US08090466B2

An embroidery data creation apparatus includes a thread color relation value storage device that stores a color relation value that corresponds to a color, for each embroidery thread which is used in an embroidery data, a preview image creation device that creates a preview image, a preview display device that displays the preview image created, a reference region specification device that specifies as a color modification reference region at least one region in the preview image, a thread color selection device that selects a thread color to be used for the reference region specified, an image data color modification device that modifies the color of the image data based on the color relation value corresponding to a color of a reference image region and the color relation values corresponding to the thread color selected, and an embroidery data creation device that creates the embroidery data from color-modified image data obtained.
US08090463B2

During the production of a product by means of a production machine, an evaluation device receives actual states of components of the production machine, detected by sensors at detection times, and/or operating states of a control device of the production machine at the defined detection times. The evaluation device compares the states of each detection time transmitted thereto with pre-defined state combinations and thus determines fulfilled state combinations. For each fulfilled state combination, the evaluation device selects relevant states from the states of the respective detection time transmitted thereto, and corresponding information and the respective detection time are stored with the relevant states such that they are available for other evaluations.
US08090459B2

A guiding-tour system and apparatus, including: at least one host, which adheres or near to an exhibition object, and sets an unique discriminate number corresponding to the exhibition object, has a memory slot and at least one wireless transceiver module, at least one memory card is inserted into the slot, a voice guiding-tour data digital file of the exhibition object is recorded in the memory card, and transmits the digital file in the memory card in a wireless manner via the wireless transceiver module; at least one slave handheld by a visitor, the slave being a portable guiding-tour handheld by the visitor, which at least has a wireless transceiver module, may start a download program in a wireless manner, and downloads the voice guiding-tour data digital file stored in the memory card of the host to the slave handheld by the visitor, and playbacks it according to an instruction from the visitor.
US08090455B2

A motion control servo loop apparatus, comprising: a feed-forward control module, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control loop and a compensation adder. The feed-forward control module is capable of generating a feed-forward compensation. The PID control loop further comprises: a proportional control module, an integral control module and a derivative control module. The proportional control module is capable of generating a proportional compensation. The derivative control module is capable of generating a derivative compensation. The integral control module uses a digital differential analyzer (DDA) algorithm to perform integration for accumulated errors with respect to each sampling clock at each DDA pulse and thus output an accumulated error, which is then processed to generate an integral compensation. Thereafter, the compensation adder receives the feed-forward compensation, the proportional compensation, the integral compensation and the derivative compensation to calculate a position error compensation for a motor driver.
US08090447B2

A visual restoration aiding device for restoring vision of a patient, comprises: a signal generation unit including a substrate to be placed on an outer side of a choroid of a patient's eye and a plurality of electrodes arranged on the substrate for applying electrical stimulation pulse signals to cells constituting a retina; a photographing unit which photographs an object to be recognized by the patient; and a processing unit which converts image data obtained by the photographing unit to data for electrical stimulation pulse signal and transmits the converted data to the signal generation unit: wherein, based on the data for electrical stimulation pulse signal transmitted from the processing unit, the signal generation unit forms a waveform of an electrical stimulation pulse signal to be outputted from each electrode into a biphasic rectangular wave including rectangular waves of opposite polarities, and sets a pulse width of the electrical stimulation pulse signal to 0.2 msec. or more and 2 msec. or less.
US08090446B2

Methods for providing electrical stimulation therapy to a cortex of a patient via a plurality of electrodes proximate to the cortex and a pulse generator implanted in the patient. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the invention comprises determining whether the current applied via the plurality of electrodes results in a sufficient current density in the cortex. The current density, for example, may need to be high enough to induce a response in the patient for determining the activation threshold of the specific stimulation site, or the current density may need to be high enough to perform a specific therapy. If the current density is not sufficient, the method continues by selecting a subset of the plurality of electrodes, and applying electrical current to the cortex via the subset of the electrodes. For example, if the current density is not sufficient when the current is applied to the full plurality of electrodes at approximately the maximum output of the pulse generator, then the current level from the pulse generator can be applied to only a subset of the electrodes to effectively increase the current density in the cortex at the active electrodes.
US08090444B2

An exemplary method includes delivering stimulation energy via a right ventricular site; sensing an evoked response caused by the delivered stimulation energy at the right ventricular site; calculating a paced propagation delay for the right ventricular site (PPDRV); delivering stimulation energy via a left ventricular site; sensing an evoked response caused by the delivered stimulation energy at the left ventricular site; calculating a paced propagation delay for the left ventricular site (PPDLV); and determining an interventricular delay time (VV) for delivery of a bi-ventricular pacing therapy based in part on the paced propagation delay for the right ventricular site (PPDRV) and the paced propagation delay for the left ventricular site (PPDLV). Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08090442B2

A cardiac electro-stimulatory device and method for operating same in which stimulation pulses are distributed among a plurality of electrodes fixed at different sites of the myocardium in order to reduce myocardial hypertrophy brought about by repeated pacing at a single site and/or increase myocardial contractility. In order to spatially and temporally distribute the stimulation, the pulses are delivered through a switchable pulse output configuration during a single cardiac cycle, with each configuration comprising one or more electrodes fixed to different sites in the myocardium.
US08090439B2

An external defibrillator is customized for at least one person, i.e., an anticipated patient, through creation of a profile for the anticipated patient that allows the defibrillator and users of the defibrillator to provide customized treatment to the patient. The profile may include treatment parameters for the anticipated patient, such as defibrillation therapy parameters selected for the patient. The profile may also include a baseline recording of a physiological parameter of the patient, and medical history and personal information regarding the patient. In some embodiments, the external defibrillator stores a profile for each of one or more anticipated patients within a memory. In other embodiments, a profile for an anticipated patient is stored within a medium associated with that anticipated patient. The medium may, for example, be a removable medium for external defibrillators.
US08090427B2

Methods for displaying a vessel with the aid of intravascular ultrasound images and current location and cycle information provided by detectors and sensors. A sequence of intravascular ultrasound images are stored and indexed-by location and by heartbeat and breathing phase. During a subsequent medical intervention, ultrasound images that correspond to the current phase and location of an object of interest such as a catheter can be selected and displayed on a monitor in real time along with an x-ray image of the vessel, the display showing the geometric position of the ultrasound images with reference to the x-ray image.
US08090417B2

An electronic device includes a printed circuit board and a casing. The printed circuit board is for storing an image. The casing secures the printed circuit board and displays the image all through its outer surface. The casing includes a touch panel and a display panel. The touch panel is transparent and is for sensing touch of users and generating control signals. The display panel is under the touch panel and is for displaying the image according to the control signals.
US08090400B2

In some embodiments, an automobile has a station that can support a portable electronic device (PED). The station includes a body, which could be integrated with the automobile. The body defines a PED seat, for supporting the PED. A movable member can exert tension so as to bias the supported PED, to prevent the PED from falling off. Detection means can detect when the PED is receiving a wireless signal. A human-perceptible indication can be generated in response to the detection means, above and beyond any ringing and/or vibrating from the PED itself. As such, a user can always keep the PED at the “Silent” annunciation mode even while in the automobile.
US08090397B2

A group communication method in which a communication terminal not participating in the group communication can newly participate in the group communication even while the group communication is being carried out is realized. The group communication method has a personal information management step of managing personal information, a participation request transmission step, a group communication control step, and an other party updating step, in a case where participation intention in the group communication is received from another communication terminal to which no participation request has been transmitted in a state of “party not participating” in which at least one party among the plurality of terminals of the parties sent the participation requests does not participate in the group communication, deleting the party not participating in the group communication from a member list and registering the other party of the other communication terminal in the member list as a party for engaging in the group communication to thereby allow the other communication terminal to participate in the group communication.
US08090396B2

A wireless communications terminal that communicates in a communications infrastructure and methods therefor including opening a push-to-talk (PTT) contact list application (220) on the terminal when the terminal is in a dormant state, for example, by depressing a PTT input, and transitioning the terminal from the dormant state to an active state when the PTT contact list application is opened. Other PTT features include among others indicating on the terminal whether PTT contacts in the contact list are available for a PTT session, and indicating which PTT participant is talking.
US08090392B2

A method and system for reporting short message (SM) capability over an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) using a session initiation protocol (SIP) are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) registers with a core network and sends a message indicating its SM capability via the IMS to the core network. The core network then updates the WTRU capabilities based on the message and routes an SM to the WTRU via the IMS.
US08090389B2

A wireless communications device includes a radiofrequency transceiver having a wireless voice channel for transmitting and receiving voice communications and a separate wireless data channel for concurrently transmitting and receiving other data. The wireless communications device also includes a memory operatively connected to a processor for processing current location data received over the data channel from another communications device with which the wireless communications device is simultaneously communicating on the voice channel. The wireless communications further includes a display for displaying a phone screen during a voice call, the phone screen presenting call-related information. A map is displayed on the phone screen during the voice call, the map presenting a location current of the other communications device based on the current location data received over the data channel. Optionally, the map can also show the current location of the wireless communications device.
US08090384B2

The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports (“NMRs”) which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Regions may be defined as a function of any number of parameters and respective predetermined ranges thereof in the NMRs. An intersection of these defined regions may be determined and the location of a mobile device may be estimated as a function of the intersection.
US08090382B2

Transmitting information using a preamble of a Random Access Channel (RACH) in an Evolved Universal mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) is provided. A preamble transmission is used to inform a base station of specific information when a terminal uses a RACH and the base station efficiently allocates radio resources for data transmission to the terminal according to the specific information. Delay time before the terminal transmits data is reduced and unnecessary consumption of radio resources is minimized.
US08090381B2

Fading is countered in a WLAN or similar system to maintain QoS by a fusion of switched diversity and protocol based redundancy using time spaced transmission bursts to improve the performance of radio receivers. This redundancy may be enhanced by an overlay of space-time coding of the transmission bursts.
US08090379B2

A communication system providing wireless communication among wireless users through a number of cellular base stations, each including at least transport management equipment and broadband equipment, at least one of which supports at least remote cellular station including RF equipment for communication with users of cellular devices. The system includes at lease one wireless narrow beam communication link operating at millimeter wave frequencies in excess of 60 GHz connecting a remote cellular station with a cellular base station equipped with broad band conversion electronic equipment and transport management equipment. In preferred embodiment the communication system includes a large number of remote cellular stations with each remote cellular station serving a separate communication cell. Each remote cellular station is equipped with a low frequency wireless transceiver for communicating with the wireless users within the cell at a radio frequency lower than 6 GHz and a narrow beam millimeter wave wireless transceiver operating at a millimeter wave frequency higher than 60 GHz for communicating with another millimeter wave transceiver at another remote cellular station or a millimeter wave transceiver at a base station.
US08090377B2

A method includes receiving destination information comprising a desired destination and receiving regional signal quality information comprising signal quality information associated with one or more regions of an area. The method also includes determining a first route to the desired destination based on the regional signal quality information.
US08090376B2

A method of selecting a cell for handover of a mobile station to another communication system. A command is sent to a mobile station from a first network element. The command includes a request to perform compressed mode measurements at the mobile station of a neighboring cell. The neighboring cell uses a different communication means than the first network element. Compressed mode measurement results are received from the mobile station at the first network element. The received compressed mode measurement results are weighted with indicators of a prioritized neighbor cell list to form a prioritized list. A second command is sent to the mobile station from the first network element. The second command includes a second request to decode identification codes at the mobile station based on the prioritized list. An indicator of a suitable cell from the prioritized list is received from the mobile station at the first network element. An instruction is sent to the mobile station from the first network element after receiving the indicator. The instruction stops decoding identification codes at the mobile station.
US08090367B2

A cellular phone accumulates input information, which is inputted by a user using the cellular phone located not only inside but also outside of a vehicle, as parent population data for interest extraction, and extracts interest information, which reflects a present interest of a user, from the parent population data for interest extraction. An in-vehicle information output apparatus internally or externally collects provision information, which matches the interest information extracted in the cellular phone, and provides the user with the collected provision information.
US08090366B2

Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to the sending and receiving of multimedia files between two devices while connected through a voice call. These devices are free to send any type of file through a direct connection without the need to hang up and call back just to see if the file was sent successfully. These methods work for a plurality of cellular and computer devices connected through a cellular network or other Internet Service Provider.
US08090345B2

An automatic refill system for pre-paid accounts provides enhanced funding flexibility for customers and additional revenue streams for a telecommunication service provider. The automatic refill system solves the technical challenges involved with implementing a scheduled refill channel co-existing with a triggered refill channel for funding a pre-paid account. The scheduled channel regularly refills the pre-paid account. The telecommunication service provider also coordinates funding through a triggered refill channel that refills the pre-paid account when specific conditions are met, such as account balance falling below a threshold.
US08090343B2

A method and system for streamlining the call processing for a prepaid call in a mobile telecommunications network is provided. A trigger detection point (TDP) for processing an originating call placed by a prepaid wireless subscriber, which may be called “O-Answer,” is defined in a mobile user's subscription information stored in the prepaid subscriber's home location register (HLR). An additional TDP for an incoming call to a prepaid subscriber as a terminating party, which may be called “T-Answer,” also is defined in the prepaid subscriber's subscription information stored in the HLR. If the prepaid mobile subscriber's account balance is above a threshold amount, the call can be processed using the O-Answer and T-Answer TDPs without the need to contact the prepaid platform for authorization, thus reducing the amount of signaling required to process a prepaid call.
US08090341B2

An ISUP/SIP gateway is implemented to encapsulate SS7 location requests from a switched telephone network into an Internet protocol SIP message including one or more location objects. The ISUP/SIP gateway is implemented between a mobile switching center (MSC) and a VoIP positioning center (VPC) to provide support of unlicensed mobile access (UMA) voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call routing, e.g., for E9-1-1, 4-1-1, 2-1-1, etc. The disclosed location objects that are encapsulated into a SIP message includes calling party number, called party number, CGI, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), mobility indicator, and/or access point MAC address. At the SIP/ISUP gateway, SS7 integrated services user part (ISUP) location request messages are encapsulated within SIP. The SIP encapsulated location request message is then routed over the Internet to a destination VoIP positioning center (VPC).
US08090340B2

A mixer and calibration method thereof are provided. A direct conversion receiver comprises a differential loading pair utilizing at least one binary weighted resistor. The binary weighted resistor is adjustable to provide a resistance linear to a digital code, comprising a fixed resistor and an adjustable resistor cascaded to the fixed resistor in parallel. Every increment of the digital code induces an equal increment of the resistance. The magnitude of every incremental resistance is below a negligible ratio of the fixed resistor.
US08090337B2

A wide band frequency domain canceller is used in cosite mitigation interference in which a signal tapped from a transmit antenna is coupled to a Chirp Fourier Transform to covert the signal into the frequency domain. The frequency domain signal is vector multiplied with a path transform function to add the path transfer function values to the sampled signal, after which the processed frequency domain signal is converted back into the time domain by an Inverse Chirp Fourier Transform, after which it is inverted and coupled into the receive path of a cosited receiver.
US08090336B2

A method of processing signals received and transmitted between a satellite and sub-arrays of an antenna array. The satellite emits an analog signal received by the sub-arrays, each sub-array in turn produces a corresponding output. The array's total output is approximated by designating one of the sub-array's output as a reference output, and digitally forming a series of beams that consist of the reference output and permutations of the other sub-array outputs with either no time delay or with a time delay applied. A high power beam from the series is selected for cross correlation with each sub-array output to determine the signal's relative arrival time at each sub-array. Each sub-array output is time delayed based on the signal arrival time at that sub-array. The time delayed outputs are combined to form a high gain beam.
US08090335B1

An open loop frequency calibration algorithm is employed whereby frequency counters are utilized to provide frequency information concerning the difference in frequency between a local oscillator and a reference signal prior to obtaining phase locked operation of a phase locked loop (PLL). The frequency difference is then used to adjust the local oscillator's frequency to be changed by a value that is proportional to the frequency difference measured. Through adaptive calibration of the local oscillator's frequency prior to closed loop PLL operations, a substantial reduction in the amount of time required to obtain phase/frequency coherent operation of the PLL is realized.
US08090334B1

A high accuracy programmable gain amplifier has reduced temperature dependency, reduced supply voltage dependency, and supports accurate amplifier gain and accurate amplifier gain steps. The high accuracy programmable gain amplifier allows requirements compliant electronic devices to be fabricated that are capable of providing improved operational performance with less power consumption, hence extended battery life and improved operational availability. Electronic devices that incorporate the high accuracy programmable gain amplifier described below, may experience reduced variations in operational performance resulting in a reduced need for post production calibration, reduced calibration data storage requirements, and reduced device control processor cycles for use in performing calibration operations, thereby allowing such devices to be produced at a lower cost and/or to provide users with increased operational performance and/or increased battery life and, hence, increased operational availability.
US08090330B2

A system having a filter is disclosed. One embodiment includes at least two polyphase filter branches, each of the polyphase filter branches including a respective recursive allpass filter, wherein the filter approximates a linear filter.
US08090326B1

A method, device, and system for communication signal transmission are provided, which relate to the field of communications, so as to improve reception performance of the network. The method includes: dividing, by a multi-frequency receiver, Radio Frequency (RF) signals by frequency bands received from an antenna to obtain RF signals of different frequency bands; sending a first group of RF signals of a predetermined frequency band to an RF unit so that the RF unit converts the received first group of the RF signals of the predetermined frequency band into first baseband digital signals and sends the first baseband digital signals to a baseband processing unit; and converting a second group of the RF signals of the predetermined frequency band into second baseband digital signals and sending the second baseband digital signals to the baseband processing unit by using a digital baseband interface.
US08090316B2

A digital FM transmitter has a digital controlled oscillator for generating a modulated RF carrier. A digital signal processor receives digital input samples and generates a modulating signal for input to the digital controlled oscillator. A bandpass filter for filters frequency components of the modulated carrier outside a predetermined frequency band and supplies the filtered modulated RF carrier to an antenna.
US08090307B2

A developer recovering unit is provided with a recovery vessel that contains a developer to be recovered, a transporting device that includes a transporting member that transports the developer through a tubular transport path connecting a portion where the developer is generated to the recovery vessel, and a detecting device that detects an amount of the developer contained in the recovery vessel, wherein the transporting member is formed as a conductive member and is grounded at least in a most downstream section of the transport path connected to the recovery vessel.
US08090302B2

A developer containing device includes: a developer container having an opening through which developer can be filled in; a closing member that is removably installed to the developer container to close the opening; a stirring and feeding member that is rotatably supported in the closing member and stirs and feeds the developer contained in the developer container by rotating in one direction; and a fitting part that fixes the closing member to the developer container by rotating the closing member in the same direction as the rotational direction of the stirring and feeding member.
US08090294B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body and a developer apparatus with mutually opposing first and second side faces to supply a developer to the image bearing body. The developer apparatus is installed removably on a frame with first and second wall surfaces opposing the first and second side faces respectively. First and second fulcrum sections project respectively on the first and second side faces. First and second installation grooves are provided respectively on the first and second wall surfaces and have open upper ends that receive the first and second fulcrum sections respectively. First and second supporting structures support the first fulcrum and second fulcrum sections that are fit respectively into the first and second installation grooves.
US08090281B2

A tandem-type color image forming apparatus forms a toner pattern and toner markers on an intermediate transfer member. Tone levels in the toner pattern vary in a sub scanning direction, and the toner markers which are a same color with the tone pattern each oppose, in a main scanning direction, a different one of the tone level portions in the toner pattern, each tone level portion representing a different one of the tone levels. Positions of the toner markers in the sub scanning direction are determined to detect densities in the toner pattern corresponding to the determined positions. Tone of image data is corrected in an image formation based on a relationship between the densities and the tone levels corresponding to the determined positions.
US08090279B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; a developer supporting member for attaching developer to the image supporting member to form a developer image; a transfer unit for transferring the developer image to a recording medium; a driving unit for driving at least one of the image supporting member, the developer supporting member, and the transfer unit; an external temperature detection unit for detecting an environmental temperature outside the image forming apparatus; and a control unit for setting a driving speed of the driving unit according to the environmental temperature.
US08090271B2

A differential delay detection system and method includes an optical splitter to split an incoming optical signal between a first path and a second path. The first path includes a cross-polarization interferometer configured to separately generate polarization independent outputs using split paths and to generate cross-polarization interference outputs, and a polarization demultiplexer configured to combine the polarization independent outputs and the cross-polarization interference outputs from the cross-polarization interferometer with updated coefficients received from the second path to remove the cross-polarization mixed signals. The second path includes a training signal receiver configured to compute the updated coefficients and output the updated coefficients to the polarization demultiplexer.
US08090269B2

A data transmission system comprising a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter comprises a phase encoder for partitioning consecutive bit data to be input in data in units of X bits; and converting a 2x value indicated by the data of X bits in unique association with an (N/2−1)Y value of a Y symbol, and for confining use of signal points, from among the signal points of N-ary phase, only to a signal point P1 (at a phase angle 0) and N/2−2 signal points P(2n+2) (where 1≦n
US08090266B2

An apparatus comprises one or more electro-optical coupling modules. An electro-optical coupling module comprises a diode, a flexible optical coupling element, a reflective surface, and an optical fiber. The diode performs an electro-optical conversion on a signal. The flexible optical coupling element communicates the signal between the diode and the reflective surface. The reflective surface reflects the signal between the flexible optical coupling element and the optical fiber.
US08090260B2

The present invention relates to a light source and detecting device thereof includes: a housing; a printed circuit board; an optical fiber connector; a laser diode; a laser driving module; a light coupling device; a light detecting module; an analog-to-digital converter; a micro controlling device; a stroke switch and a displaying device; when the stroke switch is pressed, the light detecting module is activated according to a determination made by the micro controlling device then a light signal coupled by the light coupling device is detected by the light detecting module, then the signal is displayed on the displaying device after being converted by the analog-to-digital converter or the laser diode is driven by the laser driving module and a laser source is therefore emitted.
US08090257B2

The optical communication system of the present invention is constructed with a data plane and a control plane, and includes a first monitor for monitoring a path alarm on the data plane, a second monitor for monitoring a path alarm on the control plane, and an alarm comparator for comparing alarm statuses of the optical paths that the first monitor and the second monitor preserve, wherein an optical communication apparatus, of which the first monitor and the second monitor both are in a status of having detected the alarm, operate so as to start an operation of avoiding a fault. Such a configuration makes it possible to make a detour only around an appropriate section including a fault location without performing an erroneous operation when a fault has occurred in an optical path, in which a plurality of detour sections, in an all-optical communication system.
US08090250B2

An imaging device comprises a lens barrel having a lens opening, and a lens positioned in the lens opening of the lens barrel, the lens having an optical center, a focal length F, an aperture diameter D, and an aperture number FN=F/D. An image sensor comprises an array of light sensing pixels that each have a dimension P, the sensor spaced apart a distance S from the optical center of the lens such that a focus offset gap X=F−S. The pixel dimension P and aperture number FN are selected such that 2·P·FN≧X.
US08090248B2

To provide an anti-vibration actuator with which a high drive force can be obtained without increasing size. The present invention is an anti-vibration actuator, including a fixed portion, a movable portion, movable portion support means, first drive means having a first drive magnet and coil; second drive means having a second drive magnet and coil; third drive means having a third drive magnet and coil; first, second, and third position detection elements for detecting the positions of each drive magnet; and a control portion for moving the movable portion to a specified position; wherein the first and second position detection elements are disposed within a region diagonally opposed to the region in which the third drive means is positioned, from among four regions partitioned by the lines of action of the drive forces of the first and second drive means.
US08090244B2

A volatile material dispenser includes an upper housing with an opening extending therethrough and a lower housing with an opening extending therethrough, wherein the upper housing is secured to the lower housing to define a cavity therebetween. Electrical circuitry is disposed within the cavity, wherein the electrical circuitry includes a heater and a USB interface that extends from the upper and lower housings. Further, a volatile material cartridge is disposed within the cavity. The dispenser is adapted to dispense volatile material from the volatile material cartridge through the openings in the upper and lower housings in a passive mode and an active mode, wherein the USB interface is coupled to a power source to energize the heater in the active mode.
US08090242B2

A method and apparatus for reproducing titles are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes determining if at least one title satisfies a criterion, using an average length information of a plurality of titles recorded on a recording medium; and reproducing the at least one title if the determining step determines that the at least one title satisfies the criterion.
US08090240B2

There is provided a video data editing apparatus for making video data edition to set a frame as a predetermined edit point in video data including a plurality of picture frame groups each including a plurality of picture frames. The apparatus includes an operation command input unit (40) to accept an operation command, a data storage unit (120) to store video data compressed at every picture frame groups each including a plurality of picture frames and an edit mode controller (102). The edit mode controller makes, based on a predetermined-operation command supplied via the operation command input unit, a selection between a group-unit edit point select mode in which a command for selection of a picture frame group of the video data stored in the storage unit is accepted via the operation command input unit to change the currently-selected picture frame group and a frame-unit edit point select mode in which a command for selection of one frame of a plurality of picture frame groups included in the currently-selected picture frame group is accepted via the operation command input unit to change the currently-selected picture frame, and sets, as an edit point, a picture frame corresponding to the result of selection in the group-unit edit point select mode or a picture frame corresponding to the results of selection in the group- and frame-unit edit point select modes in response to a set command supplied via the operation command input unit.
US08090232B2

The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications cable having a layer constructed to resist post-extrusion shrinkage. The layer includes a plurality of discrete shrinkage-reduction members embedded within a base material. The shrinkage-reduction members can be made of a liquid crystal polymer. The disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing telecommunications cables having layers adapted to resist post-extrusion shrinkage.
US08090224B2

A swipe scanner comprising: (a) a printhead for printing a position-coding pattern onto a surface; (b) an ink supply containing an ink for printing the position-coding pattern; (c) a first image sensor positioned for imaging portions of the surface on which the printhead has printed during a swipe of the surface, each imaged portion containing part of the position-coding pattern printed by the printhead during the swipe; (c) a second image sensor for capturing, during the swipe, portions of a graphic image pre-printed on the surface; and (d) a processor. The processor is configured for: determining absolute positions of the swipe scanner using the parts of the position-coding pattern; using the absolute positions to control an output of the printhead during the swipe; and using the absolute positions to assemble the captured portions of the graphic image into a scanned graphic image.
US08090222B1

Implementations consistent with the principles described herein relate to ranking a set of images based on features of the images determine the most representative and/or highest quality images in the set. In one implementation, an initial set of images is obtained and ranked based on a comparison of each image in the set of images to other images in the set of images. The comparison is performed using at least one predetermined feature of the images.
US08090219B2

Systems and methods for socially-based correction of tilted images. In an embodiment, the present invention levels tilted images by (1) receiving an image; (2) rotating the image by a random angle; (3) requesting at least one user rotate the image to level the image; (4) determining a collective user-suggested angle based on the rotations of each user; and (5) transmitting, over a communication network, a correction angle, where the correction angle is based on the random angle and the collective user-suggested angle.
US08090213B2

An image processing device includes: a peaking filter for performing peaking processing on an input image signal to generate a peaking image signal; a selection circuit, coupled to the peaking filter, for selecting a plurality of pixels within the peaking image signal; and a median filter, coupled to the selection circuit, for filtering the plurality of pixels within the peaking image signal to generate a filtered image signal.
US08090210B2

An image processing system implements recursive 3D super precision for processing smoothly changing video image areas by performing temporal noise reduction and then 2D super precision. The temporal noise reduction is applied to two frames, one being the current input low precision frame, and the other being the previous higher precision frame from memory. The 2D super precision is applied to the noise reduced frame to output a high precision frame which is also saved into memory for processing the next incoming frame. The input frame has a limited bit depth while the output image has an increased bit depth.
US08090209B2

Coding processing performed by an image coding device (100) includes: processing (S133) of performing coding by leaving surplus bit(s), when the digit number B of binary data of the difference value between (a) a value of a to-be-coded pixel and (b) a prediction value is smaller than the predetermined bit number M; and processing (S133) of performing coding by using the surplus bit(s), when the digit number B is greater than M and there are the surplus bit(s). Pieces of coded data each having a predetermined coding amount are generated, by performing processing for each of consecutive T pixels so as to perform the coding processing for each of U pixels among the consecutive T pixels (S136).
US08090198B2

A maximum and minimum color information detector detects a maximum color-signal gradation level or a value equivalent to the maximum gradation level and a minimum color-signal gradation level or a value equivalent to the minimum gradation level as color information for an image signal input to the image processing apparatus, a correction parameter generator sets correction parameters according to the color information about the input image signal, and a gradation corrector corrects the gradation scale of each color component of the input image signal according to the correction parameters. Contrast can thereby be improved without excessive color collapse.
US08090196B2

To easily create an album with colors visually harmonized with images. An album creating apparatus includes: a main subject determining section for determining the main subject of an image; a color extraction section for extracting a plurality of colors included in an image region other than the main subject determined by the main subject determining section; an appearance frequency of color calculating section for calculating the appearance frequency of the plurality of colors extracted by the color extraction section; a characteristic color determining section for determining the characteristic color in the image region other then the main subject determined by the main subject determining section based on the appearance frequency of the plurality of colors calculated by the appearance frequency of color calculating section; and an album color selecting section for selecting a color used for the album which is used in the region other than the image in the album including images.
US08090188B2

A reticle pattern defect correcting apparatus comprises a lithographic emulation system including an optical emulation system and a micromachining defect correcting system including a reticle defect correcting mechanism with a cantilever. Since correction of a reticle pattern defect is carried out while the transferred image is being observed in real time by the optical emulation system, it is possible to achieve an efficient reticle pattern correction while avoiding overcorrection and other problems.
US08090179B2

Tomographically reconstructing a 3D image object corresponding to a data set includes reconstructing a first reconstructed object from the data set, receiving a smoothing map, smoothing the first reconstructed object based on the smoothing map thereby creating a first smoothed object, and outputting the first smoothed object as the 3D image object. Smoothing a first object thereby creating a smoothed object having a smoothed value associated to each object point in object space includes receiving the first object, determining, in a series of steps, single-kernel-smoothed objects, wherein each iteration step is associated with a kernel function and includes, determining a start object based on the first object, and smoothing the start object using the kernel function of the iteration step, thereby creating the single-kernel-smoothed object having single-kernel-smoothed values associated to each object point, and constructing the smoothed object from the single-kernel-smoothed values.
US08090175B2

Systems, methods and apparatus to detect a treatment target having motion in up to three translational directions using direct registration of the target and track the target to synchronize a treatment beam with the motion of the target.
US08090174B2

A virtual mirror device for visualizing virtual objects in angiographic applications, having an interactive virtual mirror, a 3D or 4D medical image of a patient's anatomy co-registered with a calibrated 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy, and a displaying device provided such that the 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy, the co-registered 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy and the interactive virtual mirror viewed from the viewpoint of the X-ray source of the X-ray imaging system, are presented in a common coordinate system, providing full integration and combined visualization of the reconstruction of 3D or 4D medical image of the patient's anatomy, the 2D X-ray image of the patient's anatomy and the virtual mirror onto the displaying device.
US08090171B2

An image data subtraction system suitable for use in Angiography or other medical procedure enhances vessel visualization. The system comprises an imaging system for acquiring, during a medical procedure, data representing multiple temporally sequential individual images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy. The sequential individual images encompass introduction of a contrast agent. An image processor automatically processes the data representing the multiple temporally sequential individual images to identify a first image indicating presence of the contrast agent and a second image preceding the first image by comparing a difference between measures representative of luminance content of the first and second image, with a threshold. The second image is substantially exclusive of an indication of presence of the contrast agent. The image processor, in response to the difference exceeding the threshold, automatically selects the second image as a mask image and subtracts data representing the mask image from data representing images of the temporally sequential individual images to remove background image detail and emphasize vessel structure in providing processed image data for display. A user interface presents the processed image data for display while the patient is undergoing the medical procedure.
US08090169B2

A system and method for identifying an object based on its estimated mass. In one aspect, a method for estimating a mass of an object is provided. The method includes acquiring image data including a plurality of image elements, calculating a histogram based on the image data, calculating a computed tomography (CT) number of the object using an anisotropic erosion operator, and determining a perimeter of the object. The method also includes calculating an estimated mass of the object using the CT number and a first subset of image elements of the plurality of image elements, the first subset of image elements defined by the perimeter of the object, and outputting at least one of the estimated mass of the object and an image including the object.
US08090167B1

A neuronal measurement tool including: an input module, a grouping module, a metric selection module, a statistical test selection module, a raw measurement module, a clustering module and a statistical test module. The input module inputs digitally reconstructed neuronal morphologies. The grouping module groups the digitally reconstructed neuronal morphologies into groups. The metric selection module selects at least one metric of interest. The statistical test selection module selects a statistical test method. The raw measurement module gathers raw measurements associated with the metric(s) of interest on the digitally reconstructed neuronal morphologies. The clustering module clusters the raw measurements into groups and the statistical test module performs the statistical test method between the raw measurements clustered in the groups.
US08090152B2

A road lane boundary detection system includes a detection region setting unit that sets a certain region in a road image, as a target detection region to be searched for detection of a road lane boundary, and a detecting unit that processes image data in the target detection region set by the detection region setting unit, so as to detect the road lane boundary. The detection region setting unit sets a first detection region as the target detection region if no road lane boundary is detected, and sets a second detection region as the target detection region if the road lane boundary is detected, such that the first and second detection regions are different in size from each other.
US08090148B2

An image processor includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a camera image captured by a camera provided on a vehicle, a first image converter configured to project the camera image onto a flat surface to convert the camera image into a flat surface projection image, and a second image converter configured to project the camera image onto a curved surface to convert the camera image into a curved surface projection image. The first image converter converts a first image region having a predetermined width within the camera image into the flat surface projection image, and the second image converter converts a second image region outside the first image region in a width direction, within the camera image, into the curved surface projection image.
US08090146B2

Methods and systems for watermarking of digital images are presented. In one aspect, a method of embedding information in a digital image includes transforming the digital image to a set of coefficient blocks having coefficients in a frequency domain, embedding a watermark-indicator in one or more of the coefficient blocks, and embedding a watermark in one or more watermark blocks that have a predetermined number of coefficient blocks. The embedded watermark is substantially invisible in the output watermarked digital image. Another aspect is a method of extracting a watermark from a digital image that includes transforming a digital image to a coefficient matrix, determining if the digital image is watermarked based on a predetermined watermark-indicator, and retrieving a watermark from a projected watermark block of a projected watermark block distribution.
US08090145B2

A system and method for analyzing and marking a film image for providing a marked film with robust marks which have a high survival rate during, e.g., unauthorized duplication. The present invention provides the ability to facilitate the choosing of ideal locations of marks for marking a film image by recommending potential marking locations based on the survivability of the mark against different background colors. The system and method provides for selecting at least two potential marking areas in at least one frame of the film, saturating the at least two potential marking areas in a predetermined color of a mark, calculating a root mean square error (RMSE) of each of the at least two potential marking areas and an area surrounding each potential marking area, and determining which of the at least two potential marking areas has the lowest RMSE, i.e., the recommend marking location.
US08090144B2

A computer-based method for adjusting luminance of a light-emitting device on image measuring machine is provided. The method includes reading a model definition curve and model coordinates of an object and a charge couple device (CCD). The method further includes locating the object and the CCD to positions on the image measuring machine, and capturing a digital image of the object. Furthermore, the method includes adjusting a resistance of the light-emitting device to ensure an ordinate deviation corresponding to each abscissa value between a new definition curve and the model definition curve falls in an allowable deviation range. A related system is also provided.
US08090142B2

Methods for embedding data, such as digital watermarks, in video objects segmented from video frames. Watermarks are embedded such that they move with the object in the video frames. Interframe motion of video objects is estimated and used to modify the watermark accordingly. Methods for detecting embedded data from video objects are also disclosed.
US08090135B2

A communication headset includes a housing having an upper cover defining a pivot hole and a locating hole. An earpiece and an ear hook are disposed on the top of the upper cover. A microphone arm has a raised portion received in the pivot hole. The bottom center of the raised portion defines an aperture. A locating cavity is defined at the bottom of the microphone arm. A pivot frame fixed in the housing defines a receiving can to accept a spring shaft, around which a spring winds for providing a torsion force to the microphone arm. An end of the spring shaft forms a locking portion fixed in the aperture. And a limiting body having a buckling block is mounted in the housing for limiting rotation of the microphone arm which is driven by the torsion force when the buckling block is forced to withdraw from the locating cavity.
US08090132B2

A wireless communication headset having both wired and wireless modes is provided. The wireless headset can include a headset connector assembly that can be coupled to a cable connector of a cable, which can in turn be connected to a telephone. When the wireless headset is coupled to the telephone, it can advantageously be operable to exchange audio information with the telephone through the cable, receive electrical power from the telephone through the cable, or both. In addition, the cable connector can advantageously be coupled to the wireless headset without obstructing airflow to a microphone that is located in the headset connector assembly, through use of apparatus of the invention located on the cable connector, such as an acoustic tunnel, a microphone-speaker pair, or a microphone that is coupled to control circuitry operable to disable the microphone of the headset.
US08090129B2

An audio player plush includes a battery, digital memory, speaker in electrical communication with the digital memory, and a set of controls modulating speaker output associated with the digital memory. A cover bounds the digital memory and is formed of a plush fabric. A fill material within the plush fabric provides a soft surface to the audio player. A pocket is provided within the cover that is selectively closable and encompasses a digital connector for coupling the digital memory to a computer or other source of digital audio files for downloading of such files into the digital memory. When not in use, the digital connector is selectively closed within the pocket. An indicator light emitting light from the cover provides a user with a visual signal indicative of the activation state of the digital memory.
US08090127B2

A method for: Adjusting a hearing device in a computer-aided manner towards the needs of an individual, and storing a workflow data of the adjusting. The workflow data may include adjusting steps, fitting operations, timing of performing of the adjusting steps or fitting operations, or a time sequence of the adjusting steps or fitting operations. The adjusting can be performed in dependency of the workflow data of adjusting hearing devices, as performed and stored previously.
US08090124B2

A method of mounting a flat panel speaker is provided which is capable of reliably preventing entry of dust and of shortening assembling time. By bonding a gasket member to a diaphragm, by pasting a separator to a gasket member side opposite to the diaphragm and, by sandwiching the diaphragm and the gasket member from both sides, a gasket-attached diaphragm is fabricated. After peeling off a protecting sheet on a rear side of the gasket-attached diaphragm, the actuator module is bonded to the diaphragm. Then, after peeling the separator from the gasket-attached diaphragm, positioning is performed on the diaphragm and the gasket member is bonded to a putting-face of the front case. The entry of dust into a region corresponding to a liquid crystal display panel is blocked by a partitioning portion of the gasket member.
US08090117B2

A digital microphone array is configured in an open geometry such as a sphere with a large number of inexpensive microphone elements mounted in opposite-facing pairs. The microphone array with DSP is intended to be placed in a three-dimensional sound field, such as a concert hall or film location, and to completely isolate all sound sources from each other while maintaining their placement in a coherent sound field including reverberance.
US08090103B2

The present invention relates to a method of managing CPI (Copy Protection Information) for preventing unauthorized copy of encrypted content recorded on a high-density recording medium such as a BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc ROM). In the present method, when main content data is recorded in encrypted manner, CPI that is necessary to decrypt the encrypted main content data is written in a predetermined PIC area and is also copied at least once in an area other than the PIC area.
US08090075B2

In a high-voltage X-ray tube, which a cathode, which is held at negative high voltage during operating conditions, and an anode, which is held at positive high voltage during operating conditions, are disposed opposite each other in a vacuumized inner space, the anode being attached to an anode insulation element in such a way that the anode insulation element has a cylindrical shape or a shape tapering toward the anode and includes an opening to receive a high-voltage plug, and a pipe structure is provided by means of which a coolant is able to be supplied to the anode. This coolant can be in particular insulating oil or another electrically non-conducting liquid. The pipe structure can, for example, be integrated completely into the interior of the anode insulation element, but can also be integrated into the surface of the high-voltage plug. A solution is also possible in which the pipe structure is integrated into an intermediate element, which is situated between the anode insulation element and the high-voltage plug.
US08090063B2

Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from the same transmitted vector. The symbols of the received signal vectors are combined, forming a combined received signal vector that may be treated as a single received signal vector. The combined signal vector is then decoded using a maximum-likelihood decoder. In some embodiments, the combined received signal vector may be processed prior to decoding. Systems and methods are also provided for computing soft information from a combined signal vector based on a decoding metric. Computationally intensive calculations can be extracted from the critical path and implemented in preprocessors and/or postprocessors.
US08090061B1

An AGC control unit coordinates AGC gain changes between individual receive chains included within a MIMO receiver block. Coordinated AGC gain changes reduce time periods of unaligned MIMO data produced by the receive chains. Reducing the unaligned data periods advantageously increases the time that the output data may be combined to improve overall performance of the receiver block. Coordinated AGC control also enables a faster response to saturated signals since the gain of multiple receive chains may be changed contemporaneously.
US08090059B1

A detector includes Viterbi detectors. A first Viterbi detector generates a preliminary decision signal. A second Viterbi detector generates a final decision signal based on an input data signal and the preliminary decision signal. The second Viterbi detector is arranged in series with the first Viterbi detector.
US08090055B2

A communications receiver receives a received continuous phase modulation (CPM) signal having an original modulation index of h and includes a filter, a continuous phase reconstructor using phase unwrapping, and a modulation index scaler for generating a reconstructed CPM signal having a scaled modulation index H from the received CPM signal having a small modulation index h, with the scaled modulation index H preferably being greater than the original modulation index h, so that, the transmitted CPM signal occupies a narrow bandwidth, yet, during reception, the reconstructed CPM signal with the high modulation index H can be reliably data demodulated for improved performance with reduced demodulation complexity.
US08090054B2

A signal receiving apparatus includes a frequency converting circuit, a computing circuit, and a control circuit. The frequency converting circuit is for converting a RF signal to respectively generate a first converted signal and a second converted signal according to a first converting frequency and a second converting frequency. The computing circuit is for computing signal quality parameters of the first converted signal and the second converted signal. The control circuit is for outputting a control signal according to the signal quality parameters of the first converted signal and the second converted signal, wherein the control signal corresponds to the converting frequency of the frequency converting circuit.
US08090052B2

Embodiments include systems and methods for fine control of beam steering for wide band wireless applications using a phased array of antenna elements. In one embodiment, a digitally controlled delay line delays the signal output from a modulator in each branch of multiple branches feeding multiple antennas in an array. An output of the digital delay line is input to a digital to analog converter. A second digital delay line also delays the signal within the digital to analog converter. The manner of implementation of the delays enables accurate production of a steered beam at a high data rate.
US08090051B2

A power amplifier module and corresponding system for linearizing the output from a power amplifier includes both a feedback system, containing a compensator and the power amplifier in a feedback loop, and a pre-distortion compensation system injecting pre-distortion signals into or before the feedback system are used to compensate for non-linearities in the overall system. The pre-distortion signals may be mixed with signals from the compensator or may be filtered to take into account the loop compensator transfer function of the feedback loop, mixed with baseband signals and then converted into analog signals that are provided to the feedback loop. In modules containing a tracking power supply, an envelope calculator calculates an RF envelope of the baseband signals, which the pre-distortion system uses in conjunction with the baseband signals to generate the pre-distortion signals mixed with the signals from the compensator.
US08090048B2

Aspects of a method and system for an alternating channel delta quantizer for MIMO pre-coders with finite rate channel state information feedback may include quantizing a change in channel state information in a MIMO pre-coding system onto a codebook using a cost function and selecting the codebook from a set of codebooks; and generating the set of codebooks from a plurality of codebooks, where each may comprise one or more unitary matrices. The channel state information may be a matrix V that may be generated using Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and/or Geometric Mean Decomposition (GMD). The selecting of the codebooks may be enabled by alternating between the elements of the set of codebooks. The cost function f(A) may be defined by the following relationship: f ⁡ ( A ) = ( 1 N ⁢ ∑ j = 1 N ⁢  a jj  2 ) where A is a matrix of size N by N and aij is element (i,j) of matrix A.
US08090043B2

Apparatus, methods and systems for compensating for an I/Q imbalance may include compensating for an imbalance between a first component of a data signal and a second component of the data signal. The data signal may be modulated by a carrier signal having a frequency error. The first component may be characterized by at least one parameter. The method may include receiving the data and carrier signals; selecting a value for the parameter such that the frequency domain energy at negative frequencies is reduced; and modifying at least one of the components based on the value.
US08090041B2

Methods of forming a beam to a wireless terminal from a transmitter including an antenna having a plurality of antenna feed elements include generating channel estimates at the wireless terminal, obtaining channel phase information from the channel estimates, quantizing the channel phase information to obtain quantized channel phase values, and transmitting the quantized channel phase values to the transmitter. The methods may further include receiving the quantized channel phase values at the transmitter, obtaining channel gain estimates, constructing channel estimates using the quantized channel phase values and the channel gain estimates, and determining transmit beamforming weights in response to the channel estimates. Related transmitters, wireless terminals, and communications systems are also disclosed.
US08090035B2

An packet detection controller accepts an input from an AGC controller which indicates the presence of an increased signal energy and also completion of an AGC process and generates an output to suspend the AGC process. The packet detection controller also receives a plurality of IQ receiver streams and forms a single stream for use by a packet detector, which is controllable by an SNR_MODE indicating whether the signal to noise ratio is above or below a particular threshold, and a PD_RESET signal indicating that no packet detection should occur. The controller also receives a PACKET_DET signal indicating that packet detection is completed. The packet detection controller examines the incoming receiver streams and suspends AGC process if a packet detect is generated, or suspends the packet detector if an AGC process is required.
US08090030B2

A method, apparatus and system are provided for generating and facilitating Mobile High-Definition Multimedia Interface. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a transmitter configured to merge multiple channels of a high-definition interface into a single channel to generate a mobile high-definition interface, the mobile high-definition interface configured to facilitate carrying of high-definition media content in a mobile device. The apparatus further includes a receiver coupled with the transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the single channel, and to unmerge the single channel into the multiple channels.
US08090025B2

A residual picture is produced and encoded that is a residual picture that is a residual signal between a picture to be coded that is an input moving-picture video signal to be subjected to coding and a predictive picture produced from a reference picture that is a local decoded video signal for each of a plurality of rectangular zones, each composed of a specific number of pixels, into which a video area of the moving-picture video signal is divided. A boundary condition of each of a plurality of borders is obtained between the rectangular zones and another plurality of rectangular zones adjacent to the rectangular zones, and a border, of the reference picture, having a boundary condition that matches the boundary condition, is found by motion-vector search in the reference picture, and border motion-vector data is generated that is data on a motion vector from a border of the rectangular zone in the picture to be coded to the border of the reference picture thus found. A boundary condition of a border that corresponds to the border motion vector data is defined from the reference picture based on the border motion-vector data, and an estimated video signal is generated in each rectangular zone in the picture to be coded, that satisfies Poisson's Equation, thus producing a first predictive picture. The residual picture is then produced with the first predictive picture as the predictive picture and encodes the residual picture.
US08090024B2

The present invention provides a framework for the processing of blocks between two data frames and in particular application to motion estimation calculations in which a balance among the performance of a motion search algorithm, the size of on-chip memory to store the reference data, and the required data transfer bandwidth between on-chip and external memory can be optimized in a scalable manner, such that the total system cost with hierarchical embedded memory structure can be optimized in a flexible manner. The scope of the present invention is not limited to digital video encoding in which motion vector is part of information to be encoded, but is applicable to any other implementation in which difference between any two data frames are to be computed.
US08090022B2

A video coding system is provided including generating a motion vector for a macro block in a picture, the motion vectors indicative of displacement of an object in the macro block; grouping a cluster of the motion vectors; and adjusting a dynamic quantization parameter modulation of a subsequent picture based on the grouping for displaying the displacement of the object in the subsequent picture.
US08090021B2

A method for motion search between video frames with multiple blocks is disclosed. The present invention provides an effective edge detection-prediction hexagon search algorithm (EDPHS algorithm). The method uses edge values and the distribution characteristics of motion vector and further overcomes the drawback of the conventional hexagon-based search algorithm (HEXBS algorithm). In this way, the present invention has less search points during searching. Through experiments, the present invention, without affecting the compressed video quality, reduces the number of search points by about 80%˜98% in comparison with the diamond search algorithm (DS algorithm) and reduces the number of search points by about 75%˜97% in comparison with the HEXBS algorithm. The advantages make the present invention suitable for the realizing real-time image compression.
US08090012B2

An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving Channel Quality Information (CQI) in a communication system. A Base Station (BS) transmits, to a Subscriber Station (SS), a request for CQI of a resource region corresponding to a frequency reuse factor K, which is designated by the BS. The BS then receives, from the SS, the CQI of the resource region corresponding to a channel quality measured by the SS. The channel quality is measured by the SS by measuring a boosted reference signal and compensating the boosted reference signal for a non-boosted signal.
US08090010B2

A digital circuit configured to spread a clock train spectrum includes a clock configured to generate the clock train, and a variable divider configured to divide the frequency of the clock train by a temporally-varying-divider value to modulate the clock train and generate a dithered clock train. The circuit further includes a first accumulator configured to accumulate the dithered clock train to generate a frequency modulation waveform, and a second accumulator configured accumulate the frequency modulated waveform to generate a phase modulation signal. The circuit further includes a phase-value calculator configured to calculate the temporally-varying divider value based on the phase modulation signal; and a closed-loop control circuit configured to track and filter the modulation of the dithered clock train to generate a second clock train that is the spread spectrum of the first mentioned clock train.
US08090009B2

A test apparatus includes a transmitting-side jitter measuring unit which measures a jitter of a transmission signal output from a transmitting circuit, a jitter applying unit which applies a jitter to the transmission signal and inputs the signal to a receiving circuit, a jitter range measuring unit which determines whether the logical value of the transmission signal detected by the receiving circuit is equal to a preset expectation value for each amplitude of the jitter applied to the transmission signal by the jitter applying unit, and measures the range of jitter amplitudes within which the logical value of the transmission signal is equal to the expectation value, and a jitter tolerance measuring unit which calculates jitter tolerance of the receiving circuit based on the jitter of the transmission signal measured by the transmitting-side jitter measuring unit and the range of jitter amplitudes measured by the jitter range measuring unit.
US08090007B1

The present invention is a position-based modulation system for communications devices. The device may comprise one or more of the following features: (a) a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of receiving positioning data from GPS satellites; (b) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver having at least a first channel and a second channel; (c) a geographical information system (GIS) database of topographical data; (d) a processor capable of optimizing transceiving parameters of the RF transceiver based on the positioning data and topographical data; and (e) a bus linking the GPS receiver, RF transceiver, GIS database, and processor.
US08090005B2

One embodiment of the invention provides a method of creating a set of secondary spreading codes for use in a satellite navigation system comprising a constellation of satellites. Each satellite in the constellation employs a tiered spreading code comprising at least a primary code and a secondary code. Each satellite in the constellation is allocated a different secondary spreading code from the set of secondary spreading codes. The method involves generating an initial set of bit patterns, where each bit pattern represents a potential secondary spreading code. The method further involves performing an optimization process on bit patterns within the initial set of bit patterns. As a result of the optimization, at least some of the bit patterns in the initial set are modified or replaced, to create a final set of bit patterns for use as the set of secondary spreading codes.
US08089998B2

An ultra-short pulse laser system comprising an amplifying laser medium for producing a laser emission, a laser resonator having at least one resonator mirror and a pump source has a gas-filled section with a filling gas, the latter consisting of a single gas or a filling gas mixture differing from the composition of air, whose nonlinear refractive index n2 substantially corresponds to that of air and which has a rotational Raman effect which is smaller in comparison with air.
US08089997B2

The laser device has a gain medium, first and second clads sandwiching the gain medium in the thickness direction, and a cavity structure for resonating the electromagnetic wave generated in the gain medium. The gain medium includes a plurality of active regions for generating an electromagnetic wave and at lease one connecting region sandwiched among the active regions. The first and second clads are each formed of a negative permittivity medium having a permittivity the real part of which is negative relative to the electromagnetic wave. A potential-adjusting portion is arranged between the connecting region and the first clad and between the connecting region and the second clad for adjusting the electric potential of the connecting region.
US08089995B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates adjusting the wavelengths of lasers via temperature control. This system includes a chip with an active face upon which active circuitry and signal pads reside. A thermal-control mechanism provides localized thermal control of two lasers mounted upon the active face of the chip. By individually controlling the temperature of the lasers, the thermal-control mechanism controls the wavelengths emitted by each respective laser. By creating a temperature gradient that causes a temperature difference between two or more lasers, the system can cause the lasers to emit different wavelengths.
US08089984B2

Aspects of a method and system for network communications via a configurable multi-use Ethernet PHY are provided. In this regard, an Ethernet PHY may be configured based on characteristics of a network link over which the Ethernet PHY communicates, and a rate at which data is conveyed from a MAC to the Ethernet PHY may be controlled via a carrier sense signal of the MII. The carrier sense signal may be controlled based on a rate at which the Ethernet PHY transmits data over the network link. The Ethernet PHY may be configured based on a length of the network link and/or on a grade of the network link, where exemplary grades may comprise Cat-1 through Cat-7a cable. The Ethernet PHY may be configured into one of a plurality of modes comprising an Ethernet over digital subscriber line (DSL) mode, an extended reach mode, and a standard Ethernet mode.
US08089978B2

A device having under-run management capabilities and to a method for managing under-runs. The method includes providing, to a memory unit, channel information from multiple channels; allocating time slots for communication channel transmissions; the method is characterized by including: sending, during a time slot allocated for a transmission of channel information from an enabled communication channel, to the shift register channel information of an enabled communication channel, serially outputting the received channel information from the shift register towards a communication line while serially replacing the outputted channel information by a predefined content such that the shift register stores a communication channel disable code when an under-run occurs; defining a communication channel as a disabled communication channel once the under-run occurs; and transmitting, during a time slot allocated to a disabled communication channel, idle signals to the communication line.
US08089976B2

A system for managing and documenting a local area communications network is provided which deploys power sourcing equipment and powered devices by the use of active electronic modules, having an Ethernet controller and Power over Ethernet forwarding capabilities, as integral, managed components within the cable plant, to enhance management, documentation, security and emergency 911 aspects of the network as well as extending the physical reach of the network.
US08089974B2

Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating location or containment of rogue or unauthorized access points on wireless computer network environments. Embodiments of the present invention support one to a plurality of rogue containment methodologies. A first rogue containment type involves identification of the physical connection of the rogue access point to the wired network infrastructure and, thus, allows for disabling of that physical connection to contain the rogue access point. Other rogue containment methods involve wireless techniques for containing the effect of rogue access points. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating network location of rogue access points to determine whether one or more rogue containment methodologies should be applied. As discussed below, the rogue location and containment functionality described herein can be applied to a wide variety of wireless network system architectures.
US08089972B2

Systems and methods for dynamically registering a communication device are disclosed. As one example, a communication network architecture is disclosed that includes multiple feature servers, multiple registration redirect servers (RRSs), and multiple communication devices. The feature servers provide services to the communication devices. The RRSs each service a shared virtual Internet Protocol (IP) address and perform load balancing of registration requests on behalf of multiple feature servers located geographically proximate to the RRS. The communication devices are configured to issue initial registration requests intended for any of the feature servers to the shared virtual IP address, whereby upon issuing an initial registration request, a communication device is directed to a particular feature server that is associated with a RRS that is closest to the communication device, and where the particular feature server is selected by a load balancing routine executing on the RRS.
US08089970B2

A method and a system control admission for voice transmission over a multi-hop network. The method takes multiple parameters into account in order to make a decision and ensures that the system remains stable. The parameters may include options (e.g., aggregation level, bursting level, and transmission rate) and constraints (e.g., the number of users, access points, or sensing range of each user). The method computes the load of the network given each set of options and constraints and compares it against the packetization interval of the voice codec to check whether or not the system is stable. An algorithm of the method finds the best trade-offs between overhead reduction (e.g., due to contention and to packet headers) and a solution robust to channel errors, if links are noisy. If several stable solutions corresponding to different options exist, additional criteria (e.g., the least number of hops, the highest transmission rate) may be used to determine the final “best” solution.
US08089967B2

Methods for modifying a switching table of an Internet Protocol (IP) switch. The methods include: receiving a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) option 43 request from a host of a LAN at an access port of the IP switch; transmitting the request to a DHCP server; intercepting a DHCP response for the request from the DHCP server; extracting an IP address from the intercepted DHCP response; and adding the extracted IP address to a corresponding entry (specific to the access port) of a switching table of the IP switch. The methods include: receiving an IP frame at an access port of the IP switch; reading an IP source address from the IP frame; and in the switching table either: creating a new entry including the IP source address and its associated port identifier or changing an existing entry based on the IP source address and the access port.
US08089958B2

The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls. The gateway sites originate and terminate calls between calling parties and called parties through the data network. The gateway sites include network access devices to provide access to network resources. The data network connects one or more of the soft switch sites to one or more of the gateway sites. The provisioning and network event component collects call events recorded at the soft switch sites. The network management component includes a network operations center (NOC) for centralized network management.
US08089955B2

A method of communicating digitized speech from a transmitting forum participant comprises the step of receiving a data structure that includes said digitized speech. The data structure is analyzed to determine whether the digitized speech is redundantly represented in a plurality of forms in the data structure. A portion of the data structure is forwarded to a receiving forum participant, thereby communicating the digitized speech from the transmitting forum participant. In this method, when the digitized speech is redundantly represented in the data structure in a plurality of forms, the forwarding step includes a step of selecting one or more forms, based on a function, from the plurality of forms in the data structure. Furthermore, the portion of the data structure that is forwarded to the receiving forum participant includes data in the data structure that corresponds to each of the selected one or more forms.
US08089952B2

A call routing decision for connecting a call between source and target devices is based on the traffic type (e.g., facsimile, modem, voice). In some implementations, the traffic type is determined and stored (e.g., in a billing record). The traffic type can be used to connect, block or reroute subsequent calls of the same traffic type.
US08089946B2

A modem that provides efficient use of wireless network bandwidth in the presence of multiuser interference and noise is disclosed. The modem design provides for compatibility with existing network hardware and protocols so that new efficient modems may be added to the network without removing installed hardware and software.
US08089942B2

A multi-mode user equipment is provided. The multi-mode user equipment includes a processor configured to promote measurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology-based network during a portion of a macrotechnology-based communication from a network component to the multi-mode user equipment. The signal strength of the microtechnology-based network is measured during a portion of the macrotechnology-based communication when no user data is being transmitted.
US08089927B2

A wireless communication device includes: an analyzing unit for analyzing an MAC header of a received frame; a storage unit for storing a source address when analyzed that the received frame is a suspension signal for suspending an occupancy of a radio channel; a determination unit for determining whether or not the source address of the received frame is stored in the storage unit when analyzed that a destination address of the received frame is for other device; and a power controlling unit for suspending a power supply to the demodulation unit and the analyzing unit for a remaining time of a period for occupying the radio channel which is described on the MAC header when determined that the source address is not stored.
US08089926B2

In a data communication network a first and second network site, communicate by sending a first data transmission from the first network site to a second network site and by sending a second data transmission from said second network site to said first network site. Data transmission characteristics of said first data transmission are determined and radio resources for said data transmission are allocated based on the determined first data transmission characteristics. Thus, the radio resources for the second data transmission are correlated with characteristics of the first data transmission and thus delays in the data transmission between the first and second network site can be avoided.
US08089925B1

In one embodiment, the present invention comprises transmitting a broadcast burst in a broadcast channel from a base station of a radio communications system. The invention further comprises receiving a request burst from a user terminal, and transmitting a message burst from the base station to the user terminal from which the request was received. The message burst includes a description of the channels available on the radio communications system for receiving messages from user terminals.
US08089918B2

A standard time and frequency signal receiver receives a time code in which a plurality of data pulses “1”, “0” and “P” which are identified by width are arranged one in a respective one of unit periods of the standard signal. An amplitude of a detected signal of the time code is sampled with respect to a seconds synchronization point in a unit period. Then, correlation values F1, F0 and FP for the data pulses “P”, “1” and “0”, respectively, are calculated based on the sampled values. These correlation values F1, F0 and FP are then compared to determine the data pulse received. Even when the time code contains a considerable noise, which of the “1”, “0” and “P” signals was received is determined accurately, thereby achieving the reception of the time code with a reduced error.
US08089910B2

A sensor node of a wireless sensor network includes a first sensor node module for generating and processing, when it is activated, a first sensing signal to detect occurrence of an event based on the first sensing signal; and a second sensor node module for generating and processing a second sensing signal, when it is activated, to monitor state transition of the event based on the second sensing signal. Further, when the occurrence of the event is detected, the first sensor node module is inactivated and the second sensor node module is activated.
US08089906B2

A circuit is disclosed with an external coupling port for coupling to an external antenna, for example. The circuit has an FDD receive path including a narrowband passband filter. The circuit has a TDD receive path bypassing the narrowband passband filter but relying on a same amplifier. The circuit also has an FDD transmit path including a narrowband passband filter. The circuit has a TDD transmit path bypassing the narrowband passband filter of the FDD transmit path but relying on a same transmit amplifier. A switching configuration allows the circuit to operate in TDD mode, alternating between the TDD receive path and the TDD transmit path and in the FDD mode wherein the FDD transmit and receive paths are simultaneously coupled to the external coupling port.
US08089905B2

Provided is a multicast distribution system which can perform a multicast distribution by selecting a communication path satisfying a communication feature required by a multicast group. A distribution source router (Rs) performs a multicast distribution to routers (R1 to R5) constituting a multicast group based on an application via a mesh virtual network connected to a plurality of routers. When the CPU load ratio and the multicast group communication feature exceed threshold values, the distribution source router updates the number of branches and the depth of the multicast tree which distributes a packet from the router and starts reconfiguration of the multicast tree. When reconfiguring the multicast tree, the distribution source router references a path feature of the mesh virtual network, selects a communication path having a sufficient path feature with a higher priority, and generates a routing table based on the multicast tree.
US08089903B2

A data storage system includes storage array and a switch that is configurable to create numerous network topologies within the system and to maintain separate communications paths between different computerized devices or networks and the storage array. For example, a user device and a service device, such as a system diagnosis device, can connect to the storage array through the switch. In order to isolate interaction or communication between the user and service devices, the switch can be logically partitioned into two distinct switches to form two distinct, isolated communications paths between the devices and the storage array. With isolated communications pathways established in the switch, in use, the service device is unable to access the user device coupled to the storage array.
US08089895B1

A network analyzer includes a hardware-based accounting engine that generates accurate statistics for traffic within a computer network. As the network analyzer receives packets, the accounting engine associates the network packets with respective routing prefixes, and updates flow statistics for the routing prefixes. In this manner, the accounting engine maintains accurate flow statistics for all packets received by network analyzer. The network analyzer includes a control unit that generates prefix data to control the granularity of the traffic analysis. The control unit analyzes the flow statistics maintained by the accounting engine, and adaptively updates the set of prefixes to control the granularity of the statistics. The control unit may generate the prefix data as a forwarding tree having resolution nodes. Each node may associate a network prefix with forwarding next hop data, as well as respective analysis control data to enable or disable flow analysis for the prefix.
US08089891B2

A system includes a collector module configured to collect route parameters from a selected node of a plurality of nodes in the network, wherein the route parameters from the selected node are indicative of a first route to a destination address and a second route to the destination address; and a route processor configured to determine a first intermediate node along the first route communicatively coupled to the destination address and a second intermediate node along the first route communicatively coupled to the destination address, based at least in part on the collected route parameters. A method includes collecting route parameters from a first intermediate node and a second intermediate node that can be configured to communicatively couple a source node to the destination node, determining at least a first route through the first intermediate node and a second route through the second intermediate node, and determining which route among the first route and the second route is optimal according to one or more criteria.
US08089888B2

Techniques to test performance of terminals and access points in CDMA data (e.g., cdma2000) systems. A framework of protocols and messages is provided to support systematic performance testing of terminals and to ensure interface compatibility. The framework comprises a Forward Test Application Protocol (FTAP) for testing forward channels and a Reverse Test Application Protocol (RTAP) for testing reverse channels. Techniques are also provided to (1) test different types of channels (e.g., traffic channels as well as auxiliary channels), (2) test bursty data transmissions, (3) support “persistence” testing (i.e., continued testing over connection and disconnection), (4) force the settings of certain auxiliary channels (e.g., so that the error rate of the channels may be determined), and (5) collect, log, and report various statistics that may be used to derive performance metrics such as throughput and packet error rate.
US08089882B2

Load-aware spanning tree reconfiguration includes determining volumes for information flows in an existing spanning tree in a network. The spanning tree is reconfigured based on the volumes to provide higher-volume information flows with shorter paths in the reconfigured spanning tree.
US08089878B2

Implementations and techniques for allocating bandwidth in a resilient packet ring network by a P-type controller are generally disclosed.
US08089877B2

A method for guaranteeing a service quality of a network service is disclosed that includes the steps of storing a historical record of a network service quality, inputting an acceptable maximal service delay of the network service, inputting a desired control level between the service quality of the network service and the number of users of the network service, determining the content of service quality guarantee, which can be provided to each service node, with respect to each pair of service nodes in accordance with the historical record, the maximal service delay, and the control level between the service quality and the number of users, monitoring the service quality between a corresponding pair of service nodes in accordance with the content of service quality guarantee, and regulating the network service between a pair of service nodes in a case where degradation of service quality occurs between the pair of service nodes.
US08089876B2

An aspect of the embodiments related to a packet transmission apparatus includes a user identification unit for identifying the user of an input user flow upon input of the user flow containing communication packets and maintenance packets, a maintenance packet extraction unit for extracting the maintenance packets from the user flow of the user identified by the user identification unit, a maintenance packet output control unit for controlling the transparent output of the maintenance packets extracted by the maintenance packet extraction unit based on the monitor rate setting, and a control unit for monitoring and controlling the user flow of the particular user based on the maintenance packets of the user transparently output by the maintenance packet output control unit.
US08089868B2

A wireless communication apparatus includes a transmission section and a control section. The transmission section transmits data using wireless communication. The control section controls a transmission rate for the transmission section. The control section limits data size of data to be transmitted to at most a prescribed value and requests a transmission acknowledgement, during a period from immediately after a change in the transmission rate until number of times that the transmission section transmits data reaches a prescribed number of times.
US08089866B2

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for a spanning tree topology used as a “flooding backbone” for control messages on a link state routed network. Specifically, control messages are only broadcast on the flooding backbone thereby significantly reducing message flooding. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for correctly and efficiently reconfiguring/fixing the spanning tree topology in the event of any spanning tree link failures without re-running the spanning tree protocol.
US08089861B1

A system processes packets in a network device and includes a memory for buffering the packets. The memory may store the packets in memory in data cells. To expedite packet processing, portions of the packet are extracted and placed in a notification, which is then used for packet processing operations, such as route lookup, policing, and accounting. The notification may also include address elements, such as address offsets, that define the locations of the data cells in memory. The address elements can be used to read the data cells from the memory when packet processing is done. If the notification cannot hold all the address elements, additional cells, indirect cells, are created for holding the remaining address elements. The indirect cells are formed in a linked list. The notification contains an address element. To prevent reading incorrect indirect cells, each indirect cell is written with a signature that is created based on the notification. When an indirect cell is read out, the signature is checked to determine whether it belongs to that notification. If the signature is not correct, this may mean that the indirect cell has not yet been written to memory, or that the indirect cell was in some way corrupted during writing, storing, or reading.
US08089855B2

To transmit overhead information for broadcast and multicast services in a system that utilizes multiple radio technologies, time slots used for OFDM in a super-frame are initially ascertained. Overhead information for multiple streams to be sent in the time slots used for OFDM is generated. The overhead information conveys the time slots and the coding and modulation used for the streams and may be given in various forms. Multiple records may be formed for the overhead information for the streams. The overhead information for the streams is processed and time division multiplexed with the data for the streams in the super-frame. Information indicating the time slots used for OFDM in the super-frame may be sent separately or included in the overhead information. An indicator may also be appended to each stream to indicate whether there is any change in the overhead information for the stream in the next super-frame.
US08089854B2

This disclosure describes companded transmit path techniques that may be implemented in a wireless communication device to reduce power consumption and possibly simplify signal modulation. In accordance with this disclosure, in phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) components of a transmit waveform are compressed at baseband, and an emphasis envelope is generated to represent this compression. The compressed I and Q components are then converted to analog signals and processed. This analog processing may include the mixing process in which the compressed I and Q signals are modulated onto a carrier waveform. The emphasis envelope signal is then used to expand the modulated waveform.
US08089840B2

To limit the time capable of reproducing a plurality of contents as a whole recorded on a recording medium. Provided herein are a recording medium on which a plurality of contents and reproduction-enabled time which is a period of time for allowing a user to freely reproduce the plurality of contents as a whole are recorded, a reproduction device having an acquisition unit which acquires the reproduction-enabled time and a reproduction inhibit unit which inhibits the reproduction of each of the contents when the accumulated reproduction time of the plurality of contents as a whole exceeds the acquired reproduction-enabled time during the reproduction of each of the contents.
US08089839B2

Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.
US08089832B2

A method and apparatus for recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable medium include recording control information on defect management. The recording medium includes predefined locations for enabling booting and/or file system read/write, where at least one of the predefined locations contains the control information.
US08089831B2

A plasmon generator has an outer surface including a surface plasmon exciting surface, and has a near-field light generating part located in a medium facing surface. The surface plasmon exciting surface is a flat surface that faces an evanescent light generating surface of a waveguide with a predetermined distance therebetween. The surface plasmon exciting surface includes a width changing portion. The width of the width changing portion in a direction parallel to the medium facing surface and the evanescent light generating surface decreases with decreasing distance to the medium facing surface. A magnetic pole is located at such a position that the plasmon generator is interposed between the magnetic pole and the waveguide. The outer surface of the plasmon generator includes a pole contact surface that is in contact with the magnetic pole.
US08089827B2

Localization of remote devices by: the emission of pulses from acoustic transmitters, whose wavefronts propagate in the space region occupied by the remote devices and finally reach them; the emission of radiofrequency pulses from each remote device at the time of detection of the wavefront by an on-board microphone; the acquisition, by a radio base, of the radiofrequency signals propagating from the remote devices, to evaluate the arrival time delays proportional to the distance between the i-th acoustic source and the j-th remote device; the formation of a reception vector for each emission by the i-th source, this vector having a maximum length M equal to the number of remote devices and consisting of the sequence of distances obtained as the product of the reception times and the estimated sound velocity. These steps are repeated for all acoustic sources, to form N+1 reception vectors, to calculate the position of the device by solving derived matrix equations.
US08089825B2

A merged particle velocity signal is generated by combining a recorded vertical particle velocity signal, scaled in an upper frequency range using a time-dependent arrival angle as determined by cross-ghosting analysis, with a simulated particle velocity signal, calculated in a lower frequency range from a recorded pressure signal using a time-varying filter based on the time-dependent arrival angle. Combined pressure and vertical particle velocity signals are generated from the recorded pressure and merged particle velocity signals.
US08089814B2

A method of reading data in a non-volatile memory device compensates for a change in a reading/verifying result in accordance with a change of temperature. The method includes sensing a temperature of memory cells, setting a first voltage and a second voltage of a bit line sensing signal in accordance with the sensed temperature, precharging a bit line in accordance with the set first voltage, evaluating a change of a voltage level of the bit line based on whether a memory cell for a read operation is programmed, and sensing data of the memory cell in accordance with the set second voltage. The method may read/verify data constantly even though a temperature is changed.
US08089807B1

A method and system for a Crash Protected Memory (CPM) system are provided. The system includes a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) memory module including a first memory portion and a processor communicatively coupled to the MLC memory module. The processor is programmed to write in the first memory portion a first digital value into a first level of each data-storing cell in the first memory portion and to write a second digital value into a second level of each data-storing cell wherein the first and second digital values are the same. The processor is further programmed to read a digital value from each level of each data-storing cell in the first memory portion and determine a single digital cell value for each data-storing cell.
US08089806B2

A method for controlling a semiconductor storage device including memory cells each configured to hold data of 2 bits or more, the method includes starting first signal processing, and inputting lower bits into the semiconductor storage device in a ready state, writing the lower bits to the memory cells, changing the semiconductor storage device from the ready state into a busy state, changing the semiconductor storage device from the busy state into the ready state, and finishing the first signal processing, starting second signal processing, and inputting upper bits into the semiconductor storage device in the ready state, and writing the upper bits to the memory cells. A period for the writing the upper bits is longer than a period for the writing the lower bits. A period for performing the second signal processing is longer than a period for performing the first signal processing.
US08089804B2

A non-volatile semiconductor memory is configured to monitor for onset of a read disturbance (e.g., due to soft programming) and to carry out operations to protect data therein. A non-volatile semiconductor memory has a memory cell array that includes normal memory cells and a flag memory cell. The flag memory cell is configured to be more susceptible to electrical stress on its retention of data than the normal memory cells. The memory monitors data stored in the flag memory cell to monitor a data retention characteristic of the normal memory cells.
US08089785B2

A photovoltaic power conditioning unit for delivering power from a dc photovoltaic power source to an ac mains power supply is disclosed. The photovoltaic power conditioning unit may include a non-electrolytic energy storage capacitor, a dc-to-dc converter having an input connection coupled to an input and an output connection coupled to the energy storage capacitor. The photovoltaic power conditioning unit also may include a dc-to-ac converter having an input connection coupled to the energy storage capacitor and an output connection coupled to an output and a power injection control block configured to control an amount of power transferred from the dc-to-ac converter to the ac mains power supply based, at least in part, on an amplitude of a fluctuating sinusoidal component of a dc voltage on the non-electrolytic energy storage capacitor.
US08089776B2

A switch configured to contact an exposed contact on an edge of a multilayer circuit board when selectively activated. The switch is particularly useful for electronic equipment such as mobile phones, PDA's, etc. where space for key contacts on the circuit board is limited. By facilitating connection to terminals formed on edges of a circuit board and/or edges of layers of multilayer circuit boards, the switch provides additional options for button locations on the electronic device heretofore requiring routing of wiring.
US08089771B2

An electronic apparatus includes a circuit portion having a connector to which an interface cable is connected, a case for accommodating the circuit portion and having a wiring route for the interface cable leading from the connector to an external space and a connection opening for exposing the wiring route, and a cover for opening or closing the connection opening.
US08089770B2

A multi-stage mezzanine board mounting assembly within a computer chassis includes a mezzanine tray and mezzanine mounting brackets. The mezzanine tray includes a clamping mechanism. The mezzanine mounting brackets are disposed within the computer chassis and configured to engage with the mezzanine tray when the mezzanine tray is mounted thereon. The clamping mechanism is configured to clamp the mezzanine tray against the mezzanine mounting brackets such that the mezzanine tray is locked in place on the mezzanine mounting brackets. A method of installing a mezzanine board includes disposing mezzanine mounting brackets within a computer chassis; mounting a mezzanine tray onto the mezzanine mounting brackets such that insertion alignment members of the mezzanine tray engage with an engaging portion of the mezzanine mounting brackets; rotating rotatable clamping levers such that the mezzanine tray is locked in place on the mezzanine mounting brackets when the rotatable clamping levers are fully engaged.
US08089767B2

A cooling system comprising a heat sink having, a first contact zone and a second contact zone, which are configured to absorb, a first heat flow from a first component, a second heat flow from a second component, and a first transmission means for transmission of the first heat flow via the first contact zone into the heat sink. In addition, a first transmission means is arranged between the first component, and the heat sink and include a first plug means that is shaped such that the first plug means forms a first fit with a first bushing means that is arranged in the heat sink, where the first fit provides tolerance compensation between first and second contact zones.
US08089765B2

A liquid submersion cooled computer that includes a seamless, extruded main body used to form a liquid-tight case holding a cooling liquid that submerges components of the computer. By forming the main body as a seamless extrusion, the number of possible leakage paths from the resulting liquid-tight case is reduced. No seams are provided on the main body, and there are no openings through the walls of the main body, so liquid cannot leakage through the main body. Any leakage paths are limited to joints between the main body and end walls which are sealingly attached to the main body to form the liquid-tight case.
US08089758B2

An electronic device includes a body, a cover, a sliding apparatus, and a latch assembly. The body defines two sliding slots. The sliding apparatus is received in the slots and is slidable relative thereto. The cover is foldable on the body and is rotatably coupled to the sliding apparatus. The latch assembly is fixed to the sliding apparatus. When the latch assembly clasps the body, the sliding apparatus is unlatched from the electronic device, and the cover is slidable relative to the body and is unfolded while the cover slides away from the body.
US08089755B2

Electronic devices with surface features are disclosed. The electronic devices includes a processor and a display operatively coupled to the processor for presenting outputs to a user. The electronic devices also includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion to form an enclosure containing the processor and the display. The second portion includes a plurality of edges proximate to the first portion, an end surface spaced apart from the edges, and a plurality of side surfaces extending between the edges and the end surface. At least one of the side surfaces is canted relative to the end surface.
US08089752B2

A hard disk drive holder fixes hard disk drives in electronic equipment, and includes at least one handling assembly and a bracket for receiving the handling assemblies. Each of the handling assemblies is fixed to one of the hard disk drives to push or pull the hard disk drive into or out from the bracket for replacement or repair, and includes a handle and a pair of handle seats. The handle includes a holding portion and two extending portions including a convex block. Each of the handle seats includes a housing cavity and a spring clip. The spring clip includes a first stopper portion, a second stopper portion and a hook portion. The convex block is movable between the first stopper portion and the second stopper portion to limit movement range of the handle.
US08089749B2

A portable electronic device with a first panel and a second panel connected to the first panel. The connection allows the panels to pivot relative to one another between a folded position and an un-folded position. A lock automatically engages and locks the panels when the panels are brought in the folded position and disengages when the panels are displaced relative to one another sidewardly.
US08089745B2

An overvoltage protection element (1) includes a housing (2), two terminals (3, 4) for electrical connection of the overvoltage protection element (1) to current or signal paths to be protected, and an arrester (5, 6), including a varistor, located within the housing (2). In addition to providing a simple structure and installation, the overvoltage protection element (1) is especially well adapted to thermal and dynamic loads, so that no damage to the overvoltage protection element (1) occurs to the outside, wherein the housing (2) includes two metal shells (7, 8) electrically connected to a terminal region (9, 10) of the arrester (5, 6).
US08089734B2

An MR element includes an MR stack disposed between first and second main shield portions, and a pair of side shields disposed on opposite sides of the MR stack in the track width direction. The first main shield portion includes a first exchange coupling shield layer that is exchange-coupled to a first antiferromagnetic layer. The second main shield portion includes a second exchange coupling shield layer that is exchange-coupled to a second antiferromagnetic layer. The MR stack includes a spacer layer, and first and second free layers with the spacer layer therebetween. The direction of magnetization of the first free layer is controlled by the first exchange coupling shield layer. The direction of magnetization of the second free layer is controlled by the second exchange coupling shield layer. Each side shield includes at least one shield-coupling magnetic layer that is in contact with and magnetically coupled to one of the first and second exchange coupling shield layers.
US08089728B2

A HGA comprises a slider and a suspension with a flexure having a tongue region for supporting the slider. A read/write transducer and a piezoelectric element are formed oppositely. The connecting points of the curve beams and the inner tongue of the tongue region are in mirror positions to a center point of the inner tongue, and the connecting points of each curve beam are located at opposite sides of a center axis of the flexure. The slider has multiple electrical pads electrically connecting with the read/write transducer. The inner tongue has multiple electrical pads. The flexure has multiple inner leads electrically connected with the electrical pads of the inner tongue formed on the curve beams. The structure of the HGA prevents the read/write transducer from damaged and cause the manufacture of the HGA simpler. The present invention also discloses a suspension and a disk drive unit.
US08089723B2

A write head and a method for forming the write head. The method includes providing a first pole and a second pole for the write head. The first pole and the second pole are formed from a ferromagnetic material. Regions of the write head including at least a portion of at least one of the first pole and the second pole of the write head are volumetrically doped with a dopant material selected from one of a 4d transition metal, 5d transition metal, and 4f rare earth metal. The dopant material is predetermined to provide a magnetic damping in the doped regions which is greater than the magnetic damping in the ferromagnetic material.
US08089722B2

A read/write head for magnetic tapes configured with an in situ radio frequency (RF) shield is provided. The RF shield of the invention inhibits device elements reading data from reading RF radiation irradiated by other device elements writing data. The RF shield may be situated between the device elements of one module and the device elements of a second module. The dimensions and materials of the RF shield may be selected depending upon the operating frequencies of the head and skin depth of materials comprising the RF shield. The data cable may be bonded to device element pads of a module using ACF bonding. AFC bonding the cable to the module may allow a metal ground plane on the cable to be extended to provide additional RF shielding.
US08089716B2

Provided is a magnetic tape that includes a data band, including servo patterns, data, and a guard space. The servo patterns is formed along a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape with an interval provided between each of the servo patterns, each of the servo patterns formed across a full width of the data band. The data is recorded between the servo patterns. The guard space is left between each of the servo patterns and the data.
US08089713B2

In a hard-disc drive, a defect region on the hard disc is detected by generating two statistical measures (e.g., β1(k) and β2(k)) based on signal values (e.g., x[n] or y[n]) and soft-decision values (e.g., L[n]) corresponding to the signal values. The measures are compared to detect the location of the defect region of the hard drive. Using the soft-decision values reduces fluctuations in a ratio of the statistical measures compared to a ratio formed from statistical measures that are not based on soft-decision values, resulting in a more-reliable test for detecting defect regions.
US08089694B2

A stabilizer for an optical device that forms part of an electronic device may include a platform that has an optical device mounted thereon. A gimbal mount may retain the platform so that the platform is pivotal about a first axis and the gimbal mount being further pivotal about a second axis so that the optical device is pivotal about both the first and second axes. A first actuator may be controlled to manage movement of the optical device about the first axis and a second actuator may be controlled to manage movement of the optical device about the second axis.
US08089693B2

A color separation and polarization device is provided, which comprises a lens module, having a first frame including a polarization material received therein, and configured with a first light-entrance surface and a first light-emitting surface having a lens structure disposed thereon respectively, and a triangle-shaped optical structures, configured with a second light-entrance surface and a second light-emitting surface having triangle-shaped microstructures disposed thereon respectively. When a white light beam enters the first light-entrance surface, it is polarized by the polarization material, converged by the lens structure of the first light-emitting surface, splitting into a red beam, a green beam, and a blue beam by the triangle-shaped microstructures of the second light-entrance surface, and finally the three color beam are collimated by the triangle-shaped microstructures of the second light-emitting surface. By means of the device, light energy usage efficiency and light collimation and convergence are capable of being enhanced and improved.
US08089691B2

A projection and detector device that attaches externally to the photo-port of a widefield microscope. The device includes a light source interface for receiving of illumination from a light source, the illumination defining an illumination path. A pattern mask is located within the illumination path for projecting one or a plurality of objects, structures, or patterns onto a sample located at the object plane of the optical microscope. The pattern mask may be used with structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to project a moving striped optical grid pattern or Ronchi Ruling onto the sample at the object plane in either fluorescence or reflected brightfield imaging. A mechanical or digital diaphragm may also be used, for techniques such as Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP), fluorescence photoactivation, and targeted illumination. A computer linked with a charged coupled device (CCD) camera may be used to capture images for storage and further post-processing.
US08089690B2

The invention relates to a multistage fiber amplifier having a first amplifying fiber, at least one further amplifying fiber connected in series with the first amplifying fiber, a pump source, a first pump signal fed to the first amplifying fiber, and a further pump signal fed to the further amplifying fiber. The multistage fiber amplifier is distinguished by the fact that a further pump signal is fed to a further amplifying fiber via a power-dependent attenuation element. The attenuation element is formed in such a way that, as the pump power increases, small further pump signals are attenuated to a greater extent than large further pump signals. The power-dependent attenuation of the further pump signal that is fed to the further amplifying fiber and therefore the increased pump signal that is fed to the first amplifying fiber result in improvements in the noise figure of the multistage amplifier.
US08089682B2

Example embodiments provide an electrochromic device using polyphthalate as an electrochromic material and a process for preparing the same. The electrochromic device in accordance with example embodiments enables the production of a solid nanoscale electrochromic device having a bistability using polyphthalate as an electrochromic material, and easy formation of a red electrochromic layer which was not reported in a conventional art. Accordingly, the electrochromic device of example embodiments can be usefully employed for fabrication of RGB color electrochromic displays.
US08089681B2

An electrode is described. The electrode includes a substrate having a first and a second surface, a conductive layer, multilayer structure having alternating layers of at least one polymer layer and at least one electroactive chemical bound nanoparticle layer. The conductive layer is disposed on the second surface of the substrate, and the multilayer structure is disposed on the conductive layer.
US08089674B2

A first plastic lens and a second plastic lens constituting each imaging optical system are arranged on opposite sides of an optical deflector, so that main scanning directions of optical beams scanned by the single optical deflector become substantially parallel to each other, and the first plastic lens and the second plastic lens of at least one of the plurality of (four) imaging optical systems are formed such that secondary components at scanning positions on the (four) surfaces to be scanned are arranged in a same direction, and are molded by a same mold cavity.
US08089671B2

An optical scanning device includes a dot clock generator which generates a dot clock having a dot clock cycle corresponding to a scanning direction of an optical flux by dividing master clocks which constitute basic clocks with frequency-dividing-number corresponding to a scanning position. The dot clock generator changes, with respect to a group of dot clocks which is formed of plural sets of dot clocks in which a frequency-dividing-number sequence pattern of the set of dot clocks which is constituted of two or more continuous dot clocks is repeated plural times on one scanning line, the frequency-dividing-number sequence pattern of each set of dot clocks while maintaining a total value of frequency dividing numbers necessary for generating each set of dot clocks at a constant value.
US08089668B2

Systems and methods are described that facilitate improving error estimation for calibration error due to clipping of pixels, and compensation therefor, during calibration of a scanner or printer. Calibration patches are measured at a first maximum pixel value threshold and at a slightly lower threshold value. Pixel values for the patches at each threshold are averaged, and a linear model is constructed, which is employed to predict error due to pixel clipping. The error is then compensated for when calibrating the scanner or printer.
US08089663B2

A detachable transparent plate for a scan head assembly in a document scanning system that allows an operator to detach the transparent plate from the scan head assembly located above a media feed path to clean a top face of the transparent plate and easily reattach it to the scan head assembly. The scan head assembly has an optical system and a sealing member detachably mounted to a bottom end of the optical system. The transparent plate is received and supported by the sealing member and defines a portion of a bottom surface of the sealing member. The sealing member is detachable from the bottom end of the optical system to allow an operator access to the top face of the transparent plate of the sealing member for cleaning the top face of the transparent plate.
US08089656B2

An image processing apparatus includes an input control unit that receives an input of image data and a first image-processing unit that performs first image processing on image data received from an image reading unit thereby obtaining first-processed image data. A first output control unit selectively-outputs the first-processed image data to any of the input control unit and an external storage unit. A second image-processing unit receives the first-processed image data from the input control unit and performs second image processing on the first-processed image data thereby obtaining second-processed image data, and a second output control unit outputs the second-processed image data.
US08089654B2

An interactive application for execution on a handheld display device having an image sensor, a transceiver and a touch-sensitive screen. The interactive application is configured to operatively control the device so as to perform the steps of: determining interaction data using image data captured by the image sensor, the image data being captured by imaging a printed substrate containing printed content; sending the interaction data to a computer system, thereby causing the computer system to retrieve display data corresponding to the printed content; receiving the display data from the computer system; and displaying content based on the received display data. The touch-sensitive screen enables interaction with the displayed content.
US08089647B2

An information processing device to generate data pertaining to a document from electronic paper which has a display section to display and retain the document, and a memory to store document identification data, includes a document data storage unit which stores document electronic data, a communication unit which acquires document identification data from the electronic paper, a reading unit which scans the display section, a data extraction unit which extracts from the document data storage unit document electronic data corresponding to the document identification data, a difference processing unit which extracts a note image appended on a surface of the display section according to a difference between an image from the extracted document electronic data and an image of the scanned display section, and a data generation unit which associates data of the extracted appendix image and the extracted document electronic data, thereby generates data pertaining to the document.
US08089646B2

A user processes high resolution digital images at a user computer by converting the high resolution images into low and thumbnail resolution formats and by converting the high resolution images into a JPEG format. The user also enters image related data into the user computer and creates a user database. The processed image data and the image related data are stored in the same database, i.e., a user database, and are transmitted to the host site. At the host site, the processed image data and the image related data are stored in the same database, i.e., a host database. Alternatively, users store a plurality of images in high resolution, low resolution and thumbnail formats at the user computer and upload to the host site those images—in thumbnail and low resolution format—that the user selects. Customers view the selected images at the host site and order desired images. The host site sends an image order to the user computer, and the user computer transmits the ordered images to an image laboratory in high resolution format for printing.
US08089645B2

An image processing apparatus which receives print data transmitted from an information processing device, includes: a storage for storing the received print data when the data is confidential print data, together with its ID information; an input control portion for allowing for input of ID information; and a controller having the function that, when detecting input of ID information, outputs the confidential print data corresponding to the input ID information and the function of switching the image forming portion from normal power status to power saving status when no print request has been made for a fixed period of time. When the confidential print data has been stored in the storage, the controller gives notice that the image forming portion will transition to the power saving status to the information processing device before the image forming portion transitions to the power saving status, and the controller delays the transition by a predetermined period of time when the controller receives an extension request from the information processing device to postpone the transition of the image forming portion to the power saving status.
US08089640B2

On operation of a printer for a digital tachograph in a motor vehicle, the input of the specification for the desired print is regularly time-consuming and error-prone due to the deep menu structure of the user guide. A solution is provided whereby the print medium (3), in addition to the size format, comprises an additional layout (21) and the print unit (12) of the printer (2) outputs a particular content of the impression on the print medium (3) depending on the embodiment thereof. The user can thus specify the desired content of the impression with selection of a print medium (3) for an advantageous sectional introduction.
US08089639B2

An image forming apparatus has an image acquisition portion that acquires image data on an image including a character. A character-periphery detector detects the peripheral part of the character in the image data acquired by the image acquisition portion. An outline emphasis portion sets the density of the image data acquired by the image acquisition portion, so that the density of the peripheral part of the character detected by the character-periphery detector becomes higher than the density indicated by this image data. A density changer sets the density of the image data so that this density gradually becomes lower from the peripheral part of the character detected by the character-periphery detector toward the inside thereof. An image former forms an image on a sheet of recording paper on the basis of the image data whose density is set by the outline emphasis portion and the density changer.
US08089635B2

Described is a method and system for fast three-dimensional imaging using defocusing and feature recognition is disclosed. The method comprises acts of capturing a plurality of defocused images of an object on a sensor, identifying segments of interest in each of the plurality of images using a feature recognition algorithm, and matching the segments with three-dimensional coordinates according to the positions of the images of the segments on the sensor to produce a three-dimensional position of each segment of interest. The disclosed imaging method is “aware” in that it uses a priori knowledge of a small number of object features to reduce computation time as compared with “dumb” methods known in the art which exhaustively calculate positions of a large number of marker points.
US08089632B2

Systems and methods are provided for detecting contaminants associated with a target. In one embodiment, a system is provided that comprises a tunable laser configured to transmit an illuminator pulse at a target for a predetermined time duration and a laser Doppler vibrometer system configured to transmit a probe pulse at a surface of the target within the predetermined time duration. The laser Doppler vibrometer system is further configured to detect and analyze at least one return pulse of the probe pulse to determine a surface expansion velocity of contaminants associated with the target due to the illuminator pulse.
US08089630B2

A method and computer program product for imaging an object are disclosed. The object is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave, characterized by a spectrum of illuminating wavevectors. Electromagnetic waves scattered by the object are detected, and are characterized by a spectrum of detected wavevectors. An aperture equal to or smaller than an instantaneous characterizing wavelength of the illuminating electromagnetic wave is disposed between the source and the detector. At least one of the illuminating and detected wavevectors is varied in magnitude to provide information regarding a scattering characteristic of the object. By applying a forward model of the aperture to derive a three-dimensional scattering model, a three-dimensional reconstruction of the object may be obtained by inverting a detected data function in terms of the forward model.
US08089628B2

The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
US08089625B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that characterizes a biological sample by analyzing light emissions from the biological sample in response to an excitation. The system first radiates the biological sample with a laser impulse to cause the biological sample to produce a responsive light emission. Next, the system uses a wavelength splitting device to split the responsive light emission into a set of spectral bands of different central wavelengths. The system applies temporal delays to the set of spectral bands so that each spectral band arrives at an optical detector at a different time, thereby allowing the optical detector to temporally resolve the responsive light emission for each spectral band separately. Next, the system captures the delayed spectral bands within a single detection window of the optical detector. The system then processes the captured spectral bands.
US08089623B2

Methods for normalizing output from an instrument employing a reference standard or non-fluorescing substance disposed within at least one of a plurality of reaction chambers. The method comprises collecting and analyzing a signal associated with the reference standard or non-fluorescing substance to determine a normalizing bias. The normalizing bias is then applied to the data signal collected from a remainder of the plurality of reaction chambers.
US08089620B2

A measurement method and an evaluating apparatus are provided which are capable of easily and accurately evaluating the light amount of a spot beam, the diffraction efficiency, and the intensity distribution in the optical axis direction by detecting even a weak diffracted beam in an arbitrary wavelength range converged by a diffraction optical element as an imaging lens.
US08089608B2

An exposure apparatus includes an immersion space forming member (70) which fills an optical path space (K1) for exposure light (EL) with a first liquid (LQ) to form an immersion space, and a temperature regulating mechanism (60) which suppresses a change in the temperature of the immersion space forming member (70) accompanying deactivation of formation of the immersion space.
US08089605B2

A liquid crystal display panel includes an inorganic thin film which constitutes at least transistors, electrodes and lines. A first substrate includes a first inner surface which faces a second substrate in an opposed manner and a first outer surface on a side thereof opposite to the second substrate. The second substrate includes a second inner surface which faces the first substrate in an opposed manner and a second outer surface on a side thereof opposite to the first substrate. The inorganic thin film is formed on the first or second inner surface in a close contact manner. The center of a thickness ranging from the first outer surface to the second outer surface is positioned inside the second substrate. The relationship of T1+D
US08089603B2

A method of fabricating an LCD panel includes the following steps. A patterned black matrix layer is formed on a first surface of the first substrate, wherein the patterned black matrix layer includes a plurality of black-matrix patterns disposed at boundaries of adjacent first and second sub-pixel regions. Then, a first color filter layer is formed and patterned such that the patterned first color filter layer is disposed in the first sub-pixel regions and covers surfaces of the black-matrix patterns at a side of first sub-pixel regions concurrently. After that, a second color filter layer is formed and patterned so that the patterned second color filter layer is disposed in the second sub-pixel regions. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the first surface, disposed on the surfaces of the black-matrix patterns and the surface of the first color filter layer covering the black-matrix patterns.
US08089596B2

A vertical alignment liquid crystal layer is sealed between a first substrate having a first electrode and a second substrate having a second electrode, each pixel region has a reflective region and a transmissive region, and a gap adjusting section is provided on one of sides of the first substrate and the second substrate which sets a thickness (gap) of the liquid crystal layer which controls a phase difference of incident light to the liquid crystal layer so that a gap in the reflective region is smaller than a gap in the transmissive region. An alignment controller which divides alignment of the liquid crystal within a pixel region is provided in the pixel region on at least one of the sides of the first substrate and the second substrate. It is also possible to optimize by changing the gap in red, green, and blue.
US08089590B2

A transflective display includes pixels each including a reflective (R) sub-pixel, a transmissive (T) sub-pixel, and electrodes having features to cause multiple domains to form in a liquid crystal layer of the R sub-pixel and the T sub-pixel. The electrodes in the R sub-pixels have features that are different from features of the electrodes in the T sub-pixel to cause the liquid crystal layer in the R sub-pixel to have an optical phase retardation that is between 20% to 80% of an optical phase retardation of the liquid crystal layer in the T sub-pixel. The R sub-pixel and the T sub-pixel have substantially the same cell gap and are driven by the same pixel voltage.
US08089583B2

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses, methods and systems to form a thin LED backlight unit for a large-screen flat-panel display. The backlight unit is able to achieve improved color mixing within a shorter mixing distance than the conventional art, while maintaining desired brightness uniformity, thereby allowing for a shorter bezel of a display device. One or more embodiments of the present invention include one or more light guides, which, by operating together, provide thin backlight units. High system efficiency is provided by introducing a recycling enhancement component, and uniform color distribution is achieved by incorporating color shift compensation. Multiple light guides are arranged adjacent to one another can offer a progressive scan illumination feature.
US08089581B2

A display for illuminating a liquid crystal display panel with laser light of uniform light quantity distribution, and an illuminator for irradiating with laser light of uniform light quantity distribution. The display includes a liquid crystal display panel (204), laser light sources (205, 206, 207) emitting laser light having wavelengths of green, red, and blue colors, a waveguide plate (201) arranged at the back side of the liquid crystal display panel (204) and performing multiple reflection of laser light, and a diffusion plate (202) arranged at the back side of the waveguide plate (201), diffusing laser light propagating in the waveguide plate (201) and emitting the light toward the liquid crystal display panel (204).
US08089577B2

An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having a so-called direct backlight where the interval between a number of rod light sources can be reduced, as well as a liquid crystal display device where the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight can be provided close to each other and the thickness of the module can be reduced. The liquid crystal display device is provided with a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight provided on the rear surface of this liquid crystal display panel, and the above described backlight is provided with a number of rod light sources aligned in a plane which faces said liquid crystal display panel and electrode supports for supporting the electrodes of the rod light sources on the same pole, which are provided on the same side of the rod light sources, together. The above-described electrode supporting the electrodes on the same pole together are formed of at least a separate first electrode support and second electrode support. The first electrode support and the second electrode support are respectively formed by press processing a metal plate and provided with electrode fixtures for sandwiching the electrodes of the number of rod light sources and en electrode linking body for linking these electrode fixtures together. The metal fixtures of the first electrode support and the metal fixtures of the second electrode support alternate in the direction in which said rod light sources are aligned.
US08089575B2

A display device includes a sequentially stacked body formed of a gate signal line, an insulation film, a semiconductor layer and a conductor layer on a substrate. The conductive layer forms a drain electrode and a source electrode of a thin film transistor which are arranged with a channel region of the semiconductor layer therebetween, and one of the drain and source electrode is formed in an approximately U shape having an open-ended one end side and a connecting portion on another end side so that the one electrode surrounds a distal end portion of another electrode as viewed in a plan view, and a projecting portion is formed on a side of the connecting portion opposite to the another electrode.
US08089569B2

A phase difference element, in which imbalance hardly occurs between right and left pictures during displaying a three-dimensional image, and a display device having the phase difference element are provided. A base film of the phase difference element includes, for example, a thin resin film having optical anisotropy. A slow axis of the base film points in a vertical or horizontal direction, and points in a direction intersecting with a slow axis of a right-eye region of the phase difference element and with a slow axis of a left-eye region thereof. Thus, influence due to optical anisotropy of the base film is exerted on each light being transmitted by the base film, so that the influence is not extremely greatly exerted on only one of light corresponding to a right eye and light corresponding to a left eye, the respective light being transmitted by the base film.
US08089568B1

A head up display (HUD) includes an image source, a first lens, a second lens, a focusing mirror, a polarizing beam splitter, a second beam splitter and a combiner. The first lens is disposed between the image source and polarizing beam splitter. The second lens is disposed between the polarizing beam splitter and the second beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter is disposed between the first lens, the mirror, and the second lens. The optical system for the HUD forms an intermediate image between the second lens and the second beam splitter. The intermediate image is located at the focal point of the curved combiner, and therefore the curved combiner collimates the display light upon reflection. The HUD can be compact and have a wide field of view.
US08089557B2

A video signal processing apparatus, for achieving high resolution, with using a small number of frames, as an input videos signal, comprises: an input unit, into which a video frame is inputted; and a resolution converter unit for obtaining an output video frame by increasing a number of pixels building up the input video frame, wherein the resolution converter unit has a same-brightness direction estimation unit, which is configured to produce a sampling phase difference for each video data, by estimating a same-brightness direction for each video data on the input video frame, and the resolution converter unit conducts a high resolution process of video with using the sampling phase difference, which is produced by the same-brightness direction estimation unit.
US08089553B2

A lens drive device in at least one lens barrel holding a lens moveably includes a motor to drive the lens; an acceleration detection section to detect an acceleration; and an output control section to control an output of the motor corresponding to the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection section. The output control section determines whether the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection section falls within a predetermined acceleration range or not. When the acceleration is determined to be within the range, a further determination of whether the lens drive device is in a stationary state is performed. When it is determined not being in the stationary state, the motor is driven by a maximum drive voltage. When it is determined being in the stationary state, a further determination of whether the posture is horizontal or not is performed.
US08089550B2

An image sensing apparatus includes a display control unit which controls an image display unit to display an image sensed by an image input unit. The image sensing apparatus also includes a signal strength detection unit which detects, from a sensed image, a luminance area formed from pixels satisfying a predetermined luminance condition, and a special area detection unit which detects, from a sensed image, an object area having a predetermined feature. The display control unit controls the image display unit to display an assist image representing the luminance area, so as to be superimposed on a sensed image. The display control unit changes the assist image display method between a case in which the luminance area and object area overlap each other and a case in which they do not overlap each other.
US08089548B2

An image processing device appropriately extracts an entire object from an image even if the object is not completely included in an initial region designated by a user. The image processing device includes: a designation unit designating a position on the image; a setting unit setting a first combination consisting of a first object region candidate and a first background region candidate, and a second combination; a histogram generation unit generating a normalized color histogram of each of the regions; a similarity calculation unit calculating a similarity regarding each of the combinations; and a selection unit configured to select a combination from the first and second combinations so that the selected combination has the similarity lower than the similarity of the non-selected combination.
US08089534B2

Methods and systems for determining shading correction coefficients of an imaging device. An inversion surface is determined based on an image captured by the imaging device. The inversion surface is approximated using the captured image and eigenvectors associated with singular values of the inversion surface, to form multiple reconstruction weights. A polynomial fit is applied to: i) the multiple reconstruction weights to determine a first set of polynomial coefficients and ii) the eigenvectors to determine a second set of polynomial coefficients. The first and second sets of polynomial coefficients are used to form the shading correction coefficients.
US08089528B2

The color signal processing circuit includes a first calculation unit generating an R/G value, a second calculation unit generating a B/G value, and a position specifying unit specifying, based on the R/G and B/G values, a position expressed as a color temperature of the light of a light source in a color coordinate system defined by R/G and B/G coordinate axes as the position of the light source. The color signal processing circuit further includes a pull determining unit determining a displacement amount between the light source position specified and a position of a target point on a blackbody radiation curve defined in the color coordinate system, sets gain values for the R, G, B color signals for achieving a white balance based on the displacement amount, and supplies the gain values to white balance amps amplifying the R, G, B color signals, and carries out white balance processing.
US08089520B2

A remote monitoring method and system enables the moving picture data being captured at Place 1 to be monitored remotely at Place 2 real time, and more particularly for example to a method and a system, wherein the moving pictures are taken with a web camera installed on the computer (PC, in general) at Place 1 and, upon request for receiving the contents of the moving pictures through the Mobile Browser (WAP or WEB pages) on the mobile VOD (Video On Demand) terminal at Place 2, the moving picture data are remotely monitored at the VOD Terminal Client by way of the streaming server.
US08089517B2

In an image stabilization control circuit of an image-capturing device, a gyro-equalizer (24) is used to integrate an angular velocity signal corresponding to vibration, and determine a required magnitude of displacement of a lens. The gyro-equalizer (24) integrates the angular velocity signal from a gyro-sensor (12) using an integration circuit (46) (LPF), and converts the result into an angular signal. A direct-current component of the angular signal is removed using a centering circuit (52) (HPF). Excessive phase delay of the angular signal on a high-frequency side caused by a phase characteristic of the gyro-sensor (12) is compensated by a phase lead compensation circuit (50) composed of a high-boost filter, and the phase delay of the angular signal with respect to the angular velocity signal is brought nearer to 90° by an integration process.
US08089502B2

A videophone system providing high resolution video transmission between videophones utilizes compressed video signals and audio signals which may be transmitted through any communications network, with the system providing real time adaptive error recovery and synchronization between the audio and video signals to produce high quality video images and sound. The system is highly resilient, adapting in real time to changing conditions in a network or to network errors due to data corruption or loss that can be produced, for example, by noise or line losses, thereby substantially eliminating fitter, signal packet loss or delay, or other errors which produce signal degradation.
US08089481B2

An image processing system may perform various tasks in an effort to evenly distribute workload amongst workload managers. According to one embodiment of the invention, the image processing system may divide a frame of pixels into different regions and assign responsibility for the regions to different workload managers in order to evenly distribute workload. The workload managers may be responsible for performing operations relating to determining or maintaining the color of the pixel within the region or regions which they are responsible. According to another embodiment of the invention, the image processing system may re-divide the frame into new regions based on relative workloads experienced by the processing elements to evenly distribute workload. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the invention, the image processing system may re-partition a spatial index based on relative workloads experienced by the processing elements to evenly distribute workload amongst workload managers.
US08089476B2

A liquid crystal device includes a plurality of selection lines, a plurality of signal lines, a plurality of pixel portions, a plurality of photosensor portions, a plurality of first power lines, and a plurality of sense lines. The plurality of selection lines are provided in a line direction. The plurality of signal lines are provided in a column direction. The plurality of pixel portions are provided at positions corresponding to intersections of the selection lines and the signal lines. The plurality of photosensor portions are provided in correspondence with a portion of the plurality of pixel portions. The plurality of first power lines are provided in the line direction. The plurality of sense lines are provided in the column direction. Each of the plurality of pixel portions includes a first switching element and a liquid crystal.
US08089472B2

A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for mapping a touch sensing device to two sets of output objects. In one embodiment, the method includes mapping a first set of output objects into a plurality of one dimensional positions of a touch sensing device when a presence of a conductive object is determined to be in a first region, among a plurality of regions, of the touch sensing device. The method further includes mapping a second set of output objects into the plurality of one dimensional positions of the touch sensing device when the presence of the conductive object is determined to be in a second region, distinct from the first region, of the touch sensing device.
US08089459B2

A control device comprises a base portion and a handle portion extending from the base portion. The handle portion is movable from side to side relative to the base portion in an X direction, and forward and backward relative to the base portion in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction. The handle portion is also configured to twist relative to the base portion. A magnetoresistive sensor is located in the handle portion. The magnetoresistive sensor is configured to provide an output signal indicative of a twist angle of the handle portion relative to the base portion. At least one sensor is disposed in the base portion for detecting a position of the handle portion in the X and Y directions.
US08089452B2

An electrophoresis device includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on a surface thereof, a second substrate having a common electrode formed on a surface thereof and disposed to face the pixel electrodes, and an electrophoretic layer disposed between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode. The electrophoresis device makes electrophoretic particles migrate by keeping the potential of each pixel electrode constant and changing a voltage to be applied to the common electrode. The device also includes a voltage control means which supplies a voltage whose minimum voltage is not less than V3 and whose maximum voltage are not more than V4 to the common electrode, in a case where a potential which appears in each pixel electrode when a minimum voltage V1 is supplied to a voltage supply means to each pixel electrode is set to V3 and a potential which appears in each pixel electrode when a maximum voltage V2 is supplied to the voltage supply means is set to V4.
US08089447B2

A liquid crystal display and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a data drive circuit, a gate drive circuit, and a timing controller. The data drive circuit generates a pre-charge data voltage during pre-charge time and generates a real-charge voltage to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel during real-charge time. The gate drive circuit supplies a first gate pulse synchronized with the pre-charge data voltage to the gate lines during the pre-charge time while shifting a gate pulse in a downward direction and an upward direction depending on an up/down signal, and then supplies a second gate pulse synchronized with the real-charge data voltage to the gate lines from a falling edge of the first gate pulse at intervals equal to or longer than scanning time of 1 line during the real-charge time.
US08089430B2

A self-luminous display panel driving method for driving a self-luminous display panel of the active matrix driving type, includes the step of executing threshold value correction operation for a driving transistor divisionally in a plurality of periods within at least one of which, after a point of time of an end of a preceding correction period till a point of time of a start of a succeeding correction period, a potential to be applied to the drain electrode of the driving transistor is controlled to an intermediate potential between a first potential for lighting driving of the driving transistor and a second potential for initialization applied within a preparation period of the first one of the correction periods.
US08089426B2

A plurality of subfields of a field period includes a subfield for performing an every-cell initialization causing an initial discharge in every discharge cell in an initialization period, and includes a subfield for performing a selective initialization causing the initial discharge in a predetermined discharge cell in the initialization period. In a low-luminance subfield, the every-cell initialization is performed, and a low-luminance subfield is subsequently located (in the field period) to the subfield for the every-cell initialization. In a sustain period of the subfield for performing the every-cell initialization or a sustain period of the low-luminance subfield, a width of a first sustain pulse is set wider than a width of a second sustain pulse, and the width of the second sustain pulse is set wider than the width of a third sustain pulse and subsequent others.
US08089409B2

A patch antenna device and an antenna device that are miniaturized while avoiding degradation of radiation characteristics, such as gain and efficiency. A first electrode is formed on a front surface of a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped dielectric substrate. A second electrode is formed on a rear surface of the dielectric substrate. The first electrode is connected through a coaxial cable to a power supply unit. The width W of each of the first and second electrodes is smaller than or equal to a quarter of the length L thereof, and the thickness T of the dielectric substrate is larger than or equal to the above width W. Advantageously, the second electrode is set so as to be longer than the first electrode, and both end portions of the second electrode are bent and arranged on both end surfaces of the dielectric substrate.
US08089406B2

Techniques are disclosed for detecting, identifying, and/or geolocating RF communications devices, such as FRS radios, high-power cordless phones, cellular phones, and other wireless communications receiver devices. The techniques exploit a vulnerability present in such devices, and can be used to detect (e.g., up to 300 meters) and geolocate (e.g., within +/−3 meters) those devices. The vulnerability is that receiver circuitry of the target devices emanate RF mixing products when flooded with RF energy or suitable stimulus signal. Such a response to a stimulus signal is unexpected or otherwise unintentional, as receiver circuitry is generally not designed to transmit information. The RF frequency, phase, and amplitude of these sideband RF responses can be used to detect and location the devices. The techniques work in the presence of interference, and can be used on devices that are powered on or off.
US08089398B2

This disclosure describes methods and systems for stationary user detection in a hybrid location system. In some embodiments, the method for determining whether a satellite enabled device is stationary by measuring the Doppler frequency of received satellite signals can include acquiring satellite measurements from at least two satellites, wherein the satellite measurements include Doppler frequency measurements, acquiring a rough estimate of location of the satellite enabled device and calculating an internal frequency offset of satellite enabled device.
US08089395B2

A method and corresponding apparatus are provided for phase correction in a deployable antenna system, in particular a redeployable HF surface wave radar phased array antenna system, the antenna system including a master control unit and a plurality of separate antenna elements which are relatively moveable to desired spaced-apart locations, wherein each antenna element is provided with RF signal processing means, the method including the steps of: (i) determining the relative positions of the antenna elements and the master control unit; (ii) transmitting a phase reference signal; and (iii) determining, on receiving the phase reference signal and using the relative positions determined at step (i), phase correction signals for each of the plurality of antenna elements.
US08089389B2

The present invention relates to intuitive based control elements and interfaces and devices using said intuitive based control elements. In certain embodiments, machine interfaces such as remote control devices for operation of various devices are provided. More specifically, machine interfaces according to embodiments of the invention herein include one or more control elements in the form of shapes and/or positioned indicia to facilitate operation by users. Control elements provided herein having intuitive shapes and/or positions described above as associated with the man-machine interfaces may also be provided integral with various devices. For example, personal electronic devices, personal care devices, personal healthcare devices, communications devices and personal comfort devices may benefit from control elements having intuitive shapes and/or positions associated with the function as described herein.
US08089382B2

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes multiple quantization-noise-shaping continuous-time filters, each in a separate processing branch and having an adder that includes multiple inputs and an output; an input signal is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder; the output of the adder is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder through a first filter; and the output of a sampling/quantization circuit in the same processing branch is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder through a second filter, with the second filter having a different transfer function than the first filter.
US08089377B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing sampling rate conversion of an audio signal from a first sampling rate to any of a plurality of higher sampling rates using a single set of low-pass filter coefficients. Sampling rate conversion is accomplished by effectively up-sampling, low-pass filtering, and down-sampling the audio signal to generate interpolated output samples of a second digital audio signal at any of a plurality of sampling rates. The sampling rate conversion process includes storing a fixed set of filter coefficients as a plurality of phased subsets of filter coefficients, applying samples of the audio signal to the phased subsets in a rotational manner to generate filtered samples of the audio signal, and selecting and linear interpolating between certain filtered samples to generate samples of the second digital audio signal.
US08089372B2

In a method for transmitting data in an HVDCT system to a control system for HVDCT systems, measured values are transmitted from measuring units of the HVDCT system to preprocessing units connected to one another in series. The preprocessing units use the received measured values to generate measured value data. The measured value data are transmitted as part of a data record composed of data words, and the data words are subdivided, during transmission, into a temporal sequence of individual bit groups. A first bit group contains identification data for the preprocessing unit and information on the number of further bit groups that are to be transmitted by the preprocessing unit. A downstream preprocessing unit uses the information on the number of bit groups to be transmitted by a preprocessing unit connected upstream of it to determine a time for transmitting the data word of the downstream preprocessing unit.
US08089371B2

An apparatus configured to acquire received signal strength intensities (RSSIs) for a wireless device from a plurality of access points (APs) located on a plurality logical floors. The apparatus is configured to determine which logical floor the wireless device is on by analyzing the RSSIs. The RSSIs for each floor are adjusted with an adjustment value and are selectively weighted with at least two different weight values, and the adjusted and weighted RSSIs for each floor are each summed. The floor with highest sum of adjusted or weighted RSSIs is determined to be the floor the wireless device is on. The logical floor is further determined by sorting the RSSIs for each floor and then weighting the sorted RSSIs with the different weight values. The sorted and weighted RSSIs for each floor are summed. The floor with highest sum of weighted sorted RSSIs is determined to be the floor the wireless device is on.
US08089357B2

A system and method for automatically advertising items put on display, as well as protecting those items against theft. The system and method include an event sensor associated with the item and connected to a monitoring and alarm transmitter for initiating an advertising experience on an associated and local graphic display whenever the item is manipulated or approached by a patron. Should the item be removed or taken from its display stand, a wireless alarm is automatically transmitted to a receiver of an authorized person. The system and method also perform a logging function when a patron approaches the item or removes it without taking it away. The system and method also include the ability to provide power to electronic items that are on display.
US08089355B2

An apparatus and method provide the automatic, self-configuration of a communication device to adjust to the user's environmental circumstances. Method includes creating a set of mode templates corresponding to a plurality of potential environmental circumstances and may be stored in a database in the computer readable memory of the communication device. At predetermined intervals, a suite of environmental sensors integral to the communication device may periodically sample the user's environment. The user's environmental circumstances may be derived by an analysis module based on the output of the suite of environmental sensors. The derived set of environmental circumstances may then be compared to the mode templates to determine a matching mode template. A change to a plurality of communication device operational settings may then be made based at least partially on the matching mode template.
US08089351B2

An instrument cluster for use in a passenger vehicle includes a translucent sheet. The sheet is located in front of at least one of an appliqué, a display face, and a pointer of the instrument cluster. Indicia are embedded in the translucent sheet. The indicia has a first visual state and a second visual state, the indicia being more noticeable in its second visual state than in its first visual state.
US08089348B2

An information service system for a vehicle includes: an information obtaining element for obtaining information, which includes classification information for defining an importance level and an urgency level; a plurality of information output elements having various sensory types so that the information output elements inform the information of an user with various sensory types; a user load detector for detecting a physical and mental load of the user; a selector for selecting one or more information output elements according to the classification information; and a controller for controlling to output the information with the one or more information output elements. The selector selects the one or more information output elements based on the physical and mental load and a priority order of the information.
US08089346B2

A system and method is provided to facilitate the owners of the restaurants in managing their restaurant business and facilitate customers of the restaurants in at least placing orders. The system comprises a local server, plurality of hand held devices and an internet based application. The local server is associated with a restaurant. The restaurant has a plurality of hand held devices, the hand held devices facilitating a customer of the restaurant to place an orders in the restaurant by comunicating with the local server. The internet based application is deployed on a sever; the internet based application sends data to the local server and recieves data from the local server.
US08089338B2

The invention discloses a variable attenuator, comprising two or more resistors each resistor having its own effective resistance value, and means for simultaneously short circuiting at least a portion of two or more of said resistors, whereby simultaneously changing the effective resistance values. The variable attenuator of the invention is suitable for use in various high frequency and microwave circuits and systems, and has the features of a wide frequency band, small size, easy fabrication, low cost, and so on.
US08089329B2

A semiconductor switch for switching a signal according to input power and maintaining performance of a receiver system with a simple configuration. The semiconductor switch comprises: a first FET connected between a first input/output terminal and a second input/output terminal; a first transmission line connected between the first input/output terminal and a third input/output terminal; a second transmission line parallel to the first transmission line; and a detector circuit connected to one end of the second transmission line, for outputting a DC voltage corresponding to power level of the high frequency signal, branched by the second transmission line. The first FET is controlled and switched according to an output from the detector circuit to switch between a route from the first input/output terminal to the second input/output terminal and a route from the first input/output terminal to the third input/output terminal.
US08089325B2

An object of the invention is to provide an oven controlled crystal oscillator that prevents a reduction in characteristics due to temperature rise in the crystal vibrator and circuit elements other than the oscillating stage, and that increases energy efficiency of a heater element, to thereby facilitate temperature control. The oven controlled crystal oscillator of the invention is an oven controlled multistage crystal oscillator provided with: a crystal vibrator; circuit elements of an oscillating stage, a buffering stage, and a temperature control circuit; and first, second, and third circuit substrates, wherein the configuration is such that: on the first circuit substrate or the second circuit substrate, there are arranged the heater element and the circuit element of the oscillating stage thermally bonded to the heater element; on the third circuit substrate, there are arranged the circuit element of the buffering stage, and at least the circuit elements of the temperature control circuit excluding the heater element and the temperature sensor element; and the third circuit substrate is distanced in the vertical direction and thermally isolated, with a clearance, from the first and second circuit substrates.
US08089318B2

Apparatuses, methods, systems, algorithms, and circuits for reference clock frequency determination are disclosed. In one embodiment, a circuit for detecting a reference clock frequency can include a clock counter configured to count a number of cycles of the reference clock over a predetermined portion of a sleep clock to provide a reference clock cycle count, where the sleep clock has a known frequency and a predetermined accuracy; a frequency estimator configured to estimate the reference clock frequency from the reference clock cycle count and the known frequency of the sleep clock; and a frequency selector configured to select a closest frequency to the estimated reference clock frequency from a plurality of allowed frequencies.
US08089314B2

A slew rate improved operational amplifier circuit is provided to improve the slew rates of an operational amplifier with minimal sacrifices in power dissipation and other operational amplifier parameters. To improve the slew rates of operational amplifiers, additional current sources are activated when a slewing operation is detected. The detection of slewing operations and the activation of current sources upon detection can be implemented using two comparator circuits—one for a positive slewing operation, and one for a negative slewing operation. A sub-45 nm FinFET implementation of this slew rate improvement concept was implemented and compared against slew rate optimized individual two-stage operational amplifiers. Simulations show that slew rates were significantly improved by the implementation of the comparator circuits (5590 V/μs vs. 273 V/μs), with minimal increases in power dissipation (78 μW vs. 46 μW).
US08089306B1

An intelligent voltage regulator circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a variable voltage generator that is coupled to receive an input voltage. Additionally, the intelligent voltage regulator circuit can include a processing element that is coupled to the variable voltage generator. The processing element can be coupled to receive programming for controlling a characteristic of the intelligent voltage regulator circuit. The processing element can be for dynamically changing the characteristic during operation of the intelligent voltage regulator circuit.
US08089305B2

A power supply voltage reset circuit, provided in an apparatus having an internal circuit capable of adjusting an internal power supply voltage, for resetting the internal circuit when a power supply voltage of the apparatus rises, and includes: a unit that generates an internal power supply voltage reference signal and changes a signal level thereof; a unit that generates an internal reference voltage to be a reference level in generating a reset signal for the internal circuit at a time of rising of the power supply voltage; a unit that generates a power-on adjustment voltage which rises later than the internal reference voltage at the time of rising of the power supply voltage and becomes greater than the internal reference voltage after a predetermined time passes; and a unit that generates the reset signal by comparing the internal reference voltage with the power-on adjustment voltage.
US08089302B2

The present application relates to an apparatus comprising a first transistor element, with at least three terminals, and at least one switching unit. The present application relates also to a method, computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon and a track and hold circuit comprising the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a first transistor element with at least three terminals, wherein a first terminal is supplied with a first voltage, and wherein a second terminal is supplied with a second voltage. The apparatus comprises a first switching unit, wherein a third terminal is connected to ground potential via the first switching unit. The transistor element comprises a predefined threshold voltage. The first voltage and the second voltage are predefined alternating voltages. The transistor element is configured such that in case a differential voltage between the first predefined alternating voltage and the second predefined alternating voltage is higher than the predefined threshold voltage and the first switching unit is not conductive the third terminal is charged with the first predefined alternating voltage.
US08089296B2

A method, system, and computer usable program product for in an integrated circuit are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A signal to be measured is identified in the IC. The signal is provided as a first control voltage input to a first VCO in the IC. A first output frequency is generated from the first VCO, the first output frequency having a first frequency value corresponding to the signal. The signal is provided as a second control voltage input to a second VCO in the IC. A second output frequency is generated from the second VCO, the second output frequency having a second frequency value corresponding to the signal. The first and the second output frequency values are exported from the IC. A mean value and a standard deviation of the signal are computed using the output first and second frequency values.
US08089292B2

A system and method allow accurate calculation of probe float through optical free-hanging and electrical planarity measurement techniques. In accordance with an examplary embodiment, probe float may be determined by acquiring a free-hanging planarity measurement, obtaining a first electrical contact planarity measurement, and calculating probe float using results of the acquiring and the obtaining operations.
US08089287B2

Systems and methods that evaluate moisture content of the soil through change of capacitance and alternative current. A contact free inductive coupling can be provided between a sensor arrangement associated with the soil, and a reader arrangement (e.g., combination of inductor(s) and capacitor(s)) to determine frequency changes of resulting sinusoidal oscillator. Such frequency change can be correlated with moisture content of the soil.
US08089286B2

A system and method for characterizing noise in a quantum system includes determining pulse sequences for unitary twirling operations. Twirling processes are applied to a quantum system to calibrate errors and to determine channel parameters. Noise characteristics are determined from calibration data collected to calibrate the errors and to determine the channel parameters. The noise characteristics are characterized to determine if the noise is independent relaxation of qubits or collective relaxation of qubits.
US08089277B2

Embodiments of conductive polymers and instruments using the conductive polymers in geophysical exploration are provided. Methods for fabrication are included.
US08089270B2

Apparatus for detecting a passing magnetic article includes a peak detector providing a detector output signal that changes state when the magnetic field signal differs from a magnetic field tracking signal by more than a threshold offset amount. The threshold offset amount is dynamically variable in response to detection of a speed of rotation of the magnetic article and a peak-to-peak signal level of the magnetic field signal.
US08089269B2

An annular magnetic encoder capable of detecting an absolute position precisely by specifying the shape of a magnetization pattern. The annular magnetic encoder (A) is of such a type that the magnetic poles (2a) of N pole and S pole are formed alternately at an equal pitch by magnetization along the circumferential direction of an annular magnetic body (2), an unequal pitch region (20) is provided at least one place in the circumferential direction of the annular magnetic body (2) corresponding to a plurality of magnetic poles (2a).The unequal pitch region (20) consists of one specific pole portion (2b) in the center and different pole portions (2c) located on the periphery thereof whose polarity is different from that of the specific pole portion.Magnetization pattern by the specific pole portion (2b) and the different pole portions (2c) is characterized by being formed line symmetrical relative to the central traverse line of the unequal pitch region (20), and the area of the specific pole portion (2b) is formed so as to occupy 40 to 60% of that of the unequal pitch region (20).
US08089267B2

A system for operating a differential probe which includes a first metal extension and a second metal extension having the same structures is disclosed. Each of the metal extensions includes a rotatable arm, a rotatable base, and a contact end. The rotatable base and contact end of each of the metal extensions extend from two ends of the corresponding rotatable arm at an angle, the contact ends and the rotatable bases of the metal extensions are parallel to each other. The system controls a mechanical arm to adjust a horizontal distance between the contact ends to be equal to a required horizontal distance by rotating the first metal extension around the rotatable base of the second metal extension clockwise by a rotated angle, and rotating the second metal extension around the rotatable base of the first metal extension counterclockwise by the rotated angle.
US08089264B2

A voltage measuring circuit includes an under-voltage measuring circuit and an over-voltage measuring circuit. The under-voltage measuring circuit includes a first voltage comparator, a first zener diode, and a first light emitting diode. An inverting input of the first voltage comparator is connected to a cathode of the first zener diode. An output of the first voltage comparator is connected to a cathode of the first light emitting diode. The over-voltage measuring circuit includes a second voltage comparator, a second zener diode, and a second light emitting diode. A non-inverting input of the second voltage comparator is connected to the cathode of the second zener diode. An output of the second voltage comparator is connected to a cathode of the second light emitting diode.
US08089259B2

A system that has low power recovery capabilities, the system includes: a switch that is adapted to provide a gated power supply to a power gated circuit in response to a control current; and a control signal generator adapted to control an intensity of the control current in response to a reception of a low power period end indicator, a value of the continuous supply voltage at a port of the control signal generator, a value of the gated supply voltage and an output signal of a high switching point buffer that is inputted by the gated supply voltage.
US08089244B2

An electronic device includes a main body, at least two pins folded mounted to the main body, and at least two conductive assemblies received in the main body. Each of the conductive assemblies includes a locking member and a resilient member resisting the locking member, when the pins are pushed and substantially perpendicular to main body, each locking member is capable of locking with an end of one of the pins.
US08089241B2

When a target operation point of either a motor MG1 or a motor MG2 is included in a resonance range specified by operation points of the motor MG1 or the motor MG2 in the occurrence of resonance in a booster converter, a hybrid vehicle controls the booster converter to make the voltage on the side of inverters approach to a preset target boosted voltage that is higher than the voltage on the side of the battery, while controlling the inverters by sine-wave control.
US08089238B2

A monitor opening mechanism includes a first rotating shaft rotatably connected to a host and having a first toothed portion. A stepper motor is disposed in the host and includes a second rotating shaft having a second toothed portion engaging the first toothed portion. A fine-tuning control circuit board is electrically connected to the stepper motor. A first fine-tuning key is electrically connected to the fine-tuning control circuit board. When the first fine-tuning key is operated, the fine-tuning control circuit board drives the second rotating shaft to rotate, forcing the monitor to rotate with respect to the host in a first direction. A second fine-tuning key is electrically connected to the fine-tuning control circuit board. When the second fine-tuning key is operated, the fine-tuning control circuit board drives the second rotating shaft to rotate, forcing the monitor to rotate with respect to the host in a second direction.
US08089234B2

When a motor temperature exceeds a threshold value, a torque control unit reduces a torque control value for a motor generator. A torque limitation control unit determines from torque control value and vehicular speed whether limiting a torque by the torque control unit should be alleviated, and if so the torque limitation control unit activates a signal for a predetermined period of time. When the signal is activated, the torque control unit stops reducing the torque control value and fixes the torque control value to be constant.
US08089226B2

A torque control device controlling torque of first and second mechanical units connected coaxially to each other through connecting members includes a controller generating first and second references from a command from a host system, first and second motors respectively driving the first and second mechanical units, first and second motor control units respectively controlling the first and second motors on the basis of the first and second references. The first and second references synchronously accelerate the first and second motors to first rotational speed, then increase rotational speed of the second motor according to a speed profile to produce torsional torque in the connecting members, decelerate the second motor to the first rotational speed after the torsional torque reaches a predetermined value, and synchronously decelerate and stop the first and second motors after a predetermined time period elapses.
US08089225B2

Systems and methods for inertially controlling a hovering unmanned aerial vehicle (HUAV) are provided. One inertial controller includes a frame and a sensor for detecting a change in an orientation and/or motion of the frame with respect to a predetermined neutral position. The inertial controller also includes a processor for generating commands to the HUAV to modify its current orientation and/or motion in accordance with the change. A system includes the above inertial controller and a sensor for determining a second change for an orientation and/or motion for the HUAV based on the change, and a processor for generating a signal commanding an HUAV control system to orient and/or move the HUAV in accordance with the second change. One method includes detecting a change in an orientation and/or motion of an inertial controller frame and commanding the HUAV to modify its current orientation and/or motion in accordance with the change.
US08089224B2

Methods are described wherein the signals from various sensors that monitor parameters such as beam position, beam intensity at each turn, number of turns, extracted current, extracted beam profile in space and energy are used to determine the effect of the variation of different parameters that control the operation of an accelerator. The diagnostic measurements and adjustments may be based upon measuring and evaluating parameters as a function of turn, and are part of an automated feedback loop for achieving the proper automated operation. The methods can be used to establish proper operating values for the accelerator parameters for optimum beam operation. By the use of feedback the operation of the accelerator can be automatically controlled in real time.
US08089216B2

A flyback controller may generate a switching signal for controlling the delivery of input current into a primary winding of a transformer in a flyback converter that has a secondary winding in the transformer and that is driven by AC output from a dimmer control that is chopped at a phase angle based on a setting of the dimmer control. The flyback controller may include a tracking input configured to receive a dimmer output tracking signal that is representative of the instantaneous magnitude of the output from the dimmer control. The flyback controller may include an averaging circuit configured to average the dimmer output tracking signal so as to generate an average dimmer output signal that is representative of a time-averaged value of the dimmer output tracking signal. The flyback controller may be configured to cause the average output current in the secondary winding of the transformer to vary as a function of the average dimmer output signal when the phase angle exceeds a threshold. The flyback controller may be configured to generate the switching signal with a duty cycle that causes the luminance level of light produced by one or more LEDs to vary when the phase angle exceeds a threshold by what appears to the human eye to be a more linear function of the phase angle than if the luminance level actually varied as a linear function of the phase angle.
US08089215B2

A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a DC power source; an inverter for inverting the DC power at a predetermined inversion time interval to supply a square wave AC power to a discharge lamp; and a controller for controlling the output power. The controller performs a synchronous operation and controls the DC power source such that DC power outputted during a period other than the output temporarily increasing period in a power increasing period is greater than the DC output power outputted during the period other than the output temporarily increasing period in a rated power period. Further, the controller controls the DC power source such that at least one of an increment of the output power for the output temporarily increasing period and a length of the output temporarily increasing period is less in at least a part of the output increasing period than in the rated power period.
US08089212B2

An electrode assembly for a discharge lamp, particularly a ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamp, having a ceramic body defining a discharge chamber and at least one leg having an opening therethrough. An electrode assembly is received at least in part in the body, preferably including a niobium mandrel, a molybdenum mandrel, and a molybdenum overwind received over the mandrel. A tungsten portion is then joined to the molybdenum composite. Adjacent turns of the overwind are spaced by a gap to facilitate receipt of an associated seal material on the overwind and the molybdenum mandrel. The gap is approximately 10% to 50% of the dimension between adjacent turns of the overwind relative to a diameter of the overwind.
US08089208B2

A planar light source device is provided which has high light extraction efficiency and in which a change in color tone at different viewing angles is small. The planar light source device includes, on a light emitting surface, a concavo-convex structure layer made of a resin composition. In this planar light source device, the concavo-convex structure layer has a cone, pyramid, or prism shape, and the resin composition contains a transparent resin and particles. In particular, in the planar light source device, variations in any of x- and y-chromaticity coordinates in any directions in a hemisphere on the light emitting surface are within ±0.1, the diameter of the particle is 10 μm or less, and the amount of the particles is 1 to 40 wt % based on the total amount of the resin composition. In addition, the difference in refractive index between the particles and the transparent resin is 0.05 to 0.5.
US08089195B2

The present invention is directed to monolithic integrated circuits incorporating an oscillator element that is particularly suited for use in timing applications. The oscillator element includes a resonator element having a piezoelectric material disposed between a pair of electrodes. The oscillator element also includes an acoustic confinement structure that may be disposed on either side of the resonator element. The acoustic confinement element includes alternating sets of low and high acoustic impedance materials. A temperature compensation layer may be disposed between the piezoelectric material and at least one of the electrodes. The oscillator element is monolithically integrated with an integrated circuit element through an interconnection. The oscillator element and the integrated circuit element may be fabricated sequentially or concurrently.
US08089187B2

A high-efficiency motor is disclosed. The motor includes two sets of permanent magnets and further includes electromagnets incorporated to be energized by a control system to provide a variable-speed motor that produces high torque.
US08089175B2

The invention concerns a direct drive or directly driven generator for a wind turbine comprising a stator having at least one stator element for power generation and a rotor pivotable around a centre axis of the generator having at least one rotor element for power generation, the generator having an air gap between the stator element and rotor element, wherein the stator comprises a front and a rear ring-shaped supporting element and stator segments being attached to the front and rear ring-shaped supporting elements of the stator, wherein junctions between the front and rear ring-shaped supporting elements of the stator and stator segments are located substantially at a radius in relation to the centre axis of the generator which is smaller than the radius of the air gap between the stator element and rotor element. Furthermore the invention concerns a wind turbine comprising such a direct drive generator.
US08089172B2

A method for determining a rotor position of an electrical generator in a wind turbine is described comprising determining a voltage of the electrical generator, determining a rotor position angle estimate based on the voltage of the electrical generator, determining a subsequent rotor position angle estimate through a feedback loop, based on a combination of the voltage of the electrical generator and the rotor position angle estimate. Further, a method to real time track encoder health is described comprising determining the phase angle of a reference voltage, determining the angle difference between the rotor position and the reference voltage, and determining the differentiation of the angle difference.
US08089166B2

An integrated circuit package system includes a bottom pad with a bottom tie bar, attaching an integrated circuit die over the bottom pad, attaching a top pad with a top tie bar, over the integrated circuit die, and applying an encapsulant wherein the top tie bar integral to the top pad, is exposed on a side of the encapsulant.
US08089164B2

The present invention relates to a substrate having optional circuits and a structure of flip chip bonding. The substrate includes a substrate body, at least one substrate pad, a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace. The substrate body has a surface. The substrate pad is disposed on the surface of the substrate body. The first conductive trace is connected to a first circuit, and has a first breaking area so it forms a discontinuous line. The second conductive trace is connected to a second circuit, and has a second breaking area so tit forms a discontinuous line. The second conductive trace and the first conductive trace are connected to the same substrate pad. Thus, the substrate can choose to connect different circuits, so the substrate can be applied to different products by connecting the desired circuit, thus reducing the manufacturing cost.
US08089162B2

In a pad forming region electrically connecting an element forming region to the outside, in which a low dielectric constant insulating film is formed in association with in the element forming region, a Cu film serving as a via formed in the low dielectric constant insulating film in the pad forming region is disposed in higher density than that of a Cu film serving as a via in the element forming region. Hereby, when an internal stress occurs, the stress is prevented from disproportionately concentrating on the via, and deterioration of a function of a wiring caused thereby can be avoided.
US08089161B2

A semiconductor device has a substrate, an insulating interlayer, an interconnect as one example of an electro-conductive pattern, a through-electrode, and a bump as one example of a connection terminal, wherein the insulating interlayer is positioned up above the surface of the substrate, the interconnect is positioned on the surface of the insulating interlayer, the through-electrode extends through the substrate and the insulating interlayer, from the back surface of the former to the surface of the latter, one end of which is connected to the interconnect, and the bump is provided on the back surface side of the substrate, and connected to the other end of the through-electrode.
US08089145B1

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor package (e.g., a QFP package) including a uniquely configured leadframe sized and configured to maximize the available number of exposed leads in the semiconductor package. More particularly, the semiconductor package of the present invention includes a generally planar die pad or die paddle defining multiple peripheral edge segments. In addition, the semiconductor package includes a plurality of leads. Some of these leads are provided in two concentric rows or rings which at least partially circumvent the die pad, with other leads including portions which protrude from respective side surfaces of a package body of the semiconductor package. Connected to the top surface of the die pad is at least one semiconductor die which is electrically connected to at least some of the leads. At least portions of the die pad, the leads, and the semiconductor die are encapsulated by the package body.
US08089144B2

A semiconductor device includes: a sensor including a sensor structure on a first side of the sensor and a periphery element surrounding the sensor structure; and a cap covering the sensor structure and having a second side bonded to the first side of the sensor. The cap includes a first wiring layer on the second side of the cap. The first wiring layer steps over the periphery element. The sensor further includes a sensor side connection portion, and the cap further includes a cap side connection portion. The sensor side connection portion is bonded to the cap side connection portion. At least one of the sensor side connection portion and the cap side connection portion provides an eutectic alloy so that the sensor side connection portion and the cap side connection portion are bonded to each other.
US08089140B2

A unitary lead frame assembly having a plurality of lead frame sets each comprises a first lead frame unit. The first lead frame unit has a pair of first and second frame portions extending along a first direction and spaced apart from each other along a second direction different from the first direction. The lead frame set further comprises at least two second lead frame units disposed between the first and second frame portions and spaced apart from each other along the second direction. Each of the second lead frame units cooperates with the first lead frame unit to define at least one first die-bonding area therebetween.
US08089124B2

An LDMOS device and a method for fabricating the same that may include a first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate having an active area and a field area; a second conductivity-type deep well formed on the first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate; a second conductivity-type adjusting layer located in the second conductivity-type deep well; a first conductivity-type body formed in the second conductivity-type deep well; an insulating layer formed on the first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate in the active area and the field area; a gate area formed on the first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate in the active area; a second conductivity-type source area formed in the first conductivity-type body; a second conductivity-type drain area formed in the second conductivity-type deep well. Accordingly, such an LDMOS device has a high breakdown voltage without an increase in on-resistance.
US08089123B2

A method for forming an opening within a semiconductor material comprises forming a neck portion, a rounded portion below the neck portion and, in some embodiments, a protruding portion below the rounded portion. This opening may be filled with a conductor, a dielectric, or both. Embodiments to form a transistor gate, shallow trench isolation, and an isolation material separating a transistor source and drain are disclosed. Device structures formed by the method are also described.
US08089120B2

A semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a stacked body with a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layers alternately stacked, the stacked body being provided on the semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor layer provided inside a hole formed through the stacked body, the semiconductor layer extending in stacking direction of the conductive layers and the dielectric layers; and a charge storage layer provided between the conductive layers and the semiconductor layer. The stacked body in a memory cell array region including a plurality of memory strings is divided into a plurality of blocks by slits with an interlayer dielectric film buried therein, the memory string including as many memory cells series-connected in the stacking direction as the conductive layers, the memory cell including the conductive layer, the semiconductor layer, and the charge storage layer provided between the conductive layer and the semiconductor layer, and each of the block is surrounded by the slits formed in a closed pattern.
US08089115B2

An organic memory device is disclosed that has an active layer, at least one charge storage layer of a film of an organic dielectric material, and nanostractures and/or nano-particles of a charge-storing material on or in the film of dielectric material. Each of the nanostructures and/or nano-particles is separated from the others of the nanostractures and/or nano-particles by the organic dielectric material of the organic dielectric film. A method of manufacturing the organic memory device is also disclosed.
US08089103B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate portion having a plurality of diffusion regions defined therein. A gate electrode level region is formed above the substrate portion to include conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Adjacent ones of the conductive features that share a common line of extent in the first parallel direction are fabricated from respective originating layout features that are separated from each other by an end-to-end spacing having a substantially equal and minimum size across the gate electrode level region. A width of the conductive features is less than a wavelength of light used in a photolithography process for their fabrication. Some of the conductive features extend over the plurality of diffusion regions to form PMOS or NMOS transistor devices. A total number of the PMOS and NMOS transistor devices in the gate electrode level region is greater than or equal to eight.
US08089100B2

A restricted layout region includes a diffusion level layout including diffusion region layout shapes that define at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region separated by a central inactive region. A gate electrode level layout is defined above the substrate portion to include linear-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Adjacent linear-shaped layout features that share a common line of extent in the first parallel direction are separated from each other by an end-to-end spacing that is substantially equal across the gate electrode level layout and that is minimized to an extent allowed by a semiconductor device manufacturing capability. A total number of PMOS and NMOS transistor devices in the restricted layout region is greater than or equal to eight. The restricted layout region corresponds to an entire gate electrode level of a cell layout.
US08089094B2

A power semiconductor device is provided, that realizes high-speed turnoff and soft switching at the same time, includes n-type main semiconductor layer including lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer and extremely lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer arranged alternately and repeatedly between p-type channel layer and field stop layer and in parallel to the first major surface of n-type main semiconductor layer. Extremely lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer is doped more lightly than lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer. Lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer prevents a space charge region from expanding at the time of turnoff. Extremely lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer expands the space charge region at the time of turnoff to eject electrons and holes quickly further to realize high-speed turnoff. The pattern of arrangement of the lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer and extremely lightly doped n-type semiconductor layer is independent of the arrangement pattern of the gate electrode structure.
US08089093B2

A nitride semiconductor device having a substrate electrode establishing an excellent ohmic contact with a nitride semiconductor substrate is provided. The nitride semiconductor device includes a substrate having an electrode formed on at least one main surface. The substrate is a nitride semiconductor substrate whose surface includes two regions. The first region has an electrode formed thereon and a second region does not have any electrodes formed thereon. A first n-type impurity is included in a higher concentration in the first region than that in the second region in the vicinity of the surface of the substrate.
US08089091B2

A device includes a semiconductor structure comprising a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. The semiconductor structure includes an n-contact region and a p-contact region. A cross section of the n-contact region comprises a plurality of first regions wherein portions of the light emitting layer and p-type region are removed to expose the n-type region. The plurality of first regions are separated by a plurality of second regions wherein the light emitting layer and p-type region remain in the device. The device further includes a first metal contact formed over the semiconductor structure in the p-contact region and a second metal contact formed over the semiconductor structure in the n-contact region. The second metal contact is in electrical contact with at least one of the second regions in the n-contact region.
US08089087B2

A light emitting device package is provided. The light emitting device package comprises a package body, a light emitting device on the package body, and a light-transmitting light guide member under the light emitting device.
US08089086B2

Light sources are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a light sources comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. At least one first electrically conductive layer is affixed to the first surface of the substrate and partially covering the first surface of the substrate. At least one second electrically conductive layer is affixed to the first surface of the substrate and partially covering the first surface of the substrate. A light emitter is affixed to the first surface of the substrate in an area not covered by either of the at least one first electrically conductive layer or the at least one second electrically conductive layer.
US08089066B2

To provide a light emitting device high in reliability with a pixel portion having high definition with a large screen. According to a light emitting device of the present invention, on an insulator (24) provided between pixel electrodes, an auxiliary electrode (21) made of a metal film is formed, whereby a conductive layer (20) made of a transparent conductive film in contact with the auxiliary electrode can be made low in resistance and thin. Also, the auxiliary electrode (21) is used to achieve connection with an electrode on a lower layer, whereby the electrode can be led out with the transparent conductive film formed on an EL layer. Further, a protective film (32) made of a film containing hydrogen and a silicon nitride film which are laminated is formed, whereby high reliability can be achieved.
US08089061B2

An inorganic EL device is provided with a substrate, a first electrode, a first insulating layer, a light emitting layer, a second insulating layer and a second electrode. The inorganic EL light emitting device is characterized in that the light emitting layer contains a quantum dot and is arranged between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer by being brought into contact with each of the insulating layers.
US08089060B2

A non-volatile memory cell and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The non-volatile memory cell includes an anode; a cathode having a surface facing the anode; a specific structure disposed on the surface; and an ion conductor disposed among the anode, the cathode and the specific structure, wherein the specific structure is one of a bulging area on the surface of the cathode and an insulating layer with an opening.
US08089028B2

Methods for repairing a gas turbine engine knife edge seals are provided. A representative method includes: providing a knife edge of a gas turbine component, the component comprising IN-100, the knife edge being degraded; directing a laser beam toward the knife edge; and dispensing IN-100 powder such that the IN-100 powder is melted by the laser beam and is deposited on the knife edge.
US08089020B2

[Object] A compact gas-insulated switching apparatus in which the space for arranging a gas breaker module may be reduced, and the space for arranging a circuit wiring may be reduced in the vertical direction is proposed.[Means for Resolution] Gas circuit breakers for respective phases of a breaker module have the reference axial lengths having the same length between the first and second vertical planes and arranged so as to extend in the first direction, first circuit wirings for the respective phases of a first circuit wiring module are configured with gas-insulated buses respectively and are extended in parallel to each other along the second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, the first circuit wirings for the respective phases are positioned at the respective apexes of a right angled isosceles triangle, the first circuit wirings respectively for the phase A and the phase B are positioned at both ends of the short side of the right angled isosceles triangle and are arranged on a third vertical plane positioned between the first vertical plane and the second vertical plane so as to extend in parallel thereto.
US08089014B2

A waterproof push button switch does not need to be covered with a resin to a height at which a divided connected portion of a case for the switch is hidden by the resin in a height direction and the divided connected portion may be waterproofed. A gap (55, 57) is formed between a peripheral wall portion 7b of a base case 7 and a second cylindrical wall portion 9b of a cover case 9, and between an opposite surface 41 of the cover case 9 and a waterproofing seal member 11. The gap (55, 57) extends from an opening portion of the base case fitting chamber 37 to an annular watertight seal portion 51 to completely surround a periphery of the watertight seal portion 51. The thickness of the gap portion 55 is determined so that the resin entered into the gap portion 55 from an opening portion 37a of the base case fitting chamber 37 reaches the watertight seal portion 51 by surface tension.
US08089010B2

An electronic device with two keypads is provided. The electronic device includes a recessed portion and a pressable member rotatably attached to the recessed portion. A plurality of key switches is arranged on a surface of the recessed portion. A plurality of first pressable portions are formed on a first surface of the pressable member, and a plurality of second pressable portions are formed on a second surface of the pressable member. The first pressable portions and the key switches form the first keys, and the second portions and the key switches form the second keys. The electronic device further includes a switch unit and a processor. The processor is configured for assigning the key switches to correspond to the first pressable portions or the second portions according to the switch signal generated by the switch unit.
US08089008B2

When a start pulse is supplied, a time-constant circuit (1) is charged to a voltage Vcc, and charge in a variable capacitor (C) is discharged through a resistor (R1). Upon the voltage (a) of the variable capacitor (C) reaching a preset reference voltage V1, a signal (b) is output from a comparator (2). In response to the signal (b), a time measuring circuit (3) stores a measured time period as a time period “T1”, and at the same time a switching signal (c) is output. The switching signal (c) switches the reference voltage V1 to a reference voltage V2, which is slightly lower than the reference voltage V1, and further switches the resistor R1 to a resistor R2, which has higher resistance than the resistor R1. Upon the voltage (a) of the variable capacitor (C) reaching the reference voltage V2, the signal (b) is output from the comparator 2. In response to the signal (b), the time measuring circuit (3) stores a measured time period as a time period “T2”.
US08089005B2

A wiring structure of a substrate adapted to mount a plurality of integrated circuits has a signal wire for connecting the integrated circuits to each other, first and second power supply layers faced to each other, and return path wires arranged generally in parallel to the signal wire. One of the return path wires has opposite terminal ends connected to the first power supply layer (Vcc layer). The other return path wire has opposite terminal ends connected to the second power supply layer (GND layer).
US08089001B2

A low voltage differential signal (LVDS) cable includes a cable body, a power wire, a number of twisted lines for signal transmission, and a number of ground bare wires. The power wire is arranged in a center of the cable body. The number of twisted lines for signal transmission is equidistantly arranged around the power wire. Each signal transmission twisted line includes a pair of differential signal wires and a ground bare wire. The pair of differential signal wires and the ground bare wire are twisted together to form a triple-twisted line. The number of the ground bare wires is equidistantly arranged around the number of twisted lines for signal transmission.
US08088998B2

Flush mount and surface mount sectional electrical box assemblies is provided. In the flush mount electrical box, the male section has a clamping member and a mounting bracket guide. The female section has a clamp guide, a mounting bracket, and a ramp. In the surface mount sectional electrical box assembly the base section fits inside the front section. Wire molding joining the surface mount box with a molding base having an integrally molded combination raceway and a molding cover. A further embodiment provided is a complete electrical box assembly with the clamp members biasing toward the ramps.
US08088994B2

A light concentrating module for transforming light into at least one of electrical and thermal energy is provided. The light concentrating module may be coupled in flow communication with a fluid conversion module and include a primary optical element that has a reflective surface with a plurality of contoured sections. Each contoured section is shaped to reflect light that impinges the contoured section toward a corresponding focal region. The module may also have a receiver system that includes a plurality of energy conversion members positioned proximate to corresponding focal regions. The receiver system also has a working fluid passage for carrying a working fluid that absorbs the thermal energy. The working fluid can be conveyed away from the receiver system through a mounting post that holds the receiver system. In addition, the module may also generate electricity.
US08088993B2

A p-type electrode on p+ layer of solar cell comprising, prior to firing; (a) Electrically conductive particles comprising silver particle having a particle size of 0.1 to 10 microns and added particle composed of a metal alloy containing a metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, W, Re, Os, Ir and Pt, (b) Glass frit, and (c) A resin binder, wherein the electrode is made from a fired conductive paste which is comprised of 40 to 90 wt % of the silver particle and 0.01 to 10 wt % of the added particle based on the weight of the paste.
US08088990B1

In one aspect of the present invention, a photovoltaic panel includes a substrate, a reflective layer formed on the substrate, a first conductive layer formed on the reflective layer, an active layer formed on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer formed on the active layer. The reflective layer has an index of refraction and a thickness such that the reflectance spectrum of the photovoltaic device for light incident on the substrate has a maximum in a selected wavelength range in the visible spectrum.
US08088988B2

An improved transducer structure for musical instruments, principally for stringed instruments, permitting the production of an electrical analog signal which faithfully reproduces sound waves conducted to a sensor from the surface of the instrument through the attachment surface of the transducer and air borne sound waves incident on the elevated structure of the transducer, with nominal distortion. The sensors which are effective using this transducer technology include piezo-electrical sensors, magnetic sensors and capacitive pickups are made part of a symmetric resonant structure none of whose sides are parallel.
US08088981B1

A novel maize variety designated X5S800 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X5S800 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X5S800 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X5S800, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X5S800. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X5S800 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US08088980B2

A celery cultivar, designated ADS-15, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of celery cultivar ADS-15, to the plants of celery cultivar ADS-15 and to methods for producing a celery plant by crossing the cultivar ADS-15 with itself or another celery cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a celery plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic celery plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to celery cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from celery cultivar ADS-15, to methods for producing other celery cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from celery cultivar ADS-15 and to the celery plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid celery seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar ADS-15 with another celery cultivar.
US08088975B2

Materials and methods for identifying lignin regulatory region-regulatory protein associations are disclosed. Materials and methods for modulating lignin accumulation are also disclosed.
US08088964B2

This invention relates to a wound dressing (10). The wound dressing includes first and second absorbent layers (12, 14) of a non-woven fabric of viscose and polyester fibres. Each absorbent layer has an operatively inner face (20, 26) and an operatively outer face (18, 22). The first and the second absorbent layers are bonded together with their operatively inner faces in face-to-face relationship, such that the absorbent layers together form a pad. The bonding between the first and second absorbent layers may be effected by a needle-punching process in which the needle punching density is no more than 400 punches/cm2. The wound dressing further includes a third layer (16) sandwiched between and bonded to the first and second absorbent layers. The third layer is in the form of cotton gauze. The invention extends to a method of making a wound dressing, and to a method of treating a wound.
US08088956B2

The present disclosure enables phenol recovery, purification and recycle in a simple, economic manner from waste streams from, for example, a phenol/acetone production process, e.g., a phenol/acetone plant or an upstream cumene hydroperoxide cleavage process step, and BPA production step, for use in the reaction with acetone to produce BPA. The disclosure therefore reduces the overall consumption of phenol in the production of BPA.
US08088955B2

This invention relates to novel alpha-substituted α,β-unsaturated E- or Z-aldehydes, or isomer mixture thereof, of the formula (I) in which R1 and R2 may be identical or different and are each H or a hydrocarbon, in which the hydrocarbon may have one or more heteroatoms and R3 and R4 may be identical or different and are each a hydrocarbon, in which the hydrocarbon may have one or more heteroatoms, and R5 may be identical or different and is H or a hydrocarbon, in which the hydrocarbon may have one or more heteroatoms, to the use thereof, and to processes for their preparation. The invention further relates to the preparation of further intermediates for pharmaceuticals and to the preparation of the pharmaceuticals.
US08088937B2

Disclosed herein are compounds of the formula: (R)x—Sn—(R′)4-x wherein: R is alkyl; R′ is a moiety selected from the group consisting of: w is 0 or 1; x is 1 or 2; y is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and Z is a linear, branched, cyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbon. These compounds are excellent stabilizers for halogen-containing resins, such as PVC.
US08088935B2

Compounds and methods for the treatment of asthma are disclosed. The methods involve mast cell stabilization together with selective inhibition of iNOS. The compounds are combinations of a mast cell inhibiting moiety and an inhibitor of iNOS. An example is:
US08088930B2

The invention is concerned with novel benzimidazole derivatives of formula (I) wherein A, n and R1 to R7 are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds can be used as medicaments.
US08088923B2

The present invention provides a concise synthetic method for generating lactam-fused beta-lactones that feature, in some embodiments, a tertiary fused carbinol, quaternary carbons, and a reactive beta-lactone moiety available for further reactions. The present invention further provides compounds synthesized by this method as well as methods of using these compounds as inhibitors of the proteasome and fatty acid synthase.
US08088922B2

Dibenzorylenetetracarboximides of the general formula I in which the variables are each defined as follows: R′ are identical or different radicals: hydrogen; optionally substituted aryloxy, arylthio, hetaryloxy or hetarylthio; R are identical or different radicals: hydrogen; optionally substituted C1-C30-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, aryl or hetaryl; m, n are each independently 0 or 1.
US08088916B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a hyaluronic acid-methotrexate conjugate useful as a therapeutic drug for joint diseases.There is provided a hyaluronic acid-methotrexate conjugate useful as a therapeutic drug for joint diseases, wherein methotrexate is conjugated with a carboxyl group of hyaluronic acid through a linker containing a peptide chain consisting of 1 to 8 amino acids.
US08088907B2

A method for detecting a mutation related to the gene encoding OAS1. This and other disclosed mutations correlate with resistance of humans to viral infection including hepatitis C. Also provided is a therapeutic agent consisting of a protein or polypeptide encoded by the mutated gene, or a polynucleotide encoding the protein or polypeptide. Inhibitors of human OAS1, including antisense oligonucleotides, methods, and compositions specific for human OAS1, are also provided.
US08088905B2

This disclosure provides antibodies and antigen-binding fragments that can act as agonists and/or antagonists of PD-1 (Programmed Death 1), thereby modulating immune responses in general, and those mediated by TcR and CD28, in particular. The disclosed compositions and methods may be used for example, in treating autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, allergies, transplant rejection, cancer, and other immune system disorders.
US08088904B2

The present disclosure describes tetrahydropyran nucleoside analogs, oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom and methods of using the oligomeric compounds. More particularly, tetrahydropyran nucleoside analogs are provided, having one or more chiral substituents, that are useful for enhancing properties of oligomeric compounds including nuclease resistance and binding affinity. In some embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.
US08088901B2

An azaindenofluorenedione derivative shown by the following formula (I), (IIa) or (IIb):
US08088899B2

Disclosed is a novel physiologically active protein, which is a human granulocyte colony stimulating factor isoform, constructed in order to increase the in vivo lifetime of human granulocyte colony sedtimulating factor. The human granulocyte colony stimulating factor isoform comprises a polypeptide and polyethylene glycol (PEG) bound thereto as a non-protein polymer. A specific site of the polypeptide is selected so that polyethylene can be bound to the site while not adversely affecting the activity of the protein. The amino acid of the site is modified with cysteine and polyethylene glycol is bound to the modified site. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the isoforms, genes encoding the isoforms, and a primer for modifying the amino acid sequence are also disclosed.
US08088897B2

An isolated antibody produced against a donor product of an enzymatically catalyzed group transfer reaction is disclosed. In one aspect, the antibody has the ability to preferentially recognize the donor-product guanosine diphosphate (GDP), in the presence of the donor molecule guanosine triphosphate (GTP). Immunuoassays using compositions including such antibodies and kits for performing the immunoassays are also disclosed.
US08088891B2

This invention provides an isolated mutant atpE protein and departing from said mutant atpE protein the identification of an ATPase binding domain. This invention also provides related nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, pharmaceutical compositions and articles of manufacture. This invention further provides methods for determining whether a test compound interacts with an atpE protein, i.e. with the ATPase binding domain of the present invention, as well as pharmaceuticals compositions comprising said test compound, in particular as antimicrobials, more particular as antimycobacterial agent, even more particular for treating tuberculosis in a subject.
US08088886B2

The enzyme Lp-PLA2 in purified form, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding Lp-PLA2, the use of an inhibitor of the enzyme Lp-PLA2 in therapy and a method of screening compounds to identify those compounds which inhibit the enzyme.
US08088881B2

Melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins may be prepared using processes including a first cook stage, a second cook stage, and a final addition wherein: the molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea and melamine (F:U+M) in the first cook stage is from about 2.0 to about 5.0; and the molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea and melamine (F:U+M) in the second cook stage is from about 1.5 to 3.0; and the molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea and melamine (F:U+M) in the final addition from about 0.4 to 0.70.
US08088877B2

A curable composition and a process for using the curable composition within a grating-coupled waveguide (GCW) sensor are disclosed. The composition can be used for facile replication of optical components, specifically those used in a label-independent detection system where operation of the waveguide is dependent on the detailed formation of micro and nano size patterns. The photo or electron beam curable composition has low viscosity (≦500 cPs) and cures to an optically clear material with high glass transition temperature (≦70° C.), low shrinkage on cure, low outgassing, and low extractables.
US08088870B2

A method for treating at least one interior surface (for example, a bed wall) of a fluidized bed polymerization reactor system, including by applying a solution catalyst (preferably at least substantially uniformly and in liquid form) to each surface, and optionally (where a catalyst component of the solution catalyst comprises at least one chromium containing compound) oxidizing at least some of the applied chromium containing compound in a controlled manner.
US08088868B2

A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a protected oxime compound.
US08088855B2

Disclosed is a powder coating method and paint thereof. First, a metal object is applied a voltage. Second, paint is rubbed to carry a static charge, wherein the static charge is opposite to the voltage applied to the metal object. The statically charged paint is then sprayed from a nozzle to the metal object to form a coating covering the metal object surface. The paint composition includes 90 to 99.9 parts by weight of a resin matrix, and 10 to 0.1 parts by weight of a carbon nanocapsule evenly dispersed in the resin matrix.
US08088854B2

An aqueous composition adhesive composition comprising a vinyl acetate polymer and a plasticizer having the general formula: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of saturated straight or branched and unsubstituted alkyl or cycloalkyl groups having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
US08088852B2

An oily surface adhesive room temperature curing type organopolysiloxane composition includes: (A) at least one of organopolysiloxanes represented by specific general formulas; (B) heavy calcium carbonate of which the surfaces have been treated with a fatty acid and/or paraffin treating agent; (C) an oil-absorbing carbon powder; (D) a silane represented by a specific general formula or a partial hydrolyzate; (E) a curing catalyst; and (F) an organic compound having one isocyanate group in its molecule.
US08088851B1

The present invention provides curable poly(acrylate) compositions, cured reaction products of which demonstrate improved resistance to shrinkage when exposed to hydrocarbon fluids, such as transmission fluids and oil- and fuel-based fluids.
US08088843B2

Crosslinking systems suitable for use in a polymer melt composition wherein the polymer melt composition comprises a hydroxyl polymer; polymeric structures made from such polymer melt compositions; and processes/methods related thereto are provided.
US08088837B2

The invention relates to medical technology and could be used in manufacturing artificial cardiac valves having one or more cusps made of a polymer composite. The method for manufacturing a cusp of an artificial cardiac valve, includes the steps of: manufacturing a casting mold, and molding a cusp from a polymer composite comprising 78 to 92% by weight of polyamide and 8 to 22% by weight of radiographic contrast medium dispersed therein. The polymer composite can comprise additionally fine acetylene black in amount of 1 to 2% by weight. The preferred radiographic contrast medium is barium sulphate. In one embodiment of the method, the casting mold is manufactured for the molding size 1 to 5% less than necessary, and the cusp is placed after molding into an anticoagulant solution and matured therein until expanding by 1 to 5%.
US08088835B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for easily and economically producing an expansion-molded polypropylene-based resin article stably with a high porosity, that has continuous voids and that can be used as materials such as a sound absorbing material and a draining material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for producing an expansion-molded polypropylene-based resin article, in which a mold is filled with expanded polypropylene-based resin particles, and the expanded particles are heated and fused using water vapor, and then cooled, wherein expanded polypropylene-based resin particles are used in which a polypropylene-based resin having a melt index (MI) of not less than 0.1 g/10 minutes and not more than 9 g/10 minutes is used as a base resin, a cell size is not more than 150 μm, two melting peaks are present on a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry, and β/(α+β) is not less than 0.35 and not more than 0.75 when taking a melting calorie at the lower temperature peak as α (J/g) and taking a melting calorie at the higher temperature peak as β (J/g), and a porosity of an obtained molded article is not less than 20% and not more than 50%.
US08088831B2

Disclosed is a cellulose ester film which is suppressed in volatilization of components during film formation, while having high surface flatness, high durability after saponification and good adhesion to a polarizer. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a cellulose ester film by melt forming. Further disclosed are a polarizing plate having high light resistance and high durability, and a liquid crystal display having high image quality. Specifically disclosed is a cellulose ester film characterized by containing a cellulose ester, a compound represented by the general formula (1) below, and a compound represented by the general formula (2) below.
US08088827B2

The present invention relates to the use of irbesartan for the preparation of medicinal products that are useful for preventing or treating pulmonary arterial hypertension or pulmonary hypertension.
US08088823B2

A method of preventing or treating diseases caused by Mycobacterium, comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a pleuromutilin.
US08088811B2

The present invention is directed to novel heterocycle derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by the androgen receptor.
US08088809B2

The present invention provides novel pyrazoles that are useful as cannabinoid receptor antagonists and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of using the same for treating obesity, diabetes, and/or cardiometabolic disorders.
US08088797B2

The present invention relates to compounds corresponding to formula (I): Wherein X, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined herein. The invention further relates to preparation and therapeutic use of these compounds.
US08088788B2

[1,2]Imidazo[4,5-c] ring compounds (e.g., imidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, imidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridines, and imidazo[4,5-c]pyridines) substituted with a fused ring containing an oxygen and/or nitrogen atom attached at the 1- and/or 2-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, methods of making the compounds, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08088779B2

The present invention generally relates to the polymorph Form 2 of [3-(4-methoxy-2-methyl-phenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-[(S)-1-(3-methyl-[1,2,4]oxa-diazol-5-yl)-propyl]amine. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and methods of using the same.
US08088775B2

Disclosed is the use of 2-[2-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]-1-piperazinyl]ethoxy]-acetic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt for the reduction of hair loss; for hair regrowth, hair toning and hair growth; and for the treatment of female hirsutism.
US08088773B2

The present invention relates in general to therapeutic compositions and methods of use. In preferred embodiments, the invention relates to the field of eye health. In some embodiments, the invention relates to the prevention and treatment of macular degeneration by administering compounds disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the invention relates to compositions and methods of improving vision.
US08088767B2

This invention relates to the field of protein tyrosine kinases and inhibitors thereof. In particular, the invention relates to inhibitors of JAK-2, pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds for inhibiting JAK-2, methods of inhibiting JAK-2 in a cell, comprising contacting a cell in which inhibition of JAK-2 is desired with a compound or pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to the invention. The also comprises methods of treating a disease or condition that involves JAK-2 comprising administering to a patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to the invention.
US08088758B2

3,15-substituted estrone compounds which act as inhibitors of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (17β-HSD1), salts thereof, pharmaceutical preparations containing such compounds, processes for preparing such compounds, and therapeutic uses of such compounds, particularly in the treatment or inhibition of steroid hormone dependent diseases or disorders, such as steroid hormone dependent diseases or disorders requiring the inhibition of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I enzymes and/or requiring the lowering of the endogenous 17β-estradiol concentration, as well as the general use of selective 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitors which possess in addition no or only pure antagonistic binding affinities to the estrogen receptor for the treatment or inhibition of benign gynecological disorders, particularly endometriosis.
US08088753B2

Heparin conjugates and methods of making and use thereof are disclosed. An illustrative heparin conjugate includes a composition wherein a bile acid is bonded to heparin through the 3-carbon of the bile acid. A spacer may be interposed between the bile acid and the heparin. Another embodiment includes a targeting moiety bonded to the heparin-bile acid conjugate through a spacer. Another illustrative heparin conjugate includes heparin covalently bonded to a sulfonated moiety, such as a naphthalene trisulfonate residue. A method of treating cancer includes administering a heparin conjugate to an individual in need thereof.
US08088750B2

The present invention relates to Enigma (PDLIM7)-Mdm2 interaction and use thereof. More particularly, it may induce an effective apoptosis of cancer cells by inhibition of an Enigma expression or an Enigma activity which induces Mdm2 destabilization and p53 activity; it may assess the prognosis of anti-cancer therapy by determining that Enigma, which is induced by SRF, is overexpressed in cancer tissues with Mdm2; it may screen anti-cancer activity substances by to selecting a factor to inhibit specific binding between Enigma and Mdm2. Enigma-Mdm2 interaction and Enigma expression regulation may be utilized usefully for preventing cancers and developing therapeutic methods and anti-cancer agents.
US08088748B2

A method is provided for immunizing against pulmonary inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness associated with infantile RSV infection. This method includes administering an antisense oligonucletide to a subject in need thereof.
US08088742B2

The disclosure discusses polyol-glycoside compositions for topical use. The invention provides compositions containing an efficient amount of polyol-glycoside obtained from the acetalization of a polyol with a reducing sugar. Applications for the composition include cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and textile treatments.
US08088741B2

Peptide-based compounds including heteroatom-containing, three-membered rings efficiently and selectively inhibit specific activities of N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolases. The activities of those Ntn having multiple activities can be differentially inhibited by the compounds described. For example, the chymotrypsinlike activity of the 20S proteasome may be selectively inhibited with the inventive compounds. The peptide-based compounds include an epoxide or aziridine, and functionalization at the N-terminus. Among other therapeutic utilities, the peptide-based compounds are expected to display anti-inflammatory properties and inhibition of cell proliferation.
US08088739B2

An object is to move a rail molecule by means of a biomolecular motor deposited on a base and inactivate the biomolecular motor through irradiation with light having a predetermined wavelength, to thereby readily and reliably fix the rail molecule at a predetermined position, while orienting the rail molecule in a predetermined direction without employment of any reagent. A method for fixing a rail molecule which has polarity and on which a biomolecular motor moves in a direction corresponding to the polarity includes depositing a biomolecular motor on a base; moving a rail molecule by means of the biomolecular motor; and inactivating the biomolecular motor by irradiating the biomolecular motor with light having a predetermined wavelength when the rail molecule reaches a predetermined position, to thereby fix the rail molecule so that it is oriented in a predetermined direction.
US08088738B2

The present invention relates to a thermostable alpha-1-antitrypsin mutein with a disulfide bond and a preparation method of the same, more precisely an alpha-1-antitrypsin mutein with improved thermostability, compared with the conventional thermostable alpha-1-antitrypsin mutein (Korean Patent No. 133252), resulted from the process of substituting the 168th and 189th amino acids of the alpha-1-antitrypsin with cysteines which are then linked by a disulfide bond, with keeping its alpha-1-antitrypsin activity unchanged, and a preparing method of the same. The thermostable alpha-1-antitrypsin mutein with a disulfide bond of the invention can be effectively used for a protein based therapeutic agent which is very stable in vivo, and can be applied further in various fields including in the development of a diagnostic reagent and in the preparation of an affinity column.
US08088737B2

The present invention relates to compositions, methods and kits based on the ADAM-mediated cleavage of Her-2. The present invention also relates to treatments for cancer, and in particular, breast cancer, by modulating the ADAM-mediated cleavage of Her-2. Further, the invention relates to compositions, methods and kits based on the surprising synergistic effect between inhibition of Her-2 cleavage by an ADAM and certain cytostatic (e.g., Herceptin) and cytotoxic (e.g., Taxol) compounds in, among other things, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing cell death. Additionally, the invention relates to novel variants of ADAM15, designated ADAM15 variant 1 and ADAM15 variant 2, now identified and isolated.
US08088730B2

The present invention concerns thirteen novel variants of alternative splicing of the obesity and/or diabetes related genes.
US08088729B2

A method of inhibiting a viral infection of a host comprising administering to the host an anti-viral griffithsin polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least eight contiguous amino acids, a nucleic acid encoding the anti-viral polypeptide, or an antibody to the anti-viral polypeptide. A method of inhibiting a virus in a sample comprising contacting the sample with an anti-viral griffithsin polypeptide or antibody thereto also is provided.
US08088727B2

The invention provides methods of preventing or treating insulin resistance in a mammalian subject. The methods comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide having at least one net positive charge; a minimum of four amino acids; a maximum of about twenty amino acids; a relationship between the minimum number of net positive charges (pm) and the total number of amino acid residues (r) wherein 3pm is the largest number that is less than or equal to r+1; and a relationship between the minimum number of aromatic groups (a) and the total number of net positive charges (pt) wherein 2a is the largest number that is less than or equal to pt+1, except that when a is 1, pt may also be 1.
US08088723B2

A cleaning composition with a limited number of ingredients contains a polyaluminum compound and surfactant. The cleaning composition optionally has an additional amount of fragrance. The cleaning composition optionally has a small amount of solvent. The cleaning composition optionally comprises a group selected from the group consisting of a dye, a builder, a fatty acid, a colorant, a preservative, a chelating agent, a colloidal silica and mixtures thereof.
US08088719B2

Treatment fluids comprising gelling agents that comprise crosslinkable polymers and certain biopolymers, and methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous base fluid; a crosslinking agent; and a gelling agent comprising a polymer that is a crosslinkable polymer, and a polymer that is a biopolymer wherein a molecule of the biopolymer (1) consists only of glucose, or (2) has a backbone comprising one or more units that comprise at least (a) one glucose unit and (b) one linear or cyclic pyranose-type monosaccharide unit, wherein (a) and (b) have different molecular structures.
US08088717B2

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 interior region of the shell is at least partially filled with a foam. The internal pressure of the compressible object may be greater than about 200 psi (pounds per square inch) at atmospheric pressure, greater than 500 psi at atmospheric pressure, greater than 1500 psi at atmospheric pressure or more preferably greater than 2000 psi at atmospheric pressure.
US08088705B2

The invention relates to a process for incorporating sulfur in the porosity of the solid particles of a catalyst for the conversion of hydrocarbons or an adsorbent. This process is carried out off-site in the presence of hydrogen sulfide that is pure or diluted in hydrogen or nitrogen, a process in which said particles are made to rise or fall in a sulfur incorporation zone that comprises at least one vibratory helical coil that is essentially tubular in shape and that comprises at least two turns, whereby said particles are subjected to a temperature profile over the majority of their path in said coil and whereby said particles are brought into contact with at least one fluid on at least one portion of their path.
US08088703B2

Provided are a dielectric composition and a ceramic electronic component including the same. The dielectric composition includes (a) barium titanate having a specific surface area of 2.5 m2/g to 6.0 m2/g; (b) a mixture containing at least one or more materials selected from the group consisting of any one oxide of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zr, and any one carbonate thereof; (c) oxide containing at least one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ac, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; (d) oxide containing at least one or more material selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni; (e) oxide containing at least one or more material selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, and Ta; and (f) oxide containing at least one or more material selected from the group consisting of Si and Al. The dielectric composition can satisfy X8R characteristic, can be sintered at a low temperature, and can obtain high reliability.
US08088702B2

There is provided a bonding material composition capable of suppressing crack generation on an end face of a resultant honeycomb structure to a large extent by reducing anisotropy of Young's modulus after curing of the bonding material by the use of an isotropic filler without using inorganic fibers. The bonded body has two or more members unitarily bonded by means of a bonding material layer, and the relational expression of 0.5
US08088695B1

A laminated fabric material includes a fabric material and a substantially gas impermeable film laminated to the fabric material, the film having an inner, fabric-facing surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface includes a fluoropolymer treated surface.
US08088688B1

A method of forming a non-volatile memory device. The method includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming a first dielectric material overlying the surface region. A first wiring material comprising at least an aluminum material is formed overlying the first dielectric material. The method forms a silicon material overlying the aluminum material and forms an intermix region consuming a portion of the silicon material and a portion of the aluminum material. The method includes an annealing process to cause formation of a first alloy material from the intermix region and a polycrystalline silicon material having a p+ impurity characteristic overlying the first alloy material. A first wiring structure is formed from at least a portion of the first wiring material. A resistive switching element comprising an amorphous silicon material is formed overlying the polycrystalline silicon material having the p+ impurity characteristic. A second wiring structure comprising at least a metal material is formed overlying the resistive switching element.
US08088685B2

The described embodiments of methods of bottom-up metal deposition to fill interconnect and replacement gate structures enable gap-filling of fine features with high aspect ratios without voids and provide metal films with good film quality. In-situ pretreatment of metal film(s) deposited by gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) allows removal of surface impurities and surface oxide to improve adhesion between an underlying layer with the deposited metal film(s). Metal films deposited by photo-induced chemical vapor deposition (PI-CVD) using high energy of low-frequency light source(s) at relatively low temperature exhibit liquid-like nature, which allows the metal films to fill fine feature from bottom up. The post deposition annealing of metal film(s) deposited by PI-CVD densifies the metal film(s) and removes residual gaseous species from the metal film(s). For advanced manufacturing, such bottom-up metal deposition methods address the challenges of gap-filling of fine features with high aspect ratios.
US08088676B2

Crystallization-inducing metal elements are introduced onto an amorphous silicon thin film. A first, low-temperature, heat-treatment induces nucleation of metal-induced crystallization (MIC), resulting in the formation of small polycrystalline silicon “islands”. A metal-gettering layer is formed on the resulting partially crystallized thin film. A second, low-temperature, heat-treatment completes the MIC process, whilst gettering metal elements from the partially crystallized thin film. The process results in the desired polycrystalline silicon thin film.
US08088675B2

A method for obtaining a desired dopant profile of an emitter for a solar cell which includes depositing a first amorphous silicon layer having a first doping level over an upper surface of the crystalline silicon substrate, depositing a second amorphous silicon layer having a second doping level on the first amorphous silicon layer, and heating the crystalline silicon substrate and the first and second amorphous silicon layers to a temperature sufficient to cause solid phase epitaxial crystallization of the first and second amorphous silicon layers, such that the first and second amorphous silicon layers, after heating, have the same grain structure and crystal orientation as the underlying crystalline silicon substrate.
US08088673B2

The present invention has an object to provide a semiconductor chip of high reliability with less risk of breakage. Specifically, the present invention provides a semiconductor chip having a semiconductor silicon substrate including a semiconductor device layer and a porous silicon domain layer, the semiconductor device layer being provided in a main surface region on one surface of the semiconductor silicon substrate, the porous silicon domain layer being provided in a main surface region on a back surface which is the other surface of the semiconductor silicon substrate, and the porous silicon domain layer having porous silicon domains dispersed like islands in the back surface of the semiconductor silicon substrate.
US08088667B2

A fabrication method which forms vertical capacitors in a substrate. The method is preferably an all-dry process, comprising forming a through-substrate via hole in the substrate, depositing a first conductive material layer into the via hole using atomic layer deposition (ALD) such that it is electrically continuous across the length of the via hole, depositing an electrically insulating, continuous and substantially conformal isolation material layer over the first conductive layer using ALD, and depositing a second conductive material layer over the isolation material layer using ALD such that it is electrically continuous across the length of the via hole. The layers are arranged such that they form a vertical capacitor. The present method may be successfully practiced at temperatures of less than 200° C., thereby avoiding damage to circuitry residing on the substrate that might otherwise occur.
US08088660B1

A method for producing an electrode in a semiconductor layer includes providing a substrate with a first surface and a second surface, forming a first trench having sidewalls and extending into the substrate from the first surface and forming a plug in the first trench. The method further includes reducing a thickness of the semiconductor substrate by removing semiconductor material beginning at the first surface so as to at least partially uncover sidewalls of the plug and forming a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor layer at least partially covering the uncovered sidewalls of the plug, and having an upper surface.
US08088646B1

Check valve package for pb-free, single piece electronic modules, the package having an exterior and an interior, and at least one electronic device mounted within the interior of the package electrically connected to a lead-free solder ball grid array on a surface of the package, the package having a check valve between the interior and exterior of the package configured to allow flow from the interior to the exterior and to prevent flow form the exterior to the interior. The package withstands the solder reflow temperatures for the reflow of the pb-free solder balls of a ball grid array packaging of an NVSRAM during mounting on a circuit board. The package is suitable for packaging circuits containing rechargeable batteries and for packaging other electronic devices.
US08088620B2

The invention relates to optimised micro-organism strains for the biotransformation production of molecules having NADPH-consuming biosynthetic pathways. The inventive strains can be used in NADPH-consuming biotransformation methods. Said strains are characterized in that one or more NADPH-oxidizing activities are limited.
US08088618B2

The present invention relates to anti-IL13 antibodies that bind specifically and with high affinity to both glycosylated and non-glycosylated human IL13, does not bind mouse IL13, and neutralize human IL13 activity at an approximate molar ratio of 1:2 (MAb:IL13). The invention also relates to the use of these antibodies in the treatment of IL13-mediated diseases, such as allergic disease, including asthma, allergic asthma, non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, eczema, urticaria, food allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ulcerative colitis, RSV infection, uveitis, scleroderma, and osteoporosis.
US08088616B2

The present technology provides for a heater substrate that contains networks of heater elements configured to controllably and selectively deliver heat to one or more PCR reaction chambers in a microfluidic substrate with which the heater substrate makes contact. In exemplary embodiments, the heater substrate can deliver heat to 12, 24, 48, or 96 chambers independently of one another, or simultaneously. The heater substrate is located in a heater unit that may be introduced into a diagnostic apparatus that can receive and position a microfluidic substrate, such as in a cartridge, in contact with the heater unit, receive one or more polynucleotide containing samples into one or more lanes in the microfluidic substrate, and cause amplification of the polynucleotides to occur, and detect presence of absence of specified polynucleotides in the amplified samples.
US08088614B2

Methods and compositions are provided for producing purified oil from an organism, whether these organisms are wild type, selectively bred or genetically modified, and are suitable for the large scale production of an oil product. The organism may be an animal, a plant or a microorganism such as yeast, bacteria or algae. The organism is processed to create a biomass which can be extracted to remove the lipids contained within the biomass. The extraction produces a crude extract rich in lipids and containing residual contaminants. These contaminants are removed by contacting the crude extract with a composition that comprises a nanomaterial. Subsequently an oil product is recovered which is substantially free from residual contaminants, such as pigments.
US08088612B2

A Dictyoglomus turgidum thermostable cellulase enzyme with both endocellulase activity and exocellulase activity that is able to degrade cellulose in the absence of scaffoldins and other cellulosomic proteins is provided. The use of the enzyme to degrade cellulosic materials to soluble sugars is also provided. Also described are nucleic acid constructs that encode and express the cellulase, and hosts transformed to contain the nucleic acid constructs.
US08088609B2

The present invention relates to CAB molecules, ADEPT constructs directed against CEA, and their use in therapy.
US08088603B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for diagnosing, preventing, and treating prostate cancer and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN).
US08088600B2

The present invention relates to at least one novel cynomolgus IL-13 muteins (Mut-IL-13) proteins, antibodies, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one Mut-IL-13 protein or antibody, Mut-IL-13 vectors, host cells, transgenic animals or plants, and methods of making and using thereof, including therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
US08088594B2

Novel conjugates and immunogens derived from risperidone and antibodies generated by these immunogens are useful in immunoassays for the quantification and monitoring of risperidone and paliperidone in biological fluids.
US08088588B2

The invention relates to the identification of genetic products expressed in association with tumors and to coding nucleic acids for the expressed products. An embodiment of the invention also relates to the therapy and diagnosis of disease in which the genetic products are aberrantly expressed in association with tumors, proteins, polypeptides and peptides which are expressed in association with tumors, and to the nucleic acids coding for the polypeptides, peptides and proteins.
US08088586B2

The invention provides a method of depleting anti-MHC antibodies in a sample comprising contacting said sample with one or more recombinant MHC molecules or functionally equivalent variants, derivatives or fragments thereof and removing at least the recombinant MHC molecules to which antibodies to said recombinant MHC molecules contained within the sample have bound. This method allows the depletion of one or more specific MHC particularly HLA allele antibodies from a sample.
US08088583B2

Methods and compositions are provided for detecting a primer extension product in a reaction mixture. In the subject methods, a primer extension reaction is conducted in the presence of a polymerase having 3′→5′ exonuclease activity and at least one FET labeled oligonucleotide probe that includes a 3′→5′ exonuclease resistant quencher domain. Also provided are systems and kits for practicing the subject methods. The subject invention finds use in a variety of different applications, and are particularly suited for use in high fidelity PCR based reactions, including SNP detection applications, allelic variation detection applications, and the like.
US08088581B2

The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence of methylation at a locus within a population of nucleic acids.
US08088572B2

Polynucleotide primers and probes for the specific detection of E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin in samples are provided. The primers and probes can be used in real time diagnostic assays for rapid detection of E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin. The primers and probes can be used in real-time diagnostic assays for rapid detection of E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin in a variety of situations and are capable of distinguishing E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin from other E. coli strains. Kits comprising the primers and probes are also provided.
US08088570B2

There is provided a screening method which can select a photoaging-preventing or improving agent or a wrinkle-preventing or improving agent with efficiency and reliability. The screening method for a photoaging- or wrinkle-preventing or improving agent selects, as a candidate, a substance inhibiting the expression of keratin 6 and/or keratin 16 genes or keratin 6 and/or keratin 16 proteins in a skin tissue or cell.
US08088567B2

The present invention relates to an immortalized human neural precursor cell line, NGC-407. The cell line has been established from human foetal tissue. The cell line has been immortalized using a retroviral vector containing the v-myc oncogene. The cell line is a neural progenitor cell line capable of differentiating into to astrocytes and neurons including dopaminergic neurons. NGC-407 cells are capable of migrating to glioblastoma tumours implanted into rat brains and form gap junctions with the tumour cells. NGC-407 cells expressing a suicide gene can be be used for delivering activated prodrugs in the form of activated nucleoside analogs to tumours.
US08088566B2

A surface-treating agent for forming a resist pattern, includes: a compound represented by formula (1) as defined in the specification, wherein the surface-treating agent is used in a step between a formation of a first resist pattern on a first resist film and a formation of a second resist film on the first resist pattern to form a second resist pattern, and a pattern-forming method uses the surface-treating agent.
US08088559B2

A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit, d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer further includes a polymer containing an acid group and a basic nitrogen-containing compound capable of neutralizing the acid group, or wherein the photopolymerizable layer further includes a polymer containing an acid group which is neutralized by a basic nitrogen-containing compound.
US08088557B2

A method of forming patterns includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition for negative development to form a resist film having a receding contact angle of 70 degrees or above with respect to water, wherein the resist composition for negative development contains a resin capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid and becomes more soluble in a positive developer and less soluble in a negative developer upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (b) exposing the resist film via an immersion medium, and (c) performing development with a negative developer.
US08088552B2

A thermal negative type lithographic printing original plate has a photosensitive layer featuring high sensitivity, excellent reproducibility in FM screening, and excellent print durability and chemical resistance at a minute image portion. A photosensitive composition for the photosensitive layer contains an alkali soluble resin having a monomer unit represented by the formula (I), a silane coupling agent represented by the formula (II), an infrared absorber, a radical polymerization initiator, and a polymerizable compound having an ethylenic double bond and an amount of the silane coupling agent is from 15 to 40% of the photosensitive composition by mass.
US08088550B2

A positive resist composition, includes: (A) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; (B) a resin of which solubility in an alkali developer increases under an action of an acid; (C) a compound capable of decomposing under an action of an acid to generate an acid; and (D) a compound which itself acts as a base for the acids generated from the component (A) and the component (C) but decomposes upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation to lose a basicity for the acids generated from the component (A) and the component (C).
US08088547B2

A resist composition comprising (A) a hydrogen silsesquioxane resin, (B) an acid dissociable group-containing compound, (C) a photo-acid generator, (D) an organic solvent and optionally (E) additives. The resist composition has improved lithographic properties (such as high etch-resistance, transparency, resolution, sensitivity, focus latitude, line edge roughness, and adhesion) suitable as a photoresist.
US08088542B2

A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat layer that contains a titanocene.
US08088531B2

The present application provides a technique prevents a regulator arranged on a gas supplying path that supplies gas to a fuel cell installed in a fuel cell system from functioning erroneously, by controlling the pressure increase within the upper stream side of the regulator. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an oxide gas supplying path to supply oxide gas to the fuel cell, a fuel gas supplying path to supply fuel gas to the fuel cell, a secondary regulator arranged on the fuel supplying path, a bypass path communicating the upper stream side path of the secondary regulator with the lower stream side path of the secondary regulator, and a pressure controlling valve that is closed in a case where the pressure difference between the upper stream side path and the lower stream side path is less than a predetermined amount, and opened in a case where the pressure difference between the upper stream side path and the lower stream side path exceeds the predetermined amount.
US08088520B2

The power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit, a piezoelectric element for transferring heat of the power supply unit to a floor panel, and an element power supply control circuit for controlling application of a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is placed between the power supply unit and the floor panel and is switched between a contact state in which the piezoelectric element is in contact with the power supply unit and the floor panel and a non-contact state in which the piezoelectric element is not in contact with the power supply unit and/or the floor panel in accordance with the application of a voltage.
US08088509B2

Disclosed herein is a lithium ion battery comprising an electrode core, an electrolyte solution, a metal shell and an end cover assembly, said metal shell comprising an outer wall, an inner wall and a chamber, said electrode core and electrolyte solution being located in the chamber of the metal shell, and said electrode core being connected to the end cover assembly with a electrode terminal of the electrode core, wherein the number of said electrode core is more than one, and the multiple electrode cores are located in the chamber of the metal shell. The lithium ion battery according to the present invention possesses excellent disperse heat dispersion, high mechanical safety, and good high rate discharge performance. In addition, the battery according to the present invention solves the problems of the “wound battery” of the prior art that the electrode plate is long and difficult to wind, and the “stacked battery” of the prior art that the electrode plate is difficult to prepare and pile up by dividing the electrode core of high capacity into multiple electrode core of low capacity placed abreast in the metal shell, whereby simplifying the preparation thereof.
US08088506B2

The invention is an electrochemical battery cell with a fluid consuming electrode, such as an oxygen reduction electrode, and a fluid regulating system. The fluid regulating system includes a valve for adjusting the rate of passage of the fluid to the fluid consuming electrode. It is operated by an actuator that responds (e.g., by deforming) to changes in a potential applied across the actuator to open or close the valve. The applied potential can be the cell potential or an adjusted potential. The potential applied across the actuator can vary according to the need for more or less fluid in the fluid consuming electrode. The valve can be contained within the cell housing, for example between the fluid consuming electrode and one or more fluid entry ports in the cell housing, or it can be located outside the cell housing.
US08088502B2

A durable coating made up of superimposed microlayers of preselected materials, and a method of making and utilizing such a coating. In one embodiment of the invention, at least 200 microlayers of at least one transparent material, having a thickness of less than 50 nms are superimposed in a sequential manner so as to obtain a desired arrangement between the layers. This structure then forms a transparent coating that has strength characteristics that are substantially greater than the strength of a layer of the coating material alone.
US08088498B2

An article for protecting an airfoil component includes a sheath having an outer side and an inner side that forms a cavity for receiving a leading edge of the airfoil component. The sheath is made of cobalt and phosphorus to protect the leading edge of the airfoil component from erosion.
US08088496B2

A piston ring includes a piston ring body and a surface coating film formed on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the piston ring body. The surface coating film has a most outside surface layer including a heat-resistant resin and a metal powder contained in the heat-resistant resin and a base bottom layer formed nearest the piston ring body and including a heat-resistant resin. The base bottom layer may also include a metal powder.
US08088480B2

The adhesive tape of this application comprises a layer of polymeric material, particularly a polyvinyl chloride, having a Shore A Hardness of between 92 and 100 and a layer of adhesive material attached to a surface of the layer of polymeric material.
US08088473B2

The invention provides low-emissivity coatings that are highly reflective of infrared radiation. The coating includes three infrared-reflection film regions, which may each comprise silver.
US08088471B2

A ply of fibrous structure product comprises a background pattern and a repeating pattern disposed on a portion of the background pattern. The repeating pattern comprises a master pattern comprising a first individual embossment comprising a major axis and a minor axis, a first line segment axis parallel to the major axis of the first individual embossment, and at least one individual embossment adjacent to the first individual embossment The individual embossment adjacent to the first individual embossment comprises a major axis and a minor axis. The major axis of the individual embossment adjacent to the first individual embossment and the first line segment axis form an angle of from about 0.5° to about 20°.
US08088466B2

A silver-based alloy thin film is provided for the semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. Alloy additions to silver include copper and a rare earth metal. These alloys have moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.
US08088442B2

The invention relates to a method for pressure impregnating wood or wood products with a wood preservative containing vegetable oils, in which method wood is pressure impregnated with a wood preservative containing vegetable oil. It is characteristic of the method according to the invention that, before starting the pressure stage, wood is heated so that at least part of its inner parts heat to a temperature of at least 50° C. and that, after the pressure impregnation, vacuum is formed in a space surrounding wood and simultaneously the surface layers of wood are heated to a temperature higher than the boiling point of water for removing wood preservative from the surface layers of wood. The invention also relates to wood or a wood product pressure impregnated in accordance with the method according to the invention.
US08088435B2

A mask, through which a plurality of slender through-holes are formed, has a reinforcing section which is formed to span the through-holes, wherein recesses are provided at portions of the reinforcing section to cover the through-holes. Accordingly, a metal, which is subjected to the sputtering, easily makes the detour around the reinforcing section. Therefore, a metal film is easily formed even on portions shadowed by the reinforcing section. It is possible to accurately form a fine wiring pattern.
US08088434B2

A method is disclosed for producing graphenic materials by templated growth along a preformed graphenic material lattice edge, wherein at least one of the graphenic material or template is translated during growth of the graphenic material. A method for preparing CNTs from preformed CNT substrates in the presence of cylindrical templating structures and a reactive carbon source in a fluid phase is also disclosed, wherein at least one of the CNT substrate or the cylindrical templating structure is translated during addition of carbon atoms to the CNT substrate. A method is also disclosed for preparing CNTs from preformed CNT substrates in the presence of cylindrical templating structures and a carbon source in a fluid phase, wherein non-thermalized excited states are produced on the CNT substrate and at least one of the CNT substrate or the cylindrical templating structure is translated during addition of carbon atoms to the CNT substrate.
US08088431B2

The invention provides, in one aspect, a health bar or composition having high levels of a cacao-based product, and with correspondingly high levels of cocoa anti-oxidants, that are shelf stable, heat-resistant, and have good taste and mouthfeel properties. The energy bars and food compositions can deliver healthful cocoa ingredients to improve vigor, enhance physical energy, enhance mental energy, enhance cognitive focus abilities, and/or improve athletic performance. Methods of making such health bars, food ingredients, or heat-resistant compositions that comprise the same high levels of cacao product and other ingredients in effective amounts and that are shelf-stable are also disclosed.
US08088417B2

A method of making a composition having the property of being able to store chlorine dioxide includes mixing an aqueous chlorine dioxide solution with a superabsorbent, water-soluble polymer that is substantially unreactive with chlorine dioxide and permitting a mixture formed thereby to form one of a gel and a solid composition. A method of delivering chlorine dioxide includes providing a gel or solid composition as described and degelling the gel or dissolving the solid composition to dispense the chlorine dioxide therefrom. A method of disinfecting a target such as water, wastewater, or a surface comprises delivering chlorine dioxide as above and permitting the polymer to precipitate out of the mixture. Aqueous chlorine dioxide is then recovered and applied to the target.
US08088416B2

A process for purifying and collecting albumin from plasma and plasma fractions involves diafiltration of an albumin-containing plasma fraction; stabilizing the resulting albumin fraction with sodium chloride and an amino acid in the absence of any added fatty acid; pasteurizing the stabilized albumin fraction; and diafiltering the pasteurized fraction to remove, along other things, stabilizers. In one embodiment, the amino acid stabilizing agent is acetyl tryptophan. The resulting albumin has at least about 80% albumin binding capacity relative to natural plasma albumin, and is storage stable for about 30 months at 30° C.
US08088413B2

The current invention relates to a process for increasing the efficacy of cancerous disease inhibiting therapeutic agents delivered to a treatment region of a tissue structure, such as a tumor. The multi-step procedure takes advantage of the resulting thermal stress response occurring as a result of exposure to the cold. Coordinating the thermal related stress response with the timing of cancerous disease inhibiting agent action provides a unique therapeutic regiment to treat tumors which provides a maximized effect on the tumor, protects normal cells, and activates local pro-inflammatory cells.
US08088411B2

The present invention relates to direct compressible crystalline or semi-crystalline trehalose solids having a crystal form selected from the group consisting of trehalose dihydrate and mixtures of trehalose dihydrate and anhydrous trehalose, and having a specific surface area of at least 0.25 m2/g and products or tablets containing these. A process for preparing said solids comprises heating a solution of trehalose and applying shear and cooling. The trehalose solids can be applied in food, pharma and cosmetics and tablets prepared from said trehalose solids have improved tensile strength.
US08088410B2

An oil composition containing 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 and an oil is provided. In addition an emulsion, a microencapsulated oil composition, and a feed premix composition each containing 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 are provided. Methods of making an oil composition, a microencapsulated oil composition, and a feed premix containing 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 are also provided.
US08088409B2

Compositions and methods for improving animal skin health and/or pelage quality that utilize one or more omega-6 fatty acids and one or more omega-3 fatty acids at a total omega-6 to total omega-3 fatty acid ratio of from about 1 to less than 5.
US08088403B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing microcapsules by coacervation, and to the use of transglutaminase for cross-linking in complex coacervation. The present invention relates further to coacervation processes in general in which a material to be encapsulated is added to a solution comprising at least one colloid below the gelling temperature of the colloid. According to a method of the present invention, an emulsion or suspension of hydrophobic material is prepared after cooling a solution that includes hydrocolloids below the critical gelling temperature of a coacervate phase.
US08088398B2

The present application relates to a pharmaceutical granulate comprising Fesoterodine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable stabilizer, which can be selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol, polydextrose, isomalt, dextrose, and combinations thereof, and is preferably a sugar alcohol selected from the group consisting of xylitol and sorbitol. The granulate is suitable for incorporation into pharmaceutical compositions comprising a gel matrix formed by at least one type of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose into which the Fesoterodine is embedded and, optionally, further excipients. In certain embodiments, the granulate is formed by a process of wet granulation.
US08088393B2

Polypeptides, polynucleotides, methods, compositions, and vaccines comprising influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants are provided.
US08088389B1

Synthetic human target autoantigen genes comprising sequences coding for at least two immunogenic epitopic clusters (hereinafter IEC) of autoantigen(s) related to a specific autoimmune disease, wherein said at least two IECs may be derived from a sole autoantigen or from at least two different autoantigens related to said autoimmune disease, and polypeptides encoded thereby, can be used for the treatment and the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), myasthenia gravis (MG) and uveitis.
US08088387B2

The present invention discloses a method for targeting maytansinoids to a selected cell population, the method comprising contacting a cell population or tissue suspected of containing the selected cell population with a cell-binding agent maytansinoid conjugate, wherein one or more maytansinoids is covalently linked to the cell-binding agent via a non-cleavable linker and the cell-binding agent binds to cells of the selected cell population.
US08088384B2

The invention concerns anti-NGF antibodies (such as anti-NGF antagonist antibodies), and polynucleotides encoding the same. The invention further concerns use of such antibodies and/or polynucleotides in the treatment and/or prevention of pain, including post-surgical pain, rheumatoid arthritis pain, and osteoarthritis pain.
US08088382B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating transendothelial migration (TEM) of leukocytes. In particular, inhibition of TEM can provide a potent therapeutic approach to treating inflammatory conditions. The invention specifically relates to the discovery that the adhesion molecule CD99L2 mediates TEM of leukocytes. CD99L2 is present on endothelial cells and leukocytes and mediates leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. Blockade of CD99L2 by use of a specific antibody blocks migration of leukocytes into a site of inflammation. CD99L2 shows functional analogy to the structurally-related molecule, CD99, inhibition of which, in conjunction with inhibition of PECAM, causes near total blockade of TEM. Thus, blocking CD99L2 on either endothelial cells or monocytes can block migration 80-90%. In conjunction with PECAM inhibitors, TEM blockade can approach 100%. Therapeutic treatments involving inhibition of CD99L2 show significant promise in remediation of inflammatory conditions.
US08088375B2

An antibody is provided. In certain cases, the antibody comprises: a) a heavy chain variable domain that comprises CDR regions that are substantially identical to the heavy chain CDR regions of a selected antibody and b) a light chain variable domain that comprises CDR regions that are substantially identical to the light chain CDR regions of the selected antibody, where the antibody binds a selected target.
US08088363B2

A carotenoid substance called zeaxanthin, when ingested orally at suitable dosages such as 30 to 100 mg/day for a span of 1 to 2 weeks, can provide effective protection against sunburns, and can give skin a darker tint that emulates a healthy suntan. In tests involving adults, it was found that zeaxanthin dosages of 30 to about 80 mg per day were sufficient to induce: (i) a mild but noticeable tinting, shading, or darkening of skin color, comparable to a mild suntan; (ii) a substantial increase in the person's ability to withstand elevated levels of sun or UV exposure without any subsequent pain or discomfort, and without the subsequent peeling and flaking that characterizes sunburns; and, (iii) an increased ability of reddened and sunburned skin to convert into intact skin that looks browned and healthily tanned. By reducing the amount of exposure to sunlight (or tanning lights) that are required to achieve a desired level of tanning, zeaxanthin can reduce the risks of skin cancer, premature aging or wrinkling, and similar skin problems. Since zeaxanthin also has retina-protecting properties and reduces the risk of a disease called macular degeneration, oral ingestion of these dosages of a zeaxanthin to enhance a tanned appearance and/or to protect against sun damage is believed to pose no health risks, and can offer several benefits due to the anti-oxidant and other activities of zeaxanthin.
US08088354B2

Process for the preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmite comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous precursor mixture comprising a water-insoluble aluminum source; (b) decreasing the pH of the precursor mixture of step (a) by at least 2 units; (c) increasing the pH of the mixture of step (b) by at least 2 units, and (d) aging the mixture of step (c) under hydrothermal conditions to form a quasi-crystalline boehmite. This process provides for the hydrothermal preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmites with high peptizability. The invention therefore further relates to quasi-crystalline boehmites with a high peptizability, measured as the Z-average submicron particle size. This Z-average submicron particle size preferably is less than 500 nm, more preferably less than 300 nm, even more preferably less than 200 nm, and most preferably less than 100 nm.
US08088352B2

A composition of matter including at least one graphitic-carbon-nanofiber/polymer brush. A method of making the graphitic-carbon-nanofiber/polymer brush includes covalently bonding a polymer to a surface of a graphitic-carbon-nanofiber by atom-transfer-radical-polymerization. An apparatus includes an analyte sensor including at least one graphitic-carbon-nanofiber/polymer brush. A method includes detecting an analyte including exposing at least one graphitic-carbon-nanofiber/polymer brush to the analyte.
US08088350B2

This invention relates to an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition that may be prepared by curing, calcining and/or pyrolyzing a precursor material comprising silicon, a Group III metal, a Group IVA metal, and/or a Group IVB metal.
US08088348B2

An air pollution control system for a coal combustion boiler includes: a NOx removing apparatus that reduces nitrogen oxide contained in flue gas emitted from this coal combustion boiler, an air pre-heater that recovers heat in the gas, a precipitator 15 that reduces particulates from the gas, a liquid-gas contact type desulfurizer that removes sulfur oxide by way of a limestone-gypsum method and reduces mercury oxide in the gas, a stack that releases the gas after SOx removal to the exterior, and a solid-liquid separator that extracts limestone-gypsum containing slurry from the desulfurizer to the exterior and performs a solid-liquid separation, where water separated in the solid-liquid separator is removed, and concentrated slurry is sent back to the bottom of the desulfurizer to make the gypsum concentration of slurry equal to or higher than 10 percent in the desulfurizer.
US08088334B1

There are disclosed polymerization processes and associated apparatuses. The polymerization processes involve both making a polymeric material in a fluidized bed reactor having a feed distributor and catching a spitwad with a spitwad catcher, and the apparatuses are those corresponding to such processes.
US08088333B2

An apparatus for sensing at least one analyte in a gas. The apparatus includes a thermoelectric sensor having a layer of at least one analyte interactant that increases or decreases in temperature and at least one thermopile having a first contact pad and a second contact pad, wherein the analyte contacts the interactant and produces or consumes heat, which is transmitted to the thermopile, produces a voltage difference and measures the analyte.
US08088329B2

A system for making cell blocks includes a cell block cassette and processing station, the cassette including a main body having a having a collection aperture formed therein and a filter assembly removably attached to the main body, the filter assembly defining a collection well in communication with the collection aperture, and having a filter positioned across a bottom surface of the collection well, the filter configured to retain cellular matter carried in a fluid that is dispensed into the collection well and flows across the filter. The cell block processor has a cassette interface removably seating the cell block cassette, and a sensor positioned or positionable to detect and monitor a fluid level in the collection well. The processing station includes an automated fluid delivery system operable to dispense a fluid into the collection well, and a controller operatively coupled to the fluid delivery system, wherein the controller causes the fluid delivery system to selectively dispense fluids into the collection well based at least in part on a flow rate across the filter determined at least in part based on changes in the monitored fluid level in the collection well.
US08088318B2

A method for processing an interior trim component includes the steps of injecting a substrate into a cavity that is defined by a cavity surface; injecting a coating onto the substrate within the cavity; flash-heating the cavity surface; and curing the coating on the substrate. A system is also disclosed.
US08088316B2

The present invention relates to the perforation of nonwovens with a perforating roll and an opposing roll. The perforating roll and opposing roll form a gap, through which a nonwoven being perforated, is guided and perforated. The perforation apparatus comprises a feed device and a withdrawal device. The feed device is arranged such that the nonwoven being perforated advances first onto the opposing roll, before it enters the gap. The withdrawal device is arranged such that after leaving the gap, the perforated nonwoven remains on the perforating roll. Furthermore, a perforation method and a corresponding nonwoven structure are provided.
US08088314B2

Provided are a process for producing an intraocular lens capable of inhibiting secondary cataract that may occur after the insertion of an intraocular lens and a secondary-cataract-inhibiting intraocular lens obtained by the above process, and the process is for producing a surface-treated intraocular lens, which comprises irradiating the surface of an intraocular lens with active light that works to decompose oxygen molecules to generate ozone and that also works to decompose the ozone to generate active oxygen, in the presence of oxygen, and the lens is a secondary-cataract-inhibiting intraocular lens obtained by the above process.
US08088312B2

Method for removing the epoxy and/or phenolic polymer encapsulating a nuclear fuel pellet comprising uranium dioxide UO2, the method comprising the following successive steps: a) the polymer is pyrolysed in a reducing atmosphere; and b) the carbon residues obtained after the pyrolysis step (a) are selectively oxidized, the oxidation being carried out at temperature above 1000° C. in an atmosphere comprising carbon dioxide CO2. Such a method makes it possible to remove the epoxy and/or phenolic polymer encapsulating the pellet while avoiding or limiting the risk of radiological contamination by the formation of U3O8.
US08088311B2

The invention relates to a flame retarding composition that comprises a mixture of a metal hydroxide component and a clay component, the mixture being present in the form of dried particles with monomodal particle size distribution.
US08088306B2

Disclosed herein are an electrically conductive thermoplastic resin composition and a plastic article including the same. The electrically conductive thermoplastic resin composition comprises about 80 to about 99.9 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin, about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of carbon nanotubes, about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of an impact modifier, based on a total of about 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin and the carbon nanotubes, and about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of conductive metal oxide, based on a total of about 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin and the carbon nanotubes.
US08088304B2

The invention relates to phosphors having a garnet structure of the formula I (Ya,Gdb,Luc,Sed,Sme,Tbf,Prg,Thh,Iri,Sbj,Bik)3-x(All,Gam)5O12:Cex  (I) where a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h+i+j+k=1 l+m=1 and x=0.005 to 0.1, and to a process for the preparation of these phosphors, and to the use thereof as conversion phosphors for conversion of the blue or near-UV emission from an LED.
US08088298B2

Methods and apparatus for spectrum-based endpointing. An endpointing method includes selecting two or more reference spectra. Each reference spectrum is a spectrum of white light reflected from a film of interest on a first substrate and has a thickness greater than a target thickness. The reference spectra is selected for particular spectra-based endpoint determination logic so that the target thickness is achieved when endpoint is called by applying the particular spectra-based endpoint logic. The method includes obtaining two or more current spectra. Each current spectrum is a spectrum of white light reflected from a film of interest on a second substrate when the film of interest is being subjected to a polishing step and has a current thickness that is greater than the target thickness. The method includes determining, for the second substrate, when an endpoint of the polishing step has been achieved.
US08088292B2

The invention relates to a gas liquid contactor and effluent cleaning system and method and more particularly to an array of nozzles configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets with reduced linear stability. An embodiment of the invention is directed towards a stability unit used with nozzles of a gas liquid contactor and/or an enhancer for stable jet formation, and more particularly to reducing the stability of liquid jets formed from nozzles of the gas liquid contactor. Another aspect of the invention relates to operating the apparatus at a condition that reduces the stability of liquid jets, e.g., a droplet generator apparatus. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to operation of the apparatus with an aqueous slurry. Still another aspect of the invention is directed towards to an apparatus for substantially separating at least two fluids.
US08088279B2

A runoff water filter is defined by an elongate, tubular mesh container filled with a filter medium that is selected for the ability of the filter medium to remove target pollutants from the runoff water. In a first disclosed embodiment, vermiculite is used as the primary filter medium for its ability to bind cationic compounds, principally zinc, from water running off metal buildings. Other filter media may also be employed to remove other target pollutants.
US08088260B2

A puck for providing a coating material in a cathodic arc coating system has a generally uniform depression formed at the outer periphery. The depression ensures that an arc from the coating apparatus will move uniformly about the outer periphery of the puck, such that a coating cloud will also be uniformly applied to parts to be coated.
US08088232B2

Molybdenum, sputtering targets and sintering characterized as having no or minimal texture banding or through thickness gradient. The molybdenum sputtering targets having a fine, uniform grain size as well as uniform texture, are high purity and can be micro-alloyed to improved performance. The sputtering targets can be round discs, square, rectangular or tubular and can be sputtered to form thin films on substrates. By using a segment-forming method, the size of the sputtering target can be up to 6 m×5.5 m. The thin films can be used in electronic components such as Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Displays, Plasma Display Panels, Organic Light Emitting Diodes, Inorganic Light Emitting Diode Displays, Field Emitting Displays, solar cells, sensors, semiconductor devices, and gate device for CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) with tunable work functions.
US08088226B2

A method and apparatus for transporting a product within a diffuser during a continuous lixiviation process. The apparatus comprises at least one screen deck for the continuous lixiviation process and at least one longitudinal transport zone, the longitudinal transport zone extending between an inlet and outlet of the diffuser. The transport zone may include a plurality of transport zones. A drive means is arranged to move the longitudinal transport zone at a first speed towards the outlet end of the diffuser and to retract the longitudinal transport zone at a second speed which is substantially faster than the first speed towards the inlet end of the diffuser, so that the transport zone drive the product towards the outlet of the diffuser.
US08088223B2

A substrate processing system has computer controlled injectors. The computer is configured to adjust a plurality of injectors, such as during deposition of a graded layer, between depositions of two different layers, or between deposition and chamber clean steps.
US08088221B2

A system and method for growing diamond crystals from diamond crystal seeds by epitaxial deposition at low temperatures and atmospheric and comparatively low pressures. A solvent is circulated (by thermal convection and/or pumping), wherein carbon is added in a hot leg, transfers to a cold leg having, in some embodiments, a range of progressively lowered temperatures and concentrations of carbon via the circulating solvent, and deposits layer-by-layer on diamond seeds located at the progressively lower temperatures since as diamond deposits the carbon concentration lowers and the temperature is lowered to keep the solvent supersaturated. The solvent includes metal(s) or compound(s) that have low melting temperatures and transfer carbon at comparatively low temperatures. A controller receives parameter signals from a variety of sensors located in the system, processes these signals, and optimizes diamond deposition by outputting the necessary control signals to a plurality of control devices (e.g., valves, heaters, coolers, pumps).
US08088218B2

A gypsum slurry is described that includes water, a hydraulic component comprising at least 50% calcined gypsum by weight based on the dry weight of the hydraulic component, foam, a defoamer and a polycarboxylate dispersant. In some embodiments of the invention, the defoamer is combined with the dispersant prior to being added to the gypsum slurry. The defoamer and dispersant can be added as a physical mixture, wherein the defoamer is attached onto the dispersant polymer, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a gypsum building panel is made from the gypsum slurry.
US08088208B2

The present invention relates to wash compositions which comprise a solvent component and a solids component wherein the solvent component comprises as main component water or one or more alcohols, and the solids component comprises as main component a mixture of metakaolinite and pyrophyllite, which can be applied onto casting molds, casting molds comprising these wash compositions and the use thereof, in particular in centrifugal casting processes and large-scale casting processes.
US08088207B2

An eleven-color printing ink set and method of use including an eleven-color ink set including a cyan ink with coordinates of L*=55, a*=−28, and b*=−43; a magenta ink with coordinates of L*=48, a*=61, and b*=1; a yellow ink with coordinates of L*=88, a*=−5, and b*=91; a black ink with coordinates of L*=27, a*=0.3, b*=0.7; an XG Purple 1 ink with coordinates of L*=41, a*=10, and b*=−53; an XG Purple 2 ink with coordinates of L*=33, a*=34, and b*=−48; an XG Orange 1 ink with coordinates of L*=67, a*=53, and b*=57; an XG Orange 2 ink with coordinates of L*=56, a*=61, and b*=35; an XG Green 1 ink with coordinates of L*=64, a*=−57, and b*=37; an XG Green 2 ink with coordinates of L*=63, a*=−65, and b*=6; and an XG Quinacridone ink with coordinates of L*=62, a*=49, and b*=−19.
US08088202B2

A heat exchange tower has an external structure including opposed sidewalls, a front barrier wall, an inlet opening below the front wall, and a rear barrier wall having an outlet at a generally upper region. A fill material generally spans the inside within the four walls, and is generally disposed above the top of the inlet and below the bottom of the outlet. A baffle protrudes inwardly from the rear barrier wall inside the tower and is located at a height above the top of the fill and below the bottom of the air outlet. A primary drift eliminator structure spans generally across the tower, and is located at the height of the baffle, so they connect to each other. A supplemental drift eliminator is provided above the primary drift eliminator, adjacent an inward edge of the baffle. At least one air turning vane angled in a generally vertical direction is provided below the fill media. An air inlet guide projects outwardly from the front wall above the inlet.
US08088198B2

A wet electrostatic precipitator (1) includes an inlet (2) for receiving a gas (4) containing a pollutant, and an outlet (6) for discharging therefrom the gas (8) from which said pollutant has been at least partially removed. Nozzles (24) are operative for purposes of spraying liquid onto at least one first vertical collecting surface (30) of at least one collecting electrode (18). A liquid distributor (42) is provided for purposes of pouring liquid onto at least one second vertical collecting surface (44), said at least one second vertical collecting surface (44) being located on a further collecting electrode (36), with said further collecting electrode (36) being located downstream of said at least one collecting electrode (18). The nozzles (24) are located upstream of the liquid distributor (42), as viewed with reference to the direction of flow of the gas. In a method of cleaning the collecting electrodes (18, 36) an upstream electrode (18) is sprayed with liquid while liquid is poured onto a downstream collecting electrode (36).
US08088195B2

The present invention provides a method for efficiently manufacturing a titanium oxide-containing slag from a material including titanium oxide and iron oxide, wherein a reduction of titanium dioxide is suppressed and the electric power consumption is minimized. The method includes the steps of: heating a raw material mixture including titanium oxide, iron oxide, and a carbonaceous reductant, or the raw material mixture further including a calcium oxide source, in a reducing furnace; reducing the iron oxide in the mixture to form reduced iron; feeding the resultant mixture to a heating melting furnace; heating the resultant mixture in the heating melting furnace to melt the reduced iron and separate the reduced iron from a titanium oxide-containing slag; and discharging and recovering the titanium oxide-containing slag out of the furnace.
US08088194B2

Provided is a method for producing hot briquette iron by hot-forming high-temperature reduced iron reduced in a reducing furnace, involving cooling the high-temperature reduced iron and controlling the temperature of the reduced iron to an appropriate hot-forming temperature of over 600° C. and 750° C. or less, producing hot briquette iron by hot-forming the high-temperature reduced iron at an appropriate hot-forming temperature with a briquetting machine.
US08088190B2

Disclosed is an improved axial flow unitary filter element for filtering a fluid stream, examples including a gaseous or an air stream. The filter element includes a primary filter portion and a pre-separation filter portion. The portions of said filter element are permanently integrated such that the portions form said unitary or one-piece filter element. The pre-separation portion is permanently secured and fully peripherally sealed about its peripheral portions to the primary filter such that a gaseous stream entering said inlet face of the primary filter must first pass through the pre-separation filter portion of the filter element. The pre-separation portion protects the primary filter portion from becoming water logged due to the presence of water droplets or snow in the fluid stream.
US08088189B2

Disclosed is multi-flow filter cartridge assembly that includes an elongated housing that has axially opposed proximal and distal ends and defines an interior cavity and first, second and third flow paths which extend from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end. The cartridge assembly also includes first, second and third filter elements. The first filter element is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and conditions fluid that traverses the first flow path from a first inlet port to a first outlet port. The second filter element is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and conditions fluid that traverses the second flow path from a second inlet port to a second outlet port. Lastly, the third filter element is also disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and conditions fluid that traverses the third flow path from a third inlet port to a third outlet port. The first flow path is isolated from the second and third flow paths and the second flow path is isolated from the third flow path.
US08088188B2

A system and process for gasifying carbonaceous feedstock with staged slurry addition in order to prevent the formation of tar that causes deposition problems. Dry solid carbonaceous material is partially combusted, then pyrolyzed along with a first slurry stream comprising carbonaceous material in two separate reactor sections, thereby producing mixture products comprising synthesis gas. The second slurry stream comprising particulate carbonaceous material is fed to a drying unit downstream of a heat recovery zone along with the mixture product exiting the heat recovery zone The resulting final temperature of the second stage mixture products and dried particulate carbonaceous material is between 450° F. and 550° F., a temperature range that is typically not conducive to the emission of heavy molecular-weight tar species.
US08088181B2

A dyeing method for raising a blue color is provided. The method includes dyeing fabric with raw dye, ferro-mordanting the fabric having undergone the dyeing of raw dye with ferro-mordant, producing potassium ferrocyanide solution by dissolving potassium ferrocyanide in water, and putting the fabric having undergone the ferro-mordanting into the solution obtained in the potassium ferrocyanide solution production and then ripening the fabric until a blue color of a desired tone is raised. Accordingly, a stabilized dyeing state of blue color group is easily got even using natural dyeing materials as material difficult to raise a blue color on fabric.
US08088180B2

A lens dyeing method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a print area to be formed on a dyeing base body based on information entered to dye a predetermined area of a surface of a lens to be dyed with desired hue and almost uniform color density so that the print area has a diameter larger than that of the lens surface area and the color density of the print area concentrically changes from a central portion to a peripheral portion in a stepwise or linear manner; (b) applying a dyeing ink containing a sublimable dye onto the base body to form the determined print area on one surface of the base body; and (c) placing the base body and the lens so that the print area formed surface and the lens surface area to be dyed face each other in noncontact relation under substantially a vacuum condition, and heating the base body to deposit the dye onto the lens.
US08088178B2

A hair cosmetic composition used for dyeing, bleaching, or destaining hair contains a fatty acid ester, a linear-chain higher fatty acid, polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight of 6,000 or more, an alkaline agent, and an oxidizing agent. The fatty acid ester is an ester of a fatty acid having a carbon number of 10 or less and an alcohol.
US08088176B2

Disclosed are methods, kits and compositions for coloring the hair involving a color base composition having: at least one oxidation dye precursor, and at least 5% by weight water based on the weight of the color base composition, wherein the color base composition has a pH ranging from 2 to 12; and a developer composition made from a combination of an anhydrous oxidizer composition containing at least one oxidizing agent chosen from persulfates, perborates, percarbonates, their salts, and mixtures thereof, and a shampoo composition containing a carrier vehicle and at least 4% of at least one surfactant.
US08088165B2

A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In an illustrative embodiment, the design of the spinal disc annulus stent advantageously allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.
US08088162B1

A synthetic muscle comprises an outer layer having an interior filled with a proton containing electrolyte. A first electrode extends into the interior, and a second electrode extends through the interior. The second electrode is attached to the outer layer at two locations. An ion selective microporous membrane extends through the interior along the length of the second electrode and is also attached to the out layer at the two locations. The ion selective membrane is also attached to the second electrode at a plurality of points along its length, defining a plurality of pockets of the ion selective membrane. The ion elective membrane is generally disposed between the two electrodes. The two electrodes are in communication through a power source. Using the power source, an electroosmotic flow is established across the ion exchange membrane from the first electrode to the second electrode, inflating the pockets and constricting the outer layer.
US08088154B2

Medical device delivery systems and associated methods are provided. Delivery systems according to the invention include an elongated tubular member and a body member, such as a dilator, disposed therein. An intraluminal medical device is disposed on the dilator and within the tubular member prior to deployment. The delivery system includes a means for separating two or more portions of the distal end of the tubular member that aids in deploying the intraluminal medical device from the delivery system by separating two or more portions of the tubular member from each other to facilitate release of the intraluminal medical device from the body member. Various structures can be used for means for separating, including a cutting ring, activateable material on the tubular member, or other suitable structure. The provided devices and methods reduce friction occuring from relative movement between the sheath and dilator during deployment.
US08088150B2

A Quincke tipped introducer needle contains two shafts with lumens, one recessed, both connected by a slit for housing a U- or V-shaped disc shunt. The recessed shaft minimizes the penetration size of the introducer needle for insertion into a narrow and nerve laden space adjacent to a degenerated intervertebral disc. The longitudinal slit connecting the two lumens allows passage of the distal portion of the U-shaped disc shunt through the introducer needle, to be delivered into the intervertebral disc.Pain emitting from the avascular disc is extremely difficult to treat due to lack of penetration or permeability of drug. The lumens of the introducer needle are also used to retain a peri-shunt injectable into the disc shunt for delivery into the painful disc. The peri-shunt injectable can be an analgesic, narcotic, anti-inflammatory drug, antibiotic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, buffer agent or alkaline agent to alleviate pain. The peri-shunt injectable can also be a nerve toxin retained within the lumens to be loaded within the shunt for terminating transmission of pain signal emitting from the disc.
US08088140B2

Methods for restoring blood flow in occluded blood vessels are disclosed. The methods can include accessing an artery with a catheter system and locating an occluded zone within the artery caused by an embolus. The catheter system can include a microcatheter and a blood flow restoration device or an embolus removal device having a self-expandable member configured to be delivered through the microcatheter in a compressed configuration and to be deployed to an expanded configuration upon retraction of the microcatheter. The methods can include deploying the self-expandable member at the location of the occluded zone such that the self-expandable member engages and captures the embolus upon deployment of the self-expandable member and removing the embolus by withdrawing the blood flow restoration device or the embolus removal device.
US08088132B2

A method is provided that involves endoscopically repairing or revising an anastomotic outlet previously formed in a portion of a patient's stomach as part of an earlier bariatric surgical procedure. The method may allow a surgeon to alter gastric functionality, such as gastric emptying or gastric dumping, by revising an existing anastomotic outlet. In this manner, the size of the outlet may be adjusted to change the rate at which contents pass from the stomach through the outlet. A surgical device may be inserted transorally through the patient's mouth, down through the esophagus and into the stomach or gastric pouch where it may be positioned in the vicinity of the anastomotic outlet. The surgical device may then be employed to revise the outlet to achieve a desired outlet configuration. The anastomotic outlet may be revised using an endoscopic fastening device that is configured to place a fastener in tissue. The fastening device may include an endoscopic suturing device to place one or more sutures in tissue in the region of the anastomotic outlet. One or more plications may be formed in the region of the outlet to narrow or reduce the opening of the anastomotic outlet.
US08088126B2

An apparatus and method for performing surgery using plasma is described. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a radiofrequency signal generator, a conditioning network coupled to the radiofrequency signal generator, and a catheter coupled to the conditioning network, the catheter including at least one electrode, such that the conditioning network conditions radiofrequency energy produced by the radiofrequency signal generator to create plasma at the at least one electrode of the catheter.
US08088117B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus for a fill port for a flexible container such as a flexible self supporting dewatering or marine structure. The container includes a flexible material having at least one opening and a fill port having an inner port body and an outer port body. At least one face of the inner and/or outer port body has a plurality of cellular surfaces with cavities that do not extend through the inner and/or outer port body on which they are positioned. The cavities receive a portion of the flexible material when the inner port body, the flexible material, and the outer port body are secured together and in use, thus minimizing stresses on the flexible material surrounding the fill port by equally distributing the forces acting on this material during the filling stage and thus reducing the risk of tears or failure to the flexible container.
US08088113B2

A portable, self-contained device is described for the topical application of oxygen and the removal of wound exudates to promote the healing of skin wounds. The device includes a wound dressing that incorporates at least one electrochemical cell for generating oxygen. The device can regulate the supply of oxygen to the wound at various concentrations, pressures and dosages and is used to produce a high concentration of oxygen at the wound site. By reversing the polarity of the power source a reduced pressure can be created in a reservoir attached to our device. The reduced pressure in the reservoir draws naturally flowing exudates away from the wound. Alternately, two reverse polarity cells are used to alternately supply oxygen and draw away exudates.
US08088111B2

A needle shroud assembly (10) comprises a barrel (16), a needle shroud (18) captively telescoped relative to the forward end of the barrel for movement between retracted and extended positions and is biased towards said extended position by a spring (25). A separate locking element (42) is mounted within the barrel moveable between a safe position (as seen in FIG. 5) in which it prevents or limits retraction movement of said needle shroud (18), and a live position in which it is clear of the rearward path of the needle shroud (18). The locking member is moved from its safe position to its live position by means of an externally operable actuating member (54), having a cam (52) which cooperates with a cam surface (46) on the locking element (42). The cam (52) is driven back to its original position by the rearward end of the shroud (18) as it moves to the fully retracted position.
US08088110B2

A safety injector comprises a needle hub attached by a needle, a hollow barrel for engaging with the needle hub and guiding the needle hub to retract into the hollow barrel, and a plunger combination settled in the hollow barrel. The plunger combination comprises a retractable plunger and a hollow plunger partially telescoped with the retractable plunger, wherein at least one raised portion is formed on an outer wall of the retractable plunger and at a telescoping portion for engaging at least one depression formed on an inner wall of the hollow plunger so that when the plunger combination continuously receives a pushing force after the safety injector is used to perform the injection operation, the retractable plunger can smoothly retract into the hollow plunger. Consequently, a space in the hollow barrel can be spared for accommodating the retracted needle hub.
US08088109B2

The system and method creates immediate supplemental blood flow into an organ by punching a cannula into the organ to remove a core of the organ. The process of punching creates essentially no heat and therefore does not cauterize the wound. In the case of the heart this results in immediate supplemental blood flow into the heart muscle. Animal tests have shown this immediate blood flow is sufficient to sustain the heart even when a major coronary artery is completely blocked. The procedure may be performed in an open surgical field procedure by punching cores from the outside of the heart in or it may be a percutaneous catheter procedure punching cores from the inside-out of an organ.
US08088105B2

A syringe pump including a syringe including a plunger that slides in a body which has a discharge port, a driving mechanism coupled to the syringe, including a cylinder in which a piston slides, and a plurality of biasing devices arranged about the piston operative to apply urging forces on the piston to drive the piston distally in the cylinder and thereby cause the plunger to slide in the body and discharge a substance found in the body through the discharge port, wherein if one of the biasing devices fails another of the biasing devices continues to apply a force on the piston to drive the piston distally in the cylinder, and a safety catch that initially prevents the biasing device from moving the piston, the safety catch being removable to permit the biasing device to move the piston.
US08088098B2

Disclosed is a system to deliver insulin to a user's body. The system includes a dispensing unit to deliver the insulin to the body, and a control mechanism to control delivery of basal insulin according to a predetermined basal infusion pattern, the basal infusion pattern selected from a plurality of predetermined basal infusion patterns. In some embodiments, selection of the basal infusion pattern may be based on one or more personal characteristics of the user.
US08088095B2

The invention provides a polymeric film-forming medical sealant. The medical sealant is useful for application to the tonsils and adenoids, wherein the sealant performs at least one of the following functions, a) inhibit the colonization of bacteria, b) inhibit the binding of bacteria to tissue, c) reduction of tissue morbidity, d) hemostasis, e) coating and protection of tissue during healing. e) promotion of healing, and f) reduction of pain.
US08088089B2

The present invention is directed to apparatus, systems, and methods for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations in a patient. In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a humeral cuff, an inflatable bladder, a source of pressurized gas in select fluid communication with the inflatable bladder, and at least one elongated belt attached to the humeral cuff. In another embodiment, the system of the present invention comprises the apparatus of the present invention and at least one weight configured to selectively couple to at least a portion of the at least one elongated belt. In a further embodiment, the methods of the present invention comprise positioning the patient in a substantially prone position, providing the system of the present invention, selectively positioning the humeral cuff in an operative position, and attaching at least one weight to at least one elongated belt such that downward graviational force is applied to the patient's arm to effect the desired reduction.
US08088087B1

An apparatus for hydro-therapy massage characterized by a low profile enclosure structure surrounding a user support surface at a nominal elevation thereabove. The apparatus comprises a housing structure having an outwardly facing opening, a user support surface covering the opening, and a fluid spray arrangement within the housing structure for imparting a massaging effect through the support surface to a user thereon. The housing structure has a horizontal perimeter flange extending about the opening and a clamp plate affixed in substantially parallel superposed facing relation to the perimeter flange for clamping a continuous edge margin of the user support surface. An enclosure panel has an essentially planar mounting flange affixed in substantially parallel superposed facing relation to the clamp plate and has a skirt portion extending from the mounting flange for enclosing the housing structure.
US08088086B1

The invention as presently conceived discloses a motion-activated, mechanical apparatus that can be mounted onto a wall to provide the automatic scratching of a house pet, specifically a cat. The new and novel apparatus is configured with four independent mechanisms resembling human fingers, less the thumb, in both appearance and in movement. The fingers would be covered with a latex material to closely approximate the feel of real fingers. The mechanical apparatus would be mounted on a wall structure at an appropriate height to best facilitate the petting and scratching of the owner's particular pet. In operation, the artificial finger-like appendages would have a drive mechanism, electrical motor and be powered by a battery. A motion sensor, such as a close range infrared detector or similar device, would activate the fingers as the pet came into close proximity.
US08088085B2

An appliance or device for massaging and/or dispensing a product. A preferred example includes a container holding the product, preferably a cosmetic product, a housing to which the container is mounted, and a massage element mounted on this housing. A rotary driving arrangement drives the massage element about an axis of rotation of the massaging element relative to the housing. A conduit is in fluid communication between an outlet from the container and the massage element. The container is configured for the packaging and dispensing of the product under pressure, with the conduit being connected to an outlet of a dispensing valve on the container.
US08088080B2

A medical instrument includes a housing, a stylet having a portion in the housing, a cannula coaxially receiving the stylet and having a portion in the housing, and a member slidably coupled to the housing. The stylet and the cannula are movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The member is configured with first and second bars to move the stylet and the cannula from their extended positions to their retracted positions.
US08088074B2

A monitoring device may include logic to receive arterial blood pressure data associated with a patient and receive tissue hemoglobin data associated with the patient. The logic may also calculate a linear correlation between the arterial blood pressure data and the tissue hemoglobin data. The correlation may be used to assess vascular reactivity.
US08088071B2

A modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus is provided comprising a core unit, system electronics and an I/O port. The core unit comprises a housing and a system electronics package within the housing. The system electronics has one or more concatenated filters, including a front end transmit/receive circuit, a processor, a back end circuit for scan conversion, a system clock and a programmable system memory device. There is at least one I/O port connected to the front end and the back end of the system electronics package and extending through the core unit housing wherein all system data processing information is transmitted or received through the I/O port.
US08088042B2

A method, system, measurement device and receiving device for providing feedback relating to an activity to at least one individual. In the method, activity information relating to an activity is measured with a measurement device. Activity information is transmitted to a receiving device via a communication link. The receiving device selects from the received activity information a predefined set of pieces of activity information and provides the at least one individual with feedback based on the selected activity information.
US08088038B2

An ECU executes a program including a step of determining whether a manual shift mode is active or not, a step of calculating a lower limit revolution speed based on a vehicle speed and a gear selected by a driver when the manual shift mode is active, a step of changing a target idle revolution speed from a predetermined revolution speed to the lower limit revolution speed when a required engine torque is substantially zero and the engine is not in a fuel cut state, and a step of transmitting a control signal corresponding to the target idle revolution speed to the engine.
US08088035B2

The intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr is set to the smallest of the standard intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr1 set according to the input limit Win of the battery, the sequential intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr2 set for the sequential gearshift position, and the power mode intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr3 set for the power mode (S400 to S480). When the vehicle speed V is less than the intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr, the hybrid vehicle is driven with output of the torque demand Tr* to the driveshaft within the range of the input limit Win or the output limit Wout of the battery with intermittent operation of the engine. When the vehicle speed V is more than or equal to the intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr, the hybrid vehicle is driven with output of the torque demand Tr* to the driveshaft within the range of the input limit Win or the output limit Wout of the battery in prohibition of the intermittent operation of the engine.
US08088034B2

This invention relates to a control device for a hybrid vehicle power transmitting apparatus. A heat generation control is executed to increase a heat generation amount of an electric motor M1 when a differential portion 11 is placed in a non-differential state and a temperature of a shifting mechanism 10 is less than a given transmitting apparatus temperature determining value TEMP11. This allows the first electric motor M1 to develop a heat with which the temperature of a shifting mechanism 10 is promptly raised, thereby promptly completing a warm-up of the shifting mechanism 10 to achieve improved fuel consumption.
US08088025B2

An iron-type golf club head is disclosed having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. A back wall is also disclosed in the rear portion enclosing a portion of the rear portion to create an enclosed cavity. The cavity is defined by at least a rear surface of the striking face, an inner back wall surface, and the sole portion. A plug and a filler material is located within the enclosed cavity. The filler material surrounds the plug and is configured to hold the plug in place. The plug is lighter than the filler material.
US08088010B1

A method, system, and apparatus provide online games integrating sensory data and/or gameplay data from a live game that was played with physical game elements. Sensory data and/or gameplay data from the original live game are recorded for delayed playback or live streaming. Data from the live game is incorporated into an online game. A remote player is able to participate in the online game as if the remote player had been present at the live game. The remote player may play the position/seat occupied by one or more of the original real-world players in the live game. In card games with individual hands of cards, the remote player receives cards as they were dealt to the same position/seat in the live game. The remote player can make strategic decisions that differ from those of the real-world player may affect the outcome of the game for the remote player.
US08088009B2

A method for managing a casino gaming system is disclosed. One embodiment provides a web server embedded in at least one gaming component of a gaming machine, wherein the web server is configured to deliver a management user interface to a web browser. A management user interface is delivered to a web browser from the embedded web server, and input is received via the management user interface. The received input includes instructions for managing the gaming component in which the web server is embedded.
US08088002B2

A first website earns rewards, e.g. points and items, for carrying out activities. Those rewards can be transferred to a second website. For example, a parent's website allows the parent to carry more adult tasks and also earn points. The points can be transferred to the child's website. A center of the universe website allows obtaining rewards for any of these websites. A social networking component operates across multiple websites.
US08087999B2

A gaming system and method provides wagering control features for application in multi-stakes, multi-player wagering games. Players have the option to choose one of a plurality of different modes at the beginning of a gaming session. Depending on which mode is selected, the wagering control feature or features available to players during game play will be different.
US08087985B2

Among other things, enabling late bets in a game of Baccarat includes accepting a first bet from one or more participants. Two cards are dealt to each of a player position and a bank position. A player position score and a bank position score are determined based on the two cards dealt to each of the player position and the two cards dealt to the bank position. Based on the determined scores for the player position and the bank position, a determination is made on whether to deal a third card to at least one of the player position and the bank position.
US08087984B2

It is an object of the present invention is to provide an epoch-making baccarat game system, a method of using such a baccarat game system, a baccarat game program and a recording medium, in which a great number of players can simultaneously participate in the game at the same table, in which any player can concentrate on the game in its personal space, in which, from the viewpoint of game operation side, the number of standing-by dealers can be decreased while at the same time the number of cards to be discarded is reduced, thereby reducing the cost, and in which any doubt of injustice can completely wiped away while maintaining the sense of reality and the feeling of tension. The baccarat game system of the present invention comprises card image capture means 21 for taking images of cards in a baccarat game; card image delivery means 110 for delivering the card images taken by said card image capture means 21; and card image display means 30 for displaying said delivered card images 110.
US08087979B2

An enclosure is provided for housing electronic equipment that accommodates the different cooling and ventilating requirements of different types of equipment. The enclosure is constructed and arranged to support cooling airflow in a front-to-back configuration through the enclosure and in a side-to-side configuration from one side to an opposite side of the enclosure. The enclosure can thereby provide within a single enclosure means cooling air for components using front-to-back airflow for cooling, such as information technology (IT) equipment, and for components using side-to-side airflow, such as certain types of telecommunications equipment. The enclosure can thereby support a mix of IT and telecommunications equipment, providing flexibility and adaptability in network room and data center configuration. The enclosure is further configured to separate intake air used by equipment for cooling from exhaust air vented by equipment into its interior during operation. As a result, the enclosure promotes sufficient equipment cooling and prevents/minimizes equipment overheating.
US08087970B2

A toy construction system is provided that includes, in a toy construction system having a multiplicity of interconnecting members adapted for constructing a variety of projects, a rotator head device including a device housing having a conical-shaped cavity formed therein. The housing includes a plurality of female twist-lock connectors formed on the outer surface thereof, and the female connectors are adapted for attaching a first member of the toy construction system to the rotator head device housing. A rotating member, which is conical in shape and slightly smaller in size than the cavity formed in the device housing is included. The rotating member is rotatably disposed within the cavity and has a male twist-lock connector stem extending from an end thereof for connecting a second member of the toy construction system to the rotating member, whereby the first member is rotatable with respect to the second member.
US08087958B2

A boat propulsion system includes a drive bevel gear fixed on a lower end of a drive shaft, a forwarding bevel gear and a reversing bevel gear rotatably fitted on a propeller shaft and meshing together with the drive bevel gear, and a dog clutch mounted on the propeller shaft and rotatable with the propeller shaft, moves in an axial direction of the propeller shaft, and meshes together with the forwarding bevel gear or the reversing bevel gear to rotate the propeller shaft, in which the propeller shaft comes in contact with the forwarding bevel gear via a forwarding side buffer member having a disc spring as a component member. The boat propulsion system prevents and minimizes sound and impact even when variations in thrust force occur.
US08087952B2

The invention relates to an electrical connection device for making a connection between a first seat and a second seat disposed in front of or behind the first seat, in particular in aircraft, wherein the device comprises: a casing secured to the first seat and receiving an inlet cable bundle and an outlet cable bundle; a cable inlet connector connected to the inlet cable bundle and secured to the casing; and a retractable strip received at least in part inside the casing, the outlet cable bundle, extending in said strip, which strip is capable of sliding outwards from the casing in such a manner as to connect said casing to the cable inlet connector of the second seat.
US08087939B2

An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
US08087932B2

A method of correcting a dental arch model so that it accurately reflects the current arrangement of a subject's teeth includes positioning a plurality of tooth models in a corrected arrangement using a representation of at least a portion of a subject's current dental arch (wherein the tooth models comprise models of the subject's teeth having fiduciary markers), and producing a base plate configured to hold the plurality of tooth models in the corrected arrangement. The representation of the current arrangement may be, for example, a physical impression of the subject's teeth, a 3D scan or one or more 2D scans of the subject's teeth.
US08087929B2

The invention relates to equipment for heating gas in connection with continuous sintering in gas channels placed above a strand, the gas channels comprising at least a wall and at least two gas units, the gas coming from the gas units being in contact with the material on the strand, whereby at least one burner unit is arranged in at least one of the gas channels, being arranged as part of the gas channel, the burner unit comprising at least one separate combustion space arranged on the wall of the gas channel. The invention also relates to a method for heating the gas.
US08087926B2

An oxygen fueled integrated pollutant removal and combustion system includes a combustion system and an integrated pollutant removal system. The combustion system includes a furnace having at least one burner that is configured to substantially prevent the introduction of air. An oxygen supply supplies oxygen at a predetermine purity greater than 21 percent and a carbon based fuel supply supplies a carbon based fuel. Oxygen and fuel are fed into the furnace in controlled proportion to each other and combustion is controlled to produce a flame temperature in excess of 3000 degrees F. and a flue gas stream containing CO2 and other gases. The flue gas stream is substantially void of non-fuel borne nitrogen containing combustion produced gaseous compounds. The integrated pollutant removal system includes at least one direct contact heat exchanger for bringing the flue gas into intimated contact with a cooling liquid to produce a pollutant-laden liquid stream and a stripped flue gas stream and at least one compressor for receiving and compressing the stripped flue gas stream.
US08087921B2

In one embodiment of the invention a mold system and method of use are provided such that aqueous starch-based compositions and baked goods articles that use the conversion of water to steam may be produced using an extruder that allows the venting of such gases and/or steam. The extruder is vented in such a way as to allow steam to escape, but retain the composition until the exit end.
US08087918B2

A pressing mold for use in press working of a material includes a mold body, a coating film formed on the portion of the pressing mold that comes into contact with the material in the press working, the coating film being formed by PVD method. The coating film includes a TiN layer formed on a surface of the mold body, a Ti(CxNy) layer (wherein, x+y=1, x<1, and x gradually increases to 1 as it becomes more distant from the surface of the TiN layer) formed on the TiN layer, and a TiC layer formed on the Ti(CxNy) layer.
US08087917B2

A plant for manufacturing a continuous latex foam layer (2) to form mattresses (6) provided with cells (5). The plant comprises a plurality of laying planes (7) provided with a plurality of separate tables (13) separately arranged side by side to form a surface for the foam deposit.Each table comprises protuberances (14) and the arrangement of the protuberances on a table can differ from that of the juxtaposed tables in order to create supporting areas for the different body parts of the user.Preferably the tables (13) with their protuberances (14) are slidably fitted onto the laying planes (7) and can be easily and quickly replaced with separately provided tables having protuberances (14) differently arranged in order to meet the support capacity values required by different users.
US08087910B2

A chemical liquid supplying apparatus 10 has a bellows 11, which includes a small-size bellows portion 13, a large-size bellows portion 14 with a larger volume change per axial-directional unit displacement amount than that of the small-size bellows portion 13, and a drive portion 12 therebetween. An apparatus main body 10a to which the bellows 11 is attached includes a supporting member 21 to which a fixed end portion 15 of the bellows 11 is attached and a supporting member 22 to which a fixed end portion 16 of the bellows 11 is attached. A drive sleeve 27 surrounds the bellows 11 and is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body 10a. A driven cylinder body 32 attached to the drive portion 12 converts rotation of the drive sleeve 27 to axial-directional movement of the drive portion 12.
US08087906B2

A pump having a disposable fluid contacting portion which defines a fluid inlet and outlet and a fluid path there between. The pump includes a drive portion configured to engage the disposable portion to cause fluid to be moved from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The disposable portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the drive portion. The disposable portion includes a driven membrane which forms a portion of the fluid path, and the drive portion includes a drive membrane. The two membranes are vacuum coupled to each other, whereby movement of the drive membrane causes the driven membrane to move, causing fluid to be pumped through the disposable portion. The pump has particular utility in the medical field for moving fluid from a source to a patient. The pump may include features such as an air-trap, bubble detection, fluid flow controls, and pressure detection.
US08087903B2

In a hydraulic rotary machine having rotational shaft provided within a casing a rotational shaft, a cylinder block rotationally interlocked with the rotational shaft and formed with a plural number of cylinder bores, and pistons slidably received in the cylinder bores and adapted to slide back and forth within the cylinder bores while the rotational shaft and the cylinder block are put in rotation in synchronism with each other, a multitude of minute pits are formed at least either on sliding surfaces on the side of the cylinder bores, each one of the minute pits are in an elliptical shape defining a moderately sloped surface in one side and an acutely sloped surface in the other side, and the moderately sloped surfaces of the minute pits are oriented to face a direction in which said pistons are put in sliding movement in said cylinder bores under a greater load than in the other direction.