US08046345B2

Provided are a method and a system for managing a file metadata, which are independent of a address change of a data server and movements of a disk by using a location of disk where data exists actually as a location information of a file data. The method for managing the file metadata includes determining whether the request of the metadata is valid, verifying information of a disk storing a file data corresponding to the metadata and a data server address in which the file data exists, and transmitting the verified address of the data server to the client. According to the method and the system for managing the file metadata, data services can be continuously provided without modifications of a file metadata even if the data server address is changed.
US08046343B2

In one embodiment, the invention is a computing system including a World Wide Web application. The application includes a pick field to receive a partial value. The application automatically transmits the partial value to a server. The server is coupled to a database. The server searches the database to find a complete value corresponding to the partial value. The complete value is transmitted to the application. The complete value replaces the partial value in the pick field.
US08046340B2

A system and method for identifying duplicate master data using associated behavioral data. A first record and a second record are accessed in at least one master data repository, where the first record and the second record do not share a unique field value. At least one behavior field common to a first behavior record and a second behavior record is accessed, where the first behavior record is associated with the first record and where the second behavior record is associated with the second record. At least one input parameter is obtained to configure a duplication test. The duplication test is performed between the first record and the second record based on the at least one input parameter, where the duplication test is performed on the at least one behavior field. A duplication test result is produced based on the duplication test.
US08046329B2

Systems and methods for computer system data backup. A computer system includes an application server operating on a first host and a backup application configured to create new target database images for a sequence of backup datasets. The backup datasets include data from source databases associated with the application server. At least one of the source databases is hosted on a remote source host separate from the first host. The computer system includes a client registered with the application server and installed on a backup host. The client stores a seed document in each of the new target database images and modifies each seed document to specify which portions of a backup dataset in the sequence are to be stored in each new target database image. The backup application updates each new target database image based on the contents of a seed document.
US08046328B2

A distributed peer-to-peer document archival system provides the version-control, security, access control, linking among stored documents and remote access to documents usually associated with centralized storage systems while still providing the simplicity, personalization and robustness to network outages associated with personal and peer-to-peer storage systems.
US08046326B2

In some implementations, a method includes changing a master business object that is resident at a first location on a network, generating a change message for changing a replicated business object, the replicated business object being based on the master business object and being resident at a second location on the network remote from the first location, determining an update duration for updating the replicated business object, incorporating the change routine into a synchronization message when the update duration is less than a temporal constraint, and transmitting the synchronization message from the first location to the second location to update the replicated business object based on the synchronization message.
US08046313B2

An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation which may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence. Applications of the interface and system include a VCR, medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.
US08046312B2

An enhanced postal data modeling framework, in which postal data which describes characteristics of a mail sortation process is accessed, and the postal data is mapped to production management data which describes characteristics of a model production management process in an initial state and which is capable of being processed by a production management application. The production management data is input for processing by the production management application to produce forecasted production management data which predicts characteristics of the model production management process in a subsequent state, the forecasted production management data is modeled to forecasted postal data which predicts characteristics of the mail sortation process, and at least a portion of the forecasted postal data is provided to a user.
US08046311B2

A method for generating a postal indicia associated with a mailpiece is disclosed. The method includes generating an indicia data stream including a postal information segment and a security segment that is based upon the postal information segment and modifying a portion of the security segment to include additional information, thereby defining a modified indicia data stream.
US08046309B2

A system and method links one or more disparate community awareness management (CAM) datasets for a community awareness program (CAP) with one or more spatial layers to create linked CAM datasets. One or more data attributes common to a CAM dataset and a spatial layer are identified, and the link is defined between the CAM dataset and the spatial layer. The spatial layer and the linked CAM dataset then may be queried using a single input query. Features from the spatial layer and features from the linked CAM dataset that match the query are generated for display. In one embodiment, a system and method manage CAP assets, transactions, interest areas for the CAP, and buffer areas for the CAP. An audience utility enables entering and maintaining audience data for the CAP. A journal utility enables making journal entries for one or more audience members, CAP assets, transactions, and/or other CAM data. A link document utility enables linking one or more documents to CAM data.
US08046297B2

Disclosed is a computer with a user interface, the computer including central processing units, memories, and network interfaces, a program code that performs a search and transaction based on user input, the interface displaying in conjunction with code execution, an input environment adapted to search criteria input, the criteria defining a search for desired entities, the program code establishing a search engine that searches on different web sources to generate a search result, the engine searching using a combination of different input entities, a first entity and a second entity includable in the different entities, the engine searching for the configuration, the different entities being purchasable from different web sources, the engine searching on different web sources for the combination, and presenting found configurations, the engine providing at least one order input determined by at least one found configuration, the system taking mutual dependencies between the entities into consideration.
US08046285B2

Provided are methods of providing a portable alpha investment instrument. Some embodiments of such methods include allocating a first portion of a financial asset to a first asset class, allocating a second portion of the financial asset to a second asset class, establishing a swap transaction corresponding to the first portion of the financial asset, the swap transaction configured to define a minimum term corresponding to an asset status change, and transferring the first portion and the second portion of the financial asset responsive to the allocating.
US08046284B2

Information regarding the current state in the market is used to prevent orders from crossing. In an example provided herein, when an order is entered into a market, information regarding current positions in the market is taken into account to determine whether the order will cross with other orders. If the orders would cross, appropriate action is taken to prevent the crossing of orders in a way suitable for the person or persons trading. The teachings described herein may be used for any reason to prevent orders from crossing. Moreover, they may be used in other areas of trading to assist the trader in obeying any other rule or regulation that might involve analyzing current positions in the market before taking action.
US08046282B2

An example graphical interface and method for displaying risk related data are described. One example graphical interface includes a data structure comprising a plurality of data nodes and at least one risk data point associated with each node, and further comprises a display grid. The display grid includes one or more cells that are used for displaying selected data nodes and risk data points. Each cell may be associated with a single data node, and may include one or more identifiers corresponding to risk data points of the data node. In one example embodiment, the identifiers are aligned along a single axis, and risk related data corresponding to each identifier is aligned with respect to each corresponding identifier.
US08046278B2

A method and a system applying data mining techniques and artificial intelligence algorithms, namely neural networks, operating via an Internet data exchange site, allowing portfolio management companies to access an on-line, standardized questionnaire (Request for Proposal) and present their capabilities. The method then analyses a large number of these questionnaires and classifies managers, categorizing them and ranking their capabilities. In addition, sponsors such as pension funds, endowments, and private clients can submit their offer for the management of their assets. The site provides a Request for Proposal that is modular and continuously adapted to new financial market conditions, legal considerations and Sponsors needs. Once completed by each manager, the questionnaire is maintained in a central database allowing each manager to have an up-to-date and on-line version of questionnaire. The site allows the manager to have access to offers for new mandates in an easier and more efficient way than the old approach that involves approaching each potential Sponsor individually in a time and money consuming manner. The site provides Sponsors the opportunity to request proposals for their mandate from a much higher number of management companies, thus increasing dramatically the efficiency and rationality of their final choice of managers.
US08046268B2

A method of payment for multi-vendor gift cards, comprising maintaining a merchandise database comprising records for merchandise and services for a plurality of merchants, enabling a gift card giver to interactively purchase a gift card for a gift card recipient, entitling the gift card recipient to redeem the gift card for items up to a specified spending limit, electronically transferring the money used to purchase the gift card into a card funding account that is used to pay for purchases by the gift card recipient, enabling the gift card recipient to interactively select one or more items from the merchandise database, thereby generating an aggregated selection of items for each merchant issuing orders to each merchant in accordance with the aggregated selected items corresponding to each merchant and paying each merchant the amount of their respective order from the card funding account.
US08046262B1

A release schedule for an order having a single addressee address is described. The schedule specifies, for each of two or more shipments making up the order, each of the shipments having a different origin location, a release time at which the shipment is to be released from its origin location. The indicated release times are selected on the basis of typical carrier delivery durations from each of the origin locations to the addressee address, in order to cause all of the shipments of the order to be delivered to the addressee address at the same time. The release schedule may be used to schedule the release of the shipments of the order.
US08046253B2

A method of risk management across a mission support network is provided, including identifying a mission of the mission support network, and identifying, by a computer processor, assets of the mission support network. The assets include a mission asset to support the mission and a support asset to provide support to the mission asset. Each of the assets is characterized by a criticality index value to measure how important the asset is to a performance of the mission, and a vulnerability index value to measure a vulnerability of the asset to a threat.
US08046246B1

Systems and methods provide customizable insurance according to consumer preferences. Demand simulators may be used to guide the creation of optimized packages of features, which consumers may select from to form an insurance product appropriate for their particular needs. Packages may be formed with a particular appeal to consumers with common characteristics. In addition, methods are provided for selling insurance products formed through an optimization process and providing corresponding insurance services.
US08046245B1

Systems and methods provide optimized property risk ratings and, more particularly, optimized property risk ratings defined by evaluating ratings on a by peril basis. Systems and methods also price insurance products and underwrite insurance products using risk data that has been optimized on a by peril basis. A territory is subdivided into a plurality of regions determined in accordance with at least one predetermined factor. Loss costs representing historic costs for various insured perils are retrieved from a computerized database using a data processor. The loss costs are sorted on a per-peril basis for each of the regions using the data processor. Peril zones are created for each peril that represent related regions in which loss costs for a particular peril are roughly equivalent.
US08046242B1

Systems and methods for verifying prescription transaction dosages can be provided according to embodiments of the invention. According to one example embodiment, a method for dosage error verification may be provided. The method may include executing computer program instructions by one or more processors for receiving a prescription transaction including a submitted drug product and a submitted strength of the submitted drug product; comparing the submitted drug product and the submitted strength to dosage error data residing in a dosage error database; determining that the submitted drug product is a member of at least one dosage error pair indicated by the dosage error data; determining that the submitted strength is potentially incorrect based at least in part on strengths indicated by the at least one dosage error pair; and performing an edit action based at least in part on the determination that the submitted strength is potentially incorrect.
US08046236B2

An entropy encoder includes an apparatus for producing a data stream which comprises two reference points, of code words of variable lengths, the apparatus comprising a first device for writing at least a part of a code word into the data stream in a first direction of writing, starting from a first reference point, and a second device for writing at least a part of a code word into the data stream in a second direction of writing, which is opposite to the first direction of writing, starting from the other reference point. In particular, when a raster having a plurality of segments is used to write the code words of variable lengths into the data stream, the number of the code words which can be written starting at raster points is doubled, in the best case, such that the data stream of code words of variable lengths is robust toward a propagation of sequence errors.
US08046230B1

Methods and computer readable medium for providing third party verification data files to entities authorized to access the data files using a third party verification system. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes obtaining a data file identifier and retrieving a data file of the data files corresponding to the data file identifier. The data file may be stored in a verification system and contain a digitally stored voice recording of at least one response by an individual to at least one question. From there, the retrieved data file may be transmitted to the authorized entity.
US08046228B2

This is a voice activated Hypermedia system using grammatical metadata, the system comprising: a speech user agent; a browsing module; and an information resource. The system may include: embedded intelligence in hypermedia source; a means for processing the actions of a user based on the embedded intelligence; a means for returning a result of the actions to the user. In addition, the hypermedia source maybe a HTML page or an instructional module for communicating allowed actions by a user. The system may also include embedded intelligence as a grammar or reference to a grammar. The grammar may be dynamically added to a speech recognizer. In addition, the actions can come from a speech recognizer. Furthermore, the system may include voice activated hypermedia links and intelligent modules that process information from the information resources for allowing actions from the user. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08046227B2

A development system, including a scenario generator for generating a plurality of sample interactions representative of interactions between a dialog system and a user of the dialog system on the basis of definition data for the dialog system. The definition data includes state machine code, prompt data, and recognition data. A simulator generates prompts of sample interactions on the basis of the prompt data, and the scenario generator generates responses to the prompts on the basis of the recognition data. A scenario editor allows a user to modify the sample interactions. A grammar learner then updates the prompt data and the recognition data on the basis of the modified sample interactions. An application builder generates the definition data from specification data provided by a developer, an application template, and/or an existing dialog application.
US08046225B2

Normalization parameters are generated at a normalization-parameter generating unit by calculating the mean values and the standard deviations of an initial prosody pattern and a prosody pattern of a training sentence of a speech corpus. Then, the variance range or variance width of the initial prosody pattern is normalized at the prosody-pattern normalizing unit in accordance with the normalization parameters. As a result, a prosody pattern similar to speech of human beings and improved in naturalness can be generated with a small amount of calculation.
US08046218B2

A system and method for phone detection. The system includes a microphone configured to receive a speech signal in an acoustic domain and convert the speech signal from the acoustic domain to an electrical domain, and a filter bank coupled to the microphone and configured to receive the converted speech signal and generate a plurality of channel speech signals corresponding to a plurality of channels respectively. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of onset enhancement devices configured to receive the plurality of channel speech signals and generate a plurality of onset enhanced signals. Each of the plurality of onset enhancement devices is configured to receive one of the plurality of channel speech signals, enhance one or more onsets of one or more signal pulses for the received one of the plurality of channel speech signals, and generate one of the plurality of onset enhanced signals.
US08046216B2

A method and device for updating statuses of synthesis filters are provided. The method includes: exciting a synthesis filter corresponding to a first encoding rate by using an excitation signal of the first encoding rate, outputting reconstructed signal information, and updating status information of the synthesis filter and a synthesis filter corresponding to a second encoding rate. In the present disclosure, the status of the synthesis filter corresponding to the current rate and the statuses of the synthesis filters at other rates are updated. Thus, synchronization between the statuses of the synthesis filters corresponding to different rates at the encoding terminal may be realized, thereby facilitating the consistency of the reconstructed signals of the encoding and decoding terminals when the encoding rate is switched, and improving the quality of the reconstructed signal of the decoding terminal.
US08046211B2

A method of statistical machine translation (SMT) is provided. The method comprises generating reordering knowledge based on the syntax of a source language (SL) and a number of alignment matrices that map sample SL sentences with sample target language (TL) sentences. The method further comprises receiving a SL word string and parsing the SL word string into a parse tree that represents the syntactic properties of the SL word string. The nodes on the parse tree are reordered based on the generated reordering knowledge in order to provide reordered word strings. The method further comprises translating a number of reordered word strings to create a number of TL word strings, and identifying a statistically preferred TL word string as a preferred translation of the SL word string.
US08046210B2

To enable the utilization of a definition or definitions once made as the definitions of a similar object, a set of conditions for similarity comprising one or more conditions is defined (201) and a set of definitions (202), which explicitly or inexplicitly indicates one or more definitions, of which at least one will be applied, and a similar object is searched for (203). If the set of definitions is related to an object which was used as the basis for defining the set of conditions for similarity, the set of definitions is applied to the object found. If the set of definitions is related to an object to be found, the set of definitions of the object found is applied to the object which was used as the basis for defining the set of conditions for similarity.
US08046202B1

The present invention provides for converting a user-specified element of a graphical model into at least one intermediate representation that represents the user-specified element. An intermediate representation of the present invention may support simulation, propagation, and/or code generation. An element for a graphical model is provided, and the element and/or the graphical model are converted into an intermediate representation that may represent algorithmic aspects of the element or that is capable of being simulated and/or capable allowing propagation. The present invention allows a user to provide a single code for a user-specified element that may be used to support simulation, propagation and/or code generation of an element or graphical model.
US08046197B2

A method of designing adjacent components is provided that results in a minimum “perceived gap” between the components, i.e., a minimum total distance between a change in curvature of the first component at the gap and a change in curvature of the second component at the gap.
US08046195B2

Performance of an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is measured using a service deployed on a server. A client runs a compiler to add an aspect to an archive that provides a service when deployed to the server. The aspect causes the server to timestamp marked messages. The archive with the added aspect, which is the aspectized archive, is deployed to the server. The client measures the performance of the service deployed to the server by using timestamps of the marked messages returned from the server.
US08046187B2

A test system is described for testing a media drive, such as a tape drive. The test system includes a host emulator, a storage library emulator, and a control system. The host emulator communicates with a first interface of the media drive and mimics a host system to the media drive. The storage library emulator communicates with a second interface of the media drive and mimics a storage library system to the media drive. When in operation, one of the host emulator and the storage library emulator transmits a test message to the media drive responsive to an instruction from the control system. Responsive to the test message, one of the emulators receives a test response from the media drive and transmits the test response to the control system. The control system processes the test message and the test response to evaluate the performance of the media drive.
US08046186B2

Described embodiments provide a method for calibrating a continuous-time filter having at least one adjustable parameter. A square-wave signal is filtered by a continuous-time filter having a cutoff frequency less than fs. The filtered signal is quantized at the rate fs. An N-point Fourier transform is performed of the quantized signal into N real output values and N imaginary output values. At least one of the real output values are accumulated to form a real output signal and at least one of the imaginary output values are accumulated to form an imaginary output signal. The real and imaginary output signals are summed to form an output signal, which is then squared. The squared output signal is compared to a comparison value. At least one parameter of the continuous-time filter is adjusted based upon the comparison. The steps are repeated until the squared output signal is approximately the comparison value.
US08046182B2

An approach is provided for digital triggering a recording of one or several signals sampled at individual sampling instants on a digital oscilloscope. The triggering is carried out when the interval between two recurrent triggering events is less or greater than a time threshold value.
US08046170B2

A method of evaluating an earth formation is disclosed which includes conveying a logging tool into a borehole in the earth formation and using the logging tool to obtain a first set of azimuthally-independent resistivity measurements of the earth formation and a second set of azimuthally-sensitive resistivity measurements of the earth formation and estimating a value of a property of the earth formation using the first set of measurements and the second set of measurements, the estimation being substantially unaffected by a displacement of the logging tool from a center of the borehole.
US08046168B2

A geofence system which locates a position as within or without the complex polygon type geofence using a simplified algorithm. The algorithm obtains a position and compares it to the polygon by establishing a ray from the position constructed in a cardinal direction of the coordinate system. The “polarity” of the count of intersections between the ray and geofence indicates whether the position is inside the geofence or not.
US08046164B1

Systems, devices and methods are provided for selecting a desired track log from a set of track log points so as to provide electronic systems, such as navigational aid devices, with the capability of more powerful and flexible applications. In one embodiment, a desired first endpoint and a desired second endpoint are specified for a desired track log. An actual first endpoint is assigned based on the desired first endpoint and a set of track log points. An actual second endpoint is assigned based on the desired second endpoint and the set of track log points. The desired track log is identified using the actual first endpoint, the actual second endpoint, and at least one track log point. At least one of the desired first endpoint and the desired second endpoint is capable of being specified by specifying a location. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08046158B2

The present invention relates to a system and method for minimizing or preventing runway incursion at airports by utilizing data packets of information transmitted over the voice communication channel used by pilots at the airport. The data packets of information contain the latitudinal and longitudinal position of the aircraft provided by an on board GPS receiver and a unique identifier for the aircraft, such as the tail number, which is then received by other aircraft on the same ground frequency, and the tower, and displayed on a geo-referenced map display of the airport provided to the pilots and the tower ground controller. The information may be updated by polling the various aircraft In this manner, information received from all active aircraft within an airport can be displayed on an electronic map of the airport which can be viewable by the pilots on the ground as well as the ground controller.
US08046153B2

A fuel compensation factor (FCF) is determined to account for the amount of oxygenated fuel blended in diesel fuel. In one embodiment, the FCF is based on an expected exhaust gas oxygen concentration compared to an actual exhaust gas oxygen concentration. The FCF is used to estimate an amount of oxygenated fuel in the blend. Such estimate can be used to adjust the exhaust temperature model, which is used at least in determining the temperature in aftertreatment devices, the fuel dilution model which affects oil change recommendations, and the diesel particulate filter loading model which affects regenerations. Biodiesels are more prone to waxing at lower temperatures. The estimated amount of biodiesel and the temperature in the injection system are used to prevent and/or delay starting when it is predicted that too much wax exists in the fuel system.
US08046151B2

An acquisition system for detecting the angular position of a gas knob of a motorcycle; the acquisition system is provided with: a fixed supporting body; a mobile element, which is mounted mobile in the supporting body; a transmission device, mechanically connected to the gas knob and to the mobile element for transmitting the motion from the gas knob to the mobile element itself; and a main position sensor, which is carried by the supporting body, is coupled to the mobile element for determining the angular position of the mobile element, and is designed to provide two mutually redundant measurements of the angular position of the mobile element.
US08046146B2

A method is provided for adaptively determining an anti-lock braking strategy that includes monitoring a distance differential of at least one target in proximity to a driven vehicle. An anti-lock braking strategy is determined as a function of the distance differential. The anti-locking braking strategy is applied as a function of the distance differential.
US08046136B2

A vehicle seatbelt apparatus includes a belt, a belt reel, a position detector, a motor, a clutch, and a control device. The belt is wound around the belt reel. The position detector is configured to detect a rotational position of the belt reel. The motor is configured to rotate the belt reel. The clutch is configured to connect or disconnect the motor and the belt reel. The control device is configured to control the clutch and a current supplied to the motor. The control device includes a return amount detector which is configured to detect a return amount of the belt reel in a drawing direction of the belt based on the rotational position of the belt reel detected by the position detector after the belt is wound around the belt reel and then the clutch disconnects the motor and the belt reel.
US08046135B2

A method and system for detecting a vehicle rollover or dangerous situations that may precede a rollover, in particular a soil trip type rollover includes the following steps, where the steps are performed in loops, (a) determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, (b) calculating an acceleration differential value on the basis of the lateral accelerations determined in at least two steps (a), (c) determining a possibility of a rollover of the vehicle on the basis of the lateral acceleration determined in at least one step (a) and the acceleration differential value calculated in at least one step (b), (d) generating an output activation signal at least on the basis of a possibility of a rollover of the vehicle determined in a step (c).
US08046127B2

A vehicle-mounted electronic control apparatus can perform a variety of abnormality detections while reducing the control load of a microprocessor in the abnormality detection of a volatile backup memory that is backed up by an on-board battery. The apparatus includes a control CPU which is fed with power from a main power supply circuit upon closure of a power switch, a nonvolatile control memory and a backup memory. Even if the power switch is opened, the backup memory, being a partial area of a RAM memory, is fed with power through an auxiliary power supply circuit connected directly to the battery. When the battery is replaced with a new one and connected again, a power supply interruption monitoring memory is reset. At the start of operation of the control CPU, the backup memory is initialized based on reset information, and the power supply interruption monitoring memory is rewritten into a set state.
US08046126B2

The start control is repeatedly performed for an oil pump that pressure feeds the flow of oil in a motor cooling system. This control is repeated for every specified rise in motor temperature (e.g., every 10° C.) from an initial starting temperature. This arrangement increases the potential for a successful start-up of the oil pump even when the oil has a high viscosity due to a relatively low outside air temperature. In the event of a failed start-up of the oil pump by repeated starting, the start control determines an abnormality exists in the oil pump or its power supply if an outside air temperature is greater than a reference temperature. This arrangement effectively eliminates incorrect detection of an abnormality in the oil pump or its power supply.
US08046123B2

In an electric vehicle having a plurality of MG units each including an AC motor and an inverter, a control apparatus executes system voltage stabilization control to suppress variations in a system voltage by adjusting an input power of a first MG unit or a second MG unit so as to reduce the difference between a target value and detected value of the system voltage. In execution of this control, either one or both of the MG units is selected by a selector by using information on the first MG unit and the second MG unit. The system voltage stabilization control is executed on the selected MG unit. Alternatively, the control apparatus may execute the system voltage stabilization control by selecting a voltage boosting converter.
US08046122B1

A control system for a hydraulic steering cylinder utilizes a supply valve and a drain valve. The supply valve is configured to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid from a pump to either of two cavities defined by the position of a piston within the hydraulic cylinder. A drain valve is configured to control the flow of hydraulic fluid away from the cavities within the hydraulic cylinder. The supply valve and the drain valve are both proportional valves in a preferred embodiment of the present invention in order to allow accurate and controlled movement of a steering device in response to movement of a steering wheel of a marine vessel.
US08046118B2

The invention relates to flight control systems for aircraft, which have large control loops delivering load factor commands and which are applied to flight controls more suited to the following by the pilot of a longitudinal attitude deviation instruction than to the following of a load factor instructions. It consists of a small control loop generating a deviation indicator displayed by the flight director on the PFD screen, with a converter for converting a controlled load factor into a longitudinal attitude deviation instruction comprising a bandpass filter allowing the integration for the calculation of the longitudinal attitude deviation instruction value in the piloting frequency span only.
US08046116B2

An adjustable bed is associated with a second system and both the bed and the second system are controlled by a modular control system. The modular controller further facilitates using a global command input to control both the bed and the second system. In an embodiment the modular control system includes a touchscreen for accepting user input to control the bed and the second system.
US08046112B2

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that controls temperature variations in a computer system. During operation, a telemetry variable of the computer system is monitored. Next, a future temperature of the computer system is predicted based on the telemetry variable. A signal is then generated in response to the future temperature. Then, the signal is sent to a cooling device in the computer system to control temperature variations of the computer system.
US08046104B2

An industrial robot system including at least one industrial robot including a manipulator and a control unit for controlling the manipulator, a portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating a robot. The portable operator control device includes safety equipment including an enabling device, which upon activation enables manual operation of the robot by the portable operator control device. The portable operator control device is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit, and a detecting unit that detects when the portable operator control device enters an area defined in the vicinity of the manipulator. The robot includes an enabling function which upon activation enables the enabling device of the portable operator control device, and upon deactivation disables the enabling device. The robot system is adapted to automatically activate the enabling function of the robot upon detecting that the portable operator control device enters the defined area.
US08046102B2

A synchronous high speed motion stop for a series of multi-top loaders residing on “n” controllers on one rail achieves effective detection of the servo-error status and shut off of the trailing controller's servo power within 3 ITP time. The control method reduces the unnecessary error recovery because it only shuts off its immediate trailing controller without aborting its leading controller, allowing the leading controller to complete the cycle tasks. The cascade control method produces a synchronous high-speed motion stop for the robots across the controllers and effectively prevents the collision between the robots.
US08046099B2

A library unit of the present invention includes a magazine, a cartridge, at least one sensor and an accessor. The cartridge is loaded in the magazine and arranged in a direction in which the magazine is loaded to or unloaded from the library unit. The sensor is provided for the library unit and activated to make an output, when the magazine is pulled out to a predetermined position, whether or not the magazine is positioned facing the sensor. The accessor identifies a position of the magazine according to an output of the sensor and receives the cartridge.
US08046090B2

An apparatus, method, and computer program are provided for automated closed-loop identification of an industrial process in a process control system. Multiple models (such as multiple model structure-model order combinations) can be identified, where the models are associated with a process to be controlled. One or more metrics (such as a prediction metric or rank) can be determined for each of the models. At least one of the models can be selected based on the one or more metrics. A final model for controlling the process can be provided (such as to a controller), where the final model is based on the at least one selected model. A band pass filter could be designed using some of the identified models. The band pass filter could be used to identify at least one other of the models or to determine at least one of the one or more metrics.
US08046075B2

The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.
US08046074B2

An implantable connector comprises an electrically insulative housing including an outer wall, an interior cavity surrounded by the outer wall, a port through which the lead body portion can be introduced into the interior cavity, and a pair of first apertures disposed through the outer wall on a first side of the housing. The connector further comprises an electrical spring clip contact mounted to the housing. The contact includes a common portion and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of the common portion. The legs respectively extend through the first apertures into the interior cavity, such that the legs firmly engage the electrical terminal therebetween when the lead body portion is introduced into the interior cavity.
US08046066B2

An apparatus for reversing ventricular remodeling with electro-stimulatory therapy. A ventricle is paced by delivering one or more stimulatory pulses in a manner such that a stressed region of the myocardium is pre-excited relative to other regions in order to subject the stressed region to a lessened preload and afterload during systole. The unloading of the stressed myocardium over time effects reversal of undesirable ventricular remodeling.
US08046063B2

An implantable medical device operates with an algorithm that promotes intrinsic conduction and reduces ventricular pacing. The IMD monitors the occurrence of necessary ventricular pacing and takes certain actions based upon whether this occurrence has been relatively high or relatively low. When noise is detected, asynchronous pacing is provided when the occurrence is relatively high and is not provided when relatively low. When atrial threshold testing is performed, the incidence will determine which methodology is utilized.
US08046058B2

A subject's heart rate is determined. A heart rate monitor receives a Doppler signal reflected from an artery of a target, performs demodulation and heart beat recognition techniques to determine a set of features in each frame of the signal. Pattern classification is performed to determine if the extracted feature sequence is associated with heart beats. The pattern classification may include finding the optimal state sequence by calculating the probability of each allowable state sequence based on the extracted feature sequence and heart beat models or additional noise models. Or, a heart beat candidate is determined using frame energy and dynamic thresholding followed by computing the probabilities between the feature sequence and each stored heart beat model or additional noise models. Or, heart beat candidates are determined using frame energy and dynamic thresholding which compute the similarity between the feature sequences and each of the stored heart beat templates.
US08046053B2

A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system modifies a reference image data set according to a density image of a body element during a procedure, generates a displaced image data set representing the position and geometry of the body element during the procedure, and compares the density image of the body element during the procedure to the reference image of the body element. The system also includes a display utilizing the displaced image data set generated by the processor to illustrate the position and geometry of the body element during the procedure. Methods relating to the system are also disclosed.
US08046048B2

Systems and methods for a resonator with an adjustable capacitance for a medical device. In one embodiment, a resonator system includes a resonator device with an LC resonator circuit that has an adjustable capacitance, an inductor coil in series with the adjustable capacitance, and an adjustable capacitance control that can control the adjustable capacitance to obtain different particular capacitance values. This embodiment also includes a medical device, positioned with the resonator device, so that at least a portion of the inductor coil surrounds a space that is surrounded by at least a portion of the medical device.
US08046044B2

The disclosure describes a technique for medical imaging, referred to herein as the Rapid Interleave Overlap Technique (RIOT), wherein image data is acquired as a plurality of series sequences in a manner that allows for unlimited overlap. RIOT involves interleaving and overlapping 2D image slices of multiple series of image data of the same ROI into a composite data set from which MPR and 3D reconstructions exhibiting excellent resolution properties and crisp image quality can be generated.
US08046041B2

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.
US08046037B2

A mobile terminal including a first body, a second body slidably moveable with respect to the first body such that the first body is moved between a closed position and an open position, a connector electrically connecting the first body to the second body, and a slide module connecting the first body to the second body to allow the second body to move with respect to the first body between the closed position and the open position is provided. The slide module includes a first slide member connected to the first body, a second slide member connected to the second body, the second slide member being slidably connected to the first slide member, and a cover unit disposed between the first and second slide members, the cover unit being configured to prevent exposure of the connector when the first body is in the open position.
US08046025B2

A dual mobile handset supporting CDMA and GSM communication and call processing method for the dual mode mobile handset, implemented to receive CDMA and GSM calls and process CDMA and GSM signals using different applications, thereby adaptively receiving the CDMA and GSM calls, are provided. The dual mode mobile handset includes first and second transceivers for receiving and transmitting first and second communication mode calls, respectively; first and second controllers for assigning first and second communication mode call identifiers to a call received through the first and second communication mode transceivers, respectively; a user interface module for activating one of call processing applications for the first and second communication mode calls on the basis of the call identifier assigned to the received call; and an inter-process communication module for matching one of the first and second controller to the user interface module.
US08046022B2

A base station (BTS) may instruct a client station (CS) to transmit sounding signals that the BTS may analyze to determine what adjustments, such as power, time, and/or frequency adjustment(s) should be made by the CS. The BTS may control when and how the sounding signals are sent by the CS. This helps reduce the possibility of adjustment signals transmitted by two or more CSs colliding. Thus, sounding signals transmitted by the CS in response to a request by the BTS can be received by the BTS with higher a probability of success. This permits the BTS to more accurately characterize the channel and to provide better adjustment of power level, frequency offset, and/or timing offset for more optimal communication. Such techniques can be used to reduce bit error rates and to improve the overall signal to noise ratio encountered by the system.
US08046017B2

Embodiments of the present invention extend the benefits of mobile transmit diversity to the initialization phase of communication with a base station over a random access channel. According to a method of the invention, the transmitter may attempt to initiate communication with a receiver by varying a transmit diversity parameter, for example, phase difference, in addition to or instead of varying power settings.
US08046004B2

The level of detail of position information about one's own location is expressed in terms of a disclosure level when announcing one's own location so as to prevent the supply of more information about oneself to the other party than is necessary. A mobile terminal 10 determines, based on a disclosure level L determined with respect to the specific other party, time band, or located area, and based on the provision of location information about the current location or map information that includes such location, generates location information or location display map information, which is transmitted to a communications terminal 50 of other party B, in accordance with the disclosure content specified by disclosure levels L02 to L05.
US08046003B2

A service that augments a key element of Unified Messaging and Unified Communications initiatives—i.e., Mobile Subscriber Location Awareness—to enhance substantially the value, usefulness, etc. of the presence awareness, place shifting, etc. components of such initiatives. The service may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located, full-featured Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor.
US08045998B2

A method for communicating using position information includes communicating on a first communication network at a first location using one or more first communication parameters of the first communication network and, upon moving from the first location to a second location, receiving position information identifying the second location. The method includes adjusting the one or more first communication parameters to one or more second communication parameters based on the second location and communicating on a second communication network at the second location using the one or more second communication parameters.
US08045997B2

A mobile phone with a stepless motion function is provided and includes a mobile phone body, an upper cover which can be movably provided outside the mobile phone body, and a pushing device including a first end part and a second end part, wherein the first end part is fixedly provided at the upper cover, and the second end part is fixedly provided at the mobile phone body, whereby the upper cover can move at a constant velocity from a first position to a second position relatively to the mobile phone body. Therefore, the mobile phone with a stepless motion function of the invention enables the upper cover to move at a constant velocity at the mobile phone body to increase the tactile sensation of the mobile phone.
US08045986B2

A cell selection device (D) is dedicated to a piece of wireless communication equipment (MS) arranged to establish radio communications with a radio communication network comprising radio communication cells and to receive data representative of the cell environment and of service capabilities of each cell of this environment from the network. This device (D) comprises a control means (CM) arranged, when its equipment (MS) needs to access a chosen network service, to access the data received by the equipment (MS) and representative of the cell environment and the corresponding cell service capabilities, to determine whether there is at least one cell in this environment that allows to access the network service, and to order the equipment (MS) either to pursue or to establish a radio communication with the network via a selected one of these determined cells if the selected cell allows at least one chosen radio parameter criterion to be satisfied.
US08045985B2

Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a voice service without discontinuance in a mobile communication system. The apparatus includes a controller for receiving a system information block of a first network system or a system information block of a second network system from an interface module, and transmitting a network selection change request to the interface module to change a network system mode; and a network selector for, when the system information block of the first network system does not comprise voice switched domain information for location area update, driving a timer according to a selection of a user, changing the network system mode into the second network system, and executing location area update to thereby provide the voice service.
US08045983B2

The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) services in response to advanced intelligent network (AIN) triggers. According to one aspect, a method for providing an IMS service in response to an AIN trigger is provided. The method includes detecting the firing of an AIN trigger concerning an IMS registered non-IMS device. An IMS service to be provided in response to the AIN trigger is identified. The IMS service is provided.
US08045980B2

In one embodiment, a scheme is provided for network discovery and selection by a user equipment (UE) device that is operable in wide area cellular network (WACN) bands as well as in wireless access network bands. In particular, the UE device is operable to select a WACN that is accessible via a wireless generic access network (GAN) in addition to being able to access the WACN via the cellular network band.
US08045971B2

A communication network comprising a carrier network with a service coordinator is capable of acting upon SIM card change information detected by an agent located in the electronic devices used in the communication network. In general, the agent in electronic devices facilitates the determination of SIM Card changes in the electronic device. It also facilitates the selective reporting of such changes to the carrier network. In one embodiment, the communication network is capable of detecting SIM Card changes in the electronic device. In general, the carrier network determines updates to firmware, software, configuration etc. necessitated by the change in SIM card and selectively communicates it to the electronic device.
US08045965B2

A system and method is provided for enabling venue-to-venue communication. A message is sent from a messaging device located in a first venue. The system receives the message via a communications network. The system transmits the message via the communications network to a local venue exchange associated with a second venue. The message is presented to an audience present at the second venue.
US08045964B2

There is provided an information distribution system capable of distributing a content to a mobile terminal in a predetermined area, distributing content guide information to the mobile terminal, and distributing the content selected by the mobile terminal, within the area. The information distribution system includes an information distribution server, a mobile terminal, and a content DB. The content DB contains content information to be provided to the mobile terminal and information on the area to which the content is provided. The information distribution server distributes the content guide information to the mobile terminal. According to this content guide information, the mobile terminal performs a content distribution request. The information distribution server judges the position of the mobile terminal according to position judgment means. When the mobile terminal is in the distribution area of the content requested, the content is downloaded.
US08045956B2

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.
US08045945B2

A reception apparatus including an extraction section; a transmission line characteristic estimation section; an interpolation section; a compensation section; a detection section; and a selection section.
US08045944B2

A downconversion mixer includes a configurable gate or bulk bias voltage to allow calibration and correction of device offsets. Calibration may be performed on the configurable bias voltages to minimize IM2 distortion in the mixer. The techniques have minimal impact on voltage headroom, impose no requirement for a signal path to be phase-matched with a calibration path, and are particularly well-suited for passive mixers.
US08045943B2

A high performance radio frequency receiver includes a low noise amplifier with large binary and stepped gain control range, controlled impedance, and enhanced blocker immunity, for amplifying and converting a radio frequency signal to a current; a pulse generator for generating in-phase and quadrature pulses; a crossover correction circuit and pulse shaper for controlling a crossover threshold of the pulses and interaction between in-phase and quadrature mixers; and a double balanced mixer for combining the RF signal with the pulses to generate an intermediate frequency or baseband zero intermediate frequency current-mode signal. The in-phase and quadrature pulses have a duty cycle of 20-35%. The intermediate frequency signal and second order harmonics may be filtered with a high frequency low pass filter and a current injected complex direct-coupled filter. Decreased die size, current drain, cost, and complexity, as well as improvements in gain, 1/f noise, noise figure, sensitivity, and linearity may result.
US08045936B2

Systems and methods of combining OFDM and CDMA signals are provided. An OFDM packet data channel is overlaid over CDMA transmissions. The channel is scheduled slotwise between multiple users. In some embodiments, there is a CDMA packet data channel which is scheduled together with the OFDM packet data channel.
US08045929B2

A RF data communication device operates in at least two states. In a first state, the device transmits a response to an RF transmission if specific data therein represents an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and if specific data therein corresponds to a class maintained by the device. The device does not transmit a response if specific data in the RF transmission is not representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices, or if specific data therein does not correspond to at least one maintained class. In a second state, the device does not transmit a response when specific data is included therein that is representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and specific data therein corresponds to at least one maintained class.
US08045926B2

Exemplary embodiments of system and method are provided for measuring signal amplitude, phase and/or delay offsets between multiple transmit signals fed through the transmit signal processing chains and wirelessly transmitted over the transceive antennas of separate transceiver modules, wherein transmit signal coupling between the transmit antennas of said transceiver modules' transmit signal processing chains may be used for synchronizing the transmit signals and calibrating their amplitude, phase and/or delay parameters. The exemplary embodiments further provide a front end arrangement of a wireless transceiver device which can comprise at least two independently controllable transceiver modules, each connected to an associated spatial diversity transceive antenna and comprising at least one associated transmit signal processing chain and at least one associated receive signal processing chain coupled to a common baseband processing unit. The exemplary transceiver architecture can be executed on an antenna loop between the transmit signal processing chain of a first transceiver module and the transmit signal processing chain of a second transceiver over the air interface and relies on an adaptive antenna concept which facilitates a wireless transmission of data via a plurality of wireless communication channels utilizing an array of transceive antennas, receiving feedback information via at least one of said communication channels using such antenna loop and modifying a transmission mode based on the received feedback information.
US08045923B2

An unoccupied frequency band (W) is detected in a telecommunications network by obtaining first values relating to a signal received (r(n)) for respective corresponding times, in this frequency band. Next, a compound signal is obtained in the form of vectors (Yn) respectively associated with these first values, each vector having M components resulting respectively from the products of the first value associated with said vector and M second values relating to the signal received respectively for M offset times (ti) shifted with respect to the time corresponding to said first value, M being a greater integer. Next, at least one first and one second energy vector (EL, EH) are determined, each containing M components corresponding respectively to energy values of the compound signal for the M offset times, respectively on a first frequency band and on a second frequency band, which are situated either side of a reference frequency. Finally, a decision is made as to whether said frequency band is unoccupied on the basis of a comparison of a distribution of the energy values of the compound signal over the first frequency band and of a distribution of the energy values of the compound signal over the second frequency band.
US08045917B2

A system and method for a network analysis system operating in a wireless communication system with repeaters is disclosed. Embodiments of the system and method enable the network analysis system to determine if signals being received by the network receivers arrive directly from a target mobile appliance or if the signals are passing through a repeater. The repeaters through an augmentation measure attribute of a received signal to a network manager and based on these attributes it is determine whether the signal is served by a repeater or other network device.
US08045916B2

A system of satellite signal down conversion and reception comprises a low noise block down converter and a plurality of receivers. The low noise block down converter simultaneously and periodically sends a reference timing command to the plurality of receivers. Each of the plurality of receivers calibrates its timing based on the reference timing command to generate a plurality of data frames. Each of the data frames includes a plurality of time slots, and a time slot is designated to transmit data between the receiver and the low noise block down converter. Furthermore, each of the plurality of receivers uses a different time slot.
US08045907B2

The fixing device includes: a fixing member including a conductive layer and fixing toner on a recording medium by electromagnetic induction; a magnetic-field generating member generating an alternate-current magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer; a magnetic-path forming member that includes a circular arc facing the magnetic-field generating member, that forms a magnetic path of the alternate-current magnetic field, within a range up to a permeability change start temperature, and that allows the alternate-current magnetic field to go through the magnetic-path forming member within a range exceeding the permeability change start temperature; and a support member supporting the magnetic-path forming member. The circular arc shaped portion has an upstream edge in a moving direction of the fixing member and a position of the upstream edge is concaved toward a center of the magnetic path forming member from each of ends of the magnetic path forming member in a longitudinal direction.
US08045904B2

A steering mechanism moves an intermediary transfer belt in its width direction by moving an inclination angle of two steering rollers with respect to a rotational direction of the intermediary transfer belt. The two steering rollers changes the inclination angle while maintaining a rectangle defined by the steering rollers and bearing arms to ensure a thrust movement distance in a period from start of winding of one of the steering rollers and end of winding of the other steering roller.
US08045902B2

A developer conveying apparatus includes a first developer storing portion, a second developer storing portion, and a conveying pipe that connects the first and second developer storing portions. The conveying pipe includes a tubular main body and a conveying member rotatably provided in the main body. A groove is formed on a surface of the conveying member, and the groove has a depth less than or equal to 5 μm.
US08045898B2

A powder conveyance unit, providable to an image forming apparatus, includes a path forming member configured to form a powder conveyance path including an inner wall to convey powder therethrough and connect first and second powder containers, and a substantially planar plate-like powder remover configured to remove powder adhering to the inner wall of the powder conveyance path. The plate-like powder remover is disposed in the powder conveyance path with both lateral edges thereof in a width direction perpendicular to a powder conveyance direction in the powder conveyance path contacting or nearly contacting the inner wall of the powder conveyance path. Opposed flat surfaces of the plate-like powder remover moves reciprocally between opposed surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path to remove powder adhering to the surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path.
US08045889B2

The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including a drive source; a driven member detachably attachable to the apparatus body; a first transmission member in the apparatus body, including a base rotatable around a rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the drive source to the driven member; and a second transmission member in the driven member, including a base rotatable around the rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the first transmission member to the driven member. Any of the first and second transmission members includes a projection, and the other includes a receiving port. The receiving port receives the projection when a rotation angle between the first and second transmission members is an angle set in advance while not receiving the projection when the rotation angle is out of the angle, at the time of mounting the driven member on the apparatus body.
US08045887B2

An intermediate transfer unit includes a stand member that is integral with an intermediate-transfer-unit body of the intermediate transfer unit. The stand member stretches below the intermediate-transfer-unit body from a trailing edge to a leading edge of the intermediate-transfer-unit in an attachment direction of the intermediate transfer unit.
US08045881B2

A cleaning device for an intermediate transferring member, comprising: a first cleaning roller that is placed so as to rotate while being made in contact with a surface of the intermediate transferring member; a first bias-applying device that applies a bias voltage to the first cleaning roller; a second cleaning roller that is placed so as to rotate while being made in contact with the surface of the intermediate transferring member on a downstream side from the first cleaning roller in a surface-moving direction of the intermediate transferring member; and a second bias-applying device that applies a bias voltage having a polarity different from that of the bias voltage applied by the first bias-applying device to the second cleaning roller, wherein the first cleaning roller is a foam roller having a foam layer on a surface thereof, with a cell wall face in the foam layer having an opening ratio in a range of 3% or more to 50% or less, and the second cleaning roller is a brush roller, and an image-forming apparatus equipped with said cleaning device for an intermediate transferring member.
US08045869B2

A primary transfer device includes a primary transfer roll that is capable of being engaged with and disengaged from an intermediate transfer member to which a developer image is primarily transferred; and a setting-changing unit that changes a setting of pressure of the primary transfer roll to the intermediate transfer member in accordance with kind of a recording medium to which the developer image is secondarily transferred, wherein the setting-changing unit has an irregular medium transfer mode for a case where the recording medium to which the developer image is a recording medium having irregularities formed on a surface thereof, and an ordinary transfer mode for a case where the recording medium is a recording medium other than the recording medium having the irregularities, wherein a pressure set in the irregular medium transfer mode is smaller than that set in the ordinary transfer mode.
US08045862B2

An optical amplification method and apparatus implemented using RZ-DPSK modulation or variants thereof and a deeply saturated semiconductor optical amplifier.
US08045850B2

An imaging apparatus selectively recording an image taken by itself or at least one other apparatus is disclosed. A digital video camera selects between an image taken by a camera block (10) thereof, and an image taken by each of at least one other camera and received by a wireless communication module (120), and records the selected image on a magnetic tape of a video cassette (111). The camera transmits an image it takes to at least other camera by the communication module (120). Processed by a control portion (60), the image taken by the camera itself and the image(s) from the other camera(s) are composited to be concurrently presented on a LCD (80). An image selected through a touch panel (90) is recorded on the tape.
US08045848B2

A babycare heating apparatus comprising a vessel (2;102) for containing water and a heating element (15;115) for heating water held in the vessel, characterized by: a temperature sensor (22;42,123) for sensing a temperature rise effected by operation of the heating element (15); and control means (25;125) for controlling the energizing of the heating element (15;115) in dependence on the output of the temperature sensor (22;42;123) and being configured to de-energize the heating element (15;115) if the change in the temperature, sensed by the sensor (22;42;123), meets a predetermined criterion. The apparatus can be used as a sterilizer or a bottle warmer, and its uses a measure of the rate of heating during operation to determine whether the apparatus has been correctly charged with water.
US08045846B2

A heat-storage object which can be formed in a desired shape, has a high heat-storage material content and hence excellent heat-storage property, undergoes no leakage with time despite the high heat-storage material content, and even when subjected to processing such as cutting or punching, does not undergoes leakage through the cut surface or hole, and has excellent processability, as well as a composition for heat-storage object formation, and a process for producing the same. The heat-storage object comprises fine particles of an organic latent heat-storage material (a), the particles having been fixed with a binder (c). It is produced by mixing a composition for heat-storage object formation containing an organic latent heat-storage material (a), a nonionic surfactant (b) and a compound (c-1) having reactive functional group, with a compound (c-2) having a second reactive functional group reactive with the reactive functional group, dispersing the organic latent heat-storage material (a) in a colloidal state, reacting the component (c-1) with the component (c-2) to form a binder (c), and fixing the organic latent heat-storage material (a) in the form of fine particles with the binder (c).
US08045845B2

A “hold” feature on a user operated remote control allows a currently displayed track or view to be maintained while a video presentation is being played. As a user is watching a presentation that uses multiple camera views shown one-at-a-time as in a standard edited cut (i.e., “director's cut”) of a movie, the user can press a button when the user sees a camera view or scene of particular interest. Thereafter, the track associated with the camera view or scene that was showing when the hold button was pressed will continue to be played in place of the presentation. To return to the edited cut the user depresses the hold button again. The held track will continue to play until the user decides to resume presentation of the edited program or until the held track ends. Upon ending, the program track is resumed. While holding a track the user is free to select other available tracks in addition to jumping back to the program track at any time.
US08045842B2

An information processing apparatus includes a conversion section configured to convert one of an SD signal according to a predetermined standard of Standard Definition Television and an HD signal according to a predetermined standard of High-Definition Television into the other one of the signals and output the resulting signal in a predetermined format.
US08045839B2

On a host computer (300), writing software for controlling recording and image forming operations of an optical disc recording apparatus (10) is installed. When the writing software is activated, the host computer (300) requests the user to input various settings relating to record information and image information before giving instructions for starting recording and those for starting image formation to the optical disc recording apparatus (10), and, in accordance with various settings which are input in response to the request, determines the recording and image forming operations of the optical disc recording apparatus (10).
US08045836B2

A method to record high frame rate video, compatible with existing industry standards, that permits selecting either slow-motion playback or true speed playback with synchronized audio.
US08045835B2

A package structure and method of packaging for an interferometric modulator. A thin film material is deposited over an interferometric modulator and transparent substrate to encapsulate the interferometric modulator. A gap or cavity between the interferometric modulator and the thin film provides a space in which mechanical parts of the interferometric modulator may move. The gap is created by removal of a sacrificial layer that is deposited over the interferometric modulator.
US08045822B2

An image sensor captures an image of a scene. This captured image has a pincushion distortion relative to an undistorted image of the scene. The distortion is corrected based on an approximation of the distortion D which satisfies the following equation for a given pixel in the captured image: D=(R−R′)/R=Da*(y2−x2+yoffset)+Db*R4, where R is the distance between a pixel, which corresponds in the undistorted image to the given pixel in the captured image, and the center of the undistorted image, R′ is the distance between the given pixel and the center of the captured image, Da and Db are respective distortion parameters of the image sensor, x and y are coordinates of the given pixel in the captured image, R satisfies the following equation: R2=x2+y2 and yoffset corresponds to a constant value.
US08045820B2

The system for edge direction detection for spatial deinterlace comprises an ignored region detector and an edge direction detection unit. The ignored region detector is configured to receive a first type field of a video frame and to define a search region based on the first type field. The edge direction detection unit is configured to select an edge direction within the search region. The edge direction is associated with an interpolated pixel located on one of a plurality of second type lines of a second type field, where the search region is smaller than the first type field.
US08045816B2

An image quantization method and apparatus are provided in which a block with a high possibility of having color distortion is more elaborately quantized using a predetermined color distortion removing quantization matrix. The image quantization method includes determining a possibility of color distortion in the block using discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients and pixel values of the block of predetermined size of an image and performing initial quantization on the block using a predetermined color distortion quantization matrix to remove color distortion if the block has a high possibility of color distortion.
US08045802B2

Systems and methods are set forth for detecting an end of program pattern. More specifically, systems and methods are set forth for recognizing and acting upon sequential image data that contains an end of program pattern.
US08045791B2

A system and method measures digital images of a workpiece using a measuring computer and a client computer. The measuring computer reads each of the digital images of the workpiece from a source file, and merges all the images to generate a combined image of the workpiece. An object to be measured is selected from the combined image, and an image of the selected object is extracted from the combined image. The client computer measures the selected object on the extracted image, and displays measuring results of the selected object.
US08045790B2

A method for processing wafers includes learning a first pattern at a de-skew site on a first wafer layer, saving the first patterns in a recipe for de-skewing wafers, learning a second pattern at the de-skew site a second wafer layer, and saving the second pattern in the same recipe for de-skewing wafers. Learning the first pattern may include determining a score of uniqueness for the first pattern. The method further includes finding the de-skew site on the second wafer layer using the first pattern before learning the second pattern. Finding the de-skew site includes determining a score of similarity between the first pattern and the second pattern. Learning the second pattern is performed when the score of similarity is less than a threshold value. A recipe for de-skewing wafers includes multiple patterns of a de-skew site of a wafer, wherein the patterns include a first pattern at the de-skew site on a first wafer layer and a second pattern at the de-skew site on a second wafer layer.
US08045785B2

A fine pattern, such as a semiconductor integrated circuit (LSI), a liquid crystal panel, and a photomask (reticle) for the semiconductor or the liquid crystal panel, which are fabricated based on data for fabricating the fine pattern such as design data is inspected by a pattern inspection apparatus. The pattern inspection apparatus for inspecting a pattern to-be-inspected uses an image of the pattern to-be-inspected and data for fabricating the pattern to-be-inspected. The pattern inspection apparatus includes a reference pattern generation device configured to generate a reference pattern represented by one or more lines from the data, an image generation device configured to generate the image of the pattern to-be-inspected, a detecting device configured to detect an edge of the image of the pattern to-be-inspected, and an inspection device configured to inspect the pattern to-be-inspected by comparing edges of the image of the pattern to-be-inspected with the one or more lines of the reference pattern.
US08045784B2

A system and method for imaging and capturing information from checks and documents contained in a lockbox remittance. A computer workstation is used to generate and print a header sheet that includes information identifying the check. The header sheet is appended to the front of the documents and the document are imaged using a scanner. Identifying information from each of the documents is used to create a data record for each document. In parallel to the scanning of the documents, the checks are scanned and images are created for each of the checks. Additionally, identifying information from each of the checks (e.g., the check number, the amount, etc.) is manually input into a database, thus creating a data record for each check. Once all of the data entry and scanning has been completed, an automatic association process takes place in which the check data records, the check images, the document data records and the document images are all automatically associated and cross-referenced such that the system recreates an electronic version of the original batch of physical papers. All of the associated data and images are contained in a database, from which all of the information for a lockbox customer can be electronically retrieved over the Internet.
US08045777B2

A method for ultrasonic imaging includes transmitting ultrasonic radiation toward a target and receiving the ultrasonic radiation reflected from a region of the target. A main reflected signal and an auxiliary reflected signal are defined. The reflected signals have different respective main and auxiliary beam patterns. A difference between the main reflected signal and the auxiliary reflected signal is taken, so as to generate an output signal containing a reduced level of clutter in comparison with the main reflected signal.
US08045772B2

A system for comparing dental X-ray images includes a positional displacement calculator calculating a positional displacement between dental X-ray test and reference images by using phase-only correlation, a positional displacement corrector correcting the positional displacement, a base point extractor defining, as a base image, any one of the dental X-ray test and reference images, and defining, as a corresponding image, the other one of the two dental images, and extracting base points from the base image, a corresponding point extractor extracting corresponding points, which correspond to the base points, from the corresponding image, a correspondence calculator calculating correspondence between the base points and the corresponding points, a nonlinear distortion corrector correcting a nonlinear distortion between the base image and the corresponding image, based on the correspondence, and a similarity calculator finding, by using phase-only correlation, a similarity between the base image and the corresponding image.
US08045765B2

For example, a plurality of elliptical candidate areas that become candidate areas of detecting objects are set in an image, characteristic values such as average values of luminance of the pixels inside and outside the set candidate areas are compared, and a candidate area whose difference of the characteristic values is determined to be the maximum is detected as the area of the detecting object. In addition, central moment of the detecting object is calculated, and the inclination of the detecting object in the image is detected based on the calculated central moment. Further, two specific points such as eyes of the driver included in the detecting object are detected, and the inclination of the detecting object in the image determined by the detected two points is detected.
US08045760B2

The present invention relates to various improvements relating to automatic vehicle equipment control systems.
US08045738B2

Feedback detection, adaptive notch filtering, and gain adjustment are combined for managing feedback. Feedback detection includes detection of short term and long term spectral peaks and assessing their magnitude, shape, rate of growth, and power concentration ratio. A plurality of notch filters are available and are allocated according to the spectral magnitude of the feedback detected. Wide band gain adjustment supplements the notch filters.
US08045737B2

According to the invention, a real ear acoustic coupling quantity representative of the acoustic coupling of a hearing instrument to the user's ear or an anatomical transfer quantity—for example the Real-Ear-to-Coupler-Difference (RECD), the Microphone Location Effect (MLE), the Coupler Response for Flat Insertion Gain (CORFIG), and/or the Real Ear Open Gain (REOG)—is obtained from a transfer function representative of an acoustic transfer from the receiver to the outer microphone such as a signal feedback threshold gain. The obtained quantity may be used for setting a fitting parameter of the hearing instrument, for example a gain correction.
US08045735B2

An ultrasonic transducer includes: a pair of fixed electrodes including a conductive member; a vibrating film having a conductive layer; and a member which holds the pair of fixed electrodes and the vibrating film. The vibrating film is formed of nonconductive bodies and has an electrode layer formed of a conductive material. The electrode layer is applied with a DC bias voltage of a single polarity by a DC bias supply, and is also applied with an AC signal output from a signal source superimposed on the DC bias voltage. The pair of fixed electrodes have a plurality of holes of the same number at positions facing each other via the vibrating film, and an AC signal is applied between the conductive members of the pair of fixed electrodes by the signal source.
US08045718B2

The invention concerns a method for three-dimensional spatialization of audio channels from a filter BRIR incorporating a theater effect. For a specific number N of samples corresponding to the size of the pulse response of the BRIR filter, it consists in breaking down (A) the BRIR filter into at least a set of delay and amplitude values associated with the times of arrival of reflections; extracting (B) on the number of B samples at least one spectral module of the BRIR filter; and constituting (C) from each successive delay, its amplitude and its spectral module associated with an elementary BRIR filter (BRIRe) directly applied to the audio channels in the time, frequency or transformed domain. The invention is applicable to binaural or multichannel spatialization.
US08045717B2

A stereo decoder and a method therefor are provided. The stereo decoder receives a MPX signal from an FM demodulator, and comprises a first auto-calibration circuit, a band-pass filter, a second auto-calibration circuit, a slicer and a PLL circuit. The first auto-calibration circuit generates a first control signal. The band-pass filter generates the pilot signal by filtering the MPX signal with a center frequency set by the first control signal. The second auto-calibration circuit generates a second control signal. The slicer converts the pilot signal into a square wave signal. The PLL circuit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator for generating an oscillation frequency in response to the second control signal. The PLL circuit receives the square wave signal to generate the reference signal around the predetermined frequency in response to the oscillation frequency.
US08045716B2

A system and method for concealing input parameters that are being loaded into a device. In one embodiment, the system provides a transformed interface, in which a device into which the parameters are loaded contains a series of inverse transformation keys. The parameters to be concealed are transformed using a particular key, along with a transformed index value to indicate the particular key that must be used to inversely transform the parameter.
US08045710B2

A broadcasting method and a broadcast receiver whereby contents are first distributed only for storage so that the stored contents are later played back in a time period predetermined by the distributing party, the contents being encrypted for protection against unauthorized reproduction in any time period other than the intended one. A content is transmitted together with a begin store command in a first time period for storage onto a storage medium at the receiving side. In a time period subsequent to the first time period, a play command is broadcast so as to get the content retrieved from storage for playback. The content should preferably be encrypted. The encrypted content is decrypted and played back using a decryption key transmitted along with the play command in the second time period. The decryption key is deleted the moment the decryption process is terminated.
US08045708B2

A computer enabled secure method and apparatus for generating a cryptographic key, to be used in a subsequent cryptographic process, where the key is to be valid only for example during a specified time period. The method uses a polynomial function which is a function of an input variable such as time, and dynamically computes the key from the polynomial. This is useful for generating decryption keys used for distribution of encrypted content, where the decryption is to be allowed only during a specified time period.
US08045705B2

In computing point multiples in elliptic curve schemes (e.g. kP and sQ) separately using, for example, Montgomery's method for the purpose of combining kP+sQ several operations are repeated in computing kP and sQ individually, that could be executed at the same time. A simultaneous scalar multiplication method is provided that reduces the overall number of doubling and addition operations thereby providing an efficient method for multiple scalar multiplication. The elements in the pairs for P and Q method are combined into a single pair, and the bits in k and s are evaluated at each step as bit pairs. When the bits in k and s are equal, only one doubling operation and one addition operation are needed to compute the current pair, and when the bits in k and s are not equal, only one doubling operation is needed and two addition operations.
US08045696B1

A method, apparatus and computer program product for determining customer routing in a call center is presented. Information relating to a customer in a communication session with the call center is recorded. The information relating to the customer in a communication session with the call center is evaluated and a determination made whether to transfer the customer to a generalist. The customer is transferred to a generalist when a result of the determining is that the customer should be transferred to a generalist and the customer is not transferred to a generalist and when the result of the determining is that the customer should not be transferred to a generalist.
US08045685B2

A remote monitoring and directing system including at least one video camera at the first-aid side to observe the situation of casualty and the operation on the casualty is provided. At least one microphone is disposed at the first-aid side for communicating with the first-aid personnel and directing a clinical operation. At least one medical instrument standard interface is disposed at the first-aid side for transmitting the electrocardiogram or other physiological information. At least one video/audio and data server is disposed at the monitoring side for managing information integration. A plurality of authorized computer systems is set up for conferring with and directing the first-aid station or the ambulance via the Internet, so as to give a direction. A wireless or cable connection is used for the conference between the first-aid side and the monitoring side.
US08045683B2

Systems for providing a tune master caller identification (ID) device include a telecommunications network and a caller device configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, and a tune master caller ID device that is coupled to a telephone device. The tune master caller ID device receives caller identification information, associates a tune with the caller identification information, and plays the tune associated with the caller identification. The telephone device coupled to the tune master caller ID device provides telephone call processing capabilities. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US08045680B2

An imaging device includes an imager 7 which images an X-ray image generated by X-ray irradiation; an X-ray detector 90 which detects X-ray irradiation and outputs a detected signal showing the result of the detection; an EP-ROM 93a storing an offset value of the X-ray detector 90; and a signal processor 61 which generates reference information for acquiring a start timing of imaging by the imager 7 from the detected signal based on the offset value stored in the EP-ROM 93a.
US08045679B2

The invention comprises an X-ray method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The system creates an electron beam that strikes an X-ray generation source where the X-ray generation source is located proximate to the proton beam path. By generating the X-rays near the proton beam path, an X-ray path that is essentially the proton beam path is created. Using the generated X-rays, the system collects X-ray images of a localized body tissue region about a cancerous tumor. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and/or in system verification and validation.
US08045677B2

It is described a method for acquiring a series of two-dimensional X-ray attenuation data of an object under examination (310) by means of an X-ray imaging apparatus (100) having a rotatable scanning unit (301). In order to increase the angular range of the scanning unit (301), when a region of interest (HOa) located not in the center of the object (310) is examined the object under examination (310) is shifted such that the region of interest is temporarily positioned outside the center of rotation. By coupling the rotational movement of the scanning unit (301) with the translative movement of the object (310) in a synchronized manner a collision between the scanning unit (301) and the object (310) can be effectively avoided. By employing an automated motorized object table (312) a precise pre-determined movement of the object (310) can be achieved during the data acquisition. By using an appropriate phantom based calibration procedure carried out with the same table movements known three-dimensional reconstruction algorithm can be directly applied in order to generate a three-dimensional representation of the region of interest (110a).
US08045676B2

A radiation imaging apparatus acquires information on a scattered radiation distribution at each rotation angle preliminarily determined for a rotation unit, based on images respectively obtained from a first radiation detection sensor having no grid, and a second radiation detection sensor having a grid. Then, the radiation imaging apparatus corrects the image obtained from the second radiation detection sensor based on the information on the scattered radiation distribution so as to reduce influence of scattered radiation thereon. Next, the radiation imaging apparatus performs reconstruction processing based on the image corrected by the correction unit.
US08045675B2

A bi-directional shift register includes N stages, wherein the mth stage among the N stages includes a node, an output end, first input circuit, second input circuit, and a shift register unit. N is a natural number greater than 1 and m is a natural number smaller than or equal to N. First control signal is measured on the node. The output end outputs an mth output signal. The first input circuit receives an m−1th output signal as a control signal and a power signal to accordingly generate an enabled first driving signal to the node in first period. The second input circuit receives an m+1th output signal as a control signal and a power signal to accordingly generate an enabled second driving signal to the node in second period. Controlled by the first control signal, the shift register unit generates an mth output signal in third period.
US08045655B2

An apparatus and method for signal detection in a CR-based wireless communication system are provided. In the signal detection apparatus, a cyclic power calculator calculates the power spectral density of a cyclo-stationary and periodical signal to be detected with respect to a cyclic frequency and calculates optimum statistics using the power spectral density. A signal detector determines whether a signal exists or not according to the optimum statistics.
US08045654B1

A method of detecting a signal in an input channel of a receiver includes applying each of a plurality of pre-detection bandwidths to an input signal. The method can include deriving, in a cascaded fashion, a plurality of pre-detection bandwidths for the input channel, and determining a temporal and spectral extent of pulsed energy in each of the plurality of pre-detection bandwidths. The derivation of the pre-detection bandwidths for the input channel can be performed by dividing the input channel into a sequence of smaller bandwidth sub-channels, so that the number of sub-channels is determined by how much bandwidth and pulse width range is able to be covered by a single detector.
US08045642B2

An IQ-modulator pre-distorter includes means for pre-distorting each IQ-vector by a 2-dimensional linear transformation that depends on the value of the IQ-vector to be pre-distorted. The transformation is based on polynomials in the I- and Q-components. In a preferred embodiment the transformation is based on a 2×2 dimensional lookup table matrix, the elements (T11, T12, T21, T22) of which are sampled polynomials in the I- and Q-components of the IQ-vector.
US08045639B2

Provided is a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) data transmission method. A transmitter generates a transmission symbol by adding a parity symbol to a predetermined number of data symbols, generates a preprocessed symbol by multiplying the predetermined number of transmission symbols by a preprocessing matrix in units of blocks, selects a transmission antenna associated with a non-zero transmission symbol among preprocessed transmission symbols constituting the preprocessed symbol, and transmits the preprocessed symbol via the selected transmission antenna. A receiver receives a signal transmitted from the transmitter, estimates a preprocessed symbol and a transmission antenna index from the received signal, and restores the transmission symbols using the estimated preprocessed symbol and transmission antenna index.
US08045632B2

Systems and methods for dual-carrier modulation (DCM) encoding and decoding for communication systems. Some embodiments comprise a DCM encoder for applying a pre-transmission function to at least one 16-QAM input symbol and mapping resulting transformed symbols onto at least one larger constellation prior to transmission. Some embodiments joint decode, by a DCM decoder, a predetermined number of received data elements and compute a set of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) values for at least eight bits from a resulting at least one transformed symbol.
US08045616B2

Each of an image coding apparatus and an image decoding apparatus uses a motion compensated prediction using virtual samples so as to detect a motion vector for each of regions of each frame of an input signal. Accuracy of virtual samples is locally determined while the accuracy of virtual samples is associated with the size of each region which is a motion vector detection unit in which a motion vector is detected. Virtual samples having half-pixel accuracy are used for motion vector detection unit regions having a smaller size 8×8 MC, such as blocks of 8×4 size, blocks of 4×8 size, and blocks of 4×4 size, and virtual samples having ¼-pixel accuracy are used for motion vector detection unit regions that are equal to or larger than 8×8 MC in size.
US08045615B2

This disclosure describes deblock filtering techniques in which an in-loop deblock filter of a first codec is used as a post deblock filter of a second codec. A number of techniques are also described to facilitate input parameter adjustments and allow for the effective use of the filter with both codecs. The techniques can simplify the architecture of a device that includes multiple codecs operating according to different coding standards. Specifically, the different codecs can use the same deblocking filter regardless of whether the coding standard calls for in-loop filtering or whether post filtering is used. For example, a filter designed as an in-loop deblocking filter for a codec that complies with the ITU-T H.264 coding standard can be used as a post deblocking filter for MPEG-4 video.
US08045602B2

A transceiver device for coupling between a power line and a network interface unit includes a power line modem for transmitting and receiving data between the power line and the network interface unit and a power circuit coupled to the power line modem that is adapted to deliver a DC power signal to the network interface unit. The power circuit includes a discovery circuit adapted to determine the type of network interface unit that is attached. A load path control circuit switches the DC power signal between a PHY interface and a connector interface of the power line modem based on the determined type.
US08045595B2

A method for fabricating a laser diode comprising providing a laser diode epitaxial structure and depositing a metal layer stack on the epitaxial structure, the stack comprising a contact and sacrificial layer. A ridge is formed in the laser diode epitaxial structure, the stack being the mask forming the ridge. An insulating layer is deposited over the ridge and at least a portion of the sacrificial layer is removed. At least a portion of the insulating thin film at the top of the stack is also removed. A pad metal is deposited in electrical contact with the contact and is insulated from the ridge and laser diode epitaxial structures by the insulating layer.
US08045592B2

Exemplary embodiments are provided of apparatus and methods relating to antenna multiplexers and demultiplexers are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, antenna multiplexers include two or more inputs for receiving a corresponding number of signals from multiple antennas. The antennas may include world cell antennas, AM/FM antennas, SDARS antennas, GPS antennas, and/or antennas combining the preceding. Exemplary antenna multiplexers also include an output for simultaneously outputting the combined signals received by the multiplexer. Demultiplexers for receiving such combined signals and outputting each signal via a separate output are also disclosed.
US08045586B2

A method provided by the present invention for transmitting overhead information, includes dividing and reforming overhead information into at least two overhead parts, inserting the at least two overhead parts into overhead bytes of at least two corresponding data frames, and transmitting the at least two overhead parts via the at least two data frames which are microwave frames. Overhead information transmitting apparatus and overhead information receiving apparatus are also provided by the present invention. With the method and apparatus of the present invention, the channel bandwidth resources occupied by the overhead bytes or each microwave frame are greatly reduced. If the saved channel bandwidth is used for performing the error correction code on the transmitted information, the code gain is improved and the sensitivity requirement on the receiver is reduced so that the cost of a microwave transmitting system is reduced eventually.
US08045585B2

Techniques are described for aggregating multiple media packets to improve end-to-end bandwidth efficiency. The techniques include using an RTP aggregation protocol that is not sensitive to packet loss to aggregate multiple media packets under a single header. According to the RTP aggregation protocol, the single header for an aggregated media packet comprises a version field, a zero field, a sequence number field and a trunk ID field. The single header encapsulates the aggregated payload, which is an aggregation of Real-Time Protocol (RTP) segments. An RTP segment either has a compressed format or an uncompressed format. The uncompressed RTP segment includes the complete uncompressed RTP packet copied from the original User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet. The compressed RTP segment includes the payload of the original RTP rather than the complete original RTP packet.
US08045582B1

A communication system is provided, which comprises a data conversion module and a framer. The data conversion module is configured to receive a first plurality of data streams. The data conversion module is also configured to provide a second plurality of data streams. Each of the second plurality of data streams comprises first data units, channel identifiers, and format indicators. Each of the first data units is associated with one of the channel identifiers and one of the format indicators. The format indicators are based on variable bandwidths of data streams. The framer is configured to receive the second plurality of data streams. The framer is also configured to identify channel information of the second plurality of data streams. The framer is also configured to allocate the second plurality of data streams into one or more self-describing superframes.
US08045580B2

The present invention intends to improve communication efficiency between two communication apparatuses each engaged in the communication by full duplex communication method by using a surplus band of the one to transmission band of the other. A first bandwidth required by a first communication apparatus (A) at data transmission and a second bandwidth required by a second communication apparatus (B) at data transmission are presumed. Next, the first bandwidth presumed as mentioned is compared to a first bandwidth used which the first communication apparatus (A) currently uses and at the same time, the second bandwidth presumed as mentioned is compared to a second bandwidth used which the second communication apparatus (B) currently uses. The first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are then adjusted, and a third bandwidth which the first communication apparatus (A) uses at data transmission and a fourth bandwidth which the second communication apparatus (B) uses are determined.
US08045565B1

In an environmentally hardened network, a data and power distribution cable is employed in connection with reliable end connectors, high performance physical layer transceivers clocked at a lower rate than is specified and full duplex switched packet transmission techniques between switched nodes in order to extend operational distance between network elements. In a specific embodiment, the data and power distribution cable comprises a data distribution element, a power distribution element, an optional strain distribution element, an optional hollow conduit, and an extra shield and outdoor sheath. The cable may incorporate: 1) a Gel filled outdoor UTP (CAT-5) cable; 2) end connectors of type DB-9 [D-Sub] for connection of the UTP to network equipment; 3) power transmission cable of wire gauge sufficient to carry the power required by network equipment (switches, etc) for the specific segment of the network; and optionally 4) a hollow conduit that permits installation of optical fiber before or after installation of the cable.
US08045563B2

A credit based queue scheduler dynamically adjusts credits depending upon at least a moving average of incoming packet size to alleviate the impact of traffic burstiness and packet size variation, and increase the performance of the scheduler by lowering latency and jitter. For the case when no service differentiation is required, the credit is adjusted by computing a weighted moving average of incoming packets for the entire scheduler. For the case when differentiation is required, the credit for each queue is determined by a product of a sum of credits given to all queues and priority levels of each queue.
US08045562B2

A carrier sense relationship and an interference relationship between logical links in a shared, broadcast, medium network are determined. Bandwidth for each of the links is estimated based on the carrier sense relationship and the interference relationship.
US08045558B2

In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a router, a first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides an attachment link used by the router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link. The router detects an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix from the attachment router and that is available for use by the router. The router claims a second IPv6 address prefix from at least a portion of the delegated IPv6 address prefix, for use on at least one ingress link of the router.
US08045550B2

Network devices, systems, and methods are provided for packet processing. One network device includes a network chip having a number of network ports for the device. The network chip includes logic to select original data packets, based on a set of criteria, received from or destined to a particular port on the device and to tunnel the selected data packets to a second network device having a different destination address to that of the selected data packets.
US08045549B2

A method for packet reordering in a network processor, including the steps of processing packets, dividing the processed packets into a plurality of tiers and reordering the tiers independently from each other and collecting eligible packets from the plurality of tiers in a collector for forwarding. The method further includes the step of during the processing, determining the nominal packet processing time of each packet. The processed packets are divided into the plurality of tiers depending on the nominal packet processing time.
US08045540B2

A method for handling user identity and privacy, wherein a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy is about to forward a SIP request to a next SIP proxy includes the step of determining whether Transport Layer Security (TLS) is supported in a hop to a next SIP proxy. When TLS is supported, the method includes establishing a TLS connection to the hop to the next SIP proxy, requesting a certificate from the next SIP proxy, receiving the certificate, verifying the certificate and trustworthiness of a network of the next SIP proxy and retaining identity information when the certificate and the trustworthiness of the network is verified. When TLS is not supported, or when the certificate is not verified, or when the trustworthiness of the network is not verified, the identity information is removed. Thereafter, the SIP request is forwarded over the TLS connection.
US08045539B2

A Virtual Group Connection (VGC) scheme for grouping ATM connections. A plurality of VPCs, VCCs, or both are managed together as a single virtual data pipe having a pool of common connection resources (e.g., bandwidth, buffering, etc.) associated therewith. Shaping, grooming, policing, switching, and other traffic engineering operations may be performed on a VGC as a single connection hierarchy operable to be associated with a single customer.
US08045523B2

A technology of detecting MIHP information before an OSI layer 3 process is performed. A method of performing Media Independent Handover (MIH) includes analyzing a field for indicating Internet Protocol (IP) version information, if a value of the field for indicating IP version information corresponds to an MIH layer, performing a process of the MIH layer and performing a process of an IP layer, and if a value of the field for indicating IP version information does not correspond to the MIH layer, directly performing the process of the IP layer. Accordingly, an IP layer that is the third layer of the OSI 7 layers can determine without performing a separate operation whether an MIH process is performed. Thus, a delay of a processing speed of a device can be prevented, resulting in an increase of QoS of a network.
US08045508B2

A method for transmitting a plurality of control information through a PUCCH or a PUSCH is disclosed. The method includes transmitting first control information, and transmitting second control information. The transmission of the first control information and the transmission of the second control information are performed in units of one subframe and are performed once per predetermined period, respectively. In a subframe in which the transmission of the second control information is to be simultaneously performed with the transmission of the first control information, the second control information is excluded for transmission or the first and the second information are simultaneously transmitted, according to the configuration of a closed-loop system or an open-loop system.
US08045501B2

A method (300) and apparatus (200) for signaling uplink scheduling information is disclosed. The method may include determining (320) whether an enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device and an enhanced general packet radio service non-2-B mobile device are assigned to a same uplink time slot. The method may also include limiting (330) downlink communications to Ap and B radio link control block families when sending packet data to the enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device, if the enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device and the enhanced general packet radio service non-2-B mobile device are assigned to the same uplink time slot.
US08045498B2

This invention relates to a system (3) and method for monitoring the location of a mobile network unit (9) in a low-power localised wireless communication network (10) such as a wireless personal area network (WPAN). The WPAN could be a ZigBee network. The system (3) comprises a localised wireless communication network (10) having a control unit (5), a plurality of fixed network units (7) and a plurality of mobile network units (9). The mobile network units (9) transmit identification signals and two or more fixed network units (7) receive the identification signals directly and calculate the strength of the identification signals. This information is transmitted to the control unit (5) where the control unit processor calculates with a high degree of accuracy the position of the mobile network unit (9). It is possible to track and plot the location and movement of one or more mobile network units.
US08045493B2

A network controller operates in an unlicensed wireless communication system including a first radio access network. The network controller includes a Up interface for communicating with a mobile station and an IP network interface. The network controller includes a network interface for connecting the network controller to a UMTS core network that is accessible to a second radio access network that includes a UTRAN. The network interface includes an Iu-CS interface to communicate with a MSC in the UMTS core network. The network interface supports signaling protocols for circuit-switched services while inter-working with the UMTS core network via the Iu-CS interface using a layered protocol that includes a RANAP layer over a SCCP layer and several Iu-CS control plane lower layers. The network controller includes modules for generating and/or processing messages transmitted over the network interface. The network controller appears to the UMTS core network as a UTRAN RNC.
US08045492B2

The present invention provides a technique for automatically establishing a virtual circuit from one edge device to another through a core network. The virtual circuit may comprise one or more pseudowire segments. These pseudowire segments extend between adjacent edge and core devices within the core network. Pseudowire segments through the core network are automatically stitched together as a setup message is forwarded from a first edge device to a second edge device through the core network. A virtual circuit is established in one direction, and packets are forwarded in an opposite direction. With the present invention, a virtual circuit comprising any number of pseudowire segments, as well as two attachment circuits, may be established in an automatic and efficient manner upon being initiated by the first edge device.
US08045490B1

An internet telephony system (ITS) comprising a browser display having a hyperlink, communicating with a server, retrieving a user's preferences, and initiating a voice communication with the user, through a communications channel defined by the user preferences. An ITS comprising a client system having an Internet browser, and a server hosting a Web site, wherein a message is transmitted from the server to the client system based on the user's status with respect to Web site, the user seeking to establish a voice communication session. A telephony server, comprising an application program communicating directly with telephony hardware, and an application programming interface, wherein the application program includes a call function to an external program. An ITS, comprising a browser display having a hyperlink, the hyperlink communicating with a server, retrieving a user-related data, and initiating a voice communication with the user, wherein the user is charged for the communication.
US08045489B2

A method for the automatic configuration of conference resources includes receiving a user request identifying at least one conference resource to be used in a conference. The at least one conference resource is reserved for the conference. Operation of the conference resource is automatically initiated without user interaction.
US08045483B1

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing reverse auto-negotiation, in which one network device establishes a link with another network device at a preferred operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) common to both devices without linking twice. The physical layer of a local network device (local PHY) may stall the normal auto-negotiation process with the link partner, while receiving the abilities of the link partner. The local PHY may then transmit a signal having only the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) encoded within. The link partner may then conclude that the local PHY is only capable of the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) and a link between the two devices may be established at that common mode.
US08045482B2

A system and method is described for constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among a plurality of sensors and for using such a network to perform location tracking. The system and method uses time-coded data received from each of the sensors to determine a current proximity of each of the sensors to one or more beacons. Then, by leveraging information relating to the effective transmission ranges of the beacons, the system and method determines the relative location of each of the plurality of sensors with respect to other sensors within the plurality of sensors. Where actual (as opposed to relative) location information is available for a particular sensor, it can be used to generate or augment location information associated with other sensors known to be spatially and temporally proximate to the particular sensor. The current location information for each of the sensors is then used in providing location-based services.
US08045481B2

The present invention provides systems and methods for abstracting a network topology into virtual links and supporting both generic and instantiated virtualized links for linking a virtualized topology with actual resources within a domain, providing security over network topology information, providing control over the allocation of resources, and reducing the complexity of advertising.
US08045479B2

A test controller operable to test a video access device can include a first port coupled to particular test equipment and a second port coupled to video access devices. Each video access device can include a wideband link and a test port. The particular test equipment and each of the video access devices can be remotely located as compared to one another. The test controller can include a processor that is operable to send a command to connect the test port of a first particular video access device of the video access devices to its corresponding wideband link, and establish connectivity between the test equipment and a second particular video access device of the video access devices. The test controller can be part of a system that includes methods used to test video access devices.
US08045476B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive information from a set top box that is associated with an undesired condition being experienced by a user of the set top box where the information is inputted into the set top box by the user, determine a failure condition associated with the information, perform a first diagnostic process to isolate the failure condition between a network failure and a customer premises equipment (CPE) failure, and transmit correction instructions to the set top box for presentation to the user when the failure condition is isolated to the CPE failure. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08045475B2

Maintenance entities may be defined between customer and provider flow points to allow performance management to take place on an Ethernet network. The maintenance entities may be defined for access link, intra-domain, and inter-domain, and may be defined on a link or service basis. Performance parameters, including availability metrics, may be collected for the maintenance entities. The provision of such availability metrics in an Ethernet based solution to facilitate consistency of service management and operations for carriers transitioning to the Ethernet solution.
US08045469B2

The invention relates to a system and method for adjusting a characteristic of a data transmission in order to maintain a rate of transmission. For the method, it comprises: monitoring for initiation of the data transmission to the device; identifying characteristics of the device relating to the data transmission that affect the ability of the device to process the transmission; automatically adjusting the transmission rate according to a preset transmission rate progression established for the communication network; and adjusting characteristics of the data transmission to allow the characteristics of data transmission to conform to the characteristics of the device while maintaining the transmission rate for the device.
US08045452B2

Disclosed is a method for handling fault between an Egress LSR and an Egress data device connected with it, including the following steps: an Egress Label Switching Router (LSR) transmitting fault information to an Ingress LSR after detecting a fault of an Egress Work link connected with it; the Ingress LSR adjusting a service flow transmission according to the received fault information. When there exists an Egress Protect link in the network, the present invention can transmit the service flow through the Egress Protect link, thus it is guaranteed that the service flow can be transmitted to the Egress data device; and the service flow is not transmitted when there is no Egress Protect link in the network, thus the waste of network resources is avoided.
US08045448B2

Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting a packet of a zero-padded OFDM signal, which are capable of determining if a packet exists in a reception (RX) signal by comparing a cross-correlation value of an OFDM signal delayed by a predetermined sample time, e.g., a zero-padded sample time, with a power value of the RX signal, thereby increasing a packet detection probability and preventing a false alarm. The packet detecting apparatus includes: a cross-correlation calculator for calculating a cross-correlation value of a reception signal received from the outside and delaying the calculated cross-correlation value by a predetermined sample time; a power calculator for calculating a power value of the reception signal; and a packet detector for determining if a packet exists in the reception signal by comparing the delayed cross-correlation value with the calculated power value, and detecting the corresponding packet.
US08045447B2

A method for communication includes allocating, in a multiple-access communication system (20) that uses multiple subcarriers, first subcarriers to a first communication terminal for transmitting first data, and second subcarriers to a second communication terminal for transmitting second data. The first communication terminal is assigned to modulate the first data onto at least some of the first subcarriers using a first multi-carrier modulation scheme, to produce a first signal. The second communication terminal is assigned to modulate the second data onto at least some of the second subcarriers using a second multi-carrier modulation scheme, which has a reduced peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) relative to the first multi-carrier modulation scheme, to produce a second signal. Simultaneous communication is carried out with the first and second communication terminals by simultaneously receiving the first and second signals over the first and second subcarriers.
US08045446B2

A method for eliminating DSL crosstalk is provided. The method includes steps of a coordinated transceiver device notifies an existing online opposite device of a signal sent to a new online opposite device; the coordinated transceiver device receives a calculation result that is obtained by the existing online opposite device based on a detected error signal and the signal sent to the new online opposite device, the coordinated transceiver device updates the coefficient of a vector pre-encoder according to the calculation result. A computer program tangibly embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, computer-readable storage medium, DSL opposite device, DSL coordinated transceiver device and system for eliminating the DSL crosstalk are also provided to implement the method. The provided method may reduce the duration of the crosstalk that the new online opposite device generates on the existing online opposite device, and enable the new online opposite device to join a vector group faster.
US08045439B1

A system includes an encoding module and a laser driver module. The encoding module is configured to encode a data stream. The laser driver module is configured to convert the encoded data stream into a write signal including one or more edges. The write signal is output to an optical writer. The laser driver module is configured to adjust an actual position at which the optical writer writes a first edge of the one or more edges on an optical storage medium away from a desired position for the first edge. The adjustment is made based on (i) a first preceding edge position, (ii) a first following edge position, (iii) a second preceding edge position or a second following edge position, and (iv) a third preceding edge position or a third following edge position. The first edge corresponds to a beginning of a mark edge of the write signal.
US08045437B2

A device and method of recording marks representing data in an information layer of a record carrier includes irradiating the information layer by a pulsed radiation beam, each mark being written by a sequence of pulses. The recorded marks are erasable by irradiating the information layer with an erase radiation beam. The erase radiation beam has a first erase power level (e1) for a first erase period (t1), a second erase power level (e2) higher than or equal to the first erase power level (e1) for a second erase period (t2), and a third erase power level (e3) lower than the second erase power level (e2) for a third erase period (t3).
US08045434B2

A method of accessing an optical disc is disclosed. The method includes: enabling a focus servo control without enabling a tracking servo control, and then moving an optical pick-up unit in a radial direction of the optical disc; obtaining at least a first reference signal and a second reference signal according to a laser beam reflected from the optical disc when the optical pick-up unit is moving in the radial direction; and monitoring at least the first reference signal and the second reference signal to identify a boundary of a predetermined data area on the optical disc.
US08045428B2

An optical pickup apparatus comprising: an objective lens focusing laser light emitted from a laser diode to a signal recording layer of an optical disc; a photodetector including a substantially square light-receiving region made of first to fourth sensors divided by boundaries in a first direction corresponding to a tracking direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, the light-receiving region being irradiated with reflected light of the laser light which is reflected from the signal recording layer thereof; and a half mirror reflecting the laser light in a direction of the objective lens and allowing the reflected light to pass therethrough in a direction of the photodetector, the boundary in the second direction for dividing the first to fourth sensors in the light-receiving region being set according to a shape of a spot of the reflected light directly applied from the half mirror to the light-receiving region.
US08045418B2

A device includes a visual-feature detecting unit that detects a visual feature of a sound source based on an image and visual information thereof and outputs visually localizing information indicative of at least a direction thereof, an auditory-feature detecting unit that detects an auditory feature of the sound source based on a sound and auditory information of the sound source and outputs auditorily localizing information indicative of at least the direction thereof, and a sound-source detecting unit that detects a position of the sound source based on the visually localizing information and the auditorily localizing information.
US08045411B2

A semiconductor memory device capable of measuring a temperature without the influence of noise includes a temperature sensing device for sensing a current temperature in response to a control signal, wherein the semiconductor memory device enters a power save mode for a predetermined time starting from an activation of the control signal and wherein the power save mode has substantially no power consumption. A method for driving a semiconductor memory device in accordance with the present invention includes sensing a current temperature in response to a control signal and entering a power save mode for a predetermined time starting from an activation of the control signal, wherein the power save mode has substantially no power consumption.
US08045401B2

A memory is disclosed comprising: a storage array for storing data; and access circuitry for transmitting data to and from the storage array. The access circuitry forms a data path for inputting and outputting data to the storage array. The access circuitry comprises a latch configured to latch in response to a first phase of a first clock signal and a further latch configured to latch in response to a second phase of a second clock signal, the further latch comprises an output latch for outputting the data from the storage array, and the first and second clock signals are synchronized with each other. The memory further comprises: a multiplexer, a scan input and a scan enable input, the multiplexer being responsive to an asserted scan enable signal at the scan enable input to form a scan path comprising the latch and the further latch connected together to form a master slave flip flop, such that scan data input at the scan input passes through the master slave flip flop and not through the storage array while the scan enable signal is asserted and is output by the output latch.
US08045396B2

A reading method applied for a memory, which includes a cell row including a first memory cell coupled to a first bit line and a second memory cell coupled to a second bit line is provided. The reading method comprises the following steps. Firstly, the first bit line coupled to a first terminal of the first memory cell is selected for reading the first memory cell in a time period. Next, the second terminal of the first memory cell is discharged via the second bit line coupled to the second memory cell in the time period.
US08045390B2

A system for operating a memory device includes a memory array having a number of memory cells and a set of dynamic reference cells coupled to the memory cells in word lines. Each of the dynamic reference provides the associated memory cells with a dynamic reference value for determining a status of at least one of the associated memory cells. The dynamic reference value is capable of reflecting a variation in a threshold value of at least one of the associated memory cells.
US08045387B2

A flash memory and programming method are disclosed. The flash memory includes a memory cell array having memory cells arranged in a plurality of word lines including a selected word line and a plurality of non-selected word lines and a plurality of bit lines, a high voltage generator generating a program voltage applied to the selected word line, and a pass voltage applied to at least one of the non-selected word lines adjacent to the selected word line, and control logic controlling the generation of the program voltage, such that the program voltage is incrementally increased during a program operation, and generation of the pass voltage, such that the program voltage is incrementally increased.
US08045377B2

A method and system for extending the life span of a flash memory device. The flash memory device is dynamically configurable to store data in the single bit per cell (SBC) storage mode or the multiple bit per cell (MBC) mode, such that both SBC data and MBC data co-exist within the same memory array. One or more tag bits stored in each page of the memory is used to indicate the type of storage mode used for storing the data in the corresponding subdivision, where a subdivision can be a bank, block or page. A controller monitors the number of program-erase cycles corresponding to each page for selectively changing the storage mode in order to maximize lifespan of any subdivision of the multi-mode flash memory device.
US08045371B2

An information storage device includes a magnetic structure having a buffer track and a plurality of storage tracks connected to the buffer track. A write/read unit is disposed on the magnetic structure, and a plurality of switching devices are respectively connected to the buffer track, the plurality of storage tracks, and the write/read unit. The switching devices that are respectively connected to the buffer track and the storage tracks. The information storage device further includes a circuit configured to supply current to at least one of the magnetic structure and the write/read unit.
US08045365B2

A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) having DRAM cells coupled to wordlines and bitlines. In a self-refresh mode, the cells coupled with the even numbered rows retain main data previously stored therein and the assistant data, which is logically opposite to the main data, is overwritten into the cells coupled with the wordlines of the odd numbered rows. When the DRAM enters the self-refresh mode, a starting refresh address for the self-refresh mode is detected. If the detected starting refresh address does not match with a predetermined correct address set for the self-refresh operation mode, a dummy refresh cycle will be established in an entry-burst self-refresh period. During the dummy refresh cycle, a dummy refresh command is added to increment an internal row address counter that provides row addresses for self-refreshing the cells of the selected wordlines within the cell array.
US08045364B2

An ion barrier layer made from a dielectric material in contact with an electronically insulating layer is operative to prevent mobile ions transported into the electronically insulating layer from passing through the ion barrier layer and into adjacent layers during data operations on a non-volatile memory cell. A conductive oxide layer in contact with the electronically insulating layer is the source of the mobile ions. A programming data operation is operative to transport a portion of the mobile ions into the electronically insulating layer and an erase data operation is operative to transport the mobile ions back into the conductive oxide layer. When the portion is positioned in the electronically insulating layer the memory cell stores data as a programmed conductivity profile and when a substantial majority of the mobile ions are positioned in the conductive oxide layer the memory cell stores data as an erased conductivity profile.
US08045363B2

A variable resistance memory device may include a first array of first variable resistance memory cells and a second array of second variable resistance memory cells on an integrated circuit chip. Each of the first variable resistance memory cells may be configured to store a first data value by maintaining a first electrical resistance and to store a second data value by maintaining a second electrical resistance. The first and second data values are different, and the second resistance is greater than the first resistance. Each of the second variable resistance memory cells may be configured to store the first data value by maintaining a third electrical resistance and to store the second data value by maintaining a fourth electrical resistance. The fourth resistance may be greater than the third resistance, and the third resistance may be less than the first resistance.
US08045358B2

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including: a memory cell array including: memory cell blocks each having series-connected memory cells; wordlines; and a bitline pair connected to the memory cell blocks, one functioning as a readout bitline, the other one functioning as a reference bitline; an amplification circuit connected to the bitline pair to amplify a signal difference therebetween; and a reference voltage generation circuit including: a dummy memory cell block that has the same configuration as the memory cell block, that has one terminal connected to a first dummy plate line and that has the other terminal connected to the reference bitline; and a paraelectric capacitor that has one terminal connected to a second dummy plate line and that has the other terminal connected to the reference bitline.
US08045347B2

A method for operating a converter circuit is disclosed. Such a converter circuit has a converter unit with a multiplicity of actuatable power semiconductor switches and is connected to a three-phase electrical AC mains system and in which the actuatable power semiconductor switches are actuated by means of an actuation signal (SA) formed from a control signal (SR), and the control signal (SR) is formed by adjusting an H-th harmonic component of system currents (iNH) to a system current setpoint value (iNHref), wherein H=1, 2, 3 . . . . For the purpose of reducing a harmonic component in the system voltages, the system current setpoint value (iNHref) is formed by adjusting the absolute value of an H-th harmonic component of the system voltages (uNH) to the absolute value of a prescribable system voltage setpoint value (uNHref). An exemplary apparatus carries out the method.
US08045345B2

A detected DC voltage value estimation mechanism samples detected DC voltage values at specific intervals of a period T, stores detected DC voltage values Vn to Vn−m detected at a present time tn up to a sampling time tn−m which is m sampling cycles (m≧1) before the present time tn, and calculates a DC voltage estimation value Vn+1 at a next time tn+1 using the detected DC voltage values Vn to Vn−m, expressing a curve connecting the voltage values Vn to Vn−m by a specific function. An output voltage control into which the DC voltage estimation value Vn+1 is input corrects an output voltage command value and outputs the corrected output voltage command value to a power converter.
US08045342B2

A plasma display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plasma display device includes a plasma display panel (PDP), a chassis base having one side for supporting the PDP, and a printed circuit board assembly (PBA) mounted on another side of the chassis base. The chassis base includes a main frame mounted on the PDP, a bracket mounted on the main frame, a sub-frame mounted on at least one of the main frame, the bracket, and the PDP, and a shield box that is mounted to at least one of the main frame, the bracket, and the sub-frame, and that includes the PBA. One embodiment reduces weight of a chassis base and manufacturing cost, and improves impact resistance of a PDP.
US08045337B2

A lock for a housing may have a protrusion, an opening, a receptacle, and a ramp. The protrusion is formed in a first side wall of a first member of the housing, and the opening is defined in the first side wall. The receptacle extends from a second side wall of a second member of the housing, and is in some ways complementary in shape and in dimensions to the protrusion. The ramp is formed in the second side wall. When the first member and the second member are assembled, the protrusion and the receptacle are mated to form a water-tight seal therebetween, while the ramp is received within the opening.
US08045336B2

A storage device backplane and an identification circuit for identifying using situations of the storage device backplane are provided. The storage device backplane possesses a first connection interface and a second connection interface, for being used as a first backplane supporting a motherboard, or a second backplane cascaded to the first backplane, or a first backplane supporting a daughterboard of the motherboard. The first and second backplanes possess the same storage device backplane structure. If the storage device backplane is used as the first backplane, a first connection interface of the first backplane is coupled to the motherboard or the daughterboard thereof; if the storage device backplane is used as the second backplane, a first connection interface of the second backplane is coupled to a second connection interface of the first backplane. The identification circuit identifies using situations of the storage device backplane and display corresponding correct indicator number.
US08045324B2

A computer includes a computer case, a motherboard, a cable box, a power supply and a peripheral component. The computer case has a first disk drive slot and a second disk drive slot within the inner portion thereof. The cable box is installed in the first disk drive slot. The power supply is connected with the cable box through a power cord. The peripheral component is installed in the second disk drive slot, wherein electricity is transmitted from the power supply to the peripheral component through the cable box.
US08045322B2

A solid insulated bus switchgear including a cabinet having unit and bus rooms, first and second switching units, each having a circuit breaker, current transformer, zero-phase sequence current transformer, and instrument voltage transformer, main buses, a communication bus linked to the main buses, and connected to the first and the second switching units, and first and second leader buses, the first connected to the first switching unit, the second connected to the second switching unit. Each switching unit has a movable cart, the circuit breaker mounted on the cart, and a frame assembly. Two terminals are disposed on the back of the circuit breaker, one connected to a fixed electrode and the other connected to a movable electrode of the circuit breaker. The two terminals are connected to the communication bus and to the first or second leader bus through air bushings.
US08045316B2

A system according to various aspects of the present invention predicts remaining battery capacity for a battery used by a device. The system includes a memory that stores indicia of remaining battery capacity and a plurality of predefined increments of battery capacity consumption. The system further includes a circuit that determines a duration of operating corresponding to one or more of the increments and stores in the memory a predicted remaining battery capacity, adjusted in accordance with the duration and the one or more increments. Other systems, according to various aspects of the present invention, further include a display indicating remaining battery capacity, for example, as a percentage of initial battery capacity, and/or temperature compensation.
US08045310B2

A semiconductor device with an over-current detection feature is disclosed. According to an example of the invention the device includes: a semiconductor chip including a load current path that conducts a load current in response to an input signal activating the load current flow. A current sensor arrangement provides a measurement signal representing the load current. An evaluation circuit is configured to compare the measurement signal with a first threshold and to signal an over-current when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after a delay time period starting from the activation of the load current flow has elapsed.
US08045308B2

The present invention relates to clamp protection circuit and a PFC control circuit employing such clamp protection circuit. Said clamp protection circuit comprises a high voltage isolation module used for receiving power from a high voltage power supply; a voltage clamp module used for receiving an output low voltage from the high voltage isolation module and realizing a clamp protection; and a low voltage bias module used for providing bias voltage to the high voltage isolation module and the voltage clamp module. By employing the clamp protection circuit, the precision of the clamp voltage is improved, the design is simplified and the silicon area is reduced. Meanwhile, the transient response is enhanced. Moreover, when the clamp protection circuit is applied in a PFC control circuit, the design of the whole PFC control circuit is simplified and the silicon area is reduced, and the precision and transient response of the clamp voltage of the clamp protection circuit inside the PFC control circuit are improved.
US08045301B2

When an upper arm of U-phase has failed because of short-circuit, lower arms of V-phase and W-phase as the opposite arms are switching-operated. When only the lower arm of V-phase is turned on, a route of motor current passing through an IGBT element from a V-phase coil is formed, and therefore, the motor current returning to the short-circuited phase decreases. Further, by the switching operation of the arm opposite to the short-circuited arm, an AC current is induced in a motor generator. Therefore, it is possible to continuously drive the motor generator while preventing increase in the current passing through the short-circuited phase, without adding a new device structure. This ensures running of the vehicle in the limp mode.
US08045299B2

A method and apparatus for oxidizing conductive redeposition in TMR sensors is disclosed. A TMR stack having a first electrode that includes at least a pinned layer and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a second electrode that includes a free layer and a tunnel barrier is formed. The TMR barrier layer is etched. Redeposition material is oxidized and the barrier is healed using an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of ozone and water vapor.
US08045297B2

A flex cable comprises a base film, a first adhesive layer coupled with the base film, and at least two signal traces coupled with the first adhesive layer. The flex cable comprises a second adhesive layer coupled with the signal traces and the first adhesive layer, and a cover film coupled with the second adhesive layer. The flex cable comprises an electrically conductive layer adjacent to the signal traces, and parallel with the base film and the cover film.
US08045289B2

A tape cartridge includes a housing and a tape reel that is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The tape reel is adapted to cooperably engage a reel drive member of a data transfer apparatus that, in use, applies a drive torque to the tape reel to rotate the tape reel about the axis of rotation. The cooperable engagement of the tape reel and reel drive member is such as to secure the tape reel to the reel drive member to at least substantially prevent tipping of the tape reel with respect to the reel drive member.
US08045287B1

A system including a self-servo-write, a position measuring module, and a compensation module. The self-servo-write module is configured to position a head of a hard disk drive to write a first set of servo wedges on a magnetic medium of the hard disk drive. The position measuring module is configured to measure a first position of the head when the head writes the first set of servo wedges on the magnetic medium. The compensation module is configured to generate first data to compensate a repeatable error based on the first position of the head measured by the position measuring module. The first data to compensate the repeatable error is written on the magnetic medium along with the first set of servo wedges.
US08045272B2

A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.
US08045270B2

A tiled display device including a plurality of display panels, a lenticular pattern disposed on a display panel, a base film disposed on the lenticular pattern and a prism pattern disposed on the base film.
US08045269B2

An optical filter has a multilayer thin film comprising first to i-th layers stacked in alternate layers of high and low refractive indices on a transparent substrate. Respective odd-numbered layers (high refractive index layers) and respective even-numbered layers (low refractive index layers) form repetitive sequences of layers each of which cyclically changes in optical thickness throughout the multilayer thin film. Each of k-th from-the-bottom alternate layers of high and low refractive indices has such an optical thicknesses as meet the following conditional expressions (1) and (2), concurrently: n×d=(.c/4)×[1+sin{(k−1)×.}×.]  (1) 0 . . . <1   (2) where .c is the center wavelength of reflection band, n is the refraction index of the layer for the d-line, d is the physical thickness of the layer, . is a factor of a pitch angle represented by 2./the number of layers a one layer-stack, . is the rate of amplitude.
US08045266B2

Provided is a binocular loupe capable of adapting to current vision of a worker of a medical operation or precise operation in operating.The binocular loupe has frame means, a pair of binocular loupe bodies, attaching means for fixing the binocular loupe bodies to the frame means, focus adjusting means for adjusting a focal length of each of the binocular loupe bodies, and supporting means for detachably attaching the focus adjusting means to eyepiece portions of the binocular loupe bodies.
US08045255B2

There is disclosed a process for producing microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices, including classifying microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices from a dispersion containing microcapsules in an aqueous medium, using a specific particle classification apparatus of the particle settling type. The resultant microcapsules for electrophoretic display devices are used, as their applications, for sheets for electrophoretic display devices, electrophoretic display devices, and electronic equipments.
US08045249B2

An optical scanning device including a light source, a deflection device to deflect a light beam from the light source, an image focus optical system to focus the light beam deflected by the deflection device on a scanned surface to form an image thereon and scan a surface by the light beam deflected by deflection device to form an image thereon, a light path switching device provided between the light source and the deflection device, which switches a light path of the light beam emitted from the light source to deflect the light beam on different timings such that the light beam scans different surfaces.
US08045245B2

A multicolor hologram (e.g., a two-color hologram) is replicated (copied) into a photosensitive layer by masking to produce a copy (replicate) of the hologram in a manner such that the copy is an accurate and true replication of the hologram (e.g., master hologram) and the copy is characterized to possess a high brightness level and color fidelity comparable to that of the multicolor hologram that was replicated. Both flood and scan modes can be employed in the replication.
US08045241B2

A color correction apparatus of a scanner and a method of controlling the same. The color correction apparatus changes data existing outside of the gamut boundary to the other data existing within a gamut boundary in order to correctly express a gamut, and correctly corrects the color of the scanner. The color correction apparatus includes a calculator to calculate CIE data corresponding to RGB data, and a correction unit to change the CIE data to new CIE data existing within a gamut boundary if it is determined that the CIE data exists outside of the gamut boundary.
US08045239B2

An external device configuration apparatus includes a scanner controlling unit that controls a scanner for scanning an image, an external device controlling unit that determines whether the external device is connected, and an integrated management unit that when it is determined that the external device is connected by the external device controlling unit, acquires setting information about the scanner memorized in the external device and configures the setting for scanning of the image by the scanner based on the acquired setting information.
US08045237B2

In a data processing apparatus of the present invention, a disk unit storing a disk is mounted on the apparatus such that the surface of the disk is parallel to the direction of a shock or an impact. This protects the disk unit and therefore the disk from the influence of shocks and impacts as far as possible.
US08045235B2

Provided are a specific image information adding method with enhanced detection accuracy enabling multiple pieces of information to be added, and an image forming apparatus using the method. In the method of adding specific image information about a recorded image onto the recorded image, the specific image information consists of reference information and identification information, the reference information is formed so as to be able to set a reference position for reading of the specific image information, and the identification information is formed from dot images indicative of bit information at predetermined positions on an arc or a circumference around the reference position. The identification information can represent a single information item by a plurality of dot images, which are placed on a plurality of different arcs or circumferences and arranged at predetermined spacings in the circumferential direction and in the radial direction.
US08045234B2

An image forming apparatus with an image reading apparatus that may suppress the intensity level of radiated noise from the image reading apparatus in an appropriate manner, without disrupting other functions, etc. The movable image reading apparatus comprises a carriage having a light source adapted to expose an original to light, a photoelectric conversion element, and a drive circuit unit adapted to drive the photoelectric conversion element; and a plurality of guide members adapted to movably guide the carriage. The plurality of guide members are individually earthed to a housing of the image forming apparatus through a plurality of earth contacts.
US08045228B2

An image processing apparatus including a data inputting part for inputting image data, a document recognizing part for recognizing the image data as a document, a document storing part for storing document data corresponding to the document recognized by the document recognizing part, and a stored document managing part for managing the document data stored in the document storing part is disclosed. The image processing apparatus has a document analyzing part configured to analyze the input image data, a text writing part configured to obtain an analysis result from the document analyzing part and write the analysis result in a text format, a part configured to associate the analysis result to the document data stored in the document storing part and register the analysis result in correspondence with the document data, and a part configured to search for a target document by referring to the registered analysis result.
US08045224B2

An image formation system includes a medium-pattern-information-read-unit that reads pattern information of a surface of a medium; a pattern-information-image-creation-unit that creates a pattern Information image based on the read pattern information; and a print unit that adds the pattern information image to a print image to be printed on the surface of the medium and prints the print image on the medium.
US08045220B2

In creating a color conversion table, search time for searching a point at which a color difference with a target color corresponding to a grid point is minimum can be reduced effectively. In a predetermined grid point constituting a second pre-color processing table, a post-RGB value of a target color of the grid point is determined by interpolation computation using a first pre-color processing table created beforehand. An interpolation operation using each grid point data of a plurality of grid points in the neighborhood in the table is executed, thus the post-RGB value of an object grid point is determined. Next, a neighboring region of the obtained post-RGB value is set, and a post-RGB value of most approximate to the target color in the neighboring region is determined as grid point data of the object grid point.
US08045217B2

A printer receives changes to printing conditions by a user when executing reprinting. The printer selects whether to execute reprinting based on application data held in a host computer, or execute reprinting based on printing data held in the printer. If the printer selects executing of reprinting based on application data, the reprint request is sent to the host computer. If the printer selects executing of reprinting based on printing data held in the printer, reprinting is performed based on printing data held in the printer.
US08045214B2

A medical data recording apparatus includes processing device for receiving medical data information in DICOM format through a software module and parsing patient identification information and study information from the received medical data information. The processing device stores the parsed patient identification information and parsed study information in memory. The stored parsed patient identification information and the stored parsed study information has fields that are selected by the processing device and used for print information. A printer automatically labels a recording media using the selected fields from the stored parsed patient identification information and the stored parsed study information.
US08045210B2

An image processing apparatus being provided with: a volatile recording medium that stores image data; a nonvolatile recording medium that stores image data; a transfer portion that transfers image data page by page between the volatile recording medium and the nonvolatile recording medium; a controller that suspends transfer of one page of first image data, lets transfer of one page of second image data interrupt, and executes transfer of that page of the second image data on a priority basis, if a request to transfer that page of the second image data is issued with a higher priority level than that page of the first image data while that page of the first image data is being transferred by the transfer portion, and then, resumes transfer of an untransferred portion of that page of the first image data after that page of the second image data is completely transferred.
US08045205B2

A print control device includes a first data processing unit configured to process first print job data based on a first file format, a second data processing unit configured to process second print job data based on a second file format, the second data processing unit including a data converter configured to convert first print job data into second print job data, a display control unit configured to display an image that may be printed based on the second print job data processed by the second data processing unit, an input unit configured to select therethrough one of the first print job data processed by the first data processing unit and the second print job data processed by the second data processing unit, and an output unit configured to output the print job data selected through the input unit so as to be printed.
US08045200B2

An image processor has a plurality of NICs (communication units), and a function of executing a plurality of jobs involving communication processes with terminals through the NICs. The job processing efficiency of the image processor is improved to the utmost extent. The types of priority jobs are preset for each of the NICs in priority job setting data, and the image processor carries out control so that a type of a job set to be given priority in the priority job setting data is processed in priority when a plurality of jobs involving communication processes through the NICs arise at overlapping timing. A job transmitter terminal transmits a job to the address of the NIC corresponding to the type of the job on the basis of the data that presets the corresponding relation between the types of jobs and communication addresses.
US08045194B2

A document management system capable of reliably implementing disposal management of printed matter resulting from print output based on document data. A print history of images based on the document data printed by a printing device is managed. A deletion instruction for at least one set of document data stored in a document storage device is received. The document data targeted for deletion from the document storage device based on the deletion instruction is deleted. Management information of the document data targeted for deletion from the document storage device based on the print history managed by the management unit is deleted.
US08045193B2

A method is described for automatically predicting user-preferred copy or scan settings based on past user behavior. The method is implemented in a management section of a copier, scanner, or multifunction devices that combine copy, scan and print functions, or on a server connected with such a device. The management section maintains a copy/scan/user (CSU) settings database that stores copy and/or scan settings associated with user IDs. Each time a copy or scan job is initiated, the management section analyzes the CSU database to determine a predicted user-preferred setting. The user may manually change the setting and confirm it, and the management section stores the user confirmed setting in the CSU database for future use. The CSU database may be transferred from one copier/scanner/multifunction device to another.
US08045180B2

A device for detecting the geometrical shape of measurement objects with a computer, a 3D sensor and an object carrier for fixing the measurement object. The computer combines the measurements recorded by a 3D sensor. The image registration is improved by using an areally operating 3D sensor. An adjusting device is used to move the measurement object rather than the 3D sensor. The object carrier is adjustable in a manually guided manner about a plurality of linear axes and/or rotation axes by the adjusting device with position transmitters that forward their positions to the computer in the event of a measurement. The computer is set up for calculating, with the aid of suitable software, the position of the measurement object from the positions of the position transmitters and the positions of the axes relative to the 3D sensor.
US08045179B1

Line edge roughness or line width roughness of a feature on a sample may be determined from incident radiation scattered from the feature. An amount of ordered scattered radiation characterized by a discrete diffraction order is determined and a diffuse scattered radiation signal is measured. A ratio between an intensity of the ordered scattered incident radiation and an intensity of the diffuse scattered radiation signal is determined. The line edge roughness or line width roughness is determined from the ratio.
US08045170B2

Methods (300, 1000) of determining a light scattering property of a medium (152), are disclosed. The medium (152) is illuminated through a test pattern (e.g., 155, 510), the test pattern (155, 510) comprising at least one region containing a first pattern with substantial variation in two orthogonal directions at one scale. The test pattern (300, 1000) further comprises at least one other region containing the first pattern at a different scale. The light reflected from the illuminated medium (152) through the test pattern is measured to capture an image of the illuminated medium. A light scattering property of the medium (152) is determined based on the measured light.
US08045168B2

An apparatus is provided for analysing the composition of crop in a crop-conveying machine, such as a harvesting machine. The crop in the machine is conveyed along a crop movement path, whereof a portion is illuminated by a light source (23). A camera (24) captures sequential images of crop in the crop movement path. The apparatus further comprises a control device and a processing device operatively connected to the camera and light source. The intensity and/or the colour of light output by the light source (23) is adjustable in dependence on one or more control commands generated by the control device and determined by optical characteristics generated by the processing device from one or more prior images captured by the camera (24). A portion of the image may include a reference member (26) adjacent the crop movement path.
US08045162B2

A method for increasing the throughput, or the precision, or both the precision and the throughput, of a flow cytometer, or of a hematology analyzer employing a flow cytometer, by utilizing the technique of laser rastering. Laser rastering involves sweeping a laser beam across a flowing sample stream in a hematology analyzer. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of this invention comprises an optical module comprising a source of light, a scanning device, a lens or system of lenses, a flow cell, detectors, and filters; and an electronic module comprising preamplifiers, analog signal conditioning elements, analog-to-digital converters, field-programmable gate arrays, digital signal processing elements, and data storage elements.
US08045159B2

An optical apparatus includes a first substrate including an optical functional element, and a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, the first substrate and the second substrate being connected in a stacked manner, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first substrate and the second substrate, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path. In addition, a method of producing an optical apparatus includes producing a first substrate including an optical functional element, and producing a second substrate including a movable micromechanical functional element, as well as connecting the first and second substrates, so that a light path exists which is convoluted between the first and second substrates, the movable micromechanical functional element and the optical functional element being arranged in the light path.
US08045154B2

The apparatus for measuring concentrations of fuel mixtures using depth-resolved laser-induced fluorescence is a fluorometer equipped with a sample container holder that is movable in the path of the beam from the light source. Fluorescent emissions from the sample mixture pass at 90° to the excitation light path through a slit that is narrow enough that the emission intensity is effectively produced by a thin layer of the sample and focused on a monochromator, with successive thin layers receiving nonuniform excitation radiation due to reduction of intensity along the excitation light source path with increasing depth penetration and due to reabsorption of emitted fluorescence from adjacent layers. The method has a first mode in which the emission spectrum is scanned at a fixed depth, and a second mode in which the sample is moved relative to the emission monochromator slit to vary the depth while keeping the emission wavelength fixed.
US08045149B2

An apparatus is disclosed for detecting defects on a sample inspected by different inspection apparatuses. A data processing unit receives position information of a first defects group in a first coordinate system, based on inspection of the sample under a first condition using a first defect inspection apparatus. The data processing unit receives position information of a second defects group in a second coordinate system, after least one processing step has been performed on the sample. Position information of the second defects group is obtained by inspecting the sample under a second condition using a second defect inspection apparatus which is different from the first defect inspection apparatus. A position correction unit corrects error of relative position information on the first defects group and the second defects group, and the first and second defects groups are checked.
US08045147B2

A method for determining the surface quality of a substrate passing from an initial state into a converted state during a conversion process including the steps of acquiring first information relating to surface defects detected on the initial substrate, acquiring second information relating to surface defects detected on the converted substrate, of processing the first information and the second information, and of classifying the converted substrate as a function of the first acquired information relating to the surface defects detected on the initial substrate and as a function of the second acquired information relating to the surface defects detected on the converted substrate.
US08045146B2

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for reviewing a defect with high throughput by detecting the defect to be reviewed with high sensitivity, comprising: an optical microscope; a correction means; and a scanning electron microscope which reviews the existing defect on the sample; wherein the optical microscope has: an optical height detection system which optically detects a vertical position of an upper surface of the sample placed on the stage; an illumination optical system which illuminates the defect with light; an image detection optical system which converges and detects reflected light or scattered light generated from the defect illuminated by the illumination optical system to obtain an image signal; and a focus adjusting means which adjusts a focus position of the optical microscope based on the vertical position of the upper surface of the sample, which is detected by the optical height detection system.
US08045140B2

A method of determining individual velocity associated with one or more molecular species moving through a fluid medium involves obtaining multiple temporal images of the one or more species moving through the medium, analyzing the temporal images using multivariate image analysis to obtain temporal profiles of principal components, and determining individual velocity of the one or more species using the temporal profiles. Multiple species can be identified using the one or more individual velocities or ratio thereof.
US08045133B2

An electrically-driven liquid crystal lens, which can reduce crosstalk caused at the center of an electrode, includes first and second substrates arranged opposite each other and defined, respectively, with a plurality of lens regions corresponding to each other, first electrodes formed on the first substrate between centers of the respective neighboring left and right lens regions on the first substrate, a black matrix layer formed on the first substrate to correspond to edges of the respective lens regions, the black matrix layer having a first width, second electrodes formed on the first substrate to correspond to the edges of the respective lens regions, the second electrodes having a second width smaller than the first width, a third electrode formed throughout the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08045132B2

A method of repairing a liquid crystal panel by irradiating a defective pixel of the liquid crystal panel with laser light, comprises: in a defective pixel including a dust, irradiating at least part of the defective pixel outside the dust with laser light while the dust is not substantially irradiated with the laser light. Alternatively, a method of repairing a liquid crystal panel by irradiating a defective pixel of the liquid crystal panel with laser light, comprises: in a defective pixel including a dust, determining a non-irradiation area including the dust and an irradiation area not including the dust, and irradiating at least part of the irradiation area with laser light while the non-irradiation area is not irradiated with the laser light. An apparatus for repairing a liquid crystal panel, comprises: a laser oscillator which emits laser light; a stage on which the liquid crystal panel is mounted; an optical section which guides the laser light emitted from the laser oscillator to the liquid crystal panel mounted on the stage; and a controller which controls at least one of the stage and the optical section so that, when a dust is included in a defective pixel of the liquid crystal panel, at least part of the defective pixel outside the dust is irradiated with the laser light while the dust is not substantially irradiated with the laser light.
US08045129B2

A display device includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines crossing each other on a first substrate, to define a pixel; a first thin film transistor in a portion where the gate lines and the data lines cross each other; a plurality of position detection lines on the first substrate, the position detection lines spaced a constant distance from the data lines and crossing the gate lines; a second thin film transistor for detecting a position, in a portion on the first substrate where the gate lines and the position detection lines cross each other; a protrusion pattern protruding from a second substrate and corresponding to a drain electrode of the second thin film transistor; and a transparent conductive layer on the protrusion pattern, electrically connected to the drain electrode when touching.
US08045125B2

In an active matrix semiconductor display device in which pixel TFTs and driver circuit TFT are formed on the same substrate in an integral manner, the cell gap is controlled by gap retaining members that are disposed between a pixel area and driver circuit areas. This makes it possible to provide a uniform cell thickness profile over the entire semiconductor display device. Further, since conventional grainy spacers are not used, stress is not imposed on the driver circuit TFTs when a TFT substrate and an opposed substrate are bonded together. This prevents the driver circuit TFTs from being damaged.
US08045122B2

A liquid crystal display includes: first and second substrates on which a display area and a non-display area are defined and a plurality of pixels are defined at the display area; a pixel electrode formed at each pixel on the first substrate; a plurality of first attachment improving protrusions formed at the non-display area along edges of the display area on the first substrate and made of the same material as the pixel electrode on the layer on which the pixel electrode is formed; a common electrode formed at least on a display area of the second substrate; a plurality of second attachment improving protrusions formed on the non-display area of the second substrate and branched off from the common electrode; and a sealant formed between the first and second substrates such that the sealant is attached with the first and second attachment improving protrusions, and having conductivity, wherein the common electrode receives a common voltage via the sealant and the first attachment improving protrusions.
US08045120B2

Non-uniformity of a cell gap of a liquid crystal panel is suppressed from affecting display adversely. Concentric interference fringes are unavoidably formed in a liquid crystal cell in which liquid crystal is sealed and the cell gap is maintained by a sealing member without using scattered spacers. Then, peripheral driving circuits are provided in regions where the interference fringes exist and a pixel matrix circuit is disposed in a region where no interference fringe exists. It is then possible to suppress the cell gap from affecting the display by determining the circuit configuration by parameterizing the interference fringes as described above.
US08045115B2

A liquid crystal display includes a first alignment film having a first alignment direction, a second alignment film having a second alignment direction, and a liquid crystal layer having liquid crystal molecules between the first and second alignment films. The liquid crystal layer is doped with a chiral material that tends to induce a first twist in directors of the liquid crystal molecules when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer. The first and second alignment films have orientations that tends to induce a second twist in the directors when an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer, in which the direction of the first twist is different from the direction of the second twist.
US08045114B2

A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate that cross each other to define a pixel region; a pixel electrode in the pixel region; a thin film transistor at the crossing of the gate and data lines, and connected to the pixel electrode; at least one first electric field distortion unit in the pixel electrode to control a liquid crystal director by electric field distortion; a second electric field distortion unit between the pixel electrode and the first substrate; and a layer of liquid crystal molecules between the first and second substrates.
US08045109B2

Provided are a method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device possessing transparent conductive layer exhibiting excellent optical transparency, resistance characteristic, evenness, adhesion to substrate, and hardness, and liquid crystal display device thereof. The liquid crystal display device possessing liquid crystal display panel and backlight unit, wherein liquid crystal display panel has a structure in which display electrode and reference electrode are provided on surface of region corresponding to unit pixel on liquid crystal layer side of one transparent substrate or each of both transparent substrates provided facing to each other via liquid crystal layer, and light transmitting liquid crystal layer is modulated by electric field generated parallel to transparent substrate between reference electrode and display electrode, wherein the method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device possesses the step of forming transparent conductive layer in pixel region by atmospheric pressure plasma method employing nitrogen gas as thin film forming gas.
US08045105B2

A thin film transistor substrate according to one or more embodiments of the present invention includes a gate line formed on a substrate, a data line that is insulated from and intersects the gate line, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a barrier rub formed on the thin film transistor and partitioning a plurality of first openings, a reflecting electrode formed in each of the first openings, and a pixel electrode formed on the reflecting electrode and that is electrically connected to the thin film transistor.
US08045099B2

This invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can contribute to the stabilization of alignment of a liquid crystal and can improve the response speed. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates has a polymer on its surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The surface shape of the polymer is in a substantially saw form as viewed from the cross-sectional direction of the substrate. The inclination azimuth of the inclination surface of the polymer is substantially the same as the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage. Preferably, the surface of the polymer has an approximately wedge shape as viewed from the vertical direction of the substrate, and the azimuth of the apex is approximately opposite to the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage.
US08045096B2

In a lighting unit, fluorescent lights and LEDs of different spectroscopic characteristics are alternately arranged in a direction X on an irradiation plane. Light sources of equal light intensity are arranged in a certain pitch for the fluorescent lights such that a uniform light amount is achieved around end portions in the direction X. The LEDs include LEDs aligned on a bottom surface of a chassis and LEDs arranged on an inner sidewall surface of the chassis. As a result, a lighting unit having a uniform amount of light across an entire irradiation plane is achieved.
US08045092B2

A multifunctional optical sheet for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate diffusing incident light; a light-concentrating layer on the substrate and including a plurality of patterns that arranged to form alternating peaks and valleys; and reflection patterns between the substrate and the light-concentrating layer corresponding to the valleys of the light concentrating layer.
US08045084B2

A display device includes a signal line formed on a substrate, a repair line formed on the substrate crossing and insulated from the signal line, and a first redundancy conductive pattern formed on a first region of the substrate where the signal line crosses the repair line, wherein the first redundancy conductive pattern is insulated from the signal line and the repair line.
US08045077B2

A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display includes: providing an array substrate and a color filter substrate facing the array substrate; forming a gate electrode and a gate line formed of a first conductive film on the array substrate through a first masking process; forming a second conductive film pattern at an upper portion of the gate electrode, a storage capacitor preliminary pattern at a partial upper region of the gate electrode and a data line substantially crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, the second conductive film pattern, the storage capacitor preliminary pattern and the data line being formed of a second conductive film through a second masking process; forming an opaque insulation film surrounding the data line; forming a transparent third conductive film on the entire surface of the array substrate with the opaque insulation film interposed therebetween; patterning the second conductive film pattern and a third conductive film through a third masking process to form a source electrode, a drain electrode separated from the source electrode, a pixel electrode contacting with the drain electrode, and a storage capacitor pattern contacting with a partial lower region of the pixel electrode; and attaching the array substrate and the color filter substrate.
US08045075B2

A liquid crystal display device and a method of repairing bad pixels thereof, in which the bad pixels can be efficiently and easily repaired, includes a first insulating substrate, a gate wiring and a storage wiring arranged substantially parallel to each other in a first direction on the first insulating substrate, a data wiring intersecting the gate and storage wirings in an insulated manner and arranged substantially in a second direction, and a pixel electrode formed on a pixel area defined by the gate and data wirings. The storage wiring includes a horizontal portion arranged substantially in the first direction and at least a part of which does not overlap the pixel electrode, and a vertical portion branching off substantially in the second direction from the horizontal portion and overlapping the data wiring.
US08045072B2

A thin film transistor substrate of a LCD device and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed for simplifying a fabricating process and enlarging a capacitance value of a storage capacitor without any reduction of aperture ratio. The LCD device includes: a double-layered gate line having a first transparent conductive layer and a second opaque conductive layer, the second opaque conductive layer have a step coverage; a gate insulation layer film on the gate line; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; a TFT connected to the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode connected to the TFT via a contact hole of a protective film on the TFT; and a storage capacitor overlapping the pixel electrode and having a lower storage electrode formed of the first transparent conductive layer.
US08045071B2

Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal apparatus, including, a pair of substrates; and a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates, the liquid crystal layer having positive dielectric anisotropy, the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer exhibiting, when no voltage is applied thereto, an orientation direction parallel to a transverse electric field which is generated when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer.
US08045068B2

A display apparatus includes a panel located in front of a display module, a pattern formed over the panel, and a reflective layer formed to overlap the pattern. At least one portion of the pattern provided closer to an edge of the panel allows for less transmittance of light and other portions of the pattern.
US08045051B2

An imaging apparatus that includes a main body that includes a recording and reproducing unit that houses a main recording medium and records an information signal. The information signal from the main recording medium is reproduced. An auxiliary recording medium unit is detachably mounted on a mounting section of the apparatus main body and houses an auxiliary recording medium separate from the main recording medium. During imaging, the apparatus main body is placed on one shoulder of a camera operator and a grip section is disposed on a front surface side of the apparatus main body. The mounting section is formed between the grip section and the recording and reproducing unit. The auxiliary recording medium unit is detachably attachable during imaging.
US08045050B2

A cradle device on which a camera device is mounted can be mounted on a printer device. There is provided a printing system that includes a camera device having an imaging unit and a memory for storing image data photographed by the imaging unit, a cradle device having a camera mounting section mounted in the state that the camera device is electrically connected and a terminal unit or an operating unit that is provided on the back surface and is electrically connected to other electronic devices, and a printer device that has a cradle mounting section mounted in the state that the cradle device is electrically connected and prints image data inputted from the cradle device, wherein the cradle mounting section has a covering portion that covers the terminal unit or the operating unit provided on the back surface of the cradle device.
US08045049B2

A signal processor for reducing power consumption. The signal processor includes a signal processing circuit and a first regulator connected to the signal processing circuit. The first regulator receives an external regulated voltage from an external regulator connected to the signal processor and generates an internal regulated voltage that is in accordance with an output level of a CCD image sensor. The signal processing circuit operates with the internal regulated voltage and performs a predetermined signal processing on an image signal generated by the CCD image sensor.
US08045048B2

A focus detection device includes a light receiving element, an image shift detection unit, a movement detection unit, and a focus detection unit. The light receiving element receives a pair of light fluxes passing through different regions of a pupil of an optical system. The image shift detection unit detects an image shift amount caused by the pair of light fluxes, based on outputs of the pair of light fluxes received by the light receiving element. The movement detection unit detects an image movement amount caused by the optical system. The focus detection unit detects the focus adjustment state of the optical system by correcting the shift amount detected by the image shift detection unit, with the image movement amount detected by the movement detection unit.
US08045047B2

A method, module, device, and computer program product for digital imaging. Providing an image within an image sensor, selecting at least one first region within image for scaling with a first scaling rate, selecting at least one second region within the image for scaling with a second scaling rate, and providing the first and the second regions for further processing allows improved autofocusing.
US08045043B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical module which can extract only light components satisfying predetermined conditions, and an imaging device comprising the optical module. The optical module (10) comprises a first plate-like optical element (4) formed with a ¼ wavelength plate portion (1) and a −¼ wavelength plate portion (2) alternately jointed together at a joint portion (3), and a second plate-like optical element (8) formed with a ¼ wavelength plate portion (5) and a −¼ wavelength plate portion (6) alternately jointed together at a joint portion (7), wherein the first plate-like optical element (4) and the second plate-like optical element (8) are parallel, and the ¼ wavelength plate portion (1) of the first plate-like optical element (4) and the −¼ wavelength plate portion (6) of the second plate-like optical element (8) are overlapped across a gap (9).
US08045039B2

Provided is a method of luminance compensation for a camera lens by performing a multiline interpolation algorithm. Preferably, a plurality of directional lines are radially arranged on a curved surface of the lens. Sampling dots are then designated along the directional lines in equal or variant distances. Steps including a step of determining the location of a target for luminance compensation, a step of obtaining adjacent directional lines by referring to a slope at the target, a step of calculating the correction values and the weights for interpolation are further introduced. The interpolation algorithm is used to restore a correction plane of a whole image. A polynomial equation is preferably used to obtain two correction values of two directional lines with the same radius. Alternatively, a lookup table is introduced to find the two correction values. It's featured that a symmetric or asymmetric compensation for the camera lens is achieved.
US08045038B2

A camera for mounting to a weapon includes a housing, a camera lens, a video recorder, a cover, and a mounting rail. The camera lens is located at a front end of the housing. The video recorder is located within the housing for recording images captured by the camera lens. The cover is coupled to a rear end of the housing for accessing components located within the housing and the mounting rail extends along an exterior surface of the housing and mounts the camera to the weapon.
US08045030B2

An imaging device capable of suppressing the complexity of a constitution and reducing the dispersion of brightness sensitivities of individual solid imaging elements to the temperature includes a solid imaging element, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature, and a temperature monitor for detecting the temperature of the solid imaging element with an output signal of the temperature sensor. On the basis of this detection result, the control values corresponding to the temperatures at different times are set in the register of the voltage control circuit. In accordance with the control values of the register, the voltage control circuit controls reset voltages to be fed to pixel cells.
US08045027B2

A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section where a plurality of pixels each containing a photoelectric conversion device are formed into an array; a retaining circuit for retaining one or the other of a reset signal and a light signal of the signals from the pixel; and an AD converter, the AD converter includes: a delay circuit having two input signal terminals to one of the input signal terminals of which the signal retained at the retaining circuit is inputted and to the other one of the input signal terminal of which the other signal not retained at the retaining circuit is inputted, said delay circuit having delay devices connected into a multiple of stages for giving to a running pulse a delay amount corresponding to the extent of a difference between the signals inputted to said one and the other input signal terminals; and an encoder for sampling and encoding a running position of the pulse at every predetermined timing to generate a digital value corresponding to the difference between the input signals.
US08045023B2

An opening is made in a surface intercepting a wave propagating through space. An image of an object is formed on an intermediate surface from the wave passing through this opening. After wave conversion, that is to say, after the entity of a wave is converted into a detectable wave from which a two-dimensional image can be picked up, an image is picked up with a two-dimensional image pick-up device. Distortion caused by the two-dimensional image pick-up device is corrected using a calibration grid pattern provided on the intermediate surface. The intermediate surface provides a wave converting function, distortion calibrating function, distortion-free wide field of view ensuring function, and wave entity converting function, and a place of detection elements themselves.
US08045015B2

An image pickup apparatus capable of, when adjusting the white balance in development processing, eliminating the need for performing integration processing and calculation processing for white balance adjustment even when white balance is set to an arbitrary mode, thereby significantly reducing the processing time. In the image pickup apparatus, a calculation unit is adapted to, in a case where an integration parameter to be set in an integration unit is identical with or close to an integration parameter stored in a storage unit, calculate a white balance control value using a white balance integration value read out from the storage unit, without performing calculation processing using a white balance integration value acquired by an integration unit.
US08045009B2

Image-exposure systems and methods are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a motion detecting device, and logic configured to determine when to terminate an image-exposure based on detected motion of a camera.
US08045008B2

An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The controller controls the movement of the movable unit for anti-shake operation. The controller controls the movement of the movable unit such as to hold the movable unit at a position without performing the anti-shake operation, for a specified time period that is a part of the time period from the point when the exposure time of the photographing apparatus is finished to the point when the photographing apparatus is set to a state where the next imaging operation can be performed. The position is the initial position where the movable unit is located when the specified time period commences.
US08045004B2

The present invention displays a broadcast program without causing discomfort to the viewer caused by a shift in the display position. The burn-in of the display apparatus when displaying EPG and GUI images is prevented. When viewing a channel, the timing of events such as the broadcast start time of the next program and the insertion of CM video are acquired from program attribute information such as the SI and metadata. Information such as the time of the next program or insertion of an advert is detected from the attribute information, and video data that is displayed in the display area of the display unit is changed at that time. The change in video data is executed when setting the area of the video data to be applied to the effective video data area to the display area, by changing the coordinate data of this area.
US08044992B2

A system and method to monitor a target area of a panoramic images by shooting the target area, sequentially shifting the shooting direction. A unit image of a generated panoramic image and a corresponding unit image of another panoramic image generated before the first panoramic image are compared and the change, if any, in the luminance level is detected. Then, the detected difference of luminance level is compared with a predetermined threshold value and predetermined information is displayed on the display screen with the generated panoramic image. It is possible to define small regions in the area for which a large threshold is predetermined and/or small regions in the area for which no such comparison is made on a unit image basis.
US08044982B2

A driving circuit of an electro-optical device that includes scanning lines divided into two or more groups and two or more common electrodes that correspond to the two or more groups of scanning lines. The driving circuit includes a data line driving circuit and a common signal supply circuit. The driving circuit divides one field of one of the pixels into sub-fields and applies the one of the pixels with on or off voltages during the sub-fields to achieve a desired gray-scale level. During one specific sub-field, the data line driving circuit supplies a data signal of an off voltage regardless of the gray-scale level for the pixel. After the specific sub-field ends, the common signal supply circuit switches a voltage applied to a common electrode of that corresponds to the group of scanning lines that includes the selected scanning line.
US08044981B2

Image display systems comprising a first pixel, a second pixel, a scan line, a first data line, and a second data line. In the first pixel, a first transistor is coupled to a first storage capacitor via a first pixel electrode. In the second pixel, a second transistor is coupled to a second storage capacitor via a second pixel electrode. The conductance of the first and second transistors is simultaneously controlled by a scan signal transmitted by the scan line. In a first time interval, the first data line transmits a voltage data to the first pixel electrode via the first transistor. In a second time interval, the second data line transmits the voltage data to the second pixel electrode via the second transistor. The first storage capacitor is designed to generate a proper feedthrough voltage at the first pixel electrode to compensate for a voltage coupling shift at the first pixel electrode that is generated during the second time interval because of the voltage variation at the second pixel electrode.
US08044977B2

A data driver for a display includes a reference current generator that is configured to generate L gray scale reference currents, the L gray scale reference currents being associated with non-zero gray scale levels, a gamma selection module that is configured to select M gamma reference currents from the L gray scale reference currents responsive to a gamma signal, a gamma voltage generator that is configured to generate a zero gray scale level gamma reference voltage, and a data current generator that is configured to generate a data current responsive to a selected one of the M gamma reference currents or the zero gray scale level gamma reference voltage responsive to a color signal.
US08044976B2

A method of continuously rotating a subject object top over bottom over top on a display screen encompasses jumping to a view having a longitude that is 180 degrees from the previous and displaying the image in an up-side-down orientation. Upon pausing, or completing the rotation by releasing the mouse button, a higher resolution image loads and displays thereby improving the sharpness or allowing the user to zoom in on additional detail.
US08044974B2

An image creating apparatus capable of creating cell images allowing reliable determination of cell structures in a cell is provided. This image creating apparatus comprises an image pickup portion picking up a plurality of images of a cell on different focal positions and an image synthesizing portion classifying the plurality of images picked up by the image pickup portion into a plurality of depth ranges as to the focal direction and synthesizing the plurality of images belonging to the respective ones of the plurality of depth ranges every plurality of depth ranges thereby creating focus-synthesized images in focus over corresponding depth ranges every plurality of depth ranges.
US08044963B2

Disclosed is a system for producing images including emulation techniques using multiple processors. The system provides for emulation of graphics processing resources such that a central processing unit may provide graphics support. Disclosed embodiments include emulation of selected graphics calls as well as emulation of a programmable graphics processor for compatibility with systems having no compatible GPU.
US08044962B1

A computer-implemented method includes identifying a representation of a feature of an animated character by inverting an skinned representation of the feature in one position. The inversion includes a non-linear inversion of the skinned representation of the feature. The method also includes skinning the identified feature representation to produce the animated character in another position.
US08044960B2

A character display apparatus searches through a cache means for vector font data which match character attributes of a character to be displayed to acquire the vector font data, and, when no vector font data which match the character attributes of the character to be displayed exist in the cache means, acquires the vector font data from a large-volume storage means. If there exists no corresponding luminance image data in the cache means, the character display apparatus acquires luminance image data generated from the vector font data. If there exists no corresponding display image in the cache means, the character display apparatus acquires display character image data generated from the luminance image data. The character display apparatus displays the display image which is thus acquired and which matches the character attributes of the character to be displayed on a display device.
US08044958B2

When a position on a displayed graph is selected, a graph information processor acquires time information which is a parameter on an axis at the selected position. A character information acquirer acquires character information that includes date/time information as one of the attributes that matches the acquired time information. The acquired character information is displayed.
US08044950B2

A driver circuit usable for a display panel can generate an output signal in response to an input pulse signal supplied to only one input signal terminal thereof. The driver circuit includes a pulse generating circuit for generating an output signal at the output terminal. The pulse generating circuit has a first and second differential input stage for respectively driving a push-pull construction of output transistors in response to the input pulse signal supplied through the input signal terminal with respect to the push-pull output, whereby to simplify the circuitry, operate at a high slew rate, and decrease electric current consumption.
US08044946B2

The present invention intends to realize a narrow frame of a system on panel. In addition to this, a system mounted on a panel is intended to make higher and more versatile in the functionality. In the invention, on a panel on which a pixel portion (including a liquid crystal element, a light-emitting element) and a driving circuit are formed, integrated circuits that have so far constituted an external circuit are laminated and formed. Specifically, of the pixel portion and the driving circuit on the panel, on a position that overlaps with the driving circuit, any one kind or a plurality of kinds of the integrated circuits is formed by laminating according to a transcription technique.
US08044942B1

The invention relates to a touch screen protector for a hand held electronic device having a front face that includes a touch screen portion and an outer perimeter. The touch screen protector of the invention comprises a plastic film having front and back sides, an outer perimeter that corresponds to that of the device, and a transparent window; and a spacer provided along the outer perimeter of the plastic film surrounding the transparent window, having a thickness sufficient to space the plastic film near but not in contact with the touch screen portion, and an exposed adhesive for removably mounting the protector upon the outer perimeter of the front face to form an enclosed air space between the transparent window of the plastic film, the spacer and the touch screen portion of the device.
US08044926B2

In an information display panel, in which one or more groups of display media having light reflectance and charge characteristic, constituted by at least one group of particles, are sealed between opposed two substrates, at least one substrate being transparent, and, in which the display media, to which an electrostatic field is applied, are made to move so as to display information, in order to seal a space between one substrate and the other substrate, a gap-space maintaining member is formed at either one or both of an outer side and an inner side with respect to a sealing-agent arranging portion arranged at an outer peripheral portion of an information display region of the panel.
US08044925B2

The present invention provides a method for driving a backlight module of a liquid crystal display. The backlight module includes three light sources, a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source, that illuminate different color light respectively. The method includes sequentially turning on the three light sources, wherein the first light source and the second light source are turned on twice and the third light source is turned on once.
US08044904B2

The present invention reduces moving image blurring while suppressing the lowering of brightness, lowering of contrast and the increase of electricity necessary for light emission. A display device includes a first gradation voltage generation circuit which generates a first gradation voltage based on gradations of display data amounting to 1 screen displayed during 1 frame period, and a second gradation voltage generation circuit which generates a second gradation voltage based on the gradations of display data amounting of 1 screen displayed in 1 frame period, wherein the gradations of the respective pixels on the display data are displayed by performing a display based on the first gradation voltage and a display based on the second gradation voltage during 1 frame period.
US08044901B2

When the applied voltages are 7 V and 5 V, a transmittance of equal to or more than 50% is obtained when conditions of |2Ps·A|≦|7Clc·A| and |2Ps·A|≦|5Clc·A| are satisfied among the magnitude Ps (nC/cm2) of the spontaneous polarization per unit area of the liquid crystal material, the electrode area A (cm2) of the pixels and the capacity of liquid crystal Clc (nF/cm2) per unit area, and a transmittance of equal to or more than 80% is obtained when conditions of |2Ps·A|≦|4.5Clc·A| and |2Ps·A|≦|3Clc·A| are satisfied thereamong. A sufficiently high transmittance is obtained without the provision of a storage capacitor.
US08044898B2

An LED display apparatus 1 in which at least multiple LEDs are serially-connected to a power circuit part having a constant current power source, each one of the LEDs has a switching element parallel-connected thereto, and a control circuit part is used to selectively turn on/off the switching elements to control the LEDs for a specific display, characterized by the fact that the apparatus comprises a display matrix circuit part 9 constituted by parallel-connecting to the power circuit part 8 multiple LED circuits 7a, 7b, 7c . . . consisting of multiple LEDs 2 . . . and a single first switching element 3a, 3b, 3c . . . serially-connected and second switching element 4 . . . each parallel-connected to one of the LEDs 2 . . . , and a control circuit part 10 turning on the first switching elements 3a . . . for a given time period (Ts) in sequence and turning on/off a row La, Lb, Lc . . . of multiple second switching elements 4 . . . extending across the LED circuits 7a . . . of the display matrix circuit part 9 in correspondence with the first switch 3a . . . being turned on.
US08044890B2

A method for driving a plasma display device including first electrodes and second electrodes. In one embodiment, the plurality of first electrodes are divided into a plurality of groups including first and second groups. During a first period of a sustain period, a second voltage is applied to the first and second groups of the first electrodes while a first voltage is applied to the second electrodes, the second voltage being higher than the first voltage. During a second period of the sustain period, while the second voltage is applied to the second electrodes, the first voltage is applied to the first group of the first electrodes, and the first voltage is applied to the second group of the first electrodes a period of time after when the first voltage is initially applied to the first group of the first electrodes.
US08044887B2

The present invention relates to a method of driving a plasma display panel and a plasma display apparatus employing the same. In the plasma display apparatus, a plurality of scan electrodes formed in a plasma display panel are divided into first and second groups and then supplied with scan signals. When a scan bias voltage supplied in a first subfield of first and second subfields is higher than that supplied in a second subfield of the first and second subfields, a lowest voltage of a reset signal supplied in the second subfield is higher than that supplied in the first subfield. In accordance with the plasma display apparatus of the present invention, the lowest voltage of the reset signal is controlled according to the scan bias voltage in dividing the plurality of scan electrodes into two or more groups and driving them. Accordingly, an address erroneous discharge due to the loss of wall charges can be reduced, the occurrence of spots can be prevented and therefore the image quality of a display image can be improved.
US08044885B2

A driving device of a plasma display panel for performing a reset period using a ramp pulse. The driving device changes the lowest potential of the ramp down pulse in response to temperature change in order to prevent or reduce low discharge or over-discharge due to the temperature change. The amount of wall charges in the pixels are maintained substantially constant over a temperature range to provide an optimal discharge condition, making it possible to prevent the discharge error and perform the low voltage address operation, in the address period.
US08044884B2

A plasma display apparatus comprises a driver for supplying a rising signal of finite slope and a scan signal of negative polarity to a scan electrode using one voltage source. The driver also supplies a falling signal to the scan electrode using the same voltage source. This apparatus may be used to perform a panel driving method that includes applying a rising signal, which rises from a first voltage to a second voltage, to the scan electrode during a reset period and applying a scan signal, of a magnitude at least substantially the same as a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, to the scan electrode during an address period.
US08044877B2

An antenna includes a substrate having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer and a fourth layer, and an antenna unit having a first pattern being of a substantially coiled shape and printed on the first layer, a second pattern being of a meandering shaped and printed on the second layer, a third pattern being of a meandering shaped and printed on a third layer, and a fourth pattern being of a substantially coiled shaped and printed on the fourth layer. The first pattern, the second pattern, the third pattern and the fourth pattern are of a serial connection. The free end of the first pattern connects a feeding point. The free end of the fourth pattern connects a grounding point. Thus, the antenna has advantages of compact size and low cost, due to the antenna unit printed on the substrate and the pattern of the antenna unit.
US08044875B2

A coil part used in a antenna coil has a cross shape core that includes: a first winding frame part extending a first direction and being provided with a coil, and a second winding frame part extending a direction crossing the first direction and being provided with a coil. A first core including the first winding frame part is interlocked with a second core 20b including the second winding frame part.
US08044865B2

The planar multi-directional antenna mainly contains a flat casing and a double-layered circuit board housed inside the casing. The circuit board's two major sides are patterned in a symmetrical manner and traces are routed and extended along the circumference of the circuit board for producing multi-directional reception field pattern. A raised metallic plate is configured in the center on a first major side for avoiding the coupling effect from current converging in the center and for overcoming the dielectric loss by using air. A ferrite core is configured at the feeding terminal of the antenna as a means of impedance conversion. A SMD inductor and a SMD capacitor are provided on the other major side for increasing the antenna's capability of receiving signals of larger wavelength.
US08044864B2

An antenna which comprises four elementary IFA antennae, each elementary IFA antenna comprising a ground plane (1), a roof (2), a short-circuit (3) between the ground plane and the roof and an excitation means (4), the four elementary IFA antennae being distributed around an axis (Oz) in a first set of two IFA antennae having substantially equivalent elementary radiations and a second set of two IFA antennae having equivalent elementary radiations, the excitation means (4) of the four elementary IFA antennae being fed by radiofrequency signals of like amplitude whereof the phases follow a law which is substantially progressive in quadrature by rotation around the axis.
US08044859B2

A method and apparatus for estimating bias errors in a time-difference-of-arrival/frequency-difference-of-arrival (TDOA/FDOA) geolocation system using a reference signal transmitter in which position and/or motion information of the reference signal transmitter is encoded into the reference signal. The motion information may include the velocity and/or acceleration of the reference signal transmitter. The reference signal is received by multiple collection platforms operating in conjunction with a geolocation system and a reference correction processing system. The reference correction processing system receives, via the multiple collection platforms, the position and/or motion information, which is immediately and unambiguously associated with specific reference signal transmissions. The geolocation system estimates the position and/or velocity of the reference signal transmitter using conventional TDOA/FDOA techniques. The estimated position and/or velocity of the reference signal transmitter is compared to the information contained in the reference signal to estimate bias errors.
US08044858B2

A device of a supplementary navigation satellite is provided. The device includes a unit for generating navigation signals, the signal strength of the navigation signals being dimensioned in such a way that it is still possible to receive signals of other satellite navigation systems.
US08044855B2

The first reception operation is started in response to an acquisition request. Power supply to a RF unit and a demodulator is stopped after synchronization with the GPS signal is established. Based on information acquired from a sub-frame in the GPS signal, a time point to start the second reception operation is determined. Elapsed time is counted using a counter clock synchronized with transmission timing of the navigation message, while a reception frequency of the satellite, a PRN code unique to the satellite, and a frequency and a phase of the PRN code are retained. When the elapsed time arrives at the time point, the power supply to the RF unit and the demodulator is restarted.
US08044854B2

A method for calculating current position coordinate and a method for calculating a pseudo range are applied to a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. A position coordinate of the GPS receiver at the positioning time point is calculated through an average pseudo range between the GPS receiver and each satellite at a positioning time point. With regard to calculating the average pseudo range between the GPS receiver and each satellite, for each satellite, original pseudo ranges are obtained through calculating a pseudo range between the satellite and the GPS receiver at each millisecond (ms) in a time range including the positioning time point, and then the average pseudo range between the satellite and the GPS receiver at the positioning time point is obtained through calculating an average value of the obtained original pseudo ranges between the GPS receiver and the satellite.
US08044845B2

Various techniques may be implemented to isolate a receive signal from a transmit signal in an antenna. Signal isolation is desirable because it prevents interference of the signals with one another and minimizes signal noise, which reduces the signal quality. Some of the techniques are symmetry of at least two receive channels with regards to a transmit channel, using differential signals within the antenna, designing receive channel inputs to be orthogonal to a transmit channel, and designing a voltage controlled oscillator to be on the same substrate as the tuning circuitry of the voltage controlled oscillator.
US08044844B2

The invention sets forth a method of determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank using a radar level gauge system. The steps include generating a transmission signal using first pulse generating circuitry outputting a first signal having a first oscillation frequency having a first pulse repetition frequency. The invention uses a second pulse generating circuitry having a resonator element having an input and an output, a reference signal in the form of a second pulse train having a second pulse repetition frequency which differs from the first pulse repetition frequency by a predetermined frequency difference. The invention forms a measurement signal including a sequence of values representing a time correlation between a pulse of the reference signal and the reflected signal, and determines the filling level based on the measurement signal. The step of generating the reference signal includes providing the first signal to the input of the resonator element in the second pulse generating circuitry, monitoring an output signal from the resonator element, the output signal substantially corresponding to the first signal being delayed by a time delay, controlling at least one parameter of the second pulse generating circuitry to a parameter value resulting in the time delay corresponding to the predetermined frequency difference, and providing the output signal from the resonator element to the input of the resonator element while maintaining the parameter value of the at least one parameter, thereby generating the reference signal.
US08044834B2

A track-and-hold circuit includes a first sampling circuit that samples an analog input signal, a second sampling circuit that samples the analog input signal, the second sampling circuit and the first sampling circuit being connected in parallel, a first amplifier that amplifies a signal output from the first sampling circuit, and a second amplifier that amplifies a signal output from the second sampling circuit.
US08044821B2

Example wellbore telemetry systems and methods for transmitting signals between a surface unit and a downhole tool are disclosed. One example method transmits data between a downhole location in a wellbore and a surface location associated with the wellbore by measuring downhole data via at least one downhole component and generating a data frame containing at least a portion of the downhole data. The example method varies a telemetry bandwidth allocated to the at least one downhole component in response to the at least some of the downhole data corresponding to a special event and transmits the at least some of the downhole data to the surface location via the telemetry bandwidth allocated to the at least one downhole component.
US08044820B2

A method for performing operations and for improving production in a well includes the steps of: providing radio identification devices at known locations in the well, and providing a reader device configured to read the identification devices, and to control the operations responsive to signals from the identification devices. The method also includes the steps of providing a process tool, and transporting the process tool and the reader device through the well. The reader device is programmed to control the process tool upon reception of a response signal from a selected identification device. The method can be used to perform perforating processes, packer setting processes, bridge plug setting processes, logging processes, inspection processes, chemical treating processes, and cleaning processes. In addition, the method can be performed dynamically by controlling the tool as it moves through the well, or statically by stopping the tool at a particular location within the well. A system for performing the method includes the identification devices, the reader device, the process tool, and a computer or controller. In addition the identification devices can be placed in casing collars of the well and can be configured as passive devices or as active devices.
US08044815B2

A method and apparatus are provided to indicate battery capacity status. Different blinking frequencies of an LED correspond to different battery states of charge. Furthermore, the present invention provides a smooth visual brightness change of the LED by providing the appropriate LED current according to human eye characteristics.
US08044810B2

A method and system of damage prevention from weather occurrences is provided wherein incoming notifications from weather services are used to take action on user specified and configurable powered devices. Threshold levels may be set based on severity of weather occurrences. The threshold levels may be reset or reconfigured by a user of the system. Different threshold levels may be set for different devices in order that different devices may be deactivated at different threshold levels.
US08044808B2

The interest level estimation system of the present invention includes a gaze measurement unit that measures a person's gaze velocity and a skin potential level measurement unit that measures a person's skin potential level. The interest level estimation system also includes an interest level estimation unit. In the interest level estimation unit, a skin potential level time variation and a gaze velocity standard deviation are obtained at predetermined intervals, an inflection point of the skin potential level time variation is obtained at the predetermined intervals, the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained before a time corresponding to the inflection point are related to an interest state at the predetermined intervals, and the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained after the time corresponding to the inflection point are related to a disinterest state at the predetermined intervals, thereby obtaining a relationship between the skin potential level time variation and gaze velocity standard deviation and the interest level.
US08044805B2

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag using a monopole antenna is provided, in which an antenna structure is disposed on a metal plate, two ends of an RFID chip are electrically connected to the antenna structure, and the antenna structure and the RFID chip form a loop structure. The RFID tag can be disposed on a surface of an object to be measured, or disposed in an inner accommodation space of the object to be measured, so it is widely used in various applications. Additionally, the RFID tag is easily manufactured, so the production cost can be reduced. Furthermore, the RFID tag has a larger readable distance, and an electromagnetic wave emitting direction of the RFID tag is adjustable according to different included angles between the metal plate and the antenna structure, thereby causing signals to be read easily and identification ability to improve, two desirable effects.
US08044799B2

There is provided an apparatus and a method for preventing a loss of a portable terminal, the apparatus including: a luminous intensity sensor unit detecting a current luminous intensity; a main controller unit controlling to request for an input of a password and controlling to output a warning sound when a current luminous intensity is higher than a reference luminous intensity; a display unit outputting a screen for requesting for the password and other screens related to a process of loss prevention; a key input unit via which keys related to the process of loss prevention are inputted; a memory unit in which the current luminous intensity detected by the luminous intensity sensor unit and the reference luminous intensity are saved; and a warning device generating and outputting the warning sound in accordance with the controlling of the main controller unit.
US08044791B2

A system for controlling or operating a plurality of target systems via spoken commands is provided. The system includes a first plurality of target systems, a second plurality of controllers for controlling or operating target systems via spoken commands, a speech recognition system that stores interface information that is specific to a target system or a group of target systems that are to be controlled or operated. A first controller in the second plurality of controllers includes a microphone for picking up audible signals in the vicinity of the first controller and a device for transmitting the audible signals to a speech recognition system. The speech recognition system is operable to analyze the interface information to recognize spoken commands issued for controlling or operating said target system.
US08044780B2

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for predicting/alarming the moving of hidden objects. The apparatus comprises: a distance sensing unit, for obtaining a distance data detected within a specific sensing range and thus outputting the distance data; a speed sensing unit, for measuring the movement of a carrier to obtain a real-time speed data of the carrier and thus output the speed data; a control unit, for receiving and analyzing the distance data and the speed data to obtain information relating to the position of the carrier, the environment surrounding the carrier and positions of objects moving in the blind spots of the carrier, and thus to perform an evaluation based upon the aforesaid information to determine a danger level for issuing a control signal accordingly; and an alarm unit, for issuing an alarm signal according to the control signal.
US08044770B2

A keyless entry apparatus determines whether a portable apparatus is positioned inside/outside an interface of a vehicle. When an in-vehicle control unit detects that a portable apparatus is positioned in a region which is affected by crosstalk and/or in which saturation occurs, in the vicinities of some of a plurality of transmitting antennas, based on intensity data from some of the plurality of transmitting antennas, the in-vehicle control unit determines whether intensity data from the transmitting antenna is included in a data group composed of a plurality of intensity data that are transmitted from the transmitting antennas and then received by the portable apparatus when the portable apparatus is positioned along the inside of an interface. When it is determined that the intensity data is included/not included in the data group, the in-vehicle control unit determines that the portable apparatus is positioned inside/outside the vehicle.
US08044769B2

A multi-dimensional controller (150) controls the multiple parameters of a lighting system (250). A track-ball (100) that provides three axes of rotation (101-103), for example, is used to control each of three lighting parameters, such as chrominance, luminance, and saturation. In like manner, intensity, direction, and diffusion control may be controlled by a device with three degrees of freedom/control. Force-feedback (120) is optionally provided to indicate divergence from established presets (220) or recommended operating conditions. Switches (130) and other control elements are also provided to store or recall pre-set parameters (220), override scheduled lighting settings, and so on.
US08044768B2

A keyless entry system includes a vehicle-side device and a portable device including a portable device electrode. The vehicle-side device includes a vehicle-side controller and a vehicle-side electrode that is disposed in a position where communication with the portable device is performed via a human body when a person is getting off a vehicle. When the person carrying the portable device is getting off the vehicle, an electric field is induced by the portable device electrode in the human body. The vehicle-side controller performs authentication of the portable device upon detection of the electric field by the vehicle-side electrode. The vehicle-side controller determines the portable device has been left in the vehicle if the vehicle-side controller has no history of authentication or cannot perform authentication upon detection of the person's action of getting off the vehicle. A predetermined operation is performed based on this determination.
US08044764B2

A resistor and design structure including at least one resistor material length in a dielectric, each of the least one resistor material length having a sub-lithographic width are disclosed.
US08044758B2

An open magnetic circuit multilayer coil component includes a laminate with magnetic layers, a coil, and a nonmagnetic layer provided within the laminate so as to cross a magnetic path formed by energization of the coil. A nonmagnetic material constituting the nonmagnetic layer is a Zn—Cu-based ferrite nonmagnetic material, and a magnetic material constituting the magnetic layer is a magnetic material containing 100 parts by weight of an Ni—Zn—Cu-based magnetic ferrite material and 0.1 to 2.0 parts by weight, in terms of Co3O4, of Co added to the Ni—Zn—Cu-based magnetic ferrite material.
US08044751B2

A switchable bandpass filter includes a first stepped-impedance resonator, a second stepped-impedance resonator wirelessly coupled to the first stepped-impedance resonator, and a first diode connected to one end of the second stepped-impedance resonator.
US08044746B2

A high speed flexible interconnect cable for an electronic assembly includes a number of conductive layers and a number of dielectric layers. Conductive signal traces, located on the conductive layers, combine with the dielectric layers to form one or more high speed electrical transmission line structures. The cable can be coupled to electronic components using a variety of connection techniques. The cable can also be terminated with any number of known or standardized connector packages.
US08044735B2

An oscillator circuit according to the invention comprises an oscillator with a toggle circuit having an output and an inverting input, whereby the output is connected to the inverting input via a feedback resistor, the inverting input is connected, for example, to the ground, via a first oscillator capacitor, and also connected, for example, to the ground, via a second oscillator capacitor and via a control resistor whose value can be adjusted or electrically controlled, so that the frequency of the oscillator can be varied by increasing or decreasing the value of the control resistor. In order to control the value of the control resistor, preferably a modulated 1-bit signal is used that is integrated by an integrator. Preferably, the oscillator is an integral part of a closed-loop control circuit in which the frequency of the oscillator forms the actual value and a predefined target frequency forms the target value.
US08044732B2

A continuously tunable inductor with an inductive-capacitive (LC) voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a primary coil. The inductor includes a separate isolated secondary coil, a set of transistors composing a closed loop with the secondary coil, a magnetic coupling between the primary coil of the LC VCO and the secondary coil, an electrical coupling between the LC VCO and the set of transistors composing a closed loop with the secondary coil, and means for electric current injection into the closed loop. Such an inductor can be tuned by modulating a mutual inductance, which is magnetically and electrically coupled with the LC VCO by injection of an electric current (I0).
US08044728B2

An integrated circuit may include an inverter which may include a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type connected in parallel with the first transistor. An input of the inverter may be capable of receiving an oscillating input signal, and which may include an output of the inverter, which is connected to a capacitive device capable of being charged and discharged depending on the state of the first and second transistors being on or off. The inverter may be capable of delivering an oscillating output signal at its output. The integrated circuit may include a selector for transmitting the oscillating output signal and for masking the charging and/or discharging of the capacitive device.
US08044724B2

The subject innovation relates to systems and/or methodologies for generating a low jitter large frequency tuning LC-based phase-locked loop circuit for multi-speed clocking applications. In addition to a plurality of noise reduction features, the phase-locked loop includes programmable charge pump and loop filter that enable a wide loop bandwidth, a programmable VCO that enables a wide VCO frequency range and a per lane clock divider that further enables a wide PLL frequency range. Furthermore, an auto-calibration circuit ensures that the VCO included in the PLL receives the optimum current for noise reduction across the VCO frequency range.
US08044718B2

An integrated programmable gain amplifier circuit that receives at an input an analog signal, circuit including an operational amplifier and a gain setup network comprising resistive elements and selection elements, which may be controlled in order to setup the gain of the amplifier circuit. The gain setup network further includes capacitive elements, for defining, together with the resistive elements and the operational amplifier, an anti-aliasing filter of the active RC type.
US08044716B1

An adjustable, segmented amplifier including (i) a first fixed stage configured to amplify an analog signal in accordance with a fixed amplification, and provide the analog signal amplified in accordance with the fixed amplification to a first common node. The adjustable, segmented amplifier further includes an adjustable stage comprising a plurality of independently selectable parallel amplifier segments, wherein the adjustable stage is configured to (i) amplify the analog signal provided to the first common node in accordance with an adjustable amplification that is adjustable depending upon a number of the independently selectable parallel amplifier segments having been selected to amplify the analog signal provided to the first common node, and (ii) provide the analog signal amplified in accordance with the fixed amplification and amplified in accordance with the adjustable amplification to the second common node.
US08044715B2

The present invention is directed toward providing a system and method of reducing RF interference in switching amplifiers without degrading performance. In one embodiment, the sampling rate of coarse high voltage modulated pulsewidths are increased relative to the sampling rate of fine lower voltage modulated pulsewidths. This increase in the sampling rate of coarse high voltage modulated pulsewidths results in a reduction in EMI.
US08044708B2

A reference voltage generator includes: a reference voltage source 1 that generates a direct-current voltage that is used as a reference; a low-pass filter 2 that is connected to an output node of the reference voltage source; a first voltage buffer circuit 10 with an input terminal to which the output node of the reference voltage source is connected and an output terminal to which an output node of the low-pass filter is connected, which has a voltage gain of one time; and a hysteresis comparator 11 with one input terminal to which the output node of the reference voltage source is connected and an other input terminal to which the output node of the low-pass filter is connected. At start-up, during a time period in which a voltage difference between an output of the reference voltage source and an output of the low-pass filter exceeds a predetermined value, an output impedance of the first voltage buffer circuit is controlled based on an output signal of the hysteresis comparator. At start-up, the low-pass filter that reduces noise is charged with a low impedance rapidly, and thus an output voltage can be stabilized rapidly.
US08044707B2

Systems and methods to achieve a charge pump for generating from single supply voltage energy efficient supply voltages having a value of ±⅙ Vdd, ±⅕ Vdd, ±¼ Vdd, ±⅓ Vdd, ±½ Vdd or ±1 Vdd that are symmetrical around ground voltage have been disclosed. The charge pump requires two flying capacitors only. The charge pump generates positive and negative supply voltages following a 1/N ratio of Vdd voltage, i.e. +−Vdd/N, and can be generalized to generate +/−Vdd/2N voltages. This is especially useful for supplying class-G amplifiers with a voltage or power, which is just enough e.g. for an audio signal to be correctly generated at the output of the amplifier.
US08044705B2

Techniques of operating a charge pump are described. The charge pump is connectable to receive a clock signal and a regulating voltage and provide an output voltage. The charge pump can have one or multiple stages, each of the stages will include a capacitor. During the charging phase, the regulating voltage is used to regulate the potential of the capacitor's bottom plate. During the boosting phase, the capacitor's top plate is connected to supply the output for the stage and the bottom plate is connected to receive the stage's input. Each stage will also have a set of switching elements, allowing the capacitor to be alternately connected in the charging and boosting phases. For the first stage, the input is derived from the clock signal, and for any subsequent stages, the input will be the output of the preceding stage. The last stage provides the output voltage of the pump.
US08044702B2

An arrangement and a method for providing a temperature-dependent signal. Several current sources (1, 2) are provided, which are switchably connected to one or more diodes (8). The conducting-state voltage of the diode is compared with a reference signal (Vr) in a comparator (10). A control circuit (12) controls the current sources (1, 2) so that for calibrating in each calibration step, only one of the current sources is activated and, in another calibration step, all of the current sources (1, 2) are activated. Therefore, error terms can be calculated, which allow a very exact provision of a temperature-dependent signal with respect to the matching of the current sources to each other.
US08044696B2

A delay circuit has a long delay time and a semiconductor device includes the delay circuit. The delay circuit includes an inverter circuit unit having at least one inverter. Each of the inverters includes a first transistor connected to a supply voltage and a second transistor connected to a ground voltage. The inverter circuit unit receives a first signal and outputs a second signal by delaying the first signal. At least one capacitor unit is connected to an input terminal of the inverter such that a loading capacitance of the inverter circuit unit is increased.
US08044688B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits that provide for out of band detection. As one example, an out of band detection circuit is disclosed that includes an input signal, a clock generation circuit, and a sampling circuit. The clock generation circuit receives the input signal and derives therefrom a sampling clock, and the sampling circuit is operable to sample the input signal at a time indicated by the sampling clock.
US08044687B2

A design for a wide input common mode voltage comparator is provided which reduces the delay between outputs from component comparators. The wide input common mode voltage comparator includes a first comparator configured to receive a differential input. The first comparator is further configured to accommodate high common mode voltages. The wide input common mode voltage comparator further includes a second comparator configured to receive the differential input. The first comparator is further configured to accommodate low common mode voltages. Additionally, the threshold voltages of the active devices within the comparator are between −100 to 100 mV. Furthermore, the wide input common mode voltage comparator includes a summing circuit configured to receive the outputs of the first and second comparators to create a single-ended output.
US08044686B2

A comparator circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a comparator configured to compare an input signal voltage with a reference voltage obtained by smoothing the input signal by use of a resistor and a capacitor, and output a result of the comparison, a discharge circuit configured to compare a first addition signal which is obtained by adding a positive first voltage to the input signal voltage, with the reference voltage, and discharge the capacitor when the first addition signal is lower than the reference voltage, and a charge circuit configured to compare a second addition signal which is obtained by adding a negative second voltage to the input signal voltage, with the reference voltage, and charge the capacitor when the second addition signal is higher than the reference voltage.
US08044666B2

A method and apparatus for determining a location of a phase-to-earth fault on a three-phase electric line (30) of an electric network, comprising determining an equivalent load distance curve of the electric line (30) representing a voltage drop along the electric line scaled by an equivalent load distance of the electric line, determining a fault distance line indicating an estimate of a distance of the fault (F) from the measuring point (40) in relation to the equivalent load distance, determining a distance at which the equivalent load distance curve and the fault distance line intersect when superimposed, and selecting the determined distance as the distance between the measuring point (40) and the point of fault (F).
US08044665B2

A sensor product for electric field sensing. The sensor includes a substrate, at least one electrically conductive area on the surface of the substrate, an output, and at least one conductor between the at least one electrically conductive area and the output. Also a sensor product web.
US08044662B2

In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to acquire data representing a plurality of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) echo trains associated with a material, such as a geological formation. Additional operations may include inverting a model of at least one of the plurality of NMR echo trains to provide an estimated distribution of transverse relaxation time constants, inverting models of selected ones of the plurality of NMR echo trains using the estimated distribution of transverse relaxation time constants to provide an estimated diffusion distribution, and inverting a model of selected ones of the plurality of NMR echo trains, using the estimated distributions of transverse relaxation time constants and diffusion, to provide an apparent and an intrinsic probability density function to identify fluid types in the material.
US08044659B2

A rotational angle sensor and a method for manufacturing the same, and a throttle control device with a rotational angle sensor, which may lower the cost, are provided. The rotational angle sensor includes each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2) for detecting a rotational angle of a rotor based on a magnetic field generated between a pair of magnets respectively disposed across the rotational axis of the rotor; each main terminal 61, 62, 63, 64 connected with each connection terminal 55, 56, 57 of each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2); and a holder member 90 for holding each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2) and connection portions of each main terminal 61, 62, 63, 64 on each sensor IC 50(1), 50(2) side. A sensor assembly 100 is constructed to form the sensor ICs 50(1), 50(2), the main terminals 61, 62, 63, 64 and the holder member 90 into an assembly. A potting material 102 is potted into the holder member 90.
US08044657B2

A magnetostrictive application probe is disclosed wherein the probe includes a preassembled sensor element mounted as an application housing installation as an installable unit. The modular nature allows interchanging with various electronic assemblies, and may be an explosion proof installation.
US08044654B2

In one aspect, a method of reducing power consumption in a circuit by adaptive bias current generation of a bias current configured to bias, at least in part, at least one amplifier of the circuit is provided. The method comprises establishing the bias current based, at least in part, on a reference frequency of a reference clock providing a clock signal to at least one component of the circuit, and changing the bias current in response to a change in the reference frequency of the at least one reference clock, the bias current being change non-linearly with respect to the change in the reference frequency of the at least one reference clock. In another aspect, the method comprises establishing the bias current based, at least in part, on a capacitance of a reference capacitor, and changing the bias current in response to a change in the capacitance of the reference capacitor such that the bias current is changed non-linearly with respect to changes in the capacitance of the reference capacitor.
US08044652B2

A constant current control circuit is disclosed. Pads are connected with a common power supply terminal. Shunt resistors are located outward of a region containing Pch type MOS transistors. A temperature increase of the shunt resistors due to a temperature increase of the MOS transistors can be suppressed by the above structure. In particular, when the MOS transistor of one circuit system is driven, the shunt resistor of another circuit system is distant from the driving MOS transistor, and thus, it is possible to further suppress the temperature increase of the distant shunt resistor. Moreover, a power supply terminal can be provided as a single common terminal, and the number of terminals can be reduced.
US08044628B2

A controller is provided for a permanent magnet field motor including two rotors concentrically provided around a rotating shaft and a phase changing device for changing an angle of relative displacement in a circumferential direction between two rotors to serve as a power source for driving driven wheels of an all-wheel drive vehicle having two main driving wheels and at least two driven wheels, the controller including a drive control portion to control driving of the motor according to a drive mode of the all-wheel drive vehicle; and a phase instruction portion to issue an instruction, when the drive mode of the all-wheel drive vehicle is a main-driving-wheel drive mode, to set the angle of relative displacement at an angle at which a magnetic flux generated at each of the two rotors is weakened, as compared with that generated at each of the two rotors in an all-wheel drive mode.
US08044626B2

An actuation assembly (INST) of a screen (SCR) for closure, solar protection or privacy, comprising, on the one hand, a motorized actuator (ACT) furnished with wireless control command receiving means (RCU) and, on the other hand, a standalone power supply assembly (PWU) furnished with at least one rechargeable accumulator (BAT) and with a power supply connector (PR), designed to be connected to the motorized actuator (ACT) via an electric connection line (LIN) for the latter to be supplied with power by the energy of the accumulator (BAT), wherein the power supply assembly (PWU) comprises a man-machine interface (MMI) whose activation allows the transmission of information to the actuator, this information relating to the control of the wireless control command receiving means (RCU) of the actuator (ACT).
US08044620B2

An inverter control circuit controls transistors based on comparison of a voltage command wave with a carrier wave, when a magnitude of a voltage vector is equal to or less than a peak value of the carrier wave. The voltage command wave is a wave, which is offset to a maximum value side from a reference potential of the carrier wave so that a maximum value of the voltage command wave equals a peak value of the carrier wave. The inverter control circuit makes an on-period of the transistor on a positive bus side longer than that of the transistor on a negative bus side by using the command voltage. The amount of electricity charged in a capacitor is reduced in comparison with a case in which the voltage command wave is used. Thus, thermal loss of a stator coil and a diode on the positive bus side is reduced.
US08044606B2

A power supply for supplying power to a lamp with functions of dimming, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, arcing protection, and low-temperature start-up is provided. When frequency of the output current exceeds a predetermined value, the power supply is turned off to accomplish a dimming goal and extend lifetime of the lamp. When abnormal statuses such as open-circuited status, short-circuited status, or arcing status occur, a surge current induced by the abnormal statuses may be eliminated to prevent the power supply from being damaged. A high-frequency current detection circuit is configured to detect whether a current supplied to the high-voltage load is a high-frequency current to prevent damage to the electronic elements in the high-voltage load. A current adjusting circuit is configured to adjust an alternating current outputted to a lamp set in response to an environment temperature to supply an adequate alternating current at a low temperature for starting the lamp set.
US08044603B2

A light emitting diode driving device and light system are provided. The light emitting diode driving device drives a light source by a received alternating current voltage. The light emitting diode driving device includes a rectifier, a feedback unit, a protection unit, a switch unit, a timing unit, and a control unit. The rectifier is electrically coupled to an alternating current voltage source and the light source for providing the alternating current voltage to the light source. The feedback unit is used to detect a loading state and generate a feedback signal according the loading state for outputting the feedback signal. The protection unit is used to receive the feedback signal and compare the feedback signal with a reference voltage built in the protection unit for outputting a switch signal. The switch unit is used to receive the switch signal and connect or disconnect the alternating current voltage source and the light source. Therefore, the protection unit can avoid a burnout due to an exceeding current of the light source.
US08044601B2

A high-voltage discharge lamp lighting device provides a starting pulse voltage sufficient to turn on a high-voltage discharge lamp having terminal wire connections of variable length. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a commercial AC power source input and rectifies the AC input into a predetermined DC voltage output. A charging capacitor is coupled to the power conversion circuit. A full bridge circuit is coupled to the power conversion circuit and the charging capacitor and provides a rectangular wave AC output signal to a transformer primary winding circuit of at least a capacitor, a single switching element and a primary winding of a transformer. A low pulse voltage is induced in the primary winding and a transformer secondary winding is connected on one end to the high-voltage discharge lamp, wherein the low pulse voltage is stepped up to a high pulse voltage and applied to the high-voltage discharge lamp. A reference voltage is generated in a reference transformer winding representative of the high pulse voltage. A starting pulse equivalent value detection circuit is connected to the reference winding and detects a value associated with the reference voltage. A control circuit receives said value from said detection circuit, and variably controls at least one of a frequency of the single switching element or an ON impedance of the single switching element in association with said value, wherein said frequency or ON impedance is further associated with a starting pulse voltage sufficient to start the high-voltage discharge lamp.
US08044573B2

An organic light emitting display includes a substrate, an organic light emitting device on the substrate, the organic light emitting device including a first electrode, an organic emitting layer, and a second electrode, a UV light shielding layer having at least two layers, each layer absorbing different wavelengths of UV light, and an encapsulation layer sealing the organic light emitting device.
US08044570B2

A lighting device includes a printed wiring board, a plurality of light-emitting elements, a sealing member, and a color conversion unit, and an adhesive layer. The sealing member has light transmitting properties and seals the light-emitting elements mounted on the printed wiring board. The color conversion unit includes a cover member of light transmitting properties, and a fluorescent substance layer provided on the inner surface of the cover member. The adhesive layer has light-transmitting properties, and adheres the sealing member to the fluorescent substance layer of the color conversion unit in an airtight manner.
US08044562B2

There is provided a spark section (80) of needle-like shape protruding from an inner surface (33) of a ground electrode (30) to define a spark gap between the spark section and an electrode tip on a center electrode. The spark section (80) has a noble metal member (81) and an intermediate member (86) joined to each other. The materials of the noble metal member (81) and the intermediate member (86) are selected in such a manner that the thermal conductivity of the intermediate member (86) is lower than that of the noble metal member (81). This limits heat radiation through the heat radiation passage from the noble metal member (81) through the intermediate member (86) to the ground electrode (30) so as to maintain the noble metal member (81) at a higher temperature than conventional types and reduce a quenching effect of the noble metal member (81) on a flame core generated in the spark gap for improvement in ignition performance.
US08044555B2

A driving apparatus comprises: an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts in an extending direction of a given fiducial line; a driving shaft mounted on one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving shaft; a holder that supports the electromechanical conversion element from lateral sides with respect to extending direction; and an urging member that urges the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction.
US08044552B2

An actuator of the present invention includes a moving part, and a driving electrode which is comprised of electrode parts electrically isolated from each other and drives the moving part. A drive voltage is applied selectively to some of the electrode parts to control an electrostatic force which acts on the moving part.
US08044540B2

A SPDT or SPMT switch may include a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, where a first end of the secondary winding is connected to a single pole port, where a first end of the primary winding is connected to a first throw port; a first switch having a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected to ground; and a second switch, where a second end of the secondary winding is connected to both a second end of the first switch and a first end of the second switch, where a second end of the second switch is connected to a second throw port, where the first switch controls a first communication path between the single pole port and the first throw port, and where the second switch controls a second communication path between the second throw port and the single pole port.
US08044528B2

A wind power facility includes an activation circuit for a speed-limited and voltage-source-protective operation of a pitch-drive series-wound motor at generator torques. The activation circuit can comprise a pitch-drive series-wound motor, in which armature winding and exciter winding are connectable separately from one another, a load resistor RII, which is switched essentially in series to the exciter winding and parallel to the armature winding, and a voltage source, such as a battery or accumulator. A first terminal contact of the armature winding can be connected via a first power converter component to a first terminal contact of the exciter winding and a first terminal contact of the load resistor, and the first terminal contact of the armature winding can be connected via a second power converter component to a second terminal contact of the exciter winding. The first power converter component can transmit in motor operation and block in generator operation, and the second power converter component can transmits in generator operation and block in motor operation.
US08044523B2

The invention relates to a semiconductor device with a semiconductor chip, on which a terminal contact formed in one piece, a patterned metallization layer, contacting the terminal contact, and a connecting layer are successively arranged, the patterned metallization layer and the patterned connecting layer forming an electrically conducting contact layer.
US08044520B2

A power supply capable of reducing loss of large current and high frequency. In an MCM for power supply in which a high-side power MOSFET chip, a low-side power MOSFET chip and a driver IC chip driving them are sealed in one sealing material (a capsulating insulation resin), a wiring length of a wiring DL connecting an output terminal of the driver IC chip to a gate terminal of the low-side power MOSFET chip or a source terminal is made shorter than a wiring length of a wiring DH connecting the output terminal of the driver IC chip to a gate terminal of the high-side power MOSFET chip or a source terminal. Further, the number of the wiring DL is made larger than the number of the wiring DH.
US08044511B2

The semiconductor device is manufactured by forming a lower electrode layer 2 having a predetermined pattern on a semiconductor substrate 1 and forming an upper electrode layer 3 on a part of the top surface of the lower electrode layer 2, while holes 2X extending in the direction of thickness are formed on the top surface of the lower electrode layer 2 below the upper electrode layer 3, and the depth of holes 2X is smaller than the thickness of the lower electrode layer 2.
US08044510B2

A structure includes a substrate. A trench structure is arranged within the substrate. A film is placed under an interlevel dielectric pad and between portions of the trench structure.
US08044509B2

In a non-leaded type semiconductor device, a tab, tab suspension leads, and other leads are exposed to one surface of a seal member. A semiconductor element is positioned within the seal member and fixed to a surface of the tab with an adhesive. The tab is formed larger than the semiconductor element so that outer peripheral edges of the tab are positioned outside outer peripheral edges of the semiconductor element. A groove is formed in the tab surface portion positioned between the area to which the semiconductor element is fixed and wire connection areas to which the wires are connected, the groove being formed so as to surround the semiconductor element fixing area, thereby preventing peeling-off between the tab to which the semiconductor element is fixed and the resin which constitutes the package.
US08044506B2

The invention provides a thermal-emitting memory module, a thermal-emitting module socket, and a computer system comprising the thermal-emitting memory module and the thermal-emitting module socket. An embodiment of the thermal-emitting module includes: a module substrate having electrically-conductive traces; and a semiconductor device disposed on the module substrate and coupled to the electrically-conductive traces, the module substrate including a thermal-emitting portion disposed in proximity of the semiconductor device without directly contacting the semiconductor device.
US08044496B2

A QFN semiconductor package includes a die attach pad; a semiconductor die mounted on the die attach pad; an inner terminal lead disposed adjacent to the die attach pad; a first wire bonding the inner terminal lead to the semiconductor die; an extended, outer terminal lead disposed along periphery of the QFN semiconductor package, wherein the extended, outer terminal lead is disposed beyond a maximum wire length which is provided for a specific minimum pad opening size on the semiconductor die; an intermediary terminal disposed between the inner terminal lead and the extended, outer terminal lead; a second wire bonding the intermediary terminal to the semiconductor die; and a trace interconnecting the intermediary terminal to the extended, outer terminal lead.
US08044495B2

A leadframe for the assembly of a semiconductor chip has regions (112) with an original smooth surface of glossy appearance and regions (113, 114, 210) of a frosty appearance with rough surface contours. The regions of rough surface contours include two-dimensional arrays of spots (401) comprising a central area (402) below the original surface (400) and a piled ring (403) above the original surface. The piled ring (403) consists of the leadframe material in amorphous configuration.
US08044494B2

A first packaged integrated circuit (IC) includes a package substrate, at least one IC die attached to a first surface of the package substrate, a plurality of conductive members on the first surface at least partially surrounding the at least one IC die and electrically connected to the at least one IC die, an encapsulant over the first surface surrounding the at least one IC die and the plurality of conductive members, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of conductive members is exposed by the encapsulant. A second packaged IC may be stacked onto the first packaged IC. The second packaged IC includes at least one IC die and a plurality of conductive members, each conductive member of the plurality of conductive members of the second packaged IC is in contact with a corresponding conductive member of the plurality conductive members of the first packaged IC.
US08044493B2

A GaAs semiconductor substrate includes a main surface (10m) having an inclined angle of 6° to 16° with respect to a (100) plane (10a), and a concentration of chlorine atoms on the main surface (10m) is not more than 1×1013 cm−2. Further, a method of manufacturing a GaAs semiconductor substrate includes a polishing step of polishing a GaAs semiconductor wafer, a first cleaning step of cleaning the polished GaAs semiconductor wafer, an inspection step of inspecting a thickness and a main surface flatness of the GaAs semiconductor wafer subjected to the first cleaning, and a second cleaning step of cleaning the inspected GaAs semiconductor wafer with one of an acid other than hydrochloric acid and an alkali. Thereby, a GaAs semiconductor substrate that allows to obtain a group III-V compound semiconductor device having high properties even when at least one group III-V compound semiconductor layer containing not less than three elements is grown on a main surface, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided.
US08044473B2

A light sensor includes an intrinsic layer, a first ion doping area disposed one side of the intrinsic layer, a second ion doping area disposed at the other side of the intrinsic layer, an oxide insulating layer on the intrinsic layer, and a gate metal on the oxide insulating layer. The first and second ion doping areas have the same P type or N type doped ions. The intrinsic layer further includes a first light sensing region close to the first ion doping area. The first light sensing region is used for generating electron-hole pairs based on luminance of incident light.
US08044466B2

An ESD protection device comprises a substrate of a first conductive type; a transistor formed in the substrate having an input terminal of the first conductive type, a control terminal of a second conductive type, and a ground terminal of the first conductive type; and a diode formed in the substrate having a first terminal of the first conductive type and a second terminal of the second conductive type, wherein the input terminal and the second terminal are coupled to an input, and the ground terminal and the first terminal are coupled to a ground.
US08044462B2

An electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and a drain layer adjacent the semiconductor substrate and having a plurality of drains. The drain layer includes a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type adjacent the semiconductor substrate, and at least one second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type adjacent the first semiconductor layer. Moreover, a plurality of first column regions of the first conductivity type extends through the at least one second semiconductor layer to contact the first semiconductor layer. A plurality of second column regions of the second conductivity type delimits the plurality of first column regions. Furthermore, a plurality of body regions of the second conductivity type are adjacent respective ones of the plurality of second column regions.
US08044452B2

The present invention provides a high-quality semiconductor device in which deterioration in transistor characteristics and an increase in interface layer due to a gate insulating film are suppressed, and a method for manufacturing the same. In the present invention, an interface layer, a diffusion suppressing layer and a high dielectric constant insulating film are formed sequentially in this order on one surface of a silicon substrate.
US08044439B2

A light-emitting device (1) is provided having a current blocking layer (9) of buried structure, a portion of the current blocking layer (9) having an oxygen concentration higher than that of a light-emitting layer, the current blocking layer being of a thickness of not less than 5 nm and not more than 100 nm. It includes an etching stop layer (24) below the current blocking layer (9), the etching stop layer being good in oxidation resistance. The light-emitting device (1) and its manufacturing method are provided such that the device has its current confinement effect improved and its output increased at lower forward voltage.
US08044436B2

Avalanche photodiodes and methods for forming them are disclosed. The breakdown voltage of an avalanche photodiode is controlled through the inclusion of a diffusion sink that is formed at the same time as the device region of the photodiode. The device region and diffusion sink are formed by diffusing a dopant into a semiconductor to form a p-n junction in the device region. The dopant is diffused through a first diffusion window to form the device region and a second diffusion window to form the diffusion sink. The depth of the p-n junction is based on an attribute of the second diffusion window.
US08044432B2

Methods and devices for fabricating AlGaN/GaN normally-off high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). A fluorine-based (electronegative ions-based) plasma treatment or low-energy ion implantation is used to modify the drain-side surface field distribution without the use of a field plate electrode. The off-state breakdown voltage can be improved and current collapse can be completely suppressed in LDD-HEMTs with no significant degradation in gains and cutoff frequencies.
US08044428B2

A package has a base substrate that is a metal plate electrically connected to one electrode of a UV-ray light emitting diode and a cover substrate that is a metal plate electrically connected to the other electrode and that is stacked on the base substrate. A plurality of packages are mounted on a header such that center lines of the base substrates extending in their widthwise directions are aligned to each other. The cover substrates are arranged asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line of the base substrates so as to traverse the center line. When mounted on the header, the packages are arranged such that positions of the cover substrates are staggered with respect to the center line. Moreover, the base substrate of one of the adjacent packages and the cover substrate of the other adjacent package are connected together by a connection plate fastened to the base substrates and the cover substrate by connection screws.
US08044427B2

This invention relates to the thermal management, extraction of light, and cost effectiveness of Light Emitting Diode, or LED, electrical circuits. An integrated circuit LED submount is described, for the packaging of high power LEDs. The LED submount provides high thermal conductivity while preserving electrical insulation. In particular, a process is described for anodizing a high thermal conductivity aluminum alloy sheet to form a porous aluminum oxide layer and a non-porous aluminum oxide layer. This anodized aluminum alloy sheet acts as a superior electrical insulator, and also provides surface morphology and mechanical properties that are useful for the fabrication of high-density and high-power multilevel electrical circuits.
US08044426B2

A light emitting device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. Each substrate may be subdivided into a contact region and a pixel region. Conductive elements positioned in each of the contact region and pixel region of the first substrate may be of substantially the same height.
US08044424B2

A light-emitting device of the present invention includes: a LED chip 10; a chip mounting member 70 having a conductive plate (heat transfer plate) 71 one surface side of which the LED chip 10 is mounted on and a conductor patterns 73, 73 which is formed on the one surface side of the conductive plate 71 through an insulating part 72 and electrically connected to the LED chip 10; and a sheet-shaped connecting member 80 disposed on the other surface side of the conductive plate 71 to connect the conductive plate 71 to a body of the luminaire 90 which is a metal member for holding the chip mounting member 70. The connecting member 80 is made of a resin sheet which includes a filler and whose viscosity is reduced by heating, and the connecting member 80 has an electrical insulating property and thermally connects the conductive plate 71 and the body 90 of the luminaire to each other.
US08044411B2

The present invention provides a structure in which a pixel region 13 is surrounded by a first sealing material (having higher viscosity than a second sealing material) 16 including a spacer (filler, minute particles and/or the like) which maintains a gap between the two substrates, filled with a few drops of the transparent second sealing material 17a which is spread in the region; and sealed by using the first sealing material 16 and the second sealing material 17.
US08044407B2

A liquid crystal display device provided with a thin film transistor with excellent electrical characteristics and reduced off current, for which increase in manufacturing costs can be suppressed while suppressing reduction in yield. A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode provided over a substrate; a gate insulating film provided to cover the substrate and the gate electrode; a first island-shaped semiconductor layer and a second island-shaped semiconductor layer each formed as a stack of a microcrystalline semiconductor layer and a buffer layer with a depression on an upper surface thereof, over the gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween; a conductive semiconductor layer; and a conductive layer provided on the conductive semiconductor layer. The conductive semiconductor layer is provided between the first island-shaped semiconductor layer and the second island-shaped semiconductor layer in contact with the gate insulating film.
US08044396B2

A semiconductor device includes a first wiring layer, a second wiring layer and an insulating layer provided between the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. A capacitor has a first electrode formed on the first wiring layer and a second electrode formed on the second wiring layer in such a manner that the second electrode overlaps with the first electrode. To the first electrode, two connection wirings are connected and, to the second electrode, two connection wirings are connected. The two connection wirings are connected to each other with low DC impedance substantially only through the first electrode. Similarly, the two connection wirings are connected to each other with low DC impedance substantially only through the second electrode.
US08044395B2

A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first pad group located along a first edge of a plurality of banks, a second pad group located along a second edge of the plurality of banks opposite the first pad group, and a pad control section configured to provide first and second bonding signals and to implement control operation in response to a test mode signal and a bonding option signal to selectively employ signals from the first and second pad groups.
US08044394B2

The invention relates to an arrangement of contact areas and test areas on patterned semiconductor chips. The contact areas and the test areas are electrically connected to one another via a conduction web. Whereas the contact areas are arranged in a first region, which has no components of an integrated circuit, the test areas lie in a second region of the top side of the semiconductor chip, which region has components of an integrated circuit.
US08044390B2

A material for an organic electroluminescent device including an imine derivative represented by the following formula (Ia) or (Ib), wherein Y1 to Y4 are independently a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; R1 to R4 are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocycle, a halogen atom, a fluoroalkyl group or a cyano group; and R1 and R2, or R3 and R4 may be bonded together to form a ring.
US08044380B2

Provided is a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including: a first nitride semiconductor layer; an active layer formed above the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a “C (carbon)”-doped second nitride semiconductor layer formed above the active layer. According to the present invention, the crystallinity of the active layer is enhanced, and the optical power and the operation reliability are enhanced.
US08044377B2

The present invention provides a radiation-shielding container for a radiopharmaceutical that may be magnetically picked and placed, assembled and dis-assembled.
US08044371B2

A surface acoustic wave (“SAW”) device including a SAW element, a first material, a luminescence material and a light source, and a method for signal amplification of a SAW element. The first material may be positioned on the SAW element and bound to a target material in a sample. The luminescence material may be bound to the target material. The light source may apply light to the luminescence material. The SAW device and the method for signal amplification of a SAW element using the same allow amplification of a signal of the SAW element by an electromagnetic wave generated when light is applied to the luminescence material.
US08044348B2

An ion source and method for providing ionized particles to a molecular/atomic analyser, such as a mass spectrometer, are disclosed. The ion source includes a vessel defining a channel; a gas inlet extending from the gas source into the channel, for introducing a gas flow into the channel; a sample inlet extending into the channel for introducing sample within the channel; and an ionizer to ionize the sample in the channel. The vessel is sufficiently sealed to allow the channel to be pressurized, at a pressure in excess of 100 Torr. At least one gas source maintains the pressure of the channel at a pressure in excess of 100 Torr and the pressure exterior to the channel at a pressure in excess of 0.1 Torr and provides a gas flow that sweeps across the ionizer to guide and entrain ions from the ionizer to the outlet.
US08044337B2

A device for electronically and optically counting objects, such as fish, animals, vegetation or other materials, as they are placed into a container. The device surrounds a defined opening on a container. As objects are placed into the container, they fall through the frame of the opening. A light source, such as a laser or LED, is directed toward a light detector in such a way as to be disrupted as the animal falls into the container. A light detector detects said disruption of the light and signals the electronic circuit to add to the number previously counted. Various methods of communicating the count are provided. The preferred method of communicating the count is via an integrated visual display. The preferred method of powering the device is by the use of one or more electric battery. Various methods of electrically powering the device are provided.
US08044330B2

Disclosed is an electrically conductive adhesive that includes an electrically conductive powder, a heat-curable silicone resin, and a solvent.
US08044322B2

A system and method for processing a tubular member for producing a medical device, wherein the tubular member is oriented in a longitudinally vertical position during processing.
US08044319B2

A variable arc gap plasma igniter element includes electrodes moveable relative to each other. The electrodes are preferably set to define a smaller air gap to initiate a plasma arc and later extended to obtain longer plasma arc.
US08044315B2

An electronic device includes a housing, a button plate, a support element and a printed circuit board. The housing has an opening. The button plate is disposed at the opening of the housing, has a central region and two sides, wherein the button plate is mounted to the housing through the two ends of the two sides formed by elastic arms respectively. The support element is disposed under the central region of the button plate for defining the button plate into left and right parts. The printed circuit board is located underneath the support element, has two switches located respectively corresponds to the left and right parts of the button plate.
US08044313B2

A push button switch includes a switch casing, and a printed circuit board with a switching element disposed thereupon. A push button is disposed in an opening of the switch casing. The push button includes a pushing portion, pushing projection, and an annular wall portion surrounding a periphery of the pushing projection. The pushing portion, the pushing projection, and the annular wall portion are configured of elastic material. The annular wall portion and the pushing projection are disposed in an interior of the switch casing such that the pushing portion projects outwardly from the opening portion of the switch casing. A distal end portion of the pushing projection is directed toward the switching element. The push button switch also includes a guide member configured to restrict movement of the pushing projection. The guide member is disposed inside the annular wall portion of the push button.
US08044307B2

A power transformer/reactor immersed in oil including a transformer/reactor core and windings accommodated in a tank including a tank base plate and tank walls. A foundation supports the tank. An elongated continuous band forming a closed frame is arranged between the base plate and the foundation. An outer periphery of the base plate extends outside an inner periphery of the frame and thereby encloses an air volume within the frame, the base plate and foundation. The tank support reduces sound emitted from the transformer/reactor.
US08044306B2

A wiring board has a base substrate, a conductive pattern formed on the base substrate, an insulation layer formed on the conductive pattern and the base substrate and including a resin-impregnated inorganic cloth, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, a via formed in the insulation layer and connecting the conductive pattern formed on the base substrate and the conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, and a through-hole connected to the conductive pattern formed on the base substrate, penetrating through the base substrate and having a hole diameter in a range of 10 μm to 150 μm.
US08044299B2

The present invention is directed to a modular shutter assembly for use within various types of electrical wiring devices having differing amperage ratings. The modular shutter assembly includes a first shutter member having a first blade engagement structure. The first shutter member is configured to be disposed within an interior portion of the cover assembly and disposed between a set of receptacle openings and a set of receptacle contacts. A second shutter member includes a second blade engagement structure and is slidably disposed within the first shutter member. An interface is configured to connect a third shutter member to the modular shutter assembly and drive the third shutter into an open position only when the first shutter member and the second shutter member are simultaneously engaged by a set of plug blades.
US08044298B2

An electrical wire includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a third conductor. The first conductor is formed as an electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power. The second and third conductors are respectively formed on opposing sides of the first conductor, such that the first conductor is at least substantially entrapped by the second and third conductors. A distance between the first conductor and each of the second and third conductors is no greater than approximately 0.030 inches.
US08044283B1

A novel maize variety designated PH12SG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12SG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12SG through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12SG or a locus conversion of PH12SG with another maize variety.
US08044282B1

A novel maize variety designated PH12K5 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12K5 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12K5 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12K5 or a locus conversion of PH12K5 with another maize variety.
US08044265B2

The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences which have a transcriptional promoter activity preferentially in the phloem of plants under conditions of stress, or in the roots, to derived sequences, to constructs containing such sequences, and also to cells transformed with said constructs and to transgenic plants. The present invention makes it possible to place any transgene under the transcriptional control of a promoter, the activity of which is tissue-specific, organ-specific and/or inducible by environmental factors, such as biotic or abiotic stresses.
US08044258B2

An absorbent article for preventing leakage is presented and includes an absorbent assembly having an absorbent assembly perimeter and a leakage warning element disposed adjacent a portion of the perimeter, wherein the leakage warning element is adapted to provide a physical sensation indicating a fullness level of the absorbent assembly, and wherein the physical sensation includes an electrical impulse. Also presented is an absorbent article for providing a wearer with a warning of potential leakage, the article including an absorbent assembly and a leakage warning element disposed adjacent the absorbent assembly, wherein the leakage warning element is adapted to impart a physical sensation to the wearer, and wherein the physical sensation includes an electrical impulse.
US08044255B2

The present disclosure relates to personal care products such as diapers, training pants, feminine care articles, incontinence articles, bandages, and the like, that have been treated to enhance liquid intake and distribution performance characteristics and reduce leakage. Advantageously, the treated personal care products described herein not only reduce the viscosity and elasticity of viscoelastic fluids that come in contact with the treated product, but also reduce the fouling effect of such fluids.
US08044237B2

The present invention relates to recovery of aqueous (meth)acrylic acid by condensation of a (meth)acrylic acid-containing stream to produce aqueous (meth)acylic acid having a higher concentration of (meth)acrylic acid and a lower concentration of formaldehyde, i.e., not more than 0.1 weight %, than the aqueous (meth)acrylic acid produced using hithertofore known separation methods. The (meth)acrylic acid-containing stream may be the raw product stream of catalytic oxidation at least one C2-C4 alkane or alkene.
US08044235B2

A monomer is provided which is excellent in reactivity, can give high heat resistance and high refractive index, and has two or more polymerizable functional groups with different polymerization properties and an aromatic ring in the molecule. An industrial advantageous process for producing the monomer is also provided. The monomer is an aromatic isocyanate compound containing a (meth)acryloyl group, and is represented by Formula (I): wherein R1 is a single bond or a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3 is a single bond or a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, X is independently a halogen atom or an electron-withdrawing group, m is an integer ranging from 0 to 4, n is an integer ranging from 1 to 3, and 1≦m+n≦5.
US08044233B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing vinyl carboxylates, wherein a carboxylic acid is reacted with an alkyne compound in the presence of a catalyst which is selected from carbonyl complexes, halides and oxides of rhenium, of manganese, of tungsten, of molybdenum, of chromium and of iron and rhenium metal at a temperature of ≦300° C.The process gives the desired vinyl esters with high yield.
US08044222B2

The present invention provides a novel aromatic amine derivative having a specific structure and an organic electroluminescence device in which an organic thin film layer comprising a single layer or plural layers including at least a light emitting layer is interposed between a cathode and an anode, wherein at least one layer in the above organic thin film layer, particularly a hole transporting layer contains the aromatic amine derivative described above in the form of a single component or a mixed component. Use of the aromatic amine derivative described above materialize an organic electroluminescence device which reduces an operating voltage and makes molecules less liable to be crystallized and which enhances a yield in producing the organic EL device and has a long lifetime.
US08044218B2

A diacetylene derivative was used as a starting material, and was subjected to dilithiation using an organolithium reagent. The resulting product was allowed to react with an excessive amount of chalcogen. Accordingly, an intramolecular cyclization reaction proceeded simultaneously with formation of skeletons of three rings. As a result, a chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material was found to be obtained which has the three rings and a dichalcogenid bond. Further, by subjecting the resulting compound to a dechalcogenation reaction, a heteroacene was found to be obtained in a satisfactory yield. These synthetic techniques have made it possible to synthesize a series of highly planar chalcogen-containing π-electron system materials. Therefore, it is possible to provide (i) a chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material capable of exhibiting excellent charge-transporting properties and (ii) a method for producing the material.
US08044217B2

The present invention relates to white-emitting copolymers which are obtained by a combination of blue-, green- and red-emitting repeating units. The copolymers of the invention display better film formation and an improved efficiency when used in polymeric organic light-emitting diodes compared to materials according to the prior art.
US08044215B2

The disclosure provides new methods for preparing nitrogen-containing amphiphiles and their use in the preparation of liposomes and other lipid-containing carriers of pharmaceutical substances, including nucleic acids used in gene therapy.
US08044214B2

A process for preparing isoxazole compounds of formula I: in which a nitroaryl of the formula (II): is contacted with an alkyl acetoacetate of the formula (III) or a salt thereof: in the presence of an activating agent and a base to provide the isoxazole compound.
US08044207B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof, where; R1 is C1-C6 alkyl, substituted C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, substituted C3-C7 cycloalkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl-C1-C3 alkyl, substituted C3-C7 cycloalkyl-C1-C3 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, or substituted heterocycle; R2 is hydrogen, C1-C3 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl-C1-C3 alkyl, or a group of formula II; R3 is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl; R4 is hydrogen, halo, or C1-C3 alkyl; R5 is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl; R6 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl; and n is an integer from 1 to 6 inclusively. The compounds of the present invention are useful for activating 5-HT1F receptors, inhibiting neuronal protein extravasation, and for the treatment or prevention of migraine in a mammal. The present invention also relates to a process for the synthesis of intermediates in the synthesis of compounds of Formula I.
US08044203B2

This invention relates to the functionalized cyanine dyes and more particularly, to the synthesis of chiral 3-substituted 2,3′-dimethyl-3H-indole and its derivatives as intermediates for preparation of cyanine dyes, to methods of preparing these dyes and the dyes so prepared.
US08044200B2

Methods for purifying pteroic acid, analogs of pteroic acid, and derivatives of pteroic acid are described. Methods for synthesizing and purifying conjugates of vitamins, including FITC conjugates of folic acid, folic acid analogs, and derivatives of folic acid and folic acid analogs are also described. Purified forms of pteroic acid, derivatives and analogs of pteroic acid, and conjugates thereof are also described.
US08044193B2

Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing breast cancer (BRC) are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BRC-associated gene that discriminates between BRC cells and normal cells. In another embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BRC-associated gene that discriminates among BRC cells, between DCIS and IDC cells. The present invention further provides means for predicting and preventing breast cancer metastasis using BRC-associated genes having unique altered expression patterns in breast cancer cells with lymph-node metastasis. Finally, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of breast cancer, methods of treating breast cancer and method for vaccinating a subject against breast cancer.
US08044192B2

A promoter for use in producing proteins in filamentous fungal host cells is provided. In one embodiment, the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO:1, or a variant or a truncated form thereof that has promoter activity in a host cell. Also provided are recombinant nucleic acids, vectors containing the promoter and host cells containing a recombinant nucleic acid or vector. Methods of producing a protein using the host cells are also provided.
US08044189B2

The invention relates to improved methods of producing and recovering B. anthracis protective antigen (PA), especially modified PA which is protease resistant, and to methods of using of these PAs or nucleic acids encoding these PAs for eliciting an immunogenic response in humans, including responses which provide protection against, or reduce the severity of, B. anthracis bacterial infections and which are useful to prevent and/or treat illnesses caused by B. anthracis, such as inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and gastrointestinal anthrax.
US08044188B2

The present invention relates to an isolated Clostridial neurotoxin propeptide having a light chain region, a heavy chain region, where the light and heavy chain regions are linked by a disulfide bond, and an intermediate region connecting the light and heavy chain regions. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Clostridial neurotoxin propeptide is also disclosed. Also disclosed is an isolated, physiologically active Clostridial neurotoxin produced by cleaving a Clostridial neurotoxin propeptide, a vaccine or antidote thereof, and methods of immunizing against or treating for toxic effects of Clostridial neurotoxins. Methods of expressing recombinant physiologically active Clostridial neurotoxins are also disclosed. Also disclosed is a chimeric protein having a heavy chain region of a Clostridial neurotoxin and a protein with therapeutic functionality. A treatment method is also disclosed.
US08044169B2

A dryer system configured for use in a polyester polymer production process. In one embodiment, the dryer system can be utilized in a non-solid-state polymer production process to dry the polymer particles prior to crystallization.
US08044160B2

The present invention relates to a multimodal polyethylene composition wherein (i) the composition has an MFR2 of 0.1 to 100 g/10 min, (ii) the shear thinning index SHI(1,100) and the log MFR2 of the composition satisfy the following relation: SHI(1,100)≧−10.58 log MFR2 [g/10 min]/(g/10 min)+12.94, and (iii) the composition has an environmental stress crack resistance ESCR of 10 h or more. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for the production of said composition, an injection moulded article, in particular a cap or closure, comprising said composition and to the use of said composition for the production of an injection moulded article.
US08044147B2

A nitrile group-containing copolymer rubber comprising 10 to 40 wt % of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile unit (a), 10 to 60 wt % of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester unit (b), and 20 to 70 wt % in total of conjugated diene unit (c) and saturated conjugated diene unit (d), wherein a content ratio “x” of a conjugated diene unit (c) based on the total content of said conjugated diene unit (c) and said saturated conjugated diene unit (d) is 0.08 or smaller, and “x·A” defined as a product of said ratio “x” and a content ratio “A” (%) of said α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile unit (a) is 1.5 or smaller. According to the present invention, a nitrile group-containing copolymer rubber capable to provide a rubber vulcanizate highly balanced in mechanical strength, heat aging resistance, oil resistance, cold resistance and ozone resistance, and a vulcanizable rubber composition using the rubber can be provided.
US08044146B1

A polymer useful as an ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications includes both main chain and side chain protogenic groups. Methods for preparing the polymer include addition of the side chains both before and after addition of the protogenic groups.
US08044145B2

To provide a cross-linkable fluoroelastomer, a cross-linkable fluoroelastomer composition and a cross-linked rubber molded products thereof.A cross-linkable fluoroelastomer having a Mooney viscosity of from 20 to 300, obtainable by heat treating a mixture of a fluoroelastomer (A) and an organic peroxide (B) at a temperature of from 110 to 380° C. for from 10 seconds to 3 hours; a fluoroelastomer composition comprising the cross-linkable fluoroelastomer, a cross-linking agent (C) and a cross-linking assistant (D); and cross-linked rubber molded products thereof.
US08044143B2

Disclosed are a polyester/polycarbonate alloy resin composition that includes: (A) a mixed resin including (A-1) a polycarbonate resin having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 30,000 to about 200,000 g/mol and (A-2) a polyester resin having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.85 to about 1.52 dl/g; (B) an acryl-based resin; and (C) an impact-reinforcing agent, and a molded product made using the polyester/polycarbonate alloy resin composition.
US08044142B2

This invention provides a polymer alloy comprising a polyphenylene sulfide resin and a polyphenylene ether resin. This polymer alloy can eliminate molding whitening which, upon molding, occurs on the surface of the molded product, can impart excellent surface appearance and flame retardance, and further can improve balance between heat resistance and toughness (impact strength) and mechanical strength. The resin composition comprises 45 to 99 parts by weight of a polyphenylene sulfide resin comprising (a) 0 to 96% by weight of a specific linear polyphenylene sulfide resin and (b) 100 to 4% by weight of a specific crosslinking-type polyphenylene sulfide resin. The resin composition further comprises (c) 55 to 1 part by weight of a polyphenylene ether resin. Further, the resin composition comprises (d) 1 to 20 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight in total of components (a) to (c), of a styrene copolymer and/or an ethylene copolymer containing any one functional group of glycidyl and oxazolyl groups.
US08044141B2

The present invention provides a method for tinting an optical substrate. The method includes the steps of applying a coating composition containing: a polymerisable monomer having a polyoxyalkylene backbone containing at least four contiguous oxyalkylene units, and an abrasion resistant agent and/or a high crosslinking polymerisable monomer to the optical substrate, polymerising the coating composition to form an abrasion resistant coating layer, and introducing a tinting compound into the coating layer to thereby tint the optical substrate. The invention also provides a coating composition and an optical substrate that is tinted according to the method of the invention.
US08044131B2

There is provided a rubber composition for a tread having excellent hardness and improving the processability and grip performance of a tire, and a tire comprising thereof. A rubber composition for a tread comprising 30 to 80 parts by weight of silica having a BET specific surface area of less than 150 m2/g and 10 parts by weight or less of carbon black based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component comprising an epoxidized natural rubber, and a tire comprising thereof.
US08044130B2

A surface-coated flame-retardant particle comprising a flame-retardant grain and a coated layer provided on a surface of the flame-retardant grain, wherein the coated layer comprises an organic compound or a polysilicone, the flame-retardant grain comprises a metal hydrate and has a volume average particle diameter of 1 to 500 nm, and the metal hydrate comprises Mg and at least one of Ca, Al, Fe, Zn, Ba, Cu, and Ni. Also provided is a flame-retardant resin composition comprising the surface-coated flame-retardant particle.
US08044125B2

A fluorinated dicarbonyl fluoride FOCCF(CF3)[OCF2CF(CF3)]lOCF2CF2O[CF(CF3)CF2O]mCF(CF3)COF (l+m is 30-130) is reacted with an aromatic amine XC6H4NHR1 (R1 is H, alkyl, or phenyl and X is I or Br) to obtain a fluorinated polyether compound of the following formula. The compound obtained is mixed with an aromatic boric ester, an organopalladium compound, and a basic inorganic or organic compound (and organophosphorus compound) to form a curable fluorinated polyether composition. This curable fluorinated polyether composition has satisfactory processability including moderate flowability at room temperature. It is applicable to various molding techniques including injection molding and RIM.
US08044119B2

An insulating material and the method of applying the insulating material to products and systems. The material, method and system may be applied to tubulars used in deep water projects. The insulating material is composed of ceramic particles, epoxy and an acrylate monomer that is a precurser to an acrylic resin, and additives. Equal volumes of a epoxy component mixtures and a curing agent component mixture when heated and mixed together create a liquid insulating material that can be applied to the outer surface of pipe involving a repetitive series of steps controlled by an operator at a main control panel. Pipe unrolled from a pipe reel is straightened and heated. In a heated retort, liquid insulating material is applied to the surface of pipe and cured to the final insulation coating. The final coated pipe can be replaced on the reel for shipment to the job site. Within the deep sea environment the hardness of the insulating material can withstand the compressive pressure, water absorption and corrosion; and the insulating properties avoid the affects of near-freezing water temperatures. A curing agent in the formulation provides flexibility to the insulation. In the underwater environment, current movements can damage and breech the connections of the systems. Flexibility in the insulation will protect the systems from the currents and ensure integrity of the systems especially critical in piping systems.
US08044117B2

A latent curing agent (30) of the present invention includes a core member (31) and a capsule (37) covering up the surface of the core member (31). The core member (31) includes a secondary particle (32) and a curing agent (35) retained in a gap (38) of the secondary particle (32). The curing agent (35) is liquid at ambient temperature. When the capsule (37) is destructed so that the curing agent (35) is emitted into an adhesive, the curing agent (35) is mixed with other ingredients in the adhesive. A metal alcoholate which is liquid at ambient temperature or a metal chelate which is liquid at ambient temperature is used as the curing agent (35), while a silane coupling agent is added to the adhesive. A reaction takes place between the curing agent (35) and the silane coupling agent to yield cations. By these cations, the epoxy resin undergoes cation in polymerization. Since the cation generating reaction proceeds at a temperature lower than in the case of the conventional adhesive, curing proceeds more promptly and at a lower temperature than in the case of the conventional adhesive.
US08044106B2

Fluids viscosified with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) may have their viscosities affected (increased or reduced) by the indirect or direct action of a composition that contains at least one fatty acid that has been affected, modified or reacted with an alkali metal halide salt, an alkaline earth metal halide salt, and/or an ammonium salt and a water soluble base. The composition containing the resulting saponification product is believed to either act as a co-surfactant with the VES itself to increase viscosity and/or possibly by disaggregating or otherwise affecting the micellar structure of the VES-gelled fluid. In a non-limiting instance, a brine fluid gelled with an amine oxide surfactant has its viscosity broken with a composition containing naturally-occurring fatty acids in canola oil reacted with a water soluble base such as NaOH, KOH, NH4OH, and the like with an alkali halide salt such as CaCl2, MgCl2, NaCl, NH4Cl and the like.
US08044104B2

Provided is an aqueous liquid preparation comprising: (a) any one of a prostaglandin derivative being represented by the following formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a hydrate thereof; and (b) at least one polyol of glycerin, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and 1,3-butylene glycol.
US08044092B2

A compound having a substituted five or six-membered carbocycle or heterocycle directly bonded to a substituted aryl or heteroaryl ring, wherein said compound has an EC50 value of 20 nM or less at the prostaglandin EP2 receptor according to the cAMP assay.Methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.
US08044090B2

The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), which are antagonists of the 5-HT6 receptor.
US08044068B2

Disclosed is an aminopyrrolidine compound represented by the formula [I] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compound or the salt is useful as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for mode disorder such as depression, anxiety disorder, anorexia, cachexia, pain and drug dependence, whose action relies on the MC4 receptor antagonistic effect.
US08044053B2

The present invention relates to substituted pyrazoline compounds of general formula (I), methods for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds as well as their use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of humans and animals.
US08044049B2

The present invention provides a fused heterocyclic derivative having a potent kinase inhibitory activity and use thereof.A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, except a particular compound, or a salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical agent containing the compound or a prodrug thereof, which is a kinase (VEGFR, VEGFR2, PDGFR, Raf) inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor, an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer, a cancer growth inhibitor or a cancer metastasis suppressor.
US08044048B2

Derivatives of sulindac are provided along with pharmaceutical compositions containing them and use for precancerous conditions and treating cancer. Derivatives of sulindac are also suitable for treating chronic inflammatory conditions. A method for preparing the derivatives is also provided.
US08044046B2

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula 1 wherein: n is 1 or 2; R1 is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, halogen, OH, or —O—C1-C4-alkyl; R2 is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, halogen, OH, or —O—C1-C4-alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, OH, halogen, —O—C1-C4-alkyl, —O—C1-C4-alkylene-COOH, or —O—C1-C4-alkylene-CO—O—C1-C4-alkyl, or an acid addition salt thereof with a pharmacologically acceptable acid, or a solvate or hydrate thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier, and methods for using the pharmaceutical formulation in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
US08044044B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein R0 represents H or OH; R1 represents alkoxy; U and W represent N, V represents CH and R2 represents H or F, or U and V represent CH, W represents N and R2 represents H or F, or U and V represent N, W represents CH and R2 represents H, or U represents N, V represents CH, W represents CRa and R2 represents H; Ra represents CH2OH or alkoxycarbonyl; A represents the group CH═CH—B or a binuclear heterocyclic system D, B representing a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group wherein the substituents are halogen atoms and D representing one of the following groups wherein Z represents CH or N, and Q represents O or S; and to salts of such compounds. These compounds are useful as antibacterial agents.
US08044039B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing and purifying crystalline quetiapine hemifumarate, which comprises preparing crystalline quetiapine hemifumarate via a crystalline salt, which is not a salt of fumaric acid.
US08044032B2

Novel methods and compositions for selective killing of cells by activation of PKR are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a method is provided for causing cell death in a targeted population of cells that includes the steps of: selecting a nucleotide sequence at a single genetic locus in the targeted population that is absent from the equivalent locus in a population of non-targeted cells; obtaining one or more anti-sense RNA having sequence homology with the locus in the targeted population; permitting the anti-sense RNA to hybridize with an RNA transcribed from the locus in the targeted population so as to form a contiguous double stranded RNA for interacting with PKR. The activation of PKR gives rise to selective cell death in the targeted population.
US08044030B2

The invention encompasses an active metabolite of the 18-membered macrocyclic antimicrobial agents, specifically, a metabolite of tiacumicin B and in certain embodiments, R-Tiacumicin B or and its related compounds. In particular, the invention encompasses a compound that acts as a potent antibiotic agent for the treatment of bacterial infections, specifically GI infections caused by toxin producing strains of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens).
US08044028B2

The present invention relates to the cosmetic use of oligopeptides, cosmetic preparations which comprise such oligopeptides as well as certain oligopeptide derivatives themselves.
US08044021B2

A method including advancing a delivery device through a lumen of a blood vessel to a particular region in the blood vessel; and introducing a composition including a sustained-release carrier and an apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) synthetic mimetic peptide into a wall of the blood vessel at the particular region or a perivascular site, wherein the peptide has a property that renders the peptide effective in reverse cholesterol transport. A composition including an apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) synthetic peptide, or combination of an apo A-I synthetic mimetic peptide and an Acyl CoA cholesterol: acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor in a form suitable for delivery into a blood vessel, the peptide including an amino acid sequence in an order reverse to an order of various apo A-I mimetic peptides, or endogenous apo A-I analogs, or a chimera of helix 1 and helix 9 of endogenous apo A-I.
US08044016B2

The invention relates to a detergent which contains a surfactant and optionally further conventional additives of detergents and cleaning agents, the detergent comprising an anti-grey polycarbonate-, polyurethane- and/or polyurea-polyorganosiloxane compound or a precursor compound thereof containing specific reactive groups, which can be used for the production thereof.
US08043992B2

A particulate inorganic mixed oxide comprising: aluminum; zirconium; cerium; lanthanum and an additional element selected from the group consisting of neodymium and praseodymium, wherein the inorganic mixed oxide has at least 80% of primary particles with article diameters of 100 nm or less, and at least a part of the primary particles have an enriched surface region where the additional element is locally increased in a surface layer portion thereof.
US08043988B2

The invention relates to a FAU-type zeolite membrane that comprises a FAU-type zeolite crystal layer incorporated in the surface porosity of at least one selected face of a porous substrate, in which the ratio between the thickness of said zeolite layer incorporated in the surface porosity of said selected face of the substrate and the total thickness of said zeolite layer is at least 70%. It also relates to processes for preparation and application of these membranes.
US08043984B2

An elastic laminate capable of being rolled for storage and unwound from a roll when needed for use, includes an elastic layer of an array of continuous filament strands with meltblown deposited on the continuous filament strands, and a facing layer bonded to only one side of the elastic layer. The meltblown layer may include an elastic polyolefin-based meltblown polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%. The laminate suitably has an inter-layer peel strength of less than about 70 grams per 3 inches cross-directional width at a strain rate of 300 mm/min. Alternatively or additionally, the continuous filament strands and/or the facing layer may include an elastic polyolefin-based meltblown polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%. In certain embodiments, the elastic laminate may include an extensible facing layer bonded to an elastic or semi-elastic film layer having a basis weight of about 50 gsm or less, wherein the facing layer includes an elastic polyolefin-based polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%.
US08043972B1

Methods for accurate and conformal removal of atomic layers of materials make use of the self-limiting nature of adsorption of at least one reactant on the substrate surface. In certain embodiments, a first reactant is introduced to the substrate in step (a) and is adsorbed on the substrate surface until the surface is partially or fully saturated. A second reactant is then added in step (b), reacting with the adsorbed layer of the first reactant to form an etchant. The amount of an etchant, and, consequently, the amount of etched material is limited by the amount of adsorbed first reactant. By repeating steps (a) and (b), controlled atomic-scale etching of material is achieved. These methods may be used in interconnect pre-clean applications, gate dielectric processing, manufacturing of memory devices, or any other applications where removal of one or multiple atomic layers of material is desired.
US08043961B2

A front-end method of fabricating nickel plated caps over copper bond pads used in a memory device. The method provides protection of the bond pads from an oxidizing atmosphere without exposing sensitive structures in the memory device to the copper during fabrication.
US08043954B1

Methods are generally provided for forming a conductive oxide layer on a substrate. In one particular embodiment, the method can include sputtering a transparent conductive oxide layer on a substrate from a target (e.g., including cadmium stannate) in a sputtering atmosphere comprising cadmium. The transparent conductive oxide layer can be sputtered at a sputtering temperature of about 100° C. to about 600° C. Methods are also generally provided for manufacturing a cadmium telluride based thin film photovoltaic device.
US08043952B2

Provided is a method of forming an aluminum oxide layer and a method of manufacturing a charge trap memory device using the same. The method of forming an aluminum oxide layer may include forming an amorphous aluminum oxide layer on an underlying layer, forming a crystalline auxiliary layer on the amorphous aluminum oxide layer, and crystallizing the amorphous aluminum oxide layer. Forming the crystalline auxiliary layer may include forming an amorphous auxiliary layer on the amorphous aluminum oxide layer; and crystallizing the amorphous auxiliary layer.
US08043948B2

A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: forming a conductive film over a substrate; forming an assist pattern on the conductive film; forming a metal film to cover the conductive film and the assist pattern; etching back the metal film to form at least one side wall film on a side surface of the assist pattern; removing the assist pattern; forming at least one resist pattern to selectively expose a portion of the conductive film and a portion of the side wall film; performing etching using the resist pattern as a mask to remove the exposed portion of the side wall film; and etching the conductive film using the side wall film as a mask to form a gate electrode and a contact region electrically connected to the gate electrode.
US08043945B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: exposing a surface of a semiconductor substrate to a halogen-containing gas that contains at least one of Si and Ge, the semiconductor substrate being provided with a member comprising an oxide and consisting mainly of Si; and exposing the surface of the semiconductor substrate to an atmosphere containing at least one of a Si-containing gas not containing halogen and a Ge-containing gas not containing halogen after starting exposure of the surface of the semiconductor substrate to the halogen-containing gas, thereby epitaxially growing a crystal film containing at least one of Si and Ge on the surface.
US08043940B2

An improved yield of chips is realized by reducing the width of dicing streets on the front surface side of a semiconductor wafer. A method for semiconductor chip, divided a semiconductor wafer 10 having a plurality of circuit patterns formed on one surface 18 into pieces, comprising, forming a groove in a boundary region between the circuit patterns from the other surface 19 of the semiconductor wafer 10 by using a blade, forming a modified layer 14 in the boundary region between the circuit patterns by irradiation with laser light L from the one surface 18 or the other surface 19 of the semiconductor wafer 10, and dividing the semiconductor wafer into pieces by breaking the modified layer 14. The modified layer 14 is formed between a bottom surface 17 of a groove portion 16 and the one surface 18 of the semiconductor wafer 10, and a forming width WM of the modified layer 14 is smaller than the width of the groove portion 16.
US08043927B2

In a method of manufacturing a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS), an epitaxial layer may be formed on a first substrate including a chip area and a scribe lane area. A first impurity layer may be formed adjacent to the first substrate by implanting first impurities into the epitaxial layer. A photodiode may be formed in the epitaxial layer on the chip area. A circuit element electrically connected to the photodiode may be formed on the epitaxial layer. A protective layer protecting the circuit element may be formed on the epitaxial layer. A second substrate may be attached onto the protective layer. The first substrate may be removed to expose the epitaxial layer. A color filter layer may be formed on the exposed epitaxial layer using the first impurity layer as an alignment key. A microlens may be formed over the color filter layer.
US08043924B2

In a method of forming a phase-change memory unit, a conductive layer is formed on a substrate having a trench. The conductive layer is planarized until the substrate is exposed to form a first electrode. A spacer partially covering the first electrode is formed. A phase-change material layer is formed on the first electrode and the second spacer. A second electrode is formed on the phase-change material layer. Reset/set currents of the phase-change memory unit may be reduced and deterioration of the phase-change material layer may be reduced and/or prevented.
US08043922B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, can be provided by forming gate structures for transistors on a semiconductor substrate in a cell region and in a peripheral circuit region. An offset spacer can be formed including a first material on the gate structures. A first ion implantation can be done using the gate structures and the offset spacer as an ion implantation mask to form source/drain regions. A material layer can be formed including a second material on the semiconductor substrate and on the gate structures. A material layer can be formed of a third material, having an etch selectivity with respect to the second material, on the material layer of the second material. An etch-back can be performed the material layer comprising the third material in the cell region and in the peripheral region, to simultaneously expose the source/drains region in the peripheral region and not expose the source/drain regions in the cell region.
US08043913B2

A method of forming a field effect transistor includes: forming a trench in a semiconductor region; forming a shield electrode in the trench; performing an angled sidewall implant of impurities of the first conductivity type to form a channel enhancement region adjacent the trench; forming a body region of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor region; and forming a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region, the source region and an interface between the body region and the semiconductor region defining a channel region therebetween, the channel region extending along the trench sidewall. The channel enhancement region partially extends into a lower portion of the channel region to thereby reduce a resistance of the channel region.
US08043904B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a mask layer on a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, etching the semiconductor substrate using the mask layer as a mask, thereby forming a projecting semiconductor layer, forming a first insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate to cover a lower portion of the projecting semiconductor layer, doping a first-conductivity-type impurity into the first insulating layer, thereby forming a high-impurity-concentration layer in the lower portion of the projecting semiconductor layer, forming gate insulating films on side surfaces of the projecting semiconductor layer which upwardly extend from an upper surface of the first insulating layer, and forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating films and on the first insulating film.
US08043902B2

The present invention provides a TFT including at least one LDD region in a self-alignment manner without forming a sidewall spacer and increasing the number of manufacturing steps. A photomask or a reticle provided with an assist pattern that is formed of a diffraction grating pattern or a semi-transmitting film and has a function of reducing light intensity is employed in a photolithography step of forming a gate electrode, an asymmetrical resist pattern having a region with a thick thickness and a region with a thickness thinner than that of the above region on one side is formed, a gate electrode having a stepped portion is formed, and an LDD region is formed in a self-alignment manner by injecting an impurity element to the semiconductor layer through the region with a thin thickness of the gate electrode.
US08043898B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package is provided, which can improve the quality of plating through reduction of plating deviation, and improve molding and soldering efficiencies in forming a molding compound and packaging the semiconductor package onto a printed circuit board.
US08043896B2

In a semiconductor chip, a body has a top surface where a pattern is formed, an underside surface opposing the top surface and a plurality of side surfaces. A plurality of electrode pads are formed on the top surface of the body to connect to an external terminal. A shielding conductive film is formed on the surfaces excluding the top surface of the body where the pattern is formed. A conductive via is extended through the body to connect one of the electrode pads with the conductive film.
US08043894B2

An integrated circuit package system includes forming a first external interconnect having both a first side and a second side that is an opposing side to the first side; forming a first encapsulation around a first integrated circuit and the first external interconnect with the first side, the second side, and the first active side of the first integrated circuit exposed; forming a planar interconnect between the first active side and the second side; forming a second encapsulation covering the planar interconnect and the first active side; connecting a second integrated circuit over the first integrated circuit and the first side; and forming a top encapsulation over the second integrated circuit.
US08043885B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor film capable of inhibiting the quality of a semiconductor film from destabilization is obtained. This method of manufacturing a semiconductor film includes steps of introducing source gas for a semiconductor, controlling the pressure of an atmosphere formed by the source gas to a prescribed level, heating a catalytic wire to at least a prescribed temperature after controlling the pressure of the atmosphere to the prescribed level and forming a semiconductor film by decomposing the source gas with the heated catalytic wire.
US08043883B2

Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
US08043881B2

An electronic device includes a substrate provided with a passing opening and a MEMS device including an active surface wherein a portion of the MEMS device is integrated sensitive to chemical/physical variations of a fluid. The active surface of the MEMS device faces the substrate and is spaced therefrom, the sensitive portion being aligned to the opening. A protective package incorporates at least partially the MEMS device and the substrate, leaving at least the sensitive portion of the MEMS device, and the opening of the substrate exposed. A barrier element is positioned in an area which surrounds the sensitive portion to realize a protection structure for the MEMS device, so that the sensitive portion is free.
US08043873B2

A method for fabricating a light emitting diode chip is provided. Firstly, a semiconductor device layer is formed on a substrate. Afterwards, a current spreading layer is formed on a portion of the semiconductor device layer. Then, a current blocking layer and a passivation layer are formed on a portion of the semiconductor device layer not covered by the current spreading layer. Finally, a first electrode is formed on the current blocking layer and the current spreading layer. Moreover, a second electrode is formed on the semiconductor device layer.
US08043871B2

The present invention provides a method for forming an oxide film on a silicon wafer, comprising: measuring surface roughness of the silicon wafer and/or crystallinity in a surface layer portion of the silicon wafer in advance; adjusting oxidizing conditions for the silicon wafer based on the measurement value; and forming the oxide film on the silicon wafer under the adjusted oxidizing conditions. As a result, there can be provided the method for forming an oxide film by which the oxidizing conditions can be adjusted based on a state of the surface and/or the surface layer of the silicon wafer before forming the oxide film and even an ultrathin oxide film can be thereby accurately formed.
US08043864B2

A method of using a finger swipe fluid transfer collection assembly includes providing a finger swipe fluid transfer collection assembly including a base, a test media carried by the base, an inlet for receiving a sample fluid, an outlet, a finger swipe fluid transfer mechanism carried by the base between the inlet and the outlet and including an interior; swiping the finger swipe fluid transfer mechanism with one's finger to impart a negative pressure in the interior of the finger swipe fluid transfer mechanism to draw the sample fluid into the interior of the finger swipe fluid transfer mechanism through the inlet; and swiping the finger swipe fluid transfer mechanism again with one's finger to impart a positive pressure in the interior of the finger swipe fluid transfer mechanism to pump the sample fluid through the outlet and be transferred to the test media.
US08043861B2

An apparatus for detecting exposure to at least one hazardous substance is provided. The apparatus includes a body having a plurality of openings, and an attachment mechanism coupled to the body. Each opening is sized to receive a cassette for detecting the presence or absence of at least one hazardous substance. The cassette can include a colorimetric sensor having a base layer fabricated from a hydrophobic film, a colorimetric coating for covering the hydrophobic film, and at least one hydrophobic membrane for controlling the exposure of the specific substance to the colorimetric coating.
US08043858B2

A small-scale dynamic simulator for crude oil refinery desalters has a pressurized oil deviblis configured to hold a supply of crude oil and a water deviblis configured to hold a supply of wash water. At least one chemical feed pump selectively adds emulsion breaker chemicals to the desalter simulator and a low shear metering pump is configured to pump crude oil and wash water through the desalter simulator. An emulsion forming device forms a crude oil-wash water emulsion that is then received in a desalter vessel. The desalting vessel is fitted with electric grids which simulate those found in electric desalters. The emulsion is resolved within the desalter vessel with the assistance of the emulsion breaker chemicals so the wash water and crude oil form distinct phases, with substantially desalted crude oil removed from an upper portion of the desalter vessel and substantially oil-free wash water removed from a bottom portion of the desalter vessel. A portion of the desalter vessel is substantially transparent to allow visualization of the demulsification process and at least one light source is positioned adjacent to the desalter vessel to aid in visualization of a rag layer formed in the desalter vessel. A heated jacket surrounds the desalter vessel to maintain the desalter vessel at the desired temperature.
US08043852B2

The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody displaying excellent specificity against heparan sulfate saccharide chains for the analysis of heparan sulfate saccharide chains specific to dentin. The invention also provides a method of evaluating reproductive dentin using the monoclonal antibody. The anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts against dentin-derived heparan sulfate and in particular the anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts strongly and specifically with uncalcified predentin regions. In the method of evaluating dentin, the antibody is reacted against an isolated dentin-derived sample and the reaction is used in order to evaluate the development of dentin.
US08043843B2

Mutants of lactic acid bacteria including Lactococcus lactis which are defective in pyruvate formate-lyase production and/or in their lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh) production and methods of isolating such mutants or variants are provided. The mutants are useful in the production of food products or in manufacturing of compounds such as diacetyl, acetoin and acetaldehyde and as components of food starter cultures.
US08043841B2

Alanine 2,3-aminomutase sequences are disclosed, as are cells having alanine 2,3-aminomutase activity and methods of selecting for such cells. Methods for producing beta-alanine, pantothenate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, as well as other organic compounds, are disclosed.
US08043840B2

The present disclosure identifies methods and compositions for modifying photoautotrophic organisms as hosts, such that the organisms efficiently convert carbon dioxide and light into n-alkanes, and in particular the use of such organisms for the commercial production of n-alkanes and related molecules.
US08043839B2

The invention relates to enzymes having xylanase, mannanase and/or glucanase activity, e.g., catalyzing hydrolysis of internal β-1,4-xylosidic linkages or endo-β-1,4-ghicanase linkages; and/or degrading a linear polysaccharide beta-1,4-xylan into xylose. Thus, the invention provides methods and processes for breaking down hemicellulose, which is a major component of the cell wall of plants, including methods and processes for hydrolyzing hemicelluloses in any plant or wood or wood product, wood waste, paper pulp, paper product or paper waste or byproduct. In addition, methods of designing new xylanases, mannanases and/or glucanases and methods of use thereof are also provided. The xylanases, mannanases and/or glucanases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.
US08043830B2

The present invention provides methods of metabolically biotinylating recombinant proteins. Cell lines and specific protein and nucleic acid constructs for use in the methods of the present invention are also provided herein.
US08043825B2

The present invention provides protein-based biomarkers and biomarker combinations that are useful in qualifying Chagas disease status in a patient. In particular, the biomarkers of this invention are useful to classify a subject sample as infected with Chagas disease or non-infected. The biomarkers can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.
US08043823B2

The present invention relates to agonists of the human bitter-taste receptors hTAS2R46, hTAS2R47 and hTAS2R50 and their role in bitter taste transduction. The invention also relates to methods for identifying molecules that modulate, e.g. suppress, or enhance hTAS2R46, hTAS2R47 and hTAS2R50 bitter taste transduction or bitter taste response.
US08043822B2

A method of immunoassaying a component to be measured in a sample containing hemoglobin, which comprises reacting a component to be measured in a sample containing hemoglobin with an antibody capable of binding to the component in the presence of a bile acid derivative different from a bile acid derivative that is inherently contained in the sample; a method of suppressing an interference of hemoglobin in immunoassaying a component to be measured in a sample containing hemoglobin, which comprises reacting a component to be measured in a sample containing hemoglobin with an antibody capable of binding to the component in the presence of a bile acid derivative different from a bile acid derivative that is inherently contained in the sample; a reagent of immunoassay of a component to be measured in a sample containing hemoglobin, which comprises a bile acid derivative, are described.
US08043816B2

The present invention relates to nucleic acid inhibitors, compositions and method for enhancing synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. In a preferred aspect, the invention relates to inhibition or control of nucleic acid synthesis, sequencing or amplification. Specifically, the present invention discloses nucleic acids having affinity for polypeptides with polymerase activity for use in such synthesis, amplification or sequencing reactions. The nucleic acid inhibitors are capable of inhibiting nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis under certain conditions (e.g., at ambient temperatures). Thus, in a preferred aspect, the invention relates to “hot start” synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. Accordingly, the invention prevents, reduces or substantially reduces nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to kits for synthesizing, amplifying, reverse transcribing or sequencing nucleic acid molecules comprising one or more of the nucleic acid inhibitors or compositions of the invention. The invention also relates to using the inhibitors of the invention to prevent viral replication or treat viral infections in a subject. Thus, the invention relates to therapeutic methods and pharmaceutical compositions using the inhibitors of the invention. The invention thus may be used for in vivo and in vitro inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis and/or inhibition of polymerase activity.
US08043806B2

The invention provides method of diagnosing a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-hyperfunction-induced disorder or a genetic predisposition therefor in a mammal. The method comprises determining the presence of a nucleic acid encoding a mutated fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 (FGFR-4) protein in a nucleic acid sample from a mammal. The presence of a nucleic acid encoding a mutated FGFR-4 protein is indicative of an RTK-hyperfunction-induced disorder or a genetic predisposition therefor.
US08043804B2

A novel complex is identified between the NAD-dependent deacetylase, SIRT1 and its novel inhibitor, DBC1. Provided herein are methods to identify a compound that inhibits the complexation between SIRT1 and DBC1. Exemplary methods comprise contacting either the complexation between DBC1 and SIRT1 with an agent being tested for its ability to inhibit the complexation between SIRT1 and DBC1. Also, provided are methods to identify a compound that increases the complexation between SIRT1 and DBC1. Exemplary methods comprise contacting either the complexation between DBC1 and SIRT1 with an agent being tested for its ability to increase the complexation between SIRT1 and DBC1. Further, methods are provided to increase or decrease SIRT1 activity by contacting the complexation between SIRT1 and DBC1 with a peptide that either decreases or increases the complexation between SIRT1 and DBC1. Further, methods are provided for the treatment of patients suffering from diseases including metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease using compounds that inhibit the complexation between SIRT1 and DBC1.
US08043802B2

A novel biosensor comprises at least one fluorophore and at least two quenchers, and is capable of selectively and specifically detecting the presence of an ion in the presence of other ions.
US08043796B2

A light absorption layer is formed over a substrate, the light absorption layer is selectively irradiated with a laser beam, and a region of the light absorption layer, which is irradiated with the laser beam, is removed. By adding an impurity element imparting one conductivity type or an inert element to a remaining part of the light absorption layer, a tensile stress of the light absorption layer is made lower than that before irradiation with the laser beam.
US08043791B2

A positive photosensitive composition ensuring wide exposure latitude and reduced line edge roughness not only in normal exposure (dry exposure) but also in immersion exposure, a pattern forming method using the positive photosensitive composition, and a novel resin contained in the positive photosensitive composition are provided, which are a positive photosensitive composition comprising (A) a resin having a specific lactone structure in the side chain and being capable of increasing the solubility in an alkali developer by the action of an acid and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, a pattern forming method using the positive photosensitive composition, and a novel resin contained in the positive photosensitive composition.
US08043790B2

The present invention provides a printing original plate for laser engraving which generates no printing deficiencies and from which a printing plate with a satisfactory resolution can be produced. A printing original plate for laser engraving which is obtained by molding a resin composition containing (A) at least one latex having a weight average degree of gelation of 75% or more, (B) a photopolymerizable compound and (C) a photopolymerization initiator into a sheet-like or tubular form, and then irradiating the molded article with light to crosslink and cure, characterized in that the depth of 10% screen dot at 150 lpi is 80 μm or more.
US08043788B2

To a resist composition comprising a polymer which changes its alkali solubility under the action of an acid as a base resin, is added a copolymer comprising recurring units containing amino and recurring units containing α-trifluoromethylhydroxy as an additive. The composition is suited for immersion lithography.
US08043787B2

Negative-working imageable elements are prepared with radiation-sensitive imageable layers that contain surface-modified silica particles such as fumed silica particles and sol-gel silica particles, that are present in an amount of from about 1 to about 40 weight %, have an average particle size of from about 1 to about 500 nm, have surface hydroxy groups, and have a carbon content of from about 0.5 to about 15 weight % that is derived from surface hydrophobic groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms. The presence of the surface-modified silica particles provides improved abrasion resistance, reduced tackiness, and various other desired properties.
US08043784B2

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to charge transport layers useful in electrostatography. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an improved imaging member having a charge transport layer comprising a top layer and a bottom layer, wherein the layers have varying concentrations of high quality N,N,N′N′-tetra(4-methylphenyl)-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine to provide tunable discharge rate.
US08043775B2

An electrophotographic photosensitive body having a photosensitive layer on a conductive base, in which at least the outermost layer thereof contains particles having a double structure composed of a core member and a shell member having a larger rubber hardness than the core member. The electrophotographic photosensitive body has excellent mechanical strength such as wear resistance, abrasion resistance, and scratch resistance as well as excellent electrophotographic characteristics such as cleaning properties over time.
US08043774B2

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to layers that are useful in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrostatographic, including digital, apparatuses. More particularly, the present embodiments provide a robust undercoat layer comprising TiSi in which the TiO2 to SiO2 ratio falls in a particular ratio range discovered to reduce both plywood print defects as well as abnormal operating parameters and print defects from micro-cracks in the undercoat layer, and methods for making the same.
US08043766B2

Auxiliary seals are provided on a surface of a first metal separator, between load receivers and an oxygen-containing gas supply passage, a fuel gas supply passage, an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage, and a fuel gas discharge passage, in relatively wide areas. The cross sectional shape of the auxiliary seal is the same as those of a flow field seal and ring-like seals, and the auxiliary seals are formed independently from the flow field seal and the ring-like seals.
US08043764B2

A stack structure includes plate-like electrochemical cells of ceramic, each having a pair of main surfaces and a side surface, and plate-like retainer pieces. The cell includes a first electrode in contact with first gas, a solid electrolyte, and a second electrode in contact with second gas. The first electrode has a gas flow channel formed therein and adapted to allow flow of the first gas. The cell has gas inflow and outflow ports. The retainer piece includes a body portion having a through-hole formed therein, and a pair of protrusions protruding from the body portion. The retainer piece has a communication hole formed therein and adapted to establish communication between the through-hole and a space formed between the protrusions. The cell is held by the paired protrusions, thereby establishing communication between the gas inflow or outflow port of the cell and the communication hole of the retainer piece.
US08043752B2

A fuel cell for a fuel cell generator including a housing including a gas flow path for receiving a fuel from a fuel source and directing the fuel across the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an elongate member including opposing first and second ends and defining an interior cathode portion and an exterior anode portion. The interior cathode portion includes an electrode in contact with an oxidant flow path. The exterior anode portion includes an electrode in contact with the fuel in the gas flow path. The anode portion includes a catalyst material for effecting fuel reformation along the fuel cell between the opposing ends. A fuel reformation control layer is applied over the catalyst material for reducing a rate of fuel reformation on the fuel cell. The control layer effects a variable reformation rate along the length of the fuel cell.
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