US08073979B2
Reducing the cost of framing network packets in a virtual machine environment combines certain network objects to eliminate the cost of fully framing packets between the combined objects. In a virtual environment, for example, this allows a virtual NIC in one partition to send only data to a network provider partition and to rely on the latter to frame and route the data. A source network object, destination network object, or an intermediate network object may enable a separate intermediate network object to frame its data so that the network system may take advantage of offload framing when one or more of the intermediate network object's ports has the capacity to offload framing.
US08073975B2
In order to improve interactive compression using compression state information, the side information caches of communicating parties must be updated, or synchronized. The present invention is directed to a method of synchronizing side information databases within an interactive compression system comprising two communicating parties comprising the steps of transmitting, from the a first communicating party to the second communicating party, a device hierarchical node index; comparing the device hierarchical node index with a server hierarchical node index and then determining a shared hierarchical node index based on common entries in the two hierarchical node indexes.
US08073965B2
A system and method for reducing storage and transmission bandwidth requirements of a portable image capture device capable of establishing a communications connection on a network are disclosed. The method includes assigning an image identifier to captured images uploaded to a server on a network, wherein each of the images is stored in an image file having a particular size. The size of each of the image files corresponding to the uploaded images on the image capture device may then be reduced, thereby reducing storage requirements. In response to a user request to apply an action to one of the uploaded images, only the image identifier of the image and the requested action are transmitted to the server, thereby eliminating the need to retransmit the image and reducing transmission bandwidth requirements.
US08073961B2
The present invention is a network architecture or framework that supports hosting and content distribution on a truly global scale. The inventive framework allows a Content Provider to replicate and serve its most popular content at an unlimited number of points throughout the world. The inventive framework comprises a set of servers operating in a distributed manner. The actual content to be served is preferably supported on a set of hosting servers (sometimes referred to as ghost servers). This content comprises HTML page objects that, conventionally, are served from a Content Provider site. In accordance with the invention, however, a base HTML document portion of a Web page is served from the Content Provider's site while one or more embedded objects for the page are served from the hosting servers, preferably, those hosting servers near the client machine. By serving the base HTML document from the Content Provider's site, the Content Provider maintains control over the content.
US08073953B2
Techniques are described for directing connections between clients and the closest web server. Authoritative DNS resolvers of a network are placed at edges of the network. Using anycast, the authoritative DNS resolvers advertise routes of their destination netblock to the Internet. A request from a client to connect to the network is routed, based upon BGP tables, to the closest particular authoritative DNS resolver. Once the request is received, a response is sent to the client with the IP address of the closest web server. The closest web server is determined through in-network health check measurements, with the authoritative DNS resolvers dynamically selecting IP addresses closest to themselves. Routing protocols that directed the packet to the closest authoritative DNS resolver also dictate the route of subsequent traffic to the network. Thus, the closest web server selected by the authoritative DNS resolver is also the closest web server to the client.
US08073933B2
The presently claimed invention relates generally to processing streaming audio signals. One claim recites a method including: using a programmed electronic processor, analyzing a streaming audio signal to obtain identifying information therefrom; providing the identifying information to a remotely located database, the database including a plurality of records that associate identifying information with pointers; receiving from the database a pointer corresponding to the provided identifying information; using the pointer to establish communication with a remote website including information associated with the audio signal; and providing an audible tone to a user in association with at least one of the foregoing. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.
US08073931B2
An integrated security system integrates broadband and mobile access and control with conventional security systems and premise devices to provide a tri-mode security network that with remote connectivity and access. The integrated security system includes a touchscreen providing security keypad functionality as well as content management and presentation, and is used as a security system interface and an interface for interacting with a network. The integrated security system delivers remote premise monitoring and control functionality to conventional monitored premise protection and complements existing premise protection equipment. The integrated security system integrates into the premise network and couples wirelessly with the conventional security panel, enabling broadband access to premise security systems. Automation devices can be added, enabling users to remotely see live video or pictures and control home devices via a personal web portal, mobile phone, or other client device. Users can receive notifications of detected events via electronic message.
US08073927B2
Management software that can associate events, including non page events, such as the generation of dynamic content, with HTTP requests. The management software can receive a set of HTTP request data including a request time stamp for each HTTP request in a set of HTTP requests, receive a set of event data including an event time stamp for each event in a set of events and associate each event from the set of events with a previous HTTP request from the set of HTTP requests based on the event time stamps and request time stamps. Each event can be associated with previous HTTP request closest in time.
US08073925B2
A device management system and method is provided. The device management system and method includes a transmission server to transmit a communication from at least one device. A reception server receives the communication from the at least one device. And a device manager coupled to the reception server manages the at least one device by automatically parsing the communication received by the reception server. The device manager authorizes the communication for further processing where the device manager includes a device list including identification data associated with the at least one device. The device manager includes an alert processing component that generates an alert message responsive to the device list.
US08073923B2
Upon receipt of a network connection request, a CPU core of a game device randomly sets a master device search period, and searches for a master device or a temporary master device until the master device search period ends. When the master device search period ends, the CPU core randomly sets a temporary master process period, and causes the game device to act as a temporary master until the temporary master process period ends. The CPU core alternately repeats the master device search and the temporary master process. The game device is caused to act as a slave device if any game device acting as the master device or temporary master device is found during the master device search period. Alternatively, the game device is caused to act as a master device if a connection request from another game device is received during the temporary master process period. Thus, it is possible to automatically construct a wireless network with one master device and one or more slave devices.
US08073909B2
Techniques for providing a hybrid platform for video games are disclosed. To enjoy the video and audio quality a TV could provide, all game actions with a video game are provided via a TV. However, the video game itself is running on a generic personal computer (PC). In one embodiment, a game hub is provided to receive from a game controller various game actions by a game player with the video game. The game hub provides an (wired or wireless) interface for transferring signals representing the game actions to the PC, in return the PC provides an uncompressed digital stream to the TV for display.
US08073907B2
A computer implemented user contribution method is provided. The method includes receiving identifying information from a plurality of users and receiving from the plurality of users indications of one or more geographic areas. A quality value of the one or more geographic areas is determined based on the indications of the one or more geographic areas from the plurality of users, and the quality value is transmitted to one or more of the plurality of users. The present invention further provides a user contribution based mapping system.
US08073906B2
Systems and methods that enable conference unaware clients to participate in the conference. A conferencing component is aware of what protocol to employ, and enables devices and/or end points that employ disparate or heterogeneous protocols to participate in the same conference initiated therebetween. A call flow (e.g., in form of a dial out) can be initiated, wherein the conferencing component invites conference unaware devices to participate in the conference.
US08073893B1
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and/or systems for manipulating character expressions to determine relationships among such character expressions.
US08073888B2
A random number generator and a random number generating method thereof are provided. The random number generator includes a signal generating unit and a sampling unit. The signal generating unit is adapted for memorizing a status of a noise generated during a transient of an output signal of an output buffer, and accordingly generating a frequency conversion signal which changes according to time and ambient factors. The sampling unit is coupled to the signal generating unit for receiving the frequency conversion signal, and sampling the frequency conversion signal according to a sampling clock pulse, so as to obtain a plurality of sets of unpredictable random number codes.
US08073887B2
In an embodiment of the invention, a method for REST service importation in a distributed application development data processing system can be provided. The method can include the specifying a sample uniform resource locator (URL) in a graphical user interface to a REST service importation editor and invoking the REST service at the sample URL in order to receive a response object from the REST service. The method further can include parsing both the sample URL and the response object to identify different request fields and field types of a request object for the REST service and also response fields and field types of the response object. Finally, the method can include displaying a description of the request fields and field types of the request object and also a description of the response fields and field types of the response object in the graphical user interface to the REST service importation editor.
US08073886B2
An application programming interface (API) module provides access to data, independent of filesystem implementation in a non-privileged user mode. A discovery volume having a filesystem recognizable by an operating system has cover files which prevent damage to data stored in an unrecognizable primary volume. The discovery volume also includes a data access API available for execution in a non-privileged user mode to render the primary volume accessible by operating systems which would otherwise find the primary volume unrecognizable.
US08073879B2
The present invention provides systems and methods that isomorphically maps constructs between domain spaces (e.g., object, markup, relational and user interface domains). The systems and methods employ a mapping component that utilizes at least one suppress label(s), introduce label(s) and/or mediating schema to facilitate construct mapping. Examples of such mapping include transforming a named construct to an anonymous construct, a named construct to a named construct, an anonymous construct to a named construct, and an anonymous construct to an anonymous construct. In general, introduce labels can be utilized to provide names for anonymous constructs and/or modify existing names; suppress labels typically are utilized to suppress names such as introduced names or names a user desires to be suppressed; and mediating schema can be utilized to provide a default or user customized mapping to an intermediate schema before, during and/or after construct mapping.
US08073877B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for performing named entity recognition. A set of candidates and corresponding contexts are obtained, each of the set of candidates being a potential seed example of an entity. The contexts of at least a portion of the set of candidates are compared with contexts of a set of seed examples of the entity such that a subset of the set of candidates are added to the set of the seed examples. A set of rules are created from the set of seed examples obtained in the comparing step. A final set of seed examples of the entity is generated by executing the set of rules against the set of candidates.
US08073873B2
Disclosed herein are methods for automatically managing information relating to a customs agency's import regulations. The methods disclosed include procedures for maintaining import data according to the regulations as they become updated or changed. Also disclosed are procedures for interfacing with a plurality of software applications utilized for performing various steps of a method for managing import data according to the regulations.
US08073865B2
A system and method for extracting content from unstructured sources is disclosed. The method includes analyzing web pages of a website, storing text and image data for each web page of the website, extracting a plurality of entities from the web page data, scoring each entity of the plurality of entities to provide an overall score for each entity, and defining a product based on the plurality of entities and the overall score for each entity.
US08073860B2
Methods and systems for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query. A method of incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines is based in part on identifying a set of search engines associated with corresponding metadata, receiving a partial search query entered by the user of a device, inferring after each user keypress a set of potential full queries intended by the user, using the potential full queries and the search engine metadata to identify a set of relevant search engines, and for each of these search engines, providing a direct link to launch a relevant query in the search engine. The user input may be either ambiguous, or erroneous, and may be entered using an input-constrained device.
US08073853B2
System and method for network administration and local administration of privacy protection criteria
Cookie files are screened in a client machine, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source. A request from a subscriber is received at a server to send a list of untrusted cookie file sources to the client machine. The list of untrusted cookie file sources is downloaded from the server to the client machine. The downloaded list of untrusted cookie file sources is used to detect cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list by comparing the cookie file source of any received cookie file to the untrusted cookie file sources on the downloaded list.
US08073852B2
Systems and media for awarding credits based on provided usage information are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software for collecting and disseminating usage information related to electronic documents and for awarding usage credits to users in exchange for providing usage information are disclosed. Embodiments include receiving an indication of the usage of an electronic document by a user and aggregating the received usage indication for the document with usage indications relating to other users. Embodiments may also include creating document utilization information for the electronic document based on the aggregated usage indications and awarding usage credit to the user based on the user's providing statistics on the usage of the electronic document. Further embodiments may include transmitting an indication of the awarded usage credit to the user and receiving a request to use the usage credits.
US08073846B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the disposition of graphical elements, whose positioning is effected by a layout manager component, according to which the elements are listed in tuples according to a predetermined method. A Boolean condition is evaluated for every tuple and if said Boolean condition is met an associated command is carried out that comprises the control command for the layout manager component. The inventive method is preferably used in generator systems for generating applications that extract data bases, whereby for every line of the result table graphical objects are generated and said objects are disposed on the graphical surface by way of the indicated method.
US08073841B2
Queries that request fields that are contained in the same XML fragments are written to execute them more efficiently.
US08073832B2
The rank of nodes in a graph may be inferred from a calculated probability that each node in the graph appears in a single random walk of the graph. Short random walks may be generated for each node in the graph. The generated random walks may be combined to form a longer single random walk. Multiple single random walks may be generated in this fashion. The probability of each node appearing in a single random may be calculated from the generated single random walks. The rank of each node may then be inferred from the calculated probabilities.
US08073825B2
A data correction apparatus, a data correction method and a tangible machine-readable medium thereof are provided. The data correction method comprises the following steps: receiving a plurality of packets; determining that all of the packets are erroneous packets according to cyclic redundancy check (CRC) information thereof; retrieving any number of pairs among the packets to proceed an exclusive-OR (XOR) logical calculation to generate a plurality of error patterns; obtaining an overall error pattern according to an OR logical calculation of the error patterns; and calculating a correct packet according to one or more of the packets and the overall error pattern.
US08073821B2
A data management and archive method and apparatus, such as for implementation in an automated system to monitor and manage status, performance and configuration data for a plurality of networked storage components. Analysis and cross-correlation of data related to the plurality of storage components can be done individually, collectively and/or comparatively. A collection manager component of a workload analyzer is implemented to start and stop data collection in the context of a system comprising at least one storage component (or at least two networked storage components). The collection manager includes a command and control module that coordinates requests of data from at least one collection agent configured on at least one host connected to the storage component(s). The collection manager manages collection of data and effects file transfer of collected data according to a user specified policy, and maintains status of the data collected. The user specified policy allows the user to specify data collection “shifts” (i.e. periodicity).
US08073812B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for preserving user intention in distributed data systems. Embodiments of the invention preserve user intention when different copies of the same data are independently edited at different locations. User intent can be preserved without centralized locking or other coordination. Thus, modifications to each copy of the date are appropriately reflected in all other copies of the data such that all copies end up in essentially the same state. Embodiments of the invention can be used in collaborative editing and data replication systems.
US08073809B2
Data may be received from the source and based on training; a confidence level may be determined that a specific element in the data is correctly assigned to a master category given that the source assigned the data to one of the plurality of assigned source categories. If the confidence level meets a threshold, the element may be stored in the assigned master category and if the confidence level does not meet a threshold, the element may be stored for reassignment.
US08073791B2
A method is disclosed that generates design profiles and a surface therefrom that promote water drainage from soil in an area of interest. Topographical data describing an initial surface of the area of interest are used to form initial profiles. The method generates the design profiles using the initial profiles and desired design parameters such as minimum slope, maximum slope, optimal slope, maximum depth, optimal depth, starting elevation, ending elevation, rules of curvature, and rules of earth balancing. The method generates design surface profiles so that the cut volumes and fill volumes of the soil are at or near balance as much as possible from the available soil in the area of interest.
US08073785B1
A method and system us disclosed for detecting fraud is non-personal transactions. The method and system comprise transmitting the purchaser's data, includes a ship-to address for the transaction, to a fraud-detection system; processing the purchaser's data to determine whether the transaction is potentially fraudulent; and returning the relative risks of fraudulent activity associated with the transaction. The method and system may include any of the following additional steps: checking to determine whether the purchaser's ship-to address exists, checking the purchaser's ship-to address against an historical database to determine whether a prior history of fraud exists, checking the purchaser's ship-to address against an historical database to determine whether a pattern of fraudulent activity exists for the ship-to address; and checking the purchaser's ship-to address against a modeling engine to determine whether elements exist in the demographic data which correlate with fraudulent trends. In addition, a score may be calculated based at least in part upon the likelihood that the transaction is fraudulent.
US08073784B2
A system for providing a wide range of telecommunications initiated data fulfillment services in which a multi-function code, such as “*#” (star, pound), input into an originating telecommunications device, such as a conventional land-line or wireless telephone, triggers the treatment of the input sequence as a multi-function code service request rather than a dialed directory number. The multi-function code is followed by an input data string to complete the multi-function code service request, which the user typically enters into the telecommunications device just like a conventional telephone call, except that the input string begins with the multi-function code. The telecommunications system recognizes the multi-function code as a trigger, and in response takes one or more actions, such as automatically terminating the call to an announcement and routing a data message to a data fulfillment center, which responds to the message by implementing a response action indicated by the multi-function code service request. For example, the data fulfillment center may respond by transmitting a message over a wireless data network or the Internet to implement a service, such as activation of a vending machine, remote control of device, delivery of a message over the Internet or wireless data network, initiation of an interactive Internet session with the originating device, or a wide range of other services. In addition, a charge for this service may be automatically charged to an account associated with the originating telecommunications device, which may be billed separately or incorporated on the user's conventional monthly telecommunications invoice.
US08073780B2
A predetermined number of license units for each of a plurality of individually selectable pieces of digital content in a digital content suite are checked out when each piece of digital content is executed by a customer in a customer club. Execution of a requested digital content is granted when the number of license units to execute the requested digital content is less than or equal to the total number of available units for the club. Access is granted for execution of the requested digital content by a license manager based on whether the required units of the requested digital content are greater than the available units on the requesting customer computer network. If the requested digital content cannot be executed immediately, the required units can be locked up and charged to the customer club available units or left uncharged.
US08073775B1
In general, the invention relates to a method for transferring funds. The method includes receiving a request to initiate a secure fund transfer, where the request specifies a sender, a recipient, and an amount of funds to transfer from the sender to the recipient. The method further includes sending a request to verify that an account associated with the sender comprises at least the amount of funds to be transferred, receiving notification that the account comprises at least the amount of funds to be transferred, requesting a reservation of funds in the account corresponding to the amount of funds to be transferred, receiving notification of the reservation, notifying the recipient that the amount of funds to be transferred is reserved, initiating a transfer of funds, to the recipient, in the amount of the reserved funds, and receiving acknowledgment that the transfer of the funds is complete.
US08073772B2
Facilitating commercial transactions using a payment system directory are disclosed. A payment directory and/or wireless point of sale (POS) device may be configured to use predetermined rules, a multitude of data items and/or conditions to locate a payment system, and transmit a payment authorization request from a remote location to at least one payment system, either directly, or via a payment system directory and/or a SSL Gateway.
US08073771B2
Provided are a method and system for payer-centric payment using a mobile terminal through which payment is made while information about a payer is not released to a participating store. Specifically, a terminal of the participating store transmits payment information including a payment amount and participating store identification information to an auxiliary terminal, the auxiliary terminal transmits the payment information to the mobile terminal of the payer, the mobile terminal of the payer transmits the payment information and information about a payment means to pay the payment amount to a payment processing system, and finally, the payment processing system pays the payment amount by using the payment means and then transmits information about a result of payment processing to the mobile terminal of the payer and the terminal of the participating store.
US08073766B2
To use market clearing methods to determine market equilibrium, a market clearing situation is established by determining a number of items to be sold at the market price and allotting a number of pseudo items assignable to bids below the market price. Once bids are received for the items, using the number of pseudo items and the actual items as the supply side, and the total funds bid as the demand side, a market clearing price is determinable using a market clearing equilibrium model. Funds assigned to pseudo items are returned or not charged. Further, by selling items only to bids exceeding the market clearing price, such as by setting the market price incrementally above the market clearing price, bidders are encouraged to submit bid prices bid reflecting what the items are worth to them instead of attempting to bid strategically to guess or set the market price.
US08073763B1
The present invention is directed to the field of securities trading. One embodiment of the present invention relates to securities trading using electronic systems. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer implemented trade execution method, comprising: sending from an execution venue to each of a plurality of smart order routers a notification message; receiving at each of the smart order routers the notification message sent thereto, wherein the notification message notifies each of the smart order routers about the presence of a non-displayed priced order at the execution venue; sending from at least one of the smart order routers to the execution venue at least one order to execute against the non-displayed priced order; receiving at the execution venue each order sent from each of the smart order routers; and executing at least one order received from at least one of the smart order routers against the non-displayed priced order.
US08073754B2
A system and method for using asymmetrical offsets for products in a risk management analysis system are disclosed. Conventional systems assign symmetrical offsets for products, that is, if two products have an 80% correlation they each would be assigned an offset of 80% with respect to each other. However, it is desirable to allow for asymmetrical offsets. In the disclosed system and method, when two products have a correlation of 80%, one may be assigned an offset of 75% and the other may be assigned an offset of 80%. There are many reasons to vary the offset between the products. The varying offset may reflect an asymmetry in the risk in one of the products, such as being traded in an illiquid market or in a less desirable venue. The varying offset may correct for an imbalance in spread credits due to special charges from intra spreading.
US08073753B2
A system and method for providing a packaging recommendation to a customer is disclosed. The system presents the customer with a merchandise list of merchandise, receives merchandise information from the customer about the particular characteristics of the merchandise, and generates a packaging recommendation via an interface to the customer. This merchandise information includes the type of merchandise being shipped by the customer to a definition, and may include any other information useful in generating the packaging recommendation. After referencing a packaging requirements matrix, the system presents the customer with a packaging recommendation via an interface. The packaging requirements may be easily modified by a system administrator without interrupting the operation of the system. The customer may also define particular merchandise to obtain a packaging recommendation in the event the merchandise is not included in the merchandise list.
US08073740B1
Techniques are described for facilitating a supply of used items on behalf of an entity that desires to acquire such used items, such as a merchant that sells used items to customers. The used items are obtained based on interactions with recipients who receive items that are sold or otherwise provided by one or more merchants (or other suppliers of items), such as by supplying appropriate information and materials to the recipients along with the items. In some situations, when an item is delivered or otherwise supplied to a recipient by a merchant, the merchant also supplies information to the recipient that indicates an offer from a used item acquirer entity to re-acquire the item from the recipient (such as after the recipient has used the item) and shipping materials for use in returning the item to an indicated destination if the recipient accepts the offer.
US08073735B2
An automated system determines appropriate compliance information for documents pertaining to financial products or services. The compliance information can vary on each document depending on the particular financial product and/or financial service, and based on both company and jurisdictional requirements.
US08073730B2
A method for modeling a financial risk in a service level agreement (SLA) between a service provider and a customer for the service provider to provide one or more services to the customer is provided. The method includes forecasting a service performance of the service provider for at least one performance metric of the SLA, modeling at least one scenario for the SLA based on one or more negotiated terms between the service provider and the customer as found in the SLA, and applying the forecasted service performance of the service provider against the at least one modeled SLA scenario to calculate a financial risk of the service provider with regard to the at least one modeled SLA scenario.
US08073729B2
A computer-implemented method of forecasting discovery costs captures historical business events, which are aggregated and statistically analyzed by matter type and business event types. Statistical data is used to calculate probabilities of occurrence of future business events and to extrapolate occurrence of those future business events. The method forecasts an extrapolated volume of production at the time of a forecasted export event. The method further forecasts costs for future discovery from the extrapolated volume of production.
US08073726B1
A system and method for allocating crew is disclosed. A plurality of legs are identified, wherein at least two legs of the plurality of legs are broken. A first crew and a first sequence associated with the first leg of the at least two broken legs are identified. A second crew and a second sequence associated with the second leg of the at least two broken legs is identified. A plurality of new sequences for the first crew and the second crew using deadheads is generated. A solution for each crew is generated using a mixed integer program.
US08073717B2
Disclosed are systems for underwriting insurance contracts. In one embodiment a system comprises a rules database of business rules specifying one or more conditions based upon one or more underwriting parameters; a user database comprising entries corresponding to registered users; and a processor configured to: provide to the user a form having a plurality of data fields generated based upon the underwriting parameters specified in the business rules; receive a plurality of inputted underwriting parameters corresponding to the data fields; determine whether the inputted underwriting parameters satisfy the business rules; and if at least one of the inputted underwriting parameters does not satisfy the business rules, provide a status message indicating that at least one business rule is not satisfied. The status message can be provided in an interface that includes a graphical element linking a part of the status message with a portion of the displayed form.
US08073714B1
Systems and methods for performing insurance related activities are provided. Software can be implemented to provide an application that includes an interactive interface for use by insurance professionals in managing clients, marketing insurance, and storing information. For example, a network application can be implemented that a user can access via a web browser and which is intuitive for quick comprehension and interaction by users. The application can include multiple layers directed to particular stages of the insurance-client relationship. The application can include a workflow wizard to aid the user in managing and maintaining client information and tracking progress. Aggregation services can also be incorporated into the application. Interactive insurance-and-client specific display pages can be incorporated to aid in understanding a client's current insurance information and to generate presentations. “Value” calculators may be implemented to illustrate a comparison of a client's current level of protection to a client's current financial state.
US08073713B2
A system and method for improving medical care through tracking reported findings or diagnoses of patient medical conditions and feeding back actual medical conditions and patient medical condition outcomes to determine accuracy of the reported findings. By feeding back the actual medical conditions and patient medical condition outcomes, a quantitative measure of each reported finding of each medical professional can be determined. One medical professional expertise in which the feedback system can be particularly useful is with medical image reading professionals, as this medical professional expertise provides a basis for other medical professionals to determine treatment and/or additional testing options.
US08073707B2
The invention is a system for detecting, monitoring, and reporting an individual's physiological or contextual status. The system works deriving a physiological or contextual status parameter of an individual using the system. The derivation utilizes two sensed parameters of the individual. The system is able to present the derived parameter in relation to any other sensed parameters, entered information, life activities data, or other derived data.
US08073704B2
A plurality of pairs of segments to be weighted/added are selected non-linearly with respect to a time axis of audio data. A speed conversion is achieved by performing the weighting/addition on the selected pairs of segments. The non-linear selection is performed by (a) obtaining all possible pairs of segments constituting the audio data, (b) calculating a degree of similarity pertaining to each possible pair, (c) ranking the all possible pairs of segments according to the degrees of similarity, and (d) overlapping at least one of the all possible pairs of segments that holds the highest degree of similarity.
US08073696B2
A voice synthesis device is provided to include: an emotion input unit obtaining an utterance mode of a voice waveform, a prosody generation unit generating a prosody, a characteristic tone selection unit selecting a characteristic tone based on the utterance mode; and a characteristic tone temporal position estimation unit (i) judging whether or not each of phonemes included in a phonologic sequence of text is to be uttered with the characteristic tone, based on the phonologic sequence, the characteristic tone, and the prosody, and (ii) deciding a phoneme, which is an utterance position where the text is uttered with the characteristic tone. The voice synthesis device also includes an element selection unit and an element connection unit generating the voice waveform based on the phonologic sequence, the prosody, and the utterance position, so that the text is uttered in the utterance mode with the characteristic tone at the determined utterance position.
US08073690B2
A voice recognition system (10) for improving the toughness of voice recognition for a voice input for which a deteriorated feature amount cannot be completely identified. The system comprises at least two sound detecting means (16a, 16b) for detecting a sound signal, a sound source localizing unit (21) for determining the direction of a sound source based on the sound signal, a sound source separating unit (23) for separating a sound by the sound source from the sound signal based on the sound source direction, a mask producing unit (25) for producing a mask value according to the reliability of the separation results, a feature extracting unit (27) for extracting the feature amount of the sound signal, and a voice recognizing unit (29) for applying the mask to the feature amount to recognize a voice from the sound signal.
US08073689B2
A system improves the perceptual quality of a speech signal by dampening undesired repetitive transient noises. The system includes a repetitive transient noise detector adapted to detect repetitive transient noise in a received signal. The received signal may include a harmonic and a noise spectrum. The system further includes a repetitive transient noise attenuator that substantially removes or dampens repetitive transient noises from the received signal. The method of dampening the repetitive transient noises includes modeling characteristics of repetitive transient noises; detecting characteristics in the received signal that correspond to the modeled characteristics of the repetitive transient noises; and substantially removing components of the repetitive transient noises from the received signal that correspond to some or all of the modeled characteristics of the repetitive transient noises.
US08073686B2
A feature extraction apparatus includes a spectrum calculating unit that calculates, based on an input speech signal, a frequency spectrum having frequency components obtained at regular intervals on a logarithmic frequency scale for each of frames that are defined by regular time intervals, and thereby generates a time series of the frequency spectrum; a cross-correlation coefficients calculating unit that calculates, for each target frame of the frames, a cross-correlation coefficients between frequency spectra calculated for two different frames that are in vicinity of the target frame and a predetermined frame width apart from each other; and a shift amount predicting unit that predicts a shift amount of the frequency spectra on the logarithmic frequency scale with respect to the predetermined frame width by use of the cross-correlation coefficients.
US08073684B2
An audio file is divided into frames in the time domain and each frame is compressed, according to a psycho-acoustic algorithm, into file in the frequency domain. Each frame is divided into sub-bands and each sub-band is further divided into split sub-bands. The spectral energy over each split sub-band is averaged for all frames. The resulting quantity for each split sub-band provides a parameter. The set of parameters can be compared to a corresponding set of parameters generated from a different audio file to determine whether the audio files are similar. In order to provide for the higher sensitivity of the auditory response, the comparison of individual split sub-bands of the lower order sub-bands can be performed. Selected constants can be used in the comparison process to improve further the sensitivity of the comparison. In the side-information generated by the psycho-acoustic compression, data related to the rhythm, i.e., related percussive effects, is present. The data known as attack flags can also be used as part of the audio frame comparison.
US08073682B2
A system and method for prospecting digital information is provided. A home evergreen index for a home subject area within a corpus of digital information is maintained and includes topic models matched to the corpus. A frontier evergreen index for a frontier subject area within the corpus topically distinct from the home subject area is identified. Quality assessments for frontier articles from the corpus identified by the topic models of the frontier evergreen index are obtained. The frontier articles with positive quality assessments are reclassified against the topic models in the home evergreen index. The frontier articles are provided in a display with home articles previously classified against the topic models in the home evergreen index.
US08073678B2
A translation device has a dictionary that stores a set of words and their corresponding meanings in plural languages; an input unit that inputs a document; a recognizing unit that recognizes text in the inputted document; an analyzing unit that devides the text recognized by the recognizing unit into words; a translating unit that translates each of the words obtained by the analyzing unit into a translated term by using the dictionary; and an output unit that outputs an output image containing the translated term for a key word.
US08073671B2
Simulating an application. A method that may be practiced in a computing environment configured for simulating an application modeled by an application model deployed in a performance scenario of a computing system by deploying service models of the application model to device models modeling devices. The method includes referencing a performance scenario to obtain a transaction being modeled as originating from a first device model. The transaction invokes of a first service model. The first service model specifies hardware actions for simulation. The first service model is referenced to determine the hardware actions for simulation and the next referenced service. The next referenced service specifies hardware actions to be added to the transaction and may specify invocation of other service models. A chain of hardware actions is generated by following the invocation path of the service models. The hardware actions are applied to device models to simulate the transaction.
US08073661B2
An overlap amount definition section defines an amount of overlap between divided regions when a shape prediction objective region in a polished surface formed by chemical mechanical polishing is divided into a plurality of regions. A shape prediction computation processing section divides the objective region into the plurality of regions each of which includes a region corresponding to the overlap amount defined by the overlap amount definition section, and performs computation for shape prediction on each divided region by distributed processing. A merging processing section combines the results of shape prediction on the divided regions that are calculated by the shape prediction computation processing section.
US08073660B2
An analyzing model creating apparatus includes an interval acquiring part to acquire intervals of a plurality of parts that are mounted on a PCB for an electronic equipment, from design data of the PCB, a comparing part to compare a minimum part interval between the parts and a first mesh size which is preset, and a computing part to compute a value which is ½ the minimum part interval between the parts as a second mesh size if the minimum part interval between the parts is less than 2 times the first mesh size. A generating part is provided to generate an analyzing model of the printed circuit board based on the second mesh size.
US08073653B2
A life indicator for a component of a machine is disclosed. The life indicator includes at least one sensor operably associated with the machine and configured to sense a property associated with the machine. The sensor is configured to output the sensed property as a data signal. The life indicator also includes a memory element having a first data structure that determines a damage factor for the component of the machine based at least in part on the data signal received from the at least one sensor. A processor executes the first data structure to determine the damage factor.
US08073652B2
A computer-implemented method for pre-processing data. The method may include detecting one or more erroneous vectors in a plurality of vectors, detecting one or more erroneous elements in the one or more erroneous vectors, and deleting the detected one or more erroneous elements. The method may also include detecting one or more missing elements in the plurality of vectors. Further, the method may include populating one or more offending vectors that include one or more missing elements and/or deleted erroneous elements with one or more elements that are based on a distance metric.
US08073650B2
An exemplar dimension measuring apparatus includes a objective, a stage for fixing a workpiece, a projecting member located between the objective and the stage, a light source under the stage, configured for illuminating the workpiece such that a projection of the workpiece is formed on the projection member, an eyepiece coupled with the objective, and a processing unit. The eyepiece has a reticle, configured for viewing opposite extremities of the projection and facilitating alignment of the reticle with each of the extremities of the projection. The processing unit is configured for storing X-coordinates of the extremities of the projection on a Cartesian coordinate system, and calculating a difference between X-coordinates of the opposite extremities of the projection.
US08073643B2
A semiconductor device which includes a power switch connecting an internal power supply in which power is not shut down and an internal power supply in which power is shut down, and an internal voltage determining circuit for determining the voltage of the internal power supply in which power is shut down. When the power of the internal power supply is interrupted, the power switch is turned off, the regulator circuit is turned off, and an output of the regulator circuit is shorted to a ground potential. When the power of the internal power supply is resumed, the regulator circuit is turned on, shorting is cancelled, the increased voltage of the internal power supply is determined by the internal voltage determining circuit, operation of a circuit block is started, and the switch is turned on.
US08073642B2
A meter device for measuring electrical energy is provided. The meter device includes circuitry for measuring at least one parameter of electrical energy provided to the meter device. A storage device is provided for storing at least one calibration factor for compensating for errors associated with at least one of at least one external current transformer (CT) and at least one external potential transformer (PT) that operates on the electrical energy provided to the meter device. At least one processor is provided for processing the at least one calibration factor for adjusting the measuring for compensating for the errors when measuring the at least one parameter of electrical energy.
US08073628B2
Compositions, apparatus, systems, kits, and methods for obfuscating the nucleic acid and/or protein content of an environment.
US08073625B2
A method is disclosed for combining seismic data sets. This method has application in merging data sets of different vintages, merging data sets collected using different acquisition technologies, and merging data sets acquired using different types of sensors, for example merging hydrophone and geophone measurements in ocean bottom seismic data. In one embodiment, a desired data trace is to be determined from a set of measured data traces, and the following steps are applied: (a) model filters are constructed which express the deterministic relationship between the desired data trace and each available measured trace that depends on the desired data trace; (b) the noise properties associated with each measured data trace are determined; (c) a sufficient statistic for the desired data trace is formed by application of an appropriate filter to each measured trace and summing the filter outputs; (d) the sufficient statistic is further processed by a single-input single-output estimator to construct an estimate of the desired data trace from the sufficient statistic.
US08073615B2
Provided is a destination-prediction apparatus that predicts a destination with increased accuracy than using a conventional technique. The destination-prediction apparatus comprises a candidate-destination selecting unit that selects and orders a plurality of candidate destinations, a drawing processing unit that displays the selected candidate destinations according to the ordering, a rule setting unit that sets a rule that a moving object moves to the candidate destination at a constant frequency during a certain unit period, a unit-period frequency accumulating unit that determines actual frequency at which the moving object has moved to the candidate destination during the unit period, and a actual-frequency judging unit that judges whether or not the actual frequency reaches trip frequency included in the rule. The drawing processing unit displays the candidate destinations, reflecting a result of the judgment that the actual frequency satisfies the rule.
US08073608B2
The present invention relates to a yaw stability control system for a vehicle using a steering system and a method of controlling by detecting the occurrence of understeer, determining the degree of understeer after the occurrence of understeer is detected determining if the determined degree of understeer exceeds a threshold value, saving the steering wheel torque value and steering wheel angle value when determined that a calculated drop in steering wheel torque exceeds the threshold value, calculating a guidance torque, a driver-intended steering wheel angle, and updating the steering wheel angle at the start of the guidance torque calculation, applying the guidance torque to the steering of the vehicle, and using the driver-intended steering wheel angle for yaw stability control.
US08073606B2
In a vehicle drive control system, a control unit calculates an evaluation index indicating an approach/separation condition of a subject vehicle during a travel and stores this evaluation index together with an inter-vehicle distance with respect to each driver in a memory device. The control unit further calculates a maximum value of the stored evaluation index for each distance, and calculates a relational equation between the distance and the calculated maximum evaluation index. The control unit determines, by correcting the relational equation, a speed control start determination equation, which determines the start timing of the automatic acceleration and/or deceleration control.
US08073598B2
An in-vehicle device wirelessly sends a request signal to an assistance-possible area in which a user of a welfare-use seat device can be assisted. When a wireless portable key device, i.e., a remote control is present inside of the assistance-possible area, the portable key device returns a response signal containing an ID code. When receiving the response signal, the in-vehicle device executes a collation relative to the ID code contained in the response signal. When the collation is successfully completed, a short-depression movement mode is designated. When a short-time manipulation or depression is once applied to an operation instruction switch of the wireless portable key device under the short-depression movement mode being designated, the movement of a welfare-use seat device is started toward a movement end position without need further continued manipulation or depression to the operation instruction switch.
US08073595B2
An apparatus to prevent a vehicle from deviating from a lane of travel includes an acquisition device configured to measure a yaw angle between the vehicle and the lane of travel, a lane deviation controller configured to output a yaw moment to maintain the vehicle in the lane of travel, a restriction device configured to restrict the yaw moment output when the measured yaw angle exceeds a first angle limit, and a correction device configured to adjust the first angle limit in response to a measured condition.
US08073590B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for utilizing a communication channel of a mobile device by a vehicular assembly. In operation, a vehicular assembly communicates with a mobile device having a wireless communication channel. Additionally, at least one vehicular assembly function is performed utilizing the wireless communication channel of the mobile device.
US08073587B2
A diagnostic method for locating a failure in a complex system that includes the steps of detecting operating information using a detector device; verifying a performance of the system based on the operating information; determining an operating status of the system to be one of “operational,” “non-operational” and “degraded” based on the operating information; comparing the operating information with predetermined data when the operation status is one of “operational,” “non-operational” and “degraded;” and generating at least one hypothesis as to a location of the failure of the system.
US08073576B2
The present invention provides an acceleration sensation evaluating device that evaluates a sensory acceleration of a driver with respect to an expectation value of acceleration, and a vehicle controller that controls a vehicle according to the evaluation results. The evaluation device detects an amount of operation of the vehicle by the driver of when the vehicle is accelerated, detects an amount of vehicle behavior, computes a physical quantity of an expectation value indicating the expectation value of an acceleration performance which the driver expects based on the detected values, computes a sensory physical quantity indicating a sensation of the acceleration which the driver senses, and computes an evaluation value of the acceleration sensation based on difference or ratio between the physical quantity of the expectation value and the sensory physical quantity.
US08073575B2
To provide a vehicle which can move independently as an own independent vehicle and can run integrally in linkage with another vehicle. A plurality of single-seat vehicles which can move independently are combined and they move integrally while a predetermined formation is maintained through linkage among respective vehicles. One of all the vehicles moving in linkage serves as a host vehicle and an occupant in the host vehicle becomes a driver in the linkage moving. A host vehicle 1 runs with speed/direction according to running operation conducted by an occupant. Simultaneously therewith, the host vehicle 1 instructs following vehicles 2 to 4 to synchronize (follow) the host vehicle. The host vehicle 1 transmits a speed, a direction, and a relative position to the host vehicle to the following vehicles 2 to 4 as moving information in order to synchronize the following vehicles with the host vehicle (maintain linkage relationship). The following vehicles 2 to 4 move based upon a follow-up instruction and feed status information including speeds and directions of the following vehicles, and their own positions back to the host vehicle 1 as own vehicle information.
US08073571B2
To achieve improved frequency-response correction of a vibration-signal transmitter in a vibration isolation system, the invention proposes a method in which an analog sensor signal representing vibrations is generated through the use of a vibration-signal transmitter, this sensor signal is amplified for correcting frequency-dependent sensitivity of the vibration-signal transmitter, an actuator control signal is generated by processing the amplified sensor signal, and an actuator is controlled with the actuator control signal for counteracting the vibrations, wherein the amplification of the sensor signal includes first amplification through the use of an analog amplification stage and second amplification through the use of a digital amplification stage. The invention further proposes a correction device and also a vibration isolation system for carrying out the method.
US08073565B2
Provided is a fully automated web service with location based services generally involved in transmission of situational location dependent information to automatically located mobile receiving data processing systems. The web service communicates with a receiving data processing system in a manner by delivering information to the device when appropriate without the device requesting it at the time of delivery. There are varieties of configurations made by different user types of the web service for configuring information to be delivered, and for receiving the information. The web service maximizes anonymity of users, provides granular privacy control with a default of complete privacy, and supports user configurable privileges and features for desired web service behavior and interoperability. The web service is fully automated to eliminate human resources required to operate services. Integrated with the web service are enhanced location based services providing map solutions, alerts, sharing of novel services between users, and complete user control for managing heterogeneous device interoperability through the web service.
US08073562B2
An inventory system with feedback for picking or placing items is disclosed. In this system, there is a plurality of bins or storage locations, one for each item stored. The bins are typically used in a warehouse to fulfill and ship orders of a list of items. Each bin or pair of bins is equipped with a module for directing a picking specialist to the correct bin for manually picking an order. When the picking specialist reaches into a bin to select an item, a passive heat sensor senses heat from the picker's hand, or a magnet detecting circuit detects a magnet on the picker's hand or wrist. This provides positive feedback that the correct bin was sought to retrieve the item, or an alarm or other signal may indicate the incorrect bin. The system may also be used to replenish inventory or return items to stock.
US08073560B1
A method for modifying standard ANSI body sizing charts extrapolation sizes outside of the standard sizes if necessary. In a subsequent step, the user may incorporate different upper and lower body sizes. Correction factors are then applied if a tall/short, full/slender body type is selected. A new chart is output to the user in human readable form.
US08073559B2
A plurality of autonomous control processes, with each controlling one or more components of the material transport (or processing) system, is used to radically simplify the controller software. Each autonomous control process is responsible for the actions of only a subset of the cluster tool components. For example, in one embodiment, a separate autonomous control process is used to control each automated component in the material handling system. However, other embodiments in which a control process controls a plurality of components are also contemplated.
US08073555B2
A method of estimating a basepoint includes a plurality of goals, wherein each goal has a desired value, receiving a plurality of sensor feedback signals from a controlled system, and receiving a plurality of predicted output values of the controlled system from a mathematical model. A desired change for a plurality of basepoint values is estimated in response to the goals, the feedback, and the predicted ooutput values. An actual change in basepoint values is calculated in response to a plurality of limits and the desired change for the plurality of basepoint values. The desired change is modified as necessary to hold the limits. The actual change in basepoint values is combined with last pass values of the plurality of basepoint values to produce an updated basepoint estimate.
US08073547B2
A guiding apparatus and a method for cochlear implant are disclosed. In one embodiment, the guiding apparatus for cochlear implant comprises i) an optical tube for transmitting an optical signal, ii) an optical signal emitting module for converting an electrical signal into the optical signal and emitting the optical signal through another end of the optical tube, iii) an optical signal detecting module for receiving the optical signal that is reflected by an obstacle or an inner wall of cochlear through another end of the optical tube and converting the received optical signal into an electrical signal and iv) a central processor for analyzing optical emission energy information and optical detection energy information to generate inserting route information. According to one embodiment, it is possible to decrease injuries to the inner wall of a cochlear canal and optimize the position of an electrode to be inserted into the cochlear canal.
US08073543B2
The present invention involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead that is in communication with predetermined thoracic vertebral segments to cause spinal nervous tissue stimulation, thus treating a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders.
US08073537B2
A system and method for determining oversensing during post-processing of sensing data generated by a medical device that includes transmitting a plurality of stored sensing data generated by the medical device to an access device, the stored sensing data including sensed atrial events and sensed ventricular events. The access device determines, in response to the transmitted data, instances where the medical device identified a cardiac event being detected in response to the sensing data, identifies and removes suspected far-field R-waves, and determines whether a signal including the removed suspected far-field R-waves is regular.
US08073536B2
A method and system for determining undersensing during post-processing of sensing data generated by a medical device that includes transmitting a plurality of stored sensing data generated by the medical device to an access device, the stored sensing data including sensed atrial events and sensed ventricular events. The access device determines, in response to the transmitted data, instances where the medical device identified a cardiac event being detected in response to the sensing data, and determines whether one of a predetermined number of undersensing criteria have been met in response to the transmitted data.
US08073535B2
One aspect relates to adjusting a positional state of an individual to a physiological aspect of the individual at least partially in response to detecting a radiant kinetic energy from the individual. Another aspect relates to indicating to configure an individual at least partially in response to a determining at least one physiologically-indicating body temperature of the individual derived at least partially based on a detecting a radiant kinetic energy from the individual.
US08073516B2
The present invention is directed toward a pulse oximetry system for the determination of a physiological parameter capable of removing motion artifacts from physiological signals comprises a hardware subsystem and a software subsystem. The software subsystem is used in conjunction with the hardware subsystem to perform a method for removing a plurality of motion artifacts from the photo-plethysmographic data and for obtaining a measure of at least one physiological parameter from the data. The method comprises acquiring the raw photo-plethysmographic data, transforming the data into the frequency domain, analyzing the transformed data to locate a series of candidate cardiac spectral peaks (primary plus harmonics), reconstructing a photo-plethysmographic signal in the time domain with only the candidate cardiac spectral peaks (primary plus harmonics), computing the second order derivative of the reconstructed photo-plethysmographic signal, analyzing the candidate second order derivative photo-plethysmographic signal to determine the absence or presence of cardiac physiologic signal characteristics, and finally selecting the best physiologic candidate from the series of potential cardiac spectral peaks (primary plus harmonics) based upon a second derivative scoring system. This scoring system is preferentially based upon second derivative processing analysis, but can be equally applied using the first, third, fourth or other similar derivative processing analysis.
US08073502B2
A portable radio communication equipment includes an upper cover part, a lower cover part, a first set of elongate arms having first ends and second ends, said first ends being connected to said upper part by a first set of joints and said second ends being connected to said lower part by a second set of joints. The equipment may include a second set of arms having first ends and second ends, said first ends being connected to said upper part by a third set of joints, and said second ends being connected to said lower part by a fourth set of joints, wherein said joints provide at least three axes of rotation between said arms and said cover parts.
US08073501B2
Methods and Apparatus for providing haptic feedback to non-input locations are described. One described apparatus comprises a first surface, an input element distinct from the first surface, the input element operable to generate an input signal, and an actuator configured to provide haptic feedback to the first surface based at least in part on the input signal.
US08073500B2
A multimode wireless communication device and method for having the device detect a communication access technology is described. The multimode wireless device comprises a multimode transceiver module, a CAT detection module, and at least one CAT threshold level corresponding to each CAT. The multimode transceiver module is operatively coupled to a first antenna. The multimode transceiver module comprises at least two communication access technology (CAT) receiver modules operatively coupled to at least one antenna, wherein each CAT receiver module complies with a receiver requirement. The CAT detection module is operatively coupled to one of the CAT transceiver antenna and the CAT detection module is configured to detect a plurality of CAT RF energy levels associated with each CAT receiver module without activating the corresponding CAT transceiver module.
US08073497B2
Duplex audio communications over a network use compressed audio data, with linear prediction coefficients (LPCs) and variances by which sample values differ from predictions. A adaptive echo canceller for a transceiver develops finite impulse response filter (FIR) coefficients characterizing an echo path between its local audio output and audio input. The received/decompressed audio data is applied to the FIR coefficients, and the predicted echo is subtracted from the uplink signal. Echo is detected as cross-correlation of the receive signal versus the uplink/send signal over time. In one embodiment, the cross-correlation is determined using a pre-whitened receive signal, obtained by adopting the variance values received over the network by the downlink Codec. Apart from the uplink Codec, no speech analysis filter or process is needed. The technique is apt for GSM, AMR and similar compressed audio communications.
US08073493B2
A portable electronic apparatus is disclosed. The portable electronic apparatus comprises a casing, a first displaying module, a second displaying module, a communicating module, a sensing module, and a controlling module. The first displaying module and the second displaying module are set on a first face and a second face of the casing respectively. When the communicating module receives an incoming call signal, the communicating module generates a starting signal. Then, the sensing module receives the starting signal and performs a sensing procedure to generate a sensing result. The controlling module selectively displays an incoming call information related to the incoming call signal on the first displaying module or the second displaying module according to the sensing result.
US08073486B2
A system and method for opportunistically designing collaborative beamforming vectors is disclosed for a wireless multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) space division multiple access (SDMA) communication system by sequentially designing beamforming vectors for ranked channels in order to exploit the instantaneous channel conditions to improve per user average SNR performance. Each subscriber station independently transmits information to a base station that allows the base station to determine beamforming vectors for each subscriber station by ranking the subscriber stations by channel strength. Using sequential nullspace methods, the ranked channel matrices are then used to select the channel matrix Hi for the best subscriber station, to design the wi, vi for the best subscriber station as the left and right singular vectors of the MIMO channel matrix Hi, to transform the remaining channels and to continue the process until beamforming vectors are designed for all channels.
US08073485B2
An amount of data accumulated in a data-receiving buffer is monitored. When the accumulated amount of data exceeds a threshold, a control PDU indicating that the accumulated amount of data exceeds the threshold is generated and transmitted to a data transmitter.
US08073476B2
A mobile communication device includes a receiver, a detector, an analyzer, and a deleting module. The receiver is used for receiving short message service messages, and storing the short message service messages in a message record. The detector is used for detecting an occupying space of the short message service messages, and generating a signal if the occupying space is greater than a predetermined volume. The analyzer is used for storing a plurality of message deletion rates of short message service messages and a deletion time, and generating a delete command according to the signal and the message deletion rates or to the signal and the deletion time. The deleting module is used for receiving the delete command, and deleting pending short message service messages according to the delete command. A method for automatically deleting short message service messages from the mobile communication device is also provided.
US08073473B2
A method of processing a message in a short message service in which a router or alternatively a gateway makes a first attempt to deliver the message, the deliver attempt failing the router or gateway sends the message and other supporting information to a service center that can store the message and re-attempt delivery of the message. The supporting information provided by the router or gateway enables the service center to process the message in an efficient manner. The supporting information can include a failure type indicator, a charge indicator, a charge reference number, a virtual mobile indicator and a reply indicator.
US08073471B1
Apparatus and methods for reducing the amount of time a mobile wireless device needs to be in a wake mode in order to determine whether a particular paging message is or is not directed to the mobile wireless device. The method includes: receiving, by a mobile device of a wireless network, a first paging message; processing, by the mobile device, a portion of the first paging message including comparing the processed portion of the first paging message with a processed portion of a second paging message previously received by the mobile device; and determining, by the mobile device, whether to process other portions of the first paging message based at least in part on the comparison.
US08073457B2
An overload control device and a method thereof in a radio network controller are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention includes i) a load measuring unit, measuring a load of a radio network controller every predetermined time, ii) an overload determining unit, determining whether an overload is generated by comparing the measured load with a predetermined critical value, iii) a parameter setting unit, setting a parameter of a call admission ratio according to an overload level if the overload is generated as the result of determining, the call admission ratio indicating a ratio of a maximum transmitting output as compared with an admitted transmitting output of a base station and iv) a call connection setting control unit, transmitting to the radio network controller a call connection setting signal to limit new call connection setting of a base station having a total transmitting output value which is larger than an admitted transmitting output value set by the parameter of the call admission ratio of the base station among all base stations pertained to the radio network controller.
US08073456B2
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in cellular communication networks exhibiting dynamic cell coverage, in particular, to estimate the uplink coverage in a network in operation. According to the method of the present invention a received rate is determined from at least one mobile terminal being in a communication session, by measuring the number of received transport blocks during a predetermined time interval. The received rate is compared with a predetermined expected rate, and if the received rate is below the expected rate poor coverage is identified. Since the coverage is potentially load dependent an estimate of the uplink coverage has been obtained.
US08073443B2
The SIP Number Portability System disables the cellular radios in the wireless device and enables a WiFi 802.11 protocol-based radio. In the airborne mode, it activates a call forwarding registration process which has calls to the subscriber's publicly available phone number forwarded to the Airborne Session Initiated Protocol client through a SIP-based Public Switched Telephone Network access number and incoming communication sessions directed to the subscriber's wireless service provider user address routed to the Airborne Session Initiated Protocol client through a SIP-based data gateway on the Internet or the Public Switched Data Network. On outbound calls, the Airborne Session Initiated Protocol Client populates the Calling Number field with the wireless subscriber device phone number so that the caller ID display located at the called party's subscriber device shows the subscriber's publicly available phone number.
US08073441B1
A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, involves initiating a registration of the mobile device with one of the plurality of wireless networks. A geographic position of the mobile device is determined with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks. A connection is established to one of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device.
US08073434B2
The generation and comparison of a first time stamp and a second time stamp allows for the active operation of a mobile device that is intermittently connected to a middleware system. A document is created with a first stamp, where this document relates to a particular activity associated with one or more objects. Affected object fields are also created to include a second time stamp. The first time stamp is updated to reflect a data request object and the second time stamp reflects when the affected object is adjusted on the back-end system. Until the second time stamp is later in time than the first time stamp, indicating successful processing of the data request object, the mobile device simulates the successful processing of the data request object to reflect the adjustment in a data object value.
US08073432B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for arranging data synchronization is a synchronization system which comprises at least a first synchronization device and a second synchronization device. The synchronization system defines binding data which associates a user data unit of the first synchronization device with at least one function of the first synchronization device. A first synchronization step is performed between the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device, the step comprising transferring the user data unit from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device. After the first synchronization step has been performed, a second synchronization step is performed where binding data is transferred from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device. Binding is formed in the second synchronization device between the user data unit and at least one function of the second synchronization device in accordance with the binding data.
US08073419B2
A front-end circuit with coherent tunable filters is provided. The circuit includes a first filter, an amplifier, and a second filter. The amplifier is coupled to the first filter, and the second filter is coupled to the amplifier. Furthermore, the amplifier is placed between the first and second filters. The first filter has a first tunable intermediate frequency, and is used to filter a received signal. The amplifier is used to amplify the output of the first filter. The second filter has a second tunable intermediate frequency, and is used to filter the output of the amplifier. The first and second intermediate frequencies have a coherent-tuning relation with each other.
US08073415B2
A tunable receiving apparatus, includes a variable capacitative member, a tunable antenna having a resonant frequency controlled by the variable capacitative member, a tuner outputting a control signal related to a receiving-sensitivity of the tunable antenna, and a control circuit processing the control signal and controlling the variable capacitative member. The variable capacitative member is controlled automatically by the control circuit to optimize the receiving-sensitivity.
US08073412B2
A method of configuring a tuner includes scanning at least one range of radio frequencies, measuring a signal quality metric for each of a plurality of the frequencies, and selecting a set of operational frequencies for the tuner. The selecting step is dependent upon the measuring step.
US08073407B2
A radio communication device in which the output transmission signal of a high-frequency power amplifying part is sent out to an antenna via a circulator, a high-frequency signal reflected from the antenna is transferred via the circulator to a rectifying part to obtain a direct current power, and the direct current power is supplied to a power amplifying part or another constituent part in the radio communication device as an aid to the power supply from a power supply unit.
US08073391B2
A device and method support dialup modem access over a wireless local area and/or personal area network such as, for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n and/or IEEE 802.15.3a network. A representative embodiment permits a user of a conventional Internet web browser application to access a dialup information provider via a switched telephone network, using the wireless network. A terminal adapter comprising a wired network interface and a wireless network interface receives messaging containing dialing information from a user of a personal computer, via the wireless network. The terminal adapter establishes a dialup connection to the information provider, and exchanges information between the personal computer and the information provider via the wired and wireless interfaces. Information used for dialing may be contained within a universal resource locator received by the terminal adapter, or may be received as a result of user input on a webpage type user interface displayed by the browser application using information sent by the terminal adapter.
US08073390B2
Satellite positioning system information and/or other information is communicated to/from a mobile terminal by synchronizing satellite positioning system information that is communicated to/from the mobile terminal over a short-range, ad hoc wireless network relative to a feature of a protocol that is used for the short-range, ad hoc wireless network communications. The feature may be a header field in the short-range, ad hoc wireless network communications. Related methods, mobile terminals and short-range ad hoc wireless networks are described.
US08073389B2
A dual-mode mobile communication device capable of sharing Bluetooth module to perform communication is disclosed. The dual-mode mobile communication device includes a first communication module, a second communication module and a Bluetooth module. The Bluetooth module of the dual-mode mobile communication device is electrically connected with a Bluetooth device. The first communication module is electrically connected with the second communication module and the Bluetooth module respectively.
US08073383B2
A method and apparatus are provided for playing music for long time by a mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal includes an MP3 chip for decoding and playing music data transferred from a music data memory by a baseband chip.
US08073358B2
An image forming device is described according to an aspect comprises: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller opposed to the photoconductive drum; a developer container; a cartridge; a second portion; and a second terminal. The cartridge comprises: a cartridge frame; a memory unit; a first portion disposed at an upstream portion in a vicinity of an upstream end in an attachment direction of the cartridge frame; and a first terminal disposed at at least a part of the first portion and electrically connected to the memory unit. The second terminal is disposed at least a part of the second portion to contact with the first terminal and electrically connected to a controller disposed in the main body. One of the first portion and second portion receives the other of the first portion and second portion.
US08073351B2
An image forming device includes: a fixing portion including a nip that is formed between a heat roller and a back-up roller pressurized by a pressurizing mechanism and holds and conveys a toner-bearing sheet; a pressure switching mechanism for changing a pressurizing force of the pressurizing mechanism; and a sheet detecting portion for detecting a sheet conveyed to the fixing portion. The sheet detecting portion changes a state of sheet detection by the sheet detecting portion in tandem to operation of the pressure switching mechanism. The image forming device includes a pressurization state determining portion for determining a state of pressurization of the pressurizing mechanism on the basis of an output of the sheet detecting portion for a sheet non-passing time, and a pressurization state display portion for displaying the pressurization state determined by the pressurization state determining portion.
US08073345B2
A method for determining symbols PSK modulated on an optical carrier includes interfering a first polarization component of the modulated optical carrier and a reference optical carrier in a first optical mixer and interfering the first polarization component of the modulated optical carrier and the reference with a different relative phase in a second optical mixer. The method also includes sampling the interfered carriers from the first optical mixer to produce first digital sampled values and sampling the interfered carriers from the second optical mixer to produce second digital sampled values. The first and second digital sampled values of a sampling period form a first complex sampling value thereof. The method also includes offsetting a phase of a complex signal value corresponding to each first complex sampling value to correct for a phase error caused by a frequency offset between the modulated and reference optical carriers.
US08073344B2
A heterodyne receiver includes first and second laser sources such as laser diodes which generate optical receiver oscillator (RO) signals having respective RO frequencies. Temperature control circuitry controls a temperature difference between the operating temperatures of the sources such that the RO frequencies differ by a difference frequency corresponding to the temperature difference, the difference frequency being offset from a frequency of a modulated millimeter-wave signal by a predetermined intermediate frequency. An electro-optical nonlinear mixer such as a photodiode receives the optical RO signals and the modulated millimeter-wave signal and generates an electrical intermediate-frequency (IF) signal, which is provided to an electrical amplifier/detector to detect the output signal corresponding to the modulation of the modulated millimeter-wave signal. The receiver may be used as part of a heterodyne transceiver which includes a transmitter, and the transmitter may also employ an optical heterodyne structure for generating a millimeter-wave signal for transmission.
US08073343B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a signal detector device includes a first monitor unit, a second monitor unit, and a discrimination unit, wherein the discriminator unit discriminates whether an inputted light includes a signal light on the bases of the first monitor unit for monitoring an intensity of the inputted light and the second monitor unit for monitoring an alternating current component intensity of the inputted light.
US08073334B2
The present invention relates to an optical modulation method and optical modulation system of a wavelength locked Fabry Perot-Laser Diode (FP-LD) by injecting a broadband light source (BLS) using mutual injection of FP-LDs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel modulation technology which embodies a wavelength locked FP-LD capable of being used as an economic light source in an optical network based on a wavelength-division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON). According to the present invention, a light modulation system is suggested comprising: BLS being constructed by mutual injection between two FP-LDs and an optical fiber being used for light transmission; first AWG for filtering light from a plurality of oscillation modes of the BLS into n group; n FP-LDs outputting wavelength locked light which is divided through the first AWG; an encoder being provided at a transmitting end of a subscriber to which the output from the first AWG is transmitted; a circulator outputting light which is inputted through the first AWG; second AWG de-multiplexing WDM signals from the first AWG into n group; and a decoder being provided at a receiving end to which the output from the second AWG is transmitted. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to provide a more economic light source for WDM-PON subscribers by embodying a wavelength locked FP-LD by injecting a low-cost BLS.
US08073327B2
Optical routers are currently unable to do packet switching except by translating the data to electronic data and then back, which is very inefficient. The present invention solves this problem by optically marking and detecting the packet headers or parts of them, translating at most only the headers or parts of them to electronics for making packet switching decisions, and keeping the rest of the packets in optical delay lines, and solving response-time problems. Another optimization described in this invention is improving routing efficiency and bandwidth utilization by grouping together identical data packets from the same source going to the same general area with a multiple list of targets connected to each copy of the data and sent together to the general target area. Another important optimization is a new architecture and principles for routing based on physical geographical IP addresses.
US08073324B2
Systems and methods are providing for aligning an accessory to an electronic device interface. In particular, some accessories such as optical filters and lens require specific alignment to operative properly. Using a first magnet array positioned around the periphery of the interface and a second magnet array positioned within the accessory, a user can position an accessory on the electronic device and rotate the accessory until the magnets of each array exert a force on an opposing magnet of the other array. By distributing the magnets in a manner that includes no repeating segments, only a single alignment of the accessory relative to the interface can allow the magnet arrays to be properly in opposition.
US08073322B1
Embodiments of the disclosed technology are designed for creation of a photographic image comprising an upper and lower portion from two rolls of film whereby the picture is created by simultaneous exposure within a single camera housing, or emulation thereof. This is accomplished in one embodiment by wrapping two rolls of film around a spool, one above the other, such that the rolls pull off the reel in parallel and onto a single take-up spool. Thus, when the shutter opens, both rolls of film are simultaneously exposed, and an image forms half on one and half on the other. In another embodiment, a camera comprises two film chambers (which may be a single chamber with divider adapting the chamber to hold two rolls of film), one above the other, and a roll is loaded into each film chamber. Embodiments may be used to breathe new life into discontinued film formats, such as 70 mm film cameras by using two 35 mm rolls of film.
US08073303B2
A light-concentrating panel is disclosed. The light-concentrating panel comprises a planar light collecting element and a linear light collecting element. The planar light collecting element receives and collects the planar light, and then emits out as linear light. The linear light collecting element receives the linear light. The linear light from the planar collecting element enters the linear light collecting element by passing a planar-linear imaginary plane, which is located between the planar light collecting element and the linear light collecting element. The linear light from the planar collecting element are collected and turned into the spot light by the linear light collecting element.
US08073302B2
In one aspect, the invention described herein provides an enclosure for containing telecommunication lines and/or telecommunication line splices therein. In one embodiment, the enclosure comprises a housing wherein the housing is removeably securable to the base. The base includes an edge wall extending from the bottom plate of the base. A sealing member is disposed on an outer surface of the edge wall. The housing includes an outer side wall and an inner lip spaced apart from the outer side wall. When the housing is secured to the base, the edge wall of the base is inserted between the outer side wall and the inner lip.
US08073301B2
The specification describes an improved optical fiber produced by a hybrid VAD/MCVD process. The core of the fiber is produced using VAD and the inner cladding layer has a depressed index and is produced using MCVD. In preferred embodiments, the optical power envelope is essentially entirely contained in VAD produced core material and the MCVD produced depressed index cladding material. Optical loss is minimized by confining most of the optical power to the VAD core where OH presence is low, as well as by maximizing the optical power in the un-doped silica region. The MCVD substrate tube material is essentially devoid of optical power.
US08073296B2
A virtual image display device which displays a two-dimensional image for viewing a virtual image in a magnified form by a virtual optical system. The virtual image display device includes an optical waveguide to guide, by internal total reflection, parallel pencil groups meeting a condition of internal total reflection, a first reflection volume hologram grating to diffract and reflect the parallel pencil groups incident upon the optical waveguide from outside and traveling in different directions as they are so as to meet the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide and a second reflection volume hologram grating to project the parallel pencil groups guided by internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide as they are from the optical waveguide by diffraction and reflection thereof so as to depart from the condition of internal total reflection inside the optical waveguide. Some of the parallel pencil groups guided through the optical waveguide being totally reflected different numbers of times for a period from external incidence upon the optical waveguide until outgoing from the optical waveguide.
US08073293B2
An optical sensor formed from an optical waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding and a large diameter generally D-shaped portion is disclosed. Axial or compressive strain across the D-shaped cross section may be determined by measuring the change in polarization or birefringence of the light output from the sensor. A layer responsive to a parameter may be disposed on a flat portion of the D-shaped portion of the sensor. The refractive index of the layer changes and/or the layer applies a strain on the sensor in response to the parameter. Changes in the refractive index of the layer alters the light output from the sensor, which is measured over time and correlated to the parameter.
US08073292B2
When transforming a 2.5D video format to a plurality of images viewed from different virtual positions, it can occur that for certain output pixels, no input data is available. Therefore, these output pixels do not have any definite values assigned in their pixel locations. These unassigned pixel values cause artifacts called ‘holes’ in the transformed images. A method of hole filling or assigning pixel values in a region (110) comprising pixel locations of unassigned pixel values in an image (100) is provided. A direction (140) of an image feature (160) relative to a first pixel location (120) is estimated in a first neighborhood (130) adjoining the region (110) of unassigned pixel values. A second set of pixel values is selected from pixel locations in the estimated direction (140) from the first pixel location (120). A third set of pixel values are computed from the second set of pixel values. At least a part of the region (110) comprising pixel locations of unassigned pixels is assigned with pixel values by using the third set of pixel values. The method is useful in reducing the visual distortion in the image compared to known methods.
US08073289B2
The present invention relates to a method of using an image warping software algorithm to perform a real time alteration of a display scene running under the MICROSOFT WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM to mitigate the inherent distortion of a Stark lens cover. The image warping software algorithm alters the display scene and allows an observer to view the display scene as a single unbroken image when the display scene is distributed across multiple display screens. The purpose of the image warping software algorithm is to significantly reduce the distortion observed at the abutting edges of the joined display screens.
US08073287B1
A recognition-by-parts authentication system for determining if a physical test target represented in test image(s) obtained using an imaging device matches a physical training target represented in training image(s). The system includes a multitude of adaptive and robust correlation filters. Each of the adaptive and robust correlation filters is configured to generate correlation-peak-strength and distance-from-origin data using a multitude of related images. Each of the multitude of related images representing a similar part of a larger image. The related images originate from the test image(s) and training image(s).
US08073286B2
Flash image orb artifacts arising from specular reflections from airborne particles are corrected. A specific location is detected within a digital image of a flash image airborne particle artifact (orb). A defined curved plane shape is electronically identified within the image. Luminances are analyzed of pixels within the identified shape to assess whether the shape in fact corresponds to an orb. The digital image is corrected by removing the orb. One or more pixel values are adjusted inside the orb, and one or more edge pixel values of the orb are also adjusted.
US08073280B2
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a feature extracting portion that extracts a feature of a frequency characteristic of an input image, a correction amount calculating portion that calculates a correction amount of the frequency characteristic from the feature extracted by the feature extracting portion, and an image correcting portion that corrects the input image according to the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculating portion. This configuration achieves imperviousness to frequency characteristics of a subject and makes it possible to correct image degradation properly so as to restore an image.
US08073279B2
A method for processing remotely acquired imagery data includes identifying a region of lowest intensity in each of a plurality of different images for a plurality of different spectral bands and estimating first values for upwelling path radiance for each of the different images according to an intensity in the region in each of the different images. The method further includes selecting a visibility value and calculating second values for the upwelling path radiance for each of the different images, each of the second values based on a radiation transfer model, the radiation model generated using the visibility value and the meta-data. The method can also include comparing the first and the second values for the upwelling path radiance for the different images, adjusting the visibility value based on the comparison, and repeating the calculating, the comparing, and the adjusting steps until a termination condition is met.
US08073276B2
A post processing apparatus of a graphics controller to filter decompressed video data. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a buffer and a de-ringing filter. The buffer is configured to read a pixel line of video data from memory. The pixel line includes pixels from adjacent macroblocks of the video data. The de-ringing filter is coupled to the buffer. The de-ringing filter is configured to identify a maximum pixel jump between adjacent pairs of pixels in the pixel line and to apply a de-ringing filter to a pixel within a pixel subset of the pixel line in response to a determination that the pixel is not an edge pixel. The determination that the pixel is not an edge pixel is based on the identified maximum pixel jump.
US08073273B2
A moving image receiving apparatus has a moving image decoding apparatus (303) for decoding received moving image data. The moving image decoding apparatus (303) comprises: a media buffer (401) for storing moving image data; an intra-map memory (402) for storing an intra-map indicating a location of an intrablock included in an interframe of the moving image data; a pseudo intraframe generator (404) that, based on an intra-map stored in the intra-map memory (402), extracts an image of an intrablock included in an interframe in order from a latest interframe accumulated in the media buffer (401), combines images of intrablocks extracted from a plurality of interframes, and thereby generates a pseudo intraframe; and a decoder (406) that starts to decode moving image data, using a pseudo intraframe. The moving image receiving apparatus can thus decode received moving image data from an arbitrary frame.
US08073271B2
A method for reproducing image data in a recording medium, and including selecting one or more camera digital data streams for reproduction, the one or more camera digital data stream including intra coded image data and/or predictive coded image data, the intra coded image data is capable of being a reference image for decoding the predictive coded image data, the predictive coded image data includes identifying information for identifying the reference image among images and is capable of being decoded based on the identified reference image by the identifying information, and decoding and reproducing the one or more camera digital data streams based on the selection.
US08073270B2
An image decoding apparatus is provided, including a parser and an AC decoder. The parser is provided for parsing a bit stream to acquire a first unit. The first unit includes a DC code and a plurality of AC codes respectively corresponding to a DC coefficient and AC coefficients for a first block of the image. The AC decoder generates a plurality of first AC coefficients for the first block by decoding the plurality of AC codes of the first unit, and determines whether the number of the plurality of first AC coefficients exceeds a predetermined parameter. If so, the AC decoder obtains a second unit of the bit stream corresponding to a second block following the first block by performing an AC bypassing process on the first unit. Each AC code comprises a Huffman code and a VLI code.
US08073267B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for transforming between a DCT coefficient and a DWT coefficient. The transforming apparatus includes a first fundamental matrix calculating unit, a second fundamental matrix calculating unit, and a DWT coefficient calculating unit. The first fundamental matrix calculating unit calculates a first fundamental matrix by multiplying an N×N forward DWT transform matrix and an N×N matrix that has diagonal components corresponding to a transpose matrix of an 8×8 DCT transform matrix and the remaining components corresponding to an 8×8 matrix with all elements being zero. The second fundamental matrix calculating unit calculates a second fundamental matrix by multiplying an M×M matrix, which has diagonal components corresponding to an 8×8 DCT transform matrix and the remaining components corresponding to an 8×8 matrix with all elements being zero, and a transpose matrix of an M×M forward DWT transform matrix. The DWT coefficient calculating unit calculates a 2-dimensional 1-level DWT coefficient by multiplying the first fundamental matrix, a 2-dimensional 8×8 DCT transform coefficient, and the second fundamental matrix.
US08073258B2
Systems and methods for use in handwriting recognition in computer algebra are provided. One disclosed method includes receiving handwriting input from a user via a handwriting input device, the handwriting input representing a mathematical expression. The method further includes, at a recognizer, processing the handwriting input to recognize a plurality of candidates and ranking the plurality of candidates to form initial candidate data. The method may further include, at an application program, scanning the plurality of candidates for segments that match application-level criteria, and adjusting a rank of one or more of the plurality of candidates based on the matching, to form a processed candidate list. The method may further include displaying the processed candidate list via a graphical user interface.
US08073256B2
Replacement target image data and image data for replacement are stored, character images of the replacement target image data and character images of the image data for replacement are extracted, and character recognition is performed for each page on character strings contained in the extracted character images. Then, a comparison is performed for each page of the character strings of pages of the replacement target image data and the character strings of pages of the image data for replacement, which have undergone character recognition, and a degree of similarity therebetween is determined. Then, based on a determination result, at least a portion of pages of the replacement target image data is replaced with at least a portion of pages of the image data for replacement.
US08073239B1
A method for inspecting a feature applied to a box blank during manufacture of a paper box, comprising the steps of illuminating at least that portion of box blank including the feature with an illumination source, receiving an image of the illuminated portion of the box blank from at least one optical sensor, varying a characteristic of the illumination source for optically distinguishing between the feature a surface of said portion of the box blank to which the feature is applied, comparing the received image to a stored product profile containing an optimal image of the feature to determine if features in the received image are similar to the features in the stored product profile, and using the comparison to indicate when the box blank does not conform to the product profile.
US08073235B2
A method of evaluating one or more kernels of an ear of maize using digital imagery includes acquiring a digital image of the one or more kernels of the ear of maize, processing the digital image to estimate at least one physical property of the one or more kernels of the ear of maize from the digital image, and evaluating the at least one kernel of maize using the estimate of the at least one physical property of the at least one kernel of maize.
US08073232B2
A method and system for segmenting diaphragm regions in a chest X-ray radiograph is disclosed. The diaphragm regions are segmented based on left and right lung lobe regions and a heart region in the chest X-ray radiograph. A right diaphragm region is segmented in the chest X-ray radiograph based a boundary of the right lung lobe. A left diaphragm region is segmented in the chest X-ray radiograph based on the heart region and a boundary of the left lung lobe.
US08073231B2
A method for detecting tubing in a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part by a control logic processor, obtains radiographic image data for a patient and identifies a region of interest in the radiographic image. A gradient magnitude image of the region of interest is formed and analyzed to identify one or more linear features by defining a band lying substantially within the region of interest and having a center point and repeating a sequence with two or more iterations of assigning a rotation angle for the rotatable band about the center point and computing the ensemble average of gradient magnitude values along each of a plurality of lines extending within the rotatable band at the defined rotation angle, then computing relative magnitudes for the lines. The one or more identified linear features are evaluated according to the results of the ensemble average computing.
US08073224B2
A method for visualizing temporal phenomena and constructing 3D views from a series of medical images includes providing a first time series of digital images of contrast-enhanced blood flow in a patient, each acquired from a same viewing point with a known epipolar geometry, each said image comprising a plurality of intensities associated with an N-dimensional grid of points, calculating one or more time-density curves from said first time series of digital images, each curve indicative of how the intensity at corresponding points in successive images changes over time, and generating one or more overview images from said time density curves using a color coding technique, wherein said each overview image depict how a physical property value changes from said blood flow at selected corresponding points in said first time series of images.
US08073222B2
A system and method for processing mammographic data are described. The system includes a user input/output system adapted and configured to receive from a user a user-defined scanning protocol that identifies the laterality and view type for each mammographic film in a film case to be scanned. A storage system stores the user-defined scanning protocol for subsequent use in scanning film cases. A scanning system scans film cases and generates digitized versions of each mammographic film. A processor then assigns laterality and view types to the digitized versions of the mammographic film according to the user-defined scanning protocol. The system also receives user alterations to stored scanning protocols. The system can also re-assign a case scanned according to one scanning protocol to another scanning protocol in response to a user's instruction to do so. The system processes the digitized versions according to at least one computer aided detection (CAD) algorithm for detecting anatomical abnormalities therein.
US08073212B2
A system and method employing image analysis may provide an objective measure of the state of gingival tissue health. A region of analysis on an image of gingival tissue may be divided into pixels. Each pixel may have an associated color made up of component R, G and B values. A user may obtain an objective measurement of oral cavity soft tissue health by determining an objective measurement of the component color values of a gingival tissue image region and performing statistical analysis on the color values.
US08073210B2
Automated methods for segmenting and smoothing volumes of interest, such as the mediastinal boundary of a lung. Devices and systems configured to perform the automated methods.
US08073202B2
The present invention discloses a method for generating elevation maps or images of a tissue layer/boundary with respect to a fitted reference surface, comprising the steps of finding and segmenting a desired tissue layer/boundary; fitting a smooth reference surface to the segmented tissue layer/boundary; calculating elevations of the same or other tissue layer/boundary relative to the fitted reference surface; and generating maps of elevation relative to the fitted surface. The elevation can be displayed in various ways including three-dimensional surface renderings, topographical contour maps, contour maps, en-face color maps, and en-face grayscale maps. The elevation can also be combined and simultaneously displayed with another tissue layer/boundary dependent set of image data to provide additional information for diagnostics.
US08073190B2
3d textured objects are provided for virtual viewpoint animations. In one aspect, an image of an event is obtained from a camera and an object in the image is automatically detected. For example, the event may be a sports event and the object may be a stationary object which is detected based on a known location, color and shape. A 3d model of the object is combined with a textured 3d model of the event to depict a virtual viewpoint which differs from a viewpoint of the camera. The textured 3d model of the event has texture applied from an image of the event, while the 3d model of the object does not have such texture applied, in one approach. In another aspect, an object in the image such as a participant in a sporting event is represented in the virtual viewpoint by a textured 3d kinematics model.
US08073189B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for selecting an application for processing an electronic image file based upon the content of the image file. Certain embodiments provide an image selector selecting an image from an image storage device, an identification module providing a label to the image based on the content of the image, an application selector choosing at least one application from a plurality of applications to process the image, and a learning unit maintaining a record of image labels and the applications presently and previously processing the images.
US08073186B2
A loudspeaker including a frame, a movable diaphragm that oscillates, and a suspension for mounting the diaphragm to the frame, where the suspension comprises a flexible surround having a substantially enclosed space where at least a portion of the flexible surround is air permeable.
US08073181B2
An electrical equalization module that is second order or higher. The equalization module is used to achieve a desired frequency response for audio headphones. The equalization module includes capacitors or inductors. The equalization module is a bridged-T circuit, parallel RLC circuit, or series RLC circuit.
US08073180B2
Headset includes a signal interface configured for receiving and forwarding electrical signals, a bending-resistant, bendable retaining member, and a functional device attached to the retaining member. Retaining member being bendable and held in a bent position without a restoring force, and is connected to signal interface for positioning functional device. Electrical signal lines provided in retaining member, and running between signal interface and functional device. Fixing element which can be placed on retaining member in various longitudinal positions to secure retaining member. Retaining clip, which can be bent into position, extends between signal interface and fixing element; and. Rear section of retaining member, signal interface, retaining clip, fixing element form a loop, the size of loop being adjustable and changeable by displacing fixing element along retaining member, in use, and loop being configured for receiving an auricle of a user and running at least partially behind auricle, is use.
US08073179B2
A micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone package includes a substrate, a micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone chip mounted on the substrate, and a cover attached to the substrate to cover the micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone chip. The cover is provided with a sound inlet through which the micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone receives external sound. The micro-electro-mechanical-system microphone chip includes a conductive base connected to a constant voltage, a shielding layer supported by the conductive base and connected to the constant voltage, a diaphragm disposed between the conductive base and the shielding layer, and a back plate also disposed between the conductive base and the shielding layer.
US08073177B2
A film-type audio output apparatus includes an audio output device, at least one speaker unit, and at least one film. The at least one speaker unit is positioned at any side of the audio output device. The speaker unit can be an embedded speaker unit. The at least one film can be positioned at any or more places of an inner side and an outer side of the audio output device. When the speaker unit of the audio output device releases sound, the film positioned on the audio output device can get vibration of the sound so that the inside of the audio output device can generate resonance. Thus, the audio output apparatus can generate softer undertone and wider diapason.
US08073169B2
Preserving an audio signal in an audio system includes selecting a first audio signal from a plurality of audio signals. The first audio signal is applied to a first transducer. Mix a portion of the first audio signal with a second audio signal from the plurality of audio signals to provide a mixed audio signal. A gain of the first audio signal that is applied to the first transducer is decreased while a portion of the mixed audio signal is applied to a second transducer to preserve at least a portion of the first audio signal.
US08073168B2
A speaker system is presented. The speaker system has a front speaker driver, a shroud mounted to the front speaker driver substantially encasing a cylinder volume on a rear portion of the front speaker driver. A rear speaker driver having similar dimensions to the front speaker is axially aligned with the front speaker driver and secured at a determined distance behind the front speaker driver and the shroud providing an air gap between the shroud and the rear speaker driver. An acoustically treated enclosure encloses a volume on a rear portion of the rear speaker driver. Electrical connections connect the front speaker driver and the rear speaker driver to terminals for connection to an external driving source such that like excursions occur on the front speaker driver and the rear speaker driver when the external driving source is operable and the front speaker driver functions in an open baffle system.
US08073165B2
A sound wave generator includes one or more carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. At least part of the one or more carbon nanotube film is supported by a supporting element. The one or more carbon nanotube film produces sound by means of the thermoacoustic effect.
US08073161B2
An audio apparatus includes an input, a first resistor, a first capacitor, an amplifier, a second resistor, a second capacitor, and an output. The input is used for inputting audio signals. The first resistor and the amplifier are serially connected to the input; wherein the first resistor is connected to the inverting input of the amplifier and the non-inverting input of the amplifier is connected to ground. The first capacitor has one end connected to a node between the first resistor and the inverting input of the amplifier, the other end connected to ground. The second resistor has one end connected to a node between the first resistor and the inverting input of the amplifier, the other end connected to the output of the amplifier. The second capacitor is connected between the inverting input and the output of the amplifier. The output is connected to the output of the amplifier, for outputting the audio signals after processing.
US08073160B1
Technologies relating to user interfaces for adjusting properties of audio signals and controls of an audio mixer. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes the actions of receiving one or more audio signals including digital audio data; generating one or more audio objects, each representing one or more audio signals; displaying an interface for representing properties of the audio signals including a region where each location within the region represents one or more audio properties relative to a virtual listener; displaying a corresponding representation of each of the one or more audio objects within the interface where the location of a particular audio object representation within the region corresponds to the one or more audio properties; adjusting the properties of the audio signals according to properties of the corresponding audio objects; and determining control parameters of an audio mixer according to properties of the audio signals.
US08073153B2
A listening device for presenting at least one audio signal to a user comprises a first ear piece and a second ear piece, each of the first ear piece and the second ear piece including at least one speaker and each being adapted to block substantially all external sounds from entering an ear of a user. The device further comprises a microphone for sensing a first audio signal and a differential amplifier coupled to the microphone for amplifying the first audio signal. The differential amplifier is coupled to a first electrical ground. A switching arrangement coupled to and receiving a second audio signal from an external audio source and the external audio source having a second electrical ground that is electrically distinct from the first electrical ground. The switching arrangement is further coupled to the differential amplifier, the first ear piece, and the second ear piece, the switching arrangement being adapted to select at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal for transmission to the first ear piece and at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal for transmission to the second ear piece.
US08073152B1
A system, apparatus, and method are provided for automatically provisioning wireless local area network (LAN) access point and/or hotspot information, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider information, and VoIP account information on a service provider's Web page to configure a wireless VoIP headset for use.
US08073132B2
An echo canceller uses an adaptive filter to remove an echo of an incoming far-end signal from an outgoing near-end signal. Filter coefficients are calculated and updated while the far-end signal is active so as to minimize the residual echo. In addition, the far-end signal and near-end signal are sampled to generate simulated far-end and near-end signals, from which substitute filter coefficients are similarly calculated while the far-end signal is silent. When the far-end signal changes from silent to active, the substitute filter coefficients are swapped in as initial values for the filter coefficients, thereby speeding up subsequent convergence of the filter coefficients without significant added computational cost.
US08073130B2
A method and apparatus are provided for prompting an agent of an automatic contact distributor during a customer service contact with a client. The method includes the steps of detecting a state of the customer service contact with the client via operation of a terminal of the agent; selecting a set of possible responses for use by the agent from a plurality of sets of possible responses that are appropriate to the detected state of the customer service contact and visually prompting the agent with the selected set of possible responses.
US08073129B1
In one embodiment, a contact center 100 includes: (a) a queue 208 to contain a pointer to a first contact from a first customer; (b) a selector 220 to select a first agent to service the first contact, the first agent being a suboptimal selection for servicing the first contact and a second agent being an optimal selection for servicing the first contact; and (c) a routing notification agent 232 to notify the first agent that the second agent was the optimal selection for servicing the contact; and/or, after delivery of the first contact to the first agent, notify the second agent that the first agent is the suboptimal selection for servicing the contact and that the second agent is the optimal selection for servicing the contact.
US08073119B2
A telecommunications billing system includes a customer database, a usage database and a billing module. The customer database is configured to store subscription data identifying a pricing plan including an allotment of shared telecommunication units in connection with at least one of a first telecommunications service and a second telecommunications service. The usage database is configured to store a first set of telecommunications service usage data associated with the first telecommunications service and a second set of telecommunications service usage data associated with the second telecommunications service. The billing module is configured to calculate excess charges when a cumulative usage that includes a sum of the first set of telecommunications service usage data and the second set of telecommunications service usage data exceeds the allotment of shared telecommunications units.
US08073117B2
A number of communication entities can be associated to provide one or more special communities. A special rating can be applied to certain communication events of users associated with a special community. Users associated with a special community can be offered various services if they have subscribed to one or more plans. A user who has subscribed to a special community can communicate with other users of the same network or a different network who are also part of the special community for a special charge, such as without charge for example.
US08073116B2
Embodiments of a method for handling disputed items include enabling a user to submit information regarding an item being disputed by the user in an interactive forum. The item may involve a service provided by a service provider for the user, where the information submitted by the user is network-accessible by a client machine of the service provider. The method further includes enabling the service provider to submit information regarding the item being disputed by the user in the interactive forum, where the information submitted by the service provider is network-accessible by a client machine of the user. Such a method also includes enabling a status of the item being disputed to be updated in the interactive forum as the user and the service provider are directed to take turns providing information regarding the disputed item information until a dispute is resolved. Other methods, systems, and devices are also provided.
US08073113B2
In response to receiving a voice message, a telephony service creates an e-mail message directed to the intended recipient of the voice message. The e-mail message includes the voice message as an attachment and an embedded image file. Once the e-mail message has been created, a mail system is utilized to transmit the e-mail message to the intended recipient of the voice message. An e-mail client application program may be used to retrieve the e-mail message and to view the message content. In order to render the message content, the e-mail client application program will transmit a request for the image file. In response to receiving the request for the image file, an indication is transmitted to the telephony service indicating that the intended recipient has heard the voice message. In response to receiving the indication, the telephony service marks the voice message as heard.
US08073112B2
A method includes storing a profile associated with a user of a telephone and, based upon the profile, presenting the user with an option to search, browse, subscribe to, or bookmark content provided by a plurality of IVR content providers.
US08073110B2
A system for location identification in a local area network comprising: a current limited voltage source; a telecommunications outlet; communication cabling connecting the current limited voltage source to the telecommunications outlet; and a location identifier associated with the telecommunications outlet, the location identifier being responsive to a pre-determined voltage level from the current limited voltage source to transmit a multi-bit location data. In one embodiment the multi-bit location data is received at the power sourcing equipment and in another embodiment the multi-bit location data is received at a data terminal equipment connected to the telecommunications outlet.
US08073109B2
A method and system for use in positron emission tomography, wherein a first processor element (234) is configured to reconstruct a plurality of positron annihilation events detected during a positron emission tomography scan using a list-based reconstruction technique to generate first volumetric data. A second reconstructor (226) is configured to reconstruct the plurality of events using a second reconstruction technique to generate second volumetric data for determining an error correction (228), the error correction applied to the first volumetric data to generate corrected volumetric data for generating a human-readable image (234). In one embodiment a multiplicative error correction is performed on the plurality of events, the first processor element (234) reconstructing the corrected plurality of events; and the second volumetric data error correction comprises an additive error correction.
US08073104B2
A system for radiotherapy includes a first imaging system and a second imaging system. The first imaging system generates projection images of an area of interest of an object, and the second imaging system generates portal images of the area of interest of the object synchronously with the generation of the projection images. The radiotherapy system further includes a processing system that receives data associated with the projection images and data associated with the portal images and reconstructs 3D and 4D portal images from the projection images and the portal images.
US08073092B2
An internal integrated circuit clock oscillator is automatically synchronized to an external frequency reference by counting the number of periods of the internal clock oscillator (hereinafter “count”) that occur within a period of a lower frequency external frequency reference then comparing the count to the reference count. When the reference count is greater than the count, the frequency of the internal clock oscillator is increased. When the reference count is less than the count, the frequency of the internal clock oscillator is decreased. When the reference count and the count are substantially the same, the frequency of the internal clock oscillator is not changed.
US08073079B1
A threshold noise-canceling method comprising the steps of: receiving an angle-modulated signal; identifying in the angle-modulated signal potential threshold noise events that exceed a first threshold value; calculating average values of the phase of the angle-modulated signal before and after a potential threshold noise event; identifying every potential threshold noise event as a threshold noise event when the difference between the corresponding before and after average values of the phase is greater than a second threshold value; and canceling out each threshold noise event by adding to the phase of the angle-modulated signal a 2π phase shift of polarity opposite to that of the corresponding threshold noise event.
US08073076B2
An access terminal for processing a communication signal includes a receiver. The receiver is configured to determine a bias point for the communication signal based on a quality measurement of the communication signal, the quality measurement having a carrier-to-interference (C/I) estimate associated therewith. The receiver is further configured to determine a C/I cap for the communication signal using the C/I estimate, the C/I cap being configured to cap a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of the communication signal. In addition, the receiver is configured to process the communication signal using the determined bias point and the determined C/I cap. A method is also provided for processing a communication signal.
US08073074B2
A power control loop includes a feed forward unit 301 coupled to a data source, the feed forward unit 301 processes a signal for transmission, a feedback unit 302 coupled to the feed forward unit 301, the feedback unit 302 generates a feedback signal representative of an output power level of the signal transmitted by the feed forward unit 301, a closed loop power control unit 303 coupled to the feedback unit 302 and to the feed forward unit 301, the closed loop power control unit 303 generates an additive correction signal based on an error signal computed from the feedback signal and data provided by the data source, and a ramp path power control unit 304 coupled to the data source, the ramp path power control unit 304 generates a multiplicative correction signal based on an additive correction signal and data provided by the data source.
US08073072B2
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system can transmit on multiple antennas simultaneously and receive on multiple antennas simultaneously. Unfortunately, because a legacy 802.11a/g device is not able to decode multiple data streams, such a legacy device may “stomp” on a MIMO packet by transmitting before the transmission of the MIMO packet is complete. Therefore, MIMO systems and methods are provided herein to allow legacy devices to decode the length of a MIMO packet and to restrain from transmitting during that period. These MIMO systems and methods are optimized for efficient transmission of MIMO packets.
US08073071B2
A method transmits a block of symbols in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network including a transmitter having a set of transmit antennas and a receiver having a set of receive antennas. A block of symbols is coded with a first code to generate a first block, which is transmitted and received. If a decoding of the first block is incorrect, then block of symbols is coded with the first code and then a second code different than the first code to generate a second block. The second block is transmitted, received and combined with the first block to recover the block of symbols.
US08073069B2
A multi-user MIMO downlink beamforming system with limited feedback (200) is provided to enable preceding for multi-stream transmission, where a channel codeword (ui) and one or more channel quality indicator values (CQIA, CQIB) are computed at the user equipment (201.i) on the basis of maximizing a predetermined SINR performance metric (ρi) which estimates the receive signal-to-noise-ratio (SINR) at the user equipment (201.i). The computed codeword (ui) and CQI values (or differential values related thereto) are quantized and fed back to help the base station (210) which applies a correction to the appropriate CQI value in the course of designing the transmit beamforming vectors w and determining the appropriate modulation and coding level to be used for downlink data transmission.
US08073067B2
Data is transferred in a wireless communication system, such as a wireless spread spectrum communication system. A plurality of transmitting antennas are provided. Data is encoded to produce a plurality of data streams for each of the plurality of codes. The plurality of data streams are spread with the plurality of spreading codes, and for each transmitting antenna, one of the spread data streams of each code together is combined to produce a spread data vector. Each transmitting antenna transmits its spread data vector. The transmitted spread data vectors are received by each of a plurality of receiving antennas as a received version, and the data is recovered using the received versions.
US08073055B2
In a video processing system where motion vectors are estimated for a subset of the blocks of data forming a video frame, and motion vectors are interpolated for the remainder of the blocks of the frame, a method includes determining, for at least at least one block of the current frame for which a motion vector is not estimated (204), whether a block to the left or right has an estimated zero motion vector (206), determining whether the at least one block had an estimated zero motion vector in a previous frame (206), and if both determinations are affirmative (208), providing a predetermined motion vector for the at least one block. The predetermined motion vector may be a zero motion vector (208).
US08073043B2
A method and a corresponding system for characterizing the performance of a clock and data recovery circuit in a digital transceiver is presented. The method comprises phase modulating a jitter-free data signal by a testing signal having added data jitter and measuring the time the clock and data recovery system takes to achieve bit lock of a phase modulated signal. Data uncorrelated timing jitter corresponding to a user defined probability distribution is included in the jitter testing signal. Utilization of a variable probability distribution in generating data uncorrelated timing jitter, as provided by the present invention, allows for greater flexibility and accuracy in clock and data recovery circuit testing and characterization.
US08073035B2
A surface emitting laser configured by laminating on a substrate a lower reflection mirror, an active layer and an upper reflection mirror includes, in a light emitting section of the upper reflection mirror, a structure for controlling reflectance that is configured by a low reflectance region and a convex high reflectance region formed in the central portion of the low reflectance region, and which oscillates at a wavelength of λ, wherein the upper reflection mirror is configured by a multilayer film reflection mirror based on a laminated structure formed by laminating a plurality of layers, and an absorption layer causing band-to-band absorption is provided in the laminated structure.
US08073034B2
The present invention provides an improved mesa vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), in which a first distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mesa of semiconductor material is disposed on a top surface of an active layer. A contact annulus is disposed on a contact region of a top surface of the first DBR mesa, such that an inner circumference of the contact annulus defines a window region of the top surface of the first DBR mesa. A second DBR mesa of dielectric material is disposed on the window region. Whereas the first DBR mesa has a first reflectance at a lasing wavelength that is insufficient to sustain lasing in the active layer, the first DBR mesa and the second DBR mesa together have a total reflectance at the lasing wavelength that is sufficient to sustain lasing in the active layer under the window region.
US08073030B2
A driver circuit for the laser diode is disclosed. The driver circuit has the shunt configuration with a switching transistor connected in parallel to the laser diode to shunt the current flowing in the laser diode. In the present invention, the bias for the switching transistor is varied as the operating temperature of the laser diode. In addition, the gate bias for the switching transistor is compensated for the temperature dependence of the switching transistor.
US08073027B2
A digital pulse shaping module for controlling a pulsed laser oscillator according to a digital input waveform is provided. The pulse shaping module includes a clock generator generating a plurality of phase-related clock signals and a shape generator which outputs a digital shape signal corresponding to the digital input waveform in Double Data Rate in response to the clock signals. A DAC converts the digital shape into an analog shape signal. The analog shape signal may be used to control the current source of a laser seed source or modulators in the laser oscillator shaping a seed light signal. Optionally, the pulse shaping module may also output a gate control signal having a predetermined timing relationship with respect to the digital shape signal.
US08073011B2
Provided is a pseudo base station apparatus which allow a user to certainly acquire log data at a desired timing. A set-up unit 41 sets filter conditions and acquisition conditions. A first log acquisition unit 32A includes a first buffer 32Aa, which stores log data and updates the stored content when the buffer capacity is full, and acquires a first log data that a user wants. A second log acquisition unit 32B includes a detector 32Ba, which detects log data that coincides with the log acquisition conditions among the log data, and a second buffer 32Bb, which stores the log data detected by the detector 32Ba and constantly updates the stored content within the range of the buffer capacity, and acquires a second log data that a user wants. The apparatus acquires the first log data by the first log acquisition unit 32A and, when the log data that coincides with the log acquisition conditions is generated, acquires the second log data by the second log acquisition unit 32B, and transmits the log data to be displayed on a display 43.
US08073005B1
A method and apparatus for configuring signal lines with idle codes is disclosed. According to one embodiment, data transmission system (100) may include encoders (112, 114, 116 and 118) that transmit data over signal line lanes (Lane 0 to Lane n). In an idle state, an encoder (112, 114, 116 and 118) may output one of at least two idle codes (IDLE A and IDLE B). One idle code (IDLE A) may indicate a first lane of a group of lanes. Another idle code (IDLE B) may indicate subsequent lanes of a group of lanes.
US08073004B2
Reducing data transitions in a data transmission interface includes receiving first data and second data, among which the first data is data being transmitted by the data transmission interface and the second data is next data of the first data in a timing sequence. Corresponding data bits of the first data and the second data are compared to compute how many data bits undergo data transition. If the number of data bits undergoing data transition is greater than half the number of data bits the data transmission interface is capable of transmitting simultaneously, an encoding mode is activated to encode the second data, and an encoding result corresponding to the second data is outputted.
US08073001B2
A baseband processing module for use within a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver includes a downlink/uplink interface, TX processing components, a processor, memory, RX processing components, and a turbo decoding module. The RX processing components receive a baseband RX signal from the RF front end, produce a set of IR samples from the baseband RX signal, and transfer the set of IR samples to the memory. The turbo decoding module receives at least one set of IR samples from the memory, forms a turbo code word from the at least one set of IR samples, turbo decodes the turbo code word to produce inbound data, and outputs the inbound data to the downlink/uplink interface. The turbo decoding module performs metric normalization based upon a chosen metric, performs de-rate matching, performs error detection operations, and extracts information from a MAC packet that it produces.
US08072990B1
A method may include receiving, in a first server from a second server, a request for a service of a network by a device; sending, from the first server to the second server, a response to the request for the service to permit access to the service; and sending state information about the response to a third server for storage in a database.
US08072987B1
Source and destination fiber channel devices are coupled to a fiber channel fabric. Hosts communicate with the fiber channel devices using fiber channel addresses. All data is copied from the source fiber channel device to the destination fiber channel device. Source port names and LUN names are exchanged with destination port names and LUN names so that the source device has the destination port and LUN names and the destination device has the source port and LUN names. The fabric reloads its name server database for use by the host(s) so that the database associates the source port and LUN names with the destination port and LUN names and the destination port and LUN names with the source port and LUN names. The names known to the host have not changed and the destination fiber channel device now appears to the host as the source fiber channel device.
US08072985B2
Systems in the current art provide capacity planning for packet networks. These systems require input data that characterizes traffic demands. The demands may be expressed as matrixes that record the number of bytes and packets exchanged between access routers or service nodes for each type-of-service. This invention defines a system and method to calculate these traffic matrixes. Access routers in a service node export flow records to a Record Collector. The flow records are processed to create ingress and egress records that are stored on the Record Collector. This data is uploaded to a Capacity Planning Server at which the traffic matrixes are generated. The egress access router(s) for a flow are determined by searching for matching ingress and egress records. Matching records have identical source and destination addresses. This algorithm requires no knowledge of the complex topology and routing protocols that are used within packet networks. Sampled or non-sampled flow records may be used. The concepts in this invention may also be used to calculate traffic matrixes for virtual private networks (VPNs).
US08072983B2
Methods and apparatuses for dispatching OTN signals are disclosed. The method includes receiving an OTN signal frame; determining in sequence whether each byte in the OTN signal frame is an overhead byte; determining, if the byte is an overhead byte, whether the byte includes frame alignment data; and assigning, if the byte includes frame alignment data, the byte in sequence to a corresponding channel based on a sequence number of an OTN signal frame period, or storing, if the byte does not include frame alignment data, the byte in a buffer; or assigning, if the byte is not an overhead byte, the byte in sequence to a corresponding channel based on a location of the byte in the OTN signal frame.
US08072979B2
The present invention relates to a terminal-to-terminal communication connection control method using an IP network characterized in that: in order for a mobile telephone set to have a telephone communication with a fixed telephone set by way of a mobile communication network and an IP network, the mobile communication network carries out a line connection control based on the common channel signaling system; the IP network establishing a communication path by carrying out a line connection control applying a common channel signaling system to the IP network thereby effecting a telephone communication.
US08072965B2
A network device and a method for its operation are disclosed. The network device has a first interface to a client device to allow reception of client device signals and a second interface to a packet network to allow transmission and reception of modem relay signals. A processor translates between modem relay signals received or transmitted on the second interface and client device signals received or transmitted on the first interface. In one implementation the modem relay originator and the client device are collapsed into one device and the first interface is implemented as a virtual interface.
US08072959B2
The present invention discloses a generating method for short training field in IEEE 802.11n communication systems, mainly comprising the steps of: storing only a first set of time-domain HT-STF sequences in the memory; and deriving a second set of the time-domain HT-STF sequences from the first set of the time-domain HT-STF sequences. The first set of time-domain HT-STF sequences is the time-domain HT-STF sequences either for lower 20 MHz of 40 MHz BW or upper 20 MHz of 40 MHz BW. According to the invention, it is shown that only one set of time-domain HT-STF sequence needs to be stored in the memory. The other three sets of time-domain HT-STF sequence can be generated easily from simple calculation. Therefore, the saving in buffer size to implement all four configurations is significant.
US08072954B2
Described is a technology, such as implemented as social networking groupware application designed for mobile device users, that provides a data mashup service for various data types, including location dependent and mobility-aware data such as GPS location and surrounding maps. A mobile user may track the location and maps of roaming friends at runtime. To this end, a client device joins a squad of client devices that are each capable of communicating with one another over a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection. When in a squad, the client can obtain data for use as mashup information from other client devices in the squad over the WLAN connection (inter-squad). This may include intra-squad data that was obtained from a service based on information that the service received from another squad, e.g., over a WWAN connection.
US08072952B2
A technique for associating clients with APs in an advantageous manner may involve local balancing of clients across APs. This may involve providing instructions to APs to disable client association. Alternatively, this technique may involve load balancing across controllers.
US08072951B2
A method and system for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a utility device (for example, a constant powered meter) sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered and the device listens for advertised routes for one or more networks from the neighbors. The device is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Also illustrated in this invention disclosure is how each device of a class of devices (for example, battery powered meter) finds and associates itself with another device (for example, constant powered meter). The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility networks. The constant powered meter registers itself with the access points and the upstream nodes in the path out of each network. Each upstream node can independently make forwarding decisions on both upstream and downstream packets i.e. choose the next hop according to the best information available to it. The constant powered meter can sense transient link problems, outage problems, and traffic characteristics. It uses the information to find the best route out of and within each network. Each network device thus maintains multi-egress, multi-ingress network routing options both for itself and the device(s) associated with it.
US08072947B2
A mechanism for establishing a wireless communication environment in which a wireless mesh network and a wireless local area network (LAN) are structured in a single plane and communicate with each other. A method of providing mobile station information includes obtaining information of at least one mobile station located in a wireless LAN from among a plurality of wireless LANs using a first frame received through the wireless LAN and transmitting a second frame including the obtained information over a network of mobile nodes including a mobile node that coordinates the wireless LAN.
US08072944B2
An apparatus and method for staggering forward and reverse channel time slot allocation in a wireless communication allows a wireless communication unit, such as a base station processor or a subscriber access unit, to transmit a return message in less than a full time slot interval. Forward and reverse channel allocation occurs as a cycle of time slots occurring at periodic timing intervals. Transmission of a wireless frame carrying a message payload occurs at the beginning of the time slot. Since the forward and reverse channel allocation cycles need not be concurrent, or in phase, these cycles may be staggered with respect to each other. By staggering the forward and reverse channel allocation timing interval, the return message is sent after only a portion of a full timing interval, rather than being delayed up to one complete timing interval.
US08072941B2
Briefly, according to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a wireless communication system and a method to receive by a base station from a first mobile station a first chain of data symbols transmitted by at least two antennas and having a first transmit diversity, to receive from a second mobile station a second chain of data symbols transmitted by at least two antennas and having a second transmit diversity. Both first and second chains of data symbols are transmitted from the first and second mobile stations at the same time, modulated according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme and encoded by a space time block codes scheme.
US08072934B2
A method of controlling the allocation of transmission resources to wireless terminals within a radio access network, which resources are required for the provision of an IP Multimedia service to the terminals. The method comprises, in the event of a requirement to change the allocation of transmission resources to a given wireless terminal, sending a resource allocation request from a control node of the IP Multimedia Subsystem to the radio access network, the request causing a resource control node of the radio access network to change the allocation of access network resources to the wireless terminal.
US08072932B2
A method for physical layer random access in wideband TDD mobile communication system is disclosed, and the method comprises: receiving the system broadcast message of the cell, obtaining the configuration information of the frequency band in frequency domain in the UpPTS time slot of the cell; and the terminal sends random access sequences to the BS in the UpPTS time slot according to the configuration information of the frequency band in the UpPTS time slot. The configuration information of the frequency band in frequency domain in the UpPTS time slot comprises the information about the frequency band number that the total bandwidth used is divided in the UpPTS time slot, the information about the bandwidth size of each frequency band, and the information about the position of the frequency point. Phod, device and terminal for physical layer random access in wideband TDD mobile communication system provided in the present invention can use the frequency bands whose time slots are different to perform network access, which can reduce the competition and collision probability when sending random access sequences, and can realize an efficient random access procedure.
US08072930B2
A communication unit comprises a receiver for receiving a message sent on an allocation channel, packet identifying logic, capable of identifying a data type of the received message, operably coupled to buffer logic for buffering data packets to be sent to the second communication unit. In an active mode of operation, the receiver of the communication unit is capable of intermittently receiving the message sent on the allocation channel and transition to continuously receive the message sent on the allocation channel in response to either: the buffer logic identifying that data packets are to be transferred to the second communication unit; or the packet identifying logic receiving a communication resource allocation message and identifying resource allocation data therein.
US08072926B1
A user may access a website via a mobile channel using a mobile device. As the user is logged into the website, the user may call or otherwise contact a representative via another communications channel with the mobile device or another user device, such as a phone or a user computing device or another mobile device. An emulator engine may determine the type of mobile device that the user is using to access the website via the mobile channel. An emulator for the mobile device that has been determined may be retrieved from an emulator library and provided to the representative computing device. The representative may view the same user interface on the representative computing device that the user sees on the mobile device.
US08072923B2
A packet radio network comprising a gateway support node, a serving support node and a radio network controller provides a facility for communicating internet packets with mobile user equipment. The gateway support node provides a packet data protocol context for controlling communication of internet packets between the packet radio network and mobile user equipment via a packet communications bearer. The serving support node connected to the gateway support node controls communications between the gateway support node and mobile user equipment forming the packet communications bearer. The radio network part provides a radio access bearer for communicating internet packets via a radio access interface with mobile user equipment. In response to a request message, the serving support node with the gateway support node establishes a common packet data protocol context with a packet communications bearer to communicate packets. The common packet communications bearer is shared with another communications session and formed by gateway support node and serving support node using a common tunnelling protocol bearer.
US08072921B2
System and method for reducing acquisition time of packets in a FDD system, such as a spread-spectrum or OFDM system. A remote unit transmits a multi-tone packet. The multi-tone packet has a plurality of tones with each tone having a different power level, and at a different frequency, from other tones in the plurality of tones. The base station receives the multi-tone packet. The base station compares the plurality of tones from the received multi-tone packet to a threshold or other selection criteria. A tone is selected from the plurality of tones meeting desired selection criteria. Based on the selected tone, the base station transmits a BS packet with the BS packet having power information from the power level of the selected tone.
US08072911B2
The invention relates to a method in a first communication device of receiving control information over a radio channel from a second communication device. The first communication device receives a subframe over the radio channel, and determines whether the subframe is a downlink subframe with downlink assignment intended for the first communication device by reading data in the subframe. That being the case, the first communication device decodes data within the subframe, and determines whether any data packet being sent from the second communication device before the subframe has been missed by analyzing an indicator associated to the subframe in the data. The indicator provides knowledge about previous downlink subframes with downlink assignment intended for the first communication device.
US08072908B2
The designated forwarding device functionality for forwarding of packets originated on a broadcast link among layer 2 is shared among multiple forwarding devices of different adjacency networks. As these networks do not form adjacencies, the forwarding devices do not natively participate in a same spanning tree for determining how to forward packets, and a designated forwarding device is used for forwarding packets originated on the common broadcast link. Distributing the role of a designated forwarding device among multiple of the forwarding devices provides a means for more efficiently forwarding packets to their destinations.
US08072904B2
A communication network apparatus and method for routing communication signals from a source device to a receiving device. The apparatus performs only local processing on communication signals to thereby increase the speed of processing the signals. A plurality of the processing nodes are combined into a plurality of sub-networks that comprise the network apparatus. Each processing node of a sub-network need only process address information pertaining to the node's current layer, one layer above it, if any, and one layer below it, if any. Additionally, each processing node has associated communication signal frequencies/wavelengths that identify the processing node as the intended recipient of the communication signal. When a communication signal having a carrier signal with a frequency/wavelength corresponding to the processing node is received, the processing node demodulates the carrier signal and forwards the communication signal data to a processing module used to process address information to determine how to route the communication signal through the network. Communication signals may be assigned “express” frequencies/wavelengths, in which case, all of the processing nodes, except the destination processing node, of the network pass the communication signal without performing processing on the communication signal.
US08072901B1
A technique efficiently sends probe packets from a source to a target in a destination prefix over two or more paths of a computer network. According to the novel technique, the source, e.g., configured for optimized edge routing (OER), sends probe packets (probes) over all available paths (exits) to the target in the destination prefix in order to select a preferred path based on received responses to the probes, e.g., according to one or more policies. Once the preferred path is selected, the source sends probes to that target only over the preferred path until a trigger occurs, such as, e.g., an out of policy (OOP) event, a policy change, or an optional timer-based trigger. Upon being triggered, the source again probes all paths to reselect the preferred path.
US08072898B2
A method is proposed for managing a transmission of data streams on a transport channel of a tunnel, the transmission of each stream being performed on the transport channel according to a transport protocol scheduled by packets and with acknowledgment, the tunnel being implemented between a first and a second tunnel end-point connected respectively to a first and a second sub-network, each stream being transmitted from a sender device to a receiver device, one device among the sender device and the receiver device being connected to the first sub-network and the other to the second sub-network. The method is performed by the first tunnel end-point and comprises the following steps: detecting a loss of packet on the transport channel of the tunnel; identifying at least one stream having at least one packet blocked on the transport channel of the tunnel by the loss; for at least one identified stream, generating and transmitting at least one acknowledgment to the sender device that has transmitted, on the tunnel, a packet blocked by said loss.
US08072894B2
A network device may include logic configured to receive a packet from a packet forwarding engine, create a flow ID for the packet, determine whether the flow ID matches one of a plurality of flow IDs in a table, determine whether the packet is associated with a flow to be sampled, sample the packet and additional packets associated with the flow that are received from the packet forwarding engine when the flow is to be sampled and transmit the flow ID and the sampled packets via a switch to an interface.
US08072886B2
Various aspects of a method and system for transmission control protocol (TCP) traffic smoothing are presented. Traffic smoothing may comprise a method for controlling data transmission in a communications system that further comprises scheduling the timing of transmission of information from a TCP offload engine (TOE) based on a traffic profile. Traffic smoothing may comprise transmitting information from a TOE at a rate that is either greater than, approximately equal to, or less than, the rate at which the information was generated. Some conventional network interface cards (NIC) that utilize TOEs may not provide a mechanism that enables traffic shaping. By not providing a mechanism for traffic shaping, there may be a greater probability of lost packets in the network.
US08072884B2
A method and system for initiating selective flow control within a network multiplexer. Each port of a network multiplexer is associated with high and low threshold values, as well as a list of indications of ports that have requested the port to initiate flow control and a list of indications of ports which the port has requested to initiate flow control. A port that, by queuing a message descriptor to the transmit queue of a destination port, causes the number of message descriptors queued to the transmit queue of a destination port to equal or exceed its high threshold, is flow controlled by the destination port. When the number of message descriptors queued to the transmit queue of a destination port that previously equaled or exceeded the high threshold falls below the low threshold, all ports flow controlled by the destination ports are released from flow control.
US08072883B2
An Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) distance acceleration device accelerates data transfers between an iSCSI initiator and an iSCSI target over a network, such as the Internet or a wide area network (WAN). The acceleration device resides in a communication path between the iSCSI initiator and the iSCSI target. The acceleration device receives an iSCSI protocol data unit (PDU) targeted to the iSCSI target by the iSCSI initiator. The acceleration device forwards the iSCSI PDU over the network to the iSCSI target and transmits a response to the iSCSI PDU that anticipates a response to be generated by the iSCSI target upon receiving the iSCSI PDU.
US08072875B2
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a MAP may be used by a base station to allocate network users for one or more users in a wireless network using persistent scheduling. In the event one or more of the users does not successfully receive a MAP transmitted by the base station, the user may stop transmitting and/or receiving in order to minimize and/or avoid collision with transmissions from other users. The affected user may transmit an indication of the error in receiving the MAP to the base station, wherein the base station may retransmit the previously transmitted MAP to the affected user that did not successfully receive the MAP from the origination transmission.
US08072872B2
The optical storage medium comprises a substrate layer, a data layer having a pit/land data structure with data arranged in tracks on the substrate layer, and a nonlinear layer with a super-resolution structure disposed on the data layer, wherein a land having a size below the diffraction limit is inverted to a pit and enclosed by auxiliary lands, and a pit having a size below the diffraction limit is inverted to a land and enclosed by auxiliary pits. The optical storage medium is in particular a read-only optical disc comprising a phase-change material, for example AgInSbTe, for providing the super-resolution effect.
US08072865B2
A multi-layered high-density recording medium and an optical power adjusting method therefor. A multi-layered high-density recording medium includes multiple recording layers each of which contains optical power related information for all layers. An optical power adjusting method reading first optical power related information for all layers from a multi-layered optical disk placed in a disk player, storing the read information in another storage device, and making a current optical power apparatus to a moved layer without necessarily having to access the multi-layered optical disk by referring to the stored optical power related information when moving to another layer during record or reproduction.
US08072857B2
An optical disc writing condition determining method according to the present invention includes the steps of: performing a first test write operation at a low speed on an inner test track; setting condition A for performing a write operation at the low speed on the inner test track based on a result of the first test write operation; performing a second test write operation at the low speed on an outer test track; setting condition B for performing a write operation at the low speed on the outer test track based on a result of the second test write operation; performing a third test write operation at a high speed on the outer test track; setting condition C for performing a write operation at the high speed on the outer test track based on a result of the third test write operation; and calculating either a difference between the conditions A and B or a ratio of the condition B to the condition A and modifying the condition C based on the difference or the ratio, thereby determining writing condition D for performing a write operation at the high speed on user data tracks.
US08072854B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus. The apparatus includes a pick-up unit, such as an optical pick-up unit, a wobble channel and a defect detector. The pick-up unit generates a push-pull signal corresponding to a wobbled track of a storage medium. The wobble channel includes circuits to receive the push-pull signal, obtain a wobble signal from the push-pull signal, and calculate a wobble amplitude metric based on the wobble signal. The defect detector compares the wobble amplitude metric to a threshold to detect wobble defects.
US08072849B2
An optical integrated unit according to the present invention is an optical integrated unit, including: a semiconductor laser acting as a light source; at least one light-receiving element; a light-separating section for separating light emitted by the semiconductor laser from light reflected by an optical disc and for reflecting the light reflected by the optical disc so that the light reflected by the optical disc is directed to the light-receiving element; and a support substrate, wherein a second support substrate has a concave shape, the light-separating section is constituted of at least three prisms, the prisms positioned at both ends of the light-separating section are respectively attached to two protruding sections of the concave shape of the second support substrate, and the light-receiving element is attached to the light-separating section via a cover glass. As a result, it is possible to solve such a problem that the light-receiving element cannot be adjusted with high accuracy because of a thickness error of the support substrate or an intermediate substrate in conventional techniques.
US08072845B2
An electric wave receiving apparatus obtains the received data in a partial period, and judges the timing of the received data in which partial data has been received by comparing the received data with the partial data. Thereby, the electric wave receiving apparatus performs correction of the second data of timing data.
US08072839B2
An acoustic camera includes an acoustic transmitter disposed at one longitudinal end of a housing. The transmitter has a convex radiating surface. A diameter of the transmitter is about four times a wavelength of acoustic energy emitted by the transmitter. A plurality of acoustic receivers is disposed at spaced locations in a pattern extending laterally from the housing. A signal processor is in signal communication with the acoustic receivers. The signal processor is configured to cause the acoustic receivers to be sensitive along steered beams. The signal processor is configured to cause an end of the steered beams to move through a selected pattern within a beam width of the acoustic energy emitted by the acoustic transmitter. The signal processor is configured to operate a visual display device to generate a visual representation corresponding to acoustic energy detected by the acoustic receivers. A visual display device is in signal communication with the signal processor.
US08072832B2
An electronic equipment system includes a semiconductor integrated circuit having a nonvolatile memory storing information on a characteristic of the semiconductor integrated circuit; and a controller configured to control the semiconductor integrated circuit. The controller has a function of adjusting an access parameter to the semiconductor integrated circuit based on the information stored in the nonvolatile memory.
US08072831B2
A fuse element reading circuit including a first fuse element having a resistance which differs in accordance with whether the first fuse element is in a blown state or an unblown state, a reference voltage output circuit unit that outputs a reference voltage that differs in accordance with a normal mode or a test mode, and a voltage comparison circuit unit that compares a read voltage corresponding to the resistance of the first fuse element with the reference voltage output from the reference voltage output circuit unit.
US08072829B2
Various embodiments for implementing refresh mechanisms in dynamic semiconductor memories that allow simultaneous read/write and refresh operations. In one embodiment, the invention provides a synchronous multi-bank dynamic memory circuit that employs a flag to indicate a refresh mode of operation wherein refresh operation can occur in the same bank at the same time as normal access for read/write operation. In a specific embodiment, to resolve conflicts between addresses, an address comparator compares the address for normal access to the address for refresh operation. In case of a match between the two addresses, the invention cancels the refresh operation at that array and allows the normal access to proceed.
US08072816B2
A non-volatile memory device has the pages of a certain memory block reallocated to other blocks in order to increase decrease disturb and increase reliability. Each of the reallocation blocks that contain the reallocated pages from the desired memory block are coupled to a wordline driver. These wordline drivers have a subset of the global wordlines as inputs. The desired wordline driver is selected by an appropriate select signal from a block decoder and an indication on an appropriate global wordline. This causes the wordline driver to generate a local wordline to the desired block with the reallocated page to be accessed.
US08072811B2
A NOR flash nonvolatile memory device provides the memory cell size and a low current program process of a NAND flash nonvolatile memory device and the fast, asynchronous random access of a NOR flash nonvolatile memory device. The NOR flash nonvolatile memory device has an array of NOR flash nonvolatile memory circuits that includes charge retaining transistors serially connected in a NAND string such that at least one of the charge retaining transistors functions as a select gate transistor to prevent leakage current through the charge retaining transistors when the charge retaining transistors is not selected for reading. The topmost charge retaining transistor's drain is connected to a bit line parallel to the charge retaining transistors and the bottommost charge retaining transistor's source is connected to a source line and is parallel to the bit line. The charge retaining transistors are programmed and erased with a Fowler-Nordheim tunneling process.
US08072805B2
A method and system of finding a read voltage for a flash memory is disclosed. Data are read from array cells of the flash memory with a default read voltage, and a recorded state bit number that is recorded during programming is also read. Determine an optimal read voltage if the readout data do not pass the error correction control (ECC). Data are then re-read from the array cells of the flash memory with the determined optimal read voltage.
US08072798B2
The semiconductor memory device includes: an inverter pair of a cross-coupled first and second inverters; a first transfer transistor including a front gate and a back gate connected to a first node to which an output terminal of the first inverter and an input terminal of the second inverter are connected; a second transfer transistor including a front gate and a back gate connected to a second node to which an output terminal of the second inverter and an input terminal of the first inverter are connected; a driver transistor whose gate is connected to the second node; and a read transistor including a front gate, a back gate connected to the second node, and a current path whose one end is connected to one end of a current path of the driver transistor.
US08072797B2
A Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell without dedicated access transistors is described. The SRAM cell comprises a plurality of transistors configured to provide at least a pair of storage nodes for storing complementary logic values represented by corresponding voltages. The transistors comprise at least one bitline transistor, at least on wordline transistor and at least two supply transistors. The bitline transistor is configured to selectively couple one of the storage nodes to at least one corresponding bitline, the bitline for being shared by SRAM cells in one of a common row or column. The wordline transistor is configured to selectively couple another of the storage nodes to at least one corresponding wordline, the wordline for being shared by SRAM cells in the other of the common row or column. The supply transistors are configured to selectively couple corresponding ones of the storage nodes to a supply voltage.
US08072796B2
Memory employing a plurality of five-transistor memory bit cells in a memory matrix and a power supply control circuit that is configured to provide a simultaneous full clear to all of the memory bit cells is described herein.
US08072791B2
A method of making a nonvolatile memory device includes forming a first electrode, forming at least one nonvolatile memory cell comprising a silicon, germanium or silicon-germanium diode, doping the diode with at least one of nitrogen or carbon, and forming a second electrode over the at least one nonvolatile memory cell.
US08072785B2
A switching power supply unit is provided, which may supply stable output while manufacturing cost is held down. In a smoothing circuit, a magnetic flux in a first circular magnetic path, a magnetic flux in a second circular magnetic path, a magnetic flux generated by a current flowing through a choke coil, and a magnetic flux generated by a current flowing through another choke coil are shared by one another in the inside of a common magnetic core. A current flowing through two choke coils and a current flowing through different, two choke coils are balanced, and thus stabilized. Moreover, in the smoothing circuit, since such a balanced state is automatically kept, a characteristic value of an element or the like need not be adjusted.
US08072770B2
Various exemplary embodiments provide components, devices, and methods of semiconductor packaging. The disclosed packaging component can include a mold material disposed around a lead frame and at least an integrated circuit (IC), wherein the IC is electrically connected with one side of the lead frame. The opposite side of the lead frame including, for example, lead segments, can be exposed from the mold material. A variety of other components, devices, and packages can then be assembled, e.g., over the disclosed packaging component, through the exposed regions so as to improve packaging densities.
US08072765B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate and a second substrate opposed thereto arranged so that the inner surfaces thereof oppose each other with an intermediate sealing member and a liquid crystal interposed in the internal space, and a flexible printed circuit board having an input/output terminals connected thereto. A circuit board on which a plurality of electronic components required for operating the liquid crystal display apparatus are mounted on the flexible printed circuit board.
US08072764B2
Multi-part substrate arrangements that yield low profile configurations are disclosed. One aspect pertains to portable electronic devices are able to have low profiles through use of multi-part substrate arrangements. Another aspect pertains to methods for assembling two or more separate substrates into a multi-part substrate. By use of multi-part substrate arrangements according to the invention, portable electronic devices are able to be thinner and more compact.
US08072753B2
A computer system includes a cover and a chassis. The chassis includes a bottom plate parallel to the cover, a first side plate, and a second side plate corresponding to the first side plate. A motherboard and a power supply are fixed on the bottom plate. The power supply is adjacent to the first side plate. The motherboard includes a first heat generating component. The power supply includes a first fan module. A second fan module is secured on the first heat generating component. A first airflow inlet is defined in the first fan module. A second airflow inlet is defined in the second fan module. The first and second airflow inlets are perpendicular to the bottom plate. A third airflow inlet is defined in the cover. The second airflow inlet is located between the first heat generating component and the second side plate.
US08072749B1
A cover assembly for a portable electronic device is described. The cover assembly has a cover comprising: two cover extensions extending substantially perpendicular from the cover. Each of the two cover extensions has an abutment towards a center. An angular spring with two wings and two upwards arcuate ends is included in the cover assembly, each of the wings forming a bias angle relative to a line between the two ends. Two housing extensions extend from a surface of the portable electronic device, each of the housing extensions has a protrusion mating the corresponding abutment, and a guide having a form substantially corresponding to the upwards arcuate end. When a force is applied to the center of the angular spring, the bias angle decreases and the upwards arcuate ends are urged upwards, thereby causing the abutments moving outwards, and unlocking the protrusions.
US08072747B2
A fastening device includes a cover, an actuating member rotatably attached on the cover, and a locking member disposed on the cover and engaging with the actuating member. The cover includes a hook capable of being locked and unlocked on an electronic device, and defines a through hole near the hook and the actuating member capable of rotating around a rotating center. The actuating member is locked on the cover while being pushed. The locking member including a locking portion capable of passing through the through hole and inserting into the electronic device to lock the hook on the electronic device and withdrawing from the through hole when the actuating member is pushed to rotate.
US08072746B2
This invention provides an electronic device capable of being connected with an external device. The electronic device includes a first connecting port, an adapting element, and a casing. The first connecting port is disposed at the casing. The adapting element has a second connecting port and a connector. The size of the second connecting port is greater than that of the first connecting port. The casing has a containing space for containing the adapting element. When the electronic device is connected with the external device, the adapting element is separated from the containing space, the connector is connected with the first connecting port, and the second connecting port is connected with the external device.
US08072745B2
A retaining apparatus for locking a disk drive within a bracket is disclosed. The retaining apparatus includes a latch member and a securing member. The latch member includes a securing portion and a locking portion capable of locking the disk drive in the bracket. A resisting piece is formed on the securing member to resist against the latch member to move towards the bracket to block the disk drive from moving out of the bracket.
US08072737B2
A device for use in an environment where flammable gases may be present, the device including a sealed water proof exterior housing, and an interior explosion proof, sealed housing made of polycarbonate, mounted inside the exterior water proof housing. An electrical component is inside the interior sealed housing, and an intrinsically safe battery is outside of the interior housing but electrically connected to the component inside the interior housing. The battery is also mounted inside the exterior housing.
US08072736B2
An electrical power distribution assembly for providing enhanced access includes a first member configured to be mounted to a fixed structure. A second member is configured to receive electrical components for interconnection to electrical systems of a predetermined configuration. The second member is movably connected to the first member between a first position and a second position. The movable connection providing enhanced access of electrical components disposed on the second member around the fixed structure when the second member is disposed in the second position.
US08072728B2
An overvoltage protection device for protection of an electrical or electronic device, with a housing, with input and output terminals for electrical conductors, with line paths which each connect one input terminal to one output terminal, with first arresters which are used for symmetrical protection between the active conductors and with second arresters which are used for asymmetrical protection between the individual conductors and the ground potential, the individual first arresters each being connected by their first terminal to a line path and by their second terminal to a common connecting point so that they are at a common reference potential and symmetrical protection between two conductors is implemented by two first arresters located in series to one another. The overvoltage protection device can also be used in signal circuits with several signal conductors and can guarantee reliable protection of a connected electrical or electronic device against overvoltages.
US08072716B2
An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) device prevents malfunction of an electric circuit and checks the state of the circuit and connection state of lines. One of a phase conductor line and a neutral conductor line is wound around a transformer which converts a current difference flowing in the AC line into voltage to detect whether an arc fault occurs, and a voltage induced by the wound line is rectified into direct-current and is converted into constant voltage to obtain power for the AFCI. An arc wave generator includes a rectifier to generate a rectified signal; a drop resistor which drops the voltage of the rectified signal to generate a voltage-dropped signal; and a mono-stable multivibrator which adjusts a voltage level and a pulse width of the voltage-dropped signal and generates a pulse signal that is used to generate a false arc for testing the AFCI.
US08072711B1
A chemical or corrosive environment sensing system, comprising a giant magnetoresistive effect device having at least one environmentally exposed film, and a device, for sensing changes in the GMR effect device resulting from environmental exposure of the at least one environmentally exposed film. The film may be reversibly or irreversibly altered by the exposure, and is preferably nano-textured to alter a reaction rate and surface area. The sensor may be enzyme linked, that is, respond to an enzyme reaction product rather than the substrate directly. The GMR property altered and/or sensed may be, for example, a lower or upper switching field, an electrical resistance, and the GMR value. The device may be used as a sensor or as part of a control system.
US08072698B2
A support apparatus supporting a lens barrel includes an annular fitting member, constructed by cutting a metal die case blank, to form an inner peripheral groove therein, and annular sheets disposed on front and rear cut surfaces of the inner peripheral groove in a direction of an optical axis. A plurality of engaging members provided on an outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel are positioned between the annular sheets disposed in the inner peripheral groove.
US08072690B2
In order from a magnification side of the projection zoom lens system, five lens groups are arranged. The fourth lens group includes, in order from the magnification side, a negative lens having at least one aspheric surface, a positive lens, a negative lens concave toward the magnification side, a positive lens convex toward the reduction side, and a positive lens. The fifth lens group is formed of one lens, and is configured so that a ratio of a focal length of the fifth lens group to a focal length of the whole system at a wide-angle end is within a numerical range of 3 to 8.
US08072683B2
Cartesian polarizers utilizing liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are provided for use as laser protection filters in optical pick-up units. The LCPs are photo-aligned and cross-linked into a polymer host to provide a durable filter. According to one embodiment, the LCP molecules exhibit a cholesteric phase and are coupled to one or more quarter-wave retarders. According to another embodiment, the LCP molecules are used to form a multi-layer stack using the giant-birefringence optics effect.
US08072682B2
A transmissive screen includes, sequentially from a projection side, a Fresnel lens having a condensing function, a diffusion plate for diffusing incident light, and a front-surface protective panel disposed facing the diffusion plate across an air flow layer of a predetermined interval. The front-surface protective panel partially absorbs visible light, and the visible light absorbance of the front-surface protective panel is made the highest compared with the Fresnel lens and the diffusion plate.
US08072672B2
The thermally switched reflective optical shutter is a self-regulating “switchable mirror” device that reflects up to 100% of incident radiant energy above a threshold temperature, and reflects up to 50% of incident radiant energy below a threshold temperature. Control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating value of the device, and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The device can be used as a construction material to efficiently regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The device has unique aesthetic optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls. The device can be tailored to transmit sufficient visible light to see through in both the transparent and reflective states, while still providing significant control over the total energy transmission across the device.
US08072666B2
An optical scanning device includes an oscillating mirror portion having a reflection surface, and a frame portion holding the oscillating mirror portion. The optical scanning device reflects an incident optical flux by the reflection surface so as to convert the incident optical flux into a scanned optical flux. The optical scanning device further includes a reflection portion having a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface which are arranged in substantially V-shaped inclined surfaces. The first reflection surface reflects the incident optical flux and radiates the reflected light toward the oscillating mirror portion. The second reflection surface receives the reflected light from the oscillating mirror portion and radiates the reflected light as the scanned optical flux.
US08072658B2
Since many ICC profile generation tools print and measure a large number of color patches and then make profile generation calculations, profile re-generation requires a long time. Hence, patch data are generated, calorimetric values corresponding to the patch data are obtained. Reference values of an Lab color space, which correspond to the patch data, are calculated using a conversion lookup table from a CMYK color space to the Lab color space, which is included in a profile. A conversion lookup table from the Lab color space to the CMYK color space, which is included in the profile, is updated using the calorimetric values and reference values.
US08072657B2
It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a scanning device that includes a first imaging device adapted to convert contents of a first surface of a medium to a digital representation of the contents of the first surface of the medium, a scanning path adapted to guide the medium adjacent to the first imaging device, a first output path for guiding the medium to a first output tray, the first output path connected to the scanning path, a second output path for guiding the medium to a second output tray, the second output path connected to the scanning path, and a diverter guide adapted to direct the medium from the scanning path to one of the first output path and the second output path.
US08072654B2
Systems and methods using an orientation/position-sensitive calibration pattern for three-dimensional calibration of an imaging system, such as one used in a process for scanning documents are disclosed. The method generally includes positioning the pattern on a support, capturing images using cameras to be calibrated, each image containing at least a unique orientation and position sensitive sub-area of the pattern, determining a set of coordinate pairs of corresponding points in the image and the pattern for each image utilizing image data and pattern information, and performing optimization utilizing the sets of coordinate pairs to calibrate relative position, orientation, zoom, and/or lens distortion, etc. of each camera so as to construct a three-dimensional camera calibration model. The pattern is generally comprised of overlapping sub-areas of a minimum portion of the pattern.
US08072650B1
Systems and methods for automatically focusing an image capture device on a page of a document object. A predetermined light pattern is projected onto the page being imaged. The light pattern varies as a function of the separation of the page being imaged from the end page. The light pattern projected onto the page being imaged is sensed. Based on the sensed light pattern, the image capture device is focused on the page being imaged.
US08072647B2
A color conversion apparatus receives first image data including first red-green-blue color data in which the possible values of the red, green, and blue components extend beyond the range from 0% to 100%. The first color data are analyzed into first hue region data, the magnitudes of which are adjusted according to the brightness and/or saturation of the first color data to obtain second and third hue region data. The gamut of colors of the first image data is detected, and matrix coefficients are generated according to the detected gamut. The matrix coefficients are used to perform a matrix operation on the second and third hue region data to obtain second color data, thereby converting the first image data to second image data with conversion characteristics appropriate for the gamut of colors of the first image data.
US08072646B2
An apparatus (100) and method (200) that controls color of a clear coated image on media is disclosed. The apparatus may include a controller (110) configured to control operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may include a memory (120) coupled to the controller. The memory may include reference color information corresponding to a desired color of an output image. The apparatus may include a front end (130) configured to provide a marking engine control signal corresponding to the desired color of the output image. The apparatus may include a color marking engine (140) coupled to the front end, where the color marking engine can be configured to generate an image on media responsive to the marking engine control signal using image output settings. The apparatus may include a clear coat finisher (150) configured to coat the image on the media with a clear coat to create a clear coated image on the media. The apparatus may include a sensor (160) configured to measure color attributes of the clear coated image and configured to provide color information of the clear coated image. The controller can be configured to determine a difference between the color information of the clear coated image and the reference color information and can be configured to adjust the image output settings according to the difference between the color information and the reference color information to achieve adjusted image output settings.
US08072643B2
An image processing apparatus (10) includes a bus (B1) and a bus (B2). A series of processes for creating YUV image data for HDTV is executed by means of a bus (B1) and an SDRAM (32). Furthermore, a series of processes for creating YUV image data for LCD monitor (66) is executed by means of a bus (B3) and an SDRAM (54). Here, the resolution of the YUV image data for HDTV is higher than that of the YUV image data for LCD monitor. That is, the bus (B1) and the SDRAM (32) are utilized for high-resolution moving image data processing, and the bus (B3) and the SDRAM 54 are utilized for low-resolution moving image data processing.
US08072642B2
A system and method of scheduling print jobs is provided. In particular, photograph print jobs at a printing facility are scheduled by a scheduling application program which takes into account at least one parameter of each print order as the orders are received, including the time that the order is to be filled and the type of paper to be used.
US08072637B2
A multiple integrated machine system (hereafter referred to as “MIMS”) capable of performing as at least two or more digital machines. The MIMS comprises two or more digital machine elements controlled by the same operating system software. Each of the digital machine elements includes hardware portions and software portions and each digital machine element is capable of performing as part of one of the digital machines. Each of the digital machine elements is different. A digital machine element grouping control unit is also provided. The digital machine element grouping control unit automatically and operatively connects predetermined digital machine elements in a first combination to form a first digital machine upon receipt of a first digital machine selection, and automatically and operatively connects predetermined digital machine elements in a second combination to form a second digital machine upon receipt of a second digital machine selection. The first combination of predetermined digital machine elements is different from the second combination of digital machine elements. A plurality of subgroup function control units are provided with each subgroup function control unit being associated with one of the first digital machine and the second digital machine for selecting for use one or more function modes to be performed by the first digital machine and the second digital machine. Four different types of MIMS (a desktop MIMS, a kiosk MIMS, a mobile MIMS and a hospitality MIMS) are disclosed herein with the multiple digital machines in each type of MIMS being selectable for different functional purposes.
US08072631B2
There is provided with a method performed in an image transmission apparatus capable of executing first communication and second communication whose communication speed is lower than that of the first communication with a display apparatus, including: generating an image to be displayed on the display apparatus; detecting whether the first communication is executable or not; transmitting the generated image to the display apparatus via the first communication when the first communication is executable; transmitting a compressed image obtained by compressing the generated image to the display apparatus via the second communication when the first communication is not executable; and transmitting compression utilization information required to display the compressed image on the display apparatus to the display apparatus via at least one of the first communication and the second communication when the first communication is executable.
US08072624B2
To enable the operability of image editing process to improve, the first procedure for making configurations relating to a print medium used in printing by a printing device, the second procedure for selecting an image to be printed by the printing device and specifying its print range, the third procedure for making configurations relating to image processing for the image for which the print range is specified, and the fourth procedure for performing printing process of the image data to which the configured image processing is applied are executed.
US08072621B2
An information managing apparatus which is connected to an information processing apparatus and image processing apparatuses has: receiving means for receiving a print document and an instruction manual from the information processing apparatus, in which layout information of the print document and attribute information of each of the layout information are included in the instruction manual; and selecting means for selecting the image processing apparatuses to which the arranged print document should be outputted on the basis of the instruction manual.
US08072618B2
A printing apparatus that selects and prints images represented by candidate image data files to be output among a plurality of image data files includes an image data file acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of image data files, each having image data regarding an image and additional data regarding at least a photographing condition when the image was taken, and a candidate file selection unit that selects image data files, which have the additional data, not the image data, satisfying one of one or more predetermined selection conditions, among the plurality of image data files as the candidate image data files to be output, and a printing unit that performs printing of images represented by at least some of the candidate image data files.
US08072611B2
In certain aspects, disclosed methods include directing test light reflected from an object to form an image of the object on a detector, where the object includes a diffractive structure. The test light at the detector includes both specularly and non-specularly reflected light from the diffractive structure, and the diffractive structure is under-resolved in the image. The method further includes directing reference light to interfere with the test light at the detector where the reference and test light being derived from a common source, varying an optical path length difference between the test and reference light, acquiring an interference signal from the detector while varying the optical path length difference, and determining information about the diffractive structure based on the interference signal and on predetermined information derived from a mathematical model of light reflection from a model diffractive structure.
US08072608B2
The apparatus and method according to the invention includes an objective (8) which is capable of operating basically in two different measuring modes. In a first interference mode, a measuring object (9) is interference—optically measured. In a second imaging operating mode on a detector array (12) designed like a camera, an optical image is generated, which is supplied to an image processing routine. The switching over between the two operating modes occurs by switching the illumination devices which are associated with different locations of the beam path of the apparatus—when viewed from the camera, one in front of a beam divider and the other behind the beam divider, which couples a reference light path to the beam path.
US08072601B2
A method of forming a monitor mark includes forming an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, and forming a first repetitive line pattern group and a second repetitive line pattern group by patterning the insulating film on the semiconductor substrate, such that the first repetitive line pattern group and the second repetitive line pattern group face each other with a predetermined space therebetween.
US08072592B2
A reticle defect inspection apparatus that can carry out a defect inspection with high detection sensitivity are provided. The apparatus includes an optical system of transmitted illumination for irradiating one surface of a sample with a first inspection light, an optical system of reflected illumination for irradiating another surface of the sample with a second inspection light, and a detecting optical system that can simultaneously detect a transmitted light obtained by the first inspection light being passed through the sample and a reflected light obtained by the second inspection light being reflected by the sample. And the optical system of transmitted illumination includes a focusing lens driving mechanism for correcting a focal point shift of the transmitted light resulting from thickness of the sample.
US08072588B2
The invention relates to a light measuring device 34, in particular for dental light curing devices, for detecting the illumination intensity of a light source 19, which is arranged, in particular, in the light curing device, to which a light guiding device, in particular, having a light exit surface 21 at its outlet, is connected, the light measuring device 34 having at least four measurement fields 38 distributed in two dimensions.
US08072576B2
There is provided an exposure apparatus capable of forming a desirable device pattern by removing unnecessary liquid when performing exposure by projecting a pattern onto the substrate via a projection optical system and the liquid. The exposure device projects an image of the pattern onto the substrate P via the projection optical system and the liquid so as to expose the substrate P. The exposure device includes a liquid removing mechanism 40 which removes the liquid remaining on a part 7 arranged in the vicinity of the image plane of the projection optical system.
US08072568B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a sealant. The counter electrode is opposed to the active matrix substrate. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate. The sealant, which surrounds the liquid crystal layer between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate, joins the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate and seals the liquid crystal layer. A portion of the surface on the liquid crystal layer side of the active matrix substrate which is located at the periphery of the liquid crystal display panel is flat.
US08072564B2
A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, a display area having a plurality of pixels arranged therein, and a retardation film. Each pixel includes a transmissive display area and a reflective display area. The retardation film is provided on one of the pair of substrates in a band-shape so as to continue across the reflective display areas of the plurality of pixels. An end portion of the band-shaped retardation film is positioned outside the display area.
US08072558B2
A lighting device for a display device includes a plurality of linear light sources 17 arranged parallel to one another, and a light reflecting plate 14 arranged on the side of the linear light sources 17 that corresponds to the opposite side of the light emitting side. Angled reflective portions 40 each having two inclined surfaces 41, 42 are provided on the light reflecting plate 14, so as to be each positioned between adjacent linear light sources 17. The inclination angle θ1 of the first inclined surface 41a of a first angled reflective portion 40a is set to be larger than the inclination angle θ2 of the first inclined surface 41b of a second angled reflective portion 40b that is positioned closer to the center of the array of the linear light sources 17 than the first angled reflective portion 40a.
US08072556B2
A liquid crystal display which includes a liquid crystal panel which displays an image, a middle frame in which the liquid crystal panel is positioned, an upper container which is disposed above the middle frame and includes the liquid crystal panel therein along with the middle frame, a lower container which has a bottom surface and a plurality of sidewalls that surround the bottom surface, is disposed below the middle frame and is coupled to the upper container, and at least one connection element which is disposed between the upper container and one of the sidewalls of the lower container and connects the lower container and the upper container.
US08072551B2
A projector includes a plurality of light modulation elements adapted to modulate a plurality of colored light beams based on image data, a combining optical system adapted to combine the modulated colored light beams to emit image light, and a projection optical system adapted to project the image light emitted from the combining optical system on a projection screen. The light modulation elements are disposed with respect to the combining optical system so that long sides of the respective light modulation elements are adjacent to each other. Signal line cable boards adapted to provide the respective light modulation elements with signals, and coupled to short sides of the respective light modulation elements. A scanning direction of writing the image data to the light modulation elements is set to be parallel to a direction of the short side of an image display area in each of the light modulation elements.
US08072547B2
A comb filter system that utilizes host memory is disclosed. The comb filter system that utilizes host memory may include a comb filter. The comb filter system that utilizes host memory may include an allocated host memory. The comb filter system that utilizes host memory may include an interface in signal communication with the comb filter and allocated host memory.
US08072545B2
The present invention discloses an image display device, comprising: a lookup table specifying a corresponding relationship between color saturation represented by gradation and set values associated with part including the minimum value of the color saturation; a first color saturation setting unit for setting color saturation associated with the set value greater than or equal to a predetermined value based on the lookup table; and a second color saturation setting unit for setting color saturation associated with the set value less than the predetermined value by calculating values which gradually decreased to the minimum value of the color saturation as the set value decreases.
US08072543B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a communication module which conducts communications with a plurality of external apparatuses, a storage module which stores an address list correlating a logical address and a physical address of each of the external apparatuses, a determination module which transmits a power-on signal to the external apparatus and thereafter determines a power state of the external apparatus, and an acquisition module which performs switching of input by the communication module after the determination module determines that the external apparatus has been powered on, and acquires apparatus information including the physical address of the external apparatus.
US08072536B1
The web cam apparatus provides for a web cam to automatically track a user when the user moves out of a previously direct frame of the web cam. More than one mount type is provided so that various web cams and monitors with web cams can be accommodated. The apparatus also provides more than one remote airwave transmitter. Each transmitter is kept on a web cam user's person so that tracking is automatic. One transmitter provides only web cam tracking. A headset optionally provided provides further communication with a computer that is equipped with both a transmitter and receiver. A computer so equipped can also communicate sounds between the headset and the computer.
US08072533B2
A conductive holder for a flash comprises a base, an elastic first holding arm, and an elastic second holding arm. The base includes a first end and an opposite second end. The first holding arm extends from the first end. The second holding arm extends from the second end and faces the first holding arm. The first holding arm and the second holding arm cooperatively forms a gap for firmly holding the flash.
US08072529B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a principal surface, and three or more pixel regions formed in at least one direction of two different directions along the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. Each pixel region includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions having different sensitivities. The photoelectric conversion region having the highest sensitivity in peripheral pixel regions of the pixel regions has a higher sensitivity than the photoelectric conversion region having the highest sensitivity in a central pixel region of the pixel regions.
US08072524B2
A solid-state image-sensing device has a MOS transistor (T1) connected to a photodiode PD (PD) and performing photoelectric conversion, and has, as an integrating circuit for amplifying and integrating the photoelectric current obtained by the photoelectric conversion, a MOS transistor T2 and a capacitor C. In the solid-state image-sensing device, integration operation is controlled by a MOS transistor T6 connected to the gate of the MOS transistor T2.
US08072517B2
An image capturing device includes an adjustment assembly and two camera modules. The adjustment assembly includes a base, a driving member fixed on the base, and two supporting boards. The driving member includes an elastic connecting board having two ends connected to the base, a rigid board fixed to the elastic connecting board facing the base, and a cam rotating unit positioned between the base and the rigid board. The cam rotating unit abuts the rigid board and is rotatable to cause the rigid board to move toward or away from the base. The two supporting boards are attached to the elastic connecting board opposite to the base and spaced apart from each other. The two camera modules are fixed to the two supporting boards respectively.
US08072515B2
Aspects of an embodiment include providing a correction circuit that corrects image data in apiece of a frame, the correction circuit comprising: a weight processing unit which performs weighting on position data corresponding to a relative position in response to the relative position between a position of a pixel in the image data and a certain position in the frame; and a correction processing unit that corrects the image data based on a correction value corresponding to the weighted position data.
US08072513B2
An image capturing system includes a signal correction unit which corrects a signal output from a defective pixel in an optical black region based on a signal output from a normal pixel. The optical black region has a plurality of pixel blocks. Each of the plurality of pixel blocks has a plurality of pixels each including one or more elements which have the same functions as in the remaining pixels and which have relative positions different from the remaining pixels. The signal correction unit corrects the signal output from the defective pixel in the optical black region based on a signal output from a normal pixel which is included in another pixel block different from the pixel block of the defective pixel in the optical black region and includes one or more elements having the same functions and same relative positions as in the defective pixel.
US08072502B2
A camera device includes optics to produce a projected image, where the projected image has a projected image area. The camera device also includes a moveable sensor to move to a number of positions within the projected image area and capture a portion of the projected image, as an image portion, in each of the positions, and processing logic to combine the image portions together into a final image.
US08072501B2
In one aspect, a method related to data management includes but is not limited to accepting input for a designation of a reference designator and a beginning demarcation designator and/or an ending demarcation designator in a video/audio data stream, wherein the beginning demarcation designator and/or the ending demarcation designator are defined relative to the reference designator; and accepting input for a retention at a first resolution of a first portion of the video/audio data stream, the first portion beginning substantially at the beginning demarcation designator and ending substantially at the ending demarcation designator. In addition, other method, system, and program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present application.
US08072498B2
An apparatus and a method for outputting high-quality images in which both jerkiness and blur are reduced are provided. At generation of moving images to be output at a certain frame rate, movement velocities of a subject according to the frame rate of the output images are calculated in units of partial areas in each frame image constituting the moving images, optimal shutter speeds to reduce degradation of the output images are obtained as optimal imaging shutter speeds corresponding to the movement velocities in units of partial areas, images corresponding to the obtained optimal shutter speeds are generated in units of partial areas, and frame images generated by combining the generated partial area images are output. According to this configuration, high-quality images in which both jerkiness and blur are reduced can be output.
US08072489B2
A chip package (101) and a lens module (103) mounted on the chip package are provided. The chip package includes a substrate (20), a first chip (40), a second chip (70), and a cover (80). The first chip is mounted on the substrate and is electrically connected with the substrate via a first plurality of wires (50a). The second chip is mounted above the first chip and above the wires connected with the first chip and is electrically connected with the substrate via a second plurality of wires (50b). The cover is mounted above the second chip and the wires connected with the second chip.
US08072484B2
An apparatus displaying a three-dimensional image is provided with a parallax barrier having optical openings arranged at a horizontal pitch n times as large as that of pixels arranged on a display surface. The parallax barrier reproduces rays from every n pixels on the display surface in a horizontal direction and no vertical parallaxes is displayed in a viewing area. Image data for a three-dimensional image is processed so as to be recorded in an efficient saving format which minimizes the degradation of image quality while accomplishing a high compression rate. Image data from a set of pixels constituting parallel rays in the same parallax direction are accumulated to obtain more than n parallax component images. Parallax component images corresponding to n-th adjacent parallax directions are combined together and thus converted into n connected images having the same numbers of vertical and horizontal pixels.
US08072482B2
An image acquisition system for capturing images of a scene is provided. The system includes a stationary image acquisition device that receives optical images. A light-directing device directs images toward the image acquisition device. The light-directing device pivots about a pivot axis over a scan range that is less than 360 degrees.
US08072474B2
A cleaning apparatus for a roller includes a platen roller and a cleaning roller brought into contact with the platen roller to clean a surface of the platen roller, where the cleaning roller is configured such that SP values (dissolution parameter) of the cleaning roller and of all additives added in the cleaning roller have differences of at least 2.0 from an SP value of the platen roller.
US08072467B2
A rendering system is provided. The rendering system includes a rendering component that receives a request to view a data set and provide output to drive a display application. A processing engine generates output data for the rendering component, where the output data is suitable to satisfy a present demand to render a subset of the data set.
US08072465B2
The invention provides the image method and apparatus to increase the sharpness of a resized image. The image includes a plurality of pixels with an alpha value and an image data. The method detects the alpha value of neighboring first and second pixels. Weighting values of interpolated pixels between the first and second pixels are determined. The image data of the interpolated pixels are set to be identical to the image data of the first pixel when one of the first pixel or the second pixel is zero.
US08072463B1
A graphics system utilizes virtual memory pages and has a partitioned graphics memory that includes memory elements. The system supports having an non-power of two number of active memory elements. Additionally, a partition swizzling operation is used to adjust the partition numbers associated with individual units of virtual memory allocation on particular virtual memory pages to achieve a selected partition interleaving pattern.
US08072461B2
A graphics processing system comprises at least one memory device storing a plurality of pixel command threads and a plurality of vertex command threads. An arbiter coupled to the at least one memory device is provided that selects a command thread from either the plurality of pixel or vertex command threads based on relative priorities of the plurality of pixel command threads and the plurality of vertex command threads. The selected command thread is provided to a command processing engine capable of processing pixel command threads and vertex command threads.
US08072460B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating a ray tracing data structure utilizing a parallel processor architecture. In operation, a global set of data is received. Additionally, a data structure is generated utilizing a parallel processor architecture including a plurality of processors. Such data structure is adapted for use in performing ray tracing utilizing the parallel processor architecture, and is generated by allocating the global set of data among the processors such that results of processing of at least one of the processors is processed by another one of the processors.
US08072450B2
A system for measuring a three-dimensional object is provided. The system measures differences between a 3D model of an object and a point cloud of the object, and highlights the differences on the 3D model using different colors according to difference ranges that the differences fall.
US08072449B2
A workstation for processing and producing a video signal comprises a video input system, a video graphics processor, and a video output system. The video input system may comprise a video input module, a first video pipeline, and a second video pipeline. The video output system may comprise a receiver, a video pipeline and a video output module. In addition, the video input system may comprise a video input module having a specific configuration and a video processing module having a connector for coupling the video input module, the specific configuration of the video input module setting the characteristics of the video processing module. The video output system may comprise a video processing module having a connector for coupling a video output module and a video output module having a specific configuration, the specific configuration of the video output module setting the characteristics of the video processing module.
US08072446B2
A display and a driving control method for the display are provided. The display includes a display panel, a driving control module and a power-saving control module. The display panel is configured to display a plurality of frames. The driving control module is coupled to the display panel for providing a driving signal of each frame to the display panel. The power saving control module is coupled to the driving control module. The displaying period of each frame includes a first period and a second period. During the first period, the display enters a displaying mode. During the second period, the power-saving control module adjusts the operating parameters of the driving control module such that the display enters a power-saving mode. As a result, the power consumption of the display can be reduced.
US08072441B2
Techniques for detecting multiple touch points for touch screens are disclosed. A touch screen includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, each conductive layer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. Efficient operations of detecting multiple points on the touch screen are described using various voltage/currents differences from the positive and negative terminals of the first and second conductive layers.
US08072431B2
The invention provides an input/output-integrated display device equipped with a means for inputting information through handwriting comprising a protective glass plate arranged as an outermost layer on the observation side of the device, leaving a space between the protective glass plate and a part of the device facing the same. The protective glass plate is a chemically reinforced glass plate prepared by immersing, in a molten salt bath, a glass plate produced according to the floating technique and has a Young's modulus of 71 to 74 GPa and a Poisson's ratio of 0.22 to 0.24 to thus chemically reinforce the same; the protective glass plate has the side serving as the top face upon the production of the glass plate according to the floating technique and the bottom face side opposite to the top face side; the surface compression stress on the top face side is 200 to 650 MPa; the protective glass plate is arranged such that the top face faces the space; and the protective glass plate is deflected towards the bottom face side at a warpage.
US08072422B2
Method and apparatus for providing peer-to-peer force feedback over a computer network. A network force feedback system includes a network, a first computer coupled to the network, and a second computer coupled to the network. The first and second computers each include a visual display and a force feedback interface device. Each computer provides a force feedback signal to its force feedback device based on information received from the other, remote computer and in some cases also based on input from the local force feedback device. Positional information of each force feedback device and/or feel sensation information can be transmitted between the computers over the network. A graphical environment can be displayed to enhance the interaction between users. The present invention therefore permits two computer users to interact using force feedback provided over a network on a peer-to-peer basis.
US08072419B2
Computer mouse having a front sight button and method for generating local coordinates with the same
The present invention relates to a computer mouse having a front sight button and the method for generating local coordinates with the same, which comprises a position sensor for generating coordinates in accordance with the movement of the mouse, a front sight button for generating a local shooting signal when being pressed, a serial interface device, of which one end is connected to a personal computer for exchanging data between the mouse and the personal computer, and a processing unit. The processing unit is connected to the position sensor, the front sight button and the serial interface device. Upon receiving a local shooting signal, the processing unit generates a specific area having plural perimeter coordinates corresponding to the current coordinate. The processing unit further transmits the current coordinate, the perimeter coordinates and corresponding key-stroke signals sequentially to the personal computer through the serial interface device.
US08072417B2
A stand-alone device for navigating in a space having at least three dimensions comprises a housing capable of being manipulated by a user. The housing houses means for generating signals that represent the inclination of the housing according to its pitch axes, rolling axes and yaw axes, and houses at least one isometric device that generates a control signal of a bi-directional displacement according to at least one axis of said space. The invention is used, in particular, for navigating in a virtual space.
US08072416B2
An integrated digital device and a displaying method are provided. The integrated digital device includes a display unit displaying a plurality of setup information items. A plurality of input keys positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of setup information items, respectively, are displayed on the display unit. A mode input unit selecting one among a plurality of modes in which different digital device functions are performed and a modifier modifying at least one of the setup information items according to at least one among the mode selected by the mode input unit and an input from at least one of the input keys.
US08072409B2
An LCD with power consumption reduction and a method of driving the same. In one embodiment, the LCD has a plurality of pixels spatially arranged in the form of a matrix having N pixel rows, each pixel row defined between two neighboring scanning lines Gn and Gn+1, and having an auxiliary common electrode, and a plurality of common voltage driving circuits, each common voltage driving circuit electrically coupled between the scanning line Gn and the corresponding auxiliary common electrode for providing a two-level lift-up coupling voltage to the auxiliary common electrode.
US08072408B2
A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention has: a liquid crystal panel having a data line group; a data driver configured to drive the data line group of the liquid crystal panel by using a dot inversion driving method; and a power recovery circuit having an inductor. The inductor is configured to form an LC resonance circuit together with capacitance of the data line group and to collect electric power from the capacitance.
US08072407B2
A liquid crystal display aimed at improving response speed, movie characteristics and viewing angle dependence of gradation is provided as having a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of gate lined selecting pixels and a plurality of data lines supplying pixel data, and a data driver dividing one frame into a plurality of fields to thereby convert a frame data into a field data, and supplying the field data to the data line, wherein in the last field out of the plurality of fields, the data line is applied with a first constant voltage, for the frame data ranging from the minimum gradation value to a first gradation value, and in the top field out of the plurality of fields, the data line is applied with a second constant voltage larger than the first constant voltage, for the frame data ranging from a second gradation value to the maximum gradation value.
US08072405B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can recover a charge stored in a liquid crystal display panel without using an exteriorly mounted part such as a coil thus achieving the low power consumption. A display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of pixels, a plurality of video lines which apply a video voltage to the plurality of pixels, and a drive circuit which supplies the video voltage to the plurality of video lines. In such a display device, the liquid crystal display panel has a common electrode to which a first voltage and a second voltage having a potential higher than a potential of the first voltage are alternately applied. The liquid crystal display panel further includes a charge recovering circuit which is connected between the respective video lines and a power source line and recovers charge when a voltage applied to the common electrode is changed over from the first voltage to the second voltage or when the voltage applied to the common electrode is changed over from the second voltage to the first voltage.
US08072404B2
The present invention realizes proper driving circuits in a driving-circuit integral type liquid crystal display device which has an increased screen size. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a driving circuit which supplies video signals to video signal lines formed on the liquid crystal display panel. The driving circuit is comprised of a first driving circuit which is formed in a step similar to a step for forming pixels provided to the liquid crystal display panel and a second driving circuit which is connected to the liquid crystal display panel after formation of the liquid crystal display panel. The first driving circuit is constituted of a switching circuit which is capable of distributing an output of the second driving circuit to a plurality of video signal lines.
US08072397B2
A display apparatus includes a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern and a driving circuit for driving the pixel unit. Each of the pixels includes a signal level holding capacitor, a first transistor that is turned on/off in response to a writing signal and via which one end of the signal level holding capacitor is connected to a signal line, a second transistor having one end of the signal level holding capacitor connected to a gate thereof and the other end of the signal level holding capacitor connected to a source thereof, a current-driven self-light-emitting element whose cathode is held at a cathode potential and whose anode is connected to the source of the second transistor, a third transistor that is turned on/off in response to a driving pulse signal, and a fourth transistor that is turned on/off in response to a control signal.
US08072395B2
A plasma display apparatus includes a data driver and a plasma display panel having a first address electrode and a second address electrode. The data driver is configured to initiate a change in a voltage value of a first data signal supplied to the first address electrode at a first initiation time, and to initiate a change in a voltage value of a second data signal supplied to the second address electrode at a second, different initiation time. Each of the data signals gradually changes from a first data voltage to a second data voltage during a respective first period, maintains at the second data voltage during a respective second period, and gradually changes from the second data voltage to a third data voltage during a respective third period.
US08072388B2
A dual-band diversity antenna includes a ground plane and a main antenna system coupled to the ground plane, the main antenna system being a dipole having a primary dipole axis directed along the longitudinal axis of the wireless communication device, and a diversity antenna system coupled to the ground plane, the diversity antenna system being a monopole having an primary axis directed along the longitudinal axis of the wireless communication device.
US08072385B2
Disclosed is a circuit substrate supporting structure including: a base; a cover to cover over the base; a circuit substrate accommodated in the cover in a state standing on the base; a projecting section provided on the circuit substrate in a state projecting from a bottom edge section of the circuit substrate and placed on the base; an elastic piece placed on the projecting section; and a pressurizing section convexly provided on an inner wall of the cover above the projecting section to be pressed against the projecting section from above the elastic piece.
US08072381B1
A method for improving location determination for a mobile device location of which precludes it from sufficiently accurate determination by a standard position determination mechanism is disclosed. The method includes a step of receiving, at a server and from a mobile device, an indication that the mobile device detects a supplemental position determination signal not associated with an overhead channel set that is transmitted in support of traffic channels required to support voice or data communications. The method also includes steps of referencing a database to identify one or more criteria associated with the supplemental position determination signal; determining that the one or more criteria associated with the supplemental position determination signal indicates that a source generating the supplemental position determination signal is within a close proximity of the mobile device; and identifying the location of the source generating the supplemental position determination signal. The method also includes a step of using the location of the source generating the supplemental position determination signal as the location of the mobile device.
US08072376B2
A positioning system receiver that mitigates cross correlation of received signals from positioning system satellite vehicles by generating the strong satellite vehicle signal and subtracting it from the received signal before correlation while eliminating the need for cross correlation signature without changing the C/A code.
US08072367B1
A movement detection system includes a microwave antenna able to transmit microwave frequency signals into a space. An electronics controller is connected to the microwave antenna, and is configured to continually measure the impedance of the microwave antenna while it transmits microwave frequency signals into the space. An interpretive device is connected to receive impedance measurements from the electronics controller, and is configured to interpret and report changes in the magnitude and phase angles of individual impedance measurements as the passing of things and their direction through the space.
US08072363B2
Various embodiments of this disclosure may describe a bandpass sigma-delta modulator (BP ΣΔM) comprising an electromechanical filter, a quantizer coupled to the electromechanical filter, and a feedback circuit coupled between the quantizer and the electromechanical filter. Other embodiments be also be disclosed or claimed.
US08072361B2
Apparatuses and methods related to time-to-digital converters (TDCs) are herein described. Generally, a time-to-digital converter is a device which measures a time period or time interval and outputs a digital value representing the measured time period. In an implementation, an apparatus is provided comprising a time-to-digital converter circuit, which further comprises a built-in self test (BIST). The built-in self test may be implemented using one or more oscillators coupled to the time-to-digital converter via one or more multiplexer devices.
US08072352B2
The subject of the present invention is a host vehicle that determines a parking angle while backing out of a parking space and employs this parking angle when using a cross traffic alert system. The parking angle is determined based on the trajectories of the host vehicle and a target vehicle. The parking angle is used to determine areas of interest and areas not of interest within the fields of view of vehicle mounted sensors. The areas of interest are those used to determine if cross traffic alerts need to be issued.
US08072351B1
The blind spot alert apparatus provides a pair of identical sensors for fit to opposite rear quadrants of a vehicle. Each sensor senses a presence or lack thereof of an obstacle proximal to either rear quadrant of the vehicle. Sensors signal the driver via instrument panel chime and buzzer and also via the “WARNING” and “OK” indicia in each side of the instrument panel. Signaling occurs only with a turn signal initiation. Blind spot related accidents are thereby avoided.
US08072345B2
A device includes an electronic flare having many light emitting diodes (LEDs), an arm connected to the electronic flare, a controller connected to the electronic flare, and a housing connected to the arm. A system includes a first electronic flare device that is disposed in a first portion of a vehicle, a second electronic flare device is disposed in a second portion of the vehicle, a first sensor is connected to the first electronic flare device and a second sensor is connected to the second electronic flare device. The first and second flare devices each have a flare housing including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The first electronic flare device operates to deploy when the first sensor detects a first event, and the second electronic flare device operates to deploy when the second sensor detects a second event.
US08072341B2
A detachable battery status alarm has an alarm device and at least one battery detector. The battery detector is directly mounted on the battery and electronically connected to the battery. The alarm device links to the battery detector to obtain the battery status in a physical connection or a wireless connection. Therefore, the alarm device does not physically connect to the battery or batteries to test the battery or batteries.
US08072339B2
A remote control system includes an RC comprising a first processor, a first RF unit, and a temperature sensor; a receiver on an air conditioner and comprising a second processor and an IR receiver; and a retransmission device proximate the air conditioner and comprising a third processor, a second RF unit, and an IR unit. The first processor compares temperature measured by the temperature sensor with a set temperature of the air conditioner, the first processor sends a temperature adjustment instruction to the first RF unit if the measured temperature is not within a predetermined range of the set temperature, the first RF unit transmits the instruction to the second RF unit via RF signals, the third processor processes received RF signals into IR signals, the IR unit transmits received IR signals to the IR receiver, and the second processor processes received IR signals into a temperature adjustment instruction.
US08072337B2
Stolen or lost explosives are detected by fixing micro RF transmitters in the form of RFID tags to the explosive packaging or embedding them in the explosive material itself. Moreover, the subject microradio transponders may be contained in an adhesive binder or slurry. The identity of the explosive, its place of manufacture and ownership is detectable by RFID tag interrogators strategically located along commonly used roads or railways in which the RFID tags scavenge energy from interrogation beams, with the RFID tags indicating the identity of the explosive and its origin.
US08072336B2
An RFID module comprising a transponder covered with a 0.2 to 2 mm thick rubber sheet containing 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber, less than 30 parts by weight of carbon black and 5 to 55 parts by weight of silica, having a relative permittivity of 7 or less and having a dynamic modulus of elasticity (E′) of 2 to 12 MPa, which can extend a communication distance with a required installation location and is superior in the durability at the time of being embedded in the tire.
US08072320B2
A tire pressure monitor system tool is capable of communicating with a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The tool includes a storing module that stores a plurality of communication protocols that are used for enabling the tool to communicate with a tire pressure monitor system. The tool enables a user to input vehicle data for identifying a vehicle having a tire pressure monitor system with which to communicate. Based on the vehicle data input, the tool determines a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using information stored by the tool. The tool determines a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle. Based on the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle, the tool determines a protocol used by the tire pressure monitor system to communicate with, for example, the tool and an electronic control unit of a vehicle.
US08072315B2
A universal decoding device and associated method is provided. The universal decoding device includes a counter unit for counting signal cycles and a logic unit for identifying coded data or commands according to counted signal cycles. The logic unit includes a register, an boundary logic unit, a key identification unit, a code bank, a multiplexer, and a FIFO memory. The universal decoding device is capable of operating in a full decoding mode, a raw data decoding mode, and a software decoding mode. In the full decoding mode, the FIFO stores remote control commands corresponding to the counted signal cycles through the multiplexer. In the raw data decoding mode, the FIFO stores raw data corresponding to the counted signal cycles through the multiplexer. In the software decoding mode, the FIFO stores the counted signal cycles provided by the counter unit through the multiplexer.
US08072314B1
A secondary reader and associated system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a secondary reader obtains and communicates information about a reading of an RFID tag by a primary reader by receiving an RFID signal that is responsive to a signal from the primary reader. In some embodiments, the secondary reader also receives an interrogation signal from the primary reader. In some embodiments, the secondary reader receives information related to the primary reader that may, in some instances, include a security key used to determine whether or not the primary reader is authorized to read the RFID tag. Variations on these and other embodiments are described more fully herein.
US08072313B2
An improved Interrogator for use in a radio frequency identification system wherein at least one tag modulates a radio frequency signal by modulated backscatter operations.
US08072312B2
A non-contact state charging authentication device and a method thereof are disclosed. The authentication device includes: a power supply for receiving and transmitting power; a control unit for controlling a signal; a shunt and voltage divided circuit connecting to the said power supply and the said control unit for controlling the transmission of power; and an electromagnetic inductance element connecting to the said shunt current and voltage divided circuit for inducting and transmitting an electromagnetic signal which has an electromagnetic inductance frequency. While non-contact electromagnetic induction between the said authentication device and a charging device occurs, the said charging device begins to charging the said authentication device.
US08072311B2
Systems and methods for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. A phase difference of received information signals of illuminated RFID tags is utilized to locate the RFID tags. One or more exciters transmit interrogation signals to illuminate the RFID tags in which the exciters may have a plurality of antenna selectively configured to transmit through two or more antennas and to receive on one antenna. Multiple reads of the same RFID tag can also be performed to generate a probability model of the location of the RFID tag. An enhanced particle filter is applied to probability model to determine the exact location of the RFID.
US08072310B1
A detection and paramedic measuring system using a transponder composed of passive components and pulse inductive interrogation is disclosed. A methodology based on measuring the quality factor of the transponder is employed to detect a specific species of transponder or measure a parameter that alters the transponders quality factor.
US08072309B2
A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises a wearable control device, and a corresponding receiver on the materials handling vehicle. The wearable control device is donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle, and comprises a wireless transmitter and a travel control communicably coupled to the wireless transmitter. Actuation of the travel control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a first type signal designating a request to advance the vehicle in a first direction. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter. A traction control of the vehicle is responsive to a receipt of the first type signal by the receiver to cause the vehicle to advance.
US08072308B2
A high voltage split core transformer and method of assembling same is provided by which the coupling factor is improved. A split core assembly is surrounded by a secondary winding that is precisely located in a burner assembly housing. Conductive members are encased within the housing and, in conjunction with traces provided on a printed circuit board enclosing the housing cavity, define first and second primary windings about the core secondary winding. This arrangement reduces the number of turns in the secondary winding and allows the use of larger cross-sectional wire which increases the current carrying capability thereof, making the transformer suitable for D1-D5 automotive headlamp applications.
US08072307B2
A transformer may include a semiconductor layer coil, a trench coil connected with the semiconductor layer coil in parallel, and a metal layer coil opposing both of the semiconductor layer coil and the trench coil. The semiconductor layer coil and the trench coil may be insulated from the metal layer coil by an insulating layer.
US08072306B2
A multilayer body is formed by laminating multiple insulating layers. External electrodes are provided on the opposed side surfaces of the multilayer body and extend in the z axis direction. Coil conductors are laminated together with the insulating layers and form a coil. Coil conductors other than coil conductors connected to the external electrodes are made up of pairs of adjacent coil conductors having an identical shape, and coil conductors forming each pair are connected in parallel to each other. None of the coil conductors connected to the external electrodes is connected in parallel to coil conductors with an identical shape.
US08072304B2
A noncontact power-transmission coil is provided. The noncontact power-transmission coil includes a planar coil and a magnetic layer. The planar coil is formed by winding a linear conductor in a spiral shape substantially in a single plane. The magnetic layer is formed by applying a liquid-form magnetic solution in which magnetic particles are mixed with a binder solvent, so as to cover one planar portion of the planar coil and a side-face portion of the planar coil.
US08072301B2
A superconductive magnet system with a super conductive magnet is provided with a cooling system. A thermal switch is configured to thermally (de)couple the superconductive magnet from/to the cooling system so that the magnet can be decoupled from the cooling system e.g. in the event of a quench.
US08072294B2
The filter has a switch function of selectively transmitting a transmission signal through one of first and second branch waveguides branching from a primary waveguide. The filter includes resonators disposed in the first and second branch waveguides. The resonator includes a space formed inside a metal cover, a central conductor disposed inside the space, and a short-circuiting plate. The central conductor has one end grounded to an outer conductor. The short-circuiting plate allows the neighborhood of an open end of the central conductor to be selectively conducted to the outer conductor. The filter performs a selection from the first and second branch waveguides by switching electrical conductivity in a region between the neighborhood of the open end of the central conductor and the outer conductor.
US08072293B2
A surface acoustic wave filter comprised of a plurality of surface acoustic wave resonators having different resonance frequencies, the filter comprising a substrate made of lithium niobate, comb electrodes (1201 and 1202) formed on the substrate, and a thin dielectric film covering the comb electrodes (1201 and 1202), wherein the surface acoustic wave resonator having a lower resonance frequency is formed to have a metallization ratio larger than a metallization ratio of the surface acoustic wave resonator having a higher resonance frequency, thereby providing the surface acoustic wave filter and an antenna duplexer featuring superior characteristics with insignificant ripples while suppressing spurious responses of the surface acoustic wave resonators.
US08072291B2
A compact multi-band hybrid ring (rat-race) coupler utilizing a ring of composite right-handed and left-handed (CRLH) transmission lines (TLs) and multiple ports, provides miniaturization and the ability to operate at arbitrary frequency bands unlike conventional couplers. The hybrid ring is made compact, such as by constraining phase delay contributions |φ1|, |φ2|≦270°. The coupler can be used in many applications, for example as a mode decoupling network in a dual-band front-end MIMO system. The inclusion of a CRLH delay line is also described which alters the phase relationship of the signals and is particularly well suited for extending pattern diversity in response to frequency.
US08072288B2
A directional coupler capable of improving a directionality of a directional coupler body including four terminals. The directional coupler includes a directional coupler body including the four terminals of an input port, an output port, a coupling port, and an isolation port; and a combiner for combining powers of an output signal of the coupling port and an output signal of the isolation port of the directional coupler body; and a directionality improving circuit for amplifying or attenuating at least one of the output signal of the coupling port and the output signal of the isolation port before outputting the same, and the combiner combines powers of the output signals amplified or attenuated by the directionality improving circuit.
US08072283B2
In a device (10) for modulating Cartesian base band signals (I, Q) a first and second mapping unit (12, 14) each map signal samples of a corresponding Cartesian signal (I, Q) to intermediary signal sections having only two non-zero levels provided symmetrically around zero for forming two intermediary signals (S1, S2). A first and second processing unit (16, 18) each map each intermediary sections of an intermediary signal (S1, S2) to segments of a corresponding pulse train (S3, S4) through providing a positive pulse in one half of a segment if the corresponding signal section has a positive signal level and a positive pulse in another half of the segment if the corresponding signal section has a negative signal level. A delay unit (20) delays the pulses of one train in relation to the other and a combining unit (22) combines the trains for provision to a power amplifier (24).
US08072277B1
A frequency synthesizer is described illustrating a method for modulation having an adjustable standard curve used to modulate an input signal for spread spectrum modulation. In particular, the a standard curve is generated, wherein the standard curve modulates an input signal to generate a spread spectrum of frequencies. The standard curve is associated with a standard modulation frequency. The standard curve is sampled at a constant sampling frequency. A shape of the standard curve is adjusted, such that critical points of the standard curve are captured when sampling the standard curve. The shape of said standard curve that is altered varies between at least two periods.
US08072267B2
The present disclosure relates to phase margin modification in operational transconductance amplifiers.
US08072260B1
In a programmable logic device having high-speed serial interface channels, a clock distribution network for providing one or more high-speed clocks to dynamic phase alignment circuitry of those high-speed serial interfaces includes at least one bus that is segmentable (e.g. using tristatable buffers). This allows the bus to be divided into different portions that can be connected to different clock sources when the high-speed serial interfaces are running at different speeds. In one embodiment, the segmenting elements (e.g., the aforementioned buffers) are located between selected channels (e.g., every fourth channel), limiting the size of the different segments. In another embodiment, segmenting elements are located between each channel, allowing complete user freedom in selecting the sizes of the segments. Thus, instead of providing a bus for every clock source, multiple clocks can be made available to different channels by segmenting a single bus.
US08072252B2
A compound logic flip-flop. The flip-flop includes a plurality of input stages, wherein each of the input stages is coupled to receive at least one input signal and a clock signal. Each of the plurality of input (i.e. ‘master’) stages is configured to perform a corresponding input logic function during a first phase of a clock cycle and to store a result of the corresponding input logic function. The flip-flop further includes an output (i.e. ‘slave’) stage coupled to receive the clock signal and the results of the input logic functions from each of the plurality of input stages. The output stage is configured, during a second phase of the clock cycle, to logically combine the results of the input logic functions by performing an output logic function and provide an output signal based on a result of the output logic function.
US08072248B2
A delay module, a delay method, a clock detection apparatus, and a digital locked loop (DLL) are disclosed. The delay module includes a first delay unit, a second delay unit and an inverter. Each of the first delay unit and the second delay unit include two logic gates adapted to invert a phase: a logic gate for gating and a logic gate for delaying. These two logic gates are electrically connected. The input port of the logic gate for gating of the first delay unit is electrically connected to the output port of the inverter; the output port of the logic gate for delaying of the first delay unit is electrically connected to the input port of the logic gate for delaying of the second delay unit; the input port of the inverter is electrically connected to the input port of the logic gate for gating of the second delay unit; the input port of the inverter is adapted to input a clock signal to be delayed, and the logic gate for delaying of the second delay unit is adapted to output a delayed clock signal. With the present invention, a more accurate delay step value may be achieved.
US08072247B1
A circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a variable voltage generator that is coupled to receive an input voltage. Furthermore, the circuit can include a non-volatile memory that is coupled to the variable voltage generator. The non-volatile memory can be coupled to receive programming for controlling an output voltage of the variable voltage generator.
US08072246B2
A switching power supply device performs a stable operation with fast response for a semiconductor integrated circuit device. A capacitor is provided between the output side of an inductor and a ground potential. A first power MOSFET supplies an electric current from an input voltage to the input side of the inductor. A second power MOSFET turned on when the first power MOSFET is off allows the input side of the inductor to be of a predetermined potential. A first feedback signal corresponding to an output voltage obtained from the output side of the inductor and a second feedback signal corresponding to an electric current flowed to the first power MOSFET are used to form a PWM signal. The first power MOSFET has plural cells of a vertical type MOS-construction.
US08072235B2
Described are integrated-circuit die with differential receivers, the inputs of which are coupled to external signal pads. Termination legs coupled to the signal pads support multiple termination topologies. These termination legs can support adjustable impedances, capacitances, or both, which may be controlled using an integrated memory.
US08072232B2
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test having a test function for sequentially outputting, from a single test terminal, signals that would be output from a plurality of terminals, the test apparatus comprising: a test section that supplies the device under test with a test signal and receives signals that are sequentially output from the test terminal in response to the test signal; an identifying section that identifies a correspondence between each signal sequentially received by the test section and a signal that would be output from one of the terminals of the device under test; and a counting section that counts a number of signals judged to be unacceptable from among the signals sequentially received by the test section for each terminal of the device under test, based on the correspondence identified by the identifying section.
US08072208B2
An integrated circuit including an amplifier and a first circuit. The amplifier is configured to receive a sensed signal and provide an amplified signal. The first circuit is configured to track a first signal that is based on the amplified signal. The first circuit includes a first comparator, tracking logic and a first digital to analog converter. The first comparator is configured to respond to a second signal that is based on the first signal and provide a comparator output signal. The tracking logic is configured to receive the comparator output signal and update a digital output. The first digital to analog converter is configured to receive the digital output and provide a tracking signal that is summed with the first signal to provide the second signal.
US08072204B1
The operation of a voltage regulator (or point-of-load regulator) may be optimized, by performing diode emulation using the low-side output transistor (LS FET). The voltage regulator may be monitored for a specified trigger event, which may include an averaged value of the load current dropping below a threshold value, and upon recognizing the trigger event, one or more of a number of possible diode emulation algorithms may be enabled. In one algorithm, the duty-cycle of the LS FET control signal may be set to a specified value, then adjusted until the duty-cycle of the high-side output transistor (HS FET) control signal settles and steady state is reached. The duty-cycle of the LS FET control signal may then be adjusted, and the duty-cycle of the HS FET control signal monitored, until the monitoring indicates that the duty-cycle of the HS FET control signal has reached a minimum value, thereby optimizing operation of the voltage regulator with respect to power loss. The averaged current may be based on actual load current measurements, or it may be calculated. In the latter case, discontinuous operation of the regulator may be determined based on the duty-cycle of the HS FET control signal deviating from its highest value.
US08072195B2
A voltage converter connectable to a power source (PS) and a load (LD) provides a regulated output voltage (Vout) from a voltage (Vin) power source by switchable current paths including an inductive element (L). The voltage converter includes a plurality of switching elements for switching the current paths of the voltage converter as a forward-phase current path when the input voltage corresponds to the output voltage, as an up-phase current path when the input voltage is lower than the output voltage, and as a down-phase current path when the input voltage is higher than the output voltage. A central controller controls a switching state of the plurality of switching elements, a current sensing unit including a comparator for sensing a current flowing through at least one of the switching elements, and a plurality of processing units for processing the current sensing.
US08072191B2
An electric generator with a rotating diode fault detection device built in that operates by comparing a voltage buildup across the exciter DC supply with a preset threshold value and determining if a fault condition is present based on the comparison.
US08072169B2
A method of controlling a washing machine and a motor determines whether a BLDC motor is in a normal state in software without hardware and a user is notified of an abnormal state of the BLDC motor if the BLDC motor is in an abnormal state, thereby ensuring safety. When the motor is rotated, the state of the motor is determined by applying harmonics to a voltage that is applied to a motor and analyzing an output frequency characteristic. When the motor is stopped, the state of the motor is determined by estimating the temperature of the motor.
US08072167B2
Circuitry for controlling a motor, such as a brushless motor (BLM), is disclosed. The circuitry may comprise one or more inputs for receiving rotor position signals from one or more Hall effect sensors that detect the position of, for example, a BLM rotor. The circuitry may also comprise an input for receiving a pulse width modulated speed control signal. The circuitry generates one or more drive signals, each drive signal having a plurality of driving intervals. Each drive signal may control power switches during its driving intervals, the power switches being coupled to electromagnets of the BLM. The circuitry may cause the driving intervals of a first drive signal to be temporally spaced from the driving intervals of a second drive signal.
US08072161B2
The present invention uses capacitive, inductive, or resistive impedance to constitute the first impedance, and the capacitive and inductive impedances in parallel connection which will not produce parallel resonance to constituted the second impedance, and is characterized in that the first and second impedance in series connection is configured for inputting pulsed power, thereby to form a bi-directional power in decaying wave shape at the two ends of the second impedance to drive the bi-directional conducting light emitting diode.
US08072157B2
A circuit for driving a light emitting diode (LED), the circuit includes a timer, first to third electronic switches, and a regulator. The timer provides a pulse signal to switch the first and second electronic switches. The first electronic switch provides a first level signal to one end of the LED. The second electronic switch switches the third electronic switch on and off. The third electronic switch provides a third level signal to another end of the LED. The regulator adjusts the pulse signal to be at a predetermined frequency to control the first, second, and the third level signals to alternate between a high voltage level and a low voltage level at the predetermined frequency. The LED is driven to be on and off at the predetermined frequency by the first and third level signals.
US08072156B2
A discharge lamp operating system has first and second discharge lamp operating circuits. The first discharge lamp operating circuit includes first and second primary windings, a first secondary winding, a first discharge lamp connected to the first primary winding, and a second discharge lamp connected to the second primary winding. The second discharge lamp operating circuit includes third and fourth primary windings, a second secondary winding, a third discharge lamp connected to the third primary winding, and a fourth discharge lamp connected to the fourth primary winding. The first secondary winding and the second secondary winding are connected in series.
US08072151B2
An inverter circuit (20) includes a transformer (T2) including a primary winding and a secondary winding including a high voltage terminal, a first copper foil (P21), a power stage circuit (21) electrically connected to the primary winding, a detection circuit (22) including a second copper foil (P22) and an impedance (Z2), a protection circuit (23) outputting a protection signal, and a pulse width modulation controller (24) controlling output of the power stage circuit according to the protection signal. The second copper foil and the first copper foil are separated. An equivalent capacitor is formed between the second copper foil and the first copper foil, detecting voltage output from the high voltage terminal. The impedance is electrically connected between the second copper foil and ground, dividing a voltage detected by the equivalent capacitor.
US08072146B2
The disclosed subject matter includes a fluorescent lamp and particularly a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that can be employed as a light source for a LCD backlight unit for a television, a computer, a display, and the like. The fluorescent lamp can include a couple of electrode units located opposite to each other at each end of a tube, a couple of welding beads sealing both the tube and the couple of electrode units, and a filler gas located in the tube. Each of the electrode units can include an emitter electrode that is configured with a crystalline silicon semiconductor material having an electrical conductivity or configured with other semiconductor materials, and can include a concave portion formed thereon. The electrode units can prevent blackening on an inner surface of the tube by avoiding the occurrence of spattering. Thus, the fluorescent lamp using the electrode units can enjoy a long life, high reliability, easy manufacture, and the like.
US08072130B2
An LED lamp includes a connecting member and an LED module. The connecting member is adapted for electrically connecting with a power source. The LED module is clasped by and electrically connects to the connecting member.
US08072129B2
A lamp includes at least one luminous source (14, 6, 8), in particular a low-pressure discharge lamp, for producing main illumination and having at least one alternative luminous element (22), in particular a light-emitting diode arrangement having at least one LED, for producing alternative illumination, which are arranged on a cap (12) , and having electronics, wherein a switching arrangement, which can be actuated manually, for operating the lamp in the main illumination mode, the alternative illumination mode or in both illumination modes at the same time is provided in the cap.
US08072115B2
Disclosed are foil coil structures and methods for winding the same for stators in electrodynamic machines, as well as electrodynamic machines that implement such coil structures. In one embodiment, a foil coil structure is configured for implementation with a field pole member having pole faces that confront, for example, conical magnets.
US08072102B2
A stator of a turbo generator for the generation of electrical energy is provided with: a cylindrical core, which extends along a longitudinal axis and presents a plurality of axial cavities and two opposite headers; connection terminals of the turbo generator; a plurality of electrical windings, which are split into groups and which extend along paths defined in part in the axial cavities and in part at the headers; the electrical windings of each group being isopotential and connected in parallel between a pair of terminals; and a plurality of connection devices, each of which is adapted to define, at least at one of the headers, a segment of path in common with the isopotential electrical windings.
US08072100B2
The invention relates to a stator (2), in particular for a housing-less electrical machine (1), wherein substantially axially running cooling channels (3, 13) are located in the stator (2), into which channels cooling pipes (4, 6, 7) can be inserted and, at least in sections, means are provided which, by means of deformation of the cooling channels (3, 13), cause the cooling pipes (4, 6, 7) to be pressed against the cooling channel (3, 13) on the side facing the heat sources of the electrical machine (1); efficient liquid cooling is therefore provided.
US08072086B2
A system and method to efficiently store and convert erratic wind and solar electrical energy production to a source of reliable standard AC electrical power by means of an electric motor operatively engaged to power a pump. The pump in a sealed communication with a reservoir cavity evacuates air from the cavity to store the generated energy as potential energy in the form of a pressure differential with ambient atmosphere. Regulated air inflow into the evacuated cavity is employed to drive a generator or alternator to produce electric power which is synchronized with grid demand and communicated to the grid.
US08072076B2
Bonding pad structures and integrated circuits having the same are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a bond pad structure comprises a bond pad layer. A passivation layer partially covers the bond pad layer from edges thereof and exposes a bonding surface, wherein the passivation layer is formed with a recess on at least one edge of the bonding surface to thereby define a probe needle contact area for probe needle testing and a wire bonding area for wire bonding on the bonding surface, and the probe needle contact area and the wire bonding area have a non-overlapping relationship.
US08072071B2
A semiconductor device includes a chip comprising a contact element, a structured dielectric layer over the chip, and a conductive element coupled to the contact element. The conductive element comprises a first portion embedded in the structured dielectric layer, a second portion at least partially spaced apart from the first portion and embedded in the structured dielectric layer, and a third portion contacting a top of the structured dielectric layer and extending at least vertically over the first portion and the second portion.
US08072068B2
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor chip; a sealing resin layer formed on the semiconductor chip; and a post electrode formed in a through-hole penetrating through the sealing resin layer in a thickness direction, and having a hemispheric top surface.
US08072060B2
In a fingerprint apparatus, fingerprint sensing members disposed on a silicon substrate detect skin textures of a finger placed thereon to generate electric signals. A set of integrated circuits formed on the substrate processes the electric signals. First bonding pads are disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the set of integrated circuits. A first insulating layer is disposed below the first bonding pads. Metal plugs penetrating through the substrate are respectively electrically connected to the first bonding pads. A second insulating layer is formed on the substrate and between the metal plugs and the substrate. Second bonding pads are formed on a rear side of the second insulating layer, and are respectively electrically connected to the first bonding pads through the metal plugs. The protection layer is disposed on the substrate and covers the sensing members to form a flat touch surface to be touched by the finger.
US08072047B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a tie bar and a lead adjacent thereto; connecting an integrated circuit and the lead; mounting a shield over the integrated circuit with the shield connected to the tie bar; and encapsulating the integrated circuit and the shield. An integrated circuit package system also includes: forming a lead and a support structure with substantially the same material as the lead and elevated above the lead; connecting an integrated circuit and the lead; mounting a shield over the integrated circuit with the shield on the support structure; and encapsulating the integrated circuit and the shield.
US08072044B2
Methods for singulating a semiconductor wafer into a plurality of individual dies that contain lateral edges or sidewalls and the semiconductor dies formed from these methods are described. The dies are formed from methods that use a front to back photolithography alignment process to form a photo-resist mask and an anisoptropic wet etch in an HNA and/or a TMAH solution on the backside of the wafer through the photoresist mask to form sloped sidewalls and/or textures. The conditions of the TMAH etching process can be controlled to form any desired combination of rough or smooth sidewalls. Thus, the dies formed have a Si front side with an area larger than the Si backside area and sidewalls or lateral edges that are not perpendicular to the front or back surface of the die. Other embodiments are also described.
US08072042B1
A method for integrating an inductor into a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface and forming at least a first trench and at least two openings in the semiconductor substrate. The first trench and the openings extend from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate, and the first trench has a ring-like shape. A portion of the first trench is arranged between the two openings. The method further includes depositing a magnetically soft material into the first trench to form a ring-like closed magnetisable core structure, depositing a conductive material into the openings to form vias, and forming an electrical cross-connection between the vias.
US08072035B2
In an LCD driver, in a high voltage resistant MISFET, end portions of a gate electrode run onto electric field relaxing insulation regions. Wires to become source wires or drain wires are formed on an interlayer insulation film of the first layer over the high voltage resistant MISFET. At this moment, when a distance from an interface between a semiconductor substrate and a gate insulation film to an upper portion of the gate electrode is defined as “a”, and a distance from the upper portion of the gate electrode to an upper portion of the interlayer insulation film on which the wires are formed is defined as “b”, a relation of a>b is established. In such a high voltage resistant MISFET structured in this manner, the wires are arranged so as not to be overlapped planarly with the gate electrode of the high voltage resistant MISFET.
US08072032B2
Latchup is prevented from occurring accompanying increasingly finer geometries of a chip. NchMOSFET N1 and PchMOSFET P1 form a CMOS circuit including: NchMOSFET N2 whose gate, drain and back gate are connected to back gate of N1 and PchMOSFET P2 whose gate, drain and back gate are connected to back gate of P1. Source of N2 is connected to source of N1. Source of P2 is connected to source of P1. N2 is always connected between the grounded source of N1 and the back gate of N1, while P2 is connected between source of P1 connected to a power supply and the back gate of P1. Each of N2 and P2 functions as a voltage limiting element (a limiter circuit).
US08072030B2
A semiconductor device, which is connected to a protected device and protects a protected device, includes a semiconductor layer provided on an insulating film; a plurality of source layers which is formed in the semiconductor layer and extends in a first direction; a plurality of drain layers which is formed in the semiconductor layer and extends along with the source layers; a plurality of body regions which is provided between the source layers and the drain layers in the semiconductor layer and extends in the first direction; and at least one body connecting part connecting the plurality of body regions, wherein a first width between the source layer and the drain layer at a first position is larger than a second width between the source layer and the drain layer at a second position, the second position is closer to the body connecting part than the first position.
US08072025B2
A first lamination part includes: a charge accumulation layer provided on the respective sidewalls of laminated first conductive layers and accumulating charges; and a first semiconductor layer provided in contact with the fourth insulation layer and formed to extend to the lamination direction. A second lamination part includes a second semiconductor layer provided in contact with the first semiconductor layer. A third lamination part includes: a plurality of first contact layers formed in contact with the respective second lamination part, extending to a first direction perpendicular to the lamination direction, and in line with each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality of contact plug layers formed in contact with any one of the first contact layers and extending to the lamination direction. The contact plug layers are arranged at different positions relative to each other in the first direction.
US08072018B2
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate. A lamination structure is on the substrate along a first direction. The lamination structure comprises a plurality of conductive layers arranged from bottom to top and separated from each other, and each of the conductive layers has a channel region and an adjacent source/drain doped region along the first direction. A first gate structure is on a sidewall of the channel region of each conductive layer. The first gate structure comprises an inner first gate insulating layer and an outer first gate conductive layer.
US08072015B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a transistor, and an element separation region separating the photoelectric conversion unit and the transistor. The photoelectric conversion unit and the transistor constitute a pixel. The element separation region is formed of a semiconductor region of a conductivity type opposite to that of a source region and a drain region of the transistor. A part of a gate electrode of the transistor protrudes toward the element separation region side beyond an active region of the transistor. An insulating film having a thickness substantially the same as that of a gate insulating film of the gate electrode of the transistor is formed on the element separation region continuing from a part thereof under the gate electrode of the transistor to a part thereof continuing from the part under the gate electrode of the transistor.
US08072012B2
Tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) are regarded as successors of metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), but silicon-based TFETs typically suffer from low on-currents, a drawback related to the large resistance of the tunnel barrier. To achieve higher on-currents an elongate monocrystalline nanostructure-based TFET with a heterostructure made of a different semiconducting material (e.g. germanium (Ge)) is used. An elongate monocrystalline nanostructure made of a different semiconducting material is introduced which acts as source (or alternatively drain) region of the TFET. The introduction of the heterosection is such that the lattice mismatch between silicon and germanium does not result in a highly defective interface. A dynamic power reduction as well as a static power reduction can result, compared to conventional MOSFET configurations. Multiple layers of logic can therefore be envisioned with these elongate monocrystalline nanostructure Si/Ge TFETs resulting in ultra-high on-chip transistor densities.
US08072004B2
An integrated circuit chip includes a semiconductor substrate having thereon a plurality of inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers and a plurality of first conductive layers embedded in respective the plurality of IMD layers, wherein the first conductive layers comprise copper; a first passivation layer overlying the plurality of IMD layers and the plurality of first conductive layers; a plurality of first power/ground mesh wiring lines, formed in a second conductive layer overlying the first passivation layer, for distributing power signal or ground signal, wherein the second conductive layer comprise aluminum; and a second passivation layer covering the second conductive layer and the first passivation layer.
US08071992B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a support structure, and a light-emitting structure. The support structure includes a support substrate, and a support substrate side bonding layer disposed on one surface of the support substrate. The light-emitting structure includes a light-emitting structure side bonding layer bonded to the support substrate side bonding layer, a reflection region disposed on the support substrate side bonding layer opposite the support substrate, and a semiconductor multilayer structure including a light-emitting layer disposed on the reflection region opposite the light-emitting structure side bonding layer for emitting a light with a predetermined wavelength, and a light-extraction surface disposed on the light-emitting layer opposite the reflection region for reflecting diffusely the light. The reflection region includes a transparent layer of a material with a lower refractive index than that of the semiconductor multilayer structure, and a reflection layer of a metallic material. The transparent layer has such a thickness that interference caused by multiple reflection of light inputted to the transparent layer can be suppressed.
US08071987B2
A housing for an optoelectronic component is disclosed, having a plastic base body that has a front side with an assembly region for at least one radiation emitting or radiation detecting body, wherein the plastic base body is formed from at least one first plastic component and at least one second plastic component. The second plastic component is disposed on the front side of the plastic base body, and is formed from a material that differs from the first plastic component in at least one optical property, and forms an optically functional region of the plastic base body. Further, a method for producing a housing for an optoelectronic component and a light emitting diode component is disclosed.
US08071980B2
A radiation detector that includes a charge conversion layer, a substrate, an electrode layer, an intermediary layer and wiring is provided. The substrate includes a lower electrode portion that collects charge generated by the charge conversion layer. The electrode layer includes an upper electrode portion and an extended electrode portion. The upper electrode portion is laminated on the charge conversion layer. The extended electrode portion extends from the upper electrode portion down a side face of the charge conversion layer to a region on the substrate at which the charge conversion layer is not present. The intermediary layer is formed from between the charge conversion layer and the upper electrode portion to between the extended electrode portion and the substrate. The wiring is electrically connected with the extended electrode portion at the region on the substrate at which the charge conversion layer is not present.
US08071976B2
The invention relates to an organic field-effect transistor, in particular an organic thin film field-effect transistor comprising a gate electrode, a drain electrode and a source electrode, a dielectric layer which is formed in contact with the gate electrode, an active layer made from an organic material which is in contact with the drain electrode and the source electrode and which is configured electrically undoped, a dopant material layer which contains a dopant material that is an electrical dopant for the organic material of the active layer, and a border surface region in which a planar contact is formed between the active layer and the dopant material layer, wherein mobility of similar electrical charge carriers, namely electrons or holes, in the dopant material layer is no more than half as great as in the active layer.
US08071970B2
A phase change memory device comprising an electrode, a phase change layer crossing and contacting the electrode at a cross region thereof, and a transistor comprising a source and a drain, wherein the drain of the transistor electrically connects the electrode or the phase change layer is disclosed.
US08071960B2
In the case of a method for producing samples for transmission electron microscopy, a sample is prepared from a substrate of a sample material. To this end, the sample material is irradiated by means of a laser beam along an irradiation trajectory in order to produce a weak path in the sample material. The irradiation is controlled such that the weak path crosses a further weak path, which is likewise preferably produced by laser irradiation, running in the sample material, at an acute angle in a crossing region. The substrate is broken along the weak paths. A sample is thereby produced which has a wedge-shaped sample section bounded by fracture surfaces and has in the region of a wedge tip at least one electron-transparent region.
US08071959B2
An 82Sr/82Rb generator column is made using a fluid impervious cylindrical container having a cover for closing the container in a fluid tight seal, and further having an inlet for connection of a conduit for delivering a fluid into the container and an outlet for connection of a conduit for conducting the fluid from the container. An ion exchange material fills the container, the ion exchange material being compacted within the container to a density that permits the ion exchange material to be eluted at a rate of at least 5 ml/min at a fluid pressure of 1.5 pounds per square inch (10 kPa). The generator column can be repeatedly recharged with 82Sr. The generator column is compatible with either three-dimensional or two-dimensional positron emission tomography systems.
US08071958B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.
US08071954B2
The invention relates to a hybrid phase plate for use in a TEM. The phase plate according to the invention resembles a Boersch phase plate in which a Zernike phase plate is mounted. As a result the phase plate according to the invention resembles a Boersch phase plate for electrons scattered to such an extent that they pass outside the central structure (15) and resembles a Zernike phase plate for scattered electrons passing through the bore of the central structure. Comparing the phase plate of the invention with a Zernike phase plate is has the advantage that for electrons that are scattered over a large angle, no electrons are absorbed or scattered by a foil, resulting in a better high resolution performance of the TEM. Comparing the phase plate of the invention with a Boersch phase plate the demands for miniaturization of the central structure are less severe.
US08071952B2
There is provided a radiographic image detection device including: a radiation detection portion that includes an irradiation surface at which radiation is irradiated and is provided, at a plurality of locations on side faces, with attachment portions at which a handle is attachable, the radiation detection portion detecting radiation that has passed through a subject of imaging and been irradiated through the irradiation surface, and outputting image information that represents a radiographic image in accordance with detected radiation amounts; and a handle portion that is attachable and detachable at the attachment portions.
US08071950B2
A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, rodents (especially mice and rats), that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus in close proximity such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session.
US08071949B2
A compact, mobile, dedicated SPECT brain imager that can be easily moved to the patient to provide in-situ imaging, especially when the patient cannot be moved to the Nuclear Medicine imaging center. As a result of the widespread availability of single photon labeled biomarkers, the SPECT brain imager can be used in many locations, including remote locations away from medical centers. The SPECT imager improves the detection of gamma emission from the patient's head and neck area with a large field of view. Two identical lightweight gamma imaging detector heads are mounted to a rotating gantry and precisely mechanically co-registered to each other at 180 degrees. A unique imaging algorithm combines the co-registered images from the detector heads and provides several SPECT tomographic reconstructions of the imaged object thereby improving the diagnostic quality especially in the case of imaging requiring higher spatial resolution and sensitivity at the same time.
US08071946B2
The light sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a multi-function light sensor that is equipped at low cost with both an ultraviolet light sensor and a visible light sensor and suppresses leak current between adjacent elements on the same substrate. The light sensor is equipped with a SOI substrate, formed from a silicon oxide insulating film and a silicon semiconductor layer made up from single crystal silicon, on a silicon substrate. Photodiodes PD1 and PD2 are formed on the silicon substrate, and a photodiode UV-PD, and main portions (source, drain and channel regions) of a MOSFET configuring a control circuit, are formed in the silicon semiconductor layer on the insulating film.
US08071941B2
A cathode configuration for emission of electrons has a reaction zone connected to an entrance opening for the supply of neutral particles. The opening communicates with the cathode configuration for the ionization of the neutral particles and an ion extraction system communicates with the reaction zone. Ions from the extraction system are sent to a detection system and a mechanism for the evacuation of the mass spectrometer arrangement. The cathode configuration includes a field emission cathode with an emitter surface, wherein at a short distance from this emitter surface, an extraction grid is disposed for the extraction of electrons, which grid substantially covers the emitter surface. The emitter surface encompasses herein at least partially a hollow volume such that a tubular structure is formed.
US08071936B2
An optical sensing device comprising a shell, at least one light emitting member, at least one optical sensing member and a shading member is disclosed. The shell is formed with a black-body condition space therein, and the light emitting member projects a light beam into the black-body condition space. The optical sensing member is located within the shell and neighboring to the black-body condition space. The shading member is movably arranged within the black-body condition space. At least one end surface of the shading member is contacted with the shell and formed with at least one recess. When the shading member moves to at least one shading region within the black-body condition space, the optical sensing member is shaded by the shading member; and when the shading member moves apart the shading region, the optical sensing member senses the light beam to accordingly send out a sensing signal.
US08071921B2
A method of and an arrangement for transmitting electric current to a furnace that is heated, either completely or partially, by electric current conducted in the furnace wall. The current is conducted through electrically conductive devices connected to the furnace wall. At least one of the devices in proximity to the furnace wall includes a section that has a smaller cross-sectional area than the remainder of the device. The current flow through the smaller cross-section develops heat in the region of the smaller section of a magnitude that corresponds substantially to the heat magnitude that would have been conducted from the furnace wall to the electrically conductive device in the absence of the smaller cross-sectional area.
US08071916B2
A wafer heating apparatus which is capable of quickly cooling by improving the cooling rate of the heater section is provided.The wafer heating apparatus comprises a plate-shaped member having two opposing principal surfaces with one of the principal surfaces serving as a mounting surface to mount a wafer thereon and the other principal surface having a band-shaped resistive heating member formed thereon, power feeder terminals connected to the resistive heating member for supplying electric power to the resistive heating member, a casing provided to cover the power feeder terminals on the other surface of the plate-shaped member and a nozzle of which tip faces the other surface of the plate-shaped member for cooling the plate-shaped member, wherein the position of the tip of the nozzle as projected onto the other surface of the plate-shaped member is located between the bands of the resistive heating member.
US08071911B2
A combustor component with cooling apertures has the apertures formed by laser drilling. The machining apparatus comprises a beam generator for generating a beam for directing at the combustor component and a beam trap. The component is translated relative to the beam and the beam is directed to the beam trap and is dissipated within the beam trap.
US08071908B1
Apparatuses and methods are provide thermally processing of the central portion of a substrate surface using a scanned photonic beam. Such thermal processing is carried out using a shield to block the beam from illuminating the side wall or peripheral portion of the substrate. The shield has characteristics, e.g., diffractive characteristics, effective to maintain the intensity of any unblocked portion of beam suitable for processing the central portion of the substrate surface.
US08071907B2
A method for joining dissimilar materials of sensor button for measuring torque is illustrated. The dissimilar materials can be welded together by laser welding. The parts can be cleaned and held together firmly by a fixture and welded with established machine parameters. The method of micro-crack free weld joint can give a robust joint for the life time of the automotive which mandate for the function of torque sensor to facilitate the positive strain transfer from the parent material.
US08071904B2
The present invention provides an electrostatic separation method and an electrostatic separation device each of which, even in a case where the concentration of unburned components of coal ash produced by a boiler of a coal-fired power plant is as high as 15% to 30%, can stably separate the ash (into high unburned component ash and low unburned component ash) without generating spark, reuse the high unburned component ash as fuel, and reuse the low unburned component ash as, for example, an auxiliary material of concrete.The electrostatic separation method and the electrostatic separation device each of which separates unburned carbon ash contained in the coal ash by an electrostatic force, wherein: a substantially flat plate lower side electrode and an upper side electrode disposed above the lower side electrode and including a high dielectric resin element are disposed; a separation zone formed by an electrostatic force is formed by generating a DC electric field between the lower side electrode and the upper side electrode where one of the lower side electrode and the upper side electrode is a positive polarity, and another electrode is a negative polarity; and the unburned carbon ash in the coal ash supplied to the separation zone is separated.
US08071901B2
A safety switch for affecting the operating state of equipment to which the safety switch is at least indirectly connected. The safety switch includes a configuration, such as a number of contacts, that is arranged to change from a first condition to a second condition depending on whether or not an actuator has been engaged with or disengaged from the safety switch. The safety switch includes an arrangement for determining information that is at least indicative of an operational property of the configuration, and for storing information that is at least indicative of the obtained information.
US08071899B2
An electronic device includes an enclosure accommodating a plurality of electronic elements therein, a circuit board positioned in the enclosure and spaced from the panel, and a key assembly positioned between the panel and the circuit board. The enclosure includes a panel defining an opening. The circuit board includes a plurality of switches. The key assembly includes a plurality of key bodies protruding out from the opening of the panel and movable relative to the panel, and a supporting frame attached to the panel for supporting and fixing the plurality of key bodies. The switches are positioned under the plurality of key bodies. Movement of a portion each of the plurality of key bodies along a first direction allows movement of another portion of each of the key bodies along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to open or close a corresponding switch.
US08071894B2
A semiconductor device includes a module board mounting thereon an electric component and including a plug at an edge of the module board, and a mount board including thereon a socket adapted to said plug on a surface portion of the mount board for mounting thereon the module board via said plug, wherein the mount board includes therein a heat radiation layer in contact with a bottom surface of the socket, wherein the socket comprises a heat radiation guide plate in contact with a side surface of the socket.
US08071888B2
This invention provides an electrically conductive ink comprising an electrically conductive material and a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate/hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer resin. There is also provided a noncontact-type medium comprising a base material and, provided on the base material, an electrically conductive circuit formed using the electrically conductive ink, and an IC chip mounted in the state of being electrically conducted to the electrically conductive circuit. An electrically conductive circuit, which is in a thin film form, can be used as an antenna circuit for noncontact-type media, has a low volume resistivity on the order of 10−5 Ω·cm, and is highly reliable under a high temperature and high humidity environment, can be formed by using the electrically conductive ink at a low temperature in a short time.
US08071883B2
A flex-rigid wiring board includes a flexible board including a flexible substrate and a conductor pattern formed over the flexible substrate, a non-flexible substrate disposed adjacent to the flexible board, an insulating layer covering the flexible board and the non-flexible substrate and exposing one or more portions of the flexible board, a conductor pattern formed on the insulating layer, and a plating layer connecting the conductor pattern of the flexible board and the conductor pattern on the insulating layer.
US08071879B2
An adaptor for use with a telecommunications enclosure includes a body having a port extending therethrough from a first end of the body to a second end of the body. The first end of the body is configured for mounting within an opening of a telecommunications housing along a first axis. The port adjacent the second end of the adaptor is configured to receive a connection device receptacle therein along a second axis different from the first axis. A retention device is positioned adjacent the second end of the body and configured to retain a connection device receptacle within the port.
US08071875B2
Semiconductor ink is disclosed for use in printing thin film solar cell absorber layer. The semiconductor ink is particularly useful in fabricating multi junction tandem solar cell wherein a high bandgap absorber layer as the top cell and a lower band gap absorber layer as the bottom cell. The ink contains ingredients of IB-IIIA-VIA compound with micron-sized semiconductor as the main building “bricks” and nano-sized semiconductor as the binder to fulfill the formation of smooth semiconductive film with micron-sized crystal grain size. Thus formed ink can be used in direct printing for the fabrication of low cost high performance solar cells.
US08071871B2
A drum includes a shell having first and second, spaced apart ends defining an interior volume; first and second drumheads, each stretched over a respective one of the first and second ends of the shell; and an electromechanical driver having a moving coil element operable to move the first drumhead in response to an electrical drive signal.
US08071868B2
A vibrato mounting apparatus for mounting a vibrato device, such as a Bigsby Vibrato, to an electric guitar without making changes to the guitar body is herein disclosed. The vibrato device replaces the stop tailpiece of the guitar leaving available mounting holes for the mounting apparatus. The vibrato device is then mounted to the apparatus without the need to alter the guitar by drilling holes. The mounting apparatus locates the vibrato device on the guitar in a manner to maintain the critical bend angle of the guitar strings over the bridge. With a minimalist profile, the mounting apparatus is essentially concealed from view and presents a small burden in weight to the guitar. An alternative embodiment provides a method for mounting the apparatus so as to preserve the design string dynamics.
US08071859B2
A soybean cultivar designated 93022415 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 93022415, to the plants of soybean 93022415, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 93022415, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 93022415 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 93022415, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 93022415, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 93022415 with another soybean cultivar.
US08071849B1
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar S07-04KL022755 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar S07-04KL022755 and its progeny, and methods of making S07-04KL022755.
US08071846B2
Polynucleotides and polypeptides incorporated into expression vectors have been introduced into plants and were ectopically expressed. The polypeptides of the invention have been shown to confer at least one regulatory activity and confer increased yield, greater height, greater early season growth, greater canopy coverage, greater stem diameter, greater late season vigor, increased secondary rooting, more rapid germination, greater cold tolerance, greater tolerance to water deprivation, reduced stomatal conductance, altered C/N sensing, increased low nitrogen tolerance, increased low phosphorus tolerance, or increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress as compared to the control plant as compared to a control plant.
US08071844B1
A plant grown from seeds derived from a new interhybrid of three plants of the Momordica genus has been cultivated. The new plant hybrid has a faster growth rate than the parent species. Parts of the new interhybrid plant which, when ingested by an individual, have blood glucose and/or insulin regulating properties. Foods and/or beverages containing parts or extracts of the new interhybrid plant and which to promote weight control or loss and/or blood glucose regulation are also disclosed.
US08071843B2
The present invention enables production of a plant resistant to environmental stresses including drought stress. The invention increases stress resistance to a plant by increasing raffinose content in the plant.
US08071831B1
Xylene and ethylbenzene isomerization process is catalyzed by the UZM-35 family of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolitic compositions represented by the empirical formula: Mmn+Rr+Al(1-x)ExSiyOz where M represents a combination of potassium and sodium exchangeable cations, R is a singly charged organoammonium cation such as the dimethyldipropylammonium cation and E is a framework element such as gallium. These UZM-35 zeolitic compositions are active and selective in the isomerization of xylenes and ethylbenzene.
US08071826B2
A process for the preparation of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf). HFO-1234yf is a refrigerant with low global warming potential. A process comprises a) reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene with a methyl halide to form an intermediate product stream; and b) reacting the intermediate product stream with hydrogen fluoride to thereby produce a result comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.
US08071819B2
The invention provides an apparatus and process for producing high-purity diol by taking cyclic carbonate and aliphatic monohydric alcohol as starting materials, continuously feeding the starting materials into column A, carrying out reactive distillation in column A, continuously withdrawing a low boiling point reaction mixture containing a produced dialkyl carbonate and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol from an upper portion of column A, continuously withdrawing a high boiling point reaction mixture containing a produced diol from a lower portion of column A, continuously feeding the high boiling point reaction mixture into distillation column C, distilling off material having a lower boiling point than that of the diol contained in the high boiling point reaction mixture AB as a column top component and/or a side cut component so as to obtain a column bottom component, continuously feeding the column bottom component into distillation column E, and obtaining the diol.
US08071812B1
A process is provided for the preparation of 1,3-diamino-4,6-dinitrobenzene by amination of 1,3-dihalo-4,6-dinitrobenzene. The presence of water advantageously results in a highly pure product, free or essentially free of glycol ether impurities.
US08071807B2
Described herein are compounds that are antagonists of PGD2 receptors. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds described herein, and methods of using such antagonists of PGD2 receptors, alone or in combination with other compounds, for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, and other PGD2-dependent or PGD2-mediated conditions or diseases.
US08071806B2
This invention provides an integrated two stage economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethylene either in a single reactor zone or in a dual rector zone wherein the intermediate hydrogenated products are either dehydrated and/or cracked to form ethylene. In a subsequent second stage so formed ethylene is reacted with molecular oxygen and acetic acid over a suitable catalyst to form VAM. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a hydrogenation catalyst and subsequent reaction over a dehydration catalyst selectively produces ethylene, which is further mixed with acetic acid and molecular oxygen and reacted over a supported palladium/gold/potassium catalyst.
US08071805B2
A process for producing a 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyrate compound represented by the formula (2): wherein A is a hydrogen atom or a group represented by R—CH2—, wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, which comprises the step of: reacting 4-(methylthio)-2-oxo-1-butanol with oxygen and a compound represented by the formula (1): A-OH (1) wherein A is as defined above, in the presence of a copper compound.
US08071803B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1-(2-ethyl-butyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid which is useful as an intermediate in the preparation of pharmaceutically active compounds.
US08071797B2
Compounds having the formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and X are as defined herein are Hepatitis C virus NS5b polymerase inhibitors. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for treating an HCV infection and inhibiting HCV replication.
US08071794B2
Reactive fluorescent dyes compositions and methods of using same are disclosed. Squaraine nucleus, Nile Red nucleus, benzodioxazole nucleus, coumarin nucleus or aza coumarin nucleus dyes are disclosed having thiol-reactive groups. Squaraine nucleus, Nile Red nucleus, benzodioxazole nucleus, coumarin nucleus or aza coumarin nucleus dyes are disclosed that exhibit a fluorescence emission of at least about 575 nm. Biosensors are disclosed having a binding protein and a squaraine nucleus, Nile Red nucleus, benzodioxazole nucleus, coumarin nucleus or aza coumarin nucleus.
US08071792B2
The present invention relates to the technical purification of vinylene carbonate (VC) by means of a simple thermal treatment with organic compounds which possess amidic nitrogen-hydrogen bonds, followed by a distillation and a melt crystallization. In this way VC of ultra-high purity is obtained. The high-purity vinylene carbonate can be stored and transported without stabilizer.
US08071789B2
The present invention features biarsenical molecules. Target sequences that specifically react with the biarsenical molecules are also included. The present invention also features kits that include biarsenical molecules and target sequences. Tetraarsenical molecules are also featured in the invention.
US08071787B2
A compound of the following formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, X, Y, and Z are as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method for inhibiting actively of fibroblast activation protein or for treating cancer or inflammation conditions with such a compound.
US08071782B2
This invention concerns the synthesis of highly substituted pyrazoles, which are structural components of pharmacological compounds, through reaction of hydrazones with nitroolefins.
US08071780B2
The present invention provides novel piperidine derivatives of formula (I), wherein R represents a substituted benzyl group, which are useful as inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS). The compounds of the Invention are useful for treating various glycolipid storage diseases, such as Gaucher's disease, Sandhoff's disease, Tay-Schs disease, Fabry disease, and GM1 gangliosidosis; glycolipid accumulation disorders, such as Niemann-Pick disease, mucopolysaccharidoses, mucolipidosis type IV and α-mannosidosis; various cancers that involve abnormal glycolipid synthesis; and various infectious diseases that involve cell surface glycolipids as receptors for the infectious organisms or for their toxins; as well as a variety of other disorders involving glycolipid synthesis, including neuronal disorders, inflammatory diseases, obesity, and the like.
US08071778B2
The invention encompasses compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their pharmaceutical compositions, and their use in treating CNS disorders.
US08071774B2
The patent application relates to new heterocyclic compounds of the general formula (I) in which A, R, R1, R2, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, n and p have the definitions elucidated in more detail in the description, to a process for preparing them and to the use of these compounds as medicaments, particularly as aldosterone synthase inhibitors.
US08071773B2
The patent application relates to new heterocyclic compounds of the general formula (I) in which R, R1, R2, W, X, Y, Z and n have the definitions elucidated in more detail in the description, to a process for preparing them and to the use of these compounds as medicaments, particularly as aldosterone synthase inhibitors.
US08071767B2
Described herein is an improved, commercially viable and industrially advantageous process for the preparation of paliperidone intermediate 9-hydroxy-3-(2-chloroethyl)-2-methyl-4h-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one and its hydrochloride salt. The process provides the paliperidone intermediate in higher yield and reduced reaction time compared to the previously disclosed processes, thereby providing for production of paliperidone and its pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts in high purity and in high yield.
US08071759B2
Four novel water soluble cholesterol derivative compounds are disclosed. These compounds have various applications in studies of membrane proteins, including drug screening and studies of receptor stability and folding. In one aspect the water soluble cholesterol derivatives disclosed may be used to replace cholesterol in micelle-solubilized membrane protein preparations.
US08071758B2
It has been found that a limulus-positive glycolipid is present in xanthan gum derived from Xanthomonas, which has been commercially available and eaten for many years, and this was purified, and it has been found that this limulus-positive glycolipid has an immunopotentiation effect. A method for safely and inexpensively producing the limulus-positive glycolipid containing an immunopotentiator at high concentrations is provided. The method for producing the limulus-positive glycolipid of the present invention comprises extracting the limulus-positive glycolipid from xanthan gum. A limulus-positive glycolipid composition containing the limulus-positive glycolipid can be used for various applications such as pharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals for animals, quasi drugs, cosmetics, foods, functional foods, feedstuff and bath agents.
US08071753B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences producing at least one functional miRNA, at least one functional shRNA and/or at least one functional siRNA, said miRNA, shRNA or siRNA being designed to silence the expression of a gene that encodes a cholinergic protein. The present invention further relates to compositions and kits comprising such nucleic acid sequences as well as to uses thereof.
US08071752B2
The present invention relates to novel short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules that are multi-targeted. More specifically, the present invention relates to siRNA molecules that target two or more sequences. In one embodiment, multi-targeting siRNA molecules are designed to incorporate features of siRNA molecules and features of micro-RNA (miRNA) molecules. In another embodiment, multi-targeting siRNA molecules are designed so that each strand is directed to separate targets.
US08071744B2
The present invention provides methods for detecting changes in tryptophan concentrations in a cell and methods for identifying agents that modulate cellular tryptophan concentrations. In particular, the present invention provides methods for detecting cellular exchange between tryptophan and kynurenine, and methods for identifying agents that modulate this exchange. The present invention also provides methods for treating a disease associated with immunosuppression in a subject in need thereof. In particular, the present invention is directed toward a method of treating a disease associated with immunosuppression comprising contacting the disease with an agent that modulates cellular Trp/kynurenine exchange. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for identifying an agent that modulates an immunosuppression.
US08071742B2
Certain embodiments provide a method for crystallizing a GPCR. The method may employ a fusion protein comprising: a) a first portion of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), where the first portion comprises the TM1, TM2, TM3, TM4 and TM5 regions of the GPCR; b) a stable, folded protein insertion; and c) a second portion of the GPCR, where the second portion comprises the TM6 and TM7 regions of the GPCR.
US08071731B2
The present invention relates to altered antibodies to myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG), pharmaceutical formulations containing them and to the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases/disorders.
US08071726B2
The invention is a proteinaceous construct comprising a Factor VIII molecule which is conjugated to a water-soluble polymer via carbohydrate moieties of Factor VIII, and methods of preparing same.
US08071715B2
An oxidized and maleated fatty acid composition, especially an oxidized and maleated tall oil fatty acid-containing product useful in formulating corrosion inhibitors and for use as an emulsifier, especially for petroleum-related applications.
US08071714B2
The invention relates to a process for separating and/or purifying organic compounds susceptible to crystallization by means of crystallizing and dissolving comprising the following steps: a) depositing the composition in the head of a separation and/or crystallization column; b) crystallizing by means of a cooling gradient; c) pumping the solvent at optimal flow rate Fc; d) entraining the components while they are not crystallized to the end of the column; e) stopping the pumping of the solvent until reaching the lowest temperature of the interval established by the cooling gradient; f) heating the column; g) beginning new pumping by means of applying flow rate Fe; h) collecting the eluates; and i) detecting by means of detectors.
US08071709B2
The present invention provides a novel fluorine-containing rubber composite material having both of excellent fuel impermeability and excellent cold resistance, a fuel impermeable sealing material comprising the composite material and a process for preparing the composite material. The fluorine-containing rubber composite material comprises crosslinked particles of fluorine-containing silicone rubber dispersed in a fluorine-containing rubber. It is preferable that the fluorine-containing rubber comprises a vinylidene fluoride/tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro vinyl ether copolymer, and the composite material has cold resistance of not more than −35° C. and fuel permeability of not more than 500 g·mm/m2·day. The fuel impermeable sealing material comprises the composite material. The process for preparing the composite material comprises a step for co-coagulation of a fluorine-containing rubber emulsion and an emulsion of crosslinked fluorine-containing silicone rubber.
US08071707B2
An addition-curable silicone composition is provided. The composition includes (A) a resin structure organopolysiloxane and (B) a platinum group metal-based catalyst. The component (A) has silicon-bonded alkenyl groups and hydrosilyl groups, and includes a structure in which R22SiO units, wherein R2 is a methyl group, etc., are connected together in a continuous repeating sequence, and the number of units in the continuous repeating sequence is within a range from 5 to 300. The composition can be prepared in a solid or semisolid form, and hence is suitable conventional molding apparatus such as a transfer molding apparatus, and upon curing, forms a hard resin cured product that exhibits excellent flexibility and minimal surface tack.
US08071701B2
Metal complexes comprising certain polydentate heteroatom containing ligands, catalysts, and coordination polymerization processes employing the same are suitably employed to prepare polymers having desirable physical properties.
US08071698B2
The present invention relates to cationically curable compositions for curing on a surface comprising a cationically curable component, an accelerator species comprising at least one vinyl ether functional group and an initiator component capable of initiating cure of the cationically curable component. The initiator comprises at least one metal salt, which is chosen so that it is reduced at the surface, and where the standard reduction potential of the initiator component is greater than the standard reduction potential of the surface, and where when the composition is placed in contact with the surface, the metal salt of the initiator component of the composition is reduced at the surface, thereby initiating cure of the cationically curable component of the composition. The accelerator species comprising at least one vinyl ether functional group greatly enhances the rate of cure. No catalytic component is required in the composition for efficient cure.
US08071696B2
The invention relates to novel crosslinkable copolymers of formula wherein the variables are as defined in the claims. The copolymers of the invention are especially useful for the manufacture of biomedical moldings, for example ophthalmic moldings such as in particular contact lenses.
US08071688B2
Concurrently fed into a reaction zone held at about 10° C. or less are brominating agent, aluminum halide catalyst, and a solution of anionic styrenic polymer having a GPC Mn about 2000-30,000. The components are in at least two separate feed streams. The feeds are proportioned to maintain (a) the amount of aluminum halide being fed at about 0.8 mole percent or less based on the amount of aromatic monomeric units in the polymer being fed, and (b) amounts of brominating agent and unbrominated polymer in the reaction zone that produce a final washed and dried polymer product containing about 60-71 wt % bromine. The catalyst is deactivated, bromide ions and catalyst residues are washed away from the reaction mixture, and the brominated anionic styrenic polymer is recovered and dried. The dried polymer has a volatile bromobenzene content of about 600 ppm (wt/wt) or less as well as other beneficial properties.
US08071684B2
The present invention provides a golf ball material which is made of an ionomer composition that includes a phenolic resin component. The invention provides also a golf ball composed of a core and a cover layer, or a core, a cover layer and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, wherein the golf ball material is used in at least one layer of the core or cover. The invention additionally provides a method for preparing the golf ball material by using (i) or (ii) below: (i) melt blending an ionomer and a phenolic resin; (ii) melt blending an ionomer base resin, a metal cation source and a phenolic resin. The golf ball material of the invention has improved properties, including rebound resilience, durability, and a higher hardness. By using this golf ball material as the material for an essential part of a golf ball, the golf ball properties can be improved.
US08071679B2
The present invention is directed to a coating composition comprising a polymer that comprises an oligomeric macromonomer and a core from which the oligomeric macromonomer extends, wherein the oligomeric macromonomer comprises reactive functional groups and has an average functionality ranging from 1.0 to 30, and wherein the core is <10 weight % of the total polymer weight.
US08071676B2
A primary modified polymer composed of (1) a hydrogenated polymer obtained by hydrogenating at least one non-hydrogenated polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers comprising conjugated diene monomer units and copolymers comprising conjugated diene monomer units and vinyl aromatic monomer units and (2) groups of a primary modifier having a functional group which are bonded to the polymer (1), which has a specific vinyl aromatic monomer unit content, a specific vinyl aromatic polymer block content, a specific weight-average molecular weight, and a specific degree of hydrogenation of the double bonds of conjugated diene monomer units; a secondary modified polymer obtained by reacting a primary modified polymer composed of (β) a base polymer and (γ) groups of a primary modifier having a functional group which are bonded to the polymer (β) with a secondary modifier; and compositions comprising the primary or secondary modified polymer and at least one other component.
US08071671B2
A process for forming a tire component, the process comprising the steps of introducing a vulcanizable polymer, a curative, a first carbon black characterized by an iodine adsorption number, per ASTM D1510, that is greater than 60 g/kg, and a second carbon black characterized by an iodine adsorption number, per ASTM D1510, that is less than 60 g/kg to form a vulcanizable composition, fabricating a tire component from the vulcanizable composition, and curing the tire component.
US08071670B2
Aqueous polymeric dispersions comprising a mixture of: (a) a component selected from the group consisting of polyvinylacetates, polyvinylacetate copolymers, and combinations thereof; and (b) SiO2 particles having an average particle diameter of 1 to 400 nm; their use as adhesives and coatings; processes for preparing such dispersions; and substrates coated and/or adhered therewith.
US08071665B2
A single phase aqueous composition suitable for thermal inkjet printing comprises a mixture of curable materials including at least two curable oligomers; and one or more co-solvents for the curable materials.
US08071664B2
Compositions comprising (1) a refractory and/or a binder, and (2) bis-cyclopentadienyl iron cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.
US08071663B2
The present invention is directed to a medically acceptable formulation comprising a diisocyanate terminated macromer or mixture thereof, and bio-absorbable desiccant comprising a hygroscopic and/or hydrophilic or combination thereof. The present invention is also directed to methods of use for such formulations for medical procedures.
US08071659B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing low-viscosity reaction products of polyisocyanates containing activated groups which react, with polymerization, with ethylenically unsaturated compounds on exposure to actinic radiation.
US08071655B2
A catalyst applicable to the synthesis gas conversions especially E-T slurry processes, said catalyst comprising: a) a support containing at least a first aluminate element of mixed spinel structure of formula MxM′(1−x)Al2O4/Al2O3.SiO2, x ranging between and excluding 0 and 1, or of simple spinel structure of formula MAl2O4/Al2O3.SiO2, said support being calcined in an at least partly oxidizing atmosphere, at a temperature ranging between 850° C. and 900° C., and b) an active phase deposited on said support, which contains one or more group VIII metals, selected from among cobalt, nickel, ruthenium or iron. Said catalyst is used in a fixed bed or suspended in a three-phase reactor for hydrocarbon synthesis from a CO, H2 mixture.
US08071649B2
A method for treatment of nocturia by administering to a mammal, such as a human, in need of such treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of loxoprofen or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.
US08071648B2
Topical suspension compositions of nepafenac are disclosed. The compositions are especially suitable for topical ophthalmic administration.
US08071647B2
Method for suppressing adhesion of the intestines or therapeutic treatment of adhesion of the intestines comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)carbamoyl]benzoic acid. There is also provided a medicament for suppressing adhesion of the intestines and/or therapeutic treatment of bowel diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease, which comprises as an active ingredient a retinoid such as, for example, 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)carbamoyl]benzoic acid.
US08071646B2
The present invention provides highly purified omega-3 fatty acid formulations. Certain formulations provided herein contain greater than 85% omega-3 fatty acids by weight. Certain other formulations provided herein contain EPA and DHA in a ratio of from about 4.01:1 to about 5:1. The invention also provides methods of using the dosage forms to treat a variety of cardiovascular, autoimmune, inflammatory, and central nervous system disorders by administering a formulation of the invention to a patient in need thereof.
US08071643B2
A pleuromutilin derivative compound of general formula (I)
US08071642B2
Water-soluble dimethyl amino ethyl ether psoralens useful in the treatment of proliferative skin disorders, microbial infections and diseases, disorders of the blood and bone marrow of mammals and in microbiocidal compositions for sterilization of blood and blood products and surgical implants and inhibition of microbial growth in industrial applications are provided.
US08071638B2
Atorvastatin potassium crystalline Forms A, B, E, F, and G are provided. Also provided are methods of preparing atorvastatin potassium crystalline Forms A, B, E, F, and G. Atorvastatin potassium crystalline Forms A, B, E, F, and G may be used to prepare pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia.
US08071635B2
Compounds of Formula 1 where X is S and the variables have the meaning defined in the specification are specific or selective to alpha2B and/or alpha2C adrenergic receptors in preference over alpha2A adrenergic receptors, and as such have no or only minimal cardiovascular and/or sedatory activity. These compounds of Formula 1 are useful as medicaments in mammals, including humans, for treatment of diseases and or alleviations of conditions which are responsive to treatment by agonists of alpha2B adrenergic receptors. Compounds of Formula 1 where X is O also have the advantageous property that they have no or only minimal cardiovascular and/or sedatory activity and are useful for treating pain and other conditions with no or only minimal cardiovascular and/or sedatory activity.
US08071630B2
A method of treating an effect of a chemical agent, which agent is characterized by one or more chiral centres, by administering a dilution or an ultra-high dilution or potentised preparation of a stereoisomer of said chemical agent.
US08071623B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers or tautomers thereof which are inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and thus useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory diseases, reperfusion injuries, ischemic conditions, stroke, renal failure, cardiovascular diseases, vascular diseases other than cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, retroviral infection, retinal damage or skin senescence and UV-induced skin damage, and as chemo- and/or radiosensitizers for cancer treatment.
US08071622B2
The present invention is concerned with novel indol-2-yl-carbonyl-piperidin-benzoimidazolon and indol-2-yl-carbonyl-piperidin-benzoxazolon derivatives as V1a receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use for the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders and other diseases. In particular, the present invention concerns compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 to R11, X and Y are as defined in the specification.
US08071615B2
This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, m, t, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, L, Q, X, Y and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US08071613B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an anti-constipation composition containing a halogenated-bi-cyclic compound as an active ingredient in a ratio of bi-cyclic/mono-cyclic structure of at least 1:1. The halogenated-bi-cyclic compound is represented by Formula (I): where X1 and X2 are preferably both fluorine atoms. The composition can be used to treat constipation without substantive side-effects, such as stomachache.
US08071605B2
Compounds of formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are described. Processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, their use as medicaments and their use in the treatment of bacterial infections are also described.
US08071594B2
Compounds of formula (1) wherein R1 is 2-indanyl, R2 is 1-methylpropyl, R3 is 2-methyl-1,3-oxazol-4-yl and R4 and R5 together with the notrogen atom to which they are attached represents morpholino, process for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in medicine.
US08071585B2
A compound (2S)-2-[1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)pyrazolo[4,5-e]pyrimidin-4-yl]oxy-3-(3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-N-(5-methylpyrazin-2-yl)propanamide is useful in the treatment or prevention of a disease or medical condition mediated through glucokinase (GLK or GK), leading to a decreased glucose threshold for insulin secretion.
US08071576B2
The present invention relates to a method of preventing or treating benign estrogen sensitive gynecological disorders in a female mammal, wherein the method comprises the administration to said female mammal of a combination of progestogen and androgen in an amount that is therapeutically effective to prevent or reduce the symptoms of these disorders. The present method is particularly suitable for preventing or treating disorders selected from the group consisting of endrometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia and metrorrhagia. Another aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical kit comprising a plurality of oral dosage units which comprise a progestogen in an amount equivalent to 3-500 μg levonorgestrel and either 5 to 250 mg dehydroepiandrosterone or 1 to 50 mg testosterone undecanoate.
US08071573B2
Bisphosphonate compounds and related methods of making and using are disclosed, including pyridinium-1-yl, quinolinium-1-yl, and related compounds. The activity of compounds is disclosed in the context of functional assays such as Leishmania major farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) inhibition, Dictyostelium discoideum growth inhibition, human gamma delta T cell activation, and bone resorption. The applicability of bisphosphonate compounds in the context of parasitic infections, for example against trypanosomes, is disclosed. Further potential applications of the invention are disclosed regarding the treatment of one or more conditions such as bone resorption disorders, cancer, bone pain, infectious diseases, and in immunotherapy.
US08071571B2
A pharmaceutical combination or composition containing a lipase inhibitor, preferably orlistat, and a bile acid sequestrant is useful for treating obesity.
US08071565B2
Compounds of formula (I): or stereoisomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein W, R1, R2 and R3 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating conditions mediated by activation of the adenosine A2A receptor, especially inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and a process for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08071562B2
The present invention concerns methods and compositions for identifying genes or genetic pathways modulated by miR-124, using miR-124 to modulate a gene or gene pathway, using this profile in assessing the condition of a patient and/or treating the patient with an appropriate miRNA.
US08071561B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to chimeric polypeptides including HCV NS3/4A sequences and T-cell epitopes. Embodiments include nucleic acids encoding the chimeric NS3/4A polypeptides, the encoded polypeptides, compositions containing said nucleic acids, compositions containing said chimeric polypeptides, as well as methods of making and using the aforementioned compositions including, but not limited to medicaments and vaccines.
US08071551B2
The instant invention provides a method of treating an animal suffering a disease characterized by excessive apoptosis by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one serine protease inhibitor and thereafter monitoring a decrease in apoptosis. The inhibitor of the invention includes α1-antitrypsin or an α1-antitrypsin-like agent, including, but not limited to oxidation-resistant variants of α1-antitrypsin, and peptoids with antitrypsin activity. The diseases treatable by the invention include cancer, autoimmune disease, sepsis neurodegenerative disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxin induced liver injury and AIDS. The method of the invention is also suitable for the prevention or amelioration of diseases characterized by excessive apoptosis.
US08071547B2
The invention relates to novel compositions comprising alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and methods for preventing, treating or inhibiting a malignant neoplasm expressing an alpha-fetoprotein receptor (AFPR) with or without multidrug resistance. Compositions comprising a non-covalent complex of an exogenous AFP, and at least one apoptosis-inducing agent selected from the group comprising mitochondrial membrane permeabilizing agents, mitochondrial pore opening inducing agents, ionophores, caspase 9 activators, caspase 3 activators and retinoids, are provided, wherein the at least one apoptosis-inducing agent reversibly binds to the exogenous AFP. The invention also provides for a process for butanol extraction of porcine alpha-fetoprotein obtained from blood and amniotic fluid extracted during early embryogenesis.
US08071541B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a peptide having a stable, internally constrained alpha-helical, beta-sheet/beta-turn, 310-helical, or pi-helical region and a method of stabilizing an alpha-helical, beta-sheet/beta-turn, 310-helical, or pi-helical region within a peptide structure. The resulting peptides and methods of using them are also disclosed.
US08071540B2
Described herein are peptides having antimicrobial activity (antimicrobial peptides). The antimicrobial peptides, designated LBU, WLBU and WR, are analogs of the Lentivirus Lytic Peptide 1 (LLP1) amino acid sequence. The antimicrobial peptides are monomers or multimers of peptides referred to as the Lytic Base Unit (LBU) peptides, derived from the LLP1 analogs and also having antimicrobial activity. Also described herein are using the peptides in a variety of contexts, including the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases. Methods of killing fungi, such as Candida and Cryptococcus species, and bacteria, such as B. anthracis, are provided herein. Methods of neutralizing enveloped viruses, such as poxvirus, herpesvirus, rhabdovirus, hepadnavirus, baculovirus, orthomyxovirus, paramyxovirus, retrovirus, togavirus, bunyavirus and flavivirus, including influenza virus and HIV-1 also are provided herein. Solid phase substrates and peptide-cargo complexes comprising the peptides also are provided.
