US07874010B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages secret keys for messages. During operation, the system receives a desired expiration time T from an encrypter, and possibly a nonce N, at a server that manages keys. If N is not sent by the encrypter, it is generated by a key managing server. Next, the system chooses a secret ST, with an expiration time close to T, and an identifier IDS from a database for which secret ST can be retrieved using the identifier IDS. If such an ST is not already in the database, the server generates a new ST and IDS. The system then calculates a hash H=h(N,ST), and sends H and IDS from the server to the encrypter. The encrypter then encrypts M with H to form {M}H, and communicates ({M}H, N, IDS) to a message reader. The message reader then sends N and IDS to the server. The server then uses IDS to lookup ST, recalculates H=h(N,ST), and sends H to the message reader, thereby enabling the message reader to decrypt {M}H to obtain M. Note that by using the secret ST associated with the expiration time T and the nonce N, the server is able to reconstruct the secret key H for the message M without having to maintain per-message state information.
US07874009B2
Provided is a data processing device that can prevent data used by a program from being used by another program in an unauthorized manner, regardless of the quality of the programs. The data processing device includes: a CPU 0201 for executing programs; and an unauthorized operation prevention circuit 0105 that prevents unauthorized accesses to data between programs. An unauthorized operation prevention control unit 0106, which operates in the protected mode and controls the circuit 0105, judges whether or not to permit a program B 0103 that runs in the normal mode to use a memory area that is used by a program A 0102 that runs in the normal mode, based on a function flag assigned to the program B 0103. If it judges to permit, the circuit 0105 is set so that the program B 0103 can use the memory area.
US07874006B2
Guest user are enabled to access network resources through an enterprise network using a guest user account. A guest user account may be created for a guest for a limited time. Guest account credentials of the guest account may be provided to the guest to use the guest account using any of a variety of techniques described herein, for example, by scanning a guest access card, credit card or mobile telephone of guest user, and providing the guest account credentials to the user based on the information obtained. A guest access management server may be configured to generate and maintain guest accounts, authenticate guest users, and track and log guest activity. A VLAN technology may be used to separate guest traffic from host enterprise traffic on the host enterprise network. After a guest user is authenticated, communications to and from the guest user may be routed to a guest VLAN.
US07874003B2
An information recording medium, storing: main contents having constituent data according to a predetermined format and subcontents having constituent data not according to the predetermined format, as recorded data; the main contents and the subcontents having constituent data established as contents management units; the contents management units including data stored as encrypted data based on individual unit keys associated respectively with the contents management units.
US07874000B1
A false positive reduction manager reduces false positives generated by database intrusion detection systems. In one embodiment, the false positive reduction manager monitors attempted database activities executed by a plurality of users. The false positive reduction manager detects at least one attempt by at least one user to execute suspicious database activity, and determines whether the at least one attempt to execute suspicious database activity is legitimate responsive to whether a threshold of users in the same group as the at least one user attempt substantially similar suspicious database activity.
US07873993B2
Remote routers are configured to block the return path to malicious websites with the use of split tunneling while allowing paths to third party resource websites. The iBGP protocol runs on the agent's router, advertises routes and enables the head-end to set up a policy at each remote router. Enterprise policies for blocking access to “blackholed” website addresses are centrally administered but third party website traffic is not routed to the enterprise's network resources. Since remote offices may connect directly to third party websites, latency is minimized and network resources at the enterprise are not unduly burdened.
US07873981B2
A method of providing set up services to customer premise equipment (CPE), the CPE coupled to an internet protocol television (IPTV) network. The method includes operating a network element as a set up terminal server, the network element being part of a communications network. A request to initiate a set up process is received from the CPE. A set up server coupled to the communications network is accessed to initiate a set up application. The set up server communicates with the CPE through the network element to perform installation of the CPE and provisioning of the CPE.
US07873980B2
A High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable carries high speed encoded data which are transmitted differentially over data channels, along with a clock. A Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) cable carries high speed data which are multiplexed to achieve smaller connectors with fewer pins. A MHL-to-HDMI cable is proposed which includes an embedded MHL to HDMI format conversion device for demultiplexing the received MHL-formatted signal and outputting an HDMI-formatted signal. The embedded device is powered by a combination of power sources, the power being harvested from the high-speed HDMI signals themselves.
US07873978B2
An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
US07873976B2
A digital subscriber line communication system (DCLCS) provides voice and data services to a subscriber premises within a building and to high speed data communication devices in the subscriber premises using in-building wiring and to-building wiring without having high speed communication equipment inside the subscriber premises.
US07873971B2
A motor includes a chucking device to hold a disk having a central opening in a detachable manner. In the chucking device, a turntable part is arranged above a rotor holder and has a disk support surface for supporting the disk. An axially slidable cone part is arranged above the turntable part. A resilient member is axially arranged between the turntable part and the cone part upwardly biases the cone part. Further, the turntable part includes an inner table made of a metal and fixed to the shaft, and an outer table made of a resin material and fixed to an outside of the inner table. The outer table has the disk support surface and is axially spaced apart from the rotor holder in a position where the inner table and the outer table are fixed to each other.
US07873970B2
The present invention provides an optical pickup device employing a disc protector that includes a plurality of first protrusions and at least one second protrusion disposed on the lens holder, wherein the first protrusions are formed by applying a first adhesive to a plurality of areas of a top surface of the lens holder, wherein the first protrusions are arranged at different locations in the tracking direction such that the objective lens is sandwiched between the first protrusions, wherein the at least one second protrusion protrudes is formed by applying a second adhesive to at least one area of the top surface of the lens holder, and wherein tips of the first protrusions are closer to the optical disc than a tip of the at least one second protrusion.
US07873961B2
A method and system for supporting simultaneous operation of operating systems on a single integrated circuit. The system includes a supervisory operating system (SOS) managing execution of instructions, each instruction being executable under one of the operating systems; registers grouped into multiple sets of registers, each set maintaining an identity of one of the operating systems; and a dispatcher capable of dispatching an instruction and a tag attached to the instruction, the tag identifying one of the operating systems and the instruction to be executed under the identified operating system to access one of the registers. One or more of the registers are utilized when the instruction is executed, and are included in a single set of the multiple sets of registers. The single set maintains the identity of the operating system identified by the tag, and each of the one or more registers includes an identifier matching the tag.
US07873958B2
A system and methods for versioning software components in connection with a computer programming language are provided. In exemplary aspects, the versioning system makes use of intelligent defaults, provides a vehicle for unambiguous specification of developer intent and implements conflict resolution rules in connection with the versioning of software components. In another aspect, the versioning system bounds names at run-time, but does not bound offsets at compile-time.
US07873957B2
A reboot reduction infrastructure may be used by applications to make installing modifications as unobtrusive as possible. Applications may register with the reboot reduction infrastructure and use provided APIs to detect which applications and services have files in use, shutdown down those applications with files in use and then restart those applications in a form similar to which they were in when the applications were shut down.
US07873949B2
Upon accessing binary that was generated by a compiler using corresponding source code, a potential reportable problem in the binary is identified. The binary includes a compiler transformed indication that the potential reportable problem is to be suppressed at least under some circumstances. The transformed indication is generated by the compiler using a corresponding untransformed indication in the corresponding source code. The transformed indication is then used to decide that the potential reportable problem should not be reported. Thus, artifacts within the source code itself may ultimately direct what problems are not to be reported on when the corresponding binary is analyzed after the compile phase.
US07873948B2
A combined language-compiler that provides for the efficient compilation process of hybrid computer code written using a plurality of computer languages by splitting the hybrid code in such a way that each code statement is optimally independently compliable. The designer specifies both computation and communication between different hybrid code modules.
US07873946B2
A mechanism is disclosed for providing Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) images, Tree and Tab as drag and drop objects. A page design tool receives an indication that a user wishes to place a metadata-defined image onto a page design canvas. The page design tool further receives an association of metadata defining the image, and in response, parses through the metadata to identify properties and characteristics of the metadata-defined image to expose to a user through a graphical user-interface of the page design tool. The page design tool enables a user to assign conditions to the exposed properties and characteristics of the image, as well as map available data sources to the properties and characteristics in order to dynamically control image properties during display. Hence, the page design tool presents graphical user interface tools for simply incorporating otherwise complex objects into page designs.
US07873927B1
A method of partitioning a design across a plurality of integrated circuits can include creating a software construct for each one of the plurality of integrated circuits and assigning a plurality of instances to a selected software construct. Each of the plurality of instances can be from a different logic hierarchy. The method further can include automatically adding at least one input/output buffer and port to the selected software construct to accommodate the plurality of instances and creating nets connecting the plurality of instances and the at least one input/output buffer and port within the selected software construct.
US07873918B2
A display method for displaying a workflow system composed of a plurality of discrete Boxes each associated with a document process and linked in a predetermined order. The workflow is defined for causing the processes to be sequentially executed. The workflow is displayed using icons representing the Boxes. If execution of the associated process has been completed, an icon representing a corresponding Box is overlaid with oblique lines. If execution of the associated process is currently in process, an icon representing a corresponding Box is overlaid with a graphical representation of a sand timer.
US07873910B2
A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user's screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.
US07873908B1
A method is disclosed for generating a consistent user interface for an HTML-based application program, without extensive coding of Java Server Pages and other elements. In one approach, business objects each define a user action for the application program, and metadata elements defining parameters for the user actions of the business object. A controller is communicatively coupled to one or more actions, widgets, and panels. A user request is received from a browser and dispatched to one or the actions. Using the actions, one or more parameter values are obtained from the business objects. The business object parameter values are associated with a widget selected from among the one or more widgets. The selected widget is associated with a panel selected from the one or more panels. An HTML user interface page that includes the selected panel is generated. The widgets represent properties of the business objects as HTML elements, automatically generate client-side executable code for performing data validation, and convert values received in users requests into programmatic objects of appropriate data types for use by the application program.
US07873907B2
A method, apparatus and article of manufacture, implementing the method, finds one or more objects in a scrollable list of a character-based panel for automated testing. The scrollable list comprises objects. A subset of the objects of the scrollable list is displayed in the panel. A first target area in the panel is searched for a first target object. The first target area displays at least a portion of the subset of objects of the scrollable list. When the first target object is not found, a next page command is supplied to display a second subset of objects of the scrollable list and the searching is repeated.
US07873905B2
An interface screen used for the correlation between video data and reference picture data includes: a screen 70 for displaying the video data reproduced by a video player; and a screen 73 for displaying a reference picture to be correlated with. When an operator enters an instruction to the operation portion 74 while reproduction video, the data for a reference picture displayed on the screen is correlated with a corresponding reproduction time position of the video data.
US07873904B2
Systems and methods are described for an Internet visualization system and related user interfaces. In one implementation, the system analyzes Internet search logs to determine most popular search queries across the world at a current time. A user interface displays a keyword of each of the most popular queries in a single visual display that relates each query to a geographical location of greatest popularity. The system can also filter queries according to demographics. In one implementation the user interface provides a 3-dimensional Internet visualization that adopts an ocean or seascape theme. The ocean floor displays a map of the world, and query bubbles rise from geographical locations on the map. The size and duration of each query bubble denotes the relative popularity of a given query.
US07873903B2
A method of providing selected text into a computer includes selecting a character in a range of characters and selecting a word as a function of the selected character. The word is presented to the user and an action is received from the user pertaining to the selected character.
US07873902B2
A method of transforming reports from one version of software to another version is disclosed. The method exports existing report objects in an existing first version report into XML format to a transformation tool and then to a layout transformation tool. An XML object is created and is imported into a report in the second version.
US07873901B2
A large web page is analyzed and partitioned into smaller sub-pages so that a user can navigate the web page on a small form factor device. The user can browse the sub-pages to find and read information in the content of the large web page. The partitioning can be performed at a web server, an edge server, at the small form factor device, or can be distributed across one or more such devices. The analysis leverages design habits of a web page author to extract a representation structure of an authored web page. The extracted representation structure includes high level structure using several markup language tag selection rules and low level structure using visual boundary detection in which visual units of the low level structure are provided by clustering markup language tags. User viewing habits can be learned to display favorite parts of a web page.
US07873897B2
A bit-level turbo code encoder is provided. The bit-level turbo code encoder is configured to receive a first input data sequence and generate a first output data sequence. The bit-level turbo code encoder includes a first non-binary convolutional code encoder, a bit-level interleaver, and a second non-binary convolutional code encoder. The first non-binary convolutional code encoder is configured to process the first input data sequence and generate a second output data sequence. The bit-level interleaver is configured to receive the first input data sequence as a first sequence and interleave the first sequence at bit level to generate a fourth sequence. The second non-binary convolutional code encoder is coupled with the bit-level interleaver and configured to receive the fourth sequence and process the fourth sequence to generate a third output data sequence.
US07873885B1
Solid state drive (SSD) testing processes and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the SSD testing process comprises: specifying a set of test parameters of firmware, operating system and flash memory for a plurality of SSDs under test (DUTs) in an SSD test system, the set of test parameters includes a model number, a serial number, a desired defective or bad block ratio and a size of the firmware, wherein the model and serial number are configured onto each of the DUTs; performing an initialization test of all of the DUTs based on the specified test parameters to determine a pre-qualified group of the DUTs that passed the initialization test; conducting at least one level of burn-in test for each SSD in the pre-qualified group; conducting at least one level of burn-in test for each SSD in the pre-qualified group; and assigning a quality grade to said each SSD based on which level of the at least one level of burn-in test said each SSD has been tested and passed, wherein the quality grade includes a commercial grade SSD made using at least one Multi-Level Cell flash memory.
US07873883B2
A method for scrubbing storage in a computer memory which includes a plurality of memory modules each having plurality of memory chips. The method includes selecting a pattern that correlates with physical structures for scanning the memory chips of the memory modules for errors, scanning a memory chip of a memory module for errors based upon the selected pattern. The method further includes successively scanning remaining memory chips of the respective memory module for errors when an error is found in the scanned memory chip, and scanning a memory chip of another memory module when an error is not found in the scanned memory chip of the respective memory module.
US07873875B2
A debugging system includes a CPU that is a debugging target and a debugging circuit. The CPU has an output part configured to independently output stack access information of a stack access and data access information of a data access excluding the stack access, as data access information of the CPU that is monitored by the debugging circuit. The debugging circuit has a trace part configured to independently generate and output trace information of the stack access from the stack access information that is output from the CPU and trace information of the data access excluding the stack access from the data access information that is output from the CPU.
US07873871B2
A programmable electronic controller in which one central arithmetic processing unit and a plurality of input devices and output devices are connected by means of a parallel bus, the controller being basically configured to activate a self-diagnostic function and a diagnostic test of the input devices and the output devices with an instruction from a microprocessor of the central arithmetic processing unit; and to judge the result with the microprocessor of the central arithmetic processing unit, by using the microprocessor installed in the central arithmetic processing unit also as a processor for tests (diagnostic tests) of the self-diagnostic function of the input devices and output devices and conducting tests of the self-diagnostic function of the plurality of input devices and output devices with the central arithmetic processing unit.
US07873869B2
A method, apparatus, and program product checkpoint an application in a parallel computing system of the type that includes a plurality of hybrid nodes. Each hybrid node includes a host element and a plurality of accelerator elements. Each host element may include at least one multithreaded processor, and each accelerator element may include at least one multi-element processor. In a first hybrid node from among the plurality of hybrid nodes, checkpointing the application includes executing at least a portion of the application in the host element, configuring and executing at least one computation kernel in at least one accelerator element, and, in response to receiving a command to checkpoint the application, checkpointing the host element separately from the at least one accelerator element upon which the at least one computation kernel is executing.
US07873865B2
A control apparatus comprises a priority determination unit for determining the priority of each of a plurality of applications that use data in different logical volumes constituting a volume group, and a restoration instruction unit for issuing a restoration instruction to a storage system to execute restoration on the plurality of logical volumes constituting the volume group in sequence from a logical volume used by an application having a high priority.
US07873862B2
A primary time server of a Coordinated Timing Network remains as current time server, even if time code information of the primary time server is unavailable. The primary time server receives the necessary or desired timing information from a secondary time server and uses that information to maintain time synchronization within the Coordinated Timing Network.
US07873859B2
A transfer of control to a batch application is intercepted, wherein a batch front-end routine receives control in place of the batch application and performs initialization processing. This initialization processing comprises issuing a DLI restart call and issuing a DLI checkpoint call. If the DLI restart call returns a checkpoint ID, then one or more databases associated with the batch application are repositioned. The transfer of control to the batch application is then resumed, whereby the batch application restarts from the checkpoint ID, if the checkpoint ID was returned by the DLI restart call, in a manner transparent to the batch application.
US07873855B2
A method and system and calibration technique for power measurement and management over multiple time frames provides responsive power control while meeting global system power consumption and power dissipation limits. Power output of one or more system power supplies is measured and processed to produce power values over multiple differing time frames. The measurements from the differing time frames are used to determine whether or not system power consumption should be adjusted and then one or more devices is power-managed in response to the determination. The determination may compare a set of maximum and/or minimum thresholds to each of the measurements from the differing time frames. A calibration technique uses a precision reference resistor and voltage reference controlled current source to introduce a voltage drop from the input side of a power supply sense resistor calibration is made at the common mode voltage of the power supply output.
US07873854B2
The single chip microcontroller unit includes a processing unit having normal power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation. Analog circuitry and digital circuitry are connected to the processing unit. A power management unit controls power operations of the processing unit, the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry. Power monitoring circuitry provides power control signals to the power management unit. The power monitoring circuitry further includes a system voltage monitoring circuit for generating a system voltage control signal responsive to a system voltage level with respect to a predetermined level. The power monitoring circuitry also includes a supply monitoring circuit for determining if a chip supply voltage level exceeds a threshold level.
US07873853B2
A data storage apparatus includes a memory, a monitoring unit for monitoring an unauthorized action on data stored in the memory, a first power supply for supplying power to the monitoring unit, and a power storage unit which supplies power to the monitoring unit when supply of the power from the first power supply to the monitoring unit is stopped and which is charged while the power is being supplied from the first power supply to the monitoring unit.
US07873844B2
A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) communication system dynamically provides power and data communications over a communications link. In an enterprise environment, a table top network switch uses a power supply to provide power for PoE and data communications to one or more powered devices (e.g., personal or laptop computers). To reduce the amount of heat generated in the table top network switch, the power supply is located external to the table network switch. The table top network switch may also include enterprise equipment, such as a video projector, a monitor for a personal computing device, another personal computing device to provide some examples. The power supply for the enterprise equipment may be included within the table top network switch to provide additional integration. The power for PoE and data communications to a limited number of powered devices (e.g., personal or laptop computers) may be included within the table top network switch to provide even further integration.
US07873839B2
An information reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a secure module and a main memory. The information in the secure module can not be accessed from outside. The secure module reads, using a direct access method, information relating to software stored in the main memory. The secure module checks a falsification of the software by comparing the information read with the information stored in advance in the secure module.
US07873837B1
An electronic data flash card includes a random number generator that generates a random number stored in the card and a host system each time the card is accessed by the host system. The random number is used by the host system to encrypt a logical branch address, a user password, and user data that is written to and stored in a secure area of the card. The random number is encrypted using a key associated with the card, and the encrypted random number is stored by the card with the associated encrypted data. The random number is not stored in the host system. A new random number is generated each time the card is queried. In a read process the host system decrypts the encrypted random number using the key, then uses the random number to decrypt the associated encrypted data. Access to read/write processes are password protected.
US07873833B2
A scalable method and apparatus that detects frequent and dispersed invariants is disclosed. More particularly, the application discloses a system that can simultaneously track frequency rates and dispersion criteria of unknown invariants. In other words, the application discloses an invariant detection system implemented in hardware (and/or software) that allows detection of invariants (e.g., byte sequences) that are highly prevalent (e.g., repeating with a high frequency) and dispersed (e.g., originating from many sources and destined to many destinations).
US07873831B2
A signature system with a mechanism to identify element(s) of a signed document includes a sender having a signature module with a digest generator. The digest generator generates digests for identifying selected elements of the document. The resulting “identifying” digests are then used in generating a signature in which the sender signs the digests rather than the original elements. The receiver can then process the signature and use these digests to distinguish between elements, as needed.
US07873816B2
A circuit arrangement and method utilize thread pair context caching, where a pair of hardware threads in a multithreaded processor, which are each capable of executing a process, are effectively paired together, at least temporarily, to perform context switching operations such as context save and/or load operations in advance of context switches performed in one or more of such paired hardware threads. By doing so, the overall latency of a context switch, where both the context for a process being switched from must be saved, and the context for the process being switched to must be loaded, may be reduced.
US07873814B1
An apparatus comprising a circuit configured to translate instruction codes of a first instruction set into sequences of instruction codes of a second instruction set that emulate a functionality of the instruction codes of the first instruction set.
US07873806B2
A system and method of managing stored data in a storage management system. The storage management system includes a storage manager, a media agent connected to the storage manager, and a primary volume connected to the media agent. A plurality of snapshots are taken of the primary volume. The snapshots are indexed by associating respective information with the snapshot. The indexed snapshots are copied to a recovery volume. In this way, browsing features are enabled for the user. The user may view the snapshots in a hierarchical format, and may even view snapshot data in association with the corresponding application. The resultant recovery volume may be used to replace a primary volume.
US07873800B2
Method and device for generating an address value for addressing an interleaver memory. Consecutive address fragments to which a most significant bit(s) is to be appended are generated. Only a fraction of the address fragments generated, which potentially will exceed a maximum allowable value, is compared to the maximum allowable value. If the compared address fragment exceeds the maximum allowable value it is discarded. If the compared address fragment does not exceed the maximum allowable value it is accepted.
US07873791B1
A cache management system and method monitors and controls the contents of cache memory coupled to at least one host and at least one data storage device where data-units are prefetched and stored into a cache memory in a data-set format, comprising the data-units and meta-data associated with the data units. The meta-data contain time stamp information encoded with information whether the cached prefetched information is available for reuse by additional prefetched data. Prefetched data-units are controlled by executing a first prefetch task to prefetch a first prefetch series of data-units from off-cache. A first prefetch operation is executed to prefetch and store a first selected set of data units. The prefetch task contains three dedicated pointers into cache memory. Decisions to prefetch data are made about the first prefetch task, subsequent prefetch operations and prefetch tasks based on these pointers, in-cache data-sets associated with the first prefetch task and on other data-sets that are read from off-cache but that are not associated with the first prefetch task. The cache management system and method reviews data-sets and controls the allocation and deallocation of space in the cache memory.
US07873789B2
In a system controller including a CPU-issued request queue having a circuit that processes plural requests having identical addresses not to be inputted to the CPU-issued request queue, a latest request other than a cache replace request is retained by an input-request retaining section. Consequently, even if an address of an issued request for cache replace request matches an address of a request retained by the CPU-issued request queue, the issued request for the cache replace request is not retried but is queued in the CPU-issued request queue when the address of the issued request for the cache replace request does not match the entire address retained by the input-request retaining section.
US07873784B2
Techniques for improving access time in data storage systems are disclosed. These techniques can be used to prevent undesirable access delays that are often experienced in conventional storage systems. “Slow-access” can be defined as an access operation that does not successfully complete within a predetermined amount of time. The “slow-access” time can, for example, be defined based on a system requirement, specification, or a particular need of a specific application. As such, when detected “slow-access” indicates a potential performance problem that can manifest in undesirable effects. A data storage system is evaluated for potential performance problems by scanning it for “slow-access.” In addition, preventative measures are taken to prevent occurrence of a “slow-access” once it has been identified. These measures can prevent the undesirable effects experienced in conventional storage systems. This also means that specific system or application requirements can be certified and met.
US07873778B2
A method of operating a non-volatile memory can include backing-up first data successfully programmed to a first target page of a non-volatile memory to provide local back-up data. A determination can be made that programming of second data to the first target page has failed and the local back-up data can be programmed to a second target page in a second block of the non-volatile memory.
US07873768B2
An apparatus including first and second memory devices, wherein each memory device includes data storage, a controller for controlling data transfer to and from the data storage, and a plug with contacts for connecting with the power, ground, and data contacts of an independent port of a host system. Additionally, the first and second memory devices are interconnected to share power and communicate data directly between the first and second memory devices. The memory devices may be any type of external memory device, such as a flash drive, or a peripheral device having a high data transfer rate, such as a digital video camera.
US07873767B2
A wireless IC memory, for improving the security thereof, for achieving protection of business information and privacy, comprises an RFID tag 100, wherein it is possible to setup “readout disenabling (ReadLock)” condition to the UII code bank for storing ID data of the RFID tag 100, with a predetermined protocol from an external communication apparatus, within the RFID tag 100. Setup of “readout disenabling (ReadLock)” condition is stored on a readout enabling/disenabling condition memory portion 105 within the RFID tag 100. In case where the “readout disenabling (ReadLock)” condition is set up in the UII code bank, a protocol process controller portion 103 of the RFID tag 100, not responding the UII code, normally, but answers a fake UII code or an error code, or gives no answer, to a request or command of readout of the UII data from the external communication apparatus.
US07873766B2
A hard disk drive system comprises an interface that receives test configuration data, that transmits test result data, and that transmits and receives application data. A system on chip (SOC) includes integrated system test (IST) modules. A memory module communicates with the SOC and includes memory and an IST module. One of the IST modules communicates with the interface and is a master IST module that receives the test configuration data and that configures others of the IST modules for testing a component of the hard disk drive system.
US07873751B2
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for providing system-area network (SAN) multicasting functionality in a logically partitioned (LPAR) data processing system in which a channel adapter is shared among a plurality of logical partitions is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention allows LPAR “hypervisor” firmware to assume the responsibility for multicast protocol handling and distribution of packets among logical partitions.
US07873750B2
A disclosed server system has a processor blade in which a processor is mounted and an interface unit that is connected to an external device, and a serial interface connects between these units. Multiple serial interfaces are bundled to enable expansion of a band. The processor blade and the interface unit connect fellow connectors back to back.
US07873747B2
An apparatus and method for transmitting data. The method for transmitting data includes compressing data to be transmitted and configuring a plurality of packets, arranging the packets such that the entropy mean between the packets neighboring in any one side approximates to a reference entropy set in proportion to the maximum data processing calculation amount of a receiving side portable terminal, referring to the compression entropy of each of the packets, and setting a transmission order in accordance with the arranged order; and transmitting the packets in accordance with the transmission order.
US07873745B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for message receipt version management in a distributed computing environment including a plurality of nodes is provided. At least one translation vector is received in at least one additional node of the plurality of nodes from a first node. The translation vector provides information for the at least one additional node to translate between multiple message versions. A message is translated between versions according to the at least one translation vector. The translated message is forwarded to an application program. In one embodiment, the at least one translation vector is stored for future use.
US07873744B2
System and computer program product are provided to configure a path between nodes through a fabric in a fibre channel storage area network (SAN). A node name is provided for a target node on the SAN and a port name is provided for each port in the target node. A relationship is established in a data structure between each port name and a slot in which each port is physically located in the target node. Prior to configuring a path between a source node and a port in the target node, the ports which are physically connected and logged in to the fabric are identified by port address. The port names corresponding to the port addresses are then identified. The port names are used to generate interface_ids of the ports corresponding to the physical slots in which the ports are located. A data structure is created to maintain the relationship between interface_ids and port names. To establish a path connection between a port in the source node and a selected port in the target node, the node name of the target node and the interface_id of the selected port are input to the data structure and the port name of the selected port is output. The port name is then used to obtain the address of the selected port and an I/O session path opened between the source and target nodes.
US07873741B2
A system and method for conveying data include the capability to determine whether a transaction request credit has been received at a computer module, the transaction request credit indicating that at least a portion of a transaction request message may be sent. The system and method also include the capability to determine, if a transaction request message is to be sent, whether at least a portion of the transaction request message may be sent and to send the at least a portion of the transaction request message if it may be sent.
US07873735B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus to provide an IP connection between a mobile station (MS 10) and a computing device (CD 12). The method includes initiating the set up of the IP connection with a command sent from the CD to the MS over a local interface (13) and, in response to receiving over the local interface an IP message at the MS from the CD, routing the received IP message to an application that is resident in the MS. 2. In a presently preferred first embodiment the command is an AT command, more specifically an AT+CRM command having a value of five. In a presently preferred second embodiment the command places the MS into an auto-answer mode, and is an ATSO=1 command.
US07873732B2
There is provided a method, a data processing system and a computer program product for maintaining service reliability in a data center. A probability of breach of a resource in the data center is determined. A breach of a resource may be the failure of the resource, the unavailability of a resource, the underperformance of a resource, or other problems with the resource. If the probability of breach exceeds a predetermined value, then additional resources are made available to the data center in order to prevent a breach of the resource from affecting the performance of the data center.
US07873729B2
A technique for quickly locating, diagnosing and fixing problems with one or more servers is presented. The technique improves upon prior art techniques by providing a centralized utility by which multiple servers may be viewed and modified. More particularly, the technique allows a user to view, in a consolidated format, features of multiple servers and to modify parameters of such servers from a remote location.
US07873723B2
An apparatus includes a processor and a storage medium. The processor is operable to collect device data associated with the apparatus and transmit at least some of the device data to a tag.
US07873709B2
Systems and methods of the present invention allow for recommending hosting applications. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving a URL for a Submitted Website from a potential customer, determining the features of the Submitted Website, and offering Hosting Applications (that implement the Submitted Website's features) for sale to said potential customer.
US07873697B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for searching, obtaining, and distributing geospatial information in peer-to-peer networks. A geospatial information application identifies regions of geospatial information available at various peer nodes. The regions may be multidimensional and time varying and are typically associated with associated with information layers and/or components. Regions that overlap with or otherwise correspond to a user requested target region are obtained from peer nodes. The obtained regions may be combined, displayed, marked, and/or stitched to respond to a request. Various content types such as raster or feature based geospatial content from various sources such as files, databases or Web services can be shared within the distributed network.
US07873689B2
A method and system for answering set-expression cardinality queries while lowering data communication costs by utilizing a coordinator site to provide global knowledge of the distribution of certain frequently occurring stream elements to significantly reduce the transmission of element state information to the central site and, optionally, capturing the semantics of the input set expression in a Boolean logic formula and using models of the formula to determine whether an element state change at a remote site can affect the set expression result.
US07873674B2
Disclosed are a method of and system for managing plural files registries, for use with a computer operating system having a user/group management operation. The method comprises the steps of creating a plurality of files registries, and providing an administrator with access to each of said plurality of files registries independent of all of the others of said plurality of file registries. Preferably, this is done by inserting, for each of said plurality of files registries, a respective one instruction into the user/group management operation specifying a base directory path to said each of said plurality of files registries.
US07873672B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for efficiently processing DML SQL statements through minimal logging and optimized insertions. Rows are inserted into a table in a database in a sorted order. When an insertion of a particular row into the table causes a page split and a new page created during the page split is empty, the new page is locked until an end of a transaction associated with the insertion is completed. When the page split is caused by appending monotonically increasing values at an end of the table, the sorted order will guarantee that the new page is empty. Minimal logging is performed. When the transaction associated with the insertion is completed, a forced checkpoint is performed.
US07873667B2
A method and data repository for the delivery, storage, maintenance and controlled access to test data, stored in a centrally administered data repository. The system allows entities to store individual collections of data which may be public or private in keeping with their business needs, while permitting them to have or obtain access to other data within the repository in which they might have an interest. Reflecting the natural flow of information, the system uses a data storage schema that permits the storage of a virtually unlimited variety of test results in a series of compact structures. To do so, the schema utilizes a series of metadata structures that describe collections of instance specific information.
US07873666B2
Methods and computer systems are provided for data conversion. In one embodiment, a conversion engine receives from an application a conversion request for data stored in a database and invokes the database to export the data into a conversion source file. The conversion engine may receive a set of rules from the application and convert the data of the conversion source file according to the set of rules. Thereafter, the converted data may be stored in a conversion target file.
US07873665B2
A host website, method and system for digitally labelling websites or subscribers with digital labels which represent characteristics or qualities of the website is disclosed. Digital labels are stored on host websites, each of which is directed to a specific subject or activity. The host website can also provide digital labels for storage in other host websites. The host website is provided with artificial intelligence capabilities. Methods and systems for asymmetric access in a host website database are disclosed.
US07873657B2
In a method and system for hosting a programming environment and processing user input within an information retrieval system, a definition of an expression is received from a user, during a first session between the user and an information retrieval system, the definition specifying an expression format, a response type, and a display format. The definition is stored. During a second session between the user and the information retrieval system, an expression having a semantic structure is received. The semantic structure of the expression is evaluated. A response to the expression is displayed to the user in a user interface according to the display format specified by the definition of the expression type.
US07873649B2
Techniques are provided for using XML syntax in exchanging data in relational databases. According to certain embodiments of the invention, one or more portions of the relational database is visualized as an XML document. A standard Uniform Resource Locator (URL) mechanism is provided to access data stored in the relational database by defining the URL as an XPath expression over the visualized XML document.
US07873630B2
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata or index databases. In one exemplary method, a notification that an existing file has been modified or that a new file has been created is received by an indexing software component, which then, in response to the notification performs an indexing operation, where the notification is either not based solely on time or user input or the notification includes an identifier that identifies the file. Other methods in data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
US07873628B2
To discover functional dependencies in a large relation, a sample of tuples from the relation is collected. The sample is examined to determine whether one or more candidate functional dependencies exist just within the sample as a nominal dependency. When a nominal dependency is found in the sample, than all the tuples in the relation are examined to verify whether the nominal dependency holds for the whole relation. Candidate functional dependencies are disqualified when either a nominal dependency is found or when it is verified as functional dependency that holds for the entire relation.
US07873627B2
When two or more scalar subtrees in an execution plan are directed towards the same data set, but request different data from the data set, the two subtrees are replaced in the execution plan with a new subtree which queries the data set only once. This new query to the data set covers all data required by the different subtrees. A pivoting step then is used to separate the data which would have been sought by each subtree. The pivoting step also yields data in the same form as would have resulted from the original subtrees.
US07873626B2
A system and method directed to a matching engine for finding the best match for an input string from among a group of predefined string patterns is disclosed. The predefined patterns may include one or more wildcard characters. A metric value is computed for every predefined string pattern. If the input string matches more than one predefined pattern, then the pattern with the highest metric value is determined as the best match to the input string. Additionally, information of different types may be attached to the predefined patterns and used for further processing of information, for example, to make routing decisions or to run a program module.
US07873618B2
A map information distribution system carries out a search based on search criteria that is input from a first terminal device, outputs predetermined map information for displaying search results to the first terminal device, causes the first terminal device to display a map based on the map information for displaying search results, and distributes predetermined map information for distribution in response to a distribution request. This map information distribution system includes a discrimination information outputting unit that outputs discrimination information to the first terminal device, and causes the first terminal device to display a discrimination indication based on the discrimination information before the map information for distribution is distributed. The discrimination information is designed to distinguish the area that can be displayed by a second terminal device that can use the map information for distribution, from the other portions in the map displayed by the first terminal device based on the map information for displaying search results.
US07873598B2
A method and a processing device may be provided for creating a shadow database, having a size being approximately a desired percentage of a size of a relational database. Referential integrity of tables of the relational database may be preserved in the created shadow database. A representation of a connected graph may be created, based on a schema description of the relational database, and may be used to find driving tables and related tables of the relational database. Portions of driving tables of the relational database may be copied to corresponding tables of the shadow database and rows of tables of the relational database, related to the copied portions of the driving tables, may be copied to corresponding tables of the shadow database in a number of iterations until the size of the shadow database is approximately the desired percentage of the size of the relational database.
US07873595B2
Techniques are disclosed by which users looking for financial information about publicly traded or private companies may richly and interactively navigate both pricing and material news information about those companies. The techniques facilitate and encourage the user's use and understanding of financial information presented. Related company information can also be provided to the user, where related companies are organized by hierarchal categories for a meaningful display.
US07873592B2
Systems and methods facilitate type inference in a computer-programming environment. Type inference can be applied to generic method or function invocation in object-oriented languages to determine a type argument list left implicit by a programmer. One or more type arguments can be identified as a parameter type to which all other types in a set of associated parameter types can be converted.
US07873590B2
The present invention is directed to a decision client computer application providing a single point for making decisions in a company. The decision client may comprise a centralized tool to connect employees needing decisions on various aspects of their jobs to decision makers, such as managers. The users of the system can be identified by a digital signature. In one embodiment, when the client application receives a request for decision, it routes the request to the person responsible for the decision. Requests can automatically be passed to an alternative decision maker when an employee is out of the office.
US07873587B2
The present invention is directed to a method of creating a program to solve a problem pertaining to a first task. In the method, user input data pertaining to a second task is received from an operator. The second task is different from the first task. A number of subprograms are automatically obtained based on the received user input data. The program is then created based on the obtained subprogram or subprograms.
US07873581B2
A method and system for determining the reliability and a remaining time before failure for a DC motor system is provided. The method and system may determine the reliability and a remaining time before failure with a statistical confidence. The method and system may includes acquiring historical motor data, obtaining operational data, performing failure analysis, developing a causal network, and performing an integrated causal network and reliability analysis of the DC motor system.
US07873578B2
An on-line service manages downloads of purchased digital content. Information regarding the digital content items that are purchased by each user and the terms of use of those purchased items is maintained. Information regarding the formats of digital content items that each device is adapted to receive is maintained. Upon determining that a user wishes to download a digital content item, the requested digital content is downloaded in an appropriate format for a particular digital device provided the recorded information indicates the content item has been purchased by the user and the download is within the quantity of downloads authorized by the terms of the purchase.
US07873576B2
A system for processing deposits and/or withdrawals in a financial institution accepts a plurality of documents, including currency bills, at an input receptacle of a document-processing device, converts the image of at least some of the documents to electronic data representing the image. The currency bills are denominated by the document processing device, and the total value of the bills included in each deposit is accumulated. Whenever the total value of the bills in a deposit exceeds a prescribed value, a report may be generated containing at least an identification of the specified account, the total value of the bills in the deposit, and the serial numbers of the bills. The serial numbers may be extracted from images of the bills.
US07873575B1
Systems and methods for calculating a value of a credit hybrid. The value of the credit hybrid is determined based on a model of the forward hazard rate that is based on a stochastic differential equation that includes a jump term for the hazard rate. The jump term may be based on a non-negative function of the hazard rate and a Poisson process. In addition, the stochastic differential equation may include a drift term for the hazard rate and a Brownian motion term for the hazard rate. The value of the credit hybrid may be determined by calibrating the model using calibration data and then calculating the value of the credit hybrid using the calibrated model. Both the calibration and the valuation steps may utilize Monte Carlo simulations.
US07873569B1
A web-based loan auction system is available to individual borrowers and individual lenders and is particularly well-suited for individual borrowers that cannot meet the standards of conventional lending institutions. The system is also attractive to potential lenders that desire to achieve a higher return on their investment than currently offered by banks. The potential borrower submits a web-based loan application to the auction system. Once the loan application information is verified (a function performed by the agency offering the auction service), the application is translated into an “anonymous” version, where the personal information of the borrower himself is replaced by “placeholders” known and controlled by the auction service. The “anonymized” version of the loan application is then posted on the auction's web site for bidding by potential lenders.
US07873568B1
One or more brokerage collateral accounts held at a financial institution are provided. A bank loan account secured by at least one of the collateral accounts with the financial institution is established. The bank loan account interfaces with the collateral accounts within the financial institution. The bank loan account has a credit limit that is based on a market value of the secured collateral accounts. The collateral accounts include various types of assets. The loan account includes a revolving line of credit, any number of term loans, or letters of credit. The interest rate of the line of credit may be based on a selected index rate. Further, the loan account may be used as an overdraft account for the secured collateral account. Clients may access both their collateral accounts and their loan account through the brokerage infrastructure including an integrated portal with a network of computers or via telephone.
US07873567B2
A method of and system for transforming data from a plurality of systems into models of each of the segments of organization value and using said models to support the analysis, measurement and optimization of one or more aspects of organization risk and value.
US07873564B1
Various embodiments show a system for conducting an auction for a plurality of financially settled contracts: The system may comprise at least one processor. The at least one processor may be programmed to receive a plurality of first participant bids from a first participant and a plurality of second participant bids from a second participant. The at least one processor may also be programmed to match a batch of bids, where the bids may be linear combinations, to create a plurality of awarded bids that may maximize an economic surplus or maximize a volume of awarded bids. Degenerate price solutions may be solved by minimizing variations from historic pricing levels for a contract. The contracts may include, for example, an oil contract, a coal contract, a natural gas contract, an electricity contract, a weather contract, a weather-related events contract, a commodities contract, a location specific service contract (e.g., passenger contract and/or freight contracts), a financial derivative contract or credit default contract on any of an entity's issued securities.
US07873553B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for allowing a plurality of concurrent users to use a single imaging device account.
US07873538B2
A process of creating incentives for wireless hotspots by a service provider is disclosed. An access point is provided to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a publicly accessible location. Use of the access point for a portable device is authenticated by requesting submission of an account identifier to the service provider and billing data for a user of the portable device for use of the access point is generated. Use statistics are evaluated of the access point of the wireless hotspot by portables devices and an inducement is provided to the publicly accessible location based on the evaluated use statistics.
US07873535B2
A method for automatically processing marketing and sales information. The method includes receiving data relating to one or more products, including data pertaining to marketing performance of the products and the marketing input drivers that influence the marketing performance. The method also includes analyzing the received data to determine response curves for the products, the response curves representing an optimal fit between a weighted combination of the input drivers of the products and their respective performance data. The method further includes adjusting the response curves based on feedback from one or more analysts to predict the future behavior of the response curves, determining an allocation of marketing resources based on the adjusted response curves, and presenting to a user the received data, the determined response curves, the adjusted response curves, and/or the marketing resources allocation.
US07873534B2
Collecting and analyzing usage data from a CRM database provides useful insights into improving future versions of CRM software. Options for the type of data to be collected may be presented and several opportunities may be available to tailor the data to be communicated to the CRM provider.
US07873529B2
A computer system and method is disclosed that analyzes and corrects retail data. The system and method includes several client workstations and one or more servers coupled together over a network. A database stores various data used by the system. A business logic server uses competitive and complementary fusion to analyze and correct some of the data sources stored in database server. The data fusion process itself is an iterative one—utilizing both competitive and complementary fusion methods. In competitive fusion, two or more data sources that provide overlapping attributes are compared against each other. More accurate/reliable sources are used to correct less accurate/reliable sources. In complementary fusion, relationships modeled where data sources overlap are projected to areas of the data framework in which fewer sources exist—enhancing the accuracy/reliability of those fewer sources even in the absence of the other sources upon which the models were based.
US07873527B2
A method and system for indemnifying an insurance purchaser by an insurance provider against losses resulting from specified events. In one embodiment, the specified events include quality of service penalties of a service level agreement between a service provider and service purchaser. The invention may include at least one risk metric monitored via a communication network, such that a premium payable to the insurer by the insurance purchaser is dependent on the risk metric. In a particular configuration of the invention, the risk metric is monitored in real-time or near real-time.
US07873522B2
The fluency of a spoken utterance or passage is measure and presented to the speaker and to others. In one embodiment, a method is described that includes recording a spoken utterance, evaluating the spoken utterance for accuracy, evaluating the spoken utterance for duration, and assigning a score to the spoken utterance based on the accuracy and the duration.
US07873515B2
A method includes receiving a sequence of frames containing audio information and determining that a frame is missing in the sequence of frames. The method also includes comparing the frame that precedes the missing frame to the received frames to identify a selected frame. The method further includes identifying a replacement frame comprising the frame that follows the selected frame. In addition, the method includes inserting the replacement frame into the sequence of frames in place of the missing frame.
US07873512B2
Even when a combination of the stegonography technique and prediction encoding is applied to sound encoding, a sound encoder does not cause deterioration in quality of decoded signals. In the device, an encoding section (102) outputs an encoding code (I) to a bit embedding section (104). A function extension encoding section (103) generates an encoding code (J) for information required for extending functions of the sound encoder (100) and outputs it to the bit embedding section (104). The bit embedding section (104) embeds information on the encoding code (J) into a part of bits of the encoding code (I) and outputs the resultant encoding code (I′). A synchronization information generating section (106) generates synchronization information according to the encoding code (I′) after the bit embedding and outputs the synchronization information to the encoding section (102). The encoding section (102) updates the internal state and the like on the basis of the synchronization information and encodes the next digital sound signal (X).
US07873506B2
The operation of an electronic system comprising a plurality of integrated circuits or other circuit elements is simulated using a software-based development tool that provides a generic framework for simultaneous simulation of multiple circuit elements having potentially different clock speeds, latencies or other characteristics. One or more interfaces provided in the software-based development tool permit registration of processing events associated with one or more of the circuit elements. The software-based development tool is further operative to determine a system clock for a given simulation, and to schedule execution of the associated processing events in a manner that takes into account differences between the system clock and one or more circuit element clocks, so as to maintain consistency in the execution of the processing events relative to the determined system clock.
US07873497B2
A variable indication estimator which determines an output value representative of a set of input data. For example, the estimator can reduce input data to estimates of a desired signal, select a time, and determine an output value from the estimates and the time. In one embodiment, the time is selected using one or more adjustable signal confidence parameters determine where along the estimates the output value will be computed. By varying the parameters, the characteristics of the output value are variable. For example, when input signal confidence is low, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value is a smoothed representation of the input signal. When input signal confidence is high, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value has a faster and more accurate response to the input signal.
US07873488B2
A chromatic point sensor (CPS) calibration object and characterizing data are provided. The calibration object comprises a flat base plane with steps extending from it. Step measurement points provided by the steps and base plane measurement points provided by portions of the base plane are intermingled along a measurement track. The characterizing data characterizes known heights of the measurement points. A calibration method acquires measurement data such that some base plane measurement points should be at nearly the same measurement distance and therefore have the same common mode errors relative to known base plane measurement point heights. If such base plane measurement points exhibit minimal error variations, then measurements for those and proximate measurement points may provide reliable calibration data. In contrast, error variations outside an expected range indicate unreliable measurements that should be screened or replaced by new calibration measurements.
US07873479B2
The present invention provides methods, systems, and code for accurately classifying whether a sample from an individual is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a clinical subtype thereof. In particular, the present invention is useful for classifying a sample from an individual as an IBD sample using a statistical algorithm and/or empirical data. The present invention is also useful for differentiating between a clinical subtype of IBD such as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) using a statistical algorithm and/or empirical data. Thus, the present invention provides an accurate diagnostic prediction of IBD or a clinical subtype thereof and prognostic information useful for guiding treatment decisions.
US07873476B2
A method of automatically correlating well logs includes selecting well loops from the well logs and creating a set of possible marker positions for each well log in each well loop. From the possible marker positions, alternate marker sets are iteratively selected. A well tie error on each loop is calculated for each selected marker set, summed over all loops and minimized.
US07873468B2
The present invention provides a vehicle-mounted apparatus whereby a user can easily select and use a Web site in accordance with a point associated with information provided by the Web site and a description of the information. According to the present invention, a precache control unit automatically downloads at least one Web page of a Web site associated with each point matching a predetermined condition to a page cache memory and displays site icons at respective points corresponding to the downloaded Web sites on a map image. In addition, the precache control unit displays the predetermined type of extracted information by analyzing the description of the Web page of each Web site in an information window that pops up from the corresponding site icon. When the user selects one of the site icons, a Web browser displays the Web page of the Web site corresponding to the selected site icon.
US07873466B2
A voice-controlled navigation device includes a voice control unit, a display interface, a recognition unit, and a start unit. The voice control unit receives at least one voice command, the display interface displays a menu, and the recognition unit is used for recognizing the voice command for the display interface to display at least one option. The start unit executes a navigation function according to an corresponding option of one of the at least one voice command while receiving a specific voice start command. The menu displays one or a group of different options on the menu while a different voice command is received by the voice control unit, and each of the at least one voice command corresponds to one of the at least one option displayed on the menu.
US07873464B2
A control system for an engine includes a block heater determination module, an adjustment module, and an engine control module. The block heater determination module generates a block heater usage signal based on ambient temperature, measured engine coolant temperature, and a length of time of the engine being off prior to engine startup. The adjustment module generates a temperature signal based on the ambient temperature. The engine control module determines a desired fuel mass for fuel injection at engine startup based on the temperature signal when the block heater usage signal has a first state. The engine control module determines the desired fuel mass at engine startup based on the measured engine coolant temperature when the block heater usage signal has a second state.
US07873463B2
A method and a device for operating a drive unit, a computer program product having program code and a computer program which allow for an adaptation of a torque loss even outside of an idling operating state of the drive unit. In this instance, the losses of an output variable of the drive unit, in particular of a torque, are adapted. The losses are adapted during a shutdown of the drive unit.
US07873461B2
A fuel control system that includes a fuel injector control module that selectively applies a power source to a coil of a fuel injector. The fuel control system also includes a current determination module that selectively measures current flowing through the coil. The fuel control system also includes a fuel temperature estimation module that selectively calculates a resistance of the coil based on the measured current and a voltage value of the power source and that determines an estimated fuel temperature based on the resistance. The fuel injector control module controls operation of a fuel system based on the estimated fuel temperature.
US07873452B2
A method and system for controlling an engine controller in response to actual vehicle load.
US07873447B2
The present invention provides a position estimation apparatus capable of determining whether an estimated value deviates from an actual value and trying a process to correct the estimated value if the estimated value is determined to be incorrect. The position estimation apparatus employs a position prediction unit configured to produce a prediction of the position of a mobile object having an odometry sensor mounted thereon, an environment observation unit configured to keep track of each feature point in the environment of the mobile object, a prediction-error check unit configured to determine whether the position prediction produced by the position prediction unit is correct or incorrect, a position-prediction correction unit configured to correct a wrong position prediction and a position/posture updating unit configured to update the position and/or posture of the mobile object on the basis of a correct position prediction.
US07873446B2
A system and method for storing altimeter setting values on an aircraft display includes simultaneously rendering an altimeter and an active altimeter setting field, and selectively rendering a standby altimeter setting field simultaneously with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field. An active altimeter setting value is rendered in the active altimeter setting field, and a stored altimeter setting value may be rendered in the standby altimeter setting field. Preferably, the stored altimeter setting value is selectively rendered in the standby altimeter setting field when the standby altimeter setting field is simultaneously rendered with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field.
US07873445B2
A governor configured to regulate the rotational velocity of one or more rotors of an aircraft by adjusting a collective blade pitch of the one or more rotors. In one embodiment, the governor comprises a control monitor, a maximum pitch module, a rotor module, and a pitch adjustment module. The control monitor is configured to monitor one or more flight control inputs that are controllable by an operator of the aircraft. The maximum pitch module is configured to dynamically determine a maximum collective blade pitch based on the one or more flight control inputs monitored by the control monitor. The rotor module is configured to monitor information related to the rotational velocity of the one or more rotors. The pitch adjustment module is configured to (i) receive information related to the rotational velocity of the one or more rotors from the rotor module and (ii) adjust the collective blade pitch of the one or more rotors to regulate the rotational velocity of the one or more rotors.
US07873436B2
When the placement of the elements (mass points, links having inertia, etc.) of a model expressing a robot 1 is determined according to a first geometric restrictive condition from an instantaneous desired motion of the robot 1 that has been created using a dynamic model, this placement is defined as a first placement, and the placement determined according to a second geometric restrictive condition from a corrected instantaneous desired motion that has been obtained by correcting the instantaneous desired motion is defined as a second placement. The corrected instantaneous desired motion is determined such that the moment component calculated from the difference between the first and the second placements approximates a predetermined value. The instantaneous desired motion is created using a dynamic model of the robot. Thus, the motion of the instantaneous desired gait of the robot that has been created using the dynamic model is properly corrected without using a dynamic model, leading to higher dynamic accuracy of an instantaneous desired gait including the corrected motion.
US07873425B2
A system and method of synchronizing to a frame sequence in an input signal includes tolerating data errors within certain error thresholds. In an embodiment, a Hamming distance between data included in a frame alignment word field and an expected value is compared to a predetermined Hamming distance to determine a synchronization event.
US07873419B2
An improved package and configuration for an implantable retinal prosthesis includes an electrode array suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a retina, an electronics package, and an inductive receiving coil mounted next to each other on a strap surrounding the sclera so that the height above the sclera of the prosthesis is minimized.
US07873416B2
Methods and apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device are described. A method can include steps of: when an operator selects to use a function mode that needs protection in the medical device, presenting the operator information on a specified operation for entering the selected function mode; receiving an operation of the operator; determining whether the received operation of the operator is identical to the specified operation; and starting the selected function mode, if the determining result is confirmative.
US07873406B2
A spectroscope includes an optical fiber extending through a catheter, and in communication with an optical system. The optical system has a finite focal length.
US07873399B2
Methods and devices are provided for measuring the concentration of target chemical analytes present in a biological system. Device configuration and/or measurement techniques are employed in order to reduce the effect of interfering species on sensor sensitivity. One important application of the invention involves a method and device for monitoring blood glucose values.
US07873385B2
Antenna sharing techniques are described. A mobile computing device may comprise an antenna, a switch to couple to the antenna, and multiple transceivers to couple to the switch. The mobile computing device may also comprise an antenna management module to couple to the switch and the transceivers. The antenna management module may control the switch to electrically connect one of the transceivers to the antenna. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07873383B2
To make is possible to perform communication adapted to changes in a communication environment, a wireless communication device comprises a wireless communication unit for performing communication with another communication device through a wireless communication network, a communication quality evaluation unit for generating an evaluation value with regards to a communication quality of the communication, a communication mode switch unit for switching communication modes for use in the communication according to the evaluation value.
US07873378B2
Method of reducing delay in push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) by predicting need for connection setup
The present invention relates to a method of reducing setup delay for an uplink message from a user terminal (UT) in a delay sensitive service in a radio telecommunications system, such as a push to talk service (PoC), by predicting that delay sensitive data is about to be transmitted, sending, as a response to the prediction, a connection setup signal from the terminal to a basestation subsystem (BSS) in order to set up an early uplink radio connection, and transmitting the delay sensitive data via the early uplink connection. There is also provided a user terminal (UT) and a radio telecommunications system.
US07873367B2
Methods and systems are provided for determining the location of a first wireless device (e.g., a mobile unit) within a wireless network comprising a plurality of second wireless devices (e.g., access points). The method includes identifying an overlap area corresponding to the intersection of RF ranges for the one or more second wireless devices then computing a set of signal strength values, each associated with a measure of RF signal strength (e.g., RSSI) received by the plurality of second wireless devices from the first wireless device. A decision metric is evaluated for a plurality of locations within the overlap area based on the set of signal strength values. The location of the first wireless device is determined by selecting, from the plurality of locations, a location having the optimum value of the decision metric within the overlap area. The decision metric may utilize a minimum mean square error (MMSE) calculation. A weighting function may be used to remove redundant or weak signal strength values. The systems and methods are applicable, for example, to networks operating in accordance with 802.11, RFID, WiMax, WAN, Bluetooth, Zigbee, UWB, and the like.
US07873366B2
The present invention relates to a method for displaying the location of a cellular phone caller. In the present method, a caller's cellular phone transmits a short message preset by a cellular base station to the base station through an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) function by using a cellular phone and selects to start or stop a function for informing the location of a caller to a phone answerer. When a phone call is made and the location informing function is stopped, the base station transmits no caller location information to an answerer's cellular phone. If the location informing function is activated, the base station uses a positioning technology to calculate position coordinates of the caller. And then, the base station compares the position coordinates with a location data stored in a position coordinate data base of the base station and transforms the location to a closest address so as to display the caller's address in the answerer's phone by a Class 0 SMS (short message system).
US07873362B2
A simple and reliable method for dimensioning CDMA based networks is achieved by a method for evaluating or dimensioning a radio network comprising the steps of—defining a radio network model comprising at least one radio base station and a plurality of mobile terminals, —for each mobile terminal in the model, defining a path gain value for a signal path between the mobile terminal and each of the radio base stations, said method being characterized by the steps of—for each mobile terminal, selecting at least one of said path gain values, —defining a data set comprising at least one parameter based on said selected at least one path gain value for each mobile terminal, and—performing dimensioning calculations on the data set. Especially if data sets are prestored the dimensioning calculations can be carried out in very short time.
US07873359B2
The present invention is related to transmitting quality of service (QoS) information of a target base station for admitted service flows during a handover operation. The invention comprises providing a service to a mobile station from a serving base station and receiving at the serving base station a handover request from the mobile station. The serving base station the provides a handover notification to a target base station, wherein the handover notification comprises a QoS parameter associated with the service. The serving base station then receives from the target base station a handover notification response, wherein the handover notification response comprises service level prediction information that is determined in response to the QoS parameter associated with the service. Finally, the serving base station provides a handover response to the mobile station, the handover response comprising the service level prediction information.
US07873358B2
The present invention provides a method for redirecting roaming traffic of a roamer associated with an HPMN and currently roaming in a first VPMN. The method includes detecting by a detection unit coupled to the first VPMN, a registration attempt of the roamer at a second VPMN, upon receipt of a first registration cancellation message of one or more registration cancellation messages, sent by the HPMN. Finally, the method includes causing the HPMN to send a registration response message to a VLR associated with the second VPMN, to thwart the registration attempt of the roamer at the second VPMN, by sending one or more registration messages to the HPMN from a redirection unit coupled to the first VPMN. The redirection unit further facilitates the roamer's mobile communication when the roamer's handset gets stuck in the second VPMN.
US07873348B2
The invention relates to a method for transmitting data in a WLAN network (Wireless Local Area Network), whereby WLAN messages are transmitted in the Layer 2 protocol layer between a terminal and an access node of the WLAN network. EAP messages (Extensible Authentication Protocol) are transmitted in the WLAN messages, said EAP messages containing SIP messages (Session Initiation Protocol) with SIP authentication data.
US07873344B2
A system and method that enables efficient distribution of public warning information using a network infrastructure. Public warning messages are received by a wireless receiver coupled to a network. The wireless receiver broadcasts a message to users on the network responsive to receiving a public warning message.
US07873341B2
An electronic device comprises a transceiver and a probe. The transceiver is connected to a first antenna and a second antenna. The first and second antennas are configured to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The first and second antennas are configured to exhibit a polarized diversity. The probe re-establishes the polarized diversity when the polarized diversity has been disrupted.
US07873339B2
A test method is for determining total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) of a mobile wireless communications device using an RF source controllable to a plurality of source values having a relatively small uncertainty associated therewith. The mobile wireless communications device may includes an antenna and a RF receiver coupled to the antenna and outputting an RSSI value having a relatively large uncertainty associated therewith. The method may include measuring a sensitivity of the RF receiver, and measuring an antenna gain pattern for the antenna based upon controlling the RF source to respective source values causing the RE receiver to generate a same target RSSI value as the RF source and wireless communications device are angularly moved relative to one another to thereby reduce the relatively large uncertainty of the RSSI value. The TIS may be determined based upon the measured sensitivity of the RF receiver and the measured antenna gain pattern.
US07873333B2
In conventional polar-loop transmitter circuits, using two feedback circuits intended to control the amplitude in an open loop and phase of a power output in closed loop, respectively, during transmission, causes current consumption to increase during delivery of a small power output. Therefore, a complex table has to be prepared in order to correct the nonlinearities in the amplitude-to-amplitude characteristic of the power amplifier and the amplitude-to-phase characteristic thereof. In order to reduce the current consumption required for the delivery of a moderate or small power output, a polar-loop transmitter circuit in which two feedback circuits intended to control the amplitude and phase of the power output respectively are active when the power amplifier delivers a large power output exhibiting strong nonlinearity, and when the power amplifier delivers a moderate or small power output, the amplitude of the power output is controlled in the open loop.
US07873324B2
Apparatus and method for processing a received pilot to obtain noise estimation of a pilot channel and processing a received first signal channel, separately from a second signal channel that is orthogonal to the first signal channel, to obtain a signal level of the first signal channel. The noise estimation and the signal level are used to calculate a SNR value. Detection on the first channel is done by checking the SNR and the sign of a soft metric.
US07873321B2
Apparatus, methods, processors and computer readable media for determining the wireless network access performance or capability of a wireless device. Embodiments include a wireless device having a computer platform with a processing engine operable to generate a plurality of network access performance data during processing activities on the wireless device. The wireless device further includes a network access performance module operable to collect selected ones of the plurality of network access data associated with a predetermined data processing capability of the wireless device, and based on a predetermined collection configuration. The embodiments may also include an apparatus operable to generate the predetermined collection configuration, and operable to receive the collected network access data and to generate a performance report characterizing the network access performance or capability of the wireless device.
US07873316B2
An underwater communications system is provided that transmits electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver. The transmitter includes a data input. A digital data compressor compresses data to be transmitted. A modulator modulates compressed data onto a carrier signal. An electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna transmits the compressed, modulated signals. The receiver that has an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for receiving a compressed, modulated signal. A demodulator is provided for demodulating the signal to reveal compressed data. A de-compressor de-compresses the data. An appropriate human interface is provided to present transmitted data into text/audio/visible form. Similarly, the transmit system comprises appropriate audio/visual/text entry mechanisms.
US07873312B2
A transfer apparatus comprises a toner image supporting body and a corona transfer means, which are oppositely disposed, and a vibrating unit for exerting vibration force to the rear face of a toner supporting body, disposed opposite to the corona transfer means, wherein the vibrating unit has a cantilever structure for holding an end of a piezoelectric bimorph element in which a pair of piezoelectric bodies each having an electrode, are bonded to both sides of a conductive elastic member (a shim member). A protrusion portion is provided on the other end of the piezoelectric bimorph element.
US07873302B2
A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade, a receiving member, an inlet seal, an adhering member, and an end seal. The cleaning blade is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum to remove residual toner therefrom. The receiving member receives the residual toner. The inlet seal guides the residual toner to the receiving member. The adhering member adheres the inlet seal to the receiving member. The end seal is arranged along the end portions of the cleaning blade and the inlet seal. The inlet seal covers the end seal and extends out from the end seal in its longitudinal direction.
US07873301B2
An image forming apparatus can include a body casing, a photosensitive member unit configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the body casing, the photosensitive member unit can be moved between a first position where the photosensitive member unit is stored in the body casing and a second position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing, and between the second position and a third position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing. The image forming apparatus may further include a control member disposed in the body casing, the control member configured to move between a holding position in which the photosensitive member unit is prevented from moving between the second position and the third position and a release position where the photosensitive member unit is allowed to move between the second position and the third position.
US07873297B2
An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit for black and imaging units for other colors, a writing unit for black and a writing unit for other colors, a first heater corresponding to the imaging unit and the writing unit for black color, and a second heater corresponding to the imaging units and the writing unit for other colors. Turning ON/OFF of each of the first heater and the second heater are controlled separately. Thus, the first heater can be ON while the second heater is OFF.
US07873295B2
An energy-saving control unit detects a supply of power to an image forming apparatus and performs an energy saving control of an external controller. A switching unit switches a start and a stop of supply of power to an onboard circuit of the external controller. Upon detecting the supply of power to the image forming apparatus, the energy-saving control unit sends a power control signal for instructing a start of the supply of power to the onboard circuit to the switching unit. Upon receiving the power control signal, the switching unit switches to the start of the supply of power to the onboard circuit.
US07873292B2
An image forming apparatus includes a moving unit which includes a conveyer belt to move a recording medium, an attraction unit which is disposed at a front head in a moving direction of the recording medium and attracts the recording medium to the conveyer belt, a plurality of transferring units including a photosensitive material and a transfer roller to perform a transferring process of the recording medium according to a plurality of colors, a power supply to supply power to form an electric field in the transferring unit and the attraction unit to perform transfer and attraction of the recording medium, and a controller to control the power supply to supply the power to the plurality of transferring units corresponding to resistance values of second transferring units among the plurality of transferring units, the second transferring units disposed apart from a first transferring unit that is located closest to the attraction unit with respect to the moving direction of the recording medium.
US07873287B2
An image forming apparatus according to the invention includes a cooling fan as a cooling device, an image formation processing unit, a changeover unit, a main control unit, a secondary control unit, and a power supply unit. The main control unit and the secondary control unit make an appropriate action in association with each other in the event of the occurrence of an abnormality in the cooling device. The changeover unit is configured to connect the image formation processing unit to the main image formation control unit in the main control unit in a case where power is supplied to the main control unit, and to connect the image formation processing unit to the secondary image formation control unit in the secondary control unit in a case where power supply to the main control unit is stopped by the power supply control unit in the secondary control unit.
US07873280B2
A method and apparatus for achieving high-density and misalignment tolerant short-reach free-space optical interconnects between arbitrary locations in a field, using microlenses, steering elements and a curved reflecting surface.
US07873276B2
A system and method for registration of network units is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an optical network unit (ONU) in a passive optical network (PON) that can have a controller element to receive a registration code, send the registration code and a serial number of the ONU to an optical line terminal (OLT) that configures the ONU for temporary connectivity with the PON, and upon an expiration of the registration code or a termination of the temporary connectivity, re-send the serial number to the OLT to re-configure the connectivity with the PON. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US07873272B2
An optical pulse monitor (OPM) that determines an optical phase profile for a pulse train by (i) modulating the optical phase of pulses in the pulse train using a periodic waveform and (ii) generating a derivative of a spectrum of the resulting modulated signal with respect to the waveform's amplitude. In one embodiment, an OPM has a phase modulator that modulates the optical phase of pulses in a received pulse train using a periodic waveform supplied by a configurable drive circuit. The drive circuit temporally aligns the waveform with the pulse train to serially produce each of four selected temporal alignments. An optical signal analyzer measures a spectrum of the modulated signal generated by the modulator for each of these four temporal alignments and provides the four measured spectra to a processor. The processor uses the measured spectra to determine two spectrum derivatives with respect to the waveform's amplitude. The processor samples each of the spectrum derivatives at frequency points separated from one another by the frequency of the periodic waveform and uses these samples to obtain a series of complex values. The processor then calculates the optical phase profile for the pulse train based on the phase of a complex value obtained by summing the series.
US07873267B2
A focus detection device comprises: focus detection elements including light-receiving elements that generate a pair of signals corresponding to a pair of light fluxes each passing through an imaging optical system that includes a lens and an aperture stop; and a focus detector including a processor that determines a focus adjustment state of the imaging optical system with an f-number slower than a full-aperture of the imaging optical system when a specific condition is fulfilled.
US07873263B2
A time zone start time point calculating unit calculates a time zone to be set in a VOBU in accordance with audio bit rate. A time zone comparing unit compares a time point at which an audio pack is to be multiplexed with the time zone calculated by the time zone start time point calculating unit. A flag setting unit sets whether the audio pack is to be completed or not in accordance with the result of comparison by the time zone comparing unit. Therefore, a completing process takes place before a VOBU boundary, and a completed PCK will not be generated immediately after the VOBU boundary. Thus, generation of a buffer overflow can be prevented.
US07873262B2
An optical disk device 4 for acquiring a file path to an AV file data corresponding to a designated data UMID in an optical disk, based on management data MD read out from the optical disk, in response to a request REQ from a computer 3 and further accessing AV file data recorded at a physical address acquired based on the file path.
US07873260B2
A system for modifying video including a source of a filter stack specifying filter operations to be carried out on a video clip, a filter registry of filter functions including information on filter operations that can be carried out by the filter functions, and a filter planner that receives the filter stack and accesses the registry in order to generate a filter plan specifying filter functions to be used in carrying out the filter operations specified in the filter stack.
US07873259B2
A recording system receives a broadcast signal from at least one service provider. An offset controller of the recording system samples a portion of the current broadcast signal on a particular channel over a particular interval of time. The offset controller then compares the sampled portion with a selection of features anticipated to be broadcast during the particular interval of time. Next, if the offset controller detects that a particular feature from among the selection of features matches within the portion of the current broadcast signal, then the offset controller calculates an offset time from a difference between an expected time for broadcast of the particular feature and an actual time of broadcast. The recording time for a program to be recorded is initially set to the start time and end time from a predetermined broadcast schedule. The offset controller adjusts the recording time of the program that is affected by the offset time so that the recording time of the program is synched to the actual broadcast time of the program on the particular channel.
US07873258B2
One embodiment is a method for reviewing videos, comprising: deriving at least two video segments from unedited video footage based upon a previously determined unique saliency, each saliency associated with a corresponding one of the video segments; and displaying a display window for each of the derived video segments substantially concurrently.
US07873254B2
A mounting member has a tube, and a plurality of clamps. The clamps hold the tube or outer portions on both sides of the tube. Therefore, the external load on the mounted part can be minimized while at the same time the mounted part is easily held fixedly on a board such as a printed wiring board.
US07873249B2
A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, a strength layer surrounding the optical fiber, and a jacket assembly surrounding the strength layer. The jacket assembly includes a foam. A method for manufacturing a fiber optic cable includes mixing a base material, a chemical foaming agent and a shrinkage reduction material into a mixture in an extruder. The mixture is heated so that the base material and the chemical foaming agent form a foam with shrinkage reduction material embedded into the foam. An optical fiber and strength layer are fed into a crosshead. The mixture is extruded around the optical fiber and the strength layer to form a jacket assembly.
US07873242B2
An information storage medium including graphic data and presentation information, and an apparatus and method of processing the graphic data are provided. The information storage medium includes the graphic data, page composition information which defines page composition of the graphic data, and the presentation information indicating when graphic screen data, which is composed with reference to the page composition information of the graphic data, is output to a display screen. Therefore, a graphic object is reusable in graphic data processing, and accordingly, a time taken to process the graphic data is reducible and memory area may be saved.
US07873236B2
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments during backprojection of filtered two-dimensional into three dimensional image each voxel is analyzed for inconsistent contributions based on at least two criteria and each of the inconsistent contributions is either replaced or excluded from the backprojection.
US07873225B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a coding system that codes data according to a pair of coding chains. A first coding chain generates coded video data that can be decoded by itself to represent a source video sequence of a small size, such as a size sufficient to support the real time playback and display features of a video editing application. The second coding chain generates coded video data representing supplementary data, which when decoded in conjunction with the coded video data of the first coding chain, yields the source video sequence for full-size display. The output of the first coding chain may be stored in memory in a file structure that can be accessed independently of the second chain's output and, therefore, it facilitates real time decoding and playback.
US07873221B2
An image processing apparatus includes: an image acquisition section which acquires an original image; a resolution conversion section which converts the resolution of the original image acquired by the image acquisition section and generates a plurality of reduced images having different resolutions; a detection section which processes by template matching the plurality of reduced images generated by the resolution conversion section and detects an area occupied by a picked-up image of a particular object corresponding to the template, from the reduced images; and a detection result processing section which detects the area occupied by the picked-up image of the particular object on the original image, by processing a detection result obtained by the detection section, the detection section detecting the area occupied by the picked-up image of the particular object by processing the plurality of reduced images in an order in which resolution sequentially varies on a step-by-step basis.
US07873219B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for image processing in which brightness boundaries of an image are identified and analyzed in at least two, and more preferably three or more, spectral bands to distinguish illumination boundaries from reflectance boundaries. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a brightness boundary of the image can be identified as an illumination boundary if at least two wavelength bands of the image exhibit a substantially common shift in brightness across the boundary.
US07873216B2
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for eliminating or reducing the distortion in a scanned image. In embodiments, the image is segmented into foreground and background pixels. Foreground pixels may be grouped into “letters.” Using index-based searching, “letters” may be grouped into “words” and “words” may be grouped into baselines. One or more dominant baselines may be selected and the characteristics of the dominant baseline or baselines may be used to unwarp the image.
US07873215B2
A system or method for identifying text in a document. A group of connected components is created. A plurality of characteristics of different types is calculated for each connected component. Statistics are computed which describe the group of characteristics. Outlier components are identified as connected components whose computed characteristics are outside a statistical range. The outlier components are removed from the group of connected components. Text pixels are identified by segmenting pixels in the group of connected components into a group of text pixels and a group of background pixels.
US07873207B2
An image processing apparatus according to this invention includes an information generation unit which generates correspondence information representing correspondence between first images whose viewpoints are different each other, and a selection unit which selects, out of the first images on the basis of the correspondence information, second images whose viewpoints have a predetermined relationship.
US07873206B2
A registration detection system performing registration-detecting each substrate in a lot without lowering an original throughput of a lithography system and maintaining high accuracy usable for the correction of an exposure process. Therefore, registration detection 5 system includes: the first detection apparatus installed on a pathway to a collection in a transport container of substrates taken out of transport container, after passing at least exposure process and a development process, registration-detects substrates after passing development process, according to stipulated criteria, and outputs results of registration detection for use in correction of exposure process; the second detection apparatus outside 10 the pathway, and registration-detecting substrate when substrate after passing the first detection apparatus and collected in the transport container is taken out of transport container again; and a correction unit comparing detection results by the first and the second detection apparatuses to correct registration detection criteria in the first detection apparatus.
US07873203B2
The present invention involves a computationally efficient method of determining the locations of standard cells in an image of an IC layout. The initial step extracts and characterizes points of interest of the image. A coarse localization of possible standard cell locations is performed and is based on a comparison of the points of interest of an instance of an extracted standard cell and the remaining points of interest in the image. A more rigid comparison is made on the list of possible locations comprising a coarse match and a fine match. The coarse match results in a shortlist of possible locations. The fine match performs comparisons between the template and the shortlist. Further filtering is done to remove the effects of noise and texture variations and statistics on the results are generated to achieve the locations of the standard cells on the IC layout.
US07873202B2
An apparatus for reviewing defects of a semiconductor device is provided to review a lot of defects in a short period of time thereby to improve the efficiency of defect review. A method for reviewing defects of a semiconductor device includes obtaining an image including a defect on the semiconductor device detected by a detection device by use of a scanning electron microscope at a first magnification, making a reference image from the image including the defect obtained at the first magnification, detecting the defect by comparing the image including the defect obtained at the first magnification to the reference image made from the image including the defect at the first magnification, and taking an image of the detected defect at a second magnification that is larger than the first magnification.
US07873201B2
An inspection system that forms material sensitive X-ray images of items under inspection. The images are decomposed into basis function images using basis functions representative of materials of interest. The decomposed images may be processed separately to detect concentrations of a material of interest corresponding to one or more of the basis functions. When operated in this mode, the inspection system may be used in applications such as material sorting or security screening. At least one basis function is selected to distinguish a material of interest from other materials likely contained with the item, allowing one of the basis function images to be analyzed to obtain information about a specific material of interest. The images may be automatically analyzed or may be superimposed for display with different visual characteristics assigned to the components associated with each basis function for analysis by a human operator.
US07873199B2
A method and apparatus for checking value documents having an authenticity feature in the form of at least one luminescent substance, includes forming a measuring vector from the measuring values corresponding to different frequencies and/or frequency domains of the luminescence radiation, and performing an allocation of the measuring vector to one of a plurality of given reference vectors corresponding to different authenticity features by allocating at least one object allocation area to each reference vector and checking which object allocation area the measuring vector is located in.
US07873181B1
Method and system for enhancing or extending visual representation of a selected region of a visual image, where visual representation is interfered with or distorted, by supplementing a visual signal with at least one audio signal having one or more audio signal parameters that represent one or more visual image parameters, such as vertical and/or horizontal location of the region; region brightness; dominant wavelength range of the region; change in a parameter value that characterizes the visual image, with respect to a reference parameter value; and time rate of change in a parameter value that characterizes the visual image. Region dimensions can be changed to emphasize change with time of a visual image parameter.
US07873178B2
A planar loudspeaker includes a shell pot, a magnet, a diaphragm, and a face plate. The magnet may be positioned in a cavity in the shell pot. The diaphragm may be coupled with the shell pot to cover an entrance to the cavity. The shell pot may include a conductive path having an inner contact proximate the central axis of the diaphragm, and an outer contact proximate to a perimeter of the diaphragm. The face plate may be coupled with the shell pot so that the diaphragm is positioned between the magnet and the faceplate. The face plate may include an inner terminal and an outer terminal that are aligned to be in direct contact with the respective inner contact and the outer contact of the diaphragm and form an electrical connection there between when the face plate is coupled with the shell pot. The inner and outer terminals may be coupled with a source of electrical signals, such as an audio amplifier. The face plate may also include a raised surface that deflects the diaphragm into a predetermined shape when the face plate is coupled with the shell pot.
US07873172B2
A method and apparatus for adaptive precompensation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises modifying operation of a predistortion filter in response to previous predistorted values and an original input signal, determining a precompensation error between the original input samples and the predicted loudspeaker output, and substantially reducing the precompensation error by using the exact inverse of a loudspeaker model that is a cascaded arrangement of at least one linear system with a non-linear system.
US07873166B2
In one embodiment, a communication device includes a key strength controlling agent 308 operable to (i) receive a request for a cryptographic key; (ii) determine, from a restriction identifier, whether the cryptographic key strength is restricted; (iii) when the cryptographic key is restricted, cause the use of a second cryptographic key having a second key strength; and (iv) when the cryptographic key is not restricted, cause the use of a first cryptographic key having a first key strength. The first and second key strengths are different.
US07873164B1
A method for authenticating a network device includes determining that a network link that uses a primary signaling technology and a secondary signaling technology is coupled to the network device; obtaining, using the secondary signaling technology, a unique link identifier that is associated with the network link using the secondary signaling technology; establishing the unique link identifier as a unique device identifier; and authenticating the network device to a service provider by communicating the unique device identifier to the service provider over the network link using the primary signaling technology. In one approach, the primary signaling technology is ADSL and the secondary signaling technology is ISDN. The unique link identifier may be an ISDN telephone number for an ISDN line which is obtained using caller ID techniques.
US07873161B2
A small hardware implementation is provided for the Advanced Encryption Standard SubByte function that implements the affine transform and inverse transform in a single Affine-All transform using a multiplicative inverse ROM. The logic is greatly reduced and the maximum path delay is reduced compared to a multiplexor implementation and is slightly greater than a ROM implementation.
US07873158B2
The apparatus may have: a telecommunication network having a tracking calling terminal and a tracked called terminal; a polled geofencing system associated with at least one predetermined area having a predetermined boundary, the tracked called terminal having a location relative to the predetermined boundary; and at least first and second predetermined ring-back tones having a functional relationship with the at least one predetermined boundary, the first predetermined ring-back tone being utilized when the tracked called terminal is within the predetermined boundary, and the second predetermined ring-back tone being utilized when the tracked called terminal is outside of the predetermined boundary; wherein the at least first and second predetermined ring-back tones alert the tracking calling terminal to a location, relative to the predetermined boundary as determined by the polled geofencing system, of tracked called terminal during a call setup between the designated tracked called terminal and the tracking calling terminal.
US07873155B2
In a work skill estimating device, an item information receiving unit receives, as item information, duration information of each dealing sequence in a customer call. A dealing duration estimating unit estimates a dealing duration of an item based on the item information received. A work skill estimating unit estimates an operator's work skill based on the dealing duration estimated. A skill map creating unit creates a skill map to comprehend the operator's work skill estimated.
US07873154B2
An apparatus and method for providing a remote management console for business integration scenarios. The apparatus may be implemented as a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium of computer-readable program. A computer, when executing the computer readable program retrieves environment information from a customer integration server; customizes a business integration solution according to the retrieved environment information; and deploys the customized business integration solution to the customer integration server.
US07873151B1
System for providing a custom message to a calling card account for a user to receive the custom message upon usage of the calling card account include at least two data databases on data storage devices, wherein the databases are in communication with a processor and an interface. One database includes calling card accounts. The other database includes custom messages. The interface allows the user to query the custom message database for custom messages and displaying the results. A custom message can be selected and associated with one or more calling card accounts.
US07873148B2
A handset-originated ringback replacement system for modifying or replacing certain communications network tones is disclosed. Communications devices activate and interact with the handset-originated ringback replacement system to allow for modification of the network service.
US07873144B2
A radiographic imaging apparatus (10) comprises a primary radiation source (14) which projects a beam of radiation into an examination region (16). A detector (18) converts detected radiation passing through the examination region (16) into electrical detector signals representative of the detected radiation. The detector (18) has at least one temporally changing characteristic such as an offset B(t) or gain A(t). A grid pulse means (64) turns the primary radiation source (14) ON and OFF at a rate between 1000 and 5000 pulses per second, such that at least the offset B(t) is re-measured between 1000 and 5000 times per second and corrected a plurality of times during generation of the detector signals. The gain A(t) is measured by pulsing a second pulsed source (86, 100, 138) of a constant intensity (XRef) with a second pulse means (88). The gain A(t) is re-measured and corrected a plurality of times per second during generation of the detector signals.
US07873143B2
A sample cell insertion and removal apparatus for an analysis instrument, including a horizontally sliding frame; a sample cell carriage movably mounted to the sliding frame, the sample cell carriage including an area to hold a sample cell; wherein upon sliding into and out of the instrument, the sample cell carriage is moved horizontally and vertically into and out of an analysis position. This instrument may include a radiation shielded enclosure into and out of which the apparatus slides, and an x-ray analysis engine which transmits x-rays upwards towards the sample cell which projects from a bottom of the apparatus. The disclosed sample cell is especially suited for an x-ray analysis engine having a focal spot requiring alignment with the sample in the sample cell.
US07873142B2
Imaging apparatus comprises a radiation source arranged to generate a divergent imaging beam and an associated radiation detector mounted on a C-arm which can rotate. A first drive is arranged to move the radiation source and the detector relative to a subject in a scanning direction to generate output signals from the detector, thereby performing a scan generating image data containing distortion in a direction transverse to the scanning direction. A second drive is arranged to rotate the C-arm, to change the orientation of the radiation source in a direction transverse to the scanning direction incrementally between repeated scans, thereby to generate a plurality of sets of image data. A processor, which can be a PC or a dedicated processor, is provided for processing each set of image data to obtain equivalent parallel imaging beam data therefrom, corresponding to a given angle in the divergent imaging beam, and for combining a plurality of said equivalent parallel imaging beam data to generate a synthesized parallel imaging beam image. The apparatus includes a display for generating a visual display of the synthesized parallel imaging beam image. The resulting synthesized image has the distortion removed and measurements can be made from the image. The invention extends to a method carried out with the apparatus.
US07873141B2
For the purpose of providing an X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus for displaying a dual-energy image to facilitate diagnosis by an operator, an X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus (10) comprises: an image comparison information calculating section (24) for calculating image comparison information between said first-energy projection dataset(LD) or first-energy tomographic image(LT) and said second-energy projection dataset(HD) or second-energy tomographic image(HT); a region-of-interest defining section (23) for defining a region of interest; a weighting factor determining section (25-2) for determining a weighting factor for use in weighted subtraction processing between said first-energy projection dataset or first-energy tomographic image and said second-energy projection dataset or second-energy tomographic image, such that said image comparison information in said region of interest can be substantially eliminated by conducting said weighted subtraction processing; and a dual-energy image reconstructing section (22) for reconstructing a dual-energy image by conducting weighted subtraction processing between said first-energy projection dataset or first-energy tomographic image and said second-energy projection dataset or second-energy tomographic image used in said image comparison information calculating section, using a weighting factor determined at said weighting factor determining section.
US07873140B2
A shift register is disclosed. The shift register includes a plurality of stages for sequentially outputting scan pulses, wherein each of the stages includes a scan pulse output unit controlled according to voltage states of a set node and reset node for outputting a corresponding one of the scan pulses and supplying the corresponding scan pulse to a corresponding gate line, a carry pulse output unit controlled according to the voltage states of the set node and reset node for outputting a carry pulse and supplying it to an upstream one of the stages and a downstream one of the stages, a first node controller for controlling the voltage states of the set node and reset node according to a carry pulse from the upstream stage, a carry pulse from the downstream stage and a first control signal externally supplied thereto, an all-drive signal output unit controlled according to voltage states of a control node and reset control node for outputting an all-drive signal and supplying it to the corresponding gate line, and a second node controller for controlling the voltage states of the control node and reset control node according to the voltage state of the set node, the voltage state of the reset node, and a start pulse and second control signal externally supplied thereto.
US07873135B2
A device is provided for mitigating vibration in a component of a nuclear reactor by removing vibration energy. To reduce vibration in the component, a device operatively connected to the component and including a magnet may be actuated within a conductive cylinder. This actuation may generate one or more eddy currents providing a damping function for removing vibration energy from the component, so as to alter vibration characteristics of the component.
US07873131B2
A phase splitter using digital delay locked loop (DLL) to receive complementary input clock signals to generate a plurality of output signals having different phase shifts. When the DLL is locked, the delay resolution of the phase splitter is equal to two delay stages of the DLL.
US07873129B2
A method and a communication modem for broadband communication over power transmission lines. The modem includes a coarse level synchronization mapping unit which maintains a regularly updated coarse level clock synchronization map of neighboring communication units with which it is likely to exchange communications; and a second level synchronization unit which utilizes session handshakes and session data capacity to increase the synchronization level with a neighboring communication unit to allow a communication session to be held at a higher modulation level than the coarse level synchronization is able to support.
US07873126B2
The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that includes automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry. Every n samples of the broadcast signals, an energy estimate of the AGC output signal is used to calculate and update a gain control value. Instead of using all n samples occurring subsequent to a previous gain control value update, only a subset of those n samples are used. In particular the first half of the n samples may be discarded in the energy estimate calculation while only the second half of the n samples may be used.
US07873122B2
Wireless chip-to-chip communications are methods and devices are disclosed. In an example, a wireless chip-to-chip communication device includes a plurality of chips, each of the plurality of chips having at least one antenna and formed on a multi-layered structure. The multi-layered structure includes first and second absorption layers. The first and second absorption layers are configured to enclose a propagation medium having a given dielectric constant. The plurality of chips are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other via the respective antennas in accordance with a given wireless communication protocol via a direct propagation path within the propagation medium.
US07873117B2
A base station apparatus wherein the interference suppression symbol combination can be performed in a case of using the repetition technique in a multicarrier communication. In a base station (100), a repetition part (103) repeats or copies each of data symbols received from a modulating part (102) to create a plurality of same data symbols. A phase rotating part (106) imparts, in accordance with a phase rotation angle set by a setting part (107), phase rotations to the pilot and data symbols received from a multiplexing part (105). At this moment, the phase rotating part (106) imparts the phase rotations of the same angle to the pilot and data symbols assigned to the same subcarrier. Further, the phase rotating part (106) causes the phase rotation difference between the same data symbols in a cell to be different from the phase rotation difference between the same symbols in an adjacent cell.
US07873115B2
A signaling circuit having a selectable-tap equalizer. The signaling circuit includes a buffer, a select circuit and an equalizing circuit. The buffer is used to store a plurality of data values that correspond to data signals transmitted on a signaling path during a first time interval. The select circuit is coupled to the buffer to select a subset of data values from the plurality of data values according to a select value. The equalizing circuit is coupled to receive the subset of data values from the select circuit and is adapted to adjust, according to the subset of data values, a signal level that corresponds to a data signal transmitted on the signaling path during a second time interval.
US07873114B2
An apparatus (100) and method (200) for detecting the presence of abrupt noise is provided. The method can include estimating (210) a subband energy of the signal, calculating (220) a peak-to-peak energy difference (345), and calculating (230) a spectrum deviation (426). A request to update a noise channel estimate can be declared if a) a total estimated channel energy is greater than a predetermined noise floor (442), and b) the spectrum deviation is less than a predetermined variance threshold (444), and c) the peak-to-peak energy difference is less than a predetermined peak-to-peak threshold (446), or d) if a voice metric is less than a voice level threshold (448).
US07873109B2
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.
US07873104B2
A digital television (DTV) transmitting system includes a first frame decoder, a second frame decoder, and a frame multiplexer. The first frame decoder forms first enhanced data frames, encodes each data frame for error correction, forms a first super frame by combining the encoded first frames, and interleaves the first super frame. The second frame decoder forms second enhanced data frames, encodes each data frame for error correction, forms a second super frame by combining the encoded second frames, and interleaves the second super frame. The frame multiplexer multiplexes the interleaved first and second enhanced data frames.
US07873072B2
Disclosed are a system and method for providing digital multimedia broadcasting confinement service. The system includes: a relay center side system, which is adopted to the relay center, according to the relay center side packet identification description (PID) key, for modifying the PID of transport stream and generating the distorted program specific information (PSI); and a terminal side system, which is adopted to the DMB terminal, according to the terminal side PID key, for recovering the distorted PSI of the transport stream received from the relay center and decoding it. The method includes the steps of: identifying whether the actual PID of the TS is consistent when the TS is demultiplexed by audio/video PID acquired through the program map table (PMT) analysis of the TS; generating a preset alarm signal; modifying the PID of the audio/video data in the PMT according to the terminal side PID; and demultiplexing the TS according to the modified PID value.
US07873054B2
Pattern matching for a network flow includes storing a representation of the pattern. The representation of the pattern includes hash values representing blocks of data in the pattern. Hash values are calculated for blocks of data in the network flow. The blocks of data are spread across multiple packets in the network flow. The calculated hash values for the blocks of data in the network flow are compared to the hash values in the representation of the pattern to detect the pattern in the network flow.
US07873051B2
Methods for receiving data sent by a first emitter of a mobile telephony system to a first resource element of a resource, via a receiver, radiopockets being created during the reception, and data which is not received during the creation of the radiopockets being reconstructed by the receiver are provided. The data which is not received by the first emitter is received by a second emitter, in a temporarally offset manner, on the same resource element of the resource, between the radiopockets, and is used to reconstruct the sequence of data. A conversion is especially advantageous for carrying out a receiving method in UMTS compression mode during the reception of data which is sent continuously independently of the compression mode.
US07873047B2
A packet communications system includes a method for maintaining quality of service by dynamically determining a maximum packet size for a communications system that transports at least one of real-time and time-sensitive data and other data in packets. Accordingly, a plurality of packets is received for transmission over a communications link. Either an encoder type or a packet size for the time-sensitive or real-time data packets is determined. A link speed for the communications link is determined. Based on the link speed and either the packet size or encoder type, a maximum packet size for any packets that do not include time-sensitive or real-time data is determined. Nominally, prior to transmission on the communications link, packets with non-real-time and non-time-sensitive data are fragmented into packets equal to or less than the maximum packet size. The maximum packet size may be dynamically reevaluated if the communications traffic or link characteristics change.
US07873041B2
A method and apparatus for searching a forwarding table are provided. The apparatus includes: a data storage unit storing a forwarding table including a plurality of forwarding entries aligned in the order of MAC address values and stored in each group after being classified into a plurality of groups and a plurality of forwarding databases having hash keys corresponding to the groups and; a hashing unit transforming an externally input MAC address into a hash key and selecting a search group and a search-forwarding entry by respectively using some bits and the other bits of the hash key; and a port information output unit outputting output port information of the search-forwarding entry, when the input MAC address is the same as a MAC address extracted from the search-forwarding entry and outputting output port information after searching and acquiring a forwarding entry having the input MAC address while dividing a search area in the search group, when the input MAC address is different from the extracted MAC address. Accordingly, it is possible to speedily search a forwarding table.
US07873035B2
A method and computer-readable medium for obtaining information associated with a VoIP communication session includes tapping the computer network passively to obtain signaling and media information in a first format, separating the signaling and media information, determining transport information from at least one of the signaling and media information, transcoding the media information to a second format, and storing the transcoded media information in the second format. The media information includes data, voice, audio, and/or video information. A system obtain information associated with a VoIP communication session on a computer network includes a tapping device to passively tap the computer network to obtain signaling and media information in a first format, a processing device to transcode the media information from the first format to a second format, separate the signaling information from the media information, and determine transport information from at least one of the signaling and media information, and a storage device to store the transcoded media information in the second format.
US07873030B2
A VoIP call routing information registry including a hash access mechanism. In particular implementations, a method includes receiving a telephone number; computing a hash of the telephone number; accessing a registry wherein the registry comprises a plurality of entries, and wherein each entry comprises a hash of a telephone number and data associated with that telephone number, or a prefix and data associated with that prefix; searching the registry for a matching entry; and until a matching entry is found or the telephone number has been stripped down to a minimum number of digits, stripping the last digit of the telephone number, re-computing a hash of the stripped-down telephone number, and re-searching the registry for a matching entry.
US07873007B2
A method for modifying a synchronous non-adaptive retransmission scheme to solve the limitation of the synchronous non-adaptive retransmission scheme is disclosed. A method for indicating not only the new data transmission but also the retransmission using a data scheduling message is disclosed. A method for determining whether there is an error in the ACK signal transmitted from a data reception end using another message to -be received later is disclosed. The retransmission method for a multi-carrier system includes: receiving a grant message including scheduling information for transmitting uplink data wherein a retransmission scheme for the uplink data is predetermined by a first retransmission scheduling, transmitting the uplink data according to the scheduling information and retransmitting the uplink data according to second retransmission scheduling by receiving the second retransmission scheduling information associated with the uplink data with retransmission request.
US07873006B2
A method of allocating resources in a wireless communication system including configuring priorities for a plurality of logical channels according to a first criterion, wherein each of the plurality of logical channels has each priority and allocating resources to a subset of the plurality of logical channels according to a second criterion to transfer data through a transport channel, wherein the subset of the plurality of logical channels is configured with same priority. It is possible to reliably provide various services through a method of processing radio bearers having the equal priorities.
US07873000B2
There are disclosed a random access method for establishing an individual channel between a radio communication terminal device and a base station device in a short time and a radio communication terminal device executing the random access method. In this device, in step ST320, a RACH sub-channel allocation unit (211) allocates a transmission packet inputted from a replication unit (202) to an arbitrary sub-carrier at the RACH arbitrary time slot at random. In step ST330, an allocation unit (210) judges whether an overlap is generated in the allocation result obtained by the RACH sub-channel allocation unit (211). When the allocation unit (210) judges that an overlap is generated in the allocation result, the allocation unit (210) causes one of the RACH sub-channel allocation units (211) which has caused the overlap to again perform allocation of step ST320. On the other hand, when judgment is made that no overlap is generated in the allocation result, step ST340 is executed.
US07872995B2
A communication system includes first and second communication devices that carry out wireless communication. The first communication device includes a setter configured to set a first indication mode and a corresponding second indication mode, a sender configured to send data representing the second indication mode to the second communication device when communication has been established with the second communication device, and a first indicator configured to indicate the establishment of communication in the first indication mode, correspondingly to indication in the second indication mode by the second communication device. The second communication device includes a receiver configured to receive the data representing the second indication mode, and a second indicator configured to indicate the establishment of communication in the second indication mode, correspondingly to the indication in the first indication mode by the first communication device.
US07872993B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method for building a classification tree based on a plurality of rules. Each rule includes multiple fields having different priority levels. The classification tree is built to provide for single pass classification of a received packet according to the multiple rules. The classification tree is built level-by-level, where each level represents one of the priority levels. Building a single level of the classification tree includes: creating, for each of the logical decision paths received from a next higher priority level, a respective sub-tree. The sub-tree includes only nodes and related logical decision paths that are necessary to satisfy rules associated with a respective next higher priority level node. Building of the single level further includes: creating, for each non-lowest priority level, logical decision paths from nodes within the current priority level to a next lower priority level.
US07872986B2
There is provided a method for enabling a user equipment (UE) to transition between a non-discontinuous reception (Non-DRX) level and at least one discontinuous reception (DRX) level. The UE in a DRX level wakes up periodically to monitor a scheduling channel. The method includes receiving a DRX indicator in a Non-DRX level with continuously monitoring the scheduling channel and transitioning from the Non-DRX level to a DRX level indicated by the DRX indicator. The UE can transition between multiple DRX levels by an explicit command/signaling.
US07872978B1
A set of one or more receiver parameters is adjusted. It is determined whether to adjust the set of receiver parameters. In the event it is determined to adjust the set of receiver parameters, a new set of values is generated for the set of receiver parameters using a cost function (where the cost function does not assume a noise signal in a receive signal to have a particular statistical distribution) and the set of receiver parameters is changed to have the new set of values.
US07872977B2
A generalized multi-parameter mapping function aggregates decision criteria into a single virtual criterion to rank the potential relay candidates. Optimal rules for next hop relay as applicable to both transmitter-side selection and receiver-side election based forwarding schemes are also provided. Examples of network performance based on two optimization criteria include one-hop progress (greediness) and packet success rate (link quality). A suitable mapping function trades off the greediness for link quality. Simulation information is provided that indicates that the implementation according to the mapping function outperforms the reported transmitter-side link-aware forwarding schemes.
US07872974B2
A wireless communication method comprises selecting a cause of a disruption from two or more potential causes of disruptions by associating at least one characteristic of a communication with a device with the selected cause of a disruption and changing a data rate for the communication from an existing data rate to a new data rate based upon the at least one characteristic of the communication.
US07872973B2
A method for incorporating a queuing device as a lossless processing stage in a network device in a communications network, comprising: monitoring a depth of a queue in the queuing device, the queue for receiving packets from an upstream device within the network device, the queuing device acting as a discard point by discarding packets when the queue is full; and, if the depth passes a predetermined threshold, sending a message to the upstream device to reduce a rate at which packets are sent to the queuing device to prevent the queue from filling and thereby preventing packet discarding and loss by the queuing device.
US07872972B2
A method of scheduling packet data delivery by a communication network node uses knowledge of the incoming delays and corresponding delay budgets associated with the packet data to be scheduled. For example, a wireless communication network base station may serve a plurality of users via a time-multiplexed packet data channel, and may schedule the delivery of packet data targeted to individual ones of those users based on determining the allowable scheduling delays for the incoming packet data it receives for those users. The allowable scheduling delays for packet data received on a given data connection may be determined based on the incoming delays associated with that packet data and the corresponding end-to-end delay budget defined for that packet data. The incoming delays may be calculated from packet time information, e.g., timestamps, and/or may be estimated based on call type, network type, network distances/locations, network conditions, etc.
US07872971B2
The invention is to solve the problem in that mutual communication between an IPv6-capble device and an IPv4-capble device has not been carried out in a system wherein the IPv6-capble device and the IPv4-capble device are mixed. An entry of a live list is retrieved when SM Device Annunciation is received from the IPv6-capble device, and a transmission IPv4 address is acquired from an IPv4 address pool if the entry is not found, thereby preparing translation rules so as to be stored in a translation rules storage section, while preparing an entry to be registered in the live list, whereby an IP address in a message is translated with reference to the translation rules. Further, a timestamp of the entry is updated every time when the SM Device Annunciation is received. Even if the address is contained in the message, the mutual communication between the IPv6-capble device and the IPv4-capble device can be carried out, and devices connected to the system can be controlled.
US07872963B2
Disclosed is a MIMO-OFDM system, wherein the transmitter comprises a serial/parallel converter for converting continuously inputted symbols of the number of subcarriers to K parallel signals; a signal reproducer for reproducing K parallel signals by the number of transmit antennas L an eigenmode generator for generating eigenbeam of the reproduced signals outputted from the signal reproducer at each subcarrier, on the basis of Nf eigenbeam forming vectors which are fed back long-term and information of a best eigenbeam forming vector at each subcarrier which is fed back short-term, through the feedback device; and a plurality of inverse Fourier converters for receiving the signals outputted from the eigenmode generator and generating an OFDM symbol.
US07872961B2
A base station receives (201) OFDMA messages from a plurality of end user platforms that share all used tones within at least one OFDMA symbol. By one approach this base station then uses (202) a fixed starting time to select contiguous samples from received aggregate multi-user signals wherein the fixed starting time is offset from a reference time that comprises a time at which the base station expects to be receiving the signals from all end users. In combination with the time offset approach noted above or in lieu thereof the base station can process (204) selected contiguous samples using fast Fourier transform and then provide (205) phase rotation with respect to those processed samples. When applying phase rotation, by one approach a phase rotation can be applied (401) to the aggregate multi-user signal and, in addition, individual phase rotation can be applied (402) as determined on a user-by-user basis.
US07872954B2
The invention provides for a method and apparatus for writing data to an optical disc and comprising recovering an output signal from optical reading head, scaling the said output signal responsive to secondary data derived from the disc by way of the optical reading head and deriving a Land Pre Pits (LPP) signal for use during recording to the disc from the said scaled output signal wherein the said scaling is arranged to increase the LPP signal when the LPP is identified as located adjacent a mark on the disc of low light reflectivity.
US07872946B1
The autonomous waterproof electronic signaling device disclosed comprises an activator; a signal emitter, said signal emitter to emit a primary signal upon activation of said activator, said signal emitter comprising one or more of the following: a hydrophone, a siren, a speaker, or a transducer; and a head assembly, said head assembly positioned so as to alter at least a portion of said primary signal producing a notification signal.
US07872944B2
A microseismic method of monitoring fracturing operation or other passive seismic events in hydrocarbon wells is described using the steps of obtaining multi-component s-wave signals of the event; and using a linear derivative of S-wave arrival times of the signals in a first direction, an S-wave velocity and an s-wave polarization to determine at least two components of the S-wave slowness vector.
US07872940B2
Semiconductor memory device and method for testing the same includes a unit for characterized in that a burst length is increased in a test of a read operation and a write operation and a unit for connecting a plurality of banks to one data pad by sequentially and outputting the data.
US07872938B2
A Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell storage configuration is described, having an improved robustness to radiation induced soft errors. The SRAM cell storage configuration comprises the following elements. First and second storage nodes are configured to store complementary voltages. Drive transistors are configured to selectively couple one of the first and second storage nodes to ground. Load transistors are configured to selectively couple the other one of the first and second storage nodes to a power supply. At least one stabilizer transistor is configured to provide a corresponding redundant storage node and limit feedback between the first and second storage nodes, the redundant storage node being capable of restoring the first or second storage nodes in case of a soft error.
US07872937B2
A data driver includes a first latch (322), an extension logic circuit (324), and a second latch (330). The first latch (322) has an input for receiving an input data signal, a clock input for receiving a first clock signal, and an output. The extension logic circuit (324) has an input coupled to the output of the first latch (322), a control input for receiving a control signal, and an output. The extension logic circuit (324) selectively delays the output of the first latch (322) in response to the control signal. The second latch (330) has an input coupled to the output of the extension logic circuit (324), a clock input for receiving a second clock signal, and an output for providing an output data signal.
US07872932B2
A method and semiconductor memory device for precharging a local input/output line. The semiconductor memory device, which may have an open bit line structure, transmits data through local input/output lines that are coupled to bit lines of first to n-th memory cell array blocks (n being a natural number). The semiconductor memory device may include a precharge unit configured to generate a plurality of precharge signals and a controller configured to control precharging of the at least one local input/output line responsive to block information corresponding to activation of at least one of the memory cell array blocks and responsive to at least one of the precharge signals.
US07872929B2
Techniques for accessing a memory cell in a memory circuit include: receiving a request to access a selected memory cell in the memory circuit; determining whether the selected memory cell corresponds to a normal memory cell or a weak memory cell in the memory circuit; accessing the selected memory cell using a first set of control parameters when the selected memory cell corresponds to a normal memory cell, wherein the selected memory cell provides correct data under prescribed operating specifications when accessed using the first set of control parameters; and accessing the selected memory cell using a second set of control parameters when the selected memory cell corresponds to a weak memory cell, wherein the selected memory cell provides correct data under the prescribed operating specifications when accessed using the second set of control parameters and provides incorrect data under the prescribed operating specifications when accessed using the first set of control parameters.
US07872925B2
Disclosed is a page buffer having a wired-OR type structure and a cache function which is adapted for use in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a method of programming same. The page buffer embeds the cache latch block in relation to the cache function. Moreover, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes an output driver enabling an internal output line to be unidirectional driven, thereby enabling a program-verifying operation using the wired-OR scheme.
US07872915B2
A nonvolatile memory device can improve its operation characteristic by reducing leakage current of a bit line in a read operation. The nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of main bit lines intersecting with the plurality of word lines, a plurality of cell blocks each including a plurality of cell strings, each of the cell strings including first and second select transistors and a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of sub bit lines commonly connected to the respective cell strings in same group, the cell blocks being grouped into a plurality of groups whose number is identical to or smaller than the number of the cell blocks, a plurality of group selectors configured to selectively connect the main bit lines to the sub bit lines of a selected group, and a plurality of page buffers configured to sense data of the memory cells through the main bit lines.
US07872908B2
In a memory device, a transistor may be formed on a substrate, and a first electrode may be electrically connected thereto. A phase change material film may be vertically formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode may be formed on the phase change material film.
US07872890B1
A counter circuit is configured to simultaneously maintain individual character match count values for a plurality of overlapping substrings of an input string of characters that match a portion of a regular expression stored in a plurality of rows of content addressable memory (CAM) cells of a ternary CAM device. The counter circuit is selectable between a normal operational mode in which all matching portions of the input string are identified, and a minimum match length operational mode in which only matching portions of the input string that have at least a specified minimum number of characters are identified.
US07872887B2
A grounding wire from a commercial power system is connected to a series-connection end of a series connection between two capacitors connected in series between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. A current detector monitors an output current of an inverter unit in which four switching elements and two diodes convert voltages at both ends of the series circuit of the capacitors at three levels. An operation control circuit controls a generation of a PWM signal to be applied to the four switching elements, to minimize a difference between a current value detected by the current detector and a target current value.
US07872876B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) has a multi-layered substrate including a plurality of signal lines and a ground voltage plate disposed below the signal lines and by which a common ground voltage is applied to the signal lines, a heat sink disposed on the multi-layered substrate, and thermal interface material interposed between the signal lines and the heat sink to transfer heat from the multi-layered substrate to the heat sink. The heat sink thus dissipates the heat generating from the multi-layered substrate and along with the ground voltage plate suppresses electromagnetic interference of signal transmitted through adjacent ones of the signal lines. The thermal interface material also serves in the design phase as a means to tune the impedance of the signal lines.
US07872871B2
A low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device includes a PCBA in which all passive components and unpackaged IC chips are attached to a single side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The IC chips include, for example, a USB controller chip and a flash memory chip, or a single-chip (combined USB controller/flash memory) chip. Multiple flash IC chips are optionally stacked to increase storage capacity. The IC chip(s) are attached to the PCB by wire bonding or other chip-on-board (COB) technique. The passive components are attached by conventional surface mount technology (SMT) techniques. A molded housing is then formed over the IC chips and passive components such that the device has a uniform thickness. The low-profile USB device is optionally used as a modular insert that is mounted onto a metal case to provide a USB assembly having a plug shell similar to a standard USB male connector.
US07872864B2
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a laptop computer that can allow for enhanced cooling of a passively cooled notebook while maintaining the desired waterproof and dust resistance of the design. This is achieved by creating a separate cooling channel where air can flow through to provide cooling to an electronics enclosure connected thereto. The cooling channel may utilize membranes (e.g., hydrophobic membranes) to protect again water and dust penetration. In some cases, two fans are used in opposite directions in order to automatically clean the membranes from dust accumulation.
US07872852B2
A three-dimensional conductive structure has a first electrode and a second electrode of a capacitor structure, and thereby defines a capacitor space. At least a signal line is further included in the capacitor space where both the first electrode and the second electrode can cross and detour round the signal line. Therefore, the signal line can go directly through the capacitor space for transferring various signals without making a detour to avoid the whole capacitor structure.
US07872851B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a variable capacitor that operates without moving mechanical parts. In this capacitor electrically conductive electrodes are separated by an enclosed chamber filled with an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can freely vary its position within the chamber. The capacitance of the device will vary as position of the conductive material changes due to external mechanical motion (ex: rotation vibration, etc.) of the device. Other embodiments of this device are also disclosed.
US07872850B2
Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.
US07872849B2
The Laser Engagement Stun System, which is a man Worn Apparatus is designed for Training exercises in Force-on Force or One-on-One training. The L.E.S.S. system receives and analyzes incoming laser light signals while disregarding ambient light signals from the environment. It then generates a High Voltage low amperage pulsed shock or stun that is delivered to the person wearing the LESS. Each person in the exercises will be equipped with the Laser Engagement Stun System. A component and vital part of the system is the weapons mounted Visible Laser Light device attached to each persons weapon. The attached laser light device will be activated when the individual person pulls the trigger on their weapon and cause a Blank Round to be discharged or from a Dry Fire. When the person so equipped as described above with LESS, and weapons mounted Laser Light device, the person may aim his weapon at the opponent and shoot a blank or dry fire and if the aim was true and the laser light strikes the Sensor on the LESS, the person wearing the LESS will feel a mild electrical shock or stun to simulate a bullet hitting that person. Realism during training has become more and more valuable in preventing lives being lost, wounds and other injuries from being sustained because of the lack of realism during training. Only a system wherein the person experiencing the Tactile notification of being hit by a bullet and killed or wounded can prevent the possibility of that reality. Laser Engagement Stun System can address the Age Old problem of FRATRICIDE OR FRIENDLY FIRE. A back Sensor panel and rear helmet Sensor can detect and stun a friendly in a special location that can be immediately identified as FRIENDLY FIRE.
US07872847B2
Protective equipment for safely discharging electrical potential comprises an interface (10, 50, 60) adapted to be in contact with a wearer. A conductive path in the interface contacts the wearer, the conductive path reaching a ground. A first circuit device (30) is provided in the conductive path. The first circuit device (30) has at least one variable resistance so as to oppose a first level of variable resistance to decrease a conductivity in the conductive path as a function of an increase in potential difference between the wearer and the ground, to allow static discharge through the protective equipment.
US07872839B2
Methods, systems, and devices for controlling a serial arc fault in an electrical circuit are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: a. measuring a current in the circuit; b. determining whether the current is below a predetermined value; c. if the current is below ten percent of the predetermined value, determining whether a countdown timer value indicated by a cell pointer value is equal to zero; d. if the countdown timer value is equal to zero, starting a countdown timer, advancing the cell pointer value by one, and restarting the method at step a.; e. if the countdown timer value is not equal to zero, determining whether the interruptions in the current are periodic; f. if the interruptions in the current are not periodic, checking whether an arc event countdown timer is running; and g. if the arc event countdown timer is running, tripping a circuit breaker.
US07872835B2
Improved writability and a reduction in adjacent track erasure are achieved in a PMR writer with a large flare angle of 45 and 90 degrees in the main write pole and a full side shield or partial side shield configuration around the narrow write pole section and write pole tip. A trailing shield is formed above the write pole's top surface and a full or partial side shield section is spaced a certain distance from each side of the write pole. The partial side shield has a thickness less than that of the write pole and a top or bottom surface about coplanar with the pole tip's top or bottom edge, respectively. The partial side shield may include two sections on each side of the write pole wherein the bottom surface of a top section is separated by a certain distance from the top surface of a bottom section.
US07872829B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a disk drive that can perform dynamic offset control (DOC). The disk drive has a magnetic head, a disk, and offset calculating modules. The magnetic head has read head. Offset-measuring position data is written in a non-servo area provided in the disk. The read head reads the offset-measuring position data from the disk. Based on the offset-measuring position data thus read, the offset calculating modules calculate an offset value that changes during a one-rotation period of the disk.
US07872823B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for gain control. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide variable gain control circuits. Such circuits include a zero forcing loop generating a zero forcing feedback and a least mean square loop generating a least mean square feedback. An error quantization circuit generates a hybrid feedback based upon a threshold condition using the zero forcing feedback and the least mean square feedback. A variable gain amplifier is at least in part controlled by a derivative of the hybrid feedback.
US07872817B2
A lens barrel includes a fourth lens, a prism, and a sixth lens. The fourth lens receives a light flux incident along a first optical axis. The prism includes a reflecting surface reflecting the light flux passing through the fourth lens to a direction along a second optical axis intersecting with the first optical axis. The sixth lens receives the light flux reflected by the prism. A second group frame includes an opening portion, a prism retaining frame that is arranged in a more inner position than the opening portion and in which the prism is contained, and a plurality of adhesive pockets arranged on an area around the prism retaining frame and being open to the side of the opening portion. Adhesive agent is filled in the adhesive pockets.
US07872813B2
An optical element having an optical surface and at least three convex portions on a surface different from the optical surface, wherein, among the at least three convex portions, two convex portions a space between whose centers is a maximum and one convex portion a length of a perpendicular from whose center to a straight line connecting centers of the two convex portions is a maximum satisfy a relationship of tan−1 (h/p)≦a first specification value, wherein h is a greater one of heights of the optical element at centers of the two convex portions with reference to a tangential plane of the optical element at a position of a foot of the perpendicular, and p is a length of the perpendicular.
US07872811B2
An imaging optical system consists of, in order from its object side, a front lens group of negative refracting power, and a rear lens group of positive refracting power. A lens component is defined by a lens body having only two surfaces: an object side surface and an image side surface in contact with air on an optical axis. The front lens group comprises, in order from its object side, a first lens component concave on its image side and having negative refracting power, and a second lens component concave on its image side and having negative refracting power. The rear lens group comprises, in order from its object side, a third lens component convex on its object side and having positive refracting power, and a fourth lens component having positive refracting power. The sum of the total number of lens components in the front lens group and the total number of lens components in the rear lens group is 4. The third component comprises a plastic positive lens that includes an aspheric surface and satisfies the following conditions (1-1) and (1-2): 19<ν3<29 (1-1) 1.59
US07872808B2
A zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, and a rear unit including at least one lens unit. During zooming, at least two lens units move so that intervals between the lens units adjacent to each other change. In such a zoom lens system, the second lens unit consists of a negative lens component formed of at least one material and a positive lens element, which are arranged in the stated order from the object side to the image side. A refractive index and an Abbe number of the at least one material forming the negative lens component and a refractive index of a material forming the positive lens element are appropriately set, whereby high optical performance is obtained.
US07872766B2
An FPGA functions as an activation mode setting circuit for loading activation data stored on a PROM into a circuit setting memory and setting an activation mode when activating the CPU. The FPGA outputs an activation mode setting signal to the CPU, and the CPU is activated in the set activation mode. After the CPU is activated, it follows predetermined processing steps, and performs a control operation to load the circuit setting data stored in a storage section into the circuit setting memory. Thus, the FPGA is constructed as a circuit having a desired function, and also constructed as an activation mode setting circuit when activating the CPU.
US07872763B2
A device for measuring the position of at least one structure on a substrate is disclosed. The substrate to be measured is positioned in a mirror body. A flat insert is provided in the mirror body and is formed such that the substrate and the insert together always have the same optical thickness, irrespective of the mechanical thickness of the substrate.
US07872762B2
An arrangement for generating phase-shifted incremental signals characterizing relative positions of two objects moving with respect to each other along a measuring direction. The measuring arrangement includes a light source emitting bundles of beams, a measurement grating, a plurality of optional gratings and a scanning unit. The scanning unit includes a grating in a scanning plane, wherein the grating includes a plurality of blocks arranged periodically along the measuring direction with a grating periodicity equaling a fringe pattern periodicity, and each block includes n grating sections arranged along the measuring direction, each of the n grating sections having a periodic grating structure, deflecting the bundles of beams propagated through each of the n grating sections in several different spatial directions. The scanning unit further includes a plurality of detector elements arranged downstream of the grating, wherein the detector elements are arranged in the spatial directions in the detector plane, and wherein the detector plane is located where the bundles of beams coming from the grating are spatially separated. The fringe pattern is formed in the scanning plane by the bundles of beams emitted by the light source interacting with the measurement grating and the optional gratings.
US07872761B2
A method of building up a three dimensional OCT image of an object having a limited region sensitive to movement of a scanning beam performs an OCT scan in a scanning pattern that results in said limited region, typically the fovea of the eye, being scanned last.
US07872759B2
Method and apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be provided. For example, first data associated with a first signal received from at least one region of at least one sample can be provided based on a first modality, and second data associated with a second signal received from the at least one sample can be provided based on a second modality which is different from the first modality. Third data associated with a reference can be received. Further data can be generated based on the first, second and third data. In addition, third data associated with a second signal received from the at least one sample can be obtained. Each of the third data can be based on a further modality which is different from the first modality and the second modality, and the further data can be further determined based on the third data. Further, the first modality can be a spectral-encoded modality, and the second modality can be a non-spectral-encoding modality.
US07872754B2
An optical measurement device for measuring an optical appearance of a surface of a sample, in particular the surface of a human skin, wherein the optical measurement device comprises: a first illumination device (16) for illuminating the surface (14) with a first illumination beam (22), wherein the first illumination beam (22) is incident at a first angle of incidence (38) onto the surface (14); and a detection device (28) for detecting a response beam (22), wherein the response beam (42) is a response of the sample (12) to the first illumination beam (22), comprising at least one screen (27) for intercepting the response beam (42) and at least an image detection component (29). The optical measurement device (10) comprises a second illumination device (18), wherein the second illumination device (18) is providing a second illumination beam (24) with a second angle of incidence (54) at the surface (14), wherein the first angle of incidence (38) is different from the second angle of incidence (54).
US07872750B1
A particle detector is provided, the particle detector including a spherical Cherenkov detector, and at least one pair of detector stacks. In an embodiment of the invention, the Cherenkov detector includes a sphere of ultraviolet transparent material, coated by an ultraviolet reflecting material that has at least one open port. The Cherenkov detector further includes at least one photodetector configured to detect ultraviolet light emitted from a particle within the sphere. In an embodiment of the invention, each detector stack includes one or more detectors configured to detect a particle traversing the sphere.
US07872737B2
A system and method for time domain reflectometry (OTDR) using multi-resolution code sequences. One or more subsets of a set of predefined complementary code sequences may be transmitted as an OTDR signal to provide multi-resolution capability.
US07872735B2
A method and an apparatus for calibrating a MEMS actuator of a hybrid MEMS-PLC optical switch or router is described. Two calibrating waveguides, embedded monolithically adjacent to the waveguides that provide the PLC output functions, are used for referencing a MEMS mirror tilt angle by maximizing optical coupling of light, reflected off the MEMS mirror, into one or each of the two calibrating waveguides. The input light is provided by either a waveguide carrying a live optical signal, or by a special input waveguide, coupled to an LED, for providing a calibrating light. Two emitting waveguides, embedded monolithically adjacent to the waveguides that provide the PLC input functions, can be used.
US07872734B2
A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.
US07872728B1
In a liquid crystal substrate in which a matrix of reflecting electrodes is formed on a substrate, a transistor is formed corresponding to each reflective electrode and a voltage is applied to the reflective electrode through the transistor. A silicon oxide film having a thickness of 500 to 2,000 angstroms is used as the passivation film and the thickness is set to a value in response to the wavelength of the incident light to maintain a substantially constant reflectance.
US07872724B2
A color filter substrate having a conductive column spacer and a liquid crystal display panel including the color filter substrate. The color filter substrate includes a transparent insulating substrate, a black matrix arranged on the substrate to block light, a plurality of color filters arranged on the substrate and the black matrix, an overcoat layer arranged on the color filters, a first column spacer arranged on the overcoat layer to maintain a liquid crystal cell gap, and a common electrode arranged on the overcoat layer and the first column spacer. The first column spacer is arranged in a display area of the substrate.
US07872722B2
To provide a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device, and an electronic device which have a wide viewing angle and in which the number of manufacturing steps, the number of masks, and manufacturing cost are reduced compared with a conventional one. The liquid crystal display device includes a first electrode formed over an entire surface of one side of a substrate; a first insulating film formed over the first electrode; a thin film transistor formed over the first insulating film; a second insulating film formed over the thin film transistor; a second electrode formed over the second insulating film and having a plurality of openings; and a liquid crystal over the second electrode. The liquid crystal is controlled by an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US07872721B2
A horizontal electric field switching liquid crystal display device includes a gate line, a common line parallel to the gate line and provided at an area adjacent to the gate line, a data line crossing the gate line with a gate insulating film therebetween to define a pixel area, a thin film transistor provided adjacent to a crossing of the gate line and the data line, a common electrode provided in the pixel area and connected to the common line, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and provided in such a manner to form a horizontal electric field along with the common electrode in the pixel area on the same plane as the common electrode, a storage capacitor electrode overlapping the common electrode to provide a storage capacitor, and a contact electrode contacting the pixel electrode, the thin film transistor and the storage electrode at their side surfaces.
US07872702B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display module including housing, a flexible printed circuit board and a plurality of electric devices. The housing has at least a receiving notch. The flexible printed circuit board has a flexible substrate and at least an extension substrate projected from the flexible substrate to mount electric devices thereon. The extension substrate may be bent and received in the receiving notch of the housing to achieve the purpose of mounting more electric device on the flexible printed circuit board without having to increase the size of module.
US07872694B2
An electrically-driven liquid crystal lens, which can achieve not only a gentle parabolic lens plane when being realized via alignment of liquid crystals based on a changed electrode configuration, but also a reduced cell gap of a liquid crystal layer and a stable profile even in a large-area display device, and a stereoscopic display device using the same are disclosed.
US07872691B2
A method and system are provided for allowing channel surfing during the presentation of a commercial broadcast by returning the viewer to the desired program channel after the commercial broadcast has concluded. When a commercial broadcast is received that interrupts the presentation of a viewer's desired programming, channel surfing is facilitated based on increased audio volume levels broadcast with the commercial broadcast. During channel surfing, the present audio level of the primary channel presenting the undesired commercial broadcast is monitored. If the audio volume level drops below the level of the commercial broadcast or returns to the level set by the viewer for the desired program prior to receipt of the commercial broadcast, the desired program channel may be reselected to return the viewer to her desired program channel. The viewer may be notified that the commercial broadcast has ended prior to reselection of the desired program channel. Notification may be in the form of a notification message displayed to the viewer.
US07872674B2
A solid-state imaging device has: a photo-detection unit; a charge transfer unit transferring charges generated by the photo-detection unit in response to a first and a second clock generated by a clock supply circuit. The charge transfer unit includes: a first charge transfer element; a second charge transfer element adjacent to the first charge transfer element; and a charge transfer element group adjacent to the second charge transfer element and including a plurality of charge transfer elements. In a time period, the clock supply circuit supplies the first clock to the first charge transfer element, the second clock to the second charge transfer element, and constant potentials to respective the plurality of charge transfer elements.
US07872672B2
A method of automatic white balance for an image capture system is disclosed. The automatic white balance mechanism ascertains the illuminant source of an image by analyzing the number of white pixels within a predefined white area in a color space diagram. The automatic white balance mechanism also determines gain adjustments based on the evaluating the average RGB values to achieve white balance.
US07872671B2
An image pickup apparatus to pick up images by using a solid-state image pickup device includes an image signal reading unit configured to read image signals of a rectangular effective area in an image picked up by the solid-state image pickup device; an effective area setting unit configured to set the effective area to the image signal reading unit so that pixel signals of all pixels of the solid-state image pickup device in one of vertical and horizontal directions of the effective area are read and that a redundant pixel area is provided in the other direction; a camera shake detecting unit configured to detect camera shake in the image pickup apparatus; and a camera shake correction control unit configured to shift the effective area to the other direction so as to correct the camera shake in the other direction detected by the camera shake detecting unit.
US07872664B2
An optical scanning device, that outputs a light beam through an emission window in an optical housing to scan a surface, may include a shutter member that closes or opens the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be at a position corresponding to an insertion operation of a cleaning member for cleaning the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may be on a front surface of the shutter member to allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be on a side surface of the shutter member to allow a cleaning member to be inserted through the second opening for cleaning the emission window.
US07872662B2
A printer includes an upper unit which opens and closes about a fulcrum lying at a rear position of a lower unit, and a paper path which is opened by opening the upper unit. A sensor unit is attached to the lower unit and includes a lower sensor holder and an upper sensor holder which are disposed in opposition to each other via the paper path. The paper path can be opened by pivoting the upper sensor holder relative to the lower sensor holder. When the upper unit is closed, the upper sensor holder is also closed in accordance with a closing pivoting motion of the upper unit.
US07872654B2
The present invention deforms hairs from a reference pose based on one or more of the following: magnet position and/or orientation; local reference space position (e.g., a character's head or scalp); and several profile curves and variables. In one embodiment, after an initial deformation is determined, it is refined in order to simulate collisions, control hair length, and reduce the likelihood of hairs penetrating the surface model. The deformed hairs can be rendered to create a frame. This procedure can be performed multiple times, using different inputs, to create different hair deformations. These different inputs can be generated based on interpolations of existing inputs. Frames created using these deformations can then be displayed in sequence to produce an animation. The invention can be used to animate any tubular or cylindrical structure protruding from a surface.
US07872636B1
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprises: an accelerometer adapted to be worn by a user, wherein the accelerometer, when worn by the user, generates an acceleration signal representing acceleration of the user along a plurality of axes; a display device to generate a display comprising one or more objects and a cursor; and a controller to move the cursor in the display in accordance with the acceleration signal.
US07872625B2
A liquid-crystal display apparatus free from chrominance non-uniformity. In a liquid-crystal display apparatus with a primary color video signal and a common voltage supplied to a liquid-crystal display panel, a correction signal for canceling the chrominance non-uniformity is superimposed on the primary color video signal.
US07872622B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) which can provide uniform vertical and horizontal visibility while improving lateral visibility is provided. The LCD includes a first insulating substrate, first and second gate lines which are formed on the first insulating substrate, and a data line which is insulated from the first and second gate lines and intersects the first and second gate lines. The LCD also includes first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) which are formed in each pixel and are connected to the first and second gate lines, respectively, and to the data line, first sub-pixel electrodes which are connected to the first TFT, and a second sub-pixel electrode which is separated from the first sub-pixel electrodes by predetermined gaps and is connected to the second TFT. The LCD includes a second insulating substrate which faces the first insulating substrate, a common electrode which is formed on the second insulating substrate and comprises a plurality of domain dividers, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first and second insulating substrates, wherein a display region of the second sub-pixel electrode is divided into 4 domain groups by the domain dividers, and the 4 domain groups have substantially the same area.
US07872619B2
An active matrix electro-luminescent display system, comprising: a display composed of an array of regions of light-emitting elements, pixel driving circuits for independently controlling the current to each light-emitting element, one or more display drivers for receiving an input image signal for data to drive the pixel driving circuits and generating a converted image signal for driving the light emitting elements in each region of the display through signals provided through data lines and select lines, wherein the one or more display drivers sequentially receive the input image signal for driving the light emitting elements within each region of the array of regions, analyzes the input image signal received for each region to estimate the current that would result at, at least, one point along at least one power line providing current to each region, if employed without further modification, based upon device architecture and material and performance characteristics of device components, and sequentially generates a converted image signal for driving the light emitting elements in each region as a function of the input image signal and the estimated currents.
US07872612B2
An antenna apparatus utilizing an aperture of transmission line, which is connected to a first transmission line having a predetermined characteristic impedance, includes a tapered line portion, and an aperture portion. The tapered line portion is connected to one end of the transmission line, and the tapered line portion includes a second transmission line including a pair of line conductors. The tapered line portion keeps a predetermined characteristic impedance constant and expands at least one of a width of the transmission line and an interval in a tapered shape at a predetermined taper angle. The aperture portion has a radiation aperture connected to one end of the tapered line portion. A size of one side of the aperture end plane of the aperture portion is set to be equal to or higher than a quarter wavelength of the minimum operating frequency of the antenna apparatus.
US07872611B2
The invention relates to a leaky coaxial antenna (10) comprising an inner conductor (1), a dielectric (2) around the inner conductor (1), and a first shield conductor (4) disposed around the dielectric (2), the first shield conductor having openings (41) distributed in longitudinal direction of the inner conductor (1) and being adapted in that electromagnetic energy passes through the openings (41). A second shield conductor (5) is disposed around or underneath the first shield conductor (4), the second shield conductor (5) being adapted to cover or mask at least a number of the openings (41) of the first shield conductor in a shielded section (S1-S12). The second shield conductor (5) is arranged discontinuously In the longitudinal direction of the antenna (10) defining uncovered or unmasked portions (AS1-AS12) of the first shield conductor (4) in the longitudinal direction of the antenna which are adapted in that electromagnetic energy passes through the uncovered portions (AS1-AS12). Thus, the present invention suggests a two-layer shield for improving the properties of a leaky coaxial antenna with respect to e.g. aerospace applications.
US07872606B1
An Ultra Wide Band (UWB) antenna includes a base substrate that includes a signal feed and two or more antenna substrates communicatively coupled with the signal feed. Each antenna substrate includes a plurality of microstrip resonating lines.
US07872604B2
A microwave sensor comprises an oscillator configured to generate a microwave signal at a pre-determined frequency, and an antenna configured to transmit the microwave signal and/or to receive reflected signals. The antenna is linear polarized at 45 degrees and the transmitted microwave signal has an electric field at 45 degrees to the plane of the horizontal. The microwave sensor further includes a signal processor coupled to the antenna and configured to process the reflected signals to determine a presence of a moving object.
US07872587B2
A control system for a combine harvester having a crop processing system with a control panel for enabling an operator of the combine harvester to set a plurality of operating parameters of the crop processing system that affect the harvesting performance, and a plurality of sensors for determining prevailing values of crop quality parameters. The control system includes a data processor having a display for communicating information visually to the operator and acts to determine when a crop quality parameter exceeds an unacceptability threshold. Following such determination, the control system displays to the operator an operating parameter of which adjustment is recommended in order to restore the crop quality parameter to an acceptable value. The recommended operating parameter is derived from data stored in a look-up table within the data processor.
US07872571B2
The invention relates to a device for placement in a vehicle, comprising a housing, at least one lighting element, an acceleration and/or deceleration circuits and/or a moisture sensor, the device being arranged for operatively switching on the lighting element when the device, in particular the acceleration and/or deceleration circuit, experiences an acceleration or deceleration which exceeds a pre-set maximum value and/or if the device comes at least partly under water.
US07872559B2
A rectangular coil unit 1 is manufactured in such a manner that four wires 2 are simultaneously regularly wound on four outer surfaces of a bobbin 3 having a rectangular section so that the wires 2 advance obliquely together for a lane change corresponding to 0.5 wire on one (a lower surface side) of a pair of parallel surfaces of the four outer surfaces of the bobbin 3 and for a lane change corresponding to 3.5 wires on the other one (an upper surface side) of the parallel surfaces.
US07872556B2
A magnetic assembly includes a mounting substrate and a magnetic element mounted on the mounting substrate. The magnetic element includes a drum core provided with a flange portion at each end of a winding shaft, a coil wound on the winding shaft, and a shield core engaged with the drum core, the shield core including an engagement portion having a shape that corresponds to the shape of a portion of the outer circumference of at least one of the flange portions so that the engagement portion mates with the at least one flange portion.
US07872542B2
An integrated circuit includes a delay lock loop (DLL) circuit that generates incremental delay line signals and a delay line output signal based on a received clock signal. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) control module generates a PWM control signal. A tunable circuit having variable capacitance is controlled based on the delay line output signal, the PWM control signal, and one of the incremental delay line signals.
US07872538B2
An impulse generation circuit is provided for generating an impulse using a transmission line. Impulse characteristics of the impulse generation circuit are varied with the length of a transmission line rather than the characteristic variation of various devices used therein. The length of the transmission line is adjusted, such that a width of a generated pulse is adjusted. Because an end of the transmission line is short-circuited, the transmission line length can be easily adjusted on a substrate, and a ringing phenomenon due to re-reflection can be removed using termination impedance.
US07872534B2
An image signal amplifying circuit comprises: an amplifier circuit for amplifying an image signal; an output capacitor and a resistance, both being serially connected between an output node of the amplifier circuit and an output terminal; and a second-order high pass filter having a value of Q larger than one, the second-order high pass filter being provided at a preceding stage of the amplifier circuit, wherein distortion to correct a sag arising in a high pass filter on an output side, the high pass filter including the output capacitor and the resistance, is caused in the input image signal by a characteristic of the second-order high pass filter.
US07872531B1
Techniques for generating a bias voltage for a class AB amplifier having first and second active transistors. In an exemplary embodiment, a diode-coupled first transistor supports a first current, and the gate voltage of the first transistor is coupled to the gate voltage of the first active transistor. The first current is split into a second current and a first auxiliary current supported by a second transistor, which is biased at a desired common-mode output voltage of the class AB amplifier. The first auxiliary current is further combined with a third current to be supported by a third transistor, with the third transistor configured to replicate the characteristic of the second active transistor. Further techniques are provided for setting the drain voltage of the third transistor to be close to the common-mode output voltage. The techniques described herein may be used to provide a bias voltage for the NMOS and/or PMOS active transistors in a class AB amplifier.
US07872518B2
A circuit for detecting, whether a voltage difference is below a desired voltage difference comprises a voltage shift resistor, a current provider and a detection circuit. The current provider provides a current flowing through the voltage shift resistor such that the desired voltage difference across the voltage shift resistor is determined by a reference signal. The detection circuit is configured to compare a first voltage at a first input with a voltage at a second input to obtain a signal. The voltage shift resistor is coupled between a conductor for a second voltage and the second input, such that the voltage at the second input differs from the second voltage by the desired voltage difference, and wherein the detection circuit is configured to provide the signal, such that the signal indicates, whether the voltage difference between the first and the second voltage is below the desired voltage difference.
US07872517B2
Clock control is handed over in a bus circuit from a first circuit (14) to a second circuit (12). A clock conductor (10a) is driven to a predetermined voltage level with the driver circuit of the first circuit after a last clock period following the start of execution of the handover command and to continue driving the clock conductor (10a) to the predetermined voltage level for a first time-interval. The clock conductor (10a) is driven to the predetermined voltage level with the driver circuit of the second circuit after a second time interval following the start of execution of the handover command until a third time interval has elapsed following the end of the second time interval. Subsequently the clock conductor (10a) is driven under control of the clock circuit (140) of the second circuit (14). The first time interval contains a first integer number P1 of periods of a first clock signal of the first circuit and the second and third time interval contain a second and third integer number P2, P3 of periods of a second clock signal of the second circuit, a duration corresponding to the second integer number P2 equaling at least a pulse duration of the first clock signal, a duration corresponding to the first integer number P1 equaling at least a duration corresponding to the second integer number P2 plus one, a duration corresponding to the second plus third integer P2, P3 equaling at least a duration corresponding to the first number P1 plus one.
US07872512B2
Configurable time-borrowing flip-flops may be based on configurable pulse generation circuitry and pulse latches. The circuitry may use a self-timed architecture that controls the width of clock pulses that are generated so that the pulse latches that are controlled by the clock pulses exhibit a reduced risk of race through conditions. Latch circuitry may be provided that is based on a pulse latch and an additional latch connected in series with the pulse latch. In situations in which there is a potential for race through conditions on an integrated circuit, the additional latch may be switched into use to convert the latch circuitry into an edge-triggered flip flop. Clock trees may be provide with configurable shorting structures that help to reduce clock skew. Low-contention clock drivers may drive signals onto the clock tree paths.
US07872511B2
Provided is a semiconductor memory device and a driving method for initializing an internal logic circuit within the semiconductor memory device under a stable state of a source voltage without an extra reset pin. The semiconductor memory device includes a power-up signal generating unit for generating a power-up signal; an internal reset signal generating unit for generating an internal reset signal in response to a pad signal inputted from an arbitrary external pin during a test mode; an internal logic initializing signal generating unit for generating an internal logic initializing signal based on the power-up signal and the internal reset signal; and an internal logic unit initialized in response to the internal logic initializing signal.
US07872510B2
A duty cycle correction circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a duty ratio correcting unit configured to correct a duty ratio of a clock signal according to levels of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, and to output the clock signal as a correction clock signal, a duty ratio detecting unit configured to count first and second counting signals in response to a duty ratio of the correction clock signal when a pump enable signal is enabled, a pump enable signal generating unit configured to generate the pump enable signal in response to the duty ratio of the correction clock signal, and a reference voltage generating unit configured to generate the first and second reference voltages in response to the first and second counting signals.
US07872504B2
The inverter includes a driving transistor and a loading transistor having channel regions with different thicknesses. The channel region of the driving transistor may be thinner than the channel region of the load transistor. A channel layer of the driving transistor may have a recessed region between a source and a drain which contact both ends of the channel layer. The driving transistor may be an enhancement mode transistor and the load transistor may be a depletion mode transistor.
US07872503B2
It is disclosed a combinatorial logic circuit comprising a first logic block (B1) coupled to a supply terminal (VDD) via a first resistor means (RI) and via a second resistor means (R2) for receiving respective first and second supply currents (111, 112). The circuit further comprises a second logic block (B2) coupled to the supply terminal (VDD) via the first resistor means (R1) and via the second resistor means (R2) for receiving respective third and fourth supply currents (122, 121). A first output terminal (Q−) coupled to the first block (B1) and to the first resistor means (R1). A second output terminal (Q+) coupled to the second logic block (B2) and to the second resistor means (R2). A first current source (I0) coupled to at least one of the first output terminal (Q−) and/or second output terminal (Q+) for providing a first supply current (I1) through the first resistor means (R1), which is substantially equal to a second supply current (I2) through the second resistor means (R2).
US07872502B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a method for constructing defect-and-failure-tolerant demultiplexers. This method is applicable to nanoscale, microscale, or larger-scale demultiplexer circuits. Demultiplexer circuits can be viewed as a set of AND gates, each including a reversibly switchable interconnection between a number of address lines, or address-line-derived signal lines, and an output signal line. Each reversibly switchable interconnection includes one or more reversibly switchable elements. In certain demultiplexer embodiments, NMOS and/or PMOS transistors are employed as reversibly switchable elements. In the method that represents one embodiment of the present invention, two or more serially connected transistors are employed in each reversibly switchable interconnection, so that short defects in up to one less than the number of serially interconnected transistors does not lead to failure of the reversibly switchable interconnection. In addition, error-control-encoding techniques are used to introduce additional address-line-derived signal lines and additional switchable interconnections so that the demultiplexer may function even when a number of individual, switchable interconnections are open-defective.
US07872499B2
Disclosed is a level shift circuit that includes a first level shifter which is connected between an output terminal and a first power supply terminal that supplies a first voltage and sets the output terminal to a level of the first voltage when an input signal received at an input terminal assumes a first value; a second level shifter which is connected between the output terminal and a second power supply terminal that supplies a second voltage and sets the output terminal to a level of the second voltage when the input signal assumes a complementary value of the first value; and a feedback control unit that performs control of deactivating the first level shifter during a predetermined time interval including a point of time when the input signal is supplied when it is detected that the output terminal immediately before the input signal is received at the input terminal assumes the first voltage level. When the input signal supplied in the predetermined time interval assumes a value that sets the output terminal to the second voltage level, the second level shifter sets the output terminal to the second voltage level with the first level shifter deactivated.
US07872493B2
In a calibration control circuit, a first clock gate circuit restricts passage of reference update clocks during a calibration period so as to stop a first one of the reference update clocks and supplies the restricted reference update clocks as first update clocks CLK1 to both a hit determination circuit and a second clock gate circuit. The second clock gate circuit 110 passes through the first update clocks CLK1 until reception of a hit signal from the hit determination circuit and delivers second update clocks CLK2 to an up/down counter 106. The up/down counter 106 is operated by the second update clocks CLK2. With this structure, the second update clocks used for adjustment steps can be increased in number during the calibration period.
US07872492B2
A triple latch flip flop system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, triple latch flip-flop system includes a pull up latch, a pull down latch, a primary latch and an output. The pull up latch drives a pull up node. The pull down latch driving a pull down node. The primary latch records state of the triple latch flip-flop system. The output for outputting a logic value based upon outputs of the pull up latch, pull down latch and the primary latch.
US07872491B2
A noise filter circuit includes a first inverter circuit that receives a signal based on an input signal, a second inverter circuit that receives a signal based on the input signal, and a latch circuit that receives signals based on a signal output from the first inverter circuit and a signal based on a signal output from the second inverter circuit as a set signal and a reset signal. Each of the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit includes a first-conductivity-type transistor and a second-conductivity-type transistor, the capability of one of the first-conductivity-type transistor and the second-conductivity-type transistor being lower than the capability of the other of the first-conductivity-type transistor and the second-conductivity-type transistor.
US07872480B2
A gas sensor control apparatus for controlling a gas sensor includes a resistance detection unit and a heater control unit. The resistance detection unit detects a resistance of an object cell of the gas sensor. When the resistance of the object cell is lower than a predetermined threshold, the heater control unit controls energization of a heater such that the resistance detected by the resistance detection unit is a first predetermined resistance. Subsequently, after elapse of a predetermined time, the heater control unit further controls energization of the heater in such a manner that the resistance detected by the resistance detection unit is a second predetermined resistance of a resistance value that is higher than that of the first predetermined resistance.
US07872479B2
In a leak testing and leak localization arrangement for leak testing and localization for flat roofs or the like which are sealed by at least one electrically insulating sealing web (6), at least one voltage source (12) is applied between an upper side of the sealing web and below an underside of the sealing web. The upper side of the sealing web is sampled by means of a measuring device (9) provided with two measurement sensors (10, 11). In order to achieve reliable leak testing and precise leak localization with contact being made in an uncomplicated manner with the voltage source (12), web-shaped electrically conductive material is arranged on the underside of the sealing web (6) and is connected to one terminal of the voltage source (12). For this purpose, at least one metal grating web is provided as the web-shaped electrically conductive material, which web can be laid easily and is non-combustible and durable.
US07872475B2
A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.
US07872473B2
An atomic magnetometer that simultaneously achieves high sensitivity, simple fabrication and small size. This design is based on a diverging (or converging) beam of light that passes through an alkali atom vapor cell and that contains a distribution of beam propagation vectors. The existence of more than one propagation direction permits longitudinal optical pumping of atomic system and simultaneous detection of the transverse atomic polarization. The design could be implemented with a micro machined alkali vapor cell and light from a single semiconductor laser. A small modification to the cell contents and excitation geometry allows for use as a gyroscope.
US07872460B2
A method and circuit for accurately detecting an output short circuit in a switching regulator. A first transistor and a second transistor are connected in series and driven in a complementary manner. A comparator compares output current, which is generated when the first and second transistors are driven, with a short circuit detection threshold to generate a first short circuit detection signal. A timing controller retrieves the first short circuit detection signal generated by the comparator at a predetermined time to generate a second short circuit detection signal.
US07872447B2
In an electrical storage apparatus including an electric storage device connected between a main power supply and a load, a first bypass FET and a bypass diode which are connected in series between the main power supply and the load are provided, and first and second main path FETs connected in series between the electric storage device and the load are provided. A controller judges that the first bypass FET suffers an open-circuit failure if the voltage (Va) of the load is equal to or smaller than the first threshold value Vth1 or if the voltage (Vc) at the connection point between the first bypass FET and the bypass diode is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value Vth2, when the first bypass FET is turned on and the first main path FET and the second main path FET are turned off.
US07872445B2
There is provided a planar inductive battery charging system designed to enable electronic devices to be recharged. The system includes a planar charging module having a charging surface on which a device to be recharged is placed. Within the charging module and parallel to the charging surface is at least one and preferably an array of primary windings that couple energy inductively to a secondary winding formed in the device to be recharged. The invention also provides secondary modules that allow the system to be used with conventional electronic devices not formed with secondary windings.
US07872444B2
Systems and methods for opportunistically charging a rechargeable power source of a portable electronic unit are provided. The system includes a primary inductance assembly energized by a main power source for inducing an electro-magnetic flux in a secondary coil assembly associated with a power source of the portable unit. Such electro-magnetic flux creates an electric current that is subsequently employed for charging the power source of the portable unit. A controller of the charging system can monitor state of charge, and notify a user when a recharge is required. Scavenging modes may also be employed for recharging the main power source and the rechargeable source of the portable unit.
US07872443B2
To provide additional charge storage for an electric vehicle, an additional battery (100) is connected in parallel with a regenerative braking direct charged battery (22) through a current limiting circuit (104 or 120). The additional battery (100) is charged by an external charger such as a plug-in charger or a solar panel that supply minimal current to prevent generation of battery heat. Current flows from the additional battery (100) to the regenerative braking charged batteries (22) so that both batteries can be charged. However, when excessive charge is drawn to drive the vehicle electric motor (20), the current limiter circuit (104 or 120) serves to prevent the discharge of additional battery (100) from creating excessive heat in the additional battery (100). Further, when regenerative braking is applied the current limiter circuit (120), or a diode buffer (102) in combination with current limiter (104), serves to prevent charging from creating excessive heat in the additional battery (100) and eliminates the need for a cooling structure in the additional battery (100).
US07872441B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods for operating inductors in a Z-source inverter in a continuous current mode are provided. One system includes an AC motor, a Z-source inverter, and a processor. The inverter is configured to provide current and reactive power to the AC motor. The processor is configured to monitor the current and instruct the inverter to provide a greater amount of reactive power to the AC motor if the current is below/equal to a threshold amount. An apparatus includes means for determining if current produced by the inverter is below/equal to a threshold amount, and means for altering voltage commands supplied to the inverter so that an AC motor is induced to draw additional reactive power. One method includes determining if a plurality of inductors are providing a threshold current amount, and inducing a motor to draw more reactive power if the current is below/equal to the threshold amount.
US07872437B2
A method for position and/or speed control of a linear drive utilizing a converter having a control unit and being coupled to a motor of the linear drive. The method includes determining, in a sensor-free manner, a motor position, generating a motor position signal, generating an acceleration signal utilizing an MEMS accelerometer provided in the control unit and arranged on a moving part of the linear drive, mathematically converting the motor position signal and the acceleration signal to a speed signal, and utilizing the speed signal to control the linear drive.
US07872436B2
An apparatus, a method and a control system for controlling an industrial robot with at least one axis of rotation and/or translation. The robot includes at least one actuator or motor at each of the axes for driving a movement of an arm of the robot and at least one sensor at each of the rotatable shafts. A dither-signal generator for generation of a periodic signal is used to provide a varying dither signal to a servo of the actuator. Automatic adaption of the dither signal is provided. A computer program for carrying out the method and a graphical user interface.
US07872433B2
Bridge driver circuit with integrated charge pump is disclosed. One embodiment provides a driving circuit section of a charge pump capacitor being formed with power switch components and/or diodes of a bridge circuit section.
US07872427B2
The invention disclosed herein is a dynamic dummy load to allow a phase control dimmer to be used with LED lighting. The invention includes providing a dynamic dummy load to provide a load to the dimmer when the LED electronics do not provide sufficient load due to start up issues or ringing in the circuit, the dynamic dummy load providing a reduced flow of current when the LED and its converter electronics provide sufficient current draw from the dimmer. The system generally includes a power source electrically connected to a phase control dimmer, the phase control dimmer electrically connected to converter circuitry to convert the AC power output of the dimmer to DC power output for powering the LED lighting, a dynamic dummy load electrically connected in parallel with the converter circuitry, the dummy load varying its current draw in response to operation of the converter circuitry.
US07872420B2
In a metal halide lamp having a rated lamp wattage of greater than or equal to 450 W, which includes: a translucent ceramic arc tube enclosure including: a main tube inside which a discharge space is formed; and two narrow tubes having smaller diameter than the main tube, each connected to either end of the main tube; two electrodes; and a metal halide provided inside the arc tube enclosure, in which one of the two electrodes is disposed so that it protrudes inside the main tube from inside of one of the two narrow tubes, and the other one of the two electrodes is disposed so that it protrudes inside the main tube from the other one of the two narrow tubes, and when the rated lamp wattage is denoted by W (watt), an inside diameter of the main tube by D (mm), an electrode protruding length which is the distance from boundary between the main tube and the narrow tubes to an end of the electrode by L (mm), and the distance between ends of the two electrodes by E (mm), a bulb wall loading G (watt/cm2) represented by G=W/(3.14×D×E×0.01) falls within the range of 15≦G≦40, and a relationship 0.32≦L/D≦0.0003×W+0.465 is established.
US07872416B2
An electrode layer (2) formed by a transparent conductive varnish is applied to a mineral or plastic glass carrier. Afterwards, a luminescent layer (3) formed by a transparent matrix (5) provided with electroluminophors (4) incorporated therein is disposed within contours defining an image surface. Said luminescent layer (3) is dividable into several discrete partial areas. A rear silver-containing electrode layer (7) extends within the a luminescent layer (3) contours above a surface whose size is approximately equal to the size of the luminescent layer (3) but leaves a narrow edge area (8) thereof free. The structure also comprises an insulating transparent layer (9) provided with recesses (10) in the area of the rear electrode layer (7) in order to bring it into contact for voltage supply from a rear face. Said rear electrode layer (7) is brought into contact through the recesses (10) of the insulating layer (9) by means of a transparent conductive varnish contact layer (12). The inventive electroluminescent display is insulated on the rear face thereof by a rear transparent insulating layer (14).
US07872414B2
A light-emitting device which is manufactured by a simple manufacturing method and which efficiently extracts light emitted from an emissive layer outward to improve the light extraction efficiency. The light-emitting device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and an emissive layer disposed between them and extracts a part of light emitted from the emissive layer as radiated light. In this light-emitting device, the first electrode, the nano-structure layer for extracting the radiated light, and a gap having a refractive index lower than an average refractive index of the emissive layer and a nano-structure layer, are arranged in that order in a direction in which the radiated light is extracted.
US07872406B2
An apparatus and a process for generating, accelerating and propagating beams of electrons and plasma at high density, the apparatus comprising: a first dielectric tube, which contains gas; a hollow cathode, which is connected to said first dielectric tube; a second dielectric tube, which is connected to said hollow cathode and protrudes inside, and is connected to, a deposition chamber; an anode, which is arranged around said second dielectric tube, in an intermediate position; means for applying voltage to said cathode and said anode; means for evacuating the gas from the chamber; and means for spontaneous conversion of gas in the first dielectric tube into plasma.
US07872404B2
A piezoelectric vibrating reed includes a piezoelectric plate made of a piezoelectric material, a pair of exciter electrodes formed on outer surfaces of the piezoelectric plate and configured to vibrate the piezoelectric plate when a predetermined voltage is applied thereon, and a pair of mount electrodes electrically connected to the pair of exciter electrodes, respectively. One mount electrode in the pair of mount electrodes is formed on one surface (under surface) of the piezoelectric plate and the other mount electrode is formed on the other surface (top surface) of the piezoelectric plate in a state not to oppose the one mount electrode with the piezoelectric plate in between. Accordingly, not only can power be saved, but also higher performance can be achieved by lowering the R1 characteristic and thereby enhancing the vibration characteristic.
US07872399B2
A variance in transmitting/receiving sensitivity between multiple vibrational elements or transducers included in an ultrasonic probe is corrected. An ultrasonic probe in accordance with the present invention has multiple transducers, each of which includes multiple vibrational elements that each transmit or receive ultrasonic waves by converting ultrasonic waves and an electric signal into each other with a bias voltage applied thereto, set in array. The ultrasonic prove includes a transmitting/receiving sensitivity correction means that independently adjusts the bias voltage to be applied to at least two vibrational elements among the multiple vibrational elements so as to correct a variance in transmitting/receiving sensitivity between the at least two vibrational elements.
US07872393B2
Stators 12 and 13 are disposed with required air gaps in an axial direction of a rotor 11 so as to face each other, a plurality of field bodies 15 or permanent magnets 33 are disposed in the rotor 11, and a plurality of armature coils 17 and 19 are disposed in the stators 12 and 13 around the axis. At least one of the field bodies 15 or permanent magnets 33 and the armature coils 17 and 19 are formed from a superconductive material such that their magnetic flux directions are directed to the axial direction.
US07872390B2
A method for manufacturing a conductor bar of a rotating electrical machine includes providing a conductor defining a longitudinal direction and having a rectangular cross section, and building up an insulation to a thickness d around the conductor by progressively winding an insulating tape around the conductor a plurality of times in the form of a spiral in the longitudinal direction. The building up of the insulation includes winding the insulation tape around the conductor using parallel winding up to a first partial thickness, and winding the insulating tape around the conductor using non-parallel winding from the first partial thickness.
US07872385B2
An electric motor power connection assembly diverts heat from an electrical conductor that carries electrical current between a power source and an electric motor. The electrical conductor is characterized by an effective cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of current flow and a length in the direction of current flow that is greater than the radius of a circle having the effective cross-sectional area. The “effective cross-sectional area” is the area perpendicular to the direction of current flow over which current is carried and thus depends on the cross-sectional shape and number of conductive components of the electrical conductor, which could be one or more wires. A heat diverting mechanism is positioned in thermal contact along the length of the electrical conductor to divert heat from the electrical conductor. The electric motor power connection assembly is suitable for use in a hybrid electro-mechanical transmission.
US07872369B2
A balanced bridge electric gear-shifting mechanism comprises a signal input stage, a balanced bridge circuit and a signal output stage. The mechanism, by means of inputting different up and down gear signals to enact an analog gear-shifting apparatus to generate different voltage potentials, effectively improves the drawbacks of wrong gear shifting induced by a conventional digital gear shifting apparatus for wrongly touching the up and down shifting gear, so as to reduce the gear-shifting duration, enhance the gear-shifting smoothness, and enhance the system reliability and stability.
US07872367B2
A method and a device for redundantly supplying several electric servomotors or drive motors by a common power electronics unit, particularly in an aircraft, wherein the power electronics unit contains a number of electronic motor control units, and wherein the electric motors are operated with nominal power if the electronic motor control units are fully functional. The motors are operated with the available residual power of the motor control units if partial failure of the motor control units occurs. The motors may be operated sequentially or simultaneously.
US07872347B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for integrated circuit packages, and processes for forming the same, are provided. In one example, an integrated circuit (IC) package includes an integrated circuit die, a layer of insulating material, a redistribution interconnect on the layer of insulating material, and a ball interconnect. The integrated circuit die has a plurality of terminals on a first surface. The insulating material covers the first surface of the die and fills a space adjacent to one or more sides of the die. The redistribution interconnect has a first portion coupled to a terminal of the die through the first layer, and a second portion that extends away from the first portion over the insulating material filling the space adjacent to the die. The ball interconnect is coupled to the second portion of the redistribution interconnect.
US07872333B2
A layer system is described including a silicon layer and a passivation layer which is applied at least regionally to the silicon layer's surface, the passivation layer having a first, at least largely inorganic partial layer and a second partial layer, the second partial layer being made of an organic compound including silicon or containing such a material. In particular, the second partial layer is structured in the form of a “self-assembled monolayer.” Furthermore, a method is described for creating a passivation layer on a silicon layer, a first, inorganic partial layer being created on the silicon layer and a second partial layer, containing an organic compound including silicon or being made thereof, being created at least in certain areas on the first partial layer. Both partial layers form the passivation layer. The described layer system or the described method is particularly suited for creating self-supporting structures in silicon.
US07872326B2
A process for manufacturing an array of bipolar transistors, wherein deep field insulation regions of dielectric material are formed in a semiconductor body, thereby defining a plurality of active areas, insulated from each other and a plurality of bipolar transistors are formed in each active area. In particular, in each active area, a first conduction region is formed at a distance from the surface of the semiconductor body; a control region is formed on the first conduction region; and, in each control region, at least two second conduction regions and at least one control contact region are formed. The control contact region is interposed between the second conduction regions and at least two surface field insulation regions are thermally grown in each active area between the control contact region and the second conduction regions.
US07872313B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed that stably ensures an area of a storage node contact connected to a junction region in an active region of the semiconductor device and is thus able to improve the electrical properties of the semiconductor device and enhance a yield, and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region including a gate, a storage node contact region, and an isolation region that defines the active region. A passing gate and an isolation structure surrounding the passing gate are formed in the isolation region. A silicon epitaxial layer is selectively formed over an upper portion of the passing gate to expand the storage node contact region.
US07872308B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type provided on a main surface of the first semiconductor layer and having a lower impurity concentration than that of the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on the second semiconductor layer; a fourth semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type selectively provided on the third semiconductor layer; a gate electrode provided in a trench passing through the third semiconductor layer and reaching the second semiconductor layer; a first main electrode contacting the fourth semiconductor layer and contacting the third semiconductor layer through a contact groove provided to pass through the fourth semiconductor layer between the contiguous gate electrodes; a second main electrode provided on an opposite surface to the main surface of the first semiconductor layer; and a fifth semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type provided in an interior portion of the second semiconductor layer corresponding to a part under the contact groove. An uppermost portion of the fifth semiconductor layer contacts the third semiconductor layer, a lowermost portion of the fifth semiconductor layer has a higher impurity concentration than that of the other portion in the fifth semiconductor layer and is located in the second semiconductor layer and not contacting the first semiconductor layer, and the fifth semiconductor layer is narrower from the uppermost portion to the lower most portion.
US07872303B2
At least one gate dielectric, a gate electrode, and a gate cap dielectric are formed over at least one channel region of at least one semiconductor fin. A gate spacer is formed on the sidewalls of the gate electrode, exposing end portions of the fin on both sides of the gate electrode. The exposed portions of the semiconductor fin are vertically and laterally etched, thereby reducing the height and width of the at least one semiconductor fin in the end portions. Exposed portions of the insulator layer may also be recessed. A lattice-mismatched semiconductor material is grown on the remaining end portions of the at least one semiconductor fin by selective epitaxy with epitaxial registry with the at least one semiconductor fin. The lattice-mismatched material applies longitudinal stress along the channel of the finFET formed on the at least one semiconductor fin.
US07872298B2
Performance and reliability of a semiconductor device including a non-volatile memory are improved. A memory cell of the non-volatile memory includes, over an upper portion of a semiconductor substrate, a select gate electrode formed via a first dielectric film and a memory gate electrode formed via a second dielectric film formed of an ONO multilayered film having a charge storing function. The first dielectric film functions as a gate dielectric film, and includes a third dielectric film made of silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride and a metal-element-containing layer made of a metal oxide or a metal silicate formed between the select gate electrode and the third dielectric film. A semiconductor region positioned under the memory gate electrode and the second dielectric film has a charge density of impurities lower than that of a semiconductor region positioned under the select gate electrode and the first dielectric film.
US07872285B2
Affords epitaxial substrates for vertical gallium nitride semiconductor devices that have a structure in which a gallium nitride film of n-type having a desired low carrier concentration can be provided on a gallium nitride substrate of n type. A gallium nitride epitaxial film (65) is provided on a gallium nitride substrate (63). A layer region (67) is provided in the gallium nitride substrate (63) and the gallium nitride epitaxial film (65). An interface between the gallium nitride substrate (43) and the gallium nitride epitaxial film (65) is positioned in the layer region (67). In the layer region (67), a peak value of donor impurity along an axis from the gallium nitride substrate (63) to the gallium nitride epitaxial film (65) is 1×1018 cm−3 or more. The donor impurity is at least either silicon or germanium.
US07872273B2
A light emitting device includes a leadframe, a light emitting unit, a transparent encapsulant, and a fluorescent colloid layer. The light emitting unit is disposed on the leadframe. The transparent encapsulant covers the light emitting unit, wherein the transparent encapsulant has a concave on which at least one reflective surface is disposed. The fluorescent colloid layer is disposed outside the transparent encapsulant, wherein a chamber is formed between the fluorescent colloid layer and the transparent encapsulant. The light generated by the light emitting unit is reflected by the reflective surface and guided to a side wall of the fluorescent colloid layer.
US07872268B2
A semiconductor photonic device and associated method are disclosed. The device includes a substrate and a buffer structure on the substrate. The buffer structure is formed of a discontinuous layer of aluminum gallium nitride and a gallium nitride layer on the aluminum gallium nitride layer having a thickness that functionally minimizes the number of defects propagated through it. At least two doped Group III nitride layers are on the buffer structure, with the layers being of opposite conductivity type from one another for providing electrons and holes that combine to generate an emission from the device when current is applied to the device.
US07872264B2
A light-emitting device includes a power feeding line to which a predetermined voltage is supplied; a light-emitting element formed of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a driving transistor that controls the amount of current supplied to the light-emitting element from the power feeding line. The power feeding line includes a portion interposed between the first electrode and the driving transistor.
US07872248B2
An observable optical lamp status display system is provided for an ultraviolet irradiation lamp concealed from view. An external lamp status display panel that is within the field of view of an observer registers the operating status of each ultraviolet light irradiation lamp in an array of irradiation lamps. A separate fiberoptic lamp status display filament extends between each ultraviolet radiation lamps and the display panel. The lamp status display filament has a first end terminated in optical communication with the ultraviolet lamp and an opposite end that terminates at an optical sensor in the lamp status display panel. An observer can determine whether or not a lamp is operating simply by observing the output of the optical sensor in the display panel for each lamp operated.
US07872236B2
A charged particle detector consists of four independent light guide modules assembled together to form a segmented on-axis annular detector, with a center opening for allowing the primary charged particle beam to pass through. One side of the assembly facing the specimen is coated with or bonded to scintillator material as the charged particle detection surface. Each light guide module is coupled to a photomultiplier tube to allow light signals transmitted through each light guide module to be amplified and processed separately. A charged particle detector is made from a single block of light guide material processed to have a cone shaped circular cutout from one face, terminating on the opposite face to an opening to allow the primary charged particle beam to pass through. The opposite face is coated with or bonded to scintillator material as the charged particle detection surface. The outer region of the light guide block is shaped into four separate light guide output channels and each light guide output channel is coupled to a photomultiplier tube to allow light signal output from each channel to be amplified and processed separately.
US07872227B2
A side wall 35 that extends in the axial direction enclosing the plasma in such a way that expansion of plasma to the sides is prevented at the back surface of a skimmer cone 33 and a small collision chamber 36, which is positioned at the back side of this side wall 35 and is defined by a flat part 56 of a first electrode 53 having an opening 57 through which the ion beam can pass. By means of this small collision chamber 36, the pressure inside the chamber rises without introducing additional gas; therefore, argon ions are neutralized by collision and recombination between the ions and electrons and the ion density of the plasma is reduced. Thus, the beam diameter during ion extraction and transport is maintained relatively small.
US07872224B2
Embodiments of the present invention facilitate servicing or changing a discharge tube or modifying the position of a discharge tube with respect to a orifice of a detector and/or a nebulizing gas conduit. The apparatus features a discharge tube housing that slidably receives a discharge tube. A union coupling the discharge tube to a source of fluid is slidably mounted to a mounting assembly holding the tube housing.
US07872223B2
A laser light is linearly delivered onto the sample 4. The ions generated from the irradiated area are collected, mass-separated in the mass separator 27, and detected by the detector 28. A mass analysis is repeated while moving the sample stage 3 by a predetermined step width in the x-axis direction so that the one-dimensional mass spectrum information of the sample 4 at a certain rotational position is obtained. Additionally, while the sample 4 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the same measurement is repeated for the entire perimeter, so that the one-dimensional mass spectrum information at each rotational position is obtained. Based on the data obtained in this manner, a reconstruction computational processing is performed by the CT method to reconstruct the two-dimensional distribution image for a substance having a certain mass for example and the image is displayed on the display 35.
US07872212B2
An integrated circuit is joined to a liquid container. The integrated circuit includes a passivation layer. A resistor is used as a heater to heat fluid in a liquid container. A mesa structure is formed over the passivation layer. The mesa structure is in contact with the resistor and is used to more effectively deliver heat from the resistor to the liquid container.
US07872208B2
A bonding tool for use in a laser bonding apparatus comprises an elongated body portion and a foot portion coupled thereto. The foot portion extends substantially transversely from the body portion and has a laser aperture and a guide channel therethrough. The guide channel is disposed between the body portion and the laser aperture.
US07872204B2
A watertight switch comprises a cover and a base assembled together to form an accommodating space for mounting a switching module therein. The cover and the base, at the combination interface therebetween, respectively have a first junction interface and a second junction interface, which are inwardly shrunk to form a binding gap, the binding gap is gummed by an adhesive for fixedly combining and positioning the first and the second junction interfaces, and the adhesive will fill the binding gap without flowing over the first and the second junction interfaces.
US07872201B1
A programmable weighing scale and a system and method for programming values of adjustable operating parameters used in generating the displayed output from the weighing scale. The weighing scale is placed into a restricted-access programming mode, which allows an authorized programmer to select values of operating parameters that allow the programmer to initially set or change the service characteristics of the scale. Operating parameters that can be varied include variables used in sampling the weighing scale's transducer electrical output, mathematically processing that output, and displaying the results. Once the operating parameter values have been selected, the weighing scale will utilize those values until the weighing scale undergoes a subsequent reprogramming.
US07872200B2
A wired circuit board includes a metal supporting layer, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting layer and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, and having a terminal portion for connecting to an external terminal. The terminal portion is disposed at an end portion of the conductive pattern, supported on the insulating layer, and exposed from the metal supporting layer to have an end surface thereof used as a point of contact with the external terminal.
US07872199B2
Electric cable having at least one conductor (1) with an insulating layer (2) applied thereto and being twisted around a longitudinal axis of the cable, where the insulated conductor (1, 2) is provided with an enclosing elastomer layer (3) of a material having a hardness being substantially lower than the hardness of the insulating layer (2).
US07872195B1
Methods and apparatus of connecting and communicating signals between electrical devices (such as stereo or video speaker or interconnect cables or similar circuits) include applying a bias voltage across the dielectric without interfering with the signals, by applying an energy source to at least one conductor not in the signal path.
US07872190B2
Tone synthesis apparatus synthesizes a tone of a wind instrument generated in response to vibration of a reed contacting a lip during a performance of the wind instrument. First arithmetic operation section solves a motion equation representative of behavior of the reed in an equilibrium state with external force acting on the lip and a second motion equation representative of behavior of the lip in the equilibrium state, to thereby calculate displacement yb(x), y0(x) of the lip and reed in the equilibrium state. Second arithmetic operation section solves a motion equation of coupled vibration of the lip and reed with calculation results of the first arithmetic operation section used as initial values of the displacement yb(x), y0(x) of the lip and reed, to thereby calculate the displacement y(x, t) of the reed. Tone is synthesized on the basis of the displacement y(x, t) calculated by the second arithmetic operation section.
US07872185B1
A collapsible acoustic stringed instrument is disclosed having a hollow body with a soundboard, a back face and a spacer defining a sound chamber. A sound post is secured within the hollow body and engaging the soundboard and the back face. The sound post has a securement pin on each end with a sharpened portion to engage the soundboard and the back face and maintain proper positioning when the instrument strings are loosened. A neck is pivotally and laterally coupled to the body, which further has a door slidably received by specially formed channels in the back face. The neck is able to pivot and slide through the door and into the sound chamber from a playing position to a stored position, without disturbing the sound post or otherwise compromising the appearance or performance of the instrument with respect to a standard non-collapsible instrument.
US07872178B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH929154. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH929154, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH929154 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH929154.
US07872173B2
The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield in plants grown under non-stress growth conditions relative to yield in corresponding wild type plants grown under comparable conditions, the method comprising preferentially increasing activity in the cytosol of a plant cell of a type I DnaJ-like polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing and/or expressing in a plant, plant part or plant cell a type I DnaJ-like nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants grown under non-stress conditions having introduced and/or expressed therein a type I DnaJ-like nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased plant yield relative to corresponding wild type plants grown under comparable conditions. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.
US07872170B2
Methods for identifying sunflower plants or germplasm that display resistance, improved resistance, or susceptibility to Orobanche cumana are provided. Sunflower plants or germplasm that are resistant or have improved resistance to Orobanche cumana are created. The plants or germplasm produced by the methods of the invention are also an aspect of the invention.
US07872162B2
Process for the obtention of HFC-227ea having a reduced content of organic impurities, comprising at least subjecting a crude HFC-227ea to two distillation steps at different pressures.
US07872155B2
A method for deprotecting alkyl arylamine ethers to produce hydroxyl arylamine compounds by reacting the alkyl arylamine ether with a thiolate reagent. More specifically, a method for deprotecting alkyl arylamine ethers to produce hydroxyl arylamine compounds by reacting 2-(diethylamine)ethanethiolate with an alkyl arylamine ether to yield a hydroxy arylamine compound.
US07872150B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of oxaliplatin, the obtained oxaliplatin preparation and its use in cancer therapy.
US07872148B2
A process which comprises reacting a 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic-1,2:3,4-dianhydride [1] with an alcohol [2] in the presence of an acid catalyst to obtain a compound [3], isomerizing the compound [3] with a base catalyst into a compound [4], reacting the compound [4] with an organic acid to obtain a compound [5], and reacting the compound [5] with a dehydrating agent to obtain a 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic-1,3:2,4-dianhydride: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, halogeno, alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, halogenated alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3 to 8 carbon atoms, phenyl, or cyano; and R3 is alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
US07872146B2
Process for the preparation of a carboxamide derivative of formula (I) or a salt thereof Intermediates for preparing this compound are also provided.
US07872144B2
Disclosed herein is a process for producing bisphosphonic acids and salts thereof. The process comprising reacting a carboxylic acid of Formula [I] with phosphorous acid and halophosphorus compound in the presence of a solvent selected from aliphatic hydrocarbon or water miscible cyclic ether. Further, the present invention also provides novel forms of bisphosphonic acids and process for preparation thereof.
US07872141B2
The invention is concerned with processes for the manufacture of the pyrrolidine-3,4-dicarboxamide derivative of formula (I), and the intermediates useful for those processes of manufacture.
US07872138B2
The present invention is directed to a process for the synthesis of substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives, useful as intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents.
US07872125B2
Specified phenylalanine derivatives and analogues thereof have an antagonistic activity to α4 integrin. They are used as therapeutic agents for various diseases concerning α4 integrin.
US07872122B2
A process for making Biolimus A9 comprises reacting sirolimus (or rapamycin) with alkyl benzene sulfonate under the catalyzing of organic base and in the presence of organic solvent to undergo a nucleophilic substitution reaction to obtain the Biolimus A9 with high yield, not only for small-scale laboratory experiment, but also for rendering reproducibility of high yield even after process amplification.
US07872118B2
Double-stranded RNA of about 19 to about 25 nucleotides in length capable of regulating gene expression by RNA interference is provided. Such double-stranded RNA are particularly useful for treating disease or conditions associated with a target mRNA or gene. Methods of manufacture and methods of use of the double-stranded RNA are also provided.
US07872116B2
The present invention encompasses nucleic acids, methods, compositions, and kits for sensitive, rapid and specific detection of Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, Ureaplasma, Phytoplasma and Spiroplasma species in a sample. The invention utilizes specific primers and amplification methods that permit differentiation between species due to specific amplification of target nucleic acids of contaminating Mollicute cells. In one embodiment, the invention utilizes the differing melting temperatures (Tm) of various potential PCR products to identify whether they are specific target amplification products, non-specific, non-target amplification products, specific positive control products, or primer-dimer products.
US07872111B2
Process for producing protein with reduction of acidic sugar chain and glycoprotein produced thereby
A protein participating in the addition of mannose phosphate to a sugar chain of a glycoprotein originating in a yeast belonging to the genus Pichia; a gene coding this protein; a mutant of this gene; a vector carrying the mutant gene; a yeast strain belonging to the genus Pichia having been transformed by this vector; a process for producing a protein with reduction of an acidic sugar chain by using the transformed yeast strain; and a glycoprotein thus produced, are described.
US07872105B2
A novel single domain antibody AFAI and fragments thereof which has specific affinity for binding to carcinoma, and especially lung carcinoma. This antibody, and portions thereof, can be used, inter alia in the diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma.
US07872104B2
This invention concerns an antibody which binds with high affinity to human single-chain intact, i.e. not internally cleaved, mature and/or zymogen forms of prostate specific antigen (SCINT PSA). The antibody does not bind to a nicked PSA (PSA-N), wherein said PSA-N has been formed by internal peptide bond cleavage(s) of SCINT PSA resulting in two-chain or multi-chain PSA. This invention further concerns an immunoassay and a method for differentiating patients with cancer of the prostate (PCa) from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and/or healthy male subjects without PCa, patients with aggressive PCa from patients with indolent PCa and/or patients with clinically localized and/or organ confined PCa from patients with extraprostatic extension of PCa and/or PCa with metastatic spread to lymph nodes or bone marrow using said antibody.
US07872092B2
An objective of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and excellent polyester resin sheet for photovoltaic batteries which enhances the electrical transduction efficiency of photovoltaic battery by improving the hydrolysis resistance and heat resistance, and further enhancing the screening potency, as well as a photovoltaic battery using the same. The polyester resin sheet for photovoltaic batteries comprises a polyester resin layer formed by using one or more layers having a number average molecular weight of 18500 to 40000 in which at least one or more layers having 5 to 40% by weight of titanium dioxide is formed on the polyester resin layer, wherein a light transmittance at wavelengths of 300 to 350 nm is 0.005 to 10%, a relative reflectance is 80% or more and 105% or less, an apparent density is 1.37 to 1.65 g/cm3, an optical density is 0.55 to 3.50, and the variation in optical density has a fluctuation of within 20% from the center value.
US07872084B2
The present invention relates to a support for solid-phase synthesis, which contains a porous copolymer particle, the copolymer particle containing 25 to 60% by weight of an aromatic-vinyl structural unit, 20 to 55% by weight of a vinyl cyamide structural unit, 5 to 18% by weight of an ethylenically-unsaturated-carboxylic-acid structural unit, and 2 to 15% by weight of an aromatic-divinyl structural unit. The support according to the invention fluctuates little in the degree of swelling depending on the kind of the organic solvent in contact therewith.
US07872062B2
A system for controlling the pH of a formaldehyde-free aqueous binder composition used in the manufacture of glass fiber products. Following the formation of an aqueous binder composition, acid is added to the composition to reduce the pH to less than about 3.4. After the acid is combined with the aqueous binder composition, the pH of the composition is measured and then compared within a pre-set set point. The rate of acid addition is then adjusted thereby adjusting the pH of the composition such that the measured pH equals the set point pH. The pH measurement is preferably done before the addition of other additives to avoid interference by those additives.
US07872056B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising blends of alkenyl aromatic polymers such as styrenic polymers (i.e. PS and HIPS) and bio-based or biodegradable polymers (i.e. PLA, PGA, PHA, PBS, PCL) compatibilized with styrene-based copolymers (i.e. styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers, maleated SEBS, styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate (SMMA) copolymer) or a mixture of two or more styrene-based copolymers such as SEBS and SMA. These novel compositions can be extruded and thermoformed to produce very low density food service and consumer foam articles such as plates, hinged lid containers, trays, bowls, and egg cartons with good mechanical properties.
US07872051B2
The use of p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) in the manufacture of a medicament for use as an antiviral agent. The use of PMD in the manufacture of a medicament to destroy or inactivate viruses. The use of PMD, in vitro, as an antiviral or virucidal agent. The use of PMD in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of diseases caused by viruses having a lipid envelope. A face mask comprising at least one protective layer impregnated or sprayed with PMD.
US07872048B2
The present invention is directed to therapeutic compositions targeting the NCCa-ATP channel of an astrocyte, neuron or capillary endothelial cell and methods of using same. More specifically, antagonists of the NCCa-ATP channel are contemplated. The compositions are used to prevent cell death and to treat secondary damage associated with spinal cord injury.
US07872031B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful of inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides processes for preparing the compounds of this invention, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US07872024B2
Benzothiophene hydroxamic acid derivatives with carbamate, urea, amide and sulfonamide substitutions
The present invention relates to a novel class of hydroxamic acid derivatives carbamate, urea, amide and sulfonamide substitutions. The hydroxamic acid compounds can be used to treat cancer. The hydroxamic acid compounds can also inhibit histone deacetylase and are suitable for use in selectively inducing terminal differentiation, and arresting cell growth and/or apoptosis of neoplastic cells, thereby inhibiting proliferation of such cells. Thus, the compounds of the present invention are useful in treating a patient having a tumor characterized by proliferation of neoplastic cells. The compounds of the invention are also useful in the prevention and treatment of TRX-mediated diseases, such as autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory diseases, and in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as neurodegenerative diseases. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the hydroxamic acid derivatives and safe dosing regimens of these pharmaceutical compositions, which are easy to follow, and which result in a therapeutically effective amount of the hydroxamic acid derivatives in vivo.
US07872022B2
The present invention relates to trans-derivatives of formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and the dotted line are as defined herein and to pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. The compounds of formula I are good inhibitors of the serotonin transporter (SERT inhibitors) and simultaneously, they have good activity on the NK-1 receptor (dual effect). By virtue of their efficacy as SERT inhibitors, the compounds in the present invention are particularly useful for the treatment of CNS disorders and psychotic disorders, in particular in the treatment or prevention of depressive states and/or in the treatment of anxiety.
US07872013B2
The present disclosure is directed to modulators of opiate- and/or NMDA receptors and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, the chemical synthesis thereof, and the use of such compounds for the treatment and/or management of pain, anxiety, neurodegeneration, drug dependence, coughing, muscular tension, and/or glaucoma and any other condition in which it is beneficial to modulate an opiate- and/or NMDA receptor.
US07872012B2
Disclosed are pyrimidinone compounds having formula (I), a preparation and use thereof. The compounds are inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, and therefore have antivirus activities and are useful for preventing and treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, senile dementia, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and tumors, and enhancing immune functions in a subject, and especially useful for treating diseases associated with hyperlipaemia.
US07871999B2
The present invention relates to substituted thiazoles, to methods for the production thereof, to medicaments containing these compounds and to the use thereof for producing medicaments.
US07871993B2
The present invention relates to solid crystalline Tigecycline, and crystalline forms thereof.
US07871990B1
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one protein drug or bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability for paracellular protein drug and bioactive agent delivery.
US07871987B2
Novel ester derivatives of ascorbic acid and 2-keto-acid saccharides are provided wherein the ester is introduced by ester bond formation between at least one hydroxy-functionality on the ascorbic acid or 2-keto-acid saccharide and a carboxy-functional organosiloxane, or between a 2-keto-gulonic acid and a hydroxy-functional organosiloxane, as well as methods for their synthesis. Treatment, cosmetic, and personal care formulations comprising the novel esters are also provided, including controlled release forms thereof.
US07871984B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a polynucleotide, which can effectively suppress the immunoreactivity caused by DNA having a CpG motif and which can be used for preventing and/or treating immune-mediated diseases such as arthritis. The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising a CpG motif wherein guanine is methylated, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above-mentioned polynucleotide.
US07871982B2
This invention provides compounds of formula (I) or its pharmacologically acceptable salt or solvate, wherein A represents aryl or a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic group, R1 represents a halide, nitro, substituted C1-6 alkyl, optionally substituted amino, C1-6 alkyloxycarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, a heterocyclic group, or heterocyclic carbonyl, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or C1-6 alkyl, R3 represents C1-6 alkyl, all of R4, R5, and R6 represent a hydrogen atom, R7 represents C1-6 alkyl, m is 1 or 2, and n is 1. The compounds are novel lincomycin derivatives having a potent activity against resistant pneumococci. The compounds can be used as an antimicrobial agent and are useful for preventing or treating bacterial infectious diseases.
US07871979B2
The present invention relates to CSF3R polypeptide variants and their uses, particularly for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment in human subjects. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, vectors comprising such nucleic acids and recombinant cells containing the same. The invention further discloses methods of producing such polypeptides, as well as methods and tools for detecting or dosing these polypeptides in any sample.
US07871973B1
There is provided a new branched primary alcohol composition and the sulfates thereof exhibiting good cold water detergency and biodegradability. The branched primary alcohol composition has an average number of branches per chain of at least 0.7, having at least 8 carbon atoms and containing both methyl and ethyl branches. The primary alcohol composition may also contain less than 0.5 atom % of quaternary carbon atoms, and a significant number ethyl branches, terminal isopropyl branches, and branching at the C3 position relative to the hydroxyl carbon. The process for its manufacture is by skeletally isomerizing an olefin feed having at least 7 carbon atoms followed by conversion to an alcohol, as by way of hydroformylation, and ultimately, sulfation to obtain a detergent surfactant. Useful catalysts include the zeolites having at least one channel with a crystallographic free diameter along the x and/or y planes of the [001] view ranging from greater than 4.2 Å and less than 7 Å. but allows one to skeletally isomerize the olefin to produce a variety of branches, while retaining ready biodegradability and good cold water detergency.
US07871972B2
A cleansing or a surface-conditioning composition comprising a mixture of (i) and (ii) in water: i) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and mixtures thereof; and ii) a hydrophobic benefit agent in a particulate form having a mean particle size in the range of 1-1,000 micron, and a specific gravity of ≧1, not encapsulated within a film or a capsule-like enclosure, the particulate hydrophobic benefit agent comprising: a) a physically-modified form of the hydrophobic benefit agent; and b) a deposition-aid material bonded to the surface of the physically-modified benefit agent, wherein the bonding between the benefit agent and the deposition-aid material is achieved prior to addition to i), wherein said deposition-aid material is not a surfactant having a weight average molecular weight of less than 5,000 Dalton.
US07871969B2
A personal cleansing composition in solid or bar form which is mild to the skin and very effective in removing dirt and grime from the body, particularly the hands. Importantly, such soap bars do not have a noticeable abrasive feel when in contact with the skin. Another feature is that the bar exhibits a so called “drag effect” when the soap bar is used for washing.
US07871965B2
A gear oil additive composition and gear oil composition comprising a organic polysulfide having at least 30 wt % of a dialkyl polysulfide compound or mixture of dialkyl polysulfide compounds, a thiadiazole; and at least one ashless phosphorus-containing wear inhibitor compound is disclosed as having low yellow corrosion in axles and transmissions.
US07871963B2
The systems and methods described herein provide for modified lignins and other compositions that may be useful as surfactants. These compositions have particular utility for energy-related applications. In embodiments, they may be useful for enhanced oil recovery. In embodiments, they may be useful for extracting bitumen from oil sands. In embodiments, they may be useful for environmental remediation.
US07871961B2
A high efficiency catalyst for use in a catalytic partial oxidation process for the production of hydrogen or syngas gas from hydrocarbons is disclosed. The catalyst comprises rhenium in combination with a second metal selected from the group of rhenium to second metal of 25:1 to 1:1. the process comprises reacting a feed containing hydrocarbons with an oxygen source at a C/O ratio of about 0.9 to 1.1 in the presence of the catalyst, and wherein the gas hourly space velocity of the feed over the catalyst ranges from about 1,000 hr−1 to about 2,000,000 hr −1. In the process, the catalyst is maintained as a temperature of from about 500° C. to about 1,500° C. as the feed makes contact with the catalyst.
US07871958B2
A catalyst carrier includes a honeycomb structure where cells extending in a longitudinal direction are divided by cell walls; and a coating layer provided at a peripheral part of the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure and the coating layer contain at least one of inorganic fibers and whiskers. At least one of the inorganic fiber and whisker contained in the honeycomb structure is oriented mainly in a first direction. At least one of the inorganic fiber and whisker contained in the coating layer is oriented mainly in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction cross at substantially right angles to each other.
US07871948B2
Lithium silicate materials are described which can be easily processed by machining to dental products without undue wear of the tools and which subsequently can be converted into lithium silicate products showing high strength.
US07871942B2
Processes for making a high K (dielectric constant) film using an ultra-high purity hafnium containing organometallic compound are disclosed. Also described are devices incorporating high K films made with high purity hafnium containing organometallic compounds.
US07871935B2
The present invention provides an interconnect structure which has a high leakage resistance and substantially no metallic residues and no physical damage present at an interface between the interconnect dielectric and an overlying dielectric capping layer. The interconnect structure of the invention also has an interface between each conductive feature and the overlying dielectric capping layer that is substantially defect-free. The interconnect structure of the invention includes a non-plasma deposited dielectric capping layer which is formed utilizing a process including a thermal and chemical-only pretreatment step that removes surface oxide from atop each of the conductive features as well as metallic residues from atop the interconnect dielectric material. Following this pretreatment step, the dielectric capping layer is deposited.
US07871927B2
A method of electrically conductive via formation in a fully processed wafer involves defining at least one trench area on a backside of the fully processed wafer, forming at least one trench within the trench area to an overall depth that will allow for a via formed within the trench to be seeded over its full length, forming the via within the trench into the fully processed wafer to a predetermined depth, depositing a seed layer over the full length of the via, and plating the seed layer to fill the via with an electrically conductive metal.
US07871924B2
A first interlayer insulating film made of insulting material is formed over an underlying substrate. A via hole is formed through the first interlayer insulating film. A conductive plug made of copper or alloy mainly consisting of copper is filled in the via hole. A second interlayer insulating film made of insulating material is formed over the first interlayer insulating film. A wiring groove is formed in the second interlayer insulating film, passing over the conductive plug and exposing the upper surface of the conductive plug. A wiring made of copper or alloy mainly consisting of copper is filled in the wiring groove. The total atom concentration of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and chlorine in the conductive plug is lower than the total atom concentration of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and chlorine in the wiring.
US07871921B2
An interconnection structure for a semiconductor device includes an inter-level insulation layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. First contact constructions penetrate the inter-level insulation layer. Second contact constructions penetrate the inter-level insulation layer. Metal interconnections connect the first contact constructions to the second contact constructions on the inter-level insulation layer. The first contact constructions include first and second plugs stacked in sequence and the second contact constructions include the second plug.
US07871918B2
A manufacturing method of a contact structure includes first providing a substrate on which a contact pad has already been formed. Afterwards, a polymer bump is formed on the contact pad. Next, a conductive layer is formed on the polymer bump. The conductive layer covers the polymer bump and extends to the outside of the polymer bump. The portion of the conductive layer extending to the outside of the polymer bump serves as a test pad.
US07871913B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a vertical transistor includes forming hard masks on a semiconductor substrate to expose portions of the semiconductor substrate. Then the exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate are etched to define grooves in the semiconductor substrate. A gate conductive layer is formed on the hard masks and surfaces of the grooves to a thickness that does not completely fill the grooves. A sacrificial layer is formed on the gate conductive layer to completely fill the grooves. A partial thickness of the sacrificial layer is removed to expose the gate conductive layer and portions of the gate conductive layer formed on the hard masks and on sidewalls of upper portions of the grooves are removed. The remaining sacrificial layer is completely removed. Gates are formed on sidewalls of lower portions of the grooves by etching the gate conductive layer.
US07871908B2
The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: forming a first hard mask layer and a second hard mask layer on the layer to be etched (S11); a first groove-forming mask pattern forming process for forming a groove-forming mask pattern which has a first pitch, is formed of the second hard mask layer, and is used as an etching mask when forming groove patterns(S12-S14); and a first concave portion-forming mask pattern forming process for etching the first hard mask layer using the second resist pattern as an etching mask, wherein the second resist pattern is formed of the second resist layer having an opening portion that has a fourth pitch and the first organic layer having an opening portion that is connected to an opening portion of the second resist layer and has a smaller size than the opening portion of the second resist layer (S15-S18).
US07871905B2
A method for producing a device includes embedding trenches with an epitaxial layer having high crystallinity while a mask oxide film remains unremoved. An n-type semiconductor is formed on the surface of a silicon substrate, and a mask oxide film and a mask nitride film are formed on the surface of the n-type semiconductor. The mask laminated film is opened by photolithography and etching, and trenches are formed in the silicon substrate. The width of the remaining mask laminated film is narrowed, whereby portions of the n-type semiconductor close to the opening ends of the trenches are exposed. The trenches are embedded with a p-type semiconductor, whereby the surface of the mask laminated film is prevented from being covered with the p-type semiconductor. The p-type semiconductor is grown from the second exposed portions of the n-type semiconductor. V-shaped grooves are prevented from forming on the surface of the p-type semiconductor.
US07871901B2
A method of manufacturing semiconductor chips including forming dividing-groove portions in accordance with dividing regions on the second surface of a semiconductor wafer where an insulating film is placed in the dividing regions of the first surface and performing etching of the entire second surface and the surfaces of the dividing-groove portions by performing plasma etching from the second surface. Thereby corner portions on the second surface side are removed, while the insulating film is exposed from the etching bottom portion by removing the dividing-groove portions in the dividing regions. Also, by continuously performing the plasma etching in a state in which the exposed insulating film is surface charged with electric charge due to ions in plasma, corner portions on in contact with the insulating film on the first surface side are removed, and semiconductor chips that have a high transverse rupture strength are provided.
US07871899B2
A method of processing a wafer including a plurality of integrated circuit devices on a front side of the wafer, may include thinning the wafer from a back side opposite the front side. After thinning the wafer, a back side layer may be provided on the back side of the thinned wafer opposite the front side, and the back side layer may be configured to counter stress on the front side of the wafer including the plurality of integrated circuit devices thereon. After providing the back side layer, the plurality of integrated circuit devices may be separated. Related structures are also discussed.
US07871896B2
Structures and methods for precision trench formation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a first oxygen-containing region in a semiconductor substrate by performing an oxygen ion implantation to a portion of the semiconductor substrate, and oxidizing the first oxygen-containing region using oxygen contained therein by performing a thermal processing to the semiconductor substrate, where the first oxygen-containing region is converted to a first oxide region. The method further comprises forming a groove in the semiconductor substrate by eliminating the first oxide region, where the performing thermal processing comprises subjecting the first oxygen-containing region to a gas low on oxygen.
US07871895B2
A method of forming shallow trench isolation (STI) regions for semiconductor devices, the method including defining STI trench openings within a semiconductor substrate; filling the STI trench openings with an initial trench fill material; defining a pattern of nano-scale openings over the substrate, at locations corresponding to the STI trench openings; transferring the pattern of nano-scale openings into the trench fill material so as to define a plurality of vertically oriented nano-scale openings in the trench fill material; and plugging upper portions of the nano-scale openings with additional trench fill material, thereby defining porous STI regions in the substrate.
US07871894B2
A process for manufacturing a suspended structure of semiconductor material envisages the steps of: providing a monolithic body of semiconductor material having a front face; forming a buried cavity within the monolithic body, extending at a distance from the front face and delimiting, with the front face, a surface region of the monolithic body, said surface region having a first thickness; carrying out a thickening thermal treatment such as to cause a migration of semiconductor material of the monolithic body towards the surface region and thus form a suspended structure above the buried cavity, the suspended structure having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The thickening thermal treatment is an annealing treatment.
US07871886B2
A method of making a semiconductor device using a semiconductor substrate includes forming a first insulating layer having a first band energy over the semiconductor substrate. A first semiconductor layer having a second band energy is formed on the first insulating layer. The first semiconductor layer is annealed to form a plurality of first charge retainer globules from the first semiconductor layer. A first protective film is formed over each charge retainer globule of the plurality of first charge retainer globules. A second semiconductor layer is formed having a third band energy over the plurality of first charge retainer globules. The second semiconductor layer is annealed to form a plurality of storage globules from the second semiconductor layer over the plurality of first charge retainer globules. A magnitude of the second band energy is between a magnitude of the first band energy and a magnitude of the third band energy.
US07871885B2
Embodiments relate to a manufacturing method of a flash memory device which improves electrical characteristics by reducing or preventing void generation. A manufacturing method of a flash memory device according to embodiments includes forming a plurality of gate patterns over a semiconductor substrate including a tunnel oxide layer, a floating gate, a dielectric layer, and a control gate. A spacer layer may be formed as a compound insulating layer structure over the side wall of the gate pattern. A source/drain area may be formed over the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the control gate. An insulating layer located at the outermost of the spacer layer may be removed. A contact hole may be formed between the gate patterns by forming and patterning the interlayer insulating layer. A contact plug may be formed in the contact hole.
US07871884B2
A method for manufacturing the DRAM includes first providing a substrate where patterned first mask layer and deep trenches exposed by the patterned first mask layer are formed. Deep trench capacitors are formed in the deep trenches and each of the deep trench capacitors includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a capacitor dielectric layer. A device isolation layer is formed in the first mask layer and the substrate for defining an active region. The first mask layer is removed for exposing the substrate, and a semiconductor layer is formed on the exposed substrate. The semiconductor layer and the substrate are patterned for forming trenches, and the bottom of the trench is adjacent to the upper electrodes of the trench capacitor. Gate structures filling into the trenches are formed on the substrate. A doped region is formed in the substrate adjacent to a side of the gate structure.
US07871878B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes a first and second device regions on a substrate. The method includes the steps of forming an insulation layer on the substrate, laminating a first semiconductor layer having a plane orientation different from the surface of the substrate on the insulation layer and exposing the substrate by removing the insulation layer and the first semiconductor layer from the second device region. A second semiconductor layer having the same plane orientation as the substrate and that is made of a strained layer is formed by epitaxial growth on the exposed substrate in the second device region.
US07871874B2
Provided are a transistor of a semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same. The transistor includes: an epitaxy substrate disposed on a semi-insulating substrate and having a buffer layer, a first Si planar doping layer, a first conductive layer, a second Si planar doping layer, and a second conductive layer, which are sequentially stacked, the second Si planar doping layer having a doping concentration different from that of the first Si planar doping layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode diffusing into the first Si planar doping layer to a predetermined depth and disposed on both sides of the second conductive layer to form an ohmic contact; and a gate electrode disposed on the second conductive layer between the source and drain electrodes and being in contact with the second conductive layer. In this structure, both isolation and switching speed of the transistor can be increased. Also, the maximum voltage limit applied to the transistor is increased due to increases in gate turn-on voltage and threshold voltage and a reduction in parallel conduction element. As a result, the power handling capability of the transistor can be improved, thus improving a high-power low-distortion characteristic and an isolation characteristic.
US07871867B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed that comprises a high breakdown voltage MOSFET. The MOSFET includes a source region of a second conductivity type and a drain region of the second conductivity type formed apart from each other in a well region of a first conductivity type, a channel region formed between the source region and the drain region, a gate insulation film formed on the channel region, a LOCOS oxide film having greater film thickness than the gate insulation film, and a gate electrode formed across the gate insulation film and the LOCOS oxide film.
US07871864B2
The invention discloses integrated circuits (ICs), molded IC packages, and to leadframe arrays, package arrays and methods for their manufacture. Leadframe arrays and package arrays used for the manufacture of IC packages by transfer molding processes include a locking feature adapted for encapsulation. The locking feature is situated in a strap of the leadframe array overlying a gate between mold cavities. The strap lock formed by curing encapsulant in the locking feature of the strap strengthens the resulting package array and provides improved mold extraction and handling characteristics.
US07871855B2
This invention relates to the use of axial substituted phthalocyanine compound as a semiconductor layer between the source/drain electrodes of organic thin-film transistor. The centre ligand of the axial substituted phthalocyanine compound is an atom with 3 valences or higher, and the axial ligands are chlorine, fluorine, or oxygen which can be connected with the centre ligands of axial substituted phthalocyanine compounds. Crystalline Film with high quality can be prepared on an organic substrate from the axial substituted phthalocyanine compound using vapor deposition process. These crystalline films have high carrier mobility, rich energy level, and stable performances and are easy for integrated process. The field effect mobility and the on/off Ratio of the organic thin-film transistor are 0.01 cm2/Vs or more and higher than 105, respectively.
US07871845B2
Provided is a nitride-based semiconductor light emitting device having increased efficiency and power characteristics and method of manufacturing the same. The method may include forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate, forming a passivation layer on the sacrificial layer, forming a plurality of masking dots of a metal nitride on the passivation layer, laterally epitaxially growing a nitride-based semiconductor layer on the passivation layer using the masking dots as masks, forming a semiconductor device on the nitride-based semiconductor layer, and wet etching the sacrificial layer to separate and/or remove the substrate from the semiconductor device.
US07871837B2
A display panel manufacturing method according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: patterning a plurality of pixel electrodes on a panel to be arrayed in a matrix; forming an interconnection made of a metal between the pixel electrodes; coating a surface of the interconnection with a liquid repellent conductive layer; and forming an organic compound layer by applying an organic compound-containing solution to the electrodes.
US07871835B2
Disclosed is a method for packaging an LED by a thermoplastic copolymer. The copolymer is polymerized by 100 parts by weight of an acrylic ester, 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of a hydrogen bond monomer, and 0.1 to 70 parts by weight of a bulky monomer. The copolymer has transparency greater than 90%, thermal resistance greater than 130° C., and moisture absorption less than 0.5 wt %, such that the copolymer may be applied as packaging material for a light emitting device.
US07871827B2
Methods and devices for removing small negatively charged molecules from a biological sample mixture that uses an anion exchange material.
US07871825B2
A test for diagnostic tests, particularly for testing blood prior to a transfusion is disclosed. The test element includes at least two test units for carrying out at least two tests. The test element is provided with a fixing means for fixing the test element.
US07871820B2
The three β-neurexins have similar roles in synaptogenesis and interact with the neuroligins. Mutations located within the gene encoding neurexin 1 have been identified as molecular markers associated with autism and autism-related disorders. The estimated attributable risk is 2%. The invention provides methods of diagnosing or predicting susceptibility to developing autism in an individual by determining the presence or absence of one or more genetic variant of a neurexin 1 gene in an individual.
US07871817B2
The invention relates to the rational mutagenesis of polypeptides of α/β T-cell receptors that mediate an oncogen-specific T-cell response, nucleic acids encoding these and their use in the therapy, diagnosis and/or prevention of cancerous diseases. The invention further relates to a T-cell response-mediating MDM2-protein-specific α/β T-cell receptor, which has been rationally mutated by means of the method according to the present invention, and the uses thereof.
US07871810B2
Systems and methods for positioning a multi-featured biological array relative to a signal acquisition device. Detection of the array's positional deviation may be achieved by a calibration beam reflected from the array surface and detected by a position sensitive detector (PSD). The PSD-measured positional deviation can be transformed and used in a control loop to correct for positional variations of the array. The calibration beam and PSD may also be used to detect the array or feature boundaries, thereby allowing lateral centering or positioning of the array relative to the signal acquisition device.
US07871807B2
The invention relates to a method for producing flu virus according to which: a) immunizing a hen by administering a flu vaccine to the hen, b) triggering embryogenesis in one or more eggs of the immunized hen, c) infecting the one or more embryonated eggs by inoculating a flu virus into the allantoic cavity of the eggs, d) incubating the one or more infected embryonated eggs under temperature and humidity conditions that allow replication of the virus, and e) harvesting the allantoic fluid of the one or more incubated eggs containing the virus.
US07871806B2
The invention relates to new asparaginases having improved properties, preferably improved thermotolerance, such as improved activity at high temperatures and/or improved thermostability. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such improved asparaginases, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the asparaginases, in particular for reduction of acrylamide in foods. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing asparaginase variants having improved properties.
US07871804B2
The invention relates to a method for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism, according to which nucleic acids coding for polypeptides with an acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid-acyltransferase activity are introduced into the organism. Advantageously, the nucleic acid sequences can be expressed in the transgenic organism optionally together with other nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism. The invention also relates to the inventive nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs containing the inventive nucleic acid sequences, vectors containing the inventive nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs, and transgenic organisms containing the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors. The invention further relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced according to the inventive method, and to the use of the same.
US07871803B2
The present invention provides genes encoding novel luciferases having at least the properties of: being capable of using coelenterazine as their luminescent substrates; and being capable of being recombinantly expressed in a mammal cell as a host and produced to be secreted to the outside of the host cell. Specifically, the gene encoding novel luciferases according to the present invention is a DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of the full-length amino acid sequences of two types of luciferase proteins, luciferase 1 and luciferase 2, from M. pacifica, and is, for example, a gene encoding the following full-length amino acid sequence of the luciferase 1. MMEIQVLFAL ICFALVQANP TENKDDIDIV GVEGKFGTTD60 LETDLFTIVE DMNVISRDTN LANSDADRGK MPGKKLPLEV LIEMEANARK AGCTRGCLIC120 LSKIKCTAKM KVYIPGRCHD YGGDKKTGQA GIVGAIVDIP EISGFKELGP MEQFIAQVDL180 CADCTTGCLK GLANVKCSAL LKKWLPDRCA SFADKIQSEV DNIKGLAGDR210
US07871800B2
The present invention relates to polypeptides having glucoamylase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides preferably derived from a strain of Peniphora rufomarginata. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to the composition comprising a glucoamylase of the invention as well as the use such compositions for starch conversion processes, brewing, including processes for producing fermentation products or syrups.
US07871795B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for generating novel nucleic acid molecules through RNA trans-splicing that target a highly expressed pre-mRNA and contain the coding sequence of a protein or polypeptide of interest. The compositions of the invention include pre-trans-splicing molecules (PTMs) designed to interact with the target precursor messenger RNA molecule (target pre-mRNA) that is abundantly expressed, and mediate a trans-splicing reaction resulting in the generation of novel chimeric RNA molecule (chimeric RNA) capable of encoding a protein or polypeptide of interest. The invention provides for the in vivo production of chimeric RNA molecules that encode and result in the production of a protein or polypeptide of interest.
US07871792B2
An isolated microbial consortium is described that includes a first microbial consortium having Thermacetogenium phaeum to metabolize a complex hydrocarbon substrate into metabolic products comprising an acetate compound. The consortium also includes a second microbial consortium having a methanogen to convert the acetate compound into a final product that includes methane. Also, a method of increasing production of materials with enhanced hydrogen content. The method includes isolating Thermacetogenium phaeum from geologic formation water, culturing the isolated Thermacetogenium phaeum to increase the Thermacetogenium phaeum population, and introducing a consortium of the cultured Thermacetogenium phaeum, which may include spores of Thermacetogenium phaeum, into a hydrocarbon formation containing a complex hydrocarbon substrate.
US07871788B2
Means for easily determining the grade of malignancy of cancer cells. The amount of ATBF1 in the whole cell structure of test cancer cells separated from a living organism is detected, and on the basis of detection results, the grade of malignancy of test cancer cells is judged. Alternatively, the amount of ATBF1 in the nuclei of test cancer cells separated from a living organism is detected, and on the basis of detection results, the grade of malignancy of test cancer cells is judged. Still alternatively, the amount of ATBF1 in the cytoplasms of test cancer cells separated from a living organism is detected, and on the basis of detection results, the grade of malignancy of test cancer cells is judged. In a preferred from, at least one of (1) the amount of intranuclear presence and/or intracytoplasmic presence a region corresponding to exon 10 of an ATBF1 gene, (2) the amount of intranuclear presence and/or intracytoplasmic presence a region corresponding to exon 11 of an ATBF1 gene, and (3) the amount of intranuclear presence and/or intracytoplasmic presence a region corresponding to exon 3 of an ATBF1 gene is detected as the amount of ATBF1.
US07871779B2
Novel techniques for the detection of Aspergillus in samples are disclosed. These techniques relate to PCR amplification and/or detection of Aspergillus ITS1 rDNA sequences, and the identification of particular species of Aspergillus by detecting differences in the ITS1-V1, ITS-V2, ITS-V3, ITS-V4, and ITS-V5 nucleic acid sequences of Aspergillus. The highly variable regions of the ITS1 rDNA sequences are particularly useful in distinguishing, for example, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus granulosus, Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus flavipes, Aspergillus restrictus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus wentii, and Aspergillus chevalieri. In particular embodiments, the sequence differences are also able to distinguish among variants of particular species, such as Aspergillus granulosus CBS 119.5A, Aspergillus granulosus strain NRRL 1932, Aspergillus sydowii strain NRRL 250, Aspergillus sydowii strain NRRL 4768, Aspergillus sydowii strain CUHI, Aspergillus sydowii strain CUH2, Aspergillus sydowii strain CUH7, and Aspergillus sydowii strain CUH8.
US07871770B2
A micro bead having a digitally coded structure that is partially transmissive and opaque to light. The pattern of transmitted light is determined by to decode the bead. The coded bead may be structured a series of alternating light transmissive and opaque sections, with relative positions, widths and spacing resembling a 1D or 2D bar code image. To decode the image, the alternating transmissive and opaque sections of the body are scanned in analogous fashion to bar code scanning. The coded bead may be coated or immobilized with a capture or probe to effect a desired bioassay. The coded bead may include a paramagnetic material. A bioanalysis system conducts high throughput bioanalysis using the coded bead, including a reaction detection zone and a decoding zone.
US07871768B2
A novel gene (EPM2B) that is mutated in humans and dogs with Lafora's disease is described.
US07871765B2
The present invention is intended to provide a pharmaceutical composition for delivering a chemotherapeutic, preferably an anticancer drug, into cells or into a living organism, using a viral envelope vector, and provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a chemotherapeutic encapsulated in, or used in combination with, a viral envelope vector having an adjuvanticity as an active ingredient. Thereby it is possible to introduce an anticancer drug encapsulated in a viral envelope vector directly into a tumor, with coadministration of another anticancer drug so as to induce tumor cell-specific antitumor immunity also thanks to the adjuvant action of HVJ-E, and hence to regress the tumor. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a viral envelope vector and a chemotherapeutic as active ingredients.
US07871760B2
A method of fabricating a turning mirror for an optical device includes the steps of depositing on a substrate, which defines a plane in which an optical signal propagates in a propagating direction, a photoresist layer sensitive to electrons and to UV radiation. The material in which the photoresist layer is formed, has a contrast not larger than 3. A first portion of the photoresist layer is exposed to an electron beam, wherein the electron dose of the electron beam exposure is varied within the first portion according to a selected pattern, and wherein the electron does to which a given region in the photoresist is exposed, depends on the resulting photoresist height in the given region after development. A second portion of the photoresist layer is exposed to UV radiation; the first and the second portions are overlapped at least in a third portion. The photoresist layer is developed so as to form in the third portion of the photoresist layer exposed to both electron beam and to UV radiation a first surface having an angle relative to the propagating direction. The substrate and the photoresist are etched so that a second angled surface is formed in the substrate in correspondence to the third portion. The second surface forms an angle with the propagating direction.
US07871758B2
This process for producing a resist pattern is a process for producing a resist pattern including: the step of laminating (a) a support having an upper surface on which copper exists, (b) an inorganic substance layer consisting of an inorganic substance supplied from an inorganic substance source, and (c) a photoresist layer consisting of a chemically amplified type negative photoresist composition, to obtain a photoresist laminate, the step of selectively irradiating active light or radioactive rays to the photoresist laminate, and the step of developing the (c) photoresist layer together with the (b) inorganic substance layer to form a resist pattern.
US07871757B2
A laser induced thermal imaging apparatus for imaging an imaging layer of a donor film on an acceptor substrate. The laser induced thermal imaging apparatus includes: a substrate stage having an electromagnet, and adapted to receive an acceptor substrate having a pixel area of the organic light emitting device and a donor film including the organic light emitting layer to be imaged on the pixel area; a laser oscillator for irradiating a laser on the donor film; a contact frame adapted to be located between the substrate stage and the laser oscillator and including an opening portion of a pattern corresponding to a part to be imaged of the donor film and a permanent magnet for forming a magnetic force with the substrate stage; and a contact frame moving mechanism for moving the contact frame toward the substrate stage.
US07871756B2
There is provided a photosensitive thermosetting resin composition used for producing a permanent film, capable of forming a resin layer which is excellent in fluidity upon heat bonding after pattern, formation and also has excellent adhesion as well as bonding properties and/or sealing properties. This composition contains a reaction product of (A) an alkali soluble resin and (C) a 10 crosslinking polyvinyl ether compound, (B) a compound generating an acid under irradiation with radiation, and (D) an epoxy resin.
US07871752B2
Lactone-containing compounds having formula (1) are novel wherein R1 is H, F, methyl or trifluoromethyl, R2 and R3 are monovalent hydrocarbon groups, or R2 and R3 may together form an aliphatic hydrocarbon ring, R4 is H or CO2R5, R5 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, W is CH2, O or S, and k1 is 0 or 1. They are useful as monomers to produce polymers which are transparent to radiation≦500 nm. Radiation-sensitive resist compositions comprising the polymers as base resin exhibit excellent properties including resolution, pattern edge roughness, pattern density dependency and exposure margin.
US07871751B2
A radiation-sensitive composition containing a resist compound A, an acid generator B, and an acid crosslinking agent C. The resist compound A is (a) a polyphenol compound which is produced by the condensation of a C5-45 aromatic ketone or aromatic aldehyde with a C6-15 compound having from 1 to 3 phenolic hydroxyl groups, and, (b) its molecular weight is form 300 to 5000. The radiation-sensitive composition is solvent-soluble and exhibits a high sensitivity, high resolution, and high heat resistance.
US07871748B2
A photoconductor that includes a substrate; an undercoat layer thereover wherein the undercoat layer contains, for example, a metal oxide, and an iron containing compound; a photogenerating layer; and at least one charge transport layer.
US07871747B2
To provide an electrophotographic photoconductor that has a layer containing a compound represented by the following general formula (1), and an image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic photoconductor. where R1 and R2 independently represent any one of a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group and substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, and R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 independently represent any one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, amino group, hydroxyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group and substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group.
US07871745B2
The invention provides an exposure method for manufacturing a device. The method includes providing a wafer having several exposure regions with a photoresist layer covering thereon. A feedback parameter map with several exposure-region feedback parameter sets respectively corresponds to the exposure regions of the wafer. At least one of the exposure-region feedback parameter sets is different from the rest of the exposure-region feedback parameter sets. According to the feedback parameter map, an exposure process is sequentially performed on each of the exposure regions of the wafer through an exposure tool to pattern the photoresist layer on the wafer. While the exposure tool performs the exposure process on each of the exposure regions, an exposure process parameter set of the exposure tool is adjusted based on the exposure-region feedback parameter sets corresponding to the exposure region in the feedback parameter map.
US07871744B2
A near-field exposure apparatus includes a near-field exposure mask and a mechanism places a substrate, to be exposed, opposed to the near-field exposure mask. A mechanism performs relative alignment of the near-field exposure mask and the substrate to be exposed. A mechanism closely contacts the near-field exposure mask and the substrate to be exposed, with each other. A mechanism projects exposure light to the near-field exposure mask, and a soft X-ray irradiating device removes static electricity charged in at least one of the near-field exposure mask and the substrate to be exposed. The soft X-ray irradiating device is disposed such that the near-field exposure mask is located between the soft X-ray irradiating device and the substrate to be exposed.
US07871739B2
A fuel cell and an electronic device equipped therewith are disclosed. The fuel cell is of the type having a cathode and an anode facing each other with a proton conductor interposed therebetween, with at least either of the cathode or anode having an enzyme as a catalyst immobilized thereon, wherein at least a first cathode, a first proton conductor, an anode, a second proton conductor, and a second cathode are sequentially placed thereon, and in fuel is held in contact with at least part of the anode.
US07871736B2
The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present invention includes polymers having a fluoroalkyl group and a proton conductive group. The present invention also provides a membrane-electrode assembly, a fuel cell system including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a method of making the polymer electrolyte membrane by a chemical grafting method. The amount of the proton conductive groups in the polymer electrolyte membrane can be controlled, the membrane thickness can be easily controlled, adherence between a polymer electrolyte membrane and an electrode is improved due to the fluoroalkyl of the polymer, and long-term stability of a membrane-electrode assembly is improved.
US07871724B2
A rechargeable battery and a method of forming the rechargeable battery. An electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and a separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to prevent a short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first electrode tap is formed on an end portion of the first electrode and a second electrode tap is formed on an end portion of a second electrode, each end portion being absent active materials. A can is adapted to receive the electrode assembly and have the electrode assembly welded to an inner side of the can. A cap assembly surrounded by a gasket insulates the cap assembly and seals an opening of the can.
US07871718B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic seed layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer provided on the nonmagnetic seed layer, and a perpendicular recording layer provided on the nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The nonmagnetic seed layer includes a first seed layer made of an amorphous material, and a second seed layer provided between the first seed layer and the nonmagnetic intermediate layer and made of a material having a fcc structure. The amorphous material includes at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ta, W, Nb, Mo, Zr and alloys thereof which include at least one of Ta, W, Nb, Mo and Zr as a main component exceeding 50 at. %.
US07871714B2
A novel electroluminescent polymer is represented by the following formula. A film of the polymer represented by the following formula can be formed by electrolytic polymerization, and farther emits light in a different color by an electric field when a substituent thereof is changed. Therefore, a light-emitting device that is capable of multicolor displaying can be easily obtained.
US07871710B2
Disclosed is a conductive material for a connecting part, including: a base material made up of a Cu strip; a Cu—Sn alloy covering layer having an average thickness of 0.2 to 3.0 μm; and an Sn covering layer, the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer being provided between the base material and the Sn covering layer, wherein in a cross section perpendicular to the surface of the conductive material, the diameter [D1] of the minimum inscribed circle of the Sn covering layer is 0.2 μm or less, the diameter [D2] of the maximum inscribed circle of the Sn covering layer is 1.2 to 20 μm, the difference in elevation [y] between the outermost point of the material and the outermost point of the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer is 0.2 μm or less, and a bright or semi-bright tin electroplating layer having an average thickness of 0.01 μm or more in an approximately uniform thickness is formed on the outermost layer as part of the Sn covering layer.
US07871709B2
Tie-layer adhesive compositions which are blends of modified and unmodified polyolefins and containing a saturated bicyclic modifier compound and multi-layer barrier films having improved clarity produced therewith are provided.
US07871704B2
A composition comprising an unsaturated polyester polyol oligomer and an isocyanate are disclosed; the composition can further comprise a radiation-curable compound, such as a (meth)acrylic copolymer, and/or a polythiol. Methods for using the composition and substrates treated therewith are also disclosed.
US07871701B2
An oriented strand board for structural applications and a method of its production comprising elongated strands having aspect ratios greater than 2, the strands being derived from the outer shells of oil palm tree fronds formed as a bi-product of the harvest of oil palm fruit, such that the strand length is limited to about a meter, the strands being cut from the outer shell area of the fronds and at least the outer regions of the major faces of the board being substantially free of core material, the shell strands being combined with a heat settable binder material, the strands being formed by elongated blades moving relative to a frond length in planes generally aligned with a longitudinal direction of the frond length, the strands of the frond shells being arranged and being permanently bonded together such that they are predominately generally aligned with the structural direction of the board at least at the outer regions of the major faces of the board.
US07871693B2
A plastic cable tie and a method of making a plastic cable tie that can be detected by X-ray and metal detection devices as well as sonar, optical or visual detection devices. The cable ties are formed from a composition that includes metal particles; a compound; and a plastic material. The metal particles are preferably metal flakes and can be ferrous or non-ferrous materials. The compound can include iodine or barium, and is preferably barium sulfate. The plastic material can include a polypropylene, a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a polyterephthalate (PET) or a polyamide.
US07871679B2
The invention relates to a coating comprising a getter metal alloy and to an arrangement and method for the production thereof. The coating therein consists of a non-vaporizing getter metal alloy (2) for an inner wall (3) of a high-vacuum vessel (4). The arrangement basically consists of a metal plasma generator (7), which in turn comprises an insulator member (8), which carries an ignition electrode (9) and a cathode wire (10) comprising a getter metal alloy (2). Those three components are surrounded by a cage-like anode member (13), which together with the insulation member (8) projects into the high vacuum vessel (5) to be coated and is supplied with cathode potential (12), high-voltage ignition pulse (19) and anode potential (14) by a voltage supply device (16), the anode member (13) together with the high-vacuum vessel (4) being held at ground potential.
US07871673B2
The present invention provides a process for making a filled fluoropolymer bearing comprising providing an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion comprising fluoropolymer particles and anionic polyelectrolyte dispersing agent in an amount sufficient for stabilization. The dispersion contains less than about 300 ppm fluorosurfactant based on the weight of the dispersion. The dispersion is coagulated to make a mush and a bearing filler is added to the dispersion prior to or after making the mush. The mush containing bearing filler is applied onto a bearing substrate to produce a coated substrate which is sintered and formed into a bearing.
US07871669B2
A method for producing a multilayer two-tone finish on a substrate such as an automobile or truck body or parts thereof. The method includes the steps of applying two different primers to a substrate, applying an accent color to a portion of the substrate and baking the applied coatings. The accent area is then masked and a main color is applied to the unmasked portion of the substrate. The mask is then removed from the accent color area, a clearcoat is applied to the applied main and accent colors and the substrate is baked to dry and cure the applied coating compositions. The clearcoat composition carbamate material, a curing agent and a hydroxy functional silane component. The method and the clearcoat composition provides a substantially durable and wrinkle free appearance and excellent adhesion to waterborne and solventborne basecoats, baked or unbaked.
US07871667B2
In a previous experiment of a deposition work of depositing a film with a uniform thickness on a long strip base material in the longitudinal direction thereof, an elapsed time from the start of the deposition work and an output of a power supply at the elapsed time are measured. The resulting relation between the elapsed time and the output is stored in a storage device. Subsequent deposition on a long strip base material is performed by a method in which first, the output of the power supply is controlled to be stabilized at a desired value using a crystal oscillator thickness gauge in a pre-heating step before the start of the deposition work, and then, a base material transport device is driven to start the deposition work on the long strip base material after a desired deposition rate is obtained. After the start of the deposition work, the output of the power supply is controlled to coincide with the output at the elapsed time stored in the storage device.
US07871663B1
A method for enhancing the flux pinning of a YBCO superconductor by substituting minute quantities of rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) or other deleterious elements (Sc, etc.) for Y in YBCO thin films is described. The method of the present invention enables enhanced flux pinning of the material while not significantly increasing the cost of the HIS material and can be used in all HTS deposition methods since it is not process dependent.
US07871655B2
A system and method wherein meat product constituents are mixed under a high shear force to combine the constituents into a mixture having a stable protein matrix is disclosed. The system incorporates mixing devices in a housing into which the input streams are directed. The system then applies a high shear force over a small volume to mix the constituents together, thereby rapidly combining the meat constituents and other ingredients to rapidly form a stable protein matrix and eliminate the need for a curing stage for protein extraction.
US07871649B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising quaternary ammonium compounds and essential oils or individual constituents thereof which exhibit enhanced antimicrobial effects. Such combinations may be comprised in lotions, gels, creams, soaps, etc. for application to skin or mucous membranes. The invention is based, at least in part, on the observation that synergistic antimicrobial effects are achieved with combinations of essential oils or individual constituents thereof and low concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds.
US07871648B2
An herbal formulation including Symphytum Officinalis extract and Phytolacca Decandra extract may be combined to treat bone fractures and osseum defects. Specifically, the herbal formulation provides for the regeneration of osseum tissue for treating bone defects such as imperfect osteogenesis, pseudo-arthrosis infected or not, bone union delay of fractures, osteoporosis, osseum tumors, aneurismatic osseum cyst, and myeloma multiple.
US07871640B2
Superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. The superabsorbent polymer particles comprise polymer chain segments, wherein at least a part of the polymer chain segments are covalently cross-linked to each other and wherein at least a part of the cross-links include the reaction product of cross-linking molecules having at least two C═C double bonds and further include the reaction product of radical former molecules. These cross-links are present at surfaces of the superabsorbent polymer particles.
US07871634B2
Disclosed are mascara compositions containing an aqueous phase, fatty phase, a structuring agent, and a polyurethane/poly(meth)acrylate graft copolymer, and methods of making and using them.
US07871624B2
The invention is directed to chimeral fusion proteins having an IgG1 antibody Fc portion and a lysosomal storage enzyme, particularly a Fc-GUS fusion protein useful in treating Sly's disease in an embryo or fetus. The invention is also directed to methods of treating in born errors of metabolism, particularly Sly's disease, in a fetus by delivering to a pregnant mother a Fc-MPS emzyme fusion protein.
US07871620B2
The present invention provides for immunoliposomes that optimizes internalization of a drug into target cells bearing a characteristic cell surface marker. The immunoliposomes comprise an Fab′ domain of an antibody that specifically binds the characteristic marker, an amphipathic vesicle-forming lipid, and a polyethylene glycol derivatized lipid. The invention also provides for growth-inhibiting immunoliposomes that lack growth-inhibiting therapeutic agents and yet are capable of inhibiting the growth and proliferation of target cells.
US07871616B2
The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-22, IL-20, or both IL-20 and IL-22 polypeptide molecules. IL-20 and IL-22 are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. IL-22RA (zcytor11) is a common receptor for IL-20 and IL-22. The present invention includes anti-IL-22RA antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-22 or both IL-20 and IL-22 using such antibodies and binding partners.
US07871614B2
A protein utilizing an anti-gold antibody and a gold-binding side which is a part of the anti-gold antibody is constructed. This protein is capable of specifically binding to gold. This protein or a complex protein containing such a protein can be used for the detection of a target substance.
US07871607B2
The invention relates to the discovery of novel soluble neutral active Hyaluronidase Glycoproteins (sHASEGPs), methods of manufacture, and their use to facilitate administration of other molecules or to alleviate glycosaminoglycan associated pathologies. Minimally active polypeptide domains of the soluble, neutral active sHASEGP domains are described that include asparagine-linked sugar moieties required for a functional neutral active hyaluronidase domain. Included are modified amino-terminal leader peptides that enhance secretion of sHASEGP. The invention further comprises sialated and pegylated forms of a recombinant sHASEGP to enhance stability and serum pharmacokinetics over naturally occurring slaughterhouse enzymes. Further described are suitable formulations of a substantially purified recombinant sHASEGP glycoprotein derived from a eukaryotic cell that generate the proper glycosylation required for its optimal activity.
US07871601B2
A rinse-off type hair cosmetic composition containing the following ingredients: (A) from 1 to 10 wt % of a higher alcohol having from 12 to 28 carbon atoms, (B) a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the following formula (1) or a tertiary amine type compound represented by the following formula (2) or salt thereof, (C) from 15 to 70 wt % of a polyhydric alcohol, and (D) from 0.01 to 10 wt % of a dimethylpolysiloxane. The content ratio of the ingredient (A) to the ingredient (B) is from 1:1 to 10:1 in terms of molar ratio. As a method for preventing colored hair from fading, the hair cosmetic composition is used before or after shampooing the colored hair. The hair cosmetic composition can inhibit the bleeding of a colorant from colored hair upon shampooing, and is also excellent in the smoothness of the hair upon applying the composition and also upon rinsing it off.
US07871595B2
The fine barium titanate particles of the present invention have an average primary particle diameter of from 10 nm to less than 20 nm, a sphericity of 1.00 to 1.18, and a ratio of an average secondary particle diameter to the average primary particle diameter of 0.7 to 6.0. The fine barium titanate particles of the present invention can exhibit a small behavior particle diameter and can be readily monodispersed notwithstanding very fine particles, and as a result, can be suitably used as various dielectric materials because the particles are free from aggregation therebetween and have an excellent dispersibility.
US07871590B2
A solidified mass for a high-purity multicrystal silicon material that is preferably applicable to producing crystal type silicon ingots for photo voltaics, and a process for producing the solidified mass are provided. The mass of silicon solidified from molten state is a solidified mass produced by dropping molten silicon into a receiving vessel and allowing the vessel to receive the molten silicon, said solidified mass containing bubbles and having (i) an apparent density of not less than 1.5 g/cm3 and not more than 2.2 g/cm3 and (ii) a compressive strength of not less than 5 MPa and not more than 50 MPa. The process for producing a mass of silicon solidified from molten state includes the steps of dropping molten silicon into a receiving vessel and allowing the vessel to receive the molten silicon, wherein the surface temperature of the vessel for receiving the molten silicon is not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 1000° C., and the receiving vessel is allowed to receive the molten silicon at a rate of 1×10−3 to 5×10−1 g/sec·cm2.
US07871580B2
An automated workstation or apparatus for disinfecting an object in a controlled environment is provided. A method for disinfecting an object in a controlled environment is provided.
US07871573B2
A method of enhancing fluorescence emission in a fluorophore-mediated sensing, biosensing, imaging, and bioimaging. An example of biosensing is a fluorophore-mediated sandwich immunoassay with a 1° monoclonal antibody against a target analyte and a fluorophore-linked 2° monoclonal antibody, exposing the immunoassay to an enhancing agent, applying excitation light to the immunoassay, and measuring an emission signal from the immunoassay.
US07871552B2
The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for providing a roof tile with at least one water stop. With the arrangement it becomes possible to press a water stop, comprised of a material differing from that of the roof tile, into a roof tile blank. After the water stop has been pressed in, it is partially disposed with its edge in the material of the roof tile blank in the proximity of the watercourse, of the central brim and of the lateral beading.
US07871551B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods feed and distribute a powder over a working area used for producing three-dimensional objects. A powder storage unit contains a supply of powder, and a distribution member is arranged to be moveable across the working area to distribute a portion of powder onto the working area. In an embodiment, the distribution member is, in a first step, moveable a predetermined distance into a supply of powder placed in the powder storage unit, said distance being sufficiently long to bring about a transfer of a portion of powder from the powder supply at one side of the distribution member to another side of the distribution member facing the working area, and the distribution member is, in a second step, moveable towards and across the working area to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US07871547B2
This invention provides a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a solution comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. The process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the solution at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:2.5, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides. Also provided by this invention is a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a slurry comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, solids from the formation of said dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. This process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the slurry at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:1.25, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides.
US07871540B2
A polymerizable liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes a compound including a repeated unit represented by a general formula (I) (wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and one or more of hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon group may be substituted by the halogen atoms.), in which a weight average molecular weight is 100 or more.
US07871539B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition having at least a liquid crystal and a chiral dopant, in which the chiral dopant is a compound having a liquid crystalline group of a specific structure bonded to a rigid optically active compound. The present invention provides a liquid crystal element having at least a pair of electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is a transparent electrode, and a liquid crystal layer containing the liquid crystal composition. The present invention also provides a reflective display material and a light-controlling material having at least the liquid crystal element, and a method of preparing the liquid crystal element by adding the chiral dopant to a host liquid crystal.
US07871519B2
Provided is a method comprising introducing a sample comprising a plurality of oligonucleotides into an ion pair high performance liquid chromatography column having a buffered mobile phase and allowing at least a portion of the oligonucleotides to separate; allowing the oligonucleotides to elute from the column; and introducing the oligonucleotides into a mass spectrometer and quantifying at least a portion of the oligonucleotides by mass spectrometry. In the method, at least a portion of the oligonucleotides are co-eluting oligonucleotides that differ in mass by no more than 20%; and the buffered mobile phase causes at least 50 mole percent of co-eluting oligonucleotides to have the same charge when they enter the mass spectrometer.
US07871518B2
Apparatus for providing activated treated water to washing machines with a water treatment conduit connected between a water supply and an inlet of the washing machine, having a reactor chamber with a UV lamp and a coated metal target that generates oxidizing gases that communicate by an injector into the conduit and a transparent portion of the conduit treats the oxidated water by illumination from the UV lamp. A disinfector injects disinfecting silver ions into the treated oxidated water. A controller activates the apparatus during flow of water through the conduit. A method of activating and treating water for washing machines is disclosed.
US07871517B2
The filter device (10) is provided with a drain device (50) provided with a main body (51) and a plug (60). The main body (51) has a first opening (51a) which communicates to the outer side of a housing (20), a second opening (51b) which communicates with an inner side (42a) of a filter element (40), and a third opening (56) which communicates with a first channel (51c) communicating to the first opening (51a) and the second opening (51b) and a space (B) between the filter element (40) and the housing (20). The plug (60) is held within the first channel (51c), and is movable between a first position (P1) at which fluid is not discharged from the housing (20), and a second position (P2) at which fluid is discharged from the housing (20). The plug (60) is provided with a second channel (65) that communicates with the first channel (51c) and communicates with the outer side of the housing (20) when in the second position (P2).
US07871511B2
Method to alter coke morphology using either polynuclear aromatic compounds or functionalized lignin
A method for altering coke morphology in a delayed coking process of heavy oil is provided. An effective amount of one or more oil dispersible or oil soluble polynuclear aromatic compounds, or functionalized lignin, is added or contacted with the resid or heavy oil at a point before or after the step of heating the heavy oil to coking temperatures. The addition of additives facilitates the formation of shot coke and inhibits the formation of sponge coke.
US07871508B2
A mediated electrochemical oxidation process and apparatus are used to process biological and organic materials to provide hydrogen and oxygen for use as fuel in numerous types of equipment. Waste materials are introduced into an apparatus for contacting the waste with an electrolyte containing the oxidized form of one or more reversible redox couples, at least one of which is produced electrochemically by anodic oxidation at the anode of an electrochemical cell. The oxidized species of the redox couples oxidize the organic waste molecules and are themselves converted to their reduced form, whereupon they are reoxidized and the redox cycle continues until all oxidizable waste species have undergone the desired degree of oxidation. The entire process takes place at temperatures to avoid any possible formation of either dioxins or furans. The oxidation process may be enhanced by the addition of ultrasonic energy and/or ultraviolet radiation.
US07871496B2
The invention relates to a paper machine for producing paper that can be gravure printed from a fibrous stock suspension, and a related method. The paper machine includes a wire section, a pressing section, a drying section, and a winding section for winding the produced paper on a paper roll. Additionally, the paper machine includes a film press having a film roll for applying a coating color and a calender arranged downstream of the film press.
US07871493B2
A method of making an environmentally-friendly tissue sheet for conversion into a single-ply roll product, such as bath tissue or paper towels, is disclosed. The method utilizes numerous process aspects that are determined to minimize energy consumption, which is about 100 grams CO2 equivalent emissions or less per 38 square feet of tissue, while at the same time producing a tissue roll product having desirable roll bulk, firmness and absorbency.
US07871482B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic substrate. The method includes providing a plurality of ceramic blocks, each including a ceramic laminate having a first surface and a second surface and having a laminated structure of a plurality of ceramic green sheets containing a glass ceramic component, and a first bonding ceramic green sheet including a glass component and disposed on a surface of the first and second surfaces of the ceramic laminate, which is to contact another ceramic laminate, firing the plurality of ceramic blocks, laminating the plurality of fired ceramic blocks such that the first bonding ceramic green sheets of the adjacent ceramic blocks face each other, and bonding the plurality of ceramic blocks using the glass component of the first bonding ceramic green sheets.
US07871480B1
An apparatus and method of manufacturing a plurality of air bags for use in a motor vehicle, and air bags made by same. First and second fabric layers of a type of fabric suitable for use in a vehicle air bag are fed into a seaming station. At the seaming station, the fabric layers are seamed together according to a predetermined seaming pattern so as to produce a composite textile structure defining a plurality of individual air bags to be cut therefrom. Depending on the application, the seaming may be accomplished by stitching or welding. If the fabric layers are not precoated, a suitable coating material may then be applied to both outer surfaces of the composite textile structure so as to render the air bags substantially impermeable to passage of air. Finally, the plurality of individual air bags are cut from the composite textile structure.
US07871479B2
A method for the manufacture of label kits is described. Each kit comprises one or more of carrier sheets having one or more labels of specific shape and containing specific information associated with a specific product or parts thereof on which they are to be affixed. The labels have an adhesive backing removably retained on a surface of the carrier sheet. The method uses a digital printer and a laminator die-cutting machine which is computer controlled with the data being automatically printed and labels automatically cut into a web whereby to form detachable labels, some having a UV protected clear or opaque synthetic or paper surface material face sheet. The carrier sheets are cut from the web and individually placed or stacked into kits or piles to form label kits containing a predetermined number of such labels associated with a specific product or part with the carrier sheets potentially containing a tracking code identifying the specific kit to the product.
US07871478B2
A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
US07871469B2
A method of forming a planar waveguide structure, comprising forming a first graded layer on a substrate, wherein the first graded layer comprises a first and a second optical material, wherein the concentration of the first optical material increases with the height of the first graded layer; forming a second graded layer on the first graded layer, the second graded layer comprising the first and second optical materials wherein the concentration of the first optical material decreases with the height of the second graded layer. The method further including forming a uniform layer on the first graded layer, the uniform layer containing first and second optical materials wherein the first optical material concentration is constant.
US07871466B2
There is provided an ink composition that, even on various recording media, especially gloss paper of a printing paper base, can yield an image having excellent gloss, can realize good recovery from clogging and handleability of recorded matter, and, at the same time, can realize excellent ejection stability and color reproduction. The ink composition for ink jet recording comprises at least a colorant, water, an alkanediol, and a surfactant, wherein the alkanediol comprises a water soluble 1,2-alkanediol and a water soluble alkanediol having a hydroxyl group at both ends of its main chain, and the surfactant is a polyorganosiloxane.
US07871457B2
A method of producing a carbon dioxide product stream from a synthesis gas stream formed within a hydrogen plant having a synthesis gas reactor, a water-gas shift reactor, located downstream of the synthesis gas reactor to form the synthesis gas stream and a hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit to produce a hydrogen product recovered from the synthesis gas stream. In accordance with the method the carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas stream by separating the carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas stream in a vacuum pressure swing adsorption system, thereby to produce a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas stream and a crude carbon dioxide stream and then purifying the crude carbon dioxide stream by a sub-ambient temperature distillation process thereby to produce the carbon dioxide product. A hydrogen synthesis gas feed stream to the hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit is formed at least in part from the hydrogen rich stream.
US07871455B1
A modern jet engine inlet protection system that protects against large birds and operates autonomously, that is dormant in routine aircraft operations, that automatically actuates its protective device(s) only at the immediate point of need, then returning it (them) to a non-interfering position, including a RADAR system and a LIDAR system which detect birds entering the intended flight path of the aircraft, and fast computer-implemented computational algorithms that track and identify those from the detected set that are (1) projected to enter a zone which would lead to ingestion by the engine, and (2) of a size large enough that they would seriously damage the engine if ingested; that includes defensive mechanisms housed in the engine nacelle cowling or center hub, or in the fuselage structure that are instantaneously actuated shortly before arriving at the point of impact to shield, deflect, reduce the size of the approaching bird to an acceptable mass, or destroy it, and, that after the ingestion threat has passed, the devices are stowed/retracted or safely jettisoned.
US07871442B2
Knee prosthesis for implanting in a knee joint has a femoral component, a tibial component and a hinge connecting the femoral component and the tibial component. The femoral component rotates around the transverse axis passing through center of the hinge and the center of rotation of the femoral component moves substantially along proximal-distal axis upon flexion of the knee joint.
US07871429B2
A multifunction warming device includes a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting at least one convective apparatus. An attachment mechanism is provided adjacent the convective apparatus for adhesively attaching to a person.
US07871424B2
A rod inserter and method of inserting a rod into a vertebral body, wherein the rod inserter holds a rod in a vertical or semi-vertical position from one end and allows the rod to be inserted and then rotated into its final horizontal position inside a wound. The device comprises a longitudinal member comprising holes located at distal ends of the longitudinal member; and a holder comprising a tip end comprising a first and second portion any of which comprise a prong tip. The holder also includes a handle end located distally away from the tip end, wherein the handle end comprises a first gripping arm and a second gripping arm; and an engaging member comprising tooth-like features connecting the first gripping arm to the second gripping arm, wherein the tooth-like features engage the second gripping arm, and wherein the prong tip fits into a hole of the longitudinal member.
US07871422B2
A forceps unit for an endoscope is provided. The forceps unit includes a flexible sheath, an operating wire placed inside the flexible sheath to be reciprocable in a direction of an axis of the flexible sheath, a pair of forceps end pieces, and two support shafts rotatably supporting the pair of forceps end pieces, respectively. The two support shafts are swaged and fixed to an end support frame provided to a distal end of the flexible sheath so that the pair of forceps end pieces rotatable around the two support shaft will open and close like a beak when the operating wire is operated back and forth. The forceps unit is further provided with a liquid feed channel that is placed inside the flexible sheath in parallel with the operating wire. In this structure, a distal part of the liquid feed channel is placed to pass between the two support shafts so that an outlet of the liquid feed channel will be placed in front of the two support shafts. An outer end part of each of the two support shafts has a cylindrical shape. Further, the outer end part is swaged to the end support frame.
US07871420B2
A phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification handpiece including a cutting tip ultrasonically vibrated by an ultrasonic transducer. A power supply is provided for driving the ultrasonic transducer at a resonant frequency of the transducer and cutting tip and varying power to the transducer, in response to loading of the cutting tip, by phase shifting voltage and current supplied to the transducer.
US07871414B2
A wire guide has first and second portions with first and second diameters, respectively. The second portion is located distal of the first portion. A resilient loop positions a distal end of the wire guide adjacent another section of the wire guide. A closure member maintains the distal end in a fixed position relative to the remainder of the wire guide. An outer sleeve may be positioned around one or more parts of the wire guide. A radiopaque element may be secured to the outer sleeve.
