US08078701B2
A network design apparatus designs arrangement of various types of optical transmission devices in stations within a linear section in a network. An acquisition unit acquires information concerning the type of optical transmission device to be provided in the stations, and information concerning cost and transmission degradation for the optical transmission devices. The designing unit designs, based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit, an arrangement for which transmission degradation between stations respectively including an optical transmission device applicable as an optical regenerative repeater, is less than or equal to a threshold, and also has the least cost. An output unit outputs information concerning the arrangement designed by the design unit.
US08078697B2
The presenting invention relates generally to indirect linking methods and apparatus. One claim recites a method including: a) using a programmed electronic processor, reading an index from color imagery steganographically modulated with the index; b) accessing a database with the index, the database comprising a plurality of records that link an index to a pointer which identifies a remote computer on a network; c) extracting a pointer from the database as a function of the index; and d) using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well.
US08078690B2
A switch unit, which is connected to one or more computers and one or more storage systems, comprises an update function for updating transfer management information (a routing table, for example). The storage system has a function for adding a virtual port to a physical port. The storage system migrates the virtual port addition destination from a first physical port to a second physical port and transmits a request of a predetermined type which includes identification information on the virtual port of the migration target to the switch unit. The transfer management information is updated by the update function of the switch unit so that the transfer destination which corresponds with the migration target virtual port is the switch port connected to the second physical port.
US08078687B1
A data management system for a data storage device includes a management module and a memory module. The management module manages a plurality of nodes of a linked list based on one of a plurality of parameter sets that indicates a location of a data field within each of the plurality of nodes. The memory module stores data indicative of the one of the plurality of parameter sets.
US08078685B2
Improved techniques for controlling operation of a portable electronic device are disclosed. Portable electronic devices which interact with a host electronic device can have their operational settings (e.g., configurations or preferences) remotely controlled. As a result, a host electronic device can offer a more sophisticated user interface and portable electronic devices need less local user interface features because these operational settings can be remotely controlled. The remotely-controlled (i.e., host controlled) operational settings are transferred to the portable electronic devices, whereby the portable electronic devices can thereafter operate in accordance with such settings.
US08078681B2
A system provisions an electronic mail (email) account of a user for allowing access to an electronic mailbox from a remote device to retrieve email. A communications module receives email address parameters of the user and transmits a domain name system (DNS) query to the Internet for returning mail exchange (MX) records corresponding to the email address parameters of the user. A configuration module processes any returned MX records as a starting point for determining configuration parameters for accessing the email account of the user to retrieve user email.
US08078678B2
Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system by receiving, at an instant messaging host, a video file from a sender and intended for a recipient; authenticating the video file; and sending the video file to the intended recipient.
US08078668B2
A method of processing a message in a communication network in which the message travels along a path which may be closed and which comprises a plurality of nodes. The message is constituted by a plurality of distinct information blocks of which certain may be destined for different nodes. The method is implemented in a node of the path and comprises the following steps: receiving the message; identifying in the message the information blocks destined for the node; processing the identified information blocks, with the creation as a consequence of at least one result data item; modifying the message by inclusion in it of the resulting item or items of data; and transmitting the message to the following node along the path. The invention also relates to a device adapted to implement the method.
US08078657B2
Disclosed is a circuit for simultaneously searching two ends of a vector. The circuit comprises at least one input for receiving a vector of head pointers. A first input of a memory latch receives the vector of head pointers. An input of a first priority decoder receives the vector of head pointers from the memory latch. The first priority decoder traverses the vector of head pointers from a first end of the vector for identifying one active bit in the vector. An input of a first reverse module also receives the vector of head pointers from the memory latch. An input of second priority decoder receives the vector of head pointers (in reverse order) from the first reverse module. The second priority decoder traverses the vector received from the first reverse module from a first end of the reversed vector for identifying one active bit in the vector.
US08078655B2
A checkpoint system is provided to quickly identify differences or deltas between a baseline version and a modified version of a database and to quickly restore the database to the baseline version using the deltas. The checkpoint system identifies the deltas between versions of the database by a rapid comparison of the rows of each table within a baseline version and a modified version of the database. The checkpoint system can use the rapid comparison when testing to identify sets of deltas resulting from performing an old procedure on a test database and a new procedure on the test database. The rapid comparison can be applied to these sets of deltas to identify differences resulting from the new procedure. The deltas can also be used to rapidly restore a database from a modified version to a baseline version.
US08078654B2
An information reproducing apparatus and method thereof. The information reproducing apparatus includes a storage unit, communication unit, controller, and display unit. The storage unit stores music data and at least one first string of characters corresponding to the music data. The reproducing unit reproduces the music data from the storage unit. The communication unit communicates with an image data storage unit, which stores a plurality of image data each corresponding to at least one second string of characters. The controller controls acquisition of one image data from the image data storage unit via the communication unit. The one image data is acquired based on a comparison between the at least one first string of characters and the plurality of the at least one second string of characters. Further, the display unit is configured to display the acquired image data when the reproducing unit is reproducing the music data.
US08078647B2
The present invention provides a flexible ontology data import/export method and apparatus. The ontology data import apparatus comprises: an ontology data format analyzer for analyzing a format of input ontology data, and performing format determination by utilizing an ontology format database which stores formats of those successfully imported ontologies if it is a private unknown format; and an unknown format data importer for separating and importing the data into an ontology database which stores ontologies, in accordance with a result of the format determination by the ontology data format analyzer. Further, the ontology data export apparatus comprises a keyword-based and query-language-combined ontology exporter and an ontology data export format analyzer, and the keyword-based and query-language-combined ontology exporter outputs a query result returned from the ontology database in accordance with the export format returned from the ontology data export format analyzer.
US08078646B2
Techniques for generating hash values for instances of distinct data values. In the techniques, each distinct data value is mapped to hash value generation information which describes how to generate a unique hash value for instances of the distinct data value. The hash value generation information for a distinct data value is then used to generate the hash value for an instance of the distinct data value. The hash value generation information may indicate whether a collision has occurred in generating the hash values for instances of the distinct data values and if so, how the collision is to be resolved. The techniques are employed to normalize RDF triples by generating the UIDS employed in the normalization from the triples' lexical values.
US08078637B1
An efficient PEIM-to-PEIM interface (“PPI”) database for storing data identifying one or more PPIs. The PPI database includes a linked list having one or more linked arrays of elements. The elements in each array store data identifying a PPI. Each array in the linked list of arrays may also include an element reserved for storing data identifying the last element in the array. Each array in the linked list of arrays may also include an element reserved for storing a pointer to a next array in the linked list of arrays. When the last array in the linked list of arrays becomes full, a new array is created, and a pointer to the new array is stored in the last array.
US08078624B2
Searching content of a portal. The portal includes at least one portal page having a plurality of portal content elements at least one of which is a secure portal content element wherein each of the portal content elements is a portion of a portal page. Each secure portal content element is associated with a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is a uniform resource locator and is different than a uniform resource locator for the portal page. Each secure portal content element is indexed by a keyword. Search parameters and credentials are received from a user, and a preliminary result set satisfying the search parameters is generated. For each secure portal content element in the preliminary result set, the credentials and the unique identifier are used to determine whether the user is permitted to access that secure portal content element. The preliminary result set is used to generate a final result set. A result identification is presented to the user, identifying the secure portal content elements that are included in the final result set and which the user is permitted to access, with such secure portal content elements being distinguished from any secure portal content elements to which the user is denied access.
US08078611B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing query modes for translation-enabled XML documents are described. One method embodiment includes receiving an XPath query to an XML document that may store a translation for a data element. The method embodiment may also include automatically selecting a query mode for the XPath query. The method embodiment may also include querying the XML document using the XPath query and the selected query mode. The query mode may control, at least in part, the operation of an XML database logic.
US08078604B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for identifying executable scenario solutions relevant to a user query and returning such executable scenario solutions as search results in response to the user query are provided. Upon receiving a user query, a plurality of results is returned, each result being representative of a series of steps which may be implemented to address a particular issue relevant to the received user query. Often, a series of steps or scenario includes a number of sub-scenarios, each of which is to be executed sequentially to achieve the desired result. Accordingly, upon selection of a particular search result, the user may be guided through a series of sub-scenario result options until an item having direct association to a series of steps is selected. Once selected, the executable scenario solution is presented to the user for execution.
US08078598B2
Some embodiments include reception of a structured query language query, determination of at least one point data query and at least one relational data query based on the structured query language query, transmission of the at least one point data query to at least one point data server, transmission of the at least one relational data query to at least one relational data server, reception of point data and relational data in response to the point data query and the relational data query, and joining of the received point data and the received relational data into a result rowset.
US08078595B2
Techniques for implementing secure normal forms are provided. In one embodiment, in response to a request for data from a client, a database server is operable to enforce a column-level security policy that is defined for a particular column of some, but not necessarily all, rows of a table stored in a database. After retrieving a set of rows from the table and before returning a result set of rows to the client, the database server modifies the retrieved set of rows into the result set of rows by applying the security policy to each row of the retrieved set of rows, where applying the security policy to a row comprises: determining whether the security policy is satisfied for the particular column of that row; replacing, in the result set of rows, a data value in the particular column of that row with a security-NULL value when the security policy is not satisfied; and including the data value in the particular column of that row into the result set of rows when the security policy is satisfied. After generating the result set of rows, the database server returns the result set of rows to the client.
US08078591B2
Methods, systems and software applications are provided for real time data processing. In one implementation, a method is provided for locking data objects in a computer system. The method may comprise determining whether a number of lock objects to be locked is less than or equal to a maximum number of lock objects; creating, when the number is less than or equal to the maximum, one or more lock objects comprising names and values for key fields; and creating, when the number is greater than the maximum, one or more lock objects by applying a heuristic process such that the lock objects include wild cards for key fields.
US08078589B2
A method and system merging a file across multiple versions of the file is provided. A file check-in request is identified. A merge candidate associated with the file is automatically identified. A view associated with the identified merge candidate is automatically identified. The file is merged with the merge candidate in the view, resulting in a merge result.
US08078582B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to data change ordering in multi-log based replication. In aspects, local seeds are maintained for subtransactions involved in a transaction, where each subtransaction may occur on a different node that hosts one or more database fragments involved in the transaction. When a subtransaction communicates with another subtransaction in a transaction, the subtransaction sends its local seed to the other subtransaction. The receiving subtransaction compares its local seed with the received seed and updates its local seed if the received seed is logically after its local seed. A subtransaction uses a local seed to generate sequence identifiers for changes made by the subtransaction. These identifiers allow data changes of a transaction that are made on multiple nodes to be partially ordered relative to other changes made during the transaction.
US08078576B2
A device associated with a network provides a query for specific network management information (NMI) to a registry, and receives, based on the query, metadata associated with the specific network management information (NMI). The device also provides a request for the specific network management information (NMI) to a plurality of producer devices identified from the metadata associated with the specific network management information (NMI), and receives one or more portions of the specific network management information (NMI) from each of the plurality of producer devices. The device further combines the one or more portions of the specific network management information (NMI) to create the specific network management information (NMI).
US08078575B2
File system disaster recovery techniques provide automated monitoring, failure detection and multi-step failover from a primary designated target to one of a designated group of secondary designated targets. Secondary designated targets may be prioritized so that failover occurs in a prescribed sequence. Replication of information between the primary designated target and the secondary designated targets allows failover in a manner that maximizes continuity of operation. In addition, user-specified actions may be initiated on failure detection and/or on failover operations and/or on failback operations.
US08078572B2
A reporting program and system for updating a master copy of a geographic database is disclosed. According to the method and system, reports are obtained that relate to data contained in a geographic database. Satellite images of the geographic locations represented by the data in the reports are obtained. The satellite images are analyzed to confirm a need to make changes to the master copy of the geographic database based on the reports. After confirming the need to make the changes, the master copy of the geographic database is updated.
US08078564B2
Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, provides for forward chaining in a ruleset. In one approach to this technology, a first rule is examined, to identifying a data object associated with it. A second rule is identified, also associated with the data object. The relationship between the two rules is determined, where execution of the second rule will modify the data object, which, in turn, will alter the outcome of the first rule.
US08078562B2
An artifact is configured whose constituting components and features are selectable via parameters in an interrelated set of parameters. A range of consistent configurations for the artifact is defined by a set of constraints restricting which variable values that are simultaneously selectable. A proposed storage means stores a problem description in the form of a part-of hierarchy and a list of step definitions. The part-of hierarchy includes at least two different parts and each step definition includes a pointer to a respective part in the part-of hierarchy. A processing means solves constraint satisfaction problems in response to input data designating parameter settings, and an application module creates and executes step instances, which are based on the list of step definitions. The step instances are executed sequentially, and the execution of each step instance involves: creating a CSP based on the part to which the pointer of the corresponding step definition points and any descendents to this part, presenting a range of variables wherein each variable has at least one selectable value assignable via a user-committed setting in the input data, solving the CSP of the step instance based on the user-committed settings and any variable values resulting from any preceding step instances in said sequence, and presenting the set of resulting variable values. The application module repeatedly prompts a user to enter input data to represent user-committed settings until all the step instances in said sequence have been executed.
US08078553B2
A system, method, and information processing system manage a network. At least one contract including one or more components is received at a network that uses a component based architecture. A first operation (422) in the set of operations associated with the contract (114) is mapped to a policy rule event (424) associated with at least one policy rule (116). A second operation (426) in the set of operations associated with the contract (114) is mapped to at least one policy rule condition (428) associated with the policy rule (116). A third operation (430) in the set of operations associated with the contract (116) is mapped to a policy rule action (432) associated with the policy rule (116). A fourth operation (440) in the set of operations associated with the contract (116) is mapped to a policy rule condition (442) associated with the other policy rule (420).
US08078552B2
An autonomous biologically based learning tool system and a method that the tool system employs for learning and analysis are provided. The autonomous biologically based learning tool system includes (a) one or more tool systems that perform a set of specific tasks or processes and generate assets and data related to the assets that characterize the various processes and associated tool performance; (b) an interaction manager that receives and formats the data, and (c) an autonomous learning system based on biological principles of learning. The autonomous learning system comprises a memory platform and a processing platform that communicate through a network. The network receives data from the tool system and from an external actor through the interaction manager. Both the memory platform and the processing platform include functional components and memories that can be defined recursively. Similarly, the one or more tools can be deployed recursively, in a bottom-up manner in which an individual autonomous tools is assembled in conjunction with other (disparate or alike) autonomous tools to form an autonomous group tool, which in turn can be assembled with other group tools to form a conglomerated autonomous tool system. Knowledge generated and accumulated in the autonomous learning system(s) associated with individual, group and conglomerated tools can be cast into semantic networks that can be employed for learning and driving tool goals based on context.
US08078544B2
The present invention provides a system and method for facilitating a transaction between two or more parties. Electronic documents are received from a party and are posted to the secured account such that each party can retrieve and modify the electronic documents. Upon agreement, the electronically signed documents are provided to the parties. The present invention also provides a method for facilitating a proposed transaction between an originating party and a potential buying party using various levels of unrestricted and restricted descriptions of the proposed transaction tied to conditions of release. The requested restricted description is provided to the potential buying party whenever the potential buying party agrees to the one or more conditions of release for the requested restricted description.
US08078529B1
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and computer program products for evaluating customers' ability to manage revolving credit. To do so, for example, embodiments of the present invention review aggregated transaction data taken from a large number of revolving-credit accounts, and detect credit-usage patterns at an account level. The detected credit-usage patterns are then applied in risk models to evaluate individual customers' ability to manage revolving credit.
US08078527B2
The invention provides various systems and methods for actively optimizing a credit score and reducing debt. The method includes receiving a credit report including credit accounts, balances, interest rates, and rate types for the credit accounts. The method further receives bank account and payroll information, as well as fixed and variable expense information. The method then generates a financial report based on the received information. Based on the financial report, the method calculates a payment amount, and determines available unassigned income. An allocation of the available income for debt reduction and credit score optimization is received, and the method dynamically allocates the funds to pay the credit accounts, the fixed expenses, and variable expenses such that the customer's debt is reduced and the customer's credit score is improved.
US08078525B2
A method is provided for a service provider to automate service tasks for a client where the client would otherwise need to perform the tasks. The method can be implemented using computers and the internet, where a web site is provided that the client can access for information and/or calculations. Where the client is a lender making a loan to a borrower, who wishes to purchase real or personal property from a seller, the client provides customer information to the service provider who in turn provides documents for execution by the borrower and the seller. After auditing the information received, the service provider advises the client whether to make the loan. If the loan is made, the client disburses proceeds to the seller and/or to a pre-existing lienholder and an amount to the service provider, who sends information to a governmental entity for recording a lien on the property.
US08078523B2
An alert system that notifies an Exchange's staff of a trade that appears to be outside of an expected market range of prices includes an input device, determination logic, evaluation logic, and alert logic. The determination logic derives a theoretical no-bust range of prices based on data received from the input device. The theoretical no-bust range of prices are prices above and below a synthesized market price, within which an erroneous trade cannot be cancelled. The evaluation logic monitors trades and compares those trades to the theoretical no-bust range of prices. The alert logic notifies the Exchange's staff when the evaluation logic identifies a potentially erroneous trade that lies outside the theoretical no-bust range of prices. A method of notifying the Exchange of a trade that potentially lies outside of an expected range of prices includes monitoring an input range of prices and deriving the theoretical no-bust range of prices. The method then compares transactions prices to the theoretical no-bust range of prices and notifies the Exchange when a potentially erroneous trade can be cancelled.
US08078521B1
Systems and methods for settling credit default swap contracts upon occurrence of a credit event are provided. In the first stage an inside market price and imbalance between net sell and buy positions are determined. When there is an imbalance between net sell and buy positions, a second stage is employed to determine a final price for settling the imbalance.
US08078510B2
The present invention relates to prepaid services in the communication field. A method for charging a prepaid account includes: delivering the available traffic to the NAS based on the available balance of an account shared by the user and other users in response to a successful authentication of a user's access request; and delivering the available traffic to the NAS based on the available balance of the account shared by the user and other users in response to a receipt of an Accounting-Request-Interim message from the NAS. The solution provided by the invention may deliver the available traffic to a user every accounting period so that an account can be used by multiple users concurrently, whereas overdraft does not occur. The present invention also provides a system and an AAA server for charging a prepaid account.
US08078499B1
An aspect of the disclosure is directed to an e-commerce data processing approach involving on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to an application server linked to a web interface and configured to communicate the web accessible images of articles to the communicator device, the web communicator device displays the web accessible images of articles, and prompts an on-line shopper to select one or more articles from the displayed images of articles. Another aspect concerns storage of articles in a virtual closet, and allowing purchase of the stored articles by an on-line shopper using the communicator device, and tracking selected articles to provide demographic information about the sellers to the buyer.
US08078498B2
The present invention provides a network server with enhanced graphics and improved methods for displaying articles offered for purchase, to allow a purchaser to fully evaluate the article while shopping “on-line.” In a particular embodiment, a virtual showroom associated with the network server may be provided, for displaying first and second articles. A first electronic image representing the first article and a second electronic image representing the second article may also be provided. The second article may be complementary to the first article, such that the second article may be worn in conjunction with the first article. In another embodiment, a user may have the option to overlay the first electronic image with the second electronic image. In a particular embodiment, the second electronic image may include an at least partially translucent depiction of a substantial portion of the second article.
US08078495B2
A computer-implemented method for data display is provided, which includes receiving a request for a product from a customer in a first line at a retail location having multiple adjacent customer lines. An advertisement is selected responsively to the requested product, and is displayed on a customer-facing electronic display positioned at a second line, which is in proximity to the first line. Other embodiments are also described.
US08078493B2
A system and method for displaying ads on a client-side video replay system during a pause mode. The method may comprise determining that the video replay system should enter a pause mode, obtaining an ad, and displaying the ad on a display of the video replay system during the pause mode. Determining that the system should enter pause mode may include detecting that a user has pressed a pause button located on a remote control or a display screen. The system may comprise a display, a processor, memory, and software applications configured to (i) determine that the system should enter a pause mode, (ii) obtain an ad, and (iii) display the ad on the display.
US08078487B2
An interactive workflow schedule optimizer arranged to enable a user to reconfigure an instantiated workflow for a task comprising a plurality of actions having a predetermined dependency relationship to each other. The optimizer comprises means to input one or more user-specified constraint conditions into the workflow schedule optimizer; means to regenerate a workflow dependent on user specified condition from the instantiated workflow, the regenerated workflow satisfying said one or more user-specified constraint conditions. The optimizer optimises the global utilisation of the resources required to fulfil the user request by processing in parallel the resource requirements of each of said plurality of actions required by the regenerated workflow.
US08078479B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing sample prescriptions electronically and creating a complete data set of information regarding the life-cycle of the sample prescription. In one embodiment, a sample prescription system comprises a management module that stores files corresponding to sample prescriptions. Each corresponding file is linked to a unique sample code. The sample code and linked file together comprise an electronic history of the sample's life-cycle, which is built dynamically over time into a comprehensive code containing all information relevant to a prescribed sample and it's path to consumption.
US08078475B2
A portable player or a multi-channel home player includes: a mixed signal decoding unit that extracts, from a first inputted coded stream, a second coded stream representing a downmix signal into which multi-channel audio signals are mixed and supplementary information for reverting the downmix signal back to the multi-channel audio signals before being downmixed, and that decodes the second coded stream representing the downmix signal; a signal separation processing unit that separates the downmix signal obtained by decoding based on the extracted supplementary information and that generates audio signals which are acoustically approximate to the multi-channel audio signals before being downmixed; and headphones or speakers that reproduce the decoded downmix signal or speakers that reproduce the multi-channel audio signals separated from the downmix signal.
US08078473B1
An adaptive advertising apparatus and associated methods. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to adaptively present (e.g., display) advertising-related content (e.g., audio, video, images, etc.) that is contextually related to the topic of a conversation between a plurality of parties or individuals. In one variant, the at least one program comprises a speech recognition program that analyzes digitized speech, and identifies one or more words therein in order to determine the topic of conversation or context. Contextually related (or targeted) advertising is then selected based on its relationship to the determined context or topic.
US08078463B2
A method and apparatus for spotting a target speaker within a call interaction by generating speaker models based on one or more speaker's speech; and by searching for speaker models associated with one or more target speaker speech files.
US08078453B2
At least one computer-mediated communication produced by or received by an author is collected and parsed to identify categories of information within it. The categories of information are processed with at least one analysis to quantify at least one type of information in each category. A first output communication is generated regarding the at least one computer-mediated communication, describing the psychological state, attitudes or characteristics of the author of the communication. A second output communication is generated when a difference between the quantification of at least one type of information for at least one category and a reference for the at least one category is detected involving a psychological state, attitude or characteristic of the author to which a responsive action should be taken. The content of the second output communication and the at least one category are programmable to define a psychological state, attitude or characteristic in response to which an action should be taken and the action that is to be taken in response.
US08078446B2
A linear time-invariant system modeling apparatus comprises a processing resource arranged to receive, when in use, model data constituting to a model of a linear time-invariant system. The model data includes residual value data and scattering data. The processing resource is arranged to perform, when in use, a single value decomposition in respect of the scattering data; the scattering data corresponds, when expressed in matrix form, to a scattering matrix in a state-space representation of the model. The processing resource is also arranged to use, when in use, a result of the single value decomposition in order to generate residual value modification data. The residual value modification data is applied to the residual value data, the residual value data corresponding, when expressed in the matrix form, to a residual value matrix in the state-space representation of the model.
US08078441B2
A method for designing a haul road based on machine performance comprises receiving one or more haul road parameters and identifying at least one type of machine to be operated on the haul road. The method also includes selecting at least one target operating parameter associated with the at least one type of machine and simulating performance of the at least one type of machine to predict an operating value corresponding with the at least one target operating parameter. If the predicted operating value is not within a threshold range of the corresponding target operating parameter, one or more haul road parameters are adjusted.
US08078424B2
Provided is a test apparatus 10, which includes: a plurality of test modules 150, each of which is connected to any of the plurality of devices under test 100 to supply a test signal to the connected device under test 100; a plurality of site controllers 130 that control the plurality of test modules 150 to test the respective plurality of devices under test 100 simultaneously; a connection setting device 140 that sets a connection mode between the plurality of site controllers 130 and the plurality of test modules 150 so that each of the test modules 150 is connected to any of the plurality of site controllers 130; and a plurality of system controllers 110, each of which controls any of the plurality of site controllers 130, in which a predetermined system controller of the plurality of system controllers 110 assigns, in response to a request from another system controller of the system controllers, a site controller of the site controllers, which is to be controlled by the another system controller.
US08078420B2
A method and apparatus for authenticating items having a security mark containing a DNA fragment to prevent fraud uses a Raman spectrometer to generate a response spectrum from monochrome incident beam on the security mark on an item. Gross fluorescence is removed from the security mark response spectrum to produce a Raman security mark response spectrum. Peaks in the Raman security mark response spectrum are detected to generate Raman security mark peak data. The Raman security mark peak data is compared to a Raman peak library to determine if there is a match. The item is indicated as being authentic if a match of the Raman security mark peak data is found in the Raman peak library.
US08078416B2
A method for estimating a remaining electrical charge or a remaining capacity of a battery that supplies power to a load, the method including: using, at a controller of a battery system, an approximate exponential decay function including a plurality of exponential function terms of time and a plurality of coefficients; stopping, at the battery system, a charge or discharge operation of the battery for a predetermined time; measuring, at a sensor of the battery system, a voltage of the battery at a plurality of instances during the predetermined time; obtaining, at the controller of the battery system, a relationship between the voltage of the battery and time; determining, at the controller of the battery system, the coefficients based on the obtained relationship between the voltage of the battery and the time.
US08078411B2
A chromatographic analyzer is provided for facilitating curve fitting by means of the linear least-square method for a chromatogram that contains a plurality of overlapping peaks. A chromatographic data processor executes fitting processing to each peak in an arbitrary time region having the plurality of peaks of the chromatogram starting from the front or back side of the time region or from the back side of the time region, and the processed peaks are subtracted from the chromatogram in the time region so that the plurality of peaks in the chromatogram can be separated from one another.
US08078406B2
A method for processing seismic data. The method includes plotting a travel-time curve and one or more actual times that each seismic receiver receives one or more seismograms on a graph. The travel-time curve represents an approximate time that each seismic receiver in a seismic survey area receives the seismograms. The method may further include determining a residual static shift for each seismogram and using the residual static shift to estimate a time shift correction. The residual static shift represents a difference between an actual time in which a seismic receiver received a seismogram and a time on the travel-time curve that corresponds to the actual time. The time shift correction corrects a timing error in the time indicated by the travel-time curve.
US08078404B2
Method for recognizing one or more properties of a geological formation by the injection of a fluid into at least one borehole within the formation. The injection fluid either has a different resistivity to the formation and/or formation fluids or has the capacity to change the resistivity of the formation and/or formation fluids. Resistivity mapping is undertaken to determine the distribution of the injected fluid and to therefore understand the permeability structure and fluid distribution of the formation. In addition the injected fluid or mixture of injected and formation fluids can be ignited. By making consecutive resistivity mapping of the formation at selected time intervals during injection, the flow path of injected fluid can be determined by using the collected time lapse resistivity data.
US08078395B2
A flight control system for an aircraft is configured for receiving command signals representing commanded values of a location of a geospatial point and a radius about the geospatial point for defining a circular groundtrack. A sensor determines a geospatial location of the aircraft and provides a location signal representing the location of the aircraft. A controller for commanding flight control devices on the aircraft controls the flight of the aircraft and is configured to receive the command signals and the location signal. The controller uses the command signals and location signal to operate the flight control devices to control the flight of the aircraft for directing the aircraft generally toward a tangent point of the circular groundtrack and then maintaining a flight path along the circular groundtrack.
US08078394B2
Described is a technology by which uploaded GPS data is indexed according to spatio-temporal relationships to facilitate efficient insertion and retrieval. The indexes may be converted to significantly smaller-sized data structures when new updates to that structure are not likely. GPS data is processed into a track of spatially-partitioned segments such that each segment has a cell. Each cell has an associated temporal index (a compressed start-end tree), into which data for that cell's segments are inserted. The temporal index may include an end time index that relates each segment's end time to a matching start time index. Given query input comprising a spatial predicate and a temporal predicate, tracks may be searched for by determining which spatial candidate cells may contain matching results. For each candidate cell, the search accesses the cell's associated temporal index to find any track or tracks that correspond to the temporal predicate.
US08078392B2
There is provided with an ECU for estimating an unburned fuel amount (HC) emitted from an engine after fuel combustion or a temperature of a DPF based upon a required engine operating condition as a control target value. An exhaust gas temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an exhaust gas emitted directly from the engine is provided. A program for compensating for an estimation error in regard to an estimation value of the unburned fuel amount estimated from the required engine operating condition, that is, an operating condition difference amount between the required engine operating condition and an actual engine operating condition, based upon an engine exhaust gas temperature detected from the exhaust gas temperature sensor is provided.
US08078378B2
A hill start assist system for a tractor includes a pressure reduction valve receiving air from an air supply source, a solenoid valve having a supply port connected to a delivery port of the pressure reduction valve, a double check valve receiving air from a foot brake valve and from the solenoid valve, a tractor protection valve receiving air from the solenoid valve and from front and rear brake circuits of the tractor and an inversion valve having a control line connected to the solenoid, a supply port connected to the delivery line of the tractor protection valve, an exhaust port connected to the foot brake valve and a delivery line connected to a stop light switch.
US08078376B2
A verification system is provided for verifying the availability of a first level of a braking system in a powered system. The powered system travels along a route. The verification system includes a controller coupled to an engine and a braking system of the powered system. The controller is configured to predetermine one of an activation level of the engine and/or an activation level of the braking system at a plurality of incremental locations along the route. The controller is further configured to activate the first level of the braking system at an incremental location having a predetermined activation level of the braking system which is lower than the first level of the braking system. A method is also provided for verifying the availability of the first level of a braking system in a powered system.
US08078375B2
Methods and systems for measuring a brake stroke of an air brake assembly utilize a sensor, such as an accelerometer, mountable on a movable component, such as a brake cam shaft, of the air brake assembly that is external of the brake chamber of the air brake assembly for detecting an acceleration of the movable component during a braking event. The sensor generates an output signal that depends on a magnitude of the detected acceleration, which is sent to a microcontroller coupled to the sensor. The microcontroller translates the sensor output signal to a value corresponding to a displacement of the movable component of the brake assembly during the braking event and calculates a brake stroke distance based on said value.
US08078372B2
An electronic control unit 40 calculates a target output torque of an internal combustion engine 10 based on a manipulation amount of an accelerator pedal 60, a vehicle speed, and a state of a transmission gear ratio of an automatic continuously variable transmission 30, and calculates a target opening of a throttle valve 14 based on the calculated target output torque. If the current value of the transmission gear ratio of the automatic continuously variable transmission 30 is smaller than a predetermined value, the target opening of the throttle valve 14 calculated based on the target output torque is limited to be less than or equal to a preset upper limit.
US08078371B2
Controlling a hybrid powertrain includes monitoring an operator torque request, determining maximum and minimum allowable transmission output torques based upon the operator torque request, determining a commanded transmission output torque, and comparing the commanded transmission output torque and each of the maximum and minimum allowable transmission output torques.
US08078362B2
An electrostatic seat occupant detecting system of a vehicle has a vehicle body and a seat. The electrostatic seat occupant detecting system includes an antenna unit that includes a main electrode and a sub-electrode disposed near the main electrode, an AC power source, a switch unit for switching supply of AC voltage to the antenna unit to form one of a first electric field between the vehicle body and the main electrode thereby providing a seat-occupant detecting mode and a second electric field between the main electrode and the sub-electrode thereby providing a wet condition detecting mode, and a seat-occupant detecting ECU. The above seat-occupant detecting ECU includes an admittance calculating section that calculates a first admittance of the first electric field and a second admittance of the second electric field, a conductance susceptance separating section that separates conductance of the first and second admittance from the susceptance of the first and second admittances, a water content estimating section that estimates an amount of water content of the seat based on the conductance and the susceptance of the second admittance, and a judging section that judges whether a seat occupant is present or not based on one of the conductance and susceptance of the first admittance and the estimated amount of the water content of the seat.
US08078357B1
Embodiments of an application-independent and component-isolated system and system of systems framework are provided. In some embodiments, a Distributed Integration Operating Schema (“DIOS”) framework allows integration of disparate software and hardware components and permits addition, removal, modification, failure of, and information exchange among such components. In some embodiments, DIOS uses an information model that comprises a user-defined hierarchy of information objects to facilitate communication of information among agents of a control system.
US08078346B2
An operator interface unit, includes a housing with a first electrical port having a first pair of terminals to be connect to a pair of network wires of the locomotive, and a second pair of terminals to be connected to a power source. A display and input device are on the housing. A transceiver assembly wirelessly communications with the ECP system. A controller assembly is connected to the first electrical port, the display, the input device and the transceiver assembly, and wherein the controller assembly is a node on the network via one of the first electrical port and the transceiver assembly. A portable assembly includes a battery source in a container which irremovably houses the operator interface unit.
US08078343B2
The general field of the invention relates to devices for controlling the two attitude reference units of the AHRS type for aircraft, each AHRS comprising at least a first set of magnetometer measurements and at least a second set of gyroscopic measurements, each AHRS having two modes of operation, the first mode, called slave mode supplying the flight system with the information coming from the first set, the second mode, called DG mode supplying the flight system with the information coming from the second set. The device according to the invention comprises a display and means for displaying within this display a control window for these two attitude reference units, said window comprising three regions, the first region dedicated to the first AHRS unit, the second region dedicated to the second AHRS unit, the third region dedicated to the simultaneous control of the two AHRS units.
US08078331B2
A power supply control system includes a plurality of electronic control units, a monitoring device, a power source line coupled with each of the electronic control units for supplying an operating voltage to each of the electronic control units, and a power source switch disposed on the power source line. The monitoring device calculates a deactivating threshold value based on an assigned threshold value of each of the electronic control units set in accordance with an operating state of each of the electronic control units. The monitoring device deactivates the power source switch so as to stop the supply of the operating voltage to all of the electronic control units when an electric current value of the power source line is greater than the deactivating threshold value.
US08078326B2
Control devices for configuring heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The control devices are designed to detect operational parameters of units within HVAC systems and present system configurations consistent with the detected parameters. In response to user selection of a system configuration, the control device may apply the system configuration to the HVAC system and may reconfigure settings of control circuits within system units. The system configurations presented by the control device may correspond to wiring diagrams that are familiar to service technicians. Methods of configuring HVAC systems with the control devices are also provided.
US08078325B2
Systems and methods are described for a usage monitoring HVAC control method. A method, includes: receiving a request for an additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services from a requesting system user, the requesting system user composing a plurality of system users; maintaining a data structure in an on board memory of a programmable thermostat, the data structure including a list of time entries, each time entry associated with one of the plurality of system users; and updating the data structure by adding a duration in units of time to the time associated with the requesting system user.
US08078319B2
A system controls a team of vehicles. The system includes a plan dependency identifier, a contingency monitor, and an alert formulator. The plan dependency identifier analyzes a mission plan and identifies mission constraints of the mission plan. The contingency monitor continuously reviews execution of the mission plan for violations of the mission constraints. The alert formulator determines whether a part of the mission plan is threatened by a violation of one of the mission constraints.
US08078316B2
System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.
US08078314B2
Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier includes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information.
US08078311B2
In a substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention, wafer transfer timing with which wafers are to be transferred to individual processing chambers from a cassette container is determined in correspondence to each processing chamber, based upon the lengths of time required to process a single wafer in the processing chambers. Then, wafers are transferred from the cassette container in conformance to the transfer timing thus determined. By setting the wafer transfer timing with which wafers are transferred from the cassette container in coordination with the lengths of processing time at the individual processing chambers, the operation rates in the processing chambers are improved and ultimately, the throughput of the apparatus is improved.
US08078308B2
This invention relates to a method for managing active safety for an automatically operating machine comprising a work surface and a work tool displaced according to a pre-established work program. The method consists of dividing (100) the work surface into several zones and, during the work program cycle and in response to detection (200) of an operator's intrusion into a first zone when the tool is active in a second zone, also consists of carrying out at least one of the following actions: keeping (210) the tool's programmed displacement at the normal speed if the tool's displacement is programmed in a zone not adjacent to the first one, keeping (220) the tool's programmed displacement at reduced speed if the tool's displacement is programmed in a zone adjacent to the first one and modifying (230) the work program if the tool's displacement is programmed in the first zone so that the tool's work can be continued in a zone other than the first one.
US08078305B2
A numerical control arrangement, comprising a sheet metal data file defining a part blank having a plurality of position elements from a processed design file; a machine controller comprising tool-related operations and control data from said sheet metal data file defining a plurality of position elements, the operations and position elements being associated with machining tasks; and a machine controlled by said machine controller to form a sheet metal part and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
US08078304B2
Electronic device manufacturing systems and methods are provided. In some aspects, a system having a dual-mode robot is provided which is disposed within a system component (e.g., a factory interface or transfer chamber) and adapted to operate in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the robot may transfer a substrate between components of the system (e.g., between a carrier and a process chamber or chamber to chamber) and in the second mode, the robot may execute a process motion profile (e.g., metrology).
US08078291B2
Methods and systems for the design and implementation of optimal multivariable MPC controllers for fast-sampling constrained dynamic systems utilizing a primal-dual feasibility approach and/or a graph approach. The primal-dual feasibility approach can compute and store matrices defining constraints of quadratic programming problems in an off-line part in order to calculate vectors of Lagrange multipliers and an optimizer. Then primal-dual feasibility can be checked in an on-line part using the Lagrange multipliers and the optimizer can provide a unique optimal solution for the constrained dynamic system. The graph approach can compute and store the matrices and the vectors, and also prepare and store a structure of directed graph in off-line part. An optimizer for a given parameter vector can be determined in on-line part using the directed graph, the matrices and the vectors.
US08078279B2
An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.
US08078277B2
In general, the disclosure is directed to techniques for identification and remediation of oversensed cardiac events using far-field electrograms (FFEGMs). Identification of oversensed cardiac events can be used in an ICD to prevent ventricular fibrillation (VF) detection, and thereby avoid delivery of an unnecessary defibrillation shock. Alternatively, or additionally, identification of oversensed cardiac events can be used in an ICD to support delivery of bradycardia pacing during an oversensing condition. In some cases, bradycardia pacing delivered in response to detection of oversensed cardiac events may include pacing pulses from multiple vectors to provide redundancy in the event the oversensing may be due to a lead-related condition.
US08078270B2
Continuous remote monitoring of patients based on data obtained from an implantable hemodynamic monitor provides an interactive patient management system. Using network systems, patients are remotely monitored to continuously diagnose and treat heart-failure conditions. A screen displayable summary provides continuous feedback and information to physicians, patients and authorized third parties. The quick look summary includes various sites and presentation tailored to match the patients' and physicians' needs. The quick look summary further includes intelligent features that understand and retain the user's interests, preferences and use patterns. Patients, physicians and other caregivers are seamlessly connected to monitor and serve the chronic needs of heart-failure patients in a reliable and economic manner.
US08078263B2
An imaging system illuminates an object with infrared light to enhance visibility of buried structure beneath the surface of the object, and projects a visible light image of the buried structure onto the surface of the object. The system may include an infrared light source for generating the infrared light and a structure for diffusing the infrared light. The diffusing structure may include one or more layers of diffusing material for diffusing the light. The system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the object and for generating a video image of the buried structure based on the reflected infrared light. The buried structure may be a subcutaneous blood vessel. A calibration procedure is described as well as embodiments for ensuring that the object is maintained in focus at the correct distance.
US08078259B2
Systems and methods for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in which both arterial-phase image data and post-contrast image data is collected.
US08078253B2
Provided are methods for diagnosing the presence, type, or severity of a dementia in a human subject. The methods involve using a computer-based system to assess impairment of certain cognitive and motor functions that are indicative of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
US08078252B2
In some preferred embodiments, without limitation, the present invention comprises an implantable, intracranial neural interface node which is an integrated and minimally invasive platform system and supports cross-modal neural interfaces to the cerebrum and other associated structures in the central nervous system. The neural interfaces comprise electrical and chemical interfaces for neural recording, electrical stimulation, chemical delivery, chemical sensing, chemical sampling, cell delivery, genetic material delivery and/or other functions of interest.
US08078249B2
Sensors located on a sensor carrier are placed adjacent one or more of a surgical patient's major thoracic blood-containing structures such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, and characteristics of blood in the blood-containing structures are determined noninvasively by measuring transmission or reflection of light or other types of energy by the blood. Emitters and receptors included in the sensors are connected electrically with suitable electronic signal generating and processing components in a package remote from the sensor carrier.
US08078233B1
An Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert message can be provided based on one or more weights that can correspond to a message type, one or more attributes, and/or one or more classifications of the alert message. For example, alert messages having one or more weights above a particular a threshold weight can be broadcasted to a mobile device. Additionally, the weights can be used to determine the sequence, priority, and/or order in which the alert message can be broadcast to the mobile device.
US08078230B2
Method and apparatus for providing a prioritized list of display devices for display of a media file
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a prioritized list of display devices for display of a media file, the prioritized list being provided on a mobile computing device, the display devices being connected to the mobile computing device in a network. The method may include determining characteristics of the media file, discovering by the mobile computing device the display devices connected to the mobile computing device, discovering by the mobile computing device display characteristics of the display devices, creating the prioritized list of display devices by comparing the characteristics of the media file to the display characteristics of the display devices, and providing the prioritized list of the display devices on the mobile computing device for selection by a user.
US08078228B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of an idle state of a mobile terminal. One embodiment relates to a method and apparatus that display message in an idle state of a mobile terminal. Another embodiment relates to a method and apparatus for driving an application for an idle state in a mobile terminal. A further embodiment relates to a method and apparatus for providing idle state contents to a mobile terminal.
US08078227B2
Radio base station system, a node in a cellular mobile communications network, and a splitter device
The invention relates to a radio base station system for mobile communications, a node in a cellular mobile communications network, as well as a splitter device for use in a radio base system. The radio base station system comprises a first antenna and at least a first, a second and a third radio base station, the first radio base station being connected to the first antenna. The radio base station system comprises a first splitter device, which is connected to the first, the second and the third radio base station.
US08078224B2
A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player. In one embodiment the connector comprises a housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations that are sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end. The contact locations include first, second and third ground contact locations designated for ground, the first ground contact location at the first end, the second ground contact location at the second end, and the third ground contact location between the first end and the second end; a first group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including USB contact locations interleaved with contact locations designated for non-USB digital signals, the first group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the third ground contact location; and a second group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal, the second group of analog contact locations being disposed between the third ground contact location and the second ground contact location.
US08078223B2
A mobile terminal including a main body configured to provide a communication function, an expansion module configured to provide a number of additional functions to the main body, a connector including at least first, second and third pins and configured to electrically connect the main body and the expansion module together, and a controller configured to determine whether a signal having a first logic level is received via the first pin of the connector, to set up communication between the mobile terminal and the expansion module using only the first pin and a corresponding ground source and a 1-wire communication method on the first pin if the signal received on the first pin has the first logic level, to determine whether or not the expansion module is an authenticated expansion module through the 1-wire communication method on the first pin, and to allow the expansion module to provide the number of additional functions to the main body through serial communication using the second and third pins when the expansion module is determined to be successfully authenticated.
US08078217B2
A multi-sided radio (200) includes an audio centric side (210) including a speaker (208) operationally independent of functions on an opposing side, a data centric side (220) on the opposing side of the audio centric side, and a top controller side (250) having at least one control function (202 or 204). The audio centric side can include an option module (242) for placement as an insert enabling additional functions including camera functions, environmental sensors, WLAN transceivers, audio upgrades, and bar code readers as examples. The data centric side can include a keypad (214 and 216) and a display (218). The speaker can reside behind the display of the data centric side and has full porting out of the audio centric side.
US08078205B2
A method and system for sharing digital information, including biographical information is described. A method for sharing biographical information on mobile telecommunication device that includes providing an application for sharing bio-cards on a mobile telecommunication device, receiving inputs including biographical information, one or more selected bio-card layouts and one or more bio-card graphics, creating one or more bio-cards based on the received inputs, and retrieving potential bio-card recipients. The mobile telecommunication device includes a processor and a memory and bio-cards are digital representations of biographical information about a user that may be displayed on the mobile telecommunication device. The potential bio-card recipients include mobile telecommunication devices. The method further includes displaying the created one or more bio-cards, receiving a selection of one or more recipients to receive a bio-card; receiving a selection of a bio-card to send to the selected one or more recipients; and transmitting the selected bio-card to the one or more selected recipients.
US08078201B2
A method for shunting short messages in a networking includes: receiving, by an FCC (Flow Control Center), short messages forwarded from a first device, when a second device can not receive the short messages from the first device; determining a flow path of the short messages; and forwarding the short messages via the flow path. Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a system for shunting short messages. According to the solution of the embodiments of the present invention, the shunting of short messages within the networking can be achieved, and further the shunting can be performed according to the operating information of each device in the networking.
US08078183B2
A system for wireless channel assignment is disclosed, applying different assignment strategies to a plurality of nominated cells belonging to a Base Station Controller, particularly in A-interface link sharing. Channel assignment strategy information for the nominated cells is obtained, and communicated via communication messages. Channels are allocated for nominated cells according to the channel assignment strategy information communicated via the communication messages. Communication messages are structured to include channel assignment strategy information corresponding to each of the nominated cells.
US08078179B2
A mobility supporting method and a mobility supporting system using the method are provided. The mobility supporting method includes a first access router for allocating a prefix to a mobile terminal, and registering the allocated prefix in an authentication server when the mobile terminal connects to the first access router. There is also the authentication server for verifying the mobile terminal based on the registered prefix, and reporting a result of the verifying of the mobile terminal to a second access router when the mobile terminal moves to connect to the second access router and the second access router for notifying the reported result of the verifying the mobile terminal to the first access router.
US08078178B2
A method and apparatus to restore always on connectivity to user equipment, the method having the steps of: monitoring whether the user equipment has transitioned to a network that supports concurrent voice and data; performing, upon the monitoring step detecting the transition, a routing area update; checking whether the user equipment was in a voice call at the time of the transition, and if yes, sending a data packet to the network.
US08078177B2
Wireless communication method and system for improving optimal antenna weight derivation in transmit diversity mode during soft handover. The method and system use scale factors that depend on the reliability of the feedback information (FBI) detection on the uplink. Depending on FBI detections for each link, the scale factors are then applied to the downlink channel response estimates. FBI detection performance may be based on downlink antenna verification, downlink transmit power control command “up/down” ratio, or both. Poor antenna verification or a high number of “power up” commands on the uplink may indicate unreliable FBI detection. By applying higher scale factors to downlink channel responses corresponding to reliable FBI detection better closed transmit diversity performance during soft handovers may be achieved. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US08078176B2
A radio communication apparatus includes a battery voltage monitor configured to acquire a dropped amount of an output voltage in a case where a network connection unit is connected to at least one of radio communication networks used in a handover; and an operation controller configured to stop a handover controller from executing the handover to the other radio communication network when a predicted voltage obtained by subtracting the dropped amount from the output voltage is not more than a predetermined threshold.
US08078173B2
A data transfer system includes a data conversion storage server (3) that generates data (MD1) having a size smaller than a size of data (MD0) received from a delivery server (5) by performing a specific process on the data (MD0). A base station control unit (2) is provided with a data transferring portion that transfers one of the data (MD0 and MD1) selectively to a mobile phone terminal (1), and an approaching mobile communication equipment sensing portion that senses a mobile phone terminal (1) that is receiving the data (MD0) and is approaching an HSDPA supporting wireless base station (4). Then, the data transferring portion stops sending the data (MD0) to the mobile phone terminal (1) sensed by the approaching mobile communication equipment sensing portion, and instead it starts transferring data (MD2) related to a part of the first data to be transferred.
US08078170B2
A method includes determining if a user equipment has a need to establish uplink synchronization with a base station. In response to determining that the user equipment has the need to establish uplink synchronization with the base station, a determination is made if uplink resources are available on a non-contention-based channel for the user equipment. In response to determining that uplink resources are available on the non-contention-based channel for the user equipment, the uplink resources are dedicated on the non-contention-based channel to the user equipment and an indication of the dedicated uplink resources is communicated to the user equipment. Using at least the uplink resources, the user equipment is synchronized on the non-contention-based channel in order to receive information from the user equipment.
US08078167B2
A mobility management analysis architecture for call management. Systems and methods are provided for routing of a landline-mobile and mobile-mobile call using a switching network (landline or mobile originating) to serve effectively as the “GMSC/tandem” switching layer for the mobile network, as well as for mobile-mobile calls using an originating switch. When a landline switch issues an local number portability (LNP) query, the response to the query can be intercepted by a preliminary mobility management platform that determines a location routing number (LRN) for a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) to which a destination mobile handset is currently attached. The LRN for that V-MSC is returned in the LNP response to the switch, which then routes the call to the serving V-MSC based on the LRN. The V-MSC then performs the GMSC (gateway mobile switching center) functionality, for example, for that particular call.
US08078163B2
The Customized Electronic Services Delivery System provides customized electronic services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of a plurality of electronic services that are available to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft, as well as data indicative of preferences of passengers for the plurality of electronic services. Once a correspondence is made between the electronic services and an identified passenger, the Customized Electronic Services Delivery System advises the passenger of the availability of the customized services and establishes wireless communications between the passenger's electronic device and the selected electronic service. The electronic services include in-flight entertainment services as well as destination-based services which link the passenger's existing travel plans with offers for additional services that are available to the passenger at their nominal destination and their planned travel schedule.
US08078161B2
A communication system includes a first communication module, and a second communication module. The first communication module may receive a first type of communication signal (e.g. a mobile telephone signal) and convert it into a second-type of communication signal (e.g., a millimeter wave radio signal). The first type of communication signal may be a mobile telephone signal from a first fire fighter's mobile telephone who is located outside of the building. The first communication module may transmit the second-type of communication signal to the second communication module.
US08078153B2
Systems and methods for communicating according to contextual identity are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide identity management which may dynamically select appropriate identities or communication channels for communication between network users. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention may automatically select an appropriate identity from a plurality of identities for a user. Thus, users may be provided seamless access to different networks without having to subscribe to the same networks and without having to alter client devices or applications.
US08078151B2
A system and method to automatically park a voice call on a mobile electronic device so that the device can receive data, comprising a switch for establishing a voice call at the at least one caller device, a database for storing at least one call processing rule, and an enterprise data server for receiving a data message, comparing contents of the data message with at least one rule in the database, and in the event that the contents match the rule then parking the call, switching the mobile electronic device to a data mode of operation, downloading the data message to the device and un-parking the call.
US08078145B2
The present invention provides a mobile communication system and method for inactivating or curing mobile communication viruses. The mobile communication system for inactivating a virus includes: a database associated with the mobile communication system, for storing at least one virus vaccine program; and a virus monitoring unit associated with the mobile communication system, for checking virus infection of received data, analyzing virus information, choosing one of virus vaccine programs that are stored in the database and inactivating the virus. Virus vaccine programs are timely updated over the air (OTA) whenever a new version of vaccine program is available.
US08078139B2
A wireless data communications network system for establishing communication between a server and a plurality of containers that are loaded onto a cargo vessel. The system includes a data communications device configured to establish and manage a pre-configured wireless data communications network and to communicate with the server through a local area network, and a plurality of electronic tracking devices each having a wireless transceiver and routing capabilities and configured to be joined to a container and to connect to the wireless data communications network upon being activated. The data communications device is configured to intermittently perform a network scan to locate each tracking device connected to the network and reconfigure the network topology to include each connected tracking devices such that the data communications device maintains mutual communication with each connected tracking device using the routing capabilities of the tracking devices.
US08078131B2
A method for mitigating interference is provided. First, a received signal having a training sequence is received from a transmitter. Then, a Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) of the training sequence in the received signal is calculated, and whether a co-channel interference signal exists in the received signal is determined according to the SINR. The signal power corresponding to each time index in the received signal is calculated to detect a beginning time point and an ending time point of the co-channel interference signal. Finally, when the co-channel interference signal in the received signal is detected, the time when an interference cancellation filter is turned on is determined by the beginning time point and the ending time point.
US08078130B2
Systems and methods for interference cancellation in which a first signal having a first frequency may be cancelled with a second frequency having a second and different (e.g., lower) frequency by employing sampling to cancel the first signal with the separate signal at the sample instances.
US08078126B2
A communication apparatus and a low noise amplifying method. The communication apparatus includes a gain adjusting unit to adjust a gain of an input signal; a combiner to generate an output signal using the signal gain-adjusted at the gain adjusting unit; and a feedback unit which provides a feedback signal, which is generated using the output signal generated at the combiner, to an input stage. Accordingly, various frequency bands defined in the wireless standards can be supported. Since the load impedance is generated without resistance, the manufacturing cost and the product size can be reduced.
US08078125B2
A demodulator (6) for demodulating a modulated signal (3) comprises a Hubert transformer (7) for generating a Hubert transformed modulated signal (18) of the modulated signal (3). The Hubert transformed modulated signal (18) comprises modulated (5) and unmodulated signal sequences (4) and originates from an unmodulated signal. The demodulator (6) further comprises a comparing device (14) for comparing the Hubert transformed modulated signal (18) with a reference signal (15), which corresponds to the Hubert transformed unmodulated signal. The demodulator (6) is further configured to identify the modulated and unmodulated signal sequences (4, 5) based on the comparison.
US08078124B2
Method and apparatus for improving RF signal performance of a battery-operated handheld device includes RF isolating the battery from DC-powered circuitry and actively incorporating the battery in RF signal transfers with respect to an RF antenna.
US08078123B2
A radio frequency (RF) transmission correction module includes an RF transmission error detection module and a correction module. The error detection module includes an RF envelope detector, a signal conversion module, and an error detection module. The RF envelope detector is operably coupled to produce an envelope signal from a transmit RF signal, wherein the envelope signal represents at least one of local oscillation leakage and in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) imbalance. The signal conversion module is operably coupled to convert the envelope signal into an error signal in accordance with baseband processing of the transmit RF signal. The error detection module is operably coupled to determine at least one of a local oscillation leakage value and an I and Q imbalance value from the error signal. The correction module is operably coupled to produce at least one of a local oscillation leakage correction signal and an I and Q imbalance correction signal based on the at least one of the local oscillation leakage value and the I and Q imbalance value, respectively.
US08078115B2
During a communication, the radio connection quality is measured so as to detect and store a generation time, an end time, and a continuation time of quality degradation. Upon a communication end, the end cause is judged. If the communication end is caused by a user operation, a causal connection between the communication end and the quality degradation is judged according to temporal relationship between the generation time of the quality degradation and the communication end time. That is, it is judged whether the communication end caused by the user operation is a phenomenon that the user has terminated the communication because of the communication quality degradation or other reason. Thus the communication end reasons are divided into at least two types and accumulated.
US08078113B2
An adaptive antenna control method is used for a radio communication system built by a plurality of radio base stations and a plurality of terminal stations capable of communicating with the radio base stations. Each radio base station includes an adaptive antenna having a plurality of antenna elements, a distributor for generating signals to be input to the plurality of antenna elements by branching a signal of one system to be transmitted, and weighting circuits for respectively weighting transmission signals to the plurality of antenna elements. For reception by each terminal station, an interference wave power given by the transmission signal from each of the plurality of radio base stations is estimated. A weight in the adaptive antenna of each radio base station is determined to minimize a sum of square errors between reception signals and desired signals for all the radio base stations which simultaneously use the same communication channel. An adaptive antenna transmission/reception characteristic control method is also disclosed.
US08078112B2
Communication stations select the channel which as many communication stations as possible can receive as a beacon sending channel based on interference information of each channel specified in a beacon signal. When there is a communication station which cannot receive a beacon, the beacon sending channel is changed. The communication stations can receive a beacon from all other communication stations by performing beacon receiving operation over a particular channel, avoiding the deadlock state.
US08078110B2
Techniques for choosing and broadcasting receiver beamforming vectors in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks
One feature provides for establishing an ad hoc peer-to-peer network over an existing channel allocation for another network. To mitigate interference between multiple peer-to-peer devices, a plurality of receiver chains in a receiver device may be configured with beamforming coefficients so as to focus reception in the direction of an intended signal from a transmitter device while minimizing reception from other directions. Similarly, the receiver device may also use a plurality of antennas and a transmitter chain to beamform in the direction of the transmitter device, thereby focusing its transmission toward the transmitter device. The receiver device may also notify nearby devices that it is employing a plurality of receive antennas. This information can be used by the nearby devices to more intelligently perform transmitter yielding. By utilizing beamforming information to make the transmitter and/or receiver yielding decision, better interference mitigation may be achieved.
US08078103B2
An RFID communication system comprising a near field coupler that is capable of selectively communicating with a targeted transponder positioned among a group of multiple adjacent transponders. The coupler is configured to receive communication signals from a transceiver and transmit the signals to a targeted transponder in a transponder operating region. The coupler includes a number of radiating elements spaced apart and a switching element. The switching element selectively couples one or more of the radiating elements to the transceiver. The coupled elements transmit the signals into the transponder operating region by emanating a near field effect. The pattern of the near field effect may be adjusted by changing the combination of the coupled radiating elements.
US08078089B2
One embodiment of a development apparatus includes a developer carrier that transports a two-component developer and a scraper that detaches the two-component developer transported by the developer carrier from a surface of the developer carrier. Also, a front end of the scraper is formed so as not to have an edge that is less than 90 degrees. Further, the development apparatus includes a scraper pedestal having rigidity, and the scraper is fixed on the scraper pedestal.
US08078088B2
An image forming device has: a developing cartridge for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying member and a toner cartridge. The developing cartridge contains a developing roller and a single auger. The toner cartridge is detachably attached to the developing cartridge and containing toner. The toner cartridge has an agitation mechanism that agitates the toner, a conveyance mechanism that conveys the toner to the agitation mechanism, and two ports, the two ports being aligned in the axial direction and communicated with the developing cartridge, respectively. The toner cartridge and the developing cartridge are arrayed side by side in a horizontal direction. The toner cartridge has a shape having a vertical cross section in which a horizontal length is greater than a vertical length.
US08078085B2
In an image forming apparatus, a support frame configured to support a plurality of cartridges each including a photoconductor is allowed to be pulled out from a casing of the apparatus. A plurality of light-emitting parts configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor to light is arranged in each exposure unit which is movable between an exposure position proximate to the corresponding photoconductor and a retreating position away from the photoconductor. A pair of side plates of the support frame, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a main direction in which the light-emitting parts are arranged, has guide slots formed therein, each of which is configured to guide movement of a corresponding exposure unit between its exposure and retreating positions. Each guide slot includes a positioning portion configured to position the exposure unit in position in a subordinate direction perpendicular to the main direction and to an exposure direction.
US08078084B2
An image forming apparatus in which a drum unit or a developing unit can be individually replaced, and the efficiency of an operation of providing the developing unit with developer or of an operation of removing the developer from the developing unit can be improved includes a supplying roller including a magnetic roller and a developing sleeve arranged on an outer circumference of the magnetic roller. A fixing member is attached to an axial portion of the magnetic roller. The supplying roller can be removably attached to a side of a photoconductive drum by the fixing member, and at the same time, a pole position of the magnetic roller relative to the photoconductive drum can be fixed.
US08078077B2
Toners of the same color but with different characteristics are stored in the toner cartridges. For example, toners for high image quality (High Grade) with small particle diameter are stored in some toner cartridges and toners for low image quality (Low Grade) are stored in other toner cartridges. In this case, case, the mode of forming images using small particle diameter toner for high image quality using an image forming engine and the mode of forming images using a toner for low image quality using another image forming engine are executed by the image forming apparatus.
US08078074B2
An image forming apparatus has: an intermediate transfer body which carries an image; a transfer mechanism which transfers the image carried on the intermediate transfer body, onto a transfer surface of a recording medium fixed to a surface of a rotating body; and a fixing mechanism which is disposed so as to oppose the surface of the rotating body to a downstream side of the transfer mechanism in terms of a direction of rotation of the rotating body, and which fixes the image that has been transferred to the transfer surface of the recording medium, onto the recording medium.
US08078067B2
In an optical receiving apparatus for receiving an optical DQPSK signal, a phase difference between both arms of an optical interferometer is controlled to an optimum value. The optical DQPSK signal is incident on two optical interferometers in each which a delay-time difference between two arms is set to be equal to a 1-symbol time of the optical DQPSK signal and which are orthogonal to each other. The optical receiving apparatus converts the optical DQPSK signal into an intensity signal and receives it. A differential amplifier obtains a difference signal between outputs of a pre-amplifier and a discriminator connected thereto. The difference signal includes, as an amplitude, a phase shift in a phase section. A control circuit adjusts the phase of the phase section in the optical interferometers to reduce this difference signal, and changes the phase difference between the two arms to a desired phase difference.
US08078053B1
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a method may include transmitting a semiconductor laser-generated optical signal from a first end of a multi-mode fiber (MMF) optical link to a second end of the link. The optical signal may have a reference bandwidth at the first end of the link. The method may further include converting the optical signal to an electrical signal. The method may further include analyzing the electrical signal with an electronic dispersion compensator to determine an effective modal bandwidth (EMBW) of the received optical signal. The method may further include analyzing the electrical signal with an electronic dispersion compensator to determine an intersymbol interference (ISI) penalty of the optical link. The method may further include comparing the EMBW and the ISI penalty to predetermined threshold values of a tolerable EMBW and a tolerable ISI penalty, respectively, to characterize the optical link as acceptable or unacceptable for use as a communications link with a predetermined communications protocol.
US08078050B2
A camera module and an assembling method thereof are provided. The camera module includes a circuit board, a base plate, an image chip, a holder and a lens assembly. The circuit board includes a first surface, a second surface and a hollow portion running through the first surface and the second surface. The base plate is fixed on the second surface of the circuit board such that the hollow portion of the circuit board is sheltered by the base plate. The image chip is disposed on the base plate and accommodated within the hollow portion. The holder is fixed on the first surface of the circuit board. The lens assembly is fixed on the holder.
US08078049B2
An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject, a finder optical system configured to enable a photographer to optically observe the subject, and an image display unit disposed in the finder optical system and configured to display an image of the subject captured by the image sensor and to enable the photographer to observe an electronic image of the subject when the photographer looks in the finder optical system. The image display unit is configured to display an image having been subjected to image processing performed on the electronic image considering a distortion caused by the finder optical system.
US08078044B2
An image stabilization apparatus comprises a detection unit that detects camera shake in first and second directions orthogonal to each other, first and second filter units that cut off a low frequency component of an output from the detection unit, a calculation unit that calculates correction amounts for correcting camera shake in the first and second directions based on outputs from the first and second filter units, a control unit that controls cutoff frequencies of the first and second filter units based on the first and second correction amounts, wherein the larger the correction amount the higher the cutoff frequency, a determination unit that determines whether the first and second correction amounts exceed predetermined values, and a correction unit that corrects camera shake based on the calculated correction amounts. The control unit controls the cutoff frequencies of the second/first filter units based on the first/second correction amounts in a case in which the first/second correction amounts exceed the predetermined values.
US08078039B2
A recording apparatus for extracting a still image from a moving image signal that is currently being recorded, at a predetermined timing, wherein when an additional still image is newly extracted after extracting N pictures of still images, one of the N pictures of still images already extracted is deleted, and still image signals of N pictures to which the newly extracted one picture of still image is added in place of the deleted one picture of still image are generated.
US08078038B2
A content reception/recording device for selectively receiving and accumulating transmitted contents. The content reception/recording device comprises: a receiving unit; an accumulation medium; a storage unit storing therein free time slot information that indicates a free time slot in which a predetermined operation specified by a user is not performed; an obtaining unit operable to obtain transmission timing information that indicates timings at which contents are transmitted respectively; a determining unit operable to, when a plurality of accumulation target contents are transmitted in the free time slot, determine priorities of the contents for being accumulated in the free time slot, in accordance with the transmission timing information obtained by the obtaining unit; and a control unit operable to control the receiving unit to receive the accumulation target contents in accordance with the determined priorities and to accumulate the received contents in the accumulation medium.
US08078027B2
A focus enhancing electromagnetic wave propagating device includes a main body formed with a main wave-propagating structure (MS) for focusing an electromagnetic wave into a focusing light spot, and an auxiliary wave-propagating channel (AC) for allowing the wave to propagate toward the focusing light spot. A phase difference is present between the wave after traveling through the MS at its exit end and the wave after traveling through the AC at its exit opening, such that constructive interference is generated at the focusing light spot therebetween. The required phase difference is a function of a distance between the focusing light spot and the exit end of the MS, a distance between the focusing light spot and the exit opening of the AC, velocities of the wave after traveling through each of the MS and the AC, and angular frequencies of the wave after traveling through each of the MS and the AC.
US08078024B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical transmission structural body capable of preferably transmitting an optical signal between an optical wiring and an optical waveguide irrespective of a shape of a portion of the optical wiring, the portion being connected to a core part of the optical waveguide. The optical transmission structural body of the present invention is constituted so that at least an optical wiring and an optical waveguide are connected to each other and an optical signal can be transmitted between a core of the optical wiring and a core part of the optical waveguide, wherein a portion of the optical wiring, the portion being connected to the core part of the optical waveguide, is not specially subjected to a planarization processing or has a surface roughness Ra based on JIS B 0601 of 0.1 μm or more.
US08078017B2
An optical interface module and a method for manufacturing an optical interface module. One method includes forming a lower clad layer on a first surface of a substrate, forming a core layer on the lower clad layer and forming two grooves in part of the core layer to form a first core part between the two grooves having one end and another end. Also included is forming an upper clad layer on the core layer and in the grooves, mounting a light-emitting element on the first surface and mounting a light-receiving element on the first surface of the substrate. A second core part is optically coupled to the light-emitting element and the first core part, and a third core part is optically coupled to the light-receiving element and the other end of the first core part.
US08078014B1
A method of amplitude electro-optic modulation. The method includes transmitting a narrowband laser light into an electro-optically active waveguide in a first direction. The electro-optically active waveguide has a grating for reflecting the narrowband laser light. The method also includes applying an electric signal to the electro-optically active waveguide and modifying the reflection of the grating in a wavelength region of the narrowband laser light by application of the electric signal.
US08078007B2
Enlarging a digital image. In one example embodiment, a method for enlarging a digital image includes various acts. First, an enlargement factor λ is selected for an input image. Next, a pixel in the input image is selected. Then, a supporting window is placed over the input image. Next, a λ×λ block of output pixels is produced. Each pixel in the block of output pixels is produced using a set of λ2 distinct weight matrices. Then, the block of output pixels is assembled into an output image. Next, the acts of selecting a pixel, placing the supporting window, producing a block of output pixels, and assembling the block of output pixels into the output image are repeated for each of the remaining pixels in the input image.
US08078006B1
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.
US08078000B2
The present invention relates to a method, which assists a doctor for instance in orientation in 2D fluoroscopy images. The present invention relates here to a method for displaying co-registered 2D-3D images in medical imaging, comprising the following steps: determine a 3D or 2D projection which is congruent with a 2D image from a 3D image data set, and overlaid display of the 2D image with the 3D or 2D projection on a monitor, characterized in that the two image parts of the two overlaid images can be adjusted and a shift in the two overlaid images which can be adjusted in at least one direction is enabled.
US08077997B2
An image processing method and an image processing apparatus are provided. After receiving an image signal, the image and apparatus according to the invention first judge whether a target block in the image signal includes a non-chroma line. If the judging result is YES, a first edge detection procedure will be performed on the non-chroma line. If the judging result is NO, a second edge detection procedure will be performed on the target block.
US08077988B2
Method and apparatus for compressed sensing yields acceptable quality reconstructions of an object from reduced numbers of measurements. A component x of a signal or image is represented as a vector having m entries. Measurements y, comprising a vector with n entries, where n is less than m, are made. An approximate reconstruction of the m-vector x is made from y. Special measurement matrices allow measurements y=Ax+z, where y is the measured m-vector, x the desired n-vector and z an m-vector representing noise. “A” is an n by m matrix, i.e. an array with fewer rows than columns. “A” enables delivery of an approximate reconstruction, x#′ of x. An embodiment discloses approximate reconstruction of x from the reduced-dimensionality measurement y. Given y, and the matrix A, approximate reconstruction x# of x is possible. This embodiment is driven by the goal of promoting the approximate sparsity of x#.
US08077986B2
A multivalued original image is converted to a high-resolution image by interpolation processing and the resultant high-resolution image is subjected to binarization processing to obtain a high-resolution binarized image. This is followed by extraction of a plurality of text regions for every text color, as well as position information and text color information of each text region. First compressed data of the text regions is generated by applying compression processing to the high-resolution binarized images at the positions corresponding to the text regions extracted. Second compressed data is generated by filling text regions in the original image with a prescribed pixel value and applying compression processing to the image obtained by such filling. Compressed image data of the original image is then generated, this data including the first compressed data and the second compressed data as well as the position information and color information of each text region.
US08077985B2
An image data compression device for rapidly compressing the file to a desired capacity is provided. The image data compression device comprising a compression target capacity value storage device for storing compression target capacity value defined in advance; a compression processing information storage device for storing information in the compression processing; a primary compression device for performing a prescribed compression processing on the image data to generate primary compressed image data, and storing the primary compression information representing a compression property during the compression processing in the compression processing information storage device; and a secondary compression device for compressing the primary compressed image data based on the primary compression information stored in the compression processing information storage device and the compression target capacity value stored in the compression target capacity storage device.
US08077984B2
A computer implemented method and an apparatus for comparing spans of text are disclosed. The method includes computing a similarity measure between a first sequence of symbols representing a first text span and a second sequence of symbols representing a second text span as a function of the occurrences of optionally noncontiguous subsequences of symbols shared by the two sequences of symbols. Each of the symbols comprises at least one consecutive word and is defined according to a set of linguistic factors. Pairs of symbols in the first and second sequences that form a shared subsequence of symbols are each matched according to at least one of the factors.
US08077983B2
A system and method for character error correction is provided, useful for a user of mobile appliances to produce written text with reduced errors. The system includes an interface, a word prediction engine, a statistical engine, an editing distance calculator, and a selector. A string of characters, known as the inputted word, may be entered into the mobile device via the interface. The word prediction engine may then generate word candidates similar to the inputted word using fuzzy logic and user preferences generated from past user behavior. The statistical engine may then generate variable error costs determined by the probability of erroneously inputting any given character. The editing distance calculator may then determine the editing distance between the inputted word and each of the word candidates by grid comparison using the variable error costs. The selector may choose one or more preferred candidates from the word candidates using the editing distances.
US08077982B2
An image match-point detection apparatus has a pattern detection part, a pattern storage part, a characteristic-point extraction part and a match-point detection part. The match-point detection part determines whether the pattern numbers of the pattern information extracted as the characteristic-point pattern information for the bitmap images are identical to one another and detects a plurality of the pattern information comprising the identical pattern number, as match-point information.
US08077979B2
A pattern recognition method comprises steps of inputting a pattern of a recognition object performing feature extraction from the input pattern to generate a feature vector, increasing the number of quantization in an order from quantization number 1 or quantization number 2 to calculate a quantization threshold of each of the quantization number, wherein the quantization threshold of quantization number (n+1) using a quantization threshold of quantization number n (n>=1) is calculated and a quantization function having a quantization threshold corresponding to quantization number S (S>n) is generated, quantizing each component of the feature vector of the input pattern using the quantization function to generate an input quantization feature vector having each of the quantized component, storing a dictionary feature vector of the recognition object, or a quantized dictionary feature vector in which each component of the dictionary feature vector of the pattern of a recognition object is quantized; calculating a similarity between the input quantization feature vector and the dictionary feature vector, or a similarity between the input quantization feature vector and the quantized dictionary feature vector; and recognizing the recognition object based on the similarity.
US08077978B2
An image processing apparatus may include a feature quantity extraction unit configured to extract a feature quantity from an image, a setting unit configured to set setting information including a plurality of setting items used to perform processing upon the image so that a designated setting item can be changed among the setting items; and a recording unit configured to associate the setting information with a feature quantity of the image and record them.
US08077970B2
An operation estimating apparatus includes an image obtaining unit, a human body feature point specifying unit, and an operation estimating unit. The image obtaining unit repeatedly obtains images. The human body feature point specifying unit specifies a predetermined human body feature point of an operator in each of the images. The operation estimating unit estimates one of operations based on the human body feature points. The operation estimating unit compares an actual posture locus of the operator with a transitional estimation model for each of the operations by the operator to obtain a degree of approximation of the transitional estimation model to the actual posture locus. The operation estimating unit estimates that the operator is going to perform the one of the operations that corresponds to an estimated posture locus of the transitional estimation model having the degree of approximation that satisfies a predetermined threshold.
US08077965B2
An object recognition apparatus that processes images, as acquired by an imaging means (10) mounted on a moving object, in a first image plane and a second image plane of different points of view, and recognizes an object in the vicinity of the moving object. The object recognition apparatus comprises: a feature point detection means (42) that detects feature points in first and second image planes of an object image; a fundamental matrix determination means (43a) that determines, based on calculation of an epipole through the auto-epipolar property, a fundamental matrix that expresses a geometrically corresponding relationship based on translational camera movement, with not less than two pairs of feature points corresponding between the first and second image planes; and a three-dimensional position calculation means (43b) that calculates a three-dimensional position of an object based on the coordinates of the object in the first and second image planes and the determined fundamental matrix.
US08077962B2
Although there has been a method for evaluating pattern shapes of electronic devices by using, as a reference pattern, design data or a non-defective pattern, the conventional method has a problem that the pattern shape cannot be evaluated with high accuracy because of the difficulty in defining an exact shape suitable for the manufacturing conditions of the electronic devices. The present invention provides a shape evaluation method for circuit patterns of electronic devices, the method including a means for generating contour distribution data of at least two circuit patterns from contour data sets on the circuit patterns; a means for generating a reference pattern used for the pattern shape evaluation, from the contour distribution data; and a means for evaluating the pattern shape by comparing each evaluation target pattern with the reference pattern.
US08077956B2
A method for identifying the orientation of a radiographic image of a patient generates a reduced-scale image having a smaller number of pixel elements than the original radiographic image and generates a reduced bit-depth image from the reduced-scale image. The method determines whether the image has portrait or landscape orientation by sectioning either the reduced-scale image or the reduced bit-depth image into at least two sections and calculating at least one value related to relative symmetry for each of the at least two sections.
US08077947B2
The invention relates to a method for determining an optimal output of an ablation catheter for a myocardial ablation in a patient with the following steps: creation of at least one at least three-dimensional image recording of an ablation region provided for the myocardial ablation using at least one image recording apparatus; at least partial segmentation of the recorded ablation region to obtain segmentation information using a computation apparatus; at least partial determination from the segmentation information of the location-dependent thickness of the myocardium in the ablation region by the computation apparatus; and determination of the optimal output of the ablation catheter, in particular by the computation apparatus or a separate computation apparatus of an ablation catheter system, as a function of the determined myocardium thickness.
US08077946B2
A burden in generating a follow-up observation report is reduced. The size of an abnormal shadow present on a current medical image obtained by imaging a subject is measured, and the size of an abnormal shadow present on a previous medical image, which has been obtained by imaging the same subject, at a position corresponding to the position the abnormal shadow on the current medical image is measured. A character string describing a change in the size is generated from the measured sizes of the two abnormal shadows, and a file of a report text, containing the character string, about a case shown in the previous and current medical images is outputted.
US08077943B2
A method of determining component misalignment in a multi-modality imaging system includes imaging a plurality of target objects with a first modality unit to generate a tomographic image data set and imaging the plurality of targets with a second modality unit to generate an emission image data set. The method also includes determining a location of the target objects in the emission image data set to produce emission target object location coordinates, calculating a positional alignment vector for each target object based on the emission target object location coordinates, and aligning the multi-modality imaging system based on the positional alignment vectors.
US08077931B1
A method, apparatus and system for determining the characteristics of a face is provided. The method may include obtaining an image that includes a rendering of a face of a person; analyzing the image to obtain at least one characteristic of the rendering of the face, forming, as a function of the at least one characteristic, a model of the rendering of the face, and using the model to select at least one article for the person to wear.
US08077930B2
A method for recognizing content in an image sequence is provided, the method includes the steps of: detecting at least one face appearing in at least one frame of an image sequence under test; recognizing characteristic features of the at least one face; comparing the characteristic features to known features of characters stored in a database, thereby deciding whether the face represents a known character; detecting and recognizing at least one additional feature in at least one frame of the image sequence under test and at least one relation between the appearance of the known character and the at least one additional feature; and comparing the at least one relation to metadata comprising known relations stored in the database each one assigned to a particular known image sequence, thereby recognizing if the image sequence under test at least partially equals one of the known image sequences.
US08077925B2
The present invention discloses a method for motion sensing of sub-pixel level precision. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring a reference image (reference frame) and a sample image (sample frame) of a surface; calculating the correlation between the reference frame and the sample frame to obtain a motion vector of a photoelectric mouse with respect to this surface; subjecting the reference frame and the sample frame to interpolation to obtain the interpolated reference frame and the interpolated sample frame; calculating the correlation between the interpolated reference frame and the interpolated sample frame in order to correct the aforesaid motion vector and to obtain the movement of the sub-pixel. The precision of displacement measurement can be improved effectively by this method under the condition that sensor's characteristics are not changed to improve the performance of the photoelectric mouse.
US08077919B2
The present invention provides a method for tracking entities, such as people, in an environment over long time periods. A region-based model is generated to model beliefs about entity locations. Each region corresponds to a discrete area representing a location where an entity is likely to be found. Each region includes one or more positions which more precisely specify the location of an entity within the region so that the region defines a probability distribution of the entity residing at different positions within the region. A region-based particle filtering method is applied to entities within the regions so that the probability distribution of each region is updated to indicate the likelihood of the entity residing in a particular region as the entity moves.
US08077912B2
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to methods and systems for signal hiding using feature modulation. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining data representing a media signal; analyzing the data to determine features of the media signal; using a programmed electronic processor, modifying determined features to hide a signal in the data; and modifying the data to include a characteristic to facilitate later detection of the signal. In some case the features may include statistical features of the media signal. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.
US08077911B2
The presently claimed invention generally relates to deriving and/or utilizing content signatures (e.g., so-called “fingerprints”). One claim recites a method of generating a fingerprint associated with a content item including: pseudo-randomly selecting a segment of the content item; and utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry, fingerprinting the selected segment of content item as at least an identifier of the content item. Of course, other claims and combination are provided as well.
US08077906B2
A system and method for supporting augmented reality in an ocean scene is provided. According to the system and method, camera rotation information is extracted from horizontal line information of a sea extracted from an original image including a focal length and at least two first natural feature point tracking data existing on a sea plane and a plane parallel to the sea plane, using long-distance background features; camera movement is sequentially calculated from the camera rotation information and at least two natural feature point tracking data existing on the sea plane of the original image; and a computer graphics object is placed on a ground plane by importing camera position data, and a rendering is performed as moving the camera. Accordingly, the camera rotation and the camera movement can be accurately calculated, assuming that the camera focal length information is known at the time of capturing a moving image with a sea image for a background, and thus the CG/real scene synthesis with the sea for a background can be accomplished more realistically and accurately during the production of videos such as movie and drama.
US08077905B2
Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed.
US08077895B2
A behind-the-ear hearing aid is provided, with an elongated housing and an audio shoe, which is affixed to an end face of the housing in such a way that it can be removed, and a coupling device, with which the audio shoe is coupled to the housing by a sliding movement parallel to the end face of the housing. In addition, affixed to the audio shoe there is a securing device which includes a slider which can be moved crossways relative to the direction in which the audio shoe slides, which in a first position permits the sliding movement of the audio shoe and in a second position prevents the sliding movement. It is thus possible to mount the audio shoe on the hearing aid housing, and to make any necessary contacts, with a double linear movement which is easy to realize.
US08077888B2
For use with an interactive display system having a generally horizontal interactive display surface, four speakers that are disposed at spaced-apart locations within a housing of the system so that a sound field produced by one or more energized speakers is directed outwardly as desired. A personal computer (PC) selectively energizes one or more of the speakers in accord with a predefined criteria so that a direction of the sound field produced is generally consistent with the disposition of a user, or a state of a software application, or a disposition of a virtual object on the interactive display surface. In one embodiment, each of the speakers is mounted in a different side or end of the interactive display system. In another embodiment, the speakers are mounted at the corners of the housing. One or more of the speakers are energized at a time to produce the desired sound field.
US08077882B2
An audio signal processing apparatus includes a harmonic overtone adder and an equalizer. The harmonic overtone adder includes a high-pass filter for extracting from an audio signal higher than a first predetermined frequency, a filter for extracting a frequency component lower than half a second predetermined frequency, an harmonic overtone generator for generating a frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component from an output from the filter, and a first combining unit for combining the frequency component output from the high-pass filter and the harmonic overtone component output from the harmonic overtone generator. The equalizer includes a level detector for detecting a level of an overtone component contained in an output from the first combining unit, a gain controller for controlling dynamically the level of the harmonic overtone component contained in the output from the first combining unit, and a second combining unit for combining the output from the first combining unit with the harmonic overtone component.
US08077870B2
A process of cryptographically securing a data object including one or more respectively tagged data elements includes selecting a tagged data element from among a plurality of tagged data elements, based on an associated data tag. A plurality of cryptographic key splits is generated from seed data. The cryptographic key splits are bound together to produce a first cryptographic key. A second cryptographic key is generated based on security requirements of the data object. The tagged data element is encrypted using the first cryptographic key. The data object encrypting using the second cryptographic key. At least one of the cryptographic key splits is based on the associated data tag.
US08077862B2
A method and system for distributing n shares of a secret to n computing systems, and a method and system for reconstructing the secret from k shares of the secret. In one embodiment, the method for distributing the secret comprises representing the secret as a first polynomial over GF(2). The method further comprises creating the n shares from the secret, each of the n shares including a polynomial over GF(2). The secret can be reconstructed, in one embodiment, by solving coefficients of an interpolating polynomial using k points in the k shares using modulo 2 arithmetic.
US08077858B2
An echo canceler uses an adaptive filter to remove an echo of an incoming far-end signal from an outgoing near-end signal in the presence of ambient noise, updating the filter coefficients while the far-end signal is active and the near-end signal is inactive. The near-end and far-end signals are also sampled to obtain data vectors, which are averaged to generate simulated near-end and far-end signals, from which substitute filter coefficients are calculated and updated while the far-end signal is silent, the substitute filter coefficients being used when the far-end signal becomes active again. The number of data vectors averaged is varied according to the ratio of echo power to ambient near-end noise power, or according to the echo attenuation ratio, thereby speeding up convergence of the filter coefficients. Data sampled while the near-end and far-end signals are both active are excluded from the updating process.
US08077852B1
A conference manager establishes and controls a conference and subconferences for a plurality of telecommunication terminals so as to reduce telecommunication costs by establishing the conference and dynamically placing telecommunication terminals geographically located with conference or isolated remote telecommunication terminals geographically located remote from the conference into the conference. The conference manager requests that other conference managers establish subconferences to conference together remote telecommunication terminals that are geographically located together. The conference manager requests that the other conference managers extend these subconferences to the conference. Further, the conference manager controls the other conference managers to interconnect the subconferences if the conference manager determines that communicating cost can be lowered by interconnecting two or more of the subconferences. Telecommunication costs include telecommunication transport costs and/or conference port costs.
US08077850B2
Described herein are systems and methods that enable users to configure, customize, or personalize names for called number identification information. Accordingly, when such information is displayed for an incoming phone call, a user is able to quickly determine which line is being called based on a better user-created description of the CNI information.
US08077845B2
System and method for remotely controlling at least one local security system from a telephone device. The system includes a reception section for receiving a telephone call, a decoding section for decoding input from a caller and a controller for receiving the information and authenticating the caller based upon the detected information. The system also includes a voice server controlled by the controller for interfacing between the system and the caller. The voice server prompts the caller for information used to authenticate the caller, reports a status of each local security system and prompts the caller to select a particular local security system to control. Furthermore, the system includes a central database that contains subscriber information separated into subscriber records. The subscriber record includes at least one subscriber identifier authorized to control each local security system. The control instruction is transmitted to a selected local security system by a transmission section.
US08077841B2
A system and method for sending an outbound greeting. User input is received specifying a recipient, a date, and a time for delivery of the outbound greeting. The outbound greeting is received. The outbound greeting is stored for future delivery. A call is initiated to the recipient in response to the date and the time specified by the user input being met.
US08077833B2
An embodiment of a method for providing a personalized greeting to a caller includes receiving an incoming call addressed to a first communication device from a caller using a second communication device, and determining a received caller identifier associated with the second communication device. The method further includes determining if the received caller identifier matches a pre-assigned caller identifier from a pre-assigned caller list. If the received caller identifier matches a pre-assigned caller identifier the method further includes playing an outgoing audio message associated with the pre-assigned caller identifier, recording an audio message from the caller, converting the audio message into a text message, and sending the text message to a user associated with the first communication device.
US08077812B2
A wireless receiver detects signals generated with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter. The receiver applies maximum-likelihood detection (MLD) for soft-output signal detection, where an MLD exhaustive search across all candidate vectors is performed recursively by computing and accumulating the differences between, for example, the Euclidean metrics of consecutive candidate tests. Difference terms used for the accumulation are also calculated recursively. An ordering of candidates, such as by a triangular-waveform shaped ordering, is employed such that only one candidate variable is changed between any two consecutive candidate evaluations, leading to a reduced set of computations.
US08077809B2
Techniques are provided to compute the carrier to interference-plus-noise ratio (CINR) in a wireless communication system using log-likelihood ratio (LLR) data generated from a received transmission. The LLR data are collected as they are sent from a detector to a forward error correction (FEC) decoder in a wireless communications device. In one embodiment, decision-aided LLR based CINR is computed using the decoded bits output from the FEC decoder as feedback. In another embodiment, blind LLR based CINR is computed without feedback. The CINR may be used to adjust a modulation and/or coding parameters associated with wireless communication between wireless communication devices.
US08077800B2
A transmitting apparatus, that includes a means for generating bit sequences to adjust an occupation rate occupied with predetermined bits included in a first data block, which is obtained by encoding first data in a first encoding process, to be equal or closer to an occupation rate occupied with predetermined bits included in a second data block, which is obtained by encoding second data in a second encoding process, in regard to first bit positions of the bit sequences generated using bits included in the first and second data blocks and a modulator for performing multi-level modulation for transmission based on the generated bit sequences.
US08077784B2
An OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) demodulator includes: an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) circuit for performing a fast Fourier transform on an OFDM signal; a circuit for extracting an SP (Scattered Pilot) signal from the fast Fourier transformed signal; a circuit for adding a positive or negative sign to the extracted SP signal; a memory for temporarily storing the signed SP signal and an information transmission signal; a carrier interpolation circuit for performing time axis interpolation and frequency axis interpolation on the signed SP signal by a plurality of methods; a complex division circuit for performing a complex division of the information transmission signal by interpolated data; and a memory interface for detecting a timing a prescribed number of signed SP signals have been obtained and an output timing of the interpolated data according to the interpolation method.
US08077780B2
An improvement to multi-carrier communication, such as an OFDM and MC-CDMA system, where in a multipath or phase distorted channel, the received signal is flat with respect to frequency and linear with respect to phase. A first unit transmits a plurality of multi-carrier signals, which include unmodulated carrier signals. A second unit receives the plurality of multi-carrier signals, and determines the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the unmodulated carrier signals of the received multi-carrier signal. The second unit compares the measured in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the unmodulated carrier signals to predetermined criteria, and generates adjusting data from the compared in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers. The first unit uses the adjusting data to pre-distort the next plurality of multi-carrier signals to be transmitted, the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the plurality of multi-carrier signals. The first unit transmits, with the in-phase and quadrature phase adjusted per the adjusting data, the next plurality of multi-carrier signals, through the communications channel.
US08077768B2
A digital signal processing apparatus for converting an analog signal to a digital signal and digitally processing the digital signal is disclosed. The apparatus includes a modulation part for performing pulse density modulation on the analog signal and outputting a pulse density modulation signal, a memory for storing a conversion program for converting the pulse density modulation signal to pulse code modulation data, and a CPU for receiving the pulse density modulation signal from the modulation part and converting the received pulse density modulation signal to pulse code modulation data according to the conversion program stored in the memory.
US08077767B2
An adaptive transversal filter having tap weights Wj which are products of corresponding tap coefficients Cj and tap gains Mj is provided. A filter control loop controls all of the tap coefficients Cj such that an error signal derived from the filter output is minimized. One or more tap control loops controls a tap gain Mk such that the corresponding tap coefficient Ck satisfies a predetermined control condition. For example, |Ck| can be maximized subject to a constraint |Ck|≦Cmax, where Cmax is a predetermined maximum coefficient value. In this manner, the effect of quantization noise on the coefficients Cj can be reduced. Multiple tap control loops can be employed, one for each tap. Alternatively, a single tap control loop can be used to control multiple taps by time interleaving.
US08077766B2
A method is provided for receiving a received data signal including at least one symbol block received and representative of a source signal. The method includes at least one iteration for improving an estimate of the received signal and including the following steps, for a current equalized symbol block: obtaining one or more decided bits, by bit-by-bit decoding a current subset of bits; updating one or more symbols, according to the decoded bit or bits, delivering an updated block of estimated symbols; determining a block of equalized symbols enhanced by canceling interferences, taking account of the updated block of estimated symbols.
US08077765B1
A system and method of adapting a FIR filter with a mixed minimum-mean-square-error/zero-forcing adaptation is disclosed. A channel response module attempts to approximate a noiseless component of the channel response. The output of the channel response module is utilized to adapt a FIR filter module. In some embodiments, a combination of the output of the channel module and the noiseless channel output is utilized to adapt the FIR filter. In some embodiments, a second FIR filter module is utilized to process the noiseless channel output, which is then compared to the target response to generate an error signal, which may be used to adapt both the first and second FIR filter modules.
US08077763B2
A system comprising a transmitter element creating an interrogation signal and transmitting the interrogation signal and a receiver element receiving a reflection signal of the interrogation signal and combining the reflection signal and a feedback signal to cancel at least a portion of radio frequency echo signals in the reflection signal.
US08077746B2
A compressively-encoding-resultant video signal resulting from compressively encoding a video signal, a first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal resulting from compressively encoding a first audio signal having a synchronized relation with the video signal, a reference clock information signal relating to synchronization between the compressively-encoding-resultant video signal and the first compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal, and an indication timing information signal designating an indication timing of the video signal are multiplexed to get an AV multiplexing-resultant signal. A second audio signal is compressively encoded to get a second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal. A sound-production-timing information signal is added to the second compressively-encoding-resultant audio signal to get a substitution playback audio signal. During playback, the substitution playback audio signal can be reproduced instead of the first audio signal while being synchronous with the video signal. The sound-production-timing information signal responds to the reference clock information signal, and relates to synchronization with the video signal.
US08077740B2
A method of acquiring seismic data. The method includes receiving seismic signals at one or more sensors; sampling the received seismic signals into a plurality of samples, each sample having a same bit length; arranging the samples into a plurality of packets; compressing the plurality of packets by varying a time interval between transmissions of at least some of the packets; and transmitting the compressed packets.
US08077739B2
A communication network is operated by communicating Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) traffic and data (STATMUX) traffic over a single connection, where the single connection may include multiple aggregated lines using a traffic encapsulation standard configured to support STATMUX traffic.
US08077728B2
A substitution call control system includes an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) subscriber network of an ATM communication network. The ATM subscriber network includes a plurality of network terminators respectively connected with a plurality of subscriber terminals, and an ATM subscriber line concentrator, which accommodates VCs (Virtual Connection) to the plurality of network terminators, and is connected with a ATM switching apparatus of the ATM network through a UNI (User-Network Interface). The ATM subscriber line concentrator includes a substitution call control function to substitute for the plurality of network terminators and the subscriber terminals for a call control.
US08077725B2
The present invention provides a cost effective method to improve the performance of communication appliances by retargeting the graphics processing unit as a coprocessor to accelerate networking operations. A system and method is disclosed for using a coprocessor on a standard personal computer to accelerate packet processing operations common to network appliances. The appliances include but are not limited to routers, switches, load balancers and Unified Threat Management appliances. More specifically, the method uses common advanced graphics processor engines to accelerate the packet processing tasks.
US08077714B2
Multicast packets that are received on a port of a network device and forwarded to multiple output ports are stored in memory and respective primary control entries which define them are converted to secondary control entries defining multiple unicast packets before a scheduling algorithm is applied. The packets are reconstituted after the application of the scheduling algorithm has been applied to the control entries. For VPLS packets that are received on a single port and replicated multiple times on one or more output ports, a replication database may be used in conjunction with a replication engine to convert the control entry for a received packet into multiple control entries defining unicast packets for each of the destination ports before the scheduling algorithm is applied. This method is applicable to the replication of packets onto a Virtual Private LAN.
US08077713B2
In an example embodiment, a multicast tree is accessed. The multicast tree defines one or more destination label switch routers and paths from a source label switch router to the destination label switch routers. Multicast addresses are then transmitted to the destination label switch routers. In an example embodiment, upon receipt of the multicast addresses, a request to update the multicast tree is transmitted. The request includes the identifier of the label switch router that originated the request.
US08077689B1
A method and system for providing connections from a wireless access point. The wireless access point has multiple sets of predefined VPN security settings. The access point detects a wireless-network identifier (such as a service set identifier (SSID)) provided by a terminal via an air interface, and the access point uses the wireless-network identifier as a basis to select one of the sets of predefined VPN security settings and to responsively establish a VPN tunnel extending between the access point and a remote VPN terminator.
US08077682B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for enabling roaming of wireless client stations among wireless access points, wherein a gateway programmed to receive session data requests is provided in a network, which comprises access points that are programmed to send session data requests to the gateway. The gateway sends session information setting commands to the requesting access point, or sends a session data failure response to the access point.
US08077681B2
A method and system for establishing a connection via an access network (30) communicating with at least one user terminal, and at least one backbone network (100) comprising at least one user terminal authentication and authorization means (50) and at least one user data processing node (60, 62), wherein the connection of a user terminal (10) is authenticated to the access network (30) and one of the at least one user data processing nodes (60, 62) is selected based on selection information transferred in the authentication signaling. Then, a tunnel parameter information of the selected user data processing node is signaled to the access network (30) and a tunnel connection is created between the access network (30) and the selected user data processing node (60) based on the tunnel parameter information.
US08077673B2
Disclosed is a system and a method for controlling a handover of a mobile subscriber station in a broadband wireless access communication system. When serving base station determines to perform a handover of the mobile subscriber station, neighbor base stations to which the mobile subscriber station can be handed over, from among neighbor base stations of the mobile subscriber station, are determined based on a service quality level of service being currently provided to the mobile subscriber station. A handover request signal containing information related to the determined neighbor base station to which the mobile subscriber station can be handed over is transmitted to the mobile subscriber station. The serving base station receives from the mobile subscriber station in response to the request of the handover information about one neighbor base station to which the mobile subscriber station will be handed over, and informs the neighbor base station that the mobile subscriber station will be handed over to the neighbor base station.
US08077656B2
A front-end module is for use with at least three radio frequency bands. The front-end module includes at least five signal paths, and an antenna switch to electrically connect an antenna to one of the signal paths. At least one of the signal paths includes subpaths. A frequency separating network interfaces the at least one signal path to the subpaths. The subpaths are for use in passing different radio frequency bands. The different radio frequency bands have frequency ranges that do not overlap.
US08077646B1
An equalization method and apparatus for a communication system having a first transceiver device that communicates with each of a plurality of second transceiver devices receives a data transmission over a subset of frequency sub-carriers allotted to each second transceiver device. The communication channel between first transceiver device and the plurality of second transceiver devices is partitioned in a plurality of frequency sub-carriers of which the frequency sub-carriers allotted to a second transceiver device is a subset. The data transmission is transformed from a time-domain transmission to a frequency domain transmission. An equalization filter is applied separately to each of the frequency sub-carriers within the subset of frequency sub-carriers.
US08077644B2
A computing device includes a hardware data processing unit having at least one input buffer, a plurality of output buffers, a data transfer unit, and a software control unit, the data transfer unit configured to transfer data from the input buffer to the plurality of output buffers, and the software control unit configured to control the data transfer unit.
US08077637B2
A mobile communication apparatus on the receiving side receives and stores data being transmitted over the period of a plurality of processing time units, from the mobile communication apparatus on the transmitting side. At the time of retransmission of the data concerned, the mobile communication apparatus includes a retransmission control function which performs composition processing of the stored data with the data retransmitted over the period of a plurality of processing time units. The mobile communication apparatus executes reception decision processing for deciding the presence or non-presence of reception error in the data on which composition processing is performed in each processing time unit, and notifies the transmitting-side apparatus of the reception decision result concerned, on the basis of each processing time unit.
US08077633B2
In one embodiment, a first switch at a border between a first network of a first protocol (P1 network) and a first network of a second protocol (P2 network) is interconnected via the first P1 network with a second switch between a second P1 network (interconnected with the first P1 network) and a second P2 network. In response to detecting a merge of the first and second P2 networks, the first switch may: i) block data packets from traversing P1 network boundary ports of the first switch; ii) allow protocol messages to flow between the first and second P1 networks through the P1 network boundary ports of the first switch; iii) allow the first and second P1 networks to discover each other through the protocol messages and to prevent loops; and in response, iv) unblock the P1 network boundary ports of the first switch to allow traversal of data packets.
US08077632B2
A system is disclosed for which a network device with two or more ports determines which of its functions should be performed on which of its ports. A method is disclosed for monitoring the traffic on each port for characteristic traffic that indicates the function that said network device should perform on said port, optionally transmitting new traffic or altering or tagging existing traffic to elicit it, and mapping said network device's operations to its ports accordingly. Also disclosed is a system and method for auto inhibition and auto configuration.
US08077630B2
Embodiments disclose a method that may be used for diagnosing, for example, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) sessions. The method may include establishing a first streaming session between a first telephone and a server using session control messages and establishing a second streaming session between the first telephone and a second telephone using session control messages. The method may further include transmitting or receiving data packets using the second streaming session, wherein the data packets carry voice or video data between the first and second telephones. The method may further include echoing the session control messages used to establish the second streaming session or the data packets carrying the voice or video data to the server using the first streaming session.
US08077627B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for enhancing a demodulation performance of a receiver in a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) system. A receiving apparatus in a broadband wireless communication system includes an estimator, a first calculator, and a second calculator. The estimator estimates a desired signal. The first calculator calculates a correlation matrix of a signal obtained by eliminating the estimated desired signal from a Received (RX) signal. The second calculator performs an interference elimination using the correlation matrix.
US08077621B2
A computer-readable storage medium (102) is provided for managing end-to-end QoS (Quality of Service) policies in a communication network (100). The storage medium includes computer instructions for establishing (302) a plurality of QoS domains (108) between a plurality of packet switching technologies (102, 106. 110) operating with disparate QoS policies, each QoS domain having an ingress and egress boundary, remapping (303) a QoS policy of each packet exchanged between the ingress boundaries of the plurality of QoS domains, and restoring (309) the QoS policy of each packet exchanged between the egress boundaries of the plurality of QoS domains.
US08077616B2
In a data transmission apparatus, provisions are made to be able to trace the result of processing or discarding of a specific packet from outside the apparatus. More specifically, in a data transmission apparatus that receives data having a header and, based on information carried in the header, performs processing such as destination determination, discard processing, and priority transmission processing on the received data by using a plurality of processing blocks, a memory for storing the processing results supplied from the respective processing blocks in the data transmission apparatus is provided, wherein a flag is appended only to the data that needs tracing and only the processing result of the thus flagged data is stored in the memory, and wherein, after completing the processing, only the processing result of the flagged data is forcefully output outside the apparatus thus enabling the processing result to be retrieved.
US08077614B2
In a wireless local area network, a first and second access point in which the RF coverage areas overlap are synchronized by positioning a monitor station within the overlap area. The monitor station receives beacon frames from both access points and records the arrival times. A manager in communication with both access points and the monitor station calculates a retardation interval and issues a control command to the second access point to retard transmission of its beacon frame. The retardation interval is calculated such that the contention-free period of the second access point does not overlap the contention-free period of the first access point. The manager may also issue control commands to the first and second access points to adjust their contention-free periods.
US08077611B2
A multilevel coupled policer is configured to police packets using at least two policing levels, including a first-level of class policers and a second-level aggregate policer. The multilevel coupled policer is configured to share bandwidth of the aggregate policer among packet traffic corresponding to the class policers based on the packet traffic. The multilevel coupled policer is configured to apply a particular class policer corresponding to a particular packet to identify a tentative policing action. The multilevel coupled policer is configured to apply the second-level aggregate policer to the particular packet based on the identified the tentative policing action and a result of a comparison operation of the number of tokens in one or more token buckets associated with the second-level aggregate policer and the length of the particular packet in order to determine a final policing action for marking and/or applying to the particular packet.
US08077610B1
An embodiment of the present invention reduces certain memory bandwidth requirements when sending a multicast message from a network device such as a router, bridge or switch. Separate output buffers are provided for different groups of egress ports, and incoming messages are written to some or all of the output buffers. A processing determination is made as to which egress ports will forward the message. Buffers associated with non-forwarding ports are released and the message is queued at the forwarding egress ports. When the message is forwarded, data is read from the output buffers associated with the forwarding egress ports.
US08077601B2
The invention relates to a method for transmitting over a data communication network data packets of a data stream to a receiving device, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: selecting a data packet from a buffer memory containing data packets to be transmitted (301, 401); determining whether the playout time of the selected data packet at the receiving device allows a recovery of said selected data packet (303, 410); assigning a first priority level or a second priority level to the selected data packet based on the result of the determining step (306, 307, 411, 413); and transmitting the selected data packet with said assigned first or second priority level (308, 408). The invention relates also to a software application and a transmitting device implementing the transmission method.
US08077599B2
An adaptable orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing system (OFDM) that uses a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) to having OFDM signals transmitted either in accordance with time diversity to reducing signal fading or in accordance with spatial diversity to increase the data rate. Sub-carriers are classified for spatial diversity transmission or for time diversity transmission based on the result of a comparison between threshold values and at least one of three criteria. The criteria includes a calculation of a smallest eigen value of a frequency channel response matrix and a smallest element of a diagonal of the matrix and a ratio of the largest and smallest eigen values of the matrix.
US08077598B2
A radio transmission apparatus performs communications with high transmission efficiency. In this apparatus, a modulator modulates data and outputs to a first spreader. A second modulator modulates data under a modulation scheme having a higher M-ary number than the first modulator and outputs the modulated data to a second spreader. The first spreader spreads the data and outputs the spread data to a frequency domain mapping section. The second spreader spreads the data and outputs the spread data to a time domain mapping section. A frequency domain mapping section maps chips with spread data on subcarriers in the frequency domain and outputs the data with chips mapped on subcarriers to an IFFT section. The time domain mapping section maps chips with spread data on subcarriers in the time domain and outputs the data with chips mapped on subcarriers to the IFFT section.
US08077592B2
Various packet processing systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises providing a legacy long training symbol (LTS), and inserting subcarriers in the legacy LTS to form an extended LTS (ELTS).
US08077590B2
Plural grooves or lands formed in an information recording carrier include at least a wobbling region and data is recorded wobblingly in this wobbling region by phase shift modulation while recorded digitally with a single or multiple waves as a channel bit.
US08077589B2
A new optical recording medium capable of reducing the burden in erasing data in the optical recording medium is provided. The optical recording medium includes an organic pigment recording layer 12 and a light reflecting layer 14, which are at least laminated on a substrate 11, wherein a photocatalyst layer 13 is formed in contact with the organic pigment recording layer 12.
US08077587B2
A laser attachment device of the present invention is formed of a LD package and a LD holder housing it. A first inner wall of the LD holder to come into contact with a side surface of the LD package is an inclined surface. This allows the facing direction of the LD package to be corrected by the first inner wall being the inclined surface, even when a laser beam emitted from a light emitting chip housed in the LD holder is inclined with respect to an optical axis. Thus, the traveling direction of the laser beam is corrected to the optical axis side.
US08077581B2
An optical pickup has a semiconductor laser device that can emit laser beams with different wavelengths. A beam splitter and objective lens direct the emitted beam onto a rotating optical disc. Reflected light returns through the objective lens and beam splitter to a photodetector. A pair of liquid crystal elements on the optical path from the optical disc to the photodetector have controllable lens functions acting in different directions to produce an adjustable astigmatic effect that enables the photodetector to generate a focus error signal with a linear range appropriate for the type of optical disc, the number of signal layers in the optical disc, and the spacing between the layers.
US08077579B2
A holographic recording medium with an improved servo structure is presented. The holographic recording medium has a hologram layer for storing holograms and a servo layer for positioning a light beam for reading and/or recording of a hologram relative to the holographic recording medium. The servo layer is an essentially flat dye recording layer. A holographic pickup for use with such a holographic recording medium includes a light source for generating a light beam, which interacts with the dye recording layer for recording servo information.
US08077562B2
An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention includes a disc rotation mechanism 2 for allowing an optical disc 1 having an information recording face to be placed thereon and rotating the optical disc 1; an optical pickup 3 including an engaging section and irradiating the information recording face with a light beam to perform at least one of information recording and information reproduction; a base main body 13 for rotatably supporting the optical pickup and having the disc rotation mechanism; a driving source 5, supported by the base main body, for generating a force for rotating the optical pickup; and a driving force transmission mechanism 610 supported by the base main body, including a worm, and engaged with the engaging section to transmit a driving force of the driving source to the optical pickup, thereby rotating the optical pickup. A distance between the engaging section and a rotating axis of the optical pickup is longer than a distance between the center of gravity of the optical pickup and the rotating axis of the optical pickup.
US08077559B1
An outer surface of a plasmon generator includes: a plasmon exciting part that faces an evanescent light generating surface with a predetermined distance therebetween; and a front end face located in a medium facing surface. The plasmon generator has: first and second sidewall parts that are connected to the plasmon exciting part and increase in distance from each other with increasing distance from the plasmon exciting part; and at least one extended portion connected to an edge of at least one of the first and second sidewall parts opposite from the plasmon exciting part. A magnetic pole has a portion interposed between the first and second sidewall parts. The front end face includes first and second portions lying at ends of the first and second sidewall parts and connected to each other into a V-shape. An end face of the magnetic pole has a portion interposed between the first and second portions of the front end face.
US08077548B2
The sounder according to the invention comprises two transmit-receive antennas (1, 10) whose respective axes are off-target toward the front, in the direction of movement of the platform, these axes being symmetrical relative to a straight line (3) passing through their intersection and parallel to the axis of travel of the platform, the transmit frequency of the first antenna, equal to the receive frequency of the second being different from the transmit frequency of the second, the latter frequency being equal to the receive frequency of the first.
US08077542B2
A system includes a subterranean survey data acquisition network and a processor. The network has first nodes that are distributed along a length of the network between a first end of the network and a second end of the network. Each of the first nodes is capable of being either in a state in which the first node is transparent to the network or in a state in which the first node is visible to the network. The processor is adapted to communicate with the closest visible first node relative to the first end, and the processor is adapted to, based on the communication, determine whether the closest visible first node is the closest first node of all of the first nodes relative to the first end.
US08077540B2
A system and computer implemented method for determining and displaying vector acoustic intensity fields based on signals from a rigid spherical array of acoustic sensors within a volume external to the array. The method includes a propagator with a ratio of Green's functions for the location within the volume and for the spherical array radius, and a Tikhonov regularization filter that uses the Morozov discrepancy principle on the measured noise variance and Fourier coefficients of the measured partial pressures with respect to reference accelerometer or microphone measurements.
US08077539B2
An acoustic reflector (10) suitable for use as a reflective target for navigational aids and for location and re-location applications. The acoustic reflector comprises a shell (12) arranged to surround a solid core (16). The shell is adapted to transmit acoustic waves (18) incident thereon into the core (16). Within the core the acoustic waves are focused before being reflected from an opposing side of the shell (20) to provide a reflected acoustic wave. A portion of the acoustic waves incident on the shell is coupled into the shell wall and guided within and around the circumference thereof (26) before being re-radiated and combining constructively with the reflected acoustic wave to provide an enhanced reflected acoustic wave.
US08077530B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells each including a holding circuit for holding memory data, and a read-only output circuit for outputting a signal corresponding to the data held by the holding circuit. The read-only output circuit has a read drive transistor controlled in accordance with a signal held by the holding circuit. A gate length of the read drive transistor is longer than a gate length of a transistor included in the holding circuit. Alternatively, the read-only output circuit has a read access transistor controlled in accordance with a read word select signal, and a gate length of the read access transistor is longer than a gate length of a transistor included in the holding circuit.
US08077528B2
A bit-line voltage generator is provided. The bit-line voltage generator includes a discharge enhanced bias source and a switch unit. The switch unit includes a clamp transistor having a source, a gate connected to the discharge enhanced bias source, and a drain receiving a voltage; a switch transistor having a gate receiving a control signal, a drain connected to the source of the clamp transistor, and a source connected to a memory array, wherein a parasitic capacitor exists between the gate and the source of the clamp transistor; a resistor having a first terminal connected to the drain of the switch transistor, and a second terminal connected to ground; and a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the drain of the switch transistor, and a second terminal connected to ground, wherein a charge in the parasitic capacitor, when the switch transistor is turned on, is almost identical to that when the switch transistor is turned off, so that a couple effect between the switch unit and the discharge enhanced bias source is reduced, thereby stabilizing a bias applied to the memory array.
US08077522B2
A memory comprises a memory array, a sense unit, and a biasing and shielding circuit. The biasing and shielding circuit is coupled to the memory array and the sense unit, wherein the biasing and shielding circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor. The first transistor has a gate coupled to a biasing voltage and a first terminal coupled to the sense unit. The second transistor has a gate coupled to the biasing voltage and a first terminal coupled to a first potential. The capacitor is coupled to the sense unit and the first transistor.
US08077512B2
A flash memory cell according to the present invention includes a first charge-trapping region and a second charge-trapping region disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a first doped region disposed in the semiconductor substrate at a first side of the first charge-trapping region, a second doped region disposed in the semiconductor substrate at a second side of the first charge-trapping region, a first dielectric layer separating the semiconductor substrate from the first charge-trapping region and the second charge-trapping region, a first conductor disposed above the first charge-trapping region, and a second dielectric layer separating the first charge-trapping region from the first conductor, wherein the second charge-trapping region is configured to influence the conduction behavior of a carrier channel in the semiconductor substrate under the first charge-trapping region.
US08077502B2
Electronic devices that include (i) a magnetization controlling structure; (ii) a tunnel barrier structure; and (iii) a magnetization controllable structure including: a first polarizing layer; and a first stabilizing layer, wherein the tunnel barrier structure is between the magnetization controlling structure and the magnetization controlling structure and the first polarizing layer is between the first stabilizing layer and the tunnel barrier structure, wherein the electronic device has two stable overall magnetic configurations, and wherein a first unipolar current applied to the electronic device will cause the orientation of the magnetization controlling structure to reverse its orientation and a second unipolar current applied to the electronic device will cause the magnetization controllable structure to switch its magnetization in order to obtain one of the two stable overall magnetic configurations, wherein the second unipolar current has an amplitude that is less than the first unipolar current.
US08077501B2
A memory cell includes a pair of magnetic tunnel junctions and a pair of associated transistors. The magnetic tunnel junctions of the pair are differentially disposed so that in response to the applied voltages, when one them stores a logic one, the other one stores a logic zero. Accordingly, the read operation margin is increased by a factor of two. The true and complementary bit lines of the differential memory cell are coupled to a sense amplifier. Consequently, the need for using reference bit lines is eliminated.
US08077490B1
Limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) generation by altering a digital transfer function of a feedback loop element provides a controllable method and apparatus for generating LCOs within a switch-mode power supply (SMPS). Measurements of the LCO characteristics can then be used to determine characteristics of the SMPS and/or determine proper compensation schemes. At least a zero error code of the feedback loop element is removed, causing the control value to oscillate between at least two values. Additional codes may be progressively removed until an LCO is detected, in order to ensure LCO generation with minimum disruption of SMPS operation. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts an output voltage or current to a control value may be used to generate an LCO by removing one or more output codes to alter its transfer function. Alternatively, a quantization step of the pulse-width modulator or other modulator may be increased to temporarily cause LCOs.
US08077488B2
A switching-type power-supply which enables the switching with little power loss and a method of switching the switching-type power-supply are provided. The switching-type power-supply unit includes a transformer with primary, secondary, winding and control windings, a switch which switches supply of a primary current from a dotted terminal to a non-dotted terminal through the primary winding, a rectifying diode connected the secondary winding, a monitoring signal generation circuit with a diode and a resistor, the diode between GND and a dotted terminal of the control winding, the resistor between GND and a non-dotted terminal of the control winding, the monitoring signal generation circuit generating a monitoring signal at the dotted terminal of the control winding, and a control unit with a zero-point detector and a controller. The zero-point detector monitoring the monitoring signal and supplying a detection signal to the controller. The controller determining on-timing of the switch based on the detection signal supplied from the zero-point detector.
US08077482B2
Provided is a DC-DC converter that can reduce losses. Ein and C1 are serially connected. Q1 and Q2 are serially connected so that antiparallel diodes thereof face the same direction. A terminal of C1 that is not connected to Ein and a terminal of Q2 that is not connected to Q1 are connected. A terminal of Ein that is not connected to C1 and a terminal of Q1 that is not connected to Q2 are connected. A coil N1 of T is connected between a connection point of Ein and C1 and a connection point of Q1 and Q2. Among a pair of terminals of a coil N2, a terminal having the same polarity as a terminal the coil N1 that is connected to Ein is connected to the connection point of C1 and Q2 through D1 and the other terminal is connected to the connection point of Ein and C1. A coil N3 is connected to a smoothing circuit through a rectification circuit. The direction of D1 is set in such a manner that energy can be transferred to C1 from the coil N2 when Q1 is in a conduction state. The rectification circuit applies a voltage of the same polarity to the smoothing circuit in both case where $1 is in a conduction state and Q2 is in a conduction state.
US08077477B2
An electronic component, including: a first terminal group including a plurality of functional terminals provided along a first side of the electronic component; a second terminal group including a plurality of functional terminals provided along a second side of the electronic component opposing the first side; and an element that is connected to at least one of the functional terminals of the first terminal group and to at least one of the functional terminals of the second terminal group. The first terminal group includes a first dummy terminal in at least one space between the functional terminals of the first terminal group; the second terminal group includes a second dummy terminal in at least one space between the functional terminals of the second terminal group; and the first and second dummy terminals are not connected to any element inside the electronic component.
US08077474B2
A variable equalizer apparatus for forward and/or reverse equalizers in an amplifier. The system can include a structure to allow continuous contact of the signal flow as an equalizer is removed; jumpers with fixed resistors and associated capacitors and inductors to produce a variable range over many different values; and/or variable resistance potentiometers with fixed resistors and associated capacitors and inductors to produce a variable range over separate value equalizers.
US08077469B2
A chip card holder, for securing a chip card in an electronic device, includes a housing, an elastic member and a strip member. The housing defines a receiving chamber. The elastic member is secured in the receiving chamber and has an elastic foldable resisting section. The strip member connects with the resisting section and an end of the strip exposes from the receiving chamber. A chip card is assembled in the receiving chamber, the resisting section of the elastic member resists against the chip card, the resisting section is folded elastically by pulling the strip member and the chip card is withdrawn by the pushing of the resisting section.
US08077459B2
An electronic device includes a chassis. The chassis has a bottom wall and a rear wall, substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall. A motherboard is disposed on the bottom wall, and a riser card is perpendicularly connected to the motherboard. An expansion card is substantially parallel to the motherboard and coupled to the riser card. The expansion card has a first end and a second end, and the first end is secured to the rear wall. An airflow duct is located on the bottom wall of the chassis. A supporting bar protrudes from the airflow duct. A securing member is pivotably mounted to the airflow duct. The securing member includes a pressing plate. The second end of the expansion card is clamped between the pressing plate and the supporting bar of the airflow duct.
US08077457B2
In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
US08077447B2
An electronic element package includes a plate-like sensor substrate with a detector formed thereon, and a plate-like first cover substrate and a plate-like second cover substrate joined directly or indirectly to a top surface and a bottom surface, respectively, of the sensor substrate so that the sensor substrate is located between the first and second cover substrates, the sensor substrate including, a frame surrounding the detector via a space, beams joining the detector to the frame, and an electrode disposed on the frame and electrically connected to the detector, one of the first cover substrate and the second cover substrate having a through-hole which contacts an electrode. The electronic element package enables a reduction in thickness and offers improved reliability.
US08077444B2
The invention relates to a multilayer capacitor capable of controlling ESR while maintaining the level of ESL low. A multilayer capacitor (10) includes a plurality of first and second internal capacitor electrodes (3, 4) which are formed inside a multilayer body (1) of rectangular parallelepiped shape constructed by stacking a plurality of rectangular dielectric layers (2) on top of one another in a stacking direction; first and second external relay electrodes (13, 14) which are disposed on left-hand and right-hand surfaces of the multilayer body (1); first and second internal relay electrodes (5, 6) which are disposed inside the multilayer body (1) and arranged so as to be opposed to each other with the dielectric layer (2) interposed therebetween; and first and second external terminal electrodes (15, 16) which are disposed on upper and lower surfaces of the multilayer body (1).
US08077432B2
An improved disk stack assembly for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a generally cylindrical hub with flange having a downward sloping conical flange surface. The conical flange surface is defined between a radially inner circular ridge and a radially outer circular edge. The bottom disk in the stack is in contact with the flange inner circular ridge. The disk stack assembly also includes a disk clamp with a contact surface having a contact rim that is in contact with either the radially inner portion of the top disk in the stack or a spacer ring. The clamp contact rim is located at approximately the same radial distance from the hub's central cylindrical axis as the flange circular ridge so that the clamping force is applied to the disks close to the area where the disk stack is supported on the conical flange surface.
US08077417B2
A method for synchronizing writing to a bit patterned media includes: reading bits from skipped blocks on the bit patterned media, using timing of bits read from the skipped blocks to update a write clock, and writing request data to physical blocks on the bit patterned media, interleaved with the skipped blocks. An apparatus that operates in accordance with the method is also provided.
US08077411B2
A lens displacement mechanism using shaped memory alloy (SMA) applied to an auto-focusing lens module is disclosed. The lens displacement mechanism comprising at least one SMA wire. Two opposite ends of the SMA wire are fixed and a longitudinal mid-point of an intermediate movable portion between the two opposite ends is tightened and is fixed on a corresponding hook disposed on an outer edge of the lens so that the intermediate movable portion is tightened between the two opposite ends. When the SMA wire is heated, the intermediate movable portion contracts to pull the hook of the lens for driving the lens to move and slide along with an optical axis so as to achieve auto-focus control. The present lens displacement mechanism is simple in structure and reflow process. Therefore, the present displacement mechanism is suitable to be used in portable camera or mobile phone or PDA, which needs to be small and have easily mass production by SMT.
US08077404B2
The present invention relates to an optical unit. The present invention further relates to the use of such an optical unit. Such an optical unit comprises, seen in a direction from the object side to the imaging surface, a first substrate, a first lens element, a flat, transparent intermediate layer, a second lens element and a second substrate, which intermediate layer has an optically correcting function near the imaging surface.
US08077403B2
A lens barrel has a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, a first support frame for supporting the first lens group, a second support frame for supporting the second lens group, a first driving unit, a shutter unit, and an aperture unit. The first lens group has an overall negative refractive power, and includes a prism. The second support frame is driven along a second optical axis by the first driving unit. The shutter unit has a shutter mechanism, a shutter drive motor configured to drive the shutter mechanism, a neutral density filter, and a filter drive motor configured to drive the neutral density filter. The shutter drive motor and the filter drive motor are disposed flanking the second optical axis when viewed in a direction along the second optical axis.
US08077395B2
An optical sheet is disposed on an observer side relative to an image source and includes a plurality of layers that control light emitted from the image source to emit the light on the observer side. At least one of the plurality of layers is a base material layer. One layer disposed on one side of the base material layer is an optical functional sheet layer which includes prisms arranged in parallel along the sheet surface of the optical sheet whereby light can be transmitted and light-absorbing parts are arranged in parallel between the prisms whereby light can be absorbed. One layer disposed on the other side of the base material layer is an adhesive layer. An adhesive layer is not provided on a side surface of the optical functional sheet layer facing the side disposed with the base material layer.
US08077389B2
A glass polarizer applicable to projection-type liquid crystal displays and the like and having an excellent transmittance and extinction ratio with respect to light in the visible light region (500 nm to 600 nm) using silver halide containing glass as a starting material is provided.A glass polarizer for visible light according to the present invention is a polarizer manufactured by heating and stretching borosilicate glass in which silver halide particles are dispersed and deposited by heat treatment and reducing at least a portion of silver halide particles oriented and stretched in the glass to produce metallic silver particles. An average transmittance (T⊥ % 500 to 600 nm) in a wavelength range of 500 nm to 600 nm of light having a polarization plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of metallic silver particles having shape anisotropy that is uniaxially oriented and dispersed is 75% or more and an extinction ratio in the wavelength range is 25 dB or more.
US08077388B2
The conversion of linear polarized light into radial-polarized light is accomplished through a radial polarization generator containing multiple layers of polarizing film, or polarization converters, for converting the beam of light to a different orientation. Using the radial polarization generator, a quasi radial-polarized beam of light can be obtained quickly and easily by simply aligning the light at the center of the polarization generator. True radial-polarization can be obtained by passing the laser through a spatial filter. With such a radial polarization generator, a large frequency range of light may be converted from a linear orientation to a radial orientation.
US08077376B2
A circuit for implementing a registration-free, contiguous conductive plane. A circuit may include a plurality of conductive structures in a first plane. The circuit may further include a contiguous conductive equipotential surface in a second plane parallel to the first plane. The circuit may further include activation means configured to adjust an electric field between the first and second planes thereby activating one or more structures in the first plane by increasing a potential difference between the first and second planes to a threshold level deemed to constitute an active state. The circuit may further include deactivation means configured to adjust the electric field between the first and second planes thereby deactivating one or more structures in the first plane by decreasing the potential difference between the first and second planes below a threshold level deemed to constitute a deactivated state.
US08077370B1
In a scanning optical apparatus including a single lens configured to convert a beam deflected by a polygon mirror into a spot-like image on a scanned surface, an angle β2 [deg] formed in a main scanning plane between the first optical axis and the second optical axis of the opposite lens surfaces of the lens satisfies the condition of −0.6<β2≦−0.1, and at least one of the conditions −0.5<β1<0 and −0.1
US08077361B2
An optical scanning apparatus is detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus. The optical scanning apparatus includes a light source unit to simultaneously emit a plurality of light beams; an optical element unit including an optical element to focus light beams deflected by the optical element onto a surface to be scanned, and hold the light source unit in a rotatively adjustable manner; and a rotation adjustment unit to adjust a position of the light source unit relative to the optical element unit in a rotation direction when an external force acts on the rotation adjustment unit. The rotation adjustment unit is disposed at a rear end of the optical scanning apparatus in an inserting direction to the image forming apparatus or at an adjustable position when the optical scanning apparatus is installed in the image forming apparatus.
US08077358B2
This invention generally relates to systems and methods for implementing use of customer documents in maintaining Image Quality (IQ)/Image Quality Consistency (IQC) of printing devices. The system may include an image analyzer configured to analyze input image data for a document and to identify one or more relevant pages of the document that may provide information regarding the state of the printing system; a scheduler that selects the relevant pages for printing out-of-order; a marking engine constructed to print images; a scanning device for scanning print images of the one or more relevant pages; and a buffer for holding the print images of the one or more relevant pages and inserting the print images of the one or more relevant pages into the media path in proper order. A method for analyzing printed documents is also provided.
US08077352B2
An image processing apparatus, program product, and method determine an achievable gamut achievable by the imaging engine or engines for all spatial locations of an output image, or all utilized print engines. A reference gamut is calculated which is any gamut containing the achievable gamut. A gamut mapping is used to map gamuts from the mean gamut to the achievable gamut, and a set of transformations is calculated for each of a set of input colors to a set of target colors selected from colors in the achievable gamut. Values for a received digital image are transformed for each image pixel or clusters of pixels based on the calculated set of transformations. Output images are generated based on the transformed values.
US08077351B2
An image forming apparatus that forms a color image includes: a sensor that detects a density of an image formed on the transfer body; a density adjusting unit that forms a density test pattern on a transfer body and that adjusts process parameters such that a density of the density test pattern on the transfer body falls within a predetermined range of a reference density; and a gradation adjusting unit that forms a gradation test pattern on the transfer body and updates the gradation correction data such that a density for every gradation of the gradation test pattern on the transfer body falls within a predetermined range of a reference gradation density acquired and stored beforehand. The gradation adjusting unit updates the gradation correction data subsequently after the density adjusting unit adjusts the density of the density test pattern.
US08077350B1
A hand-held printer includes an image processing module configured to process image data, an image sensor configured to provide an indicator representative of a print medium to the image processing module, a print module configured to receive the processed image data and the indicator and generate a corrected print job, and a print head in communication with the print module such that the print head is configured to receive the corrected print job and dispense a color neutral printing substance in response thereto.
US08077345B2
An image processing method of forming images of data onto a plurality of recording media each having an obverse surface and a reverse surface is disclosed. This method has a recognizing step of recognizing a delimiter of the data in document data and a recognizing step of, in the case where the delimiter of the data is recognized in the recognizing step when an image process is executed so as to form the image onto the obverse surface of a predetermined recording medium, recognizing an instruction showing either a mode to continue the image forming operation to the reverse surface of the recording medium or a mode to exchange the recording medium and continue the image forming operation from the obverse surface of another recording medium.
US08077342B2
Based on input image data, an area where dots are to be put on by an area ratio that is greater than a second area ratio and less than a first area ratio is searched for, and sheet fingerprint information is obtained from the area found by searching.
US08077341B2
A system and method for monitoring events from a media stream and triggering an action in response to detected events. The action is preferably based on information relating to the event received by the system. The system can generate a paper document that reflects some aspects of the detected event such as a summary describing the event. The system can also generate a network message (e.g., email or paging call) in response to the detected event. In other embodiments, the system stores multimedia in memory in response to the detected event. The system can also generate an audio on a speaker or a video on a video display system attached to the printer based on the detected event.
US08077329B2
A display device of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention is a display device of an electronic apparatus for setting a plurality of conditions for a process of the electronic apparatus through an input portion 57 while displaying the conditions before the electronic apparatus performs the process in accordance with the conditions. The device comprises a determination portion 58 of determining whether or not each of the conditions has not yet been set, and a liquid crystal display panel 41 of displaying notifying information indicating to what degree conditions remain to be set. The liquid crystal display panel 41 displays buttons for setting the respective conditions on a screen thereof, and displays button(s) which have already been pressed as being unfilled and the number of buttons which have not yet been pressed. Therefore, by viewing the screen, the number and types of conditions which have not yet set can be known.
US08077320B2
A wavefront measuring method includes steps of: obtaining a first transmitted-wavefront from a first image formed by transmitting beam through a substance at a first angle; obtaining a second image formed by transmitting the beam through the substance at a second angle; formulating a mask corresponding to an interference degree of the second image; converting the first transmitted-wavefront to match with a temporary second transmitted-wavefront from the second image; and unwrapping from the second image, the mask, and a converted first transmitted-wavefront to obtain a second transmitted-wavefront by transmitting the beam through the substance at the second angle.
US08077318B2
An apparatus for manufacturing carbon nanotubes includes an observation device, a work stage, a laser device, and a lighting device. The observation device includes an observation tube, an observation window arranged on the top of the observation tube, a first half-reflecting, pellicle mirror installed with an angle 45° in the observation tube, and a second half-reflecting, pellicle mirror installed parallel to the first half-reflecting, pellicle mirror. The work stage is disposed under and separated from the observation tube with a certain distance. The laser device is arranged perpendicular to the observation device and corresponding to the first half-reflecting, pellicle mirror. The lighting device is arranged perpendicular to the observation device and corresponding to the second half-reflecting, pellicle mirror. The observation device, the laser device and the lighting device are optically conjugated/linked with one another.
US08077317B2
A sensor head for a dry powder agent according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing defined along an axis along which light is communicated, the housing defines a multiple of apertures transverse to the axis and in communication with a measurement volume along the axis. Each of the multiple of apertures defines a longitudinal length along the axis which is less than a lateral length defined around the axis. A minor is within the housing to reflect the light through the measurement volume.
US08077312B2
A method and apparatus for calibrating an NIRS system which includes a sensor portion and for evaluating an NIRS system for proper functioning is provided that includes an enclosure with at least two windows disposed in a wall of the enclosure. The windows allow the light source and one or more detectors of an NIRS system sensor to interface with the enclosure. One window is dedicated to the light source while each light detector has a window dedicated thereto. Thus, the enclosure includes a number of windows equal to the number of light detectors in the NIRS system sensor plus one. The inner surface of the wall(s) of the enclosure is of a light-absorbing color; e.g., black. A diffuse reflectance member of a light-reflecting color, e.g., white, is disposed in the enclosure spaced apart from the surface with the windows disposed therein.
US08077311B1
Provided is a flow-through CO2 system for simultaneously measuring surface seawater pH, carbon dioxide fugacity (fCO2), and total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). All measurements are based on spectrophotometric determinations of solution pH at multiple wavelengths using sulfonephthalein indicators.
US08077302B2
A sensor may simultaneously sense the angular position of a first rotatable member relative to a frame of reference and the angular position of a second rotatable member relative to the first rotatable member up to a maximum displacement angle. The sensor may include a first and a second disk, each of which have an annular pattern which alternates between two different levels of optical transparency. The first disk may be coupled by a first coupling to the first rotatable member; and the second disk may be coupled by a second coupling to the second rotatable member. The first and the second annular patterns may be configured such that the angular displacement of the second rotatable member relative to the first rotatable member angle is accurately indicated by the sensor up to the maximum displacement angle, regardless of how the first annular pattern is aligned with respect to the second annular pattern at the time the couplings are coupled to their respective rotatable members.
US08077296B2
A method for enumerating platelets within a blood sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: 1) depositing the sample into an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, the chamber defined by a first panel and a second panel, both of which panels are transparent; 2) admixing a colorant with the sample, which colorant is operative to cause the platelets to fluoresce upon exposure to one or more predetermined first wavelengths of light; 3) illuminating at least a portion of the sample containing the platelets at the first wavelengths; 4) imaging the sample, including producing image signals indicative of fluorescent emissions from the platelets, which fluorescent emissions have an intensity; 5) identifying the platelets by their fluorescent emissions, using the image signals; 6) determining an average fluorescent emission intensity value for the individual platelets identified within the sample; 7) identifying clumps of platelets within the sample using one or more of their fluorescent emissions, area, shape, and granularity; and 8) enumerating platelets within each platelet clump using the average fluorescent emission intensity value determined for the individual platelets within the sample.
US08077288B2
An exposure apparatus for exposing a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate by scanning the reticle and the substrate via a projection optical system includes an illumination optical system for illuminating the reticle via a slit that has a longitudinal direction corresponding to a direction orthogonal to a scanning direction. The illumination optical system includes a corrector for correcting a slit width at each position in the longitudinal direction of the slit. The corrector is arranged at a position conjugate with the reticle, and includes a first optical filter movable in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the slit.
US08077257B2
System and methods for the detection of progressive pulldown in a video sequence are provided. The method comprises calculating a difference between temporally adjacent frames in the video sequence, generating a pattern based upon these differences, and comparing the generated pattern against patterns understood for known progressive film modes in order to determine if the video sequence comprises a known progressive film mode. In one embodiment, the pattern may be adjusted to account for uncertainty in assigning values to the pattern, reducing the likelihood of false detections. In another advantage, confidence metrics are built into the method in order to further reduce the incidence of false detections.
US08077253B2
An analog signal photo-electrically converted in a pixel of a light receiving area is converted to a digital signal by an ADC. The digital signal is processed by a digital signal processing circuit, and then, successively output as a digital video signal. The digital signal processing circuit has a first signal processing block for detecting and correcting a pixel defect and preventing a noise, and a second signal processing block for restoring apparent resolution lost by the processing by the first signal processing block.
US08077243B2
A video output device includes an OSD generation means for generating OSD (On Screen Display) for controlling the device itself, a detection means for detecting a connected state in which the device is connected to a prescribed external display device in a state realizing a mutual device control function which can perform control between devices mutually and a forced output means for outputting the OSD generated by the OSD generation means to the external display device forcibly and displaying the OSD on a display portion of the external display device regardless of any setting of the device when detecting the connected state by the detection means.
US08077242B2
This disclosure describes techniques for managing the clock speed of a bus during viewfinder mode in a digital camera device. The techniques involve determining a frame rate of frames displayed on a viewfinder, determining whether to adjust a clock speed of a bus based at least in part on the determined frame rate, wherein the bus is used to transfer the frames from a camera sensor to the viewfinder, and adjusting the clock speed of the bus upon determining that that the clock speed should be adjusted. The techniques may help ensure that the viewfinder delivers frames at a target frame rate. In addition, in some cases, the techniques may help to reduce power consumption by facilitating clock speed reductions in viewfinder mode.
US08077235B2
A method of forming a three-dimensional electronic device includes forming an array of pixels on a flexible two-dimensional surface, the array being formed according to a three-dimensional structure, the pixels having addressing lines accessible from at least one edge of the array, cutting the two-dimensional surface, the cuts being located to allow the two-dimensional surface to be shaped, and shaping the two-dimensional surface to form the three-dimensional surface, the array of pixels forming the three-dimensional electronic device. A three-dimensional electronic device has a flexible substrate containing an array of pixels, the substrate fabricated as a flat surface, then cut and shaped to form a three-dimensional surface, the array of pixels covering the three-dimensional surface in subarrays corresponding to segments of the three-dimensional surface, and addressing lines for each subarray being accessible along an edge of the three-dimensional surface. A method of forming a three-dimensional electronic device includes providing a flexible substrate, forming address lines on the substrate such that the address lines are accessible at an edge of the substrate, forming pixels on the address lines, the pixels being laid out in subarrays, the subarrays being determined by segments of a three-dimensional surface, and accommodating any cuts that will allow the flexible substrate to form the three-dimensional electronic device in the forming of addressing lines and pixels.
US08077226B2
A data processing apparatus includes a zoom circuit for displaying and a zoom circuit for recording. The zoom circuit for displaying performs a zoom process using a least square method or linear interpolation on image data from a YUV conversion circuit so as to create display image data. On an LCD monitor, an image based on the display image data thus created is displayed. Furthermore, the zoom circuit for recording performs a zoom process using spline interpolation or linear interpolation on image data from the YUV conversion circuit so as to create recording image data. The zoom process for recording is executed in parallel with the zoom process for displaying. The recording image data thus created is recorded in a recording medium.
US08077225B2
An image pickup apparatus includes optical and electronic zooming units, and a controller configured to control an operation of the electronic zooming unit. When the first aspect ratio is selected, the controller operates the electronic zooming unit along with an operation of the optical zooming unit between a first zoom state and a second zoom state that is closer to a telephoto end than the first zoom state. When the second aspect ratio is selected, the controller does not operate the electronic zooming unit between the first zoom state and a third zoom state that is located between the first zoom state and the second zoom state, and operates the electronic zooming unit along with the operation of the optical zooming unit between the second zoom state and the third zoom state.
US08077224B2
In an imaging apparatus capable of selectively performing an imaging operation in normal imaging mode and that in composite imaging mode, an object is imaged by performing the imaging operation in normal imaging mode to generate an exposure image signal, a brightness rate of a bright portion and dark portion of the object is calculated by detecting the exposure image signal, an exposure rate, which is a ratio of a long-time exposure time and a short-time exposure time in composite imaging mode, is calculated, and the imaging mode of the imaging apparatus is switched from the normal imaging mode to the composite imaging mode based on a comparison result of the brightness rate and the exposure rate.
US08077217B2
A head posture estimating unit estimates, from a face image of a person photographed by a camera, a head posture of the person in a camera coordinate system. A head coordinate system eyeball central position candidate setting unit sets candidates of an eyeball central position in a head coordinate system based on two-point eyeball feature coordinates expressed in the head coordinate system. A camera coordinate system eyeball central position calculating unit calculates an eyeball central position ({right arrow over (a)}) in the camera coordinate system based on the head posture resulting from the estimating of the head posture estimating unit, the candidates of the eyeball central position set by the head coordinate system eyeball central position candidate setting unit, and a pupil central position detected from the face image. An eyeball parameter estimating unit estimates an eyeball central position (O) and an eyeball radius (r) in the head coordinate system based on the eyeball central position ({right arrow over (a)}) in the camera coordinate system.
US08077212B2
A shock and vibration isolator for a movie or video camera has a vertical axis system including a base, an arm pivotably attached to the base, and at least one spring connected to the base and to the arm. One or more dampeners are connected to the base and to the arm. A horizontal axis system is supported by the vertical axis system. A leveling linkage connects the vertical and horizontal axis systems. The leveling linkage has adjustment features that allow for compensation of camera lens angulation caused by movement of the camera supported on a vehicle rolling over rough or uneven ground.
US08077209B2
An imaging preventing apparatus includes imaging means for obtaining an imaged image signal by performing imaging processing, image analyzing means for performing image analyzing processing on the imaged image signal obtained by the imaging means, imaging preventing operation performing means for performing a preventing operation against imaging by a different camera system, and control means for determining the possibility of being imaged by a different camera system based on the analysis result information by the image analyzing means and, if it is determined that there is a possibility of being imaged, causing the imaging preventing operation performing means to perform the preventing operation.
US08077204B2
A vehicle periphery monitoring device comprising a distance detecting unit which detects the distance between cameras and an object, an object image extracting unit which extracts a first image portion of the object from the acquired image, a filtering unit which performs a filtering process to the acquired image, in which a target edge width is set to be narrower as the assumed value of the width is smaller and the distance is longer, and in which a target edge direction is set to a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and an object type identifying unit which identifies, on the basis of a shape of a second image portion extracted by the filtering process, whether or not the type of the object in real space corresponding to the second image portion is the specific type.
US08077181B2
Systems and methods for balancing a load among multiple graphics processors that perform different portions of a rendering task. A rendering task is partitioned into portions for each of two (or more) graphics processors. The graphics processors perform their respective portions of the rendering task and return feedback data indicating completion of the assigned portion. Based on the feedback data, an imbalance can be detected between respective loads of two of the graphics processors. In the event that an imbalance exists, the rendering task is re-partitioned to increase the portion assigned to the less heavily loaded processor and to decrease the portion assigned to the more heavily loaded processor.
US08077180B1
In accordance with one aspect, a display controller is included in a graphics processing unit. In some embodiments, the display controller includes a read memory requester configured to provide a data request to a source of image data, a data path configured to be coupled to the source of image data, an output coupled to the data path and a control unit in electrical communication with the read memory requester and the data path. In accordance with one embodiment, the output is configured to provide image data processed by the display controller and the control unit is configured to stop an output of image data processed by the display controller. In accordance with a further embodiment, the control unit includes a stop-output register configured to provide information employed by the control unit to stop the output of image data processed by the display controller.
US08077170B2
An electronic painting comprising a display unit which is provided with a display element, an energy supply and a control unit, having a rigidly installed, non-replaceable storage medium, wherein non-changeable information which is used to control the display unit is stored. The electronic painting assumes the functions of a traditional painting which represents only one idea and is unique by virtue of the fact that the content of the storage medium is constant. The painting has a flat display which is also suitable for mounting on walls as traditional paintings. The electronic painting can also be provided with housing frame. Advantageously, a current or battery-driven electronic painting can also represent dimensions and time. The storage medium may contain a determined sequence of electronically generated images or a video, and movements can, for example, also be directly represented. Stored sound sequences can also be emitted via optional loud speakers.
US08077169B2
There is disclosed an information processing device with an operator unit capable of providing adequate operationality for both of display devices or drive modes which respectively require different rewrite times. The information processing device includes: at least one display device; an operator unit that is displaced from a reference point; a displacement detection unit that detects a displacement amount of the operator unit; a signal supply unit that supplies the at least one display device with a control signal for changing display on the at least one display device, depending on the displacement amount detected by the displacement detection unit; and a load controller that controls a load applied to the operator unit, depending on a display rewrite time per unit information amount in the at least one display device.
US08077166B2
A driver and a driving method of a display device that includes a signal controller that processes image data input from an external circuit and a memory that is connected to the signal controller, wherein the signal controller includes a data converter that converts the image data and outputs the converted image data to the memory, and the data converter includes a data output unit that converts and outputs the image data and a data input unit that restores the image data input from the memory. Accordingly, the number of data transitions between the signal controller and the memory can be minimized to reduce current consumption and to reduce EMI.
US08077161B2
The screen-input image display device has a touch panel for outputting touched locations of a finger or the like in contact with a display panel screen; and a sensing circuit for sensing coordinates of the touched locations based on the output of the touch panel. The touch panel has a transparent conductor film which is single layer on a transparent substrate, the transparent conductor film being patterned into numerous electrode pads arranged in rows and columns of a two-dimensional matrix, and surface areas of the electrode pads vary depending on the location of the touch areas. Coordinates of the touch locations are sensed based on the proportion of charge signals of the touch locations due to differences in surface areas of the electrode pads.
US08077156B2
An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for differentiating between and transmitting different levels of information associated with an object or file depending upon a number of tactile inputs detected. In particular, a user can define a number of levels (e.g., of privacy, of detail, etc.) associated with items of information making up objects or files stored on his or her device. The user can then indicate which level of information (i.e., which items of information of the object or file) he or she would like to transmit by using a different number of fingers (or other selection devices) to select the object or file. The electronic device may, in response, determine the number of fingers (or other selection devices) used and then transmit only the corresponding portions (e.g., items of information) of the selected object or file.
US08077154B2
A capacitive sensor (200) for a touch sensitive electronic device (800) includes at least one graphic (401) visible to a user. The graphic (401) is configured so as to be non-electrically interfering with the electrode array of the capacitive sensor (200). A substrate (101), configured to transmit light, has a layer of capacitive sensor material (201) deposited thereon. The layer of capacitive sensor material (201) is electrically conductive and pellucid. A layer of selectively disposed electrically conductive material (202) is then electrically coupled to the layer of capacitive sensor material (201). The layer of selectively disposed electrically conductive material (202) is arranged as a graphic, which may be a logo, brand, or other mark. The layer of selectively disposed electrically conductive material (202) has a reflectivity that is greater than the layer of capacitive sensor material (201) so as to make the graphic (401) visible to a user.
US08077149B2
A computer mouse with retractable cable is disclosed. The internal of the computer mouse contains coil spring, reeling disc, positioning bead and conductors. The lead wire once pulls, it is positioned and a second pull will restore back to its original position. The pulling of lead wire controls the required length of the mouse.
US08077137B2
An LCD driving system using at least one of each of red, green and blue LED arrays composed of red LEDs, green LEDs, and blue LEDs connected in series, respectively. An SMPS includes an AC-DC converter for converting an externally inputted AC voltage to a DC voltage, and red, green and blue LED DC-DC converters for converting the DC voltage to a predetermined magnitude of DC voltage for driving the red, green and blue LED arrays. A light source includes a substrate with the red, green and blue LED arranged thereon, and each of red, green and blue LED constant current controllers for controlling the current running through the red, green and blue LED arrays so as to maintain predetermined outputs of the LEDs. A bridge board electrically connects the red, green and blue LED DC-DC converters with the red, green and blue LED constant current controllers, respectively.
US08077136B2
An electro-optical device includes a display unit having a plurality of pixels, and the display unit is divided into a plurality of areas. The electro-optical device also includes a plurality of optical sensors that are provided for the plurality of areas, each of the optical sensors being configured to detect a light intensity, and a controller that selectively performs recognition of an operation position on the display unit or measurement of an ambient light intensity on the basis of the light intensities detected by the plurality of optical sensors.
US08077127B2
An LCD device includes an LCD panel and a power supply section. The LCD panel includes a first substrate having a storage electrode and a pixel electrode, a second substrate having a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates. The LCD panel has an alignment interval during which liquid crystal molecules are transitioned from a splay state to a bend state and a normal operating interval during which an image is displayed in the bend state. The power supply section supplies a first alignment voltage that is higher than the data voltage to the common electrode and supplies a second alignment voltage that is lower than the data voltage to the storage electrode, during the alignment interval. Thus, a transition speed from a transient splay state into a bend state is enhanced, so that an alignment interval may be decreased.
US08077119B2
A display panel drive apparatus which reduces noise to thereby prevent malfunction. A first switch connects based on pixel data between one of column electrodes of a display panel and a power supply line to which a pulsed supply voltage is applied. A second switch connects between the one column electrode and a ground line based on the pixel data. The first and second switches are used to apply pixel data pulses based on the pixel data to the one column electrode. In this scheme, the pixel data having a lower frequency in the vertical direction of the screen allows the second switch to send a smaller current to the ground line when compared with a case of the pixel data having a higher frequency.
US08077113B2
An enclosure for the open end of a reflector antenna includes a cylindrical shroud coupled to a distal end of the reflector antenna, the shroud generally coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the reflector antenna. A retaining band is coupled to an inner diameter of the shroud, proximate a distal end of the shroud. The retaining band is provided with a retaining groove open radially inward towards the longitudinal axis. The retaining groove provided with a bottom extending radially outward beyond an outer diameter of the shroud. A radome is seated within the retaining groove.
US08077106B2
The present invention provides a receiving antenna coil capable of realizing both improvement in the reception characteristic and miniaturization. In a receiving antenna coil, at least one of an X-axis winding core part and a Y-axis winding core part is formed in a plurality of bars. While increasing occupancy of the winding core parts (the X-axis winding core part and the Y-axis winding core part) in a region in the XY plane surrounded by a Z-axis receiving coil, the length of the winding core parts can be assured long. Further, since the X-axis winding core part and the Y-axis winding core part are provided in the same plane, the height of the core is suppressed, and the dimension of the entire receiving antenna coil can be suppressed.
US08077105B2
Disclosed is a directional bar-type antenna which comprising a plurality of bar-shaped antenna elements including a core and a coil wound around the core. The first bar-shaped antenna element is disposed at a position of a mirror image of the second bar-shaped antenna element with respect to the core of the third bar-shaped antenna element. The first and second bar-shaped antenna elements is positioned such that one end of each of the first and second bar-shaped antenna elements is close to the third bar-shaped antenna element, and the other end is far from the third bar-shaped antenna element. In the present invention, a winding direction of the coil of the first bar-shaped antenna element is preferably identical to that of the coil of the second bar-shaped antenna element, and is opposite to that of the coil of the third bar-shaped antenna element. The directional bar-type antenna of present invention can meet a need for providing asymmetrical directionality in a forward-rearward direction of an antenna for use in a specific system, such as a keyless entry system, and solve a problem in terms of cost and external appearance, in a technique of partially surrounding a bar-type antenna by a shielding member, in view of difficulty in freely controlling directionality of an antenna in an induced electromagnetic field domain, and a need to allow the bar-type antenna to have a difference between respective receiving sensitivities in forward and rearward directions in the induced electromagnetic field domain (while facilitating a reduction in size and cost).
US08077092B2
The disclosure relates to a planar antenna comprising at least one radiator element separated from a ground plane by a dielectric. The antenna also comprises an assembly of conductive studs which is connected to and extends from at least one element of a group of elements comprising the ground plane and at least one radiator element in such a way that at least one physical dimension of said at least one radiator element for a determined resonance frequency is reduced.
US08077091B1
A system of determining a position of a mobile device within a surveillance volume includes a phase difference array comprising a spatially diverse array of N sensors for detecting RF signals from the mobile device and acquiring phase difference data from the RF signals, N being greater than 4. The system includes a processor for processing the phase difference data and determining the position of the mobile device from the phase difference data.
US08077089B2
A method of geolocating a stationary transmitter observed by a fixed receiver device and at least two receiver devices, at least one of the receiver devices moving includes obtaining wavelength-scaled phase difference measurements between pairs of receiver devices, and obtaining a result lattice of possible locations of the transmitter, one location more probable than the remainder. A method of geolocating a moving transmitter observed by a plurality of fixed or nearly fixed receiver devices, and a moving receiver device, includes obtaining wavelength-scaled phase difference measurements from the plurality of fixed or nearly fixed receiver devices to obtain a shape of the transmitter trajectory, measuring the phase difference between the moving receiver device and at least one of the plurality of fixed or nearly fixed receiver devices to obtain a phase error residual, and moving an estimated starting point of the transmitter to obtain a best-fit residual.
US08077085B2
Methods and apparatuses for processing correction messages in a GNSS receiver are provided. One of the proposed methods includes providing a first storage unit; receiving a plurality of correction messages from at least one data sources, wherein a plurality of assistance data are carried by the plurality of correction messages; and storing a portion of the assistance data in the first storage unit without storing remaining assistance data in the GNSS receiver.
US08077079B2
Determining the location of a station or potential rogue access point in a wireless network including accepting an ideal path loss model and calibrating the ideal model using path loss measurements between access points at known locations. The calibrating determines a calibrated path loss model between the access points. The method further includes determining path losses between the wireless station of unknown location and at least some of the access points. In the case the wireless station is a client station, the determining includes receiving measurements from the wireless station of unknown location measuring the received signal strengths as a result of respective transmissions from at least some of the access points at known respective transmit powers. In the case the wireless station is an potential rogue access point, the determining includes receiving measurements from at least some of the access points measuring the received signal strength at each of the access points resulting from transmission by the potential rogue access point for each of a set of assumed transmit powers for the potential rogue. The method further includes determining the likely location or locations of the wireless station using the measured path loss and the calibrated path loss model.
US08077078B1
A method of and system for determining the altitude of an aircraft can use a relative altitude estimate using information from an onboard radar. The altitude can be referenced to a runway for landing operations. The radar can produce relative altitude information from the range to the landing point and a precision estimation of the vertical angle to the landing point. The vertical angle estimate can be made with a phase processing antenna/radar system.
US08077070B2
A charge-domain pipeline of at least two stages is provided. Each stage comprises a charge-storage node, a charge-transfer circuit for conveying charge from said charge-storage node out of said stage, a charge-control capacitor connected to said charge-storage node and driven by a periodic clock voltage, a comparator which compares the voltage of said charge-storage node to a reference voltage, and a digital latch which latches the state of said comparator output under control of a second periodic clock voltage and provides a latched digital output from said stage. The second stage of the pipeline further includes a first charge-redistribution capacitor connected to the charge-storage node of the second stage and driven by a conditional voltage responsive to the latched digital output from the first stage. The charge output from each stage of said pipeline is substantially similar to the charge input to said stage.
US08077061B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a text acquisition system that includes: (a) a character stream application module; (b) a parallel property bit stream module; (c) an analysis module; (c) a character stream generator; and (d) a database.
US08077046B1
A fire detector and method of using it generate a fire alarm through use of a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector once the smoke detector detects a threshold level of light obscuration for greater than a first pre-selected time period or a reduced threshold level of light obscuration for greater than a second pre-selected time period or the CO detector detects a rate of increase in CO concentration which exceeds a first preselected CO rate for a third pre-selected time period and the smoke detector detects the reduced threshold level of light obscuration or the rate of increase in CO concentration exceeds a second preselected CO rate for a fourth pre-selected time period. The fire detector and method can also use a carbon dioxide detector and generate the fire alarm when either a rate is of increase in concentration of CO2 exceeds a first CO2 predetermined rate for a fifth pre-selected time period and the smoke detector detects a reduced threshold level of light obscuration or the rate of increase in concentration of CO2 exceeds a second CO2 predetermined rate for a sixth pre-selected time period.
US08077037B2
A security system for portable articles is provided. The security system includes a central unit and one or more remote units. Each remote unit has a tethering system which attaches one or more portable articles to the remote unit. When a portable article is detached from the remote unit, a remote alarm signal is generated, which is conveyed to the central unit via a radiofrequency transmission. The central unit confirms receipt of an alarm transmission, and activates a dialer, which contacts one or more individuals via telephone.
US08077034B2
The invention refers to a sensor (10) for presence detection, and a method for presence detection, in a detection area (18) comprising at least an image generator (14) for generating an image on a detection area (18) formed by illuminated structures reflecting from said detection area (18), a detector (20) for detecting signals of the image reflected from the detection area (18), an image processing unit (24) for comparing the signals based on the reflected and received image with signals of a reference image stored in storing means of the image processing unit (24), wherein the image generator (14) generates a pattern (16) on the detection area (18) having illuminated and non-illuminated zones, the image processing unit (24) uses triangulation technique to detect changes of the pattern (16) within the detection area (18) over the reference image.
US08077026B2
A communication module communicates between the tools or control panel and the technician. A communications module connects to or by the control panel or other controller of the protection system. The communications module wirelessly communicates with a service tool, such as a personal data assistant. The technician may control the protection system with the service tool from a remote location, such as by a monitoring device or other component being tested. The communications module may be taken with the technician when testing is complete or left in the building for later use. The communications module is provided as part of the protection system or is added at a later time to an existing system.
US08077019B2
In a meeting or group event, people having a portable device, such as a cell phone or pager, may wish to be discretely notified when an important message is received, an urgent call comes in from a selected person or a selected group of people, or to be alerted to an upcoming important event without any audible alert to disturb the meeting or group event. To convey such a notification, a tactile alert is provided by vibrating the portable device according to a unique vibration pattern associated with the received communication. When a communication is received, a group identification (ID) is assigned based on the communication being a member of a classified group of source addresses. The portable device associates the group ID with a unique vibration pattern. To provide the alert, the portable device is vibrated according to the unique vibration pattern.
US08077017B2
A fire evacuation guidance system includes a pair of dissimilarly colored laser beams generated by at least one laser emitting device. The dissimilarly colored laser beams are generated substantially parallel to hallways of a (5) structure and subsequently reflected, where required, to direct occupants to a shortest exit route in the event of a fire emergency. That is, a first laser beam of one color is generated substantially parallel to one side of a hallway while a second laser beam of a second color different from the first color is generated substantially parallel to the opposite side of the hallway. So long as an occupant (10) of the structure positions himself or herself between the two laser beams and keeps the laser beam of the first color on his or her right hand side, the occupant will be directed to the closest exit in the event of a fire emergency.
US08077007B2
A blade fuse includes a first terminal includes an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge includes a first portion notched away from the inner edge beneath the first portion; a second terminal includes an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge include a second portion notched away from the inner edge beneath the second portion; an element extending from the first portion of the inner edge of the first terminal to the second portion of the inner edge of the second terminal; and a housing covering the element.
US08076996B2
A hybrid balun apparatus are disclosed. The hybrid balun apparatus can support both the reception mode and the transmission mode and be advantageous for a high level of integration, by replacing two transformers disposed at a reception path and a transmission path with a single transformer and integrating a T/R switch and a balun into a one chip. Therefore, an IC according to integration extends to a front stage of an antenna to facilitate interfacing between elements, and a burden for designing at a rear stage (i.e., LNA in the reception mode, and PA in the transmission mode) can be reduced.
US08076995B2
An integrated digitally controlled linear-in-decibels attenuator circuit in which one or more sets of selection switches establish a desired attenuation by selectively connecting the input signal electrode to one or more corresponding resistive ladder networks connected in series, thereby providing a substantially more constant signal attenuation value over a wider frequency bandwidth. With a single resistive ladder network, attenuation control is achieved using a thermometer switching code. With multiple resistive ladder networks, coarse and fine attenuation control can be achieved using thermometer and bubble switching codes, respectively.
US08076993B2
A balun circuit comprising first through third CPW lines becoming signal I/O ports, a first differential transmission line for linking the central conductor of the second CPW line and the ground conductor of the first CPW line and for linking the ground conductor of the second CPW line and the central conductor of the first CPW line, a second differential transmission line for linking the central conductors of the first and third CPW lines and for linking the ground conductors of the first and third CPW lines, and a joint for connecting at least two ground conductors of the first through third CPW lines. The differential transmission line has a first line formed in a dielectric layer on a substrate, a second line arranged in the underlying layer, and an underlying line at a fixed potential arranged between the substrate and the second line.
US08076979B2
A lock detector circuit for detecting a lock condition between a reference signal and a feedback signal includes a first counter for outputting a first counter value indicative of a number of clock cycles of the reference signal, and a second counter for outputting a second counter value indicative of a number of clock cycles of the feedback signal. An asynchronous comparator receives the first and second counter values and provides an output signal having a pulse width that is proportional to the difference between the first and second counter values. A pulse width detector receives the comparator output signal and produces an output signal that is indicative of the relationship between the pulse width of the comparator output signal and a predetermined threshold value. A state machine controls the state of at least one lock indication signal according to the pulse width detector output signal.
US08076978B2
In an embodiment, a circuit comprising an oscillator is provided. The oscillator is controlled based on a feedback value and an input reference value. The feedback value or the reference value or both are generated using noise shaping.
US08076975B1
A broadband high power amplifier architecture is disclosed. One example configuration includes a first plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a first string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the first string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the first string. The amplifier further includes a second plurality of distributed amplification cells connected in a second string, wherein a conductive trace operatively coupling outputs of the second string cells is a stepped structure, such that the associated inductance successively decreases from a first cell to a last cell of the second string. A combiner combines output signals of the first and second strings. Additional strings and/or stages can be provided, and the degree of combining will depend, for example, on factors such as the application and desired output power.
US08076964B2
A sampling circuit for use in a semiconductor device, includes a first sampling unit configured to sample a data signal in synchronism with a reference clock signal and output a first output signal, a second sampling unit configured to sample a delayed data signal in synchronism with the reference clock signal and output a second output signal, and an output unit configured to combine the first and second output signals and output a sampling data signal.
US08076952B2
A support block is provided with a plurality of through holes for supporting probes. The probes for signals, for power supply and for grounding are secured in the through holes of the support block and electrically interconnect electrode terminals of a device to be inspected, which is provided on one face side of the support block, and wiring terminals connected to an inspection unit, which is provided on the other face side of the support block. A device guide is integrally formed with or separately fixed to the one face side of the support block, and includes an opening having a square shape in a plan view for guiding the device to be inspected. A centering mechanism adjusts a position of the device to be inspected at a center position of the opening of the device guide.
US08076936B2
Provided are methods and systems for rapid MRI imaging-scanning that provides 2D or 3D coverage, high precision, and high-temporal efficiency, without exceeding SAR limits. In one embodiment, a pulse sequence process is performed that includes a T1ρ preparation period, followed by a very rapid image acquisition process, which acquires multiple lines of k-space data. The combination of T1ρ preparation and acquisition of multiple lines of k-space, allows scan times to be shortened by as much as 3- or 4-fold or more, over conventional MRI scanning methods.
US08076932B2
A device for measuring the position of a mobile part (4), includes: at least one magnetic node (10) capable of modulating the amplitude of an excitation magnetic field according to the amplitude of a magnetic field to be measured, the magnetic node having a magnetic cycle for magnetic induction that depends on the hysteresis-free magnetic field in an operation range [Hmin; Hmax], and in which the magnetic cycle of the magnetic node (10) is characterised in that the absolute value of the third derivative of the magnetic induction relative to the magnetic field is maximal for a zero magnetic field.
US08076931B2
The invention relates to a magnetic field sensor comprising at least one magnetic core (10) in which the magnetic cycle of the magnetic core is characterised in that the absolute value of the third derivative of the magnetic flux density in relation to the magnetic field is maximum for a zero magnetic field.
US08076926B2
A digital multimeter comprises a rotary switch and a rotary switch memory. The rotary switch can be moved between a plurality of positions to change the function performed by the digital multimeter. When the rotary switch is in a particular position, a user can change the function currently associated with that position from a default function to a non-default function. Thereafter, when the user moves the rotary switch away from the particular and then subsequently moves the position back to the particular position, the multimeter resumes the non-default function without requiring further user-input.
US08076925B2
An optical sensor assembly has a base unit, an optical current sensor, and a magnetic concentrator. The optical current sensor is mounted on the base unit and includes a polarized light input, a reflective prism, and a light output. The magnetic concentrator defines an airgap and is mounted on a concentrator housing such that the magnetic concentrator fits around the current carrying cable when the base unit is hung from the current carrying cable by hooks and when the concentrator housing is moved to a closed position. The reflective prism of the base unit is operably positioned in the airgap of the magnetic concentrator when the concentrator housing is in the closed position. The assembly further includes a voltage sensor operably positioned in the base unit for measuring the voltage of the current carrying cable.
US08076919B2
Disclosed is a Power Factor Correction Controller, which comprises a boost converter, a current sensing unit, an arithmetic unit, and a switch driving unit. The current sensing unit can sense or derive the current that pass through the energy delivery device, which is normally implemented by a diode or a switch. The current sensing unit can also sense the inductor current, or the switch current. With the current sensing unit, the arithmetic unit can calculate the optimum switch on-time or when to turn off the switch, without direct-sensing of the load. The disclosed method reduces the system cost by removing the needs to sense the load condition as in the prior arts. The disclosed method also improves the system response by sensing the delivered current at energy delivery side, rather than the receiver side as in the prior arts.
US08076914B2
A switching regulator includes a step-down-and-step-up unit to convert an input voltage to a low voltage or to a high voltage in accordance with a control signal, and a controller including a low-pass filter to receive a reference voltage generated in accordance with an external control signal. The controller causes the step-down-and-step-up unit to perform a step-down operation or a step-up operation in accordance with a voltage difference between a proportional voltage proportional to an output voltage of the step-down-and-step-up unit and the reference voltage. The controller further causes the step-down-and-step-up unit to perform a step-down operation or a step-up operation in accordance with a voltage difference between an output voltage of the low-pass filter and the proportional voltage, and changes a time constant of the low-pass filter in accordance with the operation being performed.
US08076875B2
The present invention relates to a switched reluctance motor and a connection method for a sensor shutter thereof. The switched reluctance motor in accordance with the present invention includes a stator; a rotor rotating with respect to the stator centering around a rotational shaft; and a sensor shutter having a sensing part through which a light can be passed and connected to an end portion of the rotational shaft, and a stopping ring is connected to the end portion of the rotational shaft so as to prevent the sensor shutter from being separated. Accordingly, the sensor shutter can be quickly and easily connected and the length of the rotational shaft can be decreased.
US08076866B2
Aspects of the invention include an electronic ballast and method for controlling current through a lamp to produce various current waveforms through the lamp. In one embodiment, the ballast samples and adjusts the current through the lamp on a micro-second time scale within each half-cycle of the current waveform (i.e., at least twice within a period of a reference waveform). The ballast can accommodate different lamp types, provide arbitrary current waveforms, operate a lamp at multiple power levels, and provide power to the lamp as a function of an operational state of a lamp. For example, in one embodiment, the ballast increases power to the lamp and adjusts the current waveform provided to the lamp as the lamp ages to minimize luminous flux loss caused by darkening of lamp walls and changes in lamp chemistry.
US08076863B2
A back light module is provided. The back light module includes a plurality of light source matrixes, a current adjusting circuit and a light source driving circuit, wherein each of the light source matrixes includes N light emitting units and N is an integer greater than 1. First ends of the light emitting units are electrically connected to each other, and a second end of the ith light emitting unit is electrically connected to an ith level switch line, wherein i is an integer and 1≦i≦N. The current adjusting circuit supplies and controls the current of each of the light source matrixes through level switch lines. The light source driving circuit drives the light source matrixes sequentially.
US08076862B2
A lighting installation comprises (a) a lighting load, powered by an AC power supply, said AC power supply having a cycle having a period; and (b) a dimmer comprising a first semiconductor switch operable by the action of a switching voltage to switch a current to the load on and off. In normal operation, the switch may repeatedly switch the current on and switch the current off. The average power delivered to the load is altered by altering the switching on or the switching off so that the current is on for a longer or shorter portion of the period. A method of protecting the dimmer comprises monitoring the current and, when the current exceeds a threshold value, altering the switching voltage to cause the first semiconductor switch to switch off the current.
US08076860B2
A power converter and power conversion method converts an input AC signal to a voltage usable by a load while reducing power consumption, thereby making the converter and method suitable for a wider range of applications. A rectifier receives the AC input signal and outputs a rectified voltage Vs, a controller has a power input connected to Vs and outputs two out-of-phase signals, two transistors are connected in series between Vs and a ground and each of the two transistors has a gate connected to a respective one of the two out-of-phase signals, and a transformer that has a primary coil connected to a node between the two transistors and a secondary coil connected to a load feeds back current from the secondary coil to the power input of the controller to reduce power consumption.
US08076859B1
An emergency sign power supply with battery charger is provided. In some embodiments the battery charging circuit is formed by a single diode and a single resistor.
US08076853B1
A terahertz sheet beam klystron (TSBK) includes an electron gun configured to generate a sheet electron beam and a drift tube through which the sheet beam is propagated. The drift tube is provided with multiple resonant cavities and includes a drift tube circuit including an input RF circuit through which an input RF signal is introduced and an output RF circuit through which an output RF signal is extracted, a collector, and a vacuum envelope. The output RF circuit is configured such that Qe (extraction Q) of the drift tube circuit is comparable to Q0 (unloaded Q) of the drift tube circuit, thereby improving the efficiency of the drift tube circuit.
US08076851B2
A plasma display panel including a front substrate and a back substrate facing each other across a discharge space, and a plurality of row electrode pairs and a plurality of column electrodes extending in a direction orthogonal to the row electrodes. The row electrodes and said column electrodes being provided between the front substrate and the back substrate and forming unit light emission areas at intersections with each other within the discharge space. A crystal having a volumetric particle-size distribution in which a ratio of a crystal having a particle size of 0.7 μm or less is 25% or less, is provided in an area facing the discharge space between the front substrate and the back substrate.
US08076843B2
An organic electroluminescence display device wherein the wiring width is made large enough to secure a current capacity for the power supply line and at the same time high luminance is achieved by increasing the aperture rate is to be realized. The device has lower electrodes formed over the main face of a transparent substrate, a plurality of organic electroluminescence elements each stacked over one or another of the lower electrodes and emitting light of a prescribed color, and an upper electrode formed as a film covering the plurality of organic electroluminescence layers in common, and this upper electrode is reflective and the luminescence from the organic electroluminescence elements is emitted from the transparent substrate side. The device further has: a pixel circuit including, over the inner face of the transparent substrate, a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of scanning lines arranged crossing each other and an organic electroluminescence layer in each of pixel areas surrounded by the signal lines and the scanning lines; and a power supply line for supplying a current to the organic electroluminescence layer, wherein the pixel line is arranged across the pixel areas.
US08076840B2
Disclosed is an organic EL display panel and a manufacturing the same, the EL display panel including an organic EL display panel including a bulkhead for insulating an emitting cell from an anode strip, the emitting cell having an ITO strip, a supplement electrode, an organic EL layer, and the anode strip, and at least one supplement bulkhead for coupling the bulkheads for preventing the sealant is injected along the bulkhead to the emitting cell thereby an inferior device is reduced and yield is increased.
US08076839B2
An organic electroluminescence device (1) including: an anode (20) and a cathode (50), at least two organic emitting layers (30), (32) and (34) interposed between the anode and the cathode, and at least one intermediate connection layer (40) and (42) being provided between the organic emitting layers (30), (32) and (34), the intermediate connection layer (40) and (42) comprising an acceptor layer, a donor layer and an electron-transporting material layer being stacked in this order from the cathode (50), the electron-transporting material layer containing a non-complex compound with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure.
US08076837B2
An organic light emitting display device (OLED) and a method of fabricating the same. The OLED includes: a substrate; a thin film transistor on the substrate and including a source electrode and a drain electrode; a first insulating layer on the substrate having the source and drain electrodes; a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and including a trench; a via hole formed in the trench over the first and second insulating layers and exposing a portion of the source electrode or the drain electrode; a first electrode in the trench and connected to one of the source electrode and the drain electrode through the via hole; a pixel defining layer on the first electrode and having an opening exposing the first electrode; an organic layer in the opening and having at least an organic emission layer; and a second electrode on an entire surface of the substrate having the organic layer.
US08076834B2
A field emission device in which a protecting vapor is present in an evacuated space between a field emission cathode assembly and an anode. The protecting vapor may be one or more hydrogen-containing gases such as a gas containing M—H bonds where M may be C, Si, B, Al or P.
US08076830B2
Piezoelectric vibrating pieces are disclosed that include a base portion and first and second vibrating arms extending in a longitudinal direction from the base portion. Each vibrating arm has first and second main surfaces, a first groove on the first main surface, and a second groove on the second main surface. The grooves extend in the longitudinal. By adjusting the length and shapes of at least the first grooves relative to each other, the rigidity of the vibrating arms can be balanced and adverse effects of deformed regions between the vibrating arms caused by anomalous etching can be reduced.
US08076825B1
A DC generation and storage device including a power generation section with multiple layers of an electret film. A rectifier is connected to the electret film, which in turn will be connected to a DC to DC converter. A power storage device (e.g., a battery or capacitor) will be connected to the converter.
US08076823B2
An ultrasonic actuator may be provided in which generation of a stress is prevented in the connection face of the piezoelectric element between the electrodes and the conductive members. The ultrasonic actuator includes a piezoelectric element (P1) and flexible cables (F1). The piezoelectric element (P1) includes: a piezoelectric layer (1); a power supply electrode (2) provided on a principal surface of the piezoelectric layer (1); a counter electrode (3) provided to face the power supply electrode (2) with the piezoelectric layer (1) interposed therebetween; a power supply external electrode (4) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the power supply electrode (2); and a counter external electrode (5) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the counter electrode (3). The flexible cables (F1) include a first flexible cable (F11) connected to the power supply external electrode (4), and a second flexible cable (F12) connected to the counter external electrode (5).
US08076812B2
A structure for arranging a permanent magnet suitable for a rotor core having a thin, circular, hollow ring section and a structure for reducing the amount of the permanent magnet are provided.
US08076801B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured for energy transfer with a second resonator structure over a distance D larger than characteristic sizes, L1 and L2, of the first and second resonator structures. A power generator is coupled to the first structure and configured to drive the first resonator structure or the second resonator structure at an angular frequency away from the resonance angular frequencies and shifted towards a frequency corresponding to an odd normal mode for the resonator structures to reduce radiation from the resonator structures by destructive far-field interference.
US08076795B2
A device for supplying an ignition current from an energy reserve to at least one ignition power module, a voltage regulator being provided between the energy reserve and the at least one ignition power module, setting a voltage on the at least one ignition power module at a predetermined level.
US08076793B2
A circuit for providing electrical isolation of Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) circuitry from external circuitry in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system has an inductive circuit for providing an isolation barrier to electrically isolate an isolated side of the isolation circuit from a non-isolated side of the isolation circuit. A signal path circuitry is configured for transferring bidirectional and/or unidirectional signals over the isolation barrier between respective nodes at the isolated and non-isolated sides.
US08076780B2
A semiconductor device is provided having a pad with an improved moisture blocking ability. The semiconductor device has: a circuit portion including a plurality of semiconductor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate; lamination of insulator covering the circuit portion, including a passivation film as an uppermost layer having openings; ferro-electric capacitors formed in the lamination of insulator; wiring structure formed in the lamination of insulator and connected to the semiconductor elements and the ferro-electric capacitors; pad electrodes connected to the wiring structure, formed in the lamination of insulator and exposed in the openings of the passivation film; a conductive pad protection film, including a Pd film, covering each pad electrode via the opening of the passivation film, and extending on the passivation film; and stud bump or bonding wire connected to the pad electrode via the conductive pad protection film.
US08076779B2
A pad structure and passivation scheme which reduces or eliminates IMC cracking in post wire bonded dies during Cu/Low-k BEOL processing. A thick 120 nm barrier layer can be provided between a 1.2 μm aluminum layer and copper. Another possibility is to effectively split up the barrier layer, where the aluminum layer is disposed between the two barrier layers. The barrier layers may be 60 nm while the aluminum layer which is disposed between the barrier layers may be 0.6 μm. Another possibility is provide an extra 0.6 μm aluminum layer on the top barrier layer. Still another possibility is to provide an extra barrier layer on the top-most aluminum layer, such that a top barrier layer of 60 nm is provided on a 0.6 μm aluminum layer, followed by another harrier layer of 60 nm, another aluminum layer of 0.6 μm and another barrier layer of 60 nm.
US08076775B2
A semiconductor package includes: a semiconductor substrate; an inner insulator layer formed on the substrate; at least one internal wiring extending from a front side of the substrate along one of lateral sides of the substrate to a rear side of the substrate; a first outer insulator layer disposed at the front side of the substrate, formed on the internal wiring, and formed with at least one wire-connecting hole; and a second outer insulator layer disposed at the rear side of the substrate, formed on the internal wiring, and formed with at least one wire-connecting hole which exposes a portion of the internal wiring.
US08076769B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element; a plate member disposed opposite to an electronic-circuit forming portion of the semiconductor element; and an elastic body arranged in a compressed state between the semiconductor element and the plate member, wherein the elastic body includes at least one first protruding portion at one end in an extension direction of the elastic body, the first protruding portion being formed opposite to the electronic-circuit forming portion of the semiconductor element, and the semiconductor element and the plate member are fastened by an adhesive agent.
US08076767B2
A non-insulated DC-DC converter has a power MOS-FET for a highside switch and a power MOS-FET for a lowside switch. In the non-insulated DC-DC converter, the power MOS-FET for the highside switch and the power MOS-FET for the lowside switch, driver circuits that control operations of these elements, respectively, and a Schottky barrier diode connected in parallel with the power MOS-FET for the lowside switch are respectively formed in four different semiconductor chips. These four semiconductor chips are housed in one package. The semiconductor chips are mounted over the same die pad. The semiconductor chips are disposed so as to approach each other.
US08076762B2
A packaged semiconductor product includes a packaging substrate coupled to a semiconductor die through an interconnect structure with elements of variable features. The interconnect structure may be bumps or pillars. The variable features of the interconnect structure induce a reverse bend on the semiconductor die that mitigates warpage of the semiconductor die during semiconductor assembly by balancing bending of the packaging substrate during reflow. The variable features can be variable height and/or variable composition.
US08076759B2
An apparatus includes a first substrate having a set of semiconductor devices formed within it. The apparatus also includes a second substrate. A third substrate has a data conductor coupled between first and second connections to the second substrate. The data conductor is coupled to the set of semiconductor devices at respective connection points.
US08076755B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device in which emitter pad electrodes connected to an active region, collector and base pad electrodes are formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate, a backside electrode is formed. Moreover, the emitter pad electrodes connected to a grounding potential are connected to the backside electrode through feedthrough electrodes penetrating the semiconductor substrate in a thickness direction.
US08076751B2
An integral circuit protection device includes a substrate disposed between first and second terminals. The substrate is composed of a resistive material. A first conductive layer is disposed on a first surface of the substrate and in electrical contact with the first terminal. A second conductive layer is disposed on a second surface of the substrate. A first electrically insulating layer is disposed on the second conductive layer and substantially covers the second conductive layer. The first electrically insulating layer includes an aperture. A fuse element is disposed on the first electrically insulating layer and is in electrical contact with the second conductive layer through the aperture and in electrical contact with the second terminal. The fuse element is in electrical series with the resistive material. A second electrically insulating layer is disposed over the fuse element.
US08076746B2
A back-illuminated image sensor includes a sensor layer of a first conductivity type having a frontside and a backside opposite the frontside. One or more frontside regions of a second conductivity type are formed in at least a portion of the frontside of the sensor layer. A backside region of the second conductivity type is formed in the backside of the sensor layer. A plurality of frontside photodetectors of the first conductivity type is disposed in the sensor layer. A distinct plurality of backside photodetectors of the first conductivity type separate from the plurality of frontside photodetectors are formed in the sensor layer contiguous to portions of the region of the second conductivity type. A voltage terminal is disposed on the frontside of the sensor layer. One or more connecting regions of the second conductivity type are disposed in respective portions of the sensor layer between the voltage terminal and the backside region for electrically connecting the voltage terminal to the backside region.
US08076745B2
An imaging photodetection device includes a plurality of photodetectors (6) arrayed on a substrate (5) one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, a low refractive index transparent layer (12) formed above the plural photodetectors, and a plurality of columnar or plate-like high refractive index transparent sections (13) embedded in the low refractive index transparent layer along the array direction of the plural photodetectors. At least two of the photodetectors correspond to one of the high refractive index transparent sections. Light entering the low refractive index transparent layer and the high refractive index transparent sections passes therethrough to be separated into a 0th-order diffracted light, a 1st-order diffracted light and a −1st-order diffracted light by a phase shift occurring on the wavefront. Thereby, improvement in the efficiency for light utilization and pixel densification can be realized.
US08076744B2
A photosensitizing chip package construction and manufacturing method thereof is comprised of photosensitizing chips constructed on one side of a wafer using a bonding layer; a color attachment array being disposed over those photosensitizing chips; a glass substrate provided with weir and covered up over the color attachment array; a proper gap being defined between the glass substrate and the color attachment array to promote permeability of stream of light by direct receiving stream of light from those photosensitizing chips constructed over the wafer.
US08076737B2
An optical-based acoustic sensor system detects sound. An exemplary embodiment has a substrate with a surface and an internal region; a shell disposed above the substrate surface, the shell operable to receive incident light emitted by a light source; a beam disposed blow the shell; a photodiode on the substrate surface below the beam, and in response to receiving a first portion of light, the photodiode is operable to generate a charge that attracts the beam such that a motion is induced in the beam to cause the beam to resonate; and a microphone device coupled to the shell, the microphone device operable to detect acoustic waves, and operable to modulate the vibratory motion of the beam, wherein a second portion of light is modulated by the vibratory motion of the beam to generate sound-modulated light that is emitted from the sensor.
US08076736B2
A semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate (1) including a silicon carbide layer (2); a high-concentration impurity region (4) provided in the silicon carbide layer (2); an ohmic electrode (9) electrically connected with the high-concentration impurity region (4); a channel region electrically connected with the high-concentration impurity region; a gate insulating layer (14) provided on the channel region; and a gate electrode (7) provided on the gate insulating layer (14). The ohmic electrode (9) contains an alloy of titanium, silicon and carbon, and the gate electrode (7) contains titanium silicide.
US08076734B2
A semiconductor structure, such as a field effect device structure, and more particularly a CMOS structure, includes a gate dielectric that is at least in-part aligned to an active region of a semiconductor substrate over which is located the gate dielectric. The gate dielectric comprises other than a thermal processing product of the semiconductor substrate. In particular, the gate dielectric may be formed using an area selective deposition method such as but not limited to an area selective atomic layer deposition method. Within the context of a CMOS structure, the invention provides particular advantage insofar as the use of a self-aligned method for forming a gate dielectric aligned upon an active region of a semiconductor substrate may avoid a masking process that may otherwise be needed to strip portions of an area non-selective blanket gate dielectric.
US08076728B2
A circuit arrangement including a capacitor in an n-type well is disclosed. A specific polarization of the capacitor ensures that a depletion zone arises in the well and the capacitor has a high ESD strength. An optionally present auxiliary doping layer ensures a high area capacitance of the capacitor despite high ESD strength.
US08076720B2
The invention provides a trench gate type transistor in which the gate leakage current is prevented and the gate capacitance is reduced. A trench is formed in an N− type semiconductor layer. A thin silicon oxide film is formed on a region of the N− type semiconductor layer for the active region of the transistor in the trench. On the other hand, a silicon oxide film which is thicker than the silicon oxide film is formed on a region not for the active region. Furthermore, a leading portion extending from inside the trench onto the outside thereof forms a gate electrode contacting the silicon oxide film. This provides a long distance between the gate electrode at the leading portion and the corner portion of the N− type semiconductor layer, thereby preventing the gate leakage current and reducing the gate capacitance.
US08076717B2
A vertical semiconductor material mesa upstanding from a semiconductor base that forms a conductive channel between first and second doped regions. The first doped region is electrically coupled to one or more first silicide layers on the surface of the base. The second doped region is electrically coupled to a second silicide layer on the upper surface of the mesa. A gate conductor is provided on one or more sidewalls of the mesa.
US08076708B2
A memory device and peripheral circuitry on a substrate are described, made by a process that includes forming a charge trapping structure having a first thickness over a first area. A first gate dielectric layer having a second thickness is formed for low-voltage transistors. A second gate dielectric layer having a third thickness, greater than the second thickness, is formed for high-voltage transistors. Polysilicon is deposited and patterned to define word lines and transistor gates. The thickness of the second gate dielectric layer in regions adjacent the gates, and over a source and drain regions, is reduced to a thickness that is close to that of the second thickness.
US08076701B2
A method of making nanostructures using a self-assembled monolayer of organic spheres is disclosed. The nanostructures include bowl-shaped structures and patterned elongated nanostructures. A bowl-shaped nanostructure with a nanorod grown from a conductive substrate through the bowl-shaped nanostructure may be configured as a field emitter or a vertical field effect transistor. A method of separating nanoparticles of a desired size employs an array of bowl-shaped structures.
US08076699B2
Integrated high efficiency lateral field effect rectifier and HEMT devices of GaN or analogous semiconductor material, methods for manufacturing thereof, and systems which include such integrated devices. The lateral field effect rectifier has an anode containing a shorted ohmic contact and a Schottky contact, and a cathode containing an ohmic contact, while the HEMT preferably has a gate containing a Schottky contact. Two fluorine ion containing regions are formed directly underneath both Schottky contacts in the rectifier and in the HEMT, pinching off the (electron gas) channels in both structures at the hetero-interface between the epitaxial layers.
US08076697B2
A solid-state imaging device of a three-transistor pixel configuration having no selection transistor has a problem of a non-selection hot carrier white point, which is specific to this apparatus. A bias current during a non-reading period of pixels is made to flow to a pixel associated with an immediately previous selection pixel, for example, the immediately previous selection pixel itself. As a result, dark current only for one line occurs in each pixel, and the dark current for one line itself can be reduced markedly. Consequently, defective pixels due to non-selection hot carrier white points can be virtually eliminated.
US08076694B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a nitride semiconductor element, which uses Si as a substrate, and whose voltage in the forward direction (Vf) is lower than in the prior art. In the nitride semiconductor element which has a nitride semiconductor layer over an Si substrate, at least a portion of the Si substrate and the nitride semiconductor layer are included in an current pass region, and the electrical conductivity type of the current pass region on the Si substrate is p-type. Furthermore, in the nitride semiconductor element which has a nitride semiconductor layer over an Si substrate, at least a portion of the Si substrate and the nitride semiconductor layer are included in an current pass region, and the majority carriers of the current pass region of the Si substrate are holes.
US08076692B2
The present invention provides an LED package including: a heat discharge body provided with a plurality of radially protruding heat discharge fins at an outer circumferential surface and molding material filled spaces between the heat discharge fins; a package body which is received on a top surface of the heat discharge body and has a cavity; a pair of lead frames extended from upper parts of the heat discharge body to both sides thereof; and an LED chip mounted inside the cavity.
US08076684B2
A group III nitride semiconductor light emitting element, comprising having a light emitting layer with a multiquantum well structure formed of a group III nitride semiconductor. The light emitting layer has plural well layers, and the plural well layers are formed to coincide in emission wavelength with each other.
US08076682B2
A semiconductor structure includes a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. A p-electrode is disposed on a portion of the p-type region. The p-electrode includes a reflective first material in direct contact with a first portion of the p-type region and a second material in direct contact with a second portion of the p-type region adjacent to the first portion. The first material and second material are formed in planar layers of substantially the same thickness.
US08076675B2
An LED chip includes a substrate and a p-n junction type semiconductor light-emitting structure. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the second surface. The p-n junction type semiconductor light-emitting structure is arranged on the first surface of the substrate. A plurality of blind holes is defined in the second surface of the substrate and extends from the second surface towards the first surface. A heat conductive material is filled in each of the plurality of blind holes thereby forming a plurality of heat conductive poles in the plurality of blind holes.
US08076671B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a high-efficiency white light emitting element having a spectrum in a wide wavelength range. Another object is to provide a white light emitting element in which chromaticity of white color is hard to change over time. Still another object is to provide a white light emitting element in which the shape of an emission spectrum does not tend to depend on current density. A first light emitting element 310 and a second light emitting element 320 are serially laminated over a substrate 300. The first light emitting element 310 has a light emitting layer 312 between a first anode 311 and a first cathode 313, and the second light emitting element 320 has a light emitting layer 322 between a second anode 321 and a second cathode 323. Here, the light emitting layer 312 shows a first emission spectrum 330 having peaks both in a blue to blue green wavelength range and in a yellow to orange wavelength range, and the light emitting layer 322 shows a second emission spectrum 340 having peaks both in a blue green to green wavelength range and in an orange to red wavelength range.
US08076667B2
A tight emitting device comprises at least one p-type layer and at least one n-type layer and a microlens array surface. A method for improving light efficiency of a light emitting device, comprises depositing polystyrene microspheres by rapid convection deposition on surface of light emitting device; depositing a monolayer of close-packed SIO2 microspheres onto the polystyrene microspheres; and heal treating to convert the polystyrene microspheres into a planar microlayer film to provide a surface comprising substantially two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal close-packed SIO2 colloidal microsphere crystals partially imposed into a polystyrene monolayer film.
US08076657B2
An improved beam forming system for ions used in radiation treatment employs a magnet system of successive quadrupole magnets to convert an ion pencil beam to a fan beam with reduced neutrons production compared with conventional beam spreading techniques using scattering foils.
US08076647B2
A device with high efficiency and high spatial resolution for detection of individual x-rays includes a detector for x-rays with energy exceeding 20 keV based on a columnar scintillator having a number of columns, and a semiconductor readout circuit coupled to the scintillator, where the detector is configured for providing a detector resolution that is independent of scintillator thickness. This may be accomplished by estimating a misalignment of the columns of the columnar scintillator with respect to the direction of incoming x-rays and either physically aligning the columns of the columnar scintillator to the direction of incoming x-rays or computationally correcting for the estimated misalignment.
US08076645B2
A gamma ray detector is provided that increases a detectable energy range. A position-sensitive gamma ray detecting element for low energy gamma rays 101 that can detect an interaction position and energy of a gamma ray is disposed in front of a pair of position-sensitive gamma ray detecting elements for high energy gamma rays 102 and 103 that can detect an interaction position and energy of a gamma ray.
US08076644B2
Methods and systems for performing a patient scan using a three-dimensional (3D) cylindrical Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging system are provided. The method includes acquiring a count-rate profile of a brain, repositioning at least one of a detector and the brain based on the count-rate profile and a detector sensitivity profile, and scanning the brain when the acquired count-rate profile substantially matches the detector sensitivity profile.
US08076642B2
An electron beam apparatus is offered which can well detect backscattered electrons or both backscattered electrons and secondary electrons if an electron detector is disposed above an objective lens in the apparatus. The electron beam apparatus has an electron beam source for emitting an electron beam accelerated by a given accelerating voltage, the objective lens for focusing the electron beam emitted from the beam source onto a specimen, scan coils for scanning the focused beam over the specimen, and the electron detector located above the objective lens and provided with a hole permitting passage of the beam. The detector has an electrode for producing an electric field that attracts the electrons produced from the specimen in response to the electron beam irradiation. Correction coils for correcting deflection of the beam caused by the electric field are located below the detector.
US08076637B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a quadrupole rod set ion guide or mass filter device. Broadband frequency-signals (13, 14, 15) having a plurality of frequency notches (16a; 16b; 16c) are applied sequentially to the rods of the quadrupole rod set. The notched broadband frequency signals (16a, 16b, 16c) cause undesired ions to be resonantly or parametrically ejected from the ion guide. The resulting ion signals are deconvoluted to provide a mass spectrum.
US08076634B2
A downhole tool for performing measurement of a formation. The tool comprising a housing surrounding a source for generating neutrons and a detector for detecting the neutrons. A shield is located outside of, or embedded in, the housing and focuses the neutrons.
US08076630B2
A system for evaluating subject objects includes at least one physical source operable to emit electromagnetic energy and driver electronics drivingly coupled to at least one physical source. The driver electronics is configured to drive at least one physical source as a number of logical sources, using an electromagnetic forcing function. The number of logical sources is greater than the number of physical sources. In addition, the system includes a sensor configured to receive an electromagnetic response from at least a portion of an evaluation object illuminated by one or more physical sources operated as logical sources, and convert the electromagnetic response to a test response signal indicative of the electromagnetic response of the evaluation object.
US08076629B2
One embodiment is an optical image preamplifier having an input through which a laser signal is received and amplified, said laser signal emanating from a target illuminated by a laser transmitter or generated by multiple lasercom transmitters in the field of view; the optical image preamplifier also having an output; and a focal plane array having an input operatively coupled to the output of the optical preamplifier. Embodiments of the present method and apparatus may be utilized to overcome photodetector and post-detection electronic noise to permit near quantum-limited receiver sensitivity with simple focal plane technologies. These embodiments enable ladar, wavefront sensor and multiple access lasercom systems that provide high sensitivity with the wide bandwidth and wavelength flexibility of semiconductor laser media.
US08076606B2
Equipment (1) with which to fuse to each other at least two superposed laminar bands (2) and comprising two compressing members (3, 4) subtending between themselves a compression gap (5) through which said laminar bands (2) are guided. Additionally the equipment (1) comprises a laser (7) configured in a manner to transmit laser radiation (8) passing through the first compression member (3) and the compression gap (5) in the direction of the second compression member (4). According to the invention, the second compression member (4) is constituted by a resiliently borne sheetmetal-like support (9) which mechanically resiliently loads the laminar bands (2) in the compression gap (5) in the direction of the first compression member (3).
US08076603B2
An axially-movable rotary switch includes a casing, a fixing base, a substrate and a knob. The fixing base is fixed in the hollow casing. The substrate is fixed below the fixing base. The knob is pivotally disposed on the upper end of the hollow casing. The switching rod of the knob eccentrically penetrates a positioning hole of the fixing base. The elastic piece is disposed at the distal end of the switching rod and is brought into contact with the electrical contacts of the substrate. With the elastic piece of the switching rod being arranged to correspond to the electrical contacts of the substrate, a user can switch the states between a closed circuit and an open circuit by axially drawing/pressing the knob. Further, the contact between the elastic piece and the electrical contacts will not generate unnecessary frictional interference, so that the lifetime of the device can be extended.
US08076601B2
An input key structure for an electronic device includes a first magnetic body, a circuit board and a second magnetic body. The circuit board has a switch. The second magnetic body rotates relative to the first magnetic body to selectively locate between an initial position parallel with the second magnetic body and a target position contacted with the switch. The second magnetic body is structured to cooperate with the first magnetic body to generate a magnetic attractive force to automatically adjust the second magnetic body to the initial position when the second magnetic body is rotated away from its initial position to the target position.
US08076600B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a contact actuating mechanism is provided with a rotary contact to make and break electrical contacts. An operating knob is connected an operating lever and to a connecting link through a U-shaped pin. The operating lever is engaged with a lock lever. The connecting link is also coupled to the rotary contact through a pivot so that the operating knob is moved to displace the connecting link to move the rotary contact to make and break with electrical contacts.
US08076597B2
An actuator is disclosed for actuating a safety switch. In at least one embodiment, the actuator includes a fixing element, an actuating element, and a connection arrangement for connecting the elements. A technical method is disclosed which proposes a universally applicable and low-cost activator. To this end, in at least one embodiment, the connection arrangement is implemented with at least one elastic element, which is pretensioned by way of at least one pretensioning element. Due in particular to the internal mounting of the pretensioning element inside the elastic element, a very simple and robust structure of the connection arrangement is achieved.
US08076595B2
A method and associated apparatus transmits measurement values in a multi-module force-measuring device, in particular a multi-module weighing device, with at least two force-measuring modules. Each of the force-measuring modules includes a force-measuring cell and a signal-processing unit. The signal-processing unit transmits the measurement values generated by the force-measuring cell by way of a signal line to a signal-evaluating unit. Under the method, each measurement value is converted into a bit sequence by the respective signal-processing unit. The first force-measuring module's bit sequence is transmitted to the signal-evaluating unit, and the bit sequences of the signal-processing unit of the further force-measuring modules are transmitted by way of the signal-processing unit of the first force-measuring module to the signal-evaluating unit.
US08076591B2
The invention relates to circuit boards and to screening circuits and components on such boards from stray rf interference when they are mounted as arrays or stacks of such circuit boards. The circuit boards (12, 14) are individually screened by conductive screening layers (16, 18) as known in the art and the individual screening layers are coupled together by layered interconnects (34) which connect corresponding screening layers (16, 18) of the individual circuit boards (12, 14) together, instead of by vias.
US08076590B2
A printed circuit board includes a first signal via, a second signal via, and a first ground via. A distance between the first ground via and the first signal via is substantially equal to a distance between the first ground via and the second signal via.
US08076584B2
A power adapter with cable organizer is provided. The power adapter includes a main body; and a containing/fixing portion disposed on the main body and having a first blade and a second blade, wherein the first blade and the second blade face each other to form a receiving portion.
US08076576B2
There is provided an electronic component package, in which electronic component element is mounted on a metal base, the electronic component element is covered by placing a metal cap over the metal base, and the metal base and the metal cap are joined by resistance welding to hermetically seal the electronic component element. With this electronic component package, a protrusion is provided to a portion of the metal base that comes into contact with the metal cap, and a projection tip of the protrusion has a flat face. Alternatively, the protrusion has a cross sectional shape that combines an arc member with the top side of an isosceles trapezoid.
US08076568B2
An interconnected arrangement of photovoltaic cells is achieved using laminating current collector electrodes. The electrodes comprise a pattern of conductive material extending over a first surface of sheetlike substrate material. The first surface comprises material having adhesive affinity for a selected conductive surface. Application of the electrode to the selected conductive surface brings the first surface of the sheetlike substrate into adhesive contact with the conductive surface and simultaneously brings the conductive surface into firm contact with the conductive material extending over first surface of the sheetlike substrate. Use of the laminating current collector electrodes allows facile and continuous production of expansive area interconnected photovoltaic arrays.
US08076559B2
An aspect of the system relates to an intonation control mechanism for controlling, for example, the pitch of a plucked or vibrated string of a stringed instrument through a string contact point located at an appropriate intonation harmonic.
US08076558B1
A reinforced music box includes a base portion, a two-sided cogwheel, a step type cogwheel, a music generator, a cover portion and a friction set. The two-sided cogwheel is disposed in the base portion and may rotate axially. The cover portion has a main part, a friction part and a supporting part. The main part, friction part and supporting part are integrally formed and either the main part or supporting part has a plurality of engagement holes that can engage with the fixing protrusions of the base portion. The friction set has a friction part and a spirally cogged stick. The spirally cogged stick may engage with the second cogwheel of the two-sided cogwheel at 90 degree. Therefore, the cover portion, which is integrally formed, may provide better protection and the cost in manufacturing and assembly may be reduced.
US08076550B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV585594. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV585594, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV585594 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV585594 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV585594.
US08076548B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV596775. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV596775, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV596775 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV596775 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV596775.
US08076535B2
This document provides methods and materials related to plants having modulated (e.g., increased) levels of sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, and/or sucrose). For example, this document provides plants having increased sugar levels as well as methods and materials for making plants and plant products having increased sugar levels.
US08076533B2
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:13-24 or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1-12 and 25-44, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US08076525B2
Process for the preparation of C3 and C4 olefins and gasoline by: (a) contacting in a fluidised bed reactor a light hydrocarbon feedstock with a first catalyst inventory comprising a medium pore size zeolite catalyst, wherein the first catalyst inventory is a fresh catalyst inventory; (b) combining at least part of the catalyst inventory as used in step (a) with one or more catalyst streams to form a second catalyst inventory comprising a medium pore size zeolite catalyst and a large pore size zeolite catalyst; (c) contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with the second catalyst inventory in a reactor riser to form cracked products.
US08076524B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing olefin comonomers from ethylene. The comonomer generated can be used in a subsequent process, such as a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The comonomer generated can be transported, optionally without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor. One method includes the steps of: feeding ethylene and a catalyst in a solvent/diluent to one or more comonomer synthesis reactors; reacting the ethylene and the catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce an effluent comprising a desired comonomer; forming a gas stream comprising unreacted ethylene, and a liquid/bottoms stream comprising the comonomer, optionally by passing the effluent to one or more downstream gas/liquid phase separators; and purifying at least a portion of said liquid/bottoms stream by removing at least one of solid polymer, catalyst, and undesirable olefins therefrom.
US08076513B2
A process for the preparation of N-isobutyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-amino-4-phenylbutyl)-p-nitrobenzenesulfonylamide derivatives in which a (1-benzyl-2-hydroxy-3-isobutylamino-propyl)-carbamic acid derivative is reacted with a p-nitrophenylsulfonyl halide to provide the desired product in a high yield and degree of purity.
US08076506B2
A process for reducing the aldehyde concentration in a target stream of a carbonylation process is disclosed. More specifically, a process for reducing the aldehyde concentration in an internal process stream or feed stream of a carbonylation process is disclosed. In particular, a process in which a target stream comprising a carbonylatable reactant and a first aldehyde concentration is subjected to a reaction comprising a supported catalyst that comprises at least one Group 8 to Group 11 metal at conditions sufficient to reduce the first aldehyde concentration to a second aldehyde concentration is disclosed.
US08076499B2
A method for preparing a precursor of radioactive 3-iodobenzylguanidine- N,N′-bis(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-3-(tri-n-butyltin)benzylguanidine) (MSnBG) is revealed. The method includes following steps. Firstly, obtain 3-iodobenzylguanidine bicarbonate by an addition reaction between 3-iodobenzylamine hydrochloride and cyanamide. Use di-tert-butyl dicarbonate as a protecting agent for NH group and convert 3-iodobenzylguanidine bicarbonate into N,N′-bis(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-N-(3-iodobenzyl) guanidine. At last, under catalysis of bis(triphenylphosphine) palladium dichloride, obtain a final product MSnBG by a substitution reaction between N,N′-bis(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-N-(3-iodobenzyl) guanidine and bis(tri-n-butyltin). MSnBG is used in no-carrier-added synthesis of [*l]MIBG.
US08076489B2
Compounds of formula (I) in free or salt or solvate form, wherein T has the meaning as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating conditions that are prevented or alleviated by activation of the β2-adrenoreceptor. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and a process for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08076487B2
A pyridone derivative represented by Formula [1] or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 is a C1-6 alkyl group, a C2-6 alkenyl group, a C2-6 alkynyl group, or the like; R2 and R3 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, or the like; and A is a group represented by Formula A-1, Formula A-2, Formula A-3, Formula A-4, or Formula A-5: The compounds represented by general formula [1] control various weeds growing in upland fields, orchards, paddy fields, and non-crop lands while showing high safety to useful plants and crops.
US08076486B2
The invention provides novel heteroaryl-substituted arylaminopyridine derivative MEK inhibitors of Formula (Ia) Such compounds are MEK inhibitors that are useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation. Also disclosed is the treatment of a hyperproliferative disease in mammals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US08076480B2
Disclosed is a process of preparing an optically active allyl compound, e.g., as represented by formula (III): comprising asymmetrically coupling an allyl compound with an organic nucleophilic compound in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is preferably a transition metal complex compound having a phosphine ligand. The phosphine ligand is preferably a 2,3-bis(dialkylphosphino)pyrazine derivative. The pyrazine derivative is preferably a quinoxaline derivative. The transition metal is preferably palladium.
US08076479B2
Disclosed is a process for the synthesis of compounds of Formula I by sequentially aminating, first with a primary amine and then with a secondary amine, an intermediate compound of the structure of Formula E1, wherein R1 is a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyloxy functional group of the structure (—R2a—OH), R2a is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, R2 is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, and R3 is an alkylene-heterocycle, said process comprising forming intermediate compound of Formula E1 by reacting, in a refluxing reaction solvent selected from alcohols having 5 or less carbon atoms and mixtures of two or more thereof, a methanol solution of a salt of a 4-alkyl-3-amino-pyrazole compound of Formula C1, with a diamidization reagent selected from dimethylmalonate, monomethylmalonyl-chloride, and malonyl dichloride in the presence of a Lewis base having sufficient proton affinity to abstract a proton from the 1-position nitrogen on the pyrazole ring.
US08076474B2
A salt of a compound of formula (I) may be made with methanesulfonic acid. The salt and salts with other acids may be prepared by recovering from methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).
US08076462B2
The provision of an antithrombin composition having a desired α-form content rate or β-form content rate is required. The invention provides a process for producing an antithrombin composition having a desired α-form content rate or β-form content rate which is prepared by contacting an antithrombin-containing aqueous solution with a Cellufine Sulfate chromatography carrier.
US08076461B2
An antibody microarray is described comprising a plurality of antibodies immobilized on a substrate, wherein each antibody specifically binds to a synthetic oligomer (e.g., an oligonucleotide or oligopeptide) having an organic protecting group covalently bound thereto, which antibody does not bind to that synthetic oligomer when the organic protecting group is not covalently bound thereto. Methods of making and using such antibodies are disclosed, along with cells for making such antibodies. Methods of making and using such antibody microarrays are also disclosed.
US08076457B2
The teachings relates to the three-dimensional structure of a crystal of a cytochrome protein complexed with a ligand. The three-dimensional structure of four cytochrome P450 2A6-ligand complexes are disclosed. Cytochrome P450 2A6-ligand crystal structures, wherein the ligand is an inhibitor molecule, are useful for providing structural information that may be integrated into drug screening and drug design processes. Thus, the teachings also relate to methods for utilizing a crystal structure of a cytochrome P450 2A6-ligand complex for identifying, designing, selecting, or testing inhibitors of the cytochrome protein. Such inhibitors are useful as therapeutics for the treatment or modulation of i) diseases; ii) disease symptoms; or iii) the effect of other physiological events mediated by the cytochrome.
US08076451B2
A polypeptide with a predominantly hydrophobic sequence long enough to span a membrane lipid bilayer as a transmembrane helix (TM) and comprising one or more dissociable groups inserts across a membrane spontaneously in a pH-dependant fashion placing one terminus inside cell. The polypeptide conjugated with various functional moieties delivers and accumulates them at cell membrane with low extracellular pH. The functional moiety conjugated with polypeptide terminus placed inside cell are translocated through the cell membrane in cytosol. The peptide and its variants or non-peptide analogs can be used to deliver therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging, gene regulation, cell regulation, or immunologic agents to or inside of cells in vitro or in vivo in tissue at low extracellular pH. The claimed method provides a new approach for diagnostic and treatment diseases with naturally occurred (or artificially created) low pH extracellular environment such as tumors, infarction, stroke, atherosclerosis, inflammation, infection, or trauma. The method allows to translocate cell impermeable molecules (peptides, toxins, drugs, inhibitors, nucleic acids, peptide nucleic acids, imaging probes) into cells at low pH. The method allows to attach to the cell surface a variety of functional moieties and particles including peptides, polysaccharides, virus, antigens, liposomes and nanoparticles made of any materials.
US08076447B2
A poly(arylene sulfide) having properties that a melt viscosity is 1 to 3,000 Pa·s as measured under conditions of a temperature of 310° C. and a shear rate of 1,216 sec−1, a pH is 7.0 to 12.0 as measured in a mixed solvent of water/acetone (volume ratio=2/1), a crystallization temperature is at most 220° C. as measured in the course of lowing the temperature of the polymer at a rate of 10° C./min from a molten state, and a whiteness degree is at least 70 as measured in the form of a melt molded or formed product, and a production process thereof.
US08076446B2
An optical layered body having an excellent antistatic property and adhesion is provided. An optical layered body is provided that comprises an antistatic layer and a hard coat layer formed in sequence on a light transmitting substrate, wherein in the cross-sectional appearance of the layered body, the cross-section phase of the hard coat layer exists in the region of the light transmitting substrate via the antistatic layer from the hard coat layer.
US08076443B2
A synthetic process for polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and polyhedral oligomeric silicates (POS) produces silanol and siloxide molecules containing both olefinic groups and alkyl or aromatic groups. Olefin-bearing POSS silanol/siloxides are derivatized into a variety of chemical species while retaining the ability to further derivatize the silanol/siloxide.
US08076433B2
Provided are a polyoxyalkylene modified vinyl alcohol-based polymer, including a polyoxyalkylene group in side chain, wherein the vinyl alcohol-based polymer has a viscosity average degree of polymerization P of from 200 to 5000, has a degree of saponification of from 20 to 99.99 mol %, and has an amount S of polyoxyalkylene modification of from 0.1 to 10 mol % and a film containing the same. By way of them, a polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer that is soluble in water and also high in viscosity, and a film that is less in a decrease of tensile elastic modulus when conditioned in high humidity, is excellent in water repellency on the film surface, and exhibits water solubility are provided.
US08076432B2
Described herein are methods for producing phosphonic compounds and compounds thereof. Stable compositions of unsaturated phosphonic acid monomers are also described. Additionally, the synthesis and use of new polymers produced from phosphonic acid monomers are presented.
US08076398B2
The present invention relates to a bituminous composition comprising at least one bitumen and at least one polycondensate capable of forming a supramolecular assembly comprising one or more associative group(s). The present invention also relates to the use of such bituminous composition for the preparation of asphalt mixtures useful for the coating of rolling surfaces, for the preparation of water-proofing coatings, and the for the preparation of adhesive formulations.
US08076391B2
A composition for erosion control, dust abatement, and/or water clarification comprising an anionic polyacrylamide, and at least one inorganic salt, wherein the combination of the anionic polyacrylamide and at least one inorganic salt form a molecule with a chain larger than 5×10−3 μm (50 angstroms).
US08076370B2
Provided herein are substituted aromatic compounds, which are tRNA synthetase inhibitors, and hence can be used as antimicrobial agents. Compounds described herein can be used for the treatment or prevention of a condition caused by or contributed to by gram positive, gram negative, anaerobic bacteria or fungal organisms, more particularly against bacterium, for example, Staphylococci, Enterococci, Streptococci, Haemophilus, Moraxalla, Escherichia, Chlamydia, Mycoplasm, Legionella, Mycobacterium, Helicobacter, Clostridium, Bacteroides, Corynebacterium, Bacillus or Enterobactericeae, and fungal organisms, for example, Aspergillus, Blastomyces, Candida, Coccidiodes, Cryptococcus, Epidermophyton, Hendersonula, Histoplasma, Microsporum, Paecilomyces, Paracoccidiodes, Pneumocystis, Trichophyton, or Trichosporium. Processes for the preparation of these compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treating microbial infections are also provided.
US08076368B2
A percutaneous absorption type cerebral protective agent containing as an active ingredient, 0.1 to 30 percent by mass of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one represented by the following formula: or a medically acceptable salt thereof in a base; a use of the compound as an active ingredient for the manufacture of a percutaneous absorption type pharmaceutical composition for protecting brain; and a method of protecting brain comprising administering to a patient the pharmaceutical composition as an active ingredient.
US08076367B2
Compounds useful as GnRH receptor antagonists are provided. The present inventors have further examined propane-1,3-dione derivatives and confirmed as a result that a propane-1,3-dione having 2-(1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-ylidene), or a compound which has benzene or thiophene ring substituted with a group derived from 1-hydroxymethyl, shows excellent availability, in addition to its excellent GnRH receptor antagonism, thereby accomplishing the invention. Since the compound of the invention shows excellent availability, in addition to its strong GnRH receptor antagonism, it can be expected that it exerts superior drug effect in the living body, and it is useful for the treatment of sex hormone dependent diseases such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis, uterine leiomyoma, benign prostatic hypertrophy and the like. In addition, since the compound of the invention is excellent in metabolic stability in human and also is less in drug interaction, it has more desirable properties as a medicament to be used for the aforementioned diseases.
US08076360B2
The present invention is concerned with novel indol-2-yl-carbonyl-piperidine derivatives as V1a receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments. The active compounds of the present invention are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders and other diseases. Present invention is concerned with compounds of the general formula (I) wherein R1 to R6, R8 to R14, R12′, R13′, X and Y are as defined in the specification.
US08076354B2
The invention relates to new bicyclic heterocyclic derivative compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, A, 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.
US08076353B2
In accordance with the present invention, methods for inhibiting the translation of VEGF and methods for decreasing VEGF level by inhibiting VEGF translation are provided. In another aspect of the invention, compounds that inhibit the 5′-UTR-dependent translation of VEGF and methods for identifying such compounds are provided.
US08076348B2
[Problem] To provide a compound which can be used in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in which 5-HT2B receptor and 5-HT7 receptor are concerned, particularly in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and/or prevention of migraine.[Means for Resolution] It was found that an acylguanidine derivative having a tricyclic structure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has a strong antagonism to 5-HT2B receptor and 5-HT7 receptor. In addition, the compound of the present invention having antagonism to both of the receptors showed superior pharmacological action in comparison with the case of the single use of an antagonist selective for either one of the receptors. Based on the above, the compound of the present invention is useful in preventing and/or treating diseases in which 5-HT2B receptor and 5-HT7 receptor are concerned, particularly in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and/or preventing migraine.
US08076344B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, and R3, are defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating DGAT-1 related diseases or conditions are also disclosed.
US08076341B2
A compound of formula (I) wherein R1 is selected from H, F, Cl, Br, CF3, C1-C6 alkoxy and OH; R2 is selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl; n is 1-12; m is O or 1; Y is selected from CH2, NR3, (NR3R4)+X, O and S; R3 and R4 are independently selected from H and C1-C4 alkyl; and X″ is selected from phannaceutically acceptable anions. A method of preparing the compound, its use as a pharmaceutical, and a method of treatment.
US08076332B2
The present invention relates to a study on the synthesis of a novel N-(2-aminophenyl)benzamide derivative having an urea structure and represented by the general formula (1); and the utilization of a pharmacological effect of the derivative. A compound represented by the general formula (1) or a salt thereof has an effect of cellular morphological change on trabecular meshwork cells and is effective in the prevention and/or treatment of a disease considered to be related to intraocular pressure. In the formula, R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or the like; R3 represents a hydroxy group, a lower alkoxy group, a lower cycloalkyloxy group, an aryloxy group, or the like; R4 and R5 represent a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a hydroxy group, a lower alkoxy group, or the like; X represents a lower alkylene group or the like; Y represents a single bond, a lower alkylene group, or the like; l and m represent 0, 1, 2, or the like.
US08076329B2
The present patent application concerns compounds of formula (I) with R1 and R2 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a mono or bicyclic saturated nitrogen-containing ring; their preparation and their use as a H3 receptor ligand for treating e.g. CNS disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
US08076328B2
Process for the protection of fish and invertebrates and all their stages of development against or for the treatment of mycoses caused by fungi of the genera Saprolegnia, Aphanomyces, Achlyaflagellata and other species important in aquacultures by use of 2-[[[[1-[3-(1-fluoro-2-phenylethyl)oxy]phenyl]ethylidene]amino]oxy]methyl]alpha-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-alphaE-benzeneacetamide, amisulbrom, cyazofamid, enestrobin, famoxadone, fenamidone, fluoxastrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin and pyribencarb. This use leads to an inhibition or destruction of pathogenic fungi.The composition, comprising at least one fungicide selected from the abovementioned group for use in fish farming and keeping is suitable for the prophylaxis and therapy of diseases of fish in aquaculture, in breeding ponds, breeding tanks, aquariums, natural stretches of game fish waters, ponds, and marine fish farms. Addition to the water and feed and direct application are the associated use forms. The addition of the composition according to the invention to the water decreases fungal infections of spawn and fish.
US08076327B2
The application relates to novel heterocyclic compounds of the general formula (I) and salts, preferable pharmaceutically acceptable salts, thereof, in which R, R1, R2, R3, Q, m and n have the meanings explained in detail in the description, a process for their preparation and the use of these compounds as medicaments, in particular as aldosterone synthase inhibitors.
US08076325B2
Compounds of formula (I): wherein: R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a group selected from cycloalkyl, benzyl and optionally substituted alkyl, R2, R3, R4 and R5 each represent a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy, methyl, —OSO2R10, —OCOR10 or optionally substituted alkoxy group, or R2 and R3, or R3 and R4, or R4 and R5 together form a group —O—(CH2)q—O—, —O—CH═CH—O— or —O—CH═CH—, R6, R7, R8 and R9 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group, or R6 and R7, or R7 and R8, or R8 and R9 together form a group —O—(CH2)q—O—, R10 represents a group selected from linear or branched C1-C6alkoxy, NR11R′11 and optionally substituted alkyl, R11 and R′11 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, or R11 and R′11 together with the nitrogen atom carrying them form an optionally substituted, monocyclic or bicyclic, nitrogen-containing heterocycle, X represents O, NH or CH2, m and p each represent 0 or 1, n and q each represent 1 or 2, in racemic form or in the form of optical isomers, and also addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid. Medicinal products containing the same which are useful in treating various pathologies.
US08076323B2
The invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and uses of compounds and salts thereof of general formula (I), for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of an inflammatory disorder, but excluding (S)-3-(1′-methylcyclohexylcarbonylamino)-caprolactam: wherein z is 1, 2, 3 or 4; A is —CO— or —SO2—; Q is linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, oxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, alklylaminoalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl or substituted aryl; T1 and T2 together constitute a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or polycycloalkyl radical composed of n additional carbon atoms, where n is between 2 and 7; and each hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atoms in the ring generated by T1 and T2 may be independently be substituted by a group R1, where R1 is independently selected from an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkylamino radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or each R1 is independently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, hydroxy, oxyalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl or aminodialkyl radical.
US08076322B2
Novel compounds are provided which are GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators. GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulator therapy. These novel compounds have the structure: or stereoisomers or prodrugs or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein n1, n2, n3, n4, A, B, D, E, G, Y, Z, R1 and R2 are defined herein.
US08076311B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the prophylaxis of blood cell disorders such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, and anaemia. The invention provides methods wherein compositions comprising at least one cytokinin compound are administered either therapeutically or prophylactically. The invention further has utility in methods of DNA repair.
US08076310B2
Disclosed herein are novel phosphonate nucleosides and thiophosphonate nucleosides comprising a phosphonalkoxy-substituted or phosphonothioalkyl-substituted five-membered, saturated or unsaturated, oxygen-containing or sulfur-containing ring coupled to a heterocyclic nucleobase such as a pyrimidine or purine base. The invention further relates to compounds having HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) replication inhibiting properties and to compounds having antiviral activities with respect to other viruses. The invention also relates to methods for preparation of all such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. The invention further relates to the use of said compounds as a medicine and in the manufacture of a medicament useful for the treatment of subjects suffering from HIV infection, as well as for treatment of other viral, retroviral or lentiviral infections and to the treatment of animals suffering from FIV, viral, retroviral or lentiviral infections.
US08076308B2
There is provided compositions and methods for improving the therapeutic efficacy of various cancer treatments, for example endocrine therapy, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, by inhibiting the expression of one or more genes involved in the cellular autophagy response. The compositions include compositions comprising an siRNA directed against an Atg gene and may be used to inhibit expression of an Atg gene in a cell currently undergoing cancer therapy, or to treat, inhibit or prevent cancer in a subject in combination with a cancer therapy.
US08076305B2
A composition for implantation into cardiac tissue includes a biological pacemaker that, when implanted, expresses an effective amount of a mutated hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) isoform to modify Ih when compared with wild-type HCN. Methods for implementing each of the biologocal pacemakers include implanting each of biologocal pacemakers into cardiac tissue.
US08076296B2
A topical composition having (i) an isolated polypeptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional equivalent thereof, and (ii) a cosmetically acceptable carrier; and use thereof.
US08076288B2
The present invention relates generally to novel, selectable hybrid polypeptides useful as agents for the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases and disorders which can be alleviated by control plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, and/or insulin secretion, such as diabetes and diabetes-related conditions. Such conditions and disorders include, but are not limited to, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, insulin-resistance, obesity, and diabetes mellitus of any kind, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
US08076285B2
The invention relates to lysobactin amides and methods for their preparation, as well as their use for manufacturing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular bacterial infectious diseases.
US08076276B2
A trunk piston marine engine lubricating oil composition for a medium-speed compression-ignited marine engine comprises, in a major amount, an oil of lubricating viscosity containing 50 mass % or more of a Group II basestock, and, in respective minor amounts, (A) an overbased metal hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate detergent having a basicity index of 5.5 or greater, and (B) an overbased metal hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate detergent having a basicity index of 2 or less. The ratio of the mass of metal in detergent (A) to the mass of metal in detergent (B) is 10 or less.
US08076272B2
A process for preparing an alkylaryl sulfonate comprising (a) reacting at least one meta-xylene compound with olefin or a mixture of olefins having from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms, in the presence of an acid catalyst, wherein the resulting product comprises no more than 40 weight percent of 1-alkyl-2,4 dimethylsubstituted aromatic compound and at least about 60 weight percent of 1-alkyl-3,5 dimethyl substituted aromatic compound; (b) sulfonating the product of (a); and (c) neutralizing the product of (b) with a source of alkali or alkaline earth metal or ammonia.
US08076269B2
A compressible object is described that may be utilized in drilling mud and with a drilling system to manage the density of the drilling mud. The compressible object includes a shell that encloses an interior region. The shell experiences less strain when the external pressure is about equal to the internal pressure than when the external pressure is above or below a predetermined compression interval of the compressible object includes a shell that encloses an interior region.
US08076249B2
A dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film disposed in an integrated circuit and a method of fabricating such a dielectric provide a dielectric for use in a variety of electronic devices. Embodiments include a dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film arranged as one or more monolayers. Embodiments include structures for capacitors, transistors, memory devices, and electronic systems with dielectrics containing a titanium silicon oxide film, and methods for forming such structures.
US08076246B2
A method comprises a first multilayer body forming step of forming a first multilayer body on a first cladding layer, the first multilayer body including a core layer and a first polishing stop layer in order from the first cladding layer side; a first multilayer body patterning step of pattering the first multilayer body, so as to expose the first cladding layer about the patterned first multilayer body; a second multilayer body forming step of forming a second multilayer body on the exposed first cladding layer and patterned first multilayer body, the second multilayer body including a second cladding layer and a second polishing stop layer in order from the first cladding layer side; and a removing step of polishing away a part of the second multilayer body formed on the first multilayer body.
US08076241B2
Methods are provided for multi-step Cu metal plating on a continuous Ru metal film in recessed features found in advanced integrated circuits. The use of a continuous Ru metal film prevents formation of undesirable micro-voids during Cu metal filling of high-aspect-ratio recessed features, such as trenches and vias, and enables formation of large Cu metal grains that include a continuous Cu metal layer plated onto the continuous Ru metal film. The large Cu grains lower the electrical resistivity of the Cu filled recessed features and increase the reliability of the integrated circuit.
US08076238B2
An electronic device and method for production is disclosed. One embodiment provides an integrated component having a first layer which is composed of copper or a copper alloy or which contains copper or a copper alloy, and having an electrically conductive second layer, whose material differs from the material of the first layer, and a connection apparatus which is arranged on the first layer and on the second layer.
US08076237B2
The present invention discloses methods for depositing a material, particularly a conductive material, in cavities of a substrate and forming bonding contacts or pads thereon. An intracavity structure may be utilized in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention to provide efficient filling of diverse cavities within the substrate. Also provided are embodiments for interconnection structures using filled cavities, along with electrically conductive or reactive structures which may include capacitors fabricated within a substrate.
US08076235B2
Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same. The devices includes a substrate, a first etch stop layer, a dielectric layer, an opening, and an anti-diffusion layer. The first etch stop layer overlies the substrate. The dielectric layer overlies the first etch stop layer. The opening extends through the dielectric layer and the first etch stop layer, and exposes parts of the substrate. The anti-diffusion layer overlies at least sidewalls of the opening, preventing contamination molecule diffusion from at least the first etch stop layer, wherein the anti-diffusion layer is respectively denser than the first etch stop layer and the dielectric layer.
US08076233B2
A manufacturing method for an electrode connecting portion includes covering an electrode forming surface with a solder sheet, rolling a heating roller on the solder sheet that covers the electrode forming surface, and removing the solder sheet after the heating roller has passed over the solder sheet.
US08076232B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die mounted to a substrate with a plurality of composite interconnects formed between interconnect sites on the substrate and bump pads on the die. The interconnect sites are part of traces formed on the substrate. The interconnect site has a width between 1.0 and 1.2 times a width of the trace. The composite interconnect is tapered. The composite interconnects have a fusible portion connected to the interconnect site and non-fusible portion connected to the bump pad. The non-fusible portion can be gold, copper, nickel, lead solder, or lead-tin alloy. The fusible portion can be tin, lead-free alloy, tin-silver alloy, tin-silver-copper alloy, tin-silver-indium alloy, eutectic solder, or other tin alloys with silver, copper, or lead. An underfill material is deposited between the semiconductor die and substrate. A finish such as Cu-OSP can be formed over the substrate.
US08076229B2
Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a method that includes forming a lower conductive material on a substrate, forming a stop material on the substrate, forming a sacrificial material on the substrate, etching the sacrificial material with an etch that is selective to the sacrificial material and selective against the stop material, and etching the lower conductive material.
US08076208B2
Transistors are formed using pitch multiplication. Each transistor includes a source region and a drain region connected by strips of active area material separated by shallow trench isolaton structures. The shallow trench isolaton structures are formed by dielectric material filling trenches that are formed by pitch multiplication. During pitch multiplication, rows of spaced-apart mandrels are formed and spacer material is blanket deposited over the mandrels. The spacer material is etched to define spacers on sidewalls of the mandrels and the mandrels are subsequently removed, thereby leaving free-standing spacers. The spacers constitute a mask, through which an underlying substrate is etched to form the trenches and strips of active area material. The trenches are filled to form the shallow trench isolaton structures. The substrate is doped to form source, drain and channel regions and a gate is formed over the channel region. In some embodiments, the shallow trench isolaton structures and the strips of material facilitate the formation of transistors having a high breakdown voltage.
US08076206B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes steps of forming a dummy layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a groove 12 in the semiconductor substrate while using the dummy layer as a mask, forming a tunnel insulating film and a trap layer to cover an inner surface of the groove and the dummy layer, eliminating the trap layer formed above the upper surface and at the sides of the dummy layer, and forming a top insulating film to cover a remaining trap layer and the exposed tunnel insulating film.
US08076196B2
The semiconductor device includes: memory cells each having a first multilayer electrode including a first lower electrode made of a first conductive film and a first upper electrode made of a second conductive film formed one on the other with a first interface film therebetween; and a diode having a diode electrode made of the second conductive film and a second interface film as a silicon oxide film formed at the interface between the diode electrode and a substrate. The first interface film has a thickness with which electrical connection between the lower electrode and the upper electrode is maintained, and the second interface film has a thickness with which epitaxial growth between the substrate and the diode electrode is inhibited.
US08076191B2
In processing memory cells for forming a nonvolatile memory in a semiconductor device, a second polysilicon film is formed in such a manner as to cover a first polysilicon film and a dummy gate electrode. Thus, the second polysilicon film is formed reflecting the shapes of a step difference portion and a gap groove. Particularly, in the second polysilicon film covering the gap groove, a concave part is formed. Subsequently, over the second polysilicon film, an antireflection film is formed. Thus, the antireflection film having high flowability flows from the higher region to the lower region of the step difference portion, but is stored in a sufficient amount in the concave part. Accordingly, the antireflection film is supplied from the concave part so as to compensate for the amount of the antireflection film to flow out therefrom.
US08076182B2
A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a post and a base, mounting an adhesive on the base including inserting the post into an opening in the adhesive, mounting a substrate on the adhesive including aligning the post with an aperture in the substrate, then flowing the adhesive into and upward in a gap located in the aperture between the post and the substrate, solidifying the adhesive, then etching the post to form a cavity in the adhesive above the post, then mounting a semiconductor device on the post, wherein a heat spreader includes the post and the base and the semiconductor device extends into the cavity, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the substrate and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08076180B2
Repairable semiconductor device and method. In one embodiment a method, provides a first body having a first semiconductor chip and a first metal layer. A second body includes a second semiconductor chip and a second metal layer. Metal of the first metal layer is removed. The first semiconductor chip is removed from the first body. The second body is attached to the first body. The first metal layer is electrically coupled to the second metal layer.
US08076179B2
A multi-chip module and an integrated structure of the present invention including: at least one of either a terminal unit formation area expanded type integrated circuit chip, or a terminal unit formation area identical type integrated circuit chip; terminal unit formation areas of these integrated circuits that are covered with protective layers, and expanded wiring units and terminal units formed in the protective layers; one or a plurality of the terminal unit formation area expanded type and the terminal unit formation area identical type integrated circuit chip components that are two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally aligned in further protective layers; a horizontal or a vertical wiring formed for arbitrarily connecting the plurality of the integrated circuit chip components in the further protective layers.
US08076173B2
A semiconductor substrate and a method of its manufacture has a semiconductor substrate having a carbon concentration in a range of 6.0×1015 to 2.0×1017 atoms/cm3, both inclusively. One principal surface of the substrate is irradiated with protons and then heat-treated to thereby form a broad buffer structure, namely a region in a first semiconductor layer where a net impurity doping concentration is locally maximized. Due to the broad buffer structure, lifetime values are substantially equalized in a region extending from an interface between the first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer to the region where the net impurity doping concentration is locally maximized. In addition, the local minimum of lifetime values of the first semiconductor layer becomes high. It is thus possible to provide a semiconductor device having soft recovery characteristics, in addition to high-speed and low-loss characteristics, while suppressing a kinked leakage current waveform.
US08076171B2
A mold for a display device, comprises a supporting frame; the supporting frame comprising at least one depressed pattern forming part on a first side of the supporting frame, and an organic layer removing part which is formed on a circumference of the pattern forming part, the pattern forming part depressed regions of different depths, the mold having light-blocking and light-transmitting portions corresponding to certain of the depressed pattern forming parts.
US08076165B2
The present invention includes a first step of forming a nitride semiconductor layer by metal organic chemical vapor deposition by using a first carrier gas containing a nitrogen carrier gas and a hydrogen carrier gas of a flow quantity larger than that of the nitrogen carrier gas to thereby supply a raw material containing Mg and a Group V raw material containing N, and a second step of lowering a temperature by using a second carrier gas to which a material containing N is added, and hence solves the problems.
US08076160B2
A method for obtaining at least one binding agent which binds a pharmaceutically active form of the compound with a higher specificity than a pharmaceutically inactive form of the compound is described by using special derivatives of said parent compound. The invention also pertains to the respectively created binding agents and derivatives. Furthermore, drug monitoring assays using said binding agents for monitoring pharmaceutically active forms of said parent compound are provided.
US08076158B2
A method of preparing a thin section sample includes affixing the sample to a receptacle using an affixing media that includes a material having a thickness-sensitive characteristic. The sample may then be shaped to have an asymmetric cross-section. The method may further include reducing a thickness of the material until the thickness-sensitive material exhibits a change in an optical characteristic. The added material, which may be quartz, may exhibit a predetermined optical characteristic at a specified thickness and/or exhibit a change in an optical characteristic in response to a change in thickness. In one application, the method may include retrieving the sample from a subterranean formation. For instance, the sample may be retrieved from a gas shale formation.
US08076157B2
The invention relates to the detection of vitamin D metabolites. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting derivatized vitamin D metabolites by mass spectrometry.
US08076156B1
A glucosamine sample is analyzed using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer to determine whether the glucosamine sample is corn-based, e.g., vegetable-based, as opposed to shellfish-based. The isotope ratio mass spectrometer yields an isotopic value for δ 13C that is compared to a reference isotope value for corn, typically about −12.0%. If there is substantial agreement between the two ratios, then it is known with reasonable certainty that the glucosamine origin is corn and is thus vegetable-based. If there is substantial disagreement between the two ratios, it is known that the glucosamine is not corn-based and is likely shellfish-based. In this fashion, end consumers who cannot consume shellfish-based glucosamine, for reasons of religion or allergy, can purchase glucosamine with greater confidence.
US08076143B2
Methods of determining the quality of milk due to the presence of mastitis, by monitoring the concentration of various ions, and ratios of those ions, in the milk. As the level of mastitic infection progresses, the concentrations of sodium and chloride ions increase and the concentrations of potassium and calcium ions decrease. A ratio of sodium to potassium is more sensitive to infection detection than either ion concentration alone. Similarly, sodium to calcium, chloride to potassium and chloride to calcium is more sensitive than any of the ions alone.
US08076141B2
The invention relates to the isolation and characterization of a maize gene, RAMOSA3 (RA3), responsible for meristem development and inflorescence development including branching. The gene, gene product, and regulatory regions may be used to manipulate branching, meristem growth, inflorescence development and arrangement, and ultimately to improve yield of plants. The invention includes the gene and protein product as well as the use of the same for temporal and spatial expression in transgenic plants to alter plant morphology and affect yield in plants. The invention also includes the gene and protein product for SISTER OF RAMOSA3 (SRA).
US08076126B2
A plurality of individual single column test elements are provided for use in a clinical testing apparatus. Each test element is defined by a single test column that includes a quantity of a test material, such as gel material or a bead matrix, including a cover strip used to access the contents of the test column. Individual test elements can be stored, retained and dispensed for testing patient samples.
US08076122B2
The present invention is generally directed to processes that integrate CO2-producing conversions of hydrocarbonaceous assets with biofuels processes that utilize CO2 photosynthesis. In some embodiments such processes involve the absorption of CO2 in an absorption liquid. In some such embodiments such absorption is carried out in an absorption tower. In some other such embodiments, there is a subsequent desorption of the CO2. Generally, at least some of the CO2 captured by the absorption liquid is used to grow microbes or diatom species.
US08076120B2
Methods and materials related to producing 3-HP as well as other organic compounds are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, and methods and materials for producing 3-HP and other organic compounds are disclosed.
US08076107B2
Methods and materials for the production of the high intensity sweetener, monatin, in stereoisomerically-pure or stereoisomerically-enriched form are disclosed. For example, methods using stereoisoselective hydrolysis and separation of a monatin-derived lactone ester are disclosed.
US08076106B2
A process for producing high yields of enantioselective amino acids and chiral amines by reacting a keto acid or ketone and an amino acid donor in the presence of a transaminase biocatalyst to produce a keto acid by-product and an amino acid or amine product. Further reacting the keto acid by-product with a peroxide to increase the yield of additional amino acid or amine product.
US08076099B2
The instant invention concerns Francisella bacteria mediated degradation of alkaline phosphatase (AP). Detection of AP degradation may be used to determine the presence of Francisella bacteria in a sample. Furthermore, methods for identifying and treating Francisella infections by detecting AP degradation are described. Methods of the invention also concerns methods for treating Francisella infection by inhibiting AP degradation.
US08076096B2
Methods and compositions are provided for the persistent modification of cell membranes with exogenous proteins so as to alter the function of the cell to achieve effects similar to those of gene therapy, without the introduction of exogenous DNA. DNA sequences, the proteins and polypeptides embodying these sequences are disclosed for modulating the immune system. The modulations include down-regulation, up-regulation and apoptosis.
US08076095B2
A method for the enumeration of micronucleated erythrocyte populations while distinguishing platelet and platelet-associated aggregates involves the use of a first fluorescent labeled antibody having binding specificity for a surface marker for reticulocytes, a second fluorescent labeled antibody having binding specificity for a surface marker for platelets, and a nucleic acid staining dye that stains DNA (micronuclei) in erythrocyte populations. Because the fluorescent emission spectra of the first and second fluorescent labeled antibodies do not substantially overlap with one another or with the emission spectra of the nucleic acid staining dye, upon excitation of the labels and dye it is possible to detect the fluorescent emission and light scatter produced by the erythrocyte populations and platelets, and count the number of cells from one or more erythrocyte populations in said sample. In particular, the use of the second antibody prevents interference by platelet-associated aggregates in the scoring procedures.
US08076090B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for using label free optical biosensors for performing cell assays. In certain embodiments the assays can be performed in high throughput methods and can be multiplexed.
US08076084B2
A method of predicting metastatic potential, prognosis or overall survival of cancer patients is provided. The method utilizes reliable markers, HIF-1α, TWIST or Snail, to predict the probability of the metastatic potential, prognosis situation or overall survival of cancer patients. Moreover, the method provided by the present invention can reach relatively higher predictability of metastatic potential, prognosis situation or overall survival as compared with the current markers.
US08076077B2
This invention provides a composition comprising the following polynucleotide probes: IL7R (AA485865) (SEQ ID NO:7), NDRGI (AA486403) (SEQ ID NO:8), EST1 (H50345) (SEQ ID NO:9), TRPC1 (AA017132) (SEQ ID NO:10), GFRA1 (AA512935) (SEQ ID NO:11), EST2 (AA454543) (SEQ ID NO:12), CLDN10 (R54559) (SEQ ID NO:13), DNALI1 (R93087) (SEQ ID NO:14), RBP5 (AA453198) (SEQ ID NO:15), EST3 (AA621761) (SEQ ID NO:16), EST4 (N63706) (SEQ ID NO:17), PCOLCE (AA670200) (SEQ ID NO:18), TDO2 (T72398) (SEQ ID NO:19), EST5 (T47454) (SEQ ID NO:20), HIST1H2BD (N33927) (SEQ ID NO:21), PXMP2 (N70714) (SEQ ID NO:22), ACAS2 (AA455146) (SEQ ID NO:23), ANAPC7 (T68445) (SEQ ID NO:24), EST6 (AA576580) (SEQ ID NO:25), RBP5 (N92148) (SEQ ID NO:26), ANXAI (H63077) (SEQ ID NO:27), CKB (AA894557) (SEQ ID NO:28), ITGBL1 (N52533) (SEQ ID NO:29), KPNA2 (AA676460) (SEQ ID NO:30), EST7 (W90740) (SEQ ID NO:31) and MEG3 (W85841) (SEQ ID NO:32). This invention further provides methods for determining the likelihood of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a subject afflicted with HCC, for determining the likelihood of death of a subject afflicted with HCC or for determining whether to administer adjuvant therapy.
US08076073B2
The present invention 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. In one aspect of the invention, the method provides a means for affecting cholesterol biosynthesis or transport in a cell comprising contacting a cell with an effective amount of a compound that affects hedgehog, thereby affecting cholesterol biosynthesis or transport. The effect may be inhibition or stimulation of cholesterol biosynthesis or transport.
US08076067B2
The invention provides novel compositions and methods for detecting unlabeled nucleic acid targets using labeled polynucleotide probes and partially complementary antiprobes. The interaction of probes, antiprobes and targets result in signaling changes that indicate target frequency. This novel detection mechanism is called a DNA detection switch, and it enable end-point detection, microarray detection and real-time PCR detection of a variety of nucleic acid targets including microbial species and subspecies, drug resistant mutants, and pathogenic strains.
US08076065B2
The present invention provides methods for the assessment of risk of developing lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers using analysis of genetic polymorphisms. The present invention also relates to the use of genetic polymorphisms in assessing a subject's risk of developing lung cancer. Nucleotide probes and primers, kits, and microarrays suitable for such assessment are also provided.
US08076064B2
The invention relates to methods for treating samples of RNA. In an embodiment the method includes contacting the sample of RNA with an analogous DNA set to provide a DNA/RNA duplex. The analogous DNA set includes at least one sequence analogous to a small RNA. The method includes contacting the DNA/RNA duplex with an enzyme having a DNA:RNA nuclease activity to provide a digested RNA sample. Kits in accordance with the invention are also described.
US08076048B2
Embodiments include a toner having a polyester resin derived from a terephthalic material, 2,2-ethyl-butyl-1,3-propanediol and bis-(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)-dimethylmethane, a wax, and an optional colorant.
US08076046B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive support and a photosensitive layer obtained by laminating at least a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material in this order on the conductive support, the photosensitive layer being provided with a surface protective layer on the surface thereof, wherein the protective layer contains at least filler particles which exhibit a dispersed state defined by Rf given by the following equations (1) and (2): Rf=(df×b3)/(dm×a3) (1) 1.0×10−3≦Rf≦2.5×10−2 (2) and a diamine compound represented by the following formula (I):
US08076044B2
A fuel cell assembly and inspection device comprising a first base plate on which can be mounted a fuel cell stack including a current collecting plate placed on a first end plate and a plurality of unit cells stacked on the current collecting plate, and a pressure cylinder for pressing the stack, assembles a fuel cell by fixing a second end plate to a pressed stack. The device is provided with fuel gas supply piping, fuel gas discharge piping, oxidizing agent gas supply piping, oxidizing agent gas discharge piping, cooling medium supply piping, and cooling medium discharge piping which are connected, respectively, with a fuel gas supply port, a fuel gas discharge port, an oxidizing agent gas supply port, an oxidizing agent gas discharge port, a cooling medium supply port, and a cooling medium discharge port, which are provided on the first end plate.
US08076043B2
A fuel cell body has an anode having an anode-side separator with projections and depressions formed on its surface, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the anode and the cathode, and the fuel cell body is disposed in a container for storing liquid fuel so that at least the anode side is immersed therein. Fuel passageways through which the liquid fuel flows are formed by regions surrounded by the projections and depressions on the surface of the separator and the membrane electrode assembly. By this, the downsized, simplified and lower power consuming structure of auxiliary equipment such as a fuel feed system is achieved.
US08076042B2
A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack comprising micro-fuel cell units having a circular cross section. Each includes an electric conductive tube that comprises a porous wall section and a non-permeable wall section, an inner electrode disposed around the peripheral surface of the porous wall section, a solid electrolyte member disposed around the inner electrode, and an outer electrode disposed around the electrolyte. The fuel cell stack comprises at least one fuel cell module, which includes an electric conductive planar sheet, and micro-fuel cell units laid side-by-side on the electric conductive planar sheet, the non-permeable sections of the micro fuel cell units being electrically interconnected. The fuel cell modules are stacked with an electrical insulating material between the outer electrodes of the fuel cell units in a first module and a second module's conductive planar sheet overlying or underlying the outer electrodes of the first module.
US08076033B2
The present invention provides a simple method for producing a difluorophosphate from a source material, the difluorophosphate being useful as additives for nonaqueous electrolyte solutions for secondary batteries. In the method, a source material containing a carbonate and/or a borate is allowed to react with a source gas which contains P and F and which may further contain O as required. The source material may contain lithium carbonate. The source gas may be produced by decomposing LiPF6. The source gas may be produced in such a manner that LiPF6 and lithium carbonate are mixed and then subjected to reaction. The nonaqueous electrolyte solution contains the product obtained from the reaction.
US08076031B1
One example of the disiloxanes include a backbone with a first silicon and a second silicon. The first silicon is linked to a first substituent selected from a group consisting of: a first side chain that includes a cyclic carbonate moiety; a first side chain that includes a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety; and a first cross link links the disiloxane to a second siloxane and that includes a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety. In some instance, the second silicon is linked to a second substituent selected from a group consisting of: a second side chain that includes a cyclic carbonate moiety, and a second side chain that includes a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety.
US08076026B2
A battery having an electrode mix comprising water, a conductive additive and poly (acrylonitrile-co-acrylamide) co-polymer as a binder. The use of poly (acrylonitrile-co-acrylamide) co-polymer eliminates the need for a separate thickener.
US08076024B2
Electrode protection in electrochemical cells, and more specifically, electrode protection in both aqueous and non-aqueous electrochemical cells, including rechargeable lithium batteries, are presented. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes an anode comprising lithium and a multi-layered structure positioned between the anode and an electrolyte of the cell. A multi-layered structure can include at least a first single-ion conductive material layer (e.g., a lithiated metal layer), and at least a first polymeric layer positioned between the anode and the single-ion conductive material. The invention also can provide an electrode stabilization layer positioned within the electrode, i.e., between one portion and another portion of an electrode, to control depletion and re-plating of electrode material upon charge and discharge of a battery. Advantageously, electrochemical cells comprising combinations of structures described herein are not only compatible with environments that are typically unsuitable for lithium, but the cells may be also capable of displaying long cycle life, high lithium cycling efficiency, and high energy density.
US08076021B2
The present invention provides a bipolar battery made by using a polymer gel electrolyte or a liquid electrolyte in an electrolyte layer, which is highly reliable and prevents liquid junction (short circuit) caused by leak out of an electrolyte solution from the electrolyte part. The present invention provides a bipolar battery laminated, in series, with a plurality pieces of bipolar electrodes which is formed with a positive electrode on one surface of a collector, and a negative electrode on the other surface, so as to sandwich an electrolyte layer, characterized by being provided with a separator which retains the electrolyte later, and a seal resin which is formed and arranged at the outer circumference part of a part of the separator where the electrolyte is retained.
US08076020B2
The present invention provides to a battery module which is excellent in cooling performance of a battery and is improved in assembling easiness at low cast. A battery module 3 accommodates assembled battery blocks 20 arranged in series in an exterior case formed in an approximately hexahedral shape in parallel, each assembled battery block 20 including six assembled battery units electrically connected in series and each assembled battery unit including four cylindrical unit cells arrange such that their polarities are alternating. An exterior case is formed by connecting a lower lid 22 having a front face, a bottom face, and a back face and an upper lid 41 having a left side face, an upper face, and a right side face. End portions of the left side face, the upper face, and the right side face of the upper lid are drawn at the sides of the front face and the back face of the lower lid.
US08076016B2
An apparatus and method for these embodiments of the present invention, useful in manufacturing for example, includes a plurality of battery modules serially intercoupled together, each module including a housing with an anode connector and a cathode connector, each housing including a memory for storing a module identifier and wherein an anode connector of a first module is coupled to a cathode connector of a second module; and a processing system, coupled to each the module, for determining a plurality of positional attributes of each the module, one positional attribute associated with each the module of the plurality of modules, the processing system writing an ID into the memory of each particular module responsive to the associated positional attribute for the particular module.
US08076010B2
A magnetic wire includes a magnetic metal wire material having a surface coated with a layer of an insulating material. The magnetic wire has a magnetic coercive force of 30 A/m or less and has a Barkhausen effect.
