined inputs. The power system data may include a plurality of generator data supplied by a manufacturer of the generator and/or power system parameters such as power system equivalent impedance. Each generator safe operating boundary data expression may relate to a generator capability curve, a steady-state stability limit curve, a minimum excitation limiter curve, an over excitation limiter curve, or an user-defined curve. The method also includes calculating an active power value sum and a reactive power value sum based on generator three-phase currents and voltages, comparing these sums to at least one of the plurality of generator safe operating boundary data expressions, and to provide protection and/or alarming functions for the generator based on this comparison.
US07710691B2
In one illustrative example, a three terminal magnetic sensor (TTM) suitable for use in a magnetic head has a sensor stack structure which includes a base region, a collector region, and an emitter region. A first barrier layer separates the emitter region from the base region, and a second barrier layer separates the collector region from the base region. A plurality of terminals of the TTM include a base lead coupled to the base region, a collector lead coupled to the collector region, and an emitter lead coupled to the emitter region. Preferably, the base region consists of a free layer structure so as to have a relatively small thickness. A pinned layer structure is made part of the emitter region. An in-stack longitudinal biasing layer (LBL) structure is formed in stack with the sensor stack structure and has a magnetic moment that is parallel to a sensing plane of the TTM for magnetically biasing the free layer structure. The in-stack LBL structure is made part of the collector region which also includes a layer of semiconductor material. In one variation, the emitter region has the in-stack LBL structure and the collector region has the pinned layer structure. The TTM may comprise a spin valve transistor (SVT), a magnetic tunnel transistor (MTT), or a double junction structure.
US07710689B2
A narrow track width read sensor having a high magnetoresistive sensitivity is made using a self-aligned process which requires the use of only a single resist mask. A plurality of sensor layers which includes a top layer of noble metal is deposited over a substrate. Optionally, a central protective barrier which is conductive or reactive-ion-etchable is formed over these sensor layers. After forming a resist mask in the central region, first lead layers are deposited in the end regions and over the resist mask. Using the resist mask, ion milling is performed such that the first lead layers and sensor layers in the end regions are substantially removed but sensor layers in the central region remain, to thereby form a read sensor having lead overlays on the edges thereof. Hard bias and second lead layers are then deposited in the end regions and over the resist mask. After the resist mask is removed, the top of the read sensor may be oxidized through an exposure to oxygen plasma such that the magnetoresistive sensitivity of the read sensor is increased. Alternatively, the top layers of the read sensor may be removed or transformed by reactive ion etching (RIE).
US07710687B1
An integrated lead flexure or suspension including an insulating layer, a plurality of traces on the insulating layer and a stainless steel base layer on the side of the insulating layer opposite the traces. The traces are free of a conductive shield layer on the side opposite the insulating layer. One or more voids extend through the stainless steel layer below the traces. The voids are filled with a high conductivity metal layer.
US07710681B2
Provided are techniques for determining a tape speed for a next sync operation. A sync command is received. An average transaction size and an average host transfer rate of a set of previous sync operations are calculated. The tape speed for the next sync operation is determined using the average transaction size, the average host transfer rate, and a backhitch time. Data is written to a tape cartridge using the determined tape speed.
US07710678B2
The present invention provides a VCM driver realizing low power consumption and high accuracy and a PWM amplifier compensating a dead time distortion. A phase compensator, a ΔS modulator receiving an output signal of the phase compensator and converting the output signal to a control code of predetermined bits, a PWM modulator receiving the control code to produce a PWM signal, and an output circuit receiving the PWM signal to drive a voice coil constitute a forward path. A sense amplifier sensing a current of the voice coil, an ADC receiving an output signal of the sense amplifier, a low-pass filter receiving an output signal of the ADC, and a decimation filter receiving an output signal of the low-pass filter constitute a feedback path. An output signal of the decimation filter is fed back to the input side of the phase compensator to form a major feedback loop having a first-order characteristic loop gain. An output signal of the decimation filter is fed back to the output side of the phase compensator to form a minor feedback loop having a loop gain which is flat until a target band frequency when viewed from the output side of the phase compensator.
US07710671B1
A method of manufacturing electrically tintable window glass with a variety of sizes and functionalities is described. The method comprises: (a) providing a large format glass substrate; (b) fabricating a plurality of electrically tintable thin film devices on the large format glass substrate; (c) cutting the large format glass substrate into a plurality of electrically tintable pieces, each electrically tintable piece including one of the plurality of electrically tintable thin film devices; (d) providing a plurality of window glass pieces; (e) matching each one of the plurality of electrically tintable pieces with a corresponding one of the plurality of window glass pieces; and (f) laminating each of the matched electrically tintable pieces and window glass pieces. The lamination may result in the electrically tintable device either being sandwiched between the glass substrate and the window glass piece or on the surface of the laminated pieces. The electrically tintable device is an electrochromic device.
US07710670B2
An ND filter including an alternating layer which is composed of two films being alternately stacked and formed on a transparent substrate, the two films having different refractive indexes, wherein the alternating layer has a substrate-side reflected light attenuating multi-layered film and a transmittance adjusting multi-layered film formed on the transparent substrate in the stated order from the transparent substrate side, and the light absorption amount of the substrate-side reflected light attenuating multi-layered film is set to be 20% or more and 30% or less. Thus, an ND filter having satisfactory front surface reflection characteristics and rear surface reflection characteristics can be stably obtained while the transmittance of 4% or more and 11% or less is maintained with respect to the entire visible region (400 nm or more and 700 nm or less).
US07710668B2
A lens barrel includes: a plurality of lenses disposed in an outer enclosure; an imaging device that converts image light introduced through the plurality of lenses into an image signal; a movable unit including a movable lens and a lens holder that holds the movable lens; a lead screw rotated by a drive motor; a nut member made of a metal material threadably engaging the lead screw and connected to the lens holder, the nut member moved by the rotation of the lead screw in the optical axis direction moving the movable unit in the optical axis direction; a guide shaft that guides the movable unit in the optical axis direction, both axial ends of the guide shaft held by the outer enclosure; and an urging spring that presses part of the lens holder against the nut member when the movable unit moves in the optical axis direction.
US07710660B2
A lens barrel includes a first holding member configured to hold a lens, a second holding member configured to hold the first holding member, a protection member located at an object side of the lens in an openable and closable manner and configured to protect the lens when in a closed state, and a drive member configured to open and close the protection member. The first holding member includes an adjustment surface configured to support the first holding member rotatable with respect to the second holding member around a point located on an optical axis of the lens. The drive member is located such that the drive member overlaps the first holding member as viewed from an optical axis direction of the lens.
US07710647B2
A 3-D image observation apparatus includes a reflection type image display panel that has a digital micro mirror device, a magnifying optical system, and at least two light sources. The light sources are positioned at different locations relative to the reflection type image display panel, with the micro mirrors of the digital micro mirror device being variable in tilt angle such that light from a first light source is reflected to the left eye of an observer when the left image is displayed on the display panel in a time-division manner, and light from a second light source is reflected to the right eye of the observer when the right image is displayed on the display panel in a time-division manner. In this manner, one does not need to wear special glasses in order to experience a wide-angle, 3-D viewing experience.
US07710632B2
By selectively placing color filters with different transmittance spectrums on an array of modulator elements each having the same reflectance spectrum, a resultant reflectance spectrum for each modulator element and it's respective color filter is created. In one embodiment, the modulator elements in an array are manufactured by the same process so that each modulator element has a reflectance spectrum that includes multiple reflectivity lines. Color filters corresponding to multiple colors, such as red, green, and blue, for example, may be selectively associated with these modulator elements in order to filter out a desired wavelength range for each modulator element and provide a multiple color array. Because the modulator elements are manufactured by the same process, each of the modulator elements is substantially the same and common voltage levels may be used to activate and deactivate selected modulation.
US07710630B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a method, apparatus and/or system of producing a color image using four or more primary colors. The apparatus, according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention, may include an optical arrangement to selectively split polychromatic light into at least four primary-color light beams, and to direct the at least four primary-color light beams towards at least four reflective spatial light modulators, respectively. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07710626B2
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical element driving apparatus which includes a first actuator configured to drive an optical element in accordance with a deformation target value, a sensor arranged to measure a position and an orientation of the optical element, a second actuator configured to drive the optical element in accordance with position and orientation target values and an output of the sensor, and a correcting unit configured to correct a measurement error of the sensor caused by deformation of the optical element.
US07710612B2
A method of effacing zipper image, applicable to scan a document by a scanner with a stagger charge-coupled device. The nth (n is a positive integer) pixel value obtained by scan on a scan line at which the zipper image is produced is subtracted by the (n+1)th pixel value obtained by scan on the scan line. The absolute value of the result is then compared to a critical value. If the result is smaller than the critical value, the nth pixel is modified by the method.
US07710607B2
The generation of an N-dimension look-up table used (N≧2) in conversion processing of input image data includes acquiring a value of the input image data for every channel corresponding to a respective dimension of the N-dimension look-up table by analyzing the input image data to be processed, determining an input value range of each dimension of the N-dimension look-up table based upon the acquired value, arranging a predetermined number of grid points in the determined input value range with regard to each dimension of the N-dimension look-up table, and setting an output value of each arranged grid point based upon desired image conversion processing.
US07710599B2
An image processing apparatus implements appropriate image processing on image data stored in a storage unit of the image processing apparatus easily and efficiently, and distributes the image data to an external apparatus. An image format conversion unit implements image processing such as resolution conversion processing, filter processing, γ correction processing, and halftone processing on image data stored in an HDD serving as an image data storage unit so that the image data conform to conditions, such as image quality and format, specified by an external client apparatus. The image-processed image data are then distributed to the external client apparatus.
US07710581B2
A wavelength of an optical source is monitored by first and second adjacent detectors on a common base. A bulk reflective component has first and second partially reflective surfaces that respectively direct first and second portions of energy from the source to the first and second detectors. A wavelength discriminator is positioned between the first detector and first surface. An optical isolator downstream of the reflective component prevents radiation from the source and exiting the component from being coupled to the detectors and back to the source.
US07710576B2
A system for determining a level of angle random walk (ARW) associated with a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes first and second photodiodes. The first photodiode is configured to receive a first light signal from a light source associated with the FOG. The second photodiode is configured to receive a second light signal from a fiber optic coil associated with the FOG. First and second analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are operable to respectively convert the first and second light signals into corresponding respective first and second digital signals. A digital relative-intensity-noise (RIN) subtraction element is configured to receive the first and second digital signals and output a third signal based on the first and second digital signals. An electronic device is configured to determine a first noise level associated with the third signal, and determine the ARW level from the first noise level.
US07710574B2
A device in miniature and fabrication of such a device for interferometric use is described, the device including a substrate with at least one deep reactive ion etching structure on at least one surface of the substrate forming an optical bench. The optical bench preferably comprises a moving stage, an actuator, one or more connector sockets and one or more optical components.
US07710573B2
The invention relates to a device useful for non-invasive detection of the properties of a medium by means of interferometry. The device comprises an optical source which is used for illuminating a zone of the medium that is to be probed with a light beam, and an interferometer for splitting the light beam into a reference beam and a probe beam. The interferometer has a cutoff frequency for the automatic control of respective path lengths of the reference beam and of the probe beam. The device also comprises scanning means which, together with the probe beam, are used to scan the zone to be probed at an image acquisition frequency greater than the cutoff frequency.
US07710572B2
A fault detection and classification method is disclosed that uses raw back-focal-plane image data of radiation from a substrate surface, detected by a scatterometer detector, to determine a variation in the raw data and correlate the variation in the raw data with a possible fault in a lithographic apparatus or a process that patterned the substrate surface. The correlation is carried out by comparing the variation in the raw data with known metrology data. Once a fault has been determined, a user may be notified of the fault.
US07710571B2
The invention relates to a spectroscopy system and improved membrane formation techniques. The system has at least one light source operable to generate a source beam and a prism having a rear surface. A support block is disposed on the rear surface of the prism. The support block is formed with at least one sample well having a center and defines a substantially vertical rear cell surface having a center. The source beam is aimed at the sample well. A syringe filled with a membrane solution and having a needle with a distal end disposed in front of the sample well. The distal end is aimed at a point above the center of the rear cell surface. The syringe is operable to eject a steady stream of membrane solution from the needle onto the circular rear cell surface thereby forming a membrane defining at least a portion of a layer under test. The membrane has a substantially uniform thickness that covers substantially the entire rear cell surface. A detector operable to detect light that is at least one of reflected and scattered by the layer under test.
US07710563B2
A method of imaging with an optical system characterized by a diffraction-limited resolution volume is disclosed. In a sample that includes a plurality of phototransformable optical labels (“PTOLs”) distributed in the sample with a density greater than an inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume of the optical system, a first subset of the PTOLs in the sample are activated, and the density of the activated PTOLs in the first subset is less than the inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume. A first portion of the PTOLs in the first subset of PTOLs is excited. Radiation emitted from the activated and excited PTOLs in the first portion of PTOLs is detected with the imaging optics, and locations of activated and excited PTOLs in the first portion of PTOLs is determined with a sub-diffraction-limited accuracy based on the detected radiation emitted from the activated and excited PTOLs.
US07710561B2
Methods are disclosed of generating a visible image of an object or scene under study. At least a portion of the object or scene under study is illuminated with light outside a visible portion of an electromagnetic spectrum. Light scattered by the object or scene under study is received. The received light is spectroscopically analyzed for volume elements of the object or scene under study. A respective qualitative feature of the object or scene under study is identified at least one of the volume elements. Visible light is propagated to the at least one of the volume elements according to the respective qualitative feature of the object or scene under study at the at least one of the volume elements.
US07710559B2
In a calibration reference light source and a sensitivity calibration system using the same, a plurality of single-wavelength light sources for emitting reference lights having mutually different single-wavelengths are used instead of a black body radiation source for radiating a white light, and not only the intensities of the single-wavelength reference lights, but also the wavelengths thereof are measured to obtain sensitivity correction coefficients of intensity-to-radiance conversion data. Thus, obtained reference radiance are highly reliable and sensitivity correction of spectrophotometers and spectral illuminometers can be performed with high accuracy and reliability at a user side, whereby the calibration reference light source and the calibration system using the same can be obtained at low cost.
US07710558B2
An apparatus which measures a size and a shape of a transparent sheet includes a conveyor, a lighting apparatus, an imaging device and a process controller. The conveyor moves the transparent sheet. The lighting apparatus projects light onto the transparent sheet. The imaging device receives reflected light reflected from the transparent sheet. A thickness is input into the process controller. A sheet temperature from a sheet temperature sensor and/or a structure temperature from a structure temperature sensor are output to the process controller. An image is output from the imaging device to the process controller. The process controller outputs the size and the shape of the transparent sheet. The outputs from the process controller are used to adjust machine tools used to fabricate the transparent sheet.
US07710557B2
A surface defect inspection apparatus is structured to add detection signals of multi-directionally detected scattered lights to detect a tiny defect and to individually process the respective detection signals to prevent an error failing to detect an anisotropic defect.
US07710556B1
A substrate inspection system of a type that receives substrates disposed within a cassette and inspects a planar surface of the substrates with a read head, where the substrates are inspected while they are disposed within the cassette, and the read head is of a size to fit between adjacent substrates within the cassette. In this manner, the substrates do not need to be removed from the cassette, and no robotic arm is required to do so.
US07710554B2
Apparatus for monitoring the alignment of marking lasers in a room for diagnosis and/or treatment in the radiation therapy, characterized by a housing, which is provided with holding means for the installation in the room and which has the following a linearly extending photosensor and an analyzing unit, which compares the position of the light generated by the laser on the photosensor with a reference position, and generates a corresponding signal upon a deviation of the measured position from the reference position.
US07710536B2
A liquid crystal diffraction lens element and an optical head device, which can switch focal lengths of both of outgoing light and returning light by a single element, are provided.The liquid crystal lens element comprises transparent substrates 1a, 1b, a liquid crystal 4 sandwiched between the transparent substrates 1a, 1b, transparent electrodes 2a, 2b, birefringent Fresnel lens members 3a, 3b each having a Fresnel lens shape and made of a birefringent material, and a seal 5, wherein the extraordinary refractive index direction A of the birefringent Fresnel lens member 3a and the extraordinary refractive index direction B of the birefringent Fresnel lens member 3b are perpendicular to each other, and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal 4 at the interface between the liquid crystal 4 and the transparent substrate 1a is perpendicular to the alignment direction of the liquid crystal 4 at the interface between the liquid crystal 4 and the transparent substrate 1b.
US07710531B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light source, a light source drive circuit for switching the light source on and off, a heat release member for releasing heat generated by at least one of the light source drive circuit and the light source, and a heat transport member for transporting the heat to the heat release member. The light source drive circuit is connected to the heat release member through the heat transport member. The heat transport member has high heat conductivity so that a large part of the heat can be transferred to the heat release member through the heat transport member for a short time. Thus, the heat transport member prevents the heat from affecting components disposed near the light source drive circuit or the light source.
US07710530B2
A color filter substrate includes: an insulating transparent substrate; a color filter layer provided on the insulating transparent substrate, including a plurality of colored layers and constituting an in-screen display region; and an in-screen frame region defined around the in-screen display region. A light-blocking layer is provided in the in-screen frame region to cover the insulating transparent substrate. A first spacer part and a second spacer part are formed in the in-screen frame region and the in-screen display region, respectively, and are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the insulating transparent substrate. The sum of the height of the first spacer part and the thickness of the light-blocking layer is substantially equal to the sum of the height of the second spacer part and the thickness of the color filter layer.
US07710524B2
A liquid crystal display having one or more pixels, each of which includes a first sub-pixel operating at a first threshold voltage, and a second sub-pixel neighboring the first sub-pixel, and operating at a second threshold voltage. The first sub-pixel is divided into two separate portions by the second sub-pixel to form at least four domains of liquid crystal molecules illuminating at various gray levels for improving viewing angle characteristics of the liquid crystal display.
US07710520B2
A liquid crystal display device that reduces the likelihood of liquid crystal misalignment and driving errors is presented. The liquid crystal display device also improves color reproductively. The device includes a first substrate, and second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer placed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a gate line and a data line that define a pixel region, a thin film transistor provided at an intersection area of the gate line and the data line, an organic film formed on the thin film transistor and having a depressed portion, a reflective film formed on the organic film, a black matrix, a color filter layer formed in the pixel region, and a pixel electrode formed on the color filter layer. The color filter layer has a different thickness in the depressed portion than in the rest of the pixel region.
US07710511B2
In a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is attached to the lower side of the LCD panel. Some, or all, of the light management layers may be attached together as a laminated stack of films. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is formed with a recessed region on one side and another optical film positioned within the recessed region.
US07710510B2
A liquid crystal display and adjustable support thereof. The liquid crystal display includes a display panel, a moving assembly and a locking assembly. The moving assembly is connected to the display panel, and moves the display panel. The locking assembly is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the locking assembly is in the first position, the moving assembly is abutted by the locking assembly so that the display panel cannot be moved by the moving assembly. When the locking assembly is in the second position, the moving assembly is not abutted by the locking assembly so that the display panel can be moved by the moving assembly.
US07710508B2
Exemplary embodiments relate to a liquid crystal display and a method thereof. The liquid crystal display may include a display panel having a liquid crystal layer interposed between a first substrate and a second substrate, and a bezel having a lower surface, sidewalls formed perpendicularly to the lower surface, and sub-sidewalls adjacent to the sidewalls. The display panel may be received in the bezel so that the first substrate may correspond to the lower surface, and side surfaces of the first substrate may correspond to the sidewalls.
US07710503B2
A signal processing arrangement has a signal source for providing a radio frequency (RF) signal, a signal output point, and first control means coupled between the signal source and the signal output point for controlling the selection of a low noise figure amplifier in response to the magnitude of an RF signal on a tuned channel frequency and the magnitude of an RF signal in the vicinity of said tuned channel frequency.
US07710499B2
An invention for measuring, maintaining and correcting synchronization between signals which suffer varying relative delays during transmission and/or storage is shown. The preferred embodiment of the invention finds particular use in measuring the relative delay between multiple audio signals and an associated video signal of a television type program which is compressed via MPEG or other compression for a transmission and/or storage system. The invention marks the video signal at a time when a particular event in the associated audio occurs. The mark is carried with the video throughout the video processing. After processing the same event in the audio is again identified, the mark in the video identified, the two being compared to determine the timing difference therebetween.
US07710496B2
The invention relates to a carrier that holds a component in a defined position on a circuit board in a housing or housing part. In particular, the invention relates to a carrier for a sensor board on which a light-sensitive sensor is mounted. According to the invention, it is proposed that the carrier have at least one mechanical keying that interacts with a corresponding mechanical keying on the circuit board.
US07710492B2
An imaging device having an imaging element which takes a subject image by light from a subject passing through a photographing lens and obtains an image data, includes a filter selection device configured to select a filter transmitting an optional frequency component of the subject image; an autofocus detection device configured to detect a focus from an image data obtained by moving a focus lens to a lens position; and an acquisition timing setting device configured to set a timing of capturing the image data, the imaging device being configured to use the acquisition timing setting device in accordance with a photographing condition, and change the filter of the filter selection device in accordance with the acquisition timing set by the acquisition timing setting device.
US07710490B2
When image data is sent and received between cameras via communication, it is possible for the user to ascertain the images that are being communicated. Thumbnail image data for transfer purposes is transmitted from a transmit-side camera to a receive-side camera. Main (full-size) image data is thenceforth transmitted from the transmit-side camera to the receive-side camera. When the main image data is sent and received, display screens on respective ones of the cameras display an image in which a transfer thumbnail image represented by transfer thumbnail image data moves from the display screen on the transmitting side to the display screen on the receiving side.
US07710488B2
A method of acquiring multimedia data and a multimedia data acquisition apparatus are disclosed. Pre-acquisition of multimedia data is performed before a user activates a triggering device, such as a shutter. The invention improves the quality of multimedia acquiring. By using the processing procedure of the invention, when capturing images, the user can select the image having the best quality and being acquired at the best timing according to the image capturing results.
US07710483B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of light-receiving elements which are arranged by rows and columns; a plurality of vertical transfer units each of which is arranged for a corresponding column of the light-receiving elements, and is operable to vertically transfer a plurality of signal packets and a dummy packet in a packets-mixing mode, the signal packet including charges read from the light-receiving elements, the dummy packet being a packet other than the signal packets, and N columns of the vertical transfer units forming one column group; a plurality of holding units which are arranged in final stages of the vertical transfer units in N columns except M columns in the column group, and each of which is operable to mix, hold, and vertically transfer charges of the signal packets and the dummy packet without depending on vertical transfer from upstream of the corresponding vertical transfer unit; a horizontal transfer unit operable to mix, hold, and horizontally transfer the charges transferred from the holding units or the vertical transfer units in the M columns in the column group; and a driving unit operable to drive the vertical transfer units, the holding units, and the horizontal transfer unit, wherein the driving unit is operable to drive, in the packets-mixing mode, the holding units and the horizontal transfer unit to generate a first mixed packet and a second mixed packet in the horizontal transfer unit, the first mixed packet includes: a plurality of signal packets belonging to a same row and neighbor columns of a same color; and a dummy packet belonging to a same column as the signal packets, and the second mixed packet includes no signal packet but a plurality of dummy packets in a same column as the signal packets included in the first mixed packets.
US07710481B2
A circuit for use in an image sensor as well as an image sensing system using the circuit are set forth. The circuit comprises a memory device having a non-volatile memory cell, a control gate, a drain and a source. The circuit also employs a photosensitive semiconductor device that is positioned for exposure to electromagnetic radiation from an image. A pixel control circuit is connected to these components to direct the memory device and the photosensitive semiconductor device to a plurality of controlled modes. The controlled modes may include an erase mode and an exposure mode. In the erase mode, at least a portion of an electric charge is removed from the non-volatile memory cell to place the memory device in an initialized state. In the exposure mode, the non-volatile memory cell is charged at least partially in response to a voltage at a terminal of the photosensitive semiconductor device. The voltage at the terminal of the photosensitive semiconductor device corresponds to exposure of the photosensitive semiconductor device to the electromagnetic radiation from the image. The pixel control circuit may also direct the memory device and the photosensitive semiconductor device to further modes including a read mode and a data retention mode. In the read mode, current flow between the source and drain of the memory device is detected as an indicator of the charge on the non-volatile memory cell. In the data retention mode, the charge on the non-volatile memory cell of the memory device that was acquired during the exposure mode is maintained notwithstanding further exposure of the photosensitive semiconductor device to the electromagnetic radiation from the image. The circuit, and one or more peripheral support circuits, may be implemented in a monolithic substrate using, for example, conventional CMOS manufacturing processes.
US07710467B2
An image processing apparatus which is connected to a printer apparatus and controls the printer apparatus to print a shot image, includes an image sensing unit for shooting an image, a setting reception unit for receiving settings as to whether or not date information of shooting is to be added to the image shot by the image sensing unit, an addition unit for adding the date information to the image shot by the image sensing unit on the basis of the received settings, an identifier generation unit for generating an identifier, which is used to identify whether or not the date information is added to the shot image and to limit a printing condition of the printer apparatus, on the basis of the received settings, and appending the identifier to a header of the shot image, and a transmission unit for transmitting the image having the header appended with the identifier to the printer apparatus.
US07710463B2
A camera array captures plural component images which are combined into a single scene. In one embodiment, each camera of the array is a fixed digital camera. The images from each camera are warped to a common coordinate system and the disparity between overlapping images is reduced using disparity estimation techniques.
US07710454B2
The present invention is a method for MPEG compliance testing that designs test bit streams such that every frame of the expected decoded video is known. The test bit stream is generated, decoded and stored as an expected output decoded video. The test bit stream is fed to the device under test where it is decoded. Actual output video is compared with the expected decoded video on a frame-by-frame basis. The test results are indicated by discrepancies, which can be visually examined by human or by computer, through a comparison of the two videos. During generation of the test bit stream, for a given GOP structure, the subsequent P and B frames are determined by varying the selected testing MPEG parameter with the whole range of its possible values, while keeping other parameters constant.
US07710452B1
A method of remotely detecting rule violations at an outdoor site according to one aspect of the invention includes installing a self-contained VMU at the outdoor site near ground elevation, including affixing a chassis of the VMU to a permanent mount. The VMU is operated in a low-power standby mode that includes passively monitoring an ambient magnetic field at the outdoor site to detect a disturbance caused by a presence of a substantial ferrous object. In response to a detection of a disturbance in the ambient magnetic field, the VMU exits the low-power standby mode and initiates an active operating mode. The active operating mode includes operating a video camera by the VMU to capture video data; and wirelessly transmitting a signal representing at least a portion of the video data to a computer network. The video data is received by a remote node in the computer network via the computer network, and stored in association with a database record.
US07710450B2
A system and method are provided for capturing and transmitting frames in a video conference. The method comprises determining a frame rate and a shutter speed according to variable control data, capturing image data according to the determined shutter speed, and transmitting the captured image data through a communication interface to a remote video conference system. The variable control data specifies a relationship between the frame rate and the shutter speed.
US07710435B2
A visual effect generating module for changing visual effects of a selected image block within an image area is disclosed. The visual effect generating module includes a color changing module for receiving and changing pixel values of a plurality of pixels within the selected image block and a first multiplexer coupled to the color changing module for selectively outputting pixels corresponding to the image area or pixels output from the color changing module.
US07710424B1
A method and system for accessing texture data is disclosed. The method includes the step of storing a low resolution version of a block of texture data in a low latency memory and storing a high resolution version of the block of texture data in high latency memory. Upon a request for the high resolution version of the block of texture data, the high resolution version is fetched from the high latency memory to the low latency memory. The low resolution version is subsequently accessed from the low latency memory until the high resolution version is fetched into the low latency memory.
US07710421B2
A map data updating system is basically provided with a map distribution system and at least one map data updating device. The map distribution system includes a map data generating section and an information distributing section. The map data updating device is configured to process the distribution map data from the map distribution system, and includes a map data updating determining section and an update map data requesting section. The map data generating section configured to generate distribution map data including at least one target map data unit of a map that has been divided into a plurality of map units, with the distribution map data including map data version information for a target map unit to be updated and at least one perimeter map unit existing along a perimeter of the target map unit to be updated. The information distributing section configured to electronically distribute the distribution map data. The map data updating determining section configured to determine whether to update previously stored map data corresponding to the target map unit based on the map data version information included with the distribution map data. The update map data requesting section configured to send an update map data delivery request to the information distributing section when the map data updating determining section determines previously stored map data version information of the map data updating device relating to the at least one perimeter map unit does not match the map data version information included with the distribution map data.
US07710420B2
The invention is directed to a product life cycle management (PLM) system, comprising a database storing objects, preferably 3D objects, and relations between said objects. The PLM system provides a graphical user interface suitable for displaying to a user a graphical representation of a hierarchy of stored objects. The graphical user interface is adapted, upon selection of a displayed object by a user, to display objects related to the selected object. At a given level in the hierarchy, displayed objects are distributed according to a respective weight. The weight of a displayed object depends on the number of its descendants in the hierarchy, which are displayed in said graphical representation. The invention makes it possible to navigate in a database of a PLM system, storing notably complex modeled objects through interrelated data. Thanks to the principle of the weight dependence discussed above, the solution further allows the user to comprehend its progression through the organized data as well as the relations between objects and this, in an easy and intuitive way.
US07710417B2
A method of performing spatial binning of particles is described which can be performed on a graphics processing unit. A stencil buffer is primed with a pattern which controls the writing of data to a framebuffer. A first shader is used to calculate the co-ordinates of the bin in which a particle is located and a second shader is used to write the particle's ID to a location representative of that bin in the framebuffer. The pattern in the stencil buffer ensures that particle data within a bin is not overwritten and the stencil buffer also maintains a record of the number of entries within each bin.
US07710415B2
Systems and methods for modifying a virtual object stored within a computer. The systems and methods allow virtual object modifications that are otherwise computationally inconvenient. The virtual object is represented as a volumetric representation. A portion of the volumetric model is converted into an alternative representation. The alternative representation can be a representation having a different number of dimensions from the volumetric representations. A stimulus is applied to the alternative representation, for example by a user employing a force-feedback haptic interface. The response of the alternative representation to the stimulus is calculated. The change in shape of the virtual object is determined from the response of the alternative representation. The representations of the virtual object can be displayed at any time for the user. The user can be provided a force-feedback response. Multiple stimuli can be applied in succession. Multiple alternative representations can be employed in the system and method.
US07710412B2
The present invention realizes a liquid crystal display device which can be driven with a low voltage while preventing the degradation of liquid crystal by reducing a residual charge of a pixel electrode even when a drive circuit is abnormally stopped. As a field effect transistor which is formed on a pixel, a field effect transistor in a depletion mode which is turned on in a state that an OFF signal is not applied to a gate terminal of the transistor is used. A substrate voltage supply line which supplies a substrate voltage to pixel regions is provided, and the substrate voltage is supplied via a through hole formed in the pixel portion thus controlling an optimum threshold value in response to an input signal. Wiring is made in a peripheral portion of a display region such that video signal lines and the substrate voltage supply line intersect each other.
US07710408B2
A system for information management comprises a central unit and a plurality of user units which are arranged to record information and send the information to the central unit. Particulars are stored in the central unit about a plurality of regions, each of which represents an area on at least one imaginary surface. One of the user units records information which comprises at least two coordinates and sends the information to the central unit. When the central unit receives the information from the user unit, it identifies to which region the coordinates belong and determines how the information is to be managed, based on the region affiliation.
US07710402B2
An information display device (1A) comprises a touch panel (TP), an information display panel (LCD) located under the touch panel (TP) and four strip-like piezoelectric elements (E), which are caused to be vibrated and displaced by a pressing force generated when the touch panel (TP) is pressed, being disposed at the outer peripheral portion of the touch panel (TP), wherein both end portions of each strip-like piezoelectric element (E) are supported by surface-like holders (112A, 112B) with twist resilient deformation structures and a rotary shaft (113) so that each strip-like piezoelectric element (E) may not be disturbed from being vibrated and displaced. In this touch panel type information device, both end portions of a plurality of strip-like piezoelectric elements are supported by the supporting member having the holders with the twist resilient deformation structure which do not disturb both end portions of the strip-like piezoelectric elements from being vibrated and displaced.
US07710398B2
A computer mouse having rotational detectability is disclosed. The mouse has an outer housing adapted for directional movement on a horizontal plane. The mouse includes the conventional left and right buttons and scroll wheel. Additionally, the mouse includes an extendable plunger which, when extended, prohibits movement of the mouse in x-y directions yet permits rotational movement about the plunger. A sensor is included proximate the plunger for measuring rotational movement of the mouse about the plunger in the horizontal plane.
US07710394B2
Improved approaches for users of computing devices to interact with graphical user interfaces are described. According to one aspect, a rotational user action supplied by a user at a user input device is transformed into linear action with respect to a graphical user interface. According to another aspect, a portion of an extended list of items is displayed by a graphical user interface and, through rotational user actions at a user input device, the portion of the list being displayed can be varied with welcomed ease of use. Although the type of computing device can vary, the improved approaches are particularly well-suited for use with a portable media player.
US07710393B2
Improved approaches for users to with graphical user interfaces of computing devices are disclosed. A rotational user action supplied by a user via a user input device can provide accelerated scrolling. The accelerated nature of the scrolling enables users to scroll or traverse a lengthy data set (e.g., list of items) faster and with greater ease. The amount of acceleration provided can be performed in successive stages, and/or performed based on the speed of the rotational user action. In one embodiment, the rotational user action is transformed into linear action with respect to a graphical user interface. The resulting acceleration effect causes the linear action to be enhanced such that a lengthy data set is able to be rapidly traversed.
US07710390B2
The object of the invention is a method and a software application embodying the method for displaying the information in the display (10) of a data processing device in a situation where a portion of the display (10) area, and thus also a portion of the information on the display, is covered by an obstacle (11) in front of the display (10). The method according to the invention detects the size and position of the obstacle (11), and then regroups (12c) the information in the display (10) into a portion of the display (10), which is not left behind the detected obstacle (11).
US07710385B2
An data driver for driving an LCD device includes a modulator that generates modulated data from input data; and a control circuit to selects between converting the modulated data to first analog data of a driving output and converting the input data to second analog data of the driving output, and to supply the driving output to the plurality of data lines. The driving output may provide a gray-to-gray response time of the LCD device substantially the same as one of a black-to-white and a white-to-black response time of the LCD device by reducing actual liquid crystal response time of the LCD device.
US07710375B2
A novel driving method is provided in which source line inverting drive or dot inverting drive is performed for a case of driving a plurality of source lines by one D/A converter circuit in a source signal line driver circuit of an active matrix image display drive that corresponds to digital image signal input. In a first driving method of the present invention, two systems of grey-scale electric power supply lines are supplied to a source signal line driver circuit in order to obtain output having differing polarities from a D/A converter circuit, switches for connecting to the two systems of grey-scale electric power supply lines are prepared in each D/A converter circuit, the grey-scale electric power supply lines connected to each D/A converter circuit are switched in accordance with a control signal input to the switches, and source line inverting drive or dot inverting drive are performed.
US07710360B2
There is provided a plasma display device including: a nonlinear conversion circuit which nonlinearly converts a first image signal to a second image signal and expresses the second image signal by a real part and an error part to avoid use of a specific subfield lighting pattern; an error diffusion circuit which, when the error part of the second image signal is not zero, spatially or temporally diffuses the error part; and a subfield pattern conversion circuit which, when a lighting pattern of subfields is selected based on the error-diffused second image signal, selects another subfield lighting pattern without using the specific subfield lighting pattern.
US07710358B2
An image display apparatus, such as a plasma display panel, suppresses dynamic false contours with gradation levels sufficiently retained. The image display apparatus has agitation constant adder for generating a plurality of agitation constants for a gradation level corresponding to an image signal, for selecting one agitation constant therefrom, and for adding the agitation constant to the image signal. As a result, dynamic false contours can not be visually perceived because their portions are dispersed by superimposing an agitation to each image signal.
US07710355B2
A plasma display panel includes first display electrodes and second display electrodes positioned inside barriers while opposing each other. A front panel has closed-type barriers to increase fluorescent substance application area. A rear panel has stripe-type barriers to lower address voltage between the first display electrodes and address electrodes and improve emission efficiency by means of long-gap discharge. The plasma display panel uses trigger discharge during address discharge and sustain discharge to lower discharge voltage.
US07710349B2
In a method for sharing multimedia application data by a plurality of communication devices, at least two communication devices establish a short-rang wireless communication link to a data distribution device. At least one of the communication devices informs the data distribution device of the data that are offered for sharing, and these data are presented by the data distribution device on a display. A user of one of the communication devices being connected to the data distribution device selects and requests data that he wants to download to a communication device, and the requested data are then transmitted to the communication device via the data distribution device.
US07710343B2
Generalized non-limiting embodiments include employing a dipole antenna and/or a half slot antenna. Each of the antennas constitutes three mutually perpendicular radiating elements to achieve good isolation and low antenna signal correlation between the three ports. In one generalized non-limiting embodiment the antennas are fabricated on FR-4 epoxy boards. Experimental results show that the antennas resonate a reasonable frequency and have a desired mutual coupling. In addition experimental results for the diversity performance and the MIMO channel capacity are also provided for these antennas and these results show that the herein described antennas offer good diversity gain and the channel capacity can be increased by as much as three times by using these antennas over conventional antennas.
US07710339B2
An antenna device including a reflectarray with array antenna elements, and an outer feed provided with a waveguide and a widening funnel which in a widened end carries a waveguide aperture for illumination of the reflectarray. The antenna device eliminates or at least reduces a position dependence of an antenna lobe with respect to frequency. Furthermore, the antenna device presents a low monostatic radar cross section and compactness. To this end the antenna device is fed offset and is provided with a device for movement of a phase center of the antenna with a frequency relative to the waveguide aperture of the feed in the vicinity of the waveguide aperture.
US07710331B2
An improved multilayer antenna has patch assembly divided at least into two. It comprises, in addition to the primary patch element, a secondary patch additional element. The patch element and the patch additional element can be positioned toward one another and at least partly in one another to change the overall height thereof. The patch additional element is held by a separate holding and support means, preferably by a hood covering the entire antenna assembly.
US07710330B2
A dual-band inverted-F antenna including a radiation element, a ground element, a conductive pin, and a signal feed-in portion is described. The radiation element includes a loop portion, a first radiation portion, and a second radiation portion. After being fed in through the signal feed-in portion, a first band signal and a second band signal are wirelessly transmitted/received by the first radiation portion and the second radiation portion respectively in one aspect, and transmitted to the conductive pin through the loop portion and finally to the ground element in another aspect. The loop portion is directly short-grounding, such that the bandwidths of the first and the second band signals in operation are increased, thereby improving the overall radiation efficiency.
US07710321B2
A system and method for estimating the range between two devices performs two or more ranging estimates with subsequent estimates performed using a clock that is offset in phase with respect to a prior estimate. The subsequent estimate allows estimate uncertainties due to a finite clock resolution to be reduced and can yield a range estimate with a higher degree of confidence. In one embodiment, these additional ranging estimates are performed at n/N (for n=1, . . . N−1, with N>1 and a positive integer) clock-period offset introduced in the device. The clock-period offset can be implemented using a number of approaches, and the effect of clock drift in the devices due to relative clock-frequency offset can also be determined. To eliminate the bias due to clock-frequency offset, a system and method to estimate the clock-frequency offset is also presented.
US07710311B2
A transmitter section radiates a short range wave to a space. A receiver section has a detector circuit composed of a branch circuit which receives a reflection wave of the short range wave radiated to the space by means of the transmitter section and branches in phase a signal of the reflection wave into first and second signals, a linear multiplier which linearly multiplies the first and second signals branched in phase by means of the branch circuit, and a low pass filter which samples a baseband component from an output signal from the linear multiplier. A signal processor section carries out an analyzing process of an object which exists in the space based on an output from the receiver section. A control section makes a predetermined control with respect to at least one of the transmitter section and the receiver section based on an analysis result from the signal processor section.
US07710300B2
A sigma-delta digital to analog converter (DAC) module converts the digital input signal to the analog output signal through segmentation, including a primary and a secondary sigma-delta modulator. The primary sigma-delta modulator produces a primary digital segment and a primary quantization error. A primary sample is delayed, decoded, scrambled and converted to produce a primary analog segment. A secondary sigma-delta modulates the primary quantization error to produce a secondary digital segment which is noise shaped by a noise transfer function of the primary sigma-delta modulator to produce a noise shaped secondary digital segment which is decoded, scrambled, converted and scaled to produce a secondary analog segment. An adder combines the primary analog segment and the secondary analog segment to produce the analog output signal.
US07710298B2
An integrated circuit includes first and second inputs configured to receive an input signal. A plurality of comparator stages is coupled in parallel to the first and second inputs. Each comparator stage is configured to perform a comparison on the input signal and provide an output signal based on the comparison. A control circuit is configured to cause the comparator stages to switch to an auto-zeroing mode in a staggered manner, thereby compensating offset voltages of the comparator stages while providing a continuous-time digital output signal.
US07710296B2
A method of context adaptive binary arithmetic coding and decoding groups a plurality N binary symbols in corresponding syntax elements and divides a range into 2N subranges based upon corresponding contexts. The invention encodes data by selecting an offset determined by the probability states of the context of the N binary symbols. Decoding is similar with the place of the coded offset within the 2N subranges determining the syntax decoding. When the total number of binary symbols to be coded does not equal an integral multiple of N, the invention codes dummy binary symbols at the end of a grouping of a plurality N binary symbols. Probability state updates occur only following every N binary symbols.
US07710292B2
A system and method for entering text via a numeric keypad. The keypad is logically divided into columns, with each column having four rows. The first column includes at least the keypad number associated with a particular key, the second column includes the lowercase letters associated with the key and the third column contains the shifted versions of the characters in the second column.
US07710291B2
A method for generating driver assistance information of a traveling vehicle. The method can restructure traveling environments into an image based on a sensor system capable of removing blind spots around a traveling vehicle, and a scheme capable of exactly detecting a lane and a vehicle, and give a collision warning when there is a possibility of collision. Further, the method integrates recognition results of front/rear vehicles based on a lane recognition method applicable to various road environments, including the shape, curvature and loss of a lane, improves the stability of lane recognition, and distinguishes a solid line from a dot line, so it is possible to provide a driver with the subdivided degrees of danger. In addition, when a vehicle deviates from a lane, a voice warning may be output and the position of the vehicle for a road is restructured as an image.
US07710290B2
Situational location dependent information is transmitted from a server data processing system to a receiving data processing system. The server data processing system communicates with the receiving data processing system in a manner by pushing content when appropriate. A candidate delivery event associated with a current positional attribute of the receiving data processing system is recognized and a situational location of the remote data processing system is determined. The candidate delivery event may be a location and/or direction change, device state change, or movement exceeding a movement tolerance. The situational location of the remote data processing system may be its location, direction, location and direction, proximity to a location, state change, or location and/or direction relative to a previous location and/or direction, or combinations thereof. A set of delivery content from a deliverable content database is transmitted from the server data processing system to the receiving data processing system according to the situational location of the receiving data processing system, and according to delivery constraints. The delivery content is configurable by authorized administrators on an instant activation basis for proactive delivery.
US07710279B1
A safety alarm system for motor vehicle drivers is disclosed. The system is removable from a steering wheel and includes a control box system with power supply, switch, alarm and timer. The driver monitors the timer via a visual display. The timer repeatedly counts down until a time-out event occurs causing an alarm to activate. Removable and manually operated sensors are provided on the rim of a steering wheel that monitor tactile pressure or feedback from a driver. Upon receipt of driver feedback, the sensors send a reset signal to the timer and the timer renews its countdown. The safety alarm device is adaptable for installation on a steering wheel by a steering wheel cover configured for adaptation to a particular vehicle.
US07710275B2
An apparatus including an enclosure for an RFID reader to be affixed to a storage container; an RFID reader that scans a first storage container using a first antenna and a second storage container using a second antenna; and a networked system of RFID apparatuses including a primary RFID apparatus and secondary RFID apparatuses that are controlled by the primary RFID apparatus.
US07710273B2
Remote communication devices, radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, wireless communication methods, radio frequency identification device communication methods, and methods of forming a remote intelligent communication device are provided. According to one aspect, a remote intelligent communication device includes communication circuitry configured to at least one of receive communication signals and generate communication signals; and an antenna coupled with the communication circuitry and substantially tuned to a plurality of frequencies, the antenna being configured to communicate wireless signals corresponding to the communication signals including at least one of receiving wireless signals and outputting wireless signals. Another aspect includes a wireless communication method including providing a remote intelligent communication device having an antenna substantially tuned to a plurality of frequencies; and communicating wireless signals using the antenna including at least one of receiving wireless signals at one of the frequencies and outputting wireless signals at one of the frequencies.
US07710272B2
An RFID device is capable of stopping and restarting a response via a response stop command. The device is capable of initializing a part of or the whole of internal data including a response restart set data storage portion. The device is capable of using command data from an external communication equipment to look up response restart data at the restart of a response, deciding a data storage area and content that may be initialized when the restart is possible, and rewriting a data storage portion.
US07710268B2
A system to protect personal property may include an electronic tag associable with a personal property item. The system may also include a controller adapted to wirelessly communicate with the electronic tag to determine a status of the electronic tag to protect the personal property item from loss or theft.
US07710262B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a method for operating two or more mobile terminals in an interactive session. The mobile terminals are provided with one or more sensors. The data captured by the sensors is sent via a wireless connection to the other mobile terminals that participate in the interactive session. The data received from the other mobile communication terminals is communicated to the user of the respective mobile communication terminals via the user interface.
US07710258B2
Emergent information is created and utilized by an array of sensors. Each sensor is programmed with a trigger rule, which describes a local condition that must be met for the sensor to trigger an event signal, and a relationship rule, which describes a hierarchy of communication control among sensors in the array of sensors. When a predetermined percentage or weighting of the sensors trigger event signals, emergent information that describes conditions at the array location is generated.
US07710256B2
A cell phone based test capability enables a tester to audibly communicate with a fire alarm control unit. A detector can be selected and tested. Test results can be audibly communicated to the tester via the cell phone. The tester can initiate the next test via the cell phone.
US07710255B2
A circuit arrangement in whose operational range a system parameter or an ambient parameter lies within a first range. The arrangement includes a node configured to receive a misadjustment signal and a sensor configured to detect the system parameter or the ambient parameter. The sensor is coupled to the node and is configured to detect whether the system parameter or the ambient parameter lies in a predetermined second range. The sensor outputs an alarm signal if the system parameter or the ambient parameter does not lie in the second range, within which the first range lies. The sensor is further configured to permanently adjust the second range in reaction to the misadjustment signal such that the second range does not encompass the first range.
US07710248B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates collision warning. During operation, the system receives information on one or more predicted collisions and determines a utility of issuing a warning for a predicted collision based on the received information. The system further schedules one or more warnings for the predicted collisions based on the utilities of issuing the warnings.
US07710244B2
A remote engine starting system starts an engine when an engine start command signal is transmitted from a remote controller or an ignition key. The system includes an immobilizer ECU, which sets an immobilizer system to prohibit vehicle travel and drives an LED to flash to thereby indicate the vehicle travel prohibition. When the engine is started by the ignition key, the immobilizer system is unset and the LED stops the indication of the vehicle travel prohibition. When the engine is started by the remote controller, the immobilizer system is unset but the LED continues to flash to indicate the vehicle travel prohibition.
US07710237B2
A case includes first and second halves, each having an opening in its one side, combined together with the openings opposed to each other. A moving member is accommodated within the case and slidingly movable along a movement guide. An operator is connected to the moving member. The operator has a proximal end connected to the moving member, a free end projecting outwardly from an upper surface of the case, and a bent portion bent between the both ends. Tops of the first and second halves are displaced from each other, in a direction vertical to the upper surface, to form a gap permitting entry of the operator. Edge regions of the tops of the both halves overlap with each other in the direction vertical to the upper surface, and the bent portion is bent so that the free end projects outwardly through the gap in the overlapping regions.
US07710233B2
An electrical component having multiple layers includes dielectric layers that are stacked to form a main body, electrodes positioned at intervals between at least some of the dielectric layers, and at least two bumps configured to act as electrical contacts for the electrical component. The bumps are on a surface of the main body. The electrical component also includes contacts in the main body that electrically connect bumps and electrodes. The electrodes define first and second electrode stacks, each of which contacts one of the bumps.
US07710230B2
A transformer including an insulating housing, a first bobbin, a primary coil, a second bobbin, a secondary coil, a first core and a second core is provided. The insulating housing has a first chamber and a second chamber separated from the first chamber, wherein two apertures of the first chamber and the second chamber are respectively disposed on two opposite side-walls of the insulating housing. The first bobbin has a first through hole disposed in the first chamber. The primary coil is surrounded on the first bobbin. The second bobbin has a second through hole disposed in the second chamber. The secondary coil is surrounded on the second bobbin. The first core is inserted to the first through hole and the second through hole. The first core and the second core are coupled together to form a magnetic loop.
US07710211B2
An injection-locked frequency divider includes a signal injection circuit and colpitts VCO. The signal injection circuit is for injecting an injection signal. The colpitts VCO includes first and second transistors, first and second LC tank circuits and a cross-coupled transistor pair. The first terminals of the first and second transistors receive the injection signal. The first and second LC tank circuits are for determining resonance frequency of an oscillation signal of the colpitts VCO. The cross-coupled transistor pair includes third and fourth transistors. The control terminals of the third and fourth transistors are respectively coupled to first terminals of the fourth and third transistors. The first terminals of the third and fourth transistors are respectively coupled to a first terminal or control terminal of the first and second transistors for providing an equivalent negative resistance. The injection signal and oscillation signal are mixed in frequency to generate differential output signals.
US07710206B2
A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process includes a current controlled, phase locked loop device having a phase detector configured to compare a reference frequency to an output frequency of a current controlled oscillator (ICO), a charge pump coupled to the phase detector and a low pass filter coupled to the charge pump. A voltage to current (V to I) converter is coupled to the low pass filter, providing an output current for integral control of the ICO. A control circuit is coupled to the ICO, and receives increment and decrement outputs of the phase detector, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide proportional control of the ICO through an amount of bias current applied thereto.
US07710200B2
The present invention relates an output buffer and a power amplifier having the same. The output buffer includes a push-pull circuit unit, an output unit, and a driver. The push-pull circuit unit includes transistors connected to each others in a push-pull formation between a high level power voltage and a low level power voltage. The output unit is connected to the high level power voltage and the low level power voltage, and the driver drives the output unit according to a signal from the push-pull circuit unit.
US07710190B2
An apparatus for compensating temperature changes in a temperature associated with a compensated device includes: (a) An input circuit having a first input locus for receiving a temperature-indicating signal and a second input locus for receiving a sign-indicating signal. The temperature-indicating signal indicates magnitude of the temperature. The sign-indicating signal indicates a first sign when a control signal is greater than a predetermined value and indicates a second sign when the control signal is less than the predetermined value. (b) A signal processing circuit coupled with the input circuit and with the host device for presenting a substantially a zero value temperature-compensating signal when the ambient temperature is at a predetermined level, and for presenting the temperature-compensating signal substantially opposite in polarity with substantially equal magnitude as the temperature-indicating signal received at the first input locus when the ambient temperature is not at the predetermined level.
US07710189B2
A semiconductor switch according to an embodiment of the invention includes resistive members connected with a source and a drain witch are n-type diffusion layers formed in a P-well of an n-type MOSFET. When a gate of the n-type MOFET is turned off, a positive voltage is applied to a node between the resistive members for a reverse bias at a PN junction between the source and the drain, and the well. When the gate is turned on, the node between the resistive members is set to 0 V.
US07710187B2
A gate drive circuit includes a turn-on side circuit for turning on a gate of a power switching device, the turn-on side circuit including a first turn-on side power supply circuit and a second turn-on side power supply circuit, the first turn-on side power supply circuit including: a first turn-on voltage source for supplying a first turn-on voltage; first turn-on wiring; and a first turn-on switch connected in the first turn-on wiring and controlled by a gate drive signal; and the second turn-on side power supply circuit including: a second turn-on voltage source for supplying a second turn-on voltage applied to the gate of the power switching device to set the power switching device in a steady (on) state; second turn-on wiring; a second turn-on switch connected in the second turn-on wiring; and a turn-on side delay circuit for delaying the gate drive signal and passing it to the second turn-on switch.
US07710184B2
The invention refers to signal processing circuits, more particularly, to switch capacitor circuits, and methods for reducing inter-symbol-interference. A switch capacitor circuit with reduced Inter-Symbol-Interference effect is provided, comprising: a voltage source, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and at least one switch configured to be switched in a way that the first capacitor is charged to a first voltage by means of the voltage source, and then discharged by means of the second capacitor, thereby reducing the Inter-Symbol-Interference effect.
US07710179B2
A programmable gain attenuator (PGA) in particular to be used in a track-and-hold circuit is disclosed. The PGA is located in the feedback path around an operational amplifier. One tap switch is used to connect one PGA section to the output of the operational amplifier. The PGA section is capable of producing a multiplicity of different gain settings by using a multiplicity of secondary resistive devices in a voltage divider, wherein the resistive devices each can be independently coupled to a reference voltage.
US07710178B2
A delay apparatus for a delay locked loop includes a plurality of delay devices that are formed by modeling a plurality of signal processing structures through which a delay locked loop clock output from a delay locked loop reaches an output circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus from an output terminal of the delay locked loop. At least one of the plurality of delay devices is composed of a variable delay device in which a delay time varies according to a change in operation voltage.
US07710176B2
An electronic monitor for monitoring characteristics of an AC power line for swells, sags, RMS voltage, impulses, total harmonic distortion (THD) and frequency. The waveform is received at the monitor, scaled to a lower magnitude, rectified by an op amp with zero offset voltage, converted a digital form which is representative of the waveform and processed to determine the occurrence of any irregularity in the AC power waveform. Two DMA channels are used to store each cycle, or groups of cycles, of the waveform into two buffers for further processing. An input surge protective circuit limits impulse voltage to the power supply. Related methods are also disclosed.
US07710170B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits for clock signal generation. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide semiconductor devices that include a power source and a phase lock loop circuit. The power source provides a supply voltage to the phase lock loop circuit. The phase lock loop circuit includes and on-chip control voltage source and a voltage controlled oscillator. The on-chip control voltage source is capable of producing a control voltage that varies between a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage. The voltage controlled oscillator receives the control voltage and provides a clock signal with a frequency corresponding to the control voltage. The maximum voltage is greater than the supply voltage. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than double the supply voltage. As another example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than six times the supply voltage.
US07710167B2
A circuit having a first circuit portion configured to receive a pulse-width modulated first signal and a second signal, and configured to generate third and fourth signals each responsive to the first and second signals; a second circuit portion configured to receive the third and fourth signals and to generate a fifth signal responsive to both the third and fourth signals; and a third circuit portion configured to control an on/off state of a first switch in response to the fifth signal, wherein the second signal is present at a load path terminal of the first switch. Also, various related methods.
US07710165B2
A Voltage-to-Current converter includes a current mirror having first and second poles, a first transistor coupled between the first pole of the current mirror and a low voltage through a first resistor, a second transistor coupled between the second pole of the current mirror and a low voltage through a second resistor wherein the second resistor is substantially identical with the first resistor, and wherein the output current is dependent on resistance of the first resistor, the input voltage signal applied to the gate of the first transistor, and a reference voltage signal applied to the gate of the second resistor.
US07710157B2
Boolean logic circuits comprising nanotube-based switching elements with multiple controls. The Boolean logic circuits include input and output terminals and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. Each switching element includes an input node, an output node, and a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube. A control structure is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel along the nanotube channel element. At least one nanotube switching element non-volatilely retains an informational state and at least one nanotube switching elements volatilely retains an informational state. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. Dual rail cascode logic circuits may also be constructed from the nanotube switching elements.
US07710149B1
An input buffer circuit has a plurality of selectively enabled differential amplifier circuits, where each differential amplifier is configured for compatibility with a particular differential I/O standard and its corresponding input operating range. For example, the input buffer may have two differential amplifiers suitable for receiving LVDS differential input signals over a wide input operating range, and another differential amplifier suitable for receiving the PCML differential input signals. One or more control signals are provided to the input buffer, e.g., programmably, to selectively enable the required differential amplifier(s) for a given I/O standard.
US07710142B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes power supply pads of two or more kinds, switches each of which is connected between adjacent two of the power supply pads to allow short-circuiting them, and at least one control line connected to control terminals of the switches according to the kinds of the power supply pads connected to the switches.
US07710141B2
A method and apparatus for dynamic characterization of reliability wearout mechanisms is disclosed. The system comprises an integrated circuit incorporating a device under test to be measured, structure for inputting a waveform to the device under test for a first predetermined time interval, structure for disabling the inputting of the waveform to the device under test, structure for measuring one or more fundamental parameters of the device under test after a second predetermined time interval, and structure for calculating an aging estimate of the device under test without the influence of recovery effect based on the one or more measured fundamental parameters. The time between stressing and measurement is precisely controlled, providing for repeatable experiments, and serves to minimize measurement error caused by recovery effects.
US07710139B2
An electro-optical device includes a test circuit for testing drive of a plurality of pixel units and a plurality of test terminals that output inputted signals to the test circuit or that output signals inputted from the test circuit. The test terminals including a first test terminal input with a high frequency signal with a frequency higher than a frequency of a signal output from a second terminal. A third test terminal is interposed between the first test terminal and the second test terminal.
US07710137B2
A method includes loading a plurality of integrated circuit devices into a tester. At least one parameter is determined for each of the integrated circuit devices using the tester. At least one relative acceptance criterion associated with the parameter is determined based on the determined parameters for the plurality of integrated circuit devices. A pass/fail status of each of the integrated circuit devices is determined using the relative acceptance criterion.
US07710129B2
A potential measurement apparatus is provided which can suitably maintain the oscillation state of an oscillator including a detection electrode and stably measure the potential of a measurement object. The potential measurement apparatus includes a bearing part, an elastic supporting part supported by the bearing part, an oscillator movably supported by the elastic supporting part, detection electrodes installed in the oscillator, a drive mechanism driving the oscillator and a signal detection unit. The signal detection unit is connected to the detection electrodes to detect electrical signals appearing in the detected electrodes. A stress detecting element for generating an electric signal according to the stress of the elastic suspension part 142 is provided.
US07710127B2
A system and method is provided for reading a test strip by measuring the light intensity incident on a photodiode. The method may include reverse biasing the photodiode, measuring a time required to charge a capacitor using current generated by the photodiode, and using the time required to charge the capacitor to determine a condition of the test strip. The system may include a photodiode being reverse biased and a capacitor being charged by the reversed biased photodiode. The length of time to charge the capacitor may be proportional to the light intensity incident on the photodiode and may be used to determine a condition of the test strip.
US07710125B2
In fill-level measuring devices according to the pulse-transit-time method, a reflection that is generated internally in a microwave module is used as a reference for transit time measuring. For generating the reference pulse, the microwave module comprises its own sampling mixer or its own oscillator. Subsequently, the echo signal and the reference pulse can be further processed separately or together. No delay line is necessary on the transmission frequency of the radar sensor. Interference as a result of leakage signals is largely prevented.
US07710118B2
A metal detector transmitting high current pulses and employing the high voltage back EMF signals which occur at their termination. The method employed uses a resonant tuned receive coil which provides a major improvement in the depth of detection of metallic objects and interference rejection over current time and frequency domain metal detectors.
US07710117B2
A current unit having two or more current paths allows control of magnitude, phase, time, frequency and position of each of element in a radio frequency coil. For each current element, the current can be adjusted as to a phase angle, frequency and magnitude. Multiple current paths of a current unit can be used for targeting multiple spatial domains or strategic combinations of the fields generated/detected by combination of elements for targeting a single domain in magnitude, phase, time, space and frequency.
US07710114B2
An apparatus for producing a nuclear spin-polarized noble gas by spin-polarizing a noble gas in the presence of an optical pumping catalyst under application of magnetic field and laser light, including a cell having a thin reaction chamber, a gas introduction conduit connected in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for feeding the noble gas, a gas discharge conduit connected in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, a first gate valve having an outlet port connected to the gas introduction conduit and an inlet port adapted to be in fluid communication with a noble gas introduction line, a second gate valve having an inlet port connected to the gas discharge conduit and an outlet port, and a capillary tube removably connected to the outlet port of the second valve for recovering a nuclear spin-polarized noble gas produced in the reaction chamber. The apparatus may be directly connected to NMR or MRI.
US07710110B2
A robust solution for eccentricity issues in 360 degree rotary sensor application utilizing a hollow cylindrical magnet. A hollow cylindrical magnet design can be implemented to drive a parallel field magnetic sensor based on Hall/AMR technologies. Eccentricity variations of +/−0.46 mm on X and Y axes can be reduced by at least 20%, in turn improving the repeatability, linearity error and a correlation error associated with the sensor. For tilts of +/−3 degrees, the error can be reduced to at least 50% compared to a solid magnet, thereby increasing the repeatability and accuracy of the rotary sensor. The disclosed design improves linearity, is robust in vibration and improves reliability in lifecycle as the sensor configuration is less affected by wear and tear due to mechanical vibrations.
US07710109B2
A relative position of two articles is determined by generating a magnetic field using a magnetic element of a first article and determining a first measurement value and a second measurement value using a sensor arrangement of a second article, with the first and the second measurement values correlated to the size of the magnetic field in two different spatial directions and correspond to two different magnetic field components. The sensor arrangement is selected such that the first magnetic field component is essentially parallel to the direction of relative movement of the articles and the second magnetic field component is essentially perpendicular to the relative direction of movement of the articles. A difference signal of the absolute magnitudes of the first and second measured values is used to determine the relative position of the first and second articles. A position detector is also provided.
US07710098B2
A high-side driver circuit for a switching power supply, configured to translate a low-side switching control signal referenced to a first ground rail to a high-side switching control signal referenced to a second, high-side ground rail for driving a switching control connection of a power switching device, the high-side driver circuit including first and second inputs to receive first and second low-side switching control signals; a differential amplifier having a differential pair of inputs coupled to said first and second inputs and having an output, the differential amplifier having a ground connection for connection to said high-side ground rail and a power connection to receive a power supply from a second voltage supply; and an output coupled to said differential amplifier output to provide the high-side switching control signal.
US07710096B2
A reference circuit comprises a first current generator comprising a first transistor operably coupled to a second transistor and having respective base current corresponding to a positive temperature dependence of the reference circuit. A resistance is operably coupled to the first current generator and arranged to provide a second current corresponding to a negative temperature dependence of the reference circuit. A second current generator is operably coupled to the resistance and the first current generator that generates a combined current as a sum of the second current and base current. In this manner, the output voltage of the curvature compensated voltage and/or current reference circuit is substantially linear and substantially independent of the operating temperature of the circuit.
US07710095B2
A PWM controller compensates a maximum output power of a power converter having a power switch. The PWM controller includes an oscillator for generating a saw signal and a pulse signal, a power limiter coupled to the oscillator for generating a saw-limited signal in response to the saw signal, and a PWM unit coupled to the power limiter and the oscillator to generate a PWM signal for controlling the power switch in response to the saw-limited signal and the pulse signal. The saw-limited signal has a level being flattened during a period of time before an output voltage is generated, and is then transformed to a saw-limited waveform after the period of time.
US07710089B2
A method and apparatus for a Regulator that automatically configures to work in either SMPS mode or linear mode are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes inputting a constant current source to a CBoot_pin for a first predetermined amount of time upon enabling an autodetect circuit by a Regulator control circuit. The CBoot voltage at the CBoot_pin is then determined to see if the CBBoot voltage at the CBoot_pin is above a predetermined CBoot voltage for a second predetermined amount of time. The Regulator is then switched to operate in SMPS mode if the CBoot voltage is substantially continuously above the predetermined CBoot voltage for a second predetermined amount of time. The SMPS is operated in linear mode if the CBoot voltage is substantially continuously below or equal to the predetermined CBoot voltage for a second predetermined amount of time.
US07710088B2
The switching regulator has a first switching regulator circuit for outputting a variable power according to a pulse width modulation pulse to be supplied; a second switching regulator circuit for outputting or stopping a constant power according to a control signal to be supplied; and a control circuit for controlling the first switching regulator circuit and the second switching regulator circuits. The control circuit increases the variable power of the first switching regulator circuit by an amount greater than a regular amount if a detected voltage changes from a status higher than the target voltage to a status lower than the target voltage, and decreases the variable power of the first switching regulator circuit by an amount greater than the regular amount if the detected voltage changes from a status lower than the target voltage to a status higher than the target voltage.
US07710085B2
An energy transfer element includes a first winding coupled to an input circuit and a second winding coupled to an output circuit. The first winding has a first unit and a second unit, and the second winding is wound between the first unit of the first winding and the second unit of the first winding. The energy transfer element further includes a third winding provided between the first unit of the first winding and the second winding. The third winding is used to supply a bias voltage of the input circuit, and a winding width of the third winding is greater than a winding width of the first unit of the first winding and a width of the second winding.
US07710075B1
The battery apparatus introduced here provides a tool for reliably measuring the run time to empty of a battery used in a network storage server for protection of data during a failure mode. The battery run time to empty can be determined by a management controller based on battery information generated by a controller and received at the management controller. The information received at the management controller includes run time to empty, voltage, current and current battery capacity.
US07710070B2
A battery pack apparatus is provided. The battery pack includes a battery, a circuit board connected to the battery, and a detecting unit on the circuit board configured to detect a battery power line of the battery detached from the circuit board by detecting a battery voltage drop.
US07710063B2
An electric power converter, electric power conversion system and method that, without using a DC-DC converter, uses and allots the electric power of plural power sources while reducing the volume and losses. At least one phase of the motor is connected to plural power sources and generates and synthesizes pulses from output voltages of plural power sources so as to drive the multi-phase AC motor. A different phase of the motor is connected to one DC power source and generates pulses from the output voltage of the power source so as to generate a driving voltage for the multi-phase AC motor. This arrangement allows use/allotment of the power of plural power sources with a reduced number of semiconductor components.
US07710057B2
A raindrop sensor outputs a measurement signal, which corresponds to a quantity of raindrops in a predetermined sensing range in a wiping range on a windshield. A prohibited time period setting arrangement sets a time period, during which a wiper blade is predicted to pass through the predetermined sensing range, as a raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period based on an elapsed time from a time point of supplying a drive command signal to a wiper motor, which drives the wiper blade. The determining arrangement determines the quantity of raindrops on the windshield based on the measurement signal outputted from the raindrop sensor in a raindrop quantity sensing execution time period, which is outside of the raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period.
US07710056B2
Current control circuit controls an output voltage of DC power supply so as to increase current passing through inverter circuit as the motor increases its the speed. The control offers an RPM—torque characteristic of the motor in which torque increases as the RPM increases. By virtue of the RPM—torque characteristic, a ventilating device employing brushless DC motor exhibits preferable air quantity—static pressure characteristic where less change in air quantity is expected even when a pressure loss—outside wind pressure, duct length or the like—varies.
US07710048B2
An illuminator includes a primary power supply and a secondary supply. The first power supply includes a primary wire. The secondary power supply includes two energy-recycling units each comprising a magnetically conductive annular core made of iron powder and a secondary wire wound around the magnetically conductive annular core. The primary wire is wound around the energy-recycling units. A first illumination unit is connected to the primary wire. A second illumination unit is connected to the secondary wires. A first pulse modulator is connected to the primary wire and the first illumination unit. A second pulse modulator is connected to the primary wire and the second illumination unit. An oscillator is connected to the primary wire and the first pulse modulator.
US07710026B2
An electroluminescent (EL) device having an LED formed on a substrate with at least two electrodes formed over the substrate, and an EL unit formed between the electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is transparent. At least one of the electrodes is patterned to define independently controllable light-emitting areas. A cover is formed over the LED. The cover or substrate is transparent. A light-scattering layer is formed between the cover and substrate for scattering light. A low-index element, having an optical index lower than other optical indices, is formed between the scattering layer and the transparent cover or substrate. Additionally, a contrast-enhancement layer includes alternating light-absorbing portions and light-transmissive portions formed in the layer located between the light-scattering layer and the transparent substrate or cover through which light is emitted, wherein the light-absorbing portions and light-transmissive portions are located in each light-emitting area.
US07710021B2
An organic electroluminescent display (OELD) device comprises a first electrode on a first substrate having an active region and a non-active region at periphery of the active region, the active region including a plurality of pixel regions and the non-active region including a power supply region; an organic luminescent layer on the first electrode in the plurality of pixel regions; a first organic layer on the first electrode in the power supply region; a second organic layer on the first substrate in an outer region of the power supply region; a second electrode on the organic luminescent layer; a driving thin film transistor connected to the second electrode and formed on a second substrate; and a power supply terminal connected to the first organic layer and formed on the second substrate, wherein the first organic layer has substantially the same shape as the organic luminescent layer, and the second organic layer has substantially a different shape from the organic luminescent layer.
US07710019B2
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display includes a substrate, an auxiliary electrode disposed on the substrate, a first signal line disposed on the substrate, a second signal line crossing the first signal line, a driving voltage line disposed on the substrate, a first thin film transistor connected to the first signal line and the second signal line, a second thin film transistor connected to the first thin film transistor and the driving voltage line, a first electrode connected to the second thin film transistor, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a light-emitting member disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The auxiliary electrode is connected to one of the driving voltage line and the second electrode.
US07710002B2
A piezoelectric resonator for an oscillator contained in an upper concave portion of an insulating case that has a metal lid with which the upper concave portion is air-tightly closed comprises a GND electrode being conductively coupled to an earth pattern of the piezoelectric resonator and provided on an outer bottom face of the insulating case, a piezoelectric connecting electrode being conductively coupled to an excite electrode of the piezoelectric resonator and provided on the outer bottom face of the insulating case, and an adjustment electrode being conductively coupled to the metal lid and provided on the outer bottom face of the insulating case in such a way that a regulator circuit in an IC part conductively contacts with the adjustment electrode if the IC part including the oscillation circuit is attached to the outer bottom face of the insulating case, wherein the metal lid serves as an adjustment terminal.
US07709999B2
A thin film piezoelectric resonator includes a substrate having a cavity; a first electrode extending over the cavity; a piezoelectric film placed on the first electrode; and a second electrode placed on the piezoelectric film, the second electrode having a periphery partially overlapping on the cavity and tapered to have an inner angle of 30 degrees or smaller defined by a part of the periphery thereof and a bottom thereof.
US07709995B2
A linear motion actuator is disclosed in which an actuator shaft is held in a ready position by a latching ring. A spring is attached to the actuator shaft to exert a biasing force on the actuator shaft biasing it toward its actuated position. The latching ring receives one end of the actuator shaft and has locking elements that hold the actuator shaft in the ready position. A latching ring is rotated to selectively release the locking element. A shape memory alloy link extends partially around the latching ring and is secured to the latching ring. The link is shortened when current is applied to the link causing the link to rotate and release the locking element.
US07709984B2
The invention relates to a device for determining the center deviation of a shaft (3) comprising a stator (1) in which an exciting winding system provided with a number of Perr pole pairs is arranged and two output winding systems provided with respective number of Paus pole pairs, wherein the output winding systems are remotely arranged with respect to each other in the stator, the shaft (3) is movably placed in the stator (1) in such a way that it makes it possible to display the shaft center deviation, when ¦Perr−Paus¦=1, an air gap is situated between the stator (1) and the shaft (3), the device voltage source is arranged for supplying the exciting winding system with an alternating voltage and the device output evaluation system is provided for determining the center deviation according to the voltage induced by the output winding systems.
US07709979B2
A cooling device comprising a heat pipe (6) which is provided with an electrically-isolating part (15) between the evaporating (8) and condensing (7) parts thereof, such that the hot and cold areas are isolated electrically from one another. The evaporating part (7) of the heat pipe (6, 60, 61) is connected to a voltage regulator (2) or to a current rectifier belonging to a rotating electric machine. The invention is suitable for an alternator or an alternator-starter.
US07709976B2
Novel system for supplying power from multiple power sources to a powered device has first and second input power supplies for respectively providing power from first and second power sources. An input selector circuit is responsive to the first and second input power supplies for producing an input power supply signal provided to a power regulator, such as a DC-DC converter, for generating a regulated output power supply signal. The power regulator includes a first transistor device controlled to support conversion of the input power supply signal into the output power supply signal if the input power supply signal is provided by the first input power supply, and a second transistor device controlled to support conversion of the input power supply signal into the output power supply signal if the input power supply signal is provided by the second input power supply.
US07709975B2
An exemplary redundant power supply system includes a first power supply, a second power supply, a first sensor, a control circuit, and a relay switch. The control circuit includes a first input terminal connected to the first power supply via a first sensor to receive a status signal of the first power supply, a first NOT gate, a delay circuit connected to the first input terminal via the first NOT gate, a first output terminal sending a first control signal, and a second output terminal sending a second control signal. The relay switch configured to receive the two control signals from the two output terminals of the control circuit, and select the first power supply or the second power supply to supply power to an electronic device according to the two control signals.
US07709974B2
Provided is a power supply device including a power supply unit that supplies a driving voltage for driving at least one or more loads; a current balancing unit that maintains a current balance of the driving voltage supplied to the respective loads; a detection unit that detects currents flowing in the current balancing unit through electromagnetic induction so as to output a detection signal; and a control unit that receives the detection signal to judge whether the loads are opened or not and outputs a control signal for controlling the magnitude of the driving voltage.
US07709968B2
A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having faces and contacts, a flexible substrate overlying and spaced from a first face of the microelectronic element, and a plurality of conductive terminals exposed at a surface of the flexible substrate. The conductive terminals are electrically interconnected with the microelectronic element and the flexible substrate includes a gap extending at least partially around at least one of the conductive terminals. In certain embodiments, the package includes a support layer, such as a compliant layer, disposed between the first face of the microelectronic element and the flexible substrate. In other embodiments, the support layer includes at least one opening that is at least partially aligned with one of the conductive terminals.
US07709957B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device exhibiting an improved reliability of a bump coupling section. A semiconductor device is provided, which comprises: an interconnect layer; a stress-relaxing layer, covering the interconnect layer and provided with an opening exposing at least a portion of the interconnect layer; a post, covering the opening and provided so as to overlap with the stress-relaxing layer disposed around the opening; and a resin layer, provided around the post to cover the stress-relaxing layer, wherein a value of 2A/C is within a range of from 0.1 to 0.5, wherein C is a diameter of the post and 2A is a width of an overlapping region of the stress-relaxing layer with the post.
US07709952B2
An LED package is improved in heat radiating performance. The LED package includes a package substrate having heat radiating means; a heat radiating layer arranged on the package substrate with an area at least larger than a mounting area of a light emitting diode chip to provide a horizontal heat radiating path; and an electrically-connecting structure including first and second conductive leads arranged on the heat radiating layer. The light emitting diode chip is mounted on the heat radiating layer or the first conductive lead by a heat conductive adhesive layer.
US07709950B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having first and second main surfaces opposite to each other. A trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate at the first main surface. The trench extends to a first depth position in the semiconductor substrate. The trench is lined with the dielectric material. The trench is filled with a conductive material. An electrical component is electrically connected to the conductive material exposed at the first main surface. A cap is mounted to the first main surface. The cap encloses the electrical component and the electrical connection.
US07709946B2
A micro USB memory package and method for manufacturing the same, which can meet the USB standard specification, can have a light, thin, short and small configuration, can have various applications, and can simply expand the memory capacity thereof. The micro USB memory package comprises a substrate with a plurality of circuit patterns formed on the top surface thereof, at least one of passive elements connected with the circuit patterns of the substrate, at least one of controllers connected with the circuit patterns of the substrate, at least one of flash memories connected with the circuit patterns of the substrate, and an encapsulation part encapsulating the passive elements, the controllers and the flash memories on the substrate, and at least one of USB lands connected with the circuit patterns by a conducting via are formed on the under surface of one side of the substrate.
US07709944B2
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a package substrate; attaching a base package having a portion of the base package substantially exposed over the package substrate; forming a cavity through the package substrate to the base package; and attaching a device partially in the cavity and connected to the portion of the base package substantially exposed.
US07709943B2
A multilayer module comprised of stacked IC package layers is disclosed. A plurality of layers preferably having ball grid array I/O are stacked and interconnected using one or more interposer layers for the routing of electronic signals to appropriate locations in the module through angularly depending leads. The stack is further comprised of an interface PCB for the routing of electronics signals to and from the layers in the module and for connection to an external circuit.
US07709934B2
A package may include a substrate provided with noise absorbing material. The noise absorbing material may absorb noise from a signal path in the substrate to prevent the noise from reaching other signals or signal paths.
US07709933B2
A structural element having a region of porous silicon or porous silicon oxide, which was obtained from a porization, starting from an edge area of the region, in at least largely crystalline silicon. Relative to the edge area, the crystalline silicon has a crystal orientation that has an orientation that differs from a <100> orientation or from an orientation that is equivalent for reasons of symmetry. This structural element is suited for use in a mass-flow sensor, in a component for the thermal decoupling of sensor and/or actuator structures, or a gas sensor. Furthermore, methods for setting the thermal conductivity of a region of porous silicon or porous silicon oxide of a structural element are described. In particular, in a porization of crystalline silicon, starting from an edge area of the region, the crystalline orientation of the silicon relative to the edge area is selected such that a thermal conductivity comes about along a direction perpendicular to the edge area that differs from, in particular is lower than, the thermal conductivity, that comes about in this direction in an otherwise analogous porization of crystalline silicon having a <100> orientation or an equivalent orientation relative to this edge area.
US07709930B2
Disclosed is a method of forming a semiconductor structure that includes a discontinuous non-planar sub-collector having a different polarity than the underlying substrate. In addition, this structure includes an active area (collector) above the sub-collector, a base above the active area, and an emitter above the base. The distance between the discontinuous portions of the discontinuous sub-collector tunes the performance characteristics of the semiconductor structure. The performance characteristics that are tunable include breakdown voltage, unity current gain cutoff frequency, unity power gain cutoff frequency, transit frequency, current density, capacitance range, noise injection, minority carrier injection and trigger and holding voltage.
US07709924B2
A semiconductor structure and a method for operating the same. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes first, second, third, and fourth doped semiconductor regions. The second doped semiconductor region is in direct physical contact with the first and third doped semiconductor regions. The fourth doped semiconductor region is in direct physical contact with the third doped semiconductor region. The first and second doped semiconductor regions are doped with a first doping polarity. The third and fourth doped semiconductor regions are doped with a second doping polarity. The method further includes (i) electrically coupling the first and fourth doped semiconductor regions to a first node and a second node of the semiconductor structure, respectively, and (ii) electrically charging the first and second nodes to first and second electric potentials, respectively. The first electric potential is different from the second electric potential.
US07709923B2
A metal-base transistor is suggested. The transistor comprises a first and a second electrode (2, 6) and base electrode (6) to control current flow between the first and second electrode. The first electrode (2) is made from a semiconduction material. The base electrode (3) is a metal layer deposited on top of the semiconducting material forming the first electrode. According the invention the second electrode is formed by a semiconducting nanowire (6) being in electrical contact with the base electrode (3).
US07709917B2
A solid state imaging device comprises: a photoelectric converting portion; a charge transferring portion including a charge transfer electrode for transferring an electric charge generated in the photoelectric converting portion; and a shielding film formed through an insulating film containing nitrogen on the charge transferring portion, wherein the insulating film containing the nitrogen includes: a first insulating film that covers at least a part of an upper surface of the charge transfer electrode; and a second insulating film formed to reach the upper surface of the charge transfer electrode from the photoelectric converting portion, and the first and second insulating films include a discontinuing portion.
US07709916B2
An optical semiconductor device includes, in a zone (5), a structure of photosensitive diodes including a matrix (6) of lower electrodes (7), an intermediate layer (9) made of a photosensitive material formed on the matrix of lower electrodes and at least one upper electrode (10a) formed on the intermediate layer, in which an electrical connection (3a) includes at least one electrical contact pad (7a) and at least one electrical connection pad (16a) are produced beneath the intermediate layer, at least one electrical connection via (14) is produced through the intermediate layer and connects the upper electrode to the electrical contact pad and at least one well (15a) is formed outside the zone (5) and passes through at least the intermediate layer (9) in order to expose the electrical connection pad (16a). Also provided is a process for fabricating such a device.
US07709911B2
A semiconductor device includes a first MIS transistor of a non-salicide structure and a second MIS transistor of a salicide structure which are both formed on a substrate of silicon. The first MIS transistor includes a first gate electrode of silicon, first sidewalls, a first source and drain, and plasma reaction films grown in a plasma atmosphere to cover the top surfaces of the first gate electrode and first source and drain, wherein the plasma reaction film prevents silicide formation on the first MIS transistor.
US07709909B2
A method for making a semiconductor device is described. That method comprises forming an oxide layer on a substrate, and forming a high-k dielectric layer on the oxide layer. The oxide layer and the high-k dielectric layer are then annealed at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to generate a gate dielectric with a graded dielectric constant.
US07709908B2
A high-voltage transistor device has a substrate, an isolation structure, a source, a gate, a drain, a plurality of doped regions, a plurality of ion wells, and a first dielectric layer disposed on the substrate. The high-voltage transistor device further has a first conductive layer and a plurality of first field plate rings. The first conductive layer is electrically connected to the drain and at least one of the first field plate rings.
US07709903B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; a source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric; a silicide region on the source/drain region; a metal layer on top of, and physical contacting, the silicide region; an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the metal layer; and a contact opening in the ILD. The metal layer is exposed through the contact opening. The metal layer further extends under the ILD. The semiconductor structure further includes a contact in the contact opening.
US07709902B2
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure including at least one nFET and at least one pFET located on a surface of a semiconductor substrate is provided. In accordance with the present invention, the nFET and the pFET both include at least a single gate metal and the nFET gate stack is engineered to have a gate dielectric stack having no net negative charge and the pFET gate stack is engineered to have a gate dielectric stack having no net positive charge. In particularly, the present invention provides a CMOS structure in which the nFET gate stack is engineered to include a band edge workfunction and the pFET gate stack is engineered to have a ¼ gap workfunction. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first gate dielectric stack includes a first high k dielectric and an alkaline earth metal-containing layer or a rare earth metal-containing layer, while the second high k gate dielectric stack comprises a second high k dielectric.
US07709898B2
A protection circuit protects a semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate and including an interconnect from charge entering the interconnect during fabrication of the semiconductor device. The protection circuit includes a first metal interconnect connected to the interconnect; a forward diode and a backward diode connected in parallel to the interconnect; an NMIS whose drain is connected to the output port of the forward diode, whose source is connected to the semiconductor substrate and whose gate is grounded through an upper metal interconnect; a PMIS whose drain is connected to the input port of the backward diode and whose source is connected to the semiconductor substrate; a first antenna connected to the gate of the NMIS; and a second antenna connected to the gate of the PMIS.
US07709890B2
An isolation region is provided around a sense part. The isolation region is provided to have a depth that suppresses spread of a region with an uneven current distribution, which occurs at a peripheral edge of the sense part. Thus, in the sense part, an influence of the region with the uneven current distribution can be suppressed. Since the current distribution can be set more even throughout the sense part, the on-resistance in the sense part can be set closer to its designed value. Thus, a current ratio corresponding to a cell ratio can be obtained as designed. Consequently, current detection accuracy is improved.
US07709882B2
A storage device includes a first semiconducting layer having a p-dopant and a second semiconducting layer having an n-dopant, disposed on the first semiconducting layer forming a junction between the first and the second semiconducting layers. The storage device also includes a charge trapping structure disposed on the second semiconducting layer and a conductive gate, wherein the conductive gate and the charge trapping structure move relative to the other, wherein an electric field applied across the second semiconducting layer and the conductive gate traps charge in the charge trapping structure.
US07709876B2
A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (i) a dielectric layer, (ii) a bottom capacitor plate and an electrically conductive line on the dielectric layer, (iii) a top capacitor plate on top of the bottom capacitor plate, (iv) a gap region, and (v) a solder ball on the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer includes a top surface that defines a reference direction perpendicular to the top surface. The top capacitor plate overlaps the bottom capacitor plate in the reference direction. The gap region is sandwiched between the bottom capacitor plate and the top capacitor plate. The gap region does not include any liquid or solid material. The solder ball is electrically connected to the electrically conductive line. The top capacitor plate is disposed between the dielectric layer and the solder ball.
US07709864B2
A rectifier device (10) comprising a multi-layer epitaxial film (12) and a rectifier and a transistor manufactured in the film (12), wherein the transistor is oriented vertically relative to the plane of the rectifier. The rectifier and transistor are separated by a transition zone of inverted bias. The rectifier is a Schottky barrier rectifier, and the transistor is a JFET. More specifically, the device (1) comprises the film (12), a trench (16), a first region (18) associated with an upper portion of the trench (16), and second region (20) associated with a lower portion. The interface between the p+ material of the second region (20) and the n material of the film (12) creates a p+/n junction. The device (10) has use in high frequency, low-loss power circuit applications in which high switching speed and low forward voltage drop are desirable.
US07709862B2
A method for manufacturing an ion implantation mask is disclosed which includes the steps of: forming an oxide film as a protective film over the entire surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a thin metal film over the oxide film; and forming an ion-inhibiting layer composed of an ion-inhibiting metal over the thin metal film. The obtained ion implantation mask is used to form a deeper selectively electroconductive region.
US07709861B2
Various systems and methods for implementing multi-mode semiconductor devices are discussed herein. For example, a multi-mode semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a device package with a number of package pins. In addition, the device includes a semiconductor die or substrate with at least two IO buffers. One of the IO buffers is located a distance from a package pin and another of the IO buffers is located another distance from the package pin. One of the IO buffers includes first bond pad electrically coupled to a circuit implementing a first interface type and a floating bond pad, and the other IO buffer includes a second bond pad electrically coupled to a circuit implementing a second interface type. In some cases, the floating bond pad is electrically coupled to the circuit implementing the second interface type via a conductive interconnect, and the floating bond pad is electrically coupled to the package pin.
US07709850B2
A pixel structure and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The pixel comprises a substrate, a gate, a gate insulating layer, a channel layer, a first source/drain, a second source/drain, a dielectric layer, a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The gate is disposed on the substrate and is covered by the gate insulating layer. The channel layer is disposed on the gate insulating layer above the gate. The first source/drain and the second source/drain are disposed on the channel layer. The channel layer has different thicknesses respectively corresponding to the first drain/source and the second drain/source. The dielectric layer covers the substrate and exposes the first and the second drains. The first and the second pixel electrodes are disposed on the dielectric layer, and are electrically connected to the first and the second drains respectively.
US07709837B2
Nickel is selectively held in contact with a particular region of an amorphous silicon film. Crystal growth parallel with a substrate is effected by performing a heat treatment. A thermal oxidation film is formed on the silicon film by performing a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere containing a halogen element. During this step, in the silicon film, impurities included such as oxygen or chlorine, are segregated with extending along the crystal growth, the crystallinity is improved, and the gettering of nickel element proceeds. A thin-film transistor is formed so that the direction connecting source and drain regions coincides with the above crystal growth direction. As a result, a TFT having superior characteristics such as a mobility larger than 200 cm2/Vs and an S value smaller than 100 mV/dec. can be obtained.
US07709823B2
The invention is directed to a group-III nitride vertical-rods substrate. The group-III vertical-rods substrate comprises a substrate, a buffer layer and a vertical rod layer. The buffer layer is located over the substrate. The vertical rod layer is located on the buffer layer and the vertical rod layer is comprised of a plurality of vertical rods standing on the buffer layer.
US07709816B2
Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling the operation of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources used in semiconductor fabrication are disclosed. A method comprises providing a semiconductor fabrication apparatus having a light source that emits in-band and out-of-band radiation, taking a first out-of-band radiation measurement, taking a second out-of-band radiation measurement, and controlling the in-band radiation of the light source, at least in part, based upon a comparison of the first and second out-of-band measurements. An apparatus comprises a detector operable to detect out-of-band EUV radiation emitted by an EUV plasma source, a spectrometer coupled to the electromagnetic detector and operable to measure at least one out-of-band radiation parameter based upon the detected out-of-band EUV radiation, and a controller coupled to the spectrometer and operable to monitor and control the operation of the EUV plasma source based upon the out-of-band measurements.
US07709814B2
Apparatuses and processes for treating dielectric materials such as low k dielectric materials, premetal dielectric materials, barrier layers, and the like, generally comprise a radiation source module, a process chamber module coupled to the radiation source module; and a loadlock chamber module in operative communication with the process chamber and a wafer handler. The atmosphere of each one of the modules can be controlled as may be desired for different types of dielectric materials. The radiation source module includes a reflector, an ultraviolet radiation source, and a plate transmissive to the wavelengths of about 150 nm to about 300 nm, to define a sealed interior region, wherein the sealed interior region is in fluid communication with a fluid source.
US07709811B2
In various embodiments of the invention, a unique construction for Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with prisms and dyes and other optical elements can be used to generate a variety of light sources with different emission spectra. In an embodiment of the invention, reflected light can be redirected outward. In another embodiment of the invention, a white LED based light uses a blue LED and associated optics elements, including a high index glass prism or rod, a layer of dyed florescent polymer and an extraction-enhancing optical element or lens, such that all of the light emitted from with the dye layer can be directed outward.
US07709808B2
An embodiment generally relates to a system for analysis of an analyte. The system can include a transparent substrate. The system also includes an excitation light source configured to induce an evanescent wave excitation of a fluorescently labeled molecule near the access to the transparent substrate and a detector for detecting the fluorescently labeled molecule.
US07709798B2
This invention relates to a wide band optical gate in the terahertz domain (wavelengths in the far infrared). It comprises a first optical source (2) emitting a first beam (FTHz) in said terahertz domain, a first plate made of a semiconducting material (1) illuminated by said terahertz beam and a second optical source (3) emitting a second beam (FIR) at a wavelength capable of saturating the first plate (1) made of a semi-conducting material and making it reflective at terahertz wavelengths. This invention also relates to a system for measuring terahertz signals and to a terahertz generator. It is particularly applicable to systems for measuring terahertz signals and to terahertz generators.
US07709791B2
Provided is a scanning probe microscope (SPM), a probe of which can be automatically replaced and the replacement probe can be attached onto an exact position. The SPM includes a first scanner that has a carrier holder, and changes a position of the carrier holder in a straight line; a second scanner changing a position of a sample on a plane; and a tray being able to store a spare carrier and a spare probe attached to the spare carrier. The carrier holder includes a plurality of protrusions.
US07709786B2
A method of processing ions in a quadrupole rod set is provided, comprising a) establishing and maintaining a two-dimensional substantially quadrupole field having a quadrupole harmonic with amplitude A2 and a selected higher order harmonic with amplitude Am radially confining ions having Mathieu parameters a and q within a stability region defined in terms of the Mathieu parameters a and q; c) adding an auxiliary excitation field to transform the stability region into a plurality of smaller stability islands defined in terms of the Mathieu parameters a and q; and, d) adjusting the two-dimensional substantially quadrupole field to place ions within a selected range of mass-to-charge ratios within a selected stability island in the plurality of stability islands.
US07709766B2
A method for fabricating an electronic device comprises providing a substrate (501), direct writing a functional material by a thermal spray on the substrate (502) and removing a portion of the function material to form the electronic or sensory device (503).
US07709757B2
The invention relates to a microsystem comprising a deformable bridge, the ends of which are connected to a substrate. According to the invention, at least one actuation electrode, which is solidly connected to the bridge, is disposed between the center of the bridge and one of the ends next to a counter electrode which is solidly connected to the substrate. The electrodes are intended to deform the deformable bridge such that a lower face of the bridge comes into contact with a contact element formed on the substrate.
US07709755B2
A sealing element for sealing a strand-shaped body in an aperture of a wall, in particular for sealing a loom of cables in an aperture of a vehicle-body sheet, has a bush through which the strand-shaped body is guided. The bush has a circumferential wall bounding a cavity. A clamping element for clamping the bush against the aperture reaches with an extension into the cavity. The extension and/or the cavity are of a conical configuration such that, during clamping with the clamping element, the extension is pressed into the cavity, and therefore the circumferential wall is clamped radially against the aperture in the region of the conical configuration.
US07709754B2
An integrated circuit current sensor includes a lead frame having at least two leads coupled to provide a current conductor portion, and substrate having a first surface in which is disposed one or more magnetic field transducers, with the first surface being proximate the current conductor portion and a second surface distal from the current conductor portion. In one particular embodiment, the substrate is disposed having the first surface of the substrate above the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate above the first surface. In this particular embodiment, the substrate is oriented upside-down in the integrated circuit relative to a conventional orientation. With this arrangement, a current sensor is provided for which the one or more magnetic field transducers are very close to the current conductor portion, resulting in a current sensor having improved sensitivity.
US07709752B2
A surgery power station incorporates a pedestal having at least one internal power panel and a conduit extending from the pedestal and communicating with the interior of the pedestal through a first aperture. The conduit extends upward for engagement to an electrical box integral with a ceiling structure of an operating theater. A channel extends through the conduit and is connected to a central support structure within the pedestal providing a race for primary electrical cabling routed through the ceiling structure from a remote UPS to the operating theater. A primary electrical panel is mounted to the central support structure and connected to the primary electrical cabling. The primary electrical panel provides operating power electrical connectors for an operating theater system such as an opthamological surgery laser. A reagent gas line extends through the conduit and terminates in a connector on the pedestal for connection to the operating theater system.
US07709750B2
The invention includes a shielding film, which does not have breakage of a metal layer, and has excellent abrasion resistance and blocking resistance, and does not crack. The cover film 7 is provided on one surface of a separation film 6a, and an adhesive layer 8a is formed on the surface of the cover film 7 opposite to the separation film 6a via the metal layer. The cover film 7 has at least one hard layer 7a and at least one soft layer 7b, and the surface of the cover film 7 facing the separation film 6a is composed of the hard layer 7a.
US07709743B2
An integrated insulator sealing and shielding assembly includes a rubber housing having a plurality of radial weathersheds and a tapered end adjacent an endmost radial weathershed. A metal fitting is disposed adjacent to the endmost radial weathershed and receives the tapered end. A collar assembly is disposed at an upper end of the metal fitting and includes two apertures between an outer surface thereof and the rubber housing for receiving a sealant. At least one sealing surface, preferably four, is disposed between the collar assembly and a bottom end of the rubber housing for securing the connection therebetween.
US07709740B2
Flame retardant non-halogenated thermoplastics for use in the ultra thin insulative wall of a cable are disclosed. Suitable thermoplastics include polyamides, including polyamides comprising a repeating unit of amino caproic acid or A-D, wherein A is a residue of a dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, rescorcinol dicarboxylic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof, and wherein D is a residue of a diamine selected from the group consisting of m-xylylene diamine, p-xylylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, ethylene diamine, or 1,4 cyclohexanedimethylamine, and mixtures thereof. Suitable flame retardants disclosed include nitrogenous phosphate and a nitrogenous sulfonate, and mixtures thereof, and ethylene diamine phosphate. The insulative wall of the cable may also include hydrotalcite or hydrotalcite-like compounds and metal deactivators such as 1,2bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamoyl)hydrazine.
US07709738B2
The invention relates to an electrical bushing serving to make a connection at ambient temperature to a superconductor element situated in an enclosure at cryogenic temperature. The electrical bushing passes successively through an enclosure at intermediate temperature between ambient temperature and cryogenic temperature, and an enclosure at ambient temperature, and it comprises a central electrical conductor surrounded by an electrically insulating sheath. According to the invention, an electrically conductive screen connected to ground potential surrounds the insulating sheath over a section that extends from the end of the bushing that is in contact with the enclosure at cryogenic temperature at least as far as the junction between the enclosure at intermediate temperature and the enclosure at ambient temperature. The invention is more particularly applicable to making a connection to a superconductor cable.
US07709726B2
A foot controlled effects knob controls a variable electronic component. A receptacle couples with a spindle of the variable electronic component. One or more wings extend from the receptacle to facilitate control of the spindle, and thus the variable electronic component, by a user's foot.
US07709724B2
Plural key switches are arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, and an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with tone generation timing while a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with a tone pitch. Storage section stores a music piece data set that includes tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches. In a repeat-section setting mode, a repeat-section setting section causes the plural key switches to function as setting operators and sets a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches. In reproduction of the stored music piece data set, a reproduction section repetitively reproduces the tone generating data of the music piece data set which are included in the set repeat section.
US07709722B2
An audio signal processing apparatus has a plurality of nodes which include a node in operation and a node on standby for redundancy. Both the node in operation and the node on standby execute the same signal processing on input same audio signals in accordance with supplied same control signals, respectively. Only the node in operation is permitted to output the frame in which the processed audio signals are contained, and the node on standby is prohibited from outputting the frame to the audio bus. In response to a switch instruction, in a sampling cycle, the node in operation turns to be on standby and the node on standby turns to be in operation.
US07709719B2
A keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument having white keys and black keys capable of providing a satisfactory tactile impression, having a satisfactory appearance, and suppressing a difference in tactile impression between when the white keys are played and when the black keys are played. Each white key has a base portion and an upper plate portion fixed to an upper surface of the base portion, and each black key has a key main body portion. The upper plate portion is formed by a porous member having sweat-absorbability and made of a material comprised of an AS resin mixed with stone powder and a white-colored colorant. Each black key is made of the same material as that of the upper plate portion, except for a colorant mixed therein.
US07709710B1
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV016780. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV016780, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV016780 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV016780 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV016780.
US07709706B2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 04P024. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 04P024. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 04P024 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 04P024 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07709702B2
Novel proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are novel polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these novel proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these novel compounds, diversification methods involving the novel compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the novel methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate.
US07709697B2
Transgenic plants that express CIVPS or intein modified proteins, compositions of matter comprising them, products of diverse applications made from the transgenic plants, methods to construct the transgenic plants containing CIVPS or intein modified genes, methods to express CIVPS or intein modified proteins in plants, and methods of using the transgenic plants.
US07709694B2
This invention relates to methods and compositions for materials having a non-leaching coating that has antimicrobial properties. The coating is applied to substrates such as gauze-type wound dressings. Covalent, non-leaching, non-hydrolyzable bonds are formed between the substrate and the polymer molecules that form the coating. A high concentration of anti-microbial groups on multi-length polymer chains and relatively long average chain lengths, contribute to an absorbent or superabsorbent surface with a high level antimicrobial effect.
US07709693B2
A method for optimizing the production of nitration grade toluene from a solvent extraction process that produces an aromatic rich extract and a saturate rich raffinate, comprising adding an effective amount of the raffinate back to the extract.
US07709685B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of producing cycloalkanol and/or cycloalkanone with a favorable selectivity by oxidizing cycloalkane with a favorable conversion.A cycloalkanol and/or cycloalkanone are produced by oxidizing cycloalkane with oxygen in the presence of mesoporous silica which contains at least one metal selected from metals of Groups 5 to 10 of the Periodic Table and which is also subjected to a contact treatment with an organosilicon compound. The metal is preferably at least one metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthenium and palladium, and the mesoporous silica is preferably MCM-41 type mesoporous silica.
US07709672B2
Method for obtaining halogenated monoorganoxysilanes useful in particular as synthesis intermediates
The invention concerns the preparation of halogenated monoorganoxysilanes, of formula (I), said compounds being useful as synthesis intermediate in organic chemistry. Said method for preparing monoorganoxysilanes consists in: using as starting product halogenoalkylsilanes of the (CH3)2SiCl2 type and in substituting the silicon with a radical bearing a divalent unit bound to an electrophilic reactive group capable of reacting with at least an appropriate nucleophilic agent to form a functionalised monoorganoxysilane of formula (II) with, for example: R<1>=C1-C4 alkyl; R<2>, R<3>=C1-C6 alkyl; B=C1-C10 alkylene; m=1 or 2; Hal=halogen; W=amino, mercapto, (organosilyl)-organopolythio radical.
US07709668B2
A process for extracting a wide range of lipophilic compounds from urea-containing solutions is described. The process utilises a near-critical fluid as the extraction solvent. The process is particularly applicable to the extraction of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the filtrate obtained upon urea fractionation, as employed in the processing of fish and other oils. In contrast to known processes, the lipophilic compounds may be extracted without the use of non-food grade solvents, and are suitable for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.
US07709649B2
Multi-substituted pyridyl sulfoximines are useful as insecticides.
US07709646B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): or a stereoisomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt form thereof, wherein the variables A, B, L1, L2, X1, X2, X3, X4, R4, R5, R13, R14, R15 and R16 are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are useful as selective inhibitors of serine protease enzymes of the coagulation cascade and/or contact activation system; for example thrombin, factor Xa, factor XIa, factor IXa, factor VIIa and/or plasma kallikrein. In particular, it relates to compounds that are selective factor XIa inhibitors. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating thromboembolic and/or inflammatory disorders using the same.
US07709639B2
Provided is a method for the synthesis of N-protected bis-3,6-[4-aminobutyl]-2,5-diketopiperazine including the step of heating a solution of ε-amino protected lysine in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and phosphorus pentoxide.
US07709635B2
One aspect of the present invention relates to “boronium” ions that are stable, hydrophobic, room-temperature ionic liquids. In certain embodiments, ionic liquids of the instant invention are represented by the formula [XnBY4−n]+(n−1)(n−1)Z−1, wherein X refers to a Lewis base, Y refers to a substituent covalently bonded to boron, Z−1 is a charge diffuse anion, and x is 2, 3 or 4. In certain embodiments, the ionic liquids of the instant invention are of the general type [X2BY2]+1Tf2N−1, wherein each X is independently a tertiary amine, a N-alkylimidazole or a pyridine; and each B—X bond is a B—N bond.
US07709628B2
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of STAT5. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding STAT5. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of STAT5 expression and for diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions associated with expression of STAT5 are provided.
US07709623B2
The subject invention relates to novel Xenorhabdus toxin complex (TC) proteins and genes that encode these proteins. More specifically, the subject invention relates to TC genes and proteins obtainable from Xenorhabdus strain Xwi. The subject invention also provides an exochitinase obtainable from the Xwi strain. This exochitinase can be used to control insects using methods known in the art.
US07709613B2
This invention provides methods of using Rhenium radioisotopes to detect and treat tumors that express a Na+/I− symporter. The invention also provides compositions and methods of making compositions comprising Rhenium radioisotopes for detection and treatment of tumors that express a Na+/I− symporter.
US07709612B2
A metal chelating composition having the formula: wherein Q is a carrier; S1 is a spacer; L is -A-T-CH(X)— or —C(═O)—; A is an ether, thioether, selenoether, or amide linkage; T is a bond or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl; X is —(CH2)kCH3, —(CH2)kCOOH, —(CH2)kSO3H, —(CH2)kPO3H2, —(CH2)kN(J)2, or —(CH2)kP(J)2, preferably —(CH2)kCOOH or —(CH2)kSO3H; k is an integer from 0 to 2; J is hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl; Y is —COOH, —H, —SO3H, —PO3H2, —N(J)2, or —P(J)2, preferably, —COOH; Z is —COOH, —H, —SO3H, —PO3H2, —N(J)2, or —P(J)2, preferably, —COOH; and i is an integer from 0 to 4, preferably 1 or 2.
US07709611B2
The present invention provides antibodies and immunologically functional fragments thereof that specifically bind Dkk-1 polypeptides. The subject antibodies and fragments bind with high affinity to a conformational epitope located in the carboxy region of the Dkk-1 protein. Methods for preparing such antibodies or fragments thereof as well as physiologically acceptable compositions containing the antibodies or fragments are also provided. Use of the antibodies and fragments to treat various diseases including bone disorders, inflammatory diseases, neurological diseases, ocular diseases, renal diseases, pulmonary diseases and skin diseases are also disclosed.
US07709609B2
The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of novel human tumor suppressors, antibodies to such tumor suppressors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and proteins, methods of screening for modulators of tumor suppressors, and methods of diagnosing and treating tumors with such nucleic acids and proteins.
US07709606B2
The invention relates to an interacting polypeptide consisting of or comprising a heptapeptide pattern of sequence X1X2X3X4X5X6X7 and a transduction domain, characterized in that it is a chimera polypeptide, the amino acid X7 is located between 5 and 35 amino acids of the C-terminal end of said polypeptide, and that the domain (b) is situated in C-terminal relative to pattern (a). The invention also relates to screening methods for identifying interacting polypeptides capable of modifying the phenotype of a cell and to uses of interacting polypeptides as mentioned in phenotypic screens or for therapeutic purposes. Lastly, the invention concerns interacting polypeptides capable of modifying the function of the HIV-1 Rev viral protein.
US07709605B2
In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating (promoting or inhibiting) growth of a tissue, such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and/or neuron. The present invention also provides methods of screening compounds that modulate activity of an ActRII protein and/or an ActRII ligand. The compositions and methods provided herein are useful in treating diseases associated with abnormal activity of an ActRII protein and/or an ActRII ligand.
US07709600B2
The invention relates to the finding that the VHL tumour suppressor protein regulates hypoxia inducible factor α subunits, by targeting HIF α for destruction in normoxic, but not hypoxic cells. The invention provides assays for modulators of this interaction, and peptides based upon HIF α subunit sequences which may modulate this interaction.
US07709599B2
The present invention relates to terpene derivative compounds and rosins and sizing compositions comprising such compounds. Compounds of Formula (I) are disclosed in addition to rosins and sizing compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I). Fiber glass strands comprising a plurality of glass fibers at least partially coated with sizing compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I) are also disclosed.
US07709595B2
A stable catalyst solution suitable for catalyzing the polycondensation of reactants to make polyester polymers comprising: (i) M, wherein M is represented by an alkaline earth metal or alkali metal and (ii) aluminum metal and (iii) a polyhydroxyl ether solvent, wherein the molar ratio of M:Al ranges from 0.2:1 to 4:1 or less. The catalyst solution is desirably a solution which does not precipitate upon standing over a period of at least one week at room temperature (25° C.-40° C.), even at molar ratios of M:Al approaching 1:1. There is also provided a method for the manufacture of the solution, its feed to and use in the manufacture of a polyester polymer, and polyester polymers obtained by combining certain ingredients or containing the residues of these ingredients in the composition.
US07709592B2
Processes for preparing polyestercarbonates are disclosed. The processes allow for the consistent incorporation of adipic acid into a polymer generated from a dihydroxy compound, such as bisphenol-A, at levels greater than 99%. The polyestercarbonates so produced, as well as articles formed from the polyestercarbonates, are also disclosed herein.
US07709584B2
A process for preparing ethylene homopolymers and copolymers in a tubular reactor having two or more polymerization zones at temperatures of between 150° C. and 350° C. and pressures in the range from 500 to 5000 bar, using oxygen as initiator, which comprises using, as molar mass regulator, one or more aliphatic ketones of the formula I, where the variable R1 is a C1-C6-alkyl or C3-C12-cycloalkyl, ethylene homopolymers and copolymers obtainable therefrom and their user for producing injection-molded products in the cosmetics, medical and food sectors are described.
US07709581B2
A thermoplastic composition comprises a copolycarbonate comprising 25 to 100 mole percent of a first carbonate unit derived from a dihydroxy aromatic compound having the formula wherein Ra′ and Rb′ are C1-12 alkyl, T is a C5-16 cycloalkylene, a C5-16 cylcloalkylidene, a C1-5 alkylene, a C1-5 alkylidene, a C6-13 arylene, a C7-12 arylalkylene, C7-12 arylalkylidene, a C7-12 alkylarylene, or a C7-12 arylenealkyl, and r and s are each independently 1 to 4, and r and s are 1 to 4; and 0 to 75 mole percent of a second carbonate unit, wherein the first carbonate unit and second carbonate unit are not identical; a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer comprising 0.15 to 30 weight percent of a polysiloxane block comprising siloxane units of the formula wherein E is on average of 4 to 60 units, and 70 to 99.85 weight percent of a third carbonate unit, wherein an article having a thickness of 3.2 mm and molded from the thermoplastic composition has a Dynatup total energy of greater than 50 Joules, as measured at a constant speed of 3.3 to 3.6 m/sec at 23° C. according to ASTM D3763-02. A method of making and articles prepared therefrom are also disclosed.
US07709577B2
In a process for producing a polymer blend, at least one first monomer is polymerized in a first slurry phase reaction zone in the presence of a supported first catalyst comprising a Ziegler-Natta component to produce a thermoplastic first polymer having a crystallinity of at least 30%. At least part of said first polymer is then contacted with at least one second monomer different from said first monomer and at least one polyene in a second solution phase reaction zone in the presence of a second catalyst under conditions to produce and at least partially cross-link said second polymer such that said second polymer comprises at least a fraction which is insoluble in xylene and has a crystallinity of less than 20%.
US07709571B2
Lubricant compositions and processes for producing such lubricant compositions. More specifically, low viscosity lubricant compositions for the working surface of an extrusion die during the processing of plastics that require lubricants to render them processable, such as polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride and copolymers thereof. The lubricant composition may include up to about 70% by weight of at least one metal salt while maintaining a melt viscosity low enough to process on conventional finishing equipment such as prill towers or pastillating equipment.
US07709566B2
To provide a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) aqueous dispersion, which does not substantially contain ammonium perfluorooctanoate and is excellent in mechanical stability, wettability, permeability and coating property, and its product.A PTFE aqueous dispersion comprising from 15 to 70 mass % of PTFE fine particles having an average particle size of from 0.1 to 0.5 μm, from 1×10−5 to 0.5 mass %, based on the mass of the PTFE, of a fluorinated emulsifier of the formula (1): XCF2CF2(O)mCF2CF2OCF2COOA, wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, A is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or NH4 and m is an integer of 0 or 1, and from 1 to 20 mass %, based on the mass of the PTFE, of a nonionic surfactant.
US07709562B2
A thermoplastic composition comprises a polycarbonate having repeating structural carbonate units of the formula (1): wherein at least 60 percent of the total number of R1 groups contain aromatic organic groups and the balance thereof are aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic groups; and wherein the polycarbonate comprises terminal groups derived from reaction with a cyanophenol of the formula wherein Y is a halogen, C1-3 alkyl group, C1-3 alkoxy group, C7-12 arylalkyl, C7-12 alkylaryl, or nitro group, y is 0 to 4, and c is 1 to 5, provided that y+c is 1 to 5; optionally a branching agent; an impact modifier; and a flame retardant. The compositions are useful in the manufacture of a wide variety of parts, particularly those having a thin wall.
US07709561B2
There is provided a rubber composition for a tread obtained by compounding (a) 5-40 parts by mass of a softening agent including an oil in which an extraction quantity with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) by IP346 process is controlled to less than 3% by mass and (b) 5-40 parts by mass of a liquid polymer having a viscosity average molecular weight of 45,000-100,000 based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component, and considerably improving the fracture properties and wear resistance and controlling the lowering of the modulus of elasticity as compared with the case of compounding the conventional high aromatic oil.
US07709560B2
The present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire tread, in which processability, abrasion resistance, rolling resistance properties and wet grip performance are improved in a balanced manner. Specifically, the present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire tread comprising 5 to 150 parts by weight of silica having nitrogen-adsorbing specific surface area of 100 to 300 m2/g based on 100 parts of a rubber component containing 5 to 100% by weight of an epoxidized natural rubber, and 1 to 20 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent and 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of an anionic surfactant based on 100 parts by weight of the silica; and a rubber composition for a tire tread comprising 5 to 150 parts by weight of silica having nitrogen-adsorbing specific surface area of 100 to 300 m2/g and 1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal salt of stearic acid, based on 100 parts of a rubber component containing 5 to 100% by weight of an epoxidized natural rubber, and 1 to 20 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent based on 100 parts by weight of the silica.
US07709559B1
The present invention relates to new cure accelerators for anaerobic curable compositions. These anaerobic cure accelerators are generally sulfonimide derivatives and sulfonamide derivatives.
US07709554B2
An epoxy resin composition, including: an epoxy resin (A) represented by Formula (1); an epoxy resin (B) having an epoxy equivalent of 220 or less and having twice or more epoxy groups in a molecule than epoxy groups of the epoxy resin (A); and a photocationic polymerization initiator (C), in which: the epoxy resins (A) and (B) constitute main components; and a weight of the epoxy resin (A) is 40% or more and a weight of the epoxy resin (B) is 30% or more with respect to a total weight of the epoxy resins (A) and (B): where: R represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a t-butyl group; n represents an integer of 0 or more and 4 or less; and m represents an integer of 1 or more and 3 or less.
US07709552B2
An organic/inorganic composite including a condensation product of an organic silicon compound represented by formula (I) as a major component; at least one kind of a photosensitive compound which is sensitive to light having a wavelength of 350 nm or less selected from the group consisting of metal chelate compounds, compounds of metal organic acid salts, metal compounds having 2 or more hydroxyl or hydrolyzable groups, hydrolyzates thereof, and condensation products thereof; and/or a compound derived from the photosensitive compound; RnSiX4-n (I) wherein R represents an organic group in which carbon directly bonds to Si represented in the formula and X represents a hydroxyl or hydrolyzable group; n represents 1 or 2; R may be the same or different when n is 2; and X may be the same or different when (4-n) is 2 or more.
US07709546B2
An ink composition is provided that includes a compound represented by Formula (I) or (II). (In Formulae (I) and (II), R1 and R2 independently denote a monovalent substituent, R3 to R6 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, n denotes an integer of 0 to 5, and n′ denotes an integer of 0 to 5; n and n′ are not both 0, when n is 2 or greater a plurality of R1s may be identical to or different from each other, and when n′ is 2 or greater a plurality of R2s may be identical to or different from each other.) There are also provided an inkjet recording method employing the ink composition, and a process for producing a lithographic printing plate, the process including discharging the ink composition onto a hydrophilic support. A printed material and a lithographic printing plate thus obtained are also included in the present invention.
US07709543B2
A system and a method of providing PUR/PIR foam using flammable blowing agent. The flammable blowing agent is introduced to PUR/PIR manufacturing equipment via an independent feed-line. This enables a flammable blowing agent storage vessel to be located off site from the foam manufacturing equipment. The independent flammable blowing agent feed-line couples the off-site flammable blowing agent storage vessel with the foam production system. The preferred flammable blowing agent is pentane.
US07709539B2
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in various fruits, vegetables, grapes, and red wines, has been shown to have free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic activities in biological systems. Moreover, resveratrol has also been shown to be a good cancer preventive chemical and has been recommended as a food supplement for health benefits. Resveratrol can effectively lower the blood sugar in both type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM) and type 2 (insulin-independent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM) diabetic rats. Resveratrol could also delay the onset of the insulin-resistant phenotype in experimental rats with prolonged injection of insulin. Further, resveratrol simultaneously slows down the body weight increment compared with untreated insulin resistant animals.
US07709521B2
The present invention relates to substituted indoles of formula (I) useful as pharmaceutical compounds for treating respiratory disorders.
US07709516B2
Compounds having the structure (or their salts): are used to treat or reduce the likelihood of acquiring androgen-dependent diseases, such as prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, acne, hirsutism, seborrhea, androgenic alopecia and male baldness. The compounds can be formulated together with pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers or otherwise made into any pharmaceutical dosage form. Combinations with other active pharmaceutical agents are also disclosed.
US07709514B2
Methods of inhibiting the cytokine or biological activity of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) comprising contacting MIF with a compound of formula (I) as defined herein, is provided. The invention also relates to methods of treating diseases or conditions where MIF cytokine or biological activity is implicated comprising administration of compounds of formula (I), either alone or as part of a combination therapy. Novel heterocyclic compounds are also provided for.
US07709509B2
The invention relates to oxadiazolones and to their physiologically acceptable salts and physiologically functional derivatives showing peroxisome proliferator activator receptor (PPAR) delta agonist activity comprising compounds of formula I, in which the R1-R7 substituents as well as the U, V, W, X Y and z radicals are as defined herein, and their physiologically acceptable salts and processes for their preparation. The compounds are suitable for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization disorders as well as of disorders in which insulin resistance is involved; neurodegenerative diseases and/or demyelinating disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems and/or neurological diseases involving neuro-inflammatory processes and/or other peripheral neuropathies.
US07709495B2
The invention features a method for treating an immunoinflammatory administering a compound of formula (I), e.g., ibudilast or KC-764, alone or in combination with a corticosteroid, tetra-substituted pyrimidopyrimidine, or other compound. The invention also features pharmaceutical compositions including the combination above for the treatment or prevention of an immunoinflammatory disorder.
US07709489B2
This invention is directed to a compound of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, X, Z, m, n, o, p and r are as defined herein, its preparation, pharmaceutical composition and use as an adenosine A3 receptor ligand preferably an antagonist.
US07709486B2
The present invention is drawn to novel antiviral compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and their use. More specifically this invention is drawn to derivatives of monocyclic polyamines which have activity in standard tests against HIV- or FIV-infected cells as well as other biological activity related to binding of ligands to chemokine receptors that mediate a number of mammalian embryonic developmental processes.
US07709484B1
A substituted piperazine compound having the structure I: or the structure IX: or an enantomeric, stereoisomeric or diastereomeric form of the foregoing, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where J, L, Q, W, A, R6, R7, z and y are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atoms marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration, which compounds bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and may be employed in pharmaceutical preparations for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, and methods for the use of the compounds of the invention.
US07709482B2
Polycyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the compounds in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl activity are also disclosed.
US07709470B2
The present invention relates to novel benzodiazepine compounds exhibiting RXR-antagonist efficacy, for delaying progression of, preventing or treating a condition or disease being associated with RXR-antagonism, in particular selected from diabetes, complication of diabetes such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and hyperlipidemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and osteoporosis.
US07709467B2
Compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic family protein members, compositions containing the compounds and methods of treating diseases during which occur expression one or more than one of an anti-apoptotic family protein member are disclosed.
US07709462B2
The invention concerns an aqueous biocompatible gel composition of polysaccharides characterized in that it comprises a mixture of at least two polysaccharides one of which is capable of being gelled by chemical process and the other by heat process and the use of such a composition for preparing an implant. The inventive composition is characterized in that it further contains biological tissue extracts and/or an active pharmaceutical principle alone or combined.
US07709460B2
A method and medical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of a functional Vitamin B12 deficiency in an individual that is brought about as a consequence of oxidative stress on biochemical pathways. The functional Vitamin B12 deficiency may eventually present as dementia, other neuropsychiatric abnormality and/or vascular disease. The method involves the administration of a medical composition that supplies a cobalt-sulphur bond in the upper β-ligand of an intracellular cobalamin molecule thereby facilitating intracellular processing of cobalamin. The cobalt-sulphur bond may be provided directly by administration of a thiolatocobalamin, such as glutathionyl-cobalamin or indirectly by the co-administration of Vitamin B12 (or a derivative thereof) with a sulphur-containing molecule, such as glutathione or a precursor thereof.
US07709441B2
Analysis of substance capable of binding with inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor (IP3R), preferably with a regulation domain of IP3R; analysis of the function of IP3R; and establishing of a method of treatment or diagnosis for various malfunctions and diseases associated with IP3R. In particular, control of the activity of intracellular Ca2+ release. More specifically, a regulator for the activity of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor (IP3R), comprised of carbonic anhydrase related protein (CARP); a control agent for intracellular calcium release, comprised of carbonic anhydrase related protein (CARP); and a method of control therewith.
US07709439B2
The present invention relates to novel biomaterials and methods of using these new biomaterials to facilitate wound healing. The novel biomaterial may be a biocompatible polymer to which at least one bioactive polymer is covalently bonded by graft polymerization, copolymerization or cross-linking. Alternatively, the novel biomaterial may be a polymer blend comprising at least one biocompatible polymer and at least one bioactive polymer.
US07709434B2
The present invention relates to compositions including a water soluble magnesium salt, water soluble calcium salt, and gluconate, which have a beneficial effect on corrosion during cleaning. The present compositions can reduce corrosion of glass, aluminum, or steel. The present invention also relates to methods employing these compositions.
US07709427B2
Disclosed are a lubricant composition to which is added as buffer particles to a lubricant polyurethane resin particles obtained by reacting and synthesizing long-chain polyol having a number-average molecular weight of not less than 500, a crosslinking agent having three or more active hydrogen groups in one molecule, and polyisocyanate as buffer particles, a speed reduction gear filled with the lubricant composition, and an electric power steering apparatus having the speed reduction gear incorporated therein, wherein noise produced by the speed reduction gear can be made lower than ever before irrespective of the magnitude of backlash in a case where a worm and a worm wheel are combined with each other and without complicating the configuration of the speed reduction gear by the buffer action of the buffer particles added to the lubricant composition, thereby making it possible to reduce noise produced in an automobile due to the electric power steering apparatus at low cost.
US07709419B2
The present invention relates to an additive that inhibits formation of gas hydrates for water-based drilling fluid, the additive having at least the following constituents (weight percent): a mixture A of glycerol derivatives having 10 to 55% monoglycerol, 15 to 32% diglycerol, and 5 to 12% triglycerol; 0 to 10% of at least one carboxylic acid salt, 0 to 45% of at least one inorganic salt.
US07709416B2
The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material that comprises a support, a heat-sensitive recording layer comprising a leuco dye and a developer, and a protective layer principally comprising a pigment and a binder. The support, the heat-sensitive recording layer, and the protective layer are provided in this order. The protective layer comprises: (1) a pigment of secondary particles with an average particle diameter of 30 to 900 nm formed by aggregation of amorphous silica primary particles with a particle diameter of 3 to 70 nm; or (2) a pigment of secondary particles with an average particle diameter of 30 to 900 nm formed by aggregation of amorphous silica primary particles with a particle diameter of 3 to 70 nm, and a binder comprising acetoacetyl modified polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 90 to 100 mol % and a polymerization degree of 1900 to 5000.
US07709413B2
A solid catalyst has a close-packed structure and has a first surface layer and a second surface layer, wherein the first surface layer includes platinum as a main component and the second surface layer contains PtaXb (wherein X is one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, and W; a+b=100; and 25≦b≦50); and a fuel cell includes the solid catalyst as an anode-side electrode catalyst.
US07709411B2
Multicomponent nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar components selected from different members of the group of noble metals, base transition metals, alkali earth metals, and rare earth metals and/or different groups of the periodic table of elements. The two or more dissimilar components are dispersed using a polyfunctional dispersing agent such that the multicomponent nanoparticles have a substantially uniform distribution of the two or more dissimilar components. The polyfunctional dispersing agent may include organic molecules, polymers, oligomers, or salts of these. The molecules of the dispersing agent bind to the dissimilar components to overcome same-component attraction, thereby allowing the dissimilar components to form multicomponent nanoparticles. Dissimilar components such as iron and platinum can be alloyed together using the dispersing agent to form substantially uniform multicomponent nanoparticles, which can be used alone or with a support. At least a portion of the dispersing agent is removed by reduction and/or oxidation.
US07709396B2
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of forming patterned features on a substrate having an increased density (i.e. reduced pitch) as compared to what is possible using standard photolithography processing techniques using a single high-resolution photomask while also allowing both the width of the patterned features and spacing (trench width) between the patterned features to vary within an integrated circuit.
US07709376B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a dielectric film on a semiconductor substrate; forming an opening in the dielectric film; forming a refractory metal film in the opening; performing a nitriding process to the refractory metal film; removing a nitride of the refractory metal film formed on a side wall of the opening; and depositing tungsten (W) in the opening from which the nitride is removed.
US07709371B2
A method for restoring hydrophobicity to the surfaces of organosilicate glass dielectric films which have been subjected to an etchant or ashing treatment. These films are used as insulating materials in the manufacture of integrated circuits to ensure low and stable dielectric properties in these films. The method deters the formation of stress-induced voids in these films. An organosilicate glass dielectric film is patterned to form vias and trenches by subjecting it to an etchant or ashing reagent in such a way as to remove at least a portion of previously existing carbon containing moieties and reduce hydrophobicity of said organosilicate glass dielectric film. The vias and trenches are thereafter filled with a metal and subjected to an annealing treatment. After the film is subjected to the etchant or ashing reagent, but before being subjected to an annealing treatment, the film is contacted with a toughening agent composition to restore some of the carbon containing moieties and increase the hydrophobicity of the organosilicate glass dielectric film.
US07709367B2
A method for fabricating a storage node contact in a semiconductor device includes forming a landing plug over a substrate, forming a first insulation layer over the landing plug, forming a bit line pattern over the first insulation layer, forming a second insulation layer over the bit line pattern, forming a mask pattern for forming a storage node contact over the second insulation layer, etching the second and first insulation layers until the landing plug is exposed to form a storage node contact hole including a portion having a rounded profile, filling a conductive material in the storage node contact hole to form a contact plug, and forming a storage node over the contact plug.
US07709364B1
Techniques for low temperature ion implantation are disclosed. After a wafer is cooled to a temperature lower than a temperature of an environment outside of a chamber where the wafer is implanted, the cooled wafer is implanted by projecting an ion beam on the cooled wafer with a temperature adjusting apparatus being operated to cool the wafer simultaneously. Hence, heat produced by the ion beam on the implanted wafer is essentially removed by the temperature adjusting apparatus. Then, after the majority of the implanting process is performed, the temperature adjusting apparatus is turned down or off. Hence, during the residual implanting process, heat produced by the ion beam on the implanted wafer at least partially increases the temperature of the implanted wafer so that, after the ion implantation process is finished, the wafer can be moved into the environment with no, or at least less, water condensation.
US07709363B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a first conductive type impurity region formed by introducing a first conductive type impurities in a first region of a semiconductor region and heating the first region, a second conductive type impurity region formed by introducing a second conductive type impurities in a second region of the semiconductor region and heating the second region, the method including covering the second region with a mask and then introducing the first conductive type impurities in a surface of the first region, removing the mask by a process using gas including oxygen while forming an oxide film on the surface of the first region by the processing using the gas including the oxygen, and introducing the second conductive type impurities in a surface of the second region by using the oxide film as a mask.
US07709360B2
A method of forming a crystalline silicon layer on a microrough face of a substrate by reducing the microroughness of the face and then performing a metal induced crystallization process on the face is disclosed. The method further comprises, after metal induced crystallization and before removing the metal layer, removing silicon islands using the metal layer as a mask.
US07709357B2
This method for manufacturing a silicon epitaxial wafer includes: a step of growing an epitaxial layer having silicon on a silicon wafer having a main surface of {110}; and a cooling step of cooling the silicon wafer after growing the epitaxial layer. In a first aspect, in the cooling step, a rapid cooling at a cooling rate of more than 500° C./minute is performed in a range of 750° C. to 650° C. In a second aspect, in the cooling step, a passivation film is grown on a main surface of the epitaxial layer at a temperature of 720° C. or more. In a third aspect, a single crystal silicon wafer in which a misorientation angle of a main surface of {110} surface is in a range from 3.0° to 6.2° inclined towards a <110> direction perpendicular to the main surface or a <111> direction is used as the silicon wafer.
US07709355B2
There are provided an electronic component production method and an electronic component by which the number of scribing processes can be reduced and the productivity can be made higher while surely preventing short circuiting during the production. An electronic component including a short ring residue portion and a method of producing the electronic component are provided.
US07709342B2
A capacitor and method of manufacturing the same include an insulating interlayer, a lower electrode, a protection structure, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode. The insulating interlayer may include a conductive pattern formed on a substrate. The lower electrode may be electrically connected to the conductive pattern. The protection structure may be formed on an outer sidewall of the cylindrical lower electrode and on the insulating interlayer.
US07709336B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device. The device has a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. The device also has a gate structure including edges. A metal hard mask layer is overlying the gate structure. A dielectric layer is formed sidewall spacers on the edges of the gate structure to protect the gate structure including the edges. An exposed portion of the metal hard mask layer is overlying the gate structure. A silicon germanium fill material is provided in an etched source region and an etched drain region. The etched source region and the etched drain region are each coupled to the gate structure. The device has a strained channel region between the filled source region and the filled drain region from at least the silicon germanium material formed in the etched source region and the etched drain region. An electrical connection is coupled to the metal hard mask overlying the gate structure. Optionally, the device has a second metal layer overlying the metal hard mask.
US07709326B2
The invention includes methods of forming layers comprising epitaxial silicon. In one implementation, an opening is formed within a first material received over a monocrystalline material. Opposing sidewalls of the opening are lined with a second material, with monocrystalline material being exposed at a base of the second material-lined opening. A silicon-comprising layer is epitaxially grown from the exposed monocrystalline material within the second material-lined opening. At least a portion of the second material lining is in situ removed. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US07709305B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a semiconductor structure comprising a superficial layer, at least one embedded layer, and a support, which method comprises: a step of forming, on a first support, patterns in a first material, a step of forming a semiconductor layer, between and on said patterns, a step of assembling said semiconductor layer with a second support.
US07709304B2
A passivation layer is deposited and a photoresist is formed. The photoresist includes first to third portions with decreased thickness, the second portions located on portions of drain electrodes and data lines and the third portions located on portions of gate lines. A mask for forming the photoresist has rectilinear slits with width and distance of about 0.8-2.0 microns on an area corresponding to the second portions. The passivation layer and an underlying semiconductor layer as well as the photoresist are etched to expose portions of the gate insulating layer under the third portions of the photoresist as well as portions of the passivation layer under the second portions of the photoresist. The exposed portions of the passivation layer and the gate insulating layer are removed to expose the drain electrodes, the gate lines and the data lines as well as portions of the semiconductor layer, which are subsequently removed.
US07709301B2
An integrated circuit includes a substrate having a semiconducting surface (605) and a plurality of standard cells arranged in a plurality of rows including at least a first row (610) and a second row (615) immediately above the first row. The first row (610) include at least a first decap filler cell (602) including a first active area (612) and a field dielectric outside the first active area (612) having a portion with a full field dielectric thickness portion 621and a portion with a thinned field dielectric (622), and at least a first MOS transistor (618) having a gate electrode (619) on a thick gate dielectric (613) on the first active area (612) connected as a decoupling capacitor. The second row (615) includes a second decap filler cell (601) including an active area (632) and a field dielectric portion (621) and thinned field dielectric portion (622), at least a second MOS transistor (638) having a gate electrode (639) on the thick gate dielectric (613) on the second active area (632) connected as a decoupling capacitor. The thinned field dielectric (622) extends from the first decap filler cell (602) to the second decap filler cell (601) across a border (608) between the first and second decap filler cell. A method of forming an integrated circuit including high efficiency decap filler cells includes the step of gap filling a thick gate dielectric mask.
US07709285B2
A method for manufacturing a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, comprising providing a base layer (10) and a mechanical layer (12) on a substrate (14), providing a sacrificial layer (16) between the base layer (10) and the mechanical layer (12), providing an etch stop layer (18) between the sacrificial layer (16) and the substrate (14), and removing the sacrificial layer (16) by means of dry chemical etching, wherein the dry chemical etching is performed using a fluorine-containing plasma, and the etch stop layer (18) comprises a substantially non-conducting, fluorine chemistry inert material, such as HfO2, ZrO2, Al2O3 or TiO2.
US07709281B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser device includes forming a laminate having a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type. The waveguide region is formed to guide light perpendicular to the direction of width by restricting the light from spreading in the direction of width in the active layer, such that the semiconductor laser device has a first waveguide region and a second waveguide region. The first waveguide region is formed to confine light within the limited active layer by means of a difference in the refractive index between the active layer and the regions on both sides of the active layer by limiting the width of the active layer. In forming the second waveguide region, light is confined therein by providing effective difference in refractive index in the active layer.
US07709277B2
A wet-etch composition may include: peracetic acid (PAA); and a fluorinated acid; a relative amount of the PAA in the composition being sufficient to ensure an etch rate of (P-doped-SiGe):(P-doped-Si) that is substantially the same as an etch rate of (N-doped-SiGe):(N-doped-Si). Such a wet-etch composition is hereafter referred to as a PAA-based etchant and can be used to make, e.g., a CMOS MBCFET, an electrode of a capacitor, etc.
US07709271B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for determining a concentration of a biological active substance in a sample by the means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The device comprises a solid support within a tubing for binding an immunosorbent and an inlet for fluids, a detector for detecting radiation due to an activity in the tubing, wherein the tubing is arranged inside a microchip extending substantially in one plane, for conducting the fluids along the plane of the microchip. The tubing forms a reaction cell having a large detection area. The reaction cell of the microchip is arranged perpendicular to the detector. The method comprises the steps of introducing the fluids into the tubing, conducting the fluids through the tubing forming a reaction cell, in which reaction cell the radiation emitting activity takes place, and detecting the light emitted from the reaction cell substantially perpendicular to the plane.
US07709269B2
Transistors are fabricated by forming a protective layer having a first opening extending therethrough on a substrate, forming a dielectric layer on the protective layer having a second opening extending therethrough that is wider than the first opening, and forming a gate electrode in the first and second openings. A first portion of the gate electrode laterally extends on surface portions of the protective layer outside the first opening, and a second portion of the gate electrode is spaced apart from the protective layer and laterally extends beyond the first portion on portions of the dielectric layer outside the second opening. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.
US07709268B1
A positive displacement type substance sampling and dispensing device comprises a central plunger formed from a first material. A plunger housing is formed from a second material having a melting point lower than the first material, the housing being formed by molding and setting the second material on to the surface of the plunger so that the plunger can slide in the housing to draw a substance into it.
US07709259B2
A method of enhancing in vitro development of a mammalian embryo is disclosed which comprises supplementing the culture medium with a prostaglandin, or a prostaglandin analog, in an amount effective to promote complete hatching of the embryo (i.e., freeing of the embryo from the zona pellucida). The quality of human blastocysts is enhanced in vitro by culturing with a prostacyclin agonist, Iloprost. The in vivo implantation potential and live birth potential of an in vitro fertilization embryo is thereby enhanced and establishment of a viable pregnancy is facilitated.
US07709257B2
The present invention is directed to methods for constructing and using in vivo and in vitro models of aspects of human immunity and, in particular, construction of a human immune system model for the testing of, for example, vaccines, adjuvants, immunotherapy candidates, cosmetics, drugs, biologics and other chemicals. The present invention comprises both in vivo and in vitro models of aspects of human immunity that are useful for assessing the interaction of substances with the immune system, and thus can be used to accelerate and improve the accuracy and predictability of, for example, vaccine, drug, biologic, immunotherapy, cosmetic and chemical development. The invention is also useful for the generation of human monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.
US07709255B2
It is an object of the present invention to apply a novel method of preparing neural cells from ES cells. The method of the present invention is characterized by the electric pulse treatment of differentiating ES cells. Nerve cells obtained by the method of the present invention have the flexibility to differentiate into a variety of types of neurons in vivo preferably without the need for application of growth factors.
US07709252B2
Mesothelin is a differentiation antigen present on the surface of ovarian cancers, mesotheliomas and several other types of human cancers. Because among normal tissues, mesothelin is only present on mesothelial cells, it represents a good target for antibody mediated delivery of cytotoxic agents. The present invention is directed to anti-mesothelin antibodies, including Fv molecules with particularly high affinity for mesothelin, and immunoconjugates employing them. Also described are diagnostic and therapeutic methods using the antibodies. The anti-mesothelin antibodies are well-suited for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the ovary, stomach, squamous cells, mesotheliomas and other malignant cells expressing mesothelin.
US07709245B2
Systems, methods, compositions and apparatus relating to genome selection are disclosed.
US07709243B2
The present invention is related to a biochip and a biomolecular detection system using the same. In particular, the biomolecular detection system is capable of detecting biological molecules (biomolecules) such as DNA or protein at a high speed. The biochip comprises a supporting structure, conductive materials aligned vertically on, and associated with, the supporting structure, and biomolecule probes operably linked to the conductive materials. The biomolecular detection system using the biochip may precisely detect biomolecules as well as the density of the biomolecules.
US07709237B2
The present invention related to a method for crystallizing a CMY-10 being a β-lactamase with extended-substrate spectrum, a crystal of CMY-10, and a crystal structure of CMY-10. With utilization of three-dimensional structure of CMY-10 protein provided by the present invention, it is possible to develop novel antibiotics or inhibitors that can prevent an emergence of resistance bacteria appeared by plasmidic class C β-lactamases having extended-substrate specificity.
US07709234B2
The invention provides a novel species of α-1,3-fucosyltransferase expressed by a gene cloned from animal cells, a cDNA coding for the α-1,3-fucosyltransferase, a method of detecting, or inhibiting the production of, the α-1,3-fucosyltransferase which involves the use of the cDNA, a recombinant vector containing the DNA as an insert, a cell harboring the recombinant vector, and a method of producing same. The α-1,3-fucosyltransferase of the invention is useful in the production of carbohydrate chains having useful physiological activity, for example sialyl Lewis x, and modifications thereof.
US07709233B2
The methods of the invention detect epidermal growth factor RNA, epidermal growth factor receptor RNA, her-2/neu RNA, c-myc RNA, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 RNA or any combination thereof in blood plasma, serum, and other bodily fluids. The inventive methods are useful for detection, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, or evaluation of neoplastic disease.
US07709230B2
A novel process for producing isomaltose and uses thereof and comprising the steps of contacting saccharides, which have a glucose polymerization degree of at least two and α-1,4 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end, with an α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme, in the presence or the absence of α-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme to form a-isomaltosylglucosaccharides, which have a glucose polymerization degree of at least three, α-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end, and α-1,4 glucosidic linkage as a linkage other than the non-reducing end, and/or to form cyclo{→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→}; contacting the saccharides so formed with isomaltose-releasing enzyme to release isomaltose; and collecting the released isomaltose; and uses thereof.
US07709225B2
An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutant alpha subunit of a mammalian voltage-gated sodium channel, wherein a mutation event selected from the group consisting of point mutations, deletions, insertions and rearrangements has occurred and said mutation event disrupts the functioning of an assembled sodium channel comprising this mutated subunit so as to produce an epilepsy phenotype, with the proviso that the mutation event is not a C2624T transition or a G4943A transition.
US07709223B2
A method of detecting β-D-ribofuranosidase activity in bacterial samples includes the step of incubating a sample to allow bacterial growth in the presence of chromogenic β-D-ribofuranosidase substrate, the cleavage products of which produce an indicator, for instance observable visually. The substrate may be incorporated into solid growth media such as agar. It is of particular utility for detecting bacteria from the genera Yersinia, Shigella, Vibrio, and species Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Arcanobacterium haemolytica. The substrate may be a catechol compound, or an indoxyl compound.
US07709211B2
The invention provides polypeptides encoded by open reading frames present in the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis but absent from the genome of BCG and diagnostic and prophylactic methodologies using these polypeptides.
US07709210B2
The present invention relates to a method for assessing the likelihood of the presence or formation of fetal heart disease (such as HLHS) in a fetus. In this methodology, the mother, either before or during pregnancy, is tested for the presence of anti-strep antibodies. If positive, the fetus is evaluated and monitored for the presence of fetal heart disease; the fetus can be treated, if appropriate. In addition, either prior to pregnancy or during the first trimester, the mother can be treated to prevent the formation of such antibodies or to neutralize their presence or effect fetal heart tissue.
US07709205B2
Methods of determining prognosis in a subject with a hyperproliferative disease, including determining expression and/or function of 14-3-3 zeta in the subject, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making a pharmaceutical agent that modulates apoptosis, including the steps of obtaining one or more candidate, testing the one or more candidate substances to determine their ability to modulate the expression and/or function of 14-3-3 zeta, selecting a candidate substance determined to modulate the expression and/or function of 14-3-3 zeta, and making a pharmaceutical composition that includes the selected candidate substance. In addition, methods of treating a subject with a hyperproliferative disease, including making a pharmaceutical agent by the methods set forth herein, and administering the pharmaceutical agent to a subject, are disclosed. The hyperproliferative disease can be cancer, such as breast cancer.
US07709203B2
Primers have been isolated that are diagnostic for the detection of Vibrio harveyi. The primers are based on a portion of the Vibrio harveyi LuxR gene and may be used in primer directed amplification or nucleic acid hybridization assay methods.
US07709201B2
The present invention is directed to various methods for detecting DNA sequence differences, including single nucleotide mutations or polymorphisms, one or more nucleotide insertions, and one or more nucleotide deletions. Labeled heteroduplex PCR fragments containing base mismatches are prepared. Endonuclease cleaves the heteroduplex PCR fragments both at the position containing the variation (one or more mismatched bases) and, to a lesser extent, at non-variant (perfectly matched) positions. Ligation of the cleavage products with a DNA ligase corrects non-variant cleavages and thus substantially reduces background. This is then followed by a detection step in which the reaction products are detected, and the position of the sequence variations are determined.
US07709194B2
The present invention relates to new methods for diagnosing a pregnancy-associated disorder by analyzing fetal DNA present in the mother's blood. More specifically, this invention relies on the discovery that the maspin gene is differentially methylated in fetal DNA and in maternal DNA and provides these new diagnostic methods, which distinguish fetal DNA from maternal DNA and detect prenatal disorders based on abnormalities in fetal DNA level and methylation status.
US07709193B2
Methods and kits are provided for separating a mixture of proteins in a biological sample. Methods for detecting and profiling proteins in biological samples by the separation method and kits are also provided. These methods are particularly useful in assessing damage to cells such as cardiac and skeletal muscle cells and in the early clinical diagnosis of myocardial damage by detection of myofilament proteins in serum of a subject.
US07709186B2
A method for exposing photoresist film of semiconductor device is disclosed. In accordance with the method, wafer is sequentially shifted the wafer by a predetermined distance so that the exposed regions before and after each shift have an overlapping region having an area larger than or equal to that of the die pattern to prevent defects on the exposure mask from being transcribed to the photoresist film.
US07709175B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a toner which includes ejecting a toner composition fluid containing a toner composition which contains a toner and a colorant, from a nozzle vibrated at a constant frequency to make the toner composition fluid into droplets, and solidifying the droplets to be made into particles, in which the toner composition fluid comprises a toner composition, and the toner composition contains a resin, and a colorant.
US07709174B2
A toner is provided including a colorant; a first binder resin; and a second binder resin, wherein an amount of the first binder resin and an amount of the second binder resin are phase separated from each other in the toner, and wherein a phase of the first binder resin is partially or completely covered with a phase of the second binder resin; and a method of preparing the toner, and a developer, an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge using the toner.
US07709169B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the at least one charge transport layer contains at least one charge trapping releaser.
US07709162B2
A photosensitive composition containing at least an organic-solvent-soluble dye, wherein the solid content of the organic-solvent-soluble dye is 50% by weight or higher based on the total weight of the solid content of the photosensitive composition, and the organic-solvent-soluble dye comprises at least one di- or higher-valent metal salt of an azo dye.
US07709159B2
A mask, which is used to form predetermined patterns on a substrate, includes a pattern forming member that is provided with openings corresponding to the predetermined patterns; and a pattern holding member that overlaps one surface of the pattern forming member.
US07709158B1
The present invention is directed to ambient temperature molten salts as non-aqueous electrolytes. The molten salts comprise a cation of a guanidine moiety and an anion. The guanidine cation is asymmetrically halogenated, which means that in the general formula: C(NR2)3+, one or two, but not all three, of the N atoms are bonded to R radicals that are the same for each thusly substituted N atom and the third N atom is bonded to hydrogen or two of the same R radicals, and if R radicals, they are different than the R radicals bonded to the first and second N atoms. The R radicals bonded to any one N atom is an alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Either both of the hydrogen atoms or at least one of the hydrogen atoms on each of the R radicals bonded to one or two, but not three, of the N atoms are substituted with the same halogen selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Preferably the anion is partially or fully halogenated, and the halogen of the guanidinium cation and that of the anion are the same. The electrolyte is useful with electrochemical devices such as primary and secondary electrochemical cells and capacitors, such as of the electrolytic and electrolytic/electrochemical hybrid types.
US07709153B2
The present invention provides a multi-component composite film comprising a) polymer support layer; and b) porous gellable polymer layer which is formed on one side or both sides of the support layer of a), wherein the support film of a) and the gellable polymer layer of b) are unified without the interface, a method for preparing the same, and a polymer electrolyte system applied the same.
US07709150B2
There is provided a simple and easy method of preparation of a positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous secondary battery which comprises a compound comprising lithium, nickel and manganese and having a layered structure. Said method comprises firing a mixture of (1) at least one member selected from the group consisting of dinickel trioxide and boron compounds and (2) one or more metal compounds comprising lithium, nickel and manganese as their metal elements.
US07709148B2
To provide a process for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide for a positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery, which has a large volume capacity density, high safety, excellent durability for charge and discharge cycles and excellent low temperature characteristics.
US07709135B2
A method is provided for recovering a catalytic element from a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly. The method includes grinding the membrane electrode assembly into a powder, extracting the catalytic element by forming a slurry comprising the powder and an acid leachate adapted to dissolve the catalytic element into a soluble salt, and separating the slurry into a depleted powder and a supernatant containing the catalytic element salt. The depleted powder is washed to remove any catalytic element salt retained within pores in the depleted powder and the catalytic element is purified from the salt.
US07709132B2
A side plate of a casing includes bracket members and a surface member. Each of the bracket members includes three second coupling portions and a plate-shaped attachment portion provided integrally with the second coupling portions. A coupling pin is inserted into the second coupling portions. The surface member is joined to the plate-shaped attachment portion. The bracket member includes a step fitted to an end of the surface member. The plate-shaped attachment portion and the surface member are jointed at a spot welding section including spots in a zigzag pattern.
US07709129B2
Disclosed is a gas-liquid separating device comprising: a main body in which an internal space is formed, and an injecting hole and a discharging hole which reach the internal space are formed; an electric osmosis material housed inside the internal space, and delimits the internal space into a first and a second region, the first region being reached by the injecting hole and the discharging hole; a first electrode joined to the electric osmosis material on a first region side; and a second electrode joined to the electric osmosis material on a second region side, wherein gas including moisture vapor is injected to the first region from the injecting hole, water obtained by condensing the moisture vapor in the first region electrically osmosis through the electric osmosis material from the first region to the second region by applying voltage in between the first and the second electrode.
US07709123B2
There is provided a film electrode assembly for a fuel cell capable of preventing a polymer electrolyte film from being exposed. The film electrode assembly includes: a main body portion of a film electrode assembly having a polymer electrolyte film, and a pair of electrode layers having catalyst layers placed on the two surfaces of the polymer electrolyte film on the inner side from the peripheral edge portion thereof and diffusion layers each having a peripheral edge protruding from the catalyst layer, which are laminated on one another, with a gap being formed between the protruding portion of the diffusion layer and the peripheral edge portion of the polymer electrolyte film; a frame member that sandwiches the peripheral edge portion of the polymer electrolyte film between the paired electrode layers with a gap therebetween, and is formed so as to surround an outer edge of the polymer electrolyte film; and gaskets made of a thermoplastic resin, which are placed on the two surfaces of the frame member. Each gasket includes an annular portion that covers the peripheral edge portion of the main body portion of the film electrode assembly over the entire circumference thereof along the inner edge of the frame member and a gap filling portion that fills the gap.
US07709110B2
An information recording medium comprises a substrate, a second recording layer, a second light transmitting layer, a first recording layer for recording different information from that to be recorded in the second recording layer, and a first light transmitting layer. The second recording layer is formed with a continuous second microscopic pattern of grooves. The first recording layer is formed with a continuous first microscopic pattern of grooves that is different from the second microscopic pattern. Both sidewalls of raised portions of the first and second microscopic patterns are formed with wobbling so as to be parallel with each other. Auxiliary information and a reference clock is recorded on these sidewalls alternately and continuously.
US07709107B2
An information recording medium comprises a substrate, a second recording layer, a second light transmitting layer, a first recording layer for recording different information from that to be recorded in the second recording layer, and a first light transmitting layer. The second recording layer is formed with a continuous second microscopic pattern of grooves. The first recording layer is formed with a continuous first microscopic pattern of grooves that is different from the second microscopic pattern. Both sidewalls of raised portions of the first and second microscopic patterns are formed with wobbling so as to be parallel with each other. Auxiliary information and a reference clock is recorded on these sidewalls alternately and continuously.
US07709082B2
The invention relates to an article of manufacture which includes a substrate, and on at least one surface thereof, a porous coating which has a total thickness in the range of up to about 50 microns and which consists of a plurality of discrete adjacent strata, wherein each discrete stratum is porous, inclusive of porous interfaces, and is fabricated from at least one substance selected from the group consisting of metals and metal oxides. The article is made by vaporizing a metal under vacuum conditions, optionally in an oxidizing atmosphere, at predetermined intervals of time, such that a deposit of a desired total thickness is formed on the substrate as a coating consisting of a plurality of discrete adjacent strata.
US07709081B2
The invention relates to porous bioglass and to the preparation method thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to a solid, porous crystalline or partially-crystalline composition containing at least SiO2, Ca
US07709069B2
Provided are high temperature, venting food preparation bags used to package food products for storage, transportation, and preparation and methods for making and using the same. High temperature, venting food preparation bags are composed of a sealed end, an open end, at least one side wall composed of a first thermoplastic film having a vent, and a vent seal composed of a second thermoplastic film. The vent seal is fused to the sidewall via a non-adhesive seal thereby closing the vents. At elevated temperatures, the vent seal at least partially detaches from the side wall thereby opening the vents. Opening of the at least one vent is not dependent upon the accumulation of internal fluid or gaseous pressure, and is compatible with vacuum packaging techniques. Vented cooking techniques are provided that permit browning and crisping of beef and poultry without manipulating the food preparation bag during cooking.
US07709067B2
A cellulose ester film comprising a compound represented by Formula (1): Formula (1) B-(G-A)n-G-B, wherein B represents a benzene monocarboxylic acid residue; G represents an alkylene glycol residue having 2-12 carbon atoms, an aryl glycol residue having 6-12 carbon atoms, or an oxyalkylene glycol residue having 4-12 carbon atoms; A represents an alkylene dicarboxylic acid residue having 4-12 carbon atoms or an aryldicarboxylic acid residue having 6-12 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 1 or more.
US07709057B2
Described herein is a method for providing a clean edge at the interface of a portion of a substrate coated with a coating system and an adjacent portion of the substrate which is uncoated. The method includes the step of forming a zone of non-adherence on the substrate portion which is to be uncoated, prior to application of the coating system. The zone of non-adherence is adjacent the interface, so that the coating system will not adhere to the zone of non-adherence, but will adhere to the portion of the substrate which is to be coated with the coating system.
US07709047B2
A method of removing a target from a biological sample which involves placing a transfer surface in contact with the biological sample, and then focally altering the transfer surface to allow selective separation of the target from the biological sample. In disclosed embodiments, the target is a cell or cellular component of a tissue section and the transfer surface is a film that can be focally altered to adhere the target to the transfer surface. Subsequent separation of the film from the tissue section selectively removes the adhered target from the tissue section. The transfer surface is activated from within the target to adhere the target to the transfer surface, for example by heating the target to adhere it to a thermoplastic transfer surface. Such in situ activation can be achieved by exposing the biological sample to an immunoreagent that specifically binds to the target (or a component of the target). The immunoreagent can alter the transfer surface directly (for example with a heat generating enzyme carried by the immunoreagent), or indirectly (for example by changing a characteristic of the target). In some embodiments, the immunoreagent deposits a precipitate in the target that increases its light absorption relative to surrounding tissue, such that the biological specimen can be exposed to light to selectively heat the target. Alternatively, the immunoreagent is an immunofluorescent agent that carries a fluorophore that absorbs light and emits heat.
US07709034B2
A process for extracting the water soluble fiber from corn fiber hulls is provided comprising the steps of subjecting the corn fiber hulls to a destarching process, a dewatering process, and exposing the destarched and dewatered corn fiber hulls to a thermochemical treatment to obtain a water-soluble non-caloric corn fiber. A water-soluble non-caloric corn fiber composition is disclosed comprising a destarched corn fiber hull produced by subjecting corn fiber hulls to a non-alkaline destarching process to obtain a destarched corn fiber, dewatering said destarched corn fiber hull, and exposing said destarched and dewatered corn fiber hull to one or more thermochemical treatments to obtain a water-soluble non-caloric corn fiber. Foods and a pharmaceutical comprising the water-soluble non-caloric corn fiber composition are disclosed.
US07709022B2
The present invention relates to an orally administrable preparation comprising a quinolone antibiotic which releases the active compound with a delay.
US07709014B2
A composition and method for producing a beneficial effect on a subject's nerve associated with at least one of a cosmetic condition, a dermatological indication and a dental indication and another condition. The composition comprises a hydroxy-oligocarboxylic ester and is formulated for topical administration of the product to a subject to produce the beneficial effect. The method includes topically applying to the subject in a region where the beneficial effect is desired a hydroxy-oligocarboxylic ester in an amount effective to produce the beneficial effect.
US07709013B2
The invention relates to a composition, especially a cosmetic composition, containing at least one silicone elastomer and at least one encapsulated pigment, wherein the refractive index of the pigment is greater than the refractive index of the encapsulating material.
US07709006B2
New styles of hepatitis C virus (HCV), referred to as HCV-3 and HCV-4, have been identified and sequenced. Antigenic regions of HCV-2, HCV-3 and HCV-4 polypeptides have been identified. Immunoassays for HCV and antibodies thereto are described, which allow more complete screening of blood samples for HCV, and allow HCV genotyping.
US07709003B2
The present invention comprises novel and modified peptides capable of inducing an HIV-1 specific immune response without antagonizing the cytotoxic T-cell activity in order to achieve an effective prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine against HIV. The peptides are based on conserved regions of HIV gag p24 proteins. Antigens in free- or carrier-bound form comprising at least one of the said peptides, vaccine compositions containing at least one of the antigens, immunoassay kits and a method of detecting antibodies induced by HIV or HIV specific peptides using such antigens, are described.
US07709002B1
Mutant ras oncogene peptides may induce specific anti-ras cellular immune responses in vaccinated patients. Moreover, a human CD8+ CTL epitope(s) reflecting a specific point mutation in the K-ras oncogene at codon 12 was identified. The mutant ras peptide has implications for both active and passive immunotherapies in selected carcinoma patients. A nested 10-mer peptide was identified [i.e., ras5-14(Asp12)], which was shown to bind to HLA-A2 and display specific functional capacity for expansion of the in-vivo-primed CD8+ CTL precursors.
US07708997B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, such as an antibody, a protein, a peptide or the like, an agent of promoting the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, and an immunologically functional molecule having the promoted activity.
US07708990B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a composition maintaining a blood coenzyme Q concentration at a high level in blood for a prolonged period of time, in order to surely attain an effect of coenzyme Q, which can be expected to manifest a superior effect in maintaining health in humans and animals.By using a composition which comprises a coenzyme Q being a mixture of a reduced coenzyme Q and an oxidized coenzyme Q with the proportion of the reduced coenzyme Q to the whole coenzyme Q of more than 95% by weight, the present invention can attain a high maximum blood concentration of a coenzyme Q as well as long maintenance of high concentration of coenzyme Q in blood for a prolonged period of time, and the area under the blood concentration curve (AUC) can be expanded.
US07708987B2
The present invention pertains to methods for preventing reovirus recognition in the treatment of cellular proliferative disorders, and particularly ras-mediated cellular proliferative disorders, in mammals. The mammal may be selected from dogs, cats, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, pigs, mice, humans and non-human primates. The method comprises suppressing or otherwise inhibiting the immune system of the mammal and, concurrently or subsequently, administering to the proliferating cells an effective amount of one or more reoviruses under conditions which result in substantial lysis of the proliferating cells. In particular, the methods provide for reovirus treatment of immunosuppressed or immuno-deficient mammals to treat the proliferative disorders. Immunosuppression, immunoinhibition or otherwise inducing an immunodeficient state in a mammal renders the reovirus more effective. The methods may include the selective removal of immune constituents that may interfere with the systemic delivery of the virus; preventing reovirus recognition by the host immune system; and removal of the virus from an immune suppressed or immune incompetent host following treatment with reovirus. Alternatively, reovirus may be administered to a mammal with a diminished immune response system under conditions which result in substantial lysis of the proliferating cells. Immune systems may be compromised by one or more of the following: an HIV infection; as a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation therapy; by selective removal of B and/or T cell populations; by removal of antibodies (anti-antireovirus antibodies or all antibodies), and the like.
US07708986B2
This invention provides compositions and methods for treating cancer. More specifically this invention is directed to a targeted retroviral vector comprising a cytokine gene that can be administered either alone or in combination with a targeted retroviral vector comprising a cytocidal gene for treating cancer in a subject. Also provided are a kit or drug delivery system comprising the compositions for use in the methods described.
US07708957B2
A chemical processing apparatus that utilizes a ceramic media sintered at a lower temperature than the apparatus' maximum exposure temperature is described. The media's physical and chemical properties may contribute to its thermal stability when exposed to temperatures that exceed the media's sintering temperature by at least 50° C.
US07708951B2
A cap for use in forming a sealed container with a fluid-holding vessel. The cap includes a downwardly tapered inner wall having a plurality of radially extending striations for improving the penetrability of the cap and for facilitating the formation of air passageways.
US07708950B2
A microfluidic device includes a processing layer and a temperature control layer. The processing layer applies a predetermined process to a subject fluid. The temperature control layer is disposed adjacent to the processing layer to give a predetermined temperature environment to the processing layer.
US07708945B1
A device includes a planar optical waveguide, as part of a sensor platform, and, connected to the platform directly or by means of a sealing medium, a sealing layer. The sealing layer forms either directly or by means of a sealing medium a tightly sealing layer. The sealing layer includes a multitude of recesses at least open towards the sensor platform, which form a corresponding multitude of sample compartments in a 2-dimensional arrangement. Each of the sample compartments has different biological or biochemical recognition elements, for the specific recognition and binding of different analytes, immobilized in five or more discrete measurement areas, wherein the measurement areas are in optical interaction with excitation light emanating from the optical waveguide, as part of the sensor platform which forms a demarcation of the sample compartments, and wherein the sample compartments are operable to be cleared from received sample or reagent solutions and to then receive, optionally without washing steps, further sample or reagent solutions, which are supplied to the same sample compartments.
US07708944B1
A portable, lightweight, rugged, easy-to-operate biosensor useful for rapidly detecting cells, viruses, antibodies, and other proteins. A capillary tube has a capture antibody immobilized on its interior surface. The specific capture antibody is selected based upon a desired target analyte to be detected. A sample potentially containing the target antigen is introduced into the capillary tube. Thereafter, a second antibody labeled with a fluorescent dye is introduced. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy, typically supplied by a laser, the fluorescence of the sample is captured and analyzed. The apparatus is extremely compact and rugged making it ideal for field use. In addition, accurate results may be obtained by relatively unskilled operators directly from a self-contained readout. Optionally, an external device (e.g., a computer) may be connected to the apparatus via an optional interface. The analysis time provided by the biosensor system of the invention is shorter than has heretofore been possible.
US07708943B1
A microfabricated fuel heating value monitoring device comprises a microfabricated gas chromatography column in combination with a catalytic microcalorimeter. The microcalorimeter can comprise a reference thermal conductivity sensor to provide diagnostics and surety. Using microfabrication techniques, the device can be manufactured in production quantities at a low per-unit cost. The microfabricated fuel heating value monitoring device enables continuous calorimetric determination of the heating value of natural gas with a 1 minute analysis time and 1.5 minute cycle time using air as a carrier gas. This device has applications in remote natural gas mining stations, pipeline switching and metering stations, turbine generators, and other industrial user sites. For gas pipelines, the device can improve gas quality during transfer and blending, and provide accurate financial accounting. For industrial end users, the device can provide continuous feedback of physical gas properties to improve combustion efficiency during use.
US07708941B2
A method and device related to a liquid product pressure and (optionally) temperature treatment method reduces the level of microorganisms in the liquid product to a preselected level. Utilizing the method, liquid product is diffused in a chamber with the speed of pressure variation of liquid product in one embodiment of about 109 Pa/sec. The preferred speed of the diffused drops is about 10 m/sec. The liquid product can optionally be heated before or during diffusion, and is preferably heated as a diffused liquid product by mixing it with superheated steam. The device includes a chamber and a diffuser in communication with the chamber. Optionally, the device may include a heating apparatus, such as a steam generator connected via a pressure control valve to a steam super heater, a cooling chamber connected via a pressure control valve with a condenser, a vacuum pump in communication with the chamber, units for condensation and collecting finished products and a vacuum control unit in communication with the chamber.
US07708939B2
A method of providing corrosion inhibition to copper, nickel, aluminum, zinc, tin, lead, beryllium, carbon steel, various alloys of such metals, and galvanized coatings in evaporative cooling water applications approaching zero liquid discharge that are specifically attacked by cooling water with residuals of corrosive chemistry or ions such as ammonia/ammonium ion, chloride, high TDS, OH−, or high pH. The method includes applying azoles inhibitors (such as TTA, BTA, etc.) at residuals of 0.25 mg/L to 200 mg/L or greater (as azoles) to the cooling water application and operating with a combination of high TDS (greater than 2500 mg/L) and high pH (greater than 9.0), while maintaining low total hardness (less than 200 mg/L as CaCO3).
US07708937B2
A high-strength, high-toughness, weldable and deformable rare earth magnesium alloy comprised of 0.7˜1.7% of Ym, 5.5˜6.4% of Zn, 0.45˜0.8% of Zr, 0.02% or less of the total amount of impurity elements of Si, Fe, Cu and Ni, and the remainder of Mg, based on the total weight of the alloy. During smelting, Y, Ho, Er, Gd and Zr are added in a manner of Mg—Y-rich, Mg—Zr intermediate alloys into a magnesium melt; Zn is added in a manner of pure Zn, and at 690˜720° C., a round bar was cast by a semi-continuous casting or a water cooled mould, then an extrusion molding was performed at 380˜410° C. after cutting. Before the extrusion, the alloy is treated by the solid-solution treatment at 480˜510° C. for 2˜3 hours, however, the alloy can also be extrusion molded directly without the solid-solution treatment. After the extrusion molding, this alloy has a strength of 340 MPa or more and a percentage elongation of 14% or more at room temperature and is a high-strength, high-toughness, weldable and deformable rare earth magnesium alloy.
US07708936B2
A cemented carbide tool comprising hard constituents in a binder phase of Co and/or Ni and at least one surface portion and an interior portion in which surface portion the grain size is smaller than in the interior portion is disclosed. The surface portion with the fine grain size has a lower binder phase content than the interior portion. A method to form the cemented carbide cutting tool is also disclosed.
US07708930B2
Disclosed are a nano fiber reinforced composite and a method of manufacturing the same. A spinning dope (nano fiber forming spinning dope) having a viscosity capable of fiber formation upon electrospinning and a spinning dope (spinning dope for matrix) having a viscosity incapable of fiber formation upon electrospinning are electrically spun onto the same collector with a high voltage applied thereto through different nozzles of the same nozzle block with a high voltage applied thereto. In the nano fiber reinforced composite, nano fibers are uniformly arranged between matrix components with no fibers formed therein, the nano fibers being arranged at an orientation angle of 90° or less relative to the longitudinal axis of the composite material. The nano fibers used as reinforcing material can be uniformly distributed within matrix components by a single procedure, and the contact area between the nano fibers and the matrix components are very large because the diameter of the nano fibers used as reinforcing material is small.
US07708929B2
The present invention relates to a process for melting and adhering material to produce three-dimensional objects by means of selective heating via microwave radiation. Unlike selective laser sintering, the present process uses simple microwave radiation commonly available in any household. The selectivity of heating is achieved by applying one or more susceptors to selected regions of a layer composed of a pulverulent substrate, and then heating the susceptor by means of microwave radiation. The heated susceptor transfers the energy present therein to a pulverulent substrate surrounding the susceptor, and the substrate is thereby melted, providing firm adhesion within the substrate after cooling.
US07708927B2
An imprint method includes the steps of preparing a substrate, placing an uncured resin material on the substrate, preparing a mold having a first end and a second end, and placing the mold to oppose the substrate at a position not sandwiching the resin material. A first gap between the first end and the substrate and a second gap between the second end and the substrate are different from each other. Additional steps include imparting a relative movement between the substrate and the mold so that the resin material approaches the first end of the mold and enters through the first gap and fills at least a part of a space between the mold and the substrate, and changing at least one of the first and second gaps in the state that the resin material is present between the mold and the substrate.
US07708924B2
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that has a template holder configured to hold an imprint template, a substrate table arranged to receive a substrate, a radiation output arranged to illuminate a part of the imprint template, and a detector configured to detect radiation scattered from an interface between the imprint template and imprintable material provided on the substrate.
US07708909B2
The present invention relates generally to thermally-conductive pastes for use with integrated circuits, and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to self-orienting microplates of graphite.
US07708908B2
An electroconductive carboxylic acid functionalized monomer corresponding to Formula (I), wherein A represents a hydrogen or a carboxyl group. Polymerized monomers of Formula (I) conjugated with a biomolecule result in conjugated PEDOT polymers of Formula (III) wherein A is a hydrogen or a carboxylic acid group and B is a biomolecule selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a protein, a lipid, a carbohydrate and a polynucleotide. The biomolecule conjugated polymers can be disposed onto an electrically conductive substrate wherein the substrate has a first layer of PEDOT polymerized on a surface of the substrate and a second layer of biomolecule conjugated PEDOT polymer of Formula (III) polymerized on the first layer of PEDOT. The first and second layers form a charge transport material in electrical communication with the conductive substrate. The electrically conductive substrate further comprises a dopant.
US07708906B2
A liquid crystalline di(meth)acrylate compound represented by the following formula (III): wherein, in the formula (III), R1 and R2 represent each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3 and R4 represent each independently an alkylene group of a carbon number of 2 to 12, R5 and R6 represent each independently —O—CO— or —CO—O—, A1 and A2 represent each independently —O— or —O—CO—O—, and X represents an aromatic substituent.
US07708902B2
A magnetic material composed of ε-InxFe2-xO3 (wherein 0
US07708893B2
A filtration system for a motorized wheel off-highway vehicle transmission that is proximate a sun pinion bore within the transmission, the system includes a helix shaped element that traverses along a longitudinal axis of the sun pinion bore, a magnet proximate the helix shaped element, and a housing proximate the helix shaped element and magnet.
US07708892B2
The present invention relates to the use of inorganic salts for increasing the adsorption of oxoanions and/or thioanalogues thereof to metal-doped ion exchangers, preferably to iron oxide/iron oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers, preferably from water or aqueous solutions, and also the conditioning of these metal-doped ion exchangers having increased adsorption behaviour toward oxoanions and/or thioanalogues thereof by using inorganic salts with the exception of amphoteric ion exchangers which have both acidic and basic groups as functional groups.
US07708890B2
Environmentally protective Method of treating an aqueous radioactive fluid (AF) in a nuclear reactor cycle or radwaste system to selectively capture or remove radioactive isotopes in a reduced quantitative package to minimize radwaste generated and revitalize neutron absorption capacity of nuclear reactor coolant by separately carrying away boron constituents, when B10 is later added. The method includes: demineralizing the (AF) by rough ion exchange and lowering the pH of salts, boron and non-radioactive substances so that the boron can later pass through an RO; polishing by reverse osmosis; dividing the (AF) into a permeate liquid volume and a reject liquid volume, each having certain characteristics; recycling the reject liquid volume back into demineralizing step for removing generally most of the radioactive isotopes to generate a demineralizer effluent; and conveying the permeate liquid volume to the outside ambient environmental release point for liquid effluents of the (AF); dividing the demineralizer effluent into a further permeate liquid volume and a further reject liquid volume having certain characteristics; and conveying the further permeate liquid volume to the outside ambient environmental release point of the invention.
US07708889B2
A method used in connection with processing of blood components, wherein blood products are then filtered via a filter rotating along with a centrifuge rotor and the sensed pressure may be used in connection with controlling the pumping of the blood products and/or in connection with determining the location of an interface associated with the blood products.
US07708883B2
A box filter comprises of a casing and at least two filters, which are installed inside the casing and behind the influx channel and have a buffer gap between two adjacent filters; the influx channel, which is installed on the external wall of the box filter. In addition, more than one guide vane is installed at the inlet of the influx channel and the bottom of the guide vane leans against the filter so as to eliminate the clog that forms the channel and so as to stop backflow of the sewage into the aquarium or container of the sift device while the box filter or sift device is removed from the aquarium. The guide vane can effectively improve drawbacks of the box filter of a prior art as well as enhance the filtration effect.
US07708879B2
For diesel internal combustion engines, an improved filter unit comprising an outer casing the interior of which is separated by a filtering baffle into two separate chambers to which a fuel inlet conduit and a fuel outlet conduit are connected respectively, with said casing there being associated a device provided with sensors for measuring certain characteristic parameters for correct engine operation.
US07708878B2
A process for producing a product slate, which includes at least three base oil grades having kinematic viscosities at 100° C. within the range between about 1.8 cSt and 30 cSt, from a waxy feed having an initial boiling point of about 340° C. or less and a final boiling point of about 560° C. or higher, said process comprising (a) isomerizing at least a portion of the waxy feed, whereby the amount of isoparaffins present are increased; (b) distilling a first portion of the isomerized waxy feed in light block mode operation into at least three base oil fractions having different boiling ranges; (c) distilling a second portion of the isomerized waxy feed in medium block mode operation into at least three base oil fractions having different boiling ranges; and (d) blending at least one base oil fraction produced from light block mode with at least one base oil fraction produced from medium block mode to produce a lubricating base oil blend meeting a target value for at least one pre-selected property.
US07708869B2
A gas sensor has a sensor element detecting a concentration of a specified gas, a housing fixing this element to a gas pipe to expose it to measuring-gas flow, and cylindrical inner and outer covers of a different radius, configured in concentric configuration, having a base part. Side surface openings are formed in the inner cover so that each opening turns upward from the outside to the inside of the inner cover. Openings are formed in the bottom surface of the inner cover around a circle in concentric with the inner cover. Openings are formed in the side surface of the outer cover through which the measuring gases are introduced into a gap between the inner and outer covers. A gap is formed between bottom surfaces of both the covers. An opening is formed at the center of the bottom surface of the outer cover.
US07708862B2
Use of silica sols containing sulfonic acid groups and/or mercapto groups as microparticles in paper production, in particular for paper retention.
US07708855B2
Disclosed is a method for processing a semiconductor wafer having plural devices divided by streets on a front surface thereof, the method comprising: adhering an adhesive film to a back surface of the semiconductor wafer; cutting the semiconductor wafer along the streets, thereby making pieces of devices; wherein the adhesive film is cut into a shape and a size identical to those of the streets by a laser beam; the semiconductor wafer is positioned such that streets coincide with cut lines of the adhesive film; the adhesive film is adhered to the semiconductor wafer.
US07708851B2
A CMC article and process for producing the article to have a layer on its surface that protects a reinforcement material within the article from damage. The method entails providing a body containing a ceramic reinforcement material in a matrix material that contains a precursor of a ceramic matrix material. A fraction of the reinforcement material is present and possibly exposed at a surface of the body. The body surface is then provided with a surface layer formed of a slurry containing a particulate material but lacking the reinforcement material of the body. The body and surface layer are heated to form the article by converting the precursor within the body to form the ceramic matrix material in which the reinforcement material is contained, and by converting the surface layer to form the protective layer that covers any fraction of the reinforcement material exposed at the body surface.
US07708849B2
A method of utilizing a scrim of elastic material including cutting the elastic strands within a disposable undergarment is disclosed. The method generally follows the steps of providing two webs of fabric and an elastic scrim of mesh-like design, adhering the scrim between the two webs of fabric, determining areas where elastic material is not required, compressing the non-elastic areas with a thermal compression tool, and forming a disposable undergarment.
US07708848B2
Provided is a component bonding method with higher bonding precision in a process of bonding an electrode of a component to an electrode formed on a flat panel. A preliminary press bonding device includes: a control unit which includes a position displacement amount correction unit to which a position displacement amount after the press bonding process is fed back and which corrects the position displacement on the next component to be preliminarily bonded; and a component position determining unit which determines a position of the component using the fed back correction amount. On the other hand, a press bonding device includes a bonding recognition device for use in the recognition of positions of the electrodes on the flat panel and the component. The bonding recognition device includes a position displacement amount calculating unit which calculates the position displacement amount based on the recognized position information.
US07708841B2
An austenitic, substantially ferrite-free steel alloy and a process for producing components therefrom. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07708838B2
The present invention relates to a method for dispensing of a microbiologically sensitive fluid, in particular low acid food fluid, in a hygienic manner so as to avoid micro-organism growth in the line dispensing the fluid as well as in any mechanical components of a dispensing unit that may enter into contact with the fluid. The invention hygienically supplies microbiologically sensitive fluid from a removable container that has a terminal connecting portion to a dispensing unit. The unit includes a coupling mechanism adapted to connect the terminal connecting portion and a component for delivering a cleaning or rinsing fluid within the terminal connecting portion. Thus, during cleaning or rinsing, the cleaning or rinsing fluid can be discharged within the terminal connecting portion up to a closing point of the container assembly, thus demarcating a closing point, downstream of which is a part that is maintained clean, and upstream of which is a part of the container that is maintained sterile.
US07708836B2
A device and method that enables the reliable and reproducible testing of the cleaning efficiency of an ultrasonic cleaning device is disclosed.
US07708835B2
A high conductance, multi-tray film precursor evaporation system coupled with a high conductance vapor delivery system is described for increasing the deposition rate by increasing exposed surface area of film precursor. The multi-tray film precursor evaporation system includes one or more trays. Each tray is configured to support and retain film precursor in, for example, solid powder form or solid tablet form. Additionally, each tray is configured to provide for a high conductance flow of carrier gas over the film precursor while the film precursor is heated. For example, the carrier gas flows inward over the film precursor, and vertically upward through a flow channel within the stackable trays and through an outlet in the solid precursor evaporation system.
US07708831B2
A method for producing a ZnO single crystal by a liquid phase growth technique, comprising the steps of: mixing and melting ZnO as a solute and PbF2 and PbO as solvents; and putting a seed crystal or substrate into direct contact with the obtained melted solution, thereby growing a ZnO single crystal on the seed crystal or substrate.
US07708830B2
A method for the production of a silicon single crystal by pulling the single crystal, according to the Czochralski method, from a melt which is held in a rotating crucible, the single crystal growing at a growth front, heat being deliberately supplied to the center of the growth front by a heat flux directed at the growth front. The method produces a silicon single crystal with an oxygen content of from 4*1017 cm−3 to 7.2*1017 cm−3 and a radial concentration change for boron or phosphorus of less than 5%, which has no agglomerated self-point defects. Semiconductor wafers are separated from the single crystal. These semiconductor wafers have may have agglomerated vacancy defects (COPs) as the only self-point defect type or may have certain other defect distributions.
US07708822B2
The invention relates to a composition for coating fruits, vegetables, fowl eggs, and especially for organically-grown produce for protection and extension of the shelf life of said fruits, vegetables and fowl eggs, wherein said composition is an aqueous dispersion comprised of: (a) a hydrophobic component comprising at least one member of the following group consisting of natural wax, or vegetable oil; (b) an alkali agent; (c) water, wherein components (a) and (b) are derived from natural biological sources. The invention also relates to a method for application of the composition.
US07708821B2
An aqueous ink for inkjet recording is provided, which includes water, pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent incorporated at a content of not less than 30% by weight, a surfactant, and 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol. The surfactant is formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of acetylene glycol-based surfactant and a fluorinated surfactant.
US07708818B2
An air filtering assembly for use with oxygen concentrating equipment, the assembly including a filter containment housing, a cover therefore, and a filter support and divider provided therein. A filter rests upon the divider, and below the divider are a series of baffles, that provide a circuitous path for the filtered air to flow, to effect sound dampening, during usage of this filter assembly in combination with the concentrator of an oxygen concentrating apparatus.
US07708808B1
A cyclone separator including a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a particle outlet opening, wherein a rotatable particle collection chamber is in fluid communication with the particle outlet opening.
US07708807B2
Device for recovering a material to be measured comprising a reservoir filled with a sample holding material impregnated with a sample liquid in which a material to be measured is dissolved and an adsorbing column for adsorbing the material to be measured, wherein the reservoir and the adsorbing column are communicated by a straight pipe, and further communicated with a recovery vessel via a recovery pipe branched out the straight pipe. Accordingly, operations of opening/closing or switching a first valve provided on the in-flow side of the reservoir, a second valve provided on the out-flow side of the adsorbing column, and a third valve provided to a vent hole to the atmosphere in the recovery vessel, make it possible to recover the material to be measured without depositing the material on the valves.
US07708799B2
Dithiocarbamate and phosphite containing fertilizers, as well as methods of making and methods of using these fertilizers, are disclosed.
US07708797B2
An air cleaner assembly is provided, which is configured for alternate installation therein of different sized filter cartridges. Features of the air cleaner assembly and components for use therewith, are described. Also methods of assembly and use are described.
US07708796B2
A filter element (1), which is formed particularly of a flat element wrapped into a compact body and which along its outer circumference has at least one continuous main sealing ring (2) disposed adjacent an end face (4) on the intake side, is provided with an additional emergency sealing collar (3) which encloses the filter body and is disposed near the end face (5) on the outlet side.
