US08005816B2
A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety of sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security attributes to be submitted at query time, for example, in order to provide real-time secure access to enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries.
US08005815B2
A search engine for retrieving documents from a database including a semantic document editor that allows a user to edit an existing document by creating searchable compound words that contains information contextually relevant to the contents of the document. The editor associates the created compound words with the document to produce an enhanced document having the compounds words associated therewith. A database is provided for storing enhanced documents and a semantic query editor is provided that enables a searcher to address the database of enhanced documents with a query. The query editor receives the query and converts it into one or more compound search words that contain contextually relevant information. A search module is provided that receives the searchable compound words and locates the relevant enhanced documents that have compound words associated with the document matching the searchable compound words. An output module presents any located documents to the searcher.
US08005805B2
In a light-weight transactional system architecture, each component providing a service performs its own scheduling and transaction management. An invocation of one of these services (through remote method invocation) results in the creation of a local transaction (child of the invoking transaction and parent of any transaction that might be triggered by invoking the services of other servers). The information that is required to build a global composite transaction is implicitly added by the system to each call. Each transaction is, however, independently handled at each server. That is, the servers neither communicate among themselves nor rely on a centralized component to make scheduling or recovery decisions. In this way, components can be dynamically added or removed from the system without compromising correctness. Regardless of the configuration, the system according to the invention guarantees that transactions executed over these servers are correct and recoverable at a global and local level.
US08005794B2
A method is disclosed for obtaining data from a kernel, including obtaining data from the kernel, and storing the data in a data set an aggregation buffer using an aggregation function. A method is disclosed for storing data in a data set, wherein the data set includes a key component, an aggregation identifier component, and a value component, including obtaining an expression, a new value, and an aggregation identifier, generating a key using the expression and the aggregation identifier; and storing the data set in a buffer, wherein storing the data set comprises storing the key in the key component, storing the aggregation identifier in the aggregation identifier component, and updating a current value in the value component using the new value and an aggregation function.
US08005786B2
Devising a centralized usage database for tracking and recording the usage of various services by various users may be difficult for several reasons, including the volume of data generated by each user in interacting with each service. Techniques are disclosed for streamlining usage data transmitted between the services, the users, and the usage database, such as by redistributing a portion of the computational burden to the users, and by characterizing the usage data based on the role of each user in interacting with each service. Additional techniques are disclosed for caching and authenticating the usage data, and for improving the response rate in the interaction of the usage database with users in order to provide a better user experience.
US08005785B2
A computer readable medium stores instructions for execution on a computer. The instructions receive a collection of composite objects. An aggregate dataset that includes a portion of contents of object instances in the collection of composite objects is created. The aggregate dataset includes contents of object instances formed by reflection, where reflection includes obtaining type information of object instances in the collection of composite objects. A report schema specifying how data for a report is to be processed and formatted is received. The aggregate dataset is queried to retrieve data. The data is processed into a report in accordance with the report schema. The data in the report is formatted in accordance with the report schema.
US08005776B2
The present invention discloses a system, method, apparatus, and computer usable product code adapting a media stream based upon biometric feedback. The system can include one or more biometric sensor, a media handling component, an importance inference engine, and a media processing component. The biometric sensor can be able to receive biometric feedback from at least one user. The media handling component can be a media creation component (e.g., video recorder, camera, etc.) and/or a media playback component (e.g., video player, music player, etc.). The importance inference engine can be configured to analyze biometric feedback received from the biometric sensor to determine an emotional interest level that a provider of the biometric feedback has in the media of the media handling component. The media processing component can modify the media of the media handling component based upon the emotion interest level determined by the importance inference engine.
US08005773B2
A cortical simulator optimizing the simulation scale and time through computationally efficient simulation of neurons in a clock-driven and synapses in an event-driven fashion, memory efficient representation of simulation state, and communication efficient message exchanges.
US08005756B2
A method of issuing a purchase card is provided. The method includes the steps of presenting a purchaser with the opportunity to buy the purchase card, determining whether the purchaser has sufficient funds to pay for the purchase card, creating a purchase card account for a recipient designated by the purchaser, and issuing the purchase card. The purchase card may also be issued in connection with another credit card, for example as a rebate for purchases on the credit card. The purchase card may also be converted to a credit card.
US08005750B1
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for providing principal protection exposure to equity markets. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer implementable method for performing data processing operations associated with providing principal protection exposure to an equity market, comprising the steps of: carrying out a sale of a trust certificate to generate proceeds, which sale is from a trust to a first entity; allocating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the trust certificate to a purchase of an equity security, which purchase is by the trust from the equity market; and allocating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the trust certificate to a purchase of a put option on the equity security, which purchase is by the trust from a second entity; wherein the sale of the trust certificate to the first entity, combined with the purchase of the equity security by the trust and the purchase of the put option by the trust, provides the first entity principal protection exposure to the equity market without causing substantial income statement volatility.
US08005747B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for communicating sale offers through an electronic network system. The method includes inputting a sale offer parameter for randomly generating at least one sale offer to purchase a product or service on the electronic network system at an offer price substantially less than a current value of the offered product or service in a competitive marketplace. The method further includes randomly displaying, through the electronic network system, the at least one sale offer at the offer price to a buyer in communication with the electronic network system at an unexpected period of time; and withdrawing the display of the randomly generated sale offer in response to an absence of an indication of acceptance of the randomly generated sale offer by the buyer within a predetermined period of time after displaying the randomly generated sale offer.
US08005745B1
A system and method are provided that preserve many of the advantages of traditional workups, including the ability to create a single deal extended in time, while avoiding aspects of prior art workup protocols that can be disadvantageous in particular trading environments and, particularly, avoiding the trading delays sometimes created by providing certain traders with exclusive trading privileges in highly-liquid, fast-moving trading environments. In a preferred embodiment, the present system comprises a distributed computer processing system programmed to provide a structured trading protocol that enhances trading efficiency and fairly distributes market opportunity to system users. More specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the present system is adapted to provide a plurality of workup phases each of which is designated a “public” phase and during which all trading is conducted on a first-come-first-served basis.
US08005744B2
Methods and systems for bidding on items include a predetermined price or range associated with an item, the price not disclosed to bidders. Successful bids conform to a predetermined success rule(s) determined independently of the amounts of other bids. Successful bids can be immediately communicated to the successful bidders. Price adjustments, typically discounts, can be determined and communicated prior to fulfillment.
US08005743B2
A system and method of confirming trades of financial instruments such as OTC derivatives is disclosed. The system includes a data interface which accepts data relating to a trade from both the trader and counter party. The data includes different data fields of differing importance. The system includes a matching engine which compares the submitted data and assigns the trade a status depending on which of the data fields match. The system allows a user to filter trades on their status and display the details relating to that trade. The system also allows a user to display the data fields and change the data fields in order to change the status of the trades. The system thus allows a user to electronically confirm a trade and also identify unmatched trades and the information necessary to reconcile such unmatched trades.
US08005741B2
The present invention is a universal pension administration system that allows multiple companies to use the same system for valuation report generation, benefit calculation, database administration, and trust payment direction. Plan Actuaries define a pension plan by answering questions related to the plan. A Developer Actuary uses tools to develop a pension plan framework that defines plan questions and logic and calculations to support the plan definition. A first tool is used to define the logic for pension plan definition, calculation sequencing, and report generation. In the calculation sequencing, rules are defined to refer to spreadsheets in which complex calculations related to the plan are performed. A second tool is used to design discrete calculation objects using a standard client-based spreadsheet. The spreadsheets are sequenced on a server in any manner as dictated by expert system code generated from the calculation-sequencing tool. Plan Participants access an online account to obtain information regarding benefits.
US08005739B1
An improved method of funding and delivering benefits to the retired participants of a defined benefit pension plan. The method does this by having the plan purchase cash value life insurance with respect to each retired plan participant, and then entering into separate agreement(s) with institutional third parties to exchange a portion of the future death benefits from those policies for periodic cash payments that could be used to make pension benefit payments to plan participants as they become due. Such modified funding and delivery mechanism could result in significant cost savings to the defined benefit plan as it may be able to deliver more benefits per dollar of contribution to plan assets, thereby improving the financial health and prospects of the defined benefit plan, while also offering sufficient profit potential to other third parties to induce them to play a necessary role in the funding and delivery of plan benefits.
US08005734B1
An intermittent risk exposure liability insurance method comprising the steps of: establishing an Internet business site enabled for communication with insurers and insureds through Internet service providers; enrolling the insureds in intermittent risk exposure liability insurance policies, the policies providing for a variable insurance premium rate depending upon an intermittent use of an insured article; logging start and completion times of each intermittent use of the insured article on the Internet business site by the insured; verifying start and completion times of use of the insured article in accordance with the logged start and completion times; and applying and billing premium insurance rates in accordance with the verified and logged start and completion times of use.
US08005730B2
Systems and methods for tracking and billing expenses throughout a transaction, such as the sale or management of a real estate property. In one embodiment, a budget is created that details expected incomes on the property and costs associated with the sale or management of the property. The budget may be developed in accordance with specifications, such as line item maxima or total budget maxima, developed by the owner of the property. After a vendor has delivered goods or services described in the budget, the vendor creates an electronic invoice. Payment is delivered to the vendor through an Automated Clearing House system.
US08005729B1
Environment modification using system and usage data is described, including receiving environmental data from one or more sources, the environmental data being associated with an environment, determining a change in the environmental data by comparing a current value for the environmental data to a mean value for the environmental data, the change being expressed as a delta value, and applying the delta value to the environmental data to evolve the environment.
US08005721B2
Systems and methods for retrieving multi-provider on-demand content through a common portal device are disclosed. The techniques described herein allow for multi-provider media content to be made available for retrieval to a user through a streamlined process thereby enhancing the user experience and likelihood of ordering on-demand content.
US08005716B1
Systems and methods for determining and utilizing path navigation information. In one aspect, a method includes determining an article containing at least one item, determining a path associated with the article, and identifying at least one term associated with the at least one item based at least in part on the path.
US08005709B2
A system for monitoring a business process including a business process, an indicator for determining a value representing the performance of the business process, and a performance monitor adapted to evaluate the indicator to determine the performance of the business process. The indicator can be associated with workflow-enabled business process or with a control associated with the business process. The performance monitor compares the value of the indicator with a target value. The target value can be inherited from an organizational unit associated with the business process, a control, or set by a user. The performance monitor creates a report summarizing a change in the value of the indicator over a period of time. The performance monitor also initiates an audit process of the business process when the difference between the value of the indicator and the target value exceeds a tolerance range associated with the target value.
US08005708B2
The object of the present invention can be achieved by the data verification supporting server for supporting verification of data which is inputted to each item of a survey form for surveying an effect of implementing a product, including a survey form managing part managing the survey form sent from an implementer terminal of an implementer, with a revised number of the survey form; a re-survey information managing part informing the implementer of a re-survey inquiry based on a re-survey inquiry request for requesting a re-survey, which is received from a verifier terminal of a verifier verifying the survey form, the re-survey inquiry request indicating the implementer who sent the survey form; and a survey form maintaining part maintaining the survey form and the version information managed by the survey form managing part when notification of a verification completion of the survey form is received from the verifier terminal.
US08005707B1
Computer-implemented systems and methods to process time-series data. As an example, a system and method can use a first data store to store time series data, and a second data store to store definitions of events. A dummy variable is generated when data from an event's definition is applied to time series data.
US08005700B2
A customer relationship management (CRM) system and method accessible via a network. The system comprises: a user interface that provides distributed access for customers and support providers to case information within the CRM system; a case management system for managing customer cases, wherein the case management system includes a system for assigning cases to different tiers within a support provider hierarchy; and a compliance tracking system that determines customer compliance and provides a compliance indicator on customer case management pages.
US08005694B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media automate determination of a risk category for low cholesterol associated with issuance of a life insurance policy.
US08005687B1
Various embodiments for estimating a cost of a medical procedure. In one example, a method may include the operations of averaging data from various geographies of the amount billed to form a national average amount billed for the medical procedure; associating the average amount billed with one or more claim data items from a health plan; grouping the claim data items from the health plan using episode classes; calculating an average amount billed for each episode class; and adjusting the average amount billed for each episode class by a geographic adjustment factor to form an estimated cost of the medical procedure.
US08005686B2
An integrated point-of-care system includes a medical monitoring device, a medical care device, a computing system, and a structure. The medical monitoring device monitors patient information for a patient. The medical care device provides medical care to the patient. The computing system receives patient information from the medical monitoring device and transmits control instructions to the medical care device to control the medical care to the patient. The computing system also exchanges data with a central data respository through a communication network. The structure supports the patient, the medical monitoring device, the medical care device, and the computing system. The structure can also transport the patient, the medical monitoring device, the medical care device, and the computing system together.
US08005685B1
A facility for ranking a list of priced alternatives is described. The facility attributes criteria to a user. The facility determines values for the criteria based on information about the user. The facility uses the determined values to adjust the actual prices of the priced options. The facility uses the adjusted prices to rank a list of options and presents them to a user.
US08005680B2
Method for building a multimodal business channel between users, service providers and network operators. The service provided to the users is personalized with a user's profile derived from language and speech models delivered by a speech recognition system. The language and speech models are synchronized with user dependent language models stored in a central platform made accessible to various value added service providers. They may also be copied into various devices of the user. Natural language processing algorithms may be used for extracting topics from user's dialogues.
US08005679B2
A global speech user interface (GSUI) comprises an input system to receive a user's spoken command, a feedback system along with a set of feedback overlays to give the user information on the progress of his spoken requests, a set of visual cues on the television screen to help the user understand what he can say, a help system, and a model for navigation among applications. The interface is extensible to make it easy to add new applications.
US08005672B2
An audio processing system includes a speech detector that receives and processes an audio input signal to determine if the input signal includes components indicative of speech, and provides a control signal indicative of whether or not the audio input signal includes speech. A speech processing device receives the audio input signal and processes the audio input signal to improve its quality if the control signal indicates that the audio input signal includes speech.
US08005671B2
A normalization factor for a current frame of a signal may be determined. The normalization factor may depend on an amplitude of the current frame of the signal. The normalization factor may also depend on values of states after one or more operations were performed on a previous frame of a normalized signal. The current frame of the signal may be normalized based on the normalization factor that is determined. The states' normalization factor may be adjusted based on the normalization factor that is determined.
US08005666B2
An automatic system for temporal alignment between a music audio signal and lyrics is provided. The automatic system can prevent accuracy for temporal alignment from being lowered due to the influence of non-vocal sections. Alignment means of the system is provided with a phone model for singing voice that estimates phonemes corresponding to temporal-alignment features or features available for temporal alignment. The alignment means receives temporal-alignment features outputted from temporal-alignment feature extraction means, information on the vocal and non-vocal sections outputted from vocal section estimation means, and a phoneme network, and performs an alignment operation on condition that no phoneme exists at least in non-vocal sections.
US08005663B2
A method and associated apparatus for using visual separators to indicate additional character combination choices from a disambiguation function on a handheld electronic device.
US08005660B2
An Integrated Circuit Design tool incorporating a Stochastic Analysis Process (“SAP”) is described. The SAP can be applied on many levels of circuit components including transistor devices, logic gate devices, and System-on-Chip or chip designs. The SAP replaces the large number of traditional Monte Carlo simulations with operations using a small number of sampling points or corners. The SAP is a hierarchical approach using a model fitting process to generate a model that can be used with any number of performance metrics to generate performance variation predictions along with corresponding statistical information (e.g., mean, three-sigma probability, etc.). A hierarchical SAP process breaks an overall circuit into a plurality of subcircuits and performs circuit simulation and SAP analysis steps on each subcircuit. An integration and reduction process combines the analysis results of each subcircuit, and a final SPICE/SAP process provides a model for the overall circuit based on the subcircuits.
US08005655B2
Modeling a plurality of fabric layers on a subject to predict thermal strain. The computerized model combines subject data, fabric data, and environmental conditions to simulate the thermal comfort of the subject over time. In an embodiment, a user interface enables a user to modify or define the input data to compare the predicted thermal comfort of different garments under the same working conditions.
US08005649B2
The invention relates to a device for validating measurements of a dynamic magnitude x coming from an article having main sensors placed thereon on three main axes for measuring of said dynamic magnitude x. The device includes at least two additional sensors for measuring at least two additional components of the dynamic magnitude. The additional sensors are placed on the article on at least two additional axes that are concurrent with the three main axes and that are not contained in any of the planes defined by any pair of the three main axes. The device further includes a unit for determining an estimator U representative of the dynamic magnitude from the components; and means for validating the determination of the estimator U representative of the dynamic magnitude, as well as an error detector and a localization unit for locating valid components of the dynamic magnitude.
US08005643B2
Systems and methods are described that calculate the interestingness of a set of one or more records in a database, either absolutely (i.e., compared to an overall collection of records) or relative to some other set of records. In one embodiment, the measure is a relative entropy value that has been normalized. Various applications of the measure are described in the context of an information retrieval system. These applications include, for example, guiding query interpretation, guiding view selection and summarization, intelligent ranges, event detection, concept triggers and interpreting user actions, hierarchy discovery, and adaptive data mining.
US08005640B2
An apparatus for performing a thermal response test to determine thermo-physical properties of a geothermal heat exchange resource. The apparatus includes a geothermal heat exchanger adapted to circulate a fluid through a loop in a sample borehole in the geothermal heat exchange resource and a variable speed pumping system capable of time-dynamic control of a fluid flow rate of the fluid. A multi-stage heating system is capable of applying a series of time-dynamic heat pulses to the fluid. The apparatus further includes a fluid temperature sensor and one or more fluid pressure, fluid density and/or fluid flow rate sensors, the sensors measuring data on the properties of the fluid that are predictive of the thermo-physical properties of the geothermal heat exchange resource.
US08005635B2
A method and system for Self-calibrated Azimuth and Attitude Accuracy Enhancing are disclosed, wherein SAAAEMS approach is based on fully auto-calibration self-contained INS principles, not depending on magnetometers for azimuth/heading determination, and thus the system outputs and performance are not affected by the environmental magnetic fields. In order to reduce the system size and cost, this new innovative methods and algorithms are used for SAAAEMS system configuration and integration. Compared to a conventional INS for gyrocompassing, AGNC's approach uses a smaller number of high accuracy sensors: SAAAEMS uses only one 2-axis high accuracy gyro (for example, one DTG) instead of 3-axis; the third axis gyro is a MEMS gyro. It uses only 2 high accuracy accelerometers instead of 3, since the two accelerometers are used only for gyrocompassing not for navigation. These two changes to the conventional INS system configuration remarkably reduce the whole system size and cost. SAAAEMS, uses dynamic gyrocompassing processing for isolation of Base motion disturbance/interference and vibration. SAAAEMS provides a method and system for using automatic methods for system calibration.
US08005634B2
Techniques for controlling an output property during wafer processing include forwarding feedforward and feedback information between functional units in a wafer manufacturing facility. At least some embodiments of the invention envision implementing such techniques in a copper wiring module to optimize a sheet resistance or an interconnect line resistance. Initially, a first wafer property is measured during or after processing by a plating process. Subsequently, the wafer is forwarded to a polishing process. A second wafer property is then measured during or after processing by the second process. At least one of these first and second wafer properties are used to optimize the second process. Specifically, one or more target parameters of a second process recipe are adjusted in a manner that obtains a desired final output property on the wafer by using these first and second wafer properties.
US08005633B2
An excitation signal generator (“ESG”) is described. The ESG generates an minimized excitation signal for use in a test system to generate a functional model of a device under test (“DUT”) where extreme values of the minimized excitation signal are increased toward a central value without changing the power spectrum at the DUT.
US08005627B2
A multivariate diagnostic method based on optimizing diagnostic likelihood ratios through the effective use of multiple diagnostic tests is disclosed. The Neyman-Pearson Lemma provides a mathematical basis to produce optimal diagnostic results. The method can comprise identifying those tests optimal for inclusion in a diagnostic panel, weighting the result of each component test based on a multivariate algorithm described below, adjusting the algorithm's performance to satisfy predetermined specificity criteria, generating a likelihood ratio for a given patient's test results through said algorithm, providing a clinical algorithm that estimates the pretest probability of disease based on individual clinical signs and symptoms, combining the likelihood ratio and pretest probability of disease through Bayes' Theorem to generate a posttest probability of disease, interpreting that result as either positive or negative for disease based on a cutoff value, and treating a patient for disease if the posttest probability exceeds the cutoff value.
US08005624B1
A method and system of supplying rodents, such as mice, to medical researchers pre-installs and/or embeds physiologic sensors onto or within the rodents prior to selling the modified rodents to the researchers. The specialty skills, such as small animal surgical and anesthesia skills and sensor placement and testing, are centralized in one organization rather than being spread about a collection of researchers. The subjects with preinstalled, pre-tested hardware, are sold to the researcher as needed. Communication hardware and software will be supplied for the user to convert their desktop computer into a wireless monitoring station. Additionally an external pulse oximeter for small rodents, such as mice, provides measurements on a hand or foot of the rodent with a sensor configured to avoid shunting around the rodent appendage, and configured for high heart rates (200-900 beats per minutes) of the subjects.
US08005612B2
A map distribution system includes a map distribution server that distributes map data to a navigation device. The server includes a first table having entries that each include update data in correspondence with an ID for the update data and an ID for each other update data upon which the update data depends, a second table having entries that each include an area ID of an area of the map data in correspondence with a version of the area and the ID for each update data that is applied in the version of the area, and an update manager that refers to the second table to select the ID for each update data required for updating an area selected based on input from the navigation device and the required ID for each other update data upon which any update data required for updating the area selected depends.
US08005609B2
Traffic information, including flow information and incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be used in route calculation by a navigation device. The navigation device may recalculate a route based on anticipated user error. Alternatively, the navigation device may recalculate a route using received traffic information triggered by the receipt of a traffic information update, or triggered by the passage of an amount of time. The broadcast rate of traffic information updates may vary temporally (providing more frequent updates during peak commute times) or geographically (providing more frequent updates to metropolitan areas with increased traffic information needs). If route calculation is triggered by an elapsed amount of time, the amount of time may vary to be shorter during peak commute times. Additional route calculation techniques allow the incorporation of historical traffic information or the use of the most recent traffic information if incomplete traffic information is available. Still further route calculation techniques may calculate a best route by avoiding zigzagging or evaluating an assigned cost of a potential route.
US08005604B2
The invention relates to a method for adjusting the operation parameters of an injection internal combustion engine (10), that comprises the following steps: setting a stability setpoint Ss, calculating an engine stability index Is, calculating the stability deviation Es equal to the difference between the stability setpoint Ss and the stability index Is, processing the stability deviation Es using a regulator (18) that provides an setpoint to be applied to one of the engine operation parameters, said parameter being selected by a calculator (20) or supervisor that controls the adjustment so that the corrective action applied optimizes the effluent level and/or the thermal energy available at the exhaust while respecting the stability setpoint Ss.
US08005603B2
A gaseous carburetor or fuel control system includes a fuel metering assembly, a venturi mixer assembly, a throttle assembly, and an electronic control unit. The control unit controls the fuel metering assembly in a closed loop manner based on detected gas and air pressure to an air/fuel mixing venturi. An electronic governor which controls the throttle valve may also be controlled by the same control unit which controls the fuel metering assembly, using a separate control loop.
US08005598B2
A method and a system for controlling a crane drive unit so as to suppress sway of a load suspended by a rope of a crane, which sway occurs when the load has been transported from a first position to a second position, the control being made by operating a controller having a filter unit by using a feedforward control program. The method is to control the crane drive unit so that the load does not greatly sway when it is transported from the first position to the second position by removing a component near a resonance frequency by the filter unit from a transportation command for the load, in which command the maximum value among at least one of a transportation speed, transportation acceleration, and transportation jerk is limited, under the resonance frequency sequentially computed from a rope length that is a distance from the center of rotation of the sway of the rope to the center of gravity of the load and under parameters that relate to a control unit of the crane drive unit and that are previously calculated so as not to exceed the performance of the crane drive unit, and by inputting in the crane drive unit the transportation command, from which the component near the resonance frequency is removed.
US08005589B2
A method and system that can be used to address improper towing of a vehicle so that unnecessary damage to the vehicle can be detected, recorded, prevented, avoided, etc. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method uses a vehicle power signal and one or more wheel movement signal(s) to detect instances of improper towing and, if detected, initiates a remedial action. Remedial actions could include, for example, alerting the tow truck operator through a visual and/or audible alarm, sending a wireless warning message to a remote call center, and recording the relevant information for subsequent analysis. In one embodiment, the wheel movement signals are provided by tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensors already located in the vehicle.
US08005588B2
To control both acceleration and deceleration of vehicles having an electric drive with regenerative braking, there is disclosed a control actuator which is biased to a neutral position, and which is controllably moveable between opposed positive and negative control positions relative to the neutral position to produce a control signal ranging from a value corresponding to zero when in the neutral position to a positive or negative value dependent on the amount of movement from the neutral position. The actuator may comprise a rocking foot pedal which is rotationally biased to the neutral position and which is pivotable against the bias both clockwise and anticlockwise from the neutral position to a desired positive or negative power control position. In one system, the signal produced by the actuator is treated as a power control signal and is conditioned and used to control vehicle power (i.e. energy flow from the vehicle battery to the vehicle's electric drive). In another system, the signal produced by the actuator is treated as a speed changing control signal and is conditioned and used to control vehicle speed. Whatever desired speed is reached by movement of the actuator from its neutral position, the speed is sustained if the actuator is then permitted to return to its neutral position.
US08005583B2
A method and device for determining the air turbulence likely to be encountered by a first aircraft may use a turbulence indication from a second aircraft so as to make and use a prediction of the impact of the turbulence on the first aircraft if it is located in a particular position.
US08005578B2
A method to control a motion heading at a receiving end by referring to an angle between the receiving end and a transmission end includes the following steps solving an angle, α, between an original heading and a user inputted direction of transmission end; having a signal-receiving unit at the receiving end to pick up signals sent from the transmission end; determining a signal source orientation according to strength of the signals received by the signal-receiving unit which comprises multiple sensors or a position sensitive device arranged in a form to pick up the signals from the transmission end; solving an angle, β, between the signal source orientation and an original motion heading of the receiving end; and solving a new motion heading according to the angles αand β.
US08005576B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method to deactivate a utility meter. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes the step of reading a first status indicator associated with the utility meter in a memory of a utility meter management host processor, and the step of determining if the status of the utility meter is active. The method further includes the step of sending a first deactivation request message from the utility meter management host processor to an on-premise processor, and the step of deactivating the utility meter. The method further includes the step of sending a first acknowledgement deactivation message from the on-premise processor to the utility meter management host processor, and the step of recording, in the memory of the utility meter management host processor, a date and an activation status indicator associated with the utility meter.
US08005572B2
An apparatus provides selective communication between multiple programmable robot controllers and one or more teaching devices connected by a network. The network controls communication between the teaching devices and the controllers including active tasks and passive tasks for preventing communication of active tasks between any of the controllers and more than one of any of the teaching devices. The network permits communication of the passive tasks between any of the controllers and one of the teaching devices communicating active tasks with another one of the controllers.
US08005569B2
Disclosed is an installation for sorting incoming mailings which are assigned to a first plurality of first preselected directions or a second plurality of second remaining sorting directions, according to which the mailings are distributed to receptacles of a track, each mailing being deposited into one of several first receptacles for the first plurality of first preselected sorting directions or into at least one of the other receptacles for the second plurality of second remaining sorting directions. At least one external receptacle from an additional track is replaced with a receptacle from one of the preselected first sorting directions of the track via an interface at least during one passage of the track, the additional track is used as a storage device for the receptacles, and replaced receptacles can be redirected to the respective track thereof via the interface.
US08005563B2
A system automatically moves large scale components of a vehicle such as an airplane, into final assembly alignment. A noncontact measurement system determines the locations of aerodynamically significant features on each of the components. The measured locations of the components are used to control an automated jacking system that includes assembly jacks for individually moving the components into assembly alignment. A system is provided for calculating the cruise configuration of the vehicle “as-built” and for transferring the cruise configuration into the vehicle where it is recorded in the form of a physical monument.
US08005559B2
The operation of automated tape heads used to layup a composite structure is optimized in order to reduce layup time and better balance tape head loading. Ply data is generated that defines the ply segments and tape courses for each sequence of the layup. Each sequence is partitioned into groups of either ply segments or tape courses for the sequence. Multiple possible tape head assignments are generated in which the individual tape heads are assigned to the groups A final set of tape head assignments are selected based on the assignments that minimize the time required to complete the layup.
US08005557B2
An audio signal encoding apparatus includes a device for compressing multiple-channel digital audio signals into compression-resultant multiple-channel signals respectively. The multiple-channel digital audio signals relate to a sampling frequency and a quantization bit number. The compression-resultant multiple-channel signals, a signal representative of the sampling frequency, and a signal representative of the quantization bit number are formatted into a formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal contains a sub packet and a sync information portion. The sub packet contains at least portions of the compression-resultant multiple-channel signals. The sync information portion contains the signal representative of the sampling frequency and the signal representative of the quantization bit number.
US08005555B2
An audio signal encoding apparatus includes a device for compressing multiple-channel digital audio signals into compression-resultant multiple-channel signals respectively. The multiple-channel digital audio signals relate to a sampling frequency and a quantization bit number. The compression-resultant multiple-channel signals, a signal representative of the sampling frequency, and a signal representative of the quantization bit number are formatted into a formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal contains a sub packet and a sync information portion. The sub packet contains at least portions of the compression-resultant multiple-channel signals. The sync information portion contains the signal representative of the sampling frequency and the signal representative of the quantization bit number.
US08005545B2
A method is provided, including identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of an occurrence of an episode of the AF is reduced by applying an electrical current to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a vagus nerve, a sinoatrial (SA) node fat pad, a pulmonary vein, a carotid artery, a carotid sinus, a coronary sinus, a vena cava vein, a jugular vein, an azygos vein, an innominate vein, and a subclavian vein, and configuring the current to stimulate autonomic nervous tissue in the site. Other embodiments are also described.
US08005539B2
Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.
US08005538B2
An apparatus for delivery of a substance to an anatomical region in a body can include a catheter comprising a catheter body, and one or more electrically conductive elements supported by the catheter body and in electrical communication with one or more sources of electrical stimulus. The catheter body can comprise a lumen therein, a substantially closed distal end, and an infusion section configured to permit fluid to pass through the catheter body and that can have a length that is less than or equal to the length of the catheter body. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a coiled member positioned within the lumen of the catheter body. The coiled member can comprise adjacent coils and can permit the uniform flow of the substance through one or more holes formed in the catheter body.
US08005537B2
A robotic catheter system includes a controller including a master input device and instrument driver in communication with the controller. An elongate flexible guide instrument is operatively coupled to the instrument driver. A fluid injection needle may be advanced from, or retracted into, a distal portion of the guide instrument.
US08005530B2
Technique and apparatus for acquiring anatomic information used in diagnosing and characterizing abdominal aortic aneurismal disease and the like. This technique provides anatomic information, in the form of images, using a combination of a plurality of magnetic resonance angiography sequences, including a spin-echo and four contrast enhanced (e.g., gadolinium) magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The anatomic images may be used in, for example, pre-operative, operative and post-operative evaluation of aortic pathology, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and occlusive disease of branch vessels such as the renal arteries. The gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography provides sufficient anatomic detail to detect aneurysms and all relevant major branch vessel abnormalities seen at angiography operation. This technique and apparatus allows for imaging the aorta at a fraction of the cost of conventional aortography and without the risks of arterial catheterization or iodinated contrast.
US08005524B2
Systems and methods for dynamically and intelligently estimating analyte data from a continuous analyte sensor, including receiving a data stream, selecting one of a plurality of algorithms, and employing the selected algorithm to estimate analyte values. Additional data processing includes evaluating the selected estimative algorithms, analyzing a variation of the estimated analyte values based on statistical, clinical, or physiological parameters, comparing the estimated analyte values with corresponding measure analyte values, and providing output to a user. Estimation can be used to compensate for time lag, match sensor data with corresponding reference data, warn of upcoming clinical risk, replace erroneous sensor data signals, and provide more timely analyte information encourage proactive behavior and preempt clinical risk.
US08005508B2
In a portable terminal 10 incorporating a non-contact IC 20, the non-contact IC 20 includes a card appli storage region 24 in which a card appli is stored, and the portable terminal 10 includes an appli storage region 15 in which appli's inclusive of the card appli are stored. When the non-contact IC 20 executes non-contact communication with an external R/W 30 to store the card appli selected by the external R/W 30 in the card appli storage region, a storage region for the card appli is ensured in such a manner that the card appli already stored in the appli storage region 24 is saved into the appli storage region 15. The saving of the card appli stored in the card appli storage region 24 of the non-contact IC 20 is executed using a trilateral communicating function.
US08005503B2
A method for effecting timing synchronization within a multi-mode communication device is disclosed herein. The method includes configuring a host baseband processor of the multi-mode device to operate in accordance with a first wireless communications protocol of a first wireless communications system. A baseband co-processor of the device is also configured to operate in accordance with a second wireless communications protocol of a second wireless communications system. The method includes establishing, within the device, timing synchronization between the first and second communication systems on the basis of timing information transferred to the host baseband processor from the baseband co-processor.
US08005502B2
A communication apparatus having a filter function of rejecting mail reception from an address that differs from a permitted address specified beforehand, includes: a transmission unit configured to transmit a mail to a predetermined mail address that differs from the permitted address; a first storage unit configured to store a mail address of a destination; a judging unit configured such that, when there is an incoming mail from a mail address that differs from the permitted address, the judging unit judges whether or not the mail address of the transmitter of this incoming mail matches a mail address thus stored; and a receiving unit configured such that, in a case in which the judging unit has judged that the mail address of the incoming mail matches that thus stored, the receiving unit receives this incoming mail.
US08005496B2
An interrupt message is sent over one of a plurality of transport mediums from a first mobile device to a second mobile device. The interrupt message may include a first mobile device identifier associated with a transport medium that is independent of the plurality of transport mediums. Upon receipt of the interrupt message at the second mobile device an interruption of any current mobile device operation may occur to notify a user of the interrupt message.
US08005487B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver operable in a wireless network, wherein said transceiver is configured to optimize location determination in said wireless network by preventing scheduled uplink (UL) transmissions at a reference base station (BS) from interfering with an uplink (UL) reference signal from a mobile station (MS).
US08005485B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for providing a discount to a device. A zone improvement plan code, associated with the device, is obtained. A demographic indicator, associated with the zone improvement plan code, is retrieved. The discount is retrieved from memory, with the discount based on the demographic indicator.
US08005478B2
A handover request method for use in a portable Internet system and a mobile communication terminal using the same are disclosed. The handover request method of the mobile communication terminal in the portable Internet system according to an embodiment includes operating, by the mobile communication terminal, a timer when a handover request of the mobile communication terminal is rejected by a base station; collecting information of at least one neighbor base station during the operation of the timer; and selectively re-attempting the handover request to the base station using the collected information.
US08005475B2
A wireless communications device is configurable to communicate with either one of two networks over a wireless medium, each of the two networks having a different air interface protocol. Additionally, the wireless device includes stored provisioning information for a set of networks of a first type and can map this first provisioning information into a second format for use with networks of a second type. The device also includes a non-volatile memory for storing default provisioning information so that some information remains available regardless of what is erased from the memory. The default provisioning information is enough to establish a connection over one of the available networks and allow reconstruction of a provisioning list.
US08005471B2
An access network of an apparatus in one example is configured to provide a wireless communication service over a coverage area and is configured to support a broadcast multicast system (BCMCS). The access network is configured to broadcast at least one broadcast control-signaling channel (BCC) over the coverage area via at least one BCMCS flow. Each of the at least one BCMCS flow is identified by a flow identifier. The access network is configured to select, based at least in part on a flow identifier registration by an access terminal, a selected BCC of the at least one BCC or another control channel for sending a signaling message to the access terminal.
US08005462B2
A communications system and method includes a mobile device having a mail user agent. A mobile office platform as a server includes a mail agent that is operative with the mail user agent for accessing one or more electronic mailboxes of the mail user agent using at least one protocol specific connector. The mobile office platform is operative for providing only the n-most recent mail headers of electronic messages to the mail user agent.
US08005461B2
Voicemail notification messaging for mobile communication devices is disclosed. Voicemail notification messages corresponding to voicemail messages are received through a wireless receiver of the mobile device and voicemail message header lines corresponding to them are displayed in a message list. The mobile device receives the voicemail notification messages from several different voicemail systems for consolidating voicemail message processing using a single common user interface. Preferably, the mobile device provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for the end-user with visual objects corresponding to PLAY, REWIND, FAST FORWARD, SKIP BACK, SKIP FORWARD, as examples, which provides for transparency of voicemail system-specific commands. Advantageously, each voicemail notification message includes voicemail message summary information, such as a calling party identifier, a message time stamp, and message length, for use in providing voicemail message header information in the message list. In addition, each voicemail notification message includes voicemail message retrieval/processing information, such as a voicemail access telephone number, a voicemail message identification number, and voicemail message processing commands, for use in providing the system interface transparency.
US08005454B1
A wireless human interface device configured to establish a link with a host, wherein the device includes a transceiver for transmitting data to and receiving data from a host transceiver unit, wherein the host transceiver unit is connected with the host; a processor connected with the transceiver and configured to process data from the host and the human interface device, and a power circuit connected with the processor and configured to regulate the power usage of the human interface device, wherein the power circuit includes a battery, a computer readable media having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions include routines for monitoring the operational state of the human interface device, and routines for controlling the operation of the human interface device using the operational state of the human interface device to maximize the useful life of the batteries.
US08005448B1
The present invention is an RF duplex filter that is used to remove transmit signals from the receive path of a full duplex transceiver. The RF duplex filter includes a notch filter for blocking signals at a transmit frequency and a bandpass filter for enhancing signals at a receive frequency. The notch filter is formed with series resonant elements and the bandpass filter is formed with parallel resonant elements. One embodiment of the present invention may include tunable resonant elements for tuning the notch filter to a transmit frequency, tuning the bandpass filter to a receive frequency, or both. Calibration circuitry may be included in the full duplex receiver for adjusting the tunable resonant elements. The present invention includes a method for calibrating the tunable resonant elements.
US08005444B2
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first die, a second die, a packaging substrate, and coupling circuit. The first die includes first circuitry and the second die includes second circuitry. The packaging substrate supports the first and second dies, wherein the first and second dies are stacked with respect to the packaging substrate. The coupling circuit couples the first die to the second die, wherein the first and second circuitry communicate via the coupling circuit.
US08005433B2
A received total wideband power (61A) in a wireless communications system is measured a number of times during a time interval. Preferably, also code powers ((C/I)i) are measured, directly or indirectly. A probability distribution of a first power quantity (63A, 63B), typically total received power is estimated from the set of measurements, preferably using Kalman filtering techniques, and preferably also a probability distribution of a second power quantity (62A, 62B) related to noise and interference signals. A conditional probability distribution of a noise rise measure to be determined is based at least on the probability distribution of the total power (63A, 63B). From that conditional probability distribution, a value of the noise rise measure is calculated. In a preferred embodiment, the noise rise measure is based on a quotient between total power and a noise floor, and the conditional probability distribution of the noise rise is therefore based on a conditional probability distribution of noise floor quantity (64). The conditional probability distribution of the noise floor quantity (64) is in turn based on the probability distribution of the extreme value of a second power quantity (62A, 62B) related to noise and interference signals and a prior determined probability distribution of a noise power floor.
US08005426B2
According to the present invention, a method for controlling a mobile terminal device is provided, wherein said device comprises a smartcard module and a near field communication module. In a first operation a smartcard operation on said mobile terminal device is started which results in an activation or switching on of said smartcard module. The smartcard application may be started by a user or based on the location of said mobile terminal device. That is the case for instance if the mobile terminal device is located in the area of a point of sales terminal, the smartcard application will automatically starts. Further, time controlled starting of certain applications is conceivable. Then it may be determined if said started smartcard application is an application for performing data transactions with external entities and in case of an affirmative determination a connection between said smartcard module and said NFC-module will be activated.
US08005421B2
Disclosed are a connecting apparatus, an electronic apparatus and a control method thereof, the connecting apparatus, including: at least one connecting unit connectable to an outside device; a wireless-communicating unit which transmits or receives a wireless signal to or from an electronic apparatus; and a controller which receives information related to the outside device if the outside device is connected to the connecting unit, and which controls the wireless-communicating unit which outputs the information related to the outside device to the electronic apparatus through the wireless-communicating unit.
US08005417B2
A bookbinding system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and a bookbinding apparatus; wherein both the image forming apparatus and the bookbinding apparatus include a communication section respectively, for transmitting information from the image forming apparatus to the bookbinding apparatus; the bookbinding apparatus comprises a coating section for coating adhesive on a stack of sheets, a replenishing section for replenishing adhesive to the coating section, and a controller for controlling the replenishing section; and the controller controls replenishment rate of the adhesive by the replenishing section, based on information transmitted from the image forming apparatus through the communication section.
US08005407B2
A developer apparatus, includes: a container which houses toner; a toner carrier roller that is provided, on a surface thereof, with a plurality of convex sections which are regularly arranged and a concave section which surrounds the convex sections, is shaped approximately like a cylinder, and rotates while carrying a toner layer of charged toner on the surface thereof; and a restriction member that abuts on the surface of the toner carrier roller to form a restriction nip, restricts a thickness of the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller in the restriction nip, and removes the toner layer on the convex sections from among the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller at an upstream-side end of the restriction nip in a rotation direction of the toner carrier roller, wherein a part of toner carried by the concave section moves to the convex sections to cover the convex sections with the toner at a downstream side to the restriction nip in the rotation direction of the toner carrier roller.
US08005405B2
A developing unit and a developer stirring and transporting method are provided that enable smooth discharge of a developer in the developing unit without being affected by the inclination of the developing unit. A developing unit 10 has a developing roller 12, a housing unit 16 configured to house a developer and having in its sidewall a discharge port 14 which discharges overflowing developer, a stirring and transporting member 20 configured to stir and transport the developer along a passage 18 formed in the housing unit 16, and a deposit structure unit 22 provided in the passage 18 and configured to raise the height position of a bottom surface 18a part of the passage 18 corresponding at least to the discharge port 14 to a position higher than the other areas of the passage 18, and thereby deposit the developer near the discharge port 14.
US08005402B2
A technology capable of realizing a stable charging performance in an image forming apparatus employing a contact charging system is provided. A charging device is configured to have a charging member to which a prescribed bias voltage is applied and which comes into contact with an image carrying surface of an image carrier to charge the image carrying surface; and a particle supply section configured to supply a charging auxiliary particle made of a conductive particle having a diamond particle contained therein in a portion coming into contact with the image carrying surface in the charging member.
US08005401B2
An image forming apparatus may be provided with a belt configured to move in the predetermined direction and face a photoreceptor, a charge removal member, and a conductive member. The charge removal member may be configured to remove charge of the belt. The conductive member may be located at the downstream side of the charge removal member in the predetermined direction. The conductive member may include a surface facing the belt.
US08005400B2
In a tandem type image formation apparatus, a drum drive unit which always simultaneously drives respective photoreceptor drums, is assembled such that it is possible to synchronize cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the respective photoreceptor drums in assembling. In this manner, the photoreceptor drums rotate so as to synchronize the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums even after assembling. Therefore, a phase difference in the cycles of rotational speed fluctuations of the photoreceptor drums is determined, and the photoreceptor drums are assembled so as to be shifted by the phase difference.
US08005397B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a process unit including a photosensitive element; an exposure member exposing the photosensitive element to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive element; a main body casing accommodating the process unit and the exposure member; and a developer cartridge supplying developer to the process unit. The developer cartridge is attachable to and removable from the process unit. In this image forming apparatus, the exposure member is positioned between the photosensitive element and the developer cartridge so as to be attached and movable between a first position in which the photosensitive element is exposed to light by the exposure member and a second position in which the exposure member is away from the photosensitive element. Further, the developer cartridge has a pressing portion for pressing the exposure member toward the first position with the developer cartridge being attached to the main body casing.
US08005385B2
A system is provided that determines the amount of toner on a photo receptor in a xerographic operation. A photo receptor is charged in one or more locations to create an image. A developer places a patch of a predetermined amount of toner onto the one or more charge locations of the photo receptor. A light emitting diode projects light onto the photo receptor, wherein the intensity of the light varies based on the voltage provided to the LED. An optical reflective sensor measures the reflectance of the toner placed on the photo receptor, the amount of reflectance of the toner is related in a known way to the intensity of the LED. A direct relationship between LED intensity and the reflectance of the toner allow for accurate extrapolation at LED intensities greater than the point of saturation.
US08005379B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with a control section which stores detection results of a toner sensor regarding detection patterns. When forming a plurality of detection patterns on an intermediate transfer belt, the control section determines circumference-directional lengths of the detection patterns formed this time, based on the detection results of the toner sensor regarding the detection patterns formed immediately before. Thereby, the waste toner amount and toner consumption are not only decreased but also the time taken to detect the density of a detection pattern is reduced, while maintaining the detecting accuracy thereof.
US08005376B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to receive an image forming agent from a cartridge having a state indicating element to form an image, a state setting unit to open the state indicating element, and a controller to determine a usage amount of the image forming agent used to form the image by recognizing identification information of the cartridge, and to control the state setting unit to open the state indicating element of the cartridge if the usage amount of the image forming agent is equal to or greater than a preset value.
US08005365B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide various methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing a radio frequency signal transfer system. One embodiment includes a number of radios, a number of antennas, electrical/optical shelves, a number of fiber optic paths to carry an optical RF signal, at least one optical switch to route an optical RF signal, and a host computing device. The electrical/optical shelves can transmit and receive electrical and optical RF signals, convert electrical RF signals to optical RF signals, and convert optical RF signals to electrical RF signals. The optical RF signals transmitted by an electrical/optical shelf are routed through at least one optical switch on any number of the fiber optic paths to another electrical/optical shelf. The electrical RF signals received by an electrical/optical shelf from a radio or antenna and are transmitted by an electrical/optical shelf to a radio or antenna.
US08005363B2
In one embodiment, a passive optical network is provided that includes: an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to transmit a plurality of downstream signals into a corresponding plurality of passive optical networks and to receive a corresponding plurality of upstream signals from the plurality of passive optical networks, wherein each downstream signal is separated in wavelength from the remaining wavelength signals, and wherein each upstream signal is separated in wavelength from the remaining upstream signal; a Mux/Demux configured to multiplex the downstream signals from the OLT into a optical fiber and to demultiplex upstream signals from the optical fibers to the OLT; and a splitter configured to split the downstream signals from the OLT to a plurality of optical network units such that each optical network unit receives the plurality of downstream signals.
US08005359B2
A crossconnect for asynchronous OTN signals operates synchronously internally at an internal clock rate. Received OTN signals are synchronized to an internal frame format by stuffing. The synchronized signals are parallelized and switched with a switching matrix comprising synchronously operating integrated circuits that operate at the internal clock rate. At the output, the synchronized signals are again destuffed and are transmitted again at the original bit rate.
US08005351B2
A method of heat-treating a workpiece includes generating an initial heating portion and a subsequent sustaining portion of an irradiance pulse incident on a target surface area of the workpiece. A combined duration of the initial heating portion and the subsequent sustaining portion is less than a thermal conduction time of the workpiece. The initial heating portion heats the target surface area to a desired temperature and the subsequent sustaining portion maintains the target surface area within a desired range from the desired temperature. Another method includes generating such an initial heating portion and subsequent sustaining portion of an irradiance pulse, monitoring at least one parameter indicative of a presently completed amount of a desired thermal process during the irradiance pulse, and modifying the irradiance pulse in response to deviation of the at least one parameter from an expected value.
US08005347B2
Recording/reproducing device capable of avoiding or reducing various malfunctions caused by dropping
A drop sensor detects a drop of a device. When the drop of the device is detected, a sub CPU allows a counter to count a drop time. When the device drops for a predetermined time or more, the sub CPU controls a regulator so that the regulator forcibly disconnects an electric power to be supplied to a hard disc, and writes a drop occurrence flag into a nonvolatile memory. When the power supply is again turned on, a main CPU allows a display section to display information indicating that the power supply is disconnected due to the drop of the device.
US08005344B2
The present invention is directed to a system, software system and method for manipulating multimedia broadcast presentations. Manipulating multimedia events offers users increased options in how they experience multimedia presentations. Thus increasing the overall multimedia experience and consequently user satisfaction. Utilization of the present invention allows the user to experience combinations of media previously unavailable. For example, in implementations of the present invention, users may option various combinations of audio and video; including the rate at which a user experiences the media. Further, the user may text search to find starting and stopping points for recording, viewing and pausing operations. The user play programming allows the user to customize how a single media, such as audio, is experienced.
US08005340B2
Related arts have failed to realize a data recording/reproducing apparatus having the ability to, while video-audio data is being recorded in a first recording medium, notify a user of the number of second recording media to which the recorded video-audio data is equivalent. For breaking through the situation, a data recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a module which monitors an amount of video-audio data recorded in a first recording medium, and a module which displays an equivalent of the amount of recorded video-audio data in terms of the capacity of a second recording medium.
US08005336B2
An activation tool used to terminate a pre-polished, no-crimp fiber optic connector. The tool holds and positions a suitable fiber optic connector, such as an ST-type Opti-Cam connector. A lever on the tool activates a connector cam mechanism to effectuate termination of the fiber. The tool includes a base that supports and locks axial and rotational movement of ferrule holder and backbone components of the connector while a rotatable cam activation tool handle engages with a cam of the connector to rotate the cam between a de-activated position and an activated or terminated position.
US08005315B2
A spread spectrum signal demodulating method whereby spread-code synchronous acquisition and carrier synchronous acquisition are performed using FFT at high speed, wherein a received signal, of which the carrier wave is modulated with a signal obtained by spectrum-spreading data with a spread code, is subjected to the FFT and the result of the FFT is stored in a first memory. The FFT result of the received signal stored in the first memory and the result of FFT of the spread code stored in a second memory are read out and multiplied to detect the correlation between the received signal and the spread code. A readout address of either the FFT result of the received signal or the FFT result of the spread code is shifted by an amount corresponding to a carrier frequency of the received signal.
US08005311B2
An image processing apparatus includes a filter processing unit configured to perform filter processing that emphasizes high-frequency components of an input image, a value limit calculation unit configured to calculate value limits that define a range of pixel values for converting a gradation in the image using a result of the filter processing, a limitation unit configured to limit the filter-processed pixel values based on the value limits, and a conversion unit configured to convert the pixel values so that the image having pixel values limited by the limitation unit is adjusted to a converted gradation of different graduation level than the input image. An image processing method and program are also disclosed.
US08005310B2
In a method or device for interpolation and correction of a digital image, the source image is mapped to a target image with a FIR filter that comprises a plurality of filter coefficients, the filter coefficients comprising both information for interpolation and information for correction of the image. Both the interpolation and the correction of the image are executed in a single step.
US08005307B2
This invention provides a decoding apparatus including an intensity setting unit that sets a modification intensity based on modified image information and a modification unit that modifies decoded image information with an intensity set by the intensity setting unit.
US08005300B2
An image search system includes a first calculation section that calculates a first similarity score of each registered image with respect to an input image on the basis of image features of the registered and the input image, a second calculation section that calculates a second similarity score of each registered image with respect to the input image on the basis of text features of the registered and the input image, a candidate extraction section that extracts one or more candidate images on the basis of the first and the second similarity scores of each registered image, a third calculation section that calculates a third similarity score of each candidate image on the basis of projection waveforms of the input image and the candidate image, and a search section that determines one or more registered images similar to the input image on the basis of the third similarity score.
US08005288B2
A system and method for layer reconstruction from dual-energy image pairs are provided, the method including: receiving a pair of dual-energy images, one having a relatively high energy dose and the other having a relatively low energy dose; ascertaining that a first relatively motionless layer is substantially aligned between the high and low dose images; computing a preliminary image of a second layer that has non-rigid motion relative to the first layer; detecting the relative motion of the second layer relative to the first layer; generating a mask in accordance with the detected motion; filling the motion area corresponding to the mask with gradients of the high-dose image; removing the first layer; and inpainting the motion area.
US08005272B2
Identifying individual facial images that are broadcast to enable optimized indexing and storage of facial information. Frames of data including faces are continually captured from a stream of incoming data. The facial frame data is extracted and processed into individual facial images. The individual facial images may be compared to existing facial image data in a database or cache to determine the identity of a facial image. The individual facial images may also be compared to facial images and metadata describing the facial images that are broadcast from external recording subsystems. The individual facial images stored to the glossary may be indexed based on the metadata received in the broadcast from an external recording subsystem or by metadata received from the continuous face frame capture.
US08005270B2
An objective measure of human beauty is determined by a beauty quantification system. The beauty quantification system comprises a beauty quantification processor, a beauty measure datastore, a beauty score datastore, a user computing device, and a network. The beauty measure datastore comprises quantifiable measures of beauty of a body region. The beauty quantification processor comprises instructions for receiving user data indicative of physical attributes of a selected body region of the user, obtaining measures of beauty from the beauty measures datastore associated with the selected body region, evaluating the user data against the beauty measures of the selected body region, determining a user score indicative of the beauty of the selected body region of the user, storing the user score in the beauty score datastore, and comparing the user score to a score stored in the beauty score datastore. The beauty quantification processor may also suggest enhancements to one or more body regions to improve the user score. The suggested enhancements may be presented as an ordered listed organized by a relative cost benefit measure.
US08005267B2
An apparatus for the automatic inspection of a motor vehicle has an identification and psychological profiling zone, an automatic inspection zone and a manual inspection zone. A biometric and heart rate detection station and an attached console are located in zone one. Undercarriage scanning equipment and an explosives detection portal are located in zone two. The apparatus also has one or more fixed cameras, an alarm or other alerting mechanisms and a physical barrier. A vehicle detection mechanism detects the entry of a vehicle into zone two and captures an image of the vehicle number plate. When the captured biometric data and number plate data indicate that the driver is authorized to drive the particular vehicle into the secured zone, and if no abnormalities or foreign objects in the undercarriage image are detected, the driver is allowed to proceed.
US08005261B2
Method for at least one of model-based classification and target recognition of an object. The method includes recording an image of an inanimate object, determining a feature that represents a part of the inanimate object, determining at least one condition associated with the feature that indicates an applicability of the feature based on at least one of geometry of the object, distance of the object from a camera, illumination conditions, contrast, speed of the object, height of the object, and relative position of the object to a camera, and carrying out the at least one of classification and target recognition of the object by recording the feature when the at least one condition indicates the applicability of the feature. At least one of object classification and target recognition is carried out for a feature of the object that is visible and recordable according to the position of the object. The recording, the determining the feature, the determining the at least one condition, and the carrying out are implemented on a computer.
US08005256B2
An image generation apparatus includes an information acquisition section and an image generation section. The information acquisition section acquires record information to be recorded on a recording medium. The image generation section generates an image including code pattern images and a latent image for checking paper being copied. The code pattern image represents the record information acquired by the information acquisition section. The latent image for checking paper being copied includes second pattern images each having a smaller size than each code pattern image and third pattern images each having a larger size than each code pattern image.
US08005252B2
A personal communications earpiece (10, 10a, 10b) for use with a personal communications device such as a telephone (50). The personal communications earpiece (10, 10a, 10b) has an ear hook (12) for placing over an ear (60) of the user. An ear bud (14, 14a) containing a speaker (27) is both physically and electrically connected to the ear hook (12) by a flexible connector (16). A front portion (22) of the ear hook (12) extends generally downward in front of the ear (60). In one embodiment, the ear bud (14) has an in ear portion (28) with a plurality of grooves (30) therein for assisting in preventing the ear bud (14) from completely blocking or occluding the ear canal of the user.
US08005251B2
A portable waterproof equipment includes a body configured for containing articles therein, a sealing structure, a cable and a sealing device. The body has an opening configured for providing an access for the articles entering into the body. The sealing structure is configured for sealing the opening of the body. The cable passes through the body and has an inner end located within the body. A plug is provided at the inner end of the cable and configured for connecting with phone jacks of the articles. The sealing device is arranged between the cable and the body.
US08005249B2
A method of converting electrical signals into mechanical vibration by means of a transducer in the human ear, an ear canal transducer and a headset wherein a sensation of hearing is achieved by exciting the tissue of the ear canal directly with said transducer, whereby the vibrations propagate to the tympanic membrane and into the human sound sensing organs.
US08005247B2
The hearing aid system has a sound-to-vibration conversion circuitry including a microphone system, an electronic amplifier and a vibrator. A housing accommodates the vibrator. The vibrator is connected to an abutment that goes through the skin. The abutment is connected to a fixture that is anchored in the skull bone. The sound-to-vibration conversion circuitry has an A/D converter that converts an analogue microphone signal into a digital signal.
US08005228B2
A system and a methods for correcting, simultaneously at multiple-listener positions, distortions introduced by the acoustical characteristics includes warping room responses, intelligently weighing the warped room acoustical responses to form a weighted response, a low order spectral fitting to the weighted response, forming a warped filter from the low order spectral fit, and unwarping the warped filter to form the room acoustical correction filter.
US08005202B2
A method, system and computer program for automatically generating call flow statistics in a voice application. Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to call flow statistics generation systems and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for automatically generating a call flow statistics-generating application and presenting updated statistics on a call flow representation. Various statistics collection points are identified on the visual representation. Upon running of the voice application, call flow statistics are gathered and presented for each statistics collection point. Call identifiers corresponding to each call path can be selected and call paths corresponding to the selected call identifier may be highlighted and their call statistics displayed.
US08005194B2
Messages are handled by a determination that an incoming message is in response to a previous outgoing message, where the previous outgoing message is sent from the computing device. The previous outgoing message is identified, as stored on the computing device. Data that indicates information relating to receiving the incoming message is provided with at least (i) a listing of the previous outgoing message, or (ii) a body of the previous outgoing message.
US08005191B2
There is disclosed herein a field emission x-ray apparatus comprising: a housing including proximal and distal housing ends; a probe including proximal and distal probe ends, wherein the proximal probe end is attach to the distal housing end and the distal probe end is sealingly closed by a cathode, and wherein the apparatus further includes an anode having proximal and distal anode ends with the distal anode end being separated from the cathode by a gap and the proximal anode end being attached to a heat sink; wherein said the further includes an outer probe surface and wherein the outer probe surface comprises a conductive probe surface coating.
US08005186B2
A dental complex imaging system includes a base and chair on the base for allowing a patient sit; a base-mounted pole adjacent to the chair; a support part extending toward the patient; an expanding and contracting part pivotally coupled to the support part; a radiation generator that moves with the part for emitting radiation for an imaging mode selected from cephalography, panoramic radiography, and CT scanning; a detector disposed on the other side of the part and opposed to the generator; and a controller for reading imaging information, wherein the generator is disposed to slide to adjust a distance between itself and the detector according to the imaging mode while the patient sits on the chair.
US08005181B1
A method for adjusting a clock for a jitter sensitive circuit begins by determining a low noise phase region of a primary clock. The method then continues by adjusting phase of an auxiliary clock such that a transition of the auxiliary clock falls within the low noise phase region of the primary clock to produce an adjusted auxiliary clock.
US08005179B2
A preamble detector for a plurality of streams of baseband digitized signals has a plurality of preamble processors, each preamble processor coupled to an input and generating an output. Each preamble processor has an input coupled to a first delay, the output of the first delay coupled to a second delay generating an output. The first and second delay are substantially equal to a preamble part. A first multiplier generates an output from a conjugated output of the second delay output and a first delay output. A second multiplier generates an output from a conjugated first delay output and an input stream. The first and second multiplier outputs are accumulated over an interval, and the complex output of the accumulator is formed into a magnitude, thereby generating the output of each preamble processor. The outputs of the preamble processors are summed and compared to a threshold to generate a preamble detect.
US08005175B2
A method and apparatus for mitigating inter-cell interference in an OFDMA-based wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of, providing at least a frame in a base station to a plurality of mobile stations; dividing the frame into a plurality of subcarriers; assigning a demarcation line within the frame to divide the plurality of subcarriers into a first zone and a second zone; defining a time reuse parameter for the plurality of subcarriers within the first zone; defining a frequency reuse parameter for the plurality of subcarriers within the first zone; and loading the plurality of subcarriers within the first zone according the time reuse parameter and the frequency parameter.
US08005168B2
A communication apparatus using a chaotic signal and a method thereof are provided. The communication apparatus includes a correlator which multiplies source data by one of an optical orthogonal code (OOC) and a prime sequence code (PSC), and outputs transmission data, a transmission signal generating unit which generates a chaotic transmission signal by masking the transmission data with respect to a chaotic signal, and an antenna which transmits the chaotic transmission signal. As a result, multiple accesses are enabled, and a wireless communication system for short-distance operation, which is economic and low power-consuming, is provided.
US08005166B2
8VSB-compatible DTV broadcasting that employs outer coding of a sort in which interleaved data and outer coding parity are inner coded by the ⅔ trellis code encoder is improved. This is done by recoding each successive pair of bits in the interleaved data and outer coding parity in accordance with an “anti-Gray” code before being inner coded by the ⅔ trellis code encoder. Accordingly, in the DTV receiver an adjacent-bin error during data slicing may generate a double-bit error in a pair of bits as ⅔ trellis decoded, but this is reduced to a single-bit error after the pair of bits is recoded in accordance with a Gray coding procedure. In one example of such recoding, 10 and 11 bit-pairs of the interleaved data and outer coding parity are recoded to 11 and 10 bit-pairs respectively, but the 00 and 01 bit-pairs are not recoded.
US08005142B2
An intraprediction encoding/decoding method and apparatus are provided. The intraprediction encoding method includes forming a flipped reference block by flipping pixels of a reference block used for intraprediction symmetrically with respect to a straight line of a predetermined direction passing through the center of the reference block, and performing intraprediction using the flipped reference block.
US08005141B2
A computer-based method for encoding and decoding quantized sequences in Wyner-Ziv coding of video, bi-partite graph is used in an iterative process. The method takes as input to an encoder a sequence of quantized data from a finite alphabet, the sequence comprising a video frame. Another sequence of data, decoded from the prior video frame, is input to a decoder. A statistical model describing the statistical relationship between the quantized input sequence to the encoder and the input sequence to the decoder is input to both the encoder and the decoder. A minimum field size is estimated from the statistical model at the encoder and the decoder separately.
US08005134B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a waveform shaping device and an error measurement device which can perform a waveform shaping operation with the sufficient amplitude margin, even if the mark ratio of the inputted data signal is significantly varied and the amplitude of the inputted data signal is decreased. The waveform shaping device according to the present invention comprises a voltage detector (22) for detecting an inputted data signal (Da) to obtain an amplitude value and the center amplitude voltage of the inputted data signal (Da), a reference voltage generator (23) for generate the reference voltage corresponding to the center amplitude voltage, and a comparator (25) for comparing the inputted data signal (Da) with the reference voltage, and in which the waveform shaping device further comprises a correction information outputting section (27) for outputting correction information V on the basis of a mark ratio (M) and an amplitude of the inputted data signal (Da), the correction information V used to correct the center amplitude voltage detected by the voltage detector (22), and a correction section (28) correct the reference voltage or the inputted data signal to be inputted to the comparator (25) on the basis of the correction information (V).
US08005133B2
Methods and apparatuses for displaying information for analyzing a signal transmitted in a communication system. The method can include displaying digital diagnostic data received from a monitoring interface of a transceiver. An eye-diagram for the signal is also displayed. The digital diagnostic data, network protocol analysis results, and/or the eye-diagram can be selectively displayed using a combined unit or stand alone units. Additionally, results of network protocol analysis can also be displayed with the digital diagnostic data and eye diagram.
US08005116B2
A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more samples included in the flow should be suppressed. The method also includes suppressing a selected one or more of the samples if the selected samples are similar to previously received samples. The cell site element is further operable to invert one or more selected header bits. In a more particular embodiment, the bits to be inverted are part of a fixed length field and the inverted bits are odd. The inversion of the bits reduces packet overhead that is present in an HDLC communications environment.
US08005112B2
A point-to-point protocol (PPP) proxy module enables subscribers to seamlessly establish multiple, simultaneous PPP connections with one or more telecommunications networks through different service providers offering various services. The PPP connections are established over an access network maintained by an access provider. The subscriber performs a service selection process over a PPP connection that serves as dedicated control link between the subscriber's customer premises equipment (CPE) and the PPP proxy module. When a subscriber performs the service selection process, the PPP proxy module references stored information about the selected telecommunications network, and establishes a PPP connection that serves as a transmission link for media or other content between the CPE and a telecommunications network having the selected service. The information stored in the PPP proxy module is sufficient to configure the parameters of both a network access layer and an Internet protocol (IP) layer of the transmission link.
US08005110B2
The present invention provides a single carrier/DS-CDMA packet transmission method wherein a predetermined time slot is assigned to reservation demand packet transmission in regard to a spreading code, and the reservation demand packet and data packets are time-multiplexed for transmission. An uplink packet transmission method in a multi-carrier/DS-CDMA mobile communication system is also provided, wherein frames are set up in each communication channel of a subcarrier, time slots which are time-segments of the frames are set up further, and a mobile station spreads a packet to be transmitted by a spreading code and the information signal is transmitted to a base station in a predetermined time slot. A downlink channel configuration in a multi-carrier/DS-CDMA mobile communication system is further provided, wherein a plurality of communication channels assigned to each of a plurality of subcarriers are divided for every predetermined time frame, and multiplexed, and the plurality of the communication channels assigned to each subcarrier include a common-control channel used by a plurality of users in common, and communication channels peculiar to each user.
US08005107B2
A method for indicating and interpreting robust MAC signaling, the indicating method having the steps of: checking whether a MAC-PDU contains control information; and if yes, providing an indication to use a robust configuration for a HARQ feedback transmission, and the interpreting method having the steps of: receiving a MAC-PDU; checking whether an indication for robust HARQ feedback transmission is provided; and if yes, utilizing robust HARQ feedback transmission.
US08005093B2
A network entity located in a first network using a first protocol, the network entity supporting at least the first protocol of the first network and a second protocol of a second network. The network entity comprises a receiving unit for receiving data packets according to the first or second protocol, a mapping table for storing addresses according to the first and second protocols, an address determination unit for determining a destination address for a received packet from the mapping table, and a routing unit for routing the received packet in accordance with the determined destination address.
US08005079B1
A network switching device includes a plurality of ports to receive data frames over a plurality of communication channels. The plurality of ports selectively store the data frames in blocks of a shared memory. A receiving port of the plurality of ports stores a first frame of the data frames in at least one block of the blocks. A forwarding module assigns the first frame to a transmitting port of the plurality of ports for transmission over the respective communication channel of the transmitting port. A counter module stores respective counts for the plurality of ports. The counter module increments the count for the receiving port after the forwarding module assigns the first frame to the transmitting port. The counter module decrements the count for the receiving port after the first frame is transmitted by the transmitting port. The plurality of ports respectively exercise flow control based on a pause threshold and the respective counts.
US08005077B1
High-speed information packets are routed through a distributed communication system. Each packet destined for a subscriber unit is provided with an address indicating a destination within the communication system. In each distribution point along the path to the destination, a determination is made as to which distribution point each packet will be forwarded based on the address. Each packet is received in an access point servicing the destination, and the packet is forwarded to the destination subscriber unit.
US08005070B2
A soft switch 134 providing wireless PBX voice services to a local area network (WLAN) is used to extend PBX functionality to the cellular domain. A dual mode remote unit is capable of receiving signals both in the cellular system as well as the WLAN. The cellular system is comprised of a data-bearing path and a voice-bearing path. When the dual mode remote unit is within the WLAN, it communicates both voice over IP (VoIP) signaling as well as session initiation protocol (SIP) control signaling over the WLAN. When the remote unit is outside the WLAN, it communicates voice signaling over the voice-bearing path of the cellular network using a standard cellular voice channel. In parallel, it uses the data-bearing path of the cellular network to transmit SIP control signaling.
US08005060B2
Ranging code detection techniques are provided. Energy is received at a plurality of antennas of a first wireless communication device and received signals are generated from the received energy. The received energy comprises a ranging transmission from one or more second wireless communication devices, wherein each ranging transmission comprises a ranging code selected from a set of possible ranging codes. A ranging code specific receive beamforming weight vector is generated for a ranging code in the set of possible ranging codes from the received signals. The ranging code specific receive beamforming weight vector is applied to corresponding ranging code specific signals derived from the received signals to produce ranging code specific beamformed signals. The ranging code specific beamformed signals are correlated to produce correlation results. A determination is made as to whether the ranging code is present in the received energy based on the correlation results.
US08005058B2
Methods and apparatus for use by a mobile communication device in switching operation for communications from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN) are disclosed. While providing operation for communications in the WWAN, the mobile device continually maintains visited cell site history information in its memory. The visited cell site history information is indicative of one or more visited cell sites of the WWAN that served the mobile device over a moving time period of its operation. The mobile device continually monitors the visited cell site history information to identify whether it has been contained within a local geographic region over the moving time period. When the mobile device is identified to have been contained within the local geographic region, it is permitted to operate for communications with the WLAN. In response to such permission, the mobile device may enable its WLAN radio transceiver and select the WLAN for communications. Advantageously, switching operation for communications from the WWAN to the WLAN is performed only when appropriate. The WLAN radio transceiver may be enabled only when needed, which reduces power consumption and saves battery life in mobile device.
US08005052B2
A radio resource allocation system in which equipment placed on a road allocates a radio resource to in-vehicle equipment that exists in a given area is provided. The radio resource allocation system includes the in-vehicle equipment mounted on a vehicle that communicates with another in-vehicle equipment by using the radio resource. The in-vehicle equipment includes a signal transmitting unit that transmits a signal showing that the own vehicle exists in the given area. The roadside equipment includes a radio resource allocation unit that allocates the radio resource to the in-vehicle equipment when the roadside equipment receives the signal transmitted by the signal transmitting unit, and a radio resource release unit that releases the radio resource when the roadside equipment does not receive the signal from the in-vehicle equipment that is allocated the radio resource by the radio resource allocation unit.
US08005046B2
A system, method and computer program for dynamic frequency allocation for packet switched services in which radio channels used for packet switched services may be dynamically allocated to meet quality of service (QoS) requirements utilizing a dynamic frequency and channel allocation system. The achievable throughput is estimated in the available channels. Further, the user or application is able to specify the level of service desired and the system, method and computer program will select a channel assignment to meet the desired level of service. When the channels to be assigned have been selected, the system, method and computer program will evaluate if the new channel assignment will cause excessive interference to any other ongoing connection. In such case the ongoing connection will be re-assigned to another suitable radio channel.
US08005039B2
A base station includes transmitter and associated processing circuits. The transmitter circuits are configured to transmit control information and data traffic to mobile terminals in repeating transmission intervals, each interval having defined control and data portions. The processing circuits are configured to dynamically determine that the control portion has insufficient resources for transmitting control information to one or more of the mobile terminals, and, in response, at least temporarily transmit control information in the data portion, rather than in the control portion, for a selected one or more of the mobile terminals. Correspondingly, a mobile terminal is configured to selectively search for and decode control information in the data portion of one or more transmission intervals, rather than in the control portion.
US08005035B2
A method, apparatus, and system provide the ability to conduct an on-line measurement of an output multiplixer (OMUX) transfer function. A broadcast downlink signal is received from a satellite. The broadcast downlink signal is demodulated and then remodulated. The received broadcast downlink signal is then compared to the remodulated signal to estimate the OMUX transfer function of the satellite.
US08005032B2
Maintaining delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) periods on a per-wireless client device basis
An access point is to transmit delivery traffic indication messages at different periods of beacon frames for different wireless client devices associated with the access point. A client device may store an indication of a preferred period of beacon frames at which to listen to delivery traffic indication messages when in power save mode. The client device may adjust its preferred period according to predefined considerations, for example a charge level of a battery to power the client device and/or an expected usage model for the client device. A client device may negotiate its preferred period with the access point.
US08005030B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to facilitating WLAN diagnostics and management using traffic stream metrics. In a data collection stage, according to one implementation of the present invention, localized uplink measurements are taken at a wireless client associated with a wireless access point. During periodic intervals (e.g., every 5 seconds), the wireless client, in one implementation, transmits uplink measurement information to the wireless access point. The wireless access point may also take downlink measurements, which may also include one or more of the following metrics: observed latency, queuing delay, packet loss rate, and packet count information. The wireless access point, in one implementation, may aggregate and report the uplink and downlink metric information to a network management system. In a diagnostic stage, according to one implementation, a wireless network management module performs diagnostics of the WLAN based on the uplink and/or downlink metrics received from the wireless access-point.
US08005028B2
A probe transmitting section (216) in a packet receiving terminal (210) sends a probe packet to a second radio channel (320) at fixed intervals. A probe analyzing section (117) in a packet sending terminal (110) detects a burst loss on the basis of a state of reception of the probe packet. When a burst loss detection is detected, a predictive retransmission control section (118) predicts that a data packet transmitted during the period of the detected burst loss among data packets sent from a priority processing transmission buffer (115) to a first radio channel (310) is a data packet lost on a receiving side, reads the data packet from a retransmission buffer (114), and then sends the data packet to the priority processing transmission buffer (115). A real-time property can be ensured while a packet loss is overcome in a radio environment.
US08005024B2
A method of establishing video-conferences between audio communication equipments (ACE1, ACE2) comprises a) using a user audio communication equipment (ACE1) to initiate a first call with another user audio communication equipment (ACE2), b) routing the first call to an exchange node (SSPN) of the telephone network (TN) in order it transmits a message, comprising the telephone numbers of the user audio communication equipments (ACE1, ACE2), to a service node (SN) connected to the telephone (TN) and Internet (IN) networks, c) authorizing the exchange node (SSPN) to establish the first call when the telephone numbers are stored in a memory (MY) of the service node (SN), in order to set up an audio communication between the audio communication equipments (ACE1, ACE2), d) determining, if required, the addresses of the user video communication equipments (VCE1, VCE2) in order to establish a video communication therebetween, in parallel with the audio communication.
US08005020B2
A wireless mesh network uses communication frames that can include timeslots of different sizes depending on communication speed capabilities of the devices assigned to the timeslots. The communication frame is divided into timeslot increments of equal length. The timeslots are made up of one or more timeslot increments.
US08005016B2
A method of multicast route computation in a link state protocol controlled network. A spanning tree is computed from a first node to every other node in the network using a known spanning tree protocol. The network is then divided into two or more partitions, each partition encompassing an immediate neighbor node of the first node and any nodes of the network subtending the neighbor node on the spanning tree. Two or more of the partitions are merged when a predetermined criterion is satisfied. Nodes within all of the partitions except a largest one of the partitions are then identified, and each identified node examined to identify node pairs for which a respective shortest path traverses the first node.
US08005010B2
A method and apparatus for providing performance measurements on network tunnels in packet networks are disclosed. For example, the method establishes two tunnels between a first measurement host and a first router, and establishes a tunnel between the first router and a second measurement host. The method also establishes a multicast group having a plurality of members, and sends one or more packets addressed to the multicast group from the first measurement host. The method measures the frequencies of directly and/or indirectly received responses from the plurality of members of the multicast group, and provides a plurality of estimated values for a plurality of packet transmission rates from measurement of the frequencies for one or more of said tunnels.
US08005009B2
A method and system for monitoring traffic flow includes assigning a subset of sampling points to a node or unique pair of nodes. The sampling points are determined to be the most likely to monitor data traffic, and preferably all data traffic, associated with the node or node pair. The sampling point subset may automatically be determined and assigned to the node or node pair, based, for example, on historical traffic within the network. The method further includes collecting diagnostic network traffic data from the sampling points, and obtaining sampled traffic flow counts for a flow associated with a node pair from the diagnostic traffic data collected from the sampling points assigned to the source and destination nodes of the node pair. The method further includes performing a function on the sampled traffic flow counts to obtain an estimated traffic flow count for the respective flow.
US08005008B2
The supporting of a network locating a target node is disclosed. The supporting of a network locating a target node includes a User Equipment (UE) transmitting a measurement report message to a source evolved Node B (eNB), the measurement report message including a measurement result of signal quality of a target eNB; the source eNB transmitting a message to a core network node, the message including a type of the target eNB; if the target eNB is a Home Node B (HNB), the core network node transmitting a switching message to a target eNB GateWay (GW) or the target eNB. The Mobility Management Entity (MME) can determine whether the UE is allowed to access the target HNB, and the MME can locate the proper HNB GW.
US08005007B2
A method for improving line stability, an adjusting apparatus and a system are provided. The method includes determining an Operating Performance Value (OPV) on a current Digital Subscriber Line (DSL); and if the OPV is below a preset Target Performance Value (TPV), adjusting Management Information Base (MIB) parameters in a line template. The apparatus includes a determining unit and an adjusting unit. With the provided method, apparatus, and system, the error correction capability of the DSL line can be updated with the actual bit error ratio to adapt to a complex environment and to improve the line stability.
US08005001B2
A congestion-resilient link adaptation method is provided. The link adaptation method for selecting any one of modes having mapped transmission parameters includes the steps of: estimating a channel-induced error number indicating the number of channel-induced transmission failures in a current mode and comparing the estimated channel-induced error number with a mode-down threshold; and determining whether the mode-down is performed based on the comparison result. Thus, higher throughput can be achieved without use of additional hardware or protocols.
US08004999B2
A method of creating a graphical display illustrating throughput of data across a protocol layer. A first graphical indication is displayed which illustrates of the number of data units received, by a protocol layer, for each of a plurality of transmission intervals. A second graphical indication is displayed which illustrated the number of data units output by the protocol layer for each of a plurality of transmission intervals.
US08004995B2
A cooperative diversity method and apparatus that can minimize interference and maximize an efficiency of a transmission channel between terminals of a cooperative diversity pair, the method including: determining a pair of terminals to be a cooperative diversity pair according to a spectrum sensing result of a cognitive radio (CR); selecting a subchannel through which data is exchanged between the pair of terminals; and transmitting the data between the pair of terminals through the selected subchannel.
US08004993B2
To relay messages in a time-controlled communication system with a star coupler arranged as a multirouter, messages arriving via ports are relayed according to a rule defined in the star coupler. Relaying paths are switched according to a rule defined in the star router which describes relaying paths for messages, namely in the synchronized operating state depending on the time according to the global time basis of the communication system. Two relaying paths can occur simultaneously in at least one time slot whereby they are in disjunction to one another. Each port belongs to only one relaying path respectively at any time. A check is conducted on the basis of a message's content as to whether the relaying of the message complies with an acceptance rule. Relaying of the message to those target ports which do not match the rule is cancelled or ended under the invalidation of the message.
US08004984B2
This invention is to provide a technique enabling efficient routing in the entire network by totally viewing a state of the entire network from a specific server. An information processing method for managing paths between arbitrary nodes in a specific network according to the invention, includes: obtaining data concerning a utilization state of each link constituting a path, from associated nodes in the specific network; and calculating a value of dynamic transmission bandwidth in an entire path by using the data concerning the utilization state of each link constituting the path, and storing the calculated value into a management data storage. By the dynamic transmission bandwidth, that is, bandwidth, which can actually be used for communication to be carried out from now, it becomes possible to carry out efficient routing.
US08004982B2
A method and system for determining one or more desired communication services for an application. The method and system includes determining at least one application operating parameter, at least one communication operating parameter, at least one cost factor, and at least one value factor. The method and system further includes assigning a priority level to each application operating parameter, communication operating parameter, cost factor, and value factor. Additionally, the method and system includes comparing the priority levels to each other, and determining a desired communication service based on the compared priority levels.
US08004978B2
Method for reserving bandwidth in a packet-oriented network, in which a packet-oriented communication link is set up between a plurality of network elements using at least one communication path. In this case, an identification number which is unique to the communication link and is intended to identify the communication paths associated with the communication link is allocated. A bandwidth value for a respective communication path is then determined as the maximum bandwidth required by network elements in this communication path, and bandwidth in the respective communication path is reserved using the bandwidth value.
US08004971B1
A method and system is directed to distributing a flow of packets over a network to multiple traffic management devices. An apparatus receives each packet from a network and may act as a layer 2 switch, or router, to distribute the packet to one of a group of traffic management devices. The apparatus also may receive packets from servers for which the traffic management devices are managing communications. When distributing packets, a target traffic management device is selected from the group of traffic management devices. A connection key associated with the received packet and an identifier associated with the selected traffic management device are saved such that subsequent received packets in the flow of packets are delivered to the same traffic management device.
US08004964B2
In one embodiment, a protected switching provider edge (S-PE) and a backup S-PE may be operated, where the protected S-PE has at least one multi-segment pseudowire (MS-PW) and is between a first and second provider edge (PE) on the MS-PW. To protect the protected S-PE, the first and second PE may be informed of the backup S-PE and a backup label to reach the second and first PE, respectively, via the backup S-PE to remain on the MS-PW. Upon detecting loss of connectivity with the protected S-PE, the first and/or second PE may forward packets of the MS-PW to the backup S-PE with the corresponding backup label to reach the second or first PE, respectively, on the MS-PW.
US08004962B2
A method can be used to detect a problem, isolate the cause of the problem to a particular device in which the cause resides, and potentially repairing the particular device. In one embodiment, the method can be fully automated using a system. In another embodiment, the method may be partly automated. In this particular embodiment, the system can perform most or all of the testing or diagnosis automatically. The system can perform the method until a point where human intervention is required. The problem, the cause, and particular device may be known at the time notification is sent to customer care, a workcenter, or another network operations center. With the information regarding the problem, cause and particular device, a technician or other personnel can be dispatched and repair the problem more quickly than if only the problem is provided and the technician needs to perform the testing and diagnosis.
US08004959B2
A first orthogonal codeset, obtainable in various manners, is used in a first cell to provide orthogonal spreading codes for traffic signals originating within the first cell. A second orthogonal code set for use in a second cell is obtained that has at least a first code in common with the first orthogonal code set by selecting any code in the first codeset to be the first common code. The plural orthogonal codesets can be utilized in various ways and in various environments. For example, the plural orthogonal codesets can be used for operation of a user equipment unit in a code division multiple access (CDMA) network.
US08004958B2
A probe group is composed of, for instance, four probes adjacently arranged, and one modulation circuit is arranged for each probe group. At the time of recoding information, a changeover switch connects one of the four probes with the modulation circuit, and subsequently changes the probes to be connected with the modulation circuit while reciprocal movement of a recording medium is being controlled.
US08004956B2
Provided are an optical pick up and an optical component used for the optical pickup which are capable of preventing or restraining occurrence of deviation and unbalance which are caused by assembly errors during manufacturing of optical components, a temperature variation or the like. The optical pickup comprises a laser, a polarization changeover element for changing over a direction of polarization of an optical beam emitted from the laser, a beam splitting element for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of optical paths in accordance with a direction of a polarization, a plurality of objective lenses for focusing laser beams onto a recording layer of the optical disc, a rise-up mirror, and a plurality of coupling lenses arranged respectively intermediate of the plurality of optical paths led to the plurality of objective lenses. The rise-up mirror is arranged intermediate of the plurality of optical paths led to the plurality of objective lenses and adapted to be used common to respective optical beams on the plurality of optical paths. The plurality of the coupling lenses are coupled to and held on one and the same drive portion.
US08004952B2
To provide an optical pickup and an optical information device, capable of obtaining excellent signal characteristics for an optical disk on and/or from which recording and/or reproducing are performed using a laser. The optical pickup includes an optical detector, a support holder for holding the optical detector, and an optical base for fixing the support holder. The support holder has at least two notches at its both ends, the optical base has convex portions corresponding to the notches of the support holder, the optical base and the support holder are fixed by photo-curable adhesives for bonding the convex portions and the support holder to each other, and the shortest distance between the side faces of the convex portions, which do not face each other, is equal to or less than the width of the support holder in the direction of right and left ends.
US08004951B2
A pickup device includes an irradiation optical system including an object lens for focusing light flux on a track of a recording surface of an optical recording media having a plurality of recording layers stacked while a spacer layer is interposed between the recording layers to form a spot and a detection optical system including an photo detector having a plurality of light receiving parts for receiving returning light reflected from the spot through the object lens to perform photoelectric conversion. The pickup device controls a position of the object leans according to an electrical signal calculated from outputs of the light receiving parts. The pickup device further includes an astigmatic device for providing astigmatism to the returning light directed to the light receiving parts and a division device, having divisional regions divided by a division line extending in an astigmatic direction about an optical axis of the returning light, for dividing the returning light having the astigmatism into a plurality of partial light fluxes divided for the respective divisional regions along the optical axis of returning light. The neighboring divisional regions provide the partial light fluxes with an optical action so that interference between the corresponding partial light fluxes does not occur on the light receiving parts.
US08004950B2
An optical pickup for recording a hologram by using an angle multiplexing method. An optical beam is separated into two beams, a signal beam and a reference beam having different convergence/divergence degrees, by using an optical component such as a diffraction lens. The signal and reference beams are made incident upon the same objective, and the optical component or the objective lens is moved in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, to thereby realize angle multiplex recording. If an optical information recording medium is inclined, the optical component or the objective lens is moved along the direction along which the optical information recording medium moved to change an angle of the reference beam incident upon the optical information recording medium and compensate for degradation of a reproduction signal.
US08004947B2
A method of recording marks onto an optical disc, the optical disc comprising an information layer, by irradiating the information layer by a pulsed radiation beam, a mark (I3 . . . I14) having a time length of nT, n representing an integer larger than one and T representing the length of one period of a reference clock, being recorded by a sequence comprising m write pulses separated by cooling periods, the write pulses within the sequence being allowed to have different time lengths, the write pulses comprised in sequences corresponding to marks of different time lengths being allowed to have different lengths, m being an integer number given by Floor(n/α), where Floor(n/α) defines the largest integer smaller than n/α, wherein a is an integer number larger than or equal to 2. The method characterized by modifying at least the sequence comprising the longest write pulse such that the longest write pulse is replaced by two write pulses.
US08004946B2
According to one embodiment, an information processor includes an optical disc drive, a recorder, and a determination module. The optical disc drive includes a loading mechanism that loads and ejects an optical disc. The recorder obtains state information indicating the operating state of the loading mechanism to record the state information. The determination module determines that, when a value related to failure prediction of the loading mechanism satisfies a predetermined condition, there is a risk of failure in the loading mechanism. The value is calculated from a combination of a plurality of indices contained in the state information.
US08004934B2
In an embodiment, a process measures a velocity of a vessel using a spatial correlation sonar hydrophone array. The process includes the step of selecting a correlation time such that a correlation occurs between an early pulse and a later pulse on a first hydrophone and a second hydrophone respectively, wherein the first hydrophone and the second hydrophone are maximally separated in the spatial correlation sonar hydrophone array. The process further includes the step of selecting a time spacing between a first pulse and a second pulse such that the spacing is a function of the correlation time and a constant, wherein the constant is proportional to a size of the spatial correlation sonar hydrophone array, and wherein the correlation time is an approximate multiple of a sum of a time between the first pulse and the second pulse and a time between the second pulse and a next first pulse.
US08004931B2
A method and system of operating single vibrator source points for seismic data acquisition includes acquiring real-time field survey locations for a first plurality of seismic vibrators, determining at least one geometrical relationship between each of the first plurality of seismic vibrators as a function of the field survey locations, selecting a second plurality of seismic vibrators from the first plurality of vibrators as a function of the at least one geometrical relationship, selecting source parameter data for the second plurality of seismic vibrators as a function of the field survey locations and driving the second plurality of seismic vibrators to propagate seismic energy into the earth. A third plurality of vibrators is selected based on geometrical relationships and associated source parameters are determined based on vibrator locations. Multiple vibrator groups may acquire data continuously without interruption.
US08004925B2
A variable resistive memory device includes memory sectors, memory cells in each of the memory sectors, sub-wordlines including a first in signal communication with at least a first pair of the memory cells in a first sector and a second in signal communication with at least a second pair of the memory cells in a second sector, local bitlines where each is in signal communication a memory cell, a local bitline selecting signal generator in signal communication with local bitline selecting signal paths, a first local bitline selecting signal path in signal communication with a first pair of the local bitlines, and a second local bitline selecting signal path in signal communication with a second pair of the plurality of local bitlines, where a first of the first pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a first of the first pair of the memory cells in the first sector and a second of the first pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a second of the second pair of the memory cells in the second sector, and a first of the second pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a second of the first pair of the memory cells in the first sector and a second of the second pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a first of the second pair of the memory cells in the second sector.
US08004920B2
Some embodiments include a voltage generator to generate a voltage to apply to a line used to access a memory cell of a memory device in which the voltage is applied to the line when the memory cell is not being accessed, and a power controller to cause the voltage to change during a time interval after a refresh operation of the memory device. Other embodiments including additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08004915B1
An integrated circuit is provided with built-in-self test circuitry. The integrated circuit may have multiple blocks of memory. The memory may be tested using the built-in-self test circuitry. Each memory block may include a satellite address generator that is used in generating test addresses for the memory blocks. Each memory block may also include failure analysis logic and output response analyzer logic. Stalling logic may be used to individually stall memory block testing on a block-by-block basis during memory tests. Address buffer circuitry such as first-in-first-out buffers may be used to provide randomized memory addresses during testing.
US08004914B2
A method includes performing test bit setting; programming a first page using data set by the test bit setting, and storing a fail status bit in a page buffer, which is connected to a first bit line having a fail status, based on a verification result of the test program; performing a test program and verification on a second page based on a test program and fail status bit storage result of a preceding page, and storing a fail status bit in the page buffer, which is connected to a second bit line having a fail status, based on a verification result of the test program and verification; and after a test program, verification, and fail status bit setting with respect to the entire pages of a memory block are completed, outputting data of the page buffer.
US08004908B2
In a double edge triggered flip-flop circuit, a first latch circuit latches input data at either one of rising edge and falling edge of clock signal. A second latch circuit, which is provided in parallel with the first latch circuit, latches the input data at the other of the either one of rising edge and falling edge of the clock signal. At least one of the first latch circuit and the second latch circuit is configured by an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) type.
US08004905B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory recovers variation in the threshold of a memory cell due to disturbance related to a word line. The nonvolatile memory continuously performs many writing operations without carrying out single-sector erasing after each writing operation, performing the additional writing operations quicker than the usual writing operation, and lightening the burden imposed on software for use in additional writing. The data stored in a designated sector is read out before being saved in a register, and the selected sector is subjected to single-sector erasing when a predetermined command is given. Then write expected value data is formed from the saved data and data to be additionally written, completing the writing operation.
US08004903B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a sense amp circuit. The memory cell array includes bit lines connected to memory cells operative to store first logic data and second logic data smaller in cell current than the first logic. The sense amp circuit has a clamp transistor operative to clamp a bit line voltage. The sense amp circuit is operative to detect data in a selected memory cell via the clamp transistor and the bit line. The sense amp circuit is operative to read data from the selected memory cell in at least the two of first and second read cycles while a control voltage is applied to a gate of the clamp transistor. Different control voltages are applied to the gate of the clamp transistor in the first and second read cycles.
US08004898B2
A nonvolatile memory device may include a memory cell array adapted to store tail-bit flag information indicating tail-bit memory cells, and a tail-bit controller adapted to calibrate a program start voltage of normal memory cells and a program start voltage of the tail-bit memory cells independently based upon the tail-bit flag information.
US08004894B2
In the semiconductor integrated circuit incorporating non-volatile memory that is not electrically rewritable, updating stored data and reusing the non-volatile memory are made possible. The data stored in the non-volatile memory can be updated and the non-volatile memory can be reused by dividing the non-volatile memory into a plurality of blocks and replacing a used block with an unused block. When data “1” is set in the first flag of a certain block, a block selection circuit judges that data is already written in the block and rewriting new data into the block is not possible. To update the stored data, the updated data is written into a block that is selected by the block selection circuit out of the rest of the blocks. At that time, the first flag of the block is set to data “1”. Stored data is updated one after another as described above. When data of final update is written into a certain block, the second flag of the block is set to data “1”.
US08004892B2
A single latch circuit is coupled to each bit line in a multiple level cell memory device to handle reading multiple data bits. The circuit is comprised of a latch having an inverted node and a non-inverted node. A first control transistor selectively couples the non-inverted node to a latch output. A second control transistor selectively couples the inverted node to the latch output. A reset transistor is coupled between the inverted node and circuit ground to selectively ground the circuit when the transistor is turned on.
US08004888B2
Flash memory systems and methods for facilitating a single logical cell erasure in a flash memory device whereby logical cell mapping is changed from using a single physical cell to using pair physical cells, thereby creating a single program and erase entity as a single logical cell. By mapping two adjacent physical cells as a single logical cell, the flash memory device can be programmed and erased on a single bit or variable bit length basis with conventional technologies. Various operations can be performed on a flash device on a basis of the single program and erase entity.
US08004887B2
Methods and memory devices are disclosed, for example a memory device that has both an analog path and a digital path that both share the same input/output pad. One of the two paths on each pad is selected in response to command signals that indicate the nature of the signal being either transmitted to the device or read from the device. Each digital path includes a latch for latching digital input data. Each analog path includes a sample/hold circuit for storing either analog data being read from or analog data being written to the memory device.
US08004869B2
A memory circuit arrangement and fabrication method thereof are presented in which the parts of the memory circuit arrangement are situated on two different substrates. An integrated memory cell array is situated on one substrate. An integrated control circuit that controls access to the memory cells is situated on the other (logic circuit) substrate. The control circuit controls sequences when reading, writing or erasing content of a memory cell. The logic circuit substrate also contains a CPU and encryption coprocessor. The memory circuit contains a sense amplifier, with the aid of which the memory state of a memory cell can be determined, and a decoding circuit that selects a word or bit line.
US08004867B2
A witching power supply unit, which suppresses switching loss in switching elements and surge voltage onto an output rectifier device and reduces the number of components, is provided. The switching power supply unit include: a switching circuit of full bridge type disposed on the input side; a rectifier circuit disposed on the output side; a transformer disposed between the switching circuit and the rectifier circuit and including a first winding on the input side, a second winding on the output side, a third winding; a surge voltage suppressing circuit connected in parallel with the switching circuit; and a driving circuit. The third winding is connected to the full bridge circuit to form a H-bridge configuration. Magnetic coupling between the first and second windings and magnetic coupling between the first and third windings are both looser than that between the second and third windings.
US08004864B2
An example power supply includes a controller and a detection circuit. The controller includes a sense terminal coupled to provide a sense terminal current representative of an input voltage of the power supply during normal operation. The detection circuit is external to the controller and is coupled to the sense terminal. The detection circuit includes a Zener diode coupled to conduct a current to adjust the sense terminal current during a fault condition, where during the fault condition the controller is responsive to a measured impedance of the detection circuit which is determined in response to the sense terminal current.
US08004861B2
The present invention discloses a parameter configuration method for elements of a PFC function converter. The converter has a PFC circuit modulating an input power into a DC modulated power and a transformer transforming the DC modulated power into an output power. The method of the present invention comprises a storage capacitor configuration procedure, a storage inductor configuration procedure and a verification procedure. The storage capacitor configuration procedure predetermines a test voltage and a rated bus voltage lower than the test voltage, determines a parameter of the storage capacitor according to the test voltage and uses the storage capacitor to supply the rated bus voltage. The storage inductor configuration procedure determines an inductance of a storage inductor to match the storage inductor and the primary coil of the transformer work in a discontinuous current mode. The verification procedure verifies whether the power factor of the converter exceeds 0.9.
US08004860B2
An electrical device comprising an electronic component mounted to a surface of a printed circuit board, a ground connection on said surface, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The EMI shielding includes an electrical insulator coating the electronic component, the insulator contacting the surface, and a conductive layer covering the electrical insulator, and contacting the electrical insulator and the ground connection.
US08004857B2
A fixing system for printed circuit boards arranged one above the other in an electronics housing, in particular, for automotive applications. One printed circuit board is fixed to the electronics housing by a rigid fixing means. The other printed circuit boards are fixed to the electronics housing by a resilient fixing means.
US08004854B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic device. The electronic device includes a circuit board. A first circuit is disposed on a first side of the circuit board. The first circuit is connected to a first ground plane of the circuit board. A second circuit is disposed on a second side of the circuit board. The second side is opposite the first side, and the second circuit is connected to a second ground plane of the circuit board. Moreover, the first and second ground planes respectively lie in different planes of the circuit board and are electrically interconnected by a conductive trace disposed within the circuit board.
US08004849B2
A control unit for a vehicle component, such as a transmission, is constructed by transferring electronic components from a rigid circuit board to a flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is guided through a housing that accommodates the rigid circuit board and a portion of the flexible circuit board. Some electronic components are disposed on the rigid circuit board and some electronic components are disposed on the flexible circuit board.
US08004847B2
On a case member of a semiconductor device, a screw block terminal or the like for connection to external equipment is attached. The screw block terminal or the like arranged on a region inside a base plate is attached to a terminal attachment member. Terminal attachment member has wall-like bodies, similar to wall-like bodies formed on a sidewall portion, formed along the direction of extension of terminal attachment member. On one end of terminal attachment member in the direction of extension, a side fitting portion is formed that corresponds to the wall-like body, and by fitting the side fitting portion to a space between sidewall portion and the wall-like body, terminal attachment member is fixed on case member. Thus, a semiconductor device is provided that allows high degree of freedom with simpler structure, as to the position of attaching a screw block terminal or a pin terminal to the case member.
US08004845B2
A fastening assembly used for securing a heat dissipation device to a printed circuit board, comprises a sleeve, an inserting device extending through the sleeve, a spring encircling the inserting device and received in the sleeve, and a supporting device inserted in the sleeve. The inserting device engages with a back plate below the printed circuit board. The sleeve is integrally formed of plastic and comprises a hollow body, a resilient portion extending from an outer surface of the body and pressing a bottom of the heat dissipation device upwardly, and four supporting portions extending from the outer surface of the body and pressing a top of the heat dissipation device downwardly. The supporting device is inserted between the body and the resilient portion, and abuts against the resilient portion, to thereby reliably keep the resilient portion at its locked position.
US08004842B2
A heat dissipation device for communication chassis, which includes an enclosure and at least one second heat pipe assembly. The enclosure includes at least one first copper heat absorption component, at least one first heat pipe assembly and multiple radiating fins disposed on an outer surface of the enclosure. The first heat pipe assembly is connected with the first copper heat absorption component and a section not in contact therewith so as to transfer heat absorbed by the first copper heat absorption component to the section to dissipate the heat. The second heat pipe assembly penetrates through the radiating fins of the enclosure for quickly and uniformly distributing the heat to all the radiating fins. Therefore, the heat conduction efficiency is greatly enhanced to provide better heat dissipation effect for the communication chassis.
US08004836B2
An arrangement is disclosed for a motor controller, the arrangement including a number of power semiconductors and cooling elements, the cooling elements being connected to the power semiconductors for cooling them. The power semiconductors and the cooling elements are disposed around a center axis of the arrangement in such a manner that they demark a channel around the center axis from at least three sides, to which channel cooling surfaces of the cooling elements extend and in which the cooling medium is able to flow in the direction of the center axis, and the power semiconductors extend from the connections between the power semiconductors and the cooling elements substantially away from the center axis. The arrangement can further include at least one choke disposed in the channel demarked around the center axis.
US08004831B1
A facility is described that includes one or more enclosures defining an interior space, a plurality of power taps, a plurality of coolant supply taps, and a plurality of coolant return taps. A flow capacity of the supply taps and a flow capacity of the return taps can be approximately equal over a local area of the interior space. The plurality of power taps, the plurality of supply taps, and the plurality of return taps can be divided into a plurality of zones, with taps of each zone are configured to be controllably coupled to a power source or a coolant source independently of the taps of other zones. The taps can be positioned along paths, and paths of the power taps can be spaced from associated proximate paths of supply and return taps by a substantially uniform distance along a substantial length of the first path.
US08004830B2
A quick-releasing structure is applied to a casing for installing a hard disk device. The quick-releasing structure comprises a spring plate, a handle, and two shock-absorbing members. The spring plate is connected to the casing; the two ends of the handle are coupled to the spring plate; two shock-absorbing members are connected to the two ends of the spring plate for fastening the hard disk device and producing shock-absorbing effect. By pulling the handle, the two ends of the spring plate being moved away from the casing, and the two shock-absorbing members being moved to release the hard disk device.
US08004826B2
The invention relates to an electrical switchgear comprising at least one panel, especially for low voltage, a device compartment especially for receiving inserts, switching devices, control devices, and similar, a busbar compartment in which the busbars are accommodated in a horizontal direction, a multi-terminal busbar compartment in which the multi-terminal busbars extend vertically, and at least one wire compartment. The wire compartment for control wires and signal wires is located on one side of the panel while the wire compartment for power wires is placed on the other side of the panel.
US08004820B2
A collective component has a first region that intersects a conductive paste film for external terminal electrodes in a break line in which break leading holes are arranged and a second region that does not intersect a conductive paste film for external terminal electrodes in the break line. The first break leading holes are formed in the first region so as not to reach the second region. The second break leading holes are formed only in the second region or from the second region to a portion of the first region. The pitch of the first break leading holes is wider than the pitch of the second break leading holes.
US08004811B2
The present invention provides a power strip having a surge protective circuit. When a surge is inputted into the power strip, the surge is subject to two-stage suppressions so as to protect the electrical appliances which are electrically connected to the power strip. The surge protective circuit of the power strip includes a first surge protective device, a buffer conductive device and a second surge protective device. The buffer conductive device is relatively small-sized and cost-effective in comparison with the bulky inductor used in conventional power strip.
US08004810B2
A load control unit is provided for a meter which can be connected to a meter communication network. The load control unit includes a dual coil solenoid switch that is operable to connect the meter to a load, and disconnect the meter from the load. An electronic switching circuit is provided that reduces or eliminates undesirable braking in the solenoid switch.
US08004803B2
Systems and methods for improved Variable Speed Drives are provided. One embodiment relates to apparatus for common mode and differential mode filtering for motor or compressor bearing protection when operating with Variable Speed Drives, including conducted EMI/RFI input power mains mitigation. Another embodiment relates to a method to extend the synchronous operation of an active converter to the AC mains voltage during complete line dropout. Another embodiment relates to an active converter-based Variable Speed Drive system with Improved Full Speed Efficiency. Another embodiment relates to a liquid- or refrigerant-cooled inductor. The liquid- or refrigerant-cooled inductor may be used in any application where liquid or refrigerant cooling is available and a reduction in size and weight of a magnetic component is desired.
US08004802B2
An operational amplifier circuit is for an arc fault circuit interrupter including a current sensor having a secondary and an envelope detector circuit having an input. The operational amplifier circuit includes a band pass filter having an input structured to be electrically interconnected with the secondary of the current sensor and an output; and a rectifier circuit. The rectifier circuit includes an operational amplifier having an input electrically interconnected with the output of the band pass filter and an output, a half-wave rectifier having an input electrically interconnected with the output of the operational amplifier, an output, and a forward voltage between the input and the output of the half-wave rectifier, the half-wave rectifier output being structured to be electrically interconnected with the input of the envelope detector circuit, and a voltage compensation circuit cooperating with the input and the output of the operational amplifier to compensate for the forward voltage.
US08004794B2
A PMR writer is disclosed that minimizes pole erasure during non-writing and maximize write field during writing through an AFM-FM phase change material that is in an AFM state during non-writing and switches to a FM state by heating during writing. The main pole layer including the write pole may be comprised of a laminated structure having a plurality of “n” ferromagnetic layers and “n−1” AFM-FM phase change material layers arranged in an alternating manner. The AFM-FM phase change material is preferably a FeRh or FeRhX alloy (X=Pt, Pd, or Ir) having a Rh content >35 atomic %. AFM-FM phase change material may also be used as a flux gate to prevent yoke flux from leaking into the write pole tip. Heating for the AFM to FM transition is provided by write coils and/or a coil located near the AFM-FM phase change material to enable faster transition times.
US08004786B2
A data storage device, e.g., a disc drive, includes one or more heads including a transducer. Each head also includes a deformable material that allows the spacing adjustments between the transducer and a data storage medium, e.g., a data storage disc, according to each of a plurality of settings. The device calculates a response function of a spacing change to a setting change for each head by measuring a change in the pole tip-data storage medium spacing corresponding to at least two settings. The device also determines an optimal setting. The device may also repeat response function calculations and/or determination of optimal settings to ensure continued optimal performance of the device. In summary, the device sets an optimal setting for each head according to a calculated response function particular to each head.
US08004783B2
A method for testing a magnetic recording medium includes positioning second magnetic heads in an inspected region of a testing subject medium based on servo information signals. A signal generating step generates a magnetic recording/reproducing signal by making the second magnetic heads to conduct a magnetic recording/reproducing process of the inspected region. A signal processing step inspects the magnetic recording/reproducing signal. A master medium includes a servo information region where servo information is recorded radially from the center in a continuous manner. The inspected region corresponds to regions in the master medium including two or more data information regions adjacent to each other in the same track position via the servo information region. The position of one of the inspected regions in the radial direction is arranged at a different position from that of another of the adjacent inspected regions arranged at a different track position.
US08004779B2
A lens drive device may include a movable body having a lens and a coil, a support body movably supporting the movable body, a magnetic drive mechanism having a magnet for driving the movable body together with the coil, a restricting member for restricting movement of the movable body due to an electromagnetic force generated when an electric current is supplied to the coil, a magnetic member disposed in the movable body to be magnetically attracted by the magnet. In a non-energized state where the coil is not energized, following relationships are satisfied: W>F1, W>F2, and W
US08004778B2
An achromatic lens system is provided with a cemented resin lens having positive refractive power constructed by a resin lens L11 having positive refractive power cemented with a resin lens L12 having negative refractive power, and a close-contact multi-layer type diffractive optical element L11E, the diffractive optical element L11E being disposed to an image side of the cemented resin lens, the diffractive optical element L11E being constructed by cementing two diffractive element members DE11, DE12 each made of different optical materials with each other, and the cemented surface thereof being a diffractive optical surface Gf on which grooves of a diffraction grating are formed, there by being lightweight and easily manufactured, capable of excellently correcting chromatic aberration and spherical aberration at the same time.
US08004777B2
An image pickup lens includes: an aperture stop; a first lens having a positive power and including a convex surface facing an object side; a second lens having a negative power and including a concave surface facing an image side; a third lens in a meniscus shape having a positive power and including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fourth lens in a meniscus shape having a negative power and including a convex surface facing the object side. The image pickup lens satisfies predetermined conditions relating to a composite focal length of the first through third lenses, a length of an air space between the third lens and the fourth lens along the optical axis, and a curvature radius of a surface of the second lens facing the image side.
US08004775B2
Reflectors having concave reflecting surfaces (e.g., parabolic reflectors) and electronically controlled beam steering elements are used for rapid, low-diversion, wide angle, and precision steering of optical beams, including laser beams.
US08004771B2
Provided is a varifocal lens and method of manufacturing the varifocal lens. The varifocal lens includes a transparent substrate, a spacer frame arranged to form an inner space on the transparent substrate, wherein the inner space is to be filled with an optical fluid, a rigid frame disposed to be adjacent to the spacer frame, and an optical membrane and an actuator which are formed on a surface of the rigid frame. The rigid frame supports the actuator and the optical membrane, wherein the actuator applies a pressure to an optical fluid and the optical membrane is modified according to a flow of the optical fluid.
US08004766B2
An illuminating device is provided. The illuminating device includes a light source, a dividing unit, an optical unit and a light-distribution control unit. The dividing unit is configured to divide light emitted from the light source into light beams. The optical unit is configured to allow at least one of a travelling direction and a focal length of the light beams divided by the dividing unit to be variable. The light-distribution control unit is configured to control at least one of the travelling direction and focal length of light beams by acting on the optical unit.
US08004765B2
The invention provides an optical device, including a light-transmitting substrate, optical means for coupling light into the substrate by total internal reflection, and a plurality of partially reflecting surfaces carried by the substrate, characterized in that the partially reflecting surfaces are parallel to each other and are not parallel to any of the edges of the substrate.
US08004760B2
Various embodiments related to rear-projection image display are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a projector for projecting an image and a screen configured to display the image. The screen comprises a filter layer having a light reception side and an image display side. The filter layer includes an array of trapezoidal transmissive elements and an array of trapezoidal absorption elements, where a wider base of each of the trapezoidal transmissive elements faces the light reception side of the filter layer, and where a wider base of each of the trapezoidal absorption elements faces the image display side of the filer layer.
US08004759B2
Various embodiments related to a rear projection display screen configured to reduce an intensity of light at a viewing angle at which the light is less likely to be viewed by a user are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a diffusing screen comprising a sheet-like structure transparent to one or more wavelengths of light. The sheet-like structure has a viewing surface and comprises a diffusing pattern configured to create destructive interference of a selected wavelength of light traveling in a direction normal to a plane of the viewing surface of the screen.
US08004758B2
Polarization preserving front projection screens and diffusers provide optimum polarization preservation for stereoscopic 3D viewing, as well as improved light control for enhanced brightness, uniformity, and contrast for both 2D and 3D systems. Generally, the disclosed screens direct light from a projector toward viewers within a diffusion locus, while maintaining optimum gain characteristics. More specifically, light incident on a region of the front projection screen from a predetermined projection direction is reflected by an engineered surface to a predetermined diffusion locus after undergoing substantially single reflections. The engineered surface, comprised of generating kernels, is used to optimally diffuse illumination light into a range of viewing angles, within the diffusion locus, with suitable gain profile, while optimally preserving polarization for 3D applications. Such a screen, when combined with matched polarization analyzing eyewear, provides extremely low cross-talk from any observation point.
US08004755B2
In general, in one aspect, the invention features an objective arranged to image radiation from an object plane to an image plane, including a plurality of elements arranged to direct the radiation from the object plane to the image plane, wherein the objective has an image side numerical aperture of more than 0.55 and a maximum image side field dimension of more than 1 mm, and the objective is a catoptric objective.
US08004751B2
The WDM optical transmission system using distributed Raman amplification, before starting operation of main signal light, transfers a plurality of lights having different wavelengths to that of the main signal light (for example Raman amplification pump lights or the like) between first and second optical transmission devices connected to opposite ends of a transmission line, monitors transmission line input and output power for each light, calculates a transmission line loss in each wavelength using the monitor results, and specifies a type of the transmission line based on a loss wavelength characteristic that can be estimated from the calculation result. Then the power of pump light provided to the transmission light is optimized in accordance with the type of transmission line.
US08004747B2
A method in accordance with particular embodiments includes receiving an electrical control signal. The method further includes adjusting a reflectance of a light modulating stack comprising a plurality of layers by changing the relative location of a plurality of electrophoretic particles with respect to the remainder of the light modulating stack. The method additionally includes receiving light waves from a light source. The method also includes converting the electrical control signal into a modulated optical signal that selectively switches between reflecting or absorbing at least a portion of the light waves.
US08004734B2
Apparatus and methods for implementing logical operations using polarization-based logic level representation is provided. An apparatus and method split an input polarized beam into a first beam and a second beam, wherein the first beam and the second beam have an identical or nearly identical relative polarization angle that equals or nearly equals the relative polarization angle of the input polarized beam. The apparatus and method further polarize at a first relative polarization angle the first beam and polarize at a second relative polarization angle the second beam. The ratio of the amplitudes of two perpendicular polarization components of the input polarized beam is one or nearly one and the difference between the first relative polarization angle and the second relative polarization angle is 180 degrees or nearly 180 degrees. Furthermore, the relative polarization angle of the input polarized beam equals or nearly equals either the first relative polarization angle or the second relative polarization angle.
US08004731B2
An image forming apparatus is provided which includes: an image acquisition section (110) which reads an original and acquires an original image; a specific-pattern storage section (141) which stores a specific pattern which expresses, using a dot pattern, apparatus identification information for identifying an apparatus that prints the original image on a sheet of recording paper; an extraction section (132) which extracts an actual image area except a blank area in the original image, and base on the extracted actual image area, extracts a specific area corresponding to an area for printing the specific pattern; and a print section (150) which prints the specific pattern within the actual image area, using a yellow toner.
US08004726B2
A technique that can realize acquisition of a proper white reference value in shading correction is provided.It includes plural line sensors arranged at different positions from each other in a sub-scanning direction and configured to read reflected light from a reading target surface, guided by a scanning optical system that moves in the sub-scanning direction, and a reading control unit configured to control image reading timing in each line sensor so that, when reading a predetermined white reference board by the plural line sensors in order to perform shading correction, the plural line sensors have substantially the same reading area on the white reference board.
US08004725B2
A device for scanning a document is provided. A document placed on a support surface is scanned line by line by a camera that is provided with an optoelectronic line sensor, and electric signals are produced. The line sensor includes a plurality of image recording elements disposed in a linear orientation. A lens system is used to image the light reflected by the document to be captured onto a part of the image recording elements.
US08004724B2
An image reading apparatus for reading an image on an original includes a reading unit for optically reading the image of the original while the image is illuminated by light from a light source; a moving unit for moving the reading unit relative to the original; a position signal generator for outputting a position signal in accordance with movement of the reading unit by the moving unit; a lighting control unit for controlling the light source for lighting for a first period in synchronism with the position signal; and an output control unit for generating a control signal for outputting an image signal corresponding to the image read by the reading unit after the light source lights for the first period and for outputting the image signal for a second period in synchronism with the control signal.
US08004716B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can print material by which specific information is not revealed without prohibiting printing, even where the printing data contains information that causes problems by printing specific information. By detecting information to be restricted in the printing data and restricting the image formation of the detected information, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can form the image in which the image of the information is not formed. Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can print material by which specific information is not revealed without prohibiting printing, even where the printing data contains specific information.
US08004698B2
An image processing system includes a first obtaining section for obtaining a first image and a color mode for the first image; a second obtaining section for obtaining a second image and a color mode for the second image; a priority setting section for setting which of the color mode for the first image and the color mode for the second image priority is to be given to; a color-mode setting section for setting a color mode for a composite image based on the color mode for the first image, the color mode for the second image, and the setting of the priority setting section; a combining section for combining the first image and the second image to produce the composite image; and an outputting section for outputting the composite image with the color mode set by the color-mode setting section.
US08004697B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide adaptive control of an imaging device based on current document complexity and printer processing capability. During operation, the future length of the job queue is predicted dynamically. The predicted queue length is periodically compared to a predetermined threshold value. The first mode of the device is changed to a second mode based on the predicted queue length being greater than the predetermined queue length.
US08004696B2
In a printing apparatus, the number of delimiters included in received data from a host apparatus is smaller than the number of input items of a template by one. Therefore, the number of delimiters included in the received data from the host apparatus is calculated to be three. A character string which is periodically repeated in the received data three times as the number of the delimiters is obtained and set to be a delimiter candidate. Further, a print start character string candidate is obtained from a data group which is located after a last delimiter candidate in the received data. Using the provisionally determined candidates for a delimiter and a print start character string, the four item data included in the received data are assumed. Then, a print preview is displayed on a LCD so as to show a state where the four item data is input to each of the input items of the template.
US08004688B2
In general, in one aspect, the invention features apparatus that includes a broadband scanning interferometry system including interferometer optics for combining test light from a test object with reference light from a reference object to form an interference pattern on a detector, wherein the test and reference light are derived from a common light source. The interferometry system further includes a scanning stage configured to scan an optical path difference (OPD) between the test and reference light from the common source to the detector and a detector system including the detector for recording the interference pattern for each of a series of OPD increments, wherein the frequency of each OPD increment defines a frame rate. The interferometer optics are configured to produce at least two monitor interferometry signals each indicative of changes in the OPD as the OPD is scanned, wherein the detector system is further configured to record the monitor interferometry signals. The apparatus also includes an electronic processor electronically coupled to the detection system and scanning stage and configured to determine information about the OPD increments with sensitivity to perturbations to the OPD increments at frequencies greater than the frame rate.
US08004687B2
A source module (12) generates mutually orthogonally polarized beams of light as emanating from two spatially separated point sources (Sv, Sw) for use in a phase shifting interferometer.
US08004682B2
One embodiment relates to a method for determining a concentration of a molecular species of interest. In this method, electromagnetic radiation is transmitted into a volume of gas within an output exhaust system. The transmitted electromagnetic radiation has a first intensity at a characteristic frequency that is associated with a transition of the molecular species of interest. Electromagnetic radiation is then received from the volume of gas at a second intensity. The method then correlates the first intensity to the second intensity to determine the concentration of the molecular species of interest within the volume of gas. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08004681B2
The invention concerns a process for evaluating the degree of phenolic ripeness of a fruit, advantageously but not exclusively grapes, that includes the measurement of the intensity of an electromagnetic wave that has passed through a portion of a skin of the fruit and an operation for correlating the intensity with a specific classification of percentages of polyphenolic substances present in the fruit.
US08004677B2
The present invention relates to an ellipsometer, and more particularly, to an ellipsometer to find out the optical properties of the sample by analyzing the variation of the polarization of a light which has specific polarisation then reflected on a surface of the sample.
US08004676B1
A method is provided for detection of analytes using the Surface Plasmon Resonance effect. The method comprises providing a metal film on a transparent substrate. The free surface of the metal film is exposed to a test sample. An anlyte in the sample can interact directly with the metal film or via analyte binding molecules (ABMs) complexed to the film. Light is directed incident to the surface of film in contact with the substrate. Light is reflected from the surface of the film under SPR conditions. The reflected light is collected and the second and/or third harmonics of the resulting electrical signal, which are indicative of the phase and polarization state of the reflected light, are determined. The second and third harmonics are correlated to the presence and/or concentration of the analyte.
US08004669B1
An apparatus may include a flow cell for a surface plasmon resonance test apparatus and a fluid delivery system operatively coupled to the flow cell and configured to deliver a plurality of fluids to the flow cell substantially continuously. The fluid delivery system may include two pumps for pumping the fluids.
US08004665B2
Disclosed is a system to measure the energy level of a radiation pulse. The system includes a sample-and-hold module to measure the radiation pulse and to generate a signal representative of an energy level of the radiation pulse, and a processing module to determine an energy value of the radiation pulse based on the signal generated by the sample-and-hold module.
US08004662B2
A method of obtaining information about a heterogeneous pharmaceutical mixture is disclosed. This method involves applying an image enhancement agent, such as a stain, to the mixture. An image of the mixture can then be obtained, and information about a distribution of components of the mixture in the image can also be obtained based on spatial information derived from the application of the image enhancement agent.
US08004656B2
An illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure step-and-scan apparatus has a light source, a first optical raster element and a second optical raster element. The first optical raster element extends in a first pupil plane of the illumination system and is designed such that the geometrical optical flux of the system is increased perpendicular to a scan direction of the projection exposure apparatus. The second optical raster element extends in a second pupil plane of the illumination system, which is not necessarily different from the first pupil plane, and is designed such that the geometrical optical flux of the system is increased in the scan direction and perpendicular thereto. This makes it possible to improve the irradiance uniformity in a reticle plane.
US08004646B2
A reflective liquid crystal display that comprises: a first substrate; a common electrode formed on the first substrate; a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate; a pixel electrode formed on the second substrate; partitions formed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode; red, green, and blue cholesteric liquid crystals formed in regions separated by the partitions; and sealing lines formed on the outer peripheries of the partitions and having three liquid crystal injection holes.
US08004638B2
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus is suitable for a user to view through a polarization component having a first transmittance axis. The display apparatus includes a display module, a polarizer and a biaxial half-wave plate. The polarizer has a second transmittance axis such that a light provided from the display module passes through the polarizer and is converted into a polarized light. The biaxial half-wave plate is disposed on the display module and between the polarizer and the polarization component. The biaxial half-wave plate has a slow axis arranged between the first and second transmittance axes. The polarization of the polarized light passing through the biaxial half-wave plate tends toward the first transmittance axis.
US08004628B2
An exemplary backlight module includes a diffuser plate, a bottom plate facing the diffuser plate, lamps arranged between the diffuser plate and the bottom plate, and holders positioned between the diffuser plate and the bottom plate. Each holder includes a fixing part for holding the corresponding lamp, and two supporting parts extending from the fixing part. The supporting parts are configured for supporting the diffuser plate.
US08004619B2
An optical element is disclosed. The optical element may include a container having a holding chamber; a polarized or conductive and transparent first liquid filled in the holding chamber; a liquid crystal filled in the holding chamber and not mutually mixing with the first liquid; first and second electrodes applying an electric field to the first liquid; and voltage application means for applying voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08004616B2
A television receiver having a security module fixing part for descrambling digital broadcast comprises at least a standby power mode for supplying power only to hardware, such as a remote control receiver (full standby), a standby power mode for supplying power also to a security module other than the hardware supplied with power in the full standby (partial standby), and a standby power mode for stopping supply of power only to a monitor at minimum (false standby) and has a standby power mode determination part for controlling presentation of images and electronic program guides to a user at startup.
US08004611B2
The present invention includes a method and device that allows efficient mixing of multiple video images with a graphics screen while utilizing only one video buffer. The present invention partitions the sole video buffer, pre-scales the plurality of video images and inserts them into the partitioned video buffer in a predetermined range of buffer addresses. The present invention mixes the partitioned video including the pre-scaled video images with the graphics screen to produce a video display including both a video screen and a graphics screen.
US08004610B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a digital television (DTV) receiver including at least a one-bit-flag such that when the flag is “on”, the DTV receiver is not allowed to start an initial acquisition process, and at least one additional receiver sharing part of a receive chain of the DTV receiver and wherein the additional receiver is capable of turning the one-bit-flag “on”. The flag may be set through communication between the drivers of the DTV receiver and the at least one additional receiver.
US08004596B2
An apparatus and appertaining method for controlling the apparatus are provided for processing a digital image, which can capture an image with reduced hand shake effect without using a hand shake sensor. The apparatus includes: an image input unit receiving a plurality of input images from the outside; and a control unit receiving the plurality of input images when a shutter-release button select signal is input from the outside, selecting a clearest image from among the input images as a best image, and capturing the best image.
US08004592B2
A template storage section previously stores a template having a plurality of display areas. A template readout section reads out the template from the template storage section for display. An imaging section images a subject and outputs corresponding image data. A through image display control section displays a through image corresponding to image data output by the imaging section in one of the display areas included in the template that has been read out by the template readout section. The through image display control section switches the display area of the through image from one area to remaining areas based on an instruction from a user.
US08004591B2
A physical quality detecting device includes: a detecting unit that detects a physical quantity supplied from the outside with photo-converting pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged, each of which has a selecting transistor for outputting a signal from the detecting unit to a signal line. In the physical quality detecting device, the selecting transistor is a depletion-type transistor. The signal line is selectively coupled to a reference voltage.
US08004588B2
An image processing procedure receives mosaic image data and calculates vertical and horizontal-direction color difference components for each pixel. The image processing procedure subsequently selects an R pixel or a B pixel from the mosaic image data, and compares a variation of the vertical-direction color difference component with a variation of the horizontal-direction color difference component with regard to each of at least the selected pixels to detect edge directions of the at least selected pixels. The edge directions thus obtained are collected in an edge direction map, and then the edge directions are compared with the surrounding edge directions to remove edge noise in advance. The image processing procedure refers to the detected edge directions, and interpolates a missing color component in each pixel of the mosaic image data with the settings of one color component in each pixel in the mosaic image data.
US08004584B2
A user captures a digital image, which is then selected for post-processing within the image capture device. The image capture device decompresses the full size image, and buffers any metadata associated with the image. As a user applies each post-processing effect to the image, effect parameters are added to the metadata for the image. Upon completion of post-processing the effect parameters from the metadata are stored in a separate custom effect file. The image capture device then is able to perform the series of effects upon subsequent images after reading the effect parameters from the custom effect file.
US08004582B2
An image file processing apparatus comprises a first storage unit configured to store an image, a first data creating unit configured to create main image data or sub-image data, a second storage unit configured to store the main image data and the sub-image data as one file, a management region setting unit configured to ensure management information of the sub-image data stored in the same file as the main image data in the second storage unit by a predetermined number and set the management information in a management region of the main image data, and a storage control unit configured to control so as to store the file based upon content set by the management region setting unit.
US08004580B2
An apparatus for managing images of a mobile terminal includes: a storage unit for storing a plurality of images; and a control unit for creating a script for a particular image according to a user instruction, and linking a second image stored in the storage unit or in an external device to the created script. The images stored in the mobile terminal are not simply kept in arranged data but an interconnection (scenario type configuration) is set among the images to allow a user to variably use the images. In addition, because the images have a logical relationship with each other, user convenience can be enhanced in managing numerous digital images.
US08004575B2
Methods and systems for automatically detecting the presence or absence of a bright object in the field of view of a video camera and/or for adaptively modifying video camera exposure level. A video camera system may be configured to enter and exit an adaptive exposure modification mode upon detection of the presence of a bright object in the field of view of a video camera.
US08004574B2
A system and method for simultaneously capturing multiple pictures or videos on an electronic device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic device includes a first camera and a second camera. The first camera is capable of taking a first picture, while the second camera is capable of taking a second picture. The first picture and the second picture may be simultaneously displayed in a “picture in picture” format on the display screen, stored into memory of the electronic device or transmitted to a remote location.
US08004570B2
The present invention provides an image processing apparatus capable of obtaining good shake-corrected images in electronic image stabilization irrespective of changes of image-taking conditions. An image processing apparatus comprising: a shake correcting part that performs coordinate transformation processing based on shake information to an input image that is generated by use of an image-pickup device; and a method changing part that changes a coordinate transformation method for the coordinate transformation processing.
US08004565B2
A system and method for tracking objects between multiple frames of a video is described. One method for tracking objects begins with a viewer initially identifying an object in a frame of video. If the viewer requires zooming, he can also select a scale factor for the identified object. Once the user has identified an object for tracking, the computer system identifies a reference point on the object and identifies the motion vectors for that reference point. Using the motion vectors, the computer system can track the identified object as it moves across the screen and can reposition an image acquisition area to track the location of the identified object in subsequent video frames.
US08004559B2
An apparatus for measuring a 3-dimensional (3D) shape which can remove a shadow, which may occur when measuring the 3D shape, and also can measure a reflected light from an external surface of a test object, is provided. The apparatus for measuring a 3D shape includes a projection part 10 generating a light, an image formation part 20 sensing the light, a prism part 30 being provided between the projection part 10 and the viewing part 20, and a first mirror part 40 and a second mirror part 50 being provided in both ends of the prism part 30. Also, the prism part 30 selectively transmits the light generated from the projection part 10 to the first mirror part 40 and the second mirror part 50 to be directed towards an external surface of a test object 1. When the light reflected from the external surface of the test object 1 is selectively transmitted to the first mirror part 40 and the second mirror part 50 and thereby reflected, the prism part 30 transmits the reflected light to the viewing part 20.
US08004555B2
Disclosed are mobile communication devices, and methods for mobile communication devices including two video cameras that can operate simultaneously and in real-time. The device includes a first video camera pointing in a first direction and configured to generate a first video signal and a second video camera pointing in a second direction and configured to generate a second video signal. The device includes a processor configured to receive the first video signal and the second video signal and to encode the first video signal and the second video signal for simultaneous transmission. Disclosed is another device, including a housing having a fixed first video camera configured to point in a first direction with respect to the housing and generate a first video signal and a movable second video camera configured to point in a plurality of second directions with respect to the housing and generate a second video signal.
US08004554B2
A plastic optical element for guiding a scanned light beam in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, which is prepared by a molding method using a die. The element includes: a main body including at least two optically functional surfaces, which are transfer surfaces formed by contacted with transfer surfaces of the die and through which the light beam passes; and at least two ribs located on surfaces of the main body other than the optically functional surfaces and extending in parallel in the main scanning direction. A recessed portion is present on a surface of at least one of the ribs, and the recessed portion has a side transfer surface and a bottom surface, which is a non-transfer surface, and the distance between the optically functional surfaces is less than the length of the main body in the sub-scanning direction.
US08004553B2
An optical scanning device for guiding a light beam to a member to scan the member with the light beam, including a light source emitting the light beam; a light deflector deflecting the light beam; a focusing optical system including a plastic optical element molded using a die. The optical element has least two transfer surfaces formed by contacting with transfer surfaces of the die and including a light entrance surface and a light exit surface; and a third surface including a non-transfer surface formed without contacting a transfer surface of the die. The light beam passes through the optical element in such a manner that the optical axis center of the light beam extends in a direction parallel to the shorter side of the optical element while being shifted from the dimensional center of the optical element toward the third surface of the optical element.
US08004549B2
A line head, includes: a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses having a magnification whose absolute value is below 1 are arranged in a main scanning direction of a surface-to-be-scanned, and a plurality of luminous element groups which are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the respective plurality of microlenses, wherein in each of the plurality of luminous element groups, a plurality of luminous elements are arranged at mutually different main-scanning-direction positions in the main scanning direction, the plurality of luminous elements are respectively caused to emit lights at timings in conformity with a movement of the surface-to-be-scanned in a sub scanning direction, and light beams emitted from the plurality of luminous elements are imaged on the surface-to-be-scanned at mutually different main-scanning-direction positions in the main scanning direction to form a plurality of spots side by side on the surface-to-be-scanned in the main scanning direction, and in each of the plurality of luminous element groups, out of the plurality of luminous elements constituting the luminous element group, two luminous elements caused to emit lights to form adjacent spots are arranged at mutually different sub-scanning-direction positions in the sub scanning direction.
US08004547B2
Previously setting the front end of printed thermal paper at a second position before a second thermal head, when a next print job is double-side printing, at a first position before a first thermal head, when a next print job is one-side printing with the first thermal head, and at the second position before the second thermal head, when a next print job is one-side printing with the second thermal head.
US08004526B2
This invention discloses a waveform data display device and method, wherein the device comprising a microprocessor, for receiving collected parameter information and generating information on a position, a length and a color value with the maximum brightness of each vertical line for drawing a waveform corresponding to the received parameter information; a logic processing apparatus, for calculating the color values gradually changing along the length of the vertical line at different positions of each vertical line based on the generated information on the length and the color value with the maximum brightness of each vertical line, and combining waveform information of the waveform based on a display time sequence, the generated information on the position of each vertical line and the calculated color values gradually changing along the length of the vertical line at different positions of each vertical line; and, a display unit for displaying the waveform based on the combined waveform information. The waveform data display device and method not only improve the display quality of the waveform but also save CPU computation ability and transmission bandwidth.
US08004511B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for managing display device power consumption with distortion-related parameters.
US08004505B2
The present invention provides a various methods, systems and devices for controlling light modulating elements and/or spatial light modulators. In some embodiments of the present invention, a recursive feedback method is used to control light modulating elements and/or spatial light modulators.
US08004501B2
A hand-held electronic device is disclosed. The device may comprise a case case having one or more major surfaces; a touch screen disposed on one of the major surfaces, the touch screen; a processor operably coupled to the touch screen; and one or more tactile pixels disposed proximate the touch screen. Each of the tactile pixels includes an actuatable portion coupled to an actuator and a sensor. The actuator and sensor are coupled to the processor. The actuator is configured to actuate in response to instructions from the processor and the sensor is configured to generate signals as inputs to one or more programs executed by the processor when pressure is applied to the actuatable portion. The actuatable portion is actuatable by the actuator between first and second positions. A tactile feel of the actuatable portion is different in the first and second positions.
US08004500B2
A touch sensor panel can be constructed on a single surface of a substrate as a plurality of distributed RC lines arranged in rows and columns. Each distributed RC line can include alternating connected transistors and metal pads. During operation, the transistors on either side of the metal pads in the rows are alternately gated on and off using non-overlapping gate signals, and pulse travel times for each row in both directions are measured. Similar measurements are taken for the columns. The frequency at which the transistors are gated can be changed to adjust pulse travel times. Equalized travel times are computed as the sum of the pulse travel times in both directions, and indicate which rows and columns have a finger touching it. The un-equalized pulse travel time data can then be used to determine the relative positions of the fingers within the rows and columns.
US08004499B2
A capacitive touch sensing system includes a touch surface and sets of substantially parallel electrodes arranged in relation to the touch surface. Each electrode set includes a primary electrode electrically connected to at least two sub-electrodes. The primary electrode is capable of producing greater capacitive coupling to a touch in proximity with the touch surface in relation to capacitive coupling of the at least two sub-electrodes. The sub-electrodes of the electrode sets are arranged in an interleaved pattern configured to increase an effective area of capacitive coupling associated with each electrode set.
US08004494B2
An improved handheld electronic device having an improved keyboard provides enhanced usability with fewer keys by enabling the keys to pivot slightly to provide multiple functions to the keys. The improved keyboard may, for example, include internal strips of conductive carbon that are disposed adjacent the keys and are electrically engageable with contacts on a printed circuit board. Specifically, when a key is pressed directly downward it collapses a single dome and connects together a set of primary contacts to provide a first function. When the key is pressed at the side thereof, the key pivots slightly, collapses the dome and connects together the primary contacts, and also engages a carbon strip with a pair of secondary contacts to connect together the secondary contacts, all of which provide a second function. The keyboard may be configured to be of a QWERTY configuration while using only a relatively small number of keys.
US08004488B2
Provided is a light device. The light device comprises a backlight unit, a multi-sensor unit, a backlight driving unit, and a backlight control unit. The backlight unit comprises light emitting diode devices to provide light. The multi-sensor unit is included in a light emission region of the backlight unit and senses a wavelength and/or intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diode devices and transmits sensed values as feedback. The backlight driving unit supplies driving power to the light emitting diode devices, and the backlight control unit receives the sensed values from the multi-sensor unit to control the light emitting diode devices through the backlight driving unit.
US08004482B2
An apparatus and method for driving a liquid crystal display device are disclosed in which the response speed of the liquid crystal can be increased without using a digital memory. The driving apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel with gate lines and data lines arranged perpendicularly to each other, a gate driver that supplies a gate pulse to the gate lines, and a data driver. The data driver samples an input N-bit digital data signal to generate an analog data voltage, generates a modulated data voltage for acceleration of a response speed of the liquid crystal according to an M-bit data value of the sampled digital data signal, mixes the modulated data voltage with the analog data voltage, and supplies the mixed data voltage to the data lines.
US08004474B2
Described is an apparatus and method for reducing noise in an information bearing signal is provided. A feeding element receives dual-polarized wideband electromagnetic signals. The feeding element is coupled to a Non-Cutoff Frequency Selective Surface ground plane. The Non-Cutoff Frequency Selective Surface ground plane allows for a line-of-sight signal and a surface wave to cancel. The Non-Cutoff Frequency Selective Surface ground plane can be a metal plate with a plurality of corrugations. The corrugations can be concentric rings, each corrugation having a predetermined height and a predetermined spacing from adjacent corrugations.
US08004470B2
An antenna component (and antenna) with a dielectric substrate and a plurality of radiating antenna elements on the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, the plurality comprises two (2) elements, each of them covering one of the opposite heads and part of the upper surface of the device. The upper surface between the elements comprises a slot. The lower edge of one of the antenna elements is galvanically coupled to the antenna feed conductor on a circuit board, and at another point to the ground plane, while the lower edge of the opposite antenna element, or the parasitic element, is galvanically coupled only to the ground plane. The parasitic element obtains its feed through the electromagnetic coupling over the slot, and both elements resonate at the operating frequency. Omni-directionality is also achieved. Losses associated with the substrate are low due to the simple field image in the substrate.
US08004461B2
Disclosed is a complex multifunction system of a frequency band (130 dBm) frequency extension modulation of a GPS terminal in a life jacket which is used when there is an accident at sea, at a ship or at an airplane. The system comprises a body including a front plate which transmits and receives a frequency transferred from the GPS terminal in a life jacket in a process of introducing and sharing a coupling scheme with interspace-VLBI in frequency band 130 dBm, and a rear plate which is in contact with a tag of an HDX frequency extension modulation; a head unit for attaching a iris on a head of the body and supporting a frequency propagation amplification transmission of a microstrip fetch antenna; and a location based service (LBS) attached to a middle portion of the front plate of the body or a head unit, having a function of transmitting an emergency rescue signal and converting the signal into a multi-language voice information service.
US08004459B2
Embodiments provide systems and methods for determining the geolocation of an emitter on earth. A solution is obtained from two TDOA measurements that need not be acquired at the same time. A solution is obtained from a TDOA measurement and an FDOA measurement that need not be acquired at the same time and need not be coming from the same satellite pair. A location of an emitter can be determined from minimizing a cost function of the weighted combination of the six solutions derived from the two TDOA measurements and the two FDOA measurements, where the weight of each solution in the combination is determined based on the intersection angle of the two curves that define the possible locations of the emitter based on the TDOA and/or FDOA measurements.
US08004453B1
There is disclosed an elevation null command generator (ENCG) for use in airborne monopulse radar, and a novel missile guidance system made possible by use of the ENGC. The ENCG provides an accurate means of directing the elevation monopulse plane of a radar antenna at a patch of ground defined by a range signal generated within the radar or its associated equipment. It is shown that within the system range can define the elevation angle of concern. The ENCG includes a central range gate centered at the command range and a plurality of pairs of range gates, the two gates of each pair being time spaced before and after the central range gate, and has circuit means for normalizing the output of the range gates to eliminate the bias effects of strong targets adjacent to the monopulse null plane and ground surface intersection.
US08004445B2
In a wireless chip receiving the multi-rate data according to the related art, power consumption and a circuit area of an analog-to-digital converter become large. In a digital calibration type analog-to-digital converter including both a reference analog-to-digital conversion unit and a main analog-to-digital conversion unit, when processing the high-sample rate wireless receive signal, both the reference analog-to-digital conversion unit and the main analog-to-digital conversion unit are operated to configure a general digital calibration type analog-to-digital converter, and when processing a low-sample rate wireless receive signal, analog-to-digital conversion is performed by using the reference analog-to-digital conversion unit and operations of the main analog-to-digital conversion unit or the like are stopped to remarkably reduce power consumption.
US08004443B2
An information readout apparatus includes analog to digital converting means, equalizing means, interpolating means, maximum likelihood detecting means and PLL means. The analog to digital converting means converts a read signal read out from an optical disc medium, on which data is recorded with run length limited code that the shortest run length is 1, into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal in synchronous with a first clock signal with a frequency which is N/M times of a channel frequency. At this time, N is an integer equal to or more than 2 and M is an integer meeting N/M>0.5. The equalizing means equalizes said digital signal to a previously specified partial response (PR) characteristic in synchronous with said first clock signal signal. The interpolating means converts N input data outputted from said equalizing means into M output data, and outputs output data in synchronous with a second clock signal with a frequency of 1/M times of the channel frequency. The maximum likelihood detecting means converts the output data outputted from said interpolation means into an M-bit detection data, and outputs said detection data in synchronous with said second clock signal signal. The PLL means generates said first clock signal and said second clock signal based on said read signal.
US08004439B2
A digital to analog converter with two outputs controlled by an input signal with n-bits is disclosed. A reference voltage circuit generates (2n+1) reference voltages numbered from 1 to (2n+1). A switch array coupled to the reference voltage circuit, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, includes a plurality of switches switching according to the input signal. The first output terminal outputs only one of odd reference voltages according to the input signal, and the second output terminal outputs one of even reference voltages according to the input signal, and the number of the switches is less than (n×2n+2n).
US08004438B2
Techniques for dynamically selecting circuit elements to combat mismatches are described. In one design, an apparatus includes first, second, and third circuits. The first circuit receives input data and provides first signals that are asserted based on the input data, e.g., with thermometer decoding. The second circuit receives the first signals and provides second signals used to select circuit elements, e.g., current sources, capacitors, resistors, etc. The third circuit generates a control for the second circuit, and the second circuit maps the first signals to the second signals based on this control. In one design, the second circuit includes a set of multiplexers and a control circuit. The multiplexers provides the first signals, circularly rotated by an amount determined by the control, as the second signals. The control circuit accumulates control data (e.g., the input data, pseudo-random data, or a fixed value) with the current control value to obtain new control value.
US08004430B2
An encoding scheme generates an encoded nine bit code word from each input eight bit data word. The coding scheme is such that the encoded data words have advantageous properties, such as a minimum of two polarity transitions in each encoded data word, and a maximum of five bits without a polarity transition. Five of the bits from the input eight bit data word appear unchanged in the encoded data word, while the other four bits of the encoded data word are obtained by applying appropriate logical operators to the remaining three bits of the input data word in combination with two of the five bits that appear unchanged in the encoded data word. Exception codes can also be defined, that is, nine bit code words that cannot be obtained from any eight bit data word by means of the coding scheme, and can be used to embed control information into the data stream. For example, the exception codes may advantageously have six or seven bits without a polarity transition.
US08004428B2
A display device, having a traffic lane recording, in which lane markings of the recorded traffic lane are shown in the display in such a way that the quality of the traffic lane recording can be discerned.
US08004425B2
A vehicular blind spot detection system (700) for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle to an object in the vehicle's blind spot, the system includes a first imaging device (707) used typically used to control vehicle lighting and that works to detect objects substantially forward of the vehicle and a second imaging device (709) typically used with a rear camera display (RCD) for detecting objects substantially rearward of the vehicle. A control unit (711) is coupled to the first imaging device (707) and second imaging device (709) that includes a graphic processing unit (713) for processing images captured by the first imaging device (707) and second imaging device (709) for detecting an optical flow of objects within the images so as to discriminate between vehicles and other objects entering the driver's blind spot.
US08004422B2
A programmable telemetry circuit that may be programmed for high bandwidth, low Q; low bandwidth, high Q; or for other parameters. The programmable telemetry circuit may include a first coil; a high impedance path having a first node connected to a first node of the first coil; a low impedance path having a first node connected to the first node of the first coil; a capacitive path having a first node connected to a second node of the first coil; and an input path for coupling signals into the high impedance path, the low impedance path, and the capacitive path. The low impedance path may be connected in parallel with the high impedance path. The capacitive path may form a circuitous path with the high impedance path and the low impedance path. The programmable circuit may be programmed to select the high impedance path or the low impedance path.
US08004421B2
A method of signal processing includes providing at least a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor spaced in a drilling system and using an algorithm to separate the downwardly propagating waves from the upwardly propagating waves. In one or more examples, an algorithm may include determining a velocity of pressure signals in a wellbore, time-shifting and stacking pressure signals from at least the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to determine a downwardly propagating noise signal, and subtracting the downwardly propagating noise signal from at least the signal from the first pressure sensor.
US08004416B2
A smoke alarm system having a base and a body. The base is mounted onto and electrically connected to an unswitched electrical box. The body contains conventional smoke alarm circuitry. The base contains a threaded female socket similar to a standard light bulb socket. The body contains a corresponding male threaded connector similar to that on a standard light bulb. The body is thus able to be electrically connected to as well as physically mounted to the base by simply screwing the male threaded connector into the female threaded socket in the same manner as a light bulb is screwed into a light socket. The base is installed on the ceiling with its wires extending into the unswitched electrical box. A metal ring on the bottom shoulder of the base is connected to the smoke alarm interconnect system. On top of the body are two metal spring-loaded tabs which are connected within the smoke alarm to its interconnect system. As the male portion of the unit is screwed into place these metal tabs make connection with the metal shoulder on the female portion of the unit completing the interconnect circuit. A light bulb changing device on a handle may be used to remove and reinstall the units while standing on the floor.
US08004413B2
A system and associated tag for detecting and tracking people makes use of a low radio frequency detection tag. Each tag comprises an antenna operate at a at a low radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz, a transceiver connected to the tag's antenna operable to transmit and receive data signals at low radio frequency, a data storage for storing the tag identification data, a data processor operable to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and causes the transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the stored identification data, and an energy source to supply power for the operation of the tag's transceiver and data processor. The tag also includes a display operable to display data relating to the tag and to a person carrying said tag. A field antenna is used with a reader, a transmitter and a central data processor to provide communication between the tags and the central data processor.
US08004409B2
An information carrier in a preferred embodiment is worn like a dog-tag and carries data such as medical information. The tag operates wirelessly, communicating with a nearby reader which interrogates the tag with a selected combination of RF signal frequencies. Extremely long term battery usage is achieved by connecting the battery in the tag only when the proper combination of RF signals, each at least at a minimum threshold power level, is received at the tag to produce a trigger voltage in activation logic to close a solid state switch. After a sequence of communications between the reader and the tag is then completed to transfer selected data from the memory, the battery is again disconnected to preserve battery energy for very long periods of time. The battery may be slowly recharged by ambient energy using a scavenging antenna array.
US08004404B2
An information storage device which can record highly reliable information is provided. The moving object information storage device 3 is an information storage device equipped in a moving object 1, and includes: a moving object information storage unit 32 storing moving object information based on information detected by sensors which detect information related to the moving object 1; a tamper preventing unit 20 obtaining specifying information which can specify the moving object 1, and generating integrity information to be used for verifying if at least either the specifying information or the moving object information is tampered or not based on the obtained specifying information and the moving object information stored in the moving object information storage unit 32; and an integrity information storage unit 33 storing the integrity information generated by the tamper preventing unit 20.
US08004402B2
A method and apparatus for determining a physical location of a customer of a network service, e.g., a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service are disclosed. For example, the method receives a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message containing a geographical coordinate data from a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) device being used by a customer for accessing one or more services. The method retrieves the geographical coordinate data from the SIP message and provides the one or more services to the customer using the geographical coordinate data. In an alternate embodiment, a method and apparatus for sending physical location information are disclosed.
US08004399B2
This invention relates to a central security and alarm system that provides an ability to respond to an emergency signal sent from a personal life safety device to a system central monitoring location using Wi-Fi, where the emergency signal include GPS coordinates of a location of the personal life safety device so that emergency responders can be sent to investigate and/or respond to the emergency. The system includes at least a personal life safety device including GPS and Wi-Fi capability, and an ability to respond to a user input to generate and transmit an emergency signal and a central monitoring station constructed to receive and respond to the emergency signal by identifying the user GPS coordinates, and initiate a response by emergency responders.
US08004393B2
The security system determines if the cargo area of a vehicle may have been opened in transit between a loading location and a destination location. The vehicle has an enclosed cargo area with a cargo door and lock. The system includes a digital counter which displays a number set thereon after the cargo area has been secured by locking the cargo door lock or by closing the cargo door. If a magnetic reed switch senses the unlocking of the cargo door lock or the opening of the cargo door after the cargo area has been secured, it causes the number on the counter to change. The set number is forwarded to the destination location by entering it on the shipping documents or transmitting it electronically. At the destination location, it can be determined if the cargo area may have been accessed in transit by comparing the set number forwarded to the recipient by the shipper with the number displayed on the counter when the vehicle reaches the destination location.
US08004386B2
A thin film resistor structure is disclosed. The resistor structure comprises a resistor film comprising a copper oxide layer and a plurality of metal islands thereon. The copper oxide layer has a top surface comprising a plurality of adjacent nodule-shaped recess regions, in which vacancies are formed between the nodule-shaped recess regions and are arranged in reticulate distribution. The plurality of metal islands is respectively distributed in the vacancies between the nodule-shaped recess regions. A method for fabricating the thin film resistor structure is also disclosed.
US08004382B2
An inductor device includes a first magnetic body pattern layer in which slits are provided and which is made to a pattern, a lower insulating layer formed on the first magnetic body pattern layer, a planar coil layer formed on the lower insulating layer, an upper insulating layer formed on the planar coil layer, and a second magnetic body pattern layer formed on the upper insulating layer and in which slits are provided and which is made to a pattern, wherein the first magnetic body pattern layer and the second magnetic body pattern layer are arranged to intersect orthogonally with the planar coil layer.
US08004380B2
A transformer 10 has a first core CR1, a second core CR2, a first transformer primary winding W1, a coil 45, a coil 46 and a coil 47. The second core CR2 is integrally formed with the first core CR1. The first transformer primary winding W1 is wound onto the first core CR1. The coil 45 is wound onto the first core CR1 and forms a transformer T1 together with the first transformer primary winding W1. The coil 46 is wound around the first core CR1 and forms a transformer T2 together with the first transformer primary winding W1. The coil 47 is connected to the coil 45 and coil 46 and forms an output coil using the second core CR2 as a magnetic core.
US08004376B2
A shunt separator is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed within the housing, an operating assembly including a trip bar, and a trip assembly. The trip assembly cooperates with the trip bar to trip open the separable contacts in response to a fault condition. The trip assembly includes a number of shunts. The shunt separator includes a molded projection, which extends outwardly from the housing of the electrical switching apparatus. The molded projection at least partially surrounds a portion of the trip bar, thereby separating the number of shunts from the trip bar.
US08004372B2
The invention relates to MEMS devices. In one embodiment, a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device comprises a resonator element having a circumference, an anchor region, and a plurality of beam elements coupling the anchor region and the resonator element. Further embodiments comprise additional devices, systems and methods.
US08004367B2
A PLL receives an indicator indicating that it is to operate at a different operating frequency than a current operating frequency. A control word is selected from a set of linear control words based upon the different operating frequency. A capacitance of a variable capacitor of a voltage-controlled oscillator is adjusted based upon the control word. The variable capacitor is monotonic and non-linear relative to the set of linear control words.
US08004363B2
A wideband low-noise amplifier of the present invention is designed such that an input terminal is connected to a base of a first transistor, one terminal of a first passive element, and one terminal of a third passive element; an emitter of the first transistor is grounded; a collector of the first transistor is connected to an output terminal, a base of a second transistor, one terminal of a capacitor, and one terminal of a second passive element; the other terminal of the first passive element is connected to the other terminal of the capacitor; an emitter of the second transistor is connected to the other terminal of the third passive element; and a power terminal is connected to a collector of the second transistor and the other terminal of the second passive element, wherein impedance of the third passive element is determined based on impedance of the first transistor whose emitter size is determined to suite desired saturation level of amplification, thus establishing input impedance matching.
US08004358B2
A distortion in an amplified signal obtained by amplifying a first input signal, is compensated for by applying a correction factor to the first input signal. The correction factor is updated based on the first input signal and the amplified signal. Updating the correction factor is prohibited when a value of the first input signal is same as a value of a second input signal among a plurality of input signals input previous to the first input signal.
US08004348B2
A control circuit controls a power-source-voltage feed circuit, and controls a power source voltage fed to a target circuit. A reference-speed monitor monitors whether or not a delay time of a critical path in the target circuit is satisfies a required operational speed. A voltage-difference monitor monitors a difference between the power source voltage of the target circuit and a threshold voltage of the target circuit, to output the voltage difference information. The control circuit determines whether to increase or decrease the power source voltage based on a result of monitoring by the reference-speed monitor. The control circuit determines the change rate of the power source voltage so that the control rate of the power source voltage is proportional to the voltage difference information output from the voltage-difference monitor.
US08004344B2
This invention provides a means and method for preventing unwanted semiconductor turn-on and turn-off, caused by a high rate of voltage change, without significantly affecting the desired ON and OFF transitions of the semiconductor. According to this invention, time is provided during either or both bistable ON and OFF semiconductor states, during which the semiconductor gate is allowed to float, neither being driven ON or OFF, and circuitry for lowering gate-node impedance at non-transitional times to prevent state disruptions by dV/dT is provided.
US08004342B2
A double-balanced mixer is provided having a shorting switch connecting the signal inputs to the mixer core. A timer circuit provides pulses to close the switch, thereby shorting those inputs at times when the switches of the mixer core are switching. This is done because non-linear components in the output are produced at those times and therefore they can be removed if the signal input is shorted at those times.
US08004341B1
An embodiment of a logarithmic circuit may include a logging transistor, a guard circuit arranged to force an input current into an input terminal of the logging transistor, and a positioning circuit arranged to maintain a voltage of the logging transistor. The guard and positioning circuits may include first and second feedback loops, respectively. Another embodiment of a logarithmic circuit may include a logging transistor arranged to generate a logarithmic output in response to an input current, and a feedback loop arranged to provide adaptive compensation to the logging transistor. The feedback loop may be arranged to provide compensation in response to the magnitude of the input current. Another embodiment of a logarithmic circuit may include first and second logging transistors having collectors arranged to receive input currents, and first and second feedback amplifier arranged to drive emitters of the logging transistors.
US08004332B2
There are provided a duty ratio control apparatus for altering a duty ratio of a clock signal to output an altered clock signal, including a first variable delay section that outputs a first delayed clock signal generated by delaying the clock signal by a predetermined first delay time, and a phase comparing section that compares, in terms of phase, an edge of the clock signal and an edge of the first delayed clock signal and generates the altered clock signal having a pulse width determined by a phase difference obtained by the comparison, and a duty ratio control method.
US08004319B2
In one or more embodiments, a programmable clock divider (PCD) can receive an input clock signal and a programmable number, and the PCD can produce a divided clock signal based on the programmable number. First and second circuits can compare first and second numbers, respectively, with a count value from a counter to generate first and second signals, respectively. A multiplexer can receive the first and second signals at inputs and can receive the clock signal at a selection input. The multiplexer can output an output signal, as a divided clock signal, based on the clock signal, the first signal, and the second signal, where the output signal transitions from a first value to a second value on at least one of a first edge of the first clock signal to output the first signal and a second edge of the first clock signal to output the second signal.
US08004317B2
This invention relates to a control method and a circuit for MOS-gated power semiconductor switching devices such as IGBTs or MOSFETs, which allows control and optimisition of the current and voltage commutation of a power semiconductor switching device and freewheel diode pair in the basic half-bridge circuit found in a wide range of equipment. The method comprises the stages of: applying, upon receipt of a switch-on command signal, a voltage function to the control terminal or the gate of the power semiconductor switching device that allows a regulated current rise in the device whilst maintaining the voltage across the device falling at a predetermined rate; and at the instant when the voltage across the diode begins to change from the on-state towards the off-state level, applying a voltage function to the control terminal or the gate of the power semiconductor switching device to enable the voltage falling across the power semiconductor switching device to track the voltage falling across the diode in order to ensure a fast and controlled completion of the switching operation without diode reverse voltage overshoot. The gate drive automatically modifies the voltage function according to the working condition thereby accounting for the actual operating conditions.
US08004314B2
A semiconductor device is able to terminate internal transmission lines and including a pre-driving unit configured to generate a pull-up driving signal and a pull-down driving signal corresponding to an output data signal, and transfer the pull-up driving signal and the pull-down driving signal to a first transmission line and a second transmission line, respectively, a main driving unit configured to drive an output data in response to the pull-up driving signal and the pull-down driving signal transferred through the first transmission line and the second transmission line and a termination unit configured to be supplied with a termination voltage to terminate the first transmission line and the second transmission line.
US08004305B2
An electronic circuit includes an output terminal and at least a first measuring FET. The second drain-source terminals of a plurality of FETS to be tested are interconnected with the first drain-source terminal of the first measuring FET and the output terminal. The second drain-source terminal of the first measuring FET is interconnected with a first biasing terminal. The first drain-source terminals of the FETS to be tested are interconnected with a second biasing terminal. A state machine is coupled to the gates of the FETS to be tested and the gate of the first measuring FET. The state machine is configured to energize the gate of the first measuring FET and to sequentially energize the gates of the FETS to be tested, so that an output voltage appears on the output terminal. Circuitry to compare the output voltage to a reference value is also provided. The gate of the first measuring field effect transistor is energized; the gates of the field effect transistors to be tested are sequentially energized, whereby an output voltage appears on the output terminal; and the output voltage is compared to the reference value.
US08004302B2
A semiconductor device whose operational state is switched between a test state and a normal operational state according to a logical value of a signal input from the outside is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first power line, a second power line, a switch that is controlled by a signal line to couple/isolate the first power line to/from the second power line, a control circuit that outputs a control signal, and a state switching circuit that drives the signal line to couple/isolate the first power line to/from the second power line according to a logical value of the control signal when the input signal is one of logical values, whereas the state switching circuit drives the signal line to couple the first power line to the second power line when the first signal is the other logical value.
US08004297B2
The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for isolation circuits. One such isolation circuit embodiment includes: a first transistor configured for connection to a supply voltage via a first terminal; a register connected to the first transistor; a second transistor in parallel with a resistor, wherein the second transistor is configured for connection to the first terminal, with a gate of the second transistor configured for connection to an output of the register; and wherein the second transistor is configured for connection to a second terminal, the second transistor having a state that depends on a status of the register.
US08004294B2
A method of manufacturing actuators for an inkjet head includes the step of measuring an absolute value of a coercive voltage of an active layer. The method further includes the step of sorting the actuators based at least on the coercive voltage. Each of the actuators includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an active layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an inactive layer wherein the second electrode is positioned between the inactive layer and the active layer.
US08004292B1
An electrical penetration graph (EPG) system includes a monitoring device with a buffered and stabilized voltage source assembly and a buffered internal amplifier with switched gain control. The system also includes a head stage amplifier. During the EPG process, the voltage source assembly directs an electrical current through a feeding insect. As the current passes through the insect, the insect's feeding process modulates the current and creates voltage waveform data. A head stage amplifier with selectable input resistance receives and amplifies the voltage waveform data. The data is transmitted back to the monitoring device where it is manipulated and further amplified by the monitoring device internal amplifier assembly. The waveform data is then transmitted to a controller and ultimately to an output device where the data is displayed.
US08004279B2
NMR spin echo signals are acquired downhole. Principal Component Analysis is used to represent the signals by a weighted combination of the principal components and these weights are telemetered to the surface. At the surface, the NMR spin echo signals are recovered and inverted to give formation properties. Real-time displays may be used for determining formation properties and for altering the acquisition parameters.
US08004276B2
A reference signal generation circuit generates a reference signal used in synchronous detection for removing an excitation signal component in an angle calculation section that converts a detection angle θ obtained from two-phase resolver detection signals output from a resolver, to a digital output angle φ. The reference signal generation circuit includes a first multiplier, a second multiplier, and an adder. The first multiplier multiplies one of the resolver detection signals sin θ sin(ωt+Δω) by the sine value sin φ of the digital output angle φ obtained from the angle calculation section. The second multiplier multiplies the other resolver detection signal cos θ sin(ωt+Δω) by the cosine value cos φ of the digital output angle φ obtained from the angle calculation section. The adder adds the output of the first multiplier and the output of the second multiplier to output the sum signal sin(ωt+Δω) as the reference signal.
US08004269B1
The present invention relates to a radio frequency (RF) power measurement circuit that measures delivered power to a load. The RF power measurement circuit includes a measurement RF transmission line coupled to the load, and measurement and power calculation circuitry coupled to either end of the measurement RF transmission line to measure an RF input signal feeding the measurement RF transmission line and to measure an RF output signal fed from the measurement RF transmission line to the load. The measurement and power calculation circuitry uses the measured RF input and output signals to calculate and provide a delivered power signal that is indicative of the delivered power to the load.
US08004265B2
A voltage generating circuit for generating a plurality of associated voltages includes a constant current source for generating a constant current; a plurality of resistors connected in series to the constant current source in series for generating a plurality of associated reference voltages; and a first controlled switch connected to a first resistor in parallel, wherein the plurality of associated reference voltages are changed by optionally conducting the first controlled switch to control the flow of the constant current through the first resistor.
US08004264B2
A voltage converter to convert a high voltage to a low voltage is provided. The voltage converter comprises: a current mirror, a current bias, a plurality of loads and a low voltage output. The current mirror comprises a first PMOS and a second PMOS, wherein the source of the first PMOS and the second PMOS receive a high voltage input which is a supply voltage of the current mirror, and the gate of the first PMOS is connected to the drain of the first PMOS. The current bias is connected between the drain of the first PMOS and a ground potential. The plurality of loads are parallel connected between the drain of the second PMOS and the ground potential. And the low voltage output connected to the drain of the second PMOS.
US08004258B2
A current regulator and a method for regulating current are described.
US08004257B2
A voltage regulator has a first error amplifier circuit that amplifies a difference between a first reference voltage and a voltage based on an output voltage of an output transistor, and an overcurrent protection circuit that detects an overcurrent flowing through the output transistor and limits a current of the output transistor. The overcurrent protection circuit has an output current detection transistor that feeds a detection current in accordance with an output current of the output transistor, a voltage generation circuit that generates a voltage based on the detection current, a second error amplifier circuit that amplifies a difference between the voltage from the voltage generation circuit and a voltage set by a second reference voltage supplied by a temperature detection circuit and a voltage based on the output voltage, and an output current limiting transistor that controls a gate voltage of the output transistor and has a gate that is controlled by an output of the second error amplifier circuit.
US08004245B2
A test device (100) for charge performance of an electronic device (60) that including a battery port (61) and a charge port (62), which includes a first switch (10), a second switch (20), a reset chip (40) and a control unit (50). The second switch is connected to the first switch and both the battery port and charge port. The first switch generates a charge voltage and input it to the charge port. The second switch obtains a voltage on the battery port and sends it to the reset chip. The reset chip includes an input end connected to the second switch and a RESET pin connected to the first switch. The reset chip adjudges if the RESET pin should generating a reset signal to the first switch according to the voltage on the battery port.
US08004240B2
Systems and methods are provided for an uninterruptable power supply having a positive DC bus, a neutral DC bus, and a negative DC bus. The uninterruptible power supply includes a battery charger circuit having an inductor, a first charger output, and a second charger output. A first switch connected to a first end of the inductor is configured to couple the positive DC bus with the first charger output. A second switch connected to a second end of the inductor is configured to couple the negative DC bus with the inductor. The neutral DC bus can be coupled to the second charger output. The battery charger circuit can be configured to draw power from at least one of the positive DC bus and the negative DC bus to charge a battery coupled to the first charger output and the second charger output.
US08004235B2
An inductive charging system for recharging a battery. The system includes a charger circuit and a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit includes a feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the charger circuit through the inductive coupling of the primary coil and the secondary coil. The charger circuit includes a frequency control mechanism for controlling the frequency of the power applied to the primary coil at least partly in response to the feedback from the feedback mechanism.
US08004222B2
A negative sequence feedback circuit is connected to monitor and minimize unbalances in a high-frequency ac carrier signal provided to a motor/load for the purpose of detecting rotor position. The negative sequence feedback circuit detects unbalances in the high-frequency ac carrier signal and generates negative sequence feedback. The feedback is combined with command signals used to generate the high-frequency ac carrier signal, and the combination of the command signals with the negative sequence feedback is provided to an inverter for generation of the high-frequency ac carrier signal, wherein the negative sequence feedback reduces unbalances in the resulting high-frequency ac carrier signal such that a balanced high-frequency carrier signal is provided to the motor/load.
US08004220B2
A drive system for a motor having a rotor and a phase winding (a, b, c) comprises; a drive circuit including switch means associated with the winding a, b, c for varying the current passing through the winding; rotor position sensing means arranged to sense the position of the rotor; control means arranged to provide drive signals to control the switch means; a power input for connection to a power supply at a nominal voltage; and boost means in electric communication with the power input and power output, and controllable to boost the nominal voltage to a higher voltage for application to the winding.
US08004217B2
The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a gas discharge lamp ballast with an integral shutdown timer. The ballast includes a circuit for receiving AC power, a converter circuit for converting the AC power to DC power and a square wave oscillator powered from the DC power. A resonant circuit powered by the square wave oscillator supplies power to at least one gas discharge lamp. A time-delay circuit disables the square wave oscillator, without interrupting the DC power supplied to the oscillator, upon the passage of a predetermined period of time from power-up of the AC power. The ballast can be realized with only a marginal increase in cost and size of the ballast.
US08004188B2
A light emitting device (100) is provided, comprising a substrate (101), a first electrically conductive layer (102), a light emitting layer (103), and a second electrically conductive layer (104). The light emitting device (100) further comprises at least one metal shunt (105) which is in electrical contact with said first electrically conductive layer (102). The at least one metal shunt (105) is isolated from said second electrically conductive layer (104) at least by means of a dielectric oxide layer (106). The present invention allows for the use of electrically insulating material between one or more metal shunts and a cathode layer without reducing the effective pixel area of the device.
US08004175B2
A light-emitting material is provided allowing a light-emitting body having an excellent low-excitation characteristic and high brightness to be obtained by using a light-emitting material containing a light-emitting base material that emits light through radiative transition of electrons in material atoms, the light-emitting base having nanoparticles added thereto and dispersed therein, the light-emitting material also allowing a reduction in excitation energy and an increase in brightness to be simultaneously achieve, thereby allowing, for a wide range of light-emitting bodies, a reduction in excitation energy and a significant improvement in brightness to be achieved in a simple structure. Also provided is a light-emitting body having the light-emitting material and a light-emitting method.
US08004174B2
A light-emitting device includes four or more rows of element groups each having light-emitting elements arranged in a first direction, the element groups being arranged in parallel in a second direction different from the first direction. In each of a plurality of unit regions arranged in the first direction, the light-emitting elements belonging to the four or more rows of element groups are arranged at different positions by ones. The four or more rows of element groups includes a first element group, a second element group, and a third element group adjacent to the second element group. In each of the plurality of unit regions, the light-emitting element belonging to the second element group is disposed on one side in the first direction when viewed from the light-emitting element belonging to the first element group, and the light-emitting element belonging to the third element group is disposed on the other side in the first direction when viewed from the light-emitting element belonging to the first element group.
US08004166B1
An improved germicidal lamp of the type containing mercury, having a ceramic base, and disposed in, and preventing contact with, a transparent quartz sleeve to prevent formation of a cold spot in the germicidal lamp caused by an undesirable thermal transfer between the lamp and the sleeve and which causes condensation of the mercury at the cold spot in the germicidal lamp. The improvement includes the ceramic base having a circumferential groove therearound, and a thermally insulating ring siting in the circumferential groove of the ceramic base so as to prevent the ceramic base from contacting the sleeve to prevent formation of the cold spot in the germicidal lamp caused by the undesirable thermal transfer between the lamp and the sleeve and prevent the condensation of the mercury at the cold spot in the germicidal lamp.
US08004164B2
In a piezoelectric device that uses a vibration mode in a direction parallel to a polarization direction, a single crystal device that achieves an electromechanical coupling factor of 65% or more, which is more than the electromechanical coupling factor (about 60%) of the existing flat plane type piezoelectric single crystal device in that vibrational direction, is provided by performing certain treatment to its device plane. Specifically, a piezoelectric portion having a comb-shaped structure in which a plurality of slits are formed with a certain arrangement pitch on either of device planes whose polarization direction is their normal direction, the slits having a depth extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the device plane and being filled with an insulating material, is formed to achieve 65% or more of an electromechanical coupling factor in a direction parallel to the polarization direction.
US08004142B2
A stator assembly is provided with detachable teeth that are made of magnetic powder material. The teeth are so configured and sized as to be interconnected to a core body of the stator with pre-formed coils that are positioned between adjacent teeth.
US08004138B2
A motor is provided with: an inner rotor having inner permanent magnets arranged in a peripheral direction and an outer rotor having outer permanent magnets arranged in the peripheral direction, the mutual axes of rotation of the inner rotor and the outer rotor being arranged coaxially, and a rotating device capable of making at least one of the inner rotor and the outer rotor rotate around the axes of rotation so as to change the relative phase between the rotors, wherein the rotating device includes: a first member which is integrally and rotatably provided with respect to the outer rotor; and a second member which is integrally and rotatably provided with respect to the inner rotor and which defines pressure chambers inside the inner rotor with the first member, and wherein a working fluid is supplied to the pressure chambers, thereby changing the relative phase between the rotors.
US08004137B2
A system and method for moving an object is disclosed. In one aspect, there is a device for moving an object. The device comprises a penetrating structure comprising an externally threaded surface. The device further comprises a receiving structure comprising an internally threaded cylinder surrounding the penetrating structure. The device further comprises a source of magnetic flux configured to magnetize the externally threaded surface with a first polarity and to magnetize the internally threaded cylinder with a second polarity that is different from the first polarity. The device further comprises a conductor positioned between the penetrating structure and the receiving structure configured to conduct an electric current. The device further comprises a sensor configured to determine the radial position of the penetrating structure with respect to the receiving structure. The device further comprises a controller configured to control the electric current in the conductor based on the determined radial position.
US08004132B2
A coreless motor able to be downsized and easy to be assembled and to ensure the concentricity between a motor shaft, a magnet, and an outer cylinder. The coreless motor includes an outer cylinder gear unit having an output shaft and a speed-reducer mechanism incorporated into a field assembly having a magnet fitted on an inner yoke and an outer cylinder fitted on an outer periphery of the magnet, a motor shaft unit having an inner lid rotatably supporting a motor shaft via ball bearings, a rotor unit having a circular plate attached with a commutator electrically connected to a coil, an outer lid unit having an outer lid mounted with brushes. The inner lid is incorporated in the inner yoke, the coil is incorporated in between the outer cylinder and the magnet, and the outer lid unit is attached to the rotor unit and the outer cylinder.
US08004131B2
A stepping motor includes: a rotating shaft; a rotor fixed to the rotating shaft; a terminal unit disposed at a side of the rotor, and having an external power supply applied thereto; a coil coupled to the terminal unit; and an outer yoke disposed in circumferential directions around outsides of the coil and the rotor to form magnetic pole portions, and disposed in a circumferential direction around an inside of the coil to increase an area through which magnetic flux flows.
US08004130B2
There is provided a rotating electric machine including a rotation sensor unit capable of demonstrating a shielding effect over a wide frequency bandwidth and a manufacturing method therefor. In the rotating electric machine, a power unit provided with a switching element that controls an electric current that flows in a stator winding and a magnetic-field current control circuit unit provided with a switching element that controls an electric current that flows in a rotor winding are arranged on a predetermined surface of one of a pair of brackets that pivotably support a rotor shaft, and the rotation sensor unit is disposed in the vicinity of the predetermined surface of the one bracket; The rotating electric machine is characterized in such a way that there is provided a ring-shaped member that is fixed on the outer surface of the rotation sensor unit, and the ring-shaped member is configured with a non-magnetic unit having an electric conductivity and a magnetic unit.
US08004116B2
Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source (1) or strings of panels (11) for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid (10) three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control (27), and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements (24) and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements (25).
US08004099B2
In an apparatus (and a method) for controlling a cogeneration system equipped with a generation unit having a generator connectable to an AC power feed line between a commercial power network and an electrical load and an internal combustion engine for driving the generator, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with coolant of the engine with exhaust heat from the engine to warm up the coolant, there are provided with an exhaust gas temperature sensor that detects temperature of exhaust gas passing the heat exchanger, a temperature comparator that compares the exhaust gas temperature with a predetermined value and an operation stopper that stops the operation of the cogeneration system when the exhaust gas temperature is found to be less than the predetermined value. With this, it becomes possible to prevent moisture in the exhaust gas from being condensed and accumulated in the exhaust-gas heat exchanger.
US08004085B2
A semiconductor device has an element interconnection 2, a top-layer element interconnection 4, a super-connect interconnection 10 and a bump 7. The element interconnection 2 is provided on a semiconductor substrate 1 through a plurality of insulating layers 50. The top-layer element interconnection 4 is formed above the element interconnection 2 by using a substantially equivalent process equipment. The super-connect interconnection 10 is provided on the top-layer element interconnection 4 through a super-connect insulating layer 9 having a thickness five or more times larger than that of the insulating layer 5, and has a thickness three or more times larger than that of each the element interconnection 2 and the top-layer element interconnection 4. The bump 7 is formed on the super-connect interconnection 10. The top-layer element interconnection 4 has a signal pad 4s, a power source pad 4v and a ground pad 4g. An area of the signal pad 4s is smaller than each area of the power source pad 4v and the ground pad 4g.
US08004072B2
Packaging systems and methods for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a packaging system includes a first plate having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An integrated circuit is mountable to the first plate. The packaging system includes a second plate coupleable over the first plate over the integrated circuit. The second plate has a second CTE that is substantially a same CTE as the first CTE. A plurality of solder balls is coupleable to the first plate or the second plate and to the integrated circuit.
US08004064B2
A thin film capacitor with a trench structure having a base substance and a pair of electrodes provided on the base substance, and a dielectrode provided between the electrodes. The trench pattern is configured to have a first pattern and a second pattern separate from the first pattern. The first pattern having a plurality of protrusions provided upright at predetermined intervals, and the second pattern separate from the first pattern having a plurality of recesses provided at predetermined intervals, are provided at the side of the base substance where the dielectric film is formed. Trenches are each defined by the outer wall of each protrusion and the inner wall of each recess.
US08004061B1
The radio frequency (RF) impedance of a metal trace at gigahertz frequencies is reduced by forming the metal trace to have a base region and a number of fins that extend away from the base region. When formed in a spiral configuration having a number of loops, the metal trace forms an inductor with an increased quality factor (Q).
US08004059B2
An eFuse, includes: a substrate and an insulating layer disposed on the substrate; a first layer including a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon disposed on the insulating layer; a second layer including a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon germanium disposed on the first layer, and a third layer including a silicide disposed on the second layer. The Ge has a final concentration in a range of approximately five percent to approximately twenty-five percent.
US08004058B2
A semiconductor diode that is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor diode includes a portion of a semiconductor substrate including a first dopant, a first well with a Schottky region, and a second well with a second dopant; and an isolation region replacement element positioned over the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the first and second wells.
US08004055B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming voids within semiconductor constructions. In some embodiments the voids may be utilized as microstructures for distributing coolant, for guiding electromagnetic radiation, or for separation and/or characterization of materials. Some embodiments include constructions having micro-structures therein which correspond to voids, conduits, insulative structures, semiconductor structures or conductive structures.
US08004046B2
A semiconductor device has a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a second gate electrode portion of a gate electrode including a TiN film and a polysilicon film that are successively formed on the gate insulating film, and an interlayer insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the gate electrode. A contact formed to extend through the interlayer insulating film and the polysilicon film is directly connected to the TiN film.
US08004045B2
First and second gate insulating films are formed so as to cover at least the upper corner of first and second fin-shaped semiconductor regions. The radius of curvature r1′ of the upper corner of the first fin-shaped semiconductor region located outside the first gate insulating film is greater than the radius of curvature r1 of the upper corner of the first fin-shaped semiconductor region located under the first gate insulating film and is less than or equal to 2×r1. The radius of curvature r2′ of the upper corner of the second fin-shaped semiconductor region located outside the second gate insulating film is greater than the radius of curvature r2 of the upper corner of the second fin-shaped semiconductor region located under the second gate insulating film and is less than or equal to 2×r2.
US08004040B2
Provided are a semiconductor device which can be manufactured at low cost and has a low on-resistance and a high withstand voltage, and its manufacturing method. The semiconductor device comprises an N-type well area formed on a P-type semiconductor substrate, a P-type body area formed within the well area, an N-type source area formed within the body area, an N-type drain area formed at a distance from the body area within the well area, a gate insulating film formed so as to overlay a part of the body area, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film and a P-type buried diffusion area which makes contact with the bottom of the body area and extends to an area beneath the drain area in a direction parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate within the well area.
US08004032B1
A system and method is disclosed for providing a low voltage high density multi-bit storage flash memory. A dual bit memory cell of the invention comprises a substrate having a common source, a first drain and first channel, and a second drain and a second channel. A common control gate is located above the source. A first floating gate and a second floating gate are located on opposite sides of the control gate. Each floating gate is formed with a sharp tip adjacent to the control gate and an upper curved surface that follows a contour of the surface of the control gate. The sharp tips of the floating gates efficiently discharge electrons into the control gate when the memory cell is erased. The curved surfaces increase capacitor coupling between the control gate and the floating gates.
US08004030B2
Provided is a semiconductor device that includes: a base insulating film 25 formed above a silicon substrate 10; a ferroelectric capacitor Q formed on the base insulating film 25; multiple interlayer insulating films 35, 48, and 62, and metal interconnections 45, 58, and 72 which are alternately formed on and above the capacitor Q; and conductive plugs 57 which are respectively formed inside holes 54a provided in the interlayer insulating films 48 and are electrically connected to the metal interconnections 45. In the semiconductor device, a first capacitor protection insulating film 50 is formed on an upper surface of the interlayer insulating film 48 by sequentially stacking a first insulating metal oxide film 50a, an intermediate insulating film 50b having a relative dielectric constant lower than that of the interlayer insulating film 48, and a second insulating metal oxide film 50c; and the holes 54a are also formed in the first capacitor protection insulating film 50.
US08004015B2
Semiconductor devices are provided including a plurality of L-shaped cell blocks each including, a cell array and a plurality of decoders disposed in horizontal and vertical directions of the cell array. The plurality of L-shaped cell blocks are oriented in a diagonal direction intersecting the horizontal and vertical directions. Related methods are also provided herein.
US08004011B2
A material of a gate electrode is a conductive oxide having a higher work function than that of conventionally used Pd and so on, thereby achieving a normally-off transistor without reducing the sheet carrier concentration of a heterojunction. It is thus possible to achieve a normally-off operation while reducing an increase in the specific on-state resistance.
US08004006B2
Provided are a nitride semiconductor light emitting element which does not suffer a damage on a light emitting region and has a high luminance without deterioration, even though the nitride semiconductor light emitting element is one in which electrodes are disposed opposite to each other and an isolation trench for chip separation and laser lift-off is formed by etching; and a manufacturing method thereof. An n-type nitride semiconductor layer 2 has a step, formed in a position beyond an active layer 3 when viewed from a p side. Up to the position of this step A, a protective insulating film 6 covers a part of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer 2, the active layer 3, a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 4, the side of a p electrode 5 and a part of the top side of the p electrode 5. The use of a structure having a chip side face covered with the protective insulating film 6 prevents the active layer or the like from being exposed to an etching gas for a long time when an isolation trench for chip separation or laser lift-off is formed by etching.
US08004002B2
A thin-type light emitting diode lamp includes a blue light emitting diode chip (6) disposed at a substantial center of an inner bottom surface of a groove-shaped recess (3) formed at an end surface and having a thin elongated rectangular opening, a red light conversion layer (7) covering the blue light emitting diode chip (6) and made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin containing powder of a red fluorescent material which emits red light when excited by blue light emitted from the blue light emitting diode chip, and a green light conversion layer (10) made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin containing powder of a green fluorescent material which emits green light when excited by the blue light. The light emitting diode lamp further includes a light transmitting layer (9) intervening between the red light conversion layer (7) and the green light conversion layer (10). The light transmitting layer contains neither the red fluorescent material nor the green fluorescent material or contains the red fluorescent material or the green fluorescent material only by a small amount.
US08004000B2
Example embodiments are directed to a polarized light emitting diode and method of forming the same. The polarized light emitting diode may include a support layer, a semiconductor layer structure, and/or a polarization control layer. The semiconductor layer structure may be formed on the support layer and may include a light-emitting layer. The polarization control layer may be formed on the semiconductor layer structure and may include a plurality of metal nanowires. The polarized light emitting diode may be configured to control the polarization of emitted light. The method of forming a polarized light emitting diode may include forming on a substrate a semiconductor layer structure with a light emitting layer. A reflecting layer may be formed on the semiconductor layer structure with an attached support layer. The substrate may be removed from the semiconductor layer structure and a polarization control layer including metal nanowires may be formed on the semiconductor layer structure.
US08003994B2
Techniques for controlling current flow in semiconductor devices, such as LEDs are provided. For some embodiments, a current guiding structure may be provided including adjacent high and low contact areas. For some embodiments, a second current path (in addition to a current path between an n-contact pad and a metal alloy substrate) may be provided. For some embodiments, both a current guiding structure and second current path may be provided.
US08003991B2
This invention has a cell incorporating a built-in Schottky diode region disposed in at least part of an elementary cell that constitutes an SiC vertical MOSFET provided in a low-density p-type deposit film with a channel region and a base region inverted to an n-type by ion implantation. This built-in Schottky diode region has built therein a Schottky diode of low on-resistance that is formed of a second deficient pan disposed in a high-density gate layer, a second n-type base layer penetrating a low-density p-type deposit layer formed thereon, reaching an n-type drift layer of the second deficient part and attaining its own formation in consequence of inversion of the p-type deposit layer into an n-type by the ion implantation of an n-type impurity from the surface, and a source electrode connected in the manner of forming a Schottky barrier to the surface-exposed part of the second n-type base layer.
US08003987B2
In order to suppress the effect due to electrons (holes) generated by incident light that cannot be prevented from entering only by means of light shielding, rather than the drain region 34 of a transistor, with respect to a majority carrier, a region 36 whose voltage is set to a value lower than the reference value of product of the voltage of a drain region and Q (unit electric charge) is provided, or a potential barrier is provided around the drain region. In such a configuration, by controlling the voltage of the periphery of the drain region 34 connected to a reflection electrode 30 to be in a floating state, photo carriers generated in the semiconductor substrate are caused to be hardly guided in the drain region 34.
US08003982B2
An electric power generator includes a first conductive layer, a plurality of semiconducting piezoelectric nanostructures, a second conductive layer and a plurality of conductive nanostructures. The first conductive layer has a first surface from which the semiconducting piezoelectric nanostructures extend. The second conductive layer has a second surface and is parallel to the first conductive layer so that the second surface faces the first surface of the first conductive layer. The conductive nanostructures depend downwardly therefrom. The second conductive layer is spaced apart from the first conductive layer at a distance so that when a force is applied, the semiconducting piezoelectric nanostructures engage the conductive nanostructures so that the piezoelectric nanostructures bend, thereby generating a potential difference across the at semiconducting piezoelectric nanostructures and also thereby forming a Schottky barrier between the semiconducting piezoelectric nanostructures and the conductive nanostructures.
US08003981B2
The present invention provides a field effect transistor including an oxide film as a semiconductor layer, wherein the oxide film includes one of a source part and a drain part to which one of hydrogen and deuterium is added.
US08003980B2
The present invention is drawn to a layered organic device, and a method of forming the same. The method includes steps of applying a first solvent-containing organic layer to a substrate and removing solvent from the first solvent-containing organic layer to form a first solidified organic layer. Additional steps include applying a second solvent-containing organic layer to the first solidified organic layer and removing solvent from the second solvent-containing organic layer to form a second solidified organic layer. The first solidified organic layer can be crosslinked, which suppresses negative impact to components in the first solidified organic layer when the solvent of the second solvent-containing organic layer is deposited on the first solidified organic layer.
US08003972B2
A PCRAM cell has a gradated or layered resistivity bottom electrode with higher resistivity closer to a phase change material, to provide partial heating near the interface between the cell and the bottom electrode, preventing separation of the amorphous GST region from the bottom electrode, and reducing the programming current requirements. The bottom electrode can also be tapered to have a smaller cross-sectional area at the top of the bottom electrode than at the bottom of the bottom electrode.
US08003971B2
An integrated circuit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a damascene structured memory element coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The memory element has a height and a width. The height is greater than or equal to the width. The memory element includes resistance changing material doped with dielectric material.
US08003970B2
Provided is a phase-change random access memory (PRAM). The PRAM includes a bottom electrode, a bottom electrode contact layer, which is formed on one area of the bottom electrode, and an insulating layer, which is formed on a side of the bottom electrode contact layer, a phase-change layer, which is formed on the bottom electrode contact layer and the insulating layer and is formed of a phase-change material having a crystallization temperature between 100° C. and 150° C., and a top electrode, which is formed on the phase-change layer.
US08003968B2
A method of helping to prevent liquid reaching under a substrate is disclosed that includes introducing a gas at a bottom edge of the substrate so that a buffer is created at the edge of the substrate, helping to keep immersion liquid that is present at the top and edge of the substrate away from the bottom surface of the substrate.
US08003963B2
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus comprises a target supply unit supplying a target into a vacuum chamber, a laser oscillator outputting a laser light into the vacuum chamber, a collector mirror outputting an extreme ultraviolet light outside by reflecting the extreme ultraviolet light emitted from the target being ionized as a plasma by irradiation with the laser light at a plasma luminescence point in the vacuum chamber, and an ion debris removal unit at least a part of which is located in an obscuration region including the plasma luminescence point.
US08003955B2
A sample manipulation device comprises an observation unit, which is used to observe a sample and to select a target position at which a portion to be removed from the sample is located, and a specimen stage which receives the sample. The sample manipulation device may include a manipulation tool, which is spatially shiftable relative to the observation unit and comprises a manipulation tip by which portions are removed from the sample, a control unit, which controls the shifting of the manipulation tool, as well as an optical position measurement unit, which is connected to the control unit and is used to determine the actual position of the manipulation tip, so that specific shifting of the manipulation tip to the target position can be carried out.
US08003952B2
A charged particle beam column package includes an assembly (e.g., comprising a plurality of layers, which can have a component coupled to one of the layers), and at least one deflector between an extractor and aperture of the assembly. Further, at least one of the layers has interconnects thereon.
US08003943B2
A dynamic radiation monitor having a detector coupled to a computer to determine at any given location, the amount of time a person has before a pre-selected maximum permissible radiation exposure is received. The device dynamically calculates and outputs the user's permissible stay time for a given area based on a personalized maximum permissible dose, and adjusts in real time the output based on elapsed time and changing exposure rate. The device also provides the user audio and visual feedback such as varying background colors for different stay time ranges.
US08003925B2
Waste heat of a high temperature inside a main body is designed to be discharged to the outside of the main body by means of a discharge fan through a first suction air flow passage and a first discharge air flow passage. Also, through a second air flow passage communicating from a second discharge fan suction port to a discharge fan suction portion, air from the outside of the main body or air at a site of the main body, where the temperature is low, is sucked by a discharge fan so that the air of a low temperature can pass outside the drive motor to cool the latter. With this construction, the interior of the main body and the drive motor can be cooled efficiently.
US08003924B2
A cooking appliance includes at least one heating element; a heat sink connected to the heating element, to radiate heat generated by the heating element; a cooling fan located at one side of the heat sink, to blow cooling air to the heat sink; and a flow guide covering at least a portion of the heat sink and guiding a portion of the cooling air to flow to the heating element.
US08003922B2
An intake air heating system for an internal combustion engine includes an electric heater that heats the intake air, a control circuit that switches a voltage to the electric heater based on a control signal and an over-temperature signal, a temperature sensor that generates a temperature signal based on a temperature of the control circuit, and a temperature sensing circuit that generates the over-temperature signal based on the temperature signal and a predetermined temperature.
US08003918B2
The present invention provides a vertical heat treatment boat that has at least four or more support portions per processing target substrate to be supported, the support portions horizontally supporting the processing target substrate, support auxiliary members on which the processing target substrate is mounted being detachably attached to the four or more support portions, respectively, wherein flatness obtained from all surfaces of the respective support auxiliary members on which the processing target substrate is mounted is adjusted by adjusting thicknesses of the support auxiliary members or interposing spacers between the support portions and the support auxiliary members in accordance with respective shapes of the four or more support portions. As a result, it is provided the vertical heat treatment boat and a heat treatment method for a semiconductor wafer that can readily improve flatness in support of the processing target substrate and effectively prevent occurrence of slip dislocation when performing a heat treatment to the processing target substrate such as a semiconductor wafer by using a vertical heat treatment furnace.
US08003916B2
An industrial robot has a base for installation, a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a wire feeder, a welding torch, and a torch cable. The first arm rotates with respect to the base. The second arm pivots with respect to the first arm. The third arm pivots with respect to the second arm. The torch cable is coupled to the wire feeder and feeds a welding wire to a welding torch. The wire feeder is provided to the second arm and is rotatable around a rotation axis.
US08003914B2
A butt welding system and a butt welding method of steel plate by which the quality of a product can be ensured. Butting portions of blank members (1,2) to be joined together are butted and a predetermined butting load is applied to the butting portion, wherein the blank members (1,2) are moved relatively in the direction of the welding line thus matching the butting portions. Protrusions and recesses formed on each butting portion of each blank member (1,2) are flattened, whereby linear precision at each butting portion of each blank member (1,2) is enhanced as compared with a case where the butting portions are not matched. Since the gap is reduced extremely at the butting portion, welding is facilitated at the butting portion. Good welding beads are thereby obtained at the butting portion and the quality of a product is ensured.
US08003912B2
Method for manufacturing a machine housing having a fluid chamber (14) with a hardening layer (16) on an internal wall surface, in which the hardening layer (16) is made of a material, that, per-se, is not electrically conductive but has been made conductive by additives, and in that the surface of the hardening layer (16) is machined by electro-discharge machining.
US08003909B2
An emergency off switching device for disconnecting an electrically operated machine from a circuit including a plurality of operated machines, includes a housing attached to the machine against which an externally accessible actuator cap is held in an axially movable arrangement, a contact switch accommodated in the housing which is closed when the switching device is in the non-actuated condition and by means of which the machine is electrically connected to the circuit, and a driver sleeve supported against the inside of the housing that is connected to the actuator cap with the free end of the driver sleeve opposite to the actuator cap facing the contact switch and disconnecting it from the circuit in the actuated condition, wherein a monitoring signal is generated when the switching device is in the actuated condition, to ascertain which of a plurality of the switching devices has been actuated.
US08003907B2
To reduce the number of erroneous operations, on an operation apparatus conducting mutually different operations such as opening and closing operations, a concretized human pictogram indicating mutually different state changes such as state changes represented by use of a face with opened eyes and a face with closed eyes associated with operation signals assigned to a pair of operation switches and a pictogram in which the human pictogram is combined with an operation pictogram representing a state in which a door concretizing an operation target to operate in response to an operation signal is opened or is being completely closed are respectively attached to the operation switches disposed adjacent to each other.
US08003905B2
An actuating device for an electromedical apparatus and in particular a foot switch. The foot switch includes a floor part, at least one pedal part that is tiltably connected to the floor part, and at least one switch element that is actuated by the pedal part. Further, at least the floor part is manufactured by one of an extrusion-coating method or a casting method such that at least a portion of the floor part is fully coated by a coating material.
US08003893B2
A multilayer ceramic circuit board includes ceramic wiring layers which are stacked together, one or two or more lifting layers which have a planar shape and which are disposed as an inner layer inside the stacked ceramic wiring layers or as a lower layer lower than a bottom ceramic wiring layer, and a protruding portion formed on a surface of a top ceramic wiring layer due to the disposition of the one or two or more lifting layers. The protruding portion smoothly protrudes and has a large area and high flatness. The multilayer ceramic circuit board is formed by disposing lifting layers as an inner layer of a plurality green sheets or as a lower layer lower than a bottom green sheet, and firing under pressure the resulting laminate in a state constrained by an elastic constraining sheet and a rigid constraining sheet.
US08003891B2
An exemplary high-voltage outdoor bushing is disclosed which includes a conductor extended along an axis, a condenser core and an electrically insulating polymeric weather protection housing molded on the condenser core. The condenser core can contain an electrically insulating tape which is wound in spiral form around the conductor. Capacitance grading insertions can be arranged between successive windings of the tape. A cured polymeric insulating matrix embeds the wound tape and the capacitive grading insertions. A moisture diffusion barrier can be incorporated inside the condenser core prior to molding the weather protection housing.
US08003890B2
A repositionable shelf-mounted handle spool assembly for cable routing includes a mounting bracket and a repositionable spool coupled thereto. The mounting bracket has a primary mounting plate and a shelf, having an opening, that is parallel to but spaced apart from the primary mounting plate. The repositionable spool includes a base having a stub for repositionably coupling with the opening in the shelf, a cylindrical shaft extending from the base, and a gate arm mounted perpendicularly to the cylindrical shaft. The base may be repositioned relative to the mounting structure via the stub.
US08003889B2
A conduit sleeve for a concrete pass through includes a tubular member having an inside diameter for receiving a cylindrical conduit at a forward end thereof. A flange is coupled to a rearward end of the tubular member. The flange is for coupling to a concrete form. A flexing structure is coupled to one or more of the tubular member and the flange for allowing the flange to be angled relative to the tubular member when the flange is installed on a concrete form. The tubular member is configured for receiving a conduit and the flexing structure allows the conduit to remain horizontal when there are variations in the angle of the form. Another conduit sleeve includes a coupling part, a flange, and a plurality of tabs that extend outwardly from the flange.
US08003877B2
An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes includes an onset signal sensor for sensing the initiation of a note played on the musical instrument. An electronic fingerboard determines the pitch of the note sensed by the sensor. The electronic fingerboard comprises a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film. The first and second layers are movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths. The pitch is determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point.
US08003874B2
To provide a portable chord producing device capable of producing chord sounds by a simple operation.In or on a housing 10 of a portable size, an operation switch 121 with which eight different chord sounds can be designated, and a display screen 11 which also serves as a touch sensor panel are formed. A memory card 20 has a chord data file recorded thereon that is used for letting chord sounds that have characteristics of sounds on a real musical instruments be produced. The chord producing device produces the chord sounds designated by the operation switch 121 through a sound production mechanism in a manner that is associated with a specific touch operation only during the time when it is selected.
US08003872B2
A simulated musical instrument may be used to alter the audio of a video game, the video aspects of video game, or both. Use of a controller simulating a musical instrument allows a rhythm-action game can be enjoyed in a manner closer to a realistic state of playing an instrument.
US08003861B2
A soybean cultivar designated S070143 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S070143, to the plants of soybean S070143, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S070143, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S070143 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S070143, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S070143, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S070143 with another soybean cultivar.
US08003859B2
A soybean cultivar designated S080182 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080182, to the plants of soybean S080182, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080182, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080182 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080182, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080182, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080182 with another soybean cultivar.
US08003857B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7509171 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seed of soybean cultivar 7509171, to the plants of soybean 7509171, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7509171 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7509171 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7509171, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7509171 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7509171 with another soybean cultivar.
US08003846B2
An absorbent article for disposable use having at least one pattern (118) in the form of a text, image or the like. A background layer (146) and at least one intermediate layer (147) are arranged behind the pattern (118), in conjunction with which the intermediate layer or layers (147) exhibits or exhibit a first, essentially transparent state, and in conjunction with which the intermediate layer or layers (147) is or are transformed into a second, more opaque state when it or they is or are stretched.
US08003837B2
Catalysts comprising: a ground, spent (de)hydrogenation catalyst material present in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight based on the catalyst, the ground, spent catalyst material comprising iron oxide; and a fresh catalyst material present in an amount of 30 to 90% by weight based on the catalyst, the fresh catalyst material comprising iron oxide, wherein at least a portion of the iron oxide in the fresh catalyst material comprises a phase selected from the group consisting of hematite, potassium ferrite, and mixtures thereof are described along with processes for preparing and using the same.
US08003831B1
A process is provided for the preparation of 1,3-dihalo-4,6-dinitrobenzene by the nitration of 1,3-dihalobenzene. The direct isolation of highly pure 1,3-dihalo-4,6-dinitrobenzene is accomplished without a water or ice quench, and involves the use of at least one equivalent of SO3 during the reaction, slow crystallization, and isolation of product from a cold crystal slurry.
US08003830B2
The present invention relates to a method for the production of trimethylolpropane with a low color number by treatment with activated carbon.
US08003829B2
The present invention relates to a method of working up an aluminum-containing reaction product from the production of isopulegol by cyclization of citronellal in the presence of complex compounds, comprising at least one ligand of the formula (I), where R1, R2, R3 are chosen from hydrogen, halogen, nitro, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy, di(C1-C4-alkyl)amino and aryl; R4, R5 are chosen from halogen, nitro, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy, di(C1-C4-alkyl)amino, aryl or heteroaryl; in which a) the reaction product is subjected to distillative separation to obtain an isopulegol-enriched top product and an isopulegol-depleted bottom product and b) the ligand of the formula (I) is separated off from the bottom product. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of producing isopulegol, and to a method of producing menthol.
US08003827B2
A method for producing phenol and acetone in a multi-stage process at an elevated temperature from a cumene hydroperoxide mixture comprising cumene, comprises the steps of: a) distilling an amount of cumene from the cumene hydroperoxide mixture until the cumene mass % is 0 to 7 mass % relative to the total mass of the cumene hydroperoxide mixture, b) reacting the cumene hydroperoxide mixture with an acid catalyst form to a second mixture comprising phenol, acetone and dicumyl peroxide in a first stage, and c) decomposing the second mixture in a second stage to produce phenol and acetone, wherein an amount of phenol approximately equal to the amount of distilled from the cumene hydroperoxide mixture is added to the cumene hydroperoxide mixture before the reacting step b). The amount of hydroxyacetone is reduced, thereby, improving the quality of commercial-grade phenol and the products made from the phenol.
US08003823B2
Aromatic N-halosulfonamide organic compounds have been known for over one hundred years. The ability of these compounds to release active halogen ions has been utilized in a range of biocidal and fungicidal applications. The most widely used halogen sulfonamide organic compound for these applications is Chloramine-T. This invention deals with the new use of discovered compositions of matter, halo active aromatic sulfonamide organic compounds and use of solutions of these compounds as, odor control agents. The odor control solutions may be buffered to a predetermined pH. The odor control compositions may further incorporate small percentages of low molecular weight alcohols and wetting agents.
US08003821B2
A Brønsted acid is a compound represented by formula (I): wherein n represents an integer of from 1 to 4, RHL('s) each independently represents Cl or F, and R1 represents an alkyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms.
US08003817B2
The invention provides a process for the preparation of diaryl carbonates and/or alkylaryl carbonates from dialkyl carbonates and aromatic hydroxy compounds using one or more intermediate condensers for improving heat integration.
US08003813B2
A process for separating a blend of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids or saturated and unsaturated fatty acid alky esters into a first fraction enriched with the saturated fatty acids or saturated fatty acid alkyl esters and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters. When separating fatty acids, the process includes the steps of (a) saponifying a blend of long chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids to form free fatty acids, (b) complexing the free fatty acids with urea, and (c) separating the urea complexed free fatty acids into a first fraction enriched with saturated free fatty acids and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated free fatty acids. When separating fatty acid alkyl esters, the process includes the steps of (i) complexing the fatty acid alkyl esters with urea, and (ii) separating the urea-complexed fatty acid alkly esters into a first fraction enriched with saturated fatty acid alkyl esters and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters.
US08003811B2
The invention relates to nitric oxide donors of the formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or stereoisomers thereof: wherein A and A′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and —(X)s—Y with the proviso that at least one of A or A′ is not H; wherein s is 0 or 1; X is selected from the group consisting of: —CO—, —COO—, —CONH— and —SO2— or Y is straight or branched C1-C20 alkyl chain, preferably C1-C10 alkyl chain, substituted with one or two —ONO2; or C1-C6 alkylenoxy-C1-C5 alkyl wherein the alkyl group is substituted by one or two —ONO2 groups. The invention also provides novel compositions comprising at least one compound of the invention and at least one therapeutic agent.
US08003808B2
The present invention provides 3-hydrazino-2,5-dioxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylates of the formula (I): wherein R1 is a C1-6 alkyl group, etc., R2 is a hydrogen atom or a COOR3 group, wherein R3 is a tert-C4-6 alkyl group, a 2,2,2-trichloroethyl group or a benzyl group in which the benzene ring moiety may be optionally substituted by one or two atoms or groups independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, a cyano group and a nitro group, and a salt thereof, which are useful as a novel intermediate for preparing tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-4-spiro-3′-pyrrolidine derivatives such as Ranirestat being promising therapeutic agents for diabetic complications in a short process and in an economically advantageous and safe manner, and the process for preparing the same.
US08003796B2
Novel compounds are provided which are GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators. GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulator therapy. These novel compounds have the structure Formula I or Formula IA.
US08003795B2
Compositions comprising extracts or isolated or purified compounds from plants of the genus Corydalis provide prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hepatic steatosis, and metabolic syndrome. Corydalis compounds and their derivatives of natural and synthetic origins lower total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and increase hepatic LDL receptor expression and activate AMP-activated protein kinase. Specific stereoisomers of Corydalis compounds with lipid lowering activity include 14R-(+)-corypalmine, 14R,13S-(+)-corydaline, 14R-(+)-tetrahydropalmatin, (+)-corlumidin, d-(+)-bicuculline, and (+)-egenine.
US08003790B2
The present invention provides 3-{(2S,4S)-4-[4-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)piperazin-1-yl]pyrrolidin-2-ylcarbonyl}thiazolidine (compound I) useful as a dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor, which has superior properties of stability and hygroscopicity, and reproducible crystal structure, and a production method thereof.
US08003785B2
The present invention provides PLK1 inhibitor compounds of formula I: useful in the treatment or control of cell proliferative disorders, particularly oncological disorders. These compounds and formulations containing such compounds may be useful in the treatment or control of solid tumors, such as, for example, breast, colon, lung and prostate tumors and other oncological diseases such as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Also provided are intermediate compounds useful in the synthesis of compounds of formula I.
US08003781B2
Disclosed is a means for reducing the expression amount of a FUT8 gene, reducing the expression amount of a FUT8 protein, and/or reducing the expression amount of a product produced by the action of FUT8.
US08003773B2
This invention relates to the field of anticancer therapy, and to the identification of immunogenic peptides derived from the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding hTERT epitopes restricted to MHC class I molecule, analogues thereof and polyepitopes containing such epitopes and/or analogues. Are also included in the present invention, vector and cell comprising such polynucleotides. The present invention also concerns composition comprising hTERT polypeptides, corresponding polynucleotides, vectors and cells, for use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.
US08003762B2
CD166 is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to an immunoglobulin superfamily that is expressed in an excessive amount on the tumor surface. If an monoclonal antibody specifically binding to the CD166 is obtained, it becomes possible to suppress growth of tumor cells, detect the cells, and supply a therapeutic drug thereto specifically. However, because the CD166 proteins are very similar to each other among mammals, it was not possible to obtain an antibody to human CD166, by immunizing, for example, mice with the human CD166.The antibody was prepared by immunizing mice with a purified avian CD166 protein. The antibody was found to be adsorbed on human and mouse CD166 proteins in vitro as well as in vivo and to have an action to suppress tumor growth in mice.
US08003759B2
Applicants have used protein design to develop novel functional protein architectures, termed protein kinase-inducible domains, whose structures are dependent on phosphorylation by specific protein kinases or are dependent on dephosphorylation by specific protein phosphatases. Applicants have designed kinase-inducible domains based on a modular architecture, which allows kinase-inducible domains to be responsive to any specific serine-threonine kinases. Kinase-inducible domains can consist of canonical amino acids, allowing their use as expressible tags of protein kinase activity.
US08003753B2
The present invention provides clostridial toxin substrates useful in assaying for the protease activity of any clostridial toxin, including botulinum toxins of all serotypes as well as tetanus toxins. A clostridial toxin substrate of the invention contains a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence that includes a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor and where, under the appropriate conditions, resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor.
US08003737B2
A curable composition comprising a) an epoxy resin containing on average more than one epoxy group per molecule, and b) as curing agent a hybrid hardener, whereby said hardener is a blend of b1) an aminic compound selected from aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic amines, imidazoline group-containing amidoamines based on mono- or polybasic acids, adducts of said amines or amidoamines made from glycidyl compounds, adducts of said amines or amidoamines made from cyclic carbonates, whereby said aminic compound contains, on average per molecule, at least two reactive hydrogen atoms bound to nitrogen atoms, and b2) a DCPD-phenol based novolac, and wherein the DCPD-phenol novolac is used in an amount from 1 to 65 wt %, based on the total weight of the hardener blend b1) and b2), especially useful as protective coatings for metallic and mineral substrates.
US08003736B2
A silicon-containing compound of formula (1), and a curing composition containing a silicon-containing compound of formula (1) wherein Z is hydrogen, a silicon-containing compound of formula (1) wherein Z is C2-C4 alkenyl or alkynyl and a hydrosilylation catalyst. The composition has excellent handling and curing properties and provides a cured product with excellent heat resistance and flexibility. In formula (1), Ra-Rg=C1-C12 saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group or C6-C12 aromatic hydrocarbon group. Re and Rf do not simultaneously represent C1-C12 saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group; Y=C2-C4 alkylene; Z=hydrogen or C2-C4 alkenyl or alkynyl; K is 2-7; T is 1-7; P is 0-3; and M and N are numbers selected such that N:M=1:1 to 1:100, that all M's and N's total at least 15, and that the mass average molecular weight of the compound of formula (1) is 3,000 to 1,000,000.
US08003733B2
A process for preparing sulfonated block copolymers that are solid in water having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B involving sulfonating the interior block B until substantially sulfonated. Each A block having one or more segments selected from polymerized (i) para-substituted styrene monomers, (ii) ethylene, (iii) alpha olefins of 3 to 18 carbon atoms; (iv) hydrogenated 1,3-cyclodiene monomers, (v) hydrogenated monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, (vi) acrylic esters, (vii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) mixtures thereof. Each B block having segments of one or more polymerized vinyl aromatic monomers selected from (i) unsubstituted styrene monomers, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomers, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomers, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene, (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene and (vii) mixtures thereof.
US08003730B1
An epoxy resin mixture with at least one epoxy resin of between approximately 60 wt % and 90 wt %, a maleic anhydride of between approximately 1 wt % and approximately 30 wt %, and an imidazole catalyst of less than approximately 2 wt % where the resin mixture is formed from at least one epoxy resin with a 1-30 wt % maleic anhydride compound and an imidazole catalyst at a temperature sufficient to keep the maleic anhydride compound molten, the resin mixture reacting to form a foaming resin which can then be cured at a temperature greater than 50° C. to form an epoxy foam.
US08003723B2
A coating solution made from a mixture of at least one silane and at least one polysiloxane which can be hardened on a substrate by hydrolysis and condensation to give a coating on the substrate, wherein the at least one silane is of general formula RxSi(OR′)4-x and the at least one polysiloxane is of general formula [R2SiO]y or R3Si—(O—SiR2)Y—O—SiR3, where R independently=alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl or H, Rprime independently=H, methyl, ethyl, n- or i-propyl, n-, iso-, sec.- or tert.-butyl, x=0 or 1 (for the first silane), x=0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 (for each further silane) and y=a whole number of at least 2, wherein the coating solution includes at least one alkali or earth alkali oxide or hydroxide.
US08003714B2
An ink comprising a pigment, a dispersant, a penetrating agent, water, a compound having two hydroxyl groups in the molecule, a compound having three hydroxyl groups in the molecule, and a compound having four or more hydroxyl groups in the molecule, the content of the pigment being in the range of from about 7% by weight to about 20% by weight; the content of the compound having two hydroxyl groups in the molecule being in the range of from about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight; the content of the compound having three hydroxyl groups in the molecule being in the range of from about 2% by weight to about 20% by weight; and the content of the compound having four or more hydroxyl groups in the molecule being in the range of from about 25% by weight to about 50% by weight.
US08003705B2
Biocompatible crosslinked polymers, and methods for their preparation and use, are disclosed in which the biocompatible crosslinked polymers are formed from water soluble precursors having electrophilic and nucleophilic functional groups capable of reacting and crosslinking in situ. Methods for making the resulting biocompatible crosslinked polymers biodegradable, or not, are provided, as are methods for controlling the rate of degradation. The crosslinking reactions may be carried out in situ on organs or tissues or outside the body. Applications for such biocompatible crosslinked polymers and their precursors include controlled delivery of drugs, prevention of post-operative adhesions, coating of medical devices such as vascular grafts, wound dressings and surgical sealants. Visualization agents may be included with the crosslinked polymers. Embodiments that include hydrogels having isolated hydrolytically degradable esters are set forth. Embodiments including the use of low molecular weight amines to make degradable hydrogels are also set forth.
US08003696B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of treating bacterial, viral, fungal diseases; inflammation or inflammatory-related disorders; pain; and skin conditions. The composition comprises an organic solvent extract, which is prepared by the method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing methionine with water, (b) adding an aqueous hypochlorite solution to the methionine solution and mixing, (c) adding a water-immiscible organic solvent to (b) and mixing, and (d) separating the organic solvent phase from the water phase to obtain the organic solvent extract. The present invention is also directed to a method for preparing the organic solvent extract.
US08003694B2
The present invention provides ethyl (−)-2-[4-[2-[[1S,2R]-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino]ethyl]-2,5-dimethylphenoxyacetate hydrochloride ¼ hydrate or a crystal thereof which can be determined by characteristic diffraction peaks of the powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis or the like, and obtained by manufacturing ethyl (−)-2-[4-[2-[[1S,2R]-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methyl-ethyl]amino]ethyl]-2,5-dimethylphenoxyacetate by a specific method.
US08003681B2
A series of S-triazolyl α-mercaptoacetanilides having general structure (1) are provided, where Q is CO2H, CONR2, SO3H, or SO2NR2. The compounds inhibit several variants of the reverse transcriptase of HIV, and are useful in the treatment of HIV infections.
US08003680B2
Disclosed herein are compounds of the formula therapeutic methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.
US08003675B2
A 3,4-dihalogenoisothiazole derivative represented by the general formula [I] (wherein R1 is a halogen atom; A is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; and R is a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C2-C5 alkenyl group, a C2-C5 alkynyl group, a C3-C6 cycloalkyl group, a phenyl group or a 5- to 10-membered heterocyclic group containing at least one of oxygen atom, sulfur atom and nitrogen atom), or a salt thereof.
US08003666B2
The present invention relates to [7-[(7S)-7-amino-7-methyl-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptan-5-yl]-6-fluoro-1-[(1R,2S)-2-fluorocyclopropyl]-8-methoxy-1,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid hemihydrate. This hemihydrate is stable and easy to prepare, and has excellent properties for a pharmaceutical bulk powder.
US08003664B2
The invention provides novel indazole-carboxamide 5-HT4 receptor agonist compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat diseases associated with 5-HT4 receptor activity, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08003660B2
The present invention relates to benzo-spiro-azaheterocyclic compounds of formula I, wherein R1, R2a, Rsb, R3, R′3, R4, R′4, m, n, q and p are define herein. The compounds of this invention are useful as modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such modulators, and methods therewith for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases
US08003656B2
2-Phenoxy pyrimidinone analogues are provided, of the Formula: wherein variables are as described herein. Such compounds are ligands that may be used to modulate specific receptor activity in vivo or in vitro, and are particularly useful in the treatment of conditions associated with pathological receptor activation in humans, domesticated companion animals and livestock animals. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using such compounds to treat such disorders are provided, as are methods for using such ligands for receptor localization studies.
US08003655B2
The invention relates to substituted sulphoximines according to the general formula (I): in which A, E, G, X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, m, p, q, are given in the claims, and salts thereof, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said substituted sulphoximines, to methods of preparing said substituted sulphoximines as well as the use thereof for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of diseases of dysregulated vascular growth or of diseases which are accompanied with dysregulated vascular growth, wherein the compounds effectively interfere with Tie2 signalling.
US08003654B2
The invention relates to novel sulfonamide compounds of the formula (I) and their use as orexin receptor antagonists.
US08003650B2
Disclosed is a hydrazine compound represented by the formula (1) below, which has an excellent control activity against a harmful arthropod. (1) (In the formula, R1, R5, R6 and R7 represent a hydrogen atom or the like; R2 and R3 are bonded together at their ends to form a 5- to 8-membered ring together with two nitrogen atoms; R4 represents a halogen atom or the like; J represents 1-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-3-bromo-1H-pyrazol-5-yl group or the like; and M represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally halogenated C1-C6 alkyl group, or the like.)
US08003643B2
The present invention is directed to compounds which contain substituted pyridazines and pyrimidines moieties which inhibit the activity of Akt, a serine/threonine protein kinase. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for treating cancer comprising administration of the compounds of the invention.
US08003639B2
Substituted prolinamides, the preparation thereof and the use thereof as pharmaceutical compositions
The present invention provides new substituted prolinamides of the general formula (I) in which D, L, E, G, J, M, R3, R4, R5, and R13 are defined as in claim 1, their tautomers, their enantiomers, their diastereomers, their mixtures and their salts, more particularly their physiologically tolerated salts with organic or inorganic acids or bases, which exhibit valuable properties.
US08003638B2
Compounds of formula (I) or a salt thereof are disclosed: wherein R1 is pyrazolyl substituted by two or three substituents independently selected from halogen, C1-4alkyl and haloC1-4alkyl; R2 is hydrogen or methyl; and R3 is quinolinyl, oxazolyl or phenyl, each of which is optionally substituted by one or two halogen, C1-4alkyl or haloC1-4alkyl. Processes for preparation and uses of the compounds in medicine, for example for the treatment of schizophrenia or drug dependency, are also disclosed.
US08003635B2
The use of SOD mimics particularly pentaazacycle Mn(II) complex SOD mimics, for the treatment of AMD, DR, and retinal edema is disclosed.
US08003630B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for treating neoplasias in an animal or human comprised of a carrier and therapeutically effective amounts of at least one chemotherapeutic agent along with the biotherapeutic endogenous pentapeptide Met-enkephalin, referred to as opioid growth factor. Also provided are methods of treating neoplasias in an animal or human in need of such treatment, comprising the administration to the animal or human therapeutically effective amounts of a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a carrier and therapeutically effective amounts of at least one neoplasia-treating agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent or radiation, along with opioid growth factor.
US08003626B2
Compounds of the formula I in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1 are suitable for use as microbiocides.
US08003625B2
Phosphoramidate alkylator prodrugs can be used to treat cancer when administered alone or in combination with one or more anti-neoplastic agents.
US08003618B2
Disclosed is an invention for focally modulating the activity of a calcium channel in a mammal. In one aspect, the invention features a method that includes contacting a pre-determined tissue or organ region with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GEM protein or a variant thereof to express the GEM protein or variant within the region. Typical methods further include expressing the GEM protein or variant so as to modulate the activity of the calcium channel. The invention has a wide spectrum of useful applications including treating a medical condition associated with unsuitable calcium channel activity.
US08003614B2
Disclosed is a novel synthetic method for isomeric peptides through an appropriate linkage of L-selenomethionine or Se-Methyl-L-selenocysteine with L-glutamic acid. The novel synthetic method produces isomeric peptides of L-selenomethionine or Se-Methyl-L-selenocysteine that exhibit (i) enhanced water solubility; (ii) enhanced rate of dissolution in water; (iii) enhanced bioavailability; (iv) excellent vascular endothelial growth factor promoting activity; (v) excellent anti-5-alpha-reductase activity; (vi) capabilities to prevent/reduce “hair fall” and promote “hair growth”, thereby maintaining a perfect homeostasis for “hair care”. Cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isomeric peptides obtained through an appropriate linkage of L-selenomethionine or Se-Methyl-L-selenocysteine with L-glutamic acid are also disclosed. Other dipeptides with several other amino acids and uses thereof are also disclosed.
US08003611B2
The present invention aims at providing a biomaterial composite not having risks of pathogen infection and unfavorable side effects such as rejection response. According to the invention, there is provided a biomaterial composite, which comprises a polypeptide and a calcium phosphate compound, said peptide comprising the units of Formulas (I) to (III): [—(OC—(CH2)m—CO)p-(Pro-Y-Gly)n-]a (I) [—(OC—(CH2)m—CO)q-(z)r-]b (II) [—HN—R—NH—]c (III) wherein m, p, q, Y, n, Z, r, R, a, b and c are as defined in the specification. The composite of the invention is particularly suitable for an artificial bone due to its high biocompatibility, high endurance and mechanical strength. Further, the invention can provide a process of the composite according to the invention can for preparation of the composite having excellent mechanical characteristics by a simple procedure.
US08003609B2
The present invention provides a method for ameliorating inflammatory and/or neuropathic pain in a subject by modifying the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in cells of the subject by inhibition of the interaction of the unique domain of the tyrosine kinase Src enzyme and the NMDA receptor complex.
US08003604B2
Macrocyclic peptides having the general formula: are disclosed. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds to inhibit HCV are also disclosed.
US08003603B2
Stabilized angiogenin compositions and methods of preparing a stabilized angiogenin compositions by non-covalent immobilization on a naturally occurring substrate, such as a protein, lipid, nucleic acid or nucleotide substrate, are disclosed.
US08003602B2
This invention relates to a novel purified compound PM181104, of formula: of molecular weight 1514 and molecular formula C69H66N18O13S5; which is obtained by fermentation of the microorganism belonging to Kocuria species (ZMA B-1/MTCC 5269). The invention includes all stereoisomeric forms and all tautomeric forms of the compound PM181104 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives such as esters and ethers. The present invention further relates to processes for the production of the novel antibacterial compound(s), to the production of the microorganism belonging to Kocuria species (ZMA B-1/MTCC 5269), and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the novel compound(s) as an active ingredient and its/their use in medicines for treatment and prevention of diseases caused by bacterial infections.
US08003598B2
Disclosed herein are isolated, purified peptides, biologically active fragments and analogs of the peptides having anti-tumor activity in mammals, pharmaceutical formulations comprising the peptides, fragments and analogs and methods of treating mammals suffering from tumors using such materials.
US08003591B2
Fatty branched polyalkoxylates, particularly of the formula: R1O(AO)mR2 (I) where R1 is C8 to C30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl; AO is predominantly branched alkyleneoxy, particularly propyleneoxy; m is from 2 to 50; and R2 is H or a is C1 to C4 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl, are used as fabric conditioners in CO2 based dry cleaning systems. The cleaning medium may include detergent surfactant and/or non surfactant cleaning additive or may be free from such additives in which case the treatment can be provided in a rinse cycle in a cleaning process.
US08003590B2
The present invention relates to a solid laundry detergent composition comprising a detersive surfactant and a reactive dye, wherein upon contact with water the composition has an equilibrium pH of 10.5 or greater at a concentration of 4 g/l in de-ionized water and at a temperature of 20° C.
US08003588B2
A composition for removing urethane products from a wide variety of substrates without the need for scraping, scrubbing, sanding, sandblasting and the like is provided. The composition is formed by combining water, a polar organic solvent, a mixture of organic esters, a hydrocarbon, and a polyether. The composition may optionally be formed by combining the components recited above along with an anionic surfactant. The composition may optionally be formed by combining the components recited above along with a thickener.
US08003586B2
A cleaning solution for automatic biochemical analyzers includes: at least one anionic surfactant, at least one nonionic surfactant, an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal citrate, and a buffering agent stabilizing the pH value above 13.0. In some embodiments, the cleaning solution provides low residual rate of proteins, low residual rate of lipids, desirable within-batch repeatability in clinical testing, low level of cross-contamination, and low level of reactant deposit after cleaning, without affecting test results of the biochemical analyzer. In some embodiments, the cleaning solution has no corrosive effects on the liquid path and reaction cup of the analyzer. The ingredients of the cleaning solution may also be biodegradable.
US08003585B2
This invention relates to cationic Cassia polymers and to their use in hair fixative applications. The cationic Cassia polymers demonstrate superior stiffness profiles and a high level of curl retention when subjected to high humidity conditions for extended periods of time.
US08003578B2
Brine-based well treatment compositions containing alkali nitrate exhibit greater thermal stability when used in deep wells than substantially similar brine-based well treatment compositions which do not contain an alkali nitrate. The brine is thickened with a water-soluble crosslinkable polymer and crosslinking agent. The enhanced thermal stability of the well treatment compositions allows use of the fluids at elevated temperatures, for instance as high as 400° F.
US08003569B2
A herbicidal mixture comprising A) a 3-heterocyclyl-substituted benzoyl derivative selected from the group of 4-[2-chloro-3-(3-methyl-isoxazol-5-yl)-4-methylsulfonylbenzoyl]-1-methyl-5 -hydroxy-1H-pyrazole, 4-[2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-isoxazol-5-yl)-4-methylsulfonyl-benzoyl]-1-methyl-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole and 4-[2-methyl-3-(4,5-dihydro-isoxazol-3-yl)-4-methylsulfonylbenzoyl]-1-methyl-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole; or one of its environmentally compatible salts, B) a safening effective amount of cloquintocet, or its environmentally compatible salts, amides, esters and hydrates; and, if desired, at least one herbicidal compound from the group of the acetyl-CoA carb-oxylase inhibitors (ACC), acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS), amides, auxin herbicides, auxin transport inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, enolpyruvylshikimate 3 -phosphate synthase inhibitors (EPSPS), glutamine synthetase inhibitors, lipid biosynthesis inhibitors, mitosis inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitors, photosynthesis inhibitors, synergists, growth substances, cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors and a variety of other herbicides. Compositions comprising these mixtures, processes for the preparation of these compositions and their use for controlling undesired plants.
US08003567B2
The present teachings are directed toward hexagonally patterned porous titania synthesized from a titanium isopropoxide precursor using a viscous template of surface-active agents separating nanoscopic bicontinuous channels of water and isooctane. Subsequent catalyst metal salt reduction in the aqueous nanochannels deposits well-separated catalyst metal nanoparticles on the pore surfaces. These nanocomposites exhibit significantly higher carbon monoxide oxidation efficiency than that obtained with known supports with higher specific surface area; efficiency is believed to be due to decreased mass transfer resistance provided the presently disclosed support material.
US08003566B2
A method of preparing a catalyst support is described comprising washing a precipitated metal oxide material with water and/or an aqueous solution of acid and/or base such that contaminant levels in said precipitated metal oxide are reduced. The method may be applied to precipitated alumina materials to reduce contaminants selected from sulphur, chlorine, Group 1 A and Group 2A metals. The catalyst supports may be used to prepare catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons.
US08003542B2
Multiple pitch-multiplied spacers are used to form mask patterns having features with exceptionally small critical dimensions. One of each pair of spacers formed around a plurality of mandrels is removed and alternating layers, formed of two mutually selectively etchable materials, are deposited around the remaining spacers. Layers formed of one of the materials are then etched, leaving behind vertically-extending layers formed of the other of the materials, which form a mask pattern. Alternatively, instead of depositing alternating layers, amorphous carbon is deposited around the remaining spacers followed by a plurality of cycles of forming pairs of spacers on the amorphous carbon, removing one of the pairs of spacers and depositing an amorphous carbon layer. The cycles can be repeated to form the desired pattern. Because the critical dimensions of some features in the pattern can be set by controlling the width of the spaces between spacers, exceptionally small mask features can be formed.
US08003534B2
An apparatus and method for holding a semiconductor device in a wafer. A bar is connected to the wafer. A first sidewall comprises a first end and a second, and is connected to the bar at its first end. A first tab comprises a first end and a second end, and is connected to the second end of the first sidewall at its first end and connected to the first side of the semiconductor device at its second end. The thickness of the first tab is less than the thickness of the bar and the thickness of the first sidewall.
US08003523B1
A method including: forming a dielectric layer over a substrate of a microelectronic device; forming a photoresist layer over the dielectric layer; performing a first exposure of the photoresist layer to permit portions of the dielectric layer to be removed at a first plurality of locations; subsequent to performing the first exposure, performing a second exposure of the photoresist layer to permit portions of the dielectric layer to be removed at a second plurality of locations different from the first plurality of locations; removing the portions of the dielectric layer at each of i) the first plurality of locations and ii) the second plurality of locations; and etching the dielectric layer at each of i) the first plurality of locations and ii) the second plurality of locations to respectively form a contact hole at each of the i) the first plurality of locations and ii) the second plurality of locations.
US08003515B2
A description is given of a device, including a semiconductor chip, a first metal layer laterally extending over the semiconductor chip, the first metal layer having a first thickness. A dielectric layer laterally extends over the first metal layer, and a second metal layer laterally extends over the dielectric layer, the second metal layer having a second thickness that is at least four times larger than the first thickness.
US08003507B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first active region and a second active region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, forming a first metal layer over the high-k dielectric layer, the first metal layer having a first work function, removing a portion of the first metal layer in the second active region, thereafter, forming a semiconductor layer over the first metal layer in the first active region and over the partially removed first metal layer in the second active region, forming a first gate stack in the first active region and a second gate stack in the second active region, removing the semiconductor layer from the first gate stack and from the second gate stack, and forming a second metal layer on the first metal layer in the first gate stack and on the partially removed first metal layer in the second gate stack, the second metal layer having a second work function.
US08003505B2
A method of fabricating an image sensor. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include preparing a substrate including a pixel region and/or a logic region having transistors and/or gates. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a first interlayer dielectric film on and/or over a substrate to cover gates. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a first dielectric film to expose an upper surface of at least one gate over a pixel region. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a second interlayer dielectric film over a first interlayer dielectric film and/or dielectric film. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a plurality of contact holes, which may be simultaneously formed over a second interlayer dielectric film. An image sensor may include contacts formed over a second interlayer dielectric film. An image sensor is disclosed.
US08003504B2
A method for fabrication of a field effect transistor gate, with or without field plates, includes the steps of defining a relatively thin Schottky metal layer by a lithography/metal liftoff or metal deposition/etch process on a semiconductor surface. This is followed by depositing a dielectric passivation layer over the entire wafer and defining a second lithographic pattern coincident with or slightly inset from the boundaries of the previously defined metal gate layer. This is followed by etching the dielectric using dry or wet etching techniques and stripping the resist, followed by exposing and developing a third resist pattern to define the thicker gate metal layers required for electrical conductivity and also for the field plate if one is utilized. The final step is depositing gate and/or field plate metal, resulting in a gate electrode and an integral field plate.
US08003502B2
A semiconductor device in one embodiment has a first connection region, a second connection region and a semiconductor volume arranged between the first and second connection regions. Provision is made, within the semiconductor volume, in the vicinity of the second connection region, of a field stop zone for spatially delimiting a space charge zone that can be formed in the semiconductor volume, and of an anode region adjoining the first connection region. The dopant concentration profile within the semiconductor volume is configured such that the integral of the ionized dopant charge over the semiconductor volume, proceeding from an interface of the anode region which faces the second connection region, in the direction of the second connection region, reaches a quantity of charge corresponding to the breakdown charge of the semiconductor device only near the interface of the field stop zone which faces the second connection region.
US08003499B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for constantly setting the energy distribution of a laser beam on an irradiating face, and uniformly irradiating the laser beam to the entire irradiating face. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including this laser irradiating method in a process. Therefore, the present invention is characterized in that the shapes of plural laser beams on the irradiating face are formed by an optical system in an elliptical shape or a rectangular shape, and the plural laser beams are irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in a first direction, and the plural laser beams are irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in a second direction and is moved in a direction reverse to the first direction. The plural laser beams may be irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in the first direction, and the plural laser beams may be irradiated while the irradiating face is moved in the direction reverse to the first direction, and the irradiating face may be also moved in the second direction.
US08003477B2
A method is described for monolithically forming a first memory level above a substrate, the method including: (a) forming a plurality of first substantially parallel, substantially coplanar conductors above the substrate, the first conductors extending in a first direction; (b) forming a plurality of vertically oriented contiguous p-i-n diodes above the first conductors, the contiguous p-in diode comprising semiconductor material crystallized in contact with a silicide, silicide-germanide, or germanide layer; (c) forming a plurality of second substantially parallel, substantially coplanar conductors, the second conductors above the contiguous p-i-n diodes, the second conductors extending in a second direction different from the first direction, each contiguous p-i-n diode vertically disposed between one of the first conductors and one of the second conductors; (d) and forming a plurality of dielectric rupture antifuses, each dielectric rupture antifuse disposed between one of the contiguous p-i-n diodes and one of the first conductors or between one of the contiguous p-i-n diodes and one of the second conductors, wherein the dielectric rupture antifuses comprise dielectric material, the dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than about 8. Other aspects are provided.
US08003474B2
An electrically programmable fuse includes an anode, a cathode, and a fuse link conductively connecting the cathode with the anode, which is programmable by applying a programming current. The anode and the fuse link each include a polysilicon layer and a silicide layer formed on the polysilicon layer, and the cathode includes the polysilicon layer and a partial silicide layer formed on a predetermined portion of the polysilicon layer of the cathode located adjacent to a cathode junction where the cathode and the fuse link meet.
US08003472B2
When transistors having different gate lengths are formed on one substrate and an ESD structure is applied to at least a transistor having longer gate length, a method including: depositing a gate insulating film and a gate electrode material layer on the substrate; forming a first gate electrode having a longer gate length in a first region; forming a first insulating film on a whole surface; forming a second gate electrode including the first insulating film and having a shorter gate length in a second region; forming a second insulating film on a whole surface; forming second sidewalls made of the second insulating film on sidewalls of the second gate electrode; forming first sidewalls made of the first and second insulating films on sidewalls of the first gate electrode; forming a selectively epitaxially grown layer on at least exposed substrate of the first region and implanting ions into the substrate via the selectively epitaxially grown layer, thereby forming an ESD structure.
US08003469B2
A non-volatile semiconductor device includes a memory cell in a first area of a substrate, a low voltage transistor in a second area of the substrate, and a high voltage transistor in a third area of the substrate. The memory cell includes a tunnel insulation layer formed on the substrate, a charge trapping layer pattern formed on the tunnel insulation layer in the first area of the substrate, a blocking layer pattern formed on the charge trapping layer pattern and a control gate formed on the blocking layer pattern. The control gate has a width substantially smaller than a width of the blocking layer pattern and the width of the control gate is substantially smaller than a width of the charge trapping layer pattern. In addition, an offset is formed between the control gate and the blocking layer pattern such that a spacer is not formed on a sidewall of the control gate.
US08003466B2
A fabrication process for a FinFET device is provided. The process begins by providing a semiconductor wafer having a layer of conductive material such as silicon. A whole-field arrangement of fins is then formed from the layer of conductive material. The whole-field arrangement of fins includes a plurality of conductive fins having a uniform pitch and a uniform fin thickness. Next, a cut mask is formed over the whole-field arrangement of fins. The cut mask selectively masks sections of the whole-field arrangement of fins with a layout that defines features for a plurality of FinFET devices. The cut mask is used to remove a portion of the whole-field arrangement of fins, the portion being unprotected by the cut mask. The resulting fin structures are used to complete the fabrication of the FinFET devices.
US08003459B2
A method for forming different active thicknesses on the same silicon layer includes masking the silicon layer and exposing selected regions of the silicon layer. The thickness of the silicon layer at the exposed regions is changed, either by adding silicon or subtracting silicon from the layer at the exposed regions. Once the mask is removed, the silicon layer has regions of different active thicknesses, respectively suitable for use in different types of devices, such as diodes and transistors.
US08003457B2
A substrate is provided. A pillar protruding out of a surface of the substrate is already formed on the substrate, and a patterned layer is already formed on the pillar. The pillar includes a lower part, a channel region, and an upper part from bottom to top, and the lower part has a first doped region. A gate dielectric layer is formed on a sidewall at one side of the pillar. A surrounding gate is formed on the gate dielectric layer located on the channel region, and a base line electrically connected to the channel region is formed on a sidewall at the other side of the pillar. A second doped region is formed in the upper part of the pillar.
US08003454B2
A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming NMOS and PMOS transistors (24, 34) with enhanced hole mobility in the channel region of a transistor by selectively relaxing part of a biaxial-tensile strained semiconductor layer (90) in a PMOS device area (97) to form a relaxed semiconductor layer (91), and then epitaxially growing a bi-axially stressed silicon germanium channel region layer (22) prior to forming the NMOS and PMOS gate structures (26, 36) overlying the channel regions, and then depositing a contact etch stop layer (53-56) over the NMOS and PMOS gate structures. Embedded silicon germanium source/drain regions (84) may also be formed adjacent to the PMOS gate structure (70) to provide an additional uni-axial stress to the bi-axially stressed channel region.
US08003452B2
A compound semiconductor device includes a carrier transit layer formed over a substrate; a carrier supply layer formed over the carrier transit layer; a first metal film and a second metal film formed over the carrier supply layer; a first Al comprising film formed over the first metal film; a second Al comprising film formed over the second metal film; a first Au comprising film formed over the first metal film and is free of direct contact with the first Al comprising film; a second Au comprising film formed over the second metal film and free of direct contact with the second Al comprising film; and a gate electrode that is located over the carrier supply layer between the first metal film and the second metal film.
US08003451B2
The embodiment of the invention discloses an exemplary method, in which a gate line, a gate electrode, and a pixel electrode are formed in a first step; a multilayer structure is formed on the gate line and the gate electrode in a second step; and a data line and source/drain electrodes are formed in a third step.
US08003446B2
A single step packaging process that both melts a solder and also cures an adhesive about a microelectronic circuit. The process finds technical advantages by simplifying packaging of a die that may be coupled to a planar flexible lead, which leads to a lower production cost and quicker manufacturing time. The planar flexible lead may be adapted to bend and flex during mechanical stress and during extreme temperature cycling, and allow direct mounting of the device to a member by easily welding or soldering. The invention may comprise a flexible solar cell diode that can be closely positioned on solar panels at an extremely low cost.
US08003445B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a carrier; mounting an integrated circuit on the carrier; mounting a z-interconnect on the carrier, the z-interconnect for supporting a trace cantilevered over the integrated circuit; encapsulating the integrated circuit with an encapsulation; removing the carrier; and depositing a substrate below the integrated circuit.
US08003437B2
Respective attracting openings of a bonding head are disposed so as to avoid joining regions at which bump electrodes (obverse electrodes) of a semiconductor chip are joined with bump electrodes of a package substrate. Bump electrodes (reverse electrodes) that are connected to the bump electrodes are provided at a reverse side of the semiconductor chip at positions opposing the bump electrodes. Because the attracting openings do not overlap the joining regions, the bump electrodes (reverse electrodes) are not suctioned at the joining regions.
US08003397B2
A polymeric sensing fluid for detecting the presence of glucose and systems and methods of its use are generally disclosed. The polymeric sensing fluid includes a polymer in a solvent (e.g., an aqueous solvent). The polymer has a plurality of boronic acid moieties extending from its polymeric backbone. As such, the polymeric sensing fluid is configured to increase in viscosity upon addition of glucose due to crosslinking between the boronic acid moieties of the polymer and glucose.
US08003393B1
The present disclosure relates to a method for assessing if a patient is affected with a lung cancer. The method includes analyzing the presence and amount of β-citronellol contained in the urine excreted from the patient and determining if the presence and amount of β-citronellol is indicative of lung cancer.
US08003388B2
A method for creating networks of perfusable microvessels in vitro. A mandrel is drawn through a matrix to form a channel through the matrix. Cells are injected into the channel. The matrix is incubated to allow the cells to attach inside the channel. The channel is perfused to remove unattached cells to create a parent vessel, where the parent vessel includes a perfusable hollow channel lined with cells in the matrix. The parent vessel is induced to create sprouts into the surrounding matrix gel so as to form a microvessel network. The microvessel network is subjected to luminal perfusion through the parent vessel.
US08003384B2
The present invention relates to sour taste receptors and compositions and methods thereof. In particular, the present invention provides assays and methods of screening for ligands specific for sour taste receptors. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for screening for accessory proteins and mutations, polymorphisms and other potential sour taste receptor protein mutations that are associated with disease states, and therapeutic agents, ligands, and modulators of such proteins. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for modulating sour taste receptors in vitro and in vivo.
US08003381B2
This invention provides a process of amplification and/or expression of a sequence of interest in a cell by providing for generating within the cell at least one amplicon by trans-splicing between an RNA sequence designed for being capable of trans-splicing and a target RNA, whereby the amplicon is capable of amplifying in the cell and capable of expressing a sequence of interest.
US08003378B2
A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor includes a first substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface and edges. The bioreactor further includes a second substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a cavity with a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is located therebetween the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the first substrate is received by the second surface of the second substrate to cover the cavity so as to form a channel for receiving cells and a liquid medium. In forming the bioreactor, the channel is sized to allow the growth of a layer of cells on a biocompatible coating layer and a flow of liquid in the channel. The flow of liquid is controlled so as to provide a known shear force to the layer of cells. The flow of liquid can be further controlled so as to provide an environment that simulates a vascular space in the channel.
US08003377B2
The present invention broadly comprises a holding device for studying cells comprising at least one cavity adapted to receive cells in a medium consisting essentially of water, the cavity having a substrate and a generally inert wall, wherein the substrate includes a surface for receiving the medium, and wherein the surface includes a multiplicity of pico liter wells and is characterized in that the substrate is substantially translucent and has a refractive index equal to the refractive index of the medium. The invention further comprises a method of making the holding device comprising providing a carrier plate, applying an adhesive layer to the carrier plate, depositing a curable substrate on the adhesive layer, applying a second layer of adhesive to the substrate, attaching a wall structure to the second layer of adhesive, forming a multiplicity of pico liter wells in the substrate, curing the substrate, and removing the template.
US08003374B2
A reagentless, reusable bioelectronic DNA, or other oligonucleotide sequence sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes an oligonucleotide (aptamer) probe tagged with a electroactive, redoxable moiety, self-assembled on or near an electrode. This surface-confined oligonucleotide (aptamer) probe structure undergoes hybridization-induced conformational change in the presence of the target which changes the electron-transfer distance between the redoxable moiety and the electrode thereby providing a detectable signal change. In an alternative embodiment, the target can harbor the redoxable moiety.
US08003373B2
Activation of an enzyme in a bodily fluid is detected based on the amount of cleavage of a substrate for the enzyme. The substrate is tagged with two fluorescent dyes—a donor and an acceptor. The tagged substrate is presented to the bodily fluid. A device emits energy at a first wavelength into the bodily fluid, and detects energy at second and third wavelengths emitted by the dyes in response to the energy at the first wavelength. Prior to enzymatic cleavage of the substrate, the acceptor emits energy at the third wavelength in response to energy at the second wavelength received through fluorescent resonant energy transfer (FRET) from the donor. After enzymatic cleavage of the substrate, the donor emits energy at the second wavelength. The device can determine the concentration of activated enzyme within the bodily fluid based on the relative intensities of energy, at the second and third wavelengths.
US08003367B2
A method for producing an L-amino acid, such as L-histidine, L-threonine, L-lysine, L-glutamic acid, and L-tryptophan, using bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia which has increased expression of genes, such as those of the xylABFGHR locus, which encode the xylose utilization enzymes, is disclosed. The method includes cultivating the L-amino acid producing bacterium in a culture medium containing xylose, and collecting the L-amino acid from the culture medium.
US08003365B2
Methods, enzymes, recombinant microorganism, and microbial systems are provided for converting suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, such as those derived from biomass, as well as various aldehydes and/or ketones, into commodity chemicals, such as biofuels. Commodity chemicals produced by the methods described herein are also provided. Commodity chemical enriched, refinery-produced petroleum products are also provided, as well as methods for producing the same.
US08003355B2
A method of separating a polymer from a biomass containing the polymer, includes contacting the biomass with a solvent system, the solvent system including a solvent for the polymer and a precipitant for the polymer, to provide a residual biomass and a solution that includes the polymer, the solvent for the polymer and the precipitant for the polymer; and applying a centrifugal force to the solution and residual biomass to separate at least some of the solution from the residual biomass; where, the polymer is a polyhydroxyalkanoate; the precipitant comprises at least one alkane; the solvent for the polymer is selected from the group consisting of ketones, esters and alcohols and combinations thereof; and the biomass comprises a slurry of the biomass and water.
US08003346B2
The present invention is to construct a DNA replication reaction system which is excellent in versatility and is easily used. An amino acid sequence of a PCNA monomer which is one of factors involved in DNA replication is prepared so that amino acid residues causing mutual charge repulsion constitute a site which causes, when an N terminal region of the PCNA monomer and a C terminal region of another PCNA monomer act as an interface to form a multimeric complex, an intermolecular interaction of the monomers in an interface region of the monomers.
US08003342B1
Disclosed are methods and compositions for the identification of inhibitors of farnesyl protein transferases, enzymes involved in the farnesylation of various cellular proteins, including cancer related ras proteins such as p21ras. One farnesyl protein transferase which is disclosed herein exhibits a molecular weight of between about 70,000 and about 100,000 upon gel exclusion chromatography. The enzyme appears to comprise one or two subunits of approximately 50 kDa each. Methods are disclosed for assay and purification of the enzyme, as well as procedures for using the purified enzyme in screening protocols for the identification of possible anticancer agents which inhibit the enzyme and thereby prevent expression of proteins such as p21ras. Also disclosed is a families of compounds which act either as false substrates for the enzyme or as pure inhibitors and can therefore be employed for inhibition of the enzyme. The most potent inhibitors are ones in which phenylalanine occurs at the third position of a tetrapeptide whose amino terminus is cysteine.
US08003341B2
The ATP amplification method is a method for amplifying and detecting a very trace amount of exogenous ATP by allowing a fusion protein (PPK-ADK) of a polyphosphate kinase and an adenylate kinase, the fusion protein not containing ADP, to act on a mixture of ATP, AMP, and a polyphosphate compound. Also provided is an ultrasensitive ATP amplification method by which ATP at a single cell level can be amplified and detected, and an ultrasensitive microbial assay based on this ATP amplification method.
US08003336B2
Provided is a method of screening a primary endothelial cell population for angiogenesis capability comprising: (a) measuring the percentage of cells that are positive for VEGF R2 and CD34, the level of VEGF R2, or measuring the VEGF R2 to VEGF R1 ratio in the population; and (b) selecting those populations where the measured percentage or the measured ratio is over a threshold value.
US08003329B2
The invention provides a method of determining ratios of target DNA molecules in a sample. A digital readout of the target DNA molecules is provided by converting ratios of target DNA molecules into equivalent ratios of amplifiable tags, which are, in turn, converted into ratios of color-coded micelles in an emulsion reaction. The micelles may be detected and counted by various methods, including by flow cytometers or slide-based imaging devices. The invention is useful for detection of relative expression levels of selected genes, gene copy number polymorphisms, allelic imbalance, relative levels of iRNAs, and related phenomena of scientific and medical interest.
US08003328B2
Methods of predicting the phenotype of a trait in a bovine subject are provided. The methods include obtaining information about polynucleotide sequences specifically regarding the identity of the nucleotides present at one or more identified single nucleotide polymorphisms and using this information to make predictions regarding the trait in the subject. Also provided are kits for and methods of determining the nucleotide present in a bovine subject at a position in which a single nucleotide polymorphism is correlated with a trait.
US08003326B2
The present invention provides methods of diagnosing and/or predicting autism spectrum disorder comprising determining the presence of microdeletions and microduplications on chromosomes 15 and 16.
US08003324B2
The present invention relates to the use of oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) or of its reduced form, NADH, as sodium channel modulators. The present invention also relates to the use of compositions containing NAD+ or NADH to treat conditions associated with sodium channel current, such as arrhythmia. NAD+ is found to increase sodium channel current, while NADH is found to decrease sodium channel current. Thus, conditions that are associated with decreased sodium channel current can be treated with NAD+, while conditions that is associated with increased sodium channel current can be treated with NADH.
