US08020216B2
Probe structures and fabrication techniques are described. The described probe structures can be used as probes for various applications such as conductance measurement probes, field emitter probes, nanofabrication probes, and magnetic bit writing or reading probes.
US08020213B2
A method for protecting information in a distributed stream processing system, including: assigning a principal label to a processing component; assigning a first channel label to a first communication channel that is input to the processing component; comparing the principal label to the first channel label to determine if the processing component can read data attributes of the first channel label; and reading the data attributes of the first channel label when the principal label is equal to or has precedence over the first channel label, wherein the principal label includes a read label and a write label and at least one of a selection label, an addition label or a suppression label.
US08020194B2
A privilege elevation flaw detection analysis is performed on a host system on a network. In addition, accounts on the host system are identified that have access to, or corresponding accounts on, other systems on the network. Privilege elevation analyses are performed on one or more of the network systems corresponding to the identified accounts. A privilege elevation graph is generated of the host system from the privilege elevation analysis. The graph includes account nodes and edges illustrating the detected privilege elevations between the accounts on the host system. In addition, nodes for the network systems are added to the graphs along with edges connecting to the nodes corresponding to the accounts identified as having access to the particular network systems. The user may then select a particular network system node and view its detected privilege elevations in relation to the host system.
US08020179B2
Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather.
US08020173B2
A system and method for establishing associative relationships between properties of a contained object and corresponding parameters of a container application is disclosed herein. In one embodiment the present system contemplates the establishment of both mutual and unilateral associative relationships, with a particular relationship being specified via a user interface created upon instantiation of the contained object. The associative relationships may be advantageously established without modification of the code comprising the contained object.
US08020159B2
Programs for executing downloading of a program are stored in an area, i.e a non-rewritable boot area, of a rewritable flash EEPROM. Control programs for the apparatus are stored in the remaining area of the EEPROM. The programs for executing the downloading of the program, which are in the boot area, will not be lost, even if a power disconnection occurs during rewriting of the control program(s) and thus redownloading can be carried out. Information, regarding whether the downloading has failed or how far the program has been downloaded before it failed, is stored. Redownloading can be executed automatically when the power is turned on based on the stored information.
US08020155B2
A mechanism is provided for managing the referencing of at least two versions of a function. A first version is a single threaded version that does not ensure multi-thread safety. A second version is a multi threaded version that does ensure multi-thread safety. The mechanism determines whether a set of executable code (e.g. a program) is currently executing in single-threaded mode or multi-threaded mode. If the executable code is executing in single-threaded mode, then the mechanism causes the executable code to reference the first version of the function. If the executable code is executing in multi-threaded mode, then the mechanism causes the executable code to reference the second version of the function. By doing so, the mechanism ensures that the additional overhead of ensuring multi-thread safety is incurred only when it is needed. In this manner, the mechanism makes execution of the function more optimal.
US08020154B2
Precise exception handling relies on a precise subject state including an accurate program counter and register values of a subject processor. Subject code (17) is translated into target code (21) executable by a target processor (13). The generated target code (17) includes counterpart target instructions (214) associated with fault-vulnerable subject code instructions (174). Further, each of the counterpart target code instruction (214) is associated with recovery information (195). When an exception (e.g. a fault) occurs, the recovery information (195) is retrieved and used to recover a precise subject state, in particular by taking account of optimizations to generate the common-case target code (21). The precise subject state is then used to precisely handle the exception.
US08020144B2
Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and an application system are disclosed for creating and deploying metadata-generated applications. Access is provided to one or more type libraries that each include one or more defined object types configurable for use in generating the application. The defined object types include data structure types, rule types, and data types. Input is elicited from a user regarding desired content and function of the application. Based on the user input, metadata is generated to adapt the defined object types to generate the application. Metadata is generated to adapt the defined data structure types to create one or more application databases, to adapt the defined rule types to create one or more application behaviors, and to adapt the defined data types to create one or more application data types.
US08020139B1
Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for implementing a circuit model in an integrated circuit are described. In some examples, the circuit model includes a communication channel between actors. Data portions of at least one data object passed between the actors over the communication channel are identified. An implementation is generated for the circuit model in which data portions are assigned to either local queue storage of the communication channel or centralized shared storage of the communication channel based on levels of access thereof by the actors.
US08020131B1
Method and apparatus for mapping flip-flop logic onto shift register logic is described. In one example, a method of processing flip-flop logic in a circuit design for implementation in an integrated circuit is provided. A chain of flip-flops in the circuit design is identified. The chain of flip-flops includes first and second control signals. A shift register is instantiated in a logical description of the circuit design for the chain of flip-flops. A shift register is instantiated in the logical description for the chain of flip-flops. First and second control chains of flip-flops are instantiated in the logical description for the first and second control signals, respectively. A multiplexer is instantiated in the logical description and is configured to select among an output of the shift register, an asserted logic state, and a de-asserted logic state based on outputs of the first and second control chains.
US08020128B2
Bipolar transistor structures, methods of designing and fabricating bipolar transistors, methods of designing circuits having bipolar transistors. The method of designing the bipolar transistor includes: selecting an initial design of a bipolar transistor; scaling the initial design of the bipolar transistor to generate a scaled design of the bipolar transistor; determining if stress compensation of the scaled design of the bipolar transistor is required based on dimensions of an emitter of the bipolar transistor after the scaling; and if stress compensation of the scaled design of the bipolar transistor is required then adjusting a layout of a trench isolation layout level of the scaled design relative to a layout of an emitter layout level of the scaled design to generate a stress compensated scaled design of the bipolar transistor.
US08020126B2
The links and chains (LNC) of this invention is an applications verification and validation (AVV) methodology. LNC is a hierarchical and systematic approach emphasizing conservation and reuse of effort expended. LNC creates objective metrics for validation. This invention ensures that the device will work in a system environment. LNC is an independent and complementary validation of the design before committing release to tape-out. The chip support library (CSL) and diagnostics used by LNC are natural outputs of the validation and are thus gating items to tape-out release. This ensures a fully tested device.
US08020122B2
Operating splitting methods for splitting a circuit into two sub circuits and analyzing the two sub circuits with improved computation efficiency and processing speed.
US08020120B2
A method for layout design includes steps or acts of: receiving a layout for design of an integrated circuit chip; designing mask shapes for the layout; transmitting the mask shapes to a litho simulator for generating wafer shapes; receiving the wafer shapes; calculating electrically equivalent gate lengths for the wafer shapes; analyzing the gate lengths to check for conformity against a threshold value, wherein the threshold value represents a desired value of electrically equivalent gate lengths; placing markers on the layout at those locations where the gate length violates the threshold value; and generating a histogram of gate lengths for comparing layouts for electrically equivalent gate lengths for layout quality.
US08020108B1
Methods and systems for separating presentation and business models for common management platform tasks in a storage area network (SAN) are disclosed. A graphical user interface (GUI) object may be mapped to a task object, which include action(s) performed on a SAN. A selection of task objects from a collection of task objects is received, which are needed to implement the underlying functionality of a GUI object. The collection of task objects is part of a task framework. An arrangement of the task objects according to a hierarchy of the framework is received. The hierarchy includes simple task objects, corresponding to actions performed on a SAN, and composite task objects, corresponding to at least two simple task objects and may include other composite task objects. The arranged task objects are mapped to the GUI object by extending a presentation object to encapsulate the GUI object and the arranged task objects.
US08020102B2
A system for adjusting audiovisual content having a server including a receiver for receiving a first content from a media source, a first circuitry configured to generate a second content based on the first content, the second content having multiple audio channels, a first transceiver for sending the second content to one or more clients, each client including a second transceiver for receiving the second content, and a second circuitry configured to generate a third content based on the second content and provide the third content to an audio device, wherein the second circuitry is configured to provide a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface having a plurality of icons representing the user and the multiple audio channels, wherein movement of any of the plurality of icons will alter the second content.
US08020095B2
A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and graphical object positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.
US08020091B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for formatting a set of expressions in a document. In embodiments, the systems and methods provide the ability to format a set of expressions by aligning expressions or parts of expressions to each other or to the margins of the document, while also supporting breaking of one or more expressions into multiple parts to be placed on different lines. Breaking can include breaking in places requested by a user or breaking in places that are automatically determined to fit the expressions between the margins of a document.
US08020090B2
A large web page is analyzed and partitioned into smaller sub-pages so that a user can navigate the web page on a small form factor device. The user can browse the sub-pages to find and read information in the content of the large web page. The partitioning can be performed at a web server, an edge server, at the small form factor device, or can be distributed across one or more such devices. The analysis leverages design habits of a web page author to extract a representation structure of an authored web page. The extracted representation structure includes high level structure using several markup language tag selection rules and low level structure using visual boundary detection in which visual units of the low level structure are provided by clustering markup language tags. User viewing habits can be learned to display favorite parts of a web page.
US08020084B2
Methods and systems for determining a total elapsed play time of an interactive multimedia presentation having a play duration, a video content component, and an interactive content component include identifying two time intervals within the play duration. During the first interval, no video is scheduled for presentation, and a first elapsed play time of the presentation is measured based on a first timing signal. During the second interval, a video (which may include video, audio, data, or any combination thereof) is scheduled for presentation, and a second elapsed play time is measured based on a second timing signal. During the first interval, the total elapsed play time is determined using the first elapsed play time, and during the second interval, it is determined using the second elapsed play time. The total elapsed play time is usable to provide frame-accurate synchronization between the interactive content component and the video content component.
US08020074B2
A method for auto-correction of errors in an array of disk storage devices having a plurality of disk storage devices dedicated to storing parity data to provide fault tolerance for a loss of at least two of the plurality of disk storage devices. A read operation from the storage channels transfers data to a plurality of disk channel memories. The data in the disk channel memories is checked to confirm the data is valid. Responsive to detection of invalid data, the data may be tested to identify the disk storage channel in error, including sequentially excluding data read from a different one of the plurality of disk channel memories from a parity check and determining the validity of data from remaining disk channel memories. If valid data is obtained, the disk storage channel from which the data was excluded is identified as the disk storage channel in error.
US08020070B2
Trapping set decoding for transmission frames is disclosed. In one aspect, a trapping set decoder includes a decoder that performs decoding operations on an encoded codeword in received data, and a detector coupled to the decoder for detecting the presence of any one of a group of possible trapping sets in the decoding operations on the encoded codeword. A selection processor is also included, coupled to the decoder, for providing a decoded codeword by selecting one trapping set of the group of possible trapping sets, the selected trapping set being present in the decoding operations of the codeword, and by using the selected trapping set to produce the decoded codeword.
US08020065B1
Embodiments of the invention provide a packet encoding scheme to ensure unequal error protection to different bits in a packet or in multiple packets. In one embodiment, a method to process bits in a bit stream comprises scrambling the bit stream; separating the scrambled bit stream into a high priority bit stream with an order of high priority bits from left to right and a low priority bit stream with an order of low priority bits from left to right; rearranging the bits by embedding the high priority bits in the low priority bit stream while preserving the two orders, the rearranged bit stream including blocks of bits, each block including one or more high priority bits disposed left of corresponding one or more low priority bits to provide protection for the high priority bits against noise which is at least equal to protection for the low priority bits; and modulating the rearranged bit stream using Gray encoding method to produce an encoded bit stream.
US08020057B2
A test controller applies test stimulus signals to the input pads of plural die on a wafer in parallel. The test controller also applies encoded test response signals to the output pads of the plural die in parallel. The encoded test response signals are decoded on the die and compared to core test response signals produced from applying the test stimulus signals to core circuits on the die. The comparison produces pass/fail signals that are loaded in to scan cells of an IEEE 1149.1 scan path. The pass/fail signals then may be scanned out of the die to determine the results of the test.
US08020048B2
A POST management apparatus for managing a POST of an SB in a partition which operates in units of an OS using the CPU of the SB as a resource accesses the storage area storing the POST of the SB so as to perform read/write operation and to acquire/recognize the individual information on the SB and the version number information of the POST, transmits the POST of a predetermined version number according to at least one of the individual information and the version number information, and manages the version number of the POST so that the version numbers of the POSTs used in the SBs in units of a partition coincide with each other.
US08020047B2
In a method and apparatus for storage of data, data is stored. The stored data is checked, for example periodically and/or on data access, for development of a fault in the stored data. If a fault is detected, at least one of: (i) increased protection and (ii) increased error correction is applied to at least some of the remaining fault-free data.
US08020042B2
A method for supporting compensation work comprises the steps of associating a data structure with a compensation function, and associating the data structure with the at least one event that can be encountered during execution of a forward work. The data structure contains a pair of pointers, which includes a first pointer to a code to be executed for the compensation function, and a second pointer to a stack frame of a closest lexically enclosing scope of a declaration of the compensation function in a computer program text.
US08020036B2
A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc.
US08020030B1
A method and apparatus for detecting, curing and remedying invasive software installation inadvertently, negligently, or intentionally marketed by a vendor. A party may procure a product that sends back invasive data to a source. A testing regimen may identify and defeat sources of any invasive executables found. Accordingly, a party may identify those software packages deemed invasive, and may optionally provide a solution to either defeat or monitor them, where practicable. An independent developer may obtain intellectual property rights in the testing, solution or both of the counter-invasive software system or product. An independent developer may become a supplier of testing or solution systems, motivating a supplier by one of several mechanisms. The developer or damaged party may obtain a legal status with respect to the vendor or of a host of software as a customer, user, clients, shareholder, etc., in order to exercise rights and remedies or provide motivation to a vendor who does not take responsibility for its actions as executed by its marketed products.
US08020025B2
The disclosed system and methods include a power saving scheduler that maintains timed events in an event table. Each timed event has an associated tolerance period within which the event should begin execution following a trigger, and a timestamp indicating a scheduled execution time for the event. When a device is in a low-power sleep mode, a trigger may wake up the device to a wake state. The power scheduler then accesses the event table of upcoming timed events, and reorders the event table from the event having the shortest tolerance period to the event having the longest tolerance period. Each event for which the timestamp is within the tolerance period as measured from the trigger time is executed. After a plurality of such events are executed, the device may return to the sleep mode.
US08020022B2
A memory control circuit has a write leveling function and controls read/write operations by supplying a clock signal to a plurality of memories through a clock signal line which is wired to the plurality of memories through daisy chain connection. For each of the plurality of memories, a first variable delay unit delays, in a write operation, a data strobe signal output to the memory by a first delay time that is set by utilizing the write leveling function and a second variable delay unit delays, in a read operation, a data signal input from the memory by a second delay time that is set based on the first delay time.
US08020016B2
To reduce the electric power consumption in a computer system having at least one server and at least one data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus includes an electric power consumption state control module by which electric power consumption of the data processing apparatus can be changed, obtains a use relationship between each server and each processing apparatus included in the computer system, monitors a change in a state of the server, searches for a related data processing apparatus in the use relationship with the server, obtains a state of at least one related server in the use relationship with the related data processing apparatus, determines whether an electric power consumption state of the related data processing apparatus is to be changed or not based on the state of the related server, and changes the electric power consumption state of the related data processing apparatus.
US08020003B2
Systems and methods can automatically generate and process signature files for an electronic signature list. Data records can be periodically searched for signature-relevant status changes. A multiplicity of documents in paper form can be provided. Each document can contain a predefined blank region for receiving a personal signature and also control information items assigned to the signature. The multiplicity of documents that have received the personal signatures can be scanned-in in a batch processing operation. At least one signature containing the personal signature in electronically processable form and a representation of the assigned control information items file can be generated for each document. The assigned control information items of each document can be independent of their corresponding personal signature in its electronically processable form. The signature files can be dispatched via a communications network controlled by the control information items.
US08019998B2
A method for establishing secure access to a media peripheral in a home via a node in a communication network may include acquiring by the node, security data associated with the media peripheral. The method may include searching by the node, for a previously acquired security data associated with a location of previous operation of the media peripheral. The method may further include communicating between the node and the media peripheral, information associated with the media peripheral, while the media peripheral is located in the home, when the previously acquired security data is not found. The node may utilize the acquired security data associated with the media peripheral and the previously acquired security data to facilitate secure communication between the media peripheral in the home and the communication network, when the previously acquired security data is found.
US08019997B2
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus by which a communication channel providing a high degree of privacy is established between a PDA and a data communication server. Data encrypted with a temporary key is shared by a PDA and a memory card. The memory card decrypts the data by the shared temporary key, and then stores the data in the memory card. Data encrypted with a temporary key shared by a PC and the memory card. The PC decrypts the data by the shared temporary key, and then stores the data in the PC. The PC and the data communication server are connected to each other, and perform mutual authentication. The data encrypted with a temporary key shared by the PC and the data communication server as a result of the authentication is transmitted from the PC to the data communication server via a broadband network.
US08019992B2
An electronic commerce system supports web sites including on-line stores that are accessible by a set of customers and organizations to which stores may belong. Organizations may be defined in accordance with a tree structure. Users accessing a web site are provided with access roles for organizations. The access roles for a user define the portions of the web site for which the user has access privileges. The tree structure of the web site is used to define security domains for users. Users may have access roles of registered customer or administrator. Users without any roles in a security domain are accorded guest privileges within that domain.
US08019990B2
A method for facilitating electronic certification, and systems for use therewith, are presented in the context of public key encryption infrastructures. Some aspects of the invention provide methods for facilitating electronic certification using authority-neutral service requests sent by an application, which are then formatted by a server comprising a middleware that can convert the authority-neutral request into certification authority specific objects. The server and middleware then return a response from a selected certification authority back to the service requesting application. Thus, the server and/or middleware act as intermediaries that facilitate user transactions in an environment having multiple certification authorities without undue burden on the applications or the expense and reliability problems associated therewith.
US08019982B2
A data processing system and method. The data processing system includes a processor core that executes a program; a loop accelerator that has an array consisting of a plurality of data processing cells and executes a loop in a program by configuring the array according to a set of configuration bits; and a centralized register file which allows data used in the program execution to be shared by the processor core and the loop accelerator. The loop accelerator divides the configuration of the array into at least three phases according to whether data exchange with the central register file is conducted during the loop execution. Thus, unnecessary occupation of the routing resource, which is used for the data exchange between the loop accelerator and the central register file during the loop execution, can be avoided.
US08019976B2
A processor that is configured to perform parallel operations in a computer system where one or more memory hazards may be present is described. An instruction fetch unit within the processor is configured to fetch instructions for detecting one or more critical memory hazards between memory addresses if memory operations are performed in parallel on multiple addresses corresponding to at least a partial vector of addresses. Note that critical memory hazards include memory hazards that lead to different results when the memory addresses are processed in parallel than when the memory addresses are processed sequentially. Furthermore, an execution unit within the processor is configured to execute the instructions for detecting the one or more critical memory hazards.
US08019972B2
A digital signal processor uses a number of independent sub-processors that may be controlled by a master programmable controller. For example, a specialized input processor may process input signals while a specialized output processor may process output signals. Each of these processors may also accomplish math functions when input and output processing is not necessary. The various processors may communicate with one another through general purpose registers which receive data and provide data to any of the processors in the system. Math processors may be added as needed to accomplish desired mathematical functions. In addition, a RAM processor may be utilized to hold the results of intermediate calculations in one embodiment of the present invention. In this way, an adaptable and scaleable design may be implemented that accommodates a variety of different operations without requiring redesign of all the components.
US08019971B2
A 32-bit instruction 50 is composed of a 4-bit format field 51, a 4-bit operation field 52, and two 12-bit operation fields 59 and 60. The 4-bit operation field 52 can only include (1) an operation code “cc” that indicates a branch operation which uses a stored value of the implicitly indicated constant register 36 as the branch address, or (2) a constant “const”. The content of the 4-bit operation field 52 is specified by a format code provided in the format field 51.
US08019969B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a look-aside-look-aside buffer (LLB) configured to retain a portion of the real addresses in a translation look-aside (TLB) buffer to allow prefetching of data from a cache. A subset of real address bits associated with an effective address may be retrieved relatively quickly from the LLB, thereby allowing access to the cache before the complete address translation is available and reducing cache access latency.
US08019967B2
A non-volatile memory data address translation scheme is described that utilizes a hierarchal address translation system that is stored in the non-volatile memory itself. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a hierarchal address data and translation system wherein the address translation data entries are stored in one or more data structures/tables in the hierarchy, one or more of which can be updated in-place multiple times without having to overwrite data. This hierarchal address translation data structure and multiple update of data entries in the individual tables/data structures allow the hierarchal address translation data structure to be efficiently stored in a non-volatile memory array without markedly inducing write fatigue or adversely affecting the lifetime of the part. The hierarchal address translation of embodiments of the present invention also allow for an address translation layer that does not have to be resident in system RAM for operation.
US08019965B2
The present invention provides for a method for managing the storage of data in a computing system that includes a data processor and local physical storage, involving the steps of: defining a virtual storage volume for access by the data processor, the data processor including a local storage pool mapped to the local physical storage and a remote storage pool mapped to physical storage at a remote site, and the virtual storage volume being overallocated with respect to the local storage pool; and migrating data between the local storage pool and the remote storage pool according to a defined migration policy.
US08019957B1
A calibration module for a data storage control system. The calibration system includes a programmable delay module configured to i) receive a data strobe signal, ii) receive a delay value, and iii) output a delayed data strobe signal to a buffer based on the delay value, wherein data is read from the buffer based on the delayed data strobe signal. The calibration module further includes a delay calculation module configured to calculate the delay value based on a comparison between the data strobe signal and the delayed data strobe signal.
US08019956B1
A system and method are described for concurrently storing and accessing data in a tree-like data structure. In one embodiment, a data structure is identified comprising a plurality of nodes, at least one node of the plurality of nodes being associated with at least one other node of the plurality of nodes. Each node of the plurality of nodes is associated with an indicator indicative of an occurrence of a write operation related to the associated node. A determination is made if a write operation, related to any of the plurality of nodes, is occurring, and the associated indicator is set in accordance therewith. Access is prevented to any of the plurality of nodes whose associated indicator indicates the occurrence of the write operation, and access is allowed to others of the plurality of nodes.
US08019953B2
The present invention is a method for providing atomicity for host write Input/Outputs (I/Os) in a Continuous Data Protection (CDP)-enabled volume. When a host overwrite Input/Output (I/O) is initiated by a host against a data block of the CDP-enabled volume, the method may include creating an in-flight write log entry and providing the in-flight write log entry to an in-flight write log of the CDP-enabled volume. The in-flight write log entry may correspond to the host overwrite I/O. The method may further include locating mapping table information in a mapping table of the CDP-enabled volume. The mapping table information may correspond to the data block. The method may further include recording a journal entry in a journal of the CDP-enabled volume. The journal entry may include a journal entry timestamp which corresponds to the host overwrite I/O. The method may further include allocating a storage location for the host overwrite I/O.
US08019952B2
A storage device for storing data, while compressing same value of input data, includes an input processing unit, a data storage, a first-in-first-out memory, and an output processing unit. The input processing unit is configured to, upon receiving an input value, determine whether a data value stored in the data storage at an address location corresponding to the input value is valid. If the data value is invalid, the input processing unit stores an initial value at the address location and stores the input value in the first-in-first-out memory. If the data value is valid, the input processing unit performs an arithmetic operation on the data value and stores the operation result in the address location corresponding to the input value. The output processing unit is configured to read and output the input value stored at a head of the first-in-first-out memory, as well as reading and outputting the data value from the address location of the data storage corresponding to the input value, if one or more input values are stored in the first-in-first-out memory and if the data value stored at the address location of the data storage corresponding to the input value is valid, and to update the data value after the output.
US08019949B2
A high-capacity memory subsystem architecture utilizes multiple memory modules arranged in one or more clusters, each attached to a respective hub which in turn is attached to a memory controller. Within a cluster, data is interleaved so that each data access command accesses all modules of the cluster. The hub communicates with the memory modules at a lower bus frequency, but the distributing of data among multiple modules enables the cluster to maintain the composite data rate of the memory-controller-to-hub bus. Preferably, the memory system employs buffered memory chips having dual-mode operation, one of which supports a cluster configuration in which data is interleaved and the communications buses operate at reduced bus width and/or reduced bus frequency to match the level of interleaving.
US08019941B2
A method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level. Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level. Accordingly, there results a fault tolerant data distribution system.
US08019932B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes a nonvolatile memory system comprising nonvolatile memory for storing sector information, the nonvolatile memory being organized into blocks with each block including a plurality of sectors, each sector identified by a logical block address and for storing sector information. A controller is coupled to the nonvolatile memory for writing sector information to the latter and for updating the sector information, wherein upon updating sector information, the controller writes to the next free or available sector(s) of a block such that upon multiple re-writes or updating of sector information, a plurality of blocks are substantially filled with sector information and upon such time, the controller rearranges the updated sector information in sequential order based on their respective logical block addresses thereby increasing system performance and improving manufacturing costs of the controller.
US08019925B1
Methods and structures for mapping of logical to physical block addresses within a disk drive to provide independence of the logical block size and the physical disk block size. The independence of the logical and physical block sizes enables numerous beneficial features to improve disk drive capacity, performance and reliability. In one exemplary aspect, indirect mapping table structures and methods map an LBA to an associated IBA representing a block of the same size as the logical block. The IBA is then converted to a corresponding starting quantum unit of data identified by a QA. The QA is, in turn, converted to a disk block identified by a starting DBA and an offset within that DBA. The disk block may be of variable size and is independent of the size of the identified LBA. Numerous other features are enabled by the logical to physical mapping features hereof.
US08019918B2
In a system in which an information processing apparatus and a peripheral are connected to each other. Initially, the information processing apparatus transmits, to the peripheral, a request to use a service provided by the peripheral. The peripheral determines whether to grant use permission to the received request, and notifies the information processing apparatus which has transmitted the request of the determination result. The peripheral stores information associated with the information processing apparatus to which use permission is granted in response to the request. The information processing apparatus then receives, from the peripheral, a response to the request.
US08019907B2
A memory controller including a dual-mode memory interconnect includes an input/output (I/O) circuit including a plurality of input buffers and a plurality of output drivers. The I/O circuit may be configured to operate in one of a first mode and a second mode dependent upon a state of a mode selection signal. During operation in the first mode, the I/O circuit may be configured to provide a parallel interconnect for connection to one or more memory modules. During operation in the second mode, the I/O circuit may be configured to provide a respective serial interconnect for connection to each of one or more buffer units, each configured to buffer memory data that is being read from or written to the one or more memory modules.
US08019902B2
A network interface adapter includes a network interface and a client interface, for coupling to a client device so as to receive from the client device work requests to send messages over the network using a plurality of transport service instances. Message processing circuitry, coupled between the network interface and the client interface, includes an execution unit, which generates the messages in response to the work requests and passes the messages to the network interface to be sent over the network. A memory stores records of the messages that have been generated by the execution unit in respective lists according to the transport service instances with which the messages are associated. A completion unit receives the records from the memory and, responsive thereto, reports to the client device upon completion of the messages.
US08019901B2
An interface device is connected to a host by an I/O bus and provides hardware and processing mechanisms for accelerating data transfers between a network and a storage unit, while controlling the data transfers by the host. The interface device includes hardware circuitry for processing network packet headers, and can use a dedicated fast-path for data transfer between the network and the storage unit, the fast-path set up by the host. The host CPU and protocol stack avoids protocol processing for data transfer over the fast-path, freeing host bus bandwidth, and the data need not cross the I/O bus, freeing I/O bus bandwidth. The storage unit may include RAID or other multiple drive configurations and may be connected to the INIC by a parallel channel such as SCSI or by a serial channel such as Ethernet or Fibre Channel. The interface device contains a file cache that stores data transferred between the network and storage unit, with organization of data in the interface device file cache controlled by a file system on the host. Additional interface devices may be connected to the host via the I/O bus, with each additional interface device having a file cache controlled by the host file system, and providing additional network connections and/or being connected to additional storage units.
US08019900B1
The present invention provides an opportunistic peer-to-peer synchronization method, where client devices can either synchronize with a peer device or a master server, depending on which is the best available option. Client devices monitor synchronization information provided by peer client devices to determine if data that the client device desires to synchronize can be synchronized with a peer client device. If a peer device is available for synchronization, then a client device will synchronize with such peer device. Otherwise, the client device will synchronize with the master server or other device. Client devices can seamlessly switch between peer-to-peer synchronization and client-server synchronization, even during the middle of synchronization session.
US08019899B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to processing client requests in distributed systems. Particular implementations of the invention are directed to allowing application servers to return partially processed results after having consumed a time slice allocation based on performance estimates, network performance metrics, and/or system performance metrics.
US08019896B2
Video content information associated with a video content is received by a computing device. End destination information associated with a reception instance of the video content is also received by the computing device. At least a portion of the video content information and at least a portion of the end destination information are selectively aggregated to generate aggregated information.
US08019894B2
A system for playing SMIL based multimedia contents, comprising: a plurality of SMIL engines for analyzing and interpreting SMIL documents, as well as communicating with and controlling SMIL sub engines, remote media proxies, or local media playing devices; a plurality of remote media proxies for receiving instructions from the upper level SMIL engines, starting or stopping providing media objects to the remote media playing devices, sending back events, and providing basic user interaction capabilities, wherein said a plurality of SMIL engines, a plurality of remote media proxies, and local and remote media playing devices construct a tree-link structure, of which the root node is a SMIL engine, the branch nodes are SMIL engines and remote media proxies, and the leaf nodes are local and remote media playing devices. The corresponding SMIL engines and methods are also provided. The present invention enables the playing of SMIL based multimedia contents on a set of PvC devices, which can be dynamically configured as a new multimedia terminal on demand.
US08019889B1
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for handling data having an embedded address (and port). In general terms, a host of a private network is operable to obtain from its corresponding edge router a global address (GA) and optionally an additional global port range (GPR). When the host then wishes to transmit data out of the private network, the obtained GA (and GPR) may then be used for an embedded address (and port) within data sent by the host to a public network. The obtained GA (and GPR) may also be used by the host to translate its own source address and port in its IP and/or TCP/UDP header if needed.
US08019878B1
A system and method for connected devices over a network includes: receiving, by an address registration server, a communication from a host device and a communication from an endpoint device; determining whether the host device and the endpoint device are connected to a single local network and whether the host device and the endpoint device are each executing a compatible application; and facilitating a network connection between the endpoint device and the host device over the local network by providing a private network address of the endpoint device to the host device.
US08019870B1
An approach for allocating resources to an apparatus based on alternative resource requirements generally involves a resource allocator determining that a resource that satisfies a resource requirement is not available, and based on the resource not being available, the resource allocator determines that another resource that satisfies another resource requirement is available. The resource allocator allocates the other resource to the apparatus, thereby allowing the apparatus to be implemented based on the other resource. The resource requirements are alternatives so that if the one alternative resource requirement cannot be fulfilled, the other alternative resource requirement can be fulfilled. Some alternatives can be preferred over other alternatives in a set of alternative resource requirements. In general, in a set of “n” alternative resource requirements, “m” resource requirements can be specified to be fulfilled, where “m” is less than “n” and “n” is two or greater.
US08019853B2
The present invention allows a structure of an entire system including various peripheral devices to be visually confirmable, allows a user to easily grasp or see the entire system, and allows the entire system to be effectively used. Thus, a CPU acquires a resource information structure and a status of each peripheral device by communicating with these devices, and a virtual system configuration display unit causes a display unit to display a system configuration based on the acquired resource information structure and each peripheral device status such that specific icons capable of being discriminated for respective functions are displayed to be connected on a virtual network path.
US08019850B2
The invention provides a centralized VPN management of a plurality of VPN sites by means of a VPN Information Provider (VIP). Management of a VPN device is distributed so that at least part of the VPN configuration is centrally managed without giving away control of the firewall rulebase or other critical local configuration used in the VPN device.
US08019829B2
A system and method for managing output such as printing, faxing, and e-mail over various types of computer networks. In one aspect, the method provides for printing via a wireless device. The system provides renderable data to the wireless device by which a user-interface (UI) may be rendered. The UI enables users to select source data and an output device on which the source data are to be printed. The source data are then retrieved from a local or remote store and forwarded to a print service, which renders output image data corresponding to the source data and the output device that was selected. The output image data are then submitted to the output device to be physically rendered. The user-interfaces enable wired and wireless devices to access the system. The system enables documents to be printed by reference, and enables access to resources behind firewalls.
US08019828B2
A system of the invention comprises a design module, execution engine, and performance management module. A first computer hosts the design module which enables a user to define attributes, queries, and decision rules transmitted to the execution engine hosted on a second computer remote to the first computer. The second computer can be located at a credit bureau, credit reporting agency, or other data provider. The second computer runs the execution engine to query a data repository with the user-defined attributes and queries, and applies the user-defined decision rules to produce result data transmitted to a third computer hosting the performance management module for monitoring performance of a benefit or offering made with the result data and the corresponding attributes, queries, and decision rules that generated the result data.
US08019827B2
Non-administrators selectively move content from a source network to a destination network. The source network includes a deployment server that can deploy an item and its dependencies (if any) listed in a quick deploy list without having to get specific administrator authorization for the deployment. The deployment server can be configured to check the quick deploy list relatively frequently so that any items listed in the quick deploy list are quickly deployed. The listing of items in the quick deploy list is organized into “jobs” and identifies a path that indicates the source and destination for each job. A job is associated with one path and specifies one or more items of the source to be deployed and a schedule to deploy the specified item(s). The deployment server is configured by the administrator with permissions for specific authors to list items in the quick deploy list.
US08019818B2
A communications network system, comprising: a first user device, wherein the first user device uses a first communications protocol; a second user device, wherein the second user device uses a second communications protocol, different from the first communications protocol; and, a server, in operative communication with the first user device and the second user device, and wherein the server comprises a processor for translating the first communications protocol into the second communications protocol.
US08019814B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for generating standardized models for a resource via social computing. The disclosed systems and methods generate standardized models for resources via social computing and include receiving a request for the registration of a resource from a first client; collecting data defining at least one property of the resource to be registered and registering the resource with a server having a plurality of clients. The method also includes receiving subsequent request for the registration of a substantially similar resource from a second client; providing the subsequent client with earlier collected data from other clients defining the properties of the existing resource, and receiving data chosen by the subsequent client defining the properties of the new substantially similar resource. The method further includes weighting the collected data defining at least one property of the resource based on the frequency of selection of the data to define at least one of the property of the resource by clients of the server registering a substantially similar resource and designating a consensus, of the plurality of clients, of the defining properties of the substantially similar resources as the defining properties for a synthetic standard format model for the resource and substantially similar resources based on the weighted data.
US08019811B1
Response delay associated with a state-based client-server application can be reduced with utilization of an application state server-side cache. A server caches data for a set of one or more possible states of a client-server application that may follow a current state of the application. The server rapidly responds to a client request with data that corresponds to an appropriate new state of the application in accordance with the application state server-side cache. The server determines that the application will transition to the appropriate new state from the current state of the application with the application state server-side cache based, at least in part, on an operation indicated by the client request.
US08019810B2
A method of displaying items from an RSS feed on a television display involves registering the RSS feed with an RSS aggregator, the RSS feed aggregator being operatively coupled to the television display for display of RSS feed items; at the RSS aggregator, polling the RSS feed for RSS feed items; determining if the RSS feed contains an item that has been newly added since a preceding poll of the RSS feed; and if the RSS feed contains an item that has been newly added since a preceding poll of the RSS feed, downloading and displaying the newly added item on the television display replacing a previously displayed item from the RSS feed. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08019806B2
The invention relates to graphical user interfaces for managing electronic networks, such computer networks, storage area networks (SANs), and the like. Specifically, the invention provides a simplified means of managing large numbers of parameters associated with devices in such networks. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method of displaying devices forming a network. In a first step, a computer system associated with a graphical user interface queries the network to determine what devices are present in the network, and the interconnections of such devices. The results of this determination are stored, as is the time of this determination. Later, a second query is performed and the results are compared to the first query. Symbols representing elements of the network are displayed on the graphical user interface. When changes are detected between the first and second network query, the changes are indicated by altering the manner in which the symbols are displayed that represent the elements of the network that have changed.
US08019798B2
In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a network management system. The network monitoring system includes at least one device definition file, a simple network management protocol enabled communications interface, and a data access interface. The definition file includes query instructions associated with portions of MIBs associated with a network device. The simple network management protocol enabled communications interface may access the network device using the query instructions and may receive response data from the network device. The data access interface may be configured to provide external access to the response data and configure thresholds.
US08019792B2
When a hot folder monitoring section detects entry of a data file into a hot folder, a job ticket creating section creates a print job for the entered data file. A print data transmitting section transmits the created print job to a printer. If the hot folder monitoring section determines that the data file is entered from an input source folder to the hot folder, the print system transfers the data file to the input source folder.
US08019788B1
The size of lightweight JT data files containing CAD data is reduced by employing lossy compression where acceptable for portions of the CAD data, such as 3D geometry data. Dictionary-based lossless compression for the remaining portions is augmented by exploiting common repeated structures for some portions, such as precise Brep data, and compressing separate but similar data, such as all metadata for a given part and all scene graph data, together as a single block. The compressed data is then written in separate, uniquely identified data segments indexed in a table of contents, allowing quick access to any data segment for streaming.
US08019785B2
We explore techniques for designing nonblocking algorithms that do not require advance knowledge of the number of processes that participate, whose time complexity and space consumption both adapt to various measures, rather than being based on predefined worst-case scenarios, and that cannot be prevented from future memory reclamation by process failures. These techniques can be implemented using widely available hardware synchronization primitives. We present our techniques in the context of solutions to the well-known Collect problem. We also explain how our techniques can be exploited to achieve other results with similar properties; these include long-lived renaming and dynamic memory management for nonblocking data structures.
US08019774B2
An information processing apparatus for searching for a target text information candidate from among text information candidates stored in order to search for and/or input target information, may include a display information generating unit for generating and displaying display information, the display information including only both a first character line of characters extending in a first direction including a character set to be selected, and a second character line of characters related to the first character line, extending in a second direction and intersecting the first character line, out of a two-dimensional matrix of rows and columns of characters arranged for selection, and a shift instruction receiving unit for receiving a shift instruction to shift from the character set to be selected.
US08019773B2
In an information processing apparatus adapted to determine information, to be presented to a user, as to one or more contents, a calculation unit calculates the similarity between a first search axis, produced on the basis of information associated with the user, for use as a reference on the basis of which to present contents and a second search axis, produced on the basis of information associated with one of other users, for use as a reference on the basis of which to present contents, and a display control unit controls displaying of information associated with contents with reference to first and second search axes detected as being similar to each other.
US08019766B2
Computer-implemented processes are disclosed for clustering items, and for using item clusters to generate and/or present item recommendations. One process involves calculating distances between items based on how the items are categorized within a hierarchical browse structure. These distance calculations may then be used as a basis for forming clusters of items.
US08019756B2
A computer program, method and computer apparatus for calculating the total importance of an electronic document on the basis of (i) a plurality of electronic documents chained to each other in a relation of referencing and being referenced, from a start electronic document which is not referenced by other electronic documents to a terminal electronic document which does not reference other documents, (ii) the information on relation of referencing and being referenced, (iii) an important phrase, and (iv) a response coefficient determining phrase such as an agreeing phrase, a disagreeing phrase, and a topic change phrase, (i) through (iv) being stored in a storage device.
US08019755B2
The present invention relates to a computer method and system for analyzing, critiquing and providing feedback on or for government legislation and legislative documents, statutes, bills, by-laws, proposals and amendments hereto for referred to as legislation or legislative document, and more particularly, to a computer method and system for quantifying key components and sections within the legislation or legislative document. This computer method and system works in conjunction with a document management system. This computer method and system quantifies the feedback of the user based on a single user or multiple users' opinion. The result is a computerized document in the form of a report that can be printed, collaborated, managed and distributed electronically. The key component used to quantify feedback is a scoring tool with a set of criteria and standards used to assess the legislation or legislative document.
US08019749B2
A computer-implemented system, method, and user interface for searching and organizing information, particularly large information sets such as those found on the Internet and World Wide Web. Information is organized and searched according to content, and this organization is reflected directly in the user interface provided to users for searching as well as the search results they are shown.
US08019741B2
The present invention provides for quick and efficient searches. In one embodiment, a search system, comprises an email search interface having at least a first email-specific attribute search field, a file search interface having at least a first file-specific attribute search field, a Web history search interface having at least a first Web-specific attribute search field, and an apparatus configured to perform incremental searching as the user enters characters into one or more attribute search fields.
US08019740B2
System and methods for communicating tracking information about tagged items. A tagged item is a tangible item that carries a self-identifying tag. The tracking information can be stored in the tag or in a document that is accessible through an item tracking system. The tracking information can be accessible by multiple consumers having different levels of access. The methods include methods for masking redundancies in the tracking information, filtering the tracking information, and controlling access to the tracking information.
US08019737B2
A system to synchronize metadata for a plurality of applications. The system includes content administration rules programmed to define policies for updating metadata in the master database and policies for propagating updates in the metadata to the plurality of applications. The metadata describes at least one asset represented as data residing in at least one of the plurality of applications. A rules engine is programmed to apply at least a first set of the content administration rules to a metadata record received from a first application of the plurality of applications to control updating corresponding metadata stored in a master database. Changes in the corresponding metadata made to the master database can be propagated to at least one second application of the plurality of applications according to a second set of the content administration rules predefined for each of the at least one second application.
US08019734B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for estimating a frequency of errors for data processing operators, but without human inspection of documents typed by the operators and without comparing documents typed by the operators against known transcriptions.
US08019731B2
A method and system for updating an archive of a computer file to reflect changes made to the file includes selecting one of a plurality of comparison methods as a preferred comparison method. The comparison methods include a first comparison method wherein the file is compared to an archive of the file and a second comparison method wherein a first set of tokens statistically representative of the file is computed and compared to a second set of tokens statistically representative of the archive of the file. The method further includes carrying out the preferred comparison method to generate indicia of differences between the file and the archive of the file for updating the archive of the file.
US08019728B2
Data is stored in a distributed data storage system comprising a plurality of disks. When a disk fails, system reliability is restored by executing a set of reconstructions according to a schedule. System reliability is characterized by a dynamic Normalcy Deviation Score. The schedule for executing the set of reconstructions is determined by a minimum intersection policy. A set of reconstructions is received and divided into a set of queues rank-ordered by redundancy level ranging from a lowest redundancy level to a highest redundancy level. For reconstructions in each queue, an intersection matrix is calculated. Diskscores for each disk are calculated. The schedule for the set of reconstructions is based at least in part on the intersection matrices, the Normal Deviation Scores, and the diskscores.
US08019715B2
In a parallel system, multiple threads operate in parallel to perform network structure learning. A global score cache is partitioned into multiple split score caches, which may in one embodiment include associating a score cache with a node of the structure to be learned. With a split score cache, the learning may be performed in split neighbor scoring loops, with the first loop operating on separate score cache partitions, and warming the score cache partitions for the second loop.
US08019708B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for identifying and correcting anomalies in web graphs. A web graph is transformed into a set of weighted features. The set of weighted features are then transformed into a signature via a SimHash algorithm. The signature is compared to the signature of one or more other web graphs in order to determine similarity between web graphs. Actions are then carried out to remove anomalous web graphs and modify parameters governing web mapping in order to decrease the likelihood of future anomalous web graphs being built.
US08019688B2
Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback, for example, by a “CD burner”. An “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction.
US08019685B2
A system and method are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a server computer, a transaction clearing request for a transaction, and then determining, using the server computer, if the transaction satisfies a stored blocking parameter. The method further includes allowing, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction does not satisfy the stored blocking parameter, and denying, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction satisfies the stored blocking parameter.
US08019677B1
A convertible, home-equity based financial product is disclosed. Example embodiments of the invention provide a home loan that can be converted into a reverse mortgage, also known as an “equity release” product. In example embodiments, the product can be set up so that there is a low or no-documentation requirement upon conversion. Conversion can be triggered upon a request from the borrower, or upon some other event. The proceeds from the conversion can be provided in many different ways, for example, as a lump sum, an investment, a line of credit, or a scheduled pay-out. The proceeds from the equity release can also be distributed so as to be used in purchasing a residence, for example, a second or vacation home.
US08019671B2
Data corresponding to a set of securities is identified. For each security in the set, data corresponding to a legacy risk contribution from a corresponding security in the set is identified. Data corresponding to a legacy risk of the entire set is identified based on the legacy risk contributions. The legacy risk is displayed.
US08019670B2
A computerized method for generating risk forecasts is provided. A set of securities is selected. A set of risk factors is selected. The risk factor returns a determined. A risk factor covariance matrix and an idiosyncratic variance matrix are constructed. For each risk factor, a factor loading coefficient is determined for each selected security. The risk factor covariance matrix is projected into a future forecast. The idiosyncratic variance matrix is projected into a future forecast. The factor loading coefficients, the future forecast of the risk factor covariance matrix, and the future forecast of the idiosyncratic variance matrix can be used to determine a forecast of the variance-covariance matrix for the selected securities.
US08019658B2
Methods for purchasing of goods or services over the internet. A customer has a customer account set up at a bank with associated account information. The account information includes verification information for verification parameters, such as authorized computer identification, authorized delivery addresses, authorized user identification, authorized telephone caller identification, and/or other account information. An order is placed by a user via an ordering computer which provides order information. Such order information includes verification variables used by the bank. Verification and/or authentication using one or more variables of the customer account information is used by the bank to validate the order before assuring payment to the merchant.
US08019651B2
A network Web service indirect channel distribution system, method and computer program that ensures purchasers are charged the most favored prices. An implementation enabling a system host to negotiate prices for vendor registered goods and services, means for modifying the host negotiated prices and means enabling a purchaser to negotiate a special price for registered goods and services in a specific purchase transaction. An entitled price repository independent of the above-described indirect channel distribution system is associated with this entitled price repository for tracking a plurality of price affecting factors selected from a group of such factors comprising the host negotiated prices, the above-described modified prices, and the specific purchase transaction prices. The entitled price repository correlates all of these price affecting factors to produce a most favored price for the customer/purchaser.
US08019645B2
A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed. The report may include a geographic map which plots respective locations of recipients, and/or a listing of receipts grouped into a plurality of demographics segments.
US08019642B2
A system and process for incorporating recommendation boosting in an automated recommendation system includes presenting a user with a visual electronic interface adapted to receive recommendation boost instructions regarding a boost subject, receiving recommendation boost instructions via the visual electronic interface, wherein the recommendation boost instructions indicate how strongly the boost subject should be recommended or suppressed from being recommended, receiving a set of recommendations from one or more automated product recommendation systems, wherein each recommendation system utilizes one or more selection models or user models and modifying the set of recommendations according to the recommendation boost instructions.
US08019640B2
An automation assessment tool is provided that defines autonomic technology, processes, organization, and skill sets that apply to autonomic computing. The automation assessment tool provides educational material about autonomic computing and a scale of maturity levels, which is used to assess on-demand preparedness. The automation assessment tool presents a survey and collects answers to the survey questions. The automation assessment tool then determines solutions and recommendations to achieve a target level of on-demand preparedness.
US08019637B2
A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful in different areas, such as healthcare, finance, etc., where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events.
US08019635B2
The adaptive product conditioning is a computer-implemented method for identifying product configurations that can be provided to customers in reaction to supply imbalances. The methodology uses data mining techniques to collect and analyze business level meta data to coordinate supply and sales goals in terms of optimizing profits or managing product and technology transitions.
US08019634B2
The invention relates to a method for transporting physical objects, wherein at least one physical object is transported from a sending station to a receiving station, wherein the transport occurs through at least one physical router, wherein the physical router executes a decision about further parameters of transport to another physical router or to the receiving station. The method is carried out in that a central control computer receives information for handling and moving the physical objects and that the central control computer influences supplies for transport means and/or the transport means according to environmental data.
US08019632B2
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to enterprise application integration. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a computer system including a service oriented architecture (SOA), where the system includes a composite application configured to present sales targeted information by combining services from multiple application resources on a network, wherein the multiple application resources include: a sales force automation (SFA) tool configured to automate sales and sales force management functions; a real-time predictive analytics tool configured to evaluate customer purchasing data and recommend products or services based on the customer purchasing data; a knowledge management tool configured to search and retrieve data across multiple integrated applications; and a calendar tool configured to manage appointment scheduling. The multiple application resources can further include a collaboration tool; and a business intelligence tool, including at least one live news feed.
US08019631B2
A computer implemented method for automatically identifying one or more metrics for performing a CMMI evaluation of an entity, wherein the CMMI evaluation is performed at a particular CMMI level and the method comprises the steps of accessing an electronic database of a plurality of candidate metrics, providing a first list of requirement elements to define a set of specific requirements of the entity, providing a second list of requirement elements to define a set of general requirements of the business field of the entity, searching for a first subset of metrics from the plurality of candidate metrics that match the first list and second list of requirement elements, searching for a second subset of metrics from the first subset of metrics that match with the CMMI level, and outputting the second set of metrics in a user-friendly format suitable for the CMMI evaluation.
US08019626B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for clinical review of a patient comprising: a plurality medical studies relating to a medical history of the patient, each of said plurality of medical studies comprising a representation; a user interface for permitting a user to interact with said representations; a chronology of said representations displayable through said user interface, wherein each of said representations is selectable by said user to form a selected chronological medical study; and a plurality of relevant representations displayable through said user interface, said plurality of relevant representations automatically generated based at least in part on said selected chronological medical study and at least one relevance criterion, wherein each of said plurality of relevant representations is selectable to form a selected relevant medical study. In an embodiment, the system further comprises at least one thumbnail image displayed in said user interface, said at least one thumbnail image corresponding to a series of images in said selected relevant medical study, wherein said at least one thumbnail image is selectable to display said series of images in said selected relevant medical study.
US08019617B2
A computer modeling application is disclosed for finding the optimal solution to maximize total net margin, for the assignment of vehicles (e.g., especially vessels) in an available fleet to perform a set of voyages to transport cargo comprising one or more bulk products during a planning period, as well as an apparatus and method employing the same. The fleet can include term vehicles and spot vehicles. The vehicles, voyages, and cargos can be heterogeneous. In one embodiment, the vehicles are crude carrier vessels and the bulk products are different grades of crude oil. To increase speed, the model is broken into linear programming and mixed integer (linear) programming problems. The model can be run on a real-time basis to support complex scheduling operations.
US08019603B2
An apparatus and a method for enhancing speech intelligibility in a mobile terminal. A complex spectrum calculator calculates complex spectra of one input frame of an input speech signal by Fourier transform, a speech level calculator calculates its instant levels, an average speech level calculator calculates an average speech level of the speech frame using the instant levels, if the input frame is a speech frame, a scaling factor calculator calculates scaling factors by comparing the average speech level with the instant levels, an HPF characteristic calculator calculates amplitude characteristics using the scaling factors, a HPF high-pass-filters the complex spectra using the amplitude characteristics, a synthesizer converts high-pass-filtered signals to time signals by inverse Fourier transform and synthesizes the time signals, and a combiner outputs an enhanced intelligibility speech signal by combining the synthesized time signal with the input frame.
US08019597B2
A scalable encoding apparatus capable of reducing the bit rates of encoded parameters and also capable of efficiently encoding audio signals in which a plurality of harmonic structures are coexistent. In the apparatus, an MDCT analyzer MDCT analyzes an audio signal for converting/encoding processes. A pitch frequency converter determines an inverse of a pitch period to calculate a pitch frequency. A selector selects spectra located at frequencies that are integral multiples of the pitch frequency, and a second layer encoder encodes the selected spectra.
US08019594B2
Embodiments of a progressive feature selection method that selects features in multiple rounds are described. In one embodiment, the progressive feature selection method splits the feature space into tractable sub-spaces such that a feature selection algorithm can be performed on each sub-space. In a merge-split operation, the subset of features that the feature selection algorithm selects from the different sub-spaces are merged into subsequent sets of features. Instead of re-generating the mapping table for each subsequent set from scratch, a new mapping table from the previous round's tables is created by collecting those entries that correspond to the selected features. The feature selection method is then performed again on each of the subsequent feature sets and new features are selected from each of these feature sets. This feature selection-merge-split process is repeated on successively smaller numbers of feature sets until a single final set of features is selected.
US08019593B2
Embodiments of a feature generation system and process for use in machine learning applications utilizing statistical modeling systems are described. In one embodiment, the feature generation process generates large feature spaces by combining features using logical, arithmetic and/or functional operations. A first set of features in an initial feature space are defined. Some or all of the first set of features are processed using one or more arithmetic, logic, user-defined combinatorial processes, or combinations thereof, to produce additional features. The additional features and at least some of the first set of features are combined to produce an expanded feature space. The expanded feature space is processed through a feature selection and optimization process to produce a model in a statistical modeling system.
US08019592B2
An information terminal device and method for upgrading a program simply and flexibly and an upgraded program is described. In many cases, a program running on a computer has additional functions prepared separately so that they can be added to that program as necessary. To use the additional functions, a user may purchase a new version of that program and install it on their computer by selecting icons which link to the new version of the program.
US08019589B2
A memory subsystem is provided including an interface circuit adapted for communication with a system and a majority of address or control signals of a first number of memory circuits. The interface circuit includes emulation logic for emulating at least one memory circuit of a second number.
US08019585B2
Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for performing silicon debugging and isolating faults in integrated circuits are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise a simulator to simulate operation of one or more portions of a circuit in order to identify elements of the circuit which are related to a fault, a circuit pruner to separate the related elements from other elements of the circuit and correlate the related elements to a physical layout of the elements, and a probe tool to locate one or more of the related elements which cause or contribute to the fault. Alternative embodiments may comprise computer programs for simulating operation of a circuit to determine related elements of a fault, correlating the related elements to a physical layout or arrangement of the elements in the circuit, and testing the related elements via the physical layout to determine which elements contribute to the fault.
US08019582B2
Structure-based processing includes a method of diagnosing diseases that works by arranging diseases, symptoms, and questions into a set of related disease, symptom, and question structures, such as objects or lists, in such a way that the structures can be processed to generate a dialogue with a patient. A structure-based processing system organizes medical knowledge into formal structures and then executes those structures on a structure engine to automatically select the next question. Patient responses to the questions lead to more questions and ultimately to a diagnosis.
US08019581B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for presenting navigational directions using a combination of a mobile communication device, such as a cellular phone, and a complementary device, such as a vehicular navigational or display device. In particular, using location information acquired by the mobile communication device, driving direction is obtained (such as from a server) and displayed to a user via the complementary device. The mobile communication device and the complementary device maybe connected to each other over a wired connection or a wireless connection.
US08019580B1
Transient thermal simulation of semiconductor chips uses region-wise variable spatial grids and variable temporal intervals, enabling spatio-temporal thermal analysis of semiconductor chips. Temperature rates of change across a die and/or package of an integrated circuit are computed and tracked versus time. Critical time interval(s) for temperature evaluation are determined. Temperatures of elements, components, devices, and interconnects are updated based on a 3D full chip temperature analysis. Respective power dissipations are updated, as a function of the temperatures, with an automated interface to one or more circuit simulation tools. Subsequently new temperatures are determined as a function of the power dissipations. User definable control and observation parameters enable flexible and efficient transient thermal analysis. The parameters relate to power sources, monitoring, reporting, error tolerances, and output snapshots. Viewing of waveform plots and 3D spatial variations of temperature enable efficient communication of results of the thermal analysis with designers of integrated circuits.
US08019579B1
In one embodiment, a method for displaying elements of an attribute in an executable block diagram model is provided. The method may include displaying an executable block diagram model in a first window and receiving a first input from an input device, wherein the first input associates with a first parameter of a block diagram modeling component in the executable block diagram model, the first parameter is represented in the executable block diagram model by a first graphical affordances. The method may include triggering the display of a value of a first parameter in a first user interface widget in the first window.
US08019571B2
A system, device, method, and program for informing abnormality, providing a user with abnormality information of equipment in an easy-to-understand manner so that convenience is enhanced. When abnormality occurs in equipment including home electric appliances, abnormality information indicating abnormality is transmitted to a server through an information terminal, and based on a reply from the server, contents of the abnormality are displayed on the terminal. When the abnormality is eliminated, the abnormality display is removed or display on a monitor, etc. are made to inform the elimination of the abnormality.
US08019546B1
A system of detecting tsunami conditions using communications for a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The SCADA system comprises an enterprise server, and a RTU. The RUT includes a sensor that continuously collect information. The system includes a buoy adapted communicate with the RTU. The buoy can include a transceiver, and wherein the transceiver communicates with the enterprise server. Communication software (AES) links the enterprise server to the buoy. The communication software can be adapted to simultaneously handle multiple types of telemetry and different SCADA protocols of the buoys; and wherein the communication software initiates an alarm when the information associated with oceanic conditions signifies tsunami conditions.
US08019545B2
Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is operably coupled to the key ignition device. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is adapted to generate a position notification signal indicative of the position of the object with respect to the vehicle. The controller is adapted to notify the primary and secondary drivers of the position of the object. The controller is adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the position notification signals based on whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver.
US08019544B2
A method of estimating the alignment of a star sensor (20) for a vehicle (12) includes generating star tracker data. A vehicle attitude and a star sensor attitude are determined in response to the star tracker data. A current alignment sample is generated in response to the vehicle attitude and the star sensor attitude. A current refined estimate alignment signal is generated in response to the current alignment sample and a previously refined estimate alignment signal via a vehicle on-board filter (38).
US08019541B2
Data from GPS satellites within the field of view of a ground station are retransmitted to LEO satellites, such as Iridium satellites, and cross-linked if necessary before being transmitted to a user. The user is then able to combine the fed-forward data with data received directly from GPS satellites in order to resolve errors due to interference or jamming. Iridium and data aiding thus provides a means for extending GPS performance under a variety of data-impaired conditions because it can provide certain aiding information over its data link in real time.
US08019538B2
A relative navigation system and method are disclosed. The relative navigation system includes a first sensor unit responsive to a motion of a first position, a second sensor unit responsive to a motion of a second position, and a first processing unit associated with at least one of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit and communicatively coupled to the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit. The first processing unit is configured to generate relative navigation solution information associated with first sensor unit information and second sensor unit information.
US08019537B2
A method for operating a navigation system computes a pedestrian route for travel by a pedestrian. A request to calculate the pedestrian route from an origin to a destination and a walking preference for the pedestrian route identifying a feature of the pedestrian route are obtained. A geographic database associated with the navigation system is accessed for data representing at least one pedestrian path. The data representing the pedestrian path includes lighting level attribute information for the pedestrian path. A valid solution pedestrian route from the origin to the destination comprising a series of connected pedestrian paths that support the walking preference is determined.
US08019516B2
A method for measuring the useful load of a telehandler including calculation of the useful load from the change of the axle load on the front axle or the rear axle compared with the vehicle in an unloaded condition, the distance of the useful load from the front axle or the rear axle having a defined value or the load-holding device of the telehandler being in a defined position.
US08019514B2
A control system for a machine is disclosed. The control system may have at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an inclination of the machine. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to stop operation of the machine in response to the signal.
US08019510B2
A system is provided for utilizing belt movement information in a motorized seat belt (MSB) control system algorithm to achieve better levels of comfort and safety. The MSB control system algorithm controls execution of multiple modes including a no friction mode, a stowage mode, a slack reduction mode, an out of position warning mode, a medium pull-back mode, and a high pull-back mode. The MSB control system algorithm also controls execution of a low power mode initiated after the other vehicle modules are put to sleep to provide the ability to stow the seat belt after the vehicle has been turned off for some period of time. The MSB control system algorithm also controls belt monitoring functions defined based on a buckle switch state that indicates the buckled or unbuckled state of the seat belt. Belt monitoring consists of belt movement being converted to counts based on a resolution provided by a belt movement sensor.
US08019509B2
A method and apparatus for preventatively actuating a vehicle occupant protection system in a vehicle having a sensor system which acquires driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means which can be triggered before the collision time and thus moved into an operative position. A control signal for triggering the vehicle occupant protection means is activated if at least one critical driving state is present, and is deactivated if the respective critical driving state ends and as a function of at least one further condition which represents at least one sensed controllable driving behavior. As a result, the vehicle occupant protection system is reset to its initial state.
US08019507B2
In an electric power steering control system, a phase compensator of the steering torque is made of an analog circuit and an anti-phase compensator is made by the software of a microcomputer, thereby to eliminate the changes in the gain and the phase by the phase compensator of the analog circuit near the oscillation frequency, so that the steering torque signal equivalent to that of no phase compensation necessary for the computation at the observer is computed from the phase-compensated steering torque signal.
US08019504B2
A method is provided for identifying events that impact aircraft availability. Operational data, maintenance data, supply data, and provisioning data are collected for a plurality of aircraft from a plurality of sources to form collected data. The collected data is processed to form processed data containing a plurality of events, wherein the processed data is in a form needed to perform an analysis on the aircraft availability for the plurality of aircraft. A set of metrics relating to the aircraft availability for the plurality of aircraft is calculated from the processed data to form a set of calculated metrics. A set of trends relating to the set of calculated metrics affecting availability of the plurality of aircraft is identified.
US08019503B2
A method of processing vehicle diagnostic data is provided for identifying likely vehicle fix(s) associated with a diagnostic data, and identifying a repair procedure(s) for correcting the likely fix(s). The process receiving vehicle diagnostic data from a vehicle onboard computer at a remote diagnostic database, the database being arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to possible vehicle fix(s). The possible vehicle fix(s) are prioritized in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to combinations of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database. The prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combination of diagnostic data. The fix associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data is identified as the most likely fix. The most likely fix is mapped to a vehicle repair database, the most likely fix being directly mapped to an associated repair procedure for repairing the most likely fix.
US08019501B2
Method for predicting failures in vehicular components includes mounting sensors on the vehicle which provide data affected by the operation of the components, obtaining data from the sensors, detecting patterns in the obtained data on the vehicle, analyzing the detected patterns to predict failure of any component, and informing the user, owner, dealer and/or manufacturer of the vehicle about the predicted failure to enable preventative and corrective action to be taken. A vehicle with remote telematics capability includes sensors arranged to provide data about conditions of the vehicle or components, a processor for receiving data provided by the sensors and converting the data into an output constituting a signal about a diagnostic condition of the vehicle or component(s), and a communications unit arranged to transmit the signal. The communications unit can establish a communications channel with a dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle at a location remote from the vehicle.
US08019500B2
In examples of the invention, a vehicle diagnostics update mechanism provides a frequent connection to a vehicle telematics unit. In this way, large amounts of vehicle data that are available when the vehicle is on or cached, i.e., when the vehicle is off, can be pulled and used to provide a vehicle update to the user. In one example, a “vehicle dashboard” application running on a vehicle owner's computer in the form of a tool bar provides diagnostics updates in a quick and easy to use format. The tool bar also provides a means for executing user selections and commands and for providing alerts to the user.
US08019497B2
A system for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard. The system is computer based and has an input for receiving data conveying information about one or more arrival trains arriving at the switch yard and data conveying information about departure trains to depart the switch yard. A processing entity processes the data and computes car switching solutions for the railcars.
US08019492B2
A preferred embodiment of a method for fine-tracking operator assistance for controlling movement of an object toward a target combines an operator input for guiding the object toward the target with a sensor-derived input from sensor measurement of the object's position relative to the target's position. The combined input is separated into low and high frequency content, and a Low Frequency Authority Limit component applies a pre-determined gain over a selected range to the low frequency content, while a High Frequency Authority Limit component applies a pre-determined gain over a selected range to the high frequency content. The low-frequency gain output is combined with the high-frequency gain output as a total control input for control of the object relative to the target.
US08019490B2
An imaging and display system provides helicopter pilots with an unobstructed display of a landing area in a brownout or whiteout condition by capturing a high resolution image of the landing area prior to obscuration. Using inertial navigation information from the aircraft or an independent system, the system transforms the image to a desired viewpoint and overlays a representation of the helicopter's current position relative to the landing area. The system thus greatly improves orientation and situational awareness, permitting safe and effective operation under zero visibility brownout conditions.
US08019486B2
A controller for an adjustable bed can accept voice input, such as spoken commands to control functions of an adjustable bed. The controller can also accept voice commands to control functions of a second system associated with the bed. One or more voice commands can result in both the adjustable bed and the second system functionality being controlled.
US08019484B2
The present disclosure is concerned with the combined voltage or power flow control and damping of electromechanical oscillations in an electric power system by Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices or High Voltage DC (HVDC) transmission devices. To this end, information about a state or operating point of the power system is generated from suitable second system signals (y2) and a control parameter (cp) of a FACTS controller is derived therefrom. The control parameter and a first system signal (y1) are used in the calculation of a control command (u) defining the settings of the FACTS device. Following a change in the state of the power system such as a change in the topology of a transmission network, poorly damped or even unstable oscillations are avoided by appropriate re-tuning of the control parameter of the damping or stabilizing equipment.
US08019483B2
A system and method for managing the distributed generation of power from a plurality of vehicles is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining location information for the plurality of vehicles, determining that a demand for power in a first portion of the power grid has reached a power threshold, determining that the location information associated with a set of the plurality of vehicles satisfies a similarity threshold with the first portion of the power grid, and transmitting a request to a first group of vehicles in the set of vehicles to discharge power. In addition, the method may include receiving a response from at least some of the electric vehicles to which a request was transmitted, and determining whether to request the discharge of power from additional vehicles in the set of the plurality of vehicles based, at least in part, on the number of responses containing a confirmation of the discharge of power. The portion of the power grid may comprise a medium voltage power line or a substation.
US08019482B2
A sprinkler system having a method and computer program comprises one or more sprinklers each comprising a sprinkler valve adapted to regulate an amount of fluid delivered by the sprinkler in response to a control signal; a master unit adapted to transmit digital data; and a sprinkler controller comprising a receiver adapted to receive a signal representing the digital data; a media access controller adapted to obtain the digital data from the signal; and a processor adapted to produce the control signal based on the digital data obtained by the media access controller; and an output circuit adapted to provide the control signal to the sprinklers.
US08019478B2
A method of controlling operation of a pair of two-stage air conditioners. The method monitors a temperature of an area served by the air conditioners; activates a first stage of a first or lead air conditioner when the temperature rises above a first set point temperature; activates a first stage of a second or lag air conditioner when the temperature rises above a second set point temperature; activates a second stage of the first air conditioner only if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a first selected time period; and activates a second stage of the second air conditioner only if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a second selected time period. Neither of the air conditioners is operated in their less efficient second stages if both air conditioners are not first operating in their high efficiency first stages so that the entire cooling requirements of the area served by the air conditioners is primarily served by the first high efficiency stage of one or both the air conditioners.
US08019456B2
A product repair support system is configured to support repair of a product rejected in an inspection based on a prescribed inspection standard. The product repair support system includes: repair information storage part; reference information storage part; and repair condition optimization part. The repair information storage part is configured to store a result of the inspection of the repaired product as repair information. The reference information storage part is configured to store reference information related to the product. The repair condition optimization part is configured to determine appropriateness of a repair condition or selection of the repair condition on basis of the repair information and, in response to a determination of being inappropriate, to optimize data of the repair condition or the selection on basis of at least one of the repair information and the reference information.
US08019449B2
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: initiating a communications connection between an audio device and a CPE gateway coupled to the audio device, the CPE gateway coupleable to a network; and negotiating between the audio device and the CPE gateway for a parameter associated with processing an audio signal to be transmitted across the network, the audio signal corresponding to a selected audio bandwidth from a plurality of audio bandwidths.
US08019438B2
The present invention is device for delivering an electrode into a lateral vein of the coronary sinus. The device includes a support structure, a stent, a tether coupled to the stent and a removable sheath disposed about the stent. The stent is carried on the support structure and is deployable from a first collapsed configuration to a second expanded configuration for engaging the inner walls of the selected vessel. The sheath is sized to retain the stent in the first collapsed configuration. The electrode is carried on the stent or on a lead threaded over the tether.
US08019437B2
A medical electrical lead includes a glue segment to adhere the lead to a treatment site. The glue segment, which may be disposed within a tip electrode of the lead, includes tissue adhesive which may encapsulated within a capsule.
US08019435B2
An apparatus for locally controlling smooth muscle tone includes a first electrode for insertion into an artery; a barrier for preventing the first electrode from contacting an arterial wall; a second electrode; a power supply; and a controller for coupling the power supply to the electrodes. The controller is configured to cause the electrode to maintain a waveform for controlling polarization of smooth muscle tone.
US08019430B2
Aspects provide methods and sound processor for encoding stimulation signals to convey pitch perception information to a recipient. The method may comprise identifying a first stimulation site based on a selected frequency component of the sound signal that contains pitch perception information, wherein a stimulation signal is generated based on the selected frequency component; determining a second stimulation site adjacent to the first stimulation site; and determining a time delay between when the second stimulation site is independently stimulated with the stimulation signal and when the first stimulation site is independently stimulated with the stimulation signal.
US08019428B2
A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.
US08019421B2
A pancreatic controller, comprising: at least one electrode adapted for electrifying at least a portion of a pancreas; and a controller programmed to electrify said electrode so as to positively control at least the effect of at least two members of a group consisting of blood glucose level, blood insulin level and blood level of another pancreatic hormone. In one example, the controller controls insulin, glucagon and/or glucose blood levels.
US08019414B2
Chemotherapeutic treatment for certain cancers may be combined with low intensity, intermediate frequency alternating electric fields that are tuned to a particular type of target cell. When the tuned fields were combined with Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin or Cyclophosphamide, excellent results were obtained against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and non-small cell lung (H1299) carcinomas in culture. More specifically, cell proliferation inhibition similar to that obtained by drug alone was reached by exposure to the combined treatment at drug concentrations between one and two orders of magnitude lower than for drug-only regimens of treatment.
US08019410B1
An intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) or other suitable electrical cardiac signal is sensed. Values representative of a pre-symptomatic physiologic response to a hypoglycemic event are derived from the cardiac signal. Then, hypoglycemia is detected based on the values representative of the pre-symptomatic physiologic response. In one example, both temporal morphological parameters and spectral parameters affected by pre-symptomatic hypoglycemia are derived from the cardiac signal. Hypoglycemia is then detected based on a combination of the temporal and spectral parameters using, e.g., a linear discriminator. By detecting hypoglycemia based on parameters affected by pre-symptomatic hypoglycemia, suitable warnings can be generated and therapies initiated before the condition becomes symptomatic.
US08019407B2
A heart monitor for processing input signals that represent periodically reoccurring events in a sequence of heart cycles. According to the invention graphical data representing a scatter plot of at least two dimensions, one dimension representing interval duration or its inverse and the other dimension representing change of duration or its inverse, respectively, are generated. The scatter plot comprises data points of which each data point represents heart interval duration or its inverse plotted against the change of duration with respect to a neighboring interval or the inverse of said change respectively.
US08019406B2
A medical device and a method is suggested for assessing the risk of R on T events. The device comprises a memory, input means for acquiring or receiving an electrogram signal and processing means. The processing means are adapted to detect R-wave and T-waves represented by said electrogram, establish a QT-RR regression model based detected R-waves and T-waves, estimate a vulnerable period, and store estimated vulnerable period data in said memory. Likewise, the method comprises the steps of to detecting R-wave and T-waves represented by an electrogram, establishing a QT-RR regression model based detected R-waves and T-waves, estimating a vulnerable period, and storing estimated vulnerable period data.
US08019400B2
The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus for analyzing measured signals using various processing techniques. In certain embodiments, the measured signals are physiological signals. In certain embodiments, the measurements relate to blood constituent measurements including blood oxygen saturation.
US08019398B2
An exemplary slide mechanism includes a main plate a slide plate, and two arched resilient members. The arched resilient members are disposed on the main plate. The slide plate is slidably laid over the main plate. A resisting member is fixed on one surface of the slide plate facing to the main plate. The resisting member keeps resisting the arched resilient members when the slide plate sliding along the main plate. A guiding surface is formed on the main plate. One end of each arched resilient member is fixed to the main plate, and the other end of each arched resilient member resists and is slidable on the guiding surface. A slide-type portable terminal device using the slide mechanism is also provided.
US08019396B2
A shelf assembly for a confined space formed within a structure is provided. The shelf assembly includes a fixed portion having a structure attachment interface to fixedly attach the shelf assembly to the structure and a slideable portion that is operable to slide out and extend from the fixed portion of the shelf assembly. The slideable portion has an enclosure attachment interface to attach an electronics enclosure to the slideable portion of the shelf assembly. The slideable portion has a first state and a second state in which the slideable portion is held in a first position or second position, respectively. In the first state, the entire slideable portion of the shelf assembly is positioned within the structure. In the second state, at least the enclosure attachment interface is positioned outside of the structure.
US08019392B2
A handsfree system includes a handsfree apparatus and a phone. The handsfree apparatus has a database including a primary control program and a model-specific program. The primary control program enables the handsfree phone call when coupled with the phone. The model-specific program is operated to resolve a model-dependent constraint by being incorporated in the primary control program. The model-dependent constraint arises when coupled with the phone. The model-specific program is associated with phone model information and program specification information to specify the model-specific program independent of the phone model information. Phone model information and program specification information are acquired from a phone coupled with the handsfree apparatus. Model-specific program corresponding to the acquired program specification information is retrieved from the database when the acquired phone model information is not included in the database. The retrieved model-specific program is executed by incorporating in the primary control program.
US08019389B2
A method of controlling a mobile communication device equipped with a touch screen, and a communication device and a method of executing functions thereof are disclosed. A method of controlling a mobile communication device includes displaying a plurality of execution keys on a touch screen in a standby mode and executing an operation assigned to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys by touching and dragging the specific execution key.
US08019384B2
A method and apparatus for disabling the communication functionality (i.e., disabling the transmission and/or reception of RF signals) of an integrated device, while still providing access to the local functionality of such device. A control and select function, such as a switch that is implemented by hardware or software or a combination thereof, is provided in an integrated device to allow the end user of the device to access the local data processing functionality of the device, even while the wireless communication functionality of such device is disabled.
US08019379B2
A transmitter and receiver for combining RFID amplitude-modulated data with wireless phase-modulated data is realized by a processing module coupled to generate outbound non-amplitude modulated symbols from first outbound data, to generate outbound amplitude modulated symbols from second outbound data, to generate first inbound data from inbound non-amplitude modulated symbols, and to generate second inbound data from inbound amplitude modulated symbols, a combiner coupled to modulate the amplitude modulated symbols onto a signal carrying the non-amplitude modulated symbols to produce a combined outbound RF signal and a splitter coupled to convert a combined inbound RF signal into inbound non-amplitude modulated symbols and into inbound amplitude modulated symbols.
US08019374B2
There is disclosed a method for serving radio network subsystem relocation from a first radio network controller to a second radio network controller for an established call to a user equipment, comprising transmitting a transmission power control combination index of a radio link established between the user equipment and the first radio network controller to the second radio network controller.
US08019372B2
A controller apparatus is configured to control an ad hoc network formed by a plurality of mobile terminals. The controller apparatus includes a transmission power determining unit configured to determine transmission power of a certain mobile terminal joining in the ad hoc network, based on traffic distribution in the ad hoc network.
US08019370B2
An apparatus and method for a power-efficient framework to maintain data synchronization of a mobile personal computer (MPC) are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the detection of a data synchronization wakeup event while the MPC is operating according to a sleep state. Subsequent to wakeup event, at least one system resource is disabled to provide a minimum number of system resources required to re-establish a network connection. In one embodiment, user data from a network server is synchronized on the MPC without user intervention; the mobile platform system resumes operation according to the sleep state. In one embodiment, a wakeup alarm is programmed according to a user history profile regarding received e-mails. In a further embodiment, data synchronizing involves disabling a display, and throttling the system processor to operate at a reduced frequency. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08019368B2
A message exchange network is disclosed in which at least two different methods of storing messages in memories of message storage entities, e.g., a mobile handset, an SMSC, an e-mail client, or an e-mail server, are utilized based on the type and the content of the information contained within the message. An information service message containing information that is supercedingly updateable, e.g., stock quote, weather or traffic information, is stored using a replacement method by which an older message previously stored is replaced by a newly received message. All other types of messages are stored using an append method by which the newly received message is stored in an unoccupied available memory location. In a disclosed embodiment, message identifier included in the message itself provides information necessary to distinguish between the aforementioned two types of messages. In a disclosed embodiment, a block of message identifiers is reserved for storage of information service messages. The architectures and methods for receipt, delivery and storage of messages disclosed herein replaceable and/or on demand update of information service messages while providing efficient use of memory in which the messages are stored, avoiding the annoyance and inconvenience to the subscriber in having to scroll through numerous stale and/or obsolete messages in order to view the most current up to date message and having to manually selecting and deleting obsolete and stale messages, and avoiding unnecessary deliveries of the obsolete and stale messages by message centers.
US08019364B2
Methods for providing feedback in messaging systems are described. A communication node can include a first counter for counting a first number of messages which received by and/or forwarded by the node. The communication node can also include a second counter which counts a second number of messages which are expected to be delivered from that node to other nodes.
US08019360B2
A method for determining a location of a wireless transmitting device transmitting a digitally modulated transmitted radio frequency signal. The method comprises, at spaced-apart receivers: generating a received radio frequency signal and including time tags therein responsive to the transmitted radio frequency signal, detecting a destination message signal responsive to the received radio frequency signal, comparing the destination message signal and the received radio frequency signal and determining a time of arrival of the destination message signal responsive to the step of comparing and responsive to the time tags. The method further comprises determining a pairwise time difference of arrival of the received radio frequency signal for two pairs of receivers and determining the location of the device responsive to the pairwise time difference of arrival.
US08019355B2
Disclosed is a location information system based upon a SUPL (Secure User Plane Location) architecture, and more particularly, to a location positioning method based on an area event in handover between networks. The method comprises: if a network is changed or if a terminal is outside of the coverage area of a serving network while an area event is ongoing, requesting, by the terminal, new event trigger parameters to a home network through a first message; determining, by the home network, a serving network of the terminal by using location identifier included in the first message; receiving, the home network, the location identifier of a target area for which the positioning is requested from the determined serving network; and transmitting, the home network, the new event trigger parameters including the area identifier to the terminal through a second message.
US08019352B2
A system and method for estimating the position of wireless devices within a wireless communication network combines measured RF channel characteristics for the wireless device with one or more predicted performance lookup tables, each of which correlates an RF channel characteristic to some higher order network performance metric and/or a position within an environmental model. Measured RF channel characteristics for wireless devices are compared against the performance lookup tables to determine the sent of lookup tables that most closely match the measured RF channel characteristics. The positions within the environmental model corresponding to the selected set of matching lookup tables are identified as possible locations for the wireless device. The performance lookup tables are uniquely constructed by site-specific location, technology, wireless standard, and equipment types, and/or the current operating state of the communications network.
US08019342B2
A process of maintaining access information between wireless hotspots is disclosed. A logon request from a wireless portable device is received by a first access point of a first wireless hotspot and use of the first access point by the wireless portable device is authenticated to establish an access session. Then, information related to the access session is passed to a shared register accessible by a plurality of wireless hotspots and the access session is monitored to determine whether a disconnect by the wireless portable device occurs. Additionally, when the wireless portable device moves from a coverage area of the first wireless hotspot to one coverage area of one of the plurality of wireless hotspots, the information related to the access session may be used to facilitate access to the one of the plurality of wireless hotspots by the wireless portable device.
US08019336B2
An electronic radio system multifunction slice (100) for a electronic radio system (400). The slice (100) includes an antenna interface (102), several multi-band transceivers (106-112), a processor (104), and an avionics interface (114). The antenna interface (102) couples to the antenna preconditioners of the aircraft. The processor (104) is coupled to the multi-band transceivers (106-112) and antenna interface (102), and controls the transceivers (106-112) and antenna interface (102) to provide signal and data processing for at least two independent radio function threads. The processor (104) is also coupled to the avionics interface (114), which connects to the avionics network of the aircraft. Each multifunction slice 100 provides a programmable multifunction radio.
US08019332B2
A method for efficiently transmitting and receiving control information through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is provided. When a User Equipment (UE) receives control information through a PDCCH, the received control information is set to be decoded in units of search spaces, each having a specific start position in the specific subframe. Here, a modulo operation according to a predetermined first constant value (D) is performed on an input value to calculate a first result value, and a modulo operation according to a predetermined first variable value (C) corresponding to the number of candidate start positions that can be used as the specific start position is performed on the calculated first result value to calculate a second result value and an index position corresponding to the second result value is used as the specific start position. Transmitting control information in this manner enables a plurality of UEs to efficiently receive PDCCHs without collisions.
US08019324B2
A mobile device, such as a cellular telephone includes a voice interface that includes one part that may not be specific to a particular carrier, and a second part that provides an interface to services that are specific to a carrier or to service or information providers that are not necessarily available with all carriers. A voice command interface provides easy access to the carrier services. The set of carrier services is optionally extendible by the carrier.
US08019320B2
A method handling payment transactions in a system using mobile communication devices as stored value devices is disclosed. A transaction operations server receives multiple records of the transaction from the stored value device—one via a communication channel through the telecommunication provider network, and another via an independent communication channel. The records are reconciled at the transaction server for transaction verification.
US08019317B2
A system and method for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices includes a system having a data entry computer for compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, a service provider computer server in signal communication with the data entry computer for uploading the database contact information into the service provider computer server and for downloading the database contact information substantially simultaneously to the group of mobile communications devices, and a mobile communications device in signal communication with the service provider computer server for receiving the database contact information and for updating its own global logical database; wherein the method for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices includes the steps of compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, uploading the database contact information to a service provider computer server, and downloading the database contact information to the group of mobile communications devices.
US08019315B2
A mixer includes a magnetoresistive effect element, a magnetic field applying unit, and an impedance circuit. The magnetoresistive effect element includes a fixed magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer disposed between the fixed magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer, is operable when a first high-frequency signal and a second high-frequency signal as a local signal are inputted, to multiply the first high-frequency signal and the second high-frequency signal according to a magnetoresistive effect to generate a multiplication signal. The magnetic field applying unit applies a magnetic field to the free magnetic layer. The impedance circuit has a higher impedance for the multiplication signal than an impedance for the first high-frequency signal and the second high-frequency signal and is disposed between an input transfer line, which transfers the first high-frequency signal and the second high-frequency signal, and the magnetoresistive effect element.
US08019309B2
In RF transceivers, a method and system for a second order input intercept point (IIP2) calibration scheme are provided. Transceiver calibration schemes to compensate for DC offsets produced by interfering signals may be performed during production testing or field operation. During production testing, an external source may inject a blocker signal that produces DC offsets in the receiver portion of the transceiver. A transceiver switch may be set to receive mode in this scheme. During field operation, a power amplifier in the transmitter portion of the transceiver may inject the blocker signal. In this scheme, the switch may be set to transmit mode and the DC offsets are produced by the portion of the injected blocker signal that leaks through the switch. In both schemes, a DC offset sensor detects DC offsets in the I/Q signal paths and may determine compensation currents which may be applied by injection circuits.
US08019307B2
A method for adjustment of a radio-frequency circuit by impedance loading features includes designing a plurality of test fixtures each corresponding to an impedance loading area according to a predefined operating frequency band, coupling each of the plurality of test fixtures to a test point of the radio-frequency circuit for measuring a plurality of radio-frequency characteristic sets, determining an optimal impedance loading area of the radio-frequency circuit according to the plurality of radio-frequency characteristic sets, and adjusting the radio-frequency circuit according to the optimal impedance loading area.
US08019305B1
The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal. All received signals are coupled to the same adaptive array or adaptive filter to reduce multipath or other shared interference of the first radio signal, which reduces multipath and other shared interference in the other radio signals before they are separated and processed by their respective receivers, or the individual radio signals are separated before the first signal enters the adaptive array or adaptive filter and each of the other signals coupled to an individual associated adaptive array or adaptive filter slave weighting network with weights slaved to the weights of the adaptive array or adaptive filter of the first signal to reduce the multipath and other shared interference in all the signals.
US08019303B2
A multicarrier receiver changes receive capabilities based on a current channel utilization. The number of antennas used to receive multicarrier communication signals may be changed or the channel bandwidth may be changed.
US08019299B1
One embodiment includes a system configured to identify a preferred channel for radio communication from a plurality of consecutive integer frequencies including preferred channels and non-preferred channels, the system further to generate a plurality of radio channels corresponding to a plurality of consecutive integer frequencies based on a generation of reference frequencies, identifies preferred channels and non-preferred channels from the plurality of radio channels, where frequency synthesizer settling times of the preferred channels are faster than frequency synthesizer settling times of the non-preferred channels, scan the preferred channels for radio activity, select one of preferred channels responsive to the scanned radio activity; and utilize one of the reference frequencies to generate a radio frequency corresponding to the selected one of the preferred channels.
US08019298B2
A satellite radio system may include at least one computing device configured to receive a transaction date associated with a vehicle, to determine a preactivation duration based on the date, and to determine whether the preactivation duration exceeds a predetermined time period. The at least one computing device may be further configured to initiate the transmission of deactivation information for a satellite radio module in the vehicle if the preactivation duration exceeds the predetermined time period to disable the module from playing satellite broadcast signals.
US08019296B1
Methods and systems are provided for selective scanning for WLAN coverage by a multi-mode device. In one embodiment, a multi-mode device determines whether it is charging and whether it is authenticated via a WLAN. If the device is charging and so authenticated, it stores reference data in a WLAN profile corresponding with the WLAN via which the device is authenticated, where the reference data reflects a current environment of a WWAN. If the device is charging and is not so authenticated, it scans on a fixed interval for at least one WLAN. If the device is not charging and is not so authenticated, it iteratively: (a) calculates a scanning period based at least in part on comparing the current environment of the WWAN with reference data from at least one stored WLAN profile that includes WWAN reference data and (b) scans once every scanning period for at least one WLAN.
US08019292B2
A system for controlling amplifier power is provided. The system includes a voltage envelope detector receiving a voltage signal and generating an attenuated voltage envelope signal. A current envelope detector receives a current signal and generates an attenuated current envelope signal. A controller receives power level data and generates attenuation control data for the voltage envelope signal and the current envelope signal. A detector receives the voltage envelope signal and the current envelope signal and generates a control signal based on the greater of the voltage envelope signal and the current envelope signal. A power amplifier level controller receives the control signal and generates a power amplifier level control signal.
US08019290B2
A reconfigurable multimode transmitter is disclosed, operating in accordance with a two-step channel selection. The first step provides for a fine channel selection and upconversion of a desired channel to either positive or negative IF. The second step is a coarse channel selection and upconversion of a desired channel to the RF. The receiver and transmitter can be used in a transceiver.
US08019286B2
A method and a system for determining the amplitude and/or the phase of the output signal of a transmission link dependent upon the amplitude of the input signal (AM-AM and/or AM-PM characteristic) impresses a test signal (s(t)) on the transmission link (14), measures the response signal (e(t)) resulting from the test signal (s(t)) by amplitude and/or phase distortion in the transmission link (14) and determines the amplitude response (|e(t)|) of the response signal (e(t)) and/or the phase responses (φs(t), φE(t)) of the test signal (s(t)) and of the response signal (e(t)) dependent upon the amplitude response (|s(t)|) of the test signal (s(t)). The amplitude response (|s(t)|) of the test signal (s(t)) consists of several first and second response segments with constant amplitude values over the duration (ΔT) of the respective first or second response segment.
US08019279B2
The present invention is directed to a method, system and computer program for using a mobile phone as handset for an Internet Protocol (IP) softphone and for automatically transferring calls from an IP softphone running on a workstation to another IP softphone running on another workstation.
US08019275B2
Method, apparatuses, and system for selectively stacking systems are disclosed. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises satellite signals broadcast in a first frequency band, that are downconverted to a first intermediate frequency (IF) band of signals, and different satellite signals broadcast in a second frequency band that are downconverted to a second IF band of signals and a third IF band of signals. The first, second, and third IF bands of signals are all present in a combined IF signal on a cable.
US08019274B2
An example system comprises one or more base stations, each base station associated with a cell, a Channel-to-Subscriber Management Entity operable to register a channel and a plurality of subscribers to that channel, wherein each subscriber is located in at least one of the cells, and a router operable to send media content associated with the channel to the one or more base stations, wherein each base station is operable to transmit the content to the subscribers in its cell at the same time.
US08019271B1
Methods and systems for presenting media content (e.g., scrolling text) on a mobile device are provided. A broadcast may be received from a network via a wireless communication link, the broadcast may include media content (e.g., a text feed) and information (e.g., metadata) associated with characteristics of the media content. The media content may be extracted, and at least one characteristic associated with presenting the media content on the mobile device may be identified. The media content may be presented on the mobile device in accordance with the at least one identified characteristic.
US08019264B2
An image-forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member supporting a toner image, a transfer portion at which the toner image on the image-bearing member is transferred on a sheet; and first and second guides that guide the sheet to the transfer portion and respectively have first and second contact portions so that a surface of the sheet on which the toner image is transferred contacts these portions. The first contact portion is located at an upstream side of the second contact portion in a sheet-conveying direction. After a rear end of the sheet passes the first contact portion, the rear end of sheet passes the second contact portion while bending the second guide toward the image-bearing member. The second guide is bent from a position of an upstream side in the sheet-conveying direction with respect to a position of the first contact portion.
US08019257B2
A developer-controlling member includes a first plate (36) and a second plate (35) attached to the first plate (36), the first and second plates (36, 35) being formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of a developing roller (30) including a magnet roller; a half blanking fitting projection (38) is formed on one of the first and second plates (36, 35), a fitting hole (49) fitting to the fitting projection (38) is formed in the other of the first and second plates (36, 35), and the first and second plates are fastened by caulking the fitting projection.
US08019255B2
The adjustment method aligns printing engines in a print assembly that is capable of printing on a receiver to form one or more final prints and includes corrections for cross-track misregistration. These adjustments are made in one embodiment by aligning two or more printing engines in an x and y direction relative to a receiver reference and then aligning each printing engines in a cross track direction (z direction) relative to the receiver reference based on measurements in the cross track direction (z direction).
US08019254B2
A toner conveying device includes a toner hopper for containing unused toner, a waste-toner hopper for containing waste toner, and waste-toner conveying screws that convey waste toner in the waste-toner hopper. The waste-toner hopper is separated from the toner hopper by a flexible partition made of elastic material. The flexible partition is located near the conveying member, and includes a rigid body.
US08019253B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive unit removably mountable in the casing, and a protective member. The photosensitive unit includes a plurality of photosensitive members. The protective member is removably attached to the photosensitive unit and includes: a covering plate which opposes the plurality of photosensitive members to cover the plurality of photosensitive members when protecting the photosensitive members; a written part arranged on the covering plate, and including operation information related to the image forming apparatus written thereon; and a support part which supports the photosensitive unit so that the photosensitive members and the covering plate are separated by an interval when protecting the photosensitive members.
US08019251B2
An angular position adjusting apparatus for adjusting the angular position of a control panel of an image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes a rotary member attached to the control panel, an input part for generating an input signal indicative of changing the angular position of the control panel, a motor part connected to the rotary member for changing the angular position of the control panel by driving the rotary member, and a setting part for setting the angular position of the control panel in correspondence with the power status of the image processing apparatus.
US08019249B2
A charging device includes a first charging member held in contact with an image carrier, a toner image formed thereon, a bias showing a polarity same as that of the charged potential of toner applied thereto, a second charging member arranged downstream relative to the first charging member as viewed in the moving direction of the image carrier and held in contact with the image carrier, a bias showing a polarity opposite to the charged potential of toner applied thereto, a collection member held in contact with the second charging member to collect the toner adhering to the second charging member, a bias being applied thereto and a collection member bias control unit for controlling the bias applied to the collection member according to image forming conditions information.
US08019242B2
An image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of executing process control at appropriate timing are provided. A control section of an image forming apparatus carries out control for determining execution time of process control and executing the process control. The control section includes a counting section, a determining section and a process control management section. The counting section counts a number of printed sheets. The determining section determines on what time process control is to be executed form the counted number of printed sheets for each time zone. The process control management section manages the process control executed at an image forming section with the whole of the image forming apparatus.
US08019237B2
A system and method for avoiding paper jams and possible shutdown in an image forming device by automatically executing a series of re-feed cycles for a sheet of image receiving media in a multi pass image forming device. The sheet transport section of the image forming device includes a hold section and a sensor associated with the hold section to provide input to a control unit to execute one or more re-feed cycles based on a failure to sense a sheet of image receiving media in the hold section at an appropriate time in operation of the image forming device. The control unit also controls a hold duration for the sheet of image receiving media at the hold section to synchronize a final feed of the sheet of image receiving media with the operation of the marker unit in the image forming device.
US08019232B2
A method of phase modulating optical radiation by the steps of phase modulating the optical radiation by using a modulator having an extinction ratio in order to provide a multilevel phase shift key signal, and applying to each optical pulse a phase-shift having an absolute value depending on the extinction ratio and a sign depending, for each of the optical pulses, on the respective optical phase value. An apparatus implementing the method is also disclosed.
US08019229B2
A visible light communication apparatus enables an operator to visually recognize a communication state during visual light communication. The apparatus includes a light emitting section which emits visible light and which includes a modulator, a visible light emitter, a light emitting element and an emission control section which includes a controller and which controls an emission state of the visible light from the light emitting section. The apparatus controls the emission state according to the communication state. It is hence possible for the operator to visually perceive the communication state during the visible light communication.
US08019218B2
An optical signal monitoring apparatus includes an optical interference unit, a sampling optical pulse generation unit, an optical sampling unit, a photoelectric converter, and a computation unit. The optical interference unit includes an optical brancher, a delay device, an optical phase adjuster, and an optical multiplexer. The optical brancher branches a monitoring object signal optical signal phase-modulated at a predetermined symbol rate into two optical paths. The delay device imparts delay corresponding to an integral multiple of one symbol to an optical signal branched in one optical path of the two optical paths. The optical phase adjuster brings an optical signal emitted delay device and an optical signal branched in another optical path of the two optical paths into a predetermined optical phase difference. The optical multiplexer multiplexes the optical signals which are brought into the predetermined optical phase difference, and converts the phase-modulated monitoring object optical signal into intensity-modulated light to emit the intensity-modulated light. The sampling optical pulse generation unit generates a sampling optical pulse having a period which is different from a predetermined offset time to integral multiplication of a symbol clock period corresponding to the predetermined symbol rate. The optical sampling unit samples the intensity-modulated light using the sampling optical pulse and emits an optical pulse signal.
US08019213B2
An exchangeable lens includes: a cam member; a plurality of lenses; a lens holding frame; a drive motor; a worm screw; a worm wheel; a planetary roller; a first rotating member; a first bearing seat; a second rotating member; and a second bearing seat.
US08019202B2
A content reproduction method is provided, which acquires, from a data transmission apparatus, first streaming data that is used to play a content at a first speed, and records the first streaming data on a storage medium. The content reproduction method plays the content at the first speed, based on the stored first streaming data. The content reproduction method also starts acquisition of second streaming data in response to a varied-speed reproduction request for the content, wherein the second streaming data is used to play the content at a second speed, and plays the content at a transition speed based on the stored first streaming data, in response to the varied-speed reproduction request. The content reproduction method plays the content at the second speed based on the second streaming data, after the acquisition of the second streaming data progresses to a reproduction preparation complete state.
US08019200B2
There is provided a method for automatically converting a media file for playback on a portable media player. The method includes specifying the type of the portable media player. If a stream of the media file is not capable of being played back by the portable media player, the stream is discarded. If a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is supported by the portable media player, the stream is then directly copied to the player. Where a stream of the media file is capable of being played back and is not supported by the portable media player, the stream is then converted using a predetermined codec that is supported by the portable media player, the predetermined codec selected on a basis of playback quality, output file size and file conversion time. A corresponding system and software is also disclosed.
US08019189B2
A laser light source device which can inexpensively achieve a visually recognizable level of speckle reduction is disclosed. The laser light source device includes: a laser module including a light source and a first optical waveguide, wherein light emitted from the light source is outputted from an output end of the first optical waveguide; a second optical waveguide connected to the first optical waveguide, wherein the light outputted from the output end of the first optical waveguide is inputted to an input end of the second optical waveguide and guided through the second optical waveguide; and an intensity modulation unit disposed in the vicinity of the second optical waveguide, the intensity modulation unit applying intensity modulation to the second optical waveguide, wherein a core diameter at the input end of the second optical waveguide is larger than a core diameter at the output end of the first optical waveguide.
US08019187B1
Disclosed herein is a technique for increasing bandwidth for super high speed interconnects. The invention combines an electrical signal with an optical signal to provide a bandwidth greater than is possible with each individual signal.
US08019186B2
The invention relates to a photonic crystal circuit comprising a guide produced in a photonic crystal membrane on the surface of a substrate and a mode adapter coupled to said guide, wherein the membrane includes a central point constituting the mode adapter having a section gradient as termination of said guide, said point being suspended so as to allow the propagation of modes in a symmetrical manner. It also relates to an optical system incorporating said circuit coupled to an optical fiber.
US08019177B2
Previously, Poisson blending has been used for image blending including cloning an object onto a target background and blending pairs of source images together. Such Poisson blending works well in many situations. However, whilst this method is always workable, we have found that discolorations sometimes occur. We realized that these discolorations occur when the gradient of the source image is preserved too insistently, at the expense of preserving object and background color. In some situations object outlines become smeared or blurred. We develop a color preservation term and a fragility measure to address these problems. This gives a user additional control to obtain smooth compositions and reduce discoloration artifacts.
US08019173B2
Recursive filtering that multiplies image data of a previous frame read out from a memory by a, multiplies image data of the present frame by (1−a), adds the resultants together, and stores the resultant of the addition in the memory is performed. Here, a is a coefficient in the range of 0
US08019156B2
A method and a device for segmenting a digital image of biological cells, a method and a device for analyzing the dynamic behavior of biological cells and a method and a device for visualizing the dynamic behavior of biological cells. To provide a segmentation method that has minimal technical requirements, does not necessitate any special preparation or manipulation of the cells to be observed and which requires as few assumptions as possible to be made about the properties of the cells, it is proposed that the method comprises the following steps: determining a maximum gradient for each pixel of the image as the maximum difference between a pixel value of the pixel and the respective pixel values of all or selected neighboring pixels, determining a segmentation threshold value using the frequencies of the maximum gradients, classifying the images into an object class and an environment class using the segmentation threshold value and forming a segmentation zone of the digital image using a class merging method, in particular a region growing method.
US08019155B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an effective method of representing a set of digital objects across at least two category-based dimensions for facilitating efficient access to such objects. These digital objects are typically media objects such as digital image files, digital video clips, digital audio objects, such as “MP3” files, or other digital documents that can be collected by a user and distributed over a variety of storage media and storage locations.
US08019150B2
A computer system (810) receives a desired upper bound δSmax for a relative quantization step ∥S′−S″∥/∥S′∥ to be used when quantizing any color in some range of colors. Here S′ and S″ are adjacent colors in the set of colors to be made available for the quantized image, and ∥·∥ is a norm in a 70%-orthonormal linear color coordinate system, the norm being the square root of the sum of squares of the tristimulus values. The computer system determines (510) suitable quantization steps for the brightness coordinate (B) and the chromatic coordinates (e,ƒ) in anon-linear color coordinate system, and quantizes (520) the brightness and chromatic coordinates accordingly.
US08019149B2
A pattern shape evaluation method for deciding whether a pair of patterns are disconnected or connected. The method includes extracting a plurality of pattern contour points that make up a contour of a pattern in a measurement region, and creating two pattern contour point sequences based on the plurality of pattern contour points. Each of the two pattern contour point sequences includes a set of the pattern contour points. In the pattern contour point sequence, each of distances between neighboring pattern contour points is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The method includes calculating an angle between a line passing through two of the pattern contour points which provide a shortest distance between the two pattern contour point sequences and a reference line arbitrarily defined with respect to the measurement region. The method further includes deciding whether the patterns are disconnected or connected, based on the angle.
US08019146B2
A method and apparatus for adjusting disparity in a 3D image and a 3D imaging device thereof are provided. The apparatus includes a disparity estimator which estimates disparity in an input 3D image and determines a disparity histogram pixel-wise; a disparity adjustor which analyzes energy of a parallax range of the disparity histogram and determines a disparity adjustment amount; and a 3D image reproducer which reproduces the 3D image based on the disparity adjustment amount. Accordingly, the disparity adjustment amount is determined by analyzing disparity energy of the disparity histogram, so a viewer may feel visual comfort and an optimal stereoscopic effect may be provided.
US08019141B2
A scan conversion method and device for color ultrasonic imaging that uses conditional interpolation of neighboring points is disclosed.
US08019136B2
Systems and methods for optical sectioning microscopy with structured illumination are provided. A light source generates a light beam with a spatial pattern for successively illuminating a sample at each phase of a plurality of phases. A detector detects a first set of images of the sample at a first axial resolution and a first lateral resolution, each image being associated with a respective phase of the plurality of phases of the illumination. A processor processes the first set of images to generate an enhanced sectioned image of the sample. More specifically, the processor generates data representing a second set of images at a second axial resolution greater than the first axial resolution; and subsequently, performs spectral analysis on the data representing the second set of images to form data representing the enhanced sectioned image of the sample at a second lateral resolution greater than the first lateral resolution.
US08019131B2
An authentication apparatus is for authenticating a fingerprint to power up an electronic device. The authentication apparatus includes a fingerprint sensor, and a power manager. The fingerprint sensor includes a memory for storing predetermined fingerprints, a sampling module for sampling the fingerprint, and an authenticating module for comparing the fingerprint with the predetermined fingerprints to generate an electronic device power-up command. The power manager is for powering up the electronic device according to the electronic device power-up command. An electronic device using the authentication apparatus and an authentication method are also disclosed.
US08019130B2
Collectable fingerprinted items, and methods of making such fingerprinted items, including original and simulated fingerprints for application to an item to create a collectable item. The processes may be used to create a variety of collectable items, such as instrument picks, pendants, key fobs, charms, and other collectables. The process includes taking an original fingerprint impression, using the original impression to create a simulated fingerprint impression. The methods optionally include altering at least one identifying characteristic in a manner that prevents identity theft of other misuse of the fingerprint impression. The process optionally includes applying the simulated fingerprint impression to an item, such as by making a mold incorporating the simulated fingerprint, such as by using CAD/CAM technology and molding an item using the created mold.
US08019126B2
A biometric data acquisition device for acquiring data of a living body by irradiating the living body with light includes: a light source unit that emits light to the living body; a plurality of light receiving elements that receive transmitted light or reflected light, which is transmitted through the living body or reflects from the living body, respectively, by irradiating the living body with the light from the light source unit; an openable and closable gate provided for each of the plurality of light receiving elements; and an opening and closing control unit that controls opening and closing of the gate so as to make uniform intensities of light received by the plurality of light receiving elements.
US08019122B2
A vehicle side image recognition method and apparatus inputs images containing recognized vehicles captured by a camera apparatus; sorts images with the recognized vehicles located at left and right sides of the camera apparatus from the input images; performs vehicle side image recognition processing on the sorted images to acquire side image information of each of the recognized vehicles; and outputs the acquired side image information of each of the recognized vehicles. An assisted driving system may use the vehicle side image information to analyze the relative movement of an object vehicle and other vehicles more comprehensively, thus greatly improving the traveling security of a vehicle.
US08019115B2
A method is provided for determining whether a test object is an authentic object having an authentication image applied to an authentication image area thereof. The method comprises positioning and orienting a portable image acquisition device for selectively viewing and capturing a magnified image of a target surface area of the test object. The target surface area corresponds to the authentication image area of an authentic object. The method further comprises capturing a magnified digital image of the target surface area using the image capture acquisition device. The captured digital image is then processed to obtain a processed digital image and an authentication result is determined based on whether the processed digital image meets predetermined authentication criteria.
US08019113B2
An image processing apparatus is configured to extract paper-fingerprint information from a printing sheet and to identify unique information unique to the printing sheet and attached to the printing sheet. The image processing apparatus is further configured to compare the identified unique information associated with the printing sheet with previously registered unique information and to store the unique information and the extracted paper-fingerprint information in association with each other when it is determined that the identified unique information matches the previously registered unique information.
US08019110B1
A device for housing an electronic device and which is removably secured to a hat such as a baseball hat. The device includes a front portion and two arm portions, with the electronic device preferably secured to the front portion and a speaker member disposed near the end of each arm portion. Speaker wires running from the speakers to the electronic device can be hidden by disposed the wires within the arm portions. As the device is removable it can be easily and quickly removed from securement to a first hat for use with another hat. No modifications, alterations or adjustments to the hat are required for securing the device from one hat to another.
US08019100B2
An apparatus includes a signal device, a power amplifier, and a sound wave generator. The power amplifier is electrically connected to the signal device. The power amplifier outputs an amplified electrical signal to the sound wave generator. The sound wave generator produces sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect. The amplified electrical signal is positive or negative.
US08019096B2
Electronic devices and accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A microphone may be included in an accessory to capture sound for an associated electronic device. Buttons and other user interfaces may be included in the accessories. An accessory may have an audio plug that connects to a mating audio jack in an electronic device, thereby establishing a wired communications path between the accessory and the electronic device. Path configuration circuitry may be used to selectively configure the path between the electronic device and accessory to support different operational modes. Analog audio lines in the wired path may convey left and right channel analog audio channels. When it is desired to convey power over the wired path, one of the analog audio channel lines may be converted to a power line. Audio functionality may be retained by simultaneously converting a unidirectional line into a bidirectional line using hybrids.
US08019091B2
Acoustic noise suppression is provided in multiple-microphone systems using Voice Activity Detectors (VAD). A host system receives acoustic signals via multiple microphones. The system also receives information on the vibration of human tissue associated with human voicing activity via the VAD. In response, the system generates a transfer function representative of the received acoustic signals upon determining that voicing information is absent from the received acoustic signals during at least one specified period of time. The system removes noise from the received acoustic signals using the transfer function, thereby producing a denoised acoustic data stream.
US08019081B2
Systems and methods for processing encoded messages at a message receiver. A received encoded message is decoded and stored in a memory. The stored decoded message can subsequently be displayed or otherwise processed without repeating the decoding operations. Decoding operations may include signature verification, decryption, other types of decoding, or some combination thereof.
US08019078B2
A phone call mute notification applies an aural effect to the user's speech, other parties' speech, non-speech, or combinations thereof. The phone call mute notification does not render speech unintelligible and may provide a constant indication that the phone call mute function is active. Furthermore, the phone call mute notification does not serve as a distraction to the user, because the aural effect may be applied to speech itself rather than drawing the attention of the user away from the speech.
US08019071B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing distributed conferencing is presented. A Public Branch Exchange (PBX) receives a plurality of calls intended for a conference bridge from a plurality of conference participants. The plurality of conference participants is conferenced together at the PBX. The plurality of conference participants is connected to the conference bridge by way of a single connection from the PBX to the conference bridge.
US08019069B1
The present invention provides an indication to a registered participant of a conference call that an agenda item of interest has been reached. The conference call participant registers to receive a notification signal for particular agenda items that are scheduled to be covered during the conference call. During the conference call, transitions from one agenda item to the next are detected. Such transitions may be detected by receiving a selection by the conference call host or other authority of the agenda item that is to be covered next. Alternatively, a client alerter application may automatically determine which agenda item is being covered. In response to the detection of a transition to a new agenda item, a determination is made as to whether any of the conference call participants has registered to receive notification of the new agenda item. A notification signal is then provided to any participant who has registered to receive such notification.
US08019066B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided for providing access to a plurality of service providers. In use, information associated with a customer is received. In addition, a plurality of service providers are identified, based on the information. Further, a single interface is presented for providing access to the plurality of service providers.
US08019064B2
A remote call notification system for incoming calls to a wireline telecommunications device. The system includes a switch, a service control point, an intelligent server, and a monitoring module all in communication with each other. The remote call notification is transmitted to a remote communication device such as a PC, an interactive pager, and a mobile phone. The call notification includes a calling number, the name of a calling party, time and date identifiers, status identifiers that provides a real-time status of the incoming communication, a disposition identifier, and a priority identifier. A remote call notification method including detecting an incoming communication to a subscriber's wireline communication device, creating a remote call notification, assigning an access address associated with a remote communication device, and forwarding the remote call notification to the remote communication device.
US08019052B2
A system and method for customizing telephone communications is presented. The system and method may include a network node configured to communicate pre-dial content to the user of a communications device, rather than a dial tone.
US08019051B1
The present invention provides for the ranking of messages for presentation to a user based on user behavior with respect to previous messages received from ranked communication endpoints. In particular, the percentage of a message played back by a user can be used to assigned a rank for future messages received from the initiating communication endpoint associated with the subject message. Initiating communication endpoints associated with messages that the user has listened to all or a large proportion of are associated with a relatively high ranking that is applied to future messages from those communication endpoints. Initiating communication endpoints associated with messages that the user listens to only the message header or a small proportion of the message itself are assigned a relatively low ranking. Messages received as textual communications or by a unified messaging application may be ranked according to the order in which the user selects the messages for retrieval.
US08019050B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a feedback mechanism that informs a user of a communication device to adjust the volume, pitch, tone or other characteristic of his voice so as to compensate for noise in the surrounding environment. The feedback mechanism includes feedback circuitry that analyzes audio signals from the microphone and preferably from one or more additional environmental noise sensors. From the analysis, the feedback circuitry determines characteristics of the user's voice and characteristics of the environmental noise, and provides an analysis of how the user might modify his voice to best compensate for environmental noise. This analysis results in an indication to the user, such as through a vibration, a sound, or graphical indication on the device, which tells the user whether and to what extent the user should adjust a characteristic of his voice to best overcome such environmental noise.
US08019049B2
A method for generating reliability tests for a telephone system is based upon sampling an orthogonal array which covers various combinations of test parameters. Field data is collected of actual telephone activity on a telephone system. The field data is evaluated so as to determine call-mix characteristics. Probabilistic weights for the different call-mix characteristics are obtained, and then the probabilistic weights are used to sample the test case scenarios generated in the orthogonal array which have the same call-mix characteristics. These test case scenarios are used to run tests on the telephone system. These tests are preferably performed using automated test scripts. After the test data is collected, reliability metrics are calculated from the test data.
US08019046B1
An apparatus providing a source of shortwave electromagnetic radiation utilizing a tape having a first side and a second side and a laser beam focused and impinging on the first side of the tape. The apparatus utilizes a tape storage unit which delivers or feeds tape from the same. A base supports a first projecting element which contacts the second side of the tape emanating from the storage unit. A second projecting element supported by the base contacts the first side of the tape being fed from the tape storage unit. The portion of the tape between the first and second projecting elements constantly lies in a plane during the feeding of the tape and provides a target surface for a focused laser beam which generates shortwave radiation.
US08019040B2
An X-ray inspection device includes a conveying unit, an identification part, and an operation control part. The X-ray inspection device irradiates articles with X-rays while the article is being conveyed, and the article is inspected. The conveying unit is configured and arranged to convey the article. The identification part is configured and arranged to identify whether the article is a test piece or an end product. The operation control part is configured to set operation of the X-ray inspection device to a normal mode in which the article is determined to be defective or not defective when the article has been identified as an end product by the identification part, and to a test mode in which a state of the device is assessed when the article has been identified as a test piece by the identification part.
US08019033B2
To provide a data transmission system capable of reducing skews between a reference signal and a phase modulation signal and accelerating data transmission.In a data transmission system having a transmitter for transmitting a reference signal and a phase modulation signal having a phase difference related to the value of input data from the reference signal and a receiver for obtaining data in accordance with the phase difference between the received reference signal and phase modulation signal, the transmitter transmits the reference signal and an adjustment signal having no phase difference before transmitting data and a control circuit variably controls delay values of variable delay devices so that the phase difference between the reference signal and adjustment signal received by the receiver decreases.
US08019023B2
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where a receiver has received one or more signal vectors from the same transmitted vector. The receiver processes these received signal vectors one by one, and uses information from signal vectors that have already been processed to process the next signal vector. To process a current signal vector, the receiver concatenates the current signal vector with a previously processed signal vector. This concatenated signal vector is decoded using, for example, a maximum-likelihood (ML). To decode the concatenated signal vector, the ML decoder can use a concatenated channel matrix that includes a channel response matrix associated with the current signal vector and a processed version of previous channel response matrices.
US08019013B2
A receiver that receives a signal from a transmitter, including: a plurality of antennas; a channel estimation unit; a channel accumulation unit; a transmission weight generator; a feedback information transmission unit; and a reception weight generator. The plurality of antennas receive a second signal from the transmitter, the second signal being transmitted by using first feedback information. The channel estimation unit estimates a communication channel state on the basis of the second signal, and then outputs second channel estimation information. The reception weight generator generates reception weight information to be multiplied by the second signal, on the basis of first channel estimation information accumulated in the channel accumulation unit and a first transmission weight.
US08018992B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method communicating control information for an external adaptive equalization process for a channel coupled between a transmitter and a receiver from an external agent. In this way, the external agent may control tap settings of an equalizer based on feedback information from the receiver responsive to a data pattern generated and transmitted by the transmitter. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08018979B2
A mode-locked short pulse laser resonator including a pump laser beam input, a non-linear laser medium, a plurality of resonator mirrors as well as a first outcoupler mirror and a second outcoupler mirror, wherein the first outcoupler mirror is arranged for coupling out laser radiation having first spectral properties, and the second outcoupler mirror is arranged for coupling out laser radiation having second spectral properties which are different from the first spectral properties.
US08018977B2
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a method for processing data are disclosed. The method for processing data may enhance the receiving performance of the receiving system by performing additional coding and multiplexing processes on the traffic information data and transmitting the processed data. Thus, robustness is provided to the traffic information data, thereby enabling the data to respond strongly against the channel environment which is always under constant and vast change.
US08018976B2
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a method for processing data are disclosed. The method for processing data may enhance the receiving performance of the receiving system by performing additional coding and multiplexing processes on the traffic information data and transmitting the processed data. Thus, robustness is provided to the traffic information data, thereby enabling the data to respond strongly against the channel environment which is always under constant and vast change.
US08018972B2
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing improved packet over timing clock synchronization in a packet switching network using Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) tools to compensate for asymmetrical characteristics between forward and reverse data paths.
US08018968B2
An innovative system and method for achieving high precision clock recovery, i.e. reconstruction of the clock signal having the same frequency, over a packet switched network. The proposed method utilizes a minimum network delay approach, which overcomes the problems caused by delay variation of the network and filters out network jitter, such as noise jitter and other “singular” anomalies causing latency deviations. Minimum network delay is defined herein as the time delay in which a packet remains in the network under assumption that all transmission queues through which the packet passes are empty.
US08018964B2
A classification mechanism to allow selected classes of multicast entries to be acted upon in a chosen order of priority during multicast distribution tree convergence is provided. Such prioritization allows for the designation of customers, networks or multicast groups to receive faster convergence of multicast distribution trees to modified multicast distribution trees in response to unavailability of an upstream router, and in performing other multicast-related tasks (e.g., PIM joins and prunes). One aspect of the present invention provides for multicast entries (also called multicast states) that are at a same priority level to be acted upon in a fair manner, thereby avoiding having certain multicast entries and their associated users from being acted upon consistently last.
US08018963B2
A media access controller (MAC) configurable for first and second modes of operation is provided. The MAC includes an uplink processor coupled to a plurality of uplink channels, a downlink processor coupled to a downlink, and a MAP parser coupled to the downlink processor. The downlink processor is configured to provide information to the downlink channel, including bandwidth allocation map (“MAP”) messages. Each MAP message is associated with one of the plurality of uplink channels or an uplink channel associated with one or more other MACs. The MAP parser is configured to control the MAC to receive information from a first set of one or more of the plurality of uplink channels in first mode and from a second set of one or more of the plurality of uplink channels in second mode.
US08018959B2
The system and method for implementing a Universal Messaging Gateway (UMG) disclosed herewith provides telecommunications Network Operators (NO) and like related parties with innovative and flexible art for delivering domestic and foreign network originated Multi-media traffic and/or, more generally, interactive and/or synchronous mobile text and related telecommunications messaging or information services to a large number of related receiving telecommunications network equipment (as ESMEs and/or SMS-Cs in relation to SMS traffic).
US08018956B1
An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and it includes a first node coupled to an active endpoint and a standby endpoint. The first node communicates with a second node. When the active endpoint experiences a failure, the standby endpoint is activated such that a communication involving the second node continues. The standby endpoint communicates a complete window's worth of packets to the second node after the failure, the window's worth of packets including a last known sequence number acknowledged by the second node. In more specific embodiments, the first node is an L2TP network server (LNS) and the second node is an L2TP access concentrator (LAC). The last known sequence number was check pointed by the active endpoint to the standby endpoint.
US08018955B2
Systems and methods for providing dynamic changes to a packet flow in a communication network are described. The dynamic changes can include upgrading and downgrading quality of service (QoS), adapting the stream to a receiving device, modifying the stream to counter-act changes in an air interface, and modifying the stream to accommodate an inter-technology handover. These changes can be provided by inspecting packets at a gateway and setting up a proxy for multimedia stream packet flows. The proxy can coordinate transcoding to take place to change the stream. The gateway can also monitor conditions at the mobile node using a real time control protocol or other applicable protocols.
US08018954B2
The present invention is an apparatus, method and system for time synchronizing data from various sensor types that enables data fusion and transport. To provide this capability, the present invention utilizes an inverted Passive Optical Network (PON) approach for synchronous communication. Further, the present invention introduces an inverted Passive Electrical Network (iPEN) that extends the iPON approach. Data that are in a common format with embedded time synchronization information can easily be integrated or fused and transported over such communication links. The present invention provides the ability to merge and aggregate data from a wide range of disparate sensors and systems while maintaining close synchronization. The present invention is appropriate for synchronization of data, voice, and video onto a single network and/or multi-tiered networks and can also handle signal processing and control technologies at line rates well into the Gigabits per second (Gbps) range.
US08018948B2
In one embodiment, a security gateway receives an IPSec Initiation (IPSec INIT) request from a client. The security gateway may communicate with a AAA server to authenticate the client. After authentication, the security gateway intercepts a URR Discovery request from the client. The security gateway determines registration information for a response to the registration request. The registration information may be information on where the client can locate a D-GANC. A response is generated using the determined information and sent to the client. The response to the discovery request is performed without communicating with a P-GANC. Accordingly, a security gateway is used to authenticate the client and also to respond to the discovery request. This does not require that a P-GANC function be deployed in a network. Thus, cost and processing power may be saved.
US08018944B1
A packet processor includes a forwarding table configured to store address prefixes and a search engine configured to receive a packet and to search the forwarding table. The search engine includes a set bit counter configured to receive an address of the packet, to count set bits of a first bit vector associated with the packet, and to output a number of the set bits. A next hop table is configured to store a next hop pointer. A next bucket pointer receives the number of set bits and outputs one of the next hop pointers and the next bucket pointer based on the number of set bits.
US08018942B2
A recognition system for recognizing a data packet includes a data memory for storing data units in a predetermined order. A first data unit includes an instruction for determining a characteristic of the data packet. The first data unit also includes the total number of the data units, and a corresponding sequence number for the first data unit. The recognition system further includes a matching processor coupled to the data memory. The matching processor can execute the instruction in the first data unit to generate a result. The matching processor can also provide an address pointer according to the execution result, the total number of the data units, and the corresponding sequence number of the first data unit.
US08018932B1
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for sending a multicast packet from multiple network interfaces across multiple networks using the same media access source address (MAC source address). One implementation includes a processing element and a network interface for each of the multiple networks. The processing element generates and initiates sending of a multicast packet having a same media access source address (MAC source address) from at least two of the multiple network interfaces. In one implementation, a single copy of the multicast packet is buffered, and each of the network interfaces retrieves, such as via a direct memory access (DMA) request, the multicast packet and forwards it to an attached network.
US08018931B2
A communication apparatus including a storage circuit that generates verification data in one-to-one correspondence with block data which is data having a first size, and stores each pair of verification data and block data in areas having a second size in an external memory; a packet control unit that includes a CPU which executes a program to, for each piece of verification data stored by the storage circuit, generate a piece of header information including the verification data, and perform control to transmit a piece of packet data including the generated piece of header information and the piece of block data corresponding to the piece of verification data included in the generated piece of header information; and a network unit operable to sequentially transmit each piece of packet data according to the control performed by the packet control unit, wherein the storage circuit and the CPU operate in parallel.
US08018930B2
A remote station for a wireless communication system including a base station is disclosed. The remote station includes a front end structure configured to receive packet data in parallel on a subset of carrier frequencies. Each packet data is preceded by a header field for identifying the remote station as the recipient of the packet data and the subset of carrier frequencies is based on a set of a corresponding number of multiple carrier frequencies.
US08018927B2
A network element for a transport network contains a multistage lower order switching matrix with at least an input matrix stage and an output matrix stage designed to switch lower order multiplex units and with a center stage capable of switching higher order multiplex units, only, thereby connecting the input and output stages.
US08018920B1
Subscriber calls in a communications network (10) are handled in accordance with the subscriber's routing plan for either originating and/or terminating calls irrespective of the manner in which such calls originate and terminate. Upon receipt of a call, a query is launched to a database (36) to obtain a called party routing number for the call destination in accordance with the subscriber's routing plan. Once the called party's routing number is obtained in response to the query, the called party's routing number is mapped a to physical port in the network when the routing number corresponds to a circuit-switched call destination or to an IP address when the called party's routing number corresponds to a packet-based call destination. The call is routed to the call destination in accordance with the mapping.
US08018917B2
A system for facilitating network performance analysis. In an illustrative embodiment, the system includes a first module capable of quantifying network performance associated with a first portion of the network and providing a signal in response thereto. A second module is capable of ascertaining performance degradations in a communications link traversing plural portions of the network that are attributable to the first portion based on the signal. In a more specific embodiment, the second module further includes a third module adapted to ascertain degradations in network performance associated with a second portion of the network based on the signal and based on a performance parameter associated with both the first portion and the second portion of the network. In this embodiment, the first portion includes a wireless portion, and the second portion includes a wired portion. The performance parameter incorporates a Frame Loss Vector (FLV) associated with a communications link that traverses the wireless and wired portions of the network.
US08018893B2
Communications sourced by a remote unit (14) that is already within reception range of a base site (10) can nevertheless be further facilitated through allocation of one or more relay resources (15, 16). Such relay resources, properly employed, then serve to effectively increase the quality of service for the facilitated communication. This, in turn, can permit the use of, for example, increased data rates for communications from a relatively low power remote unit.
US08018892B1
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for a wireless network device for communicating with a network comprises a memory to store an image comprising a plurality of virtual machines and only one multi-tasking operating system, wherein each of the virtual machines comprises a wireless network application to execute on the multi-tasking operating system; a processor to execute the virtual machines; and a port comprising a physical-layer device to communicate with the network, and a media access controller to communicate with the physical-layer device and the processor.
US08018884B2
Operating at least one low duty cycle (LDC) controller to maintain synchronization between the LDC controller and a plurality of LDC terminals operating over a communication network using only overhead channels of the network and conforming to the protocol and timing of said network, wherein synchronization between the LDC controller and the plurality of LDC terminals is maintained separately from the protocol and timing of the communication network, and enables the LDC controller to schedule power down and wake up of the plurality of LDC terminals for durations longer than allowable under the protocol and timing of the communication network.
US08018883B2
An apparatus, a method, and logic encoded in computer readable media that when executed operable to carry out the method. The method includes wirelessly receiving at a receiving station a signal transmitted from a transmitting station in a wireless network. The signal includes a network identifier, e.g., MAC address of the transmitting station. The method includes determining one or more RF waveform characteristics of at least a transient part of the received signal, decoding the received signal to determine the network identifier, e.g., MAC address, determining one or more behavior characteristics from the received signal; and using the decoded network identifier, e.g., MAC address and a combination of the one or more waveform characteristics and the one or more behavior characteristics to ascertain whether or not the network identifier, e.g., MAC address is a spoofed identifier, the ascertaining using historical samples of combinations for different network identifiers.
US08018882B1
A local station includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores a first status indicator that represents a number of active conversations in a wireless network and an ad-hoc traffic indication map (ATIM) window. The control module detects a change in the number of active conversations, modifies the first status indicator to generate an updated first status indicator based on the change, and adjusts a length of the ATIM window based on the updated first status indicator.
US08018881B2
A call flow is provided in a wireless communication system to enable quality of service (QoS) parameters to be retrieved and provided to a base station when a wireless device requests service. The QoS parameters may include or represent a QoS profile associated with the wireless device, a QoS profile associated with a user of the wireless device, or a QoS policy for a session involving the wireless device. The base station uses the QoS parameters to control access to the system by the wireless device. Another call flow is provided to transfer the QoS parameters from the base station to a packet control function for storage when a packet data session associated with the wireless device becomes dormant. If the packet data session is later reactivated, the QoS parameters are provided from the packet control function back to the base station.
US08018880B2
A Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN) system is provided. A Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) network is provided which comprises a plurality of sites to be connected via a L2VPN. The plurality of sites in the PBB network is connected using a plurality of provider backbone trunks that includes a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) trunk or a Provider Backbone Bridge Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) trunk, such that the L2VPN includes the plurality of sites.
US08018873B1
An enhanced link state protocol is described for uniquely identifying broadcast networks having overlapping address spaces within a network system. A network device generates first and second link state advertisements (LSAs) in accordance with this link state protocol. The first LSA includes a first identifier dependent on layer 3 addressing information assigned to a physical interface of the first network device that interfaces with a layer 2 communication medium, e.g., an IP subnet address prefix. The second LSA includes a second identifier independent of the layer 3 addressing information assigned to the physical interface of the first network device that interfaces with the layer 2 communication medium, e.g., a unique network identifier associated with a broadcast network. By transmitting this second LSA to a second network device, the network device may uniquely identify broadcast networks having overlapping address spaces.
US08018867B2
A network system includes: a monitored node (300) which is connected to a network (50) for isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer and has a utility function; and a monitoring node (200) which monitors an operating state of the monitored node. The monitored node cyclically transmits a command (KA) representative of a normal operating state thereof to the monitoring node in one of isochronous channels on the network. When the monitoring node determines non-reception of the command representative of the normal operating state from the monitored node, the monitoring node transmits, to the monitored node, a real-time command to execute abnormality response processing such as resetting, power shut-off or disconnection from the network.
US08018861B2
Method and device for allocating at least one routing identifier to at least one bridge in a network
The invention relates to a method for allocating at least one identifier known as routing identifier to at least one bridge (1002, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1012) of a network (1000), the said bridge comprising at least two interconnection equipment (1021, 1035) a first (1021) of which is connected to at least one first part (1014) of the said network, characterized in that each one of the interconnection equipment of the said bridge being in a “state” determined by reference to the allocation of an identifier to this interconnection equipment, the said method includes the following steps:determination (1041, 1042; 1051, 1052, 1053; 1056, 1057) of at least one “state” which corresponds to the “state” of the said at least one second interconnection equipment of the said bridge,deciding (1044; 1054; 1059) as to the allocation of an identifier to the at least one first interconnection equipment of the said bridge as a function of the said at least one determined “state”.
US08018860B1
Re-routing interactions are predicted for a communications network including a plurality of network elements. A respective device state image is constructed for each of the plurality of network elements, with each of the device state images including a failover setting of a respective one of the network elements. The device state images are transmitted to a network simulator. The performance of the communications network is simulated in response to the device state images. A prospective network element failover of a predetermined one of the network elements is transmitted to the network simulator. A performance of the communications network is simulated in response to the device state images modified by the prospective network element failover. It is then detected whether an acceptable performance is maintained in view of the prospective network element failover in order to identify whether is will be permissible to perform a maintenance action on the network element which makes it unavailable to the network.
US08018857B2
An Ethernet MAC OAMP Control sublayer is provided for supporting SDH/SONET OAMP standard functionality in Ethernet Networks. In accordance with one embodiment, an Ethernet MAC OAMP Control sublayer is provided for processing Ethernet MAC OAMP Control frames. The MAC OAMP Control sublayer provides support for a MAC OAMP Client to implement all of the SDH/SONET OAMP standard functionality. The MAC OAMP Control frame provides support for SDH/SONET OAMP on Ethernet networks. The Network Equipment can use the MAC OAMP Control frames to communicate with the downstream and upstream Network Equipment about various OAMP events, requests, performance parameters, communications channels, maintenance, and test functionality.
US08018852B2
A method and system for augmenting routing decisions in a network switching device with topology information acquired using source learning are disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the method of selecting a port to transmit an outbound flow from a first node to a second node comprises the steps of identifying a plurality of ports associated with minimal equal-cost paths from the first node to the second node, and if an inbound flow from the second node is detected on a first port of the plurality of ports of the first node, then transmitting the outbound flow from the first port. In the absence of an inbound flow from the second node, the first node generally selects the port for the outbound flow from the plurality of minimal equal-cost paths. The present invention allows a switching device to take advantage of the path determination made at another router in the network while avoiding inconsistencies between conventional route selection operations and IP source learning in switching devices adapted to perform bridging on IP address.
US08018843B2
A communications network comprising components configured to implement a method comprising analyzing a path between a first end point and a second end point, and identifying a partial fault along the path is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for communicating information within a network, the method comprising: defining a path traversing a plurality of nodes, receiving a fault report from an intermediate node, determining whether the fault report affects the path, and responsive to the determination that the fault report affects the path, transmitting the fault report to an upstream or downstream node in the path.
US08018840B2
Described are an apparatus and method for routing packets through a multiple-hop wireless communications network. Interference with packet switched communications carried by radio frequency (RF) over the multiple-hop wireless communications network is detected. In response to information related to the detected interference, a route is adaptively determined for transmitting packets through the multiple-hop wireless communications network that mitigates the effect of the interference on the packets.
US08018837B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing a set of signal paths for a chip. A defective signal path within the set of signal paths for the chip is detected. Signals are re-routed through the set of signal paths such that the defective signal path is removed from the set of signal paths and sending signals using remaining data signal paths in the set of signal paths and using an extra signal path in response to detecting the defective signal path.
US08018835B1
Method and apparatus for analyzing service disruptions in a communication network is described. In one example, data indicative of the service disruptions are obtained across a period of time. External condition data related to the service disruptions are obtained. Historical trend data are established by correlating the data with the external condition data to identify at least one statistical trend. In one example, external conditions may be monitored and alarms may be generated for instances where the external conditions exhibit the historical trend data.
US08018828B2
In this invention, we propose a near maximum likelihood (ML) method for the decoding of multiple input multiple output systems. By employing the metric-first search method, Schnorr-Euchner enumeration, and branch length thresholds in a single frame systematically, the proposed technique provides a higher efficiency than other conventional near ML decoding schemes. From simulation results, it is confirmed that the proposed method has lower computational complexity than other near ML decoders while maintaining the bit error rate (BER) very close to the ML performance. The proposed method in addition possesses the capability of allowing flexible tradeoffs between the computational complexity and BER performance.
US08018826B2
A recording apparatus is provided with: a recording device for recording record data onto a recording medium, the record data including real-time data which is continuously recorded by a certain amount and management data which is to manage at least one of recording and reproduction of the real-time data; a verifying device for verifying whether or not the recorded record data is accurately recorded; and a first controlling device for controlling the verifying device so as to selectively verify whether or not the management data is accurately recorded, out of the recorded record data.
US08018822B2
An optical information recording medium includes an optical disk body including a light-transmitting substrate, a recording layer provided on a main surface of the light-transmitting substrate over a region in which pre-grooves are formed and a portion of a region in which dummy grooves are formed, and a reflecting layer provided over the recording layer and a region of the light-transmitting substrate in which the recording layer is not provided; and an ink receiving layer provided on the label surface side of the optical disc body. The dummy grooves provided in at least a portion of the region in which the dye material is not applied have a pitch larger than that of the pre-grooves, are shallower than that of the pre-grooves, or have half-width less than that of the pre-grooves.
US08018820B2
A recording system for magnetic storage devices, including a beam column for generating a beam, a platform for moving a magnetic storage medium relative to the beam, and a signal generator for sequentially, or in a continuously alternating manner, deflecting the beam. In turn, the beam is directed according to displacement of dots on the extent of the magnetic storage medium such that dots of a plurality of dot groupings can be written to on the extent during a single pass of the beam column above the extent.
US08018816B2
A resin objective lens having a numerical aperture NA≧0.75. The objective lens satisfies a condition: 0≦|SC|MAX/f<0.002 where f denotes a focal length at a wavelength λ and |SC|MAX denotes a maximum absolute value of an offence against a sine condition in a range larger than or equal to 0% and smaller than 90% of an effective beam radius with respect to an optical axis. The objective lens is configured such that the offence against the sine condition at a 100% point of the effective beam radius is smaller than that defined at a 90% point. At least a light source side surface of the objective lens is formed to be an aspherical surface, and the objective lens satisfies a condition: 1.40<(n−1)·(SAG1)′MAX·/NA2<1.95 where (SAG1)′MAX represents a maximum gradient of the light source side surface within an effective beam diameter.
US08018815B2
An embodiment generally relates to an optical device suitable for use with an optical medium for the storage and retrieval of data. The optical device includes an illumination means for providing a beam of optical radiation of wavelength λ and an optical path that the beam of optical radiation follows. The optical device also includes a diffractive optical element defined by a plurality of annular sections. The plurality of annular sections having a first material alternately disposed with a plurality of annular sections comprising a second material. The diffractive optical element generates a plurality of focal points and densely accumulated ray points with phase contrast phenomena and the optical medium is positioned at a selected focal point or ray point of the diffractive optical element.
US08018807B2
A method and apparatus of compensating for misalignment in an optical disk device includes detecting a plurality of focus error signals, comparing the focus error signals, and shifting a position of an optical lens based on the comparison. Alternatively, a one or more of the focus error signals may be compared to a reference signal and a corresponding shift may be performed. When the lens is shifted, an optical spot corresponding to an optical beam reflected from a disk surface is corrected to a position which reduces or eliminates misalignment errors attributable to one or more elements of the pickup.
US08018794B2
This invention relates to immersed moving bodies for which the activity requires knowledge of their absolute geographic coordinates. This is the case particularly for moving bodies performing site survey operations, excavations and more generally exploration operations. A moving body can equally well refer to an independent diver, a manned vehicle or an unmanned machine. The device is used by an immersed moving body for independent determination of its absolute geographic coordinates. The device, according to the invention comprises on board calculation means (31) associated with “surface” position means (32) consisting of a GPS or GALILEO type receiver, submarine positioning means (33) operating on the principle of homing in association with immersed fixed acoustic beacon (41) and a set of sensors (36) that the moving body (42) uses to determine its working depth, its horizontality, and the difference between the direction followed and a fixed direction, for example magnetic north. All acquired data are used by the calculation means to determine the absolute geographic position and the operating depth of the moving body (42) at any time, particularly when the body is immersed.
US08018787B2
A semiconductor memory device uses a magnetic tunnel junction device (MTJ) and includes a memory cell connected between a first driving line and a second driving line and configured to store data having a data state that is determined based on a direction of a current flowing through the first and the second driving lines, and a current controlling block configured to control a supply current provided to the first and second driving lines in response to temperature information in a writing operation.
US08018785B2
A driver power supply circuit stepping down a power supply voltage is arranged at a power supply node of a word line driver. The driver power supply circuit includes a non-silicide resistance element of N+ doped polycrystalline silicon, and a pull-down circuit lowering a voltage level of the driver power supply node. The pull-down circuit includes a pull-down transistor having the same threshold voltage characteristics as a memory cell transistor pulling down a voltage level of the driver power supply node, and a gate control circuit adjusting at least a gate voltage of the pull-down transistor. The gate control circuit corrects the gate potential of the pull-down transistor in a manner linked to variations in threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor.
US08018784B2
To improve the speed of accessing a low-speed circuit block from a high-speed circuit block without significantly increasing power consumption.Ina data processor having a bus controller that performs timing control of access from the CPU operated in synchronization with a high-speed first clock signal to a peripheral circuit operated in synchronization with a low-speed second clock signal, a timing control circuit is provided between the peripheral circuit and the bus controller, and the bus controller causes, in response to a read instruction from the peripheral circuit, the timing control circuit to output data held by the peripheral circuit to the bus controller in synchronization with the cycle of the high-speed clock signal, causes the timing control circuit to start, in response to a write instruction directed to the peripheral circuit, writing into the peripheral circuit in synchronization with the cycle of the high-speed clock signal, and terminates the writing in synchronization with the cycle of the low-speed clock signal.
US08018772B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for detecting word line leakage in a memory device includes coupling a first word line in the memory device to a voltage source while coupling a second word line in the memory device to a ground level voltage. Next, the first word line is decoupled from the voltage source. The method also includes comparing a current of the first word line with a predetermined reference current for determining a leakage condition of the word line.
US08018760B2
A resistance variable element of the present invention and a resistance variable memory apparatus using the resistance variable element are a resistance variable element (10) including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a resistance variable layer (3) provided between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4) to be electrically connected to the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4), wherein the resistance variable layer (3) contains a material having a spinel structure represented by a chemical formula of (ZnxFe1-x)Fe2O4, and the resistance variable element (10) has a feature that an electrical resistance between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4) increases by applying a first voltage pulse to between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4), and the electrical resistance between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4) decreases by applying a second voltage pulse whose polarity is the same as the first voltage pulse to between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4), and a resistance variable memory apparatus using the resistance variable element (10).
US08018746B2
A parallel inverter system needs neither a dedicated line for synchronizing common portions nor switching operations, and includes a plurality of inverter units operating in parallel. An inverter control circuit of each inverter unit includes a sinusoidal signal generating circuit, a PWM control signal generating circuit, a phase difference circuit, a frequency difference circuit, and a feedback circuit. The feedback circuit inputs to the sinusoidal signal generating circuit an addition result value which is obtained by adding to a commanded value for reference frequency a value obtained from multiplication of a phase difference by a predetermined gain and a value obtained from multiplication of a frequency difference by a predetermined gain. The phase difference among outputs from the inverter units occurring in the parallel operation of the inverter units is reduced by changing the output frequencies of the inverter units.
US08018744B1
A power factor correction circuit (42/44) responsive to an input power supply signal at an input supply voltage (VAC) that varies largely sinusoidally with time at a fundamental supply frequency contains regulator/control circuitry (60, 62, and 64) for measuring and removing overtones (ILDm or IFWRm) in the input supply current (ILD) or in a rectified form (IFWR) of the input supply current. Each overtone is expressible as the product of an amplitude component (Im) and a sinusoidal function (Im sin [(m+1)ωACt]) that varies with time at an integer multiple of the fundamental supply frequency. The regulator/control circuitry measures an overtone by determining the overtone's amplitude component. After generating an adjustment factor (SADJ) largely as the product of that overtone's amplitude component and an associated sinusoidal function, the regulator/control circuitry adjusts the input supply current or its rectified form by an amount corresponding to the adjustment factor for each measured overtone.
US08018743B2
In a switching power converter, PWM mode and PFM mode are separated into two independent control sections with the control voltage range in each control section determined independently. Each of the PWM and PFM modulation modes cannot operate continuously beyond its boundaries, thereby forming a control gap between the two control sections within which no continuous operation is allowed. In order to supply a load condition within the control gap, the power supply operates at the two boundaries of the control gap. Transition between PWM and PFM modes occurs fast, with low output voltage ripple. No limitation needs to be imposed on the control voltage range in each of the PWM and PFM control sections, because the control parameters in the PWM and PFM control sections need not be matched to one another, due to separation of the PWM and PFM modes by the control gap.
US08018734B2
An electronic device includes a first printed circuit board including electronic components, a second printed circuit board including electronic components, and a shielding midframe. The shielding midframe is adapted to provide electromagnetic isolation between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board. The shielding midframe is further adapted to provide electromagnetic isolation of electronic components on at least one of the first printed circuit or the second printed circuit.
US08018731B2
Interconnect substrate (1) that connects at least the first circuit board and the second circuit board. Interconnect substrate (1) includes housing (1) and connecting terminal electrodes for connecting the top and bottom faces of housing (10). Housing (10) has protrusion (11) on its outer periphery and opening (13) in its inner periphery.
US08018730B2
A power converter apparatus includes a substrate 22 on which switching elements Q, Q1 to Q6 are mounted, positive and negative terminal interconnection members 27, 28 mounted on the substrate, and a capacitor 17 having a positive terminal 17a connected to the main body of the positive terminal interconnection member 27 and a negative terminal 17b connected to the main body of the negative terminal interconnection member 28. The interconnection members each have a plate-like main body 27a, 28a that is located above and parallel to the substrate 22. The main bodies of the interconnection members are stacked to be close to each other while being electrically insulated from each other. Each of the positive terminal interconnection member and the negative terminal interconnection member further includes a plate-like extension 27b, 28b that extends from the corresponding main body toward the substrate, and a terminal portion 27c, 28c that extends from the extension and is joined to the substrate. The extensions extend to positions closest to the substrate, while being parallel to and close to each other.
US08018715B2
An electronic device includes a display screen and a slide mechanism. The display screen includes first and second display panels, and a housing for receiving the second display panel. The slide mechanism includes two slide rails connected to the housing, and a slide frame connected slidably to the two slide rails and coupled to the second display panel. One of the slide rails has first and second positioning recesses. The slide frame has rollers connected to the slide rails. The slide frame can bring the second display panel to move between an initial position where the second display panel is on a rear face of the first display panel and a retaining unit is retained in the first positioning recess, and an open position where the second display panel is exposed from one side of the housing and the retaining unit is retained in the second positioning recess.
US08018704B2
A circuit breaker for a power controller integrated circuit is described where an analog timer and a digital timer are provided in parallel. The digital timer provides a fixed, on-chip maximum delay during an overcurrent condition to ensure the transistor will not be damaged. The analog timer allows the user to select an external capacitor or resistor to provide a delay time that is shorter than the time provided by the digital timer. Accordingly, the power controller retains all the flexibility of an analog timer but prevents the overcurrent exceeding a maximum time limit. An autoretry circuit is also included in the power controller which prevents the duty cycle from exceeding a maximum. The autoretry timer is a digital timer that uses the same oscillator as the digital timer for the circuit breaker so the ratio of the delay times is known and fixed.
US08018698B2
For ensuring the complete turn-off state of an ESD protecting device and preventing leakage current from a chip, an alternative conducting path is formed in the chip for bypassing an external current. The chip further includes an internal circuit and a conducting circuit.
US08018696B2
A system for moving an aircraft thrust reverser component includes a power drive unit, a thrust reverser actuator assembly, and a tertiary lock system. The power drive unit is operable to rotate and supply a rotational drive force. The thrust reverser actuator assembly receives the rotational drive force from the power drive unit and moves the thrust reverser component between a stowed position and a deployed position. The tertiary lock system selectively engages and disengages the thrust reverser component and includes a tertiary lock power unit, an electromechanical tertiary lock assembly, and a voltage limiting circuit. The voltage limiting circuit limits the voltage magnitude of a control signal supplied to the tertiary lock assembly to a predetermined value.
US08018688B2
A head stack assembly of a disk drive unit includes a head arm assembly (HAA) having a head gimbal assembly, a drive arm to be connected with the head gimbal assembly; wherein the drive arm comprises a securing portion, a connection portion and a spacer connecting the securing portion with the connection portion. At least one undercut is formed on the spacer of the drive arm to strengthen the drive arm.
US08018686B2
Systems and methods for accurate position adjustment of thin-film PZT micro-actuators are provided. In certain example embodiments, a head gimbal assembly is provided. A suspension includes a suspension flexure located at one end of the suspension, and the suspension flexure includes a tongue region. At least one micro-actuator is mounted to a micro-actuator mounting region of the tongue region of the suspension flexure. Any gap between the slider and the at least one micro-actuator may be reduced and/or eliminated. A slider is substantially fully mounted on an insulating layer, and the insulating layer separates the slider from the at least one micro-actuator. The suspension flexure may be located substantially fully underneath the slider, and the tongue region of the suspension flexure may be substantially equally weighted around a dimple formed on the suspension. The rigidity of the suspension flexure may be increased by one or more supports formed thereon.
US08018684B2
The invention provides a method for preventing TMR MRR drop of a slider, including: positioning a row bar constructed by sliders on a tray, each slider incorporating a TMR element; loading the tray into a processing chamber and evacuating the processing chamber to a predetermined pressure; forming a first etching means; exposing the sliders to the first etching means such that an oxide layer is formed on a surface of the TMR element; forming a second etching means; and exposing the sliders to the second etching means such that the oxide layer is etched to get a reduced thickness. The invention also discloses a method for manufacturing sliders.
US08018683B2
A head slider that can furnish excellent head flying stability and a magnetic recording device having excellent head flying stability are provided. For the head slider, the protective layer is composed of two layers, that is, a lower layer and an upper layer thereon; the ionization potential of the lower layer is made to be smaller than that of the upper layer; and the surface free energy of the upper layer is made to be 45 mN/m or less.
US08018671B2
A method to map defects is provided. A select data track of a storage medium is scanned for a defect. At least one data wedge affected by the defect on the select data track is identified. Each data wedge includes available area for writing user data defined between two servo wedges that include position information. The at least one affected data wedge is identified as unusuable.
US08018667B2
An optical apparatus includes a second member 6 supporting a first member 4 so as to be movable in an optical axis direction and biasing devices 401 and 406 having biasing force acting on the first member. Two first balls 403a and 403b are arranged at positions away from each other in the optical axis direction and a second ball 403c is arranged at a phase different from that of the first balls. The first and second members include guide sections 4a and 6a engaging with the first balls so as to permit a rolling motion of the first balls in the optical axis direction and prevent a displacement of the first member in a different direction and a rotation preventing section permitting a rolling motion of the second ball in the optical axis direction and preventing a rotation of the first member around the guide section.
US08018665B2
A lens moving frame according to an embodiment of the invention includes a holder portion. The holder portion includes: wall portions having guide holes formed therein; partition walls into which a guide bar is inserted and which are provided near the corresponding wall portions; and lubricant reservoir portions that are provided between the partition walls and the wall portions and have a lubricant filled and stored therein. The lubricant stored in the lubricant reservoir portion is adhered to the guide bar disposed between the partition wall and the wall portion. When the lens moving frame is moved along the guide bar, an extra lubricant is scraped off from the guide bar by the guide holes and opening portions of the partition walls and then stored in the lubricant reservoir portions.
US08018655B2
Provided are methods for making a product having a three-dimensional surface. The method includes providing a base material, providing an adhesive layer and positioning the adhesive layer relative to the base material. The method includes providing a three-dimensional sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having a convex lens layer. The three-dimensional sheet is positioned relative to the base material based on a registration of an image on the three-dimensional sheet and is secured to the base material using the adhesive layer. Securing the three-dimensional sheet to the base material can include applying pressure to the three-dimensional sheet in successive steps of increasing pressure. A product having a three-dimensional surface that includes a base material, a three-dimensional sheet, and an adhesive layer disposed between the base material and three-dimensional sheet and configured to secure the three-dimensional sheet to the base material.
US08018654B2
An optical sheet comprises: a base film; a first primer layer disposed on a surface of the base film; and a projection disposed on the first primer layer, wherein a thickness of the first primer layer ranges from about 5 nm to 300 nm.
US08018644B2
A method of controlling transmittance of an electrochromic device is presented. The electrochromic device to be controlled has a first and a second electron conducting layer, a first electrochromic layer covering the first electron conducting layer, a counter electrode layer covering the second electron conducting layer and an electrolyte layer laminated between the first electrochromic layer and the counter electrode layer. The method comprises applying (212) of a sequence of voltage pulses between the first and second electron conducting layers and providing of an open circuit between the first and second electron conducting layers between the applied voltage pulses. The method is characterized by measuring (214) a voltage between the first and second electron conducting layers during a period of the open circuit and controlling (220) a pulse parameter of the voltage pulses dependent on the measured voltage, where the pulse parameter is one of pulse duration and pulse voltage.
US08018636B2
A medium 1, that is a laminated holographic medium of the present invention is composed of two or more core layers 2; 3 or more cladding layers 3 set so as to bind the core layers 2; one or more diffraction grating layers 4 storing information data and set at a boundary between a portion of the core layers 2 and the cladding layers 3 binding the core layers 2 or set inside the core layers 2; and one or more recording layers 42 storing information data as forms or a refractive index distribution and set at a boundary between a portion of the core layers 2 and the cladding layers 3 binding the core layers 2 or inside the core layers 2 through or without a gap layer.
US08018628B2
To provide a technology which facilitates an operation for placing a document with a larger size than a size of a document table, on the document table. A document cover is positioned at a plurality of open positions to a document table. A pivot of a document table 2 and a hinge 7 is configured by two pivots A1, A2, and a constricted portion 1b and it is configured in such a manner that, in case of setting a document with a smaller size than that of the document table 2, the pivot A2 is pivoted at a convex portion 7a of the hinge 7, and in case of setting a document with a larger size than that of the document table 2, the convex portion 7a is moved to the pivot A1 side through the constricted portion 1b, and the pivot A1 is pivoted at the convex portion 7a.
US08018626B2
An image forming apparatus which copies on a recording sheet an original document carrying a watermark, where a watermark comprising a specific character or a pattern is embedded inconspicuously into an image of the original document, the image forming apparatus including: a discrimination section which discriminates a color mode of the original document and a color of the watermark; and a counting section which counts a number of copied sheets as monochrome printing in cases where the discrimination section has discriminated the color mode of the original document as monochrome and has discriminated the color of the watermark as colored.
US08018616B2
A device information management system has a plurality of managed computers connected with devices. Device information of each device is to be transmitted to a requestor upon request thereby. That is, each of the plurality of managed computers has a data spooler that adds jobs in a data queue. The jobs in the data queue is transmitted to the device one by one. An information requesting system transmits a request command that requests a device to return the device information when the number of jobs in the data queue is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Then, an information receiving system receives the device information returned from the device, which is stored in the storage. The stored device information is transmitted to the requestor in response to inquiry therefrom.
US08018614B2
A method of choosing jobs to run in a stream based distributed computer system includes determining jobs to be run in a distributed stream-oriented system by deciding a priority threshold above which jobs will be accepted, below which jobs will be rejected. Overall importance is maximized relative to the priority threshold based on importance values assigned to all jobs. System constraints are applied to ensure jobs meet set criteria.
US08018609B2
An information processing device for executing content reproduction processing includes: a content reproduction processing unit for executing data transformation processing for replacing a part of configuration data of input content to be reproduced with transformation data, and executing processing for reproducing the reproduction content; and a parameter generating unit for providing the content reproduction processing unit with a parameter to be applied in the data transformation processing; wherein the content reproduction processing unit has a configuration for obtaining a parameter identifier that is different for each segment set as a sectioning region of reproduction content, and outputting a parameter calculation request accompanied by the parameter identifier to the parameter generating unit; and wherein the parameter generating unit has a configuration for providing the content reproducing unit with a parameter corresponding to a segment, in response to the parameter calculation request from the content reproducing unit.
US08018605B2
A document copier is disclosed. The document copier has a code sensor for sensing coded data on a surface of a source page. The source page contains the coded data and content. A sheet transport mechanism configured to feed sheets of media through a media path and a print engine located in the media path for printing on sheets of media fed through the media path are also provided. A controller of the document copier identifies from the coded data an electronic document containing the content. That electronic document is retrieved by the controller, and the content is printed on a blank sheet of media.
US08018602B1
Disclosed herein is an interferometry device and associated method and computerized media for testing optical components including those with high aberrations, comprising: situating an optical component under test between a source of a spherical test wavefront and a reference mirror; propagating a spherical test wavefront, whereby an axial line is defined by a direction of propagation of said wavefront; deriving a substantially complete first-tilt-alignment wavefront metrology of the optical component under test from a plurality of first-tilt-alignment interferograms obtained with the optical component under test held fixed at a first predetermined tilt angle relative to a direction of propagation of said wavefront; and varying an axial displacement between the optical component under test and the spherical reference mirror to obtain each first-tilt-alignment interferogram. By varying the tilt angle, one can also derive a substantially complete surface metrology of the optical component under test.
US08018598B2
A system, process and software arrangement are provided to compensate for a dispersion in at least one portion of an image. In particular, information associated with the portion of the image is obtained. The portion of the image can be associated with an interference signal that includes a first electromagnetic radiation received from a sample and a second electromagnetic radiation received from a reference. The dispersion in the at least one portion of the image can be compensated by controlling a phase of at least one spectral component of the interference signal.
US08018583B2
An lens screening device for controlling diameters of lenses within a range from a lower threshold to a upper threshold. The lens screening device includes a number of connecting poles and two screening plates. Each of the screening plates includes a tray and a scraper slidably disposed on the tray and configure for scraping the tray. The tray defines a number of through holes of same diameter therein. The diameter of the through holes in an upper screening plate is larger than that of the through holes in a lower screening plate.
US08018580B2
A distance measurement method for use in a laser range finding device to measure a distance between the laser range finding device and a target is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. A laser signal is sent to the target in a first time point. A reflected laser signal reflected by the target is then received. A digital signal having a plurality of signal values ranging from 0 to N is obtained by sampling the reflected laser signal with a sampling signal, wherein N is an integer larger than two. A maximum signal value among the signal values is obtained. The distance is calculated according to the first time point and a second time point where the maximum signal value is generated.
US08018577B2
Exposure apparatus are disclosed that can control, to high precision, exposure doses on a photosensitive substrate of a mask pattern defined on a reflective mask as the pattern is being exposed on the substrate using a projection-optical system. An exemplary apparatus includes a first illumination sensor for detecting light that is incident on a reflective mask from an illumination system and a second illumination sensor for detecting light that has propagated from the illumination system to a reference reflective surface on the reflective mask, reflected from the reference reflective surface, and arrived at an image surface of the projection-optical system. Calibration of the first sensor is performed based on detection data obtained by the first sensor and detection data obtained by the second sensor. Exposure of the substrate is controlled based on the detection data obtained by the calibrated first sensor.
US08018569B2
A method and apparatus to inhibit the piracy of motion pictures in theaters by taking advantage of the frame rate discrepancies between film (or digital) display and video camcorders. By alternating specific image display intervals and, shuttering cadences, or with digital video projectors commanding a similar modified display via the digital projector's blanking and display capabilities, so that the projected images occur in a random and/or phase shifted manner, objectionable distortions are produced in an illicitly captured video image, while being invisible to theatrical viewers. In addition, various serrated, slit, multi-quadrant or spotted patterns may be used on mechanical shutters, or simulated on digital displays, to further degrade the quality of illicitly captured video by pirates in theaters.
US08018566B2
An in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) and its fabrication method are disclosed. Common lines are formed at upper and lower portions of a pixel region to reduce a line width of the common lines and to reduce resistance of the common lines. A gate line is formed at the center of the pixel region to divide the pixel region into two regions in which pixel electrode connection lines and common electrode connection lines are arranged to crisscross each other to thus improve a luminance characteristic due to a parasitic capacitance deflection.
US08018558B2
A face plate on which a frame is formed for improved design aesthetics is bonded to a top surface of an upper polarizer of a liquid crystal display panel with a pressure-sensitive adhesive material. The frame on the face plate is formed from five layers of printing. The pressure-sensitive adhesive material has a three-layer structure having a first pressure-sensitive adhesive member, a base material, and a second pressure-sensitive adhesive member. The first pressure-sensitive adhesive member is formed thicker than the second pressure-sensitive adhesive member, and hence the pressure-sensitive adhesive material can maintain a necessary thickness above the frame formed on the face plate. The reliability of adhesion between the face plate and the liquid crystal display panel is thus improved.
US08018555B2
A backlight device for a liquid crystal display device includes a light source providing light; a light waveguide plate 40 guiding light from the light source, having an emitting surface, a front surface and a bottom surface, the emitting surface adjacent to the light source; a reflector arranged under the bottom surface of the light wave guide plate, reflecting light; and at least one cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) film arranged over the front surface of the light wave guide plate, collimating light.
US08018553B2
A liquid crystal display device includes, in sequence, a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate. The first substrate, the liquid crystal layer, and the second substrate are disposed in a subpixel having a transmissive portion for performing transmissive display and a reflective portion for performing reflective display. The first substrate includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second substrate includes a third electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed in the transmissive portion and at least the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed in the reflective portion. Alignment of the liquid crystal layer is controlled by an electric field occurring between the first electrode and the second electrode in the transmissive portion and by an electric field occurring between the first electrode and the third electrode in the reflective portion.
US08018551B2
A liquid crystal display module displays an image on a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a reflecting sheet having a raised portion that receives a light source and supports a diffusing sheet and/or optical sheet positioned between the liquid crystal panel and the light source.
US08018550B2
A liquid crystal display can be adjusted to a desired viewing angle easily. A display screen of the liquid crystal display can be adjusted to the desired viewing angle thereby to drive a fixing portion of a bracket, a rotating portion of an operating member or a securing portion of an adjusting member to rotate correspondingly.
US08018549B2
A liquid crystal display includes a lower tray, a plastic frame, and a plurality of lamps. The lower tray includes a bottom plate and two side plates opposite to each other. The side plates are perpendicularly connected with the bottom plate. The plastic frame includes a first wall, a second wall, and two opposite third walls. The first wall, the second wall and the third walls are connected end to end, and the first wall is opposite to the second wall. The plastic frame and the bottom plate of the lower tray form a first accommodating space. The lamps are placed in the first accommodating space. The first wall of the plastic frame and the side plates of the lower tray form a hinge device to make the plastic frame and the lower tray fixed and rotatable.
US08018532B2
Levels of an input video signal are detected at successive pixels. An absolute level difference is produced that is an absolute value of the difference at each pixel pair. One absolute difference is applied nonlinear processing to be subtracted from an initial value to obtain a subtracted value. An absolute value of the subtracted value is set to a predetermined value if not larger than this value. The absolute difference is obtained from a pixel pair located in the middle of the pixels. The absolute value subjected to the nonlinear processing is added to the remaining absolute differences, to obtain an evaluation value. The input signal is subjected to low-pass filtering, thus video signals being output with high-frequency components attenuated depending on filter characteristics. The input signal with no filtering applied or one of the signals applied the filtering is selected for edge enhancement depending on the evaluation value.
US08018531B2
A system for transmitting a modulated video signal to be presented on a digital display device, the video signal having a first frame and a second frame, the first frame and the second frame each comprised of a plurality of pixels, the system comprising a signal source for generating a video signal, an encoder, the encoder comprising a means for receiving the video signal from the signal source, a means for selectively altering luminance of the pixels of the first frame and the second frame of the video signal to represent a signal presence or signal absence and thereby creating a modulated video signal, and a means for providing the modulated video signal to a broadcast source, and the broadcast source for providing the modulated video signal from the encoder to a digital display device.
US08018523B2
Provided is a imaging optical system for an image sensor. The imaging optical system includes a stop and a first lens sequentially arranged from an object side. The first lens has aspherical surfaces on both sides and has a positive refractive power, a first surface of the first lens which faces the object side is a convex surface and a second surface of the first lens which faces an image side is a convex surface.
US08018516B2
A signal processing method of a solid-state image sensor includes comparing a high-sensitivity-pixel output signal and a first threshold value to determine whether or not the high-sensitivity-pixel output signal reaches a level of a saturated-high-sensitivity-pixel output signal. If the high-sensitivity-pixel output signal does not reach the level of the saturated-high-sensitivity-pixel output signal, a difference value between the high-sensitivity-pixel output signal and an amplified low-sensitivity-pixel output signal is calculated. The amplified low-sensitivity-pixel output signal is obtained by multiplying a low-sensitivity-pixel output signal by a sensitivity ratio, which is obtained by dividing a sensitivity value of a high sensitivity pixel by a sensitivity value of a low sensitivity pixel. A first or second image signal is output according to whether an absolute value of the difference value is smaller than a second threshold value or not.
US08018515B2
There is provided a solid-state imaging device with an improved linearity as well as dynamic range. Each pixel portion Pm,n in the solid-state imaging device includes: a buried photodiode PD for generating charges of an amount corresponding to the intensity of incident light; a capacitive element C connected in parallel to the buried photodiode PD to accumulate charges generated in the buried photodiode PD; an amplifying transistor T1 for outputting a voltage value corresponding to a voltage value input to the gate terminal; a transferring transistor T2 for inputting a voltage value corresponding to the amount of accumulated charges in the capacitive element C to the gate terminal of the amplifying transistor T1; a discharging transistor T3 for discharging the charges of the capacitive element C; and a selecting transistor T4 for selectively outputting a voltage value output from the amplifying transistor T1 to a wiring Ln.
US08018510B2
A solid-state imaging device is provided in which sensitivity is prevented from lowering even when signals of pixels are mixed. The solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel units each of which has a photoelectric conversion element, and is capable of summing signals corresponding to respective outputs of the photoelectric conversion elements of the pixel units. The device includes: a plurality of capacitors, each of which individually accumulates electric charges corresponding to a signal outputted from the associated photoelectric conversion element; and a plurality of MOS transistors which are alternately connected with the associated capacitor. By disconnecting the MOS transistor, the electric charges of the signal outputted from each of the photoelectric conversion elements are accumulated in each associated capacitor, and by conducting the MOS transistors to sum the signals of the pixel units, the capacitors are connected in series.
US08018506B2
An image taking apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: a light source discrimination device which discriminates a light source in a photographing environment; and a shading correction device which makes shading correction according to the light source discriminated by the light source discrimination device for an image photographed under the light source in the photographing environment. According to the image taking apparatus of the present invention, the shading correction is made according to the light source in the photographing environment, whereby the excellent image quality can be maintained by appropriately making shading correction even if the light source is changed.
US08018502B2
An image recording device includes: a reference clock generation generating a reference clock; a first compression unit generating first compressed image data by compressing a first picture that is included in pictures in the captured image and that is equivalent to image captured at the first frame rate; a second compression unit generating second compressed image data by compressing a second picture that is included in the pictures in the captured image except the first picture; a first timestamp generation unit generating a first timestamp indicating a time for presentation of the first picture with reference to the reference clock; a second timestamp generation unit generating a second timestamp indicating a time for presentation of the second picture with reference to the reference clock; a first assignment unit assigning the first timestamp to the first compressed image data; a second assignment unit assigning the second timestamp to the second compressed image data; and a recording unit recording, to the recording medium, (i) the first compressed image data assigned with the first timestamp and (ii) the second compressed image data assigned with the second timestamp.
US08018499B2
An image processing method and a device thereof are disclosed. In an image signal processor of the present invention, a process clock rate or an output clock rate for a preview mode is applied differently from a process clock rate or an output clock rate for a capture mode. When performing the capture mode, however, the process clock rate can be controlled to be the same as or larger than the output clock rate. With the present invention, the lagging can be reduced during the image processing.
US08018497B2
A shooting operation is performed using a short exposure time at least one to obtain frame image data “A”, and a shooting operation is performed a plurality of times using a long exposure time to obtain sequential frame image data “B”. The image data “A” and “B” are recorded in a single file. In a moving image displaying operation, a moving image consisting of the plural pieces of frame image data “B” sequentially shot using the long exposure time is displayed. When the moving image being displayed is paused, a still image is displayed based on the frame image data “A” shot using the short exposure time.
US08018494B2
A color correction device (1) including: color set information storage portions (11) which store color set information inclusive of source colors and reference colors; region selection portions (6) which select specific source regions from source images picked up by two cameras 2 respectively; region color decision portions (7) which decide source region colors as colors representative of the source regions; color set update portions (10) which update source colors in color sets by using the source region colors; and color correction portions (8) which calibrate colors in ranges similar to the source colors in the two source images to reference colors by using the color sets. It is possible to eliminate the necessity of holding information of color sets unnecessary for color correction, so that it is possible to reduce the load imposed on calculation and adapt to a change of lighting environment in real time.
US08018492B2
A method, an apparatus, and logic for testing a video data path. One method includes sending video data corresponding to a video test pattern to an input port of a video data path; receiving video data at an output port of the video data path; and calculating a function of at least the active part of the received video data. The function is selected such that it has a correct value when the at least the active part of the received video data accurately corresponds to the corresponding part of the sent video data. The method further includes ascertaining whether the function of at least the active part of the received video data has the correct value to ascertain whether or not an error has occurred.
US08018476B2
A display device comprises a display panel comprising high brightness subpixel repeating groups—for example, RGBW display panels. Displays comprise subpixel repeating groups that include first and second primary color stripes and third and fourth primary color subpixels that are disposed on a checkerboard pattern. A subpixel rendering operation includes, or is followed by, a white subpixel adjustment operation that adjusts the brightness of the white subpixels in the areas of the displayed image that contain high spatial frequency features such as lines and text, in order to improve image quality such as image contrast.
US08018467B2
A method and apparatus which includes a graphics accelerator, circuitry responsive to pixel texture coordinates to select texels and generate therefrom a texture value for any pixel the color of which is to be modified by a texture, a cache to hold texels for use by the circuitry to generate texture value for any pixel, a stage for buffering the acquisition of texel data, and control circuitry for controlling the acquisition of texture data, storing the texture data in the cache, and furnishing the texture data for blending with pixel data.
US08018465B2
Methods for analyzing a list of routine identifiers to optimize processing of routines identified in the list. Some embodiments execute a set of routines in multiple passes where each pass comprises each routine in the set processing a single band of its source. The band size of the sources of the set is related to the size of a cache used during execution of the set. A band size of sources of the set is determined so that all data processed by and produced by any routine in the set can be stored to the cache while the routine processes one band of its source. Some embodiments use the list to combine two or more routines into a single routine where the list is modified accordingly. Some embodiments use the list for grouping and re-ordering routines identified in the list to send particular routines to an alternative processor for processing.
US08018461B2
A device and a method for generating a text object, in particular, for a geographic map illustration. The text object comprises a multitude of letters and serves for identifying, for example, a geographic characteristic on the map illustration. The text object comprises several letters, the font sizes or spacings of which are reduced relative to the spacings between the other letters of the text object. The text object can be displayed on monitors with small dimensions, particularly in the field of navigation systems. It is also possible to display larger text objects such as, for example, long street names on small navigation monitors such that they can be easily recognized without occupying valuable monitor space required for other purposes.
US08018460B2
Shape-data-generation apparatus includes unit acquiring first-shape data of vector graphics from data source, unit storing sets of second-shape data as structured-vector-graphics data obtained by processing vector-graphics-shape data in specific format and shape number corresponding to second-shape data, unit reading second-shape data corresponding to designated shape number from first storage unit, unit reconstructing vector-graphics shape corresponding to read second-shape data, unit calculating shape-difference-evaluated-value which decreases as similarity between vector-graphics shape corresponding to first-shape data and reconstructed-vector-graphics shape increases to obtain shape-difference-evaluated values, unit calculating minimum shape-difference-evaluated value of shape-difference-evaluated values and new second-shape data corresponding to minimum shape-difference-evaluated value, unit comparing minimum shape-difference-evaluated value with threshold, and unit calculating difference-shape data representing difference shape between shape based on first-shape data and shape based on new second-shape data if minimum shape-difference-evaluated value is not more than threshold.
US08018457B2
Aspects comprise systems implementing ray tracing functionality according to example architectures. In one example, rays are collected into collections against elements of an acceleration structure, which in some cases are associated with objects composing a scene being ray traced. Indications of detected ray intersections also can be collected in an output buffer, and in some examples, the output buffer can comprise a plurality of portions, each associated with a scene object, or a common portion of code to be executed during shading. Buffer contents can be accessed in a block read. An intersection shading resource can load data to be used in shading the intersections for the identified rays, and locally storing that data for use in shading those intersections.
US08018444B2
A data driving circuit for displaying uniform images, a light emitting display device using the same, a driving method thereof. The data driving circuit includes a holding latch part including a plurality of holding latches for storing data, a signal generation part including a plurality of digital-analog converters for receiving the data and for generating data signals, a first switching part located between the holding latch part and the signal generation part, and a second switching part electrically connected to the signal generation part, the second switching part being for transmitting the data signals to data lines, wherein the first switching part electrically connects the respective holding latches to the respective digital-analog converters differently during a previous frame than during a current frame. As such, the data driving circuit may diffuse errors of the digital-analog converters to display uniform images.
US08018441B2
Provided is a character input method and apparatus for automatically switching an input mode in a terminal having a touch screen. If a press event occurs in one of key regions displayed in the touch screen, it is determined whether a drag event occurs prior to occurrence of a release event. According to whether the drag event occurs, one of a separate input mode for inputting one of characters of a corresponding character group and a text input mode for inputting a word including one of the characters of the character group is executed. Thus, a user can easily input a character by rapidly selecting a desired input mode.
US08018439B2
A mobile appliance and a method of using a mobile appliance are disclosed. The mobile appliance may include a microprocessor, a data entry device, a monitor, a candidate selection device, and software having instructions for controlling the microprocessor. A series of characters are provided to the appliance, and the series of characters is used to both indicate a function and indicate information for that function.
US08018437B2
A mouse with coordinate and suspension positioning functions, which receives a directional light produced by an external illuminator. A second image sensor receives and converts the directional light into an electrical signal, and accordingly produces a directional image corresponding to the directional light. A second memory stores the directional image. When an image captured by a first image sensor cannot be focused, a processor enables the second image sensor and the second memory in order to analyze the directional image and obtain a rotating angle of the directional light for further fulfilling a coordinate positioning.
US08018430B2
Electrophoretic particles and dielectrophoretic particles are included together in a unit pixel. Each of the electrophoretic particles and the dielectrophoretic particles includes two kinds of particles having different electric properties. The electrophoretic particles include positively charged particles and negatively charged particles. The dielectrophoretic particles include particles having low dielectric constant and particles having high dielectric constant. A first electric field for moving the electrophoretic particles and a second electric field for moving the dielectrophoretic particles are applied to the unit pixel. The second electric field has an asymmetric gradient in the direction where the dielectrophoretic particles move to determine movement directions of the dielectrophoretic particles having different dielectric constants.
US08018428B2
An electrophoretic display (“EPD”) panel includes a display substrate and an electrophoretic film. The display substrate includes a display switching element electrically connected to a display gate line and a data line crossing the display gate line, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the display switching element, and a sensing switching element electrically connected to a sensing gate line and the data line to detect a light quantity. The electrophoretic film is combined with the display substrate. The electrophoretic film includes a plurality of charged particles. Thus, a bias signal of the sensing switching element is delivered through the data line applying the data signal, so that a manufacturing process of the EPD panel may be simplified.
US08018426B2
Disclosed herein is an electronic device including: a solar cell configured to be inferior in absorption efficiency for light having a predetermined wavelength; and a reflective display configured to carry out displaying by reflecting light having the predetermined wavelength and allow transmission of light other than light having the predetermined wavelength. In the electronic device, the reflective display is disposed on an outside face of a device package, and the solar cell is disposed on a backside of the reflective display.
US08018424B2
A backlight unit usable in a liquid crystal display. In one embodiment, the backlight unit includes a substrate having an edge zone and a central zone surrounded by the edge zone, a first plurality of light emitting elements positioned in the central zone of the substrate, a second plurality of light emitting elements positioned in the edge zone of the substrate, and an electronic controlling means for controlling the light emitted from the first plurality of light emitting elements and the second plurality of light emitting elements such that in operation, the output power per unit area by the second plurality of light emitting elements in the edge zone is less than that by the first plurality of light emitting elements in the central zone.
US08018423B2
A shift register is for generating scan signals. Each stage of the shift register comprises a first level lifting unit and at least a second level lifting unit, a first level lowering unit and at least a second level lowering unit, first and second driving units. The first level lowering and lifting units are for controlling the levels of signals at the first output terminal to output a first scan signal. The second level lowering unit and second level lifting unit are for controlling the levels of signals at the second output terminal to output at least a second scan signal. The first and second driving units are for turning on and off the first and the second level lifting units and the first and the second level lowering unit to control the first and second scan signals.
US08018419B2
A data driver includes a capture start timing setting register in which is set data for setting capture start timing of the gray-scale data based on a signal which indicates supply start timing of the gray-scale data, and a capture instruction signal generation circuit which generates first and second capture instruction signals which are delayed in relation to the signal which indicates the supply start timing of the gray-scale data for a period corresponding to the data set in the capture start timing setting register. First and second data latches capture gray-scale data on a gray-scale bus at timing based on the first and second capture instruction signals, respectively. First and second driver circuits drive comb-tooth distributed data lines belonging to first and second groups based on the gray-scale data captured in the first and second data latches, respectively.
US08018412B2
Display bright in contrast can be obtained without discrination and flicker in the display device of the direct vision type whose pixel pitches are short to 20 μm or less. A liquid crystal panel is driven through the frame inverse driving method, and the vertical frame frequency is set to 120 Hz or more. Also, each of the pixels is arranged to correspond to one of R, G and B of color filters disposed on a TFT substrate side.
US08018406B2
A driver of an electroluminescent display includes a first signal processor adapted to receive clock, input and negative input signals and to generate a first output signal, a second signal processor adapted to receive the first output signal, a negative clock signal, a first negative feedback signal and a second negative feedback signal and to generate a second output signal, a third signal processor adapted to receive the second output signal, the input signal and the clock signal and to generate a third output signal, and a fourth signal processor adapted to receive the second and third output signals and to generate a fourth output signal, wherein the third signal processor includes a switching element for preventing first and second power voltages from being applied to the third output signal simultaneously.
US08018401B2
An organic electroluminescent display and a demultiplexer, wherein the organic electroluminescent display comprises: a plurality of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels and displaying images corresponding to a first data current; a plurality of scan lines transmitting a scan signal to the plurality of pixels; a plurality of first data lines transmitting the first data current to the plurality of pixels; a scan driver outputting the scan signal to the plurality of scan lines; a demultiplexer comprising a plurality of sample-and-hold demultiplexing circuits; and a data driver outputting a second data current to a plurality of second data lines, wherein the demultiplexing circuit transmits the first data current, obtained by demultiplexing the second data current in sample/hold method, to the first data lines, wherein a pre-charge voltage corresponding to the second data current is previously transmitted to the first data lines before the first data current is transmitted to the first data lines.
US08018398B1
Control of multiple display screens associated with a computer, wherein the auxiliary screen display content that depends on conditions of the computer. During some times the auxiliary screen displays content associated with the presently executing program, and during other times the auxiliary screen displays history information. The rules can be automatically changed or manually changed.
US08018388B2
An antenna mount comprising a front cylindrical mount, the front cylindrical mount having a threaded interior for installing an antenna; a flanged central portion; a base mount consisting of a hollow cylinder cut away along a longitudinal axis, leaving a half-circular cross section. The antenna mount can be installed by inserting it into an opening in the casing of a device and rotating the antenna mount until it abuts a stop stud.
US08018387B2
The present invention relates to a portable terminal including a terminal body and a retractable antenna operatively connected to the terminal body and capable of being retractably housed into and withdrawn out of the terminal body. The retractable antenna includes a base rotatably supported at the terminal body, an antenna rod connected with the base and including at least one telescoping member for extending a length of the antenna rod, and a pivot connection unit connecting the base to the antenna rod and allowing the antenna rod to pivot with respect to the base.
US08018386B2
A multiple-element antenna for a wireless communication device is provided. The antenna comprises a first antenna element having a first operating frequency band and a floating antenna element positioned adjacent the first antenna element to electromagnetically couple to the first antenna element. The floating antenna element is configured to operate in conjunction with the first antenna element within a second operating frequency band. A feeding port connected to the first antenna element connects the first antenna element to communications circuitry and exchanges communication signals in both the first operating frequency band and the second operating frequency band between the multiple-element antenna and the communications circuitry. In a wireless mobile communication device having a transceiver and a receiver, the feeding port is connected to both the transceiver and the receiver.
US08018376B2
A GNSS-based, bidirectional mobile communication system includes a mobile unit, such as a vehicle or a personal mobile system, with GNSS (e.g., GPS) and Internet (worldwide web) access. A base station also has GNSS and Internet access, and provides differential (e.g., DGPS) correctors to the mobile unit via the Internet. The Internet communications link enables audio and/or video (AV) clips to be recorded and played back by the mobile unit based on its GNSS location. The playback function can be triggered by the mobile unit detecting a predetermined GNSS location associated with a particular clip, which can be GNSS position-stamped when recorded. Alternatively, clips can be generated by utilities and loaded by the application either from a personal computer or automatically over the Internet. Moreover, maps, vehicle travel paths and images associated with particular GNSS-defined locations, such as waypoints, can be updated and position-stamped on the data server. A GNSS-based mobile communication method and a storage medium encoded with a machine-readable code for mobile communications are also provided.
US08018375B1
A projected artificial magnetic mirror (PAMM) radar device includes a transceiver module, a shaping module, and an antenna structure. The antenna structure includes a plurality of metal patches, a metal backing, a dielectric material, and one or more antennas. The metal patches are electrically coupled to the metal backing to form an inductive-capacitive network that, for the one or more antennas and within a given frequency band, substantially reduces surface waves to obtain a detectable angle of incidence of approximately ninety degrees.
US08018370B2
A system is configured and a method is provided for receiving an input ratio represented by a first input signal and a second input signal, and producing an output ratio represented by a first output signal and a second output signal. The system is constructed and the method is provided for alternately operating in at least two time periods, wherein in one time period the first input signal, a low accuracy amplifier, and the first output signal are selectively coupled, and in another time period the input signal, the low accuracy amplifier, a high accuracy attenuator, and the second output signal are selectively coupled so as to maintain the output ratio proportional to the input ratio.
US08018356B2
Method of encoding/decoding data, method of detecting data, and method of recording/reproducing data
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data encoding method includes separating an input sequence into a plurality of n-bit blocks, wherein n is a natural number, and converting each of the n-bit blocks into a block code including M rows and N columns such that every bit in the block code has at least one identical bit adjacent horizontally or vertically to the bit, wherein M and N are natural numbers.
US08018355B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. In response to an ambiguous editing input at a location preceding at least a portion of an output word, the software performs one disambiguation operation with respect to the editing input and another disambiguation operation with respect to the editing input in combination with the at least portion of the output word. The results are output in order of decreasing frequency value, with the results of the one disambiguation operation having the portion of the output word appended thereto.
US08018350B2
Devices, systems, and methods for reinforcing a traffic control assembly are provided. In some embodiments, a retrofitted traffic control assembly configured to reinforce a traffic signal assembly in high wind conditions is provided, where the assembly includes a clamping assembly having clamping members that at least partially surround an existing traffic signal disconnect hanger, and bar members positioned substantially perpendicular to the clamping members. In certain embodiments, stiffening members may be placed in, on, or adjacent to a traffic signal and/or a traffic signal disconnect hanger to further reinforce the traffic signal assembly. Also provided are connection assemblies for reinforcing the portion of a traffic control assembly positioned between a traffic signal disconnect hanger and an upper span wire, for example.
US08018343B2
An IC package antenna of which a metal radiating member is firstly provided on a board to form an antenna base board; the board is formed thereon at least a feed point; and the IC package antenna is packaged with an IC packaging housing and a packaging bottom portion to form an IC chip. The IC packaging housing has a plurality of connecting pins extending outward from inside of itself; wherein the inner end of at least one connecting pin is soldering connected with a feed point of the base board of the antenna. Such an IC package antenna can allow standardized and miniaturized antenna designing, and is applicable to Surface Mount Technology (SMT).
US08018333B2
An indication of an emergency alert message is provided to a user, potentially having a disability, via a networked enabled portable device. The emergency alert message is provided via sign language video images indicative of the emergency alert. A notification makes the user aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. In various embodiments, the portable device is enabled to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the potentially disabled user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. The user can be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, the user can optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, and/or the user can otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data, such as a link to the information.
US08018332B2
An emergency event reporting system combines emergency event detection means with a wireless beacon capable of communicating with the Cospas-Sarsat search-and-rescue satellite system. The system provides for the association of a beacon's unique identification number (UIN) with a third-party monitoring service to which the emergency event message is to be reported. In this way, civilian emergency events can be reliably handled without overwhelming limited government search and rescue resources. Several applications of the system are disclosed, which include reporting alarm messages from home and business security systems and crash alerts indicating the deployment of a vehicle air bag during a vehicle crash.
US08018329B2
A geo-fence is defined and established automatically based on a current location of an asset along with some range or distance, avoiding the need for a user to manually specify a location by drawing a perimeter, specifying a point location, or by any other means. Once established, the geo-fence can be activated so as to notify the owner of the asset and/or some other entity of movement of the asset beyond the boundary specified by the geo-fence. In one embodiment, the geo-fence can be automatically activated upon certain conditions, or can be manually activated, or any combination thereof.
US08018328B2
Methods and systems are provided which generate an alarm signal that alerts individuals who may be in the vicinity of a reversing vehicle and that alerts a vehicle operator when the alarm signal is not audible due to high ambient sound levels or detritus covering the alarm transducer. A background noise level in proximity to the vehicle is monitored. A level of the alarm signal is increased as the ambient (or background) sound level rises. Conversely, the level of the alarm signal is reduced as the background noise level decreases. The alarm signal is changed in volume, frequency, or both based on a velocity of the vehicle. A frequency content of the alarm signal may be modified if a spectral profile of an ambient sound field contains spectral components that may mask the alarm signal.
US08018327B2
A night light that transitions between at least two states to provide a visual indication to a child as to whether it is time for the child to get out of bed or that the child should stay in bed. The night light shows an illuminated sun to indicate that the child can get out of bed. The night light shows an illuminated moon with a border of Z's to indicate that the child should stay in bed. The transitions between modes are based on information entered into a user interface, the current time, and/or the actuation of buttons on the device.
US08018316B2
A method comprising forming a structural element 115 on a surface 620 of a layer 510 via an electroless plating of nickel or cobalt 130 onto the surface, the layer being rigidly fixed to an underlying substrate 110. The method also comprises etching away a portion of the layer such that a part of the structural element is able to move with respect to the substrate.
US08018312B2
An inductor and method of operating the inductor by combining primary and secondary coils with passive coupling, active parallel, or active cross-coupling structures. The first includes at least one passive coupling structure having at least one coupling coil arranged between a primary coil and at least one of the secondary coils and/or between two of the secondary coils. The second includes an active coupling structure arranged between a primary coil and at least one secondary coil and/or between at least two of the secondary coils, to selectively parallel couple the primary coil and one of the secondary coils and/or at least two of the secondary coils. The third includes an active coupling structure to selectively cross couple a primary coil and at least one of the secondary coils and/or to selectively cross couple at least two of the secondary coils.
US08018301B2
A micro-electro-mechanical transducer (such as a cMUT) is disclosed. The transducer has a base, a spring layer placed over the base, and a mass layer connected to the spring layer through a spring-mass connector. The base includes a first electrode. The spring layer or the mass layer includes a second electrode. The base and the spring layer form a gap therebetween and are connected through a spring anchor. The mass layer provides a substantially independent spring mass contribution to the spring model without affecting the equivalent spring constant. The mass layer also functions as a surface plate interfacing with the medium to improve transducing performance. Fabrication methods to make the same are also disclosed.
US08018291B2
The resonant device comprises an electromechanical resonator of nanometric or micrometric size that comprises a mobile element and a fixed element. Detection means provide detection signals representative of movement of the mobile element with respect to the fixed element to a feedback loop that is connected to an excitation input of the resonator. The resonator is formed on the same substrate as the detection means and feedback loop. The feedback loop comprises at most first and second transistors connected in series between a reference voltage and the excitation terminal. A capacitive load is connected between the excitation terminal and reference voltage. The detection signals control the conductivity of the first transistor.
US08018285B2
Disclosed is a step variable gain amplifier for linearly amplifying a signal received from an antenna. The step variable gain amplifier includes: an amplification unit for converting and amplifying a voltage component of a received signal into a current voltage according to a step amplification control signal; a controller for generating a step amplification control signal of the received signal and controlling on/off of the amplification unit according to the control signal; and an output unit connected to the amplification unit, the output unit outputting a voltage component from the signal that has been subjected to conversion into the current component and amplification processes.
US08018272B2
There is provided a filter circuit that includes a flying capacitor and a capacitor that is provided in parallel with the flying capacitor, between an input terminal and an output terminal of the flying capacitor. As the capacitor that has a predetermined capacity is provided between the input terminal and the output terminal of the flying capacitor, it is possible to provide steep attenuation characteristics in the filter circuit provided with the flying capacitor.
US08018264B2
An interface of the present invention includes a first inverter circuit that inverts a logic level of an input signal given to an external input terminal and outputs the inverted logic level, a second inverter circuit that outputs a potential in which a logic level of an output signal of the first inverter circuit is inverted, that is, a potential higher or lower than a logic of an input signal applied to the first inverter circuit by the amount of a predetermined potential, and a feedback path that positive feedbacks an output signal of the second inverter circuit to the external input terminal. The interface circuit of the invention positive-feedbacks a potential of the output signal of the second inverter circuit and shifts the potential of the external input terminal in a floating state to an H or L level potential.
US08018263B2
A pulse generating unit receives a clock at a predetermined frequency, and generates a pulse signal which transits synchronously with the positive edge of the clock. A flip-flop acquires the pulse signal every time a positive edge occurs in an inverted clock output from the inverter. A logic gate multiplexes the pulse signal and the output of the flip-flop. A selector selects either the output of the logic gate or the pulse signal.
US08018258B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to generate a periodic output signal from a periodic input signal, obtain a plurality of samples of a phase difference between the output signal and the input signal, and to adjust a phase of the output signal based on the samples of the phase difference. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08018250B1
An embodiment of a method for operation of an input/output block is disclosed. For this embodiment of the method, a first attribute is set for a first disable signal for an input driver. A first tri-state condition is removed from an output driver. In response to the removing of the first tri-state condition, the input driver is placed in a second tri-state condition.
US08018249B2
A logic chip has a plurality of individually addressable resource blocks each of the resource blocks having logic circuitry, and a communication bar extending across a plurality of the individually addressable resource blocks. The communication bar has a plurality of communication bar segments associated with the resource slots. The communication bar segments of the individually addressable resource blocks have identical interface locations with respect to boundaries of the resource blocks, such that an input interface location of a first resource block matches an output interface location of an adjacent second resource block. At least one of the individually addressable resource blocks has a bypass segment of the communication bar. At least one of the individually addressable resource blocks has an access segment of the communication bar. The access segment has an access structure inserted between a first communication bar interface location and a second communication bar interface location, to allow for a read access or a write access or a combined read/write access to the communication bar.
US08018248B2
An integrated circuit includes a programmable logic device, a dedicated device, and an interface circuit between the two. The interface circuit can be easily modified to accommodate the different interface I/O demands of various dedicated devices that may be embedded into the integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the interface circuit may be implemented using a plurality of mask programmable uni-directional interface buffer circuits. The direction of any desired number of the interface buffer circuits can be reversed based on the needs of a desired dedicated device by re-routing the conductors in the interface buffer circuits in a single metal layer of the integrated circuit. In another embodiment, the interface circuit may be implemented using a hardware configurable bi-directional interface buffer circuit.
US08018247B2
A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of transistor-based circuit is disclosed. The method includes receiving a low power mode indication; determining whether to supply power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response to a reset value of the transistor-based circuit and a state of the transistor-based circuit prior the receiving of the low power mode indication, and selectively providing power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit. The apparatus is adapted to receive a low power mode indication, and includes: a determining circuit to determine whether to supply power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response a state of the transistor-based circuit prior the receiving of the low power mode indication; and a power gating, adapted to selectively provide power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response to the determination.
US08018245B2
A semiconductor device is provided. A pull-up slew rate controller receives a first driving control signal generated in a first mode of operation, a second driving control signal generated in a second mode of operation, and data, and upon a first transition of the data, sequentially activates the data and a first pull-up delayed signal having different delay times in the first mode of operation and sequentially activates the data and the first to third pull-up delayed signals having different delay times in the second mode of operation. A pull-up driving unit sequentially pulls a data output terminal up in response to the data and the first to third pull-up delayed signals. A pull-down slew rate controller, upon a second transition of the data, sequentially activates the data and the first pull-down delayed signal having different delay times in the first mode of operation and sequentially activates the data and the first to third pull-down delayed signals having different delay times in the second mode of operation. A pull-down driving unit sequentially pulls the data output terminal down in response to the data and the first to third pull-down delayed signals.
US08018243B2
In order to determine amplitudes of measurement signals originating from an AC power supply and to determine the phase shift (ø) between measurement signals more simply, the measurement signals are processed in measurement signal operation devices to form auxiliary signals each having a constant AC amplitude and to obtain first measurement values (v, a, rssi, rssi1, rssi2), in particular, from amplification factors (v) that are applied to the measurement signal (m, m1, m2). The phase shift between two auxiliary signals (h, h′, h′1, h′2) is further determined as a second measurement value, in particular, by means of the time difference (Δt) between the zero passages of the auxiliary signals (h, h′, h′1, h′2).
US08018242B2
A probe card includes probes that are made of a conductive material and come into contact with a semiconductor wafer to receive or output an electric signal; a probe head that holds the probes; a substrate that has a wiring pattern corresponding to a circuit structure for generating a signal for a test; a reinforcing member that reinforces the substrate; an interposer that is stacked on the substrate for connection of wires of the substrate; a space transformer that is stacked between the interposer and the probe head and transforms intervals among the wires; and a plurality of first post members that have a height greater than the thickness of the substrate, and are embedded in a portion of the substrate on which the interposer is stacked.
US08018223B2
A magnetoresistive sensor system includes a plurality of chip carriers, such that each integrated circuit among the plurality of chip carriers is associated with a respective magnetoresistive sensing components. A plurality of magnetoresistive sensing components can be arranged in a rotary array, wherein each magnetoresistive component among the plurality of magnetoresistive components is associated with a respective integrated circuit among the plurality of chip carriers and wherein the plurality of magnetoresistive sensing components comprises sensing components that are spaced irregular from one another in order to optimize the performance of the rotary array and meet requirements of a particular magnetoresistive sensing application.
US08018216B2
A power supply voltage booster avoids inadequate step-up capability. In a voltage boosting circuit, a switching device connects and disconnects between the ground potential and one end of the coil, the other end of which is supplied with a supply voltage VB. The switching device is repeatedly turned ON and OFF such that the capacitor is electrically charged from the force in the coil when the switching device is turned off. A charging control circuit turns off the switching device when current flowing through the switching device into the coil is determined to have increased to a switch-off threshold value when the switching device is ON, and turns on the switching device upon determining that the charging current flowing to the capacitor from the coil decreases to a switch-on threshold value when the switching device is OFF. The charging control circuit sets the switch-off threshold value to a larger value as the supply voltage VB is lower. Thus, inadequacy of the step-up capability caused by a drop in the supply voltage VB can be avoided.
US08018215B1
A circuit for monitoring the inductance value of a switching regulator is provided. The circuit includes an inductance sensor circuit that is coupled to a switch node of a switching regulator. The inductor sensor circuit includes a switch, a ramp circuit, and a comparison circuit. The switch is arranged to receive a switch control signal that is based, at least in part, on a switching signal of the switching regulator. When the switch control signal is asserted, the comparison circuit receives a comparison input voltage that is based, at least in part, on the inductance value of the switching regulator. The comparison circuit compares the comparison input voltage to a ramp voltage of the ramp circuit and outputs a signal indicative of whether the inductance value of the switching regulator is at or below a predetermined threshold inductance value.
US08018213B2
The measurement of a current through a load transistor is described.
US08018211B2
An output voltage detecting circuit includes a conducting structure, a voltage regulator, a first resistor and a second resistor. The conducting structure includes a power output return terminal, a first contact and a second contact. A compensating voltage is generated between the first and second contacts when an output current flows through the first and second contacts. The voltage regulator adjusts a first current according to a voltage across a first circuit terminal and the ground terminal of the voltage regulator, thereby generating a detecting signal according to the first current. An output voltage across the positive power output terminal and the power output return terminal is subject to voltage division by the first and second resistors to generate a divided voltage. The voltage across the first circuit terminal and the ground terminal of the voltage regulator is equal to a difference between the divided voltage and the compensating voltage.
US08018210B2
A voltage converting circuit including a power stage, a filter, a comparator, a first and a second feedback units. The power stage receives an input voltage and outputs the input voltage according to a duty cycle. The filter receives the input voltage to convert the input voltage into a current, and filters the current to obtain an output voltage. The first feedback unit amplifies a difference between a reference voltage and the output voltage to obtain an error voltage. The second feedback unit calculates the quadratic differential and integration of the output voltage to obtain a sensing voltage. The comparator compares the error voltage and the sensing voltage, and outputs a comparing result to adjust a duty ratio. Herein, a ripple of the output voltage is linearly proportional to that of the current, and DC divided voltage level of the output voltage is substantially equal to the reference voltage.
US08018208B1
A voltage regulator has a switch configured to alternately couple and decouple a voltage source through an inductor to a load, feedback circuitry to generate a feedback current, a current sensor configured to measure the feedback current, and a controller configured to receive the feedback current measurement from the current sensor and, in response thereto, to control a duty cycle of the switch. The feedback circuitry includes an amplifier having a first input configured to receive a desired voltage, a second input, and an output, a capacitor connecting the second input to the output of the amplifier, and a resistor connecting the output of the amplifier and the output terminal such that a feedback current proportional to a difference between the desired voltage and an output voltage at an output terminal flows through the resistor.
US08018206B2
With an aim of minimizing excitation losses in electric machines having electrically excited and displaceable secondary parts, bi-directional inductive transmission of energy is carried out by a rotating inductive transmission device. An associated electronic system for the bi-directional transmission of power and/or energy, is provided. Advantageously, super-conductive inductance is present wherein the flow is introduced. It is possible to excite by supplying energy to the stator and to also de-excite by removing energy without converting the power into heat on the rotor by applying a bipolar tension.
US08018197B2
A voltage reference module of an integrated circuit device includes a current source to apply a current to a set of voltage cells, thereby generating a voltage drop across each cell. The voltage cells are configured such that the individual voltage drop associated with each cell in response to the application of the current is relatively stable over a temperature range. The voltage reference module generates a voltage based on the voltage drops across the voltage cells, and therefore the generated voltage is also stable over the temperature range. Bypass switches can be connected across each voltage cell whereby the switches can be individually opened and closed to include or exclude cells in generation of the reference voltage. In an embodiment, the switches are set during a trimming process for the integrated circuit device so that the voltage reference module provides a specified voltage.
US08018196B2
A power source system (1) includes a fuel cell (40) and a battery (20) connected in parallel. A DC-DC converter (30) is connected to the battery (20) side. A maximum output ratio of the fuel cell (40) and the battery (20) is set in a range in which the output of the fuel cell falls within 65 to 80% of the total output. Accordingly, electric power loss due to the DC-DC converter (30) is controlled, whereby a high energy efficiency can be achieved.
US08018192B2
A trajectory display device capable of correctly quantifying an error of a three-dimensional trajectory of a machine tool, and displaying or outputting the error. The trajectory display device has a command line segment defining part adapted to define a command line segment which connects two temporally adjacent points, in relation to each commanded position; an error calculating part adapted to define a normal line extending from the actual position to each command line segment and calculate an error of the actual position relative to a commanded trajectory, the error being determined as a shorter one between a length of a shortest normal line among the defined normal lines and a length of a line segment extending from the actual position to a commanded position which is the nearest from the actual position.
US08018190B2
A method for controlling and monitoring a hybrid vehicle including a driving internal combustion engine, and an electric machine that is operational, upon an instruction, in a form of a driving engine and is powered by a battery. The method detects a vehicle operating state, in transmitting, in response, an operating instruction to the electric machine only, without requesting any particular instruction from the internal combustion engine and respecting the vehicle stability constraint and a protecting constraint of the electric components thereof.
US08018187B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for aligning a control reference axis with a magnetic north of a permanent magnet motor. The method includes the steps of injecting a predetermined stator current on an estimated reference axis of the permanent magnet motor and introducing predetermined error on the estimated reference axis. The method further includes the steps of determining if a speed of the permanent magnet motor is greater than a predetermined threshold speed and setting the control reference axis to 180° added to the estimated reference axis if the speed of the permanent magnet motor is greater than the predetermined threshold speed or setting the control reference axis to the estimated reference axis if the speed of the permanent magnet motor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold speed.
US08018182B2
The invention relates to a method for detecting an overload in an electric hand tool (10) comprising an electric motor (12), in particular a battery-driven electric hand tool (10). According to the invention, an operating current (iB) of the electric motor (12) is determined, the difference (ID) between the value of the operating current (IB) and at least one stored current value (IG) is determined and a thermal overload of the electric hand tool (10) is deduced from said difference (ID). The invention also relates to a corresponding monitoring device (22).
US08018181B2
A high intensity discharge lamp, such as a high power sodium or metal halide lamp, having an electronic ballast. The electronic ballast may incorporate resonance-based circuitry for achieving an ignition state via a frequency sweeping step, the particular ignition voltage being inherent to the operational state of the high intensity discharge lamp. The operating state of the lamp may be sensed in order to apply power and voltage levels appropriate for steady state operation.
US08018179B2
An apparatus for monitoring at least one fluorescent lamp, in particular in an explosion-hazard area, which fluorescent lamp has a lamp tube with electrodes arranged at its ends in the form of filaments, and has a ballast, is improved in order to avoid an excessive temperature increase while maintaining the appropriate explosion protection in that the monitoring apparatus has at least one temperature measurement device, associated with a filament, and an electronic interruption device, by means of which interruption device the power supply can be interrupted by means of the ballast on reaching a predetermined critical temperature. The invention likewise relates to a corresponding method for monitoring at least one fluorescent lamp, in particular in an explosion-hazard area. In this method, the temperature is first of all detected in the area of at least one filament of the fluorescent lamp. The determined temperature is then compared with a predetermined critical temperature, and the power supply to the filament is interrupted by a ballast if the determined temperature reaches or exceeds the predetermined critical temperature.
US08018173B2
Circuits are disclosed, for example for driving fluorescent lamps, and such circuits may form part of a ballast. First and second sensing circuits can apply respective signals to a control circuit as a function of an end-of-lamp life condition and of the number of re-strike attempts.
US08018170B2
An LED driving module suitable to drive a plurality of LED strings in parallel connection is disclosed. The LED driving module includes a voltage converting apparatus, a conduction voltage detecting apparatus, a reference voltage generating apparatus and a current-adjusting apparatus. The voltage converting apparatus produces a driving voltage according to a conduction voltage. The conduction voltage detecting apparatus detects the conducting states of the LED strings for producing a conduction voltage and an enabling signal. The reference voltage generating apparatus generates a first reference voltage according to the enabling signal. The current-adjusting apparatus produces a plurality of driving currents according to the first reference voltage, and the driving currents flow through the LED strings.
US08018167B2
Disclosed is a method for driving a plasma display panel in which a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes are arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of third electrodes are arranged to cross the first and second electrodes, and discharge cells defined with areas in which the electrodes cross mutually are arranged in the form of a matrix. According to the driving method, a reset period is a period during which the distribution of wall charges in the plurality of discharge cells is uniformed. An addressing period is a period during which wall charges are produced in the discharge cells according to display data. A sustain discharge period is a period during which sustain discharge is induced in the discharge cells in which wall charges are produced during the addressing period. The driving method in accordance with the present invention comprises a step of applying a first pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce first discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes, and a step of applying a second pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce second discharge as erase discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes. These steps are carried out during the reset period.
US08018162B2
To sustain uniform generation of plasma constantly over a large area. In the surface wave excitation plasma processing device, a plasma source includes: a microwave generator, a microwave waveguide and a dielectric block; and a plasma source also includes: a microwave generator, a microwave waveguide and a dielectric block. The lid of a chamber is fixed onto the microwave waveguides in parallel, and the dielectric blocks disposed in the chamber. A reflecting plate is disposed between the dielectric blocks so that electromagnetic waves propagating through the dielectric blocks are prevented from advancing into the counterpart dielectric blocks as reflected waves. Consequently, the plasma sources are controlled independently. Furthermore, a side reflector is disposed at outer circumference of each of the dielectric blocks so that a standing waves of the electromagnetic waves propagating through the dielectric blocks is formed thus forming a large area standing wave mode of surface waves uniformly.
US08018154B2
A PDP can be driven at low voltage while having a charge retention property in a protection layer, and has favorable image display properties. Additionally, the PDP prevents the occurrence of discharge delay and realizes high-quality image display by performing favorable high-speed driving in a high definition PDP. To achieve this, a surface layer (8) is formed to a film thickness of 1 μm in an oxygen atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure of 0.025 Pa or more, the surface layer (8) is provided on a face of a dielectric layer (7) on a discharge space side. Furthermore, MgO particles (16) are dispersed on a surface of the surface layer (8). The surface layer (8) has the effects of protecting the dielectric layer (7) from ion bombardment during discharge, reducing the firing voltage, and preventing excessive electron loss. Also, the MgO particles (16) have a high initial electron emission property.
US08018149B2
A light-emitting apparatus is disclosed, which includes light-emitting elements provided on a substrate that each have a light-emitting layer interposed between a first electrode having a light-transmitting performance and a second electrode having a transflective performance. A light-reflecting layer is further arranged on the light-emitting layer, and an optical resonator structure is configured to resonate a light emitted from the light-emitting layer. A plurality of light-emitting elements are provided, having different resonance wavelengths, and an optical length of the light-emitting elements is set to be longer than λ(m−φ/2π)/2.
US08018142B2
A substrate of a plurality of organic light emitting displays. The substrate includes a first wiring line group extending in a first direction to be coupled to organic light emitting displays in a same column among the plurality of organic light emitting displays, and a second wiring line group extending in a second direction to be coupled to organic light emitting displays in the same row among the plurality of organic light emitting displays. The first and second wiring line groups are arranged on the substrate to allow testing of the plurality of organic light emitting displays as a unit sheet.
US08018141B2
An organic light emitting display device having a structure for trapping a foreign substance and a method of fabricating the same. The organic light emitting display device includes a substrate and a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate. A pixel defining layer has an opening for exposing a portion of the pixel electrode, and a trap disposed on at least one side of a periphery of the pixel electrode. An organic functional layer is disposed on the exposed portion of the pixel electrode and includes at least an emission layer. A counter electrode is disposed on the organic functional layer.
US08018120B2
A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate; comb electrodes provided on a first surface of the piezoelectric substrate; and an insulating film provided on at least one of the first surface of the piezoelectric substrate and a second surface thereof opposite to the first surface, the insulating film having a thickness greater than that of the piezoelectric substrate and having a linear expansion coefficient smaller than that of the piezoelectric substrate in a direction of propagation of a surface acoustic wave.
US08018115B2
A stator segment for a segmented stator of an electric machine includes insulative material configured for overlapping with insulative material of an adjacent stator segment to provide continuous insulation along a joint between the adjacent stator segments. Additionally, or alternatively, the stator segment can include one or more alignment tabs configured to engage a surface of an adjacent stator segment to inhibit relative axial movement between adjacent stator segments.
US08018109B2
An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux.
US08018108B2
An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. Various aspects of the invention provide a means of significantly increasing the output of permanent magnet alternators while addressing the issues of radial loading applied to a permanent magnet alternator rotor. Another aspect of the invention allows for the production of power in two discrete voltages. An aspect of this invention allows for a marked increase in output capability without increasing axial length through the use of magnetic fringing. One aspect of the invention offers an effective means of mounting a skewed stack that eliminates or reduces cogging that is present in a permanent magnet machine without negatively impacting airflow. Another aspect of the invention reduces cogging by radially offsetting opposing magnets of a dual rotor permanent magnet machine.
US08018101B2
A motor may include a rotor having a rotation shaft, a stator disposed on an outer peripheral side of the rotor, an output side bearing which supports an end part on an output side of the rotation shaft in a radial direction and an axial direction, a frame which is provided with a bearing holding part for holding the output side bearing and which is fixed to the stator, and an urging member which is attached to the bearing holding part for urging the output side bearing to an opposite-to-output side. The bearing holding part is formed with a bearing hole which penetrates through the bearing holding part and on which the output side bearing is disposed, and the output side bearing is disposed on the bearing hole in a movable state in the axial direction of the rotation shaft.
US08018092B2
A system for controlling power in a circuit breaker trip unit is disclosed. The system includes: a user interface operably coupled to the trip unit and having a plurality of input keys; a power conditioner operably coupled to the user interface and operably coupled to a battery power source and an external power source; and a power control circuit. The power control circuit is configured to automatically electrically connect the battery power source to the power conditioner in response to activation of any of the plurality of input keys, and in the absence of an electrical connection between the external power source and the power conditioner.
US08018081B2
A variable voltage and frequency output wind turbine. Variations of the wind turbine include use of a slotless alternator to reduce alternator noise, a high power AC output to facilitate transmission of the output over extended distances, AC to DC converters and DC to AC converters, and sensors for systems and devices to receive the wind turbine output and to allow matching of the output to the receiving devices and system. Other features include a removable hatchcover for dissipating heat from components contained in the turbine or attached to the hatchcover, a swept blade design to reduce blade-produced noise, and power storage components for storing and intermittently using energy stored as a result of wind turbine power generation.
US08018079B2
An electric generating system uses a zeppelin filled with helium or hydrogen, and a spinnaker sail, to provide pulling power that will lift a heavy railcar to an elevated height on a track, such as on a hill or mountainside, or in an elevator-type shaft in a tall building. When the heavy car reaches the top of the track, it is released, and its descent drives an electric generator. The generator can be carried by the car, and can send the power to batteries on the car, or to conductive rails. Alternately, if the car is inert weight, cables can drive stationary generators. The zeppelin will be inflated and deflated repeatedly, using equipment to recapture energy during each gas expansion, to help drive subsequent recompression into high-pressure tanks. The spinnaker sail will use a cable-handling device and spreader bars to deploy the sail and keep it at an elevated height. Various advantages are provided compared to wind turbines and pumped-storage hydroelectric facilities.
US08018078B2
A photo key has a plurality of first regions spaced apart from one another on a semiconductor substrate, and a second region surrounding the first regions, and one of the first regions and the second region constitutes a plurality of photo key regions spaced apart from one another. Each of the photo key regions includes a plurality of first conductive patterns spaced apart from one another; and a plurality of second conductive patterns interposed between the first conductive patterns.
US08018073B2
Spreading or keep out zones may be formed in integrated circuit packages by altering the roughness of package surfaces. The surface roughness can be altered by applying or growing particles having a dimension less than 500 nanometers. Hydrophilic surfaces may be made hemi-wicking and hydrophobic surfaces may be made hemi-wicking by particles of the same general characteristics.
US08018066B2
Even when a stiffener is omitted, the semiconductor device which can prevent the generation of twist and distortion of a wiring substrate is obtained.As for a semiconductor device which has a wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip by which the flip chip bond was made to the wiring substrate, and a heat spreader adhered to the back surface of the semiconductor chip, and which omitted the stiffener for reinforcing a wiring substrate and maintaining the surface smoothness of a heat spreader, a wiring substrate has a plurality of insulating substrates in which a through hole whose diameter differs, respectively was formed, and each insulating substrate contains a glass cloth.
US08018065B2
A wafer-level, batch processed, die-sized integrated circuit (IC) package with both top and bottom side electrical connections is disclosed. In one aspect, a number of bonding wires can be attached to bond pads on the top side (active circuit side) of an IC wafer. Trenches can be formed in the wafer at scribe regions and the bonding wires can extend through the trench. The trench can be filled with coating material. The bonding wires can be partially exposed on the top and/or bottom sides of the wafer to distribute electrical connections from the bond pads to the top and/or bottom sides of the wafer.
US08018064B2
An integrated circuit and an arrangement including a semiconductor device and a connecting element and method for producing such an arrangement is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semiconductor element having a first contact face and a second contact face. The first contact face and the second contact face extend in a first lateral direction. An electrically conductive connecting element which has a third contact face electrically contacts the semiconductor element. The connecting element includes a trench system. A first trench of this trench system extends from the third contact face into the connecting element.
US08018056B2
A semiconductor device package is formed of DBC in which thinned MOSgated and/or diode die are soldered to the bottom of an etched depression in the upper conductive layer. A via in the insulation layer of the DBC is filled with a conductive material to form a resistive shunt. Plural packages may be formed in a DBC card and may be separated individually or in clusters. The individual packages are mounted in various arrays on a support DBC board and heat sink. Integrated circuits may be mounted on the assembly and connected to the die for control of the die conduction.
US08018053B2
One example discloses a heat transfer device that can comprise a semiconductor material having a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region are doped to propel a charged carrier from the first region to the second region. The heat transfer device can also comprise an array of pointed tips thermoelectrically communicating with the second region. A heat sink faces the array, and a vacuum tunneling region is formed between the pointed tips and the heat sink. The heat transfer device further can further comprise a power source for biasing the heat sink with respect to the first region. The first region defines an N-type semiconductor material and the second region defines a P-type semiconductor material.
US08018052B2
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a package substrate; attaching an integrated circuit over the package substrate; and attaching a side substrate adjacent the integrated circuit over the package substrate.
US08018050B2
An IC package and methods for making the same are described. The IC package includes a die and a heat sink that is attached to the back surface of the die with a thermal interface material layer. The heat sink includes a base and a partition. The partition extends around the periphery of the base and is offset from the outer edge of the base such that a ledge region is formed that surrounds the periphery of the base. The inner surfaces of the partition define an inner region that includes heat dissipation structures. A molding material encapsulates at least portions of the die and the ledge region around the periphery of the heat sink while leaving the inner region of the heat sink unencapsulated by molding material and exposed. The molding material covering the ledge region provides a locking feature that secures the heat sink in the package.
US08018045B2
The present invention has for its object to provide a multilayer printed circuit board which is very satisfactory in facture toughness, dielectric constant, adhesion and processability, among other characteristics. The present invention is directed to a multilayer printed circuit board comprising a substrate board, a resin insulating layer formed on said board and a conductor circuit constructed on said resin insulating layer, wherein said resin insulating layer comprises a polyolefin resin.
US08018040B2
A method of manufacture of a shielded stacked integrated circuit packaging system includes forming a first integrated circuit structure having a first substrate and a first integrated circuit die; mounting a shield over the first substrate and the first integrated circuit die; mounting a second integrated circuit structure having a second substrate and a second integrated circuit die over the shield; and forming a package encapsulation for covering the first integrated circuit die, the shield, and the second integrated circuit structure.
US08018039B2
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing an integrated circuit die having an active side; forming a first internal stacked module and a second internal stacked module over the active side of the integrated circuit die; and coupling an electrical interconnect between the first internal stacked module or the second internal stacked module and the active side.
US08018035B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device, including: a semiconductor substrate having a circuit formed thereon; a mounting substrate cemented to a rear face of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of pads arranged in a linearly juxtaposed relationship with each other in a direction perpendicular to a peripheral edge side of the semiconductor substrate which is nearest to the pads on a main face of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the circuit in a corresponding relationship to a signal, a power supply voltage and a reference signal; a plurality of wires individually cemented at one end thereof to the pads; and a plurality of wire cemented elements formed on the mounting substrate and cemented to the other end of the wires.
US08018028B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell region, an outer peripheral region, a field plate, an outermost peripheral ring, outer peripheral region layer, an insulator film, and a Zener diode. The semiconductor substrate has a superjunction structure. The outer peripheral region is disposed at an outer periphery of the cell region. The Zener diode is disposed on the insulator film for electrically connecting the field plate with the outermost peripheral ring. The Zener diode has a first conductivity type region and a second conductivity type region that are alternately arranged in a direction from the cell region to the outer peripheral region.
US08018023B2
When forming a trench in a porous low-K dielectric (such as an ILD) of a semiconductor device, a carbon-rich layer is formed in the sidewalls of the trench during trench etching. This carbon-rich layer may protect the trench from being excessively etched, which would otherwise form an undesirable hardmask undercut. The carbon-rich layer may be formed simultaneously with and during the etching process, by increasing the amount of carbon available to be absorbed by the ILD during the trench etching process. The existence of the extra available carbon may slow the etching of the carbon-enriched regions of the dielectric.
US08018009B2
A movable substrate is placed over a bottom substrate where both substrates contain Coulomb islands. The Coulomb islands can be adjusted in charge and are used to develop a force between two opposing Coulomb islands. Information from sensors is applied to a control unit to control the movement of the movable substrate. Coulomb islands are formed in the juxtaposed edges of a first substrate and second substrate, respectively. The islands generate edge Coulomb forces. These edge Coulomb forces can be used to detach, repel, move, attract and reattach the edges of substrates into new configurations. One possibility is to combine a plurality of individual substrates into one large planar substrate.
US08017995B2
An electrical structure and method of forming. The electrical structure includes a semiconductor substrate comprising a deep trench, an oxide liner layer is formed over an exterior surface of the deep trench, and a field effect transistor (FET) formed within the semiconductor substrate. The first FET includes a source structure, a drain structure, and a gate structure. The gate structure includes a gate contact connected to a polysilicon fill structure. The polysilicon fill structure is formed over the oxide liner layer and within the deep trench. The polysilicon fill structure is configured to flow current laterally across the polysilicon fill structure such that the current will flow parallel to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08017994B2
A hot electron (BBHE) is generated close to a drain by tunneling between bands, and it data writing is performed by injecting the hot electron into a charge storage layer. When Vg is a gate voltage, Vsub is a cell well voltage, Vs is a source voltage and Vd is a drain voltage, a relation of Vg>Vsub>Vs>Vd is satisfied, Vg−Vd is a value of a potential difference required for generating a tunnel current between the bands or higher, and Vsub−Vd is substantially equivalent to a barrier potential of the tunnel insulating film or higher.
US08017990B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a first gate electrode corresponding to a memory cell transistor and a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode includes a floating gate electrode film, a first interelectrode insulating film and a control gate electrode film. The floating gate electrode film has a polycrystalline silicon film and the control gate electrode film having a silicide film. The second gate electrode includes a lower electrode film, a second interelectrode insulating film and an upper electrode film. The second interelectrode insulating film includes an opening. The lower electrode film includes a void below the opening of the second interelectrode insulating film. The upper electrode film includes a silicide film. The lower electrode film includes a polycrystalline silicon film and a silicide film which is located between the opening and the void.
US08017989B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor layer and an insulating material provided on a surface thereof, a surface of the insulating material is covered with the semiconductor layer, and a plurality of memory cells provided on the semiconductor layer, the memory cells includes a first dielectric film provided by covering the surface of the semiconductor layer, a plurality of charge storage layers provided above the insulating material and on the first dielectric film, a plurality of second dielectric films provided on the each charge storage layer, a plurality of conductive layers provided on the each second dielectric film, and an impurity diffusion layer formed partially or overall at least above the insulating material and inside the semiconductor layer and at least a portion of a bottom end thereof being provided by an upper surface of the insulating material.
US08017987B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory device including: a semiconductor substrate having: first device regions divided by first isolation films and second device regions divided by second isolation films a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate; a first element including: a first gate formed on the gate insulating film in the first device regions, a first inter-electrode insulating film formed on the first gate and on the first isolation films, and a second gate formed on the first inter-electrode insulating film; and a second element including: a third gate formed on the gate insulating film in the second device regions, and a fourth gate formed on the third gate and on the second isolation films; wherein a thickness of the third gate is larger than a thickness of the first gate.
US08017980B2
An illumination apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diode devices mounted therein and the light emitting diode device includes a substrate, a light emission area having a light emitting layer and a clad layer formed by growing crystal on the substrate, a negative polarity and a positive polarity. The light emission area has 6 or more opposite corners, which are disposed symmetrically to the middle of the light emitting diode device.
US08017979B2
It is made possible to restrict strain relaxation even if a strained semiconductor element is formed on a very small minute layer. A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer formed into a mesa shape above the substrate and having strain, and including source and drain regions of a first conductivity type located at a distance from each other, and a channel region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the channel region being located between the source region and the drain region; second and third semiconductor layers formed on the source and drain regions, and controlling the strain of the first semiconductor layer, the second and third semiconductor layers containing impurities of the first conductivity type; a gate insulating film formed on the channel region; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film.
US08017974B2
A semiconductor device having the present high withstand voltage power device IGBT has at a back surface a p collector layer with boron injected in an amount of approximately 3×1013/cm2 with an energy of approximately 50 KeV to a depth of approximately 0.5 μm, and an n+ buffer layer with phosphorus injected in an amount of approximately 3×1012/cm2 with an energy of 120 KeV to a depth of approximately 20 μm. To control lifetime, a semiconductor substrate is exposed to protons at the back surface. Optimally, it is exposed to protons at a dose of approximately 1×1011/cm2 to a depth of approximately 32 μm as measured from the back surface. Thus snapback phenomenon can be eliminated and an improved low saturation voltage (Vce (sat))-offset voltage (Eoff) tradeoff can be achieved.
US08017968B2
A light-emitting diode chip package body with an excellent heat dissipation performance and a low manufacturing cost, and a packaging method of the same are disclosed. A LED chip package body is provided, the LED chip package body comprising: a LED chip having an electrode-side surface and at least two electrodes mounted on said electrode-side surface; an electrode-side insulating layer formed on said electrode-side surface of said LED chip and formed with a plurality of through-holes registered with corresponding said electrodes; a highly heat-dissipating layer formed in each of said through-holes of said insulating layer on said electrode-side surface; and a highly heat-conducting metal layer formed on said highly heat-dissipating layer in each of said through-holes.
US08017964B2
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element having at least two electrodes disposed at the side of the light output surface thereof; and a base member having a recess and lead portions corresponding to the electrodes, the light emitting element being mounted on the base member and received in the recess, wherein the light output surface faces toward opening of the recess that becomes smaller while approaching the light output surface, and the electrodes are respectively in electrical connection with the lead portions that extend from the connection positions to outer edge of the base member for power connection, and a light reflecting portion is disposed in the recess adjacent to the light output surface such that the light emitted from the light emitting element can be reflected to walls of the recess to form a substantially collimated light beam so as to improve light efficiency.
US08017959B2
A widely applicable and low cost module substrate with a high accuracy, reliability and heat-radiation structure. A light source includes: a heat radiation substrate; an insulating layer formed in some regions in an upper surface of the substrate; a wiring layer having wiring patterns, the wiring layer being arranged on the insulating layer; and a plurality of LED elements connected to the wiring layer. Moreover, the light source includes: a heat radiation substrate; an insulating layer arranged in some regions in an upper surface of the substrate; a wiring layer having wiring patterns, the wiring layer being arranged on the insulating layer; and LED elements connected to the wiring layer, wherein the insulating layer has two layers of a resin layer arranged in the wiring layer side and an adhesive layer arranged in the heat radiation substrate side.
US08017949B2
Provided are a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate which can facilitate the formation of contact holes and has improved reliability and a method of fabricating the TFT substrate. The TFT substrate includes a gate wiring formed on an insulating substrate; a data wiring defining a pixel region by intersecting the gate wiring, the data wiring including a source electrode and a drain electrode; a plurality of black matrix barrier ribs formed along the boundaries of the pixel region; a color filter formed to cover the pixel region; a pixel electrode formed on the color filter; and a plurality of contact holes formed through the color filter near the corners of the pixel region through which the pixel electrode and the drain electrode contact each other.
US08017940B2
The present invention is directed to manufacturing an organic transistor with an organic semiconductor film formed by a coating method, without involving a process of forming a rib for forming the organic semiconductor film. To be more specific, the organic transistor of the present invention includes: (1) a source electrode part and a drain electrode part which are formed on a substrate; (2) rib selectively formed on part of the source electrode part and the drain electrode part; (3) an organic semiconductor film placed in the region defined by the ribs and connecting the source electrode part and the drain electrode part; and (4) a gate electrode formed on the organic semiconductor film through a gate insulating film. The organic transistor of the present invention is characterized in that there is a gap between the rib formed on the source electrode part and the rib formed on the drain electrode part.
US08017938B2
A microarray apparatus is provided which contains at least one chip having source and drain electrodes positioned on an array of carbon nanotube transistors which allows for electronic detection of nucleic acid hybridizations, thereby affording both increased sensitivity and the capability of miniaturization.
US08017933B2
A compositionally-graded quantum well channel for a semiconductor device is described. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor hetero-structure disposed above a substrate and having a compositionally-graded quantum-well channel region. A gate electrode is disposed in the semiconductor hetero-structure, above the compositionally-graded quantum-well channel region. A pair of source and drain regions is disposed on either side of the gate electrode.
US08017927B2
An apparatus includes at least one scanner. Each scanner includes a plurality of sensors, and each sensor is capable of measuring one or more characteristics associated with a portion of a substrate. The substrate has printing produced by a printing system. The apparatus also includes a controller capable of receiving at least some of the measurements from the plurality of sensors and determining a quality of the printing on the substrate using the received measurements. The substrate could represent paper, and the printing system could represent an offset printing system. At least one of the sensors may be in a fixed position and/or at least one of the sensors may be movable over part of a surface of the substrate. The determined quality of the printing could involve density, dot area, dot gain, contour sharpness, doubling, mottling, ghosting, misregister of different colored inks, slur, or improper positioning of the printing.
US08017922B2
An ion implantation method includes scanning reciprocatingly an ion beam in an X direction by an electric field or magnetic field and mechanically driving reciprocatingly a substrate in a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction to implant ions over the entire surface of the substrate. A dose distribution that is non-uniform within the plane of the substrate is formed within the plane of the substrate by changing at least one of a scanning speed of the ion beam and a driving speed of the substrate within an area where the ion beam is incident on the substrate.
US08017919B2
A negative ion generator includes a multi-electrode device with an emitter for generating a current. A first counter electrode includes an aperture therein with a distal end of said emitter being operatively positioned within said first counter electrode. A second cylindrical electrode includes an aperture therein with the second counter electrode being spaced a predetermined distance from the first counter electrode and being operatively positioned relative to the emitter for increasing the through-put of the negative ion generator by reducing the total emitted current while maintaining a fairly constant level of available negative ion current.
US08017917B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an ionizing radiation sensor having a first scintillator for generating photons from incoming ionizing radiation, an imaging intensifier for amplifying the photons, and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) coupled to the imaging intensifier for sensing the amplified photons generated by the imaging intensifier. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08017906B2
The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting radiation including x-ray photon (including gamma ray photon) and particle radiation for radiographic imaging (including conventional CT and radiation therapy portal and CT), nuclear medicine, material composition analysis, container inspection, mine detection, remediation, high energy physics, and astronomy. This invention provides novel face-on, edge-on, edge-on sub-aperture resolution (SAR), and face-on SAR scintillator detectors, designs and systems for enhanced slit and slot scan radiographic imaging suitable for medical, industrial, Homeland Security, and scientific applications. Some of these detector designs are readily extended for use as area detectors, including cross-coupled arrays, gas detectors, and Compton gamma cameras. Energy integration, photon counting, and limited energy resolution readout capabilities are described. Continuous slit and slot designs as well as sub-slit and sub-slot geometries are described, permitting the use of modular detectors.
US08017902B2
A detector includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first semiconductor substrate includes a detector element for detecting a radiation or a particle and the second substrate includes a control circuit. The detector element extends from a first main surface of the first semiconductor substrate to a second main surface of the first semiconductor substrate.
US08017897B2
An image generation apparatus for generating, from an input image, a plurality of phase images having lower resolutions than the input image and overlapping each other with a predetermined amount of shift when being projected onto a projection plane. The apparatus includes when the plurality of phase images are projected onto the projection plane, means for relating an area formed by a predetermined pixel of the plurality of phase images overlapping individually to a predetermined pixel of the input image, and calculating a pixel value of a pixel of the phase images having a smallest difference between a pixel value of the corresponding area and a pixel value of a pixel of the input image.
US08017889B2
A baffle that can be used in an oven includes, according to one embodiment, a fan, a catalyst, a heater between the fan and the catalyst, and/or a support structure. The support structure supports the fan, the catalyst, and/or the heater. The fan is arranged to circulate air over the heater and/or the catalyst. The support structure includes, for example, a wing, which, if used, is arranged to deflect circulating air.
US08017888B2
The description discloses a glow plug system for a Diesel engine of a motor vehicle having a glow plug (RG1, RG2) which comprises a positive terminal for connecting a supply voltage (U1) and a ground terminal for connecting to a ground potential (GND), a controlling device (1) for controlling the electric power supplied to the glow plug (RG1, RG2) in operation, whereby the controlling device (1) comprises a measurement input (ADC1) and a ground input (ADC2) in order to determine, in operation, a measured value of the supply voltage (U1) in relation to a reference potential (GND′) applied to the ground input (ADC2). The controlling device (1) has a test input (ADC3) which, in operation, is connected to a test voltage source via a first resistor (R1) and to the positive terminal of the glow plug (RG1, RG2) via a second resistor (R2), whereby the controlling device (1), in operation, determines a difference of the electric potential of the test input (ADC3) and the electric potential (GND′) of the ground input (ADC2), determines a deviation of the difference of these potentials from a reference value and, if this deviation is unequal to zero, uses the deviation to correct the measured value of the supply voltage (U1) and uses the corrected value of the supply voltage (U1) as for controlling the power. Furthermore, the description discloses a controlling device for a glow plug system of this type and a method for controlling the power of a glow plug.
US08017886B2
A laser welding system includes a free-spacing beam delivery laser head having a linear array of at least two laser diodes. Each of the diodes generates a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength and spectral width, the laser beams adapted to weld a workpiece having a first component and at least one other component to be welded to the first component, the first component being substantially transmissive to the wavelength, the other component being substantially absorptive of the wavelength. A lens is spaced a predetermined distance from each of the laser diodes, each of the lenses adapted to focus the respective laser beam into a focused laser beam segment, thereby forming a continuous line of laser energy from a substantially serial combination of each focused laser beam segment. The continuous line of laser energy is in a plane containing the workpiece, and is substantially orthogonal to the workpiece translation direction.
US08017883B2
A switch includes a base, a support terminal assembled in the base, a movable contact piece made of a belt-like electroconductive material bent into a substantial J-shape in section, a plunger vertically movably accommodated in an internal space, and a coil spring turnably supported by the plunger. The movable contact piece includes a movable contact provided in one end portion thereof. An intermediate portion of the movable contact piece is turnably supported by a turning support portion of the support terminal. The internal space is formed by fitting a housing in the base. The plunger is slid while vertically moved press-contact one end portion of the coil spring against the other end edge portion of the movable contact piece such that the movable contact piece is reversed to bring the movable contact into contact with a fixed contact or to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact.
US08017879B2
A keyboard includes a panel and a number of input keys. The input keys are assembled on the panel. The panel includes at least one first positive contact, at least one first negative contact and at least one first signal contact disposed on the panel. Each input key of the number of input keys includes a second positive contact, a second negative contact, a second signal contact and a signal transmitter received therein. The second positive contact, the second negative contact and the second signal contact are configured for connecting to the at least one first positive contact, the at least one first negative contact and the at least one first signal contact respectively when the input key is assembled on the panel. The signal transmitter is configured for emitting a signal reflecting the function of the input key when the input key is pressed.
US08017877B1
A portable scale having a collapsed and an extended condition is provided by a pair of rigid beams, each generally elongated with opposing longitudinal ends. A weight sensor is provided proximal each opposing longitudinal end of each beam of the pair. Processing and outputting circuitry is supported by a first beam of the pair, the processing and outputting circuitry being electrically connected with each weight sensor in each of the first beam and second. One or more flexible connectors mechanically and electrically connect together the pair of rigid beams in side by side parallel orientation in a collapsed condition of the scale and in an extended condition of the scale. The flexible connectors are the only permanent physical and operable, mechanical and electrical connections between the pair of rigid beams in the extended condition of the scale.
US08017876B2
In a terminal portion having a copper or a copper alloy wiring according to one embodiment, the terminal portion being of a flexible print circuit board or a flexible flat cable and for connecter-fitting to a connector by being pressed by a connector pin, the copper or the copper alloy wiring having a pure tin or a lead-free tin alloy plating layer formed thereon is thermally treated so as to form an inter-metal compound including copper and tin on the copper or the copper alloy wiring, and a remaining thickness of the pure tin or the lead-free tin alloy plating layer is from 0.2 μm to 1.6 μm, wherein as an initial plating layer, a thickness of the pure tin or the lead-free tin alloy plating layer formed on the copper or the copper alloy wiring is from 1.5 μm to 5.0 μm, and a thickness of the inter-metal compound including copper and tin is from 0.1 μm to 3.5 μm.
US08017874B2
A first insulating layer is formed on a suspension body, and a write wiring trace is formed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer so as to cover the wiring trace. A write wiring trace is formed, above the write wiring trace, on the second insulating layer. A ground trace is formed on one side of the write wiring trace at a distance on the second insulating layer. A third insulating layer is formed on the second insulating layer so as to cover the wiring trace and the ground trace. An opening is formed in a region, below the write wiring trace, of the suspension body.
US08017871B2
A wired circuit board assembly sheet has a plurality of wired circuit boards, distinguishing marks for distinguishing defectiveness of the wired circuit boards, and a supporting sheet for supporting the plurality of wired circuit boards and the distinguishing marks. Each of the distinguishing marks has an indication portion for indicating a specified one of the wired circuit boards.
US08017869B2
A conductor of an electric wire, and an insulated wire which are excellent in corrosion resistance and recyclability, of which the strength which is decreased by weight reduction and diameter reduction is improved. The conductor includes a strand which includes a first elemental wire made from pure copper and a second elemental wire made from a copper alloy. In the conductor, a cross-sectional area of the first elemental wire as a percentage of a cross-sectional area of the conductor is preferably within a range of 10 to 90%. Examples of the copper alloy include a Cu—Ni—Si alloy, and a copper alloy containing Sn, Ag, Mg, or Zn. The conductor may be compressed concentrically. The insulated wire is prepared by covering the conductor with an insulator.
US08017866B2
A device for opening and/or closing cable duct is provided. The device includes a main body shaped so as to provide a gripping surface for an operator. The main body includes at least one base wall which extends, at least partly, according to a reference plane and which is associated with at least one shaped edge which extends from the base wall towards a further reference plane. At least one joining wall connects the base wall and the shaped edge integrally with each other.
US08017857B2
Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.
US08017853B1
Methods and systems for simulating the natural tempo of humans are provided. The method utilizes multiples of a basic unit of duration, or quantum unit, of human timing. Unconscious, but precise, compensations occur through imperceptible changes in the timing quantum level. An application of natural human tempo to improve the basic metronome function by humanizing it is also provided. Other ramifications of human tempo simulation are also discussed, including robots and computer games and graphics.
US08017850B2
The ROM 101 stores a chord scale note table composed of a plurality of scale by 12 notes starting from a chord tone in which C note is given as a root note and arranging a chord scale note as an inverted form of a chord in which the note is given as the lowest note. Where there is any change in chord at a beginning note of a phrase, or while phrase is played, notes are replaced to suppress note jump by using the chord scale note table. Where time from the previous key-on to the current key-on is in excess of a predetermined time, the note jump will not be suppressed.
US08017846B2
A strainer includes a strainer body, a slider to which a cam follower is fixed, a holder to which snare wires are fixed, an operating lever, and a cam that is pivoted through operation of the operating lever. The slider is slid relative to the strainer body by pivoting the cam through operation of the operating lever so that the cam follower moves along the cam surface. The movement distance of the slider linearly changes with respect to an operation angle of the operating lever.
US08017842B2
A soybean cultivar designated S080111 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080111, to the plants of soybean S080111, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080111, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080111 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 S080111, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080111, 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 S080111 with another soybean cultivar.
US08017838B2
The present invention relates to mutant delta-8 desaturase genes, which have the ability to convert eicosadienoic acid [20:2 omega-6, EDA] to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid [20:3, DGLA] and/or eicosatrienoic acid [20:3 omega-3, ETrA] to eicosatetraenoic acid [20:3 omega-3, ETA]. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturase along with methods of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these mutant delta-8 desaturases in plants and oleaginous yeast are disclosed.
US08017833B2
The invention provides polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences isolated from P. radiate and E. grandis that are involved in wood and cell wall biosynthesis. Methods for using the sequences, along with constructs and transgenic plants, are provided also.
US08017828B2
To provide an agricultural chemical and the like with the use of an effect of inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant. To provide a growth inhibitor of not only a plant pathogenic bacterium but also a harmful microorganism.Utilization of a rare sugar for inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant or inhibiting the growth of a microorganism. Utilization thereof as an agricultural chemical with the use of the effect of inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant, a plant disease inhibitor, an inducer of a plant growth regulatory factor (i.e., an inducer of plant hormone-like actions consisting of disease resistance, insect resistance, fruit maturation, breaking of dormancy, regulation of germination, drying resistance, and other than this, resistance to environmental stresses such as low temperature resistance, high temperature resistance, salt resistance and heavy metal resistance and promotion of flowering) and a microorganism growth inhibitor. The rare sugar is an aldose (D-allose, D-altrose or L-galactose) or a ketose (D-psicose or a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose).
US08017824B2
This invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes using UZM-29 and UZM-29HS zeolitic compositions. The UZM-29 zeolites are represented by the empirical formula: Mmn+R+rAl1−xExSiyOz UZM-29 has the PHI structure type topology but is thermally stable up to a temperature of at least 350° C. UZM-29HS is a high silica version of UZM-29 and is represented by the empirical formula: M1′n+aAl(1−x)ExSiyOz. Examples of the hydrocarbon conversion processes are isomerization of alkanes, especially butane and the conversion of oxygenates to olefins.
US08017817B2
A process for the manufacture of CF3CH═CF2 and CF3CF═CHF is disclosed. The process involves (a) reacting HF and chlorine and at least one halopropene of the formula CX3CCI═CCIX (where each X is independently F or Cl) to produce a product including both CF3CCI2CF3 and CF3CCIFCCIF2; (b) reacting CF3CCI2CF3 and CF3CCIFCCIF2 produced in (a) with hydrogen to produce a product including both CF3CH2CF3 and CF3CHFCHF2; (c) dehydrofluorinating CF3CH2CF3 and CF3CHFCHF2 produced in (b) to produce a product including both CF3CH═CF2 and CF3CF═CHF; and (d) recovering CF3CH═CF2 and CF3CF═CHF from the product produced in (c). In (a), both CF3CCI2CF3 and CF3CCIFCCIF2 are produced in the presence of a chlorofluorination catalyst consisting of (i) compositions comprising a crystalline alpha-chromium oxide where at least 0.05 atom % of the chromium atoms in the alpha-chromium oxide lattice are replaced by copper, and (H) compositions of (i) which have been treated with a fluorinating agent.
US08017812B2
The invention relates to a process for the liquid phase oxidation of ethylbenzene into ethylbenzene hydroperoxide, wherein the ethylbenzene hydroperoxide concentration is kept below 20 wt. % on the basis of the total weight of the reaction mixture, and wherein styrene and/or a styrene derivative is fed to the ethylbenzene. The concentration of said styrene and/or a styrene derivative may be from 0.01 to 5.0 wt. %.
US08017809B2
A bisboron compound represented by the general formula (I): wherein B represents a boron atom, Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom, R1 and R2 independently represent a monocyclic aromatic group, a polycyclic aromatic group, or a heterocyclic group containing at least one heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, R3 represents a hydrogen atom; —(CH2)m—NR4R5; —CO—(CH2)m—NR4R5; —COCH(NH2)R6; —CHR7R8; —CH2CH(NH2)—R9; quinolyl substituted with C1-C4 alkyl group; or C1-C4 alkyl substituted with pyridyl, piperidino or pyrrolidinyl group, and X represents a monocyclic aromatic group, a polycyclic aromatic group or a heterocyclic group, which may be the same as or different from R1 and R2, or a bifunctional group having a monocyclic aromatic group, polycyclic aromatic group or heterocyclic group bonded to each side of a group selected from the group consisting of a single bond, O, CH2, S, SO2, CH2OCH2, OCH2, OCH2CH2OCH2, OCH2OCH2CH2 and CH2OCH2CH2, or a salt thereof, and a composition for controlling the intracellular calcium concentration, which comprises the compound or salt thereof as an active ingredient.
US08017807B2
A new tetrahydroxy compound having a specific structure including two 2,3-dihydroxypropyloxy groups is provided. The compound has good charge transport property. In addition, a charge transport layer including the tetrahydroxy compound or a reaction product of the tetrahydroxy compound is provided. Further, a charge transport layer coating liquid is provided which includes the tetrahydroxy compound, and an alcohol. Furthermore an electrophotographic photoreceptor is provided which includes an electroconductive substrate, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and an outermost layer including the tetrahydroxy compound or a reaction product of the tetrahydroxy compound.
US08017803B2
A process for producing tamsulosin of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, thereof comprises the steps of: a) Reacting compound R,R-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-1-methyl-ethyl]-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-amine of formula II or a salt thereof with chlorosulfonic acid with or without an organic solvent, to obtain compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(1-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula III b) Hydrogenolysis of compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(1-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula III or a salt thereof carried out in an alcohol in the presence of a palladium catalyst using hydrogen or a source of hydrogen, to obtain compound R-(−)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV c) Reacting primary amine R-(−)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV, or a salt thereof, with a compound of formula V wherein X represents an halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl; Br and I, to obtain 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid compound of formula VI d) Reacting compound of formula VI with an halogenating agent, to obtain the corresponding sulfonylchloride of formula VII. e) Reacting compound VII with ammonia to obtain compound I.
US08017802B2
The present invention relates to carbonylation of methanol, methyl acetate, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof to produce glacial acetic acid, and more specifically to the manufacture of glacial acetic acid by the reaction of methanol, methyl acetate, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof with carbon monoxide wherein the product glacial acetic acid contains low impurities.
US08017800B2
The present invention provides an adamantyl group containing epoxy-modified (meth)acrylate and a resin composition containing it which are imparted by transparency, optical characteristics such as (durable) light resistance and the like, heat-resistance, and good mechanical properties.For example, they are an adamantyl group containing epoxy-modified (meth)acrylate having the following general formula (I) and a composition containing it. In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 represents a halogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group which may contain a hetero atom. Plural R2 may be the same or different, and m represents an integer of 0 to 4 and n represents an integer of 0 or more.
US08017799B2
A hexahydrophthalate based compound is adapted to use as a plasticizer that contains no phthalic acid and benzoic acid, possess physical properties superior to DEHA and DINA in transparency and adhesion and is friendly to organisms and the environment; and a process for producing the hexahydrophthalate based compound includes esterifying hexahydrophthalic anhydride, a diol, and a catalyst for decarboxylation to get hexahydrophthalic alcohol, and adding a monoacid into the hexahydrophthalic alcohol for further esterification, thereby obtaining the hexahydrophthalate based compound.
US08017766B2
Provided is a method for preparing alkali cellulose having alkali distributed uniformly therein. A uniform alkali distribution in the alkali cellulose makes it possible to prepare cellulose ether which has been substituted uniformly in an etherification reaction step. The resulting cellulose ether does not contain a floating water-insoluble portion which will otherwise appear owing to insufficient substitution. More specifically, provided are a method for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising simultaneously feeding pulp powder and an aqueous alkali solution to a high speed disperser to continuously bring them into contact with each other and a method for preparing cellulose ether, comprising reacting the resulting alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent.
US08017765B2
The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating BACE gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against beta-secretase (BACE), amyloid precursor protein (APP), pin-1, presenillin 1 (PS-1) and/or presenillin 2 (PS-2) gene expression and/or activity. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other condition that responds to modulation of BACE, APP, pin-1, PS-1 and/or PS-2 expression or activity.
US08017761B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) genes.
