US08073859B2

One or more processors (22) are operated to extract a number of different event identifiers therefrom. These processors (22) are further operable to determine a number a display locations each representative of one of the different identifiers and a corresponding time. The display locations are grouped into sets each corresponding to a different one of several event sequences (330a, 330b, 330c. 330d, 330e). An output is generated corresponding to a visualization (320) of the event sequences (330a, 330b, 330c, 330d, 330e).
US08073856B2

A method, apparatus, and storage medium product are provided for forming a forwarding database, and for using the formed database to more efficiently and quickly route packets of data across a computer network. The forwarding database is arranged into multiple sub-databases. Each sub-database is pointed to by a pointer within a pointer table. When performing a longest-match search of incoming addresses, a longest prefix matching algorithm can be used to find the longest match among specialized “spear prefixes” stored in the pointer table. After the longest spear prefixes are found, the pointer table will direct the next search within a sub-database pointed to by that spear prefix. Another longest-match search can be performed for database prefixes (or simply “prefixes”) within the sub-database selected by the pointer. Only the sub-database of interest will, therefore, be searched and all other sub-databases are not accessed. Using a precursor pointer and a sub-database of optimally bounded size and number ensures power consumption be confined only to the sub-database being accessed, and that higher speed lookup operations can be achieved since only the sub-database of interest is being searched.
US08073843B2

A mechanism is provided for improving the performance of particular database queries operating on a view comprising binary-encoded XML. A determination is made about whether a XML index is available to improve the computation of XPath data before deriving an optimized execution plan for a particular query. When a XML index is not available to help expedite the computation of binary-encoded XML, then deferring the computation of the XPath data until after the view merge stage avoids unnecessary computation of XPaths that are part of the view but not needed for the particular query.
US08073836B2

A system and method allows for dynamic, parameterized linking of database views or tables. The database tables are related in a parent-dependent relationship, with dependent tables being linked to parent tables through a parameter. When a new record in the parent table is scrolled to, dependent tables automatically run queries and return records with matching parameters. The parameters include field values. Several table views may be combined in a single database table set. Multiple dependent tables may be linked to an individual parent table in a parallel manner. Dependent tables may also be cascaded through intermediate parent tables, each table in the cascade acting as a dependent to its parent and acting as a parent table to its dependent table(s). Database table sets may be saved and may be transmitted, for example via email.
US08073834B2

A query having multiple parts may be processed to form an intermediate results set. This intermediate results set may be partitioned into a plurality of groups. Thereafter, the groups may be sorted into a plurality of containers so that each container contains data sufficient to calculate one requested result in the multipart query. Related techniques, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products are also described.
US08073830B2

A system provides a list of search results, where one of the search results in the list of search results includes a snippet from a corresponding search result document. The system receives selection of the snippet and provides an expanded snippet based on the selection of the snippet. The expanded snippet includes the snippet and other text from a subset of the search result document.
US08073822B2

A method is provided for the storage-efficient management of electronic messages, wherein a message that is to be managed is first received, the message is decomposed into a basic structure and file attachments contained in the message, a unique identification value is calculated for each file attachment, the file attachment is stored as a file with a respective identification value for which no file exists in the storage, or a reference counter of the file attachment for whose identification value a file already exists in the storage, is incremented, and the basic structure with references to the files in the storage, which references correspond to the file attachments originally contained in the message, is stored.
US08073820B2

Various methods and apparatuses are described that provide instrumentation and analysis of an electronic design having one or more bus interconnects. A relational database may have defined tables designed for interconnect analysis of transactions occurring between initiator intellectual property (IP) cores and target IP cores of the electronic design. A query tool may be configured to format input data to be stored in the defined tables, and have application programming interfaces to retrieve data from the defined tables based on performing a query. The query tool executes an algorithm based on the query to provide the interconnect analysis.
US08073819B2

A system and method are disclosed for storing element information. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, creating a structured text object that includes information representing a collection of metrics for a tracked network node. The network node may be, for example, a computing device, a communication link, and/or an interface mechanism. In practice, the text object may be compressed into a binary element, and the binary element may be stored in a data store.
US08073814B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods of managing hierarchical reference data. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a hierarchical data management program can maintain a master set of reference data corresponding to the reference data being managed. From the master set of reference data, the hierarchy management program can instantiate centralized hierarchies, validate changes to the centralized hierarchies and enforce business rules with respect to the centralized hierarchies. The hierarchy management program can publish the centralized hierarchies to subscribing systems for use by the subscribing systems in managing data of interest.
US08073813B2

Structured data on a device is synchronized with structured data on a host if the device and the host have a matching refresh anchor. Structured data on the device is additively synchronized with structured data on the host if the device and the host have different refresh anchors. Additive synchronization combines structured data from the device with structured data on the host without deleting structured data from the device or the host.
US08073808B2

A method of improving the accuracy and computation time of automatic image recognition by the implementation of association graphs and a quantum processor.
US08073804B1

A KASER (Knowledge Amplification by Structured Expert Randomization) engine reaches conclusions in a semantic format or which take the form of a series of rules. The conclusions are parsed into an array structure having a hierarchical order of validity. A set of inserted rules is received as an initial rules array and are configured so that an antecedent comprises a non-empty, sorted set and a consequent comprises a non-empty sequence. A hierarchy of validity for the rules is determined and the rules are sorted according to the hierarchy. At least one rule set which optimizes the selection of rules is determined, with the rule set meeting predetermined validity requirements, and the rules are ordered in an order of validity, such as an order based on a maximal length antecedent set as a highest rank.
US08073802B2

The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of finding a rule in a rules base that includes a plurality of rule entries, each having a rule and an associated objective and one or more associated circumstances. A rule finder accesses the rules base in response to a request, with a specified objective and with specified circumstances, by searching the rules base for a matching entry. Where the search fails, the rule finder searches one or more translation tables for entries having first circumstances matching those specified in the request that resulted in the failure. If found, the rule finder repeats the search of the rules base with the specified objective and with a second (or “map-to”) circumstances from matching entries in the translation tables. The rule finder can return, e.g., to an application program that issued the request, a rule found during that repeat search of the rules base.
US08073799B2

A method for generating design requirements for has been developed. First, a framework is created for decomposing and categorizing organizational information into data elements that are stored in a data repository. A relationship is defined between the data elements and corresponding project information that is stored in the data repository. Next, a guided facilitation process is used to elicit objective information from the end-user regarding objectives for new technology. The requirements for the project are determined from the end-user based upon the specification information. This continues until informational needs have been specified and mapped with the corresponding data elements. Finally, a standards requirement document is generated and periodically updated using the mapped data elements from the data repository.
US08073796B2

A system and computer program product for obtaining a value via a rule engine implemented by a collection object associated with an object-oriented application. A request for the value includes a key, is received from the application, and is directed to a method of the collection object. The collection object is capable of storing the key and associated data, and providing the data in response to receiving the request. An overriding of the method of the collection object replaces the provision of the data by the collection object with a processing of the request by a rule engine external to the application. The rule is identified in a rule definition file external to the application based on an association between the rule and the key. An algorithm associated with the rule and included in the rule definition file is executed to provide the requested value.
US08073795B2

System and methods are provided that facilitate integrated and seamless utilization of location data generated by multiple disparate positioning technologies adequate for outdoor or indoor positioning. Location data from multiple sources is selectively processed based on rules that account for availability, accuracy, cost, reliability of location data. At least one of the multiple sources is based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Rules can be operator specific or can be automatically generated based on historic location data or cost-benefit analysis. Processing of selected data includes formatting data according to a specific standard or protocol, or augmenting the data with metadata. Standardized data is conveyed through a communication link for utilization in various applications such as vendor applications for navigation or web-based services, as well as custom and development applications.
US08073790B2

The present embodiment is able to find the optimal or near optimal variables composition of multivariate models by an evolutionary process within acceptable amount of time and resources that are less than using full variables permutation methodology. Subjected to any data, it adaptively identifies and constructs the most effective combination of the relevant variables to achieve one or more objectives. The objective could be for high explanatory power, high predictive power, response measure, or other objectives that the user defines. The present embodiment solves the sequential F-test problem by conducting non-sequential and non-linear search. The algorithm also solves partial F-test dilemma by evaluating all candidate variables membership intact, maintaining fidelity of full variables membership test throughout its permutation. Furthermore, the stochastic nature of the algorithm neutralizes the prejudices of manual decisions in variables identification and membership construction.
US08073789B2

A method and system for identifying locations associated with a web resource is provided. The location system identifies three different types of geographic locations: a provider location, a content location, and a serving location. A provider location identifies the geographic location of the entity that provides the web resource. A content location identifies the geographic location that is the subject of the web resource. A serving location identifies the geographic scope that the web page reaches. An application can select to use the type of location that is of particular interest.
US08073787B2

A system and method is provided for transmitting mail verification data over a wide area network, such as the Internet, in response to receiving and authenticating at least a portion of mail identification (ID) data. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mail verification application is adapted to store at least a verifying portion (e.g., an identifiable code portion, a shipping portion, a recipient portion, etc.) of mail ID data in memory. The mail ID data is then affixed to a mail object. The mail object is then manually delivered to a recipient. At least an authenticating portion of the mail ID data is then provided to a reception device. The reception device, which communicates with the mail ID device over a wide area network, transmits at least the authenticating portion of the mail ID data to the mail verification application operating on the mail ID device. The mail verification application then compares the authenticating portion of the mail ID data with the verifying portion stored in memory. If the authenticating portion of the mail ID data is authenticated, mail verification data is sent to the reception device. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the mail verification data includes authenticating data, securing data, sender data, recipient data, mail-content data, downloadable-product data, sender-web-page data, and/or third-party-web-page data.
US08073769B2

Methods and systems for conducting financial transactions in a mobile environment utilizing a mobile device such as a mobile telephone or wireless connected personal digital assistant (PDA) that communicates with a mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) that stores user and transaction information. The MFTS receives information on behalf of a mobile device user corresponding to bills to pay or other payments to make. The MFTS also receives information corresponding to payment sources available for use in making payments. Selected payments information and payment source information are communicated to the mobile user via a wireless network and displayed for user selection. The user selects a payment to make and a payment source. A mobile payment instruction is generated and communicated to the MFTS. The MFTS instructs a payment instruction recipient to make a payment to an identified payee. Real-time updated account and payment balances are provided to the user's mobile device.
US08073768B2

Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. The outputs can be used as attributes to consider in developing a credit bureau scorecard.
US08073765B2

An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.
US08073751B2

A method for automated processing of deposit items at a computing device is described. A deposit item, such as case, a personal check, or certified check, is received at a computing device. The deposit item may represent a request to deposit funds of at least one monetary item into a user account, such as a checking or savings account. A computer associated with the computing device determines whether to hold the funds of the at least one monetary item from deposit into the user account. If it is determined to hold the funds, an amount of the funds to hold and a time period in which to hold the amount of funds may be determined.
US08073749B2

Embodiments related to billing for digital content via multiple billing channels with different permissible prices are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises a digital content server configured to receive from a content provider an input of a digital content item, send to the content provider a list of suggested prices that are permissible in each billing channel, and then receive an input of a selected price for the content item. If the selected price is from the list of suggested prices, then billing is enabled via each of the billing. On the other hand, if the selected price for the digital content item is not from the list of suggested prices, then billing is enabled via a first subset of billing channels for which the selected price is permissible, and not enabled via a second subset of billing channels for which the selected price is not permissible.
US08073745B2

A method of marketing items comprising: publicizing an auction to sell at least one item, accepting a preset number of price bids for the items, applying at least one cancellation rule to selectively cancel zero or more bids, selecting one or more bids closest to a preselected low sum to receive the item, wherein the low sum is less than 1% of a list price of the item.
US08073744B1

A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a lending system for use with electronic commerce web sites such as auction sites. A seller may receive a cash loan for items placed for sale but not yet purchased by a buyer. The seller can be required to pay back the loan after a predetermined amount of time or as soon as the item for sale is sold and payment is received from the buyer. The lender would charge interest or commission for the loan. In this manner, sellers can receive cash for items listed on auction sites before those items are actually sold, generating additional cash flow for the seller.
US08073736B2

Among other things, the present invention provides systems and methods for fulfilling reward redemptions. In some cases, the systems and methods receive redemption requests associated with an account. The redemption request can be satisfied from a reward associated with the account, or by accessing a reward associated with another account. Redeeming a reward from another account can involve transferring value from one account to another, or grouping the related accounts and allowing members of the group to perform the settlement function. Various of the systems and method further provide for performing automatic reward redemptions, either by an entity maintaining the account to which the reward is associated, or through use of a fulfillment entity.
US08073731B1

Systems and methods are provided for improving processes in a healthcare organization by mining historical data for information that can be used to more effectively allocate resources and process components. Factors used for the analysis include time, information, motivation, skills, and authority for particular resources. Arbitrage processing is used to minimize opportunity costs and increase efficiency.
US08073727B2

A computer-implemented method estimates model parameters for a product. The method includes storing transaction data from customer sales in a database. The transaction data includes a product and a store. The database includes a hierarchical categorization of the products or the stores. The method includes generating a model for each product at each store in the database. The models include model parameters. The method includes aggregating first and second sets of model parameters from a first set of products occupying a first node of the hierarchical categorization and a second set of products occupying a second node of the hierarchical categorization, weighting the first and second sets of model parameters, and storing the average of the weighted first and second sets of model parameters in the database as the model parameters for a model of a product.
US08073724B2

A system to realign an organization structure, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system includes an organization realignment program server, a database accessible to the organization realignment program server, a plurality of process development team member computers, a plurality of process development representative computers, and an organization realignment program product stored in the memory of the organization realignment program server to facilitate reorganization program development through online access to the plurality of data records. The organization realignment program product can provide organization analysis web pages to capture data used to analyze and define functions, activities, tasks, and roles, forming a new organization structure, and can provide resource determination web pages to determine a qualified supply of resources available to the new organization structure to thereby determine a skills gap and a resource gap between resources demanded by the new organization structure and the qualified supply of resources.
US08073721B1

Method and apparatus for service level management, wherein business processes are composed of services. A state of the service is defined by one or more service parameters, and the service parameters depend upon performance of network components that support the service, e.g., component parameters. The state of the service may depend, for example, on a collection of service parameter values for availability, reliability, security, integrity and response time. A service level agreement is a contract between a supplier and a customer that identifies services supported by a network, service parameters for the services, and service levels (e.g., acceptable levels) for each service parameter.
US08073720B2

Systems and methods to assist wireless telecom service providers to determine the optimal core network evolution plan in a network planning time period. Total cost of ownership of wireless core networks is generally modeled to include capital expenditure, customer acquisition and retention cost, network operational cost and staffing and engineering cost. The total cost of ownership model is used to determine the optimal core network evolution plan at different layers of the core networks, which are modeled as a number of abstract networks in mathematical terms. A core network evolution optimization algorithm determines the optimal number of core network configurations and when to deploy the configurations in the planning period in order to minimize the total cost of ownership. A multi-level serving area optimization algorithm determines an optimal core network configuration at a given point of time.
US08073718B2

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automation of auditing claims. Data indicative of a vehicle make and model is received, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields. The one or more model fields are prepared for translation. The one or more make fields are prepared for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules. Each field of the one or more make fields is associated with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries. Each field of the one or more model fields is associated with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries. The data is automatically translated into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.
US08073709B2

Methods and systems for computing what a healthcare organization charged for a procedure, based on analysis of MedPAR data.
US08073706B2

An examination reserve system receipts a reserve request for an examination using a medical imaging apparatus. The examination reserve system receives information concerning a failure from the medical imaging apparatus. When a failure occurs in the medical imaging apparatus, the system lists receipted examination reserve requests.
US08073692B2

Enabling grammars in web page frames, including receiving, in a multimodal application on a multimodal device, a frameset document, where the frameset document includes markup defining web page frames; obtaining by the multimodal application content documents for display in each of the web page frames, where the content documents include navigable markup elements; generating by the multimodal application, for each navigable markup element in each content document, a segment of markup defining a speech recognition grammar, including inserting in each such grammar markup identifying content to be displayed when words in the grammar are matched and markup identifying a frame where the content is to be displayed; and enabling by the multimodal application all the generated grammars for speech recognition.
US08073677B2

Speech translation apparatus includes first generation unit generating first text representing speech recognition result, and first prosody information, second generation unit generating first para-language information, first association unit associating each first portion of first text with corresponding first portion of first para-language information, translation unit translating first text into second texts, second association unit associating each second portion of first para-language information with corresponding second portion of each second text, third generation unit generating second prosody-information items, fourth generation unit generating second para-language-information items, computation unit computing degree-of-similarity between each first para-language information and corresponding one of second para-language-information items to obtain degrees of similarity, selection unit selecting, from second prosody-information items, maximum-degree-of-similarity prosody information corresponding to maximum degree, fifth generation unit generating prosody pattern of one of second texts which corresponds to maximum-degree-of-similarity prosody information, and output unit outputting one of second texts which corresponds to maximum-degree-of-similarity prosody information.
US08073676B2

An emulation enhancement method in a first video game platform for enhancing execution of video games written for a second video game platform includes receiving an input signal written for the second video game platform, analyzing the input signal written for the second video game platform, intercepting a control signal from the input signal based on a set criteria, enhancing the control signal to generate an enhanced control signal for the first video game platform, and outputting the enhanced control signal. The control signal carries an audio effect component, a video effect component and a haptic effect component that are outputted on a user output display. Enhancing the control signal augments the audio effect component and the video effect component of the control signal and generates the enhanced control signal that utilizes additional platform capabilities on the first video game platform.
US08073674B2

A method for storage virtualization in user space. The method includes providing a first emulation module running in the OS kernel and providing a second emulation module in the user space of the computer, which may emulate a media changer or other SCSI or other storage device. The method continues with a kernel-resident driver receiving a packet of data at a port of the computer that is linked to a data communications network (such as a SAN). The packet of data may include command data for a particular data storage device (e.g., a SCSI command for a SCSI device). The method includes operating the first emulation module to communicate with the driver and to then pass through the packet of data to the second emulation module, allowing the second emulation module to run in user space but efficiently receive data from the kernel-resident driver via the first emulation module.
US08073669B2

A pipeline electronic circuit and design methodology enables power conservation in the stages of the pipeline via a simulation that identifies clock-gating opportunities among the stages of the pipeline. In one embodiment, simulation results assist a designer in the design of the pipeline electronic circuit to achieve power conservation by incorporating clock-gating circuitry among the stages of the pipeline at clock gating opportunity locations that the simulation identifies.
US08073667B2

A method, system and computer readable medium for controlling a process performed by a semiconductor processing tool includes inputting data relating to a process performed by the semiconductor processing tool, and inputting a first principles physical model relating to the semiconductor processing tool. First principles simulation is then performed using the input data and the physical model to provide a first principles simulation result, and the first principles simulation result is used to control the process performed by the semiconductor processing tool.
US08073663B2

A method for modelling the migration of reactant in a subsurface petroleum system is described. The method comprises in part generating a mesh for an area of the petroleum system. The mesh comprises a plurality of nodes, with each node representing a point in space in the area. The method also comprises calculating one or more variables representing one or more physical characteristics at each node in the area and determining the migration of reactant in the petroleum system based on the one or more variables. The method can also handle multiple reactant phases and non-static meshes.
US08073662B2

A highly convenient design support method and design support system for a heat convection field or a mass diffusion field which significantly reduce the number of times of numerical simulation required to examine the designing parameters for achieving the design purpose. The design support method includes a forward analysis step of analyzing the heat convection field or the mass diffusion field by solving an equation of the heat convection field or the mass diffusion field based on an initially set value of a designing parameter, an inverse analysis step of analyzing a sensitivity defined by a change ratio of the design purpose to a designing parameter change by solving an adjoint equation corresponding to the design purpose based on the set design purpose, and a sensitivity display step of displaying information on the sensitivity analyzed by inverse analysis step as a graphic image on the display device.
US08073658B2

A method of performing a Monte Carlo analysis uses a graphical processor unit of a computer system, individual data sets to be analyzed are allocated to respective pixel locations in a graphical processor unit memory for Monte Carlo simulation and the outcome of the Monte Carlo simulation is calculated for each data set using stream processing in the graphical processor unit.
US08073655B2

A method for measuring system response sensitivity, using live traffic and an analysis that converts randomly arriving stimuli and reactions to the stimuli to mean measures over chosen intervals, thereby creating periodically occurring samples that are processed. The system is perturbed in a chosen location of the system in a manner that is periodic with frequency p, and the system's response to arriving stimuli is measured at frequency p. The perturbation, illustratively, is with a square wave pattern.
US08073651B2

A received waveform memory 22 stores one (1) frame of received waveform data acquired by sampling a signal including a time code with a predetermined sampling period, where each sample is represented by a plurality of bits. Correlation value calculating sections 24-26 compare the received waveform data with one (1) frame of first prediction code data corresponding to a code of a position marker or a marker, where each sample is represented by a plurality of bits, one (1) frame of second prediction code data corresponding to a code “0”, and one (1) frame of third prediction code data corresponding to a code “1” respectively. Correlation value comparing section 27 compares the first, second and third correlation values with one another to specify the prediction code data whose correlation is largest to output the code data.
US08073641B2

Electromagnetic field distribution is measured by considering time variations of a measured electric and/or magnetic field value. In response to scanning performed with a probe at an arbitrary set of measurement coordinates in a predetermined measurement plane in the vicinity of an object to be measured, a signal is detected at each of plural sets of coordinates in a measurement plane. Electric and magnetic fields are computed during a measurement time period at each set of measurement coordinates in the measurement plane based on measurement coordinates where the probe is positioned and the signal is detected with the probe. Amplitude probability distribution during the time period at each set of measurement coordinates in the vicinity of the object is computed based on a computed intensity, then mapped and displayed.
US08073639B2

A method for identifying a convolved peak is described. A plurality of spectra is obtained. A multivariate analysis technique is used to assign data points from the plurality of spectra to a plurality of groups. A peak is selected from the plurality of spectra. If the peak includes data points assigned to two or more groups of the plurality of groups, the peak is identified as a convolved peak. Principal component analysis is one multivariate analysis technique that is used to assign data points. A number of principal components are selected. A subset principal component space is created. A data point in the subset principal component space is selected. A vector is extended from the origin of the subset principal component space to the data point. One or more data points within a spatial angle around the vector are assigned to a group.
US08073635B2

Quantitation is performed using data from a mass spectrometer. A calibration ion mass spectrum is acquired for each of a plurality of known quantities of a material. From the calibration spectra a plurality of ions that identify the material is determined, and for each ion of the plurality of ions a linear range and linear function are determined. A sample ion mass spectrum is acquired for an unknown quantity of the material. A sample intensity is measured for each ion of the plurality of ions from the sample spectrum. After acquiring the sample spectrum, one or more ions are selected from the plurality of ions such that the sample intensity of each of the one or more ions is within a linear range of the ion. The unknown quantity is calculated from the sample intensities and linear functions of the one or more ions.
US08073631B2

In the field of direct mind-machine interactions, prior art devices and methods do not provide sufficiently fast and reliable results. Mental influence detectors (100, 140, 400, 430) and corresponding methods provide fast and reliable results useful for detecting an influence of mind and hidden or classically non-inferable information. An anomalous effect detector (100) includes a source (104) of non-deterministic random numbers (110), a converter (114) to convert a property of numbers, a processor to accept converter output (118) and to produce an output signal (124) representative of an influence of mind. The processor output signal (124) contains fewer numbers than the input (110). A quantum computer (400) includes a physical source of entropy (404) to generate output numbers (405); a source (406) of test numbers (407); a measurement processor 410) to accept output numbers (405) and to measure a relationship between process numbers and at least one test number to produce an output (414) representative of an influence of mind.
US08073623B2

An illustrative embodiment of a method is disclosed for assessing image quality of a down hole formation image, the method comprising collecting acquisition system data from a plurality of sensors down hole; applying a set of rules to the acquisition system data to obtain an acquisition quality indicator; and presenting the acquisition quality indicator at a surface location. A system is disclosed for performing the method.
US08073620B2

An instrument panel display system includes a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal controller arranged to generate display data to be inputted into the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal controller includes a graphic LSI arranged to autonomously create screen data from imaging data read out from a memory and image data inputted in the graphic LSI, and a control LSI arranged to receive vehicle data and create an imaging operation switching command according to the vehicle data. The graphic LSI creates the screen data in response to the imaging operation switching command, and outputs the screen data as the display data. This configuration can reduce the load on a processor connected to the vehicle network.
US08073613B2

Methods and systems are provided for mitigating engine pre-ignition based on a feed-forward likelihood of pre-ignition and feedback from a pre-ignition event. In response to an indication of pre-ignition, a cylinder may be enriched while an engine load is limited. The enrichment may be followed by an enleanment to restore exhaust catalyst feed-gas oxygen levels. The mitigating steps may be adjusted based on engine operating conditions, a pre-ignition count, as well as the nature of the pre-ignition.
US08073610B2

An internal combustion engine is controlled to achieve a preferred temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment system and to minimize a total engine energy loss. A transmission is controlled to achieve a torque output based upon the preferred engine operation.
US08073582B2

A system is provided for establishing a wireless-based communication link between a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive. A user on the lead locomotive is prompted to input a railroad and number identifier of the remote locomotive. A link command signal is transmitted from the lead locomotive, based on a predetermined number identifier of the lead locomotive, and the inputted railroad and number identifier. A second processor on the remote locomotive respectively compares the predetermined number identifier of the lead locomotive, the inputted railroad and number identifier of the lead locomotive, with an inputted number identifier of the lead locomotive, a predetermined railroad and a predetermined number identifier of the remote locomotive. A link reply signal, is transmitted from the remote locomotive, based on the comparison performed by the second processor, to establish the communication link. Additionally, a method is provided for establishing the wireless-based communication link.
US08073580B2

An augmented air data and inertial reference system (AADIRS) serving as a standby instrument on an aircraft is provided. A secondary air data and inertial reference system (ADIRS) includes a secondary air data module coupled to a secondary inertial reference module. The secondary air data and inertial reference system is configured to derive secondary air data and inertial reference data using the secondary air data module and the secondary inertial reference module. The secondary inertial reference system is further configured to provide the second air data and inertial reference data to a flight control system for use as a backup source of data for control of the aircraft. A graphics module is coupled to the secondary air data and inertial reference system and a display. The graphics module is configured to receive the secondary air data and inertial reference data and process the secondary air and inertial reference data.
US08073574B2

Responsive to braking, a CPU of a driving assist apparatus calculates an average deceleration of the vehicle and then calculates a braking distance. The CPU further calculates a final position at which the vehicle will come to a stop, on the basis of the braking distance. The CPU next activates an assist display for display a map including, superimposed thereon, the route to the final position and an arrival indicator indicating the stop (final) position of the vehicle.
US08073573B2

Electrical power distribution control methods, electrical energy demand monitoring methods, and power management devices are described. In one aspect, an electrical power distribution control method includes providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system, applying the electrical energy to a load, providing a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, and adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering one of the values of the threshold at the respective moment in time.
US08073567B2

A production control apparatus of a production system provided with a storing means for storing in advance a production system model comprised of workpiece information regarding workpieces and program information regarding a plurality of work programs of robots and a plurality of machining programs of machine tools, an updating means for updating the production system model based on run status signals showing run statuses of the robots and machines tools and workpiece signals from the detectors, and an instructing means for selecting one work program and one machining program based on the updated production system model and instructing running of the selected work program and work program to the robot and machine tool. Due to this, by calling up a work program of the robot etc. in accordance with the state of the production system, it is possible to change the program and restore the system from error.
US08073564B2

Methods and systems for controlling a plurality of robots through a single user interface include at least one robot display window for each of the plurality of robots with the at least one robot display window illustrating one or more conditions of a respective one of the plurality of robots. The user interface further includes at least one robot control window for each of the plurality of robots with the at least one robot control window configured to receive one or more commands for sending to the respective one of the plurality of robots. The user interface further includes a multi-robot common window comprised of information received from each of the plurality of robots.
US08073557B2

A motion control system comprising an application program, a plurality of motion controllers, a set of software drivers, and a motion component. Each software driver exposes a service provider interface comprising a set of driver functions. Driver code of at least one software driver associates at least one driver function with at least one control command. The motion component exposes an application programming interface comprising a set of component functions and component code associates at least one of the component functions with at least one of the driver functions. The at least one selected software driver generates at least one control code from the motion controller language associated with the at least one selected motion controller based on the at least one component function called by the application program, the component code, and the driver code of the at least one selectable software driver.
US08073545B2

An implantable neurostimulator system is capable of responsively treating epileptiform activity with electrical stimulation and other therapies and is further configured to detect periods of increased susceptibility to clinical seizures. The event densities of therapy applications (or detections or other events) in time are observed and calculated, and if high enough, measures are taken to warn the patient or provide additional therapy.
US08073544B2

This is a neurostimulator that is configured to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders using certain stimulation strategies, particularly changing various pulse parameters, during the imposition of a burst of those pulses. The invention includes the processes embodying those stimulation strategies.
US08073542B2

The invention relates to a remotely programmable personal medical device, in particular a programmable implantable medical device, e.g., a cardiac pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardioverter or the like. In addition, the invention relates to an arrangement for remote programming of such a personal medical device and a method for remote programming of a programmable personal medical device.
US08073541B2

A system and method for communicating data and signals through the Medical Implant Communication Service Band using a repeater or base station in the proximity to an implantable device within a patient is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is capable for early detection and monitoring of congestive heart failure in a patient. Impedance measurements, or other health parameters depending on the type of implantable device or sensor used, are sent using a bi-directional low-power radio operating in the MICS band to a nearby base station which may provide signal processing and analysis. The base station may have an interface to one or more communications networks to connect to a remote location. The system and method of the present invention permits a healthcare professional to monitor an ambulatory patient's condition at a remote location and to program the implanted device.
US08073540B2

An implantable heart stimulating device has a stimulation pulse generator that emits stimulation pulses at an adjustable stimulation rate, an activity sensor that emits an activity signal in response to detected activity of the patient, and a physiological parameter sensor that generates a physiological sensor signal in response to a detected physiological parameter. The activity and physiological sensor signals are supplied to a control arrangement that sets the stimulation rate for the stimulation pulse generator by executing a stimulation rate algorithm dependent on those signals. In the stimulation rate algorithm, if the physiological signal indicates an emotional stress on the part of the patient, the stimulation rate is increased to an adjustable emotional stress rate level, and if no increase in the activity signal occurs during a predetermined time period following the stimulation rate increase, the stimulation rate is decreased.
US08073539B2

Provided is a heart treatment device (1) including a heartbeat detecting unit (2) that detects heartbeats by using an electrode disposed at a heart (A), a pulse transformer (5) having a primary winding (5a) and a secondary winding (5b), the heartbeat detecting unit (2) being disposed on the side of the primary winding (5a) and the secondary winding (5b) being connected to the vagus nerve (B), and a pulse generating unit (8) that supplies an electric pulse to the primary winding (5a) of the pulse transformer (5) on the basis of the heartbeats detected by the heartbeat detecting unit (2), the electric pulse having a pulse width not exceeding the voltage-time product of the pulse transformer (5).
US08073524B2

A patient imaging system includes a patient support table and an MRI system including a cylindrical magnet. The magnet defines a cylindrical bore for receiving the patient on the table where the magnet is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on a slew ring carried on rails allowing longitudinal movement. The magnet is arranged in a two or three room diagnostic configuration in which a holding bay houses the magnet and the diagnostic patients are organized in the three rooms each cooperating with the magnet bay. A control system is provided for inputting data defining different locations or conditions of the magnet relative to its environment and for each of the different conditions data is stored defining a respective set of shimming parameters so that the control system automatically inputs the shimming parameters and adjusts the shimming as the magnet is moved or a secondary imaging system is brought up to the magnet.
US08073522B2

The invention concerns a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for acquisition and generation of a time-resolved image series of an anatomical organ with a quasi-periodical movement in a subject, k-space is sampled in segments with a number of partial data sets, with the sampling points of each partial data set corresponding to grid points of a Cartesian sampling grid of a k-space segment, and the Cartesian sampling grids of the k-space segments being rotated relative to one another. A series of sub-data sets is incompletely acquired for each partial data set using alternating sampling schemes. Each incomplete sub-data set is associated with one of the individual images. For at least some of the partial data sets, complete sub-data sets are reconstructed from the incomplete sub-data sets. For the reconstruction of the individual images, in each of the individual images, at least some of the complete sub-data sets that are associated with this individual image are used.
US08073513B2

A wireless communication device includes an earphone, a frequency modulation integrated circuit, a microphone, an analog switch, and a main processor. The main processor includes a software amplifier operable to amplify signals from the analog switch and output the amplified signals. The wireless communication device amplifies audio signals by the software amplifier of the main processor.
US08073511B2

An electronic device includes a first body and a second body. The second body is slidably connected to the first body. The second body includes a rolling assembly. The rolling assembly includes a rolling member contacting to the first body. When the second body slides relative to the first body, the rolling member rolls on the first body.
US08073510B2

Provided is a mobile communication terminal including an upper plate secured to a rear surface of an upper frame and having a first coupling shaft to which one side of a driving link is secured such that the upper frame is vertically guided, a middle frame including a first guide provided at one side of a front surface thereof to guide the first coupling shaft of the upper plate, and first guide means provided at both sides of a rear surface thereof, and a main plate including a main frame secured to a rear surface thereof, sliding guide parts slidably guided along the first guide means of the middle frame at both sides thereof, a second coupling shaft provided at one side of a front surface thereof and to which the other side of the driving link is secured, and a support means for the middle frame installed at the other side of the front surface.
US08073508B2

A slide module includes a base, at least one rail receiving part is formed; a slider includes at least one rail part slidably and facing the base; and a friction reducing unit formed on at least one of the base and the slider to reduce friction generated when the slider is slidably moved over the base. The sliding operation can be more smoothly and silently performed.
US08073498B2

A method and apparatus are provided for operating a wireless communication device. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of battery powered modules that are carried by a user and together operate as the wireless communication module (ensemble), detecting a battery reserve power level of a first module of the plurality of modules and transferring a processing function from the first module to a second module of the plurality of modules based upon the detected battery reserve power.
US08073494B2

In one illustrative example, a mobile device includes one or more processors, memory coupled to the one or more processors, a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors, and a user interface which includes a visual display and a plurality of keys. The one or more processors are operative to identify whether a radio frequency (RF) out-of-coverage condition exists between the mobile device and a wireless communication network within a predetermined time period from a date and time of an appointment associated with a calendar application of the mobile device. In response to identifying such condition, the one or more processors cause an RF out-of-coverage warning indication to be produced at the user interface in association with the appointment. Otherwise, the one or more processors refrain from causing this RF out-of-coverage warning indication to be produced. The indication may be or include a message which instructs a user of the mobile device to relocate the mobile device for removing the out-of-coverage condition for the appointment. At the date and time of the appointment, the one or more processors also cause a calendar reminder indication for the appointment to be produced at the user interface, as a reminder of the appointment.
US08073491B2

A communication system including a first station having at least two first narrow beam antennas and a second station having at least two second narrow beam antennas. The first and second stations establish a first communication path for wireless communication via a pair of first and second narrow beam antennas. When communication via the first communication path is disturbed by obstacles, the first and second stations automatically establish at least one alternative communication path, which is spatially different from the first communication path, for wireless communication using the at least two first narrow beam antennas and the at least two second narrow beam antennas.
US08073487B2

There is provided a broadcast reception mobile terminal capable of improving both electric power saving and user-friendliness. A broadcast reception mobile terminal (2) is constructed to be foldable as a result of a lid body arranged to be rotated with respect to a main body, and includes a main LCD panel (202a) on an inner surface side of the lid body and a sub LCD panel (202b) on an outer surface side of the lid body. A CPU (209) detects that the lid body is opened or closed by a signal from an opening/closing detection switch. In addition, the CPU (209) obtains from an earphone connector (203) information indicating whether or not an earphone is connected. In a case that the CPU (209) detects the lid body being closed during television viewing on the main LCD panel (202a), and performing a TVOFF process if the earphone is not connected, and stopping video display but continuing output of received audio if the earphone is connected.
US08073482B2

A mobile phone includes an audio signal generating module, a first audio output module, a second audio output module, an output mode setting module, and an audio signal controlling module. The audio signal generating module generates audio signal corresponding to a status of the phone. The output mode setting module sets a mode of outputting audio. The audio signal controlling module monitors the mode set by the output mode setting module, and switches on the corresponding audio output module to output audio corresponding to the audio signal.
US08073475B2

There is provided a method and system of generating a rich-media message using a short message service (SMS) message. In one aspect, the method comprises encoding data and rich-media content information to generate an encoded rich-media message, and formatting the encoded rich-media message into a rich-media SMS message. In one aspect, the method includes transmitting the rich-media SMS over a network. In another aspect, the method includes receiving the rich-media SMS by a mobile device, decoding the SMS, and displaying the message. The method may include obtaining rich-media content from a server. In one embodiment, a system for communicating a rich-media message to a mobile device comprises an alerts generator configured to encode a rich-media message and format the message into a rich-media SMS, a content server configured to provide rich-media content to a mobile device configured to decode and display the rich-media SMS.
US08073466B2

Disclosed are a method and a system for providing a mobile communication terminal with network-based location measurement by using a G-pCell database. The method and system are advantageous in that, when a mobile communication system employs a network-based location measurement scheme, the influence of repeaters is reduced to improve the positioning stability and measurement accuracy and provide more stable location-based services.
US08073460B1

Mobile device users may be tracked either via mobile-signal triangulation or via Global Positioning Satellite information. A mobile device user's recent movements may be analyzed to determine trails or traffic patterns for device user among various locations. Mobile device trail information, either for an individual user or aggregated for multiple users, may be analyzed to determine a next destination for the user. Electronic advertising content, such as advertisements, coupons and/or other communications, associated with the next destination may be sent to an electronic device likely to be viewed by the mobile device user. Additionally, the identity of the mobile device user may be known and the advertisements or coupons may be tailored according to demographic information regarding the mobile device user. In addition, destinations may be recommended to mobile device users based on the recent locations the users have visited.
US08073458B2

The present disclosure describes systems and methods that facilitate the allocation of spectrum for wireless communications. A database may be maintained that includes spectrum that has been offered by spectrum holders for use by spectrum users. Portions of the offered spectrum that have been allocated to spectrum users may be identified, the remainder of the offered spectrum being unallocated spectrum. A request specifying aspects of desired spectrum may be received from a user. A lack of available spectrum from the offered spectrum that fulfills the specified aspects in the request may be identified. Unallocated spectrum from a corresponding spectrum offer may be apportioned to fulfill the request with unallocated spectrum that matches the time duration and the geographic area aspects of the request and that has a frequency range that is shifted from the frequency range of the request for at least a portion of the time duration.
US08073451B2

In a mobile communication system, useless allocation of wireless resources is avoided and utilization efficiency of wireless resources is improved. A base station operating section of a base station is provided with respective functions for: measuring an RTWP which is a total receiving power; reading a format of a transport block transmitted by E-DPDCH; and measuring a transfer rate of each mobile station. In addition, a buffer size calculation section of the base station calculates an estimated buffer size at the time of transmission by a mobile station using an allocated power resource. An allocated power resource section calculates a power resource to be allocated to each mobile station, and notifies a power resource to be allocated to a mobile station via the base station operating section.
US08073444B2

A method of disseminating topology information related to a subscriber in a system having one or more networks, each network having access devices and policy functions, includes identifying a current location of the subscriber by a serving policy function. The method further includes forwarding information relating to the current location from the serving policy function to an anchor policy function associated with the subscriber. The process of identifying the location of the subscriber and forwarding the information to the anchor policy server is repeated each time the subscriber changes its physical location. The system uses the current location information to route policy information from the anchor policy function to the policy function that is serving the subscriber. The system may use a push model, a pull model, or a combination thereof, to disseminate the topology information.
US08073439B2

Transceiver for controlling an application device by means of an external control device. The transceiver has a control unit, a memory unit coupled to the control unit, a control interface coupled to the control unit, a communication interface coupled to the control unit, wherein the application device is controllable using the external control device via the control interface and via the communication interface using the control unit, and an application control program stored in the memory unit, wherein the application control program is communicated to the external control device via the communication interface.
US08073436B2

A mobile apparatus is disclosed that includes: a plurality of network interfaces; a processor; the mobile being configured to monitor applications running on it, including real time or non real time nature of said applications; the mobile being configured to monitor its operating situation, including moving or non moving status; and the mobile being configured to control processes of the mobile during silent periods based on one or more of its application awareness and its operating situation awareness.
US08073433B2

An apparatus for providing an interactive service during a broadcast service includes a transmitting element and a processing element. The transmitting element is capable of communicating broadcast content of the broadcast service to a plurality of receiving terminals. The processing element is configured to at least partially control the transmitting element. The processing element is configured to communicate with a network device in order to request a program specific group for communication of the interactive service to a receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group. The interactive service is communicated to the receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group with reception of the broadcast service. The content associated with the interactive service originates from the receiving terminals.
US08073430B1

Compressed entertainment content such as audio or video or both includes additional aspects and operations associated their way. The compressed audio may be used to signal computers such as a telephone or reminder for an appointment. A melody line may be extracted from the audio, or the audio may be used exactly as it is. Another aspect stores traders within the entertainment content such as in MP3. Those traders are used to trigger the system to retrieve other parts of the content to be displayed at the same time that that particular part of the MP3 is being play. The content may include video or text, or maybe links to other content such as broadband content four times sensitive content. Another aspect describes encryption which is keyed to the disk ID to prevent playing oven illegally copied disk. Another aspect reads a specified amount of information then spins down the disk to conserve battery power.
US08073424B2

A method handling payment transactions in a system using mobile communication devices as stored value devices is disclosed. A transaction operations server receives multiple records of the transaction from the stored value device—one via a communication channel through the telecommunication provider network, and another via an independent communication channel. The records are reconciled at the transaction server for transaction verification.
US08073411B2

The present invention is directed to a power detection circuit for use in a wireless transmitting device. The circuit makes use of multiple gain paths so that two or more scaling factors are provided. Each scaling factor allows the detector circuit to provide more ADC levels per dB and thus provide accurate power control over a wider power range than through the use of a single gain path and a single scaling factor.
US08073405B2

A MIMO transmitter capable of highly efficient power amplification over a wide dynamic range or for a high PAPR signal. In the MIMO transmitter (100), an amplifier (150) amplifies an input signal and outputs the amplified signal to an antenna (170). An amplifier (160) amplifies an input signal and outputs the amplified signal to an antenna (180). A peak detection part (130) detects an envelope of a first transmission sequence. A branch switching part (140) switches over to input all of the first transmission sequence to the amplifier (150) or to input part of the first transmission sequence together with a second transmission sequence to the amplifier (160) based on comparison results between the envelope detection result of the first transmission sequence and a threshold value. This constitution can reduce a peak of the input signal of the amplifier, and thus the amplifier can be efficiently used. As a result, the MIMO transmitter capable of highly efficient power amplification for a high PAPR signal and the like can be realized.
US08073397B2

A single chip wireless transceiver operable to perform voice, data and radio frequency (RF) processing is provided. This processing may be divided between various processing modules. This single chip includes a processing module having an ARM microprocessor and a digital signal processor (DSP), an RF section, and an interface module. The processing module converts an outbound voice signal into an outbound voice symbol stream, converts an inbound voice symbol stream into an inbound voice signal, converts outbound data into an outbound data symbol stream, and converts an inbound data symbol stream into inbound data. These functions may be divided between the ARM microprocessor and DSP, where the DSP supports physically layer type applications and the ARM microprocessor supports higher layer applications. Further bifurcation may be based on voice applications, data applications, and/or RF control. The RF section converts an inbound RF voice signal into the inbound voice symbol stream, converts the outbound voice symbol stream into an outbound RF voice signal, converts an inbound RF data signal into the inbound data symbol stream, and converts the outbound data symbol stream into an outbound RF data signal. The interface module provides coupling between the processing module, the RF section, and with off-chip circuits.
US08073396B2

A radio channel control method for controlling, in a radio communication system having a transmitter and a receiver, a radio channel from the transmitter toward the receiver. The method includes receiving a signal transmitted from the transmitter by the receiver, measuring reception quality of the signal, generating information which indicates increment or decrement of the reception quality, and controlling a modulation or coding for the radio channel based on the information.
US08073394B2

Methods are provided for predicting uplink interference potential to a mobile satellite system (MSS) generated by ancillary terrestrial components (ATCs) of an ancillary terrestrial network (ATN) and/or ATC radioterminals that are configured to terrestrially use/reuse satellite frequencies that are used and/or authorized for use by a MSS. The methods include measuring power transmitted by and/or received at one or more radioterminals communicating with one or more terrestrial networks and/or transmitted by and/or received at the one or more terrestrial networks communicating with the one or more radioterminals using terrestrial frequencies that are at least partially outside a range of the satellite frequencies. Uplink interference potential to the MSS generated by terrestrial use/reuse of satellite frequencies by the ATN and/or the ATC radioterminals is predicted responsive to the measured power. Related ancillary terrestrial networks are also described.
US08073388B2

Methods and systems for dynamically changing poll timing based on Bluetooth activity are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include determining synchronous Bluetooth activity between a Bluetooth master device and at least one Bluetooth slave device. The synchronous Bluetooth activity may comprise, for example, transmission of packets by the Bluetooth master device via a SCO link and/or a eSCO link. The Bluetooth master device may dynamically adjust a polling period based on the synchronous Bluetooth activity. For example, the polling period may be less when there is synchronous activity than when there is no synchronous activity. The polling periods for when there is synchronous activity and when there is no synchronous activity may be default values. The default polling periods may be changed to different values, for example, by the user.
US08073387B2

An on frequency repeater for wireless networks with feedback oscillation detection is disclosed. The on frequency repeater includes an automatic gain control loop which samples amplified signal envelope. The automatic gain control loop is monitored and a characteristic saw tooth pattern in the gain control loop indicating feedback oscillation is detected. A nonlinear gain expander circuit may be periodically activated to allow feedback oscillation detection in repeater applications employing linearized amplifiers.
US08073384B2

Techniques for optimization of redundancy and throughput in an automated meter data collection system using a wireless network are disclosed herein. The wireless network comprises a central node, a plurality of bi-directional nodes, and a plurality of transmit-only meters. Each of the bi-directional nodes is in bi-directional wireless communication with the central node and has a wireless communication path to the central node that is either a direct path or an indirect path through one or more intermediate bi-directional nodes serving as relay nodes. The transmit-only meters wirelessly transmit meter data that is then relayed by one or more bi-directional nodes to the central node. Each of the bi-directional nodes is assigned one or more authorized transmit-only meters, and each of the bi-directional nodes is configured to relay meter data only from its authorized transmit-only meters, thereby providing an optimum level of redundancy and throughput in the network.
US08073379B2

Disclosed are an RF signal of karaoke data receiving pack and karaoke system using thereof. The RF Karaoke data receiving pack includes an RF receiver for receiving a voice signal and key data signal radio-transmitted from a wireless microphone device via a receiving antenna; an audio/key data signal separator for separating the voice signal and key data signal from the signal demodulated by the demodulator, a receiver MCU controlling the internal operation of the RF karaoke data signal receiving pack while transmitting the digital voice signal and key data signal to the external computing device; and an extension pack in which additional songs are recorded, the extension pack being connected to an extension pack slot to transmit data of the additional songs under the control of the receiver MCU.
US08073374B2

According to aspects of the embodiments there is provided a cassette cleaning web having an agent metering tube that can apply oil via a drip pipe to a web as it enters a nip within the fusing surface. Dispensing the oil as it enters the nip increases the transportation and the holding capacity of the web. The cassette cleaning web can reduce the oil-on-copy to less than 3 mg/copy and more specifically to less than 1 mg/copy which would allow for adequate post finishing applications while still using amino functionalized fuser oil in the fuser subsystem. The cassette cleaning web reduces the contamination of the oil-sump because used web materials are wound up and oil or contaminate materials like wax, toner are retained in the spent web cartridge. This invention enables reduced oil-on-copy, eliminates the bulky and expensive release agent management system, and also provides a direct cleaning to the surface of the fuser roll.
US08073373B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a pattern determination information calculator for calculating printing pattern determination information on an original; a pressure changer for changing the pressure of a pressing member of a cleaning device; and a controller for varying the pressing force of the pressing member by controlling the pressure changer in accordance with the printing pattern determination information calculated by the pattern determination information calculator. The controller controls the contact pressure driver of the pressing roller so as to weaken the pressing force when that controller determines that printing paper printed with high density patterns or high coverage patterns will be passed through.
US08073372B2

Apparatuses useful in printing onto media and methods for stripping print media from belts are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus useful in printing onto media includes a first member including a first surface; a second member; a fixing belt supported on the second member, the fixing belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first surface and the second surface forming a nip at which media are received; and a vibrating stripping device disposed between the second member and the inner surface of the fixing belt. The vibrating stripping device includes a stripping member including a stripping surface and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism produces vibration of the stripping surface and the fixing belt, and the vibration of the fixing belt assists separation of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the fixing belt adjacent to the stripping surface of the stripping member.
US08073368B2

A development device includes a developer carrier, and a developer conveyance path. The developer carrier carries and conveys developer having a magnetic property. The developer carrier includes a plurality of magnetic poles provided inside the development carrier. The developer conveyance path is provided above the developer carrier and conveys the developer by a flow of air such that the developer is conveyed parallel to the developer carrier. The developer conveyance path is provided with a first developer outlet disposed above the developer carrier and open along a direction of conveyance of the developer to discharge the developer to the outside of the developer conveyance path to directly supply the developer to the developer carrier.
US08073366B2

A developing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developer cartridge detachably mounted on the developing unit, a developing case in which a developing member and a first supply member are provided, a developer supply passage to supply a developer stored in the developer cartridge to the developing case, and a developer supplement unit mounted in a portion connecting the developing case and the developer supply passage, to agitate the developer supplied through the developer supply passage and to supply the agitated developer to the developing case.
US08073356B2

An image forming apparatus with a plate having holes is described. An image forming apparatus includes image carriers, side walls, and a plate disposed below the image carriers. The plate includes a plurality of holes along the sides of the plate near the side walls. The image carriers, the side walls, and the plate form one or more passages for air to flow during operation of a cooling fan.
US08073355B2

A toner cartridge, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus, in which a memory is provided in the cartridge to be accessible by an image forming apparatus are disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device detachably attached to the body the image forming apparatus, and a toner cartridge detachably disposed in the developing cartridge, which includes a memory accessible from a surface of the toner cartridge exposed outside the developing cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the developing cartridge.
US08073349B2

An image forming apparatus capable of keeping reproducibility and gradation in balance and outputting high-quality images. A primary electrostatic charger charges a photosensitive drum. A polygon scanner irradiates the drum with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the drum. A developing device develops the latent image into a toner image by applying a developing bias to the drum. In performing development by the developing device at a preset environmental contrast potential, a CPU determines a required contrast potential for obtaining a target maximum density. The CPU compares between the environmental contrast potential and the required contrast potential. Further, the CPU sets an upper limit value for a set contrast potential to be set to the developing device according to the result of the comparison, and sets an output level of the laser light to be output from the developing device.
US08073341B2

The present disclosure relates to a WDM-PON (wavelength division multiplexed-passive optical network) optical transmitter; and, more particularly, to a system for controlling driving current of the WDM-PON optical transmitter. The present disclosure provides a driving current control method of the optical transmitter for in use in the WDM-PON, including: setting an attenuation value of a variable optical attenuator to X; detecting an optical power Px received by a monitoring photo diode of the optical transmitter; setting an attenuation value of the variable optical attenuator to Y; detecting an optical power Py received by the monitoring photo diode of the optical transmitter; calculating an optical power Pout of an optical signal outputted from a common terminal of a 1×N optical multiplexer/demultiplexer based on the detected optical power Px and Py; and controlling a driving current based on the calculated optical power Pout.
US08073340B2

A distortion compensation circuit compensates for distortion generated by one or more non-linear elements such as a laser device and may include a primary signal path for carrying an input signal and one or more secondary signal paths for generating distortion. The distortion compensation circuit may also include one or more controllable phase inverters on at least one of the paths. For example, the secondary signal path may include a distortion generator to produce distortion products from the input signal and a signal controlled phase inverter that inverts the phase of the distortion products. The distortion generator and phase inverter may be combined as an invertible distortion generator. The phase inversion may be controlled in response to a phase inversion control signal generated based on one or more parameters such as temperature. The secondary signal path may also include separate distortion sub-paths to produce frequency independent distortion products and frequency dependent distortion products.
US08073335B2

An input device for a robotic surgical instrument includes an operator input on a handle that is rotatably supported by a supporting link structure. A primary winding of a rotary transformer is fixed to the supporting link structure and connected to an electric power source. A secondary winding is fixed to the handle. An axial passage extends through the primary and secondary windings. An optical data transmitter is connected to the operator input to transmit data from the operator input through the axial passage. The secondary transformer winding provides power to the optical data transmitter without physical contact. An optical data receiver fixed to the supporting link structure receives data from the optical data transmitter transmitted through the axial passage in the rotary transformer without physical contact. The transmission of power and data without physical contact allows the handle to rotate continuously.
US08073333B2

According to one embodiment, a multiplex delay unit comprises an optical all-pass filter (OAPF) adapted to apply continuously tunable group delay to a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal so that all of its WDM components are delayed by substantially the same delay time. The OAPF has a free spectral range (FSR) that matches spectral separation between carrier wavelengths of the WDM signal. Advantageously, an optical multiplex synchronizer suitable for feeding a synchronous optical switch fabric can be implemented as an integrated waveguide circuit using a plurality of such multiplex delay units.
US08073326B2

Devices, systems and techniques for optical communication are provided based on polarization division multiplexing (PDM) to use an optical monitor channel at a distinct optical monitor wavelength to monitor optical polarization fluctuation and polarization mode dispersion during the transmission from the transmitter to the receiver to facilitate the effective demultiplexing of the two orthogonal signal channels at the receiver through automatic feedback control on a dynamic polarization controller and a polarization beam splitter.
US08073320B2

A miniature camera lens actuation apparatus provides an auto-macro function in which a camera lens element has two focus positions. In one type of apparatus, a shape memory alloy actuator arranged to drive movement of the camera lens element relative to a support structure against an end-stop arranged to limit the movement. The shape memory alloy actuator is connected to one of the movable element and the support structure by a compliant connector. This limits the stresses on the shape memory alloy actuator and therefore increases its lifetime. In another type of apparatus, the suspension system supporting the movable element on the support structure provides the movable element with two stable positions along the movement direction.
US08073317B2

A positioning device comprising a moving portion provided with a pair of magnets arranged respectively along with a first axis and a second axis, a fixed portion provided to face to the moving portion, and a voice coil motor (VCM) for relatively driving the moving portion and the fixed portion by an electromagnetic action between a coil and a drive magnet provided to each of the moving portion and the fixed portion: wherein one of the magnets is arranged so as to reduce a rotation moment generated by an electromagnetic connection between the other magnet and the voice coil motor.
US08073315B2

A radiant heating for heating the building material in a laser sintering device and a laser sintering device having such a radiant heating are described. The radiant heating has a sheet-like heat radiating element (113, 213, 313), which is characterized in that it is made of a material, that has a low thermal inertia with a thermal diffusivity of preferably more than 1.5·10−4 m2/s and preferably has a thickness of 2 mm or less.
US08073313B2

The present invention provides a moving picture data processing apparatus for outputting moving picture data by adding time information thereto, which includes: a moving picture input section which receives an input of the moving picture data for which a standard screen rate and one or more screen rates are switchable at an arbitrary timing; a time information addition processing section which adds input time information to the moving picture data; a timer section; an input start time acquiring section which acquires an input start time for the moving picture data; an input time information generating section which calculates the input time information by integrating the time information with the input start time; a moving picture playback section which plays back picture frames of the moving picture data at the standard screen rate; and a time information extracting section which extracts the input time information from the moving picture data.
US08073312B2

A recording condition and a dubbing condition of a desired program that is to be broadcast are designated by using a remote controller. These conditions are stored in the information storage unit. In accordance with the recording condition, a controller permits a tuner to receive a program for which unattended recording is designated, and to record the program on an HDD. When a DVD is set in a dubbing unit and the dubbing operation is instructed by using the remote controller, a recorded program for which a dubbing condition stored in the information storage unit is applied can be dubbed. Then, the information for this program is displayed on a monitor so as to confirm the program and the dubbing condition, and to examine or correct CM skip if the CM skip is included in the dubbing condition. Thereafter, the dubbing operation is performed.
US08073311B2

A moving image reproducing apparatus that can produce appropriate information concerning the occurrence of a communication error in the DDC includes an error detecting unit that detects a communication error in a display data channel (DDC); an error information generating unit that generates error information if a communication error in the DDC is detected by the error detecting unit; and an error information output unit that delivers the error information to the display device via a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) channel.
US08073308B2

An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal.
US08073307B2

An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal.
US08073305B2

The present invention relates to a recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and to reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium. The present recording medium has script files including additional information about moving picture data, e.g., scene descriptive text and introduction of characters, etc. In addition, information linking each script file with a section of moving picture data to be presented with contents of the script file is included in a link data file or is contained in a filename of the script file. In reproduction of the recording medium, a script file linked with presently reproduced moving picture data section is determined and searched for based on the link data file or every filename of the script files, and contents of the found script file are presented together with the presently reproduced moving picture data. Furthermore, previously presented additional information is removed depending on data or filename of the found script file.
US08073304B2

An approach to recording of television programming for later viewing makes use of a small and relatively inexpensive handheld portable viewer. One or more television programs are loaded into the viewer from a receiver, such as a cable television set-top box. Later, the user selects a loaded program for viewing on the handheld viewer
US08073299B2

A method for fabricating composite materials/devices comprising stacking together fibers or rods of at least two different materials and drawing the fibers or rods. Using this process, devices having nanoscale features can be readily fabricated.
US08073298B2

A process for fabricating a fiber composite underbody panel for a vehicle begins by laying-up a first fiber composite sheet on a suitable form or tool. Current carrying wiring that is normally carried by the floor is laid in place on the first sheet, with the ends of the wires extending beyond the edges of the sheet. The wires are shielded to prevent the radiation of fields therefrom into the interior of the vehicle. Fiber optic cable is used to carry signals. A second fiber composite sheet is then laid-up on the first sheet. The two sheets with the embedded wires are placed in a heated mold to form the sheets into the desired finished shape and configuration. The ends of the copper wires and the fiber optic cables are then terminated by connectors so that they may be later coupled to the circuitry of the vehicle.
US08073288B2

A method, system and computer program product for rendering a mask are disclosed. A method of rendering a mask may comprise: providing an initial mask design for a photolithographic process, the initial mask design including polygons; initially rendering the initial mask design as a coarse mask representation in a pixel based image calculation; identifying an overhang portion; and rendering the overhang portion using a set of subpixels whose artifacts from spatial-localization lie outside a practical resolution of a pseudo lens having a numerical aperture larger than that of a projection lens used in the photolithographic process; and updating the initial rendering based on the overhang portion rendering.
US08073285B2

An image editing user interface includes a first control adapted to alter an image property of an image in response to a user input and a second control adapted to operate in cooperation with the first control to alter the image property in response to a user input. The image property is brightness and the first control alters brightness over a range of image values between two endpoints and the second control defines at least one of the endpoints.
US08073284B2

Thresholding gray-scale images to produce bitonal images. In one example embodiment, a method for thresholding a gray-scale image to produce a bitonal image includes several acts. First, a first portion of gray-scale pixels of the gray-scale image are thresholded based on a global threshold and edge strength information. Next, a second portion of the gray-scale pixels are thresholded based on the global threshold and local pixel information. Finally, a third portion of the gray-scale pixels are thresholded based on a local threshold.
US08073283B2

A noise elimination apparatus has a subtracting section 11 for obtaining a difference value between input image data and reference image data; a calculation processing section 12a for performing calculation processing of multiplying the difference value by a prescribed coefficient; an adaptive integerization processing section 13a for obtaining an integerized difference value by adaptively performing rounding up processing or rounding down processing on the difference value having undergone the calculation processing; an adding section 14 for obtaining output image data from the integerized difference value and the reference image data; and a frame memory 15 for storing the output image data as the reference image data.
US08073268B2

Methods for coded aperture imaging, and processing the data from coded aperture imaging are taught. Several snapshots of an image are acquired, each using a different coded aperture array. The several snapshots are combined together with appropriate weightings to form a single equivalent frame as are the aperture functions for the coded aperture arrays used. Combining several frames of data can improve the signal to noise ratio of the decode image and increase the resolution of the image. Preferably a balanced weighting system is used and image reconstruction is performed by inverting the covariance matrix formed by the covariance of the signals from a number of estimated trial points. Using a balanced weighting system reduces the covariance matrix to a diagonal or near diagonal matrix with a corresponding reduction in computational load. The techniques also reduces additive noise. Various technique for compensating for camera motion and identifying motion in the scene are also taught along with suitable apparatus for performing the invention.
US08073266B2

An image encoding device including an input section inputting an input image constituting an encoding target; a reference image accumulation section accumulating a reference image; a reference image accompanying information accumulation section accumulating reference image accompanying information that accompanies the reference image; an encoding section modifying the reference image and the reference image accompanying information in accordance with the input image, generating a predictive signal for the input image, and encoding the input image; and an output section outputting, as encoded data, compressed data obtained by the encoding by the encoding section together with modification method information indicating a modification method for the reference image. Thereby, image information can be encoded/decoded more efficiently by generating an appropriate predictive signal.
US08073261B2

A method and a module for identifying possible tampering of a camera view. The method comprising receiving an image for analysis from an image sequence, converting the received image into an edge image, generating a similarity value indicating a level of similarity between said edge image and a reference edge image, indicating possible tampering of the camera view if the similarity value is within a specified tampering range, and updating the reference edge image by combining a recently analyzed edge image with the reference edge image in case of each one of a predetermined number of consecutively analyzed images does not result in an indication of possible tampering.
US08073260B2

An image processing apparatus includes a pattern generating unit that generates a plurality of two-dimensional array patterns, a radiating unit that emits light in each of the two-dimensional array patterns generated by the pattern generating unit to irradiate an object with the light, a spectrum measuring unit that measures the spectrum of the light, which is emitted from the radiating unit and is reflected by the object, in a plurality of frequency bands to generate spectral data, a transmission-rate calculating unit that calculates the transmission rate of each frequency band on the basis of the two-dimensional array patterns and spectral data blocks associated with the respective two-dimensional array patterns, and an image generating unit that generates an image in a desired frequency band on the basis of the transmission rates calculated by the transmission-rate calculating unit.
US08073259B1

Method and apparatus for image feature matching in automatic image stitching processes. Embodiments may provide a computer-implemented method for performing a portion of an automatic image stitching process where feature correspondences are established between pairs of images. In embodiments, a computer-implemented image feature matching component may use a combination of one or more of heuristic techniques, information obtained from the user, file information related to the component images, and/or information obtained from previous feature matching iterations to narrow the number of images that are in a subset of component images to be compared for any given component image, and thus to narrow the number of pairs of component images on which image feature comparisons are performed.
US08073251B2

An image processing apparatus includes: a document type automatic classification section which determines whether input image data is image data for a text document or not; a newspaper document classification section which determines whether the input image data is image data for a newspaper document or not; a segmentation process section which identifies a page-background region in the input image data; and a color correction section for, if the input image data is classified as the text document and but not the newspaper document and if a page-background removal process is to be performed to the input image data, performing a first page-background removal process to the image data, but if the input image data is classified as the text document and the newspaper document, not performing the first page-background removal process to the image data. This makes it possible to prevent deterioration of visual sharpness of the text in the document image printed on the newspaper.
US08073250B2

A method of performing red eye correction in an image including storing a high resolution image on a server computer, transmitting a low resolution image derived from the high resolution image, from the server computer to a client computer, displaying the low resolution image on a display device connected to the client computer, receiving from a user an indication of a selected location within the displayed low resolution image, partially automatically defining an outline of an area in the low resolution image within which area red eye correction is to be carried out, by the client computer, based on the user's selected location, carrying out red eye correction on the low resolution image only within the area, by the client computer, and transmitting parameters of the area from the client computer to the server computer. A system is also described and claimed.
US08073249B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method thereof for adjusting a luminance of an image signal. The apparatus includes a complementary circuit, a statistical circuit, a calculating circuit, and a blending circuit. The complementary circuit receives an image signal to generate a complementary luminance according to the luminance of the image signal. The statistical circuit receives the image signal to generate a statistical signal according to the luminance of the image signal. The calculating circuit receives the image signal, the complementary luminance, and the statistical signal to generate a calculated luminance of the image signal. The blending circuit generates an output image signal according to the calculated luminance and the luminance of the image signal. A video display device can thereby displays optimum pictures according to the output image signal.
US08073248B2

Methods and apparatuses for locating an embedded color chart in an image are described. In one exemplary method, an image that includes an embedded color chart is located without the intervention of the user. The embedded color chart is verified and used to create a color profile of the image. Furthermore, the orientation angle of the color chart is determined and the image orientation is fixed based on this angle.
US08073247B1

Motion picture scenes to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D->3D) are broken into separate elements, backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined into composite frame which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting/reshaping. Colors and/or depths are automatically applied to masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects. Areas never exposed by motion or foreground objects in a series of images may be partially or fully realistically drawn or rendered and applied to the occluded areas of the background and then automatically applied throughout the images to generate of minimal artifact or artifact-free secondary viewpoints when translating foreground objects horizontally during 2D->3D conversion.
US08073243B2

Described herein are systems and methods for expanding upon the single-distance-based background denotation to seamlessly replace unwanted image information in a captured image derived from an imaging application so as to account for a selected object's spatial orientation to maintain an image of the selected object in the captured image.
US08073238B2

Provided is a system for reducing burden on an inspector by making it possible to evaluate the operation of a mixed injection worker which is difficult to evaluate numerically at a place remote from the mixed injection work place. Provided is a mixed injection inspection system for inspecting a mixed injection work for mixing an injection drug by an inspector different from a mixed injection worker, the mixed injection inspection system including: a mixed injection work photographing device provided in a mixed injection work place and used to photograph the mixed injection work; an inspector side mixed injection work monitor provided in a place remote from the mixed injection work place and used to display the mixed injection work photographed by the mixed injection work photographing device; an inspector side input device provided in a place remote from the mixed injection work place and used to input instructions for the worker working at the mixed injection work place; and a mixed injection worker side display means for displaying to the mixed injection worker what has been input by the inspector side input device.
US08073236B2

A system for detecting blemishes on an image sensor package includes an initialization module configured for initializing a suspected blemish standard mean value range and a blemish standard deviation value; an image capturing module configured for capturing an image produced by the image sensor package and acquiring a brightness value of each of pixels of the image; a calculation module configured for calculating a mean value and a standard deviation of differences of brightness values of a pixel and any other pixels surrounding the pixel; a comparison module configured for respectively comparing the mean value and the standard deviation with the suspected blemish standard mean value range and the blemish standard deviation value; and a marking module configured for marking the suspected blemish which is inside the suspected blemish standard mean value range and the blemish which is larger than the blemish standard deviation value.
US08073234B2

An automated object inspection system is presented. The inspection system includes an imaging system to produce at least two images of said object having different optical properties and an analyzer coupled to the imaging system to receive the images and to perform a variety of inspection operations on said images. The imaging system may produce images of the object under inspection in the visible range having varying exposure values. A vision engine included in the analyzer may combine said images through an algorithmic process into one image having high light dynamic range. Alternatively, the imaging system may produce images of the object in the visible or non-visible electromagnetic range. The analyzer may perform inspection routines on said images. An imaging system capable of producing digital video is presented, wherein each frame of video produced by said camera is composed of multiple images having different optical properties.
US08073223B2

A capsule camera apparatus includes a swallowable housing, a light source within the housing, a camera within the housing for capturing a first digital image and a second digital image of a view of the camera illuminated by the light source, a motion detector that detects a motion of the housing the first digital image and the second digital image, and a motion evaluator that selects a disposition of the second digital image, based on a metric on the motion. The disposition may include writing the second image into an archival storage or providing the second digital image to the outside by a wireless communication link.
US08073217B2

A method for segmenting image data includes creating a plurality of marching regions within the medical image data. Region-wise segmentation is performed on the plurality of marching regions. Region-wise segmentation may include a normalized cut performed on a graph wherein each marching region represents a node. Region-wise segmentation may also include or may alternatively include a min cut performed on a graph wherein each marching region represents a node. Voxel-wise segmentation is performed on a subset of the plurality of marching regions.
US08073208B2

A method of classifying a scene for each person in a video, the method including: detecting a face within input video frames; detecting a shot change of the input video frames; extracting a person representation frame in the shot; performing a person clustering in the extracted person representation frame based on time information; detecting a scene change by separating a person portion from a background based on face extraction information, and comparing the person portion and the background; and merging similar clusters from the extracted person representation frame and performing a scene clustering for each person.
US08073206B2

The invention provides a facial feature verification apparatus capable of synthesizing an image suitable for verification to identify a person subjected to surveillance whom surveillance staff desires to watch. The facial feature verification apparatus includes a plurality of pickup units 1, a pickup controlling unit 2 for controlling the pickup units 1, a displaying unit 3 for displaying images picked up by the pickup units 1, and a verifying unit 4 for detecting a person from the picked up images, extracting a facial image by determining a face area of the person, extracting a facial image from the images picked up by the pickup units 1, synthesizing a plurality of facial features by extracting facial features from the extracted facial images, and verifying the synthesized facial features with the facial features enrolled in advance in a facial image database 5.
US08073199B2

A scintillation removal in an image of a scene is provided by collecting a plurality of images, dividing the plurality of images into subsets of images, averaging each of the subsets of images to produce corresponding averaged images, differencing the averaged images, masking the difference images, and combining the masked images to produce a composite image.
US08073198B2

A system and method selecting an object from a plurality of objects in a physical environment is disclosed. The method may include framing an object located in a physical environment by positioning an aperture at a selected distance from a user's eye, the position of the aperture being selected such that the aperture substantially encompasses the object as viewed from the user's perspective, detecting the aperture by analyzing image data including the aperture and the physical environment, and selecting the object substantially encompassed by the detected aperture. The method may further include identifying the selected object based on its geolocation, collecting and merging data about the identified object from a plurality of data sources, and displaying the collected and merged data.
US08073195B2

In a mailing machine, an image element included in a postage meter indicium printed on a mail piece is transported past a linear image capture device. The image capture device is operated to produce a smeared image of the image element. The smeared image is then automatically analyzed to detect failures in the print elements of a postage meter that is part of the mailing machine.
US08073191B2

A method and system for correcting butting artifacts in x-ray images is disclosed. In order to correct a butting artifact in an x-ray image, a butting artifact region in the x-ray image is normalized. Multiple intensity shift estimators are calculated for each pixel of each line of the butting artifact. Confidence intervals are calculated for each intensity shift estimator. A multiple hypothesis hidden Markov model (MH-HMM) is formulated based on the intensity shift operators and confidence measures subject to a smoothness constraint, and the MH-HMM is solved to determine intensity shift values for each pixel. A corrected image is generated by adjusting the intensity of each pixel of the butting artifact based on the intensity shift value for that pixel.
US08073183B2

An audio playing device includes an audio player and a soft speaker. The soft speaker has features such as light weight and flexibility, and a combination of the soft speaker and the audio player is convenient for carrying and accommodation, such that diversified structures, for example, fan, umbrella, or flag etc. are designed by reason of the flexibility.
US08073172B2

A speaker includes a casing, a sound emitting portion, a conductive coil received in the casing, and a circuit board. The casing includes a side wall. The sound emitting portion received in the casing includes a diaphragm including a first end fixed to the casing and an opposite second end. The conductive coil includes a front end fixed to the side wall, and a rear end fixedly connected to the second end of the diaphragm. The circuit board includes an audio processing module, a charging module and a controlling module. The audio processing module is configured for receiving an audio signal and controlling the conductive coil to vibrate in response to the received audio signal. The charging module is configured for electrifying the conductive coil using alternating current. The controlling unit is configured for selectively connecting the conductive coil to the audio processing module electrically or to the charging module.
US08073170B2

[PROBLEMS] To easily associate the parameters representing the acoustic characteristic of a hearing aid with the audibility of the hearing aid user, shorten the time for adjusting the hearing aid, and improve the accuracy of the adjustment of the parameter.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] By applying a two-dimensional matrix for changing the acoustic parameters of the hearing aid, a person adjusting the hearing aid can easily change the acoustic parameters depending on the audibility of the hearing aid user, the accuracy of the adjustment of the acoustic parameters is improved, and the period of time for adjusting the hearing aid is shortened.
US08073145B2

In a sound-source signal separating method, a target sound-source signal in an input audio signal is enhanced, the input audio signal being from a mixture of acoustic signals from a plurality of sound sources picked up by a plurality of sound pickup devices. The pitch of the target sound-source signal in the input audio signal is detected, and the target sound-source signal is separated from the input audio signal based on the detected pitch and the enhanced sound-source signal.
US08073141B2

An execution unit adapted to perform at least a portion of the Data Encryption Standard. The execution unit includes a Left Half input; a Key input; and a Table input. The execution unit also includes a first group of transistors configured to receive the Table input, perform a table look-up, and output data. The execution unit further includes a first exclusive-or operator having two inputs and an output. The first exclusive-or operator is configured to receive the Left Half input and the Key input. The execution unit also includes a second exclusive-or operator having two inputs and an output. The second exclusive-or operator is configured to receive the data output by the first group of transistors and to receive the output of the first exclusive-or operator. The execution unit also includes a third exclusive-or operator having two inputs and an output. The third exclusive-or operator is configured to receive the Left Half input and the data output by the first group of transistors.
US08073140B2

It is possible to realize a Feistel-type common key block encryption/decryption processing configuration capable of reducing data stored in a memory at a low cost. The Feistel-type common key block encryption/decryption processing repeatedly executes an SP-type F function having nonlinear and linear transform sections by several rounds. At least one of the nonlinear and linear transform processes executed in the F function in each round is executed as a transform process identical with a transform process applied to an encryption/decryption algorithm other than a Feistel-type common key block encryption/decryption algorithm and/or another hash function such as AES and Whirlpool. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the design cost and the amount of data stored in a memory.
US08073135B2

Methods, techniques and apparatus identify members and characteristics of binders and/or other groups of communication lines such as those in a DSL system. Information obtained includes the identification (for example, by scanning) of significant crosstalking “offenders” and their “victims” that are affected by the crosstalk. One or a small number of modems are instructed to transmit with preselected transmit spectra, after which evidence of crosstalk in the noise spectrum data is examined for potential victim lines. Direct evidence of noise spectrum contribution by a suspected offender line may be obtained by collecting reported noise spectrum data and/or estimated noise spectrum data from potential victim lines. Also, where such direct evidence is not available, or in addition to it, other operational data showing crosstalk interference relating to potential victim lines can be used. The transmitting modem can either be on the CO/RT side or on the CPE side. Modems other than suspected offenders might transmit zero or minimal power in one or more selected frequency bands during scanning to reduce the risk that a modem and/or line not being examined for “offender” status supplies unnecessarily complicating and/or dominant crosstalk during the procedure. For DMT modulated DSL transceivers, well designed transmit spectra can be easily enforced by manipulating line profiles where such well designed line profiles cause minimal or no interruption to existing DSL customers. The invention also can be used to identify (partially or fully) the absolute values of crosstalk channels making up a channel transfer function.
US08073134B2

A network element comprises a power interface to receive power from a power communication medium; a service interface to provide a telecommunication service over a service communication medium; management interface to receive management data over one of the service communication medium and the power communication medium via at least one primitive; and a control module to monitor the at least one primitive and to control operation of the network element based on the at least one monitored primitive.
US08073108B2

An X-ray generator having a housing and having components located inside the housing for generating one or more X-ray beams, wherein the housing is composed of a tube body that is made of ceramic.
US08073102B2

A radiation therapy treatment method comprises imaging a subject and simulating four-dimensional aspects of radiotherapy. A treatment plan based on the simulation is generated to permit real-time, three-dimensional dose reconstruction at the time of treatment. The simulation and treatment plan are used during treatment fractions to achieve real-time image guidance.
US08073097B2

The invention describes a product and a method for generating electrical power directly from nuclear power. More particularly, the invention describes the use of a liquid semiconductor as a means for efficiently converting nuclear energy, either nuclear fission and/or radiation energy, directly into electrical energy. Direct conversion of nuclear energy to electrical energy is achieved by placing nuclear material in close proximity to a liquid semiconductor. Nuclear energy emitted from the nuclear material, in the form of fission fragments or radiation, enters the liquid semiconductor and creates electron-hole pairs. By using an appropriate electrical circuit an electrical load is applied and electrical energy generated as a result of the creation of the electron-hole pairs.
US08073096B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for the removal and transportation of thermal energy from a heat source to a distant complex for use in thermochemical cycles or other processes. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a hybrid heat pipes/thermosyphon intermediate heat exchanger (HPTIHX) system that is divided into three distinct sections, namely: an evaporation chamber, a condensation chamber, and a working fluid transport section of liquid and vapor counter-current flows.
US08073093B2

Disclosed are a phase synchronous device for improving jitter of an output signal and a method for generating a phase synchronous signal. The phase synchronous device includes a phase detector detecting a phase difference between first and second signals to output a phase detection signal and a locking signal; a control signal generator adjusting a slope of the phase detection signal in response to the locking signal; and a charge pumping unit outputting a control voltage in response to an output of the control signal generator. The speed of a control signal applied to the charge pumping unit is adjusted in response to the locking signal, so that a peak current is reduced, and thus jitter of an output signal is improved by being reduced or minimized.
US08073082B2

A mirror sub-carrier demodulation circuit includes a waveform generation unit, which generates a composite waveform of received I and Q signals, and a peak detection unit, which detects peak values of the composite waveform generated by the waveform generation unit. The demodulation circuit also includes a peak interval detection unit, which detects an interval of the peak values detected by the peak detection unit and generates timing at which the received data is input. The demodulation further includes a temporary storage unit, which stores I data and Q data at the timing generated by the peak interval detection unit, a calculation unit, which performs a correlation calculation using the I data and the Q data of the temporary storage unit acquired during a 1-bit period on the basis of a setting value M of a mirror sub-carrier, and a data determination unit, which determines data of 0 or 1 from the result calculated by the calculation unit.
US08073081B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting temporary high level impairments, such as noise or interference, for example, in a communications channel, and subsequently, mitigating the deleterious effects of the dynamic impairments. In one embodiment, a preliminary decision is made on at least one signal transmitted over the communications channel. The at least one signal is remodulated and the impairment is determined using the at least one remodulate signal.
US08073080B2

Certain aspects of a method and system for RC-CR quadrature generation with wideband coverage and process compensation may include determining an amplitude mismatch between an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component of a signal generated in a radio frequency (RF) transmitter or receiver. A variation in resistance of a quadrature network associated with the I component and Q component may be determined. The determined amplitude mismatch and the determined variation in the resistance of the quadrature network may be compensated by adjusting a resistance of a portion of the quadrature network associated with the I component and a resistance of a portion of the quadrature network associated with the Q component.
US08073078B2

A high performance radio frequency receiver includes an isolated transconductance amplifier with large binary and stepped gain control range, controlled impedance, and enhanced blocker immunity, for amplifying and converting a radio frequency signal to multiple electrically isolated currents; a pulse generator for generating in-phase and quadrature pulses; a crossover correction circuit and pulse shaper for controlling a crossover threshold of the pulses and interaction between in-phase and quadrature mixers; and a double balanced mixer for combining the RF signal with the pulses to generate an intermediate frequency or baseband zero intermediate frequency current-mode signal. The intermediate frequency signal and second order harmonics may be filtered with a high frequency low pass filter and a current injected complex direct-coupled filter. IIP2 calibration of the in-phase and quadrature channels may be optimized using the isolated transconductance amplifier.
US08073077B2

In a communication apparatus which transmits parameters corresponding to a reception environment to a transmitting apparatus which switches the transmission rate based on the reception environment, reception quality calculated in the past is saved as a first reception quality, and past CPICH symbols used in calculating this first reception quality are saved. Channel compensation of the saved past CPICH symbols is performed using a current channel estimation value, and the channel-compensated CPICH symbols are used to calculate a second reception quality; the difference between this second reception quality and the first reception quality is used as a reception quality correction value to correct reception quality.
US08073066B2

Disclosed herein is a signal receiving apparatus including a profile inference section; a delay-spread computation section; a position determination section; a signal-by-function multiplication section; an interval extraction section; an interval-to-signal addition section; and a signal processing section.
US08073064B2

Identifying a trigger point of at least one OFDM decoder includes correlating a first time-domain sample of the at least one OFDM symbol with a second time-domain sample of the at least one OFDM symbol, processing the first time-domain sample and the second time-domain sample in the first moving average filter to determine a channel impulse response, comparing at least one correlation value of a first biggest path in the channel impulse response and a second biggest path in the channel impulse response, and determining a channel length of the channel impulse response based on a time duration of the channel impulse response. The OFDM decoder includes a first moving average filter and a second moving average filter.
US08073053B2

An image encoding device encodes moving pictures, a moving picture count acquisition unit acquires a moving picture count of encoding target moving pictures corresponding to an arbitrary number of input moving pictures, a moving picture acquisition unit acquires one or plural encoding target moving pictures, a processing method designation unit, in accordance with the acquired count, designates processing methods relating to encoding processing that affect a computation amount, and an encoding processing unit performs encoding processing with respect to the acquired one or plural moving pictures, using time division when the plural moving pictures are plural. The encoding unit performs encoding processing using the designated methods.
US08073050B2

When creating SBR data in a the low-resolution mode, an encoding device divides a high-frequency component of input audio data being encoded by SBR method into a high-frequency band and a low-frequency band, and calculates an average high-frequency power value that indicates the average value of the power in the high-frequency band of the audio data, as well as an average low-frequency power value that indicates the average value of the power in the low-frequency band of the audio data. The encoding device then compares the average high-frequency power value and the average low-frequency power value, selecting the smaller of the two. The encoding device then corrects the power of the high-frequency component of the signal being encoded by the SBR method so that it equals the selected average power value.
US08073046B2

A signal receiver inputs a signal, computes a set of equalizer tap values during a signal acquisition phase by applying an algorithm iteratively to a given set of training data contained within the signal, and uses the set of equalizer tap values to perform signal equalization during the signal acquisition phase. The algorithm includes computing and applying phase correction to the pre-equalized signal at each adaptation step to correct for phase error related to the main path only, of the input signal.
US08073044B2

A calibration circuit measures the variation in a filter resistor within the analog domain of the envelope path of a polar transmitter and produces a digital value representative of that variation. A digital processor determines a digital control signal from the digital value that is used to compensate, in the digital domain of the envelope path, for the variation in the filter resistor in the analog domain.
US08073041B1

A system and method that demodulates the phase characteristic of a carrier signal are described. The scrambling of the phase characteristic of each carrier signal includes associating a value with each carrier signal and computing a phase shift for each carrier signal based on the value associated with that carrier signal. The value is determined independently of any input bit value carried by that carrier signal. The phase shift computed for each carrier signal is combined with the phase characteristic of that carrier signal so as to substantially scramble the phase characteristic of the carrier signals. Bits of an input signal are modulated onto the carrier signals having the substantially scrambled phase characteristic to produce a transmission signal with a reduced PAR.
US08073025B2

The present invention relates to a laser light source having a structure for narrowing a wavelength bandwidth of output light. The laser light source comprises, at least, a laser resonator, a pumping light source, an optical path switch device, a diffraction grating, and a total reflection mirror. The laser resonator has a light amplifying fiber for output of emission light arranged on a resonance optical path thereof. The optical path switch device has a first port and a second port on the resonance optical path of the laser resonator. The diffraction grating spectrally separates the emission light outputted from the second port. The total reflection mirror reflects a specific wavelength component out of wavelength components spectrally separated by the diffraction grating, so as to feed the specific wavelength component back to the second port. Particularly, the optical path switch device controls a light transmittable state of the emission light outputted from the light amplifying fiber, at the second port.
US08073023B2

A surface emitting laser includes a plurality of semiconductor layers including an active layer over a substrate, and emits laser light in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The semiconductor layers including the active layer define a resonator that emits laser light having a first wavelength. A wavelength-converting layer is disposed between the substrate and the resonator. The wavelength-converting layer converts the light having the first wavelength into light having a second wavelength that can pass through the substrate.
US08073014B2

During each node's awake period, each node multicasts the relative time or slot of their next awake period (beaconing interval) to all neighboring nodes. This enables each node to intelligently and independently schedule the time slot of its next transmission based on the beaconing intervals of the nodes it has heard from. During each active (awake) interval, a node builds statistics of the future transmission/receive times of its neighbors and uses them to determine its next transmission time. In one proposed implementation, at the end of an active interval, a node picks the time slot with the highest counter for its next transmission. In another proposed implementation, at the end of an active interval, a node picks one of the slots with a weighted probability; the weight of each slot is proportional with the value of the counter associated with the slot.
US08073013B2

A method and apparatus for conducting a survey independent of location and participant schedules is disclosed herein. An exemplary method of the present invention comprises sending a multi-media data file to a plurality of survey participants, receiving reactionary feedback from a plurality of participants via a wide area network, and compiling the reactionary feedback to generate the survey results. Subsequently, a viewer synchronously displays the compiled survey results with the corresponding streamed media from the multi-media data file.
US08073006B2

Sending priority of plural stages is statically assigned according to a quality class and an output connection, and the sending priority is dynamically changed according to a state of sending request stacking every sending priority and a state of ATM cell conversion processing of a frame, and ATM cell conversion request means for issuing an ATM cell conversion request is provided every output route, and the cell conversion processing of the frame is selected and performed in the order of higher sending priority every time one cell conversion.
US08072996B2

The present invention is a method and apparatus to buffer data. A buffer memory of a first type stores data associated with a connection identifier corresponding to a channel in a network. The data is organized into at least one chunk based on a linked list. The connection identifier identifies a connection in the channel. The data is part of a data stream associated with the connection. A packet memory of a second type provides access to the stored data when a transfer condition occurs.
US08072995B2

An integrated Ethernet PHY/MAC apparatus having a single link partner capability register shared between a PHY and a corresponding MAC, which implements IEEE Standard 302.3, including IEEE Standards 802.3u and 802.3x. Apparatus also includes plural PHYs, each having a corresponding MAC integrably coupled therewith such that an integrated multi-port Ethernet device is realized. A network consists of at least one integrated Ethernet PHY/MAC device having a single link partner capability register.
US08072986B2

A communication mode which should be set to a mobile communication terminal having a function of switching between an autonomous mode and a scheduling mode is determined based on an amount of interference in each of the communication modes in the cell of a base station, and/or communication characteristics of each of the communication modes, and a signal indicating an amount of communication data notified from the mobile communication terminal. The base station then notifies the determined communication mode to the mobile communication terminal.
US08072984B2

An Ethernet switching and forwarding method, and at least one Ethernet forwarding mode of standard Ethernet forwarding, multiplex Ethernet forwarding, layer-3 routing and forwarding, across-VLAN multicast forwarding plane, point-to-point VLAN forwarding, or point-to-point double VLAN forwarding. The method includes: an Ethernet message entering a user side port or a network side port; processing, by the port, the message to provide the message with a VLAN tag allocated uniformly by the port; determining, by the port, a forwarding mode for the message and sending the message to a corresponding forwarding plane; determining, by the forwarding plane, an egress port of the message and processing the specific Ethernet control message in accordance with a control message capturing policy table; and forwarding the message to the egress port and encapsulating the message in accordance with an attribute table of the egress port.
US08072980B1

Methods and apparatus for processing frames in wireless networks. In one implementation, the method includes predicting, before transmission of a first frame, a source address and a destination address of a second frame that is to be transmitted after the transmission of the first frame, generating a predictor field that includes information associated with the predicted source address and the predicted destination address of the second frame, and appending the predictor field in the first frame. The method further includes a first wireless device transmitting the first frame.
US08072974B1

A network processing device having multiple processing engines capable of providing multi-context parallel processing is disclosed. The device includes a receiver and a packet processor, wherein the receiver is capable of receiving packets at a predefined packet flow rate. The packet processor, in one embodiment, includes multiple processing engines, wherein each processing engine is further configured to include multiple context processing components. The context processing components are used to provide multi-context parallel processing to increase throughput.
US08072971B2

The present invention provides an architecture for a platform, which includes (1) gates located in a central area of a die for supporting an application layer; (2) a SerDes region located at one side of the die for holding at least one SerDes device; (3) a Link Layer Controller region, located adjacent the SerDes region and between the SerDes region and the gates, for supporting the at least one SerDes device; and (4) at least one RAM array for supporting the at least one SerDes device, the at least one RAM array being located at least one of adjacent the gates or between the gates and the Link Layer Controller region.
US08072962B2

A method of detecting and solving a network ID conflict is provided. The method of detecting and solving a network ID conflict includes generating and transmitting a personal area network identifier (PAN ID) report command frame that includes an extended PAN ID, and receiving a PAN ID update command frame in response to the transmitted PAN ID report command frame. According to the method, the PAN ID report command and the PAN ID update command are generated and provided by providing an extended PAN ID (EPID), and thus a network ID conflict can be detected and a new PAN ID is provided to solve the network ID conflict.
US08072958B2

A technique for encoding digital communication signals. Data symbols are augmented in pilot symbols inserted at predetermined positions. The pilot augmented sequence is then fed to a deterministic error correction block encoder, such as a turbo product coder, to output a coded sequence. The symbols in the error correction encoded sequence are then rearranged to ensure that the output symbols derived from input pilot symbols are located at regular, predetermined positions. As a result, channel encoding schemes can more easily be used which benefits from power of two length block sizes.
US08072957B2

A method for incorporating dynamic orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (“OFDM”) in wireless networks is provided. Information about a wireless channel between a transmitter and one or more receivers communicating according to a wireless protocol is acquired. Dynamic OFDM allocations are generated based on the acquired information about the wireless channel. The dynamic OFDM allocations are transmitted to the one or more receivers according to the wireless protocol.
US08072949B2

A wireless node apparatus in a multihop wireless LAN with a tree structure having a plurality of wireless node apparatuses, at least some of which become relay apparatuses to provide multihop communication, transfers packets among wireless nodes as done in a tree type LAN, without intervening a root node, to communicate among the wireless nodes.
US08072946B2

Overall network throughput may be increased in a wireless network through coordinated transmission between wireless network stations. A wireless network station selects beamforming information based at least in part on interference to other wireless network stations.
US08072927B2

A method and a system for processing a bearer under an idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) mechanism are provided. The method for processing a bearer under an ISR mechanism includes the following steps. A mobility management network element acquires an access mode of a current network. The mobility management network element notifies a serving gateway (SGW) of the access mode of the current network, so that the SGW processes bearer according to the access mode of the current network. It can be ensured that the access mode of the current network is consistent with the access mode for a policy and charging control (PCC) strategy adopted during a bearing procedure under the ISR mechanism.
US08072924B2

The present invention relates to a method of assigning radio channels to a set of base stations (BS) in a wireless network, in which method one radio channel out of a determined set of radio channels is assigned to each base station (BS). In order for different networks not to interfere with each other, the available radio channels are assigned to the set of base stations (BS) upon manufacture of the base stations (BS) such that each radio channel appears substantially an equal number of times.
US08072922B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for negotiating and managing one or more personalities in a wireless communications system. The method comprises advertising one or more supported initial protocol set identifiers. Furthermore, the method comprises selecting a starting initial protocol set identifier from the advertised initial protocol set identifiers. In addition, the method comprises establishing a session based on the selected starting initial protocol set identifier. The method also comprises establishing a connection between an access terminal and an access network based on the selected initial protocol set identifier.
US08072919B2

Methods and systems for implementing trunking techniques in CDMA systems for handling group calls and push-to-talk services.
US08072916B2

A mobile wireless communication system including a wireless communication apparatus and a counterpart wireless communication apparatus is provided, the system establishing wireless communication between the wireless communication apparatus and the counterpart wireless communication apparatus by multiplexing plural channels including at least a traffic channel for transmitting a packet, a control channel for transmitting control information for receiving the packet, and a channel for transmitting information including transmission power control information. The wireless communication apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits the transmission control information to the counterpart wireless communication apparatus via the channel for transmitting information including transmission power control information at intervals of a prescribed period that is longer than a length of the packet, and transmits the transmission power control information via the control channel when the packet is being transmitted via the traffic channel.
US08072910B2

In one embodiment, a method comprises transmitting onto a wireless connection, by a device, a first wireless data packet destined for a second device; in response to a determined absence by the device of a required acknowledgment of the first wireless data packet from the second device, queuing by the device the first wireless data packet while waiting for a second wireless data packet; receiving by the device the second wireless data packet; and transmitting, by the device, the first wireless data packet with the second wireless data packet to the second device via the wireless connection in response to the device receiving the second wireless data packet and before any other device can send a data frame on the wireless connection.
US08072909B2

Systems, methods, and machine-readable articles of manufacture enable private notification of a participant in a telephone conference. In representative embodiments, a system receives a telephone call intended for a first conference participant, generates an informative announcement containing information regarding the call, mixes the informative announcement with the conference audio, and privately plays the mixed audio to the first participant. In other representative embodiments, the system concurrently generates a non-informative announcement, mixes the non-informative announcement with the conference audio, and plays the second mixed audio to the other conference participant or participants. In this way, the first participant is notified of the incoming call while simultaneously listening to the conference audio, and the information regarding the call is not shared with the other conference participant or participants.
US08072905B2

A device may include a network interface through which the device communicates with a media device in a local network. The device may include a processor to detect whether the device receives a call, determine whether the device is within a predetermined range of the media device based on communication between the device and the media device, and send a message to the media device via the network interface to request the media device to reduce an audio output of the media device when the device is within the predetermined range of the media device and when the device has received the call.
US08072892B2

This invention relates to a method of defining an optimised set of test sequences for use with a packet based perceptual quality evaluation processor associated with an edge-device that receives packets containing speech data and converts said packets to a speech signal, the method comprising the steps of: defining a set of quality targets which should be produced when a test sequence of packets is processed by the edge-device; determining a value for a degradation parameter for each quality target wherein a test sequence having a degradation according to said value will substantially produce said quality target when said test sequence is processed by the edge-device.
US08072891B2

Methods and apparatus provide single or multi-port, flexible, cost-effective, built-in self-test capabilities for network communications equipment, such as for example switches, and programmably generate, and subsequently analyze, one or more sequences of test packets, wherein the test packets simulate at least two flows of traffic. Such test packets can have programmable headers, payloads, and duty cycle. A line card embodying the present invention may generate its own traffic pattern, which may be similar or identical, to traffic patterns observed on Internet backbones. These traffic patterns may contain a bimodal distribution of control packets interspersed with data packets wherein the control packets and data packets are relatively short and long respectively. A plurality of test packet generators/receivers can be deployed in a network communications device having a plurality of ports. In such a configuration, test generator/receiver is associated with each of the plurality of ports. Under software control, test packets can be sent from at least any one of the plurality of ports to at least any other one of the plurality of ports. In this way, an in-circuit testing procedure may be implemented without having to disconnect line cards from the switch and connect the switch to expensive external test equipment.
US08072888B2

A method of controlling congestion in a packet switched network includes transmitting a pause message to a node upstream of a congested node to instruct it to cease sending for a period of time. The congested node also sends information to the upstream node informing it of the buffer size required to relieve congestion. If the buffer capacity of the upstream node is greater than or equal to the signalled amount required, no further action is taken. If the buffer capacity of the upstream node is less that the required amount, it in turn sends a pause message to a node upstream of it, together with an indication of the required buffer size to reduce congestion, taking into account the amount available from the sending nodes.
US08072887B1

Methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling enqueuing of packets in an aggregated queue including a plurality of virtual queues are disclosed. According to one method, packets are received at the input side of a queuing system. Each packet is classified into a virtual queue corresponding to one of a plurality of output queues. The output queue sends backpressure messages to the enqueue controller. The enqueue controller determines whether to place the packets in the aggregated queue based on the backpressure messages.
US08072880B2

Errors of e.g database synchrony between a radio-connected mobile-station and a server can be especially troublesome if continued and repeated, and can quickly deplete resources in the mobile-station. This problem is addressed by keeping an error-event-count in the server; when the count exceeds a threshold, the server signals the mobile to immediately transmit the recent-activity-log in the mobile, i.e the log in the mobile in which are recorded the detailed elements relating to assembling and transmitting the data packet in which the error was detected. Using the information in the recent-activity-log, the server can institute de-bugging strategies, etc, to correct the problem. The threshold is in two stages; above the initial threshold, the mobile-station is signalled to increase the level of detail as recorded in the recent-activity-logs (if the mobile is able to do so), and the actual transmission of the log only takes place above the main threshold.
US08072878B2

In a ring network to which a plurality of nodes are connected, even though a failure occurs in a link between a node and a client apparatus (a user terminal) or a node itself, communication between the node and the client apparatus can be achieved. Nodes (105a) and (105b) are provided, so that, even though a failure occurs at either one of the nodes in the link between the node and the client apparatus (102), communication can be done between the other node and the client apparatus (102) through the link. When the node (105a) has a failure, the node (105b) succeeds in operation of the node (105a) while the node (105a) holds a state of the node (105a) to avoid a steering operation or a lap protection operation, a packet disappearance in the packet ring caused by the operation, influence of traffics a packet route change, etc., consumption of CPU and memory resources, and a ring transfer band reduction.
US08072869B2

A spherical aberration correction mechanism includes a plurality of aberration correction lenses, a movable portion in which the aberration correction lens is held, a fixed portion in which the movable portion is arranged so as to be slidable as well as the aberration correction lens is held, a shaft supporting the movable portion so as to be rotatable about the axis as well as to be slidable in the axial direction, a feed screw having spiral grooves, an engaging portion having convex portions to be engaged with the spiral grooves from one direction and a coil spring fitted to the outside of the shaft, pressing the movable portion in the axial direction. The coil spring has a rotation prevention portion engaged with the fixed portion and a torque biasing portion engaged with the movable portion, and the coil spring is installed in a twisted state in advance.
US08072867B2

An optical-pickup hologram element has six regions on an x-y plane, divided as follows: the first region with a first line (an x-axis) and a second line that connects points (−xa, 0) and (−xb, yb); the second region with the first and second lines and a third line connecting points (xa, 0) and (xb, yb); the third region with the first and third lines; the fourth region with the first line and a fourth line connecting the point (xa, 0) and a point (xb, −yb); the fifth region with the first and fourth lines and a fifth line connecting the point (−xa, 0) and a point (−xb, −yb); and the sixth region with the first and fifth lines (xa
US08072863B2

Data is recorded in a phase-change optical storage medium having data layers. A first recording pulse sequence is generated for recording to a first data layer located most remote from a beam-incident surface. The first sequence has a recording pulse carrying an erasing power and a recording power rising from the erasing power, and a cooling pulse carrying a bottom power lower than the erasing power. A second recording pulse sequence is generated for recording to a second data layer. The second sequence has recording pulse carrying an erasing power and a recording power rising from the erasing power, a cooling puse carrying a bottom power lower than the erasing power, and an erasing top pulse carrying an erasing top power higher than the erasing power.
US08072860B2

A file system is enabled to use a Metadata Partition instead of VAT for write-once discs, and is provided by a pseudo-overwrite method with a plurality of tracks especially for metadata and file data. On applying this invention to a drive apparatus that supports pseudo-overwrite media, the file system distinguishes data to overwrite from data to append (S1701). When the data is newly written to a logical sector, the drive apparatus writes the data to a physical sector to which the logical sector corresponds (S1703). When the data being overwritten is data stored in the logical sector, the data is written to the other unrecorded physical sector in the volume space (S1704), and remapping information is written (S1705). The remapping information specifies the original address of the physical sector, and the remapping address of the physical sector in which the data is written.
US08072848B2

An adaptation device includes a lower casing member including a connection interface and forming a bottom slot in a front bottom, at least one retention flange on side walls, and pivot receiving holes in rear portions of the side walls. A retention board forms a connection interface receiving opening in a front end, rotation shafts on a rear end, and pawls on a bottom. The shafts are movably received in shaft slots defined in a rotary board. Pivots are formed below the shaft slots for being received in pivot receiving holes defined in the lower casing member. The rotary board has a hold-down plate. With a hard disk drive placed on the retention board and connected to a connection interface, the cover and the rotary board are closed forward to have the hold-down plate holding down the hard disk drive. The cover is then moved backward for fixation.
US08072840B2

Method for identifying one or more fracture clusters in a formation surrounding a reservoir. In one implementation, the method may include generating a P to S image, comparing the P to S image to one or more images from a borehole, and identifying one or more fracture clusters using the P to S image and the borehole images.
US08072835B2

A row address decoder includes a first main word line decoding unit decoding first and second row addresses to generate first to fourth main decoding signals. When a data storage test is performed, the first to fourth main decoding signals are enabled at first to fourth timings, respectively. The row address decoder also includes a second main word line decoding unit decoding third and fourth row addresses to generate fifth to eighth main decoding signals. When a data storage test is performed, the fifth to eight main decoding signals are enabled at first to fourth timings, respectively. A main word line enable signal generating unit decodes the first to fourth main decoding signals and the fifth to eighth main decoding signals to generate first to sixteenth main word line enable signals that are enabled at different times.
US08072834B2

A line driver circuit can include an integrated circuit substrate of a first conductivity type having at least a first and a second well of a second conductivity type formed therein. The second well can be coupled to a first power supply node. A first transistor can be formed in the first well having a source coupled to a first input signal node, a drain coupled to a conductive line, and a gate coupled to a second input signal node. A second transistor can have a source coupled to a second power supply node, a drain coupled to the conductive line, and a gate coupled to the second input signal node. A third transistor can be formed in the second well and have a source coupled to the first power supply node, a drain coupled to the first well, and a gate coupled to receive a mode signal.
US08072826B2

A memory control circuit includes a data sample circuit, a first delay control circuit, a second delay control circuit and a data circuit. The data sample circuit is used for generating a first data strobe signal and a second data strobe signal. The first delay control circuit is coupled to the data sample circuit, for receiving the first data strobe signal and delaying the first data strobe signal to generate a first delayed data strobe signal. The second delay control circuit is coupled to the data sample circuit, for receiving the second data strobe signal and delaying the second data strobe signal to generate a second delayed data strobe signal. The data circuit is coupled to the first delay control circuit and the second delay control circuit, for transferring data signals according to the first delayed data strobe signal and the second delayed data strobe signal.
US08072824B2

An operation guarantee system includes a decoder circuit, a comparison circuit, a CPU circuit, a frequency adjustment circuit and a DQ adjustment circuit. The comparison circuit compares a test data signal input from the decoder circuit with an expected value data signal input from the exterior, and detects the presence or absence of an output error in the decoder circuit. The CPU circuit controls the frequency adjustment circuit and the DQ adjustment circuit to vary a frequency of a clock signal input to an external memory and a delay amount of the data signal. In addition, the CPU circuit acquires a result of detection of the comparison circuit under various conditions. Then, the CPU circuit determines an appropriate frequency of the clock signal input to the external memory based on a relationship between the various conditions and the presence or absence of the output error.
US08072820B2

Methods, memory devices and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device receives command signals through the same input/output terminals that receive address signals and write data signals and transmit read data signals. The input/output terminals are connected to a multiplexer, which is responsive to a received mode control signal to couple the input/output terminals to either a command bus or an input/output bus. A latch in the memory device latches the command signals when the mode control signal causes the input/output terminals to be coupled to the input/output bus. As a result, the command signals continue to be applied to the command bus. When the mode control signal causes the input/output terminals to be coupled to the input/output bus, write data signals are clocked into the memory device and read data signals are clocked out of the memory device responsive to a received clock signal.
US08072817B2

Tracking cells are used in a memory system to improve the read process. The tracking cells can provide an indication of the quality of the data and can be used as part of a data recovery operation if there is an error. The tracking cells provide a means to adjust the read parameters to optimum levels in order to reflect the current conditions of the memory system. Read operations are performed on the tracking cells, where threshold voltages of physical states of the tracking cells are further apart than threshold voltages of physical states of non-tracking cells. Based on the read operations, an extent to which the tracking cells are errored is determined.
US08072813B2

A nonvolatile memory has logic which performs a programming operation, that controls a series of programming bias arrangements to program at least a selected memory cell of the memory array with data. The series of programming bias arrangements include multiple sets of changing gate voltage values to the memory cells.
US08072803B2

The memory device is described, which includes a substrate, a conductive layer, a charge storage layer, a plurality of first doped regions and a plurality of second doped regions. The substrate has a plurality of trenches formed therein. The conductive layer is disposed on the substrate and fills the trenches. The charge storage layer is disposed between the substrate and the conductive layer. The first doped regions are configured in the substrate adjacent to both sides of an upper portion of each trench, respectively. The first doped regions between the neighbouring trenches are separated from each other. The second doped regions are configured in the substrate under bottoms of the trenches, respectively. The second doped regions and the first doped regions are separated from each other, such that each memory cell includes six physical bits.
US08072792B2

An integrated circuit including a resistive memory cell and a method of manufacturing the integrated circuit are described. The integrated circuit comprises a plurality of resistive memory cells and a plurality of voltage supply contacts, wherein at least four resistive memory cells are in signal connection with one voltage supply contact.
US08072789B2

A resistance-change memory device is provided and includes a stack constituting a tunnel magnetoresistance effect element that has a magnetic layer in which a direction of magnetization is switchable and that is formed on a conductive layer, and the stack is included in a resistance-change memory cell performing data writing utilizing a spin transfer effect caused by current injection. The stack is formed such that a line connecting centers of respective layers of the stack is tilted with respect to a direction perpendicular to a surface of the conductive layer having the stack formed thereon.
US08072786B2

A power supply module is configured for converting an AC voltage to a first DC voltage and applying the first DC voltage to a load. The power supply module includes a rectifying and filtering unit, a PFC unit, a voltage transforming unit, an input port, and a switch unit. The rectifying and filtering unit rectifies the AC voltage into a primary DC voltage and filters the primary DC voltage. The PFC unit corrects a power factor of the filtered primary DC voltage. The voltage transforming unit converts the corrected primary DC voltage and generates the first DC voltage for applying the load. The input port receives a first instruction or a second instruction and generates a first signal or a second signal, respectively. The switch unit establishes or disconnects an electrical connection between the voltage transforming unit and the load according to the first signal or the second signal.
US08072781B2

An electronic device includes a bracket, a rear plane, a mounting member, and a middle plane. The bracket is configured for receiving at least one hard disk drive therein, and includes a bottom plate. The rear plane is secured to the bracket. The mounting member secures the middle plane to the bottom plate, so that the middle plane is perpendicular to the bottom plate and parallel to the rear plane.
US08072780B1

Described herein is an integrated data center that provides for efficient cooling, as well as efficient wire routing, and in particular a support for a thermal shield, distribution wiring, as well as cabinet cluster wiring.
US08072779B1

A removable, uni-body, low voltage device adapter clip for an electrical device housing having an opening that is sized to accommodate a standard N-gang outlet box, makes it possible to mount a low voltage device in the sized-opening. The clip includes a longitudinal body portion having opposite ends defining an N-gang length there between. The clip has a finger structure that is configured to engage a front and a rear surface of an edge of the sized opening. It further has N device mounting bores disposed between the opposite ends, each of which is aligned with a longitudinal centerline of each one of the N-gang-sized openings. An electrical device housing assembly includes an electrical device housing having a plurality of recessed walls, wherein at least one of the walls has an opening that is sized to accommodate a standard N-gang outlet box, and a pair of removable, uni-body, low voltage device adapter clips. The assembly may include a low voltage device. The assembly may further include integrated mounting flanges and flange covers.
US08072776B2

A pressure compensating enclosure comprises a sealed enclosure having substantially rigid outer walls and an interior cavity adapted to receive components to be protected by the enclosure. The sealed enclosure has an aperture in one of its outer walls which is sealingly coupled to a hollow, elastic member disposed in the enclosure so as to be in fluid communication with the exterior of the enclosure. An incompressible fluid substantially fills the sealed enclosure, wherein in response to a change in temperature of the enclosure, the volume occupied by the incompressible fluid changes and the hollow elastic member deforms responsive to the change in volume of the incompressible fluid sufficient to pressure balance the enclosure.
US08072771B2

An improved upright circuit board assembly structure includes: an electronic component to be mounted on an external device so as for electrical functions of the electronic component to be used; and at least one circuit board including at least one first electrical connection portion and at least one second electrical connection portion. The first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion are coupled to the external device by soldering with a solder paste. By soldering the circuit board to the external device in a double-sided, multi-point manner, the electronic component is mounted securely on the external device, and electric connection between the electronic component and the external device is enhanced.
US08072763B2

A printed circuit board assembly includes a heat sink, a back board, and a securing member. The heat sink is configured to be mounted on a heat generating element of a printed circuit board. The heat sink is configured to dissipate heat generated by the heat generating element. The heat sink and the back board are configured to be placed on opposite sides of the printed circuit board. The heat sink includes a first connecting heat pipe. The back board includes a second connecting heat pipe. The second connecting heat pipe contacts the first connecting heat pipe. The securing member thermally contacts the first connecting heat pipe and the second connecting heat pipe.
US08072756B1

A parallel redundant fan system includes at least first and second fans located adjacent each other. Each fan includes: (i) a fan housing defining a fan chamber in which an impeller is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation; (ii) a first chamber outlet in communication with the fan chamber and defined by an opening in a first wall of the fan housing; (iii) a second chamber outlet in communication with the fan chamber and defined by an opening in a second wall of the fan housing; and, (iii) first and second backflow prevention dampers respectively associated with the first and second chamber outlets. The first and second dampers respectively include first and second damper plates that selectively pivot from their closed positions toward their opened positions against the closing force of respective first and second counterweights in response to exhaust air flow pressure exerted thereon.
US08072755B2

An active heat-dissipating mechanism includes a fan module, an airflow-guiding part and an airflow shunt part. The fan module includes an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The airflow-guiding part is disposed at the same side of the airflow outlet of the fan module and in communication with the fan module. An airflow channel is defined by the airflow-guiding part. An airflow inhaled by the fan module is guided to a hotspot region of the electronic device through the airflow channel so as to remove the heat generated from the hotspot region. The airflow shunt part is formed on the airflow-guiding part. The airflow shunt part defines a stopping block in the airflow channel. A portion of the airflow is hindered by the stopping block and guided into a sub-hotspot region of the electronic device so as to remove the heat generated from the sub-hotspot region.
US08072743B2

The invention relates to a monitor device on board for a motor vehicle, with a monitor (4) which can be drive-displaced, by means of a drive mechanism (6), from an inactive position in a recess (1) of a dashboard (2), through an opening (3) of the recess (1), into an active position outside the recess (1), as well as from the active position into the inactive position, wherein a covering (5) closing the opening (3) in the inactive position can furthermore be drive-displaced in a coupled manner by means of the drive mechanism (6) into the active position in which the opening (3) is exposed.
US08072741B2

A mobile device has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a body and a first magnet member. The second portion may be movably connected with the first portion and includes a body, a shutter door and a second magnet member. An opening is defined in the body of the second portion and the shutter door is operable to move from an open position to a closed position to cover at least a portion of the opening when the shutter door. The second magnet member is connected to the shutter door so that, when the second magnet member is aligned with the first magnet member, the shutter door is positioned in the closed position.
US08072739B2

A mounting system for an electronic display device includes a display interface having an interface member presenting a display mounting surface and a tilt head assembly defining a substantially horizontal tilt axis oriented generally parallel with, and spaced apart from, the display mounting surface. The tilt head assembly includes a control mechanism for selectively shifting the tilt axis between a first location spaced apart a first distance from the display mounting surface and a second location spaced apart a second distance from the display mounting surface, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.
US08072734B2

An inexpensive and reliable dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Also disclosed is an exemplary process for manufacturing an electrode for use in an energy storage device product, the process comprising: supplying dry carbon particles; supplying dry binder; dry mixing the dry carbon particles and dry binder; and dry fibrillizing the dry binder to create a matrix within which to support the dry carbon particles as dry material.
US08072727B2

A fault protection device tests a distribution for persistence of a fault using a selectable first fault testing procedure and a second fault testing procedure.
US08072720B2

An electrostatic protection circuit that affords protection without effecting transfer of an ordinary output signal includes an output terminal; a ground terminal; a first N-channel transistor having its drain and source connected between the output terminal and the ground terminal GND; a first electrostatic protection element connecting the output terminal and the ground terminal; and a second electrostatic protection element connected the drain and gate of the first N-channel transistor. The second N-channel transistor is connected to the gate of the first N-channel transistor. The gate potential of the first N-channel transistor rises and the gate-to-drain voltage of the first N-channel transistor is limited to a value below a prescribed value by a current that flows into the second electrostatic protection element owing to application of static electricity to the output terminal, and resistance of the second N-channel transistor, which is the ON state, as seen from the gate of the first N-channel transistor.
US08072714B2

A barrier layer is disposed over a pinned layer made of ferromagnetic material having a fixed magnetization direction, the barrier layer having a thickness allowing electrons to transmit therethrough by a tunneling phenomenon. A first free layer is disposed over the barrier layer, the first free layer being made of amorphous or fine crystalline soft magnetic material which changes a magnetization direction under an external magnetic field. A second free layer is disposed over the first free layer, the second free layer being made of crystalline soft magnetic material which changes a magnetization direction under an external magnetic field and being exchange-coupled to the first free layer. A tunneling magnetoresistance device is provided which has good magnetic characteristics and can suppress a tunnel resistance change rate from being lowered.
US08072708B2

A load beam is capable of securing a required level of positioning accuracy for a slider, a load beam has a body and a dimple, the body is made of a plate having a first surface and a second surface, the dimple has a convex curved surface protruding from the first surface of the body and supports a slider so that the slider is movable in predetermined directions to write and read information to and from a disk in a disk drive, and the load beam includes a mark formed on the second surface of the body, configured to provide positional information about a vertex of the dimple.
US08072707B2

In a perpendicular magnetic recording head comprising a main magnetic pole layer, a return yoke layer, and an auxiliary yoke layer, a plurality of rear magnetic connecting layers intermittently extending to a connecting position with the return yoke layer are provided at the same lamination position as with the main magnetic pole layer on the rear side of the main magnetic pole layer in the height direction. The auxiliary yoke layer is formed by a plurality of divided auxiliary yoke layers intermittently extending on the rear side of the medium-opposing surface in the height direction and magnetically connecting the main magnetic pole layer to the plurality of rear magnetic connecting layers, respectively. In each of the main magnetic pole layer, plurality of rear magnetic connecting layers, and plurality of divided auxiliary yoke layers, the size in the track width direction is defined greater than the size in the height direction.
US08072695B1

An imaging lens includes plastic-made first, second, third, fourth, and fifth lens elements arranged in the given order from an object side to an imaging side, each having object-side and imaging-side surfaces facing toward the object and imaging sides, respectively. The first lens element has a positive focusing power, and the object-side surface thereof is a convex surface. The second lens element has a negative focusing power, and the imaging-side surface thereof is a concave surface. The third lens element has a positive focusing power, and each of the imaging-side and object-side surfaces thereof is a convex surface. The fourth lens element is a meniscus lens, and the imaging-side surface thereof is a convex surface. The imaging-side surface of the fifth lens element has a concave area in a vicinity of an optical axis of the fifth lens element.
US08072694B2

There is provided an objective lens used for a plurality of types of optical discs having a front surface and a rear surface, each of which includes an inner region and an outer region. The outer region has a surface shape which suppresses a coma caused when a beam used for a first optical disc is incident thereon obliquely with respect to an optical axis of the objective lens. The inner region is configured such that, at a boundary position between the inner region and the outer region, the coma caused when a beam used for a second optical disc is incident on the inner region obliquely at a first angle with respect to the optical axis is less than the coma caused when the beam used for the second optical disc is incident on the outer region obliquely at the first angle with respect to the optical axis. Further, an inclination θ2A of the inner region and an inclination θ2B of the outer region of the rear surface satisfy a condition: −2.5<θ2B−θ2A<0.0 . . . (1).
US08072689B2

An optical device with a deformable membrane including an anchoring area on a support helping to contain a constant volume of liquid in contact with one of its faces, a substantially central area, configured to be deformed reversibly from a rest position, and an actuation mechanism displacing the liquid in the central area, stressing the membrane in parts situated between the central area and the anchoring area. The actuation mechanism includes plural thermal or piezoelectric actuators of micro-beam type, distributed at the periphery of the membrane, the micro-beams including at least one fixed part joined to the support and at least one moving part coming into contact, on an actuation, with the membrane in an area situated between the central area and the anchoring area.
US08072688B2

A method that comprises returning a droplet of conducting liquid of a tunable liquid microlens to a calibration position. Returning the droplet includes applying a first set of voltages between the conducting liquid and a first set of electrodes to move the droplet to a different position than the calibrated position. Returning the droplet further includes applying a second set of voltages between the conducting liquid and a second set of electrodes to return the droplet to the calibration position.
US08072685B1

A method for forming a lens assembly is provided, including: providing a mold substrate, wherein at least a recess is formed from a surface of the mold substrate; providing a transparent substrate; disposing a lens precursor material on the surface of the mold substrate or on a first surface of the transparent substrate; disposing the mold substrate on the transparent substrate such that at least a portion of the lens precursor material is filled in the recess; disposing a mask on a second surface of the transparent substrate to partially cover the transparent substrate; after the mask is disposed, irradiating a light on the second surface of the transparent substrate to transform at least a portion of the lens precursor material on the first surface of the transparent substrate into a lens; and removing the mask and the mold substrate from the transparent substrate and the lens.
US08072684B2

A double-sided grating divider acts as a light switch where the upper and lower grating dividers are arranged to accommodate a relative lateral shift therebetween of about one-fourth of the period of the diffraction grating elements and where the critical refraction angles of the grating dividers are more than about 43.6°. Lateral shift may be achieved by various devices including MEMS and metal couplers having a known/calibrated thermal coefficient of expansion over a temperature range of interest.
US08072679B2

A microscope includes optics configured to direct beams onto an object including a reflective material, a detector configured to receive a field spectrum formed by beams reflected by the object, and a calculator configured to reconstruct an image of the object from the field spectrum detected by the detector.
US08072678B2

A modular, compact and widely tunable laser system for the efficient generation of high peak and high average power ultrashort pulses. System compactness is ensured by employing efficient fiber amplifiers, directly or indirectly pumped by diode lasers. Dispersive broadening is introduced by dispersive pulse stretching in the presence of self-phase modulation and gain, resulting in the formation of high-power parabolic pulses. In addition, dispersive broadening is also introduced by simple fiber delay lines or chirped fiber gratings. The phase of the pulses in the dispersive delay line is controlled to quartic order by the use of fibers with varying amounts of waveguide dispersion or by controlling the chirp of the fiber gratings. After amplification, the dispersively stretched pulses can be re-compressed to nearly their bandwidth limit by the implementation of another set of dispersive delay lines. A particularly compact implementation of the whole system uses fiber oscillators in conjunction with fiber amplifiers.
US08072670B2

A spatial light modulator has an array of elements organized into element rows and element columns and an array of electrodes organized into electrode rows and electrode columns to activate the array of elements. The modulator has pixel circuitry organized into circuit rows and circuit columns with the pixel circuitry being electrically coupled to the array of electrodes, such that there is at least one translation of either circuits in a column to electrodes in a row or circuits in a row to electrodes in a column.
US08072667B2

An optical scanning device includes a deflecting unit that deflects a laser beam from a light source in a main-scanning direction; a scanning imaging unit that focuses the laser beam deflected by the deflecting unit on a scanning surface and scans the scanning surface with focused laser beam; and a light receiving unit that detects optical intensity of the laser beam and a synchronous timing in the main-scanning direction and that includes a plurality of photodetecting elements arranged on a substrate in the main-scanning direction.
US08072665B2

A three-dimensional space scanner is configured so that a reflecting mirror is rotated and tilted so as to scan a mobile object in a horizontal as well as vertical direction, thereby obtaining spatial data.
US08072660B2

A hologram recording apparatus includes a signal-beam spatial light modulating section, a reference-beam spatial light modulating section, and a control unit. A signal beam pattern generates a signal beam. A reference beam pattern generates a reference beam. The control unit controls the shapes of the two beam patterns. A data-recording signal beam pattern is displayed on the signal-beam spatial light modulating section and a data-recording reference beam pattern is displayed on the reference-beam spatial light modulating section so that a data-recording hologram is formed in a predetermined area of a holographic recording medium. An encryption signal beam pattern for encrypting the data-recording hologram is displayed on the signal-beam spatial light modulating section and an encryption reference beam pattern is displayed on the reference-beam spatial light modulating section so that an encryption hologram is formed in the same area as the predetermined area of the holographic recording medium.
US08072653B2

An image reading and recording apparatus has: a carriage for mounting a recording head; a reading unit which reads an original document; a conveying roller arranged on a conveying path which is used in common for recording paper and the original; and a platen arranged so as to face the recording head. The reading unit is movable between a reading position on an upper side of the conveying path and a retracting position on a lower side of the conveying path. The platen can relatively and independently move for the reading unit.
US08072644B2

Techniques are disclosed for stitching images printed by a multi-head printer in a manner that is relatively insensitive to misregistration of the image segments. When a pair of overlapping print heads print a pair of adjacent image segments which meet in a stitching region, printing at each location in the stitching region is accomplished by both print heads with a weighting that depends on the location being printed within the stitching region. In one embodiment, for example, the output of each print head is weighted by a linear function of horizontal pixel position. Techniques are also disclosed for selecting screening patterns for use when stitching is performed with variable-dot printers. Such screening patterns are selected to minimize variations in density that may arise as the result of cross-web and/or down-web misregistration.
US08072640B2

In a recording system in which a digital still camera and a photo-direct printer are directly connected to each other via a general interface, image data is transmitted to the printer from the camera, and the data is printed. A communication procedure is established by applications installed into the printer and the camera, each of a plurality of functions serving as the printing system are assigned to either the camera or the printer, data and a command are transferred between the functions assigned to the camera and the printer, and recording is performed by the printer based on image data supplied from the camera.
US08072639B2

A print system includes a communication path, a client device which transmits print data to said communication path, a host device connected to said communication path, and a printer device which prints the print data after receiving the print data from said client device via said communication path, and automatically sends the print data together with printer output information to said host device via said communication path, said printer output information including keywords for identifying said print data.
US08072636B2

An information processing apparatus which performs a process on the basis of an access control information, or ACT, for control of a use of a function of a peripheral device for each user acquires setting information about the use of the function of the peripheral device specified by the user, and the ACT corresponding to the user. If the user-specified setting information is permitted by the ACT and if the setting information permitted by the ACT is not set by the user-specified setting information, the apparatus displays a screen indicating that the user-specified setting information can be changed according to the ACT.
US08072634B2

A location information management device comprises an output device information receipt unit receiving output device identification information and output device location information, a terminal device information receipt unit receiving terminal device identification information and terminal device location information, and a correspondence setting unit which specifies a data output device having a predetermined location relationship with a communication terminal device and associating the output device identification information with the terminal device identification information, a terminal identification information transmission unit transmitting the terminal device identification information, a first output data receipt unit receiving the terminal device identification information and output data, a first output data transmission unit specifying the output device identification information corresponding to the terminal device identification information and transmitting the output data and a specific state notice request; a first state notice receipt unit receiving a specific state notice, and a first state notice transmission unit transmitting the specific state notice to a communication terminal device.
US08072628B2

Disclosed is a printing apparatus capable of quickly performing the first printing while managing print requests. More specifically, a print request is received from an external device (S1301), and the received print request is registered in a register (S1304, S1308). Upon reception of the print request, the presence/absence of a print request which is registered in the register is determined (S1302). Print data is requested of the external device (S1306, S1307). The process order of print requests registered in the register is controlled (S1305). If it is determined in a determining step (S1302) that no print request is registered in the register, a print data request step (S1307) is performed before a registration step (S1308). If it is determined in the determining step (S1302) that a print request is registered in the register, the print data request step (S1306) is performed after the registration step (S1304).
US08072627B2

This is to provide an image processing apparatus and others capable of ensuring security by shortening the connecting time of an external recording medium when a plurality of jobs including target data pieces encrypted with shared keys and the shared keys encrypted with a user's public key are executed. A job including a target data piece encrypted with a shared key and the shared key encrypted with a user's public key are received and stored in a job storage. To execute the plurality of jobs stored therein, the encrypted shared keys included in the respective jobs are decrypted with a secret key by the external recording medium. After completely obtaining all the plurality of decrypted shared keys, the target data pieces are decrypted with their matching decrypted shared keys, and then the jobs are executed.
US08072617B2

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for measuring a timber piece (4) in a wood handling machine (1). Such a wood handling machine comprises booms (2) arranged in a base machine and a wood handling device (3) operating therein. In such a wood handling machine (1), a wood handling device (3) grips the timber piece (4) to be handled, after which one end of the timber piece is guided into a measuring carriage (5) in the wood handling machine by the wood handling device. The timber piece arranged in the measuring carriage is subjected to one or more observation measures by observation means provided in the measuring carriage.
US08072616B2

A system and method for measuring coating thickness upon a substrate containing directionally oriented elements is disclosed. A near infrared light is directed upon the coating and reflected near infrared light is collected to determine the coating thickness. A pair of stacked and crossed diffuser elements is placed between the light source and the sample, and between the sample and the reflected near infrared light collector to improve the accuracy of the measurement, especially for coating thickness of less than about 2 mils and for coatings on substrates containing directionally oriented components. Each diffuser element is formed of a polytetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymer (PTFE) film.
US08072615B2

The position of a product is measured using an alignment mark on the product. Radiation is transmitted towards the alignment mark and diffracted by a pattern in the alignment mark. Position information is determined from phase relations of the diffracted radiation. The alignment mark comprises a set of mutually parallel conductor tracks from which the diffracted radiation is collected, the pattern being defined by a pattern of variation of the pitch between successive tracks as a function of position along the surface of the product. Thus, for example the pattern comprises alternating first and second areas wherein the pitch has a first and second value, respectively. Because the tracks in the different parts of the pattern, such as the first and second areas, are parallel to each other improved measurements are possible.
US08072609B1

An enhanced sensitivity laser vibrometer with increased output signal strength and more sensitive surface vibration detection, is provided by using a reflective mirror assembly to repeatedly bounce the sensing laser beam against the acoustic pressure-sensing diaphragm to magnify the acoustic incident pressure wave being detected. The enhancement in signal strength, in terms of power spectral density, is a function of the number of bounces squared and the detection of surface vibrations with a displacement of smaller than 4 picometers is demonstrated experimentally.
US08072606B2

The present invention discloses a fiber-optic localized plasmon resonance (FO-LPR) sensing device and a sensing system thereof, the FO-LPR sensing system includes a light source, a FO-LPR sensing device and a detector, and the light source provides a light beam entered into the FO-LPR sensing device, and the detector generates a detected signal according to an emergent light from the FO-LPR sensing device. The FO-LPR sensing device includes an optical fiber, a noble metal nanoparticle layer and a filter film layer. The filter film layer is having a porous material, and the porous material comes with a pore diameter or a property selected according to a feature of a sample, while an interfering substance in the sample is isolated.
US08072604B2

An apparatus for detecting a property of fuel detects the property of fuel at the time of fuel supply. A measuring chamber member is provided to a fuel tank. The greater portion of fuel supplied from a fuel supply nozzle falls down from a fuel supply aperture via a flow outlet into the fuel tank. However, a part of the fuel remains in a measuring space defined between a portion below the flow outlet and a bottom portion. A fuel property detection sensor is fitted to a main body so as to oppose the measuring space. When application of a cap to the fuel supply aperture has been detected by a fuel supply cap sensor, if increase of the remaining fuel amount has been detected by a remaining fuel amount sensor, or if the engine is started, a controller measures the property of the fuel with the fuel property detection sensor.
US08072599B2

This disclosure relates to a real-time, hybrid amplitude-time division polarimetric imaging camera used to derive and calculate Stokes parameters of input light.
US08072597B2

Conventionally, a particle/defect inspection apparatus outputs a total number of detected particles/defects as the result of detection. For taking countermeasures to failures in manufacturing processes, the particles/defects detected by the inspection apparatus are analyzed. Since the inspection apparatus outputs a large number of detected particles/defects, an immense time is required for analyzing the detected particles/defects, resulting in a delay in taking countermeasures to a failure in the manufacturing processes. In the present invention, an apparatus for optically inspecting particles or defects relates a particle or defect size to a cause of failure in an inspection result. A data processing circuit points out a cause of failure from the statistics on the inspection result, and displays information on the inspection result. A failure analysis is conducted by setting a threshold for identifying a failure in each of regions on a semiconductor device or the like to statistically evaluate detected particles.
US08072596B2

A method for on-line channeling of milk based on predicted coagulation properties where the method comprises sampling raw milk from a milk line between a milking station and a collection point, performing spectral analysis of one or more of optical transmission, optical reflectance, scatter and fluorescence on the raw milk sample, predicting at least one coagulation parameter on-line based on the spectral analysis, and channeling milk from the milking station on-line to one of a plurality of destinations based on the at least one coagulation parameter.
US08072589B2

An IREM image of an IC is obtained. The emission intensity at each emission site is measured/calculated and is compared to reference intensity. The calculated intensity may be plotted against reference intensities. In general, the majority of the plotted intensities would lie in a given range within a straight line. However, for devices that exhibit an abnormal emission, the plot would result in an easily observable deviation from the line. The calculated intensity is used to make a determination of logical “1” or “0” for each device, which is automatically stored together with the corresponding test vector. The calculated logical states are then tabulated and compared against tabulation of reference logical states.
US08072586B2

A focused multi-planar image acquisition in real time even while a test object is moving, is achieved with a system and a method for a focused multi-planar image acquisition in a prober. When a surface of a test object is positioned laterally in relation to tips of separated probe needles, a microscope is focused on the surface of the test object at a first time and on a plane of the probe needles at a second time. The objective lens is provided with a microscope objective lens focusing system, which can focus the objective lens, independently of a vertical adjustment drive of the microscope, on the surface of the test object in a first focal plane and in a second focal plane, which is on a level with the probe needle tips.
US08072583B2

A range-finding device includes: a light emitting unit that continuously emits measurement light to be used for distance measurement toward a measurement target object; a light-receiving unit that receives reflected light reflected by the measurement target object; a calculation unit that repeatedly calculates a distance to the measurement target object over predetermined time intervals by using the reflected light; a display unit at which an update of the distance is displayed each time the distance is calculated by the calculation unit; and a display update control unit that prohibits the update of the distance on display at the display unit and sustains the display of the previously calculated distance at the display unit according to a change in the most recently calculated distance calculated most recently by the calculation unit relative to the previously calculated distance having been calculated previously by the calculation unit.
US08072581B1

The laser range finding system includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor unit (SU) and a LIDAR processor unit (PU). The LIDAR SU is for transmitting light pulses and receiving resulting input light signals reflected from objects within the field of view of the SU. The LIDAR SU includes a flash LIDAR illuminating laser source for transmitting light pulses. The LIDAR illuminating laser source includes an illuminating laser and zoom optics operatively associated with the laser. A LIDAR receiver receives resulting input light signals reflected from the objects. The LIDAR receiver includes a sensor; and, a flash readout integrated circuit (IC). The flash readout IC measures the transit time of the light pulses. The LIDAR processor unit (PU) is operatively associated with the LIDAR SU and it utilizes flash LIDAR ranging. A power source is operatively coupled to the LIDAR PU. Zooming of the transmitted light pulses results in the received resulting input light signals illuminating a relatively reduced area of the frame. Thus, a flash LIDAR image of relatively reduced resolution but enhanced range is provided by utilization of the transit time measurements.
US08072569B2

A Fringe Field Switching (“FFS”) mode liquid crystal display panel 10A includes an array substrate having first electrodes 14 each provided in a space delimited by a plurality of scan lines 12 and signal lines 17, second electrodes 21 provided on the first electrodes 14 with an insulator therebetween, and a plurality of slits 20A provided to each of the second electrodes 21 in parallel with one another in a direction crossing the signal lines 17; and a color filter substrate having a color filter layer. Each of the slits 20A has an open end 20A′ on one side. The color filter layer has a centerline 30 extending along the signal lines 17 for individual pixels, and the centerline 30 coincides with a display centerline 32 that is shifted toward the open end side of the slits from a centerline 31 of each second electrode as viewed from above. Accordingly, an FFS mode liquid crystal display panel is obtained that causes no color mixtures with this arrangement in which the slits each having an open end on one side are formed in each second electrode.
US08072565B2

A liquid crystal display device is provided that includes: first and second substrate; a gate line of a double layer having a first transparent conductive layer and a second opaque conductive layer on the first substrate; a first insulation layer on the gate line; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, the pixel region having a transmissive region and a reflective region; a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode formed of the transparent conductive layer in the pixel region; an upper storage electrode forming a storage capacitor by overlapping the gate line with the gate insulating film there between; a transmission hole to exposing the pixel electrode by passing through a second insulation layer on the thin film transistor to the first insulation layer; a reflective electrode connecting the pixel electrode with a drain electrode and the upper storage electrode through an edge part of the transmission hole; a gate pad extending from the first conductive layer of the gate line; a data pad formed of the first conductive layer and connected to the data line through a data link; and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, wherein the first and second insulation layers are removed in the gate and data pads.
US08072561B2

Contrast compensation for a liquid crystal display projection system including a light source, a first polarizer, a liquid crystal display panel, and a second polarizer is provided using a tilted compensating plate. The compensating plate includes a first birefringent element having an optic axis oriented at a first angle to the plate normal, where the first angle is greater than zero degrees (e.g., an A-plate or O-plate), and a second birefringent element having an optic axis oriented at a second angle to the plate normal, where the second angle is substantially equal to zero degrees (e.g., a C-plate). The compensating plate is tilted relative to a plane of the liquid crystal display panel. The tilted compensating plate has been shown to provide improved contrast compensation for twisted nematic liquid crystal displays.
US08072553B2

A stereoscopic display device is provided for displaying a 3-dimentional image including a first slice, a second slice and a third slice arranged in the order written. The stereoscopic display device includes a first LCD, a second LCD, and a number of distance adjusting members between the first and second LCDs. Each distance adjusting member includes two magnetic elements. The two magnetic elements are aligned with each other and fixed to the first and second LCDs, respectively. One of the two magnetic elements is an electromagnet. The two magnetic elements are configured for cooperatively creating repulsion forces and attractive forces applied between the two LCDs such that the first LCD is reciprocally moved relative to the second LCD between a first position where the first LCD displays a contour of the second slice and a second position where the first LCD displays a contour of the third slice.
US08072542B2

A correction sampling signal generation circuit is disposed subsequent to a plural-stage sampling signal generation circuit for sequentially generating sampling signals in response to an input timing signal, an extended sampling circuit is disposed subsequent to a plural-stage sampling circuit for sampling a video signal at timing of the sampling signal, and a data signal is sampled at timing of the sampling signal generated by the extended sampling circuit. In a timing adjustment period, the data signal for adjustment is generated, the phases of the data signal and the timing signal are relatively shifted, the outputs of the sampling circuits are supplied to a common output line through respective switches, and the phase of the optimum timing signal or the video signal is determined based on the output from the common output line.
US08072541B2

A signal processing apparatus converts interlaced 4:2:2-format video signals including a luminance component and two chroma components into interlaced 4:2:0 format video signals. A downsampling low-pass filter has such a group delay that a modulo-1 remainder of the group delay at frequency ω=0 is substantially equal to 0.25. The downsampling low-pass filter is designed together with an associated upsampling low-pass filter such that the first downsampling low-pass filter and the upsampling low-pass filter substantially satisfy perfect reconstruction filter bank condition, and such that a sum of the group delay of the first downsampling low-pass filter and a group delay of a normalized filter obtained by making the sum of all the coefficients of the upsampling low-pass filter equal to 1 is substantially equal to an integer number at frequency ω=0.
US08072526B2

An image sensor comprises a pixel array, and a control unit which performs, in a first period, a control operation of an electric potential of a signal line to turn off a MOS transistor while the electric potential of a charge-voltage converter in a selected pixel is maintained at an electric potential of a selected state, and, in a second period subsequent to the first period, performs a control operation of the electric potential of the signal line to turn on the MOS transistor while the electric potential of the charge-voltage converter in the selected pixel is maintained at an electric potential of the selected state.
US08072512B2

A CMOS image sensor may include an active pixel sensor array and a noise canceller array corresponding to the active pixel sensor array. A method of operating such an CMOS image sensor may involve generating a varying reference signal that mirrors noise external to the active pixel sensor array, outputting the varying reference signal to the noise canceller array, and using the varying reference signal in the noise canceller array to cancel noise both internal to and external to the active pixel sensor array.
US08072505B2

Light from an object is converted by an imaging device into an electric signal carrying an object image. A video signal is generated by a video signal processor based on the electric signal. A human face is detected by a face detector if a human is contained in the image, based on the video signal. An on-screen signal is generated by an on-screen generator for either a first or a second menu window each for use in selection among imaging modes. The first and second windows are used when no face and the face is being detected, respectively. The on-screen signal is supplied to a screen which displays one of the windows. The generator is controlled by a controller based on information, supplied by the detector, indicating whether the face is contained in the image, so that the on-screen signal is generated for the first or the second window.
US08072500B2

A vibration compensation method for an image capture device comprising calculating the absolute difference values or the squared difference values between each first block of pixels of a base field and a second block of pixels corresponding thereto as well as other neighboring blocks of pixels in a comparison region in a reference field and choosing the interlace process modules of allowing the first block of pixels to interlace with the second block of pixels to form a image block, allowing the first block of pixels to interlace with the other neighboring block of pixels to form an image block and allowing the first block of pixels to interlace with a duplicated first block of pixels to form an image block, to combine an image depending on whether the absolute difference value or the squared difference values is smaller than a preset value or not thereby compensating the vibration factors as an image capture device is capturing an image to obtain a clear image.
US08072497B2

When a digital camera 1 is being swung, the CPU 10 judges whether or not a block group having motion vectors which are varyingly different from the motion vectors of a peripheral area 32 in a field angle photographing area as shown in FIG. 3A exists in a center area 31 as shown in FIG. 3B. When judged that a block group having varyingly different motion vectors exists in the center area 31, the digital camera 1 determines this block group as an observed photographic subject area. Subsequently, when the scalar quantity of the largest motion vector, among the motion vectors of each block in the determined observed photographic subject area, is smaller than a threshold v, the digital camera 1 judges that the user is attempting to perform a follow shot and there is no blurring of the photographic subject, and performs automatic shooting.
US08072491B2

An information processing system includes a sensor that obtains sensor data. The system also includes a feature extracting mechanism that extracts a feature of an object based on the sensor data obtained by the sensor. Further, the system includes an event determining mechanism that obtains the feature extracted by the feature extracting mechanism so as to determine whether an event has occurred based on determination parameters. In addition, the system includes a display-data generating mechanism that generates, when an occurrence of the event is determined by the event determining mechanism, display data including event data for reporting the occurrence of the event. A display displays an indication based on the event data. An input reception mechanism receives an input based on the indication displayed by the display. A controller turns off a power source of the sensor based on the input received by the input reception mechanism.
US08072485B2

To prevent information required for reproducing of a 3D/multi-viewpoint image being lost even in a case in which editing or the like of the 3D/multi-viewpoint image is performed using a device or application software that does not support 3D/multi-viewpoint images, a compound-eye digital camera can switch between a multi-viewpoint image taking mode that images a subject image viewed from a plurality of viewpoints and a single viewpoint image taking mode that takes a subject image viewed from a single viewpoint. When taking an image in the multi-viewpoint image taking mode, the compound-eye digital camera sets a protect flag for multi-viewpoint images acquired with an image pickup device and records the multi-viewpoint images. As a result, the taken multi-viewpoint images are protected, and erasure or editing of the images cannot be performed without permission.
US08072477B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of optical scanning parts that scan a photoconductor with light of plural colors to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor based on print data; and a controller that, based on a first optical scanning part to which a horizontal synchronization signal is applied of the optical scanning parts, calculates an offset value for light-scan of a second optical scanning part of the optical scanning parts, and controls the optical scanning parts to scan the photoconductor with the light according to the calculated offset value.
US08072471B2

A method for processing a selected item in a GUI of a multimedia application is provided. The method includes receiving a hot key input that specifies a function that is to be applied to the selected item and displaying a set of control guidelines associated with the hot key input. The set of control guidelines indicates cursor movement inputs needed to specify particular aspects of the function. A method for transforming a received cursor movement in a first coordinate system to a transformed cursor movement in a second coordinate system is provided. The received cursor movement specifies a particular manner (e.g., aspect and extent) of a function to be applied to an item in a workspace of a multimedia application. The first coordinate system displays a particular view of the workspace.
US08072462B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing display of unwanted content stored in a frame buffer. In use, unwanted content stored in a frame buffer is identified. Furthermore, display of the unwanted content is prevented based on the identification of the unwanted content.
US08072455B2

A system for generating two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional model is provided. The system includes an active building model system generating one or more user-selected two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional building model. A floor plan view location system receives user control data and places a two-dimensional floor plan view in a user-selected location of a viewing window. An elevation view location system receives user control data and places a two-dimensional elevation view in a user-selected location of the viewing window.
US08072454B1

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for selecting a ray tracing entity from a group of ray tracing entities for processing by a parallel processing architecture. In operation, it is determined whether at least one thread in a parallel processing architecture has completed processing a ray tracing entity. Further, an additional ray tracing entity is selected from a group of ray tracing entities for processing by the parallel processing architecture, based on the determination.
US08072451B2

Z testing during computer graphics rendering is performed in a manner so as to optimize rendering. The status of a pixel as non-promotable may be tracked using a pixel status array (PSA). Each PSA row may contain bits which correspond to the non-promotable status of pixels. Each row may include five pixels, the first four of which represent the pixels in a subspan. If the row corresponds to a valid subspan, a determination may be made as to whether any pixel in the subspan is represented by a one, indicating that the pixel is non-promotable. This row corresponds to a previous subspan that has been sent down rendering pipeline. If a one is present, then the current subspan may be stalled until the pixels of the previous subspan has gone through color calculation. If, in the row that has just been read, no pixels are represented by a one, then a determination may be made as to whether any pixels in the current subspan are non-promotable. If so, then the corresponding bit in the current PSA row may be set to one. Otherwise, the Z test may be performed on each pixel of the current subspan.
US08072448B2

The present invention relates to annotating images. In an embodiment, the present invention enables users to create annotations corresponding to three-dimensional objects while viewing two-dimensional images. In one embodiment, this is achieved by projecting a selecting object onto a three-dimensional model created from a plurality of two-dimensional images. The selecting object is input by a user while viewing a first image corresponding to a portion of the three-dimensional model. A location corresponding to the projection on the three-dimensional model is determined, and content entered by the user while viewing the first image is associated with the location. The content is stored together with the location information to form an annotation. The annotation can be retrieved and displayed together with other images corresponding to the location.
US08072445B2

A display device includes a timing controller, a data driver and a gate driver. The timing controller receives a first clock and an image data signal and outputs a second clock having a lower frequency than that of the first clock and the image data signal. The data driver receives the image data signal in synchronization with the second clock and converts the image data signal into a pixel voltage in response to a data control signal. The gate driver outputs a gate voltage in response to a gate control signal generated based on the second clock.
US08072444B2

A light-detecting element, an analog-to-digital converter circuit, and a parallel-serial converter circuit are mounted on a substrate, using a thin film transistor, of an active matrix-type display device, and when a circuit is selected by an external chip-select signal, the luminance is adjusted by transmitting a signal of the light-detecting element, converted into digital data, to a luminance control circuit in sync with a clock signal.
US08072439B2

The invention provides an interactive display that is controlled by user gestures identified on a touch detecting display surface. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, imagery is projected onto a horizontal projection surface from a projector located above the projection surface. The locations where a user contacts the projection surface are detected using a set of infrared emitters and receivers arrayed around the perimeter of the projection surface. For each contact location, a computer software application stores a history of contact position information and, from the position history, determines a velocity for each contact location. Based upon the position history and the velocity information, gestures are identified. The identified gestures are associated with display commands that are executed to update the displayed imagery accordingly. Thus, the invention enables users to control the display through direct physical interaction with the imagery.
US08072433B2

A system and process for capturing and rendering ink is described. An ink canvas object may contain none, one, or more objects or elements and may specify the z-order of the objects or elements. The ink canvas object may host a variety of objects or elements and, therefore, provide ink functionality to the objects or elements, even though the objects or elements themselves may not have ink functionality. The ink canvas object is attached to an ink editor that has an associated modifiable ink editor behavior, whereby ink specific behaviors are collected in the ink edit behavior.
US08072428B2

A method and apparatus for inputting characters in a portable terminal. The method includes displaying on a display unit an arrangement of characters corresponding to a character input mode from among a plurality of arrangements of characters according to various modes, the characters being respectively mapped to combinations of two keys mode; and displaying a character corresponding to the character input mode from among the characters according to the various modes when one of the combinations of two keys is touched.
US08072420B2

A light guide member and a sensor that constitute a front light mechanism are bonded with a bonded sheet. A double-sided adhesive tape is provided on each surface of the bonded sheet. A repairing material is printed on a surface of the sensor so as to fill concave portions provided between the adjacent X-electrodes. This substantially increases the contact area with the double-sided adhesive tape, and increases the bonding strength between the light guide member and the sensor.
US08072411B2

A gate line driving circuit comprises a driving chip comprising first and second output ports, a LCD panel comprising first, second and third gate lines, a first switch and a second switch. Two terminals of the first gate line are respectively connected to the first output port and the control terminal of the first switch. Two terminals of the third gate line are respectively connected to the second output port and the control terminal of the second switch. The input terminal of the first switch electrically connects an operating voltage and the output terminal of the first switch electrically connects to the input terminal of the second switch. The output terminal of the second switch electrically connects a ground point, and one terminal of the second gate line is connected to between the output terminal of the first switch and the input terminal of the second switch.
US08072398B2

A flat panel display device and a driving method thereof wherein an input data is modulated to realize accurate color with a single gamma voltage. The flat panel display device includes a data converter having a look-up table and inputted with Red, Green and Blue N-bit digital data signals, the data converter converting the Red, Green and Blue N-bit digital data signals into Red, Green and Blue M-bit digital data signals, respectively, referring to the look-up table, wherein each of N and M is an integer, M is greater than N, and each of the Red, Green and Blue M-bit digital data signals corresponds to a gray scale number; a gamma voltage generator generating a plurality of gamma voltages corresponding to the gray scale numbers; and a data driving circuit inputted with the gamma voltages, the data driving circuit converting the Red, Green and Blue M-bit digital data signals into Red, Green and Blue analog video signals, respectively, and applying the Red, Green and Blue analog video signals to respective Red, Green and Blue pixels.
US08072383B1

A multicarrier modulation position determination method that includes deploying at least one known receiver with a known location and a second receiver with an unknown location. At least two signals of opportunity with different locations are obtained by both the receiver and the second receiver. The signals having a plurality of block data, the block data having block boundaries. The block boundaries including a beginning block boundary and an end block boundary. The block data further including a cyclic prefix at the beginning block boundary. Acquiring a plurality of data samples for at least a portion of the block data and correlating the attained signal of opportunity between the receivers. The correlating process includes the calculation of a time difference of arrival between the known receiver and the second receiver. The time difference of arrival is calculated by aligning the block boundaries and computing a single scalar statistical feature associated with each block. The location of the second receiver is calculated by using a plurality of single scalar statistical features.
US08072382B2

A system and method are disclosed to track aircraft or other vehicles using techniques including multilateration and elliptical surveillance. Unlike conventional approaches that use time difference of arrival for multilateration at a fixed set of reception points, this technique allows targets to be tracked from a number of dynamic or moving reception points. This allows for triangulation/multilateration and elliptical surveillance of targets from combinations of fixed, fixed and moving or only moving ground-based receivers, sea-based receivers, airborne receivers and space-based receivers. Additionally this technique allows for ADS-B validation through data derived from only two receivers to assess the validity and integrity of the aircraft self-reported position by comparing the time of arrival of the emitted message at the second receiver to the predicted time of message arrival at the second receiver based on the self-reported position of the aircraft and the time of arrival at the first receiver. The benefits of using less than three receivers for validation include greater validation coverage areas using a smaller set of ground stations at a lower infrastructure cost.
US08072380B2

A wireless power transmission system including at least one source of electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of wireless power receivers that receive radiated electromagnetic energy, a beacon collocated with each wireless power receiver, wherein the beacon generates and radiates a pilot signal when the beacon is in an active state, and an array of transmitting antennas connected to the source of electromagnetic radiation that radiates the electromagnetic radiation in the direction of the beacon in the active state. The electromagnetic radiation can be electronically steered from one wireless power receiver to another by activating and deactivating the beacons collocated with each wireless power receiver.
US08072379B2

A position location system, apparatus, and method are disclosed. A wireless device includes a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver and position location processor. The SPS receiver detects the availability of positioning signals and the position location processor determines an initial position of the wireless device based upon the positioning signals. A controller generates power saving events when the positioning signals are detected as being available. The controller determines the timing and duration of the power saving events. During a power saving event, the SPS receiver is deactivated and/or processing of the positioning signals is suspended to reduce power consumption of the wireless device. The initial position is updated based upon relative positioning information from one or more sensors during the power saving event. The controller activates the SPS receiver and resumes processing of the positioning signals following the power saving event.
US08072373B2

In a method for accuracy estimation of network based corrections for a satellite-aided positioning system, with a network of reference stations code and phase measurements are recorded by the reference stations and transferred to a network processing centre. The measurements are converted to observables and single-differences between a master station and at least one auxiliary station selected for each reference station are calculated. Estimates of single-difference between each reference station and the corresponding master station are generated and slant residuals for each reference station and satellite are calculated by using the difference between calculated single-differences and estimates. Subsequently double-differences are formed by differencing satellite s and the slant residuals of a reference satellite k, leading to zenith residuals calculated by mapping the double-differences to a zenith value. Error values for each reference station are computed by using the zenith residuals and residual dispersive and non-dispersive error values for a potential rover position are estimated by combining residual dispersive and non-dispersive error values of all reference stations. The accuracy of network based corrections is represented graphically by generating a map as a grid of potential rover positions with estimated residual dispersive and non-dispersive error values.
US08072348B2

A system for the remote acquisition of data and for the remote control of electricity meters comprises a central server AMM in bi-directional communication with a plurality of concentrators. To each concentrator, a set of electricity meters is connected, such that bi-directional communication between each meter and its associated concentrator is possible. The intelligence of the system is distributed between the central server, the concentrators and the electricity meters. To this end, each meter comprises at least a first processor, a first data memory and a first program memory for bi-directional communication with the associated concentrator. The first data memory serves to at least temporarily store and/or transmit the data which have already undergone a first processing by the first processor. Each of the concentrators comprises a second processor, a second program memory and a second data memory as well as means for a bi-directional communication with a central server. The second data memory serves to temporarily store and/or transmit the data processed by the second processor.
US08072343B2

A local logic solver that operates with a local smart valve controller to control, test and monitor performance characteristics of a local field-mounted emergency isolation valve device, outputting a local indication of trouble on the device, which is mounted in the field away from the facility's central control panel for the process. The local logic solver includes a recording function and memory for retrieval of detected faults that are time-stamped and recorded locally to generate documentation and to track the elapsed time, starting when the degraded state of the device was detected and first signaled as a problem; other performance data is also recorded. Accordingly, the operation of the overall system is simplified by eliminating the need for an external computer to diagnose any problems. A local control panel preferably includes pushbuttons and lights used during routine operations of the valve and a fault indicator light substantially adjacent to or in close proximity to the device being monitored to alert personnel of detected faults.
US08072340B2

A water leakage monitoring system including a water leakage position estimator which includes a periodic data acquiring unit for fetching predetermined-period flow rate pressure data stored in a monitoring device, and for fetching a signal related to a flow rate change and pressure changes expecting a water leakage reaction time calculating unit for calculating a pressure reaction time lag between two pressure changes, a pressure propagation velocity estimating unit for estimating a pressure propagation velocity using the pressure reaction time lag and a distance between two pressure gauges located in a water distribution block stored in a pipeline network map data, and a flow rate change position estimating unit for receiving a signal related to the flow rate change, and estimating a flow rate change position using pressure propagation velocity and a flow meter and pressure gauge locating positions of the pipeline network map data.
US08072335B2

An antenna assembly is provided suitable for use with a remote communications module such as, for example, a keyless entry module, a tire pressure monitoring module, etc. The antenna assembly generally includes a support, a folded metallic antenna element mounted on the support, an amplifier coupled to the folded antenna element, and a transmission line coupled to the amplifier.
US08072334B2

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device includes a conductive antenna structure having an elongated slot therein. Parts of the antenna structure on both sides of one end of the elongated slot are coupled to a wireless communication device, such as an RFID chip or interposer. On the opposite end of the elongated slot, parts of the antenna structure at both sides of the elongated slot are electrically coupled together, for instance by being coupled together by other conductive parts of the antenna structure. All of the parts of the antenna structure may be parts of a continuous unitary layer of conductive material. The antenna structure with the elongated slot therein may facilitate increased readability of the RFID device, particularly in directions out from the edges of the RFID device.
US08072333B2

A radio frequency identification (RIFD) inlay includes an electrical connection between a chip and an antenna. The electrical connection includes conductive interposer leads and a capacitive connection. The capacitive connection may involve putting the antenna and the interposer leads into close proximity, with dielectric pads therebetween, to allow capacitive coupling between the antenna and the interposer leads. The dielectric pads may include a non-conductive adhesive and a high dielectric material, such as a titanium oxide. The connections provide a convenient, fast, and effective way to operatively couple antennas and interposers. The RFID inlay may be part of an RFID label or RFID tag.
US08072329B1

The present disclosure provides examples of a voltage regulator for a Radio Frequency Identification tag circuit. The voltage regulator includes a pair of native transistors. A first native transistor is coupled to a reference voltage and biased to saturation. A resistive element coupled between the gate and the drain of the transistor ensures a sufficient voltage difference between the source and the drain of the first native transistor. The second native transistor, with a gate coupled to the gate of the first native transistor, outputs a regulated voltage.
US08072328B2

A first tag communication apparatus is adapted to perform radio communications with a second tag communication apparatus and an RFID tag provided on a moving object. A controller is operable to cause an antenna to transmit first radio waves while changing a first direction that the first radio waves are transmitted. A receiver is operable to receive a second radio waves transmitted from the second tag communication apparatus. An extractor is operable to extract, from the second radio waves, synchronizing information indicative of a timing that the second tag communication apparatus changes a second direction that the second radio waves are transmitted therefrom. A synchronizer is operable to synchronize a timing that the controller changes the first direction with the timing that the second tag communication apparatus changes the second direction, based on the synchronizing information.
US08072318B2

A video mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly with an electrochromic reflective element having a front portion and a rear portion generally opposite the front portion. The reflective element has an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate and has a transflective third-surface mirror reflector. A video display is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the transflective mirror reflector.
US08072317B2

A supporting surface and a touch screen member mounted to a plastic frame having a first vibration transmitting slot and at least two mounting slots. A pair of similar L-shaped poles is mounted in the frame in juxtaposition to define gaps between them. One of the poles constitutes a stationary pole and the other of the poles constitutes a movable pole. A winding is mounted on the stationary pole. The frame defines a vibration transmitting slot, and the touch screen member is attached to the frame by a tab that is press fitted into the vibration transmitting slot so that vibrations created by the movable pole can be transmitted via the vibration transmitting slot to the touch screen member. The additional slots defined by the frame and tabs defined by the supporting surface mutually coact for mounting the frame to the supporting member in a stationary position.
US08072305B2

Primary and secondary coils are provided in the first through section and a coil group is also provided in the second through section. Hence, the surface area over which the coil group extends within a plane which is perpendicular to the through sections is greater than in the case where all of the coils are provided in a single through section. The surface area which is not covered by the magnetic body cores of the platelike members increases. In cases where the surface area of the members is large, the heat radiation characteristic is enhanced. Hence, the cooling efficiency of the transformer improves. In cases where there is a plurality of coil groups which are magnetically coupled to one another in particular, because it is difficult to move the heat produced in the plurality of coil groups through heat conduction, heat transfer, or heat radiation, a heat radiation structure of this kind is effective.
US08072300B2

An electromagnetic relay has a movable block, hinge portions protruding from both sides of the movable block on an axis, having a wide connection portion and a shaft portion, a base block having common contact terminals disposed thereon, and an electromagnetic block mounted on the base block. The connection portions are welded to be integrated with the common contact terminals to provide welded portions. Based on excitation and non-excitation of the electromagnetic block, the movable block rotates, with the shaft portions as a rotation axis to open and close contacts. The welded portion is provided in an inside edge portion of the connection portion. A reference line connects a point of action located between the welded portion and the rotation axis, and a center of the welded portion. The reference line intersects a boundary between the connection portion and the welded portion, which are welded so as to be integrated.
US08072298B2

A radio frequency filter comprising: housing body having input/output connectors and containing space which is divided into spaces by means of diaphragm; at least one resonator rod arranged in the housing; housing cover coupled to the housing body; wherein the housing body and the housing cover are coupled to each other by laser welding. The radio frequency filter according to the present invention can reduce PIMD due to reduce Contact Nonlinearity, and inhibit to erode away because the laser welding method dissolve different metallic materials each other and take a convalent bond, and reduce its manufacturing process time and cost because it is unnecessary drilling a hole and fastening a screw to fasten the housing and the housing cover each other and can simplify its manufacturing process and raise productivity because only irradiate laser beam on irradiated area of the housing cover.
US08072295B2

A radio frequency (RF) cavity resonator having a resonator chamber and one or more RF coupling loop assemblies is presented. The RF coupling loop assembly has a connector with a first connector interface coupled to an inner conductor and a second connector interface coupled to an outer conductor, the first and second connector interfaces forming a pair when mated, the second connector interface rotatable about a collinear axis of the connector and the first connector interface not rotatable about the collinear axis of the connector; a wire loop coupler; and a bandwidth selection element at least partially coupled to the coupling loop assembly. In response to changing the bandwidth selection setting while the RF cavity resonator is operational, the wire loop changes orientation about the collinear axis of the connector and causes the RF resonator chamber to output an RF carrier signal having a bandwidth of the new bandwidth setting.
US08072290B2

Aspects of a method and system for generating quadrature signals utilizing an on-chip transformer are provided. In this regard, a pair of phase-quadrature signals may be generated from a single-phase signal via a transformer, one or more variable capacitors, and one or more variable resistors integrated on-chip. The transformer may comprise a plurality of loops fabricated in a plurality of metal layers in the chip. Each of the one or more variable capacitors may comprise a configurable capacitor bank and each of the one or more variable resistors may comprise a configurable resistor bank. The one or more capacitor banks may be programmatically configured on-chip, based on a frequency of the single-phase signal. The one or more resistor banks may be programmatically configured on-chip, based on a frequency of said single-phase signal.
US08072286B2

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus (20) for a radio frequency component (10), RF component, for use in antenna systems, wherein the RF component (10) is adapted to guide direct current, DC, power signals; control signals and RF signals, and wherein the RF component (10) is adapted to separate the DC power signals and the control signals from the RF signals. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises an impedance matching network interface (21) adapted to match at least one control signal of the separated control signals to at least one predetermined impedance value; and a DC and signalling controller (22) that is adapted to control, along DC paths, the DC power signals to at least a first port of the RF component (10), and adapted to control, along signalling paths, the control signals to at least a second port of the RF component (10), whereby the DC power signals and the control signals are controlled independently of each other. The present invention also relates to a radio frequency component that comprises an internal and/or an external interface used to connect the apparatus (10).
US08072285B2

Methods for generating a look-up table relating a plurality of complex reflection coefficients to a plurality of matched states for a tunable matching network. Typical steps include measuring a plurality of complex reflection coefficients resulting from a plurality of impedance loads while the tunable matching network is in a predetermined state, determining a plurality of matched states for the plurality of impedance loads, with a matched state determined for each of the plurality of impedance loads and providing the determined matched states as a look-up table. A further step is interpolating the measured complex reflection coefficients and the determined matching states into a set of complex reflection coefficients with predetermined step sizes.
US08072268B2

An operational amplifier has an input stage that branches a first current according to first and second input signals. An output stage generates an output signal from a second current and one of the branch currents in the input stage. A first transistor supplies the first current to the input stage. A second transistor supplies the second current to the output stage. A first gate line supplies a first bias potential to the gate terminal of the first transistor. A second gate line supplies a second bias potential to the gate terminal of the second transistor. The first gate line and the second gate line are electrically isolated from each other, preventing unwanted feedback of the output signal to the input stage by leakage through the gate lines.
US08072262B1

A chopper-stabilized circuit (1) includes pre-chopping circuitry (26) for chopping an input signal (Vin) at a first frequency to generate a first signal. Input chopping circuitry (9) chops the first signal at a second frequency substantially greater than the first frequency to produce a second signal. The first frequency is a sub-harmonic of the second frequency. Post-chopping circuitry (30) chops the second chopped signal at the first frequency to produce a third signal that is applied to an input of a signal conditioning circuit (2). The output chopping circuitry (10) chops an output of the signal conditioning circuit at the second frequency to generate a fourth signal. The fourth signal is filtered.
US08072253B2

Disclosed is a clock adjusting circuit comprising a phase shifter that receives a clock signal and variably shifts, based on a control signal, respective timing phases of a rising edge and a falling edge of the clock signal; and a control circuit that supplies the control signal to the phase shifter circuit before each edge is output; wherein the clock signal, in which at least one of a period, a duty ratio, jitter and skew/delay of the input clock signal is changed over an arbitrary number of clock cycles, is output.
US08072250B2

Methods, circuits and systems may operate to generate a reset signal at an input reset block and synchronously distribute the reset signal, via a number of pipelined reset blocks, to multiple ports of a core circuit. The reset signal may be transmitted successively to each of the pipelined reset blocks to provide delayed reset signals having delay times. The delay times may be based on locations of the pipelined reset blocks in the reset circuit. On or more of the delayed reset signals may be programmably coupled to one or more ports of the core circuit. Additional methods, circuits, and systems are disclosed.
US08072249B2

Clock circuits, memories and methods for generating a clock signal are described. One such clock circuit includes a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to receive a reference clock signal and generate an output clock signal having an adjustable phase relationship relative to the reference clock signal, and further includes a clock jitter feedback circuit coupled to a clock tree and the DLL. The clock jitter feedback circuit is configured to synchronize a clock jitter feedback signal and a DLL feedback signal that is based on the output clock signal. The clock jitter feedback circuit is further configured to provide the clock jitter feedback signal to the DLL for synchronization with a buffered reference clock signal. The clock jitter feedback signal is based on and generated in response to receiving a distributed output clock signal from the clock tree circuit and the buffered reference signal is based on the reference clock signal.
US08072245B2

A dB-linear voltage-to-current (V/I) converter that is amenable to implementation in CMOS technology. In a representative embodiment, the dB-linear V/I converter has a voltage scaler, a current multiplier, and an exponential current converter serially connected to one another. The voltage scaler supplies an input current to the current multiplier based on an input voltage. The current multiplier multiplies the input current and a current proportional to absolute temperature and supplies the resulting current to the exponential current converter. The exponential current converter has a differential MOSFET pair operating in a sub-threshold mode and generating an output current that is proportional to a temperature-independent, exponential function of the input voltage.
US08072244B1

The present invention relates to a current sensing amplifier and a method thereof. The current sensing amplifier comprises a first current path, a second current path, a first capacitor, a second capacitor and a latch circuit. When a first current and a second current flow in the first current path and the second current path respectively, the first and second capacitor may be charged by the first current and the second current. The first capacitor and the second capacitor may couple the charged voltage to the transistors in the first current path and the second current path when the first and second current path are cut off so as to cancel the effect of offset voltage of the transistors generated during the manufacturing process.
US08072243B2

A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first circuit provided between a power source voltage line and a ground line, including at least two first MOS transistors coupled in parallel and a second circuit, which is provided between the power source voltage line and the ground line, including at least two second MOS transistors coupled in series. The gate length and the gate width of the first MOS transistor are adjusted so that the first MOS transistor has a gate area allowing a first characteristic variation of the first MOS transistor to be substantially equal to a second characteristic variation of the second MOS transistor.
US08072242B2

Embodiments provide input/output devices having programmable logic that is programmable to operate input/output devices in one of two drive modes. In various embodiments, to operate an input/output device in a first drive mode, logic circuitry is programmable to couple a reference voltage to a gate of a transistor element of an output driver. In various embodiments, to operate an input/output device in a second drive mode, the logic circuitry is programmable to couple a bias voltage to the gate of the transistor element of the output driver. In various embodiments, the logic circuitry may also be programmable to couple one of a plurality of data inputs to the output driver to operate an input/output device in either a single-ended mode or a differential mode.
US08072240B2

A metal configurable I/O structure for an integrated circuit is disclosed. The metal configurable I/O structure may be configured for one of any of a plurality of I/O specifications. Preferably a common voltage reference and a common current reference is generated for provision to a plurality of I/O structures.
US08072238B1

A high efficiency PLD architecture having logic elements that can be selectively combined to perform higher order logic functions than can be performed alone by a single logic element. The programmable logic device includes a logic block having a first logic element. The first logic element includes a first pair of sub-function generators and is capable of implementing logic functions of a first order. The logic block also includes a second logic element having a second pair of sub-function generators. A programmable sharing circuitry is also included in the logic block. The programmable sharing circuitry selectively couples the first pair of sub-function generators and the second pair of sub-function generators so that the first logic element is capable of performing logic functions of either (i) the first order, or (ii) a second order. The second order is higher than the first order.
US08072236B2

Methods, systems, and devices are described for the implementation of a novel architecture to support download sequencing techniques for circuit configuration data. Sets of configuration data from nonvolatile memory may be sequentially transferred to volatile memory to support reconfigurable circuit elements, for example, for use in a clock generator. Different programmable circuit elements may use configuration data, but have different ramp-up times before stable operation. With early download sequence positioning of configuration data, and corresponding immediacy in initiation of operation, certain clock elements are able to commence initiation of operation while remaining clock elements are provided with configuration data from a latter portion of the download sequence.
US08072217B2

According to one aspect, a magnetic resonance (NMR or MRI) phantom includes a spherical or quasi-spherical casing enclosing an internal chamber, and an internal phantom structure situated within the internal chamber. The casing includes alignment features allowing the sequential alignment/orientation of the phantom along three orthogonal axes. In some embodiments, the casing is shaped as a quasi-spherical intercyl having an outer surface defined by the intersection of three orthogonal cylinders. In some embodiments, the casing may be shaped as a sphere having orthogonal registration holes or channels sized to accommodate a corresponding protrusion or ridge in a phantom holder; the casing may also include protrusions or ridges sized to fit into a matching hole or channel defined in a holder. One or more internal phantom plates may include air bubble transfer apertures allowing air bubbles to flow between opposite sides of a plate as a liquid-filled phantom is rotated.
US08072216B2

A system is configured to produce a stress on a subject while performing a magnetic resonance elastography scan in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The system includes an active driver operable to produce an energy configured for a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) process. A passive actuator is configured to be positioned in the MRI system and to be coupled to the subject. The system includes a tube coupling the active driver to the passive actuator to deliver the energy produced by the active driver to the passive actuator, and a strap coupled to the passive actuator. The strap is configured to be disposed around the subject. The strap includes a substantially inelastic material configured to convert the energy delivered to the passive actuator from the tube into shear waves with the subject for use in the MRE process.
US08072212B2

In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus to separate a signal component of a cerebrospinal fluid from other signal components in the acquisition of MR images of an examination subject, a first signal acquisition with spin echo-based signals is executed, in which the signal components of the cerebrospinal fluid and the other signal components have the same phase position, and a second signal acquisition with spin echo-based signals is then executed, in which the signal components of the cerebrospinal fluid and the other signal components have an opposite phase position. An MR image with signals of the other signal components is determined based on the two signal acquisitions with the signal component of the cerebrospinal fluid is significantly suppressed.
US08072210B2

A detecting device for detecting the angular position of an electric household appliance rotating member, including a generating apparatus of a magnetic field arrangeable in a fixed position with respect to the rotating member; an interaction apparatus with the magnetic field generating element integrally arrangeable in use on the rotating member in a position so as to transit periodically in front of the generating apparatus of the magnetic field and in position adjacent to the same to cause a spatial variation of the magnetic field flux lines between a first and a second field configuration; and a signal generating apparatus adapted to generate an electric signal when crossed by the flux lines of the magnetic field.
US08072209B2

A magnetic sensor of rotary, linear, or curvilinear displacement using at least one permanent magnet and at least one magnetosensitive element, which can move with respect to one another. The magnet exhibits a direction of magnetization that varies continuously along the direction of displacement, with the exclusion of a diametral magnetization in the case of a rotary sensor.
US08072202B2

A circuit comprising a gate driver including first and second switching stages for driving respective sync and control switches, at least one of which is a normally ON depletion mode device, and another circuit connected to the first and second switching stages and including first and second circuits. The first circuit is coupled to the first switching stage and to the sync switch, the first switching stage having a first state wherein the sync switch is on, and a second state wherein a first bias voltage is switched to the gate of the sync switch to turn it off. The second circuit has a first state wherein the control switch is on when the sync switch is off, and a second state wherein the control switch is switched off when the sync switch is on by switching a second bias voltage to the gate of the control switch.
US08072193B2

A phase shift control method for a boost converter and circuit implementation comprises a master phase and at least one slave phase. A master-phase inductor current flowing through the master phase has a master-phase charge time interval and a master-phase discharge time interval; a slave-phase inductor current flowing through the slave phase has a slave-phase charge time interval and a slave-phase discharge time interval. The method comprises: calculating an ideal switching timing whereat the slave-phase inductor current descends to a zero-current judgment value; obtaining a physical switching timing whereat the slave-phase charge time interval starts; calculating a conduction timing error between the physical switching timing and the ideal switching timing; determining the time length of the slave-phase charge time interval in the same cycle according to the conduction timing error and the master-phase charge time interval.
US08072180B1

A device for filtering a carrier frequency of a PWM waveform. The device includes a low-pass filter for converting the PWM waveform into an analog signal. The device further includes a sampling analog-to-digital converter receiving the analog signal from the low-pass filter and the device also includes a controller for causing the non-integrating analog to digital converter to sample the PWM waveform at the pulse frequency rate thereby rejecting the carrier frequency. As already stated the PWM waveform includes a pulse which has a leading edge, a top portion, and a trailing edge. In one embodiment, the controller causes the A/D converter to sample during the top of the pulse. Preferably, the controller causes the A/D converter to sample at substantially the center of the pulse.
US08072174B2

In one embodiment, a motor drive is provided that includes a control board and a plurality of option boards configured to communicate with the control board via one or more serial interfaces, wherein the one or more serial interfaces are configured to transfer one or more synchronized signals from each option board. A method of operating a motor drive that includes transferring data between a control board and a plurality of option boards over one or more serial interfaces, wherein the transfer of data from each option board is synchronized with the plurality of option boards. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided.
US08072168B2

A reference position detecting apparatus includes an electric motor and a motor control unit. The electric motor includes a plurality of first coils and a plurality of second coils. The electric motor further includes a rotor that rotates when at least one of the plurality of first coils and the plurality of second coils is supplied with electricity. The motor control unit controls electricity supplied to either one of the plurality of first coils and the plurality of second coils to rotate the rotor to a limit position in a movable range of an object.
US08072155B2

An electrodeless discharge lamp device comprises an induction coil, a pair of cores 1a, 1b, and thermal conductor 2. The cores 1a, 1b are configured to generate a high-frequency electromagnetic field for exciting a discharge gas with receiving a high frequency electric power. Each of the cores is arranged to give an overall circumference around which the induction coil is wound. The thermal conductor is formed into an approximately cylindrical shape and inserted into the space so as to be thermally coupled with the cores for radiating heat generated at the cores. The core has its inside face at least center portion of which is spaced radially from the thermal conductor by a predetermined distance.
US08072153B2

The present invention discloses a multi-color backlight control circuit, comprising: a plurality of pins for electrically connecting with a plurality of LED strings of different LED colors; and a voltage supply circuit for receiving an input voltage and supplying a single output voltage to the plurality of LED strings of different LED colors. The present invention also discloses a multi-color backlight control method, comprising: supplying a single output voltage to a plurality of LED strings of different LED colors.
US08072149B2

A dual unbalanced indirectly heated cathode (IHC) ion chamber is disclosed. The cathodes have different surface areas, thereby affecting the amount of heat radiated by each. In the preferred embodiment, one cathode is of the size and dimension typically used for IHC ionization, as traditionally used for hot mode operation. The second cathode, preferably located on the opposite wall of the chamber, is of a smaller size. This smaller cathode is still indirectly heated by a filament, but due to its smaller size, radiates less heat into the source chamber, allowing the ion source to operate in cold mode, thereby preserving the molecular structure of the target molecules. In both modes, the unused cathode is preferably biased so as to be at the same potential as the IHC, thus allowing it to act as a repeller.
US08072147B2

The device according to the invention comprises a light source and electronic supply and control. The light source electronic supply and control comprises at least one circuit comprising at least one stack of chips formed from at least two power components (IGBTb1, IGBTh1). According to one embodiment, the light source comprises a discharge lamp and the circuit with stacking is a DC/AC converter supplying the discharge lamp. Preferably, the discharge lamp is of xenon type and the circuit with stacking is included in an electronic ballast of the device. In another embodiment, the circuit with stacking is included in an electronic module associated with the discharge lamp and forming therewith a compact assembly.
US08072144B2

A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate on which a scan electrode and a sustain electrode are positioned, a first black layer positioned between the scan electrode and the front substrate and between the sustain electrode and the front substrate, a rear substrate on which an address electrode is positioned to intersect the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, and a barrier rib that is positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate to partition a discharge cell. The first black layer includes cobalt (Co) material and ruthenium (Ru) material. The barrier rib including lead (Pb) equal to or less than 1,000 ppm (parts per million).
US08072142B2

A plasma display panel (PDP) with excellent display quality, including a dielectric layer that does not contain lead, satisfies transmittance, insulation resistance and dielectric constant, and suppresses coloring. The PDP includes front panel and a rear panel disposed facing each other and sealed together at the peripheries thereof with discharge space provided therebetween. The front panel includes display electrodes, a dielectric layer and a protective layer on a front glass substrate. The rear panel includes electrodes, barrier ribs and phosphor layers on a substrate. In the PDP, the display electrode includes metal bus electrodes containing silver. The dielectric layer includes a first dielectric layer covering metal bus electrodes and containing bismuth oxide, and a second dielectric layer covering the first dielectric layer and containing bismuth oxide. The thickness ratio of the second dielectric layer to the first dielectric layer is 1.3 or more and 7.2 or less.
US08072141B2

A plasma display device is provided. The plasma display device includes a plasma display panel (PDP) and an external light shield sheet which absorbs external light incident upon the PDP. The external light shield sheet includes a base unit and a plurality of pattern units which are formed in the base unit. Each of the pattern units contains 2-10 weight % of light absorption particles having a size of 1 μm or less. Since the external light shield sheet which can absorb and shield as much external light as possible is disposed at the front of the PDP, the plasma display device can effectively realize black images and improve bright room contrast.
US08072139B2

Disclosed is a method for sealing a light-emitting device wherein formation of air bubbles in a light-emitting device module can be prevented by performing no gelation after fitting of a cover member. This method also enables to seal a light-emitting device by using a gel sealing material composed of a gel precursor which uses a solvent. Also disclosed is a light-emitting module formed by such a sealing method. In this method for sealing a light-emitting device, gelation of the gel precursor of a gel sealing material is performed before placing the precursor on the light-emitting device, and thus no gelation is necessary after fitting of a cover member. Consequently, a gel precursor having high viscosity that is difficult to be used in an injection method can be used in this method. Furthermore, a substance which requires use of a solvent can be used as a gel precursor of a gel sealing material. A light-emitting device module with high luminance wherein no air bubbles are included can be obtained by this method.
US08072137B2

To provide a material for an organic light emitting device showing a light emission hue with an extremely good purity and outputting light having high luminance and a long lifetime with high efficiency, the present invention relates to a fused heterocyclic compound having at least one partial structure represented by the following general formula [1].
US08072126B2

An exemplary method for manufacturing a field electron emission source includes: providing a substrate (102); depositing a cathode layer (104) on a surface of the substrate; providing a carbon nanotube paste, coating the carbon nanotube paste on the cathode layer; calcining the carbon nanotube paste to form a carbon nanotube composite layer (110); and, irradiating the carbon nanotube composite layer with a laser beam of a certain power density, thereby achieving a field electron emission source.
US08072125B2

A spark plug 100 comprised of a metal shell 1, an insulator 2, a center electrode 3 and a ground electrode 4. A rear-end face of the ground electrode 4 is welded to a front-end face of the metal shell 1, and a bent portion 5 located at the intermediated position in the longitudinal direction is bent toward the center of the spark plug 100. The ground electrode 4 assumes a circular-shape with a diameter of 2 mm or less whereby an inflow of an air-fuel mixture is not disturbed even when the air-fuel mixture directly flows into a back face of the ground electrode 4. The ground electrode 4 is comprised of an outer layer 4A made of a nickel alloy and an inner layer 4B made of pure copper with an excellent thermal conductivity, in which a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the inner layer 4B to the entire cross-sectional area of the ground electrode 4 is 10% or more to 35% or less. Thus, the spark plug 100 which is excellent in heat sinking ability and can prevent a spring back phenomenon due to a difference in a coefficient of thermal expansion.
US08072116B2

A brush holder (10) for a motor and having a plate-shaped base body (11) having an opening (13) for passing the motor rotor (30) therethrough, at least one brush receptacle (14) in which a carbon brush (15) is displaceably received, and an electronics can (12) projecting from the plate-shaped base body (11), closed at its side (21) adjacent to an axis (A) defined by the base body opening (13), and having an inner chamber (22) in which at least a portion of components of control electronics is received.
US08072111B2

A motor, namely, a motor with minimum loss and improved efficiency is disclosed. More specifically, a motor having enhanced starting torque performance and increased normal operation efficiency is disclosed. In the motor in which a rotor is started using induction torque generated as power is supplied to a coil of a stator, the rotor includes a rotor core, a plurality of conductive bars arranged, along a circumferential direction, in an outer rim region of the rotor core, to generate an induction current, magnets provided in the rotor core, to generate a magnetic flux, for generation of a magnetic torque, and end-rings provided at the top and bottom of the rotor core to have no interference with the magnets, the end-rings being connected with the plurality of conductive bars.
US08072110B2

Two magnets in a circumferential direction of a rotor are provided in each slot of the rotor. The two magnets are consistently pulled in a direction in which they are mutually separated by magnetism of a stator and fixed on inner surfaces on both sides of the slot in the circumferential direction of the rotor.
US08072107B2

The present disclosure relates generally to a permanent magnet, brushless motor comprising a primary rotor having alternating magnetic poles around a circumference, a secondary rotor similar to the primary rotor. The primary rotor may be free to rotate by approximately plus or minus one pole of the secondary rotor. As such, when the two rotor components have opposite polarities aligned, the motor may be in a field weakened state. Generally, the field weakened state may be the normal state of the motor. As a significant load is encountered, the rotors may automatically transition to a non-weakened state wherein similar polarities are aligned on the rotors. A permanent magnet, brushless motor as described herein may be employed at a motor level or integrated into a linear actuator, wherein the rotor of the permanent magnet, brushless motor may include a hollow shaft.
US08072106B2

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electric motors, alternators, generators and the like, and more particularly, to stator structures and rotor-stator structures for motors that can be configured to, for example, reduce detent.
US08072098B2

An apparatus includes first and second input terminals configured to be coupled to one of multiple types of input sources. The apparatus also includes a diode and a resistor coupled in series between the first and second input terminals. The apparatus further includes a plurality of switches each coupled to at least one of the diode and the resistor. The switches are configured to be opened and closed to reconfigure the apparatus depending on the type of input source. The switches could include a first switch coupled to the first input terminal, a current source, and a first side of the diode. The switches could also include a second switch coupled to the current source, a second side of the diode, and a first side of the resistor. In addition, the switches could include a third switch coupled to the second input terminal and a second side of the resistor.
US08072091B2

The present invention seeks to improve upon existing energy-generation technologies by providing methods, systems, and devices for converting mechanical power into electrical power. More specifically, the present invention relates to fluid-powered generators and methods, systems, and devices for generating power by way of such fluid-powered generators. The present invention includes devices for generating energy comprising fluid turbine generators having variable inlet(s), wherein the fluid velocity, volume, and/or mass of fluid collected by the inlet can be varied to control turbine speed to provide a reasonably steady, continuous, and/or sufficient source of energy over a wide range of conditions presented by natural fluid resources.
US08072090B2

A method of powering a multi-level structure is provided, which includes disposing a climate control system in the building. The system has a cooling tower, a fluid cooled chiller, a return line connecting an output of the chiller to an input of the cooling tower, and a condenser pump for pumping fluid therebetween. The system further includes a supply line connecting an output of the cooling tower to an input of the chiller, fluid being gravity fed from the cooling tower to the chiller. A turbine generator is disposed in the return line, the turbine generator being powered by fluid flowing through the return line. The method provides for transferring power generated from the turbine generator to a power supply for the structure.
US08072088B2

The invention provides a device for extracting energy from a fluid flow. The device has an air compression chamber and an array of valves, operable to open and close to regulate flow of the fluid through associated valve apertures. The valves are operable to close progressively as the fluid flow is incident thereon, thereby focusing flow of the liquid towards the air compression chamber and compressing air therein. The valves also open on a return flow of liquid from the compression chamber.
US08072085B2

A semiconductor device with a plastic package molding compound, a semiconductor chip and a leadframe is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor chip is embedded in a plastic package molding compound. The upper side of the semiconductor chip and the plastic package molding compound are arranged on a leadframe. Arranged between the leadframe and the plastic package molding compound with the semiconductor chip is an elastic adhesive layer for the mechanical decoupling of an upper region from a lower region of the semiconductor device.
US08072083B1

A film-on-wire spacer covers an entire upper surface of a lower electronic component. Accordingly, an upper electronic component is supported above bond pads and lower bond wires of the lower electronic component. This decreases the stress on the upper electronic component, e.g., during wirebonding, and thus decreases the chance of cracking the upper electronic component. Further, the lower bond wires are enclosed in and protected by the film-on-wire spacer. Further, the film-on-wire spacer is thin resulting in a minimum height of the stacked electronic component package.
US08072082B2

A pre-encapsulated cavity interposer, a pre-encapsulated frame, for a semiconductor device.
US08072070B2

A barrier layer is deposited over a layer of passivation including in an opening to a contact pad created in the layer of passivation. A column of three layers of metal is formed overlying the barrier layer and aligned with the contact pad and having a diameter that is about equal to the surface of the contact pad. The three metal layers of the column comprise, in succession when proceeding from the layer that is in contact with the barrier layer, a layer of pillar metal, a layer of under bump metal and a layer of solder metal. The layer of pillar metal is reduced in diameter, the barrier layer is selectively removed from the surface of the layer of passivation after which reflowing of the solder metal completes the solder bump of the invention.
US08072067B2

A semiconductor structure including a substrate, an insulating layer, a composite pad structure, a passivation layer, and a bump is provided. A circuit structure is disposed on the substrate. The insulating layer covers the substrate and has a first opening exposing the circuit structure. The composite pad structure includes a first conductive layer, a barrier layer, and a second conductive layer which are sequentially disposed. The composite pad structure is disposed on the insulating layer and fills the first opening to electrically connect to the circuit structure. The passivation layer covers the composite pad structure and has a second opening exposing the composite pad structure. The bump fills the second opening and electrically connects to the composite pad structure.
US08072053B2

A leadless integrated circuit (IC) package comprising an IC chip mounted on a metal leadframe and a plurality of electrical contacts electrically coupled to the IC chip. The IC chip, the electrical contacts, and a portion of the metal leadframe are covered with an encapsulation compound, with portions of the electrical contacts exposed on a bottom surface of the encapsulation compound. The electrical contacts of the IC package having metal traces connecting bonding areas on a top surface thereof and contact areas on a bottom surface thereof, wherein at least some of the bonding areas are laterally disposed from the contact areas connected thereto.
US08072052B2

Disclosed herein are a trench substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. The trench substrate includes a base substrate, an insulating layer formed on one side or both sides of the base substrate and including trenches formed in a circuit region and a dummy region positioned at a peripheral edge of the trench substrate, and a circuit layer formed in the trenches of the circuit region through a plating process and including a circuit pattern and vias. Thanks to formation of the trenches in the dummy region and the cutting region, deviation in thickness of a plating layer formed on the insulating layer in a plating process is improved upon.
US08072050B1

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided multiple embodiments of a semiconductor package, each embodiment including a uniquely configured leadframe sized and configured to maximize the available number of exposed leads in the semiconductor package. More particularly, each embodiment of the semiconductor package of the present invention includes a generally planar die pad and a plurality of leads. Some of these leads include exposed bottom surface portions or lands which are provided in at least one row or ring which at least partially circumvents the die pad, with other leads including portions which protrude from respective side surfaces of a package body of the semiconductor package. A passive device may be electrically connected to and extend between the die pad and one of the leads, and/or may be electrically connected to and extend between and adjacent pair of the leads.
US08072048B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor apparatus that prevents diffusion of materials of a magnetic film during the process for manufacturing the semiconductor apparatus. The semiconductor apparatus includes: a substrate; a semiconductor device formed on a principal surface of the substrate and including an interconnect layer; a magnetic shielding film of a magnetic material covering the semiconductor device; and a buffer film disposed between the semiconductor device and the magnetic shielding film. The buffer film prevents diffusion of the magnetic material of the magnetic shielding film.
US08072038B2

An image sensor having greatly improved physical and electrical bonding forces between a photodiode and a substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. The image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate and readout circuitry, a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, a metal line in the dielectric layer, electrically connected with the readout circuitry, an image sensing device including first and second impurity regions on the dielectric layer, a via hole through the dielectric layer and the image sensing device, a hard mask in the via hole, and a lower electrode in the via hole to connect the first impurity region with the metal line.
US08072027B2

Semiconductor devices and methods for making such devices that contain a 3D channel architecture are described. The 3D channel architecture is formed using a dual trench structure containing with a plurality of lower trenches extending in an x and y directional channels and separated by a mesa and an upper trench extending in a y direction and located in an upper portion of the substrate proximate a source region. Thus, smaller pillar trenches are formed within the main line-shaped trench. Such an architecture generates additional channel regions which are aligned substantially perpendicular to the conventional line-shaped channels. The channel regions, both conventional and perpendicular, are electrically connected by their corner and top regions to produce higher current flow in all three dimensions. With such a configuration, higher channel density, a stronger inversion layer, and a more uniform threshold distribution can be obtained for the semiconductor device. Other embodiments are described.
US08072026B2

A semiconductor device, includes a semiconductor layer of a second conductive type, a first diffused region of a first conductive type formed in the semiconductor layer, a second diffused region of the second conductive type selectively formed in the first diffused region, a trench formed in the semiconductor layer, a polysilicon formed in the trench with an insulator intervening, a first oxide film formed on the polysilicon so that the first oxide film is buried in the trench, a second oxide film formed on the first oxide film so that the second oxide film is buried in the trench, and a flowable insulator film formed on the second oxide film so that the flowable insulator film is buried in the trench.
US08072022B2

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for providing improved flash memory cell characteristics are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08072017B2

The invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a semiconductor layer which has a source region, a drain region, and a channel forming region which is provided between the source region and the drain region; and a first insulating layer, a first gate electrode, a second insulating layer, and a second gate electrode which are layered over the semiconductor layer in that order. Part or all of the source and drain regions is formed using a metal silicide layer. The first gate electrode contains a noble gas element.
US08072010B2

A membrane (2) for a microphone (1) is disclosed which comprises a first portion (A1), a second portion (A2), and elements (E1 . . . E4, E1′ . . . E4′), which connect said first (A1) and said second portion (A2). The second portion (A2) is arranged for a movement in relation to said first portion (A1) around an idle position, which movement includes at least a translatory component in a direction of movement (dm) normal to said membrane (2). The elements (E1 . . . E4, E1′ . . . E4′) are provided for definition of a spring constant for said movement around said idle position and are arranged substantially along the outer border of said second portion (A2).
US08072006B1

A high quality imager is constructed using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process with sensors fabricated in the SOI substrate and isolated by the buried oxide (BOX) from associated readout circuitry in the SOI layer. Handle windows are opened in the SOI device layer for fabrication of the sensors in the handle layer substrate and then closed prior to processing in the device layer. By keeping the buried oxide layer intact, the described technique allows for independent processing of sensors and readout circuitry so that each is optimized with regard to thermal and dopant properties without concern for degradation of the other. The process is compatible with the fabrication of readout circuitry using transistors having independent double-gates, which offer simultaneous advantages in scalability, low power and low noise. Photodiode sensors are shown with allowance for many other types of sensors. The process easily accommodates hardening against radiation.
US08072005B2

Disclosed is a method to construct a device that includes a plurality of nanowires (NWs) each having a core and at least one shell. The method includes providing a plurality of radially encoded NWs where each shell contains one of a plurality of different shell materials; and differentiating individual ones of the NWs from one another by selectively removing or not removing shell material within areas to be electrically coupled to individual ones of a plurality of mesowires (MWs). Also disclosed is a nanowire array that contains radially encoded NWs, and a computer program product useful in forming a nanowire array.
US08072003B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate portion that includes a plurality of diffusion regions that include at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region. A gate electrode level region is formed above the substrate portion to include a number of conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the conductive features within the gate electrode level region is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. Within a five wavelength photolithographic interaction radius within the gate electrode level region, a width size of the conductive features is less than 193 nanometers, which is the wavelength of light used in a photolithography process to fabricate the conductive features. A total number of the PMOS transistor devices and the NMOS transistor devices in the gate electrode level region is greater than or equal to eight.
US08071997B2

An more efficient or higher luminance LED assembly may be formed from a high power LED chip having a first surface, and a second surface, the first surface being mounted to a substrate; the second surface being in intimate thermal contact with a light transmissive heat sink having a thermal conductivity greater than 30 watts per meter-Kelvin. The LED chip is otherwise in electrical contact with at least a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection for powering the LED chip. Providing light transmissive heat sink can double the heat conduction from the LED dies thereby increasing life, or efficiency or luminance or a balance of the three.
US08071993B2

An organic electroluminescence element includes organic compound layers disposed between electrodes, the concentration of halogen atoms contained in organic compounds of the organic compound layers being 1 ppm or less according to combustion ion chromatography.
US08071989B2

A circuit structure of a package carrier including a plurality of chip pads, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode and a fourth electrode is provided. These chip pads are arranged in an M×N array. A first bonding pad, a second bonding pad, a third bonding pad and a fourth bonding pad are disposed clockwise in the peripheral area of each chip pad in sequence. The orientations of each of the first, second, third, and fourth bonding pads of the (S−1)th row rotated by 90 degrees are equal to the orientations of each of the first, second, third and fourth bonding pads of the Sth row, respectively. The first electrode is connected with each first bonding pad. The second electrode is connected with each second bonding pad. The third electrode is connected with each third bonding pad. The fourth electrode is connected with each fourth bonding pad.
US08071984B2

A thin film transistor substrate for a display device having a plurality of thin film transistors and pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors, said thin film transistor substrate includes: a plurality of pad electrodes in a non-display area of the display device for applying signals to the plurality of thin film transistors in a non-display area of the display device; a protective film covering the pad electrodes in the non-display area; and a slit in the protective film adjacent to at least one of the plurality of pad electrodes.
US08071982B2

A display device capable of keeping the luminance constant irrespective of temperature change is provided as well as a method of driving the display device. A current mirror circuit composed of transistors is placed in each pixel. A first transistor and a second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that the drain current of the first transistor is kept in proportion to the drain current of the second transistor irrespective of the load resistance value. The drain current of the first transistor is controlled by a driving circuit in accordance with a video signal and the drain current of the second transistor is caused to flow into an OLED, thereby controlling the OLED drive current and the luminance of the OLED.
US08071975B2

The present invention is directed to a photoactive device comprising an anode, a cathode, and a photoactive layer, which device further comprises an electron transport and/or anti-quenching layer which minimizes both electron transfer quenching and energy transfer quenching of the photoactive layer.
US08071972B2

The present application describes a crossbar memory array. The memory array includes a first array of parallel nanowires of a first material and a second array of parallel nanowires of a second material. The first and the second array are oriented at an angle with each other. The array further includes a plurality of nanostructures of non-crystalline silicon disposed between a nanowire of the first material and a nanowire of the second material at each intersection of the two arrays. The nanostructures form a resistive memory cell together with the nanowires of the first and second materials.
US08071971B2

Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof that can reduce RC delay within the semiconductor device. Embodiments provide a semiconductor device including: a first interlayer dielectric layer formed over the a semiconductor substrate, a first metal wire and a second metal wire formed over the first interlayer dielectric layer, a second interlayer dielectric layer formed over the first and second metal wires, and a phase change material layer formed between the first and second metal wires.
US08071968B2

A phase change memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are presented. The phase change memory device includes a silicon substrate, a first insulation layer, cell switching elements, heaters, a gate, a second insulation layer, a barrier layer, a phase change layer and top electrodes. The first insulation layer has first holes. The cell switching elements are in the first holes. The heaters are on the cell switching elements. The gate is higher than the cell switching elements. The second insulation layer having second holes which expose the heaters, and exposes a hard mask layer of the gate. The barrier layer is on sidewalls of the second holes and on the second insulation layer. The phase change layer is formed in and over the second holes in which the barrier layer is formed. The top electrodes are formed on the phase change layer.
US08071965B2

There is a need for providing a projection optical system that is appropriate for maintaining high resolution with low distortion, miniaturizing a reflector, decreasing the number of reflectors, and decreasing the depth and the bottom (or top) of a display used for a rear projection television, for example. The projection optical system according to the invention enlarges and projects images from a primary image surface existing at a reducing side to a secondary image surface existing at an enlarging side. The projection optical system has a first optical system L11 and a second optical system L12. The first optical system L11 forms an intermediate image (position II) of the primary image surface. The second optical system L12 has a concave reflector AM1 that forms the secondary image surface resulting from the intermediate image. A light beam travels from the center of the primary image surface and to the center of the secondary image surface and crosses an optical axis. The light beam is reflected on the concave reflector, crosses the optical axis again, and reaches the secondary image surface.
US08071953B2

A device includes (a) radiation detector including a semiconductor substrate having opposing front and rear surfaces, a cathode electrode located on the front surface of said semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of anode electrodes on the rear surface of said semiconductor substrate, (b) a printed circuit board, and (c) an electrically conductive polymeric film disposed between circuit board and the anode electrodes. The polymeric film contains electrically conductive wires. The film bonds and electrically connects the printed circuit board and anode electrodes.
US08071948B2

A radiation detection aircraft has at least one component member of the aircraft having scintillator material. A signal converter is coupled to the at least one component member. An accumulator is coupled to the signal converter.
US08071942B2

A sample holder apparatus and method for reducing the energy of charged particles entering an annular-acceptance analyzer includes use of an electrically isolated sample support member having a sample receiving surface configured to receive a sample and electrically connect the sample to the sample support member (e.g., wherein the sample support member is configured for application of a retarding bias potential). A grounded sample aperture member defining an aperture relative to the sample support member but electrically isolated therefrom is provided such that the aperture is proximate the sample receiving surface to expose at least a portion of a surface of a sample received thereon to be analyzed (e.g., wherein applying a retarding bias potential to the sample support member produces an electrical retarding field about the aperture that reduces the energy of emitted particles from a sample before they enter an annular-acceptance analyzer).
US08071935B2

Embodiments described herein may include devices and methods of manufacturing devices for sensing and monitoring physiological parameters of a patient. Specifically, certain embodiments disclose the use of conductive and nonconductive overmold materials to protect the device, increase reliability, increase comfort, and increase accuracy of the parameters measured.
US08071934B2

A system for detecting single-shot pulse contrast includes a correlator generating a correlation signal, a spectral filter filtering light signals having wavelengths different from the correlation signal, a fiber array comprising a plurality of fibers with different lengths for transmitting the correlation signal in parallel forming parallel correlation signals, and a fiber bundle bounding the fibers at the end thereof for converging the parallel correlation signals, wherein due to different lengths of the fibers, the parallel correlation signals are converted into serial correlation signals at end of the fibers, a plurality of fiber attenuators spliced into at least one of the fibers respectively for attenuating the parallel correlation signals, a detector for detecting the serial correlation signals to produce analog signals, an A/D convertor converting the analog signals to digital signals, and a computer for processing the digital signals for retrieving the single-shot pulse contrast.
US08071928B2

A projectile has filler material placed between an outer surface of its fuselage, and fins that are hingedly coupled to the fuselage. The filler material fills space that otherwise would be occupied by pressurized gases. Such pressurized gases could cause undesired outward force against the projectile fins during launch of the projectile from a launch tube or gun, such as when pressure outside the fins is suddenly removed, as in when the projectile passes a muzzle brake in the launch tube. The filler material may be any of a variety of lightweight solid materials, such as suitable plastics or closed cell foams. The filler material prevents pressurized gases from entering at least some of the space between the fins and the outer fuselage surface. When the fins deploy after the projectile emerges from the launch tube the filler material pieces fall away harmlessly.
US08071918B2

A controller for a food holding oven determines one or more time periods during each of which heat is directed at a pre-cooked food item. By controlling the heat intensity and the time over which different amounts of heat are provided to different types of pre-cooked food items, the time during which a particular type of pre-cooked food item can be kept palatable is maximized.
US08071915B2

A hair iron is capable of preventing hair under treatment from drying.The hair iron has clamp arms. Heads of the clamp arms are provided with relaxing bodies that face each other. The relaxing bodies have respective thermal plates. The thermal plates heat and correct hair held between the relaxing bodies. A relaxing surface of at least one of the relaxing bodies has a platinum layer formed on a base material. Between the base material and the platinum layer, a titanium dioxide layer is formed. Between the base material and the titanium dioxide layer, a nickel layer is formed. Between the titanium dioxide layer and the platinum layer, a nickel layer is formed. A magnet plate is arranged behind the thermal plate and is extended along the relaxing surface.
US08071914B2

An apparatus for efficient heating liquids or gases comprising of a transformer having a primary and secondary winding wherein the secondary winding forms a shorted heating element having a resistance in the range of 1.6730 μΩ·cm to 185 μΩ·cm, permitting liquid or gas to pass therethrough, whereby the liquid or gas is heated and heat transfer may be optionally facilitated through use of disc filters disposed within said heating element promoting turbulent flow which aids in mixing and more efficient thermal transfer. In an alternative embodiment, the heating element is not the secondary winding but another portion of the circuit on the alienation side of the transformer. The heating element may be comprised of a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. In an alternative embodiment, the alienation side of the transformer may have a reverse winding which cancels reactive currents generated in the secondary winding.
US08071905B2

A gas circuit breaker includes a grounded tank corresponding to each one of the plurality of phases, a bushing, an upper housing, and a lower housing, those mounted on a base that is supported by a frame. The grounded tank and the upper housing are located on a plane. The lower housing is connected to the grounded tank with a connecting unit such that the lower housing can be moved from a first position for operation lower than the plane to a second position for transportation substantially on the plane.
US08071897B2

A key structure used in a portable electronic device includes a resilient member forming a plurality of conducting films and a column, a dome member forming an arch portion and a peripheral portion, a circuit board forming a plurality of first terminals, second terminals and a third terminal. The dome member is mounted to the circuit board, the peripheral portion electronically connects to the second terminals, the resilient member covers the dome member, the conducting films conductively contact the first terminals. The resilient member is pressed to make the column resist against the arch portion, thereby the first terminals and the second terminals are both conductive, or the first terminals, the second terminals and the third terminal are all conductive.
US08071890B2

An electrically conductive structure includes a first conductive structure and a second conductive structure. Each has a conducting section at one end and a coupling section at the other end. The first and second conducting sections are electrically connected to a power and ground contact of an electronic device, respectively. The first and second coupling sections are respectively connected with power and ground layer of a circuit board. The first coupling sections are connected with the first conducting section through first extending sections and the second coupling sections are connected with the second conducting section through second extending sections. At least two coupling sections of the conductive structures are arranged in pairs. The first conductive structure and the second conductive structure are arranged in a staggered array to form two wiring loops having opposite current directions, thereby generating a magnetic flux cancellation effect.
US08071889B2

An electronic device with EMI screen and packaging process thereof to provide even active EMI prevention means includes adhesion of a transit substrate to a soldering surface of the electronic device, a protection circuit layer functioning as EMI screen being paved on the bottom of the transit substrate; a packaging circuit layer being laid; protection circuit layer and the transit substrate as well as the packaging and protection circuit layers being segregated with an insulation material; and solder balls provided with electric continuity to the protection circuit layer and the packaging circuit layer being respectively implanted as soldering points respectively for EMI grounding and linkage between the electronic device and a printed circuit.
US08071884B2

A flexible printed circuit board includes a base and a coverlay. The base includes a main portion and a distal portion connecting with the main portion. The distal portion has a first part and a second exposed part. The coverlay is formed on the base and covers the main portion and the first part of the distal portion. The second exposed part of the distal portion is uncovered by the coverlay. The coverlay includes a curved edge serving as an interface between the first part and second part of the distal portion.
US08071881B2

A wiring board which includes a product portion configured with at least one layer of electrically insulating base, a wiring pattern formed on the surface or inner portion of the electrically insulating base, and a wiring protection layer which is formed on the surface of the board and has an opening. Warping over the entire wiring board can be reduced since this wiring board has a warp-correcting portion warped in a direction different from that of the product portion.
US08071878B2

A display assembly for a portable terminal inhibits the penetration of foreign matter from an exterior environment into the interior of the portable terminal. The display assembly includes a display for mounting in an open-faced compartment enclosed by a bottom/top cover plate. A resilient seal component of the display assembly is positioned between the display and the compartment, the seal component including a body including a base portion connected to a top portion by side portions for defining an interior channel for engaging the sides of the display, once received therein. A top portion of the seal component is adapted for overlapping a portion of the top surface of the display and the base portion for overlapping at least a portion of the bottom surface of the display.
US08071856B2

A soybean cultivar designated 88220415 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 88220415, to the plants of soybean 88220415, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 88220415, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 88220415 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 88220415, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 88220415, 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 88220415 with another soybean cultivar.
US08071855B2

A soybean cultivar designated 83389190 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 83389190, to the plants of soybean 83389190, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 83389190, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 83389190 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 83389190, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 83389190, 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 83389190 with another soybean cultivar.
US08071851B2

According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB31AG09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB31AG09, to the plants of soybean XB31AG09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB31AG09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB31AG09 with another soybean plant, using XB31AG09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08071842B2

The present invention provides a method of producing a higher plant having cytochrome c6 in the thylakoid space of chloroplast, which is characterized in that it comprises introducing a gene encoding a fused protein formed by adding a signal peptide consisting of 50 to 80 amino acid residues to a cytochrome c6 protein into the genome of a higher plant.
US08071828B2

In a process for producing xylene by transalkylation of a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock, the feedstock, at least one C6-C7 aromatic hydrocarbon and hydrogen are supplied to at least one reaction zone containing at least first and second catalyst beds located such that the feedstock and hydrogen contact the first bed before contacting the second bed. The first catalyst bed comprises a first catalyst composition comprising a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index in the range of about 3 to about 12 and at least one metal or compound thereof of Groups 6-10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and the second catalyst bed comprises a second catalyst composition comprising a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index less than 3. The at least one reaction zone is operated under a first set of conditions effective to (i) dealkylate aromatic hydrocarbons in the feedstock containing C2+ alkyl groups and to saturate C2+ olefins formed in the first catalyst bed and (ii) transalkylate C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons with said C6-C7 aromatic hydrocarbon to produce xylene in the second catalyst bed. Periodically the supply of the feedstock and said at least one C6-C7 aromatic hydrocarbon, but not the hydrogen, to said at least one reaction zone is interrupted and the first and second catalyst compositions are contacted with the hydrogen under a second set of conditions effective to enhance the activity of the first and second catalyst compositions.
US08071827B2

Process for the manufacture of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) starting from a stream of ethane which is subjected to a catalytic oxydehydrogenation (ODH) producing a gas mixture containing ethylene, then dried and subjected to an absorption to be separated into a fraction enriched with the compounds that are lighter than ethylene containing some of the ethylene conveyed to a chlorination reactor in which most of the ethylene is converted to DCE, and into a fraction F1. Fraction F1 is then subjected to a desorption to be separated into a fraction enriched with ethylene conveyed to an oxychlorination reactor in which most of the ethylene is converted into DCE, and into a fraction F3.
US08071825B2

Disclosed are processes for the production of fluorinated olefins, preferably adapted to commercialization of CF3CF═CH2 (1234yf). In certain preferred embodiments the processes comprise first exposing a compound of Formula (IA) C(X)2═CClC(X)3  (IA) where each X is independently F, Cl or H, preferably CCl2═CClCH2Cl, to one or more sets of reaction conditions, but preferably a substantially single set of reaction conditions, effective to produce at least one chlorofluoropropane, preferably in accordance with Formula (IB): CF3CClX′C(X′)3  Formula (IB) where each X′ is independently F, Cl or H, and then exposing the compound of Formula (IB) to one or more sets of reaction conditions, but preferably a substantially single set of reaction conditions, effective to produce a compound of Formula (II) CF3CF═CHZ  (II) where Z is H, F, Cl, I or Br.
US08071824B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkenylnitrobenzenes and alkylanilines, which are of significance as intermediates for fungicidally active alkylanilides.
US08071817B2

Purified hydroquinone is prepared and formed from raw compounds essentially containing hydroquinone associated with very small quantities of impurities including resorcinol and pyrogallol, and includes a distillation purification step in which the resorcinol and pyrogallol are eliminated, directly followed by a step in which the purified hydroquinone is formed.
US08071814B2

The invention provides a process for preparing polyetheramines of the formula (1), R2 (NR1R3)n, in which n is a number from 1 to 20, R2 represents an organic radical that contains between 2 and 600 oxalkylene groups, and R1 and R3 are alike or different and represent hydrogen or an organic radical having 1 to 400 carbon atoms, by combining a compound of the formula (2), H(NR1R3), with a compound of the formula (3), R2 (OH)n, in the presence of hydrogen with a metal-containing catalyst whose metal content, based on the dry, reduced catalyst excluding any support material that may be present, is composed either of at least 80% by mass of cobalt or, in the case of Raney catalysts, of at least 80% by mass of metals from the group consisting of cobalt and aluminium, the catalyst containing less than 5% by mass of copper.
US08071810B2

The present invention is related to a compound, preferably a C5a receptor antagonist, having the following structure, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21 and R22 are individually and independently selected from the group comprising H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, substituted heteroarylalkyl, alkoxyl, substituted alkoxyl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, arylalkyloxy, substituted arylalkyloxy, acyloxy, substituted acyloxy, halogen, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano, acyl, substituted acyl, mercapto, alkylthio, substituted alkylthio, amino, substituted amino, alkylamino, substituted alkylamino, bisalkyl amino, substituted bisalkyl amino, cyclic amino, substituted cyclic amino, carbamoyl (—CONH2), substituted carbamoyl, carboxyl, carbamate, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl, acylamino, substituted acylamino, sulfamoyl (—SO2NH2), substituted sulfamoyl, haloalkyl, haloalkyloxy, —C(O)H, trialkylsilyl and azido.
US08071808B2

The present invention is related to processes suitable for industrial synthesis of pregabalin from (R)-(−)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic using sodium hypochlorite as described herein. In addition, the present invention is related to pregabalin which is substantially free of impurities and pharmaceutical compositions comprising pregabalin.
US08071799B2

A method comprising providing a starting composition comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid, a polyunsaturated fatty ester, a carboxylate salt of a polyunsaturated fatty acid, a polyunsaturated triglyceride, or a mixture thereof; self-metathesizing the starting composition or cross-metathesizing the starting composition with at least one short-chain olefin in the presence of a metathesis catalyst to form self-/cross-metathesis products comprising: cyclohexadiene; at least one olefin; and one or more acid-, ester-, or salt-functionalized alkene; and reacting cyclohexadiene to produce at least one cycloalkane or cycloalkane derivatives. A method for producing cycloalkanes for jet fuel by providing a starting composition comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of algal and polyunsaturated vegetable oils, subjecting the starting composition to metathesis to produce metathesis product comprising at least one olefin, cyclohexadiene, and at least one acid-, ester-, or salt-functionalized alkene, and reacting the at least one olefin and cyclohexadiene to form cycloalkane(s).
US08071790B2

Bacterial quorum-sensing molecule analogs having the following structures: and methods of reducing bacterial pathogenicity, comprising providing a biological system comprising pathogenic bacteria which produce natural quorum-sensing molecule; providing a synthetic bacterial quorum-sensing molecule having the above structures and introducing the synthetic quorum-sensing molecule into the biological system comprising pathogenic bacteria. Further is provided a method of targeted delivery of an antibiotic, comprising providing a synthetic quorum-sensing molecule; chemically linking the synthetic quorum-sensing molecule to an antibiotic to produce a quorum-sensing molecule-antibiotic conjugate; and introducing the conjugate into a biological system comprising pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the antibiotic.
US08071784B2

Embodiments of the present subject matter provide a compound and material that may be used as a lead-free primary explosive. An embodiment of the present subject matter provides the compound copper(I) nitrotetrazolate. Certain embodiments of the present subject matter provide methods for preparing lead-free primary explosives. The method includes: providing cuprous salt; providing water; providing 5-nitrotetrazolate salt; combining the cuprous salt, water and 5-nitrotetrazolate salt to form a mixture; and heating the mixture. The method may also include providing cuprous chloride and providing sodium 5-nitrotetrazolate. Certain embodiments of the present subject matter also provide methods for preparing copper(I) nitrotetrazolate. The method includes: providing cuprous salt; providing water; providing 5-nitrotetrazolate salt; combining the cuprous salt, water and 5-nitrotetrazolate salt to form a mixture; and heating the mixture. The method may also include providing cuprous chloride and providing sodium 5-nitrotetrazolate.
US08071770B2

Compounds of formula I: (wherein variables A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, B, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, G1, G2 and R6 are as described herein) which are antagonists of CGRP receptors and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as migraine. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
US08071763B2

A method for the treatment of nocturia which consists of administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consisting of loxoprofen or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the mammal is a human who has a neurogenic bladder.
US08071750B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the detection and characterization of HCV sequences. More particularly, the present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for using invasive cleavage structure assays (e.g. the INVADER assay) to screen nucleic acid samples, e.g., from patients, to determine HCV genotype.
US08071747B2

The present invention relates to compositions and fusion proteins containing at least two Mycobacterium sp. antigens, and nucleic acids encoding such compositions and fusion proteins. The compositions of the invention increase serological sensitivity of sera from individuals infected with tuberculosis, and methods for their use in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis infection.
US08071743B2

The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of sensory cell specific G-protein coupled receptors, antibodies to such receptors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and receptors, and methods of screening for modulators of sensory cell specific G-protein coupled receptors.
US08071741B2

A mutein recombinant adenosine deaminase having any oxidizable cysteine residue replaced by a non-oxidizable amino acid residue is disclosed. Stabilized recombinant adenosine deaminase, polymer conjugates and methods of treatment using the same are also disclosed.
US08071733B2

The present invention provides two novel polypeptides, referred to as the “N” and “C” fragments of hedgehog, or N-terminal and C-terminal fragments, respectively, which are derived after specific cleavage at a G′CF site recognized by the autoproteolytic domain in the native protein. Also included are sterol-modified hedgehog polypeptides and functional fragments thereof. Methods of identifying compositions which affect hedgehog activity based on inhibition of cholesterol modification of hedgehog protein are described.
US08071729B2

The present invention relates to at least one novel anti-alpha-V subunit antibodies, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one anti-alpha-V subunit antibody, alpha-V subunit, vectors, host cells, transgenic animals or plants, and methods of making and using thereof, including therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
US08071727B2

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.
US08071725B2

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.
US08071720B2

Recombinant polypeptides are disclosed that are useful for diagnosing American trypanosomiasis, or Chagas disease, a disease caused by the infectious agent Trypanosoma cruzi. Preferably, DNA sequences encoding the recombinant proteins are placed in plasmid vectors to be expressed in an organism.
US08071716B2

The invention provides the novel thymus-specific human protein T101, an 84-amino acid polypeptide isolated from the human thymus. The full T101 peptide contains a 33-amino acid signal peptide and a 51-amino acid T101 peptide sequence with both immune stimulatory and inhibitory activities. Also provided are modified peptides and partial T101 peptide sequences.
US08071712B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel multibranched polyoxyalkylene derivative, and an intermediate for the production thereof. Specifically, the object is to provide a multibranched polyoxyalkylene derivative which can keep a high activity of a bio-related substance modified with the multibranched polyoxyalkylene derivative and which can easily produce the modified substance; an intermediate thereof; and a bio-related substance to which the multibranched polyoxyalkylene derivative is bonded. The novel multibranched polyoxyalkylene derivative according to the invention is a polyoxyalkylene derivative (1) having a functional group reactive with a bio-related substance and the bio-related substance according to the invention has a structure modified with the above polyoxyalkylene derivative (1) by a reaction. Furthermore, the intermediate for the production of the novel multibranched polyoxyalkylene derivative according to the invention is a polyoxyalkylene derivative (A). wherein A1O and A2O independently represent an oxyalkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, m represents 20 to 500, n represents 15 to 700, R represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X represents a functional group reactive with a bio-related substance, and X1 represents a hydroxyl group which may be protected.
US08071703B2

The invention provide a new class of silicone-containing prepolymers containing dangling hydrophilic polymer chains. This class of silicone-containing prepolymer is capable of being actinically crosslinked to form a silicone hydrogel material with a hydrophilic surface without post curing surface treatment. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made from this class of silicone-containing prepolymers and to methods for making the silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
US08071699B2

The invention is directed to a polymerization system and method of controlling resin properties during the production of bimodal and multimodal polymer compositions using at least one manipulated variable to minimize dynamic deviations from polymer characteristics. In particular embodiments, the method of control includes determining a property of the resin based on a current and/or previous values or estimates or process variables or polymer characteristics. In this manner the control actions serve to reduce process upsets or facilitate in transitioning to a new product or grade to reduce the amount of off-grade resin material produced during transition or during steady state manufacture.
US08071694B2

Disclosed is a thermoplastic composition comprising a mixture of from 10 to 98 weight % of a polycarbonate polymer, from 2 to 90 weight % of a polyester polymer comprising structures derived from a diol compound having the structure (A) HO—Z—OH, wherein Z is a C1 to C36 linear aliphatic radical, a C3 to C36 branched aliphatic or cycloaliphatic radical, a C6 to C36 aryl radical, or a C7 to C36 alkylaryl radical, and a diacid compound having the structure (B) HOOC—CH2CH2—COOH, from 0 to 5 weight % of a polylactic acid polymer, wherein the sum of the polycarbonate polymer, the polyester polymer, and the polylactic acid polymer is equal to 100 weight %. The thermoplastic composition has improved mechanical properties.
US08071687B2

This invention relates to an adhesive comprising a polymer composition comprising at least 50 mol % of one or more C3 to C40 olefins where the polymer composition has (a) a Dot T-Peel of 1 Newton or more on Kraft paper; (b) an Mw of at least 7000 to 80,000; (c) a branching index (g′) of from 0.4 to 0.90 measured at the Mz of the polymer composition; (d) a heat of fusion of 1 to 70 J/g; and (e) a heptane insoluble fraction of 70 weight % or less, based upon the weight of the polymer composition, where the heptane insoluble fraction has branching index g′ of 0.9 or less as measured at the Mz of the polymer composition.
US08071686B2

A polyolefin composition comprising, in percent by weight: A) 10-25% of a propylene homopolymer or copolymer with up to 8% of comonomer(s); B) 75-90% of a copolymer of ethylene and (i) propylene or (ii) CH2═CHR alpha-olefins, where R is a 2-8 carbon alkyl radical, or (iii) a combination thereof, optionally with minor amounts of a diene, containing from 54 to 65% of ethylene; wherein the weight ratio B/XS of the content B of copolymer component (B) to the fraction XS soluble in xylene at room temperature, both referred to the total weight of (A)+(B), is of 1.50 or less.
US08071678B2

The invention provides reagents and methods for conjugating a polymer specifically to the α-amine of a polypeptide. The invention provides monofunctional, bifunctional, and multifunctional PEGs and related polymers having a terminal thioester moiety capable of specifically conjugating to the α-amine of a polypeptide having a cysteine or histidine residue at the N-terminus. The invention provides reactive thioester-terminated PEG polymers that have suitable reactivity with an N-terminal cysteine or histidine residue of a polypeptide to produce an amide bond between the PEG molecule and the polypeptide.
US08071661B2

Biomedical devices are provided herein which are formed from a polymerization product of a mixture comprising (a) a copolymer which is the reaction product of one or more polymerizable polyhydric alcohols and one or more polymerizable fluorine-containing monomers; and (b) a biomedical device-forming comonomer.
US08071657B2

Organic, small pore area materials (“SPMs”) are provided comprising open cell foams in unlimited sizes and shapes. These SPMs exhibit minimal shrinkage and cracking. Processes for preparing SPMs are also provided that do not require supercritical extraction. These processes comprise sol-gel polymerization of a hydroxylated aromatic in the presence of at least one suitable electrophilic linking agent and at least one suitable solvent capable of strengthening the sol-gel. Also disclosed are the carbonized derivatives of the organic SPMs.
US08071650B2

The present invention relates to novel thiourea derivatives as a modulator for vanilloid receptor (VR) and the pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. As diseases associated with the activity of vanilloid receptor, pain acute pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, post-operative pain, migraine, arthralgia, neuropathies, nerve injury, diabetic neuropathy, neurodegeneration, neurotic skin disorder, stroke, urinary bladder hypersensitiveness, irritable bowel syndrome, a respiratory disorder such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, irritation of skin, eye or mucous membrane, fervescence, stomach-duodenal ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory diseases can be enumerated. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of these diseases.
US08071639B2

Soft anticholinergic zwitterions of the formulas: wherein R1 and R2 are both phenyl or one of R1 and R2 is phenyl and the other is cyclopentyl; and wherein each asterisk marks a chiral center; said compound having the R, S or RS stereoisomeric configuration at each chiral center unless specified otherwise, or being a mixture thereof.
US08071637B2

The present invention provides dithiolopyrrolone compounds of the general formula I, and their salts, wherein A is sulfur or carbon, and R1, R2, and R3 are selected from groups defined herein, and wherein when A is sulfur, then B is oxygen, and n=1 or 2, and when A is carbon, then B is oxygen or sulfur, and n=1. The compounds are useful for the prevention and treatment of microbial infections such as HIV infection, and for the treatment of blood disorders, such as neutropenia. In particular, the compounds are useful for the manufacture of medicaments for increasing white blood cells.
US08071633B2

This invention provide to a pharmaceutical composition for treating spinocerebellar ataxia (or atrophy, degeneration) or multiple system atrophy, or for improving ataxia or equilibrium disturbance comprising a compound of the formula (I): wherein R is methyl, cyano or carbamoyl, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient.
US08071632B2

Disclosed herein are novel oleanolic acid derivatives. Methods of preparing these compounds are also disclosed. The oleanolic acid derivatives of this invention may be used for the treatment and prevention of many diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, inflammation, and pathologies involving oxidative stress.
US08071628B2

The invention is concerned with novel indazole derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, X and Y are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds inhibit L-CPT1 and can be used in the prevention or treatment of diseases which are modulated by L-CPT1 inhibitors.
US08071626B2

This invention relates to a group of novel chelating agents, novel chelates, biomolecules labeled with said chelates or chelating agents as well as solid supports conjugated with said chelates, chelating agents or labeled biomolecules. Especially the invention relates to novel chelating agents useful in solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides or oligopeptides and the oligonucleotides and oligopeptides so obtained.
US08071624B2

The present invention relates to inhibitors of 11-β hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1, antagonists of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The compounds of the invention can be useful in the treatment of various diseases associated with expression or activity of 11-β hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1 and/or diseases associated with aldosterone excess.
US08071614B2

The invention relates to new bicyclic heterocyclic derivative compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, q, A, B, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and R2 are as defined herein, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and to the use of said compounds in the treatment of diseases, e.g. cancer.
US08071612B2

The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) and compounds of formula (VII-a) as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and their use as PARP inhibitors wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Re, Rd and X have defined meanings.
US08071608B2

(2S)-2-[1-(2-Chloro-6-cyano-phenyl)pyrazolo[4,5-e]pyrimidin-4-yl]oxy-3-[(1R)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethoxy]-N-(5-methylpyrazin-2-yl)propanamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof 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.
US08071607B2

The present invention relates to the use of pyrazolopyrimidine compounds for the production of pharmaceutical compositions for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases which can be influenced by the inhibition of the kinase activity of Mnk1 and/or Mnk2 (Mnk2a or Mnk2b) and/or variants thereof.
US08071604B2

The present invention is related to chemical compositions, processes for the preparation thereof and uses of the composition. Particularly, the present invention relates to compositions of compounds of Formula (A): wherein Ar, X, Y, R1, R2, R3, and q are as defined herein; and their use in the treatment of diseases, including treatment of sleepiness, promotion of wakefulness, treatment of Parkinson's disease, cerebral ischemia, stroke, sleep apneas, eating disorders, stimulation of appetite and weight gain, treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”), enhancing function in disorders associated with hypofunctionality of the cerebral cortex, including, but not limited to, depression, schizophrenia, fatigue, in particular, fatigue associated with neurologic disease, such as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and improvement of cognitive dysfunction.
US08071603B2

Methods of treating an SCD-mediated disease or condition in a mammal, preferably a human, are disclosed, wherein the methods comprise administering to a mammal in need thereof a compound of formula (I) where x, y, J, K, W, V, R3, R4, R5, R5a, R6, R6a, R7, R7a, R8 and R8a are defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) are also disclosed.
US08071599B2

The invention relates to the use of eszopiclone for the treatment of low-level, chronic pain and fatigue associated with pain.
US08071598B2

3,9-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives, useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors. Also, use of these compounds in a method for therapy and in pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The 3,9-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives have the formula wherein Ra and Rb are as described in the application. Also disclosed are stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds.
US08071592B2

Bicyclic nitrogen containing compounds and their use as antibacterials.
US08071589B2

The invention relates to benzoindazole derivatives according to general Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds can be used for the treatment of infertility.
US08071583B2

The present invention relates to substituted pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines of formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are defined as in claim 1, including the tautomers, stereoisomers, mixtures and salts thereof, which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on the activity of the enzyme dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV).
US08071580B2

Medium-chain length fatty alcohols such as octanol, decanol, dodecanol, or analogues thereof can be used as a stimulator of hematopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cell proliferation, and/or proliferation of one or more of the progenitors of red or white blood cells (e.g., erythrocyte, leukocyte, neutrophil, granulocyte, megakaryocyte, or any combination thereof). It also relates to the treatment of myelosuppression; in particular, this includes the treatment of anemia and/or neutropenia associated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Moreover, anemia arising from chronic renal failure or treatment of HIV-infected patients with AZT (zidovudine), or other inhibitors of reverse transcriptase, can be treated. Furthermore, neutropenia arising from infections, hematologic diseases, or nutritional deficiencies can be treated. It also relates to reducing drug toxicity and enhancing drug efficiency.
US08071577B2

The multiphase preparation having higher contraceptive safety and reduced side effects is based on a combination of a natural oestrogen with dienogest or drospirenone. The multiphase preparation is characterized by a first phase consisting of 2 daily dose units of 3 mg of oestradiol valerate, a second phase consisting of 2 groups of daily dose units, wherein a first group is formed by 5 daily dose units each containing a combination of 2 mg of oestradiol valerate and at least two or three times an ovulation-inhibitory dose of dienogest or drospirenone and a second group is formed by 17 daily dose units each containing a combination of 2 mg of oestradiol valerate and at least three or four times the ovulation-inhibitory dose of dienogest or drospirenone, a third phase consisting of 2 daily dose units of 1 mg of oestradiol valerate, and a further phase consisting of 2 daily dose units of pharmaceutically acceptable placebo.
US08071574B2

A bone implant comprises an active agent on at least a portion thereof. The active agent is locally deliverable to bone proximate the implant in at least a two-phased release scheme. A first phase rapidly releases a first quantity of the active agent, and at least a second phase gradually releases a second quantity of the active agent, whereby bone formation stimulated by the active agent is modulated. In one embodiment, a porous implant comprises a porous portion coated with a calcium phosphate compound and which is contacted with a bisphosphonate compound to form a bisphosphonate layer chemically bound to the calcium phosphate at the surface of the porous portion and to form bisphosphonate molecules being non-chemically attached inside the pores of the porous portion. The non-chemically attached bisphosphonate molecules are released in the subject at a rate greater than that of the chemically bound bisphosphonate layer.
US08071566B2

The present invention provides methods of myocardial perfusion imaging and increasing coronary blood flow of a mammal that are accomplished by administering doses of a compound that is a selective partial A2A receptor agonist with a short duration of action, in particular regadenoson, useful for, among other indications, myocardial imaging and coronary vasodilation, and determining areas of insufficient blood flow.
US08071558B2

A novel use of D-psicose (for suppressing the abnormal intra-day increase of blood glucose level) is provided. A composition containing D-psicose as the active component and for use in suppressing the abnormal intra-day increase of plasma glucose concentration. The composition is a composition in blend with D-psicose and/or a derivative thereof. The composition is in a form selected from sweeteners, seasonings, food additives, food materials, food and drink products, health food and drink products, pharmaceutical products, and feeds and blended with D-psicose, and/or a derivative thereof as the active component, for use in preventing and therapeutically treating diseases requiring the saving of insufficient insulin, the amelioration of insulin sensitivity and the amelioration of hyperglycemia, and/or diseases of which the symptoms can be ameliorated via the suppression of the abnormal intra-day increase of plasma glucose concentration or of which the onset can be prevented via the suppression thereof, such as diabetes mellitus, occult diabetic states, obesity, hyperglycemia, and/or arteriosclerosis. A method for using D-psicose in suppressing the abnormal intra-day increase of plasma glucose concentration, comprising giving D-psicose at given times to suppress the abnormal increase of plasma glucose concentration throughout the day.
US08071553B2

Method and peptide for regulating cellular activity includes a panel of synthesized peptides that have biological effects on inhibiting or enhancing cellular activity. Selected peptides can be used as therapy to reduce and/or inhibit, or initiate and/or enhance, an inflammatory response in a subject.
US08071552B2

The present invention describes compounds comprising new and useful peptides and peptidomimetics that can bind to CD23. They are capable of reducing inflammatory responses associated with auto-immune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, allergies and other inflammatory conditions such as those mediated by the mammalian immune system. Compounds of the present invention relate to a CD23-binding peptide wherein said peptide comprises an amino-acid sequence of X1—X2—X3—X4—X5—X6—X7—X8, wherein: X1 is Phe, or is absent; X2 is His or Ala; X3 is Glu, Ser, Ala, Asn, Lys, or Cys; X4 is Asn, Phe, Gln, Pro, Ser, or Ala; X5 is Trp; X6 is Pro, Arg, Glu, Gly, Cys, or Lys; X7 is Ser, Pro, Leu, Thr Ala, Gly, Asn, or absent; and X8 is Phe, Gly, or is absent.
US08071546B2

The present invention is directed to uses of PEGylated albumins which include methods of treating reduced functional capillary density, reduced blood volume, septic shock and cardiac arrhythmia in a subject, which comprise administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a PEGylated albumin.
US08071543B2

The present invention relates to a method of treating a neurological condition in a mammal by administering at least one hematopoietic growth factor.
US08071542B2

The present inventors have demonstrated the presence of H-ferritin receptors on endothelial cells in culture and on rat brain rat brain microvasculature, identifying H-ferritin as a means for transporting iron across the blood brain barrier. The present invention provides a method for treating an iron deficiency disorder in a patient, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a ferritin-iron complex. In an embodiment of the invention, the ferritin-iron complex comprises H-ferritin. In another embodiment, the iron deficiency disorder comprises an iron deficiency in the brain. The present invention also provides a method for delivering iron to the brain, comprising administering iron in the form of a ferritin-iron complex to a patient, whereby said iron is transported across the blood-brain barrier and delivered to the brain; a method for using H-ferritin as a targeting moiety, comprising attaching H-ferritin to a liposome, whereby said liposome is targeted to the brain and/or cells within the brain; and a method for treating an iron overload disorder in a patient, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a multi subunit ferritin complex, wherein said multi subunit ferritin complex is at less than 100% iron binding capacity.
US08071539B2

The present invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are also encompassed by the invention, as are vectors containing these nucleic acids, host cells transformed with these nucleic acids vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally the present invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating, preventing, or ameliorating diseases, disorders or conditions using albumin fusion proteins of the invention.
US08071538B2

The present invention provides binding agents comprising peptides capable of binding myostatin and inhibiting its activity. In one embodiment the binding agent comprises at least one myostatin-binding peptide attached directly or indirectly to at least one vehicle such as a polymer or an Fc domain. The binding agents of the present invention produced increased lean muscle mass when administered to animals and decreased fat to muscle ratios. Therapeutic compositions containing the binding agents of the present invention are useful for treating muscle-wasting disorders and metabolic disorders including diabetes and obesity.
US08071534B2

A method includes positioning an effective amount of a thermal target material at a treatment site of a patient. The treatment site, that is, the location of the thermal target material, comprises a location adjacent to biological tissue to be treated. The thermal target material includes carbon molecules preferably in a carrier fluid. Regardless of the particular structure of the carbon, the carbon molecules in the material heat very rapidly in response to incident microwave radiation and radiate heat energy. The heat energy radiated from an effective amount of the thermal target material when subjected to an effective quantity of microwave energy causes localized heating around the thermal target material. This localized heating may be applied for therapeutic purposes. However, the microwave radiation necessary to produce therapeutically effective heating is insufficient to cause cellular damage in the biological tissue by direct absorption in the tissue.
US08071533B2

Compositions and methods for modulating activity of store-operated calcium entry in cells or tissues are provided. The compositions comprise the P311 protein, fused to a cell-penetrating peptide and formulated for delivery to tissues and cells. This protein has been shown to increase the levels of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in gingival cells, skeletal muscle cells, and prostate epithelial cells. Also provided are methods for preventing and treating diseases that involve administration of the P311 fusion protein, as well as methods for increasing levels of SOCE in cells.
US08071525B2

The present invention is drawn to disinfectant or sterilant compositions, which are human safe, e.g., food grade or food safe. In one embodiment, an aqueous disinfectant or sterilant composition can comprise an aqueous vehicle, including water, from 0.001 wt % to 50 wt % of a peracid, and from 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of a peroxide. Additionally, from 0.001 ppm to 50,000 ppm by weight of a transition metal based on the aqueous vehicle content can also be present. The composition can be substantially free of aldehydes. Alternatively or additionally, the transition metal can be in the form of a colloidal transition metal.
US08071524B2

The present invention generally relates to a biodegradable lubricating wipe, such as wet wipes. The wet wipes typically being fibrous sheet materials, pre-moistened with a solution for improved lubrication and/or protection of an area. In one embodiment the solution is comprised of a bio-based lubricant, a bio-based solvent and water. In one embodiment, the solution is comprised of mineral spirits and refined soybean oil. In another embodiment the solution is comprised of soy methyl ester and refined soybean oil. In yet another embodiment, the fibrous sheet material of the invention is biodegradable and the solution portion breaks down into a vaporizing component and a biodegradable carrier portion.
US08071523B2

The present invention relates to corrosion inhibitor systems, in particular to cleaning and corrosion inhibiting compositions for surfaces of aluminum or colored metals and alloys thereof under alkaline conditions, especially in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The cleaning and corrosion inhibiting compositions comprise as a corrosion inhibitor at least one alkyleneoxy alkylphosphate di- or triester having the general formula (I) where Z is either —O-M or —O-(AO)n2— Alkyl wherein M is an ammonium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation, Alkyl is a C5-C22 alkyl or alkylaryl group, AO is a C2-4-alkylene oxide unit and n1, n2 and n3 each are integers from 2 to 10.
US08071521B2

The present invention provides a liquid detergent composition, containing (a) 4 to 50% by mass of a mixture containing specific polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfates represented by formula (1) having average addition mole numbers m and n of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide satisfying 0
US08071515B2

Provided is a lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil for a lubricating oil, (A) a fatty acid partial ester compound, 0.5 to 1.5% by mass of (B) (b1) an aliphatic amine compound and/or (b2) an acid amide compound, 0.01 to 0.1% by mass of (C) a specific benzotriazole derivative and a specific amount of (D) a specific succinimide compound. It is a lubricating oil composition of an environmental regulation compliant type which is used for internal combustion engines such as gasoline engines, diesel engines, engines using dimethyl ether for fuel, gas engines and the like, which does not contain Mo base friction reducing agents and is reduced in ash, phosphorus and sulfur and in which a friction reducing effect, an oxidation stability and a corrosion inhibiting effect are enhanced.
US08071514B2

A highly branched functionalized silicone backbone lubricating fluid which provides exceptionally low traction, a method of lowering traction coefficients in lubricating compositions, and to uses of such compositions.
US08071513B2

A penetrating lubricant with the capacity to offer a both penetration into rust and corrosion. Further, this lubricant actively penetrates the crystalline surface of the metal while exhibiting extreme pressure lubrication, non-migrating with lasting protection. Further lubricant exhibits dielectric strength of over 8000 volts, at the same time cleaning electrical contacts, thereby reducing resistance and associated heat. The preferred embodiment contains alpha-olefins, low-odor aromatic solvents, base oils, and high flash mineral spirits.
US08071510B2

The lubricity of a drilling fluid or a completion fluid may be increased by incorporating into the fluid a water-soluble or water-dispersible salt of a sulfonated (sulfated) vegetable oil or a derivative thereof, such as a sulfonated (sulfated) castor oil. Suitable derivatives include the sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium or ammonium salt. A non-ionic or anionic surfactant which is capable of enhancing the solubility of the salt may further be incorporated into the drilling fluid or completion fluid.
US08071506B2

An herbicidal composition containing (a) florasulam and (b) at least one preemergent annual grass herbicide selected from the group consisting of dithiopyr and pendimethalin provides synergistic control of selected weeds in turf.
US08071505B2

The present invention relates to a catalyst support body (100) with a longitudinal axis (103) comprising a honeycomb body (101) and a housing (102), wherein the honeycomb body (101) consists of at least three metal layers (104) arranged one above the other, which are wound with their end surfaces in each case starting from a common centre into layers lying one above the other in the form of a spiral and are secured in the sleeve of the housing (102), wherein the metal layers consist of metal-foam layers, and wherein a metal-foam layer developed as a corrugated sheath (107) is arranged between two planar metal-foam layers (105, 106), wherein attachment sections (108) on the outside of the corrugated sheath (107) connect it to the planar metal-foam layers (105, 106).
US08071504B2

A method of providing an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The method includes applying a catalyst including gold and a platinum group metal to a particulate filter. The concentration of the gold and the platinum group metal is sufficient to enable oxidation of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide.
US08071501B2

A composite oxide for exhaust gas purification catalysts, which comprises Ce, Bi, R and oxygen and satisfies 0
US08071495B2

A densified silicon nitride body can be formed using a lanthana-based sintering aid. The composition may exhibit properties that provide a material useful in a variety of applications that can benefit from improved wear characteristics. The composition may be densified by sintering and hot isostatic pressing.
US08071492B2

The present invention is directed to a textile fabric. This fabric is particularly well suited for use as the outer shell fabric of a firefighter's garment. The fabric is a woven or knitted fabric of spun yarns and multi-filament yarns. The spun yarn includes a first staple being a polymer selected from the group consisting of aramid, PBI or PBO or melamine formaldehyde, and a second staple being an aramid polymer. The multi-filament yarn includes an aramid filament.
US08071488B2

A polyolefin tarpaulin composition for photographic printing provides a reinforced structure with united strength in the outside of the tarpaulin, and provides a superior processing property by allowing a photographic print sheet to be easily coupled to the outside of the tarpaulin. The generation of a pollutant that is a problem associated with PVC tarpaulin is prevented, and an eco-friendly material is used which does not harm the human body and which can be recycled after use.
US08071483B2

In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device by forming a structure film on a substrate in a reaction chamber of a manufacturing apparatus, cleaning inside the reaction chamber is performed. That is, a precoat film made of a silicon nitride film containing boron is deposited on an inner wall of the reaction chamber, a silicon nitride film not containing boron is formed as the structure film on the substrate in the reaction chamber, and the inner wall of the reaction chamber is dry etched to be cleaned. At this time, the dry etching is terminated after boron is detected in a gas exhausted from the reaction chamber.
US08071481B2

A multi-step etching process produces trench openings in a silicon substrate that are immediately adjacent transistor structures formed over the substrate surface. The multi-step etching process is a Br-based etching operation with one step including nitrogen and a further step deficient of nitrogen. The etching process does not attack the transistor structure and forms an opening bounded by upper surfaces that extend downwardly from the substrate surface and are substantially vertical, and lower surfaces that bulge outwardly from the upper vertical sections and undercut the transistor structure. The aggressive undercut produces a desirable stress in the etched silicon surface. The openings are then filled with a suitable source/drain material and SSD transistors with desirable Idsat characteristics may then be formed.
US08071477B2

Formation of a boron compound is suppressed on the inner wall of a nozzle disposed in a high-temperature region of a process chamber. A semiconductor device manufacturing method comprises forming a boron doped silicon film by simultaneously supplying at least a boron-containing gas as a constituent element and a chlorine-containing gas a constituent element to a gas supply nozzle installed in a process chamber in a manner that concentration of chlorine (Cl) is higher than concentration of boron in the gas supply nozzle.
US08071474B2

(a1) A concave portion is formed in an interlayer insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate. (a2) A first film of Mn is formed by CVD, the first film covering the inner surface of the concave portion and the upper surface of the insulating film. (a3) Conductive material essentially consisting of Cu is deposited on the first film to embed the conductive material in the concave portion. (a4) The semiconductor substrate is annealed. During the period until a barrier layer is formed having also a function of improving tight adhesion, it is possible to ensure sufficient tight adhesion of wiring members and prevent peel-off of the wiring members.
US08071473B2

An object of the present invention is to obtain a favorable etching shape in etching an organic film formed on a substrate.A semiconductor device manufacturing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: etching with plasma a silicon-containing film and transferring a pattern of a pattern mask stacked on the silicon-containing film onto the silicon-containing film to form a patterned silicon-containing film; removing the pattern mask using plasma to expose the surface of the silicon-containing film; and etching the surface of the organic film through the patterned silicon-containing film by use of oxygen active species in plasma to form a concave portion on the organic film. Thereafter, the silicon-containing film is sputtered to form silicon-containing protection films on the inner wall surfaces of the concave portion. The concave portion is further etched in its depth direction through the patterned silicon-containing film by use of oxygen active species in plasma. Thus, the concave portion can be further etched while the side walls of the concave portion are protected from active oxygen species.
US08071461B2

Electronic elements (44, 44′, 44″) having an active device region (46) and integrated passive device (IPD) region (60) on a common substrate (45) preferably include a composite dielectric region (62, 62′, 62″) in the IPD region underlying the IPD (35) to reduce electromagnetic (E-M) (33) coupling to the substrate (45). Mechanical stress created by plain dielectric regions (36′) and its deleterious affect on performance, manufacturing yield and occupied area may be avoided by providing electrically isolated inclusions (65, 65′, 65″) in the composite dielectric region (62, 62′, 62″) of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) less than that of the dielectric material (78, 78′, 78″) in the composite dielectric region (62, 62′, 62″). For silicon substrates (45), non-single crystal silicon is suitable for the inclusions (65, 65′, 65″) and silicon oxide for the dielectric material (78, 78′, 78″). The inclusions (65, 65′, 65″) preferably have a blade-like shape separated by and enclosed within the dielectric material (78, 78′, 78″).
US08071458B1

The invention discloses a method for forming an interfacial passivation layer on the Ge semiconductor. The supercritical CO2 fluids is used to form an interfacial passivation layer between Ge channel and gate insulator layer, and improve the dielectric characteristics of gate insulator after high-temperature thermal annealing process.